, 1859-01-29


Probably by this mail you will receive copy
Of the decision By Secretary Thompson against
the presumption clains set up to the public
lands on Rock Island. The decision IT, that the
island is still mi!itary reservation, and can
not be sold without au act Of Congress, the law
Of last sessloa haslng taken away the power to
sell. This knocks the plans of the speculators
qnito into pi. One set Of pre- em2tion c.aim.
ants express their determination to remain
upon their claims, and to contest g: law all ut.
tempts to oust them. They rely upon Judge
McLean's decision on the Bridge case.
AB think it important 10 relieve our polti.
cal friend. Montgomery Blair, from responsibility
for any connection with the LindsleY and Dan
forth party Of squatters, l will state, at the
hazard of repetition, tina. be represents another
interest, and ia entirely opposed to them.
The Cubau ag'tation has begun in earnest.
The Senate Committee On foreign ai1Alrs yes,er-
day reported the thirty million loan bill, to en-
able the President to begin operations in his
peculiar 6tyle-that is, By b:lbing the Spanish
officials OF Cuba, and the Spanish ministry, aud
the c=uEt pinps in Madrid. This practice be
thoroughly understands, aud it corresponds
With his idea Of st4tesmaoahip. l. is the same
plan by which he attempted to pass Lscomptoa,
AID By which be did pass the English bill.
partE Of CuDans now here, ray they dis
tlnctly understand Mr. buchanan, that be means
to buy Captain Genera! Concha, and they init
mate that the means indicated might not be ua-
successful. Ga the other hand, there is no cer.
tainty that Mlniste: Preston will be received.
There IL eveu no certainty TIM: be means to 70
to the Spanish court until after the adjournment
OF Congress. 4 short time before Mr. Preston
left this city, he said that he did not care to 90
to Spain to discharge routine duties, but WIS
ambitious to be 1ble to do something which
would s;gnalize hia r,is:ic.. Tae onty con-
structiou of this language appears to be, that he
intended to wait in Paris or London until after
it should be known whether Congress would
back u1 the recommendations Of the Message
bg placing in the hands Of the President the
means Of carrying OCT bis policy.
nr. Seward made short spccch, approving
the bill in EA!her spo7slre rein. as il he thought
it slight matter. Toom5s made s!ushnc,
Locofoco. tl!buster speech; The speech was
rude, snnltow, uu.tntesmaniike, the pattern aud
model OF those which will he mate on hat side
throughout the co7.rCyersy.
Now, probably this bill will pass the Senate
There is danger that it will PASS the House al.o.
and become a Law. Douglas, and the Douglas
wing Of the Democracy, will support it heartily.
Coz, OF Ohio. commonly called Sunset Cox. or
San Cox, hes made ranting speech in its fa-
vor. The bill command ST votes in the House
from the South, and will require, to give it q
majority, So Northern Democrats There are
81 of them IN the House. IL i: probable that
t@enty-three homes: and aad true mcu among
them can BE- found to break the t7Ammels OF
their party, hen the Executive stands behird
with bags Of coin and thousands Of offices. I
confess doubt it. For the first time tear that
the scheme vii! be carried throu n.
The House COMMITTEES uu Foreign Aft 1rs hara
AGREED upon the sane bill, and are ready to re.
port il. The Democrats all concur in lhe j.
joritY report, and al the Republicans sign that
Of the minority brt Mr. BurIiogame, who re.
fUsts! Taa.ls most singular acd most lament
able. Aad the re4son which he g,vea makes
the case worse. lie says thls s1ms Of the
B'hoys OF bis district are in flEa- OF tie acuu;.
si.ion Of Cuba. TLis is no reagoa at a!l for The
granting o. aa enormous bribery fuad is no way
10 get Cubs.
II this bill be passed, the consequences will be
Eb9ut as fallows: Thirty millions Hili be added
to the public debt. |! any ea-etual use of the
money be made, this sum will be but the first
iassament of $i50, ,0o9, Uo0 to be paid for Cuba.
Bat If spent in Organizing open legitimate xar,
we shall soon have upon our ha3ds a contest
With France. Spain ind England, which will
cost &5n0, ,o0o,0e0.
Tbs Oregon aud Washington Indian war debt
makes poor progress 1t is not a Southern
claim, otherwise it would hare been promptly
paid whether six millions or sixty. The Mill.
tary Committee OF the House have classified the
items. and have redaced the aggregate below
two millions. Among tae charges are, old pis
1ots, so5; old Condemned United St4tes mug
kets, sold By the government for IS, u: ss5;
hay, per ton. $}45; oats. per busael, $475;
corn. 81; pnsturage Tor horses, 80 per dag, k:.,
and 60 on.
Con-. Paulding has written to Mr. Richie, of
Pa, beautiful letter il scln2wledgm mt o. his
e1orts in getting through the House the laie
resolution Of thanks. tor arrestlnz zone William
Walker" JUs1us.