First Session -- 37th Congress

WASHINGTON, March 25. – SENATE. – Considerable debate followed without action.

Adjourned.

HOUSE. – The following amendments were adopted to the tax bill:  Cattle brokers to pay a license of ten dollars; itinerant venders of newspapers, bibles and religious tracts, are exempted from the peddlers; lawyers and physicians are to pay a license of ten dollars.

Mr. BLAIR offered an amendment taxing slaves which was defeated.

An amendment was adopted providing that this bill shall not interfere with States in taxing the same articles.

Adjourned.

WASHINGTON, March 27. – SENATE. – Mr. SUMNER presented several petitions in favor of the emancipation of slaves.

Mr. HALE offered a resolution asking of the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the Senate an estimate in relation to the banks. – Adopted.

Mr. HALE also offered a resolution that the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire whether there was any laxity on the part of the officers of the blockading squadron on the coast of the Southern States, especially at Charleston, whether there was any foundation for the estimates in the British Consulate, that armed troops and ships of the Confederate States have been allowed to go in and out of the port of Charestown [sic], and no attempt made to stop them.  Adopted.

The Joint Resolution, the giving pecuniary aid to the States in case they should emancipate their slaves, was taken up.

Mr. HENDERSON said he was disposed to vote for the resolution.  There was a strong objection in the border States, and they believed that this was an attempt to abolish slavery in those States, and then in the other States.  He was sure there was no such intention on the part of the President, and the thought was such intention in part of the members of the Senate. – Although the subject of slavery was the cause of the rebellion, yet there were other interests in the State of Missouri.  The people in that State were interested in having the Mississippi river kept open to its mouth.  He had opposed all agitation of the slavery question.  He had also opposed the bill for the abolishment of slavery in the District of Columbia; not that he considered it unconstitutional, but because it tended to bring the subject up for discussion.  The South had been usually frightened by some story of an abolition monster; yet if Congress should abolish the petty amount of slavery in the District of Columbia, he did not believe that his State would secede, but hoped that if Senators desired to do this thing they would be quick, for the great State of Delaware, getting a peep behind the curtain and discovering the plot that the few slaves she has already made free, might go South for her Constitutional rights, where certainly her Constitutional rights will be preserved in full force.  The Senators from Kentucky are getting excited, and the Senators from Virginia and Maryland are getting superstitious of some terrible thing to happen.  He had been opposed to the bill from the commencement, though he supposed it harmless, for the reason that it might have a bad effect upon the Border States.  Yet if the statement is true that slavery should be the cornerstone of the temple, he was willing to fight to the last with the North against such a Government.  Nothing would tempt him to raise his hand against the Government.  All the revolution he wanted was the ballot-box.  He did not think there were fifty thousand slaves left in Missouri.

As large numbers of them had been taken South, the people in that State had lost property equal in value to the whole amount of her slaves, at the commencement of this war.  He regarded the President’s message not a threat, but as a prophesy, which he felt would be fulfilled.  He was perfectly willing that the proposition should go the people of his State and the matter be left entirely to the States.  Ninety-six days of the war expenses would have paid for all the slaves Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and the expenses of the war two years will pay for all slaves in the country.

Mr. PIERCE, from the Committee on Finance reported a bill to allow the arms ordered by the States to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, come free of duty.

On motion of Mr. FESSENDEN, the naval appropriation bill was then taken up.  A long debate ensued on the explanation of Stevens’s battery.  [Motion] was taken on it and the Senate went into executive session.  Adjourned.

HOUSE. – The House in Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union resumed the consideration of the tax bill.

Mr. Sheffield offered an amendment that upon all sales of goods, wares, merchandise, and other property which shall be used for consumption or for investment including all kinds of property, excluding jobbers and middle men, are to be taxed on per cent of such sales.

After discussion the amendment was temporarily withdrawn.

Further debate followed and an amendment was adopted taxing candles of any material valued at not over fifteen cents per pound, half per cent per pound; over fifteen and twenty cents, once cent per pound, and over twenty-five cents, one and a half per cent per pound.

An amendment was adopted taxing anthracite fifteen cents per ton and bituminous coal ½ cent per bushel.  It was adopted with the proviso not to go into effect until the termination of the reciprocity treaty.

The amendment proposing to tax cotton one cent per pound after the 1st of May was rejected.  An amendment was adopted exempting from duty red oil, also paraffin, whale and fish oils.  The tax on burning fluid was stricken out.  Adjourned.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Washington News and Gossip

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. – The Republican intimates that there is truth to the story that Jeff Davis has made overtures for a compromise. – It is said he asks for a Convention of all the States, to definitely adjust all questions at issue, and requires new guarantees for Slavery.

Mrs. Lincoln is ill to-day.

Mr. Wilson, of Mass., will to-morrow introduce in the Senate a joint resolution to extend aid to Maryland and Delaware, in order that they may abolish slavery.

Mr. Cameron received his final instructions to-day as Minister to Russia.  Edward H. House has been appointed his Secretary of Legation.

