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

| i NEW YORK HERALD. @PFICE KF. W. CORNER OF TULTON AND NASSAU STS. it DAILY v1 cents per per amnen. THE WEEKLY HERALD secry Saturday at OM conte copy or 83 the Burtpean. Edition $4 per on: nae. parks G i Uritatn, ‘5 to amy part of the nt to sre porlige “ILL LETTERS by mat! for Subscriptions, or with Adver- Berens tobe pont aid. or the pontage wuld be deducted from aa consid, OT OLUNTIRY CORRESPONDENCE sontaining impor- rt news volicited from any quarter of the world; if used will Merallypail for ger GUN FoR mien CORRESPONDENTS ARE PARTIOULAMLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LETTERS AMD | Packacus ser us. ‘NO NOTICE taken mot return iiore rejected. TOR PRINTING executed with neatuens, sheapnen, and ntch “QVERTISEMENTS renewed every day. ‘anonymous communications. We do MEPEOPOLITAN BALL—Jutisen’s bia BOWRET THEATER, Bowery Inconar—Gooo ror NormixG - Pook sonny NIBLO’ BURTO Brosdway—MAsawixito THe PRrorwer. vtrast—Manriep Lire N CoNNgCTICUT THEATRE. « be —Youxe actRess~ Cunists NATIONAL TIVEATRE. Chatham sureet~ Afteracon— Urrtie Kary. Evesing—Uncre Tom's Canim. WALLACK'S THEATRA, Brosdway—Gaue or Lire Mitrer 5 Main. AMERICAN MUZPUM- a ing Uscix Tom's Camu. BROABWAY WENAGERIS. Bears. BOWERY AUPHITUS rnoos—lior Coax. Even Steuzse Twas ane Ww Bowery.—Bavmstniay Paarorwances. 2 CHRISTY’S AMERICAN OPERA HOUSB, 472 B-ond. Wty. —Brnsorian VELODINS BY UM RISTY S MINSTRELS. WOOD'S NISST LTLS, Wood's Minstrel Hall, 441 Broad. way-Erwioriaw Yes mumey BUCKL??’S OP HOUSR, 889 Brosdway. -Bvox pers Eruiorian © a OUPE % Broadway. —Panonans y.~-Day and Rvenicg. SIGNOR BLITZ, -Srvvvecan’ ACADEXT 9 GREAT NATIONAL PAINTING vor tHe Sevexvaerr i sow orEn ar tHe SaTioNaL SoaDsny or Dasicx, 08 Brosew HOPE CHAPSL, 715 Brgeiwns.——Jonns! Paxrosoore, ORLD YN MINIATURE—Broadway, sorner of We have at last found space tor the annual report from the War Department 1t appears in our col- mmns of this morning. It is necessary to place such documents on record at some time or other, and we are glad of the opportunity to get it off our hands. The repert of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, relative to the condition and location of the red men in the West, particularly in Nebraska, together with the extract from Senator Atc a's Speech upon the subject of a railroad to the Pacific, will doubtleas be read with great interest at this time, from the fact that bills are pending in Congress for the organiza tion of Nebraska as a territory, and for the construc- tion of a line of railroad to the Western side of the continent. Everybody being naturally desirous of ascertaining something about the country and the people through which this immense chain of thor- oughfare is perhaps to pass, these documents will Greatly tend to enlighten them. One of our special Wa:hington correspondents writes that a warm and spirited debate is expeeted to take place in the House of Representatives to" Morrow, between the adhereuts to national princi- ples, the constitution, and the compromises of 1850, and the friends of the administration, on the Senate's resolution to make the Assistant Secretary of State a presidential appointment. Both parties, itisreportec: have mustered their forces, and made every prepara- tion forthe contest, it be' mutually understood that this is a preliminary movement to redress the outra- ges inflicted upon the national democrats of this State by Messrs. Marcy, Guthrie & Co. Each day brings to light the fact thet the national party is much stronger than was at (rst imagined, and it is now asserted that bad it been a vote of principle on the election for priate: the Senate, the defeated organ of the Cabinet would have only reosived twelve votes. Three of the gentlemen openly avow that they supported Gen. Armstrong ont of pure friendship, and not, by any means, because they coincide in the principles be has of late been pro- mulgating. Wait and see what takes place in the House to morrow. A rumor is current in Washington, that a couple of New York politicians, not engaged in the stationery business, are to receive the contract for supplying the House with paper, ink, pens, kaives, &c., by way of compensation for their services in as- sisting to secure the re-election of the Clerk. This is merely a smail one of the many evils practiced end encouraged of late years with regard to the par- celling ont of government jobs of every description. Instead of employing men who are engaged in and understand the value and quality of the artisles re qnired, persons of all trades and professions except fhe one really requisite contract to build sailing ves Fels, steam frigates, do the government printing, &c.; consequently it is generally the case that the work is not only deloyed, but miserably executed, and in gidition the contractors fail and appeal to Congress ~ ontiet, Let us hope that the present Congress for 1. ates p e of alfelr 99D as will remedy this curious .. agisizs ws som as possible. We are informed that owing to the importance of the position and the necessity cf having a high military Officer clothed with tho fullest powers to suppress any attempt at infringement on our neutrality laws, Gen. Wool has been ordered to the command of the division of the army having its headquarters at San Francisco, He is now in Washington, and will leave for his new post as soon as possible. So