, 1860-03-10

iand-I'r<sfd<~tfnEC Conrsnfions, a.. ar.
lSrcc!A Correspondence Of the Prs. AID Tr.lune.1
wAsu,sazox March :, $780,
The House rushed through larcc quantity
Of work YESTERDAY. The bill 10 reduce Con-
gressional mileage from forty to twenty cents
and take the "crooks " out Of it, was asforced to q
vote by Mr. Sherman, under u cali for the pre-
sious question There were some attempts 10
stave oil and straugle the bill, on tho part Of
certain members, but unsuccessfully. The major.
isy, IN obedience to sense Of right and to pub
he sentiment, resolved to retrcnch the exorbi-
fancy OF the amount md straighten the circuit
Of the distance charged. The sense Of justice
was shocked at paying Senators and Represen-
tatiscs from the Paci1ic States &C. 900 mileage to
each for travelling to Washington on dead
head" steamship tickets. Coming here with
out costing them cent, and then drawing
double aCongressman's salary for mileage alone,
1s an abuse that cried aloud for reform. The
bill passed the House by u vote Of yens l34,
nays 81. IT is believed that it will also pass the
Senate. if 80, it will sare to tile Treasury $780,
| 900 annually.
Mr. Washburne'of Illinois, Chairman Of the
Commntee on Commerce, reported tie joint
resolution referred to in my last letter-provid.
| ing that the unexpcnded balance of the light
house and pier appropriation for Chicago
be applied to dredging and improving
the harbor, removing the sand bars and deep
ening the channel Mr.. Washburne sustained
his resolution By short, pointed speech, giving
cogent reasons for its adoption, and morcd the
"prcvious question" at the close Of his remarks,
cutting off objections and further dcbate. The
resolution passed by large majority. as the
Republicans and Americans act together On all
questions Of this character, the Democracy arc
unable to defeat them they show their fangs,
but can't bite. Judge Trumbull will ret the
resolution through the Senate, if It be possible
The amount Of money that will he applied to
improving the navigation Of the harbor, il the
resolution becomes Law, will be $4,000. 4
vast good Gun be accomplished with this sum, if
it be prudently expended.
The Homestead liff was reported back from
the Committee on Public Lands bY Lovejoy of
| Illinois, who is member Of that Committee.
lie moved to have the bill put on its passage,
and demanded the previous question, remarking
that the subject was well understood-was de-
sired by the laborng classes, was right in itself,
aud no further time need be consumed in lis
| discussion.
Branch Of n. c., Democratic leader, moved
to lay the bill on the table, and called for the
ayes and noes. Ioyejoy said that those who
wnnted- to Kill the bill would vote "aye," and
the friends Of Free Homesteads would yote
against this Democratic motion to lay on
the table. Tie rotc resulted as foIlows:-
To kill the bill, yeas II, noes III. The Re-
publicana voted in 4 sot,d phalanx against
tabling, and the South in an equally solid body
to smother 1t. All the AutiLecomptoa Demo-
Gratis voted with the Republicans The bill was
then ordered to third reading, and to-day l
hope to see it pass by stiff majority. Then
let the Democrats in the Senate kill it If they
dare.
Hoard Of New 1~ork offered q resolution to
appoint committee to investigate whether any
improper attempts had been made by any per-
son connected with the present Administration
to influence the action Of the House, OF any of
its members, upon my question or measure TINT
may have been before it, BY meaus Of bribes,
promises Of Office for self or friends, by intimi-
datlon, faror or regard, with power to send
for persons and papers. The preamble to the
resolution refers to the statements made on the
floor By Messrs. uaskin, Hickman and Adrain,
that attempts had been made by the Admins
tration to purchase their support for the inla.
nous Lecompton bill. The resolution was most
sayagcly assailed br the Democratic members,
who were unneasnrsd in thcir vituperat;ou;
but in spite of The frantic efforts Of Houston,
Florence, Clemens. Extra Billy, and other rot
t'ns,' the investigation Was ordered. When
thsrc is such 4 cloud Of dust kicked up there
mus be some dirt under it. The Democracy
a,e exceedingly sensitive about having the
secrets Of lie White House made public. I
shall be agreeab1y disappointed if these iu-
quiries do not result in some startling deyelop-
tnents, some astounding exposures. Every
body knows that tbs Government contracted to
| pay Majors l. Russcll-the great Kansas bor-
der ruilians-an enormous price for transport
ing supplies to the army in Ctal. 1t has long
been suspected that some "black mair' was
lcvied on that firm, mud it is now whispered, in
this city, that IN consideration of the double
price agreed to be puid them, they gave their
promissory notes to certain Democratic poll
ticiaas for more than half q million Of do11ars,
and that this immense sum Of money has
been used as d Democratic corruption
fund to influence elections. 1t is also rumored
| that more than half lie black mail" aforesaid,
remains uue1pended and is reserved as a fund
to MD tho Democratic party to elect the Charles
ton nominees, by employing the money in the
close and doubtful States. The truth of this
report will be rrobcd 10 the bottom By Coyode's =
"Smeling Committee That whole Utah expe-
dition needs an oycrhaulug. Six millions Of
money hare been stink on it, and what has
been accomplished? It has been marked from
first to last with blunders, plundcr and pecu1a.
ton.
The House elected Chaplain yesterday
Rev. Thomas II. Stockton Of philadelphia-a
Methodist clergyman. who disbelieyes that
slavery is ditine institution, or that The fore
ordaincd mission of the American Government
is to foster, protect md e1pnnd human bond
age. He received Ill rotes. A Rev. gentle
: man named Proctor, who believes in d pro.
, s!nvcEy Bible, pro-slavery Constitution, and q
: pro, slavery God, received 20 votcs. Consc.
: quently Ills prayers and doctrines were declined
r by the honorable House.
The orders for Stewards great speech hare
5 reached SOL. 900 copies; 10000 copies hare beer
# ordered for circulation in PENNSYLVANIA. Lii
). friends arc greatly elated, and talk confident,
e Of his nomination.
c The New Eng1anders are delighted With *s Ok
c Abe" lie is daily addressing vast mass meet
s ings-in the open air in daytime, and in th
: largcst halls TINT can be found ut night Il
d has spoken in Connecticut, New uampshire au
e Rhode Island. The people Of Maize are tryio
q to get him in that State. lie consented to ID
dress the Massachusetts, Republican State Cor
yent1on at Worcester to-day. The pennsylvani
State Central Committee tried to engage hi
services for few weeks in that State after hal
= vest. He replied that he was going to labc
- :, where his friends thought he could do the mo.
- good for the csuse Of freedom, but could nj
h. promise definitely 50 long ahead. From ii
n, way leading Republicans from the Eastern Stat
m talk, it looks very much as it the Chicago nom
=. nation stands between Lincoln and Seward.