The New York Herald Newspaper, February 20, 1854, Page 4

‘NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT. PROPRIETOR AND KD! ‘OB. OFPIVe MW. CORNSE OF FULTIN AND NAS eS Wokame KiXs,,.~sereeeorreres "77" "* AMUSEMENTS THIS BVENING. QOWERY THEATRE, Bowory—Uxct Tow Oasrm, CADWaY THEATRE Bros¢way—Laryie Poppe wee inane Niowr's URRAM. ) TREATRE, Chambove stwet—A Mupever eee RSIS prea Ouk Deve Footy. ONAL THEATRES, Chatham eteest—Aafterneen- me TION SY Treniue Unows Tom's Gansm, WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway —Soivier's Court: eur Game ey Lire. AMBRIORN MUSEUM—Afteracon-- Hor Conn - Bvening —Oxb FouxKs AT HOME. BROADWAY MENAGSRIA—Maunss Twins asp Wap Dass. HRISTY'S AMERICAN OLMKA MOUSH, (73 Broad way Bruoria® ‘Mevopias sy OmRuery’s Mineraars. WOOD'S MINBTRELS— Wood's Minstrel Hali, 444 Broad: war Brmorian Biverk xe LEYS OPERA , 039 Broadway—Buon- BANVARD’S CRORAMA, S0 Broadway--Pawonama oermn Mony Lawn. BHENISH GAL SRY, 060 Brosdway—Daey and Byenineg WIGNOR BLITZ—Srovyesanr Isersrore, 063 Broad way. ACADEMY BALL; 663 Brosdway qwaewsows oF Tus Seven Mine MRR BRYAN GALLERY OF OBRISTIAN ART—843 Broad way eauam’s OrrtT Bx New York, Monday, Feb. 20, 1854. ————————— Mails for the Pacific, HS NEW YORK HNRALD—OALIFORNIA EDITION. ‘The United States mail steamship George Law, Captain GieGowan, will leave this port this afternoon, at gro e’elook, for Aspinwall. ‘Zhe mails for California and other parts of the Pacific, ‘Will close at one o'clock. ‘The Now York Waxxry Henin, Californis edition, con ‘taining the lotest intelligence from all parts of the world, ‘will be published at ten o’o ock this morning. Bingle copies sixpsnce, Agents will please send in ‘@etr erders as carly as possidle. Malls for Europe. Was WEW YORK HERALP—EDITION FOR ECROPS. Imconsequence 0 the Africa running aground she will ‘mot be able to carry the Exropran mails on Wednesday, Qs advertised. The mails wil! be takem by the America, ferm Roston. They will close at « quarter to three on ‘Tuercay. ‘The Warxty Hexic (printed ta French and Rngtish) ‘Will be published at half-past nine o’clock to-morrow ‘morning. BSing'e copies, In wrappers, sixpence. Babscripticns and advertisements for any edition of the ‘Sew York Hraaty will be received at the following places Exrope:— Exvawroot,. John Hunter. No 2 Paradise street, Lowpon .... EAwar’s, Sandford & Oo.. No. 17 Corahill, Wm. Thomas & Co,, No, 19 Catherine street, Panm ......Livingston, Wells & Oo , 8 Place de la Bourse. OUR AGENTS IN PARIS, FRANCE. ‘Wo beg leave to state to our readers snd patrons io Paris, and Europe geverally, that Mr. B. H Revoil, 17 Bove de In Banque, Paris, is no longer connected with the aw Yous Hasty, either as correspondent or agent. Mecers. Livingston & Wells, § Place de la Bourse, arv our only agents in Paris, both for advertisoments anc wubscriptions. Eiighly Important from Europe—Arrival of , the Baltic. The steamship Baltic has arrived with four days ‘ater and highly important news from Europe. Or- Joff had signally failed in his endeavors to secure the o-operation of the Germanic Powers in behalt of Bassia. Diplomatic negotiations had been suspend- ed between Russia and England and France, and ‘the Ministers of the former had withdrawn from the latter countries. In turn, their Ambassadors were directed to leave St. Petersburg. The most exten- mive preparations were making for the commencement ef hostilities. Half the British revenue force had ‘been ordered into the navy, and the Cunard steam- ems were to convey troops to the seat of war. Like ‘activity animated those in the military and naval ser- vice of France, and three million cannon balla had been ordered by the Emperor. Under these circum- stances, it must be admitted, the prospect of a con- tinuance of peace was slim indeed. Unless Russia has backed square out, of which there is little pro- babdility, the blow has perhaps been strack and Eu. Tepe isnow convulsed with a general war. The de- tails are given on the last page. ‘The News. Our Washington correspondent writes that the friends of the Nebraska-Kansas bill are gaining mothing by protracting the debate in the Senate. I+ is considered that all has been said upon the sub- Ject that is necessary to show that it is right, just, and in strict accordance with the constitution. The peo- pie generally appear to look upon it in this light, ‘and consequently the free soil and abolition agita tors are unable to make headway against it, as is evident from the slim attendance at their various epporition meetings when held in even their strong- bolds. Merely a copy of the Conkling treaty with Mexi- @@, and not the original document, was transmitted to the United States Senate. The President is un- @erstocd to have adopted this expedient of sending a @opy, for the reason that he wished to give the in- formation called for by a resolution of that body, bat id not desire the ratification of the treaty itself. Hon. Robert Strange died at Fayetteville, N. C., yesterday morning. Mr.8.served his State in the United States Senate from 1838 to 1853. ‘The people of New Jersey held an enthusiastic mans meeting in Washington Hall, Newark, last Baturday evening, in order to express their decided hostility to the passage of a bill now pending in the Legislature of