Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-08
COngrfssl0nal.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate.--Wednes June 4, 1854.
The senate was not in Session 10 day.
House Of Representative.


s4N III
House Of Representatives.
POST ROUTES IN NEBRASKA AND KANSAS.
On motion of Mr.. HEM, a resolution was
adopted, instructing the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads 10 inquire into the expedt
ency OF establishing certain post routes IN Iowa
and Nebraska.
HOUR OF MEETING.
Mr.. HOUSTON asked leave to introduce reso-
luton, proposing that, after Saturday next, the
daily hour of meeting shall be eleven o CLOCK, a. M
instead of twelve, noon.
LAND FOR RAILROADS.
Mr.. DAVIS. of Indiana, in accordance with
previous notice, introduced bill granting certain
unsod sections Of land in Indiana for railroad pur
poses in that State. Referred 10 the Committee on
Public Lands.
the Whole on the state Of the Union, Mr.. Bocock
in the chair, and resumed the consideration of the
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, being anxious
TO get through with the public business, would not
detain the committee further than to say that he
should vote for the bill.
Mr.. BRIDGES said he was opposed to il on
constitutional grounds, and asked and obtained
leave 70 print his argument on the subject.
Mr.. HENDRICKS remarked, he did not rise TO
discuss the measure before the committee, but the
subject of the public lands He would say, how
ever, that as he now understood the bill he could
not give TO il his support. II assumes that Con-
gress ought 10 establish the route but that il
ought 10 be decided by the executive department
Of the government. Until it shall be shown that
the central route Gn which the section Of the
country from which he came is interesied) is not
the right one, he would not support the bill which
excludes it. As between the schemes, first, giving
the lands on easy terms TO the settlers, and sec
ondly, distributing them among the States, he was
in favor of the former proposition, and, as con-
sequence, against the latter. The two are incom-
patibe and cannot stand together The duty Of
Congress does not extend TO the subjects OF grant
ing lands for charities such the benefit of the
INDECENT insane, and for educational and internal
improvement purposes among the several States
He approved, generally, of the recent veto of the
President, and believed that it would give the adj
ministration high position in the country
Mr.. DISNEY resumed his remarks, commenced
three or four weeks ago, when he was interrupted
by the expiration Of the hour TO which he was
He discussed the propositions: that in all grants
of land. the general government has not omitted
TO make its action inure, directly and Immediately,
10 the pecuniary advantage of the government IL
SELF and not TO that of the respective States that
in the history Of the government, nor in the
history of any private land ownership, was there
ever so rigid economy in relation 10 the DISPOSE
ton ofvast tracts oflaRd; and that the States
were ever favored by grants OF public lands was
par ercsllence and pre-eminently, the most absurd
of all ideas that had ever entered the heads OF
men. He reviewed the report of Mr. BENNETT in
support of the bill introduced by that gentleman,
proposing distribute public lands for educational
and school purposes, saying that SO far from re-
garding it as containing even single error, 1t
does not contain single truth.
Mr.. CHANDLER said he felt deep interest
in the Pacific railroad bill, representing, he
does, commercial community. He believed,
however this was not the time TO discuss the
subject. He hoped that the measure not
dead, even If it was allowed to sleep. II was Of
so much importance that every man should hear
all that can be said for and against it.
His object in rising was to discuss bill pend
ing in committee, requiring the prepayment of all
mailable matter, and increasing the postage on
single letter from three to five cents. This bill
he opposed, answering arguments which had
been made in its favor. ii the Post Office De-
partment is to be made scf.sustaining maShine,
then he would demand, in the name OF the read
ing and writing people of the country, that the
department shall be credited with all excess of
income which has been poured into the national
treasury at any former period The very means,
he commended, TO increase the revenue of the de-
partment, which the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads proposes, would only tend 10 d.
mnish them. ~ $500 8
Mr.. BISHOP PERKINS said he did not doubt
the constiturionalty of giving alternate sections
of land for the purpose of establishing railroad
connexon with the Pacific nor did he question
the national importance of such an undertaking
But the question occurred, was this proper bill?
In the first place, he affirmed that this proposed
double road, and nothing else It starts no
where, meets nowhere and goes nowhere, on the
map He entered into a calculation as 10 the ex-
pense of road from Vicksburg TO San Francisco,
showing that il will cost ninety-four millions Of
dollars. He thought, however there would be no
difficulty in getting a road il it should be made to
start somewhere and go somewhere by way of a
central instead of southern route.
Mr.. GIDDINGS rose to personal explanation,
replying to remarks heretofore made by Mr.. SMITH,
of Virginia, with reference 10 that gentleman.
Mr.. SINGLETON obtained the floor, when, or
motion, the committee rose.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR ESTABLISHMENT.
Mr. PERKINS, of Louisiana, introduced bill
10 remodel the diplomatic. and consular estab ish-
ment, which was referred TO the Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
The House adjourned.
AJ~ The Concert and Festival, for the
benefit Of St. Johns Carrol Chapel Montgomery county
Maryland, will take place ut the Cottage eight miles