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

paren vera NEW YOP.K HERALD. JamHe FC,RDON BENNETT, FROY? ..ETOR AND EDITOR, A er SN TH AEN IF Syrics ». ¥. ( ORKRR OF KASAU AND FULTON Ors. ap rie ga a B ALY UBKALD every Saturlay at 0 Fer onnuns; the Buropern Bui tage. ALL LE&’TERS by Mait for Subscriptions or with Adver- Peeled lag pot thonorn will be deducted from runmey remitted. fs VOLUNTARY CORRBSPONDENC) dmpor- Eat pomany guaran ope ete es poll for, sg-OuR Fonuios Comnesronn- T:OULARLY REQUESFRD TO SEAL ALL LeT- annum. | cents per a $4 per annem, AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. | BROADWAY THEATRE, Srosdway—Avareswe—Tur | Bureurxn Bere. | BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory—Ravesrnian Penvonm- G ancxe—Caranacr oF 7! 4. IBLO’S GARDEN, Bro BURTON'S, Chambers street—Urrar Tex axp Lowen Twerty—Buicurezn Bure. MATIONAL THEATRE, Chatham strest—Equssratax Panvoasaxces—Suriarow Witwnss. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Roap to Ruis— | Maw Fooruas. TROPOLITAN THEATRE, Brondway—Haxcer— | Beetones us Invra, ABERICAN MUSEUM. Count—To Oniick Bewson. Bvenin, WOOD'S VARIETIES—Mechanice’ Hall, 472 Broadway. | BUCKLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, 539 Broadway—Buox- Bar's Eruioriay Orrna Taovrr, WoOop’s MINSTRELS—! trel Hall, 444 Broadway.— | y—Lucy or LamueRmooRn | ~Faom Viitace ro | —Lapy or Lyons. OASTLE GARDEN-Rauseraiax Pravonuaron, TO-NIGHT. CHINESE BUILDINGS, Broadway—Sunpay Concent. day, December 3, 1854. New York, The News. The steamship Star of the West which arrived at this port yeaterday afternoon, brings us eight days later intelligence trom California. The news will be found more than usually interesting. It will be seen that another of those affuirs which come under a certain unwritten code, called the “ code of honor,” buat which isso near akin to murder that civilization will soon be unable to distinguish the difference, has taken place in California, in which ne unfortunate individua’ wos sent to an un grave. Tue affair occ en Col Woodlief and Mr. wel. was the victim, be hrough the heart, acd expiring wit.in ter fier receiving the fatal , bullet. What seem st extraordinary about the | affair is that the wile of the d2ceased accompanied | her husband te the ground, but very considerately semained at a hotel near by while the duel was fought. A Know Nothing victory hai boeu achiev- ed at San Francisco by the elec'ion of Mr. William | Shersoan to the office of City Comptroller, by alarge | mejority over all the otuer contestan's. The allied | fleet was )ying quietly in the harbor of San Fraa- sisco, and nothing had transpired with regard to the | intentions of the Commodore. A rumor had been | brought to San Francisco that a naval engagement | had taken place between the French brig of war | Obiigedo and a Russian frigate, off the coast o/ Lower California, but it was not credited. Furthe: aceounts of difficulties bet yeen the overland emi grants snd tte Indians will be found among the wews, together with other interesting items of in- teLligence. By tve arrivai of the Siar of the West we have advices from Honolula (Sandwi-h Islands) to ti 6th of October. The reports are extisfactory. We hear farther xespecting the opposition of the British Consul to the annexation project. Hi- wavage protest elicited, as was quite natural, th: hearty condemmation -of the California press. Av icehouse was being crected at Honolulu, aad 2 verse} was daily expected from Sitka with a carg of five burdred tons of that article. I¢ is probable that before jong au extessive trade in ice betweer the Rorsian sct'Jements and India may be opened ‘Den thoogand lettors were lying in the post office o! | Henolain uoca'led for, over five thousand of which | were addressed to alemen, and advertised ic May. Tae ritum ot the whaling fleet, however, wonid soon ceplete tie Post Office. Beveral Ha watians bad returned from California, and tte agg egate cash “pile” of forty-five of them amounted to fifty-five thousand dollars. The vol- esnoes, which form one of the staple products of ‘the Islands, were in full blast. Ocr dates from Tahiti (Society Islands) are to the 33th of Augnst. The fearful ravages of the small- pox epidemic amongst the nstive population were dsawing to @ close, either from an exhaustion of | the virus or irom a want of material for it to fei en. Owing to the mortality caused by it all the wohoo's were deser‘ed, trade was suspended, and the roads quite solitacy,as the surviving population particularly at Papara, Moorea, Anoa and Haumi were engaged in burying the dead. The white peo ple bad entirely escaped. At the date of last re- ports afluirs were looking a little better. * Our news from Mexico, which for weeks has bren somewhat stagnant, is agvia becomicg interestir -. A correspondent a: Vera Cruz, under date ot No vember 22, furnishes us 2 mos’ interesting summary | of the state of affairs. The arrival of General Gads- den in the formar city had given rise to much poll- tical specula'ion as to the cause of his sadden de partore from the capital, It would appear, how ever, that he merely intended to see his family of for the United States, and then return to kis post. | His Imperial Highness, Santa Anna, has hed some right roja) slights put upon bim—Qarea Vic toria of England resola\ely refusing to ac- cept the Grand Cross of the Order of Guede- Wpe, which be was graciously pessed to forward to her, whilst bis imperial compeers of | France, Prussia and Spain heve not as yet ackno y- ledged the receipt of their decorations in any way. | Immense preparations ior war were being made #: | Vera Cruz, where stores of ganpyower and cannon shot were landed from New York. The insurgents In Michoacan and elsewhere were, however, active and unyielding. Itissaid that the croat Spanish banker, Manvel Eseandon, has contracted with the Spevish and Mexican governments to supply Cabs with ‘hirty thousaud Yucatan Indians annually at a cost of Sfteen dollars per head. The United States Consuls at Mezatian and Monterey—Me:srs. Gatton and Foster—were dead. General Paez was about wset out for the United States. Accounts from the Rio Grande represent the insargents as actively organizing, and they had solicited the everlasting Carvajal to Jead them to the fray. ‘We publish in another part.of to-day’s paper the act restricting the sale of intoxicating hquors, which it is expected will shortly become a law in the Province of Canada. It will be seen thet the measure is an extremely astringent one, positively prohibiting the manufacture or sale, under severe penalties, of any liquor a part of which is alcoholic or intoxicating. The bill will perhaps be vetoed by the Governor. | According to the official report of the City In spector there were $50 deaths in this city during the last week, namely: 63 men, 77 women, 116 boy and 94 girls. Of the total mumber 46 died of con- *amption, 9 of bronéhitis, 10 of congestion of the brain, 14 of diarrt cea, 16 of dropsy in the head, 34 of fevers, 39 of imflammatory complaints, 27 of | convulsions, 9 of croup, aud 16 of marasmus, Thee | were 13 premature births, and 26 cases of still born; | slo 7 deaths from external causes. The city is un- | nsually healthy and the weather remarkably plea- sant. The nativity table gives 235 natives of the United States, 54 of Ireland, and 41 of Germany. ‘The annual general meeting of the members of | the Swiss Benevolent Society in New York war held lost evening at the hotel of Messrs. Delmonico, in Wiliam street. A s0zia) banquet in Delmonico’s weet aver ved style preceded the meating—some Octty covtiemen sitcing dowa to table Loaste, * | be too nice. speeches and spirited songs, weched down with first rate Borgundy and champague, wire sufficient {o- ducements to prolong the convivia ity 0’ tae évea- ing until alate hour. Our r. port will be published in to-morrow’s paper. A meeting o' the French Ropablicans was held Jast even ng—the anniversary of the coup d’etut la | Paris—t» profest a aivst the outrage which was | then committed on the liberties of the Frenc1 peo- ple. We will give a fall report in tomorcow's | paper. We have receiv 2 a note rom Capt Schaumberg, stating that he has not offered his services to toe | Czar of Russia. We had secn the statement made in other papers, and supposed it to be correct, but we find that we were mistaken, and therefore make the correction in th same par! of the paper where our first statement ap eared. We learn from Mr. Cuna d that there has been no seizare of smuggled goods on the steamship Africa, and that the statement connected with the report to that effect was exaggerated, Among our items of rews from Washington, is one to the effect that the friends of Mr. Benton in the Missouri Legislature are endeavouring to effet @ coalition with the whig members, for the purpose of defeating Mr. Atohison’s election to the United Btates Senate. It is stated bat Hom. Henry A. Wise has received the nomination for Governor of Virginia by the Democratic State Convention of , thet State. The proceedings of the Convention are said to have been characterized by unusual tur- | balence. Our Consular System—its Defects and thelr Remedies=The Perkins’ Bill Considered. It is new some months since the Washington Union published a draft of Mr. Perkins’ pro- posed bill for the reform of our diplomatic and | consular systems, We mxde some remarks in reference to it at the time, proposing to take up the subject again when the re-assembling of Congress would held out the hope of steps being taken to carry out the objects of its framers; for as regards the details of the mea- sure itself, we are far from approving of them generally. We only revert to them now for the purpose of basing on them the views which, at the present moment, we deem it necessary to impress upon the attcotion of our delegates in reference to one of these important branches of the public service. Addressing ourselves, first, to the proposed re, we mus y that we cannot under- mea stand why the diplomatic and consular sys- te) s should be Ingged together into the same bill. There is but little affinity between the two subjects; but as few members of Congress know the distinction, it does not become us to True, both branches of oar foreign service have long called aloud for re form. But that reform is not needed in an equal degree, for whilst the Consular system is an ontrage, a disgrace, and a subject of na- | tional reproach, the diplomatic system is sim- ply ridiculous and contemptible. The first section of the bill establishes a uni- | form title for oll our Ministers abroad, to which we have no objection. It also regulates the tariff