The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-02-15
Congressional Items.

Inc present speaker OF tne Rouse, the
Hon. William Pennington, (and not A. G.
NJ. Pennington, tho man whom Mr.. Brooks
of our State, handled so roughly few
years ago. is infinitely more cons ervative
in his p ,litics than Sherman, the favorite
of the Republican party; aud it is said is
in favor Of the fugitive slave law rs II
stands. The Republicans, in order to sue.
cred in the election, was forced to take
down the man of their choice and put mp
one more friendly to the South. The Cha;.
lesion Courier defines Pennington in very
few words us follows
independent of politics and of the cir
cumslanccs attending the election, there is
no objpc'ion to Mr.. Speaker Pennington
except the fact that he is not ut all quail.
fled for the office To which availability and
~ c"nratcnatioE of contingencies" has ele-
waited him.
The House has passed the Post Office
Appropriation Bill, which will relieve the
Treasury of about ten millions and also
vastly reheve, when passed by the Senate,
the postal service and business interests OF
the country grcneraly. Up to the latest
accounts, the bill had not passed the SEN
ate, and a memorial from Il large number Of
mail contractors had been presented to tha,
body, praving for immediate relief
The President, it is said, is preparing a
special message on the Pacific railroad
which he will communicate To Congress in
few DAYS. The Loading p"n:s Of his rec.
concentrations are believed to be already
embodied in bill which has been submit
ted To him and to many of the Senators
who have heretofore arrayed Themselves
against all Pacific railroad schemes This
bill provides for two roads-the Southern
and the Northern Central. He will mge
upon the attention Of Congress the imp0--
tancc of railroad to the Pacific States
with the rest of the Union in insrparabe
bands, and 10 preserve them from al pos
sbility of successful attack and dismrm-
bermcrt by foreign Powers. The President
believes that the time has arrived when the
country demands and will have i national
highway to the Pacific.
From our Monday nights mail, We learn
tha, ;he Senate has passed the Post Office
Appropriation Bin, With the amendment for
the total abolition of the fanking Priy.
lrge.
Speaker Pennington has announced his
committees, and they are mad, mp prnci-
paly rom Northern members Nearly all
the Chnirmcn are Black Republicans The
exceptions ara on the Committee on Flee
tions; on the Judiciary on Indian Affairs;
on Mileage on Expenditures in the War
Department on Expenditures in the Navy
Department on ppblic Grounds, and on
Roads aud Canals. Tie South Carolina
members are thus disposed: Mr., Miles, on
the Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr..
Mcqueen on the Committee on Manutac
tures; Mr. kcltt, on the Committee on the
Public Grounds, Mr.. Bonhnm, on the Com
mttce on Military Affairs; Mr. Boyce, on
the Committc" on Elections and Mr.. Ash
more is Chairman of the Committee ON
Mileage.
The proceedings OF FEBRUARY 10th are
thus reported:
House or REPRESENTATIVES.- inquI-
~ was made ~ 20 the cXpcdrnrv Ofinstruc.
ny the Committee on Commerce to report
bill, prohibiting American vessels from
engaging in the Coolic or African APpren,
tice trade.
Mr.. Taylor, Of Louisiana, introduced u
bill for the acquisition Of Cuba, and its in.
corporation into the Federal Union.
The Republicans are generally dissatiS.
fled with Mr.. Speaker Pennington's con,
stIuction of the House Committees.