far as pre venting the departure of ho-tile expeditions agsinst Lower California and Sonora is concerned, the General will be rather late in the fi2ld; however, his dle outbrenks. When least anticipated, the angry passions of the laborers become aroused, and death and destraction follow almost with the velocity of thonght. ‘The report of the City Inspector shows that ninety men, sixty-seven women, one hundred and twenty- | seven girls, and ninety eeven boys— making a total of three hundred and eighty-one persons—died within | the city durieg the past week. This is an increase of ‘six cases compared with a similar return for the pre- ceeding seven days. Forty one adults died of con- | sumption, thirty of different fevers, forty-three of inflammatory diseases, four of cholera, and thirteen of dyzeutery and diarrhea. Thirteen children were carried off by dropsy of the head, forty-two by con- | vulsions, nice by murasmus, twenty-three by small pox, and thirty-four were still born, Of the infants one hundred and twenty six were under one year of ave, and two hundred acd nineteen had not reached to ten. Two hundred and forty-three of the de- ceased were natives of the United States, sixty- seven from Ireland, fourteen from England, and the remainder from various other foreign places. A jealous husband, named Carson, fermerly of Brooklyn, killed his wife at Syracuse yesterday, moruing. Those interested in railroad matters will fiad in our Pittsburg despatch the decisions in some import ant injunction cases, in which the people of Erie—the scene of the recent riots—were concerned, Among the unusually large amount of highly in teresting reading matter with which our columns are to-day filled, may be found several instructive Lec- tures; Letters from our Nicaragua and Hondaras correspondents, giving graphic accounts of the dis tracted state of affuirs ia those countries; political, religious, theatrical, commerci.), and miscellaneous ness, &c.—the whole comprising one of the most varied and entertaining papers ever issued from the press. ‘the Crisis of Liberty, An unjust sentence of a court of justice, con- demning this paper to pay $10,000 for telling the truth--an arbitrary arrest of a peaceable street-preacher--an incendiary manifesto from the head of the Roman Catholic Church, calling upon bis followers to prepare to defend their churches and themselves from attack when no attack is threatened—these are events which betoken the approach of a new crisis in our history, and call for prompt attention from all true friends of freedom. All these are alarm- ing encroachments on our birthright. There are those who, comparing the hundred thousand tongues of the press with the single voice of an individual, would have us merge the case of Parsons in the more notable injury inflicted on liberty in our own person. They claim that, if the leading journal of America can be silenced, it matters little whether street-preachers are allowed to «peak or no. There is a specious- nees in their reasoning; but we do not endorse it. We have already stated that neither pecu- niary penalties nor personal abuse shall deter us one bair’s breadth from pursuing the course which duty dictates; and, therefore, so far as practical results with regard to ourselves axe concerned, the Fry verdict will be of no avail in crushing the liberty of the press. It may not be so with street-preachers, who have neither the temper nor the means to resist oppression ; and we prefer, for to-day, to place our own wrongs in the background, and to join istue with the assailants of our liberties on the Parsons case only.” The facts are very simple. Parsons thought fit to preach certain moral and religious doc- trines to people assembled within this city to hear him. It does not appear that he disturbed the public peace or violated any law. Accord- ing to the laws of this commonwealth he had as good 4 right to preach as Bishop Hughes or Bithop Wainwright. Yet, for preaching, he was arrested: and the recognized head of the party which would sitence him tacitly approves the arrest, and strives to inflame the passions of the populace and to arouse a crasade against street-preachers. Now, what are the laws of the United States on this ‘point? The constitution expre: ly guarantees freedom of speech to all citizens. in Article [. of the amendments ot 1789, (1, Laws of U.S. p.72,) it is distinctly stated that ~ Congress shall make no law respecting an es- tablishmeut of religion, or prohibiting the free | exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of | speech or of the press.” In accordance with this principle the constitution of the State of New York declares (Art. I, sect. 8):—“Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish, his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press,” These ruies are the paramount law of the land. Neither Congress nor the State Legisls- ture can violate them, much Iéss any inferior legislative body. We read, therefore, with sin- gular surprise and dismay, the followiog ordi- pauce of the ety of New York;— iP IN THE STREPRTS AND PUSLIC PLAC PASSED MAY 14, 153) The Mayor, Aldermen aud Cummonalty of the City of New Yor*, ia Common Uouncil cenvened, do ordain as follows corned or instrameatal emablage of persons orship or exb lace in the city of New York, laid pp for the common use of the citizens, Fee. 2 Jtrbuil be the duty of ail magi