Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-02-06
TH1RTY-FOUKrn CONG0Es,-3rd Session,
WEDNESDAY, FEBRuAKY 4, 1857.
SEN III

Mr.. Alien presented the credentials OF James +,
Simmons, elected Senator from Rhode leland.
Mr.. Wheeler, from the committed on military at.
fairs, reported in favor of printing the documents
rocently communicated relative to Gen. Scots pay
4 debate ensued.
Mr.. Critteuden said that the time requ red to print
such q large document would defeat the object Of the
House bill relative TO the pav If Gen. Scott.
Nj. Weller responded, saying that upon an essmi.
| nation of the correspondence between the Secretary
| of War and Gen. Scott, the commiitee on military
affair. were sntis fled that justice 10 both parties re
nu,red the whole 10 be printed, and il the order is
mad. now it can be laid on the table as early as
next Monday, aud within ;wo or three days from that
time the committee will probably be able TO report
back the bill now before them. 1t was with regret
that he was Obliged 10 say that n portion Of the cor
! respouLenco was Of an angry character.
MIR. Bell of Tennessee, inquired WHISTLER the com.
tee could not decide which portions of The cores
pondence ought 10 be suppressed and which printed
He thought that the personal controversies of these
gentlemen were not nectSssry to be published, IN or,
der TO understand Tie arguments reiatlfe 10 Tue o''
before the Senate.
AIR. Weller replied that the committee could not
do that without suljecting themselves ~ the lmpu'
tstion of doing injustice to one or the other OF the
parties. As the case now stood, il the Senate want
to do justice 10 both paItlrs, the whole correspoh'
dence ought 10 be published.
Mr.. Penrce would be obliged to vote against the
motion TO print the correspondence. Il portion OF IL
was very acrimonious in lis nature, and could not De
fGsentlul 10 the merits VI Iuc VncclIOu' i pu'ho"
this crimipstioI aud recrimination would subserve
no purpose of public utility, but il would be ex.
tro,naly painfll 10 the friends of both parties, and
would farnisli rather Il bad example, Judging from
what he could hear. Unless the correspondence
could be expurgated, he would be obliged TO vote
against printing any portion oil H..
MIR. Fitzpatrick observed tnht IL could not be de-
MED tina. the correspondence was characterized by
bltlerneae, but the publication of alarge portion oil! ii
was necessary 10 tho proper understanding oil the
question now before the Senate IN re!erence To the
proposition to increase the pay OF General Scott
The committee, " it'll every desire 10 do what was
proper, are of the opinion that 10 omit the publication
Of any part Of the correspondence might subject
them 10 q suspicion OF al attempt at tavorillsm' Tie
thought the entire correspondence ought to be pub
llsbed, although he regretted to see some harsn lan-
guage in the correspondence.
MIR. Seward opposed priGtIng such portions aE were
Of a personal character, Is having an Injurious ten
dency. He could not consent to Iu0llsh anything
calculated 10 impair tine character OF these d!5tin.
guished and patriotic men.
III. Stuart said no officer OF the government has a
RICH, So lG apiso his public correspondence as to de.
prive the legislative dsiarln!e.: q The government
of its fullest use. tbs Seaats could not act unde--
standinsly uules, all these facts were spread before
them.
Dir. Weller remarked that when he introduced the
resolution calling for Ihis Information he had forgot.
ten the fact, il ne had sver Known il, that a portion
Of this correspondence was personai II: !ts character
Inc Ull OelOFb Suu8rete "A Dhhtu upui 'uc uOe
that the War Department had done injustice 10 Gen
Scott. IN order 10 examine that question, the publ
cation Of a very large portion OF thls correspondence
was absolutely necessary. II was necessary TO kno"
upon Whist grounds the War Department refused &c
carry uu: the alleged wishes Of Congress.
Dir. benjamin said the country required the inior-
NATION, and liz felt constrained ~ vote in accurdahoe
viii! the recommendation u The committees.
Mr.. Trcnlts remarked t.ia; tie Senate ought not 10
make itself tie conduit. to put private Guarrels before
,b. ruhI;. I at ,t..rn io thri fhrnupn rIe tngiuliu nj
the newspapers.
MIR. BIsier said that while he would v0te tor print
ing this correspondence, because the committee on
military affairs recommended il, he would not commit
himself Against the bill from The House, because his
present Cpiuiuus we're i. ;svOr Of that measure.
Thu motion 10 print wa then agreed 10.
Mr.. Wi!son briefly explained the bill offered ~
hiIc yesterday 10 ssrure To actual settlers TIE alter
nate sections ui puulIc lnnds reserved l." The grants TO
the Ststes for railroad purposes. lie ss!d t:.af at the
last session Congress granted 2l,OO0,UOD acres, and
within u few months the Reserved ssc!lOns, amount
ing to ncsrly eleven millions, Will CONS into market.
They will ct once be seized upon by land spccu!atort
10 TIE Gisparagenent Ut The people OF the new States
aud %ern,grants irOM tie Older States. His bill pro-
posed ~ WITHHOLD THESE alternate sec,.ui!s rom sele
aud ni!ow actual settlers alone To tgsc up los Of LOO
acres each, al 81 81 per acre. lfihe bill becomes a
law these !ands will be- prevented from passing into
the hand, VI non resilient spectators 10 the petina-
ueut injurv of the new States and the cctial cuiilvs-
tors of the soil. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Florence introduced g OIL! eq@ai!ZiDg The srIny,
navy aud marine Pensions.
Mr.. Bingham, from the committee on elections,
reported IL resolution, which Was adopted, tina, Mr..
Hall is legally elected from the first Congressional
District vf Iowa.
TIE resolution giving Mr.. Clarke his contested
mileage and per diem lies over.
The tiouss tncn DISCUSSED the Joint resolution pro-
posing TO give each DrG.ch Of Congress entire control
Of lis contingent furt, without the Supervision of the
treasury officers.
Mr.. Docock, while opposing the bill, said he saw
corruption like n gangren- stretching throughout the
country; he would not break down the barriers by
which the public treasure w. row guarded.
The bill was passed by q majority vi seventy seven
votes.
Mr.. Campbell, from the committed OF ways and
means, reported :avorabiy on the Senate bill! 10 aid
the submarine telegraph.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, moved that the bill be
laid upon the table, bu; the motion did not prevail:
Yea. IS, nays 1913. This was considered a test vote
and there is I'D doubt II the final passage OF the bill.
Mr.. Campbell said he would endeavor todispose OF
the subject tomorrow.
The tariff bill was then taken up In committee,
when Messrs Evans, Wright o! Tennessee, and A. K.
Marshall made political speeches.