The New York Herald Newspaper, March 4, 1859, Page 1

. WHOLE NO. 8216. i Mar _——. THE THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. CLOSE OF THE SECOND SESSION. AMOUNT OF WORK DONE. THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY The Proposed Branch Mint in New York. ‘The Pacific Railroad—The Purchase of Cuba—Its 't—Soldiers’ Pension Bill—The Tariff OFFICIAL LIST OF ACTS PASSED. WORK LEFT OVER FOR THE NEXT CONGRESS, EXTRA SESSION OF THE NEW SENATE, Rey ke, er ‘The Thirty-fifth Congress brings its proceedings to a close at noon to-day. The seesion which is just being concluded bas been a remarkable one in many respects. Not only hnad the President asked the acquiescence of Congress in many measures of great import to his administration and to the country, but the disposition of the votes upon some of these questions has been such as to indicate a closer drawing together of party lines. Whatever may be said or thought about the deteriora- tion of our public morals and about the lack of virtue in our public men, there ig no just ground tor stigmatizing the body that is now approaching its official dissolution. In respect to party measures, it may have shown, and has shown, too much proneness to follow the course marked out for it, and has exhibited too little regard for a high toned, statesman-like policy. here has been too much of discipline observed, and too little of independent action. On almost all measures of a political complexion the party lines bave been so closely drawn that the vote could always be known in advance. But, so far as the personal character of members is concerned, £0 far a8 individug] morality is concerned, and s0 far as corrupt jobs are concerned, this Congress has given leas cause of complaint than any that has preceded it, at least within the last decade or two. There has been but one charge of corruption made, and that but against a single member of the House; and there {s so much of doubt about that, that on the principle of the common law the accused is Perhaps entitled to the benefit of the doubt. There has mot been a single land grant scheme successful; nor, in- deed it be fairly said that any improper measure has become a law of esent Congress. ‘ We od to ©. résumé of the most important pro- ceediv, during the session just expiring, which cannot {ail to prove highly interesting and instruo- tive to our readers. PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL. ‘The bill providing for a railroad to the Pacific was in- troduced by Mr. Gwin, of California; into the Senate, at the previous session, on the 17th December, 1857. Om the 7th December, 1858, he moved to take it up again, but consented to withdraw it fora time. The object of this ‘bill was to authorize and facilitate the construction of a northern, a southern, aud # central Pacific Railroad- and magnetic telegraph through the Territories of the United States. It proposed to appropriate and set apart a quan- tity of public land, equal to the alternate sections, for the space of twelve miles on each side of the roads, from their eastern to their western termini, as follows:— \d telegraph to commence on the western border of the Biate cf Tease, snd 10 pursue the, moat Cigioie routs 1s the navigable waters of the Pacific, in the State of California, to be known as the Southern Pacific Railroad: One road and telegraph to commence on the western bonde- of the Stave of Missonrl or Iowa, and to pursue the most eligi- bie route to the bay of San Francisco, to be known as the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad; ‘And one road and ‘telegraph to commence on the westera border of the State ot Wisconsin, in the Territory of Minnesota, and pursue the moat eligible route to the navigable waters of the ific in Oregon and Washington Territories, to be known ‘ag the Northern Pacific Railroad. Bids were to be invited by advertisement from persons willing to contract for the construction of each of these lines, in which bids the persons offering were to state, first, the time, not exceeding ten years, in which the road and’ telegraph would be finished and ready for use, and what extent and portion would be finished each year; second, the time in which they would surrender the road and its appurtenances, free of cost, to the United States, for the purpose of being eurrendered to the seve- ral States; and third, the sum, not yours hag! per mile per annum, for which they would carry the United States mail daily both ways, for n years from the completion of road, and also at what rate they would carry on any portion of the road, before the completion of the line, troops, arms and munitions of war. ‘The bill was taken up in the Senate on Monday, the 19th of December, by a vote of thirty to olghteen, and finally it was allowed to lie over informally. During the same week several bills with the same gene- ral object were introduced into either house. Senator Rice, of Minnesota, introduced a substitute for Senator Gwin’s bill, entitled ‘‘A billto aid in the construction of Certain railroads to the Pacific, to encourage settlements on their lines, and for other purposes.’ And in the House, Mr. Washburne, of Maine, asked leave to introduce still another bill for the construction of a Northern, a Southern and # Central Railroad to the Pacific. of the road. The bill, as reported from the select com- mittee, proposes that the eastern terminus of the road commence ‘‘on the Missouri river, between the Kansas rivers.” Senator offered an amendment, which was cqn- debated, to babs carr step as to jus, and to insert in lieu of it the following :-— Between a in the bout of Minn on the r. ninth parallel of hart Intade aad he conthors Dotmdacr oe the United States. ‘This amendment was rejected by @ vote of yous 1%, 29. enator Ward, of Texas, gave notice ofan amendment at the same point of the bill, so as to make it read— From some point between the forty-fifth degree of north lat! ele care rents pee see tens Gaaa” rei being had to feasibility, shortness and economy. And he algo proposed to reduce the maximum advance of money by the government from $25,000,000 to $10,000,000, while Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts, gave notice of an’ amendment to insert the words— On the shortest practicable route between the parallels of latitude $4 and 43, Subsequently Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, offered an ‘amendment to refer back the whole subject to the Com- mittee on Public Lands, with instructions to report back a bill providing for the appointment of three sets of com- missioners, to be com] of three members each, whose duty it shall be, wil the prosent year, to locate a Northern, a Southern and a Central Railroad route to the Sree ane vo rene’ tee lean eat cee the same re. spectively to the President, who shall thereupon ¢nter into contracts for the building of the uch contracts: ing of the ex: tone and whenever a section of twenty-five miles is it the government shall issue bonds to the contractor ‘at the rate of $10,000 a mile, to be secured by lien on the road, From day to day the bill underwant a tedious debate in the Senate, when, on the 27th of January, Mr. Doolittle added several additional amendments and sections which ‘were adopted. them the final section that the Secretary of the Interior, on the passage of this act, be ‘suthorized to take for northern and southera rena Wo be seat Ser clas Ronin i Gre Dears Columbia newspapers. Mr. Simmons, (opp.) of R. I, then moved to strike oat all between the enacting clause and the said final section, ‘which was carried, thus killing the bill. ‘The vote was as follows:— Ayra—] Bell, in, Se noe Schram ee tis mea, ae javs—Mesara, 5 wn, Soe ee ae BE From bill was then read three times, and passed by the Vote Yasr—Momars. Bell, Bigler, Cameron, ae Foe a. sot, Cay Sryve, iY, emote Coes at samn A iaiEE Tiles with Harumond, Cotamer with Jobawon of The following is the substance of the bill:—Thatad- vertis+ments be inserted in two pepers of each the Dutrict of Columbia, inviting estimates for the three routes, aud that $8,000 be appropriated to pay the ex- penses. THE SOLDIERS’ PENSION BILL. At the last session of Congress Mr. Savage, of Tennessee, introduced in the House a bill to grant pensions to the offi- vers and soldiers engaged in the war of 1912. It was made the special order in Committeo of the Whole on the State of the Union for the second Tuesday in December, at this session, and was taken up and discussed in committee on the following Thursday, but no final action was then taken upon it. This bill would involye an annual expenditure in pensions of eight millions of déllars. While in com- mittee the Dill was loaded down amendments, but ‘& motion was carried striking out all after the enact- og clause, and in this shape it was reported to House, which refused to concur with the comm A substitute that had been agreed upon in caucus the Previous evening was offered by Mr. Savage, and this sub- stitute, without being printed, was forced upon the House under the law of the previous question. It was con- tended by the opponents of the measure that as the rules require all Ere touching appropriations of money to be first discussed in Committos Whole, this substiute should go before the committee and be there discussed; but in ac- cordance with former decisions than with the spirit and meaning of the rule—tbat inasmuch as the bill to wi this was offered as a substitute had been discussed in com- mittee, it was not necessary the matter should go again before the committee, even though it had recom. mendgd the rejection of the bill. By this manwuyre the House was brought to vote uy the substitute, on the ‘24th of December, and ado; it by a vote of 122 to 61. ‘The following was the vote:— Yeas—Messrs. Abbott, Adrain, Abl, Anderson, Ari mold, a. Buningsa Burveth fmm Gnruberny Gago, Gare paved, Chalice Clark, Clark of Mo., Clawson, Clay, Cragin, Or eth, Verto, Dimmict, mins, Corning, Davis of Ind. Davia of jass., Dawes, Di ee, Kale, 5 Florence, Foley, Foster, Garire!! iimer, Goode, Goodwin, |G ‘Ot Oho. tiaras of Md, Seas! y Pottle, Purvianee, Heady, % Rloand, Rober s, Ko; i age, , erat ares Ames rnen ba : ope: aiot Tappagfhayer Ei tans, Fr Under'w Walton, Ward, Watking, White, Wir tan wrainas Uaecae ames Nays—Mesara. Billipghurst, ), Blair, Biss, Clark of N. Y., Craige, Crawford, avis of Md., Davis of Miss., Davis of Iowa, Dodd, Dowdell, Faulkner, Fenton, Garnett, Gilman, Greenwood, Groesbeck, Grow, Har- Jan, Hinlom, Houston, foward, Jackson, Jenkins, ones of rg ae oes ¥ ee on mie q 0. Pike Bltehle, hantige, Beales, Bewara, aba of Evie vain Gietere foes & ’, » of HL, Washborne of Me., Whitely, Winslow and Wortendyke— The bill as passed is considerably modified from that as originally reported. It declares each of the surviving officers, pon-commissioned. }, Musicians and privates who shall have served in the regular army, State troops, volunteers or militia, and officers, non. off. cersand marines, for aterm of sixty days or more, who have been engaged in actual battle with the enemy in the war declar: the United States Great Britain on the 18th day of June, 1812, or against the In- dians during or pricating that war, authorized to receive pension from the United States, to commence the Girat day of the prosent Congress, and continue daring his natural life, the pension to be graduated as follows :—For twelve months service or more, ninety six dollara; for six months’ service but less than twelve months, seventy- five dollars; for sixty days service but less six months, fifty dollars; provided that the survivor, or sur- viving widow of an officer, non-commissioned officer, musi- cian or private, who participated in actual battle, in said war, shall be entitled to the maximum pension. The bill then went to the