The New York Herald Newspaper, July 18, 1853, Page 4

Fn _—_____________f NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. OFFICE N, W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. tm advance. ate THE DAILY HERALD. 2 cents per copy—$1 per annum. THE 'Y HER, oe Saberday nee ‘conte copy, er onnums repens 4 Zumumsioany part of Greai Britain, and $0 to any part of “vor Y CORRESPON ie, containing impor- tant news, from any quarter of the world ; if used, will be liberally paid for. ag- Our Forniox Connespon- DENTS ARE PARTICULARLY KEQUESTED TO SEAL ALL Ler- + NO NOTIE Gf anonymous communications, We do not 4DVERT! TS renewed every day. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery-Tus Ronssre—Wanck Asuons. e BROADWAY THEATRE, Brosdway-Ikeranp as iF Js Ove Jemiaa—luisn Tausn axp Sweevism Niour- INGaLE. NIBLO’S, Broadway-Cnows D:auowns, WATIONAL THEATRE, Chatham street— Uno Tom's Cum. AMERICAN MUSEU Dear. Svoving— Dire: Docs anv Goats. MADISON AVENUB—Afternoon and Evening—Fras- g@om's CorossaL HirropRoms. CHRISTY’S OPERA HOUSE, 472 Brosdway—Rrmor1a» Bu.vvies by Cusisry’s 01 Trovrs. Afternoon—Wuire's Serena: 2s Taours oF Actiné Monkeys, WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Wood's Musical Hall, 444 Broad- way Ermorian Minorr eis. SUCKLEY’S OP3RA HOUSE, 589 Brondway—Bucx- Lev's Erwiorian Ovens Taours. GEORAMA, 06 Brosdway—Paronama or tux Mus semrri New York, Monday, July 18, 1953. ————— Mails for Europe. HE WEW YORK WEEKLY MERALD. The royal mail steamship America, Capt. Lang, will Deave Boston on Wednesday, at 12 o’slosk, for Liverpool. ‘Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New Yous Hzpatp will be received at the following places tm Burope :-— Laverroca—John Hunter, No. 2 Paradise street. Coupon—Edward Sandford & Co. , Cornhill. ° bed ‘Wm. Thomas & Co., No. 19 Catharine street. Panss—Livingston, Wells & Co., Rue de la Bourse. “ BH. Revoil, No. 17 Rue de la Banque. ‘Tre European mails will clove in this city at three @’elock to morrow afternoon. la The Waexty Haar will be published at balf-past nine o-“lock to morrow morning. Single eopies, in wrappers, ats pence. ‘The News. We to-day publish a full account of the melan- eboly accident which happened to the steamboat Empire, while on her way from Troy to this city, last Saturday. Our special reporter states that seven persons are known to have been killed, besides which a large number were horribly scalded, some of whom will not probably survive. The Coroner of Poughkeepsie is holding an inquest upon the bodies» and will make a strict investigation. We have com- mented at considerable length upon this lamentable occurrence in another article. ‘The last Earopean intelligence brought out by the Arabia, and published in Thursday's paper, gave credence to the report that the Russian troops had svtually invaded the Turkish territory, but nothing ‘was said as to the strength of the army of invasion This rumor, it will be remembered, caused a great fluctuation in the prices of stocks on the Paris Bocrse, although the market opened unusually firm a few hours previous to the receipt of the news. In confirmation of the important annunciation, we now Jearn from the newspaper agent at Liverpool, whose despatch, unfortunately, did not reach us till yester- day, that a few minutes before the Arabia left he re- ceived a telegraphic despatch, based on an extra Served by the London Times, stating that “ an army of twelve thousand Russians entered Jassy on the 25th of June.” This will cause the later advices, expected to-day by the steamship Franklin to be locked for with much anxiety. The coming news wil most Likely draw aside the veil and enlighten usas to whether there will be a general Earopeaa war or not, Mr. Crampton, th r, reached our city last evening, having arrived in Boston from Ha- lifax in the morning. The expedition with which he travels rather indicates that the fishery troubles will be speedily arranged between himself und Secretary Marcy. Let us hope so, at all events. The news which we to-day publish from Cuba and Mexico will bé found to be of a very important and interesting nature. It comprises the statement of the three American sailors now imprisoned in the Moro under the charge of having formed part of the erew of the slaving bark Jasper, which, after land- ing its cargo on the island, was setonfire. The Statement ‘is addressed to the Secretary of State, who, we have no doubt, will take proper measures to secure justice to these our citizens. Parks, one of ‘those whose names are subscribed to the document, is from Palmyra, Wayne county, in this State. Atkins is a native of this city, and Freeborn is a na- tive of Philadelphia. It is impossible to say what bas become of the other Americans who were among the crew, namely, Wm. Radcliff, Wm. Hussey, second mate, the boy Coles, and the cook, a black man, tamed Robinson. Our Havana correspon- dent suggests that most probably the first three ‘Were murdered to be got rid of, and that the megro was sold among the slaves. This is by no means a viclent or irrational conclusion. The ship- ping master with whom these sailors shipped in this city were Messrs. Clarke and Dean. The captain is mow, we understand, in New York or Brooklyn, and might perhaps corroborate in some measure the truth of the sailors’ story. The slaver Lady Suffolk is at Jength in safe hands. We published a letter in last Monday's Heravp giving the whole particulars of the seizure of this notorious vessel, and now our Cuban intelligence comes to verify our previous announce- ment. In addition to the particulars of Mexican and Havana news, we give the translation of an article from the Diario de la Marina, in which wholesome eounsel is given to the slaveholding States of the fenth. The whole of what we give from M and Cuba to-day will be found particularly in esting. & Late advices from Maranham state that the steam ship El Paraguay, insured in this city, bad been con demned and ordered to be old. It appears that she left that port on the th vlt., bat after being out two days sprung a leak, and was compelled to return. ‘The passengers and crew were safe. According to the last accounts n Me reat distrust had been produced by the dishonoring of the loo drafts, and it is reported the agent despa! 