The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-25
AFFAIRS IN WASHINGTON.
Cur Washington Correspondence.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, ls4i.
Ne,c Phase IN Liquidation Guiding Lighthouses for
Great acknowledgements till after the Holiday
Supreme Ccart-.Nr PeHigreic Of South Cdroiina-
Mrs. Pierce in Court Treasury Operations, etc.
joint resolution was passed by the House of Repre-.
sentatives yesterday by large Vte directing the Pre-
sident Of the United States to open correspondent &c
with the British government relative the erection OF
first class lighthouse Cape Race, New Foundland
and authorizing HIM to pay out OF the treasury of the
United States such proportion Of the of the ght
house as to HIM might just and proper The friends
Of the resolution sought justification for this sngu
lar proposition in the fact that such lighthouse is
greatly needed for the protection Of American shipping
and the lives American citizens. This is all well
enough, and If such appropriations were stopped here
there would not have been dissenting voice. although
1t was an appropriation Of money 70 erect lighthouse
on foreign SOIL and for foreign nation which boasts of
being the wealthiest and most powerful Of all the
nations Of the earth. But the precedent estab
hshed, who can tell to what it will cadY What cape or
What leland, what coast, whether in Africa India
or China which chances To be the Of
shipw.ck, viii not claim tle benefit Of this precedent
in American legislation And why should it not be
granted TO Them as well as to Care Racer then pro-
LOUNGE the lont resolution emphgtcay pig in
ouf Legislation h. which 10 crect-hut have no
ownership in-lelthouses in all parts OF thu world.
This Is certainly considerable stride for this
progressive ase.
The two houses Of Congress have adjourned till
TUESDAY, when they viii assemble ia adjourn gam I'LL
saturday-and then again TIL Tuesday following.
During tire meantime apprehend there viii he many
risspcnt hours. and not few headaches hand by
the honorable NJ ca.
The supreme Court room was crowded yesterday 10
hear Mr. ietterew, OF South Carolina. Among the au
dience and seated Just In the OF the judges,
ti,ed Mrs Pierce the wife Of the President and by her
side, Iaying the agreeable Mr. Dopbn Secretary
~ the Navy. Many members IL the two housps Con.
gross re also in to hear the great Palmet
10 Law yerand ably did he his high reputation
although considerably embarrassed by his position his
argument was profoundly logical bat at the tine
handsomely ornsmented with classical quotations and
court involving large estate, aud
turning upon single point Of law. The
testator devised that upon the death Of bis
widow, his surviving executor should appropriate
his estate 10 the benefit OF such cisrt be institutions
in the states Of Pennsylvania and south Carolina as
you'd In his opinion be the most beneficial 70 kino
TIE widow survived all three Of the c3tos snd the
heirs ~ law claim the estate for the shat there
ont the charitable institutions which 10 take unItr
the viii This position was maintained by Mr.. Rettgrn
Tor the heirs, while the opposite party place ther
claims upon the principle CT law, that trust viii not
one.
A lively business i now going in the Treasury IL
rodecmng the United States stocks During tho present
week the amount ~ $S,195 500 has been redeemed ia
specie. This enormous amount Of specie IL thrown
into Circulation, must materially relieve the present
tghtntss in The money market and make times easter
IN addition 10 this redemption o. stock there were
treasury warrants issued for oht- prrposts during tho
week, amounting 10 sl,S27ss50 "
Increase of the array.
The following bill IL now in the hanos o. Tie Commit
tee Military Affairs and ready % ~ rcpor.od TO The
House a. the FIRST op9orianity. Il vas drawn IN BY
Hon. Mr. Faulkner, of Virginia.