The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-03

awful calamity at Hartford, Conn. A steam boiler in
IN extensive car factory exploded yesterday after
Uoon totally demoishng that portion Of the building
In which the engine was located, and burying up.
wards Of one hundred people in the ruirs. Sixteen
persons killed. two fatally and eleven badly in
jured, and large number Of others slightly sca'ded
and otherwise wounded. The names of the unfor-
eunate persons together with account OF the hor
Hbls disaster, and description of the hearrending
scene, will be found upder the proper head else where
The most extraordinary excitement and confusion
pre- vailed in the United States Senate yesterday
Elk Secretary Clayton concluded his speech on the
Nebraska question, whereupon spirited controver-
nv took place between the friends and opponents of
The measure. Judge Badger delivered o most caus
ito rebuke to Mr. Chase for having, among other re-
monstrances, presented one containing the resoll
lions Of meeting lately held in Ohio, which de
slared that any Congressman who would vote for
the bill was traitor TO his country to freedom end
10 God, and deserved everlasting infamy." Mr.
C. eDdeavored to excuse himself with the
plea that he had not time to examine the
numerous documents sent 10 him. lively discus
zion was also bad upon Mr. C.'s proposed amend
ment in the Of which short but tart speeches
were made by Messrs. Dixon, johnson, Stuart, Cass
and others. This was followed by threatening
fare up between Mes:rs. Douglas aud Stuart in con-
sequence of the latter having inadvertently intimatei
that the Senate had been guilty OF uterng an histor
calfalsehood Comparative quiet having at length
been obtained, vote was taken upon Mr.. Chase's
amendment, and it was rejected-only ten members
being found in favor OF it. Other amendments by
the same gentleman were rejected by equally sign
fcant votes The bill having been altered in two
three parc llars, reported 10 the Senate at eight
o'clock in the evening, and about nine it was en-.
crossed by vote of twenty nine to twelve The
body afterwards adjourned amid the most IN
paraelled excitement. This is but the beginning
of the Juror which we have hitherto asserted will
be the certain result Of this measure, though it was
vany boosted that it wouli do away with al excite
ment and agitation upon the question Of slavery
Here we find old political friends, Of all parties
drawn up in hostile array, each determined no. TO
give an inch, but to yht 10 the last When such
scenes of confusion and recrimination took place
yesterday occur in that gave and dgnifed
body, the Senate OF the United States what may we
expect when the subject comes up for discussion in
that political bear garden called the House Of Repre-
sentativesf
In the early part OF the day a large number of
circumstances against the Nebraska bill were pre-
scented TO the Senate, among them several from Ger.
tain parts of this STATE and from the aud women
OF Maine. The Committee on Public Lands request
ed to be discharged from the further consideration
Of petitions asking for grants Of land to assist in con-
structpg ship canal around Niagara falls; the rea
son assigned for this request that the PROPOSE
zion coud not receive the favorable consideration of
The committee. Mr.. Jones created considerable msr.
riment by introducing bll entitled An act to do
Justice to all the States Of the Union.- I. having
been explained that the measure provided for the
distribution Of the public lands among the States It
was referred to q special committee.
The members of the House of Representatives
PROBABLY in anticipation Of brisk work when the
Senate transmits to them the Nebraska BILL see n
disposed to take things very easily during the int
rim. With the exception OF the election OF printer
their legislation has amounted to nothing this week
A bill was introduced and referred yesterday, grant
ing the right Of way and alternate sections Of land
eighty miles In width, for railroad purposes ia Cali
fornia and Oregon, and the remaining alternate
sections to actual settlers. Leave not granted 10
Mr.. Sellers to introduce resolution requesting In or.
nation from the President with regard to Peruvian
guano and likewise requesting that negotiations be
entered into either for the purchase Of or more of
the Chncbs Islands or for the abolition OF the uano
monopoly by Peru. The House spent the balance OF
the session on the Free Farm bill. Numerous singu.
lsr amendments were proposed and discussed in Eve
minute speeches, evidently with the Intention ofkl
ing time. The friends Of this measure are apparent
~ awaiting an opportunity TO attach it to the Ne
braska bill, and hence the procrastiuation. Afyer
considerable meriment, the body adjourned without
having disposed OF the frs. section Of the bill
A despatch from Washington states that the Ne
braska Indians are attracting great attention; tia,
the Gardner case was yesterday submitted to the
jury and that there lie prospect that IN. editor II
this journal viii be summoned before tie senate !,
show cause why he gave exclusive publicity {, the
Gadsdsn and copyright treaties, and other s.4ss
secrets.
Our State legislators continue T. work, 20 fu a.
the reporting OF bills is concerned, with assiJuy
that Is really encouraging. BY the Dispatches
elsewhere published from our correspondent, i will
Ne seen that among the bills nov pcnding is one 10