The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-07

Congress assembled at meridian yesterday. There
were fifty Senators and two hundred members pre-
sent at roll GALA very fair attendance for the
opening of a second session. After prayers, the
qualifying of new members, and the usual prclimi-
naries the Presidents Message and the reports of
heads Of departments were presented. The mes
sage and the report of the Secretary of the Urea
sury are given complete in today's HERALD, toge-
Their with abstracts of the reports Of the Secreta-
ries of War. Navy Interior of the Postmaster
General, and of the Commissioners of the General
Land Office and Indian Affairs, containing the pith
and substance Of those important documents.
In the Senate Mr.. Mason gave notice that he
should to-day call up the case Of the Spanish
schooner Amistad. This case has been before
Congress for eleven years past, and the circum.
stances connected with 1t doubtless familiar TO
our readers. II is proposed simply to appropriate
a sum of money, to be paid the Spanish govern
ment for distribution among the claimants of the
vessel and the negroes found on board of her.
The President in his Message, says that "indem-
nifty is fairly due to these claimants under our
treaty with Spain of the 9th October 1875; and
whilst demanding justice ought TO do Justice.
An appropriation promptly made for this purpose
could not fail to exert favorable influence our
negotiations with Spain" The republican Sena.
tors objected to taking mp the case but they were
overruled, and the Senate agreed, 10y vote of "a
yeas TO ~ nays to consider the subject the time
mentioned. The republicans will, without doubt,
oppose the appropriation with all their strength.
In the House bills were introduced TO amend the
act establishing the Court Of Claims ~ to allow
creditors to sue in District Courts and for the con
struction Of = Central Pacific Railroad. The reyi
,son az the tariff was preached by an sdministra
ton member from Pennsylvania, who desired TO
introduce a resolution instructing the Ways and
Means Committee 10 bring in a bill increasing the
duty on coal and iron Members from the lead mining
ard sugar producing regions also desired protec
ton against foreign competition, and finally leave
70 introduce the proposition refused 02 70 81.
Death and designations have made several changes
in both houses since the last adjournment The
vacancy in the Senate occasioned by the death Of
Senator Henderson, Of Texas, has been filed by the
appointment Of the Hon. Matt. Ward; aud in the
House, the deaths of Messrs. Quitman. Of Ms-is
sippi. and Of Col. Harris Of Illinois, aud the resig
nation o. J. Clancy Jones' make the chairman~bp
Of three important committees vacant. namely
that a the Committee on Ways and Means on
Elections. and on the Military. Ex-Gov McRae
death Of Gen. Quitman. and Gen. VIM. II. Keim has
been elected the successor Of the Hon. J. Clancy
Jones. Mr. Harris successor has Yet 10 De- chosen.
30 the arrival Of the overland iaaA We have san
Francisco dates TO the 9th ut four days later than
those brought by the way q the Isthmus. The
news j. uninportant
The case Of Michael Cancemi, accused IL the
murder Of Policeman Anderson. was taken m In
the Supreme Court yesterday, aud the trial wa
postponed till tomorrow. The trial Of tho indicted
officials ws lie next IN order after the disposal Of
Cancemi
The anniversary dinner Of the ST. Nicholas So.
ccty II go. yty took place last evening in the ST.
Nicholas J tel when about two hundred gentle.
men euit 4 the pleasures Of the festive board.
The rua nplcmcu; Of long pipes colored eggs
and ch. -" Wa provided Tor the comfort Of
a., ucml asd AFTER uadry speeches. aneclote.
~ ~ .ckctvckers. and the consumption or
TIE favor ! leverage ~ ,ibtgB3. the company re.
tired ssu.ned at having enjoyed the evening with
out tie presence Of the arguseyed" members Of
the fourth estate. Among the invited guests were
the Hon. J. J. Critienden, Of Kentucky. and the
Cheyalier wikon
Three men. named George Fish Michael O'Brien
and Alfred Wallace. were arrested by the detec
tive police on sunday, on suspicion Of having been
implicated Ia the late burglary and robbery upon
tie Union Bank ~ Undertook. ". ", and yester-
DAY the prisoners were sent up the river for trial
On the day after the robbery II was ascertsined
that three persons answering the description az the
prisoners arrived in Fishkll and that one Of them
Deposited $500 IN gold in 81 the banks there In
tie name q George A. Cox, Cor which he received
draft N the Park Bank in this city. From Fish.
Nil The police succeeded IN tracing the suspected
parties 20 this city where after diligcnt and ar.
duous search hey were discovered and arrested
There does not appear TO be any evidence against
the Fccused, none Of the stolen money having been
found in their possession. Their arrest was mad
merely on suspicion. The citizens Of Kinderhook
wiIl probably be able to identify them as the three
strangers who suddenly disappeared from that town
on the night Of the robbery, and that Is all.
Rev n U. Onderdouk, ex.Episcopsi Bishop of
Pennsylvania died at Philadelphia yesterday morn
lag.
The Board u Aldermen did not organise last
evening fot want u quorum. The majority 81 the
members we're busy cicc,iobeoring,
There were only two or three members present
81 Tic calling u he roll last evening ii the Board
~ councilmcn, 80 the Board adjourned 10 Wsdaes-
Jay afternoon
TIE Senate Sanitary Committee held another