Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-25
Up Gslegrap5.
For Afternoon r spoFt Sc Ist Page
CONGREssIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1864.
SENATE,

'tus against the repeal of duty on uDszed
paper.
Mr.. Sherman from the Finance Commit
tee reported back the hill to appropriate
money for the Post Office Department with
out amendment.
Mr. Wilson from the Military Commit
| tee reported back the petition of citizens
asking action to be taken to secure the
release of prisoners of Straight's command.
captured in Georgia, and asked that the
dered. Va
Mr.. McDougall offered bill to re-estab.
ilsh the mail steamships between the Uni.
ted States and China. Referred to the
COMMITTEE on the Post Office and Post
Roads.
Mr.. Wilson offered a resolution instruct.
ing the committee on Finance to examine
the system of, checks in the office of the
registry of the treasury, and to report if
any legislation 10 needed for the safety of
the public fuudsin that Office. Also if any
losses have occurred there and what caused
them. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman House bill to
provide for the appointment of Assistant
Treasurer of the United States In certain
cases was passed.
Mr.. Henderson called up the bill TO re-
imburse Missouri for the expenditure for
calling out and feeding the militia of the
State.
Mr.. Brown moved that it be made the
special order for Tuesday next. Adopted.
Mr.. Powell offered resolution calling
upon the Secretary of War to inform the
Senate, why he had not appointed Com.
missioner to compensate loyal owners of
colored volunteers, as required by the act
approved on the Gath of February, 1864.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the passage of a
resolution like that, which censured the
Secretary of War.
Mr.. Powell, at the request of Mr.. Wade.
withdrew his resolution to allow Mr.. Wade
to call up the special order, which was the
resolution in relation to retaliation upon
the rebels for the cruel treatment of North.
ern prisoners.
Mr.. Sumner offered the following as
substitute for the resolutions before the
Senate:
RESOLVED, That retaliation is harsh al
ways, even in the simplest cases, and per.
mlssable only when in the first place it
may be expected to effect its objhct and
when In the second place it is consistent
with the usagess of civilized societies; that
| IN the absence of these essential points it is
useless and barbarous having no other end
| than vengeance, which is alike forbidden
| to nations and to men.
RESOLVED, That the treatment of cur Off
GERS and soldiers in.rebel prisons is cruel
| savage and heart rendiug beyond all pre.
cedent; that it is shocking to morals; that
1t is an offence against mankind and an
addition of guilt to the crime of rebellion,
and an example from which history will
turn with sorrow and disgust.
RESOLVED, That any attempted imitation
Of rebel barbarities in the treatment of
prisoners would be plainly impracticable.
on account OF its inconsistency with senti-
ments of humanity; that it would he iuia.
rious, for it would barbarize the whole
community; that it would be utterly use
lees; that it would be immoral because it
proceeded from vengeance alone; that it
could have no other result than to degrade
the nations character and the nations
name, and that it being impracticabIe.
useless, immoral and degrading, it mast be
rejected as measure of retaliation, pre-
cisely os the barbarism of roasting aud eat
ing prisoners is always rejected by civilized
powers.
Resolved That the United States is filled
with grief and the deepest sympathy for
the citizens who are officers aud soldiers.
and have become the victims of heaven
detying outrages, hereby declare their SOL
emu determination to put an end to this
great iniquity, by putting an end to the res
belllon, of which it is the natural fruit;
that to secure this humane and righteous
contamination, they pledge anew the best
energies and all the resources of the whole
people, and they call upon all to bear wit
ness that in this necessary warfare with
barbarism, they renounceall vengeance aud
plant themselves firmly on the sacred land
marks of christian civilization, under the
protection of that God who is present with
every prisoner, and enables heroic souls to
suffer for their country.
Mr.. Sumner spoke in advocacy of the
above resolution, quoting from Gen. Wash
iugton, Chancellor Kent, Gen. Halleck,
Waffle and other authorities, against inhu-
man retaliation.
Mr.. Wade hoped the amendment would
not be adopted. Retaliation had been
practiced by all civilized nations in all
wars.
Mr.. Cowsn believed retaliation was JUS
ti6able at times, but he did not approve of
the proposition to retaliate in kind upon
the rebels.
Mr.. Howard spoke in defence of the
proposition before the Senate.
Mr.. Sumner inquired if the rebels had
not on former occasion refused to re
ceive Commissioners, as was suggested
by Mr.. Wilson's resolution.
In reply, several Senators stated that the
Commissioners referred to by Mr.. Sumner
were only to examine the condition of the
prisoners and had no authority to relieve
them in any way.
Mr.. Wilson said he had good assurance
that if such a commission was appointed,
it could accomplish the result desired. He
was sure of it.
Mr.. Hendricks said he was in favor of no
retaliation; that was opposed to the prin-
ciples of christianity.
Further discussion on the subject was
postponed till tomorrow as several Sena-
tors wished to speak on it.
HOUSE.
On motion of Mr.. Arnold the committee
on the Judiciary was instructed to inquire