Yankee Congress.
We append some extracts from the recent proceeding of the Northern Congress.
The debate on the case of
Gen. Stone will attract especial attention:
Senate.
Washington April 16, 1862
Mr. Wilkinson, (Rep.) of Min., presented a petition from the citizens of
Minnesota, praying Congress to call on all the people of the
United States, bond and free, to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, and assuring them of the protection of the flag therefore.
Mr. McDougall, (
Opp,) of
California, called up the resolution calling on the
Secretary of War for information as to the causes of the delay in the trial of
Gen. Stone, and if the letter has not applied for a speedy trial, &c.
Mr. Fernanden suggested that the resolution call on the
President instead of the
Secretary of War.
Mr. McDougall said he specially preferred it as it now stood.
He alluded to the fact that it was now fifty days since
Gen. Stone had been arrested at his home, at midnight, and closely confined in a dark fort, without being able to learn why he was arrested, by whom, nor had he learned whether his arrest was ordered by the
President,
Secretary of War, or the
Commanding General.
The manner of his arrest and confinement seemed to be more the result of a Venetian Council of Ten than that of officials of a free republic.
He briefly recapitulated the circumstances immediately prior to
Gen Stone's arrest.
He stated that
Gen. Stone had visited the
President and
Secretary of War in friendly intercourse, and dined with the
Commanding General, not many hours before his arrest.
Rumor, that had the power to blast the fairer fame, was all that had made charges against
General Stone, and nothing else could be learned.
He quoted from
H. W. Beecher's sermon defending constitutional liberty, truth and justice, and spoke of those arrests as fraught with danger to a free people.
He was glad the pulpit had taken up these cases, and, though not expecting it from that source, was glad to quoted any one favoring truth and justice--
* * * * * *
We had a Committee on the Conduct of the
War, and from that source rumor has intimated that this arrest and other things have emanated.
Testimony is taken secretly, and to go abroad in the press, and in this way the committee conducted the war. He read a dispatch from
Gen. Stone to his friends, saying be desired to be before Yortown now. He (
Mr. McDougall) had endeavored to see the
Secretary of War, but failed to procure audience, and he thought the country had fallen upon strange times indeed when the
Secretaries of the
President could not be seen on official business.
There was no excuse even offered by this master of all the
Government forces, who set aside law and statute, but had never seen a squadron to the field.
Willten applications had likewise failed.
Gen McClellan had three distinct times demanded of the
Secretary of War a court-martial for
Gen. Stone, but had failed He then reviewed the
European and
American military codes, showing that they were for the protection as well as punishment of soldiers.
The Articles of War provided for summoning a court martial eight days after the arrest.
Yet no steps had been taken for one hundred and fifty days after
Gen. Stone's arrest, and, worse than this, no charges had been made, nor could any one be found who had ever heard of any. It be was charged with treason, he could be speedily tried by civil courts.
He quoted a case, during
Mr. Madison's administration, where an officer was sentenced to death by a court martial, but ordered afterwards to duty by the
President.
But that was in better days of the old Republic, before the faction had raised its hydra head in one of the Departments of this Government.
He cited the fact that, by the delay of the trial, one of the most important witnesses--
General Lander--had goes to give his evidence in another world.
The
Secretary of War and the
Secretary of State could not make laws, for that belonged to legislative bodies.
Mr. Stanton, however, had made a law which was the law of a tyrant.
more worthy of
St. Petersburg and
Constantinople one hundred years ago.
‘"Fools rushed in where angels dare not tread"’
In conclusion, he thought that the Senate should demand a trial for
Gen Stone.
Mr. Wade thought that the two hours platitudes of the
California Senator were like the lawyer whose client was at the foot of bad indictments.
He fully agreed with all the
Senator quoted about constitutional rights.
No one respected law and liberty more than he did; but he repelled the installation made against the
Committee on the Conduct of the
War, of which he was chairman.
Mr. McDougall disclaimed any affection on the committee.
He had heard that the committee had the case of
Gen Stone under consideration, which led by his arrest.
Was that so ?
