Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-14
FORTIETH CONGRESS-.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
SATURDAY, March "a.
THE SENATE was no, in session ,o-aa,


HOUSE, OF REPREsEsTArIvEs.-Byo order of
the House yesterday, this day was 10 hp de
voted TO general debate Committee of the
Whole.
Mr.. Highly (Cal.) addressed the House upon
the subject of the purchase of Alaska Hetook
position IN favor of making an appropriation
10 copsummate this treaty. If the House of
Representatives was really p8rtv TO this con-
uaet, he might side with those who held
mat no appropriation should be made. but
IL was really a matter between the PrpSi-
dent, the SefSte. and the Government of
Russia. He drew a parallel between this
ueaty, and that with France IN Gen. Jackson's
administration, and said If the House refused
10 make the appropriation the Emperor of Rus
sia could compc@ya. The House cannot recon-
cile this matter between the President and
senate, and our argument must then be di-
recied TO the Emperor of Russia. He argued
tnat the Emperor of Russia had perfect right
10 suppose that the President of the United
states and the Senate, as the treaty making
power, could bind this Government and the
House OF Representatives had no right 70 refuse
TO make the appropriation.
Mr.. Banks Mass SAID an allusion had been
made to a treaty with France in Gen Jackson, <
administration, and he would say that that case
was similar TO the pending one. In that case
one branch of the French Government refused
to appropriate money, but Gen. Jackson in
sisted that the treaty stipulatons should be car
rled out and they were carried out
Mr.. Highly argued that this subject Of Alask ka
was treaty between the United States and
muscle, uHu II" WOULD mat the only T.
gument the House can use must be directed to
the Emperor of Russia.
Mr.. Wood, IN. " asked Mr.. Highly il he
denied the right Of the House of Representa-
yves 10 withhold appropriations of public
money for these purchases Of territory
Mr.. Highly said If this was question between
the President of the United States and the Sen
ate on the one side and this House on the other
he would have had no doubt of the power of
this House, but the case now stood the
treaty had already been made by the treaty
making power of this Government, and IL is
binding upon US and the House of Representa-
tives TO make the appropriation. He contended
that this had always been the theory and
practice Of this Government. That the En-
peror OF Russia believed he was acting
with the treaty making of the United States
was evident from the fact that Russia had
withdrawn all authority, and had permitted
United States forces to take undistur bed DOS
session. The purchase and transfer hal been
fully cons ummated. and the House could not
now refuse to make the appropriation unless n
was disposed TO act in bad faith.
Mr.. Highly then proceeded to argue at great
length IN favor of the full consummation of the
treaty by making the necessary appropriation
he believed 1t was policy and statesmans hip TO
ratlfy this purchase, and he contrasted Alaska
with prosperous countries in the same latitude
to show that the new territory mig ht be made a
valuable acc uisition TO the power and wealth
OF this Government
Mr.. Bromwell (ll.) made a speech in al vo-
cacy OF the rights of a class of people. he said.
who Were not often represented upon the
hoor-the ole settlers of the Statas. the men
who bewed down the forests and broke tn.
soil, and made preparation for the advance of
civ iliZation.
Mr.. Bromwe brauched off into a lengthy
discussion of the financial situation. arguing
In favor OF the greenbacks currency instead of
that National banks
subject of the finances, and was speaking W hen
our report closed.