The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-04
New York. Sunday, April 4, 1852.
The News.

medium supply of Geographic information this
morning fortunately enables us to furnish great
variety Of highly entertaining reading which would
otherwise have been crowded out. The few patches
we have however, will be found unusually interesting.
Our special Washington correspondent writes that
it il in contemplation to refer NIL the bills granting
lands for railroad purposes to special committee in
the House, whose duty it will he to separate the
wheat from the chaif.'' This should have been done
long ago. The committee can push along the public
business while the politicians express their sapien
opinions on the Presidential question. That some of
the railrod schemes for the benefit Of which lands
have been appropriated during the present session,
arc really worthy Of national encouragement there
is no doubt-stll, a majority of them chmeri-
cal and never can be Of any practical utility. The
proceeds Of the lands with which Congress
has so literally endowed them, will 60 into
the pockets of avarcious Spectators. and that
will be the last of them. Bills which literally
squandered the public domain, have been rushed
through with locomotive speed. Nearly the only
debate that occurred while they were under
sideration, whether Cass, Buchanan, Douglas,
or somebody else, was the most popular candidate
with the democrats-whether Fillmore, Webster
or Scott, would be the nominee Of the whigs and
whether white black girls were in the ascend
aney among the gallants of Massachusetts,. No
wonder that the people complain Of the want Of at
tcntion to the public business when proceedings Of
This nature are Of daily occurrence in our national
legislature.
Quite spirited discussion took place in the
State Senate yesterday, on the question Of referring
to the committee Of the whole the Assembly bill
requiring the Canal Auditor to pay the drafts Of
the Commissioners. The bill was finally made the
special order for Tuesday afternoon, when it is evil
dent that warm and protracted debate will en-
sue, as many Of the leading democratic Senators
have avowed their intention Of resisting it with all
their power. This bill is certainly unnecessary, and
is doomed to he Of avail whatever. The Auditor
has declared that he will not be controlled by the
mandates Of the Legislature, but by the courts aud
as the matter has already been carried before the
latter tribunals for adjudication, legislators may
as well drop the subject, and endeavor to attend to
some other business in which they can be of little
service to their constituents. The Supreme Court
yesterday, in the Of Phelps vs.. the Auditor,
decided that the latter must pay tn, drafts The
Auditor, to make assurance doubly sure will
now carry the matter up to the Court Of Appeals,
where the whole canal qucstion--including the pc
culiar contracts which deprived the people Of three
millions Of doars-w be finally settled, so far as
eotcelrs legislative and judicial action. The people
will reserve their decision in the case till the next
State election.
Several important bills were passed in the Assem-
bly, yesterday. Several Of The property holders in
this city, will probably he pleased to learn Of the
defeat Of the bill authorizing the building Of
bridge across the Harlem river, for the special az
ccmmodaton Of the New Rochelle Railroad. No
objection would have been made to the measure had
the company made arrangements to run over the
bridge of the Harlem and New Haven roads; but
the erection Of another blockade over navigable
tdcwater stream was considered inexpcdent, and is
doubtless unconstitutional.
Tie act to permit the retention Of fugitive slaves
in the jails of Pennsylvania has been ordered to
third reading in the House Of Representatives in
that State The measure was vetoed during
former session, by ex-Gov. Johnston
VIZ lave a brief account Of another most horrible
catastrophe the Ohio river The boilers of the
steamer Rcdstone exploded yesterday afternoon, and
so completely tore the vessel to pieces that she
immo diately sunk. Thore were seventy persons on
board nj the time. nearly all OF whom lost their
lives OF the crew. only the captain and clerk were
arcd. and the former is said to have been SO severely
Injured that ii is doub full whether he can recover
TIE numerous disasters Of this kind truly appall-
iig Laws have been enacted for ensuring the
safety ofpassengeFs' which require the inspection of
vessels and engines nevertheless steamers arc con-
'-n'"i'l !" oe i0uiu running "Hhoue tue necessary
guarantees OF eefca'c' mat they arc Trustworthy;
AAu even 'ne appointed 70 MAKE proper
soiN'!Saie' ~ Ains CASES 0u' Q, e"eI'e' heompe-
tent anu Rno" ho'n'ng anou' the oueiness which
.hes unu'.'"Ao - w "ini'g wan NE ana
iino " OOHsiess NVula - i''i.,cs a'0ne i0f lew