The Van Buren press., 1861-03-08
LATEST BY TELEGRAPH
TO THE VAN BUREN, PRESS
Rv the 81. Louis ana Western Telegraph
Stebbiass Line.
ST.. LOUIS. March Sd.

In the House, yesterday. I'd the Senate |
amendments to the Post office bill was TAX |
en- mp and concurred in by III to 43. 1t
was presented in the Senate by Wilson and
the annual present Butterield mail route to
California BY Ell Passo. which now costs
5000. 600 for semi weekly letter source. but
during tho remainder Of their contract time
81 years. gives them the central overland
route in lieu of the other. They are to car
ry it daily At $1,000, 900 and deliver :he
mails at Denver and Salt Lake tri- weekly,
and to run . pony express. semi weekly
carrying 5 bags each trip for Government
free of charge. and reducing costs Of letters
by said express so an ounce. If But
terfeld & Co.. fail to accept this before the
25th Of March. the present contract Be sb-
solutsly annulled. aud central route con-
tract to be let to the lowest bidder not to
exceed ono million. entire. Letter mail to
be carried through in 20 days. and the
residue. in IS days. with privilege of send
ing latter by steamer in 25 days at contrsc-
tors expense. and the latter to receive two
months pay for change of service from
southern to central route. But the Butter
field company were required by Mr.. Colfax
and She-man's amendments to enter into
written agreement to be filed in Post Office
Department. aud to be incorporated into
their contract. agreeing to carry 600 pounds
mail matter per tIp. which which would
take all the daily papers. besides letters i;
and likewise relinquishing all claims for
damages. provided in Senate's amendments.
After debate was concurred in exactly as it
| came from the Senate. So it is now a law
1t reduces the cost of mail service to Cali
fornia from 81 .437 900 to 81 .0OO. 900 in
creases service to daily concentrated mail
carrying on one line and abrogates the But
terfeld Company's contract. without incur
ring any claims for damages.
| Bingham moved to suspend the rules for
the purpose of taking up his bill for the
forcible collection of revenues. was lost,
yeas, 103. nays. 62. not two-thirds.
| Report of select committee, concluding
with resolution that the Secretary Of the
Navy in accepting without delay or inquiry
designations of officials of Navy who are in
arms against government, when rendering
same. and of those who sought to resign
that they might be relieved from restraint
imposed by their commissions upon engag
ing in hostility to constituted authority OF
the nation, has committed grave error high
ly pref judicial to discipline of service and in
furious to honor and deficiency of Navy
for which he desired censure of this House.
A motion to lay ON the table was lost by 81
to So. and resolution adopted.
| ST.. Louis, March 5.
i During the session of Sunday night, the
United States Senate adopted the Corwin
resolution by vote OF "A to II and reject.
ed the Crittenden proposition by ii to II
this was the only business of importance
up to the close of the close of the 36th
Congress both houses were in session on
Monday morning and the House, par;icu.
ularly. was kept busy with reports Of co.n
mittees and messages from the P:esiden
.gni!yng hi. approve! sd dtsgt il tsss ssss;
on Sunday night. lasted till almost dawr
OF Monday morning. The debate on tn,
Crlttenden and Corwin propositions wa.
participated in by Crittcndcn, Douglas
Wsda. Wigfall, Turnbull and others. Th,
} Crowd continued in the galleries until a late
hour, but dropped off as morning approach
Ell. The morning of the 4th was clear and
beautiful. Places of business were closes
IN tho city. and vast throng filled tn.
National Capitol. The capitol building
| was filled at an early hour, and thu
streets and avenues were alive with
human beings. The order of arrangement.
was strictly in accordance with established
usage, and the Inauguration was conducted
> As previously announced. AT minutes
before II O'Clock, the Vice President elec,
; was conducted by the Vice President and
Senator Foot of the committee of arrange
nents to seat on the left of the chair. As
the hands pointed to IL o'clock, :he ham
mer fell and the session of the old Congress
closed. Vice-President Breckinridge, bade
the Senate farewell, and administered the
oath OF office to Hamlin when Breckenridge
announced the Senate adjourned sine die
New Senators were then sworn in. At this
Juneture members of the old and new House
rushed In. filling the Aoor. The galleries were
crowded with ladies and gentlemen, and
tne diplomatic quarter was more crowded
than on any similar previous occasion. 1t
presented = gorgeous spectacle.
The scene in the Senate while in waiting
for the Presidential party seemed to realize
the lying down of the lion and the lamb
together, or the mingling of oil and water.
Messrs. Chase. Wigfall. Crittenden, VIII
son and others were opposite, hobknobbing
with the utmost cordiality. Senator Breck.
inridge conversed familiararly with the ex
tremest men of the Republicans, while la
dies of all political affinities, Mr.. Hamlin
among them. looked smi lingly down on the
animated scene below. The attendance of
Senators was unusually large, the only ab-
sentees noticed being those of Hon. Mason
and Hon. Mr.. Hunter. of Virginia. At 13
minutes to 1 o'clock. the Judges of the
Supreme Cour: of the United States were
announced by the door-keeper of the SEN
ate: On their entrance all on the floor rose
and the venerable Judges, headed by Chief
Justice fancy, moved slowly to the seats
assigned to them, Immediately to the right
OF the Vice-Pesident. each exchanging sa.
lutes with that official on passing the chair
AT lo minutes past o'clock. unusual bus
| tie announced the arrival of the Presiden-
tial party. At Is minutes past l O'Clock
the President and President elect were es-
corsed into the Chamber through . private
covered passage way. The line of process
sion was then formed in the following order.
the Marshal of the District of Cvlumbi.
Judges OF the Supreme Court, Sergeant at.
Arms OF the Senate. COMMITTEES of Ar
rangements. President of the United States
the President elect, the Vice President. the
Secretary Of the Senate, Senators. D;nlo-
matte Corps. Heads of Departments. Gov
ernors and others in the Ch.,.h..