In the Senate, on the 17th of December, Mr. Sumner (Rep.) of Massachusetts introduced, and asked for its immediate consideration, a resolution, "That the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia be directed to consider the expediency of providing, by additional legislation, that our national armies shall not be employed in the surrender of fugitive slaves." Mr. M'Dougall (Dem.) of California objecting, the resolution went over under the rule; but it came up for consideration the next day, and Mr. Sumner stated that he had received communications in regard to the outrages perpetrated in the armies. He said, "With these communications which I have received, some of an official character and others of a private character, I have felt that I should not do my duty if I did not call the attention of the Senate to this outrage. It must be arrested. I am glad to know that my friend and colleague, the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, promises us at once a bill to meet this grievance. It ought to be introduced promptly, and to be passed Our troops ought to be saved from this shame." Mr. Cowan (Rep.) of Pennsylvania apprehended that "there need be no possible difficulty whatever upon this question in any of its aspects." He thought "we had nothing in the world to do with all these questions. We send a general," he said, "to suppress this insurrection. What is his duty? If he meets a negro upon his errand, and that negro is an enemy, he treats him as an enemy; if the negro is a friend, he treats him as a friend, and uses him as such. Nothing, to my mind, can be simpler. How is he to determine the title to that negro? Suppose, Mr. Presi

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States shall be prohibited from using any portion of the forces under their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, and provide for the punishment of such officers as may violate said article by dismissal from the service." Pending the question, the House, on the motion of Mr. Cox (Dem.) of Ohio, adjourned, yeas 58, nays 53.

Mr. Wilson (Rep.) of Massachusetts, on the 23d of December, introduced a bill in relation to the arrest of persons claimed to be held to service or labor by the officers of the military and naval service of the United States; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. It declared that officers in the military service of the United States have, without the authority of law, and against the plainest dictates of justice and humanity, caused persons claimed as fugitives from service or labor to be seized, held, and delivered up; and that such conduct has brought discredit upon our arms, and reproach upon our Government; and it therefore proceeded to enact, that any officer in the military or naval service of the United States, who shall cause any person, claimed to be held to service or labor by reason of African descent, to be seized, held, detained, or delivered up to or for any person claiming such service or labor, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be dishonorably discharged, and for ever ineligible to any appointment in the military or naval service of the United States.

On the 6th of January, 1862, Mr. Wilson reported back his bill from the Committee on Military Affairs, with an amendment. On the 7th of January, Mr. Wilson called it up; and the Senate, as in Committee