The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-18
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THlRTY-FlFTH C0NGRESS--SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, February II.

| SENATE.
| Mr.. HUNTER reported from the Finance Commit
tee the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Appro-
| priation bill
Mr.. KENNEDY, from the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia, reported bill authorizing the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company to extend
their road to some place on the eastern branch of
| the Potomac, in either of the proposed routes as
recently published. Laid over.
| MIR. PEARCE gave notice that he should introduce
Dill TO provide for the navigation of the Patapsco
river in Maryland.
made
MIR. MASON, from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons, reported in favor of printing the report of
the United States Commissioner to Vancouyers
Island, which was agreed to.
| Mr. CoLLAMER presented the memorial of citizens
OF Michigan, relating to the chaplans of the United
States Navy. Referred
Mr.. WILSON called up resolution of inquiry Of
fered by him, calling on the Postmaster General for
copies of the contracts made with the Butterfeld
overland Mail Company, the number of letters car
red, the time, expense of each trip, &C., which was
| agreed to.
| Mr.. WADE moved TO postpone all previous orders.
and to take up the House BILL known as the act do
mating lands to actual settlers on the public do
| mains.
! Mr.. SLIDELI desired the Senate to consider his
| Senate. ~
Mr.. WADE objected He thought all that was ne
cessary was to take vote on the Homestead act
Every Senator understood its provisions
Mr. REID said that at the last session of Congress-
the Senate laid the bill the table, and he con-
| sdered that the tested action and views of the
| Senate thereon.
Mr.: JOHNSON, of Tenn, said that it was only post
@ sesd aha tS hb tb ad on the sbs
| Mr.. j. briefly advocated the bill.
Mr. REID said that postponing the bill was the
equivalent to Judgment of the Senate against the
passage of the measure 1t too late in the ses-
sion to consider this bill, and more important mea.
sures should be first taken up.
MIR. HUNTER briefly advocated the necessity of
fin afi fhar ro,.. Il
prlation BILL and trusted that it would now be ta-
ken up.
Mr.. WILSON trusted that there would be vote
| taken to-day on the Homestead bill
On the pending motion to take it up the yeas
and nays were ordered, which agreed to-yeas
26. nays %. So the bill was taken up.
MIR. STUART advocated the BILL If the govern
ment opened a portion of the public domain to ac-
tual settlers, it would derive from the sales
OF lands, caused by the settlement. Pending this
The CHAIR called up the special order-the bill
Tor the acquisition of Cuba-the proper hour having
| arrived.
=. Mr.. WADE moved to postpone it, so as to con
tlnue the consideration of the Homestead bill.
| Inc yeas and nays were ordered. Agreed to
| yeas 27 nays &c.
The question then recurred on motion of Mr.
HUNTER to postpone the Homestead bill, and take
| up the appropriation BILL long debate ensued
The yeas and nays ordered-yeas %, nays 2S.
There being tie vote, the VICE President deci-
ded In the affirmative; and the Senate then pro-
| Soeueu W tHe couSueTaLlOn OF the Consular and
diplomatic Appropriation bill for the year ending
| June 30th, 1860.
- The question was upon the amendment of Mr.
fudH, striking out the appropriation for foreign min
listers, and inserting in lieu thereof appropriation
| OF = dollars to enable the President to maintain
diplomatic intercourse with foreign nations; also
to strike out the salaries of consus and give them
their fees in lieu thereof.
Mr.. PUGH addressed the Senate in support of his
amendment.
He could not see the necessity of a minister being
appointed to Austria or the great increase in their
salaries for our foreign ministers
Mr.. HALE.-I tried to explain that in the execu-
nyS session OF the Senate; but the Senator from
ONO VT. Pugh) did not seem to understand it.
Mr. GH stated that when this government had
lores9A policy the expenses Of its ministers were
not near so great as at present. President Monroe
had once performed the duties of five foreign mis-
slons, but now require minister for each one
He did not believe in having minister at Rome
and one at Naples. One to Rome was sufficient for
the Kingdom. With regard to our consular sys-
TEN, ne thought that might be greatly reduced
AT SImoda, for instance, the salary of the consul
was 900 per annqm, while the income for the
same time was Sl0.I0l
~, Mr. p cited large number of similar instances.
Ihese offices were created and filled by the Presi-
dent to support class of declining politicians. He
believed in simply giving consuls the fees of their
othces for compensation, and to pay the excess to
| the treasury.
Mr.. HUNTER.-I will not saw n word unon the
amendment offered. 1t is simply effort to change
the whole diplomatic service in an appropriation
| bill.
