The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1855, Page 4

84 NEW YORK HERALD. 74” gs GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. STFC 4 x, W. CORNER OF NASSSU AND FULTON STB. SM BEES one oo onyn con annum. i reamed were tam WEERLY HERALD cry Baturday at 6% cents oo mung the Maregean cities Bases oe, Meany bert of Grocl Britain oad Ge ane pared both to inESPONDENC: Raney OSURESP ONDENCE, containing impor, Tmenee eolarited, oat ae liboraily patd for. “wo tOun Poanten Comnmros, Dare ane ARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL Taerrene Awv PAOMAGES £ENT Vs. jo. 11 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ROADWAY THEATRE, Brosdway—Boueman Gint —Inisn Turor. BOWERY THEATRE, Boweryj—Werr oy Tum Wisn- Won-Wisn—Jack Suzrranp—Timoun. BURTON’S THEATRE, @oncz anv Ber Macic Cur. hambers strect—Toopis— BLIOATE GROUND. WALLACK’S THEATKE, Brondwsy—Tuz Prison ayn Parscr—Tue Sistene—New Foormay. METROFOLITAN THEATRE, Brosdway—Eqursrmiax woRwancis--Ex Hypen. RICAN MUSEUM—Afterneon—Livine roo Pasr— B Guoer ix arrre ov Hiweriy. Evoning—Inon Kino— Basen Beant Never Won Parr Lavy. MECHANICS’ HALL, 472 Brosdway. BUCKLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, 539 Broadway—Buex- aae’e Krusorian Orzna TRovre. Wew York, Friday, January 12, 1855. News for the Pacific. ‘The rteamship Star of the West, Captain FE. W. Turner, “will Jeave thin port this afternoon, at 3 o’clock, for Panta arevas. The New Yorn Huensip—California edition—contain- img all the latest news by muil and telegraph from all parte of the world, will be published at eleven o'clock ‘Mus morning. Agents will please send in their orders one carly ae porsible. Tho News. ‘The steamship Baltic, from Liverpool on the 29:h wit., arrived here yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock. ‘Her news is less important than might have been expected. No change has taken place at Sebastopol. Rain- Porcements, amounting in all to 18,000 men, had ‘been received by the allies by December 18, and 4,000 Turke had landed at Eupatoria. The French had mounted their batteries on the third, parallel. @n the night of the 6th, the Russians evacuatedthe vedoubie at Balaklava, carrying with them eighty. five pieces of artillery. By the 15th the damage done by the rain to the allies’ works had ben re- paired. It issaid that the Rossians have removed part of their artillery to the ships, twenty-two of which are equipped for sea. Sorties took place fre- quently, but the Russians were generally repulsed. Gen. Menschikoff was sick, and the command had Sevolved on Osten Sacken. The Czar’s sons have seturned to St. Petersburg. ‘The Czar is concentrating troops round Moscow and on the Austrian frontier—looking, it is said, to ‘the possibility of a decidei rapture with Austria. A ukaee, dated St.Petersburg, denounces death as the puniehmert of murdering woundedagoldiers on the field of battle. ‘The royal aseent was given tothe bill for the en- Tetment of foreign soldiers on 234 December, after which both houses adjourned tc 234 January. The government is becoming decidedly unpopular. The ‘Trmes attacks it with unmeasured severity, aud a ebange of ministry may be expected. On the 26th ult, the Emperor Napoleon opened the French Chambers wit a speech, which will bo ound elsewhere. He holds cut no prospect of peace, ond calls for s loan of 500,000,000 france, which was voted by tke legislative body. The wpeech was well received by all parties, but de- pressed the fand:. A story ie circulated to the effect that 15,000 Byaniah volunteers are to bs placed at the disposal ef the allies by the government of Spain. Mr. Boulé was present st s sitting in the Chamber, fo which the sale of Cuba was discussed. The Sa: tieh government refused to admit the principle that the flag covered the goods carried under it. M. Usedom,a Pruesiac envoy, bad arrived in London, and speculation was rife on the subject of his migsion. It wes supposed by those best in- formed to be only to watch events. A conference ‘was being held at Vienna, at the rooms of Lord ‘Weetmoreland, (who was ill,) between the repre sentatives of the great Powers. A correspondent of the Zimes, writing from Turin, gives av icteresting review of tho present complicated state of Italian politics, and notices the renewed activity of the revolutionis‘s for the promotion of their objects. It is hinted that tie Prater are fell of Russian agents, who, it is alleged, stimulate the Mizzini party to action, avd actually afford fonde. We give the letter, with on im- portant address from the National Agsembly to the patriots, and ihe latest manifesto of Mazzini. In commercia] snd financial affaira there had been no change of importance. We have received a lexter from our correspondent at Oaraccas, dated on 16th Dec., ia which the same dismal picture of social disorganization, sum: Mary executions, and execative misrule, which have Jong prevailed there, is again presented to view. Gres’ preparations were being made to re- ceive the newly elecizd President, Jose Tadeo Mo- magne, in something like imperial state. The paper ourrency wae depreciated to the lowest ebb, and ‘the bilis were being bought up by agents of the government. Cholera wae devastating the eastern section of the country, and eight hundred personas hed died in the city of Comana in twenty days of ‘the disense. In the United States Senate yesterday, the Pa- @ific Railroad bill and the bill authorizing the con- wraction of public buildings at Piattsburg, were weferzed to cemmittece. A bill providing for the wale of Rock island was passed. The Congressioaal @ompensation bill wae debated by Mr. Gillette in the negative, and Messre. Badger and Toucey in the affirmation, asd laid aside. The Bounty Land bill aad the Judic'al