Northern Congress.
The proceedings of this body on Monday presented nothing of especial importance.
We extract a small portion of the worthless mass:
In the
Senale, Mr. Wade offered a joint resolution, that the
Secretary of the Treasury be directed to remit all duties and imports on all arms imported since 1st of May, which have not actually been paid, and on all arms which may be imported prior to the 1st of January, 1862, for the use of any State which in good faith is aiding in suppressing the rebellion now waged against the
United States.
Referred to the Committee of Finance.
Mr. Hale presented a petition for the relief of
Roger Jones, who commanded at
Harper's Ferry, and was obliged to destroy public and private property there, and of volunteers in the service of the
United States.
Referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
In the
House, Mr. Upton, of
Virginia, (!) offered a resolution requiring all officers in the service of the
United States to report to the proper department the names and numbers of such persons as may be released upon parole on taking the oath of allegiance.
Adopted.
Mr. Cox, of
Ohio, presented a resolution referring to the
Committee on Elections the question of the legality of the election of
Mr. Upton, of
Virginia.
Adopted
Mr. Holman, of
Indiana, offered a resolution declaring that during the present session of Congress the
House will only consider bills relating to the military and naval service, or to the financial matters connected therewith, and that all other bills shall be referred to the proper committees, without debate, for the consideration of the next Congress.--Adopted.
Mr. Lovejoy presented a preamble and series of resolutions asserting that, in the judgment of this House, it is no part of the duty of soldiers of the
United States to capture or return fugitive slaves; instructing the
Committee on Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of repealing the ‘"Fugitive Slave law;"’ and declaring that
Major Emory, having resigned his commission in the
United States service under circumstances showing sympathy with the rebellion against the
General Government, his reappointment was improper and unjustifiable, and that this House, in the name of the people of the
United States, demand his removal.
Mr. Hickman rose to a point of order.
He urged that the resolutions were in contravention of that proposed by
Mr. Holman, limiting the legislative action of the
House, and which has been adopted.
Numerous points of order were raised by other members among the opposition, and considerable confusion prevailed for a brief while.
The Chair, after appealing to the members to sustain him in his efforts to enforce the rules of the
House, overruled the point of order raised by
Mr. Hickman.
The question recurring upon
Mr. Edwards' motion to lay on the table, the ayes and noes were demanded by
Mr. Lovejoy, and the motion agreed to — ayes 87, noes 62.
Mr. Hickman moved a reconsideration of the vote by which
Mr. Holman's resolution was adopted.
Mr. Holman moved to lay the motion on the table.
Mr. Burnett desired to know whether the adoption of
Mr. Holman's resolution would cut off the proposition of measures looking to a peaceful settlement of our national difficulties.
Cries from the Administration side, ‘"yes,"’ ‘"yes."’
Mr. Washburne, of
Illinois, rose to a point of order.
He objected to the debate which was being attempted.
The Chair ruled that all debate was out of order.
Mr. Burnett thought that having the floor it was his right to debate the question, nevertheless he did not wish to infringe upon the rules of the
House.
He was one of those who had not yet resigned all hope of a peaceful solution of our difficulties.
Objections being made by
Messrs. Washburne and
Lovejoy to his remarks, he renewed the motion of
Mr. Holman to lay upon the table the motion proposed by
Mr. Hickman; negatived.
Mr. Hickman's motion to reconsider was then adopted, and that gentleman proposed to so amend the resolution submitted by
Mr. Holman, restricting the action of the
House as to include general questions of a judicial character, and on this amendment he called the previous question.
Mr. Vallandigham held that the amendment was out of order, inasmuch as that it changed the nature of business in the
House.
Mr. Richardson, of
Illinois, requested
Mr. Hickman to modify his resolution so as to include also cases of contested election, which request was declined.
Mr. Richardson then asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the
House to urge upon it the rejection of the resolution.
After a brief colloquy between
Messrs. Richardson and
Colfax, which the
Speaker interrupted with a peremptory call to order--
Mr. Burnett asked permission to propose an amendment to include within the restriction all questions looking to a peaceable settlement of our national difficulties.
Objections were raised by
Messrs. Washburne,
Lovejoy, and several other Republican members.
Ex-Governor Wickliffe, of
Kentucky, then moved, in the name of his constituents, of his country, and of his God, to lay the resolutions on the table, and on this motion called the ayes and noes, which resulted in its rejection — ayes 52, noes 102
The amendment of
Mr. Hickman was then adopted.
Mr. Fouke, of
Indiana.
offered a lengthy series of resolutions, declaring that in a crisis like the present it was the duty of all to strengthen the hands of the
Government; that all partisan influences should be ignored, and that in the appointment of all public officers the only questions should be, ‘"Is he honest, is he faithful?"’ [Suppressed laughter on the floor] That the
Federal Government would promote the cause of the nation by extending to our deluded brethren of the
South the olive branch of peace.
Mr. Lovejoy interrupted the further reading with a motion to lay the resolutions on the table.
Mr. Hickman raised the point of order, which was sustained by the Chair, that the resolutions were excluded under the operation of those of the gentleman an from
Indiana.
Mr. Washburne, of
Illinois, offered a resolution authorizing the standing committees to employ clerks as usual.
Mr. Richardson objected to the resolution as being out of order under the Holman resolution.
The point of order the Chair sustained, amid general laughter on the side of the opposition.
Mr. Washburne appealed from the decision of the Chair, when
Mr. Vallandigham moved to lay the appeal on the table.
Adopted. [Renewed laughter from the opposition.]
Mr. Curtis, of
Iowa, offered a resolution withholding pensions from all persons sympathizing with or aiding in rebellion, and requesting all pensioners from those States which have not contributed their aid to the
General Government, to swear that they have at no time favored or encouraged Secession.
Mr. Vallandigham objected to this resolution also, as being out of order, and his objection was sustained by the Chair.
Mr. Potter submitted a resolution requiring the heads of departments to return the number of clerks from the
Southern States retained by them, and the names of those who have refused to take the oath of allegiance.
