The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-16
The News.

We are enabled to lay before our readers this
morning the correspondence between the princi-
pals and seconds in the recent Potter and Pryor
affair ut Washington. It will be seen that MI.
Pryor's second at once refused to fight on the
terms proposed by Col Lander, and that the latter
would agree to no other.
The time for the adjournment of the State Legis-
lature is not as yet definitely fixed upon. There
are several important measures still undetermined.
A final adjournment however it is expected, will
take place this evening or tomorrow noon.
bill has passed both branches of the State
Legislature essentially modifying the death penalty.
Executions hereafter are only to be for treason,
arson, and murder in the first degree. In cases of
death sentences the execution shall not take place
until one year after sentence shall have been
passed, nor until the issue of the Governors war
rant.
The bill regulating the rates of wharfage ON
vessels in this city and Brooklyn has been signed
by the Governor, and is consequently now law.
The new rates are as follows-On every vessel of
two hundred tons and under, one cent per ton for
every twenty.four hours; on all vessels over two
hundred tons, one cent per ton for the first two
hundred tons, and one quarter of cent for every
ton over that amount. Outside vessels are required
to pay half the above rates. The bill contains other
provisions which will be found of great utility to
the shipping interest
The files of Havana papers received by the EN-
pire City contain no news of any local interest;
they are for the most part engaged in discussing
the affair of the captured steamers, which still con-
tinues to be an exciting and allabsorbing topic.
The Didrio de la Marina of the 18th inst. gives
the reasons for abandoning the siege of Vera
Cruz in the words of Miramon's minister, who
says it was owing chiefly to the loss of the steam
ers, and then to the want of provisions and am.
muniton. The same paper says the last news
from its correspondent, as well as the journals
received from Vera Cruz, are silent in regard to
the rumored decree against American citizens,
which the New Orleans journals attributed to the
Miramon government. The correspondence alluded
to, which we publish in full in another column,
contradcts the statements of the Vera Cruz
papers in regard to the advantages gained by the
federalists or Juarez party in the interior Of the
republic.
Our correspondent at Mayaguez. P. r., writing
on March 81, says:-Business is very active and
vessels in request There is large quantity of
sugar-say 1000 hogsheads, and $500 hogsheads
olasses are in store, waiting for vessels to ship to
the United States and England. At st. Johns and
other ports there large quantities of sugar and
molasses for shipment at paying prices to ship
owners. The weather is very favorable, and the
growing cane looks well, with heavy crop in
prospect.
Previous to his sermon yesterday morning the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher made a statement in
relation to the remarks he had made on the pre-.
vious Sabbath in reference to the refusal Of the
trustees of Plymouth church to grant the use of
the church to Wendell Phillips to deliver his lee
ture on the Dissolution of the Union" The
reverend gentleman stated that he had spoken
under misconception, and remarked that he desired
to I" take back those remarks as far as they re-
lated to the trustees. A report of his remarks
is given elsewhere in our paper to day.
A series of open air religious exercises, which
are to be continued through the summer months,
were commenced yesterday at the corner of Worth
street and Cow Bay, by the Rev. DR.. Hoge, of the
Brick church. The measure was originated by the
Superintendent of the Five Points House Of Indus
try, and it is anticipated that much good will result
TO the inhabitants of that locality.
In our paper this morning we give an Interesting