, 1863-02-18

WASHINGTON, Feb. II. 1883.
SENATE

Messrs. FOOTE, DAVIS, COLLAAlER and
HOWE presented petitions forn camp hospi-
tai and ambulance corps.
Mr. KING Of \. 7; presented a petition
III. COLLAslER Of Vt from the Post OF:
fec Committee, reported joint resolution
authorizing the collection Of foreign postage
iu coin.
NIr. WILSON Of Mass: from the Military
Committee, reported back the bill reorganiz-
ing the engineer corps, and from the same
committee reported sdycfscly on the bill to
authorize contracts to be made with those
stes th3t hns ndyonesa ~ TO- fh nm
to prevent agents Of the Government, as we'll
as members Of Congress and officers Of the
Goyernm cnt from taking any consider'tion
70, 9es or ,f.d S9ntet "a P"sisa
dividing Michigan into two judicial districts,
and regulating tue time Of holding the courts.
Mr.. TRUMBULL Of nj. opposed the bill.
After discussion the bill was postponed.
41r. FESSENDEN from the Committee OH
Finance, reported back the fortiicatlon bill
| without any amendment.
Mr. GRIMES called up bin, authorizing
letters Of marquc and renrisal. He briefly
! urged the passage Of the bill.
new and difficult cmbarr.ssMents upon the
nation. This was bill to establish priyatecrs,
| whose only reward was booty as an incentive
| to enterprise. If more vessels were needed,
he would have them hired, and placed under
the control Of the Government and not send
out these self-regulating cruisers. Hc con}d
see nothing hut danger of complication with
the great powers, who had solemnly declared
! against this system of priyatccring. This
nation had always declined to pass any gen
csal law OH this subject, having always re-
quircd = special act Of Congress specifying \
time. lie quoted from Il number Of authori;,
tics against the principle Of prlyat ccring, and
coutendtd that there was nothing to be OBJ
taincd by this bill that could moi be- better
obtained in another way lie did not say that
the Government should now resort to this
policy, bnt this was no time to adopt 1t.
Nj: McDOUGALL could see no ground fo1
the objection Of the Senator from Massathu
sctts unless on the hypothesis thai
hc belonged to. the peace establish
in time Of war our most elective fore,
on sea should not be used against the enemy
Our commerce today was..in danger from pvi
vatc armed vessels ofthc rebels They had beer
allowed by other nations to issue letters oi
marqne and grant commissions emitting
them to enter foreign ports, and yet We stoot
questioning whether NC should grant tht
power to private vessels to seize thcll
| vessel.
| If letters Of n1arque had been granted at th'
; commencement ef the war there would hav'
| been no running the blockade. He cspc
, 1ieycd before Congress met again We shoul!
| be at war with foreign power and need 81
our forces on sea and land.
Mr.. COLLAMER Of Vt. said one great oh
lection to the system was that 1t seemed to b
il remnant Of comparatively ancient barbar
f ism 10 send out vessels to take private prop
erty on the sea. It was agreed now, by til
ordinary laws Of war, that tile private propcrt
: ofan enemy on land was not subject to capt1re
Dixon thought thers w2S H. no TO-, necessity for
' foreign country, and the rebels had no con-
Il merce il was not necessary to abandon
8 rig Of this Kind, but should We in 4 time {
G peace with all foreign countries, pass mca'
y i,rc of this kind, lie thought 1t would onl
: he attended with evil consequences. He Vt:
n not willing, without any necessity, to reso1
e TO this policy, which was only kind Of lega
= fzed piracy, and which might be attende
with unpleasant complications with foreie
= Mr. DAVIS Of II. said the rebels had o
ii IL few fast vessels, but no commerce.
these vessels were captured, 1t would be !:
end Of tho matter. He could see no neccssi
% for such measure at this time. After IL
Is thcr discussion,
.e 4 substitute was offered By Mr. CRIME
lc authorizing the President in all foreign III
N domestic wars, to issue letters of marque Al
make alt needful regulations. Adopted.
r. Mr.. SHERMAN offered an anendmcl
:, which was adopted. limiting the authorl
- conferred By the act TO three years;
n: Air. SUMNER offered an amendment &C
Sc t;p,nE ,Ac operation Of the bill to the 81
c. preston Of tho rebellion. He had argued tt
as We should not PIT any thing in the bill 1iSs
ne menace, when we were engaged in forei
ch war there would be time enough to meet Il
Mr. McDOUGALL asked the Senator,
nd Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
ng iatious, if we were not now threatened y
v. foreign COMPLICATIONS. :o--
nS tf. SUMNER said that he had no inioEr
'p- tion that was not open to the Senate.
re- Mr. McDOUGALL believed that hcto1
Try meeting Of another Congress We shonld
pl- involved in Il foreign war. and he wanted
Ut, have the country prepared. Amendment
NJ jccs-ycas l9, nays =.
Mr.. SUMNER offered IN amendment a
:he substitute, reviewing the acts OF l6lS I
'cd 1878. concerning letters Of marque, and
1se plyins them to that portion Of the Uni
ats States now in insurrectIon.
~ HOUSE.
~ WASHINGTON, Feb. INT. PORTER
ne tbc ported i bill, which passed, changing
luz time of holding the Circuit and District Coz
nj nj Tie Indian appropriation bill va: passe
..sa a." The House resumed the consideration
' as the Louisiana election case.
~ Aftcr considerable discussion tho Ho
INC alortcd tile resolution Of the Committee
~ ~ Elections declaring Messrs. Flinders
,,n5 Hahn entitled to seats By vote OF W aga
- IL.
;th Mr.. Hahn was sworn in. Mr.. Flanders
mss not present.
10 4ne - 80, W V;r-r;,,;, ~ .Eae taccn m
ling c'GS.'oI Is ntW wv ar-ia;ncd Tint thr c1cc
XII m;it was without authority Of law, and that
!. ,P.n ~ voters had no opportunity to vote.
ring o,i;.ne AZ. ,tbn,, 10 auest;o1 wns taken
urn, 1,st;"n sE,t In ~. mi cntif3cd tn ,
vcar adopted.
seat The House proceeded to the consider.
p,oa Of tile Scnate's amendments to the hi
sS.n !son, provide ways and means for the suppo
~ the Government.
RpTrA,o, Feb. 1s.-Thc adjournment o
gard Housc snd 9sratc rot received hero up to q