The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-25

honorable anything that would not destroy the respect
which should maintain for ourselves He did not be-
leve this subject came properly with n scope OF the
Senate The legislative thority had no right to inter
fere in the case OF foreign be erent Powers; il be.
onsed to the Executive IT. as had been said the law OF
nations authorized there was no for
passing another law. This was question for The Execu-
tive 10 consider II the duty or the President 10 see
that our officers and soldiers nhumanly treated
and 10 take proper steps to secure justice for them
Mr.. WADE inquired Of Mr. Cowan IL Congress had not
the right to make articles of and prescribe the
ment Of prisoners in such articesf
Mr. COwAS replied that Congress could make articles
OF war for the government OF the army In itself bat Il
could not make articles Of war to govern the enemy
foreign Powers Congress could not make a law compel
ling the President to scalp burn prisoners or to order
the violation Of women.
Mr. WADE-That's pettifoggng
tor .'som Ohio Is Upon what meat doth this our Gear
Sed nat he should come here and tell Senators ~ thew
disagree with him, they are pettIoggersi M Cowan
conninued nations bound TO treat their prisoners
with Justice md humanity, and We had authority
Mr. TsUxBuLL ivep.) of III Can't we define piracyY
Mr. CowAN-No, you CART
constitution which authorizes Congress to define and
punish piracy,
Mr. DAVIS, opp q Ky-The senator from Pennsyl-
nations EARTH according to the laws Of nations
Il only define what may constitute piracy according
the laws Of the United States It may say that the
slave trade 10 piracy but no other nation bound by the
law
Mr. cowAs resumed the consideration of the ques-
TO intermeddle In the contemplated by the
luton with the duties which belonged to the Executive
proposition before the Senate The senator from Penn
sylvana was mistaken in supposing that the resolution
was mandatory upon the President It advisory only
Mr. Howard repudated the doctrine advanced by some
Senators, that the President had all the power In time
OF war; He maintained that Congress had the power to
DECLARE to wage and to carry war; and to prescribe
the in which should be conducted II for
Congress regulate the treatment of prisoners well
tho arming and cqupping Of troops and navies Tho
nj tn limit
ties Of the rebels 1t simply humane treat
ment for our prisoners in rebel hands The report Of the
Committee OF the United States Sanitary Commission
gave fearful picture of the atrocities committed by the
rebels upon our prisoners at Belle Isle and Anderson
Vile Tho effect OF that treatment deferred thousands OF
young men from entering the army The barbarities
committed upon at Andersonvio not TO be
described in language Out Of thirtyve thousand who
were there six months ago not than onehaf
alive now This treatment resorted TO by the rebels
to strike terror into the Northern people and TO diminish
our force in the field The resolution before tho Senate
did not propose to retaae upon the soldiers Of the rebel
army but only upon the officers and the fact seemed to
have been overlooked by the Senator from Pennsylvania
Mr.. WILSON, (rep) of Mass offered as an amendment
TO MI summers proposition, to strike out all after the
enacting clause and insert after preamble declaring
that our prisoners have been inhumanly treated, &c.
resolution instructng the President to appoint commits
sioners to confer with the rebel authorities with view
to devise some practical plan for the relief or better
treatment of prisoners in their hands, Mr.. Wilson
explained that the above the best plan to secure the
object Of the Senate which was to secure the humane
treatment OF our prisoners.
Mr. GRIMES, (rep) Of Iowa, interrupted Mr. Wilson by
asking him II the Secretary OF War had not stated in
communication to the House. that there would be no DIFF
cuy In the future abo ut the exchange Of prisoners
So what was the necessity for passing such resolution
Mr. WILSON replied that he 30 understood IT, but It
would be we'll to devise some plans for the good treat
ment Of prisoners of war which should hereafter fall into
the hands OF the rebels
Mr. SUMNER inquired II the rebels had not on former
occasion refused to receive such commissioners
suggested by Mr.. Wilson's resolution
In reply to the question several Senators stated that
the commissioners referred to by Mr. Sumner only
authorized to visit our prisoners and had no authority to
Mr. WILSON said he had good assurance that IL such
commission was appointed 1t could accomplish the result
Mr. HEsDRrc,ls, (rep) Of Ind, said he had listened
with interest the speech of Mr. Howard and he knew
that he Mr. Howard had taken the most popular side:
but must be recolected that in the time Of the French
Revolution the orators who were most loudly
6 DoS a1 aeM
was opposed . any pIoposIiien looking e such
sets Mr Sumne denounce retaliation in his resolutions
Retaliation was barbarous practice and ought TO be
adopted Mr.. H. continued his remarks advocating
exchange OF prisoners the best OF relief
suffering brethren now in Southern prisons
Mr. HOWARD inquired IL Mr. Hendricks in favor Of
any kind Of retaliation to secure good treatment to our
sodiers2
Mr. HENDRICKS replied that he was In favor Of no retail
alton that opposed TO the principles OF Christianity
He stated, upon the authority Of Captain Flynn,
cascd prisoner from Indiana that the prisoners Il An
Jacksonville wcrc treated we'll as their rebel guards
Mr. HowARD-Does the Senator assert upon this floor
that prisoners In Southern hands treated well
as Southern prisoners In our handsS
Mr. HENDRICKS In reply said he did not know only
what he had stated upon tho authority Of returned
prisoner but he did not believe all that published In
the report of the Sanitary Commission
Mr. Brown, (rep.) OF Mo-H the Senator from Indiana
thinks prisoners well treated why does he object
to Southern prisoners in the North being put upon that
fareS
Mr. HENDRICKS replied that the resolution before the
Senate took It a foregone conclusion that men
were starved and subjected TO kind Of bad treat
ment 1t did not propose to get reliable data upon which
to base retaliation II took all for granted Mr. Hen
bricks resumed his speech In advocacy Of the exchange
OF prisoners and opposed TO the destructive policy pur
sued by the United States officers In the Shenandoah
valley which, he said had alienated thousands from the
cause Of the Union.
Further consideration Of the subject was postponed till
tomorrow, several Senators wished 70 speak on It.
ENROLMENT
Mr. WILSON introduced BILL in addition to the several
acts for enrolling and calling ont the national forces
which was referred to the Military Committee.
The bill provides 1s That persons enrolled and liable
TO be drafted may be accepted substitutes I'd. That
furnishing navy substitute shall be exempt
less that substitute Is brought person 20 the Board of
enrolment and is accepted there 3d. That any person
who knowingly brings for enlistment convict insane
drunken person, deserter shall defraud In tito
OF bounty shall be liable one thousand dollars
fine and two years imprisonment 9TH That any muster
ing officer who shall muster such person, shall upon
vction, be dshonorably dismissed the service 5h That
all State local bountes shall hereafter be paid In install
ments at mastering In third at the middle
Of the term Of service and third at the end unless
sooner discharged honorably II killed. the balance to be
paid TO the widow 9th. That every district shall make
up by additional draft recruiting Its loss from
tions and discharges account Of physical disability
listing before enlistment 7th That all deserters shall DO
DISTINGUISHED forever, including all who have deserted
heretofore who shall not report within sixty days
At half past four O'Clock the Senate adjourned
House OF Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a, 1896.
TIE nLscr COMMITTEE ON THE KxuHr AND FIELD Dr.