Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-13
THIRTY-sIxTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, March II.


Mr.. KING presented the petition of the
merchants Of New York, favoring the estab-
lishment of a steam mail line between Char
lesion and Havana, via Key West. Mr.. King
also introduced a Joint resolution suspending
the operations of so much of the recent post
office printing appropriation bill, as relates to
the printing of post Office blanks, until further
action of Congress. He said it had received
the unanimous consent of the committee. 1t
was read three times and passed.
Mr.. BRIGHT gave notice of bill approprl-
ating half million of dollars for the compile
ton of the capitol extension.
Mr.. MASON moved that Mr.. Hyatt be
brought in Agreed to. The resolutions of
f.red on Friday, were then read proposing to
commit Mr.. Hyatt to Jail until he consents to
testify.
Mr.. SUMNER said, it was related in English
parliamentary history that upon case similar
to the present, one of the speakers, before
putting the question, volunteered to say to the
House of Commons that they should pause
before undertaking to pass upon question so
material to the liberty of the subject. That
very question is now before the Senate.
When they commit Mr.. Hyatt to the common
Jail, they will establish in this body, for the
first time, precedent, which will be law in
other cases hereafter. They must find the
power in the constitution, if not in express
words at least implied, before they can have
the right to exercise it. There were three
cases where the Senate had this power, name
ly in trials of impeachment, in examination
of election returns, and in judging of the
qualifications and conduct of its members and
Furnishing them even to expulsion All these
three cases are judicial in character and also
judicial in purpose. There are two other
cases, where such power has been already ex-
ercised by the Senate. The first was an in
quiry into an alleged infraction of its privi-
leges, and the second an inquiry into the con-
duct Of its servants, as the Senate printer, &c.
All these five cases were sanctioned by prece-
dent in this body. In the present case, this
power has no sanction in the constitution and
none in the great right of selfdefense inherent
in this body. There were radical defects in
the resolution under which the select commit
tee were acting. 1t had assumed judicial
power, but without any judicial purpose or
interest They sat i'll secret, like an inquis-
ton or star chamber.
M. FEssENDEN replied, arguing that GER
tain powers may be exercised which are not
specifically granted in the constitution, if nee
essary for the purposes of legislation. If the
Senate had power to appoint a committee, it
was necessary the committee should be au-
thorzed and empowered to discharge their
duties.
Mr.. HALE commended that it was proposed to
sentence citizens of the United States to espe-
cial Imprisonment on the point of mere eti-
quette. No despOtism on earth exercises more
honor than is here claimed.
Mr. SIMMONS thought the integrity of the
Senate would be best promoted by respecting
the consciences of citizens. He submitted
substitute that Hyatt be discharged, and placed
on the same footing az other witnesses, but,
afterwards, withdrew it.
Mr. M ASON'g resolutions Wpra adOntpd
YEAs-Anthony, Bayard, Benjamin, Bigler,
Bragg, Bright Comm, Cameron, Chandler,
Clay, CIngman, Coamer, Crittenden, Davis,
Doolittle, Fessenden, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Foot,
Foster, Green, Grimes, Gwinn, Hammond,
Hemphill, Hunter, Iverson, johnson of Tenne-
see, johnson of Arkansas, Kennedy, King,
Lane, Latham, Mason, Nicholson, Pearce,
Rice, Sebastian, Slidell, Ten Eyck, Thomson,
Trumbull, WigfaIl, Yulee-44.
NAYs-Bngham, Dixon, Hale, Hamlin,
Harlan, Simmons, Sumner, Toombs, Wade,
Wison-10.
After executive session, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. WAsHBURN of Wisconsin offered a res
oluton touching the shameful frauds perpe-
trated on the Menominee Indians, and asking
| a select committee of investigation. After a
| discussion, the House refused to suspend the
rules tor the resolution-yeas 1l3, nays 60.
| Mr.. DAVIS, from the Committee on Elec-
tons, reported resolutions, that Mr. William
son, contrasting the right of Mr.. Sickles to his
seat be required to serve on Mr.. Sickles, with
in three days from the passage of the resou.
| ton, particular statement OF the grounds of
contest, and that Mr.. Sickles serve his answer
on Mr.. Williamson, within twenty days there
after, and that both, within sixty days. take ties.
timony in the manner required by law. Post
| poned till Thursday.
| Mr.. GILMER, from the same committee, re-
| ported leave to Withdraw to Mr.. Williamson,
for having failed to comply with parliamentary
! usages.
The Homestead bill was then taken up and
passed-ll4 against 62
Mr.. HINDMAN presented resolutions of the
Arkansas legislature, in favor of Pacific Rail-
road on the Both parallel of latitude, and brief
| ly stated reasons why that state should have a
| member of the select committee
| Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee of Ways
and Means, asked leave to introduce bill for
| payment of outstanding treasury notes, au-
thorizing loan, and regulating duties on i'm
| ports, but the House refused to suspend the
rules.
Mr.. STANTON, from the Military Committee,
reporteda bill authorizing a sale at auction of
the Western Military Academy at Harrods-
burg, KY, which passed.