It is doubtful whether the bill for the reduction of pay to Naval officers will pass.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 3

The President's Emancipation Message - Response Of The City And County Of St. Louis

We are gratified with the action of the County Convention yesterday on the proposal of President Lincoln on Emancipation.  The resolution was adopted unanimously and enthusiastically; not one dissenting voice.  This expression is of the Union men of the city and county of St. Louis.  That this is the sentiment of the unconditional Union men of Missouri there is little doubt.

When the resolution, which has passed the house of representatives, shall have been concurred in by the Senate, it will be a distinct proffer on the part of the General Government of aid and co-operation with such of the slave states as desire to inaugurate the policy of emancipation for themselves.  Until accepted by one or more of such States, it simply remains a standing offer of co-operation – nothing more.  But there is reason to believe that Delaware and Maryland will ere long take steps for the adoption of such a policy, and they the offer by acceptance will become operative.

Has not the time now come when the people of Missouri, too, will begin to consider the necessary preliminaries for the inauguration of that policy for their own State?  That the interests of Missouri would be in calculably advanced by adopting measures for the gradual, but sure, extinction of slavery, upon just principles, within her limits, is a proposition almost too plain for argument. – St. Louis. Dem.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, April 3, 1862, p. 2

XXXVIIth Congress -- First Session

WASHINGTON, March 26.

SENATE. – The Senate to-day in executive session, confirmed the nomination of Col. Gordon Granger, of the 20^th Michigan cavalry, to be a Brig. Gen. of volunteers and Noah L. Jeffries, to be Assistant Adjt. Gen. in the volunteer service.  They also confirmed the following nominations:

Henry W. Reed, of Iowa, to be Agent of the Indians of the upper Missouri; John Evans, of Illinois, to be Governor of the Territory of Colorado; Wm. H. Evans of Ohio, Consul at Maranham; Edward H. Perkins, of Pa., Consul to Santa Cruz; J. Y. McMoth, of Ohio, Consul to Tangiers.

WASHINGTON, March 27.

SENATE. – Mr. Sumner presented several petitions in favor of the emancipation of slaves.

Mr. Hale offered a resolution asking the Secretary of the interior to transmit to the Senate all correspondence in relation to the bark Augusta.

Mr. Hale also offered a resolution that the committee on naval affairs be instructed to inquire whether there was not any laxity on the part of officers of the blockading squadron on the coast, specially at Charleston, and whether there was any foundation for the statement of the British Consul at that part of the armed troops on ships of the Confederate States have been allowed to go in and out of the port of Charleston, and no attempt made to stop them.  Adopted.

The joint resolution giving pecuniary aid o the States, in case they should emancipate their slaves was taken up.

Mr. Henderson said he felt disposed to vote for the resolution.  There was a strong objection to it in the Border States, and they believed that this was an attempt to abolish slavery in those States, and then in other States.  He was sure there was no such intention on the part of the President, and he thought there was no such intentions on the part of the members of the Senate.  Although the subject of slavery was the cause of the rebellion, yet there were other interests.  His State (Mo.) were deeply interested in having the Mississippi river kept open to its mouth.  He had opposed all agitations.  He had also opposed the bill for the abolition of slavery in the Disctrict of Columbia, not because he considered it unconstitutional, but because it was inexpedient to bring the subject up for discussion.  The south had been occasionally frightened by some story of an abolition monster, yet if Congress should abolish the petty amount of slavery in the District of Columbia, he did not believe that his State would secede, but hoped that if the Senators were determined to do this thing, they would be quick, for the great State of Delaware, by getting a peep behind the curtains and discovering the awful plot to emancipate the few slaves she has – already nearly free – might go south for her constitutional rights, where certainly her constitutional rights will be preserved in full force.  The two Senators from Kentucky are getting excited, and the Senators from Virginia and Maryland are getting suspicious of some dreadful thing to happen.  He had been opposed to the bill for the cultivation of the cotton lands, though he supposed it harmless, for the reason that it might have a bad effect upon the Border States.  Yet if the statement is true that slavery should by the corner stone of the government, he was willing to fight to the last with the North against such government.  Nothing would tempt him to raise his hand against the government.  All the revolution he would want was the ballot box.  He did not think there were fifty thousand slaves left in Missouri, as large numbers of them had been taken South, the people in that State had lost property equal in value to the whole amount of her slaves, at the commencement of this war; he regarded the President’s message not as a threat, but as a prophecy, which he felt would be fulfilled everywhere.  If the war continued , he for his part was perfectly willing that the proposition should go to the people of his State, and the matter left entirely to the States.  Ninety-six days of the war expenses would have paid for all the slaves in Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia, ant the expenses of the war for two years, will pay for all the slaves in the country.

Mr. Pearce, from the finance committee reported a bill to allow arms ordered by States, to aid the suppression of the rebellion, to come free of duty.

On motion of Mr. Fessenden the naval appropriation bill was taken up.

A long discussion ensued on the completion of Steven’s battery.  No action was taken on it, and the Senate went into executive session.

