Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-02-03
Cong rs.

|
In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Slidell intro
dncei bill making the silver coin Of the
coultry legal tender, to the amount of S25;
m lle the order of the day for the 18th.
Mr. Mason, from the Committee on Claims,
reported a bill to indemnify the master and
owners of the Spanish schooner Armistead
and her cargo
\ minority report on the same subject was
also gu omitted.
Mr. Hunter, from the finance committee,
reported bill making au appropriation for
the payment of invalid and other pensions;
passed.
The House bill to correct an omission in
the enrolment of the army bill last session
f,r the support of the national armorics, was
passed
The Army Appropriation bill was taken
up and further considered.
In the House OF Representatives, the con-
sderaton of the bill providing for the greater
safety of the lives Of passengers on ocean
steamers was post OnrG until the 9th instant.
Ga motion o: Mr.. Harris, OF ILL.,, tue time
for taking testimony in the Nebraska election
case was extended sixty days.
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, and took Up for consideration the
bill for supplying deficiency in the appro-
priaton for printing, &c, ordered by the
Tnirty-,bi and Thirty-ourth Congress.
The bill was debated at length and num-
Der of amendments adopted.
A message was received from the Pres-
dent. enclosing copy of the Lecompton
Constitution OF X Kansas, which was read.
A Member Of the Cabinet aud Gen. Walker.
Ii has already teon stated That Gen. Wa
ker, In his Mobile speech, had alleged tlss
in October last member OF Mr.. Buchanan >
cabinet had recommended the Walkerites to
enter into treaty with Gen. CVmOnfOrt, and
become allies with Mexico, and then bring
about a war between Spain and Mexico ard
seize Cuba The Philadelphia Ledger, com-
menting on this, remarks:
That a member Of the cabinet did suggest
that he should join C9montort may be true,
to- Mexico at that time seemed likely 10 he
il vAded ho-tilrly by Spain. If the member
the cabinet told him u seize upon Gu a rs
the first act Of hostility after declared war, he
gave him good advice, for that was the way
most to irjuIe Spain; but when Mr.. Walker
says the member told HIM Ito bring about a
war between Spain and Mexico" be certain
| ly allows his sel-coucelt to ignore tue main
iacts in the case upon which all this super
structure rested.
Those things were to be done in the event
! of war and not war brought about to favor
| their accomplishment. The war was not of
Mrxico's seeking, but SPANS. The policy
I of the former country was peace, and the II
vasion Of Cuba was urged only az Il deten-
sive measure. 10 prevent NJ xicO from being
suhdued bSs t0r-isn enemy. 1t Was only
! the tear of losing Cuba, winch the press OF
| the United States had pointed out to Spain,
which induced that government 20 relinqul.h
| its absurd hosti.itIes against Mexico. Mr..
! Walker, as an afherent of Comontort could
! have had tue sanction of international law,
after war was declared, to do what mischief
! he pleased against Spain. But II he had at
! tempted to seize Cuba before hostliities broke
| out, he would have been as much hllibus-
! ter as in Nicaragua, and would have had
every civilized government against hlm, and
particularly the government OF the United
! States, il, in the prosecution OF his design, he
| had endeavored to ralse the means to do so
within the territories of the United States.