The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-06-08
THE, WEEKLY ,PIONE PIONEER AND DEM DEMOCRAT.
CoNGREss-F1RsT SESSION

I h - y.
xxxvIth CONGREss-FIRsTs SESSION
WASHINGTON, May 81.
HousE.--Mr. Reynolds, from the com
mittee on Judiciary, reported back with
amendment,
The Senate bill providing for the return
of re. captured Africans. The report re-
quests that the bill be passed at the earliest
practicable day. r..,. .t.
Mr.. Smith of Va, did not want to force
them back in chains, but would grant them
the privilege to stay in this country.
Mr.. Reynolds gave notice that he would
call up the bill next Monday.
The House resumed the subject of the re-
form in the public printing.
Mr.. Cobb said there ought to be change
of policy; old rats had crept into the crib
and had got so cunning as to hide them
selves from public gaze.
Mr.. Smith said Mr.. Cobb might pass for
an old rat himself but certainly he, Smith,
was not after old rats. He had come to the
conclusion to support the bill for Govern
ment Printing Office. He was sorry that
Mr.. Haskins had spoken of the President
with so much passion and feeling, he would
not hang dog on such evidence as that of
Mr.. Wendell.
1t was bad taste for him to scatter arrows
at the President in the attempt to degrade
him, when he, Haskin, for cause yet unex-
planned, gave the contract for binding to q
friend at higher price than was offered by
a responsible bidder.
Mr.. Haskin had voted for Mr.. Defrees
for printer, after he had proposed to the
Republican caucus to give half the profits
for partizan purposes, and yet the gentleman
stands up with swagger and argues with
the President for dividing the jobs, legiti.
mately within his gift, among bis own
friends, instead of among his political enc,
mics.
WASHINGTON, June l.
SENArE.-Mr. Hale offered resolution,
instructing the Naval Committee to make
inquiry concerning the government purchase
of the Naval depot at Brunswick, Georgia.
Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Benjamin, the bill to
amend the act for settlement of private
land claims of California was taken up and
passed.
The resolution reported yesterday by
Mr.. Slidell, relative to the reformation Of
abuses in public printing, came up as the
special order.
Mr.. Toombs moved to postpone in order
to take up the Houmas Grant Bill. Lost.
Mr.. Hunter moved to postpone former
orders to take up the Post Office Deficiency
bill.
The bill was amended by striking out so
much as provides for the restoration of dis
continued routes-28, to 24-also, by the
adoption OF the amendment restoring the
mail service on the route from Charleston
via Key West to Havana, giving it to the
lowest bidder. The bill passed, Executive
session. Adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Rynold, from the commit
tee on Judiciary, reported bill that any
United States marshal, deputy marshal, or
other ministerial officer, who shall permit
tie escape of criminals in their custody,
whether charged with offences under the laws
of the United States or those of foreign
government with whom we have treaties OF
extradition, shall be guilty of misdemeanor,
and shall be fined and imprisoned according
to the decision Of the court having respect
to the nature of the crime with which the
prisoner is charged. The bill passed.
Mr.. Winslow, rising to privileged ques>
ton, called for the reading of extracts from
the journal of the Covode committee of
which he is member by which he desired
to subpoena certain citizens of Luzerne coun-
ty Pennsylvania.
To this Mr.. Covode interposed thst be
had in his possession the names of 100 per-
SONS as witnesses, but, as in evidence, they
had nc direct connection with the govern
ment, he declined to summon them.
1t appears further from the record that
MIR. Winslow applied for those witnesses in
April, but they had never been summoned.
He had been Informed, on authority said to
be reliable, not by anonymous letters, that
large sums of money had been used to secure
the election of Mr.. Scranton to the House.
Mr.. Covode replied to this that he would
vote to subpoena witnesses if that gentleman
could trace back the use of the money to
the government, and as Mr.. Scranton was
here he would summon him.
Mr.. Winslow's request was refused.
Messrs. Winslow and Robinson, of Illinois
voted in the affirmative, and Messrs. Covode
and Train in the negative, as was also Mr..
Winslows request that this matter be sub.
mitted to the House.
At subsequent period Mr.. Winslow
wished to subpoena Mr.. McMillen and sew
eral others Of Philadelphia. By them be
desired to prove bribery on the part of the
officers of the election in that city in the fall
of 1859, but Mr.. Covode said be had no OBJ
lection to subpoena portion of them, not
being willing to subject the government to
the expense of summoning them. Mr.. Wins
lows request was denied by tie vote.
Mr.. Winslow then moved to subpoena
witnesses from Greensburg and Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, understanding that they could
prove corruption in Westmoreland county,
to which Mr.. Covode objected that these
agents had no connection with the govern
ment. This request was also refused.
The record further states that when Fred
erick Inge was called to the stand, Mr..
Winslow asked whether at any minute he
had been summoned, and the clerk of the
committee replied that there was no minute
of it. Mr.. Winslow then asked that copy
of so much of the journal as related to the
summoning of witnesses be furnished to him,
which was agreed to.
The above is summary of the record.
Mr.. WinslOW snhmitted reaontion die