The New York herald., 1850-12-22
Summary OF the Latest Intelligence,

Notwithstanding that neither house of Con-
gress was in session yesterday, our teegraphic in
teleence to day is very interesting, and Impor-
tant.
Another case under the Fugitive Slave law has
occurred in Philadelphia, and we are pleased to
zee That the law has been faithfully carried out
This is as it should be- That bill was passed in
accordance with the constitution, and we have no
doubt that it will be execute 10 the letter on every
occasion in the North, when necessary. BY obey
ing that law, and carrying it out in good faith, we
Of the North have practical method of eyincing
our attachment to the Union, and our respect for
the constitutional rights of our Southern fellow.
citizens violation Of itwould be a violation of the
constitution, and would afford 10 the Southern
ultrasts the best evidence possible that the North
had .degenersted, and no longer respected that
sacred instrument.
We have an account Of another terrible disaster
on the Mississippi river caused by the burning of
steamer named the South America, which took
place near Bayou Sara, on the Mississippi river,
by which thirty or forty lives were lost; aud also
the colapsing of tlue Of the steamer Fashion,
No. 2, on the Monongahell river, near Pittsburgh,
by which also several lives were lost, and many
persons severely scalded. II has been our painful
duty to record, within the last few days, greatloss
Of life by casualties connected with steamers, and
We can only repeat what We have said, that all
of them cannot be the result Of accident. The
st, am engine, under the control of a competent
person, is es safe and harmless as a watch in
mans pocket but, in inexperienced hands, it is
q potent instrument Of destruction. We do hope
that strict inquiries will be instituted into the cause
of the numerous casualties Of this kind that
hav of nd nj hfne will he
inflicted on those who, on investigation, may be
found to deserve it, II would be good thing for
Congress TO regulate the matter as far as it can.
II possesses the power to ordain that no engineer
shall be permitted to practise his profession unless
he is declared competent, by board Of examiners,
20 be appointed by the government If we had
board, constituted Of the right kind Of men, by
whom all engineers should be examined before
being allowed TO practice their profession, there
would be much more safety in travelling than
there lie, and, we believe, lees casualties by ex-
plosons Than now occur.
The Senate Of South Carolina have, il appears,
elected delegates to represent that State in Gen.
veniion 10 be held at Montgomery, Alabama, in
January, 1862. This 10 all very well but we hope
and expect that long before the period of the meet
ing Of the convention arrives the necessity for hold
ine IL, II any exists, will be obviated.
We understand that the cholera has broken out
on board of a vessel bound from Tampa Bay TO
New York, with troops Of the United States, and
that che was Obliged to touch at Charleston for a
supply Of medicine. We sincerely hope that that
scourge Of our race will not visit us during the
coming summer II is raging on the Mississippi,
IN the British West Indies, and in CalIfornis-and
committing dreadful ravnges in all Of these places,
a. may be seen by The accounts which we publish
from there.
Oar Canadian neighbors, It appears, are getting
impatient about the Reciprocity bill. We would
recommend them TO bide their time. Our Congress
have great mssy grave subjects before them, at
present, which require immediate attention, and we
can assure the subjects Of Great Britain on our
border, that threats Of retalatory duties will not
hasten legislation on the subject. IL they imagine
That such course will help them, they are well
come to,rtsofi to IL as soon as they pleaee. We
would recommend them,to keep cool, and ex srcise
little patience
we give under our telegraphic head, reports from
different PARTS Of Canada and the United States, OF
The state OF the Thermometer and barometer, and
The hind Of weather which prevailed yesterday, In
several places in both Of these countries We re-
ceived them through Morse's line of telegraph,
and we are sure they will be interesting to our
ressers, especially those Of them who are fond OF
ne'eoroogy We shall continue them from day to
day.