The New York Herald Newspaper, January 13, 1855, Page 4

92 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. AND FULTON STS. TERMS, cosh nee. THE DAILY HERALD. 5 cents per copy—S? per annum. THE WEEKLY HERALD every Saturday at 6% cents per eopy, or $3 per onnum ; the European Edition $4 per onnum to any part of Grent Brituin, and $5 to any part of the Con- tinent, both to include pos postssge. "ALL LETTERS by Muil_ for Subscriptions or with Adver- tisements to be post pula, or the postage will be deducted from maney comm sd. “8 CNTY CORRESPONDENCE, containing impor- tant news, solicited from ony quarter of world used will be liberally paid for. ear OUR Foreion Connesron- PARTIOULARLY REQUESTED TO #EAL ALL L PD Packacrs Sent us. NO NOTICE taken of anonymous communications, We do mot return those rejected. No. 12 BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway—Fra Diavouo—A Lwoxy Hr. ma BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Poon SoupieR—FPivine Durcuman~ Oviver Pwo BURTON’S THEATR: mhve « Faru—Cince ers etrect—PRipE SHALL HER Magie Cur. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Beoadway—Txe Soxprek’s CouRnTsHUR—THe Sistene—GeNTLEMAN FROM IRELAND. @RTROPOLITAN THEATRE, Broadway—Afternoon— BovertRiawiom. Evening EQursTuias |'ERFORMANONS ~Eu UYDER. AMERICAN MUSEUM—Afternoon—Parwe Heart Nev- ex Won Parr Lapy~Inon Kino, Evening—Loxe THE TavoReR—MAID AND THE MacriE MECHANICS’ HALL—472 Broa! way. Our intelligence from Aibany is important. The prebibitory liquor law agreed upon by the majority of the rpecial committee of the Legislature is given elsewhere. It differs from that vetoed by Governor Seymour only in two important and several onim- portant particulars. It does not allow a wife or nearest relative of an intemperate person to sue for consequential damages, and it does not permit the searching of a house without a previous conviction ander the provisions of the act. The law, it oassed, ig to go into operation on the first of May next, We aleo publish the report of Senator Brooke favor- able to an increase of the capital stock of the Pa- nama Railroad Company. This document giyesa brief history of the undertaking, and a mioutely astailed statement of its progress. No public business was transacted in either house of Congress yesterday, in consequence of the death of Hon. Moses Norris, Jr., Senator from New Hamp- shire. In the Senate eulogies upon the life and public services of the deceased were delivered by Mesers. Toucey and Case, the - ustomary resolutions were adopted, and then an sojonrnment until Mon- Gay was agreed to. In the House Messrs. Morrison ano Bayly gave their testimony as to the virtaous cbaramer of the ceparted Serator, the usual pro: ceedings were adopted, and the body adjourned till Monday. Mr. Nor:is expired at 10 o’clock oa Thars- day night. A deputation of members of both houses Of Congress willaccompany the remains to New Bampshire. Tne subjects that engaged the attentioa of the Bouthern Convention, in session at New Orieaas, ou T:ursday, were the Pacific Railroad projest, a materia! modificatio2 of the tariff, the abolition of Gaies on rail:oad iron, and the re-establishment of @ navy yard at Memphis. Gen. Henry Wilson, free soil Know Nothing, was yesterday xomina‘ed a candidate for the United Btates Senate in place of Edward Everett, by a esucus of the members of the Massachusetts Houss of Representatives. The State Senate, however, do Bet seem favorable to the nomination, and a despe- vate struggle between the two houses is auticipated The General, fortunately for him, bas great luck 02 bis .side—ve 15 ove of The luckiest of the simply Jucky politicians of the Jay. s The struggle for the United States Senatorship in Miesouri was going on os fiercely az ever at the last accounts, Ont e seventeenth ballot Col. Doniphan received 68 votes, Atchison 56, Benton 39, Wilson 1. ‘The Board of Councitmen were in session last evening, and t:ansacted a large amount of routiae Dbnsinees, a report of which is gtven in another eclamp. Included ic our report may be found the memorial of a committee appointed at tne meeting of workingmen, beid recently in Hope Chavel. It is an exaggerated statement of the suffering inthiscity by reason of the hard times, and its tone qill hardly induce the Council! to ast upon its sug; Our corresp mdents in Havana, writing on 31st of December and 2d of January, farnish some very in- teresting information relative to the presen’ position and fature gloomy prospects of Senor Estrampes and Mr. Felix. Theve gentlemen have been re- moved to the Moro Castle for more sesure custody, previous to a trial, which will be very rigid bat deliberate. Mr. Felix has vefased the aid of ap officer assigned by General Conca in order to conduct his defence before the military tribunal, and rests his jastification on seve-al legal points which are given. We have a'so a fall narrative from Senor Bstramves of his p oseedings from the @ommeneement to his landing in Baracoa, and fine in the Castle of St. Jago de Cuba. At the latest moment it was looked on as very probable that one or both of the prisoners would be gwroted. The movements of the United States steamer Princeton ere also noticed. Marshal Keyser and corps arrived at Brie, Pa., yesterday. The Marshal ty determined to immodi- ately conquer s peace im faver of the railroad company aud put an end to the war. ‘Phe harbors of Baffalo acd Owego have become free of ice during the prevalent miid weather, and large quantities of breadstuffs are arriving, nearly ali of which is destined for tats city. In the Court of General Sessions yesterday, a chemist of this city was found guilty of selling a po'monous drug without labelling it with the word “poison.” The penalty for this offence is afine not execeding one hundred dollars. It is tv be feared that the practice of omitting to