The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-02-20
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1919.
What ,eas done during the Tenth Week of the
Session.


Session.
The tenth week OF the Desslon has been slg-
nalised by the number and magnitude of the oues-
tons discussed In the Senate; and by ftful DIS
quisltions upon the dalkies by the loquacious
statesmen OF the House.
The differences between the debates IN the
Senate and the House are distinct In the Senate
they are longer winded end more deliberate; IN
the House they are more desultory and CONVEX
s,uonal. In the Senate they more approximate to
tie dignity of aIisrOcratic crcumspectlon; in the
House they infringe upon the borders OF red 1e-
publicsni.m Ia the Senate the style of the stump
orator is supplementary; in the House the style
senatorial is a bore-a positive infection. The
Senate is precise and particular; the House
IL more pointed aud pnngent. senator 10
AWAY. expected 10 be dressed tor his speech; Il
member OF the House always best received In
the txtt mporaneous effort OF dirty shirt. The
House is always in hurry; the Senate are me-
MEDICALLY slow. The leading points IN the two
houses tor the week past will admit brief re-
oapluatlon.
In the Senate, on Monday, we had long speech
from Mr. Alien, IN reply To- mr.. Niles, the leading
object of the Senator being to disclose to the
County The enormous extravagances OF the NIL
hons OF money annually expended upon the oce an
mail steamers, as con,rasted with the abolition OF
the INFERIOR post Offices, on the score OF economy.
On Tuesday, MIR. Underwood made regular ar.
gument In detail against the bill Tor the Panama
Railroad suggt sting, IN lieu OF the contract pro.
posed. a subscription IN The stock OF the company
Mr.. Webster and Mr. Dayton argued In reply, with
great force OF facts and conclusions, in support OF
the bill as j; IL, from the immediate demands for
road Mr. Jefferson DAVIS preferred entering at
into the ultimate project OF railroad straight
through our own territories to the Pacific
On Wednesday, Mir Benton introduced his bill,
providing for national central railroad. from 81
LOUIS Mo-, 10 San Francisco, on the Pacific, with
L r 10 lInA IN avufAr nffh he
Columbia river, IN Oregon; aud also providing for
a common highway, tree OF toll alongside OF both
railroads. providing also Tor military stations, and
gren,s OF land 10 settlers, along both roads; appro-
pr,atipg ssos from fifty 10 seventyfve per centage
of the land proceeds for the construction OF these
roads Mr. Benton occupied the day In very
teresting historical speech, In support OF the bill,
which, on his motion, was referred to the Commit
tee on Military Affairs.
We hail this move ment, whatever plan may ul-
tlmately be adopted, the actual beginning OF the
great work proposed; and 1t only needs lits per;
severance 10 carry the measure OF continental
railroad, at The next session
Our expectations Of the Panama bill have sub
sided into the suspicion that the project tor this
Congress will 60 by the board and, indeed the
probabilities ale that Congress will do nothing In
the matter al all
Thursday was devoted to private bills.
On Friday, after some unmportant proceedings
In open session. the Senate went into executive
business, and virtually laid aside, as we under
stand, the proposition OF the Hudson's Bay Com
papy To St II out their real estate and stock trade
In the United States part OF Oregon, for million
Of dollars. Sir George Simpson, President OF the
Hudson's Bay Company, is here, attending to the
matter. The Senate dIstrust the bargain offered,
and seem to fear il may be losing speculation.-
We consider, however, that the prop lsluon, as a
measure OF national policy, Is entitled to high re-
sp+ct The pres nee OF the Hudson's Bay people,
with their thirteen or fifteen forts and factories,
stores, pantstions &c. at the most eligible conf
merclsl points In our part OF Oregon, may lead to
open rupture between the American settlers and
the SUBJECTS OF her Majesty; whereas, by the re-
novel Of the latter out Of part of the Columbia
valley good fellowship and all the advantages of
a conhde ntial commerce may be preserved We
know not what the Hudsons Bay property 10
WORTH but we should like to see The company re-
move to their own side of the line, the treaty
provides they may be-
On Salu,dey, the Senate were employed in
very ridiculous discussion upon mares nest dis
covered by Mr. Foote-to wit, that Mr.. Benton
had first disclosed to the wings the existence of
that mysterious protocol to the Mexican treaty. Il,
was discovered, however, that from the first dis
closure Of the protocol by the Mexican Minister,
the thing had not been Kept secret at all, at all.
The Presidents massage. upon which the discus
sion arose, and which explained the protocol to
mean nothing at all, lies over till Monday, when 1t
will come up again
The House, on Monday, had long discussion on
the protoco--Mr. Stephens, OF Georgia, and Mr..
ScheDck, OF OHIO, announcing The President as
amehsble to impeachment; aud Mr.. Houston, OF
Alabama, explaining lne piotocoi 10 mean only an
explsnation which amounts to nothing. The pro-
tccol either amounts 10 nothing, or tn nulllfica-
ton OF the treaty, or 10 fraud. Our first impress
sion was that nued the tire ity, and our present
opinion Is, that II was b!under which was worse
than a crime.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the House
were upon the naval bill, the tortcaton bull, and
Other bills and, ending their conslderat on, we
had httle more light aud darkness, a little more
oil and turpentine, a little more fury and gas and
Lumbug, on the great question OF all questions
The negr0 question.
Fr day " as employed IN the discussion OF the bill
providing for a board tor the adjucication OF claims
aRanstshe government.
On Saturday, the House, alter the consideration
OF several private bills. took up and passed the for
nhcauon bill. The House have thus disposed OF
The annual appropriation bulls, and will have a mar
GIN OF a week or two tor some further amusement
on the negro question. w.
WASHINGTON. Feb. IL, JSi9.
The A~ount Of Labor Performed in Comgres