The New York herald., 1864-04-06
Progress OF the House On the National
Bank Dill.
The Prohibition Of Slavery by an
Amendment of the Constitution.
important epseches Of Senator
Trumbull and Rcverdy Johnson.

Navy Omeers,
WASHINGTON, April 8, 1854
paPAlrURE OF GENERAL GRANT FOB THE FRONT.
Lieutenant General Grant hers to-day for the Army
q Tho Potomac accompanied by Major General Sheridan
formerly . division commander in the Army Of the
Cumberland. but now ordered TO the command OF the
cavalry In the Army Of the Potomac.
AoryvH PREPARATIONS FOR THE SPRING CAMPAIGN.
Notwithstanding tho prevalent rain storm, the work Of
preparation for aotive and decisive spring campaign
going on The Commissary Quartermaster's Depart.
snts hero busy In rentDg and furnishing the army
end the passing Of regiments to and fro revive recoec
Aons Of the stirring times Of 1861 when tho Army OF the
potomac was being formed.
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL HOLT's OPINION ON THE
! RIGHT OF THE PRESIDENT TO DISMISS MILITARY
; AND NAVAL OFFICERS.
Judge Advocate general holt has, in response to the
request OF tho Senate Committee Military Affairs given
his views the House bill taking from the President
Ehs power TO summsriy dismiss army and navy officers
without trial by court martial
Judge Holt says that from the foundation Of the gov
Srnment the President has been in the habit OF summary
dsmisspg officers the land and naval SERVICE that the
power to do TO nhere in him under tho constu
on Commander in Chief Of the army and navy that
s action in this respect has been attended by oppres
nion or abuses, and its strict legality cannot
be contested; that the exercise, therefore, OF
,this authority, the outbreak OF the
tellion, has nothing in 1t that savors Of usurpa-
sion Innovation that should excite alarm In the
emergencies Of military life, and especially during a
eroA Of active hostities the interests the service
often not only require that officers shall be instantly dis
srssed but that their places shal be Immediately sup
.psd This bill makes such supply impraccable In the
case OF delinquent suspended officers, because it conem
plates vacancy.
Besides this Mr.. Holt says among other things, that
shs government could not investigate through courts
0artal, the hundreds OF which this bill would
bring up, without such draft upon the officers Of the
army needed for active field service greatly i'm
pair tho efficiency Of the campaign about to open in
every part OF the theatre the war;
Tho Senate Military Committee have reported adversely
20 she bill.
SENATORIAL DxBATE on EMANCIPATION BY AMEND.
lNG TIE CONSTITUTION.
Mr. johnson 70 day delivered in the Senate Of the
mos elective speeches Of the session in favor Of amend
ang the constitution with the view OF emancipation.
pntsnss interest manifested By all present and
~ ~ conclusion republican Senators aocked around
oin with congratulations. II was at nrst thought
chat Mr.. salisbury intended 70 reply 1t length,
And the manner In which Senators sosy turned to their
desks Aod private Affairs occasoned considerable
nens. Several feeble efforts made by Mr. Davis to
r up discussion by introducing absurd amendments TO
shs proposition, which tho Senate, however, quietly
pasayzcd-the 6ibustering experiment only meeting the
npprsval OF Mcssrs Powell Riddle and Salisbury. IL 10
understood that tho latter designs making lengthy
speech advocacy Of the peculiar doctrine shat IL any
bns State should in convention dsapprove Of the amend
nneat such State would not all affected by the
msasure.
teegraphc abstract OF the speech OF Hon.
Lymaa Trumbu OF Illinois, In the United states Senate
An faver OF the amendmsnt constitution sbeshng
slavery, Of the most important portions OF the
speech left wholly unnoticed II very power
Rul Argument and exhibited beyond any shadow OF doubt
she fsaoy and inecency OF all the Congressional egs
lason and the Presidential procsmaons this subject
10 effect sue desired result The argument was precise
~ h line with that presented from time TO time by the
RsaALD Of the adoption of such amendment
After having shown conclusvey that all the OF
Congress hitherto adopted utterly Intellectual 10
hring about the abolition Of slavery throughout the
Nnon Mr. Trumbu disposed Of the proclamations the
following simple, but clear and concise statement OF
Gscts-
Ata later period the Presiaen, by proclamation un
dertook 70 savcs certain localities Notice Of
hhis proclamation given In September, 1869, and
wss % become effective in January. 1858 Unlike the
1ebes only and Of such under our CONTROL the
Presidents proclamation excepted from its provisions
'cared free the slaves only who in regions
y from which the authority of the United States
expelled enlonng upon the persons proposed to be mado
free 70 abstain all violence in necessary self
defence, and recommending them In all cases. when
The ro.se and effect OF this proclanaton are
understood very differently by its advocates and
oppopents The former insist that II Is and within
she constitutional power Of the President Commander.
fn-CAic. 10 issue such proclamation; that IL Is the
D.ovsous o. All saves within h Ocs % be-
como tpso focto Free while others declare that Is.
sued without competent authority and has not and can
not eject the emancipation OF = single slave Ihcse
latter insist that the most tie President could do, as
commander OF tho armies Of the United States, world
he 10 the absence OF legislation 10 seize and tree the
slaves which within the control OF tho army that
Che power exercised BY commander inchct. os such
must be power exercised in fact, and that beyond bis
lines whore his armies cannot 20 hts orders mere
Dp,arrs fv,aen, and neither work forfeiture
OF property freedom Of saves that the power OF
Fremont aud Hunter commanders in chief tori certain
sime IN their departments, who assumed 10 free the
laves within toer respective commands Just CT
of shs Commander Chief or al the departments who
- commsoder could NOS orsw 70 himself any I BIS
any force except within tho lines aud where the army
sually had the power to execute the order that 70
free the slaves or rebels, and il the Presidents s
proclamation had any eject would only be 20 free the
slaves Of loyal men, for which the laws er the
land did not provide. 1 will not undertake TO say
which Of these opinions correct, l. necessary Tor
my purposes decide IL s enough for me 20 show that
any and aiI these laws and procsmations, giving 10
each the largest effect claimed by It's friends, ne
grsss, faithfully executed, would leave rcmainng the
slaves beio1gpg TO loyal ma ters, which, considering
how many hsid by chldren and females not
N che rebellion would be no nccnsiderabe number and
ahc Presidents proclamation excepts from provisions
all Delaware Maryland, kentucky Tennessee, Missouri
and good portion Of Louisiana and Nirgniaanest hal
she slave states IT. then are to get rid OF the nsttu
aon We must have e1Ds more eIbcient way OF doing
Man By ~ proca411lops that have been ksuef TN
acts Of Cc0gess which have been passed
purkRruRp or GENERAL srCxLEs FOE THE sourH.
wEsT-THk oBJKcr or HIS MISSION.
Major GcnevG Sicklcs accompanied by his persona
s.aa, Ion here this morning for Cincinnati He Is chargec
With special orders from the President under which he VII
make complete tour Of the territory reclaimed fro, III
rsbes with vsw OF observing the temper and dsposi