The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-22
PROCEEDINGS ON THU THIRTY SIXTH CONGRESS

SENATE

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May, 81.
Mr.. CAMERON presented petition of citizens
of Pennsylvania praying modification of the rev.
laws, and gave notice that he should press this
subject before the close of the present session. so
that the people of Pennsylvania might know who
were their friends and who were not.--On mo-
tionby Mr.. SUMNER, resolution was adopted
nstructing the Committee on Commerce to consider
the expediency of further action in order to secure
proper accommodations and proper safety for pas
sengers on board the steamers between New York
and San Francisco, and to increase the efficacy of
the existing passenger laws of the United States
in their application to California passengers, with
liberty to report by bill CT otherwise.--Messrs
HALE, HAMMOND and BENJAMIN were ap-
pointed the select Committee on the bill for the
alteration and improvement of the construction of
the Senate chamber.--Mr. HALE introduced a
resolution, (the House cOncurring) that the
President Of the Senate and Speaker of the House
OF Representatives, adjourn their respective
Houses s'ne die on Monday the llth of
June next, at twelve o'clock, NJ. 1t was
read once, and lies over until to-morrow.-
The resol ution changing the hour of meeting to
eleven O'Clock daily agreed tO-yeas 80; nays
1l.-On motion of Mr.. HALE, the overland mail
bill was made the special order for Thursday next
at halEpast eleven o'cOck.-0n motion of Mr.
SEBASTIAN, the House bill for the relief of Anson
Dart was recommitted to the Committee on Indian
Atfairs-On motion of Mr.. WILSON, the bill
introduced by him for the more effectual suppress
sion of the save-trade was taken up. Mr.. W.
submitted several additional sections and explained
the objects of the bi and it was referred to the
Committee on the Judicary.--On motion of Mr.
BRIGHT, the bill to enlarge the public grounds
surrounding the Capitol made the specia
order for Saturday next at twelve O'Clock "A
large number of House bills were severally read
twice and referred to the appropriate commit
Mr.. TOOMBS made an energetic and argumenta-
tive speech, proving the power of Congress to
legislate over the territories, and showing the
rnaq blannsS OIV noh tho
rights OF property as the exgencies of the case
might require. 1t was not originally his purpose
to take part in this debate, but the principles con-
tanned in the resolutions of the Senator from
Mississippi were not only assailed and condemned
but large bodies of people holding them, including
many of his own political friends-large enough to
embrace majorties in several States of this Union
had been denounced as aiding schemes by their
assertion and vindcatiOn of them, unfriendly to
tRe fi8Afs 3ad 6eea 66FF60ag6 up ii to S%S this
great current by which it has sought to overwhelm
them. Under this state of facts, as he approved
the resolutions, and as he approved the acts of
those who do approve them, it would seem to be
his duty to defend them. 1t was great mistake
to call them distractions. There was terrible
force and vital energy in them, which is shak-
ing our POLITICAL social, and even our
moral system, from the centre to the crcumfer-
ence. They are struggling to be recognized; and
upon their recognition, in his Judgment, depends
the peace and safety of the State. But even if
they were distractions, they are scarcely less wor-
thy of our consideration. The great question is
what is truth 1t is a characteristic of the Ameri
can character, and one for which they have been
lauded by the ablest and best for the last CEN
fury, that they measure danger by the principle
and not by the grievance. Mr.. 7. quoted Burke
and other authorities in this connection We do
not want bad principle to fortify itself by prece-
dent and it has become our duty to see danger in
the distance and warn the country of it. We can
not avoid the danger by calling it an abstraction.
