UNITED STATES.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 285, 13 July 1860, Page 3

UNITED STATES.

A bill for the abolition of capital punishment is before the New York Legislature. It has passed a third reading by a majority of more than two to one. The President has sent a message to the House of Representatives, firmly protesting against resolutions for an inquiry into abuses of power. The president takes as ground for his protest that Congress can only act under impeachment. The debates about slavery in the House of Representatives at Washington were revived on the appropriate occasion of the discussion of a bill for the > suppression of polygamy in Utah. The majority of the House Committee on the Post-office are in favor of the Senate Bill for a telegraph to the Pacific, but with amendments reducing the price of messages 25 per cent. The committee are divided as to the amount of subsidy the Government shall pay. The New lorh"Herald says:—"The offer of the British Government for an ar- j rangement of the San Juan difficulty has been respectfully declined." The English Foreign Secretary has endeavored to mediate between the hostile parties in Mexico. Lord John Russell proposed an armistice between them, and an accommodation on the basis of a general amnesty and religious toleration; adding that if his proposal were rejected, England would enforce from both parties alike the reparation due to British subjects for the outrages committed upon them. Miramon, we are told, showed some disposition to accept these proposals, but they were summarily rejected by Juraez. . Stephens and Hazlett, who were engaged in the affair of Harper's Ferry, have been executed at Charlestown.