The New York Herald Newspaper, January 21, 1855, Page 6

8 Phe Reciprocity Treaty. 10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD, Tt may be thought that the fevor this measure is supposed to have received from the commercial and manvfactaring ivterests has been too much taken for granted, and that no sufficient proof that the ratification of this treaty was mainly brought about by New York millers and merchants, and New Boglend manufacturers, has been or can be produced. The proof, however, is at hand, thongh some of the evidence, it must be confessed, is rather circum- ataatial than direct. The parties—particularly the New England manufacturers— did not care to com- mit themselves before the country to so open a betrayal of the agricultural interest, having pledged themselves in every shape and form, at every elec- tion involving the fate of the tariff, that the home markets which our farmers were thus to be taxed to create, should be exclusively theirs to possess and exjoy. A short narrative of the order of events will show with whom this reciprocity measure originated, by whom, sud by what argamonts it was supported, by what votes it was finaily carried, and also inci dentally, by what means the vote of Southern Sena tore representing agricultural States was ob‘ained for it. General Dix, a Senator from New York, specially repreeeating, as well understood at the time, the milling interest of Northern New York, and the commercial interest of tho city of New York, and warmly sympathizing ia the success and prosperity of New York interoal improvements—her canals and railroads—prepsred a bill embracing the sub- stance of the preseut treaty, which was introda.ed by his friends into the House of Representatives during the early part of the session of 1849, and which bill, as Senator Pearce subsequently stated in his place in the Senate, was, “anaccompanied by any report, passed witious dis:ussion;” and as he, the Senator, “ believed, without any knowledge of a majority of the members of that body.” It came before the Senate, we are informed on the same authority, “ witnout any report, and no papers accompanying it.” A brief explanation of the bill was now given by Sanator Dix; but this so tar from satisfying Senators, only sufficed to call their attention to the obnoxious, selfish and local character of the legislation sought. Senator Pearce attacked it in a masterly speech of great ability, and showed the injustice that would be done to agriculture by thus throwing down all barriers, so far as this interest was con- cerned. He said: “I think it is a very important measure, @ departure from the general revenue policy of the county, involving in its consequonces, direct and remote, a probable and serious injury to one of the greatest interests of the country--an interest as little or less protected than any other, and quite as mach entitled to the benefit of direct or incidental protection as any. Tne bill proposes to allow the importation into the United States from Canada, free of duty, of wheat and breadstuffs generally, and other products of that colony, upon condition that eimilar articles, the product of the United States, may be imported into Canada free of duty. Now, ¢ir, there is really no reciprocity in all this : the billis elusive. If it pass, not a dollar’s worth of all these products wiil be exported from the United States to Canada. * * Canada is not and cannot bea mark et for such products of the United States; while a direct effect of the bill is to give her a participa in our home market—so that there wil be no eqnivalent afforded to us; certainly none to the great grain growing interest, which is mostly concerted in vhe legislation on this subject. * This bill, therefore, may be considered as the first move ment towards the withdrawal of all, even inci- dental, protection to the grain growers of the United States, while other great interests retain the protection which the tariff of 1846 gives them. Ido no thiok the people interested in the agriculture of the sountry will be satisfied with this. If they are not to have an equality of benefits, they will insist upon an equality of another sort. Benefits not generally given must be generally with- crawn, and other interests must abandon the pro- tection given to them. Certainly, thereis no equiva- lent offered by this measure to the agricultural in- terest. Whatever benetit is to be derived from it, wilienure to the millersof Northern New York, to Northern railroads and canals, and to Northera shippers and manufacturers, and to them the profits must be mach amalier than tue injury to the agrical- tural cise. * * But surely, in acoantry like ours, that prodaces a surplus of twenty to twenty five mu- lions of of wheat, beyond all the wants of our ordinary consumption, we have aright to ask that we may enjoy our home market without com- petition from other countries, on terms such aa ap- ply to no ether great interest of the country.” The Senator aiso forcibly contended that our trea- ties with countries, particularly with Russia, would cone Us to admit their produce on the same terms we did'the produce of Canada—a tion in = he wae subsequently sustain by Mr. unter, But Mr. Hunter also ably opposed this bill on its merits, and which pill, be it remarked, is identical 480 far as the Senator's objections le asked: ‘Ie it fair to take away all the protection’ afforded to the agricultural iaterest, while you fetaia that afforded to the manufacturing interest? * * It wonld seem asif the agricuitaralin- terest were considered a beast of burden, docmed to bear all the | to be imposed upon the productions. of this country; and we tax it free- ly and wi remorse. ‘“ Now, sit, Lam willing, #o faras the agricultural interests are concerned, to place them on the faot! of free fede «shige all other interests are pla: on the oting. Bat to allow the msnufactur- ing interest to receive higa protection, and to take from the agricultural intereat all the protection that is afforded to them—and that much leas than is afforded to others—is unfair and unjust.” Alluding tothe act of 1846, by which tho Cana- dians sliowed to send their produce througa our porta gnbject to a drawback, and which law passed Congress, by the bye, as silently and hur- riedly, if not as clandestinely, as the Reciprocity bill "Nid the House of Represestatives, *‘ without a knowledge of the majority of the members of that body,” Me. Haatertaid:—‘ We have thus done all that is necessary to give New York all the profits and yoy rising from the canrying le be. tween Canada and