The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17
Vol. XIII.
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

A SLAYER DESTROYED BY a BETrISH STEAM
ER.-The Navy Department is in the rrceilfor
advices from Commander Totem, Of the All
can squadron, announcing the search. seizura
and burning, Of the brig Rufus .Soule, CAPTAIN
Anderson, by the steamer Viper Of the British
squadron, on the same station. One of M.
Rufus Soule's seamen testified that 81 was said
by some of the crew Of the Viper that she was
burned because they had no men to send away
in her, and that they had orders to burn one on,
of every three vessels taken. The seaIneu wen.
| landed on the beach at Kabenela. Commando
Totten had demanded an explanation OF the
commander Of the Viper, who responded tothre.
categorical questions put by Commander Tot
ten, as follows
First. Had the vessel the American aa e,
ing at the time she was visited by the boat.
Answer. She had the American fag a,.p..
and from information from the British toy.r,.
meut dated the sth and 22d Of ,lulv.lasi. it..r..
was every Just cause to believe that ul u- cas-.
a fraudulent use of the flag was bciug.maIr.a,I
that the vessel was engaged in the lly. trade
Consequently, she was visited.
! Second. If her papers were coucd
Answer. Ia my opinion, they wcr,. ar,.r....
some of them undoubtedly so.
! Third. If the American flag was sil H.-r,
when the matches were opened2
Answer The American flag was lat H-.r-
when the vessels matches were oprael. lr.
flag and the papers were thrown iutoihs SEN fr
the Captain, without eycn'a suggestion 900 INV
part.
Commander Totten replied that II tas t.l....
/ isiactory, rs IL made no mention Of c.r...
stances Of the burning of the brig. wlou,I,.,t
investigation. Commander Hodkiujun re.oiual
| by referring the American officer totar British
I Admiral, and this closes the repOuotihe Navy
Department.
A RUMoRs.--lt is stated that in a reorat com.
munication to the House of Representa- O..
I TO the eXpcdieEcy of certain reductions iu .,.
! penses, Secretary Floyd uses the remark that
the reductions would be practicable wera.it not
| for the demands ofmembcrs of Congress
1t is believed that the President will veto the
| Agricultural College bill and, also, the war OF
| lSl2 pension bill, ii the latter passes the Sen
ate. 1t is thought by some that the French
spolation bill will BE- in the same catagcry If
that passes; Of which, however. there is iu,
now little probability Washington STR.
Judge Douglas has been invited bv some o.
the leading Democrats OF New Hampshire and
Connecticut to visit those States and make 90.
litical speeches.
! Senator Fitch has introduced bin having
in view the substitution Of iron for other solid
materials in building ships, and con-tgucuur
| public edifces.
! A letter from Paris by the last steamer, from
| a prominent source, states. ON Information IT,.
! ceived from Madrid, that it is not probable Mr.
! Preston viii be received as United States Minis,
| ter, but if he should be received, the first init
nation from him relative to the purchase Of
! Cuba would be deemed sufficient ground for
! giving him his passports. Our Government, how
| ever is not in receipt of any official iut0rma
| tion from Spain on that subject.
| 1t is stated in well-iniormed circles that the
reinstatement, 10y Gen. Miramou, of Zaloaga
| in the Presidency Of Mexico, was at the instance
| of France and England, who have an especial
! interest in his administration, in comt.etu
with the debts due these Governments.
! The impression prevails, that the proposition
/ to place money at the command Of the Prsi-
dent TO negotiate for the acquisition of Cuba
will pass the Senate, but will be defeated Dis q
large majority in the House.
! The Democratic members Of the House he'd
another caucus on the 9tb instant, but failed TO
agree, and are said to have broken up in a row.
EXTENSION or THr WASHINGTON RrAErr
l
. Friday, presented 10 the nitcd States Senate
the memorial from the Baltimor. and Oho
railroad Company, asking leave to extend their
Washington branch road so as 10 form closer
connection with the Southern and Southwt stern
lines, by one oil the following routes. at th.r
option:
lst. by tunnel under Capitol Hill, SD a. ro'
to Interfere with thr public buildings. or d sub
the surface Of the grounds, and thence bv the
most eligible route to the most conveniontpmm
( on the Potomac river in the District Of CUlmn
bia, with authority TO use locomotives.
/ ID BY leaving said branch railroad So IS Z,
! strike line between east Third and east Sixth
streets, and run along or near said line H. some
/ point on the east branch of the Potomac b.
/ tween the navy yard and the Potomac
Sd. BY or near the route of the Alexandra
| and Washington railroad, 10 and over the Long
! Bridge 10 the west side of the Potomac. will
! the privilege OF connection with the eastern
side Of the Potomac This third route and
branch TO be operated with horse power
4th. By or near the route heretofore char
tered by Congress near the eastern boundary
of the city OF Washington, crossing the eastern
branch OF the Potomac above the navy ward, and
thence to point on the eastern shore of me
Potomac nearly opposite TO the city OF Alekaa
drla with the privilege of using locomotive
The memorial sets forth that this extension
will fill the only gap in the route from New Or
leans to New York which, when properly or
gained, will reduce the time between those
cities from six and half to three and a half
DAYS.
The Philadelphia, Wilmington. and Baltmor,
Railroad Company, and the Orange and Ala&
andria Railroad Company concur in the meme.
rial.
Common sense d the public couvenieacr
would dictate thar the proposed extension.o'
the Washington Branch should 20 directbu
the Long Bridge.
|. MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS Ayn
MEANs.-Ihe Committee Of Wavs and Mean
Of the House of Representatives had prora.-
ed and animated meeting on Saturday last.
Mr.. Davis Md had at a former meetings
tered a resolution that the tariff bills Of MessY.
Phelps, (Mor) Morrill,, (Yt.,) AMI Phillips.
(Pa,l should be reported in that order in con
Reetion with the bill agreed 2h, authorizing the
extension OF the Treasury note law: which mo
ton was voted down.
Mr.. Phillips made similar motion, rey,r+
ing the positions Of Mr.. MorriIrs and his own
bill, which was not agreed to. the Republican,
members voting against it.
The struggle seemed 70 be a to the position
OF the two bills Of Messrs. Phillips and Morrill,.
about which they cannot agree.
motion vas made that Mr. Phelps might
repoy; his Treasury note bill without any 'arI.
proposition, or bill; which Wa, voted ont o..
order.
Mr.. Phillips expressed his anxiety that sou--
thing should be done and as the members OF
the sommittee could not be expected to assent
10 things to which they were really opposed, h-
IL = Z T..