The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-27

soldiers of the Union, wounded in bat
tie, and of the orphan children of SOL
diers of the Union. Passed unani-
mously.
A joint resolution directing the Sec
rotary of War to contract with Henry
l.. Brown, of Newburg, N. Y, at a
price not exceeding 81, 900, for an eques-
trian statue in bronze, of Lieut.. Gen.
Winfield Scott, to be made of guns cap
tured in Mexico, and be placed over
his grave at West Point. Passed.
The morning hour having expired,
the Speaker presented a message from
the President in reply to the House
resolutions of the 23d of February, in
relation to the Fenian prisoners, which
was laid on the table, and ordered to
be printed.
The Senate amendments to the Civil
appropriation bill were taken from the
Speakers table.
Mr.. Stevens moved the bill be refer
red to the Committee on Appropria-
tons.
Mr.. Wilson moved their reference,
with instructions to report back us an
amendment the House bill to eoualiZe
bounties. The motion was agreed to,
and the amendments were so referred,
with instructions.
The House then proceeded to the con-
sideration of the bill reported yester-
day by Mr.. Banks, from the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, to preserve the
neutrality of the United States,
MIR. Banks proceeded 10 explain tho
Dill, and show the changes it proposed.
The objection of the committee had
been to scale the neutrality of 1866 to
the standard foreign enlistment act
OF Great Britain of 1909, Nothing in
the bill, that was not contained in the
Euglish foreign enlistment act except
the provision authorizing citizens of the
united States to sell vessels and muni-
tons of war to governments, or to the
citizens of governments with which the
United States are not at war. It pro-
poses TO repeal the offensive and op-
pressiVe provisions of the neutrality
act.
Section of the act made the Govern
ment responsible for the acts of its citi-
zens outside of its jurisdiction. This
Dill repealed that, but. provided that
citizens who had committed crimes
against other Governments beyond the
jurisdiction ofthe United States, should
be, on their return, prosecuted. That
was the same provision as was contain
ed In the foreign enlistment act; it also
repealed section 8 of the act of 1903, re-
curing owners and consignees ofarmed
vessels departing from this country to
give bonds for their good conduct. 1t
also repealed the very oppressive and
onerous provisions of section IL, which
Lu6 COLLECTORS OF GUS
toms to seize such vessels as he
may have suspicion that they are go
ing to commit acts of hostility against
other Governments. On the other
hand this bill gives to the Government
every requisite power for maintaining
neutrality with other nations; the DOW.
er TO prevent and punish enlistments
within the United States, and the pow
er to prohibit an increase of armed YES
sels. II wl(hholds no power given to
other Governments to maintain er en-
force the laws, and 1t imposed upon the
people no prohibition and restriction
consistent with the prosperity of the
country country or the good order of
was to bring the neutrality
law of this country to the same level
as those of Great Britain.
Mr.. Raymond, a member of the Com
mittee moved as substitute for the
bill the following:
Be it enacted that Joint Committee
of three members ofthe Senate and six
members of the House of Representa-
uves be appointed to revise the several
statues affecting the neutrality ofthe
people of the United States, with those
OF other nations, and to consider and
report what Legislation is necessary to
secure to the people the rights enjoyed
by other Governments, to secure the
largest liberty of intercourse and trade
CONSTANT with a permanent peace. and
to harmonic the Statutes of the United
States upon the subject with those
other nations, and with the pro-
gressive spirit of the age. The cursory
statement just made by the chairman
of the committee, Mr.. r. said, would
show the House that the changes pro-
posed in the neutrality laws of the
country were of a very sweeping char
acter, and that they ought not to be
made without a more careful delibera-
ton than could now be given them.
The position which this nation had held
in reference to neutrality had gained
the esteem of other nations and
had gained the confidence and
support of its own citizens, This
government had provided more fully
than any other for observing the rights
ana obhgattOns of neutrality toward all
other powers, but it had held at the
same time that war was an affair of
government, and that the individual
cltlZens OF nation should never be al
lowed TO make war or commit acts
which might lead nations into war,
Mr.. Patterson, member of the Com
mittee, expressed his hearty concur
renee with the general purpose and
scope OF the very able report made by
the Chairman (Mr, Banks) and said he
had nevertheless signed the minority
report. He had never heard of the bill
in Committee until yesterday a, IN.
when there was meeting of the Com
mittee for about fifteen minutes. A
matter of such grave importance, of
such wide magnitude, required more
time than could possibly be given to it
now.
Mr.. Conkling expressed his concur
renee with the two gentlemen, Messrs.
raymond and Patterson, in the wish
that longer time and greater delibera-
ton might have been given to the bill,
and he was opposed to any action upon
1t, except that decisive action. which
there was time enough yet to take. His
colleague, Mr.. Raymond, had spoken
well of the great respect in which our
neutrality laws were held by foreign
nations, but he was sorry to saw that
the Golden rule had not been ptacticed
towards us by those nations,
Mr.. Jenckes asked Mr.. Banks wheth.
er this bill was not substantially the
original neutrality law of the United
States, the first one ever adopted by any
nation.
Mr.. Banks replied that it was almost
identical with the law passed in WASH
ington's administration, and from
which the Government had not de-
parted.
Mr.. Jenckes enquired also whether
that portion of our neutrality laws most
complained of in late years had NOT
been imposed upon us at the request of
the Portuguese and Spanish govern
ments during the South American rev.
Mr.. Banks replied that such was the
impression made by History.
Mr.. Jenckes inquired further whether
in the Adams-Russe1 correspondence
the wi hole history of the imposition Of
these laws on the nation had not been
exposed.
Mr.. Banks replied that he believed IT
had been. Mr.. Banks closed the de-