Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-07

l bu0 "a p0ASuSy VI D OLduu4uB AnsLotEA VI
Special Committee on the Pacific Railroad
The House then proceeded to the con
sideration of the Sensts's joint resolution
having in view the amendment Of tht
Constitution to abolish slavery Throughout
the country.
Mr.. Ashley, of Ohio, endorsed the wOrdi
Of President Lincoln, namely; EIf slavery
is not wrong then nothing is wrong"
The proposition whether this universal
wrong should be considered or abolished
as now before the House. If slavery had
never been known in the United States
and if any member should introduce 8
measure to enslave any portion of the
people, he would be looked upon as an
enemy to the human race, He did not
believe such q msssUre could receive q
single vote in this House yet It was
known that votes had been cast here to
keep in slavery msn who, under the laws
Of God and nature, are IS much entitled to
freedom ss the white race. The trainers
of the Constitution were not guilty of
making an instrument which could be
fairly interpreted, to deprive any one
of justice, liberty and happiness. II, for
the last thirty years, statesmen had ruled
I NOAGkA II klCl AAA U0Sn A4AOA WLAO
had not defended and made concessions to
slavery, this war would MT have resulted.
BE argued that Congress had the eonsti-
tutionsl right to make the amendment and
he anticipates the most favorable results
from such legislation.
Mr.. Orth spoke of the duty and de tiny
of the American people. The feeling exhi-
bited throughout our struggle, and the re-
cent election, proves our willingness and
ability to serve the nation. The rebellion
must be subdued without egard to loss or
sacrifice. This was the imperative duty.
Slavery, the cause of all our troubles, is
dying, but we must, by q constitutional
amendment provide against its future ex-
lstenee. In the reconstruction of the Gov
ernment great care must be exercised
/ No State must be re.admitted into the
Union until thoroughly purged of treason
and able to sustain civil authority and
rec institutions
The intermedling cf France and Eng
land demands our serious attention. These
nations must be held to an account for
their conduct, and the Monroe doctrine
strictly enforced even at the hazard of a
foreign war. These duties being dischsrg-
ed our destiny is ired and in process of
time our Government will be the only
power recognized on the Continent of
North America.
Schofeld advocated the smmendment,
saying that the people, in the recent
Presidential election had decided in favor
of general emancipation Of the slaves.
Mr.. SchoReld msde al attack on the
people of the city of New York. when
Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. Brooks spiritedly
replied. Adjourned.
SENATE.
Mr. Sherman from the Finance Commit
tee, reported back the petition Of army Of
foers, asking COZ an increase of pay and
asked that ihs Committee he discharged
and the petition referred 10 the Military
Committee. Agreed to.
Mr.. TrumbulI offered 3 resolution which
was passed, calling upon the Secretary of
the Interior for information as to the num-
Der of Pension Agents employed by the
Government, how many in each State
under what law employed, &c.
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill to regu-
late the proceedings in criminal cases, re-
lsting especially to the punishment Of the
crime of treason, which was passed. It
provides that where the offence charged
be treason, and is capital offence, the de-
fendsnt shall be entitled to twenty, and
the United States to five peremptory
challenges on fiat. For any other Of
fence the United States shall be entitled
10 two peremptory challenges and the de-
fendant to ten. Where any person, con-
victed Of an cfence against the United
States, shall be sentenced to imprisonment
for period longer than one year, it shall
be lawful for the court, by which the SEN
tence is passed, to order the same to be
executed in any State prison OF peniten-
tisry within the district or State where
such court is held, the use Of which prison
or penitentisry is allowed by the Ligisla-
ture of ouch State for such purpose, and
the expenses attending the execution of
the sentence shsl be paid by the United
The act takes effect on the lst of June
1865.
Mr.. Wilson called up the bill to drop
from the rolls the unemployed officers of
the army.
The report Of the Military Committee
on this subject recommending that the bill
do not pass, was read,
Mr.. Wilson moved that the bill be in
definitely postponed
Mr.. Trumbull was sorry that the Com
mittee on Military Affairs had come to
such conclusion.
Mr.. Lane, of Indians, spoke in favor of
the report of the committee, and hoped
the Senate would sct upon its reeommen-
dation.
Mr.. Wilson said the responsibility of
Il IL
of service had been exercised during the
Est yeaF-some, he thought, within
the last four or Ave weeks. They had e;,
ther been mustered out or mad resigned
knowing they would be mustered ont. The
facts in relation 10 every such officer
could be put into the possession of the
President and he could act upon them
and take the sponsibility. he, Mr.. Will
son did not want the responsibility shifted
upon the Congress of the United States.
If the bill was passed IS it came from
tho House it would leave it in the power of
any Commanding 0fcer to secure the
dismissal of his subordinates by the reor-
ganiEstion of brigades, and Division Or
GERS might be thrown out of service at
the expiration of three months under this
bnl.
There was more intrigue in the army,
among officers, than in the most exciting
csnvssses among politicians. There was
no comparison between the rivalry and
jealousy of army officers and of ambitious
men in the civil service, and he (Wilson)
thought that Congress ought TO do moth
ing to increase the means for carrying out
thf rivalry, as it would by PASSING this
bill. When a general was out Of service
it was the duty Of the executive to see the