that State, whereby the exclasive priy- ‘ileges and trade monopoly of the Camden and Amboy Railroad and of the Delaware and Raritan Canal ‘Companies—known as the ‘combined companies’ — fare sought to be extended for along period. Men of every political party were unanimous in their con- demnation of the measure, and their feelings were expressed in very strong resolutions. Senator Con- ger, Asa Whitehead, Esq., and other gentlemen, made eloquent speeches. A full report is given else- where. The Maine liquor law has passed the Maryland Legislature, and, if ratified by a vote of the people, will go intg operation two years from next May. We elsewhere publish a letter from Adjutant Quar- termaster Hirsch, giving some interesting additional particulars relative to the loss of the steamship San Franoieco; also a list of the passengers rescued by the ship Antarct'c, snd lately brought to Boston in the steamship America. Considerable activity prevails in the New Orlean cotton market at the present time, but_without any material alteration in prices. Forty-four thoasand bules were disposed of last week, being the larges amount sold during any similar period this scacon The receipts a+ the diferent southern points are now something over six boodred thousand bales less than those to the same date last year. We have received the Singapore bimonthly cir: ar, to the 16th of last December. The Anstralian gold were placed,at $29 for d 60 per buncal for bar. Calantan was then worth 23 and Babang $27 to $27 50. Imports from the Archi. pelage amounted to eighteon buncals, and the ex ports were 608 buncals and one thousand ounces. A_missiovary meeting was beld last evening in the Chufeh of the Ascension, which was crowded to its utmost capacity. The Rt. Rey. Provisional Bishop pres'ded, and short aidresses were delivered by the Missionary Bishop tor Oregon and Washington, the nev. Dr. Van Kieck, the secretary and agent of the eocicy, and other clergymen. The Missionary Bisl,op about to depart for Oregon said that fn that vest territory, coptaining three havdred thousand sare miles of fine agricultural land, there were | macy, or im the dangers of a general war. only three clergymen and not one church. People, | he said, were ready to come forward with monev to aid the Oregon miesion, bat men were wanted and coulé not be found for the work. A collection was afterwards taken up. Rey. Dr. Kenneday, pastor of the Washington street Methodist Ep'scopal church of Brooklyn, last evening delivered a discourse on the character of the late venerable Joseph Moser, who had been a resigent of Brooklya for seventy-one years, and & member of the churcn seventy-three years. The deceased was a member of the first Board of Tras- tees in Brooklyn, and has ever since asted a eon- spicuous part in the history of that city. He had seen that place increase from a little village of two ‘or three ‘hundred inhabitants to a clty of one hundred and twenty thousand, and the population of our country run up from three millions to twenty-four millions. He was born in Stamford, Conn., in 1776. The reader is referred to another column for later intelligence from Mexico. The news, though inter- esting, presents no features of special importance. As usval, our paper contains’ mavy colamns of interesting and important matter, to which we have no room to refer particularly. A glance at the headings will tend to enlighten the reader as to the contents of the different articles. The European War—The Debates in the EB: ithh Parliament -Rasso-American Pri- vateers, The mails of the Canada bring us the reports in extenso of the debates in the Eoglish Par- liament on that passage of the Queen’s speech which refers to the affairs of the East, and also the diplomatic correspondence by which the later stages of the negotiations have been car- ried on since the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Sinope. A careful perusal of these documents only confirms the conclusion, over and over again maintained in this journal, that if the English Cabinet had assumed a bold and firm attitude from the moment that Russia gave unequivocal evidence of her designs by the occupation of the Principalities, the dan- gers that now menace the peace of Europe might have been averted. Nothing can be feebler or more equivocal than the arguments used by Lord Aber- deen and his colleagues in defence of their policy—except, perhaps, that policy itself; and they fally bear out the impressions to which we have so frequently had occasion to give ex- pression. It is clear that upto the entry of the allied fleets into the Black Sea, the hesitating and vacillating conduct of the British Cabinet deceived the Czar into the notion that it would exhaust every means of negotiation and induce the Porte to make almost any sacrifices sooner than allow Europe to be dragged into a general war. He had reasonable grounds for indulging in this expectation. He saw that Lord Aberdeen and his colleagues, in their anxiety to preserve peace and consult interests which were certainly not compatible with the honor and public feeling of England, were Willing to be duped by assurances that deceived no else, and which were contiou- ally belied acts. It is useless for them to ground defence, upon their faith in those assurances, & upon 