, 1860-02-17

WAsH1SGToS, Feb. 15-1t is now understood
in political circles that Mr. Douglas, falling to
secure the nomination ut Charleston from the
united opposition Of the South against him, will
transfer all the strength be Gun command in
favor Of Alexander Il. Stephens. He will have
power enough in The Convention to control tue
nomination Of another, without being able 10
commsnd 1t for himself.
alr. Brigh1's inquiry into tue reasons for the
delay III the construction Of the dnme Of the
Capitol, will develop shat the contractor agreed
| to furnish two classes at two cents per pound
respectively. Application Was made by Mr.
Meigs for an increase in prices, which be re-
fused, ns did bis successor, Capt. Franklin. An
TO seven centa per pound, making difference
| Of S120, 900 in the cost of the material.
N. y. T'nes Washington Correspondence
Senator Bright, after two days considera-
| tlon, has named the Committee to arrange the
ChuE!eston Convention platform, viz: Green,
| Fitch, Biglcr, G~in and Chesnut. each OF
whom spoke IN caucus in favor Of Mr.. Davis
resolution. The object of the Committee was
to confer and harmonize the several PROPOSE
tions. The gentleman named are oil on the
game side. No wonder Senator Bright re-
| CURED two days to reconcile the appointment
| Of such Committee, to Ills own conscience.
| N. 7. He8ald's Washington Co:r.s2.nd:nce.l
A proposition is now before the Senate Post
| Office Committee, and bill will be reported TO-
|
Harnum. Hiram Slbley, 7. II. Walker, J. Il. Ber-
ryhil', J. D. Cation, G. H. S,ebbins, Norman
| Green and F. 4. Bee for the use, by Govern.
ment, of line Of telegraph from Missouri to
San Francisco. for period Of ten years, at IN
annual compensation OF fifty thousand dollars
from the time the line is completed.
The line is to be finished in two Yeare. at an
estimated cost Of one million Of dollars. Al
though the compensation is regarded as small,
it is believed that the great amount Of tele-
granh interest now held by the parties named
u the bill, will secure the building Of the line
The Committee on Election will take up The
| contested seat Of Dir. Sickles first. Ii will
| probably be reached tomorrow.
| The proposition Of the British Government
for the settlement Of the San Juan question has
not yet been laid before The Government. Itis
mt ut Ill probable that tile proposal will be ac-
| cepted. as the President has repeatedly stated
| that be would not back down from the position
| he had assumed in The matter
There is some talk tonight that Mr.. Adams
| will lead off with the hume Of Mitchell for
in the same way, with the understanding that
| one or the other gentleman who voted fur De.
| frees to-day will follow in the same direction,
| thus indicating, as in the contest for Speaker,
who can Le elected it having been shown almost
| certainly who cannot be.
The Post Office bill lcga1izes the payment Of
| $l,141 ,000 for compensation to Postnasters aud
clerks for incidental expenses ending in Decem-
ber, leaving the remainder of the $1,000, OCT up.
propriated for these purposes subject to the
immediate order Of the Postmaster. General
Several dnys;~ however, will elapse before the
necessary forms can be prepared for transfer.
ring the larger amount appropriated from the
Treasury for the use Of the Department. The
| certificates OF Indebtedness will be in the order
| in which they filed in the Department, and
The other debts in the order in which til y oc-
! CURED. The amount Of interest to be paid on
deferred payments 10 contractors will be about
$l00,0
The Committee on Elections took up the con-
tested election case Of the Sd Congressional
| District of New York. Mr. Williamson. the
contestant, made statement, TO which Mr..
Sickles repIed, asking further time to put in his
points. lle takes the ground that in conse-
quencc of the tai!ure Of Mr.. Williamson, to
serve hims with notice, the contestant is out
OF court und unot be beard on the merits of
the case. Slr. Williamson replied that owing to
the failure ofthe State canvassers to make such a
declaration as contemplated in the act Of Con-
and by virtue Of the action Of that body
there was no way left for him to compel the at-
tendance Of witnesses under the act. Tie case
was then postponed till Tuesday next The
committee will ask for tue appointment Of u
commission to take testimony 20 that the case
may be decided Oh its merits.
CSC bills aud resolutions, merely for the pur-
pose Of reference, were introduced into the
House to-day larger number than ever before
introduced in single day. There were 4G yes.
terdnr under the call Of tue several States. No
previous opportunity had been presented for
the political budgets.
Judge Douglas in response to note from
Fernando Wood, denies the truth Of the news.
paper statement that the latter when the forme.
was in New York, pledged his entire delegation
to him in the Charleston Convention.
Augustus Wattles, formerly one Of the editors
Of the Htrad ef Freedom, and IN old friend ot
John Browns, was arrested here to-day, and
will, during the week, give his testimony before
thu Harper's Ferry Investigating Committee.
4 committee consisting Of Messrs. Hammond
Hunter and IIamlin, on the palt Of the Senate
and keitt. Train, Garnett, Adraiu and Webster
on the part of the House. hare been appointed
to make arrangements for the inauguration ot
Mills equestrian statue Of Washington, on the
o2d inst.
The Senate, in Executive Session, ratified The
treaty between the United States and Paraguay
aud confirmed the nomination Of General Whit
ucy, as Collector Of the Port Of Boston.