The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-06-03
Friday, May %, 1858.
SDNaTE

American vessels against British aggression in
the Gulf of Mexico or elsewhere and 10 which
had also been referred the message of the Pres
ident Of the United States communicating, in
answer to q resolution of the Senate, infcrma-
ton concerning the recent search and seizure
of American vessels BY foreign armed cruisers
in the Gulf of Mexico, submitted an elaborate
report, which be read, closing with resolutions,
that will be found accompanying the report, in
another column of the paper.
The reading of the report elected the closest
attention on the part of the Senate.
Mr.. Mason moved that the report be printed,
which was agreed to, and said, as the subject
WAS one of grave interest, he would ask the
Senate TO take it up at an early hour to NOR.
row.
Mr. Seward submitted the follow resolution
Resolred, 1.-THE House of Representatives con.
curing,) That the resolution directing the Pres
ident of the Senate and Speaker of the House
of Representatives to declare their respective
Houses adjourned SINE die on the first Monday
Of June next, at twelve O'Clock M be and the
same is hereby rescinded, and that the Presi-
dent of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives declare their respect
i've Houses adjourned sine die on Monday the
Dist of June next.
Objection being made, the resolution lies
over.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
amendment made by the Committee on Finance
TO the bill making appropriations for sundry
civil expenses of the Government for the year
1859
Several Of the amendments having been
agreed to, the following was read:
"For the United States Capitol extension,
seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars Pro
yided, That this appropriation shall not be ex-
pended, in whole or in part, upon the embel-
lishment or decoration of the Capitol extension,
either by painting or sculpture in the panels
or inches of the Senate or House, unless the de
signs for such establishment and decoration
shall have been first submitted to and approved
by the Joint Committee on the Library of Con-
gress."
Mr.. Davis moved to strike cut the whole, and
insert in lieu thereof the following:
For the completion of the Capitol extension,
Sl,l85,le3."
This motion led to debate, and was defeated
yeas %, nays q.
The report Of the committee was then
agreed TO.
The Senate was occupied until late hour
discussing amendments in relation to certain
harbors, but, without taking any vote, the Sen.
ate adjourned.
The Post office Biu-The House took up
the bill making appropriations for the service
of the Post Office Department during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1859, which hsd been re-
ported from the Committee of the Whole with.
out amendment.
Under the operation of7the previous question
the bill WAS read a third time ard passed.
\ The Army BU-The bill making appropr
aticns for the support of the army for the year
ending the 30th of June, 1859, was next taken
mp.
Tbs proviso that no army officer shelI here
-.nei De aelaIeo Tor civli duty, except IN cases
provided ~ law, was rejected-yeas SO, nays
&c.
All the ether amendments reported from the
Committee OF the Whole were agreed to.
The yeas and nays were ordered on the pas
sage Of the bill, and resulted-yess l02, nays
81.
So the bill was passed.
Ocean Mail Stedmers.-The House next took
up the bill making appropriations for the trans
poriaton of the United States mails, by ocean
steamers and otherwise, during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1859, which had been report
ed from the Committee of the Whole without
amendment.
The bill was passed.
Committee Of Con ference.- On motion of Mr.
j. q. Jones, the house took up the Senate
amendments to the bill making appropriation:
lot inc tASCullFc, buO JUDICIAL ex
penses of the Government for the next fsca
year.
The House insisted upon its amendments to
the bill, and agreed to committee of confer
ence on the dissgreeiug votes of the two
Houses.
TIE private calendar was taken I'D, and all
the bills not objected to were disposed of-the
whole calendar having been gone through with
Eighty-fye private bills were passed.
Saturday, May 81, 1853.
SENATE.
The Right Of Search.-On motion by Mr.
Mason, the Senate proceeded to the considera
ton of the resolutions, which were reported yss
terdsy by the Committee on Foreign Relations
We print them In another place
Mr. Mason remarked that there could be M
question but that the international law denie,
absolutely any right Of visitation upon the higl
seas in time of peace. This right had been FIRE
quenily claimed by foreign nations in time O
war, for one purpose only; and that was to Sc,
\ if there were any articles on board that wer
contraband. We were led to the last war will
Great Britain by the extension of this right OF
her part; for she claimed that having the RICH
TO come On board our vessels to look for con
traband articles, being there, she could look t
see if apy-of her subjects we're On board; bu
we contend, that she has no right of visitation
in time of peace for any purpose.
Mr.. Mallory moved to amend the resolution
by striking out all after the word resolved.
and inserting substitute, to the effect that III
recent proceedings of the British naval officer
in The Gulf of Mexico and upon the high seas
In forcibly arresting and examining vessels @
the United States, owned and navigated b.
American citizens, and engaged in lawful trade
are without justification or palation, and al
he Of h.
people, which they can never snffer to be In
fringed; and the President of the United State
Ia authorized to adopt immediate measures I
arrest ct once the continuance of such outrages
Mr. n. thought the time had arrived for som
action upon this mater. In these proceeding
the British officers had reqnently exhibits
less civility than many highway robbers. II
believed the proceedings were without justif
cation or palliatioD, and he desired that th
Senate should say so. If this right was nov
sought 10 be exercised for the first time, the cas-
would be different; but it was done in the fac
OF repeated circumstances and arguments from
our public men, ard upon waters which wer
IN peculiar sense our own, as lying contieu
Gus to our own territory. Such conduct as this
he thought, required something more than mer
renonsiranee.
Ar. Hale moved to amend the resolution ths
was proposed 10 be stricken out by inserting
clause declaring that these acts are belligeren
an their character, and should be resisted at oil
hezaTes, end by all the power of the country
Mr.. d. remarked that this was not solitar
case OF aggression, bat here was continuou
series OF sggressicns upon our commerce, G
oec'oed oy the highest judicial tribunals of thi
couuify aho Great BrItias. What did sucl
coIouct fequre-argumau:? He thought 40.