Washington sentinel., 1854-01-12

the Secretary of State. They had not before them
the correspondence which The resolution he had
offered proposed 10 give the House. They con-
sldered, however that the gentleman from New
York, (Mr. DEAN9 as he disclaimed all party pur-
poses-as the name of Mr.. Marcy was not mention
ed-as the Presidentswas not referred to-desired
his resolution 10 be what the gentleman from Ala
bama (Mr. PHILIPs) wished il TO be-a response 10
the great national heart, which, as he said had
been stirred TO its utmost depth
How, then, could they respond in the most pro-
per manner 10 such purpose They considered
that they could best do so by giving that resolu-
ton prompt and unanimous reply. They did
not wait 10 have diplomatic documents before
them. They did not wait for the call which he had
sent 10 the clerks desk but they came into the
House with resolution framed in such manner
as to secure the unanimous appreciation of a CON-
mittee composed ofboth wings and democrats If
the gentleman from Alabama would allow him. he
would suggest in all kindness that he might have
torborne the remark that the resolution was worth
less and stripped Of all its original force that
was perverted and unmeaning. He thought that
when the gentleman found the resolution coming
back from the same committee, reported by the
original mover, satisfied with its amendment, he
ought TO have forborne the charge that il was
weakened of all its force It should have been re-
deemed from the remarks of the gentleman when
il was reported 10 the House as the unanimous
action OF a committee composed OF members both
wings and democrats.
Mr.. P. further defended the action OF the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and said that, in fixing
the value OF a compliment, from the action of the
House, they must refer TO its usages. 1t so hap
pened that the presentation of sword was not
one OF the highest expressions Of appreciation
from the House 10 an officer of the navy. A
higher one than that was the presentation Of
silver medal, and higher one still was the pre-
sentation of gold medal, which has only been
given TO, naval officers engaged in a successful
combat, with the command Of vessel of war
Within the history of our country this has only
been voted on three memorable occasions-frst
in 1904, TO Captain Preble; second, in 1905, to
Captains Perry and Elliott and thirdly, in 1874 10
Captain McDonough. In every instance the
naval officers commanded squadrons, and were
successful in gallant engagements. He contended
that ifthe committee had simply in view the enun-
citation OF great principle of nationality, they
could not have adopted more suitable language
than that which they had employed
After speaking in approval Of the doctrines con-
tanned in the letter of the Secretary Of State he
said he did not admit that the letter itself embodies
any new principle. The Secretary himself pro-
tests against this idea He believed its merits were
in the forcible statement, on a highly proper oc-
cason, of a great principle of international law,
suffered too long TO lie dormant in our law books.
He agreed with the chairman of the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, Mr.. BAYLY,l that il is time this
doctrine was uttered distinctly. We have acqui-
esced long enough in the European Interpretation
of the laws of nations. Those laws, for the last
nifty years, have been framed too much to suit the
institutions Of particular dynasties. We have rea-
son 10 complain against perversion ofthose prin-
ciples.
Mr. DISNEY said that, the other day. when the
resolution was before the house, the gentleman
from Georgia Mr.. HILLYERl remarked that the
reasons for supporting the proposition ought to go
before the country with its passage. There was
wisdom in the remark. Had it not been for the
fact that during this discussion some opinions had
been expressed in which he could not concur he
should not have risen to participate in the debate
So far as the resolution was concerned after the
last defence Of the gentleman from Louisiana any
Of his, perhaps were entirely uncalled
for. He had placed the resolution on grounds
He (Mr. d. believed il was conceded on all
hands that vote of thanks to Captain Ingraham
was right and, as matter of policy, Justly due to
him; and the only difference of opinion existing in
any part Of the House was in regard 10 the rea- |
sons for its action. To, the extent the resolution
went, every member concurred in il. From an |
examination of the resolution he could see no
substantial difference in idea and principle be-
ween it and the amendment suggested by the |
gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. PHILIps) The |
resolution, as he heard II, covered all that was
asked for by the gentleman.
MT, Y then commented on points in the letter |
assent--on the subject of allegiance
Mr.. PRESTON replied to the gentleman who |
preceded him in the debate, and then said the |
kind of a Baltimore platform. |
which everybody might support without being |
committed to any particular view of the subject |
This was not the proper body TO announce the |
office the Secretary Of State, and the House
should confine itself to vote Of thanks to gal
ant officer for having extended to Koszta the pro-
lection Of our flag abroad.
Mr. PHILIPS, interrupting the gentleman, said |
hat the House was composed the representa-
ives OF the American people, and therefore this |
was fit place tor the assertion of the great prin-
;iples on which the affairs of our government are
Mr.. PRESTON said that, the gentleman might
spread the Marcy letter and the principles Of in
ernatonal law before the resolution as pream-
Die. Nobody doubted the power of the House TO
10 this and TO go into the dscussion but was il |
rot better that the House should acknowledge the
simple fact that Captain Ingraham did his duty,
ma thank MN Tor II, without pretending to go
nto the principles of information law, as discussed
~ Mr.. Marcy and Mr.. Hulsemann2 He said that,
previous to 1S4S an alien was not permitted 10 |
cave this country, after he had declared his inten-
Ion 10 become citizen, without losing his in
;hoate right and therefore he was obliged TO COM
nence da moro on his return; but in 1S4S that
'art of the law which required continuity OF
nent OF the United States then said 10 every alien
esidence was repealed. Congress and the govern
'ou may go wherever you choose, and shall have
he time run in your favor, and shall not be inter-
|
'eng the case, if the alien, under these crcum-
tances. left the United States, the government
vas bound to protect him abroad. III did NOT il
would be the deluder instead of the friend of the
lien. He dissented from that part of the letter
# the Secretary of State in which it is said. il
vas optional in the government to protect Koszta
tut if Koszta is an implied citizen Of the United
states il was the duty of the government, without
my option at all, to give him protection He
hought the country would stand up to the doc
rnes of the administration, so long as they shall
continue what they now are; and, as whig, he
vas glad the Secretary Of State had written the
etter.
The demand for the previous question was then
econded, and the question stated on referring
he resolution to the Committee Of the Whole on
he state of the Union.
Mr.. DEAN wished it to be understood, dis
lnctly and nnequivocaly that he preferred the
ESQ: ution now before the House to the one which
g offered on the second day of the session. He
vas IN favor of the resolution because il came
rom one OF the standing committees Of the House,
nd because il went forth 10 the world as having
cen deliberately adopted by the Committee ON
'oreign Affairs and maturely considered He did
ot care for the wording of the resolution. The
eOpe. in looking MT the vote of tha ond a., /