ble, marekals, and other officer: of said , connta prevent a onsiable, msrebal or ot fare to perform his duty revery neglect forfeit and pay officer, who in the the sum mires, shall presence and untiring activity and energy will be calculated to check the ofganization of any jiar expeditions against the friendly neighboring States An English frigate is reported to have gone to La Poz, at the solicitation of the Mexican autho: for the purpose of taking sides agaiast the filisuz teros who recently proceeded t) that place, seized tive © the acting ard prosp rnors, declared Lower California a repu J a President and other chief civic and military officers, and then se. for Magdalers Bay, where’ they contemplated eat “Mishivg the rest of covernment. If this British cruiser intends folloving up and headiag off this newly formed goverament, she is likely to have a busy time of it. The usually quiet city of Portland, Me., was thrown into great commotion yesterday by the arri- val of the screw steamer Sarah Sands, the pioneer of & line of steamers between that piace and Liverpool. Cannons were fired, bells rung, and every other evi- dence of extreme gratification manifested. From Chicago we have a brief account of a dread ful riot among the workmen on the Illinois Central Railroad, near Lasalle. It appears that an alterca’ tion occurred about wages, between a contractor named Story anda perty of Irishmen, which was terminated by the shooting of one of the disaffected Mr. Story was afterwards captured and brutally murdered, and his wife was fired at, but escaped. Ii is reported that the foreman of the deceased has since shot nine of the laborers, and the sheriff has killei two more and captured thirty, The ringleader of the rioters escaped. This story may be somewhat exaggerated, and for the sake of humanity it is hoped that such is the case; however, those who are ac quain’ed with the excitevle oature of the people who lave been engaged inthe many « which have disgraced alno.t y sec country where a reilroad track been laid or a canal dug, will not be iif it should that mors per on this occw t is eotoally reported. Thos far hnmen fores: found it impossible to provide against these de five dolar: Ing contained in the preceding sections of be construed to prevent any clecgyman or ny denomination, from preaching In any who suall Lave obtaine: the written <g in peoper places w York, for the purpose of perform m according to the ceremonies of snob ehnreh, Sec 6, No person shall elaturb, molest or interrupt ver who shiali have obtained per- or ot cr ¢isoréer in any sach assembly, under the penalty of twenty five Collars for each offence. Our readers do not need to be told that this ordinance is a direct violation of the constitu- tion of the United States and of that of this State. Tis on the face of it unconstitutional, and cannot but be viewed as a dangerous in- fringement on our liberties. The right of street- preaching is an uncontrovertible and inaliena- ble right of every American citizen. It is founded on abstract principles of justice and liberty ; and is specially secured by the written letter of the constitutions under which we live. The religion we profess was founded by street- preaching. Our Divine Master was a street- preacher; his apostles were street-preachers ; and, with few exceptions, all the great and good 1 whose precepts we cherish aud whose ex. we are taught toimitate preached in the History tells us that whenever hy attained such an ascendency as to crush its rivals and abolish free ut and creed, the first symp tyranny was the suppress Are we to infer that the God forbid w treets, any hier to he dora of th the com! strect-preac dow c we enjoy? religions ery American basa right, in spite of all the vm. of mn of ’ the ordinances of such petty legislatures as a city council, to speak on any legitimate topic, in any public place or street in the city of New York, on the sole conditions that he shall not obstract the highway or provoke a disturbance; and we know our countrymen too well to think they will tamely abandon so inestimable a privilege. What if this trampery council of ours had decreed that no political speaker should be al- lowed to use the public places or streets as a forum? Every child knows that such an ordi- nance would have been trampled under foot the very day it was passed, and would have become a bye-word and a laughing-stock. Shall lec- turers on religious and moral themes be subject to harsher rules than the demagogues who clamor about the government spoils? Shall the Christian religion be taxed more heavily than the creed of democracy? The existence of such an ordinance as the one above quoted is a disgrace to the city. Its en- actment can only be explained on the supposi- tion that the alderman who voted for it did not know what they were going. The best, the only reasonable course for them now to pursue, is to use all convenient haste to have it erased from the city records. Let no one ever know that, in the Metropolis of Ameri- ca, we proposed to sacrifice our birthright through fear of a party, a race,or a clique. The danger to be apprehended from liberty of speech must be met in front, not evaded by timid stratagem. If riots are threatened those in authority must exert themselves to over- power the rioters. not to silence the speaker, If evil passions control a portion of our citizens, they must