The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-27
CON G R ESSIONAL.
THIRTY-FIFTE C0NGREss--First Session
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1858.

munlcatlOn from the Secretary OF War, made in
compliance with resolution calling for copies
OF certain maps to accompany the report of
Lieut.. Col. j. d. Graham which was read and
on motion of Mr. Stuart referred to the Commit
tee on Printing
MEMORIALS, &c.
-" following memorials, &c., were presented and
aPBBToPMT1"'H}y Br Mr. L., referred
"lghl, OF theofdh"nce corps, asking the reimburse
ment of certain public nancy which was stolen from
him IN Boston while commandant of the arsenal.
and 1or which he had accounted to the Govern
ment.
BY Mr.. Thomson, of New jersey: From citizens
OF Woodbury., New Jersey, asking the adoption of
some measure by which the Southern States shall
receive fair compensation out of the public treasu
ry or public domain for their slaves when thev shall
think proper to emancipate them.
By Mr. Green From j. and II. R. Porter ask
ing remuneration for losses sustained while trans
porting merchandise to Great Salt Lake city, in
consequence Of the orders given by the commander
of the United States troops in the Territory of
Utah.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Brown from the Committee on the District
OF Columbia, to which was referred the memorial of
the Corporation of Georgetown in relation to the
expenses Of county roads in Washington county.
submitted report, accompanied by bill to relieve
the Corporation of Georgetown from the expense of
making and repairing roads west of Rock Creek.
Also from the same committee. to which was re-
terred the bill to incorporate the Washington Ma
tlonal Monument Society, reported back the same
without amendment and recommended its pas
sage.
Mr.. Hamln, from the Committee on Commerce,
submitted report, accompanied by a bill for the
relle OF the owner of the barque Attica, Of Port
land, Maine.
Mr.. Stuart, from the Committee on Public Lands
asked to be discharged from the further consdera-
ton Of the papers relating to the claim of B. E. Ed
wards, and that they be referred to the Committee
on Private Land Claims which was agreed to-
Also from the same committee, to which was re-
fpPrpI "a tn no1 tba
of the act entitled An act for the relief of citizens
of towns upon lands of the United States under GER
tain circumstances" approved 23d March, 1874, re-
ported back the same with recommendation that
it do not pass.
Mr.. Polk, from the Committee on Claims, to
which was referred the memorial of Anthony S.
Robinson, submitted report to accompany a bill
previously reported.
RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. Mason submitted the following resolutions
for consideration:
Reso'Ued, That the Secretary of the Navy be di-
rected to furnish to the Senate in tabular form a
statement showing the names and appropriate de-
scrlptlOn of all vessels of the navy of the United
States which have been captured, lost, destroy
ed since Its organization restoration in l79S who
commanded them for what cause they were so cap
tured lost. or destroyed, when and where it oc-
CURED; whether the causes which produced these
| results were ascertained by Investigations by
courts martial, courts of inquiry or otherwise,
the findings OF such courts-martial and the Opin-
]
each case, how far these findings and opinions were
! carried into effect by them whom devolved the
duty of executing them. And, further to state the
names, character, and force Of all prizes of enemys
vessels of war captured by the United States navy
! which were taken by said enemy in neutral ports,
/ by which the captors were deprived of right to
property therein, which right was conferred upon
/ them by the law regulating the apportionment and
distribution OF prlZe-money, arising from captures
made by equal or inferior forces whether prizes
50 retaken have ben reclaimed from the enemy or
/ from any neutral Power which has thus in violation
of international law permitted prizes situated to
| be carried from its port or ports by an enemy
And, further, how or whether the said captors
have been compensated or sustained in their right
to property thus acquired; and. so far as the rec
ords of this Department may not supply the infor-
nation, that he cause the same to be compiled from
other sources If such there be( worthy in his iudg
ment OF reliance. designating in such the one
from the other.
Reeoired, That the Secretary of the Navy be di-
rected to furnish to the Senate statement giving
the Names character and force of any and all ships
Ot-war or other armed vessels captured by navy
and subsequently, taken into the service the United
States failing condemnation by our courts or
without just and regular valuation of them hay
ing been made: and whether in such cases if any
fair and equitable remuneration has ever been
made to the captors for the transfer of their prizes
/ to the Governments; and further. whether any mer-
chant vessel has been Justly captured by the United
States navy which has not been sent home for judi
cial examination condemnation, but which has
from motives dictated by State policy been taken
from the captors and restored to previous owners;
whether any, and if any fair and equitable, remu
neration has been made TO the captors for restora
tiOns thus made.
Resolved, That the Secretary of State be directed
to furnish to the Senate copies of anv and all cor
respondence which may have occurred with anv for
egn Governmentrelative to prize vessels belonging
to the navy Of the United States which had beer
/ taken from their ports by the enemy, for recama
ton Of them their value: and also copies of any
pfa md tbo n
such vessels as have been taken from them in neu
tral ports.
Mr. Mason avowed the object of the resolution.
to be to obtain from the Department a correct his
tory of all the leading events connected with the
navy, and observed that they had been introduced
after consultation with one of the oldest and mos
accomplished officers of the navy.
The resolutions were agreed to.
Mr.. Polk introduced a bill in relation to conflict
ing land claims; which read and referred tc
the Committee on Private Land Claims.
Mr.. lyerson moved to take up private BILL OF
its third reading for the relief of Mrs. Barnard.
Mr.. Johnson, of Arkansas, supposed if there wa
time to take up private bill, it would be more con
venent and proper to proceed to the consideration
of the army bill: and expressed the hope that the
Senate would take up that bill and continue it unit
disposed of.
MINNESOTA SENATORS.
Mr.. Crittenden said before the question take1
he desired to proceed to question of privilege
He had received letter from his friend, Gen
!
and he felt it his duty to press that claim and atte
the letter was read he should move that the oath o
office be administered to Gen. Shields, and that HI
be permitted to take his seat.
THE Reporter gives mere synopsis of the letter
The purport of it was that the enabling act of tn
last session authorized the inhabitants OF Minnesota
to form a constitution and State government, ant
to come into the Union; that this authority was alb
solute; that under it the people formed constitu
tion and State government, and have come into tn
Union in the manner specified in the act. That, il
addition to this, the act authorized them to deter
mine for themselves whether they would be Stat
at that time, viz on the second Monday in July
1857; and. if they should so determine, that tn
constitution should be submitted to the people 70
final approval and ratification. The Convention de
termined to become State at that time, and sub
mitted the constitution for such approval and ratii
cation. Therefore, by the authority of Congress
Minnesota is State upon equal footing with al
other States. 1t also cited prceedents the cas-
of Ohio, which came into the Union under simila
enabling act, in 1902 and is in the Union with
out any authority of law also, the case of Indiana
whose Representative was admitted on the strength
of similar enabling act in 1910, without any othe
law. That according to these precedents the Rep
! resentatives from Minnesota entitled to admis
sion without further legislation
| Mr.. johnson, of Arkansas, made question of or
der, contending that the question was not one G
privileges that there was no such State as Minnesot
| recognized by the body; and hence that no sue
question that of privilege could be entertained
He hoped the Senator from Kentucky would with
draw his motion and suffer the army bill to be di:
posed of.
After some remarks from Messrs. Mason, Hunter
Crittenden, Pugh and others
The chair said that it would take the sense Of tn
Senate as to its being question ofprivilege.
, Mr.. Crittenden argued at some length to sho,
that it was question of privilege, and cited case
where Representatives, had been admitted in aC
vance of the State; when
Mr.. Johnson of Arkansas, thought it must be ar
parent to all that this question, if permitted to
on, would be carried through the whole Kansas d,
bate to the pre- eudce of the army bill, which had
, ready been so long before them, and always inte
rupted by some petty question, that had caused tt
BILL important as it was, to be overridden. I'll
Government had asked this increase of the army
and it was due to them either to grantit reject
: He would move to lay the subject on the table.
Mr.. Seward made appeal to the Senator
xHtb Ia fraNr no ppfi aS had n3. hi