The New York Herald Newspaper, April 3, 1854, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD.| anne JAMES GORDON BENNETT. PROPRIBTOR AND EDITOR. @PVCE 8. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. aN hehe post TOLUNTARY CO) RESPONDER, conta impor | faut news, solicited jr Se ee eid for. “poo Fon Bante ARE PARTICU LARLY REQUESTED FERS AxD PACKAGES BENT US. f < bi ELTERS by mail for Sudscriptions or with adver. sasos Pdr the podage will be deducted bat) "NOTICE taken of anonymous communications, We do ‘not return those rejecte: ere Wokume KIK.... 6... sees ceeeese eres tesseeee NOs Ole ‘AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Hor Conn. BROADWAY THEA! Broadway—Tuz Mercant es Venice—AnTONY AND CLEOPATRA. BURTON'S THEATRE, Chambers street—Davin"Cor- vxucyiziv~- How ro Mazes Home Harry. NATIONAL THEATRE, Chatham streot—Uncoze Tow’s Gani. ‘WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Oxp Heavs axp “Younc Heants—Roven,Diaxonn. AMERICAN MUSEUM—Afternoon—Tue Nico1o Famity ~Bacne10n’s ToRuents—Evening—Tuz Orv Barweny. BROADWAY MENAGERIE—Liuirevrian Kine—Man- worn Lapy anv Living Taaivep Anrrazs. @HRISTY’S AMERICAN OPERA HOUSE, 472 Broad- way—Erwortan Mecovizs wy Curtory's Mineraris. ‘WOOD'S MINSTRELS, W ‘8 Minstrel Hall, 444 Brosd- way—Erniorian Mins: BUCKLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, 8&9 Broadway—Bvex- aav's Broreax Orena Tnovrs. ST. NICHOLAS EXHIBITION ROOM, 495 Broadway— @amrners. MixerRete 1 THEIR Neoxo EnTeRTamenrs. BANVABD’S GRORAMA, 596 Broedway—Panonama oF wne Hory Lann. RHENISH GALLERY, 563 Broadway—Day and Night. BRYAN GALLERY OF CHRISTIAN ART—S3 Brond- wey. WHOLE WORLD—%77 and 379 Broadway—Afternoon and Evening. SIGNOR BLITZ—Opgow, Williamsburg. New York, Monday, April 3, 1854. The News. ‘The Collins steamship Baltic, if she sailed from Liverpool on the day advertised, (the 22d ult.,) is ally due at this port. It will, however, be recol- ected that she was spoken on the 18th by the Cana- da, and could not have arrived out until the night of that day ; consequently, if she left at her regu- ler time, she would have but three working days in which to load and unload her cargo. The Cutting and Breckenridge difficulty having been settled, and all cause of unnecesssry personal excitement removed, it is probable that this will be avery busy week in Congress. It is thought that ‘the House bill for the construction of six first class steamers will pass the Seriate without debate to- @ay; and, it is intimated, that the Free Farm bill may be taken up and adopted by the same body in short order. We apprehend, however, that the lat- ter measure will undergo strict investigation and thorough debate, before the members from the old Btates will permit this wholesale distribution of the public domain to all who may choose to apply for it. Should thisextraordinary measure become a law, we need not hereafter be surprised at the introduction of a bill to clear, break up, erect buildings upon, and stock the lands of the free farm settlers. But let ‘us await the action of the Senate. The State Department has given notice that the Convention on Claims now sitting in London will not adjourn to this country. Claims must be pre- sented by the 15th inst., but satisfactory excuses for @elay will be received tillthe middle of June. The despatch from our Albany correspondent shows that the Governor’s veto of the Temperance bill was not the only cause of excitement in the Senate last Saturday. Probably, presuming on the free soil antecedents ofthe majority in the Legisla- ture, the abolitionists naturally concluded that they could carry a point by appealing to their sympathies in behalf of the colored community. In the first place, come of eur lawyers sent in a request asking for alarge amount of fees, for acting as counsel in the celebrated FLemon case. The Judiciary Com- mittee of the Senate very properly reported against avy such grant being made from the funds in the State Treasury, and the report was sustained by the body. This very modest petition was followed by another praying for an extension of the elective franchise to negroes. This was also reported against by the committee; and after a spirited debate the Senate refused, by a | vote of thirteen to twelve, to further extend the right to vote to the colored population. It is proper to state that seven democrats and six whigs were against, and twelve whigs for the negroes. Three or four gentlemen are said to have dodged this vote, which is looked upon as a test of the strength of the Sewardites in that body. It is anticipated thet another exciting contest respecting the liquor ques- tion will take place to-day. Elections will be held to-day for State officers and members of the Legislature in Connecticut, and for a Congressman in the place of Mr. Scudder in the First district of Massachusetts, for which post Mr. Eliot, the whig nominee, will most likely be se- kected. The contest in Connecticut will be most ex- citing and animated, for, besides the democrats and whigs, the abolition and Maine law parties have candidates in the field, who will doubtless material- ly lessen the whig vote. However, the latter have endeavored to make the Nebraska question the chief issue, declaring it to be not only a democratic mea- sure, but a test of democracy—hoping by this appeal to the free soil tendencies of voters to carry the day. The Legislature to be chosen will be called upon to elect a United States Senator in place of ‘Truman Smith, whose term expires with the pre- sent Congress. Mr. Philo B. Tyler, Mayor of Sprivgsield, publishes acard inthe Springfield Post,in which he denies the accuracy of a statement which appeared a few days ago in the New York papers, to the effect that he had left for Washington, in order ito induce Con- gress, if possible, to change the contrel of the armo. +y from the military and give its management to the civil authorities of the town. He has not been to Washington. Those who take an interest in the movements and monmuvrings of the various classes of office holders and office seekers, will find much to interest them in the communications from Mr. Joyce, rela- tive to removals in the Custom House, and from Mr, Lockwood, the Agent of the Sing Sing prison, con- eerning the indebtedness of that institution. The statement of the latter gentleman appears to put an entire new face on the matter, although the ac- knowledged amount of actual indebtedness is suffi- ciently large to astonish those who feel disposed to inspect the figures. Afhong other interesting intelligence from China, published in another celumn, is on article from the Mail, highly laudatory of Col. Marshall, our ex, Minister. According to¢he last sdvices the revolu- tionists were making but little progress; they had not captured the capital of Pekin, and owing to dis- #ension in their ranks there was a prospect that they ‘would shortly be compelled te surrender Shanghae to the imperialists. The Russian squadron was still ervising in the vicinity of Japan and adjacent seas not hitherto explored by the vessels of that country, a circumstance which had given rise to whe belief that the Czar has no immediate nse for his ships of war in Europe. A despatch from Halifax announces that the Pro- vincial Parliament will probably complete ali the railroad bills, which have chiefly occupied attention since the commencement of the session, and he able to adjourn, this week. Bills have been perfected during the sitting for the laying down of about two bondred miles of rails, It is said that the prospect of a railroad communication with the United States de highly favorable. Like the Jegialators of Gor States,the members of jhe Nova 8 ootia Asgem bly seem to be ina deal of trouble respecting the | an encroachment on the rights of the Greek, Maine law. Up to last dates they had paged two | Church, the demand was a key to the Empe- | clances of a probibitory liquor bill, but stack fast on | yor’ designs, “Henceforth England’s course was | the third, and after debate were obliged to pottpone | piain. France was prepared, first, to humiliate | the further cnsideration of the subject. They have | adopted a loyal address to the Queen, in view of the | | 5 5 war with Russia, and promise to faithfully defend BRE bY ET cone per copy-$ per annum. | sre eer aes the Butepean Ellon Siper ae | Portes Great Brimin, and¥s to ary part </the | +hot the stock market closed dull om Saturday, and | had taken, resolved to wait 20 longer, but to y | their owa country in case of emergency. On reference to our financial report it will be seen Turkey, secondly, to oppose the Czar, Conse- quently she was obviously the destined friend of England. Hew the Czar, perceived the course affairs that‘matters have assumed a more gloomy aspect | put his,secret foes to the test of fighting—-how The total chipments of specie from this port last ‘Mencement of the year foot up $3,891,534. The total coinage atthe United States Mint thus far this year amounts to $12,205,857, being $1,547,910 less than during the same period last year. The total coinage last year at the three principal mints in the £11,961,702 ; England, £12,666,008, and France, £14,101,120. . Want of space will not permit us to refer to much of the interesting matter contained in this edition of our paper. ‘The annexed are merely the headings of leading articles to which we would direct special attention:—Washington Correspondence relative to the recent impending duel and the various political topics of the day; Letters from Boston, Utah Terri- tory and Nicaragua; Valuable and Instructive Sta- tistics showing the number of acres of public Mexico, Nova Scotia and the British Miners in the far Northwest; Letter from Lieut. Mavry respecting Wind and Current Charts; Arrangements for the Southern Commercial Convention; Reports of the Dedication of three Churches yesterday; Commer- cial and Political Intelligence; Miscellaneous Items relative to murders, suicides, accidents, &c. European Intrigues and Squabbles. The negotiations brought to light by the Journal de St. Petersbourg and the debate in the House of Lords which we published yester- day, show that the policy, which Alexander proclaimed at Tilsit nearly fifty years ago, has been faithfully preserved by Russia ever since. It would have been a matter of the greatest ease for Alexander and Nepoleon to have de- stroyed the Turkish Empire in 1807, and we know that its partition wasat least suggested by the former. But Napoleon knew too well the value of Constantinople to allow it to pass into the hands of his powerfal rival. The Czar was obliged to content himself with occupying the Principalities as he now does; and at that time both England and France were too much engrossed with their mutual rivalries to offer any vigorous assistance to the Turks. Nor did the subsequent war between Russia and Turkey produce any material change in their relative position. In the words of Alexander, Russia seems always to have been afraid of precipitat- ing Turkey’s fall, lest England should contrive to seize Constantinople. A few years after- wards, Russia sent Capo d’Istries to Greece, and induced that State to throw off the Turkish yoke. England and France were persuaded to join Russia in asserting the independence of Greece; and in 1827, Grecian freedom was es- tablished, and the Turkish navy, which had ruled the Levant for centuries, destroyed at the battle of Navarino. From that day to the pre- sent Nicholas has pursued a cautious policy. When Egypt assailed Turkey, the Czar saw that England was in the background and would be the ultimate gainer by the success of the Egyptian invasion; and accordingly sent troops to Constantinople to defend the Sultan. For the time he was suc- cessful, and some ten or twelve years more elapsed without change in the position of Tur- key. Then Nicholas began to inquire whether his object could not be gained peaceably. He travelled over the Continent in person, and visit- ed England witha view to ascertain the senti- ments of the British ministry. From the Duke of Wellington itjdoes not appear that he deriy- ed any consolation; in fact, it was well known that the Duke considered the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Navarino as a most unfortunate eccurrence. It would appear that Sir Robert Peel was more favorable to the views of the Emperor; as much may at least be inferred from the language used in the House by Lord Derby, who is likely to be well informed on the subject of Sir Robert’s opinions. No under- standing could be concluded, however, in con- sequence of want of concert of action with France. At that time,the French ministry oc- eupied a position of antagonism to that of Eng- land. The ery of entente cordiale wader which M. Guizot took office, and promised a less anti- British policy than that of his predecessor M. Thiers, had céased to delude any one after the Spanish marriage was brought on the tapis. The government of Louis Philippe knew from that day that it could count upon no assistance from England; and Sir Rebert Peel, as well as the free trade leaders, felt a like distrust of the French politicians. Many will recollect how, about the time to which we allude, dilettanti politicians like M. de Lamartine used to entertain the French House with poetic speeches on the Eastern question; and how the ministers of the day, doctrinaires as well as Thiers men, invariably met the interpellations of the orators with a discreet silence. In point of fact, there can be no reasonable ground for doubting that, as Lord John Russell says, Russia had made the same propositions to France and England; but neither government, feeling confidence in the neutrality of its neighbor, dared take advantage of them. How seriously they were entertained by one of the two at least, may he inferred from the fact that Count Nesselrode was invited by a member of the British Cabinet, a year or two afterwards, to put them in writing in the shape of a memo- randum. While matters were in this state, Russia still endeavoring to negotiate, France and England watching each other, and Turkey sinking help- lessly under attempts to engraft upon her rotten social system the elements of a new civiliza- tion, premonitory symptoms of the convulsion of 1848 made their appearance in the horizon. They were soon followed by actual outbreaks, and four years elapsed before quiet was re- stored in Europe. Then, as Lord John Russell tells us, Russia again renewed her proposal to Great Britain to join in dividing Turkey. His lordship tells us they were “ indignantly re- jected.” Possibly; but what share the uncer- tainty which then * overhung the policy of the new French Emperor may have had in determin- ing this “indignant rejection” we are left to conjecture. It is quite certain that until Louis Napoleon's mind was known, it would have been very unsafe for Great Britain to afford him a pretext for declaring war against the despoilers of Turkey. It so happened however, that » very short while after this indignant rejection, an accident revealed what the French Emperor's Eastern policy wonld be, MM. de Lavalette demanded of the Sultan farther 1 ights for the Romish church in the Turkish domintions; and as the concession of these ¢laims would actually have constituted world amounted to £38,728,830, viz: United States, | lands donated by Congress; Additional News from | x” | than has been known for a long time in Wall street. | the Pruth was crossed, Bucharest invested, and | the Danube lined with Russian soldiers—how week only amounted toa little over eight hundred | France and England, boiling over with virtu- thousand dollars, but the shipments since the com: | ous indignatio. at the shocking attempt to cab- | bage a dish they hed reserved for their own | eating, levied troops, and swore they would protect Turkey—every child knows. The prac- | tical moral of the whole issimply this: England and France are going to fight with Russia be- | cause they want Constantinople themselves, | and will not allow the latter to seize it. To us, Americans, it matters not one ‘ot or tittle who possesses Constantinople. Our interests will not be affected whatever be the result of the war. It would be very foolish for us to speak and think as though we were English- | men, and the United States stood in the posi- ‘ tion of Great Britain; and not less foolish to wish suceess to Russia. We are, and muet re- main perfectly neutral, unconcerned spectators of the conflict. But if a masterly inaction is our true policy in reference to the Eastern war, it is not so with regard to the affairs of Cuba. Itseems highly probable from our last advices that the recent outrage on the Black Warrior was committed at the instigation of the British authorities on the ausiastically, , island; and from all accounts, Governor Pezue- Ja, who has hitherto shone by contrast with his unprincipled predecessor Canedo, turns out to be nothing more than a puppet in the hands of the British Consul. Rumor states that the Bri- tish and French fleets have received orders to co-operate with the Spanish squadron in the event of an attack upon the island; and ascribes to the consciousness of this protection the arro- gance the Captain-General has already display- ed. In this matter we have an interest, direct, immediate, paramount. We are bound to as- certain the truth of these rumors and to act as our own welfare may direct. In assailing Russia, England and France have relied on the disaffection of the nobles, the head- strong obstinacy of the Czar, and the barba- rous ignorance of the serfs. In combining to oppose the designs of the United States upon Cuba, they have acted on the belief that our President was an empty talkative boaster, pra- ting of deeds he dared not perform—and caring for nothing but