Mr. ORTH. I will not. detain the House long. because I am admonished by the closing hours of the session that debate cannot be indulged in to any great extent. I presume. also, that this House is prepared to vote upon the principles contained in the bill now under consideration. Mr. Speaker, I trust this House will not sanetion the appointment of a JtCommee, as proposed by the Gentfrom NewYork, fMr. RAYMOND.] This neutralit act has been upon our statute book for neary 50 years. And for this long time this great and powerful Republic has occupier. a position before the world of placing upon her citizens restraints and curbs that no orher nation on earth places upon its citizens or subjects. I think it is high time thatourucutrality actshould be so amended as to conform to the liberal spirit of the ago. And if we pass this bill todayl believe our action will he in full accord with the opinion and the outspoken sentiment of our constitucuts; asentiment which demands that our country shall take her position as an equalwith the most powerful nation on earth, and proudly maintain such position, if need be, by the strong arm of the Republic. Whence the necessity of referring this subset to a JtCommee of the 2 Houses for deliberation? Wn give to this statute. old, hoary headed with error, which should never have been upon our statute books at all, a degree of consi oration which is denied to the most important of our other laws? Is there any sanctity about this neutrality law except that which may have accrued to it from age? The only affect of such reference will be to retard legislation on this subject, and keep in force for a longer period a policy for from complimentary to our manhood as a nation. Let us show that as a nation we will no longer implose shackles and restraints upon our people which other nations less free and less liberal do not impose upon theirs. Let us especially show to GreatBritain and I presume no one will claim that we are under any obligations to her for her conduct toward us during the last 5 years let us show GreatBritain that ifwe apply to her the same test of neutrality that she has applied to us, she, at least, has no cause for complaint; that in adopting this law we but follow the prece dent that she has set us, when we refuse to hold our people to a stricter neutrality than she enforces upon her people. But I did not rise for the purpose of entering into a discussion of the merits of this bill. I rose simply to oppose the reference. of this subject to a JtCommee of the 2 Houses, for no goo can result from such reference. If our neutrality law is wrong and requires amendment, let us amend it now, and not wait action which is uncalled for, and which is hardly without a recedent in the history of congressional legisation. Let us not sanction the idea that we cannot touch a.law, amend it, Or repeal it without 1st referring it to a JtCommee of the 2 Houses. The bill is right, and should s eedil become a law.