Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-04
Congress.


object OF which is to perfect the home valua
alton principle.
Messrs. Thompson and Toombs spoke in op
position to the Submarine Telegraph bill, ant
then the Senate went into Executive session
HouSe.-The House passed the bill to supply
deficiencies in the appropriations, including
S25O,oOO for printing, and nearly $lS3,00o fol
supplying books to new members. The latter
item was carried by three majority, although OF
Saturday there were only q votes recorded il
its favor.
TUEsDAY.-,Ssnate-M Brown reported &
bill to apportion the Clerks in the several depart
ments of the Government among the States and
Territories according to representation.
Mr.. Hale moved the reconsideration of the vote
by which the Senate passed the bill authorizing
the people of Minnesota to form Constitution
and State government. Mr.. Thompson, of KY,
was opposed to the bill as il would bring into
the Senate two new members. NJ. Douglas
thought Minnesota had a right to come into the
Union, and unnatnralized foreigners ought to
vote in the Territory. Mr.. Adams, of Miss,
spoke in opposition to the latter proposition
After further debate the vote by which the bill
was passed was reconsdered.
House-The House passed the Executive.
Legislative and Judicial bill concurring by two
majority in the action of the Committee of the
whole on the State of the Union, in striking out
the appropriation OF $4,000 for the expenses Of
the Kansas Legislature.
! Mr.. Colfax, from the Committee on resolu-
tions reported on the petition of 2,200 citizens
of California, asking the expulsion of p T. Her
bert, that as the Committee had no power to
proceed with an investigation of the charges,
except by the House giving authority to send
for persons and papers, the Committee uani-
mously submit the qustioT to the House for
such action as it may deem just to all parties
concerned. After some remarks by MIR. Herbert
Mr. Walker and Mr.. Colfax, on motion of Mr.
Boyce, of South Carolina, the report was laid
on the table.
WEDNESDAY Toombs resumed
his remarks in opposition to the submarine Tel
egraph bill, calling 1t violation OF the Consti-
tuition and scheme which would subserye no
interests except those of spectators and job
bers Messrs. Foot, Benjamin and Bayard adj
vocated, and Messrs. Jones, of Tennessee, and
Butler opposed the bill.
Without disposing of the subject, the Senate
resumed the consideration OF the bill authorizing
the people of Minnesota to form constitution and
State government preliminary to admission into
the Union. The vote by which an amendment
was inserted, limiting suffrage to citizens OF the
United States. was reconsdered, the amendment
stricken out. and the bill passed precisely as it
came from the House.
The Telegraph bill was then resumed, and
the Senate concurred in the amendments OF the
House tc the same.
House.-Mr. Davis, OF Maryland, called up
the resolution of the select committee tor the
expulsion of William A. Gilbert, of New York.
Mr.. Bennett, OF New York, said that certain
parts of the testimony of the witnesses Sweeney
and Sinclair are not published with the evidence
such omissions having been made by the dsere-
ton of the committee The suppressed testi-
monv is deemed material to Mr.. Gilbert's de-
fierce.
After some debate Mr. Bennett caused to be
read paper from Mr.. Gilbert who denies the
truth of the charges preferred against him and
demands trial He asks that certain testimo-
nv, exparte of Aessrs. Sweeney and Simonton
be produced and printed, deeming it to contain
matter material to his defence.
Mr.. Orr said he had sent to the printing Of
flee for the original document This he su5se-
quently compared in some parts with the print
ed volume, by which appeared omissions, were a
mong Others made 10 the following effect: When
Mr.. Sweeney was closely examined as to Mr..
Gilbert, he said-"I do not wish to launch out
in sea of this kind as shall be liable to break
down the testimony have already given" In
another part Sweeney says-"lt seems to me
YOU have already enough evidence to convict him
(Gilbert.)" And again the witness said to the
Committee--"Y You should not lead me so far off
as to make what have said improbable"
The House refused to recommit the report to
the select committee with instructions to print
the testimony omitted.
THURSDAY Senate.-Mr Toombs made re-
port on the election case of Mr.. Fitch, of India
ma. in favor of permitting the parties to take
testimony.
The Senate, after brief debate, passed. by a
vote of yeas &c, nays 10, the bill to facilitate tel
egraph communication between the Atlantic
and the Pacific.
The House bill, for the reduction of duties on
imports and for other purposes, was taken up,
when Mr.. Hunter argued in favor of the neces
sity of q bill having in view this object, and sta
ted that no more favorable time than now could
they take for relieving the treasury from its cx-
cess OF revenue.
House.-The House passed the Miscellaneous,
the Army the Navy, the Fertilization, and the
Ocean Mail steamer appropriation bills
Enthusiastically Senate remained in
session till one o'clock this morning, the Tariff
bill passed by the House being under considera-
ton. On motion of Mr.. Collamer, an amend
ment putting raw and manufactured wool on the
same footing was adopted Mr.. Hunters a.
mendments reducing the act Of 1916 twenty
per cent. were adopted. The House bill thus
amended was passed.
AT the regular session to-day twenty-five pr-
vate bills were passed. After long debate on
! the Post Office bill it was passed with amend.
ments authorizing an overland mail from the
Mississippi to San Francisco.
! House-The House resumed the reconsidera-
ton OF the resolution for the expulsion of Mr..
! Gilbert Mr.. Purviance offered a substitute
that the House will forthwith proceed with the
trial, and directing that the Sergeant Arms
summon MeSsrs. Tripett and Sweeney to appear
before the bar OF the House for examination, and
that Mr.. Gilbert be heard in person or by coun-
sci. The resolution was rejeeted-ycas 50, nays
| 100.
| Mr. Gilbert then rose to speak, and the men,
bers gathered in front of him. He denied the
truth of the charges, and denounced he attempt
of the House to fix q stigma on his character as
unprecedented He charged the House with
gross Injustice towards him, and concluded by
stating that he had resigned his seat, after
which announcement he Immediately left
| The House was taken by surprise. The resolu-
ton in his case was tabled-yeas 1876, nays Is.
| A letter was submitted from Mr.. Matteson,
setting forth that as no trial was allowed Mr..
Gilbert he had 10 right to expect larger meas
ure of justice, and he resigned his seat.
The question was taken on the first resolution
condemning Mr.. Matteson for melting parties
deeply interested to use corrupt means for pro.
curing the passage Of the Des Moines Railroad
Bill, ect, and it was adopted-yeas 145, nays
Is.
The other resolutions were then read That
O. B. Matteson, by declaring that members bad
associated and pledged themselves not to vote
for any law or resolution unless they were paid
for it, etc. had wiltully DETAINED the members
of the House, and had proved himself unworthy
to be a member thereof, and that the said Mat
tesnn he forth with eXnelled.