Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-12-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.

The bill to enable aliens who have served
in the army or navy to become citizens, was
reported and read first time.
Mr.. Grimes introduced bill to create the
rank of Vice Admiral in the navy.
Mr.. Dolittle introduced bill appropriat-
ing ten millions, or rs much as is necessary
for defenses on the lakes and frontiers.
Mr.. Wilson presented a petition from Of
ticers of colored troops, asking increase of
pay, &c. Referred to the Military commit
tee.
Mr.. Grimes presented petition from cit
izens of Iowa, asking for the repeal of the
reciprocity treaty. Referred to the com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Trumbull presented petition from
citizens of Cook county, Illinois, asking the
passage of a Bankrupt law. Referred to
the Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Hendricks presented petition from
citizens of California in relation to pre-emp-
tion claims in that State, which was refer
red to the committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. Doolittle asked to have his resolution
authorizing the President to eXpend ten
million dollars for defense of the frontier.
Referred to committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Sumner suggested that it be refer red
to the committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Doolittle had no objections to such a
reference. J..
Mr.. Sumner said the question involved
was already before the committee on For
eign Relations.
Mr.. Sherman-The reference to the COM
mittee on Foreign Affairs would be the best
that could be made. He hoped the commit
tee would report speedily upon the subject
of general defense of the borders. There
was a great deal OF anxiety on the subject
Of border defense, and he hoped it would
be acted upon promptly.
Mr.. Howard-I concur entirely with the
Senator from Ohio that the committee to
" HON this bill shall be referred will make
as early report as practicable upon the sub
iect, for, as has been Justly observed by the
Senator from Ohio, there is great anxiety
along the frontier. We are hourly in dan
ger of repetitions of these raids and outra-
ges. which have been so frequently commit
ted upon peaceful citizens of the border.
think it is high time there should be an eX-
preston of opinion on the part OF the Con-
gress of the United States, at least by re-
monstrance against these raids and outrages
to which have referred. We must, in or
der to keep peace along the border, show
our power. The lion must show his teeth
on this side of the border, and teach these
men who have been harboring these rebel
vipers in their bosoms that even Canada,
with its pretended neutrality, cannot be
permitted to be place of refuge for such
characters. desire to say this much on
this occasion. When another occasion shall
present itself shall go more extensively
into the consideration of the subject.
Mr.. johnson said-It was immaterial to
what committee the resolution was referred;
either of the committees named could not
consider the subject properly. If these
raids were committed there was no doubt
that under the law of nations the parties
could be arrested within the limits of the
United States, or pursued into the adjoin-
ing territory. He believed that right to be
settled as definitely as any other question
i'm international law. 1t was under that
provision that the excellent, patriotic SOL
dier Gen. Dix issued an order authorizing
his officers to pursue these men if they
crossed the border, but he (Johnson) saw by
the epapers that the President of the United
States and the Secretary of State, better in
formed, he supposed as to what would be
the course of the home Government,
had directed General Dix to rescind
that part of his late order. The country
was good deal excited by the release of
the st. Albans raiders. He had no doubt
the Canadian judge acted honestly in the
DcllcNltR bHsib Hc uO
ton. That this decision was erroneous he
(Mr. Johnson) was satisfied from the time it
was announced. He was now further salts
fled, because he saw the Colonial Govern
ment had pronounced it erroneous and had
directed the issue of writs for the rearrest
of the raiders. Whether that arrest could
be made was doubtful, but he (Johnson)
had no doubt the whole power of the Colon
ial Government would be exerted to pre-
vent such raids in future. Still 1t was per-
haps proper for the Senate to take every
possible precaution to prevent the repeti-
ton of such acts and to enable us to vindi-
cate ourselves, either within our own limits
or across our frontiers. These raids could
never be tolerated by the United States, and
never should be tolerated. q.
h-s-' HOUSE.
Mr.. Davis of Maryland offered the reso-
luton reported by him Thursday, and
which the House then tabled, declaring
Congress has the constitutional right to an
authoritative voice in declaring the foreign
policv of the United States, and that 1t is
the duty of the Executive department to
exercise that voice. &c.
Mr.. Farnesworth of Illinois moved to lay
on the table. Disagreed to--yeas 40, nays
73. ~
The House adopted the first branch Of the
resolution as given above, by a vote Of lis
to 8. r5.1 sdf.teL iiil q
The second branch Of the resolution was
u |.