The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1858-01-08
Congressional.
W ARLINGTON, Jan. 4.

Committee on Foreign Affairs re.
ported a resolution that the Presi.
dent he requested, if in his opinion
not incompatible to the public inter.
ests, to communicate oil the infor.
nation in his possession relative to
the seizure Of Gen. Walker and his
party in Nicaragua, together with
the instructions given TO the naval
and other officers pertaining to the
subject.
Mr.. Jones of Tennessee, said that
he should like the gentlemen to
modify his resolution 90 az to call
for information respecting the fitting
out Of an expedition in this country
by Walker.
Mr.. Clingman replied that he
would modify the resolution if he
had the power, but it being a report
from a committee, he could not do
so. The resolution was received un.
der q suspension of the rules by q
vote Of III against Al. After some
debate the resolution was passed.
The following debate preceded the
passage Of the resolution:
Mr.. Clingman said That o mo nent
reflection wouid convince the gen.
tlemen that the resolution should be
adopted. 1t was sufficiently broad
to cover the entire ground, and tue
President would he likely to inform
the House what this man Walker
has been doing.
This was a matter Of great i'm.
portance, which the House could not
overlook. 1t involved three consid.
erations to bring it to their notice.
First-The rights Of Walker aud his
followers, who have been seized
whether they are criminal or not il
another thing. Secondly-The rights
OF Nicaragua and Costa Rica, OF
whoever owns the territory invaded
Thirdly, and Of moro importance
which did not depend on the two
points preceding, It appeared one o
our naval officers, whether or not by
authority Of tho President, hac
marched with body OF men into q
foreign territory, and brought away
Walker and bis men by force.
1t must strike every one that this
was an act OF war. Suppose tina
Walker was a bad man, this did no
justify the invasion OF soil by {
foreign army for that purpose. Thi'
did not justify Commodore Paulding
II civn wxr or rebellion was II
progress there, and our officers sup
pressed il, the triumphat party woul,
not complain. He had no doubt
that II, in the revolution IN Paris
American troops had interfered il
behalf Of Louis Philippe, the latte
would not have complained OF q,
invasion.
, Mr.. Richie, interposing. said tha
Il the act Of Commodore Paulding wa
unsuitable, on the ground that w al
ker was q fugitive from the Grim
inal law, and the officers being dis
u patched had . right to arrest hir
: any where. -
Mr.. Clingman resuming, remark
y ed that he did not concur with hi
!, friend. liza fugitive 20 into Canad,
we would have the right to make
y demand Of q foreign government ft
q his restoration; but Ii we invade
ofthst territory, the gentleman fro,
!, Pennsylvania could see that It woul
!, involve us in much trouble, an
= would present . very serious que
tion. -. 81. q ~
. Congress my anthorise ain Int
ference in the affairs OF foreie
n country; but a. Congress is . v,
;. lmaking power, our officers have Z
fright 10 invade . foreign countl
elwithout authority, II we justify Il
invasion 81 Central America
!. Commodore Psulding, what ms
. not Great Britain dol II No q
J. land forces there and interfere vii
1.-The Affairs Of thAs coantsy, Gro,
Britain can do tie same. Ifthis
mot N yislstioa Of the Clayton Bu
!. liver treaty, what lei The Cover,
v,,ans NJ tha ~ a IN hound m AZ,