The New York Herald Newspaper, February 5, 1862, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. SS WHOLE NO. 9278. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON, ° IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. Debate inthe House on the Government Financial Measure. Opposition to the Legal Tender Clause of the Treasury Note Bill. Speeches of Messrs. Morrill, of Vermont, and R. L. Conkling, of New York. Debate in the Senate on tne Case of Senator Bright. ‘Mr. Sumner’s Views on the Wegro Question. Impodtant Notifloation to Holders of PAYMENT OF THE SEMI-ANNUAL INTEREST. Threatened Retaliatory Mea- sures of the Rebels. Col. Coreoran and ‘Other Officers to be Hanged if the Bridge Burners are Executed. key Rey ae ‘Wasurxato, Feb. 4, 1862. DMPORTANT NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF GOVERNMENT -—-- BONDS. mae following official notices were to-day promulgated by the Treasury Department:— Holders of bonds of the United States, rable three years ite. Geter tha cecponet semtscvest iar terest thereon being due 9 ha inst, are hereby otified that provision ia made for the payment in of all such ooapons. agreeably to their at the office the Assistant TreasiPer ie the city ce hd York. q@upons mus! present a at office, With schedules showing the num er each coupon, r with the aggregate three full business days for examina- before ment. Notice is hereby > i iment to redeem the CALIFORNIA AND THE NATIONAL TAX, ‘The Secretary of the Treasury received to-day the fol- Sowing telegram from the Governor of California:— -~ SacraMeEnto, Jan. 31, 1862. Tam instructed by a resolution of the Legislature of ia to inform you that this State will assume, and being the treasury of the United States, the direct tax 638, a) ‘tioned to this State by act of Congress. LELAND STANFOKD, Govertior of Callformia. THR FIFTY MILLION TREASURY NOTES. ‘To-day the last note of the fifty million United States notes is in the hands of the signers, and the whole work ‘will be finished to-morrow. It is remarkable that no accident or loss has occurred in the execution of this great work. THE VLAG OF TRUCE—THREATENED HANGING OF COLONEL CORCORAN AND OTHER OFFICERS IF THE MISSOURI BRIDGE BURNERS ARE EXECUTED. ‘The flag of truce from rebeldom covered an impu- @ent demand,such as should not be countenanced in honorable warfaro. The message is said to have been from Jefferson Davis to President Lincoln, announcing that If the federal government permit the rebel bridge ‘burners to be hang under the order of General Halleck: that the federal prisoners—Colonels Corcoran, Lee, Wilcox ‘and others, heldjas hostages for the safety of the pirates— shall be immediately hung in retaliation. A Cabinet meeting was called to consider the subject; but Iam re ‘quested not to announce the result. Jeff. Davis will learn 4t goon enough. It is probable that the news of the recent order of tLe ‘War Department, directing the privateersmen to be re garded as prisoners of war, had not reached rebeldom ‘whon this last message was sent from Richmond. The ‘sentiment expressed by those who know the purport of ‘the mossage is, that the oflicer who brought it, thereby iegracing the flag of truce, should have been retained and bung with the bridge burners. - THE MILITARY APPOINTAENTS. ‘The list of confirmations of Brigadier Generale pub Nshed this morning was not entirely correct. Neither Francis E: Patterson, W. H. Keim, Jobn M. Palmer, Capt. ‘W.F. Smith, James W. Denver, Col. C, F. Smith, Capt, David Stanley, Eleazer Paine or W. A. Richardson wore among those confirmed on Monday, nor were Generals « B.B. Marcy, John A. Barnard, Seth Williams nor Stewart ‘Van Vieit among the list of confirmations. These four ate appointments upon the staff of General McClellan, and, as previously stated in this correspondence, ‘bas been decided by the Senate in executive session, ‘that the law authorizing their appointment by the Presi- Gent does not require them to be confirmed by the - Senate. For similar reasons Generals George W. Cullum and Schuyler Hamilton have not been presented for con- Girmation. In addition to the other brigadiers mention- ed, the nomination of Captain John G. Parke, formerly of the Topographical Engincers, was confirmed. 4s yet pone of the nominations for Brigadier General have been rejected. Those still unconfirmed have either mot yet been reached or have been laid over for consi_ @eration. The only military nominations rejected were those of A.J. Butler, of California, as Commissary of Subsistence; Lieutenant Symms Gardner, Eighteenth in. fantry ,as Assistant Quartermaster, and Lieutenant Jno. Adair ag First Lieutenant of First United States cavalry, ‘The only confirmation in executive session to-day wag that of Benjamin C. Whitney -as United States District Atto mney in California. Opposition has been made in tho Senate to tho con- firmation of General Fitzjohn Porter, one of the most Joyal and efficient Generals in the service, whose division has been repeatodly complimented by the General Com- manding as a model division. This opposition is based ‘upon the allegation that General Porter roturned a con- traband to bis owner. The fact is simply that a loyal colonel in tho United States Army, whose property is on the Virginia side of the Potomac, found one of his negroe’ n General Porter's cainp and claimed him. The negro was released from his employment and returned to his mafer’s farm of his own account. The impression en- tertained by. somo Senators is that the negro was re- turned toa rebel master. CONFIRMATION OF GEN. NAGLER’S APPOINTMENT. Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Naglee was to-day con- firrned by the Senate as Brigadier General of Volunteers. General Nagleo is a native of Philadelphia, and a gradu. © \ateof West Point. He saw service in the war with tho ‘1 \dlans in Oregon, and was brought into public notice by bh! determined and successful resistance to tho alte, mpt of apeoulators to clothe his men in unfit raiment. Afton @ campaign in which he showed much bravery, ho retira 1 to private lifo and entered into the Calffornia gold fover. , He won wealth and distinction as a citizen of San Francis”. On the breaking out of the rebellion be ten- dered hisgservices to the government and roturned East with Gener! Halleck. He military abilities being re- eognized byxGeneral MeCietian, from long personal inti- macy, he At once tenders’ @ command in tho Army of the Potomac! GEN, ScuTT NOT GOING TO MEXICO. ‘The dezpatch in aX"ew York paper t0-day, that Gen. Scott Se about to proceed to Xexico, as special agent of this government, !s nothing ®t epecniattep. Jam authorized ‘to nay that Mr. “"t Will vontinue ish Qkexico, with fel! and exclusive powers to act for this government. Gen. Scott’s movements point in another direction. THE ERICSSON FLOATING BATTERY. ‘ Information has reached here that the Ericsson floating Dattery, authorized by act of Congress in August last, and to be commanded by Lioutenailt Worden, will in the course of next