, 1860-03-16
ARRIVAL or THE PANAMA.

]
The Mail Steamship Panama, Capt. w
J. L. DALI, arrived at Browns wharf on
Tuesday evening last, I days from San
Francisco. We are indebted to T, NJ.
REED, Esq, for files of San Francisco pa
pers 10 the 9th inst. We have news from
the Atlantic States to Feb. l3, by the
Overland Mail We clip the following
news from the San Francisco Herald of the
9th lust;
CONGRESSIONAL.
On the lst of February, Mr.. PenninC.
ton, of New Jersey, Republican, was elect
ed Speaker, aud j. W. Forney, of Penn
sylvania, Clerk.
Mr.. Lane offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire
into the expediency of establishing naval
station on Puget Sound. Adopted.
In the Senate, Feb. 2, Mr., Green intro
duced bill granting to james NJ Hughes
and John j. Mudd the right of way through
the public lands to construct line of telc-
graph from Missouri, Arkansas or Texas
to Los Angeles, California, which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands
This bill appropriatcs FIVE sections Of land
TO each fifty miles Of telegraph constructed,
10 be selected either before or ut the time,
though not to interfere with lands sold or
held at the time by presumption, or neces-
sary for government use On the compile
ton Of any section, government to be al
lowed to transmit dispatches of a public
nature, to be charged 10 the account of the
government No money to be exacted in
payment for such dispatches until the
amount thereof shall be equal to one dollar
for each acre Of land received by the grant
ees, which shall then be considered as pay
ment for the same after which such dis
patches to be paid for as others, unless
further selections Of land should be made,
The bill also provides for the construction
of a telegraph line front the western bor-
der of Iowa to Portland, Oregon, and also
BRANCH connecting with tlIeNtyo main lines.
In the Senate Feb. 6, Mr.. Sumner offer
ed a resolution instructing the POstofice
Committee to inquire into the expediency
of establishing a semi-weekly mail between
St Joseph and Placerville. Adopted.
Mr.. Wigfall introduced Pacific Rail-
road Telegraph bill Mr.. Gwin moved
that it be printed. He will call it up at
an early day.
Mr.. Gwin given notice that he would,
Feb. IA, move TO go on with the calendar.
The first bill on the calendar was the Pa
ci6c Railroad bill, and he desired to take
that up. h lal
Mr.. Sumner introduced resolution re-
qucstng the Cimmittee on Commerce to
inquire ino the expediency Of repeating the
hospital tax on seamen, and abolish the
present system Of marine hospitals.
Mr.. Wigfall gave notice Of bill for a
railroad and telegraph between the Allan
tic States and California.
In the House, Feb. G, Mr.. Clark, Of
Missouri, denied that Douglas was his first
choice for the Presidency, as reported
Mr.. Phelps asked unanimous consent for
the consideration Of the Posiofice deficiency
bill. Mr.. Maynard wished 10 provide for
the payment of the interest direct to the
contractors, and not to assignees; contract
ors accepting the interest in full satisfac-
tion Of all damages. The rules were sus-
pended. ssais
Mr.. Phelps explained the first section,
appropriating $4,OOO,OOO for the SUPPORT
OF the Department during the remainder of
the fiscal year, ending S0th Of June last
An amendment providing that 81, 400, 900
of that sum be devoted exclusively TO the
compensation of Postmasters, clerks, agents
and mail transportation, was agreed to-
l08 ayes against 76 noes. Maynard'sI
proposition was rejected. Tie bill was
passed.
Mr.. Grow, from the Committee to wait
on the President, reported that the Presi-
dent would communicate recommendations
as occasion might require.
A Doorkeeper was elected-Decessar to
q choice, l04-Marston, Republican, re.
eeived Ito; Wright, 81 MarklaDd, l6 );
scattering "a, Marston was elected
Next u Postmaster was elected-neces
sary to choice, l06-Lucos, Republican,
received l0S, and declared elected.
Mr. MorreIl gave notice Of bill for the
punishment of polygamy in Territories.
In the House, Feb. 10, on motion Of Mr..
Moore, the Committee on Commerce was
directed to inquire into the expediency Of
preventing by law American vessels from
engaging in the Coolie trade a~
A copy Of the Kansas Constitution,
adopted at Wyandott, was laid before the
House by the Speaker.
Mr. sherman, Feb. IL, moved q refer
ence of the Presidents Message to the sew
eral standing committees, and the Pacific
Railroad question to select committee Of
eighteen, which gave rise to discussion in
the old style, and without doing anything,
the committee rose.
Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on
Ways and Means, reported back the Post
office Appropriation bill, whereupon the
House resolved Itself into a committee Of
the whole on the state Of the Union on the
subject, with Mr. Grow in the chair.
Mr.. Sherman said that the Senate amend
,-oytdino, Nbo of fha