The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-13
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
WAsHrxGroN. Decem "a u

Patterson, OF New ia ulpS n1fe. rom the
Committee on Regrenchment, reported
resolution that contracts for stationery
and other supplies for the EXccu-
tive Department, shall. in the pres
! ent unsettled condition of the coun-
/ try. be not made 1Or &c perlOd longer than
/ one year Ado pied.
Moves Introduce DilE % amend the
various acos establishing the Navy De-
partment. Referred 10 the Naval Com
miLtee.
on motion by Sherman, the Senate took
up the bill in regard to the proceeds Of
captured and abondone property.
The question was stated TO be on Ed
monds Amendment
EdmondS stated that. since yesterday, he
had learned chat the Secretary of the
Treasury had been lust ucted TO appoint
Treasury Agents under the Acts OF Con-
greSs. Mr.. Chase had consulted the solicit
tor as to whether he had authority TO de-
eide which was captured and which was
abandoned properly. The question mad
arisen whether the President or the Secre-
/ taTy had the authority 20 SUBMIT Jile cues
/ lions 10 q COMMITTEES, and particularly
what had been called he savannah Cot
( ton Cases. The Attorney General had de-
/ cided adversely. The Secretary of the
| Treasury. he be ieved, had given up no
/ that opiEion. He read q letter from the
/ Attorney General, dated April "a ls66, eX-
| pressing the opinion that certain property
was uniuStifiabiy seized, not having been
I the property of the Confederate states.
/ This letter exOnOrated the Secretary of the
/ Treasury from personal Shame.
] Mr.. EeSSenden said this matter was
| doubtless caused by such a mtSapprehen-
| son, aggravated by dissatisfied claimants
/ OF such property. Few had any conception
/ of the trouble and difficulty entalled on
1 the Treasury Department by the large
/ amounts of property scattered all over the
| country. which had been seized. The law
4 did nOt mean that the gross receipts OF
| captured property should be paid into the
/ Treasury. Secretary Chase had establish
I Ell the p 1nc1ple ofpaytng the expenses OF
/ captured property out of the properly.
| Would it be proper that, when certain
! property was unjustidably seized, that il
/ should lie 50 d. and the proceeds De
! paid into the Treasury? Mr.. Chase mad
/ decided il would be first subject to proof
/ The eta section made il the duty of the ar
| my and navy, Selling abandoned proper
/ ", to turn it over to the Government
! 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
\ an act OF 1851, 1T was provided thaC Inc pro-
I ceeds, after deducting expenses, were to
be paid into the Treasury, under which
! law he had assumed the control or
] that department. He had doubtless erred
IN i1dO sing the OPT MON referred TO by The
Solicitor of the Treasury. without suhici.
/ emily considering the difference between
captured and abandoned property; but an
| investigation would show that under his
| administration, and probably under that
of the other Secretary, no property was
| made subject to seizure. They had eXercISe1
most scru puIOuS care. so great care indeed.
that part OF the once was set aside Tor
| that Investigation, with a competent gem
| Gleman detailed to pronounce on the legal
/ aspect OF the case. IN addition ID that, he
/ himself had always examined cases after
1 decision by this Bureau, and sometimes
| set them aside. Mr.. McCuIlOch had sim ply
| followed the course marked out by him
| self a nd his predecessor. and he felt called
1 on to take share of the blame, if there
| amendment. Though the Treasury Depart
| ment had no objection, it won d operate
unjustly to parties having just claims
| against such property, 6epr1v1ng them or
/ their remedy.
Sherman Said that when he claimed,
| yesterday, that the Secretary of the Treas
I
/ opinion of the Solicitor, the senator from
| II inois (rrumbuiD had taken hinl by sur
! prise in denying the fact. He read IL state
( ment from the Secretary report, showing
I tuat The fact was as he had stated. He ex-
| planned that tn Committee on Finance
mad dHferre d action on The bill on the rep
resent alton OF the Secretary Of the Treas
/ ufy ia regard TO the thirty-fOur million
dollars worth OF property. Doubtless l.
| was HOt proper for that money to remain,
| without being ciIried into the Treasury.
| If the Senator from Maine thought more
| time should be allowed, he had no Obiec-
/ ton.
| Fessenden said the only reason for dsfav
| was, that it was only the net proceeds mat
| were to be paid into the Treasurv. and
there were certain claims to be tested.
The morning hour wing expired,
/ johnson rose 10 speak on Brakes resol -
/ lion relative to the Presidents Message.
Trumbun desiring 10 speak on the pend
| ing BILL on motion of Sherman il was post
/ poned till tomorrow
Drake Sc to personal explanation in
regard 20 the attack upon him by the
| NdtjORa' T71teEIigencer and New York World,
| based upon a correspondence IN the GIN
cinnai Con1neeTctdL, under the non de
| plume OF = Mack" The charge was that
he (Drake) had voted in the Legislature of
| Missouri, in 1853 and 1859, that negroes in
his state be put up by the Sheriffat public
auction. 1t would be unjust to himself
and To his State did not hes pro-
nUunee it totally false. In August
he was elected 10 that assembly
| and took his seat, not having previously
been a member. The previous Winter the
! House passed such a bill, and after he took
I the
same effect. An anne ndment was offered
providing that negroes or mulattoeS, set
| Ting in the state since 1917, should be re-
duced to slavery. He had voted for il.
| The operation of it would have been con-
fined TO a small plumber If the bin should
become law; without it everyonegrO IN
the state was TO be enSlaVed: but he had
voted against the bill on its final passage.
The statement was, therefore, false and
unfOunded.
The Senate took up Mr.. brakes resolu-
ton.
of the Presidents Mes a. e; one of the best,
he SAID, sent in by any esident.
On moi. n of Mr. Grimes, the resolution
was postponed TIL Monday, and the SEN
ate took up the concurrent resolution to
adjourn from December 10th to January
MIR. Sumner suggested that it might oc-
casion pocket veto of the bill for further
securing equal rights in tine DistrtcL of Co
! lumbta, and moved 10 SUBSTITUTE z4In Tor
goth. Lost.
The esolution was also lOst-lS to %.
The President TRANSMIT ted 10 the Sc ate
a voIuminous document; nj reason Tor
suspendi e Secretary stanton. Papers on
the Fitz John Porter case, Wee also sent
The Senate, about four O'Clock, went into
executive session and adjourned.
HOUSE Bromweu presented memo
rails from various early meetings Of the
Society of Friends, praying chanSe OF
the Indian pOiicy-substttut1ng enotts 10
! ciVilize and educate, in the place OF COM
puision and war, and Offering their gratH-
3 n bringing