, 1862-01-10
THE PR0CEEDINGS0F CONGRESS
!. WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 1861.
SENATE

mittee, reported s}ack the bill to promote the
efficiency Of the Is=ad Letter Office The bill
provides TINT all dead letters be returned to the
writers, instead pf being destroyed. After
a long discussion The bill WIS postponed till
Mr. TRUMBU1I reported from the Judi
ciary Committee in favor Of the resolution to
expcl Waldo F. Johnson, Of Missouri.
Mr. HALE, ofEN. H., presented petition
from citizens of pennsylyania, which states as
WaznrAst Crest frauds hare been perpotrat,,
ed on the Treasury By the appointment Of
11r. 1Cummingssby Mr, Camerron, and ap-
pointment of III: Morgan by Mr. Welles, we
therefore ask that q statute be enacted to
prevent the appointment Of persons without
the statute therefor.
mr. HALE also introduced bill to punish
frauds on the Treasury. The bill provides
that persons obtaining money fraudulently
shall be punished by fine to the amount Of the
money taken, and imprisonment at hard labor
for not more thaa ten years, providing further
that if any officer Of the Government he shall
be discharged end punished, anfever after
held ineligible for any Office. Referred.
4 communication VAS received from the
War Department transmitting the report OF
the sanitary Commission. Referred.
The House resolution in regard to bonded
sugar and eofee, laid m oyer yesterday, was
The communication from the Secretary Of
State in regard I'd the Trent affair was takennp.
Mr.. SUMNER proceeded to address the
Senate. Mr. su1ane er took the ground that Capt
Wilkes WIS not legally justified in searching
the Trent, and liking from her the rebel Am
bassadorai. thexgh In making the seizure the
gallant Captain was actaatcd By the purest
motives and acted IN strict accordance with
British precedent5 and with international Law,
as cxponnded by the highest British authori-
ties. Mr. Sumner contended that the uniform
5,F4 fto1 Gfn+n <rEJ1 rSf
Continental Europe, has been opposed to the
pretent1ons Of the British government and has
maintained liberal Interpretation Of the
rights of neut1als, and that In many solemn
treaties, in many most important state papers
from the foundation Of the Republic to the
present time, the American Government has
committed itself fully and unrcscrvedir to the
right Of neutral flag to cover civil passen-
gers. The question, be continued, has been
argued with the greatest ability and thorough
ness by the most eminent Of our statesmen,
including Jefferson, Madison, Monroe. and
other Presidents, and tho whole record Of our
diplomacy is luminous with arguments
against such acts as that Of Capt. Wilkes.
Mr.. SUMNER proceeded to show that We
had protested again and again that naval
on the deck Of neutral ship aad take from
her at his sole pleasure and discretion, what
he mig ut think T0s eoAtFaband.
He was bound, if he suspected her Of carry
ing contraband, to carry her into port, and
have tho question decided by competent
ing our national and long established position
on tl,e law Of nations con]d have lawfully con-
dcnoncd the Trent or held the captive ambas-
sadorE.
In takirg them from under the British Rag,
MIR. Sumner held that Capt Wilkes was misled
By British legal authorities, and By British law
books, but violated the American principle Of
the right Of seaxEll4 while the British Govern
ment, on the other hand, has By demanding
the surrender Of S1iden and Mason, stultifed
its own history, renounced its own principles,
and virtually acknowledged the Justice Of the
position SO long maintained by the United
States.
This vas political and diplomatic triumph
Of The highest Value for which Ee aIe deeply
Capt Wilkes, and tue enlig ptesman-
ship of Mr. Seward.
Alter Nj. Sumner had i'll T.. HALE
moved to take up the bill f45Eiding for 20
mail clad gunboats. The question being Of, on
the amendment to substitute the President
| for the Secretary Of the Navy,
afr HALE spoke in favor Of the amend.
ment. und asked the Senators il they approved
the course Of the Secretary Of the Navy. The
| Secretary Of the Navy is no doubt an honest
| man. but he has made . mistake. he sud ne
| ALWAYS seemed unfortunate in attempts Of this
| kind. If he attacked small man then it was
| too small business, and henw he went up to
| the head Of the Department he Was too high
ond "7ntsst not aardlyze the public eonfsdence,
We arc spending million and a bali = day,
not to p,a do,e'. The rebellion, but to Keep JUS
| Mr. DIXON, Of Conn, thought it strange
il VIC cast censure on man against whom
there is no charge, and who was an honest
man. He conld show instead Of the money
being lost, the proceeding had saved the COY
ernment o great amount Of money. He thought
it was not a proper mode to reprimand ~
officer who wes admitted to be honest ant
pure in intention. and it was gross injustice
to the Sccratary Of the Navy.
Mr. SHERMAN, Of Ohio, spoke in favor
be denied that MIR. Morgan, the brother-in-laz
Of the Secretary Of the NnVy, had receiEet
nearly S5oo, GOO, and such action could nc
be defended.
| Mr.. DOOIITTLE, of Wis, said that b.
would 60 for making war on the thieves ofth'
Treasury, bnt he was not prepared on ex3part
evidence to vote censure on the Secretary o
the Navy. We have had more things to con
tend with than secession, and one va
the eternal crDaking and complaining on th
| part Of pretended friends Of the Governmen
and sometimes without reason.
| Mr. WILKINSON, Of Mimi, said it was
t question whether the Secretary of the Nav,
T was 10 be iutEusted with large amount @
money he was unwilling to do it after Wha
had passed. He did not believe Secrctar
| HE4lES aQ lQQ6tI m8H% OF III ILLS Eille1sE4N4 u
the country be wonld not have permitted tn
Treasury to be robbed for the purpose Of en-
ricbing family connection. He cared not VII
the man Was, or what position he occupied
he would lift up his hand against conuptio
and wrong now and hereafter.
Mr. D0OIfTTLE said he had advised th
Naval Committee to call On the Secretary c
the Nary for sn explanation.
Mr.. HALE 6aid when he wanted adyica b
would call for it.
Mr.. WILSON, Of Mass., by consent, intrt
duced resolution thst the Secretary Of tn
Navy be requested to inform the SENATE Of th
facts in regard to the employment Of Geofg
B. Morgan to purchase vessels, and tt
amount Of compensation paid him which VI
agreed to. Adjourned
HousE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. FENTON introduced a bill providin
for the payment Of the interest in certain cast
on kc1aima agzinst the Government.
Mr.. WABHBuRNE introduced blu to pu,
ish frauds ngaanst the Government.
Mr. RICHARDSON introduced bill to e
1 tablish an arsenal ut Springfield, III.
r The above bills were al appropriately r
5 The HOUSE proceeded to the considerable
: of the bill abollsh1ng the frankIng privilege.
D Mr. COLFAX, IN explanation, says that
bill for this purpose has on several occasion
=, passed the Senate, but had never before !
l ceiSed favorable actlon by the Post OH
+ / Committee Of the House. -:: p;
It was now reoortea unanimously, with o.
= exception, I'm England even the Queen b
= to nay her oFn postage, and no MN hsa the
d suEgested fhaf the hanEing pr1sile7
be restored. # It should be ahol{shed. in Il
9 country, it viii never be restored and i