The New York Herald Newspaper, February 17, 1854, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT. PROPRIETOR AND BDI OR Orrics x. w. conan OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. { =. Veobame TUK... eeceecesees +++ = . Noe 4 6. AMUSEMANTS THIS BVRNING- BOWSRY THEATRE, Bowery—Uxcus tom's anim, Y THEATRE, Bros iy Youne Wire aRNQARN Ulansces a Missvamen Nici s DREAM, BURTON'S THRATR mas Nicur’s Dneam—Ra NATIONAL THEATRE. Tue Gannien Even ng U ACK’S THEATEKS, Broadway -Eaxvstine— hambe@ strect—A Mipsum~ Bxcrr'ap. Chat street —A ftornoon— NOL % RICAN MUSEUM—Aftorn0on—Coon 48 4 Quoum- seer eer nin Brite Oy MimexLe———Mvening- fun Buzzanvs Pavvy Mitxs’ Boy BAOADWAY MENAGERIE—Sismnss Twins axp Witd Buasts. STY’S AMERICAN OPERA HOUSE, 473 Broad- way brnvoriam Matontna ay OuaisrY's Miseraats. WOOD'S MINSTRELS—Wood's Minstrel Hall, 444 Broad- way- Brnorian MinerRecey. BUUKLEY’S OPERA BOUSE, 639 Brosdway—Bvex- aer's Evuiorian Orena Trours. BARVARD’S GEORAMA, 695 Brondway—Pawonaua ov rus Moxy Larp. REENISH GALLERY , 663 Broadway—Day and Evening al WBLITZ—Srvvvasant Inerrruts, 3 Broad- AUADEMY HALL, 563 QumEri0xs OF THE SxVEN eRnAM’s Girt Ex- BSYAN GALLERY OF CERISTIAN ART—&3 Broad: way —————————————— New York, Friday, Feb. 17,1854. Miaghly Important from Europe—War Al- most Certain. By the simultaneous arrival of the America and Canada, we have received advices of one week's inter date from Europe, which are ef the most im portent and exciting character. "fhe doubt and uncertainty which have so long held all minds in a state of the most anxious sus- pense respecting the issue of the Eastern question, and which have influenced almost all the operations of commerce, will now be put an end to by a series of official declarations, or more decided measures on the part of the respective governments. Of these the speech of the Queen of England may be said to be the first in the chain of events, At the Opening of Parliament on the 3lst, her Majesty, after referring to the efforts which she had made, in Soujunction with her allies, to restore peace between the belligerent Powers, proceeded to say that she ‘would not fail to persevere in these endeavors; but as the contixuance of the war might deeply affect the interests of England and of Europe, she thought it requisite to make a further augmentation of her naval and military forces, with the view of support- ing her representatives and of more effectually con- tributing to the restoration of peace. In addition to this announcement, we learn that an unfavorable reply had been given in writing to the Czar’s recent inquiry respecting the French and English fleets. The Russian Minister was reported fo have already left Paris, and Baron Branow was to take his departure from Loadon onthe 5th. Orders had been despatched to St. Petersburg for the with- @rawal of the English and French Ambassadors. ‘The reply to the Queen’s speech qill be unani. Mously agreed to in both houses. The British army 5s to be immediately increased by 11,000 regulars, and Mhe navy by 15,000. It is said to be in contempta- Sion to appoint a special miaister of war, charged with the details of the army and navy ordnance. Jt is further stated that Frauve hed devided upon sending 80.000 and England 10,000 men to the assist” auce of Turkey, A small detachment of steamers was also to be sent by the latter, to take souildings at the entrance of the Baltic. The answer of Englei4g ang France to the Rassian Foquirles respecting the entry of the fleets, was de Hivered on the Ist of February to the Minis‘ers of the Czar in London and Paris. It is said to be of a arm and decided character. It is stated that one of the objects of Count Or Joff’s mission to Vienna was to obtain permission to send, under certain restrictions, » Russian corps by way of Presburg to the Danubian seat of war. The Jstest despatch adds that his mission had failed and ‘that ali Germany had determined to side with Eng- Jend and France, thus leaving Rossia completely inolated. ‘ : The intelligence that the differences between Torkey and Persia had been satisfactorily adjusted is officially confirmed. We have received no further details respecting the yumored victory said to have been obteined by the Forks at Kalefat on the 25th of January. Whether this report was merely the herald or the echo of the fact, it isimpossible to say; but it is certain that Gen. Gortschakoff had made the most formidable prepara- Mons for the struggle, which it was anticipated would be a terrific one. There are reports of some trifling skirmishes between the Turkish and Ryssian forces along the banks of the Danube, in which the former are said to hsve had the advantage. Fresh imsurrections had broken ont amongst the Walla- ghian population, so that the Czar is likely to have hie hends full. + the ar at whieh we reeeived this import- ant intelligence it is impossible to do more than to @irect the attention of our readera to its leading features. We shal) reserve until to-morrow the ob- nervations that it suggests. The News. Raving in the preceding article adverted to the war news brought by the steamers, we will merely @rect attention to other interesting features of the imtelligence. It is reported that Spain is on the eve of a revolution, and that the people are desirous of calling in the King of Portugal, or some other person than their present Queen, to rule over them, There is also a prospect of a revolution in the worthern part of Italy; and in Switzerland the people are divided om political questions. In short