8 late discovery of the ulterior nature of his designs. Previous to the mission of Prince Menschikoff,it was known to the other European Courts,and, indeed, public atten- tien was called to the fact by the English press, that a concentration of troops was taking place on the southern frontier of Russia, preparatory to some demand of an extensive and dangerous character being made on the Sultan. Since then each successive step taken by Russia has been in itself a significant warning that more serious objects were contemplated than were developed in the demands of the Russian en- voy. Wilfually blind, the English government not only disregarded the advice given them by their own agents, but prevented France from taking that decisive course which the bold and straightforward policy of the Emperor dictated. As soon as the intelligence forwarded to the English Cabinet by Colonel Rose was communi- cated to Louis Napoleon, he at once ordered out his fleet; amd we have it on the authority of the Marquis of Clanricarde, who happened to be in Paris at the time, that so far from co-oper- ating with the French government, and acting cordially with it, the British Ambassador was directed to use every art of persuasion, and urge every entreaty, to prevent the French fleet from going to the East; and it was in consequence of his efforts that the fleet did not proceed beyond a certain distance. The motives assigned-by the Earl of Claren- don and his colleagues for their policy of hesi- tation and delay, although to some degree borne out by a fortunate concurrence of events, are not in reality those that influenced them. The neutrality or go-operation of Austria and Prus- sia would have been decided as easily at an earlier stage of the questiom as it is now. Fither of those lines of conduct depends upon considerations entirely irrespective of any new features which the more recent acts of the Czar may have developed. In a late article, we had occasion to show that there were no real grounds for apprehension as to the course those powers would take. The very existence of Austria depends, if not upon its cordial union with the maritime Powers, at least upon a strict neutrality between them and Russia. The in- terests, as well as the feelings of the King and people of Prussia, point to the same policy. As to the alleged object of giving time to the Sultan to prepare for the struggle, we attach the same value to it as to the other pretence. The question was not then, any more than it is now, to be decided by the arms of the Porte; and we repeat the same conviction to which we have so frequently given utterance—that if England and France had assumed at an earlier stage ot this question the bold and decided attitude which they have in this, the eleventh hour, adopted, there would probably have been no oc- casion at allto appeal to arms. No; the trae cauees of this unfortanate policy of delay and hesitation are to be found in the opposing influ- ences that distracted the English Cabinet itself, and which were only reconciled by the firm and manly course taken by Lord Palmerston, when che found that be could not bring his colleagues over to bis views. Nothing, in short, that has transpired in the debates or in the documents laid before Parliament respecting this question. has at all altered our opinions upon this point. A new incident has developed itself in con- nection with the Eastern question, respecting which, as it comes nearly home to us, it will be essary for us to say.a few words, I. has been the policy of Russia since its em- bodiment with the Western Powers, to seek to extend and cement its alliances even with dis- tant countries. We have witnessed the result ot its efforts in this way in ghe case ot Persia Differing so much from Russia in the character of our institutions, and in the liberal sympa- thies of our people, it might have been suppoeed nec that in no state of circumstances would that Power be likely to cast its eyes towards us with a view to entangle us in the meshes of its diplo- Such an hypothesis, absurd as it may seem, has nevertheless some foundation in fact. We have got Rue-ian agents amongst us who are making strenuous efforts to form certain combinations, differing entirely in their character from the alleged motives of their visit, which were saidto be nearly similar to thoee which brought to this country some years age, Captain, now Admiral Von Schontz, Captain Pepin, and ether officers in the Emperor’s service, who were sent over here to euperintend the constrection of the steam frigate Kamschatka, and likewise to in- spect our railroads and our system of naval architecture, of which the Czar is known to be a warm admirer. The Russian officers who are here now, came over for the ostensible purpose of superintending the construction of the screw propellers ordered by the Emperor of Mr. Webb, one of our most eminent shipbuilders, during a recent visit paid by the latter toSt. Petersburg. There is reason to believe, however, that that object forms only one, and that the most unim- portant, part of the mission of these gentlemen; for faets have come to our knowledge which leave no doub’ upon our minds that they are sent here to effect the organization necessary for fitting out Russian privateers in our