The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-27
TIIRTT-SEVENTH CONGRESS- SPECIAL SESSlO n
SENATE.

StNAIE,
WASHINGTON, July 26.-After prayer and read
ing of the Journal
Mr.. KENNEDY presented a emorial from the
Mayor ard citizens of Baltimore, praying that the
military force now quartered in their midst be
moved, and pr0tes ing against various acts, unjust
in their nature, committed upon the citizens of Bal
timore by the National Government, and demand
ing their rights those privileges teed them
by the Constitution of the United States. Re-
terred TO the Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. GRIMES, from the Committee on the District
of Columbia, reported bill for organizing a me-
tropOlitan police force in the city of Washington.
Read first and second time and made the special
order for Tomorrow.
Mr.. HALAN presented a memorial against the es-
tablishment of Armory at Rock Island, ILL.,
which referred to the Committee on Military
Affiirs
Mr.. TEN EYcK offered bill for the establishment
OF a National Armorv at Trenton, N. J. Referred
to the Committee on Mi itary Affairs.
Mr.. GRIMES, from the Committee on District Col
umbia, reported bill providing for the construc-
tion of bridge across the Potomac river. Mr..
Grimes alluded to the decided inefficiencv of the
present structure for military purposes 1t appro-
pirates $50 600. Passed.
Mr.. SHERMAN reported back from the Committee
on Finance bill providing for the appointment of
a commission to examine and report the salaries
of Government employees, and for other purposes
Parsed.
Senate resolution No. l, endorsing all the official
acts of the President, postponed until to NOR
row, at one O'Clock, at the desire of Mr.. johnson,
of Tennessee.
The Senate passed an act calling for the militia
to execute the laws of the Union.
Mr.. SIMMONS moved to postpone the House reso-
luton No 81, providing for an increased revenue
from imports to pay the in terest the public debts
and for other purposes. Agreed to.
TheSenate went into the consideration of Execu-
tive business.
Mr.. CHANDLER, from the Committee on Commerce,
reported back bill entitled Gan act to authorize
the issuing of register to the steamer Estela."-
Passed.
Also bill "to increase the consular representa-
ton of the United States" with amendments, and
a recommendation that it pass Laid over
MIR. CLARK, of N. H., moved to take up the joint
resolution, No 10, to maintain the supremacy of
the Government and the integrity of the Union.
The yeas and navs called for by Mr.. Clark.
When Mr. BRECKINRIDGE's name called he
said that portion of the resolution pleased him,
but he could not vote to use the entire resources
of the gov rnment to prosecute what he believed
to be unjust and unnecessary war. He there
fore voted 'No."
The vote stood aves 81, nays l. Absent, Messrs
Bayard, Bright, Kennedy, Pearce, Polk, Powell
and eight others.
MrTRuMBuLL sked that the bill on the Presidents
table, entitled can act to define and punish con-
spiraces," be taken up and put upon its passage
Considered and passed.
Mr.. POWELL, of Kentucky, said he desired to
enter protest of the minority to the Senate
against the bill, which read for information,
follows.
Protest of the minority of the Senate of the United
States against the massage of House bill No 45 entitled
AN act Define and Punish Certain Conspiracies -
The undersigned, members of the Senate, dissent from
the passage of the bill on the following grounds:
The Government Of the United States is government
of specially delegated powers and though treason is
of the highest crimes known to the law it political
offence
To guard against the abuses which in times of high
ctement had in the history of England previous to the
Revolution of 1885, too often sacrificed able vrtuous and
innocent men on the charge of treason and kindred of
fences unaccompanied by acts the Constitution of the
United States expressly defines the crime Of treason in
the following terms;
Art 8, 3Treason against the United States shall
consist only in levying against them in adherng
to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort"
1t further provides that mo person shall be convicted
of treason unless the testimony of witnesses
the overt act, confession in open COURT
The intent to restrict Congress in the creation of
crimes of the nature created by this bill obvious
for in treason are principles and in any conspiracy
of the kind stated in the BILL overt act in pursuance
oft proved by two witnesses, would be treason against
the United States
alone without would render nugatory the pro
vision last quoted and the door would be for those
similar expressions and cruees which under the excite
ment Of political struggles have often dsgraced the
past history of the world.
The undersigned conceive possible object in de-
filming the crime of treason by ancestors and requiring
proof by two witnesses to the act to justify
the conviction of the accused unless be restrict the
power of Congress in the creation of political crime
kindred to treason Ind charged resting in intent which
would, if accompanied by an overt act, be treason
1t matters not that the punishment prescribed in the
law is death but mpsonment the passage the
bill though it might affect the life of innocent
would give, from the uncertainty of the offence
charged aud the proof requisite to sustain it, the utmost
latitude to prosecutions founded personal enmy and
political animosy and the suspicious to intention
which they inevitably engender
J. A BAYARD,
JOHN BRECKENRIDGE,
s. W. POWELL,
WALDO P. JOHNSON,
ID. BRIGHT,
W. SALISBURY,
TRUsTEN POLK,
ia. PEARcE,
A. KENNEDY
Mr.. BRIGHT said the protest had been prepared
bv the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Bayard) who
was absent and asked its consideration be post
poned until tomorrow. So ordered.
MIR. TRUMBULL-Ths bill provides punishment for
persons who conspire together to seize property or
together for the purpose of intmidatipg those
who are Government officials from the perfor nance
of duty