The New York Herald Newspaper, December 17, 1854, Page 3

tasnly anderstood his coucsluding remarke ag ing ont the same sense, ia the omolimzat he te the enierta:nment and the entertaicer. If Buchanan viewed is im the sesse he hus applied toi", he shonli have sabstitaied lan of a more direc’ character; such would have : re rane gong erg exosct in over ibe peop! y ent ‘s language tapbor. Bat why this detestable quibble ovar noqopepe mntenves at the pressut tim:? Mr. ben is possessor of a clear coaceptie2, aad ing in what he haa been misrepre-ented, might pointed it out, 2 an ioterview with him & evenings a‘ter tre avpearance of the articies in Cistinetly stated that if he would voiat the nature of the misrepresentations, we would it readily make corrections; but that gentlemac, for whom none entsrtaia a higher respe>', rather to enjoy hisown wounded feelings state definiteiy the nature of the offe2ce et bim. Poor dipiomecy! How wa piiy it forced to such sad straits for means to ke own iittle head contending above the buff»ie ! o Mr. Sickles we hsve a word to say come2rnizg rate,” woich te uureasrvedly styles those who wo any independance in tais war of Awericen Legation against Americana wh) at Pad some re. to expect it would extend its dian shicid of fnendship, not pro y Let we ok sarong whose agency it that the correspondent of a jeading journal in York forwarded a letter from London denzune- the report of the dinaer in the Londoa juraals ‘tiesue of falkehvods from beginaing to ead, aud merely that the appearance of his isttsr might pultanzous wit tia’ deaunciatory effusion ta Boston fost. The appearance of these pre-ma- epistles iv journals so opposite in poait'on as Hi as political polio 19 was expected would be a ded di » and contiem eaca other. have the origin of these hirmieas effasions in mind’s eye. Scovdly, by whose ageacy ia it st the creatures o! the legation (@: have no sofer to apply to such genus) go absutthe metro peroona high above thelr capacity to malign’ ‘adove ti ity Pay whence did the tha; we received pay ym the HERALD for writing ite report of the fe.ti- originate? {hat such things were done is as he a6 bepress contemptible. Nor isit mach to crecit of the legation giving them tolerasce. INow, although Mr. Sickles makes grave charges inst us, we will og our demosracy sesoad bis, while we detes kingoraft as heartily a he and as warm)y love republi.anism; bat if oor of disvlaying it differ from hie, we trast he i) exouse our deciining to join that assenine spe- of political gentry whose leadership he s6 tly covets, and whose p2trixtic brays we have r detested. In a word, all this braying might we been raved bed Mr. Peabody given hia com- tis} mind one political turn: substituting Me. B. Sickles for Sir E. Tensant; our pugilistic tary would then had an oppo:tunity of dis ging his powder flask in the digaity of reepond- “To the memory of Washington,” relieving his Ye desire, and savirg this after show of petty leen. Onur slight acquaintance with Mr. 8 warrant the p:esumption of our nce, nor wovld he. thank us for #0 doing, f be bas shown himself quite capadle of marshaling our Se-retary. However, a8 hat functionary hes charged him‘with diatri- ting several bundred copies (all libels on him- if ard President Pierce.) of the papers contain- hg the reports, we feel constr: to say words on this very piquant charge. Mr. Pea- ody—no doabt moved by that natural offspring of feelings which likes to see recorded the result waithy efforte—cesired we would procare for him few of the papers coataicing the rego! for his jends. Now, we feel assured the reader will ely condescend to demand the or are we prepared to yive it at tai it Mr. Sickles shou'd evince any further uncasi on this point, we would ad him to apply informacion at the offices of the journals, where }@ will be politely and correct); forn nat his several hundred copies” wouli dimin less mone hundred. 0 much for Mr. Si grave phage; bat that he msy the more cle y uader 1 the point, apd bring the pumber to a dipl> atic 1} , We wil (for the exclusive information ‘the le; }), 88y oat if he make a basis of sho procured by the corps when the breeches ion was ia em! or atabout the opening of t last year, and ic which .were inserted ‘well written artic’es complimentary of oar i ’s good sense, anito this add forty foar, a ren mos for damage, he will find the plus a Be In conclusion, (we beg the reader’s pardo. for u bain deageyerd him,) Mr. Presideut Pierce—who a ly advise for his or hhc ra keep a sharp ¢ye cn his numerous fightio; sists, who, as figating gentlemen, in ring nf id, might render their country good service in of need. Sheuld he feel incl to organize a ‘h material, we suggest as worth ous con: ideration, the propriety of exalting Mr. on Borland totte rank of major eral, Mr. ierre Boulé to that of brigadier, and M-. Daniel E. Rickles to that of colonel, under which hi etinction sspires:— a) ee fighting gentlemen. Andto Mr. Sickles, (we feel ured he will pardon toe animadversion,) we would all seriousness advise his next diplomatic circu- should he be so cruel as to inflict such a penal: ty on the feelings of his feliow-couatrsmen living lim this grotesque city—being suspended fom: the ‘walls of old macy, & more congenial atmos- than that of Harley street, London. There, would seem a ting more real; and. too, be hsp- pily welcomed by that worthy band who love the #piri; which breathes of their own goul. Mr. Daniel E. Sickles might bave sparei us. F. Cor.sorn ADAMS. would his cise number, moment; bat Rights of Neutrals—The New Treaty be- tween the United States and Russia. {From the Paris Constitutionnel, Nov. 24.) The treaty which has just been concluded be- ‘tween the United States and Russia, for the re ! guarantee of the rights of neutrals, is an act ekilful policy on the part of tne mn’ of ‘Washington. It evidently tends to develope the already prosperous navigation of the States of the Union. Let us just cast a glance at the map of tue Pacific ccean. It will be seen that Rasaia is mia- ‘trees of 9 considerable extent of coast in that quar- and that she is daily strengthening her power commerce there. At the present moment is of all powers that of which the military tte most strongly organized and the e Pacitic ocean, although its on that side are trifliag in 8 & uncon! possession of a terior sea—that of Ovbotek—shut in by the chain of the Kourile islands. From these hyperbo- Fean retreats her ships, sheltered behind numerous fortifications, if measures hed not been taken to stop them, would be able to pounce upon merchant ‘vessels and trouble serioualy the relations of the ‘Western Powers with the western coast of Ame- “rica, the Chinese sea, and the islands of the great Ocean, Engiend is the first waters by the that has founded there that she wiil have to fear; are well fortified and weil defended. what would become of the innamera- ‘Bie fleets of ber merchant ships which continually plough the cr Resend en Aged America, snd which surround Australia and New Zealand, if the Russian had been free miiltary footing a c 0; trade h forsee frort b rope, and which, trom the very ee aes flotilla me organized and ef. fen it crews consist of r3 upon thei peciive carnings, and in this waytaey find them detained in the service during a succession Stee They ulsimately become exceilent sailors, form @ notable part of the personae! of the agents of the company which ten years ago did not comprise lees than twelve thousand individuals. It is not estimating too highly the number of ships company, to fx ivatironsiticen to eighteen, tne > eighteen, inclad- ing steamers. The size of these vessels ranges from five hundred tons upwards. Their stations, at New Archangel, Petropauloski and the Sea of Ochotsk, ag we have said, strongly defended. ‘be commercial interests of the Western Powers in the Pacific Ocean have been latterly rendered more important