the whole continent of Europe seems agitated by subterranean fires that are ready to burst forth into one general conflagration at a moment's notice. In London the fands do not appear to bave been: materially depressed by the intense excitement pre wailing atthe time of the Canada’s departure, al ou Gey had fluctuated considerably. Cotto was Kage, wat had not altered. Breadstuifs jad slightly Aeelimed. The America, which arrived at Boston, it will b recollected, was chartered to bring home the troop taken from on board the sinking steamer Sao Fran tisco by the Antarctic. Capt, Watkins also came pver in the A. The reports of the Congressional proceedings will again be found quite interesting today. We pudlish -Mhe conclusi (r. John Wheeler's speech which created such a great sensation in the House on Wed nesday. appears to have complete'y qnir ‘ free soiler: the subject of New York politi _ Se present. None of them mentioned the sai) yesterday, and probably will carefully avoid so ¢ for some time to come. The epirit rappers, it ap peers, heve at last invaded the committee rooms. | mee TS TE LO Mike , Walsh wishes to know what business they ha’ Ye there. Their opinion upon the Nebraska ues t) on has not, as yet, been promulgated. The select committee on the subject of rewarding the rescuers of the sufferers on board the San Francisco, made a reportsimilar to that which passed the Senate, and it was referred to the Committee of the Whole. It authorizes the President to present gold medals to Captains Crighton, Stcuffer and Low, and to distribute a sum not exceeding one handre! thoussnd dollars among these who assisted in preserving the lives of the numerous persons on board the ill-fated steamer. Owing to the great procrastination in this matter. it is feared that numbers of the hardy men who par- ticipated in the noble work will never receive the reward to which their services entitle them. The crews of the different versels will soon be off to sea again, many of them in other ships, and then it will be impossible, in many instances, for either the Pre- sident or his agents to pay them their daes. Bills to complete custom houses and mariue hospitals, and to extend the warehousing system, were also referred to the Committee of the Whole. The House then went into committee on the Free Farm bill; whereupon Mr. Boyce took the floor, and strongly denounced Secretary Guthrie’s scheme for the alteration of the tariff. Like most other South Carolinians, Mr. B. is oppozed to the levying of higher duties than will merely meet the expenses of government. He was followed by Mr. Sapp, who supported the homestead project. In the Benate Mr. Badger delivered a strong speech in favor of the Nebraska Kansas bill. He de. clared tbat al! original objections to the bill, so far as it related to the Indians, had been removed by subsequent amendmexts, and that in its present shape it gave every security to the red men. This is a point that Gen. Houston seems to have entirely overlooked, So far as related to the Missouri com- promise, he considered that to have been entirely superseded by the measures of 1850, and it was therefore perfectly right to declare the former in- operative. Mr. B.'s allusion to the condition of slaves, his own particalarly, will be appreciated by all who are familiar with life in the South. Mr. Seward secured the floor, and will to-day speak on the opposite side of the question. Our State Legislatare, it will be recollected, ad- journed from last Friday to yesterday evening at se- ven o’cloex, with the view of enabling the members to go home and enlighten their constituents relative to the constitutional amendment to secure the com- pletion of the canals, the election for whieh purpose was held on Wednesday, and resulted in the over- whelming success of the scheme. At the appointed hour last evening a sufficient number of members could not be found in either house to form a quorum. Taey were consequently compelled to adjourn till to- Fhe free soilers of Massachasetts ate reported to have assembled in great numbers in Faneuil Hall, Boston, yesterday, with the view of giving expres- sion to their indignation against the Nebraska bill. The speeches made and resolutions adopted on the oc- casion, being of the usual stereotyped abolition order, it is unneceseary to refer to them further than by saying that these people openly threaten, if ,this bill shall become a law, to take the field and make war upon slayeholders with more potent weapons than tongues. Some of taem, it will be seen, fiud .fault with Mr. Everett because he did not go far evough in his recent speech against the measure. A conventioa of tobacconists was held at Albany yesterday torthe purpose of devising means to check the importation of segars. A resolation was adopted praying Covgress to impose a specific daty of forty cents per pound on all foreign segars. Hee tae re portof the proceedings under the telegraphic head. The Board of Aldermen met last evening and transacted a large amount of business. We publish in our special report an ordinance introdazed by Al- derman Howard for the creation of a “ Board of Fire Department Commissioners,” prescribing their pow- ers and duties, and the time and manner of their election. After some debate, the measure was laid upon the table, and mede a spectal order for the meeting of the Board a fortnight bence. The Board of Councilmen met lest evening, pur suant to adjournment, but did not transact a great deal of busmex. The commitiee to whom was re- ferred the mettgr of