The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-01
BY TELEGRAPH
Portland Daily Press.
XXXVIII C0EGREss--First Session.
WASHINGTON, Feb. q.
SENATE.


of the Legislature of Michigan, asking changes
in the enrolment law. Referred to the Mill
tary Committee.
Mr. Chandler presented lengthy petition
for an uniform ambulance corps. Referred
Mr. Ten Eyck reported bill to enable the
guardians of lunatics in the States to act in
the District of Columbia. Referred to the
Judiciary Committee
Mr. Grimes introduced bill for the pro-
lection of overland emigration to the Pacific
Referred TO the Committee on Military At
fairs.
NJ. Sumner, from the select Committee on
Slavery and Freedmen, presented report on
the fugitive slave law, accompanied with bill
for the repeal of all laws for the rendering up
of fugitive slaves.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Military Committee,
reported bill extending the payment of boun-
ties to April LIST, as passed by the House. Mr.
Wilson thought there was no doubt that we
were enlisting men more rapidly than we
could provide for them. We were enlisting
them at the rate of 1000 per day. IL we had
to make a draft it would be small one to fill
the quota of 100000 men. We had over 300,-
GOO men already under this call.
Mr.. Fessenden objected to have bill of
such Importance as this come before the Sem
ate without the recommendation of the Exc
cutive and the Department and If we legis-
late without such sanction we shall get our
selves into trouble. He moved that the bill
be recommitted to the Military Committee.
The bill was recommtted.
A resolution of Mr.. CONFESS that 10000
copies of the report of the Committee of
Freedmen and Slavery, with the accompany
ing bill be printed for the use of the Senate,
was referred to the Committee on Printing.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of the bill equalizing the pay of soldiers, the
question being on the pending amendment of
Mr.. Wilson to insert the word sfree" before
the word persons" in Mr.. Collamers amend
ment
Mr.. Fessenden was opposed to the retrac-
tive character of the bill. He was not willing
to put his hands in the treasury to pay these
colored troops money they do not ask for.
| We are not in condition to do this.
Mr.. Sumner replied to Mr.. Fessenden, urg-
ing the justice of making the bill retroactive in
the case of the Massachusetts colored troops.
Mr.. Sumner, from the Committee on Slav-
| cry and Freedmen, reported bill TO secure
equality in the Courts of the United States.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on con-
ference on the dissgreeing votes of the two
| Houses on the whiskey bill, reported dis
agreement, and said if the Senate would in
struct its committee to allow tax of 20 cents
| per gallon on liquors on hand in July, the bill
would not fail. He hoped this would be done.
| The subjec was made the special order for
| tomorrow at / o'clock.
The debate on the bill equalizing the pay of
soldiers was resumed.
The Senate then went into executive ses
sion.-Adjourned.
HOUSE.
| Mr.. Stevens, of Penn, asked leave TO intro
duce resolution, that the Committee on the
| Conduct of the War be instructed to inquire
and report on the practical operations and re-
| suit of the several acts of Congress touching
commercial intercourse with States declared
to be In Instruction against the authority OF
the Government and the regulations OF the
| Treasury Department established by the
Secretary, and approved by the President of
| the United States on the 3lst oil March and
| 18th of september, 1868, aud of the military
orders which have been made from time to
| time touching such commercial intercourse
| by Generals commanding departments, or
| other officers; also to ascertain and report in
| what manner the acts, regulations and orders
| OF the military have been executed, and es-
pecially whether frauds have been committed
or fayoritism shown to individuals in districts
or localities by any agents or others employed
under said act, or by agents acting under the
| Generals regulations and orders, and that the
committee inquire into all other matters
| touching all such points which affect the pub
lie interest or character of any public service.
Mr.. Blair, of Mo-, objected to the introduc-
ton Of the resolution.
Mr. Stevens moved a suspension Of the
rules, but the question was determined in the
negative-75 against AZ, not two thirds.
AZ a subsequent stage of the proceedings,
however, Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, submitted a
similar resolution, which was agreed to-yeas
70. nays 43.
Mr.. Julian, of Nd, introduced a bill TO Sc
cure to persons in the military aud naval SER
vice homesteads in confscated and forfeited
estates within insurrectionary districts. Re-
ferred to Committee on Public Lands.
Mr. Ross, of ILL.,, offered resolution, that
in consequence of increased expenses of lv-
ing, and the depreciation of value of the ma
tional currency, it is the opinion Of the House
that the compensation of officers and soldiers
in the army and navy ought to be increased
about 30 per cent, and that the Committee ON
Military Affairs be instructed to report at an
early day bill carrying out the views of the
House as expressed by this resolution.
Mr. Wilson, of Iowa, introduced bill, that
each and every person now indebted, or who
may become indebted to us, prior to the LIST
day of July, 1865, on account OF duties or i'm
ports, may discharge one tenth Of the amount
of such Indebtedness by payment in legal
tender treasury notes of the United States,l
Also bill providing that the provisions of the
Act of August, 1861. which authorizes a
direct tax of S20,000,000, shall be suspended
until April LIST, 1861. Both bills were referred
to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr.. Arnold, of ILL.,, asked leave to offer
resolution, inquiring into the expediency of
putting rebel prisoners to work, In order that
they may earn a livelihood while in our hands.
Mr. Blair, OF Mo-, objected.
More than an hour was consumed in repeal
ing Joint resolution heretofore passed au-
thorizing the Clerk of the House to purchase
the copyright Of Laman's Directory of Con-
gress.
The House passed the bill reported from the
Committee of Ways and Means last week, and
which was then published, authorizing q
change in the form of a part of the loan au-
thonzed by the act of March last. This is the
bill for the issue Of $500, 100000 of $40 bonds.
Numerous resolutions were offered, among
them, one TO appoint peace commissioners TO
Richmond, which received but twenty votes
in its favor.
A resolution OF Mr.. Schenck, of Ohio, de-
claring that there Is no middle ground in the
present contest, and that men must be either
patriots or traitors, was passed.
A resolution was adopted requesting the
Secretary Of the Navy to furnish the House
with full information relative TO all the move
ments in detail by the navy before Charleston
since the first commencement of the -seige
and blockade of that port.
4 resolution was adopted instructing the
| COMMITTEE on Rules to inquire into the expe-
dieney OF establishing q national banking
| committee.
A resolution, declaring that Vallandighams
arrest and Punishment were the result of
mere exercise of arbitrary power, offered by
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