The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-20
Tho News.

According to our special despatch from Charles
ton thousands of delegates to the Democratic Con-
vention are already on the ground, and thousands
are arriving by every train. The President has
written letter to the chairman Of the National
Committee declining denomination. The most
prominent names for the Presidential nomination
are those of Douglas and Hunter. It is, however,
useless to speculate as to the result It is stated
that an arrangement has been concluded by which
the Mozart Hall delegates from New York are to be
excluded from the Convention.
The revelations of Hon. Robert j. Walker before
the Covode investigating committee has led to an
affair of honor between Mr.. Walker and Attorney
General Black. Mr.. Walker sent peremptory
challenge, by the hands of Senator Brown to Judge
Black, yesterday afternoon, but the latter coolly
declined the invitation without explanations Thus
the matter rests at present. is believed that Sc.
veral other affairs OF honor likely to grow out
of these revelations before the Covode committee
In Congress yesterday the Senate adopted mo-
ton to print two thousand extra copies of the re-
port Of the Printing Investigating Committee. The
bil supplementary to the act for taking the census
was passed. The bill relative to allowing just
compensation for private property taken for
public purposes was discussed. The Homestead
bill was taken up, and the amendment legalizng
the occupancy Of mineral lands in California and
Oregon by miners was rejected Several amend
ments were offered, and it was finally agreed to
take vote on the bill on Wednesday week. After
an executive session the Senate adjourned till Mon
day. The House went into Committee of
the Whole, and resumed the consideration of the
Military Academy bill. An amendment, reducing
the term Of study at West Point to four years. was
adopted. The Senate's amendment providing for
q regiment of mounted volunteers, was rejected
by a vote of so against 60. The committee then
rose, and the House agreed to the amendment by
a vote of "a to Y. A motion was made to recon
slider, and the subject was then dropped. The
resolution providing for an adjournment of the
House from to-day till the S0th inst was laid on the
table-SS to SO. Notwithstanding the refusal of
the House to adjourn over to allow members an
opportunity to attend the Presidential Conven.
tons, no business Of importance will be transacted
by Congress till after the meeting of the Republi-
can Convention at Chicago
The Tax Levy, after much manipulation and delay,
was returned to the Common Council last evening,
in its final and legal form. II comprises only the
city and county taxes amounting to $6,76S l26 80,
which, with the State and Common School taxes
added will make about nine millions for this year.
Decidedly the most impudent item in the whole
budget is provso for $ls 600, which now for the
third year makes its regular appearance in the levy
for the law expenses of the Police Commission,
and which was slipped in during the final readings
of the act. The members of the Common Council
have a salary of 81 200 q year, which amounts
to $4,000, with which they have inclu-
ded also margin for expenses as members,
making, with this salary, $e4.s30. The sum Of
$50 900 is inserted for steam fire engines. The Sc
veuth regiment is allowed 5000 for the famous
Washington trip. For the Improvement of Mount
Morris square $40 900 is set apart, and 50 900 for
preliminary survey of distractions in Harlem RI
yer. For new county Court House 500, 900 is ap-
priated, and for the Commissioners Of Record to
pay for work already done $50 900, subject to ju-
dicial action. Tie levy contains clause enabling
the Mayor and Common Council to contract out
the street cleaningand repair Of roads at optional
rates for five years, the Mayor and Comptroller ap-
proving the securites. The Supervisors acting for
the county are for the first time enabled to issue
revenue bonds in anticipation of the taxes, as the
city has heretofore done.
At the meeting Of the Board Of Aldermen last
evening, . communication was received from the
City Inspector, stating that the expenses of hin de-
partment for the quarter ending slst ult
amounted to $93,753. Aldermen Starr. Cor
nell, Plat Boole, Genet Brady and Farley
were appointed delegates to the National
Sanitary Convention. The Finance Committee
were discharged from the further considera-
ton of the propriety Of issuing additional