WASHINGTON, May 1.
SENATE. – Mr. Howard presented petitions for a general
bankrupt law.
Mr. Wright also presented petitions for a bankrupt act, and
said that none of them were from Indiana.
Mr. Wilson, of Mass, offered a resolution that the Secretary
of war report whether one Fred. K. Emory, who murdered Wm. Phillips in
Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1855 or 1856, had been appointed to any place in the
department of Kansas.
Mr. Lane, of Kansas, said that the Government had before it
today the Kansas difficulty, and presumed it would correct the evil.
The resolution was laid over.
The confiscation bill was taken up. Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, offered as an amendment
to the 7th section of Mr. Collamer’s substitute authorizing the President to
make a proclamation and free the slaves of those who continue in the rebellion
for thirty days. Messrs. Wilson and
Morrill spoke in favor of the bill.
Executive session adjourned.
HOUSE. – Mr. Blair, of Mo., called up the bill recently
reported from the military committee, authorizing the appointment of a board of
fortifications, to provide for the coast and other defenses of the U. S., and
for other purposes; an abstract of which was published on the 24th of
April. Mr. Blair explained the
provisions of the bill, and in response to a question, said it suspended the appropriations
for fortifications already made. It also
provides that the money shall be expended upon such works of defenses, as shall
be recommended by the commissioners proposed to be created by the bill. The consideration of the bill was postponed
until Tuesday week.
Mr. Lovejoy, from the committee on territories, reported a
bill to render freedom national and slavery sectional.
The House then went into committee of the whole on the
Pacific Rail Road bill.
Mr. Davis offered a resolution declaring that the war now
carried on by the United States shall be vigorously prosecuted and continued,
to compel obedience to constitutional laws in the lines of every State and
Territory by all the citizens and residents thereof, and for no further end
whatever.
On motion of Mr. Sumner, the resolution was laid over.
On motion of Mr. Wilson, of Mass., the resolution asking the
military committee to enquire whether any further legislation was necessary to
prevent soldiers and officers from returning fugitive slaves, was taken up.
Mr. Sumner said he was glad the Senator from Iowa, in his
speech, had called attention to some officers, concerning their treatment
of fugitives. One General, who lately
made an
order returning fugitives, was a native of Massachusetts, and he (Sumner)
used his influence to get him appointed. – If he had known that Gen. Hooker
would have made such an order, he never would have tried to get him an
appointment. When a General falls in
battle, there is honor in it; but when a General falls as Gen. Hooker has fallen,
there will be nothing but regret.
He referred to the order of Gen. Doubleday, and contrasted
it with that of General Hooker; saying that he, (Doubleday) was an honor to his
country.
Mr. Sumner then referred to Gen. McCook at the West, and
also to the conduct of the Provost Marshal of Louisville, as being disgraceful
to the army. Mr. Sumner also read an
account of how the blacks were oppressed at Louisville.
Mr. Davis asked Mr. Sumner where he got his account.
Mr. Sumner said, from the newspapers in New York.
Mr. Davis had no doubt of the falsity of the account.
Mr. Wilson said he had abundant evidence of the disgraceful
treatment of fugitive slaves by portions of the army.
Mr. Sumner also referred to the return of fugitive slaves
from the camps of Gen. Buell, and to the
order of Gen. Halleck excluding all fugitives from his lines. Sumner said the order was unconstitutional
and an outrage on common humanity, and unworthy of a soldier. Such an order would exclude all the valuable information
received from fugitives, such as, for instance, the capture of New Orleans and
the evacuation of Fredericksburg.
Mr. Saulsbury offered as an amendment to the resolution the
following: “And also to inquire what
further legislation is necessary to prevent the illegal capture and
imprisonment of free white citizens of the United States.” Mr. Saulsbury referred to the number of
persons taken from the States of Delaware and Maryland. They had been seized by the military
authorities and dragged away to forts and prisons, and after being kept a week
or two were discharged because no fault could be found with them. These men belonged to a class who are deemed
to be of no account, and whose interests do not appear to be cared for. They, unfortunately, are free white
persons. The men, who had committed no
offense, were seized in violation of every law and every right. If the wrongs of the negro are to be
redressed, he could only ask that the same justice might be meted out to white
men. He asked nothing for men who were
disloyal to the Government. He would
have them punished to the full extent of the law.
The time was occupied in explanation of numerous
amendments. The committee rose without
coming to a conclusion of the bill.
Adjourned.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette,
Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 2, 1862, p. 1
