The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-01-12

JAMES MATHEWS,
Prov. Mar. and Pres. If BID Of Enroll't.
e. N. GATES. Commissions.
N. 8. HAMLIN, Surgeon.
Board Of Enrolment.
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COmgressl 1mal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-Houss. -Schenck
from the commute on Military Affairs report
ed . bill which was passed. amending the
law establishing an insane asylum in the
District Of Columbus. for navy and army ofa
Gers. 50 ~ to admit insane civilians in the
quartermaster and Subsistence depassmeut
Of the army on the order Of the Secretary Of
War. ~ e sf
On motion Of Mr.. Holman, the Secretary
Of War was directed to inform the House
why he has not communicated the iniorma.
ton relative to the filing up Of new regi-
ments asked for in December last. and fur.
ther directing him now to send in the same.
Mr.. Morris, of Ohio, introduced bill au.
thorizing express and other transportation
companies to sell unclaimed freights. This
was referred to the Committee for the Dis.
triet of Columbia.
Mr.. Grinnell introduced bill providing
that the mothers of illegi,imate children who
die in the mi litary service o, fall in battle,
shall DO entitled to receive ssrearages of pay
and bounty, the same as other mothers
The bill was referred to the committee on
Military Affairs.
On motion ofMr. Wilson, resolution vas
adopted instructing the committee on Judi.
ciary to inquire into the expediencv Of re-
porting bill to exclude the testimony Of
parties in interest, in suits where the adj.
ministrators, executors and guardians are
parties.
Mr.. Grinnell introduced q resolution in.
s'ruct,ng the committee on Military Affairs
to report. at an early day, on the expediency
Of law to confiscate so much Of the proper.
ty Of conscripts who have failed to report
for duty, as web A. to secure soldiers in their
stead.
The House then resumed the considera.
ton Of the Senate proposition for the amend.
ment Of the constitution SO as to abolish
slavery.
Bliss. of Ohio, spoke Of the impolicy and
inconstitutionality Of amending the consti.
tuition in the manner designed. Changes,
he said, could be made only on the basis Of
>nanrrnmieA The s,,hinoafinn Of the south
and tho sway over It could be accomplished
BY no other means, than by standing army,
and in his opinion We could not afford the
blood and treasure which would be required
for that purpose.
Rogers. of New York, said that there was
no power in the government by act of legis.
alton to interfere with any State to control
slavery or any other institution, the control
fof which was not' delegated to the General
Government. Tho institution of slavery. he
repeated. belonged to the State. and no com.
bination Of men can by legislation abolish Il
therein.
Mr.. Davis. Of New York, said that the Or.
gument Of Mr.. Rogers was that civil liberty
consisted in the right Of one people to en-.
slave another. So far from this being true,
nature made all men FREQ and entitled them
to equal rights before the law; and on this
principle the government should act, and
sooner or later & will be the recognized prin.
ciple Throughout the world. Slavery should
find no apologist and defender among those
who represent the free States, and slavery
should die because It is incompatible with
freedom. and has. undertaken to destroy our
institutions, because freedom only could
make Union perpetual. &
Highee, Of California, in his speech said
that the people by . majority Of 400. 900
votes at the last presidential election had en-.
dorssd the emancipation policy. The Senate
at the last session passed tho joint resolu.
ton now under discussion by more than Z
ree-fourths majority, and although vote
Of :wo.thirds WAS not obtained for II in the
House, there was = majority Of 80 moro than
those who voted against it he alluded to
the facts to show that the duty of Congress
wss clear and well understood by tho nation.
Mr.. Davis advocated the amendments; con.
tending that all mon arc entitled % freedom
Mr.. Ashley, Of Ohio. gaze notice that he
would, on Monday Or Tuesday, ask vote
on the pending proposition.
Adjourned. ~
WAsHrxaroN, Jan, 9.-SENArE.-D oolittle
presented the memorial Of the board of
trade Of Racine. Wisconsin, in relation to
the establishment ofa naval depot on the
western lakes.
Sherman Pr nted memorial Ct the
President Of the Refugee RELIEF Commission
Of Ohio, asking for an appropriation Of mon.
ey for the support Of Southern refugees.
Sherman said there were thousands Of
loyal refugees In the cities Of Cincinnati. st.
Louis and their condition was deplorabie.
Not less than 100. 300 white people had
been rendered homeless and scattered
through the south by the fortunes Of war.
He thought Congress ought 70 do some
thing in the matter, but he did not believe
the appropriation Of money would be the
most judcious mems Of relieving them. He
thought the government Oh, ht to give them
work to do for the srmy. the manufacture
Of clothing, &C., or : law might be passea
giving them uss Of land subject to confsca.
ton. He wished the memorial to be refer.
red to the Committee on Public Lands, and