Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-14
SENArn.

WAsHlHGToS, February Is.-Nr. CONFESS
called up the bill to establish q mail steam.
ship line between the United States and
China The bill provides that the Post
Master Gen'l may contract for steamship
line to make twelve round trips per year,
TO 60 into effect on the LIST of January, '6I.
Passed, yeas 25-nays IL.
AIR. Sherman moved to take up the House
Joint Resolution reducing the duty on pa.
per. The question Was upon the amend
ment OF the Senate Committee on Finance
10 strike out three and insert Is per cent
Mr.. Sherman explained that the present
duty on Foreign paper was 20 per cent.
the tax paid by home manufacturers
amounted to 10 per cent.
1t was manifest that to reduce the
Foreign tax to three per cent. would be
unjust to home manufacturers. 1t was said
per cent, was equal to 6, because it was
IN the gold valuation; it was per cent at
$3.50 per ton. Mr.. Sherman said the gov-
erment was more interested than any indi-
vidGsl, as the government used more paper
than any individual; therefore he favored
reducing the duty to 10 per cent.
AIR. Collamer spoke in favor of main
tanning the present rate Of 20 per cent as
an act of justice and protection to home
manufactures.
Mr.. Hale was in favor of the indefinite
postponement of the resolution, so as to
leave the duty where it is now, 20 per
cent.
Mr.. Sherman hoped the subject would
not be indefinitely postponed, but that il
would be met squarely By frank vote.
De said paper had not increased in price
more than other articles. 1t has onlv fol.
lowed the invsriable standard of value
which was gold. It would be unjust to
reduce the duty to s per cent. After some
further remarks from Mr.. Sherman, the
motion to indefinitely postpone was decided
In the negAuve-yeas IL, nays 20.
M Lane, of Indiana, offered an amend
meut to strike out Is and insert 10 per
cent. After some remarks by Mr.. Lane, of
Ind.' and Mr.. johnson, Lanes amendment
was rejected. Yeas, IS; nays, %.
The question then required on the amend.
meme of the Finance Committee to make
the duty Is per cent. This was agreed to.
Yeas, SOi nays 13.
The question was then taken on the FINAL
passage OF the resolution as amended, BY
striking out "three" and inserting '.6tteen;'
per centum. 1t was decided in the afr.
native.
The Senate went into Executive session
and soon after adjourned.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. SchGuck Joint reso-
luton was adopted appropriati6E S26, 900
for q contract with William H. Powell. to
paint picture illustrative of some Naval
victory, to be placed at the head of the
grand staircase of the Capitol.
Mr.. Ashly offered preamble, that
Whereas in consequence of the rebellion,
and since the proclamation of emanoipa.
ton, a large number of persons of color
have been brought from the States of Mary.
land, Virginia and other States, and left in
and around the National Capitol.
And whereas, it is reported that MANY
of them have died for want of food.
And whereas, it is reported that from ten
to twenty thousand are in want.
And whereas it Is reported that hundreds
are in the service of the United States, and
lighting in defence OF the government,
therefore
ReSOEved. That the Committee ON Military
Affairs enquire into the truth Of said re-.
port, and that the committee report what
action, If any is necessary in the premises,
with leave to report by bill or otherwise,
The proposition was agreed to.
Mr.. Dawson offered resolution declar-
ing that the war has been progressing for
four years, with q frightful destruction of
life, and the imposition of an enormous
public debt, and that members of Congress
are bound by their oaths and solemn pledg.
es, to conduct the war for the re-esIablish"
mCnt of the just supremacy of the laws,
therefore
RESOLVED, That the President be request.
ed to use all honorable and just means to
bring about lasting peace and the re. es
Enlistment OF fraternal relations with all
the people, on the simple basis of the Con.
stitution and laws, and with every proper
guarantee to the Southern States, which
shall protect them in the enjoyment of their
rights and local institution in the manner
the Constitution secures.
Mr.. ThRyer moved that the resolution be
laid upon the table. Agreed to 73 against
40.
Mr.. Wilson offered a series of resolu
tions declaring that there is no power uu-
der the Constitution, which warrants US to
treat with Southern States, either for a
severance of the Union or the alteration of
any article of the fundamental law; that
inasmuch as the consedent States have
taken up arms against the government of
the United States, without just provocatiou,
and for the avoWed purpose of asserting
and maintaining their independence, and
still persist by armed resistance to the au.
VI tH0 OuAteu OAdtesS buQ aB our
public authorities have declared it was
their duty to decline to accept of any terms
short of absolute submission to its laws.
And whereas with msgnauimity almost
unsurpassed, an amnesty was promised to
all except the chief couspirators, it is here
by declared that the government has al
ready exhausted all the resources of Just
and wise craftsmanship, except so far as
regard an earnest and vigorous prosecution
of the war, to effect a restoration of peace,
and to that end has done all that proper
regard to our interests allows, and which
decent respect to the opinions of the world
could demand, aud therefore no further
overtures, public or private, official and
unofficial, looking to a treaty or compro-
mise with the conspirators at Richmond,
would be inconsistent with our rights and
dignity, and expose to misconstructiou as
to our ability to COmDel the raheIs IN oho