New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-12-19
" The following letter marked Editors Mail ought
10 have reached on Friday ght.
Things in Wastiingtor-Mr. Calhoun, &c.
Eneci al Memo -nf,I hetr ihrne

Special Cores pondeace Of The Tribune
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec. Is, ls42.
The House has been occupied during yesterday
and to-day in variety of matters, generally Of no
very great Interest, but which have kept the body
in session for three hours each day which
you must know is for this early period long ses-
sion. The matter Of greatest apparent interest in
the House Yesterday seemed to be the amendment
of Mr.. Briggs to the joint rule prohibiting the
sale of intoxicating" liquors in The Capitol
When motion was made yesterday to suspend
the rules for its introduction, on division very
small number, some sixty only, voted for the sus-
pension, Blu, when the ayes and nays were demand
ed quite commotion was created, and the two
thirds required suspend speedily furnished.
The resolution was introduced and passed. where
upon it became apparent that this was to be made
question between the brandy-toddy gentlemen
and the beefsteak gentry: for as soon as the
former found that they were to be deprived Of the
"spirituous,' they Immediately vowed vow that
there should be no more dinner and luncheon
prlvileges in the Capitol, and ,hereupon they Of
fered an amendment to the resolution that the res
taurants be Immediately removed from the Capitol.
This was carried by reclamation, but it is under
stood that both iAterests-lhe beef.steak and the
".pirituous look to the Senate, the great con-
servative body TO interpose, AMI when the resolu-
ton comes before them to save both from the
deplorable consequences of their incensiaerate
and hasty conduct. 1t s unnecessary to enter into
constitutional argument this subject, as Mr.. P.
Allen, Of Ohio will probably do that in the Senate,
but | merely express the hope that members who
have hired lodgings " with breakfast and tea" may
not be deprived of their constitutional right OF
dining as usual in the cellar of the Capitol
Moreover there other rights in danger of In
vason by this measure. A cry has already come
up from the very bowels of the Capitol against its
diraful injustice. The keeper of one of the "res-
taurants" protests loudly that he but lately paid
his predecessor, Boulanger, three hundred dollars
I" for lave (meaning thereby the good wiip' of
the stand and says that it's foul "murther" or at
least burglary, to turn him out in this way. Cor
gress will of course pass resolution Z" to continue
his pay to the end Of the SESSION, and refund the
$500 which he paid for lave"
The House has been all day engaged in Com.
mittee of the Whole debating provision in the
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill relating to
extra clerk hire in the Departments
The bill which provides for the pay of Congress
and of the whole civil and diplomatic expenses
the next six months, is somethin out of the usu-
al course. 1t has been customary with Congress
to appropriate money for the pay of its own mem
bers whenever it was needed. While the gene
raj appropriation BILL for the pay of other branch
es of the Government, has been deferred until the
latter part of the session, though clerks and eth
ers dependant on their salaries for the support of
their families have been obliged to wait sometimes
for months for their pay, submitting to the extor-
tionate exactions from the money-enders. The
able Chairman of the Ways and Means is entitled
to great credit for this, as indeed he Is for every
thing that he does. That post has never been
better filled than by that gentleman You will
observe that MIR. Everett's bill to repeal the
Bankrupt Act, which was yesterday made the or
der of the day for Tuesday next provides simply
for the repeal of that law, with other condition
than that it is not. to operate against applications
made prior TO the 5th of December; while that of
MIR. Benton imposes variety of limitations and
upon those who have already applied
for the benefit of the law. | cannot believe that
Congress will adopt legislation of such ex post
facto character; indeed l presume it was that
the bill might be Invested of those provisions that
il was referred in the Senate to the Committee on
the Judiciary, in spite Of Benton's opposition
There is no reason to doubt the repeal-and per-
hsps speedly-of the law.
Mr.. Calhoun appeared in the Senate, for the
first time, to-day. Mr.. McDufHe is too unwell to
travel at present. Mr.. Calhoun speaks of his re-
tirement from the Senate as proceeding from his
strong desire to end his long term Of public ger
vice, and to retire to the privacy ofhs home, (and
to the care of his gold mine, perhaps.) But he
does not look, to those who know bis character
much like a man Invested of ambition So far
from it, he appears moro determined and energet-
ic than ever His teeth are set together with the
same expression of 6rmness, and his quick, wiry
motions all mark him as the same (" iron man
that he has ever been. He has no idea of stand
ing aside for any other Presidential candidate,
Convention or no Convention and will prove trou.
blesome TO the harmony of the Loco Focos His
fellow aspirants, in and of the Senate, are 6l
of trouble already on his account. Benton swear
incontinenty that he is 6 interoper," with
expletive that would not appear very well in q
decent paper. and declares that he and his divis.
ion Of the party are" Mormoas" Now this is all
significant as well as amusing and shows ,ha,
there is trouble in the camp of The Phlistnes.
The Senate has adjourned over to Monday, for
want OF employment. The House will probably
be occupied ,o.morrow with the Apnronri a1ior