The New York herald., 1869-01-30
The Prospects Of a Darien
ship Canal.
A Writ Of Prohibition Issued Against
Judge Underwood Of Virginia.
Passage Of Senator Wilson's
New Army Bill in the House.
.Unfayorable Report on the Pro-
posed Pension to Mrs. Lincoln.
Discussion on the New suffsg
Amendment in the House.

Discussion on the New Suffrage
Amendment in the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1853.
Mr.. Cushins,s Durien Canal Mission.
Captain W. G. eomers, commander OF stear:er
on the Magdalena river, Colombia, South Amerca
arrived here to-day, with dispatches from Bogota
for the state Department relative to the mission OF
Caleb Cushing and the DarieD canal. From all that
can be learned Mr.. CusbtIg's mission has been
complete success, and the spectators may now set
TO work and cut through the Isthmus after the
eminently magnanlmous and liberal service this
government has done for them through the medium
OF Secretary Seward and Caleb Cushing.
Giadiatorini TILT in the Senate.
The Senate has been very entertaining for the past
few days. In the morning, by way OF stimulant, the
McGarrahan case has been taken up to stir the slug
gish current beginning with ripple and ending in
a soul stirring storm. To-day we were treated
again to McGarrahan and perhaps, as 1t was the last
shall have of him for some time, 1t was also the
best or the worst according to TASTE Senator Con-
ness feeling the blood Of his Celtic ancestry boiling
IN his veins from the covert thrusts made at him
few days ago by the severely sober and razor
tongued Senator from Maine, Mr.. Fessenden, took
his coat off, Eguratively speaking, and, to continue
the metaphorcal phraselogy, "sailed in.n The gal
leries knew little or nothing OF what the character
of the gadiatorial contest really was but 1t was
enough for them to notice the mastlffike front or
the doughty Conuess to guess there was fire and
smoke somewhere SO every attention was paid to
the progress Of the debate below. Fessenden had
said something bitter and biting, and meant for
some Senator that nobody knew, except those inter-
ested Conness figured up his remarks and
concluded they were meant for him, 80
he worked along at high pressure till he
reached the boiling point critical stage
In Parliamentary debating, then levelling one
eye on Fessenden and the other on Ben Wade, on
Ben with an expression foreshadowing the out
burst that followed and on Fessenden with look OF
erce defiance that ght to have made him tremble,
ne exclaimed that what had been said OF him was
'False False STRIP ana that all OF it. Fessen-
den rose with the majesty OF Maine upon him, his
face masked in gentle innocence and his voice cast
I'm the lowest register, sublimely self-posed and
swaying as calmly as willow In summer wind. he
averred he could not understand the great
excitement which some Senators displayed Could he
mean 1t. Their he unfolded his opinion Of McGar-
rahan's and softly terminated his address by dis
claiming any reflection on the Senator from Cafor-
mia. But no such salve as that soothed the bleed
ing wounds OF Conness. 'Dld ne not use the word
secret ~ demanded the injured honor OF the Senator
from California. Again the sleek, frail, Yankee form
rose up and with nervous drmness waited back an
Affirmative. "Well, then, stand by itr' thundered
forth the unconquered C0nness. But Fessenden was
remorseless. Not satisfied with introducing his
scalpel he was yet determined to bend and twist 1t
In the wound, but all skfully that none but the
victim could know the torture OF the operation. The
fearful Fessenden made the Senate chamber OF
horrors. There were more than Conness that found
the steel pierce their marrow, but they suffered in
silence and great viii be their reward. Not with
the bold spirit OF the California coast. He in
the end superior to fate and hurled forth contempt
for the appreciation Of the Senator from Maine
Senator Morton mercifully put an end to the cruel
scene, and McGarranan papers and all were re-
ferred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.
The Postal Telegraph System.
The postalteegraph system recommended by the
Postmaster General Is daily gaining favor. The
friends OF the western Union boasted before the
hearing commenced that every member OF the
House committee was opposed to the union OF the
telegraph with the Pest Ohice. IL Is now quite ap
parent that the arguments and facts moved by the
friends OF the system have materially changed the
opinions OF some Of the committee. The only ques-
ton they have as to the expedency OF making the
change at the present time. Mcssrs. Orton and
Walker said that only two or three papers
advocated the union. and gave the names
OF four papers that have appeared in favor
OF the Western Union. On the other side IL was
cInnati, Philadelphia, New York and Boston and
other places were warmly enlisted in support Of the
postal telegraph system. and had published many
articles In rs favor. The proprietor Of one OF the
leading Boston papers has been here and explained
TO many Of the members Of either House the opera
tion OF the combination composed OF the New York
Associated Press and OF The Western Union Tele.
graph Company and its injurious effects upon the
press Tic sad all the rapefs In New England with
a..
only few dared to advocate IT, for fear OF the effect
the western Union could then raise The rates, aud
tho press would be without relief.
Monthly statement OF The Public Debt.
difference OF opinion prevails among the leading
onclnls OF the Treasury Department, II Is under
Stood In regard 10 the proper method or stating the
monthly condition q the public debt The secre-
tary holds that the form IN which I. Il now presented
gives a perfectly fair presentation or the national
indebtedness while many Of HIS subordinate officers
contcnd that 10 h put partial exhibit. For
Instance. say ,hey, the bonds issued to- the
Pacific Railroad not expenditures; they
are In the nature OF q loan, and should not
be added to the debt untI the railroad com.
panles DEFAULT. II the government issues loan to
railroad company It holds security FOR the pay.
ment OF that loan, precisely rs is the case where
lends $1,000. for which he takes BIS note.
would not regard tho $1,000 as expended until
II Is asccrtaincd that the note win not be paid Up
10 that time the note Ia included by in his assets
Again, u 10 argued that tho public debt statement
does not show entire Indebtedness The interest
on the debt should BIO added az part Of tho debt.
Al six per cent per annum the government owes
about ten million dollars per month interest on is
outstanding bonds, which falls due IN Januars.
March, May, July, September ana November, The
given for not adding the interest is that the
statement 10 made from the books OF the Treasury
which do not show accrued interest until IL IL due
and paid, and until then 1t Is not added to the total
debt
Decisions Of Courts Martial Revoked.
The President las revoked court martial orders
No. %. issued August 20, 1sos disnssine Lieutenant
Tbonss D. Murrin, Thiretb United states infantry,