himself and his boon compa- nions: that the leader of his Cabinet was a worn out politician, whose mind when in its prime and its vigor, grasped no higher in our political |, contests than the disposal of government patro- nage, and whose highest effort, in decay, isa lesson in tailoring; that the other constitutional advisers of the President were weak, vain men, whom the British Minister at Washington could in his amiable gentlemanly way, talk into or out of any thing: and that the utmost vengeance this helpless crew would take for any violation of American rights in Cuba, would be a dis- discharge of abuse with high sounding epithets. and words of many syllables. Shall we, who know the administration better than foreign- ers, decide that they have judged it rightly or wrongly? The Union, the Herald, and Mr. Brecken~ When last Monday’s debate in the House of Representatives reached this city, we com- mented upon it in the following article — THE AFFRAY IN THE HOUSE—MR. CUTTING AND MR. BRECKENRIDGE. Monday's debate in the House of Representatives will have been read with regret by right-minded men through- out the country. It is, under any circumstances, un- pleasant to see two leading men exhibit themselves in the Attitude of gladiators engaged in personal conflict, ap- parently for the amusement of spectators; the occur- rence becomes doubly deplorable when the character of the encounter leaves room for apprehensions that it may not end where it began. When the responsibility of sucl spectacles can be rightly charged upon one of the actors, he ought to be censured the more severely Sn proportion to the respect he had previously commanded. in this view, we are impelled to say that in our opinion the conduct of Mr. Breckenridge of Kentucky in his attack upon Mr. Cutting was wholly inexcusable. Let us look at the facts. Mr. Cutting, approving heartily the ple of the Nebraska bill, and objecting only to trifling matters of detail, moved that it be referred to the Committes of the Whole on the State of the Union. Whetheror no this course was the best calculated to ensure the # . sage of the bill, we have not.now to inquire; 1 cortalaly was the best plan that could be devised for providing for its thorough discussion, and was moreover more conso- nant with sound parliamentary usage than the adoption of the course recommended by Mr. Breckenridge would have been. Opinions may differ with respect to the policy and wisdom of the motion; but after Mr, Cutting’s speech, we cannot see that any member of the House had the ri ht to impute to him hostile feelings towards the bill. Such an imputation would seem to us to savor of injustice as well as discourtesy. The motion was carried. TWo days afterwards, Mr. Breckenridge suddenly discov- ors that Mr. Cutting’s course was treacherous, that he had embraced the bill with one hand while he stabbed it with the other, He saya so in terms, we rogret to say, quite inconsistent with the gentlemanly forbearance which ovght to characterize Congressional discussion. | Mr. Cutting’s reply was proper and suitable. Mr. Breck- | enridge was not satisfied. One intorruption, made in language which any man of spirit would certainly con. sider insulting, was followed by another, lesa indecorous erhaps, but hardly less annoying toa heated speaker. Mir. Cutting yielded the floor to bisangry aatagonlss, and again his personal conduct and motives. were rudely as- sailed. Finally, to wind up the scene, for the use of an expression unquestionably less severe than many which had fallen from Mr. Breckenridge, the latter rose and cried: ‘The gentleman says what is false, and he knows ity? Mr. Breckenridge is, we belicve, » man of talent and worth. He has already achieved a high reputation as a Congressional leader : and promises to riso still higher. He has learnt one secret of succe: public life. He has another to learn—and that is the respect. that is due to his equals. It must have been very mortifying to him to hear the whole House laugh when Mr. Cui disclosed the scerets of his election; it will be more mortifying still to reflect that he—who contended so nobly for the first rank in the House, and the mantle of Clay—has been the first to set the example of coarse language and un- gentlemanly brawling, "We have me wish to cast in the teeth of country politicians the manifold assistance they are in the habit of deriving from New York; but we think that at all events those who look to us for ald in the time of their need ought not to act as though the fruits of our generosity had rendered them our supe- riors. We know not what opinfon Congress may form on the subject; but here, among those who are in every way disposed to do Justice to Mr. Breckenridge, there is but one sentiment regarding the ce égarding the utter impropriety of his is suggested—and not without a strong show of pro- bability—that his attack upon Mr. Cutting. ‘was made a6 the suggestion of the President. Thoso who know Mr. Pierce best think it v Mkely that he resorted to a mean scheme of this kind in order to curry favor with the South; and, on the whole, we cannot but admit that the antecedents of the President render such @ surmise extremely plausible. He is just the man to truckle to the South by feigning deep wrath at the it of the bill; and to gratify the Northern freesoilers by at- tempting to injure a national democrat. Should this turn gat to ve the Soe seeret of the affair, the part played by ir. Breckenridge wer his charac! ‘oatima- tion of all hightinded men. eas 2 These remarks of ours seem to have created quite a storm at the capital. The usual abuse is lavished upon the Henatp by its habitual as- sailants, and the organ of the Cabinet favors us with the following tirade :— (From the Washington Union, March 81.] SLANDER UPON MR. BRECKENR! The ruthless and reckless assaults of por agi died as the New York Heracp and the New York Tribune upon the fearless and cloquent