Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAaHmarnn. Dec. I9.
sEAAEE.

Mr.. Doolittle introduced bill appro-
priating $4,000, 900 or as much a. - ne,
cessary for defences on the lakes and from
tiers.
Mr.. Wilson presented q petition from
officers Of cOlored troops, asking increase
OF pay. Referred to the Military Commit
tee.
NJ. Grimes presented petition from
citizens OF Iowa, asking for the repeal Of
the reciprocity treaty. Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Trumbull presented q petition from
citizens Of Cooke county, Illinois, asking
the passage Of q bankruptcy law. Refer
red TO the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Hendricks presented . petition from
citizens of California, in relation TO pre-
emption claims in that State, which Was
referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. Doolittle asked to have his resOlu-
lion authorizing the President to exPend
ten millions Of dollars for the defence of
the frontier referred to the Committee
on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Sumner suggested thatit be referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. DOOIittle had no objections to such
. reference.
Mr.. Sumner said the question involved
was already before the Committee on For
eign Relations.
Sir. Sherman said the reference.tO the
Committee of Foreign Affairs would be the
best that cOnld be made. He hoped the
Committee would report speedily upon the
subject of q general defence of the Border.
There was a great deal of anxiety on the
subject of a general defence Of the border,
and he hoped it would be acted upon
promptly.
Mr.. HOWRTd-I concur entirely with the
Senator from Ohio, that the committee TO
whom this bill shall be referred, will make
as early report as practicable on the
subjuct, for, as has been justly observed by
the Senator from Ohio, there is great aux-
iety along the frontier We are hourly in
danger Of another of these raids and ont
RACES which have been so frequently COM
mitted upon the peaceful citizens of the
border. think il is high time that there
should be an expression Of opinion on the
part of the Congress of the United States
at least. The lion shows his teeth on
this side of the border. Teach these men
who have been harboring these rebels in
their bosOms, that even Canada, with its
pretended neutrality, cannot consent to be
place of refuge for such characters. 1
desire to say this much on this occasion,
that when another occasion shall present
itself shall go more extensively into the
consideration of this subject.
Mr.. johnson, said il was immaterial to
what Committee the resolution was refer
red; either of the Committees named could
consider the sUiect properly. Hthese raids
were committed, there was no doubt that
under the law of nations the parties could
he arrested within the lines Of the United
States, or pursued into djoining territory.
He believed that right to be settled as def
mite as any other question in intern All onal
T.. hal hat IL,
excellent and patriotic Senator Gen. Dix,
issued an order authorizing his officers to
pursue the men if they crossed the border,
but he, Mr.. johnson, saw by the papers
that the President OF the United State aud
the Secretary of States letter informed Us,
he supposed, as to what would he the
course OF the House. The Government
had directed Gen. Dix to resciOde that
part of his late order. The country was q
good deal excited by the release of the St.
Adams raiders. He qad no doubt that the
Canadian Judge had acted honestly in the
matter, believing that he had no jurisdic-
ton. That this decision was erroneous,
he, Mr.. johnson, was satisfied, from the
time il was announced. After a lengthy
discussion Of the subject, the Senate ad-
jOurned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Davis, of Maryland, offered the res
olution reported by him on Thursday, and
which the House then tabled, declaring
that Congress has the constitutional right
to An authoritative voice in declaring an d
prescribing the foreign policy of:the United
States. aud that it is the duty Of the Ex-
ecutiTs department to exercise that voice,
sc.
Mr. FarnsWorth, of Illinois, moved to
lay on the table. Disagreed TO, nays %,
yeas 40.
The House adopted the first branch of
the resolution as given above by a vote of
lis to 8. The second branch of the reso.
luton was then read, which is as follows:
"And the PrOPriety of any declaration Of
foreign policy by Congress is sufficiently
proved by the vote which pronouuces il,
and such propositions while pending and
undetermined is not a fit topic Of diplO-
macy, especially with any foreign power"
| A vote to lay this on the table was disa-
greed to by majority of .. 1t was then
adopted BY vote Of 80 against 50.
Mr., Stevens, reported from the Commit
tee of Ways and Means, bill substituting
the word February in the 55ih section OF
the revenue act of 1864, and providing
| that 10 addition to the duty now imposed
by Law on all spirits of domestic prOdue-
ton, held for sale on January LIST, 1865,
shall be subject to duty Of Soc per gall
Ion.
Nes.rs. Stevens and Morrill,, explained
that while the Committee approved of al
teriug the time, they merely reported the
additional whisky tax, in Obedience TO the
resolution of the House, but which they
desired TO be struck out.
Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, briefly ap.
pealed to the House to put on the addi-
tiOnal tax.
Mr. Morrill,, moved to strike out the adj
ditiOnal whisky tax. This was agreed to,
65 against 60. The bill was then passed
with tax stricken out, and merely changed
the time from February to January.
Mr. SPalding, of Ohio, made . speech in
support Of the views in the Presidents
message.
The House then adjourned.