The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-08
Our Washington correspondence.

As predicted. the Hon. Jesse ID. Bright elected
President pro tem Of thr Senate yesterday to serve,
however not until the close Of the session. but until the
arrival Of Mr. Achison Thus, It appears favored
with two Presidents pro TEN. az the time Qucre
should President Pierce die before the arrival Of Mr.
htchison, who would succeed TO the Presidency Mr..
| Bright or Dir. Achisonf Mr. Bright, I presume,
would take precedence The Senate virtually declared
the chair vacant BY proceeding Gil II with another,
and ne must resign the arrival OF Mr. Atehison in
order to enable the Senate restore Mr.. A. to the
| Presidency pro tem.
The reports Of the several Secretaries are being sent in
to Congress and exhibit considerable labor and ability
in their preparation The Of the Secretary Of War
hs one hundred and Fifty pages Of foolscap and will be
read with great interest in these times when
9 The swelling sounds OF war
real loudly on the morning air frcn foreign fields aar
The present authorized military force numbers Ia 2i6
officers and men while the AdjutAnt Generals report
shows the actual force To be only l0,74s. This
difference between the actual and authorized force
results from the difficulty OF obtaining recruits
under the old law, but it is fast disappearing under
increase in the pay Of the rank and fe Of the army
During the past year various changes knve taken place
strengthening the Western and Pacific departments
II IS recommended that small steamer and number of
boats, suitable to navigate the lakes and rivers Of
Florida, be provided for that region, as preliminary
step for removing the Seminole Indians by force II they
continue their refusal to peaceaby The report
treats at length Indian difficulties with the Sioux and
other Western and Northwestern tribes and saws that
the companies which are TO proceed to California by the
overland route will be directed to chastse the Indians
guilty Of the massacre Of Captain Gunnisons men.
large increase Of the army is urged.
The first pass made at the administration yester
day by Mr. Sellers Of Maryland in resolution call ng
for information respecting the Ostend conference II
thought to exhibit ALSO the Know Nothing strength
in the House When the ball is once fairly started we
may expect some rich sport in the way Of fights, la
the Kilkenny cats-in words OF course mean, and not
in blows.
The Supreme Court is now in full blast and progress
ing finely with business But two counsel allowed
TO speak in case, and each speaker is limited 10 two
hours large number OF lawyers from different parts
OF the country are in atte ndance. T.
WASHINGTON, Dec @, 1854
Doings in the SenoteThe Collins Steamers-Proposed
Amendment in the Naturalization Lo,cs-Senator Sec
ard-Chonces ofhe Doctors-yae Sellers Resolution
Hiram Walbrid9e on Coal.
In the Senate to-day but little DONE and an adj
jouInment only few minutes behind the opening
OF the days session The first act Of Importance,
indeed the first business of the day. short debate
upon lie suggestion OF Mr. Hunter of Virginia. that the
Ocean Mail Steamer bill before the Senate action
il being the unfinished business of the last session.