by the rap'd colonization of fornia. A numerous population of Eoglish and French emigrants is on this part of the Western coast of America, and jons theres Jerge and increasing consumption of the maanfac tures of the mother country. Of these manafactures an extensive use ia also made in Byduey, Tahiti and Hong Kong. snaddition to these we must remember that there is not one of the Ams:icas re- pablics, from Chili to Peru, inclasively, which does aot demand frem Western Europe b0:b ita natural fectured products. and menu! ericana, mits the keeeness which fs ne‘o ra) tothem im matters of navigation and commerce, | have undertaken to become cacriera of these pzo ducts. in fact, from the moment they have ob’. ned the recognition from the Czar that goods coming from a country in a state of war aze not serzable on board meatrat vessels, they have at the imperisl marine of Rassia ux the im po'sidiity of interfering with their new bt tion, which ecesists in proposing to the Waglish and Fresch merebants to take their freights under pro- tection of the neutral flag of the United States, which guar sutees their property from the risks of war. his igthe wey in which, in the pa ag which has commenced bit ween civilization and bar- bari-m, between Kberty ande'avery, between the most enlightened governmerte of Europ? and the- Autocrat of all the RasBias, the merchants of the United States have discovered an opportunity for lucrative commercial operations. But itis not prodable that this clever calcalation will be crowred with succese at the expense of the | navigation of one o: both of the allied nations en- gsged tn the quarrel. Tne governments of Franca | and England bave adopted, in fact, measures and | efficient protection, that it isthe enemy's commerce anc bo; ours which qill Gnd itself menaced, aud his ships of war, far from venturing int the great ocean in search of our merchant versels, will be ha»py if, in taking je! behind thelr land fortifications, they succeed in escaping the consequences of tre | stroggle now waging witathe naval forces of the | two allied nations. The French and Eoglish sbips stationed in the Pacific Ocean and in the Ching Sea have combined their forces and eailedin search of the enemy, whom tere had seen at Japan suortly after te ae- ‘ture of the squadron of the American Commodors erry, but whicn since that t me hed completely cis- appeared , concealed behind some Sebastopol of tae eraof Ocbotek or of Kamachatka. At the date of last news the Rasalan squadron was at Petropanioski, and had been o' and partly destroyed there on the 4th of September, by tre two allied sqaad- rons. Such ie, at Jeast, the information that an American journal publishes. We are no*, sa yet, acquainted with the details of this engagement. I ig stated merely that the bat‘eries of tne fort hai , and that tero veesela—no doubd: frigatee—had been captured from the Russias. Admiral Price, commander of the Eogltsh squadron, paid with his ‘ife for this exploit, accompished ia ocommos with our sailors. This isa terrible blow inflicted on the Russian squadron of the Pacific Ocean. It is difficalt to know exactly what is its actual force. If in Marope, even under our own eyes, the Muscovite govern- ment succeeds fm concealing its resources to the point of surprising its qsrailants, when the latter have motives for believing that they possess better information, it has still stronger reasons for hiding from us the real condition of its naval power be- hind the ice and the fogs of the Polar eeas, We do not know whether it is the intention of the allied governments to profit by their incontestable maritime superiority to attack the other possessions of the enemy. The rd/e of protection which the English and F.ench naval power falfils is less bril- Tiant than that of active hostilities, but it is of reater utility, and the effects of thie protection ily display themselves in the secarity that reigns in the English and French ports. ‘Consult our sailors, and their choice would not be for a moment doubtfal. They would dema2d war. Ifthe signal for an attack against the Rassian establishments should be given, the loss that Rassia will suffer thereby will sensibly felt. All the merchandise, all the natura! productions of the two Americas, and even of Earope, can at precent pene- trate to Moscow and 8+. Petersburg, notwithstand- ing the blockade of the Bait'c and of the White Sea, by passing through New Arcangel, from whe2ce the sbips of the Rasso-American Company tranz- port them to Okhotz, im Siberia, througa a closed sea of which they hold the key. In 1829 Lord Sydenham, allacing to the Continental blockada, and to the advant of the ition of the Ras- silane in America, observes as f.llows:— “© English products which were not admitted into France, found in the frozen ocean a mane of pene- trating into the heart of that son I speak from my own experience in saying that, at this on uninterrupted line of commuuication waa established between Archangel and Paris. All ar- ticles, even those which are known under ths deno- ioaiog of pear? M gicn mere cep og omg Ported as easily anne! as are 9 present from Lavin to Havre.” ey These words are remarkable, ani they indicate the impor'ance of the resulta of a2 effective block- ade, auch as might be established on the Russian coasts in the Frozen Ocean. In the meanwhile, if the news of the destruction of a portion of the flest at Petropauloski be confirmed, i: will fatnish @ re- markable coincidsnce with the annouxcement of the conclusion of a treaty by which the United States Dave endeavored to monopolise the naviga‘ion of the belligerent Powers, and by d their este; hopes in this respect, it will augment commercial confidence, the security of which, ia every case, is suffisiently guarasteed by the atrenth and courage of the allied maritime Powers. Mixed Commission British and American Claims in London. By a convention entered inte between the British and American governments, on the Sth day of February, 1853, it was agreed that certain claims, which haye been made since the treaty of Ghent, on the 24th of Decem- ber, 1814, upon the British government by American citizens, and on’ the United States government by sub- jects of Her Majesty, should be referred to two commis- sioners, one of them to be named by Her Majesty and the other by the President of the United States. Under that convention Mr. Hornby was appvinted British com- missioner, and Mr. Upham was appointed American commissioner. It was also agreed that, in case of dis- agreement between the commissioners, there should be an umpire appointed’ to decide the questions at Issue between them, and Mr. Bates was selected to fill that office. In accordance with the convention, several meet- ings of the commissioners and umpire have taken place, and the umpire attended on Nov. 28th for the purpose of deciding some questions at issue between the commis- rei at the office of the commission, No. 9 Lancaster place. THE FLORIDA BONDS, ‘Mr. Carrs appeared on tho part of the Florila bond- holders whose claima were the subject of consideration. General Tnomas Pa poet the United States govern- ment, and the British government was represented by Mr, Hannar. The commission@s were in attendance. The case of the Florida bondholders having vceen con- sidered by the commissioners on a former day, Mr. Hornby decided in favor of the validity or the claims; and the other commissioner having helda different opin- fon, the umpire had to decide in favor of the finding which he considered to be proper. ‘Mr. Carnys said he appeared on behalf of a number of gentlemen who are the owners of bonds granted origi- nally on the faith of the Territory of Florida, and who, under this convention, made a claim against the Unit States for payment of there bonds. As the umpire waa perfectly aware, the State of Florida was ceded by treaty by Spain to the United States im the