Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-18
ITELEGRA PHO.
HAGFTIGEF'gDISPIFOIES.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Hale on the Personal Question.
Message from the President.
Terrible Explosion In Chicago.
Re-capture Of the Chesapeake.
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
HOipital at Yorktown Burned.
Recruiting In North Carolina.
BlOckAde-RuHnlng at Whining
ton, North Carolina.
Important Order by General
HuFlbuFt,
HOipital at Yorktown Burned
Recruiting In North CarOlIns
BlOekAde-RuHnlng at Whining
ton, North Carolina.
Important Order by General
HUFlbuFt,
CONGRESSIONAL.
WnsurVgFog- nee. II.
HOUSE..

HOUSE.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the Committee on
Invalid Pensions were instructed to inquire
what legislation is necessary to secure TO the
widows and legal representatives Of persons who
have died or may hereafter die, after discharge
from the military service from wounds or disa-
bilities received IN the line Of their duties, the
same pensions as are allowed to others.
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the Committee on
Pebble Lands was instructed to report necessary
legislation to enable persons IN the naval and
military service to avail themselves Of the bene-
fit of the Homestead Law.
Mr.. Anderson offered resolution, which was
adopted, instructing the COMMITTEES on Roads
and Canals TO enquire into the exDediency Of i'm
proving the upper rapids ofthe Mississippi, with
leave to report by bill or otherwise
On motion Of Mr.. McClurg, resolution was
adopted calling for a copy OF the report Of the
Commissioners appointed BY the President 70
examine into the accounts OF the officers and
men employed in the Western or Missouri De-
partment Of the army.
Mr.. Rogers gave notice Of a bill to refund to
the States, Counties, Townships, Wards, Cities
and Municipal Corporations all monies paid BY
them respectively for bOuntes to volunteers in
the Union.
The House passed the bill for the payment of
invalid and other pensions for the year ending
June, 1865.
Oa motion Of Mr.. Morrill,, resolution was
adopted calling on the Secretary Of Treasury for
all documents showing the practical operations
of the 50 called Reciprocity Treaty which may
be in his possession.
Heuse then adjourned.
sRSATE.
Mr.. Hale rose to a priviledgsd question. BE
desired 70 send to this Clerks desk, to be read,
a newspaper paragraph, charging with bribery
Senator from New England in securing the re-
lease, for the sum Of S, 1000, OF two prisoners
from the Old Capitol. From information received
from Senator he was led to believe that he,
| (Hale), was the person alluded to- He wished to
| make statement Of facts on which the charge
was grounded.
MT. Hale then ct some length explained that
he had acted as counsel for these persons, and
| that previous to doing so, he had asked the ad-
vice or Hon. Reverdy Johnson and others if no
could, consistently with his position as U. S.
Senator, act as the legal adviser Of the above
/ mentioned parties. He was assured he could,
/ and that there existed no reason why he should
not. Hon. ReVerdy Johnson stated to him that
| he was himself engaged in such cases almost
/ daily. Under these circumstances he had acted
/ FOR the prisoners.
He (Hale) then stated the facts Of the case and
concluded by saying II there was bribery OF even
iadelicacy, it was not done inadvertently but
| advlsidly and with cautious deliberatiOn.
| Mr.. johnson remarked that he recollected dis
tInctly that Hale called on him as stated and re-
ported the conversation materially as stated. In
| answer to his Hale 81 enquiry whether q Sena-
| tor was prseluded from acting as counsel for q
person charged before court ma rtial with fraud
/ he (Johnson) said he saw no legal impedi-
ments in the way, or even indelicacy in what he
| (Hale) had done. There Was no doubt in the
least that Senators don't cease to be lawyers #
i called upon for professional services. He saw
no difficulty IN complying unless the services in
l Yolved the neglect Of public duties. He (Iohn-
SOM had repeatedly acted himself upon his as
/ sumption. The only question that can arise is,
/ is there any law prohibiting itl There was q law
/ prohibiting Senators from prosecuting claims
i against the Government before the Court Of
/ Claims. He believed that some law expressly
/ excepted cases pending before the courts. One
has right togo before any other court in the
I United States Il was not the intention OF the
law to prevent a lawyer from practising in his
i profession. II a case Of fraud in contracts is
i brought before military court, a lawyer, whose
services are required, has no right, because he
/ is member Of Congress, to refuse his services
any more than he would in = capital case in tie
/ civil courts,
Mr. Hale submitted the following reoluton
| which was agreed to:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Judiciary be
instructed to enquire whether J. P. Hale, 4
/ member Of this body in connection with the case
| Of one Hunt, charged with crime by direction
| Of the War Department, has been guilty Of any
conduct inconsistent with his duty IS Senator,
snd that they have power to send for persons
/ and papers.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr..
! Wade, was agreed to.
RssolUsd. That the Secretary Of the Navy be di-
| rected to communicate to the Senate all official
| reports and dispatches and papers in the Navy
| Department relatingto actions in which any OF
| the armed vessels have been engJged.
| Mr.. Lane introduced bill granting land to the
citizens Of Kansas to indemnify them for losses.
| On motion Of Mr.. Sprague the Bounty bill was
| Military Affairs.
| document nom the Secretary ofths TressU-
| ~ communicating the report Of Prof A. d.
| Bache, for the year ending November 1st, 1853,
| and the report OF ThomaJ Brown Agent Of the
! Treasury N California
The resolution Of the House for an adjourn
ment beng taken up Mr.. Sherman moved 70
| amend By striking cut the words " this House
| adjourned and inserting " the two Houses Of
Congress-" Carried.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman, it was voted to
| postpone the consideration Of the resolution to
| rhurday next. Yeas 81, nays II.
On motion of Mr.. Lane, OF Kansas, it was re-
| solved that the Committee on POstOfdces and
Post Roads be instructed to enquire into the
| propriety Of establishing what is now known a.
| the new military road from Lawrence to Fort
Scott as post road,
The following message was received from the
| President.
Herewith lay before you letter, addressed
| to myself, by Committee Of gentlemen repre-
senting the Freedmsns Aid Society in Boston
| New York, Philadelphia aud Cincinnati.
The subject Ofthe letter as Indicated above, IL
one of great magnitude and importance, and one
which these gentlemen Of known ability anc
high character seem to have considered viii
care. Not having time to form mature ludg
ment Of my own as 10 whether the plan they
suggest is the best, ! submit the whole subjec
| to Congress, deeming that thsiF attention thereto
is almost impoFatiTey demanded.
| ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Mr. Foote moved that upon the Senate's ad.
journing, it adjourn till Monday next. Lost.
Adjourned.