week be sufficiently completed to test its efficiency. + ANOTHER SKIRMISH NEAR THE OCCOQUAN. ‘Yesterday afternoon another little skirmish occurred near the banks of the Occoquan. It was reported in the morning that a body of rebels was at Pohick Church. Captain Lowing, of the Third Michigan regiment, Colone} Champlin, then on picket duty in front of General Heint- zelman’s division, took thirty-four men, under Lieutenant Brennan, from Company F, and forty-four, under Lieu- tenant Bryan, from Company H, and went to meet them, Arriving at Pohick Church, no rebels were seen, The party, however, proceeded to the banks of the Occoquan, opposite the town of that name. Arriving there early in the afternoon, afew unarmed men were observed drilling in the town. They gave the alarm, when a number of rebels came from the houses and fired onour men. A brief skirmish took place. Four of the rebols were seen to fall, and were carried off by their comrades. No injury was sustained by any of our party, except by one man, who was slightly bruised by aspent ball. ‘The enemy was about sending a large party across tho Occoquan, when our men retired to their picket posis. Near Mrs. Violet's house they discovered a tent, which was used by a rebel picket, and destroyed it, When they had reached Pohick Church on their return they heard four volleys and sevoral separate shots fired nearly two miles distant, bearing to the left. As none of our party were out at the time it is supposed that the rebels had sent over acouple of squads to attempt to capture our men, and meeting with each other had by mistake fired upon their ow! men, ‘ CAPTURE OF A REBEL SPy. Captain Miles, of General Howard’s staff, left hoad- quarters, with forty infantry, from the Sixty-first New ‘York regiment; and was subsequently joined by thirty of the Eighth Illinois cavalry, under Captain Garheart, in General Sumner’s division, for the purpose of arresting Mr. Beach, who was supposed to be a rebel spy. They went along the Little River turnpikejto Mr. Gooding’s, a’ few miles from Fairfax Court House, where a portion of the party halted. A few men went down the Old Brad- dock road, where tracks of rebel cavalry were dig- covered. They followed the tracks to the house where Beach was living. The rebel cavalry company had halted outside the gate, while Captain De- lapy, their commander, as it afterwards appeared, went to the house and communitated with Mr. Boach, A detachment of our men made him an unexpected call and took him into custody, and this afternoon brought him blindfolded to General Heintzelman’s headq On the way home they arrested a sugpicious aie near Mr. Gooding’s and -brought him to headquarters also. Both ate undergoing examination, IMPORTANT SCOUTING EXPEDITION. Asmall scouting party, under Captain Harkness, of Colonel Miller’s Eighty-first Pennsylvania volunteers, in Genral Howard’s brigade, which went outa few days since from General Sumnor’s division, has safely re- turned to camp with considerable valuable information. They proceeded nearly twelve miles along*the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, and scoured the country be- tween Burk’s Station and Fairfax Court House. They ascertained the positions of the enemy’s outposts: and heard the beating of the rebel drums. They found that a young man, residing beyond our lines, who bad been frequently seen about our encampments, was in the habit of conveying information to the enemy. He was arrested and sent to headquarters in Washington for examination. The day beforeshis arrest he was in Alexandria, with a few articles which he purchased there. He went out to the house of Widow Taylgr, who is his aunt. He says he told his aunt’s folks that some of our pickets were posted at his gate. Widow Taylor has at least one gon m the rebel army. A squadron of Stewart's rebel cavalry had ‘been at her house about a week ago, and had taken forty-three head of cattle from people residing in that neighborhood. The reconnois- sance was well conducted, and proved entirely success- ful. Early this morning “ FATAL ACCIDENT IN THE NEW YORK THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT. An unfortunate accident occurred last night in Colone? Ward's Thirty-eighth New York regiment, by which one soldier lost’his life, Two members of Company F, who had ‘been acting as cooks in the regiment, were in the havit of taking a pan of hot coals every night into the tent where they sleep. Last night, the tent being closed tight, the snow having filled up all the chinks, thore was ‘no opportunity for the gas to escape. The consequence was that this morning one of the men, John Scott, was found suffocated to death, and the other, John McNeill, almost insenstble. Scott had enlisted from East New York. This afternoon at three o’clock his remains were buried with military honors in a suitable spot near the regimental camp ground, which overlooks the Po. tomac. This is the first death that has occured in the regiment since July last. McNéill is in the hospital, and is improving fast. Soldiers should remember that puro air is at all times essential, not only to life, but to health. REJOICING OVER GEN. MEAGHER’S CONFIRMATION. ‘There was great rejoicing to-day among the regiments composing the Irish Brigade when the news reached camp that the appointment of Thos. Francis Meagher as Brigadier General had been confirmed by the Senate: Most of the officers and many of the men gathered around Gen. Meagher and expressed their gratification in the ‘most enthusiastic manner. Colonel Nugent, of the Sixty- ninth, who has been Acting Brigadier General, made a few appropriate remarks, to which Gen. Meagher replied in his usual felicitious manner. He will formally assume commaugl of the brigade to-morrow afternoon. DEATHS OF SOLDIERS. ‘The following deaths of soldiers are reported :—Corpo- ral Bernard Faalbruch, Company C, Twenty-seventh Penn- sylvania Volunteers ; Granville 8. P. Arnold, Company I, Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry ; Private Gregg Company C, Second Maine Volunteers ; Charles E. Brown, Company A, Thirty-first Pennsylvania —— ; Henry N. Maynard, Company C, engineer corps ; Corporal E. D, Holly, Com- pany J, Tenth New York Volunteers ; James Smith, Com- pany C, First United States chasseurs ; Camden Pritner, Company H, Eighth Pennsylvania reserve corps ; Thomas Casey, Company E, Fifty-eeventh Pennsylvania Volun- teers ; Corporal John Hays, Company G, Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers ; Timothy Granness, Company F, First Bordan’s Sharpshooters ; C. H. Hines, Company I, Second United States cavalry ; Private Paul, Company B, engineer corpa ; Sergeant Jerome Wilkins, Company M, Secon New York cavalry; James Rose, Com- pany ©, Third Pennsylvania reserve corps; H. Jeffrey, Company I, Eighth New York cavalry ; Hy. Wyant, Company M, First New York cavalry; Na- thaniel Batchelder, Company G, Second Berdan's Sharp- ehooters. THE CASE OF, THE ARRESTED SUTLERS. ‘The despatch in Saturday's Heraxp in reference