be@encountered boldly and mastered. It shall not be said that we abandoned the rights for which our fathers bled through fear of a noisy, turbulent mob. Liberty off speech must be maintained, or all our liberties will go to wreck together. The destruction of this in- estimable privilege would leave us not a soli- tary vestige or true freedom. Archbishop Hughes to the contrary notwith- standing, we have no expectation of a popular disturbance. We believe that this day, and on all future occasions, those who think fit to preach in public will be unmolested. Riots seldom occur when they are anticipated. All experience tells that they are invariably sud- den, unforeseen outbreaks of popular passion. If, however, a riot should be contemplated, His Grace the Archbishop may safely leave the de- fence of the city in the hands of its constituted authorities. There are in New York ten thou- sand able-bodied Americans who are ready at a word to march, musket on shoulder, under the orders of the Mayor. They are not pre- pared to receive the word of command from | any priest or bishop, but, Jed by their own civil rulers, they are both ready and able to quell any riot that may arise, and to protect every Catholic church in the city. Archbishop Hughes and other alarmists may therefore make their minds easy. We apprehend no riot ; but what- ever occurs, we are perfectly convinced that law, order, and: liberty of speech, will be main- tained at all hazards. A New Appornrwexr—James Gorpon Ben- nert mw Orrice at Last.—The Washington Union, the special organ of the Cabinet, has on two or three occasions pronounced the New York Weratp the leading organ of the new ational party which is in process of formation throughout the country, the object of which is to break down the coalition spoils Cabinet and the stool-pigeon democracy. Be it so. We accept the appointment, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Let it, then. be understood that the Hrrarp is officially the leading organ of the new national organization under way for the campaign of 1856. We shall endeavor to discharge our whole duty in the premises, until we shall have received the ap- pointment to France. The war now opens. Very soon it will be necessary to have a platform—broad and gene- ral as the Union, and staunch and compact as the constitution—for this new purty of ours. We shall find the materials among the floating sticks of timber cut loose from the Baltimore platform and the compromise measures by the Cabinet. And we say now. that quite enough is developed to show that the contest to he waged by this new party will be a contest against the stool-pigeon demoeracy, who have ranged themselves under this free soil and se- cession coalition spoils Cabinet, and on their rickety spoils platform. All other issues, all other questions, all the little details The Australian Colonies—Their Present Political Condition and Future Prospects. The news which we published the other day from Australia, dating from Melbourne to the 26th of September, is of a highly interesting cha- rater in a political point of view. It would seem that the miners had been holding primary mect- ings and mass meetings, and adopting petitions to the colonial government to reduce the license to the gold diggers to ten shillings British per month. These men showed some alarming symptoms of revolt. The Governor rejected their petition. They then held larger and more formidable meetings—marched in procession with arms and bands of music to the camp of the Commissioners, and tendered the Chief Com- of a general policy, will be made subordinate, in the ¢ampaign of 1856, to the great moral and constitutional issues whic! haye been so coolly repudiated by the administration. ™t is mani- fest that the whole object of the stool-pig¢on democracy is to secure themselves for another term of four years by securing the re-election of Gen, Pierce—they are in the same boat with the Cabinet. As for Gen, Cass and Judge Douglas, they have voluntarily placed them- selves in the background. Bat in the elections for the next Congress there will be some strik- ing developements, among which we may ex- pect the appearance of two or three independent candidates and tickets for the next Presidency, North and South, and a total repudiation by the masses of the people of these juggling Paltimore Conventions, Ovr Dmry Srreets.—For some weeks past the weather has been delightful; bat the filthy condition of our streets has made the soft sun- shine and the pleasant moonlight a mockery, The watering carts being Jaid up to dry, the dust, day and night--a perpetual overbanging, drifting, simmering. sifting, blinding, and suffo- cating clond of dust, surcharged with ammo nin and stale exhalations—has filled the air of our choking streets, and the eyes and noses, and the throats and habiliments of our suffering . Yesterday there came the relieving visitation of a heavy fog. finally condensing into a hopefal looking spell of wet weather. But, presto! change. The dust is laid; but mud sac- ceeds—a black adhesive pulp of diluted garbage repels the passenger at every crossing, and in- conveniently lines the sidewalks. Have the scavengers disappeared with the watering carts, or are our City Puthers holding up for a general attack upon the dirt on the eve of our next municipal election? Can anybody tell? More Sroxs or THE ApoLirionism or THR Capinet.