Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02

come free, to be placed under the flag and pro- tecton of the United States, of which it sha be dependency.
 Washington, Jan. 15, 1858.-SENArE.-Not in session.
 oUsE.-Mr. BOCOCK asked the House to take up the joint resolution of the Senate. the Whole effect of which was this: An act was pas sed last session authorizing naval officers who were affected by the action of the retiring board to apply within one year to have their cases ex. amlned for action by naval courts of inquiry. upon which the President might nominate for restoration. It was not known outside the Sen- ate what was going on inside, but it was known that these courts acted on certain cases. The President has made nominations which haae not been disposed of by the Senate It was fair to presume that the naval committee of the Senate , were considering the proceedings of these courts ms was the last day in which anything could oe oone under that resolution, which, not now taSSed Will render nugatory all that these courts have done
 MT. JONES, of Tenn, would prefer that the resolution should come up for consideration in regular order. It proposed an increase of the number of officers ol the navy. to which he was opposed. The resolution was read.
 MT LOVEJOY objected to its consideration
 MT. Burn ett's resolution passed, authorizing special committee to investigate the facts at tenilng the sale of Fort Smelling, and to employ Stereographer He remarked that this was a case Tn which the public interest required close examil ation.
 Mr. HOUSTON, from the committee on the judiciary, reported a resolution, which was adopted, to send for persons and papers in re- latlon to charges against Judge Watrous, of Texas
 Mr. STANTON offered preamble setting forth that it appears by the publishel report of the committee, appointed to investigate the af- fairs of the Middlesex Manufacturing Company. that S07 ,OOO were paid to secure the passage of the tariff act of 1857, and as no satisfactory ex planaton has been given relating to the appro. prlatlon of all but eight thousand dollars. there should be an investigation of he charges, which tend very seriously to prejudice the reputation and character of the members of the last House who voted for the tariff act. Therefore. he proposed the appointment of a select committee ol nve to investigate the charges and inquire whether any member or officer of the House re- celved any part of the money, or whether it was pad for the use or benefit, directly or indirectly. of any officer or member of the House. If the committee shall present specific charges another committee of five shall be appointed to investi-
 
 of the place and time of meeting in order to make defense, attend the examination of witnes- ses, etc.
 MT. STANTON said he had delayed offering the resolution till nOw in the hope that some gentleman who favored the tariff act would move such investigation. The charges were presented in such from as demanded notice of the House. It was not mere newspaper rumor. but the information was furnished by mouey- ed corporation through its committee to invest- gate its finances and the disbursement of its funds. lie earnestly advocated the proprietv of passing a resolution ill Orier to ascertain whether the money had been used to inhueuce the action of the House
 Mir. BURLINGAME said as general rule he would be against taking cognizance of any transaction which did not occur in the presence Of the House or Senate, so near either as to interrupt the deliberations of Congress. He would not magnify the powers of the House. nor nave It take jurisdiction of matters which mi ght more properly be taken charge of and invesli- gated by tribunals established by law for the purpose of securing to citizens of the country their rights; but in this case he would depart from the general rule of policy which he would select for his own guidance So many grave charges has been made by individuals and par tlsan presses, with what views and for what pur- pose he wonld not undertake to intimate, that it seemed to him that the House would consult its dignity, as well as its honor, by the adoption of resolutions upon the facts disclosed by the com mlttee of the manufacturing company He knew nothing except what he had seen in the newspapers, but 1t seemed that the statement that money had been used in procuring the pas sage of tariff act was founded on the books. hoyyr oon, cation, against any member of Congress, but charges have been made by responsible persons He, as representative of Massachusetts, in which the manufacturing company had its chief establishment, wished the matter to be probed to the bottom. He took occasion to say that he did not believe the hands of any member of this House had been stained by money.
 Lawrence, Stone x Co.,, is the name of firm, the senior partner of which has stood and now stands as synonym of merchant-like honor and integrity. He hoped this investigation would disclose the fact that the senior merchant of that trm had been lmportunate, rather than in- volved in intention of crime. Whatever may have been his motives, esteem him as friend, but would not shield him from the effect of the commission of any wrong
 Mr. DAVIS, Of Md, said no man held the political press in more contempt than he did, He stood in no fear ofit, and held it in such ut- ter contempt that he should take no notice of it, except to carry 1t before the grand jury vile libel. When charges are made by the press, he deemed them unworthy of investigation.
 He regarded his reputation and of every gen tleman here more than enough to look in the face the whole combined press of the country but this was different case It involved oue of the merchant princes, in the books of whose firm an entry appeared of S97 ,O0O paid for pro- curing the passage of a tariff act. This state ment Is based on a responsible name and is an adequate foundation for investigation. The re- cord did not say how the money was distributed It may have been expended lcgitimately to pay the expenses of agents. If it got into the hands of any member, let him die the death. He was for following the precedent of the last Congress in conducting this proposed invests gatipn. Let select committee be appointed to inquire into the charges against certain members charged with corruption. It oppressed no man in his rights or character All were treated justly, carefully and tenderly. He opposed at length MT. Stanton's propositions, which clothed the committee with the powers of grand jury, and, in the absence of a record, left the character of the accused open to suspicion.
 Mir. KUNkEL of Penn., remarked that all such investigations involved time, trouble and expense, but he was in favor of the one now proposed These charges were extensively made over the whole country, and if they were nothing more than newspaper charges, he would still be for investigation. He could not concur with the opinions of the gentleman from Mary land relative to the newspaper press, which had not failed to serve its function. You may put corrupt men in the House and Senate, corrup- ton may reek all along the avenue, yet with all its abuses free press may save the liberties of the people. This charge is not only made in newspapers, but on the authority of commit tee of the stockholders of the Middlesex Manu- featuring Company.
 He knew nothing about Lawrence, Stone & Co. He knew that they joined in the free trade interests of the last Congress to crush the in- dusirv of Pennsylvania.
 The gentleman from Massachusetts spoke of the high character of Lawrence, Stone & Co., Were they to be eulogzed in Congres, because their books show that they expeded $87 GOO to control the industrial interests of the country, II