Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-18
TELEGRAPH1o.
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IHsr additional Dispatches see Third PAse.l
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
SRSArE-Mr. Hunter from the Finance Com.
mittee, reported the Executive Legislature and
Judicial Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Mason from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, moved to print the report of Mr.. Nu-
gent, the o. S. Commissioner to Vancouvers
Island. Agreed to.
The resolution of Mr.. Wilson, recently laid
over, calling for detailed information respecting
the Buttertield overland mail contract, was taken
up and agreed to-.
Numerous private memorials, reports and
other business of minor Importance, were dis
posed Of
Mr.. Wade moved to postpone all prior orders
and take up the Homestead bill.
Mr.. johnson, of Tenn, also urged the CEN
sideration of the bill.
Mr.. Wilson, of Mass, and Mr.. Shields, oil
Mimi, wished to have the vote taken and Mr.
Reed, of N. c., and Mr.. Hunter, of Va, wanted
| it postponed 1t was finally agreed to take up
the bill by vote of 90 yeas against % nays
The bill was then read
Mr.. Hunter again moved to take up the
Consular and Diplomatic appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stuart of Mich, demonstrated against
the attempt to crowd off the homestead bill by
appropriation bills, which are sure to pass; some
was arranged in all precedence of business.
Mr.. Seward, of N. Y, urged that vote be
trken of the homestead bill, as measure that
would settle definitely the policy with respect
i
held by speculntoes and capitalists to the detri-
ment of the interests of labor.
The vote on Mr.. Hunters motion, TO postpone
the Homestead bill and take up the Consular
and Diplomatic appropriation bill, stood yeas
%, nays 2S-a tie. The Vice President giving
the casting vote in favor of the Consular and
Diplomatic appropriation bill
Mr.. Pugh, of Ohio, moved an amendment, in
| the nature of substitute, which proposes to
abate all grades of Ministers, except one and
fixes the salary of that grade ut 900 per an
mum and tine salary of Secretary of legation, at
SIS, 900 per annum, but all missions are to be
special and for reasons explained to the Senate
by the President at the time of appointment or
confirmation. The Office Of Consul General to
be abolished and the ConsGS to have the fees of
their offices up to the limit of the salaries now
provided by law.
Mr.. Mason, of Va, did not know that Mr..
Pugh could do better service than to the country
than to give his scru tiny to the subject of the
Consular service but thought that remedial
measures will require more preparation than this
general amendment; at suitable time he hoped
| TO have his able support in revision of the Con-
sular, and when need be, the Diplomatic service.
HousE.-The Sergeant at Arms, pursuant to
previous order of the House, produced John
Cassin of Philadelphia, who had been summoned
but failed to appear before the select Committee
appointed to investigate the accounts OF Mr.
Seaman, late superintendent of public printing.
The witness was arraigned at the bar of the
House under an attachment for contempt
On motion of Mr.. Geo. Taylor, Chairman of
select Committee, the Speaker was directed to
PROFOUND to Mr.. Cassin the questions what ex-
cuse he had to give and whether he was now
ready to appear before the Committee and an
swer all proper questions.
Mr. Cassin answered in writing under oath
that on being summoned by the Sergeant at
arms, he Immediately prepared to attend as
required, but allowed himself to be delayed for
few days owing to the illness of dear rela-
tive; but that he had now come and voluntarily
surrendered himself He meant no dIsrespect
to the House, and begged to be excused for any
appearance of actual dereliction, aud was ready
to testify before the Committee. Having thus
2urgcd himself from the alleged contempt, on
motion of Mr.. Taylor he was discharged from
custody.
MIR. English called up the bill regulating the
postage on newspapers and periodicals. He
said that it had been reported through the
press that this bill proposed to tax newspapers
now passing free. This WINS not the fact. The
design was that periodical dealers shall receive
mail matter on the same terms as regular sub
scribers. Another section authorized maps and
Autographs to be carried at one cent per ounce.
| Heretofore such matter had been excluded from
the mail. The third section proposed to pun
ish persons taking letters out of the post Office
| by mistake, and wilfully and frandulently omit
ting to return them; and also persons who in
like manner fail to apply money handed them
there is no adequate law to punish such offences.
The bill proposes a fine of 800 or years i'm
prisonment, or both. The bill was passed.
A PRETTY German girl, Catarina Stienburg,