The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-01-10
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
BY TEE Z. W. LINE.
Exclusively for the Journal.
CONGRESSIONAL.
xXXvIL CoNGREss-FIRsT SESSION
HOUSE.

I &XXVlI CONGRESS-FIRSTS SESSION
/ HOUSE. - =
~ WASHINGTON, Jan 8.
. Mr. Fenton introduced a bill providin
! for the payment of the interest in cerlai
cases on claims against the government.
Mr.. Washburn introduced a bill to pun
ISL frauds against the government.
Mr.. Richardson introduced bill TO estat
lish an arsenal at Springfield, Illinois,
The above bills were all appropriately re
| ferred.
The House proceeded to the considerable
of the bill abolishing the Thanking privilege
| Mr. Colfax said in explanation, that +
bill for this purpose has on several occasion
| passed the Senate, but had never before re
ceiyed favorable action by the Pest Offic
Committee of the House. 1t was now re
ported unanimously, with one exception
In England, even the Queen has to pay he
own postage aud no man has there suggest
ed that the ranking privilege be restored
If it should be abolished in this country i
will never be restored and the people woulC
wonder that it had existed so long.
Mr.. Duell produced a tabular statement
OF Post Office expenditures and deficits. I'm
der the law as it now stands, at Ieas: 90
600 persons, including Postmasters, whose
salaries do not exceed 5000, receive and
transmit letters and packages free of post
age, in no way relative to public business
He opposed the BILL for the reason that
while it abolishes Thanking in one part, il
restored it in another -
Mr.. Vallandingham said this was the day
Of small reforms, and as the measure pend
irc, az
IL would doubtless meet with favor. He
read from the special Committee of which
he was a member, views therein expressed of
abolishing the ranking privilege, maintain
ing among other things, that there should
be the freest communication between Con-
gressmep and their constituents, repudiating
the principle that the Post Office Depart
ment should be self-sustaining, and show
ing that the increased expenses are owing
mainly to the increase of mail facilities.
SENATE.
Mr.. Collamer from the Post Office Commit
tee reported back the bill to promote the eff
hciency 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 post
pOned until tomorrow.
Mr.. Trumbull reported from the Judiciary
Committee in favor of the resolution to ex-
pell Waldo H. johnson of Missouri.
Mr.. Hale introduced bill to punish
frauds on the Treasury
1t provides that persons obtaining mon
ey under false pretenses, be punished with
fine and Imprisonment for not more than
ten years. If any officer of the Govern
ment do it, he be discharged and punished
ar a1rop al hold IN r..
fee. Referred
A communication was received from the
War Department, transmitting the report of
the Sanitary Commission.
The House resolution in regard to bonded
sugar and coffee, was taken up and passed
yeas, % nays, Is.
The communications from the Secretary
Of State in regard to the Trent affair was
taken up.
Mr. Sumner proceeded TO address the
Senate. He took the ground that Capt
Wilkes was not legally justified 10 search
nag the Trent and taking from her the
rebel ambassadors, though in making The
seizure, the gallant Captain was actuated
by the purest motives and acted in strict
accordance with British precedents and
international law as expounded by the
highest British authorities. Se commended
that the uniform policy fthe u aited States
as well as the States of Continental Earope
has been opposed to the pretensions of the
British Governments and has main tanned
liberal Interpretation of the rights of neu-
trails and that in many solemn treaties, in
many most important and authoritative
State papers from the foundation Of the
Republic, TO the present time, the A merican
Government has committed itself fully and
the right of a neutral flag
to cover civil passengers. The question,
be continued, has been argued With the
greatest ability and thoronghness, by the
most eminent of our statesmen, intending
Jefferson, Adams and Monroe and other
Presidents and the whole record Of our
diplomacy is luminous with arguments
against such aetssas that of Capt w likes, /
Mr.. Simmer proceeded to show that we
bad protested again and again that naval
Captain had no right to constitute himself
a Judge on a deck of a. neutral ship and
take from her at his sole pleasure what he
might think was contraband he was
boundsif he suspected her ofsearrying ..eon-
trahands to carry her into port aud have the
question decided by competent courts, but
no court in this c6nntry recognizing our
national aud leng established position on
the law of nations could have lawfully con-
demned the Trent or held the captive rebels
in taking them from under the British flag.
Mr.. Sumner held that Capt Wilkes, mis-
led by British legal authorities and by
British law books, had violated the Amer
lean principle of the right of search, while
the British government, on the other hand,
has, by demanding the surrender of Mason
amp Slidell, stulti6ed its own history, re-
nouncing its own principle and virtually
the justice of the position so
long maintained by the United States.-
This was political and diplomatic triumph
of the highest value, for which we are
deeply indebted TO the daring and patriotic
act of Capt. Wilkes and the enlightened
of Mr.. Seward.