Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-01-12
LATE NEWS By THE MAILS.
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.
SENATE.

WAsHINGToN Jan. 10.
SENATE.
In the Senate Mr. Brodhead, from the com
miltee ON Naval Affairs, reported joint reso
luton for the relief of the Kane expedition.
The Judicial Reform Bill then came up as the
special or or. the question being ON MIR. Chase
amendment to dispense with circuit services on
the part of Judges of the supreme Court, aud to
reance the number of said Judges. No action
was taken.
\ large number af memorials were presented
and referred. The Senate then went into Exc
eutiye session.
In the House several unimportant bills were
introduced and appropriately referred.
The Speaker announced the first business in
order to be Mr.. Orrs motion to commit to the
committee of the whole the umcndatory act to
graduate the price ofpublic lands to actual set
tiers. Objection being made, MIR. Orr withdrew
his motion, whereupon Mr. Campbell renewed
the motion TO commit, which disagreed to-
Other amendments to the bill were discussed
The question being taken on the homestead u
menlment. it was negatived The substitute re-
ported by the committee Public lands was
agreed to,
The House then went into committee OF the
whole on the state of the Union, and after trans
acting some unmportant business, adjourned.
--s~---------
The Outrage on the Steamer Benjamin Frdnk
lin.
We stated on Tuesday that the steamer Zen
iauin Franklin. of n. York, had been fred INTO
while leaving the port of st. lhomas' where sho
Ind been living for some time. The case was I'M
medately taken up by Major Helm, the L. ).
consul who. in u letter to the Governor OF the
Island dated the Odd ult., states that she was
chartered by Mr.. Cameron the man agent 10
take the En- dish mails and II number OF passeh-
gers to Barbados, in consequence OF the reSu'ar
mail steamer not arriving in due time. one was
cleared as an American steamer. MAYOR H. i"r-
ther states: !,
At about 3 o'clock the clearance was granted;
anil after sunset the same person who granted me
cl.,,ancc. or one of his subordinates, placed on
hoard the mails The vessel was detained on'i'
ahout ! O'Clock p. NJ, in taking on passengers
and bappnge, When she got under way III
nass sing the western fort Il blank cartr'oeo was
fired at her, when she immediately stopped n.'r
cnoines. and as soon as practicable, backed IN TO
n .eortoin the cause of the shot being fred and
while in the act Of returning, three balls were
fred at her in quick sussession-there po'hS ohiy
n few seconds between each The hrst MISSED
the second struck and damaged the vessel sn"'-
terine several blanks, and breaking ami inlurihg
every thing in stateroom on th r, SUI '";
quarter in which were lady ana ci'iu' WIZ ~"
raculously escaped uuinjnred; the 'hro sun
sSpu immediately over luo ''t"'''
foot of the heads of two of the oihcerS' ne YES
sci came into the harbor ano anchored until two
o'clock ON yesterday, to repair temporarily 'ne
image when she again set aall win mails anu
passengers. 80, .ho ont
Tho commander of the fort excused the OUT
rage by alleging that he was npt aware sue .''e
been chartered to carry the mails, and intlmated
that she was fired into because she was suspect
ed of belonging to tlGbustering GNpedlt" '1;,,
This excuse Maj. Helm considered III 1o9P,nB
with the outrage, and therefore uo'i .a1 WV
payment of all damage and expense incurred'I
lie further informed the Governor that ne shooiu
urge his Government to demand OF the pan r'a.
Government the removal of the officer Oh 'he 'of'
who committed the outrage.
at the occurrence, and saying he had ordered
military court of inquiry to make an invest'g =.
ton He further assured Maj. Helm thlt ho u.
ing would be left undone by him to effect salts
factory adjustment OF the difficulty