The New York herald., 1873-12-02

don tell the story of this calamity in the
graphic words of the survivors whom our cor
respondents have seen, and scarcely leave any
detail untouched that may enable us to realize
the picture; but the actual cause of the event
is still not apparent.
The Opening OF tho Forty-third Com
gross-First Days Proceedings.
The proceedings of the hrst session
of the Forty-third Congress are inter
esting, particularly in the bills and reso-
lutions introduced in the Senate, as fore
shadowing some of the important meas
ures which will be discussed and probably
acted upon during the present session. First
came Mr.. Sumner with his General Civil
Rights bill, as usual, who next presented
bill to establish equal rights in the public
schools of Washington and Georgetown; and
next q bill to authorize the issue of compound
interest notes as substitute for legal tenders;
and next bill to protect persons against in
weighing from abroad or kidnapping, forcible
restraint or involuntary servitude. He re-
ferred to the five thousand children
kidnapped in Italy, and now held in
servitude in this country. MI. Sum-
ner next introduced bill to provide for
the adjustment of those old French spoliation
claims, and next, two joint resolutions
proposing an amendment Of the Constitution,
whereby the President of the United States
shall be elected directly by the people, and the
other providing that he shall be elected for
term of six years and limited to one term.
The introduction of these bills and resolu-
tions by Mr.. Sumner on the opening day of
the session is equivalent to a notice that he
intends to push them, and that particularly on
his civil rights measures it is his purpose to
compel the republicans of the Senate to 'face
the music"
The agitation of the back pay and increased
salary bill of the last Congress, though virtu-
ally dropped by the democrats of the House in
the nomination Of Mr. Fernando Wood as their
candidate for Speaker, is still an agitation
which survives in the Senate. For example,
Mr.. Conkling introduced bill relating to GER
tain moneys appropriated for members of
Congress, and Mr.. Wright submitted his little
bill to repeal the obnoxious back-pay act So
much for the pressure of public opinion. Other
tubs may be thrown to the whale for his amuse-
ment on this question, but when the two
houses shall have entered into the practical
business of the session the increased salary
and back-pay bills, we apprehend, will be
cast aside and forgotten. In fact, the only
feature Of this bill that was really fraud, or
the obtaining in violation of an implied con-
tract was the back-pay clause and that device
can be effectively reached only through an
amendment Of the constitution.
Among the measures or propositions intro
duced touching our financial affairs were
several for the repeal of the Bankrupt law or
certain parts thereof, one for free banking,
and resolution instructing the Finance Com
mittee to consider and report remedies for our
present financial embarrassments. The most
interesting notice given during the day was
that from Mr.. Sumner of a telegraphic de-
spatch, addressed to himself and Mr.. Cam
eron, which he had received from several
members of the Spanish Cortes-no doubt in
to the virginius outrages-a paper
which he desired by unanimous consent to
have read; but as Mr.. Sherman and Mr..
Conkling objected to the reading Of this de-
spatch from foreign government in advance
Of the Presidents Message the reading was
deferred. At half-past one T. NJ, no infor-
nation of the organization of the House
having been received the Senate adjourned,
whereby the reception and reading of the
Message to the two houses were postponed till
to-day.
The day in the House was spent in the elec-
ton Of the Speaker (Mr. Blaine being chosen
for another term) and other officers, and in
the swearing in of the members, and in the
distribution of their seats by lottery, Mr..
Dawes, of Massachusetts,, the oldest continuous
member of the body, and Mr.. Alexander II.
Stephens, Of Georgia Qate Vice President Of the
late Southern Confederacy), being first allowed
the privilege each of selecting the seat
which he preferred. This was graceful COM
pliment in each case, particularly to Mr..
Stephens, in his restoration to the national
Legislature, in which he had distinguished
himself as constitutional debater and as o
party leader before the war.
The Presidents Message, for which all the
needful pfeparations had been made for an
immediate distribution to the press, yesterday,
with the announcement of the reading Of the
A. tl,a Cor;tot ,r;Il L. a. a a.: