Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-02
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 1859.

Contrary to the opinion entertained By wellposted
public here the bill for the admission of Oregon
as State, passed the House it came from the
Senate by majority of eleven votes, sixteen Black
Republicans voting for it. The delegation from
North Carolina was equally divided on this bill,
Messrs Branch, Craige, Ruffn and Winslow voting
for it, and Mcssrs Scales, Shaw Vance and Gilmer
against it. The two latter gentlemen opposed Ore
CONS admission on account of the suffrage clause
in her constitution, while Messrs. Scales and Shaw
voted against it. because it had not the requisite
population. As matter of course during the even
ing of the day on which Oregon was admitted, there
was general jjofcaton indulged in by the friends
of the new State, when music, speeches and cham
pasne were literally dispensed to the enthusiastic
crowd Gen. Lane delivered a pratical, sensible
speech ON the occasion, and was followed by Mr..
Voorhees, OF Indiana, disciple of the territorial
expansion school, who regarded Oregon as the
modern Tyre into whose lap the glittering wealth
OF Asia was to be poured. As setotf to this ad-
mission of another free State the House few days
thereafter tabled the bills reported by Mr. Stephens
for creating territorial governments for Arizona,
Dakotah and Jefferson. Strong, earnest efforts have
been made to carry these bills through Congress,
but they have been repudiated by one of the most
overwhelming votes | have ever known recorded
under such circumstances. Vast quantities of ink
have been shed, ingeniohs arguments and fabulous
stories OF the wealth and resources of these pro-
posed territories have graced the dull columns of
the Union, day after day, until the public were
nauseatcd with the oft repeated DOSE and even the
appeal of "territoral expansion as necessary to
democratic success, was pitcously made, yet with
all these operating &rces the bills were killed. as
trust all future propositions of this character may
be. 1t is about time that the South looked to her
own interests little more closely and rcfrained
from allowing abOlitondom to make catSpaw of it.
Actuatcd by a chivalric and loyal devotion to the
Cnion it has yielded and conceded until it has been
overshadowcd and almost placed at the mercy of
northern flctionists. 1t is all well enough to cry
out to the conservative south when danger threatens
''saye the Union;" we hare been ''saving" the
Union for years and the hands we have strengthened
have sought to tilch from rights, and deny
us the hard earned fruits of our labor. OF late
years. the result of the South's Saving the Union
has been that it got the shadow while the North ap-
propriated the substance
The bill for the benefit Of agricultural colleges
having passed both houses, now only requires the
signature of the President to become law am
inclined to believe from what can learn from those
presumed to be advised of the Presidents intentions
that the bill will be vetoed.
In the Senate the consideration of the Homestead
bill of the House postponed by tic vote, the
Vice President giving the casting vote. The Cuba
question is still under discussion and has elected
several very able speeches for and against it. The
appropriation bills are making slow progress and
will probably be delayed until the last hours of the
session, and then hrrriedly passed without proper
scrutiny and examination. 1t is hardly probable
that the Cass Yrissarr treaty will be submitted to
the Senate for week to come, as it will be neces-
sary to have copy of the treaty concluded between
Great Britain and Nicaragua before taking any ac-
tion there Senators who will regard this treaty
as part oil the arrangement through which the Cen
trail American question between the United States
and Great britain is to he settled. On yesterday
the Senate WAS surprised by the reception of mes
sage, which created little stir and excitement
The President calls the attention of Congress to the
necessity Of "cgiSlativc action for the protection of
American citizens and their property, whilst in
transit across the isthmus routes' lie recommends
the passage of an act, authorizing the President to
employ the land and naval forces OF the United States
to prevent the closing obstracng of these routes
by lawlcss violence, and for protecting the rights
and property of our citizens the forces to be with
drawn as soon as the necessity which calls them
into service shall cease to exist There certainly
cogcnt reasons for confcrring upon the EXecr-
tive the authority asked in the message, than existed
at the time when similar discretionary power was
considered necessary for the conduct of the Para
quay affair. There is however, an evident dsincli-
nation on the part of majority of the Senate, to
increase the powers of the federal government and
the Statershs men look with suspicion and disfavor
upon this movement 1t is impossible to determine
the fate of any measure before the present Congress-
and it Is idle and useless to pen mere conicctures
The committee of Ways and Means of the House are
still unable to agree upon plan for supplying the
anticipated deficiency in the revenue The Demo
Gratis of the Pennsylvania delegation ohstinatcly
| determined upon opposing reissue of treasury
| notes to relieve our financial cnbarrassments and
the opposition will tackle to them in this matter to
the bitter end From the present temper of the
House, I should incline to the belief that nothing
will be done, and that called session of the next
Congress will become necessary, when we may look
for q tariff on the protective scale
Mr.. Morris Of Illinois, delivered speech few
days since in committee of the whole, which in bit
ter invcctive and fonl dcnunciaon of the admins
tration cquacd the filthy TRADES of Lovejoy, the
! political scavenger of the Republican party. Mr..
Morris is presumed to be the mouth-pece of Judge
Douglas; if so. then the Judges mild, concilatory
| spirit is assumed, and while evincing desire for
harmony he strikes his blows through the agency Of
such reckless, shallow paed tools as this Mr. Morris
Judge Douglas seems disposed to bury the toma
hawk and smoke the pipe of peace and the best cv
dence he can give of his sincerity will be to silence
! this specimen of sounding brass" If education
talent polish is recognized in Morriss district,
should think it capital speculation for some young
man of ordinary attainments to locate there in
stanter.
1here Is private claim now DelOrc congress
which possesses some interest and as it will bt
pressed upon the consideration of Congress- viii
notice it. 1t is claim of Dakin, Moody, Gilber
and Sccar, New York parties, involving some sl47,
600. The case is this. These parties contracted
for the construction of Sectional Dock at San Fran
cisco for the government and were to be allowed, a
gratuity, the Of the Dock for three years afte
its completion. But before it was completed they
made constant of it in docking vessels thus re
tardng its completion considerably beyond the tim
stipulated in their contract. The government, un
der these circumstances took possession of the doc
at the expiration of three years from the time the
commenced using it. These parties now claim tn
dockage fees received by the government for tn
three years they allege they have been deprived Q
it. with an advance of 1921 per cent. upon the rate
charged by the government. The Navy Depart
ment resisted the claim and they have appealed t
Congress. This New York firm have already bull
docks at Portsmouth, N. H., Philadelphia, Pensaco
L., o,l L.,