Brickenridge, at such atime as this, best bespeaks the character of th) op- position to the Territorial bills in Congress, and the temper of those who will rejoice to see those bills de- feated. Mr. Breckenridge is among the ablest and most eflective of the advocates of popular sovereignty-—tle cardinal prinelple of that dill—and if he can be damaged in the esteem of the country, a great bi i - edagainat It. The idea that aman who vite tem hi ‘#0 wenerour, and #0 el make war upon another—to intimidate th: t faithful performance of {patriotic duty is Woo apfeling to deserve any other notice than to tr: $ Fqnally baseleds and scandalous is the aite ko Northern fecling—and, above all, North petite: ec feghing-—aga'net John U, Breckenridge, becayse of his ra we watehed his course breaed ponerse and have awed his career with expressions of applause. In the | i wth the democracy will stand by him steadily and en- efforts of prejudiced like Gee Banat otk abolition echoes othe Tribumey will be ee seat tgue tbat apple abel” regard of those wi we or tation. We have no | comments for pe Bete § telwead ‘Mr. Breckenridge and another member of the House, and we trust we may not be called upon to speak of it. But when we seo & concerted effort made b; bog hy that profess differ- ent ae in regard to Nebraska bill, butare doul both eager for its defeat, to put a false and scandalous construction upon the position of Mr. Breck- enridge in that affair, we feel it to be our duty to expose and to denounce it asa part of the brutal tics that have so long distinguished those two prints, whieh first Dear witness to each other’s shame gnd then proceed to make common cause in the work of abuse and misrepre- sentation. We copy this article, not with any view to provoke merriment at the expense of the juve- nile rhetoric it contains; but simply in order that every man of judgment in the country may be enabled to judge of the sincerity of the administration organ. To couple the HeraLp with the Tribune required no common impu- dence; to call an article a “ruthless and reck- less assault,” was ahigher flight yet. Wehave yet tq see any reason for altering one letter of what we wrote. That Mr. Breckenridge was instigated by the President to make the attack on Mr. Cutting, with the view of throwing the onus of the defeat of the bill on the national. democrats, we have not the smallest doubt; and the debate is in type to bear us out in the judgment we formed on the manner in which he fulfilled his task. Of Mr. Breckenridge per- sonally, we know nothing that is not to his credit; and we do not suppose that he has been in the habit of regarding any journal North or South as more friendly disposed towards him than the Heratp. Nothing, we are convinced, but the insidious machinations of Mr. Pierce and his Cabinet, would have ever induced him 8o far to forget what he owed to himself and to Mr. Cutting, as to exhibit the woeful lack of self-respect and decorum which characterized his language of Monday last. Let the blame rest where it is due—on the head of Franklin Pierce. MvnicrpaL MisruLeE— Tae Prosperity or New Yorx.—For many years the ;eople of New York have loudly complained of the ignorance and corruption of their city government, whose sole desire seemed to be to enrich themselves at the expense of a hard working community. In the year 1853, when some persons were bold enough to call for an amended charter and a reform Common Council, the advocates of reform were successful, the amended charter passed both houses of the Legis] .ture, and, on being submitted for the sanction «f the people in June last, was adopted by the tremendous majority of thirty-three thousand votes. Tax payers and householders were in ecstacies, bright dreams of the future passed in fanciful visions through their minds; but, alas, they were all doomed to disappointment, for on the installation of the Common Council on the second of January last, not one-third of that body professed to be reformers, or, since that period by their actions it would seem, intend to remove any of the difficulties and previous wrongs, that afflict an overtaxed and outraged community. We have only to refer to the fact of the Common Council stopping the payments for cleaning streets, and then ina few weeks afterwards when they became so filthy as to demand the action of the Board of Health, appropriating $75,000 for one or two weeks’ street cleaning. This will give our readers some idea of the character of the men that now compose our city legislature. In a few weeks after the streets pass from the hands of the City Inspector, they will be as dirty as ever, and {t will cost us fifty to a hundred thousand dollars more to have them re-cleaned, for our Street Commissioner has no power to sweep them; that must be done by contract, and where are the contractors? What is to be done in order to remove the various difficulties that seem to beset and obstruct on every side the due performance of the duties imposed by law on our Common Council? What course should be pursued to counteract the dire- ful evils that are threatening us? What shall be done to save the city from a pestilence, and New York retain the rank in commerce and trade as the first city in the Union? All this is a matter of grave consideration, and of vital importance to the inhabitants of New York at this moment. Already have country papers bade stran- gers who visit our city beware, lest the plague should break out amongst us before their return home. Stimulated by Phila- delphia and Boston influence, they seck to de- stroy the enviable position that the Empire City occupies in a commercial point of view on this Continent—they point out an impending pesti- lence, and the various dangers and disadvan- tages that would attend the visit of the country” merchants, and conclude their advice by re- commending Philadelphia or Boston as fit cities in which to make their semi-annual purchases, in preference