The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-06-02
PROCEEDINGS on THE TlIRTY-SIATH CONGEES,

| gard to the permanent settlement thereof which
were referred to the Committee Public Lands.
--on motion by Mr. HALE, resolution was
adopted lnstructlng the Committee on Naval AT
| fairs to inquire what proceedings have been had
under the act of January, 2S 1851 "authorizng the
| establishment of a naval depot Blythe Island,
at Brunswicayon the coast of Georgia and for other
purposes; how much of the appropriation was
| expended for purchasing ste and to whom paid
how many were the owners of whom the govern
ment purchased, who were they and how long had
they been owners, and what did they pay for the
| land sold to the government; what is the present
| market value of the land, and what was its value
| on which taxes were paid before its sale to the
United Strtes, and what peculiar fitness it possesses
| above other contiguous points for naval depot or
navy-yard; and that said committee have power to
send for persons and papers-Mr. LATHAM
| introduced bill to authorize and facilitate
mining operations in the States of California and
Oregon, and in the territories of the United States,
and bill to authorize the Postmaster-General to
contract with tht Overland California and Pixies
| Peak Express Company.-On motion by Mr..
| BENJAMIN., the Senate resumed the consideration
OF the bill to amend an act entitled San act to
certain and settle private land claims in the State
| of California" passed March Sd, 1857 which was
discussed by Messrs. Fessenden, Grimes and Benia-
min until the arrival of the hour for taking up the
| special order, when it was laid asde.-Mr.
| TO0MBS moved to postpone all prior orders, and
! take up the Houmas land grant bill, which had
| been fully discussed few days since and passed
| over. Ete wished TO have that subject disposed of
at once.-Mr. FITCH wished to have the report
of the Select Committee on Printing taken up, so
that the resolutions reported by that COMMITTEE
| could be referred to the Committee on Printing
| MIR. TOOMBS insisted on his motion; and the
| question being taken, the motion was not agreed
to-yeas q, nays A.-On motion bv Mr.. HUN
| TER, the Senate resumed the consideration of the
Post-oiice Deficiency bill.-A long discussion en-
sued on the general subject of the rates of postage
the ranking privilege, the utility of particular
routes, and the propriety of leaving the discretion
with the Postmaster General to restore such routes
as he may deem eXpedient, and omit the remainder
of those which have been curtailed The question
at length being taken, the amendment striking out
the clause directing the restoration of the routes was
| agreed to-yeas %, nays 24.-Mr. PEARCE then
offered amendment directing the Postmaster.
General to advertise for proposals for the transpor
tatiOn of the mail between Charleston and Havana
| and give the contract to the lowest bidder, at
rate not exceeding S5Q,000 per annum.-Mr
| HAMMOND opposed the amendment, saying tha
the lowest bidder is not always the best bidder
The contract might be taken at such low rate tha
the contractors could not execute it, and they would
come back and ask additional compensation; OF
they might prove to be Irresponsible The Isabe
| should be named because she was made expressly
for that service; and he had no idea that the gov
| ernment would save anything by advertising for
proposals, for Mr. Caldwell and others, who it wa:
stated were willing to perform this service
for less, had denied the correctness of that
statement.--Mr. PUGH spoke in favor o.
the restoration of the Isabel.--Mr. YULEE
replied, advocating the Fernandina route
Mr.. SLlDELL moved to amend the amendment by
providing for a mail steam-line between New Or
leans and Havana; reiected.--Mr. Pearces
amendment was adopted, and the bill was passed.
After an Executive session the Senate adj Ourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. REYNOLDS, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported bill providing that any Mar
shall, Deputy Marshal, other ministerial officer
who shall permit the escape of criminals in theiI
custody whether charged with offences under the
laws of the United States, or those of foreign Gov
ernments with whom we have treaties of extradi
ton, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, ant
shall be fined and imprisoned according to the dis
cretion OF the Court having respect to the nature
of the crimes with which the prisoners charged
The bill was passcd,-Mr. WINSLOW, rising tC
question of privilege, caused to be read extracts
from the journal of the CovOde Committee, o
which he is member, by which it appears that hi
desired to subpoena certain citizens of Luzernt
county, Pennsy ylvania. To this Mr.. Covode inter
posed that he had in his possession the names o
one hundred persons witnesses, but as in ever,
instance they had direct connection with tn
| Government, he declined to summon them. 1t an
peared further, from the record, that Mr.. Wins
low applied for those witnesses in April. but the
have never been summoned. He had been informe
on authority said to be reliable, not by anonymOu
letters, that large sums of money used to secur
the election Of Mr.. Scranton to this House Mr.
