The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-10 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

We have received one week's additional news
from the American continent, by Ithe Britibh and
North American Ronal Mail steam-ship Asia, Capt.
Lang, which arrived• at Liverpool yesterday. She
sailed from New York on the 29th ultimo, and

brings a large number of passengers and ,19,601. in

specie.
The s;camer Arctic (United States line of vowels)
had arrived at New York, after n passage of 16
days. She had put into Halifax on her run, being
short of coals.
The only items of interest are those from the
American Congress. The senate were occupied part
of the week in an inquiry into the expediency of
preventing American ships being engaged in the
slave traffic. The motion for inquiry was carried,

and referred to the appropriation committee.
The alteration of the tariff rating on hemp, iron,

and glass was much discussed.
The New York Weekly Herald says:
It is, we believe, beyond armht that American vessels are
extensively engaged in the African slave trade; but it is
very doubtful )f the refusal of sea-letters to them will
remedy the evi l. It may, to a certain extent, restrain Ame-
rican vessels and American seamen from engaging in it ; but
let them go out of the field, and the profits of the trade are
so great that others will enter into it. Hitherto American
vessels have enjoyed peculiar privileges in this trade, in
consequence of the refusal of our govt niment to accede to
the right of search; hut no matter how stringent the law
may be, the trade will be followed as king a+ a negro can be
purchased in Africa for 40 dollars, and sold in Cuba or
Brazil for 400. The most effectual method of stopping the
trade is that suggested by Mr. Clay, in a speech to the
Senate, a few days since, and that is, to eolonise the mast
of Africa with free negroes from the United states. To do
this effectually, a line of steam-ships, on the phut proposed
a short time since, to ply between the United States and
Africa, for the conveyance of free negrocs, should be esta-
blished.
According to all accounts, the colony of Liberia
has succeeded in putting a stop to the traffic. as far
as its jurisdiction extends, and somewhat further.
It has broken up some of the slave marts, and de-
stroyed the traffic to an extent of one-third of tho
Western coast. Numerous petitions had been pre-
sented in favour of the proposed line of steam-ships
to Liberia.
A bill introduced into the senate by Mr. Walker,
having for its object the reservation of the public
lands for the uses of the actual tillers of the soil, and
its gratuitous distribution, in limited quantities,
among the umsses of the people, has given rise to
much discussion.
The French Spoliation Bill, in Congress, was at-
tracting no ordinary attention. Many persons inte-
rested in the subject were at Washington, and there
seemed a disposition to bring the whole subject into
a satisfactory position for all concerned.
The 28th wits rather an important day in Con-
gress. The friends of an increase of the tariff moved
to tack on, by way of a rider to the bill making ap-
propriation to supply. deficiencies, an amendment,
making the duty on won, hemp, and gross yarns,
window-glass, anchors, and other articles, much
higher than it is fixed by the tariff of' 1844. This
was rather an irregular way of bringing the matter
before the house. The paper quoted above %Opt :
The present tariff, doubtless, could be sounded with great
profit to the country, but we question the propriety of dis-
causing the subject 'during the present session. As a we-
tland thing. the present tariff lea not only promoted the
intemsta of the country, but been satisfactory to the
community at large. It is very likely that a few would
wish it altered so as to increase their profits at the expense
of the many, but no alteration should he made hastily or
unadvisedly. A change in the tariff is n very delicate ques-
tion to meddle with. That the present rate of duties on
some articles can be increased with advantage to the country
we have always maintained; but if the movement of yes-
terday is any indication of what the desire of the high tariff
men in the House is, we should say they wish to make a
sweep which the country at large are not willing to accede
to. VVe shall soon know more about it, as the matter will,
nu doubt, be fully discussed ere many (Lys.
Letters from Washington, published in the New
York Journal, state that the whig party were by no
means satisfied with the proposition. Other projects
were said to be in progress of organisation on the
21th instant. Reciprocity with Canada will he spe-
cially discussed.
Lathe United States Stnat e, Mr. Badger, of the Naval
Committee, reported a bill providing for the enforce-
ment of discipline and the pmntotion of good conduct
in the navy. As a substitute for the lash, the bill
authorises, as a punishment, dismissal front the ser-
vice, and solitary confinement in irons. with bread
and water diet. The California Land Bill sus dis-
cussed at considerable length.
The trial of General Henderson, on the chitty of
having been concerned in the invasion of Cuba, has
terminated only in the disagreement of the jury.
Philadelphia accounts state that the funds required
for the semi-monthly screw-steamers line to Liver-
pool had been subscribed. Four ships were expected
to be on the line by Midsummer.
Letters from Havannah of the 22nd ult. state that
military evolutions were frequent. Jenny Lind was
shortly to return to New Orleans. She will not re-
turn to London until 1832.
From Clingers we learn that up to the 12thulL no
new arrivals had taken Owe at Panama.
Accounts front Canada announce that the homo
government had sanctioned the provincial postal
scheme.
From Nova Scotia we learn that the Governor has
opened the Legislative Assembly.
MEXICO.

Advices from Mexico arc to the Ist of January.
The country was generalll tranquil, the defeat of
Nlelendez, Onjaca, and t capture of several noted
robbers in the state of Jalisco, having partially quieted
the troubles in those parts.—ln Mexico every other
sentiment was lost in the anticipation of Arista's in-
auguration, which was to come off on the 15th ult.
The liberals have great hopes of his administration.
The Grand Fair of San Juan de los Lagos was
slimly attended, not more then two thirds as many
persons being present as last year. The cause of
this was the failure of the crops in the interior, which
prevented many of the traders from attending.
A periodical, called /1 Aquila (The Eagle), was
about to be started in San Juan, for the purpose of
keeping up the annual fair.
Don Pedro Green has applied for the exclusive pri-
vilege of lighting the city of Mexico with gas.
The Siglo has news from Guatemala to the effect
that that state had offered its intervention to settle the
difficulty between San Salvador and Great Britain.
Jose Gonzalez Echevenia has been chosen goveruce
of the state of Zacatecas.
According to official documents, under the treaty
of Guadeloupe hidalgo, 1,551 inhabitants of New
Mexico have left that territory and settled in Mexico.