The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

II.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l3.
Messrs Sebastian and Ben amin appeared in thei
seats.
The list of Committees were adopted by a vot
of 30 to 2l. The changes from last session a
follows:
Finance-Mr. Hammond vice Mr.. Biggs Com
merce-Mr. Chandler vice Mr.. Benjamin. Militar
Atfairs-Mr. Chesnut vice Mr.. Iverson. Naval Al
fairs-Mr. Hammond instead of MIR. Evans. Judi
ciary-Mr. Clingman instead of Mr.. Toombs. Pos
Offices and Post Roads-Messrs. Rice and War
vice Messrs. Fitch and Thompson. Public Lands
Mr.. Chesnut vice Mr.. Broderick. Private Lam
Caims-Messrs Polk and Shields vice Messrs
Biggs and Kennedy. Indian Affairs-Mr. Rice in
stead of Mr.. Reid. Revolutionary Pensions-Mr
Shields, Chairman, and Mr.. Chandler instead q
Mr.. Wilson, Claims-Mr. Ward instead of Mr.
Polk. District of Coumbia-Messrs. Yulee ant
Wilson vice Messrs. Bigler and Chandler. Patent
-Messrs Thompson, of New Jersey, and Toombs
instead of Messrs. Evans and Yulee. Public Build
ings-Mr. Kennedy instead of Mr.. Bayard. Terri
tOries-Mr. Green, Chairman, vice Mr.. Douglas
Contingent Expenses-Mr. Wright, Chairman; Mr.
johnson, of Tennessee, vice Mr.. Evans. Printn!
Mr.. Fitch, Chairman; Mr.. Clingman instead o
Mr.. Fitzpatrick. Library-Mr. Fessenden vice Mr.
Hunter.
Mr.. CHAPMAN asked to be excused from servin.
on the committee Printing, which was granted
and the Chair authorized to make the appoint
ment.
The CHAIR presented Report of the Secretarr
of the Interior, showing the amount paid for pen
siOns in each of the States and Territories.
A message received from the President O
the United States, enclosing a copy of the treat,
with Siam.
Mr. CnXGMAx introduced resolutions calling OF
the President for the correspondence under th
Clayton Bulwer Treaty. He made few remarks
in favor of abrogating that treaty, and said in
terests would be protected until that treat,
was annulled. He alluded to the recent searching
of our vessels going to Central America, by British
cruisers, which he pronounced great outrage.
| Note-The resolutions of Mr.. CLINGMAN are il
substance: That whereas, the President in his mes
sage of Dec. Sth, 1857, referred to the compca
tiOns growing out of the different Interpretation
given to the Clayton.Bulwer Treaty by the Gov
ernments of the United States and Great Britain
and therefore urged its abrogation: and, whereas
the President in his message of Dec. 9th, 1885, rep
| resents those complications still existing; and
whereas, the Clayton Bulwer Treaty contains stipu
lations in direct hostility to the cherished policy
and future welfare of this country, and its abroga
ton is consequently demanded alike by the honor
and the interests of the Union-therefore,
Resolred, That the President be requested tc
| communicate to the Senate, if not incompatible
| with the public interests, any correspondence
which, since his inauguration may have passeC
between this Government and the Government o
Great Britain, or between this Government anC
that of Nicaragua with respect to the termination
or preservation of the Clayton Bulwer treaty
Mr. MASON objected to their present considera
ton, and they accordingly lie over
Mr. GwIN moved to take up the Pacific Railroad
bill.
Mr. SrIDELL said there were other importan
questions. such a revision of our neutrality laws
demanding attention, and he did not see the pro
priety of considering subject to which the Senate
gave the go-bye last session by decided ma jor
ity.
Mr. GwIN replied that there was only two ma
iority in favor of the postponement and the time
had now arrived which the Senate had fixed for the
consideration of the measure.
Mr. MASON said the railroad could not be bull
without a great expenditure of money, and tn,
condition of the Treasury demanded the exercise
of the greatest economy.
Mr.. GwN said he could prove that no sucI
enormous expenditure of the public money woulC
be necessary. All the friends of this measure ask
ed was an opportunity to answer the objections
urged against it.
The Bill was then taken up, 80 to Is, and Mr.
| GwIN entered into an elaborate argument in it.
favor.
Mr.. G, opened the discussion by referring to tn,
fact that in the heated political contest of 1856 all
three of the Conventions Of the great parties
resolutions in favor of the construction of railroad
to the Pacific with the aid of the General Govern
ment. In accepting the nominations all the candi
dates had pledged themselves to this policy. an,
| Mr. Buchanan, the successful candidate, had re
peatedly reaIlirmed this pledge in his letters ant
messages. The most plausible objections to the bill
are want of constitutiOnap in Congress and th
enormous expense it will entail on Government.
