The New York Herald Newspaper, December 22, 1854, Page 4

ed NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENSETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR, QEFICE ¥. W. CORNER MASSAU AND FULTON: Ure. ‘Wolume XIX. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVEY ING. BROADWAY THEATRE Broadwe'y—Bricurep Bene = Bueoan's OPERA. BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery--Fox oy rux Witpen- mzse—Onszor or Ixtenxst—Biraw Borommme—Jou.y Muiers. WBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway—Son amavia—Me scar “@use—Bavace AnD THE MAIDEN. BURTON’S THEATRE, Chambers street—Urrzn Tex | xp Lowzn Twenty—Aro.io 1x New Yorx. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Two re Ons—A Qeeriamax rnom [neLawp—My Wire's Sxconp Fioon. MBPROPOLITAN THRATRE, Brosdway—Tux Lavy or Zvone—Evpza Bnorasr. AMERICAN MUSEUM—Afternoon—A Bvening—Cuxe rue Lavon: To OnLicr ‘Maip OF rum WOOD'S VARIETIBS—Mechanice’ Hall, 472 Broadway. BECELEY’ OPERA HOUSE, 539 Broadway—Bucx- ‘wae’s Erni ee Oren Trovrs, New York, Friday, December 22, 1654. The News. We are still withou' later news from Earope. ‘The Washington is no~ im her sixteenth day eut, ‘and the America is in her fourteenth day. We hall no doubt receive advices by one or the other to-day. We publish to-day a long list of casualties at sea, fortanately, so far as we are able to ascertain, ‘nattended with loss of life. In several instances ‘these accidents have been caused by the vessels renning on shore, and in one case—that of the packet ship St. Patrick, stranded at Barnegat— ‘there is but little hope of saving either the ship or ‘the cargo, which consists principally of coal. The toss on both will amount to upwards of $100,000, wat is fally covered by insurance, divided equally be- ‘ween several offices in Wall street. Another vessel is reported to be ashore at Moriches, L. I.; but up to @ late hour yesterday evening we could learn nothing eertain either with regard to the identity of the wensel or the circumstances attending the accideat ‘that has befalien her. The shipping interest has waffered heavily of late by these disasters. It isto be hoped that the coming year will be leas pregnant with such heavy losses both of life and property. I the Senate yesterday the special committee to ‘Wevise a plan for adjudicating private claims against e government, reporied a bill organizing a ‘curt of Investigation, to which allsuch matters aball be referred. The merits of the subject were gretty thoreughly d'scussed, and the bill finaly paseed. Bills were introduced for the improve ments of lakes and harbors, and for completing te breakwater on Lake Champlain. Mr. Sumner ‘offered a resolution, similar to that presented ia ‘the House by Mr. Ciingman, directing inquiry as to ‘the propriety of our government offering to media: Detween the Powers engaged in the pending war ia Barepe. The Committee on Commerce was directed je inquire what should be done in order to ensure ‘harmony between the pilotage laws of the several ‘rates. A petition favorable to the objects of the Donéerdill resolations—the rights and privileges of American Christians in foreign countries—was pre sented. A joint resolution 0” the Georgia Legisla- fare, urging the estab'ishment of a navy yard a! k, in that State, was presented. Bruns- ‘wiok is located on Turtle river, has attained to the @ignity of a port of entry, and hasa fime harbor. Unfortunately, however, there are but thirteen feet of water on the bar, which fact tells greatly against the prospects of Brunswick becoming a naval sta- for. The Senate agreed to adjourn to-day until ‘Ducaday next. in the Hovse yesterJay the Gibson correspon- ence was received and referred. Mr. Orrremarked that the diplomatic efforts of the government hav. ing failed to effect an adjustment of this matter, he beped the Committee on Foreign Affairs would give it their earnest consideration, and report at an early @y. The Judiciary Commistee were directed to inquire as to the necessity of affording better pro- fection to government officers in executing the laws. This movement probably has reference *> the anticipated troubles in Utah gpon ate: * of Brigham Young’s guc- Aten. + ty peg were introincea ~—" ad wight of suffrage in the Terroriés, tor the comple. tion of publjo works in Wisconsia, and for the erec- tion of public buildings ig Baltimore. Resolutions were presented directing inquiry as to"the éxpe @iex cy of completing the breakwater, and erectipg a custom house, &c., at Platteburg, Pablic build- nga are also wanted at Alexandria. Indeed, it ‘would seem that there is just at this time a wide- spread mania for public buildings in every part of ‘@e country. A bill allowing Georgetown to levy a tax for railroads, gas works and pure water, was passed. A bill reconstructing the judiciary system @f the District of Columbia, was introduced, and Progressed to the final vote on its passage, pending which the House adjourned. We observe two recent legal decisions on the li- nor question which are interesting just at this time. An alderman of Allegany City, Pa., having jamposed a fine upon several liquor dea‘ers for viola- fing the Sanday law, an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, the main point of the defence being aright toa trial by jury. The court, with one ex- eeption, decided that aldermen have jurisdiction over such cases, the violation of the license law be- Sag by special act a criminal