The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-12-18
rae Washinr,on News.

The Washington News.
The report that Spain has declared war
against Mexico 10 contradicted, no such news
having been received at Washington.
1t was rumored that the President was pre-
pairing wnrlike message on Central Amer-
can Affairs. to be submitted to Congress in a
few days. The foreign appointments made
BY the President have all been favorably re-
ported upon by the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and will doubtless be confirmed by
the Senate.
II is understood that the Republican mem.
bers OF Congress are disposed to amend the
bill for the admission Of Oregon BY including
Kansas on the same terms.
The visitation Of the American ship Wash.
ington by the officers Of the British steamer
Valorous, is before the House on a resolu-
ton proposing an inquiry into the circum-
stances Of the case.
The recommendation of an increase Of the
army, made by the Administration, will not
be likely to meet the approval Of Congress-
Several members have given notice Of bills
Tor notifications Of the tariff Of duties on
various objects, such as iron, tobacco, &C.
1t seems probable that the entire system will
undergo some modification.
In the afternoon Of Tuesday, the Pacific
Railroad bill was taken up in the Senate and
advocated by Messrs. twin, Wilson, Stuart
and Broderick. Mr.. Wilson moved as an
amendment that the road should follos the
And parallel Of latitude, which he subse-
qaently modified TO run between the And
and a5th parallels.
Mason, Of Virginia, who thinks there is no
time to do anything but take care of the
Shareholders special interests in Congress,
moved to lay the bill on the table, which the
Senate refused to do by a vote of 80 to %.
The House was engaged in discussing the
preliminaries Of the impeachment case of
Judge Watrous of the United States District
Court OF Texas. The charges involve cor
ruption in buying interests in land claims
which were to come before him for his de-
cision upon the bench. II the charges are
half true, be is a most corrupt man and mos
unit to sat IN court uf law to dispense JUS
tiee, and, if false, the Judge is very much be-
lied by the public opinion in some quarters.
rortara and Cuffy.
Il has been often remarked that scarcely
apublic question arises in Congress but the
subject Of slavery is in some way logged
into the debate, and indeed there seems
very general tendency in all discussions 10
fall to humping the "nigger" question:
But we we're not prepared to find 50 intimate
relation between the Mortara case and that
subject as to justify the above heading and
the following article, which we commend to
our readers "for the fun there is in ito
The Freeman's journal, Roman Ca.ho-
lie organ, in alusion to the proposed inter-
ference OF the President to induce the Popo
to release the recently abducted Jewish
child, suggests that II would prove very
difficult proceeding. Let il be supposed that
Mr.. Smith, the American Minister, calls by
appointment on Antonelll, Secretary Of the
Papal Government, who receives him verv
blandly and expresses bis happiness, and
then proceeds as follows:
II have been pestered for month past By
Priest in the Propaganda--an dfrican
from the coast Of Guinea-to send for You
70 speak OF case OF great hardship that
has occurred to humble member OF bis ma.
tion and tribe in your happy country. |
have sent for this good Priest this morning.
and will presently introduce him. Here Is
the case re speaks Of One Sambo Cuffy. a
slave IN Washington City, has written TO him
that, owing TO the death Of his late master.
ne and his family have bsen sold ut auction.
Ills wife, and three children under twelve
Years OF age, were bought by Il Mr. S.. and
sent TO New Orleans. lie himself being
lame, was not wanted for the Southern mar
ket, and was knocked Oh to an East.Sbore
Mary Now, NV dear Sir. Sambo Cuff
~ and his family were Catholics. He was
married IN ST. Matthew's Church, Washinp
ton, and bis children were bapsised in The
came church. Ills marriage, by his sale, has
been treated as nulity, and his Young
children are torn away from him, and are
now In the hands OF Methodist Preacher
Who owns sugar plantation In Louisiana
appeal with confidence 10 you to represent
Tins outrage on Christian morals to YOUR
ESbefouS hUu warm hearted President to
have the sale aunuiied, and the wife and
eh4ieren brought back, by the authority OF
t,ae United States Government. Mr.. Smith.
we american Minister, assures the Cardinal
Secrst-fy THAI the case can hardly be so bad
Is represented that Instances u thus repd.
ing slaves from their families are rare in the
Lnilea States. etc, etc., etc. The Cardinal
hands him paper, signed By the Mayor Of
Washington, setting forth the facts. and GER
ufsing the coed character of Cuny aud his
family. lie then repews bis solicitations
that the United States Government y III ,ake
steps in the matter. We will not follow Mr.
Smith in bis explanations of how IT is thai
tue United States Government has nc ieg a
power to remedy so great human wrong
within It's own bounds ; nor the perple1ity OF
the Cardinal az to how il can be, in "a eoun.
Try truly great, truly just, and truly free,
that such injustice can be done, and yet no
earthly remedy be possible. Before the case
OF cuFy and his family could be dropped
from the conversation, We may be sure that
Mr.. Smith would have dropped oil intention
Of demonstrating With too great severity