The New York Herald Newspaper, February 19, 1855, Page 4

NEW, YORK HERALD. J4 MBS CORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR, WrnGE 5, W. CORNER OF NAGSEU AND FULTON ere, HF HEALD 4 cents P oxmum, Ww TP HERALD caete Strange at Oe nents the ‘Sper ane ees, Dicey pure: of rest Briain, vind $8 te any part ef RiCommnent a ALE LETTERS by Mail for Subscriptions or with Adver- Spomeate to be post pots, or the pectage will de deducted from TARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing impor: news, solicited from any quarter of the world if used id for. Oun Fonzien Connrsrox- ARs PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL RRS AND PACKAGES SENT VS. NOTICE taken of cnonymous Communications. We “0 wot return JOB Pi executed with neatncss, chenpnets, and VER TISEMENTS renewed every dav. Wolume XX.............. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broséway—Hamcet—Antosy amp CLuovaTRa. WERY TRE Bowery—Arostare—Fonser oF enue Beara or Foor Jow—fackers or Biux. BURTON'S TERATRE, Chambers street - As You Line De—Bisce Evep Susan. LLACK’S THEATRE, Brosdwsy—Tar Lasr Maw— anttee ART Anrruz Dongen. oeE! SBUM—Afterncon—Heape on Parrs— Lewd ue Prve Gauasnen évoning -Uno.e Tom's Uaniw. WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hell, 472 Greadway BUCKLEY'S OFERA HOUSE, 539 Arosdway—Bvom- aev’s Brmoriay Ovens Taovrs. Mew York, Monday, February 19, 1855. Moails for the Pacific. HE NEW YORK HERALD—CALIFORNIA EDITION. ‘The United States mai) etoamship Minois, Capt. Hart- stein, wil] leave thie port temorrow afternoon at two e’clock, for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for California and other parts of the Pacific, will alone at one o'clock. The New Yoru Weexiy Herarp—California edition— containing the latest intelligenge from all parte of the world, will be published at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. Bingle copies, in wrappers, ready for mailing, sixpence. Agente Will pleace send in their orders as carly as pos- sible. The News. The Know Nothings of Nsw York, Connecticut and Vermont, have recently held State Councils, the proceedings of which, so far as they have trans pired, indicate that the onward progress of the order continues unimpeded. Our Syracuse corres: pondent hse farnished us the results of the labora of the State Council held in that city last week. The officers for the ensuing year were chosen, and dele- gates to the National Council were elected. Lists of their nemes are given in the letter alluded to. ‘The order bas been purged of the unclean birds that have defiled their own nests, and harmony reigns throughout the entire K.N.camp. Asa proof of the repid progress of the order in thia State, we will mention the fact that at the convention heid in Odd Fellows’ Hall, in October last, at which candidates for State officers were nominated, the total number ef members in good standing was represented to be ‘but sixty-six thousand. On the day of the election ene hundred ard twenty-five thousand votes were east for Daniel Ullman, the Know Nothing candi- date for Governor. O/ course it is hardly presuma. ‘blo that all thoee voting for Ullman were at that time membere of the order. At the recent State Coynct; ‘the number of “tested” menbers represented was ene bundred and forty-two thousand—a two foldia. oreage in the brief space of four montds, aud that, teo, in the face of thea tive and uns:rupulous bogus organizations of the partizans of Wm.H. Sewa:d. The State Council of Vermont met at Northfield last we:k, ‘three hundred delegates being in atiendance. The State Council of Connecticut was held at New Haven om the 13th inst. One hundred and sixty-nine subor @imate councils, embraciog twenty thousand mem bers, were represented. A convention for the no. mination of State offivers will be held at Hartford om the acniversary of Washirgton’s birthday, nex: Thursday. They confidently expect on election day to scatter the ‘dry bones,” a; the fossilizad oid parties are termed, beyond all chances of resurrec tion. They Know Nothings of New Jersey have sus eeededin obtaining the passage of an act, in the House of Representatives of that State, incorporat- ing the Chancery of the Order of United Ame-icaas. The vote stood fortyto fourteen. Such is the drift of the tide. The latest accounts from Texas represent the In: d@ians as being more hostile and bloodthirsty than ever. Elevem men had been killed on the frontier early in the present month, and four had been car- ried into worse than Egyptian bondage. The sst- thers, consequently, were in the greatestalarm. The Camenches were endeavoring to effect a junction with the Northern tribes, aud a generel war was regarded as imminent. Active preparations, how. ever, were being made to protect the families