The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-24
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, April Is

WASHINGTON, April Is.
SENATE.-The Pacific Railroad bill was
taken up.
con the western boundary line of Missouri
and Arkansas, between the mouth of the Big
Sioux and Ft. Smith on the Arkansas river"
MIR. Polk of Missouri, spoke in favor of
his amendment of the bill in relation to it's
eastern terminus. He said that if the mouth
of the Big Sioux be the terminus, twenty-five
States would be entirely south of that paral-
lei carried to the Atlantic would intersect
part OF Canada, and be as near Montreal as
Baltimore. He elaborated at great length
upon the advantages of the 25th parallel over
all other routes. There is no tunnellng to
be done, and no grade so steep as on the Bal
timorc and Ohio Railroad. A thousand miles
of grade is at the rate Of twenty feet to the
mile, and the average grade of the whole
road is only 333 feet per mile. There is tim
ber, water, and probably coal for the route.
He believed that the completion of this work
would tax the utmost energies of the country.
1t transcends in magnitude the Chinese Wall
The entire country wants it, and believes that
the fullness of time has now come for its COM
mencement.
Mr.. Mason argued against the government
inaugurating new system of bounties paya-
BILE in advance, with the view of melting la
bor and capital to undertake the work. The
expectations held out to the contractors are
illus.ry. The road will cost from S 100 OOO,-
600 to $500, 100000 of which the government
gives S25 .OUO,OOO and 2l5,OOO,O0O acres of
land. Will any substantial contractor take
such risk ? He was forcibly impressed
with the conviction that if the government
could be induced to touch this thing with its
little finger it will have to pay for it all in
time. 1t is fortunate, however, that these
lands are worthless else system of frau. lu-
lent credit would be built on them that would
result in another national bankruptcy. He
would oppose every bill in every shape that
propo, es to bring in an Unsuitable swarm of
SPECTATORS to the doors of the treasury by
donations of money or land.
Mr. Hale was in favor of Pacific R. r.
witlou saying when or how it shall be con-
structed. He had learned that there will
soon be bill offered to borrow thirty or
tOrty millions dollars at the least 1t was
also mentioned in Mr.. Slidell's recent speech,
that Cuba may be had by negotiation. He
wished to know if this is the settled purpose
of the administration, because after paying
twenty millions of dollars for Cuba, it may
not have enough to pay one hundred million
dollars for the Pacific Railroad. Although
he admitted the energy of the country, be
did not think it was competent for both.
MIR. POlk-Not at once.
Mr.. Hale wanted to know which would be
done
Mr.. Doollttle moved to amend Mr. Polk's
amendment by substituting that the north
ern point be at Breckenridge, at the conf
ence of the Bois Des Sioux, with the Red
River of the north on the northern boundary
OF Minnesota. This route was surveyed by
Mr.. Stevens and is capable of beng settled
across the continent.
Mr.. Fessenden added to his original amend
ment, that all the iron used in the r. R. shall
be of American manufacture.
The bill was then postponed till to-mor-
row.
The private calendar was then considered,
after which the Clerk of the House notified
the Senate of the appointment of Messrs.
English, Stephens and Howard as the Com
mittee of Conference of that branch on the
Kansas bill.
HoUsE.-Mr. Millson, of Va, from the
ing the compensation of Captains of Reve-
nue. Cutters at $l,5O0, 1st ieutenants ST.
200, I'd do $l,l00, Sd do 81 900, Engineers
81, 200, and Assistant Engineers 81 900 per
annum.
JAS Cochrane, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported a bill making appropria-
tions for the improvement of certain rivers
and harbors. He remarked that it was
formed with view to economy, considering
the present condition of the treasury.
Mr.. Washburne, of ILL.,, also reported
River and Harbor bill.
Mr.. Cochrane wanted to make these bills
the special order of some day, but Mr.. Glenn
ent objected.
Mr.. COchrane reported bill to amend the
act of 1855 regulating the carriage of pas
sengers in steamships and other vessels
Also, bill for the modification of the reve-
nue. laws of the United States, with such ad-
ditions as are necessary to supply..thc defects
On the present system. He said that this
bill differs very materially from that Of Fuller
in the last Congress, it has been subjected to
the closest scrutiny at the Treasury Depart
ment, and which meets with the appreciation
OF the Secretary. 1t does not affect the COL
lection districts and ports of entry and de-
livery, nor the salary Of officers of customs,
but merely proposes to modification and i'm.
provement of the present laws.
The consideration of the bill was postponed
till the second Monday in May.
MIR. Stephens made an Intellectual motion
to take up the bill for the admission of Min.
nesOta.