Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-06-05
Thirty-Sixth Congress-First Session.

| MONDAY, May 28-tSenate. - Quite large a
mount of routine business was disposed of. Tht
Military Academy bill was finally passed, tht
Senate receding from its amendment making al
appropriation for the support of regiment O
Texan volunteers. The Post Office appropria
ton bill was then taken up and discussed until {
late hour.
| House.-The House, after some wrangling ~
to the order of business, took up the Pacifi,
Railroad BILL An amendment to strike ont Sc
much of the bill as provides that the line of til.
road should go through Salt Lake, was rejected
yeas 43, nays "a. The House also refused tt
alter the first section of the bill so as to make
the corporators or grantees therein named mere
" trustees to carry out the purposes of the bill
Pending motion to amend the bill so as t.
substitute the Southern route for the Contra
route named in the bill, the House adjourned.
Observation-Disclosures Senate disagreed
ayes 29, nays 2O-to the House amendments tc
ahe Homestead bill. The Pacific Telegraph bill
as amended by the House, was finally passed.
The Houmas land grant bill was then taken up
but after considerable discussion the Senate ad
liourned without coming to vote on it.
House-The debate on the Pacific Railroad
bill was continued
WEDNEsDAY.-S enate-Mr. Slidell from the
Committee on Foreign Relations reported bill
making appropriations for the acquisition of the
Island of Cuba by negotiation. He accompanied
| it, however, with the statement that he was g.
ware it could not pass this session, but gsve lo-
tice that he would call it Up at the earliest op-
portnnity the next session. The remainder of
the day was spent in the discussion of the bill
for the payment of the Oregon war debt, the O.
verland Mail bill, and the bill for the admission
of Kansas as State On this last bill Mr.. Col
lamer made speech in favor of it, and its fur
ther consideration was postponed until Monday
next
House.-The House of Representatives was
occupied throughout the session in discussing the
majority and minority reports of the Committee
on Public Printing, but adjourned without taking
any question on the subject. The House insisted
and asked for Committee of Conference on the
subject.
Observation-Disclosures Slidell made q
speech on the abuses in the public printing. AT
ter further debate, the subject was passed over
until tomorrow. The remainder of the DAY was
devoted to executive business. E
House Mr.. Reynolds, from the Committee
on the Judiciary, reported back, with an amend
ment, the Senate bill providing for the return of
the captured Africans to their native land
There were now 1900 Of them at Key Vest
It was important that the bill should be passed
at the earless practicable day.
The subject of the public printing was taken
up, and the House disposed of it by adopting
by vote of ayes 100 to nays 56-the report in
favor of establishing & aoYernment Printing Of
foe. Mr.. Pryor, Of Virginia, was very severe
on President Buchanan.
Enthusiastically postal deficiency bill
was discussed at great length, and passed after
the adoption of several amendments
House.-A bill was passed to punish mar.
shals and others for allowing prisoners to es-
cape when arrested
The rest of the day was occupied in adjusting
| a personal understanding between Houston, of
Alabama. and Train of Massachusetts, A reso-
luton was proposed to oensure Houston for using
opprobrious epithets, but was afterwards with.
drawn. and Mr.. Houston aplogized to the House
for violation of its rules.
SATURDAY.-Senate.-T Army Appropria-
| ton bill was discussed.
| House.-A resolution directing the Speaker to
issue bis subpoena for certain witnesses to ap-
pear before the Oovode Investiga Committee
was passed. Mr.. Stewart, of Md, commented
on the course of his colleague, Mr.. Davis. The
latter replied, and debate ensued on Bell and
Everett, Lincoln, Fillmore and politics generally.