The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-01-17
Thirty.
Congress-,
SESSION.

. SESSION:
-1 WxxsH1xeros. Jan. 8.
SENArE.--M Mr.. Powell presented resolu
tions from the Legislature Of Kentucky ask
ing the repeal Of the law allowing the judges
of the United States Courts to hold the
terms OF the courts at Oovipgton, Paducah
and Louisville. Referred.
Mr.. Powell also presented resolutions
from the Legislature Of K kentucky, favoriDg
the construction of the railroad connecting
Kentucky with Fast Tennessee and West.
ern Virginia. Referred. .'''. 3 s.. Fl
HousE.-Mr. Colfax from the Committee
on Postoffices and Postroads reported BILL
which was passed, extending the provisions
of the law Of July last, which authorizes
soldiers to send letters through the mails
without prepayment of postage, to sailors
and MARINES in actual service OF the United
States, under such regulations as the Post
Office Department may prescrlbe-postage
to be paid by the recipient. t#
Mr.. Hickman, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported bill which was passed,
that the committee be authorized to send
for persons and examine witnesses, as to
the telegraphic censorship OF the press,
which subject has been referred to the CON-
mittee, and compel the production of pa
pers and dispatches sent or proposed to be
sent, and that if necessary the committee
employ stenographer.
% motion OF Mr.. Holman, the Secreta-
ry of War was requested to inform the
House whether it is proposed to compen
safe for the transportation of troops and
munitions of war, those companies which
have received public lands for the cOnstruc
tion of railroads, on condition that they
would perform the service without payment,
&c.
Mr.. VallandiDgham introduced resolu.
tion which was adopted, requesting the
Secretary OF the Treasury to furnish the
sum total of the floating debt OF the United
States, giving as far as practicable the
heads under which the said debt may be
arranged
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 8.
SENATE.-Mr. Collamer, from Post Office
Committee, reported back the bill to pro-
mote the efficiency of the dead letter Office.
The bill provides that all dead letters be
returned to the writers instead Of being
destroyed. After long discussion the bill
was postponed till to morrow.
Mr.. Trumbull reported from Judiciary
Committee iD favor of resolution to expel
Waldo A. johnson, of Missouri.
Mr.. Hale introduced bill to punish
frauds on the Treasury.
The bill provides that if any persons OBJ
tanning money fraudulently be punished by
fine and Imprisonment to hard labor for not
more than 10 years. IT any officers of the
Government do it, he be discharged and
punished and ever after be held Ineligible
for any Office. Referred.
A communication was received from the
War Department, transmitting the report
of the Sanitary Commissioners. Referred.
The House resolution in regard to bonded
sugar and coffee, laid over yesterday, was
taken up and passed by yeas %, nays Is.
The communications from the Secretary
of State in regard to the Trent affair was
taken up. s.
Mr.. Sumner proceeded to address the
Senate. Mr.. Sumner took ground that Cap
tain Wilkes was not legally justified 10
searching the Trent, and taking from her
the rebel ambassadors; though in making the
seizure the gallant Captain was actuated
by the rurest motives, and acted in strict
accordance with British precedents, and
with intentional law as expounded by the
highest British authorities. MIR. Sumner
contended that the uniform policy of the
United States, as well as the states of Con-
tinental Europe has been opposed to the
pretensions of the British Government, and
have maintained liberal Interpretation of
the rights of neutrals; and that in many
solemn treaties, in many most important
and authoritative state ipapers, from the
the foundation of the republic to the pres.
ent time, the American Government has
committed itself fully and unreservedly to
the right of neutral flag to cover civil
passengers. The question, he continued,
has been argued with the greatest ability,
and thorougbness by the most eminent of our
Statesmen, including Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, ard other Presidents and the
whole record of our diplomacy is luminous
with arguments against such acts as that OF
Captain Wilkes.
Mr. Sumner proceeded to show that we
had protested again and again that naval
captain had no right to constitute himself q
Judge on the deck of neutral ship, and
take from her at bis sole pleasure and dis
cretion what be might think was contra
band. He was bound, if he suspected her
of carrying contraband, to carry her into
port and have the question decided by com
petent courts but no court in this coun-
try, recognizing our natural and long es-
tablished poeition on the law of nations,
could have lawfully condemned the Trent,
or held the captive ambassadors. In taking
them from the British flag, Mr.. Sumner
he'd that Captain Wilkes, misled by Brit
ish legal authorities and by British law
books, had violated the American principle
of the right of search, while the British
government, on the other hand, has, by de-
nanding the surrender of Slidell and Mason
stultified its own history, renounced it's own
principles, and virtually acknowledged the
justice Of the position 60 long maintained by
the United States. This was q political
and diplomatic triumph of the highest val
ne, for which we are deeply indebted to the
daring and patriotic act Of Captain Wilkes
and the enlightened statesmanship Of Mr.
Seward.