Pension Committee of the Se- nate, who reported it back with a recommendation that it do not pass. The report conciudes thus:— ‘The persistent and too successful efforts during the last quar- ter of thls century to enlarge the sytem 90 as fembract all who have rendered any mi 'y service, and their widows and children, admonish us to retrace our bey rie ame advance, and in future to confine the bounties of the government to those who, in its service, have lost their ability to take care of them- wea, and are ‘ine yediens and unwise, whether considered in int those | ‘unwise, whether’ rel rho musi bear lt burden in taxation, oF mu “ should it uy mublic or private charit sion, the comnlitiee, think il enjoy ita boun- sions; they therefore r Ns. the nat ecommend that the Senate FRENCH SPOLIATION BILL. The bill to provide for the ascertainment and satisfac- tion of claims of American citizens for spoliations commit- ted by the French prior to the Sist day of July, 1801, came up in the Senate on the 6th of January, and was de- bated off and on during the week. The bill provides that satisfaction shall be made to an amount not excooding {vA ‘Millions of dollars, wy suvh citinens of cue United States, or to their Jegal representatives, as had valid claims to in- demnity upon the French government arising out of ille- gal captures, detentions, forcible seizures, illegal condem- nations and confiscations committed prior to the ratifica- tion of the convention between the United States and the French republic, concluded on the 80th day of September, 1800, the ratifications of-which were exchanged on the Bist day of July foliowing : Provided, that the provisions of the act shall not extend to such claims as are stipulated for and embraced in the convention between the United States and the French republic, conciuded on the 30th da of April, 1803, and for the ‘liquidation and payment Weereof provision is made in the said convention; nor to such claims as were allowed and paid, in whole or in part, under the provisions of the treaty between the United States and Spain, concluded on the 22d day of February, 1819; nor to such claims as were allowed, in whole or i t, under the provisions of the treaty between the : i i and France, concluded on the 4th day of july, 1831. the Dill provides for the appointment of three commis. sioners, to agcertain and decide upon the claims present- ed, and if the aggregate of their awards shall excecd toe bill haa been before Congreas for the lat half cen- tury and more, It was passed several times by one or the other house, failing to receive favorable consideration in the other. It was twice passed by both houses—first in 1846 and again in 1854—but was vetoed each time by the President of the United States. On the 10th December it ‘was passed by a vote of 26 to 20, as follows:— Yeas—Mesers, Bayard, Bell, Benjamin, Broderick, Cameron, Chandler, ‘Clingman, * Gritenden, Dizon, ‘Doolitie, Durkee, Fou" Fostsr, Hatalin Hammond, Ho: Pearce, 8e "Gave Messrs. Bigler ‘Bright, Olay, Davis, Douglas, Fitch, " A . Fitspatrick, Harlan, Hunter, Iverson, Johnson 2 King, Manoa, Polk, Bel Hice, buldeh, Trumbull, Wark nad A similar bill originated in the House, where it eame up ase 6 order; and the House refused to lay it on the table by a vote of yeas 75, nays 106. This yote was a mere make-believe, designed to itiate the constituents Pens srg erage pg ep oto Wve . Letoher, Present- cdanpotk of ortee that the bill made an appro and must conseq: Numerous propositions were @#ro introduced fn the House for the organization of the new Territories of Ne- vada, Ontouagon, Colona or Jefferson; and the people in Tt was though osteneibly slavery was probibited in Oregon, yet virtually it waa vot, because if a negro was beld in bond. State and age corer f but region, honor of the with the ied, was oy state Oregon. ‘th Co the fe the Speaker decided—rather ip) pom! 4 ball hich have passed—the that Mesars: Advan, AB}, Atkins, Avery, nie Sire ae, ale spnugh, Chama te Elliot, Englab, Forene Tale, Fos, Garwel, Gill Jewett of rs 4 K f Pa, rane, John ‘Goohrang, Cocke, Maral ofa Maier, Montgomery, “- 3 aicger rig obra St Hamondaon, ' illo og hi BS, Ruasell rage, Boats, eaciy ‘fall Has: Rasta a ae Raaper™ vee ‘Palbot, George Taylor, Penn. ellogs, i. brea st Re Chas oo waoD, ain ne mot x Dawes, ‘Des Dowdell, venson, veep vie | le i a poe Mi ‘Matteson,’ Miles, lore, Mor Chap! Morris of pe Pottle, “Purviance, Ricaud, Ritchie. Robl Bar. Scales, vejoy, art of” Pas Tappan, Thommpeon, | To Pialoe Washburne of Wis., Washburne of ill, Washburne of ison, Woodson, Zollicoffer—103. be, For the against 3 of ry foreign porta, from of. Teguiate ‘warehousing under ise. Paton and renlasfon. tion and, vision for bill i age there was no means left him of asserting his free- dom. Neverthelcgs, thirteen republicans overcame ir seruples on that 4, and voted for the passage of the bill. Without this aid from the reypblican ranks, the bi could not have final yote being 114 to 103—a8 follows :— Yeas Adrain, Ab}, Arnold, dale, Bare, ‘Bilin suura, Bucdck, Bo fy, Mou "warray ous, Palmer . Powe, a . bias, ‘Roberts, oye.) thaw of N. 4 Shorter, Emith of Va., Spinner, "urvi ‘Wilson, 5 —l CODIFICATION OF THE REVENUE LAWS. Hon. John Cochrane’s bill for the codification of the revenue laws occupied ghe attention of the House for several days during the session. The bill is composed of twelvo chapters, and will do much towards reforming the abuses that now exist in enforcing the present laws:— ok 1. Concerning the registry of vessels, and regulating 2. For the government and regulation of seamen in 3 chant service of ue Untied Sees ea? the duties of the officers of the customs and masters of vessels on entry of vessels from £ Regulating the entry of goods, the un ef cargoes, ascertsio 6 ‘quantity and damage, entry of and sea atores. 