offence, and not a suit atcommon law. Judges Todd, Hancock and Mor sia, of Texas, have declared that the liquor law of that State is constitutional, but at the same time Place a very peculiar construction upon it. They @eclare that the penalty for the violation of the pro- ‘Visions of the license attaches to him who grants it, and not to bim who sells the liquor. The bark Sarah Park, arrived yesterday from Havre, had fifteen deaths after leaving Havre, eleven of which occurred while iying at Sobthampton. The Oldenburg bark Rastede, from Bremen, had ten @eaths; the Bremen bark Norma, from Bremen, had four, and the Bremen brig Johann, aiso from Bre- men, three deaths; the packet ship Wm. Tapscott, fom Liverpool, had eight. An interesting article respecting the alleged con- viets recently landed in our city from Antwerp is published in another column. ‘The Mount Savage Iron Company has suspended ‘operations in their rolling mille and furnaces. Strikes of ali sorts are becoming the order of the @ay. The workmen on the Baltimore and Obio Railroad have resisted an attempt to extend the Deoura of a day’s work. The B:ooklyn city railroad companies have increased their rates of fare. The pries of excursion tickets o2 the railroad between ‘this city ond Newark has recently been increased ten cents. A report of the meeting of working men in the Park yesterday is given elsewhere. Another meet- ing will be held a: the same place this afte noon. A very interesting letter from our Rio Janeiro correspondent is published elsewhere, in which the reader will find fall particulars of an important contrast, entered into on the 2d of October Jast, bs tween the Brazilian government and a native com- pay, for the nav-gatien of the Amazon. Common and good straight State brands of flour ‘were sgain firmer, and closed at an aivance of 12}6. per barrel, Wheat was scarcer and firm. Ia- dion corn again advanced one cent per bushel, and dosed at 98¢. 8 990, Rye sold at $1 43 a $1 44 per | Wushel, for export. Among the eales of flour were #aid to be 3.000 0 4,000 barrels for export. About 1,200.0 1,600 bales of cotton were sold. Owing to fhe very light stock the market was firm, and clove’ at about je. advance. The high price of orn checked shipments, while provisions wore ging forward quite freely. Abont 1,000 bales of ection were taken for L verpoo!, and 4,000 bushels of ye for Antwerp. 7 | The Seeret "A@ustory of the Pierce Cabinct and = Dtp! smacy—Another Interesting Chap- We “gublish to-day, in the despatch of one of our ¢pecial correspon ‘ents at Washing’ on, an- other very curious, very remarkable an highly instructive and suggestive chapter of the secret history of the Pierce Cabinet, and of the canses which have brought about the peculiar Euro- pean @iplomacy which has contribuied s0 much to the dispara-ement of our government abroad and the disgrace of this administration at home. We submit this chapter to the diges- tion of the tinkering administration politicians of both houses of Congress for their special benefit, and to our readers of all perties for their edification. F The Cabinet organ at Washinz'on has been very industrious in its efforts 1o delude the country with the idea that the Cabinet is a unit —that Gen. Pierce is the President—that his ministers are his subordinates, who emulate each other in their generous rivalry of obeying his wiehes, and reflecting his sentiments in all their acts; and that the domestic and, foreign and continues to go, like clockwork, in its harmony and regularity. known better all the while; but the Cabinet disclosures which have been made through our columns, within the last few weeks, betray a condition of mutiny in the administration camp, and such bitter and contemptible in- trigues, jealousies and prejudices among the leading members of the Cabinet and their Kitchen Cabinet and diplomatic affiliations, as cannot have failed to startle even John Coch- rane and his confidential clique of Tammany Hall. It now appears that Marcy has had a vast deal more trouble in managing Soulé and his diplomatic confréres than anybody could have imagined. We have no doubt that those Madrid duels brought our premier at once to the de- termination of superseding Soulé as quickly as possible. We have given something of the sub- sequent instructions sent out to Soulé, and have shown how he disregarded them in put- ting them intw his breeches pocket. But one important fact we have omitted lately to in- clude in the general account, which is essential to connect the historical thread of Soulé’s late diplomatic adventures. When, in pursuance of his first instructions, (violently construed, per- haps,) Soulé had given the Spanish Cabinet twelve hours time for an answer to his ultima. tum, and when he had received his answer in a flat negative, there was an end, thus far, to the business. Fresh instructions were then sent out to recommence negotiations upon a more conciliatory footing, which, as we have said, Soulé pocketed. We have also shown, heretofore, that he was £0 indignant at this sudden change in the Cuban policy of the Secretary of State, that he was about to come heme and expose him and his temporizing instructions to the whole country. But mark what follows. Here comes in our connecting link in this business. Our readers will remember that several months ago it was announced by all the newspaper correspondents at Washington that the government had determined upon sending & special commission to Spain to assist Soulé in his negotiations, The names of the gentle- men selected for this extraordinary daty were also very widely announced as Gov. Cobb, of Georgia, and ex-Vice President Dallas, of Pennsylvania. Now we can perceive that this commission was the work of Marcy, resulting from the sebellion of Soulé. Marcy doubtless expected and desired Soulé to throw up his office, upon information of the actual appoint- ment of these assistant diplomats, But Mr. Pierce was not prepared for this violent out- preak with th, jj; >ctuous Frenchman. He is a pe ous Ta wher excited, and migay uw mischief. He was allowed, therefore, to hear first of the project of two assistant diplomats at Madrid; and hearing of it, he made it a cases belli with the administration. And this is the explanation of the Ostend conference. This was the compromise agreed upon between Marcy, Pieroe and §oulé. Ia lieu of Gen. Cobb and Mr. Dallasas his two a3- aistants, our French Minister to Spain had the benefit of the wisdom and experience of Messrs, Buchanan and Mason ; and, to avoid suspicion, they met him, not at Medrid, not at Paris, not at London, but hundreds of miles away, at the quiet but strongly fortified little city of Os- tend, in Belgium. Meeting there, this confer. ence could not excite any suspicions at Madrid that Cuba was at the bottom of it; and possibly but for the imprudent conduct of Dadley Mann, Sickles and Sanders, and Soulé himself, even Louis Napoleon might have continued igno- rant to this day of the subject and the business of the convention. P We may probably hear some thing of the ul- timatum of this conference with the news of the re-opening of the negotiations at Madrid, or with the intelligence of another flare-up be- tween our French Minister and the Spanish Cabinet. At all events the link connecting the departure of Soulé from Madrid with the Os- tend convention is now supplied. Marcy has been beaten in his own game, and Cushing and Jeff. Davis have headed him. But who expects Cuba from this administration? The idea is absurd. No wonder that the foreign diplomacy of the administration hay every~ where resulted so disastrously to the President, with such wranglings as those which have marked the jealous intrigues between the mem- bers of his Cabinet, his Kitchen Cabinet and diplomatic corps. Well, we must submit— take the developements of the day as they come to pass, and wait for more. The newspaper organs and scavengers of the Cabinet appear now to have dropped every thing else in their personal and libellous: abuse of the editors of this journal. They seem to labor under the mistaken idea that we are making war upon the administration. Not #0; the administration is swamped, as id a moraes, and is more a subject of pity and con- mireration than of hostility. It has been tried and condemned, and we wait with patience and pity the execution of the sentence of the American people. The néw American party which its blunders, follies, imbecilities, and wretched spoils policy have called into the field, will surely do the work. The executive shambles at Washington, where the epoils are sold like butcher’s meat, and the rats of the Kitchen Cabinet, will be thoroughly cleaned oat. Short of this, the new revolation will be incorplee, and we are in favor oF finishing the work. That is all. We pity the adminis- tration, but we cannot help it. We muss all bow to the wil of the sovereign people, Meantime it is our duty to advisy them of the inside as well as the outside history of their servants at Washington And we mast dis- charge ourjduty. That ie all. Policy “of Gen. Pierce bas been going on, | The people have | Cheap Pood. Mane‘sc'urer:, radesmen and corporations continue to curtail the r e-ta'li:hm nts by dis charging workm 1 avd employ s; «nd, in coa- sequence, the suppl of Jabor f.r: xc eding the demand, wages full steadily. To a:d to tie distress »' those who ar: thro.n ou! of em- | ployment, fooi and the other : ecessaries of life have not fallen in price. Meat sti!l com | mands 14 cen's per ; ound, butter 23 ceats, po- tatoes from $1 75 to $3, according to quatity; | flour $12 per barrel; «md groceries the sume | prices as were paid when the inflation was at | its height. if there has been any decline in the | values of theee art.cles it has not been felt by | the masses, Fuel is more expensive than ever; | the po. rest kind of anthracite coal selis at $7 | 50per shor: ton. Rents will obviously show a heavy fall next quarter-day: for the pzesent people who pay still square accoun’s with their | landlord on the basis of last year’s price’. | Thus the poor are groaning under th: double | infliction of low wages and high prices at the | eame time. | ‘The question is constantly asked: when will flour, ren‘s and coal fall? Why should labor | be the only commodity that the bard times seem to have depreciated? These are pregnant queries, demandiag for their solution carefal thought and unbiassed at- tention: not difficult to answer to those who grapple with them unshackled by theory, but totaly inexplicable to the class which seeks in political economy nothing beyond a confirma tion «f preconceived doctrines, Prices are nothing more than equivalents. When itie said that the price of a barrel of flour is ten dollars, nothing more is meant than that that sum of money is equivalent to that quantity offlour, It is so, in consequence of the relative proportions then