The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-08
Last Nights Dispatches.
xLvT CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-On motion oil
Mr., Eaton the bill making appropriations
for the consular aad diplomatic service oi
the government was taken up. Mr.
Eaton said the estimates for the coming
fiscal year were 81 ,257 200. The aDpro
priation for the current fiscal year was
$l,l80,O00. The amount appropriated BY
the House in the present bill was s. .l90,.
435, to which the Senate Committee have
added 81 600 The bill as reported is
less than the estimates by $65 $50. but
exceeds the appropriation tor the current
| fiscal year $ll ,435
| The Senate, as in committee OF the
whole, proceeded to consider the bill.
MIR. Whyte moved to insert an appro-
prlation OF 81 600 for mailing Congress-
ioaal Records u foreign legislations.
| Adopted.
| When the clause of the bill was reached
approprIating 81, 500 for the rent OF the
prisons for American convicts in China.
Mr.. Carpenter asked some Senator who
was familiar with he constitution and had
few minutes leisure toinform him under
what constitutional authority prisons we're
kept up IN foreign countries. OF course
| there muat be something in the constitution
10 sanction it. else the Senator would Hot
| go on year after year apprOprlatIng money
for prisens. But Senator Carpenter
sought IN vain for c)nstituti0nal authority
to try citizens of tae United States for
crime except on the presentment of
grand jury. We have no risht to try men
without judge or j1ry. If the practice
should be kept up could only be justified
on the theorythat whatever Congress thinks
Oh the whole to be right is constitutional.
Senator Noorhees thought the Senator
from Wisconsin (Carpenter) might as
well ask the present administrators for
authority for the high handed measures in
connection with thu trials of criminals
abroad, on which subject Senator Voor-
hees was in receipt Of complaints. Was
1t not true that man was now awaiting
execution in Turkey on a sentence by one
more legal than sentence by Camanche
Indians would be.
Senator Carpenter 20 underetood. He
would not be opposed to providing for for
eign courts such as those of Great Britain,
but they should be conducted constitu-
tionally. He moved to strike out all
claims in this bill appropriating money to
the support Of these prisoners.
Senator Hoag referred to the necessity
of some judicial process in semi-barb rbarous
countries to defend our citizens from any
injustice in these foreign countries. To
strike out these provisions would have no
good effect. He agreed with the senator
from Wisconsin that change in the sys-
tenn should be made, but it should be
made in thorough manner.
Mr., Carpenter admitted that his object
in making the motion wes 10 bring the
subject before the Senate. We have no
right to do under treaty with China or
any other nation what is prohibited in the
constitution. The Emperor of China can
not clothe US with power to do what the
constitution does not permit US to do
Senator Carpenter intended before the
close of this session to introduce bill on
the subject.
Senator Pendleton agreed with the Sen
ator from WisconsiR (Carpenter.) He
referred to the case of May, sentenced to
death by Minister Maynard, aud
showed that under the statutes Miu-
lister was required to refer decision in
civil cases to the President, but in crimic-
al cases he was not, and could hang a man
the day after he had sentenced him,
In the further debate Mr.. Carpenters
motion to strike out the appropriation for
u maintaining prisons vas rejscted-yeas,
Is. nays 43
The amendment proposed BY the Com
mittee on Appropriations inserting an ap-
preparation for 81 600 for the salary of the
Consul General and diplomatic agent of
the United States in Roumanla, at Buch
Arrest, was adopted, as we're also other i'm
portant committee amendments, The
bill was reported TO tbs Senate and the
amendments made in Committee of the
Whole agreed to and the bill was read
the third time AID passed.
The regular order. being the bill for
relief of Ben Holiday. was resumed,
pending which the Senate went into
executive session and when the doors
opened adjourned until Monday.