AMERICA.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 104, 19 October 1858, Page 4

AMERICA.

The - excitement regarding the action of; the British cruisers had entirely abated. The Europa took out news of the conciliatory spirit which pervaded parliament and the press on this side of the Atlantic. The New York Herald of the 15th June says—" The British naval steam yacht Syren arrived at this port yesterday, from Bermuda, after a passage of four days. She brought Lieutenant Richardson, of the Indus, the flagship of the British West India squadron, who left this city last evening for Washington, with important despatches for Sir David Houston Stewart, the commander of the, squadron, addressed to the British Minister, Lord Napier. These despatches relate to the recent outrages of the British cruisers upon our vessels in the Gulf and in the Cuban'ports. We |have ascertained that the conduct of the commanders of the cruisers has incurred the disapprobation of the British admiral, who has issued directions for his subordinates to be more circumspect in future. So far as Sir Houston Stewart is concerned, we are assured there will be no furthercause of complaint." Both Houses of Congress finally adjourned on the 14th instant: but on the following day the President called the Senate toge-: ther for a special session on the ground that an extraordinary occasion has occurred, rendering it proper that they should be in session to receive and act on any communications from the, Executive. On the first day of this special session the proceedings were of considerable interest :— Mr. Green presented the Memorial of Benj. Perkins, of Worchester, Mass, in which he states that in June, 1855, he contracted with the Russian government, by its accredited minister at Washington, for the purchase of 150 tons of powder, and in January, 1856, for 35 stand of arms. These were promptly delivered, but the contract was violated by the Minister. Mr. Perkins asserts that he is wholly ruined, and wants 385,000 dollars damages, and asks the Senate for relief against the unjust and oppressive act of a foreign government. Mr. Green offered a resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, calling the President to communicate whether any complaint had been made to the Government in relation to the> alleged'breach of ■contract. Without undertaking to express an opinion, he thought this was a case which demanded the attention of the Government. It may turn out that the memorialist is mistaken, but the paper came before the Senate in a plausible shape. Mr. Mason called up the resolutions heretofore reported from the Committee on Foreign relations in regard to the question of British ag'gresions. It seemed to him a matter of moment that the judgment of the senate should be passed upon them, because of the probable bearing they may have on any negotiation now pending. We have evidence, said the speaker, since the introduction of the resolutions, that from some cause orothex', these same aggressions have continued in the Gulf of Mexico attd waters,adjacent, by British cruisers. We. have reason to believe, that the visitation and detention of our vessels is not in consequence of any new orders. The probability is they are acting without, "or from undue perversion of existing authority. He thought when the subject was brought to the attention of the British government she would disclaim these acts. But the resolutions distinctly presented' the question between the two countries, and hence it was important that the judgment, of the senate be pronounced in advance of negociation. Mr. Wade of Ohio, wished to enquire of Mr. Mason, whether,these aggressions had not been committed in an effort to put down the slave trade; whether our flag had not been used to cover this trade, particularly whether there was really any difficulty between the two governments, which might not be settled by treaty, in a way honorable to all parties concerned, in preventing the slave trade, and our flag from being used as a screen. There seemed to him no difficulty. While he in no manner justified the British proceedings, yet he believed that the trade was abrogated by both parties, who wish to prevent it. England could have nomotive for insulting our flag, but she presumed more on us than on any other foreign power. There was no inherent difficulty. Mr. Mason replied that it was an undoubted fact that the British Government had been trying for many years to obtain from all maritime nations,;-as against the slave trade, the mutual right of search and visitation, and had obtained it from the principal powers of Eu.r v ojxe, ]?ut4he, United States have always denied it. He would not say that there may be no practical mode of final disposition of the question, yet he did not see how it could be done. The debate was continued by other senators, but no action had been taken at the sailing of the packet. It had been rumoured that some modifications were to take place in.President Buchanan's Cabinet, and report pointed at Secretaries Cobb and Floyd as likely to soon retire. A Washington telegram, however, says thai the rumours were without foundation. i - The total appropriations made during the < session of Congress reached 80,000,000-dols. The Senate had confirmed Mr. John P. Stockton as United States Minister to Rome; T. R. Chandler, as Minister to Naples ; 4 E. Y. Fair, as Minister to Belgium; and B. C. Yancy, as Minister to the Argentine Republic. The Naval Bill, as it passed both houses, provides for the construction of seven steam sloops of war, and a small side-wheel war steamer for the China Seas. The Ocean Mail Service Bill aillows' the1 suspended pay to the Collins line of transAtlantic steamers, but does . not sanction the diversion of the line from Liverpool to Southampton. ' " V The news from-Utah is still conflicting; A despatch from Washington states that