properly label poisons is of freqnent occurence, though it is seldom that the offenders are brought to punishment for their criminal carelessness. We have received the Singapore Bi Monthly Qircular, dated on 16th of November. The imports of gold and gold dust during te fortnignt cor tiated of 1,832 bancels from the Archipelsgo. Ths rates reported for Australian are $29 to $29 25 for bare, and $28 to $28 50 per buncal for dust. Ex- ports, as above, 1,423 buncals. Cotton was firm and active yesterday. The sales embraced from 2,500 to 3,000 bales, chiefly in transt- vu, O'Osing at one-eighth of a cent advanve on all descriptions of middling to g204 middling Galfcot- tom, Flour, with a demand, wis without ebange of moment in prices for S:ate and Canadian, while southern was dull. Wheat wse nominal. In- ian corn was less buoyant at the close, Sontuern yellow sold, to arrive, at $103 a $1 04, and ‘western mixed, from store, at $104 2 $105. Rye old at $138. Pork was more active, and 2.000 barrels old mess were sold at $1225. Beet was steady, with sales cf prime mess at $2750. Lard ‘was steady. Provisions continued to be shippei pretty freely to England, and at rather armor rates. Grain, with some lots of flour and cotton, was going forward st oid prices. Apniven in THE Crry.—The Hon. J. J. Crit- tenden, Ex-Attorney General of the United States under the administration of President Fillmore, and his lady (formerly widow of the late General Ashley), arrived yesterday from the West and are now stopping at the St. Nicho- Jas Hotel. Mr. Crittenden is on his way to attend the United States Supreme Court at Washington, where he Wij! probably be detained @aring the present session of Congress, He will remain in town for several days. NEW YORK HERALD, SATUQDAY, JANUARY 13, 1855. ‘The Ouban Question in Spain and in the United States. ‘The extract given elsewhere from the debates in the Spanish Cortes affords ample proof of the noteworthy fact that the Spauish people bave pride and vigor enough left to refuse posi- tively to part with Cuba on avy terms, The resolution offered by M. Olazaga—the former tutor and chief adviser of the Queen—and unsnimously adopted by the Cortes, settles the question :. unless some startling change should come over the spirit of the nation, all hope of peaceably acquiring the Queen of the Antilles must be abandosed. Had this resolution been pasted two years ago, or even during the first year of President Pierce’s administration, it might bave assumed the proportions of a his- torical event, and given rise to well founded alarm in Europe and in this country. Public feeling ran so high in the United Sates at that time, under the splendid promises of the inau- gural, that a proposition to force Spain to seil Cuba whether she would orno woald have been received with fuvor by alarge section of the community, and would have been sure of the active support of at ieast one wing of the Cabi- vet. All this however has been pretty thoroughly changed since then, Disgusted by his ‘ailures, and the contempt his tilibustero allies brought upon him; Mr. Pierce ceased long since to combat the conservative counsels of Morcy. Mr. Soulé received no eucouragemeut from home to continue his tactics ot provoca- tiou, and the government of the United States became as meek and as forbearing as it oad Beemed to be fractious and aggressive. Mr. Pierce’s last attempt to keep up his reputation as ®& swaggering bu'ly—the Gres town outrage— having met with prompt reprobation on every side, the President relapsed into the character for which nature originuily designed hin—a helpless, imbecile. He will take ne notice of the gauntlet thrown down by the Spanish Cortes, not he: if Olazaga had proposed to medgle with Florida as well as retaia Caba, Mr. Pierce is too thoroughly cowed to reseat it. A like mind, though produced by different causes, pervades the people of this country at the present time. Know Nothingism has put an end to that gluttonous craving for territory which existed a short while since. The conser- vative revolution—for so it may be called— which is sweeping over the country is futal to echemes of territorial aggraudizement for two great reasone. In the first place reckless pro- jects for the acquisition of foreign territory have always been favorite cards with the old parties, especially the democracy, which, on more than one occasion has contrived to bliud the public to the corruptions of the democratic leaders. by holding up before their eyes the prospect of a new slice of territory These projects have generally been stained with fraud io some shape or other—-often with iawlessness and violence ; and have doue much to dis credit the United States in the eyes of foreign natious, while the material good they have conferred has been of the most indefi- nite and questionable character. It is tue busi- ness of the Know-Nothings to put aa end to this sort of-work. It is their intention to revert to the original principles ot the confede- racy, to deal fairly and uprightly wich ail na- tion, an@ not even to fdcur the suspiciou of wrong doing fer the doubtfal benefit of exteu- sions of territory. In the second place, in the present condition of this republic, no acquisition of territory can be made without re-opening the slavery ayita- tion. If Cuba, or the Sandwich Islands, or Canada, or a new slice of Mexico were annexed, the slavery war would break out with fresh violence, and the Union would anew be coa- vuled. Nothing is more explicitly laid down in the Know Nothing creed than a posi- tive determination to quench this sectioual strife on the subject of slavery. Hence it isa becesesry part of their political belief thas uo further acquisitions of territory are expedient. In this respect, they conform to the policy of tbe early statesmen of the republic, who sacri- ficed every consid-ration to