Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-10
gg IElearagh.
CONGRESSIONAL.

Mr.. Fenton of New York, introduced a
bill providing for the payment ofihe inter
est IN certain cases on claims against the
government.
Mr.. Washburn of Illinois. introduced a
bin to punish frauds ngaiast the govern
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois, introduced a
bill to establish an Arsenal at Springfield,
Illinois.
referred.
The House then proceeded to the con-
ing privilege.
Mr.. Coliax OF Indiana, in explanation
said the bill for this purpose has on several
occasions passed the Semitic, but never be-
yore received favorable action by the Post
Office Committee of the House. TWAS now
reported unanimously with cue exception,
/ Dy that Committee. This measure would
sun Keep open the communication between
Representatives aud their constituents. and
save million of dollars to the government
annually, which is uu item of importance
IN times like these, when an additional tax
has been put on her coffee and sugar. In
the course Of his remarks he eonteuded
! that those. who receive speeches and docu-
ments should pay the small amount of DOS
tage required. In England even the Queen
has topay her own postage. No man there
proposed that the fraukinS privilege should
be restored. If it should be abolished in
this country It never would be restored and
the people would wonder that it had ex-
| listed so long. The Post Office Commit.
tee intend to introduce other reforms.
among them to collect postage on the tons
OF printed matter which are now carried
by Express companies. All he asked was
that the bill should have fair vote.
Messrs. Edwards, Roscoe Conkling and
Pomeroy continued the debate. The last
named gentleman offered n resolution to
recommit the bill to the Post Office Com
E1itteeI with instructions to report q new
bill, embracing the following principles:
First, abolishing the transmission of all
written and printed matter free of postage,
excepting that ordered to be printed by
Congress aud secondly, such matter shall
be stamped public documents. aud ON he.
ing ranked shall pass through the mails
free.
Ill, opposed the bill.
Mr.. Golfhx replied to the objections
urged against il.
Pending the measure, Mr.. Wright moved
to lay the whole subject on the table,
NegatiVed-yeas OIL, nays %. Adjourned.
SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner having the floor on the
Trent affair, made an eloquent speech.
In alluding to the release of Mason and
Slidell he said, this had been done at the
instance OF the British Government. cOur-
teOusly conveyed and founded ON tho as
sumption that the original capture of these
men was an act Of violence, which was an
aHront to the British flag or violation OF
International law. He stated that these
men were citizens and for many years
Senators of the United States. One was
tile author Of the fugiviVe slave bill aud
the other the chief author of the Ellibus-
tering system, which las disgraced our
national name and disturbed our national
peace. Occupying places of trust and
power in the service of their country, they
conspired aRniuBtit, and at last the secret
traitors aud cOnsptrRtOrs became open
rebels. While on their way to England
and Franco to play the part of Embassu-
doris for the purpose of nrrnying two great
nations against the United States, aud Gu
list them openly in behalf of an accused
slave-holding rebellion, they were arrested
and removed from the English steamer
Trent, by Capt. Wilkes, of the United
States steamer San Jacinto. If he in this
arrest forgot for moment the fixed policy
Of the Republic and transcribed the law
OF nations, as the United States have nl-
ways declared it, his apology must be found
in the patriotic impulse by which lie was
inspired, and the British examples which
he could not forget, aud which rendered
them liable to be stUpped. British prece-
dents, the OFT repeated examples of British
cruisers, upheld against the oft repeated
protests of the United States, all Yindicate
the arrest. The act only becomes ques-
ti0nable when brought to the toushstoue of
those liberal principles which the American
Government has always openly aYOwed
and which other European Governments
have accepted with regard to the sea.
Alter further argument in this connec-
ton, Mr.. Sumner said, in exchange Tor
prisoners we receive from Great Britain
practical assent, too long deferred, to n
principle early propOuuded by our country
aud standing forth on every page of our
history. The same voise which asks for
their liberation, renOuuces in the same
breath our odiOus pretension, for whole
generations, the scourge Of peaceful COM
merce.
Great Britain, though practically con-
tributing to tho establishment Of freedom
beyond all other nations IN her cOutribu-
tons to municipal law, has in maritime
questions arising under the law of nations,
imposed upon weaker nations her own ar
bitrary will. The boast that ''Britania
rules the waves" was practically adopted
by the British Courts OF Admiralty, and
universal maritime rights were subjected
| to the special exigeneies of British inter
ests. In the consciousness of strength, aud
with navy that could not be opposed, she
has put chains upon the sea ; the Ameri-
can commerce has been cruelty decimated
by these arbitrary pretensions The bel
ligerent right Of search was employed, aud
the quarter deck OF every British cruiser
was made floating judgement seat, and
the imPressment Of American citizens from
under the protection of the American dag
were counted by thousands. Sixthousand