to New York. Filthy streets. and a badly organized police force are perhaps two of the greatest evils that can befall a commercial emporium, and sooner or later are the means of almost entirely re- moving the prosperity and trade of that city to others less advantageous for mercantile pur- poses, but where greater atiention is given to the health and comfort of the inhabitants, on the part of the municipal government, than to the amassing of ill-gotten wealth, by defraud- ng and deceiving their constituents, whose confidence in their fidelity and honesty placed them in the important position they hold. The destiny of this city lies entirely in the hands of the citizens themselves, and it is for them to say whether New York shall be second to Philadelphia as a commercial and manufactur- ing city, or whether the present Empire City shall still hold the position she has nobly earned by the spirited enterprise and liberal qualities of her merchants, and the industry of her mechanics, of the commercial emporium of the New World. All those who have any interest at stake should take immediate steps to have our muni- cipal government so organized that the execu- tive power could be placed in one honest man’s handsalone. Then he should be accountable for any misrule that might take place in the various departments under his control. The Aldermen and Councilmen could transact and have under their control all legislative matters, which, if properly attended io, would demand all their attention. However, we must make the best of a bad bargain, for many months at least, listen to squabbles in theCouncil chambers for the spoils, hear the oft repeated cries of the people for reform, endure the increased taxes that are heaped upon our shoulders; we must bear it patiently, for it is the effect of hasty legisla- tion brought about by those whom we sent to Albany for their sound judgment in municipal affaires, and their capability and integrity a Prosontativgs of the people, By the time the agxt municipal election takes place, the new régime Axed eee | will bave had euficient time to redress in some measure the innumerable evils with which we are afflicted ; if, however, there is no radical change for our benefit, then, at the next session of the Legislature, the charter must be amended still further te meet the obstacles that now af- fect the whole fabric of our municipal govern- ment, and which have now brought the business of the various departments to a stand still in. the performance of their various duties. The condition of our city government, when compared with that of other large cities on this continent, and in Europe, is really disgraceful, and to the eyes of strangers the situation we are now placed in must appear still more dis- creditable, for they have always been in the habit of witnessing law and order, and conse- quently expect to tind the same in the great city of New York ; therefore how great must theiras- tonishment be when they set their feet in the worst governed city in the world. Something must be done to wipe away the stain that mars the escutcheon of our city. If eighty or on® hundred men cannot put all things in ship shape, then other measures must be resorted to. Give the Mayor alone the executive power, and the government of the city will prove highly satis- factory to all honest men. Tnz “Kxow-Norurnas.”—A great deal of noise and excitement has recently been made in this city relative to a new secret society— the “Know-Nothings,” so called. It is stated that they are to become a great political power in this country, and that the results of their operations were visible in the last election. In our opinion there is a great deal of humbug in all @his, and the whole movement is only another means by which some politicians at- tempt to deceiye the people. The “Know- Nothings” have adopted the distinctive princi- ples of the old “Native American” party, which achieved an accidental victory in this city some time since, in consequence of a speeoh made by Archbishop Hughes in Carroll Hall. But even then the Native American party had no strength of its own: it was an organization got up to oppose a very unpopular city government; and its success was owing to an accidental combination of circumstances. After the first victory the party dissolved, and it has not been heard of since. It seems now that the remnants of this party have got up another, on similar principles; but this is weaker and more imbecile than the old set. It is almost im- posribie, to get up effective secret societies of foreigners in this country—and there are mytiads of secret orders in the Old World, and it is much ‘more difficult—indeed it is impossible—to create a secret organization of Native Americans which will have any lasting influence at the polls or anywhere else. We have no political, religious, or social secrets in this country, be- cause every man has the right to express his opinion on any eubject, inthe free, frank, bold manner which the constitution gives him. We enjoy perfect ‘liberty of speech, liberty of the press, and liberty of conscience,”’ rights gua- ranteed to us, and inalienable. There is no reason for keeping any thing secret when there is no penalty following its publi- city. Hence the impossibility of the perma- nence or influence of any such society as the “ Know-Nothings.” Barnum AND THE CrystaL Patace.