ports. There were three of those officers at the Astor House, namely, Messre. Grumwald, Ferstine and Lockoloff, and three at the Clarendon and other hotels, and agents ng tocarry out the objects of their insttuc- tions. That the Czar will obtain as many ships as he wants here is probable enough. This is the best market that he could send to to pro- curefthem, for our shipbuilders are famed for constructing the fastest clipper ships and steamers in the world, and they will have no objection to execute his orders as fast as he sends them in, provided that by doing so they are guilty of no contravention of the law of nations. But the idea that he can pick up enough adventurers here to man them as priva- teers is founded on a total ignorance of the character of our population. The floating population of our cities is, for the most part, composed of European republicans who have been exiled from other countries for the aesertion of principles diametrically oppesed to those upon which the Czar’s government is based, and many of whom are only awaiting the means and the opportunity to proceed to Turkey to enrol themselves in the armies or navy of the Sultan. These persons will, no doubt, listen to the propositions of his agents and, as a duty to God and humanity, will take all the money they can get from them; but they will probably turn it to good acc unt, by proceeding forthwith to Constantinople, and it would not at all surprise us if this scheme of the Czar were the means of procuring for the Sultan some of his best soldiers. Up to the present time the exertions of these Russian agents have not been attended with much success. The applications which they have mage to some of our merchants to engage in these enterprises have in every instance been met with a contemptuous refusal. It is not likely that we shall again see a citizen of this republic coming forward, as in the case of the Russian frigate Kensington, during the ex- citement of the Polish revolution, in 1830, to furnich funds to support the cause of despotisai It will be recollected that when that veasel put back into one of our ports, after being disabled and almost wrecked in a storm, a merchant of New York supplied the money to fit her out again. It was nearly the cause of his ruin; and, in fact, to this day he has never re covered the damage which it did him in public estimation. This experiment amongst the maritime por- tion of our population is, it seems! not to be confined to Russia. The English government have also agents here, who are instructed to offer bounties to all the sailors, English, Irish and Scotch, that can be induced to take service in her navy. Orders have also been given not to enrol nations of any other country, and this proceeding has been followed up at home by strict injunctions to the government officers at the different ports: not to permit Englizh sail- ors to leave the United Kingdom. In proposing to fit out privateers in omm@ents Russia may have the ulterior design of embroil- ing us with the Western Powers; but if such be her object she will signally fail in it. There ig too much good sense and too strong a detesta- tion of the principles of despotism in this coun- try for any of our citizens to be caught in such a trap. Even should a few adventurers be tempted by the inducements offered to listen to these agents, they would be deterred from em- barking in such a venture by a wholsome ap- prehension of the consequences. In the present advanced state of civilization the privateering system would no longer be justified or tolerated. For men captured in such pursnits the only measure of justice would be the yardarm. The Nebraska Struggie—The Abolitionist Meeting on Saturday. If, some weeks ago, a disinterested observer of men and things at Washington had beeg asked from what quarter and on what ground it was reasonable to expect the first organized opposition to the administration policy, it is not at all likely that he would have hit upon the Nebraska question. He might have alluded to the impossibility of keeping up a delusive re- gard for the South, while free soilers monopo- lized the appointments in the North. He might have speculated on the chance of some convul- sion overturning the Cabinet from its intrinsic weakness and rottenness. Had he been aware of the fraud by means of which Mr. Pierce was thrust upon the country, he might have thought his detection probable, and inferred from thence a proepect of a violent personal crusade against him. But all these probabilities would have sunk into the shade in comparison with the prospect of an opposition being organized on the rock of the spoils. Any man who saw, some weeks ago, the preparations then in progress for the division of some five hundred millions of dollars in the shape of sections of wild lands, extensions of patent rights and other monopo- lies, and appropriations ot the surplus reveane: among the crew of office holders, politicians and speculators at Washington, would have made up his mind without hesitation that this was the vulnerable point of the administration—this the breach through which its assailants would obviously attempt to storm its stronghold. There could be no,doubt of the success of an organized attack in this quarter. The Cabinet was clearly a participator