Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-08
From Washington.

WASHINGTON, December THE Putnam
Phalanx, under military escort, visited the
White House this morning. The President
was addressed by Judge Advocate Stuart
and cordially responded to the Union senti-
ments enunciated, and said it was the first
time he had the qualification of seeing so full
q corps in Continental uniform.
During the period of the Revolution, many
old soldiers were but poorly clad, and with
out this distinctive costume.
A large crowd, including the Executive
officers and their ladies, was present.
The editorial in the InteIligencer this morn
ing, recommends convention of the slave
holding States for the purpose of mutual
consultation in respect alike to the dangers
believed to be pending, and the remedy
deemed most adequate to avert them.
1t is said to be indicative of plan now
maturing here to effect this object.
The President to-day explicitly expressed
his determination to send no more troops to
the forts near Charleston, and said that
every thing would be done on his part to
avoid a collision.
Major Alexander has made no request for
re-enforcements, and it is represented that
the best of feeling exists between the garri-
son at Fort Mouitrie and the citizens OF
Charleston.
AS an expedient for raising funds to meet
the present wants of the Treasury member
of the Committee on Ways and Means has
suggested that immediate payment of duties
on merchandise now in the public ware.
houses be enforced.
1t is not probable that the Select Commit
tee of the House will meet before next week
The opinion is well founded that Messrs
Hawkins and Boyce are the only ones who
will ask to be excused from serving thereon
The indications are that their request will
not be granted.
The following is an extract Of letter tt
Hon. John o. Burch member of Congress:
from California, written by Thomas ID. Ju.
dab Civil Engineer, and one of the corpora
tors named IN Colonel Curtis's Pacific Rail-
road Bill:
"San Francisco, Nogember 9, ls6O.-Be-
Eeving that practicable line existed for the
Pacific Railroad across Central California,
determined, before the next session of Con-
gTess, to examine the various passes of the
Sierra Nevada in the vicinity. | have ex-
omined route through Georgetown, in El
Dorado County; a route Oia Illinoistown and
Dutch Flat, near the old Truckie route, and
also the Themes route, vid Nevada,,and Eu-
reka. The result is that | have found q
practicable and good route across the Sierra
Nevada, UiG Illinoistown, Dutch Flat and
Lake Pass.
''The distance from Sacramento to the Sum.
/ NIT lS lU4 miles, 10 lne Dlhle line ABOUT llu
miles, TO Mills Crossing, on the main
Truckie, l32 miles; and to Virginia City l6.
miles. There is no grade over fifteen feet tC
the mile. We got out Of Summit Valley
through what call Lake Pass, while Ere.
mont,s route, or the old emigrant road, goel
over Truckie Pass, which is 700 feet higher
than, and few miles OFF my route. W.
strike the foot of Truckie Lake, or tn
cabins Of the Downer party, nine miles from
the Summit, and from there it is an cas-,
| grade down the Truckie River, descending
about forty feet per mile over smootl
| country. The elevation Of the pass is 6,69t
! feet.
''There are two other passes leading out o
Summit valley which had not time to ex
ploIe, but either of them are practicable, a
| least $50 miles shorter than the Beokwitl
route, and cross the State at its narrowes
point.
81 viii undertake to build a railroad owe
the route in two years for $4,000 per mile
from Sacramento City to the State line o
Washoe. Thus the question Of crossing tn
Sierra Nevada, consider solved"
The Northern and Eastern mails for tn
Southwest, Via the Virginia and Tennesse
Road, laid over at Alexandria this morning
They will be forwarded tonight.