Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-29
CONGRESS.

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CONGRESS.
MONDAY, May 20th-Senae. -NIr. Yulee offered res
ouon calling the President for copies Of all coespon-
dence, &c. respecting Cuba, and nqulrng upon what
hory the President of the United States has ordered
squadron 10 Cuba. Laid over.
The Senate took up the Compromise Bill, the question
being the amendment offered by Mr.. Davis, Of Miss
Mr. Clemens spoke at length in reply to Mr.. Fooe. Mr..
Fooe followed in defence of the great and patriotic work Of
compromise, and declaring that the Southern people in
favor Of compromise.
House Of Representatives.. report of the Select
Committee, eXhonoraiDg Mr. Horner keeper of the
House, from all the charges made against him by Mr..
Brown Of Miss, up, and after some discussion was
postponed till the 9th.
The House took up the report of the Committee on tie
Gaphn claim. Mr. Toombs replied to the speech of Mr..
Brooks and sustained Secretary Crawford throughout Mr..
Brooks rejOined.
The Conference committee appointed by the two Houses
to settle the disagreement the Census Bill reported land
the Bill passed.
TUESDAY, 2lst.-Senqte-Th resolution of Mr.. Yulee
taken up and discussed by Messrs. Yulee and Web
sier and then laid on the table,
Mr.. Yulee addressed the Senate the amendment Of
Mr. Davis TO The Compromise bill. Mr. Clay spoke in
reference 10 the fugitive Kentucky the State
chiefly interested and she would be satisfied with it, He
did not believe there present danger, but if agitation
continued, would lead to dissolution The body polite
wonld not be competent two years longer TO bear the
tnued agitation.
House of Representatives Committee of the Whole,
Mr. Raymond Of Va, and Mr. King, of Mass, advocated
the admission Of California. Mr.. Gerry Of Me-, spoke on
| the opposite side.
WEDNEsDAY-S enatc-The compromise scheme was
discussed by Nessrs Soue and Downs, of Louisiana. Mr.
! Pratt muyed amendment, which he said would meet
with the appropriations OF all the 10Th secon 50 as to pro-
vide that the territorial legislature should neither introduce
nor exclude African slavery provided that nothing shall
prevent them from protecting The rights Of property Of any
denomination which may at any time be legally authorized.
Mr. Jefferson Davis expressed his in the amend
meni and withdrew his own
House Of RepreSenLatiueS-Ai the transaction OF va
eiy OF business, the House went into Committee Of the
Whole the report Of the Committee Elections, against
the admission of Hugh n. Smith as delegate from New
Mexico. MIR. Strong made speech in support OF the
port and the subject was postponed until the first Tuesday
in July.
TuUasDAy-In The Senate the Compromise Bill was fur
Their discussed by Messrs. Soule and Clay Mr. Soue OPP
posed the Bill, but declared what might he OPP
posed 10 dsunion. The subject postponed till Monday.
In The House. the bill increasing the rank and file of the
army discussed.
FRIDAY.-The bill 10 establish Branch Mint al y. Y.
discussed length in the Senate The bill to increase
the rank and file of the army passed the House with the
amendment that all the troops called into service the
frontier shall be mounted men, Both houses adjourned 10
Monday.
! The GALpHN CAse.-'The several reports made by the
committee the Gaphin show that there gen.
era agreement among the members Of the committee. The
question itself however is very simple The act OF
Congress in S4S directed the payment Of the amount Just
y due to the heirs Of George Gapa, and the Secretary
of the Treasury authorized to ascertain the and
to pay it, Whether the claim originally good or bad
is nothing 10 the purpose did any inquiry into that
question belong to the duties of the Committee Congress
had recognized the claim and had ordered its payment.
The payment Of the prDcpa OF this claim made by
Mr. Walker Secretary Of the Treasury under The late Ad
mnistraon The payment Of the interest retus,
ed by him did he make any decision adverse tbu
deferred the matter for further consideration. The period
Of Mr. Folks Administration being near lis terminus Mr.
Walker left this business with great deal MORE be
settled by the Administration which soon to come in.
| The only question which remained 10 be determined in
this matter the question Of interest. The claim
founded upon principles of equity and justice which Con-
gress had recognized, and it guaranteed by treaty
stipulation
The Attorney General of the United States whose duty
is to give legal opinions upon points submitted to him by
the President or the Departments gave opinion upoE
this he has done probably upoE hundreds Of other
since he into the service o the government
The justice OF the claim for interest in the Galphn
was admitted by him and the amount due was paid. Ii
was legal question which the Attorney General had 10 de-
eide, knowing nothing of the parties interested in the claim.
Upon the correctness of that opinion the matter may be
tested at any time by the Judgment Of the mos; intelligent
lawyers in The country.
This is the and substance Of the whole affair." The
fact that Mr. Crawford, Secretary Of War, had formerly
been agent in the prosecution Of the claim and that he
Still retained interest in i-a fact unknown TO the Sec
Teay OF The Treasury and 10 the Attorney Genera-has
nothing 10 do with the merits Of the case although has
been made the occasion for much Misrepresentation and cal
umny The whole subject has been referred by the
House Of Representatives 10 the fourth Tuesday in June,
and it might with popreiy have been set apart for consd
Grafton the sixth Tuesday OF June for it is hardly prob
able that the public will be troubled much about it,
The subject has served its time theme Of vtuperaton
against the Administration and i. is pretty well ex-
hausled.- Baltimore american.
.USIrED STATES SUPREME CouRr.-One experiences
sense Of relief in passing from the dsputatous halls of
Congress to the Supreme Court room where justice pre-
sides with serene dignity Amid all the uproar of political
conflicts while caumy and nvecye dog the steps OF The