cleaning the streets of the city, Teporied that they had examined the same, and re“ commended that every ward in the city should be set apart as a street cleaning district. The reform members opposed the report, on the ground that the plan would create so much confusion that no work would be performed, and the streets would conse- quently be in a worse condition than under the old contract system. Mr. Kennedy, one of the reform members, made a severe attack upon the President of the Board, (Edwin J. Brown,) for leaving his seat and taking part in the debate The latter gentle man, in reply, stated that it had beea the custom in all legislative bodies for the president to leave the chair, substitute a member in his place, sud take an active part in the debate, if he chose. He excused himself for so doing in the present instance, on the ground that the question was such an important one that he felt at liberty t leave the chair tor the pur pose of advocating the adoption of the report. After some debate the report was adopted by more thie two-thirde majority. A despatch from St. Louis states that a large nom. ber of persons were killed and many others ssalded by the explosion of the eteamer Kate Kearney yes- terday morning. Among those dangerously injured is Major Beale, of the army. The trial of James Saunders, Marshal of the An- cient Order of Hibernians, for giot on the Fourth of July last, was continued in the Court of General Sessions yesterday. The whole day up to 11o’clock last night was spent in the examination of witnesses for the prosecution, the District Attorney being auxious to close the case a3 soon as possible. The heavy press of business a2counts for the court sit ting so Jate. We give elsewhere an abstract of the trial, deeming it unnecessary to lay before ourreaders another report of the case, «8 we gave one in full not long ago, when some eeventeen persons were tried and convicted of the same offence that the defendant is charged with. The Military Court of Inqniry still drags its slow length along. A dozen or more witnesses remain to be examined for the defence. We give avery fall report of the proceedings in another column. Our inside pages contain interesting statistics rela- tive tothe imports into this country last year; the extradition case of Heilbrono in the Sapreme Coart; letter from London; news from Nebraska; a great variety of local and general intelligence, &. the Nebraska Question — fhe Siavery Agita. : jon—The Consticutional Issue. We undertake to say that it matters very little whether the Senate bill for organizing the new Territories of Kansas and Nebraska is passed at this session, in any shape. or post- poned, or laid on the table, or directly defeated. The animus of the slavery agitation in this in- stance. being thrown back upon the funda mental basis of the constitution, the controversy must go on, whatever may be the action of Congress—and the subject mast be thoroughly sifted through the public mind before there can be a permanent settlement; and short now of permanent settlement the great issue can not be eet aside. In a practical point of view there will be little or no substantial difference between mi- hering tothe Mi aad repeal- ing that restrictic eluded within th ymise mn of country boundaries of Kansag aoc Nebraska is not adapted to slave labor It pro duces neither sugar, vor rice, nor cotton, nor tobacco. It isimostly a northern prairie couutry and to a great extent, from its summer droatns is badly adapted even for those sturdy white emigrants who, from the shores of the Atlantic to the western confines of Missouri, bave b the pioneers aud the vanguard of civiliza- tion. Practically, too, it matters little | spread agitation, and a world of trouble among | fest destiny,” at Sardinia, has already given us| Govenxor Bic.er’s Mussace.—The pe whether this Nebraska bill is paseed at this ses- | mousing politicians of all sorts—upon this issue sion, or postponed to the next; for the Territo- ries in question, from the general absence of timber and the scarcity of water, can never be densely populated without railroads and the pressure of a redundant population in the rear. The annual emigrations westward from the Mis- sissippi river would not all traverse a journey oftwo thousand miles, over plains, mountains, and deserts, to California or Oregon, if the in- tervening country were sufficiently inviting tor settlement. There is, then, no immediate practical neces- sity for the organization of the said Territories; but as the Senate bill rests upon the only ra- tional and tenable construction of the constitu- tion, to wit: the sovereignty of the people over their local affairs, whether in the States or the Territories, its defeat will involve a great triumph to the free soilers, and the most dan- gerous vantage ground gained for the campaign of 1856, Reaffirm the doctrine of Congression- al intervention, and there will be no end to the slavery agitation while a scrap of territory re- mains to be organized, or the margin of a desert is presented for annexation to the Union. Pass the repeal of the Missouri restriction, and abide the public judgment, and the issue be- tween free soil and slavery being removed from Congress, the trouble is settled at once and for- ever. In one view there Is the diffienlty to be met of a bair-splitting construction of the ¢onstitu- tion. It is contended by many that the power to ‘make all needful rules and regulations re- specting the territory or other property of the United States,” comprehends the