, 1863-02-28
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.


WASHINGTON, Feb. q. 1sG3.
SENATE.
A communication was received from the
Secretary Of the Treasury, transmitting an
additional report from the Collector Of New
York, concerning the duties on paper.
4 Committee Of Conference was appointed
on the bill TO limit the number Of Major and
Brigadier Generals
Mr.. COLLAMER Of Ft., from the Commit
tee on Post Offices and Reads, reported back
the bill to allow the Corington and Cincin-
natl Bridge Company to build bridge across
Ohio River 1t not less than 100 feet above low
water mark. with 600 feet span.
Mr.. WILSON Of Mass. made report from
the Committee of Conference on the bill to
limit the number Of Major Generals and Brig
Generals. Agreed to: The report makes il
all, seventy Major Generals, and 215 Brig.
Generals.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. HARRIS called up the bill to Elcili 'a'e
taking deposftions in the United States to be
used in other countries. Passed.
The Senate then resumed The consideration
Of the bill for the collections Of abandoned
property in insurTcctionary districts, The
pending. question being tho motion 10 strike
out sections authorizing agen's Of the trca-
sury:to purchaee cotton, rice, sugar, tobac-
co, &c.
A1r, GRIMES Of Iowa called m the bill to
incorporate the institution for colored chill
dren in the District Of Columbia,
After considerable discussion Mr.. DAVIS
moyed to postpone the bill. Rejected.
Mr. FESSENDEN Of Mime, from tnc Com
mlttec OF Conference On the bill to provide
ways and means for the Government, made q
report which was agreed to, and new Com
mittec appointed on tho amendment relative
to the lax OIL banks.
The bill to extend the Washington and
Alexandria Railroad was taken up.
Mr. SUMNER offered an amendment that
no person shall be exempted from the con.
EcIiptlnn On account Of color. Adopted.
Mr: CLARK Of n: 7: opposed tue bill, and
Mr.. McDOUGALL of Cal. said tho ncrson
at the hea'l ofthc War Department WIS a base
man a. had promised the President Of tIc
United Sites tn lis own house, that he would
to be President 0the United States.
Alr. MORRILL, ot Nc. called the Senator to
order, as his remarks were not relevant to the
chair.
Mr.. ANTHONY of R. I. decided the poin!
was well taken. 4N'
afr. McDOCGALL-I declare here in nv
place, before the Senate, on my own respon:i
biity. that the man WHO is at the head Of the
War Department, is man who has wrongcd
the country.
The chair called the Senator to order.
Nlr. McDOCGALL-1 appeal from the de
N4s.oA ~ t1'S snt: "aut ~ kHo" "nethcl
Senator Of the United States is equal to the
Secretary Of War?
Mr. TRUMBELL Of Ill appealed to the
Senator to withdraw his call for al appeal.
Mr.. McDOUGALL-I will withdraw it, but
should like an expression Of opinion whcth.
er the Senate dare speak. The bill passed
yeas -; nays 10.
Mr.. CHANDLER called up the bill for the
collection Of abandoned property aud the prc.
yention Of fraud in insurrectionary districts,
Mr: GRIMES offered an amendment cxclud.
ing all captures made By the navy from the
PROVISIONS Of the bill. Adopted.
Mr. HOWARD offered an amendment ex.
clnding all property which Ind been or WIS in
tended to be used against the United Sta-es.
such as shirs, munitions Of war, &c.
hlr. DAVIS in the course of some remarks
on the bill said many officers lad engaged In
the collec ion Of large amounts of pluntler
and lie understood tlln. Gen. Butler had
through brothar Of his engaged largely il
such Plundcr.
