Mr. ALLEY. I have consulted several of the most eminent lawyers in the House and in the Senate, and with a single exception they all came to the conclusion t iat we had not the power to imprison beyond the present session of Congress. I am no lawyer myself, but I will remark that it has been decided by the Supreme Court, by all the commentators on the Constitution, Kent, Story, and others, that when Congress terminates by adjournment or periodical dissolution, any person imprisoned y its order must be liberated. Now, there is a difference ofopinion in regard to these terms used by the Supreme Court in this case. Story and Kent both held that adjournment and pe riodical dissolution, in the sense used by the court, are synonymous terms, and almost every one with whom I have consulted holds the same view, that they are synonymous; that when Congress ndjourns permanently, that is, adjourns sine die, it terminates and the person must be liberated. Now, in regard to the pe riod of dissolution, some hold that that term applies to the termination of Congress on the 4th of March. Others hold that it applies to the annual termination ofCongress by the adjournment sine die at the end of each session, such as will probably take place now in a few days. The committee, Iundei stood, with perhaps one exception, to take that view of the case. That, at any rate, is the view taken by almost all the lawers with whom I have consulted. Mr. JLTHOMAS. [desire to state merel, as a member of this committee, that while I 0 not desire to say anything against this resolution reported by the ma'orit of the committee I desire to place mysel right upon the record by stating that I am not in favor of the majority report. My ideas of the laws and of the powers of Congress differ somewhat from the ideas of the chairman [Mr. Anni xv] and I believe the majority of the committee. I am of opinion that this House has the power, and having the power it ought to exercise it to keep this man in confinement until the 4th of March, 1867. I believe the war of the House extends that far, but in tiigt opinion the majority of the committee did not agree with me. desire to make this statement merely to place myself right on the record.