power to in- terdict slavery in a Territory, as a needful rule and regulation. If the framers of the con stitution had intended any such construction of this clause, they would have illustrated it in the general spirit of the fundamental law which they have left us. But what do we find as the very foundation stones of the constitution? The recognition of Southern slavery—the con- cession of a representation for Congress of three-fifths of the slaves of the Southern States, and that most remarkable and decisive con- cession of the continuance of the African slave trade with the South for twenty years after the adoption of the constitution, These concessions were the basis of the union of the North and South, under a common fundamental law, the ruling spirit of which is the equality of the States, slavery or no slavery, and the sover- eignty of the people. It is manifest, therefore, from the compromises with, and the conces- sions to, the South, and from the plain spirit and intent of the constitution, that Congress has no authority to define, or restrict, or extend the institution of slavery. This is the exact issue presented in the Se- nate bill, both with regard to the absence of all power in Congress over the subject of slavery in the States or Territories, and the existence of all power among the people thereof. And upon this issue—whatever the fate of the pend- img bill at this session——upon this issue, and upon this broad and general platform, will the discussion and the agitation go on, until the question is settled before the tribunal of public opinion. The result will inevitably be a recon- struction of parties upon the new order of things which will arise. Already the process of disso- solution in the rank and file, in the unity and nationality of the old effete whig and democratic parties, is almost complete. With the former it is complete; with the latter the only liga- ment of adhesion remaining is the “cohesive power of the public plunder.” When the plunder fails the democracy will be dissolved. and its elements will enter into the new re-orga- nization of parties, principles and platforms. The administration of General Pierce will end the history of the democratic party of Jackson and Van Buren. All his attempts to resuscitate the Van Buren free soil dynasty as the legiti- mate Bourbons are only hastening him to the end of the chapter. The discovery has been made that the Mis- souri compromise was but a temporizing armis- tice for the Presidency, and, brought to the test of the constitution, a practical nullity. Weare thus brought back to first principles, and there is no escaping the responsibility, of the public judgment. The act of 1820 was the result of an anti-slavery sentiment gnd agitation first brought into shape by the expiring remains of the old federal party at the Hartford Conven tion. The Virginia ordinance of '87 was the de- lusive precedent which gave the later act the co- loring of authority; and the policy and necessi- ties of various Presidential aspirants from that time to this have given this Missouri restric- tion its thirty-four years of public toleration as a part of the supreme law of theland. It has never been brought upon trial before the con- stitution till now; but now that the indictment has been made out, it must and will be prose- cuted to a verdict. The old parties of the day will be broken up and dispersed—the adminis- tration itself will probably be Tylerized and abandoned to its fate—the country may ring in every quarter with an agitation terrible to all scheming politicians; but in the end the ship will regain her equilibrium, and we shall take a new departure in the political history of the republic, guided by the chart of the constitu- tion. « The present agitation was foreshadowed by Mr. Calhoun. He looked upon the compromises of 1850 as but a temporary truce, as they did not rest upon the basis of the constitution Such they have proved to be. They are but acts of Congress. They are subject to repeal or modification; and the break into the Missouri compromise demolishes all party agreements of the finality of the schedule. The whole sub ject of slavery is re opened upon the platform of the constitution and its compromi:es, which alone sre binding upon Congress, the States and the people, till the people and the States, as prescribed, shall have changed the funda- mental law. The question is now up in a legitimate shape. It cannot be evaded. It must be met and settled. And no matter whether at this session or the next the bill is passed, or defeated, or postponed—no matter what the fears or dangers of agitation may be to truckling politicians—the agitation must continue till the issue is deter- wined upon the finality of the constitution. It will not avail to denounce slavery as a moral and social evil, after the fashion of General Pierce and his partisans in the free soil times from 1846 to 1850. It will not avail to raise the hue and ery of abolition and free soil. The merits or demerits of slav: ory have nething to do with the question, The simple question is between Congr and the constitution ; and the 1p: the whole busi. ness is to remove all | out of Con ple, where i in the Territories of the Union, Upon this issue we may yeti have a wide- on upon slavery nds of the peo. ates or 8, and belongs the Cabinet may break up, the administration may break down, and even Douglas may fail to reach the Presidency ; but in the end the prin- ciple will prevail, and this infernal anti-slavery and free soil agitation will be finally