The New York Herald Newspaper, March 16, 1852, Page 1

WHOLE NO. 7076. DOUBLE SHEET. | NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. HIGHLY INTERESTING FROM ALBANY, Reports of the Canal Letting Investigation | Committee. | Excitement Among Legislators and Contractors, de. Sie. Se. NEW YORK LEGISLATURE, Ss. | | . | | i ite. Aunany, March 15, 1853, NEW YORK BLIND ASYLOM. Mr. Moncaw prevented the sixteenth annual report of | the New York Asylum for the Blind. Novicns OF mitts, : Mr. Coorry guve notice of a bill to incorporate the Brooklyn Savings Institution, Mr. Tanon guve notico of a bill authorising Albany to subscribe to the stock of the Albany and Suxjuchanna Railroad. v. DEPOT FUND—LIBERIAN EMIGRANTS, Mr. Tavor offered a resolution in favor of the distribu. tlon of the fourth instalinent of the United States Depo. rite Fund among the States ; and relative to the expendi- ture for the transportation of free colored people to Li- beria. Aunaxy, March 15, 1852, METROPOLITAN COLLEGE. Mr. Tavton presented the minority report against the incorporation of Metropolitan College, in New York city. THE CANAL LUTTING INVESTIGATION—NEPORTS OF THY JOINT comMITTEE. Mr. Moss, (whig) of Niagara, submitted the following re- port from the Joint Committe of Investigation on the Canal Lettings. It is signed by Senator Upham and Meesrs. Bull and Moss, of the Assembly (all whigs), To the Hon. the Speaker of the Assembly : Sin—The undersigned, members of the Joint Select Committee of the two Houses of the Legislature, to whom ‘was referred 2 communication from the Honorabl Canal Board, in the following words, to wit :— aga Resolved, That the Legislature bo rospectfall. to appoint a committeo to examine, and inquice inte the action of each aud every member of the Canal Board, and of the Board of Canal Commissioners, Si Surveyor and Division E © Engines ; ngineers, having charzo of that tion of the canals where the work was to bo let for the cor pletion of the Lrio Canal enlargement, the Genesee Valley and Black River Canals, and the enlargemout of tho looks on the Oswego Canal, in the awarding of contracts, and all their nots connected with tho samo, or in the alacharge of joint A f offices renpectively. Also, resolutions of the two Houses of tho Legislature, tn the tate Towing words, to wits eae if the Senate conewr, That ¢ i ‘om the honorable the Canal Hoard, together withiell resolutions relating to that subject be’ roferred to a joint select committee of the Honse, to consist of two mombers of the Senate and three of the Houso, to examine and report whether any and what action this Legislature should on the subject, and recommend such course, if any further action is necéssary in the promisos, as will insure prompt action upon the subject, and that the said joint committee be directed to report within one week from this date. “Resolved, if the Senate conenr, That the Joint Select Committee on Canal Frauds have power to send for persons and papers. “Resolved, if tho Sonato concur, That a joint select com- mittee report as speedily as possible suoh acts ax may in their judgment he necessary to asrertain whethor any and what frauds exist in the Canal lettings, and in the due exe- cution of the Canal law." ‘RESPECTFULLY REPORT— That. after the passage of the above legislative resolu- tions, the committee. constituted in pursuance thereof, organized by the appointment of tho Honorable A. B. Congeras Chairman, and as soon as furnished with the neccesary papers. proceeded to the discharge of their duties. It is obvious that. wh er might have been the character of the examination and inquiry comtemplated by the Canal Hoard, the joint resolutions cf the Legisla- ture opened th ‘hole subject to the investigation of the committee. end imposed upon them the duty, not only of inquiring into the official action of the several officers specified in the revolutions of the Canal Board, but also into all matters whatever conneeted with the canal lettings, and the due exceution of the eanal law. with a view to ascertain if any and what frauds existed therein; toreport what xction the Legislature should take upon the subject, and if any further action was necessary to recommend such a course as would ensure its being promptly taken, it will be equally apparent in view of the wide extent and scope of such an investigation—the magnitude of ita «ubject. and the multiplicity of the de- tails necesrarily involved, that it was utterly impossible for the committee to have diecherged the responsible, difficult . many times delieate and embarrassing duties thus devolved upon them, within the space pre- scribed by the reeolutions above set forth; deeply feeling the pressing urgency of the case, the claims of | all implicated to a prompt and full investigation of | the accusations snd suspicions pointed against them, and, above all, the paramount importance of ha- ving, at the very carlicet moment, every difficulty— whether real or imaginary—attending the immediate and unimpeded prorecution of the great work of improvement contemplated by the law in question removed in such a manner as should be most in accordance with the interest of the State. and best promote its welfare. They have, sinco their appointment. devoted their time and efforta faith- fully. and almost exclusively, to the task before th without being able to bring it to any speedier conclusion. ‘The masa of testimony which the committee have sub- mitted to the Legislature sufficiently explains the delay. # now only remuins for the Sriesicnsds ‘a4 members of that committee. and in complianee with the requisition’ of the joint resolutions, to report such facts as they deem. established by that testimony ; and also what legislative action. if any. in their judgment, is necessary in relation to the subject before them, Before doing so, however. the ‘undersigned would take this opportunity briefly to advert to an attempt. cqually frivolous and futile. made before the committeo. for the purpose of impairing public confi- dence in the validity of the Canal law, to show that an alte- ration had been made in one instance In its phraseology. af- ter its passage, and while in the hands of some one charged by law with its safe custody, a complete refutation of every pretence of th kind will be found in the testimony of Wm. H. Bogart, Inte clerk of the Senate. and the Hon. 0. Allen, late member of the Assembly, from Erie county, which proves conclusively that the law passed both the Senate and the Assembly in ively the form and language, word for word, in whieh it now appears on the statute book. It would seem that there been a cleri- cal error in engrossing the bill, in omitting to notice an amendment mado vite the bill was in theCommittee of the Whole of the Scnute, the bill having been read a third time from the printed copy, which was corrected by the clerk in red ink, and not being noticed by the engrossing clerk, the bill was rent to the Assembly before the error was @iecovered. When this waa, immediately afterwards. brought to the notice of the clerk of the Senate, he Promptly and properly corrected the same, thus making the bill as it was when it came from the Committee of the Whole, and as it was read a third time and passed in the Senate. In the judgment of the undersigned, this act of the clerk was not only right, but it would have been a great dereliction of duty if he had suffered tho bill to have gone to and been acted upon in the Assembly in any any other form than as it was actually passed in the Senate, The gentleman says that Mesers, Allon, Bogart, and Senator Upham were present when the correction was made, and perfectly cognizant of all the circum- stances. It may recm somewhat remarkable that before a committee, charged with the duty of examining into the due execution ofa law, an attempt should be offered or entertained to invalidate and destroy the law itself; the true explanation will be found, the undersigned appre} hend, in the rabid hostility, alike unrelenting and unveru pulous. which the Canal law has been doomed to encounter threughout its inception, adoption, and execution. in or der to a proper understanding of what action had