Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • 2

the following Message was received from His Excel-! if followed out to its legitimate conclusion, th restriction of other articles of traffic than ihouc which house stations. Of this 000 ba. been already subscribed, and the remain-der" it is expected, will be taken along the line of the roaj The affairs of the Legislature at New Haven are too well known to need recapitulation here. The murder in our county is producing some excitement in the quiet town where it took place. Mc Caffrey's trial is progressing at New Haven and new developments are making respecting theJolebrook murder.

Business is beginning to be brisk here. Connecticut Legislature. MAY SESSION, 1S50. SENATE. Thursday Morning, May 2.

The Senate assembled at 9 o'clock. Prayer by Rev Mr. Beardsley. Hon. George Catlin, appointed a com mittee to wait upon the House and notify it that th Senate was organized and ready to proceed to business.

Reported that he had discharged that duty. 1 i Message from the House, informing the Senate thai the House is organized. Resolution passed thata committee wait on the Gov ernor and inform him that the two Houses are organized. Hon. Mr.

Ferris appointed. Reported that the Governor would soon make a communication. Hon. Mr. Marks reported official canvass and that choice of State officers has been made by the people.

Report accepted. A message from the House inviting the Senate to making the divi- The number of dend 1.59 on each child enumerated rhildren returned at the last enumeration, in August, 1849, shows an increase over the previous year, ot 1,789. The creation of the School fund is one of the most fact in our political historv. The leading F.W of the svstem is too striking to be overlooked. No society can have a firm basis, and no State that uniouofj freedom with knowledge which constitutes the best, security against the eitremes of anarchy and oppres sion, without the powenui support vi a gcucrai bjiui of education.

With the growth of this Fund, a system of common school education has sprung up and spread itself over the State. For a long time, however, it may be said that the svstem languished on account of the too great reliance on the Fuiid, which had the effect to relax in dividual exertions. the boast and blessing of the State, will be laid belore you iu the report oi tue oupennteuueni a geuuemau who has devoted his time and talents to this great sub-J not kept accordins to law. is 90,700, iect for mauv years. Though laboring oiien unuer tucyue x.rgl3.aiu.c.

eniuiea under more favorable cir-mot discouraging circumstances, he has steadily Though but lately emerged from a war sued the lofty purpose which he has had in view, with it was supposed by many, would affVct injuri- ioint ballot for State Officers for the year ensuing. 1 I 1 1 1 The Senate proceeded to uie xiousc iur me aoof purpose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday Afternoon, 3 o'clock. The House has been occupied from 2 o'clock to thi hour in balloting for a Speaker, but have not ettected choice.

The last ballot does not differ materially from the first. After the eighth ballot had been taken, A member proposed an adjournment the motion, on being put was negatived. Mr. Hamersley moved that the next person having the greatest number of votes on the next ballot be de clared the Speaker oi me nouse. Mr.

t'eck, ot INew Haven, opposeu me motion, auu called for the yeas and nays. The vote was accordingly taken by yeas and nays and decided in the negative yeas 98, nays 120. Another ballot was then taken tor Speaker, wnici resulted like the former ones, in no choice. Adjourned to 7 o'clock this evening. Evening Session.

TVi limine met at 7 o'clock, and continued the bal lotings for Speaker; four additional ballots were takei as follows: lency the Governor, by the bands ot K. A. Lrvisg, Private Secretary: GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. Fellow Citizens of the Senate, and House of Representatives I feel myself deeply impressed with the honor which has just beeu conferred upon me; and I desire to express my gratitude to those from whom I have received that honor. The trust which has been committed to me, 1 snau en- Jrnr tti fulfil in Rn-h manner to represent ine will of the people, through whose delegates in General Assembly convent I have been placed in a mgu responsible office.

Yitbout any claim to long experience in public affairs, I shall necessarily enter upon the discharge of the duties, which will now devolve upon me, wiih great diffidence. The State for which you are called to legislate, though limited in its extent, occupies deservedly a proud posi tion in the Union, demandiug alike from all those luto whose hands its destinies may bo committed, the task of unceasing efforts to maintain its interests and its honor. In coming together again to legislate for the people of the State, it is impossible to overlook the general prosperity. That prosperity is owing in a measure, I have, no doubt, to causes which lie beyond the reach ot mere legislation. It is to be found in tho native industry, enterprise, and perseverance of the people of this country.

Never have we had greater reason to be thaukful for the blessings of a free government, than at the pre- senttime, or grateful to thi God of peace and concord, who has thus far held us together in the bouds of a glo rious union. The period at which youhave assembled, is marked by the progressive spirit of the age. In matters of legislation, our own State has nut been behind its sister States of the confederation. Though now butlittle more than thirty years since the adoption of our present Constitution, that instrument has undergone several important alterations others it is believed are required at the present time, and the demand for a Convention to revise and amend the Constitution of the State, seems to have grown into a public sentiment. The subject will come before you at the present session for final ac tion, so far as the Legislature is concerned.and from the almost general expression of opinion in favor of the measure, I cannot conceive that it will be necessary for me to press the subject upon your consideration.

