The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-13
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
3Sth CONGRESS-SECON SESSION.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
ssth CONVERSATIONAL SESSION.
SENATE-Mr. Doolittle presented a memo
rial of the Board of Trade Of Racine, Wis, in
relation to the establishment of q naval depot
on the Western Lakes
Mr.. ShermEn presented memorial of the
President of the Refugee Relief Commission,
Of Ohio, asking for an appropriation of money
for the support of Southern refugees. Mr..
Sherman said there were thousands of loyal re-
fugees in the cities of Cincinnati, st. Louis
ard Louisville and their condition was depl0r-
able. Not less than 100000 white people
had been rendered homeless and scattered
throughout the South by the fortunes of war.
He thought Congress ought TODD something
in the matter, but he did not believe the ap-
preparation of money would be the most judi
cious means of relieving them. He thought
the Government ought to give them work to
DO for the army-the manufacture of clothing,
&C, or law might be passed giving them the
use OF lands subject to confiscatiOn. He wish
ed the memorial to be referred to the Commit
zee on Public Lands, and it was SO referred.
MI. Wilson, from the military committee,
reported back the resolution to distribute the
ploceeos OF the cotton captured at Savannah
aanong the officers and soldiers of Gen. Sher-
mans Army, with the unanimous re commend
alton that it be indefinitely postponed. and it
was 80 ordered. r.
HousE.-The House proceeded to the con-
slderatlon OF the Senates proposed amend.
ment 70 Inc Constitution to abolish slavery ev-
Mr.. Yeoman gave reasons whv he should
vote for the proposition. - :
Mr. Morrill,, OF vt, spoke in favor of the
resOlutOn, expressing his surprise that gentle.
men should refuse even to give the nennIe an
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. i 40"
a. WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1866
sENArE.-Mr. Anthony offered the remon-
STRANGE of the National India Rubber Company
against the extension of the Goodyear Patent,
which was referred to the Committee on
Patents. l r..r..
Mr.. Doolittle offered a joint resolution d.
recting inquiry into the treatment of Indian
tribes by the civil and military authorities.
which was referred to Committee on Indian
Affairs ar
T Mr. Doolittle called attention to letter from
an officer stationed in Colorado in reference to
the alleged brutality of Col. Chiyington tow
ards certain Indians, stating that he wantOnly
slaughtered them, plundered them, sc.
Mr.. Pomeroy offered resolution directing
the Judiciary Committee to enquire what legis-
call an extra session of the seth Congress
without giving the sixty days now required,
which was adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the joint resolu-
ton freeing the wives and children of colored
soldiers was taken up.
Mr.. Salisbury spoke against the resolution.
He opposed the measure before the Senate on
the Dr0nO6 nf nOlicV Of humanity and he
cause it was opposed to the legitimate rules of
war; The policy by the party in power was
abhorrent to Napoleon. General Scott had ex-
pressed his opinion against the right of Con-
gress to interfere with slavery in the States.
Mr.. Davis moved to amend the resolution
SO as to make its action prospective only, and
not retrospective and prospective as reported
by the military committee. He regarded the
resolution as violation of the Constitution,
but If it must see that the freeing the wives
and children of those already in the service
would promote enlistments, and he therefore
hoped that it would be made to operate only
in the cases of those who should hereafter
enlist.
Mr.. Clark hoped the amendment would not
be adopted. and he spoke briefly against it.
Mr.. Pomeroy spoke in favor of the resolu-
ton.
Mr. Hendricks argued against the PROPOSE
ton before the Senate though he believed that
slave owners, because as the male slaves had
all been put into the army it would be for the
interest of the slave owners to be relieved from
the care of the women and children.
Mr.. Wade thought the proposition before
the Senate was so plain that it needed no argu
ment. 1t fought to have been passed when
Congress decided to take colored men into the
army. He 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 Govern
ment the case became different. Slavery was
unorganized rebellion, and he hoped there
would be no peace until it was abolished. The
war was in the commencement strictly defen-
sive, but now he hoped it would continue for
thirty years If necessary, or until the nation
was bankrupt rather than that 1t should end
before the abolition of slavery. He was glad
the South had he'd 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 consideration OF the reso-
luton.
Mr.. johnson disputed the authority of Con-
gress to pass such a resolution. There was no
doubt of the authority of Congress to enlist
slaves, or of its right to amend the Constitu-
ton 80 as to abolish slavery. Slavery was
already MORALLY wounded and could not sur.
vve even if peace without its abolition was
declared tomorrow. He believed the rebels
had good reason to believe that England and
France would aid them to achieve their indie
pendeuce ii 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 can
vass paper known by its title of "To whom
it may concern" was circulated. One of the
conditions OF peace named in it was the aboli-
ton 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.-During the debate the House took
up and concurred in the Senate's amendment
TO the pensOn appropriation bill.
Mr.. Elijah Ward introduced bill directing
the Secretary of the Treasury to refund the tax
collected on spirits prior to March 7, 1864.
Referred to Committee Of Ways and Means.
Adjourned.
FIRE IN OHIO.