Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-02-21
From our washington Correspondents.
WAsH1NaroN. Feb. u. 1855.

- vote on the IdflE:-NO 9ettef for samuel Colt
Lieutenant General Resolution passed-NdUy Bill
passed-1 retired list sanctioned- Increased eff
cheney General system cJ Internal Improvements
- Indians and their Lands-COllins Line-4 &C.
to erpected-OFgap out Of tasne--7he acar IN En-
rops-Humiliating spectdcle Of Englana-15oO
qrcehs Of the Session LEFT.
[ omitted in my last to notice the vote in the
House upon the motion to go into Committee Of the
Whole for the purpose of taking up the bill to modi
fy the Tariff. The friends of the measure regarded
the vote test vote. and the motion was carried
by a small maj ority, the vote being taken by yeas
and nays and the names recorded. In COMMITTEES
OF the Whole the yeas and nays are not taken, and
no sooner had the House apparently agreed to the
motion than it refused to take up the bill and pro-
ceeded to the consideration of one of the appropri-
alton bills This movement was managed by some
OF the Pennsylvania members who feared reduc-
ton in the duties coal and iron. The bill propo-
average reduction of 20 per cent. on the du-
ties paid but doubt whetherit will be reached
during the present session. An effort may possibly
be made to tack 1t to an appropriation bill by way
of amendment.
The "bill for the relief of Samuel Colt" as the
caption reads, has been defeated in the House by
large Observation-Disclosures nearly voting against.
As the purport of the bill is not very apparent from
its title, would explain that its object is to grant
an extension of the patent for Colts pistols. The
law now provides that the Commissioner of Patents
may grant extension of seven years to any paten
tee who can furnish satisfactory evidence that he
has not been sufficiently remunerated for his inven
tion Mr.. Colt could not satisfy the Commissioner
on this point Col Colt is now ciassed among the
mionares Of the country, his wealth being derived
entirely from the profits his invention so he ap-
peals to Congress for "relief.'' Great outside eff
forts have been made to induce favorable action
this bill, and the aid of the lobby literally invoked
by Colts agents; but the effort has most signally
failed.
On Monday the Joint Resolution from the Senate
authorizing the President TO confer the rank of Lieu
tenant General by brevet upon Gen. Scott was
agreed to by the House by avote of l26 to 60. The
resolution revivcs the law 179S, under which Gen
Washington was appointed Lieutenant General, the
only person upon whom this rank conterr-
ed by this Government. The bill carries with it
increase of pay to which there is little objec
ton; butthe creation of title it were, although
only to continue for Gen. SCOTS lifetime is hardly
consistent with the spirit Of our institutions.
Tuesday last set apart Tor the consideration of
bills reported from the Committee Naval Affairs.
During the day bill to promote the discipline of
the service, and another from the Senate affecting
its efficiency passed. The former relates to the
Seaman, and provides system of rewards and pun
ishinents, carrying out generally the recommended
tons of the present head Of the Navy Department.
Sine the abolition OF tiogging in the Navy
have been entirely beyond tie reach of punishment,
whatever the character of the offence, except by
formal Court Martial and consequently officers have
experienced the utmost difficulty in maintaining dis
cpine shipboard.
The bill puts into the hands of a commanding
officer sufficient power TO punish for minor offences,
while the power is so guarded as to prevent abuse,
and consequently the rights of the sailor suffi-
GENTLY protected. Tie other bill relates to the Off
GERS, and provides for retired list. This has passed
both Houses excepting Il few amendments, and
have doubt viii become law. 1t will work
revolution in the service, and Lrce it from the drones
and the incompetent. The lSll providing for the
construction OF seven steam soops of has been
laid the table, the present Congress not being in
clined to anthoriSe further increase of vessels of
this sort until the six steam frgates completed,
and their efficiency and success tested.
Bills to improve various rivers and harbors,
fO he offered in the Senate 4ithouoh there
prospect of their passage this session The ex-
pendiure of money seems to be the thing aimed at,
rather than the improvement of harbors and rivers
Thus a proposition is offered to appropriate $780,,
600 for the Northern Lakes 100000 to this one,
and an equal sum to another, to be spent at such
points the Secretary of War may select. The
may desire particular harbors to be preferred,
but he Is satisfied 1t the money can be spent there
that being the primary consideration and the par
tcu.ar harbor or river to be improved secondary
one. The establishment Of general system Of in
tcrlal Improvements has still many advocates i'll
Congress- particularly those from the North, whose
ftvorite idea to be to consolidate all powers
il the general government, regardless OF any nita-
tons in the Constitution
The regular Indian appropriation bill has
pied the attention of the Senate for several days;
the interference OF volunteer agents, well the
corruption Of some OF the Government Agents hay
ing been pretty thoroughly exposed. The Indians
are bound to be cheated out OF their lands, but
Gle Sam claims the privilege OF doing So under the
sanction Of law, and will tolerate interlopcrS.
A few days ago | witnessed the arrival of large
delegation OF Indians just from the Vest. They
on Il visit to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs,
and come here to sell their lands, and perhaps
cept instead Il tract farther from the settlements,
which in few years they will again be called upon
to give up to the white faces Thus their destiny is
to be blottcd out from the face of the cartn.
Thursday and Friday in the House was devoted
to a very earnest debate on the bill making appro
priaons for the Ocean Steam Mail Service. The
point on which the debate turned, was the PROPOSE
ton give the proper motive looking towards dis
continuance of the additional compensation allowed
by the act of 1850 Congress has reserved to itself
the right to discontinue this extra compensation
giving six months noticc; the friends OF the line as
that to give the notice is equivalent to breaking
up the line. Offers have been made to the Govern
ment, however, to perform the same service for less
than half the compensation now paid; and true
economy would seem demand that the aid Of the
oily against which private enterprise cannot contend
The pretcnce that the system should be sustained
in order to have large force of steamers ready to
be employed in the defence of the country in case
of war, is prrtence only; for these steamers can
not be converted into efficient ships of war; and
although the government furnished part OF the
TO build them, they cannot be taken t9r the
of the public without purchasing or charterlng
them. In of war between this country and any
maratne power, these steamers would Immediately
be thrown out Of employ, and the prop1ttoEs he
glad to sell or charter them to the government for
transports, or any they might be fit for.s
The veto Of the French Spoliaton bill may be set
down fixed fact The message has not been
sent in at this writing; but have no doubt that it
is in course of preparation. 1t will thoroughly in