extin- guished. In the meantime, let the battle be fairly fought, for tims the final triumph will be the more decisive. Keep up the fire. Our Foreign Relations—Gen. Pierce’s Euro- pean Diplomats and Diplomuey—Funny Doings Over the Water. In the absence ot any official information from our diplomatic corps in Europe, our readers will be considerably edified with the letter from a knowing correspondent at London, which we publish this morning. The details given of the queer doings of Gen. Pierce’s officials over the water, are very spicy. We never have had funny ministers abroad, as these exceedingly funny and very peculiar officials of Gen. Pierce: But, seriously, for a moment, what is the promise of proceedings such as these ? We begin to despair of anything positive, useful or practical from the European diplo mats and diplomacy of this administration. The time is auspicious—the crisis in European affairs is inviting; there never has been offered to this country such a golden opportunity for impressing itself, with a permanent influence, upon the politics of Europe. In the midst of the complexities and embarrassments of the Turkish entanglement, our government is pre- cisely in that position where, with the exercise of ouly a moderate degree of sagacity and firn- ness, it might control the balance of power ia the direction of the general policy of the Continent. At all events, no occasion was ever more favorable than the present for entering jnto an enlarged system of commercial recip- rocities with all the commercial States of the Old World. But we repeat, we begin to des pair of anything useful or practical from the foreign policy, as thus far developed, of Presi- dent Pierce, What has been done under this administra- tion to place this mighty nation upon a proper footing among the great European powers? Substantially nothing. The letter of Marcy upon the Koszta case created a momentary sensation ; but when brought to the test of practice, the doctrines which he se boldly laid down proved to be nothing but gas. The Koszta pronunciamento was abandoned on the next occasion for its application; and Koszta himself, so late the hero of the chivalry of the State Department, has dwindled down to the melancholy subject of common charity. The circulars regulating the coats and breeches of our diplomats and consuls were humbugs. They were, we suspect, intended only as clap- trap for Buncombe; but for a while they made some impression, and excited sqg¥ alarnf among the tinselled and titled ogg@iiges who dance attendance upon fussy royaléy at Berlia and Vienna. The courts of Prussia and Austria had learned that Dudley Mann had been pro- moted from his fillibustering mission among the German States to the post of Assistant Secre- tary of State, under the authority of our Preai- dent; and perhaps they foresaw in these extra democratic circulars upon costume, a positive indication that Dudley Mann was at work, and would follow up this beginning with more dan- gerous manifestations of sympathy with the red republicans and socialists of the Continent. But the danger is over. These circulars were not revolutionary fire brands—they were aé harmless as the Koszta letter, notwith- standing the King of Prussia: was so well satisfied that they were an incendiary offering to the sans culottes that he flatly refused to allow our Minister, Gov. Vroom, to appear among the court butterflies fin the Sunday dress of a New Jersey farmer. In fact, the only two men, we believe, of our diplomatic corps in Europe, who have fully conformed to the republican coats and pantaloons prescribed by Marcy, are Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Sandford, late acting Charge at Paris. The latter, in his plain black coat and pants, and white waist- coat, was @ lion among the ‘gilt officials at the Tuileries. The Emperor was gratified, and the Empress was decidedly pleased, with the eontrast between him and the gold-covered representatives of such small fry as Venezuela, Peru, and the Cannibal islands. But it seems that Mr. Sandford and Mr. Mason could not agree upon this question of coats and breeches —the latter insisting upon “doing in Rome as the Romans do,” the former has thrown up his commission as attaché in disgust. Now, did republican principles depend upon the cut of a coat, or the materials of a pair of trowsers, if the dignity of this great nation were a question at Paris between gold lace and Kentucky jeans, then Mr. Sandford is right. Otherwise he has been playing the principal character, next to Marcy, in a very ridiculous farce. This is all, however, that has been achieved by the instructions to fall back to the simple uniform of good old Dr. Franklin. The Koszta and the costume manifestoes were humbugs of the same pattern. Having served their pur- pose among the flat-footed democracy in some of our political elections, they are set aside. Thus, the European policy of the administration becomes a dead blank. We have nothing now to guide us in our conjectures exeept the cali- bre and capabilities of our diplomats them- selves. But bere again we are all at sea. Mr. Buchanan, aided by Dan Sickles and George Sanders, our London consul, (that was till yes- terday,) have not been occupied upon the cod- fish question, or free trade, or guano, or ship canals, oF anything of that sort, but have been working like beavers to secure the discharge of the present hard shell New York correspondent of the London Times. But, worst of all, they have failed, signally failed, at every point. At Madrid, upon « question of dress, our Minis- ter Soulé and his son have achieved a great victory over a Spanish duke, a French war- quis, and an English lord, beating all three at their own game. Secretary Marcy, no doubt, has an immense quantity of letters, despatches, documents, and newspaper articles, received from Madrid on this subject, which, in the ab- sence of other matter, ought to be laid before the country without delay. Mr. Seymour is not expected to attempt anything very wonderful at St. Petersburg; and as for Mr. Spence, at Con- #tantinople, we fear that between his instrac- tions and the inexplicable palaverings of the nothing at ali, except to report progress as a mere looker-on. Robert Dale Owen, the socia is doubtiess a happy min ; and gets anything from him it will very upon the sublimity of Vcsuvins, the simplicities of the /azzaroni, or the i attractions of the Neapo! jel, the sprig of at Naples, eur f harming n ladie rD such a ministry at home, never such a lot of | bly be may conclude the commercial treaty English and French ambassadors, he will do |e @ touch of his quality, in his detestation of the country to which he is assigned—the Court, the garlick dnd the onion-eating nobility ; the swarthy peasantry, the beggars, and all con- cerned. Mr. Belmont, at the Hague, may be operating in stocks, consols and old clo’, as the continned agent of the Rothschilds, for all that we know; and would probably prove himself more active in getting a loan for Aus- tria than he is likely to do in securiog the in- demnity due to Mr. Seeley, of New York, for the recovery of the stolen jewels of the Prince of Orange. Mr. O’Sullivan, at Lisbon, if con- firmed, may, perhaps, be useful to Mr. Soulé at | Madrid, in getting up a fillibustering Spanish coup d'etat; bat beyond that, from him, judging from his antecedents, we have little or nothing to expect. Mr. Mason, at Paris, is our last bope. Possi- commenced by Mr. Sandford or Mr. Rives. He has been duly presented to the imperial family and Cabinet—he has been taken toa state ball at the Tuileries in an imperial carriage, avd home again by the same stylish conveyance, He has been well received, is well pleased, and has, we suppose, already made up his mind that Paris is a charmiog place to live in, and, if ne- cessary, to die in. At the end of two or three years we may expect to see Mr. Mason back again, fatter than when he left, learned, per- haps, in French, and perhaps, like Gen. Gads- den, with a treaty in his truvk and a duplicate copy in his pocket. We may also expect to find him as partial to Louis Napoleon as Gen. Cass was to Louis Philippe, for the Emperor is evi dently disposed to conciliate the good opinion of the United States. Still, with all this, the field of European poli- tics, as far as our diplomatic corps and the for- eign policy of Gen. Pieree are concerned, is a blank. Nothing. has been done—nothing is foreahadowed—nothing is promised calculated to lift this all-powerful republic to its rightful position among the ruling powers of the earth, Our European appointments, the result of a sys- tem ofbalancing the spoils among the various cliques and stripes of the spoilsmen, promise, at best, little or nothing. A policy which has no general or fixed principles to mark it, except the plan of parcelling out the spoils, will moat probably end, as it has commenced, in nothing more nor less than the consumption of the plun- der. With such an opening as is now offered for a grand schedule of comprehensive negotia- tions upon the most important commercial aud political reciprocities with most of the powers of Europe, if, after the lapse of a year, we see no signs of action in any quarter, we are free to conclude that the foreign, as well as the domes- tic policy of this admin’stration begins and ends with the spoils—-the spoils—the spoils— nothing but the spoils. Tne AsupurTon Treaty.—The gase of Heil- bronn, a fugitive from justice, charged with forgery, and claimed by the British government under the Ashburton treaty, is likely to_be the last of the kind our courts will be troubled with. The point of law raised in his case is novel. It appears that the peculiar forgery of which he is accused is not held to amount to fergery by the laws of this State, though falling uxder that denomination in Great Britain. Ac- cordingly, though the President has issued the necessary warrant to enable the British consta- ble to carry him off. and the latter announces his intention of leaving with his prisoner in the steamer to-morrow, proceedings are pending before the State courts, which‘are almost sure to result in the rescue of Heilbronn from the custody of his captor. Should the constable persevere in his intention of leaving with him, avery pretty conflict of jurisdictions will urise ; though no one can doubt that the State autho- rities will ultimately carry their point. and the prisener be enlarged. It has happened, singularly enough, that in almost every case where a fugitive from justice has been elaimed under the Ashburton treaty, some legal point has been raised. and ‘Me ob- ject of the treaty defeated. In some cases, no doubt, the ground taken by the fugitive’s coun- sel has been sound and proper. But in others, we fear, perhaps in a majority of the cases, some pettifogging lawyer has seized hold of the fugi- tive’s wrongs and endeavored to make politieal capital out of them; to the manifest detriment of justice, and the injury of our own interests. The prosecutions instituted at the instance of the British government