Mr.. Mason favored the idea, but though the
amendment was defective, he would go for a
change, but did not believe in attaching it to an
| appropriation bill
1t must be done after more scrutiny and with
more deliberation
The consideration of the Cuba bill was then re-
| sumed.
! Mr.. CHANDLER of Michigan, pronounced this the
| most extraordinary proposition that had come be-
| fore this body since he had been member of it
Our treasury was bankrupt, we borrowing
money to meet our daily wants, and no remedy
| for our financial condition had been provided; our
! great national works were going to decay for want
| OF money to make the necessary repairs; nothing
could be done to improve our harbors and make
| them safe refuge ofcommerce; our debt was S70-
00OO00, and was increasing at the rate of $50 00O
900 per annum, and yet were asked to appropr-
ate $50 900 out of the treasury and for what? To
pay Just claims upon US? No! TOrepair our harbors
and build lighthouses? Mol To build Pacific
railroad, or to accomplish any other great benefit
for the country? No! But it is asked that it may
be placed in the hands of the President of the Uni
| ted States to purchase Cuba, which cannot be
| bought. The demand was preposterous Spain
had notified US that she would not sell, and had re-
| garded the Presidents suggestion as an insult
| This demand was worthy of the author of the Os-
tend manifesto; worthy of this democratic admins
tration; worthy of ames Buchanan 1t wasnot ex-
pected to buy Cuba with it; but it was designed as
great bribery and corruption fund.- to be used for
| the advantage of the democratic party In this
light 1t was disgraceful proposition. The demo-
cratic party was on the verge of destruction; the
empty treasury yielded no more support to its ad-
herents, and it was hoped that with this money and
the cry of Cuba the next Presidential election could
be carried for the democratic candidate. But he
believed that forty Cubas could save that party
| from the destruction that awaited it, The idea of
buying Cuba with thirty millions was absurd; two
hundred millions was the lowest price for which it
could be had.
Mr.. CHANDLER then went on to oppose its acqui-
stion, pronouncing the people ignorant and priest
ridden; the climate hot and unhealthy, and the
practice of the slave trade ineradcabe. He thought
$500 OOO, 900 too much to pay for the privilege of
| governing her debased and ignorant population.
He again attacked the Democratic party, whose
platform, he said, consisted of the two planks of
| Cuba and the Dred Scott decision. He alluded to
the corruption and extravaganza of the present Ad-
mnistration, and said if the Government expenses
were collected by direct taxation there would be a
rebellion in ninety days. The expenses had quad
rupled since 1885, but he hoped that by the success
OF the Republican party in 1860 new order of
| things would be inaugurated
MIR. Polk. of Missouri, considered the Cuba ques-
ton under four heads: 1st. Would the acquisition
be advantageous? End. Was purchase the prop
er mode? 3rd. Were we able to pay the
price asked? 4th. Is this the proper time to make
| the offer?
OF these propositions.
| Mr.. PUGH offered another amendment to consoli-
date the smaller missions, but without coming to
| a vote the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. ENGLISH, of Indiana, from the Committee on
| Post Offices and Post Roads, endeavored to put
upon its passage bill to punish the detention of
letters by parties to whom they have been deliver
| ed through mistake. For that purpose he moved
to reconsider the vote by which the bill was re-
| ferred to the Committee of the Whole. The bill
also provides for regulating the postage upon news
papers, &C., to dealers in magazines and period-
Gals, to induce them to send their packages by
mail instead of by express.
The Sergeant-at-Arms made return the
der issued for the arrest of John Cassin, of Phila
delpha, for failure to obey the summons of the
committee appointed to examine the accounts of
the late Superintendent of Public Printing. Mr..
Cassin brought before the bar of the House,
and having stated that he had been detained by i'll
in his family, and that he ready and will
ing to testify, he excused and discharged from
custody.
The motion of Mr. ENGLISH to reconsider was
then agreed to.
Mr.. WALBRIDGE, of Michigan, moved to strike out
the whole Sd section.
Mr. WAsHBURNE, of illinois, moved to strike out
the 4th section.
Mr. OLIN moved to amend the Sd section by ada
ing the words Or destroyed in reference to letters
fraudulently retained Agreed to.
Mr.. WALBRIDGE's motion was then negatived
Themotion of Mr.. WAsHBURNE was lost by ayes AZ,
noes 81.
Mr. PALMER moved to lay the bill on the table.
Lost
Mr. HUGHES, of Indiana moved to reconsider the
vote by which the bill ordered to be engrossed,
in order to enable him to offer certain amend
ments.
Mr.. WAsHBURNE moved to lay that motion on the