7 carrying on the work. The most implacable oppo sition is still manifested to any and all propositions that may be made by the Americans for the Mesilla Valley. The Minister of Home Affairs, it is said, threatens to resign if the least concession is made to Governor Lane. The whole difficulty will probably be settled in the conrse of afew months. The inaugu- val address of the new Mexican Minister, delivered the other day, was of a conciliatory nat would incline one to the belief that the M government is amicably disposed, whatever people there may have to sey to the contrary. General Pierce is making preparations to visit Old Point Comfort. Read the account of the fight between two demo evatic candidates for Congress in Vicksburz, Miss. The unprofitable example set by the softs and hards of New York is being closely followed by disaffec- tions among the democracy throughout different por tions of the country. Where will it end? Attention is directed to the description elsewhere given of many of the articles on exhibition at the Ciystal Palace. The report will be found well worthy of a peruse We elsewhere publish a very valuable and enter: taining report of the Heraip Commissioner rela- tive to Canada. It gives a graphic description of and pan the the origin, character and appearance of the people, the fortifications and other sights worth seeing, &c., | and will be read with great interest by the sage as well as the echoolboy. Quite an imposing ceremony took place im Brook- lyn yesterday, on the occasion of the laying of the corner stone of anew Catholic church. A full re- port of the proceedings is given on another page. ‘The annexed are merely the headings of a porti: m of the contents of to-day’s inside pages :—Full “Re- | port of the Speech of Sir Charles Lyell at the Cays |} tal Palace Banquet ; Indignation Meeting of the Ger- mans at Cincinnati ; Character of the Sultan o'f Tur key ; Description of the Whi’e Sulphur S} @ings ; Speech of the Minister Resident from Bremen, ;Com- munications relative to Detentions on Railro: ads, and the Hibernian Society ; List of the members already elected to the Thirty-third Congress; Corners’ In- | quests ; Obituary Notices; Police and Court Re- ports ; Jersey City and Williamsburg Ni sws ; Com- mercial and Miscellaneous Affairs, &c. ‘The Empire Explosion—steamboe ¢ Massacres, We showed, a few days ago, that though checked baggage on a railway was carried on the responsibility of the compriny, heads, legs and arms were entirely at the risk of the own- ers; a risk soconsiderable. in t’ae present state of the law, that railway travelliiag must involve a reckless spirit of adventure and a criminal dis- regard for one’s own safety. We might safely have extended the rule to steamers, or at all events to those steamers which ply on the Hnud- sen. They are speedily achieving a reputation which is searcely surpassed by that of the New Maven Railroad. It stood higher, perhaps, when - the owners and captains ot the Reindeer and Henry Clay strewcd the banks of the Hudson | | with the mutilated bodies of their victims; but | if the exploits of last year were more striking and memorable, those of the current season have the advantage of numbers. At the present rate of extermination the palm of superiority in manslaughter will obviously appertain to 1853 The quality of the victims may be less illustri- ous; instead ofmerchants and professional men, they may be, in the words of one of the proprie- | tors of the boats, “ only firemen and boys;” but the absolute Yoss of human life will probably exceed that of any previous season. By the close of the navigation, statisticians will be en- abled to inform us what percentage of the total number of passengers were killed or wounded by accidents on board the Hudson river steam- ers. Without anticipating their calculations we | may safely assert their result will appal the most resolute mind. A fortnight has hardly elapsed since one of the flues of the New World collapsed, and six persons were killed and several injured. We | were then told that the accident could not have been foreseen ; that boiiers and machinery were in perfect order ; that the boat had been struck by lightning. &c., &c. The evidence in support of these various statements was exceedingly loose and unsatisfactory. Of all the witnesses whose testimony went to exculpate the exptuin, and owners that of Mr. Renwick, one of the United States Inspectors of Steamboats under Mr. Davis’ new law, is the only one worth no- tiee. This gentleman swore that, having en- tered upon the discharge of their functions on 1st June, the Inspectors ‘had not reached” the New World by Ist July. They had spent thirty days in testing the machinery of boats and ves- rels whose power to injure was pot one hun- dredth part of that of the New World. Thirty days had elapsed since they began their inspec- tion, and during all this time they had not | found a spare moment to visif a steamer in which several hundred lives were daily jecpardised- We are net aware what progress has