The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-05-09
CONGRESS-


CONGRESS.
! The Senate effected nothing Yesterday but talked
the day through on an excellent bill-that providing
for Board of Accounts to scrutinze and settle ali
claims against the United States. Had the provision
so warmly urged on this subject been made last Win
ter, the country would have saved both money and
credit by the operation.
! In the House the Census bill was taken up in Com
mlttee of the Whole, and Mr.. Vinton's amendment
providing for taking the next Census in accordance
with the provisions ofthis BILL unless it should be al
tered or repealed before the first of January preced
ing the next Census, adopted His next amend
meAt, providing that the House of Representatives
shall hereafter consist Of 200 members was adopted
| ~ to 63.
An amendment providing that the election for
Members ofCongress shall be held on the same day
throughout the United States, was rejected.
The bill reported by majority of the Judiciary
Committee, providing merely for taking the census
ofnhabtantS was iost-50 to 3d. The Committee
rose, and the greater part Of the amendments were
concurred IN by the House, and others were laid
over to be taken up and voted upon today Tribune
THE OVERLAND ROUTE The following extract
from private letter received from California, gives
simple and graphic account of the hardships Of the
overland route. We hope the thousands who are
now about starting the same track, know what
they have to encounter:
Our party (of6ve) left Camden, Missouri, Nav 2.
with two wagons purchased by US at Pttsburg
drawn by three yoke of cattle each We crossed
the Missouri river four miles above ST Joseph on the
18th, and commenced our journey IL earnest the
next day. The 10th of June we crossed the south
fork OF the Platte river and the 4th of July we cee
brated by ferrying ourselves over the north fork of
the same rivera job which occupied US till O'Clock
the next morning. On the 18th of July we passed
thu sum- or Doo1-
that at least one half of the distance was accom-
pshed, as well as one halfo the hardships endur-
ed; but IN both of these particulars we were disap-
pointed Alter passing the mountains we continued for
several weeks over succession of high ridges, some
oil them 1000 feet above the level OF the ocean and
1900 feet higher than the Pass. In this region
while we had the heat of New York dog-days
through the day, the ice formed frequently to the
thckess of half an inch at night Barrenness and
desolatlon here for several hundreds of miles seemed
10 be the general character of the country while il
bore lndisputable evidence eff having been vast re-
II glon oil volcanic action. We crossed the Dry Sandy
river, the Little Sandy and the Big Sandy the Green
d river or Colorado ferried over, and followed the
70 Bear liver so miles its course and St Mary's Oh
; ttAsnboidt's 250, running west
we likewise crossed deserts of Is ,43 and rs miles
o without grass or water. This with standing guarf
ID at night, with going sometimes three miles from
camp to guard our cattle and sleeping on the colo
and
IL over me, my only shelter from the wind and wealth
It erths, together with the changeableness of climate
m the clouds of dust we had to inhale as well as tn,
nd quality and quantity of our provisions, which we
w. were unfortunate III procuring, brought upon me tow
ara the latter part Of our journey the scurvy TIL,
effect OF this disease upon me was general disar
in ranSemen OF the whole system, swelling soreness
&c and stiffness Of the limbs, and weakness of III,
whole body. On the 4th of October we crossed th,
:" summit of the Sierra Nevada or what is termed thu
Northern route. From this point, instead of til,
lis Pheasant valleys we supposed before u.s. we hae
q succession of rocky roads (the worst of the who'll
route) over mountains and through rayines and mo-
raises for 200 or 300 miles. Much of this distance
~ we were surrounded by timber of an immense size
Cd and many OF the emgrants had their cattle stole nv
n, the Indians On the night of the first of Noyembe
he the trst snow came down upon US while we were
a. YET among the celebrated mountains of California
ana IL soon attained 10 the depth of five feet Then
u brother, there was suffering, despair and deatE
d. among those who had left comfortable and haDp,
homes to better their fortunes in this far off region
Here, as well on the eastern side of the Sierra
III Nevada, our road was strewn with dead catte-in
! one space of 20 miles estimated so to mile We
mad been compelled by loss of cattle to abandon
one OF our wagons on the other side ofthe mountains
= ana here we were forced to leave the other: beino
" reduced to two oxen, and these were packed with
- snlah amount OF oar most necessary baggage upon
teI DUCKS, 10 tne nrSt Settlement-the rest we had
to throw away. During this part of the Journey nv
!, complaint was rather hard upon me, and nv fare
was very, very Short and the extent of nv strength
was to get in and out of the wagon; but when com
PEELED to leave that had no alternative but 10 mr.
sue my way on foot remain behind In four da VS.
accomplished the distance Of fifteen miles. and
reached the first house or rancho Ga mud onel in
" California. Our party (of fve) were all well, and
4 mad preceded me, some of them, three weeks.
There crossed the Missouri river last Spring moro
than 5000 wagons 10000 cattle, and I6, 600 people
: for California. Not more than 200 wagons and B.
600 cattle ever reach their destination Ofthe peo-
pie the cholera, the dysentery and the scuryy has
. done their work. Half dozen graves day met
our frequent observation. Many who have got
through will have to mourn over broken constitutions
loss Property, and dissipation of all their golden
dreams.--.N y. Tribune.
BUFFALo, Tuesday, May7 The British steam
ers Despatch and Commerce came in collision last
night near Port Maitland, on the Canada side of
Lake Erie. The Commerce sunk in eight flthoms
Of water. She was Transporting portion Of the
Twenty-thlrd Regiment of British troops twenty
four Of whom were drowned; also one officer and
eleven passengers-thirty-eigh in all.
PLANK ROAD DIVIDEND. The Wateryille
and Utica plank road company have declared divi-
lerd Of 10 per cent payable on the first Tuesday