foreign ports. We have done all that it is legitimate for us todo—ali that the com- mercial interest requires—and now they come here and ask that they may be allowed to reseive the productions of Canada, free of duty, for home con- sumption. While the manufactarersof the North and East bave the prctection that is afforded them under the present , they are to be allowed to receive breadstoffs free of duty from Canada, and probably the Baltic also. Now, sir, this is unequal in more than one point of view— ual not only between the ,» commercial, and manufacturing interest, but also Unequal between different sections of the country. * * * The commercial and ting t have all they can rightfally de- in the act allowing a drawback on Canadian productions sbipped from our But they have no right to demand, and surely the maaufactari: interest ought not to expect, us to injure the agric taral classes by the passage of such « law as this for their benefit. With these views I am opposed to this bill, and hope the Senate will not agree to its | oe ePus forcibly the Virginis Senator expressed him thi himself try. ont thar dpe nme cree sn P. King—'Tis deeply sworn Mr. Hunter was wed by Mr. Downs, Mr. Phelps, Mr, Metcalf, and others, all taking stroag | Dix’s bill. Its author at once that there was no possible chance for its pas- now that its Lape gem ose and Demet ve made known, never even al wo @ vote of the Senate upon it while he contiaued » mewber of that body. Bat by way of — a decent retenet) Socales it up a! venation ay, made 8 speech in its favor, qn from Oxwe = 7 and other sourose of a8 veritable 4 other things he made the follow- declaration: — = besitatica in icting that vessels will be ladened with wheat er bhicago, Green ,» Detroit and avd unloaded at Liverpo ;, all, will be greatly benefitted by this free which will have an advantage in avoid- between the point of embarkation the sea or the foreign market. If the resalt is way the prodacers in the middle in the West, and Maryland and ee = ae gira from competition our own marl 5 ht wheat growers of Obio, Illinois, Michigan and Wis thas represents in effect that be forward ® measure to turn the feat to Liverpool, via the St, wrence, instead of tte coming as formerly to New all the grail Fox fe wr én to take this a rection with their and suggests that they will to 40 to an extent to leave our Atisatiy markets all it ” paid he, ‘the bill becomes law, I have no | Ship owners, | open to the middle States, “relieved” of the cow tition from the Weet they now meet there. F. ties were thua to be furn Western producers, by this bill, ‘introduced by a New York Seuator and ser tea ungated Ya prices shippers, and even Ne York yt ie tanta oro. ducere of the middle }, the produce of the West being thus directed by Gen. Dix’s new route to Euope, and no lovger meeting in competition in our New York and other Atlantic markets. This is meg nan \. One of Mr. Webster’s culogists has claimed for him that he dealt little in assertion or exaggeration. Toe New York Senator, at the very moment he made these declarations, knew that the Canadians themse ves were actually taking our route in prefe- rence to their own, boasting that they could send a barre! of flour to Liverpool, by New York, fifty cents cheaper than they cetld by the St. Lawrence, and then a8 now were taking our route in preference to tbeir own. Such assertions not only upon their face their own contradiction, but impeach ia every lire the sincerity of their author. Gea. Dix could not have believed that, to any considerable extent, Western produce would have taken the route he indicated, orhe would bave been the last man to have brought forward such a measure. Is is but too evident, trom his whole course and the cha: racter of bis speech, that be was speaking as an ad- voouse rather than as a statesman—speaking from a brief prepared to argue the cause of Rochester and Oawego millers, and New York shippers, instead of taking 9 statesmanlike, national view ot te subject, or really caring one iota for the interest of those middle States whose opposition he sought to pro- pitiate by such or sophistry. But it must conlessed that the New York Senator was ingenious aud adroit in managing his case. This very speech had much to do in briaging abcut the ratification of the treaty; aud this is my spology tor noticing it at such length. In_ the course of his remarks, the Senator threw out the following idea:—“Now, I venture to aseert,”” said he, “ that impositions,” (alluding to the operation of the tariffs of the two countries,) “ will not long be submitted to on either side; and, if they are not removed by the two governments, the in- habitants of both countries will look to annexstion as the only pra*tical measare cf relief.” Senator Hunter may not, at the time, have re- garced these words a3 prophetic; bu’, alas! he soon received what he considered a confirmation of them, and from that moment saw oaly the danger, or fancied danger, to the ‘“‘ peculiar institution.” Tne wheat fieids.of the farmer he had so well defended were at once abandoned; the unreasonadie exac- tions of other interests he had so trathfally and Sealy pointed out and denounced, he was ready to yield to and freely comply with, so that those te Be forms of free men, multiplied on free terri- ry, should not haunt him through the vista of a distant future. ‘Thus it was. On a certain day, some months after this, Sir Henry Bulwer ent tne Senate chamber (it is well Shown that this British minis- ter frequently resorted there to play the joes. member and to electionser with Senators on sabjeot,) and faking. Mr. Honter out, a long conver- sation tcllowed. hen} the Virginia Senator re tarned, a gentleman a hed him and said:— “Well, sir, did Sir Henry make any impres- sion on you?’ The answer was, “ Yea, he did; he represented that five-sixths of this provincial popu lation were er gaged in culture; they id no markets; that markets they must have; that unless they could get them on other terms, they would annex themzelves to the United States.’’ ‘The trap so cunningly set by the New York Sena- tor and go su ly spravg by the accomplished British ccurtier and dexterous diplomatist, caugat not only the Virginia Senator, but nearly every Southern Senator, whig and democrat, except Mr. Badger,who, no doubt, believed it all a mere ruse, and who was certainly bitterly op- posed to the treaty, but who was sick and did not vote upon it. On such “compulsion” the two Virginia Senators consented to sacrifice the great ang paramount leading staple of Virginia—her wheat; the two whig Senatorsot Georgia submis- sively abandoned the great timber forests and the lumber of that State, and all weat for reciprocity, or Boal as they probably conceived, against aanex- ation. Supposing the fearsand apprehensions of these gentiemen to have been really well founded, and that annexation in one event would have followed, and waa desirable to the North for political or other reasozs, or was desirable to the country, for the immense porsessions it would have brought us, we bave by seizing at the shadow lost the substance; in attem} ane to secure the Lea roe eed a single river and a little trade, we have lost an empire—an immence territory, possessing vast resources, and rapidly settling with a good population—indeed at- Spe to a great extent covered by such a popula- tion. And now for the evidence that New England msnutacturers have deserted protection go far as agri cniture is protected. It is to be found in the fact, that every New England Senator, except Mr. Foot, of Vt., faithful found Among the faithless, faithful only he, voted in secret session for the ratification of this treaty. The remarks of Mr. Winthrop in the Honse of Representatives, on the occasion of his calling on Mr. McLane, as chairman of a committee, to re| a bill on this subjec', were at the time I very significant, ‘well known as it was, that Mr.Win- throp might be Ce je asa fair exponent of the views of New Eng! mani rs. The move- ment of the Massachusetts representative seemed to anticipate and approve the result which the two Massachusetts Senators ratified in voting for the treaty. Nor is this the Mle lye in which New Eng- land mavufacturers have seemed to chuckle over and rejoice at the withdrawing of protection to egriculture. Mr. Rantoul’s construction of Mr. Siade’s bill or law protecting wool, by which the law was almost in effect repealed, and whish com- pelled the farmers, in many instances, to cut the throats of their sheep, was snnouneed by the press of our protection friends of New England with undissembled satisfaction. . Nor bas the manufacturing interest failed to Mane every hig Poceay of the Ti to abolish t! duty on the raw material generally, gh this was jeasedly not the old tariff of Her Clay, Henry Baldwin, John, Tod, and other friends of protection. And they succeeded with Mr. Cor- win, 9) all his former acts and declara:ions. With Mr. Merideth, too, they succeeded, but with- out involving him, as t am aware, in any incon- sistency. But fais is all & short-sighted policy on the part of the manufacturing interest. They are fast | both the confidence and the sympathy of the raral districts. Their demands seem to be for the exclu sive advantages of tion. They are for protec- tion when taey tl lyes are to be protect- ed—against it when agriculture is to be protected. | They cl a yong neg fabricating, that they may sell Migh; they ret a ing tag or any pro- tection to others, that they may buy low. Their lan seems to be to have one set of customers to sell , another to buy from—selling dear and buying cheap isthe substance of the Psa economy of our mannfacturing friends. Then go ahead, and the devil take the hindmost. A Mippue Strate Faruer. The Proposed Bill for the Organization of the United States Army Professionally Exam- ined. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. ‘The bill for the reorganization of the army, now before Congress, is certainly a magnificent concep- | tion. It covers, as with a huge cloak, all the va- rious recommendations of the ‘‘Honorable Secretary of War,” in his last report. These come to us ander the sanction of high anthority, and itis with due respect that we purpose to notice some of the fea- tures of the bill, which, if passed, will in their ac- tion, tend to subvert all that is commendable in the existing organization, and lay the army open to fa- voritism, and to the vile machinations of every aycopbantic demagogue. Ours isa peculiar organization—and it Is abso- Intely necessary that it should be so. A French | corps d’armée, with its splendid staff, and all its paraphernalia, ready to embark for the Crimea—or an English division with ite guards—the heroes of | Waterloo, aud destined to be heroes under the walls of Sebastopol—either of which would equal the en- tire American army—is not organized in o manner suited to a country like ours, With a frontier, for- eign, Indian, Xc., of 24,000 miles, and with an army | of 11,000 effectives to protect it, common sense must admit that a very peculiar organization of such a | handful of meu, who are to perform the duties of an army of ten times the number, is not only necessary, but imperative. The pill strikes at the staff and staff corps, and taken long years of experience to perfect. For our service is a syatem—and we say it with pride— that baa served its purpose fally and satisfactorily, In peace, it has satisfied every demand upon it; and in war, when the energies of the entire nation were exerted, it did ita wor * so well that none—not even the pet systema of Europe—could have done better, It protected millions of public property, and dis- bursed millions of public money, faithfully and ho- nestly; it brought talent and scieace into the field, of ‘9 common order, and which can well bear compa- with one fell blow demolishes a system which it has | rors, bas drawn largely on ite energies, i's acience, its prcbity, and hos not uttered a marmur of disappro- ou, Why should it be cut down and shorn of the glory it hes acqui:ed in its eutirety, in order to attempt a new system that nes notoiag to recom: mend it but its novelty, and pa’t of whi:h was tried in former years and found wanting? Our staff is a large ore, cisproportionstely so for eo small au army; but it must be borne iv mind that the ame staff duty is required for @ garrison cf ten men as for one of ten companies. The quartermasters fur- nisbing barracks, clothing, transportation, dc., the commirsary food, and the ordnance officer all the munitions of war, must sil cater tothe wants of every soldier; and where the garrisons are small ard scattered, as is the case with us, it would be absurd to institute a compsrison between the size of the steff and the size of the army. The ord- nance corps, besides its duties to the army proper, fuornisles arms snd equipments of every descrip: tion to our militia, numbering over two millions of men. Is the number of officersin the etaffand staff corps too large, f 8 idlers and fancy men? There is nothing in the Secretary's repost that would lesd us to the belief that such is his opinion. Then the objection is not to the number employed, but to the method of selectiog and ap- pointing. The question then ariees—an i tnis is the principle involved in every featare of tne pill—wil! an organization requiring staff duties to be perform- ed by officers detailed, be preterable to the present organization of permanent etaff corps ani depart ments? We confine our remarks to the work ings of the two systems in the Ordnance corps and the Quarte 's department, as those two are par. ticularly affected by it: but the same remarks will apply équally to the others. ‘ne Ordnance corps is at present composed of thirty six officere, with a colonel at the There are eighteen arsenals and several depots uvder ita charge and superintendence. The duties of these officers require “continued study and experience of aspecialkind.’ Some of them require the study and experience of a lifetime, as, for inatance, in the casting of heavy ordnance to acquire that thorough knowledge of metals, their mixture and certain malitics and characteristics, which will insure per peonin reece sere 7 ements, existence over twenty it was in existence on a pmell scale when Mr. Calhoun administered the War department. On bis recommendation and ander his influence it was merged into the artillery, toe ordnance duties to be performed by details trom thet arm; in substance the very aystem shadowed forth in the bill, which reduces the corps to eleven officers—the subordint te duties to be performed by subalerne aaeied Lees paperon After the trial of several years, it reat a signal Calhoun, who had been tne Low strongly advocated system, that or a corps. Since that period it has continued to be a separate department. And with what remui.s? We leave it to the judgment of the entire army. Under its super- intendence, our material or war is equal to anythii in the world—our artiilery is a model—our sm: arms superior to the best of Evglisn or French mau- ufacture. Were these im; due to the organization of a separate tment? It is bat resaonable to sup; that officers whose attention is special’y direc! to a particular bransh, are aps to attain a proficiency unattained by others. "Tis the effect ot mere division of labor. The younger officers of the corps who play a sub- ordinate part at the different stations, are daily fitting themeelves for command; and to those who sre best informed, the necessity of having constant access to the workshops is considered ab- solute in the formation and education of an ordnance Cflicer. If no separate corps is necessary, on the same La ars why distinguish between infantry, i cavalry ?—wh; poet | ani zt merge them into each other, and let every sol: be pertectly skilled in the duties of the several arms? Let every pri- vate in the ranks have the intuitive military skill captain and lieatenant be en- did intellect of a Napoleon— that is all. Let this bill paes, and what be the effect? A lieutenant who has been with his rogi- ment for the last ten is assigned to duty at one of the arsenals. supposition will naturally be, that he will not be retaioved on that duty more than two or three years, whatever may be the de- sire of the War Department respecting him, and for this very cogent reason: that every influential poli- ticisn, whose earnest recommendation cannot be slighted even by the most independent in power, de- sires that some kinsman or the son of some political supporter should have the benefit of the system of details; and further, because it is against human na- tore, for we may as well attempt to mote as to detail according to merit. It will lead to favoritism, which is a curse to any eervice, and to whatisa nue of a darker stamp—political intrigue and in- juence, With the fect staring him in the face, that this is but a temporary appointment, will the lieutenant take 2 arin lg interest in his new duties, of a Clive, and ever: is well aware thst no new ac- quirement will add to his rank or position in the service, and that in so short a time he can at best learn but a bare smattering of what takes men a lifetime of strict application to master? No. The iter have died away or resigned. As well Weat Point Tcademy Wocnioe its students are not taught the classica—t by some considered own duties, cannot lay claim to the genius of a Vauben. Yet this seems to be the ep da Staff officers must understand all Une duties— the maronvring of a regiment, the drilling of a battery, the leading of a sqnadron, &c.—and every line officer must be au fait at all staff duties. A gallant light artiJleryman must be able to take charge of a cannon foundry, anda Create dragoon be equal to all the varied minuitiw of areenal duties. Bad guns and munitions, worse fern ved dragoons, would be the reeult. And who can doubt it? Yet this is the system set forth in the bill, and which is to be a shining light to the European students of military polity. nen thirty eight off with Prigulior com of thirty e cers, a ir general at the head. its duties comprise the fur- vishing of an army with barracks, hospitals, trans- portation, clothing, forage, &c., &c.; in fact, with everything required by an army, except food and murations of war, which are furoished y the com- missary de} it amd the ordnance respectively. Wittout such a department, properly organized and perfectly efficient, by whatever name it may be known, no army can ever take the field. Those who supplied our few regiments, called an army, in the Mexican campaign can be appealed to in con- firmation of the fact that without their permanent organization, with officers thorough masters of the thousand little details of duty, and without the careful, and intelligent supervision of their distin ed chief, fe army might have found itself in the face of & more terrible foe than the ok degustation hich in the fleid on w! an a! eid muat depend solely and exelaninets,.0 ay for its effi ciency but for ite very existence, should be kept, in peacs or in war, equal to the greatest triaia and emergencies. And how is this to be effected, but by entrusting the dutiea to officers bred and educated in that particular branch? men whose faculties are ever concentra‘ed on the best and most certain means of performing a service, which, in every a ) the world, or Wed CNS ee paramount oy " system of appoint to vacan:ies is, at present, perfect. Whe mew lights have been lately thrown apon the sabject, to render a change desirable, we are unable to say. Va. bn gpa are ‘illed by Losey ip erenadl a appointing power every opportun makiog as beat Selections. Officers are willing to — themselves for their new duties, because of nent character