House of Representatives.
Washington, May 26, 1862.
The House resumed the consideration of the Confiscation bill.
Mr. Elliot, (rep.,) of Mass., in closing the general debate, remarked that it was a pretext, a legal fiction, to say these bills are designed to punish treason.
They are designed for no such purpose, but to the poster of the enemy to bring about a speedy and permanent peace.
They proposed to take from the enemy the instruments of war, without which they could not carry on the rebels on six months longer.
Mr. Noell, (rep.,) of Mo., wished to make a few remarks.
Mr. Elliot--That gentleman being a member of the select committee who reported the bill — yielded the floor; but.
Mr. Killinger, (rep.,) of Pa., objected to further debate, inasmuch as he was compelled to print his remarks, and had no opportunity to deliver them.
Debate here was useless; but our people at home had a right to understand our position on these great questions.
His speech would advocate confiscation as a measure of indemnity for the past, and as military necessity for the future.--He was against the passage of an abolition enactment.
Let slavery take care of itself.--While be stood on the Lincoln platform of compensation and colonization, he was against negro worship and negro legislation per se. He was opposed to negroes swarming in Pennsylvania, and protested against their being supported by Government liberality.
Mr. Noell obtained permission to print his remarks.
Mr. Elliot resumed, explaining and advocating the bills reported from the committee, and examining the pending substitutes.
The House first voted on Roscoe Conkling's amendment to the third and fifth classes mentioned in the Select Committee's report on the Confiscation bill, whose property is to be confiscated, namely:--
Provided that such persons shall have accepted their appointments since the date of the pretended ordinance of secession, or taken the call of allegiance to the so-called Confederate States.
This amendment referred to any person acting as Governor of a State, member of Convention or Legislature, Judge, or any person hereafter holding any office or agency under the so-called Confederate States.
The amendment was adopted--130 against 50.
The House next voted on Mr. Maynard's substitute, which proposed to punish all persons in any way aiding or abetting the rebellion by fine and imprisonment, and empowering the President, whenever in his opinion the public safety may require it, to grant an amnesty to any or to all offenders within the provisions of this rot, excepting only such as having held offices of honor or profit under the government of the United States have at any time engaged in the rebellion against its authority, and while so engaged have borne any office, civil, military or naval.
Mr. Maynard's substitute was rejected--140 to 9.
The substitute of Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, was next voted on. It declares all the estate, and property, money, stock effects, and credit of persons acting as officers in any capacity under the so-called Confederate States.
Forfeited, and to be lawful subjects of seizure and of prize and capture whenever found, for indemnity of the United States against the expenses of suppressing the rebellion.
The substitute also denationalizes such persons forever, and incapacitates them from voting, or holding any office of profit or trust under the United States of America.
Mr. Morrill's substitute was rejected--25 against 122.
A vow was taken on the Confiscation bill.
It provides to adopt the synopsis as furnished on the 13th of May, adding the following in the end of the fifth class of the persons
the persons thirdly above described, who shall have election or appointment to office since of the pretended ordinance of such State, or shall have taken the allegiance to the so-called Confederate
The bill passed--81 against 62.
The House next proceeded to the of the bill reported from the select committee to free from service of the slaves of rebels engaged in the existing rebellion against the Government of the United States.
Mr. Sedgwick, (rep.,) of New York, had submitted an amendment, making it the duty of every commanding cavalry of naval officer whose military any portioned the Confederate States to invite all loyal persons to come within his and be enrolled in the service of the free to be reasonably compensated for their claim to the service or labor of such slaves.
Mr. Blair, (rep.,) of Mo., proposed an amendment to the above, requiring the freedom of such slave tube declared by the district courts, also making it the duty of the Commissioners
in each State to take charge of all persons liberated under the provisions of this act, and hold them for military service, or bind or the capture them as apprentices to loyal structure of land, or to mechanics for a term of and authorizing the President of acquire inside in Mexico, Central America, South America or in the Islands of the of Mexico for colonizing them.
Mr. Blair's amendment was rejected--
Mr. amendment was rejected
Mr. Walton, (rep.,) of Va., proposed for the original bill providing death for the treason on conviction, and all slaves of the criminal, if any, shall he shall be imprisoned for and fined not less than of death.
Persons hereafter the rebellion be punished by of all personal property, and unqualified from holding office
Mr. Walton was rejected--29
Mr. Murrill, (rep.,) of Va., offered an amendment in the nature or a substitute for the original bill, providing forever free from servitude the slaves of rebels engaged in abetting the existing rebellion against the Government of the United States.
Any person to declared under a claim to such shall be forthwith corpus by any Court of United States, and the Court or Judge on said writ shall commit for trial for the person so holding the said and on conviction of seizing or holding the said freedman, knowing him to have been declared free by a Court of the United States, the person to convicted shall be sentenced to be confined in the Penitentiary for not less than one nor more than five years, and any one swearing falsely in any proceeding this act shall be guilty of perjury, and noble conviction, to the penalties thereof.
substitute was rejected--16 to
The House are on the hill was exactly as it was reported from the select committee.
The was rejected--
The House pleased the Senate bill for the relief of Robert Smith and others, (colored,) and in delivering the rebel steamer Planner from the port of Charleston to our fleets
Those in the negative were, Messrs. Calvert, Donlap, Pierced, Johnson, Kerrigant Norton, Shiel, Vallandigham and
The House then adjourned. 