The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-08
WASHINGTON NEWS

| EXPENSES OF PoST OFFICE DEPARTMENT-CON-
GREss AND THE CoNvENTIsNs-THE MEXICAN MIN
IsTER.
The bill submitted by Mr. Colfax to the Post
Office Committee of the House, to reduce the ex-
penses of the Post Office Department, was agreed to
at meeting this morning. 1t provides that Post
masters, the receipts of whose Offices for letter post
age less than Sl00 per quarter, are to receive
instead of the commissions allowed, from 500
to S400 per quarter. The commissions are reduced
from so to 40 per cent. For the next $4,000 the
commissions reduced from 40 to 80 per cent;
$4,000 per quarter, from Is per cent. to l2%:
on letters at distributing Offices 10 per cent instead
of II. 1t curtas the number of route agents, and
makes the maximum of their salary 5000 per an
mum, which is the present maximum in New Eng
land, New V York, and fourteen other States instead
of 81 900. 1t also repeals the provso adopted in
1854, which authorized the Postmaster General to
allow increased compensation to Postmasters and
his commissions, and requires him to curtail the
amount now allowed for clerks in post offices, which
has increased from 1925 900 in lS4S to 81 600 000
The committee estimate this bill will save nearly
half million of dollars annually without impair
ing the efficiency of the service.
The correspondent of the New York Herald
says, Congress will follow the precedent of former
years, and adjourn from ten to fourteen days for
each of the great conventions, to be holden at
Charleston and Chicago. Neither of these cities
can be reached from here by rail in much less than
two days.
If an attempt is made at Charleston to repeal the
two-thirds rule, and | am satisfied it will be, the
convention Will last one week at least, so tnaJ Dy
the best means OF calculation it will cost Congress
fourteen days to attend that Convention. The Re-
pubicans, by courtesy, will have to yield the de-
mand for that time in order to obtain for them
selves sufficient time to go to Chicago.
Capt. Farragut, commanding the steam ship-of
war Brooklyn, telegraphed the government last
evening that he had been subp@naed and held to
bail to appear and testify in the case of the seaman
who was killed last fall, and therefore would be
unable to sail for Vera Cruz for days yet and
asked the government what he should do in the
premises. The government have requested that
his testimony may be taken at once, in order that
he may be allowed to proceed Mr.. Nc
Lane is ready to accompany him.
The government is still awaiting the arrival of
the Indianola from Vera Cruz, which is several
days overdue.
Utah have been prepared several days, but not
examined or signed by the Secretary, owing to
press of business. They may be tomorrow.
TENNESSEE AND THE PROPOSED SOUTH
ERN CONFERENCE.
On the 2Sth ult., Gov. Harris, of Tennessee,
transmitted to the Legislature of that State the
resolutions of the South Carolina and Mississippi
Legislatures, inviting Convention of Deputies
from the Southern States, and accompanied them
with the following brief and sensible message, the
perusa of which we recommend to our own Cover
nor and Legislators:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, !
February %, 1860.
| herewith transmit resolutions adopted by the
Legislatures of South Carolina and Mississippi
upon Federal relations Whilst do not concur in
their recommendatons-nots seeing the necessity
propriety of Convention of the savehoding States
of the Union at this time-I, nevertheless deem it
proper that | should communicate, and that you
should respectfully consider, the suggestions of
sister States. Believing as | do that the people of
Tennessee are loyal to the Constitution in all its
parts and with each and all of its guarantees; pos
sessng jealous regard for the rights of the States,
and feeling Justly apprehensive of encroachments
upon them; they would feel and demonstrate, when
necessary, their identity with any of her sister
States in resisting any unjust and unconstitutional
warfare upon them or their Institutions
This resistance should be, first. by the use of
all the constitutional means in power, to the
end that the Union may be preserved as it
formed, and the blessings of government of equal
ity, under written constitution, perpetuated.
But if the hope of thus obtaining justice shall be
disappointed, and the Federal government, in the
hands of reckless fanatics, shall at any time become
an engine OF power to invade the rights OF indlvId-
uals and of States, to follow the example of our
fathers of l776 will be the only alternative left us.
Whilst there is much in the present attitude of par
ties, States and public in the Northern portion
Of the Confederacv, to cause apprehension as to
the security of rights and the continuance of
fraternal feeling, yet there is probability and
hope strong one, that wise, temperate and firm
counsels may avert the impending evils. There
FORE before widening the breach in the manner de-
signated in the resolutions herewith submit
ted our policy should be to exhaust everv means
consistent with honor and the Constitution, in an
earnest effort to- check the tide of aggression and
restore, the era OF good feeling and fraternity
throughout the whole country.
IsHAM G. HARRIS.
+ When Gov. Seward was in Syria, a Turkish
officer of high rank made him a present of three
thoroughbred Arabian horses, the choice of his
stud of some forty-eight animals. These Barbs-
two stations and mare-will be here by the next
ship from Beyrout. One of the stations is said to
be destined to farm in Columbia county.
PERsoNAL.-The French government has recently
established at Chicago, Illinois, a vice-consulate
and appointed Mr.. Ravin d'Elpeux to fill the posi-
tion.
The first consignment of Washoe silver ore from
California, has been contracted for by the New
York Smelling Company, whose works are located
at Staten Island.
The GAIL -England EleYen'' Cricketers are going