The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-20
The News.

After the transaction of great deal of preliminary
business, mostly OF uninteresting character the
United States Senate yesterday went into committee
and completed the Pacific Railroad bill. The thir
teenth section of the original BILL constituting the
Pacific Railroad Company body polite and cor
porate. was stricken out by vote of thrty-six to
fourteen. motion to expunge the provision appro-
priating twenty millions of dollars, to be issued in
bonds bearing five per cent interest srejected by
sixteen ayes to thirty nays. When the committee
rose, Gen. Shields suggested the propriety of so
amending the bill preventive expenditure ofany
OF the money appropriated in the construction
-sf any road within any State. After a great deal
oil opposition in which various gentlemen commended
that an amendment would be death blow to
the road, the motion Of Gen. S. prevailed by twenty
two To twenty. Though this amendment was appa-
renty made for the express purpose Of satisfying the
conscientious constitutional scrupes of certain elder
ly senators, it nevertheless appears to be very judi
cious movement. There is no necessity whatever
for the government to go to the trouble and expense
OF laying down the road within any State-indiv
dual enterprise will accomplish all that. While such
course might in some measure engender sectional
iealousies among some Of the States, it would also
tend to retard the enterprise of their inhabitants Let
the government commence the road at the most de-
srable point the confines of some State and carry
it through the great western territories until it
reaches the California line and it will not be long be
fore branches from the principal cities in the different
Western and Southern States will be found converg
ing to the main trunk. They will be finished and in
working order long before the great road through the
territories be completed. Besides allaying
tional strife they would open channels of communi
cation all sides, and materially add to the general
prosperity As soon as the line Of one hundred and
seventy miles of rails are laid between st. Louis and
Terre Haute, Ia, we shall have direct railroad
nection between this and the former city, distance
Of some eleven hundred and forty miles, making by
far the longest line in the world Besides some two
hundred miles of the Pacific road from St. Louis west
ward is now under contract, backed by Congress
with grant of three millions of acres of land. Let
Congressman take all these items into consideration
and after combining them with their constitutional
scrupes it is more than probable that they will see
the propriety OF allowing the Pacific Railroad bill to
stand in nearly its present shape. II is too late in
the session 10 attempt to improve it to any great
tent. Under any circumstances, push the bill
through before the final adjournment. The people
in all quarters and Of all politics anxious for the
road, and must have il.
The House spent the day in perfecting the Civil
and Diplomatic bin in committee. The members
actually worked eight hours, and among other
amendments, made appropriations for several new
and important missions.
The proceedings in the New York Legislature yes
ferday did not amount to much. The Senate could
do no business for want of quorum, and the Assem-
bly might as well have been in the same predicl-
ment, SO far as purposes were concerned Both
houses stand adjourned till Wednesday
Gen. Pierce will remain in Philadelphia till TO.
morrow. He is said to be overrun with politicians,
fresh arrivals Of whom are reported every hour.
despatch from Buffalo declares that fifteen Office
seekers eft that place yesterday, rouse for Wash
ington.
Those interested in canal matters, on reference 10
the Geographic head, will find the names of large
number of persons who have been appointed coec
tors, superintendent, &c.
There appears TO be Considerable trouble about the
lar Line Railroad bill in the New Jersey Legislature
sNue of the members fearful that it will injure
tb. revenues of the State. Their doubts be set
at rsst by simple mterogatory Did Jerseymen
ever Lose anything by any Of the railroad lines run
Ksng through their State to this city, Let their
osLnitlliss farmers, tradesmen, hotel keepers, &c,
answer.
A settcrtas been received in Baltimore, purporting
70 have been written on board Pacific steamer, on
the l7t ut, which states that "the cholera had
broken out Ut San Francisco-that eighteen persons
had already expired from ~ Effects and that six
more were dying" This IS undoubtedly hoax At
le 81, we have received intelligence OF the kind by
aps Of the steamers that have recently arrived.
We have receisad The report Of the City Inspector
for tie week ended last night 1t is evident, from
this record Of mortality, that tie harsh winds and
very cold weather which prevailed during the great
rpart Of tAat tine, have lad decided effect il ag.
prayating the attacks Of existing diseases a. well as
inducing rapid, fatal result from others recently
contracted The totGl number q deaths amounts y
our hundred and three, Icing a. increase q 7'Xiy.