Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-03-22
Form our Washington Correspondent

ffEl WAsHINGToN d. c., 9th March, 1851.
- Since the date of my last the last hours of the
ruR 31st Congress have expired, By sort of poHti-
Sr1o cal galvanic action growing out of struggle for
the passage and for the prevention of the river and
en- harbor bin, they were extended some half day
S beyond the usual and in the opinion of many the
Iced constitutional limits of Congress.
mlts On the morning of the 3d. Mr. Clay, with that
g'S' domineering spirit which has so long habituay
. subjected whig members to his control persisted
dee in refusing to lay the harbor bill aside to take up
the necessary legislative then before the
anot Senate unless the opponents the bill would avow
intention to defeat it by exercise of mere alb
ma, stract parliamentary rights. Thus BILL appropri-
fre atng upwards of two millions of doars-leading
gen to future appropriations of untold mlons-unusu
or al and unnecessary in in the
W W opinion of many, and similar to others which have
ire met with executive vetos-was urged with peril
Sts nacty equaled only by that which opposed it, un
red til four hours after the usual termination of Con-
KAN gress. a mere measure of expediency thus
attempted to be forced through under the pressure
Il of the general appropriation bills, with view to
place the minority in position which it thought
would render them liable either to be charged with
the defeat of those bills, obige them to suffer
the passage of that to which they had serious OBJ
jections, without amendment and without uttering
word in relation to it. The avowal suggested
by Mr.. Clay, absurd in reference to any bill,
but particularly to admitting of much
discussion, and about which parties have been so
constantly divided
One would think that, if it is proper to under
take the improvement of the Mississippi the COM
mencement should be defects nearest the mouth,
Il instead of its source Not so, however, do log
rolling legislators begin. If more votes can be OBJ
tanned by locating improvements about on the
: branches of a river. than it's main trunk, why
trading politicians begin at the ''little end of the
r horn
! At 12 P. NJ, discussion arose as to whether
they had not reached their constitutional limit
: Finally, they voted that their term extended until
18th moon, the 4th of March. Mr.. Cass Mr.
Mason and Others refused to vote. Mr. c. said
he was ''a mere locker on there. The discus
sion the river and harbor bill was resumed and
continued until O'Clock in the morning, when
sufficient number of its advocates gave way to car
ry motion to lay the bin aside until A. NJ, with
the view of acting on the appropriation bills. Mr..
Clay not present He had retired some eight
hours before The general appropriation bills
then taken up and hastily passed. The usu-
examination and discussion of the bills, of their
proposed amendments, could not be had for want
of time Not having been disposed of at O'clock
. the river and harbor bill was not again touched
but laid upon the table at 12 NJ, when all agreed
their time up, and both Houses adjourned, So
ne die
The reduced postage bill passed as amended in
the Senate The main feature of the amendment
is to rate every prepaid letter. three cents for each
half ounce, fraction of the same, and every un-
paid letter five cents for each half ounce or rac-
ton. 1t takes effect on the 1st of July next. The
bill, making bounty land warrants assignable,
did not pass. The bill making appropriations of
some seven or eight hundred thousand dollars, for
the different Notifications, was defeated in the
House.
The House, having disposed of all bills of impor-
tanee, and no business of consequence after mid
night the Sd, until their bills came back from
the Senate. 1t remained in session, however, and
often, during the 'twee sma hours ayont the twall -
being without quorum, the ''calls of the House.
were enlivened by a series of amusing excuses for
the absentees.
The discussion last week on the Mexican ndem-
nifty bill, made occasion, by Mr.. Allen, OF
Mass, for charging Mr.. Webster with demanding
and receiving from those friends most deeply inter
ested in his acceptance of the Office he now holds
as condition precedent to his taking it, contri-
button of $4,000 for his private He stated
moreover that $4,000 of the required amount
was raised by his friends in New York, and $50,
00Oby his friends in Boston.
Mr.. Ashman took up in the honorable Secreta
ry's defence, denounced the charge unqual
fed falsehood,'' and accused Mr.. Allen of wan
of courtesy, gratitude and justice, in thus assail
ing the "great ofthe world, as he styled
him, at whose table he had often sat. Mr.. Hill
lizard, of Ala, and Mr. Levin, of Pa, also entered
the list in behalf of the Secretary, and, in flow
of the most fulsome adulation, covered him all owe
with greatness. They could not for moment ere
dit such charge. Indeed, it was too shocking t.
be viewed in any other light than as reckless
slander. Mr.. Allen, however, reiterated the charge
and dared nvestigation-but the friends of the
Secretary did not appear to court it. Since then