Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-26

Ill. D.. us. 600 WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.
SENArE.-Prayer was offered by Father
BOYLE, q Catholic Priest. Not Senator was
in his seat at the opening hour, but one, who
retired into the lobby during the prayer. Vice
President Breckenridge raped with his mall
let, and remarked that he could not call the
vacant desks to come to order, so he would
await the arrival of the Senators. 20 T7.ti 10
At III the Senators had dropped in, so the
journal was read. The Vice President pre-
Oregon and Washington.
The House bill, modifying the pay Of army
officers, was then taken up, discussed at length,
chiefly by Pugh and Davis, and finally passed,
with slight amendment. aEj :.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill regulating the
mileage of members of Congress, which was
read and referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee. re t.. 49,
Mr.. Crittenden then took the floor on the
Cuba Question.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
SENArE.-Mr. Hunter, from the Finance
Committee reported the executive, legislative
and judicial appropriation bill
Mr.. Mason, from Committee on Foreign
Relations, moved to print the report of the
special mission of the U. S. to Van Couver's
Island. Agreed to. "n
Mr.. Butterfeld's overland mail contract
was taken up and agreed to.
Mr.. Wade, of O., moved to postpone all
prior orders, and take up the Homestead
bill. '.
Mr.. johnson, of Tenn, also urged it.
Messrs. Wilson and Shields desired vote
and Reed and Hunter wished to have it post
poned, but the bill was taken up, by vote of
26 to %, and read. 80 s--.
Mr.. Hunter again moved to take up the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stewart demonstrated against the
crowding off the homestead bill by an ap-
preparation bill which was sure to pass some
time.
Mr.. Seward urged vote on the homestead
bill as measure that would settle definitely
the policy with respect to the public land and
would rescue them from being held by specu-
lators and capitalists to the detriment of the
interests of labor.
..... WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
HoUsE.-The Sergeant-atarms pursuant to
previous order of the House produced John
Casin of Philadelphia who had been summon.
ed but failed to appear before the select COM
mittee to investigate the acts of Mr.. Seamen
the late Superintendent of Public Printing
He was now arraigned at the bar Of the House,
under attachment for contempt -..
Gu motion of Mr.. Geo. Taylor, Chairman
of the Committee, the Speaker was directed
to PROFOUND to Cassin the question, what was
the cause of his not attending, and whether
he was now ready to appear before the COM
mittee and all proper questions Mr.. Cassin
answered by a written statement under
oath, that on being supened by the Sergeat-
alarms, on the 9th inst, he Immediately pre-
pared to attend as required, but allowed him
self to be delayed few days, owing to the
illness of near relative.
He had now come and voluntarily surren-
dered himself He meant no disrespect to the
House, and begged to be excused for any ap-
parent or actual direlection, and was ready to
testify before the committee.
On motion of Mr. Taylor he was discharged
from custody.
Mr. English called up the bill regulating the
postage on newspapers and periodicals. He
said it had been reported extensively through
the press that this bill proposed to tax news
papers passing in exchange; this was not the
fact
The design was that periodical dealers shall
receive their mail matter on the same terms
as regular subscribers. Another section au-
thorized maps and Autographs to be carried
at one per cent. per ounce or fraction of an
ounce. Heretofore such matter has been ex-
cluded from the mails.
The Sd section proposes to punish persons
taking letters out of the Office by mistake, but
willfully or fraudulently neglecting to return
them. Also persons who, in like manner
failed to pay money handed to them for the
prepayment of postage, &c. There Is at pres,
ent no adequate law to punish such offenses
The bill proposes fine of 800 or imprison.
ment for one year, or both. The bill was pass.
ed.
Mr.. English made an effort to reconsider
the bill to abolish the Thanking privilege.
The House wentinto Committee, John Coch
rane in the chair, the army appropriation bill
was taken up.
The vote on Mr.. Hunter motion to post.
pone the homestead and take up the consul.
lar and diplomatic appropriation bill, was 90
to %, when the Vice President gave the cas-
ting vote in favor of the latter.
Mr.. Pugh moved an amendent to the diplo-
matte and consular bill, proposing to abolish
ALL grades of Ministers, excepting one, and
uAiuS IiAc odldI VI IllitI STdue d. D U,UOU anu
Secretary's at $4,000, but all missions are to
be special, and for the reasons explained to
the Senate at the time of appointment; Con.
suls General to be abolished Consuls to have
fees of Office to the limit of salaries now pro
vided by law.
Mr.. Mason said few words in favor of the
general scope of Pugh's argument, but thought
more time would be required in preparing
remedial measures.
The bill was then laid aside for the Cuba
proposition, when Mr.. Chandler took the
floor. ..,.
Mr.. Polk spoke in favor of the acquisition
of Cuba.
The consular and diplomatic bill was then
taken up.
Mr.. Pugh offered another amendment to
consolidate the smaller missions, but without
taking vote upon it, the Senate adjourned
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
SENArE.-The only thing of interest which
transpired during the morning was bill re-
ported by Mr.. Polk from the Committee on
Foreign Re:ations, to pay Mr.. Squires, our
late Charge at Guatinala, the sum of $4,000
compensation for extra services. This bill
provoked much discussion for and against it.
but no decision was come to.
Mr.. Hunter tried to have the consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill considered now,
he was out voted 26 against 81 in favor of the
private calendar, which was proceeded with.
HousE.-The House went into committee
on the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stanton's amendment to strike out the