The weekly Columbian., 1857-04-04
Arrival of the Ocean steamers.

The arrival of the Sierra Ney1d0,
brought Atlantic news up to the 25th OF
February; and by the John L. Stephens,
we have papers up to the 5th of March,
from which we compile the following
summary of news:
From the memoranda of the ]. L. Ste
phens, we learn that the steamer P Panama,
J. E. Dow, Esq, commander, from Cen
tral America, arrived at Panama March
l4th, with one hundred and thirty desert
ers from Walkers army, the majority of
whom belonged to the mounted rangers.
They were sent on toraging party by
Walker. we'll mounted and armed, and
induced by proclamation issued by the
Governor of Costa Rica to desert. The
proclamation offers to all deserters from
Walkers ranks free passage to the At
lantic States. The men say that they
were kindly treated by the Costa Ricans
Their passages through to New York
were paid to Capt. Dow, an] they were
to sail from Aspinwall on the steamer
Illinois about the goth instant
1t was reported that Gen. Hensingsen
and several others of Walkers army had
thrown away their commissions.
The j. L. Stephens brought 773 passen-
gers, including 27S United States troops,
all well.
CONGRESSIONAL MATTERs.-The fol-
lowing are the only proceedings in Con-
gress particularly interesting to Califor-
MIA:
The Senate passed bill directing the
Postmaster General and the President to
make a contract for line of telegraph
between Washington an San Francisco.
A bill was introduced providing for a
steam revenue cutter in the Pacific.
The House passed the miscellaneous
army and navy forti6cation and ocean
mail steamer appropriation bills.
The Senate's amendments to the Indian
appropriation bills were also acted on.
and the proposition to invest the eight
million dollars held in trust for the Indi-
ans in safe State stocks was laid on the
table by majority of FIVE.
The Senate passed a number of private
bills. and then took up the Post-ofice
Appropriation Bill. An amendment pro-
vidIng for the transportation of letter
mail in cosches from the Mississippi to
San Francisco was adopted and the bill
finally passed.
Messrs. Gilbert and Matheson, men,
bers from New York, who were convic-
ted Of corruption, by the Investigating
Committee, resigned their seats. In the
case of Malheson, the House passed the
committees resolutions condemning his
conduct, in regard to the Desmoine's
Land bill, and declaring him an unworthy
member. In the case of Mr.. Welch, of
Connecticut, there was an ardent dispo-
sition to deal less harshly, and, finally, a
resolution declaring the evidence INSULT
cient, and that no further proceedings be
taken, was adopted by vote of 119 to II.
The bill creating mission at the Court
of Persia, passed on the 9Th of March.
In the House the corruption enquiry
was brought to close by the resignation
of Mr.. Edwards, of New York, and the
expulsion of Messrs Simonten and Trip
lett from reporters seats.
A bill to deposit surplus revenue ex-
cepting two million dollars, to berefund-
ed when called for, was reported by the
Committee on Ways and Means, and
passed by vote of l19 to 10.
The closing proceedings of Congress
on Tuesday night and Wednesday morn
ing, were marked with the usual scenes
of confusion.
Apart from the ordinary appropriation
bills, the new tariff Act, the provision for
a line of coaches from the Mississippi to
San Francisco. the passage of the Mime
sofa land bill with liberal grant to Ala
bama attached, the acknowledgement of
the services of Gen. Scott by the Senate,
and the remarks of Messrs. Buchanan and
Breckenridge. accepting the trust con-
ferred on them by the people, will claim
attention.
The petition from California for the
expulsion of MIR. Herbert has been laid
on the table.
The Senate have voted to extend the
boundaries of Oregon eastward from the
Pacific, SO as to give it length from the
sea Of nearly thousand miles,
The bill for the admission of Oregon is
still pending in the Senate, as also the
Sandwich Island treaty.
The judicial, Legislative and Execu-
tive Appropriation bill. passed by the
House, provides for the appointment of
Judge and Surveyor General for Ari-
zona. bat the hill was hampered with an
amendment striking out the pay of the
Kansas Legislature. which will prevent
its passage by the Senate. The vote in
the House on this amendment was 81