The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-15
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Portland Daily Press.
XXXVIII CONGREss---First Session.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Jan. II.
Mr.. Ramsay presented petition from cti-
zens of Wisconsin and Minnesota, asking for
an extension of their boundary line. Re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Wilson moved to take up the bill to APP
point second Assistant Secretary of War.
Mr.. johnson moved to limit the office to
one year from the passage of the act.
The motion was adopted, and the bill then
passed.
A communication was here received from
the Secretary of War giving the grade and
rank of officers in our service who have en-
tered the service since the rebellion.
Mr.. Foote offered bill to amend the Joint
rules in reference to disagreements in the
House.
Mr.. McDougal offered joint resolution of
the California Legislature in relation TO a tax
Oh native wines. Referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Mr.. Wilkinson introduced bill to extend
the Northern Indian superintendent. that it
may include the territory of Dacotah. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Territories.
The Senate then took up the enrolment
BILL
Mr.. Wilson withdrew his amendment
The original amendment of the Military
Committee was stricken out.
The $500 clause was rejected by vote of
% against IL.
Mr.. Shermans amendment came up, which
strikes out section 4 of the original bill and
provides that persons furnishing substitutes
or money shall be liable to the draft Of future
calls, and raises the Communication to $500.
Mr.. Towards motion, retaining the $500
clause Of the old bill, was adopted by a vote
of % to IA in lieu of Mr.. Sherman's amend
ment.
Various amendments and notifications
.,aIa 10 Mr.
empting clergymen and persons who were
conscientiousiy opposed to bearing arms, and
allowing them, when drafted, to serve in hos
pitfalls or have Communication.
Mr.. Conness was opposed to the amend
ment, though he had many constituents of
this class. The exemptions under this clause
would be more numerous than senators
thought. The Unitarians might claim ex-
emption because the immortal Charming had
written the profoundest essay ever wrote, il
Illustrating the horrors of war. His regard for
the Quakers was equal to that of any other
senator, but in this war he would take issue
with senators upon the question of exempting
them if they refused to pay exemption money.
1t is Quaker war. They have claimed that
slavery was the curse of the South, barbar-
Gus institution in the world. and this aggres-
sion against the institution has been the OBJ
ject OF their fostering care and direction for
Mr.. Salisbury asked il he understood the
senator to say that this was a war for the abo-
lition of slavery.
Mr.. Conness said he knew the senator from
Delaware would be brought into this debate.
He could find out what his opinions were at
another and more appropriate time on the
subject, but as the senator was pro-slavery he
desired him TO understand that he was anti
slavery. He asserted that this was Quaker
nf AZ, a..
tuition Of slavery. The South undertook this
war to rear up negro empire upon the prop
osition that slavery was right and essential to
the existence of society. Part of their propo-
sition was to tear down our Government and
build up their slave-breeding aristocracy on
its ruins. We accept their doctrine, and say
they shall neither build up this ediflce or tear
down this Government of freedom established
by our fathers. A citizen, be he jew or Gen.
tile, Quaker or Catholic, be he what he may,
cannot perform a higher duty than to 20 to
the field and fight his country's battles for the
preservation OF human liberty. There is
means prepared for exemption. He was op-
posed TO this exemption for conscience sake
He believed the safest and truest way to
Heaven was 10 strike a rebel whenever you
can reach him. (Applause.)
The amendment exempting clergymen and
non-combatants were passed.
The Senate considered aud passed several
minor amendments TO the bill.
At a quarter before 5 O'Clock the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration of
the joint resolution reported from the Judic-
larry Committee, to make the confscation act
conform to the Constitution, so that the for
fixture Of estates shall continue only during
the lifetime of the offenders
IT,. r<~~ ..En a.. II
ton system had proved an utter failure, and
because this failed, the House was called upon
belion and destroy what little kind feeling
there was at the South.
Mr.. Davis, of Ind, replied, saying, from the
course OF Mr. Cox aud the majority on his
side, no support of the Administration was
to be expected from them. and when they
rendered their support he Davis would look
upon it with suspicion. He opposed Mr..
Cox's views of the question.
terrupted by the expiration of the morning
hour.
The Senate resolution, for the revival of
the committee on the conduct of the war, was
referred to the Committee on Military. A fairs
The House went into committee of the
whole on the state of the Union on the bill to
increase the internal revenue, which bill was
recently published.
Mr.. Stevens, of Penn, moved an amend
ment, taxing spirits distilled since Aug. 3lst,
1862, on hand and for sale.
After debate Mr.. Stevens amendment was
agreed TO.