—We uaderstand that Hon. Thomas Steer, of Woonsocket, R. I., has been appointed United States Consnl to Dundee, in Scotland. ‘This gentleman, a short time ago, was the abo. lition candidate in Rhode Island for Attorney Genera). Of course he is the very man for the Van Burevs and for Guthrie and Marcy. y now is the only wear. Fred. Douglass Mot! ou tide at once for the important office of Consul- General to Hayti. lo take advantage of th and put in missioner a license fee of ten shillings each. The offer was refused. They then resolved to hold another meeting on the first of September, and in the meantime to wear a red ribbon as a badge, in token of their determination not to take out licenses. The Legislative Council met at Victoria on the 30th of August. This was the crisis. After some discussion the council caved ‘in, and the fee was reduced to forty shillings for the next three months, which was nearly all that the miners asked. Thus do. !the colonial and home authorities always act under the pres- sure from without. By giving way at the last moment they anticipate and baffle rebellion. During the last year public attention in this country has been directed, in a more than ordi- nary degree to Australia and Tasmania, or Van Dieman’s Land. The gold discovery in thore regions, and the effect it has produced, has turned all eyes to the South Pacific. The escape thence of John Mitchel, and his recent arrival among us, have still more excited in- quiry into the status of those far distant colo- nies of the British empire. A good deal of mis- apprehension in regard to them, and particu- larly as to their present political condition and future prospects, appears to exist in the public mind both in England and the United States. It is very generally believed that those colonies are ina revolutionary volcanic state, ready at any moment to flame into insurrection, and to throw off the British yoke, as the North Ameri- can colonies did some seventy-five years ago. This is a grand mistake. There is no immediate prospect of revolution in Australia. If there were, it is not very likely that John Mitchel would have left so fine a country andso beau- tiful a climate, and have foregone so magnificent an opportunity of furthering his designs with regard to his native land. Being by profession a rebel and a revolutionist against the British throne and government, he would have been but too happy to have acted a leading part in the drama. It is evident, therefore, that he does not believe there is any idea of revolu- tion at present in the colonies of Australia. But this is not merely a logical inference how- ever inevitable; we have direct authority for stating that such is his decided opinion on the subject. Under the circumstances that opinion is highly valuable; for Mr. Mitchel has resided long enough in the country to know all about it, and especially all about any revolutionary tenden- cies that might exist. He is a keen observer, and having been anxiously on the gui vive for signs of general revolt, his not being able to discern them is proot positive that they are not there. This view of the case may seem unaccount- ably strange, considering that the people have itin their power at avy moment to effect a revolution almost without the shedding of a drop of blocd. But it is confirmed by a close examination of the newspaper press of the country, and by deductions from the recent his- tory of the colonies. The reason why the Aus- tralians do not raise the standard of revolt and set up a republic is, that they get everything they want from the British government, and they feel so little of its tyranny now, that they have not sufficient incentives forrebellion. The home government, conscious of the weak- ness of their power there, yield concession after concession. and will not risk the danger of an explosion and formal separation. They are 16,000 miles distant, they have no military force in the country to keep down an insurrec- tion or prevent a revolution, and they there- fore give everything that is demanded from them. The people laugh at the authority of the British Government, and are substantia)ly far more free than if they lived in England. They are so prosperous, too, and their minds are so engaged in amassing wealth that they have but little inclination for political matters. There can be no doubt that at some future day the Australian Colonies will become 4 con- federated republic, after the model of the United States. But that day does not seem to be very near. Australia, it appears to us, is in a transition state, and will slowly and gra- dually errive at the same result, by peaceful progress, that this country attained by a seven years war, and by the blood of so many thou- sanda of her sons, When we take up the newspapérs of that country, we find that the leading journal, the Melbourne Argus, which sustains the same post- tion with regard to the rest of the press that the Times does to the newspapers of England, and that the New York Heravp does to the press of the United States—we find the Argus openly advocating republicanism day after day—what no journal in Great Britain would venture to do. The Argus, which is as large as the Lon- don Times, and like it publishes a supplement, has a circulation of thirteen thousand copies. which is immense for so small a population. It is edited by two Scotchmen, and exerts a pow- erful influence over the public mind. The go- yernment authorities never dream of prosecut- ing its articles; and the impunity which that ournal enjoys must have presented « curions phenomenon to the mind of John Mitchel, who wae made a felon by British law. and banished into one of those very colonies for giving utter- ance to the game sentiments. The following is the circulation of the different Melbourne pa- pers :— Melbourne Argus. sd Herald, (government organ). 