year 1819, and ie United States were put in session of the sove- reignty ‘as the Crown of Spain had held it, and also of soch part of the land as had Lowa 2 the Crown of Spain, not merely in sovereignty ut as the posses. tor io absolute ownership. e United States became the masters of Florida as absolute owners, and by the 6th article of the treaty it was arranged that the inhabitants of the Territory should be incorporated in the Union of the United States as socn as was consistent with the principles ‘of the federal constitution, and ad- mitted to all the privileges, rights and immunities of cl- tizens of the United States. In the year 1822 there was established over Florida a Territorial government, the forms of which were dictated and regulated by the Con- ier of the United States, and during the period of that rritorial government a great many the cireum- stances to which he had referred took place. Tho gover. nor and legislative council of the Territory had certain powers of government assigned to them. Their power was to extend to all rightTul subjects of legislation, but they were required every year to tranmit to Congress avy laws which they might pasa, and if Congress disapprov- ed of such laws they were thenceforth to be of no eilect. To show that this veto on the part of Congress was not pommel ey city 3 bs Med) bas fs oe of s pu by Mr. Gilpia, in which the Congress, jag, seeemmaligok: to tk etetatn laore Anes acer passed by the Territory, and certain charters given by the Tern- tory, carefully entered into a consideration of them; and in some cases confirmed them, in other eases disapproved of them and reduced them toa nullity, and in other eases made amendments in the laws which were #0 passed. Amongst other charters granted by the Governor and Council of the Territory, a charter was granted in the year 1853 to the Union Bank of Florida. That charter was transmitted to the Congress, and referred to the Judiciary Committee. It was taken into consideration by them, and no disapprobation was expressed in rela- tion to that law. It was in respect of that charter that the bonds in support of which he appeared were issued, and foe. Saegted to refer the umpire to the form of the bonds, e charter authorized the bank to issue the in these words :—‘‘To facilitate the negotiation by the bank of a joan of one million of dollars, and the faith of the Territory in pledged ax a security.’ That charter was approved of by the Congress, and it became firmly and irreversibly the law. If it could be said that the United States were the principals in vhe transaction, and ihe Territory was only the agent, there would be an end of all fugther discussion, and it would be a matter of ordinary conclasion to say that the United States were accountable for payment of the bonds; but he did not intend to maintain that proposition. ‘It must be evident, hnwever, that there was some meanini in the control which the reserved to itself over the acts of the Territory, and that to a greater or lees extent the United States must be involved in what was done by it. It was of considerable importance for the United States to see that the iven to the Territory was wisely exercised, and that nothin should be done by the Territory that would bring either difficulty or ruin upon it, and therefore indirectly affect the United States itself. That led to the conclusion that inasmuch as the United States conceived it proper and necessa: to exercise this control, there Iny upon it the mora: obit. gation not Lord to say that the power of financial ope- ration which the Territory possessed, was wisely exer- cised in the matter of borrowing, but there also lay upon it n moral obligation, correlative and co-extensive, to see that the loan so effected with its sanction aud approba- tion, should, when the proper time arrived, be discharg- ed by the Territory. On the faith of that condition, the bondholders dvanced their money, because the bond- holders conceived that the Territory would be controlied by ® higher power fhad the mero caprice and y hima of its | vernment. Om the 34 of Mareb, 1845, the Torritory fon; & constitution was given to Fl and sanctioned by , and accerdi to the terme of that conatituvion, Ho greater amo of tax or revenue shall at any time be levied than ge | may be required for the necersary expenses of go- verpment.” He the umpire to_ recollect that, before the union, it was admitted that those bonds were es! as claims which the Terri- tory of Florida was bound to satisfy, and at that time the bondholders had a right te_be paid ‘by the Ter. ritory the whole of this oebt. | They also before the union would have had an appeal to the Congress of the | United Ptates, requiring payment from them asa debt due by them, but seeking their iotervention with the Territory in furtherance of the procedure by which the United States had in the first instance considered this loan and approved of it. That being the. poxition of the bondholders before the union, they would see what effect this constitution had upon them. The effect was to paralyze Flori‘a and render the repayment of the debt by it impossible, the United States knowing all the facts and the rights of the creditors, On every princi Be therefore, of justice and fair dealing, the creditors ad a right togo to Ccngress and say, “You have spoiled our security rendered impossible the recovery of this debt, and we seek from you compensat'on for the ry you huve wrought uponus.’” The part of the constitution which injuriously aflecied the bondholders was that to which he had called att: om, aud from the moment Florida became a State of the Union it became entirely impossible for Florida to disch; the debt which she had contracted with them, he United States were the governing body. hey had the power to refase to admit Florida into ‘the Union except upon terms that would have provided for pay- ment of this debt, or left Florida at liberty, accord- ing to her original obligation, to satisfy the demands of the bondholders. But the United States tied up her hands, and prevented her paying this debt, an? the creditors had therefore a right to demand from the United States and from Congress Gompensition for the loss they had sugtained by the constitution she had given to Florida. He begged to call attention to a memorial that was presented by the creditors to Congress, point- ing out the indebtedness of the Territory, and to observe that while the bondholders were endeavoring to secure the good offices of the Congress to get a settlement for them, the Territory was applying to Congress for a dif- ferent purpose. In the very same year in which the bondholders had appiied to Congress to obtain the pay- ment of their debt, the Territory was complaining to Congress ot the charter that had been granted to thia bank, and of the sum of money that had been obtained under it, and of the mode in which tho faith.of the Ter- ritory had become pledged, and asking Congress to take steps to have the eharter annulled and to authorize the Territory to repudiate the loan. It would be found that when the Territory had presented a memorial on the sub- ject of the bank andgoan, the Congress directed that a statement should be made relative to the bonds issued and everything that had been done on issuing them, and nothing could be considered ‘more accurate or more in detail than the information which Congress took care to have piaced before it. ‘Therefore, when Congress was considering the consti- tution for Florida, they had before them the petition cf the bondholders seeking for payment of their debt, and they had the statistics relative to the whole subject laid before them. He found also that the Territory was not cortent with memoraializing the Congress on the subject of this bank, but that before the constitution was finally settled in the year 1842, the Territorial Legis- lature passed resolutions, which inight be shortly de- seribed by saying they were resolutions of repudiation. It affirmed that the Governor and Council, were never vested with authority to pledge the faith of the Terri- tory so as to make it responsible for any debt. That | was transmitted in the regular course of business to | Congress, received by them in 1842, and laid upon their table, and therefore it was evident that Congress had | the whole subject pointedly brought before it. There | was one article which, it was said, rendered it necossary for the United States to receive Florida into the Union without exercising any control as to the terms on which it was admitted. It was ssid that as soon as it was con- sistent with the principles of the federal consti- | tution, it should be admitted to all the rights, Privileces d immunities enjoyed by citizens of the United States. But did that entitle them to intro- duce into the constitution a provision that it should | not be taxed except for the ‘necessary expenses of the goveanment?”’ At the time Florida was admitted there was not a State of ‘the Union that had such a term in. troduced into its constitution, and he believed there was now only one other State that had such a provision in- serted. It was said there was nothing in che constitu- tion to prevent the State of Florida from paying the debt which it had contracted asa Territory, and that there was nothing to prevent the bondholders from as- serting that right; but he submitted that it was not to be inferred that the term ‘necessary expenses of gov- ernment” included within it the payment of aa nt debts; and if they admitted that the ‘necessary ox. penses of government’’ included the repayment of debts, they ‘leave a door open’? tor making charges which, if directly made, would not be permitted. He begged to call attention to proceedings that had iaken place in the House of Represontatives of Florida in the ear 1845, It would be found from the journals of the agislative Assembly that the question was agitated there in December, 1845, and that on the 15th of that month a resoluiion was carried. respecting it. A memorial of the bondholders seeking for payment had been presented, which was referred to a com- mittee, who made’ report, and thereupon a bill was introduced providing for the payment of the bonds; but that bill was rejected, and a reso- lution waa passed, ‘‘That the State had no right under its constitution, to levy taxes for this purpose or to touch the question.” “Therefore the representatives of the State—who, if anything were to be done by the State, were the persons to decide what was to be done— said that their hands were tied by the constitution they had obtained, that this was not a necessary expense of .S government, and that they could not render payment. it, It was also said that, supposing the creditors had such a case as they alleged, stil Cungress had got no Hower to pay them; but to say that Congress had not t power to | Ad eschewing the whole question, be Congress had the poner by theeons:itation to pay debts, and if this be a debt: whad the power yay it, But there was anotheF answer to that Fecrtioly e commission was sitting there by virtue of a conyen- tion between Great Britain and the United States, and the high contracting parties to it had that eve- claim which in justice and equity the commission should declare to be good, should be made good, ‘He was able to show an analagous case im which the Congress had provided for the repayment of a iebt due hy three citiesin Columbia; and if'a claim of this kind were put aside by any ingenious device, the purposes of the con ver tion would not be answered. General Tomas, on the part of the United States gov- ernment, opposed the claim of the bondholders; but be- fore going into the question ho begged to refer t0 a letter he had recei¥ed in reference to an observation made by him on a former day. In that letter the writer com- plained that he had made a statement that the claims of the bondholders had not been presented to the govern- ment ef the United States by the British government, and that the British government had refured to present them. That, he admitied, was too strong a term to use; but though the documents would show that the British government had recommended the case to the good | offices of the United States, that was not a presentation of the claim to the United States government. How: ever, he did not think that his argument would be at affected by that circumstance. He had shown, on former occasion, that the Congress of the United States could only contract debts by law or treaty, that certain terms should be observed, and that none of those fori | had been observed in their supposed approval of theacts of Florida, or in the admission of Florida into the Union. His learned opportent placed the obligation on the United | States as a moral obligation; but it was dificult for him | to put it ina tangible form.’ because it had none of the fentures of a moral obligation which courts of equity had been in the nabit of commideela It was said that | this was an equitable claim, but he had shown that the | Supreme Court had jurisdiction over all cases arisin; | law and equity, under the constitution of the United | States ; and if this were a claim in equity, arising under | the constitution of the States, that court would have | jurisdiction. But it was admitted there was no such | remedy, and hence it could not be an equitable claim in | any legal sense. Since the discussion on the previous | occasion, the pros} 8 that bad been put forward had | fallen into bis hands ; and it showed clearly what the persons who had taken this loan uuderstood. It showed that they haa investigated the matter, and there was'no | appearance of any moral obligation being supposed to | cake st that time, or any legal obligation. The whole | of the prospectus went to show that the takers of the bonds looked to the Territory alone, and to the other se- curities that had been given to them, and to the credit | and character of the State when it rald become a | State.. The first security was the capital of the bank, | equal in amount to the ; the necond security was | the rinking fund, which would effect its object in four- } teen years; the third was the property o | holders ; and the fourth, the faith and credit of the Ter- ritory and State of Florida, This was an explicit decla- ration, pledging the faith of the Territory and of the State when it should become aS tate; and it was stated in Mar. tin’s Reports, in the case of a navigation company in New Orleans, and the law had naver been doubted, that a Territory might make a contract that would bind it when it should become a States If ever there was a fair and full indication of what the nature of the security was to be, it was given in this case. The United States contracted debts like other nations, but it was not usual that it should become bound to ray debts on the prin- ciple of a moral obligation. It stipulated when it agreed to pay a debt, and that was the course of the British government. He held in his hand « bond which had been issned by the province of Canada, ; nd which was very like the Florida bond; but it was not contended any- where that it was binding upon the British empire. Tt had been said by the American counsel for the bond- holders, that the persons who imposed this obligation ae Florida, were officers of the United States. The overnor,it was true, was appointed by the President; but the law was passed by the representatives of the people, annually elected, and the Governor warned theLagistature and might be considered as warning the bondholders of the terms on which those bonds were taken. He said there was no power to sue the Territory ; that when they accepted those obligations they did go on the faith of the territory, and that the see ought to be careful not to under- take obligations which