The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-08-07

House passed the bill of French indemntes of
$4,000 200, TO ha paid in public lands The mi
nutes OF your II use reporter will show you that
THIS was curious bu.iness in the various divi-
sons OF the House so much so. that had the vote
been taken upon the passage OF the bill, by tell
ers, instead of ayes and noes, 1t would have
passed by twenty-five ma jorify instead Of four or
five THIS will be good news 70 New York but
the Presidents brooches pocket-though we Goa
fess We can find no apology for his pocketing the
bili, certainly none for Il Veto. The river and
hatbor bill ought 10 be enough for one session for
Col. Polk, although we recollec very well that
Capt Tyler was not satisfied with less than three
or four of the heaviest calbe
Coz. Benron, TO day, in the Senate, on the gene
raj bill OF appropriations, moved an item OF some
$35O,UN for the payment to certain of our fellow
ciuzrns ofihose two Mexican nstalments of April
and July, 1874, on the ground that the Mexican
government had paid over the sum to the Ame-
rc"n agent or managers, who seem TO have ma
mayed The matter very proftaby 10 themselves,
though not n dollar OF the mon,y has b-en &C
counted for to the CLAIM The amendment
was resisted on account Of the mystery which yet
hangs over these transactions, Mr. Evans hesita-
tin" TO absolve the government OF Mexico for want
of decisive proof thai it had advanced the money
npon the drafts for which the receipt of Voss was
gwen, as II the cash had been paid on the outset.
There rs one feature OF these transactions which
seems 10 admit ct no discussion 1t is this-that
the government having assumed the settlement of
these claims with Mexico on behalf of the claim
IS OOuuu 10 account 10 tnem Tor the conduct
or misconduct OF its agent, and to make good the
deficit Of his defalcation, with the interest there
on; and If the money has not been advanced,
then 1t is the duty of the government to advance
lt-and to take a receipt from the claimants-and
TO look to Mexico for the reimbursement 1t is
not the sum which our Legislators should consider
but the question OF justice. in its naked simplic-
ty, regardless of dollars and cents.
We must do justice to Mr.. Lewis in regard to
those Sub Treasury drafts. The newspapers have
all got him in the wrong place. He is not a paper
money man-nor shin. plaster man-nor a bank
man-6ut he is hard money man; and in advo-
eating the use OF drafts as long as they could be
dishursed at par, he wishes to be understood that
he did it upon hard money principles. We cannot
exactly comprehend the matter, but we suppose
his hard money idea was this that as long as we
could use paper for specie, we could keep the spe-
c.e IN the vaults OF the minis and the treasury and
thus prevent it from circulating back to the rascal.
ly banks. Mr.. Lewis unqnestionably argued for
the disbursement of drafts upon hard money
grounds, though he must admit it wears the look
OF one-slded arrangement, for the government
10 make ITS payments IN paper, and to require its
dues in gold and silver; We hold, therefore, to
the expose of Messrs. Allen and Benton, and main
tain that the government should pay back as good
as i requires from the people.
Three naval nominations for captancies went
up to the Senate to day, Messrs. Ogden, Conover
and Long, suPerceding the priority Of Messrs.
Ramsay, Downing, Gaut and Henry, by the star
chamber arrangement OF the late naval consulta-
ton. We rather expect these appointments will
II.
slaugh" a seniority of rank In every case. Can
tain Ramsay, though ever one of the most GAL
liant officers IN his country's service, at home or
abroad, is not the man to submit to star cham.
Der arrangement, and the trouble about these an.
pointments will never cease until they are over.
ruled In connection with this mysterious bust
ness, there was a vague rumor abroad to-dav of
personal COLLISION between one OF the old com
mSdores and the Secretary of the Navy, though
We suppose it is without foundation, except that
there may have been speedy sort of conirover-
sial litig ron OF personalities in the premises
we have good many particulars relating to
these promotions, but we reserve them for ano.
Their occasion.
We have been kindly furnished with the fol-
lowing facts relating to Mr.. Whitney's railroad to
Oregon, and submit them without Comment. pro-
missing deliberate revision OF this subject at an
early day.
ROUTE OF THE RArLRoAp TO OREGON
BY Col Fremonts report Of his exploration pages 2ol
asa as also from bis map accompanying the same
The mouth of tho Kansas river 10 700 feet above tho
Fork is miles, the ascent gedua to 400 fes,
AZ iestto the mile, inequalities Of surface very
small
rhe next 1913 miles ascends 900 feet or le,, thu,
feet to The mile 30
The next lo7 miles vroose fort ascent 900 feet
or little more than feet TO the mile
The next 81 miles ascent 1s feet or l6 feet per mile
The ne> miles ascent 500 feet ~ feet per mile
y feet mile From this last point descent takes
lace 10 ABOUT oO0 feet above the sea- (and said TO be
mott diff ul
nd maintains uniform. elevation to the Bur springs
distance Of 64o miles and 3l of the Pass then the
rs mile. On ior Of % Co The next
ea or descent from the former of II feet to the mile
From the last point TO the loot OF the Blue mountains il
2s2 miles, rhe west sde the elevations and
Of this last distance vary to make average grade
Of les. that 10Y feet to the mile Thence to Fort Van.
couver the road descends 900 feet 900 miles or less
han 3 feet to the mile These elevations ere taken
BY Col Fremontas the surface is the present ira
Yelled route TO Oregon but it is believed and ns Col
uncvenness ha
greatly improved, and the considerably
ed for common road small expense and ID IL be-
eved that by examination better and more direct roure
rom the Pass to the Pacific may be found or that this ons
may be Strengthened and shortened. and the grade re-
II Is well known fact that the climate il more and
more mild as We go west from the Great Lakes
udes in New York, snow seldom falling more than
loot Deep end some winters very little; and as we an
hat American cattle pasture all winter several winters
N succession and do we'll though the navigation of the
mPeded by ice and low water for several months
Ana on to the Pass in the Rocky Mountains the buffalo
ange and Craze through the winter From Fort Hall
title more than lao miles from the Pass with
urs pass annually in January and February the Co
umbis river. and the animals are sustained alone by
razing a. they pass As descend to the ocean the
Innate il and mild till il is like that of Eng.
and and is we'll known fact that the thousands Of
migrants to Oregon, ind difficulty in passing the |
ntre distance through the mountains and ALL with their
oaded wagg ons and teams and that their animals are
us'aned entirely from the to the end of
ne long journey by grazing the wild grass Of coun-
y "iouBh winch they pass, and seldom ever loose
ny; thus 1t ud appear that nstu,e's God has not
reated a barrier through which II intended man
noui not pass but that He has created easy pass
trough which the old and world may comm unica,s
which the old and new world may be brought toge.
aud through which civilization and christianity
unuse their glorious lights all heather darkness
mere was very agreeable and elegant COM
,,any az ,he Presidents this evening. The Prss-
.ooks strong enough for several campaigns to
, ,s ana the amiable lady, and ladies' OF the
ers made ,h usual, IN the reception Of her visi-
~ ,.aae me occasion that they will che
,isn among their pleasantest recoIiecrons of this
eIlcc,ns There certainly an air of in
= ln,ihgung OF grace, and beauty. and Talents
dcdly agreeable. To- ." n 70 uee''
TWENTY-NINTA CONGRESS-.