The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-07

Thurman. These two did not materially differ on
any of the interpretations OF law or commercial
necessity until the question OF dispensing with
the present assignees In bankruptcy came up.
Thurman was in favor and Edmunds against 1t.
When the party view OF 1t came up, as between
democrats and republicans holding the above
ofices Thurman referred to the EFFORTS OF the late
Chief Justice to secure democratic nomination
for the Presidency ara how he had made the APP
pointment OF assgnees in bankruptcy To this
Edmunds replied with jeu d'esprit suggesting
that the democrats were usually successful in get
ting good share OF the okflces, as they had no
doubt done in these positions, and limiting syiy at
Thurman's democra NC nomination for the Pres-
dency, said that as chase mad done others might
also do in trying to get this nomination, If they
thought they were going to be successful and with
mutual smiles they sCok leave OF this branch OF the
subject and ia Their discussion ceased for the
day.
Senator Sherman, referring TO the committee
appointed for investigation into District OF Colum.
bia affairs, urged that as It was q delicate matter
and Senators FreInghuysen, Conkling and Morrill,
of Maine having successfully asked to be excused
when appointed. he thought the matter should be
left with the House committee, which, being COM
posed OF lve, was larF enough to examine into
all the evidence ss.d facts 70 be presented, and
thus the senate plght be relieved of the consider
alton of the subject. No action was haa on this
suggestion, which was made at the moment Of the
Senate going into executive session, at the close
OF which an adjournment until Monday was had.
Most Of the Senators seem to fight shy
of being appointed on this District Committee of
Investigation, because mainly the members will
be exposed to personal attacks and misrepreseu-
tations should they take any part on the commit.
tee looking to q vindicatiOn Of the Board. The
proceedings Of the committee promise to be sig.
nalized by much bitterness and elimination.
Governor Shepard was at the Senate to-day
anxious to have the committee appointed but re-
marked that it seemed impossible to get those ap.
pointed who would serve. He says that he will
give the petitioners ample opportunity to get salts
faction, and limited that he would let them have
enough Of 1t before they got through.
The Nations Slow RecOmpense to q
Heroic ArGOnaut OF '49-A True Ro-
nance before the House OF Representa-
tives.
The House spent the day In Committee of the
Whole ON the private calendar. Few bills were
passed worthy OF special notice save one which
called forth very animated debate The story is
simply this. In 1849, when so many adventurous
spirits took up the cry OF westward HO ~ a
party of seventy, comprising men, women and
children, followed the star OF our empire and laced
the dangers OF the overland route When near the
end OF their journey, and the golden shores
of the Pacific seemed almost beneath the tread
Of their weary feet. they were overtaken by
one OF those terrible snow storms which
two winters ago blocked the way of the iron horse
on the Union Pacific, and they were compelled to
bvOuac IN the wilderness Intrenched In snow
drifts, which formed rampant around them, more
terrible and secure than the granite bank OF tort-
or bastile, days and nights were spent in this
position until their supplies were all consumed
and not even horse remained to appease the cry
OF hunger. Starvation stared them in the face
and death in its most fightfu form seemed newt
able. Nothing remained for them to eat save one
OF themselves and this was finally resolved upon
Accordingly the largest and stoutest OF the men
was selected as the first victim, and he seized
and bound to tree and time given him to prepare
for death. In TIT meantime the people Of Califor-
nia nearing OF the misfortune which befel the eX-
petition, endeavored to save them. The Military
Governor sent a company of United States troops
to their relief, but they failed to find them, and,
save the Captair and Lieutenant, all persisted in
the attempt, and the Captain subsequently died
from the hardships he had endured. Then the
Governor called for volunteers and promised re-
ward to those who should be successful Thirty-six
volunteered, but ere the journey was well under
taken, all but one DECLINED to go. This was q
Mr.. Pietri, citiSen OF Illinois, who was
successfully eng..yed in mining. Taking
two Spanish halis6reeds, with cattle aud pro-
visions, he set out on his almost hopeless ex-
petition, and after enduring terrible hardships.
heaven and his own lndomitable pluck crowned
his efforts with success, and he reached the camp
IN time to save the life of the intended victim and
those OF the entire party, whom he piloted in
safety to their destination. Mr.. Pietri spent
$l7.ooo-an he had-on the expedition. and now in
his old days he asked his country, through Con-
gress to recompense him. This would, perhaps
have been hardly thought proper, had not some or
the members very forcibly debated the bill In the
cloak room, where it was remarked that it was
astonishing that democrat, Mr.. Potter Of New
York, and republican, Mr.. Willard, OF Vermont
should oppose the measure when the proprietor
of the New York HERALD had spent out OF his own
purse tens OF thousands Of dollars in seeking Tor
Livingston, and when the Navy Department had
incurred an expense Of over 100000 in search for
the survivors of the Poaris in arctic waters. The
Committee on Claims unanimously reported the
bill, granting the old man $1,000 and the House,
after long debate, almost unanimously voted the
sum named. The facts. as above set forth, were
all proved by ncontestible evidence, and the State
oil Illinois pettioned Congress in favor of the claim.
Probable Startling Revelations of Fraud
in the Indian ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
of the Number of Indians in the West.
Judge LOuguTlugc, VI Tie house committee Oh
Appropriations charged with the investigation Of
matters connected with the preparation OF the In
dian Appropriation bill. visited the Indian once
this morning and spent several hours in
obtaining additional information bearing upon
the perplexing question OF appropriations
for the benefit OF the red man. 1t has
been only after great delay that he has sue
ceeded in obtaining the Commissioners report,
and he has not yet received those OF the Superin-
tendent. His suspicious are somewhat excited re-
specting the unusual rettcence OF the Commits
sioner ana the endorsements placed in the way
of securing a thorough knowledge Of the present
system Of Indian administration. Not satisfied
with his sources of Information, he has succeeded
in procuring some singular revelations from other
quarters, and, on this bases, the opinion that the
Indian once has been grossly deceived by its
agents in the Indian country, or else has wilully
misrepresented the facts. 1t is believed that the
number of indians upon which the estimates are