A measure so just in itself, and called for by the voice of the people of the State, cannot fail to meet with your earliest attention. Two other propositions to amend the Constitution will also come before the Legislature at its present session one in relation to the election of Judges of Probate by the people, the other the election of Justices of the Peace in the same manner and each embodying the principle of a wise reform. Should, however, the Legislature in the first place take favorable action upon the proposition to call a Convention for the purpose of a general reform ot the Constitution, it may perhaps be considered inexpedient to act upon the remaining propositions to amend, involving, as they do, questions of re form which would be likely to come before such a Con vention as there is reason to believe will, iu the course of another year, be assembled in this State. 1 he actual expenses ot the State the past yeai have been $121,720,84, which sum includes the payment of $3,328.75 interest on the debt to the School-fund. The receipts into the treasury exclusive of the balance of last year's account, $20,241,96.

and the sum of $12,000 borrowed of the school-fund siuce the last session of the Legislature, amount to the sum of $111,191,73 showingthat the expenses have exceeded the current receipts in the sum of $10,529,1 1. The debenture and contingent expenses of the General Assembly, and Judicial expenses of the State, especially the latter, constitute important items in onr increased expenditures. The Judicial expenses alone, for the year ending the 31st of March 1850, amount to the sum of $49, 004, 89, showing an excess over tho expenses of the same department for the previous year of The average yearly increase of the Judicial expenses for six years past, has been at the rate of $2,997,39, or nearly three thousand dollars per annum. For several years our expenses have greatly increas 11th 12th 13th 14th 102 101 97 92 95 96 96 96 13 14 13 12 6 8 13 19 216 219 219 219 ed, and notwithstanding the additional tax of a will therefore devolve on cent on the dollar, which has added to our annual re-i present sessiou. ceipts since 1847, an average nett amount of $18,000, it Freedom of inquiry into onr laws has exposed the has been found impossible to meet the current expenses impolicy of the Statutes on Usury.

At the last sessiou of the fiscal year, without borrowing money for that of the Legislature of this State, an important modifica-purpose. The State is now iudebted to the School-fund, Ition of our usury laws was effected. The statute on are specified in the statute. If, as it is alleepd, th trf fic inspintous li.piors is immoral, and no distinction i to be made betweeu the use and abuse of the sani i plain enough that stringent laws iu this matter, tnn'v carried to almost any extent, and made the instrument of oppression aud injustice, rather than of salutary reform. I submit to the Legislature, whether the present Jaws do not present many objectionable ieaiure lujuaiuy essential 1 ......1 1 est tne attention ot the Legislature to the number of persons employed in business of various kindi in th State, and to an inquiry into the number of hours th.

are expected to labor during the day. I would sut for consideration whether it would not be botbi ist.nd expedient to provide by law.thatiu cases where no pre-viouscoutract has been inad to labor for anv soecifi-time diiringaday, that ten hours shall constitute a 1- ecn i ue provisions ot such a law Ti.t exieuueu. at least to a. I persons emploved ia or on. vui.cu vj uw, At no time in our history as a State and nation, which ne at the toutnUUon oi our growm unu power as a nation, the country has gone ou in its triumphant career of prosperitv and bar-piuess.

To this stability in our affairs, I cannot but thtuk are indebted, iu an important niauncr, to the enlightened legislation which has given equal protcctiou to the giant iuterests of agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, aud to that remarkable financial measure, the Independent Treasury system, which has so we'd subserved the purposes of its creation, without was'ing our resources, or depressing any branch of trult a measure which, more than any other, has contributed to give steadiness to the business of the country, under all the circumstauces of the last few years o'f trial at home and abroad. The great system of free government, which cur fathers established, is entitled to our unfaltering at-lachmeut. Choosing rather to be "happy citizens'than subtle disputants," they laid its foundations broad and deep in the affections of thj people. All the difficultifi which they had to encounter at the time, growing out of the diversified interests and sectional purposes, they had the wisdom to settle in a spirit of generous compromise. Thus the Uuion was formed, and it is only ia that spirit it cau be preserved.

Since the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, various questions have arisen, involving, oiten, the exercise of doubtful powers of legislation, vhii.a have seriously threatened the overthrow of our institutions. But the spirit in which the Constitution was formed the spirit of compromise and concession to the rights of the several States has saved the Union when most severely tried. The controversy which, for some time past has seriously endangered all the best interests of this country provoking animosities, and exciting feelings of jealousy and distrust between different portions of the same a controversy growing out of the acquisition of territory which is the common property of all the people of litis country is now, we have rca. son to believe, in a fair way cf adjustment. The prospect of a speedy settlement of the several questions which have sprung out of the extension of our territory, I regard as the dawn of a new aud better era in our history.

Settled, as I trust they will be, on abroad and liberal basis, extending over the Union, one and indivisible, we shall have harmony restored to all parts of the country. A new State will be brought into thel'iiinii, to add to its strength, increase the national wealth, and exteud the blessings of the Republic. With no longer any disturbing causes to threaten the overthrow of our admirable form of government, we shall continue to be a free, a prosperous, and a happy people. I have thus very briefly laid before you, several sub jects for your consideration. In the progress of the ses sion, many questions, jt is probable, will arise, ot more or less importance to the people who are represented in the legislative body.