The Senator from Virginia was the most deter
mined supporter of the first objection, but the bill
did not propose that the Government shall build
road, or take stock give money for that purpose
but simply provided that the President shOulC
make contract for the transportation of tn
mails, troops munitions of war, &c. This the Gov
ernment had an undoubted right to do and was il
| accordance with its practice since its organization
| Numerous precedents cited by Mr.. GwINN
and the conclusion arrived at that the bill violated
no principle of the Constitution and strictly il
accordance with previous usage. 1t was apparen
to him that, both as postal arrangement and as
means Of providing for the public defence, Congress
| had the power to pass this bill.
To the second objection viz, the great expens
to Government, he contended there was a littl
foundation for opposition. 1t was proposed to giv
alternate sections of land for 20 miles on each sdC
of the road. The policy of granting land to aid il
the construction of railroads too well established
to need any argument. The land without the roaC
valueess, and this the only contribution il
fact the Government would be obliged to make
The Government could not possibly risk dOlla
by the passage of the bill. 1t provided that when
% miles of the road were completed and equipped
then the Government should advance Sl2, 800 pei
mile in bonds bearing 5 per cent. interest, bu
should receive security mortgage CT tn
road, which would be worth three time
the amount of the bonds, besides retainin!
one-fourth Of the lands. 1t was therefore impossi
BILE for the Government to lose money, the bond
were to be repaid, with interest, by the perform
ance of daily mail service at not over $500 pc
mile. The present compensation for carrying tht
mails to California by weekly, semi-weeky month
ly and semi-monthly lines, amounted to over S2l
reduced by the proposed contract, to the extent o
81 ,000, 900 per annum. The prospective advantage
which would result from the completion of thi
work would alone compensate the Government TO
its Land Grant. 1t would consolidate the Republic
and enable cheaply and efficiently to protect ou
distant States in of foreign The lat
Secretary of War, Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, ha
strongly commended it upon military grounds
The expense of the Utah expedition which Nigh
reach S25, 900 900, would have been saved had thi
road been built in time, and the wars with hostil
Indians in New Mexico, Oregon and Washing tol
Territories would have cost infinitely less.
The argument that the road could pay no divi-
dend when completed was absurd, inasmuch as tn
travel to California, notwithstanding the danger
expense and uncertainty of the trip now amounted
to from so 900 to 100 600 persons per annum, whic
could undoubtedly be increased immensely when
safe and expeditions route opened. Beside
this the building of the road would open the short
est route for Europe to communicate with China
Australia and the East Indies, and the busines
with those countries would be of vast extent.
Mr.. GwIN regretted that while majority o
Congress had always favored the building of roa
to the Pacific, their divisions in regard 10 the rOut
should have prevented the success of the project
This bill obviated that difficulty By leaving the Sc
lection of the route to the contractors, who would
as matter of business, choose that which wa
most feasible, direct and cheap. The friends Of tn
measure should throw aside sectionalism and b
willing to sacrifice preiudces and opinions to
accomplish the desired result
Irrespective of the great benefits to the peopl
from the construction of this road, to their com
merce, manufactures, &c, it could be demonstrated
that mere financial question the revenues q
the Government would be increased hundreds o
millions of dollars lst from the increased sale 0
public lands; I'd, from the augmented revenue fror
imports; Sd, from the diminished expenses of tn
War Department and 4th, by the increased reve
nue. and diminished expenses of the Post Office De
partmcnt. Mr.. GwINN went into great statiStica
details to sustain these propositions and concluded
by urging on Congress the adoption OF this bill, a
demanded by every consideration of patriotism an
duty.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, of Virginia, the ful
ther consideration of the subject was postponed III
til tomorrow, and after short Executive Session
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at the usual hour.
The Watrous impeachment taken up.
Mr.. CoCHRANE said he had carefully examine
the testimony and was not prepared to express tn
deliberate convictions of his mind. Judge Watrou
was before this House, not for trial but for
ton The House was setting here as a grand il
quest, not to convict acquit, but to determin
whether the Judge should be put upon his trial.
This was the action of the House in the cases
Judges Beck and Pickering, and was in accOrdanc
with the Constitutional provision upon this pon
He now went into a careful review of the testimon
from which he deducted the conclusion that Judg
Watrous had obtained his interest in the three ell
ven grants speculation by reason of his services
procuring the removal of the trial of IL
case involving the validity of the title frol
Texas to New Orleans. These sepeculator
knew the prejudice existing in Texas in re
gard to these titles, and there evidence t
show that Judge Watrous party to an a
rangement entered into at Selma by which the ca
was to be brought up in his Court and remove
from there to Louisiana. This fact he held to