Reform bill wore also dis:usied ‘and passed over, and afier a abort exezu‘ive session the Bemate 26} ourned. Is the House of Representatives the Koow Noth- Sag question excluded all other considera:ions. The House went into com nit’ee at an early hoor, nomi- pally on the Pacific Railroad bill, when Mr. Chand- Jer, whig, from Philadelptia, a native of Cape Cod, zeplied to the Know Nothing speech of Mr. Banks, ef Moesachuretts, asserting that the head of the R> _ Mee Ostholic church does not claim the right to fmterferé With te jclitical affaire of any country, dot thet of which he & the govert!om, 2c antouno- tug himself ready, with every other Roman Catholic, to resist such sn assumption whenever made. Mr. ox, of Kentucky, expressed himself favorable to ‘the doctrines of the Know Nothings, and also his welief in the vitality of the whig party. Mr. Per- keine, of Louisiana, made some remarks in support ef the propos a reform in the diplomatic and censu- ay system, which had a decided Know Nothing ten- dency. Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, will probably give his views on the inevitable subject today. ‘The principal feature of importance in the Board ef Aldermen last evening was the first message from Mayor Wood, which will be found in crtenso im our report of the proceedings, and is commented ‘open in another column. The Board, o1 motion of Alderman Howard, concurred by 2 vote of 12 to 10 with the resolution of the Councilmen so frequently before this body, to employ s number of labcrers at 1 2 day to raze to the ground the ruins of the o'd wailding im the Park. A resolation for @ special committee to consider the establishment of ragged sebools for the children who are wandering through the streets, was adopted. beld o meeting last } the — ‘NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1855. the ensuing year. Horace F. Clark was chosen President. He made s long speech on assuming the chain, in which he declared bis determination to op- pose any attempt at fusion with the softs, unless they proposed better terms than they had hereto- fore done. The committee was quite full, and they ‘warmly applauded the sentiment of the speaker. More to-morrow. We understand that Gov. Clark has appointed Mr. Charles B. Birdsall, Police Justice, ia place of Judge Stuart, resigned. Mr. B. will oecupy the position until the ist of next January, when the Justice chosen at the next election will fill the vacancy. Our legislators st Albany, although hardly yet warm in their seats, are vigorously at work framing Jaws specially for this city. Among the movements that were most promizent yesterday were the bills providing two additional justices of the Marine Court, and for breaking up the Consolidated Stage Company. The bill relative to property and money found upon persons arrested for crime, which wa publish elsewhere, is a measure that has long been needed, and the sooner it goes into pra:tical opera- tion the better. The bill to expedite the election of Gov. Clark’s suceessor in the Senate passed the Assembly without opposition, although it elicited considerable debate touching the propriety of the Governor’s course in the premises. The letter of our Albany correspondent gives some interesting information concerning matters at the capital, whizh our readers will no doubt pay attention to. A meeting of shipowners and agents was held yes- terday on Change, at which it was resolved unani- mously that the wages of shipcarpenters and caulker® along shore, should hereafter be $250 per day, ir- acre $3, and that of laborera $1 50, instead of Flour was in fair request yesterday, at uachanged prices, except for common State and Canadian brande, which were some easier to purchase at previous quotations. A cargo of common white Southern wheat sold at $2 22}. Corn was about one cent per bushel firmer. Mess pork, after the news, wes held 12}c. per barrel higher. Tnere continued tobe a good demand for pork, lard, beef and bacon, for export, both to Great Britain and France. Cotton was unaffected by the news, which was rather more favorable for that article than was ex- pected. Before the news 200 to 300 bales were sold, the market closing firm. The Question of Seward’s Re-Election—Pre- parations=—Importance of Defeating the ArcheAgitator, As the time for testing the strength of W. H. Seward in our new Legislature approaches, the preparations and combinations on both sides for the impending struggle begin to de- velope themselves in their full proportions. We detect them in various things among the proceedings of the Assembly; in the mancu- vrings of Thurlow Weed and his understrappers at Albany; in the continued presence of Se- ward himself at the Astor House, when, for decency’s sake, he should be at his post in Washington; in the tendencies of the adminis- tion free soilers; in the outside Seward conven- tion of Know Nothings at Schenectady; and in the extraordinary State Council of the regular Know Nothings in this city. All these move- ments and incidents tend to illustrate the im- portance attached to the coming contest be- tween the new Seward disunion anti-slavery alliance on the one hand, and the opposition forces of the Union and American conserva- tives on the other. The question of the re-election of the arch- agitator ie a test question in several important aspects. It is a test between the popular sentiment of loyalty to the Constitution and the Union, and the new and seditious anti- slavery league for sectional agitation and disunion—it is a test between the conservative Websier and Fillmore whigs of the State, and the whippers-in of Seward ; it is a test between the national democrats and the administration trading free soilers ; and last, though not least, it is a test between the new American national party called the Know Nothings, and Seward and his Northern anti-slavery leagne, and his sectional and disunion programme for the Presidency. The brunt of. the battle devolves upon the Know Nothings. The issue is of greater im- portance to them than have been the results of all the recent elections pnt together. These were but the preliminary skirmishes, establish- ing no very definite facts, except the workings ofa great popular revolution, seeking a vent through the most available breaches in the old demoralized parties of the day. True, the Know Nothings in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indi- ana, Michigan and elsewhere, have effectually “ crushed ont’’ the Cabinet spoils party in the North—true, that in Massachusetts, and to some extent, also, in our late New York elections, this new American organization have demoa- strated their hostility, and their power against the Seward Holy alliance, and the abolition societies in every shape and form; but here, upon this question of Seward’s re election, the Know Nothings are brought to a distinct, defi- nite, and direct issue of victory or defeat, with the arch-agitator himself. Hence this mustering of the reserves on both sides—hence the pipe layiog of Weed and his assistants at Albany—hence this spurious Know Nothing Seward convention at Schenectady— hence this protracted sojourn of Seward at the Astor House ; and hence this extra gathering in State Council of the dona fide regular Know Nothings in this city. If Seward is de- feated, his political existence is practizally ended. He falls back into the political impo- tence of Martin Van Buren—his career is stopped—his sectional anti-slavery progratame for the succession is demolished, and the coast is clear in the North. On the other hand, if Seward is re-elected, the Know Nothings will not only have their work to do over again here, but they will be materially damaged in the South, by their failure meantime to prove in New York their power and their national principles, It ie very probabie that the success or defeat of Henry A. Wise in Virginia depends upon the success or overthrow of Seward at this present eeselon of oar Legislature. Virgi- nia is the citadel—the Sebastopol of the Cabinet spoila democracy of the South. Defeat Wise as their candidate for Governor there, and they may be fairly considered as vanquished, from Virginia to Texas. The prestige which the Know Nothings will certainly achieve as a na- tional party in the defeat of Seward, can bard- ly fail of the best results in Virginia; while, on the other hand, the triamph of Seward will unquestionably be used with effect by the Wise coalition in maintaining the false accusation that the Know Nothings of this State are in the league of the seditious demagogue of Anburn. To this end we may safely charge the spurious Know Nothing aseemblage at Schenectady ; and for the same object we are apprised that the emirsaries of thé administration and of Tammany Hall are counselling their partisans at Albany to aid in the re-election of Seward. The recent purchase of the Albany .2rgus for vece Of the administration, bas Zoubtl bad something to do with this important-work ‘of securing Seward’s re-election. Of all men in the United States W. H. Seward has been most active and instrumental in producing the causes and consequences of our recent party revulsions and revolutions. He it was who, in 1840 or ’41, succeeded in inveigling Archbishop Hughes into the dirty squabbles of party pelitics on the school ques- tion. It was the smooth and treacherous de- vices of Seward that entrapped the Arch- bishop into the defilement of his clerical robes among the whiskey drinking Carbonari of Car- roll Hall. An anti-Catholic reaction followed, and riots, and conflagrations, and bloodshed; and next there arose the Native American party of 1844, They carried this city, they controlled the electiens in Philadelphia ; and though in the Presidential canvass of that year they were overshadowed by the two great old national parties in the field, the nucleus of the American party of 1844 has continued intact, till we find it absorbed in the overwhelming popular strength of the Know Nothings. So, too, if Seward was identified with the cause of Archbishop Hughes, for the sake of the Catho- lic vote, in the movement of 44, he and his agents were no less active for the same object in behalf of the policy of Bedini on the Catho- lie Church property question of the last year. Tracing, then, directly home to W. H. Seward this demoralizing and corrupting prac- tice of trading for the foreign and Catholic vote, which has broken up the late whig and democratic parties, shall we not also hold the prime conspirator himself responsible for his plots and treacheries against the public peace asa public man? .As the instigator of the ruin- ous practice to the Irish Catholics of holding their suffrages asa balance of power in our elections, he richly deserves to be broken upon the wheel; hut considering his earlier and later aftiliations with the anti-slavery societies, and eepecially his present formidable disunion scheme of sectional agitation, hatchsd out among the late pie-bald conventions of Sarato. ge, Syracuse and Auburn, his case imperiously calls for his speedy execution. The national whigsin the Legislature are few and feeble—the democracy are broken into fragments—the task devolves upon the new national and conservative party of the Know Nothings. They claim the strength—they know the importance of the issue and its conse- quences. Let them actaccordingly. Letthem defeat Seward, and not only will New York be redeemed, but Virginia will be regenerated, and the track, North and South, will thus be cleared of all obstructions for 1856. What say the Know Nothinge? Plans of Municipal Reform in the Legislature. We publish elsewhere three curious bills which have been recently introduced into the Legislature of New York. One, which is fa- thered by Mr. Stuyvesant, aims at amending the law regulating the Police Department by substituting for the present commissioners a new body of four men, named in the bill, and whose successors are hereafter to be elected by the people. The bill further declares that on Ist of July, 1855, the term of office of the present Chief of Police shall expire, and the validity of all appointments by him made shall be annulled; and that he shall be succeeded by another Chief of Police to be appointed by the commissioners. This is a fair sample of the style of legislation in fashion at Albany. Were the bill to become law, no conceivable benefit would be conferred upon the community. No reason can be brought forward to show that the new commissioners would answer better than the old ones, or that a Chief of Police who should serve only four years would perform his work better than one eppointed during good behavior. Onthe contrary, the bill would ag- gravate the present crying evil of divided au- thority, by raising up a new power in the shape of four commissioners independent of the May- or and of every one else; it would ensure to the city an inefficient ignorant Chief of Police every four years at least; and it would help four gentlemen to fatten on the treasury at the rate of $3,000 a year apiece. This, in truth, is the secret of the whole affair. The object of the bill ia to supersede Mr. Matsell for the benefit of some one in the background, and to feed four anonymous cormorants. It isby no means the first attempt of the kind that has been made. It has long been the custom for disappointed applicants for office to oarry their sorrows to Albany and to seek to repeal | or amend the law so as to enable them to obtain the place they failed to secure under its provisions. If Mr. Stuyvesant’s bill succeeds, Mr. Matsell will be thrown overboard anda fresh man appointed. In July, 1859, the term of office of the latter will expire, and he will be superseded in his turn ; whereupon his dis- appointed rivals will go to Albavy and have the Jaw altered once more so as to provide for them. Talk of the paternal government of the Czar! Give us a snug republic f es ig rep for cariag for Then a Mr. Aitkin proposes quite seriously to “legalize primary elections in the city of New Ycrk ;” and this at a time when the vice and the corruption and the scandal and the rot- tennees of the hideous sham called primary elections stink in the nostrils of every honest man. Mr. Aitkin’s bill resembles Mr. Stay- veeant’s in one respect ; it is a scheme devised for personal purpsses by corrupt individuals. Mr. Stuyvesant says, let us reform the police laws £0 that Matsell may be sent to the right about and that worthy fellow Joho or Thomas appointed in his stead, with four other worthy fellows as commissioners at $3,000 a year apiece. Mr. Aitkin in the same way says: let us legalize primary elections, so that the drunken vagabonds who have managed thom hitherto shall be rescued from the insigaifi- cance inte which they are falling, and the business of governing the country shall be kept in their hands ond ont of the reach of the respectable citizens who are trying to seize it. If Mr. Aitkin’s scheme bears the palm for audacity and impudence, we must say Mr. Stuyvesant’s is the shrewdest. The latter provides in a practical way for his friends— $1,500 to one, $3,000 to others, be- sides a comfortable roomjJighted and warmed : Mr. Aitkin does not even beg a dollar for bis ward committees. This, considering how they need it, was ® grave omission. Let Mr, Aitkin reconsider his bill. Let him add a section ap- pointing Captain Isaiah Rynders manager of primary elections on all sides, with a snug sal- ary—would $3,000 be too much ’—from the State: and in lien of dollars, let the members of ward committees be allowed #0 much rum and so much tobacco every time they sit. Thus amended the bill will be more consistent than at present, and cannot fail to pass. Aros bili oF » amend the city charter has alse been presented by Mr. Stuyvesant. In some respects it is an approach to the charter of 1830, and herein de- serves commendation. For instance, it confers on the Mayor the power of appointing the heads of departments, a change of obvious ex- pediency; but it preserves many complications growing out of the present charters which in- terfere with its simplicity and are likely to im- pair its usefulness. The proper bill to present at this moment is one which need not contain half as many sections as Mr. Stuyvesant’s. It should make the city government as near as | posible a counterpart of that of the Federal Union. Under it, the people should elect the Mayor and both boards of Common Council; all appointments should be mace by the Mayor, subject to ratification by the Aldermen, and all subordinates should be responsible to him for the discharge of their duty. He should in like manner be responsible to the people; and to prevent this responsibility becoming nugatory, ample means should be provided by the act for his indictment, just as there are for the Presi- dent’s impeachment. Then the city would be properly governed. As it is, we have reason to be grateful to Mr. Wood for the attempt he is making to govern, in spite of the absurdities of the charter. a” ‘The New Mayor’s First Annual Message. Mayor Wood has entered upon the duties of his responsible office with an eye to business. His first annual message to the Common Coun- cilis before our readers. The style of the document will be regarded as extremely con- temptible by young collegians; but in the esti- mation of our utilitarian, matter-of-fact fellow citizens, it will be looked upon in an entirely different light. It is a business paper, full of facts, figuyps and suggestions, striking straight home to the interests of our Corporation, the well being of our great and increasing city, and the pockets of our tax paying people, From this message it appears that the actual amount of the permanent city debt has been reduced $460,246 since January of last year; and that the total amount of the fanded debt on the first day of the present year was $1,164,000, which is an increise, as compared with the amount of debt of January 2, 1854, of $204,000. The amourt raised by taxa- tion in the city, in 1854, was $4,845,386 07, and the amount demanded for the pre- sent year is $5,918,593 25, being only the moderate advance in onr city ex- penses and liabilities of $1,073,207 18. The Mayor bluntly remarke, concerning this item, that “the expenditures have gradually and steadily increased, though it is well known that the character of our government has deteri- orated.” Perfectly true; aud the deterioration has advanced pari paseu with the corruptions, log rolling «jobs, extravagances, and reckless wastefulness and negligence which have thus steadily, from year to year, enlarged our bills of taxation. The Mayor says the people of the city cannot realize that the real necessities | of the Corporation require such large amounts of money as are annually expended. Nor does he believe it himself, which is a good thing, especially when followed up with the sugges- tion that a “close ecrutiny of the various items composing the account of the disbursing officers will show that it is the undue, unnesessary, extraordinary outleys, without sufficient equi- valent, that have swollen our taxes to their present enormous amount.” No doubt of it. But the “close scrutiny:”” Are we to have it? Will the Common Council grant it? Doubtful. We fear that this‘close scrutiny” will end with the reading of the Mayor’s mes- sage. Still, we shall watch them, and do what we can to aid the Mayor at a very “close scrutiny” of the disbursements of the people’s taxes. We entirely agree with Mr. Wood, that the smallest items of the tea room should be guarded as sacredly as the largest speculating | contract. The step from a box of segars and a | basket of wioe to a haul ofa few hundred thonrands, in a log-rolling job, is very natural and eaty. The Mayor suggests various reforms in the Street Department and in the City Inspector’s department, well worthy of consideration. His recommendations regarding taxable property, the abolition of fees of Corporation officers, the charging of interest on deposits of the public funds, as aleo, hie suggestion concerning the es- timates and appropriations, the suspended sales for taxes and assessments, contracte, city railroads and omnibuses, abound in the raw materials for practical retrenchment and re- form. The Mayor exhibits a becoming degree of solicitude concerning the ‘ extortions and op- pressions which, for many years, have been practised upon the emigrants coming to this port;” and calle attention to thie subject in several propositions of amendment, eminently judicious and salutary. His remarks, also, upon the practice of many European govern- ments, of shipping their paupers and criminals | tothe United States, and chiefly to this port, | should be foliowed up by such legislation on the part of our Corporation, our Legislature, | and Congress, se the subject imperiously | demands, It is qaite enough that this country should be universally esteemed as the | asylum of the oppressed of all nations—as the land of refuge for the able hearts and will- | ing hands that are borne down amidst the over populated despotisms of Europe; but when those governments undertake to make this re- public, and particularly this port of New York, @ place ot banishment for their thieves, vaga- bonds of all kinds, cut-throats, and helpless Paupers, they are committing an outrage upon American hospitality which should be resented with emphasis, promptness and decision, Our police system appears next to have re- | ceived the careful consideration of our indus- trious and active Mayor; and as his recommen- dations here comprehend a diminution of ex- penses and an extension of the sphere of active employment of the police, one would think the changes proposed might at least be adopted without much damage to the public interests. We concar in aspring charter eleotion, with the view of separating our municipal politics from the outside party rabbish of the State elections, We are gratified to find the new Mayor, not- withstanding his political antecedents of demo- cratic economy, in favor of the new Central | Park. With regard to the proposed sup- plemental buildings to the City Hall, the new Mayor looks far ahead. When the businéss of Wall street is moved ap to Canal street, then very likely our City Hall and its accessories will have to be transferred to Tompkins, Union or Madison eqnare; bat in the meantime the wants of the Corporation create such a delightfal opening for a wholesale job, that our worthy Alderme sbevld, *; no MIDE, .LIW 3. pasiy 6 Doek square, war ‘natantly billed by falling betw | and whe a slip through their firgers, The public school ex- penses, the docks, cattle driving, the relief of Broadway, and ‘she existing contracts for clean- ing the streeés, are severally touched upon, with some *ipecific recommendations of amend- ment, araong the best which have been from any quarter suggested; and, upon the whole, this message proves that our new Mayor has entered upon his official duties with the fixéd determination of serving his fellow-citizens to the very best of his abilities in the vast field for retrenchment and reform into which he has been invited. ¥ the Mayor is sustained in this good resolu- tion; if our fellow-citizens see to it that the two boards do not lapse, as usual, from fair pro- mises into imbecility and corruption, there is yet hope that, from being the worst governed, the filthiest, the most expensive and the shab- biest city in the Union, New York may yet become the cleanest, the safest, the healthiest and the most economical, the most orderly and the most beautiful, from the steady advances of improvement, retrenchment and reform. Let Mayor Wood go shead and hold fast. The people will back him in all his good endeavors, and enable him at least to stand guard be- tween the two boards and the city treasury. More Work ror Marcy.—Several shipping houses in this city have for some time been engaged in procuring guano from Isle Aves, 8 small island situated in lat. 15, lon. 60 1-2, about 400 miles from the coast of Venezuela, 200 miles south of St. Thomas, and 150 miles west of Guadaloupe. This island contains a large quantity of guano, and several cargoes of it have been recently brought to this port. A few weeks since, while the crews of our vessels were engaged in securing their cargoes, they were driven away by an armed ship belonging to the government of Venezuch, and the island takeh possession of by a body of soldiers. 4 Now, the question is, to whom does this island belong? There is an island called Aves just off the coast of Venezuela, which undoubtedly belongs to that government; but the Isle Aves we refer to was formerly under the Danish flag, and has been claimed by the French. At all events, it is pretty certain that Venezuela has no just claim to it. Here is a chance for Mr. Marcy; and as there probably is more guano op this little island than on the whole group of Gallipagos, it is certainly worth his attention. It would be well enough to settle the owner- ship, co that our ehipmasters may know who to deal with. THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Important from Washington. RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES— JEALOUSY OF THE EUROPEAN POWERS, ETC. WasHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1855. Baron Meyendorf, the Russian Ambassador at Vienna, has communicated to the Russian Minister of this city a piece of information of the highest importance. As my | business is simply to deal with facts, I shall not now enter into lengthy discussion. The Baron describes an interview he had with the Em- peror Francis Joseph of Austria, in which he (Meyen- dorf) is requested to express to his Majoaty the Grar his congratulations upon the friendly feeling #0 generally manifested by the people of the United States for his im perial master’s success, Baren Meyendorf continues : The present indepen- dent stand of the United States is most graciously eceived by hie master, the Czar, who hopes for a con- tinuance of it, a» does also his Majesty of Austria. Thia I consider important—it is the secret of our gov- ernment’s opposition to Clingman’s resolution. The let- ter thus received has been read only by the President, Cabinet, and a few confidential friends in Congress, who all regard it in one light—as ® friendly request from these Powers for non-interference on our part in tue present war, What are the allies to think of Austria’s late treaty, when possessed of these particulars? T have here # further secret to communicate:— Upon the receipt in Europe of our recent formed treaty with Russia, @ correspondence took plaze between France and England—this treaty and the United States Deing the subject-matter of consideration. A check to the grasping avarice of the United States was determined upon—a portion of the navy was immediately recalied— Lord Clarendon made public that France and England had in store « something for the United States, after they had beaten Russia. This scheme fo'] through upon the receipt of unfavorable news from the East. Our government has possession of these facts; and if not shortly given to the public by the President, your correspondent will take upon himself the liberty of fur- nishing them to the Hxxaip. Henry A. Wise thinks hie defeat a possible thiog. The HxnaLp is to be held responsible in the event of his election proving uneuecessfu, having misrepresented his position with the people, throughout—at least +o he writes to his friends in thia city. A defaloation of one of our financial officere, under the present adminstration, to a large amount, ie secretly whispered here as having been discovered a few days since. The gentleman ie & resident of one of our prinsi- pal ciies. CONFIRMATIONS BY THE SSNATB--HEALTH OF MR NORRIS— ILLNESS OF MR. WILLARD—THE KINNAY BXPRDITION— CONSULS RECOGNIZED. Wasmixatoy, Jan. 11, 1855, The Senate confirmed, to-day, the following appoint- ments:—Henry P. Whalen as Collector of the Port at Dunkirk, New York; Win, R Hackley as District Attor- ney of Florida; Daniel M. Bates as District Judge; acd Samuel Dexter, of Maryland, as Marshal of Kansas Ter- | ritory; and W. H. Barras ar District Attorney of Oregon Territory. Mr. Norris is slowly improving, and strong hopes ave entertained of his final recovery. Mr. Joseph Willard, one of the proprietors of Wiliard’s Hotel, now liee in @ critical condition, having been at- tacked with severe spasms to-day. The Union of this morning announces that the first vessel, with the Central American colonists, wil! sail from Baltimore on the 25th instant; the second a few days later, from Mobile; and the third from Brasos Santiago. Seven hundred men go out in these vessels. Colonel Kinney will sail about the beginning of next month, either from New York or Philadelphia, in « firet clase steamship. The President has recognized Car] Edward Habricht as Consul for Sweden and Norway at New York, and Edward Smith Sazres as Cousul for the same Powers at Philadelphia, UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. Wasaiveton, Jan. 11, 1885. D, Ira Baker, H. C. Goodwin, Esqrs., and Hon. John J. lor, of New York, were admitted as attorpeye and counsel of thin court to-day. No, 40, Klward M, West, plaintiff in error, vr. Joseph Cochran. The argument was continued by Mr. Hill, for the defendant in error, and by Mr. Blair, for the plain- tiff imorror, Acjourned till to-morfow, at 12 o'clock, A.M. The Massachusetts Senatorsh! p. Boston, Jan. 11, 1856. Tuerday next bas been assigned, on the part of the House of Representatives of this State, for the election of a United States Senator. Proceedings of the Maine Legisiature. Avovsta, (Me.,) Jan, 11, 1855. The Legislature of this State to.day elected Woodbury Davis, of Belfast, free sotler, State Treavurer. Nathao Richards, of Oldtown, a Morrill democrat, was chosen a member of the State Council, to fill the vacancy that existed, DEATH OF A MEMBER OF THE LE@IELATURE—Acti DENT, ETC. Bostow, Jan. 11, 1855, George Connor, Exq., Representative to the Legislature of thin State from Beston, died euddenly thie morning of beart diseare, Jobn Fick, clerk in the store of A. A. Wellington, No. 23 the png te ge Cheisen ferry bo | oe von VOL. xx. The Know Conventions. THE SPURIOUS KNOW NOTHINGS IN ALBANY=THE » SECOND BDITION OF THE SCHENECTADY OONVEN- TION. Aunayy, Jan, 11, 1855. The quiet, honest, sober city of Albauy, has been the scene, to-day, of no little excitement, growing out of the incursion of @ number of bogus Know Nothings, who, it appears, came down by the late train last evening, and the early run this morning, from the con- vention at Schenectady, a notice of which I find in the Henan just at hand. It appears that these individuals have resolved to at- tend at Albany until after the election of United States Senator has been disposed of, in the hope of inducing some of the Know Nothing opponents of Mr. Seward in the Legislature to believe that an extensive disorgan- izing movement exists, and thus giving them courage to break their connection with the ‘mysterious order, ¥ and to return to their allegiance to the Weed and Seward dynasty. The plot is pretty well conceived, but it is a little too shallow for success, The trouble is that the persons forming the “convention,” as it is called, of the bogus order, are with very few exceptions men who attempted and failed to obtain admission into the origi- nallodges, or who stole inside for treacherous purposes, and suddenly left under the propulsive influence of the toe of Know Nothingism, applied in fundamentum. It will readily be seen that the original Simon Pures will have no dread of such a flimsy combination. I would observe, too, that the policy of the movement is very seriously questioned by the Albany ralers, and it is more than suspected that Mr. Weed will put a quietus upon it in a most peremptory manner, He believes that while rendering the genuine American even more inveterate against the Champion of Canal " it will startle the ‘‘furriners,”’ and induce them re- gard the Auburn agitator as very little better than the great Hindoo. Among the delegates at Schenectady yesterday, was Swain, of the Zimes. He was speci despat by Raymond, who it is currently believed is a ‘* member in good standing” in the bogus order, with instructions to - make a hard fight for the motion to adjoura to Albany. This motion, as you have already been advised by your telegraphic correspondent, met with much opposition from some Western delegates, who doubted its policy, and was once laid on the table. But at the late session last night it was again called up, and after a spicy de- bate, was adopted. Some of the Western representatives, however, declined attending the adjourned hohe and signified their intention to leave for home. 5 Cobb, of Syracuse, who is President of the convention, ‘was very anxious to get irray! business, but the preli- minaries are purposely delayed in orderto keep the con- yention together 88 long as possible, The President and Secretaries made reports, but the Treasurer’s was not forthcoming, in consequence, it was hinted, of the 'bog- pen account”? it would present. Swain {¢ quite busy econvention, and acts under instructions direct from headquarters. Mr. Raymond is very sanguine in the policy of the movement. It will be rather curious to observe what position the rusty philosopher of the Tribune will take, and to mark whether his bitter de- nunolations of Know Nothingism will extend so far as to include the bogus Sewardite order. DALTON. THE KNOW NOTHING CONVENTION AT SCHENECTADY. Scnenrcrapy, Jan. 11, 1855. The Know Nothing convention in session here hae not, we have good reason to believe, transacted any busi- ness of importance et, and several of the members have gone to Albany this afternoon, probably to consult with their friends at the capital. Interesting from Albany. THE ELECTION IN THE TWENTY-NINTH SENATE DIS- TRICT—LEGISLATIVE MEASURES FOR NEW YORK CITY—EKNOW NOTHING MOVEMENTS, FTC. Avpayy, Jan. 11, 1865. 4 The daily sessions of both branches of the Legislature are quite short, averaging less than one hour and a half, including prayers. The members of the House, not yet having become sufiiciently familiarized, move rather cautiously. To-day the House passed the bill to expe- dite the Senstorial election in the Twenty-niath district. It was taken up in Committeo of the Whole at an early hour, and agreed to, letter for letter as it feli from the pen of Mr. Odell, of Livingston. When the question was about to be taken to report the bill to the House, the Hon. Mr. Fitch, who bears, dignifiedly, the whole of Franklin county upon his shoulders in the House, rose to make speech. It being his maiden effort, every eye turned upon him. He defended his Excellency, from the charge contained in some of the Know Nothing papers, t) at he had delayed his resignation as Senator, and the issuing his proclamation for the election of a Senator to fill the vacancy. The honorable Speaker, very accurately reported the reasons which the newa- papers had previously given in defence of the Governor, and convinced His Excellency’s friends that legally and really the election could not have been ordered at an earlier day. Subsequently, on motion of Mr. Odell, the bill wae passed, receiving 112 votes, with none in the negative. There will be no objections to its passage througk the Senate. Notwithstanding every care has been taken so to form the bill as to permit the new Senator in his seat before the United States Senator question comes to a vote, it ie secretly boasted that there is a daw which will detain the final canvass and notification beyond the time anti- cipated Of course Senators Whitney and Williams will | ixtroduce amenaments of a itive character. The New York de! tion laid several matters of cit; Fem before the House to-day. Mr. Stuyvesant, @ bill to create an additioval justice of the Marine Court. It is alleged that the increase of bu in that court in 80 large that it is imporsible for the nt judges to dispense justice with such care, reflection and delibera- ~ tion as is necessary in most cases. Mr. Munday gave notice of a bill to repeal certain sec- tions of an act entitled an act authorizing the formation of stage companies in the city of New York. 1 a serted that the present consolidated company is powerful monopoly. The only license which they pa; the corporation is twenty dollars per stage, an thts license cannot be revoked or annulled, let the conse uences be what they pe, unless by @ vote of two- thirds in both branches of the Council, which is next to an lon tir tena The stages cut up the streets more than all other vehicles, and the small sum of twenty dollars, which cannot be increased under ~ ent ys is Be remuneration to the city for the expense of rej strects tor by them. No doubt the stage com eniee will send i deleg’sion to the Legislature to defend their “legal rights,” as they designate them. But Mr. Munday can keep out of the way of the omnibuses much easicr than Jim Brady's friends from the ‘‘rural districts,”” Mr. McLaughlin introduced a bill to provide for the payment of petty jurors in civil actions. He proposes to give eich one dollar and fifty cents per day in addi- tion to the twelve and a half cents now received, for the trialof ey suit. This i» just proposition, though it in thought the lawyers will oppose it. ‘The resolution offered a day or two since by the Hon. Mr. Petty, instructing the judiciary committee to in- quire into the expediency of rer tricting or annuliing the naturalization iaws, waa called up for considera, tion by that gentieman. Mr.’ Atken thought it wae @ matier which the Iegisiature had no right to med ile with, as it legitimately bel to Congress. All the power poss by the State Legislature is to limit the time a person shall reside in the State, county and town, before he can exercise the right of suit 5 Mr. Petty again took the floor, and read two or three foolscap written rages with considerable fluency, pre- senting bis side with such convinci yument: tha im- mediately thereafter, on motion of Mr. Munday, the sab- Jest Arvoak id on the ae Oa as 5 bmg did Tally in the support of Hon. Mr. Petty. vegla to show the white feather ! ~ ir. Headly, of Orange, immediately afterwards intro duced ‘‘Sam,’” in somewhat different attitude, by wub- mitting a joint resolution instructing Congress to make eo that hereafter no naturalized person shall be enignated by the President or Senate, to represent the United States at foreign court or government. This is ‘3 operate an a rebuke ye eb gy =. Pierce for havit reelected such men as it, Soulé, Owen, O’Sulli- be 3 wer in pore y ag Sg a the whigs fbave @ large majority, and Mr, Headey « pe, the House, still there is reason to Retieve ‘bem resolution will not be adopted. On Mr, Biatchford’s motion it was agreed that when the House adjourn to-morrow, it remains adjourned lock until Monday, at 12 4 Mr. Blatchford ted his bill relative to tte raising any int mm taxa! the city of New York, specifyin; the chistes sad poses. (rhe bill wae putea i. yerterday'e paper.) DEATH OF MRS. PHILIP 8. VAN RENSSELAEN’ a! Avpayy, Jan. 11, 1856. The widow of /hilip 8 Van Rensselaer, formerly Mayor of this city, died last evening, aged 89. Later from Rio Janeiro, STATE OF THE MARKET#— SHIPPING INTBLLIGRNUR— NAVAL NEWS, Parapripma, Jan. 11, 1655, By the arrival of the clipper ship Gray Eagle, we have dates from Rio de Janeiro to the (th of December. The total shipments of eoffee for the month of Novem ber amounted to 176,400 bags, of which 22,450 bays were to New York and 10,000 to Baltimore, The quotetions for flour are llowa:—Western, $22 @ $23; Baltimore, $22 « $22 50; Philadelphia, $21 « $22; Richmond, #21 « $25. e The Gray Eagle loft in port at Rio the ships Banshee, Kirkland, and Indus, and the schooner Kent, for fulti- more; also the ships Mary Elizabeth, and Spirit of the Sea, from Boston; also the ship Simeon Draper, from New York for San Blas, repairing. In port also were the United States ships Independence, the flag ship oi Com modore Mervine, boum! to the Pacific, and the Sevennab the fing +bip of Commodore Salter. Further from Havana. Covumma, 8. ©,, Jam. 20, 15%. ~~ The New Orleans papers of Saturday last are receive and contain full details of the latest news from Haven The trial of Es tampe: Fe acbmowietned th | ME ee howe oi w TOTUOR i ley eases pas @ .