Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-02-02
Letter from Washington.
WAsHINToN, D. C., ]
 Jan. A, 1859.}

 The Pacific railroad bill has occupied the at tention of the Senate for the last two weeks, and has not yet been disposed of by that body, although it may be to-day or tomorrow There is no probability that it will pass both houses the present session, if it ever does, as the pro- clivify to make it sectional measure adds greatly to its chances of defeat. It may be mentioned in this connection that Sebastian | offered an amendment making Fort Smith the ! eastern terminus, which received the votes of three senator's So it is apparent that route Is l not so popular in congress as has been insisted On last Tuesday, in the Senate, the various amendments to the bill were voted on, and shall briefly give you an abstract of the pro- ceedings.
 Mir. Ward, of Texas, moved to amend the bill by striking out the words " from point on the Missouri river, between the mouths of the Big Sioux and Kansas rivers. to San Francisco, | ou the most eligible route, reference being had to feasibility, shortness and economy" and in lieu thereof, From some point between the forty-nnth and thirty parallels of north latitude, to the nearest eligible point on the Pacific coast, in the State of California refer ence being had to feasibility, shortness and economy"
 | MT. Sebastian stated he had given notice of an amendment, which at the proper time, he intended to bring before the Senate. It was not his object to discuss the merits of it at all, and he moved 1t as an amendment to the amendment of MI. Ward.
 The secretary read it. It was to strike out the words '' from point on the Missouri river, between the mouths of the Big Sioux and Kansas rivers," and insert, "-from Fort Smith, on the western boundary of the State of Ar kansas"
 The question being taken on the amendment of Mr. Sebastian, by yeas and nays, resulted yeas 3, nays 48-the yeas being Messrs. Brown, Mallory and Sebastian Mr. Johnson, of Ar kansas had paired off with Mr. Bayard.
 Mir. Houston moved to amend the amend ment of Mir. Ward, by striking out "thirty-swo" and inserting thirty"
 The amendment of Mr. Houston was lost by yeas 2l, nays 32.
 Mr. Greene of Missouri, offered an amend ment to tho amendment of Mr. Ward, making the eastern terminus at the most convevlent and eligible point on the western boundary of the State of Missouri, and with two branches to said road one on the south, commencing not south of Fulton, Arkansas, and the other on the north, commencing not north of the Big Sioux river, and all connecting at the most practicable point not further west than lO2 de- grees of west longitude.
 The amendment of Mir. Green was lost-yeas 9, nays 45. Mes;rs. Broderick Fitch, Green, Johnson, of Arkansas, Mallory, Polk Rice, Se- bastian and Wade, voting aye.
 Mr. Rice moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Ward, by inserting after the word Calitor- mia, the words "or on Puget Sound" Lost, yeas 9, nays 43.
 The amendment of Mr. Ward was then re- jected by the following vote:
 YEAs-Messrs. Bates, Bayard, Bell Benja- min, Brown, Chesnut, Clay, Clingman, Davis, Fitzpatrick Hammond, Houston, Hunter, Iver- son. Johnson, of Arkansas, JohnsOn, of Ten nessee, Mallory, Polk, Reid, Sebastian, SiideA. Thompson, of New Jersey, Toombs and | Ward-24
 NAYs-M essrs. Allen, Bigler, Bright, Brod- erick Chandler, Clock, Callimner Crittenden, Dllon Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenaen, Fitch, | Foot, Foster Green, Gwin. Iale Harlan, King, Puzzle, Rice, Seward, Shields, Simmons, Stout, Trumbull, Wade, Wilson and Wright-3O.
 Further amendments were offered ard with out any change, the location of the eastern ter minus, between the mouths of the Big Sioux and Kansas rivers, was unchanged, and in that position the terminus now, as originally located by the bill remains.
 A. J. Amber, formerly of Batesville, has turned up in Wisconsin. You will remember, in 1855 he was arrested on the charge of trans hitting forged applications for bounty land, to the Pension olice-gave security for his ap- pearance at the March term of the U. s. Dis trct court in 1856, but instead of making his appearance at court, made a faint that he had drowned himself in White river, leaving DOT tion of his clothing on the bank of the river to give color to that belief, however, Judge Ringo was not satisfied that he was defunct, and refused to relieve his ball. and the consequence was his securities, afterwards, went to Kansas, caught Amber, and returned with him to Lit. tie Rock, where he was placed in jail for safe keeping, awaiting the following term of the court for his trial Before he meeting of the court he managed to make his escape from jail, and although he has since been seen by several persons who recognized hun at different places, he managed to keep out of the reach of the officers of the law. It seems as soon as | he got clear from Arkansas he made his way | to Wisconsin. where he has resided since, mak- 1 ing occasional visits to New Orleans following 1 CT on spirituaism. He located in Wisconsin under the name of Andrew Jackson Clark, and at once, with several confederates, commenced forwarding to the pension office forged applica- tions for bounty land and pension. That office becoming satisfied the applications forwarded by Clark or the major portion of them, were fraudulent, dispatched an agent to Wisconsin, who had Clark and his confedcrates arrested when it was ascertained that Clark was the ver- table Amber. He is now in jail. and is safe enough, as the evidence in his transactions in Wisconsin is sufficient for his conviction. The only chance will be for him to escape from prison, which is rather slim one. If the tes- timony were not sufficient to commit him in Wisconsin he could be turned over to Arkan- sas, where it is ample, and if sent to the peni- tentiarv there he would meet his old partner Buchanan.
 Immediately after the election of Douglas, his home organ at Chicago, opened its batteries upon the administration and the democratic party. This is supposed to be the sentiments of MT. Douglas, and that the editor "speaks from the book" Douglas in the mean while, has not defined his position in the Senate, but rumors are ahoat that he disapprovcs of the course of the Chicago Times, and intends ceas. ing his opposition to the administration and re- turning to the party. ARKANSAS. 0T The opposition presses especially the Gazette of this city, are very fond of quoting J John Mitchell just now as democratic author- l IL Al. Ial