The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-01-26
Washington Items,

The bill introduced into the United States
Senate by Mr.. Slidell, to facilitate the ac-
QUESTION of Cuba, is in substance, as fol-
lows:
Whereas. Cuba geographically possesses
a commanding influence over the large and
annually increasing trade. foreign and coast.
wise, of the Mississippi Valley; and where.
as the island in it's present colonial condi-
| lion must continue source Of injury and
annoyance, endnngering the friendly rela-
| tiqns between Spain and the United States
by the aggressiens Of its local authority
upon American commerce and citizens, for
which tardy redress can only be had by n
circuitous demand upon Spain and where
as, in the opinion of Congress and in ac-
cordance with tho views of the President,
os the last means of settling the existing
and removing future difficulties, it is expe.
dient that negotiatI tons for the purchase Of
the island should be renewed; therefore
resolved. that 30,0Oo.COO be placed in the
Presidents hands for expenditures. either
from cash in the treasury, or that it be Dor
rOwed on five per cent. bonds of one thou
sand dollars each, redeemable in from twelve
to twenty years.
January l6.-At n caucus of democratic
Senators held on Saturday, Mr.. Slidclrs
bill, approprinting thir.y mllirns Of dollars
for the purchase of Cuba, was favorably
considered. Among those voting Ia its ia
vor were McNsrs. Douglas, of Illinois, lver-
son, Of Georgia, Toombs, Of Georgia, Gwin
of California, SjdsIl, of Louisiana, and
Davis, of Mississippi The Committee on
Foreign Affairs will report the bill in few
days. Messrs. Hunter, of Virginia, Mason,
of Virginia, and Shields, of Minnesota,
thought any action at this time impolitic.
The government has ordered five COM
panics of United States troops TO act rs n
posse comiidtus with Co. Wedary agains,
Col. Montgomery, the Free State rutiian in
KaDsas.
January ls.-On Monday the death Of
Hon. Il. l.. Harris. OF the Sixth Congress.
ionaI District Of Illinois, was announced,
and suitable eulogies delivered.
In the Senate on Tuesday, the Pacific
Rail Road Bill was discussed. The Postal
Committee have agreed to repor. bill re.
establishing the postage ra,cs of the law Of
lSI5.
In the House, several unimportant bills
were passed Cuban and Nicnragunn af-
fairs were discussed
The Postmaster. General estimates the
total expenses Of his department at ST.
! 100000 for the ensuing year.
| January lS.-In tho So1ate, resolution
of inquiry in relation to the statistics of the
direct trade of the United States with Cuba
was passed. The Invalid Pension Bill WAS
up, but no decision arrived at.
! In the House, a bill was passed confirm.
! ing State rants Of land to the Mobile and
Ohio Rail Road. The Consular Diplomats
ic Bill was under discusyon. Mr. kcitt
made an "S'. and brilliant speech on the
! Cuban question, reviewing the resources
and position OF that leland. lie stated th,a
the people Of the United States had long
list Of gricsanccs against both Spain and
! Cuba, and that if the former refused 10 sell,
war should BE- declared, aud Cuba furcibly
taken possession of.
January 20.--Congressioral news unim.
! portAnt. The President to-day sent TO
! Congress statement, called fo- at the last
session, Of unsettled accounts with all for.
eign powers. The Cocument il large and
intensely interesting. Among the claims
enumerated il one against En- gland. amount
lug to half million of dollars; one agains:
! France Of fifteen million francs. Nearly
| all of them, however, are private claims,
some of which have been admitted, and
Others rcpudiated. There is scarcely n
maritime power of Importance against
whom there is not some claim.
1t il reported here to-day that u. s. Mars
shal Stewart, of the Southern District of
Georgia, mas been removed foe want Of ,iyi.
lance in arresting the officers and crew Of
the alleged slave WGiderer. Mr. Spulloch
has been spoken OF as his successor.
A correspondent Of the States under date
of January l9,h, says:
"An ertrd session is now seriously talked
of. Only thiriy-odd working days of the
present Congress remain for all the business
that has accumulated for the last eighteen
months aud huw /. is TO Ee done in the
brief period remaining, appears to te puz.
zlng inquiry. The truth is that unlc 81 the
appreciation bills are pushed with more vic
or than they have been, two or three Of them
must be lost. Indeed, the probabilities
strongly favor the idea that some of these
must go over in any event. The variqtis
interests IN the House that want lrgisla.
tiaa for pressing present cases. say the gov.
eminent can as well do w!!hoa. appropSia.
tions as the country can without relief
from Congress in the dis barge of business
properly and urgently devolying on II, and
that if the Withholding of the appropria-
tons will be likely TO bring the body to,
geihrr again, they viii unite for thai pur.
pose. Such is now beginning to be the
general talk.
"An unusual crowd att dcd the Senate