since been made by the Inspectors ; we presume, however. that they “had not reached” the Empire on Friday, and we should not be surprised to learn that the other Albany and Troy boats were likewise reserved for a more convenient | yeriod. A striking contrast might be drawn } between the conduct of these gentlemen and that of the inepector and his aids for Ohio. There, by Ist February, the steamboat law was in full operation; steamers had bee: licensed, boilers had been condemned, e neers bad been examined, and those who were inefficient or careless had been suspended. The results establish the thorough manner in which the work bad been done. During the four months anterior to the Ist of June no ac- cident had occurred, and no lives had been lost ; while during the corresponding months of 1852 no less than thirty-seven “ accidents” had taken place in the same waters, involving a loss of four hundred lives. Equal conscien- tiousness and energy on the part of our Com- missioners would have obtained like results, and would have saved the lives of some score of | persons. But to complain is to waste time. Fifteen days after the explosion on board the New World the city is thrown into an uproar | by the news ofa similar accident on board the | Empire. Reports, all equally inconsistent and n | | improbable, reach New York, and the utmost | anxiety prevails. It is stated ta sloop ran into the steemer. and, in consequence of the | collision, an escape of steam, or, in i terms, an explosion took place by which ce lives were lost, and many individuals seriously injured. We shall uot insult the intelligence of the reader by proving that a mere collision with a sloop could not cause the boiler to ex- plode. Mort glaring defects in the machinery must have previously existed. or so slight an accident could not have produced such a disas ter. or shall we seriously inquire wi on the night ot Friday, the pilot of the Empire could not have seen the sloop in time to the collision. Reeklessness of the most oid of the watch on deck, can alone explain so un- accountable an The details given in hi column will shed light on the true causes of the disaster ; but whatever s their defence ial pleas may be ret up in it seems to ns undeniable that t hav the machinery been defective, the pilot unfit for his post, and the deck watch neg- ligent. To these and to these only, can we ascribe the logs and the bodily inju- ries which the * has cecasioned. Tf we had any of a reason for beliey ing that steamboat proprietors share in the horror which such ever among the public—if we could bring ourselves to think that ordinary exertions were made to prevent their occurrence-—our language would be that of sorrow and not of indignation. But neither in the discipline of the boats, nor in the conduet i an we discern any trace of itentions Newton all ¢ from the main t act | receipts be ‘ocked, amd clerks and waiters scoff at request for fresh air and freedom. Should a ¢*ollision take place, those below would proba- Jaly be drowmed before they could see what had happened. Should a fire break out, those above would not know of its occurrence until escape was impossible. It is an understood thing on board the Isaac Newton that passengers are prisoners, who must be locked in at night, and severely handled if they murmur. Can any one wonder that the slightest accident on board such boats involves a frightful sacrifice of hu- man life? This state of thTfigs is the natural and inevi- table consequence of the scandalous impunity which the owners and captains of the Reindeer and Henry Clay have enjoyed.: It will continue ‘and increase, with the increase of traffic, until the steamboat inspectors do their duty, and steamboat proprietors and masters are severely punished for the recklessness they exhibit in the management of their business. Mur lelpal Taxes—Make the Merchants Pay. Enough has been said by tax payers upon the enormous burthens they are compelled to bear. The city has been abused till its name has become a byword. The resources ‘of the English language have been drained to do jus- tice to the extravagance of our rulers—the word alderman has actually passed into a pro- verbial designation of a reckless spendthrift Little has been done. however, to mitigate the practical effect of the present order of things Cases of wanton wastefulness have been | brought to light, sources of revenue which are not turned to account have been indicated. plans ofeconomy have been suggested, but no one that we know of has drawn particular at- ! tention to the disproportion existing between | the number of persons who enjoy-all the benefit ofthe city government, without contributing one cent to ite support, and that of the actual rate payers, Proper inquiry in this quarter would probably elicit some curious facts. In illustration of one, we give below a table of merchants, traders and others. who do busine 8 in the city. and who. by residing without its limits, escape the taxes levied on its inhabi- tants. These people enjoy all the immunities and advantages attached to the quality of citizen—they spend the day in the city, appeal to its laws, rely onits protection, make money ander its «gis, and derive a tangible benefit from the expenditure of the public funds. While they do all this, they claim an exemption from the taxes imposed upon the rest of us for the maintenance of our municipal government, An idea of their numbers can be formed from the following list, which has been compiled, with considerable care and apparent accuracy, by Mr. Samuel Dunshee, of this city :— Lust or Persons Dorxo Business IN THE Crry or New York, sor ResminG Bevonp THe Reach oF Taxation, Cansyotty CoMPugD FROM THE City Drkecrory FoR 1852-4 4 Persons Resiling Abroad, France 45 365 Europe 23 New York Stave other 26 than the ebove.. 