The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
TRIRTY-FlFTH CONGRESS-, SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 1859.
q II NJ A

Nlr Iu6H rose 10 a personal explanation IN refer
ence to the reports which have appeared in several
newspapers, the New York Herald in particular
respecting the proceedings of the Senate in Execu-
tive session on Friday last. The account thus Civ
enis partial colored and false. The rules ofhe Sen
should be enforced, and if the debates in Execu-
tive session to be published Senators ought at
least to have opportunity to revise and correct
them, if they were not to have the advantage of
correct reporting.
Mr.. FITCH thought it would be better to have a
sworn reporter to take down all the debates in Sc
cret session, for future reference. This would act
as cloak on Senators against indulging in person
alities about those gentlemen who not here
and had no chance to defend themselves.
Mr.. DAVIS said though this report was Incorrect
it evident that there had been a criminal
breach of the privileges of the Senate
That letter must have been written by a
person who got a portion of his information
from some one who was present 1t was due to the
Senate that inquiries should be made to know how
it was that things occurring in secret session got
into the papers. 1t was due to himself to say that
the representation that he had made an attack
upon Mr. DOUGLAS was incorrect. He used some
what severe language, but it was not directed
against Mr.. DOUGLAS.
Mr.. GREEN, of Missouri, said that on Friday see
ing something in the northeast corner of the gal
ery, he had an investigation made, and trap door
was found open leading to dark room, in which
were tWO black cats! He did not believe the cats
furnished the reports, but there might be other
trap doors open, or perhaps the workmen had been
bribed to furnish hooks and corners for drop
pers.
Mr.. MASON said it was important thatthe deliber.
aticns of the Senate in Executive Session should be
private. In some manner they were now made pub
lie and he thought the Offenders should be brought
to punishment.
calling on the President for copy of the report o
the Special Agent of the United States, sent tC
Vancouver's Island on the Pacific.
The consideration of the Pacific Railroad bill was
then resumed, the question being the substitute
of Mr.. DAVIS
Mr.. WILSON moved to amend by substituting the
bill OF which he had heretofore given notice and
which he had modified in some particulars.
Mr.. SIMMONS expressed his views upon the Pa
cifc Railroad, indicating his preference for the
Middle route. lie also branched off into n review
of the differences between the North and the
South.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, opposed the bill as
unconstitutional and eXtravagant. He said the
S25,0O0,000 which it was proposed to advance
would swell to Sl00, 900, 900, or even double
that sum. He incidentally referred to general poll
tics, and opposed the caucus system of nominating
candidates tor the Presidency In his opinion, the
people should vote directly for President, and not
merely obey the dictates of conventions.
Mr.. BRoDERICK, of California, said as the Senator
from Tennessee, professed to be such strict con-
structionist he would like him to tell where he
found the constitutional power to place $50 900
in the hands of the President as corruption fund
with the power to spend hundred million more il
he chose. He was also very much shocked at the
proposition to give away some land for this Rail.
road and yet at the last session voted to give the
whole public domain to actual settlers.
Mr.. BRoDERICK, also replied to Mr.. Davis speech
in which he had characterized the Central route a:
desert and read from Capt. Beckwths report tC
show that plenty OF water and grass were founC
along the line of the 4lst parallel from the western
border of Missouri to California. He also said i
was the shortest route, being but 1899 miles il
length.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. ENGLISH, from the Post Office Committee
made an adverse report the memorial of th
Mount Vernon Association, asking that the Regent
thereof be granted the franking privileges, the
committee being of the opinion that the privilege
ought to be restricted rather than extended
They also made an adverse report on the memo
rial proposing the abolition of the Post Office De
partment, leaving the carrying of mails, etc.. t
private enterprise.
On motion of Mr.. NIBLACK, of Indiana resou
ton was adopted requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury to communicate to the House the amour
and disposition made of the per cent net pr oceed
arising from the sale of the public lands belongin!
to the State of Indiana since 1915 and reserved by
the compact entered into between the United State
and the State of Indiana in accordance with the ac
to enable the people of Indiana to form Constitu
tion and State Government; and whether three
htths of the amount so reserved has been paid over
and if not, why the same has been withheld.
| The SPEAKER called on the Committees for IT
! ports.
On motion of Mr.. ENGLISH, of Indiana, the Con
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads were d
! charged from the further consideration of th
memorial of Chas. Butterfeld, praying for the e.
| tablishment of team lines between the principi
Mexican and American ports in the Gulf of Mexico
On motion of Mr.. JONES the memorial was lai
! on the table, by yeas 50, nays 3S.
Sundry memorials for the conveyance of tn
mails on the West Coast of South America an
for mail line to the West Indies, were tabled.
