The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-08 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES.

NEW YORE, JULY 27.—The Compromise; Bill still
drags its heavy weight through. the Senate, the opinions
regarding its final adoption being quite as fluctuating as
at any moment since it was brought forward.
On one day the powerful efforts and eloquent speeches
of its advocates cause hope in the minds of those who
admire the policy of its framers; while the next tele-
graphic communication from Washington dashes aside
this hope, by announcing the as powerful appeal of some
southern or northern ultra, each of whom appears deter-
mined to make no concession to the prejudices or policy
of the other. In fact, no two things can be more anta-
gonistic than the relative positions of the free-soil and
pro-slavery members in the present Congress, the latter
of whom, by the way, are pursuing, and throughf,ut the
session have been pursuing, a course more than all
others most calculated to defeat their own pretensions.
One of the last emeudments proposed was a wise one,
being to set aside further Congressional wrangling re-
garding the boundary of Texas, and to refer it to com-
un,sioLers, who, if well chosen, could patiently investi-
gate and fairly decide the claims, now so long under
discussion by those who are so profoundly ignorant on
the subject. Should this amendment be adopted, it may
secure an immediate passage of the rest of the Bill.
The c'etnocratic party, north and south, will of course
rally all their powerful force to oppose to the utmost the
present Administration, strengthened as it is by one of
the most influential Cabinets that could have been
formed. Nor will this opposition be confined to the de-
mocrats, for a very considerable discontent has been ex-
pressed by members from the extreme south, without
regard to party, that no one from that sectien of the
country has been called to the councils of the President.
It is even alleged that he determined not to nominate to
any department a citizen of any state which bad sent
members to the Nashville convention. This may be only
gossip, but will of course answer the purpose of the Op-
position quite as well as if it were true; at all events,
considering the present subdivided state of parties, the
fact is by no means insignificant.
One knotty difficulty has been overcome by the release
of those prisoners at Havannah who were captured on the
Mexican island of Contoy, and were charged with forming
part of the marauding expedition under M. Lopez. The
right to capture them on neutral ground is easily justifi-
able by the policy which dictated it; nor can any surprise
be felt, considering the proximity of the place, that the
responsibility of so doing should have been readily as-
sumed by the Spanish authorities at a moment when the
whole island was naturally frightened from its propriety
by the rumours then so rife regarding the numerous
horde of robbers who were preparing for invasion. The
guilt of the parties, too, is unquestionable, and has since
been admitted even by themselves, though not proved on
the trial. So that, as they confess that they have been
well treated, their imprisonment may be looked on as
far less than their due. The case of the two vessels is
different, and they will no doubt be condemned without
any attempt to prevent it, inasmuch as they had on board
artillery and various munitions of war, without any ma-
nifest or other document to prove the legal shipment,
clearance, or destination. In fact, it may yet appear in
evidence, that not even legal possession of these articles
was obtained, but that they were stolen from the state
arsenal at New Orleans, with the connivance of those
who had charge of them. The investigation of this part
of the affair at the approaching trials in that city will
not be devoid of interest.

General Scott and Commodore Warrington have taken
charge of the War and Navy Departments ad interim,
waiting the arrival of the new secretaries. Mr. Webster
and Mr. Corwin have resigned their seats in the Senate,
and have respectively taken charge of the State and
Treasury Departments. It is reported that Mr. Web-
ster's successor in the Senate will be Mr. E. Everett, who
was Minister to England under President Tyler.
Accounts from the west regarding the wheat crops
were never more satisfactory. Throughout Pennsylva-
nia, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, and part of Indiana,
the crop has proved excellent both in quantity and qua-
lity. In Pennsylvania and Ohio, both of which are
much depended on for supplies, there never was so abund-
ant a crop.
The custom heretofore adopted in Charleston, South
Carolina, of purchasing cotton without re-weighing it,
however long it may have been warehoused, is to bo die-
continued,
and purchasers may, at their option, require
the factor to have any parcel re-weighed when they sup-
pose that loss has occurred from evaporation, waste, pil-
fering, or other cause.

Exchange on London, 110 to 110}, bills in better
demand.

THE CONVICT WEBSTER.
BOSTON, JULY 25.—An interview took places yester-
day afternoon between Dr. Webster and Mr. Littlefield,
at the solicitation of Dr. Webster, in the presence of Mr.
Andrews, the gaoler. On their entrance Dr. Webster
stepped forward and very cordially and affectionately
seized the hand of Mr. L., remarking that ho had
long desired to see him; that he could not feel at ease
until he had made his acknowledgments to him that he
felt that be had done him great injustice, and he asked
his forgiveness. Mr. Littlefield promptly and feelingly
replied that he forgave him with all his heart, and ex.
pressed his pity and sympathy for him. Mr. Littlefield
also told him that it was a painful duty he had. to perform
when ho took the stand and testified against him; but
that he felt it a duty which he had no right to shrink
from; and if he had stated anything wrong it was not
intentional, and he was very sorry and asked his for-
giveness. Dr. Webster replied that he had misrepre-
sented nothing—that he had told the truth. Dr. Webster
said, however, as a dying man, that he could not bring
_t
the sledge-harnmer to his recollection. Dr. Webster
spoke of his present situation, and sail he was resigred
to his fate, but felt deeply for his family. During the...l
entire interview both pL.rties Hemel deeply impressed,:c
and they parted in tears.
.e
We learn from another source that Professor Webster
seems perfectly resigned and very penitent. Ile says
that ho has made his peace above, and is prepared to
die. We understand that Mrs. Littlefield will visit the
professor to-day.
It is a full professor in the first seminary of learning s'!
in the United States who will be executed on Friday,
August 30, unless he anticipates his doom by suicide.