Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-18
COngresl-2nd Session,
SENATE.


hAshlauIOas FeU' ll'
Messrs. Foo,r, Davis, Collamer aud
Howe presented petitions for camp hoSpit.
ais and aud an ambulance corps.
Sir. King presented u petition asking for
equal privileges to all telegraph cOmpa.
MES
Nr. COllamer, from the Post Office Com
mittee reported a joint resolution author
king the collection Of foreign postage in
coin
NJ. Wilson Of Mass, from the Military
Committee, reported back bill reOrganiE'
the engineer corps.
NJ. Wilson, from the same committee,
also reported adversely on the bill TO Su.
tborize contracts 10 BIZ made with those
States that have advanced pay to the SOL
diers.
SNr. Trnmbull called up bill to prevent
agents of the Government, as well as menu
berS OF Congress from taking taking any
consideration for procuring place, office or
contract. Passed.
Mr. Howard called up the bill dividing
Michigan into two judicial districts, and
regulating the time for holding the courts.
Mr. Trumbull opposed tue bill.
After some further discussion the bill
was postponed.
Mr.. FeSseuden from the Committee on
Finance reported back the fortifCation bill
without amendment.
Mr.. Grimes called up the bill authoriz.
ing letters Of mArque and reprissl, be brief.
ly urged the passage Of the bill.
Mr.. Sumner thought the bill would bring
new and difficult embarrassmeuts upon The
nation. This was bill to establish priva.
teers whose only reward was booty as an
incentive to enterprise. II more vessels
we're needed he would have them hired and
placed under the control Of the Govern.
ment. lie could see nothing but danger Of
complication with the Great Powers who
bad solemnly declared against this system
of priVateering
We bad always declined to pass any
general law on this subject. Having oil.
ways required special act Of Congress,
specifying limited time. He quoted from
II number Of authorities against the princi-
pie OF privateeriDg, and contended that
there was nothing TO be obtained by this
bill that could not be better obtained in
another way. lie would not soy that the
government should never resort TO this
policy, but this was no time TO adopt It,
Mr. McDougal could see no ground for
objection Of the Senator from MassaChu.
sets unless on the hypothesis that he be-
longed to the peace establishment and be
could see no reason why in time Of war
our most effective force on sea should not
bO used against the enemy. Our commerce
TO. day was 10 danger from pirate armed
vessels u rebels, they bad been allowed by |
other nations 10 issue letters of marque and
grant commissions emitting them to enter
foreign ports, and yet, we stand questioning |
whether We should grant power TO private
vessels to seize those vessels. II letters oil
had been granted at the commence.
meut Of the war there would have been no |
running Of the blockade. lie especially
wanted the bill TO pass because be believed
before Congress met again We shonld he nj
war With foreign power, and will need oil
our force on sea and land.
Mr.. COllamer said one great objection to |
The system was that 1t seemed 10 be rem.
nAnt Of comparatively ancient bar6arlsm 10 |
sead out vessels to take private property
on the sea. 1t WAS agreed to now by or.
binary laws OF war that private property OF
40 enemy on land was not subject to cap.
lure.
Mr.. Dixon thought there was no uecesIi
~ for measure Of this kind. II we had
no war with q foreign country and The
rebels had no commerce II was not nsceS-
Bary to abandon right OF this kind. But
should we in atime Of peace with all for.
oign countries pass measure Of this kind,
be- thought it would only be attended with
evil consequences. He was not willing
without any necessity to resort to this pol.
icy which was only kind Of lcgalized pi.
racy and which might be attended With
unpleasant complications with foreign
powers.
Mr.. Davis said the rebels had only few
fast vessels, but no commerce. II these
vessels were captured 1t would be an end
Df the matter. He could see no necessity
for such measure at this time.
After further discussion substitute was
offered by Mr.. GRIMES, authorizing the
10 all foreign and domestic wars
10 issue letters Of marquer and make oil