That your proceedings shall be so conducted as to maintain the best iuterests of the State, to establish order, ensure tranquility, and pro mote the general welfare and that, through your deliberations, without regard to those lines ef difference in opinion and principles which sometimes divide us, the integrity and honor of our ancient commonwealth will be fully sustained is a matter of no uncertainty. Open to the eyes of the Ruler of the world are all our actions, and in our feeble efforts to raise human laws to the highest state of perfection imperfect earthly wisdom and knowledge will allow, we may well with reverence invoke the blessiug of Divine Providence. THOMAS H. SRYMOUR. Nkw Haven.

May 2d, 1850. BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH To the Hartford Courant, Arrival of the Canada at Halifax. BosTos.May 29 P. M. The Canada from Liverpool, arrived nt Halifax last night at 10 o'clock.

I learu that the news was sent to New York this forenoon, but cannot learn what it is. It belongs to the associated press, who will keep it dark for moruing papers. CONGRESS THURSDAY. Washington, May 2. Sin ate.

The President said he should be absent several days after Monday next. Several private and local bills were passed. The discussion on the Illinois Canal was resumed, sad an amendment offered to grant lnnds to Illinois, Mississippi aad Alabama, tor a Rail Read from Chicago to Mobile. Passed CS to 14' The Senate then went into executive session. Hocse.

Mr. Stanton reported a bill authorizing the President to incorporate the officers of the late Texan navy into the nary of the United States. Mr. White reported a joint resolution for the relief of the Ma rines retained on foreign stations after the period of their enlist, ment. Both referred to the Committee of the whole.

The Committee of Foreign Affairs reported a bill relative to the free navigation of the St. Lawrence. After debate, it was laid over, Mr. McLane stating that a correspondence bad been entered into with the British Government for a reciprocity, wss before the Committee of Commerce, who would soon report bill accordingly. In Committee, the Census Bill was taken un, and amendments were discussed without material progress.

House adjourned. The Jury at New Haven have found McCaffrey guilty of the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Smith on East Kock. CF" The Cambria arrived at New York at half past 8 yesterday morning.

i i EF" At the New Y'ork Stock Exchange, yesterday, U. S. Sixes of '67 were sold at 118 Ohio Sixes of '60, 1101 102; 110; 100; Erie Sevens, new, 95j Ohio Life and Trust, Erie Rail Road, Hartford and New Haven, Hudson River, 60 New Y'ork and New Haven, Reading, 48. Cambridge Cuttle Market, Wednesday, May 1. Reported for tht Boston Courier At market 273 Cattle about 200 Beeves, and 73 Stores, con siftine of working Oxen, Ccws and Calves, 1.

3 and 3 years 0.4 Prices: Market Beef Extra 86 25 perewt; 1st qusjity.So; 2d quality, $5 50 3d quahtv $5 ordinary, S4 a 4 50. Veal Calves $4 62; Hides CI 50 per cwt Tallow to 50. Stores Working Oxen, t4, SI. 90, 100 a 107. Cows and Calves 21, 27, 36 a4X Yearling none two years old, no sales; three years c.u, SIP, 22, a 27.

Pheep and Lambs 892 at market. Pricas Extra, 3. By lot, $1 50, 1 75, 2 6o a 2 75. Nearly ail sold. Pwine Retail, none.

Remarks The market not quite as goad as it has been last three weeks. New York Market. Cotton The sales are 1000 baUs tbe market it very firm the steamer' aews, without any advance. We continue ior mer quotations Uplands. Mo.

Fla. N. O. Texu. none.

1Uh12 laalSy t2jal3t lyja 1J1 nom. Inferior none none. Ordinary lljalll UV Middling lHalSf 12ial2f Middling fair l-'JaHJ Uijal2 pair Good fair 13al3J nom. Pino nom. nom.

Ftocm ixd Gtw -Flour isTeryfirm. and full prices paid, i. Michigan pure Genesee, Snnthern is firm at Kve flour better, sV'HHaM Meal, i85 tor Jersey, sad 2,75 for ftate. Rye5, For in me sup, aim -t -i corn there is a eood business at 61c for Southern and Jersey aa Northern yellow; 59a61 for white Southern and 60c for green Northern. Jour, Com.

53 for damaged. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 3. REVIEW OF THE WEEK. The weather has been more Spring like than any yet experienced in April. The rain on Sunday night and early Monday morning was violent every where.

At Philadelphia and farther South, it was accompanied by thunder, and terminated in several warm days. With ns, there was little lightning but much rain. The river has been quite high the greatest freshet for a number of ears. It is now falling. Wednesday, there was a very sadden change from warm to cold, and Thursday must be called a cold day for May.

After a long delay, the Cambria has reached us with the foreign news. She was seventeen days on her passage. The news is of but little importance. There seems to be a possibility, and but a possibility, of a rupture between Russia and England. If the latter power persists in her attack on Greece, the Czar will assist Otho, and he may be only waiting for the conduct of England as a pretext for the invasion of the South of Europe, thinking that France will not make common cause with Great Britain in a war brought on by her rapacious demands on Greece.

We have no late news from California! the emigration thither is as great as usual, Unless some of the passengers for Chagres are destined for Cuba instead of California. The transient American residents of Chagres are reported to have got possession of the municipal powers by some election, and are managing aflairs in their own way. The Tehu. antepec route to the Pacific through Mexico, is still a subject of negotiation. The Mexican Minister at Washington is very desirous of enlisting American capitalists in the work.

