The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-01-22

shall pay the money over, and hold the agent re
sponsibie The Secretary of the Treasury under
MIR. Polk's administration paid two Of the install
ments, and the business was managed AS well by
him as by the Secretary OF State.
Mr.. EDG ERTON obtained The floor, when, on
motion, the committee rose.
Mr.. HOUSTON then offered Il resolution propos-
ing for the closing of the debate on this bill to.
morrow. lie would limit it to three o'clock
Mr.. DURHAM. Say one O'Clock
Other suggestions were made.
Mr.. HOUSTON would not press the resolution
al this time, but let it lie until to morrow,
when gentlemen could fix the hour.
The House then adjourned.
pETITIoNs, ETC.
BY Mr. PORTER: The petition of Lloyd Dorsey
OF Missouri asking permission to enter at the
minimum price certain pieces Of land in St. Charles
county, Missouri, lying within the unconfirmed
claim of Francis Smith, deceased Referred to
the Committee on Private Land Claims.
By Mr.. SCUDDER The petition OF Charles
West and others, OF Massachusetts, asking that
the appropriation made by the 3lst Congress for a
light house al Holiness Hole, may be applied by tho
Secretary of the Treasury to the erection Of three
beacon or buoy lights, according to the rocommcn-
dation IN the report OF me superintendent OF the
Coast Survey. Referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
BY Mr.. FLORENCE: The memorial of John H.
Parker, Henry M. Zollickotfer, Nicola Monachesi,
and others citizens of the State OF Pennsylvania,
petitioning Congress to pass law to prohibit the
Punishment, deportation, or immigration from for
eign countries to the United States of all convcts,
fc!ons, and paupers, publicly recognised such
in their own country. Referred TO the Committee
on Commerce.
Also, the memorial of Edward A. Souder & Co..
Michael Erickson, John S. Newn, and others,
citizens OF the State of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
and Delaware, pctitioning Congress to make APP
preparations at the present session for the ton
Of suitable piers and harbors in the Delaware river
and bay as will afford shelter for vessels navgat-
ing them Referred to the Committee on Com
mercc.
ALSO, the memorial of Samuel w. Jones, Will
liam X. White, Charles Manchester, and others,
interested n the claims upon the United States for
spoliations on the property OF American citizens
by France prior to the year 1901 petitioning Con-
gress to pass law for their speedy liquidation.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
BY Mr.. CHANDLER The memorial of the pre-
sidents of the Marine Insurance Companies Of Phi
ladelphia, asking that "Gght-ship' with n fog
bell be placed in the Slur, Cape Roman,
South Carolina. Referred TO the Committee on
Commerce..
Also, the memorial of the presidents of the Ma
rine Insurance Companies of Philadelphia, asking
Congress to increase the salary of the Judge Of the
United States court at Key West. Referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
BY Mr.. Il. M. HOWE: The memorial of Charles
Avery and others, citizens of Pittsburgh, Pennsy-
vania paying for the construction of ship canal
around he falls of the river st. Marie Michigan
BY Nj. SCHOONMAKER: petition of the as
siitant marshals of Ulster county, New York, for
an increase OF compensation for taking the late
| census. Referred to the Committee on Public Ex-
pcndltures,
Also a petition of Wi liam Sterry for an invalid
pension. Referred to the Committee on Invalid
Pensions. o..
Also a petition of Joseph Martin for n pension.
Referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.
Also petition of Frederick Stub, fret lieutenant,
captain by brevet, second infantry, United States
army, for relief. Referred to the Committee
Military Affairs
The REPORTED CALAMITY IL Nrw YonK is thus
explained in a letter to the Philadelphia bulletin,
and relieves the painful approximations which
felt upon the subject:
''NEw YoRK, January 90, 1852.
"Thc utmost excitement prevailed in this city
this morning in consequence of reports that the ice
in the East river had broken up and carried away
many persona down the bay. The facts. as near
las can ascertain them are follows: Last night
excessively cold that the floating ice in the
rivers became CONCEALED in large masses, and final
iy lodged In one solid body, and made a complete
bridge across the strait between Brooklyn and this
city. Early in the morning hundreds OF persons
who do business in New York, but reside with their
families in Brooklyn, approached the ferries, and
found to their dsmay, that navigation by ferry
boats was impracticable. Every thing com
plctely frozen up.
''Aiter waiting for an hour or two, things be-
came desperate with some whose business urgently
demanded their presence on this side of the river
One or two men declared that they must be in
New York at all hazards, and started off afoot
ON the ice. They passed over with perfect safety,
and were coon followed by thousands OF persona OF
all ages, aud both sexcs, who were rendered con-
fdcnt by The of the pioneers in the expedi-
ton. The river now became gay scene, and
many who had no business 10 call them over the
water undertook the journey merely for the sake
Of being able 10 say that they bad crossed the river
on the ice. One man drove across a horse attached
10 a sleigh.
"Thngs went on merrily enough till about ten
O'Clock, when the tide caused the ice TO break
away from the docks this eide, and presently to
separate and move of in large fields. As soon as
this discovered a panic spread through the
crowds who were endeavoring TO reach the shore.
This some were enabled TO do by means of planks
which were generously supplied by people from
the shore. great many persons were obliged to
Jump from fragment to fragment of the NOV
Jag ice, which frequently sank below the sur.
face OF the water involving wet feet and some.
times a moist jacket. 1t is truly wonderful that
no lives were lost, but am moot happy to be able
TO say that all were saved. The persons shore
worked nobly to aid the luckless individuals in
their exertions to reach land in instance
three lads were carried off into the stream upon a
large cake Of ice. Three boatmen volunteered
their services and went to the Of the boys
after great escrtions the boat came up with the
psrilous float near Governors leland, and thus
saved the youngsters who were perfectly satisfied
with their experience in the matter"
The New York papers which came to hand last
night confirm the foregoing accounts.
Tue CAPITAL OF. ORgooN TrRRrroRY-some al.
fusion has been made in our columns TO n difficult.
~ that has arisen in Oregon respecting the loca-
ton of the capital correspondent Of the Boston
ITareiio gives Il Glowing account Of its origin.
His letter is dated
"ORgooN CRY, December 4, 1851
"The present week is noted among "a for the an
nual assembling Of the Legislature. We arc. how
ever in an anomalous condition this year. large
majority Of both branches Of the Legislature have
MET at Salem, iortyfyc miles south Of this place,
declaring that to be the capital while The supreme
court-two Of the three judgcs-and a few lcgisla-
tors have met here, declaring this to be the CAPT
tai The Governor, Secretary of Stnte, Acting At
torncy General and the Alarshal here also. II
10 the duty Of these coordinate departments Of
government 10 hold their annual sessions at the
capital
1.-The rca ron ofths difference 10, the iuformaliy Of
an act changing the scat Of eoycrnmcnt-onc party
docming the form Of little importance, tho other
regarding u essential To legal proceedings. By
the act Of Congress organizing territorial gov
eminent there was an express provision that every
act Of thc territorial legislature should embrace
only one object. This was done to prevent any
/ col!usion in that body.
| "But an act pnsscd at the last session cm-
bracing three principal and scycral subordinate OBJ