The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-07
New York, Tuesday, February z, Is5i.,


The News.
The Nebraska question Has again the great theme
of debate in both the United States and State Sc
mates yesterday. In the former body, Mr.. Waie, of
Ohio, made q long speech in opposition to Judge
Douglass BILL and was followed by Mr., Jones OF
Tennessee, in support Of that measure. A vote was
then taken on the motion TO strike out that portion
which provides for the suppression Of the Missouri
compromise, and it was defeated by only thir-
teen yeas to thrtyone nays. desultory DEBATE
ensued, in the course Of which General Cas-
made the important assertion that lie believed " the
Missouri compromise was unconstitutional aud would
say So very fail report Of TIE leading speeches,
including sketches Of the Spontaneous remarks elicit.
ed thereby, viii be found under the proper head
Our State Senate, afer lengthy controversy, re-
jected the resolutions proposed by the silver gray
wings substitutes for those offered by Mr. Dickn-
son in behalf Of the free soil wings. On motion Of
Mr. Putnam tie first three resolutions were stricken
out, and another inserted, which, in effect, remon-
strates against the adoption of the bill now 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.
large amount of businefs was transacted in bosh
refer in detail for want o. space Reports we're made
by the Military Committees in favor or giving gold
NE lsls to the captains Of the Three Bells, Kby and
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 q
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars at
the disposal of the President, in order that
he may appropriately reward all who parti-
ad in he rhp atnrI oiJ hn-
fore the House a large number Of communion
tons from the Executive Department among them
reports thus iar received from the several parties
authorized to explore different lines with the view Of
enabling government to decide upon the best route
for railroad 70 the Pacific. In submitting these
documents, the Secretary Of War remarks that they
are all so partial, and at the sumo time SO ncon
plete, that he should have preferred retaining them
until they had been made more perfect. TIC Com
mttee On Post Offices reported bills to annul various
ocean postal contracts and to authorize the Secre-
tary Of the Navy to purchase the Collins Law, and
Aspinwall 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 had On great many bills
In our 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 intemperauCe. From appearances,
our legislators are becoming more careful in the
handling Of this measure. They are already begin.
ming to remove some Of its restrictive features
and by the ne they have concluded their ,bors our
readers may not be SURPRISED to find that is 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 yester-
day afternoon, and our files of foreign papers, FROM
which VIC extract all the additional news Of PARTON
lar interest, reached our Office about two o5lo5k
this morning. The Collins steamer Pacific is due
TO day, With four days later advices.
We regret to be soon called upon 70 add another
chapter to III appalling calamities whish 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 leyee on saturday
morning, and thai fifteen or twenty negroes persisted
In the flames. Seven steamers, together with several
barges were entirely destroyed, with their cargoes
consisting principally Of -FOUR cotton and provisions
But this loss Of property, which Is supposed to
amount TO nearly ose million Of dollars, is a 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, yiz.;-Some sixty persons persisted BY
the burning Of the steamer Georgia at New O,leans
on the 2Sth ult four negroes by the burning Of the
Eagle on the Chattahooche river on the folio wing
Monday and on the ensuing Saturday fifteen or
twenty more negroes by another condagration Of
boats At New Orleans This win be tray classed by
future historians as The era OF horrible disasters.
The democrats Of the Eighth Congressional district
of Pennsylvania have elected Mr. j. f. Jones to fill
The yaeapy occagoned by the death Of Mr.. Mullen
berg.
By order Of the President military court otiuquiry
was yesterday convened at the Office Of Gen. Scott,
for the purpose Of iuqurng into the facts connected
with the loss q the steamship san Fran,is,o. and
ouch matters as relate TO the em5arkat',n OF the
troops and the conduct o. the officers AMI mo, CON
rtcted With the commend Of which Colonel G =.
was he senior officer. A full report Of tie proceed
ings is given elsewhere.
The February session OF the Common Council
commenced lat evening, as will be seen by ire
lengthy details Of the proceedings in another page.
Appended 10 tie report Is d statement Of Comptroller
Flagg, containing some very interesting statistics
relative to the finances Of the city. This document
should, and no doubt will be, carefully read by al
taxpayers.
The crowded state Of our columns prevents refer
snoe 70 mach that is interesting In this mornings
PAPER. The attention Of the reader ID directed