200 is patna: (weekly)... ..... 6,600 bi Tribune, (Catholic poet) . rs Banner, (Presbyterian)......... 500 Thus it will be seen that the circulation of the organ of republicanism is nearly as great as that of all the other papers put together. There is another singular contrast between those colonies and the mother country. At home it is only the down-trodden serfs-—the half-starved population of the large cities--and some few of the middle classes, such as the small shopkeepers, together with the tenant fur- mers who are oppressed by high rents and exces sive taxation. and feel the insecurity of the tenure and the consequent degradation of their position—it is only these that care anything for democratic principles, or that look forward to revolution, In fact, it is chiefly among the chartists and the lowest of the i: lish population that the republican ment exists, In Australia, on the contra- ir ry, it ie the old and wealthy settlers that are republicans, and that desire to see the connection severed with the home government. They have already material prosperity in abundance, and they now, therefore, look for the dignity of legislativ@independence. They have a high stake in the community, and they desire perfect freedom and high station in the land of their birth, or the home of their adop- tion, But the great mass of the working popu- lation—the gold diggers, and all that class— have no desire whatever for change, and regard politics with perfect indifference. They can be appeased at any time by the removal of some grievance that directly presses on themselves, The trading and middle classes generally are too much immersed in the pursuits of gain to think strongly or deeply of political elevation. In Great Britain and Ireland, whatever desire for a republic exists is tantamount to a craving for bread and a struggling out of the mire. In Australia, the republican sentiment has a loftier aspiration, and seeks to develope itself in politi- cal aggrandizement. The great social gulf fixed beween the free settlers and the convict class and their descendants, also presents a serious obstacle to the immediate establishment of a republic, with universal suffrage and vote by ballot. But there are causes in operation which are slowly but surely working out the manifest destiny of Australia as a future republic. The abolition of the convict system—the introduc- tion of new constitutions into the different colonies—the abundant possession of gold and other precious metals—the great increase of pc- pulation—the rapid accumulation of wealth and the fruits of wealth—the natural resources of the country, boundless and magnificent—the progress of her commerce, of which an esti- mate may be formed from the fact that the ag- gregate tonnage of the port of Melbourne is 1,088,682 tens for the current year, which is al- most equal to the tonnage of London in 1817, more than double what the Clyde shipping re- presented in 1850; Liverpool, London, and New- castle being the only ports in the British em- pire having a greater tonnage than the chief port of this infant colony of Victoria, of eight- een years standing, and having only 250,000 in- habitants—these things will gradually result in a settled population of steady habits, which will take deep root in that virgin soil, and in due time grow up a young nation, free, and independent of all foreign control. American intercourse, every day increasing since Califor- nia was numbered with the States on our span- gled banner, will contribute in an eminent de- the political drama. Then shall that vast island, which, next to the great continents composin; the four “ quarters” of the world, 5s the largest mass of land of which we have any knowledge —that glorious countr;, measuring from east to west 2,000 miles, and from north to south, 1,700 miles, with its adjacent island of Van Diemeia’s land, nearly as large as Ireland, he hailed by the United States as a new-born republic, and great shall be the rejoicings at its birth. The elder giant shall stretch his hand across the Pacific to his younger brother, who will grasp it with fraternal affection, and the result will be a firm and lasting friendship be- tween the two countries; and from this amity will spring an extension of the same great prin- ciples of human happiness and human freedom to other nations, and kindreds, and tongues, ani peoples. Black-Mall, We are at length favored with a specific ac- curation of levying black-mail. Yesterday’s Tribune condescends to relieve the monotony of vague generalities hy a direct charge, to the ef- fect that we “compel frightened resident mana- gers and peripatetic artists to have the printing of their bitls done at our job-printing office,” un- der penalty of ‘savage attacks” in our columns, This is the first occasion on which the calumny has been brought forward in such a shape as to be met; and we at once hasten to reply. Eighteen years ago, we established tais paper, sold