existing in the community be- tween the supply of and demand for flour, and the supply of and demand for dollars. If the quantity of flour in the market increases, with- out @ corresponding increase in the quantity of dollars, the proportion is disturbed, the former equivalents cease to be true, and a barrel of flour becomes on!y equal to, or worth nine or eight dollars instead of ten. In like manner, if the quantity of dollars increases, and that of flour does not, the proportion is disturbed, the old equivalents cease to be correct, and the barrel of flour becomes equal to or worth eleven or twelve dollars instead of ten. This is the whole secret of political economy: the true key to our late inflation and present suffer ing. For instance. In 1848, five years of mode- rate prosperity had enabled the country to re- cover from the depression of 1837-43. Disco- veries ef gold in California, and subsequently in Auswalia, deluded mankind into the wildest visions of wealth. People actually fancied that this increase of specie was tantamount to an increase of riches, and credit expanded accord- ingly. In other wordg, dollars and representa- tives of dollars were manufactured by the hun- dreds of millions. Thus, the banks which in 1848 had liabilities, or “ promises to pay,” afloat to an amount of $271,146,639, increased the same between 1848 and 1854 to $443,200,113: thus adding over one hundred and seventy mil- lion of dollars in the shape of bank notes, cre- dite, &c., to the stock already on hand. Again, in the same period, railroad companies ran in debt to an amount probably equal in the ag- gregate to two hundred million of dollars, repre aented by stocks and bonds. Qther corpora. tions and individual merchants put out cbliza- tions of various kinds to something like an equa! smount, all of which the public confidently re ceived as representatives of value. Altogether, between 1848 and 1854, it is likely that the stock of paper money of all kinds, from the one dol lar note of the West to the railroad bond or minjog ehar¢ manufactured in Wall street, was increased at feast sz eS ‘Qullion of dollars. This at once disturbed the proportion former- ly existing between real estate, merchandise, and labor, on the one hand, 97.4 dollars on the other. The supply of tle former having re- mained comparativ {iy stationary while thet of the latter ha@, goubled, prices rose in propor- tion. Figet real estate, then merchandise, then farm produce, then labor swelled in value. People said it was an evidence of pros perity. ’Twas nothing, in fact, but an attempt to re-establish the equilibrium of values which the increased supply of paper money had upset, This went on till various causes bred distrast in the public mind, and one by one these paper dollars in the shape of-bonds, notes, stocks, and other “securities,”\ began to depreciate. The downward march was rapid. In a very few months, about one-fifth of the increase of the former six years was lost by depreciation— stocks, bonds and notes having become value- less, and ceased to represent dollars at all. Then the banks became unsteady, and by cur- tailing their discounts, at one stroke strack out of existence @ large proportion of that class of securities to which individual credit had given rise. The work still continues. Every day we note the annihilation of some large class of paper representatives of value, and the conse- quent reduction of our stock of dollars. There yet remain, however, far more of them than a healthy state of trade would justify. Such are stocks and bonds of unprofitable enterprises, notes and deposits in unsound banks, promis- sory notes of insolvent traders, &c., &c. These still exist, still represent dollars, and conse- quently retard the restoration of the propor- tion which formerly existed between money and commodities. When these shall have followed the example of those already gone and been swept out of existence, then, but not till then, will prices generally fall. The decline has commenced, as it usually does, with labor, and has borne a certain proportion to the decline in the supply of pa- per money : the rest will follow when that sup- ply falls to its former figure. In plain words, when three or four of the gteat railroads, about half the enterprising merchants who have sprung from obscurity into tome within the past few years, a fir pro- portion of the banks throughout the Union, and pineteen-twentieths of the speculative enter- prites which have been set on foot since 1849, bave broken to pieces and miserably expired, the poor man will rent his lodging and buy his flour and his beef, and his butter, and his coal, ut the old prices. There will be distress awful to contemplate involved in the process: but it is inevitable, and the sooner it comes the better. Dollars must be made scarce, worthless paper valuce—of every description—must be discred ited; and depreciated and altogether crushed out, 80 that business shall agaia rest on a sound bacie, Then merchandise will fa'l, and the misery now io atore for the country will begin to abato, Butnot ill then, ‘Tae Bonorman Wan—Amraican Mepition. | Cushing and Jeff. Davis are opposed to any sppoint- | We call the attention of our readers, and es- cially of both houses of Conzress, to the peti- tion which they will find in this paper, from citizens of he city of New York, praying the friendly intervention of our govern ment in be- half of the pacification of