First Session -- 37th Congress

WASHINGTON, March 7. – HOUSE. – Mr. COLFAX concluded saying that while Fremont was hunting rebels his enemies in St. Louis were hunting evidence to overwhelm him.  As the gentleman from Missouri had preferred charges against Fremont, it was but just for the Secretary of War to put him on his defense.  The meanest man in the world was entitled to a fair hearing.

SENATE. – The Senate to-day confirmed as Brig. Gens. Bell, Paine, and W. A. Richardson of Illinois, W. T. Ward, Lockwood and W. K. Strong and St. George Cook.

WASHINGTON, March 10. – SENATE. – Mr. HARRIS presented a petition, asking that the Democratic newspapers, now excluded from the mails, whose editors are not convicted of treason, be allowed the same privileges as are allowed loyal newspapers.

Mr. SUMNER presented several petitions in favor of the emancipation of the slaves.

Mr. HOWE presented a memorial asking Congress to permit no abridgement of the freedom of the press.

Mr. COLLAMER, from the Committee on Post Offices, reported back the bill to provide for carrying the mails.

The House considered the Senate bill providing for the appointment of sutlers in the Volunteer service and defining their duties.

Mr. BLAKE made a successful motion to abolish such sutlership.

Mr. LANE, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to provide for the payment of bounty and pensions to soldiers actually employed in the department of the West.

Mr. GRIMES offered a Joint Resolution, that in the opinion of the Senate, no person should be appointed commander of a division, except such as exhibit superior competency in the command of men, or gallantry in the conflict against the enemy.  Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. KING moved to take up the Cavalry bill.

Mr. GRIMES objected.

Mr. GRIMES offered a resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Com. Foote.

Mr. KING objected, as the Senator had needlessly objected to the Cavalry bill.

Mr. GRIMES said he hoped it would go to the country that the Senator from New Jersey objected to giving thanks to a brave and gallant officer.

Mr. WILSON, of Mass., offered a joint resolution tendering aid to the States of Maryland and Delaware for favoring voluntary emancipation.

Mr. SAULSBURY objected.

The joint resolution was laid over.

On motion of Mr. WILSON the bill to encourage enlistments in the army was taken up.

The question being on the motion of Mr. Fessenden to amend by adding the bill to organize the Cavalry.  It was adopted.

On motion of Mr. THOMPSON the number of Cavalry Regiments was reduced to 30.

Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts said there was a story going abroad in the newspapers that there was something wrong in the bill.  The fact is the bill was reduced before to 37 Colonels, 37 Lieut. Colonels, 111 Majors, 450 Captains and 940 Lieutenants, making a saving of $2,900,000 to the Treasury.

The Senate passed the bill to encourage enlistments in the regular army, and the bill in relation to Staffs, and the bill to organize the Cavalry, put in as amendments.

The Senate then took up the confiscation bill, Mr. BROWNING speaking against it.

HOUSE. – The Sutler question was discussed a long time.  The bill passed after being amended.  It requires a schedule of articles permitted to be sold, together with prices thereof, to be prominently posted.  Sutlers are prohibited from leasing out their offices, nor are they allowed to sell to the soldiers an amount exceeding one-fourth their monthly pay, nor shall a sutler have lien on the same.

Mr. POMEROY asked leave to offer the following:

Resolved that the United States ought to co-operate with any State which may adopt a gradual abolishment of slavery, giving such State pecuniary aid, to be used by such State at its discretion, to compensate for inconveniencies, public and private, produced by such change of system.  Adjourned.

WASHINGTON, March 11. – HOUSE. – Mr. BAKER introduced a bill, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, for the establishment of National foundries at Chicago, Ill., Pittsburg, Pa., and Poughkeepsie, N. Y., for the fabrication of cannon and projectiles for the Government.  It proposes the appropriation of half million dollars for each foundry.  It also provides for the establishment of an Armory and Arsenal at Columbus, Ohio, appropriating half a million dollars therefore.

Mr. KELLOGG of Michigan, introduced a bill for the establishment of a Naval Depot and Navy Yard on the Lakes.  Referred to the Select Committee on Lake Defences.

The House concurred in the report of the Committee of Conference on the disagreeing Judicial appropriation bill.

Mr. STEVENS reported back from the Committee on Ways and Means, the bill to establish a Branch Mint at Denver City.  Referred to the Committee of the Whole.

The Speaker announced the next business in order to be the motion to postpone until Thursday the resolution introduced yesterday, providing for co-operation with any State for the abolishment of slavery, with pecuniary compensation.

Mr. CRITTENDEN of Ky., asked permission to make a statement.

Mr. STEVENS of Pa., and Mr. LOVEJOY of Ill., objected.

Mr. STEVENS said, if consent was given to Mr. Crittenden, the House would have to give similar consent to others.

The House refused to postpone the resolution till Thursday, by one majority.

The House, by two majority, refusing to postpone the resolution till Monday next, left the resolution open to debate.

Mr. BLAIR, of Mo., offered to following proviso that nothing therein shall be construed to imply that Congress will consent to any portion of the Territory now held by the United States, but that on the contrary it is again offered as the unalterable resolution of the House, to prosecute the war until the Constitution is restored to all supreme, every every State rightfully a part of the Union.

Mr. PENDLETON suggested an amendment which was read for information as follows: – And that Congress, in order to redeem this pledge at the present session, ought to pass a bill for the levying and collection of a tax within the current year for the payment of the pecuniary aid so tendered to the State.

Mr. WICKLIFFE, of Ky., Opposed the pending resolution as unwise and unconstitutional.

SENATE. – Mr. SUMNER presented a petition for emancipation.

Mr. LATHAM gave notice that he should introduce a bill to repeal all acts providing for foreign vessels carrying the mails to Panama and Aspinwall.

Mr. WILSON, of Mass., offered a resolution that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the late engagement with the rebels steamers near Fortress Monroe, and the destruction of property there, and all the circumstances.

Mr. HALE said he did not wish to make any objection, but so far as he knew or had reason to believe, since the commencement of the rebellion, no matter what disasters occurred on sea or land, that neither the War or Navy Department, except in a single instance, has made the least enquiry in regard to the matter.

Mr. WILSON said from his absolute knowledge, the attention of the Department has been called to the rebel ship Merrimac.  It has been known for months that she has been fitting out, and people everywhere felt anxious, and the notice of the Government was called to it over and over again, and he thought the matter ought to be looked into.

Mr. GRIMES said in regard to the disaster a Month of the Mississippi, Government had done all it could.  The responsibility of the late disaster rests on the Government for not long ago sending a military expedition against Norfolk.  Officers of the Navy had been ready at all times to break to Potomac blockade, and the flotilla was under orders for several days for that purpose, but the supineness of a military officer, who commanded all the forces provided for the expedition prevented, and the responsibility did not rest on the Naval Department.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 4