the peace and har- mony of the Union. From the confederacy of the reveral S:ates to the year 1820, new States and Territories were added at various times, and no objection was made because abolitioaism Was unknown as a weapon of political warfate, and the expunsion of the corporate body did not involve hostility between its original members. But from the year 1820 to the present time every foot of territory which has been acquired bas cost us ten times more in loss of brother- hood and homogeneity than it can ever repay. The :trite has only just been calmed which grew out of the aunexation of Texas, New Mexico aud California; were Canada, with the consent of the British government, or Cuba, backed by Spain, to solicit admission to the Union, the struggle would be renewed with more fatai viralence than ever. Hence it is thet the soberminded men who conduct the Know Nothing revolution have resolved to forego all the probiematical advantages to re- tult from fresh acquisitions of territory and by circumecribing the Union within its present limits, to deprive disuniouiste of pre- texts for agitation. The resolve is # wise one in many respects. The territory of the Unit- ed States is already far larger than their pop- nation cen develope or employ. Ceutaries may elap+e before the whole will be brought under cultivation or taught to aid in sustain- ing man, By remaining content with what | We have, we run no risks: by seeking to ex- ; tend the area of our dominion, we hazard the homogeneity of our people, and impair the strength of the bond of union which unites us. The Roman empire fell to pieces, as every schoolboy knows, in consequence of its extent and the diversity of the races which inbabited ite various provinces: it is the care of the Know Nothings to guard against a similar fate befalling the United States. Spain may dispel its apprehensions. As generation follows generation, opinion changes, circumstances are modified, nations indulge bew purpores and aims; and so it may come about, when the Know Nothings have fulfilled their destiny, that their successors in the rule of this country may covet Cuba. Bat until that event takes place, there is little danger of o renewal of the filibusteriam of Mr. Pierce's first aspirations, Ovr UnempLoyep Mecuantcs—Waat Saovtn pe Donk ror TnkM.—We have published a large number of communications presenting various plans for the relief of the unemployed me- cbanics and laborers, bat with very few excep. tions they were of a most{impractioable cha- recter, We have already expressed our opinion in regard to the soup kitchens, the charitable balie, the appropriations made by the Common Council, and the contribations of Private benevolence—they are all wholly inad- equate to the pressing demands of the work! «iy clasees. This is not temporary pre’ gyro, which may cease with the opening 0”, goriny, but judging from present appear snoes, it is not at all improbable that it will co. tinue for two or three years, like th,¢ great finavcial revulsion of 1837. In the, meantime what are our unemployed mec!anics todo? Are they to remain in ® Sate of idicness, depending vpon the charity of their fellow citizgas for the support of themselves and families, while there is sufficient employment for them in the construction of public works which are demanded by the wauts of the city? Thereis the new City Hall, the graat Central Park, avenues to be opened and graded to the farthest limics of the island, stone piers to be constructed from the Battery to Canal street, sewers to be built, and many other things which are of equal importance. While such works af these wre required, and while jabor is so cheap as it is at present, we regard the ten thousand dollars appropriated by the Cemmon Council, and the huodred thousand that may be subscribed by the pablic, as so much money thrown away—nay, worse, for the mapner in which it is expended ¢4n only tend to demoralize our working classes by taking away that feeling of manly independence which should always be cherisned and en- couraged in @ free country. Let the public works be commenced at once—the city needs them, and our working men are driven to the verge of starvation fur want of employment. The Contest in Virginia—Henry A, Wise and the Know Nothings. According to the batch of letters from our Virginia correspondents, which we publish to- d»y, the contest between Henry A. Wise aud the Cabinet epoils party on the one side, and the whigs and the Kuow Notbings on the other, is becoming very avimated and interest- ing. Excepting afew »mbitious leaders who Temember nothing und learn nothing, it ap- pears that the whig purty is practically identi- fied with the Know Nothing movement. Heave the struggle is varrowed down to the simple issue between Mr. Wise and the Know No- things. We are also advieed that this new, myste- rious and incomprehensible party, without stumping, without newspsper organs, witnout the employment of any visible agencies, have been so actively at work in Virginia that it is supposed among tho-e who ought to kuow tomethivg. that one-half the voters of the State are already converted into Kuow Nothings, collected trom the debris of both the oli po lineal perties. Assuming that two-thirds of these Know Nothings sre whigs and oue-third democrats, Mr. Wise has remaining on hiv side something over three-fourths of the democra- tic etrength of the State; while the whig re- served corps, of perhaps ten or fifteen thousand men, belongs unquestionably to the opposition, This classification exhi- bits oa very slim chance for the dash- ing cavalier of Accomac. Nor is this the worst of it. The Kuow Nothings are in- creasing all the time. and the election does not come on till the month of May On tne other band, the declining fortunes of the administra tion show no ry mptoms of an upward tendency. Neisher Cuba, nor