The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
Wy -

The House concurrent resolution for
the appointment Of a joint committee on
all ocean cable legislation, was debated,
upon motion by Mr.. Chandler to refer
to the committee on Foreign Relations.
The subject by consent was finally laid
over without action till tomorrow.
The latter half Of the morning hour,
until one o'clock, was occupied by Mr..
Revels in remarks on the bill and in
the repairs and construction Of levees
in the State of Mississippi.
Upon his motion the bill was REFER
red.
The Senate then resumed the consid-
Grafton of the resolution as amended
by the House for the appointment OF a
commission on San Domingo.
The question being upon Mr.. Sum
ners motion to amend The House
amendment by adding, 'and the COM
missioners shall inquire especially into
the alleged pendency Of civil war in Do,
minica and state the territory occupied
by opposing parties, also as to the rela-
ton between the existing Government Of
Dominica and the neighboring republics
of Hayti, and the pendeDcy Of any
claims territorial or pecuniary, by the
latter upon the former, and whether
any war now exists between these two
States
Mr.. Salisbury moved, as a further
amendment to add, Providing, further,
that BENJAMIN F. Curtis, Millard Fill
more and General VIM. T. Sherman,
be commissioners.
Mr.. Stewart took the floor in favor Of
the resolution. -.
Mr.. Schurz in long speech indica-
tive of his hostility to annexation, pro.
eeeded to review the arguments urged
by its supporters.
Mr.. Morton thought that San Do
mingo ought to be annexed, and If the
United States refused to acquiesce our
Government would be debarred from as
serting the Monroe doctrine against any
attempt of any foreign government to
possess it. =.
Mr.. Yates said that if he had time he
would demonstrate that the speech OF
the Senator from Missouri was in op.
position to the glorious history OF our
free institutions. 1t was at war with
progress, civilization and freedom. lie
undertook to say that the Senator had
not made any argument against the an
nexation of Dominica which had not
been heretofore made against the extern
sion of human liberty to the slaves in
the South ;,
At o'clock the Senate voted on and
rejected the amendment Of Mr.. Sauls-
bury, namely, that Benjamin +. Cur
tis, Millard Fillmore and General. W.
T. Sherman be commissioners.
Mr.. Salisbury offered another amend
ment, VIZ: "And said commissioners
proceed to Honduras, Costa Rica, Mic
araugua, Mexico and the Sandwich
Islands, and make like inquiries, and
notify the President, who shall submit
report to Congress" Amendment
rejected.
The Senate then voted on Mr.. Sum-
ner's amendment instructing the COM
missioners to inquire particularly into
the alleged pending Of civil war.
Amendment lost-yeas 90, nays 36.
Mr.. Sumner offered the following
amendment: provided further that if
there be any naval force stationed in
the Dominican territory, such naval
force be withdrawn, and if any power
be exercised over the Dominican ter
ritory in resisting domestic and foreign
enemies, such aid be discontinued, and the
commissioners not to commence invest
igation till the naval force can be with
drawn and such aid discontinued. Re
jected.
A number of amendments were then
offered by Mr.. Sumner and were re-
jected.
The House amendment, providing
that the appointment Of the commission
shall not commit Congress for or against
annexation, was then concurred in
unanimously.
The resolution accordingly goes 10
the President.
Adjourned.