Europe. Accompa- nying t»is memor al we a'so give the appeal of the Russian government to our ow in behalf of peace, in reference to our war with Great Britain cf 1812. Numerous other examples might be cited of the friepdly interposition of a neutral power asa metiator between two or more powers at war. The practice is not ex- traordinary. It is fully authorized M the gene- ral law of nations, (see Vattel on Mediation,) and fully established in its exercise from time to time. We trust that Mr. Clingman will call up his resolution in Congress upon the first opportu- nity, and open the discussion of the subjest in aspeech upon its merits. The disoussion and adoption of such a resolution by both Houses will make it incumbent on the President to act in the matter. Indeed, sucha step on the part of Congress will of itself have a very great in- fluence upon the European belligerents. The petition of our citizensis properly directed to the President; but that should not interfere ex- cept to facilitate the consideration of Mr. Cling- man’s resolution. Let him try it. Frace on Contrracts—Tue Stationery Huu- Bve.—In another eolumn will be found a second communication from that clever financier, Mr. John Straw, jun., in which he deals summarily with the facts and figures of Comptroller Fiagg’s report on the stationery contract. It will be seen from the items of stationery furnished to the Comptroller’s own department, that he found it desirable to suspend the conditions of the contract, so far as the articles furnished to the latter were concerned, although he brings the charge of a collusive evasion of it against the contractors and a number of persons con- nected with the city government. We have before pointed out the absurdity of its being expected that a contract for the supply of reams of paper and expensive account books at “ one cent eath!”’ could have been honestly car- ried out, but we certainly did not expect to find, taking the statements of his report into consideration, that the Comptroller should have first sanctioned a departure from its terms by his own example and then quarrelled with oth- ers for following it. This is carrying the hum- bug a little too far. It won’t do Mr. Flagg. You must try and make capital out of some lees transparent materials. Sepastorot.—The military editor of the Courier proves to the satisfaction of everybo- dy, in an argument of a column and a half, that the allies will take Sebastopol. Well, suppose they do. Did not Napoleon take Mos- cow? Orenrxa or ALBANY STREET.—This qnestion is to comme up for final action in the Board of Councilmen this evening. We shall then see whether or not that street isto be opened “in spite of the Revolutionary ashes.” THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Non Arrival of the European, Steamers. Hauras, Qy. 21—11 P.M. Nothing hes yet been seen of the steamer Améri¢®, DOW fully due at this port. Sanpy Hoox, Dec. 21—11 P. M. ‘The steamship Washington, from Southampton, now in her sixteenth day, has not yet been signalled off this int. " Portianp, Dec. 21—11 P. M. We hear nothing of the Sarah Sands up to this time, ehe is now in her fifteenth day from Liverpool. paiesshcmbes fpr kemaR, Fosfor Curious from W: on sect Bf 7a SAPO cancy’s OPINION mae te oF sour, Bi » oAUNDERS AND FORNEY—THE PREMIER SUSPECTS DUDLEY MANN—WRITES TO MA- SON—OCUSHING’S TREACHERY—HOBNOBBING WITH EX-SENATOR WESTCOTT—BETRAYING MAROY’S SE- CRETS—OURIOUS DISCLOSURES—THE ORIGIN OF THE OBTEND CONVENTION—MASON’S OPINION OF SICKLES —MARCY’S LATEST DODGE, ETC. Wasuinaton, Dec. 21, 1854. You have already been apprised, in a general way, of the discords, jealousies, intrigues, and mutual animosi- ties existing among the members, that is to say, the three leading and ambitious members, of the Cabinet— Marcy, Cushing and Jeff. Davis. The other four—Guth- rie, M’Clelland, Campbell and Dobbin—are the heads, for the time being, of their respective departmente—no- thing more, and they don’t expect anything more. The general policy of the administration, foreign and dome. tic, is in the hands of Marcy, Cushing, Davis, Soulé, and the Kitchen Cabinet, Marcy despises Cushing; Cushing hates Marcy; Jeff. Davis distrusts the one and suspects the other; Soulé is the ally of Jeff. Davis; otherwise they are all intriguing against each other. Forney and the Kitchen Cabinet practically manage them all, with little bullying here,and a little blarney there, as occasion may require, The President is the dupe of the whele set. He is more credulous than you would believe. They will pretend to be his best friends. He believes them all, though they are all plotting and counter-plotting to break him down, so as to rule the roost in the next Bal- timore Convention. Like the poor fellow who fell among thieves—he will be left by these friends, mangled and helpless on the wayside. Marcy protests that he never had enything to do with the appointment of that French fop, Soulé—that he op- posed him from first to last, as he opposed the appoint- ments of Sickles and Sanders. But Forney prevailed, and they were appointed. “Now,” says Marcy, “you see the consequences. Sickles and Sanders have blown all the secrets of the Ostend Convention, and the State Department appears in the light of a secondary insti tution—Forney and his set of advisers being the real managers of our foreign affairs.”’ It is also true that the old Premier suspects Dudley Mann, his assistant, as an ally of Forney, Soulé, Sickles, Sanders and Kossuth. The old chap has complained to Mason, at Paris, about it, and it is said has called upon Mason to inform him pre- cinely of the position occupied by Mann in the doings of the Ostend Conference. When the affairs between this Cabinet and_the Kitchen Cabinet come to a collapse, we shall have some precious developements, Cushing, with the President, is as smooth and glossy as satin, yet he is the most active of the Cabinet conspira- tors against him. Caleb can no more change his chatae- ter than an Ethiopian can change his skin. He is using Gen. Pierce as he used Captain Tyler and Col. Polk. He affects to be a strong supporter of the administration ; but he is an active partisan in the Buchanan and Slidell party. He and Slidell, and ex-Senator Westcott, of Flori- da, are as good friends as ‘thieves ins mill.” Cushing is known to be frequently closeted with Westcott. They concoct hostilities to Marcy. Cushing has something to say againaS every measure emanating from the State Department. He has allowed o good deal to leak out-about the private correspond- ence between Governor Marcy and Judge Mason, in regard to the Ostendconference. You know that two commissioners were proposed to be sent to Spain—Gov. Cobb of Georgia, and ex-Vice-President Dallas. Soulé kicked at this; then the ministerial Continental confer- ence was offered as a compromise. Marcy wrote strong filibuster instructions. He exhorted Buchanan and Ma- son to great secrecy. Mason writes back, on the Sth of September, to Gov. Marcy, saying that, after entrusting such a mission to such a man as Sickles, secrecy was im- possible, Cushing says that Marcy’s apparent hostility to Sickles is all pretence. Cushing gives curious partica- lars about a certain Miss W——, who is the political Egeria of old Gov. Nama Pompilius Marcy. ‘The present move of Marcy is to get Francis J. Grund sent over as Consul to Marseilles, as a sort of check upon Sickles, Sanders and Soulé. Forney appears to second the motion, but there is a strong undercurrent {n the Kitehen Cabinet, and also in the Cabinet proper, against Grund, on account of his close attachment to Gen. Cass. be old General shows some signs of returming life, and ES AS (S/S ment in his favor. Upon this point even Guthriechimes in with Jeff. Davis. These are among the passing developements at the | West End. Stranger than these will soon be disclosed. UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS. ‘Wasmivatoy, Dec. 21, 1854. Nos. 11, 12 and 13—Joseph Battin, patentee, and Sam- uel Battin, assignee, vs. James Taggert and others, Er- | rors of the Circuit Court of the Eastern district of Penn- | . sylvania. Judge McLean delivered the opinion of the Court, reversing the judgment of the Circuit Court, with costs, and remanding the case with directions to award venire facias de nove. No. 20—Adam D, Stewart, plaintiff in error, vs. The United States. This cause was argued by Mr. Cox for the plaintiff, and by Mr. Bibb for the defendant, No. 28—Victoire Shields et. al. appellants, vs. Robert R. Barrow. Appeal from Circuit Court of the Eastern district of Louisiana. The appellants in the cause hav- ing been called under the 19th rule, on motion of Mr. Janin, the counsel for the appellee, and failing to ap- pear, the case was dismissed with costs, No, 29—Catharine Kinns, wife of Wm. Warrance, ap- pellant, vs. Pierre Jorda, Jr., et, al. Appeal from the Circuit Court of the Eastern district of Louisiana. The appellant in the cause having been called under the 19th rule, on motion ot Mr. Janin, counsel for the apy pelleer, and failing to appear, the cause was dismissed with costs. No. 31—Wm. Fontain, appellant, vs. Wm. Ravenel. Argument by Mr. Gerard, for the appellee. greta atent ere» sh, “Later From Havana. New Onteans, Dec. 19, 1854. The steamship Black Warrior, from New York via Havana the 15th inst., arrived at this port to-day. The news brought by her is unimportant. She left at Ha- vana the British war schooner Swallow. Postal Arrangements at the South. Baurmwors, Dec. 21, 1854 The Postmaster General refuses to allow the settlement of the difficulty with the South Carolina Railroad by means of a sub-contract. A despatch received at Colum: bia from the Assistant Postmaster General directs that contracts be entered into for a wagon service from the 1st of January to the 30th of June next, to supply the mails to offices now served by the railroad company. In compliance with this the great Southern mail, after the ‘1st proximo, will pe carried from the terminus of the ‘Wilmington and Manchester Railroad, via Columbia, to Augusta, Georgia, daily, in a two horse wagon. The horse service will cost more than the railroad company’s demand. > From Philadelphia. IMPORTANT LEGAL DECISION—SUNBURY RAILROAD EXOURSION—DEATH OF A SENATOR. PuILApELrara, Dec. 21 1854. Justice Black, of the Supreme Court, gave his decision, to-day in several cases originating in Alleghany county, where an Alderman had fined different tavern keopers fifty dollars each for selling liquor on the Sabbath. The defendants claimed the right of trial by jury, denying the jurisdiction of the Alderman. The decision, howev- er, affirmed the judgment of the Alderman, and said such cases were not suits at common law, but criminal pro- ceedings, under @ special act. All the other Judges agreed with the decision except Judge Lewis, who con- tended against the whole principle of summary