Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-02-02
ms;,u.rfth congres+First Session.

Xaa having concluded his speech in reply to
 3r Groesbeck, of Ohio.
 MT. THOMPSON, of N Y., addressed the
 smmittee, saying that so far from aboshing the
 neutraty laws, he would uphold and vindlcate
 Fl lem in every letter and line. He considered
 lat General Walker was guilty of violating not
 2nlv the neutrality laws, but the laws of the
 Emitted States; and thought the administration
 &as hound to have Walker prosecuted for n-
 xadng neutral power.
 Mr WARREN, of Ark, had no hesitation in
 Ewing that Commodore PauIding acted without
 enthoritv of law; the President himself had said
 eo much. He could not undertake to say what
 abonld be done either to Walker or Paulding;
 but he believed it to be the duty of every demo
 Frat to be extremely cautious how he touched
 tbs matter, lest he should put plank in the
 Platform of their opponents Itmight be thought
 fhat he, coming from Arkansas, was thorough
 flbuster. In one sense of the term he was,
 but not in violation of law.
 # When propositions came up to reinstate or in
 demnify Walker, or to modify or amend the
 Neutrality laws, he would be ready to commit
 Himself; but there such thing as members of Congress expressing opinions without mature deIiberation. For similar reasons, he would not address the House upon the Kansas ques ton although he was a supporter of the great Constitutional doctrine of popular sovereignty. Be woull only say that he was prepared to act on the Kansas question in accordance with the Views of the executive, by voting directly for a Exposition which would for ever dispose of the matter, so far as the action of government is Concerned.
 He could not sympathize with "bleedng Kansas" but regretted that her people had not the nerve and manliness to defend their rights He did not propose to extricate them from their difficulty, but should vote for the Lecompton oonsttution, and let Kansas fight it out as she could. He did not propose to talk of Utah. He regretted only that President Pierce did not remove Brigham Young from the office of Co., Nernor. If he had done so, that deluded people would now have been good and peaceable citi. xens.
 & MT. w. then addressed the committee in SUD- port of certain bills granting lands to the State of Arkansas to aid in the construction of rail- ruads. In the course of his remarks he said the construction of these roads would enhance tfle value of government lands, thereby bene- htng the treasury, which he was sure would en- lBt the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Joues) in their support.
 MT. JON ES said he had no desire to see the government speculate in lands or receive large profit from their sale. He would prefer that government should part with no more land, ex- cept ln small parcels to actual settlers, and that at the lowest possible price. Wild lands were worthless until they were made valuable by the labor ot the cultivator, and he alone ought to reap the benefit of his toil
 Mr. WARREN said they did not differ in ther views, only they had a different way of ex pressing them. He was in favor of aiding the culuvator of the soil by giving him access to the market.
 Mr. CURTIS, of Iowa, addressed the con- mttee in defense of the neutrality laws. and after speaking few minutes, gave way for a mouon that the committee rise; which was car ried
 At o'clock the House ad iourned.
 Wednesday,, Jan. l3.--SENArE-Mr. DOO- Ll TLE asked and obtained leave to introduce q ]ont resolution directing the presentation of medal to Com. Hiram Paulding-which was read and passed to a second reading.
 After some other unimportant business the Senate resumed the consideration of the joint resolution to extend and define the authority of the President under the act approved January l6. 1857, entitled An act to amend the act en- utled An act to promote the efficiency of the navy,' ln respect to dropped and retired off cers, the question pending being on the motion of Mr. Mason to reconsider the vote on the adoption of the proviso of Mr. Hunter. "that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to allow the increase of the number of off cers on the active servce-list, as now authorized by law"
 Mir. HOUSTON, Mr. Toombs and others spoke with great earnestness in favor of the re- conslderation contending that the effect of the provlSo was to prevent justice being done to those Officers who have been injuriously affected by the action of the naval retiring board.
 NIT. SlURAT opposed the motion in some extended remarks, arguing that no necessity had been shown for an increase of the active list: and although great deal had been said about ln9ustlce, yet no specific cases had been pointed out where this injustice had been done.
 MT. DAVIS mentioned two cases which had come under his more immediate observation.
 MT DOOLlIILES resolution to grant me- dal to Commodore Hiram Paulding provides that Ine President be requested to cause medal to be made, with suitable devices, to be presented to Commodore Hiram Paulding, of the navy of the United States, as a testimonial of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallant and judlclous conduct on the 6th day of December lSo1 in arresting lawless military expedition set on foot in the United States under the com mand ot General Walker, and in preventing the sam from carrying on actual war against the feeble and almost detneseless Republic of Mica ragua, with which the United States are at peace
 Mir. BROWNS amendment is: "That Con- gress has heard with surprise of the arrest of William Walker and about one hundred and fifty other persons, at Punta Arenas. in Nicara- bu Hirara popIIir,r ll cd States naval squadron, on the 9th day of De- cember 1897; and seeing that act was in viola tion to the territorial sovereignty of friendly power, and not sanctioned by any existing law, CongreSs disavows it; and being officially noti fled that said Paulding acted without nstruc tions from the President, or the Secretary of the Navy, Congress expresses its condemnation of his conduct in this regard"
 The resolution on naval reform was passed without the proviso that there should be no in crease of officers on the active service list; and the Senate adjourned.
 # HoUsE,-The House resolved itselfnto Con- mlttee and MT. Curtis, of Iowa, who had DOS session of the floor, proceeded to ask why have the people of this country for years past turned ther eyes towards Central America? Why have they committed the great error of turning to the barren and sickly soil of those States while the broad and fertile fields of the west arc yet unoccupied? The error has grown out of another error which has gained general ac Equation, and that is, that the highway of ma. lions IS by sea. It has been so hitherto, but the Highway for the worlds traffic is now by land Conveyance.
 Would We prefer, as the nearest route to New York or to Charleston to go by sea? And vet the route to California, by the Isthmus, is hot more clrcuitouS than is the sea route to Charles ton or New York. The direct route to the west IS across the continent. The narrow portion of the continent has thousand miles of seaboard on the Atlantic, and similar extent on the Pacific side, which it would require an army and navy to protect, while by direct railroad route across our own land, we could reach San Fran cisco in five days.
 He blamed the successive administrations of this country for their mistaken policy in per- hitting tlbustering operations in the direction 0f Central America. Let other nations take care oi themselves, and let Us occupy ourselves with the development of our own resources.-- He concluded his remarks by defense of Com. Pau dlug and condemnation of Valkor