to the detection and arrest of two sutlers supplying liquor and paying out counterfeit money to the men of Stockton In- dependent Michigan regiment, does great injustice to the authorised sutler of that regiment, Mr. Wells, whose probity is unquestioned. The men arrested were not sutlere, but pedlars, who bad abused passes to go over the river and set up @ grocery in @ barn in the neighborhood of the camp of the Michigan regiment. They were arrested by the officers of that regiment, and their stock sent to headquarters for confiscation. There is no shadow of charge against Mr, Wells, the sutlor, npon whose eomplaint these interlopers were brought to ac- count. There were five or six interested in the concern that was broken up, but none who were recognized as sutlers to any regiment. a APPAIR OF HONOR, An affair of honor that was to have come off acrons tho Potomac on Saturday, between @ couple of captains of volunteers, ended yesterday in an attempt of one of the econds to cowbide his delinquent princrpal in a drinking saloon, The proceeding was stopped by the bystanders SUPPRESSION OF THR LIQUOR TRAFFIC, Captein R. W. Evans has been stationed at Long Bridgo to g60 that no spirituous liquors are either carried over thal structure or down the river for the troops. The stearhkor Telegraph, destined for Budd's Ferry, having twenty arrels of whiskey on board was to- prevented from making her trip. Liquor in such cases ig confiecated, Officers, howover. are at liberty to claim NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1862. | PRICE TWO CENTS. * any which may be intended for them, and must appear ‘at the Provost Marshal’s office for that purpose. The military authorities are earnestly at work prevont- ing the demoralization of soldiers by means of intoxicat- ing drinks, THE CASE OF SENATOR BRIGHT. The Bright case will not be disposed of for several days. Itis now decided that heis tobe expelled, but there area number of speeches against him to be put on record, and Mr. Bayard’s speech in his favor, and his own closing speech in defence will occupy several days. THE GREAT PARTY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. ‘The party at the White House to-morrow night is the exclusive topic in the beau monde of Washington. The number of invitations originally contemplated has al- ready beén doubled, and they are still going out. Appli- cations for cards may be measured almost by the bushel. Among the guests are to be the whole corps dij ique, andall members of the Cabinet, Senate and House of Representatives. There have been very few regrets. Tho whole suit of apartments are being prepared for the occasion. Mrs. Lincoln will receive her guests in the East Room. The Rea Parlor and Blue Room, ordinarily usedas reception rooms at levees, and the Green Parlor will al! ‘be thrown open and richly decorated with a profusion of natural fowers, The chandeliers in the lobby are to be festooned with wreaths, aud the pier tables covered with natural flowers in pots gracefully arranged. The supper, for which the most extensive preparations haye been made, will be set im the Congressional dining room, The arrangements for this feast are elogant and recherche. ‘A detailed description of it wil! appearto morrow. The splendid Japanese punch bowl, containing ten gallons of champagne punch, will be placed. in one of the side rooms-for the benefit of thirsty guests. Monsieur Maillard, of New York, with four or five assist- ants, has arrived, bringing with him thirty largo boxes of confectionery, and is busy getting up the pyramids and ornaments and confections for the table, in addition to which nearly a ton of turkeys, ducks, vonigon, pheasants, partridges, hams, &c., are being prepared. The Marine Band will be in attendance, but there will hardly be an opportunity for dancing. The supper room is to be opened at half-past ten o'clock, and will remain open until three. It is to be continually supplied, and all its beauties replaced, so that until the end of the feast it shall present the same appearance. It is expected that the President and Cabi net and diplomatic corps, and the Vice President and Chairman of the Commégtee of Foreign Relations will enter the supper room first, as it will not. accommodate comfortably more than one hundred and fifty persons at one time. This is only a proper distinction. ‘The fashionable world is all in a flutter. Adams Ex- press is too slow for the impatient dames and demoi- selles who have sent to Boston, New York and Philadel” phia for their new evening costumes for the occasion. ~ ‘The party at the White House is to be followed by ap elegant entertainment at the mansion of Secretary Chase, and another at that of the Secretary of War. % ~ ARRIVAL, OF GENERAL MARCY. Goneral Marcy and wife, and MBs y, daughter of tho late Governor Marcy, arrived from New York this evening. The Gencral is restored to health again, and will forthwith return to duty as chief of General McClel- Jan’s staff of the Army of the Potomac. THE SOLICITORSHIP OF CUSTOMS AT NEW YORK. Tho remonstrance of the Chamber of Commerce of New ‘York against the passage of an act creating the office of Solicitor of the Customs at the port of New York, was presented to the House to-day by Representative Mr. F. ‘A. Conkling. ARMING THE TROOPS. The House some time ago called upon the Secretary of War to inform them why certain troops in this vicinity were not provided with arms. A response has been transmitted, saying @ portion of the Eighty-ninth New York for a time were without them for the reason that there wore none in the Arsenal they were willing to receive, but that since then a supply of Austrian rifles had been received, and the regiment had been armed with them, THE DEFENCES OF MAINE. An agent of Maine is here, urging tho general govern- ment to accept the proposition of that State to fortify its coast at the expense of the State, the cost to be reim- bursed by the federal government at the expiration of twenty years. The unanimous vote in favor of this pro, position by the “House of Representatives of Maine, is a sufficient guarantee of the earnestness of the government ‘and people in this patriotic offer. The northern border of the State of Maine is badly exposed, and measures are to be immediately taken to pnt it in a state of defence, in response to the menace of Great Britain. ACTIVITY OF REPEL BATTERIES ON THE LOWER POTOMAC, Sunday being the rebels’ fancy day for firing, the bat. teries at Shipping Point opened on the Maryland shore after breakfast. A number of shells were thrown across, ome of them bursting over the land, while others did not appear toexplode, One of the shells exploded imme- diately on leaving the gun, the boiling up of the water close in to the Virginia shore indicating where the frag- ments fell. After wasting @ great deal of powder the rebels ceased firing, thus concluding the morning service. In the afternoon they opened fire again, the shelis burst- ing as in the morning, with the certainty of a ‘nobody