Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-01-26

States shall have reliable information that the
treatment of our ;soldiers in Southern prisons
is changed for the better or worse; and any
officer i'll charge of rebel prisoners, who shalt
fail to carry out this policy, shall be dismissed
| the service. Ef
| Mr. Lane, of Indiana said that this resoIu-
tion did not go far enough, 1t did not pro-
vide that the rebels should be kept under the
care Of released prisoners Of the Federal
army. This was a very important part of the
matter 1t had been sud that retaliation
would make the war more bloody He did
| uot care He hoped it would make every
southern river run with the blood of traitors,
There were forty -four thousand Union prison
ers in the South, and double that number of
| rebel prisoners in The North We owed it TO
our brave men who had gone forth to fight in
good cause, to inapgurate this system Of re-
taliatoD.
| Observation-Disclosures Jan. l7-Mr. Rice.
of Massachusetts, read a telegram announcing
the capture Of Fort Fisher, which was. re-
ceivcd with hgreat applause a3~:sl
MIR. Donncly, of Minnesota, introduced
| bill making grant oflands for theSt. Cloud.
Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad. ssa,.
MI Holman, of Indiana. introduced a bill
providing for a donation public lands to the
several States and Territories to the extent of
10000 acres, for each Senator, Representa-.
| tive and delegate, for the founding Of hemes-
| for destitute soldiers and scamen, and for the
support and education of the orphans and chill
dren of deceased soldiers and seamen
Mr. Window, of Minnesota offered the fol-
lowing, which was agreed to
WHEREAS, 1t is believed and alleged by
many persons, that the troubles in which the
United States are involved with the varions
Indian tribes, are the result of an unwiss In.
dian policy and fraudulent dealings with said
Indians by the whites; and,
WHEREAS, An investigation Of the facts
may enable the Government to adopt better
policy, and also tc correct any abuse that may
exist; therefore, .,.,.. .
Reso.ced, That Committee Of five be aps
po,:nted, whose duty it shall be to investigate,
SO far as they may deem necessary, all the
dealings and transactions Of the Government
through its agents and officers, with said In
dians; and that said Committee be author.
lied to send for persons and papers .f
Washington, Jan. IS-Mr Ganson, of N.
T., introduced resolution directing the Com
mittee on Military Affairs to inquire into the
cases of the prisoners confined in Old Capitol
anu 'S"iioh piiSouS, WhttHtr Charges nave
been brought against them, why delayed, &e.
Mr.. Kasson, Of Iowa, proposed investigs--
ton. He thought it was due to the people
that Congress should examine into the ex-
tent of the power excised by the Secretary Of
War, especially when, as he knew, the Secre.
tary of War had received an order from the
President with the remark, "I shan't do it."
and when explanation was asked, replied that
| lr, Al
argued the adoption Of the resolution for the
reason that, by general order, no informa.
ton whatever could be obtained from the War
Department excepting from the Secretary
himself, or by his order. The Committee
should inquire how far the arbitrary habits ex-
tended. The army may tremble under his
power, but Congress has the right to inyesti-
ate whore the liberties of the people are con-
cersed. Mr. kasson referred to the subject
o. the exchange Of prisoners and said the &C.
;:on of the War Department demanded inves.
tigaion ..1a- a.,-s- 7 is
| Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, desired a continue
ton Of the investigation He referred to the
law for the summary dismissal of officers from
the army, and said cases Of abuse had arisen.
He concluded by denouncng several cases
OF improper arrest and Imprisonment that had
come under his knowledge He did not ray
I that the War Department was responsible for
? these abuses, or knew of them; but they might
De traced to its subordinatcs He made no
laccusation. The business of the House was
to see that the laws were respected, and to
stand up for the men who had no friends at
the court " '. -..-. -
> Mr.. Garfield. of Ohio, advocated the inves-
tigaton. He know of cases where officers
/ trFho | tLa.-