The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-07
THlRTY-FlFTH CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION.
Monday, January a, 1858.
SENATE.

| On motion by Mr.. Fitz patrick,
Resotced, That the President be requested
as far as may be compatible with the public in
terest, to communicate to the Senate the cor
respondence, instructions, and orders to the
United States naval forces on the coast of Cen.
trail America, connected with the arrest OF
William Walker and his associates, at or near
the port Of San Juan de Nicaragua, and that he
transmit zach other information as he may pos
sees in re sation to this event.
| Mr.. Bsejamin submitted the following reso-
luton, VII jch was referred to the Committee on
Printing
Resotce9, That there be printed for the use
| of the Sspate twenty thousand copies of the
| opinion o. the Judges of the Supreme Court
in the case of bred Scott os. John F. A. Sand
| ford.
Mr.. Puf.h obtained leave to introduce bill
| for the sdsnissioa of Kansas into the Union.
The En- condition which the bill proposes is
that the seventh article of the Constitution,
relative II Slavery, shall be submitted to a
separate spd direct vote, 'yes" or no." of the
qualified electors, on the 7th of April, 1858, at
which hH Q the State officers, the Legislature,
and Cont ressmen, shall be chosen. The re-
turns of his election are to be made to the
Governor of the Territory instead of the Presi-
dent of 10 Convention, and the election con.
Quoted in obedience to the laws in force on the
9th of Ne Jember last.
The second fundamental condition is, that
the Co ,s Button shall not be 80 construed as to
limit or spair the right of the people, through
| their Legislature, at any time, to call Ceuven-
uon for be purpose Of altering, amending, or
aboishiag their form of Government, subject
| only to TIE Constitution of the United States.
The Pre- ;dent is required to admit the State by
| proclamation as soon as the election of April
| It'll shalt have transpired. The ordinance of
tae Lecompton Convention, relative to the
grants Of public lands, is rejected, and in its
stead tho usual articles of compact are offered
ID the frst Legislature of Kansas, for accept
snce or selection, as in the case Of other new
| States.
The bill was referred to the Committee on
| Territories.
Mr.. Brown then rose to address the Senate,
and before he had proceeded to any length was
compelled to desist from sudden indisposition
and he yielded the floor. He expressed the
hope, however, that he would be able to con
tinue his remarks tomorrow !; ard the further
consideration of the subject was at once post
poned.
| The Senate then took up the bill for the re.
lief Of George P. Marsh which was read a
third time and passed.
| And the Senate adjourned.
4
| Mr.. CliDgman, of North Carolina, SAID he
was instructed by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs to present the following resolution, and
he hoped there would be no objection to its in
troduction
| Resolred, That the President be requested
1 to communicate to the House. if not incom.
patible with the public interest, all the informa
ton in his possession in relation to the late
seizuse of General William Walker and his
followers in Nicaragua; together with such in.
structions as may have been given to our naval
officers and other officials pertaining to the sub
ject.
Mr.. Clngman moved suspension of the
rules, in order TO introduce the resolution
which vas carried.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, asked that the
resolution be modified so as to call for informa.
ton relative to the fitting out of Walkers ex-
| peditien within the United States.
| Eve,y gentleman would see the Importance
of the matter, and that the House could not
overlo, k it. Three important considerations
we're i .volved First, the question of the rights
Of Wa ker and his followers, and whether or
not tn. had any claims upon the Government {;
SECOND, question as to the rights of Nicara-
| qua, Costa Rica, or whoever owns the Terrific.
ry invbded; and, third, question of still great
er importance, growing out of the apparent
fact th 1T an officer of the United States has
gone 9th body of armed men into terrific
ry cleafiy foreign one, and taken therefrom,
by force, one or two hundred men.
This would strike everybody as being an act
of war, and its justification did not at all de.
pend upon either of the other considerations
Suppose Walker to be pirate and a bad man.
There were pirates and bad men in all parts of
the world, but that did not Justify officers of
Government In selling upon them BY force
Suppose, again, that Nicaragua did not object.
If there were rebellion or civil war, of course
the triumphant party would not complain. If,
during the French revolution of 1880, Ameri-
can troops had marched into the city of Paris
and put down the insurrection, Louis Philippe
would not have complained of that measure.
Mr.. Richie, Of Pennsylvania, thought the
act Of Commodore Paulding was justi6sble on
the ground that Walker was fugitive from
criminal law, and an officer of Government had
Alright to arrest him anywhere with the consent
OF the Government where he was arrested.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, agreed that they
Ought to have all the information in the posses.
aion Of the President, touching the recent cap.
ture and return to this country of Mr.. William
Walkr; and thought, also, that it would be
right and proper for the President at the same
time o inform the House and the country of
the IS It's in regard to the fitting out of his ex-
pediti IN.
Mr. Faulkner, of Virginia, concurred with
the g, ntleman from Tennessee, that the resolu.
ton t,om the Committee on Foreign Affairs
was got sufficiently full, and did not call for
facts and information which we're necessary to
place the action of the Executive in its true
light before the country. With his permission
he wauld therefore submit the following reso-
luton:
ResOlped, That the President of the United
States be and he is hereby requested to com
municate to this House, if in his opinion no,
Incompatible with the public interest, the facts
and information which rendered it probable
that William Walker was engaged during the
past summer and fall in preparing within the
limits of the United States, in violation of the
act of Congress of the 10th of April, 1918, the
means for military enterprise against the
people and territory of Nicaragua; also, copies
of all instructions, orders, aud letters, addressed
by and to the various officers of the Govern
meni in relation thereto, together with such
other measures as may have been adopted by
the Government to arrest such unlawful enter
prisss and to execute in good faith the pro.
visions of the neutrality laws, embracing thu
instr actions, if any, under the authority Of
which Capt. Paulding demanded and enforced
| withsn the territorial limits of Nicaragua the
surrender of Walker and his command, together
With any letters, orders, and instructions, since
the surrender of Walker, showing how far and
| to v ,at extent the use of our naval force fol
the purpose by Capt. Paulding has beeu ap
prot I'd or disavowed by the Government of the
United States.
Mr.. c. B. Cochrane, of New York, though,
i. was quite as important to know the status o.
Walker in respect to the laws of this country
at the time of his departure as to know his citi
zenship and attitude towards other Govern.
IL. L..