Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-13
Washington News.

The death of Hon. Thomas l.. Harris, late
n member of the House of Representatives
from Illinois, will be announced in Congress
on Monday next. at which time it is expect
cd his successor, Mr. Hodges. will arrive, and
take his seat.
Mr.. Iyerson has introduced a bill in the
Senate to abolish the ranking privilege
This bill proposes to abolish the Thanking pri-
,ilege to members of Congress after the pre-
sent session, and in lieu thereof, each men,
her 10 be entitled to receive annually Slju IN
most Office stamps. 10 be delivered at the be-
ginning of each annual session.
The Washington States publishes a letter
from Senator Douglas, accepting Mr. Sildeli
denial that the slaves belonging to his chill
dren in Mississippi were cruelty and inhu-
manly treated, and also denying OH his own
mari. Mr.. SIS assertion that he Douglas had
authorized and countenanced attacks on him.
The advisory board of agriculture have
rcnorted in favor of federal legislation Tor
the promotion Of agricultural knowledge,
as we'll rs in behalf of an endowment from
Congress for an Agricultural Bureau
Judge Mclean appeared in the Supreme
Court on Tuesday. for the first time during
the present term, looking and feeling III me
health after his trip to the soilth.
The friends Of the French Spollation bill,
IN the House of Representatives, figure out
majority of three, provided they can bring
the question to a vote before the close OF the
session. about which they entertain some
doubt. ...
The United States Agricultural Society's
seventh annual session was to have COM
menced on Yesterday "Wednesday morning
81 the Smithsonian Institution, washington.
After the ANIMAL address by the President
Gen. Tench Tighman. of Maryland, ana the
transaction of business. the subject OF -ASri-
cultural Education. and its clam upon gov
ernment, will be discussed.
The Agricultural Conyocation adjourned
sine die, on Tuesday. The members were
thanked for their attendance by the Com
missioner of Patents.
The Post Office Department is now sending
of pamphlet proposals for conveyance OF the
mails. which will compose the annual spring
Istt;nos Bids will be received until the "a
of Anril. and the decisions will be announced
Inv the 25th. There are 400 routes IN 'lr-
sinia to be let under that advertisement.
AT the suggestion of Mr.. Barksdale. the
House of Representatives has called upon the
Executiye for information in regard to the
rumor that France and England have protes-
ted AGAINST the transfer of Cuba to the Uni
ted States. -.
Mr.. Merriam, the "sage" of Brooklyn
Heights, asserts that the temperature oi the
atmosphere was lower OH Monday in New
York than it had been before in that city In
seventy wears. The straDgest part OF the
nbenomenon was that though the sun was
shining brightly, the intensity of the cold
kent gradually increasing from sun rise un-
I'll noon, when the mercury in the thermome-
eter touched nine degrees below zero. There
must have been terrible suffering among the
,,oor who were not prepared with suitable de-
fncas AGAINST the anlooked-for rigors OF the
aeason. and we fear that there vii! be reports
81 rreot distress on board Of ships on the
onas, Several cases Of suffering have al
-. - bean reported, and one of an omnibus
dr;Ssr having been actually frozen to DEATH
nropo~ition has been laid before the Ar,
kansas Legislature, by the planters OF the ked
River region, looking to the removal Oh inc
distinctions in its course, and contemplating
improvements for keeping the river always
open They ask the privilege OF charging q
reasonable percentage upon freight amount =
Ing to about eighth Of the present cost Vi
transportation caused by the obstructien'
Excavations are progressing at both ends
of the Hoosac nnDsi.