The New York herald., 1862-07-17

was laid aside informally. The House resolution.
| explanatory Of the fifth section of the Confisca-
tion act so that its operation may not be retroac
tive. was then taken up. Mr.. Clark. of New Hamp-
shire. moved IN amendment, that no punishment
under the bill shall work the forfeiture of rea,
estate beyond the natural life of tho person &C.
cused. Mr. Clark said he was authorized to state
that this amendment would remove ono OF
the objections of the President to the Confscation
bill, and that it was offered a. An iuducement to
the President to sign the bill Dir. Clark also
offered another amendment authorizing the Pre-
sdent to restore any property sonfscated under
the bill il he thinks il necessary. A long debate
arose, in which the radical Senators displayed
considerable Indignation at this device to prevent
the collision between the executive and legisla
tive branches Of the government to which veto
of the Confscation bill would inevitably lead
Both amendments were adopted by vote Of
twenty-five to fifteen, and the resolution was also
adopted. We may. therefore, conclude that the
President will approve Of the Confscation bill a.
now modified. The bill for the more prompt set
Element Of the accounts of discussing officers, and
the bill amending the Tax bill, were passed.
In the House Of Representatives, the Select
Committee on Gradual Emancipation reported
bill, in accordance with tie Presidents recon-
mendstion, providing compensation to the border
slave States whenever either or oil Of those States
shall emancipats their slaves. The whole amount
to be paid shall not exceed one hundred ahd eighty
millions Of dollars. Twenty millions are also ap-
propriated for colonizing the negroes. The bill
was ordered to be printed and referred to the
Committee of the Whole. Mr.. Kellogg. of Illinois,
offered q resolution empowering the President to
call out million of additional troops TO for
year. but the House refused to suspend the rules
and the proposition lies over. The bill providing
for the admission of West Virginia into the Union
was postponed till December next. The bill au-
thorzing the colonization of captured Africans in
the West Indies was passed. The bill authorizing
the President to call out the militia for period
not exceeding nine months, and the employment of
negroes in the military service, was also passed
The House resolution explanatory of the fifth Sec
ton of the Confscation act, with the Senate's
amendments thereto, was then taken up, the
amendments agreed to, and the resolution adopted.
The Senate propositions relative to the Tax bill
were agreed to, and the House adjourned. vi
M1sCELLANE0Us NEWS.
The Persia from Queenstown on the 9th OF July,
reached this port early yesterday morning, with
the European mails. Her news is two days later
than the advices Of tho Norwegian, published in the
HERALD on the 18th inst
The Liverpool cotton market was firm on the 9th
Of July, with limited sales at the rates reported
by the Norwegian. Breadstnffs were dull; but the
market was steady. Provisions were inactive.
Consols closed in London on the 9Th inst. at 90 a
921s.
The Grand Duke Constantine, of Russia, was
fired at, and slightly wounded, by an as
sassin, in Warsaw, on the night after his ar
rival. General Luders of the Russian army,
was shot in serious manner, in the same city, by
an ex-ofHcer Of the troops. The dread Of further
conHagrations was subsiding in Russia. The insu-
rance companies alone have lost 81 45O 900 By the
fires.
In the English House of Lords on the 4th Of
July, the Earl Of Donoughmore brought up q
colonial question-namely, the establishment Of
communication between Canada and British Co.
lumbia. He suggested the purchase by govern
mens Of the Hudson Bay Company's territory, SO
as to make there aa entirely new colony. The
Duke of Newcastle rejected this proposition, but
was earnestly in favor Of communication being
made.
We are In possession Of dates from Buenos
Ayres to the 2sth of May. Our correspondent
writes:-"All South America unites in ccnsure Of
the allied movement on Mexico, and awaits the
lead Of the United. States to know how best to op
pose il. OF commercial news there Is less than
usual. We have seen in the half month fifteen
vessels enter and eleven depart. The only Ameri-
can arrival in the fortnight was the Rachel, Of
Boston, and the only departure was the Harpswel.
for Antwerp. The Rachel will sail in few days.
in ballast, for Calcutta, and the B. Aymar for
New York, with hides. OF lumber there have ar.
rived this month two and a half millions of feet
from the United States. Poorer and lighter pines
sold for $35 a $37 80 per 1000 feet; the bet.
ter class for $40 al. Hides for the United
States sold for 43 reals, silver. OF rice there is
very little, and IL Ia very deer. The national feet
has been hired out for commercial service on
these rivers 70 native merchants. Exchange is
very dear. Ounces are t4l7 so. There is little
doing in woods, but the prices remain firm"
BY the arrival Of the British West India mail
steamer Plantagenet, we have received advices
from Kingston, Jamaica, to the 5th inst, and from
Hayti to the 7th. More coolies were being i'm
ported into Jamaica. The ship Hougomont, from
Calcutta, consigned TO Messrs. Barclays and Nc.
Dowell arrived at Montego Bay, June IL. She
brought 800 coolie emgrants (only ten having died
on the passage) and cargo of 5000 bags Of rice.
De Cordovss Mercantile IateRigencer of the latest
date thus sums up commercial afsirs:--"The very
heavy rains reported In last issus, and which,
in some parts Of the island, have continued even
TO the present time, have had the effect
Of rendering ground provisions SO exceed.
ingly scarce and excessively dear that
breadstuGs have been in great demand,
and have advanced in price, corn meal more par.
ticularly. The fact which has caused this in.
creased demand for breadstuffs has contributed 10