The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-18


The News.
Our dispatches from Washington are interesting
In the Senate Mr.. Foote presented petition from
Captain Graham II, complaining of the action of the
Naval Retiring Board Mr. Foote took occasion to
nimadvert severely upon the course pursued by the
Board-gross wrong had been inflicted on many
meritorious officers. The petition was referred 10
the Committee on Naval Affairs. Notice was given
of bill for the modification of the patent laws. In
the House an exceedingly interesting discussion
took place upon the Speakership. Three balottings
we're subsequently had, with the same result
previously. Pending a motion offered by Mr.
Thorrngton, black republican, Of Iowa. to adopt the
plurality rule, an adjournment was agreed to. The
friends of Mr. Banks feel confident that the rule
will be adopted, and that their favorite will be
elected to-day.
The steamship Empire City arrived yesterday
morning from Aspinwall. She brings more than
million Of treasure, and the California mails to the
10th ut. also the mails from the South Pacific and
a full complement Of passengers. The intelligence
from California has been anticipated by the North
em Light.
Our New Granada files are dated at Panama and
Aspnwall, December 9th. Very heavy rains pre-
vailed on the isthmus. long expected cargo of
ice had arrived at Panama. Senior Obando was still
on trial in Carthagena, and Senior Plata Secretary
Of the Treasury, had resigned The steamer Henry
Wells had been snagged whilst running up the
Aagdaena river. II was said that the New Grana-
da Congress would soon entertain motion for the
abolition Of the standing army, and the suppression
Of the Office of Secretary Of War; Bolivar's birth
day had been celebrated with great joy. The sea-
son at Bogota and anniversary OF the independence
Of the Isthmus, had been duly observed. The rail
road was in good order.
From the South Pacific we have news dated al
Valparaiso, October 81; Lima, November 10, and
Psita, November Is. Three Peruvian war steamers
built in England the Apurimac, Loa and Tombez-
had arrived at Valparaiso. The republic Of Chile
continued peaceful and its resources were being
pidly developed by contented people. There is
hardly any political intelligence An American had
been caned by a native superintendent Of railway,
but afterwards knocked him down. fact which
created some excitement. The Coulino mole was
quite finished, and vessels and steamers discharged
there with great ease and despatch. The bank
buildings were progressing npidly-they are fixed
on the rock on which the Arethusa was lost many
years since. Manufactures were extending. From
Lima we have report that Arequipa and some OF
the southern cities of Peru had declared in favor of
Gen. Vivanco.
Mr.. Compton, British consul at lslay was dead.
In Bolivia the Avila revolution had been put down,
and the country was again quiet. Trade was much
more brisk in Valparaiso. During the month of
October Peru had exported twenty-eght thousand
two hundred and seventy-two tons of guano. Our
Callao correspondent writing ON November 10,
gives heartrendng account of some of the hor-
rors incident to the Chinese labor slave trade. An
American ship had recently arrived in port with a
cargo of snch miserable beings, and it was found
that IA many as two hundred and one of them had
either died from sickness committed suicide dur
ing the voyage. Four thousand persons had been
carried OF in the province of Pataz PERU by an
epidemic classed by the physicians as fever of a
new type.
The steamship Cahawba from Havana 18th inst,
arrived last night There news Of import
ance Our Havana correspondent writing on the
10Th notices grand religious celebration which
took place in the church San Carlos, with view of
imprcssng more firmly on the public mind a belief
N the doctrine Of the immaculate conception. A
three days pageant was closed, on Sunday, with
sect fights. bu fights and military parades. News
had been received from Mexico to the effect that
Exaropean diplomats were steadily pursuing course
Of action designed to add to the executive and poll
tscal difficulties Of that country. The sugar market
vss active Freights were dull. Health of Havana
good.
Our correspondent at Curacao, writing on the 10Th
ali states that a drought Of two months duration
had seriously affected the salt yield Of the island
yessels arriving from ports in Venezuela were sub
ectsd 70 quarantine in consequence Of the preva-
rnce Of cholera. The misunderstanding between
M merchants and the United States Consular Agent
ssin continued.
Capt hutton, Of the bark Clara winsor arrived
y~s.rday from Port an Prince, informs US that the
lever was ssh raging, particularly among the ship
ping. On board the c. W., at one time, all hands
we're sick. and a seaman named John Shields
native Of Ireland, died. Every vessel In port lost
more or les men. The schooner Susan had lost
TOO, schooners Leon and Excelsior tive EACH and
the captain Of the schooner Samuel Rankin had
died. Al the English and French vessels
had Lost two or three men each. The Emperor
gaussin l. intended marching on the 9th inst. with
ms entire army. against the Dominicans. He would
arS, attack Lsscspohas, and contemplated entering
the city a - Domingo on New Years day.
The Board OF Aldermen met last evening, and dis.
rc~ed ~ considerable routine business. Nothing Of
general Importance was done.
The Board Of Counomen last evening adopted
re-oluiion calling for ordinance fixing the salary
Of Collec,or Al Assessments and deputies. A commu-
ncasson wa received from his Honor the Mayor re-
fssing g concur with the Board in paying extra
compensation " detailed policemen In the Nine
teenth ward. Ah thee matters win be found else
whore.
The sales 81 cotton yesterday embraced about 500