Mr. CHANDLER said that Gen. Butler lad
accounted to the treasury for every dollar o1
property lic had taken,
Mr. DAVIS said Gen. Butler did not act In
his own name, but his brother was his agent
and Ga hered up large amount Of plumber
lie saw by the Intf1igtncer that this brother
Of the A1ilIiken estate worth before
the war three millions Of dollars. There
was gentleman who had large amount ot
plate, worth $4,000, deposited in safe nj
New Orleans and fine house with furniture,
valued at 5000. Geu. Butler sent nh armed
possession Of tile furniture-and General
Butler wonld compel persons having prop,
crty, to sell 1t to him ut n reduced
price. The people Of New Orleans had
denounced him as q plunderer and tyr.nt
Mr. WILSON OF Mass. referred to the re.
marks Of the Senator from Kentucky con,
eerniDg Gen. Butler. He believed tia. tue
Senator was entirely mistaken. Gen. Bu:le,
had turned over to the Government nearly
ono million dollars and put into the treasury
nearly $3.50, COO. lie had done more than al
most most any ether d, ma, to support the Govern
leans. General Butler had supper cd
nearly so, 600 poor people, and had levied con.
| tributions On rebels to help furnish mcans.
lie thought the i1npntation5 against General
Butler entirely uncallcd for and unjust. IL
did not bclcve that General Butler ever re-
| cciycd f,rthing wrongfully.
| Mr.. DAVIS Of Ky. repeated what hc lsad
heard, and said that 1T the next session III
| would call for a court to Investigate into tht
| dpi1,gs Of General Butler.
Mr. WILSON Of Mass. said that these charg
| es were made by ncn who hated Gen. Butter
| Every man who acted with vigor and energy
| against tile rebels had been slandercd. IL
! man had done more than General Butler, and
| lie hoped tho Senator would bc true to hi:
promise and call for 4 court to investigate tlt
conduct Of General Butler.
Mr.. RICE Of MINI. also defended Butlel
and his course, and said the charges against
Buffers brother getting rich were mere news
paper reports. seml-rcbels aud sym
pathizcrs were npt to complain.
1lr. DAVIS asked what the Senate though
OF the gross order with regard to women.
Mr. RICE said It vas evident from Butler
explanation that It did not mean what semi
| rebels tried to make 1t ont. In regard to thl
person from st. Louis, who said be lost hi
| plate and furniture, he would say he was
| traitor, or else Butler never touched Il dolla1
! Of his property.
The Chair decided that the discussion WI:
t Irrelevant, and after further discussion TIL
bill was postponed.
The Senate passed joint resolution giving
| the thanks Of Congress to Gun. Rosecrans ant
officers and men for gallantry at Slulfrcesboro
Adjourned.
Tho House went into Committee Of tn
Whole, Mr.. COLFAN in the Chair, and re
suncd the consideration OF amendments tt
the Internal Revenue bill.
| 4 substitute WAS adopted for the 9th sec
tion, imposing new rates Of stamp taxes o.
rromissory notes, In order that it may b
more certainly executed, and to avoid eva
efons; also on bonds Of MORTGAGES with pow
| CTS OF attorney, anu taxes Oh sales Of 5hip
nud assignments Of insurance policies. It Ell
e1npts soldiers md sailors pension papers
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. TASHBUREE. from the Committe'
Of Conference on the disagreeing amendment
to the bank tar clause Of the bill to proyid
ways and means for the support of tile Gov
ernmcnt, reported that the committee wa
unable to agree. He moved that the Hous
recede from the disagreement to the Scnat
amendment.
The House, by 4 vote Of 63 against IS, re
fused to reccdefrom its disagreement to tn
Senate amendments. On motion Of N,
DAWES, the House insisted on its disagree
ments, and asked another Committee Of Cor
ference.
Mr.. STEVENS Of, Pa., from the Comnaitte
on Conference on the disagreeing votes on til
bill to indemnify the President and others 10
acts committed under the suspension Of til
writ Of habsdx corpus, made 1 report It au
thorizcs the President, during the present II
bel!ion, where the public safety requires it, t
suspend the writ Of hdhas corpus in any STATE
or parts Of States, and provides for discharge
by the courts parties discharged to tax
the oath Of allegiance.
1Ir. PENDLETOE of Ohio raised the poir
that this vas not the report agreed upon i
the Joint Committee Of Conference, but Wa
altered after the meeting had adjourned.
| afcssrs, STEVENS and BINGHAM e!