TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS,


SECOND SESSION.
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senate,
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Jan. %, lS45.
Prayer by the Rev. MIR. JUSTIN. Journal
Mr. STURGEON presented petition from Cad
wallader Evans, OF Pittsburgh, for encouragement
by Congress, in his invention for the prevention Of
steamboat explosions. Referred.
Mr.. Dickinson, from citizens of New York, pre-
sented memorial, demonstrating against the an
nexation ct Texas. By Mr.. BUCHANAN, from citi-
zens OF Pennsyivanla, petition TO the same
effect: Referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.


Mr.. Barrow reported Joint resolution, pro-
gldlng for the establishment of military barracks at
Pass Chrlsien. on the Mississippi river, and ap-
propriating $25, 900 for this purpose. Read, and
ordered TO a second reading.


Mr.. PEARCE, from committee, reported back the
House resolution for the purchase Of $4,000 worth
OF Greenhow's work on Oregon, without amend
ment.


VERMONT RESOLUTIONS.


from the General Assembly OF the State OF Yer
mont, passed at their last October session, of the
following purport, to witt


For reduction OF postages, and curtailment Of
= Against any reduction or mitigation of the
Tariff Of 1912


In favor OF the distribution OF the revenues from
the public lands among the States.


And strongly demonstrating against the annexa-
tion of Texas.


Read, referred, and ordered to he printed.


bill was reported, authorizing the sale Of GER
tain salt spring ands heretofore granted the States
of Indiana and illinois.


Mr. ASHLEY reported bill supplementary 10 the
act OF lS4l. for the distribution Of the proceeds of
the sales OF the public lands and tor granting pre-
empton rights. The supple mental bill authorizes
pre-. emptors TO enter quarter sections under their
right of pre-empton. Read and referred


Mr.. JARNAGIN's resolution OF yesterday, for vari-
Gus scraps OF information from the Secretary Of
War, regarding the contracts and the proce eedlngs
therein, tor the removal Of the Choctaw Indians
of Mississippi west of the Mississippi, adopted.


On motion OF MIR. MILLER, the Secretary Of
War was required to inform the Senate, as to the
number of revolutionary officers who were PEN
stoned between 1882 and l7S3 with grants of Mill
l776.


After some incidental unimportant business, the
regular order was resumed from yesterday, being
the bill reported by MIR. Menick for the


REDUCTION OF HOSTAGES, &C.


Mr. MERRIcK submitted the proposition reported
from the committee, providing that letters Of one
piece OF paper not over half an ounce In weight,
or Of one or more pieces Of paper net exceeding
one quarter OF an ounce in weight, shall be charg-
ed as single letters, five or ten cents according to
the distance.


Mr.. HUNTINGTON proposed to amend Mr.. Mer's
amendment OF yesterday, so as that single letters
of the weight and character aforesaid be charged
For distances not exceeding so miles. :. ..... sets
For distances over so and not exceeding $50 miles cts
FOR all distances over $50 miles. 10 ctr.


Mr.. II. advocated this amendment as a more
equal division OF postages. In the great cities,
where the mpin portion OF the postage revenues
was collected, the short distances for which a vast
proportion OF this letter transportation carried
by this reduction to three cents for distances of
fifty miles or less, il would increase the correspon-
dence. Another great advantage would be that
this low rate, in securing all the letters for such
distances, would necessarily drive out of the field
the private expresses, which now absorb so much
OF the letter transportation properly belonging to
the Post Office Department.


Mr.. MERRIck opposed the amendment Of Mr..
Huntington, more particularly the minimum re.
duction TO three cents. The office charges and
costs TO the Department upon letters for thirty or
iitty miles, were as heavy upon letters sent
tho ssand miles. They had TO be received and deli
vered by Just the same process, whether the distance
OF carriage was greater or lesser distance. As
to the suppression OF private expresses, Mr.. Mer-
rick suggested the remedy Of the penal enactments
embodied in the bill, and even more rigid penal
ties II required, to secure to the Department the
whole OF It's legitimate resources OF revenue.


Mr.. MILLER contended for the minimum reduc-
tion, az proposed in the amendment.


Mr.. SIMMONS took the same side OF the question.
The greatest reduction should be- for all available
purposes, upon short distances, as upon the long
lines OF intercommunication there was no compa-
rative danger to the department from the competi-
ton of private expresses Mr.. s. was sorry that
the head OF the Department, and the Chairman OF
the Committee could not have discovered the au-
hority Tor still further reduction than the fve
and ten cent. charges recommended by the com
mittee: Tor although the people would be satisfied
With these reductions, II was evident that still
lower reduction might safely he made. The max.
imum, as reported, was now five times greater
than the charge upon letter correspondence IN Eng
and


Mr. MKRRrcx and Mr. MILLER debated briefly
he question of the comparative revenues and costs
Il the department, and the English post office sys.
lem, when


Mr. BgREsE asked il any memorial, or the pro.
cesdlngs OF any public meeting IN the country, had