The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-10
PROCEEDINGS OP THE THIRTY,SIXTH CONGRRSS

CITY,
| which he said would disgrace tribe of savages
| MIR. BROWN said new Jail was about being
erected by the General Government.-After
| some conversation the subject dropped. IA
number OF bills, etc, OF a private nature, were
considered-The bill for the relief of settlers on
lands in Arkansas was taken up and passed. On
motion of Mr.. SUMNER, it was resolved that the
Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to
consider by what title or right the Saratoga,
ship of war belonging to the United States has
undertaken in time of peace, and without the
sanction of Congress, to force against two other
vessels ofwar at that time in Mexican waters and.
after bloody contest, to capture the and
bring them as pretended prizes of war into a port
of the United States, holding their officers and
crews prisoners and also to consider if any ac-
ton of Congress be required to prevent the recur-
renee of such collision and such assumption of
power to make prizes of war and prisoners in time
of peace.-Mr. BRAGG, from the Committee of
Claims, reported joint resolution authorizing the
settlement of the accounts of John r. Bartlett late
Commissioner of the U. S. to run and mark the
boundary line between the U. s. and Mexico, and
for other purposes; which was considered and
passed.-Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, from the
Committee on Public Lands, reported bill for the
relief OF certain actual settlers lands granted to
the State of Arkansas for railroad purposes; which
was considered and assed-On motion by Mr.
HAHLAN, the bill for the relief of certain settlers
IN the State OF Iowa was considered and passed.
Mr. CLAY remarked that on Saturday morning.
when he was not in his seat a Joint resolution in
reference to the harbor of Chicago, Illinois, was
taken up and passed. Probably it was not observed
by the Senate that the Committee on Commerce had
reported adversely on that subject.-Mr. DOUG
LAS moved to reconsider the vote by which that
joint resolution was passed, in order that the Sena-
tor from Alabamba, might have an opportunity to
state his objections to itwhich was agreed to-
Mr.. CLAY said he would do so tomorrow morning
Mr.. KENNEDY asked and obtained leave to in
troduce bill explanatory of an act entitled can
act supplementary to act to authorize Notaries
Public to take and certify oaths, affirmations and
acknowledgements in certain cases." which was
read twice and eferred.-Mr. LANE, from the
Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred
the bill making appropriations to supply detcien-
cy IN the appropriations for the completion of the
geographical survey of Oregon and Washington
territories, reported it back without amendment
and recommended its passage-On motion by
Mr. SLlDELL the bill to relinquish the title of
OF the United States to certain lands occupied by
the city OF Baton Rogue, in Louisiana. was taken
up, considered and passed.-Mr. HALE called
the attention of the Chairman of the Committee
on the District of Columbia to the condition of the
Jail in this city, He visited it yesterday, and such
prison would be a disgrace to any savage
people. 1t filthy, and was filed
with blacks from turret to foundation, and
among them he found a white boy about II or Is
years of age, resident of this city, who, by the
order OF some Justice, had been taken from the
protection of his mother, without the SUSPICION or
allegation of crime, but simply because in some
trial to come off it would be convenient to have
that boy testify. Thus this innocent boy has been
taken from the protection of his mothers house and
locked up amid crime and filth in one of the filth
est jails on the face of the earth. These things
ought to be known.-Mr. BROWN replied that
the Committee on the District of Columbia had had
this subject before them for several years. and had
repeatedly reported in favor of appropristions to
build suitable Jail here; but every time they had
got the question up, they had been met by outside
influences, and objections had been made to build
ing new Jail either upon the old site or anv other
site that could be selected. If it had not been for
these de inf tha
since have been remedied If the Senate
will agree to stand by the Committee
they will Immediately report a proposition
to build such prison ought to be built MIR
HAMLlN said it was true that there had been
great deal OF patriotic Indignation in regard to the
condition of this Jail; but he would like to have
some gentleman tell him what obligation was
imposed upon the General Government to build A
Jail here at all.--Mr. BROWN replied that the
! Courts which sentence these criminals were the
Courts of the Governments; the marshals who take
them into custody were United States marshals
and as they were the prisoners of the United States
it incumbent upon the United States to furnish
a suitable prison for their cOninement-On mo-
ton by Mr.. BROWN, the unfinished business of
Saturday last, in relation to the construction of
railroad along PEI nsylvana avenue, was postponed
until Thursday neXt.--The resolutions of Mr., DA-
Wis were considered and Mr.. CHESNUT made some
remarks in reference to the system of slave labor as
contraSted with free labor. lie adduced several
authorities to prove that the emancipation of the
w
most disastrous to that government. The system
oi labor in the Southern States was cause of the
predomnance of the United States commercially
and in view of this fact the Exeter Hall politicians
in England were endeavoring to break it down
and at the same time fostering the coolie system is
asubstitute of their Strange as it might
seem, the Republican party were g9ng hand in
hand with them, and were, in fact, British party
labOring to depreciate the greatness of this coun
try. 1t was impossible that such party could
triumph; and If they should succeed, the effect
would be fatal to the interests of this country
Mr.. CLINGMAN obtained the floor and the sub
ject postponed.-The Homestead bill was
then taken up, whereupOn the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. THA1ER introduced a bill constituting
Dacotah Territory land district, and providing
for the admission to the House of delegate there
trom.-Mr. SCOTT introduced bill to author
lze the President, in conjunction with the State
authorities of California, to run and mark the
boundary between the Territories of the United
a resolution, which was adopted calling
upon the President of the United States to
communicate to the House copies of all
orders to our naval and consular officers on the
western Coast of Africa, in relation to the slave
trade, and also that the President submit his
opinion as to whether further legislation is requir-
ed to suppress the same etc. Several amendments
were previously presented, which Mr.. Morse ac-
cepted,to inquire how many slavers have been cap
tured and condemned in our courts; where the YES
sells were built, and the places of residence of the
captains and crews, and the amount expended
in maintaining the African Squadron, ETC.
