The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-08
AFFAIRS At THE NATIONAL CAPITAL,
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The Inauguration Of the Thirty-6fth
Congress.
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OrganixatiOn Of the National
Legislature.
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rlIr nnhYYoT rnN YlIr MINI IN nnINYilIn
TIE CONTEST FOR THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
kC, GC., 6C.
Interesting from Washinxton,

AND INDIAN AFFAIRs-sIR GORE OUsELEY's MIS-
HoN-EFFoRrs OF ENGLAND TO MAINTAIN THE
CLAYTONBuLwER TRKATY-TROUBLB ABOUT OUR
TREATY WITH NEW GRANADA, ETC., ETC.
WASHINGTON, Dec Z, 1857.
The weather here 70 day charming. Dense crowds
IN the galleries and other parts Of the CAPITOL and the
greetings between members and friends pleasantly
exciting.
The whole foreign diplomatic corps with their families,
attended at the Capitol witness opening ceremonies
ef Congress-.
Cspt Aeigs officially notified the Secretary Of Var TO-
lay that the Hall of Representatives was ready for
occupancy,
The Presidents message forwarded this afternoon
by special messenger to Philadelphia and New York.
u was also sent 10 Richmond, but to no other point.
Gen. Bowman, OF the Bedford (Pa.) Gdsete, TO-
day nominated and confirmed Superintendent OF Public
Printing.
There will be a special committee appointed in the
House TO investigate the entire printing accounts Of the
last Congress. There is fun ahead.
Private dispatches that Senator Henderson will
leave Texas On lVh nst and come by steamship to New
York.
The al reports of the departments which will
company toe Presidents Message, naturally looked
forward o with great deal of interest They furnish the
data upon which whole system of government Is
red on, and they afford at the same time the only re-
kablc evidence Of the material social financial and com
nercia progress of the country.
The General Land Office report WILL If am rightly in
formed, show aggregate Of public lands disposed Of
during the five quarters ending September 3o 1857 of
little over twenty-one millions of OF this,
the proportion granted TO Alabama and Min
nesota for railroad purposes, pursuant to the
net Of Congress- about Eve millions. OF nearly thirteen
millions of sold and located II is calculated that
about three ourths were taken for actual settlement The
falling or under this latter head since the previous re-
port, than millions Of acres, and the cash re-
Ceipts have diminsned in still larger proportion. These
facts accounted for the large grants made TO rail-
roads during the last Congress- the reduced prices fixed
BY the Graduation act, and the additional lands placed t
The disposal Of the States under the swamp Improvement
and other grants. OF the twenty -four millions of
granted since ls4e to railroads in different States en
States and one Territory nearly twenyon millions were
disposed Of the last Congress The bounty land warrants
oocers and soldiers granted since lss nearly fifty
four millions Of acres, of which about thirty eight have
been located. Under this head there still awaiting
location about fifteen millions Of acres. The Comms-
sioner strongly opposed to any policy that will favor
land monopoes in the hands Of spectators, and recon-
mends important amendments in the precmption laws,
30 prevent the interference Of land obbers between
The government aud the actual settlers. The quantity OF
nd surveyed and ready for market and not advertised
for public salc embraces of nearly nfty eight
millions of acres. This Is exclusive Of lands withdrawn
on of railroad grants. OF this amount nearly
twenty three millions surveyed during the five quar-
ters ending September 80, 1857.
The Pension oce report for the fiscal year ending the
3oth June last will, believe, show under the army
head an aggregate Increase the year. comprising
claims admitted, and increase in pensions previously al
lowed OF nearly seventy -four thousand dollars Under
the Naval head the total for the year will be
about thousand dollars The balances IN tho hands OF
the paying agents the 3oh OF June considerably
than at the close Of the previous fiscal year. owing 10
the taken in not making unnecessarily large advances
10 them. In with recent decision OF the Al
torney regard the practice which has hitherto
prevailed Of permitting the representatives Of deceased
soldiers present and establish their claims and receive
their pensions will, understand, be found from the
facts detailed In the report tea the abuses which had
grown up under this systcm had caused largo and I'M
necessary annual expense to the country Tho report
will also am informed, embrace valuable suggcs
lions for the prevention OF bounty land frauds.
The report OF the Commissioner Of Indian Affairs is said
70 be unusually interesting document and 10 embrace
some important recommendations. The Commissioner
the views Of his predecessor In regard 10 tho
mistakes Of Indian policy. lie Ia Of opinion that the
lands assigned the Indians much too large, nasmuch
n they prevent them from acquiring settled habits
and the payment Of large snnues he thinks also tends
70 destroy the principle OF self reliance, and 10 render
them dependent and helpless They should nct, he con
tel Is should be allowed land than they TIL and
their annues be disbursed the erection Of schools and
factories The Commissioner also the repeal OF
the law requiring that the moneys due 70 the Indians should
be paid by uperntsnden,s insteado the agents But
hs,c or no nformsn given respecting the actual con-
dion and feeling Of the Utah Indians towards the United
States but il " believed by the head Of the depart
mcnt 10 be generally hostile. The report, under
stand, will recommend tho investigation and nna
settlement Of the claims for supplies furnished
the Indian service In California In 1851 and
1851 for which special appropriation made by Con
gross July 1854 Tho necessity Of speedily coming TO
some settlement, with the Indians in Oregon and Washing
bon Territories " also strongly enforced by the Comms
ssoner He represents the state OF affairs in those
Territories exceedingly critical owing TO the nonrad
cation Of treaties with the different tribes.
In your otherwise full and statement Of the
measures which before the present Congress-
and which published In the HERALD Of this morning
you have omitted 10 mention the claims OF the children
Of Revolutionary officers whose fathers paid OF in
what called ommutaton certificates" These
intended 10 fu pay for Ave years TO those who
served 70 the end of war the government failing
20 redeem h plcsge they only received half pay FOR fc
lam authorized 10 say that the English and French
Ministers have entered no renonsrance or protest with
our government against ibusicrng has anything Of
The kind been contemplated
The objects OF Sir Gore ouseley's mission 10 Central
America have been formally notified TO een. Cass by
Lord Napier whatever may be the official iuerpreta
zion given TO them necessary that their real purpose
should not be misunderstood Whether Lord Napier takes
shc American view Of the Clayton Buwer treaty and s
favorable 10 lis abrogaon removing constant bone OF
contention oanno, take upon myself 10 state; bat this
4 know that SIR W Gore ouseey has been sent here cx
ressy TO maintain Il possible, that treaty, which Lord
Fslmerson hopes to make the basis q future negota
tcns. What the amount OF his personal influence with
The President may be know not hut may safely be
assumed that will no probably affect the fate c the
Clayton. .Bulwer treaty.
General Herrsn is in rcocp, Of dispatches from New
6ranada, representing the popuace @ much opposed 70
ihc treaty recently negotiated with this government Oh
lection made 70 the indemnity clause and great excite