5. To regulate ba elena wid of impo: ted mershandise. re te ul bonds of imported m 7. Concerning nay! and for obtaining statements of 8. 0 ere avis on duty bonds, and prosecution - of penalties and forfeltures, their ‘distri. rr 9, Revenue cutters and their officers, and concerning pilots. 10. Respecting marine hospitals and health laws. M1. Regi the importation of dr 12. Exami mm of custom houses, depositories, and other public sel prohibiting importations, and other miscellane- THE CLAYTON-BCLWER TREATY, Aregolution was introduced at the last session of Con- gress requesting the President to take euch steps as he should deem neccssary for the abrogation of the Clayton- Bulwer treaty. The resolution was taken up in the House on the 7th of December lagt, and referred to the Commit- tee of the Whole on the State of the Union. follows:— It reads as Whereas, the ae canteens the United States and G1 Britain. designated the Olayton-Bulwer 1s, under the {a teepreiaion placed mm it by Great Britain, a surrender oi the rights ot the country; ard,pn the Atertcan constenotion, an entangling alliance, without mutuality of ‘Heneft or rea'rc tion, and en productive only of misunderstaadiag and controversy between the two governments; therefore, evolved, ‘That the President be requested to take such: Lu aay be in bie iat ent best calculated to effect the speedy bi doce Ft s The abrogation of the treaty is o| by England, who insists upon the right to colonize Ruatan aud to exer: cise the Mosquito protectorate. The terms of this treaty are to the effect that neither Great Britain or the United States will ever “occupy or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion’? over any part of Central Ame- rica. The construction which the British government puts upon the treaty is that it docs not extend to those ‘ts of Central America which were in its poseession be- dere is was enisred upon; and that it recoguizes the pos- sessory right of Great Britain to the whole coast from Rio Hondo to the port and harbor of San Juan de Nicaragua, with the adjacent Bay islands, except that portion between the Sarstoon and Cape Honduras. Ata subsequent period Mr. Clingman, of N. C., intro- dneed a long preamble and resolution into the Senate, of which the following is the concluding portion :— wi the which are in direct welfsre of the Bulwer treaty contains stipulations 10 the cherlahed polley sud future 8 yulations calculated to ope- ihetuse of uy which i may become imperaive oat to adopt fn regeta nga controling the aure of the Contral Armed ipdemaaded nike by ihe honor and fatereate Of the. Union, ‘Resolve the President be requested to communicate to the Senaie, if not in his opinion incompatible with the public interest, apy co1 have since bis inauguration, between this government and that of Great , and between this gov and that of Nicaragua, with ect to the termination or preservation of the Olayton- Buiwer treaty, ‘The resolution was, under the rules of the Senate, laid over for the day, but was subsequently up on several occasions, and received its quietes by the Senate refusing, by a vote of 22 to 28, to take it up for consideration. THE CUBA BILL. ‘The great question that has occupied the attention of Congress and the country during this session was the bill appropriating thirty millions to facilitate the acquisition of Cuba; but as it was evident that it could not pass the House af all and could not be pressed to a vote in the Senate without sacrificing the appropriation bills and other measures of legislation, it wae prudent allowed to fall for the present, with the intimation roid (Mr. Slidell, of La.) who assumed the pater- the L y measure ‘woul uontly, ander the rales ot the House, be | corm UaCoetage eter nent eee me pat the considered in Committee of the Whole. The bill was 'de- | On Friday last the bill was taken up by the Senate, with signedly drawn up so as to avold the necessity of this re- | « firm determination to ascertain the sense ty on ference. It only provided for the ascertainment of the | the of Mr. Slidell; and one hour after midnight clus ‘and, for ihe ieoance of stock to pay them. Ao Mr owuierd tam tal WOR OME AS he ce cording to the preposterous precedent set by the House, | table, announcing at the eame time that he should vote this issuance of atock would not be rogarded as such at ast bis own motion. The test vote was then taken, DEP go to the Oommites of We Whole, although the rufe | S04, te motlon was lost by yeas 18, aye 90—majority i ‘i says that all, Measures ae oe ia, in any way favor of dhe bill 28. are of the connect: ‘appro) money”? must consicered in Committee of the Whole, “But the drafer PReneatin Frokegiek, Cameron, Chenities, Clash, Doo of the bill inserted a clause authorizing the of Be Simmons, b rade and Wilson. the Treasury to redeem such stock was 8 | Ware Menrs “Allen Bayard ny Bigs, Brown surplus in the Treagury; and the er decided that Renna, Oley, Cngwan, Dougias, Green. that clause brought the bill wit purview of Gwin, , Trereon, ‘Johneon of Ark. Jobuaon ot Tent, rule coe, Be yd Bields, " mith, Toombs and Ward. * ly conscientious, or thas there is « majority of them 7 while ostensibly favoring the bre! fe one ay ogee are really opposed to it. ‘The bill wer it could not be got at ; ing the rules and ‘the Committee from its fur- ther consideration, or el y passing over every other measure, one by one, that is on the calender it, Both bills were on the Speaker's table. IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGES WATROUS AND IRWIN. Committee, where by a two-thirds vote Much valuable time in the House was taken up in the pad apy ig er. jue Ua ant investigation of charges against John C, Watrous, United § 8: meant it was dot to have Cuba, but States District Judge of Texas, whero they wero debated hot deiflo wo Lig, tel A Ad ‘with an unusual degree of fairness and attention by that pense < Oe. aie wa ali ite amendments, A body. The result was that on Wed: i resent, House, Mr. Branch, of Carol Deowaaber, the ya tots et Tit to 08 | broughe up « similar bill, bat it has nt bean actod oa. that the evidence taken before the committee did no Al a oe Sma THE MAIL ROUTES—THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE. sustain sarily, and for his own or his son’s }, eocumulated costa in suite, and had ety oy dia pal ade days when the Court was not in and Dacotah, and an ineffectual House to admit Mr. Mowry to a seat on the floor as dele- gate for the first named Territory in embryo, c y ‘hereas, Olay United States stip irsely ved, That chy reg Alpen ht 'y Britain, ernment finally Olark, Collamer, tion. ward, Stuart, ‘Ward, and propit mecessary Senator rules ba t against hing’ in 8, voting: pene me Froderien. 