WASHINGTON, May 6., - HOUSE. – The resolution declaring F. F. Lowe not entitled to a seat from California, was adopted.
The Pacific Railroad and Telegraph bill was then passed by a majority of 30.
The Virginia contested election case came up and a resolution was passed admitting Mr. Segur to a seat from the 1st District.
The Nebraska contested seat was taken up.
SENATE. – A general debate ensued in referring to confiscation bill to a special committee.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee on Finance, reported the tax bill with amendments.
Mr. McDOUGAL offered a substitute therefore, embodying the views of the Board of Trade of Boston and the Chamber of commerce of New York on the subject.
On Motion of Mr. SUMNER, 3,000 copies were ordered to be printed.
Mr. SIMMONS expressed dissent from some features of the bill, as reported.
The confiscation bill was resumed, and after debate, Mr. CLARK’S motion to refer it to a special committee of nine was agreed to, 24 against 14.
Executive session – adjourned.
WASHINGTON, May 7. – SENATE – Mr. SUMNER offered a resolution for the expulsion of Mr. Starke of Oregon.
Mr. KENNEDY, presented petitions from the citizens of Maryland asking for the immediate repeal of the law abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia and the determent of the fugitive slave law. Also a petition of W. R. Bowen asking for compensation for a slave who was appropriated to the military service of the Government.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee on Finance, reported a bill making appropriations to reimburse the sinking fund of the officers of the Secretary of the Treasury, and for temporary clerks of 1856. Passed. Also the House bill to provide for the deficiency for payment of troops in the Western Department. The bill appropriates over $30,000,000.
Mr. GRIMES asked how many men were in the army.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass., thought that there was from 500,000 to 520,000. He could not say exactly.
Mr. TRUMBULL thought it rather hasty legislation to attempt to pass a bill like this. It would be better to wait till the bill was printed.
Mr. FESSENDEN said the bill was printed and had been on the table three weeks.
Mr. TRUMBULL said it was the House bill that was on the table and that the bill just reported was from the Committee this morning. – He thought we ought not to appropriate the people’s money carelessly.
Mr. FESSENDEN said this was the manner of appropriating which had long been pursued. The Finance Committee could not know all things. How many men were in the army, the Department cannot tell exactly. No more of the appropriation will be used than is absolutely needed, and it is a perfectly safe way of making the appropriation. If the Senator was so careful he would examine into these facts. There was no foundation for anything like a general splurge against the Finance Committee for carelessness in making appropriations.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass., claimed that it was absolutely impossible for the Department to keep a strict account of the exact number in the army regiments. They were continually changing and loosing men by disease, &c., and the Department cannot at any moment tell the precise number.
Mr. GRIMES thought if the officers of the army were obliged to make proper returns promptly this difficulty would be obviated. The bill was laid over.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee of Finance also reported the House bill to provide increased revenue. Passed.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass. Sent to the Clerk’s desk dispatches from Gen. McClellan concerning the occupation of Williamsburg, also a dispatch from Gen. Hortsuff.
Mr. FESSENDEN offered a resolution that the Committee of Commerce inquire whether any legislation is necessary in relation to vessel belonging to loyal citizens heretofore which had been seized and confiscated by the rebels and recaptured at New Orleans and other places. – Adopted.
Mr. SAULSBURY objected to its present consideration, and Mr. Sumner’s resolution to expel Mr. Stark. It was laid over.
Mr. McDOUGAL from the Naval Committee reported a bill fro the relief of Capt. D G. Farrugat [sic]. The bill authorizes the payment of advances made by him while in California. It passed.
A committee from the House appeared and impeached Judge Humphreys of Tennessee.
The President said the Senate would take proper order in the premises.
The Senate disagreed to the House amendments to the Georgia Railroad, and a committee of Conference was appointed.
Mr. WILSON of Mass., introduced a bill from the appointment of military store-keepers.
