The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-23
thou think l could forget thee, ballad, by W. A.
[FRON OUR OWN coRREspoNDENEl


lFRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
WAsHINGToN, Feb. %, 1859.
The vote of the House yesterday upon the motion
made by Mr.. PHILLIPS for suspension of the rules
to enable him to introduce his bill for the revision
of the tariff, to authorize loan, &C., was a yery
fattering to the friends of the first branch of
the proposition; and there good reason to believe
that if the House had generally understood that
MIR. PHILLIPS purpose in case the rules should be
suspended was to let all the various tariff PROPOSE
lions come in, the motion would have been carried.
During the last ten days of the session motion to
suspend the rules is always in order, and there is
little doubt that a tariff bill will be got in in some
shape. If SO, it will be carried The contest on
the tariff question should long ago have been trans
ferred from the Committee on WAYS and Means to
the floor of the House, where the extreme men on
Doth SIDES would soon be compelled to yield their
notions and agree upon compromise that shall
make suitable provision for carrying on the Gov
ernment and avoid the now imminent necessity for
an extra session of Congress
Mr.. MAsoN's proposed amendment to the Thirty
Million Dill bids fare to prove an AARoN's rod to
that remarkably mischevous proposition. Com
ing, as it does, from the experienced Chairman of
| the Committee on Foreign Relations, it is entitled
| to great consideration. 1t proposes a simple no.
| tlce to Spain that we ready to purchase Cuba
whenever she is ready to sell, and that our inter-
ests forbid acquiescence in its transfer to any other
! flag than that of the UNITED STATES. If Senator
| MAs0NS amendment is adopted it will commit the
UNITED STATES to a sound line of public policy so
| deeply that European Governments will never
think OF Drawing the consequences of violating it
Eng land, in view of such formal declaration could
not be coaxed or wheedled into any attempt to Sc
cure change of sovereignty in Cuba; and France,
without England, is not likely to assume a posi-
ton In which her present ally might be forced to
oppose her in the interest of the UNITED STATES
By adopting Mr.. MAsoN's wise and patriotic sug-
gestlon, American interests in Cuba will be con-
served, until, in the progress of events, the fruit
shall have ripened sufficiently to fall naturally into
our lap. In any event, it is clear now that Mr.
SLIDELL's bill cannot become law.
The very singular course of Hon. Mr. WINsLow
| OF North Carolina, in the NICHOLS Committee of
| Investigation, excites remark. During the exami-
nation OF the first witness, Mr.. THOMSON, and be-
fore the facts of the had been brought out by
| the testimony of the witness in chief, Mr. W;NsLow
gave THOMSON distinct notice that he intended to
lmpeach his veracityl This exhibition of a pre-de-
termlned purpose to try witness rather than the
accused party must strike every honorable and I'M
prejudiced man as utterly inconsistent with the
dutyrof an impartial and dispassionate Judge as
each member OF the Committee is supposed to be-
The witness in this frankly stated that he re-
luctanty advised the witness in chief, some time
ago, to sign letter generating every body from
suspicion in the transaction complained o. He ac-
companled this declaration by statement of the
clrcumstances-showng that this letter was signed
only when it was demanded the condition upon
which they could obtain from the Clerk of the
House some $4,000, ordered paid in May last but
still remaining unpaid on the 10th of November
Our "impartial' committeeman professed to be
horrorstricken by the admission of the witness that
he had advised the signing of this letter; and we
have abundant evidence that the line of defence is
based entirely upon the hope of invadating the
testimony of these witnesses. 1t is rather late in
the day to attempt such dodge-for Congress,
only two years ago. enacted a law inviting the tes
tmony OF parties to cases of "bribery and corrup-
ton, and relieving them of the legal consequences
OF their participation in the crime, an induce
ment to them to forward and as
slst in the Purging of Congress of corrupt
members. Charming inconsistency would it
be to say that the testimony of such parties is
not to be credited, though it appears that they
were influenced to their participation by the clear
est evidence that it was the only way inwhich they
could obtain what is acknowledged to have be-
longed to them and was unustly withheld Do not
suppose that your correspondent has any intention
to publish the testimony elected in Committee
pending the investigation, although the witnesses
are under no obligation OF secresy 1t is fitting and
proper, however, for the public press to keep an
eye upon its proceedings so far possible and crit
icise, as they may deserve, any course upon the
part of those conducting them which seems incon-
slstent with the demands of public Justice or op-
pressive either to the witnesses or the accused
The Senate POst-ofce Committee recently repor-
ted bill authorising Government aid to the con-
struction of line of Magnetic Telegraph to San
Francisco, by entering into contract with certain
parties to pay them $4,000 per annum, during a
term of years, for telegraphing for the Gov
eminent. The parties having the enterprise in hand
are lndisposed to attempt its completion unless
they can get a subsidy of at least 5000 per an
mum. As this cannot be hoped for during the pres
ent collapsed condition of the Treasury, they will
refrain from urging the matter upon Congress until
next session, when they hope to bring it forward
under more favorable auspices.
A proposition is pending, and is likely to be
adopted by Congress- authorizing the weight of re-
fined gold at the Mint and branches for coinage and
charging one-eighth of one per cent less for coin
ing than for coming and refining both. Its adop-
ton will encourage the establishment of private re-
fneres, and ultimately result in the general adop-
ton of the British and French Mint SYSTEM in
which all the gold received at the Mint is refined.
1t is also proposed to authorize the coinage at San
Francisco of silver dollars in large amounts with
view of attracting thitEer the silver bullion of
Mexico, and also of atfordng suitable coin for the
China trade, in which silver dollars are indispen-
sable.
The Senate Committee on Commerce. in their bill
for the reorganization of the collection districts of
the NITED STATES, have reduced the salary of the
Collectors at New York and San Francisco to the
sum OF 1000 per annum, and have cut down vari-
Gus other salaries in the proportion. 1t is
absurd to put New York and San Francisco upon
the same footing, for any one at all familiar with
the facts knows that the expenses of living upon
the Pacihc coast are at least twenty thirty per
cent. higher than upon the Atlantic
1t is not true that Senator GwIy proposes that
the overland mails shall be carried by troops to be
located at military stations across the continent
hat he asks is that the mounted troops serving in
Utah and upon the frontier shall be directed to
keep constantly in motion along the overland mail
routes in order to protect Them and deter the In
dams from attacking overland emigration and the
mail stages. This is important in order to secure
the lines OF settlement the contne mt for the
encouragement of which, in part the overland
mail lines were wisely established.