12% 10 State of New Jersey 6 “« Copnecticut . 5 “Massachusetts 96 Ireland 3 is 8 Australia 8 * Prussia 2 ve Sain, 2 Meno . 2 2 2 2 7 — 6 Total 8,503 6 5 5 2 5 “ Mrcbigan. 5 “Georgia Prati “ON Hampshire 8 “ NorthCarohna = 3 |. © Indiana , 3 | & Florida 2 {oo 1 | ‘ Tennes ee 1 Nov if, as Mr. Dunskee fairly supposés, these 8.503 persons possess an average capital of tive thousand dollars each, the total amount of money employed in business in New York, without con- tributing to the municipal expenses, will be found to be $42,515.000. While a barber or shoemaker is bound to cqniribute his quota out | of earnings which hardly suffice for his wants, here are forty-two millions of money invested in trade and merebandise in the city, which do net furnish adime to the civic treasury. In- deed, we shall not run much risk of exaggera- ting if we double our informant’s estimate; and taking into consideration the large number of | persons whose capital excceds one hundred thousand dollars, consider that the amount of money invested free of taxation in this city does not fall far short of one hundred millions, It is time this matter were examined. The more we extend the surface on which taxation is exercised, the lighter becomes the pressure. And be the amount of money freed from tribute forty or one hundred millions, it is clear that. its addition to the present rateable fund would be sensibly felt. It has long been a practice for wealthy men in Boston to settle in some country village before Ist May, in order to be taxed there on an estimate of their wealth far below the reality. <A simi- lar practice seems to be in usage here. Rich men can readily induce the municipal authori- ties of a country village to rate them at half their real capital, for the sake of swelling their and encouraging wealthy settlers within their boundaries. The city, which is their real home, is thus defrauded ofa material item in its receipts. and honest taxpayers are obliged to make up the deficit. Tt does not need a financier ov a statesman to devise a method of curing the evil. A tax levied by the city on mercantile transactions — on exports and imports. on sales. on operations at the stock board, &c.—would make a mate- r alteration in the municipal ineome, and might possibly prove a beneficial substitute for the present house tax. Offices instead of resi- dences. or as well as residences, might be called upon to pay a tax. Other schemes will readily suggest themselves to the mind of one who ex- amines the sabject. The principle that all who share In the benefit of a city government onght to contribute to its maintenance cennot be dis- puted; it is a matter of wonder that it should have heen practically ignored for so long with- ont loud complaint. We trust that some of the city reformers will take np the matter. Back AGA at Wasuryaton.—The President and his official suite. consisting of Mr. Guthrie Seeretary of the Treasury, Mr. Davis, Secretary of War, Mr. Cuehing. Attorney General, and Mr. Sidney Webster, Private Secretary of the lent. and others left this city about ten ock Satarday morning, and with the aid of special trains, arrived all safe and sound at Washington by ten in the evening. We published, yesterday, the incidents of the journey to Philadelphia, and of the departure thence homeward of the distinguished company: losed at midnigh tu ight. Passengers sleepiug in the above cannot descend to the cabin and those sleep ia the in caunot ascead to the promenade k after twelve o'clock Heat, close air, 1 they must endure as they cau. Jt in“ the rule of the hoat” that the doors but as this rejurn trip was performed with all possible quietness ond despatch, its details were of course limited to the briefest official conrsee from polut to point. And now, as Gen Pierce and his cabinet, (excepting the Interior Secretary, who is in the interior,) are ali back again at their posts, we shall expect some light on the important echedule of our foreign rela- tions, before the government goes off upon ano- ther holiday excursion. It will be time enough for the Springs after the important ultimatum is de termined, of peace or war. Tue ADMINISTRATION AND THE Pacrric Rat- roap.—It was believed by many intelligent persons at Washington, at the close of the last session of Congress, that the Pacific Railroad bill was lost in the Senate because some of the “over-cautious democratic friends of the measure were desirous first to ascertain where Gen, Pierce stood in regard to this great enterprise. Some were confident that he would prove to be awarm advocate of the road ; others were afraid that he would turn up a strict constructionist as hidebound as a North Carolina yearling after a hard winter, and that he might possibly veto the hill. A few, like Gen. Rusk, were manly enough to run all risks and do their duty; but the bill fuifed. Inde@,’ it was understood at the time that the direct cause of its failure was the result of gn application to General Pierce to interest himself in its behalf. He is said to have replied to this appeal, that he was elected President of the United States and not the President of a railroad company. Now, therefore, we are highly gratified to state tothe American people. and to the “rest of man- kitid,” that we have good reasons to believe that the administration is in favor of this Pacific Rail- road a3 a great national work ; and we should not be surprised if this important project were to be fully developed in the first annual mes- sage of General Pierce