and resisted here, have already cost a frightful sum of mo- ney; so large in faet that we are pretty sure the expense and trouble will prevent further applications under the treaty, and render the latter an absolute dead letter. This is not alone due to the pettifogging in- stincts of a few members of the bar; a fair share of the credit of nullifying the treaty must be given to the courts and that portion of the public which haunts them. Brainless lawyers may think it excessively fine to prate about the tyrdunical government of England, and to plead the faults of monarchy in extennation of the guilt of a murderer; but they could achieve little were those whom they adress properly convinced of the importance of maintaining the extradition Jaw in full vigor. We trust the time may never come when the United States shall cease to be a sate asylum for political refugees. But the sympathy we feel for a conscientious lover of liberty who tails in his attempt to liberalize the institutions of his country, we cannot exiend to murderers or forgers. These ought to be objects of reproba- tion all over the world. The p rest requires that no asylum should shield them from the penalty due to their crime. No pur- pose is served by protecting them—whether they be Americans or foreigners—save only the encouragement of villany. It was imorder that villany should not be encouraged that the Ash- burton treaty was paseed; and we see with deep regret that a misplaced sympathy anda pettifogging spirit in our courts is now destroy- ing its use, and effecting its practical repeal. c Common Sense x O10. oint resolution has passed the House of Representatives of Ohio, and is now before the Commitiee on Federal Relations of the Senate, recowviending the removal of the United States Mint from Philadelphia to this city, and as the govern. ment to establish a branch mint in Cincinnati, This is acommon sense practical view to take of the necessities of the people. Nine-tenths of all the precions metals that go to the mint, first arrive here, and } t to Phila- deJphia for coinage, ional and unnecessary expens people. Midsammer Night's Det er ring to nee the play comfortably, + ely. Wallac: s evening ja Goe sizie me wel p anne be prod uae Howery nad Nationa) “ sylvanians are consistent to the last. have torn up railroad tracks, destroyed bridges, interrupted the line of travel between east and weet, subjected travellers to unheard of inconvenience, delayed the transit of goods at the very season of the year when such de- lays are most severely felt; and now they cap their career with a robbery of a railroad and the property of a company specially char- tered by themselves, All this Governor Big- Jer defends in his message. Caring nothing for the character of his State or the welfare of the Union, perfectly indifferent to the inters ests of trade and the convenience of travellers}: thinking only of how he may best secure tht votes of the Erie mob, Governor Bigler ei- dorses the blackest of their misdeeds, and en- deavors to excuse by legal quibbles the final felony which terminated the late disgraceful insurrection. What effect hig message may have on his own prospects in his State, we are unable to say; it will doubtless increase his popularity at Erie. But his de- fence of the repeal of the Franklin Canal Com- pany’s charter will ruin him utterly in every other State in the Union, If the company vio- lated their charter, it was for the courts not the Legislature to deciare it forfeited. The legislative act which repealed it will remain forever as an evidence of the narrow minded, spirit which animated the State of Pennsylva- uia in 1854; a proof that that State, for the sake of levying a petty tax on travellers and goods at Erie, is willing to subject twelve other States to vast inconvenience and expense, The battle for the right of way has yet however to be fought. The victory of the Erians is but atemporary one. Both East and West have it in their power to extort as aright what Penn- sylvania denies as a favor; and the time will come when they will do it, How 1s Tu1s?—We are informed that the clerks in the Custom House were notified on Tuesday that their salaries would be increased on the first of March next twenty per cent. The clerks in the Post Office were a few days since told that their salaries were to be reduced, which we suppose was in consequence of the last news from England, bringing us the tidings of a reduction in the price of flour ; but as beef is on the rise, we presume the Custom.Jouse. officials require increased wages. How is it? Corus Srzamers.—The following extract from a Southern paper speaks the sentiments of the entire population of the United States. It is full time the press spoke out upon this subject in the strongest terms. We are sure it is not generally known that the government have it in contemplation to with- draw its support from this line of steamships. The Norfolk (Va.) Transcript, of the 13th iast., says;—. The reo-nt attempt im Congress to distard the exist contracts with the Collin and other Mnes of ocean steamers in wo be deprecated, as ® piece of b.d faith um worthy of the government, a5 {t would be digcaosfal to an individual ides, the law making the sppropria- tion for the Collins ateamore expressly dasiarss that not until after the Slst of December, 1854, (vl-ven mon:he hence,) shall rlx months notice of discontinuance be given. Yot, what Americano heart that fe proad of our country, will consent to res » quistus given to the magni- foent jine of ocean steawerr, built at the risk of millions, anc organizes by the ekill, energy and sel! sscrifcing patriotiim o Edward K Collioe? what bave our stare Bnd stripes been) more aggrandtsad, oommerstal hy the succers of these uurivelled steamers? have stoured the rivalry of the worli; they have challenged the higbest samiration, and given us the forewost rank in the glory of theses. 