of their new position. As vacancies as can be devised. You have the entire army to select from, and then the permanency of the new jon ensures you the best energies of all. With the new system, the samo evil effects will result asin the case of the ordnance. A ct, but withcut a mechanical ijea, or a commer cial yy, or the least experience, is detailed for duty in thi 3 will be the c snse- uence? The services of a fine officer will be loat to the army, and the department will Isbor under the diss dvantage and inconvenience ot entrusting duties to one totally ual to the task. But, it is urged, we wil) retain all those who are found most compe tent. If #0, then but a few are to receive the bene fits of the detail system, and the argument that this pew or will through the arm: ge now confined toa few, falls to the ground. It, in fact, brings the service exactly to what it is at present, though on Paper it stands » beautifal sys tem of details, and to the uninitiated makes every officer a very ‘‘factotum,” wittrall military sciences at his fingers’ ends. @ caznot but agree with “Brown,” thet it will make officers ‘jacks of all trades, bat masters of nose,” aad we may add, very “jacks” Powe Poses remarks withont expressing, with all reapect, our utter dissatiefation. in view of far ss human justice, impartiality and foresight can | Teach, this seems as perfect a method of filling | styled then “ Castille de Oro,” all was absorbed in subaltern, though » thorough soldier in every re- | NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 1855. VOL. XX. known—whom do we took to but to our topograp! cal engineers—men who, by education and tratuing, are sinin ! Aad, i anc, Biles bp cuties’ e! graphical enginesrs have little obje ction to be merged into the fortress, ‘and some who have no more ides of fortifi- cations than that they seem to the visusl organ to to be a compound of stone, cement aud earth, with finely so slopes and well-watered ditches. An- other, wbo can construct a demilune or throw up a trench cavalier, will have some indistinct recollec- tion that in his West Point days, he, on some very few oc asions, peeped through a tube called a tele- scope at a something that twinkled very p-ettily, calied aster. ‘The different duties will be perform: ed by the eelf-eame cflicers who perform them now, and, de facto, there will be a double eet of officers under one name—' Multum in parvo,” If in these remarks we have indulged in any de- giee of levity, it was to bring out as strikingly as poesible the defects of the bill now bsfore Con- gress. It is taking us back to effete systems, that terved their time ly_beretofore, and were dis- charged dishonorably. To those whose lives bave been spent in the eervice, whose bodies are svarred with the blows of battle, and whose heads are bowed with the load of honors. this seems to be & retro- giace movemen}; and to those now young, whose every bope is centred in 6 soldier’s life, those hopes are dimmed by the uncertainty of a future thst is to depend on new military systems, spring: ing, aimed cap pie, trom some political bead. The New Croton Reservoir—Reasons Why its Projected Site ts not as yet In the Posscssion of the City. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD. Your journal of Thursday last contsins an arti- cle purporting to be the reasons assigned by the Croton Aqueduct Board for delaying the proseca tion of the work for the new reservoir, ina manuer which would prove avatlable, forthe purpose of furnishing employment to the thousand unoccupied workingmen of the city. The objections raised are two-fold, ‘hough, to my mind, neither of them appear satisfactory. First, then, it is alleged, “that section 12 of the amended charter prohibits the expenditure of money exceeding $250, unless by contract;” and hence the employment would be by contractors, and not bythe city. This is a technical objection, and dces not affect the question; for whether the work is prosecuted by contractors or by the city, it involves the employment of a large number of men, which is the object sought at this time to be attained. The second objection is the chief one, upon which the first mainly depends. The Croton Board assy, “that the site proposed for the new reservoir is not yet in possession of the tlt us inquire, then, whose fault it is that the city is not in possession of the site, so that the work could be contracted for atonce, and the improvement proceeded with. The a:t authorizing the construction of the reser- voir passed the on the 30th day of June, 1853. The Commissioners under the act receiv: their appointment on the 17th day of April, 1854. Their duties, by the seventh section of the act, are defined as follows :—" The Commissioners shail pro- ceed with all reasonable diligence to estimate in favor cf the several owners, lessees, parties or per- scns interested in the land to be taken, a just and equitable compensation for his, her, or their land comprised therein, and to report to the court, with- out necessary delay, the amount of sush compensa- tion to be paid to the respective owners, lessees, erties and persons respectively.” The Croton 'd report that the Commissioners have investi- re the titles of about eight hundred lota, which & very unnecessary labor for them to perform, ex- cept so far as may be required to ascertain to whom their awards are to be made. This is apparent by the 8th section of the act, which vests the entire tee of the land in the city, immediately upon the con- firmation of the report. Even where the names of the owners are not sacertained, the fact occasions no impediment to a perfect title, because in such cases the Commiesioners make their awards for the bene it of ‘unknown owners”~the title to the land vesing in the city, not by purchase, but by legislative en- actment. The 8th section provides “that the Mayor, Al , and Commonalty shall bscome seized in fee for all the land etubraced in the act, aa scon as the report of the Commissioners receives the confirmation of the court.” Now, we ask, in sober seriousness, can it be sible that it should require thee commissioners two hundred and py ety to estimate the value of 1,860 vacant lota? Here, then, lies the error. Ap- intments upon these various commissions are Based, not upon fitnees or capacity, but upon party and political affinities. Look at the names of those who are acting as commissioners for the ing of meet 06 ve miiaod what do oe fir ratty, y; & of cares are PI politicians, men whose activity and trickery at the polls, and in political committees and conventions,are