of compen: ation, which is also pretty fair although we do not see on what principle $12,000 per aunum is to be allowed the Minis- ters at two of the cheapest courts of Europe, (Vienna and Berlin,) with which countries | too, our relations are by no means important, and the posts almost sinecures, whilet the Minisier to one of the most expensive capitals in the world (Mexico)-—and we would say the same of all American Legations, becauge they are American, with which oar relations are always most critical aud delicate, and the Le gation consequently one of the most laborious | ~should be allowed only $10,000 per snuum. The second section is devoted to Secretaries | of Legation, and is a very ehabby section in- deed. gation at London, ($2,500,) and ends with the one at Mexico (#1,500.) Now the relative quajifications required of those officers are about as follows: The Secretary at Londen should know how to eat a good dinner; he shonld he able to say a good thing, and to knock off his wine gracefully; and by all means to write and speak the English language cor- rectly. The individual at Mexico must possess all those accomplishments, and in addition must understand the Spanish language well, speaking and writing it with ‘acility; he must | be a lawyer, (special pleader and attorney,) and particularly fond of hard work. Wo ask, is such a man properly compensated with $1,500 per annum? The salaries to Secretaries of Legation are all too small, particularly ua- der a system that offers no hope of promotion, and holds out no inducements to temporary sacrifices. Most foreign governments appoint several secretaries entl attachés to its legations, some of whom, it is true, are unpaid, but they are all in the line of certain promotion; whilst ours are almost morally sure of never being | even appointed to » similar position again, even if they should wish it, which, after their sad experience, they seldom do. The fourth section relates to eighty-eight Coneuls, who are not to be permitted to trans- | act business, and whose salaries are to range 0 per annum down to $750 per an- pum, one of those at tre former rate (London) having besides $4,800 as extra salary, office rent, &c., or in all $12,300! We cannot com- } prehend the wisdom or ustice of ;ach au enor- mous disparity. We kvow that some places are cheaper as res derces tham other’, and that some Consuls require two or three clerks; still, we cannot but exclaim, “Look upon this pic tare ($12,960,) and then on that!” ($750.) The fifth section relates to seventy-three Consuls and Commercial Agents, who are to l@ permitted to transact business, and who are to receive salaries of from $1,000 per annum down to $500, The seventh section provides “that no minis- ter, consul, &c., is to receive a cent of his ealary until he shall have reached his post, and entered upon his official duties.” We confess the “outfit” plan of enabling a minister to reach his post and establish himself decently has been very much abused; but that plan has its advantages, and Is the practice, we believe, of nearly all other governments. A much better remedy than the one proposed might very easily have been devised. This of Mr. Perkins’ is both unjust and unequal. A minie- ter or consul appointed io a European post slips over in a few days time, and at a comparatively trifling cost, and begins to enjoy his salary at once; whilst the poor devil who gocs to China loves months of time and incurs an enormous ex- pense. Sometimes, too, new consuls are a long while at their posts before receiving the ex- equatur of the sovereign of the country to which they are sent—and without which they cannot enter upon their “officia' duties” in the strictly Jegal sense, The seventh section provides “that the sala- ries of ministers, consuls, &c., shall cease on the day that their successor shall enter upon the duties of his office.” This is very well, though we nevertbeless think a charity fand ought to he provided for the e20res of unbapppy officials It begins with the Secretary to the Le- | ' | who ; the country. | The eighth section provides “that no misis- ter, conrul, &c., chal] absent himeelf from his upon their reeall wll find themselvesin ‘mes thousands of a | debt ond “unable to “pay themzelves out’ of braneb of bie duties. He renders bis aceoucts | | quarterly or semi-anvually; he waits many | port for a longer period than ten days, without | having previously obtained leave from the Pre- | | sident of the United States, and that during his | absence for any longer period’ than that time, | either with or without leave, his salary shall not be allowed him’!!! Thus every unfortu- nate consul or commercial agent living on $500 or 3750 per annum is to become | | a correspondent of the President of the United | States! The President will require at least one | additional private secretary toreply to these ap- | plications, and discuss the pros and cons of the ‘ petitions, If the President is to be made a | correspondent of the Consuls, what’s the use of | the Consular Bureau in the State Department? { But the worst feature of this section is, that salaries are not to be allowed during absence. | Now, some unfortunate Consul in some pestifer- | ous end horribly hot place, not far from home— | say Port au Prince, Panama, or Vera Craz— | after two or three years faitnfal