The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-30
PROCEEDINGS on THE THIRTY,SIXTH CONGRESS
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 29.-Mr. CLAY, from thu
! Committee on Commerce, reported adversely oI
the petition for erecting certain pier in the Dele
ware Bay.
Mr.. LANE asked and obtained leave to introduc,
! bill to complete certain military roads in IN,
| Territory of New Mexico, which was read twic,
and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs
Mr. CLAY, from the Committee on Commerce
reported bill to provide for the general introduc
| ton of an international code of marine SIGNALS
| which was read and passed to a second reading.
On motion by Mr.. GRIMES, resolution wa
| adopted instructing the Committee on Naval AT
iairs to inquire into the expediency of providing by
| law that there shall be more appointments t.
the grade of Purser in the Navy and all dutie
now performed by officers of this grade shall bt
performed by officers of the Line; and also to in
qure into the expediency of providing that all ap
pontments to the marine corps of the United State
| shall be made from graduates of the United State
| Naval Academy.
On motion by Mr.. GREEN the Senate proceeded Il
the consideration of the joint resolution submitted
| by him some time since, providing that both Houses
| OF Congress shall take a recess from the Goth o
| April to the Goth of May.
| Mr.. ANTHONY remarked that if this propositior
should be adopted the Senate would come together
again IN May, with the country suffering under
| three Presidential nominations; and it would be
well previously to fix the day of final adjournment
or else the effect of this resolution would inevitably
be to prolong the session. He therefore moved tC
amend the resolution by adding ''and that the Pre-
sizing oihcers respectively adjourn the two Houses
ot Congress sine die on the - dav of June next
he would leave the blank to be filled to suit the
convenience of the Senate
Mr. CLlNGMAN was opposed TO the proposition ia
take recess, but he suggested that the blank be
hlled with the first Monday in June Here was q
proposition to adjourn for one month to allow Sen
ators and members of the House to attend political
conventlons-but it did seem to him that the prin-
cipal business of Congress was legislation As for
charleston Convention he 6 n
Senators desired tn gn there: hut if this adaurn
ment for month should take place, perhaps many
would CO. The second convention was to be in Bal
timore, only an hour and halfs ride from here
and the Senators from Maryland (Mr. Kennedy
and Kentucky Mr.. Crittenden) J, who were perhaps
more particularly interested than any other Sena-
tors, would have no difficulty in attending without
having an adjournment for a month in the middle
OF the session, the consequence of which would be
that we should have to stay here till next July or
August, in order to get through with the public
business and also to listen to the political speeches
that will be made in favor of or against ali those
candidates.
Mr.. GREEN replied that the object of his resolu-
ton was to money. The paw of Senators
would go on just the same, whether thew were here
or not but many of their employees were only paid
while they were employed, and there would be a
saving to the government by throwing them out of
employment and stopping their pay for month
1t this resolution should not be adopted no work
would be done while the conventions were in ses-
at time, and keep doing sO
MIR. CLTNGMAN alluded to the inconvenience of
proonging the session late into the summer We
should finish the public business in less time bv
gong on with it without interruption, than BY
having this recess and then coming hack and com
mencing de noUo.
Mr.. Brown remarked that Senators were paid
by the year to do the public business, and they
ought to stay here until they had done it, The ar
gument was made, when the mode of compensation
was changed, that it would lead to neglect of the
public business; but it was supposed that members
OF Congress would not go home and leave the bust
ness undone. He would like to be here every dav,
so as to get through as soon as possible.
Mr.. lyERsON said he'knew three Senators who
were delegates to the Charleston Convention, and
members OF the House were anxious to have this
resolution adopted, in order to make a change in
the internal arrangements of their hall.
Mr. GWIN was opposed to the idea of a recess of
this kind
After some further discussion, the resolution was
voted down-yeas II, nays 20. A bill was passed
TO prevent desertiOns, and facilitate enlistment of
soldiers in the army Of the United States and sew
eral bills OF private nature were passed.
