Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-06-14
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xxxvIth CoNeREss-FrRsr SESSION

MI. tlICn ODletltu, h1u Sitlu NuO ADCndNol
the other day presented q petition from
negroes, which was referred to the Com
mittee without their knowledge.
Mr.. Fessenden wanted to know If negroes
had not right to petition Congress.
Mr.. Fitch said he had no objection.
Mr.. Fessenden thought they ought to be
treated in the ordinary mode, and 1t would
not infringe on the dignity Of any Committee
to receive them. -r.
Mr.. Fitch objected to petitioning as citizens,
when the Senate did not recognize them as |
such. r.r
Mr.. Fessenden wished to dissent entirely
from any such idea.
Mr.. Wilson said these were very extraordi-
nary proceedings. His colleague had right
to present petition and ask a reference.
He hoped the freemen of the country
would take notice Of this position taken in
the Senate.
He wovld not say il was an insult, but
that 1t deserved the rebuke of every gentle
man.
On Mr.. Mason's suggestion, Mr.. Fitch
withdrew his objection, and said he did not
care for the opinion of the Senator from
Massachusetts,, as he did not class him in that
category at all.
The petition was referred to the Select
Committee
Mr.. Hunter, from the Finance Committee
reported Mr.. Morrills Tariff Bill, and moved
to postpone it till the second Monday in De-
cember. The motion lies over till to-mor-
row.
Mr.. Powell from the Judiciary Committee,
reported a bill to increase the salaries of GER
tain Judges of the United States.
Mr. Bayard. from the same Committee, re-
ported the House Bill, oprevent polygamy in
Utah, with an amendment.
An immense number of adverse reports
were made, and private bills and memorials
of minor Importance reported.
The Senate Bill, for the relief of Anson
Dart Ex-Superintendent of Indian Affairs in
; Oregon, was considered.
Mr. Lane opposed the BILL saying that the
man had no honesty and no integrity, was
loathed by every honest man. and desired to
filch from the Treasury every dollar he could
get.
Mr.. Slidell called up the resolution for night
sessions. ..
Mr.. Hammond said the legislation of night
sessions blurred the record of the country,
and he thought such legislation disgrace to
the Senate. In the old Roman Senate all
laws passed after sundown were invalid, and
that too, was before the discovery of alcohol.
The resolution was passed.
The Legislative and Executive Appropri-
alton Bill was considered.
Mr.. Hunter reported an amendment from
the Committee on Finance, extending the
time of funding the debt of 500, 0000 900 to five
years, stating that the House had sent in an
amendment to the Tariff Bill to fund this
debt in two years.
The Committee has thought it best to place
it in this bill, and extend the time.
Mr.. Bigler objected to the amendment on
; this bill. He thought the Senate should
consider the House Bill on the tariff, where
the amendment properly belongs. He did
not think the objection good, that there was
not time to consider the Tariff Bill.
After debate a recess was taken.
At six o'clock the Senate reassembled.
Mr.. Wilson defended the Republicans from
the charge of extravaganza saying that the
requirements made by the President and the
Departments exceed the appropriations made
by Congress. The House was controlled by
the Republicans They had refused the esti-
mates of the Administration, while Demo-
cratic Senate under the control of Democat
senator's had added over six millions to the
House bills. When such charges were made,
he desired to point to the record. He then
proceeded to show the necessity for an in
: crease of the tariff for revenue to meet the
debts of the Government.
HOUSE-The House proceeded to the con-
sideration of the special order, being the res
olutions reported back from the Committee
on Expenditures in the Navy Department.
Mr.. Bocock, in opposing the resolutions,
said the first question was, whether it was
right and proper for the House to form itself
into judicial tribunal and pass judgment
, and inhict punishment on the highest Execu-
tive officer of the Government, together with
one of the members of his cabinet, on enpdrte
testimony taken by Committee of a past
Congress. If they could go back to a former
Congress, why could they not go back into
all the preceding ones, even to the time OF
John Adams2 This was the first proposition
that had ever been made. The resolutions
proposed nothing more nor less than the con-
demnation and infiiction Of punishment upon
Secretary of the Navy.
} He would not be at all surprised to see the
: Republicans follow up the steps they have
already taken, by the issuance of a warrant
|, to arrest them, that they might be brought
to the bar of this House to be censured. The
i inhiction of censure deliberately and calmly
, performed, is one of the most grievous acts.
|, The President is independent of the Congress,
and the Congress is independent Of the Presi-
, dent. Each hes its legitimate sphere. He
: did not speak of resolutions of inquiry
looking to legislation or impeachment, but
!, contested the rights of the House to resolve
y itself into judicial tribunal TO infict punish
d ment on officers of the Executive Depart.
8 ment. BY what authority was this proposed
, to be done
1t had been suggested that the next thing
o would be to censure the Supreme Court o.
a the United States for the Dred Scott decision
e He would not be surprised to see this done
at any time, as it would be pertinent to the
programme. The censure of the Secretary Of
the Navy, contained in the resolutions, was
|. not, he argued, sustained by the testimony
g nor had the President ever interfered with
= the award of contracts. Mr. Sherman spoke
~ ~ at some length in advocacy of the resolutions
!, referring to the testimony in their support
:, and arguing that the House has power TO pas
= = them. He concluded by moving the previou
. question, which was seconded, thus cutting
y off Mr.. Sickles who had risen to reply to Mr.
% Shermans remarks, so much as referred Il
: the Brooklyn Navy-yard.
4 Mr.. Holton, having the floor to close tn,
y debate, yielded it short time TO Mr.. Millson
a who argued that the Committee ON Expendi
Il lures in the Navy had no right to resume tn
d" case where defunct select committee ha'
left of. II was a most dangerous precedent
certainly mischievous one for one Congress
: to revise the evidence reported TO previou
lg one, when this House can not have contrC
ar over the committee by which the evidenc
g. was reported. II was not sought to condem
~ or censure Executive officers, who have n
a opportunity to defend themselves.
: Mr.. Holton argued that the House had
/ right to pass these resolutions; by the vot
\ Just taken this was determined by an ovel
a | whelminR majority The Secretary of th