The New York herald., 1850-05-03

-,
the United States, Portugal, Spain, the Medlerra-
mean, Egypt, India, Hong Kong, and China, (by
the monthly rails ria Southamp,on,) Holland,
flamburgh, &C., has been most successful. This
important arrangement II ~ stated, is not only con-
hned to letters between the two countries, but is 10
be extended 10 all letters passing through France
from Great Britain TO other parts of the continent.
The high postage on letters to the Mediterranean,
Egypt, Alden, Ceylon, India, &c.--ls l0d per
quarter OF an ounce, and newspapers 3D.; by iae
for,nightly overland closed mails through France,
rta Marseilles-has also been the subject of his
lordships consideration, and reduction in the
tariff, or postal tax is likewise TO be extended to
them. When II is considered that the average
nuHiber of closed iron boxes passing for,nghtly
from tins country (on the 7th and 9th OF the
month) by the overland mails, ris Marseles TO
our eastern empire, is from so 10 90, closely filed
with letters aud newspapers, this alteration in the
charges will be welcomed not only by the CONNER
cial interest and public AT home. but by those in
India. The example shown by England in the re-
ducuon OF her postage on inland letters 10 ID, has
had a mcst beneficial influence the continental
governments. France has already followed "A SINH
lar system, by reducing the postage two declines,
Cd }; Belgium, Holland, Germany Russia, Spain,
PORTUGAL, and other countries, granting a sirni-
lar beneht 10 their respective population. as the
means OF creating greater intercourse between
man and man, and at the same time extending
their relations with foreign countries.
THE CALIFORNIA MAIgs.
The British Post office authorities have issued the
following NOTES.-The United States government
having established mail packets between New
Ok and Cbagres, in connection with line of
packets proceeding at regular intervals from Pana-
ma to san francisco, the public may avail them
selves Of this line Of communication for their cor
Iespondence to California ard Oregon, by specially
addressing ''va New York." or 'via the United
Siaes, any letters newspapers they may de-
sire TO be so forwarded. The combined British
and United States postage upon letters for Caliior-
MA and Oregon, sent 10y this route, must be prepaid
and VIII be- upon letter not exceeding half an
ounce in weight Is. 5ld.; exceeding half an ounce
and not exceeding one ounce, is. Id, and so on,
according to The scale in operation for charging in
land letters. The postage will be the same whe-
lher the letters be conveyed from this country by
British or by United States packets. Newspapers
will be liable 10 combined British and United
States postage Of 2i each.
ANOTHER POSTAL CONVENTION.
The postal convention between Austria Prus,i 4
and Bavaria, and consequently the rest of Germany,
is on The point OF being concluded.
The Politics OF An,erica-SIavey and Cell.
fornla.
From the Londo n Chronicle, April IL
Some considerable time has elapsed since we
commenced an attempt 10 keep our readers ON a le-
vel with the course of political affairs in the United
States IN so far as they have tended produce the
very serious crisis through which the federal Union
is now passing. SO long ago last autumn, we de-
scrlbed the progressive changes by which the 0ni-
mus of The Northern Slates--trom being sentiment
OF merely passive antpathy 10 the seiIude of Labor
and 10 the phases of society based upon t-has be-
come spirit OF active hostility 10 the form of sla-
very which obtains among their fellow-countrymen
oi the South. We pointed out how ignoblc ac-
cident gave an exponent to Northern jealollsy and
10 the desire of aggression in that party which en-
phaiically styles itself the party of free soil We
traced the extraordinary movements and unceasng
prosely tisn OF the politicians whom the powerful
operation OF the new feeling had banded together
until the meeting of Congress, when we saw thcm
arrested and even rcpused by the determined aiti-
tude which the counses OF a sagacious leader had
Indicated 10 the representatives of the South as az
forng them their only chance of present safety and
Ultimate success. We have thus reached q period,
when, after fux and reiux have spent themselves,
the great controversy seems TO be riding in slack
water Congress, since its assembling, has moi ad
vanced the question step. Yet il is scarcely
likely that another Of the regular packets will ar
rivc without intelligence Of significant; dvi-
sion, or of some important demonstration by public
men or parties, which will furnish us will, q clue
To the probable results Of the session. II we are
not informed that something is about TO be DONE we
shall receive the hardly less serious information
that the debates will terminate in nothing. What
The particular sign or phenomenon will bc, have
not audacy In predict but that our readers may
be the better able to read its meaning when il does
make ITS appearance, We will endcayor 10 map out
The parliamentary position of the specific questions
ON which divisions may he taken in Congress- or
ON which the leading politicians may have occasion
10 declare themselves.
The record of the deliberations both of the Se-
nate and Of the House Of Representatives exhibits,
besides a constellation of minor and subsidiary
topics, four principal subjects of debate. We viii
arrange them in the order OF their Importance and
afterwards in that of their parliamentary prcce-
dence. The first is the famous Wilmo, proviso--
~ essence, whole policy rather than an isolated
area OF the conquests Of the United States
the principles Of the ordinance which was pass
ed In ~ TO regulate the government of
The ,asi districts celcd TO the Federation by
hibcd involuntary serviiudc within their H.
mits. We may assign The - c.oni place in rank
To The claim cf California for admission into |
the Union, with the limits she has settled for her.
81, "A ss.nS tfrt,.n h H.
geneous population has adopted in IT, primary
assemblies; constitution, we may add, OF which |
The effect Is to shut out compulsory labor from the
whole aufilerous region ON the Pacific scabo lr.
District Of Columbia, the free soers insisting on its
instant and unconditional abolition, large num-
Ter OF Northern representatives. admitting that il
ought To be suppressed, though only with thu |
sent VI the State which ccdcd Columbia TO the /!
Cenir2l Government; the South submitting a pro- !
position which, we shall pres ntly show, cuibo.
dice the direct converse of the step that IL called
for by the rartisans Of free soil. The fourth and
last o these leading questions has been forced on
The attention OF Congress by recent decision of |
the supreme Court, on the section Of the federal
constitution which cnacts that 'persons bound TO
int olunary seryitude" shall be- delivered upeto |
their owners by any State in which they may have
taken refuge. The Judges have ruled that the |
power nf enforcing this enactment resides in the
Central Government, aud is not 10 be controlled |
by The State Iegelatnrcs. II - part of the auda-
cious policy Of the South TO demand at this present
Jnneture federal ACT To provide Tor The reader ex-
crcisc Of the power IN question.
IL must be understood that, although these qucs-
ions and a myriad Of others relating to the same /
subject, have been repeatedly under DISCUSSION /
since The houses assembled. they have not-wnh /
one cxception--assumed such a form a. to admit |
hat the sense OF Congress should be taken uroa |
them, either singly or collectively. lujced, |
the Organization OF parties at Washington has /
rarely been sufficiently complete 10 warrant the |
promoters of particular measure in launching II /
on the Parliamentary ocean, without previously |
trying the strength cf the wind aud the direction of
the currents. The difficulty of predicting the |
result of divisions IN AN assembly that yearly re-
cci,cs new elements. makes men timii of the |
direct and definite issue which Is rendered b. bill:
and II has therefore become the practice in Coa- |
grcs- 10 present set after set of resolutions, in
which the point sought 10 bc carried IL placed |
IN every variety of aspect. and tacn To frame /
bill in accordance with the series which has been
proved To conciliatc the largest amount Of sup |
port. In the present case, the strings Of resolu-
tons have not, in point OF number, been unworthy
OF the magnitude Of tlieir subject. The whole |
cpufrpycr-y-Stefy MART ef IL txcry roiitra- L