, 1859-01-28
ARRIVAL of THE NORTHERNER.

L, DALI, commander, we are placed in
possession of New York dates to the goth,
New Orleans TO the 26th ult., and San
Francisco to the l7th inst. The news re-
ceived by this mail is generally unimportant
to the people Of the Territories of Wash
ington and Oregon, being almost entirely
Of local nature. Congress seems to be
doing Just sufficient in the matter of legis-
lation to entitle them to their per diem, and
no measures of great Importance to the
people of the Pacific coast-save the intro.
duction Of bill, by Senator WILSON, for
the construction of the Pacific railroad
had yet been brought forward in either
house. The provisions Of this bill are sub
stantially as follows-The President aud
Senate shall appoint five civil engineers,
practically experienced III the laying out
and construction of railroads, who, within
two years, shall locate tho route of rail
road from the Missouri River to San Fran
cisco, through theregion between the 34th
and 43d parallels.
II the President approves of their deci-
sion, the railroad, as located by them, shall
be built by the Government, under the di-
rection of Board, to consist Of the Secrc-
taries ofsWar and the Interior, the Post
master-Gcneral, and the Attorney-G General,
who shall contract with the bidders for its
construction, in sections of not more than
twenty-five miles in length.
Money to build the road shall be raised
by loan, as needed, in sums Of not more
than SIC, 100000 annually.
From the passage of the act till the To-
cation of the road, all public IandS between
the aforesaid parallels shall be withheld
from sale, but shall be open to presumption
by actual settlers. After the road is loca-
ted, the proceeds of the sale of lands, for
one hundred and fifty miles on each side,
shall constitute fund for the construction
of tho road, and the payment Of the debt
incurred for it,
Mr. Wilson proposes this on the ground
that the Pacific Railroad is public neces-
sity, and that there is no hope that private
capital will invest in it. If done at all it
must be done by the Government.
In the House. the Committee on Terrific
ries had meeting, December nth, and re
jsctCd, by q vote Of five against four, Mr.,
GrOw's'proposed amendment to the Senate's
Oregon Bill to repeal that clause Of the
English Kansas Bill which prohibits the
people Of Kansas from calling a Convention
to form Constitution, until they have a
sufficient population for Representative
in Congress according to the federal ratio.
The bill, as it came from the Senate, was
ordered to be reported. Later advices re-
ceived here aud in California, however, in-
form US that the probabilities are in favor
Of the admission of Oregon as a state at
this session, notwithstanding the almost
general opposition i, is likely to meet with
from the Republicans and Americans, to
the former Of whom the constitution is ob.
noxiOus for the reason that it denies citizen
ship to negroes. The real reason, however,
is probably to prevent her admission until
1860, 6y accomplishing which they. expect
to secure the next presidency.
Bills had also been introduced in both
houses for the organization Of territorial
governments for Arizona, and Dacotah,
and an Intellectual effort was made in the
House to admit Mr.. Mowry to seat on
the floor as delegate for the first named
Territory in embryo.
In the discussion which ensued upon the
Introduction Of the bill to organize the
Territory of Arizona, Mr.. WILSON (oppo-
sition) moved to amend so as to provide
for the election Of governor, secretary,
judges and other officers by the people
Should this amendment pass, we hope that
privilege may also be extended 10 the Ter
ritory Of Washington, with the residents
Of which we doubt not, an event Of this
kind would be hailed by general ucclama-
tiOn. .--
The secretary Of the treasury was about
to issue proposals for the loan of ten mil
liens Of dollars, being the balance Of twen-
ty millions authorized and provided for by
the last Congress
The Post Office Department intended to
resort to stringent measures in all cases
where the offence Of using borrowed franks
to cover private correspondence, so preva-
lent in Washington, cau, by any possibility,
be traced to the guilty parties.
Mr.. SrEADMAN, printer to the House, had
sent in his resignation. Various cOmbina-