The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14

sion where it had been interrupted by his re-
cent sudden attack of indisposition MIR. Brown,
however, preferred to postpone his remarks,
avowing as his reason that the Kansas question
had lost much of its vitality, and was, more
over, just passing through phases which sug-
| gested the propriety of awaiting the practical
Issue which would be ultimately presented to
the consideration of the Senate. The whole
subject was therefore postponed until Monday
| next, when Mr.. Hale will be entitled to the
| floor.
During the session of Monday, the President
of the United States transmitted to the Senate
| a copy of the Constitution of the Safe of Min.
nesota, which, on motion of Mr. Douglas, was
referred to the Committee ON Territories.
The Senate, at about three o'clock, proceed
ed to the consideration of Executive business.
HOUSE.
Some time was spent on resolution of the
Committee on Printing proposing extra copies
OF the Coast Survey Report. During the dis.
cussion, Mr.. Phelps stated that the Committee
of Ways and Means had already been called
upon to report q deficiency appropriation of
S75o,OOO for unfinished printing of the Thirty
| third and Thirty Fourth Congresses, and there
was probability that million would be need
| ed when all the work ordered shall have been
finished. The House refused to pass the reso
luton.
| Mr.. Faulkner renewed his effort to have SONS
action upon army matters. He desired to in
troduce bill to authorize the enlistment of
i've additional regiments, according to the
recommendation of the President; but the
House refused to suspend the rules.
A message was received from the President
of the United States, in response to resolution
of the House calling for information in relation
to Central American affairs. The message was
not read; but it is understood to be fuller in
its information than that sent to the Senate,
there having been a call in reference to any
treaty which may have been made with Nicara-
| qua.
| The House again went into Committee of the
Whole on the question of a reference of the an.
nual message of the President, having previous
ly decided to close the general debate on Thurs
day next at one o'clock. Mr.. Groesbeck, of
| OHIO, sustained the Presidents views in refer.
encs to the capture of Walker, and the fair
| construction of the neutrality laws. Mr.. G.. re.
| ferred to the practice of the Government, I'M
der the laws of nations, during President Wash
iDgton's Administration, before the passage of
the neutrality law, which laws, he thought,
were intended to strengthen rather than limit
| the Executive arm.
For the foregoing clear synopsis, we are in.
oeoted TO the Intettlgencer.
Mr.. Groesbeck, noticing the complaint of tie
violation of the jurisdiction of Nicaragua, con.
tended that, even where a trespass was com.
mitted, the Government was only answerable
to the Power trcspassed against The Austrian
Government complained, in the case OF Koszta,
that Commodore Ingraham had violated the
law of nations by entering neutral port,
(Smyrna;) but Secretary Marcy replied that
that was not matter of complaint for Austria,
but laid entirely between the United States and
the Turkish Government and that, when Tur.
key complained, the United States would be
ready to make reparation. So, in this case,
nobody had right to complain of violation
of the law of nations but Nicaragua. He
therefore urged that tie President had not only
a right to send the naval forces beyond the ma
riue league, to pursue Walker across the Gulf,
but also right, with the assent of Nicaragua,
or by making suitable subsequent reparation,
to arrest him upon her coast.
Mr.. G. next argued that Walker was not a
Ncaraguan. He conceded the right of ex.
patriation, but nobody had right to expatriate
himself in the commission of an unlawful act,
Mr.. Quitman, of Mississippi, inquired what,
under this view, was the position of John Mitch.
ell, Meagher, and their fellows, who escaped
from Australia, and whether they were still to
be regarded as British subjects?
Mr.. Groesbeck said his position was, that if.
in the act of expatriating himself, man com
mits crime, the commission of that crime does
not work to his expatriation. Suppose muir.
derer should flee to foreign country, and there
become high official, that would not exonerate
him from responsibility to the law.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, said Walker and
other colonists first went to Nicaragua under
grant, by invitation of the Government. and
were naturalized according to the law of Mica.
ragua After that, Walker was duly elected
President of the Republic, and his Government
was recognised by ours. No Government had
been recognised in opposition TO his, as he
understood, until after the sailing of his last
expedition. F
Mr.. Groesbeck understood that Walkers
first expedition was fitted out in violation of
| the neutrality laws of the United States, and
the recognition of Walkers Government was
not q recognition of his citizenship. But he
attached no importance to this question of citi-
zenship. Whether he was citizen of the
| U nited States or not, made not particle of diff
ference as to his responsibility to the law, and
the obligations of the President to enforce it..
He who comes within the jurisdiction of the
United States must keep the law of the United
States, be he Nicaraguan or native citizen.