, 1859-01-10
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS,


! WASHINGTON, Jan. 1,-SESATE.-The Senate
| agreed to take up the Ftench Spoliation bill by
| yeas so, nays %. Mr. Davis Of Mississippi, had
| the floor.
Pacific RAILROAD to Pusets Sound, setting forth it,
! advantages ovcr all others.
| Mr. Doollttlc moved to amend in substance that
d board OF three Engineers be appointed to survey
each route, the Northern, Centra! and Southern,
| and report the capabilities and IN estimate ot the
expense Of each for the next meeting Of Congress.
\ new feature in the amendment is that alternate
sections Of land along tile route shall be opened
under the Homestead Law to actual settlers
| Mr. Tru1nbull. speaking nomina1ly on the p1.
ciflc X: r. question. replied TO Iyersons spe Cd OF
Yesterday. He took notice OF his (Iyerson'-) au.
sipn to the Illinois election, and d netl the claim
| Of modern Democracy to that honorcd title. lie
| {TIutnbuf) considered them mere survivors OF
| PROSTATE Whjggery. He went into i history of
The 1se and prugress Of the Republican party, and
agreed with lSersoa that they would 60 on pro.
| crossing until they obtained power and admluis-
ttc in accorl4ncc with the true principles of tile
Constitution.
The Senate, without taking any action, then a.l-
journcd, on mutton Of M1. sliel, over until Mon
day, tomorrow being the anniversary Of tue Bat
tie Of NV Orleans.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-Senate not In session,
Horse Tile Speaker laid before the Iouse
message from the President, iuclosing reports
from The Secretary OF the Treasury aud Post
P1ster General! relating to the claim Of Carmjck
s Ramsey Tor alleged abrogatIou their contract
for carrying the nail yia Vera Cruz and Aca,u GO
to San Francisco
Mr. Nichols, of Ohio, slid the executive officers
Of the Government hay refused 10 carry out The
awsauhorizing tue First Comptroller to adjust tue
damages. lie thought tue reasons assigned for
the tctusal utterly indefensibie. Il was high
osurpati n Of power, which became the dignity of
congress to resent in the most efficient manner
1t WIS important 10 know whether BureaQ or Cab-
net officers have the right to mike llws for them.
selves. He wanted the Judiciary Committe. to
Kss necessary.
Mr.. Houston Of Ala said the former Attor-
ney General gave an opinion adverse to The
claim, but Mr. Whittlesey declined to yield ODE.
dience to it, taking the ground that the law au.
thorlzed him as first comptroller to adjcst the
damages. The present Comptroller, Mr. Medlll.
was governed oy similar opinion Of Judge
Black, that there had been no violation Of con
tract, and therefore could be no damages.
ar. Nichols reminded Mr.. Houston of the
fact that the Law instructed the first comptroller
TO carry its will into etf:ct, and conteuded that
the Attorney General had no power to prevent
the execution of the Law.
Ar. Jones Of Tennessee understood that Con-
gress did not decide whether damages were due
or not, but constituted the first comptroller q
chance!lor to act upon and determine the case Oh
its merits.
Ar. Phillips of Penneylr.nia said the frat
comptroller had no right to set up his judg.
ment over an act Of Congress, which be. rs q
ministerial officer, had disregarded.
Ar. Groeabeck Of Ohio, Is an effort had been
made TO intiiot censure on the first comptroller,
invited an Investigation into his conduct.
The documents we're referred to the Commit
lee on Judiciary,
Mr. Falland;gham OF Ohio, reminded the
House Of The TACT TINT this was the Anniversary
Of the Battle Of New Orleans; that the Sanate
had set the patriotic example bT adjournicg
over, aud that from bis information Congress-
had not sat on such an occasion for fifteen
years For this reason, he moved that the
House adj 'urn. Negatived-S6 against 93
On motion of Mr. FArnsworth, the resolution
was adopted calling on the Secretary OF Interior
for Information ~ to whether the Rock Island
Military Reservation has been Transferred from
the War tothe Interior Department, and thrown
open for pre-emptiou At $l.25 per acre.
Another Intellectual motion 10 adjourn Was
made.
Mr. Faulkner, Of Va offered resolution which
vas adopted, calling on the Secretary Of War to
furnish statement of money expended during
the last ten years for barracks, officers quarters
&C., the object being to reduce the expenses Of
the Quartermas.er's department.
Ar. Dawn. Of Mississippi. mored that the
House adjourn.
Mr.. Morgan. Of New York, demanded the
ayes and nays.
Nr. Letter, of Ohio, remarked that if the
Democrats were determined that no businees
should be done, the House had better adjourn.
The question wss decided in the Affirmative
BY seven majority, and the House adjourned.