can rightfully expect that the United States shall permit foreign commerce to be carried on in ports and places open to it only under their authority, without compliance with the constitutional conditions under which those ports and places have been thus opened. It is in this view that the bill proposes that vessels from a foreign port bound to a port within the scope of its provisions shall, with its foreign cargo, be liable to seizure and condemnation; and in the same view of applying its restrictions only to foreign commerce on which revenue is by law collected, all vessels lawfully engaged in the coastwise trade are exempted from the operation of its purely remedial and defensive provisions. Mr. COCHRANE was authorized by the committee to present the foregoing to accompany the bill referred to, when the same shall be reported to the House. Adjourned to 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow. THURSDAY, January 24, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present, The Chairman laid before the committee the following papers, referred to this committee by the House: Proceedings of a meeting of the republican club of New Harmony, Indiana, with reference to the disturbed state of the country; Resolutions adopted by a meeting held in the city of Trenton, New Jersey, on the state of the Union; and Proceedings of a public meeting held at Bedford, Indiana. The Chairman informed the committee that, having learned on yesterday that Commodore James Armstrong, Engineer Lawton, and Assistant Surgeon Bishop, who were at Pensacola, Florida, at the time of the surrender of the navy yard, were in town, and having consulted with one or two members of the committee, he had taken the responsibility of issuing a subpoena to have them come before the committee this morning, if they could be got here in time. Mr. BRANCH called up the subject of the Crittenden compromise. The question was upon the amendment offered by Mr. Cochrane, to insert the words: "Provided, That no territory shall be hereafter acquired unless by treaty. Mr. COCHRANE withdrew that amendment, and (Mr. Branch withdrawing his proposition) submitted to the committee the proposition known as the "Bigler compromise," with the first article amended by adding the proviso: "Provided, No territory shall be hereafter acquired unless by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. Mr. DAWES moved to amend that portion relating to the payment by the United States of the value of all fugitive slaves taken from the marshal by a mob, &c., by inserting, after the words "fugitive slave," the words "or personal property of any description.' Mr. BRANCH moved to amend the amendment by adding thereto the words: "the possession of which is guaranteed to its owner by the Constitution. The question was taken upon the amendment to the amendment, and it was agreed to. Mr. REYNOLDS gave notice that at the proper time he should submit the following in lieu of all the propositions before the committee in relation to compromises, &c. : "Resolved, (if the Senate concur,) That it be recommended to the people of the several States, acting through their governors or legislatures, or in such manner as they may think proper, to hold conventions of the citizens of the Union on the 22d of February next, and to appoint delegates, equal in number to their representation in Congress, to a national convention, to be held at Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, on the 4th day of March, 1861, to promote the general welfare, and to devise and adopt such measures as may tend to restore harmony and secure to each State and section of the Union those rights, privileges, and immunities to which they are jointly entitled. The committee came to no conclusion upon any of the propositions. The following witness was examined : No. 1. Elbridge Lawton, (late of Pensacola.) The committee decided that whenever any objection is made to any inquiry or course of inquiry in the examination of a witness, the Chairman shall decide the question, subject to appeal and the vote of the committee. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. FRIDAY, January 25, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following witness was examined: No. 2. William S. Bishop, (late of Pensacola navy yard.) The committee then resumed the consideration of the proposition submitted by Mr. Cochrane on yesterday. The question was upon agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Dawes, as amended on motion of Mr. Branch. The question being then taken, the amendment as amended was not agreed to. The question was then upon agreeing to the proposition as submitted by Mr. Cochrane. Mr. REYNOLDS moved, as a substitute, the resolution read by him on yesterday, providing for a national convention. The question being taken, the substitute of Mr. Reynolds was agreed to. The question was upon agreeing to the proposition of Mr. Cochrane as amended. At 12 o'clock the committee took a recess. At 2 o'clock p. m. the committee resumed its session. Present, Messrs. Dawes and Cochrane, and the Chairman. The Chairman stated that Messrs. Branch and Reynolds had left the House and gone to their, hotels but had requested the committee, when they had a quorum, to proceed with the examination of wit nesses if any should appear, and they would look over the reporter's manuscript of the same. The committee accordingly proceeded to examine the following wit ness: No. 3. James Armstrong, (late of Pensacola navy yard.) The following papers were received from the House: Petition of William Drummond and 212 others, citizens of Bath, Maine, asking Congress to adopt such measures of conciliation and compromise as will preserve the Union, and restore quiet and harmony to the country. Proceedings of a public meeting of the citizens of Smyrna township, Jefferson county, Indiana, held with reference to the present political agitations. Petition of citizens of Juniata county, Pennsylvania, in favor of the adoption of the Crittenden proposition. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. SATURDAY, January 26, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The Chairman laid before the committee a communication from the Navy Department, dated the 24th instant, in reply to a letter of inquiry from the Chairman of this committee of the 21st instant. The communication was read and considered. The Chairman was instructed to cause a subpoena duces tecum to be issued to Charles W. Welsh, chief clerk of the Navy Department, directing him to be in attendance before this committee, with certain books and papers, on Monday morning, 28th instant, at 10 o'clock. The Chairman, pursuant to instructions of the committee, addressed the following to the Secretary of the Navy: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 26, 1861. SIR I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 24th instant. It has been placed before the committee, and been fully considered by them. They have instructed me to say to you that they consider it full and satisfactory upon most of the points treated of. But there are some of the topics upon which they desire to make some further inquiries; and believing it can be better accomplished by a personal attendance than by written interrogatories and answers, they have directed me to request your attendance on Monday morning at 10 o'clock, at the committee room of Foreign Affairs at the Capitol. Will you favor me with an answer by the bearer? Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. ISAAC TOUCEY, Secretary of the Navy. WILLIAM. A. HOWARD, Chairman. The following paper was received from the House : Petition of Josiah Hunt and others in support of the Crittenden resolutions. The committee at 12 o'clock took a recess. At 2 o'clock the committee resumed its session, and proceeded with the examination of the following witness: No. 3. James Armstrong, (continued.) Pending the examination, Mr. BRANCH objected to the course of inquiry as not embraced in the instructions of the committee. Objection overruled. (See report of to-day's testimony for discussion and decision of the question.) Adjourned to 10 a. m. on Monday next. MONDAY, January 28, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The Chairman laid before the committee a communication, with accompanying papers, from the Treasury Department, in response to the call of the committee of the 12th instant. Also a communication from the Navy Department: NAVY DEPARTMENT, January 26, 1861. SIR: In reply to your note of this day's date, I have the honor to inform you, that, agreeably to the request of the committee of which you are chairman, I will give my personal attendance at the committee room, on Monday morning at 10 o'clock. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, I. TOUCEY. Hon. WILLIAM A. HOWARD, Chairman, &c. The following was received from the Clerk's office: “IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 26, 1861. "On motion of Mr. Grow, "Resolved, That the select committee of five be instructed to inquire whether any secret organization, hostile to the government of the United States, exists in the District of Columbia; and if so, whether any official or employé of the city of Washington, or any employés or officers of the federal government, in the executive or judicial departments, are members thereof. "Attest: J. W. FORNEY, Clerk." The committee examined the following witness: Hon. Isaac Toucey appearing, in accordance with agreement of Saturday, the reporter was directed by the Chairman to leave the committee room. After some time spent in conference by the committee and the Secretary of the Navy, the reporter was recalled. The committee took a recess at 12 o'clock. At 2 o'clock the committee resumed its session. Present, Messrs. Branch, Reynolds, and the Chairman. The following witness was examined: No. 3. James Armstrong, (concluded.) Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. TUESDAY, January 29, 1861. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The following witnesses were examined: No. 5. James G. Berret, Washington. No. 6. John B. Blake, Washington. The following resolution was received from the Clerk's office: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 28, 1861. On motion of Mr. William A. Howard, Resolved, That the special committee of five to whom was referred the message of the President on the 9th instant, have leave to sit during the sessions of the House, and to report from time to time as the importance of business in their hands may require. Mr. REYNOLDS moved that the militia bill and the revenue bill, heretofore agreed to by the committee, with their accompanying reports, be now reported to the House. Mr. COCHRANE moved to amend by making Monday next the time for reporting them to the House. to. The question being taken upon the amendment, it was not agreed The question being then taken upon the motion of Mr. Reynolds, it was agreed to. The following papers were received from the House : House Resolution 67, in relation to the present condition of the country. Also memorial of citizens of Port Clinton, Pennsylvania, in favor of Crittenden resolutions. Also memorial of citizens of Keeseville, New York, in favor of Crittenden resolutions, or some other settlement of present difficulties. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow. WEDNESDAY, January 30, 1861.. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. All the members present. The Chairman laid before the committee a communication, with accompanying papers, from the War Department, in response to the call of the committee of the 12th instant. The following papers were received from the House: Petition of citizens of Spencer county, Indiana, in favor of Crittenden compromise. Proceedings of a public meeting in Brownsville, Fayette county, H. Rep. Com. 91—4 |