The national Republican., 1866-07-06
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
,xxxrxrn ooneREss-srasr s.ss,os
TauRsDAy. JuLr s 1859.

: bkNATE ty
! Mr. Sherman presented The petition Of nsnsrou,
tariff 70 the sndthat additional protection may b,
afforded TO the products Of American industry. Re
fsrrsd TO the Committss on Finance.
.Mr Edmunds, ON the mmittss on Con.
msrce, reported bill making appropriation for the
erection Of marine hospital st Of the ports o
Japan
Mr.. Lane, Of Indiana, from the COMMITTEES on
Pensions, reported resolution providing for an
| evening session Of the Ssntts on Fid y, to con.
sidsr pension bills; which was adopted,
Mr.. Pomsroy, from the COMMITTEES on Public
Lands, reported the bill to amend the act granting
lands TO the State Of Minnesota TO aid 10 the con.
struction Of railroad from 81. Paul to Lake sups.
| rior; which was passed. 1-F..s
on the Amy Appropriation bill made q report,
which was coucurred 10, and the bill now awaits
the sgnaturs Of the President. THE Senate amend.
ments are substantially adopted in the rsport.I
On motion Of Mr. Wilson, the House joint rsso-
luton decaratory Of the law Of bountiss was taken
up and passed. -H..
Mr.. Truubul introduced q bill relative to print.
ing papers relating TO foreign affairs. 1t provides
that when such papers, accompanying the annual
essage OF the President, are received BY Congress
and ordered TO bs printed, the public printer shall
print, In addition TO the usual number four thou.
sand extra for the use Of the Senate thousand
for tho u,e Of the Hou ., and - thousand for
the 8 ate Department. Referred to the Committee
on Printing. sr.. gl-.,.r-..r..l.ir
Mr.. Wilson introduced joint resolution to make
compensation for persons held TO service or labor,
enlisted or drafted into the military service during
the war which was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs III authorizes payment, from the
Communication fund.- to loyal persons claiming such
service. an amount provided for in the enrolling act
OF February "a, 1854 but In no case shall payment
be made to any person except upon satisfactory
proof Of loyalty to the Government Of the United
States during the war.l
On motion Of Mr.. Wilson, the joint resolution 10
authorize the appointment Of two commissioners to
examine into the claims Of the State Of Massachu.
sstts for moneys expended in coast defence, was
taken up.
Mr.. Grimes moved to strike out the provision au.
thori1ing the commissioners to audit the claims
Mr.. Howard would like to know the nature OF
these claims. II was probable that other States
would also have large claims and It was well to sx-
anime into the matter.
Mr.. Wilson said the report made by the commit.
tee fully explained the subject. The money had
srnment, and in consequence Of attacks being made
on the coast.
The question was then taken on the amendment
Of Mr. 9r'mes, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Salisbury said there was no authority Of law
to authorize State to erect coast aud
then bring in bill for the Government to pay. It
would be very dangerous precedent to establish to
allow the people Of State to erect just such works
as they 6t and then ask the Governments to de-
fray tho expenses Of the same.
Mr.. Sprague said this had only been loan from
the State Of Massachusetts to- the General Govern.
mont which could not have obtained funds 90 easily
at that time as Massachusetts,. No works had. been
erected except at the suggestion Of the General
Government The Navy Department had urged
the matter upon the State authorities.
Mr.. Salisbury said the Delaware bay had been
In an exposed condition, but the Legislature Of
Delaware would not 90 that account have been
justified in putting up fortiaoatiohs at their own
option.
Mr.. Wilson said the same circular calling sttsu.
ton to the exposed condition of our coast had been
sent to the Governor Of Delaware ss was sent 10
tho other Governors. The Governor Of Massachu.
setis had seen proper to act upon the circular from
the State Department, but Delaware had not.
Mr.. Salisbury said this was the first he had
heard of it. l, was not this particular case, but
he was opposed to setting such Q precedent.
The joint resolution was then passed.
On motion Of Mr. Trumbull II was resolved that
the President be requested to communicate to the
Senate the number Of American vessele destroyed
BY pirates on the coast of China during the last
year, aud whether any additional legislation Is
necessary for the protection Of American interests
IN that quarter. .... ..
On motion Of Mr.. Wade the bill repeating the
~ot retroesding tho county Of AIexandria to the
State Of Virginia was taken up.
Mr. Wade took the floor and proceeded to give
history Of the cession Of the District of Columbia
to the General aO,ernment for the purpose Of 90.
tabl shipg the nstionaI capital, and maintainsd
that the oession was permanent. that the set Of
l846 retrooeding Alexandra county to the tate Of
Virginia was null and void-no utional D ver
existing In Congress to pass the said act. He had
no doubt, from what he had heard, that majority
Of the people Of Alexandria were now anxious to
come back, although when the subject was frst
agitated they were opposed to 1t. II was necesarv
for the purposes oi the Government that Il should
have the whole ten miles square under Its ursdie.
tion.
Mr.. Davis said hs was member Of the Hou,.
whom Alexandria was retroceded, and had voted
against IT, not believing that It was compstent or
Congress to pass the act He believed 90 STILL but
was Of the opinion that the question was purely 1
judicial one, and was therefore not disposed to vote
for the pending bill II he was q citizen Of Alex
andria, why, in Gods name. he would never want
| to come under the rule Of Congress, He had voted
against the joint resolution for the annex
alton Of Texas, as he was Satisfied that Congress
whose powers are Of . legislative nature only. had
no authority to pass such . resolution. Still he
would not vote for repeal Of that joint resolution
He was convinced that the State OF West Virginia
had no legal or constitutional existence but as he
thought the matter one entirely for the courts
he should not vote to repeal the act admitting 1t
| State.
Mr.. Wilson, by unanimous consent. asked to take
up the bill to increase and fix the military peace
| establishment Of the United Statss;5 which was
agreed to, and the bill made the special order for
tomorrow, at clock. a. ....#..' .
Mr.. Trumbu desired to ask the chairman Of the
Military COMMITTEES when he proposed to take up
the bill from the House providing for an squaliza.
| ton Of bounties. The bill was an important one
| and the country was very anxious TO know what
| aston the Senate proposed to take. go.
Mr.. Wilson said the bill would be considered BY
the Committee to morrow together with the bill
introduced In tho Senate, which was better one.
1t was therefore probable that the committee would
| report In . short time. I-.. .H..
Mr.. Howard said the subject had received the
serious consideration Of the Senate and he thought
the bill would be reported in very short time snd
| passed.
The consideration of the pending bill was then
| resumed. ....
Mr.. Salisbury suggested to the Senator from
| Ohio Mr.. Wade to postpone the further consider
alton Of the bl Senators had not an opportunity
| to be informed Of the merits Of the case.
Mr.. Wade said he had no objection, and would
therefore move that 1t be postponed until to.
morrow.
Mr.. Cowan said 1t was purely judicial question,
as had been stated. He thought the most proper
course to take would be to refer the subject to tho
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Howard had never held any opinion but that
the act Of retrocession was null and void. Con-
gress had no power whatever to give up any por.
tion Of the District; 1t was contrary to the wishes
| and feelings Of the people Of the United States.