The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-21


the atentlon OF all present was drawn to the fun
ength portrait OF the Father of his Country, upon
whose benevolent countenance the sun at that in
slant darted its enyenng beams: and if the spirits
OIL the departed are permitted to visit this sublunarv
sphere, we might suppose that that great patriot
was rejoicing in the successful working of the const-
tuition of a country whose independence he was in.
strumental in achieving and which his wisdom ANA
patriotism assisted in bringing into being.
1t was an interesting sight to witness the repre-
sentatiyes OF free people, assembled to give effect to
their choice; and we would have supposed that ON
such an occasion, quiet and order would have been
maintained in the House, but u continuous converse
on was kept up in the body OF the hail. and in the
rear OF members, by number of strangers who had
obtained admittance; consequently the ceremony
was performed pretty much in dumb show, the voice
OF the President of the Senate to whom the Speaker
had resigned the chair, rarely rising superior to the
surrounding hubbub. w.
WASHINGTON, Feb. H. 1853.
Important JVees in the House-Ner Territorial Gov
enmcm-C Chairman of the Committee of Hays
and Means-Ree,pgocity Bill and Annendment--
Necessity for Prompt Aetion-C Colonial Legsska-
ton Indispensable Omission to Proride for the
Entire Navigation, Of the ST. Laurence and ST.
John.
This has been rather an important week in the
House as in addition to the official announcement
of the result of the late Presidential election bd
has passed constituting territory in the West to be
called Nebraska; which according to the view taken
Of it by the opponents of the measure, will conflict
with Indian titles and rights.
Then we had the disposal of the Military Appro-
priation bill, with number Of heterogeneous amend.
ments engratted upon it, which will doubtless create
considerable discussion in the Senate and protract
lis ultimate passage If it does not endanger the bl
Getting it out of the Committee of the Whole, how.
ever must have been great relief to Mr. Houston.
who seemed to perpre at every pore during its pro-
tracted discussion. With the exception of the
Speaker, whose patience and gentlemanly demeanor
are daily taxed to the utmost for the preservation of
an assimilation to order, there is no member of the
House more to be pitied than the Chairman Of the
Committee Of Ways and Means; entrusted, as it la.
with the preparation of bills essential to CONDUCTING
the government, and opposed he invariably is in
his endeayours to get them before the House. where
they have to run the gauntlet through host Of
amendments and speeches for and against their
adoption.
On Friday, Mr.. Seymour managed to get the Reo;.
procity bill and Report Of the Committee of Com
merce before the House. which he rather took bv
surprise; but he unable to have its consideration
put down for next Thursday, at which was rather
surprised for at this late period of the session it M
evidently the most important measure that can be
brought under considerations; as whoever has read
the abstracts Of the fishery documents and Com.
Campbelrs report on that subject. which have an
peared in the HERALD during the present week.
must be satisfied that, unless some arrangement is
effected between the two governments before the
next fishing season commences it will be in vain for
the Americans to resort to the Gulf of ST. lawrence
or coast OF Nova Scotia, for the purpose of prOse
cutting the mackerel FISHERY.
The tenor OF the bill has already appeared in the
columns Of the HERALD and which provides that
whenever the government Of Great Britain shall have
satisfied that Of the United States that American
citizens shall enjoy, unmoested, the right to take
and cure fish in the Gulf of ST. Lawrence and on the
coasts OF the British provinces to the same extent as
British subjects, and to navigate the rivers St. Law
renee and ST. John, from their source to the ocean
and use the canals onthe same terms and whenever
New Brunswick shall abolish oil duty on lumber
when exported, that shall have been cut on Ameri-
can territory, and transported down the st. John
then articles that are enumerated in the first section
shall be imported into the United States free of
duty condition that the same articles NAV be re-
imported into the British provinces.
The second section has reference exclusively to the
lumber trade and provides that during the existence
of this reciprocal trade, if timber and lumber, the
produce OF the United States, admitted into the
British West India islands rs when imported from
the provinces then those articles shall be admitted
into the United States free Of duty, so long they
may be imported into the United Kingdom on the
same terms: but that whenever any duty shall be
there charged on these articles, when imported di-
recty from the United States, the duty shall be
imposed on timber and lumber of every description.
1t will thus be seen what complicated affair is at
length before the House-one which involves the re-
construction OF the entire colonial system of Great
Britain, and upon which the various legislatures in
the North American provinces and the British West
India islands must agree to legslae in accordance
with the prescribed conditions, before any definite
negotiations can take place between the two govern
ments.
Tie legislatures of Canada, Nova Scotia, New.
foundand, and, I believe. New Brunswick, are at
present in session; and their views must be
tanned preparatory STEP not only in relation to
this bill, but that of Mr.. Davis, of the Senate, which
was offered by Mr.. Fuller q substitute, it must be
evident that no time should be lost in disposng Of
the question during the present session of Congress-
it being the basis upon which treaty may be ulti
mately concluded-a consummation Of which l en-
tertan very serious doubts
As was stated in the HERALD in advance, the orr
ginal bill does not include coal among the euume-
rated articles that may be admitted free of duty the
interest of the mining companies being too power
full; neither does it provide for the free navigation
up, as well as down, the St. Lawrence and st. John
Is it possible that that Of Maine has been as sue
cessful it when the Ashburton treaty was ne
gotiated, in producing this OMISSION
The entire of to-day was "used up in discussing
bill for the relief OF Col. Fremont, authorizing the
payment to that officer Of the of $l95OO, being
the amount of four drafts that had been protested
by the government there being no appropriation TO
meet them. There was considerable opposition TO
the bill; but it was evident, from the statement
Mr. German, of Indiana, whose candor have repeat
edly admired, and who reported II. that the money
derived from the drafts had passed into the hands Of
officers of the United States, who had made requsi
tions upon Col. Fremont, and by whom it had been
duly expended, adequate vouchers having been pro-
duced The discussion one Of great irfegularity.
an uninterrupted fire of question and answer being
kept up by the friends and opponents Of the mca-
sure. The bill was amended by leaving ont all after
the enaeng clause, and authorizing the Secretary Of
War to pay the amount to be deducted on the settle
ment of Col. Fremont's accounts and providing that
nothing therein contained shall be construed as
cognising the claims now pending in the courts Of
Great Britain W..
South CAROLINA GoLp.--During the moy III,
Of January, eight hands employed in the mir e in
Abbevie and Edgeiield districts q. C.,) tV,k out
$4,000 worth Of gold and during twenty ar d half
days in December they secured 4205OO wr,rth. The