it at two cents, and charged fifty for a certain number of lines in our advertising col- umns. These two sources have been the only ones, in connection with the Heratp, from which we have derived any profit or emolument. Ten years ago managers and proprietors of pub- lic amusements who were in the habit of adver- tising in our columns expressed a wish that we should likewise print their bills. We accord- ingly established a job-printing office, and charged the usual rates for work done there. Similar offices were established at different periods by the Tribune and the Courier and Enquirer; but not being conducted economi- cally, or on business principles, they failed, and the bulk of the business fell into our hands. In one word, we beat them at job-printing just as we beat them at newspaper making. We have printed for some time, and still continue to print, most of the playbills used in New York. This branch of our business has always been and is still entirely separate from and independent ofthe Herarp. If, as the Tribune asserts, we secure the custom of managers for our job office by threats of persecution and severity in the newspaper, in case they have their printing done elsewhere, how does it happen that man- agers who do give us their custom do not rebel when we criticise their performances? Take the Broadway, for instance: out of ten criticisms which have appeared in our columas on the late performances at that house at least six or eight have been unfavorable. Yet we hear nothing of the manager withdrawing his bills, Let any one ask Mr. Wallack or Mr. Burion whether they have been puffed of late in the Herat. Why, within the last few weeks we have hada whole host of indignant actors and managers about cur ears for our “untfair- ness” and “severity.” Ifthe artists’ word is to be taken our critics have done nothing but abuse them. If we treat those who do patronise us in this way, how, in the name of common sense, could we deal with those who don’t so as to testify our displeasure at their conduct ? How could we, who, according to greenroom report, ecold incessantly at every one, “compel managers and artists” to give us their printing by threats of severity? The merest tyro would laugh at such a menace, Having, we trust, disposed of this, the first specific charge of black-mail, we hoposthat the topic will not be abandoned without a thorough inquiry into its history, and a conscienflous research after © black-mailers.” Honesty in the public press is worth securing at any cost: the public may be assured that we shall not rest until the brand is intprinted on the shoul der of the felon. We shall endeavor to avoid the course language into which iz jes of | temper and deficiency of breeding are con- tantly hurrying the writers for the Tribune, Lut we shall state facta plainly. We say, for instance, that it has been proved rin gree to bring about the grand denouement of | Worte a8 thig *ession of Congress progresses ina court of justice that an attaché of the Trix | bune received money from an opera manager for abusing his artists and puffing himselfim, the columns of that paper—and this we call black-mail. We say further, that the senior editor of the Tribune wrote to a quack doctor of this city to say that he would notice his quack medicines editorially provided the said | quack would pay him, (the editor,) for the tine | spent in examining the physic. Of course, ify the quack didn’t pay there was no no tice in the Tribune. This we also call black} mail. These facts are proved, and notorious, When anything half so glaring shall be proved in relation to the Heratp we shall be happy.) to hear of it. | Tue Presweyt’s MussaGe AND THE TiMeg | anp Tripune—By private information frong Philadelphia, we are informed that the Times and Tribune are indebted for their copies of the President’s Message in advance of Congresa || toa whig politician and stump speaker of 1852,’ who is now said to be engaged as an editor im the Union office at Washington. This gentle< man, it is said, first sent his son, (who has & place in the Census Bureau,), to New Orleans; ¥ with several copies of the Message, which were | by him delivered to certain whig editors there | in advance of all the world. except the Union \ office and the Cabinet. The young man them returned from New Orleans; and, aday or two before the delivery of the Message to Congress, | was despatched from Washington by his father’ with a copy of the Message to the Times and| Tribune of this city, and with another copy) for the Boston Post. He was instructed that if! he should need money on arriving in New York| he must call on Greeley. Of course’ these! copies of the Message were obtained by: the! young man’s father from the Union office. Of course the thing was not done without a con- sideration; but that the person indicated would venture to take, or would be permitted to have access to, the printed copies of the Mes- sage, without authority, is improbable. He must have had a card of admiesion, or an order, from Mr. Cushing, or Mr. Webster, or some on else of the Cabinet, or the kitchen cabinet. Per: haps Mr. Forney can tell. | Tue ALARM SpREapING.