taken place reiting not only to the Canal letting. but also to the execution of the Canal law, under which these lettin; were made, ‘the committee visited the office of the Canal Board, and examined the records and minutes frum the pareage of the law down to the time of such examination, nnd direeted copies of such records and minutes ax related to either branch of their inquiry to b: furnished by the Auditor, and are considered as a part of the testimony submitted. and will be found in the schedule marked A, In order to ascertain the action ofeach and every member of the Canal Board, as well as the letting board in. the awarding of contracts, and all acts connected with the same, the committee re- quired copies of all allotments which had been proposed by any and all members of the Canal and letting board, either for the whole, or any portion of the said work, and they have been furnished with all as they are informed, except a partial allotment proposed by the State En- gineer and Surveyor, and also one proposed by Commis- sioner Mather. ‘The reason assigned for not furnishing these is that they have either not been preserved, or have been mislaid. It was deemed the more important to pre- gent the proposed allotments made by members of the Canal Board while acting ag such, from the fact that the letting board were ostensibly acting under a resolution of the former board, which might be supposed by some to limit the exercive of the discretion which tho iaw had vested solely in the letting board, and also because those allotments made by members of the Canal Board who were not members of the letting board prior to tho pas- rage of the revolutions of the former board, on the 22d of December, 1851, referring the subject to the letting board, must be presumed to have been made in secord- ance with their views at that timo; not only as to the extent of tho discretion which they supposed they had he right to exerciso in the award of contracts, but wis ag owhat they considered to be the absolute requiremnte of tho law itself, One of the allotments above re- ferred to wea an allotment of the middle division pre- | been maintained in the sumo quart number of uch bidders whore propositions were below the | MORNING EDITION----TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1852. ~ Attorney General Chatfield. Comptreller Fuller, Treaauret Mont, snd Commissioner Cook. and which, after a con- tet of reveral hours in duration, was finally defeated in the Canal Board by the determined and parsevering op- Potion of Messy. Follett and Mather. The committes 8) entire work, ro arranged as to present im ono view the ex- timate of the Engineer for any particntar seetion for mo- chanical etructure. the award, and to whom made. and all bids, aleve and below the awards, attached to and constitutes a part of the evi- or case, and is distinguished as schedule D. | In re in portions of the public press, apparently represent- z them and their interesta. the number of reeponsible i bidders below the awards made, has been londiy proclaim. | Dility ed. and particularly and repeatedly intentional upon the | tereet cf the Stat putlic mind. « cautious if not international silence Ire samcunt of th expeetive awards: where nent, experienced, and competent contractors who hive been cmployed upon our public works, Without refer. ring to particular instances. the undere: a careful examination of this schedule will demonstrate conclusively that the opinion of contractors, as expressed in their proporals for work is not to be relied upon as correct estimate of a fair remunerative price for the work in question, and that consequently | th: true intervets of the State require a resort to some Other more rclinble standard, and they also respectfully submit the conclusion. which, it scems to them, must in- evitubly be drawn from the disclosure of that schedule, a well us irom the very nature and necessity of the case, that the practice, which for years hasalmost uniformly pre- vailed. adopting the estimutes of the engineers as the most Approximate standard of the value of the work, is th» only s#fe and prudent alternative. Their engineers arc fully quatitied, both by professional education and exp: ence, for the exact and accurate discharge of their official duties; ond the engineer department, to. which they be lomg, is organized at a great expense through the State. for the capress purpore of the performance of such ser- vices, with a direct view of thus forming « basis of action for thore State officers, im whose charge. the public works are placed. Civil engincers, for years past, in othor States, as well ax this, huve been employed upon all public works, furnishing by their epreifications, plans, and estimates, the standard by which contracts have been regulated and adjested for the expenditures. throughout all the public works of the country, of many millions of dollars, That the Canal Board, a bod; Biust linyo: eattrinineds waller viscs We One time, at all events, is apparent from their adepted the resolutions offered by Attorney-General Chatfield. in substance, resolving that the board would not consider any proposition more than ten per cent above. or fifteen per cent below the engincers estimates, If & different dectrine was at any subsequent time profexaed Ly either the movers or supporters of that resolution, the testimony will probably show the history, as well aa the cauro of such sudden converslons, It ix ‘also proper for the undersigned here briefly to refer to another particular in which the action which has been had upon the subject before them. hus given rise to some discussion, inasmuch as it more definitely approaches u distinet specification, than is generally to be found in the wholesalo charges of fraud which have been preferred against these awards, This is the introduction of what is termed hardpan and quickeand, as a new and separate classification of excava- tion into the specifications and contracts. It appears from the testimony, that since the resumption of the public works, suspended by the act of 1842, no such classificution was made in the estimates. specifications or contracts, Karth and rock constituted the only divisions of excavation, Engineers and others, who, by experience, were qualified to judge. differed as to which mode of apecifi- cation was most productive of the public interests. On the one band, without the classification of hardpan and quicksand, contractors would apply to the Canal Board or Legislature for extra compensation for all excavation found in the progress of their work, more expensive to remove than contemplated at the time of contracting, and the investigation of those claims would be urged on as heretofore. to the waste of time of the members of the Legislature and Canal Board; und finally, also as_hereto- fore, to the pecuniary loss of the State. While on the other hand it was contended that the intraduction of this classification affected. in. some degree, the indepen- dence of the engineers and commissioners.while acting with contractors, readily disposed to make hardpan and quick- sand cut of any material found in their work wheney hy their contracts, they were to be price for those articles over common earth, to which is the fact that in all cas and draw the exact line between harder nd quick- and, and common carth, isa very QifZcue datter, and frequently the subject of dispute between engineers and others, that the State is often liable to pay a large amount for the supposed existence of hardpan’ and quicksand. which would be avoided by a different classification of only earth and rock. The undersigned have no means o° which of these +ystems of claséification would result in the greatest loss to the State, nor is it important to know, ro far as this investigation is concerned. unless fraud is shown to have been necessarily consequent upon the in- troduction of the classification of hardpan and quicksand. The evidence docs not show fraud in this transaction, nor anything from which fraud is to be inferred; on the con- trary. it appears from the testimony of Mr. Seymour, the State Engincer and Surveyor, that’ it was a course which he