The New York herald., 1845-02-23
BY The SOUTHERN MAIL
Warrington.
Correspondence OF the Herald

Washington.
Correspondence OF the HERALD
The CAPITOL,
WASHINGTON, Friday, r. VI.
Tsras Joint Resolutions Postage Reduction-Re-
jection of Admission of Fiorida-Oregon Cali
fornia More Robbery of the Public Treasury
Sn,ithsoniam Iastitute--M Minister 10 China.
The able annexation speech of Senator Merrck,
a whig member from Maryland, in the Senate to-
day, and the force of public opinion with its rri-
sistibe power, appears to have induced decision
on the part of Senators Benton, Niles, Dix, and
Fairfield, of the democratic party, and others of
the whig side of the house, that will secure the
passage of the Joint resolution annexing Texas
The debate will probably close on Tuesday of
next week, when a vote will be taken, and have
doubt OF an affirmative result.
The prospect Of postage reform at the present
session is very doubtful, as the bill from the
Senate will not pass the House in its present shape,
objections being made by nearly all the southern
and western memsers to the adjustment OF The
franking privilege to postmasters. They contend
that many post offices would be entirely abandon
ed by competent postmasters, as the receipts of
thousands are not more than $50 year. This ar
gument is worthless, as not an office in the coun-
try can be found where there would not be twenty
applicants, if vacancy occurred tomorrow. The
next, and with many might say, the first argu-
ment, objection 10 the reduction ot the rates
of postage, as 1t viii add burtben upon the pub
lie Treasury, TO be raised by taxation on imports
from other naiiens, and thus give an a,gumei, 10
ultra protectlonists 70 sustain an excessive snf -
This is the most plausible obj. ctiop 10 postage re-
duction, and will have its weight on The floor OF
Congress among southern and western members -
But one week for legislation Is left, and this differ
ence of opinion between majority of the two
branches, will most probably defeat any definite
action. Meetings should be held throughout tae
country forthwith, and delegates. sent TO urge the
bill through the House This course alone will Sc
cure any change in the present rates of postage at
this session.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate have or
will report against the admission OF Florida as a
State, which report will probably be sustained by
that body. Iowa will be admitted, and thus de-
mocratic majority secured in the next Senate.
The President will, next week, as previously
stated, submit the correspondence between this
country and Great Britain, relative to Oregon,
when definite action will follow in the Senate.
That body will certainly pass resolution instruct
ing the President TO notify the British Government
of our desire to suspend joint occupation OF that
territory, in accordance with the convention be-
tween the two countries This notice requires to
be given one year before definite action can be
cur with the House, the consequence will be de-
lay of two years before we can take possession of
the country, unless by force of arms and emigra-
tion.
The recent developments of the desire of Great
Britain to obtain the California country from
Mexico, is IN accordance with information COM
sion That they will succeed in this negotiation,
there is no doubt; and their position in the far
southwest, and approximation to China will
soon induce them to secure the Sandwich Islands
| by force or money. The California country will
supply them with those tropical productions that
| they so much desire, and few years will see ex-
| tenslve manufactures rising like magic on the
shores of the Pacific to supply the Chinese trade
with the productions Of a country equal to Texas,
ard far superior to Oregon. While we have been
talking about annexlng State populated by our
own people, IN order TO protect our coast and iron
tier, and secure the cotton market for the world,
Great Britain has been secretly engaged in pur-
chasing country, which in climate, soil and pro-
ductlon, Is equal to any IN the world This TACT
will be soon established, notwithstanding that near
y every English traveller through that region OF
country has reported the steriy OF its soil, and the
intense heat of its climate. There is little doubt
that many of these published travels have been pre-
pared expressly deceive the people Of this coun-
try, and thus give Great Britain an opportunity to
conclude her plan of establishing Southwestern
colony on this continent to supply the East and her
| market with tropical products One thousandth part
of the money she has expended to produce cotton
| in India, will render California garden for the
growth Of all that is produced in the West Indies,
or our Southern States, including Texas
Mr.. Mckay, the chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, appears fully determined to de-
teat the Infamous system of public plunder that nas
ubd GT Ss ssps
the private Libraries OF members Ot Congress. he
will probably introduce the question In separate
bill, IN order to prevent 1t from forming rder TO
any other appropriation This bill defeats their
system OF public robbery, and the attempts TO force
| the books upon members, without the sanction ct
the House, in order to obtain their votes, will thus
| be frustrated, and the book mongers of Washing
ton receive back their proffered bribes. The idea
of "repudiation" in refusing to pay for these books
| is ridiculous, as the Clerk of the House has no
right power to order their delivery until after
The appropriation OF money for their payment had
| passed both branches OF the Legislature. Not
withstanding that the bill presented by the Com
| mittee of Ways and Means tor civil and diploma
| tic expenses, contained no appropriation to pur-
chase these books, yet Mr.. Winthrop, Wing
| member from Massachusetts, offered an amend
ment appropriating $S7 600 for this purpose, which
was adopted in Committee of the Whole. but may
be stricken out tomorrow, when the vote is taken
in the House.
1t is probable that bill for the management of
the Smithsonian Fund and the organization OF the
"lnstitute," will be agreed upon between MEM
Der OF the Senate and Robert Dale Owen OF the
House, that will meet the appreciation OFT Congress-
IL is to be hoped that some action will take place,
| as the money, although drawing interest, should
be expended for the public good, and foundation
laid for the erectcn of cdlfice to carry out the
designs of the liberal dsnor.
The House was occupied to-day IN the passage
Of the Civil and Diplomatic Bill through the Com
mittee OF The Whole. An appropriation was made
for salary and outfit for minister to China, equal
| to that given to those sent to European powers,
which indie the intention of the government to
new administration Who will receive The ap-
pontment!
In the Senate, to. day, we had three speeches on
annexation, will be seen by proceedings.
rWENTY.EgGuTIy CONGRESS