Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-01-07
Proceeding. of Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.

|
sRNATR,
Mr.. Johnson presented a petition from
the Friends of Maryland, Virginia, and
Pennsylvania, asking exemption from
military duty; also a petition from SUI
san W, Hatch, Of Maryland, praying for
a compensation for the slaves owned by
her and which had been taken by the
| military, and for which pay was disal.
! lowed on account of her husband, which
was referred TO the Committe on Claims.
Mr.. Morgan presented petitions from
the Society Of Friends, praying for ex.
emption.
On motion Of Mr.. Anthony, the Sen.
ate proceeded 10 the election OF the Sc
lect Committee on the Pacific Railroad.
lie nominated Mr.. Howard as chairman,
and as members of the committee
Messrs Callomer, johnson, Harlan
Trumbull, Sherman, Morgan, CONFESS,
ana Brown who We're elected
Mr.. Morrill, offered the following:
Rescirtd, That the Secretary of War be
directed 10 inform the Senate whether
the steamer Niagard, which was char
tered by the Quarter Masters Depart
ment in sixty-two, and reported by q
committee of the Senate as unfit for the
service, has since been purchased by the
Government, and If SO by whom. and at
what price, and whether any claim is
made for the original charter, and if so
what; and particularly what Is the sit
uatlon OF the claim, which was adopted.
Mr.. Howard submitted the following
resolution, which was objected to and
laid over:
Rfsoired, That the Committee on the
Judiciary beinstructed to consider the pro
priety of repeating the joint resolution of
January IL, 1862, relative to the conscrip-
ton act, and particularly so much of said
joint resolution as purports TO prohibit
the forfeiture of real estate beyond the
natural life Of the offender.
Mr.. Wilson reported from the Military
Committee the act to amend the enroll
ing act, also the bill TO extend the time
for paying the bounty to volunteers
The Senate then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the bill of Mr.. Powell to
prevent officers of the army and navy, or
other persons engaged i'm the military
service, from interfering with the cleo
tons in States.
Mr.. Grimes opposed the reference of
the bill TO the Judiciary Committee on
the ground that it related to officers in
their military capacity.
Mr.. Powell contended for the refer
ence of the bill to the Judiciary Com
mittee, rs it protected the freedom of the
elective franchise in the States. The
evil sought TO be remedied was of start
ling import 10 every free man. Elections
have been carried against the will of 3
majority of the people at the point of the
bayonet.
Mr.. Davis favored the reference of the
bill TO the judiciary Committee, as it
introduced the question wsether certain
acts performed by military men shall be
a civil offence.
The Senate refused TO refer the bill to
the Judiciary Committee by vote of 81
to l6.
Mr. Powell moved for re-considera-
tion of the vote.
A lengthy debate then ensued, i'm which
Messrs Lane, of Indiana, Powell and
Davis, of Kentucky, and Wilson, of Mass
achusetts participated.
Mr., Powell, in the course of his re-
marks, said the power of a military OPP
Grafton on a Railroad, makes his will
the supreme law. He says you shall not
vote unless you become the subjects of
the hero of the bloodstained field of
Vienna.
Mr.. Powell's bill was then referred to
the Committee on military affairs.
The Senate received the House bill, ex-
tending bounty to volunteers, which
passed on its second reading.
Adjourned.