The New York herald., 1862-02-27
NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II. 1862

hour expired. and the bill was laid aside The
consideration of the question Of admitting tne
new Senator from Ore N, Mr. Starke, whose
loyalty is questioned u seat In the Senate was
then resumed, and Mr.. Sumner made speech ad-
verse to the claimant. Messrs. Cowan. DAVIS,
Wilmot, Carlile and Sherman participated In the
debate, but no definite action was taken ON the
subject The bill fixing the number OF members
of the House of Representatives under the new
apportionment was amended so as to make the
number 24s, and then passed.
In the House of Representatives, Mr.. Voorhies,
of Indiana, asked leave to offer resolution COM
mending the sentiments and policy of General
Haleck, as announced in his General Order
of the 23d instant, already published, as
eminently wise and patriotic, and in strict
conformity with the constitution, and that
the war should be conducted in accord
ance with the same, and that the thanks
of Congress are rendered to General Halleck for
said order, and for his military achievement as
commander of the Department of Missouri. Mr.
Lovejoy of Illinois, objected and the resolution
was consequently ruled out. Mr.. Van Wyck
offered resolution, which was adopted, directing
the Contract Committee to inquire into the amount
of money received by the federal officers in New
York; as to the ownership and rents of the bonded
warehouses; the contract for the delivery &C., of
foreign goods at New York, and when said con-
tracts were made, by whom, and who are now in
terested therein. Mr.. Van Wyck announced his
retirement from the chairmanshp of the Govern
ment Contract and Revolutionary Pension Com
mittess. The case of Mr.. Upton, who claims
seat as representative from the Fairfax district of
Virginia, was taken up, and discussed till the ad-
journment The House concurred in the Senate
bill fixing the number of Representatives, under
the new apportionment, at 249.
MIsCELLANEoUs NEWS.
The two houses of our State Legislature at Alba
ny reassembled on Tuesday, after recess of few
days. In the Senate on that day no business of
particular Importance was transacted. Yesterday,
IN the Senate, considerable portion of the
session was occupied in Committee of the Whole
over the bill defining the duties of the Port
Captain and Harbor Masters of this port The
bill authorizes the Governor to appoint
Port Captain and eleven Harbor Mas
ters. After much discussion and the adoption Of
some immaterial amendments, it was reported
complete and ordered to a third reading. The bill
to amend the Brooklyn city charter was referred
to the Brooklyn delegation, to report complete.
In the Assembly on Tuesday, the Canal Auditors
annual report was received; also communication
from the Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt
Springs, stating his inability to inform the House,
as desired, of the names and number Of employees,
and the wages paid, in the past ten years. The
bill requiring county treasurers to pay into the
State Treasury by the 18th of March prox. all the
State taxes in their hands, and providing
heavy penalties for derelictions of duty ON their
part, was debated in Committee Of the Whole and
had progress reported on It.. In the Assembly
yesterday . number of bills were noticed for
future introduction, among which were bills to
amend our city charter and the Registry law, to
reduce the fare on city railroads, to legalize
the primary elections, and to amend the charter
of the Tammanv Society. The Annual Canal Ap-
preparation bill for 1862 was passed. Bills were
introduced to increase the pay of non-commis-
stoned officers and privates in volunteer regiments
Eve dollaD per month, and providing additional
regulations for the Supreme Court and Court of
Appeals. Resolutions were adopted requiring the
Metropolitan Police Commissioners to report to
the Legislature all the particulars with regard to
fines imposed by them, and also the number,
grade and pay of all persons in their employ, &c.
All the game laws of the State were referred to o
committee Of five, to report q general game law.
The Bank Superintsndents annual report of the
condition of the savings banks of the State was
received. The Public Defence bill was made the
special order for twelve o'clock to-day.
The German Journal, Of Frankfort, of the 4th
of February, enumerates some Of the injuries in
fiicted on the people of Germany by the inunda-
tions mentioned in the HERALD last Monday. The
Journal states that the Main has fallen two feet
and is seventeen and half feet above its ordinary
level. At Mentz the quays and the adjoining
streets are inundated and the Rhine continues to
bring down quantity Of articles of all kinds which
Lave been washed away. The Iser, the Danube,
the Neckar the Ebe and other rivers still overflow
their banks, and the communication on several
railways has been interrupted. Small rivers have
been transformed into torrents by the melting of
the snow. The villages in the neighborhood Of
Ratsbon are completely inundated. At hamburg
considerable damage las been already done. Tie
theatre at Dresden has been closed in consequence
OF the overflow of the Elbe.
The last of a series of lectures before the Young
Mems Literary and Social Union Club was deliv
cred last night at Clinton Hall, by A. Oakley Hall,
ESQ. The subject of which he treated was entitled
Ancient Breach of Promise Case-Dido versus
lEncas." The lecturer described this famous
case, which has been so graphically dealt with by
Virgil in his "Enead" The style of the lecture was
purely hyperbolic and consisted principally of in
terrogatives and answers after the fashion of a
legal trial. He brought forth the names and cha
racters Of the principal gods in the heather
as lawyers, jurymen. witnesses, &C.,
occasionally adapting their actions to some living
personages of our own day, with a very happy
effec.. As racy, pungent, witty and recondtc
literary composition, the lecture deserves the
highest commentator, and it received the ap.
plause of an appreciatve audience during its de-
livery.
Last evening Rev. DIR. vinton delivered an able
lecture on the "Cause and Cure Of the Rebellion
to large audience, at Irving Hall, brief report
of which will be found elsewhere. Gen. Robert
Anderson, Hon. George Bancroft, Hon. Luther
Bradsh and other prominent citizens were present
The L. .itcd Etates steam transnort Matanzas