The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-03

Inc Dill was then amended by increasing the
gauge from feet to 81, and the width of the car
riages from feet to 8.
After some further discussion there being no
| quorum present
| On motion, the Senate adjourned
| The House was engaged in the consideration
OF private bills, sometimes finding itself without
! a quorum.
| Monday, January 81, 1859.
SENATE
| The A0Uy.-Mr. Mallory from the Commit
tee on Naval Affairs, to which the subject was
referred, submitted report in relation TO the
present condition of the navy; which was order
| ed to be printed.
| By the leading naval constructors of England,
! naval war vessels moved by sails alone are re-
| garded as obsolete, and we are called upon at
| once to act upon the idea that steam power is
! no longer to be regarded as the auxiliary but
as the primary power, and sails as furnishing
the auxiliary power
/ From the character Of the Gulf of Mexico.
and the immense trade which floats upon its
bosom, it is evident that the first naval contest
in which this country shall ever be engaged
will be In Its waters. A vast commerce, al.
ready valued at two hundred and fifty millions
of dollars annually, threads its way between the
Cuba and Florida shores, a strait which six
heavy steamships may bridge across and speak
each other by signals every twenty minutes,
and that either of the great naval Powers of
Europe, in the event of hostiities with us, could
with her present steam fleets, furnish such a
bridge without materially weakening her naval
forces.
\ Mr.. Bigler submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was read:
/ Resotced, las the opinion of the Senate,) That
/ the creation of large public debt in time Of
peace Is inconsistent with the true policy of the
4 mted States and as the present revenues are
insufficient to meet the unavoidable expenses
of the Government, Congress should proceed
without delay to so readjust the revenue laws
/ as not only to meet the deficit in the current
4 expenses, but to pay off the present debt, SO far
| as II may be liable to immediate cancellation.
I The Senate determined to proceed with the
discussion of the resolution offered at the last
| session of Congress by Mr.. Doolittle proposing
to present to Commodore Paulding gold medal
because of his meritorious conduct in arresting
| General William Walker within the jurisdiction
| of Nicaragua.
| For this resolution Mr.. Foot offered subst
| tute, declaring that the conduct of Commodore
/ Paulding in the premises authorized by ma
! tional law, sustained by the instructions under
which he acted, and worthy of the commenda-
! ton and approval of the country.
| Mr.. Foot then proceeded to enforce his sub
| stitute in an elaborate argument, remarkable
| for its fine analysis Of the questions, both of
| fact and law, involved in the discussion. Aftor
reciting the evidences which proved the illegal
nature of the enterprise suddenly nipped in
| the bud by Commodore Paulding, and after
detailing the incidents connected witn Walkers
arrest, he professed kis inability to discern
| wherein that officer had committed the "grave
error ascribed to him by the President Qf the
| United States.
| Mr. Crttenden in few remarks vind;cated
the Legality and high propriety of Commodore
| Paulding's conduct in efiecting Walkers arrest
In point OF fact, tho sovereignty of Nicaragua
had not been assailed by that officer, for Mica
raguaS sovereignty was already nullifed and
suspended at the point in question by the for
chile occupation of armed invaders. In the eve
Of reason, as of national law, no violence was
done to the territorial sovereignty Of that coun-
try by the friendly interpasi,ion Of Commodore
Paulding, who came as a deliyerer, and not
! with intent to uespass.
After short discussion relative 10 the order
of business--Mr. Doolittle and Mr.. Seward pro.
posing to continue the pending discussion with
| a view 10 It's speedy termination-the Senate
decided, on motion Of Mr.. Hunter, to take up
the Indian appropriation bill, which was next
| briefly considered, but not disposed of at the
time of the adjournment.
| HOUSE,
The Alfricqr GGge Irdt4@.-Afr, kigore Of
lndislip ASKED leave to introduce the following
resolutions
Whereas the laws prohibiting the African
slave trade have become topic of discussion
with newspaper writer's and political agitators,
many of them boldly denoune:Gg ,aese laws as
unwise in polipY and aE4gracefui in their pro,
visions, and insisting on the justice and propri-
ETY. OF their repeal, and the revival Of the odious
traffic in African slaves; and whereas recent
demonstrations afford strong reasons to appre-
bend that SAID laws are to be set at defiance
ana Their violation openly c2rp,onanced and
encouraged bv rGI,ioh Of the citizens of some
of ,.- ~.ates of this Union; and whereas it is
proper, in view of the said facts that the semi.
ments of the peoples representatives in Con
gress should be made r,bhc in relation thereto
Therefoys, -
i. RSseised, That we recognise no right on the
part OF the Federal Government, or any other
| Law making power, save that Of the States
| wherein it exists, to interfere with or disturb
the institution of domestic Slavery where it is
established or protected by State legislation; we
do hold that Congress has power ~ prohibit the
foreign traihc, and taat 40 Legislation can be
\ too thf;Yugn IA ats measures, nor eau any pen
I Aity Known 10 the catalogue Of modern punish
! nent for crime be too severe against traffic so
! inhuman and unchristian.
! 2. Resolred, That the laws in force AGAINST
said traffic are founded upon the broadest prin-
ciples of philanthropy, religion, and humanity;
| ;Ltl they should rehain unchanged, except as
[ far as Legislation may be needed to render them
/ more efficient; and that they should be faith
fully and promptly executed by our Govern
ment and respected by all good citizens.
! B. ResOtced, That the Executive should he
sustained and commended fos any proper effort,
whenever ard wheIeyer made, to enforce said
! lave, and TO bring to speedy punishment the
J wicked yioators thereof and all their aiders and
| abettoGs.
| MIR. Burnett, Of Kentucky, said no could not
vote for the resolutions, inasmuch as he did moi
believe the facts stated in the preerss.t.iie 70 be
true. He objected,
! peaaed which motion was not agreed to-yeas
I Us, nays 84-two.thirds not voting in favor
/ thereof, as follows:
Teas-Messrs. Abbott, Adrain, Ali, Andrews,
Arnold, Bennett, Billinghurst, BiHgha@, 8ish-
op, Bliss, Bowie, Brayton Puhnton, Burin-
game, Byr;aagh, Case, Chafee, Chapman, Claw
sen, Ozark B. Cochrane Of New York, John
I Cochrane of New York, Cockeri, Colfax,
| Comins. Corning, Covode, Davis of MARYLAND
| Davis of Indiana, Davis of Massachusetts
Dawes, Dean, Dewart, Dick, Dodd, Durfee,
Edie, English, Fenton, Foley, Foster, G;aSings,
Gilman, Gilmer, Gooch, Geedwin, Granger
Groesbeck, Grow, Ian Of massachusetts, Harlan,
TE,artis, haskn, Hatch, Hickman, Hoard Hor-
ton, Howard Hughes, Jones, of Pennsylyana,
Keim, Kellogg, Kelsey. wwigpre, Knapp, Kun
kel of Pennsylvania, Leach, Leidy, Letter
LIc3;eejoy, M4aclay,. Marshall of Kentucky, Mar