The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-02-10
The Pioneer Correspondence.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1855.

as any Senator desires to speak to them, and
then lays them aside for Others All the vot-
ing will, therefore, be had near the 4th of
March.
A resolution was adopted in the House OF
Representatives, directing the Speaker to ap-
point a committee of five to look into the man.
agemeut of the Smithsonian Institution. Great
con. plaint Las been made on this score in most
of the papers. Smithson's bcquest was for
the diffusion of knowledge among all men. -
This has been construed to mean the pub lea
ton of notes of theorizing, misnamed scientific
men, on trivial and useless matters. Indeed.
our best mathcmaticians and astronomers do
not hesitate to frequently acknowledge that
the highfalutin is beyond their mortal vision.
There is splendid library in the institution,
but it might IS we'll be in the bowels of the
earth so far as being useful to the people here
is concerned, for it is invariably locked up and
inaccessible.
The building is a sumner. The architect
designed evidently, in its construction, to give
one an illustration of all styles of architecture.
We have long buildings and short buildings,
high turrets and low towers, battlements and
barred windows, or rather holes - indeed, to
stand off and view the toute ensemble, the build
ing has more the appearance of jumbled up
mass of gable ends, or some fancy new-years
gingerbread, than anything else in the world.
Before the adjournment presume We shall
have spicy expose. shall send it you, and
let you pick for yourself.
The Presidents Message has called the at
tention of Congress once more to the depreda
tions of the Indians on our southwestern from
tier. Emigrants, surveying parties and mail
expresses have severely suffered. Every arri-
val from California and New-Mexico brings
us accounts of hostilities of the Sioux and Pr
Utahs, and the murder of our people. The
Committee have walked up after much persua-
son and report the bill, which I append, to
both Houses. The proposition to employ the
friendly Indians against those at war with us,
is objected to and opposed by Gen. Cass and
others, and will be stricken out. Something
must be done, and promptly, or we shall find
ourselves in protracted Indian war. Benton
says, 10000 elnigrants cross the Plains each
year, and they demand and ought to have pro-
lection.
The Pacific Railroad Bill fear, is dead for
this Congress. But if the House contradicts
itself to-day as it has been doing during the
last week, we may hope for better thing. -
The three roads of the special committee first
had their quetus; then Bcnton's route went
by the board. Adjournment was had, and in
the evening the caucus of friends concluded to
support the Grand Central Road, proposed by
the amendments of Mr.. Davis. of Indiana. -
Next day the amendments were agreed to as
substitute for the original bill. 1t was finally
passed. Parliamentary distractions were
thrown in its way at every stage of progress.
Its friends gladdened at their success but they
were ultimately doomed to disappointment.
AT the next meeting reconsiderations was had,
aud after votes on many side motions, the bill
was recommitted to the special committee =
Motion for reconsideration is pending and will
come up the first thing this morning.
A great many wings vote for recommitment,
although they acknowledge themselves to be
friendly to the Railroad. Their conduct is in
consistent, for they cannot but be aware that
at this late day Of the session, commitment is
equivalent to the rejection of the bill.
Mr.. Davis provides in his amendments, for
one grand trunk central railroad and telegraph
ic line from some point on the western bound
airy Of Missouri or Iowa, between the thirty
sixth and forty-third degree of north latitude,
on the nearest and most eligible route to San
Francisco and two branch railroads and tel
egraphic lines, one diverging from said central
railroad at some eligible point east of the
Rocky Mountains, between the one hundred
and third and fifth parallels of west longitude,
and running through the territories of the
United States in the direction of Memphis,
Tennessee and one divcrging from the Gen.
trail Railroad at the point last aforesaid, and
running through the territories of the United
States to the most eligible point on the west
ern shore of Lake Superior. For this purpose
1t appropriates public lands equal to the alter
nate sections for space of IL miles on each
side OF the road from the eastern to the west
ern terminus. 1t is made the duty of the Sec.
rotary Of War, the Secretary of the Navy and
the Postmaster General to cause advertise
ments to be published in two newspapers in
each State and District of Columbia, inviting
proposals for the construction of the road and
telegraph on the terms stated.
The old soldiers met in convention here on