Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-16

MlllIary committee, among them one Il
uenhe the rank and pay of chaplains in tn,
army.
Mr.. Anthony offered a resolution, whicl
was adopted, instructing the committee OF
the Conduct of the War to inuuire into th,
facts connected with the assault on Peters
burg on the Both of July, 1864.
The Senate then adjourned until Monday
HOUSE.
Mr.. Holman moved a call upon the Sec
retary of War for information as to the dis
charge of enlisted soldiers, and also in re.
gard to the order addressed to Gov. An.
drew, relative to troops to fill up old regi.
ments, and whether the principles therein
announced have been applied to all such
| soldiers. -
Mr.. SchDeck objected to the consideration
OF the resolution unless it were referred &c
the committee on Military Affairs, which
he said now had that subject under consid-
Grafton and had already obtained informa-
tion concerning it.
MIR. Holman's resolution was referred to
the committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Mallory asked leave to offer resoIu-
tion requesting the President to communi-
cate all papers bearing on the arrest and
imprisonment ofLieut. Gov. Jacobs and Col.
Wolford-the latter eof the Presidential
electors of Kentucky; by whose order ar
rested and where they are imprisoned
Mr.. Stevens objected. . .-...rs ssE
On motion of Mr.. Blaine, the committee
on Ways and Means was instructed to in
quire into the expediency of eXempting
sailing vessels of 800 tons and upwards
from the two per cent. tax imposed in the
94th section of the internal revenue act of
1864.
On motion of Mr.. Rice, the House took
up and passed the Senate joint resolution
giving the thanks of Congress to Captain
Winslow and Lieutenant Cushing-the one
for destroying the Alabama, and the other
for destroying the Albemarle.
Mr.. Donnelly of Mimi, introduced bill
torequire all persons applying for the bene-
mt OF the preemption and homestead laws
to make oath that they had not deserted
from the army or resisted the draft, or Sc
creted themselves to avoid being enrolled or
drafted, or discouraged enlstments, and
providing that whenever such offenses could
De proved the land claimed should revert to
the Government The bill was referred to
the committee on Public Lands.
The Senate bill authorizing special
term OF Court for the district of Indiana,
was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Griswold, resolution
the practical operation of the pension laws,
and to inquire into the condition of invalids,
and what measures should be adopted to
secure TO them employment Independent
of pensions.
On motion of Mr.. Cox, the Secretary of
state was called upon to furnish all COM
municatiOns he has on file with reference
to the troubles on our borders which have
not been referred to the committee on For
eign Affairs.
Mr.. Littlejohn moved an inquiry as to the
expectancy of establishing navy yard at
Oswego. Referred.
Mr. Davis of Nd, from the committee on
Foreign Affairs, reported the following res
olutiOn:
Resolced, That Congress has n constitu-
tional right to an authoritative voice in de-
claring and prescribing the foreign policy
of the United States, as well as in the recog-
milton of new political powers as in other
matters, and it is the constitutional duty of
the President to respect that policy, not less
in diplomatic relations than in the use of
the national forces when authorized by law:
and the propriety of any declaration of
foreign policy by Congress is sufficiently
proved by the vote which pronounces it, |
and such proposition. while pending un-
determined, il not fit topic of diplomatic
explanation with any foreign power.
MIR. Davis moved the previous question on
the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Farnworth moved that the resolution
lie on the table, which was decided in the
affirmative by yeas Co. nays G3. u
Mr.. Davis, when the result of the vote
was announced, asked to be relieved from
service on the committee of Foreign Rela-
ions. He desired to take all the response |
)ility connected with any service which the |
House might put upon him, but when in
.he course of the discharge of his duties he |
ound himself to differ from the opinion of
,he majority, he thought he should no long
II hold such position. The House at the
asst session, on his motion, passed a resolu-
ion touching the foreign policy in relation
0 the republic of Mexico, and it was adopt
ID unanimously. 1t was sent to the Senate,
nd there it still lies. 1t had been passed
" the House only a very few days when
he officer charged with the foreign cores
of this Government directed our
representative abroad virtually to apollo
'ize to the French Government for the reso-
utions passed by the Representatives of
he American people, asserting in effect
hat this House had gone beyond its iuris-
iction in undertaking to prescribe to
he President the rule by which he should
e guided. This correspondence was made
ne subject of a circular to all the foreign
governments, to let them understand that
congress has no right to speak with regard
D the foreign affairs of this Government
nd that nothing was to be regarded but [
that came with the sanction of the Execu- {
we branch of the Government. The cor {
cspondence of the Secretary of State was {
| its tone disrespectful to the dignity and {
of the House of Representatives. '
he Secretary of State had, in the face of ]
il Europe, slapped the House of Represen-
ltives in the face, in his correspondence {
18th the French Government, and he asked {
le House whether it would to-day assert
S own dignity? q
Mr. Cox said If the House should excuse
he gentleman from Maryland, he himself t
ould ask to be excused from further SER S
ice on the committee on Foreign Affairs, ]
II. Cox said the country and the continent
rs been insulted by the French interven- S
on in the affairs of Mexico. The House, h
moment of pride and nationality and
ne dignity, asserted its proper preroga-
We on this question, and the committee on
)reign Affairs carried out its wishes. He {
d not think the gentleman from Mary '
nd should be excused from serving ON the +
unless he held this House and fl
)ngress in utter and absolute con- n
mpt. He hoped something would il
done to vindicate the House from Execu- v
1e or diplomatic ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. We u
we had for three years some of the old
estions which have agitated England for tl
the contest between "
yal prerogative and Parliamentary privi- t,
ye, with the exception that in England the e.
is paramount, and we in this C,