Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-22
LAST NIGHTS REPORT.
CONGRESSIONAL
WASHINGTON, Feb. 81.

| HOUSE.
The House refused to strike out $4,000 from
the Arsenal appropriation, and then passed the bill
| Mr.. Wilson made an Intellectual attempt 10 re.
port the bill repeating the fishing bounties.
A sp akers warrant was granted for the arrest u
Harry Conaily, witness before the printing in
Vestigation Committee, who had left the city.
The House refused to suspend the rules to ena-
BILE Mr. Phillips to introduce his bill providing for
outstanding Treasury votes, &C. and then went in
to Committee on the P. o. appropriation bill.
MIR. Blair offered an amendment authorizing
Butterfeld Co. to carry the overland mail by any
route they may select. He wanted to compel the
Postmaster General 10 execute the law as it stands
He had been informed that the Postmaster General
owned large body of land in Arkansas. and this
was the reason why the mail was sent over that
route Besioes this there were considerations con.
nected with the Pacific R. R., which induced the
movement in that direction.
Mr.. Reagon opposed that amendment and de-
Tended the Post Master General from the charge
of selfish motives in the selection of the route
The amendment was adopted.
Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, offered an amendment
providing that the advertisement of the mail
routes in each State and Territories, shall be
be published in two newspapers only of the
largest circulation in each. Adopted with an
additional proviso that they shall be selected in
the same city or town.
Mr.. Colfax, of Indiana, offered an amend
meDt, which was adopted, giving the contract
for printing the Post Office blanks to the low
est bidder.
Mr. Olin, of n Y, offered an amendment,
which was adopted, that the contract for wrap
ping paper shall be given 10 the lowest bidder
Without coming to conclusion the Commit
tee arose.
Mr. Abbott condemned the extravaganza of
the Administration and the Dred Scott decision
Mr. Lovejoy opposed the acquisition of Cuba.
He spoke of the despotism of slavery in the
South, and said that if free discussion and d
free press were permitted there iu twelve months
there would be more Republican votes in the
slave States than Democratic votes in the
Northern.
SENATE
The Diplomatic appropriation bill was taken up
When Simmons again went at length into the ques-
| tion of exchanges.
Mr.. Trumbull followed on the some side and
was succeeded by ToOmbs on the opposite.
Mr.. Simmons amendment limiting the rate of
exchange was stricken out, and the bill passed, IS
to %.
The House army appropriation bill was read
and referred to the Financial Committee.
The Cuba proposition was then taken up when
Mr. Mason offered an amendment by way of substi-
tute to the effect that Congress comedies the pro-
prety and ultimate necessity Of acquiring Cuba,
that without committing itself to future measures
Congress at present confines itself to q declaration
that the United States are prepared to receive the
Island whenever Spain is ready to transfer it for
fair equivalent, and that this country can never
main neutral under any policy which should sever
Cuba from Spain in favor of any foreign power
Mr. Collamer spoke against the Cuba proposition.
He denied that all expansion of Territory was ne
cessity of national growth, and eontended that in
our case the acquisition of additional soil by con-
quest or otherwise is at variance with the whole
| frame work Of our Government, and especially so
if such additional soil does not border on our own,
and would require standing army to defend it.