service, wishes | to run off fora few weeks, to taste the air of | his native hills, and thus restore health and spirits, broken down by the effects of climate and confinement. Well, after an interesting | correspondence with the President, he may | finally obtain leave of absence, (though the necessity for a change of climate may have | been imminent), In taking his departure, he leaves in charge ef the consulate some person whom he has instructed in its duties, and for whose official acts he is held responsible. Taat person cannot perform those duties merely “for Jove.” He must be paid for it; and as the Con- sul gets nothing during his absence (although the duties are as well attended to as though he were present), it must come out of his owa re- sources, (if he has any); so the Consul loses not merely the salary, whilst the governmens still has his services, but, perhaps, as much | more in compensation to his deputy. Is this just?—is it decent and respectable on the part of a powerful, rich and highly commercial nation? The result will be that when Consuls are compelled to leave temporarily they will ‘be tempted to do so clandestinely. The ninth section prohibits the appoiatment of any but American citizens to the posts of Minister, Consul, &c. This is all very right and patriotic; but can American citizens willing to be charged with a laborious and annoying | office, be found for all those $750 and $500 | places? We think not, though persons are, perhaps, to be met with who will, take charge of the books and archives of the offices pro tem, pocket the salary, and do nothing. The tenth section provides “ That ministers, consuls, Xe., shall locate their offices in central places, and keep them open daily from ten’ o'clock in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon.” The firet part of this is very well, only we protest against that word “locate.” It sounds like a squatter speaking of his pre- emption. The latter part is absurd. It shows that everything in Washington is measured by the latitude of Washington. The framers of this bill appear to forget that there are cli- mates where, on account of the intolerable heat, the business of the day is over by “ten o'clock ia the morning,” and only partially resumed Jate in the afternoon. These would be | abynrd hours, too, for a St. Pétersburg or an j Are angel winter, as well as in Naples, where | time is counted up to 240’clock. The long and short of the matter is that officials must rega- late their hours by the customs of the country. There are natural laws that will ocoasionally override the wisdom of Washington politicians. The same section authorizes the offices to be closed on “ Sundays and other holidays.” If this were to he strictly obeyed our legations, consulates, ‘c., in very pious Roman Catholic countries would be open on an average of about once a week. The twelfth section relates to the fees of consuls, and is reasonable enough, except in one small particular, which is, that those fees | shall be accounted for to the government at the expiration of every three months, and held | Subject to its drafts! Here is a direet premium | offered to fraudulent concealment. It is too | much to expect of poor human mature, es;+ cially in the case of a half-starved and dis.9- | pointed consul. The government wishes, then, to convert all those officers into so many tax- | gatherers abroad. Can there possibly be any | precedent for this in the customs of any other ‘nation? This measure is 'raught with numer- ous evils, of which we will point out one or two. In the first place, the bulk of con- salar fees at most places arises frem no- tarial services, which can as well be performed | by notaries public—requiring to legalize the documents for the United States, only the simple certificate and seal of the Coneul, but which documents it has always been consider- ed the special privilege of Consuls to extend. It is the practice for Consuls to refuse to verify such papers, when extended by other pergons, without the payment of full fees. Now, if Con- suls are to account to government for these feer, they will at once céase such services, and thus establish precedents of a very noxious cbaracter, Evil-disposed persons, too, will seize the opportunity of worrying the Consal, (should he happen to have offended them,) with all eorts of pretended business, merely because they are making him work jor nothing. The world is full of people who will gladly epend money to annoy their neighbors. We contend that the fee system is about as good as any that can be suggested. It is a guarantee of dili- gence on the one part, and an assurance of cir- edmspection on the other. Perhaps we would not object co emphatically to this provision did it confine the disgorging of fees simply to those paid by American citizens; but we protest against our Consuls being at the beck and call of foreigners without deriving any benefit from the business transacted for them. We insist upon 8 modification of this section. Let Con- suls retain at least all fees under certain sums, 8s collectors of customs do, or let them have a graduated per centage on the total, as in cases of postmasters. We wish, too, that fees should be reduced to the minimum; but let fees be charged for every service rendered, not except- ing the visé-ing of passports, even if it be put