The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-03-15
Congress During the Past Week.

The past week III Congress has been
an important one. The ratifcations Of
the Paraguay treaty have been ex-
changed. The bill reducing mileage
of members of Congress after sharp
struggle has passed the House by a
vote Of 154 yeas to "a nays. The new
California Senator Mr.. Latham has APP
peared in his seat. A chaplain to the
House in the person of Rev. Thomas
III. Stockton has been elected. Mr..
Hyatt, at the demand of the Harper's
Ferry Committee, was brought to the
bar of the Senate in custody, he having
refused to obey summons of the COM
mittee, with view to test their right
in the premises. An important bill for
the protection of female emigrant pass
engers on the high-seas, has passed the
House. The subject of the frontier
troubles between Texas and Mexico
have been considerably discussed in the
Senate, and finally Mr.. Wigfall's bill
designating regiment of volunteers
for that service, was referred to the
Military Committee.
Some important speeches have been
made, among them an exhaustive one
on the subject of the Homestead Law,
by Mr.. Grow, of Pa. Gov. Brown, of
Miss, has finally spoken in the Senate
his long promised speech in support of
his resolutions demanding a slave-code
for the Territories. He made a very
extreme and radical speech. Hon. Ed.
Wade, U. S. Senator from Ohio, made
one Of his peculiar pithy and fearless
speeches in the Senate on Wednesday,
principally in reply to Mr.. Toombs'
speech Of some weeks ago. What
with Mr. Doolittle's, Mr.. Hale's, and
Mr.. Wade's discussion, Mr.. Toombs
finds himself very handsomely disposed
of. He replied to Mr.. Wade. but was
subdued and civil. Senator Collamer,
of Vermont, has also made an able
speech npon the general subject of the
slavery excitement in the country.
But perhaps the most significant in
dications of the week, are the two COM
mittees of investigation moved first by
Mr.. Covode, and then by Mr.. Hoard;
both of the House, to examine directly
into the charges of political corruption
brought against the President. Some
of the Administration Democrats at
tempted to show fight against the
measures, but they finally carried by
large majorities. Both these m we
ments contemplate direct examination
of the executive personally. The
country will look with interest for the
disclosures which may come of them.
Mr.. Covode's resolution provides for a
committee of FIVE members, and the
scope of their inquiry will be whether
any money, patronage, or improper in
fiuence of any kind, has been used to
control the votes or action of members
of Congress in voting for or against
any law appertaining to the rights of
any State or territory. 1t also contem-
plates investigation into abuses in the
Post Offices and Navy Yards, and the
alleged use of government money to
carry closely contested election districts
in Pennsylvania and other States. Mr..
Hoard's resolution is predicated exclu-
sively upon the avowals of Messers.
Haskin, Hickman and Adrain, anti
Lecompton Democrats, that the Presi-
dent had endeavored to bribe them to
vote for the Lecompton Constitution.
1t also calls for Committee of FIVE to
be appointed by the Speaker, and with
power to send for persons and papers.
Detroit Tribune.