The bill supplementary to the act to authorize
protection being extended to citizens of the United
States who may discover deposits of guano, was
taken up, amended, and passed.
Alter the consideration of Executive business
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House passed the Army Appropriation bill
ary Claims, reported bill providing for the settle
ment of the claims of the officers and soldiers of the
Revolutionary army, and the widows and children
OF those who died in the service.
Mr.. BoYCE, from the Committee on Foreion
Affairs, reported the French Spoliation bill.
message was received from the President o
the United States, protesting against the action of
the House, in the matter of Mr.. Covodes resolu-
inn, bringing vague and indefinite charges against
him, while the Constitution provides for impeach-
ment. He says, in the course of his communica-
ton that John Covode is the accuser of the Presi-
dent, and instead OF following precedent and re
ferring the subject to the Judiciary Committee
the accuser was made one of .is Judges which was
and contrary to the practice of ali civilized ma
tions. The President says he is to appear before
the Select Committee vague and indefinite allie.
cations, while he is to be deniedeven the usual priv
lege.extended to a pickpocket The President in
dlgnantIy repes the charges contained in COvode's
resolution In the name Of the people of the
United States, he solemnly protests against the
proceeding of the House, because it is breach
OF the powers of a co ordinate branch of the Gov
ernment, and subversive of its constitutional indie
pendence calculated to foster band of interested
parasites, ready to swear before the committee to
private conversations, when there was no opportu-
nifty to disprove them.
Mr.. SHERMAN regarded this as a highly impor.
tant subject. He maintained that the House has a
right to conduct investigation in any way it NAV
deem proper-that, to rights, the President has
no more than member ofthe House. He accepted
the issue rendered by the President. The doctrn e
of the communication was such as cost Charles the
First his head.
Mr.. BOCoCK defended the positions of the Presi
dent, who did not object to any action on the part
of the House under the impeachment clause of the
Constitution, but to the vague and indefinite char
ges which had been made against him. He only
wished to be treated any other citizen
Mr.. COvODE said that the President, in his Cen
tennial Pittsburg letter, had charged that money
had been used in the Pennsylvania elections, and
hIG nhI ant I'm, Atcnnx tI,n
Me. Grow said that the committee did not pro-
pose to impeach the President, but the House had
the right to institute inquiry in any way il
thought proper, and to provide that the facts shall
be reported to the House.
Mr.. WHITLEY inquired whether the gentleman
was willing to proceed against the President with
out specific charges.
Mr.. FLORENCE said that was what the President
objected to. He complained that the courtesy ex
tended to common pickpocket not extended
to him.
Mr.. CURTIS said if he had been in the House
he would have objected to the reception of the mes
sage 1t was an interference with the rights of the
House.
MIR. BocoCK replied, defending the President;
views.
Mr.. HAsKIN thought that this matter had beer
discussed in manner unworthy of the dig
nifty Of the House. This debate as to dirty
party politics was not in order. The House had
been insulted by this Napoleonic decree of the
present President.
MT. DOCOCh bowed 10 Jne gentlemanS lecture
on dignity; and continued and concluded his re
marks.
Mr.. SHERMAN moved that the message be ref rred
to the Committee on the Judiciary, with leave to
report at any time This was agreed to-
Mr.. HICKMAN, the Chairman of the Committee
said that when the report shall have been made, at
an early day, full opportunity would be afforded
for discussion.
Mr.. SHERMAN, from the Committee of Ways and
Means, reported the Consular and Diplomatic bill
which was referred to the Committee of the Whole
on the State of the Union.
The House then went into Committee on the De
hciency bill, when
Mr.. MONTGOMERY made speech in defence of
the views of Judge Douglas the slavery ques
ton.
After further proceedings, the Co mmittee rose
and
The House adjourned.
WASHINGTON NEWS.
The CORRUPTION CoMMITTEE-THE HARPERs FERRY
INvEsTGGATIoN-MExICAN DISPATCHES
Covode's Investigating Committee met on Wed
nesdav morninr and eyaminad (tnlIonfnr Scball IN