Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-03-12
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1863.

quenty adjourned.
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1863
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. announced the Standing
Committees for the session The following il q list of
them:
Foreign Relations -Messrs. Sumner, Chairman Eos
ter Du.lttle Davis Johnson Bayurd and Harris
Financs.- Messrs. Fessendn (chalrmrn,) Colamer,
Sherman Howe. Cowan, McDougall, and Hicks.
Commsrcs.-Messrs. Chandler, chairman, Morrill, Will
sop, Of Massachusetts,, Ten Eysk, Salisbury Trumbul,
Mit1y Affairs and the Miiitia-Messrs Wilson, of
Nj achusets, chirman) Lane, of Indiana, Howard,
Nesmitb, Morgan, spragu-, and Bowden
Naral Afir.-Messrs. Hale, (chairman, Crimes Sher-
man, McDougal, Johnson Ramsey, and Sprague.
Jadicia,y- Trunbill. chairman Foster, Ten
Eyck, Harris Howard, Bayard, and Powell.
Post offices and Post Roads.-Messrs Collauer (char-
Bu Buck : '-' ''AA' -N'''' D0"'''' '''
Public Lands.-Messrs. Harlan. (chairman,) Clark,
Ponery Garlic, Hardin, Ramsey and Hend cks.
Prirus Lana Claims.-Messrs. Harris, chairman, }
Sumner, morrill,, Howard, and Bayard.
Indian ii fairs Mes Re. Doll tile, (charman,) Wkin-
Line II Kansas, Harlan, N-smltb, Davis, and Will
son. Of Missouri.
Passions -Messrs Foster. Chairman Lam, of In
diane, HIVE, Pomeroy, Salisbury, Buckalew, aud Bow
Revolutionary Claims -Messrs wilkinson, chairman
Chandler. Lane, OF Kansas, Nesmiih, and Wright.
c aims.-Messrs. Clark, (charman,) Howe, PomerOy,
An ny, lIicss, Ha ng and Hendricks
District Of Columbia -Messrs, Grimes, (chairman,)
Dixon, Morrill,, We'd, Anthony Richardson, and Wright
Patents and the Patent Office -Me.srs Cowan (chair-
man, Sumner Harris, SALISBURY, and Garlic.
Pubic Build sgs and Groands-Mess Foot, (chair-
man, Anshony Chandler, Salisbury and Wilson, OF s.
On Territoriss-MesHs. W ade (rhairmsn, Wilkinson,
Hale, Laue # Kansas, Garlic Wilson of Missouri aud
Ricf ard on
To Audu and Control tho Contingent Expenses Of ts
Senate D, xon, (charmsn Clark, aud Harding.
Engfosstd Bts -Messrs Lane, Of Indiana, (chailman)
Sunu.r and Harding.
JOINT COMMITTEES.
On Printing. -M,ssrs. Anthony, Chairman Harlan,
On Enrol ed Bils-Messrs. Howe, (charman,) Cowan,
and salisbury.
On the L,brary.-Messrs. Coamer (charman) and Fes-
sen len.
Mr. BAYARD took the oath to support the Constitution
OF the United states, now entering upon term.
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mr.. SUMNER called up the resolution introduced by
bin yesterday, ibng that the ath prescribed
by the law LIST July shall BE- taken and subscribed
BY members OF this body in open Senate
Mr. SALISBURY moved it's further consideration be
pos poned until Tomorrow
Mr. SUMNER said if there any particular reason
for this he would but il not they had better pro-
coed with its consideration He, however no neces
sity for protracted discussion.
Mr. SALISBURY urged that no injury could result by
posponng the consideration of the resolution he had
sugRe ted.
Mr. SUMNER replied the statute required every off FER,
civil military and naval to take the oath before entering
upon the duties of office.
Mr.. SALISBURY replied the oath could not now ap
Ply becaue Senators had already entered upon the duties
OF their Office Therefore utterly impossible to adj
minister it before dong the Senate having already en-
tered upon and transacted business pertaining to the pre-
sent session.
Mr. BAYARD did not rise formally to oppose the reso-
luton but suggested important questions involved
well the constitutional power interfere with the
qualifications of either branch of Congress.
Mr., SUMNER did not desire to press the resolution,
but the had at present little do be thought they
might well consider the subject in addition being
very important.
Mr. DAVIS OF Kentucky, SAID the law prescribing the
osth is hagousy constitutional IL simply proposed
test oath. II they had right to administer
ter they had right to admin ter it in another TIE
Jrity Of the Senate had great to Copperhead
Democrats Suppose in three or four years. these Cop
peh heads" should obtain possession Of the Government
includi the Executive and legislative branches and
up with their test oath to sustain their particular school of
Poilc were gentlemen ready to admit hst they had the
constitutional power to administer such oath Vt
they would have much power TO impose their form Of
oath to promote their party ends the last Congress had
10 pass th law He tut he couf take this oath with
ss clear conscience but he held Congress has
no power 10 law imposing such oath. He argued
1t would be setting most miscbievous precedent, and
would act like double edged sword.
Mr.. HARRIS sad this debate Improbable, and
moved that the Senate go into Executive session.
Mr.. TRUMBULL remarked if the Senate was going to
repeal law Of Congress- tho question had better be set
ted at once.
Mr.. HARRIS remarked that they could not sstte it
to-day.
Mr. TRUMBULL thought they could.
M. SUMNER was sorry the Senator from New York
proposed TO null fly law Of Congre s.
MIR. HAIR replied he proposed to do no such thing
Mr. GRIMES, of Iowa. though they could 20 into Ex-
ecutse and the nominations to the sppropr
ase commit ees This would expedite business They
could then open the ors and resume the dis sion
Mr. SUMNER would not nterpose an objection to that
tie repeat there was statute requiring the oath to be
taken The question WIS whether they would obey it or
MT To into Executive session. and thus dispose of the
mater before taking the OATH would be disregard the
law Of G, ngrees.
Mr. GRIMES did not look upon the subject in that
light.
The Senate went into Executive session. and after re-
mai1iDg some time therein t. doors opened when
Mr. DAVIS resumed his remarks contendine, AZ the
Constitution prescbes the qualifications If members tbese
amended by law. BY what authority then could thu Sen.
Senator sba continue in hs seat7 Suppose senator
should refuse to take the oath would this BODY exps
hm' IL co. r what7 He has been guilty of no disor.
dolly conduc." which within the constituonal |
clause which authorizes Their House to expel member
He could not be expelled, excepting in accordance with
| fsgtous, arbitrary, and iyrannical rule.
Mr.. SUMNER said this subject involved the great oue,
ton OF obed ence TO he laws. How could we oxpect-
Mr.. SALISBURY, interruptng inquired whether If
this oath was necessary prehm nary TO entering noon
the duties Of flee, how cou it be discussed
Mr.. SUMNER replied the Sena or had interrupt him
tho very fret sentence IL the Senator would have ,b
kadness to listen, be would find an answer We .honld
be ,at, example OF OBJ dence to law; for II wa
thrust the law al 10, would the other Iuse fol oy
49, Ham tillt rtkn n