Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-30
SENATE.

The chair laid before the Senate a communication from
the Secretary Of the Interior in resolution
the Senate of the 2Sd instant transmitting copies of
circular and Of sundry papers file and record in that
department in relation TO presumption to contractors
ryng the mails through territories of the MISSISSIPPI
p river under the general provisions for that purpose OF
the postotfcc appropriation bill approved March 3d.
1855 which referred to the committee public
laud aud ordered to be printed
Ga motion by Mr.. DurkCe, a resolution adopted
directing the Secretary of the Interior furnish the
Senate copies of all the cOntrats supplementary
tracts for the construction of the east and west wings aud
the north front of the Patent Office building; also TO
state the paid under the same, and whether such
contracts made after advertisements in accordance
with law &c.
On motion Of Mr. SEdcl, u resolution was adopted.
directing the Secretary OF the Treasury 10 report to the
Senate the present state and condition OF the custom
house al New Orleans and whether, in his opinion true
economy does not require further appropriation to be
1 now made for its completion
Mr. Latham introduced Joint resolution authorizing
the Secretary of the Treasury settle aud adjust the
counts Of the for the erection Of the L. s
tom-hOuse and posotfce at San Francisco California
8ud pay said contractor the amount that may be found
Justly due him; which was read twice and referred
Mr. Davis, from the committee on military affairs, to
whom referred the bill to complete certain military
roads il the Territory OF New Mexico asked TO be dis
charged from the further consideration of the same as
House bin the subject has already been consid-
! e.ed. which agreed 20.
Mr. Davis, from the same committee, to whom re
terled the House bill authorizing the sale OF the western
military asylum at Harrodshurg, KY, reported it with
| substitute.
Mr. Davis, from the committee on conference on the
| dsagrceiug votes of the two Houses on the military
academy appropriation BILL submitted a report, which
was agreed The Senate recedes from It's amendment
making an appropriation for a regiment OF mounted vol
Unteers in Texas.
On motion by Mr. Lane the bill making appropria.
tons 20 supply deficiency in the appropriations for tho
completion Of the geological survey Of Oregon aud Wash
/ irCton Territories considered and passed.
On motion by Mr. Wgia the bill to change the loca-
ton Of the cusomhoue, in the district Of Brazos San
lingo from Point Isabel Brownsville in the State of
Texas was considered and passed.
Mr.. Non submitted a resolution which lies I'M
I'll tomorrow, directing the sergeartatams Of the Sen
ate % remove Thaideus II yatt from the Jail Of
this ctv and permit him pass without restraint within
the limits of the city Of Washington.
Mr. Mallory moved 20 take uD the Florida claims bill
and make the special order for Saturday 1t had
been postponed for time in consequence Of the absence
OF the Senator from Delaware, Mr.. Blyard,) who was
. now present.
Mr Hunter was opposed to the making of any more
special orders until the appropriation bill disposed
Il getting the close OF the session, and he
. could not give way any longer.
The motion not agreed 20.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the postof
flee appropriation bin, the question pending being on
the amendment reported from the committee on finance
TO strike that clause Of the bill which directs the
Postmaster General the inland service all
the routes under contracts the ith OF March, 1859
unless the same have expired by their limitation
where improved service said routes has been furn
i-hed by railroads otherwise, and also TO the
steamer Isabel mail service &c
~. Pclrce made some remarks in favor Of the amend
mrut showing how tie expenditures Of the POs-Olice
Department had increased during the las. ten wears In
1890 tie POsoiHce Department nearly scfsustaiu-
n and tor about sixty years il continued to sustain il
self and sometimes 10 put money into the federal reasu
r.; but the expenditures are S5OUuOOU or $1,000
! 900 year more than the receipts He proceeded TO
show the Of this in the action Of Congress esab-
fishing and maintaining where the receipts
In hardly apprecable ratio 10 the expenditures There
vas steam service which unnecessary and the mails
transported in post coaches with two aud four horses
! ahen proper system OF economy would have been 10
advertise for bids and let the mail be carried IN such
manner the contractor might prefer. Our Pacific mail
service j. very large aud very unpToductye
for the part. There six Pacific routes and
ouy of these do the receipts approximate 10
one half the expenditures. On of the routes there
an expenditure OF three hundred dollars TO every del
llr received In reference 70 the Isabel service lie
stated jrat he had been informed by the Postmaster
General that other parties were willing TO do the same
service for $4,000 year, which for tue Isabel received
$4,000 for
Mr. sin replied TO the remarks of Mr. Pearce in
gard TO the California postal service.