Greytown. nor Hayti, nor the Sandwich Islands, afford the sltgutest hope of alleviation. Tber* ix no hope of @ diversion at Washington calculated to give either strength or contid@uce to the administration perty in Virginia. There ie no oth-r prospect then a still continuing dowoward teudency of the administra'ion and its conse in the Old Dominion; and the election does not come on till the month of May. The case thus appears a desperate one, in- deed, for Wise and bis associates on the demo- cratic State ticket. Toe moral force of all the late elections in the North is against them aad in favor of the opporition Kaow Nothing coali- tion. The administration is destroved in the North—from New Hamp-hire to Missouri, it has been ronted, or so seriously damaged iu every encounter as to leave it entirely at the mercy of its enemies. It has fallen back upoa the South, and into the citadel of the Southera democracy, the hitherto unwavering. inflexible and tried and trusty democratic Oid Dominion, But the invisible emissaries of the Know No- things bave crept even into this citadel of the Southern democracy. and are rapidly proselyt- ing the garrison. What’s to be done? If Vir- ginia is Jost, all is lost; for wha’ Stare in the South can rerist the Know Novhings if the tteady O14 Dominion shall succumb? Fully apprived of the danger of the position of their Virginia standard bearer, the Oubinet epoilsmen at Washington have been industri- ously folminatiog through their official aad kitchen organs the most unscrupulous mi«repre- rentations agwinst the Kuow Nothioge, touching their principles and platform upon the slavery question. They are declared to bea part of tae new Northern aati-slavery coalition against the South—wolves in sheepe’ clothing, traitors in disguise, abolition emisearies and anti-slavery propagandists. In aid, aiso, of Mr. Wise, S uth ern administration members have been edifying the House ot Representatives and the couatry with similar expositions of the anti-siavery asso- ciations, proclivities and purposes of these bor. sible Know Nothivgs. Lastly, we are informed that the administration members of the United States Senate, acting as a sort Washington Regency in behalf of the loyal democracy of the whole Union, have taken the preliminary steps to make the cause of Wise the natioual test of the democratic party, and to denounce the Koow Nothings expecially a+ a secret aati- slavery organization agains: the institations of the South. All this, however, we suspect will not avail to improve the prospects of Mr. Wire. acts are stronger than unsupported accusations, Acts speak more forcibly than words. Truths are more powerful in every civilized and intel- ligent community than fictions. The fact that the Know Nothings are strong in Virginia, and strongest iu the very centre of the great slave- holding section, proves that they are not an epti-tlavery party. The acts of the abolition- iste of Massachusetts, of the Seward coalition of New York, and the denunciation of the Know Nothings by the abolition and Seward organs, show us plainly the real position of this new party in the North. They are a conservative party—slavery with them is @ question of State rights, a local question, with which as a national political party they can have nothing to do beyood the landmarks of the constitution. It would hardly be expected that this new party could prevent, or attempt to prevent, its individual members in Massachusetts or New York from expressing their personal opinions upon slavery, or any other question, The ad_ ministration democracy, even of Tammany Hall, | would revolt were the experiment of the sup- | pression of individual opinions on the abstract question of slavery attempted upon them, John Cochrane is a free soiler; John Van Buren | was the first aid-de-camp of the Buffalo nomi- nee in 1848; and others among the lesling sacheme of O'd Tammany, or conspicaous as the fattest of the Cabinet spo:lsmen, were of the Buffalo party, and are still tull of heresies on the Nebraska question ; but they have coa- sented to the Jatest Syracuse soft shell plat- form, and are thus good administration demo- crate, even in Virginia. We insist toat the seme general standard shall be applied to the Know Nothings—that the party shall be judged by ite declared principles aud acts asa party, and not by the abstract opinions of an over- ecrupulous or erratic member hero and there. In this view it is ravk injustice to the Kuow Nothings to compare them with the admiais- tration New York free soil soft shells: for while the latter, as a party, have never whoily abavdoned their antislavery notions, the former have never exhibited as a party the slightest variation from their raling doctrine of absolute non-intervention on the slavery question. We suspect that the constitutional, conserva- tive and honest people of Virginia, like tue same classes everywhere else throughout tue couvtry, disgusted with the hucksteriog aad corruptions of the dirty secret cliques aad juntas of the old politics] parties, and sick of the jugglings and trickery of . Baltimore Coa- ventions, have quietly resolved, in espous- ing the cause of the Kaow Nothings, to iaaagu- rate a thorough going revolution from stem to stern. It can do no harm, and may result io much good. Simple idea, but perfectly irre- sistible. It was the idea which swept away Van Buren avd his spoilemen in 1840, and which is destined to sweep away the corrupt Temains of this second Van Baren regimé ia 1856, Consequently, we are not surprised at the rapid advances of the Kaow Nothings in Vir- ginia. According to our correspondents, they are sure to put Mr. Wise and the administra- tion hors du combat, whatever may happen in New York; but if our Know Nothingsat Albany cen only contrive to hoist Wm. H Seward out of the Senate, the new party in Virginia will bave