convic- tion, as an invasion of the right of trial by jury. ‘The members of the City Councils of Philadelphia, with & large number of those who were invited to participate in the opening measures of the Sunbury Railroad, arrived here last night, most unexpectedly to our citizens, who had sent a committee to meet them at Buffalo; but ow- ing to some mistake in the arrapgements, they passed through that city without stopping. The citizens here threw open their dwellings and gave the excursionists a most cordial welcome. They were received by Mayor King, who, in an eloquent speech, proffered them the hospitalities of the city, which was duly responded to by O. F. Corman, Esq. A public dinner was given them this afternoon at Brown’s Hotel, and a grand reception ball comes off this evening at the Reed House. The party leaye to-morrow for Pittsburg via Cleveland, and will leave Pittsburg on Sa- turday morning for home. Levi Foulkrod, member of the State Senate from the Fourth district of this city, died at his residence in Frankfort this morning, aged about 33 years. Death from the Effects of Ether. Atpany, Dec. 21, 1854. A deautiful young girl, eighteen years old, named ‘Weave?. belonging to Scoharie county, was operated on in the hospital here to-day for a tumor in the neck. Ether was adminis ‘ted, when she fainted. Stimulants were then given so as to 1- vive her, when more ether was had recourse to, The operation W*# proceeded with, she was completely stupefied, and not long afterwards died, Dr. Marah. assisted by Dr. Ormsby and others, perform- ed the operat a) From the South. ‘THE MAILS—FREE NEGROES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, ETO. Couvmmua, (8. C.,) Dec. 21, 1854. ‘We have received here New Orleans papers of Satur- day last, but they contain nothing of importance. The adjournment of the South Carolina Legislature takes place tonignt. ‘The bill providing fo- a modification of the laws in re- lation to the introduction of free negroes into the State, after passing three readings in the Senate and two in the House, was laid upon the table. The Charleston Courier has received by the arrival of the schooner British Queen, dates from Nassau to the ‘Oth inst. ec Trial for Smuggling in Boston. Boston, Dec. 21, 1854. In the United States District Court this morning, the case of the United States, on information, against $2,000 worth of jewelry and watehes, alleged to have becn smuggled into this port last summer, per the steamship Canada, by C. F. Hamel, of Canada, was commenced. The defence is, that the articles in question were in- trusted to him for the purpose of repair, &c. The Dis- trict Attorney, Mr. Hallett, for the government, and James Egan, Esq., for the defence. Conflagrations. DESTRUCTION OF A HOTEL AT MICHIGAN CITY. Burra, Dec. 21, 1854, The Lake House, at Michigan City, was destroyed by fire this morning. Loss, $6,000—insurance, $3,500, FIRES IN ROME AND IN DEERFIELD. Unica, Dec. 21, 1854. Two modern buildings on the corner of Dominick and ‘Washington streets, in Rome, one occupied as a stove store and the otherasa meat market, were bothde- atroyed by fire this morning. The amount of loss has not been ascertained. ‘The dwelling house of David Gray, in Deerfield, about three miles from this city, was entirely consumed by fire last evening. Loss five thousand dollars. Strike on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Baxrimore, Dec. 21, 1854. The employes on the second section of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, struck to-day against an extension of the hours of daily work. Fallure of a Produce House. Unica, Dec. 21, 1854. Messrs. Obadiah J. Owen & Co., of Remsen, Oneida county, extensive produce dealers, are reported as having made an assignment. Their liabilities are said to be vory heavy. Ice in the Delaware River. Newcastim, Dec. 21, 1854. ‘The river is much obstructed by ice. The brig Coral: loaded with coal for Boston, cut through the ice and lost her anchor and chain near Chester. The steamer M. Sandford, from New York, passed up at 11 o’clock this morning. Movements of Steamships. ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP AUGUSTA. Savannan, Dec. 19, 1854, The steamship Augusta, from New York, arrived here early this (Tuesday) morning. ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP SOUTHERNER. Cuaruestoy, Dec. 19, 1864. ‘The United States mail steamship Southerner, Capt. Ewen, arrived here this (Tuesday) morning. The Blue Ridge Railroad Grant, Couwania, (8. 0.) Dec. 20, 1854. The bill granting two million of dollars in aid of the Blue Ridge Railroad, one million now, and one million guaranteed, was finally passed by the Legislature of this State yesterday. Rallroad in Arkansas. Lovisvinix, Dec, 21, 1864. ‘The Memphis and Little Rock Railroad has been adopt- ed by the Legislature of Arkansas, as a branch of the Caro and Fulton road, by a majority of nine in the Senate and siateen in the Ho vee. er A SE SS SS SE De St SS SS SY State of the Weather. Last night was the collest sapictonsea bese was * season. At half-past 9 P. 4M. the thefmometer indicated 10 below zero. has moderated a little by a fall of snow. thermometer was 36 below the lowest, point yet heard a rE ro. + Ogpensnvra, Dec. 21, 1854. It has been cold here for the last few days, but it now ing, and snow is falling. The rives is still partially open. A Bosrox, Dec. 21, 1854. The weather has considerably moderated, and snow falling at 9 