Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-25
CONGR ESSlONAL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "A.

Mr.. Cowan presented the memorial of the
Board of Trade of Philadelphia, rcmon-
strating against the repeal of the duty on
unsized paper.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Finance COM
mittee reported back the bill to appropriate
money for the Postoffiee Department
without amendment.
MIR. Wilson, from the Military committee,
| reported back the petition of citizens asking
action to be taken to secure the release of
| prisoners of Straight's command captured
in Georgia, and asked that the committee
be discharged. 1t was so ordered.
Mr.. McDougall offered bill to re-estab-
lish the mail steamship service between the
United States and China. Referred to the
committee OH Postoliices.
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution instruct
ing the committee on Finance to examine
the system of checks in the office of the
Registry of the Treasury, and to report if
any legislation is needed tor the safety of
the public funds in that Office; also if any
losses have occurred there, and what caused
them. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman, House bill to
provide for Acting Assistant Treasurers or
repositories in several cases was passed.
Mr.. Henderson called up the bill to re-
imburse MissOurifo for calling out, equipping
and feeding the militia of that State.
Mr.. Brown moved that it be made the
special order for Tuesday next. Adopted.
Mr.. Powell offered a resolution calling
upon the Secretary of War to inform the
Senate why he had not appointed COM
mission to compensate loyal owners of col
ored volunteers, as required by actapprov-
ed on the 24th of February, 1864.
Mr.. Wilson opposed the passage of a res
oluton which censured the Secretary of
War.
Mr.. Powell, at the request of Mr.. Wade,
withdrew his resolution to allow Mr.. Wade
to call up.the special order, which was the
resolution in relation to retaliation upon
rebels for cruel treatment of Northern pris-
oners.
Mr.. Sumner offered the following as a
substitute for the resolution before the Sem
ate:
Resolved, That retaliation is harsh al
ways, even in the most urgent cases, and is
admissible only when it may reasonably be
expected to effect its objects, and when, in
the second place, it is consistent with the
nsages of civilized society, and that i'm the
absence of these essential conditions it is
useless and barbarous, having no other end
than vengeance, which is forbidden alike to
nations and to men. ...
Resolved, That the treatment of our Off
GERS and soldiers in rebel possession, is cru
ell, savage aud heart-rending beyond all
precedent; that it is shocking to morals;
that it is an offense against human nature
itself; that it adds new guilt to the great
crime of rebellion, and constitutes an ex-
ample from which history will turn with
sorrow and disgust.
RESOLVED, That any attempted imitation of
rebel barbarism in treatment of prisoners
would be plainly impracticable on account
of its inconsistency with the sentiments of
humanity; that it would be injurious at
home, for it would barbarize the whole
community; that it would be useless,
for it could not affect the revolving conduct
which we seek to overcome; that it could
have no other result than to degrade the
national character and the national name,
and to bring down upon our country the
Reputation of history; and that, being thus
impracticable, useless, mineral and degrad-
ing, it must be rejected as the measure of
retaliation, precisely as the barbarism of
roasting and eating prisoners.
Mr.. Sumner spoke In advocacy of the
resolutions, quoting from General Wash
ington, Chancellor Kent, General Hall, and
other authorities, against inhuman retaia-
tion, which never reached the guilty par
ties. --I..-. sI
Mr.. Wade hoped the amendment of Mr..
Sumner would not be adopted. Retaliation
has been practiced by all civilized nations
in all wars.
Mr.. Cowan believed retaliation was JUS
tifiable at times, but he did not approve of
the proposition to retaliate upon rebels. He
did not think it right to starve rebels be-
cause rebels starved our men. If, as had
been said, the law of nations authorized re-
taliation, there was no necessity OF passing
another law. 4.ssas-.s 70
Mr.. Howard spoke in defense of the pro-
position before the Senate. The object of
the resolution was not to initiate the bar
barities of the rebels. 1t was simply to Sc
cure humane treatment for our prisoners in
rebel hands. The report of the committee
of the United States Sanitary Commission
gave a fearful spectacle of the atrocities
committed by the rebels upon our prisoners.
| The resolution before the Senate did not
propose to retaliate upon soldiers of the
rebel army, but only upon officers, and
that fact seemed to have been overlooked
by the Senator. ia
| Further consideration of the-subject was
postponed till tomorrow. aN 81
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill in addition
/ to the several acts for enrolling and calling
| out the national forces, which was referred
| to the Military committee. .ia
/ Senate adjourned. ;,s ,
B seo HOUSE,. a't ntN
On motion of Mr.. Arnold, the committee
/ on Judiciary was instructed to inquire and
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