down at twenty-five cents, The fourteenth section provides “that no commission shall be charged by Consuls for paying the wages of seamen.” It is presumed few Consuls have ever availed themselves of the right to tax unfortunate Jack Tar a misera- ble 2. per cent. It also provides that no com- mission shall be charged the United States in account for expenses incurred in the relief of distreseed, destitute and shipwrecked seamen abroad. This is very bad. A Qonsul at New Zeeland, say, where whalers may be often ‘wreoked, has to expend Bundreds and some- . | probability—having, of course, none of his months to hear of their adjustmeat, and when | he finally draws for the amount and realizes it, , near @ yeor may have elapsed since the ex- | penditoure; and for all this he is to charge nothing, where money may be worth one, two, ; or three per cent per month, and which, in all | own—bhe may have borrowed at that rate! This would not be eo cruel upon Consuls near- er home, but it will not do justice to any. The five per cent now allowed never compensates. The same clause enacts “that Consuls shall not be interested in any profits derived from cloth- ing, boarding, or sending home destitute sea- | men.” it is to be hoped they never will be. The twenty-first section relates to the ad- justment of the estates of citizens of the United States who may die abroad intestate, or who, in dying. may epecia'ly sppoint the Consul as administrator upon their property. For such services the Consul is to receive certain fees ard commistions, which are also to be account- ed for and banded over to the government of the United States. We do not admit the power of Congress; to enact such a law. A Consul’s partner in business, or intimate friend, dies and leaves his affairs in his hands, and the govern- ment of the United States steps in to deprive the administrator and exeeutor of his rights. If Congress can extend such lawa over foreign place:, why not apply them at home too? The twenty-second section relates to the books of the consulate, ana is proper enough, except in as far as relates to the’absurdity of recording the crew lists of all American vessels, and the names of the owners. It would require at least one clerk to perform that duty alone in some ports—Liverpool for instance. Where is the necessity of taking voluminous copies of things which are already of record in the United States custom houses? Who will ever care to know the names cf the sailors, firemen and cabin boys of our vessels, especially as three- fourths of them sail under fictitious names? Or of what importance will it be to history to en- ter into ponderous tomes the names ef the forty odd owners frequently appearing on the regis- ter of some little down-east schooner? This section smacks of the good old days when ships went on voyages ani returned once in three years; but it is unsuited to this age of steam We must endeavor to simplify and facilifate things, instead of hedging them around with Mars in faldlling that | sp@ the consequences uzavoidable, especially ; nad of Commerce a ecbool—ever ready to contri- at thore conewlates which cannot aifrd tokeep , bute to bay the freedom of a desponding rome lopg-tried and faithful cl rk in the offiee. | Southern tlave, and bring him to starvation in Thus we g+t ourselves hated and despised all | the North—bave any sympathy for this desery- over the globe. ing woman, let them come forward and help her But this restraining C/n uls from business | “to git back with her children to Washington, must be critically examined, We presume it where slavery is, snd where she can make a meons “ businers on their own account,” other | living, and ride in the sume cars with the white wise it would be to defeat one of the very objects , folks,” Subscriptions received’at the Henatp for which Consuls are appointed, particularly , oflice, as to those ports at which there are no Ameri- | can resident merctants. Consu's, unfit a3 | Tue Apmmisrration at Its Op Tricks — The President and his bosom friend of the difficulties. We have now disposed of the leading fea tures of the bill seriatim, and, without refer- ring particularly to the report of Mr. Perkins accompanying it, we will sum up the subject in a few general remarks. This bill assumes to remedy the prescat in- equality of compensation received by Consuls, but it fails most signally in doing eo, as is shown on the face of the document itself. There is certainly no equality between $12,000 and $500. Unlike the framers of this bill, we do not contend for equality in compensation, but we do contend that where there is a necessity for 9 Consul at ail, his services are worth morc than $500. Those who are rated at that sum should at least be permitted io retain all their fees. We repeat, that it would be contemptible for a great nation to offer its confidential and re- sponsible agents abroad such paltry sume. We are certain that there are many gentlemen now holding minor consular appointments, who would rather starve upon the uncertain and precarious fees of office than submit to the in- dignity of accepting such a pittance, and there- by rendering themselves and their government a laughing stock to the Consuls of other nations and the authorities at their places of residence. A person may exist on such petty sums in Mediterranean ports, but it will scarcely pay of- fice rent in American, Asiatic, and many other ports. The Department of State is aware of ‘this fact, elee why is $2,800 allowed the consal- ate at London for “office rent,” &c.? If “ equality” be the object, why not adopt, toa certain extent, the plan of other great commer- cial nations which have »een for generations perfecting their consular systems? England, France, &c., pay all first class Consuls a uni- form salary, which, in itself, is generally sufficient for. a decent maintenance. Ox course, the amounts of fees received must vary very much; but the Consul who gets almost nothing that way, is above want, end can devote his entire services to his government and watch its interests carefally. Here wé take occasion to say that we are too apt in this country to think consuls are of very little use, because it is all plain sailing to those of other nations who reside amongst us. Our laws and authorities give them and their fellow subjects, or citizens, no ‘annoyance; but such of us as have been abroad—and we do not allude to the common routes of travel— know that o United States Consul has no sinceure of his office. The Consuls of the na- tions alluded to receive very small fees from their fellow subjects, but make foreigners pay well for their services. This is as it should be. Chari- ty begins at homa We therefore insist that Mr. Perkins’ bill should be amended by substi- tuting uniform salaries to the Consuls at im- portant places, a great reduction in the tariff of fees where American citizens are conceraed, and the retention by the Consuls of all their fees. Of course, some offices would be much more valuable than others; but we have no objection to that, provided all are independent. There would stili be many good consulates for the reward of merit, and requiring high quali- fications. This would be the true economy, for there would not be such extensive swindling in the invoices of goods as is now practised under our od valorem tariff. Consuls would no longer be dependent upon merchants, and afraid to offend them by impeaching the correctness of the invoices submitted them for verification. We object, too, to any Consul being restrict- ed by law'from engaging in commerce. Make the Consuls independent, and few of them will care to undertake bueiness. Their facilities, however, are greatly exaggerated. It is at very few ports that they have any. One of the beauties of the system now in force is that United States Consuls are particularly hated by their fellow-citizens, especially shipmasters, and haye not their confidence. This ie owing partly to the high fee system, or rather the frequent overcharge of fees, (to prevent officials from starving,) and to the character of many of the Consuls themselves, To say that the appointments have frequently been injudi- cious, would be to say little. Men are often, in fact generally, appointed to consulates without the clightest regard being paid to their qualifications, who have not the faintest idea of the nature of consular duties—who know no- thing of commercial matters, and are ignorant of the Jan , Manners and customs of the country to sent, The result is obvious, many of them necessarily are at present, are | Kitchen Cabinet—Col. Forney—are endeavor- regarded a3 ex officio agents of Americans es- tablishing new indu:trics abroad, o: sending a yenture of goods unconsizgned, &c. They are frequently called upon in such cases, being se- lected on account of the responsibility of their bonds on file in Washington. Is not legislation, therefore, at feult when it would prevent thie? Moreover, @ well qualified Consul should un- derstand mercantile affairs thoroughly. He has need, too, to be a skilful notary, an ac- complished clerk, an impartial magistrate, a tolerable lawyer, but, above all, thoroughly convertant with mercantile affairs. Dow many such Consuls have we? Let us have, then, uniform salaries, even | though small, and let office expenses, clerk hire, | &e., be regulated by the amount of fees re- celved. This would secure some degree of equality, and place a)l Consuls on a reapectabie footing. We have no objection to tbe Consuls in the Barbary States, the Levant, and coun- tries wherein we have n> diplomatic agent, being restricted from commercial pursuits. This is, perhaps, necessary to insure proper respect from the authorities, by whom they are regarded as diplomatic characters. In some of these cases extra compensation may be uvces- sary—in others not. Consuls of the second class (whon other governments call vice consu!s) should also | have uniform salaries—by no means less than $1,000 or $1,200 per annum, and of course all the fees they can get, or at least all under a certain sum. This ranging of salaries at $500, $750, $1,000, &c., is altogether too nice, and might be considered a small potato business. Ifa consul is not worth $1,000, he is worth nothing, and we had better have none at all, and have the indispensable duties performed by the Consul of some friendly nation or a resident merchant, at any given port, who would ipse facto be the Consul after all, pro- vided persons could be found to attend to those duties that pay no fees. The fifth section of Mr. Perkins’ bill affixes certain salaries to given places in as “promis- cuous” 4 manner as though the amounts* had been written on pieces of