The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-27
PROCEEDINGS OF THU TIIRTFSIXTH CONGRESS
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-The VICE-PRESIDENT
laid before the Senate communication from the
Secretary of War, in compliance with resolution
of the Senate, of the 23d inst calling for the re-
ports of Majors MOrdecai and Delafield on the
Crimean war; which was read and on motion by
Mr.. LANE it was referred to the Committee on
Military Aifairs.-Also, communication from
the Secretary of State, in to resolution of
the Senate of the 9th inst, calling for a copy of
the report of Henry r. Crosbie, on the occupation
of the Island of San Juan. This report states that
the first permanent occupation of the Island was
effected on the 18th of December, 1853, by the
landing from the Hudson Bay Company s steamer
of Mr.. Charles j. Griffin, then a clerk, now chief
trader in the COmpanys service, and who has eyer
since remained on the Island in charge Of their
property and interests. Previous to this time the
place has been temporarily occupied as a fishing
station by parties under the Hudson Bay Company.
No English settler coonist has ever been on the
Island, and no occupation or claim was attempted
to be set up previous to 1858, when 1t was used as
a sheep farm. On learning of this invasion of
American soil, J. U. Ebey, the Collector of Gus
toms for the Pugets Sound district, at once mott
fled Governor Douglas that the sheep were liable
to seizure for being brought within the jurisdiction
of his custom house, without paying duty. Gov.
Douglas thereupOn claimed 1T as British soil, and
appointed Mr.. Griffin stpendiary magistrate for
the island of San Juan as dependency of VancOu-
ver's Island, thus extending the English laws over
the Island. The report proceeds 10 give detailed
statement of the facts, down to the autumn of
1859, embracing correspondence of Gov. Douglas,
Colonel Casey, Captain Pickett, and others.-
Mr.. FOSTER introduced bill to provide for the
progress of the useful arts. Without doing any
other business of public interest, the Senate ad-
journed until Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, rising to a question of
privilege, read extract from Mr.. Bingham's
speech in which the latter said that Mary land was
tnla nd off pit
zens for the abolition of slavery among her cit-
zens, and that Virginia said and felt in the very
fibre of her existence, that she must either throw
off that giant wrong or perish by reason of its con-
tinuance. Mr. Smith said, supposing the gentle
man from Ohio did not desire to do injustice, he
sought to correct him by remarking that he did
not want the gentleman to say that Virginia did
that Some of her politicians did it, but Virginia
repudiated it. To which the gentleman from Ohio
replied that he speaking of her politicians, and
wished to say that then, ever since, and now, the
South had and has superior to all such
narrow, bigoted, selfish, mercenary prejudices
and practices, but unhappilY the gentle
man from Virginia is not of them.-Mr.
SMITH, after reading the above, said it would be
observed that here broad denuncation of the
entire South, and of Virginia especially. The
great body of its people accused Of being mar
row, bgoted, selfish and mercenary, and that he
(Mr. Smith) is one of them. Did he understand
Mr.. Bingham as meaning what he said.-Mr.
BINGHAM.-l meant what | said MIR. SMITH
1t is false, and the man who utters it is deliber
ate AUTOMATICALLY BINGHAM replied that
the gentleman's declaration was not likely to cause
him to strike out the facts of history. What he
had said he stood by. He repeated what he had said
as to the former movement in Virginia to abolish
the slave system. But for the last thirty years the
sectional strife has been continued by making
upon the great and benefcent policy of free la
bor Every one knew it to be true-and no man
could to day stand up in the Legislature of Nlr-
ginia and express such anti-slavery sentiments as
- Al, = NJ - oh
served that if Mr. Bingham had spoken of poll
ticians merely he would have had nothing to say,
but the gentleman bad spoken of the great body OF
Virginia. He defended Virginia for her precaution
in preventing or Furnishing men for coming into
that commonwealth with torch in hand to consume
the political and social edifce and reminded the
gentleman Of violations of law in Ohio, and the re-
fusal of the Governor thereof to surrender
an offender to the demands of Justice
Mr. BINGHAM replied, and quoted the re-
marks of George Mason and Governor Nc
Dowell to make good some of bis assertions
Mr.. SMITH corrected some of the gentleman's
conclusions saying that Governor McDowelPs
opinions on the subject of emancipation underwent
a change, and took occasion to speak of Virginia
as being on the rapid march of improvement
The explanations were continued for nearly an
hour Neither gentleman, however, appeared to
be satisfied with the remarks of the other.-An
Intellectual motion was made, that when the House
adiourns it be till Monday.-Mr. ASHMORE
thought it would be better to stay here and let
gentlemen get rid of their gas and buncombe
speeches by the time the absentees return, when
they could proceed to the transaction of legitimate
business. The House resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole the State of the Union,
when Mr.. JENKINS, of virginia ma made p a
speech arguing that the triumph OF the ne
nnbIican psrt1 would give just cause Of
alarm and apprehension to the people oil the South,
tend;n@ to The destruction of the Union, and that
safety to be found in the the triumph of the Demo
tariff speeeh lin favor of protection, and said
there should be permanent and fixed legislation on
the subject. MIR. HOLMAN, of Indiana, deliver
ed his views in support of Democratic principles.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Wisconsin, defended the
Republican party from the charge of sectionalism,
and spoke Of the condition of politics in that State.
The committee rose and the House adjourned.