too frequently their sole recom- mendstion. This furnishes the explanation wh: these matters are ond all reasonable po scour pa G4 large sum annu- irawn ci for these parposes. The system is a one, our Talges should Saias, ee ervey Ipetnatn ts spent persons move 6, r to 8] se fected from that class of the community; “Ou one occasion we were personally solicited to request the Gears Romer cuscnt mest , O ground “ YY a large sum of money in a recent canvass, and wanted to get some of it back.” We injured his feelings not a little, owing to our inability to discover in this act of self sacrificing patriotism a sufficient recom- mendation for the office. ‘The persons acting as the commission in the mat- ter of the new reservoir, are respectale gentle- er rene ae Roar appointment rests solely cn ground avocations are such as not to allow them time to attend to the duties of the commission. Toe delay of nine months abundantly proves the correctness of this assertion. It would be a very easy matter to find in this city ten thousand men who could have performed the seme labor within the space of alx weeks or two mont’s. Of course, it would be expected that their whole time would be given to the subject; and fail- ing to do that, be too conscientious either to accept the trust, or to charge $4 for services occu- pying the sae anion: of aday. Let the experi- ment be tried, and w the commission their pay for a given number of days, and our word for it, the work will be completed within the paying period. Ccme, = commissioners, you have your $4 per day since the 17th of April; hurry ap your report, and let the hungry and the needy have em- ployment. Larovs. EW York, January 12, 1855. The Lagoon and Province of Chiriqul. 0 THE EDITOR OF THR HERALD. Permit me, in accordance with the universal cosmical spirit which has always characterised your valuable progressive paper, to offer for your acceptance a few remarks on the con- dition and future prospects of the Pro- vince of Chiriqui. While we find notices of man and his doings converging from all parts of the known world into your columns, nothing has ever, I believe, appeared in them tending to do justice to the many internal advantages and important exter- nal relations which the course of events and ten- dency of the age must sooner or later develope. It might be said, that since Columbus gave his name to Admiral’s Bay, and saw for the first time the Lagoon of Chiriqui, the world had almost for gotten the fact. Like that part of the Isthmus the golden blaze of the conquest of Peru, while now it requires no very prophetic eys to see that, after all, the Isthmus sbali become to be of more use to the world at large, than the gold and trea- sures of the murdered Incas. But, after all, many will ask, where is Chiriqui? In it the land of the Cherokee [adians? By no meave. Chiriqui is the ancient and mo- dern rame of one of the finest provinses which form the geographical isthmus of Panama. The great Lagoon of Chiriqui, on the Atlantic, forms ita northern border. Costa Rica and Golfo Daice ita | western. The Pacific ocean washes ita southern coast, and the neighboring province of Veraguas bounds it on the east. A continuation of the Cor. dilleras of the Andes, rupning from sontheas} to porthwest, divides it into two uneq following rather the Atlantic side, sherply cut ridges, clothed with 1g verdure, bearing forests of {oak deep to peep over thd volosno below it alvornately the Russian empire and the almignty republic, we stand on the bridge between North and South Ame- rica, listening to the snouts of Europe and tne sighs of Africa on our right, while anda ot “ber- baric pesri and gold” be -kon to us on our left. Pron peoullar law in the distribation of gold, we it to abouad more on the no thera and eastern elopes of the Cordilleras. Experience tas exemplified this in the ‘miueral ?e Veragus,” the Oural chain of mountalos, and those gold beariog ravges in Australia which ex‘end from south to north. Under the Spanish government ta» mineral region of Veragua gave gold abundantly, and affords strong proof in favor of the gold yteldiug ceiebaty of the mines of Tisinyal, which were sitaated on the Atlautic side of the Cordilleras, near tne Catriqui Lagoon. From the certainty cf this, aided to tae fact of Flancin and Mcrrel havirg discovered veins ot excellent cosl, it is to be hoped that Cairiqui and her Lagoon will be dragged out from among the forguttoa corne:s of the earth, and be brougus into the line of steamboat traffic and active industry. Mr. Flandin, in a late visit he made here to obtain a privilege to construct a road across, was very much ple with the truly virgin freshness and trao- uill&ty of the Chiriqui landscape; ne caw how easy the necessities of lite could be produced by very lit- tle labor, and sighed to think how many moral aad industricus families could be happy amid the swiling valleys thet areas yet only parture grounds for a few ‘caitle. people repose in tas hope that he wili be enabled to interest the United Btates peopie and government towards them, aud succeed in Btoving the light of the age over their almost unknown valleys, rivers, lakes, and !arbors, The Province is dividei into two divisions; all the land on the Atlantie side ot the Cor ‘i Jeras, constituting the canton of Boose del Yoro, ani that on the Pacific being called the cauton of Alange. David, the capital, is situated on a mayuificent plain, about ten miies from the ocean, on the western bank of the river of the came name, in latitude 8 deg. 23 min. north, and longitude 82 deg. 27 min, west, according to the surveys of H. B. steamer the Herald. At distances of from three to four leagues lay the villages of Dolega, Gualaca, Bogneron and Bugara, upon the same plain, which gradually rises until it is lost at the foot of the Cor- dilleras. Besides the plain, the two most prominent objects, as well as the blue mountains of the chain of the Andes, are two remarkable, isolated mountains, the volcano of Chiriqui, some 11,000 fees nigh, to the north by west of David, and the table mountain of Chercha, over whose flat surface rises the sun in the east, with a very pretty waterfall of 300 feet, which at noon reflects back the sun’s rays like a ribbon of polished silver, and which, along with the bearings of the volcano, serve tne navigators a3 a landmark in making Boca Chica, the seaport of David. The distance to Panams is about 300 milea by tea, the trade being at present carried on in four cr five small schooners. The poggiptio; of the town is about 5,000, and num! of houses 500, of which