in all and the origi- nator of many of the fraudulent schemes peud- ing before Congress. Some of them had. by implication, received the sanction of the Presi- deat in his message. Nor gould any doubg they have sub- ecattered through this and other cities of the Union busily engaged in endeavor- exist in the, minds ef unbiassed men as to their character and complexion. With one or two exceyticms, they were all flagrant attempts to Teh the country. Whether the attempt was msade in the shape of an application to renew the monopoly of a millionaire, or in that of a bill to relieve the distress of an opulent resident of Fifth avenue, or as 8 modest request for mil. Jions of acres of wild lands to aid speculators in issuing moonshine railway stock, the aim of the applicant was the same, and the results to the country and the treasury would have been precisely alike. No reasonable man could fail to see that, if a firm resistance were not made by the people, the enormous sum of five hun- dred millions of dollars, part in money, part in land, part in lucrative rights, would be absorb- ed and carried off by the politicians and their friends before the close of the session. In view of this monstrous swindle. all minor questions one would have imagined, would have been laid aside forthe moment The mostcursory glance at the state of parties seemed clearly to indi- cate that this was the question op which the débris of the whig party, and the malcontents among the democrats would unite for the pur- pose of opposing the administration. Firmly combined on a platform opposed to the spoils and plunder systema at Washington,’ it was rea- sonable to suppose that they would have run‘) the Cabinet hard, and would have paved the way for a vigorous if not a triumphant cam- paign in 1856. This was what most men expected a fow weeks ago. They have been disappointed. The platform on which an attempt is being made to organize an opposition to the govern: ment, is merely the old ground of the Wilmot proviso conspirators—the venerable platform of the Hartford Convention of 1814—a platform which has been roughly put together at every political contest for the last forty years and has never yet assembled around it a respecta- ble minority of voters. The “outs” ameng the politicians have disregarded the practical sub- stantial question of the plunder at Washington, to buckle to an abstraction, relying solely on the prejudices of a portion of the North for its strength. The débris of the whig party, with Edward Everett at its head, have never said a word of the corruption prevailing at the capital. They are silent while five hundred millions are being abstracted from the pockets of the people, and have no thought for anything but Nebraska. Had they appealed to us as advocates of politi_ cal integrity—had they come forward boldly to deny the right of Congress to vote away millions of acres of land for railroad projects, and millions of dollars in the perpetuation of monopolies—had they unflinchingly ‘exposed the reeking corruption of the administration and their followers—and held out, by implica- tion, some tangible prospect of honesty under a different set of men—they would have com- | manded an irresistible majority throughout the country. There would then have been no reason tocomplain of apathy among the people. Men of all stations and all parties would have flocked around such a platform as this. An op- position organised on this basis would really have effected some substantial benefit to the country, and would have paved the way for a real contest of principle at the next election. It would have resuscitated the whig party, perhaps under a new name, and given it im- mense accessions of strength. "The reason why the disappointed politicians and disconsolate whigs did not take this ground is likewise a sufficient explanation of the course they did take. They did not attempt to ex- pose or check the corruption at Washington, because, they look forward to sharing the pro- fits of a similar state of things, when they ob- tain power: and because its detection now would have precluded its re-establishment then. They took up the Nebrasks question because they hope to make enough capital out of it to carry them into office at the next election. They are now endeavoring to plant the débris of the old whig party upon it, in the hope that it may prove a serviceable card for 1856. Onur opinion is that this course is as impolitic as it is unprincipled. We believe it will do no more good to the politicians than to the coun- try. However skilfully the prejudices of the North may be fanned, signs are already abroad which prognosticate clearly enough that the anti-Nebraska platform will never rally round it a majority even of Northern votes, This abandonment of the practical questions of the day to fight about abstractions, and discuss purely speculative problems is too transparent to delude. The people see clearly enough that the whole thing is an electioneering trick; and would like to know, before they allow the country to be convulsed on the question, whether the repeal of the Missouri compromise would really bring forth any practical fruits at all,and whether Nebraska, if Douglas's measure pass, be reaily likely to adopt asystem of slave labor or not. They