Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
Thirty.fifth Consress-First Session.

lN THE SENATE, yesterday, after we went to
press, Mr.. Slidell introduced bill providing for
such an amendment Of the existing law as to
make silver legal tender to the amount of twen-
ty-fve dollars instead of five, as at present Such
a measure. he thought, would discourage the cir
culation Of bank notes of small denomination
and, as orr silver coinage was not deprec lated no
injustice could accrue to its holders.
The bill for the relief Of Alexander . Atocha
was then taken up, and, after discussion, it was
sent 10 the Court Of Claims for examination and
adjudication.
IL THE House. they went into Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union, CMr Phelps
in the chair ..r
Mr.. Jones, Of Pa, offered the usual resolution
for the distribution of the different portions of
the annual message among the various standing
committees. Thus, he proposed TO send to the
judiciary Committee the portion thereof relating
TO flibustering
Mr.. Quitman moved to amend this resolution
so as to make the reference to a select committee
Tie referred to the existing diversity of opinion as
Ia the duty OF one nation 10 another, aud TO the
distinction between a citizen and a subject Of a
Government. He explained the obligations Of
International law, and the reserved rights Of our
citizens. which this Government cannot violate
Referring tn the limited character Of our Govern
meht. hs insisted that il has power only to pun
i,h offences against the laws of nations, but no
othtIs; ana that our neutrality law Of 1915 pro-
vided for the punishment of other offences than
those against the laws of nations. He contro-
VeTted the authority of the Government to 20 De-
yohu THIS ana To punish our citizens for Incur
sions agains~other nations IL was therefore
important in his estimation, that the proper ex-
tent of our rights and duties should be investi-
gated and defined. The power of the Government
under the present neutrality law did not, he con
tended, go beyond the waters under the national
Jurisdiction Even the first neutrality act, In
1874, when the Federalists We're in power was
Limited In time, and not Intended to be perma-
nent. Besides, the Influences under which the
hH mt mil Oh af ~.
cnmStanres of the present dav '...rr
Mr.. } u. Jones referred To the fact that, "a our
Government was distinguished as one of law IL
was proper that this subject should 90 10 the
Judiciary Committee He did not differ ma
terially from the gentleman from Mississippi on
the neutrality law but he considered that the
president, In his recommendation for more strin-
gent measures, only wished power to execute
more efciently the existing law 1t did not fol-
low ne thought, that the President is opposed
either to the repeal or modification of the neu-
traIity act. Special committees ought only to be
appointed on subjects Of special emergency and
he reminded MIR. Quitman that his resolution in
1855 was referred to the Judiciary Committee
Mr keitt denied the authority Of the Govern
iheht 10 arrest. Walker afte, he had proceeded
more than one marine league from the shores of
the United States, and commended that Comman-
der Chatards act should have been approved by
Tue PRESIDENT, and the act Of Commodore Pauld-
Ing censured by that functionary.
MIR. stephens expressed his d. sposition to wait
lor The Presidents expected exposition Of the
ease ere making up his mind fully upon it; vet
he conceived that Commodore Panlding had ex =
ceeded his authority. He thought Walker and
his men to be entitled to PREPARATION from the
Government. ReparatiOn and restitution more.
over, should he made TO the parties aggrieved
Mr.. stephens then proceeded, with much force
to explain the scope and purpoIt Of the laws de-
ming 'certan crimes against the United states =
commonly called the neutrality laws. Those
laws he maintained, Were expressly limited in
their application to the territory of the United
states, including the distance OF one marine
league from our sea coast. Various sections of
the law Of April 20, 1913, read and explained
by Mr.. \. In illustration and enforcement Of this
latter point. He was not prepared to admit. on
the evidence yet produced, that General Walker
bad been guilty of any infracti on of our neutral
obligations.
Mr. Stephens concluded by proposing an
amendment, which Mr.. Quitman accepted, pro-
vidng for reference Of the whole subject to the
Committee on the Judiciary with Instructions to
report on the exPedency of repeating modify
ing the neutrality laws
Mr. Bocock held that it was in the scope of the
Governments authority to arrest and bring back
Walker under the circumstances, wherever found
or the high seas.
The debate was further continued by Messrs
Maynard, Stanton, Lovejoy, and others, until
the committee rose (Mr. Sickles being next snti-
tied to the floor and the House Adjourned.