The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-24
The News.

New York, Friday, Feb. "a, 1864.
The News.
The steamship Northern Light came up to the
city yesterday afternoon bringing dates from San
Francisco to the LIST inst. This trip has been per
formed in the unprecedented short space Of time OF
twenty-five days, being the quickest by nearly half
day that has yet been accomplished. The shortest
previous passage was the arrival Of the Northern
Light at this port the Esd Of August last, which
landed passengers in this city in twenty-five days
and nine hours from San Francisco. 1t will be seen
that the steamship Golden Gate went ashore in
tremendous gale on the 18th ult, the haroor Of
San Diego, where she remained until the 25th. In
the interim her passengers and m als were all safely
landed, and taken to San Francisco By steamer
which went TO her assistance. The vessel was re-
ported to have sustained considerable injury, and
was leaking badly, but was hourly expected at San
Francisco Some distu .bances had ocsurred between
the whites and Indians, and q number Of the latter
had been killed. The Indians complain tn some of
their number had been shot down by their civ.
ilized neghbors without proyocaton, and that the
treaties had not bee observed, while the whites con-
tend that the savages are constantly stealing and
running of their stock. Another steamboat explo
sion had occurred, being the fourth within q few
months, by which two or three persons were killed
and . number of others injured. The wet season
had set in, and the miners anticipating rich
yield of the golden treasure. The mountains were
represented as being covered with snow. and the
streams were nearly all swollen to flood. The news
is unusually interesting.
No further battles have taken place between the
flibustefing republicans Of Lower California and the
deposed Mexican authorities. The forces despatched
by Santa Anna to crush out the expeditionsts and
re-annex the country to Mexico had not made their
appearance in the vicinity Of Fort McKibben, the
seat of government and headquarters of President
Walker. Sonora had been formally annexed TO
Lower California by proclamation of the President,
and the Of the confederated States is hereafter
TO be the Republic Of Sonora. Although the latter
country was thus declared absolved from Mexico
the troops of the new republic had not as yet pro
ceeded 10 occupy it. At last accounts they were
busily engaged in making surveys, laying out roads,
&C. The fill clustering feeling seems TO have nearly
died out in most parts of Calf ,rnia. meeting had
however, been held in Sonora, but the room in
which it was called NOT being large enough to 40
commodate those present, it resolved to adjourn
70 meet at the Court House st future day. The
u. s. sloop-of-war Portsmouth, accompanied by
mail steamer had been sent out to intercept any
flibustering parties that might be found on the
coast but it is hardly probable that these vessels
would succeed in accomplishing anything.
The letter from our Nicaragua correspondent con-
tains great variety of Interesting and instructive
information relative to Central American affairs.
One of It's leading features is the announcement that
the people Of Nicaragua, despairing of o settle
ment of the difficulties among the five sister
States and their reformation under government,
arc about changing their national name to that Of
the Republic of Nicaragua. The executive power
will be vested in President, to be elected for term
of four years, instead of a Supreme Ruler, who,
under the present system, serves for two years.
Our advices from the Sandwich Islands are OF 3
very gratifying character. A Aattering reception
had been given to our new Commissioner Mr.. Gregg.
Through Mr.. wylie, the Minister of Foreign Rela.
tons the King reitsrates the sentiments OF ad Mira
ton for our country be had personally expressed on
the occasion Of bis first interview with Mr. G.. He
acknowledges that the United States have largely
contributed to the civilization of his kingdom, and
believes that they will continue 10 manifest deep
interest in what has been chiefly their own
work. That dreadful pest, the small pox, was rap.
idly diminishing, and the general condition of the
Inhabitants was cheering and prosperous.
We have files of Bermuda papers to the I4th
-, rn,v Ss,.taain no .reilgeHee Of interest.
The departure Of Governor Elliott from the isa.1a
had been delayed, By slight illness and unfavorsbe
weather. until the 18th, when he left In the Daphne
for Trinidad. Col. Williams was sworn in as AGING
Governor on the same afternoon. The members Of
her Msjestys Couacil and the Municipal government
had presented q aattering address to Governor
Elliott.
Much Of our space is to-day occupied by mass Of
curious and highly interesting political intelligence
among which win be found letters from Albany and
Concord relative to the peculiar antecedents Of Pre-
sident Pierce and his friends ia New Hampshire;
rply from Judge Douglas 10 the attacks on thu Ne
braska BILL proceedings OF meetings in opposition 10
said bill in Detroit Boston, Concord, Rome &,. At
the Boston gathering, which took place in Faneuil
Hall last evening, Messrs. Winthrop and Abbott
Lawrence were among the principal speakers The
meeting at Concord, judging from the tenor OF our
despatch, was almost exclusively com posed Of wings
and may be set down as q failure. Few prominent
New Hampshire politicians we're present, and mos
OF even the democrats who figured iu the call failed g.
attend, as did also the vhg candidate for Governor
The leading members Of the democratic party deny
that the Nebraska bill is an issus In the coming
election In that State Attention Is directed 20 the
editorial on this subject in another column.
The procee iibgs In Congress yesterday were Of
varied and very interesting character, pot We have
only room to refer to two three Of the princin,
points Gen Cass made short speech on the occasos
of presenting petition to the Senate with re gard O.
the religious freedom Of Americans in foreign coun
tries, in the Of with lie observed tia, his
previous policy win regard to this subject had been
severely animadyeted upon by Ar ihbishop Hushes
and Others end that it was therefore inportan,
10 himself taat he should be thoroughly under
stood. Senator roombs made long speech Ii
support Of the Nebraska bill. The bill appro
priating three millions Of dollars for the construc
aOn Of six steam frigates was taken up and passed
!, ltanter, Various petitions IN opposition 70 this