State journal & flag., 1846-03-20

on that point independently. In regard to the question Of harbors, hh compromise of any klnd whatever would be acceptable under any cir cumstances, which does not give the United States good harbors on the coast and free access to the interior sounds in their own right. ~~~-~~-~~~~~~~
 MT. MCCONNELL has introduced bill, in Congress, ito grant the head of family, man, maid, or widow, homestead, not ex- ceeding one hundred and sixty acres." We are indebted to MT. Mcconnell for a copy of his bill, which We here subjon
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives. offhs Uniied States of America in Congress Assembled, That from and after the passage of this act It shall be lawful for any man, maid, or widow, being the head of fam. y, afier making probate to cultivate fraction of land not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, and said person shall be, ard is hereby, authorized to enter, upon and after the payment of the sum of three dollars and twenty five cenls, a fraction of one hundred and sixty acres. as specified above, conditioned that said person shall declare his or her purpose to cultivate all or portion of the said land for the period of five years: Prorided, That said person shall al- so declare that he or che is wholly unable to pay the minimum price now fixed by law on the public lands; Prouided. also, That said parcel of land shall inure to the benefit of the family ofthe person entering the same, and shall not be subject to levy, sale, or alienation in any manner whatever.
 l.. OO-o-o0o-~.oo~~O~o
 A recent letter published in the Union," from Hon. W. Cost Johnston, of Maryland, developes the singular fact that Robert Ful. ton was refused the hall of lhe House of Representatives, when seeking to enforce his views of the practlcability of steam boat navigation, because, "the assembled wisdom of the nation" believed it 10 be customary scheme. In Hunts Merchants Magazine, for tine current month, there is an article on rail roads, that discoses similar fact, to which the late Col. Stevens of New York, the projector of the Camden and Amboy rail road, and De Witt Clinton, Robert L. Liyingston, an1 Gouverneur Morris were parties. These latter gentlemen were the commissioners 10 whom the State of New York entrusted the building of the Erie canal. In 1912. Col. Stevens addressed them on the subject of connecting the two points--Albany and Lake Erie---by rail road, which he estimated, would ensure the transportation of freight for two thirds less than canal transportation. The commission. CTS had estimated Inc cost of transporting freight on the canal at $3 per ton. He urged his scheme with great perseverance, and offered to convinc any intelligent en- glneer that steam car could be construct cd to traverse wooden, or metallic rails, at the rate of 20 miles per hour MT. Ste- ven's proposed that the rail road .shUld be erected on piles, to prevent detention during the periods of the year in which the ground Is covered with STOW. The com. missoners considered his proposal. and of. fered several objections to it, among others the following:
 As horses more on the earih, aohen dra,oine welgh, IS 6etiered Mat an equal po,oer musf 10 produce The same effect, hapc su6ie ient hotd on the earth; and it is doubted ,ohetier on en- gme in oaggon can aoork forpard vith as much adrantaSe as horses on q road !'