Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-05-27
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON May %
nR-T mr..

WASHINGTON May %.
SENATE
Mr., Seward of New York called up the Chi
cago harbor Improvement bill, which was dis
cussed during the morning hour.
Mr.. Toombs of Georgia held that the bill
was unconstitutional.
Messrs. Davis, Collamer, and Benjamin, ar
gued that the government had the power to
make improvements for the benefit of internal
State commerce.
AT one o'clock the $15, 900 900 loan bill
came up.
Mr.. Simmons OF Rhode Island had the floor.
with an amendment proposing home valua-
ton OF imports, which, he argued, would d.
minish thecustom frauds, and largely increase
the revenue.
Mr. Toombs said that they could net intro
duce such an amendment into the loan bill
He sustained Mr.. Hunters point of order,
but agreed with Mr.. Simmons in favor of a
home valuation. In the course of his remarks,
Mr.. I. said he had been ready at any time
these ten years for a war with England and
II we got up a war now he wanted to be
counted in. The government should have
sunk the British ships, or, seizing them,
brought their officers here and hanged them.
While the British gun-boats are committing
eutrages in the Gulf, which is ours. and
ought to be "mare clausum," the finest ship
in the American navy is where s-towing a
telegraph line between the two British posses /.
sions. Mr.. Toombs also spoke strongly for
limiting the expenses of the government, ex-
cept in war, to 500, 000, 900.
Considerable discussion followed on the
point of order, Mr.. Hunter defending, and Mr..
Seward disagreeing to it.
MIR. Crittenden of Kentucky saw nothing
to prevent the Senate from altering the meth
cd of collecting the tariff. Mr.. simmons
amendment, he said, went no further than
the mode of collecting, and hence was not
obnoxious to the objection made by the SEN
ator from Virginia. Home valuation was the
only safe one. He believed that England
would give an ample apology for these often
sive aggressions of her cruisers.
Mr.. Davis of Mississippi made areply to
Mr.. Crittenden, saying that economy must
proceed from the Executive
MOUSE.
Several. bills were passed relating to the
District OF Columbia.
The Ohio contested election was then ia
ken up.
A resolution of Mr.. Gilmer of North Caro-
lima, member of the Committee on Elec-
tons, declaring that Mr.. Campbell is entitled
to the seat, was rejected by twenty five ma
jority.
A resolution of Mr.. Lamar of Mississippi.
also of the committee, that Mr.. Yallanding-
ham is entitled to the seat. was adopted BY
four majority. and Mr.. Vallandingham was
sworn in.
The fertilization bill then came up.
Mr.. Clancy Jones said it proposed an ap-
Precipitation of $3.50, 900, to be expended at
the discretion of the Secretary of War, for
the preservation and keeping in repair the
forti6cations for next year.
Mr.. Whitley of Delaware, offered sub
stltute in accordance with the estimates of the
War Department, appropriating nearly s..
100000, and argued the necessity Of complei-
ing the Notifications considering the condition
OF our foreign relations, SO that if war come
we may defend ourselves against the enemy.
Mr.. Dowdell of Alabama. said he trusted
that the administration had not only sent or
ders to the Gulf to protect our commerce, but
for the arrest Of every foreign captain who has
boarded our vessels, that they might be bro't
into port and tried for piracy. Broadsides
first and explanations af;erward, was his mot
to.
Mr.. Letcher of Virginia, said il struck him
as singular that the gentleman from Alabama
spoke OF 'broadsides first and explanations
afterwards" We should husband our funds,
80 that II war come we may resort to the best
available means of defence.
No definite action was taken on the hill.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, and speeches were made on yari.
Gus subjects. Adjourned.