The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-28
The News.


The members Of Congress were in perfect fever
81 excitement yesterday-more 80, probably, than
a. any other period since the commencement Of the
session That portion of the proceedings which will
attract most attention in every section of the
W, was the ot'ef sarcastic DEBATE between Messrs'
Cutting and Breckenridge on the Nebraska Gnes'
.on, which took place in Committee Of the Whole
son bill was nominally under consideration 1t was
De first opportunity that had been presented to Mr..
E. 70 defend himself from the attacks made upon
im by the administration party since he succeeded
h transferring the senates bill to the Committee of
the Whole. As everybody will read the details of
this warm personal controversy it is unnecessary to
xay more with regard to it than that it is feared it
will result in settlement of the dispute outside the
capitol. Such at least, we regret to state, is the
purport of our dispatches.
Quite desperate struggle for the ascendancy took
place yesterday among the friends Of various i'm
portant measures pending in the Senate. Judge
Mason Chairman Of the Committee on Foreign Re-
htions, undertook to stave off the special order,
Abe Homestead bill, by moving that all prior bust
Heee be postponed in favor of executive bust
nees. This aroused Messrs. Walker, Dodge, and
ether friends of the FREQ farm project and aso Mr.
Gwin who was DESTROYS of pushing forward the Pa
sihc Railroad bill. After a rambling and exciting
debate, which lasted upwards of an hour and half
Nr. Mason carried his point, and the Senate went
into executive session, by vote of Twenty-Five to
nine II is understood that the subject of secret
3deration was the famous Gadsden treaty.
In the Senate, a very lively debate took place on
the Deficiency Appropriation bill, in the course Of
which Messrs Petit and Brown declared that they
were opposed to all such schemes for raising money.
They thought that estimates sufficiently large to
meet all expenses should be made and passed by
Congress in the regular appropriation bills and that
expenditures should be made in strict accordance
with the figures therein set down. Mr.. Hunter de-
knded the bill, and also amendment reported by
Finance Committee for an appropriation of a
,rtermillion Of dollars for site for new custom
lstin California. A communication was received
N the Secretary of the Treasury, from which it
.lears that the of 81 or ,22l has been expend
cd for the transportation of the mails between the
Atlantic and Pacific States and Territories during the
last three years. and 80 1874 for the transporta
non Of troops and supplies TO and from California
oregon, Texas, New Mexico and Utah, from July,
1850, to June, 1853
The House made the bill for the establishment of
railroads and telegraphs to the Pacific the special or
der for the third Tuesday in May. The bn author
k'ng the construction of six first class steam
rngates was also made the special order for and
rom to-day till disposed of, by vote of one hundred
and thirty-fve TO thirtyive. This looks as though
NE members had at last been aroused to the import
ance of prompt action on this subject
Some additional and highly interesting informa.
Non concerning the sale Of Geo. Laws old musketq
may be found in our despatch from Washington.
Both branches Of our State Legislature seem TO
have been quite busily engaged yesterday in the
consideration of numerous bills, most of which have
been on hand for several weeks. Among the mea-
sures introduced in the Senate was one proposing
70 extend to the people the privilege of express
ng their opinion of the prohbitory liquor bill
mrough the ballot box, at the next election. Such
opinion, however, will not interfere with the opera
non OF the law according to the copy OF the
measure thus brought forward by MIR. Dickinson
bill to amend the Revised Statutes 30 as to re
strain the Governor from filing the Offices of Cana
Appraisers and Superintendent of the BANKING D.
psrtment, was ordered TO third reading INN
pears that the term of the present incnmbents viii
Spre after the adjournment of the Legislature next
sonth and this movement is 10 prevent the Cove
OF from filing the vacancies with political friends
AZ the last session Governor Seymour found IL di:
fcut TO procure the confirmation Of any Of his A..
gointments, and now move is made TO deprive hin,
81 even the power Of appointment The Aseemb