0 whenever there ee thin ‘the docision was appealed ae solid of Cavern ‘suspend pe mph sage of the President receive the island whenever of ing, negotiate nesday , ‘Thomas presented lasted asthe sbolition of the franking privilege is concerned, was before the Post Office Committee of the House. It Proposes to abrogate this privilege in regard to all per- the Presidents, ex-Preaidents and i | i i ‘stamps to each Senator, member and delegate; autho- izes the communioations of the exeeutive department to be sentfree through the mails, and forbids the Postmes- tor Gonerail to make contracts for the mail with a view also to the ocagrying gers. The Senate bill on the same subject is ett ‘rere to ttt oan Hn ‘abroguise the privilege im regard to ail officials, leaves membera and Senators to pay for their own’ postage rT }, as they are for their own shoos, and directs that the ‘shall preparo and feraish, for the wxe of tie weveral dopart- President, ‘rinved envelopes oF rs for government documelte and correspondence, en- vel or wrappers to be received at the Port office in Wi Py A a to the particular department that it comes from, MORNING EDITION—FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1859. led theyare mailed by a known officer or messengur ofthe eewewert, aud not otherwise. ‘The Berate added to the Post Route bill an amendment abolishing the franki and rais! je fo Ive cena & sigle eter the rate if they iad fot te come in on its own but there ts litte douvt tbat great and expensive abuse, the pri vilege, would have been abolished; but by conn is with marhian enpopular measure a8 cs oe of 4 oy, ie ed reforra. paseed Benate this form. tk ’ HOMESTEAD BILL. A Dill was introduced into the House by Mr. Grow, of Pa., which passed under the operation of the previous ‘question by a vote of 120 to 76. This bill enacts that any person who is the head of a family, or who bas arrived at ihe ago of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed his intention to become such, as required by ‘the naturalization laws of the United Statee, shall, from ‘and after ite passage, be entitled to enter, free of cost, ‘one quarter section of vacant and unappropriated public Jands which may, at the time the application is made, be ‘subject to private entry, at $1 95 per acre, or a quantity ‘@dual thereto, to be located in a body, in conformity with the legal subdivisions of the public lands, and after the game ehal) have been surveyed. That such person shall, upon pried to the register of the land offve in which he or she is about to make such entry, mako affidavit be fore the said register that he or she is the head of a fami. ly, or ig twenty-one years or more of age, and that such a) is made for his or her exclusive use and bene. , and not either directly or indirectly for the ‘benefit of any other or persons whomsoever; and (pon makin ‘the affidavit as above required, and filing the vit with the register, he or she shall thereupon be per. ‘mitted to enter the quantity of land already specified: Pro- ‘vided, however, that no certificate shall be given or patent issued therefor until the expigation of five years from the date of such entry; and if, at the expiration of such time, or at any time , the person: such entry, or, if he be dead, his widow, or, in case of death, his helrs or deviseo, or in case of a widow making such entry, her heirs or devisee, in case of her death, shall prove by ‘two credible witnesses that he, she, or they, have con- Iwate such land, and atill reside upon the same, and have not alienated the same, or any part thereof, in such case, he, che, or they, ifat time a citizen of the United States, # On pay- ment of ten dollars, be entitled to a patent, as in other cases provided for by law: And provided, further, in caso Of the death of both father and mother, leaving an infant child or children under twenty-one years of age, the right ‘and the fee shal! inure to the benefit of said infant child ‘or-children, and the executor, administrator, or guardian, May, at apy time within two years after the death of the surviving rent, and in accordance with the lawsof the ‘Btate in wi! such children for the time being have their domict!, sell said land for the benefit of said infants, but for no other purpose; and the sbaolute title b; more than one entry, the satiatution of to the Committee on Lands. ‘The bill underwent an animated discussion tn tho House, in which the Western members took in favor of the bili—Mr. Cavanagh, of Minnesota, ‘the lead. AA motion was made in the Senate on Monday by Mr. Pugh, of Ohio, to take up the Homestead bill, but it was lost by a vote of 26 to 29. ‘Thus it goes over to the next session. NAVAL AFFAIRS. ‘Tho Committee on Naval Affairs in the Senate reported on the 4th of January a bill to authorize the construction of tcn small war steamers, The committed also reported a bill to increase the pay of the officers of the navy. This bill proposes to add one per cent for cach year of service to the present pay of captains aud commanders on the active list; two per cent for each year of service to the present pay of lieutenants, masters and passed midshipmen; and