The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-07

The News.
The Nebraska question Was again the great theme
OF debate in both the United States and State Sc
mates yesterday. IN the former body, Mr.. Wade, of
Ohio, made a long speech in opposition to Judge
Donglas's bill, and was followed by Mr.. Jones Of
Tennessee, in support Of that measure A vote was
then taken the motion TO strike out that portion
which provides for the suppression Of the Missouri
compromise, and il was defeated by only thir-
teen yeas to thirty, one nays. desutory DEBATE
ensued, in the course Of which General Cas-
made the important assertion that he believed " the
Missouri compromise was unconstitutional aud would
say So" A very full report Of The leading speeches
including sketches Of the pou taneous remarks elicit
ed thereby, win be found under the proper head
Our State Senate, at er lengthy controversy, re-
jected the resolutions proposed by the silver gray
wings substitutes for those offered by Mr. Dickin
son in behalf of the free soil wings. On motion OF
Mr.. Putnam tie first three resolutions stricken
out, and another inserted, which in effect, remon
straes against the adoption Of the bill pending
in Congress, for the reason that it viii annul the
Missouri compromise act. This was carried by the
casting vote Of Lieutenant Governor Church-the
yeas and nays being thirteen each.
A large amount of busines vas transacted in boyh
houses Of Congress yesterday, to which we cannot
refer in detail for want Of spa; C. Reports we're made
by the Military Committees in favor OF giving gold
me als to the captains Of the Three Bells Ktby aud
Antarctic as tokens OF gratitude for their humane
efforts in saving The lives of the persons on board the
sinking steamer San Francisco, aud also to place
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars at
the disposal of the President. in order that
he may appropriately reward all who parti-
Cipatsd in the rescue. The Speaker laid be.
fore the House a large number Of communca
tons from the Executive Department among them
reports thus ar received from the several parties
authorized 10 explore different lines with the view Of
enabling government TO decide upon the best route
for railroad 70 the Pacific. In subnitting these
documents, the Secretary Of War remarks that they
are all so partial, and at the sumo time SO incon
pete that he should have preferred retaining them
until they lad been made more perfect The Com
pittee on Post Offices reported bills to annu various
ocean postal contracts and to authorize the Secre-
tary of the Navy TO purchase the Collins, Law and
Aspnwa steamers. The Military Committee re.
ported bill, which provides, among other things,
against the practice Of army officers becoming in
terested in contracts for supplies.
Preliminary action was mad On great many bills
In State Legislature yesterday, but none Of any
importance passed. The Senate spent considerable
time in Committee Of tde Whole on the bill for the
suppression Of iatemperauCe. From appearances,
our legislators are becoming more careful in the
handling of this measure. They are already begin.
ming TO some Of its mere restrictive features
and by the tine they have concluded their abors
readers may not be SURPRISED to fad that it very
moderate law. See the regular report Of the pro.
ceedipgs, and the despatch from our special cores
pendent.
The steamship Arabia arrived at Boston yegter-
day afternoon, and our iles Of foreign papers FROM
which We extract all the additional news of partiol-
lar interest, reached Office about two o'llook
this morning. The Collins steamer Pacific is due
to day. with four days later advicss.
We regret to DC soon called upon to add another
chapter TO TIE appalling calames which have befll
zen the country within the last few months. de-
spatch from New Orleans announces that fire broke
out among the steamboats, at the levee on Saturday
morning, aud thai fifteen or twenty negroes persisted
in the flames Seven steamers together with several
barges were entirely destroyed with their clrgoes,
consisting principally Of four cotton, aud provisions
But this loss of property, which is supposed to
amount 10 nearly oee million Of dollars is mere
cypher when compared with the awful destruction
Of human life. This is the third catastrophe of the
kind that has occurred in the South in the space OF
eight days, viz.;-Sone sixty persons persisted by
The burning of the steamer Georgia at New leans
on the 2Stb nit four negroes by the burning Of the
Eagle on the Chattahooche river on the following
Monday, and on the ensuing Saturday fifteen OF
tsenty mere negroes by another condagration Of
boats at New Orleans This win be trly classed by
future historians as the era OF horrible disasters,
The democrats of the Eighth Congressional district
OF Pennsylvania have elected Mr. J. +. Jones to FIJI
the vaeaDy occasoued By the death Of Mr.. Mullen
berg.
BY order Of the President military court ofinquiry
was yesterday convened az the Office of Gen. Scott,
for the purpose Of inqurng into the facts connected
with the loss Of the steamship San Franois,o and
such matters as relate TO the emoarkat'on Of the
troops aud the conduct OF the officers ANA r,on CON
rected With the command Of which Coo,s, q H..
was ne senior officer. A full report Of tie proceed
ings is given elsewhere.
The February session Of tie Common Council
commenced lat evening, as will be seen by TIE
lengthy details Of the proceedings in another page
Appended TO tie report is statement OF Conp,riler
Flagg, containing some very interesting statistics
relative 10 the finances Of the city. This document
should, AMI no doubt viii be, carefully read by all
taxpayers.
The crowded state Of or columns prevents refer
snoe 70 mach that Is interesting in this mornings
paper. The attention Of the reader Is directed