to Congress, at the opening of the session, in December next. One of the most important disclosures from Secretary Guthrie, on this late Executive excur- sion. was his declaration, at various points on the journey to this city, that he isin favor of this Pacific Railroad, and an enthusiastic be- liever in its grand commercial, political and civilizing results. General Davis, the Secre- tary of War—a strict constructionist of the ul- tra Southern school on some other questiona~ has also boldly come forward in support of this mighty work. At the Metropolitan banquet he was particularly pointed upon the subject, and very satisfactorily disposed of all constitutional objections by insisting that this overland rail- way was needed as a national military road. The President himself, prudently and perhaps properly, has said nothing upon the question; but we presume that the cabinet is a unit. and that those members of it travelling with General Pierce knew the ground they were standing upon, and the views of their chief, in advocating so enthusiastically as they did this glorious project of a railroad across the breast of this continent from ocean to ocean. ‘ We remember that General Davis, while a a member of the United States Senate, moved an amendment to one of the military bills be- fore the body, the object of which was to intro- duce on the great plains and deserts of our Western territories an experimental caravan of camels from that somewhat similar country between Jerusalem and Egypt. We trust that, while co-operating with the active friends of the Pacific Railroad in advancing that great project to a practical beginning, he will not forget those camels. They would be valuable, if not invaluable, workers in the transportation of men. materials and provisions for the road. Finally. since the official disclosures of Messrs. Guthrie and Davis in behalf of this Pacific Railroad, we feel vastly stronger in the pre- sentiment, with the permission of Providence, of passing, before the expiration of next cight years, from New York to San Diego. or San Francisco, by railroad. Is not the administra- tion with us, and have we not some twenty-five millions surplus money inthe treasury’? Clear the track ! Goon News.—The Washington Union is kind enough to give to the public the following ac} ceptable information :— “It is understood that the Hon. James Buchanan, whose appointment as minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court of St. James has already been ennounced, will soon proceed to Lon- don to assume the duties of his mission. We learn, also, that the Hon. Messrs. Soulé, of Louisiana, Gads- den, of South Carolina, Borland, of Arkansas, Green, of Missouri, and Bedinger, of Virginia, having nearly completed their preparatory arrangements, are abou! to proceed to their respective destinations, to enter upon the duties of the several missions confided to their charge.” That’s why Governor Marcy could not attend the christening of the Crystal Palace. He was too much absorbed in the instructions to his diplomatic corps. Having at length given them their orders, including the cut and fashion of their garments, let us hope that their official transactions will be plain, smooth sailing, all the way through. Still, there is a smell of gunpowder in the air, and we should be ready for any emergency. Is the Premier ready ? Talk on Change. Breadstufls continued firm on Saturday, with sales of common brands white wheat sold at $1 30, which was one cent per bushes! higher, Sound, clean. high mixed aad yellow coro, ad- vanced to 7(¢. a 7le. Cotion rold to the extent of 2,100 The market closed heavy. Pork was ficm, with jes at $15 S6 a $15 62 for meen, Oning to the ur‘evorable uews from Spain regarding the injary of the grape vices raising were held at betier prices,-ond 2 cargo of 7,000 to 8,000 boxes were xold, to nd for flour ané graia for shipment to Havre, and considerable freight engagements were made for both on terms notient in the city trate report, Leter newe frum Europe was awaited with anaiety, whic would soon be due by the Franklia at this port, and by ® Conard stenswer Hal.fex, for the political aud commercial news would & © jouked for with interest. After so long a period of genere) peace among the prine'- ps! nitions of "Europe a0 one fels diepoved to believe that wer coulé or woul! break out oo the Turkish question. Showld a war by any possibility ovcnr the fotere:+ of tbe United Staten would not fai) to be effected -in sone respects bextAictaliy, apd in others predjadiciously, No doubt cur market for bread:tuls would be largely benefited, but cotton would be depressed in a correspond- ing or greater ratio. Our carrying trade and shippiog pterest migh Dbeseiitted, but our trade with Russiaa sorts woul bierrupted. We imporied lirge qnaa- tities of hemp and bempen manufactures, with iron, &c , fem Ruasia, acd seat considerable quantities of ovttun ond other products in exchange, all of which would be interrupted by the blockade of the Russian ports. The prevabdilities were that we might lose a» mueh, or mora, than we sbould gain by & war in Burope ; beace our good offices, wierever practicable, ebould be exerted in favor of moaintaining pence, The Jate steamboat acvidents require rigid investiga. tion as to their cause, &e , and the faithful execution of the Jawa, and the no less common oesnrreces of raitroad socideste of ele should admonish the Legislature of the neoreeity of early action for gua. ding epainns th refereoee to proper measures Army Intelligence, rom suthority that the general coart mar tiel which asrembled at Fort Leavenworth on the 4th of Jone Jast, for the trialof Major