The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1858-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL
WAsHINGroN. Jan {

mlttee on Commerce, reported a bill for
the general introduction of a uniform code
of marine signals. Mr.. Coehrane said
this bill was Of moro Importance to com.
merce, to the reputation of the country,
and for humanity, than any which could
be presented, and should be passed in pref
erence to them.
SENATE.-Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee,
from the Committee IN Public Lands, re-
ported back the homestead bill, recon-
mending its passage. 1t was made the
special order for the I'd Monday of Feb
ruary.
Mr.. Davis, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported a bill to increase
the military establishment, which was
made the special order for Monday.
Mr.. Bayard, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported o resolution that
Messrs. Bright and Fitch, whose election
as Senators from Indiana is contested, and
all persons protesting against their cleo
ton, or any of them, by themselves or
their agents or attorneys, be permitted
to take testimony on the allegations of
the protestants and the sitting members,
touching all matters of facts therein con-
tanned, before any judge of the District
Il OOuII Oh VIC Oull6u obdIcS, v OlTCUII
Court eff Indiana, by first giving ten days
notice of the time and place of proceeding
in some public paper published at India
NJ polls.
The resolution was laid over for future
consideration.
The Senate then took up the joint reso-
luton authorizing the President to pre-
sent a medal with suitable devices, to
/ a. D-.1l.-- Of tho
sense entertained by Congress fer his gal
liant aud judicious conduct in arresting a
lawless expedition, and preventing the
same from carrying on actual war against
Nicaragua.
Mr.. Clay said it would seem like pre-.
judging the question to discuss it al the
present time, as the committee on foreign
relations had not yet made a report on tho
Presidents Message in reference to the
arrest of Walker.
Ny. Doolittie could not see what might
be the final disposition of the resolution,
but he desired to state the grounds on
which he had deemed it his duty to intro
duce it. He wished to address himself
calmly and dispassionately to the judg-
ment of the Senate, because by appealing
to any p~artizau prejudice or passion, be
would not advance the object in view
He would speak earnestly, for he felt
deeply the Importance Of the proposition.
In the present juncture of affairs, which
Involves not only the character of a high
md gallant veteran; an officer of the
Navy, hut the policy of the present Ad-
miuistration on the neutrality laws, the
laws of nations towards the feeble repub
lie of Central America, and perhaps more
than all other things the honor, integrity
aud good .aith of the Government of the
United States. He thought that tho
power possessed By thu Government was
conferred on PauldiDg in good faith. and
it would have been u crime for that.oficeI
to ave neglected, on a mere technical OBJ
lection, to carry out the clearly expressed
wishes of the government.
Mr.. Brown moved a substitute for the
resolution, declaring the arrest of Walker
and his followers, a violation of The ter,
ritorial sovereignty of a friendly power,
and not being sanctioned by any existing
law, and Congress disayows the act, and
expires es it's condemnation of Com. Paul
diug's conduct In this regard. Mr.. B., il
explaining his substitute, said that the
territory certainly did not belong to tn,
United States, and as we were not at wal
with Nicaragua, it was a violation o.
territorial sovereignty, because it wa:
Enthusiastically foreign territory which
was invaded BY Paulding. He had. Is
tened attentively to the remarks of tn,
Senator from Wisconsin, to hear by what
laws the act of Pauldiug is to be justified
The President did net attempt to palliat,
il; he had said it was a grave offence, apc
did not attempt to justify it on any liberia
ground.EI If there ever was a fair election
IN Nicaragua. it was when Walker wa
elected, yet he had been called a pirate
If so, what right had the executive t.
turn a pirate loose upon the streets o
Washington? All he asked was, tina
Congress should disavow and a condemna
ton was placed upon the express grounc
that the act was disayowed by the Ad
ministration. If the act had been avowet
by the exectlve, he held and asked Con
gress to pass a vote of censure against tn
President or Secretary of the Navy, o
whoever gave the order. We had indeed
fallen on strange times, when Pauldin:
could say to the Secretary of the Navy
You fogy, you nincompoop, you are med
ding in matters you know nothing about.
The Secretary of the Navy, in reply
instead of reprimandiug Com. Paulding
said he rather thought he had the righ
t. dispose of the naval forces as he pleas
ed. If such a letter had been addressed
to Porter, Elliott, or any of the old cap
tains by such Secretary, they had a RICH
to go to Nicaragua, taking the cousequen
ees of their acts. He repeated that b
would not vote fer a medal to a man VIII
/, had violated the laws of his country, ant
who, the President says, commits a gray
, error.
Mr.. Pugh said if as4has been charged
Walker aud his men were fighting for jus
tice why we're they not handed over t
the Marshal for the district of Louisiana
where the offence was committed, it wa
, idle to say they were arrested as fugitives
t The argument that the President as com
f mander-in chief of the army and nav,
E has a right to pursue the fagitives beyou'
,, the United States is out of the question
If a rested as pirates they could be trie'
e at the very first port. L, pirates, VIII,
,ro.o ut W,lLar aud hic fnllnwars wha,