It is said, that a Company has already been formed in Mexico, and a route fixed upon. The plan is to establish a line of steamers from New Orleans to the Guadascaleos River, and to open a mule-wagon road from the head of that stream to the waters of the Pacific at Tehuantepec, where the Panama steamers can stop. The Nicaragua treaty is now before the Senate for consideration. Report differs so much respecting its details, that it will be safer to wait for the treaty itself, which a few days will bring us. The subject of annexation seems dying away in Canada, the papers that supported it losing their influence.

Cuba yet feels timidly on the subject of invasion, though the Captain General has made every preparation to meet it. His threats are quite sanguinary and smell of the Garotte. It supposed by some that many of the self-called California adventurers will rendezvous at Chagres for an invasion of Cuba. Congressha. been idle.

The abseuce of the Senators who attended Mr. Calhoun's remains, has prevented any of the exciting topics from being agitated The Senate have passed the House Bill, authorizing the Grenuell expedition by a vote of 28 to 16, so that the vessels prepared can sail immediately. -The Haute are engaged on the Census Bill. The Census Committee wished that statistics of employment, property, and means of living should be taken; the South resist this because the Bill asks some questions about their human chattel! that they think impertinent. They desire a mere enumeration of the number inhabitants, and nothing else.

As usual, they declare it unconstitutional to make any other inquiries in such a bill. The Senate committee of thirteen are about to report, and we may expect next week some serious business. Dr. Ashbel Smith of Texai, thinks that the Texans will gladly relinquish their claims on the Santa Fe district for a compensation, and that public opinion is decidedly opposed to the division of Tex-, as into new States. He speaks favorably of the increased quantity and value of the sugar crop, but says the cotton crop in the lower district is always precarious.

Speculators seem to be getting up quite an excitement about the deficiency of the cotton crop at the South. A dispatch dated Montgomery, Alabama, claims that the deficiency will amount to 570,000 bales A few months ago, 100,000 was the limit. Look out against being bitten! The Indians of Florida are now determined not to migrate this summer. They have retired to the everglades, where, during the warm season, they cannot be pursued. Those two respectable gentlemen, Gen.

Billy Bow Legs and Gen. Sam. Jones, have been too much for Gen. Twiggs, and have twigged him "some." Mississippi, "faithful only found among the faithless," through her Governor, General Quitman, tendered the use of ber capitol to the Southern Convention, if it cannot be accommodated at Nashville. The entire debt of Tennessee amounts to $1,918,397.

The citizens cf Memphis have voted a subscription of $300,000, and private citizens have added $200,000 more, to the stock of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which is intended to pass along the valley of the Tennessee River, through Tuscumbiaand near Huntsville, Ala. When thefuueral ceremonies in honor of Mr. Calhoun took place at Charleston, there was a universal suspension of all public and private business the counting houses, stores, insurance offices, and banks were all closed. More persons appeared in the public procession than had ever before appeared in the city It is now esti. mated that between sixty and seventy passengers were lost in the burning of the Belle of the West, on the Ohio, principally women and children belonging to some Pennsylvania families emigrating to Illinois.

There were, on board the boat, 167 cabin and 203 deck passengers. Thirty one bodies only have been recovered. The Detroit Advertiser, April 17th, says there never has been a time since 1842. when the want of money has been felt worse than at present, in the State of Michigan, among business men. The peach crop in some parts of Maryland has been cut off by the late frosts.

Iu Deleware and New Jersey and in places farther north, the buds were not sufficiently advanced to be injured. The Loco Focos in Maryland are having a glorious spree, all to themselves, about "who hall be Governor," or rather about who shall be candidate. Whoever be is, we trust the Whigs of Maryland will tee that he is defeated, by a universal turnout. In New Jersey, one man has been hung for murder, and one man has turned Loco for profit and there is a great oyster war been the people of.that State and the inhabitants of Staten Island. There was good sleighing in Lewis County, New York, April 20lh.

Charles Minot, has been elected superintendent of the New York and Erie Railroad. Mr. Minot has been, for some years, the superintendent of the Boston aud Maine Road. The late disasters in the City of New York how the impropriety of slight buildings. Nothing new in Philadelphia, for deaths occasioned by violence in Firemen's riots, is "nothing new," now.

The bridge of the Kennebec and Portlaud R. R. over the Andrpscoggin river, is one of the strongest of the kind in the United States. The whole length of the bridge is over seven hundred feet one of the reaches from centre to centra of the piers, is one hundred and eighty feet. The track of the road will be fifty feet from the water.

Mr. Webster's reception in Boston the effort making to alter the law respecting capital punish, ment the passage of the Midland Railroad bill the unanimous anti-slavery resolutions passed by the Legislature and the freshet in the Connecticut are the most noted things that have occurred in Massachusetts the past week. The Surveyors have made their report respecting the Norwalk and Danbury railroad in this SiaU. They estimate tbeexpense.includinglocomotives. ELECTION CEREMONIES.

The Governor elect reached New Haven with his es cort at a quarter past three o'clock yesterday afternoon. He was escorted through the principal streets to the State House. The Governor himself was on horseback-The military display is represented as having been uncommonly fine. The regular oath of office was administered to tue Governor in his room in the State House. We understand that Samcki.

