Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-06
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
FRIDAY. January =.


ate to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
>af scht (CsLl was recognized by tue Speaker
~ emitted 10 The floor upon the Paraguay Sis-
cu>Sion. but yielded 20
MIR. ANtell, Cal, who introduced a memorial
IN relation 10 the public lands, which MAS o.
1ofed 20 he printed and referred IN fhf Fan
lniitee ON Public ands.
Mr.. Nhitmore Texas introduced a hiU to
create AN additional COLLECTION district IA the
State ~ IeNas and 10 make the city 81 Sabin-
pass port o. entry. Also. Joint res,Iution
relating to ti4e survey OF Nc aces and Angelina
rivers IN Texas. Referred 10 tie Committee on
Commerce.
Mr. Sargent then resumed the door, and rro-
ceeced "a Speab
IN DEFENCE OF MINISTER RAsHEUINE's
COURSE.
and IN reply e. the remarks made nv Mr.. Swami
Md YESTERDAY. BE secuted the idea that Mr..
Wsshburne Wa engaged in n cons piracy or in
any way couhtepsDCed con>pirsJOrs. H charged
tnat the wnoie story was gotten uP by LOPez,
who was one OF The yiie>t tyrantS IN a. ever lived
and Mr. Sawyer VINO WAS even worse than Lopez.
lie criticised The acton OF Admiral Godon ia
Tetu ing To asst Mr.. Washburue IA reaching
ms destination, and said that Tor a representa-
tive of this sOvernmc nj, going upon great pub
lie business, 70 be detained b. the within or
vanity OF an Admiral, Was an act that called for
the severest censure o. Congress. At the same
tine he avowed himself a trim friend OF the
navy, and declared that the navy had had "a.
warmer supported on this floor than himself
lie maintained that Minister washhurne did
right in leaving Bliss aud Mas.erman, Tor he
WAS thus enabled 20 bring assistance to them
where had he been killed or imprisoned with
them their chances OF being released oE rescued
would have been much less.
Mr.. Beck (hy) denied that the holding an
officer TO account whofsiled TO his duty, was
AN ATTACK Upon THE NAVY,
as vel say that a vote OF censure upon A men,
Der of this House an attack upon the
American. Neither was il an attack upon the per
sonai character of the officer. The question wss
did. or did not the officer discharge his ,iufy
The gentleman from MARYLAND Mr.. swami
had eulogiZed the navy and the high character
OF Admiral Godon, and spoken OF the chara cter
oi Bliss and Mssterson, aud the conduct OF
hrst time he had ever heard IL held that the
question of the character OF a citizen was 10 be
considered in afording him protection in his
rights In support OF his position he referred
TO the case of Martin Raster, taken from on
board an Austrian vessel OF war. aud Mr..
Marcy.s correspondence on the subject, aud tue
case OF MesSrs. Mason and SlideNl, taken by our
own vessels from British ship. England. he
said, did not stop TO inquire what tue character
OF these men were. Admiral Godon. he said.
was KEPT al that station at The cost vi millions
OF dollars, and he had
NO RIGHT TO REFUsH TO ASSIST Mr.. WASH
BURNE.
When the news hrst came here Minister wash
burn WAS ceBsured because the naval officers
came here and told their own stories. while Mr..
NasLbuTne was not heard from. h e leteudel
the course pursued 10y Mr.. Washhurne, who was
Cealng with the haSest Of tyrants and could not
act g. be would under other circumS.an .e~.
Mr.. Washburne had a duty IL perform - Bliss
and Master man, 10 hiS wife and friends. 70 him
self and his country too important 4" allow him
self TO be killed by Lopez. 81 nil III. he "Sweet
for ones country TO die bur Mr.. Wash
burn was not such iool 10 die there
Mir. Mcmahon speaks well of Lone: hut he
vas the only man that did. MIR. Mcmahon said
there was TO personal danger; but he was the
only man that said 20. many Others said there
was. Mr.. Mcmahon was receiving from LONE
and a. trustee Tor his mistress Mr. Tvnrh a
much larger sum than was paid 10 an A m ,rirsn
Minister. lie could account for SIR Mona
hons regard ior lope..
Mr.. dawes Mas, said that the acts of the
nav al officers hal received the approval o. the
Navy Department. and their acts had gone
ulon tie record a. sanctioned bv the govern
heit, anu tCngre,S HOW 10 pass these ma ioritv
resolutions AID ceI>ure the officers was a
serious consideration. buf the House had IT,
Guty 10 perform. lie would gladly have avoided
the necessity o. being called ui'on 10 vote upon
the question. lie
CRITICISED SEVERITY THE ooSDrCr or THE
NAVAL OFFICERS
who witnessed what they recorni ed a. An e,-
torteC confession from the Urisancrs and then
Iartcok Of an entertainment with the persecuf-
ors oil these men. He was now called upon To
say yea or nay whether he approved of ron,lpct
like this. He could not saw yea and he teif con-
strained to say nav.
MI. Banks Mass said that The resolutions
did not censure the naval Off GER and held that
1HE Fault wAswITp THHSAVY IMPAIRMENT
and read from the testimony of Vice Admiral
Porter 10 show that Admirals Go,lon and Davis
regulations
and policy OF TIE Navy Department. The reso-
buttons censured the practice and the policy of
the NAVY Department " Inch set itself ap against
Tie State Department, and undertook the
charge Of the rights OF American citizens IN
foreign waters. IL was not formerly. and
il was the duty of the House Ia pas these reso
lniions, and put things in this connection where
they formerly were.
Mr.. Dawes said these events occurred PRIOR
TO the regulations established by Admiral Por-
tor. to which Mr.. Banks had alluded The
present head of the NAVY Department. did not
approve OF them, but as they had gone upon the
record as approved. IL became necessary for tue
house to pass these resolutions TO sustain the
present Secretary.
Before calling the previous quesiion-
Mr.. Drth Welded to Mr.. Maynard Tenn who
onertd an amendment. TO the effect that Can't
Ramsey and Commander kirkland, in going 10
act with the inquisitOrs of Bliss and Masterlnan
and lister mig to a Confession which they believed
To have been estorted, and without cornmuni-
eating with the prisoners. and subsequently
partsking OF an entertainment with their per-
stcnfors. were guilty OF a great offence. dis
graceful 10 the navy and the country th-y serve
and deserving OF the
sEvKEEsT CENsrEE OF THE HorsR
Mr. Earnsworth. Ill., with the consent of
Mr.. 0rth. submitted an amendment reanesfiu,
TIE Secretary OF the Navy TO institute proceed
lng>. 10y court OF inquiry or court martial for
the trial OF Admirals Godon and Davis Tor the
offenses set forth in the report.
Mr.. Orth, at two O'Clock, called
TBE PREVIOUS QUESTION.
and Welded i've minutes to
Mr.. Wood. N. W WHO said that there might
be two sides of q csse. and both sides be IN the
wrong. These men were the Representatives OF
TWO departing nts, and were responsible 10 them
and should be judged by them. This Hons.
was not here to act as court martial, with all