COvode to this replied that he would vote to subpm
ma Mr.. Winslow'S witnesses, if that gentleman
could trace back the use of money to the govern
ment, and Mr.. Scranton was here, he wOulC
Messrs Winston and Robinson, Of Illinois, voting
in the affirmative, and Mr.. COvode and Mr.. Trair
in the negative. As was also refused, Mr.. Wins
lows request that this matter be submitted to the
House. At a subsequent period Mr.. Winslow wish
cd to subpoena Mr.. McMuen, and several other
of Philadelphia desiring by them to prove bribery
the part of the officers OF election in that city il
the fall of 1886, but Mr.. Covode said he had no OBJ
lection to subpoena portion Of them, not being will
ing to subject the Government to the expense o
summOning them all. Mr.. Winsow's request wa
denied by the vote. Mr. Winsow then moved t.
subpoena witnesses from Greensboro and Pitts
burg, Pennsylvania, understanding that thev cOulC
prove corruption in Westmoreland county, tt
which Mr. Covode objected that those gentlemen
had no connection with the Government
This request was also refused The record further
states that when Frederick Engle was called t.
the stand, Mr.. Wnslow asked whether there wa
any minute that he had been summoned, and tn
clerk of the Committee replied that there wa
no minute Of it. Mr.. Winslow then asked that
copy of so much of the journal related to sum
moning of witnesses be furnished him, which wa
agreed to. The above is the summary of the re
cord.-Mr. HOUSTON asked, as MIR. Winsloy
desired to have witnesses summoned to prove cor
ruption and fraud in Westmorelsnd District, VIII
represented it t?-Mr. WINSLOW-I believe, tn
Chairman of the Committee. Laughter. =
Mr.. COVoDE-I am ready to give the gentleman
full information. H0USTON-I don't thanl
better source.--Mr. WINSLOW submitted re
solution directing the Speaker to issue his subpoena
for certain witnesses In the course of his remarks
he related an anecdote. friend of his recently
returned from Alabama met an acquaintance, who
having heard much from the newspapers abOu
the Covode Committee, asked what kind o
Committee that was, and on being informed
said he had supposed it like t.
examine Dahlgreen gun or something else
Laughter. He Mr.. Winslow knew of no othe
name by which to call it.-Mr. WINSLOW thel
caused to be read one of the resolutions unde
which the Committee was appointed to show th
| ha OSa6 6v-aS lauiti on a16 tho
when he thought an outrage had been per
petrated against the administration, he fel
it his duty to show the quo amino 1t wa
his impression that the Committee has examined
witnesses in no way connected with the government
Mr.. C0V0DE made an explanation. Up to yes
terday the Committee had not been able to get
dollar to pay the expenses of witnesses, notwith
standing Congress had appropriated money for thi
purpose He was willing to send for persons neces
sary to establish charge, but was disinclined tt
increase the expenses unnecessarily. If he could
refer to the testimony, he could show that money
had been sent directly from Washington to hell
the election of the man who ran against him fo
Congress twOyears ago.--Mr. CAMPBELL though
proper to say that Colonel Scranton has left Wash
ington on account of ndispostiOn Ills honor hat
never been nor can be called in question. If h.
were here he would call for thefullest and broades
investig igation.-Mr. WINSLOW said he made n
charge against Mr.. Scranton. No man could hav
greater pleasure than himself to see Mr.. Scranton
exculpated.--Mr. .CAMPBELL-Unt some charg
De brought against Mr. scranton, ne requires n
exculpation.-M COYODE justified his conduc
the Carman of the Committee ,and said, there wa
testimony enough to damn any administration -
Mr.. TAPPAN obtained the floor, but yielded it +
Mr.. TRAIN, who was about to address the House
when Mr. HOUSTON objected to this arrange
ment, unless all could have fair chance. He con
tinued speaking, amid calls of ''order" from tho
Republican de-Mr TRAIN am not in tho
habit of troubling the House much, and never in
sist on speaking when | am clearly out of order
/ should consider myself guilty of gross imprOpri
ety. not only as member of the House, but as
gentleman if ! insisted addressing the ChaiI
and interpolating my remarks, when had norigh
to the floor Mr. H0UST0N-I should like t.
know whether that remark is applied to me-
[Cries of ''order'' from the Republican side. =
Mr.. TRAM mean exactly what ! say, and
stand by what l say.-Mr. HOUSTON, amiC
voieiferous calls of "order."-I say, if he applied
those remarks to me, he is a disgracetul liar anC
scoundrel. Continued cries of "order" and in
tense excitement. MIR. TRAM cannot b.
irrtated by anything the gentleman may say.--Mr
| SPINNER said such language as that of MIR. Hous
| ton result in good, but much HARM
After further exciting proceedings, Mr. SHERMAN
| offered resolution, that Mr.. Houston be censurcC
for disorderly words spoken in debate. He said ht
had no personal feeling in the matter, but that il
was necessary to preserve the order and dignity o
the House. Mr.. Houston deserved the censure be
cause he of the oldest and most experienced
members.-Mr. MOORE, of Alabama, spoke In
pallation of the remark of his colleague mr'
Houston, Mr.. Trains language implying tnae MI.
Houston was guilty of ungentlemanly conduct
The language of Mr.. Train was sulhclently insult
ing to justify the retort.-,IMr. ChAM fofD,
feeling perfectly satisfied neither gentleman would
| .aaau <, Ionono0a moved that the whole subject