Friday, April 3, 2009

First Session – 37th Congress

WASHINGTON, April 15. – In the House to-day Mr. PORTER called up the bill reported by him from the Committee on Judiciary, amendatory of the act establishing a court for the investigation of claims against the United States. The bill was passed.

The bill organizing the Signal Corps in the army for the present war was passed.

The following resolution was adopted from the Judiciary committee:

Resolved, That the Government should not interfere with the free transmission of intelligence, by telegraph, when the same will not aid the enemy, or give some information concerning the military or naval operations on the part of this Government, except it may become necessary under the authority of Congress, to assume the exclusive use of the telegraph, for its own legitimate purposes, or to assert the right of priority in transmission of its own despatches.

Fourteen bills, with a general resolution relative to forfeiting the property of Rebels, and making it a penal offence for the Army or Navy to return fugitive slaves, and including kindred subjects, reported the 20th of March, with the recommendation from the Judiciary committee that they ought not to pass, came up to-day.

The question being on laying them severally on the table.

The proceedings were suspended by a report from Mr. MORRILL, of the committee of Ways and Means, of a bill appropriating$30,000,000 to pay Volunteers. Also, $100,000 for the pay of bounty and pensions to officers and soldiers of the Western Department.

Mr. Morrill’s bill was passed.

A message was received from the President, saying that he had signed the bill abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia.

The death of Mr. Cooper was announced, and eulogies were pronounced, and the customary resolutions adopted.

Mr. McDOUGALL commented on the course of the Committee on the Conduct of the War.

The confiscation bill came up.

Mr. POWELL approved it at length.

WASHINGTON, April 16. – After Mr. POWELL concluded, the bill was postponed till Friday.

The message of the President was received, giving his reasons for approving the bill abolishing slavery in the district of Columbia.

The death of Representative Cooper was announced. The customary resolutions were adopted, and the Senate adjourned.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 1862

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