New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The House went into Committee of the Whole on
tie state Of the Union on the Presidents Annual Mos
Mr CLANCY JONES, in the House, submitted
series of resolutions referring the various branches Of
the Message to tho appropriate standing committees.
He expressed the hope that they would be sdopted
forthwith the Message had besn before tho country
Mr.. OTITMAN moved an amendment, referring
that part Of the Message relative to the enforcement
of the Neutrality laws to Select Commatee OF nvs
members. He said the country demanded thst some
thing be done.
Gentlemen might attempt to get rid Of these ques.
tons but they now forced on the considerstoa
of Congress He had come to tho conclusion hst tho
greater part Of the neutrality laws ought to be swept
from the statute book snd believed If the larger por-
ton Of the House would investigate the subject they
would arrive at the same conclusion.
Mr.. QCITMAE continued, saying that these were
questions which might ss we'll be met now. II an ls~-
tegent nation like this should think proper to retsia
it, neutrality laws, or carry out the recommendaton
Of tho President now he believed for the hrst time,
made from the Executive chair; that is to mako them
more stringent he must be content. But no would
not be content till he could bring Congress 10 vote
on this important subject. He emphaticslly denied
that the law of nations requires pendent States TO
restrain their citizens from hostile aggrsssi0ns an
other power. The rights reserved to citizens by tho
Constitution cannot be invaded by the Government,
the powers II which limited and specified. Tho
sccalled neutrality laws attempt 10 punish as crnes,
acts which are unknown to the law OF nations. He
hoped the sympathy now manifested in behalf OF
Central American affairs, would not be restrained by
force. Were not our citizens rs good Judges OF their
own morals Congress for thcmi
Mr.. j. CLANCY JONES said if he understood tho
most distinguishing characteristic Of our Government,
il was Government of national, constitutional aud
common law. Hence, in framing his resolutions no
proposed as most appropriate to refer this utef TO
the Committee % the Judiciary; Az to the Presi-
dent position he undertood it to be this: If you wish
me TO carry out these laws, yea must give me moro
power But it was not to be inferred nom seguter
that the President would have any objection to tho
aat., Nff kaa lauro
DR.. KEITT took for granted that special qnestton
like THE might properly be cen6ded ~ special Com
nittee. He understood the gentleman from fennsyi-
ysna to say that the President waived the question
whether or not he was in favor of the repeal Or mod
fcaon ofthe neutrality laws, but simply esked TO b
clothed with new power TO defend them-
Mr.. JONES explained. His impression was that
he did not cay that tho President has made waiver.
He meant to give opinion one way or tbs other;
but il the existing statutes 10 be carried ou by
the courts snd the country il would DO necessary 70
them.
Mr. KEITT, resuming, said the word waiver wns
not technically correct, bat was enthusiastically true.
The President was asked to have An Army and Navy
TO punish citizens Of the United States on the high
seas and on foreign soil Did he want an Army and
Navy to prevent the sailing Of expeditios from
shores' We have already an Army and Nsyy for
this purpose. Then for what purpose does the Pres-
dent want additional forcesf II to fe,ie the expe
dioDists the water, and arrest them IN torslgn
land. To do that tho whole neutrality law mast be
perverted III the frehIuent hdb tho nghs
70 mako seizures in . foreign land, he hes the
right Of despOt ss Commander in-Chief Of
the Amy and Navy IF men can be
captured these were they must be captured Tor
Ofense The pursuit % any expedition beyond three
miles from land is unlawful, and its capture on foreign
soil il also unlawful, and the gentleman from
Georgia tMr. Stephens) seid, it is robbery to do il.
H. did not know what position the Administration
occupies. He believed that Capt. Chatsrd, in sight
/ # Punta Arenas, allowed the Decentralization Of
Walkers men, because he had not the power to pre-
vent it, snd that officer recalled IN ksgI"ce. But
Com. Paulding at tina, very spot, seat hs men on
shore TO capture Waller aud his mea and he is noe
yet nvoly ed in Disgrace. singular state Of sairs-
Chetard dsgraced for not doing what was done by
Pauldng, who il retained
|, ,Mr. J. CLANCY JONES read portion Of the Mes.
cage 10 show that tho President only asked The EN-.
p!oymsn Of an additional kres in Of necessity To
to execute the laws the statute books and for the
fulfnent Of treaty in which the faith of tho Gov
eminent already pledged relative TO tho protection
Of the isthmus Of Panama and Transit route and for
the enforcement Of the neutrality laws. IL gentlemea
mean that be should execute them, they must cothA
| him with additional powers.
| Mr.. STEPHENS eoneuIred almost entirely With
the argument of Mr.. Quitman. He wished this mat
ter inquired into by some Committee who woHd re-
port. While before entering fully into the question,
would say in advance that he did not understand
| any ofenD violation Of the Neutrality laws had
been COMMITTED. II il be true that a naval officer
has gone foreign soil and arrested the citizens Of
foreign country, American citizens and derived
them Of their liberty and property, il Is greet out
rage, unjustifed by law semhlaace Of law. and
| that ohcer should receive the reprmand Of his su.
perior tficial. A has been well remarked, nasa
tficers cannot e1pound International law.