The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-09

Mr.. PEARcE proceeded to ray that the information
thus acquired was valuable Congress had called f,a
these reports and had ordered them To hc printed and il
not fair TO find fault with the officers who hal made
the reports because the expense printing them exceeded
the anticpatons Of Congress
After some further remarks by Messrs FEssENDEN,
HALE apd lvERSON, the question WAS taken ON the
resolution and ii adopted
ruBiic PRINTING
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, gave notice that ON
Thursday next he should take up for oonsiera
ton the bill amendatory Of the act entitled "An act to
provide pr executing the public printing and establish
"s .he prices thereof and for other purposes approved
August 49, 1852 He believed that the passage that
bill would tend 70 put stop to those abuses about which
DO much complaint had been made.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
On motion by Mr.. .GWIN, the Senate proceeded TO the
consideration OF the bill TO authorize the President of the
United States TO contract for the transportation Of the
mails troops seaIRen munitions Of army and navy
supplies, and all other government service by railroad
from the Missouri river TO San Francisco in the State Of
California.
Mr. GWiN explained the several provisions Of the BILL
imbodying IN his remarks large amount of valuable in
formation ia reference 10 the length Of the various routes
which had been surveyed and the estimated cost of the
road uJon each.
Mr. POLK inquired whether the President could direct
what route should be taken between the two termin
fixed by the BILL whether that matter was to be left
entirely to the contractors
Mr.. GWIN replied that the contractors could choose
their own route the President, however, could make
selection between the different contractors who might
make bids for the work. Mr. e. concluded his remarks
by saying that having many former occasions given
his views ut some length in reference to the importance
of this measure, hc would content himself with
mere synopsis Of the hill presented.
Mr. FREDERICK briefly urged the importance of this
railroad and the interest felt in its immediate construc
ton by his constituents.
The further consideration of the bill was then post
poncd until ono o'clock to morrow.
NAVAL OFFICERS.
On motion by Mr.. FESSENDEN, the Senate proceeded
TO the consideration of the joint resolution to extend the
operation Of the act approved January 49, 1857 entitled
/" An act to amend act entitled an act TO promote
the efficiency of the navy which had passed the House
of Representatives. with amendment and had been
ported from the Committee Naval Affairs by Mr.. NAL
i0RY, with amendment to the amendment of the
House of Representatives.. The question being taken
the amendment to the amendment was agreed to-
COMMODORE PAuLDINa.
The Senate resumed the consideration OF the Joint rcso-
luton directing tho presentation of medal to ConmO-
dore Hiram Paulding.
Mr. SllDEIL made some remarks upon the subject
saying that he had taken pains to examine the matter
with some and although the subject had lost much
Of its interest yet he would like an opportunity to cx-
press his views in relation to It, He went into history
of the of General Walker whose course he con-
demned and he expressed the opinion that Commodore
Chaard might have lawfully seized the steamer Fashion
of Punta Arenas, and brought her to this country
Every vessel considered portion Of the territory of
the country whose flag it bears and the obligation rest
ing upon government to execute the neutrality laws i'm
piled the existence of the powers necessary to perform that
obligation Mr. ). quoted Grotius and other authorities
to sustain his positions, and made able argument ON
tho question Of maritime jurisdiction. When he had con-
cudcl, the further consideration of the joint resolution
WAS postponed
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA