The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1854, Page 4

‘EW YORK HERALD. #a.4B8 GORDON 8 the Bur Esition Eeie7 Eaten 8 cme CS 4 sacluce postage. ALL LETTERS by Mail for Subscriptions or with ut pola, or the postage will be aeducted from ! i AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, ‘veme is Not Gorp—La Fi BOWERY TREATHE. or Tue Sv Eve —Mases Groadwav—Avu raat Guir- ~ oe Dance—Ganem wisp Mise—Krerur 1OMILLIMAKLE AC. GARDEN, Brosdway--Somemian Gini. z, Chambers street--Civine roo Waer—Nice Youre Max—Arorio tx New Youu. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Prosdway—Txe Sisrxas— Gertieman ROM IneDeND New Foorwan. METROPOLITAN THEATERS. Broadwav Nick ov rex Woons Sarr Rinesn-or Bosrox—Roseur MAcaine OF saad MUSEUM—Afterness ond Bvening—tor ve @wood's VARIETIRS— Mechanics’ Mall, 472 Brosdway— BSCELEY'’S OFPRA HOUSE, S43 Breadway--Ovex- anr’s Eruiorian Ovens Taovre. Wew York, Seturday, Decomber 30, 1654. The News. ‘The steamship Atlantic bad rot been telegraphed ‘at ene o'clock this morning. The corresponderce from §:. Domingo which ‘will be found in another celemn supplies us with farther details respecting the case of Mr. Guridi, of which we published a bricf statement the other ay. It will'be seen from the facts communicated by bim, thatthe agents of the alliesin the republic are resorting to the mos’ violent extremi:ies to control the «expression of pubiic feeling in the re- public in favor of the American treaty, and to pre- vent its execution if possible. A more-unjustifiable and despotic interference with the rights ofa free Btate has never been attempted in this hemisphere, and explenations should be immediately demanded by our government as to whether the officials who are ac ing on behalf of the allied powers, have au- thority for their proceedings. If they have, it is time that the latter should be taught that we wil! suffer no foreign interference with the exercise f£ afair and legitimate influence in iater-American questions. We publish to-day our usual chronology of foreign events for the year wotch is about to expire. Valu- able se. are these compiletions, as well-digested but mt the came time comprehensive susimari:s of facts that would otherwise be scattered over the wide domain of history, no record of a similar sort thit ‘we bave as yet published approaches it in variety ‘and depth of interest. Since the year 1815, when the Battle of Waterloo broke down the clos: @ power of the French empire and restored peace the world, no period has been so prega ‘nt with im- portant events as the twelve months we have jast peesed throngh. During that interval the Exstern war, which had previously been confiaed to hostil’- ties between the Rassians and Turks, hay assumed all she importauce of a Earopesa strugg!+, in which most of toe Contiaental Powers mas! net oF Biter fine themselves invoived. Ta mner- cis] and mennfacturing interests of ope countries have )] more or less been affec ed by the intersop'ion of friendly the Western Powers and Russiv, ant tioa upon our own condition has been we usibly felt. Some of the events whicu tais impo tant ebap +r of political history embrices have had be rel its x ap iec.rect bearing upon our oe fireiwa policy; and 1% will, therefore, material y assist oar readers im roving at just conclicions as to tie course wowh it may be necessary fo: thix couvtey to pur: ‘ne in any farther comolications whicy may arise out of she quistion® a! issue: 80 far, a) least, as our wn position in eace to them is concerned. Beking »)) these facts iaco consideration, we are Jnastified in saying that the past year bas been one of the moat disquieting and suxious epochs of the Jest haéf century. The brief bat carefally com piled register of its events, with which we presen* our readers to day, will, therefore, possess an inte- rest and value in their eyes which no similar re cord that bys hitherto apyeared i2 oar columus, or 4a those of any other publication, could possib'y Dhave fer them. In the Missoari House of Represent itives on Mon- day Wm. Newland (waig) was e.ected Speaker by aocoalition ot whigs and Bentoaites. The whig members united on a desiaration not te vote for avy person for United States Senator who is not in favor of the Nebraska Kansas bill and opposed to its repeal. The letter ot Mr. Benton, read recently im the House, depre ated all agitatisn for repeal; bat it will fail to secure bim the wii vote for tae Senstorship. During toe past fortnight the legislative branches of the city ¢ vernmen} have been very actively en- gaged im closisg ap the business of the year. Yes terday afternoon the Board of Supervisors passed pumber of bills of persons connected with the courts. Several petitions of clerks for increase of aslary were discussed, but all of them were finally Iaid on the table. The asual complimentary votes of thanks tothe President and the clerks of the Board were proposed, adopted unanimously, and ap- propriately responded to. This Board will meet to day at two o'clock, for the last time. The Board of Aldermen held the last meeting of the present year yesterday evening, and disposed of & great many pspers. The ‘Committee on Alms- bonse reported in favor of dismissing the charges preferred against Mr. Keen, Warden of the Peniten tary on Blackwell’s Island. The report of the Conncilmen in relation to the tex levy for 1855 was eoncarred in. The sat of the sale of She public mar keta was again brouzt up and laid on the table. A vote of thanks to the President, tie Clork and the reporters was adopted. The President re sponded, and the Board adjourned sine die. In the Board of Councinen Isst evening a large pumivr of bills were rend for the third time. Every peper betore the Board was passed upon. The report of the Committee on the Law Depart- ment, aubmitting an ordinance for more effectaa ly enforcing the excise law, was laid on the table. About 8 o'clock a commit‘ee from the Board of Al- dermen appeared, and aunounced that it was the fatention of that body to adjourn sine die; where- upon 4 committee from the Board of Councilmen was despatched to the Aldermen to tell them that Bimerous papers wonld be seat in for their action, and beyond this the Board of Councilmen had no thing to communicate. A vote of thanks was then passed in favor of Edwin J. Brown, Exq., the Pre. sident. All who know Mr. Browa will for the fatare miss his absence from tie Presidential chair, & position which he was eminentiy qualified to oc- apy. Votes of thanks were also passed in favor of ©. T. McOlenachan, the Board's very efficient olerk,the other officers, and the reporters. Tae Board then adjourned sine die. Ex Governor Morehead died at Covington, Ky., on Thursdey night. The perfectness to which the magnetic telegraph bes been brought in th's conatry was never beter Wortrated than on Saturday last. Tne important advices bronght to Hsiifax in the afternoon, and published in a)l the Northern and Western cities within s few minutes afver the steamer reached her | dock, were prompt!y tranemi ited to ail the Southern cities, over thy ithern line, and were pabi\shed in the associated press of New Orlesas on Monday notning. The neve had @ buoyant effect npon the cotton market, and prices closed ‘or the da’ eigth advance, with large ea'+s, consideri g the fact that Monday was @ holiday. Flour was yesterday again about 12c. higher for the lower erades of State brands, and closed at about $9 per barrel, while bigher qualities, vita Southern and Camajiao, wer. unchange!. Southern common white and good red whea’ sold at $2; In- | dian corn again reached $1 per bushel, aad sold a: 98c., 99c. and $1—fo the latter price it was deli- vered. Pork wes steady, with air salez; beef was active, at unc auged prices. Cotton was"quiet, with- out further ‘hange in prices. Dealers were still waiting for the Atlantic's news. | Tre extensive cabicetware establishment of | Mesurs. Jacques & Haye-, at Toronto, was totally | consumed by fireon Touraday night, involving a loss of abou: two hundred thousaud dollars. By the calamity between two and three hucdied me cherics are deprived @’ employment. The steamboat inspec'ors of Boston and Charles- town have reported upon the collision between the Canada and Ocean im Boston harbor. The officers | of the former are acquitted of all blame, and the licenses of the captain and pilots of the leer are revoked. In the Senate, yesterday, the Army and Post O/- fice Appropriaticn bills were referred. Mr. Fish in- troduced bili remitting penalties on passenger ships in cectaim cases. It was laid on the table. Mr. Schoolcra‘t’s report upon Indian waters was referred, and then the Sena’e adjourned to Tuesday next. The Know Nothing Revolatien—Its Moral and Political Aspects. It appears frem the officia! communication sone | of attempting im; racticable legislation, and farvithing vice with respectsble defenders by clothing virtue in a tyrannical and repulsive garb, to attack the source and root of the pre- vailing intemperance, to nip it im tae bud—at our yearly elections! How much more effec- tively could the advocates of Clark’s bill labor in the cause they support, by putting down with a strong hand the dranken seenes which witnessed their election, as well as that of others, than by battling for a measure which can never be enforced! Sweeping the country during the coming year,as they are pretty sare of doing, the Presidential canvass of 1856 will be the next great theatre for the Know Nothing work, Herein, as elsewhere, they must pursue a different track from all the old parties if they seck to establish themselves ia the esteem and affection of the country. They must at one blow abolish the plan of national comventions at Baltimre ; which are and always have been | mere swindles, contrived for the decent sacri- | fice of principles, and for the coreupt gratifica- | tion of political rharpers. They are a needless innovation upon the principles of the constita- | tion, and eught to be abolished without mercy. It will be the duty o the Know Nothings to accomplish this useful cask, and to set the ex- ample afresh of separate State action in ac- coroance with the doctrines of the constitution, Rerpectable men should be selected in each State as electors; if they choose, voters may of the Correspomling Secretary of tne National Know Nothmg Council, publisaed ia Thars- day's Heranp, that the repert of a split among the leaders of the party in this State was un- founded, and likewise that the ramors put in circulation with regard to the supposed canvass or President were destitute of truth. Mr. Desbler’s assurance will be good news to many who feared that the new party was being already weakened by divisions produced by jealousy and rivalry. This was the great danger to ve apprebended; if the Know No- things elude it, the rest is certain. Crowds are flooking: deily to enroll them-elves in the ranks. Already, it is said, nearly two thousand lodges with a-eouple of hundred thousand votes are counted in the State of New York alone; a similar developement has been witnessed in Virginia; altogether it is not likely that there are less than 15,000 loéges in the various States of the Union. These lodges are mainly com- posed of respectable men. They count no bullies or professional election-mongers among them; bur consist of solid substantial citizens who are sick of the corruptions of the old parties, and seek to restore our politics to a decent footing. There are at present two points towards which she attention of the Know Nothing order is main)y directed. The first of these is the @eteat of Wilham H. Seward, candidate for Senator; the other that of Henry A. Wise, can- didate for Governor of Virginia. These two inscribe on the back of their ticket the name of bim they desire to see Presideat; and the +lectors of all the States shonld unite and try to agree upon some one man. If they cannot agree, the highest names should be sent to the dc use of Representatives, and a choice there mide in accordance with the constitution. This would be the greatest revolution that has taken place in vur politics this century. Tuer Kixyry Expepirion to Central AMERI- ca—Its Aims anv Opsects.—A most important project has lately been set on foot by certain citizens on our Southera borders—being noth- ing less than the formation of a company to colonise that rich and luxuriant, but hitherto mucb neglected and abused country, Central America. For years a controversy has been going on between Washington and Downing street in relation to this territory, and the recent accession of California has brought tle matter more prominently before the public, in- asmuch as the disputed territory lies directly in the great highway between the Atlantic and the Pacific. That it is importent that this re- public should gain a foothold on this soil will, then, be conceded at once, It is under theee circumstances that Colonel Kinney, of Texas, William Cost Johnson, Robt. J. Walker, and their associates, have organized a company for the avowed purpose of settling @ portion of Central America as an independent republic. The stockholders have held their men, in different ways, may be regarded as types of the order of politicians produced by the present eystem of corrupt electioneering. The one sprung in direct line from the fathers of corruption in the North; the other is fully identified with the horribly corrapt adminis- tration at present bolding office at Washington. Both foresaw long since tbat a new party based on the introduction of honesty and morality into politics woull necessarily treat them as enemies; and both anticipated the inevitable blow by a frank declaration of war against Know Nothingism. There is no concea'ment or room fr quibbling on this point. Either the Know Nothings must defeat Seward and Wise. or Wise and Seward must defeat the Know Nothings. The importance of the conflict bears ab exact proportion to the consequence of the States in which it is waged. If Wise and Seward are defeated, the Know Nothing revo- lusion will have gone as far as it can go until the Presidential eléction; if they are success- ful, it will receive a check which will materially retard its progress. To stop it altogether is impossible. The re- volution whose first ripple broke against the shores of this country some months ago, is more than political; it is moral and social; it sweeps into the home of the citizen as wel) as the hall of the legislator. For twenty years aud more the old Van Buren and Seward cliques in the North bave been sedulously engaged in sacrificing the morals of the nation to political intrigues. It was under their inspiration that the rum bottle became an essential ingredient in political movements; that the place of bonor at party councils was allotted to vagabonds last meeting; Col. Kinney is making prepara- tions for the immediate occupation of the terri- tory, and William Cost Johnson has been elected President of the company. Mr. Molina, the Minister of Costa Rica, has protested against the alleged right of the com- papy to settle on lands granted to them by his Majesty of Mosquito, and the Secretary of State of the United States has replied to Mr. Moiva in a.menner which shows that our government regards with a favorable eye the enterprise of Colonel Kinney aod his associates. Mr Marcy tells Mr. Molina that the govern meut of the United States caanot interfer with the peaceful colonization of the territory. aud that the question of whether or not the Moquito King had a right to make the grants is a matter which must be settled by the tribu- nals of the State in which the disputed territo- ry is situated. This is the substance of all that has yet bean made public with regard to this important scheme. We have, however, from the highest authority, a complete account of the aims and objects of the expedition. It resembles, in its nature, the expedition which was planned here more than twenty years ago, and which, under General Sam Houston, succeeded in colonizing Texas, then in relieving the territo- ry from the government of Mexico, and finally in annexing it to to the Union, as one of the sovereign States in the confederacy. The South American States are all distin- guished for the luxuriance of their soil. The gifts of nature have nowhere else been shower- ed so liberally, and nowhere else have they been £0 much neglected, especially since the and rowdies; and finally that the business of | abolition of African servitude. Ever since the governing the country was taken ont of the | time (thirty years ago) when these States chang- hands of the citizens at large and usurped by a | ed their system of government and labor, they band of corrupt adventurers, Foc when | have been gradually declining in wealth and dronkenness and fighting became invariable | importance. The climate is such that labor concomitants of elections quiet respectabie citi- | can only be successfully carried on by the sys- zens could not be persuaded to vote on any | tem of African servitude which once enriched terms. The restraint of their presence removed, | these States, to the same extent that its aboli- license throve, and electioneering affairs grew | tion has since impoverished them. The island more desperately depraved than ever. It is beyond a doubt that the progress of drunken- ness in this and other States is in a great measure due to the encouragement the vice has received from political leaders at elections; and that the very men who are now clamorous for a Maine Law were among those who by pre- cept and exemple helped the bottle go round till ithas sapped society. Now, it is the first cardinal principle of the Know Nothing organi- zation to put an end to all this, and to estab lish a thorough divoree between rowdyism and rum on the one side and polities on the other. Their councils are composed of peaces ble orderly men who neither get drunk them- selves nor hire others to drink and fight. Should they obtain the supremacy throughout the Union next year, a woaderful change will be effected at the polls. The remnants of the old parties, and the knots of corrapt polfticians which adhere to the present administration will doubtless preserve their ancient characteristics, and their henchmen will be seen rolling in gutters, while the black bottle will continue to figure conspicuously on the table whereat their deliberations are held. But nothing of the kind will be seen among the Know Nothiags. What councils they hold will be sober ones; what votes they poll will be unaccompanied by thick sticks, unseasoned with profane language, and unawed by troops of shoulder hitters They wil! eadeavor at all events to obtain and carry on the government of this country with- out the ald of violence or profligacy. There is enough in this novelty alone to ensure the ultimate success of the revolution How earnest is the desire of the respectable portion of the community to put an end to the vice which is rampant among us, can be seen from the zealous endeavors of one large set to poss a Probibitory Liquor law, whereby the natural liberty of the citizen would be sacri- fioed to the necessity for suppressing drank- ennese. How much better would it be, instead of Cuba is, at this moment, more valuable than all the South American States, and simply for the reason above stated. The original ex- pedition to Texas introduced the system of African servitude into that State, and the re- sult has proved beneficial both to the whites and blacks, The object of the Kinney expedi- tion is similar. Its leaders purpose to set up the system of African servitude in Central America, probably by the introdaction of slaves from the Southern States. We are fully aware of the fact that the country along the sea shore—that great marshy jungle that we hear so much about—is dreadfully sickly for white men, especially Europeans, but it is pre- cisely the climate for the Atrican. He will fatten and be happy under it, and by his labor it will be rendered twenty times more pro- ductive than ever. Whites or Indians can do nothing in such @ country, bat the African finds bimself better adapted for physical labor in it than anywhere else. Mr. Molina opposed the Kinney colony, but we do not think that he would seriously object to the introduction of the same system into his own State and among his own people. We do not suppose that in these hard times the projectors of the Kinney colony are over- burdened with cash; but if they could relieve us of the free blacks at the North they would do an essential service to all parties coacerned. It would help them, relieve us, and be advan- tageous to the negroes. And we would sag- gest to Mr. Downing, the celebrated oyster house keeper, the propriety of immediately calling a convention of the free negroes, and seriously deliberate upon the proposition to sell themselves to the new settlers of Central America, They will in that country be the happiest and fattest of Africans, aud our poor houses will be relieved of a serious barden; and we would also advise Jobn Mitchel to lose no time io seonring a grant of land in the new colopy—the negroes will be fat eaough—and the ardent wish of his her 24 may at last be gratified. We have heretofore be om rather hostile to this project of Col. Kir sey and his associates; bat as it seems to lor « towards the regenera- tion of the Soutb. american States—which have been declir ag for thirty years, ever sinee they decle req all men free and equal, which they We se not, in fact—we do not see why the plan, should not have a fair chance of succeeding, we well as the Pacific railway, the telegraph, to California, the telegraph across the At! antic, or any other great national en- terpr’ ise, "ga Case ov Carrain Gissos—Tae BELMoxt (soxsrmacy—TreacHERy AND IGNORANCE OF Marcy.—The lecter from one of our Washing- ton correspondents, in this paper, on the case of Captain Gibson, throws considerable additional light upon this curious subject. It appears that the personal enmities of Belmont and his financial Kitchen Cabinet affiliations have been mainly instrumental in causing this just claim of a deeply injured American citizen to be abandoned by the Cabinet, and thrown upon Congress without a word of recommendation in his behalf, and without a word upon the subject in the annual meseage. The vacillations of Marcy upon the subject are also presented in a very strong jight. From the facts thus given, it is difficult to say whe- ther his ignorance or treachery predoninates {n the outset he took hold of the case with that apparently positive energy which promised a speedy and satisfactory settlement; but in the end, under the argaments of Cashing, Belmont and Forney, we find our Premier stultitying himself, in dropping the case, upon the pitiful plea that we cannot go behind the forms of law as administered in despotic countries to the real motives of their legal outrages upon an innocent stranger. In other words, we can { demand reparation in the case of Captam Gibeon because the outrages inflicted upon him by the Dutch authorities of Java and Sumatra were according to the Dutch laws of those islands, barbarous though they may be, and utterly inconsistent with the usages of social and commercial intercourse among civilized nations. They are the laws of the lo- cality, and we must submit to them. Do not the Solons of the administration, including Pierce, Marcy and Cushing, perceive that this doctrine leaves them no ground to stand upon in reference to the Black Warrior and other outrages against our citizens and commerce perpetrated under the authosy of the local laws of the Island of Cuba? But so it is. The Belmont and Kitchen Cabinet conspiracy against Gibson have pre vailed, and Marcy surrenders. Tne case is laid before Congress without a recommenda- tion, which is equivalent to a recommendation that the claim be rejected. We trust, however, that the Committee on Foreign Affairs will go behind the loose and barbarous code of Java to the supreme laws and usages governing the intercourse of the people of one civilized na- tion with another, and instruct the administra- tion upon this case accordingly. The personal malice of Belmont and the Kitchen Cabinet, and the ignorance of Marcy, should not be permitted to establish a precedent which will endanger the lives and property of Americans in all the outside corners of the world, in leav- ing them at the mercy of such savage forms of justice as those experienced by Captain Gibson. The adminstration have substantially con- fessed that the inaugural wasa hambuag and tie Koszta letter a stupid imposition; but these confessions should never justify such a wretched mockery of justice to an American citizen as this decision of the Cabinet upon the case of Captain Gibson. Let this imbecile, in- triguing, end incompetent administration be instructed in its duties by the higher authority of Congress. The future safety of every Ame- rican ship and of every American citizen touching at the Dutch East India islands is in- volved in this case of Captain Gibson. A Bor Arrempr or THe Krrcnen Caprver To PLUNDER THE Pustic Treasury—RepreM- inc Hovesty or Secretary Gurarm.—We publish this morning a Washington letter from the National Democrat, of this city, which discloses the facts in the late shameless and persevering effort of the Kitchen Cabinet at Washington, to extort from the United Stats treasury a little Galphin claim, of the snug sum, in these hard times, of twenty thousand dollars. The specifications of this letter are substantially the same as those communicated tous from another source on Thursday evening last, with a trifling exception or two. According to the statement of our informant, after the President had sworn that the bill should be paid, and after he had tried the legal know- ledge upon the subject of Caleb Cushing to no purpose, Secretary Guthrie was sent for to come over to the White House ; and over he went. The President asked him if, fortified as he was by the written opinion of the Attorney Gene- ral, he could not pay over the money? Guthrie promptly replied—‘ No, sir, not a cent ofit—it was not authorized by Congress, in my judg- ment; but, Mr. President, your object may be attained in another way. You may remove me, or I can resign, and some other person may be substituted who is open to conviction, You may remove me, or I will resign, whichever to you may be deemed most advisaple; but I can- not, by God, as Secretary of the Treasury, al- low that money to be paid.” “Oh! no, no!” replied Gen. Pierce soothingly; “no resig- nation—nothing of the kind—I meant no- thing of the kind. You are, perhaps, right. We will let the matter rest for the pre- sent.’ And so Guthrie stalked out of the White House the victor, and “to the victor belongs the spoils.” Let justice be done to Guthrie We can almost excuse his rough and despotic treatment of Judge Bronson, in view of this re- deeming affair of the twenty thousand dollars, His unflinching honesty proved too strong for the united forces of the Kitchen Cabinet, the Attorney General and the. President. He would rather surrender the keys of the trea- sury than permit its unlawful spoliation. Right. The spoilsmen have missed their man. For the uses of the Kitchen Cabinet Guthrie was a most unwise appointment. He is the richest man in Kentucky—worth nearly two millions in real estate, flat boats and other moveables. He has money enough to be inde- pendent, and he is independent enough to be perfectly honest. He can look with contempt upon the paltry commission of two or three thousand for the payment of an unlawfal bill of twenty thousand, should even this be added to the opinion of the Attorney General. Considering the shortness of the official tenure remaining to this Kitchen Cabinet, and the necessity of improving their time, in yiew of the spoils, we now demand that Guthrie shall stand fast at his post. Let him remem- ber, too, that if he should go off to Kentucky in advance of a lawful settlement of this question of the twenty thousand, some locum tenens may be appointed for the interval, who will | fork over the cash. But, above all, it is the duty of Congress to ask for the facts in this case from the President, or the Secretary of the | Treasury, and to pronounce a judgment be- | tween them. We think that Mr. Lyon, or Mr. | Walbr dge, or John Wheeler, will perceive at once the propriety of @ resolution upon the subject. Did Congress, in ite gratuity of the last session, intend to include the Kitchen | Cabinet to the tune of twenty thousand dollars among the pages, sweeps and messengers of the House, or not? That is the question. A Tnwzy Orrer.—We publisn this morning a generous note from Paul Julien, the youthful artist, whoee violin performances have so often delighted our musical circles. Master Julien offers his professional services in any form that they can be made available, for the relief of the working classes in this city. We trust that his example will be followed by other artists, and that arrangements tor a charity concert will be made at once. Very Sorr.—Some of the papers say that Fernando Wood, Mayor elect of New York, Ho- ratio Seymour, ex-Governor, and Erastus Coru- ing, politician, have each subscribed five thon- sand dollars to start a “sott’? daily newspaper | in this city. It it be so, the paper will be soft enough, and the contributors still softer. THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Non-Arrival of the Atlantic. Saxpy Hook, Dec 20—1 A. M. | ‘We have no tidings yet of the steamer Atlantic, now | in her fourteenth day from Liverpool. The weather is | clear, cold, and s heavy Northwest blowing. From Washington. | GEN. CASS AND ACOUSTICS—MR. BADGER AND MORE PAY—COUNTEBFEIT BANK NOTES, RTC. Wasurxaton, Dec. 29,1854. | In the Senate to-day Mr. Cass gave notice when the | army appropriation bill was referred, that -when the bill came up he should call on the Committee of Finance to state what provision had been made for the means of ventilation and of hearing in the new Senate chamber in the capitol extensions. He hoped better success ‘would attend the present efforts for those ends than had ‘been achieved in the new houses of the British Parlia- ment. A remonstrance was presented against the renewal of | the patent for McCormick’s reaping machine. On Tuesday Mr. Badger will call up the bill providing for the increase of compensation of the Judges of the Supreme Court and members of Congress. Well executed counterfeit five dollar bills on the Bank of the Valley of Virginia, and tens and twenties on the Merchants’ Bank of Lynchburg, are now in circulation here. The Star contradicts the report in cireulation, that the government were about to purchase the Galapagos Islauds. Interesting from Albany. THE STATE PRISON INVESTIG ATION—RICH DEVELOPE- MENTS EXPECTED— EP®FECT OF THE LAST KNOW NOTHING TRIUMPH, ETS. ETC. ALpany, Dec. 29, 1854, The State Prison Commission have just completed their investigations of the affairs of the State institutions, and are now in thia city preparing their report. It will be submitted to the Legislature at an early day, With re- gard to the Clinton and Auburn, no material errors of importance have been discovered; but it is very different in relation to the Sing Sing. The committee find a debt against that establishment of over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, contracted by its official agents, the payment of which the Legislature must provide for im- mediately. ‘The report will be a rich one, and will show up how matters have been managed. The special committee appointed by Governor Sey- mour to look into the charges preferred against Prison Inspectors Clark and Storms, and aleo those subse- quently laid against Inspector Kirkpatrick, have de- clined to enter into the investigation. Two members of the committee absolutely declined to serve, stating that the testimony elicited by the Commission, who have spent much time on prison matters during the summer, would present all the facts necessary for executive or legislative action. The election of Elisha Whalan to the Legislature by the Know Nothings, in Orleans county, by one thou- sand majority, falls likea wet blanket upon the barn- . burners and Sewardites, This triumph on the eve of the meeting of the Legislature, when all eyes are di- rected towards the United States Senate question, is re- garded by all personally disinterested men as the most emphatic and decided blow which the Know Nothings have yet given W. H. Seward. A case of suspected poison has been under investiga- tion in this city, before a Coroner’s jury, several days. In attempting to arrive at a verdict yesterday, the jury found themselves unable to agree upon a verdict, and were discharged. The Coroner was about to summon another panel, when the District Attorney informed him that it was unnecessary to summon another jury, as the arrest of a person charged with the crime of poisoning the deceased lady, rendered it necessary that a police examination must be had, when all the facts would be elicited. The case was brought before the police court this afternoon, when after a full investigation, the per- son accused was discharged from confinement. The parties are among our most esteemed citizens of the, what is distinguished, as the middle class. The lady of Governor Clark and family arrived from Canandaigua yesterday. They remain at a hotel until Monday, when the house occupied by Governor Seymour will be vacated by him, and the family of his successor take possession. The new Governor and Lieutenant Governor will be sworn into office, at 12 o'clock on Monday, at the Capi- tol. Immediately thereafter, his Excellency will retire to the Executive Chamber, when the doors will be thrown open to allow the masses to have their first sight of a Governor pledged to sign the Maine Probibitory Liquor Law. The weather is again cold, and the ice bridge across the river here will again be strong enough to sustain the immense quantity of railroad freight seeking desti- nation South, East and West. Great Fire in Toronto—Loss $200,000. Torosto, Deck 29, 1864. A destructive fire occurred last night in the large cabinet manufactory of Messrs. Jacques & Hayes, one of the most extensive establishments in Canada. The flames were discovered about half-past ten o’clock, in the varnishing room, situated in an old building, and, owing to the combustible nature of the contents, all efforts to stay the progress of the fire werein vain. The exertions of the firemen were then directed to save the fine new building adjoining, recently erected; but the immense height of the walls rendered it impossible to get the streams from the engines to bear upon the flames with sufficient efficacy, and in a short time the new building was likewise one burning mass. The stock of finely seasoned lumber was entirely con- into & hard, firm ice; that soft slush that has ‘hithe FS _____F From the West. OPENING OF PHE ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILNOAD— TEE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE, ETC. Burraro, Dec. 29, 1854. ‘The main trunk of the Illinois Central Railroad, from» Chicago to Cairo, opens for traffic on the 8th of January, and the branch from Cairo to Galena on the 15th. Despatches from Jefferson City to the St. Louis Repub- lican give the following report of the proceedings in the Missouri Legislature om Monday and Tuesday :-— In the Senate, Mr. McCracken (anti-Bentonite) twas elected Secretary, and in the House Wm. Newland(whig) was elected Speaker, twenty of the Benton mea voting » for him. ‘The Governor's message had not been delivered at the date of the despatebes. The whig members of the House have adopted a plat- form, in which they discountenance, in every way, the | efforts of thefree soilers and abolitionists to continue the agitation of slavery in Congress, or out of it; and they declare they will not vote for any person for Sena- tor who is not favorable to the Nebraska bill and op~ posed to ite repeal. From FATAL AFYRAY— DBATH OF A MERCHANT, FTC. PuILapELrata, Dec. 29, 1854. Andrew Dunbar was shot in this city last night by Joseph McKenny. They had been toa tavern, and as they resided in the same neighborhood, retursed home together. When at the door of McKenny’s house, a° quarrel ensued, during which Dunbar was shot with 9 pistol and died this mornieg. He leaves a wife and two children. Robert Burten, an esteemed merchant of this city, died this morning, aged 70 years, A snow storm has prevailed here this moruing, thaw - ing as it fell, but it is now clearing off and growing colder, with a northwest wind. From Boston, DECISION IN THE CA8B OF THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE CANADA AND OCEAN—ARREST OF A POST OFFICE CLERK, ETC. Bostox, Dec. 29, 1854. ‘The Board of Inspectors for the ports of Boston and Charlestown have made a report on the recent collision between the Cunard steamship Canada and the steam. boat Ocean, in Boston harbor. Their report tends to exonerate the pilot and the captain of the Canada from blame, and revokes the licenses of Richard Donovan, captain of the Ocean, and George Stephens and James Collins, pilots on board at the time of the collision. Joseph E. Spear, employed in the Boston Post Office, and who was discharged by Postmaster Bailey, some days since, on suspicion of dishonesty, was arrested | this afternoon charged with stealing from the mail. Spear confesses his guilt, and has given up nine hun- dred dollars, which he had rified from letters. He re- | mains in custody for examination. \ A brisk snow storm commenced here about two o’clock which has continued all the afternoon, but melting al- most ax fast as it falls. Death of Ex-Governor Morehead. n Cixcrvxan, Dec. 29, 1854. Ex-Governor Morehead, of Kentucky, died at his re- sidence, in Covington, last night, in the fifty-eight year ot his age. The Ohio River continues to rise, and there is feet of water in the channel. Death by Drowning. Provipence, Dec. 29, 1854. Frederick Smith, aged eighteen years, son of Oliver Smith, was drowned in the Taunton river, oppo- site Somerset, last evening, while attempting to cross in @ boat, which filled. Two others, who were with him at the time, swam safely to the shore. Destruction of the New Orleans Mechanics” Institute by Fire. New Ortxays, Dec 26, 1854. The building occupied as the Mechanics’ Institute, im this city, was entirely destroyed by fire this evening. The Ohio River at Wheeling. WHEELING, Dec. 29, 1854. In the Ohio river at this point, there is twelve feet of water, and it continues rising. Boston, Dec. 29-7 P. M. The snow storm which commenced here this afternoon still continues. s PortTLaNnD, Dec. 29—8 P. M. A storm of rain and snow commenced here this evening. SpRINGFIELD, Dec, 29-8 P. M. Tt commenced snowing here at half-past ten, A. M.,. and continued until five, P.M. It is now.clear, and the now or hermometer is falling fast. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD, PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 29, 1854. Stocks were firm at our first board this morning, ‘at the following quotations:—Reading, 363; Long Island RR., 1814; Morris Canal, 12; Penn. State 6's, 64; Poun. RR., 4234. Gur money market is tight. New 26, 1854. tig Our cotton market is firm for the qualities; bu’ inferior descriptions are ited. The sales to-da; were 3,500 bales, at 8c. a 8%c. for middling. Sales of 5,000 8 Rio coffee, at Sie. a 8Xc. RLESTON, Dec. 28, 1854. The sales of the week in the cotten market here sum Civcixnat, Dec. 20, 1854. The seen, ene is easy. We quote Eastern Ex- change at a half toone per cent. premium. Hogs are woe eee ‘25 per bbl. Lard is © per Th improvements which have recently been made in sub- marine exploring machines, have led to the formation of companies to carry on the pearl fisheries, to seek for the recovery of treasure, and for the construction of railroad bridges, piers, &c. The bark Emily Banning is now at the Atlantic Docks, fitting out for s pearl fishing expedition. The capital stock of this company is $100,000. The machines of the Nautilus Sub-marine Company of this city, three of which are on board this. dark, are capable of working at depths of 150 feet. can be held in suspension at any point, and be moved at pleasure on or near the bottom, thus affording means of passing over large areas of ground daily. The character of the officers and engineers of this vessel is second to none in the country, and augurs well for the success of theexpedition. The machinery since in the presence of a very who were entirely satisfied of the entire ticability of the machinery of the Nautilus ‘Sub-maries Cocspes: for all sub-marine work—laying stone piers and breakwa- ters, pearl, coral and sponge fisheries, as well as saving wrecked property. One of these machines saved one hundred thousand dollars of treasure in thirty-six feet water inone half hour. On Hogg @ party of eight (including four ladies) descended. yy remained sub- merged some three-quarters of an hour, drinking a bot- tle of wine with appropriate sentiments. This is the first time that such a large patt of ladies has ever de- scended under water; a fair inference can be drawn rent, or the descent would utilus Company, we undew contracts for building piers z stand, have at present la on most important works—sucb as the railroad bridge at Susquehanna river, (some of the piers are in fifty feet water;) two railroad bridges at Norfolk, &. A new era has opened, by which the most important works of lay- ing telegraph wires under beds of rivers, blasting rocks, &e., can be carried on. This company own patents and privileges throughout the globe, and have a number of wrecks with large amounts of treasure in various parte cf the world, lying in from fifty to ninety fect water, which they intend to work at an early moment. Tus Wsatuxx.—We were favored yesterday with @ very shabby specimen of a snow storm. During the morning it gave every promise of being something da cent, and young gentlemen and ladies of sleigh-riding- propensities had visions of jingling bells and rides on the avenues without number. But evening came, and with it an ‘‘eager and nipping frost,” that stopped the snow and converted the streets into a treacherous sen of glass to the unwary pedestrian. The intense cold, however, produced one good mud, that for some days rte streets. We sumed, together with the greater part of the stock of | hope it will continue freezing until new contractors are goods, and all the valuable machinery. ‘The loss cannot be less than £40,000, only one-tenth of which is covered by insurance. The buildings being appointed. Coroner’s Inquest. AccipENTALLY DrowNep.—Coroner Hilton held an in- isolated, and a strict watch kept, it was not deemed re- | quest yesterday upon the body of William H. Maine, quisite to insure fer any large amount, The factory | mate of the schooner New York, who was drowned on was the oldest establiehment in the city, and employed Thursday night by accidentally falling overboard. If over two hundred men. Mr. Jacques was seriously | 9 peared from the testimony of Capt. Aidkins, of the burned during the fire. New York, that on the above Cr sagen pos oa —_— _—_—__ self started to go to the city from Marder and Robbery at Naugatuck. lay outside of the schooner at pier No. 16, East New Haves, Dec. 29, 1364. river. Capt, Aidkins got om shore without any difficul- A horrible aiTair occurred at Naugatack, in this county, Maine, te, was not about two o’clock this morning. The house of Henry he fe! we WO. int Sours was broken open and robbed of $200. Mra. | Water benenth, and vas trowned before he could be rea~ Sears’ head was fractured by the burglars, and her el young child, who was sleeping with her, was murdered, to prevent any alarm being given. Mr. Sears was sleep- ing in another part of the house, and was not awakened. The murderers are yot at large. Political pec ong Towa Unrrep STatas Sevator.—The Legislatare met in Convention, for the second time, on the 2Ist instant, for the purpose of electing a United States Senator. Af- ter several ineffectual baliotings the convention adjourn ed to meet again on the bth o1 Cw fh eae On the first ballot the vote stood: Harlan, 47; Dodge, 43; scat. tering 9, Before the third ballot was taken the name of General Dodge was withdrawo, when the vote stood:— Harlan, furionist,. Cook, national whig. Beatlering, Arrival of the Southern Mall. Bautiworr, Deo. 29, 1854. By the arrival of the Southern mail, as late as due, we have received New Orleans papers of last Saturday, but they contain no news.