Colt, Esq. of this city, and Charles R. Ingeksoll, Esq. of New Haven, have been appointed Aids, and R. A.

Ervino, Esq. of this; city, Private Secretary. Grit WM De our report of the Legislative doings of yesterday, that Col. Seymour was elected Gov ernor by 14 majority. Somewhat ot a disappointment to his friends who have claimed that his majority would be as high as 26.

Mr. Warner, the gentleman appointed Clerk of the House by resolution, is a member from East Haddam. Tbe Flood. The river was falling slowly yesterday. The water was two or three feet deep on the Bridge road through the East Hartford meadows, rendering the passingover it with carriages very dangerous, and showing the ne cessity of its being very considerably raised.

Drowned. A little boy, seven years of age, son of Mr. Walter O. Lewis of this city.was drowned iu Charles street, vvea nesday afternoon. The water was three feet deep in that street during the freshet, and it is supposed in playing near it, he fell into a hole.

His body was not found until the next morning. Explosion and Loss of Life. The boiler of the Power Loom Carpet Millin Tbomp- sonville, exploded on with a startling shock, terribly scalding one of the firemen, and another man who happened at the moment to be sitting near by. Both of these unfortunate men have since died. t3T The faces of our Locofoco brethren, when they heard the result of the first balloting for Speaker on Wednesday, were longer than those of the Whigs the day after the election and they were not shortened any when the news came that the House had adjourned without effecting a choice.

Some, who had put impli cit faith iu the statements of the Times, were alarmed lest they should lose their Governor. There were ma ny anxious countenances yesterday morning, but the flag which our neighbors had promised to run up at 9 o'clock, made its appearance about ll, and all doubt i was removed. Loco net gain in the late Virginia election for members of the Legislature is eight. A U. S.

Sen ator is chosen by this Legislature, has been carried by a large majority. The Convention fjT Doct. Geo. Sumner, and Junius S. Morgan, Esq.

of this city, were among the passengers of the steamer America, which sailed from Boston for Liverpool, on Wednesday. 5 There has been quite a freshet in the Merrimack River. The Railroads in tho neighborhood of Concord have been much injured, and the trains on some of them, stopped. The damages estimated as high as $200,000. The river was so high at Lowell as to compel the mills to suspend busiuess.

Est" The Law Reporter for May, a valuable Massachusetts production, contains a long article, strongly condemning, on legal grounds, the late verdict against Prof. Webster. CF The Spirit of the Age, a paper in Boston, devo-; ted to social reform, has been stopped. TTBr Wfl urn under nhh.vatinna tn Mr. Kr.

rif th Times, for an early copy of Gov. Seymour's Message. 13?" The Virginia Serenaders give Concerts in this city, this evening and to-morrow evening. There is an evident endeavor at Rochester and other Western cities to raiae tho price of Flour for speculating purposes. The Air TAue Bridge.

We sincerely regret thatour Middletown friends propose to make an application to the Legislative for the restoration of the Bridge clause to their Air Line Charter. That Lattle has been fought in Connecticut, and the question settled settled beyond the possibility of a reversal. An attempt to restore the Bridge clause will be worse than useless, because it will be taking up the time of the Legislature and subjecting the State to expense, without benefit to any body. We trust the thing will yet be abandoned. Norwich Courier.

CONGRESS WEDNESDAY. Iu the Senate, the bill to aid Mr. Grinnell's expedition in search of Sir John Franklin and his companions was passed. So that is ended. The House talked the day out on the Census bill, and decided not to strike out the sections which provide for collecting Statistics of Production, Wealth, i he vote stood 98 to 44, or more than two to one.

We would like to chrouicle to-morrow the success of Mr. Vinton's excellent amendments by a similar vote, but we hardly hope for it. The bill must be carried through the House in some shape to-day. JV. Y.

Tribune. at Later from Porto Rico. Philadelphia, Wednesday, May 11 P. M. Capt.

Loud i if the brig Jas. Marshall, from Maya-guez the 18th, reports that he sailed under the convoy of the U. S. sloop-of-war Albany, Com. Randolph, who had on board Capt.

Beecher and crew, of the wrecked schr. North Carolina, who had been unjustly imprisoned and cruollv treated by the authorities. Com. Randolph signified to the Governor before he sailed that remuneration aud apology would be demanded and enforced. And a repetition of so eross mi net of inhumanity would be visited with retributive iustice.

1 I' iii -1 iexi morning ine Aiuaiiy sieereu ior uape Haytien, to look after his Majesty the Emperor Soulouque. Sailing of tbe America, tc. Bostow, Wednesday, May 1. The America sailed at 12 o'clock, with 109 passengers for Liverpool, and 11 for Halifax. She also had $24,000 iu specie aud $52,335 in bullion and gold dust.

