The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.


prior to July 81, 1901, was referred to a special
committee of seven-Messrs. Crittenden, Col
lamer, Toombs, Hamlin, Hunter, Davis and
KiDg--:hree Republicans, three Administration,
one American.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, was again pre-
vented by vertigo from continuing his speech
on Kansas, and the subject was laid over till
the Monday following. Mr.. Slidell introduced
bill to amend the existing law SO as to make
silver legal tender to the amount of S25, in
stead of SIS. The measure might tend to dis
courage the circulation of bank notes of small
denomination.
j. CLANCY Jones, in the House, having sub
mitted the usual resolutions for referring the
several portions of the Presidents Message,
an amendment was moved by General Quitman,
of Mississippi, and modified at the instance of
Mr.. Stephens, Of Georgia, to the effect that 80
much of the message as relates to filbustering
and the neutrality laws be referred to the Com.
mittee on the Judiciary, with instructions to in
quire into repeal or modification of these
laws. A general debate took place, in which
the conduct of Commodore Paulding was severe-
ly denounced, and Walker and his course vim
dicated, BY Messrs. Quitman, Stephens, and
keitt. 1t was contended that the neutrality
laws did not apply beyond marine league from
the United States coast, and, at all events, they
were an infringement of the rights of American
citizens. So far from making them more strin-
gent, or comforting on the President additional
power to enforce them, their repeal or relaxa-
ton was strongly insisted upon. No member
spoke for the President Much having been
! said in Qualification of General Walker, Mr.,
Lovejoy, of Illinois, protested against the at
tempt to exslt the character of bucaneer, a
marauding pirate. Had Commodore Paulding
hung him at the yard arm, it would have been
summary and complete justice.
Tie House adjourned without O vote.
Wednesday, January 6, 1858.
SENATE.
The Tarif,-Nothing of importance was done
in the Senate, but Mr.. Crittenden's resolution.
proposing an increase in the Tariff and home
valuation, coming up, the mover made an old
fashioned, Wing Tariff speech. His opinion
was, that home valuation would lessen fraud
and that an increase of per cent. of the rates
on cottons and woollens would be sufficient beth
for revenue and protection purposes. DR.. Fitch
made an amendment providing for taxing bank
bills, and discriminating against bills of a small
! denomination. On motion of Mr. Clay, Of Ala
bama, this was laid on the table, carrying the
resolution of Mr. Crittendeu along with it. And
this digposes Of the Tariff question for this sss.
sion.
HOUSE.
Foreign Relations, tie Neutrality Lqlcs,
6c.-Reaoluti,ns were adopted, calling on the
! President for information concerning cur rela-
lations Sitil Paraguay, Brazil, New Granada.
aud Spain.
The consideration Of the resolution upon re-
feriing the message was resumed in Committee
of the Whole on he state of the Union
! Mr.. Sicklee, of New York. conteuded that
| the right of the Executive TO use force beyond
the limits Of q marine league from tho shore
was undoub;ed. The provision in the treaty
for the suppression of the slave trade furnished
an instance. The principle had been recop-
Missed by all Administrations. He secuted the
idea that Walkers expedition was peaceable
one. His acts on the shores of Nicaragua
were such as oil writer's on international law
set down as piracy aud murder. Mr.. S. would
be glad TO see colonization and free instii utons
carried into Central America, but not in the way
attempted He defended Commodore Pauld-
ing, and expressed surprise to FIND how readily
every imputatiOn against him had been listen.
ed to. He cited the case Of Gene al jackson,
who had passed into the Territory of Spain TO
arrest some OF her citizens. Walker had been
rescued from certain death By Capt. Davis on
his former expedition--an act which had been
| "a me- 0f hut urhI in q
to him, instead OF . just subject Of complaint;
but such expeditions as Walkers were pre-
| Judicial to American interests.
| Mr.. Bliss, Of Ohio, said it was evident that
the Committee was not yet prepared to discuss
this question nnderstandingly and if it was
desired 10 pass over this third resolution to act
upon the others, he was ready to yield the floor
for that purpose. He wa- informed, however
that others desired to speak upon the subject,
and as it was not always easy under the rules
TO obtain the floor just ct the right time, he
would call attention to another question which
agitated, not the outlaws, but the rejecting
masses of the people of this country. He al
luded to what was called the bred Scott de-
cisiop.
He then proceeded TO make an elaborate ar
gument against that decision, protesting against
it for himself and in The name of his constitu-
ens.
Mr.. Haskin, Of New York, who styled himself
a Hsrd.Shell National Democrat, regarded the
act of Walker petty larceny. He was against
such filibusteriDg. lie was for flibustering on
grand scale. The Os'end Manifesto suited
him-let the ration actor one, he was in
favor Of Selling Cuba. But, let it be Govern.
ment business, not a petty, Individual, free
booting affair. He defended Paulding and the
Administration.
Mr.. Stephens, Ct Georgia, said, in his re-
marks of yesterday, he di3 not intend 70 assail
the character of Gem. Paulding, further than SO
far es it was affected by the act of arresting
Walker. That was without law or the color of
law. Upon that deed alone he was to stand
1t might be that his grandfather had the honor
of refusing bribe; as far as that went to his
credit, let i: go. The gentleman had spoken of
the sad condition of Walkers men after their
return, through the illegal interference of Com.
mander Davis. What pat them in that condi-
ton? Perhaps they bad been robbed He
heard, TOO, TIA. Walkers men, now at Norfolk,
were poor, lazy and lousy. They were last
he believed ia company with naval officers,
and be did not know whether or not those Off.
GERS could look upon them, and say
Thou canst not say did it,
he made ~ inputation against Commodore
Paulding, further that his act Justified. If the
&C. was illegal, it was an outrage that ought to
be redressed.
Mr.. Bocock, of Virginia, as chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, had met many
naval officers, but more who were "lazy and
lousy" if the gentleman from Georgia Mr..