The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.
WAeutScT.

Mr.. Whittemore introduced a bill te
create an additional collection distric
in Texas, to make the city OF Sabine
Pass a port Of entry, and the bill re
lating to the survey Of the Natchez and
Agelina rivers, in Texas. ... ..
The House resumed consideration o.
the resolution reported by the commit
tee on Foreign Affairs in reference to
a dispute between Minister Washburn
and the late Government Of Paraguay
Mr.. Sargent advocated the resolutions
and denounced the sanguinary charac'
ter of the late President Lopez.
Mr.. Beck supported the resolutions,
and criticised severely the action OF Ad.
mirals Gordon and Davis.
Mr.. Dawes regretted the necessity OF
voting on the resolutions.
Mr.. Banks, chairman Of the COM
mittee on Foreign Affairs said the reso-
lutions were drawn very mild by the
committee, and did not amount to the
censure Of any naval officer. The
language was that these officers
failed to discharge their duty. The
reason that they failed was Tie f,r't Of
the Navy Department, and it was
against the policy Of that Department
that the committee on Foreign Affairs
protested most solemnly. Mr.. Banks
went on to cav that the committee did
no, censure Admirals Gordon and Da-
Wis, but censured the practice and poll
CIV Of the Navy Department, which set
elfup against the State Department,
against the Government of the country,
and assumed to hold itself the judge Of
what should be done for American c;ti-
zens in foreign countries.
Mr.. Farnsworth offered an additional
resolution requesting the Secretary Of
the Navy to institute proceedings by a
court OF inquiry or martial for the trial
of Admirals Gordon and Davis for of.
fenses described in the report.
The debate was continued by Messrs.
Wood, VOORHEES,, Willard, Eldridge and
others.
Mr.. Orth closed the discussion and
appealed TO the House to adopt the res
olutions and thereby vindicate the honor
Of the Government.
Mr.. Wood moved to lay the whole
subject on the table.
The House refused; yeas A, nays
ll6.
The resolutions offered 10y Mr.. Farms.
worth, directing a court Of inquiry for
the trial Of Admirals Gordon and Davis,
were agreed to by 80 to 26
The resolution offered by Mr.. May
nard, for censuring fleet Captain Ram
sey and Lieut.. Commander Kirkland,
was rejected by &C to &c.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Orth
disappearing the conduct of Rear Ad-
miral Ckas. II. Davis in delaying for an
unreasonable time 10 proceed to rescue
Messrs Bliss and Masterman in accept
ing their release in the manner and un-
der the circumstances detailed in tine
testimony, in receiving, holding and
treating them as prisoners, which was
adopted; yeas 100, nays 62.
A resolution offered by Mr..
Swami as a substitute for those the ma
jority, was rejected. Only IA voting in
the affirmative.
The resolutions reported by commit
tee declaring that Admiral Gordon in
neglecting 10 aid Mr.. Washburne in
reaching the government to which he
he was accredited failed to discharge
his duty, was adopted by 80 to 80.
The other majority resolutions were
agreed to without division.
Mr.. Julian offered a resolution in
structiag the committee on Public
Lands, to inquire into the expediercy
of providing by law, that every officer,
soldiers or sailor, who served ninety
days in the war for the Union and was
honorably discharged, shall receive 100
acres Of public land as homestead, his
actual term of service to count as part
of the five years as required by the
homestead act OF 1862. Adopted.
Mr.. Conner asked leave to offer a
resolution instructing the Secretary OF
the Navy to publish in the general or
ders the resolutions OF censure adopted
today on Admirals Gordon and Davis.
Mr.. Hooper objected.
The House at o'clock adjourned.
The session tomorrow will be for
general debate only.