want to have these points clearly settled and invested with immediate practical importance before they join in a quarrel which must embitter the relations between North and South, and may lead to the dissolution of the Union. To the politicians who are raising such an outery about the repeal of the Missouri com- promise, neither the actual importance of the problem to be solved, nor the danger of dis- union its discussion involves are matters of any consequence. All they want is a platform on which they may rise to power and grasp at the spoils. For this end they are ready to sac- rifice the peace, prosperity, and permanency of the Union, and if today the masses in the North were so blind to their abiding interests as to listen to their call, it is by no means un- likely that the next few years would witnees their triumph simultaneously with the destruc- tion of the confederacy it is our first duty to guard. Joun M. Borrs Oxce More tw tie Frenp.— We had made up our mind that our friend Botts had withdrawn to some congenial solitude to console himself for the fuilure of his last elec- tioneering movements, and were sympathising with Virginia on his loss, when Botts himself turns up with a document as long as one’s arm against the repeal of the Missburi compromise, We presume that some one bas told him that the whigs were about to erect a new platform on the basis of opposition to Mr. Donglas; and Mr. Botts, with that promptitude which is his most charming characteristic, rushes‘into the field at once armed cap a pie with his pro- test. It is satisfactory to think that we have at hond a champion so well fitted in every re- spect to encounter the redoubtible Botts. Cap- tain Rynders is bis man; perhaps somewhat superior to the doughty Virgisiam in point of literary attainments and social standiog, but gifted with such Christian hamility that he will be sure to waive these matters. He must lock out for the duello, Sporting men may make up their books. We back Rynders. ‘The Fereign Pelicy of this Astonishing Letter ef teerctary Marcy, We epread before our readers this morning, the richest treat of the season. We venture to say that an executive document embracing more important and interesting historical facts, more extraordinary revelations, or more valua- ble suggestions, has never emanated from the State Department. It throws the Koszta letter completely into the shade. It gives a view 80 clear, so minute, so comprehensive and com- plete, of the transactions of our diplo- matic corps in Europe, under the man- agement of Marcy, that in perusing it the reader will be surprised as well as delighted at theimmense amount of practical information which it embodies. It is as full of meat as an | egg, and plain as a pike-staff in ita exposition of our foreign policy under Gen. Pierce. It appears that the public are indebted for this letter to our active confidential incognito who styles himself “Punch at Washington.” From the letter itself, it seems that, becom- ing concerned on account of the “un- pleasant controversies” resulting from the various attempts made by our Ministers abroad to gain admission to Court in the cos- tume of Dr. Franklin, under different modifica- tions, the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela- tions resolved to know all about it. To this end, it farther appears they delegated their chairman, Mr. Mason, to call upon the Presi- dent, and in a confidential way to ask him to communicate to the Senate all the facts, corres- pondence and papers relating to the troubles of Meesrs. Soulé, Belmont, Vroom, Buchanan, and others, upon costume; and all such other facts and enggestions as might be deemed use. ful for the information of the Senate. To this application of Mr. Mason are we and the country indebted for the free and familiar ex- position of all the matters in question, given in this beautiful and interesting off-hand confiden- tial letter of Secretary Marcy. Our Premier recommends several changes in our diplomatic corps. Among them he pointed- ly suggests the recall of Mr. Mason; but we are indeed surprised at Mr. Marcy’s choice of a sub- stitute, though it shows therein that he has much of that political sagacity which his friends have always awarded him. He proposes no- thing more nor less than the appoint- ment of James Gorpon Bgnnetr as Minis- ter to France, as the surest method of bushing up the “Scarlet Letter;” but we say to Marcy and all concerned, that we cannot accept even the mission to France, short of an order or permit from the White House to pub- lish that invaluable letter, The plot of the French and English ambassa- dors, and certain members of the Spanish no- bility, to overreach us in the acquisition of Cuba, by driving our whole legation out of Spain, and by a coup d’état against Queen Isa- bella, is a most astounding disclosure. The pluck of the elder and the younger Soulé was perhaps all that averted the overthrow of Queen Isabella’s government, and the estab- lishment of an English and French protectorate at Madrid,which would have permanently closed the door against us as to the island of Cuba. Then, again, who does not admire the spirit of Mercy in requiring Mr. Seymour to call upon the Czar, and inquire of him whether he did or did not make certain highly