The southern press., 1852-02-17

Mr.. HUNTER took the hoor. upon whose
motion the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, Feb. l6.
MINT IN NEW YORK.
Mr.. BRIGGS, of New York, presented me-
mortal from members OF the general assembly of
that State, asking for the establishment of mint
in the city of New York, which was referred.
TERRITORIAL BUSINESS.
Mr.. STUART, from the COMMITTEES on Terri
tories, introduced, by leave, resolution setting
apart the third week in April, or so much thereof
may be necessary, for the consideration Of ter
rtorial business, and that during that time sach
business shall take precedence. The resolution
was agreed to.
PROSPER M. wETMoRE.
Mr.. ORR, OF South Carolina, by leave, intro
duced the following resolution
ssResolped, That the President Of the United
States be requested to inform this House wheth er
the accounts Of Prosper M. Wetmore, late navy
agent in the city of New York, as adjusted, show
any defalcaton on his part; and if so, what steps
have been taken to collect the amount which said
Wetmore failed to pay over and when proceed
ings were commenced, if at ALL to collect said
amount. Also whether any compromise was at
any time made between the Secretary Of the
Treasury, or the Solicitor thereof, and said Wet
more, or any arrangement entered into respecting
such alleged defalcaton, and if SO, what was such
compromise, or arrangement, and whether the
same was complied with.
The resolution was agreed to.
MILEAGE OF MEMBERS.
Mr.. HENDRICKS, OF Indiana, from the Com
mittee on Mileage, by unanimous consent, re-
ported bill regulating the mileage of the delegate
from Oregon,
[Thebil simply repeats that portion Of the act
establishing the territorial government of Oregon.
which limits the salary of its delegate to ~ 500
: A debate ensued, in which the subject OF mile
age of members generally was discussed. Much
confusion prevailed in the hall. The Speaker re-
peatedly called for order, and said that unless it
was preserved he should be compelled to call mem
bers by name.
After short discussion by Messrs. HENDRIcKs,
Of Indiana, WOODWARD, ofSouth Carolina, Fowl
Err, of Massachusetts,, CARTIER, Of Ohio, and
TooMBs, Of Georgia.
Mr.. EVANS, of Maryland, moved an amend
ment to the bill. providing that the clerk shall add
together the amounts paid to all the members for
mileage, dividing the sum by the number of men,
bers and that the Sergeant-at-arms be directed to
pay to each member his proportion as soon as as
certained.
Mr. EVANS advocated his amendment.
Mr.. RICHARDSON, of Illinois, proposed an
additional amendment, providing "that the capt.
toll be removed to within SO miles Of the residence
Of each member, az soon as convenient, which
the Speaker decided TO be out Of order.
Mr.. RICHARDSON proposed further amend
ment, providing that $4,000 per annum be paid
annually to members, IN lieu Of their present per
diem and mileage, which was decided to be out of
order
After further remarks by Messrs. ROBINSON, Of
Indiana, and STUART, OF Michigan,
Mr.. ALLISON, of Pennsylvania, moved an
amendment, providing that the mileage Of mem
bers be computed by the nearest travelled route,
fromtheir residences to Washington.
Mr.. MARSHALL, Of California, said that the
gentleman from Maryland lMr. EvANs,) had as
serted that, by leaving his business, as lawyer,
and coming here, he lost money. He Mr. NJ }
also lost money, as a member Of the same profess
sion, by coming here. In California, he presumed
that ne had received more for single fee than the
gentleman from Maryland was accustomed to re-
ceiye in a whole years practice. Mr.. M. spoke
further in relation to the expense Of coming from
California, and Of conducting electionering cam
paigns there. II required a nine months trip, and
a large sum to procure life insurance. Mule feed
across the Isthmus was 50 cents per pound, and
the expense OF drinks in canvassing % cents in
San Francisco, and as high SO cents further
back in the country. He was willing TO declare
for the sake of 'Bsncombe ''-and he wished the
reporters to notice particularly, what he said
ING to go for bill giving members the simple per
diem. He thanked God that he had the means 70
live without mileage. The interests Of Cslifornia,
however, were badly cared for by Congress,
which, while il was appropriating three millions
OF dollars for a custom-house at New Orleans,
gave only one hundred thousand for one at San
Francisco. He protested against the neglect Of
Congress on the one hand, and it's spasmodc ac-
tiyity on the other. II ought 10 be known that
California had voice here, and the means 10 ut
ter il.
Mr.. WOODWARD, Of South Carolins, spoke
OF the high salaries paid under the executive de-
partment Of the government, in its different grades,
and said that the President, cabinet, chiefs Of
bureaus, clerks, &C., never came TO Congress
for a reduction Of their salaries. Members Of
Congress, on the other hand, were continually
found ready 10 take any Of those places. He
asked could this body maintain it's dignity by re-
ducing its own pay Members should receive
such compensation as would place them beyond
the temptations held out by the executive branch.
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, advocated the
passage. Of the bill as reported. Those who are
in favor Of equalizing the mileage Of members, in
his opinion, were not disposed 20 degrade the le-
gihative department thereby. He moved TO lay
the bill on the table.
Mr.. MARSHALL explained what he had said
in relation TO the expense OF conducting political
campaigns in California.
Mr.. STEPH EMS was opposed 10 allowing con-
sderations OF that character influencing the action
Of members on those matters, and alluded 10 the
expense ofcampaigns in Baltimore.
On the question Of laying the bill on the table,
il was rejected, the yeas and nays being taken, so
TO 10l.
Mr.. SwEETSER, Of Ohio, moved to recon-
nit the bill To the Committee ofthe Whole on the
state Of the Union. Rejected; the yeas and nays
being again taken, II TO 80.
Another motion TO lay on the table, was reject
ed; the yeas and nays being taken, 70 TO "a, and
without finally dsposng Of the matter.
On motion Of Mr.. HhRRIs, Of Tennessee, at
o'clock the House adjourned.