The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-20
The News.

Important news from Havana has reached us by
wsy Of New Orleans. The advices are TO the I5tl
inst Proclamations had besn iasued declaring the
island in state Of siege, the ports under blockade
and ordering the enlistment of all persons capable
OF bearing arms. Reinsorcemeuts Of troops from
Porto Rico had been sent for, militia companies were
beirg toi mad, and the authorities using every
exertion in making preparations to repel the appre
hepded invasion. II Is probable, however, that
Gen. Concha, or come OF his officials, have sim ,ly
discovered q very capacious mares nest, tenanted
by half score or redoubtable chieftains and an
inruneIable host Of uncoI querable warriors hence
all the Juror and preparation.
Gen. Wilson, recently elected to the United States
Ser ate from Massachusetts, by Know Nothing votes,
has published letter giving bis views the slavery
question in which he states that the Kuow Nothing
organization In bis State DOES not embrace the sub
ject Of alsvery smorg those for the regulation Of
which 1t was formed.
Petitions from thie city in favor Of Mr.. Stewards
bill regulating tue carrying Of passengers on board
steamships and other vessels. were presented in
both housss Ct Congress yesterday. They were re-
ferrtd to the Committees on Commerce.
The Ircc.e dir gs in the Legislature yesterday
ccnfned to routine business. Messrs. Coleman and
stuyvessnt Of New York. Baker OF Montgomery
Soaring OF Kings, and DeveI ming of Erie, have been
appointed by The Speaker Of the Assembly as the
select committee on New York harbor encroa;h.
msntP.
In the United States Senate yesterday the bill
providing for railroad from the Mississippi Valley
to the Pacific was debated and finally passed by
vote of "a to 81 The bill provides for the coastruc.
ton Of three reads, and grants twelve sections of
lard per mile in ri! thereof We have so often re-
presented the imprac.icabiity OF this undertaking
at The present time that it is unnecessary TO aude
further TO the subject now. In executive session
several nominations TO Offices were received from the
President. John Appleton, of Maine, was confirm.
ed ss Secretary o. Legation TO London Ia place Of
Daniel E. sickles; Mr.. Cox, Of Ohio, as Secretary
TO Peru; ard Mr.. Atkinson as Third Auditor in
place CT she late Mr.. Burt.
In the House yesterday there was a desperate
struggle on the French 5poliation bill. The Presi.
dents veto message of this measure was taken up
at an carly hour After brief appeals from several
members TO dispose Of the subject without discuss
ing ifs merits the previous question was ordered,
and the vote on passing the bill in spite of ths
Executives objections resulted in ll3 yeas to Sc
nays. This, OF course. defeated the bill. On the
9th Mt. it passed in committee by vote of ITO to
went into committee on the Civil aud Diplomatic
Appropriation bill, when Mr., Sellers offered as an
amendment tie French spo iation BILL which TIE
chsirran-Mr Aibba,d Of New Hampshire ruled
cut Of order. An appeal ~as taken from this de-
cisiop WHICH, after an angry debate wss sustained.
So the spoiation claimants are again laid out stone
cold. The widows ard orphans who have long and
patiently waited for heir mite Of the appropriation
must bope On, and the Wall street brokers wlo
have bought mp claims at six cents on The dollar
must pick their huts and try 1t again. No other
business was transacted ia the House. Pfesideot
Pitrce's veto message Is given in full in to-iays
paper.
The Secretary Of the Navy hAs appointed CON
mission 20 select steam propelIors to be employed
In the expedition ordered by Congress to be do
spatched in search OF DR.. Kane aud his companions
We publish to-day Toe dealls Of the news from
Mexico 10 the Sth inst. The rumor that provision
Al government lad been formed ct Acapulco, with
Gen. Alvarez at its head, was generally credited
TIE revo.u,it pists were rapidly gaining strength
and Tehusntepec had declared against santa Aona
There were runners Of battles between the bellige
rent forces in rome Of which the revolutonists
said TO have been victorious while 10 Others tins go
yernment troops bad met with success.
Files from Hsyti, dated to the l6th OF January.
state that the fifty second anniversary OF the lode.
ptndtnce of the country was celebrated with great
pomp on the lst and I'd Of that month. Some In
terestDg facts relative to the receipts and credits Of
the nation al treasury are given.
Our correspondent at Belize, (Hondurss) In
lated on the 4th instant, announces that the
N Guatemala and Honduras was about TO
the former State, General Carrera
notified tie authorities that the
TruxiIlo we're in Q state Of
ould soon march an army
ought, owing TO their dc.