The New York herald., 1864-05-26

WAsHN6r M may Aoos.
psrRBuroN DOCUMENTS
The House passed the joint resolution that the und
tributed portion Of books and documents purchased by
each houss previous 10 the Thirty Congress- and
now deposited in the Ineror Department aud elsewhere
be distributed to the present members and delegates In
Congress under the direction or the ont Committee on
Printing the said books TO be divided as equally as pos
sible in number and value.
MESSAGE IRON rtm pTrsiDET RsLArivS TO TUE fksSch
OCCUPATION MsxICo.
The SPEAKER laid before the House the reply OF Presi
dent Lincoln TO the resolution aaop1oa encios
ing the correspondence between Secretary Seward
Mr.. Dayton Telatye to the resolution adopted by tho
House against the Invasion of Mexico By France.
question: tha. Il does not belong 10 Congress 10 taks
Action In the premises and that while tue President
profound respect TO which 1t Is entitled he directs Mr.
Dayton to inform the French government that he docs
not intend TO depart from our heretofore enuncated
policy concerning the French occupation OF Mexico.
II appears that the French government was much
ercised by the resolution Of the House but that the
plantations OF Mr.. Dayton Quieied tho excitement.
Mr.. DAVIS, (rep) OF Nd, moved that the correspond
be referred to the Committee Fo eisn Affairs,
and ordered to be printed.
The motion was adopted.
TIM ARMY BILL
Mr.. MORRILL,, rep) OF VI, from the committee OF
ference on the dsagreeing amendments TO tho Army b
made report providing that in every whore IL shall
be made appear to the satisfaction OF the Secretary OF
War that regiment OF infantry cavalry battery
Of coored troops have been enlisted mustered into the
service OF the Ured States under any authorized
or BY Governor Of any State under authority OF the
President or Secretary o War; such troops shall be paid
the same as other troops Of similar arms OF tho service
FOR the period Of service counting from the date they
mustered into the service to tho LIST OF January,
1854 provided that this section shall not ba construed 10
prevent the Of other coored troops provided it
shall be their risht under the law.
Mr.. srEyENs, ep.) OF Pa, said that before whsn this
quest on was under consideration by the House they,
BY an yerwhelming msority, provided that all coloed
troop should be alo we'd pay &c equal With white SOL
diers from he timo Of their enlistment and enrolment.
Fne proposition made would leave the wh0e ques.
q TO agitation For one he would rather lose tbs
bill than Violate the principle with those who entered
the service from patriotic ana not mercenary motives.
Mr.. MORRILL, said by existing law all coored troops
from the January receive the pay
white soldiers The OF the committee of confer
ence for paying coIorcd troops who previously
entered the service the same as white troops, and who
promised equal compensation. To include all others
would make too heavy drain upon the treasury. Tho
report did not prevent pay to others under similar cir
who entitled to receive It, II involved the
ss pay Of FREQ '''F'd soldiers prior to tho LIST O
Pennsylvania mr. Stevens) that it would be
better not 10 pass the bill at all Than to do gross injustice
to other patriotic colored men, All soldiers should be
paid alike, without regard TO color
Mr. GARFIELD (rep Of Ohio, said the question was not
ri,
from January But now II was proposed TO ray class
Of black men who never hA4 right 70 the l1Sreaae9
gratuty to give them what had been given to white
men, He did not propose to do for The former what be
aa p u, ~ ,Is i'ss wanted to know what sh.
the of War bad make any discrimination be-
those who cad equally borne the pss Of the
the discrimination unlawful and that every black
soldier was entitled to thirteen dollars per month
Mr. TnAYER said no sophistry could sustain such dis.
elimination.
Mr. KRIIrY, (rep) Of Pa stated that when It was de-
termned to employ negro troops orders were sent TO
recruit them, with the assurance that they should
receive the same pay, raons, &c., ss other troops:
after examining the act of July, 1862, decided
that colored troops were entitled 10 receive only
ten dollars a month, and In accordance with this an
order issued by the Secretary Of War. The First
South Carolina and the Fifty fourth and Fifty dfh Massa
chusetts were recruited, and then that
they would DO paid 10 conformity with the Solicitors
construction Of that law. Recently the President re-
lerred that decision 70 .ne Attorney Gone, wnS oas
pcaton Of the ten dollars should be confined to aborors
and others outside tho actual military service. SO,
eordng to the Attorney General every coored soldier 10
entitled to the same pay as the white soldier.
These Massachusetts, regiments refused to receive the
dollars per month and claimed to be fully recognized
il the military service One coored regiment from
Pennsyvan had also fused TO receive pay undrr STINT
thirteen dollars per month the Interpretation
Of the law given by the Solicitor OF the War reprt
ment three dollars per month were Deducted from sub
Mr.. DAVIS, (rep Of Nd wsuld vote to adhere 70 the
original action Of the House for the reason that the law
tcers mado distinction Of ray because Of the difference
Mr. sonExck, (rcp.) Of onio thought House did
clearly appreciate the points OF dierence which no OK
pained be the report OF the committee OF
conference which made distinction between freedmen
and slaves
Mr. wApswoRrn, (opp.) OF KY, opposed to employ
Ing black soldiers Iut II he liko the majority VI
the House he would to make any discrimination
pay What right had the Secretary Of War 70 promise
negro troops higher pay than othcrsp He had
right to do that than 10 seize the World and
Journal Of Commerce-tbus violating tho freedom OF the
press and insulting the whole Amercan people.
The House. by 25 against 12l rejected the report OF
the committee OF conference, end, on motion OF MI.
STEVENS another conference was asked Of the Senate
MILITARY RAILROAD VALLEY TO EAST TENNESSEE
Military A!rs reported bill authorizing the President
TO for constructing military railroad from
the valley OF the Ohio to East Tennsseee. Mr. Schenck
said the absolutely essential, and was so re.
these generals represented v the Committee
Military Affairs.
Mr. SMITH, (rep) OF Ky, said bill could be Of
importance, and therefore required prompt action.
Tho consideration OF the bill was liked Tor Tuesday
next.
THE CANADIAN RECIPROCITY TREATY.
The House TOOK up the reciprocity resolution
Mr.. ELIOT, lrepl OF Mass, advocated giving tho re-
same time making provision for modification OF its
terms through the agency OF special commiss onors.
Mr. KELLOGG, (rep of Mich was n favor OF complete
abrogatIon, as the treaty conferred no ocnents M com
parison with the existing evils.
Mr. SpALDIsG, in his argument, was Tor giving the no
tce the treaty was clearly against us We had pesn
accustomed 10 throw ourselves toto The power
or Great Britain.
Mr. PRuYr opp.) Of N. Y advocated the joint resolu
ton reported from the Committee Commerce. for the
appointment OF commissioners with view TO more per-
feet reciprocity II was important to commerce that
the best feelings should exist between the United States
and the British provinces.
The House at ave O'Clock adjourned.
FRANCE AND MEXICO.