twenty-five per cent to the present compensation of surgeons, pursers and ig 24 neers. Professors at the Naval Academy are to have game as those at West Point; and ) gunners, carpenters and sailmakers are to have three per cent in- crease to their present pay. A joint resolution was reported Ad Committee on Naval Affairs conferring the rank of ior Flag Officer on the active list of the United Staves navy on Capt. Charles Stewart, was parsed in the House. In the House a bill was reported authorizing the Presi- dent of the United States to procure two steam revenue cutters; one to be stationed at the port of Philadelphia and tho other at the port of New Orleans. The House Committee on Naval Affairs reported ad- versely on the petition to pay to the officers and men of the expedition under Dr. Kane the same as was paid to the Ve cers and men of the expedition under Lieutenant je Havens. gene the Seuate’s amendments to the Naval bill were ‘Considered in Committee of the House. Mr. Booock, of Virginia, moved to amend the amend ment appropriating $178,700 for the charter of vessels for the Paraguay Expedition, by giving the Secretary of the Navy authority to purchase them. The chartering o these veszels for nine months amounts to this sum, and in making the contract the Secretary inserted a clause by which the government could purchase them at $289,000 only $100,000 more than the price of the charter, and $600 Joes than their charter for fifteen months. Thi: Cop ga was concurred in by the House, by a yoteo to 77. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BILL. A bill donating some six million acres of tho public Jands to the several States and Territories for the purpose of establishing agricultural colleges was passed by both houses after much debate, but it bas been vetoed by the President. An atempt was then made in the House to pass it over the yeto, but a two-thirds vote could not be had. The object of this bill is plain enough—being no- ‘thing more than ‘the public Jands for the enrich- ment of a few individuals. THE CHAFFEE INDIA RUBBER PATENT. An effort was made in the House on Monday, January 81, to revive the patent of Kdwin M. Chaffee, for vulcanized India rubber—a patent which expired two years ago, when the invention or improvement became public pro- perty. The effort failed, ver. The plan was to sus- pend tho rules, discharge the Committee of the Whole from its consideration, and then pass it under the opera- tion of the previous question. The ion of the rules reepls Eafority ef 000 (86 teS) tie cat ee a ceny of ue 5 Female on the ” ¢ THE WASHINGTON AND OREGON WAR DEBT. The modest demand of some six or eight millions of dol- lars made upon the general government, to compensate THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR BILL. A bill was introduced Into the House making appropria- tions for the payment of consular and diplomatic service for the year ending June 80, 1860, which led to a protract- ed debate on two points. The one was, that a large num- ber of our diplomatic offices abroad were more sinceures, kept up for the benefit, of petty politicians, whose capaci- ties and_characters were below the average of respecta- bility. The other was, because the bill included an rasa some $80, pn Gg ed ‘The bill was taken up Am gn ad ment is. the people expect retrenchment large the diplomatic expenses of the country, except for some controlling reasons. ‘This gave rise to @ very animated discussion, but the amendment was agreed to. Various attempts wore made to strike out the provisions for ministers to different im- — missions. Considerable by-; characterised tho i ii f i 4 i who, in ay 522) ; it i | Ff 3 4 ES E i | fee "hal (lh diplomatic and coneviar offices were abolished and restored. The Sénate, by a vole of 9 w 38, rejected a reported from vse Commitwe on Foreign Aflave to equatize the saiaries of the United States Ministers to Paris avd London. It wae, im fact, to pay to the Minister at Paris the d:flerence between his and that of the Minis ter at London during @ period of it @ year that their compensatioug were unequal, The Committee on Foreign Affairs in the same body also reported adversely to in- creasing the ealaries ef the United States Consuls at Bongkok, the capital of Siam, and at Aspinwall. The Senate has, however, @ joint resolution au- thorizing the Secretary of State to pay to one or two yoving commisvioners in Centra) and South America the salaries of resident ministers to the Argentine Confedera- von, Costa Rica and Hondaras, in addition to the salaries which they draw for other missions. In the ‘Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill Senator Pugh offered an amendment looking to a general overhauling of our diplomatic system, and to the turaing adrift of scores of thoze politicians who are serving their country in @ ministerial seer abroad. The amend- ment was to strike out the clause in the original bill, and For salaries of en aod miviaters plenipo- entiary of the Unie nt Great Britain, sain, Gent eh Frasca, ausiting the atgerne ti tof ie shite, Gwitzeriand, Kome, Holland, Denmark, Swe. den, Turkey, » Venezuela and Ni ranada; \ pce IE Sm pio i . i H 2 4 E ae 2gees se cee be i Hf fei! i i B 43 So strong was the spirit of economy and reform in the reasts of that this sweeping measure only failed je vote. It was @ tie vote—26 to 26—and, of ‘an increase of the tariff waa forcibly pressed on Congress ip accordance with the President’s message. The queation as to whether an ad valorem or a specific duty should be imposed, divided the opinion not only of Congreas, but of the Cabinet. There were several plans before Congress, and the whole business finally got mixed up. Ono party would not go for an increased tariff unless a loan were appended, and another would not support the loan ques- tion. A compromise was suggested, to repeal the act of 1867 for two years, thus restoring the