Mr. Wade said that the
Senator had stated that the committee had stabbed men in the lark.
Mr. McDougall replied that he did not say so.
Mr. Wade was glad to learn that he did not say so. There was not a word of truth in is The committee endeavored to correct many wrongs in the army, and had never published a word, but had given the result of their investigations to the
Executive.
They had never undertaken to conduct the war, as had been alleged frequently.
The committee were entirely above stabbing men in the dark, and had never injured a single man, but remedied numerous-wrongs.
So far as
General Stone was concerned, he was a stranger to the committee, and it would not harm a hair of his head.
He would say here, in this place, that there was probably cause for his arrest, and the testimony relating to him was laid before the
President and
Secretary of War.
Whether that evidence led to his arrest, or not, he did not know.
That testimony should not be drawn from him now. While country was struggling for existence, and unborn generations were to be taxed, traitors were walking these streets.
The
Senator talked about constitutional liberty.
Breckinridge used to stay here and talk about it; and was a traitor at heart.
It was so with others.--Those who talked of
habeas corpus in times like these were sympathizers with rebellion.
The movements of our armies were known to the rebels as quick as to loyal.
people. The Government had endeavored to keep this information away from the traitors, but failed.
Times of revolution demanded stringent measures; but traitors had been too leniently dealt with, owing to too much goodness of heart.
All that
Mr. McDougall had said in favor of
Gen. Stone would apply equally well to
Jeff. Davis.
The latter was in
Mexico, and had defended the
Government; but he was a traitor.
Lucifer was an angel in heaven once, but had fallen and has not been respected much since in that quarter.
[Applause.]
Mr. Wade continued at some length, urging a rigorous prosecution of the traitors, sacrificing the institution of slavery.
Let slavery die and the
Union live.
Mr. Wilson, of
Mass., offered a substitute for the resolution, calling on the
President for all information not incompatible with public interests relating to the arrest of
Gen. Stone.
Mr. McDougall desired it to go over until tomorrow, as he wished to reply.
House of Representatives.
prisoners of War.
Mr. Trowbridge, (Rep.,) of
Michigan, called one motion, heretofore made by him, to reconsider the vote by which, on the 24th of March, the
House adopted resolutions requires the
Secretary of War to inform them of the cause, if any, for the protracted delay in exchanging
Col. Corcoran, who has been a prisoner at the
South since July, and directing him to stop all exchanges until
Col. Corcoran shall be released.
Mr. Trowbridge wished distinctly to say that it was no part of his decide to place an impediment in the way of the release of
Col. Corcoran, but he protested, and asked the
House to join him in presenting the release of the other prisoners to be made subordinate to that of
Colonel Corcoran.
He had no doubt that every gentleman had some friend whom he desired should be released, though of lower rank than
Colonel Corcoran.
He (
Mr. Trowbridge) mentioned the name of
Col. Wilcox in the connection as an of signal bravery and gallantry.
Mr. Mallory, (
Ohio) of
Ky., said he met with
Col. Woodruff the other day, and heard him tell the
President and
Secretary of State that, though our prisoners at
Richmond are exceedingly anxious to be released, they are as willing, if the purpose of the
Government should require it, to remain there as prisoners, and to serve their country in that way, as any other.
Mr. Ancona (opp.) of
Pa., who offered the information said he was not aware, till now, that Col
Corcoran was still a prisoner, and its duty desire was to call attention to the worthy and gallant soldiers are still and to ascertain the cause of the de asking exchanges.
After further conversation the resolution was extended so as to request the
Secretary of War to inform the
House the cause, if any, has prevented the exchange of Co and
Wilcox, and the other pri of war held since July last.
The franking privilege.
The
House resumed the consideration of the reported from the select committee to the franking privilege, being a codi of the laws upon that subject, with an badmen's.
Mr. Coliax of
Indiana, said the Post-Office Committee, with the exception, were in favor of the abolishment of the franking privilege, and the
House had passed the Bill for that purpose now pending before the Senate.
He moved to lay the bill on the table.
Agreed to.
Nothing else of importance during the session.
