Daily national Republican., 1863-03-02
THIRTY-sEVEN CONGRESS-
Third Session.
MONDAY, March 2, 1868.
SENATE.

Mr.. GRIMES presented the petition of the
corporations Of Georgetown aud Washington,
asking for an appropriation for the improve
ment of the streets.
Mr.. CHANDLER presented the resolutions
of the Legislature of Michigan, concerning the
rebellion, approving the Presidents proclama-
tion, &c.
Mr.. GRIMES called up the bill to further
regulate proceedings in prize cases and amend
ing acts Of Congress in relation thereto. He
said that there were already prizes in New York
to tho amount Of eight millions sterling, half
of which should 60 to the Treasury; but under
the present law only small portion went TO
the Government. The bill was to remedy that,
and to cause the more speedy adjudication and
payment Of the sailors.
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. CHANDLER called up the bill for the
collection Of abandoned property and preyen-
tlon Of fraud in insurrectionaTy distrlcts-tho
pending question being the motion to strike
out the sections providing for the purchase OF
cotton, rice, sugar and tobacco
Mr.. CHANDLER hoped these sections would
not be stricken out. He said great quantities
of cotton had been collected by the army at the
Southwest, but II was mostly divided among
certain officers, and the Treasury had not re.
Ceiyed a dollar for cotton collected by the army,
except from Hilton Head.
Mr.. POWELL hoped the Senator would in.
vestigate this matter before his Committee on
the conduct Of the war. The motion was lost
yeas Il, nays 81.
| Mr.. CLARK offered an amendment providing
that any officer or private coming into posses
sion Of any such abandoned property, shall
turn the same over to the agent Of ting Treasury
falling to do so they shall be tried by court
martial. Adopted.
Mr.. DAVIS offered an amendment that any
officer plunderlng or secreting any property ol
bartoring or selling cotton, rice, tobacco, or In
any way aiding any one else, to do this shall bC
dismissed from the service, and be forever inca
pable holding any office or place in the service
Mr.. POWELL moved to insert the wore
"taking" after the word plundering, and thC
word "money" after the word property. HI
said he knew, and had the evidence in his pos
session, that officers in the West had taker
large sums of money from persons who they
had arrested before they would release them
Motion agreed to.
Mr.. HOWARD said the laws and articles o.
war provided for these cases now. This amend
ment was offered simply for the purpose o.
making the charge against certain officers hI
was not willing to make any such charge with
out any evidence.
| Mr.. DAVIS said that a ship load of -four wal
stopped at the Balize, by the brother of Ger
tain officer, and made TO sell his -four at tel
dollars a barrel, and then this brother sold i
at sixty.
Mr.. WILSON, of Massachusetts, said he wal
astonished that the Senator from Kentucky
persisted in making idle charges against Gene
raj Butler. He read an extract from lette
from General Butler, thanking Mr.. Wilson fo
defending him from illusions made in the Sen
ate, that he had taken the plate and fnFnltur
of Mr.. Alexander Rothers for his own use. Mr.
ROthGTs escaped from New Orleans withou
taking the oath of allegiance on a pass pro
cured by a prOfessed Union man, who turned
nj n he IA drpl Ar ~,
the rebel provost marshals who destroyed sucl
an immense amount of property on tho arriya
of the Union troops. He General Butler) ha
taken possession of Rothers' plate and furni
ture and turned them over to General Banks
QuartgTmaster. He was especially thankful
for the offer of a committee of investigation
he was ready at all times to account for hi
conduct, though he should not answer newspg
per ISLANDERS. If Mr.. Davis was an honest an
just man, he could, at any time, be sati SIZED b
letter.
Mr.. WILSON said he believed all the othe
charges against Gen. Butler would turn out a
groundlCs5 as this one.
After further discussion the amendment wa
rGleCtcd-yeas l3, nays 22.
Mr.. DOOLITTLE renewed the amendmGn
to strike out the section authorizing the Treas
ury agent to purchase property In these insu
rectiouary districts. He did not wish to hay
the Government become a great factor In thoe
! articles oil prOperLyi ana ne dld not wish, esp
clally, to furnish means to the rebels TO bu
munitions Uf war to carry on the fight.
Mr.. HENDERSON hoped the sections woul
D be stricken out The Government might
well break up the blockade at once, as thus
! become an immense trader and furnish SUI
plies. His information was that tho rebels ha
p received great aid and comfort from the col
4 traband trade on the Mississippi river II
money furnished would be used to help Il
+ rebelsi and If this policy is adopted, the WI
6 will be inteTminablc.
b Mr.. COLLAMER contended that this provi
lon Of the bill would practically defeat the col