Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-12-30
From the fhila. Ledeer.l
coN0R EssfoNAI. PRocEEDINos.
Wasos~c~css r. o.

FROM tue Fnllo. Lc0Ror.I
coN0R EssroNAT. PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Fl.
A memorial was presented by Mr.. Evans,
Of Maryland, from several Of the messengers
who brought on to Washington the electoral
vote Of States.
The memorislists state that the mileage Of
messengcrs has been cut down from twenty
FIVE cents mile to twelve and half cents a
mile. That inasmuch as they have found the
reduced allowance amply sufficient to cover
all the expen ses incurred in the journey to
Washington, they therefore pray that the
honorable members Of the Senate and House
of Representatives also reduce their own
mileage 10 the same economical standard,
which while il would protect them from loss,
would be a vast saving 10 the government.
The memorial did not appear 10 meet with
much favor or encouragement and, on mo-
ton, was laid on the table.
resolution was offered by MIR. Colt, in
structing the committee to whom was refer
red that portion of the Presidents annual
message which relates 10 the District of Co.
lunbia, to report bill prohibiting all traffic
in slaves in the said District
The resolution was warmly opposed. MIR.
Harralson moved TO lay it on the table. The
question was taken by yeas and nays, and
decided in the negative-yeas. 80; nays, IS.
The question then returning on MIR. Colts
resolution of instruction, it was taken by yeas
and nays, and decided in the Affirmative
yeas, ninety-eight; ; nays eighty-seren.
On the announcement of the passage Of the
resolution, the greatest confusion imaginable
prevailed in the hall-the Speaker with diff
Gully managing to make himself heard. At
least one dozen of the members were on their
feet at the same time, all striving to make
motions, or TO offer resolutions, of the most
conflicting character possible.
Mr.. Holmes, of South Carolina, at length
succeeded in making himself heard, amid the
general din. He rose, he said, not for the
purpose of making a speech-not for the pur-
pose of appealing to the members of this or
that section Of the Union-for he verify be-
lieved that the time for talking had passed
What was required TO arrest the blighting
footsteps of the Northern fanatics was action
: immediate, determined concerted action
He would, therefore, suggest TO his colleag-
ues Of South Carolina to vacate their seats,
and at once Withdraw from the hail.
The proposition was received with ill-sup-
pressed bursts of laughter. 1t did not seem
to be well relished even by the Southern
members.
AS soon as something like order was re-
stored, Mr.. Flournoy introduced a resolution
nstructing the Committee on the District of
Columbia to report bill retrocedng the Dis
trict of Columbia TO the State of Maryland,
except that portion of the District which was
covered by the public buildings.
After few remarks of an animated but
rambling character the resolution was adopt
ed.
MIR. Jones Of Tennessee, moved 10 recon-
slider According TO the rules, his motion
lies over one day.
Mr.. King, of Georgia, introduced resolu-
tion providing for the appointment Of a Ge-
ologist for the new territory Of California
Laid over
Mr.. McClelland introduced resolution
affirming that the public lands should be dis
posed of to settlers at the actual cost of sur
veying and selling.
Mr.. Thompson, of Indiana, moved to lay
the resolution on the table.
The question was taken by yeas and nays,
and decided in the affirmative. Yeas, 104
nays, 81.
On motion, the House adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. %.
HoUsE.-The House is not in session TO-
day, having adjourned over until tomorrow.
SENATE Mr. Underwood offered resolu-
tion inquiring into the expedency of estab.
fishing Board or Bureau, for the purpose
of ascertaining something approximating to-
wards the exact amount of public lands own.
ed by the United States. Also, to ascertain
the value and extent Of the gold lands in
California.
These resolutions gave rise to sort oil
rambling debate, in which illusions were
made TO the movements now going on in thi.
country by the ''gold hunters" 1t seemed
to be conceded that, if these lands in Cali
fornia contained, as represented, an mex
haustible supply of gold, some means should
be adopted by the Government to secure q
revenue from them. The resolutions were
finally laid on the table.
Correspondence of the Baltimore American.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1S4s.
Agreeably TO notices served yesterday, {
| meetino of Sontherp memhsrs of the tyv,