hart.” The battery at Budd’sFerry did not return the fire, DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES TO LIBERIA AND HAYTI. The Committee on Foreign Relations reported to the Senate to-day the following bill unanimously, although Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, subsequently expressed his dis- sent to it, upon social grounds, in the debate upon the ex- pulsion of Senator Bright. It te entitled a “ Bill to authorize the President of the United States to appoint diplomatic representatives to the republics of Haytiand Liberia, respectively — }, &c., That the President of the United he hereby ie authorized, by and with the Be it enacted, ‘States be and advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint diplomatic representatives of the United Stater to the republics of Haytiand Liberia, respectively. Each of the said sentatives 80 appou shall be accredited as mis sioners and consuls general, and shall receive cut of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise Be ging s the compensation of commissioners, provided for by the act of Congress, approved August 18, 1856, provided thi tho compensation of the representative at Liberia ehall not exceed four thousand dollars. The committee claim that our commercial interests at Hayti require that our government should be represented there. ARRIVALS FROM BOSTON. Fx-Governor Boutwell, of Massachusetts, and Hon. F. W. Bird and J. 8. Williams and other merchants of Bos- ton, arrived here to-night. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. FIBST SESSION. te. ‘Wasnrvaton, Feb. 4, 1862. ENGINEERS IN THE NAVY. Mr. Scuven, (rep.) of Mass., presented a petition of manufacturers of steam machinery in Boston against the bill reducing the grade of engineers on ships, PUNISHMENT OF FRAUDS ON THE TREASTRI Mr. Howanp, (rep.) of Mich., presented resolutions of tho Logisiature of Michigan arking the passage of a law to punish frauds on the Treasury. DIRECT TAXATION! Mr. Howanp presented a resolution fromthe Michigan Legislature in favor of a direct tax according to the pro- perty owned. Referred. SUPPRESSION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC. Mr. Howarp also presented a resolution from the same Legislature against the sale of intoxicating liquors to the officers of the army. DIPLOMATIC AGENTS AT LIVERIA 4ND HAYTI. Mr. Scuygn, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill authorizing the appointmént of diplomatic Tepresentatives to the republics of Liberia and Hayti, THE MILITARY COMMAND IN KANSAS, Mr. Pomeroy, (rep.) of Kansas, asked to tako up tho resolution offered yesterday relative to the command of the Department of Kansas, &c. , and calling on the Secre- tary of War for the orders and directions in regard to supplies for that command; and whether it is to bo commanded by Gen. Lane; and whether the orders have been changed since Gencral Lane left; and whether the order of General Hunter ia according to the orders of the ‘War Department. Mr. Caxtite, (Union) of Va., hoped this would lie over, ‘There were reasong yyby it shoul! not pass. Mr. Pomeroy said the resolution was offered in accord. ance with a sugsestion Krom the Becretaty of War, Mr. CaRix wapter to know what action Congress pro- posed totake? Did Congress propose to take direction of the war? If this was in accordance with the suggestion of the Secregory of War he (Carlile) should not oppose it. ‘The resolution was agreed to. - TRON-CLAD WAR STEAMERS. Mr. Haze, (rep.) of N. H., moved to take up the bill Providing for iron-clad steamers. Motion agreed to, Mr. Hae proposed to withdraw both the amendments of the committee, and asked the Senate to make the sub- t the special order for Friday, when they would hear im (Mr. Hale) on the report of the Naval Committee in regard to the Secretary of the Navy. He hoped the Senate would pass the bill as it came from the House. + Mr. Monnus., (rep.) of Me.,said that the bill proposed to build twenty iron-clad steamers. This style of naval architecture was ag yet entirely an experiment. Franco and England are trying it as an experiment. ‘The British Board of Admiralty had reported upon it as an experi- ment. It was still a doubtful experiment. There were no rolling mills in the country that could do the work, and probably the work could net be done in twelve months. . Mr. Hate said he was informed the boats could be built in five months. They were strongly recommended by the Executive Department and Secretary of War. Mr. Grose, (rep.) of lowa, was surprised at the infor- of the Senator from Maine (Mr. Morrill). The only instance where iron-clad boats were under was in the Crimea, where French vessels went withio hundred yards of a fort, and were exposed to a heavy fire, but received little damage, and destroyed the fortress. He believed the iniroduction of steam would alter the whole system of coast defence. Eight thousand shot had been fired by the rebels at vessels coming up the river here, and only one vessel bad been materially injured. Mr. Cowax, (rep) of Pa., had some doubts about order- ing steam iron-c] ships. He was willing to vote the money and let the Prosident take tho respohsibility. He moved to amend 80 a8 to authorize the President to build twenty iron-clad gunboats or such other boats as: the public interest-may demand, and to let the men whose business j#eis to attend to such matters decide what kind of to build, they taking the respon- sibility. (ep at ves, saked if they were to be Mr. CoLtAmer, sea going vessels: 8 Gurues, (rep.) of Towa, said they were not to be cruisers. On motion of Mr, Hare the repert of. the Naval Com- mittee on the ty of the Navy was taken up and made the special order for Friday. Mr. Morn eai@he had seen the plans of the boate. ‘They were all to be on the same plan. They were gun- boats of a thousamd tous, and were like scows in con- struction, be Were nover intended to go out of sight per He claimed that they had not been recom- mended. Mr. Grimes said that the bill providing for them had been drawn in the Department of the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Navy had been to him Or. Grimes) ‘at least a dozen times to urge the passage the ; Mr. SHerwan, of Ohio, if the amendment of theSenator pe kad in o year, and it was doubtful if we could do that, Mr. CLARK, (rep.) of N. H., moved to recommit the bill to the Naval ,. The motion was agreed to. ‘TUB PAY OF ARMY OFF{CERS. Mr. Wirs0n, (rep.) of Mass., from the Committees on Military Affairs, reported a bill to define. tbe " emolu 4 i a Slicers ofthe ary an Pankacits ee original bill. RAILROAD AND TELEGRAPH TO THE PACTIIC, ‘Mr. Pomeroy, (rep.) of Kansas, introduced a bill topro- Meme tron ruction of @ railroad and telegraph line ie OF SENATOR BRICET. ‘ought toadopt a resoln- tion” of ex 4 had” isi vain throughout whole debate for eny declaration by the from Indiana as to his opinions now; whether he the success of the government or the triumph of tre ¥ The only thing that he (Mr. Bright) (itr, Browaing) thought’ that ir anybody waa opposed ir. Brown ug! was 0] g coercion it Was infact because he desized the ace of the rebels. If the record of the Senator was taken to the rebel cai they would make no objection to him, He consi ‘the lotter as moral treason, for which the Senator ought to be expelled. He felt constrained by the bag he owed to his country to vote for the expul- sion Senator. Mr. Dixon, (Fep.) of Conn. , said:—The letter written by the Senator from Indiana bears on ifs face certain marks whitch, it, would seem, might relieve an unprejudiced, unbiassed mind of any doubt with regard to its mean- ing and the intent with which it was written, The first and most obyions idea that strikes the mind in its pe- rusal is that, the writer is a cordial friend of Mr. Davis and of tho cause in which he is engaged. It proposes to aid him procuring that most necessary and indis- pensabdle m: of sustaining the newly organized vsur- pation styled a confederacy—name!y, firearms. If it haé en written to the leader of a foreign army invading our country, no doubt could for a moment exist of its treasonable character. It would have been con- clusive proof of treason as defined in the constitution, even though under another clause of the constitution requiring the evidence of two witnesses, or confession. In open court it might not have boen suillcient for con viction. “Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their eneinies, giving them aid émd comfort.” (Constitution, Article 3, section = That affording to a public enemy facilities for procuring firearms js giving ‘‘aid and com- fort’? cannot for a moment be doubted, Yet the Senator from New York (Mr. Harris) says that war did not exist at the date of the letter,and tliat, therefore, the act of the Senator from Iudiana was not ‘treason. He further says,and the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cowan) agrees with him, ‘it was treason or nothing.” In this opinion I cannot concur, The writing and de- livering the letter in question, if not” treason, was still a high crime, considering the circumstances under which it was written, the then state of the country, and the official position of the writer, as well as of the person to whom it was addressed, Admit that ‘tual war did not exist, and that the Senator from Indiana st that the pretended Southern confede- racy woul acefully inaugurated, and calmly and tamely tolerated by the government of the United States. ‘Viewed in that light, the Senator had still a me to per- form—aduty which he owed to his Stateas well as to the whole country with regard to this pretended and usurp. ing Southern confederacy. That it was to be peacefully permitted and tolorated does not atall change the consti- tutional daty of that Senator, and of every Senator on this floor, with regard to it, as I shall now pro- ceed to show by a reference to the constittion itself. Article 1, section 10 of the constitution provides that “No State shall enter into any treaty alliance or confederation.” And yin the same section, “No State sball enter into apy it or compact with an: other State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in war,” &c. Now, sir, what do we find at the date of the letter in question? Jefferson Davis, then still nominally a mem- bor ofthis body, had united with » band of conspirators, in violation of the constitution, to forma ‘‘confederation,”’ and had also induced certain States to ‘‘onter into an t or compact with other States without the con- sent of Congress,” and furthermore claimed to be the President of the so-called confederation thus formed. ‘This the Senator from Indiana well knew. No man, I think, knew better than he all the designs and ceedings of Davis and his fellow conspirators. ith this full knowledge, he deliberately addresses him a letter in which styles him ‘President of the Confederate States.” Shall he bo told that this was not a recognition—a full, complete, perfect acknowledgment of that confederation? The Senator from New York says it ‘was a nero formality—a matter of taste. I cannot so consider it. J understand the Senator from Indiana, by the mode of address which he chose to adopt, to acknow- ledge in express terms that there was such a political power as ‘the Confederate States,” and that Jederson vis rightfully held the office of President of that con- federacy. Now, sir, I have mo doubt that Jefferson Davis was very punctilious as to the manner in which he was addreseed. He claimed to be President de and de jure of the Confederate States. Senator Bright, on thé Ist of March last, ized him as such, When I couple that fact with his avowed oppo- sition thon, now, and at all times, to what ho calls the “ entire doctrine of coercion,”’ I am compelled to believe hin now, as then, @ friend to the rebellion, It so, he cannot, consistently with the public safety, con- tinue to occupy a seat in this eae this is true, whether the confederation he has acknowledged was at | the time at war with the United States or not, and whether or - Vy fon yee yt eye mige Ge act to give al comfort enemy. fal, the confederation recognized by him is as much violation of the constitution as if established and upheld by war. A modern English writer has said that ‘aman is more completely fidéea by his desires than by his acts. The objects he in view are more characteristic than any success in the attainment of them.’ It the ‘on trial for his life, under a charge of treason, his acts, not his desires, would be the test of his guilt or innocence. Not ro in the nent case. When the Senator from New ‘York arguen duet the offence now charged ‘is treason or nothing,” he fails, T think, to make tho true discrimination, W! I desire to know now is, whether the Senator from Indiana is at heart true and loyal to the constitution and the Union. It ig not necessary to show that he has actually consum- mated an act treason. Expulsion from Senat would not be bis only punishment if that were the fact. Does he desire the success of the attempt of Jefferson Davis and his associates to dest the ment of the United States and build up its usurpa- tion upon its ruins? If on the 1st March ‘last that was his dosire, he or he done anyth since that day now cherishes « different desire? Driven as we are to the conclusion that, on the -Ist of March last, Mr. Bright of Indiana was afrlond and well wisher te the Southern confederacy—that he recognized it as an existing Power— having like this government a Chief Executive strate and @ capi that he, soiag that time asa Senator of the United States, manifested his friendship and his sympathy for the atrocious cause of the traitor whom he addressed, by aiding him to Cet. firearms of an improved character, wherewith the more success-* folly to establish his own ‘usurped power on the rains of the government of which we are membere~—how can wo, acting undor our solemn oath to support and defend the ! constitution, refuse to vote for this resolution of expulsion? Mr. Doouirrix, (rep.) of Wis., said the debate had taken a wide ravge already. He wished merely to state afew ‘considerations, which, in his judgment, demanded the vote he expected to give. He should not consider the former course of the Senator, ‘or the yote to be given, or the opinion he may have expressed. 