New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-07-29
Congressional,

!. as - Congressional.
9Hs9 WASHINGTON, Friday, July 21, 1852. s
SENATE.-Mr. Chase presented several petit
tions praying the abolition of slavery in the
District Of Columbia.
The Homestead bill was then taken up, read
third time and passed---yeas 36, nays IL, as
follows: - =
Yeas-Messrs Adams, Atchison Bright Brodhend.
Brown Butler Cass. Chase, Clay Dodge, of Wisconsin
Harnilin Houston Hunter. james, johnson, Jones Of
Iowa Mallory Mason. REsk, Sebastian Shields, slide
Stuart, sumner Thompson, of N. j., Toombs, Toucy,
Walker, and Wsller-35 205 95ti | s@is&
Nays-Messrs. Badger Bell Dawson. Pessenden, Fish,
Foot, Gillette JONES' Of Tennessee, Pearce. Pratt and
Rockweil-1L -fss =-s FEN -
The titles were amended so as to read, CA
bill to reduce and graduate the price Of Public
Lands to purchasers and actual settlers and to
grant pre- enption privilege in certain cases. and
for other purposes .-......-...,s'=I. T.
The Texas bill being up, Mr.. Cass moved to
strike out eight and half millions, and insert
six and half millions
Messrs. Chase, Walker and Douglas supported
the amendment, and Messrs Bright and Bayard
opposed it. 9
Eight and half millions is the amount
which the United States would have to pay at
the end Of fourteen years, principal and in
terest. Six and a half millions is what the
principal and interest now AMOUNT to with mar
ket premium added, The amendment was re-
jected. Il. 7i zs
The bill was then passed-yeas is, nays 25.
Mr.. Mason moved an executive session, which
was agreed to.
After the doors were opened, the following
bills were passed: Granting pension to David
Towle; for the relief of the widow and orphan
of Cornelius P. Van Ness; House bill increasing
the salaries of the executive and judicial Off
GERS of Territories; bill granting land to Iowa
for.railroad purposes; House bill to defray the
expenses of the Cayuse war in Oregon; Mr.. Pet
tits resolution to print 20 600 copies Of the Ne
braska and Kansas act in pamphlet form. IS
HousE.-The Senate bill. granting privileges
to the Alexandria and Washington Railroad
Company, was taken up and passed f.
Fifteen private bills were passed
Mr.. Bailey, rising to a question Of privilege,
offered the following resolution II
Resored, That the special committee of which Hon
John Letcher is chairman be instructed to communicate
to the House any communications made to the commit
Il. Bayly, member of the House., by B. E. Green or
Others with view that the House may take such action
as It may think proper the same committee having de-
cided it is not within their jurisdiction.
Mr.. Houston: Is that q question of privilege ,
Mr.. Bay1y: Certainly.
Mr.. Houston: made the remark in an un-
| dertone, but l will say a committee having
charge Of q subject referred to them by the
House ought not to be required to bring in an
unfinished report for adjudication and action.
Mr.. Bayly My personal character is in
volved. Ia ..5.,.,.sl -
Mr. Leteher: will explain the matter.
Mr.. Bayly: will make my own statement,
as my honor is concerned The Special Com
| mittee have declined to take Jurisdiction over
this personal imputation on me. | am one of
the oldest members of this House, and the
charge is made against me, who have enjoyed
the highest fayors Of this House during two sue
eessive Congresses. Formerly chairman of the
| Committee on Ways and Means, and now chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, |
have been advised to take no notice of the impu-
tation, on the ground that it obviously grows
cut of malice But don't choose to do that.
| I have seen the communication by order of the
| committee, and / desire this House and the
| country shall see the communication. / mean.
| if the House shall indulge me, to have com
| mittee appointed to investigate the matter, that
| the brand of infamy may be stamped on the
| brow of my aceuser. don't choose to wait
| Only five minutes ago / saw the imputation,
and it should be investigated by the House to
give me justice.
Mr.. Letcher: rise only to confirm the state
ment of my colleague. The committee have
| disposed of the matter so far as they are con.
cerned
Mr.. Campbell: don't wish to throw obsta
| cles in the way, but should like to know th,
reason why the Committee refused to act on tn,
matter. ====
| Mr. Houston: l suggest to the gentleman
that IT he commences drawing out information
from the Committee, there is no telling wheI
| this matter will have an end
Mr.. Campbell: only want to learn from the
Committee the reason for not yielding to the re
quest of the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr.. Letcher: Suppose chargeshad been mad
against the gentleman of five or six years stand
ing, would he consider that under the resolution
for the appointment Of the Select Committee,
we could go SO far back ]? We never would hay
an end of the investigation. 5,-4#f
Mr.. Campbell l understand then the Com
mittee did not think the resolution was snfi
GENTLY general in it's character to enable theI
1 to make the Investigation.
4 Mr.. Letcher9: Certainly ~ 81 v,
i Mr.. Campbell: I ask whether the Gommitte
are confining themselves simply to the investi
CATION of charges connected with the Colt patent
for understand from the resolution it was th
purpose of the House to give them power to g
back and examine all the charges and inuendoe
thrown out, affecting in q loose way the eharac
4 ter of mambers, charging them with bribery
and improper influences. tits high time to pu
a stop to this system. We are giving too muc
weight to outside rumors and newspaper trash
was not present when the Committee wa
raised, else | should have opposed it on tn
ground that those loose inuendoes have create
tendency than any thing else to bring odium o
Congress. But now the Committee are appointed
l hope they will go fully into the matter an
report, so we may know whether there is found
alton for those rumors. S
: Mr.. Edgerton want to offer an amendmer
to the resolution. l propose TO add after th
name Of Mr.. Bayly the words cor any oths
! member of this House, and after Mr.. Green
name, "or any other person" / think the il
tegrity Of a member is attacked by this Con
mittee of Investigation. %taf Z
Mr. Campbell My Judgment differs from th.
of my colleague. Inasmuch as an imputatie
has been cast on the character of the gentl
man from Virginia, think it is due him his r.
quest should be granted. But don't want I
assume any ground to suspect members unit
t facts shall warrant.
Mr.. Giddings: | believe the practice has bee
when member has felt himself assailed in h
official capacity to coneede him the right to d,
E mand an Investigation. Therefore, | hope N
colleague will withdraw his objection, and IL
: resolution will pass unanimously. / think Il
:. request should be granted, but we should not Al
on idle rumors g 't5= i.s 5z A
Mr.. Bayly If this were a mere newspap'
charge, got up by q letter writer, / should n
9 be tempted to say one word to the House, b,
! here is a communication sent to a committee
' this body signed by a name which is known
5 least in this House. The gentleman (Mr Cam
: belly may not know until remind him, the COZ