The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTYFIFTH CONGRESS---SEC SESSION.
WASHINGTON, February is, 1859.


Mr.. FTCH, from the Committee on Printing, re-
ported in favor of printing five thousand copies
OF the report of the coast survey; which was
agreed to.
Mr.. STUART offered resolution that on and after
Monday next, the Senate meet at twelve O'clock
Laid over.
Mr.. Polk, from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions, reported a bill for the relief of Z. c. Squier
late charge Pal1aircs from the United States to
Guatemala.
This bill elected much debate; pending the pas
sage OF which the special order came up and long
debate ensued as to the order of business.
Mr.. HUNTER moved to postpone all prior orders,
and take up the Consular and Diplomatic Appro-
priatiOn bill. Not agreed to-yeas u, nays %.
Mr.. PEARCE introduced a bill for the improve
ment of the PatapscO river, and to render the port
of Baltimore accessible to the war steamers of the
United States. Referred.
The Senate then took up the private calendar
The House bills were first considered. The follow
inr were passed
An act to authorize the claimants in right of
John Huertas to enter certain lands in Florida.
An act for the relief of Leonard Loomis.
An act for the relief Of John F. Cannon.
An act for the relief of Margaret Whitehead was
laid on the table. When the vote was taken on this
bill it was found that no quorum voting;
whereupon
Mr.. PuGH moved the Senate adjourn. Not
agreed to-yeas 3, nays Sc.
The consideration of private bills was then con-
tiuued.
After few private bills had been acted upon, an
important special message was received from the
President, asking Congress to confer upon him
power to use the army and navy to protect the
transit route. See message given in a special
despatch. 1t was partially debated by Senators
Mason, Clingman, Benjamin, Douglass and Davis,
more or less IN favor, aud by Messrs Seward and
Fessenden as thoroughly against it. Without TAX
ing any action the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- TIvES.
There being no quorum present. Mr.. JONES, of
Tennessee, moved call of the House, upon which
the yeas and nays were ordered and resulted yeas
so, nays 73. So the motion was rejected.
bill to authorize the sale of certain Govern
ment property in the city of Savannah was adopted
On motion of Mr.. PHELPS, of Missouri the House
resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole on
the Army Appropriation Bill.
The amendment reducing the appropriation for
recruiting to 500, 900 was rejected
The question recurring on the amendment of Mr..
STANTON, of Ohio, to strike out the entire appro-
priation,
Mr.. Faulkner said the Committee on Military
Affairs had examined this appropriation, and he
was unwilling to vote the amount asked for. Prior
to 1855 the cost of this service was only S4S OOO
which in that year was increased to $4,000, on
account of the necessity for recruiting to fill the
four new regiments ordered by Congress. Since
then the same sum had been annually asked, and he
thought it unnecessary.
Mr.. PHELPS defended the appropriation.
Mr.. LovEJoY moved to strike out the extra paw
of non-commssioned officers. He was opposed to
this system of protecting the frontiers by the
United States troops. He thought the settlers
should protect themselves, and that the soldiers
created more wars than they cured. The soldiers
were asked for in these frontier towns to advance
the value OF property. This was their only use in
Utah, and he said so when the determination of the
Mormons was urged because they chose to have
white concubnes instead of black ones as was the
case in other sections of the Union.
He was proceeding to reply to the remarks of
Mr.. LErcIER, yesterday, when Mr. PHELPS called
him to order.
Mr.. LovEJoY-"The cry of order" always comes
up from the "vasty Deep when the harpoon touch
the blubber.
The motion of Mr.. STANTON, of Ohio, was lost.
Mr.. BLISS said the army was put to illegal use in
being used as posse conattatus. The practice
wrong OF calling in the aid of troops to enforce the
execution of the laws. friend of his was arrested
by these troops on sham charge of treason. The
tendency of the present system towards mill
tary despotism. In this city, United States troops
were called out to shoot indiscrimnately into a.
crowd, whereby IA persons were killed.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE, of ILL.,, moved to amend by in
sertlng instructions that sufficient portion of the
money appropriated for the support of the army
should be used to prevent trespasses on military
reservation. Mr.. w. said this legislation was more
effectually to prevent trespasses upon the property
of the United States. He alluded particularly to
the Rock Island reservation, which being des-
poiled by trespassers.
1t should never be sold by the Government, and
he hoped yetto it the seat of some public build
ing. A National foundry, something of the sort
1t was now being robbed and stripped of its value
and should be protected.
Mr.. FAULKNER thought the amendment unneces-
sary There were laws which provided for the
tion desired.
Mr.. HoUsToN, Of Ala, asked if it was true that
such depredations were being committed. He did
not doubt the word of the gentleman, from Illinois,
but he wanted to hear from the Chairman of the
Committee on Military Affairs on the subject.
Mr.. Faulkner said he had not been informed of
any depredations.
After some debate involving the proprietv of the
amendment it was rejected
Mr.. FAULKNER, of Virginia. said he was autho-
rized by the Committee Military Affairs to offer
an amendment to reduce the appropriation of S3-
O9l 900 for the pay of officers and men, bv Sl3 600
MIR. BoNHAM, of South Carolina, said this was to
strike out the pay granted to Gen. Scott, Lieut.
General lie opposed the amendment and said
Gen. Scott had fairly and fully won every honor
which this Government had conferred upon him.
He asked from what part of the country came the
cry of objection to this appropriation
Mr.. HUGHEs, of Indiana, said the rule of the ar
my was that no one received brevet pay unless ac-
tually engaged in service in the brevet rank
Mr.. WAsHBUENE asked if this amendment did not
cut off $4,000 from Gen. Scott?
Mr.. STANTON said the officers had the right to
demand their brevet pay and you could not deprive
them of it.
The amendment was lost
Mr.. MARSHALL said he favored cutting off the
pay and emouments of brevet rank. 1t was in
tended simply as honor. His observation as
sured him that it was proper to cut off the pay.
s Mr.. HUGHES asked if in every instance brevet
rank was not conferred for meritorious services.
Mr.. MARSHALL said that would require an an
swer too directly pointed towards gentlemen of the
Army. Admitting, however, that he could answer
the gentleman's question afirmatively, it did not
alter his position. He was willing they should
wear their brevet rank as badge fhonor.
Mr.. BoNHAM, of South Carolina, said that those
brevetted were generally young men of activity
and enterprise, who were sent to stations beyond
the borders of civilization They had to have horses
required by their rank, and it was their right to
have the additional compensation and allowances
to maintain their rank.
Mr.: CURTIS, of Iowa, opposed brevet pay accom-
panying brevet rank. He wished, however, to do
no injustice to the Commander-in-C Chief
Mr. NICHOLS, of Ohio, said that it was too late to
undertake to cut off this compensation, and far
as the Commander-in-Chief was concerned he did
not believe he received one cent more than he rich
ly deserved. 1t was poor economy to cut off the
pay of such eminent men as Generals Scott, Wool