twelve are two story houses, costing from $400 to $600 t> construct; and saa very active Italian has just succeeded ia putting up a saw mill, house building will become more general and more satisfactory. Close to the town Mr. James Agnew, a native of the United States, and the preeent Governor of the province, has hada large coffee plantation for many years back, yielding annually from two to three handred ints 1s of coffee; but he has been obliged to aban- jon it, and turn bis attention more to cattle, owiug to the great increase of wages for day laborers, while they work as little as possible and eat as much as they can. At present all the produce that will pay has to be sent to Panama, but wa atill look forward tothe completion o: the road to Bocas del Toro, by which means a direct communication being opened up with the United States and Europe, a great many natural productions now useleas would mace valuable. For instance, we nave abun- dace of the caoutchouc trees, a species of plant from which could be extracted fibres useful for ropes, clothing and paper; four classes of indi- genous, and five or more of exogenous trees, pro- ucing fine oila; nine species of trees saan, | ums and balsams, and ap immerse variety of w r construction and furniture. Bat above all, the great superiority otf Chiriqui over almost any other country similarly situated, is its superior healthi- tees to European constitutions, The principal produce of Chiriqui hitherto has been cattle, horses and hogs,as is found to be the case in the plains wherever inhabited by Spanish South Americans—these branches of industry being most suitable for an indolent life and a warm climate. Bince the California excitement in Panama, the production of grain has See Formerly the cattle were killed, dried and sent off to the mines of Choco; and hence there were a considerable num- ber of hides exported, which bas in a great mea- sure ceased, aa the cattle are driven on foot toPana- ma. The exports may be calculated as follows: LIVE STOCK, Average Value at No. in Prices Selling thePro- Annual inthe No. Ex- Pricesin Kind, vinces Increase, Province. ported, Panama, Cattle. 109,000 15 per ct. $108 $15 2,000 $50,000 Horses, 10,000 do. do. mS pes 7,500 - 10a 20 3,000 60,000 126,500 5,000 110,000 GRAIN. No. 9 Quintals No, Ex- Provincial Sold in Kind Produced. Value. Panama. Indian Corn,. 18,000 10,000 $234 perq’! 22,000 Rice, 2,500 5,600 3 do. 15,000 turkeys, beans, &c., are excepted; horses are not now sent to Panama. Boards, also, are exported; with well placed aaw mills the whole Pacific could be supplied. The coil is admirably adapted sugar a tobacco. The er, brought from Panama, is se.ling here at 40 centaa pound, the quantity of raw sugar and molasses made by the im- perfect machines of the country not being even excugh to supply domestic consumption and the dis- jee of spirits. Very common tobacco, even Vir- ginia, ells at 40 cents a pound. Children from four ears and upward know how to smoke, nor do young ies think their charms lessened by openly induig- ing in the “filthy weed,” which powerfully aasists them in the dolce far nvente—tempering at once the arrows of the sun and the imagination. The ined) voting under the new constitution, bave elected Mr. Agnew, a native born American, to be Governor, but many a resident in the Pro- vince—showing at once their literal feelings and ¢e- sire to be Sib by @ man who had the good luck to be born in the most go-a-head nation in the world; @ fact that cannct fail to inspire confidence in any one who would by his capital or industry, be inclined to “come over and help us.” Neither revolations nor cholera morbus have as yet visited Chiriqui, nor any epidemie, save smallpox now and then. The culy thing that is likely to trouble the tranquillity of our tranquil citizens, is the long vexed question of limits between us and Costa Rica. The latter, im- re by French and Eng ish company influence, emapd a boundary line which would take away one-half of the province and sadly disfigure the in- tegrity of the Isthmus. The people are averse to up! with Costa Rica, were it bie; for having obtained free ports, treedom from tithes and custom-houees, they do not wish again the same yoke, besides, having & natural jove of peace and aversion to civil wars, so common in the teighboring republics. The Ishmus for her fatare destiny requires the fine harbor of Golfo Dalce, but severialess is willing to halve it with Costa Rica. ‘The line insisted on by us is that of the law of the 20th of November, 1803, Fn by the King of Spein to the vice royalty of New Gravada, gi her jurisdiction pee coast as tar aa Cape Gratio a Dios. Abandoning this mere sea coast line, we take that which pffects the terra firma, yiz.'—from the centre of Golfo Dulce to Punts Careta. We Lod the United States will see justice done in all suc! hore the American oy tigen of he favor Ln pean politics. people only desire peace, and order, and feel that their union with Bogota bripgs them no substantial good, but that the aim. lees revolutions which every now and then tike place in the capitals throw upon them the necea tity of paying forced loans, &c., retard the pro- green of the Isthmus, en ers the and morality of ite people, by y feeling embittered by civil war and bloodshed, at the head of the re public, Which is better, already whispers ramor, annexation or independence. R.W.D, Davin, Nov, 20, 1854. P. 8.— Since writing the above, the following list of articles exported by iar’ and sea, has been fur nished me from the gover:ment office, with the value in New Granadian money, when gold in the prov'rce:— ARTICLES EXPORTED FROM THE THE YFAR 1s 7,500 hogs, average price $10 120,000 quintals of rice, at $4... 