Washington sentinel., 1854-04-08
House of REPRESENTATIVES,.

The SPEAKER laid before the House CON-
muncation from the Postmaster General, in reply
TO resolution calling for information relative to
the contract for carrying the United States mail
from Mobile to Montgomery, Alabama. Referred
10 the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
Senate bills, of private character, were sever
ally referred 10 various standing committees.
TREATIES WITH INDIANS.
Mr. ORR, from the Committee on Indian AZ
fairs, reported bill defining the terms on which
treaties shall hereafter be made with certain In
dian tribes, and for other purposes. Referred to
the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union. E~ .#a +.
MAIL CONTRACTS.
The House resumed the consideration Of the
bill, pending from yesterday, empowering the Post
master General TO contract for the transportation
Of the mails of the United States from New Or.
leans TO San Francisco according to time
The motion pending was 10 refer the bill to the
Committee the Whole on the state Of the Union
Upon taking the vote on seconding the demand
for the previous question, no quorum voted !;
whefeupon there was call ofthe House. when
quorum Of members answered to their names.
The vote was again taken, but the demand for
the previous question was not sust ained-vea &C.
nays 67
Mr.. ORR moved that the consideration Of the
bill be postponed for three weeks.
Mr.. HAMILTON said this was bill which
could be disposed Of now; and he demanded the
previous question.
Mr.. PHELPS moved that the bill be laid upon
the table; but the motion did not prevail yeas
66, nays 7S.
Mr.. LATHAM said the mails were now carried
between New Orleans and San Francisco at an
expense OF over eight hundred thousand dollars
per annum. The average time occupied by the
trip between port and port is thirty days, but il
has been performed in twenty-five days. There
are two large express companies which carry let.
ters from fifty cents TO two dollars and fifty cents
apiece, by the Nicaragua route, occupying from
twenty-five 10 twenty-tbree days; and the result
is, commercial men select these channels TO carry
out their purposes The monthly mail matter by
these expresses amounts TO one-thrd Of the reve.
nue. of the Post Office Department The principle
of this bill was right, but it required some amend
ment.
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, said he had not re.
ceived a letter from California by the mails for
months, but by private expresses.
Mr.. LATHAM remarked that he received his
letters in that way, sometimes five or six DAYS
before the government mail arrives, and so do the
merchants. He made further remarks in support
of the bill.
Mr.. McMULLEN advocated sending the bill to
the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and caused TO be read a letter from the
Postmaster General who says that the principle
ofthe bill seems TO I've inexpedient, and that The
delay OF few days in the receipt of letters only
affects few persons, and is not of sufficient inn
portance TO justify change OF system, Tor words
/ TO that efect.)
Before disposing OF this subject, the morning
hour expired.
MARTHA WASHINGTON CoNsPIRAToRs.
Mr.. PARKER, from the Committee on the Ju
dietary, reported bill 10 dcray the expense.
growing out OF the burning of the steamer Martha
Washington. He said it would be recollected thi.
steamboat was burnt several years ago on the
lower Mississippi, under such circumstances a.
10 satisfy the public mind that there was connected
with that act not only the most stupendous frauds
but. over and above that, the high crime Of arsor
and murder; for, no less than sixteen persons los
their lives.
For the last two years attempts have beer
made 10 bring the offenders TO justice. -Four o.
\ five OF the persons supposed TO be implicated
were arrested under the laws of the United States
and tried in federal court in Ohio; but, 70
want Of evidence, which has recently come &c
light, they were acquitted They have since beer
arrested under requisition OF the governor o
Arkansas, and are awaiting trial in Philips county