Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-15
LAST NIGHTS REPORT,
( z CONGRESSIONAL
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA.



SENATE.
Mr.. Wilson introduced resolution of inquiry,
calling on the Secretary of the Navy to furnish the
details of all the live oak contracts made by the
Navy Department .4
The Pacific Railroad bill called up as the special
order. Another discussion arose whether it or the
Senate Calendar should be taken up, and the yeas
and nays resulted in favor of the former
The bill vas debated all day aud overloaded with
amendments, and was left in this condition when
the hour Of adjournment arrived.
Messrs. Bigler and Wilson offered various medi.
cations, the object of both Senators being to pro.
vide for the completion of the mountainous and
desert portions of the route, although they differed
respecting the details.
In the course ofthe discussion Mr.. Doolittle sub.
mitted an amendment providing that any contract
by the President be submitted by him to Congress,
and take effect only by joint resolutions.
Mr.. Trumbull supported Mr.. DooIitte's amend
ment taking from the President the selection of the
route; the bill could not pass.
The enemies of the road had united with a few
ofts friends, and rejected the amendments to limit
the line OF the road to central route between the
parallels Of "a and 43, thus leaving to the Presi
dent, not TO the contractors as some suppose the
location Of the route The majority Of ibe friends
OF the Pacific Railroad would neye- give such dis.
overland mailrouta
Mr. FhomnSso of KY favored leaving the location
OF ne route to the President. He did not disguise
his opinion that the Pacific Railroad was magni
tieent humbug. The Presidelt was a clever old
gentleman, and could do his own marketing as
sensibly as any body that is going about, but is not
endowed by virtue of the Presidency with any ex-
traordinary trading qualities The contracts ofthe
President might resemble the man who went to
Jerico and fell among the robbers. 1t was time
this bill was killed outright.
1t has lived long enough. True it was recon-
mended in the Cincinnati Convention. but what of
that, that Platform was like the Platform of a
lot OF youngsters who got on a bust and franz
ed it; but it is brought forward as sort of second
Constitution to govern the action of Congress. He
has stood solitary monument to the Patriotism
and common sense Of the old Wing party. Like
his Texan friend be might be a dead corpse, yet
speaketh. Mr.. 7. concluded by saying he would
oppose the project as greater humbug than the
Atlantic Telegraph
The Doolittle amendment was then adopted and
thereafter Messrs. Rice, Simmons, Seward, Pugh,
Wilson, Bigler, Mason, Sebastian, Cameron, NAL
lory, and others took part in the debate.
Finally motion by Mr.. Mason to recOmmit the
bill was lost by % against 49, and another by Mr.
To0mbs to lay it the table, was also lost by 29
to27.
The Senate then discussed for an hour the pro-
posal to adjourn till Monday, Mr.. Brown protest
ing against the waste Of time, and Mr. Sebastian
intimsting that recess tomorrow would advance
the pub lie business.
The discussion ended in the proposal being
agreed to, and the Senate adjourned over till Mon
day. .-rr-rI fe- M