The Writ of Error in Prof. Webster's Case. In reference to the report that the counsel of Prof. Webster have taken out a writ of error, on the ground that the indictment was not correctly certified up to the Supreme Court, the Clerk of the Municipal Court informs the Boston Post that the indictment was transmitted and certified to the Supreme Court as all other capital indictments returned from the Municipal Court have been under the Jaw ot y4tn reb. 1844.

and that Washington Goode was tried, convicted aud executed under an indictment certified and transmitted as this was. At a late meeting of the Asiatic Society, a mask of gold, taken from a coffin found on the banks of the Euphrates, by Capt Lynch, was exhibited. It is of life size, and evidently moulded from the face of the deceased. It has a strong resemblance to the Assyrian style of countenance, recently noticed among the sculptured remains of Nineveh. no I an industry and perseverance wuicn nomiug well founded faith the justice ot the cause couia inmiroil.

From his renort. it will be seen that while schools in connection with other institutions of learning, are making education the common property in nnr miilat. thpre is still left room in Ul I our system of public instruction to carry out and en-lnrPB what our fathers so admirably began. The sug- Ideations of the Superintendent are many of them wor- ihv tht. attention of the Lesislature.

The report of the Trustees of the State Normal School will show the progress which has been made in locating and organizing this new institution. To the credit ot the enterprising village of New Britain, it should be mentioned that the citizens of that society have placed the sum of sixteen thousand dollars at the service of the State in buildings apparatus and library, for the use of the Normal School. The object of this school you havehad before you at a previous session. Coming immediately from the people, in whose primary assemblies the subject of our schools is so often discussed, you will be able to determine whether any thing remains to be done in furtherance of the great cause of public instruction, which has so often commanded the attention of the Legislature. The militia system commends itself to the patriotism of our fellow citizens.

It has come down to us from a period when it was chiefly relied on for achieving the independence of this country. The right of the people to keep and bear arms, is the basis of an organization which should never be abandoned whilst we have lib- Gerties to watch over and protect. In our State the law ot 1847 effected a great change in the old system of organization. How far it has answered the purpose of its creation, I am utiable to state no reports of any kind or statistics having coine into my hands to warrant any geueral conclusions on the subject. Some grounds of complaint have arisen in regard to pay, commutation money and fines, which call for Legislative inquiry.

Those who perforin military service, and those who do not, complain of the new system the first that they do not receive iu full the per diem sum allowed them in the law and those who are permitted to commute for military service, that the law bears heavily upon them. The law may, therefore, be considered as still open to revision and correction. No efforts should be spared to place the system upon a just and firm basis, so that we may continue to hand down to the latest generations the means of defence and the safeguard of our institutions. The efforts which have been made to sustain the system, under one form of organization and another, by those upon whom the burthen of the system mainly falls, I regard as an evidence of the patriotism which is ready to make any sacrifices for the common cause a patriotism which I believe to have been handed down through our militia system iua greater degree than in any other way. The lamented Major General Francis W.

Bacon having deceased since the last sessiou of the General Assembly, of which he was a distinguished and useful member, the office which he held in the militia of the State has become vacant. The duty of filling that va- the Legislature at its that subject was so far amended as to reduce the penal- ty for receiving a greater amount of iulereet than the sum fixed by statute, to a forfeiture of the value of the money or other property taken, accepted or received for forbearance. I submit to the Legislature whether the act of the last session might not with propriety be further amended, by providing for a forfeiture of the excess of interest only over and above the legal rate thus clearing the statute of its most objectionable feature. A still better reform, iu my judgment would be the repeal of the law itself. I cannot avoid noticing the fact, that much of the time of the Legislature is annually consumed in the consideration of questions of a special nature, such as relate to applications for charters of various kinds.

It cannot be denied, that many of the projects for which legislative enactments are asked and almost demanded at every session, partake often of the character of special privileges which, when brought before the Legislature, it is difficult to separate from extraneous influences so eagerly are they sought for, at times, by those who are most interested in such matters. Great caution is therefore required in the exercise of such powers of legislation. Iu many instauces, no doubt, a just regard for the rights of the people requires that the Legislature should abstain from the exercise of such powers of legislation, as the only appropriate homage which can be rendered to the well established principle of our admirable Bill of Rights. I suggest for the consideration of the Legislature, whether it would not be well to provide for a system of free banking, by the enactment of a general law, under which corporations or associations for banking purposes may beformed- In the course of our legislation, several attempts have been made to abolish tho death penalty. The subject has within a few years assumed a practical bearing, which is beginning to be felt in our courts of justice.

It is there we see the great difficulty which is of ten experienced in procuring a conviction at trials for homicide, rendered remarkable often ifor tho evident guilt of the accused. The reluctance to render a verdict of guilt in such cases, is undoubtedly owing in many instances to the effect produced on the minds of jurors by the terrible nature of the punishment, which re quires blood for blood. On the other hand, the sympathy which is so often excited in behalf of those who have been found guilty of the crime, and sentenced to death, has the effect to cast doubt and suspicion on the law itself. Thus, too, horror of the crime is sometimes lost in the sympathy for the victim, and the punishment affixed to the crime becomes an act of the grossest in justice; and thus, too, when a victim has been launch- cu luiueieruiiy, uiauyuuu ii uiuicuii to discriminate be i I I tween premeditated and legal murder. I submit to the Legislature whether the time has not come, when we should blot from our statute-book that relic of a barbarous age, aud substitute instead thereof, imprisonment for life.

