armed insurrection which for the time being suspends the proper relations of certain States with the federal government, and to re-establish the supremacy of the Constitution; and the loyal citizens of those States, and the masses of the people thereof, submitting to the authority of the Constitution, ought not to be hindered from restoring the proper relations of their respective States with the federal government, so far as the same is dependent on the voluntary act of the people, by any condition except unconditional submission to the Constitution and laws of the United States. In the language heretofore solemnly adopted by Congress, the war ought not to be waged on our part for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights or established institutions of those States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the Union, with all the dignity, equality, and rights of the several States unimpaired; and as soon as those objects are accomplished the war ought to cease. Resolved, That all necessary and proper, appropriations of money ought to be promptly made by this Congress for the support of the military and naval forces of the government, and all measures of legislation necessary to increase and promote the efficiency of the army and navy and to maintain the public credit ought to be adopted; that, through a vigorous prosecution of the war, peace, on the basis of the union of the States and the supremacy of the Constitution, may be the most speedily obtained. The same having been read, Mr. Stevens moved that they be laid on the table. And the question being put, Yeas. It was decided in the affirmative, {Nays The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Mr. John B. Alley Isaac N. Arnold Ignatius Donnelly Mr. John F. Driggs Ebenezer Dumont Mr. John W. Longyear Mr. John H. Rice Edward H. Rollins Joseph K. Edgerton Mr. Charles A. Eldridge So the resolutions were laid on the table. Mr. Cravens submitted the following resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire. into the expediency of providing by law for the payment to loyal citizens for the horses and other property taken from them by the Union or rebel forces during the rebel raid of John H. Morgan into the State of Indiana and Ohio in July, 1863, and to report at an early day by bill or otherwise. Mr. Julian submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report a bill for the repeal of the third and fourth sections of the "act respecting fugitives from justice and persons escaping from the service of their masters," approved February 12, 1793, and the act to amend, and supplementary to, the aforesaid act, approved September 18, 1850. Mr. Holman moved that the resolution be laid on the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the affirmative, Yeas 81 73 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Holman moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne submitted a resolution, which he subsequently modified to read as follows, and which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the following named committees of this house that were authorized to appoint clerks during the last Congress, viz: Elections, Commerce, Post Office and Post Roads, Judiciary, Military Affairs, Naval Affairs, Territories, Foreign Affairs, Indian Affairs and Accounts, be authorized to employ clerks during this Congress at the usual compensation of four dollars per day while actually employed. Mr. Washburne moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. William J. Allen submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas the President of the United States, in his annual message of December 8, 1863, has recommended the establishment of a yard and depot for naval purposes upon one of the western rivers: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of locating such yard and depot for naval purposes at Cairo, Illinois, and to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Lovejoy submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of placing, in any bill or bills they may report on the subject, all regular enlisted soldiers on the same footing as to pay without distinction of color. The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. A. Carter Wilder The question then recurring on the demand for the previous question, it was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the resolution was agreed to. Mr. Farnsworth submitted a resolution, which he modified to read as follows, and which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this house the names, number, pay and allowances of major generals and brigadier generals of volunteers and of the regular army and their staffs, respectively, not on duty, and the length of time which has elapsed since each of them has been relieved from duty, and which of them, and how many, are not now on duty in consequence of wounds or disability incurred in the service. Mr. Arnold submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be directed to inquire into the practical working, advantages and disadvantages of the reciprocity treaty between the United States and Great Britain; and if experience has developed defects and inequalities in the operations and working of said treaty, the committee report whether it is not expedient for the mutual advantage of the parties to said treaty to alter and amend the same in such manner as to remove such objections and render the same reciprocally beneficial to both parties thereto. Mr. Mallory submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That when the House adjourns on Friday next, the 18th December, it adjourn to meet on Wednesday, the 6th January, 1864. Mr. Spalding moved, at 3 o'clock and 10 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. Mr. Mallory moved that the vote by which the said resolution was agreed to be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. Pending the question on the latter motion, Mr. Farnsworth moved, at 3 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Mallory; And being put, It was decided in the affirmative, (Yeas.... The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Henry W. Harrington Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said resolution. And then, On motion of Mr. Ancona, at 3 o'clock and 30 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1863. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Holman: The petition of D. H. Bingham-heretofore referred, January 12, 1863. By Mr. Van Valkenburgh: The petition of Lieutenant Colonel John L. Gardner, of the United States army-heretofore referred, December 18, 1861. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Windom: The memorial of the legislature of the State of Minnesota, asking an appropriation of land to supply a deficiency in the grant heretofore made to aid in the construction of the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Speaker: The memorial of Carl T. Kraby, United States consul at Porsgrund, in the kingdom of Sweden, asking an increase of his compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. By Mr. Speaker: The protest of the midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy against the promotion of volunteer officers to corresponding grades in the regular navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne: The petition of James Knox, contesting the seat of Francis P. Blair, jr., a representative of the first congressional district in the State of Missouri; which was referred to the Committee of Elections. Two messages in writing were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Nicolay, his private secretary; which were handed in at the Speaker's table. The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, Mr. Mallory, Mr. Littlejohn, and Mr. Cox, who, with himself, as directed by |