The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24

Mr.. Mason moved to add, that hereafter
nothing pass free in the mails.
Mr.. Cameron moved as an amendment,
except newspapers.
Mr.. Seward suggested to exempt such
newspapers as are exempt by law.
Mr.. Cameron agreed to this.
Mr.. Clay thought it would only tend to
give increased circulation to the New York
Tribune and Herald, which would not do
much to improve the morals of the country.
Mr.. Crttenden moved to adjourn. Lost.
Mr.. Mason withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Trumbull moved, as a new section,
that publishers of papers be allowed to print
on the same the date of subscription. Re-
jected.
The bill was then read third time and
passed-only two voting in the negative
Messrs. Hempshill and Wilkinson-and So
in favor of it.
Mr.. Brown offered a resolution that
committee be appointed on the Inauguration
of the Washington statute. Objected to.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l6.
SENATE Mr.. Doolittle called for the
reading of bis resolution, instructing the
committee on territories to report bill for
the admission of Kansas under the Wyan-
dotte constitution, The subject was post
poned.
Mr.. Gwin reported, from the committee
on postoffice and post roads, bill for the
construction of a line of telegraph to the
Pacific.
Mr.. Mason made some remarks upon the
introduction of the Wyandotte constitution.
He said that it was an unauthenticated
paper.
The resolution providing for the appoint
ment of committee of three, to act with
similar committee on the part of the House
for making arrangements for the Inaugural
ton of the equesteran statute of Washing
ton on the 22d inst, was taken up The
resolution was adopted. 1t appropriates
$4,000.
The Senate agreed that when it adjourn
it be till Monday.
Mr.. Slidell called up his bill to prohibit
the issue of bank notes in the District of
Columbia. The first section of the bill pro.
hibits the issuing of bank notes in the dis
trict after the first of April, under penalty
of fine and Imprisonment. The second sec
ton .ohibits the circulation of bank notes
in the district under 800, under penalty of
$25. After debate, the bill was postponed
till Monday.
Mr.. Brown gave notice of an act to pun
ish offence against slave property in the
Territory of Kansas.
After an executive session the Senate adj
journed till Monday.
HoUsE.-A message was received from
the President announcing that be had
signed the postoffice appropriation bill.
Mr. Keitt offered a resolution providing
for the adjournment of Congress on the 9Th
of June. He wanted to put it on it's
passage. On objection being made, he with
drew it.
Mr.. Tyler introduced bill providing for
the acquisition of Cuba by negotiation, and
its incorporation into the Union, in the
event of its being so acquired. Referred to
the committee on foreign affairs.
A bill declaring null and void all the ter
ritorial acts of the Legislature of New Mex
leo establishing or prohibiting involuntary
slavery, was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee.
Mr.. Vallandigham introduced a bill,
which was referred, amendatory to the act
to arm and equip the whole body of the
militia, so as to increase the appropriation
from 100000 to 100000.
Mr.. Sherman introduced resolution,
which was adopted, instructing the Post
Office committee to inquire into the expedi-
ency of reporting bill for the division of
the Territorial Jurisdiction of the United
States into postal districts of not less than
one State each. Second, the letting of the
entire postal service, including the delivery
of mail matter in such districts to the lowest
responsible bidder over present post routes
Thirdly, the recognizing of the postoffice
department and mail service, and conform to
the foregoing proposition. Fourth, the
abolition of the ranking privilege.
Mr.. Sherman offered the resolutions to be
reported by the select committee last year,
charging that the Secretary of the navy,
with the concurrence of the President, had
abused his discretionary power in making
coal and live oak contracts, and that the
Secretary and President, for bestowing pat
ronage for electioneering purposes, deserve
the condemnation of the House. Referred
to the committee of the whole on the state
of the Union.
Mr.. Maynard introduced a resolution,
which was referred to the judiciary commit
tee, with view to the more effective rendi~
ton of fugitives from justice. Also reso-
luton, which was adopted, setting forth that
the geographical position of Cuba to the
United States renders it eminently desirable
that there should be free and unrestrained
personal and commercial intercourse between
them, and directing the committee on for
eign affairs to inquire into the expediency
and practicability of the Convention between
the United States and Spain, so as to faci-
late commerce by the reciprocal importa.
ton and expectation of the agricultural and
manufacturing products OF the two countries,
free either of import or export duties, and
the free passage Of persons from one country
to the other.
Mr.. Etheridge introduced bill, which
was referred to the judiciary committee, to
establish and regulate paper circulation of
uniform value throughout the United States
Mr.. Petit offered a resolution instructing
the committee on judiciary to inquire into a