The bill to limit the number of Brigadier and Major Generals, was debated without action
The following is the Select Committee on the Confiscation bill: Clarke, chairman, Collamer, Harlan, Cowan, Wilson, Harris, Herman, Henderson and Willey. Adjourned.
HOUSE. – The Secretary in response to a resolution of the House calling for regimental and brigade reports of the battle of Shiloh, says that Gen. Grant’s is the only one received up to the 2d inst.
The Speaker has appointed Representatives Bingham and Pendleton to present to the Senate the thumping impeachment question alluded to yesterday in the reports of the House Proceedings.
Mr. ELLIOT, from the committee on Commerce, reported a bill establishing a port of entry and delivery in the collection district of Beaufort, South Carolina, at or near Hilton Head, to be called the Port of Port Royal, providing for the appointment of a Collector at a salary of $1,500 per annum, and for weighers, guagers, &c.
Mr. ELLIOT remarked that a letter from the Secretary had been sent to the committee stating the importance of this measure. The bill passed.
Mr. CRISFIELD ceased to be read the resolution of the Maryland legislature, appropriating $10,000 for the relief of the families of those of the Massachusetts 6th, who suffered by the 19th of April riot in Baltimore, and the responses of the Massachusetts Legislature, in acknowledgement of the generous sympathies, and kind fraternal feelings they exhibited, which should always prevail among the States of the Union.
Mr. CRISFIELD said the proceedings afforded some sign of a restoration of peaceful relations while we were receiving accounts of the glorious success of our arms.
The House resumed the consideration of the Nebraska contested election case.
Considerable debate ensued, participated in by Mr. Morton, the contestant, who argued his right to the seat now held by Mr. Daily.
Mr. DAILY supported his claim to the seat.
Both parties contended that the other had resorted to fraudulent voting.
Mr. DAWES replied to Mr. Voorhees speech of yesterday.
Mr. WASHBURNE moved to table the whole subject. Carried, 64 to [38]. This vote retains Daily in his seat. Adjourned.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3
The Pacific Railroad and Telegraph bill was then passed by a majority of 30.
The Virginia contested election case came up and a resolution was passed admitting Mr. Segur to a seat from the 1st District.
The Nebraska contested seat was taken up.
SENATE. – A general debate ensued in referring to confiscation bill to a special committee.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee on Finance, reported the tax bill with amendments.
Mr. McDOUGAL offered a substitute therefore, embodying the views of the Board of Trade of Boston and the Chamber of commerce of New York on the subject.
On Motion of Mr. SUMNER, 3,000 copies were ordered to be printed.
Mr. SIMMONS expressed dissent from some features of the bill, as reported.
The confiscation bill was resumed, and after debate, Mr. CLARK’S motion to refer it to a special committee of nine was agreed to, 24 against 14.
Executive session – adjourned.
WASHINGTON, May 7. – SENATE – Mr. SUMNER offered a resolution for the expulsion of Mr. Starke of Oregon.
Mr. KENNEDY, presented petitions from the citizens of Maryland asking for the immediate repeal of the law abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia and the determent of the fugitive slave law. Also a petition of W. R. Bowen asking for compensation for a slave who was appropriated to the military service of the Government.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee on Finance, reported a bill making appropriations to reimburse the sinking fund of the officers of the Secretary of the Treasury, and for temporary clerks of 1856. Passed. Also the House bill to provide for the deficiency for payment of troops in the Western Department. The bill appropriates over $30,000,000.
Mr. GRIMES asked how many men were in the army.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass., thought that there was from 500,000 to 520,000. He could not say exactly.
Mr. TRUMBULL thought it rather hasty legislation to attempt to pass a bill like this. It would be better to wait till the bill was printed.
Mr. FESSENDEN said the bill was printed and had been on the table three weeks.
Mr. TRUMBULL said it was the House bill that was on the table and that the bill just reported was from the Committee this morning. – He thought we ought not to appropriate the people’s money carelessly.