When the fundamental principles of our Govern
mpnt 1GS3llpn-whpn nnw thaOFing md
doctrines attempted to be interpoated
upon its administration, it will not do to
cry "peace! peace! it is an abstraction. -
Mr.. II. thought it somewhat remarkable that the
principle should be laid down that it is the duty of
the Government to protect the rights of its citi-
zens, not only native but naturaliZed, everywhere
to the utmost parts of the earth, and vet that it
should be claimed that our hands are tied when we
undertake to protect our citizens upon our
own soil. 1t has been said that to insist upon the
protection of slave property would dissolu-
tion of the Union. "lf dissolution of the Union be
the cost of protection said Mr.. T., 'et it come
the the better! | will support no Govern
ment that does not protect my acknowledged con-
stitutional rights. That is the price of my allie
glance; and when it ceases to do this, | will do
what can for its abrogation and the building up
of new systems better suited for the great end of
our Government, which is the protection of life,
liberty and property" He took up and replied to
several of the positions of Mr.. Douglas and closed
with appeal to every lover of his country to come
Mr.. HAMMOND exposed the absurdity of the doc
trine of squatter sovereignty, as utterly opposed
to truth, reason, justice and common honesty. The
s0-called government OF territory nothing
but corporation, exercising police powers and
protesting sovereignty whatever, much less the
sacred right Of declaring what is and what is not
property. Whatever sovereign State declares to
be property, every other State is bound to recog-
niZe property, on the common Territories of the
United States. As the Federal Constitution does
not give Congress the right to define what is pro-
perty, if they coniscate one kind of property,
they can contiscate any other. They may as well
permit unfrendly Legislation to inure the coal and
iron interests of Pennsy yvania, as the slave inter
ests of the South.-Mr. PUGH briefly defined
his position with regard to the resolution AFTER
some remarks by MIR. HALE in reference to the
same subject the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The SPEAKER laid before the House a specia |
message from the President, similar to that COM
muncated to the Senate on Saturday, recommend
ing further legislation in regard to the re-capured
Africans-Mr. BRANCH said, in addition to the
slaves captured by the Mohawk, unofficial nforma-
tion had been received that another cargo had
been seized on the coast OF Cuba Hence there
should be prompt action on the part of Congress.
1t appeared to him that the only additional egis-
lation required was an explanation and cOnstruc-
ton of the act heretofore passed On his motion
the message referred to the Committee the
Judiciary.-Mr. SOMES introduced a bill to
establish uniform system of bankruptcy. Referred
to the Judiciary Commttee.-Mr. DUELL in
troduced bill granting 160 acres sf land to each
officer and soldier who has served an the army for
period of five years, although not in any OF the
wars in which the country has been engaged.-
Other bills also introduced relative to bounty
lands.-0n motion of Mr.. ELLIOTT, the Pre-
sident was requested to furnish the House with
Information recently received relative to the Chi
nese CoOie trade.-Mr. WELLS introduced
| resolution providing a fine and imprisonment for
the purchase of Africans imported into this coun-
try in violation of the law for the suppression Of
| aglar hn.r nln tln
tion lies over.-Mr. MONTGOMERY offered
resolution providing for the adjournment of Con-
gress on the llth of June. Much confusion pre-
vailed in consequence of an Intellectual motion to
lay the resolution on the table.-Mr. SHERMAN
proposed an amendment to substitute the 18th,
which Mr.. Montgomery accepted but he refused
further amendment proposed by Mr.. Sherman,
providing for evening sessions.-Finallv, after
some debate, the resolution amended was adopt
ed-yeas l26, nays 55.-Mr. MALLORY, from
the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported a
joint resolution, authorizing an enlargement of
a branch of the Louisville and Portland canal;
and it was passed; - On motion of Mr.. CUR
| TlS the Pacific Railroad bill made the
| special order and after Thursday next, after
the expiration of the morning hOur.-Mr. LOVE
JOY moved that the House be discharged from the
| further consideration of the Senate's Homestead
| bill.-The House voted on suspending the rules
and decided the question in the aflirmative-yeas
| ll2 nays 56.--Mr. L0VEJ0Y then moved to
substitute therefor the original House bill; which
was agreed to-yeas lOl, nays 63.-The bill as
thus amended was passed; and again goes to the
Senate.--0n motion of Mr.. HARRIS, of Mary
land, the rules suspended, and the Iouse took
up the Senate bill, increasing and regulating the
pay of officers of the Navy. Ut increases the pay
on average twenty five per cent l-Mr. HAIR
' RIS offered substitute, which was adopted; and
| the bill thus amended, passed.-The House.
after further business, adjourned.
-.---.--z-----@--
Mrs. Cunningham (selEstyled widow of DR..
Burdell) and her two daughters arrived in San
| Francisco on the 30th in the Sonora. A passenger
in the same vessel says she has gone there in the