approved, and which was brought forward by him, and adopted by the Canal Bourd, about the 16th of October last, ax will appear by the minute of the Canal Board forming a part of the evidence in this case. It appears. also, from Mr, Seymour's testimony, that the subject hnd been under consideration for neurly a year prior to that time. It would seem, therefore, not to have been brought forward on any sudden emergency. much less under «uch circumstances ux would warrant any suspicion that it was coneceted for the present occasion, and with an improper and fraudulent intent. It is doubtless a subject upon which there may be wide and honest difference of opinion, ax appears from the testimony in thecase. ‘The undersigned admit that there may be reasons to regret that this classifi- cution had not been earlier made, and prior to the estimates and prior to the estimates for the work; but such was not the case. and in the opinion of the undersigned, from any- thing now before them, it is Impossible to say whether the cort of the work under the contracts awarded will, on this account, be ultimately increased beyond what it would have been under the former system of classifica- tion. with its usual accompaniment of extra allowances by the Canal Board, and special legislation in behalf of con- tractors, for material more expensive than had been anti- ed. or than was indicated by test pits. And before leaving this part of the subject, the undersigned would remark that the proporitions of the State Engineer, to introduce hard pan and quicksand as separate specitica- tion into, the contracts, though at first rejected by the Canal Board. was, on a subsequent day. reconsidered. and adopted, on motion of the Attorney General. The gentle- man says that Mesers, Church, Chatfield, Mather, Follett, and Seymour, voted in its favor, and Mesars, Cook, Fuller, Hunt, ‘and Morgan. against it. From these preliminary remarks upon matters connected with the awards for con- tracts under the Canal law, to which the public attention has been much directed. and'Which, in the opinion of the undersigned. it is meeeseary to a proper under- standing of the whole case, to clear from all mirconception and misrepresentation, they now turn to the circumstances under which the action of the eee officers entrusted with the canal lettings has been ad, and to the fact a4 established by the testimony in relation to the due execution of the canal law. It cannot de necesrary to detail upon the extraordinary events con- nected with the history of that law. The unprecedented course of rome of the representatives of the people to de- fent it at the special election ordered in consequence, the extra session of the legislature to carry out the expressed populur will—the magnitude and impoatance of the im- rovement. and the immense amount of work requisite for its completion. all conspire to attract and concentrate the attention of the public, and expecially of all who hoped, directly or indirectly, to profit by ita execution upon the ineasures taken for its accomplishment, Accordingly, when after due notice had been given for the receipt of provovals for the entire work on the Erie, Genesee Valley, hlick River, and Oswego canals, the Caual Board, on the 20th cf November last. proceeded to open and examine the ame; a kcene was presented unparalleled in the history of ‘the public works of the State. From all parts of the State, from other States, from all walks of life, from every profession, pursuit, and trade ; from eviry division and subdivision of political sect there swarmed upon the capital a legion of applicants, all. anx- {ous ard imnportunate for participation in the anticipated profits of some share in this improvement, the last. for many years at least, to be obtained upon the public works of the State, The expectations of all run high ; some bad claims, real or imaginary, for political services ; others relied upon personal friendship for success ; while others destitute of such recommendations.resorted to other and less creditable means to secure a favorable considration. Associations, combinations jand partnershipstwere formed almost without number, and embracing components of every conceivable complexion, for the purpose of securing in the name of some one of them, a share in the contract. While this was going on outside, the busily engaged in canvassing the bids, and preparing their proposed allotments of the work. The number of bids ‘was unprecedented, amounting in the aggregate, aa the undersigned are informed, to about ten hundred millions of dellarr—the number of bidders being about 3,000. The Lourd at once eww and felt the difficulty of award- ing the work in stich manner, as to give futisfuction generally to the host of applicants— and to add to the difficulty jealousies existed in the minds of rome of the members of the board itself, as to the de- signs of other members, whom they suspected of an inten- tion to bestow the contracts upon their political associates. This fevling if it did not wholly originate from, was at least heightened by rumor, which charged such to be the intention of (hoge who had effected mainby the passage of the Jaw, nnd that the political majority designed to eontrel the lettings, and award the contracts to those of the Ike political sentiments, It is due to the majority in that board to say, that not only no ef- fort of that kind was attempted, but that, so far as the cvidence shows, all iinputation of any intention of that kind is without foundation, onthe contrary. it ap- Pears tohave been conceded by all, that constituted as gented to the Cana Board by Mr. Coumisstoner Cook. which also accompanies the testimony, and is marked schedule B, Also one of the western divisions, presented by Commissioner Follett, marked rchedule U, with amendments and additions proposed to one or both by other members of the boa he minutes of the Oanal Board furnish an allotment proposed to tho board for its adoption by Mr. Attorney General Chatiiel’, which was smaie up, as appears from the testimony at a private dwell jing house in this city, by Lieutenant Govegmor Church, the Loard was politically with such a great number of bidders from both political parties, that the work ought to be distributed ax nearly equally as could well be, be- tween the two politient partles, No direct agreement or proporition to this effect is shown, but all the members of the board exaanined by the committee, admit a general tacit understanding of that character, ‘Tho undersigned can well conceive the attempts made during the progress cf the lettings to. make allotmeny of the work, and (he determined tenacliy with whicb when presented to the hours for adoption, they Were O posed by thous who bad ‘anal Board was | to this statement. the undersigned would ob- | | rerve that while through disappointed applicants. snd it will be seom | Mather. and Seymour, | by an examination of the statements last roferred to, (hat | Gret allotment’ from thore presentéd by others, about in very many instances the number of bidders above the | which there ix some conflict in awards fur excecds those below. while many of the former | of are cither known or shown to be romo of the most promi- | not been comsatted in fary it was to harmonize conflicting . views, and intervets by rome gonerat understanding, Mthout ‘which, nofhing could bs accomplished. ‘The faw, sanctioned by all experience, ba+ repudiated the idea’ of letting the | lo procured from the offico of tho State Engincer — work to the lowest Bidder, which made united action by | and Surveyor a statement of ail the bids and awards for the | the beard a task of ineteared difficulty, snd rendered it | Stil more necessary ty have some general understanding between the members d€ the board. Men not unfeequently, in the cxercive of discretionary authority, honesty differ 1a ‘This is | cpinion. and. ina matted of this character, whom there Was | £0 large an amount of work to be Ict and competed for by | an unprecedented number of bidders—some few Known. to ail the members of the Gaerd—some to only a few. and others to none of them—it i not strange that differenees, of opinion should exist