The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-14
The News.

The News.
Although our reports of the proceedings in Goa
sress yesterday, are unusually brief, they very
Interesting. Ii the Senate Gen. Houston, from the
Select Committee to inquire into abuses frauds and
bribsres connected with government employees,
reported that they summoned one John McGinnis as
q witness, but that he refused to be sworn. The
committee wished TO have the refractory gentleman
placed in durance, but as it required unanimous
to consider the report, the whole matter
deferred, in consequence Of the objection of Mr..
Chase, the most prominent opponent of Mr.. Hale for
the Presidency in the Pittsburg Free Soil Conven.
ton. According to special correspondent, new
discoveries have been MADE that will probably keep
the commit ee busy for awhile. The investigation
of the whole system of Galphinism, from beginning
to end, will form one Of the most extraordinary
well the most useful chapters in the political and
financial history of this country Therefore, let the
Select Committee 60 ahead, and finish the work in
mastery manner.
Some thirty private bills were yesterday passed
by the Senate, and many more rejected A COM
mupication was received from the Secretary of the
Navy, stating that he contemplated hiring the use
Of the California dry dock to company of New
Ysrkers After going into executive session, the
Most of the morning hour spent in the House
in discussing the constitutionality of the Wheeling
bridge. The Supreme Court having declared
against this structure, the question now to be de-
sided is whether Congress can make it la wfu by
declaring it post route. The only parties
that are especially interested in the matter,
are the inhabitants of the southwestern part of
Pennsylvania and northwestern part of Virginia.
a. ;ntn nf fba NJ
of Ia gave his reasons for preferrng democratic to
whig doctrines and Mr.. Moore, Pennsylvania
wbig, descanted upon the inferiority of our light
houses, compared with those of England and
France-all of which had nothing whatever to do
with the subject actually under discussion, which
was the Army Appropriation bill. Three hundred
thousand dollars were added to this bill for extra
pay to officers and soldiers in California, Oregon,
and New Mexico. Twenty thousand dollars we're
also appended, to test the usefulness Of cames, in
place of horses, on the western plains This ap
pears to be a very laudable object. Upon being
reported to the House, all the amendments were
agreed to, except that about the camels which was
the subject of debate at the time of adjournment.
The despatch from our special Washington
respondent, this morning, contains many items OF
interest The nomination of Postmaster General
Hall to the Judgeship Of the Northern District Of
this State, sent into the Senate yesterday, to-
gether with the names Of two gentlemen, not Nor
mons, by the way, as Judges for Utah. No action,
however, was had upon any of these nominations.
1t lie quite likely that the Senate is holding
Judge Halls appointment in order to ascertain, if
possible whom the President will select as his sue
oessor The majority of Senators, 1t is understood,
are not disposed to countenance the bargaining
which it is whispered is going on among GER
tain doubtful friends Of the President to creep into
fat situations towards the close of the admin ;tra
ton.
Some curious information with regard to the
transactions of the Free Soil National Convention at
Pittsburg, is contained in the despatch from our
special correspondent Mt that city. He states that
the democratic wire-pullers completely outgene-
rallied the wings in procuring the nomination Of
Hale, who, it is reported, was induced by them to
write the letter declining nomination. 1t is ru-
moIed that be win again decline, and thus foil the
intentions Of bis own party.
The Pennsylvania free sellers, or rather I" free
democracy" MS they now style Themselves met in
convention yesterday, at Pittsburg, and nominated
candidates for Supreme Court Judge and Canal
Comm issioner. They recommended the friends Of
the cause, throughout the country, to organize, aud
support their ticket at the ensuing election. The
manner in which these free soilers working, in
dicates that they will do their utmost to bring out
the strength Of their party IN the coming campaign
Returns from all but eleven counties of North
Carolina show that Governor Reid has been elected
BY about five thousand majority His gain, SO far
a. heard from, the two years ago, is Sol.
The State Senate will be democratic, and the
House whig
Dates from the city Of Mexico 10 the 3lst ult,
represent that country to be, il possible in a far
more deplorable condition than ever The whole Of
that unhappy land seems to be in a perfect reyou-
tiopary ferment. We hear Of but one thing besides
rebelions and pg oSunoiamentos, and that is. that
the government is holding out inducements for n
contract to construct kind Of road across the
Isthmus Of Tehusntepec 1t is doubtful whether
any capitalists can be found who are stupid enough
10 contract for this job with government that
makes IL point to never keep its faith If it can
possibly avoid it.
BY n despatch from New Orleans, we learn that
two steamers had arrived there with news from
California 70 the 10th ult, being thirteen days
later. II ~ said that the intelligence Is Of no i'm
portance, but Of this we are not allowed 10 judge,
having received none Of II. One or two steamers
are about due at this port, with the same, If not
later sdvices.
Hon Zeno Scudder, the wing representative for
the Tenth district Of Massachusetts,, has written
atiax Ia hta in which Ia