cial courts of the United States; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

A message in writing was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Hay, his private secretary; which was handed in at the Speaker's table.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr.,

Resolved, That the bill of the House (H. R. 37) providing for the better organization of the military establishment be made a special order, and that all debate thereon in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union shall cease in ten minutes after its consideration is begun.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Burnett reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the bill of the House (H. R. 37) providing for the better organization of the military establishment, had come to no resolution. thereon.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr.,

Resolved, That the five minutes debate on the 11th section of the said bill (H. R. 37) shall cease in one minute after its consideration is resumed.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., the House again resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Burnett reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the bill of the House (H. R. 37) providing for the better organization of the military establishment, had directed him to report the same with sundry amendments.

Pending the question on the said amendments,

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said amendments were severally read and agreed to.

Under the further operation of the previous question, the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate

therein.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Vallandigham moved that the vote by which the resolution of the House (H. Res. 2) appointing a commission to select a site for the Naval Academy, and for other purposes, was laid on the table, be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., by unanimous consent, introduced a bill. (H. R. 62) concerning the closing of the office of surveyor general at

St. Louis, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Mr. Duell, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 63) for the relief of the legal representatives of Captain Charles Fierer, deceased; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following message, this day received from the President of the United States, viz:

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

As the United States have, in common with Great Britain and France, a deep interest in the preservation and development of the fisheries adjacent to the northeastern coast and islands of this continent, it seems proper that we should concert with the governments of those countries such measures as may be conducive to those important objects. With this view, I transmit to Congress a copy of a correspondence between the Secretary of State and the British minister here, in which the latter proposes, on behalf of his government, the appointment of a joint commission to inquire into the matter, in order that such ulterior measures may be adopted as may be advisable for the objects proposed. Such legislation is recommended as may be necessary to enable the Executive to provide for a commissioner on behalf of the United States.

WASHINGTON, July 19, 1861.

The same having been read,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce, and printed.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Wright, at 3 o'clock and 25 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

MONDAY, JULY 22, 1861.

The following petition and memorial were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the twenty-fourth rule of the House, to wit:

By Mr. May: The memorial and proofs of Arnold & Willett, of Baltimore, Maryland, for compensation for bread furnished United States troops; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Johnson: The petition of citizens of Wayne and Susquehanna counties, Pennsylvania, for a peaceful adjustment of our national troubles; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Forney, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills and a resolution of the following titles, viz:

S. 24. An act authorizing the Secretary of War to reimburse volunteers for expenses incurred in employing regimental and other bands; S. 37. An act to regulate the police force of the city of Washington; S. Res. 5. Joint resolution to pay to the widow of the late Stephen A. Douglas the amount due to him as a senator at the time of his death;

in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.

The Senate have also passed bills of this House of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 23. An act for the relief of certain musicians and soldiers stationed at Fort Sumter, in South Carolina;

H. R. 56. An act in relation to forwarding soldiers' letters;

H. R. 17. An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to remit fines and penalties incurred in certain cases, regulating the compensation of certain surveyors of the customs, and for other purposes; severally without amendment; and

H. R. 25. An act making additional appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1862, and appropriations of arrearages for the year ending 30th of June, 1861;

H. R. 26. An act making additional appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1862, and appropriations of arrearages for the year ending 30th of June, 1861; and

H. R. 57. An act for the relief of the Ohio and other volunteers; severally with amendments, in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House.

On motion of Mr. Cox, by unanimous consent, the resolution of the Senate (S. Res. 5) entitled "A joint resolution to pay to the widow of the late Stephen A. Douglas the amount due to him as a senator at the time of his death," was taken from the Speaker's table and read a first and second time.

Pending the question on its third reading,

Mr. Richardson submitted an amendment thereto; which was agreed to.

Ordered, That the resolution be read a third time.

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said amendment.

Mr. Cox moved that the vote by which the said resolution was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, the bills of the House numbered 25 and 26, with the amendments of the Senate thereto, were severally taken up and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Granger, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the following title, viz:

S. 1. An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property.

When

The Speaker signed the same.

Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 64) to refund duties on arms imported by States; which was read a first and second time.

Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein.

On motion of Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 3) entitled "An act providing for the better organization of the military establishment' was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 65) for the organization of a volunteer home guard, to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property in the several States, where such may be deemed necessary, and for arming the same; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

On motion of Mr. Pendleton, by unanimous consent, the bill of the House (H. R. 57) entitled "An act for the relief of the Ohio and other volunteers," with the amendments of the Senate thereto, was taken up, and the said amendments concurred in.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

On motion of Mr. Bingham, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 16) entitled "An act concerning the Attorney General and the attorneys and marshals of the several districts" was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the States and Territories for bills and joint resolutions, on leave, Mr. Johnson introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 3) extending the benefits of the act of Congress entitled "An act in addition to certain acts granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States," approved March 3, 1855, to the officers and soldiers engaged in quelling the present rebellion, and to their widows and minor children; which was read a first and second time.

Mr. Johnson moved that it be referred to a select committee; which motion was disagreed to.

Ordered, That the said joint resolution be referred to the Commit

tee on Public Lands.

Mr. Holman introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 4) relative to arms issued to volunteers; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Porter introduced a bill (H. R. 66) to amend the act entitled "An act to establish the judicial courts of the United States," ap

proved September 24, 1789, and touching certain official bonds; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The Speaker then proceeded to call the States and Territories for resolutions,

When

Mr. Noble submitted the following resolution; and debate arising thereon the same lies over, viz:

Resolved, That the contest now existing between the government of the United States and the disloyal organizations now existing in certain States which are now waging an unjustifiable war upon the constitutional authority of the government, should be treated and regarded by all loyal citizens not as a sectional war, nor an antislavery war, nor a war of conquest or subjugation, but simply as a war for the maintenance of the government, the suppression of rebellion, and the preservation of all the rights of all the States full and undiminished as they were purchased by the blood of the revolution of 1776, and secured by all the provisions and compromises of the federal Constitution, and for no other purpose whatever.

Mr. Crittenden submitted the following resolution, viz:

Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, That the present deplorable civil war has been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the southern States, now in arms against the constitutional government, and in arms around the capital; that in this national emergency, Congress, banishing all feelings of mere passion or resentment, will recollect only its duty to the whole country; that this war is not waged on their part in any spirit of oppression, or 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 that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease. Pending which,

Mr. Lovejoy moved that it be laid on the table; which motion was disagreed to.

The question then recurring on the demand for the previous question, it was seconded and the main question ordered to be put.

A division of the question being demanded by Mr. Burnett, The question was first put on agreeing to the first branch of the resolution, viz:

Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, That the present deplorable civil war has been forced upon the country by the disunionists of the southern States now in revolt against the constitutional government, and in arms around the capital.

And it was decided in the affirmative, {Yeas

Nays.

....

...

121

2

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present,