Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
xxxyII,h CoNsREss-secsnd Session.

sxxarr.-Yesssrd.y, sfser the close Of our re-
port
full explanation Of the circumstances attending
the arrest of Messrs Mason and Slidell, ana the
International law on the subject. The conclu.
sions to which he arrived were that the arress
oould not be justified on any Of the points involved
except by British precedent and therefore that
the administration was right In giving them up:
Mr. 3. also explained the former position OF Glea'
Britain, and what she now comedies oy protest
inc against the overhaulng of the Trent and the
arrest of Messrs Mason and Slidell.
The bill for building twenty iron-clad gunboats
was taken up the 0a abe
OF the Navy as the person under whose authority
the work should be done.
Mr. Hale said that In recent Visit 70 new
Hampshire he met old men who declared that
thew had greater apprehensions from corruptions
and frauds on the Treasury than from the rebels
Two and half per cent. had been paid Mr.. Nor
gan on purchases ar snSrnIg n 10 nan. mice
MI Dixon undertook to show that there was a
yery great saving TO the Government by these pur-
chases, and defended the Secretary OF the Navy
as Of Roman hrmness In his rectltnde.
Mr.. Morrill, opposed the amendment as undig-
nifed, as, IL there was an offense, 10 should De
dealt with I'm different manner. He did not
believe Mr.. Welle. amenabie TO punishment.
Mr. Simmons said that IN per cent. was the
usual commission, and that private individuals
generally made better bargains than Government
officers.
that In September last, when $4,000 had been
paid to Mr. Morgan, the matter was brought to
the notice of the Secretary, and the agency was
still continued. He was unwilling, In view Of
this, to place $50 600 900 In the hands Of the Sec
rotary for disbursement.
Mr.. Doolittle was opposed to the amendment
the act was either mistake or a crime; IL the
former, there should be no censure; IL the latter,
Ifthis amendment be adopted, the Secretary would
be compelled to resign.
MIR. Wilkinson did not believe Mr.. Welles to
be an honest man, or the transaction would never
asked, who would have done this service for &c.
900 for 81 900, instead Of $780, 00l
MIR. Doolittle defended the action OF the secre-
tary. He said that 500, 900 had been saved by
Mr.. Morgan In breaking up fraudulent monop-
oily In chatering vessels, and that IL with the
purpose Of saving the treasury from the grasp Of
harpies that he was appointed
Mr. Hale.-How do you know!
MIR DOolittle Il would advise the the naval
committee to go the secretary and inquire.
MI Hale.-When we want your advice we will
ask for IT,
Mr.. Wilson said wsshould hear the secretary,
which was adopted, inquiring Of the secretary
why the appointment Of Mr.. Morgan was made,
and how much compensation was allowed. The
Senate adjourned.
House Yesterday, after our report closed
The bill abOlishing the franking privilege was
discussed at length; and the House adjourned
without difnite action upon the subject.
This bill provides "that all persons now enti-
tied to the Thanking privilege be authorized to
send all malable matter through the mails with
out prepayment Of postage, the same having the
name Of the person sending 1t written or stamped
thereon; and upon all such mailable matter the
postage to be collected from the recipient; that
the postage on such malable matter be at the
rates now fixed by law, except that speeches and
seeds, stamped az such, be sent in envelopes as
now, at the rate Of cent, IL not exceeding two
In as..lN
tional two ounces or fraction thereof; and public
documents, printed by the order of Congress and
stamped as such, at two cents per pound or
fraction Of pound For any distance exceeding
charged and collected on printed matter thus
sent.DI