amowg thé members of the board, neto all the different phases of competency, responst- and other be nited in a contract | It appears from the evidence tit very little effort wae | Other reason as to the large | made by any member of the Loam’ to adopt the allot ments prevented separately by Messrs. Cook, Follett, If the latter prosented any dis- the presentation of either of thow Oe minutes of the Canal Board; wor hid upon them. A subsequent allotment, mad at the dwelling house before referred to. not by pears om! and no vote igned submit that | tite dircetion or even euggertion of the board, but by the united efforta of individual members «com ing the majority, seems'to have been madeand presentod With the deliberate determination to secure its adoptio 1 by the board. ‘The character of this allotment. th» manner in which it was made, and the determined effort to adopt it by the majority of the board, and particulart the Atterney General, who presented it, and the persevo'- ing resistance and final overthrow of the same, by th» unitcd efforts of only Messrs, Follett and Mather, a spread out in the minutes of the Canal Board. demonstrat in rome degree, a¢ well the difficulty of accomplishin the lettings, ax the fecling entertained and the ex citement existing on the: subject among the di - ferent members of the board, After the defont of ths propored allotment. the subject was the resolution of the 22d December. referred to the Canal Commissioners, State Engineer. and Surveyor.and the Division engineers havin ; charge of that portion of the canal whore the work waa t+ he done, This was, in fact. what the Board contemplate by the law for letting the work; and a reference of thia matter to it by the Canal Board, was nothing more than carrying out the provisions of the law. ‘The work, in any event, would have to be let by this board, whatever the Canal Board might have agreed upon as to whom it should he given. So far, therefore, as regards the character, or competency, or responsibility of builders, and their ability to perform the work proposed for, within the time limited hy law, and tho safety or advantage of their proposition to State, this board was not only not inferior to the Canal Bourd, but superior thereto, it was not a subordinate tribunal. in any sense of the word; nor was tho exercise of their discretion. on the point above stated, subject to the control or revision of the Canal Board; and in tho opinion of the undersigned the Canal Board could not | rightfully. under the , review in any manner the | exercise of such direretion on the part of the letting | board. The Canal Board were merely, by the twelfth making thom ap. how very neces” —|¢rtained similar vist, This beilef is forced upom them particulars desirable for tho ii ; ‘he coming in of Wie proporaly they were found too high | tho requirements of ths law, in the judgment of the board. the testiniony, no minute | | dorsigned dorire not to b® understood as ndvoenting asa le | Bexervi thing the policy of auch a course, but they see | | | or at the price bid by another, no greater sum is | cant of the true meaning of t! rection of the law of 1851, to direct and approve of the terms and manner of doing the work, and the Commis. | sioners and Engincers were to contract for its completion. | It is difficult to understand why the Canal Board. as auch, | assumed to proceed in the discharge of duties which, by | the very terms of the law. in language plain and explicit, were devolved upon the Commissioners and Engincers on any other hypothesis than that of a general understand- ing to award the work equally between the two political parties. coupled with a desire on the part of the members of the Canal Board, in carrying out that tacit understand- ing, to have a voice in the xelection of the successful bidders, in order to favor neither political or personal riends, The Commissioners and Engincers, as soon us the resolution of the Canal Board of the 22d December was adopted, entered upon their duties under the law, ae directed by the Canal Board. In the discharge- of these duties to the State they have been ac- cused of fraud, and this committee have been di- rected to examine and report what facts, if any. exist to support this charge, At the time the committee com- menced its Inbors, it was currently reported. and in some instances openly charged, that members of the letting bourd had # dircet pecuniary interest in contracts let by them—that such intere some cases, was heldin the name of friends for their own ultimate benefit—that in other cases commissions were received by officers award- ing contracts as a consideration for awarding them to par- ticular individuals, or ina particular direction, and_ that i ing the contracts in almost yj and the attention of the commit- ‘as directed to certain individuals aa witnesses, resid- ing in different and remote parts of the State, whose tes- timony. it was said, would extablish the fuct of the exis- tence and practice in the letting of the board. of the par- ticular frauds alleged. The committee determined to sub- mit these charges to the most ample and rigid investi- gation, This was due, alike to the honor and dignity of the State, and to the reputation of the high public officers implicated in those accusations. to the end that if guilty they should be expelled from the offices thus prostituted and disgraced; and if innocent that their innocence should be promptly and publicly proclaimed, and their character vindicated from every imputation. Accordingly, a great number of witnesses have been sum- moned from all parts of the State. to testify in relation to these charges, and their testimony utterly fails, in the re- motert degree.to establish the fet that any member of the Canal or Letting Board, is, or has been’ in any way. directly or indirectly, remotely or contingently, by way of commision cr otherwise. interested in any contract or award which has been made. or in aiding or procuring the same to be mad derigned do not hesitate to express their ex .d upon the testimony aforesaid. that no stich interest exista or has existed; and that there is not the slightest reason or cause for the sus- picions or accusations above mentioned, with the ex- ception of asingle instance. to be found in the testimony of Mr, Goodrich, in which the contract was not awar testimony cannot fail to pri duce the same conviction upon every intelligent and can- did mind. This concludes the labors of the undersigned, under the concurrent resolution directing them to port such facts as may be, in their judgment, necossary toarcertain whether any and what frauds exist in the canal lettings, and in the duo execution of the canal law. It is a difficult task to ascertain frauds in the due exec tion of the law; and the testimony shows it to be equally difficult to discover any elsewhere, In awarding the con- racts, under the resolution of the 22d December last. the letting board was governed by the kame general under- standing which existed during the previous action of the ‘anal Board. viz.: to divide the work equally betwoen the two political parties. This is a fact, no more to be dis- guised here than before the Canal Board; and it is fair to presume. not only from the prior action of the Canal Beard, but also from the subsequent actjon of individual members thereof, that such course on the part of the letting board was anticipated and expected; but while the letting board were endenvoring to carry out this under- standing, they were not. aa the evidence shows, unmindful ofthe interest of the State. for they not only have kept below the estimate of the engineers, but also considerably below the prepered allotmenta of the work presented to the Canal Boerd by Attorney General Chatfield, and which the majority of the bonrd were, for a time, not only anxious, but determined to adopt—and which was only defeated after a protracted and exciting sitting, with five in favor and three against it, and after it had been de- clared by one of the members, favorable to the adoption of said allotments. that it had become a question of phy- sicalendurance, The allotments actually made, as the undersigned are