No laws on our Statute book are better founded in reason and justice, than those which exempt from execution a certain amount of necessary household furniture, provisions for the support of a family, and tbe implements of trade. They are laws suited to an aCTe of progressive wisdom and humanity. The next step should carry us to the house of the citizen. A law is wanted to secure the industrious citizen the home which he has acquired by his industry and which shall at the same time encourage others to acquire a property in the soil, and a roof for shelter during life. Tbe exemption of a limited amount from forced sale on execution of the homestead of every man who has acquired a little property in the soil such a law as shall be applicable to debts contracted after a certain date, would, I have no doubt, he nm.biptiv benefits to the community, without affecting injurious- ly any class of citizens ing to the meritorious citizen a foothold in society, oucn an exemption by secur would stimulate him to make greater exertions to main tain himself and family.

It is tbe dread of impending ruin and loss of the homestead which not unfrnnnentlv paralyzes all the efforts of a man to save his property from falling into the hands of another. I am not unmindful of the fact that this subject has engaged the attention of the Legislature within the last few years, nor thata law designed to meet the case thus imperfectly presented, passed the Legislature at its session in 1817, and that it was repealed the follow ing year. The fate of the act of 1847, which in some respects may have been defective, is not sufficient to deter me from inviting the Legislature to consider the question again. Nor can I too strongly recommend the passage of alaw, so just in itself, but which, in substance has already been adopted by nearly one third of the States of this Union. The existing laws in relation to the traffic in spiritous liquors have excited conflicting opinions in the com munity.

The course of reasoning by whichJt is at- temptea tojusniy stnngcnt laws on the subject, would. Pratt, Dutton, Hooker, Scattering, Total, Mr. Hamersley, of Hartford, renewed his motion elect a Speaker by was negatived by decisive majority. Adjourned to 8 o'clock, Thursday morning. Thursday Morning, May 2.

The House came to order at 8, and proceeded to bal lot for Speaker. Whole number of votes cast 219 necessary to a choice, 110 of which Origen S. Seymour received 110 Henry Dutton 95 Scattering 14109 Mr. Seymour was thereupon declared elected. Mr Seymour signified his acceptance of the office in the following remarks Gentlemen: The vote that has just been taken is an indication of your confidence in me, for which, please accept my respectful and grateful acknowledgments I accept the place which you have been pleased to assign to me, not, however, without some misgivings, for I have a lively sense of the arduous duties that de volve upon the Chair, and the great difficulty of satis factorily performing them.

But I am cheered with the hope, that in the discharge of these duties, I shall have your assistance and co-operation. leel that 1 have a full guaranty of this co-operation, when I look around me and see the intelligence and well known devotion to the public service of those here assembled, and on whom now devolves the care and responsibility' of providing, bv legislation, for the interests of our tree, enlightened, and beloved Commonwealth. The oath of office was administered to the Speaker elect by Hon. Henry Dutton of New Haven. Hon.

Geo. S. Catlin notified the House that the Senate was now organized and ready to proceed to business. A ballot was then taken for Clerk of the House whiclj resulted in no choice. Whole No.

of votes 218 For Julius B. Harrison, 106 For David B. Booth, 91 Scattering, 21 Daniel B. Warner of East Haddam, was then elected Clerk of the House by resolution. Wm.

Grant was appointed Door Keeper. Hezekiah Gorhain and James Eaton were appointed Messengers. Wm. J. Hamersley and Mr.

Cheeney were appointed a committee to uotify the Senate of the organization of the House. Noah A. Fhelps, George Taylor and Henry E. Teck were appointed canvassers of the vote for State officers on the part of the House. The rules of order of the last session were adopted.

A resolution ordering the purchase of twenty-five copies of the public and private acts for the use of the House, alio twenty-five copies of the Connecticut Register. Voted, that the Speaker be authorized to invite the tku fifv t. os.t aJ the House. Resolution from the Senate, appointing Wm. W.

Ea ton a committee to revise the rules, concurred iu. Resolution from the Senate appointing Hon. Mr. Ferris a committee to wait upon his Excellency Joseph Trumbull, aud inform him that the General Assembly were ready to receive any message from him, concurred in, and Clark Bissell and Henry C- Deming appointed on the part of the House. Messrs.

Miles of Danbury, and Welch of Norfolk, were appointed a Committee to examine the credentials, and to prepare a roll of Members of the House. Resolutions from the Senate, appointing Osborn Baldwin, State printers carried. Message aud Documents fioui Gov. Trumbull, laid upon the table. The Committee appointed to canvass the votes for State Officers, reported that there was no choice.

The Senate met the House in Convention for the purpose of electing State Officers. The Hon. Samuel Ingham presided. Hon. Elisha Johnson of the Senate, Henry Dutton and Noah A.

Phelps of the House, were appointed Tellers. The Convention then proceeded to ballot for Governor with the following result Whole number of votes, 230 Necessary to a choice, 116 For Thomas H. Seymour, 122 Lafayette S. Foster, 108 Blanks 7 THOMAS 11. SEYMOUR was declared duly elected.

Upon balloting for Lieut, Governor, the following result was aunonnced Whole number of votes, 225 Necessary for a choice, H3 For Charles H. Pond, 124 Green Kepdrick, 101 Blanks, 4 CHARLES II. POND was then declared duly elected. The Convention then proceeded to ballot for Treasurer, with the following result Whole number of votes, 225 Necessary to a choice, 113 For Henry D. Smith, 126 Thomas Clark, 99 Blanks, 4 HENRY D.

