Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-30
THURSDAY, JAsrARY q, 1857.

SENATE.
The bill which has Tor its object to expedite tele
, graphic communication betN cen the United States
and Great Britain, wac discussed at great length, the
debate being participated i'll by many Senator'S. The
bill was opposed in whole or in part, by Messrs
Pugh, Hui.ter, Weller, Thompson OF Kentucky, But
Ter, Critterden, Gsyer ana f'earce. Dir. Pugh, In
earnest advocacy Of his amendment providing for The
| neutral, cation OF the pniuts within In. British do
| minions where the ternini of the sub marine w;rea
we're destined to be situated, RrGed thu. the present
wss a golden opportunity offered TO the United States
to secure the advantage Of such Al application of the
principle recognised by tho C~layion-Buiw-r treaty
as would be serviceGbls to American fisheries oil the
coast oil Newfoundland. Messrs. Hunter, Thompson
vi Kentucky, Butler, Crittenden, Gryer ard PeGrce
OPPOSED the scheme, mainly On ;he ground that ihs
execution might inore expedient!y ind properly be
lett 10 private enterprise, without any Insurance "f
aid on the part Of The Government cf the United
States. Mr.. Weller resisted its passage, because he
thought a teiegraph:c communication between our
own Atlantic aud Pacific COASTS deserved the prior
attention of the Government.
On the o,ler hand, the Till was warmly advocated
by Mtssrs. Benjamin, Rrek, Douglas, Seward, lou
cey, Bayard, and Mallory. In reply to the srgumen;
Of Mr.. Pugh, the hrst named Senator expressed his
great surprise that any one should ssPpose that
Great Britain would ebnegate her sovereignty over
her uuduubted possessions, either on this Continent
or at the Eastern terminus of the submarine tele
graph, simply for the sake of securing our partner
ship in An enterprise involving the expenditure OF a
few thousand dollars. Instead Of carping at the Bri.
! ISL UUySFO'DSnt, ne WIS lot CllIc " cAtOt lHc
magnauinity with which it had acted towards us in
this matter. Messrs. Rusk. Douglas, Seward, Tou-
cey, Bayard, and Mallory spoke in support Of the
bill, considering i, mainly rs u great peace measure,
destined 10 unite i'll still closer bonds the two freost
nations of the world, and OF which the constitution
allty was admitted on all hands.
At the close Of the debate, Mr.. Pugh withdrew the
amendment hs bad offered, ard after the adoption
by the Senate Of certain amendments proposed by
| Mr.. Bayard, Mr.. Toucey, aud Mr.. Douglas, tho bill
~aa ns.sed-yeasI 0. nRys is,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House was occupied during the sitting in the
consideration Of the case OF contempt. The pending
question was the motion TO Jay OH the table the mo
ton 10 reconsider the resolution by which j. w. 81
monitor YVES ordered TO remain in tho custody Of The
Sergeant at. Arms. The motion To lay on the table
WA decided in the affirmative, and the refractory
witness WIS held in custody. The House then pro-
ce.ded TO consider the bill more encctually to enforce
the attendance of witnesses ON the summons OF either
House of Congress. and 10 compel them to discover
testimony.
Mr.. Davis of Maryland, Ly direction Of the select
committee, reported a substitute for tie bill, varying
but little troin the original, and explained in a very
lucid manner the provisions OF The bill. nHd the ne:
crssi,y Tor lis enactment. to enable The Legislature oil
the nation II preserve its purity, and thereby to main
tain the integrity and existence of tie Republic. lie
replied 10 the objections raised in regard to tie pro-
lection afforded by the Constitution of the Crited
States to individuals in judicial proceedings, aud ar.
guel 20 prove that the bill itself only carried into If
feet the great principles Of the common law.
Mr.. Marshall, Of Kentucky, supported with much
earnestues. his motion to rc,er The subject to the Com.
mi,:ee On the Judiciary, which motion was aiso sup
ported by N.. Was!.trrn, Of Maine. and Mr. Grow,
Of Pennsylvania. Mr. Orr repl ed. as Chairman OF The
select committee i'll q brief speech Of great force, de-
Tending Tbs mea.ure proposed "a one essential TO the
objects OF the irst s;igstion ordered by the House,
and TO enable il to purge itself Of members whose
course was likely to bring discredit on The whole
body. THO Question then being taken on committing
thA I'll I'm fha Cnnnle;sa m fha IEnlt.lRIS. N MAS
decided in the negative by Il vote Of Il TO l3e; and
rhen the bill, as ant nded by the substitute aud a now
section by Mr.. Le.ci er, was passed BY The decisive
vote of lS3 to - Nat. Int.