notbing to do bat walk over the course. The Jast chance for Wise and the administra- tion is in the re-election of Seward. Curious fact! Wize and Seward—Seward and Wise. Strange association! Sinyular state of things! From the State TRINITY OHUROH AGAIN IN HOT WATEB—ONSLAUGHT OW AN EMPTY TREASURY— BANKING REFOBM, ETC. Aunayy, Jan 12, 1855. The vexations of Old Trinity are not yet ended. The tribulations continue. Notwithstanding the claims of the; heirs of old Anneke Jantz to a large portion of the ‘Trinity estate are considered postponed for a season, if not forever, there are other obstacles arising, and indi- viduals appearing, calculatedjto disturb the quictude and piety of the trustees of that monstrous estate. This moruing a memorial was preseated by Mr. Searing, of Brooklyn, as follows :— To THe HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW Youk :— ‘The undersigned would most respectfully ask of hovorable body, that the law in relation to escaeats modified as to allow susficlent compensation to t or persons who shall put the authorities of t’ possession of such in‘urmation as to unable recover what of right belongs to it: your pet also state, that for the want of the Beno passage of auch an act Le is prevented from making certain disclosures to the Attorney General of the State, which would enable him to recover for the State a very large eacheat, the value of several millions of dollars, lying in the most improved part of the west side of the city of New York. titioner would For the of such an act your “art r AC BROWN. over pray, &c. BROOKLYN, Jan, 9, 1855. This man Brown has been about the Legislature during the last two or three sessions,” endeavoring to induce the members to pass some law by which he may become inéemnified, by the dis- closure of facte, which he avers will deprive Trinity Church of millions now held by it, which by escheat mghtfally belong to the people of this State. How this single individual became sole possessor of such information, and the “rest of mankind” should remain in utver ignorance and darkness, is a mystery which he promises to explain, ix a secret which he pro- pores to divulge, if the State will indemnify him. In the present embarrassed, nay, insolvent condition of the treasury, the millions which tr, Brown talks of, would be a real God-send. The man appears perfectly rational, and the Legislature pty to make some sort of arrange- ment with him, in order that, if there is any informa. tion, the Attorney General may commence proceedings forthwith against Trinity Church. There never wae such & rush for money from a fall treasury, as there is now from an exhaasted one. Claimants are here in swarms unprecedented. The harder the times outside, the groater pressure and the more Jogrollieg thereis inside. There is now seul more business before the Committees on Claims of bot! houses than they can deliberately dispose of cantig. the x fore session, should not another epplicant appear them. ' With the views of the committee of the House, no opinion can asyet be formed; but as for the commit tee of theSenate, of which Senator Hopkins is chair- man, the people ‘may safely repose the utmost confl- dence in them. Mr. H. scrutinizes every appli-rtion for money from the treasury, let the object be whatever it may, with the most deep research, and from the straightforward course of last session, there is = guar- antee that he will not be less vigilant during the pre- sent. The Bank Committee of the Senate have introduced an act to prevent the circulation of all bank bills of other Staten, oF tbe denomination of one dollar. The bill should go farther, and prevent the circulation of all under five collars; then tbe floods of shin plasters from would be excluded from small dealers, who are always losers by them. There is an abundance of such trash, purporting to be issued in this State, without being annoyed by foreign rags. Both houses, very appropriately, aijourned over until Monday. This will give such committees as are disposed a day, in which to perfect matters to be placed before their respective houses, and allow members who reside near by, *ith nothing fo do, to visit their families, and tate hime mealortwo. As yet, there has appeared no Catholic priest, in either houses, to open the session with prayer. abroad, in every direction, THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, From Washington. THE COMPLICATIONS OF THE CUBAN QUESTION— OURIOUS DEVELOPEMENTS. Wasmnaton, Jan. 12, 1865. Mr. Soulé, endorsed by Buchanan and Mason, urged our government to permit him to lay the whole Cuban question, with a distinct offer to purchase, before the Spanish Cortes, ignoring the Spanish Ministry on the ground that they are not take the responmbility of submitting such a question as long as under Espartero’s influence. Mr. Soulé argued that, as everything coa- nected with Cuba was novel, as well as the extent of the power of the Cortes, there could of course be no pre- cedent for the course suggested, but that the emergencies and peculiaritics of the case warranted it; and once before the Spanish people. with the distinct offer of money, it would sweep away all objections, This dea- patch Secreiary Sickles brought to Washington whem here some few weeks ago. ‘he reply by Mr. Marcy was, that the American government would not countenance such a course—that Soulé might renew to the ministry the offer to purchase if he was well assured beforehand that it would be accepted, but in no other event, This was considered tantamount to the withdrawal of the whoie question, as it is knowa the ministry are pledged against it. Ifaoything bas beon done contrary to these inrtructions, the government will disavow it. Some member of the Cortes, on his own responsibility, may have introduced the question. DEATH OF SENATOR NORRIS—-THE SMITHSONIAN IN- STITUTION--THE