WASHINGTON, April 28. – HOUSE – The Speaker announced the following Special Committee on the Confiscation of Rebel property:
Messrs. Olin, of New York, Elliott, of Massachusetts, Noel, of Missouri, Hutchins, of Ohio, Mallory, of Kentucky, Beaman, of Michigan and Cobb, of New Jersey.
Mr. OLIN remarked that he had heretofore asked to be excused from serving on this Committee, and he repeated the reasons for the request, which was now complied with.
On motion of Mr. McPHERSON, it was
Resolved, That the Secretary of War transmit to the House copies of the reports of Commanders of Regiments, Brigades and divisions engaged at the battle of Shiloh, Tenn.
On motion of Mr. GOOCH, the Senate bill for the recognition of Hayti and Liberia, was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On Motion of Mr. COLFAX it was
Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for punishing all contractors guilty of defrauding the Government, with penalties similar to those for grand larceny.
Mr. SPAULDING introduced a joint resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, authorizing the appointment of Commissioners to negotiate concerning the reciprocity treaty, and authorizing the President to give the necessary instructions for terminating the present unfair treaty.
Mr. ASHLEY reported back from the committee on Treasury the bill to prevent and to punish the practice of polygamy, and to arrest certain acts of the territory establishing the same.
Mr. Merrill of VERMONT said this bill was the same as that introduced by him two years ago, with the exception of the omission of its applicability to the District of Columbia. The bill was passed.
The House resumed the consideration of the report on Government Contracts. The first Resolution reported by them was postponed for the two weeks. The next resolution on the Secretary was then taken up, and is as follows:
That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to adjust the terms of the Government for the five thousand Hall carbines, purchased thro’ Simon Stevens by. Gen. Jno. C. Fremont, on the 6th day of August, 1861, and afterwards rejected at the U. S. Arsenal at St. Louis, on the basis of a sale of such arms to the Government for $12.50 each, rejecting all other demands against the Government, on account of the purchase of said arms.
Mr. STEVENS moved the following as a substitute for the above:
That nothing has occurred to lessen our confidence in the honesty, integrity and patriotism of Maj-Gen. Fremont.
Mr. WASHBURNE raised the point of order that the substitute was not genuine.
Mr. STEVENS maintains the original resolution imposed censure on Gen. Fremont.
The Speaker maintains Mr. Washburne’s point of order.
WASHINGTON, April 28 – HOUSE. – Mr. SEDGWICK further concluded that the Navy Department conducted its business with energy and credit.
Mr. STEVENS attacked the report of the Committee, and charged that they had proceeded on false principles and acted generally unfairly. House adjuourned.
SENATE. – The President pro tem presented a communication concerning the number of slaves in the District of Columbia. The Secretary said the statistics were compiled some years ago and were perhaps not available now. The communications was referred to the committee on the District of Columbia.
Messrs. KING and SUMNER, presented petitions in favor of the emancipation of the slaves.
Mr. DAVIS presented petitions from Tobacco Manufacturers, asking for a reduction of the proposed tax on Tobacco.
Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, from the military committee reported back the bill for the organization of the Signal Department, and moved its indefinite postponement, and it was accordingly postponed.
Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, offered a resolution that the Secretary of War be requested to inquire into the condition of the Harper’s Ferry Armory, what damage has been done to it, what is the value of the property of the United States there now, and what amount is necessary, and whether it is expedient to restore the Armory, and re-occupy the works. Adopted.
Mr. POMEROY introduced a bill to prevent the importation of adulterated liquors, by providing a punishment therefore.
On Motion of Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, the resolutions of the Ohio Legislature, in regard to rebels keeping their slaves at Camp Chase was taken up.
Mr. SHERMAN had read a letter from a member of the Legislature concerning the rebel prisoners who were permitted to go about the city of Columbus, lounge at the hotels, and abuse the Government with perfect liberty, also an article in the Cincinnati Commercial to the same effect; also another article in the Cincinnati Gazette, showing that Government was taking measures to have the negroes at Camp Chase liberated and the rebel prisoners removed to proper quarters.
The resolutions were referred to the Military Committee.
On motion of Mr. TRUMBULL the bill for the more convenient enforcement of the laws for security to keep the peace for good behavior was taken up.
After some discussion the bill was passed yeas 35, nays 31.
Mr. WADE presented several petitions asking for a uniform system of taxation according to the population of a State and persisting against the tax bill from the House.
The Senate went into Executive Session.
WASHINGTON, April 29 – HOUSE – Mr. BLAIR of Va., enquired of Mr. Potter, on what authority he yesterday predicated his charge of disloyalty against Judge Pitts of Northampton county, Virginia.
Mr. POTTER replied, on the address of Judge Pitts to the Virginia Legislature at Richmond. The address was now read, in which Judge Pitts refers to the action by the Legislature to depose him without giving him an opportunity for defense. The consummation of this would be manifestly unjust. He could only plead not guilty of disloyalty to the south and doubted not he could triumphantly vindicate himself from every charge his enemies and persecutors might bring against him. He protested against being removed from office by extra constitutional means.
