Washington sentinel., 1856-04-03

| In THE SENATE, on the first ol April, Mr.. MASON,
from the Committee on Foreign Relations, TO which
was referred the joint resolution 10 amend the ac
Of March lst, 1855 entitled An act TO regulate the
I diplomatic and consular system of the United
Slsirs,' reported the same with the recommends
lion that il pass.
Mr. Mason urged immediate action on the resoln
lion, observing that the act of which il was ex
planalory lad come there from The House at so
late a period in the session that il was found
impossible 10 amend il without running The risk OF
losing the whole measure, and hence some object
ionabe features had escaped notice, among " hieh
might be mentioned clause in the bill which
seemed 10 make il mandatory on the President 10
promote ministers plenipotentiary 10 ENJOYS ex-
traordinary. When the act came 10 be considered
| il was discovered that Congress had no power 10
command the Executive, their functions being ed.
visory only; the President did not on that
portion Of The law SO 10 change the grade Of
these ministers. II now became nporlsnt that
the subject should be settled soon as possible
in RIDER that the nominations might be sent in.
lie stated thai although the amount cf compen
saon had been increased BY the graduation alluded
TO, slil, by taking away the outfits and nfls, the
expense OF our diplomatic relations would be much
diminished. This joint resolution simply left il TO
the discretion of the President 10 elevate such
missions he nigh, please, aud 10 leave the sala-
ries Of others unaffected It did not attempt TO
interfere with that portion of the bill relating to the
| consular system, for the reason that the subject
more properly belonged 10 The supervision Of the
/ Committee on Commerce The resolution, lie
| could state, had received the sanction Of the
/ Executive
| The Joint resolution passed
The Senate resumed The consideration OF the
subject of the late Naval Board, when Messrs.
Clayton and Bell, of Tennessee. severaly spoke
OF the subject.
4 In THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES,, the bill
appropriating 600 for restoring and main
tanning the peaceabe disposition Of the Indian
tribes on The Pacific, and sl20,000 for The purchase
Of gunpowder for the Pacific coast, was passed.
Among other business, Mr. Simmons, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported bill 10 re-
peal part of an act entitled An acl TO provide
for the safe-keepng OF the acts, records and seal
of The United States, and FIR other purposes y
which was read twice.
He explained that the bill had been recommen-
ded by the State Department, and merely pro-
posed 10 abolish the fee of twenty-five cents
charged for anthentcaling records
The bill was read third time and passed
The House resolved itself into Committee OF
The Whole on the state Of the Union, (Mr Mace,
Of Indiana in the chairJ and resumed the con.
sideration of the President s annual message the
question being on the resolutions 10 refer the va
i nh th ba
ate committees.
Mr.. WARNER, Of Georgia, made speech in
defence of the rights Of the South, and
! Mr.. ALLISON, Of Pennsylvania, delivered his
views against the extension OF slavery.
liz THE SENATE, on the ID of April, Mr. Mason
from the Committee on Foreign Relations, re-
ported joint resolution allowing Or. Kane and
| the officers associated with him in his late expe-
dion 10 the Arctic in search of Sir John
Franklin, 10 accept such token of acknowledg
ment the Government of Great Britain NAV be
pleased 10 confer, dt having expressed 10 this
Government its desire 10 bcstow some testimo-
nial on those gentemen)
During The debate Mr. Crtenden said he was
quite willing that all proper acknowledgement
should be given 10 Dr. Kane by this Government
but he thought il bad precedent 10 depart from
the ancient usage of our Government.
Mr.. SEWARD inquired whether, under the Joint
resolution, title Of nobility could be conferred
on Dr. Kane?
Mr.. Mason had no idea that the 81 itsh Govern.
meni would think of offering an acknowledgment
Of that kind, which they might well suppose
would be unwecome TO a citizen OF the United
States.
Mr.. BUTLER could not vote for the resolution,
unless he knew what The British Government
were going TO give TO DR.. Kane.
After further discussion, the consideration OF
the subject was postponed.
Mr.. FEssENDEN addressed the Senate on III.
subject Of the Clayton. Bulwer treaty. He cen.
sured senators for taking 30 much pains 10 prove
that Great Britain has no good title in Central
America, for if our construction OF the treaty is
correct, he said il made moi the least difference
wheihet her title good or bad, or whether
she had any AT all since she abandoned il all be
il more less.
Mr. CAss argued that we should firmly Insist,
on a maintenance OF our rights.
The further consideration Of the subject was
postponed; and, after explanations between
Messrs. Bell, Of Tennessee, and Clayton, growing
oui Of unguarded language made Of by them
on Tuesday, and which restored them 10 their
ancient terms Of personal friendship, the Senate
adjourned.
The HOUSE oF REPRESENTATIVES, were engaged,
without coming 10 conclusion, on the amend.
ments of the Senate, respectively TO the West
Point, the Pension. and the Deficiency Appropria.
ton hills
GLENWooD CEMETERY.