Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINGToN,' Jan. o.
sen ATE.

mI' OncTlndn presented the memorial OF
| the President of the Refugee Relief Com
mission OF Ohio, asking for an appropria-
ton OF money for the support of Southern
| refugees. Mr.. Sherman said there were
thousands of loyal refugees in the cities of
Cincinnati, st. Louis and Louisville, and
their condition was deplorable. Not less
than 100000 white people had been rendered
homeless and scattered through the South
by the fortunes Of war. He thought
Congress ought to do something in
the matter but he did not believe
the appropriation of money would be the
most judicious means of relieving them.
He thought the Government ought to give
them work to do for the army-the manu-
facture OF clothing, &c; or law might be
passed giving them use of lands, subject to
confiscation. lie wished the memorial to
he referred to the committee on Public
Lands, and it was so referred.
Mr.. Wilson, from the Military commit
tee, reported back the resolution to distrib-
ute the proceeds of the cotton captured at
Savannah among the officers and soldiers OF
General Sherman's army, with the unani-
nous recommendation that it be Indefinite
ly postponed, and it was so ordered.
Mr.. Anthony offered the remonstrance of
Cile National India Rubber company against
the extension of the Goodyear patent, which
Mr.. Doolittle offered joint resolution di-
rccting inquiry into the treatment of Indian
tribes by the civil and military authorities,
which was referred to the committee on In
dian Affairs. Mr.. DOolittle called attention
to letter from an officer stationed in Colo
RADIO in reference to the alleged brutality
OF Col. Chivington toward certain Indians,
stating that he wantonly slaughtered them,
plundered them, etc.
Mr.. Pomeroy offered resolution direct
ing the Judiciary committee to inquire
what legislation was necessary to enable
the President to call an extra session or the
l39th Congress, without giving the sixty
, days notice now required, which was
adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the Joint reso-
luton freeing the wives and children of
colOred soldiers was taken up.
Mr.. salisbury spoke against the resolu-
ton. lie opposed the measure before the
Senate on the ground of policy and of hui
manity, and because it was opposed to the
Legitimate rules of war. This policy, pro-
posed by, the party in power was abhorrent
10 Napoleon. Gen: Scott had expressed
his opinion against the right of Congress to
interfere with slavery in the States.
Mr.. Davis moved to amend the resolution
as to make its action prospective only, and
not retrospective and prospective, as re-
ported by the Military committee. lie re-
garded the resolution as q violation of the
Constitution; but if it must pass, lie did
not see that freeing the wives and children
OF those already i'll the service would pro-
mote enlistments, and lie therefore hoped
that it would be made to operate only in
the case OF those who should hereafter en-
! list.
Mr.. Clark hoped the amendment would
not be adopted, and spoke briefly against it.
Mr.. Pomeroy spoke i'll favor Of the reso-
luton.
Mr.. Hendricks argued against the propo-
sition before the Senate, though he believed
that vote for it would be vote in favor
of the slaveownerS, because, as the male
slaves had all been put into the army, it
would be for the interest Of the slaveowners
to be relieved from the women and children
Mr.. Wade thought the proposition before
the Senate was so plain that it needed no
argument. 1t ought to have been passed
when Congress decided to take colored
men into the army. lie denied that the
Republican party, in time of peace,
ever attempted to interfere with slavery
in the States, but when the war broke
out and slavery tried to kill the
government, the case became different
Slavery was unOrganized rebellion. He
hoped there would be no peace until it was
abolished. The war was in the commence.
ment strictly defensive, but now he hoped
it would continue for thirty years, if nee
essary, or until the nation was bankrupt.
rather than that it should end before the
abolition of slavery. lie was glad the
South had held out, and he hoped they
would hold out in their blindness until they
necessitated the only thing that would give
us lasting peace.
Mr.. Davis resumed in opposition to the
resolution.
Mr.. Johnson disputed the authority of
Congress to pass such resolution. There
was no doubt of the authority of Congress
to enlist slaves, or Of its right to amend
the Constitution so as to abolish Slavery
Slavery was already mortally wounded,
and could not survive even if peace with
out its abolition wassdeclared Tomorrow.
He believed the rebels had good reason to
believe that England and France
would aid them to achieve their
independence if they would abolish
slavery, as they, unquestionably had
right to do. What would the Senator from
Ohio do then? Would he submit to the
dissolution of the Union, provided the South
should abolish slavery? He (Johnson) was
happy to know that the President did not
concur in the views of Mr.. Wade. During
the last political canvass a paper known by
the title of ITO whom may concern" was
circulated. One of the conditions of peace
named in it was the abolshing of slavery;
but the friends of the President took good
care to explain this away before the people,
and tell them it did not mean exactly what
appeared on its face.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the Senate's DrOpOSed amendment TO the
Constitution to abolish slavery every where
MIR. 1eaman gave reasons why he should
vote for the proposition.
Mr.. Merrill, of VT, spoke in favor of the
resolution, expressing his surprise that gem
tlemen should refuse to give the people the
opportunity to say whether the great wrong
of slavery should be abolished.
Mr.. Odell favored the amendment. The
time had come when the Democratic party
should cut loose from slavery and turn their
backs on the dark past and their eyes to the
bright future.
Messrs. Voorhees, and Clay severally OPP
posed the resolution.
During the debate the House took up and
in the Senate's amendment to
the pension appropriation bill.
Mr.. Ward introduced bill directing the |
Secretary of the Treasury to refund the tax
collected on spirits prior to March 9TH, 1854 |
Referred to the committee on Ways and |
Means. Adjourned.