Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-09
CONGRESS.
REPORTED FOR THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE. ]
Senate, Wednesday, February 8.

Senate, Wednesday, February 8.
Mr.. Davis's resolutions defining the posi-
ton Of the Senate on the slavery question,
were postponed until Monday next
Mr.. Grimes presented the credentials OF
James Harlan, Senator elect from the State
of Iowa
Mr.. Pearce offered Joint resolution pro
viding for suitable arrangements for the IN
auguraton Of the Equestrian Statue Of
Washington on the 22d instant; laid over on
objection Of Mr. Fessenden.
The Senate then took up the resolution
for distributing Maj. Delafelds report
After several amendments had been offer
ed, the resolution as reported was agreed TO-.
Afterwards the Senate refused, by yeas q to
NAYS %, consider their action.
Mr. Bright, Of Ind from the Committee
on Printing; introduced i resolution for print
ing 10000 extra copies of the Mechanical
portion Of the Patent Office Report, and 10
600 extra copies of the Agricultural portion,
which resolution was laid over.
Mr.. IIaun, Of Cal, introduced a resolution
for cnquiring into the expediency Of a steam
mail line between San Francisco and China,
via the Sandwich Islands, which resolution
was referred to the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads
The Post Office Deficiency bill was then
taken up, the question being on the amend
mcnt reported by Mr.. Hunter, abolishing the
ranking privilege.
Mr. Collamer, Of VT, moved further
amendment, Withdrawing the 500, 900 ap-
preparation to the mail service from the gen
eral fund: which amendment he afterwards
withdrew.
Mr. Powell Of Ky, addressed the Senate
in advocacy of the amendment abolishng
the Franking privilege. lie insisted that
that privilege had been constantly abused,
and that the only remedy was in its entire
abolition lie thought too, even If this
amendment did somewhat delay the passage
Of the bill, the contractors would gain large
liz by its adoption, in having much less
mail matter than now.
Mr. Hale addressed the Senate, urging
that the mallcasance Of the Post Office De
partment, and not the franking privilege, was
the great source Of the large expenditures
Of the Post Office Department.
Mr. Green, 81 Mo, opposed the amend
mcnt.
Mr.. Gwin Of Cal, wished the ranking
privilege abolished; because as soon as It
was, the ocean mail service might De dis
pensed with, and the Pacific mails carried
overland.
Mr. Simmons, Of r. T., wanted the bill
amended The Democratic Senator'S circu-
lated the greater portion Of the documents.
One Senator alone Mr.. Douglass circulated
over 100000 documents during single
State canvass, the cost Of which nj letter pos
tage would have been $4,000 1t was easy
to compute what would be the expense il he
had 4 canvass Of thirty-three States
Mr. Toombs replied, and was succeeded
BY Mr. Douglas, Of ILL.,, who did not think
that il was proper to delay the honest credi-
tors whom this bill proposed to pay, in order
to pass upon measure Of this character. At
another time he would cooperate to secure
the passage Ot the bill.
Mr. Foot, Of Vt, thought the bill pressing
the amendment, one that could be delayed
he therefore opposed the incorporation Of the
two.
After further debate by Mr.. Johnson, Of
Arkansas,
Mr. Hunter, Of Va, said he had no rea-
son to believe that the abolition Of the frank
ing privilege, would be unacceptable to the
House Of Representatives, and a. the bill had
necessarily to be amended, he thought that 1t
was d proper manner in which to reduce the
expenditures of the Post Office Department
The Senate then By vote Of q yeas, to
% nays, decided 70 adopt an amendment
proposed BY Mr. simmons, requiring the
prepayment u all printed matter except
newspapers.
The whole proyiso was then stricken out,
leaving the abolition Of Thanking, pure and
simple After an Intellectual effort on the
part Of Mr.. Simmons to amend the amend
ment, the amendment was disagreed to
yeas 81 nays p
Mr. Brown, Of Miss, moved an amend
ment providing that the printing Of the post
office blanks shall he given out 1T contract
to the lowest bidder,
Pending which amendment, At ten minutes
past five o'clock the Senate adjourned