WASHINGTON, April 29.
Mr. Grimes introduced a bill to provide that the school tax collected from the colored people of the District be appropriated to the education of colored children.
On motion of Mr. Hall, a resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to discharge a contractor after fulfilling his contract, was, after some discussion on it, laid over.
Mr. Hale explained that, under the present law, the department can call for a large amount of work to be done at the same price.
Mr. Wilson of Mass., introduced a bill to amend the bill of last session confiscating slaves, so as to include the wives and children of slaves.
On motion of Mr. Powell, the resolution calling on the Secretary of State for the number and names of persons who have been arrested in the State of Kentucky and imprisoned in forts, etc., was taken up. Mr. Sumner moved as a substitute that the President, if not incompatible, will give any information in his possession, touching the arrest of persons in Kentucky since the 1st of September, 1861.
The President sent the Senate a communication avowing his responsibility for the arrest of Gen. Stone, and stating that the General cannot be tried at present, because the witnesses whose presence would be necessary are on the field.
The confiscation bill was taken up and Mr. Browning made a lengthy speech in opposition to it. Without taking a vote on the question the senate adjourned.
HOUSE. – Mr. Blair, of Mo., inquired of Mr. Potter on what authority he yesterday predicated his charge of disloyalty against Judge Pitts, of Northampton county, Va.
Mr. Potter replied – On the address of Judge Pitts to the Virginia Legislature at Richmond. The address was now read, in which Judge Pitts refers to the action of the Legislature to depose him without giving him an opportunity for defence. The consummation of this would be manifestly unjust. He could only plead not guilty of disloyalty to the South, and doubted not he could triumphantly vindicate himself from every charge his enemies and persecutors might bring against him. He protested against being removed from office by extra constitutional means.
The House then resumed the consideration of the report of the select committee on government contracts.
Mr. Roscoe Conkling thought this committee had done grave and irreparable injustice, both to individuals and classes. Mr. Davis had said there was indubitable evidence of fraud, well nigh in a single year as much as the current expenditures of the Government during the administration which the people had hurled from power on account of its corruption. He (Conkling) thought if this statement were true, the people would be justified in resorting to anything short of revolution to redress the wrong; but he was satisfied that Davis, on more mature deliberation, would recall it. The committee had proceeded on ex parte testimony; parties never were informed that they were to be tried, and convicted, and stigmatized, and hung up to festering infamy. As a case in point, he said the committee had clandestinely gathered evidence against Gen. Fremont, to blast his character as a citizen and a soldier, at the time he was in command of the army. – They never informed him that he was aspersed, or gave him the names of the witnesses against him, and they afforded him no opportunity of defense. What good had the committee done to offset the harm? He was not aware that one single fraud had been developed by the committee, which remained unearthed at the time they pretended to dig it up.
Mr. Conkling asked the Speaker what time remained to him.
The Speaker replied eighteen minutes.
Mr. Dawes – The time will be extended to the gentleman.
Mr. [Washburne] – I object to that.
Mr. Conkling – I know that, and do you know how I know it; because the member from Illinois is the only man in the House surly enough to interpose objections in such a case.
Mr. Washburne rose to reply, when Mr. Conkling called the member to order.
Mr. Washburne (excitedly) – I call the creature to order.
The Speaker demanded the preservation of order.
Mr. Conkling – The member from Illinois understands the rules of this House, and must understand that this is not the place for personal altercations. He knows the proper place for that is outside these walls.
Mr. Wasburne (excitedly) – Yes, I am ready for it.
Mr. Conkling – No individual in this House better knows than the member from Illinois that I stand by what I say until convinced that I am in error, and therefore there is no necessity for any interruption here.
Mr. Conkling in the course of his remarks said he regarded the committee as one of the ornaments to expensive under the circumstances to be indulged in. Mr. Conkling was severe on the committee, which he thought ought immediately to be disbanded.
Mr. Washburne spiritedly replied. He said Mr. Conkling was the instrument of the robbers, plunderers and thieves who had been holding high carnival in anticipation of the overthrowing of the committee.