General Scott had received despatches, from Utah of five days' later date than those transmitted by Governor Cuniming. They represented that Governor Cumming has been deceived by the Mormons; that after they had removed their women and children from Salt Lake City the men returned, strengthened their defensive positions, and assumed a threatening attitude. This news was regarded as reliable. Owing to a message from the President, in regard to the low state of the Treasury, a new loan: of 20,000,000 dollars, at 5 per cent., had been authorised. The Washington correspondent of the Hew TorJe Times, says:— " General Scott is in the receipt of despatches from General Johnstone, dated at Camp Scott, and five days later than those from Governor Cumming, though sent by the same express. • " General Johnstone arrives at conclusions directly opposed to those of Governor Cumming touching the intention, of the Mormons, who, he says, are now arming and fortifying at every point. The administration is now fearful that Governor Cumming has been deceived. The next desr patches will be-looked for with intense interest. ■ ' ' . • " Many . gentlemen conversant with Utah affairs think the President acted prematurely in proclaiming vpeace. Private^ accounts from Salt Lake represent Governor Cumming as almost a prisoner,, and the Mormon leaders are exer.cising.full sway over the minds of the people." The J\iew Yorh Herald Washington correspondent says :— "Captain Marcy was within six days* march of Camp Scott. The forces under General Johnstone wer x e under short allowance, and they were eating their candles, and every other oily substance they had, being unwilling to kill their cattle. " The Treasury Department has decided upon the bids for the new five million loan. 2,805,000 dollars -were taken at 4£ per cent., of which the Bank of Commerce of New York gets a million and a half; the the balance was taken at 4£-. This is divided among nine million's bid at that. rate. . A terrible catastrophe happened on. the Mississippi river on Sunday morning, June 13. The steamboat Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, while on the way from New Orleans to St. Louis, when at Ship Island, about 75 miles below Memphis, exploded her boilers, caught fire, and burnt to the water's edge. Of 350 persons on board, it is believed at least one 100 perished, while of those saved nearly all were more or less injured. A telegram of the 15 th June states that "a passenger estimates the number on board at 450, and thinks that 250 were lost." \ The floods on the Western rivers were giving cause for great uneasiness, and the reports from Cairo, Illinois, were of the most alarming character. The water was still rising, and was running over the Ohio level in several places. Mr. Ashley, .chief engineer of the .Illinois, gives the opinion that one foot more rise will sweep Cairo en- ■ tirely away. Mound City is under water. ,The depot grounds in the highest part of the town were covered do the depth of 4 or 5 inches. Passengers were conveyed a quarter of a mile from Mount Cify in boats to the railway. Illinois Central Railway at Cairo was washed away on the south wing. Nearly all the houses were tumbling down, drifting away, or sinking. Scarcely a building in the city was expected to with-? stand the flood. ~ We have news from Havannah to the 9th instant. The British war ship Devastation had called at Havannah with despatches, from Admiral Stewart, on the subject of the naval outrages. The exact purport of the papers did not transpire, but it was thought that orders for the cessation of the action of the gun boat officers had been sent; to the Gulf of Mexico, Commander Rodgers, of the United States steamer Waterwitch, had had an interview with General Concha, who assured him that he approved of the attitude assumed by Mr. Buchanan, towards English cruisers. It was reported that Commander Rodgers, after consulting with Lieutenant Pirn of the gun boat Jasper, and the British Consul General and Captain Walker, of the Devastation, thought that many of the American captains were to blame for not showing their colors quietly, and that the affair was not so bad after all; Lieutenant Almy of the United States steam ship Fulton, had landed with a batch of books containing, it was.'thought, the laws of the " right of search;" ,Twenty cargoes of negroes had been landed in Havannah since March last, and in no. instance had the English war vessels intercepted them. Advices have been receivedjat. Boston announcing that a heavy gale r>liad taken place on .the Banks of Newfoundland, attended with immense loss of- life and property to the French fishermen. Besides the loss of vessels, it is said that no less than 300 men perished during the storm. A despatch from New Orleans furnishes the following from Mexico :— "The steamship Tennessee has arrived from Vera Cruz, 7th inst., with important news from Mexico., " The Government of. Zuloaga had imposed a loan on the foreigners at the capital. " Affairs look generally gloomy. "A fight had occurred between the naval forces at Puebla Nacional, where Echeagary was besieged, and Pirate was obliged to retire. . ' . , "General Miramon, of the Zuloaga faction had been twice defeated. " President Juraez was at Vera Cruz. " The Pope had sent a letter to President Zuloaga, tnanking him. for restoring the property of the clergy. , ' . - ; ' ," Indian ravages continue in Durango.' "Tampieo.andMazatlan were,the only sea-portsnot in the hands of Juarez. - "Zuloaga was suppressing the newspapers." ( . . ' ' ..-,...