The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-04
OFFICIAL LIST OF ACTS PASSED
WORK LEFT OVER FOR THE NEXT CONGRESS-.
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EXTRA SESSION OF THE New SENATE,
&e., Ac., &c.

&e., Ac., &cs
The Thirty fifth Congress brings is proceedings close
at to-day The session which just being concluded
has been remarkable one in many respects Not only
had the President aed the acquescence of Congress In
many Of great import TO his administration and
TO the country but the disposition Of the votes upon
of these questions has been such to indicate closer
drawing together Of party lines.
Whatever may be said thought about the deteriora
ton of public morals and about the lack of virtue in
public men, there just ground tor stgmatizng
the body that is approaching its official dissolution
In respect party measures, may have shown and has
shown much proneness TO follow the course marked
out for It, and has exhibited too little regard for
high toned, statesman like policy There has been too
much Of discipline observed and too little of independent
action On almost all Of political complexion
the party lines have been closely drawn that the vote
could always be known in advance. But, far the
personal character Of members concerned, far
individual morality is concerned, and far corrupt
jobs are concerned this Congress has given less
Of complaint than any that has preceded at least within
the last decade two There has been but charge
of corruption made and that but against single member
Of the House, and there much Of doubt about that
that the principle Of the common law the accused is
perhaps entitled 10 the benefit Of the doubt There has
mot been single land grant scheme successful nor in
deed be fairly said that any improper measure has
become law of the present Congress-
We proceed to give resume of the most important pro-
ceedngs transacted during the session just expiring
which fail prove highly interesting and instruc-
tive to our readers
PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.
The bill providing for railroad to the Pacific in
troduced by Mr. Gwin of California; into the Senate at
the previous session, the nth December, 1857 On
the 7h December 1885, he moved to take up again. but
consented to withdraw for time The object Of this
bill was to authorize and facilitate the construction of
northern, southern and central Pacific Railroad and
magnetic telegraph through the Territories Of the United
States. proposed to appropriate and set apart guam
y of public land equal to the alternate sections for the
space of twelve miles each side of the roads, from
their eastern to their western termini, as foIows-
One road and telegraph commence on The wessrn border
he nsvsaSe waters Of the Pscac in the State 81 Caorn
70 be known as The southern Pacific Railroad;
telegraph the western borde-
s,ss
% Se Pacs Raoy Of Dan as zen
%
an Dd s % to Tie
the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Bids TO be invited by advertisement from persons
willing to contract for the construction of each of these
lines, In which bids the persons offering to state,
rst the time, not exceeding ten years. in which the road
and telegraph would be finished and ready for use,
and what and portion would be finished each year
second, the time in which they would surrender the
road and it's appurenances free Of cost, TO the United
States for the purpose Of being surrendered to the
raj States and third, the sum- not exceeding $500 per
mile per annum, for which they would carry the Uned
States mail daily both for fifteen years from the
carry any portion Of the road before the completion of
the line, troops, arms and munitions Of war
1sh Of pecemSer by vote Of thirty to eighteen and
finally 1t was allowed to lie over informally.
During the same week several bills with the same gene
raj object were introduced into either house Senator
Rice Of Minnesota, introduced substitute for Senator
Gwins BILL entitled "a bill to aid in the construction of
certain railroads the Pacific to encourage settlements
House, Mr. Washburne of Maine, asked leave to introduce
stil another bill for the construction Of Northern,
Southern and Central Railroad TO the Pacific
The debate in the Senate turned mainly the location
Of the road. The BILL reported from the select
shall commence con the Missouri river, between the
mouths Of the Big Sioux and the Kansas rivers" Senator
Polk of Missouri, offered amendment, which con-
sderaby debated strike that provision as to he
eastern terminus, and 10 insert In lieu OF II the following
Between point in the boundary Of Mnnesosa the forty
ninth parallel Of norn Latitude and the southern boundary OF
This amendment was rejected by vote of yeas II,
Senator Ward Of Texas, gave notice Of an amendment
at the same point Of the BILL 30 as to make Il read
From some point between the forty degree Of north la
@ ae % o h s s
California, reference being had to feasibility shorness and
And he also proposed TO reduce the maximum advance
Of money by the government from s25,000,000 10
while Senator Wilson, Of Massachusetts, gave
notice OF an amendment to insert the words
the shortea practicable route between the parallels Of
Subsequently Mr. Doolittle of Wisconsin, offered an
amendment refer back the whole subject to the Com
mttce Public Lands with instructions TO report back
bill providing for the appointment OF three sets Of CON-
mssouers TO be composed of three members each whose
duty il shall be, within the present year, to locate
Northern Southern and Central Railroad route to the
Pacific and TO report the location and cost Of the same re-
specvey to the President who shall thereupon enter into
contracts for the building Of the roadssuch contracts
being subject 10 the approval Of Congress None Of the
public lands be aenated to the contractors, but the
proceeds of the sale of alternate sections 10 actual settlers
at % 50 per acre. sha towards the deayng OF the ex
G and 81 Sous % s
At the rate Of me TO be secured by Lien on the
road
the Senate, when the 9th Of January Mr. Dooittle
added several additional amendments and sections which
we're adopted Among them the nna section on, as 'ne
authorized TO take proposals for northern and southern
routes leaving the central route now and report to
Congress at the commencement Of the next sessonhe
advertisement be made for eight months In two District
Of Columbia newspapers.
Mr. simmons, (opp.) Off l., then moved 70 strike ont
all between the enactng clause and the said final secon
which was carried. thus killing the bill.
The vote was as follows
ds sss cns.1 Bs Ssns%a @ Sv BTSn
poohsie Dprtee fsssendsp, Foot Green, Hale, Hamn,
sssdy King s Perez Reid kiss ssSssa.n siisiss
summons shds, Stuart Thomson Of n. j., Toomss, Ward
ctNxys-Mesar Allen, BayArd Bsler Frederick, Brown,
ynnn pomgles Fitch Fitzpatrick Foster Qwfn Harlan,
10. 49, '""~'u' A'uno"i' "sus' ""''"' Au'''
Inc bill was then read thrce times and passed by the
uSsnasr lear. Bell Bsler Bright Frederick Cameron,
fos "n PS s%u RSSs .Isn 5snss SS
men rumSu sss %sds dssSS;sn Seward Shields Sim
rutns,rsr nnysrd Benjamin. Brown Chesnut Clay,
Tsnr KIN, rmparce Green, Hunter, iyersop johnson Of
~ j. Toombs VIA resrce Push Reid dell, Thomson Of
PAIRrD.Fiich WIKI Hammond cou.v,.- IA. r,.~.or NJ
Ark, Mallory with Wright 0'''"'4'' "''' '"'A''' VI