Mr. FESSENDEN said this was the manner of appropriating which had long been pursued. The Finance Committee could not know all things. How many men were in the army, the Department cannot tell exactly. No more of the appropriation will be used than is absolutely needed, and it is a perfectly safe way of making the appropriation. If the Senator was so careful he would examine into these facts. There was no foundation for anything like a general splurge against the Finance Committee for carelessness in making appropriations.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass., claimed that it was absolutely impossible for the Department to keep a strict account of the exact number in the army regiments. They were continually changing and loosing men by disease, &c., and the Department cannot at any moment tell the precise number.
Mr. GRIMES thought if the officers of the army were obliged to make proper returns promptly this difficulty would be obviated. The bill was laid over.
Mr. FESSENDEN, from the Committee of Finance also reported the House bill to provide increased revenue. Passed.
Mr. WILSON, of Mass. Sent to the Clerk’s desk dispatches from Gen. McClellan concerning the occupation of Williamsburg, also a dispatch from Gen. Hortsuff.
Mr. FESSENDEN offered a resolution that the Committee of Commerce inquire whether any legislation is necessary in relation to vessel belonging to loyal citizens heretofore which had been seized and confiscated by the rebels and recaptured at New Orleans and other places. – Adopted.
Mr. SAULSBURY objected to its present consideration, and Mr. Sumner’s resolution to expel Mr. Stark. It was laid over.
Mr. McDOUGAL from the Naval Committee reported a bill fro the relief of Capt. D G. Farrugat [sic]. The bill authorizes the payment of advances made by him while in California. It passed.
A committee from the House appeared and impeached Judge Humphreys of Tennessee.
The President said the Senate would take proper order in the premises.
The Senate disagreed to the House amendments to the Georgia Railroad, and a committee of Conference was appointed.
Mr. WILSON of Mass., introduced a bill from the appointment of military store-keepers.
The bill to limit the number of Brigadier and Major Generals, was debated without action
The following is the Select Committee on the Confiscation bill: Clarke, chairman, Collamer, Harlan, Cowan, Wilson, Harris, Herman, Henderson and Willey. Adjourned.
HOUSE. – The Secretary in response to a resolution of the House calling for regimental and brigade reports of the battle of Shiloh, says that Gen. Grant’s is the only one received up to the 2d inst.
The Speaker has appointed Representatives Bingham and Pendleton to present to the Senate the thumping impeachment question alluded to yesterday in the reports of the House Proceedings.
Mr. ELLIOT, from the committee on Commerce, reported a bill establishing a port of entry and delivery in the collection district of Beaufort, South Carolina, at or near Hilton Head, to be called the Port of Port Royal, providing for the appointment of a Collector at a salary of $1,500 per annum, and for weighers, guagers, &c.
Mr. ELLIOT remarked that a letter from the Secretary had been sent to the committee stating the importance of this measure. The bill passed.
Mr. CRISFIELD ceased to be read the resolution of the Maryland legislature, appropriating $10,000 for the relief of the families of those of the Massachusetts 6th, who suffered by the 19th of April riot in Baltimore, and the responses of the Massachusetts Legislature, in acknowledgement of the generous sympathies, and kind fraternal feelings they exhibited, which should always prevail among the States of the Union.
Mr. CRISFIELD said the proceedings afforded some sign of a restoration of peaceful relations while we were receiving accounts of the glorious success of our arms.
The House resumed the consideration of the Nebraska contested election case.
Considerable debate ensued, participated in by Mr. Morton, the contestant, who argued his right to the seat now held by Mr. Daily.
Mr. DAILY supported his claim to the seat.
Both parties contended that the other had resorted to fraudulent voting.
Mr. DAWES replied to Mr. Voorhees speech of yesterday.
Mr. WASHBURNE moved to table the whole subject. Carried, 64 to [38]. This vote retains Daily in his seat. Adjourned.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 3
