Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-19
CONGR & ssiOSAL.

In the Senate, yesterday, after we went to
press, Mr.. Mason followed Mr. Pearce in COM
menting on the letter from Rufus Choate, re-
signing his position nc Regent of tho Smith.
sonlan Institution, condemnipg that uvmn,u
nication in toto. 1t was then referred to the
judiciary committee.
Mr.. GWln gave notice that he would to.
morrow, or on some early day thereafter, ask
leave to Introduce joint resolution for the
establishment of weekly express mail DO.
tween st. Louis, Missouri, and San Francisco,
in California, and said: 1 hope this measure
will receive prompt and favorable acton on
the part OF the committee On the post Office
and post roads, to which it will be referred.
The citizens of California and Missouri are
ready to make sub a contract, and have the
express in successful operation in six months
They are already moving in favor of a mail
stage route, and this will give them that i'm
mediate government aid which is necessary to
put such stage route into successful opera
ton.
The cost of this weekly express cannot ex-
coed $26O,0O0 per annuIn, and the postage on
letters weighing two hundred pounds will give
the department revenue largely exceeding
the amount that will be paid to the contractors
under the restrictions Of the joint resolutions.
When 1t is reported back from the Post Office
W
L will demonstrate the practicability of estab-
fishing this express route, and its eminent
utility Already We have telegraph lines to
Kansas, on this side, and TO the Sierra Nevada
at Placerville, from the Pacific, which will
shorten the time OF actual com unica ion from
New York'to San Francisco to eight days, as
the express is required to make the time from
st. Louis to San Francisco in ten days. In q
short time after the express is established, tho
n VI ayfn ND
will soon be brought down to six days
The immediate expenditure Of a million of
dollars on military road through the Terri
tories, from Missouri TO California, will be
emlnently useful and economical to the Gov.
eminent. 1t will cause speedy settlements on
the road of hardy pioneers, who would keep
the Indians IN check, and save millions of ex
pense In Indian wars. And, sir, it will people
California and Oregon, and enrich the western
States, by supplying them with a sure and
safe market for their surplus stock There
are not less than ten thousand we'll -armed and
we'll mounted Indian warriors on the great
central emlgrant route, prepared and eager
for war. The sooner we chastise them the
better. move that tho message be referred
to the Committee On Military Affairs, and that
the message and accompanying dooume nts be
printed.
The motion to refer was agreed TO-
Shortly afterwards the Senate again took
up Mr.. Buffers bill to amend and modify the
judicial system of the United States which,
on motion of Mr.. Stuart, was postponed until
the first Monday in December next-yeas 20,
nays l3.
The bounty land bill of Senator Brodhead
being next taken up, it was discussed on
amendments by Messrs Foot, Cass, Shields,
Brodhead, and Badger, ere they adjourned
without finishing its consideration.
In the House, yesterday, after we went to
press the bill for the relief of Saml A. Belden
| was passed over informally, and the House
went into committee (Mr. Orr in the chair on
tho Pacific Railroad bill. After the considera-
| ton of points Of order, Mr.. Davis of Indiana,
| offered an amendment to strike out that Dor
ton of the bill which provides for the con-
structlon OF three railroads, and to insert q
provision providing for the construction of a
| central ROAD commencing on the western bor-
der OF the otate OF Missouri or Arkansas, and
running thence in nearly o direct line to San
FRANCISCO; and TOR the construction of two
branch roads diverging from the central road
near the lO3d degree of west longitude the
one northern branch and the other a south.
ern branch; agreed to-ayes 80, noes 81.
The bill next being further discussed in five
minutes speeches by Messrs McDougall and
Campbell, the committee struck out the enact
ing clause-ayes 81, noes 40.
The committee then rose.
MI. Letcher moved to lay the bill on the
table; not agreed to-ayes S. noes 100.
The question then required on ooncurring
in the committees action, striking out tho
enacting clause, which was not agreed to-
ayes SO, noes III.
Mr.. McDeugall then offered al an amend.
nsns (suessisuse) the Douglas bill Of The