it could not fall. He begged to call attention to the provision of the constitution of Florida, that no greater amount of tax should be levied than was required for the necessary expenses of the government. Aa the constitution was originally repat- ed, it contained these words—“That no other of greater amount of tax should be levied,’’ and he contended that the striking out of the words, ‘other or,’’ was a cone) « sive proof that it was considered that {he necessary ex. yenses of government shoukl inclade the debts of the Ferrite Suppose a loan was raised to fit out an army for the Crimea, would not Great Britain pay the interest of that loan as a necessary expense of the government / Florida, so far aa the power of contracting debte was concerned, was a8 much a State and nation as if she were entirely lodepetient of the general government; and it was impossible for Florida to get rid of the obligation to pay her just debis. She might alopt a constitution every week, and say she would not pay her delta, but that could not have any effect; and when brought before the highest tribunal in the country it would say thata nation must pay its debts, however frequently it might change its constitution. Florida was bound to pay, and th was no legal and constitutional objection standing in the stock: the way: and it was x subterfuge, unworthy of the peo- ple of , oF any civilized State, to put up a plea of Tt was. «nid that his kind, to repudiate ite just debts. the Congrere 4 pore’ ® Jaw qasuming the debt of cities in the District of Columbia, and that there ight be done in thie case; but the cases were en- the — exercised exelusive E all cases whatever, and if they chose to pa; do it, or any other thing that was within the the Legislative Ansembly. , CaRNe re} was made by Genera! Thomas tos letter whieh was written to him by one of the bondholders, in which he expressed his dis«atisfac- tion atw statement that bad been made d; Thomas on a former occasion, when he w that this was @ case which had never been conte: ted by the treaty under which the convention was sitting, and that it was manifest from the course taken by the British go- vernment that they had never ated those claims to the government of the United States, but, on the | contrary, had refused to do so, The object Ge neral ‘Thomax had in view at the time was to imply that the British government, if they believed this to be a just claim, would have taken measures to urge it upon the attention of the United States government. General Thomas's attention was called to the fact that the claim had been brought anier the attention of the American government by Lord Palmerston, and then he urged that it was not brought forward. asa claim for which redress waa demanded, but that Lord Palmerston bad merely solicited the good offices of the American government respecting it. That, however, was the diplomatic way in which all govern: ments urged claims upon the ota; and part of their sw imerston was the language held in every case of the hind by the minister of one country to the minister of another. He (Mr. Cairns) was not asking the umpire to decide the case by what either government thought about it; but it haviog been insinuated that the government of this country ‘a not believe this to be a just claim, he was entitied to say in reply, and upon the authority of a letter from the Foreign office received that day, th: case, Mr. Hannan, who rey ment there, could state that the opimion of the jaw Officers of this country was taken on the case of the bondholders, and so far from the opinion being unfavorable, their opinion was entirely favorable to the case of the bondhollers. He contended, notwithstanding what bad heen said by Gen. Thomas, that the term ‘ moral obligation’? was a pro- r one to use in this case, It way asked, did not the the language held by Lord Pal itish government consider loans as necessary expeuses | of government; but there was no analogy between such a case and the present, because the British goveyament never centracted aloan except upon the anthurity of Parliament, and Parliament also authorized the repay- ment of it.’ He did not believe there was any power in the United States to alter the constitution of this State for the purpose of enabling it to. pay this debt. or any power to modify the form of territory, for when it be: came a State it could not be aMered, Unrmt—Any State can alter its constitution, pro- vided there isno change made that is contrary to the constitution of the United states. Mr. Carxe—But war it likely that this State, that had repuiiated its Cebts, would take measures to obtain an alteration in the constitution, the effect of which would be to enable them to pay a debt which they would not pay? If the Commissioners allowed the claims of the bondholders ppzinst the United States governny nt, the matter wight be afterwards adjusted between Congress and the State, but if they decided against the elaimants now, the convention would bar Majesty was bound to accept any settlement thal took place, as a settlement of the claims of her subjects. General Tiioms:—As against the United States. Mr, Camns ventured to say, with great submission, that, having established the claim, he should have the declaration of the commission that the claim waa a good one. The case was not analagous to the ease of Canada, As 8 province, Canada was bound to pay the debt for which she had made herself Kable, but a change had taken place which closed up their access to Florida to obtain payment of the debt, With regard to the case of Columbia, the fact of its being the seat of government | did uot affect the argument resulting from the cireum- stance that in that case Congress had provided the funds | y off the debt. case stands over for the decision of the umpire, TEXAN BONDS—MR. JAMES HOLDPORD'S CASK. Mr. Cairxs appeared on the pert of Me. Holdford, and said he would state very shortly the nature of the claim. to 7 When the State of Texas became severed from Mexico, | she was in want of money, and, above all, in want of « naval armament, and Mr. Holdford having, pursuant to agreement, bought, fitted out, and sent s steain vessel to Texas, it was a cepted by the government, and bonds were iss by the State of Texan to Mr. Holdford for the, sum, altogether, of £65,160, ‘They were issued in ‘July, 1830, "were to ‘bear interest at ten per cen {peyablein thirty years, ‘The faith ani re. venues e republic were solemnly pledged for the paymen®of the principal and interest of the loan, ac- cording to an act of the republic of Texas; and another act was passed two years afterwards, declaring that with and were regard to all the loans that were efiected for the repub- | lie up to that time, the faith and revenues of therepub- lic were pledged. ‘In the year 1845 Texas was annexed to the United states, and, in consequer of thatannexa- tion, all duties upon imports that by the republic of Texas prased into the revenues of the United States. He contended that, for the repayment of this loan of Mr. Holford, the import duties were pledged, tbat Mr. Holdford was in the position of a mortgage, that Congress had become possessed of these duties sub: Ject to every charge that was upon them, and that the United States had become liable to pay off this charge. In 1850 the government of the United States purchased a certain portion of territory f1om Texas, fer which they agreed to pay ten millions of dollars, but they retained tive millions of dollars in their hands until every person to whom the import duties of Texas were pledged sbould sign @ release q@onerating the United States from any chim on account thereof. They had, there fore, a ceclaration from the United States that they had acclaim against them, and that they had got money in Ce hands belonging to the State of Texas as an indem- it, It was asserted that there was an arrangement, that in no eveut should