o’clock this morning. Caras, Dec. 21, 1854. ‘The thermometer this mo stood at 16 be- low rero, but there are now ‘tions of cold moderating. Easrrort, Dec. 21—8 A. M The weather here continues clear and very cold. Bangor, Dec. 21—8 A. M The thermometer here is 23 degrees below zero Weather clear. PortLaxp, Dec. 21—A. M. ‘The weather is moderating, and there are indications of a fall of snow. PurLapatrmia, Dec. 21, 1854. It is milder this morning, and we have had a slight fall of snow, but it has now off, Wasuincrox, Dec. 21, 1854. ‘The weather hero is variable. We had a fall of snow short distance west of us this morning. The ther- ~ a ter stands at 36 degrees above zero. Business is: Dec, 21, 1854. At the cattle market to-day 400 head of beef cattle eee ee eee ae ranging See 25 to $4 75 on the bbof. Extra ht . Hogs were in brisk demand, packers buying freely. Sales were made at $6.2 $6 25. ‘The receipt of the Pacific’s letters favorable t ul the cotton market. The sales to day amounted to 4,000 bales. We quote middling at Se Freights are stiffer. Dee. 19, 1854. New Oauxans, The cotton market is without change. The sales to- day were 5,000 bales. Mess pork is quoted at $12 62% bbl. Lard is selling at 93<c. per lb. hts are peas Sterling exchange is wi! t alteration in rates. Cuanteston, Dec. 21, 1854. In our cotton market prices are easier, but not quota- bly ayia rae were 2,100 bales, at privtes ranging = ic. & ic. , Dec. 20, 1854. Our cotton market is easier, but que ‘The bales to-day amounted to 1,400 \. Dec. 21, 1854. 4,000 bushels white Michigan wheat, at $2 85; 8 do. red Upper Lake, at $1 77, per bushels Oni. al 2 west of Schenectaay. 47c,—weight taken from the City Intelligence. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OxseQuies OF THE DBOsASED Framuay, Jamus Lowzrre.—A meeting of the foremen and engineers of the Fire Department was held last evening, in the Stuyvesant Institute, to make arrange- ments for the celebration of the obsequies of James Lowerre, one of the members of Hose Company No. 7, who was killed by the falling of a wall during the recent fire in Broadway, A series of resolutions were passed, expressive of the high esteem in which the character of the deceased was held by all who knew him, and .con- Lents | with his friends and relatives in the loss sustain in his death. It was Fire dress, at his of the De) meet be lager ae No. 21 o’clock Q of the deceased’ rocession will start at 1 o’clock. interred in Greenwood cemetery. Ii there were but it members which he belonged, and he was most efficient. taken from upon was foun ne ye Maes at the time or his death months and 21 days old. he was also a member, will act as escort 583 5 Fire these furnace apparatus in the fullest manner. Tas Wearum.—The thermometer yesterday morning, at 5A. M. stood at 18 deg., a abetement of cold equal to 14 deg. trom the same,period the day before. ‘Dering the there was a slight snow squall, but it clear- ed up bet the afternoon. The was Handing at anvaverage of about 20 deg, Fabrs "Al > st atan ay . » At . XM. it stood at 82 deg. x oF Inmate Foes rrox —A colored woman pamed Carr, while ui by a charcoal farnsce. at her residence, in the rear of No. 189 Church street. insensible from the fumes. was found op Wednesday * ~ foot of Chambers shaat "o oom the ican tpt vat or daiaaran “ake pe he attention had to be given them. sag Tar Case. yonpertey setae 1s pectinn et te A. Peverelly, convic! for as attempt te fire. his 147 Front street, in July unt inven week. Judge Beebe will render the judgmen' Marine Affairs. ‘Tax Barrio Sroxey.—The packet ship tution, arrived yesterday, reports speaking the p Baltic, on the 10th inst., at 2 P. M., in lat. 41 36, lon. 6123. She sailed for Liverpool on the 9th, at noon. , Naval Intelligence. The U. 8. steamer Massachussetts remained at Rio Janeiro on the Ist ult., repairing. Bicones Get ofa a were I. better she :—We wot rather Ses thal weak or owe; but si Ie, Batavia; 8. Tifay nese 9 Meienee . 53. Meint My a Albany; P. Hubbell, 5 AL de. Richardson, New York, At. Atwater, New Havens’ ‘At the Irving—Hon. C. A. P ‘Constantia; Mavatlaus Nog Terocy; Calvin Day, Hlactford: Cosa Money Button, Governor Connecticut; saringss Hon. D. 1 Murrey, , SB Derrick, Montrail’ HD. mour, Bath, N. ¥. at Union Place Hotelg. F Pak nd men fiber? Fisk and lady, hie From Now Orleans, in steamship Star of the £ 4 er and wife, Capt Whiting, wife Biskows9F, B'M Moore, MA’ Mckay Loreen Ga Zinger, John Lynch. J Cunard, 3 th, Hae e Mark Thomson, °S Larkin, A Seed, Gee Ba J Kete—ii in Frem Liverpool. in shi ott Ere Livegponl in ehip Wm Tapsoott—W IE Jackson, Jus veered Janelze fa bark David Lapaley—Me Hopkins, i. Fi Malaga, in bark if the Sea—Don Juan Galway. Fiom Carssoa, in bask Voute-itre De Moyer and famnly. DEP. harloston, in the steamer Nashville—Miss 4 ye WE Morvic aud cervant, the two Misses ‘Mbrrin vi eitherell and Jenkins E Bu ‘3 B Nicholson, Special Stock Sale—Albert H. Nycolay noi pectoris of ees at ete row, at a | 5 uence Hones xy next being Christmas, © apacial aale will also take place on Tuesday following, the 26th inst. » Securi- ties to be sold on those on should therefore be sent to the office as earl; Oe le . NICOLAY, No. 4 Broad street, bit jose wishh gifte in the way of hate, caps and ladies’. few, be nuited at White's. Gent's fine collars in great vai » Child. Tén’s fare in aburidance. The prices to suit times, WHITE, 212 Brondway, corner of Fulton street. _