paper, and the names of the places on separate pieces, and each lot placed in a hat and then drawn out one by one; first a port, then a salary to go with it. This is what he calls “prepared with care,” “just,” “consistent with the public interest,” &, We will give only one of some dozen in- stances of itsjustice. There are two consulates in the same country, at one of which the Con- eul has positively nothing to do but to write to the Department of State once a quartet, to let the Secretary know that he is at his post and ready to “go in and win” should anything “turn up.” The otheris one of the most labor rious of all our consulates; but they are both rated at $1,000. Now take away the fees of the latter, and where is the “justice” or “equality” of the thing? We invoke the immediate attention of Con- grees to this important subject, Let it be borne in mind that the present system is half a century old, dating froma period when we were a comparatively insignificant nation. Let it not be forgotten, too, that all the Consuls can be properly compensated by the appropria- tion of a less amount than Congress spends annually in books and papers, or than is squan- dered on some dry dock, useless fortification, or other public work. And let it be partion- larly remembered that our revenue suffers an- nually toa great extent for want of zealous and vigilant Consuls, and will continue to suf- fer eo long as more than one-half of those offi- cers depend upon other than strictly legitim ste sources for the means of a scanty livelihood. The present state of the service is so very bad that even the bill which we have just reviewed, meagre and imperfect as it ie, would be re- garded, if not as a national improvement, at least as an instalment of the measures neces- sary to carry out a thorough and effective re- form in this important branch of the public service. Kyow Notamwe Movements.—We understand that the Know Nothings are about organizing # Council in Congress, and that the first results will probably be some astonishing desertions from the administration in both houses. We are also informed that the new party will be on hand at the meting of the Legislature at Alba- ny, for the enrollment of members of both hoases there into the mysteries and political policy of the order. The same course will most proba- bly be pursued in all the different State Legis- latures, Thurlow Weed is very much frighten- ed concerning these Know Nothings, and the chances of Seward in our Assembly. We should not be surprised if a majority against the arch- agitator were mysteriously to turn up on election day. It is of the highest importance to the new movement that Seward should be disposed of. Nothing like a telling blow at the very head of his anti-elavery coalition. . A Catt ror a Lirttz Axsouitioy Paman- THRory.—We have been apprised of the fact that a free colored woman living in thiscity, well known in this office as a deserving person, originally from Washington, is desirous of re- turning there, but being encumbered with o family of small children, is not able to go. She is a steady, industrious washer woman, but says ehe “can’t get along here, no how, specially in the winter.” She protests that she has given the freedom of colored folks in the North a fair trial, and that it don’t pay. ‘Nochance here for free colored people, whatever they may do for runaway niggers. They put you out of the cars, unless they got a mark in ’em that ‘co win a. ride in this car!’ Can't je’em. Want to get back to Washington, where slavery is. White folks more polite down there to black people—get more washing and better pay. Don’t have to live in cellars and among livery stables and the cholera, ia the South. Don’t have to wait for the cars that’s got the colored people’s mark on ’em. White folks in the South ride with colored folks in any car, ony stage, any day. Oan’t abide these colored people’s care. What sort of free dom is that te come here for? I want to git out,” We understand that this poor woman has ap- plied to a daughter in Washington for the means of removal ; but in the meantime, it our | ing ae ueual before the meeting of Congress to | divertattention frvm themselves by abusing | the cdito®of the Hznatp. They again repeat. the old falsehood about Mr. Buchanan’s appro- val of the course of the administration. We reiterate ovr assertion that in conversation: with us, Mr. Buchanan most uneqnivocally concurred in our doubts as to the stability of - the administration, and added that Mr. Pierce seemed to have committed the same fault as Mr. Polk. Mr, Bochanan observed thathe had + warned the latter of the consequences of his ~ | error, and events had fally justified bis predic~ “tion; and that the former seemed to have commit- ted the capital mistake of omitting to throw | the free soilers and secessionists into opposi- | tion, and relying on the solid Union phalanx, | ‘This was the substance of Mr. Bachanan’s con- versatiun with us on the subject of Mr. Pierce’s Cabinet. He bas said more no doubt to others. We question not bat he has writtea his full opinion on the subject toCol. Forney; and had that gentleman dealt with his other letters as he did with the one relating to Mr. Siekles, the | whole world would have known Mr. Buchanan’s | views. . | This paragon of respectability and virtue— | John W. Forney—denies