Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-23

Proceedings Of Yesterday Afsernssn.
In THE SENATE, yesterday, after our report
closed, Mr.. Benjamin proceeded with his speech
onthe Democratic Caucus 4 resolutions introduoed
by Mr.. Davis. He commenced his remarks nv
alluding to the invasion al Harper's Ferry, which
was made for the avowed purpose of interfering
with domestic institution, and setting the slaves
at liberty. The whole country was deeply stirred
by this occurrence, especially the South; and this
universal excitement found immediate vent in
Congress. Several different propositions bearing
on this subject were presented in the Senate: but
as II was found that their discussion in this man
nsJ would be pointless. and as il was Presumed
that there was a similarity Of opinion among the
democratic members, a caucus was held to agree
upon such series of resolutions might ernre,s
their views. He proceeded to notice the recent
speech OF MIR. Douglas, filling twenty columns of
the Globe In an attempt to set forth his peculiar
claims for the Presidency; and more than half of
that speech is devoted to the perfectly idle and
| unnecessary task of proving that the principles
which he now asserts Were advocated by him
years and years ago. thereby proving to the senate
and the country, to which he appeals so often
that there has been no stency n his couras
but that all the inconsistency Is with those who
oppose his present position. Mr. b. would not
go back further than 1857, when the Senator from
| Illinois was in full fellowship with his party.
This question arose, and the various members Of
the demociatic party could not agree upon IL hut
they all agreed to leave 1t to the decision OF the
courts. Now, the Senator refuses TO abide bv the
decision, because 10 was against him. His very
consistency is what we complain of. He is now
worshipping the idols Of evasion and circumyen-
| ton. Mr.. b. took up the various arguments of
Mr.. Douglas and replied to them Seriatis1 de-
moiishing his pretensons TO be sustained by the
democratic party of the country at the Charestoa
Convention in the most crushing manner and
showing that MIR. ID. had borrowed the arguments
made against him in Illinois by Mr.. Lincoln AID
had used them against the democratic party in
his HarPer's Magazine article
MI. Wtgfall next obtained the floor hut va
way to Mr.. Pugh, who desired to reply to AIR
Benjamin.
Mr.. Pugh then proceeded to defend at consider
able length the course of Mr. Douglas as eminentIy
democratic, Senators Rice, Slidell, Thomson,
Bigler, Clay, Lane, Wigfall, and Green partici-
pating.
MI wigfall then took the floor and after adj
dressing the Senate for some time, gave way,
without concluding, for a motion to adjourn
And the Senate adjourned, after a continuous
session Of upwards Of seven hours
Is TIE HOUSE. the BODY having under consd
Grafton the Senate bill to facilitate communicating
between the Atlantic and Pacific States by electri,
tele graph
Mr.. Colfax withdrew the pending amendment
and, upon the recommendation of the Post Ofic,
Committee, moved to amend the Senate bill by
substituting the bill originally reported from the
Post once Committee Of the House. with the
single modification of making st. Josephs, Mis-
souri,, the point OF departure on the Atlantic end
of the line
MI. Burnett opposed the bill on the ground that
II would build up monopoly, and offered an
amendment TO strlke out the names of the corpo-
ratoIs, ana grant the franchise to the lowest
bidder.
Nh. Clark, Of n. Y, offered an amendment
providing that nothing in the act shall be con,
strued as comforting exclusive privileges upon any
company, or preventing Congress from conferrinp
similar franch ises upon other parties
Pending the debate, the morning hour having
Mr. Grow called up the motion TO reconsider
the vote by which the bill to prevent the sale of
the public lands, except to actual settlers for ten
years after the me shall have been actually sur
veyed, was committed.
The motion to reconsider prevailed. and the bill
was passed by vote of yeas lOi navs CT
Mr.. Reagan called up the motion to reconsider
Inc vote by which the House concurred in the
Senate amendment to the bill making appropria-
tons for the support Of the Military Academy
during the next fiscal year THE amendment
provides for regiment Of mounted volunteers in
Texas "
MIR. Stanton called for the yeas and NAYS: which
were ordered, and resulted-yeas S. nays77 So
the motion to reconsider prevailed
The question required on the Senate amendment
to the Military Academy bill, which was non
concurred in-yeas 81, NAYS go
The House went into Committee Of the w hole
(Mr. Cochrane in the chair. } and resumed con-
sderaton CT the bill making appropriations for
the legislative, executive and judicial expenses of
the Government for the year ending June 30. 1861
The bill was discussed at great length upon
various amendments under the I've minutes rule
An amendment providing that remarks made
ont or order, and speeches not delivered in the
House, shall not be published in the Globe, was
adopted.
Several other amendments were discussed and
rejected, and some minor amendments were
adopted
Mr.. stanton moved to strike ont the approprra.
lion for the auxiliary police of Washington city
remarkihg that !nasmu IA as the police had shown
Itself inadequate to protect political meeting
from violence II was not worth while TO make any
appropriation for them
The amendment led to considerable discussion
members on the democratic side condemning the
outrage perpetrated on Saturday night last lint
insisting that the way to meet the case would he
Dy increasing the appropriation for the police
rather than by diminishing It. It was also URGED
that w dShington was not singular in POSSESSING 3;
disOrderly element, since riots and ontrages &C.
Cured In every large city. and others besides the
htP9olican party had been badly treated in
Washingto "
Mr.. Washbnrne, Of III, made a statement In
eonnexion with the affair OF Saturday evening
denying The telegraphlc report that polcemtn
Were present ana sought to protect the meeting
Many gentlemen were HIT by the living missile
and he did not believe there was a policeman ON
the ground. va
Mr. Moore. Of Ala, suggested that as there had
been no public notice, the police We're not aware
OF the meeting.
Pending the discussion on the amendment, the
compittee rose wiz
A communication was read inviting members
with their families to attend the reception 10 he
given by the japanese Embassy on Friday pert
Mr. Sherman gave notice that the Emha.xv
would visit the House at one O'Clock to-,norro~!!
to-day) without ceremony.
Al ten minutes past six O'Clock the House ad-