Howe, upyo charges preferred epninst him by Lientenants Pleavan'oa. "NG Rvans ed company, of the Seond Dragoons, have fally acqnitted the Wajor of ni! the charger; and this too ate flour at $5 0634 a $5 1214. Western | The Presidents ef the United States as Pablic Speakers, The audiences who have listened to the various addresses of President Pierce have been highly gra- tified with the display of his oraterical powers; and the readiness with which he responded ex tempore to the speeches of welcome which were made to him by official dignitaries, during his Iste tour and visit to this city, attracted very general admiration. It was known that, as a leading member of the New Hamp- shire bar, and asa debater in Congress and other legislative bodies, Mr. Pierce had acquired distinc- tion for the ability he had shown on many occasions; but the public were not prepared for this uncommon- ly pleasing and ready manner, fluency and address, which he has exhibited in his popular speeches since Ire has been elected to the Presidency. It may be said by severe critics that the President’s style and manner is too theatrical for that of a person holding his dignified station, and that his speeches are wanting in originality and enlarged views; but all admit that he has perfect self-possession as a speaker, good taste in his selection of langaage adapted to his subject and his audience, with the ad- vantages of a good personal appearance, and a grace ful and forcible manner of delivery—qualities which cannot fail to command popular favor. It may be interesting to our readers to compare President Pierce with his predecessors in the charac- ter of public speakers, and we will, therefore, very briefly, take a retrospective view of the Presidents ia this capacity, Washington, it is well known, wafhno orator. He and Taylor were the only two of our Prosidents who were not educated for either of the learned profes- sions, both were brought up as farmer's sons ; and both were early prepared for the military life for which they evinced a taste intheir youth. Washing- ton never commenced the study of the ancient clas- sics. It is even doubtful whether he received any in. struction in the principles of language. By prac- tice, reading, and study, in after life, he gradually overcame his early defects in composition, till at Jength he wrote with accuracy, purity of idiom, and @ striking appropriateness of phraseology and clear- ness of style. While in the army, after the French of ficers had joined the Americans, he bestowed some at- tention on the French language; but at no time gould he write or converse in it, or ifdeed translate any pa. per. At the age of nineteen he was’ appointed Ad- jutant General, with the rank of Major, of the Vir- ginia militia. His military propensities had ins creased with his years, and he prepared himself, by the study of books on the military art, for the life of a soldier. After his campaign at the West, Washington was elected a member of the Legislature of Virginia, in which body he held a seat for about fifteen years, pre- vious to the war of the Revolution. His influence there was produced more by the soundness of his judg- ment, his quick perception, and his directness and sincerity, than by eloquence or art. He seldom spoke, never harangued, and it is not known that he ever made a set speech, or entered into a stormy de- bate. But his attention was at all times awake, and he was ever ready to act with decision and firmness. His practice may be in- ferred by the following counsel, in a letter to a nephew who had been chosen a member of the Aseembly of Virginia: —He says—“The only advice I will offer, if you have a mind to command the atten- tion of the house, is to speak seldom, but on import- aut subjects, except such as properly relate to your constituents, and in the former case make yourself perfectly master of your subject. Never exceed a decent warmth, aud submit your sentiments with diffidence. A dictatorial style, though it may carry conviction, is always accompanied with disgust.” ‘Washington was a member of the Virginia Con- vention of 1774, which body elected him one of the delegates of the first Continental Congress, which met at Philadelphia in September, 1774. He was aJso a delegate to the Congress of 1775, by which body be was chosen Commander in Chief of the Con- tinental Army. The choice was by ballot, on the 1sth of June, and Washington was unanimously elected. As soon as the result was ascertained the houre adjourned. On the convening of Congress the next morning the President communiccted to him officially the notice of his appointment, and he rose in his place, and signified his acceptance in the uoble, modest, and appropriate reply which is so familiar to all readers of American his- tory. This and his subsequent addresses to Con- gress, to the army, and to his fellow-citizens on various occasions, he doubtless previously prepared, as we have evidence that on receiving, in carly life, 8 military appointment from the colonial Assembly of Virginia,of which he was a member, he was una- ble to reply impromptu, on the announcement to him, and was relieved from his embarrassment by the happy tact of the Speaker of the House, (Culo- ne] Robinson.) Mr. Jefferson remarks: “I served with General Washington in the Legislature of Virginia, before the Revolution, and during it, with Dr. Franklin, in Congress. I never heard either of them speak ten minutes at a time, nor to any but the main poiat which was to decide the question.” In the National Convention whish framed the constitution of the United States Washington made two short speeches, one on taking his seat as Presi- dent