The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-05-28
Washington.
Correspondence Of the Herald
WASHINGTON, Thursday, 3P NJ
Proceedings OF Congress-New York Cast ON
House.
Correspondence Of the


Mr. Preston presented in the Senate this morning,
memorial in favor of an international copyright
law, and accompanied il with some remarks in sur,
port of the proposition.
There were several tariff memorials presented
and referred.
Mr.. Bayard's resolution respecting the appoint
ment of corps of reporters for the Senate, was
taken up and adopted without opposition. The APP
portonmcnt bill was then taken up as the special
order.
Mr.. Bayard moved to fill the blank with n GO7-
as the ratlo--this would give the house two
hundred members After some conversation,
II was agreed that each Senator should send to the
Char the ratio he preferred and that the question
be taken on each, beginning with the highest.
Some twenty Senators proposed different numbers
as the ratio, ranging from II 600 down to ~. 900.
MIR. SEWER proposed the highest number, and in
sisted that the true policy dictated that should
have small house OF representatives He said the
people had cause to consider Congress as pretty
much Of a nuisance He would 90 for the highest
number.
MIR. PRESTON concurred in the views of Mr.. Sc
yler, and proposed nlneywo thousand as the ratio.
There was danger, he said, that the House would
become so large as 10 destroy the equilibrium be-
tween the Senate and that body. lie thought the
idea entertained when the Government was esta-
bhshed that there should be three representatives
tor every Senator was the correct one. Mr. Calhoun
supported the views of Mr.. Preston, and insisted
that high ratio and small House were desirable
IN every, point OF view. Mr.. Crittenden took the
other side OF the question, and spoke for nearly half
an hour with great animation and power The de-
bate isst in progress
In the House there was struggle of more than
an hour to send Committee to Boston TO investl-
gate alleged fraud on the part Of the Govern
ment officers, committed some two or three years
ago IL seems that there was large sum of money.
about one hundred sixty thousand dollars, depo-
sted IN the Commonwealth Bank of Boston, and
the Government has been swindled out of the
greater part of it, through the collision, said of
the late District Attorney with some Of the shapers
OF Boston. The Committee finally obtained auho-
rty to send for persons and papers.
Mr. Levy offered q resolution calling upon the
Secretary of War for all correspondence between the
Department and Colonel Worth, respecting the
Florida war, and expressing the opinion on the
part OF the House, that hos'ilites should not cease
until the Seminolcs are subducd. The latter part
was objected to, and the first adopted.
The army appropriation bill was then taken p.and
MIR. Cushing made a very able speech in opposition
to the views of the destructves
1t is understood that Mr. Townsend, the sergeant
at arms OF the House of Representatives, is about
to leave here with his pocket full OF subppnas, for
witnesses respecting frauds Nc. said to have been
committed in finishing and furnishing the New York
Custom Hous'. The committee of the House ha
wing the matter In charge, OF which Mr. Thomp-
son, of Indiana, able, fearless, and honest man,
is chairman, are determined to investigate the bu-
sness horoughly-to probe every branch to the bot
tom
iHeie VIII oe no party FutlauueS. or personal
friendships II these is any Improperly connected
with the purchase of furniture, any bonus given,
any division of spo!lsall that is necessary TO have
1t brought to light is TO give information to the com
mittee. There is decided belief with nine-enibs
OF Congress that the New York Custom House has
long been sink of corruption AS to its present
condition, the most injurious suspicious are aiioat
and neither Congress nor the Executive will be sa-
sfied until there shall be an ample, impartial and
searching investigation. The friends of Mr. Curtis
profess implicit conlidencence in his integrity and
it is due alike to them and him that an opportunity
should be presented to vindicate his character and
conduct