The Daily Herald

THE SPY IN WASHINGTON.

Correspondence of the Courier & Enquirer.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.

The special order on Mr. Underwood's Steam Boat Disaster Bills, was postponed until Tuesday next.

The House then resumed its session in Committee of the Whole on the bill making appropriations for the payment of pensions, the debate was, however, brought to a speedy termination, as the House yesterday directed, by a vote of two thirds, that it should cease to-day at 12 o'clock. As soon as the hour of 12 o'clock came round, the House proceeded to vote on the amendments which had been the subject of the debate; these related to the Florida war,—proposing to appropriate a hundred thousand dollars, asked for by General Armstead, for the benefit of such Indian chiefs and warriors, as may surrender for emigration.—They were agreed to—and as there was no objection to the bill itself, it was then ordered to a third reading, was read a third time, and passed and sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The House then resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole on the General appropriation Bill, for the year 1841. Governor Lincoln called the attention of the House to the item of appropriation for the contingent expenses of the House. He stated that he learned the present Clerk had contracted for stationary for the next Congress, and he gave what he conceived to be abuses in the expenditure of this appropriation. He moved to curtail the sum proposed to be appropriated, so as to take it out of the power of the Clerk to throw fat jobs into the hands of favorites. This led to a debate of some hours, in which gentlemen thought they found out many, very many abuses. The truth is, there are, and always have been abuses, or rather extravagancies in relation to the expenses of the House—yes, and the Senate too; but the fault lies more in members of Congress in indulging themselves than in the officers of the House.

The debate bore hard upon the Clerk, and he was charged boldly with defraying his expenses, while speech making at the Castle Garden, and other places, out of this contingent fund.

The Clerk is bad enough, and I have no disposition to volunteer in his defence, but he was guileless of many things brought to his account. He is indeed vulnerable, but they do not know where to direct their arrows. I could give a shot between wind and water that would sink him.

Mr. Morgan proposes to open an account of Dr. and Cr. with each member, so far as stationary is concerned, and to publish it at the end of the session.

Mr. Underwood proposed that each member be allowed fifty or a hundred dollars in lieu of stationary and newspapers, and let him supply himself.

Mr. Evans, of Maine, came down upon these propositions like a thunder storm, and was answered with boldness by Mr. Underwood and Mr. Lincoln.

The House adjourned at 4 o'clock, without terminating the debate on this important item. To-morrow I have no doubt the poor devils of clerks will come in for their share of national eloquence, vituperation and abuse.

To day I paid my respects to my old friend General Harrison—our meeting was cordial as that of old friends and associates should be, who had not seen each other for nine years.—He is every thing his friends would have him to be, or expect him to be.