HOUSE. – Mr. Fenton asked, but failed to obtain leave to introduce a resolution instructing the committee on the conduct of the war to inquire into the cause of the exposure of large bodies of our troops belonging to the army of the Potomac, consisting of regiments, brigades, and in some instances of whole divisions, who have been deprived of shelter for days and weeks in consequence of having their orders to march countermanded, then be again ordered to march, and again countermanded, without adequate food, and as to who is responsible for this needless exposure and suffering of our troops.

The House went into a committee of the whole, on the tax bill.  Among other amendments adopted was a proposition that a tax on goods and wares and merchandise manufactured pursuant to contract under this act, shall be paid by purchasers before the delivery thereof.  Several sections of the bill were then acted upon, when the committee rose.

Mr. Rice, of Mass., from the committee on naval affairs, reported a joint resolution appropriating $40,000, to enable the Secretary of Treasury to test the pans and material for rendering ships and floating batteries invulnerable.

The House, in committee of the whole on a state of the Union, resumed the consideration of the tax bill.

Mr. Sheffield offered an amendment that upon all sales of goods, wares, merchandise and other property and estates, which shall be used for consumption or for investment, (excluding jobbers or middle men,) a tax of one per cent. on the amount of such sales shall be paid.

After discussion, the amendment was temporarily withdrawn.  An amendment was adopted taxing candles of any material, valued at not over 15 cents per pound, half per cent per pound; between 15 and 20 per cent, 1 cent per pound; and above 25 one half cent per pound.  An amendment was adopted taxing anthracite coal, 15 cents per ton and bituminous 8 cents per bushel; adopted with the proviso not to go into effect until the termination of the reciprocity treaty.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1

The National Intelligencer states . . .

. . . that the President has received earnest and numerous assurances of support in the policy of his late message from slaveholders of Maryland and Delaware, many among the most influential of whom we have not only signified their acquiescence in the project, but have urged it upon the favorable consideration of Mr. Lincoln.  “The president in his message, whatever may be thought by some of its expediency or practicability, has merely responded to the wishes and representations of a portion at least among the population most directly concerned in the measure.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 27, 1862, p. 2

From Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.

The Republican intimates that there is truth in the story that Jeff. Davis has made overtures for a compromise.  It is said he asks for a convention of all the States to definitely adjust all questions at issue, and requires new guarantees for slavery.

Mrs. Lincoln is ill to-day.

Mr. Wilson, of Mass., will to-morrow introduce in the Senate a joint resolution to extend aid to Maryland and Delaware, in order that they may abolish slavery.

Mr. Cameron received his final instructions to-day as Minister to Russia.  Edward H. House has been appointed his Secretary of Legation.

Nearly 1000 returned Federal prisoners are now in Washington.  They are being rapidly paid off by the War Department.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 1, 1862, p. 1

The Abolition of Slavery in Delaware

The progress of liberal ideas is gradually advancing, the latest illustration of which is the introduction of a bill into the Legislature of Delaware for the abolition of slavery in that State.  The bill provides, that every slave thirty-five years of age and upwards, shall be free within ninety days after its passage; and all slaves under thirty-five shall become free as they reach that age; and that from and after the first day of January, 1872, there shall not be slavery or involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime.  Males born of a slave mother [after] the passage of this act shall be held as indentured servants until the age of twenty-one, and females until they are eighteen. – The above provisions are based upon the condition that “Congress, will at its present session, engage to pay to the State of Delaware, in bonds of the United States, bearing interest at the rate of six per centum per annum, the sum of $900,000, in ten annual installments, $90,000 to be payable on some day before the first of September, 1862, to establish a fund for securing full and fair compensation to the owners of slaves who shall have been divested of their property by force of the act in question.  The bill further provides for the appointment of an assessor in each county, who shall estimate the value of the slaves, and fix the price which shall be paid for them.  The salary of the State Treasurer shall be raised when the act goes into operation, from $500 to $1,000, on account of his increased responsibilities and duties in making payment to the owners for the slaves.  If Congress will make the appropriation of $900,000 for this purpose, we think every man in the State will esteem the act calculated to promote the interests of the people.

The Wilmington Republican, in speaking of this movement, says that many of the slaveholders would gladly exchange their slaves for money, which they could use in payment for their lands and contemplated improvements, and that they are informed that many of the largest slaveholders favor the measure. – National Rep.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, February 17, 1862, p. 2

On the night of the 3d day of July . . .

. . . the secessionists of Middletown, Delaware, hoisted a Confederate flag on a pole which had been erected by the Unionists, and that early on the morning of the 4^th the “Stars and Bars” were supported by forty rounds  by the supports of the Abolition Government.  When they discovered their mistake they were so enraged that they immediately hauled down the flag and tore it into shreds, and vigorously applied themselves to washing the pole with soap and water to cleanse it of the polluting effects of the Confederate banner.

– Published in The Daily Rebel, Chattanooga, Tennessee, August 9, 1862, p. 3