the debenture of Texas be urged as a debt or charge upon the government of the United States, but he did not urge the claim upon that ground He urged it, because it was charged upon the import duties and upon the public lands, aud contended, not- with: tanaing what had,been said on 4 former ogcagion to the contrary, that it'was a claim which should ve cn. tertained by the commission. It was said by General ‘Thomason a former day that they were going against the five millions of dollars, but that was not the case, and he only mentioned the fact to show that the United States were liable to pay this money. Gencral Thomas, who had addressed the commissioners at length on a former day, briefly contended, on the part of the United States government, that the commission , had nothing to do with this claim. called upon to reply, there was something to answer, ut there was nothing to reply to in this case. ‘The case stands over for the decision of the commis- sioners. Revelations of the Barometer=The Spiritual Telegray Superseaed. The following iuteresting communication was re- cently addressed to the French Minister of War, by M. Le Maout, a chemist of St. Briene:— Sr. Bateng, Oct. 27, 1854. Monsigvn Le Ministre—I bave occupied myself, ince the commencement of the Eastern war, with series of Observations on the modilications which the atmosphere experiences from the cannonades that take place. Tnese observations are made every three hours. Lhave collected, on the effects of cannon, facts of the highest interest, which I seader intelligible upon paper by the aid of figures, a specimen of which I séud you, extracted hastily from the resuita of my observations, and which represeut tae compa- Tative efkets of the cannonsd+s of Odeass, of the battle of Alma, of the day of the 6tie of Octodert canncn fired at the Invalides,) of the meri oO e bombardment of Sebastopol, and of the day o the 25th of October. Thope to be able to establich that the barometer is not, ss is commonly thought, an instrument meiely intended to indicate rato and fine weather, but a mobile apparatus, excessively sensitive, which Places us in communication with all great atmos- pherical ptenomena. What is remarkable in this instrument is, that at from 600 to 800 8 of distance an impression is produced on it ina few hours by the discharge of cannon. Observed with care and inte.ligence it cannot fail, in certain circumstances, to become of the bighest utility in time ot war. The object to which I venture to direct your at- tention is tt is:— T have no occasion niptaeat you of the com: menoement of ths bom meat of Sebastopol, 6» hog have already received the pews of it offsially, t I can announce to you with a certainty. whicn will not be belied by the facts, thatthe day bef sre yeete: dey a cannonade euch as has not taken place during 1! agent which is about to elaose, even commeeing ose of the siege of Silist:ia and of the bombardment cf Odessa, commenced in the morn ee Bebastopel. feos enough to cae! your eye over the table that I send you. You will see there that in 43 houre the ter rose 30 millimetres, and thas the figure which represents this rise, comparative: to those produced by the other bombardmen’s, i4 a’ moat vertical,ao index with the other i ta by which it is accompanied, of the intensity of the action of the cannonade. Iv @ few days you will receive from Sebastopol news of the 25th, which will give you fall informa | tion of what occurred on that day, which has proved, I have to doubt, one of the most memora — ble of the whole campaign. In the meanwhile I remain, &c., &¢ Lx Maour. It in scarcely necessary foimation contained in this letter was eubsequentiy confirmed by the facts. Awru, Toxnapo iw Mississier1—We are in- formed by the Cariollton (Miss.) Demoerat of Nov. 25, that a tremendous hurricane passed over the southweatera en of this county on Thursday evening last, carrying destruction and devastation before it. We aré not in posetasion & the fall par- ticulars, ard therefore cannot go into details; but our information is, that two clouds—one travellug | direction | @ voribeast and the other a northwester!; —met immediately over tae town of Marion (or Sicon) and the wind raged witn such maddened tury 98 to blow down the entire town. I: left but one colitary. house standing. path of the torpado—were blown down and des- troyed. Fortuna’ely, no lives. were lost that we | have heard of, though we regret to learn that Mr. E. Crippin, and one or two others, whose names we bave ak arn Ng ed very bedly, though not dan- gerously, injured, by being stricken with pieces of Umber with which the sir was filed. The two clouds ed on io their respective di- rections, with u: fary. apy farther done, more tl to op-root camage was aud blow dows fynces, we bave not been informed. y the debta of teene cities | r from that being the | resented the British govern: | them for ever, for her | r annum, | ad been levied before | Carrxs observed that, when one was generally | for ns to add that the in: | Houses, trees, fences | —in ebort, everything which happened to lie 1u the | ‘Will of Rev. John Brady, LATE OF HARTPORD, DECEASED. In the name of the Father, Bon and Holy Thoss— Amen! The last will and testament of Rev. John Brady, of Ha:tford, » America. In primo, | order all py debts be paid. Secondly, the remetuder of all my property, real or personal: be disposed of as follows: 1. to my nephew, Pa‘rick B-ady, of I péquenth Clougbhally, county Cavan, Ireland, three thousand dollare—- $3,000. Hartford, two thousind dolars—$2,000—to be used by her according to her best judgment. 3. Tbequesth to Right R-verend John Fitzpat- rick, or his successor, two thousand duilars, for the intended pew cathedral of Bostou, Mass, Also,one thousand dollars fora chapel over the remaius of the everto-be-remembered Benedict Fenwick, | = in of Boston. In all, three thousand dolisrs— 4, 1 bequeath to my two sisters in Ireland, to-wit | —Catharme oni Biidget, five hundred dollars, equally divided between them; and 5. V bequeath to my sister Mary, living at Preston, Wayne county, Ivania, one hugdred ¢cllas— $100. I bequesth to my nieoe, Mrs. Mary Reilly, in | | the West, ove hurdred dollars. | 6, I bequeath to my reice, Bddget Brady, alias | Lamb, one bund ed dollars—¢) | ) 7. [bequests to my old, good housekeepar and pursé—to wit, Ann Marneli—five hundred dollars— #500. As also to the above, one of the bes: bade 8. 1 bequeath to my other good housekeeper and nurée- to wit, Ca harine Preston—one hundred dol- Jars. She would get more, bat she is old and not in want— $100. 9. T bequeath t> May No’an, of Harrison avenue, | No. 220, Boston, Mass., $500. |. 10. 1 becuesth to the new Catholic Orphau Asy- | lum of Harticrd, one thousand dollars—¢1,000. | And 1 woud graut them five, but the way I have Deen treated by the Bishop of the Diocess. 11, I do sequesth, as & corner stone for a Catholic ae Beye’ Aeylum, one thousand dollars. Tais in to be depoat bank, and not given up ere tue houee is half finished. 12. I do bequeath to the Catholic ir, but de- servic g widows, five bun red dollars. Tals to be given to tive. wortby Catholic members, to be given out to the poor, as they know the good from the bad bet- terW apy priest who will come after me fur many rm 13, T bequeath to an hav child, ealled Mary Jave, niece to Ann Marneil, three hundred dollars — $300. 14. I bequeath to nephew, Matthew Brady, } now in the West, five bundred dollars—$500. This is to be given to him as his brother of Middletowa | may think beet. | 16, I bequeath to my neice, Mra. Ann Carion, five hundred dolle1s—$500. She lives in Hartford. 