tariff of 1846, and at the same vote a reissue of the twenty millions devoted several houts on various days to the consideration of two antagonistic propositions. Tho one is a resolution offered by Mr. Bigler, of Pa., of the Benate that should be re-adjusted so as not only to meet the deficit in the current expenses, but also to The other is a resolution directing the heads of the departments to submit to next Congress cetimates of expenditure of the government, not to exceed $50,000,000 a year, exolugive of the public debt and the interest thereon. e The question was beset with difficulties. Thus the democratic majority in the Senate resolved that there should be no revision of the tariff this session; and the democratic anti-protectionist, and—in matter—anti- administration minority in the House re affirmed the same decree, and appointed a committee to prepare a scheme for reducing the expenses of the government 80 as to being tite within the crippled reeources of the treasury. On the other band, the republicans and protectionista in the House who, strangely enough, find themselves in this game matter of tariff revision tbe friends of the admin- istration, have placed on record their solemn determina- tion that, uvlees the duties on imports be increased, they will not ‘authorise any loan to be contracted. by the go- vernment. Mr. Houston, of Ala., desired to introduce a bill authorizing a loan of twenty millions, and vdjoction id the rules go as to enable dos. To Suspend the rules requires a two-thirds vote; but the. result showed nearly a two-thirds vote the Ve pe way. It stood yeas 73, noes 127. So that, while ut of the number voting, there were 127 members who stand up for a revision of the tariff, there were only 73 who were willing to authorise a Joan, beg seine oA of such revision; and of this 73 there may have been a dozen or more who would prefer a tariff bill but, still were not willing to refuse the government a loan. In the House on Saturday last some decided action was taken. Mr, Phelps, of Mo., the chairman of the Commit- tee of Ways and Means, asked leave to introduce a tariff bill, and moved a suspension of the rules for that pur- pose. The proposition was met by a storm of objections. Mr. Phelps sent up to the Clerk's table a resolution which had been adoy by the Committee of Ways and Means, authorizing him to report a bill for the modifica tion of the tariff: that Mr. Morrill be authorized to report ‘a Bubstitute, providing fora loan and modification; and that avy other member may have an opportunity to offer an amendment to the amendment, &c. The resolution was read, and Mesars. Crawford, of Ga., Burnett, of Ky., Letcher, of Va., and others, raised e committee had not authorized the re- th porting of in ‘The bill was for information simply. It provides that the opcration of the first, second and third sections of the act of 1867 are suspended for three from the 80th of June, 1869—from and after which the same duties : i y 128 against 88, re- fused to suspend the rules—a two-thirds vote being re- quired. Annexed is the vote:— ‘Corning, Co f Davie of Ma, of » Foley, Foster, ro Kenpo, Kunis of Pe d jaraball of Ky, Pheips of Mo. Phelps’ of Mins,” ee Ready, Reilly, Bioand, Stewart of ba? Stewart of Pa., ate i a i a Comins, of Mo., of N. ., , Curry, Da uagt ; 4 ©,, Crawford, Curry, : via of Ind., Davis of Mise. Rett Gartrell, Green: cod, Gree Gi ial! of Ot, Haskin, Hawking, Hil, Ho age, Hookine, Huson, Hughes Mexeobin i biti of fiLy Miles, Hillson’ i ae all of oe es at Pendleton. Pe; Powel Bt Bavage, Scales, Scott, som Eben oF IIL, Ehaw'ot Non thories Binelona, Bik TL, Smith of Tenn., Smith of Va., Spinner, Stallworth, Ste- ace, Pinion, ‘Woodson so rright of Uae aul ‘Wright of Tenn.—88, gi . This decided vote not to allow of the introduction of bills to alter the tariff and to raise money by a loan, to supply cation of the obstinacy of bow te provectioticts and to ion al ant e ead of the inevitability of free trade parties, An extra sea- sion. It would require fourteen of the eighty-eight mino- rity to change sides and vote with the majority, before the rules could be suspended. In regard to the measure have strange! enough obanged sides—the repub: sustaining the ai. ——— and the Southern jou. THE INDIANA SENATORS’ DIFFICULTY. ‘The Legisiature of Indiana, by memorial to the Senate, eolemnly protested against their State being unrepresented im that body, alleging that the two gentiomen who now profess to represent Indiana in the Senate of the United Statee—Messrs. Bright and Fitch—are mere protenders; be is, and shuts off Chapman spe per diem. have declared the both away. Some such decisive course is necessary to rebuke frauds at clections. THE ERIE CANAL. A memorial bas beep presented im both houses of Con- PRICE TWO CENTS. grees from the Canal Board of the State of New York, Praying, in view of the immense importance of the canala of New York to the national revenue, that the money ex- jed in. the improvement of Buffalo ee and drawn from the revema er ieee _ be refutded, and that these harbors may'he cana, enlarged, improved and protected United States. The memorial was laid on the aud ordered to be inted, and a motion to print a Thobsand 1. Wan veteeved (3 tou Contealioes ch Preame: 27> Ol ‘THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL. ‘The House spent several days in discussing the Senate amendments to the Indian Appropriation bill, the most material of which was the transfer of the Indian bureau from the control of the Secretary of the Interior to that of the Secretary of War, to which department it originally belonged, and oughtatill to belong. The House, however, to concur with the Sonate in that amendment, and refused in gome others of a less important nature. A bill subse- quently passed both houses appropriating $1,797,368. ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL. ‘This bill was disposed of in the Senate in Committee of the Whole. The act appropriates for the recruiting ser- vice ninety thourana dollars; for the pay of the army, three million pimety-one thousaiM seven hundred and eighty-four dollars; for clothing one million two hundred ‘nd twenty thousand dollars; for subsistence in kind, one million nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand dollars. for regular supplies of the as one million eight hundred of ‘om ne : pacioae i for bundred ‘thousand dollars one thoueand dollars; for hundred Sionmind dollars; cavalry horses, ‘two hospitals, Mr. Davis moved and carried, by # vote of 28 against 12 lating about a million of dol: lars for fortifications. ‘The bill was finally passed by syes 24, nays 15. STOPPING PRINTING PAP. ‘The Senate has passed a joint resolution to prevent the duplicating of public documents printed by order of each house. estimated saving by ae Wyott snd ‘The ayear. The fact that such a piece legislation ‘neces- sary is a sufficient commentary upon the system of pablic THE PRIVATEER GENERAL ARMSTRONG. The claim of Capt. Reid against the government for the loss of the General Armstrong, burned by the British at Fayal in the war of 1812, has been before three Congresses. The Committee of Foreign Affairs in the House has now re- pay bye Brissh squadron dug the tet oar ee ter Sey tain, the sum of $60,739, ee a te , Ostimating the value of the are The amendment to $297 balance jue on account of ee ae of 1812, was concurred in by yeas 176, nays 23. APPROPRIATION BILLS. ‘and then in the House. > ‘When the Naval Appropriation bill was up in the flerce onalaughts were made upon the navy yards—par- ticularly of Brooklyn and Philadelphia—as being the lazar houses for political strikers and vagabonds, The in- creased appropriation for the Brooklyn Navy Yard was rejected in the Senate. In the Executive, Legislative and Judicial bill the ap- Ppropriations for the reporting for the House were struck out, leaving those for the reporting for the Senate un- touched. So, algo, the House struck out the item for the mileage of the members of the next House, leaving that for the milage of Senators untouched. In the Senate it Decame vecessary to amend this item by adding the amount rendered pecessary by the admission of two Sena- tore from Oregon, and the House took advantage of that amendment to get their own mileage restored. ‘This was done by disagreeing to the amendment of the —_ and having a Committee of Conference on the disa- greeing vote. While the general appropriation bill was under discus- sion in the Senate an attempt was made by Mr. Hale to Te-open the Kansas question on the provision of a sum for taking the census of tbat Territory. Mr. Bale moyed as an additional section to repeal the restriction clause of the actto admit Kansas, and called on the Oregon Senators to do by her as they themselves had been done by. Messrs. Lane and Smith said, when Kagaas came before Congress secking admission they would act by her with justice. Mr. Douglas held that Kansas ought to come in, irre- tive of the ceneus, with such aconstitution as she shail choose. Hence he did pot admit the necessity of the appropriation. He wanted either the appropriation stricken out, or the restrictive clause repealed. Mr. Green, of Missouri, entered his protest the introduction of this exciting and inflammatory subjet He mentioned that he was authorized to report against a constitution framed at Leavenworth, and which bad been offered by the Senator from New York, and that he wag delaying it at the instance of the delegate from tory, who says the people do that constit After considerable discussion Mr. Hale’s amendment a next day, and lost by yeas 19, nays 27. vote:— ‘Yus—Messrs. Broderick, Chandler, Start, Cotte. 4 Dooiitile, Di Le eng Anal gos Saran teen Ren Wo , Chesn' a pias ay a, rset i, tes, pate iverson, Johnson of Tenn, Johnson of Ark., Ki Ward, Yulee~27. Mr. Mason paired off with Mr, Stuart. BH propeiaion ill, rat Wont cutie tvecue and cutting off the privilege. An amendment to the effect that tho Post advertisements should be field’ tract and most of the terfield’s contract was go were * other amenimcnts Gaced, fm ccinaalties, "ah samnsnset to the effect that the General may continue any vote to 22. cannes Appropriation Dill were conc re ta. Tho 1e0Us yur i Ocean Mail Aipcepriation bill was tabled by eleven ma- Mt brovited for to coast survey Kicited much discussion, oy coast $253,000; for lighthouses, $951.0 ; for the survey of the publ ; $200, (orew for |, $127,000; Treasury {$60,000; for the Post Office building, $150,000; for the Capitol exten- sion, $400,000, but no di are to be executed until t oy pe i; gaspar Gar- len, 3 e Hospital, ) mort- on the gorernment ty in Pine street, New Fork, $11,0¢0! for the Patent tural depart- Mr. Hunter, of Va. wi carried by a vote of 34 to 10, for the issue ‘of Treasury for ad 1000; for printed blank’ ianks, $80,000; for wrapping paper, $50,000; for mail locks, keys, and furniture, $15,000; mail ‘and special agents, $70,000; for’ miscella- neous ments, $200,000; for pesiage stamps and ® envelopes, $100,000; for » new edition of the office Inws and r $15,000. Section two provides for the deficiencies of revenue in the Post Offlee department for the year rating for the same $3,838, Z 3 3 af i peat if the Post Office revenue shall be insufficient to de. ay ee ation of cach quarter of the ‘cal year shall. be eacl the expi aan. amount the care and preservation of the works the United States for the Potomac Po he water for tal pur} ‘and for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the eaid cities. MIST OF ACTS AND RESOLUTH PASSED AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THR TH! FIFTH CONGRESS. PUBLIC ACTS. 1, An act to detach Solma, in the State of Alabama, CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGF Qaartermaster’s department, and ninety thou- millions o