SMITH was declared duly elected. Upon balloting for Secretary the following result was announced Whole number of votes, 227 114 Necessary to a choice, For Hiram Weed, Roger H. Mills, R. A. Mills, R.

S. Mills, Blanks, 124 103 1 1 2 HIRAM WEED was then declared duly elected. The ballot for Comptroller was annouced as follows Whole number of votes, 214 Necessary to a choice, 108 For Rufus G. Pinney, 118 Selah Strong 92 Blanks. 3 RUFUS G.

PINNEY was declared duly elected. The Convention was then dissolved, and the Senate retired. The Speaker announced to the House the election of the several State officers, as the result of the Convention. Committees were appointed to wait upon the officers elect, and inform them of theirelection Adjourned to 4 1. M.

Afternoon Session. The Committee appointed to wait upon the Governor elect, reported that they had discharged their duty, that he accepted the office, and had arrived in the city to enter upon the discharge of his duties. After tbe transaction of 6ome unimportant business. for loans of money at different times, to the amount of $53,212,43. Thus situated, with a defective system of Judicial expenses on the one hand, drawing largely trom the treasury, and on the other, an inadequate system of taxation, ttie question win again come ueiore tue legis-iature, whether the existing debt shall be carried forward, increasing with each returning year, or whether such measures shall be taken as will be most likely to remove the burthen of indebtedness.

It seems proper that some plan should be devised to throw the costs of supporting prisoners after conviction, upon the Counties. This would materially reduce the Judicial expenses Strong grounds exist for requiring the adoption of such a plan. Tbe fact that several of the Counties where the work-house system has been adopted, draw largely from the State treasury every vear, whilst they continue to have a large amount of what are called surplus earnings on hand, goes far to show that the State is made to defray the expenses of a system which by its owu accounts is able to sustain itself to a considerable extent. Payments made under wii circumstances are equivalent to special appropri ations to the Counties thus favorably situated. The Counties should be made to defray the expenses of the! work-house system, to the exteut at least ot their sur plus earnings'.

The State would thus be saved a cou-iilei able sum annually, with which a due regard to economy in contingent aud other expenses, would obviate the necessity of a resort to any new loans to meet the current expenses of the State. Tt is stated in the report of the Comptroller, which vou will have before you, that the law of the last ses-. i i sion imposing a ia. ui ouu uin uuc j.c vent, u'i'u the market value of stock in Rail Road corporations in State held and owned by non-residents, has not ef fected the purpose for which it was framed, for reasons which he has given in lull. Assuming mat uai property should bear a reasonable proportion Road of the hnrtheu.

he recommends that Kail Road stock be expressly exempteu ironnocai laxauuu, ano mat in lieu thereof a reasonable tax should be laid directly upon the same, and made payable into the State treasury for State purposes only. His suggestions are entitled miirh consideration. For a review of our system of judicial expenses, with a plan for reducing the same I lied. im nnnnnal evctiim i' t.vu. ennuirv into our present unequal system oftaxa a tinn together wnn oiner mailers oi importance 10 me llOU m0t" State I have the satisfaction to refer you to the very able report of the Comptroller.

The difficult subject of taxation, has repeatedly been brought to the notice of the General Assembly. It seems to be generally agreed that the present system is iu some respects unfair. The principle that property of every description which is now taxable, should be put into the list at its true value at the time and that the holders of property should be taxed in proportion to their ability to share the burthens, carrries on the face of it both reason and justice. Such a revision is called for I believe as will effect that purpose. At the same time the list of taxable property might, and doubt 1 I less ought to be increased, rso good reason exists why personal property which is necessary to the convenience and even support of the citizen, should be taxed, whilst another Kina ot property wnicn is less neeuea ovemnted from taxation.

Neither does it appear just that the large amonnt of capital invested in navigation should also be exempted, ah equiiauieuisiriDuuon oi the burthens of taxation, would in time proportionably lessen the amount of the tax or at all events obviate the necessity for an increased rate. The subject will, I have no doubt, receive from yon the attention which it so truly deserves. The report of the Quarter-Master General will show you the expenses of that department during the year. The ordinary expenses, embracing the salary of the Ar morer and the Quarter-Master General, amount to 4Q23 83. The extra expenses of the office, including! cost of returning old arms, repairing aud transportation of camp equipage, $279 18; repairing and cleaning arms which have been returned to the arsenal, as per resolution of the General Assembly.

$910 making a total expenditure for the past year, of $1,818 01 all of which, together with other matters referred to in the report of the Quarter-Master General, you will have before you for consideration. The capital of the School Fund, at the time of taking the last inventory, September 1849, amounted to the sum of riz: loaned to the State, 43; debts against individuals in Connecticut and other States, $1,554,251 46 in bank stock, 4,128 shares in 23 banks, $328,800 cash in treasury and hands of agents, $18,493 98 amount in cultivated lands and buildings, and in wild lands, $49,122 88 amounting in all to the above sum of $2,076,601 75. During the past year, the income from the School Fund, amounting to $136,050, has been distributed among the 1,653 school districts in theState. The num ber of children remaining under the enumeration cf Angnst, 1819, after deducting 500 on account of schools.