The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-14

to corrupt purposes. We shall as certainly obtain the
possession Of the government as there Is aGod in Hea-
ven, and we will administer II with purity, without the
smell OF DIRE In our garments. The gentleman from Viz
ginia might talk as much as he pleased about the Know
NGthngs, but they viii restore the government to its
Mr.. SEWARD, (dem) Of Ga, offered an amendment,
thought Il Intimately better to approprists the money to
improve Southern harbors that tile largee. class Of ships
may enter them, than to spend IT in the construction Of
Without concluding action on the bill the committee
rose and the House adjourned.
Our washington Correspondence.
| WASHINGTON Feb. IL, 1855.
Doings in The Supreme Court-Large California Claim.
The Supreme Court was engaged today, by Attorney
General Cushing, in the case Of Archibald A. Ritchie,
appellee, against the United STATES, appellants. This is
a case involving claims to lands in California against the
United States. Under the act Of Congress Of March 8,
1851, 'to ascertain and settle the private land claims in
the State of California, Z" Archibald A. Richie presented
to the Board of Commissioners, his claim to q tract of
land, called 1suisun, - of four square leagues, originally
granted to Francisco Solano, who conveyed 1t to ~. g.
Vallego, who conveyed It to Richie.
The Commissioners confirmed Ritchie's claim, and the
United States appealed to the District Court for. the
Northern district Of California, which also confirmed it.
The United States now appeal TO the Supreme Court. the
government contends that the grant 70 Solono WA, not
made according to law, and is, therefore, null aud void:
colonizabie. George NJ. Bib is the counsel Tor the an.
pelee. NFIJ FF
Correspondence Of the Philadelphia LEDGER
s.r. breckenridge Declination Of ana Mr. Dodge's
Nomination to the Mission Of Spain-7he nec Secretary
& legation 70 London and re Secretary Of legation %
additional Repenue Cuters-Bod,d Of Claims-The
0rgan.-Nsp PORK Sets and Hards-Gor. Seymour a
Candidate for the Presidency.
Mr.. Breckenridge, the newly appointed Minister to
Spain, stated yesterday on the floor Of the House, that
the appointment having been conferred upon him with
out his bnO WledQe. he had been aIlovad TINA IN reHack
upon IL, and had come to the conclusion that it was bet
ter for him to decline. The President nominated Au-
gustus q. Dodge, the present Senator from Iowa, as Mr..
Breckenridge's successor, and the appointment was at
once confirmed. Nh. Dodge is a ane, manly specimen Of
man, and a good appointment. With the return to the
conservative policy of Mr.. Marcy, the duties of our
lar with the spanish people and ;n,nIt and i's sgb p'p pa
body, he will have fulfilled his MISSION.
The appointment Of Mr. Appleton, Of Maine, to the
BILE. Mr.. Appleton is a gentleman Of cultivation and
bearing, Of modest and agreeable manners, and Of a dis
position well adapted to the latitude of London. On the
return OF Mr.. Buchanan from England, Mr.. Appleton
viii make an excellent Charge d,Aaairs ad interim. The
appointment of John B. Miller was Withdrawn, and Mr..
Cox, Of Ohio, substituted for Secretary Of legation to
Ieru. Other appointments were made of an unimpor-
The tariff men-that is, those who wish a modification
of the tarif-are still l~sanguine OF success; but I cannot
see the reason of their hope and expectation. They can
vania in a midnight attack, against which they win have
to guard. In the regular course of business, the tariff
modification is as dead as Hector, who was slain by
The patent extension Of Colts firearms was yesterday
numerically. beheaded. The enacting clause being
large majority, and left the bill a lifeless trunk,
The following measures are now pending, with some
hope Of their passage:
LIST. Dir. Brodhead's bill for the establishment of a
Board OF Claims.
I'd. The Soldiers Bounty Land Bill.
Sd. Mr.. Mallory's bill for increasing the efficiency Of
the Navy. This bill seems TO be quite popular with many
officers now here in Washington.
Ar A In - n;IJsr. Nun-a a1A.o~ I~z-. -r
These bills, with the annual appropriation bills, are
probably all that will be passed this session Of Con.
Mr.. Fuller's bill, for building tour additional revenue
cutters, passed the House this morniog. The bill con-
tains one very valuable and useful provison-namely,
that no person shall be appointed Captain or Lieutenant
to any United States Revenue Cutter, unless he shall
have served at least one year before the mast, and is ac-
Mr.. Brodhead's bill for the establishment of a Board
OF Claims is the only thing which, il passed, would put
an end to the profession Of ignorant lobSy members.
and establish in their places lawyers, learned In the
law, who would be obliged to argue the cases OF their
clients. II Congress really wants to put an end to log
rolling and all undue influences on members in respect
to the passage Of private claims, the passage Of Mr..
Brodhead's bill viii answer the purpose.
There seems to be some disagree emont between the
government organs in Washington, and some further
disagreement between the organs and a large and re.
spectacle portion OF the democratic members and Sena.
tors in Cong ress. Congress, however, is so rapidly
drawing to q close, and publ, matters point SO vis,bIy
tiers remain unteedcd.
The New York softs, who for some time past had gar
risoned the hotels in Washington, have left us. A rumor
prevails that the New York democrats are 10 have a
large consolidation meeting Of hards and softs, and that
some great national democrat, now here in Washington,
is to preside over 1t or make q speech. They may hold
the meeting, but ] doubt whether the person selected
to preside over them, or address them, will be forth
coming. After all, the meeting will not nominate Gen.
Pierce nor Governor. NJ ircy, but Gov. Seymour, who Is
believed TO be the only man who can unite the demo.
crazy Of the Empire State.
Bill
TO REMIT OR REFUND DUTIES UPON GOODS, WARES
AND MERCHANDISE DESTROYED BY FIRE.