The Portland daily press., 1864-02-09

XXXvIH OoNeREss---rirst Session
WASHINGTON. Feb. s.


WASHINGTON. Feb s.
SENATE.
Mr.. Trumbull presented memorial, askin
the establishment of a Western Naval Depart
ment at Cairo. Referred.
A bill was introduced that the Secretarie
OF Executive Departments be allowed seat
on the floor of the House. Referred to a S.
lect committee.
The bill to promote enlistments was takel
up.
Mr.. Carlisle made lengthy speech in reply
to Mr.. Sherman.
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial from the
colored men OF Philadelphia, asking the priv
i'eges Of the election facilities. Referred 10
the Committee on Freedmen and Slavery.
Mr.. Morgan presented resolutions of the
Assembly OF New York, asking additional ia
cities for transportation of troops from New
York to Washington. Referred
u Mr.. Sumner introduced Joint resolutions to
amend the Constitution of the United States
so that all persons shall be equal under the
law, whether white or black, and that no per-
sons shall hereafter be held under bondage
Referred.
The President sent in communication, en-
closing the correspondence relative 10 an ex-
change of prisoners.
message was received from the President,
declining TO transmit the correspondence re-
lative to the reciprocity treaty between the
United States and the Sandwich Islands.
The Secretary of War was requested to
transmit TO the Senate information as to or
ders TO Provost Marshals in regard to cleo
tions in the border States.
Mr. Davis presented a petition from cti-
zens OF Kentucky, praying for compensation
for losses by rebel inclrsions.
Mr. Pomeroy presented memorial from
the Kansas Legislature, asking that the citi.
zens of that State may be Unidentified for
losses by guerrilla raids. Referred to the
Military Committee.
Mr.. Wilson presented a petition of volun-
teers of 1862. praying for bounty of S25.
Referred to the Military Committee.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill repeating all
laws for the rendition of fugitive slaves.
Mr.. Anthony moved to repeal the joint res
olution to amend the Constitution of the
United States approved March 2, 1861 Re
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
This amendment would give Congress the
power TO abolish slavery throughout the coun-
try.
Mr.. Carlisle said he did not believe the three
years starvation OF the rebels would result in
an early death, nor that there would be an
early cessation of hostiliies. The Union
could never be restored by mere coercion.
He denied that the Federal Government had
the power to emancipate slaves, but contend
ed that such power was held by the States.
He favored the taking OF slaves for military
purposes without emancipating them, holding
that emancipatory power was not conferred
on the general Government by the Constitu-
ton.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
ion.-Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Spaulding, of Ohio, introduced bill for
the repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee
A member from Indiana introduced bill to
establish Department of Industry.
Mr.. Dawes, of Mass, made an adverse re-
port against Mr.. Kitchen or Mr.. Mckenzie
being admitted to a seat as the Representative
from the It'll District of Virginia
Mr.. Cobb introduced resolution, which
was passed, rendering the thanks Of Congress
TO Gen. w. L. Sherman and the officers and
men under him.
Mr.. Brown, of Wis, offered a resolution of
thanks to the women of the Sanitary fairs,
societies, and the Christian Commission for
their efforts for the relief of the soldiers.
Mr.. Stevens, of Penn, moved as an addi-
ton to the resolution that each member of the
House pay $50 to the Sanitary Commission.
A debate arising, the resolution lies over.
Mr.. Blair, of West Virginia, offered resolu-
tons, which, after quoting from the speeches
OF JEFF. Davis and others, declare that any at
tempt to conciliate the leaders of the rebellion
or compromise the questions involved would
rob the gallows of its due, and bring into utter
contempt this Government; that all the States
are still In the Union, and when the rebellion
Is ended they all shall have the same privi-
leges as before, except the holding of slaves,
and repudiated the idea of the rebel States be-
ing defined as a foreign power. The resolu-
tons were laid over
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole on the enrolment BILL
An amendment was adopted, making all
able bodied negro men between the ages of Is
and As liable to the draft.
This amendment was afterwards stricken
out. The proceedings were dull on the amend
ments.
The bill was debated until adjournment.