—Mr. Phineas T. Barnum, who has lately been elect- ed President of the Crystal Palace Association, has commenced a plan to relieve the associa- tion of its debts. He proposes that persons en- gaged in public business shall take tickets to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars; and we sec that certain hotel keepers, hatters, directors of city railroads, and others, have al- ready subscribed for eight or ten thousand dol- lars worth of tickets. This plan may be par- tially successful; during the pleasant summer days the city will be full of strangers, and they will desire, to go somewhere to see the sights; and they will go to see the Palace. It will be useful to the hotel. keepers, the hatters, the tailors, the theatres, and to Barnum himself; but it will not go far to extricate the association from the swamp of debt in which it has been thrown, or to relieve the minds of the distressed etockholders. But it is better than nothing. Mr. Barnum must, however, get something for the people tosee at the Palace. Now it isa perfect deserted village. Much of the statuary and other art works have been removed; and in visiting it one sees only a great desert, with a few unfortunate travellers wandering in its midst. Barnum should remove some of the cu- riosities from his museum—the woolly horse, the mummy of Joice Heth, or the mermaid, He might also get some wild animals; an en- gagement of “Sam Green, Jr., the Man wot Nomi- nated General Pierce,” would pay. Arcularius, “the democrat wot resigned a fat office”—a thing never before heard of in this city—would attract crowds, and the list might close with the exhibition of half a dozen spirit rappers. Will Mr. Barnum think of it? Tae Conxectiout Execrioy.—The annual State election in Connecticut takes place to- day. The fact seems to excite very little interest either in the State or out of it. The full State ticket is to be elected, and the new Legislature will be called upon to elect a United States Senator in place of the Hon. Truman Smith. The Common Council. The Board of Aldermen commence their sittings and their talkings this evening, and we hope their workings also; but where there is so much debating, even on the most unimportant matter brought before them—from the appointment of a bellringer to the building of a rail- road—it necessarily takes them a great deal of time to do a very little business. It is expected that the report of the Street Committee of the Board of Aldermen will come back amended from the Councilmen, and it is an- ticipated that the Law Committee will report in favor of probibiting the driving of cattle through the streets, a nuisance that should have been long since abated. The April session of the Board of Councilmen com- mences this afternoon at the usual hour. It is presumed that & large quantity of business will originate in this Board during this session, and late sittings are of course to be expected. The Board will, probably, go into Committee of the Whole almost every evening this week, when reports will receive a third reading, and either be adopted or rejected. A number of reports from the seve- ral committees, many of them important ones, may be expected. Efforts will be made to take documents from the table requiring appropriations—among them one from the Commissioner of Repairs and Supplics, relative toobtaining an additional appropriation of fifty thou- sand dollars, to be devoted to the various station houses, court rooms, public buildings, offices and mar‘cots; also, including a large number of contingencies. he caxriage hire bill of the city fathers of the lower house for the last month will probably make its appearance, and will be the means of again creating discussion, when business should be the solo governing ple of the Board of | Councilmen. ' ‘Tar Pramas Viewr.—By the bark Star of the East, Capt. Hudson, from Colles Feb, 27, we learn that the fol- lowing Brazillian vesvcls of war were stationed in the waters of th gene ame ig Va at Me 10 guns, in port; brig Leopoliina, 10 | Para and Amazon:—Steamor Paradence | and brig Andorinda, Pivot, at Santa- | animated and exciting contest, more particularly : Nebraska question has been forced into the canv: the whiga, who proclaim it a democratic measur, test of orthodoxy on the part of the democrats. they attempt to prove by the fact that Senator Tc democrat, voted for Douglas’s bill, while Truman £ the whig Senator, voted against it. The Legisk; which is to be chosen to-day, will be called upon tc @ United States Senator ir, the place of Truman £ whose term expires with the present Congress, in The following are the names of the candidates < ‘neater Daniel W. Ca: Oliver H. Per Julivefotchkiss, John Dunham There are also two other tickets in the field—the law party, and the abolitionixts—both of which very weak organizations, and they will not interf > any great extent with the regular tickets of th great parties. . In the first Congressional district of Massachu which includes the city of Boston, an election w. held to-day to fill the vacancy occasioned by the re: tion of Hon. Zeno Scudder. A plurality will elect,’ as the district is largely whig, the nominee of that ; Hon. Thomas D. Eliot, will probably succeed ov’ | ward M. Gardner, who is the democratic candidat¢ | Abrabam H. Howland, who has been brought forw the citizens’ candidate. The election in Rhode Island takes place on We day. The Nebraska question has not been much after in the little State, the people having had th tention pretty well occupied with local affairs. and Algerine difficulties having again come up fi cussion, all other questions have given way, and th: prineiple of interest involved in the canvass, v whether the act of the last Legislature, restoring 'W. Dorr to citizenship, was in accordance wit wishes of a majority of the people. There is to be e anentire State ticket and members of both branc Governor... Lieut. Gover . Ameri Seely of State, Asa Pott Att'ny Go Walter S. ‘Trea: ‘ny surer. . . . 