The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-04-08
WASHINGTON ITEMS

The scene In the House one week AGO In dsv
was an unusual one. The galleries were crowd.
ed densely, and a subiued excitement peryaded
the entire assemblsge. When the test vote
came on upon the Montgomery amendment
the silence was almost perfect and when the
vote was declared, and Lecompton was defeat
ed, loud cheer burst from the audience. Mr.
keitt rebuked the indecorum, and il was no,
repeated till the House adjourned, when the
people in the galleries gave repeated shouts of
applause.
In order to protect the military communica.
tons with the department of U tab, as well from
the interruption of hostile Indians as from the
attacks of Mormons, and to provide that the
several portions of the line may be reinforced
as occasion shall from time to time require, the
following arrangements, sanctioned BY the Sec.
rotary of War, have been made, to 20 into ef
feet as soon as the season and circumstances
will permit
So much of the line Of communication as
passes through the Territory of Nebraska will
constitute command, to be known as the dis.
trict of the Platte, headquarters at Fort Lara
mic, the commander of which will be respons
bic for the safety of the trains and cattle lother
than those marching with the reinforcements
for Utah) as far as the South Pass, and until
they shall be taken in charge by an escort from
the department of Utah. For this purpose, be
will-besides the posts of Forts Laramie and
l. - L
bridge on the north fork of the Platte-occupy
temporarily or permanently, such other points
on the line, and make such disposition Of the
troops of his command, as the service shall
from time to time indicate to be necessary.
The ten companies of the fourth regiment Of
artillery and the two companies of the I'd drs
goons, now in Kansas, are assigned to the dis
trict of the Platte, and the regimental com
mander of the former (Brevet Colonel Munroe)
will Immediately make his preparations for &C.
cupying the line Of the Platte and Swee. Water,
as above indicated.
Quick work was made of the Crittenden
amendment, both in the House and Senate,
last week. In the House, it was in two hours
voted upon the Senate bill. That very night, it
went to the Senate; and the next day, in two
hours more, it was disagreed to by that body.
Mr.. Brown, from the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia, to whom was referred the
resolution directing that inquiry be made into
the propriety of establishing a National Police.
submitted special report, accompanied bys
bill to establish an auxiliary guard, for the pro.
tection of public and private property in the
city OF Washington, and repeating all the acts
heretofore passed in relation to that subject
1t provides for Chief of the Auxilisry
Guard, to be appointed by the President and
Senate. Salary, $4,000. Authorizes the Chief
to appoint one Captain and four Lieutenants,
and one hundred guardsmen. The Captain to
have salary of $1,000, the Lieutenants $500
each, and the men $6Os each, to be paid monthly
The Captain and Lieutepants and men to be
appointed with the approval of the Secretary Of
the Interior, and to be dismissed by the Chief
at pleasure, or upon the order OF the Secretary
The President is authorized at any time to
order a temporary increase of the quad.
The stories telegrsphed from here to the
Northern press, intimating that a reconstruo
tion of the Cabinet is contemplated, are said by
those in authority to be utterly without fOunds
ton.