The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-16

.eenth day. Il Is thought that she.net with some
accident, and pu; back 10 Liverpool. The Frank
lin, from Havre, is in her fifteenth day. She may
be expected at any moment.
Summary OF the Latest Ia1 9 Iligence--Im-
portantsrrOceedings In Congress.
Our tslegraphic intelligence, received last night,
b very full and very interesting Congress seems
20 have walked up al last 70 the necessity of acting
anon the many important matters awaiting legisa-
zion. In the Senate, Mr. Clay presented petitions
from Indiana, praying Congress - adopt measures
no remove the free colored people of the United
States 10 Africa, and also to provide them with
support for year after their arrival there. He
also presented petition from Rhode Island, pray
ing Congress to adopt more effectual cans for the
suppression of the slave trade. The petitioners re-
present that the only effectual remedy for the sup
preston Of the African slave trade, is to encourage
abe establishment of colonies on the African
coast, and they concluded by asking Con.
sTess 10 auihorze the construction of line
ct steamships, 10 ply between the United
States and the, coast of Africa. Mr. Clay put
saese positions together, and delivered brilliant
sseech the slave trade, and in favor of coloni-
>ss'op, which, according TO our telegraphc report
c4 il, was very happy effort. Mr. Clay has al
nss-neni, president ef the American Colonization
Society. In his remarks he stated fact which is
generally known, tina: The American and British
squadrons on the coast of Africa have had no
efec; IL suppressng the abominabse slave trade
that ~ defence Of them, it has Of late years in
creased. He declared himself in favor OF with
drawing our feet on tie coast Of Africa, and OF
Transporting TO that country such free negroes as
were DESTROYS Of emigrating thithcr. We are sure
that The general opinion of the community is OPP
posed to tsefurther contIaS Of ouraeet on the
coast Of ASSica, and that ia withdrawal would DO
pepn!aT with the whole couGtry.
Senators fiale, of New Hampshire, anG Seward,
efEew York, presented petitions in favsr of the
mime date re peal of the Fugitive Slave law which,
afier some discussion as 10 whether Senators
should or should not he compelled TO vote their
resertnce 10 the judiciary, were laid on the table
by { handsome majority. Il is not unlikely that
this was the result Of concert between those two
wors-ies. II is nc< impros able that these 'hghcr
law Senators are determined upon making ar
effort : renew the slavery agitation. To do so
would " perfectly characteristic OF them. With
q vote q thirty-fve to sixteen, their power TO do
harm is, however, very limited. We hope the
Senate via decide to lay on the table every similar
petition thak may be presented, without debate.
This is the enly way to silence those sgitators |
The Senate occupied the rest Of the day in deSat-
ing tie proposition to cede the public lands TO the
States.
In the House ~ Representatives, considerable
progress was made in postage reform. II was
agreed thes the rate skall be three cents on each
letter weighing not over half an ounce, and three
cents for eac1 additional half ounce or fraction Of
a half ounce. This proposition was in the shape of |
substitute for the first sectiea Of the original BILL
and f provides, also that there ahaI be no dmiau.
ZION in the mail ce in case there should be any
dlminuion IN the revenue, any dmnution in
The compensation Of pos'mlsters. The rate Of
postage on printed mater has been fixed at one
cent for every two ounces; books not weighing
over dirty ounces shall be deemed mlilable mat.
YER newFpape shall be mailed and delivered free in
he counties where published or within thirty miles
Df the Place a. publication, and when the postage
'n magazines is prepaid the rate shall be reduced
fifty per cent from the above charges. Newspapers
delivered IN the State shall be charged enc half Of
The rate paid for printed matter IL will Be seen
hat the House was not idle yesterday. We would
be glad II q uniform rate Of two cents on letters
weighing no; more than half an ounce was adosted
but We mns, be satisfied with three cents
There bss bttE no election yet Of a UGReS
States Senator 10 Massachusetts or Missouri, and
here j. 40 probability Cat there will be any in
al'beT Tor some time 10 come II the different par.
'ss and factions stand their ground, there will be
DO election in either Mt sumner aPpsars V DC
osinr votes In Massachusetts, |,
We learn BY telegraph tha. Iucatsn, one of the
states Of New Mexico, has again declared her in.
deps ndence Of the central government. Whether
he will again give in her adhesion 10 the federal
ystem ofMsxce or not, II is hard 10 say and i rs
NJ very little consequence one way or the other.
The inhabitants Of Yucatan have shown them.
" Ives incapable Of defending themselves against
the indians. and II the general government chooses
TO bring them back, she can easily 30 80. This ia
not the first time that the people Of that State have
declared their ileependence, nor will i, IN all
probability, be the last, for they are incapable OF
maintaining separate national existence. Their
motive in doing 1t this time il, no doubt, to annoy
the Mexican government for not sending |
troops 10 assist them against the Indians. We |
que tion whether the government will take |
any measures to recover that State In all proba- |
blty il will leave the Yuca;anese to return to their
allegiance, or not, as to them may seem proper. |
The intelligence Ia interesting 10 but one respect. /
n il well known that the State OF Tamauipas i |
anxious 10 be separated from Mexico, and annexed
M the United States. This action on the part Of
Yucatan may induce the people OF that State 70
make an effort at independence.
We refer our readers 10 our table OF neteorolo'
pical observations under our teegraphc head.
They extend a. far az 81 Johns on the north, TO
Buffalo on the west, and TO Boston on the east.
n ia a little remarkable that the present mild
weather extends throughout the vast region EN-
hrsced in our observations