The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-02-21
NEWS.

On the 18th inst. the two Houses OF
Congress assembled and in in their
presence the electoral votes for prcsi-
dent and Vice President were counted.
At the close Of the counting Mr..
breckenridge, declared Mr.. Lincoln
having received a majority Of all the
electoral votes was duly elected Prcsi-
dent Of the United States, and Mr..
1Iamlin for the same reason. duly elect
cd Vice President. The Represents
tive hall was crowded. The military
being in readiness, no disturbing dem
constructions were made.
Upon the application Of Mr.. Nc Cor
mic for an extension of his reaper pat
cnt. the Commissioners Of Patents grant
cd but three days for rebutting testimo-
NY. The enemies Of the patent not
satisfied with this procured the passage
Of a bill in both Houses of Congress ex-
tending the time ninety days. The
President has signed the bill. Mr..
Douglas voted against the extension Of
time, in favor Of Mr.. McCormic, and
against the interest Of farmers.
In the course Of debates upon the
bill it was shown that Nc Cormic had
acquired a fortune from the patent Of
nearly $4,000 900, also that manufactu-
rers were obliged to pay him tifty-two
dollars for the sale Of each machine.
This shows why reapers arc sold SO
high.
On the 18th Secretary Dix sent a
second letter to Mr.. Sherman, saying
that it was indispensable that he should
Immediately give notice Of a loan Of
eight million, in order that the govern
ment may be able to meet iudespensa-
bic payments on.the first Of March.
In the House on the II:
Mr.. McKEAN offered a resolution,
in substance providing for the appoint
ment OF 4 select committee Of five to
inquire if consent OF the people Of the
border slave states can be obtained to
the plan Of the purchase Of the Slaves
therein blythe government, in order to
prevent their following the example Of
the Gulf States, and to report y bill
for hat purpose. Laid over for debate.
There is . two maiorityin.th the u. S.
Senate against the Republicans, il all
the factions unite. After the 4th of
next March the Republicans will prob
ably have four majority.
There are twenty three States repre-
scented in the Peace Congress. Nine
sofa, Missouri and Michigan are unrep-
resented, although the Governor Of the
latter State has quite recently thought
it advisable to have his State represent
ed. The rules Of the Convention are
stiff and rigid. No. member is permit
cd to read write or cross the hall when
another is speaking; and when any
member approaches the Chairman, Ex-
President Tyler, II Of the +. I. VS.,
he must retire backwards bowling con
stantly as he goes. Their labors will
doubtless prove fruitless because the
Border States demand more than the
North is willing to grant. Ex-Govcrn-
or Morehead of X. +. said this, and
that the North would certainly not go
beyond the principle of non-intervcn-
ton in the territories at the fartherest.
Senator Collamcr introduced a bill
before the Senate, which confcrs upon
the President and Cabinet the power
to abolish the ports OF entry in seeded
States, and to withdraw the mails and
close up the Post Offices therein. 1t
will probably pass the cnate.
Mr. Colfax's bill, which allows the
Post Master General to discontinue the
mails, when and where their safe carri-
age and delivery are interfered with by
reason Of Instruction or resistance to
the same, passed the House by a vote
Of Isl ayes, to 70 noes.
All government te%legraphic commu-
nication with New Orleans, is cut off.
It is now a%scertaincd that when the
inslrrectionists seized the minis at New