The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-23
PROCEEDINGS on THU THIRlY.SIXTH CONGRESS
SENATE.

..-.a.- .... SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May, 22.-Mr. FESSENDEN from
the Committee on Finance, reported back the De
fciency bill, and recommended that the Senate con
cur in the amendments of the House of Represen
tatves, and recede from its own amendments. tt
which the House disagreed. After some discussion
on the question of allowing constructive mileage
to the widow of Senator Linn for the sessions o.
1887 and l84l, the Senate receded from that amend
ment by vote of yeas 81, nays 8; and the bill is
therefore passed.--Mr. MASON, from the Com.
mittee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred
the bill to carry into effect the provisions OF the
treaty between the United States China, Japan,
siam, Persia and other countries, giving certain
ludlclal powers to ministers and cOnsuls of the
United States in those countries and for other pur
poses asked to be discharged from the further con-
sideration Of the same, and that it be referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary as the committee
were of opinion that the subject was more appro-
pirate to that committee; which,was agreed to-
Mr.. DAVIS, from the Committee on Printing re-
ported in favor of printing the usual numbers of
certain documents, which was agreed to-
Mr.. LATHAM introduced bill making grant of
land in alternate sections to the State of California
to aid in the construction of railroads therein;
which was read twice and referred-Mr.
PEARCE, from the Committee on Finance, to
whom was referred the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation eill, which had been returned from the
House of Representatives with sundry Senate
amendments disagreed to, recommended that the
Senate insist on all its amendments and ask a Com
ulttee vi conference: winch was agreed TO-
Inc special order was then taken up.-Mr
HALE and Mr.. PUGH discussed the question at
some length, whether the ordinance of 1887 abol-
ished slavery in the northwest territory or not
MIR. BENJAMIN made clear and logical argu-
ment in behalf of the rights of the South under
the Constitution. He commenced his remarks by
alluding to the invasion at Harperis
Ferry for the avowed purpose of interfering with
domestic institution, to set the slaves at liberty
The whole country was deeply stirred by this
occurrence, especially the South; and this uniyer-
sal excitement found immediate vent in Congress
SHrHrai different propositions hearing this snh-
gect were presented in the Senate but, as it was
found that their discussion in this manner would be
polntless, and as it was presumed that there was
similarity OF opinion among the Democratic men,
oers, caucus was held to agree upon such a series
Oh resolutions as might express their views He
proceeded TO notice the recent speech of Mr. Doug
las, hlllng twenty columns of the Globe in an at
tempt to set forth his peculiar claims to the Pres
dency; and more than half of that speech is de-
voted to the perfectly idle and unnecessary task of
proving that the principles which he now asserts
were advocated by him years and years ago
thereby proving to the Senate and the country
to which, he appeals often, that there has been
no Inconsistency in his course, but that all
the inconsistency is with those who oppose
back farther than 1857, when the Senator from
Illinois was in full fellowship with his party
This question arose, and the various members of
the Democratic party could not agree upon it, but
Courts. Now the Senator refuses to abide by the
decision, because it against him, and this very
consistency is what we complain OF. He is now
worshipping the idols of evasion and circumven
ton. Mr. Is. took up the various arguments of
Mr.. Douglas, and replied to them seriatim On
the conclusion of his remarks, MIR. WIGFALII
obtained the floor, but gave way to Mr.. PUGH,
who defended the positions of Mr.. Douglas in the
course of his remarks censuring the Administra-
tion for its proscrptive course towards those who
hold those opinions. He denied that the Dred
Scott decision applied at all to the question of the
right OF Congress to legisate upon the subject of
slavery in the territories, which the question
that Mr. Douglas had agreed to leave to the Courts
MIR. PUGH. in the course oil his remarks. re-
ferred to the Charleston Convention, and said the
seceders had no right to come back to the Balt-
more Convention. and that he would vote against
allowing one of them seat unless reelected -
Mr.. WIGFALL discussed the meaning of the Dred
Scott decsion.-When he had concluded the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. DAWES, from the Committee on Elections,
reported resolutions declaring, first, that j. r.
Barrett is not and, secondly. that Francis p Blair
is, entitled to the seat of the First Congressional
District of Missouri. The majority and minority
reports were ordered to be printed Mr.. D. said
1t was the desire of the Committee to call up the
subject at the earliest practicable period, and on
his motion resolution was adopted giving leave
to Mr.. Blair to occupy seat on the floor, and
speak on the merits of the queston.-The House
a.
cfc Telegraph bill.-Mr. COLFAX explained the
amer dments which the Committee on the Post
Office proposed. The Government is to pay S40,-
900 per year for the transmission of messages and
the public to be charged So for ten words. If the
corporators do not accept these terms within thirty
days, then sealed proposals are to be invited and
the contract to be given to the lowest responsible
bidder. The line is to be built within two years,
and st. Joseph Missouri, is to be the point of de-
parture. Mr.. c. earnestly urged the passage of
the bill, showing the great advantages which will
result from it to the Government-Mr. BUR-
NETT opposed the measure, on the ground that
1t would be creating an oppressive monopoly
Other gentlemen also expressed their views on the
subject, when it passed over.--The House
a3k and p the Mest R P3t Toe MmarX iii & bill
ment for calling mounted regiment of Texas vo-
lunteers into the field was concurred in. The vote
again taken, when the amendment was reject
ed-twelve majority SPEAKER laid be-
fore the House special message from the Presi-
dent of the United States, communicating the fact
that the steamer Wyandotte had captured another
cargo of Africans, and stating that these, to-
gether with the negroes captured board the
Widhre make over thousand now in the hands
OF the United States Marshal at Key West. There
fore the President again calls attention to the ne
cessity of making further provision with
regard to their health. The message was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.-
The House, in Committee of the Whole on the
State of the Uniou, resumed the consideration of
the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Appropri-
alton bil.-During the action on amendments
Mr.. PRYOR made an Intellectual motion to strike
out the appropriation for reporting and publishing
thedebates He said that the independent press fur
nished all that is necessary to be known.-0ther
gentlemen followed in the debate, giving their
views, some Of them saying that but for the Globe
many of the essays, not one line of which ever
spoken or delivered, would never appear in print.
An amendment was adopted to conGne
the official reporters to the proceedings in
order, and to exclude undelivered speeches.
Other amendments, not generally of an
interesting character, were made to the bill.-
Mr.. STANTON offered an amendment striking out
the appropriation for an auxiliary guard, saying
the police did not protect public meetings here
No question taken and the Committee rose
and the House adjourned.