that he ever received | a letterfrom Mr. Bachanan accusing Sickles ‘of being incapable and complaining of | bim generally; or that he ran about | Washington like a maniac, readisg this | letter to people at the corners of streets. | We say that he did. That is all. We know that he did both receive and show the ‘letter: and we know that the letter contained what we- | said it did. Let Forney publish it, if this be not true, and put us toshame. We call for that. letter of Mr.Buchanan’s. People must not be stabbed in the dark. Let us know what Bu- chanan did say in reference to Mr. Sickles—his capacity—and the Peabody dispute. And eo Jonn W. Forney thinks and calls him- self “an honorable and high-minded man.” So did Onc-Eyed Thompson: so do all rascals. All do not cay it in print: some have shame: Colo- nel Forney has not, and he states the fact in “minion.” He gives himself a certificate of “ ho- nor ard high-mindedness:” speake of himself in the third person, and talks of his ‘associations with Col. Forney.” This is convenient. It might not be so easy to find anotiier person in Washington to certify to Forney’s “ honor,’”” after the Forrest letter. This duality is a capi- tal contrivance. When Forney the Clerk, states what is not true, Forney the Editor swears that he knows Forney the Clerk, having been intimate with him for years, and that he ie totally incapable of lying. When Forney the Clerk violates private confidence, Forney the Editor assures the public that from his ac- quaintance with Forney the Clerk, he is en- abled to say that “he shrinks from little-low things of the kind.” Needless to add thatin return for these small. services, Forney the Editor is fed and lodged and clothed by For- ney, the Clerk. Tne Sgewarp Organs anv THE KNnow No- Trines.—Yesterdsy morning, simultaneously with our leading article showing that the Cabinet and the Seward organs are equally hostile to the new party of the Know Nothings, the Tribune came out with a violent attack upon the new order, as if for the express pur- pose of strengthening our accueations. Read the following extract:— « 19 i other reform movement; and we see that the slave to vie with the Union savers in lodges as admirably suited to ind nae? ie ae naa Weinen'ene, ive by thelr own labor, and can bestow. but a casual attention upon politics. We, too, “believe that this Know Nothing ar- ray is destined to prove the deadliest foe of anti slavery.” We, therefore, repeat our cau- tions to the true men of the South, to beware of the drift of the hostility of the Cabinet os- gans at Washington, Richmond and elsewhere, to the Know Nothings, for fear that the admin- istration may entangle them in the meshes of the Seward coslition. A party which is repu- diated by the anti-slavery organs, and by the free coil spoilsmen of the administration, may be trusted upon the slavery question. Beware of @ conjunction between the Cabinet and the Sew- ard coalition. THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, From Ws THB PRESIDENTS MESSAGE—ASSIGNMENT OF THE ASSETS OF THE EXCHANGE BANK—WHIG AND BEN- TONITE COALITION IN MISSOURI—THE VIRGINIA STATE CONVENTION, ETO. Wasnincton, Dec. 2, 1854, A special messenger, with copies of the President's message, left here this morning for Baltimore, Philadel- phis, New York and Boston. The messenger for Cincin- nati left this afternoon, and the messenger for Richmond, Petersburg, Wilmington and Charleston, leaves thie evening. It was the original intention to send it to Richmond only, omitting Peterstfurg, Wilmington and Charleston ; but the President was prevailed upon to extend the favor of an advance copy to Charleston, Messrs. Selden, Withers & Co., have assigned the as- tets of the late Exchange Bank of this city to Mr. Bayne and John A. English, merchants, of Alexandria. The assignment does not cover the Property of any parties not already involved in the business of the bank. Intelligence bas been received here stating that the Bentonites in the Missouri Legislature have offered to coalesce with the whigs to defeat the election of Mr_ Atchison to the United States Senate. The correspondence of the Richmond Whig states that a high state of excitement is prevailing in the Virginia Democratic Convention, and that the proceedings are very disorderly and turbulent, Henry A. Wise, it ie thonght, will surely receive the nomination for Goversor. ARRIVAL OF CONGRESSMEN—RBEPORTED NOMINATION . OF HENRY A. WISE FOR GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA. Wasuinctox, Dee. 2—9 P, M. The city is filling with the members of both Houses, and a full quorum is now present. The hotels are thronged, News has jast been received here that Henry A. Wise has received the nomination for Governor, by the State Convention. “ ‘The annual reports from the heads of the several dle. partments of the government will be transmitted from here by mail to-morrow afternoon. Farther from Mexico and Texas. BANISHMENT OF POLITICAL OFFENDERS—REPORTEID SUCCESSES OF THE GOVERNMENT FORCRS—THE INSURRECTION ON THE RIO GRANDE, ETO. Bavrrmonn, Dec. 2, 1864. New Orleans papers of Sunday Inst are received, ‘They contain details of the Mexican news to the 22a ultimo, revsived Ly Use sleauisltp Orizabe. It {s of bus philanthropic antialavery friends ot the Jour | tittle importance, Sener Cagiza, editor of the Lis, aug