Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-01-15
Spirited Debate.

The following is an account Of spirited
debute in the United States Senate, Decem-
Der 18th: n
Davis Of Kentucky called up the resolve
tons in relation to the exchange Of prison.
ers, arguing vehemently against the policy OF
refusing to exchange our suffering white
soldiers-the languishing, starving and d.
seased white men-because the rebels refuse
to exchange the negro captiyes. He de-
nounced at length the policy Of the Admins
tration upon the several points IN which the
negro is affected, charaeterizing its position
as monstrous, and referring to the present
era as the reign Of Abraham the First. He
ayerred that his own Loyalty was unexccp-
tionable that he hated with undying yiSor
the crime Of secession. 1t was evident this
policy was only part of the design to per-
petuate the party power of the Adminlstra-
ton. He closed with an indignant and earn
est protest against the refusal Of the Admin
istration to liberate thousands Of starving
and dying white men for the sake OF te"
negroes.
johnson deemed it perfectly clear that fru-
mainly, which is the highest political point,
demanded the continuance of an exchange OF
prisoners. He proceeded to combat the
opinion Of the Senator from Kentucky
Davis), that these men should not be pro-
tected; corrected his views of the power OF
the President by quoting from the Constitu-
ton relative to the executive and legislative
powers.
Davis replied, saying the preamble of the
Constitution confers no power on the Sosern-
mcnt, and the Supreme Court had so inter
preted it. He has also claimed the right to
suspend the writ Of habeas corpus. The
powers to be exercised are conferred by the
Constitution alone, and there are no powers
in the Government which are not conferred
by the Constitution; hence the President
cannot raise troops or armies, nor has ne the
power to organize any measure to put down
instruction, without the assent Of Congress.
1t was the determination of the party in power
that the war shall continue until the next
Presidential election. The war would have
been brought to n close long ago il the Ad-
ministration had singly and in good faith de-
voted itself to the principles announced in
the Crittenden resolutions /; and if command
ers of the armies had not been selected not
because of their hostility to the rebels, but
because Of their opposition to slavery.
Hale of New Hampshire, arose indignantly,
saving, what was the desire of the gentlemen
on the hoor-to continue the war in order to
influence the next Presidential election: A
more atrocious allegation against the honor
able members was never listened to from the
beginning to the present moment. If the
allegation Of the Senator was true he would
sooner take into his hands the hand of a
man from the charnel-house, reekrng with
pestilence, than the hands of those around
him. If the allegation was true, every Sena-
tor was stamped with the foulest treason and
perjury. The destinies of our country had
L Il
| who are bound by their oath to sustain the
country and the Constitution, and to defend
their lives and homes, while the Senator
from Kentucky says they are hypocrites and
do not mean to sustain these objects.
Davis explained that he had reference to
those in power.
Hale replied that the Senator had made an
allegation which embraced every SENATOR
It was an allegation which, if true, would
disgrace the yilest inmate of the pcnitentiary.
The character of the President was also in
Guided in this allegation. He believed one
thing met eyerybody's assent, that Lincoln is
a gentleman and an honest man To-day
was the first time he had ever heard the hon
esty and patriotism of the Executive ques-
toned. IT Seward has called for black SOL
| diers to take up arms, and calls them out to
fight the battles of the country, it is bound to
protect them, at all hazards, by every agent
| it can put forth. The Government having
employed them in the army, and they having
become prisoners, if they are abandoned to
their fate it is guilty Of baSeness unheard Of
in history. The party in power has one aim'
and that aim is the country's; but one pur-
pose, and that is the salvation Of the country,
The idea that the Administration and its
| supporters desire the continuation Of the war
| o-1a fho NnNf pipc-
| tion-desire this cruel war, with its cries of
anguish-our SONS given to slaughter, our
widows in mourning, and our kindred IN des-
titution, is an insinuation so base that the
wonder is how it found its way even into the
brain of the Senator from Kentucky. APP
plause from the galleries. =,
Lane of Indiana remarked that he under
stood the Senator from Kentucky to say Il
| Major General had declared it was proposed
by the President to retain his power, even
| though the election go against him. Ii that
be true, the Administration do not deserve
the confidence Of the country; il false, the
officer should be mustered ont as unworthy
of the commission he bears. He should like
| to know the name Of the officer.
Davis replied, the Senator mistook. Agen-
tlenan who was formerly member Of the
other house informed him that there was a
| Major General who said, if Lincoln was de-
feated in the next Presidential election, he
would not surrender the office. If the Sena-
tor from Indiana Uane) would come to him
Davis) in the strictest confidence, he would
give him the name Of the Major General, and
that Of his informant.
Lane had only to say, any one who would
make such a statement was unworthy the
honors Of the Government. If true, the
Government was unworthy of confidence.
The resolutions Of Davis were referred to
the Military Committee.