The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-19
WASHINGTON NEWS

The SOUTHERN CoNFERENCE-THE HOMESTEAD BILL
mPuRsER OF THE NAvY-READY FOR WoRK-TnR
TELEGRAPH CoNvENTIoN-MIsCELLANE
We CLEAN the following from the correspondence
OF the Northern papers, written from Washington
on Friday:
There was conference Of the representatives oil
South Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama tonight
upon the subject of the proposed conference for a
Southern convention, to come off in June next
The invitation came from representatives from
South Carolina, the Legislature of that State hay-
ing suggested 1t. Some of the Southern States de-
cline to participate in it, Virginia among the mum.
Der. Mississippi and Alabama gave it their an
proval. The object Of consultation was to decide
upon some plan by which an attendance might be
most conveniently secured in case it was deter.
mined to carry out the idea. The whole subject
was discussed at considerable length and il is nm
derstood there was strong expression of opinion
against 1t. No definite action, however, was had
upon the matter. 1t will be resumed at their next
| meeting, which will be held in a day or two
South Carolina it will be recollected. initiated
the movement. Virginia declined to participate in
it, and Mississippi and Alabama approved it. and
arranged for the appointment of delegates, but the
South Carolina Legislature adjourned without any
such action. Although no formal proposition was
adopted, the majority incline to the opinion that
the Governor of South Carolina should assemble
the Legislature of that State to select delegates,
and of this we will probably soon be informed
The Homestead bill which passed the House was
Lands. That committee recommended the striking
out OF the enacting clause and inserting the Sem
ate bill drafted by Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee Mr.
J0hnson's bill excludes, among those who shall
have the benefit of the public lands, single men
over twenty-One years of age widows without chill
dren, and foreigners who may declare their iuten-
tions alter the passage of the BILL and ONLY allows
those VINO are recipients of land under the bill to
receive alternate sections. The House bill includes
the parties named above 1t is said the RennhIicanS
will accept Johnson's bill if they cannot oct ono
which passed the House.
Mr.. Morse, from the Committee on Naval Affairs.
to whom was referred the House bill for the mod6-
cation of the seaservice pay of pursersin the navy
has been instructed to report bill to the HOuse
which he will do at an early day, providing thai
from and after July l, 1860, the sea paw of pursers
In the navy shall be determined by the length of
service instead of the rates of ships in which thew
may serve, and that their annual pay shall be as
follows: For the first six years after date of com
mission, 81 800; for the second six wears 50 400.
after twelve years service, So 000 This bill promi
ses to meet with general favor in the navy az II
will prevent 81 eat deal of trouble and expense.
1t is highly important to the country to know
that the United States House of REPRESENTATIVES
which met on the 9th of December, 1859, have, as
early as this day, the 10th of March 1850 adontad
the report of the Committee on Revision of the
Rules, and are now prepared to do the public bust
ness. One of the new rules made is decidedly an
Improvement on the old, inasmuch as it provides
that single captious member cannot prerent tho
7 u
hve to object the second time the bill has reached
an objection day. Other important amendments TO
the old rules have been made
The Telegraph Convention is still in session in
this city. To-day it was resolved that the several
telegraph companies of the North American Tala.
graph Association are recommended to furnishtha
Smithsonian Institute the National Observatory
the Superintendent of the Coast Survey and the
Associated Press, during the present year with
brief daily meteorological reports from prominent
points in each section of the United States. as a
contribution to science, and a means OF demon
stratng the great utility of the telegraph in that
department of knowledge.
The War Department received vouminous de-
spatches this morning from the Pacific General
Harvey was still at Vancouver. The Indians in
that neighborhood were quiet and peaceably dis
posed, although there had been some depredations
committed of minor Importance. Cen Harvey
Goes not anticipate much trouble from item. AT
San Juan matters had settled quietly down, and
tory.
The House Post Office Committee met this morn
ing, anu disposed OIL large amount of upimpOrtant
business They agreed to take up at their meeting
on Friday next Mr.. Butterfeds pronosition to as'
tablish line of steamers between certain nonts in
the United states along the Gulf of Mexico to GER
tain ports in that country. Owing to the nrasent
unsettled and distracted condition of that epuntrv
and with view of opening direct COMMUNICATIVE
with that people, this proposition is generally we'll
received by all parties in Congress.
ursuaht 10 the oruer OF the Post-Ofhce Depart
ment, thirty-two thousand post-ofice blanks have
been ordered day, the largest ever made at anv
one time. The new law, under the contract sys
tenn, giving the work to the lowest bidder, will 90
into effect next Tuesday and it is understood that
the present printer, E. R. Jewett, of Buffalo. and
others, will bid for the work at about eighty per
cent. less than present prices.
Robert J. Cowart, of Ca, has been appointed
Indian agent for the Cherokee Indians, and Tbos.
ID. Sykes, of Kansas, agent for the Delawares.
Lieut. 0. H. Bergman has been detached from
the PENNSYLVANIA, to take command of the u s.
ship Falmouth, at Aspinwall. '-' " %