INTELLIGENCER—FESTIVITIES OF TAB SEASON. Wasninetox, Jan., 12, 1855. For two days the physicians considered that Senator Norria was improving, and yesterday he was thought to ‘be much better, but soon after ten o'clock last night, he ‘was seized with severe spasms, and after a few miautes of great suffering, expired. Hie disease was angina rectoris, which is hereditary in the family. A committee, componed of Mr. James, of the Senate, and Mr. Morrisov, of the House, left here in the after- noon cara, with the remains of senator Norris, and with his family, for New Hampshire. The Smithsonian Regents voted, by # majority of two, to break up the compromise which devoted half of the yearly income to a library and musevm, and the other half to publications, &c, Mr. Choate made a masterly and lucid argument to show that the act of Congress re- quired that a library and collections should be the prin- cipal objecta of the inrtitution; that it would be violated by the propo'ed “abrogation of & compromise, to favor publications in oppesition to the library. The Regents who voted to sustain the compromise were Choate, Douglas, Meacham, English, Stuart, Towns. Those against it were all the oldest members of the board, who probably felt committed to that course by previous ae- | tiom, Reporters were excluded from tie meeting. Mr. | Choate’s argument will doubtless be printed. Mr. Gales, of the Intelligencer is not seriously ill as | has been reported by one of our city papers, but as well asusual, The Intelligencer will come out on Monday very much enlarged. The gay season has commenced, and the opening bal at the National Hotel was well attended. The clegant supper table elicited the admiration of everybody. The first levee at the President’s, to-night, was thronged. UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT. Wasutvoton, Jan, 12, 1855. William W. Ni of New York, was admitted an At- torney and Counsellor of the Supreme Const. to-day. No, 4¢,—Edward M. West, plaintiff in errur, vs, Joseph Cochran, Argument was continued by Attortey-General Curhi fort he defendant in error, and will be con- cluded by Mr. Geyer, for the plaintiff, The Massachusctts Senatorship. | Boston, Jan. 12, 1865. | The House in caucus, this afternoon, nominated Henry Wilson, of Natick, for United States Senator, to fill the -acancy caused by the resignation of Edward Everett, The principal competitor for the nomination wae Alfred B. Ely, a young and promising lawyer, It is | thought the Senate will nominate and stick by Mr. Ely, aud hence a speedy election of United States Senator is by no means sure. The House will ballot on Tuesday | next. The Missouri Senaturship. Bevrate, Jan. 12, 1855. In the Missouri Legislature, in joint session on the 9th of January, upon the seventeenth ballot the vote for United States Senator stood as follows:—Doniphan, 68; Atchiron, 56; Benton, 39; Wilson, whig, 1, Three whigs were abrent. Adjourned to next day. ‘The Lilinols Senatorship, . _ Omicaao, Jan. 12, 1855. The House of Representatives of this State agreed to- day to gosinto an election for United States Souatog on the 15th inst., by a vote of 38 to 80, the Nobi ites voting in the negative. ‘ The Pennsylvanta “Legtsintare. Hannisnvne, Jan. 12, 1865. In the Legislature this evening, Eli Slifer, Native Ame. | rican, received the pomimation for State arer, on the fourth ballot, and be will ve eleoted on ys «| Affairs at Oswego. Osweeo, Jan. 12, 1855. ‘The weather is moderate, The harbor is cloar of ice. | ‘The propeller St. Nicholas, Capt, Williams, arrived here | | peller Delaware are load The Southern Conventiou. New Ortxans. Jan. 11, 1855. At the convention being held in this city to-day, the Pacific Railroad project was one ofthe principal subjects under discussion. Albert Pike, Esq., offered resolutions similar to those advocated at the Charleston ‘Convention in April last. Resolutions were then offered calling upon Congrers for an appropriation to aid in the construction of @ railroad across the peninsula of Florida, and asking liberal appropriations from the States bordering on the Atlantic and the Gulf, for the same purpose; also favor- ing a material modification of the tariff, and recom- mending the Southern members of Congress to vote for an entire abolition of the duties on railroad iron; also, requesting the establishment of a navy yard at Mem- pie. ‘These resolutions were all referred, when the eopven- tion adjourned. DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON MILL BY FIRE AT DOR- CHESTER—LOSS $150,000—THE SCREW PROPELLER CANABIAN. Boston, Jam. 12, 1855. ‘The large cotton mill in Dorchester, belonging to the Dorchester Manufacturing Company, was totaily des- troyed by fire last night. The fire is supposec to have been the work of an incendiary. The eastern gable end wall fell outward, crushing two outbuildings, and many firemen narrowly escaped douth, as it was several of them were slightly injured. The losa is cstimated at $160,000. Insurance in Boston $50,000. The mill destroyed gave employment to two hundred operatives, who are now thrown out of employment. Private letters received here say the screw propeller Canadian, advertised to leave Liverpool on the 6th inst., for Portland, has been taken up by the British govern- ment for the Crimes. Daring Robberies at Buffalo. Burvao, Jan. 12, 1855, Last Friday evening a party of robbers attacked the house of a family named Wilson, near Thorold, ©. W. presenting their revolvers at them, and decamping with $134, On Saturday night the same gang entered the house of Jacob 8, Eburn, who was absent at the time, aod pre- sented pistols at the heads of his wife and daughters. They ransacked the house and found $900, in gold and rilver, with which they escaped. Mr. Eburn offers a re- ward of $200, Saw and Carding Millis Destroyed by Fire Conwatt, (C. W.,) Jan. 12, 1855, ‘The