The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-02-11
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TOrHE
Portland Daily Press.
XXXvIII OONGREss---rirst Session.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10.

| WASHINGTON, REP. III.
| SENATE.
Mr.. Trumbull reported from the Judiciary
| Committee various bills to amend the Consti-
tuition, and an amendment by way OF a substi-
tute, providing for the adjustment of slavery
through State legislation.
Mr.. Sumner introduced resolution enouir-
ing as to an outrage committed on Surgeon
| Augustus, of the 18th U. S. colored voun-
teers by a conductor of street car in Wash
ington. The resolution ELECTED spicy de-
bate between Messrs. Sumner, Wilson and
| Hendricks.
On motion of Mr.. Trumbull, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the bill prohibiting Mem
bers OF Congress, heads Of Bureaus, and 9TH
| ers, from acting as attorneys except in purely
| judicial cases before civil courts.
| After long debate Mr.. Corwin moved TO
| strike out Members of Congress. Carried,
| yeas rs, nays Ia.
The bill provides that no member of the
| Senate or House, nor any head of department
shall receive compensation directly or indi-
rectly for service in any proceeding, contract,
| claim, controversy, charge, accusation, arrest,
| or other matter in which the United States is
interested. Any such person offending shalt
be fined $4,000 and imprisoned two years,
| and he forever incapacitated from holding any
| office under the government.
| MIR. Trumbull, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported back substitute for the joint
resolution Of Mr.. Henderson, proposing
| amendments to the Constitution, as follows:
| lst-Neither slavery nor involuntary servi-
| tude, except as punishment for crime, shall
| exist within the United States. or any place
| subject to their jurisdiction.
2d-Congress shall have power to enforce
this article by appropriate legislation.
Mr.. Trum5ull, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported adversely to the proposed amend
ment Of the Constitution by Mr.. Sumner,
making all men free before the law so that no
man can hold another slave.
Mr.. Clark introduced a bill ratifying and re-
affirming the Presidents proclamation of Jan.
LIST, 1854, and giving it the force of statute.
Referred to the Slavery and Freedman's COM
mittee.
Mr.. Brown submitted an amendment to the
enlistment bill, confirming the emancipation
proclamation, abolishing slavery throughout
the country, and subjecting coiored men to
enrolment and draft.
Mr.. Summers resolution relative to the
ejectment OF negroes from the cars in Wash
ington, was adopted.
A resolution establishing a committee on
manufactures, was adopted.
The bill equalzing the pay of soldiers was
taken up, the pending question being on strik-
ing out the section giving colored men the
same pay as white soldiers.
Mr.. Sumner argued in favor of the BILL
MIR. Fessendsn opposed the retrospective
character of the bill.
Mr.. Wilson favored il, endorsing Mr.. Sum-
ner.
Mr. Doolttle gave notice of an amendment.
The bill was then laid over.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion, after which adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to the consideration
OF the bill TO establish a Bureau Of freedmen's
affairs.
Mr.. Elliot, of Mass. explained the bill, say
ing its passage was demanded no less by the
consideration Of high justice than by its effect
on the pecuniary interests of the government.
The House committee on Military Affairs
have prepared a bill TO retire from the army
unemployed Major and Brigadier Generals
No action was had on the bill.
Mr.. Dawes, Of Mass, presented the creden-
tials Of James NJ johnson, from Northwest
ern Arkansas.
Mr.. Davis, of Ind, moved to lay them on
the table.
Pending the question, the House went into
committee OF the whole on the state of the
Union and the enrolment bill.
The enrolment bill was discussed the re-
mainder of the session.
The committee were for long time engag-
ed on the section exempting members of re-
nsiOus denominations WHO are CONSCIENTIOUS
ly opposed to bearing arms for service in the
field, but assigning them TO look after freed
men.
During the debate Mr.. Deming, of Conn,
said there were 100000 non-resistants in the
country, and il they were exempted from the
draft, there would be a revival among the now
resisting sects, and their ranks at least would
be recruited.
Mr.. Allen, of ILL.,, moved to amend by strik-
ing out the reference to religious denomina-
tions, and making the section apply to all per-
sons conscientiously opposed TO bearing arms.
Disagreed to by one majority.
The section, therefore, substantially stands
as in the original bill.
Mr.. Ganson offered as an amendment that
privileges Of the writ of haheas corpus shall
not be suspended in the cases of alleged min
| ors who may be enlisted. Rejected
| Mr.. Stevens, Pa, offered an amendment that
| persons Of African descent between twenty
| and forty-fve years of age, shall be enrolled
and form part of the national forces, and when
slaves shall be drafted and mustered into SER
| vice, the master shall receive certificate for
$500, and the drafted man shall be free.
| An animated debate ensued, participated in
by Messrs. Clay and Mallory against Bout
| well, Morris, Cresswell, Farnsworth, Davis and
| Smithers in favor of the amendment.
The committee rose without voting.-Ad-
| journed.