The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-14


There 80 yet no tidngs of the steam ships Her.
mann and America both Of which are considerably
overdue. The former will bring four days and the
latter one weeks later advices from Europe. At
the date OF our despatch from Halifax last night,
snow and rain were failing in such quantities that
even if the A. arrived outside, she would be unable
to reach the harbor. The H. may come in before
the whole of our edition is printed, in which event
we shall issue her in postscript.
BY telegraph from. Washington we have number
Of entertaining items relative to the progress of
events in that city. The Senate again devoted con-
siderable time to the Gadsden treaty yesterday but
nevertheless made very little Roadway So many
alterations appear to have been made in this pre-
cious document according to all accounts, that the
members have become completely befogged, and,
like the sailor, win probably require new map of
the thing in order to comprehend its multiplicity of
complications. In their great anxiety for the con-
frmation of this abomination the administration
are endeayoring to show that the Senate
has no right to amend treaty. but in this they are
not borne out by the presidents of former Presi-
dents. The information respecting the various pro-
positions'made to Mexico for the abrogaton of the
Guadalupe treaty is quite interesting.
Secretary Dobbin, We are informed, has decided
Ahat the six new steam frgates must be built in the
government yards but will contract for the super
intendence of their construction, if possible, with
sorre of our experienced ship builders.
Mr.. Don Pratt, Cincinnati lawyer, has been ap-
pointed Secretary to the French legation
No public business of general interest was trans
acted in The United States Senate yesterday. bill
establishing a new land district in Michigan was
passed, and resolution of inquiry respecting the
expediency of granting land for railroad from
Iron Bay, Michigan, to Little Bay de Lequette,
was adopted. Various petitions and other unimpor-
tant matters having been disposed Of the body at
twelve o'clock went into executive session, and did
not rise till four.
The House of Representatives ordered the print
ing of twenty thousand additional copies of Lieuts.
Herndon and Gibbons report of the survey Of the
Amazon and its tributaries OF the general impor-
lance of this elaborate document to the commercial
and manufacturing interests of this country there
can be no doubt but there is doubt as to the policy
Of going to the expense Of printing such large
number of extra copies, particularly in face of the
fact that the chief features the of the report
have been extensively disseminated by the news
papers throughout the country. Under these cir
Cumstances, this cali for extra copies is simply
useless waste Of money, or rather mere scheme to
keep the House printer employed upon fat jobs.
Mr. Gray member of the Post Office Commit
tee, felt aggrieved because he was prevented from
examining the Post Office records during Of
fee hours. Vie offered resolution to remedy the
evil, which was appropriately referred. bill was
reported to increase the rates of land and reduce
those of ocean postage to five for any distance
nnder three thousand miles and ten cents for al
over. This measure also proposes q material altera-
n. &
ages. After considerable debate the further consid
Grafton Of the matter was postponed for four weeks
spirited discussion took place in committee on the
Land Graduation BILL II was forcibly contended
*,.aS, should the Free Farm bill now pending in the
Senate become law, all poor people would be
amply provided with land, and consequently this
graduation project would be of no service whatever
nevertheless, the measure reported to the House,
but before deciding the question Of engrossmcnt the
body adjourned
Notwithstanding the legal term lor which out
legislators can draw pay expired on Wednesday
night, they continue to work with degree of in
lot Is t1lv amaz-,1ng. On reference to the
esnctch from our correspondent il viii be seen that
the closing hours Of the hundred days were ueNo'eu
90 an exciting discussion between the silver grey
and fec soil wings. The quarrel arose r,yur tho
division of the spos, and In the course of the de-
bate expositions were made that will De apt to
astonish the more quiet members o. both factions.
II was thought that the interests Of these parties
would be cemented before the adjournment, hut
this wrangle has wdened the breach TO such a de-
gree that il is hardly probable they win ever again
unite even for the purpose of defeating their equality
diseffected and quarreing opponents, the hard and
soft shell democrats.
Gov. Seymour, has vetoed the bill intended
to deprive him Of the power Of filing certain offices
that will become vacant shortly after the adjourn
men, and also of removing incompetent officers.
The wiseacres will have to try again. The Hobbies
are filed with agents, jobbers and spectators, all
advocating abominable gross schemes to procure
funds from the treasury or grants of lands proper.
" belonging to State institutions. Too many Of
them, we regret to learn have already accomplished
their INSCRIPTIONS designs 4 bill submitting a
prohibtory liquor law to the people, has been or
dered to o third reading by the Senate. The A..
sembly has passed the bill defining the boundaries
of the Central Park; also, = bill given married
women the control o. their children, earnings aad
personal property in certain cases. IL Is iatimatcd
that the lawmakers may become tired Of working
for nothing and adjourn tomorrow afternoon.
The Southern Commercial Convention now in ses
sion at Charleston appears 80 be composed OF
greater number Of influential practical, business