saw mill and carding mills on the Cornwall canal, near this town, were destroyed by fire this morning at three o’cléck, and @ large quantity of cloth and sawed lumber consumed. How tho fire originated has not yet deen ascertained. Loss $6,000. No insurance. The Erle Railroad Trouble. Enre, Jan. 12, 1855, Marshal Keyser and posse, arrived here at noon to- day, and will proceed ta Harbor Creek to repair the road at that place early to-morrow. There is no resistance anticipaced, but should any be attempted it will be fa- tile, The Marshal has strong papers, and the determi- pation to carry out bis instructions, which are to put the company ip of their road carllest possible moment. sceaioe re ‘Weather at Buffalo. Buvravo, Jan. 12, 1855, The weather,hereis warm, and the lake and harbor have been free from ice for several cays. The Propeller Seiota left Toledo this;morning for Buffalo, with a full 0. The steamers Globe and Louisiana and the pro- ‘nye +a and Buffalo, A day. vessel arrived here from Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. 1a, Jan. 12, 1865. Stocks are firm. 85%; Canal, 13; Tong Island Pennayivania 43% ; easier. 1445 Pennsylvania fiver, eh ine money market is Short first class paper is selling at lx per cent. New Oncease, Jan. 11, 1855. The cotton market is without change The sales to- ae a ene yet 2 adh ED od Lard e. . There ae . per ing doing in AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. SEOOND SESSION. Senate. Waaminaton, Jan, 12, 1855. DEATH OF SENATOR NORRIS, ‘The death of Senator Norris was announced, where- upen Mr. Tovcry, (dem.) of Ct., arose and said:—Mr, Presi- dent—It falls to my lot to perform the melaneholy tack of cing to the Genate the death of one ef its mem- bers. Honorable Mr. Nortis, Sendtor from New Hampshire, is no more, He died at his lodgings in this | elty, of an affection of the heart, on Thursday evening, at past eleven o'clock. Three days ago we saw him in the midst of us, in the fullness of life and health; but he was sirack down im « moment, without consciousness, and, though he revived for a time and was restored to the full possession of his faculties, yet a recurrence of the attack proved fatal, He has leftawife and family of chil- dren to feel bitterly their sudden bereavement. Mr, Norris was the son of # Revolutionary soldier. He was born at Pittatield, in the State of New Hampshire, in the year 1790. He graduated at Dartmouth College with a from Toronto, with $3,013 barrela ef flour con- to New York. The Oswego Railroad takes off Selon high reputation for scholarship, and commenced the practice of the law in his native town, where he soon ac- quired the reputation of a sound lawyer and able advo VOL. Xx. cate, and rose to eminence in his profession. He took & deep interest im public affairs, and from early life ad- hered to those political views which he ever afterwards maintained. In 1889 he was elected a member of the Le- gislature from Pittsfield, and in 1840 he was Chosen Speaker of the’ House, and presided im that body with distinguished ’ ability and suc- cess. In 1841 he became a member of the State Council, and in 1844 he was elected to lb and served in the House of Represeatatives the four succeeding years. In 1847 he was again a member of the Legislature of New Hampshire, and again Speaker of the House, and while serving in that capacity he was elected to the Senate of the United States for the term of sx yeurs from the 4th of 1849, and the same. year he took the which he occupied at the time of his death. Such a record expresses the confidence repoved in him by the people of his native Stave better than bn har of mine. While be was a member of the House he took an active part in debate, ena huis leading 5) in that body were upon the great subjects of the tariff, the admission of Texas as a State, and the contested seats of toe members from New pshire and other States, who had not been chosen by districts, in contormity with the act of Congress. all these speeches were of marked hacer but that delivered by him in the Senate upon the pill providing for the or- gavization of Kansas and Nebraska, was perhaps the most distingu shed in that respect, and attracted the largest share of public atiention. In the great con- test which resulted in the compromise measures of 1850, he was the hrm and consistent aivocate of those mea~ sures, and was never known to fag or falter in their support. His views were enlarged and liberal, not limit ed to the State or section in hich he lived, but compre- Densive enough to embrace the count:y and ail its inter- ests. He was open and manly ‘n his course, true to nia principles and to his friends reliable under the pressure of difficulties, firm in the maintenance of right, great! beloved by his family, and by those who knew him bes and will ‘A lamented by all ben such s man falla his death is a public calamity. Mr. Case, (dem.) of Mich., snid—We have received another solemn warping that “in the midst of life we are in death,’’ ‘Bo ye also ready” ix written on all the shifting scenes of life, from the cradle to the grave, May these lessons tesch us so to live that when we enter the dark valley we may be sustained by our consciousness of the rectitude of our actions and our faith in the promises of our Redeemer, Idid not rise to pronounce a er on the deceased, but to bear my feeble testimony to worth. He was the sole representative of his State—my native State—on the floor of the Senate, and this cir- cumstance induced me to take part in these sad cere. monies. I was not acquainted with the early incidents of the life of Senator Norris, but the honorable Senator from Connecticut has shown us that he reached his great eminence without the adventitious aids which often—too often—supply the place of merit. His gooi- ness of heart was equalied by the soundness of his un- derstanding. His