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April House. Celfax Introduce by consent a bill providing the regular denters newspapers and periodicals may receive packages by mail at pro rata rates, maps, engravings, photographical paper and envelopes, books, bound and unbound, blank or printed cards to go through the mails at one cent personee under 1500 miles, now charged letter postage by a recent decision of the Department on the present California postage, to apply on letters carrie by the overland mail from the Atlantic States to the Pacific coast, even if under 3000 miles. Mr. Colfax stated be would call up the bill when the House was full. House went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. Florence briefly explained his tariff substitute, claiming that it avoids the perplexities and complication of the main bill, that it is free from compound duties, has no minimum, gives specific duties for our country's staples, and leaving for further legislation any extension of the system. Mr. Corwin in replping to Mr. Elliot's allusion to him said he did not agree toall the provisions of the fugitive slave law, if he had been in Congress when it passed he would not have voted for it, preferring the old law. He thought there was no sonstitutional warrants for one of its provisions. But there was higher/authorit than him self. When he was member of Mr. Fillmore's Cabinet he said the bill was constitutional, and henec he assented to the Presidens's approval it. of Mr. Corwin, resuming. said he had doubt asto the constitutionality of that provision of the law of 1850 which authorizes the courts to appoint the commissioner, and regretted they were not to be appointed by the President, by and with the advice of the Senate. Owing to their judicial function, the old men who framed the Constitution determined that our rights should not rest on tradition, like the Br tish country, but they wrote and printed our Constitution 80 there ought to be no mistake aboutit Were there no fugitive law the Southern man could go into the free State and, with the Constitutionis his hand, reclaim the fugitive, because the Constitution gave him the right and said the person owing labor orservice shall be delivered up. The framers of the Constitution put this construction, and therefore he adherred to this view of the subject. Messrs. Carter, Elliott and Davis controverted the position of Mr. Corwin, who, in his further remarks, kept the Committee in remarkably good humor: when his hour had expired there was a general acquiescence that he sheuld continue his speech. Mr. Curtis wished to know how much time he wanted: Mr. Corwin thought he would get through before the Chicago Convention.[Laughter. He made 8 ome good-natured hits at the South, which were all received in a similar spirit. He said, lamong other things, some would dissolve the Union to-morrow, because their negroes ran eo fast they could not eatch them: but they ought to recollect that these negroes have to run through slave States before they get to free; why not kill the negroes South because they don't catch the fugitives. [Laughter. John Brown got up a scheme in Chatham to operate in Virginia, contrary to our laws. Why not call on the British Government to deliver up those engaged in that transaction If there was no other reason why this was not done, it was because Great Britain wants our cotton and we don't desire to go to war with her. [Laughter. It would not be long before Massach following the example of Indiana, would pass law prohibiting free negroes coming thither, and 80 it would with other free States when they found they were going to have a negro pauper population. The Republican party are not opposed to the recovery of fugitive negro 8; there was not one in a hundred thousand who would undertake to repeal the present law and substitute State Legislation. Every body knows that would not be in our present position if it had not been for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. His speech was generally moderete and conciliatory The Committee rose and the House adjourned. Boston, April 24. Late New Brunswick papers contain details of the late great fire in Woodstock. 150 buildings were destroved in the business portion of the town, including the Commercial and Central Banks with all their contents. The Post Office important contents saved. The printing offi es of the S ntinel and Journal, the Mechanic's Institute, all the Hotels but one, and about 60 stores and places of business. Loss between 75,000 and 100,000 pounds. Insurance 25 to 30,000 pounds. Active measures have been taken in the Province to relieve the sufferers. Charleston, April 25. The following telegraphic despatch was received last night Battle Ground of San Jacinto,) Texas, April 21st. The people assembled en masse, have at this time and place nominated Sam. Houston as the peoples' candidate for President, in November next. A strong electoral ticket: the platform, the Constitution and Union; down with all sec tional issues. Signed A. M. Gentry. The result here is electric. am assured it is extremely probable, if the Wood delegates are rejected, and the platform does not please the South, the seceders will nominate the old hero for President, and Fernando Wood for Vice-Pres ident. New York, April 25. The bark Charlotte A. Way was seized yesterday, on suspicion of fitting for a slave voyage. John A. Dix has been offered the post of Commissioner under the Paraguay Treaty. Advices from St. Marks, San Domingo, state that the recent shocks of earthquake extended also to that place, when several buildings were demolished, and other damage done. During the shocks the inhabitants abandoned their houses and slept in the streets. It is supposed great damage was sustained in other places. Shocks were also felt by vessels in the harbor, causing them to oscilate violently The steamship Vigo has arrived from Liverpool. Her news is anticipated. Port au Basque, N. F., April 25 A large steamer. with three masts and one funnel, passed here yesterday at M. She was about a gun shot distance from shore and going west. Weather foggy; wind west; ice close aboard. Port au Basque is the farthest western station in New Foundland, and the steamer in question would seem to be bound for Quebec, probably the United Kingdom from Glasgow 14th or North Britain from Liverpool 18th. Vashington, April 25. As the first legislative step on the subject which has been privately discussed during the past six months, Mr. Norris, of III., will urge the passage of joint resolution, appointing Mr. Orr, of C., General Donighan, of Mo., and Gov. Wood, of III, Commissioners to negotiate with the Mormons for the sale of their possessions, on the express condition that they remove within a reasonable time from the limits and jurisdiction of the United States. The Commissioners are to make their report to the President the next session of Congress. The ground for this movement is to prevent the recurrence of war and bloodshed, as the history of the Mormons in Missouri and Illinois show they cannot, owing to their peculiarities, live on terms of peace and good neighborhood with contiguous settlements. It is also treated as a question of econo ny to the Treasury Mr. Burlingame, from Committee of Foreign Affairs will report bill in accordance with his resolution, asking for a first class mission to Sardinia, the envoy to receive *12 000 and the secretary of legation $1 800. The Sardinian charge d' affaigs is delighted with the movement. Railroad officials state large amount of bills on the Clinton Bank, of Westernport, Md. a broken concern, are being forced upon the unwary and it is believed still lorger amount is being sent to the West. Toledo, April 25. At an annual election of the M. S. & N.I.R.