1t was qa all hands that if the letter were written to-day it would be unqualified treagon. The question then is, what was the character of the letter when written, on the lat of March? On the Ist of Mareh war actually did exist; sean actually levied war. It had been said that the ry when he wrote the letter, did not believe there would bo any war. The only reason he (Mr. Doolittle) could see was, what was to hin the monstrous supposition that the go- vernment would suffer itself to be destroyed without striking a single blow. He could not but consider the letter calculated to give aid and comfort to the rebels, and he should be compelled to vote for his expulsion. Mr, Wniry, (Union) of Va.,said but for the allusion to the Senator from Indiana, he should have said nothing. He appreciated the delicacy of his position, but he had such a hatred for the rebellion, being a refugeo from his State, with his eatate contiscated, a price set on his head, and the blood of his neighbors and friends not yet dry on his native hills. He confessed to such an abhorrence to the accursed rebellion, that he hardly dare trust his own judgment. Yet he should meet the question without any party prejudice. He thought it was not fair to the Sena- pac Indiana to travel so far out of the record as somo jone. Mr. Davis, (Union) of Ky., said he had referred to tho course of the Senator. He said, according to the record, the Senator from Indiana had only attended three meet- ings of the Committee on . Mr. Wizy said that was only another instance of travelling out of the recerd. Mr. Bricur said he did not know that such a record was kept, but, if there was sch a record, it was not correct. Mr, Davis said the clerk of the committee kept a re- cord of the persons present, and he was sure of the fact. Mr. Ree, (Opp.) of Md., said he had been a metaber of that committee for fifteen years, and he never knew of any such record. Mr. Witty said tho discussion only showed that thoy must not travel out of the record; in regard to the let ter, the Senator from Indiana might have believed there would have been no war on the Ist of March; but he called the particular attention of the Senator to the ox- planation he proposed to make to the principle declared in the letter written: in —— 5 There could be no doubt then as to the state declared that he was al ho declared in that letter, nate here, that he is to allcoercion. He should a ‘his decision till he heard from the Senator on that point. Mr. Bricur, (opp.) of Ind., said if the Senator would permit him he would read two resolutions passed by meeting in Indiana in January last, which. em! his sentiments:— red, That in this national emergency the democ a, banishing all feeling of mn and resentment ‘will recollect only duty to the whole country; that this war should not be wa aspirit of conquest or subjugation, Dor for the purpoue of everinrowring tne rights of the Bourn? ern States; to defend and maintain the supremacy of the rve the Union, with all the dignit States uni} ta of the several Bates red. x 20 0) are e_ war ought tocease. We cays nortan the constitu- n will our eng the coe tngltinteSion'sd hig ts BOs of the Southern States, tate far ag that goes it was his platform. If he He said as ‘was turned out of that body, he these roso- Tutions, to go again before the pbs eT ‘80 long put and not venture again precedent, fs etal in ini so frui ‘great, influences, should be completely commended and vindicated, that tion, Such a it may remain forever unquestioned as one of the pillars of that constitutional security .which is the object of vernment itself. Out of all who have spoken, we y ‘je!d precedence on this occasion to the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Bright). His speech was not long, but it afforded ample ground for regret, if not for condemnation. It showed ively the same spirit which is found iu the original letter: nor did it su anything in apology, except that the bearer of the letter was his life-long friend, and that when he wrote the letter he did not dream of war; in other words, an act of unquestionable dis- loyalty was put under the double cloak of a life-long friéndship and of profeesed ignorance of the real condition of thi Because the bearer of the letter was his life- Jong friend, and because the Senator did not see war ahcad, therefore he was justified in sending forth this life-long friend on an errand of disloyalty, if uot of treason itself, and of inaking him the instrament of aid and comfort to an organized rebellion. Of course such an argument shows woakness and not strength, and the very weakness out of which it sprung naturally became impassioned and wnjust. If, any personal fecling could disturb that perfect eq ity which with me, on this occasion, is at once a sentiment apd a duty, I might com- plain of ‘tive tone which broke forth, not only in personal imputations, but also in the menace that what I had said on the case of the Senator I dared n't say again here or elsewhore; but I make no complaint. It is suff- cient for mo that I’ spoke in the conscious discharge of my duty, and that I know of nothing in the vindictive tone or in the mevace of the Senator which can interfere with ich duty as I understand it. Therefore, I put @ what he has said, whether of personal im- putation, or of personal’ menace, or of argument for they’all leave him worse than’ if he had continued silent. I put aside also the elaborate argument, lasting throughout a whole day, of the Senator from Kentucky (ir. Davis), practically exalting s'avery above the con- stitution, and insisting that, while life is sacrificed and property is taken, while great rights are trodden down, and aly human energies are enlisted in defence of our country, slavery alone is too sacred to be touched. Sir, + L put aside this argument, because it is utterly out of place and irrelevant in the present discussion; and I trust it will not be my babit in debate to ramble from that straight ine which is the shortest way to the do- sired point. ‘There is a time to sow and a time to reap, and there will be @ time to discuss tho constitutional power of Congress to put an end to this rebellion, even if, in so doing, it is constrained to put an end to slavery itself. 