mind, quickened by observation, and ripened by long experience, made his testimony valuable on all occasions. When he had fermed opinions on any subject, he was never snown to give way before tempta- tion or danger. He wasanatiooal man. He knew no sections, and rose above political considerations in his eflorts for the common weal. He is lost to his State, to his. country, to his bereaved family and mourning friends, May Providence, who thus takes away our distinguished men, one after another, raise up others who spall supply their places and do credit to their country. Resolutions were then passed that the Senators wear crape on their left arm for thirty days; that they pro- ps to the late residence of Senator Norris, to att his funsral there, at 4 0’clock this afternoon, to accom- iy his remains to the railroad de) and that the Bows of Representatives be notified of his decease, The committee to attend to the remains of Mr. Norris was composed of Messrs, Fost, Toucey, Fish, James, Dawson and Sebastian. ‘The Senate then adjourned till Monday. 3 House of Representatives. Waauinaton, Jan. 12, 1866. DEATH OF SENATOR NORRIS. A message was received from the Senate announcing the death of Moses Norris, and communicating the pro- ceedings of the body thereon. ‘Mr. Morrion, (dem.) of N. H., paida high tribute to the political integrity, wisdom, and private virtue of the deceased. In conclusion, he moved the usual reso- lutions of respect. Mr. Barty, (dem.) of Va., offered a brief tribute to the deceased. ‘The resolutions were adopted. Messrs. Morrison, Chandler and Bayly were appointed a committee to act with that of the Senate, to accom- Pg hose remains to New Bampshire, the members of the House to join in procession from Mr. Norris’ late reai- dence to the railroad care. Asa further mark of re- spect the House adjourned to Monday. Our Washington Correspondence. Wasuincron, Jan. 12, 1856. 4 New Retrenchment Bill—Consternation Among the Spoilsmen—Assistant Oficrals to be Dispensed With~ Atmospheric Telegraph—Favorable Report Thereon— No Judiciary Bill This Session—Colling Line of Ocean Steamers—Bounty Land Bill. In 8 few days the spoil-men of the administration will be dumbfounded at the appearance of a bill in the House of Representatives, abolishing the offices of As- sistant Secretary of State and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. This will ce but the beginning, but tt will bea gcod beginning. It will check the present great tendency towards « duplication of the whole govern- ment. We have now the assistant Secretary of State and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury; avd Mr. Me- Clellan 1 asked for an Assistant Secretary of the Iaterior. This is all a new system of things, and if permitted to go on unchecked we shall soon have assistant comptrol- Jers, aucitors and chief clerks—in fact, the ery will be for more, more, until we have a complete double set of officers for the government; when, by the samerale of increasi | in Ly tetper I sony thd erect be ing the necessary precedent. Thin new bill, however, will arrest this growing evil, and should be passed with: out s division. ‘We bave now on exhibition, in a committee room at the Capitol, a miniature atmospheric tel invented by Mrid 8. Ricbardoon, and patented iniGo.’ Toso ration; are very complete and satisfactory, A oimadihes of the Senate, in a report upon its merita, saya:— “The mati between Washington and New York is now carried upon railroads in twelve hours, If youreommit- tee do not greatly err, the same may be carried between these ci in two bours, by the proposed at- mospheric telegraph, and the expenditure now for the transm sion of one set of mails, sid enable the Post Office l) spartment to send six sets of mails twelve hours, The impulse which auch a ‘rapt and certain delivery of the mails between distant points. would give to all the business of the country, is operating with aa much safety aod in night as in daylight; una! seasons or weather—aud exempt trom mischances, accidects and delays which are ing the delivery of the mails throughout atmorpheric pose cca teems deatined clusive mail carrier of the age.’” It is Mr. Richard+on’s object now to procure ppropriation of $250,000, or #0 much thereof necessary to construct a line of his from this eg to Baltimore, as @ matter of It wan but yesterday, as it were, that the genius us the telegraph, and epabled us to write ng pen from oue city of the Union to another; and though it was received at first with doubt—nay, witb derision—it is cow one of the great facts, as well as one of the necessities, of the red the rey hing cea Fn ome more and more favor- lization, The Bounty Land bill will certain} some shape, and thet very seen, LB pe zg Meeting of the Officers of the Trades Sectettes. A MOVEMENT YOR THE PROTECTION OF HOME LABOR— ORGANIZED WHIGGERY AMONG THE TRADES, A meeting was held last night, pursuant to the follow. ing announcevent :— The Presidents and Secretaries of trades nevolent societies of New York are tavited te ae conference, on evening, (to-morrow), at 8 o’clock P.M at the Union Shades, Fourth avenue, near Four. wi 8 aul be submitted for thetr cosstoersniess Racal ‘The meeting was organized by the appointment of Mr. Thomas H, Copping, of the Painter's Association, as Chairman, and Mr. Chas. A. Clark from the same so- clety, as Secretary, Delegates were present from ‘Qe Painters, Iron Moul- ders, Gilders, Bricklayers, Plasterers, Cutters and Plumbers; the Montgomery ‘Ansociation wah also represented. Mr. Din Watvonp, from the Plasterers’ Society, ex- Plained the object of the meeting. It was to o-ganize & movement in favor of the better protection of home in- dustry, One of the great reasons why the mechaniog were not employed, was ore ae ry destrac- established ruinous to our manuf tive te the best interests of home