informed, amount to nearly half # mil- Kon of dollars les# in the’ aggregate than the allotments proposed to the board by Mr. Chatfield; therefore, whether they acted wisely or not. or in accordance with the law or not. in departing thus from the lowest bidder in awarding contracts, they not only have tho allotments propored by a majority of the Canal Board asa precedent in’ this respect, and also the dit action of the Canal Board upon a point directly involving the meaning and true interpretation of the law itself for their guidance and direction, but the State has deen saved half a million of dollars, which would have been lost if the allotment above referred to had been carried into effect. The contracts awarded amount to, as the undersigned understand, about $900,000 less than the estimate of the engineers,—which fact, if the latter are to be taken asa standard of the value of the work, acquita tho letting board of disregarding the interests of the State in not letting the work to lower bidders. It may be truc, and doubtless is, that some of the worl is let above what may bea fair remunerative price, and that rome of the contractors will realize considerable profits, either from doing the werk themselves, or selling out for a bonus. But while this may be true in rome instances, many others are, as Commissioner Follett thinks, to the amount of one-third of the work, will be found too low, and the contractors will either be compelled to abandon their work, or seck relief in the way of extra allowance ; but this ts no new feature in the history of canal con- tracts in this State, All past experience has. shown it, and the future will reveul the same results, It is inevit- able from the very nature of the business, and no system ever yet adopted by this State, not even that of awarding contraets to the lowest bidder, has been exerapt from simi- Jar revults, It is admitted by all, and. testified to by all who have any knowledge on the subject, that, as a whole. the work is let at prices as low a# it can be reasonably done for. It has been the policy of this State—and the undersigned sincerely hope it will ever continue to be—to Pay upon all its public works a fair remunerative price for the labor performed. It never. should be its policy to en- rich itself at the expense of the bard earnings of its citi- gens, It claims to be just to all alike; and that claim is a sheer absurdity, unless it pays a fair'price for labor per- formed solely for its benefit. In view, therefore, of this just and well recognized principle, the Canal Board anc. the letting beard, in the opinion of the undersigned, would be perfectly justified in giving such construction to that portion of the twelfth section of the law of July 10th, 1851, which says—* Contracts shall be awarded to such portics ne shall propore to perform the work on terms most rafeand Pigg mag kd to the State having due rogard to the price, the ability of the parties, and tke. security efter, for the Performance thereof, and to, gward con: tgnete cyly to suc erties as e a4 prices whic! would fully remunerate them tre labor perforated and terials furnished; bolding the terms ‘due zegard to pric under the settled potiey of “the State, as meaning nothing more than euch sum a4 trould be a fair equivalent for whatever (hey might do ‘for the State,” Again, the term, * duc regard to pritg” must be taken and considered in connection with tho“torms, © most safe and ndvantageous to the State." 4 (hat price whieh has, according to all experience, beey most eafe and advantageous to the State ie that whiels permits the contractors to go on and com- plete (he wor’« without loss, Tt seems from the testimony taken by Yio Commitee. that the board letting theae con- trrets oF ortaincd views of the true and practical meaning to avoid the conelucton that the Canal Board not only attempted to, but pet in practice. an old and pal- patie violation of law——a conclusion not to. be sumed until every other alternative is, by thay foree | Com- | of evidence, brovight to bear upon the case, plaints had been made that contracts had een awarded in some instances to persons who were act bidders, «ad to persons on the bid of others, and that there were oases where individuals had been compelles tor asrign some of their bids before they could get contraeti> upon others, Instances of thix kind have been brought t? light by the evidence ; but however inuch the under rigned might desire it to be otherwire, they haye yet to learn that this & a fraudulent transaction, ‘The notice pub- lished by the direction of the Canal Board simply ap- prired the public that the work was to be let, and if on to be safe and advantageous to tho State, or if for any he bored, in the exercise of their discretion, should not dvem it groper to let_ the work to them. and other propored verbally, on such terms as camo within the whole matter been? within their discretion. they would be justifiable. sor as the Inw of the case is con- cerned. in awarding the contracts to the latter. The un- ne fain contracts in tho lew forbidding it—and if in awarding to one man upon the bid of another paid than the person whore Bid is ‘used would have been entitled Co, other things being oqual, it it 2 matter which affects only the competitors, und in which the State su tains no loa, and has no concern; and in nearly or quite all the instances of the kind brought to light in tho tes- timony, the price at which the work waa let was con- siderably teas than the price actually bid by the person to whe or for whore benefit was awarded, and the erron whore bid was ured had other work 1 him. so that, in fact. it amounted only to distribution of the work among the people. The under- signed are unable to perceive how fraud, or any neglect or disregard of the public interest can be imputed to men for such acta. under these circumstances, The allotments and awerds on the work were finally completed on or about the 20th December last, and on that day many of the contracts were executed under the direction of the Canal Board, to enter into contracts before the first ds of Januery last. The undersigned believe, both from th oral tertimony, and the minutes of the Canal Board. that it was not contempiated by the latter that the awards or contracta made by tho Commissioners and Engineers under the resolution of the Canal Board of the 22d De- cember, thould be reported to raid board for its adoption and approval. Tho resolution itself seems to negative any supposition of the kind, for by its express terms the letting board waa directed not only tomake an allotment and award of the work, but actual to enter into the contracts before a specified day. T! is very signiti- Thi rorolution, as well as the then intention and expectation of those who passed it, Besides, Mr, Morgan testified that the resolution was drawn with express reference to a final completion of tho letting by the commissioners and engineers under it, with- cut the necessity of any subsequent action by the Canal Board. ‘This view of the case is made still more apparent by an attempt, om the part of one or more members of the Canal Bourd. to require a submission of the allot- ments to the Canal Board for ita adoption and approval, before the contracts should be obligatory on the State. and the final rejection of the proposition, ‘he Canal Board were not without rome experience of the difficulties attend- ing any attempt to let this work, having been engaged somo weeks endeavoring to accomplish the object, but without success, and ag nil seemed to desire that the lettings should be completed before the first of January, they doubtless adopted the course pointed out in the resolution as the only means of accomplishing the desired object without requiring. intending, or even desiring that any report should be made tothem before the contracts be- came executed and obligatory; and it is not absolutely certain, by any means. that they then entertained an opinion of the necessity of such an approach on their part to render the contracts valid snd binding upon the State; in fact. remarks have fell from members of the Board assembled on the 31st December, when the award