The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-12-18
Congressional Synopsis.


Friday, Dec. 1o.-In the Senate, Mr.. Rice !
introduced several bills, among which was
one for the construction of wagon road
from the Red River Of the North to Puget's /
Sound, and another to authorize the estab-
lishment Of northern mail route to the Pa.
cific. The Senate did no business, and after
a session of half an hour adjourned over to
Monday.
The House spent the day in debating the
case OF Judge Watrous, of Texas. The
character Of this case, which is so often
mentioned in our congressional! synopsis, is
simply this. Judge Watrous is U. S. Dis
trict Judge in Texas. Aside from his duties
as such, he has been largely engaged in land
specuations. Some Of the lands he had
been dealing in had defective titles, and
cases involving these titles came lefore his
court. 1t is Charge against him that he sat
as Judge in these cases, in which he was
himself interested, and instructed the jurv
that the titles were good, &c. For this
cause movement is made in the House to
have him impeached, upon which he would
come regularly before the Senate for trial
! Saturday, Dec. 1.-THE Senate was not
in session to-day. The House ordered 90
600 extra copies Of the message to be print.
ed, and then resumed the discussion Of the
case Of Judge Watrous. Stewart of Mo,
Clark, Of n. Y, and Stanton, of o., made
speeches. against the impeachment
Adjourned.
Monday, Dec. 13-In the Senate, the
Vice President announced his arrangement
of the standing committees, leaving the Sen
ate, as is the custom, to ballot for the chair
men, Mr.. Seward moved to dispense with
the ballot, and to vote on the committees in
body, as they had been read. The vote
to accept them stood 81 to 20. The only
important change in the committees is the
substitution Of Green, Of No, as chairman
Of the committee on territories, in the place
Of Mr.. Douglas.
Mr.. Clnsman, of n c., next addressed
the Senate on the Presidents Massage ar
guing in favor Of the immediate abroga,ion
Ofthe Clayton-Bulwer treaty. The Senate
Pacific Railroad bill Was then taken up, by q
vste Of 80 against IS, and Nj. Giyir oecu-
pied the balance OF the days session in a
speech in its favor.
The House .pen, another day in discuss
Jag the case of Judge Wa,ross.
Tues,ldy Der 1.-THE Senate continued
the discussion et the Pacific r. T. bill Va
rious amendments were offered, proposing
F.r n; parallel. OF latitude upon which i
should run, the Senate finally agreeing that
it should run between the Both and 42d par
allel. A motion OF Mr. Mason TO lay tn,
bill OF the table was voted down by s.
against So.
The House. after some uDnportaut pre-
liminarv business, resumed the Watrou
case upon which half dozen OF spe.che
were made without csming TO vote.
Hednesiuy, Dee. l5.-In the Senate
large number Of petitions and memorial
was presented, among them one by NT
Cameron from a convention Of the iron mas
tiers of Pennsylvania, on which Mr. {. az
dressed the Senate, arguing at consideTabl
length in favor Of specific instead Of an a
h valorem duty on iron.
An effort was made by Mr.. Clingman t
e have his resolution to abrogate the Clayton
\ Bu,wer treaty taken up, but i: failed-25 /
!. Of
y An attempt to taEe up tnu racine Rai'
: road bill also failed, upon which the Senat
c went into executive session, and then &C
journed.
e In the House the case OF Judge atrou
It was again taken up and discussed at som
length, when it was finally disposed OF b
the adoption Of a resolution " that the test
c mony taken before the judiciary comnittc
was insufficient to justify the preferrIng c
~ articles of Impeachment against Judge Wa
e rous for high crimes and misdemeanorS.
J. The House then took up 4 resolutio
from the cornm.te on elections stating, tn;
- it appears there were such tumul:s, riot:
q intimidat;ons, and injustice, in the thir
\. Congressional district, Of Baltimore, in Nc
y yember, 1857, that there could not be fai
a election, and that it shall therefore be d,
|. clared null and vsid, and tina; the Speak.
be requested to notify the government
IS Maryland Of the act
l. The resolution was discussed at som
- length, but without coming to vote, II
House adjourned.
\ Nj ID &,