Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-12-20
Congressional.
Thursday, Dec. IL.
SENATE.

mittee reported the house bill repeal
ing the cotton tax, and gave notice that
he would call it up tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the bill
relative to the proceeds of captured
and abandoned property was taken up
and debated at considerable length.
Mr.. Edmunds made a statement ex-
onerating the secretary OF the treasu-
ry from blame in regard to the surren-
der of certain property captured, par
ticularly in what was known as the oa-
vannah cotton cases.
Mr.. Fessenden proceeded to defend
the treasury department, saying that
this matter was doubtless caused by |
misapprehe1oiQn aggravated 10y dissat
isfed claimants of such property
Few had any conception of the trou-
ole and difficulty entailed on the trea
sury department through the large
amounts of property scattered all over
the country which had been seized
l. nc law ulu HOL HlCdlI tIIht LuC Siooo
receipts of captured property should
be paid into the treasury. Secretary
Chase had established the principle
of paying expenses Of captured prop
erty out of the property. Would it
be proper that when certain property
was unjuSti6ably seized it should be
sold and the proceeds paid into the
treasury Mr.. Chase has decided
that it would be first subject to proof
The sixth section made it the duty OF
the army and navy selling abandoned
property to turn it over to govern
ment. They had been in the habit Of
Selling property that had never been
abandoned, and the secretary of the
treasury had properly allowed proof
of ownership. In the acts of 1864 it
was provided that the proceeds, after
deducting expenses, were to be paid
into the treasury, under which law he
had assumed control of that depart
ment. He had doubtless erred in in
dorsing the opinion referred to OF the
Solicitor of the treasury without sui
ticiently considering the difference be-
tween captured and abandoned prop
erty. But an investigation would show
that under his administration, and pro-
badly under that Of the other secreta-
ry, no property had been returned to
owners when properly subject to seiz-
ure. They had exercised most scrupu
lOuS care-so great care indeed that
part of the Office was set aside for that
; investigation, with competent gentle
men detailed to pronounce legally the
aspect OF cases. In addition to thai
he himself had always examined cases
alter their decision by this bureau
and had sometimes set them aside
= lie read FROM the report OF the secre
: tary Of the treasury showing the dit
; icuty that had arisen from such sCiz
c ures-some of them from mi5appre
+ .hensiOn, some fraudulent. some from
the extent of duties. Mr.. McCuIlocl
had simply followed the course mark
ed out 10y himself and his predecessor
: and he felt called upon to come fol
p" ward aud take his share of blame, i
: any were proper, in regard to tn
:. 100000 deposited as security III til
: Simon Draper matter. He said tina
= course had been taken because of tn
l. transfer of the claim in question to til
IS Circuit Court of New York, on a,
l. count of supposed unGrendly feelin
f. on the part of the Court in which
g had been previously brought towar
e. the law OF the United States undo
r which condemnation had been sough
The deposit of security he understood
to be a legal requirement i'll cons
- quence of that transfer, and it had n,
s. been considered proper to make Il
p proceeds of property its own securlt
Is, Suits had been brought against Il
Is secretary of the treasury, and he d
tailed several other circumstances til
fe had arisen, making it necessary to d
m post moneys as securities. If I'll
q, dill should pass, with the amendmcI
#. Though the treasury department b;
IT. no Objection it would operate unju,
N. ly to parties having just claims again
no such property, depriving them Of The
remedy. His Object was attained
explaining matters SO severely anima
raj verted upon by Mr.. Trumbull vest,
IL day. Great injustice was frequent
a done to heads OF departments by su
he hasty conclusions. He had dischal
Ish ed his duty faithfully, and he thong
he the present secretary had done lii
ISL wise.
Ter The morning hour having expir,
Mr.. johnson rose to speak on \
brakes resolution in regard to [
presidents message.
y'' Mr.. Trumbull desiring to speak
! the pending bill, on motion of \
i h' Sherman it was postponed till tom
-! row.
,OO Mr.. Drake made a personal expl
alton, denouncing as false stateme
widely published, that in the MiSso
wn Legislature in 1859 he voted t
ina free negroes in his state should be S
62 at public auction, and explained
ties, action in that matter. The sen
ain then took up Mr.. brakes bill.
OF Johnson then proceeded to discus
: at length and argued that the assert
that no sovereign rights existed in
, , of the states, but that supreme po
" resided in the united govl rnment,
can fallacious. The supreme court OF
Gu United States had always held
uns certain rights did Undue in states
'e'S Chief Justice Marshall, in his opil
i'i In the matter of United States bi
'i"S holding in precise terms and den,
fsInf fpn,. ri