Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
account as would, this day, have saved much

He was of opinion that enough has even been done to destroy the esprit du co,-ps of our navy and although he (Mr. Clay) comes from the far west, where the plough is the emblem, and not the anchor, the navy would always have a defender in him.
 1 He was opposed to all varieties of private war-of which there were three kinds-piracv on the seas, buccaneering or expeditions to rob foreign countries, and filbustering, or exped tions to take and to hold new countries and to establish therein new forms of government.- | When the proper time comes, the United States. as nation or by other legitimate means. to ac. | quire as much of these countries as may be re- quired
 In conclusion, he was not prepared to say to what extent the present neutrality laws should be modified, but would assent to their reference either to general or special committee In testlfying his support of the present adminis- tratlon Tn the present trying crisis, he had full filled his object
 Mir. POTTLE, of New York, followed in the same course; supported the administration; de- tended Paulding and the navy, and condemned fillibusterism.
 MT. LAMAR, of Miss, was speaking when our report closed. After remarking in favor of the extension of southern institutions, he pro- ceeded to address the committee in support of the Lecompton constitution of Kansas-main- tanning that the convention which framed 1t was regular and legal, and that the admission of Kansas under it would only be the carving out of the principles of the Kansas N ebraska act. In the course of his remarks he denounced Governor Walker for being recreant to the south, and Senator Douglas as false to his prin- cpes.
 MT. MONTGOMERY of Pa, dissented from the arguments advanced, that the law of nations did not prevent our citizens from band Ing together to make war upon other nations Treaties of peace are binding upon every indi- vidual Tn the nation, and governments are re- sponsble for the hostile acts of their citizens. He considered Gen. Walker amenabe to the law of 1818
 MT. ZOLLICOFFER, of Tenn. defined b;s position. He was opposed to the repeal of the neutrality laws, and was not fillibustar but bo maintained that the seizure of Walker was an usurpatlon of power unauthorized bv the law ot nations, or the act of 1918, and not warrant ed by the constitution. Still he considered that fau'dlng had been justified by the tenor of his instructions In acting as he did; the error rested on the instructions given him.
 MT. STEPHENS, of Ga, and Mr. Blair. of MO-, rose simultaneously. The chairman awarded the floor to the former. MT. Blair pro testing The committee rose at 415 o'clock.
 Ihursday Jan. IA, 1858.
 SENATE.-The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication from tbo Secretary of War, transmitting, in pursuance of law, statements of the expenditure from the appropriations for the service of that denart. ment, winch was read and laid on the table
 On motion by Mir. BELL, resolution was adopted, requesting the Secretary of the Interior to communlcate to the Senate an estimate of the quantity of land which will enure under the grant made by the act approved on the 31st of March, 1857, granting land to the territory of Minnesota for railroad purposes.
 On motion by Mir DAVIS a resolution was adopted requesting the Secretary of War to communicate to the Senate the report of inc commission on the war claims of Oregon and Washington territories
 Mir. HOUSTON gave notice of his intention on some early day, to ask leave to introduce a blll to provide for the admission of Kansas into the Union State
 The joint resolution, directing the presenta ton of medal to Commodore Hiram Pauld- Ing, was taken up and read second time: when It was made the special order for "Wednesday next at one o'clock
 Mir. CHANDLER gave notice of his intep- ton, on some early day, to ask leave to intro duce bill making additional appropriations for deepening the channel at the Saint Clair Flats.
 Several private bills were then considered and passed
 On motion, by Mir. SEWARD. a resolution was adopted, requesting the Secretary of War to transmit to the Senate report of the survey and examination of the Potomac river in the vicinity Of Washington City, made by the off cers of the typographical bureau during the last year.
 MT HOUSTON presented the petition of Jane Stoneham, aged ninety nine vears--the widow of revolutionary soldier-praying a pension; which was referred to the committee on pensions
 The Senate, shortly after l o'clock, pro- ceeded to the consideration of Executive bus- ness
 HoUsE-The House went into committee and MT. Stephens, of Georgia took the floor. At the outset of his remarks, he declared that gentlemen on the opposite side of the question shall not stand before the House and the coun- try as the exclusive champions of law aud or der. That is the gronud he occupies; and he is there to defend law and order, international law. and the constitution of the country. In so far as the law of 1918 goes beyond the law of nations, he Is in favor of rep-aling that law; and where the law of 1918 admits of doubt, he is in favor of removing that doubt. Section of thnt laM does admit of doubt and has been diffeiently interpreted by different adminstra- tions.
 He defied any man to say that under that clause, as 1t stands, the President can use the army and navy at all. It is only by corstruc ton, by an interpolation of words, that it can be so interpreted. As the section stands. it is meaningless There is clearly an omission.-- The clause only allows the President to use "such part'' of the army and navy, under legal provisions. There is another doubt whether the President can-whether it was the nten- ton that he colud-use such part" of the navy outside of marine league.
 He did not believe it was so intended This act upon its face is inter- territorial, and we are bound to suppose that the legislature did not intend it to be anything but an inter territorial law? There is nothing in this, except by con- struction, and an erroneous one, to use those forces of the United States upon the sea. As a second proposition, he would assert that the President has no right to use the army, or the navy, or the militia of the United States. ex- cept to enforce within our own jurisdiction in enforcing process of law. The President can not employ the forces of the country except under process of law. MT. Stephens here read the second section of the act of 1795; also the 9th section of the act of 1918.
 Prevent did not mean to pursue on the high seas. P,euentist-prevent, stand before or the marine league, if you please, and keep back ex- petitions from sailing from the shores He fur ther read from the act, showing that ships could only be condemned by the district court within which district the said ship is seized-clearlv showing that 1t had reference to the marine league Offences committed on the high seas are provided for by law. Where power is con- ferred to the army and navy, it includes the militia; and will it be said that the President has the right to assume the war making power, and send an army into the interior of Nicaragua to England? Where is it to stop? He also read the opinion of Daniel Webster, as express ed in the Ashburton treaty, that no right existed for sovereign to enter, with hostile intent, on the territory of another
 M- GROESRECK of Ob;oR,t ;, 4b;