16. I bequeath to my niece, Rose Smyth, five | hundred dollare., She took good care of my mother | in Treland. { 17. I bequeath to the son of my niece Mrs. Ellen | O’Reilley, wite of Bernard O'Reilley, who live in | Preston, Wayne county, Penn. Toe son is eatered under the ministry of the Catholic Church. I will him five hundred dollars, | 18. I bequeath to my cousin, Rev. John Brady, | P. P., Larab, five hundred dollars, as also my watch | chains, &c, | | _ The residue of my property after Rov. John | | Brady, my nephew of Middletown takes to himself | | —five bundred dollars; and Rigot Rev. Bishop | a egy takes for himself five hundred doilacs, | (which) I leave for my burial and masses to be said | tor the repore of [my] soul. | I, the undersigz ed, do certify the above to be my | last will and testament, in sound mind, acd that all | Wils heretofore made by me are null ani void. | | ArdI do hereby set my hand and seal, in the pre- | | sence of each and every one of the three witnesses whore pawes are subscribed. Joun Brapy, and Seal. New Patents Issued. List of patents iesued from the United States Pa- | tent Office, for the week ending Devember 12, 1854, | | each bearing that date:— | Nathan ames, of Saugus, Mass., for improvement in eh Cie i i jal a Ames, of Baugus, Mass., for improved po- | lyeraph. Gastan Bonrelli, of Turin, Sardinia, for improve- ment in‘cperating looms by electricity, Patented | in France, August 15, 1853. | B. F. Brown, of Dorchester, Mass., for improve. | ment in hanging carriage bodies. | Matthew Uridge and uel Wada worth, of Pitts- | burg, Pa , for improvement in oscillating steam en- | es. ova, F. Cumberland, of Newsrk, N.J., forim- | uted in Ergland, January 23, 1854. | ‘Thomas O. Catler, ot New York, N. Y., forim. | provement in machines for crushing and grinding | ininerale and other substances. Charles Danforth, of Paterson, N.J., for improve- | men® ip throstles for “Et cotton. | George W. French and William Wagstaff, of Cam- | taidge, Masa.,for improved method of destroying *| vermin. | Mores Gates, of Galliopolis, Ohio, for improve- mit in boee Joa. Good, of Philadelphia, Pa., tor improvement iD coffins, Y., for improvement | E L, Hagar, of Frankfort, N. | in barrows. | J. W. Hoard, of Providence, R.L, for angler’s | combined float and sinker. Eaoch Jackman, of Portland, Conn., for improve- ment ix securing carpets to floor. Jacob Jenkins and John R. Cooke, of Winsted, | Conn., for improvement in hub bands for carriages. | Edward C. Johnson, of Lowell, Mass, for im- | | Provement iu flyers. | H. A, Luttgens, of Paterson, N. J., for improve- | ment in cut-offreguiators for steam engines. | Jobn W. Lovecraft, of Rochester, N. Y., for feed motion for sawing light lumber. Wiliam Lyon, of Newark, N. J., for imp-ovement in sewing wachincs. Henry H. Olds, of New Havev, Conn., for im- provements in pro, ulsion of vessels. Eidridge H. Penfield, of, Middletown, Coon., for | improvement in dock holders Tor horses. James Perty, of New York, N. Y., for improved gold collector. | Henry A. Ree, of West Andover, Ohio, for im- | provement in cheese vate. Joel H. Ross, ct New York, N. Y., for improved byerometic regula or for hot water apparatas. Genge Roth, of New York, N. Y., for improve- Tent in looms. _ Sylvanus Sawyer, of Fitchburg, Mass., for rattan machine. Z Gecrge W, Stedman, of Vienna, N.J., forimprove- ment in sewing machines. Danie} W. Shares, of Hamden, Conn., for improve- went in seed planiers and cuitivators. Jeremian Scever, of Bristol, Cona., for improve- rent in machines for scraping metals. Eiward Stieren, of Alleghany county, Pa., for im- provement in processes of treating the mother water of salines. Benjiain F. Taft, of South Boston, Maes., for boring machine. Henry Waterman, of Hudeon, New Yo-k, for im- provement in condensers for steam engines. Daniel P, Weeks, of Malden, Maas., for improved Lot air turna.e. Ja:ob Weimar, of New York, N. Y., for improve- | ment in door locks. | Charles W. Wyatt, of New York, N. Y., for ma | chire for dressing felloes. Danie) L. Winsor, of Duxbury, Mass., for improve | ment in abip’s windtarees. Jcbu Andrews, of Winchester, Maas., assigner to himself, Nathaniel A. Richardson, and Gardner Sy- eens o: same place, for improvement in seed lan‘ers. P M. J, Lieberman, of New York, N. Y., assigner to | Gége 8. Hanford, Solomon H. Hanford, aud John ! a eg for improvemeat in wate:-prvofing clot! s, &c | ,Wm. aod Henry Ticbe, of Cincinnati, Ohio, av- | figners to themselves and Hermon H. Hormap, o! | ir place, tor improvement in castiag the spouts of tea-pots. | Jon. Perkins, of Salem, Mass., aseigner to himself | snd Henry P. Upton, of same piace, for improve- ment in trasein to vessels’ masts. Re sssue. —Moses Peonock and Samuel Pennock, of East Marlborough, Pa., for improvement in seed ylanrers. Patented 12th March, 1841. Re-issaed 0th October, 1845. Re-reissned December 9, 1854 Drsiox.—Nathanijel P. Richardson, of Portland, Me., tor design for cooking stoves. Caxapian Leare.ative MATTERS. —At last ac counts a «ries of resolations, advocating the exp2 diency of amending the Customs Duty Acts in Canada, bad been adopted by the House of Aesem | bly in session at Toronto, and will probably be em- | bodied in a bill and pasessd. In that-case a redu>- | tion of four’ hundred thousand doliars per annnm will be effect>d in the customs receipte. The inquiries of the Committee on Contested | Elections have revealed some curious facts. Ihone | of the lower counties of Ganada,for example, so ani. | versal was the anffrage that about one hundred more votes were recorded by the returning offi-er than there were mes, wowen and cuildrea in the entire county. In anothor, the returving officer de- clsred himeelf elected, and in others, axcounts were point epecial commissioners to investi sate affairs. solutions have been intredaced lato the House, at- | faching severe penalttics to all such violations of | law regarding fee purity of elections, acd fatare | violations may lead to the disfranchisement of tne i | counties concerned. Official salaries have been raised from ten to twenty -five Tre Hon. | phlet on the popular ride of the question of Lower Canada. r cent. t. Hinsks has written a powerfal pam- 2. T bequeath to my nieve, Mre. Ann O'Reilly, of | and bed dig i4 the house. | | company is the one xi a provernenis in machines for bending metal. Pa- | that the operations of the comp: | and personal comfo: som'rangely blended that the goveromont hadto | Kae. This selgnorial tenure | aon for the i The Shooting Affray at EXAMINATION OF THB PRISONER. [From the Cincinnati Gazette, Dec. 12.) ‘The citizens of Covingt» were atartied yeste day morning by the o t that Col. re Car. 2s ea A ae abet <bean po Tarp tid V.T. Ess¥ine. Piper £ and Covingtop ounib 4 line, both of whom are renidents of that cit;- character for re- | epectability has always be nuninpeachadle. The: was much said during yrsterfay @3 to the cause the affray; but ali the ramore eftvat were not of } penaites ty as to jastiry making aa 5 ‘he one which was Dirt | revi is, tha: Mr, Per- kins had understood that for some time past Col. Carpenter had been rianderiog hie wife, by mating that she was ao impropsr women. Mr. P. aleo alleges that on Surduy lav Mr. Var, bad stated to a friend of his that Mr. Perkins bad caught him (Carpenter) ia bed «ith M:s. Perkins, and was too ta fd eoging This, Mr. nee waye, soenraged him tat he procured a revolver and determined that as soon as he met Col. C. he would make an effertto take his life. Yesterday mo'ning about 8 o’ lock, es Col. Carpenter wae leaving the Poat-Office, situsted on Madison, pear Fifch atreet, and was q iag up tadieon street, read- ing @ letter, he wes confronted by Perkins coming down Madison street, who pulled a revolver, and presenting it at Carpeuter’s head, fired. Not @ word da betwren them. Carpen- ter turned hie he ad, when Perkios fired » second time, the bail entering the right side of the wincpipe, acd p' the neck, came out ot the back of é¢he peck on the left side. In ite »a-s1ga the ball injured the nerve eufficiently to vroduce paralysis, but it is thought {t did not injure acy of the vital