New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-02-27
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, Is

N The Senate on Monday passed the bill increasing
the pay of the officers of the army, precisely as it
came from thesHouse, and in APPLICABILITY the Presi
dent affixed his signature to it yesterday, and it is
already law. The House bill was more liberal than
the one proposed in the Senate. Accordingly, when
the Senate Tuesday, came to consider it, various
amendments were offered, the effect of all Of which
was to reduce the compensation below the rate at
which the House bill had fixedit. These amendments
were all opposed, and were successfully voted down
by the friends Of the bill in the Senate inasuch as
to have amended the bill at this late stage of the
session and sent it back to the House, would have
necessarily led to its defeat If the Senate had not
accepted the bill it went from the House, the whole
measure would have been postponed to the next Con-
gress The House will not be able to dispose of one
tenth of the business already pressing upon it for
consideration. .-.. r. .,.......4 ..r......
Twas in error some time ago in stating that the
bill took effect on the LIST Of next july 1t takes
effect from the beginning of the present fiscal year
that is, from the. LIST of July, 1856. ...
The officers of the army, and those who advocated
the passage Of this act Of justice to them, cannot too
sensby appreciate the obligations they are under to
Gen. Qutman, the chairman of the Military Com
mttee in the House, for this signal service he has
rendered them But for him, it is safe to say the bill
would have been irretrieyably lost. He not only
ported it as early circumstances would allow, but
he watched every opportunity to bring it to the
sideration Of the House. A single objection on any
other day than Monday always stopped hm-accord-
ing to the ordinary rules of the House. On Monday
of each week it required twothirds vote to suspend
the rules, without which the bill could not be taken
up out of its place in the calendar. Gen. Quitman,
with eagle eye, watched every opportunity, until
finally his perseverance was crowned with success.
He engineered it safely through the House-and it is
safe to say that his influence was exercised quietly
but yet effectively in favor Of its passage without
amendment in the Senate.
The Officers of the army in New Orleans, Arkansas
snd Texas could not do better thing than to greet
the old General aith a public testimonial of their
gratitude and respect, on his return to his home in
the South.
The House yesterday passed the Atlantic Telegraph
made to it, which will cause it to be sent back to the
Senate, where perhaps it may be lost. There was
vigorous opposition to it in the Senate when it was
first proposed and this opposition together with the
pressure of business at the close of the session. will
very probably defeatit altogether There one very
suspicious circumstance connected with this bill
Which Gdustu uliliy W ~ Will ustTust
and that is the lobby force employed here procure
its passage. A good measure, especially one of
prominent public interest does not ordinarily need
any extraneous assistance from the lobby. So odous
in fact, has this lobby system become that its opera
tions are looked upon by many members as presump-
tive evidence Of fraud. Since the recent develop
ments of corruption the less the lobby has to do with
a bill before Congress, the better.
Mr. oh IF
rtories, in the Senate yesterday reported the bill
providing for the admission of Minnesota as State,
precisely as it passed the House. He also reported
the House bill for the admission of Oregon with an
amendment striking out the clause prohibiting the
right of suffrage to those who are not citizens of the
United States. This is intended as rebuke to the
| American members of the House, who procured the
insertion of this clause in the House BILL The bill
will have to go back to the House with this amend
ment the effect of which will probably be to kill the
bill altogether. Nor would this result be much re-
gretted in view of the fact that the South is plung-
ing too fast into condition Of hopeless inferorty in
the confederacy, by the constant and steady admis
sion of new free States.
Mr.. Gwin, the new Senator from California who
took his seat few days ago. has given notice of his
intention to introduce bill providing for the con
I
northern, one southern and one central-and line
of magnetic telegraph along each. Mr.. Gwin is a
modest man certainly! Mr. Weller has been strug-
Cling for years to get one road and finally has had to
compromise with wagon road, and glad to get that
Mr. OWNS cool proposition to invest about six hun
bred millions of dollars in railroads to the Pacific may
indicate his devotion to the interests of his State but
it certainly does credit either to his wisdom or his
modesty. Mr.. Gwin will have to come down from
his high horse if he would secure favors to the
people of the State he represents. Congress is dis
posed to be liberal to California but three railroads
and telegraph lines all at once constitute draft upon
its liberality which am bound to say has no pros
pect of being honored.
| The tariff question still occupies most of the atten
ton of the House. Amendments by the score are
daily offered and successfully voted down. As
have predicted all the time, no change will be made
in our revenue laws at the present session.
The Investigating Committee intended to repor
yesterday, but was delayed by the examination o
new witnesses. The report is expected to be mad
to-day, though it may be tomorrow or next da
before it is ready. 1t will create sensation wbel
made.
Mr.. Buchanan will arrive here on the Goth, and vii
take lodgings at the Kirkwood House preparatory t.
the Inauguration. The probability s--in fact it
almost certaintythat Gen. Cass, as l foretold tw
months ago, will be Secretary of State. OF the re
mainder Cobb will perhaps be Secretary of the Treas
ury-Floyd of War-Brown of Tennessee of the Navy
Thompson of Mississippi of the Interior-Toucey, Al
torney General-and Wright of Indiana P. NJ Gene
raj. This Cabinet will give ofense to many States
Rights men, of all parties, in the South 1t will
an entering wedge to disruption of the Democrat
party of the South which will eventually becom
stronger than the administration party Mr.. Buchar
an is placed in the dsagreeable position of conciit
ting the remnant of his party at the North by sue
appointments as these--or else utterly overthrowin
and breaking it down by respecting the predominant
sentiment of the masses of the Southern people
Time will illustrate the fact that there are no prime
pies or even sympathes in common with the Nortf
ern and Southern people-and it may be well col
sidered whether it is not better to note this fact
once, and prepare for the inevitable consequence
which must ensae from it. ESSEX.
?. S.-The Investigating Committee made repo
to-day, recommending the expulsion of Messrs. Matt
son and Edwards of New York. and WEIGH and CT
bert of Connecticut all of whom it appears have bee
engaged in schemes of bribery and corruption The
four members will probably be expelled in few day
The expulsion will be of no practical benefit $50 ne
.