Proceedings of the Federal Congress.
The following is a synopsis of the second day's proceedings (December 3d ) of the Washington Congress:
‘
The first regular session of the thirty-seventh Congress commenced at noon yesterday (the 2d) The galleries of both Houses were crowded with spectators.
In the
Senate, 37
Senators answered to their names at roll call, including
Messrs. Powell, of
Kentucky;
Bayard of
Delaware, and Bright of
Indiana.--The usual committees were appointed to wait upon and inform the
President and the House of Representatives that the Senate was ready to proceed to business
Mr. Trumbull, of
Ill., gave notice that he would to-day introduce a bill to confiscate the property of rebels and give freedom to persons int the slave States--
Mr. Wilkinson, of
Minnesota, gave notice of a bill to abolish the distinction between the regular and the volunteer soldier.
The committee appointed to wait upon the
President reported that he would communicate his Message to Congress at noon to-day, whereupon the Senate adjourned.
In the
House one hundred and ten members answered to their names.
Mr. Maynard, of
Tennessee, was admitted to a seat.
The question of admitting
Mr. Segar, from the Fortress Monroe District of
Virginia;
Mr. Beach, from the same State, and
Mr. Foster, from
North Carolina, were referred to Committee on Elections.
A memorial from
Mr. Lowe, to be admitted as an additional member from
California, was referred to the same committee.
A joint resolution, tendering the thanks of Congress to
Capt. Wilkes for his arrest of the rebel emissaries,
Mason and
Slidell, was adopted.
A resolution expelling
John W. Reed, the member from the 5th District of Missouri, and now serving in the rebel army, was adopted.
Resolutions requesting the
President to order
Messrs. Mason and
Slidell to be treated in the same manner as
Col. Corcoran and
Col. Wood, prisoners in the hands of the rebels, are treated, were unanimously adopted, amid cheers from the spectators.
The
Secretary of War was requested to communicate what measures have been taken to ascertain who is responsible for the disaster at Ball's Bluff.
Mr. Eliot, of
Massachusetts, offered a resolution declaring that, in prosecuting the war, the
Government has for its object the suppression of rebellion and the re-establishment of the
Constitution and the laws over the entire country, disclaiming all power to interfere with State institutions, yet that the safety of the
State dominates over all rights of property and civil relations; that, therefore, the
President of the
United States, as the
Commander-in-Chief of our army, and the officers in command under him, have the right to emancipate all persons held as slaves in any military district in a state of insurrection against the
National Government, and that we respectfully advise that such order of emancipation be issued whenever the same will avail to weaken the power of the rebels in arms, or to strengthen the military power of the loyal forces.
A motion to lay the resolution on the table was lost by a vote of 56 to 70.
Mr. Roscoe L. Conkling, of New York, proposed an amendment, so as to make the resolution apply to slaves of disloyal citizens.
This was accepted by
Mr. Eliot, and the subject was then laid aside until Tuesday next.
Mr. Stevens, of
Penn., offered a preamble bls and bill, declaring that there can be no permanent peace or union in the
Republic so long as slavery existed within it; that slavery is an essential means of protracting the war; that, according to the law of nations, it is right to liberate the slaves of an enemy to weaken his power; that the
President be requested to declare free, and to direct all our
Generals and officers, in common, to order freedom to all slaves who shall leave their masters, or shall aid in quelling the rebellion, and that the
United States pledge the faith of the nation to make full and fair compensation to all loyal citizens, who are or shall remain active in support of the
Union, for all damage they may sustain by virtue of this resolution.
This resolution lies over for future consideration.
Mr. Van Wyck, of New York, gave notice of a bill to establish and construct a military and postal railroad from
Washington city, in the District of Columbia, to the
city of New York, in the
State of New York.
The
House adjourned.
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