of the Convention, the other near the close of the session, asking the consent of the Convention to change f¥e ratio of reprerentation in Congress, which request was readily granted. John Adams was equally distinguished as an ad- vocate at the bar, a debater in legislative assemblies, a popular orator, an able writer and diplomatist, aud an accomplished statesman. Jn the language of one of his eulogists, (Mr. J. E. Sprague, of Massachu- setts,) ‘ such services as his are never known to the public, or if known, only in history, when the act- ors of the day have passed from the stage, and the motives tor longer concealment cease to exist. As we ascend the mount of history, and rise above the vapors of party prejudice, we shall all acknowledge that we owe our independence more to John Adams than to any other created being, and that he was the great leader of the American Revolution.” On meeting the Senate as their presiding officer, in 1797, Mr. Jefferson remarked that the duties of the chief magistracy liad been “ justly confided to the eminent character who preceded him—whose talents and in- tegrity have been known and revered by me through @ long term of years.” sgt Mr. Jefferson, like Mr. Adams, received a clussi- cal education, and studied law with George Wythe, “There are still extant (says Mr. Wirt) a num ber of arguments which were delivered by bim at the bar, npon some of the most intricate questions of the law, which will vindicate bis claim to the first honors of Ins profession. Itis true, he was not distinguished in popular debate; why be was not so has often been matter of surprise to those who have seen his eloquence on paper and heard it in conversation. He had all the attributes of the mind, and the heart, and the soul, which are esrential to eloquence of the highest order. The only defect was a physical one: he wanted volume and compass of voice fora large, deliberative assembly; and his voice, from the excess of his sensibility, in- stead of rising with his feel'ngs and conceptions, tank under their pressure, and became guttural and inarticulate. The consciousness of this infirmity re- pressed any attempt in a large body, in which he knew he must fail. But his voive was all-sufficient for the purposes of judicial debate; and there is no reason to doubt that, if the service of his country had not called him away so oon from his profession, his fame ae a lawyer would now have stood upon the same distinguikhed ground which he confessedly occupies as a statesman, on author, and a seholar.” As a member of the Continental Congresss he made but few speeches; and when elected President of the United States he introduced the custom of communicating with Congress by message instead of meeting both houses with a speech, as Washing- ton and Adana had done. He disliked form, pomp itbout the court waitcg for aay defexce on the part of | and parade, and his dress was remarkably plain, and he Major. | duated at the University of North Carolina, conversation lively and enthusiastic, remarkable for” the chastity of his colloquial diction, and the cor- rectness of his phraseology. As & man of letters: and ‘a votary of science he acquired high distinc- tion. Mr. Madison graduated at Princeton Oollege,- New Jersey, and afterwards studied law, which pro- fewsior he practised in Virginia until called into- public life. He was a member of various legislative bodies and conventions, in all of which he distin- guished himself as a debater of the first order of talents. Tn the Continental Congress, the conven- tion which framed the constitutien, and as @ mem- ber of Congress under Washington’s administra- tion, he took a prominent part, mingling in all the important debates. He had a calm expression of countenance, and was slow and grave in his speech. In deliberative bodies he ac- quired self-confidence by slow degrees. His manner ‘was modest and retiring, but in conversation he was pleasing and instructive, having a mind well stored with the treasures of learning, and being particular- ly familiar with the political world. Asa writer he has few equals among American statesmen. Mr. Madison was fond of society, although be had tra~ velled but little—having never visited foreign coun- tries, or seen much of the people and country tver which he presided for eight years. Mr. Monroe was a fine specimen of the old school of Virginia gentlemen—generous, plain, frank, hos- pitabie, and devoted to his country, which he en- deavored to serve to the utmost of his ability. He had a collegiate education in Virginia, but joined the standard of his country during the Revolu- tionary war, in the eighteenth year of his age. ,He afterwards studied law under Mr. Jef- ferson, who was then Governor of the State and soon after entered public life as a member of the Legislature. Asa member of various deliber- ative bodies, State and national, he took a prominent’ part, but was not distinguished as a pubiic speaker. While President of the United States he made seve- ral tours through the country, on which occasions his. speeches in reply to addresses of welcome and con- gratulation were always dignified and appropriate, without any peculiar marks of eloquence. We heard him address the American Society for the Encour- agement of Manufactures while he was in this city in 1817. He spoke in a few brief sentences, appro-~. priate enough to the occasion, but his manner was dull, his voice low and feeble, and his style unattrac- tive. His countenance had no indications of superior intellect, but an honesty and firmness of purpose: were apparent, which commanded respect, and gain~ ed favor and friendship. He was laborious and in- dustrious in the performance of his public duties, and doubtless compensated in some degree by dili~ gence for slowness of thought and want of imagina- tion. His career as a statesman was highly honor- able and useful, and worthy of the admiration he received from his countrymen. John Quincy Adams is a name familiar to all, as synonymous with a high order of talents, asa scholar, lawyer, dip] matist,and statesman. In Congress, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, he took and main-- tained the stand to which his eminent talents and previously distinguished services entitled him. He remained in that body for more than sixteen years, until his death, in 1848. He took an active part in debate on nearly every topic of public interest, and his speeches were frequently marked with the most fervid eloquence. Andrew Jackson had the advantages of only limited education, studied law in North Carolina, and removed to Tennessee when about twenty-one year ofage. He wasa short time in Congress, during the administrations of W shington and John Adams, but it is believed that he made no speeches in that body. He afterwards served six years as Judge on the bench of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. - One of his biographers remarks, that “he was not made- for what is usually called a first rate lawyer. Yet few, if any, exceeded him in seizing on the strong points of a case, and with vigor and cleariess applying to them the great principles. of law. Asalawyer he was considered one of the most eloquent and effective among his cotemporaries_ As a judge his opinions were always clear, short, and to the point, aiming at justice, without the affec- {ation of eloquence or of superior learning.” Jackson was elected to the United States Senate” in the autumn of 1523, and took his reat in that body in December of that year. He resigned his seat iv October, 1825, having taken no part in the debates while a Senator, except, we believe, on one occasion. making a few remarks on a military subject. In his. manners Jackson was pleasing, in his address commanding, while his countenance, marked with firmness and decision, beamed with strength and in telligence. In his deportment there was nothing re- pulsive. Easy, affable, and familiar, he was open: and accessible to all. Martin Van Buren received the rudiments of an English education, and became a student in the aca-* demy in bis native village, which school he left at the age of fourteen, to commence the study of the law- At that very early period he evinced a very strong passion for extempore speaking and literary compo- sition. The period of study preparatory to admis- sion to the barin the courts of law of this State was then seven years for candidates who, like Van Buren, had not the benefit of a collegiate educa- tion. In the various public stations to which he has been called, as well as an advocate at the bar, Mr. Van Buren has been distinguished-as a ready and fluent speaker, and an able writer. ‘“ The ease and frank- ness of his manners,” says his biographer, “ his feli- citous powers of conversation, and the general ami_ ableness of his feelings, render him the ornament of the social circle. Uniting in his character firmness and forbearance, self-respect, and a delicate regard for others, he has with equal propriety mingled in the free intercourse of private life and sustained the dignity of official station.” Harrison was educated at Hampden Sidney Col- lege, in his native State of Virginia, and afterward ap- plied himself to the study of medicine as a profession. He entered the army at the age of nineteen, and con- tinued in the service six years, when he resigned his commission, and afterwards served as Secretary of the Northwest territory, and delegate to Congress. In these and the various public stations to which he was subsequently called he exhibited talents ade- quate to the performance of his duties. He was a bold and eloquent orator, and has left on record m- merous evidences of his literary acquirementsa. He had a most intimate knowledge of the history and fore'gn and domestic polity of the United States, and when in Congress he mingled in the most im- portant debates with decided ability. He had aclear, sonorous voice, which enabled him to addreas large assemblages of the people, like the mass meetings during his canvass for the Presidency, with great effect. John Tyler, as a lawyer of collegiate educa- tion, acquired a respectable rank at the Virginia bar, and in deliberative bodies he took a pro- minent part as a debater of power and elo- quence. He was a membersof the Virginia Le- gislature when © very young man, during the war of 1812, when he spoken often, with the view of impreving bis powers of oratory, and the youthful debater had the gratification to find that even in the forum of Virginia, the country of eloquence, his speeches commanded universal attention. In the House of Representatives, and particularly in the Senate of the United States, Mr. Tyler occupied a reapectable rank as a leading debater. His manners are plain and affable, and in private life he is ami- able, hospitable, and courteous. His errors as a politician are ascribed by the whigs to a want of judgment, to an inordinate vanity and self-conceit, and the influence of bad advice; also, to extreme obstinacy in persisting in opinions once formed, * withont regard to consequences. Mr. Polk received a classical education, gnd gra- 1818. He studied kaw in Tennessee with Felix Grandy, and succesefally prac iced in the profession which | often slovenly. His disposition was cheerf il, bis | has furnished all the Presidents of the United States, / S .