New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-14


sss question the vote on the rsports from the Com
mittee On Elections will probably be postponed
until Monday next and The result may hardly BE-
regarded az doubtful AS the sense of the house
has been already tested on this subject BY elcse
division, there is not much likelihood that it viii
Yeeede from tina. positita at the next attempt
Since the minority Of the Committee have rested
their case on technical grounds and special Plead
ing such conclusios a. is DOW anticipated would
be little hess than moral triunph, inasmnch as II
would be virtual admission that invcsugacon INTO
the alleged fisuas wss neither sought ner would
be acceptable.
Nv far the ablest and most ingenius speech ca
the Whitfield side of the question wss made by
Mr.. Winter Davis of MARY land to-day. Although
marked by much Of the sophistry aud address OF
the profession in which be is distinguished prac-
titiGner TIE argument exhibited larger breadth
of thought and range Of intellect than had been
rreyiousy exhibited. Ills elocuton was striking,
his manner impressive, and his whole treatment
of the subject such a. to challenge respect even
from those who differed entirey with the cOncln-
sions which he reached. The foundation upon
which this pleasing superstructure was raised was
mainly that the House had no Jurisdiction over the
subiect being debarred by the 1T Of the Terrific
rial Legislature, recognized by Gov. Reeder, and
by the act Of the President, adopting that recog-
pition. These propositions were elaborated with
great care, aud produced some effect, although
the last one was hardly warranted as a deduction
from the premises. To admit that the COnstltu-
tiOn created in the Executive q power over aDd
beyond the popular will, such as Mr.. Davis con
tended for, would be- in the first place, TO with
draw at once tho whole pretension OF popular
sovereignty" claimed by the advocates OF the Ne
brasla bill; and in the next, 10 establish des-
potisIn more absolute and 0bnOx ous than t1at 0i
any crowned head in the Old World.
lie asserted in so many words, that in case OF
conflicting claims to authority in the Territory,
the Pregident alone, and lot the House, ner the
Judiciary, could determine which party repre-
fcDted the true Government. We oil know this
principle has been applied in our foreign inter
course, and that Mr. Justice Ianey sought to Tx
it upon our domestic practice, the plea that 1t
was necessary to suppress nsurrectOn; but such
policy was never designed for such case as il
now under consideration, or was ever received as
the accepted judicial eXpOsitiOD III the House Is
TO Judge OF the elections, returns and qualifications
of its members, it must have the means OF form
ing proper Judgment, to which investigation is
absolutely necessary in the most complete and
searching form that can be attained
II honest people at distance would understand
how the "aeony is piled on here, in the way of
expenditures, single illustration may save great
deal of inquiry and much unnecessary reading Of
sOmniferous newspapers. During the expiring days
Of the last Congress proposition was offered 10
remove the disfguriDg dome of the capitol and to
replace it with structure better adapted TO the
architectural design of the progressing extension.
The member who had il in charge assured the
House the cost would not exceed 800, 900, and
upon that statement the grant was made. All these
improvements, for some most unsatisfactory rea-
SON. are under the charge of military engineers,
Just as if they were Notifications or redoubts, and
as if civil engineering was sort of shadow to this
martial school of construction. The Committee OF
Wsys and Means recently addressed some inqulr-
les to the War Department for information as to
the form and features OF the proposed alteration,
and were enliphtened that The estimated expense
would be S915,000 The old dome is down, but
this fact will incline many to restore it rather than
pay for the deception at so dear rate. A Com
mttee Of investigation into the mode of dispensing
the immense contracts which have been given out
for public works here, and the manner in which
they have been executed, might be profitable in
yestlnent OF time and brains.
1t is the intention OF the Committee OF Ways
and Means to stop some OF the leaks III the Treas
ury, if such G reform be practicable, while hon
Orable members are patriOtically inclined to take
care Of themselves, upon the principle that charity
begins at home. Heretofore the civil and diplo-
matte expenses oil the GOYcrnment Including AL
those for the executive, judicial and legislative
departments, have been included in one 0mn
bus bill, upon which every sort Of spoliation
was fastened by expert tacttians, in the last mo
ments of session, by threats of stopping the
supplies. An effort has now been made to change
the system by dividing the bill into three parts.
First, the consular and diplomatic service, for
which special bill has already been reported.
Second, the executive, legislative and judicial ser
vice. for which special bill will be reported GA
Monday next And, third miscellaneous spprO-
priatiOns, which will depend upon contingencies.
The first two are predicated upon estimates, and
need not be delayed. If the last, by any accident
or design should be defeated, it will only involve
temporary suspension of works begun or pro-
ected, which are not absolutely necessary to the
use OF Government. 1t will seem that by with
drawing these important parts of the old civil and
diplomatic BILL the opportunity for coercing obnox.
ious schemes by intimidation is greatly reduced.
OF course the miscellaneous reservation still
leaves the door opea to some of the ordinary pluu-
der but the step taken is step forward, ana that
is some comfort where there are so many back
sliding soDtry. lSDEX.
INTERCEPTED LETTERS. No. ".