Carpenter droppea bs head when Perkins pointed in, the ball ches, ® flesh wound a few iaches from his abdomen. snier then raised his ba:d and sttempted to Per- kins away. Perkins thea ran mto the Poss Office, and Carpenter, pleciog 116 bands on his neck, with the assistanse of gentlemen, walked to Dr. Blackburn's office, about half a square distant from the Post Office. Drv. Evacs, 2. N. Wise, Black- burn, and others, were :mmedia‘eiy sent tor, who, upon arrival, dressed the wound, and administered t him some stimulants. He was then carried to his residesce on Trrth street, near Washing on, where every attention was belt given to him up to @ late hour last nicht. Avter the effray, Mr. Per- kins was arrested upoo vi-w, by Magistrate South- gate, who commitied nim to jail for examinstion, which took place yesterday afternoon in tee City Hall, in the preaen e of reveral hundred pr rsone, and before Magistrates Southgate and Baale. Messrs. Hotehingon, Dadley an‘ Judge Kinkaid appeared for the prosecution, aud Messrs. J. W. Stevenson, McGill and Phelps appeared for the prisozer, The charge preferred again» P+rkias was that of mali- 3, and | ciovsly shooting #ith intent to kill R. B. Carpenter. Several physicians were exawined as to the ns- tore of the wound, ‘sod the condition of the Ie, They testified in substance that the wound, a gun shot wound, was of all wounds the most dan- rerous; that the p cbabilitios were that Colonel Carpenter mus’ die; that tre chances of recovery ‘were decidedly against bim, and that it would be from three to five days before the result could be known. The meeticg of the parties and the ren- counter wastestificd tv, the substance of wiich we heve given above. The proeecation urged that the prisoner sbould be committed to jail, without bail— at least until the fate of Colonel Carpenter is knows. The detence resisted the motion, and claimed that the charge under which the prisoner was arraigned was bailable. The Court declared that the prisoner should be adinitted to bail,to appear before tle March term of the Circuit Coart. ‘Toe bail was fixed at $10,000, To default of hail he was committed to jail. 11 O’ULocx P. M.-.sioce the above was written we learn that the diifculty hetween Col, Carpenter and Mr. Perkins about the wife of the latter has been going on from five to seven years, many times the parties meeting, and after exchauging hard | Words would separate, each threstening the other's . life. At 1lo’clock last nieht Col. Carpenter was lying the low, and was not expected to live twensy-four hour, New East India Company. {From the St. Louis Intelligencer, Dec. 4.) It is worth while, perhaps, to mention the imper- tant and interesting fuct that for abou; two weeks there has been dis.ussed in private circies in St. Louis the scheme of, organizing, in this city, s com- pany to open a direct trade between St. Louis and China, the itles of tue Pacific, and the Pasitic ses- board. The name at present mugg-sted for this uabove, the New Esst In. Mpapy—ard,it is not riski2g much to predict will, in time, make as great an impression on commerce of the wor!d, and the power and destiay of races, as its great prototy;e cf Eagland, now ruling so large a portion of Sou'hern Asia. We are prepared to atate that the names acd influence of citizens are already pledged to the scheme sufficient to enecre it ap 1m posing introduction to the list of the great schemes and gigantit enterprises of molern times. It is not necessary tog: very fully into particn- Jara at this time, in regard to this matte-. Saftics it toray, thatthe first step propoted is a simple | and practical one. It is tue immediate estab.ish- ment of a semi-werk 7 overland stage and trans- portation line between some point on the Missouri aiver—say Kauras—and the Pacific ocean—wwe termini, a8 wel! 6s the route, to be determined by tbe company after it 1s organizer. Bome few calculatiors Lave been made of ths cost of thie preliminary operation, and it is thought that such o line of smi-weekly transit across the | continent can be established and mainteiaed a year on 8 capital of $500,000, with all the conveniences tha; are to be had on an: great stage line in tLe States. It is contemp)at to have permanent s'ations, not over thirty miles apart, along the whole route, with all the conveni- ences ot entertainment for man and beast, thas will moke travelling acrors the Kocky Mountaina quite as Fecure and agreeable as it ever was by stage acress the Alleg! avies. The sources of revenze to the company will be aoe fare from pereors who will like this novel moe of crossing the Rocky Mountafhs, mail con- tracts from governmen', transpor ation of gold dust, a finally of teas, silks and spices from Chiva and japan. We wil) give our readers more of this in s day or two. Letthem pcnder this matter weil. The day of the realization of the dream of eothusias's since the veyage of Colombus secking a western road to “the East,” is row fully at hand. We are the people to make plain that paradox of four cen- turies. e Southern Commercial Convention to be held at New Orleans—Preparations of the Mayor. {From the New Orleans Crescent, Dec. 5. The Commersial Conventiun of the Southerm States, which met at Bs'timore in 1851, at Memphis in 1853 and at Charleston io 1853, adjourned the latter city to reassemble in Now Orleans on second Monday of the ensuing month. If we were to judge of the importance of these conventions by the perceptible results of their deli- the; ge a tne post in and importan: wou! ti ce geeny awarded to*hem. They have not started a single new line of steamships, built one mile of railroad, improvea the navigstion of any , im- creased the yield ot auy plantation, given aid to education, or, i1 fact, contributed directly to the improvement of Southern interests in any way that can be pointed out. La view of this, it is hardly to be w at that some of the pileres ee go cial clases and merchants —who ate accustomed to 6 of the value of everything by its immsdiate Tesults, and to ask for a direct tangibie conas- . quence to every undertaking—should (nestion the usefulness of these unp~sductive assembiics. * By the action of the Cty Council the been directed to appo'nt a hundred the city aud to invite the governors States and the mayors of Southern cities to visit us during the session of the convention. Other a priate steps will undoabtedly be taken, such as commend themselves to tha jndgment of our peo- le. The ciyjzens of Charleston, Baltimore and Memphis took 02 asion dusing the meetings in those places, to extend av elezan: hospitality to the dele- fe which will, of course be imi' in New Or. | jeans. The festivities which enliven a season here will have attractions in the eyes of our friends other places, and no better time can be selected those intending to visit us than that ia which the commercial convention is in session. Tue SkiRrcn ror Six Joux Frankiiy.—The Min- nesota Pioneer contaira the eit | letter from Compan to ths postmaster of St Paul, relative, 12 ny, to a ive the new txpedition in search of the remains of Sir Jobn Fravklin and bis party :— si Sin-—The bearer, Mr. James Bissett, son's Co.'s eervice, takes his departure hence for Red River settle: , via Minnesota Territory, in charge of importact papain for fitting oui an ex- pedition to be oy next summer ander instrac- ‘ons from ber Majeaty’s government io continue the search for Sir John Fracklia’s party upon the Arctic conat, where were lost s26n, a3 reported by D-, ; % el behead all elas meric well as Eagiand, ae na thats il ct fally render to Mr. Bissett, company bim, every assist- ‘our power in the provecution of their jour- feing of the utmost importance that the in- shonld reach Red river at an early date. g tine servant, +, ; Governor Simpeon has selected @ vers su'tsbie pe or the. important enterpriee committed to wey, it teuctions of which he 18 the bearer Tam, al arg,