The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-01-15

Um embrace the received by mail and telegraph at
- sss during the previous week. and to the hour Of
yHAheatiOn.
The News.
In the House of Representatives, yesterday, three
ballotings were held for Speaker. Gen. Richard
sons assertion Of the opinion that the Wmot proviso
was constitutional, gave rise to symptoms of bolt.
Indeed, several Of the South Carolina delegation
actually mutinied, and the detection at one time
seemed TO be growing wider and deeper At the
call of Gen. Quitman and four others, democratic
caucus was held in the evening, and it is said to
have been at one time very inharmonious meeting.
Gen. Richardson again offered to withdraw. Aftera
review of the field, and the application of proper
imulants to the fainthearted, the caucus resolved
- stand by their platform and candidate, "sink or
swirn-survive or persh." The Senate met, bat
transacted no business. The absence of number Of
democratic Senator's prevented any action upon the
order of the day-the election Of printer.
The New York Assembly yesterday virtually
adopted the plurality rule and we may, therefore,
look for the election Of Speaker and the promul-
cation of the Governors message to-day. Caucuses
were held last night by the Americans and black re-
pubrans, but their proceedings were not allowed to
transpire. The democrats called meeting, but did
not get together 1t Is probable that Odel, the re-
publican candidate, will be chosen Speaker. The
Senate met last evening, and adjourned, no quorum
being present
Ex-Governor Bigler was yesterday elected to the
United States Senate by the Legslaooe Of Penn
sylvania.
We publish this morning an account Of another
accident on the Hudson River Railroad. It occurred
1t Spuyten Duyvel Creek, and was caused by large
masses of ice striking against the piles of the bridge
forcing them from under the cross beams, and weak
esng the whole structure to such extent, that it
broke down under the weight of train. The acct
dent occurred yesterday morning at o'clock, and
resulted in the loss of two lives and serious injury to
fireman and engineer. Several Of the passengers
were injured, but none Of them severely. The per
sons killed were Howard Root, q fireman, and George
PGrrisen. About hundred feet Of the bridge was
broken down. and one locomotive, one baggage and
two passenger cars destroyed.
We again devote large portion OF our space to
accounts of the shipwrecks which have recently
occurred upon the coast. The past ten days have
been productive OF more disasters at sea than any
period within number Of years. vast amount
of property has been destroyed, and our marine in
surance companies will be great sufferers. Con-
sidering the large number of vessels which have
been cast away and the rigor of the season, it is
surprising that the loss Of human life has been 80
light.
The telegraph informs as of the prevalence of
heavy snow storms at the West. We may, therefore,
prepare for accounts of the stoppage Of railroad
travel in that region, with it's annoying delays, so
yexatious to forwarders and passengers.
The steamship Empire City arrived yesterday
morning from Aspinwall, with the California mails
10 the 10th ult, full complement of passengers,
and 81 ,lS9, 900 in treasure on freight. Her adj
vices from California have been anticipated by the
Northern Light, which reached this port on Satur-
day evening. From New Granada we have papers
dated Panama Sd, and Aspinwall 4th inst The Sc
cond division OF the Ninth regiment OF United
States infantry had sailed for San Francisco,
after crossing the Isthmus in safety, and with the
men in excellent health and spirits. Three new
steamers were daily expected from England for the
service Of the Steam Navigation Company. gov
eminent census of the population of the Isthmus
was about to be taken. European merchandise Of
every description was pouring into Panama and sell
ing at profit. The United States consulate had
not renewed its communication with the authorities
at Panama since the suspension Of official inter
course in September last, and great inconvenience
was felt by American traders and travel
commence to run in the Central American
trade. Water had been very scarce on the Isthmus,
but the people were relieved by timely rains. Gen.
Mosquera had published pamphlet adverse to the
action of the government Of New Granada in grant
ing large tracts Of unoccupied lands to the agent Of
a society for French colonization. The General de-
MES the right of the executive to ALLEVIATE any por-
ton of the public domain for such purpose. Senior
a 1T IL Con ovftrx x,nPDa
had submitted some interesting statistics to that
body relative to the guano trade, when making his
motion for the sale Of the Chincha islands, which we
publish today, together with later news relative to
establishment by government OF the German colony
in the region Of the Amazon and its tributaries.
We give elsewhere, from Nicaragua, letter from
Col John H. Wheeler, our Minister to that repub
c in which he explains his position, and cites high
authority to his SUPPORT. He makes several impor
tant points, and the letter will be read with much
interest. We also learn that the Ramon Rivas in
snrrection about which our Washington cotmpora
ries made so much disturbance, was crushed with
out blow being struck on either side. Our cores.
pondents give additional details respecting the yie6
of the Chontales gold mines, which are very en-.
couraging. The hotels in Granada are described as
being well served and cheap in their charges. In
terestng ruins had been discovered in various parts
of Nicaragua.
The steamship Granada arrived below yesterday
from Havana with advices to the sth inst The letters
of our correspondents, which may be found in ano-
Tier part Of todays paper, contain oil the news.
Among our police intelligence is given the parti-
culars OF a fendish assault on Sunday night by
party of ruffians upon two young men named Cohen,
inst az they were upon the Threshold of their re-
sidence. in Congress street. One Of them died in