The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-22
further use of mercenaries around the Capt..

toll. Adjourned.
SENATE.-After the return of the Senate
to their own chamber, Mr.. Fessenden re-
ported the diplomatic appropriation bill,
and asked for committee Of conference with
the House on disagreeaing provisions in the
bill. ~
The bill to carry out the treaty with New
Granada was passed.
A committee was appointed to notify
Messrs. Lincoln and Hamlin Of their cleo
ton. ..,.. ,-..., ,e,,,4e.
The tariff bill came up. Mr.. Seward
gave notice that he should move to erase
that portion aboishing the warehouse
system.
Mr.. Simmons explained amendments,
when then the bill was laid over.
The bill for the better organization of the
militia of the District of California came up,
and on motion of Mr.. Lane, it was recon-
mitted to the military committee.
The bill providing that no extra numbers
of any documents be printed without joint
resolutions of both Houses, passed.
Mr.. Bigler reported the Patent bill,
recommending that the Senate concur in all
| the amendments of the House. All except
one we're agreed to. Adjourned.
- WASHINGTON, Feb. IA.
| SENATE.-Mr. Cameron presented several
petitions, asking Congress to stand by the
Constitution as it is; also other petitions in
favor of the Crittenden compromise.
MIR. Wilkinson presented petition from
Minnesota in favor. of the enforcement of the
laws, the recapture of forts, keeping the
rivers free, and against compromises.
Mr.. Rice presented petition from the
same state, in favor of Crittenden's resolu.
tions.
Other PETITIONS of the same nature were
presented. The Presidents message was
postponed until Tuesday uext.
Mr.. Douglas presented memorials against
changing the warehouse system. The tariff
bill was taken up.
Mr.. Hunter opposed it, contending that
the revenue from public lands and the pres
ent tariff is sufficient to carry on the gov.
ernment if properly administered.
Mr.. Simmons supported the bill, arguing
for the abolition of the warehouse system,
which was losing the government millions.
After executive session, the Senate ad.
journed.
HoUsE.-The Pacific Railroad bill was
considered. The amendment for the central
route to Fort Riley from the mouth of the
Kansas river was stricken out.
The report Of the committee of thirty
three was taken up.
Mr.. Campbell said that if the forts and
arsenals be returned he would listen to the
complaints and furnish remedy. He ar
gued that the territorial question should
be settled by the admission of New Mexico,
and favored the proposition of the commit
lee.
Mr.. Howard, from the select committee
of five, submitted report as to the alleged
conspiracy. The committee say if the pur-
pose was at any time entertained of forming
an organization to seize the District of Co.
lumbia, or attack the Capitol, or prevent
the Inauguration of Lincoln, it seems to
have been rendered contingent upon the Sc
cession of Maryland and Virginia, and the
sanction of one of them. Certain organi.
cations in this District and Maryland that,
prior to the election seemed to be open to
political clubs, have since assumed the char
acter of military organizations, and are now
engaged in drilling, and expect to provide
themselves with arms, some from state au-
thorltes, and Others from private subscrip-
lions, but so far as the committee have
been able to ascertain their purposes,
while they sympathized strongly with Sc.
cession, there is no proof that they would
attack either the Capitol or District, unless
surrender should be demanded by the states
which profess high degree of allegiance.
Some of these companies in Baltimore pro-
fessed to be drilling for the purpose of pre-
veIting other military companies from pass
ing through the State of Maryland. WEeth.
er the representations are correct or not, the
committee failed to discover satisfactory
evidence that they have any purposes what
ever, as mere mob, without the sanction
of the state authority, to attack the Capitol
or any other public property in the District.
1t it is admitted that any of these organiza.
tions were hostile to the government, or
entertained unlawful purposes, they are in
no proper sense secret, and are not, there
fore, such as are contemplated in the reso-
lutions of the House.
The committee is unanimously of the
opinion that the evidence before them does
not prove the existence of a secret organiz~
alton, here or elsewhere, hostile to the gov
eminent that has for its object, upon its own
responsibility, to attack the capitol or any
public property here, or an interruption Of
the functions Of the government. The
committee submit all the evidence and ask
the same and the report to be printed and
the committee discharged.
MIR. Branch submitted his views, concur
ring entirely with the majority. He says
it appears from the testimony of Gen.
Scott that seven companies OF artillery and
one OF sappers and miners have been ordered
and quartered on the city, under the mis-
taken belief that the public property was in
danger, and asks the passage of the follow.
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the quartering of Troops of
the regular army in this District and around
the Capitol when not necessary for their pro.
lection from a hostile enemy, and during
session of Congress is impolitic, and may be.
come destructive of civil liberty, and in the
opinion of this House the regular troops now
in it ooght to be forthwith removed therefrom.