Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

some propositions for the Post-Ofhce Commit
tee in regard to the ocean mails. Retrench-
ment was the next business discussed, Mr.
johnson of Tenn. bringing up his resolution
that the estimates for 1866 be made on a basis
not exceeding fifty millions, exclusive of in
ferest on the Public Debt. A rambling de-
bate ersued, but nothing done with ii,
when the private calendar was taken up, and
the Senate adjoured. In the House the Ore
gon bill was the first business in order, and
was adopted precisely as it came from the
! Senate; yeas III, nays I03, after debate in
which fifteen to twenty members participated.
/ Pending motion to admit the delegate from
| Oregon to a seat, the House adjourned.
| FEB. 14.-In Senate, Mr. Hunter made
/ speech on the Tariff The Senators from Ore
! gon, Messrs. Lane and Smith, took their seats;
| the latter drawing the long term. In the
J House, bill to establish new post routes
reported, debated and passed. The Ocean
Mail Steamer bill was then reported, but moth
/ ing done with it. The remainder of the
| session used up in miscellaneous talk
about The Tariff, Public Debt and such trifies.
FEB. 15.-In the Senate, Mr.. Siiden pro-
posed to hold evening sessions to discuss the
| Cuba question. The bill modifying The pay
! of Army officers was amended, alter much
| discussion, chiefly between Messrs. Pugh and
Davis. Mr.. Pugh wished to repeal the Act of
1857, putting the rates OF pay back upon the
previous laws but his amendment was lost.
| Mr.. Wilson offered bill to regulate the mile
/ age, giving fifteen cents mile fer distances
under 900; twenty cents between l,oOO and
| $500, and twenty-five cents for 900 miles.
the distances to be computed by the nearest
mail route. Mr.. Crittenden then took the
| floor, and made long speech upon the Cuba
bill. In the House resolution was passed TO
arrest witness who refused to go before the
| Printing Investigating Committee. In Com
mittee on the Indian Appropriation bill, Mr..
Stanton of Ohio made speech upon the
| Government expenditures. At the evening
| session. Mr.. Morris of Illinois spoke in severe
censure OF the President and his policy, espe-
cially in reference TO the State of Illinois, ac-
| cusing Mr.. Buchanan of heartless ferocity and
| imbecility- Mr. Boyce spoke OF our political
| relations with Spain.
FEB. l6.-In the Senate, Mr.. Stewards bill,
| additional 10 the act prohibiting the slave
trade, reported by Mr.. Bayard from the
| Judiciary COMMITTEE, without amendment
| and without recommendation. Mr.. Fitch Of
| fered resolution, which was adopted pro-
viding for some little retrenchment in the
| public printing. The Diplomatic Appropria-
| iion bill was then taken up, and Mr. Clay
! moved to strike out the SO 900 for sending
back TO Africa the negroes kidnapped by the
brig Echo. All the Republican members sup
| ported the appropriation, and on vote Mr..
| Clay's amendment lost, 40 voting against
| it, and 10 in its favor. As Mr. Pugh proposes
to speak on the bill, it was laid aside for the
bill are S2l4 900 tor Ministers salaries SILL,
600 extra for Japan; $40, 900 for Consols !;
! $50, COO for contingent expenses OF missions !;
! $50, 900 for the Foreign Intercourse fund !;
$3.50 900 for the relief of American seamen
abroad $40, 900 for Consul's furniture and
postage So, 900 for office rent 500, 900 for
the British Boundary Commission; 10000
for the return of the Echo's negroes, and
| other items. making total-of over million.
The Cuba bill was then taken up, and Mr..
Thompson of Kentucky made long speech
| In the House, the bill increasing the number
| of Assistant Surgeons and Pursers in the
Navy was laid on the table. The Committee
| on Territories presented bill providing for
| temporary Government for Arizona, but made
| no appropriation of money Mr.. Stevens urg-
ed its immediate consideration. This led TO
a food of bills In regard to the present Terri
| tories, including the appropriations for pub
| iIc buildings In Utah, Nebraska, New-MeXico
and Kansas. all of which were laid on the
table. The House passed the Senate bill
! granting pension to the widow of General
| Gaines. The Senate's amendments to the Ag-
rcultural College bill was then taken up and
| concurred in. In Committee of the Whole,
the Senate's amendments TO the Indian Ap-
preparation bill were considered. The debate
was principally upon the proposition to trans
fer the Indian Bureau from the Interior to the
| War Department, which was favored by Mr..
Blair of Missouri, and opposed by Mr.. Cox
of Ohio. The proposition rejected, and
the House subsequently cOncurred in the ac-
tion of the Committee
FEE. l7.-In the Senate, the Homestead
bill was taken up, after some opposition, and
Mr.. Seward urged a vote upon it for the pur-
pose OF settling the policy of the Government
with regard to the public lands. Mr.. Hunter
moved TO take up the Diplomatic Appropria-
tion bill, and the vote was % to %, when the
| Vice President gave his casting vote in favor
of the motion of Mr.. Hunter. Mr.. Pugh
wanted to abolish all grades of Ministers ex-
cept one, and fix the salary of that at SIC, 900
par annum. and of the Secretaries at So 900,
| TOR which Mr.. Mason gently castigated Mr..
Pugh. The bill was then laid aside and the
Cuban question brought up, when Mr.. Polk
spoke in favor of the acquisition of that most
desirable island. The Diplomatic bill was
again brought up, and Mr.. Pugh offered an
| other amendment to consolidate the smaller
missions, but without taking vote the Senate
| adjourned. In the House, Mr.. John Cassin of
/ Philadelphia, who refused to come before the
Select Committee on Printing, brought
in by the Sergeant-at-Arms, when he excused
himself by saying that his delay was occasion
ed by the sickness of a relative, and he was
discharged from custody. Mr.. English called
up the bill regulating the postage on news
papers and periodicals, which was passed.
An Intellectual effort was then made to abolish
the franking privilege. The House went into
! Committee of the Whole the Army Ap-
preparation bill, and Mr.. Davis of Mississippi
defended the Democratic party from charges
of extrayagance. Mr.. Granger made Free
! Soil speech with particular reference to the
State of New York. Mr.. Letcher said that
| the Committee on Ways and Means had redu-
ced the appropriations just as far as they pos
sbly could. Mr.. Stanton moved to strike
| out 100000 for the recruiting service. The
Committee rose without disposing of the a
mendment, and the House adjourned.