The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-27
THIRTY-FIFTH CONG REss,
Second Session.
Tuesday, January Is, 1859.
SENATE.

Inc ' ice President laId before the Senate a
communication of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
The Secretary sends a bill reorganizing
the collection districts of the United States. and
designating the ports Of entry and delivery OF
the same, and regulating the appointment and
compensation of officers Of customs" accom-
panied with an estimate of the amount that will
be required under the provisions, exhibiting a
proposed reduction of over four hundred thou
sand dollars. There are at present one hundred
and sixteen ports of entry which 1t is proposed
to reduce to seventy-fve. and TO discontinue al
together twenty-one of the eighty-six ports OF
delivery.
Pacific Railroad BiH-On motion bv Mr.
Gwin, the Senate resumed the consideration OF
the Pacific railroad BILL The substitute of Mr.
Bigler for the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and
eighth sections of the bill was adopted, after
having been amended in some minor points.
Numerous amendments were moved and
voted down, and, after much discussion
Mr. Brown moved to lay the bill and amend
ments on the table pending the consideration
Of which question, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
The Rerelue BH - The House went into
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee, in the chair
and resumed the consideration of the bill for the
codi6cation of the existing revenue laws of the
United States.
amendment offered by Mr. Burlingame. of
Massachusetts, proposing TO protect ahe ship
ping interests Of the United States and the
navigation laws
Mr.. keitt, of South Carolina, moved that the
enacting clause of the bill be stricken ont
which motion was agreed to-yeas 81, navs 50.
The Committee then rose, and reported ac-
cordingly to the House and the question being
taken, Win the House ggree 10 the report OF
the Committee, that the enacting clause be
stricken Out?' it was agreed to--yeas lO8,
NAYS "a.
So the bill is rejected.
! The Presidents MesSage-On motion Of Mr.
! Phelps, of Missouri the House again went into
| Committee Of the Whole on the state of the
| Union, Mr.. Stevenson, of Kentucky. in the
chair,) and resumed the consideration Of the
| Presidents annual message-the question being
on the adoption of certain resolutions referring
IT to the appropriate committees.
! Mr.. Cox, Of Ohio, reviewed our foreign rela
/ tons, contending that the principle that the
| weaker nation must be absorbed by the stronger
and organized nation applied to our relation.
| with Central America. The only contest th,
/ Government would have in pursuing such
! policy would not be with the people Of these
| Territories, but with Spain, France and espe
cially with England. He looked upon the
/ Cuban question from another standpoint The
/ President had given ample reasons for its an
nexation. Its geographical position command
ed an advantage to which Americans could mo-
be Indifferent. The coastwiSe and Mississippi
trade, amounting to some two hundred and fifty
millions of dollars, and which before ten vear>
will amount to five hund;ed millions of dollars
equal to the whole vauGSof real estate IN Ohio
will pass within the raige of Cuban cannon
! There was a necessity Ia: have this trade prop
erly guarded and protected, but he did not be
lieve that, in the present condition of the ques
ton, Spain would sell Cgba, for the reason tina
she has that old Spanish pride there. He wa,
willing, however. to vote for the bill INTRODUCED
by Mr.. Branch, but he was not particular as tc
the amount appropriated. looking 10 negotia
tons for the purchase Of Cuba, and looking
then to the orderly seiZure Of it. BE would not
discuss the relations of the Government with
Central American affairs, but he would remark
that the great stumbling sbock seemed TO be the
| ClaytOn-Bulwer treaty-;he diplomatic blundeI
of the nineteenth centuc The United State,
must grow without or fai, within, for the nation
that failed to embrace es%ry opportunity for adj
vancement would just as-snrely fail of its des
| tiny. He contended ths2 this principle should
| Oe applleu 10 heAlCO adu, IN conclusion, con
demned the course pursued by the British aud
French Governments towards this Government
in the strongest terms.
The Diplomatic appropriation Bill. - On
motion of Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri, the PreSi.
dents message was laid aside, and the Commit
tee took mp the bill making appropriations for
the consular and diplomatic expenses of the
Government for the year ending June 80 1860.
The bill having been reported =
Mr.. Phelps, of Missouri, briefly explained its
provisions
Mr.. Hickman, of Pennsylvania, then discussed
the necessity which existed for revision Of the
tariff.
Mr.. Keitt, Of South Carolina, obtained the
floor; when,
On motion of Mr.. Reagan, Of Texas the
Committee rose, and the House adjourned.