Mr.. ENGLISH reported bill authorizing the Pos
Master General to test the utility of Morses Paten
| Marine Safe and Metallic Mail Bag; also bill t
abolish the franking privilege which were several
| ly referred to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. ENGLISH reported joint resolution authori2
ing the employment of four temporary clerks in tn
| Post Office Department at a salary of not owe
| 81 200 per annum.
Mr.. HAsKINs moved to lay the resolution on tn
| table, which was carried by yeas l03, nays So
Mr. ENGLISH reported bill regulating the pay
ment of postage on newspapers and periodicals.
| Referred to the Committee of the Whole.
On motion of Mr.. HoUsroN, of Ala, the Committe
on the Judiciary were authorized to print the test
mony in the case of Judge Irwin. of Pa.
| On motion Of Mr.. HARRIS, of Nd, the same orde
made in reference to the testimony taken beior
! the Select Committee appointed to examine the az
counts of the late Superintendent of Public Print
Mr.. WooD, of Maine, reported bill to estabis
| lines of steamers to Europe.
Mr. Horror, of Ohio, offered substitute, an
both were referred to the Committee of the Whole
| Mr.. PHELPS, of Missouri moved to 90 into Con
mittee of the Whole.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, opposed the notion
| He said unless more time was allowed for report
from the committees, the Territorial Committe
would not be rea ched in time to enable them to re
| port the Oregon bill. He called for the yeas an
nays on Mr.. Phelps motion, which resulted yea
| l23, nays 63.
The House accordingly went into Committee an
took up the Consular and Diplomatic Appropri
| ton bill.
Mr.. MORGAN, of Kentucky, offered an amen'
ment reducing the appropriation of $4,000 ft
blank books, flags, &c, for the use of the consl
lates, to $4,000. Rejected.
Mr.. MORRIS, of Pennsylvania, moved to reduC
the appropriation to $50, 600.
Mr.. NICHOLS moved to add a proviso that L
flag or blank books be sent to the consuls at GU
bee or Havana Mr.. Nichols said he was man
! fest destiny man, and had offered the amendmel
because gentlemen had assured that we mu
have Cuba and the Canadas, and since they wei
going to belong to us in less than six months, h
| saw no use OF mourning expenses for those consl
lates which would expire.
The amendment and proviso were then Will
drawn.
Mr.. HOPKINS, of Va, offered an amendment a
propriating $3 $50 for salary of the Minister res
dent in Japan, from January 10TH 1859 to 30th Jun
1860, and 81 500 for the salary of the same Mini
ter for the 30th day from June, 1860 till 1861.
Mr.. PHILLIPS, of Pa, contended that the Pres
dent had the power to appoint Ministers and rel
resentatves at foreign Courts, under the treaty NAL
ing power without authority from Congress.
Mr.. GARNET, Of Va, contended that while II
President had the right to appoint judges of II
| Supreme Court, and foreign Ministers, Congre
had control over their number and salaries. Thei
was no clause in the Constitution, which gave tn
| President the right to make appointments withol
authority from Congress.
Mr.. REAGAN, of Texas, argued in the same strai
as Mr. Garnett, and expressed his surprise tina
| Democrats should be found sustaining old Feder
theories, which the Democrats had long since e.
ploded.
The vote was then taken on Mr.. HOPKINS amen
ment, and it was carried.
Mr. HATCH moved to strike out the appropriate
for the Quebec consulate. Lost.
Mr. NORRIS, of Pennsy ylvania, moved to strike o.
all the consular appropriations, for if it the i
tention to do away with diplomatsts abroa
we had as well include the COnsuls.
MIR. CURRY, of Alabama, said we must reduce Il
expenditures. These missions of concede
uselessness; they only afforded places for spoil
men; almshouses for party hacks; and he WI
for applying the knife.
Mr.. MORRIS withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. KEITT, of 5. c., said he was much in fave
of economy as his friend from Alabama, but he d
not think this was the place to commence IT., u
der the commands of party dictation, incompetel
men, broken down politicians, sent abroa'
the fault was not in the system, but in the Admin
tration which sent them. He ridiculed the idt
that our foreign representatives upon the sal
ries they received, could initiate the pomp al
extravaganza of foreign courts, where noblemen e
joyed incomes of hundreds of thousands of dolla
per annum. No American representatives abroa
ever saved cent from their incomes, were eve
able to live like gentlemen. He had heard tn
some of them lived over wine cellars, and If all tn
haG been said was true, perhaps that was the be
place for some of them.
Mr.. SIcKLEs, of New York, opposed the propos
ton to reduce the appropriation for this servic
- g 1 l..