WASHINGTON, May 28. – HOUSE. – Mr. PORTER moved to postpone till Wednesday next the motion made by him yesterday, to reconsider the vote by which the House on Monday rejected the bill to confiscate the slaves of rebels.
Mr. HOLMES moved to lay Mr. PORTER’S motion on the table.
Mr. BLAIR moved a call of the House. Disagreed to by three majority.
Mr. EDWARDS moved the House adjourn. – Negatived nearly unanimously.
Mr. POTTER moved a call of the House. – Negatived by 18 majority.
Mr. HOLMES’ motion to lay that of Mr. Potter’s to postpone on the table, was disagreed to – 59 to 73.
Mr. PORTER’S motion was adopted.
The Speaker said that the motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill to confiscate the slaves of rebels was rejected can, as a privileged question, be taken up next Wednesday, immediately after the reading of the journal.
The House went into Committee on the Whole on the Senate Bill to collect direct tax in insurrectionary districts and for other purposes.
Several amendments were made for perfecting the arrangement for carrying the act into effect.
The bill passed 19 to 11.
It provides for the appointment of a board of tax commissioners to enter upon the duties of their office, wherever the commanding General of the forces of the United States entering into any insurrectionary state or district, shall have established the authority throughout any parish, district our county of the same in all cases where the owner of the land shall not pay the proportion of the tax and consequent expenses the property is to be sold.
Provisions to be made for the redemption of land if it be shown to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the owner has not taken part in or in any manner aided or abetted the rebellion, and that for reason of the rebellion he has been unable to pay the tax. In cases of owners having left their land to join the rebel cause the United States shall take possession and may lease them to the civil authorities established.
The people of the State shall elect a Legislature and State officers, who shall take the oath to support the federal Constitution.
The board of Commissioners may, under the direction of the President instead of leasing the lands vested in the U. S. cause the same to be subdivided and sold to any loyal citizen or any person who shall have faithfully served in the army, navy or marine corps. The preemption principle is also granted in the bill.
HOUSE – The remainer of the House proceedings previous to adjournment unimportant.
SENATE – The vice President presented a message from the President in reply to the resolution concerning arrests in Kentucky saying that it was not compatible with the public interests to furnish such information at present.
The bill making an appropriation for an authorizing payment of certain bounties was taken up and passed.
Mr. HARRIS presented a number of petitions for a bankrupt act.
Mr. WILLEY presented a memorial from the Legislature of Virginia in relation to a division of that State, and also the constitution adopted by the people within the proposed limits was taken up.
Mr. WILKINSON spoke against it as injurious to the new State tending to increase land speculation and preventing many of the benefits of the Homestead bill.
At ten o’clock the tax bill was taken up, the question being on Mr. Wilson’s amendment to strike out the license to retail liquor dealers.
The bill donating land for the benefit of colleges of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
WASHINGTON, May 28. – SENATE – Various amendments were rejected by 27 majority.
Mr. SUMNER offered an amendment taxing persons claiming service or labor for life of any such person the sum of ten dollars each.
After a discussion he modified it by making it read five dollars each for persons held by corporations, societies, or persons but such persons not to be sold to pay said tax.
Mr. SHERMAN offered a substitute for Mr. Sumner’s amendment to tax cotton one cent per pound. Rejected 15 to 22.
Mr. HICKMAN offered an amendment that the tax is not to be collected in States where a gradual emancipation system is in force.
Pending the question the Senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, May 29 – HOUSE – The Speaker laid before the House a communication from C. W. Wallen stating that he is about to accept and enter upon the office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine, and resigning his seat as a member of the House.
Mr. POTTER, from the committee on Public Lands reported back the Senate Bill establishing a Land Office in Colorado Territory. Passed.
The House passed by 94 against 37, the bill declaring as the census of California has never been taken till the year 1860 and as it appears that said Sate had a sufficient population to entitle her to three Representatives, under the supposition that California was entitled to the same and as direct taxes have been apportioned to be paid by her under the census of 1860 therefore she be allowed three Representatives instead of two until the beginning of next Congress.
Mr. HICKAMN, from the Committee on Judiciary reported a bill for the effectual suppression of the slave trade. Giving Consuls and Agents on the coast of Africa certain judicial powers in order that the proceedings may be by them instituted against vessels engaged in the trade. The persons concerned to be tried in this country.
The bill passed – 63 against 45.
The bill dividing Pennsylvania into two Judicial Districts and providing for holding a district court at Erie passed.
The House renewed the consideration of the bill appropriating $75,000 for the purchase of Douglas Hospital.
Mr. WOODROOF while declaring himself in favor of prosecuting the war to restore the authority of the United States said he should not support the confiscation and emancipation bills. He regarded them as unconstitutional. The advocates of extreme measures seemed to be giving aid to the enemy and pursuing a course more calculated to destroy the Union than that of the rebels themselves.
Debate of the bill rejected. Adjourned.
SENATE – Mr. WILLEY called up the memorial of the Legislature of Virginia with reference to the division of the State and requesting the Senators and Representatives to use their influence for the admission of the new State of West Virginia. He referred to the manner to which the allegiance of the State was transferred to the rebellion – in secret session and without consulting the people, and to the people of Northwestern Virginia [remaining] loyal to the Union and forming a separate Government. He claimed that this feeling for a division of the State was nothing new – it had been frequently urged by the people of the State. Reason and justice are [in] favor of it. There is sufficient number of inhabitants and Western Virginia was completely divided from the Eastern half by the Allegheny Mountains. Nature seems to have divided the two and evidently demand a separation. There has never been but little commercial intercourse between Western and Eastern Virginia and the social institutions and habits of both indicate a separation. Slavery cannot exist in Western Virginia and why should the people of that section be compelled to be subject to a system of laws calculated for slavery which exists in Virginia. The geographical position, climate, natural productions and moral and religious sentiments of the people absolutely forbid the existence of slavery in Western Virginia.
He contended that the proposed State was rich in minerals and other resources and would make a wealthy and prosperous State. The memorial was referred to the committee on Territories.
The tax bill was then taken up – the question being on Mr. Henderson’s amendment that the proposed tax on slaves shall not be levied on any State which has adopted the system of gradual emancipation, yeas 15, nays 20.
Mr. FESSENDEN’S amendment reducing the tax on slaves to two dollars was adopted.
After debate Mr. SUMNER’S amendment as amended was rejected by 14 against 22.
Executive Session. Adjourned.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3
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