The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTY-FIfTH CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1859.

THlRTY-FlfTH CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 1859.
SENATE.
The CHAIR presented message from the Presi-
dent transmitting lis. of the claims of the citizens
OF the United States upon foreign Governments
Mr.. BENJAMAN offered substitute for Mr. Ma
sons bill, authorizing the President to use force in
certain cases, which was received informally and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. DOUGLAS presented the petition of Henry
O'Reilly, L. p. Schafner and J. j. Speed, praying
the passage of the bill to facilitate telegraphic in
tercourse with the Pacific Coast, and pledging
themselves if the bill is passed to have the line
open for the transmission of messages at the next
session of Congress.
Mr.. CoLLAMER reported back the bill prescribing
the time and manner of electing United States SEN
ators with substitute, which was made the special
order for Tuesday next.
The Invalid Pension bill was then passed.
The Pacific Railroad bill was taken up, and Mr.
Pugh withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. DAVIS moved the substitute reported by him
as expressing the views of minority of the Select
Committee. He explained its prominent features
and advocated it at some length. 1t gives S10,-
100000 In the aggregate and 10 sections of land per
mile, leaving parties who contract to locate the
route for themselves. He also went into great sta
tistcal detail to show that the along the 32nd
parallel of latitude was the most practicable and
least costly.
Mr.. GREEN, of Mo-, replied to Mr.. Davis sta
ting that he hoped and believed Pacific Railroad
bill would pass the Senate at this session. but he
objected to the extolling of one route at the ex-
pense of Others. He thought all the routes pro-
posed would be allowed to stand on equal terms.
Mr.. DooLITTLE said he desired to amend the sub
sttute by advertising for proposals for three routes
a Northern, Southern and Central leaving Con-
gress to select the best.
| Mr. lvERsoN argued to show that the Central
route impracticable, owing to deep SHOWS and
the severe cold, and advocated an extreme North
| ern and an extreme Southern road. He quoted
from Lieutenant Maury, to show that his objec-
| tions to the Central route were well founded
Mr.. BRowN of Mississippi, argued against tie
constitutionalitY of the BILL on the ground that the
necessity for military purposes must be absolute to
justify government aid. He said the road had urged
upon commercial rather than upon military
grounds. He also combatted the views ofMr Pugh,
who thought it constitutional for Congress to an
propriate money for building it through terrific
ry, and not through State, and contended that
Congress had equal power to build in a State OF
territory. Admitting that there was some neces-
sity for this road military measure, it did not
justify this last appropriation. He held that there
was some limit to those powers expressly granted
in the Constitution For example, it was consttu-
tonal for Congress to build vessels of war but he
would consider it violation of the spirit of the
Constitution for Congress to authorize the building
of a thousand ships.
Mr. MASON moved to adjourn, which motion pre-
vailed by yeas 27, nays u.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The SPEAKER announced the Select Comm ittee to
investigate the charges of corruption against Off
GERS of the Navy to be composed as follows
Messrs. Sherman, Bocock, Ritchie Groesbeck
and Ready.
The SPEAKER said the first business in order was
on the motion to refer to the Committee of the
W hole the bill amending the ''act granting the
right OF pre-emptlOn to settle the public lands
Mr.. WALBRIDGE remarked that he had examined
the bill since he made the motion, and had found
many good features in it, and therefore withdrew
his motion to refer, and proposed an amendment to
strike out the sixth section, which repealed the
special acts heretofore passed.
Mr.. CoBB said he had no objection to the amend
ment.
Mr.. REAGAN, of Texas, moved so to amend as to
confer the benfts of presumption to those who
cupy and cultivate the soil, and deprive those en-
gagged in other pursuits of them.
MIR. JONES, of Tenn, said the bill intended
to amend the pre-emption laws, to which he found
no objection, far the benefits were confined to
the cutvators of the soil but he did object to the
second and all subsequent sections, because they
were not calculated to promote the benefits of this
class, but extended the pre-emption laws to the
reserved sections on the lines of railroads.
After some further discussion, Mr.. JONES moved
to refer the bill and amendments to the Committee
of the Whole on the State of the Union, which mo-
tion did not prevail.
The question recurring on the amendment of Mr..
Wabridge to strike out the 9th section
Mr.; HUGHES moved to lay the bill on the table.
Lost by yeas Sc, nays 1913
The amendments of Messrs Walbridge and Rea-
gan were then agreed to.
The question recurring upon the amendment of
Mr.. Grow, that from and after the passage of this
act, public land shall be exposed to sale by pro
clamation of the President unless the same shall
have been surveyed, and the surveys filed for at
least 10 years previously, it was carried by yeas
81 nays 81.
Mr.. CURRY moved to lay the bill on the table,
which was lost by yeas SO, nays 95.
The question then recurring on the engrossment
and third reading of the BILL it was decided in the
negative by yeas 81, nays 95. So the bill was re-
jected.
Mr.. MARSHALL, of KY, moved reconsideration,
pending which, MIR. WINsLow moved a call of the
House, which was agreed to.
Subsequently, further proceedings under the call
were dispensed with, and the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole, and then took recess till
p. NJ.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. PURvIANCE made speech advocating an in
crease of the tariff and specific duties
Mr.. TnoMPsoN made speech for the Union. Ali
good and true men would he said, go with the Re
publicans in future elections. He also advocated
the protection of home industry
Mr.. PHELPS, of Missouri, advocated the amend
ment of the pre-empton laws to prevent fraud.
Other speeches were made, after which the Com
mittee rose and the House adjourned
FROM NEW FOUNDLAND.-By way of Halifax we
have St. Johns papers to Sth January. The Com
merciot Journal, IN reviewing the business of the
year, congratuates the trade on the generally sat
siactory and healthy aspect of its present position
The seal fishery of the past spring very unsuc-
sessful, and the codfshery the Newfoundland
coast, as well as that of the Labrador, consid
erably less than average; but the high price of
oil and seal skins has made up for the short catch
of SEALS and the high price paid by shippers to the
fishermen for their fish wholly prevented the distress
which the short catch would otherwise have entaied
the fishing population. The stock of dry fish on
hand on the 3lst ult. something under 270 600
qtls which far below the average of former years
Owing to the increased quantity required by the
BraZils, consequent the reduction OF duty there
the present stock will be inadequate to supply the
demand upon it, and must be exhausted long be-
fore any of the new catch can be received The
quantity of cod oil on hand amounts to about 800
tons.
We gather from our papers that bill is to be in
troduced during the coming session of the Legsla-
ture:
"To incorporate Newfoundland Land Mining
and Railway Company, formed by parties of position
both in the Colonies and Europe for the purpose of
exploring the Island, with the view of opening mp
Its undiscovered or but partially developed re
sources and to carry into effect the great project of
connecting the Atlantic with the Pachc ocean, by
making Newfoundland the first stepping stone as il
were, the earliest link in the great chain which is
! to unite the two shores together.
The company is to start with capital of $500, 900.
PENETRATING CHINA.-Lord Elgin, the British
Minister in China, has projected an expedition up
the Yangtse river, which promises many interest
ing results With a squadron of steam corvettes
and gun-boats six in number, and with the consent
OF the Chinese authorities he is going as far as
Hangchow, the principal commercial emporium on
the river, five hundred miles distant from its mouth,
and more than three hundred miles above Nankin,
hitherto the utmost limit of "outside barbarian"
navigation. The Yangtse is called the Mississippi
of China, but as it drains about third of China,
the population on its banks must be eight or ten
times as much that ON the Missssippi.-Ne,o
York EVening Post.