The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-13

Navy Department should properly be considered by the
Committee Naval Affairs.
Mr. BOCOCK Of Virginia explained that the Commit
tee Naval Affairs had taken this subject into consider
alton and under the impression that ii proper
for them TO investigate the conduct of Commodore
Paulding and other oficers-whether not they had
obeyed their orders He had intended move the ref
of that portion to this COMMITTEE bat the resou
ton Of the gentleman from North Carolina had obyated
the necessity for doing
Mr. CLINGMAN thought that the discussion at present
was premature, and for that demanded the preyi
question. tf1rr F4Ff' fEH
The previous question sustained and the resolu-
The SPEAKER also laid before the House the following
message from the President OF the United States which
referred TO the Committee Territories aud ordered
to be printed:
7b the Senate and House If Representatives:
have received from Samuel Medary, governor of the
Territory OF Minnesota, copy of the constitution OF Min
nesota together with abstract OF the votes poled for
and against said constitution the election held In that
Territory the second Tuesday of October last certified
by the governor in due form, which l lay before
Congress In the prescribed by that instrument
Having received but single copy OF the constitution
l transmit this to the Senate.
JAMES BUCHANAN
WASHINGTON JAN III, 1858.
Also, the following which was referred to the Com
mttee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed
10 The House Of Representatives:
transmit a report from the Secretary of State i'm an
the resolution of the House of Representatives of
the 4th instant requesting to be informed if any
plant had been made against our government by the
OF Nicaragua account OF the recent arrest
of William Walker and his followers by Captain Pauld-
ing within the territory Of that republic
JAMES BUCHANAN
WAsnISdroH January 7, 1858,
The reading the letter the Secretary of State
the President having been called for it read fol-
lows
10 The President
mn @
luton of the House of Representatives of the 4th instant
requesting the President to inform the House W not in
compatible with the public Interest," whether the govern
ment Of Nicaragua has made any complaint against our
government account OF the act of Captain Pauldng in
arrestng William Walker and his followers within the
territory Of Nicaragua has the honor report that
such complaint has reached this department.
Respectfully submitted: VI
LEWIS CAsS.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
Washington, Jan. z 1855
Also letter from the Secretary of the Treasury trans
hitting staementof the expenditure of appropriations
for the discharge Of miscellaneous claims not otherwise
provided for and paid out of the treasury during the last
fiscal year which laid the table and ordered to
be- printed
Also, Il letter from the CLERK Of the House. transmit
ting his annual statement of the clerks and other persons
employed in his Office during the year 1857 which
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
lHE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On motion of Mr.. j. CLANCY JONES' OF Pennsyva-
na the House went into Committee Of the Whole the
state of the Union Mr PHELPS, of Missouri in the chair
and resumed the consideration OF the Presidents
sage-the question being the motion Of Mr. MAYNARD
of Tennessee, to refer certain portions Of it to select
committee.
Mr. KELLOGG, of Illinois, said that whether not
the before the committee really intend
ed to sustain the honor and character of the country
pretence to heroic Mr. Walker, to ultimately subju
gate Nicaragua, hard to discover from the debate
He proposed to base he say upon the record
Aoff
ing upon the correspondence part of the history
of the country, and upon the arguments made in the
committee, which abundant to show that the
OF the administration right lie contended
that every step taken by the government up to the time
of the arrest Of Gen Walker in Nicaragua strictly in
accordance with their duties to foreign countries well
their duty to sustain national honor and reputa
Lion and that every Gtep taken by Commodore Pauldng
was in strict accordance with the law of nations and the
instructions Of the President The great question before
the House and the country not the question between
Walker and the government or between Walker and
his friends, or between Walker and auldnE but grave
question whether not the government would discharge
its duty and sustain its honor This the only ques
ton the people would recognise and decide when they
fixed the fate OF in high places He held that the
arrest of Walker right according to that principle of
international law recognised governments be-
gan to be.
Mr.. HAsKIN of New York, explained the
mark which he had made the other day. in substance that
it would be better far better, for the government to fill
buster in grand way than for individuals
Mr.. MOORE, Of Alabama, replied to the remarks of Mr.
GRoEsBEcK, of Ohio He cOncurred with the gentleman
that this not question upon the merits OF General
Walker ITSELF question to whether not tn
were in favor of libtering but it great question
involving constitutional law and the rights of Ameri-
can citizen He commended that the government had
the right and was not bound to bring back Gen
era Walker and his from Nicaragua, Colnmo-
dorc Paulding had gone beyond his instructions A
more wilful outrage had been committed by any
clothed with authority in this country The power
the President ended when the expedition went beyond
shores. 1t outrage upon American citizens to
turn these loose, without clothing upon the cold
charities of the world and wrong done to,
wrong to all The history Of the government from
its foundation down to the present time had parallel
he believed This commander had taken the warnakng
power into his own hands, and had not only made
upon General Walker and his followers but had invaded
foreign soil 1t would set precedent and it became
them we'll to mark with their serious dspeasre this first
attempt to interfere with the making power, which
belongs the representatives of the people in the Con-
gress OF the United States Commodore Pauding in his
opinion should be brought home, censured, court
tailed and dismissed from the service.
Mr.. THOMPSON OF New York, said that If the argu-
ment of the gentleman from Alabama, that the ncu-
try laws gave authority to arrest Walker
rect, then these laws needed repeal. He concntcd
that William Walker not pioneer of that high
der of civilization of which Americans proud but of
that rudcr civilization which rules by might Walkers
letter repudated all the which had been made
for him. and based his defence upon two grounds first
citizens Of Nicaragua and secondly that going in
neutral vessel the only danger he had to apprehend
that of being seized upon the high before reaching
Nicarauun Gen Walker was guilty OF violating not