New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-18
the great powers who had solemnly declared against
this system of privateering. This nation had a.
WAYS declined TO pass any general law on this sub.


this system of privateering This nation had a.
ways declined to pass any general law on this sub
iect having alwavs required q special act OF Con-
Cress specifying a limited time. lie quoted from \
number of authorities against the principle OF pr
and copten6ed that there was nothing TO
be obtained by this bill that conld not better be OBJ
tanned in another wRy. He would not cay that me
Government should never resort to this policy, out
this WIS no time 10 adoptit.
Mr.. M'DOUGALL Dem, CALI, could see no
ground for the objections of the Senator from
Massachusetts, unless on the hypothesis that De
belonged to the peace establishment. lie coniu :ee
no reason WHY in time Of war, our most effective
force ON the sea should not be used against Inc
enemy, He commended that it had been the policy
of The country instead OF raising large standing
armies and nayies u resort 10 volunteering on iahu,
and this most effective force on the sea. Our COM
MERGE today, was IN danger, from the private
nrmed vessels of the Rebels. They had been al
loved bv other nations TO issue letters of marque
and grant commissions, emitting them To
enter foreign ports; and yet we stood questioning
whether we Should grant power to private vessels
to se,ze these vessels. Ii letters OF marque had
been granted at the commencement OF the war,
there would have been no RAINING the blockade.
lie especially wanted the bill to pass, because be
believed that before Congress met again, we should
be al war with foreign Power, and should need
all our force on sea ana land.
Mr.. COLLAMER (Rep, W. said one great OBJ
lection
remnant Of comparatively ancient bsrbaism to seud
out vessels TO take private property OF the enemy
ON the sea IL WAS agreed now by the ordinary
laws of war that the private property OF an
enemy Oh land was not subectt 30 capture Civlllza-
ton had made progress in war, and it would seem
that the same rule would apply on water as well as
make this progress in civilization If not,
them we ought not to be held responsible.
Only few years ago this nation proposed, to the
other nations of the world to make the law the
sane on sea as on land and to exempt private prop
erty from seizure. Bat those nations refused to al
low us to make this progress. Those nations, which
possessed such great paviss, declared that the
property should be subject TO seizure by their great
navies. But this country, whose policy had been
agains great nayics, should lot be allowed to seize
this property by private vessels If we did, we
should be branded as barbarous 1t should only be
seized then by their great navies and for their bene-
ft But this was principle which would not do,
and by witch this nation was not hound.
Mr.. DIXON rep, Conn., thought that there
WAS no necessity for measure OF this kind. We
had no war with foreign country, and the rebels
bad no commerce. 1t WAS not necessary to abandon
right OF this kind. But should ne III time OF
peace with all foreign countries pass measure OF
this kind lie thought il would only be attended
with evil consequeuces. He was not willing, with
out any necessity, TO resort to this policy, which was
only kind of legslized piracy, aud which might be
attended with unpleasant complications with foreign
Powers.
Mr.. DAVIS I'm. Ky.) said the Rebels had only a
few last vessels but no commerce II these vessels
We're captured il would he end OF the matter. lie
could zee no necessity for such measure al this time
After fur her discussion, substitute was offered
by Mr.. GRIMES tRep., Iowa, authorizing The
President, all domestic aud foreign wars to Issue
letters of marque and make gil Deedfu regulations.
Adopted.
Mir. SHERMAN Rep., Ohio offered an amend
mert, which was adopted, limiting the authority
conferred by the act to three years.
MIR. SUMNER offered an amendment, conining
the operation of the bill to the suppression of the
Rebellion. He argued that we should not put any
thing in the bill like menace. When We We're Ell.
gagged in foreign there would be time enough
10 meet that question.
Mr.. McDOUGALL asked the Senator, as Chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Relations if we
were not now threatened with foreign comphca-
tons.
Mr.. SUMNER said he had no information that
was not open To the Senate.
Mr.. McDOUGALL believed that before the meet.
ing Of another Congress we should be involved in
foreign war, AM lie wanted 10 have the country pre-
pared. =,
The amendment was reiected-Yeas, l3; news, ~.
Mr.. SUMNER offered an amendment as q substi-
tute reviviug tue acts OF 1872 aud 1913 concerning
letters Of marquee and applying them to that portion
of the United States now III instruction. Rejected.
Mr.. SUMNER offered another amendment
substitute authorizing the Secretary of War to hire
any vessels for national service, putting them in
charge OF officials commissioned by the United States,
aud giving them tho character OF national ships.
Rejected: Yeas &; Nays D.
Sir. DAVIS offered substitute, authorizing the
President to pay any vessel, regularly pm. into
commission, three tunes the value Of any ship or
ships captured, belonging 10 the States now in III.
suriectOn. Rejected.
The bill 80. Len passed by the following vote:
YEAs-hes,rs Anthony, Arnold. Chsndler Clark tolla'
Hs,dipg liar au Harris hicfs Howe King Lane lksDsas
aiha McDougs MoIIih. Nesnith, hiee ohsIaA' iuiPie
N;IHfs-Me..rs Davis, Dixon, Hsndersos Howard, Lane
Und) Pomeroy, Suuner, TfumbuI. Wilson (ho -
Total-Yes', 97i Nsys,9 ..-. ....
Mr.. LATHAM Dem, Call offered a resolution,
winch was adopted requesting the Secretary OF the
Treasury 10 inform the Seuae what Steps nave
been taken by him 10 investigate the fraudulent
transactions in the CustOmllousc at New iork, re-
ferred 10 ia his last annual report, ana II any com
nunicatlons have been made thereon by the Solicitor
of the Treasury, any officer Of the Custom-H
and 70 communicate the same 10 the Senate.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
Mr.. FESsENDEN rep, Me-, from the Com.
nitee on Finance, reported back the Naval Appro-
prlation tll.
GOVERNMENT FOR CERTAIN STATES.
Mr. HARRIS Rep, N. " introduced Till TO
guarantee 10 certain States republican form Of
government.
PROOF FOR PENSIONS.
Mr. FOSTER (Rep., Conn. called up the bill to
facilitate proof for the allowance of pensions
Passed.
THE u. 8. JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
Mr. FOSTER also called up the bill TO give
greater efficiency to the judicial system Of the United
states. Passed.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate then went into Executive Session,
after which 1t adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
GEN, GRANTS MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
On motion of Mr.. PENDLETON Dem, o., it