Mr. Hickman vindicated the report of the committee, and referred to the subjects heretofore frequently repeated.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 30, 1862, p. 1
Mr. Grimes introduced a bill to provide that the school tax collected from the colored people of the District be appropriated to the education of colored children.
On motion of Mr. Hall, a resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to discharge a contractor after fulfilling his contract, was, after some discussion on it, laid over.
Mr. Hale explained that, under the present law, the department can call for a large amount of work to be done at the same price.
Mr. Wilson of Mass., introduced a bill to amend the bill of last session confiscating slaves, so as to include the wives and children of slaves.
On motion of Mr. Powell, the resolution calling on the Secretary of State for the number and names of persons who have been arrested in the State of Kentucky and imprisoned in forts, etc., was taken up. Mr. Sumner moved as a substitute that the President, if not incompatible, will give any information in his possession, touching the arrest of persons in Kentucky since the 1st of September, 1861.
The President sent the Senate a communication avowing his responsibility for the arrest of Gen. Stone, and stating that the General cannot be tried at present, because the witnesses whose presence would be necessary are on the field.
The confiscation bill was taken up and Mr. Browning made a lengthy speech in opposition to it. Without taking a vote on the question the senate adjourned.
HOUSE. – Mr. Blair, of Mo., inquired of Mr. Potter on what authority he yesterday predicated his charge of disloyalty against Judge Pitts, of Northampton county, Va.
Mr. Potter replied – On the address of Judge Pitts to the Virginia Legislature at Richmond. The address was now read, in which Judge Pitts refers to the action of the Legislature to depose him without giving him an opportunity for defence. The consummation of this would be manifestly unjust. He could only plead not guilty of disloyalty to the South, and doubted not he could triumphantly vindicate himself from every charge his enemies and persecutors might bring against him. He protested against being removed from office by extra constitutional means.
The House then resumed the consideration of the report of the select committee on government contracts.
Mr. Roscoe Conkling thought this committee had done grave and irreparable injustice, both to individuals and classes. Mr. Davis had said there was indubitable evidence of fraud, well nigh in a single year as much as the current expenditures of the Government during the administration which the people had hurled from power on account of its corruption. He (Conkling) thought if this statement were true, the people would be justified in resorting to anything short of revolution to redress the wrong; but he was satisfied that Davis, on more mature deliberation, would recall it. The committee had proceeded on ex parte testimony; parties never were informed that they were to be tried, and convicted, and stigmatized, and hung up to festering infamy. As a case in point, he said the committee had clandestinely gathered evidence against Gen. Fremont, to blast his character as a citizen and a soldier, at the time he was in command of the army. – They never informed him that he was aspersed, or gave him the names of the witnesses against him, and they afforded him no opportunity of defense. What good had the committee done to offset the harm? He was not aware that one single fraud had been developed by the committee, which remained unearthed at the time they pretended to dig it up.
Mr. Conkling asked the Speaker what time remained to him.
The Speaker replied eighteen minutes.
Mr. Dawes – The time will be extended to the gentleman.
Mr. [Washburne] – I object to that.
Mr. Conkling – I know that, and do you know how I know it; because the member from Illinois is the only man in the House surly enough to interpose objections in such a case.
Mr. Washburne rose to reply, when Mr. Conkling called the member to order.
Mr. Washburne (excitedly) – I call the creature to order.
The Speaker demanded the preservation of order.
Mr. Conkling – The member from Illinois understands the rules of this House, and must understand that this is not the place for personal altercations. He knows the proper place for that is outside these walls.
Mr. Wasburne (excitedly) – Yes, I am ready for it.
Mr. Conkling – No individual in this House better knows than the member from Illinois that I stand by what I say until convinced that I am in error, and therefore there is no necessity for any interruption here.
Mr. Conkling in the course of his remarks said he regarded the committee as one of the ornaments to expensive under the circumstances to be indulged in. Mr. Conkling was severe on the committee, which he thought ought immediately to be disbanded.
Mr. Washburne spiritedly replied. He said Mr. Conkling was the instrument of the robbers, plunderers and thieves who had been holding high carnival in anticipation of the overthrowing of the committee.
Mr. Hickman vindicated the report of the committee, and referred to the subjects heretofore frequently repeated.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 30, 1862, p. 1
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