The Washington union., 1858-03-03

a. ali times % alter reform government
spnbian aud in aoordanco with the constitution q the
States.
After long executive session,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The SPEAKER stated the business first in order be
sustaining the demand for the Previous question the
bill introduced by Mr.. MASON, of Kentucky, from the
Committee Aeconnts fixing the number and compen
the House of Representatives
Mr.. j. CLANCY JONES, OF Pennsylvania, hoped
general consent would be given TO postpone the further
consideration of the bill until Monday next After the
committees should be called for reports he would
to 20 into the Committee Of the Whole the Of
the Union.
Mr. MASON said he had no disposition to do anything
that did accord with the wishes of the House Rep
resenting what he conceived the views of the committee
he wished the bill acted upon in order that they might
have the views and determination Of the House In regard
to the subject to guide them In their future action
After further discussion tho question taken, the
previous question sustained, and the main question
dered
Mr. MASON closed the debate, replying to the argu-
ments which had been made yesterday in opposition to
the bill and answering such questions put to
him by different members.
The question then taken the motion that
the bill be referred to the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union and it agreed to-yeas
l00 nays S. ta
DROPPED AND RETIRED NAVAL OFflcEks
Mr. SEWARD, of Georgia, called up the motion to re-
consider the vote by which the House committed to the
Committee of the Whole Senate resolution to extend and
define the authority Of the President under act ap
proved january l6, 1857 entitled ssAn act to amend
act entitled AN act to promote the efficiency Of the navy
in respect to dropped and retired naval officers
Mr. SEWARD said 1t his desire that the vote
should be reconsidered and the resolution printed and
made the special order for day to be fixed.
Mr. SMITH, OF Virginia, submitted substitute, which
ho u, hovo r3rtn1 tha mir
Mr. SHERMAN, of Ohio moved that the motion to
reconsider be laid the table which motion not
agreed to-ayes IS, noes 81.
Mr. DAVIS, of Maryland reviewed the passage of the
bill for the appointment of the naval board OF inquiry
saying they called to advise the President and
give him such knowledge he could not have in order
that he might from the active list those officers
whom they found incompetent to discharge their high du
ties the country That the purpose for which the
board assembled and, In his Judgment it had been eff
GENTLY accomplished and accomplished in the judgment
of the administration for the President had confirmed its
action by removing from the active list all whose removal
recommended. He thought the administration would
have grave charge to for if they committed the
safety Of the country the protection Of commerce. to any
condemned by the action of that board Now they
asked to restore to the active list whom that
board and the President had said unfit for active
viceno for their personal characters not because they
dshonorabe- but for assignabe reasons--some
for age, Others for inrmity Others again. from neglect Of
official tinng and all left to the charitable inference of
the country The result had been that the last board had
renstated oneouth of those who had been removed
from the active list If they should investigate the
Der of judgments reversed by the court Of appeals they
would find that this process of the courts of inquiry had
not changed the finding of the original board in any
thing like the proportion of cases
Mr MILES advocated the passage Of the resolution,
contending that the findings Of the naval courts of in
aniry were at best but the conclusions of fable men,
and those who the victims of their stern decrees
ought to have the benefit Of executive clemency de-
MED TO the meanest criminals. The resolution simply
proposed to enable the President to do act of Justice
it might be- in some individual cases. an act of mercy
Were they that their navy in rotten state
that operation terrible must be performed? AS
American citizen he felt pride in the navy for they had
been found equal to every emergency.
Mr.. CHAPMAN, of Pennsylvania, condemned the
pursued by the original board account of their
secrecy and the interest OF those who composed
their decisions It unfortunate, in His opin-
on that the act of 1850 did not confer the authority
upon the President asked by the resolution The
President just competent to decide adverse
port to render such decision upon a-
vorabe report The object Of the resolution to put
these the footing with their fellow citizens
If the President had power to take any from the
civil list and place him in the front rank of service then
why not give him the power to place these there
toof They had not only been dsgraced and lost their
swords but their rights citizens gone Some of
them had joined the service when boys and made the
profession the business of their lives Now they were
struck down in the middle of life, and turned out to seek
civil employment. They were under moral obligations
themselves from injustice and sustain every in the
navy in his place. unless sufficient could be assigned
why he should be removed,
Mr.. SHERMAN, Of Ohio, said there was no reason why
the resolution should pass The officers affected by the
action Of these naval boards had two opportunities for
trial. and had failed to make of them About eighty
three of them had plead guilty and out Of hun
ded before the last courts the decisions of the
original board sustained in most of them If the
resolution should pass they would impose duty upon
the President too arduos in consequence of the rigid
examination he would be compelled to make and which
could not otherwise be efficiently performed.
Mr.. MIIISON of Virginia. said the defence of that
board was indeed labor and task It's proceedings
had been condemned by the public press by the general
sentiment of the people, by resolutions Of the different
State legislatures by the solemn judgment of Congress-
and by the deliberate though unconscious testimony of
the recent boards of inquiry themselves Instead of
having two trials, these officers had Without
calling Witnesses without giving notice without defining
the charge and without opportunity of defence did they
call that trial The resolution did not ask anything
unusual but only that the uniform practice of the House
should be observed
And then, ON motion of Mr.. SEWARD, of Georgia, at
fifteen minutes Of o'clock p. M the House adjourned
Kosoturtoxs.
BY Mr.. JONES' Pennsylvania Of
Montoy county Pennsylvania nsking for change tho tariff
GEORGE TAYLOR, OF Now Rcitx,
Frederick Weche and 200 others the freedom Of the pnbc
lands referred to the Committee on Territories.
Mr. SCOTT of California Concurrent the lcgsa
turr establishing certain
said State referred the Committee the Post Once and
Post Roads,