, 1855-04-07
Congressional.
Letter from IIOH. Columbia Lancaster
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
EcbrMdrN I. 1855.

House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
February I, 1855.
Error PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
The "act making appropriations for the
construction of certain military roads in
the Territories Of Nebraska and Washing
ton,D was yesterday approved by the
President Of the United States, and is
hence the law of the land.
Be pleased to publish the copy Of said
act herewith incloscd.
"A bill for the relief Of George Bush,
of Thurston county, Washington Terri
tory" and also "A bill confirming land
claim to Elijah White, Of the Territory Of
Washington" have passed the House Of
Representatives, and are now before the
Senate. On the 5th inst, Hon. VIM. NJ
Gwin, Senator from California, introduced
bill in the Senate which directs the Post
master General to furnish the Sound with
mails by sea.
This appears the only alternative left us
to effect this object, the Postmaster Gen
eral having absolutely refused TO furnish
as the mails except by the Cowlitz route.
The joint letter of the Delegates Of the
Territories of Washington and Oregon to
Senator Gwin, as also copy Of the joint
letter of the Delegates Of the said Terrific
ries, the Senators and Representatives OF
the State of California, and which was con-
Cured in by Gov. Stevens and addressed
to the Postmaster General last summer,
were, with the bill, referred to the commit
tee on tho Post Office aud Post Roads of
the Senate, in expectation that an amend
ment will be made to the Post Officc bill
to secure to Washington Territory, Lower
Oregon, and Upper California the necessa-
ry mail service, which has so long been
improperly withheld under the exercise by
the Postmaster General Of doubtful dis
cretion.
The purchase of the British Companies
possessions and rights under the treaty
and the boundary question, are still pend
ing before the committee on Foreign AT
fairs in the House Of Representatives
The geological appropriation is still pend
ing in the House. r
Respectfully yours, e.
COLUMBIA LANCASTER.
D6- The following is the proposition o
Of Senator Gwin, and the correspondence
above alluded Of the delegates o
Washington and Oregon Territories, ant
of the California Sepators and Representa-
tives, which we copy from the Congress
ional Globe Of Feb. Sth
Mr.. GwIN. / ask the unanimous con
sent of the Senate to introduce bill, 0
which previous notice has not been given
to establish semi-monthly line OF stean
ships from San Francisco, in the State
California, to Puget Sound in the Territor.
'- of Washington" Wi!hEassieF to its refer
ence.
Leave was granted, and the bill wa
read first and second time by its title. =
Mr.. GgIN. move to refer the bill I,
the Committee on the Post Office AM
Post roads. And, sir, to show the commit
tee the great Importance of the bill to, th
Pacific coast, will read to the Senate tw
communications from the members Of tn
two Houses from that section Of the Unior
and call the special attention of the con
mittee to the subject
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
February 8, 1855. J
SrR-The mail service between Sa
Francisco and the head Of Puget SounC
including some dozen or more points,
more or less importance on the Sound, an
on the coasts Of Washington, Oregon, an
California, is, as you are well aware, Ell
tirely inadequate
The service Of the Pacific Mail Stean