1 but aside, also, the suggestion of the Senator from New York (Hr. Hutris) to the effect that the Senator from Indiana is now on trial; that our pro- ceedings are judicial; and that the evidence before us is insufMicient to satisfy the requirements of such a case. Surely this assumption proceeds on ® mistake. The Senator from Indiana is,not on trial, in the ordinary un- derstanding of that term, nor are our lings ju- dicial, nor is the evidence insufficient for the case in hand,’ Under the constitution each House, with thin largo digeretioasry power is given stply for tha pros this lar; cre power isgiven simply for the pro- tection of the body in the exercise of an honest and honorable self defence. The Senate itself is on trial just Senator: and permit me to say that the Senate will condemn itself if it allow any person to continue’ among ite members who has forfeited that special confidence in his loyalty which is essential to his nsefulness as Senator. It is vainto say that the evi- dence 18 insufficient. Technically and judicially this may be the case; but according tv all legislative dents and ail the rules of common life it is obviously sufficient, for it is beyond all practical doubt. My friend from New York did not hesitate at this session to yoto for the expulsion of Breckimridge, of Polk,and of Johne gon, without one scrap of evidence that he would recog- nise as a judge on the bench. How can he now require evidence which he did not require then? I put aside also the argument of the Senator from Pennsy!- vania (Mr. Cowan), so carefully and elaborately stated to the effect that on the Ist of March, when the disloyal letter was written, there was no war actually existing detween the rebel Stater and the United States. Even if this assumption were correct—even if the United States were still tating what course to adopt, nothing is clearer than this: the rebel States were in rebellion, or- ganized, armed and offensive, with the avowed purposoof overthrowing tho national government within their bor- dors; and such rebellion was beyond all question a levy- ing of war under, the constitution of the United States, 80 that all adherence to it, giving aid and comfort, was treason itself. -But even if you are not disposed to admit that there wae an actual levying of war on the part of the rebels—though of this there can be no doubt— there was surely a preparation and a purpore to do si and any contribution to such prepar and pur- pose was disloyalty, if not treason. Clearly, Jeffer- son Davis, at that time, was a traitor. What, then, can be thought of a Senaor who offered arms to the traitor? Iput aside, also, the suggestion of the Senator from Now Jersey (Mr. Ten Eyck), founded on the language of the President in his inaugural address of the 4th of March. Shier It is true that the President spoke of the robels in rous, fraternal words—euch words as became the istrate of a great people, who had not yet renounced tides ‘of conguering by kindness, and” who had not forgotten that wiathen. was tamed by a cord. But b; itever may have been the lan; ofthe President, Vis none the’ teen sar that, the rs tion at tala, vary moment was completely 01 ‘& BuCcess! overt ping saute aged ifs’ tresoonshie Prat tion of its authors, and expecially of its chief, to whom the letter offering arms was addressed. I put aside, aleo, the argument of the Senator from California . Latham), ‘especiall, of it founded on the tolerance shown b: to trea son when uttered here by the retiring reba. Nobody uestions that treason was uttered on floor, or that treasonable counsels went forth from this cham. ber. Butthe Senate was then controlled by the asso- ciates of the Senator of Indiana, and it was not in our power to check or chastise the traitors. It is within the Pomtlection of many that those ut 8 were heard of the chamber, not only with an indignant but with a bitter, rankli ret. thyt the J not'so entirely in the hands or th traivors tha hear, . Surely suck utter. wo wel iged sil ances, black with treason roast iting the very voice of the rebellion, canuot be an apology for the istoyal letter of the Senator from Indiana; nor can our silence, when we were powerless toact, be au argument for silence Fatime nt abo” that others’ may use the argument ts ime add, also ere: use argument in this'eace, that the Senator haa delared himselt against coercion of the rebel Statesyor that ho has refused to vote the necessary means for tho suj ion of the rebellion; but I nee no such argument, uch as T should acourse, and justly obnoxious #a I should regard it, yet I cannot consider it a# an argument for the expulsion of the Senator, Freedom of debate the triumphs of modern civilization; and it shall Rever be impaired by any vote or any word of mine. ‘To this freedom I have held fast when al- most alone in this body; and what Ihave steadil; cated for mysolf against all odds, Tsball never another. Therofore, if 1 am the judge, there is no Sevator* who will not always be perfectly free’ to speak and as he aball think best on every question which legitimately arise; but that immunity he not go. He shall not talk treason; he shail With rebellion; he shall not address to of sympathy and good will; especially, Dot recognise its chief in his of President, nor shall he sen firearms to be employed in the work of treason. Putting aside all these considerations, the case it the Senator from Indiana is clear. Ail apologies, all ex- ouses utterly fail. It is vainto say that the bearer of the letter was his life-long friend, as it is vain to say, also, that the Senator did not dream that there wonld be war. he Arst apology is a8 feoble as the second 18 au- tor did not dream that there would y send arms to the chief of the rebel- lion? To Jefferson Davis asa private citizen—to Jeffer- son Davis a8 @ patriot Senator, there was no oceagion or motive for sending arms. it was to Jofferson® Davis as chief of the re- dellion that arms could be gent; and to him, in that character, they were sent. But even if the rebellion were not at that time manifest in overt acts—as it clearly was—still the sending of arms was a positive provoca- tion and contribution to its outbreak, especially when the arms were sent by aSenator. And now,at the risk of repetition, I'say again, it is not necessary that the war should have been commenced on the Fart of tho United States, Jt is enough that. on the part of Jeffer- son Davis, at the date of the letter, there was an actual levying of war, or, at least, a purpose to lev: war; and in either of these two casée—the iast as well z : as tho first—the guilt of the Seuator, offering arms complete—caii it treason or call it sim- vy 'y,if you will, It is vain that you seek to surround bim on this occasion with the technical defences - of a judicial tribunal. This will not do. They areoutof place. God grant that, in the administration of justice, citizen for his life may alwaye be presumed in nocent till he is proved guilty. But while zealously assert- ing this presumption in a criminal trial, T utterly deny it in the present case. The two proceedings are radical unlike. In the one we think most of the individual; in the other we think most of the Senate. The flag officer of a fleet, or the cominander of a garrison when sus- pected only of correspondence with the enemy, is with- out delay deprived of his command; nor can any techni- cal presumptions of innocence be invoked in his defence, For the sake of the fleet, for the sake of tho garrison, which must not be betrayed. it is your duty to see that