The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-09-06
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Aug. p.


, learn that it is intended to bring foI
r ward bill in the Senate. to invest the col
S pora'on of Washington with powers t
punish negro stcsilng, and oil manner ,
5 interference with our slaves. The prescn
? laws are very inadequate.
. Washington City has nearly doubled it
: population since 1910. and it is now abou
, liftythousaud. and destined to double ogai
in ten years. Improvements, public an
private, are now rapidly going on.
The CITY continues very healthy. not
wilhslanding the pestilence winch lately ap
peared in the upper Potomac.
In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. Benton ant
Mr.. Foote divided between them the time o
the sitting. The subject under discussion
was the resolution to purchase a thousun'
copies Of A. II. Pa|mer's book on the com
nerce of the East. Mr.. Benton who neve
pntronlzes book specululions, made q long
ard vehement harangue ogains. it. and Mr.
Foote was equally pcr'inacious in auvoca
ting it; but Mr.. Renton carried the day
and the subject was indefinitely postponed
In the House, the annual bill establishing
and altering post routes was considered
and passed. The civil aud diplomatic bill
was reported to the House, with the amend
ments, and it will be passed to. day. So,
| to. morrow, tho Senate bills will be ta1en
up. 1t appears 10 me that the House is ve.
ry little disposed to action on any dill ex-
ccp. the California bill. But, after short
siruggle, the other bills may pass.
WASHINGTON. Aug 20.
When | wrote you this morning, before
Congress met. it was with the expectation
that the House would show some DISPOSE
ton to pass Mr.. Boyd's three measures, rs
combined in one bill. But after five hours
sitting, The House crnrvcd TO plunge itself
into doubts, difficulty. and confusion; and
| see no mode by which they are to Ne led
out of the labyrinth.
When the House adjourned on Wcdncs.
day, after giving indications decidedly in ia.
yor Of Bnyd's scheme, il was supposed that
the next day, 1t would possibly be carried
under the previous question. The result
was very different. Mr.. Boyd was induced
to modify his proposition by striking out
the Utah bill, leaving the Texan boundary
and The government for the territory of New
Mexico. Mr.. Cllngmnn moved to amend
the amendment by providing for territory
south Of the parallel of .hriy-six on the
Pacific. and he accepted as mod !iicalion OF
this, Mr. Burl's proposition to abolish all
laws Of Mexico, which prohibited slavery
therein.
A notion was then made to commit The J
bill, to which Mr. Root, of OHIO, moved in I
structions for the Committee to report the
W'lmot Proviso, calling upon the Northern
p,cn to Island up and face the music."-
There can be no further amendment till
hese motions are disposed Of Previously
% the motion to commit, aud after the Speak
,r had decided TINT it was not necessary
% commit the bill, under the rule, MIR. Ash,
nun had called for the previous question in !
,rdrr to get direct vote on the amend
neat, and the bill But the House refused
o second the call for the previous question,
~ majority Of Ihirty.thrse! Thus. while
here i, q decided majority against the re-
cotton Of the Texan and New Mexican
nils. there is not majority to pass either,
n their present form.
The debate " i'll 60 on upon the Wilmot
oroviso until the previous question shall
20 sustained. 1t was commenced by Mr..
Brooks, Of New York, who gave North
I'm view in opposition to the eXpedIency
md necessity Of the provision; and Mr..
Brown, Of Mississippi, who took the South.
I'm view in opposition TO its principle.
If the House cOmmi. the bill and amend
ncnts, it will be equlvalen, to their defeat
Il this session.
Some Of the Illinois and Indiana men are
Ilrcady willing to yield the limo of thirty
liz thirty, for the sake Of adjusting the
Whole question. Should this disposition in.
.rcasc. it will be the basis Oft satisfactory
adjustment.
There are other Northern men who IRE
willing to strike cut the ten millions for
Texas, but to allow her to extend her ju,
risdlc,ion over the territory which she
claims.
There is majority of the House in favor
IF some &C communication, but not q majority
in favor of the Senate bills. as they stand.
In fine, what the House may agree or
disagree TO do, is as doubtful rs ever
There ore some members, and among them,
The Speaker. who think that the bills can be
Char. Cour.
The American calls McKcnnon of Penn,
sylvun'a, little curly headed McKennan!"