of contracts was read to them by Commissioner Mather, and particularly from thore who now most £ tend for the necessity of such on a) tive the supposition, said that the b hud becn read, with some exeeptions, was. perhaps, as good a one as could be made by any five members of the Roard, and that it was doubtful whether any five men could be found in the State who could make, under all the circumstances. a fairer or more just distribution of the work. When a suggestion was made that it might be more satisfactory to some to have the Canal Board formally approve the contracts, it wax again remarked by the s mcmber that he could not vote toapprove of the allot- ment. but he was willing to fet it that the year waa about closing, und with its close the ( Board wak about to change. What had been its respo ble majority politically was going out of power. were desirous of parting in peace and with kind f chanic and experienced contractor by the politician: , You will find contracts given to two constables and « St. ; Lard saloon keeper—to hotet keepers. one of whom (we cannot ray why, however.) became associated with a po* litical man)—to hardware merchants, tailors, dairy mew farmers. One contract was given to s minor—dne to mber of the late Senate. who sent in his resignation | before signing tho contract, aa if that act cancelled the | fact of his having been a Senator. Members of the late Tioure of Assembly are interested also in the contracts, which, doubtless, they were the active and effectual pro- curers, board wae an extraotdinary assumption of power, as they were only directed by the Canal Board to execute them, and that after a certain nwthod. ‘The awarding of con- tracts, in the total disregard of the instruction of the unnl Pourd, is wholly unjustifiable, and is unparalelled e history of this State, which can furnish no such instance where one rank of officers have mistaken their porters and refured obedience or allegianoe to the man- date of rights of another placed by the law above them, with directory and supervisory powers, Towards the concldsion, Mr. Conger remarks thua:—* On reviewing the several infractions contracts, the of law which characterize it will he perceived that, setting consideration of fraud, which, if mi unquestionably destroy tho contracts, contracts are void by reason of the acts thom: infringing the provisi th ute and the no- c¢; that some are voidabl cts of the let- ting board, aa in tho first point,and are not proper sub- jects of a curative function, beeatse of their gross impro- ; that all the remaining contracts are voidable for ‘iret. because they are imperfect contracts, not properly approved and sanctioned as to their award- ing. execution, or delivery, It will further be manifest, that of this latter class some aro voidablo because of the original irregular procedure of the superior board; and finally. all the contracts, if not otherwise except are voldablo from lke irregularity und oversi part of the same board." Io would * urge upon tho [, Rislature that, if no serious impediments be found in the the aside way. the honor of the State demands that a most sum- mury rebuke be administered to those who have sought tolny their unjust lands upon the treasury of the State— tothore who have regarded the prosecution of a public work of great interest to the commercial and producing clasres of our citizens, ax the occasion for the ex- of their cupidity—to those — who. the legal, merenitiie, and other thrust aside tore who have hitherte work their proper busines+—(our honest. coming pursuits, made in- euch dustrious and practical artivwns) or forced th upon thoxe to carry off or divide the fair protits labor, If ever an opportunity was offered of extrical the public work from ruin, as well as disgrace, now is the favorable moment. ‘There is no danger of such action be- coming the theme of party strife, for, of all those who might be rejected, there to bean eqttal number of Loth parties, and Of those who hold the contracts there are only a few hundred in mu Mr. Cust ‘Asccmbly, doos not agree with his demceratic friend, Senator Conger. Ho approves t tracts, and thinks they ouygrt to stand, for the; “First, that there has beer no fraud preved against the letting bourd, and no proof of any collusion between thom and the contractors in the recent canal lettings. Seecond— The law not requiring the contracts to be given to the lowest responsible bidder, x depurture from that prince’ in the lettings is not o Vd. though the dikeretion v offi- cers has been rel and cannot, and ought not to be taken advantaye of by the Stute to repu- diate or annul the contracts thas entered into, There isnot suf on the part of the officers making these contracts; and if there were, the officers so guilty, are nlone responsible, Sound p not honesty, must prevent the State from repudiating pulling these contracts.” He occupies about one column in presenting his individual views, MOTION FOR NT reports had be Mike Wacsn arose and offercd a resolution imgeaching John C, Mather and Frederick Follett, present Canal Commissioners, and also Charles Cook, lute Commiscioner, and Hezekiah ©, Sey- mour, late engi Affoirs tx Albany LETTING ISVESTIGATION—GREAT EX- CITEMENT, ETC. THE CANAL SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE NEW YORK HERAT Aunany. March 15, 1852 ‘The canal fraud investigating joint com snted their reports this morning tot louse, 1 Senator C Mr. Cashing. of the A other; and the Arrembly. * most elabo- ents a review of the .and serutinizes the He oceupies five news- pup Pelhis canal matter will be made the rome particu ) soon as the re} and accompanying documents shall be printed. most exciting and interesting debates which have occurred apecial o for towards each other; and they were all willing. ns appeared from the evidence. to let the whole subject of the lettings pars, and to haye the contracts carried out in good faith, not doubting. as the undersigned verily believe, but that the contracts were as obligatory and binding upon the State without. as with, their formal approval, In rela- tion to the views now advanced by somo, that further action as to these contracts is required on the part of the Canal Board, and that their approval is necessury to bin | the State, on one hand. and on the other, their disapproval in order to release contractors. the committee do not un derstand how there can be a legal obligation resting 01 one side under these contracts, without a correspondin : one on the other; and they would further remark, that if such action was necessary. that action should have been taken on the 81st of December, when the contracts were reported to them; and their acquiescence in them, under the circumstances, and in the manner detailed in the evi- dence, @ mounts. in the opinion of the undersigned, toa virtual approval. 60 far. at least, as to prevent the Stat. for which they acted, from now taking any advantage of its own wrongs; and if the Canal Board permitted t! commirsioners and engineers to proceed under the resolu- tion of the 22d December, and engage the contracts, knowing the fuct. and allowed the contractors to enter Into thelr contracts supposing thein perfect, when It was necerenry for the Canal Board to approve or disapprove them, and that Board neglected to take action on tho subject when they had an opportunity to do so, prior to the Ist of January, the State ought not, under any con- sideration of the subject. to attempt, or to be allowed now to astume, the position that those contracts are invalid for that cauee. The undersigned. therefore, in view of the matters by them above stated, and of tho testimony heretofore pre- rented, respectfully but confidently submit to the Legis- lature the following conclusions, as clearly established by the fects and circumstances of the investigation of the committee: — First—That whatever mistakes or errors may have been made in particular instances, yet. us a whole, the ac- tion of the letting Board in contracting for the execution for many a yenr will they come yp. and likely coneume the most of the time remaining of the session. “The lobby will soon be filled with eontractora, selected and dixap- pointed. who will form an unprecedented phalanx to overa we the Legislature; but the present contracts, how- ever villanourly obtained, will remain undisturbed, ARRIVAL OF THE EL DORADO. NEWS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE PACIFIC, Another Quick Trip from San Francisco. FOUR DAYS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA, Affairs in Oregon, New South Wales, and the Sandwich Islands. Arrival of a Million and a Half of Dollars in Gold Dust. Shipments of Gola from Sydney. Wreeks on the California and Oregon Coasts, and Serious Loss of Life. A Missing Vessel with Nearly a Hundred Passe gers on Board, EXECUTIONS BY LYNCH LAW. of the work, under the canal law. at an aggregate amount, lees by half a million than the project of the Canal Board, preeented by the Attorney General, and less by nearly n million than the estimates of the engineors, is talculated to promote the interest of the State, and secure, as far ax practicable, tho completion of the contemplated, improvement. Sceond—That no fact has been ascertained showing any fraud in the lettings of the contracts awarded, or in the execution of the canal law; but. on the contrary, the uniform tenor of all the testimony taken effectually repels all suspicion of the kind. Third—That no action is ty hg on the part of the Canal Board, to give further validity to the contracts, nor on the part of the Legislature, upon any matter in re- lation to the subjects referred to the cammittee. unless to compel the State officers having chargo of the public works, their subordinates, and clerks. to perform the duties imposed upon them by law. With o view, there- fore. to the accomplishment of the last named object. the undersigned beg to introduce, for the consideration of the Legislature. the following bill :— : An Act in Relation to the Enlargement of the Erie and Omcego Canals, and. the Completion of the Black River end Genesee Valley Canals. ‘The people of the State of New York, ropresented in tho Se- bate and Assembly, do enact, as follows :— Section 1. The Canal Board is hereby dirocted and re- quired, within ten days after the passage of this act, to ox- amine ‘the contracts awarded and entered into ip the month of December, 1461, by the Canal Commissioners, the State En- Bineors, and tho respective division ongincers, for the comple tion of the enlargemen of the Erie and Oswego canals, and for the completion of the Black River and Genesee Valley canals and to file with the Auditor of the Canal Department a com- plete and accurate list and description of all such con~ tracts, the execution of whieh will, in the judgment of the Canal Board, be safe and advantageous to the. State having due rey rica, the ability of the parties, the cnrity furnished for the performance of said conteacts, and the probable claim, against the State to arive from an Aban- donment of the same; and immediately upon findin oh list as aforesaid, it shall beoome the duty of the Canal fs rd, the Canal Commissioners, the State Engineers, and Surveyor, to take such steps ns thoy ahall deem most offectund to in he early and vigorow ecution of said contgacts. tion 2. The Canal Board is also directed an® required, vithin ton days after the nneange of this act to report ta the Legislature an accurate Hist and description of all contracts awarded and entered into in December, 1451, ax aforesaid, if any, which the said Board shall deem it advisable for Lt 4 cause, for the State to suspend or abandon, together wit! reasons in favor of euch abandonment or suspension, and nleo, at the same time, to report to the Logisiaturs such proporals for the same work among the ida sub. mitted to the Canal Commissioners, the Stato Enginecr, nnd Surveyor, and the Division Engineers, previous to the nward of contracts made by them a8 aforesaid, as would be Inost safe and advantageons for the State to accept, having dhe reaned to price, ‘the ability of the parting. the security offered for the performance of the same, vd the probable claims against cho State to arise, from bandonment of the existing ‘thine atl toke effect t biter Section 3, is act al ake effect immediately. vig A's. GemaM, ‘A. Hi, MOSS. H. B. BULL. THE MINORITY REPORTS. Senator Concern comes to the conclusion that the let. tings are illegal and fraudulent. and recommends the Be- gieiature to vacate them and ordet another re-letting. It could bardly have been expected that an investigstion, held like the prevent, under cirgumstances of partial con- flict with Iegistative duties, would, in the shot time allotted to it, baye been sucomeful in ferreting cat a hun- dredth part of the intrigug nnd corrupt bargaining touch. ing contracts in expectanoy. which were. for somo weeks, the subjects of the most atrocious gambling ever known in the history of this commonwealth. brom the time when the first allotiy nt, proposed by Mr. Follett, was an- nounced. there wag a ecene of crimination and reerimina- tion. Curses, beh loud and deep, rove upon voices and deluged t¥ thoughts of the contestants. ‘The ex- cited. heaviuy, masées attested tho fury which the mock- ing ef ther hopes, by poiltiqnt gainasters, had pri cf thi jaw, similar to that here expressed, and the under- tig? cd are contrained to beiieve, from the action of Vc Caoat Board white proposing to Let tho work, they ea- veked 9d developed. ALL there things’ wore en- acted in tho face of day. and forcet upon the apyr@iension of every observer, 94 showing the tov or partial crowding owt of the pradtical me. Proposed Convention in California to Revise the State Constitution. Speech of Col. Weller, the New United States Senator from California. THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW. THE OUTWARD PASSAGES OF CLIPPERS. Balitical Movements in Walifornia. STATE OF MARKETS, ie. iq. die. The mail stoamship "3] Dorado, Capt. Hartstein, from Chagres, arrived at this port at four o'clock ‘The delivery of the contract, by tho letting | The Collowing is a dust on board this steamer. liet of tho consignoes THE SPROIK 4197 OF THE FL DORADO. Adams & Co. $334,007 Harbeck & LW..... $6,370 Am. Ex. Bank. 274.000 Read, Wade & Oo.. 6,008 Burgoyne & Plume 110.000, Bucklin & Craw... 5.008 Chambers & Heiser 99,173" ©. V. 8. Gibbs... 4.780 | Drew, Robinson & 4 4318 | Co 3,008 ‘a Bank,.... 3218 | Wa, Hoge & Co... 29,600 Sholer & Bros...... 3,200 Camman & White- Johnson Lowden.. 3.200 houwe.,........, 25,000 ‘TW. Bayaud& Co. 3,208 Howland & Aspia- Stendelbaum & Sil- wall... 20.000 vérmau . . 3060 Fitzgeral B.Mf... - 9,200 COsecine 20.000 Spot ru, Tileston & x 17,365, " 2518 J.B 16.196 Jobe R. Kne 14,400 Manet 22 Roberts... 13.000, Marvin ‘Miteheook . 14.000" A. W. Chinfleld . 12.000 Wm, H. Axpinw 11,900 Alphems Tabea, Branard raul. erg. Weeks. Kelly & Co. D'Rham & Irvine... A. K. Eno.,...... Brown, Bros? & Co. .B. Mii ‘Twombley & Lam- A. Homingrwy fon... 5 ieebaanaaiigi William Lints. To order... 9.000 Amount... .. .. $1,278,388 5.500 Among pasteogers 166,088 Total... 0... 