12,000 do Indian corn, at $2 04 10 000 fowls ‘ * ROVINCR OF CHIRIQUI IY als of saraaparill 200 logs of mispero wood Pearls of all sizes... ‘ 200,000 pear! shells per 1 600 600 doz. of cedar planks, at $10, 5,000 Raw sugar, aeats 1,000 70 quintals of 1,120 30,000 eedron bea: it $l 300 500 turkeys, at $2 each... 1,090 1 quintal of vanilla, 800 | Soin FWNANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. MONEY MARKET. Barurpar, Jan. 20-6 P. M. The stock market continues unsettle. This morning en advance was realized on State secari. ties and railroad boads, while railroad stocks and cther fancies fell off ® sraction. Considering the inflation prices tave already reached, there is much more firmness than we supposed possible so soon after such a cerious depression. It appears more ext) aordinaty, when it is borne in mind that all epeculaticn thus far has been vonfived to the brokers of Wall street; that not a single share of any fancy steck bas been taken out of the strest, where one hunéred bave been bought in, and that the market is better supplied now than it has bees for months- Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances, prices have moved pretty steadily upward, and are apparent)y firmly snstaived. At the firat board to- day, Miszouri advanced ? per cent; Iodiama, §; Virginia, 4; Erie bonds, 1871, 3; Iinois Central bonds, 4; New York Central bode, 4; Rouding Railroad, 4; lilivois Central Railroad, §. Penasyl- varia Coal declined 4 per cent; Cumberland, &; New Yok Centrai Railroad, $; Ene Railroad, 4; Harlem, 3; Galena and Chicago Railroad, 1. The movement to-day was most active in Lilinois Central bonds and in Cumberiand Coal stock. Gold Hill Mining stock sold at f por cent, Between the boards sales of $10,000 Hudson River Railroad third bonds, at 724 a 75, interest added, ard 22 shares Atlantic Dock Company, at 32 per cent, were meade at auction, At the second board the market was without ma- terial charge. Haslem declined { per cent. Erie Bords, 1875, advanced 1 per cent.; Michigan South. ern Railroad, 1; Missouri 6’s, 4; Virginia 6's, . The traneactions at the cffice of the Assistant Treasurer to-day, were as follows:— Received., + $76,331 90 Payments, $0,530 94 Paid for Assay 985 53 Balance... 2,798,466 65 The Erie Railroad Company earned $454,431 55in December, 1854, against $391,203 40 for the same month in 1853, Increase, $73,228 15. The warrants entered at the Treasury Department, Washington, on the 17th inst., were:— For the redemption of stock. For paying other Treasury For the interior Departmen For the Customs.,.... $37,099 15 15,510 92 147 09 , , For the War Department 1,048 66 For repaying in the War Departinent. 1,218 066 For the Navy Department,........ 187,360 15 For covering into the Treasury from 1466 BS Covering into Treasury from misc. sources... 408 00 The return from the Bank of England for the week ending the 30th of December gives the follow- ing resuite, when compared with the previous week:— + £6,695,486 Increase, 10,658,387 Increa: Z 8,152,753 Increas On the other side of the account:— Government securities£21,611,553 Increase. Other securities. Notes unemployed..., 7,779,685 Decrease.. 573,056 The amount of notes in circulation is £19,481,150, being an increase of £275,605, and the stock of bul- lion in both departments is £13,834,657, showing @ decrease of £302,447 when compared with the pre- ceding return. Baring’s circular of the 5th inst. says:— There bas been a large sale of United States 6 per cent bonds of 1868, at 103 a 104; the quotation is now 106 a 106: Indiana State 5’s, 70; Massachusetts sterling 5's, inquired for at 102; Pennsylvania 6's, inscriptions, 73 a75; some inquiry for the bonds at 80, at which price there are no more sellers. Sellers of Virginia 6’s, dollar bonds, at 88, and of 5’s Sterling bonds, at 85; Maryiand, 88 a 90; New Orleans 6’s, dollar bonds, nominal, at 78 = 80; Canada 67s, sterling, 107, sellers, Small sales of Iii- noi Central Railroad 7's have been made at 60; of the Pennsylvania Central 6’s, dollar, Ist mortgage, 86 a 87, ex. diy.; and of the 6’s, sterling bond+, 2d mortgage, with interest from September, at 90. Our quotations are without the January dividends. Stock Exchange. Saturpay, Jan. 20, 1885 £20000 U S ep 6's 68 116%¢ 500 hs Cum C Co.33 0 300 £1,970 .. 15,866,684 Increase,, 1,325/231 5.00 Misrouri 6's, cy a $v00 Ti la Im » of 300 do re 5000 Ind Fate 5 200 a rg 6000 dv. 200 a 3346 82600 Virginia 600 d 83% 5000 do....b15, 963¢ 200 a Bg 1000 Louisiana 6's 33% I = 881g bet 88g oo A 4656 463 ios 46% 83 87 20 shs Mech Bank., 110 20 Bowery Bank... 100 10 Am Ex Bank..., 1033 23 Metropo’n Bank. 100 20 Onio life & TCo. 15 5 ae 10 dovsceea,.. 10836 300 Cumb Coai'Go.83 333¢ 40 Gal & Chic RR 200 do., 83 33 10 Chic ARIR.... 100 do. 13 do $2000 Virg’a 6's, 13000 Missour! 23% 8 8935 5 shs Bnk of Com. 105 10 Market Bank..., 100 60 Nic Transit.,.b30 163 500 Canton Co 5 Mich South’s RR 80 Mich Cent RR... 5 Mich Seuth’nC’n 79 CITY TRADE REPORT. Satcrpay, Jan, 20—6 P. M. Asnvs.—The market was quiet, and sales unimportant, without change in prices. Breapetvrrs.—The market was dull for all descrip- tions, with sales of about 5,000 bbis., including commoa State brands at $8 27% a $8 50, and straight do. $5 50 a $8 62%; favorite State at $3 62 a $10; common to good Western at $8 75 a $9 25, and extra Genesee at $10 25 a $11 50. Southern braads were heavy; sales of were made, at $8 75 & $9 25 for commonto ¢.2 $10, Smatl sales of Canadian were 2, in bond, and at $975 $987 and . Wheat—Sales of 2,000 bushels Southern white were reported at $2 30 Corn—The market was dul: and lower; about 80,000 bushels of Southern yellow snd white were sold at 93c. a 94e., and elo doll, Western mixed was quie' nominal, being heid abeve the views of buyers. Rye was dull and nominal. Oats were unchanged. Barley was measurably out of market. Correx—The market’ wae rather more active, with sales of about $00 bags cf Rio, at 9c. a 9c. for common, and 92{c. a 103ge. for good; 300 mata Java at 18¢., and 40 bags extra brown co. at léc., and 205 Maracaibo at 10%. Corros.—The market continued firm, with sates of about 1,00 bales on the spot, leaving a very light stock on sale. on t.—The market was dull and nominal at previous ra ¥.—Small sales for shipping were made at 05c.a $1. The market was quiet, and sales moderate .—ales of 200 bbls. New Orleans were malo ; Cuba was scarce, and would sell at 260. for good quality, Navat Storm.—Spirits were dull at 40c. cash; rosin =e taw turpentine were without change in prices, and all, On.—Linseed was steady at 8f¢.; other descriptions were unchanged . Provision®.—Mess pork was steady, with sales ince our last report of about 1,000 bbis. old meas, at $12 25; old mess was nominal; 400 do, prime mess were sdd at $14 37 a $14 50; and 300 do. new prime were sold wt $13 25; 200 pieces uninspected prime mens sold at $14, Beef —160 bt Is, Chicago kel sold at 123g¢. per bbl. leas than $15; and 260 b a, prime mess were sold at $23. Cut meats.—Sales of 25,000 lbs. rhoulders were male at Ome, Lard —The market was easier, and sales of 100 @ £00 bbls. good to prime were made at 10c,; and 500bbia. grease lara sold at Sige. 8 ha Rice, —Sales of about £00 tierces wore made at $3 75 a $4 75, the latter for prime quality Scoar —The transactions embraced about 4000 500 ibda. ; New Orleans was sold at 40. S\s., part be re Ta men’ ~The market was tah, and oo sales f mo- rere made,