be is not deprived of his command; nor can a suspected Senator, with all his confidential trust—legislative, di- | yma and exocutive—expect yo re ga that would denied to ', oF to a suspected commander of a Fr oso If not strong, pure and be oe in erate =e Rot expect to bool strength, purity and uprightoers ip any inno- Cones, or im any teclinical Yale “of” law. For tho sake of the Senate, he must be deprived of his place. Afterward, shoula he be arraigned at law, he will De aliowod to ploy all the deviecs and weapons familiar to judicial pro- ceedings. But there is another illusion into which the Senator had fallen; and it seems to me that ths Senator from New York, and perhaps have fol- lowed him. It isthe assumption that, adenine Senator of his seat, we take some! from him that is really his. This ig @ mistake. A ‘or is simply trustee. The Senator i¢ trustee for Indiana. But his fidelity as trustee is now drawn in question; and since no 4 is pbeyed to roma el perneies ire above | suspicion—t , according to language of the law, by . of the Senator should the State for which he ell he wron; and our judgment will be Senator has no right for hii ; he. does not repre- sent himself, but he represents his State, of which he ia the elected, most confidential trustee, aud when his fidelity is openly impeached there is no grep which can become his shield. Tell me not of the scat of the Senator. Let the Senator be cautious in his tan- guage. By courtesy the seat may be his; but in reality the seat belongs to Indiana; and this honored: State—un> surpassed in age tag 2 Lat) Rows iJ republic—may justly protest against any mi Tepreséntation on this floor by a disloyal Senator. But the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cowan) ex- claims—and the Senator from New York follows him in saying—that the offence of the Senator is “treason or novhing.”” For myself, I have no hesitation in the conviction that it is treason. if it be not treagon in & ‘Senator to send arms to an open traitor, whom he at the game time acknowledges in his traitorous character, then it were better to blot out the crime of treason our statute book, and to erase its definition from the constitution, Sir, it is treason. But even if it be’ not treason, according to all the technical require- ments of that crime, it is obviously and unquestionably an act of disloyalty so discreditable, so unworthy, and 60 dangerous as to render tho duty of the Senate imperative. Is it nothing that the Senator should write friendly letters, make open acknowledgments, and'offer warlike aid toa public traitor? Is it nothing that, sitting in this ber, the Senator should send to the chief of the rebellion words of sympathy and armsof power? 1s it nothing that the Senator should address the traitor in terms of courtesy and official re- spect? Is it nothing that the Senator should call the traitor “his Excellency,” and should hail him “President of the Confederato States?” And is it nothing that the Senator should offer to the traitor thus addressed what, of all things he most coveted, destructive arms, to be turned against the constitution which the Senator bas sworn to support? Ts this nothing? Why, then, the world and all th: "tim nothings The coverihg sky ia nothing. * ‘Nor nothing have these nothings, If this be nothing, . Sir, the case is too plain for argument, You cannot argue that two and two make four; thata straight line is the shortest distance between two points; or sun shines in the sky. All these are palpable at once to reason and to sense, But, if I did not see before mo honored Senators, valucd friends, who think otherwise, I should say that’a Senator, acknowledging in ly correspondence the chicf of a rebellion which was set on foot in defiance of the United States, and sending to this chief arms, the only use of which can be in upholding the rebellion, has just'y forfeited that conf- dence in his loyalty which is ag much needed as his com- mission to entitle him to continue in this chamber. The consider it. toghave been prompt, and we have nical defenses when wo ovght to have surrendered to that indignation which disloyalty is caicalated to arouse. The Senator from New Hampehive (Mr. Clark) has reminded us—as John Quincy Adams reminded the generation of his time—of that beautiful the othor wing of the Capitol, where the muse of history, with faithful pen, registers the transactions of each day, inoyaity, anether page, might, beams dis page mi iment’ which followed. - But . there which was yot unrent, and profanely sought to resch the Very altar Healf, wnen suddenly, av the intercession of the high priest, an angelic horseman armed with thongs is seen to dash the intruder upon the marble pavement ialhg nage fo age the sacred presence. But now that disloyalty, in the acknowledged of a distant traitor, intrudes into this constitution, and insists upon sitting at our Fe # i i H z l & i . rf ae i Ease docs not allow them.* I know well the beauty the tness of charity. For the Senstor I charity; but there is a bettery charity due to the whose solemn bate: Eo Pos Fig oe, ts do not accept comple makes duty to couutry the great charity which em Ete 5 ‘other charities, you will not deny itis at least toommandtag obigation, by the side of which all that wo owe to the Senator is 1. And, do not forget— lot the precious cxample be our souls—that He who has taught us the aud the greatness of Irst to scourge the z. 4 j tg z slavery was superior to attracted by grandiloquent, sophomoric ¢; Senator shakes his imperial locks like Ji not the Jove of the Senate or of the country. other minds as Jarge as his, who were wi rights to all the people of the States. from Massachusetts, in the course of his read pe nd remember one Goliah, who thought himeelf inv! cible, as the Senator does. The Senator might, perhaps, meet the same fate. On motion of Mr. Latnam the Senate went into execu tive session. Adjourned. 34% EY Howse of Representatives, * Waseuxarox, Feb. 4, 1068. DEBATR ON THR TRRASURY NOTE BILL. ‘Tho House went into Committee of the Whole on the ‘Troasury Note bill. SPEECH OF MR. MORRILL, OF VERMONT. Mr. Monnit, (tep.) of Vt.—I look upon this proposal of ‘one hundred and fifty millions of paper currency, and risking it legal tender, as the precursor of a prolific ‘rood of promises, no one of which, I fear, is to bere deemed in the constitutional standard of the country. 2 have strong convictions of the impolicy of. the measure, and I should fail in my duty if I did not attempt to find a stronger prop for our country than this bill—s measure not blessed by one sound principle, and damned by all, 1 do not say the country would be ruined by the adoption of the bill, though it ia a blunder; but it is a time when it may bo truly said blunder is worse than «crime. ‘We are urged to pase it as a war measure—a measure of necessity, based upon the probable prolongation of the war, I bave no expectation that the war will Jost till July, 1863. Tho ice which now chokes up the ED ON KIO HTH PAGE.) : * t ?