Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-03-19
What the Last Congress Did and Didn't,
i'm its Last Hours.

We have been somewhat anxious to know
of certainty, as to what the late Congress
really did accomplish, and what it did not in
the last hours of its session. The long telo
graphic account that was transmitted to us of
the closing proceedings was SO confused and
fragmentary, that it was impossible to tell
with any degree of certainty which of
the important measures then under con-
sideration were finally adopted. We now
have before us the New York papers of Sat
urday morning, which contain full and def
mite details of the closing proceedings.
1t appears that the Miscellaneous Appro-
priation Bill, which was in great peril of being
crushed to death in the collision of the two
houses, was finally passed. The bill provides
for two years extension of the law authori-
zing the issue of Treasury notes, to the amount
of $2O,0OO,OOO; for an appropriation of
$4,000 for the Coast Survey, and appropri-
atoms for the Light House establishments,
the Survey of the Public Lands, the next
Census, &c. ..-. ...
This bill was passed by virtue of the party
lash, the President and his Cabinet officers
being in the House while the 500, 100000
amendment was pending, and they finally sue
ceeded in driving the Pennsylvania Demo-
Gratis, who, together with the Republicans,
were opposed to this amendment without an
other providing for the modification of the
Tariff, into its support. The Republicans in
the House stood firm in opposition, and the
country will applaud their conduct, notwith-
standing the success of the Democratic slavery
opponents of decent tariff
The Post Office Appropriation bill was Kill
led by the Slaveryites in the Senate, and the
result may be disastrous to our post Offices,
no funds being provided to pay for the post
Office and mail service expenses. The Sa-
yeryites insisted that the rates of postage
must be increased; but the Republican repre-
sentatives of the people, who pay postage, re-
fused to accede to so unpopular and unneces-
sarv a. measure-and so, rather than relin-
ouish their determination to force higher tax
upon letter and newspaper postage, the Dem
ocratic Saveryites preferred to let our entire
I Postal system Ego to smash" A magnani-
nous piece of Democratic policy, truly 1t
is evident that the President will have to call
the new Congress together in the extra ses-
sion, before the time Of their regular meet
ing in December, in order to save our Post
Office Department from disorganization and
ruin.
The Post-Office Appropriation bill contain
ed an item of three millions for the deficien-
cies of the present year, and which was alb.
solutely required to meet accumulated obi
cations. With this the department could have
got along comfortably till the first of July
No means can be available till the first of Ap.
ril, when the proceeds of the quarter will be
paid in. After the 30th of June none of the
incoming revenue can be expended, as the
present law will have ceased to operate. The
land, as well as the ocean service, and con
sequently the whole machinery of the De
partment, are thus disastrously affected.
The Ocean Mail Steamer bill was killed, bu
there is appended to the bill to carry int
effected the Treaty with the Dacota ant
Tonewanda Indians, an appropriation fo
complying with the existing contracts for car
rying mails via Panama and the Tehauntepe
route to California Jour.