This bill postponed till Monday next when proba-
bly, there win be long speaking upon It Several
Senators, I understand, are charged with weghty
speechesthat is so far as length gives weight upon
this topic The object of this bill is to discontinue the
Collins line of steamers 1t would be prcmaurely argu
ing the inquire into the merits and virtues of
this proposition at the present time. From the first
view OF the subject, however, disposed to think
withdrawal Of government support frem the Collins line
would he an act Deserving Of condemnation. This line
has been very successful and has done dignity
BY success the Of country than could
have been done BY outlay of millions unassociaed
with the energy Of private enterprise for in business
atcrs government never keep pace with private
G mpetition. But government assist private
petition, IN the Collins line, to Its honor and pc
interest felt here in anticipation OF the
III Of enator Adams affecting the naturalization law
q 1902 IT, is expected this movement OF the Sena-
from Mississippi to extend the probation of aliens
before naturalization from Eve TO twenty years thea
he Know Nothngs have carried their war into the
very cuate and each member Of this body will have 10
show his bandN to the entire country that native
Ancricanim may know how TO act upon these men in
e coming elections. Senators ayalaoe from their
positions for the Presidency, and knsw Nothings
!uubt orc dcsrous Of knowing who in this body
.th heIa and who against them. 1t viii require great
care each Of this house to act upon the expected
measure OF Senator Adams so as TO command the suf
rage Of the Union This subject is edged tool FOR
the Senators to play WITH and they might cut their fin
by too hasty careless inconsiderate action
majority, beyond doubt would rather have IL taken out
the House but senator Adams is not the TO back
down fro,n such q movement this il hshas the OBJ
oct in view Ihaye suggested-the testing the America
Of his senatorial brethren. II this amendment Of
The law of 1907 establishes probation ef twenty
years To vote fer 1t drives OF the entire foreign vote OF
the mon, and TO vote against IL calls down upon the
offender the dsnunciateu Of the Know Nohpgs. SeDa-
had better he gathering up the statistics, giving
ie respective strength of aliens and natives at the
ballot box, for without this information they cannot
vote sagaciously with view 10 political availability.
than half suspect this movement OF Mr. Adams is
expressly intended Tor the benefit Of Senator Seward.
I his gentle man comes before his constituency for
election this winter and in New York, where Know No
ihingm, ut least, hods the balance Of power, il may
lie We'll for this controlling party to know Mr. sewards
N,.ws he mai n ZYf *
The sagaeious politician esteem him, he will either
dodge the question or have as little to say about it
lossibe. Ii the question OF twenty years natu-
alization law is really forced TO vote wonder how
many representatives. viii suddenly be taken sick upon
the day the vote is tasen THIS anticipated movement
may hsyc the effect OF giving few patients to the doc
OF this place who, understand very much in
want, in these healthy times oi something to try their
drugs upon
In the House oc Representatives, unexpectedly TO
ny the soers resolution asking to be informed about
Tie Ostend meeting disposed Of The of the
al administration friends the night before was not without
IT, eject upon this resolution. They planned well and
augmented their strength for action to-day the vote
proved After atng IL referred to the Com
long after tie ttump Of The srshanse shall
It someeh hat funny to hear the men who actel
srcnuously and indu,trously TO defeat this resolution
ialk that they believed there was nothing in the meet
pg Al ostond--t purely accidental, &C II it was
occidental and this conference had no deliberations al
Getting poiitics then Why such lsborcd effort to pre-
cnt The facts Of the coming before the IIouses
ieriaps. however these tell the truth in saying
hey believe and No man i respons sible Tor what
: believes. wise believes way and a fool
snother. Some believe they are told; and ii
this l. virtue am disposed TO think III pre-
Congress have much Of this quality to boast or At
ell events must wait, Micawbcr like for something
turn up before knos all the points OF the Defend
meeting. Some Of them pretty wen known already
There il talk here about the printing the report
of The Secretary of the Treasury In New York,
hours before it sent into Congress The papers here
whining little because they set II up at this place
it,m IifrkIr lips. cont aers" take IL good joke,
md another evidence Of the enterprise oi New York
journalism.
The resolution OF Gen. Hiram wsbriige, relative to
coal duties win probably he taken up aud discnssed
time next week. Mr. Walbrdgc has fully invcsti-
gated this subject and when il comes before the House
we may expect fro on him facts and statistics that
III BE- interesting 70 all who pay 81 80 per ton for this
article. NEIi.a-
fCo,respondenc. OF the Pennsylvanian.l
,S'rsl Through Boykstsa pps0rGaccoy Ms "f1rMersN
Wasttngfoys M1ipD,eai-fLB. H. 4. NlboUgsJi--Nr
Dnuwon and NE HsmsSt,od biH.
WASHINGTON. lice. j. IS5d
The other morning TOOK -rp through the market
ere and though did iT1 food for the sto-