The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-03
PROCEEDINGS Oh THE THIRTY, SIXTH CONGRESS
SENATE.

and obtained leave to introduce bill to amend
an act entitled Gan act toamend an act to es-
tablish Criminal Court in the District of Colum-
bia," which was read twice and REFEREED
Mr.. POW ELL, from the Committee on Pen
sions, to whom was referred the petition of
Mary j. Walbach, widow of Brevet Gen. Walbach,
reported bill for her relief, which was read and
passed to a second reading-Mr p from the
same Committee. to whom referred the pc
tition of Mary Chase Barney, sole daughter and
survivor of Samuel Chase one of the sgners of the
Declaration of independence, made an adverse re-
port thereon, and said that the Committee were
unanimously of opinion that her prayer ought to
be granted.-Mr. MASON asked and obtained
leave to introduce bill to declare the meaning of
the act entitled can act making further provisions
for the satisfaction of Virginia land warrants %
passed August 3lst, l852.-On motion of Mr..
BROWN resolution was adopted instructing the
Committee the District of Columbia to inquire
into the expediency of an appropriation for the
completion of the Washington Aqueduct.-Mr.
HUNTER reported back the Indian Appropri-
alton bill with amendments, and gave notice
that he would call it up tomorrow morning
On motion of Mr.. BENJAMIN, the Senate pro-
cee6ed to the consideration of the bill for the final
adjustment of private land claims in the States OF
Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, and for
other purposes. The bill was explained and advo-
Gated by Messrs. Benjamin and Polk, and having
been amended in conformity with a suggestion of
Mr.. King, it was read third time and passed.
The bill to authorize the location of certain war
rants for bounty lands heretofore issued was con-
sidered and passed.-The special order was then
taken up, being the resolution of Mr.. Davis on
the subject of territorial rights, &c. Mr.. SAULS-
BURY, who had the floor on this subject, said that
these resolutions were the occasion, rather than
the text, of his DISCOURSE lie should advert to the
present condition of the Union, tue evils which
menace it, and the remedy for those evils In dis
cussng this subject, he proceeded to allude to the
past history OF this government, holding the Re-
publican doctrines as enunciated by MIR. Seward
Anfh h., - 4 4l,A
OF slavery agitation, and urging that the only
means OF restoring harmony and ensuring peace,
prosperity and happiness, for all conservative
men to lay aside their previous differences on mi
nor matters, and rally to the support ofthe Democra-
tic party. the only Union and Constitutional party
MIR. TEN EYCK vindicated the character of
New Jersey as a UniOn-loving and Constitution
abiding State, and stated that she had passed laws
OF her own to carry out the provisions of the Con-
stltuton Tor the return of fugitves from labor.
MIR. BROWN defended himself from the
charge of having departed from the ancient land
marks, in invoking the action of Congress for the
protection of slave property in the territories.-
MIR. WlGFALL said that so far from the doctrine
being true that man cannot hold property in man,
the very first property that man ever did hold
under government instituted by God himself
amid the muttering thunders and flashing light
ming of Sinai, was in his felOw-man. In these lat
ter days of progress, the latterday saints assume
to be wise above what is written and hold that it
rized. The resolutions were laid on the table,
and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. HICKMAN, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, reported bill to extend the right of appeal
from the decisions of the Circuit Courts to the Su-
preme Court of the United States.-The House
proceeded to the consideration OF the bill to punish
and prevent the practice of poysamy in the Terri
toIies of the United States and other places, and
disapproving and annulling certain acts Of the Lee
gisative Assembly of the Territory of Utah.--Mr
MlLLSON remarked that bill should be passed
with as much unanimity a. At is possible to secure
He said that the crime of pOlygamy was not only
extensively practsed, but was attempted to be le-
galized, by statute, in the Territory of Utah. He
contended that Congress has the power under the
Constitution, to punish crimes-murder, arson, for
gerry and others; and that in the very first year af
Ger the adoption OF the Federal Constitution. a law
was passed for these purposes-Mr. McCLER-
NAND remarked that there instance in
which Congress had directly operated for the pun
ishment of crime in the organized territories.-
Mr.. MILLSON replied, referring to the statutes
heretofore passed, to show that Congress has ex-
tended penal laws wherever the Government has
risdiction.-Mr. PRYOR contended that the
question of Constitutional power is sustained by
the uniform policy of this Government. Congress
may supervise and annul the organized law of any
incipient State. The Republican party may asso.
clate polygamy and slavery "twin relics of bar
barism,' but he disputed the philosophy of the
same ground, and would fall together when driven
from the shelter of a common security He repu-
dated the suggestion that the power which Con-
gress possesses over the Territories for the pun
lshment OF crime md the suppression of polygamy
may be perverted for the destruction of the rights
and interests of persons holding slaves.-Mr.
HOOPER, the delegate from Utah. reminded
the gentleman that polygamy is part
of Mormon religious faith.-Mr. PRYOR,
resuming, said he had examined the Mormon
Bible, and had not therein discovered
that polygamy is part of their religion.
He did not, however, pretend to be acquainted with
all the polenics of the Salt Lake saints. The re-
suits of poygamy seen in the bitter fruits of
sedition and crime. This scandalous crime should
be extirpated 1t offensive in the ewes of ma
tons and reproach to civil liberty--Mr.
ETHERlDGE said he should go for this bill or any
other, and this was to be attributed to his early
pietY. Laughter. He found the Democrats and
Republicans both harmonizing as to the power of
Congress over the territories. This question, he
repeated, brought up the whole question as to the
power of Congress to govern the territories. He
referred to the conduct of the Democrats, to show
how often they have changed their catechsm on
this subject. The Mormons, by the organic act,
were lett to manage their domestic institutions in
their own way land they chose to establish polygamy
If Congress can prohibit poIygamy, they could
prohibit the kindred crimes of incest and adultery
and also extrpate slavery by unfrendly legislation
In reply to question, he said that as to latter, the
only guarantee he had was the liberality and
good sense of Congress.-Mr. TAYLOR gave
the why he could not vote for the
bill, which, he thought, would be a dead
letter on the statute book. He advocated the
amendment of Mr.. Branch Ito deprive the people
OF Utah OF their present form of government)
Wmcn would more effectually extirpate polygamy.
lie denied the constitutional power to legislate
over territories in the manner proposed-With-
out taking any vote on the subject the House. at
nearly O'clock adjourned.