Mr. Mallory spoke Of the great value Of the service
rendered by the isabel and gave some reasons why this
line should be made an exception the general prnc
pie. There were petitions from all the principal cities on
tue Atlantic favor Of the restoration Of this route.
At ] O'Clock MIR Lane moved to postpone this bill in
order 10 take up the Oregon debt BILL but the motion
was not agreed 10.
Mr Hammond thought it was due TO honor and good
faith that the Isabel should be named and tie govern
should avail itself OF any techucaty 10 deprive
her Of the service She constructed under act Of
Congress and made vessel inspected and accepted
as such. She is ueit for commercial purposes and
not made 10 carry freight She could be sold
converted into anything else than war vessel and
bult with the understanding that she should have this
contract for fifty thousand dollars year. The expert
Of England U regard 10 penny po t3ge was no cr
terion for this country and in trying TO initiate England
should be- Ike the frog in the fable who endeavored
q swell up che size @! ia England there
two or three hundred inhabitants square Hle while
wa have onlv about ten 1t hardly seven hundred
mics from Johnny Groats house 70 Lands End.
Mr. H. also referred to the subsidy received by the
Collins line, which amounted to FIVE dollars and half
mile, and yet that line broke down while il was now
proposed 20 give for this service between Charleston and
Havana only about On or 20 cents q mile.
Mr. Hale said there nothing more hlacious than
the idea that reduction OF the Of postage has
ducli the revenue. He quoted some figures from the
Postmaser-Generals report TO prove this.
Nr. luee stated that the Inference draSn from those
tables by the Senator from New Hampshire not
correct he spoke at some length in favor of the
The discussion was continued by Messrs. Grimes,
Toombs, Green, Hunter, Colamer Chandler and others,
until a late hour
After the executive session the doors were re-opened
and the discussion of the post Office bill resumed
bu. without taking the question at o'clock the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. Corwin moved to postpone the consideration of
the Pacific railroad bill.
Mr.. Houston hoped not for the day would be spent in
turmoil and wrangliug, last Monday was and Of which
every man here afterwards ashamed.
Mr.. Corwin should be sorry to introduce any subject
productive of such result His object was to transact
some business, and not create turmoil
/ Mr. Crawford said that every mans mind was made
up The Pacific railroad subject has been pending five
years and it time that it definitely acted upon.
Were gentlemen afraid to meet the responsibility?
Mr.. Elliot earnestly spoke of the Importance Of taking
up the lighthouse bill
Mr. Flrnsworth said that both wings of the Democ-
rdcy Charleston agreed that the railroad should be
constructed.
Mr.. John Cochrane inquired whether Mr.. Farusworth
supposed the Democracy had fixed to-day for taking the
subject up? Oaughter)
Mr.. Fausgorth replied that the Democracy of this
House had fixed to-day for the time when it should be
considered He hoped the friends Of the would
not vote for the postponement, which would be the
means of defeating the bill it would have 60 the
Senate.
The vote on postponing was then TAKEN and the House
refsed-by yeas 81, nays llS-to postpone the bill I'M
Ill Thursday
Mr. Carter asked that day be set apart for the con-
sheraton OF District of Columbia business but various
objections were made by Republican members.
SIR. Hughes said it very hard that they we're not
willing to 90 anything for the District.
tba toff ha