Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-27
IRASBURGH, VERMONT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1861

mands against the government on ac-
count of the purchase of said arms.
RcsotUed, That the practice of employ
ing irresponsible parties having no Off
cal connection with the government in
the performance of public duties, which
may be properly performed by regular
officers of the government, and of pur-
chasing by private contract supplies for
the different departments, where fair and
open competition might properly be in
vited by reasonable advertisements for
proposals, is injurious TO the public SER
vice and meets the unqualified disappro'
baton of this House.
The consideration of the report was
postponed till Tuesday.
Mr.. Morrill, introduced a bill, which
passed, to suspend the appointment of
assessors and collectors of the income tax
until the 1st Of April next.
Mr.. Stevens of Pennsylvania, from the
Committee on Ways and Means, reported
a bill making appropriations for invalid
and other pensions, and bill providing
payment for consular and diplomatic ex-
penses.
Mr.. Blair of Missouri reported from
the Military Committee a bill providing
for allotment of pay certificates among
| the volunteer forces. The bill passed.
Mr.. Cox Of Ohio, from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, reported bill ap-
propriating $1,000 as full compensation
to the owners of the British ship Perth
shire, in consequence OF her detention by
the steamer Massachusetts in June last,
for a supposed breach of the blockade,
Mr.. Cox said the bill reported was in ac-
cordance with the recommendation in the
presidents message, the ship having left
Mobile within the time allowed by the
presidents proclamation. The amount
is inconsiderabIe, but the prompt action
of Congress in awarding it is intended
as an earnest to Great Britain that this
government will he as ready to indemnify
for wrong as to defend a right. Our
naval officers were as clearly in the wrong
IN seizlng this ship as they were right in
overhauling the Trent. While we woult
not yield an inch TO any servile fear OIL
ungenerous compul,ion such as the for
eign news threatens US with, it is becom-
ing the dignity Of the republic promptly
to remedy the wrongs. Thus are we
trebly armed to demand prerogatives be
longing to our nationality at home and
abroad. Great Britain should meet US
in this spirit when we demand of her
why the steamer Nashville has an asylum
in her ports. After relating the case OF
the Harvev Birch, Mr.. Cox said " We
should demand to know how it consists
with England's much vaunted neutrality
to allow such wanton piracy to go on
without even the forms Of adjudication,
or even a mockery of judgment. Our
justification in the case Of the Trent is
that her act was one of hostility, whether
it consists in carrying dispatches, envoy,
or other and worse than contraban1 on a
neutral ship. England cannot deny the
doctrine of Lord Stowell, which would
stop in time Of war, on neutral ships, the
Of an enemy, whose gov
ernment is not yet an accomplished and
recognized fact. To give an ambassador
the protection Of neutral flag is a caSWS
6eM. To give him the protection of the
neutral flag on private vessel is an act
of hostility in aid of public enemy, and
seizure and confscation should follow.
The more this question is pondered, the
more impregnabe is our position. On
this ground we may say to England, 'Ful- |
Gil your neutral obligations. You have
assumed them voluntarily and against
our protest. Until you do so you cannot
quarrel with US for the exercise of our
most indubtable right. If you insist up
on beligerant rights between the North
and South, do not as a neutral help the
one to the detriment of the other. This
is fraud In this spirit alone can our
relations toward Great Britain continue
amicable.
Mr.. Cox concluded by saying: We
are too sensitive of foreign opinion. We
naturally dislike to have our government
and institutions msrepresented. But we
,an afford to be Indifferent to the malig-
lity of foreigners whose moral standard
s increased by their commercial loss and
gain, and whose complacent neutrality
.an view a great Christian and kindred
iation humliated without regret or sym
,athy because of its splendid illustration
If commercial grandeur and democratic
government. Let us pursue our duty 10