House then resumed the consideration of the report of the Select Committee on Government contracts.
ROSCOE CONKLIN said he voted against raising this Committee. It seemed that none could be so honest or eminent, that it could be desirable to clothe them with the unheard of power as decided on that occasion, it seems unfit to constitute an advisory board to supervise questions of integrity, relating to every man engaged in the administration of departmental affairs. It seemed to him a roving commission to take into consideration the honesty or fraud of all future contracts to be entered into by any Department of the Government. It brought with it grave objections, and little argument could be found in its favor. Experience had demonstrated that the objections to their mode had been abundantly [sustained] by the conduct of the Committee, which had done grave [and] irreparable injustice to both individuals and classes, these as well as the nation have suffered by the declarations of the Committee.
As this Committee was a pioneer experiment and had turned out badly, they could dispense with it. The gentleman (Mr. Davis) had said there was indubitable evidence of fraud. He was right in assuming that the current expenditures of the Government this year was as much as during the Administration which the people hurled from power, because of its corruption. He (Mr. Conkling) remarked that if any man was provided in making that Statement, it would justify the people in resorting to anything best available to redress the wrong. The poisoned arrows furnished by the franking privilege was shot far and wide among the loyal States of the Republic. Like other remarks and statements the gentleman (Davis) made, however, deliberately prepared, this was one of manure, he would be willing to recall.
The Committee had proceeded on exparte testimony in secret; parties never were informed they were to be tried and convicted and stigmatized, and as a case in point he said the Committee had privately and clandestinely gathered evidence against Gen. Fremont to black his character as a citizen and soldier, at the time he was in command of an army. They never informed Gen. Fremont that he was aspersed, or gave him the names of the witnesses against him and they afforded him no opportunity for defense.
What good, Mr. Conklin asked, had the Committee done to offset the harm he was not aware that one single fraud had been exposed by the Committee which remained unearthed at the time they pretended to dig it up.
Mr. CONKLIN asked the Speaker what time remained to him. The speaker replied 18 minutes.
Mr. DAWES asked the time to be extended to the gentleman.
Mr. WASHBURNE, I object to that.
Mr. CONKLING, I know [that]; and do you know how I know it? Because the member from Illinois is the only man in this House surly enough to interpose objections in such a cause.
Mr. WASHBURNE rose to reply, when Mr. Conkling called the member to order.
Mr. WASHBURNE (excitedly). I call the creature to order.
Mr. CONKLING. The member from Illinois understands the rules of this House and must understand that this is not the place for personal altercation. He knows the proper place for that is outside of these walls.
Mr. WASHBURN – excitedly – yes, and I am ready for it.
Mr. CONKLING. No individual in this House better knows than the member from Illinois, that I stand by what I say until convinced that I am in error, and therefore there is no necessity for any interruption here.
Mr. CONKLING in the course of his remarks said he regarded the committee as one of those armaments too expensive under the circumstances to be indulged in.
Mr. CONKLING was severe on the committee, which he thought ought immediately be disbanded.
Mr. WASHBURNE spiritedly replied. He said Mr. Conkling was the instrument of the robbers, plunderers and thieves who had been holding high carnival in anticipation of the overthrow of the Committee.
Mr. HICKMAN vindicated the report of the Committee and referred to the subjects that have heretofore frequently reported.
After [considerable] debate Mr. FENTON, moved the previous question on the pending resolutions of the committee.
Mr. STEVENS moved to table the whole subject, pending which the House adjourned.
SENATE. – Mr. GRIMES introduced a bill to provide that the school tax collected from the colored people of the District of Columbia to be applied to the education of colored Children.
On Motion of Mr. HALE a resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to discharge a contractor after fulfilling his contract, was after some discussion, laid over.
Mr. HALE explained that under the present law the Department can call for a large amount of work to be done at the same price.
Mr. WILSON of Mass., introduced a bill to amend the bill of the last session of Congress confiscating slaves so as to include the wives and children of salves.
On Motion of Mr. POWELL the resolution calling on the Secretary of State for the number and names of persons who have been arrested in the State of Kentucky and imprisoned in forts &c., of other states.
Mr. SUMNER moved as a substitute, that the President, if not incompatible, will give any information in his possession touching the arrest of persons in Kentucky since the first of Sept. 1861.
Mr. POWELL hoped the substitute would not be adopted, as he thought it a mere dodge to evade his resolution.
Mr. Wade presented two petitions from citizens of Ohio for confiscation.
Mr. DOOLITTLE introduced a bill fro the collections of taxes in insurrectionary districts.
The President sent the Senate a communication avowing his responsibility for the arrest of Gen. Stone, and stating that the General cannot be tried at present, because the witnesses whose presence will be necessary are in the field. The Confiscation Bill was take up and Mr. Browning made a lengthy speech in opposition to it.
Without taking the question the Senate adjourned.
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 3, 1862, p. 4