offensive remarks against our government, in connection with the Koezta letter, attributed to him in a private letter from St. Petersburg? And who does not admit the sagacity of Marcy in his wise obser- vations upon the recall of George Sanders, de- creed by the Cabinet? But by far the most valuable things in this frank and familiar letter of Marcy, are his re- commendations concerning our general Euro- pean policy. He proposes, first, in the pending crisis, to stick fast to the safe and certéin land- marks of “masterly inactivity.” If we do no- thing at all, we can surely give no offence, Next, he proposes the repeal of the circulars of June last upon diplomatic costume, and that our diplomats shall conform to the fashions ot the Court to which they may be severally as- signed, excepting a square democratic patch in some conspicuous ‘place upon the breeches, marked “ Firry CENTS,” as @ symbol of oar re- publican economy and simplicity. We have thus the entire schedule of our European diplomats and diplomacy, in what has been done, and in what is proposed, laid down in black and white. Excepting the gold lace and black velvet disturbances, nothing much has been done; and it is proposed to do nothiag. If this policy, with the aid of that democratic patch, does not secure our neutrality with all the powers of Europe, including Russia and Turkey, we don’t know what will. The editor’ of the London journals have asserted that we have no foreign policy. Let them read the let- ter of Marcy, and be convinced of their mistake. Let everybody read it. It is a great State paper, great and rich, full of good stiff common sense; and it may be a long time before we shall have euch another. How tue Streets are Cieanep.—Mr. George White, Superintendent of Streets, is quite in- dignant at the imputation thrown upon the street cleaning department by Alderman Mott, and pronounces the whole atory “a base and malicious fabrication.” We can well under- stand the causes of Mr. White’s peevishness; when the whole city is reeking with mad, and idle boys, with bitter irony, are raising funeral heaps to the memory of Arcularius and him- eelf at every corner, Mr. White could hardly be expected to preserve his equanimity. So far as the story he denies is concerned, however, we beg to say that we are thoroughly convinced of its substantial accuracy and truth. There were some little errors of dates in our first account, which we take this opportunity of correcting. It was some two years ago, (not since Mr. Mott’s election as Alderman,) that that gentle- man complained at the office of the street clean- ing department, of the filth in Fourteenth street. It was then that the clerk or some official in the office showed him the book containing entries of payments made on sccount of cleaning that street; these Mr. Mott loudly proclaimed to be false, offering to prove their falsehood by the evidence of every householder in the street. For his pains he was threatened with forcible expulsion, and matters went on as smoothly as ever. We repeat, we have a firm belief that these facts were so, despite anything that Mr, George White may think fit to allege to the contrary. If, as that functionary alleges, “no book has every been kept in the office wherein the several streets cleaned were enumerated, and an entry made of the cost of cleaning the same,” then we say that the neglect to have such a book is utterly dis- graceful tothe department, A pretty excuse in- deed for dirty streets and reckless expenditures to tell us that no book has ever been kept! How are we to know that the hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been raised for the purpose within the last. few years have been spent on the streets? Here we have three facts admitted on all hands. 1. About two hundred thousand dollars are levied on the city annually for clean- ing the streets. 2. The streets are not cleaned, 3. The Superintendent of Streets admits that- no book is kept !n which the several streets cleaned are enumerated and an entry made of the cost of cleaning the same.” Our readers: can draw their own conclusions. The incident affords 9 farther argument in favor of changing the whole syste government. So long as ons city Streets and Lamps and our of Streets are elected by the people, and indepen- dent of the Mayor and Boards, the evils of which we now complain will continue to exist, Subordinate officers who hold their offices by the same tenure as their superiors oan never be- expected to be under the control of the latter - and without some efficient controlling power, the municipal departments will inevitably perform our Commissioner of -- their work carelessly and extravagantly. The. @ evil lies at the root of the system: we must re- vert to the old federal plan, repeal our present charter and vest the appointing of the several heads of departments in the Mayor and Alder- men, if we want to have a sound and good gov- ernment, economy in the civil expenditures and clean streets. Tue Present Hicu Price or FLour aNv TaR Axticiratep Risk IN BrREapsturrs—SPacuLa- TION AND THE INpIvipvaL OCreprr System.