Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-15
XVIII CONGRESS-2d SESSION.
SENATE

WAsHISsroS, Feb Ia
| Mr. Wilson. from the military committee, made
a lengthy report favoring the sppointmen, of dis
charged soldiers and sailors to such civil Offices as
they may be capable OF 6lling
| The report ordered 10 be printed.
| Mr. Wilson, from the committee on military
sff,Irs. reported the following:
The committee on military affairs aud militia
to whom was referred sundry petitions praying
for the enactment Of a law for the appointment
Of all inferior officers or persons who have been
honorably discharged FROM The military or naval
service. who shall have served for the period OF
three years during the present war, or who shall
have suffered permanent disability while in the
service, or who shall have been held for one year
as prisoners of war; and that the term of such
Office shall be for life or during good behavior
beg leave to report that the opinion Of the CON-
mttee is that il is the imperative duty OF the
state and national governments to give the pref
erence for appointment in the various civil off,
| ces TO persons who have been honora5ly dis
charged from the military or naval service of the
| L. S., or who have suffered permanent disability
while in the service, provided they possess quail
hcations necessary 10 properly discharge such
duties
The number of civil officers, however. in the
various departments OF the government, though
| a. present, bear but small proportion TO the
number of persons who have been bonorably
serving the country in the army aud navy, and
who must of necessity again engage in various
avocations Of civil life. While it is therefore
the duty of the national government to give the
preference TO men who have been wounded in
service. il is the sacred duty Of bankers, mer-
chants. manufacturers. mechanics and farmers,
as we'll IA business men in ali the avocatons of
life to give preferences in all pursuits to soldiers
who have been honorsbly discharged from the
service of their country.
The committee presented resolution as eX-
pressive of the sense OF congress upon the legis.
iation prayed for by the petitioners joint resolu
ton TO encourage the employment of discharged
and disabled soldiers.
BE it resolved, That persons hororsbly dis
charged from the military or naval service bv
reason of disability resulting from wounds or
sickness incurred in the line Of duty should be
preferred for appointments to civil Offices proyi-
ding they shall De found TO possess the necessary
business capacity for the proper discharge Of the
duties OF such Offices And be il further
Resolved, That ia grateful recognition OF the
services and sufferings of persons honorably dis
charged from the military or naval service of
the United States by reason Of wounds disease
or by expiration of their term. of enlist
ments it is respectfully recommended to bankers,
merchants mechanics; farmers and persons en-
gagged in Industrial pursuits, To give them the
preference,
Ordered to te printed
Mr.. Harris offered resolution which was
adopted, calling upon the president for report
of the court of inquiry upon the subject of the
explosion of the Petersburg mine.
The report of the committee of conference on
the freedman's bureau was then taken up
Davis addressed the Senate against the report
AT one o'clock further consideration of the
subject postponed until to morro1.
Mr. Cowan moved to reconsider the vote or
which authority granted for the construction
Of bridge across the Ohio river at Louisville.
He argued that such structure would interfere
With the navigation of the river, which was Of
more Importance than any railroad could DE.
Ii was proposed 10 make the spans of the bridge
only 240 feet wide, and it would be found impos
sble 10 get steamboats, safely through such a
width The bridge at Steubenville was 800 feet
span, and that At Cincinnati was TO be 900 He
was in favor of making the bridge at Louisville
like that at Steubenville.
He hoped the bill would b. recon united to the
committee on po.t Offices and post roads AMI
properly amended.
Mr. Powell did not believe the bill as il stood
would interfere with the free navigation of the
river
The yeas and nays were demanded on the mo
ton to reconsider, which prevailed by a vote OF
Ii yeas to IL nays.
Mr.. Cowan moved to amend the bill BY striking
out 2l0 feet span and inserting 300 feet span,
which was disagreed to.
The bill was then passed il stood origi-
nally.
The bill. entitled an act to regulate commerce
between the several states was taken up
Mr.. Sumner spoke at length in favor of the
bill, which he said was aimed against the odious
doctrine of state rights. Ii designed to
break up a monopoly which could lay tribute
every passenger between New York and Wash
ington.
Sir. Sumner then argued the question of the
constitutionalty of the measure, holding that
under the constitution congress had power to
regulate commerce between states and to estab-
lish points
Mr Hale followed. denying the right of con
gress interfere with the rights of states, the
bill proposed TO DO 1t was blow at the con-
sttution which he hoped would not meet the IA
vor Of the Senate. He showed that the legisa
ture of New Jersey. in respect to the Camden
and Amboy railroad, not exceptional, but
! that New York and Massachusetts, had granted
charters in which provisions were incorporated
similar to those OF which Mr.. Sumner complain
ed in the Camden and Amboy charter. The
gist Of the bill before the Senate. he said, was
to raise the price of the bankrupt corporation
from almost nothing to above par.
! Mr. Ten Evck moved shat further coasidera
ton of the subject be postponed tiil Monday at
| 10 a m.
Mr. Wilson offered al amendment 10 the bill,
that no citizen of the United States shall be ex-
Guided from any railroad or steamboat, or other
conveyance on account OF any state law reg
ulstion
! Mr Ten Eycks motion prevailed
The Senate then adjourned to meet a, 30
| for executive business.