'No, no; the A\ people are too proud cf there glorious bevgreg ns na tuey comand that uohallowed bands shall not be laid upon hair pros perity and continuance News yaom Bayt axp Br, Domingo, 7s received: s¢vioes from St. Domings to the 21st, Jeremie to the 27th, ond Port ou Prince to the 19th ultimo. ‘The yellow fever bad entirely disappeared, ae well om the coast as ia the Cl'y of 8: Domingo. Accounts from Port aa Prince to the 27d ult, state that the yullow fever wss raging there, particularly among the shippiag. Among the deaths are Capt. Brown of brig Indastry: Captsin Oram, of the schooner Loapgo, * from Philadelphia; Captain Weeks, of the schooner King Philip, from Boston; and from two to four men from each of the above vessels. Also, Peter Barnett, of Phila- delphia; William Goodall, ot New York; Jeremiah Sulli- van, of do.; Joveph Willis, of do., seamen of the bark Clara Windsor. Marine Affairs, ‘Tus sreamente FRANKLIN, for Havre, which was prevent- ed proceeding on Wednesday by the dense fog, got under way yesterday morning, at eight o'clock, and proceeded down the bay. ‘Tue STEAMSHIP AFRICA remained ashore last evening in the same position. Most of her cargo has been transferred into lighters anc steamtags, and she will no doubt float off as soon as sufficiently lightened, which will probably be to day. Obituary. DEATH OF POLICE JUSTION M‘GRATH. On Wednesday night James MoGrath, one of the Police. Justions of the Second District Court, died, at his reai- dense in White street The cause of his death was coné sumption. For several years puat the deceassd bad been laboring under very feeble health, and was confined to his. bed curing the last two months Deceased, by his uni- form kindness. endesred to him a large cirole of friends, who will deeply deplore bis loss. He was s mative of Ireland, and had been s resident of this city for upwardo of fifteen years. Actors Fon Caurorni4.—The next steamer (W0th) wil * carry out several additions to the theatrical society of Sen Francisco, Among this number ie Mr. Charles Burke, the comedian. He will be sesompanied by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Thoman, late of the Boston Maseum. They both hold high positions in the professioc, and an there ia a dearth of good actors is San Fran suseo it ie presumed they will be welcomed. City Inteli: THE GERMAN DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THR CONSUL. FOR HESSE DARMSTADT. Last Saturday s youog German gentleman, io the em- jloyment of Mr. Sattig # merobaat, carrying ov businese 9 Broadway, bad occasion to | at the offise of Mr, Bollermann, the Jonsul a aa aT reg | we the pure oes of having & docamen' ry a stionary, “pom ent Mr. Boilermann’s office be saline) that is —— Pant hw er neh, acd ee orolng to it» spprepriate position—oa his head, The Cons Shen sald to him:— Do you know where y vu are??? The young men, much astonished, lied '* Way?” The Consul rejoined, ‘Do you not kaew that you are om the roll of Hesse Darmstadt ?’’—inteading, we sagps'e, to im- '# office he was (o coasider ce of all * che pomp snd olroum- 7 of that very important goverm- M and the mi then told e clerk refuse 4 to do, xaying him ina besoming maneron entering the office, and toa! it wae not the fashion iu this free. country ‘0 stand witn his bat in his hand woen io a pab- Ne office upom business. The Conrul oconsetvei thet his oflieial digaity was much insalted ‘by the conta of the clerk, end thereapon «truck the yoang msa’s from hia head. The clerk qaietly took up bis hat, re- Placed it on hile head, aod awed the Consul to ign the locament, anc create no frrther disturbance This eon- ciliatory proposition wae not received by the Consal in the rane spirit in which ic was made, acd be strack off Sa ee "8 hotly rroond time. Flesa aud bloed could no longer stand taia * piliag up’ of iad apd the clerk, (@ powerful Fm ot a ‘and end: pouscing, to comvirce ti jas offi that however arente man he may b+ in the peatiow of Hesse Dermetad:, be was notelog bat # mere mortal Le the New World—that he owed some reepsct 'o toe desen- Glen of cflicial tptercouse, avd could not knock cil «trong young men’s hate with a iro impunity. Tiee acto romirg pobile, cauard great excitement 4 oong the German citizens, and, two or thrée acts of the same ne. ture comtog to light, yeat porscance .f@ public call ® pert, three thourand tn number sssembled ip front of the City Hall, ad, Ind by Mr. Li No, 118 Castham co proceeded ip ® very orderly manner w hen, on reaching th+ «fies of Mr, Boll formed ina compact boty, and trested bio: t cad in some couvir, & “horaiag,”’ wh sisted of the music o! rampew, tio ke: #milar inet uments, accompanied by groan’, setealls, ard other noises, Thie bring over, they lock of their bete, mace & Obeisance to the Consul, aad, at the word of their lee ached off and quietly Several policemen wore on ibe ground, but th bearirg of the Germans rendered thett presen asry Mr Bollerann wos La bis office at the fererace, bat though loudly exiled for, ¢ bimeeif. A paper in in o <The Peoy + against Siavery in Nebraske. The New York who are opp wed to the viviation of the % eompromice, and the oxtension of slave tevriio: