, 1855-04-07
Additional News Items

which mention was made last week-the
Washington correspondent of the y. Y.
Times says:
Senator Gwin deserves high praise for
untirlng energy, perScvering, personal ef-
fort, and great tact and skill, by exercise
Of which he to-day passed the Pacific Rail
road bill through the Senate in the face Of
powerful opposition. Improperly managed.
the bill will pass the House.
The NAvY.-The House of Representa-
tives, on Tuesday was occupied in the con-
sideration of several matters. The bill
providing for more efficient discipline in the
navy, was taken up and passed. The abo-
lition of the "cat," in 1850, and the neg
lect Of Congress to provide a salutary sub
stitute for that usually effective though
brute+ mode of punishment, has led to a
laxity of discipline detrimental to the pub
lie service. While remedying this evil, it
has also been deemed polite and Just that
seamen in the navy shall be rewarded to
some extent for good conduct The bill
just passed by providing a system of pun
ishments in the one case, and rewards in
the other, will no doubt lead to the end
sought to be obtained-the more efficient
discipline of the navy. The bill providing
for board of naval officers, to pass upon
and report the qualifications Of officers,
with the view Of wedding out the incapa-
bles and ralitudenarianS, and placing them
upon retired list, and also providing for
the promotion Of the efficient and deserving
in the service, was taken up, debated, and
finally passed by vote Of ll6to 46.
A resolution was passed by the House
of Representatives, providing for the print
ing of ten thousand copies of Com PerryS
report Of the japan Expedition, for the
use Of the members of the House, and FIVE
hundred for that of the Commodore.
A resolution was also passed to print ten
thousand copies Of the surveys for a rail
road 10 the Pacific, including those of Col.
Fremont.
The Speaker announced that the pend
ing question was on the adoption Of the
resolution to close the debate on the bill
authorizing the construction of the seven
steam sloops-ofwar, in FIVE minutes after
going into committee on the subject.
The bill for the reorganization Of the
consular and diplomatic service of the Uni
ted States, has passed the House, and is
now before the Senate.
Collins mail steamship line has again
triumphed over the opposition raised
against it.
Missouri U. S. SESArE.-The Legislat
ture Of Missouri, in joint convention of the
two Houses, having balloted more than
forty times for U. S. Senator in place Of
Gen. Atchison, Nebraska Dem, whose
term Of Office expired on the 4ih inst, ad-
journed the convention on the Sd Feb, by
a vote of SS to 63, "until called together
by concurrent resolution" 1t is douh'sul
If any further proceedings will be had on
the subject at the present session. The re-
suit Of the latest ballotings was rs follows,
viz: Atchison, SO Doniphan, (Whig)
81; Benton, 81. In the course Of the dis
cussion which issued in the indefinite post
ronement, Col. Doniphan declared that on
d" the subject of the principles involved in
the Kansas Nebraska bill, he and General
AtekisOn precisely agreed" Benton, too,
has declared himself opposed to its repeal.
Both branches Of the Legislature have
voted TO hold an adjourned session, COM
msncing on the lst Monday of November
next.
OBIrUARrEs.-Col. Francis K. Hager, Of
South Carolina, died on the 18th inst, at
Charleston, in the SD year of his age.
He will be remembered as the person who,
with Bolman, attempted the rescue Of Gen.
Lafayette from the prison of 0lmitz. His
father fell on the patriot side Of the revo-
lutionary war, and he himself served in the
late war against Great Britain.
Col. Thomas Stanford, Of the U. s. Ar
my, died at Cambridge, Maryland, on the
18th inst He served in the war Of 1879
The Hon. Cyrus Barton, Of New Hamp-
shire, fell dead soon after having spoken at
o political meeting in New Hampshire.
He was formerly editor of the Patriot, and
at the time of his decease, editor Of the
Republican.
NEBRAsKA.--The Legislature Of Nebras-
ka' has been in session for some time at
Omaha City.
A joint resolution Of the House passed
'has Vouy lew uays since, strongly COM
mandatory Of the Kansas and Nebraska
bill, &c. The vote stood 81 ayes-4 nays.
This was better than l expected. Indeed
had not supposed that number Of Nebras-
ka democrats (2l) were in that body.
They will pass the Council.
TExAs.-The latest accounts from Texas
represent the Indians as being more hos
tile and blood-thirsty than ever. Eleven
men had been killed on the frontier early
in the present month, and four had been
carried into worse than Egyptian bondage.
The settlers, consequently, were in the
greatest alarm. The Camanches were en-
aeavoring to effect a junction with the
Northern tribes, and general war was re-
garded as imminent. Active preparations,
however, were being made 10 protect the
families of the settlers, aud to defeat the