, 1855-02-03
From Washington.

WASHINGTON, December 20th.-Mr. Stu
art reported bill in favor Of extending
the California Land Commission Passed
Mr.. Sumner presented the memorial Of
the Baptist Free Mission Society of New
England, praying for the repeal of the Kan.
sas.NebraSka bill and Fugitive Slave Law
lie moved that they lie on the table, as
Mr.. Chase will soon call up his bill prohib-
iting slavery in the Territories. .--.
Mr.. Bayard moved the consideration Of
the Act Of last session for the naturaliza-
l!oa Of children Of American parents born
abroad Passed.
Mr.. Sumner presented a resolution that
a comniltc, Of conference be directed to
consider whether further legislation is nee
eSsary TO protect the fishery interests, and
especially by amending the system of lcen-
sing. altering the terms Of bounty, on the
Banks aud Cod fisheries, and extending
this bounty to the mackerel fisheries.
HoUsE. .a -
WAsHIYGToN, December 20th.-General
Whitfield, the delegate from Kansas,
was announced, and took the oath to sup
port the Constitution of the United States.
Several bills were introduced and re-
fcrred. Among them one by Mr.. Hughs,
making an appropriation for the working
OF steam drcdges on Lake Champlain
The House passed bills granting addi-
tional powers to the Corporation at Wash
ington, increasing the compensation of the
Auxiliary Guard, etc.
There appears to be good deal of un-
easiness in regard to the transportation Of
the Southern mail after the LIST Of January.
There is no agreement yet between the
Postmaster General and the Railroad Com
pany, and it has been found impracticabIe
to get boats to convey the mails between
Washington and Charleston. Rumor says
that the Postmaster General will save his
honor by allowing sub-contraet with the
Railroad Company, granting their term.
The committee on territories in the House
have agreed unanimously to make favor
able reporhupon the Senate bill of last ses-
sion to establish subterranean line of
magnetic telegraph to California. Great
hopes are entertained by the delegation of
either this bill or the billto establish the
line of mail steamers between San Francis
co and Shanghae.
The Pacific Railroad bill, having been
again postponed by Mr.. McDougall until
the second week in January, will probably
be taken up at that time but it will not
pass. When it has become perfectly ap-
parent that the Railroad bill must fail, the
delegation are prepared to bring forward,
and urge the immediate passage of bill to
make Wagon road across the plains, and
to protect it by Military Posts. This
measure will have more chance of success,
although fear it wilffai also.
Post Master General Campbell has no.
tilted the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
that unless they will give weekly mail
service to California for the $3.50, 600 per
annnm they now receive for semi-monthly
service, he will use all his influence to get
the contract repealed by Congress at its
present session Present appearances are
that the Company will not Yield to this de-
mand. The California delegation will
doubtless sustain the Department.
Mr. Shields has reported to the Senate,
from committee on Military Affairs, a very
important bill for the increase and re.orgar-
i7ation ofsihc army. The bill provides for