6,428,860 &C D. J. Willetts, Our thanks are due to Mr. L. C. Paine, thie Purser of the El Dorado, Messrs. Adams & Co., rogory & Co., Borford & Co., and to Mr. William Whitney, the U. 8. mail agent, for the latest papers ¢ The news from California, Oregon, Now Bout, Wales, and‘ the Sandwich Islands, is intorssting. ‘The golden intelligence from Sydney is’ almoet equal to the carly golden news from Calif>rnia. Gver two millions of dollars in dust had been exported and sent in letters from Sydney, to the 24th of Nevem- ber last. Several clippers had arrived nt San Fransisco. As there is considerable interest manifested relative to their speed, we annex a list of the timo thoy made: Ship Golden Gate, from New York. «114 days. Ship Swordfish, from New York, + 9% days. Ship Flying Fieh, from Boston +101 days. Ship Celestial, from New York 108 dage. The abovo is the actual time made by each ship, culling the day of departure and the day of arrival one day only. With the exception of the Passage of the Flying Cloud, which was mado in’ ninol days, that of the Swordfish is the shortest on record. She was built by Mr. William H. Wobb, of this ¢ ity. The schooner Penelope, Capt, Austin K. poner led n San Francisco for San Juan del Sud out 17th October Ia: with dante passengers. The last accounts from San Juan loft her out ninety- four days, up to which time nothing bas beon heard from her, It is feared she is lost, with all on board. ‘The following is a list of the vessels that sailed from San Francisco for Panama since the Ist of Janu- and may be hourly expected here:—brig Dud- > ship Brutus, ship Valparaiso, steamer Isthmus schooner B. L. Allen, and ship Magdalina. These vessels are all intended to return to San Francisee With passengers. The markets appeared to be gradually improving, and speculation was evidently fast dying away. Flour could be had at $9, and beef commanded ‘> to $25 per barrel. The gold diggers continued successful ; the want of water, however, was very inuch felt in the mining districis. Intelligence from the Isthmus of Panama. ‘The El Dorado brings advices from Chagres to the 6th, and Panama to tho dth instent, Wea ed to Mr. L, (. Paine, the Purser of tha D., for the following summary of intelligenco ‘The mail steamer will take from Panama all who have through tickets by the mail line, and many who have no through tickets Mach distress prevails at Panama among persons who hold through tickets by the so culicd “Independent Line," as there hus be 10 steamers of that line at Panama for EK ome time, # sare expected. These people, having, ny of them, expended thetr mes hrough tickets. are ung the mail Line, and are th many who had no tick chase them, ‘Those having tic ofthe independent stem two months, and the are very poor, Many ¢ f pur. are awaiting the arrival ‘a. pine have been there for chanced for the next two months them have returned home,to take h’start. 1 ra cannot procure through tiok- n reliable and responsible parties, they had better pay to Chagres, ond trust to chance on the Pacifia One of the parties selling through tlekets by the im- 1% represented the Americam agent, Mr. Corwin bra in a 4 papers, denied haying ang er. utward passage, the EL Dorado was in company with the steamship Daniel Webster, for six days. The Panama Kailroad is now opened to a point on the river lu forty miles above Chagres. and the mail steamers will alt dui Nay Bay hereefter, . Thix will be in smooth water, and passengers will thus avoid the danger and expense of landing in sinall boats at Chagres The road from (lor- gona to Panama is in first rate order, and with the help of the railroad, passengers, it iv estimated, cam all ba crosved in thirty hours, either way. ‘The port at Navy Bay, the terminus of the railroad, has been called Aspinwall City, in compliment (well de- served) to William HL. Aspinwall, Exq., one of thefoumds ers wnd pioncers in the formation of the company., pirp, (in camp with several hundreda of, bie .) near Panama, Joseph Poteet, f McDowell county, North Caroling, On the 2d inst fellow countrym thirty-five yea Onr California Coxrespeydanets. On Boarp Sreamsuir DANtEL Wessr ee, New York Harsor, March M4, 1852. Arrivals by the Dania Webster Weller om National and Ca California State Convention, &e. &c. Our passago from San Francisco to New, York has been very pleasant, and would have been a speedy one but for the transit across the Isthmus of Nicaragua, in which, owing to. bad manage- ment on that part of the line, we were occupied nearly a week. Among the passengers from San Franoisco, are Hon. Jno. B. Wel Hon. Robert M. MeLane, Samuel Brannan, Esq., J. '. Howe, Thos. Jefferson Smith, Hsq., and lady, and Captain Lyen, of tha J. S, Army. Colonel Weller, it will be recollected, was the-can- didate of the democratic party, in 1848, for Governor of Ghio; was appointed Boundary Cormmissioner wn- der the treaty with Moxico, and entered upon, hie n yesterday afternoon, with four days’ later advices from California than those received yesterday morn- | ing by the Daniel Webster. The news from San | Francisco was twenty-six days, and four hours in | coming through to tats city. | Subjoined is the report of tho El Dorado:— | The U. §. mail steamship El Norado, Lieut, H. J Hartstein, Jr., frou Chagres, Marsh 6, brings 133 passen rs, $1,500,000 ir_treasure, and the United States matls from California to, February 13, being four days later thea. by previous arrival. The K. . arrived at 4. M. Marels 15, thus makine, the passage tarough in twenty-six day and four hours—this is the sesond quickest trip or re cord. The first. was twenty Avo cays and eighteen hours— both of whick were made by.the Panama route. This is tae fourth short trip inside of twanty- | seven day%,from San Francisco to New York. The four were made as fidlows : Jan, 1-By Panama route. 26 daya@ hours Jan. 11 -By Nicaragua rout 6” B Jan. 16—By Panarya route. 18 Mar. 19—By Panesia route 4 Anaexed aro the NAMES OF THE EL. NORADO'S PASSENGERS mt TH Stephens. PD Killluff, (Herford Gragory's Expaees,) Capt @. M Garwood, ‘gabe bark Lewis, © A Buller, J Qualey, WF F Pirdeall, N Colo, Thos Omery, Mes Austin, FJ Fountain, ®. Evans, R Butier, J Moore, WP Powers, WB Glagding (A.& Co}. Whitney (mail agent), 7 0 1 olyin. G Barker, L J Bard, JL Bard. b Cooper, B Darling, D Cole, We Riche rd:on, Ferguson, ¥ J MeGinn, ¥ Stonde "4 ron. A J Griffin, & Bentley, P Me(innis. B Wright. AT Head. J. Howsrd, M ben J Riley, F Fannigg. 6 3 Lo JB) a nS Fleming. J Nevry. u Coy tt Street W_W New fevre. J Robinet. DW Full an Ath dall. WB Sargent. J Tyler, J 1 Rew dail, A R Hove r aM Fr. EP Winter. Pv ollins, 8 W Kell. WF W Porter, A W Peagon J We Fairchild, B Toying A sh A Sawyer. J Le dhuw f W Yort. W Robinson. AF Pony Mogrude a ‘W Horr. N Dextor ¢ Gritin, P Conlaw P Maloy, W Mevar P @icmman. Thove is nearly one oud ach duties at San Diego early in 1849; was subsequonth: superceded by the whig national adeniniptration nak now, by the Voice of the people of California, in le- gislature assembled, returns to Washingtoa, th scene of his former usefulness, as U States Se- nator for six yeaxs from the fourth of March Inst. Mr. Robert McLane was formerly member of Congress from the Baltimore distriet. He was-one of Colonel Wellez’s_ competitors. for the United. States Senate, and raeeived a very complimentary vote in the democratie caucus, thonghon the final vote im tho Legislative Convention, Colonel W. received the | entire strength of the deraoeratic party, 71 votes. Mr. Braunan is one of the earliest and most enter- prising citizens of San Franeiseo—ope of the most active members and a prominent leador of the Vigi lance Committee of that city, and accompanied the expedition which sailed from San Francisco, Inst fal, for Honolulu, % look after the temporal and an interests of the Sandwich Islands. Mr. 3rqan nderezood to be & large property holder in those Is. The time for a change of govorn- mont there, it ix believed, has not yet arrived; but 1 predict that within two years from this date, we chall have the Sandwick Islanders knocking at the doors of Congress for admission a a State into the merican Usion. mi Howe wae Chief Clerk of theeeonvention that framed the constitution of California ; has been sec- retary of the Senate from the organization of the covernment (o the commencement of the presont “egialature, and bas been secretary of ev demo- cratic State convention which has been hedd in Cali- fornia during the past three years. Judge Smith emigrated to California, from the city ot New York, in L849, and having, by the prac- tive of his profession—(the law)—aceumulated a» handsome competency, comes back to his old home to enjoy ity with no intention, L believe, of returning to California, , n returns to the Atlantic States, after of service in California, as a Captain im the Sécond Infantry On the 20th ult. Col, Weller received an invita- tice from a number of his fellow passengers, citizens of California, to address them * with t to hie | opinions 48 tp the proper course to be pursued by the present Oongress in regard to. the mineral of Coliforn¥,, the rights of individual miners therein, the propa course of Congress in regard to the reser- Yationsof lands made by the presont Indian agen 1 co nection with their treaties with the sever tibts of Tadians in California, and on such other