4 The temperance party and the anti-prohibitory \ Jaw men have each a ticket in the field. The April Term of the Law Courte-, The ruins of the law courts building on Cha: street and the Park still present # grim and de aspect, and we hear of no progress being made Common Council to erect a new temple of justice. vate enterprise far outstrips the zeal of public b for we see around us every day new buildings comm on the ruins of yesterday’s fire, and before the smo) ing embers are entirely subdued. The law cour: therefore scattered here and there—the Supreme sits in the same building where the Court of Session\ the United States Courts are held; the Superior Cou cupies the room of the Board of Aldermen, and the mon Pleas are undisturbed, in their old possession the United States Marshal’s, District Attorney’s’and: missione?’s offices are removed to Mr. Stevens’ mai corner of Murray street. Two trial branches o Marine Court will be held every day, except Satu when the Court will sit in general term. ‘This day the April term of the State Courts wi opened. There will be no genoral term of the Su | Court, except a special meeting om Tuesday to he. | gument in the matter of opening and extending Can: ‘Walker streets. In the Superior Court an action, ¢ suit of the Chief Engineer against Horace Greeley. libel, will be tried this month. The United State: cuit will be opened to-day, and the grand and jurors sworn in. The United States District will rc bills of indictment from the Grand Jary, but no ‘business will be transacted until Wednesday. ‘ The Court of Oyer and Terminer will also be 0) to-day, in the room adjoining the Court of Sessions {J although there are six murder eages and several criminal offences to be disposed of, it is not likel; much business will be transacted this week for Wa’ & Judge—Jvdge Edwards being in the Court of Ap} Judge Morris still confined from illness, and some o other Judges, not being in favor of capital punish: are unwilling to preside in murder trials. Judgo St, from Kings county, was invited to hold the but ft is not yet known whether he will consent to di] In accordance with the usual and established pral] the Grand Jury will be empannelled in the Couit of 4 ral Sessions to day, to whom will be referred the bus of the April Term, as well ag cases not already | upon by a previous grand jury. Their labors, ever, owing to the new system adopted by Judge If at tho last term, that is, receiving commitments magistrate as fast as they are made out, will be || light, and will not occupy their attention for more} a week, or ten days at the most. ' From the Calendar we pcrceive that there are-« teen cases of grand larceny, seven of forgery, two o cessary to murder, five of false pretences, two of re ing stolen goods, two of embezzlement, three of a one of seduction, one of bigamy, one of felonious as) and battery, one of bastardy, one of manslaughter of mayhem, and one of burglary inscribed upor We are glad to see that the crime of burglary coming rarer in our midst every day, for no f4j is attended with such evil consequences as that of hd} breaking. Besides these there will be many bail cases that! demand the attention of the grand jury, but as nq| all of them are assault and battery casos, and will gd fore the Court of Special it is not likely. will occupy much of the attention of that body. His Honor Recorder Tillou will occupy the judgn seat this term, and as usual will see that the laws of State and the rights of the prisoners will remain int| Tue New CoMMISSIONER OF STARETS.—Mr. Glasier, newly appointed Commissioner of Streets, entered u} the duties of his office on Saturday last ; and the nom| tion of the clerks belonging to his department will, understand, be acted upon by the Common Council afternoon. His duties do not differ from those of former incumbent of the office, Mr. Arcularius ; and the information of those who think he will be respo for the cleaning of the strects, we may state that he have nothing to do with them farther than to atten the removal of the ashes and garbage. The City spector is the officer at present entrusted with the | charge of this important duty, but its performance ¢ a8 soon as the seventy-five thousand dollars appro) for the purpose by the Common Council aro e So far, therefore, as the future health and cleanlin the city is concerned, nothing effectual has been acéd plished ; and it may be necessary, in two or three mont to make another appropriation. ‘The office of the Str vorable winds, the daily arrivals at this city have be very limited, not averaging more than about a quarter: comprise vessels of covery class; and among them ¢ many Liverpool, London, Havre and other packets a transient vessels from Europe and other quarters the world. This is a much larger number due th has been known for a long time, The appearance some of the wharves indicates the paucity of arriva some of the docks not containing more than half thq usual quota. The number usually in our harbor is gon ally above six hundred sail, while at present they do t| count much over four hundred. A favornble wind for} couple of days will materially change the aspect of thing! by bringing a large ficet of anxiously expected vessc into port. Tom StarroRDsHIRE.—\ contract has been made by ¢/ underwriters of the chip Stalfordahire with s sub mari company, by which said company receive one-| the property obtained from tho wreck. ‘Tho ship h been paid for by the insurance compénies, and stan: charged on thelr books asa total loss. The parties abo to muke efforts to save the cargo think moval of the decks of the ship a considerable the freight can be reached with |. The ‘contract ia and we hope the ente: pose to rave the property, wi ward.—Boston Lranscript. Sarety oF Smp Burxa Vieta.—' with the perusal of a letter from @ passenger on boa the Buena Vista, Captain Cottrell, which sailed fro this port December 28, the day previous to t! gale, and for whose ratety somo fears were entortained as the ale was very disastrous to all the shipp on the coast. The letter is dated wea, Feb. 1, la 128., lon, 52, and was revel this city vis R Janeiro, It says, on the first it out from Bosto they encoun! tremendous snow; had just gale «truck the al Ashore or striking som the ship drifted down the South Channel, and came nes| losing her masta, So severe waa the gule that ever sal) Was pigwe Ont of top pulp Fopes, and the main aul of those who meet with a Tiber: