Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-02-19
VERY LATEST
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
REPORTED EXPRESSLY for the STATESMAN
Last Nights Dispatches.
xxxvIIIth CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
wAsHINeroS, Feb. ls.

WASHINGTON, Feb. lS.
SESATE.-Mr. Wilson, from the commit
tee of Conference on the part of the Sen
ate on the Enrolment bill, made report
which, after partial reading, was ordered
to be presented and made the order for to-
morrow. ftt
The House provision for $500 commute
tion is agreed to. with aproviso that it shall
exempt for no longer period than one year,
and that at the expiration of the time such
person shall again be liable to draft. The
bill, as reported, also frees colored persons
who may be drafted. 1t provides that such
troops shall not be assigned as State troops,
but Shall be mustered into the service rs
United States colorcd volunteers.
A petition from citizens of New York
praying for the equalization Of soldiers pay
without regard to color, was laid on the
table.
A bill was introduced to encourage emf
grafton and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Conness introduced the following
joint resolutions:
Belt Resolued, &C., First, That the Pro-
vost Marshal General be and he is hereby
directed to enlist such persons as may de-
sire to enter the naval service Of the U. D.,
under such directions as may be given by
the Secretary of War and the Secretary OF
the Navy, which enlistment shall be credit
ed to the appropriate districts; provided,
nevertheless, that inasmuch as persons en-
listed in the naval service receive prize
money. persons SO enlisting shall not be
entitled to receive any bounty upon enlist
ment.
Second, That the President of the United
States may, whenever in his Judgment the
public service requires, authorize and direct
the transfer Of persons who have been enl-
ployed in the service and are now enlisted
in regiments for land service, from such regi-
ments to the naval service upon such terms
and according to such rules and regulations
as he may prescribe; provided that the num-
Der of transfers from any company or regi-
ment shall not be so great as to reduce such
company or regiment below the minimum
of strength required by the regulations of
the military service, and provides further
that such sum as may have been paid to
persons so transferred as bounty for enlist
ment to the military service shall be trans
ferred from the recruiting fund of the ma
val service to the credit of the proper ap-
preparation for the land service.
On motion of Mr.. Grimes the following
amendment was added:
Be 10 further Resolred, That there shall
be paid to each enlisted able or ordinary
seaman hereafter enlisted into the naval
service an advance of three months pay as
bounty, to be refunded to the Treasury
from any prize money to which such en-
listed seaman may be entitled.
The joint resolutions as amended were
adopted.
Mr.. Conness explained that the joint res
olutions give discretionary power to the
President to transfer seamen enlisted in the
army to the navy, and to make up crews for
ships of war to be sent to the Pacific coast.
The Navy Department were ready to send
ships to the Pacific coast for its protection,
but by reason of the great bounties paid
the soldiers the Navy Department could
not get sailors, and this provision was to
meet this difficulty, and to enable the Gov
ernment to send such fleet to the Pacific,
as well as give it ample protection against
attack.
, The Senate went into executive session,
and shortly after adjourned.
HoUsE.-The bill passed providing for the
Government obtaining from owners of
property in Rock Island, Illinois, place to
erect an arsenal. j -t.s
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution to sell the surplus Gold in
the treasury. .5fv,q f.H- IS.
Mr.. Hooper stated the amount of Gold on
hand OH Saturday last was nearly nineteen
millions. The estimates show that there
will be on January lst about thirty-seven
millions. The requirements for Gold from
now till July 1st, to make payments of in
terest on the public debt will be less than
twenty -four millions, leaving an excess of
about twelve millions, which may be sold.
Mr.. Pendleton, as member of the COM
mittee on Ways and Means, differed in opin-
ion with the committee. The amount to
be realized would be small and afforded but
little relief. The Secretary of the Treasury
now has power to buy gold. and he (Pen-
dleton) would not trust any officer with the
power to sell gold, thus giving him the OPP
portunity to raise or depress the market at
his own particular pleasure.
Mr. Mallory of Kentucky announced the
fact that the Secretary has not asked for this
power.
Mr.. Pendleton said that in the course of
four months we will have to pay as interest
more than the amount of gold on hand.
Mr.. Brooks said by the public record gold
is solemnly pledged to pay the interest on
the public debt. 1t cannot be diverted
without violation of faith. II a remedy
Is sought for relieving the treasury Of its
surplus gold, let the July interest ON the
public debt be anticipated. The President
has the sword, and, through the Secretary
of the Treasury, the purse, and he stands
the impersonation of despotism ifhe chooses
to exercise the power. AT the conclusion
| of his remarks, Mr.. Brooks earnestly ap-
pealed to gentlemen to stand by the specie
basis. 1s,r = & .ae..e a,f 81 .ie.l
Mr. Garfield advocated the resolution,
saying that according to his estimates there
L ~. - . ~. y. n 49,