country to enable him to discharge his sworn duty in

this respect,

-for he swears, as I understand, when he enters upon the duties of his office, to see that the laws are faithfully executed, —I desire to know if this bill will not interfere with that in this particular, and what effect this bill would have upon any military authorities of the country who should obey the call."-"I suppose," said Mr. Wilson in reply, "the senator from Virginia clearly understands this matter. The case he supposes, if I understand it, would be a case where the authorities would call out the military for the purpose of enforcing the decision of the judicial tribunals, - a mere civil process. The return of fugitive slaves is a civil question, a judicial one, not a military one."" Then," said Mr. Carlile, "I am to understand that this will not interfere with that?" Mr. McDougall said, "It is, I understand, a mere measure to prevent the interference of the army in these matters. As such, I am prepared to vote for it; but, in voting for it, I wish to say here, that I understand it to be simply a provision to prevent the interference of army officers in this matter; not impairing the obligation on the part of an army officer, as well as a private citizen, to surrender a fugitive from service or labor, under the Constitution and laws of the United States." The amendment was then rejected. Mr. Saulsbury said, "I move to amend the bill by inserting after the word 'due,' in the eleventh line of the first section, the words, or for the purpose of enticing or decoying such persons, held to service or labor, from the service of their loyal masters.' I ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment." Mr. Anthony inquired "if officers of the army, and all other

YEAS.-Messrs. Anthony, Browning, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harlan, Harris, Howard, Howe, King, Lane of Indiana, Lane of Kansas, M'Dougall, Morrill, Pomeroy, Sherman, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilson of Massachusetts, and Wright, -29.

NAYS.-Messrs. Bayard, Carlile, Davis, Henderson, Latham, Powell, Rice, Saulsbury, and Wilson of Missouri, -9.

So the bill passed, and was approved by the President on the 13th of March, 1862.

The 14th of April, on motion of Mr. Wilson of Massachusetts, the Senate proceeded to consider the following resolution, submitted by him on the 3d of April: "Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia be directed to consider and report whether any further legislation is necessary to prevent persons employed in the military service of the United States from aiding in the return or control over persons claimed as fugitive slaves, and to punish them therefor."—"I propose," said Mr. Grimes (Rep.) of Iowa, "to amend the resolution by adding to it, and to report what re-organization of the army, in its personnel or otherwise, may be necessary to promote the public welfare, and bring the Rebellion to a speedy and triumphant end."""One would think," said Mr. Grimes, "that all men would agree in pronouncing that a cruel and despotic order which repeals the divine precept, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me,' and arbitrarily forbids the soldier to bestow a crust of bread or a cup of water upon a wretched, famishing fugitive escaping from our own as well as from his enemy. Yet, Mr. President, I grieve to say that there are those, high in rank in the service of the United States, who have sought to break down the spirit of manhood, which

is the crowning glory of true soldiers, by requiring them to do acts, outside of their profession, which they abhor, and to smother all impulses to those deeds of charity which they have been taught to believe are the characteristics of Christian gentlemen. .. . It was known to the country, at an early day after the commencement of the war, that some military commanders were abusing the great power intrusted to them, and were employing the army to assist in the capture and rendition of fugitive slaves, not in aid of any judicial process, but in obedience to their own unbridled will. The effect of this assumption of unauthorized power was to incite the soldiery to disobedience, and to arouse the people to the necessity of proper legislative restraints. It was in compliance with the popular sentiment on this subject that Congress enacted the additional article of war, which was approved on the 13th of March last. In the month of February last, an officer of the third regiment of Iowa infantry, stationed at a small town in Missouri, succeeded in capturing several rebel bridgeburners, and some recruiting officers belonging to Price's army. The information that led to their capture was furnished by two or three remarkably shrewd and intelligent slaves, claimed by a lieutenant-colonel in the rebel army. Shortly afterwards, the master despatched an agent, with instructions to seize the slaves, and convey them within the rebel lines: whereupon the Iowa officer himself seized them, and reported the circumstances to headquarters. The slaves soon understanding the full import of Gen. Halleck's celebrated order No. 3, two of them attempted an escape. This was regarded as an unpardonable sin. The Iowa officer