On motion of Mr.. GROW, the second and third of
May were apart for the consideration of Terri
torial business.-Mr. WlNSL0W called up the
subject treated OF in report of the majority of the
CovOde Investigating Committee, which concludes
with a resolution that the Speaker issue his war
rant to the SergeantatArms of the House for the
arrest of Augustus Schell, Collector of the port
OF New York, he to be brougho before the House
to answer as tor contempt of the authority of the
House, in refusing to produce certain paper
which the Committee deem necessary to their in
vestigation.--Mr. WINSL0W submitted a mi
nOrity report, in the main cOncurred in by Mr.
Robinson, of Illinois, controvertng the positions of
the majority sustaining the ground assumed by Mr.
Schell, and saying the House has no authority to
inquire into private contributions of any person
whatever, unless it shall be first determined that
such purposes were corrupt. Mr.. Schell
was required to produce the list of contributors
to the New York Hotel election fund and was
right in refusing compliance with the demand
There was no evidence to show that the money
$4,000 or S40,000-was used for corrupt purposes
in Pennsylvania, and the election of no person had
been disputed. To require compliance with the
demand would infringe the rights of citizens and be
productive of much evi-Mr. C0VODE raised
point, that he, as the mover of the question, had
the right to the tioor.--This, Mr.. WINSLOW de-
MED. The floor had been assigned to him
and to deprive him of it would be an unpre-
cedented instance of arbitrary power.-
The SPEAKER assigned the floor to Mr.. Covode
MIR. WlNSLOW appealed from the decision of
the Chair.-Mr. ADRIAN moved that the appea
be laid on the table, which motion prevailed-yeas
l25; nays 59.-Mr. COVODE said he wanted
MIR. Hickman to make his report on the Presidents
Protest; and besides, be did not want Mr.. Schel's
list because of the names of private individuals
thereon, but because of the names of Government
officers He moved to postpone the further con-
sideraton of the subject till Thursday next, and
demanded the previous question.-Mr. LEAKE
moved that there be call of the Hnnsa The question
determined
- During the roll-call Mr. MILES injured
whether copies of Mr.. Hckmans report lin reply
to the Presidents protest. had not been sent to the
New York papers. MIR. HICKMAN replied in the
affirmative, saying there precedent for it; but
that the editors could not publish the report until
it was made in the House, without a breach of
confidence. MIR. COVODE withdrew his mo-
ton, when Mr.. STEVENS moved to recommit
the report; and this question was deter
mined in the afirmative-yeas l05, nays SO-
Mr.. HICKMAN, from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, made report on the Presidents recent Pro-
test against the action of the House in connection
with the CovOde Investigating Committee They,
at some length, refute the positions taken by the
President, who, they assert, under the Constitu-
ton, possesses neither privilege nor immunity be-
yond the humblest citizen, and is less favored in
this respect than Senators and Representatives in
Congress. " Unfortunately, they saw, "for the at.
tempted defence of that officer, there is charge
made of any grade of offence calling for trial of any
kind. 1t is mere inquiry that is proposed"
Mr.. Covodes /" resolutions do not contemplate a
jude dement, and therefore there can be no formal
trial under them. So numerous are the proofs that
the ''wise and great men, of our earlier history
entertained forebodings of the very opposite char
acter to those which the President ascrbes to them
that it is difficult to resist disposition to attribute
n II oh h.