—In another column we have presented some inter- esting facts connected with the present high price of breadstuffs and its effects upon the com- munity, but more particularly upon the work- ing classes. The enormous increase in the price of flour during the past three or four months may be attributed, not to the scarcity of the ar- ticle here, but to the anticipated demand for it in Europe, the operations of speculators, and partly to the remarkable extent to which the. system of individual credit is carried. The last. news from Europe must have an upward ten- dency on the flour market; and in the event of a general war, which would shut up the. great granaries on that continent, the price will pro- bably exceed that ot 1837, when flour was thir- teen dollars a barrel. Rents now are also at an unprecedertedly high rate, and next year they will be still higher. What will be the effect of this condition of things it is difficult at present to predict, but there must be a limit to it soon, It may be said that these high prices cannot last longer than a year at the utmost—that in view of the in- creased demand for breadstuffs in Europe twice the quantity of land will be put under cultivation next year; but can the great mass of our laborers and mechanics, who are entirely dependent on their wages for support— can they subsist for twelve long months gn ex- pectation? When they are urged by present ne- cessities they very seldom stop to think of fa- ture prospects. Besides, there is no certainty that our agricultural products will be doubled in that time, or that the foreign demand for them will not be greater. In the event of a general European war we musi expect a large reduction in the agricultural labor of all the nations involved init, and a consequent de- crease in the cereal and other products of each country. To supply the want caused by this decrease we ehall export twice or three times the quantity at present sent to Europe, when speculators, taking advantage of the great demand,-will raise it to perhaps even a higher price than it has ever been sold for. The individual credit system, it is true, by fostering a spirit of extravagance, gives in- creased employment to the working classes; . but it must end ina financial revulsion, when the poor suffer for the prodigality of the rich. After the financial revulsion of 1837 thousands were thrown out of employment and a general depression followed; but property of all kinds, which had become unnaturally inflated, came -- down to its real value. We are now rapidly tending towards this state of things; we see the greatest extravagance exhibited in the style of living of those who are called rich, but who are actually dependent for all they posssss upon thcir credit; speculation was never more rife than at present, and real estate is more valuable now than was ever known before. There is an appearance of prosperity, and every one is employed; but the basis of this prosperity , is not stable, and the day is not far distant that. will see the end ofit. Honor iy Missrsstpr.—Tbe apprehensions to which the recent election in Mississippi gave rise are being tully justified. Some unfortu- , nate individual whose conscience is not yet hardened to the Mississippian standard moved a resolution the other day in the House of Repre- sentatives to declare the $5,000,000 of State bonds iseued in favor of the Union Bank good and valid. It was negatived by a vote of sixty against eighteen. Another resolution to ap- point a committee to devise a schéme for pay- ing the bonds was likewise negatived, by a vote of seventy-three to seven. These figures will become‘interesting when Mississippi wants to — build railroads or other works of internal im- provement, and sends her agents into the mar- ket with bonds to sell. She will feel the con- Sequences far more severely than the creditors she is defrauding. Orposrtion to International, Coryntout.— We see that the Richmond Enguirer has taken sides with the publishers against the authors, and insists on the preservation of piracy. Its plea is similar to that which was raised some~ ime ago in this city, namely that British au- thors are paid “sufficiently” by their own eoun- trymen, and ought not to claim further remune- ration from us. May we ask who is to be the judge of the “sufficiency” of the remuneration? Is the purchaser to be the sole arbiter of the value of the thing sold, and must the vender be silent on the point? Most values, we will take the liberty of reminding the Enquirer, area compromise between the demand of the seller and the offer of the purchaser. Why should books be an exception? But the pretension of’ our Richmond cotemporary {s refuted by a sim- pler process than this. Two men—we will say» the editor of the Enguirer on the one side, and any Englishman on the other, read, the one Thackeray, the other Ike Marvel, a of these authors confer pleasure on both. Englishman spends happy hours in the perusal ” of the “Revtries of a Bachelor; the editor of the Enquirer shakes off low spirits over “Jeames’ Diary.” Why should either of them claim to procure this pleasure for nothing? editor of the Enguirer pays we presume for his other pleasures and comforts, He pays for his boots, and his hat; pays for pens and inks pays the patentee on every patented he buys; and yet he refases to pay the sa- thor, whose toil procures him gay spirits and pleasant hours. He would scorn to 4 Profeseor Morse of his rights on a telegt® \