—The Richmond En quirer is badly frightened at the sudden turn which things appear to have taken at Washing- ton, and frankly confesses that the signs of re‘ bellion among the democracy in Congress are fearful and shocking to contemplate—-. : “positively thocking. So they are; and there is every reason to hclievé the: they will get worse ant The time 1s not far off when the Enquirer wil have to decide whether it shall fall with this fre soil spoils Cabinet, and Forney, and the stool, pigeon democracy, or rise with the new broad gauge national democracy that is destined ti come into power in 1856. Let the young poli ticians of the Enquirer think and act in tim¢ They need not be alarmed if they are right. Army Movements—Gen. Woor.—The troop for California have not yet sailed. Owing t) some derangement in the machinery of th steamer, her departure has been delayed. Ger Wool, who has been personally superintendin the arrangements for the embarkation of th} soldiers, has, we hear, gone to Washington o business eonnected with them. He will o change his head quarters till after their depay ture. The citizens of Troy intend to give hir, a public dinner prior to his taking up his off cial residence elsewhere. Offictal Canvass of New York State. The follqwing is a statement of the aggregate numb of votes given at the recent Fallelection for the variou caadidates for State officers, as officially declared by th State Canvassers, and recorded in the office of the Si’ cretary of S'ate :— | Whig. Wat. Den. FS. Den Secretary of State To0,ia 99.885 96,18 Ccmptrolle: 164,623 «= 92,898 971 Treasury... 160,301 96,931.97, 0% Attorney General, 106,165 = 925129718) Cans] Commissioners. 164030 $7,907 98,27 State Prison Inspector ... 159.67 98.489 (98,4 State Engines 164949 931729716 Glerk of Appeals......... 158,166 92,412 96,25 Aggregate vote of eight antldster cesses 1,205,099 704,246 7 Averaze vote on each cai HAAR cocisncecaae sss 161,992 95,530 Free soil ¢e1 egiegate msj. over national dem... Average tree soil dem, majority on each cautidate., 1) 6 Dat, dem. maj. over free roil dem. on Sec. of State, 3,66 Vorm on JUpGss FOR THE “OURT OF APPEALS.” Whig. Dem. Dem ma) + 168,920 Ruggies + 182,615 18,61 + 158 964 Denio., 187,137 28,14 seen by the above that there is an aggrega’ majority for the free soil candidates over the nation: democrats of 9,326, making an arerage majority on ac candidate of 1,167; but for the principal office, that: Secretary of State, the national democratic candida’ had more votes than his free soll competitor by 3,69 which probably furnishes the best evidence of the comparati strength of the two tecticns of the party. It will be seen, also, that the democratic candidat combined have an average msjority over each candida of the whigs on the State ticket of 30,226; and on tl! candidates for Judges of the Court of Ap;eals the averay democratic majority in 23,429 Marine Affatrs, Tux Steams ANpEs sailed yesterday for Liverpoc She took no passengers. Her speote list amounted $330,628, } Lavxcu oF A StkaMentr.—The steamship Charles Mo | gan will be launched on Tuerday next, at 12 eae from the yard of her builders, Jacob A. Westervelt & Cy foot of Seventh street, East river. Sho fs intended run in Harris & Morgan’s line of Texas and New Orlea steamers, and will leave this port for New Orleans abo. | the firet’of February. she i# named efter the fath of the jucior partner of the New Oricans firm, late pri cipal partaer of the. Morgan Works of this city, and nv’ agent here of te Nicaragua line of California steamsra Scnoonar BvRvED.—The schooner Melrose, loaded wi lumber, was ately consumed by fire near Saltilis, Flori: Her captain, Smally, bas arrived at Savannah, bound { this olty, where, it is sapposed, the vessel is insured. The Mitebel Banquets Invitations have been ser} to the most distinguish) men of the country to attend the dinner to be given Jokm Mitchel to morrow, Ther is every indication tt it will tea splendid affair, The epssches are ex co! to be of a very euperior kird. The Preaching Disturbance. The following aro the affidavite sworn in the-cand the Rev. Mr. Parsons, arrested in the Fioventh ward) Captain Squires, on Sunday Inst :— Police Court, Third district, Kesex street York, City and County of New York, s#.—Peter Squir of the Eleventh district police, being duly swora, dapc and says, that on the 8th day of December, i863, Chief of Police told deponent that there was like to b disturbance in the Eleventh ward oo Sunday, on acco! of rome preaching in the open air or streets, The # Chief of Police, apd also the Mayor, Cfrected deponam’ | prevent any preaching in tne sireets or open air t might tako place, and directe! » police forge from ot wards to assist deporent, which consisted of a platoor men fiom tho Seventh, Teuih, Thirtesath, and Ser teenth wsrds, That about tliree o'clock P. M., depor ascertained that a man was preaching in the spat yary | the foot of Third street Dspoaent then went there y a police force and arrested him, aecording to the di tion of tke Mayor and Chief of Police, The said man bis rame as Laniel Paracoa, (now prevent) The Deniel Partons made no resistance, but while brin him to the riation house, ceponent was followed large crowd of persons, nome ot whom showel by Janguage and hallo wition to raecne him, ponent had the most ented acd fart ber depovert raith not, rl worn to before me, this 11 Woon, Poliee Justi City ae 40 Blér aS bisy ort th day of December, 15 Yerk, ofN on the docky * went asav setom: thot Te bh sacl of aay exciteman ‘lat there waa itkely to be any dirtarbence: That ho: commenced preaching and hea been preaching | aed,