, 1859-04-15
NEWS BY WAY OF COLUMBIA RIVER.
Adjournment of Congress-.
Homicide in High Life, sc.

celYed from the Atlantic SIDE OF the ith
ult., and from San Francisco to the 4th
inst We are indebted to Mr.. G. +. WI
LIAMs, merchant Of this place, for the New
York NeWs, Alta California, and San
Francisco Herald, of late dates, and to
Judge B. F. YANTIs, for a copy of the N.
Y. Herald of the 7th ult.
In speaking of the adjournment of Con
gress, which took place at noon on the 4th
ult., the New York Nc,os says
Yesterday at noon the Thirty-ffth Con-
gress ended its legislative existence, or to
quote the expressive valedictory Of the
telegraph operator, passed into history"
We are glad Of it-glad that the bad eX-
ample of dereliction of duty in high places
is no longer seen, that the agitation Of
slavery in the National Legislature is ST.
lenced, and that the game of President
making will 60 forward in some other place
than at Washington, and at the expense
Of the people by their servants.
As was anticipated, the passage Of those
bills which are necessary to keep the wheels
Of Government in motion was put of until
the very last moment, and then hurried
through in hot haste and confusion. This
practice of leaving the most important
business Of Congress to the heel of the ses-
sion has grown to be not only q nuisance,
but disgrace to the country and stigma
on the body where it is tolerated. The
President properly auimadverted on it, but
his advice was neglected, and the usual
burlesque on orderly parliamentary pro.
ceedings was again exhibited as the cur
tain rolled down on the Thirty.ffth Con
gress
This crowding Of the indispensable legis-
lation of the country into the last moments
of the session has been aggravated by the
lavish consumption of time in discussing to
no purpose the question of slavery The
business Of the Government is neglected
for mere talk, aud Congress has postponed
every consideration Of duty and utility for
the temptations of Buncombe. In one re-
spect the termination of the Congress
which has just expired is to be commend
ed there seems to have been no breach
of decorum, no rowdyisin, nothing like the
saturnalia Of crowd Of boys at the break
ing up Of country boarding school, which
have marked former dissolutions,
We congratulate the country on the pas
sage of the Appropriation bills and the bill
to authorize the reissue of Treasury notes.
The latter is a necessity forced on the
country by the pernieious operation Of an
inflated paper money system, which by
bringing about almost national Insolvency,
and a serious check to importatons, Of
course reduced the revenue below the alb
soIute demands Of the Government. The
hot fit of this financial disease being now
on again will be felt in enhanced imports
and reflled treasury. In the meanwhile
the credit of the Government must be sus.
tanned, and il the cash is not forthcoming,
why it must issue its promises to pay, like
any one Of the paper money mills by which
the country is cursed ....
The Post Office Appropriation bill has
failed in consequence Of disagreement be-
tween the House and the Senate on the
ground Of an increase in the rates of post
ages originating in tile latter body. This
the House viewed in the light Of revenue
bill and an invasion Of its constitutional
prerogative to initiate every measure Of
this character The business of carrying
the mails is one Of the functions Of the
Government, and the raising Of means for
accomplishing it would seem to belong to
the class of bills the originating of which
1 is declared to be vested in the House.
The mere mode Of providing the revenue,
whether by taxation or fixing the rates Of
compensation to be paid by individuals,
does not alter the principle AT all events,
the position of the House seems to be the
safer. On the merits Of the amendment
we are decidedly in favor Of cheap post
age, aud look en- any retrogade movement
in this respect as not only unwise but un-
just.
At the present moment the Government
dead-heads itself at the expense, not OF the
people, but Of those who use the mails. II
the Government service was paid fer fr0m
the Treasury it would not only be mere
equitable, but lead to economy in q matter
where reform is justly demanded.
The compliment paid to Mr.. Speaker
Orr was well deserved only about thirty
fanatical negrophiles voting in the mega
tive His brief and eloquent farewell to
his colleagues was marked by the mOdesty
and good taste which arc characteristic oi
the man. We are glad that the majority
Of the Republican" members repudiated
in this particular the malignant sugges
tions Of the Tribune, and that they were
not willing to1sink the gentlemen at the
dictiOn of this bowling derVish Of Aboli
tionism
On the third Of March the President
submitted special message to Congress
of which the following is an extract:
"From the information submitted by the
Secretary Of the Treasury, il is manifest