The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
Special D;spatch to The st. Paul Pioneer.

In the Senate, Mr.. Fessenden, from the
Committee on Finance, reported back the
fertilization bill without amendment.
Mr.. Grimes called up the bill authoriz-
ing letters of marque and reprisals. He
briefly urged the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Sumner thought the bill would
bring new and difficult embarrassments
upon the nation. This was bill to estab-
fish privateers whose only reward was
booty as an incentive to enterprise. If
more vessels were needed he would have
them hired and placed under Government
control and not send out self-regulating
cruisers. He could see nothing but dam
ger of collision with the great powers who
had solemnly declared against this system
of privateering. This nation had always
declined to pass any general law on this
subject, having always required special
act of Congress specifying a limited time.
He quoted from NUMBER of authorities
against the principle of privateering, and
contended that there was nothing to be OBJ
tanned by this bill that could not be better
obtained in another way. He would not say
that Government should not resort to this
policy, but this was no time to ADOPT it.
Mr.. McDougal could see no ground for
the objection of the Senator from Massa-
chusetts, unless on the hypothesis that he
belonged to the peace establishment. He
could see no reason why in time of war
our most effective force on the sea should
not be used against the enemy. Our COM
merce to-day was in danger from pirate
armed vessels of rebels. We know they
have been allowed by 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
seize those vessels. If letters of marque
had been granted at the commencement of
the war, there would have been no rum
ming of blockade. He especially wanted
the bill to pass, because he believed that
before Congress met again we should be at.
war with foreign power, and need all our
force on sea and land.
Mr. Collamer said one great objection to
the system was that it seemed to be
remnant of comparatively ancient bar
barous practice of capturing private prop
erty on the sea. 1t was agreed now by
ordinary laws of war that private property
of an enemy on land was not subject to
capture.
Mr. Dixon thought there was no neces-
sity for measure of this kind. We had
no war with foreign country, and the
rebels had no commerce. 1t was not
necessary to abandon a right of this kind.
But should we in time of peace with all
foreign countries pass measure of this
kind! He thought it would only be at
tended with evil consequences. He was
not willing without any necessity to resort
to this policy which was only a kind of
legalized piracy and which might be at
tended with unpleasant complications with
foreign powers.
Mr. Davis said the rebels had only few
fast vessels, but no commerce. If these
vessels were captured, it would be an end
of the matter. He could see no necessity
for such measure at this time.
After further discussion, a substitute
was offered by Mr.. Grimes, authorizing
the President in all foreign and domestic
wars to issue letters of marque, and make
all needful regulations. Adopted.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment,
which was adopted, limiting the authority
conferred by the act to three years.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment con-
filming the operations of the bill to the sup
preston of the rebellion. He had argued
that we should not put any thing in the
bill like a menace. When we were en-
gagged in foreign war, there would be
time enough to meet the question.
Mr.. McDougal asked Mr.. Sumner if we
were not now threatened with foreign
complications.
Mr.. Sumner said that he had no infor-
nation that was not open to the Senate.
Mr.. McDougal believed that before the
meeting of another Congress, we should
be involved in foreign war, and he want
ed to have the country prepared. The
amendment was rejected by yeas 10,
nays %.
Mr.. Sumner offered an amendment as
substitute, reviewing acts of 1923, con-
corning letters of marque and applying
them to that portion of the United States
now in instruction.
In the House, after considerable discus
sion, the resolutions of the Committee on
Elections, declaring Messrs. Flanders and
Hahn entitled to seats, were adopted by
vote of 90 against A. Mr.. Hahn was