of the settlers, and to defeat the savages. While thisstate of things prevails on} the frontiers, Congreas is per- mitting the bill providing for the increase of the army to rest quietly in the hands of the committes, deeming patent extensions and other schemes of the spoilemen of greater importance than the lives aad Property of the bold pioneers of civilization. Our Warthegana correspondent, under date of November 10th, gives an estimate of the weigh’ in which Santa Anna’s private and public polical character was recently held in New G:auada, His old home at Turbaco was still ready for his reception, provided be abdicated his executive chair, which it was thought he would soon do. We publish eleewhere an irteresting and important letter from the city ef Mexico. Our correspondent states that the capital is the scene of the greatest excitement atthe present moment. Santa Anna’s funds etm to be at the lowest ebb, and rumors are rife that, to raise the wind, his prime minister, Gener Bonilla, had made propositions to General Gadeden fcr the sale of Yucatan, and that in all probability our minister may be expected next month in Washington with the project of a treaty im bis pocket. Intelligence by the next mail vill, perbape, throw more light upon the subject. In the meantime, we commend the letter in question to the attenticn of our readers. Col. Francis Kinloch Hnger,an eminent citizen ef Bouth Carolina, died at Charleston on Thureday loat, aged eighty two years. When a young man, and fally inspired with the ardor of American re- publicaniem, he joinei D+. Eric Bollman, of Paila- detphia, in bis attempt to liberate Gen. Lafayette from the dupgeons of Olmutz, an enterprise which Jed to a long incarceration of the young and adven- tarous patriots. From the Babamas we bave files of Nassau (N. P.) papers tothe 27th of January. The Batams Herald of the 24th ult. states that a British colored sub” jeet, named Cox, had been kidnapped by an Ameri_ ‘cam shipmaster, and sold into slavery, in Virginia, and fears were entertemed respecting the fate of some other men who sailed lately for Texas. The paper cautions its colored friends against going to sea in American vessels the captains of which are net well known. It is asserted-- as if om suthority— that the forts of Cuba have recently received heavy armaments from Europe. The silk cotton trees were in a good condition. A meeting of those faversble to the eatabliehment of Kanese 68 a free State was held on Satarday night st Hepe Chapel. An address was delivered by Dr, J. B Bnodgrees, who has lately been elected Vie President of the Kansas Settlement Company of this city. A report of the proceedings will bs found elsewhere. ‘The tales of cotion on Saturday amounted to about 2600 bales, @ part of which was in transiia. The nigher grades were scarce aud firm, while qualities below middling coutinved easy to pu: chase, without siether ahenge of tooment in priven Floor waa io pits atte, AL. Mie dil ye i give oe we dig Wet, A Lead Givy be would, au. | tions. Cansdian white wheat in bond sold at $2 36, zd common Southern red at $212. Corn was more active, and free ssles were made, including considereble lota for export, Prices ranged chiefly from 98c. a $1 for white aad yellow. Oid mess pork wes easier, avd sales were Made a} $1262. Coffee was about jc. per Ib. big-er tor Rio, with more doing. Cotton freighte to Liverpool indlosied same improvement. We publish thie morning half a dozen letters from Washington, detailing the tranaactions, social and political, financial and filibustero, diplomatic and domestic, naval and Know Nothing, daring the past week, at the capital of the republic, all narrated with a sprivklizg of spice and specula’ion just suf. ficient to render the otherwise tiresome details of congressional doings sgreeable and interesting. Tiere are rumors of all sorts of burglarious desigas on the strong box of Secretary Ga‘brie—schemes for buying up Mexico in instalments ani Sauta Anna in the lump--plaus for despoiling the Indians of their hunting grounde and evlarging the area of lond speculators—in fact, prej:cta for pluoderiag without exd, and of inconceivable variety, all evince. ing a wonderful versatility and fecuadity of resource on the part cf the jobbers and lobbyites who con- grege’e at the capital. The Ministerial Orisis in England—The Disas- ters of the Crimea a Valuable Political Lesson. There never wag an administration which has closed its career under circumstances of greater discredit and humiliation than that of Lord Aberdeen. Composed of the cleverest states- men of the old whig and tory parties, witha elight infusion of the radical element, it seemed from its very constitution to be of all others the best calculated to carry on vigorously a contest, which has absorbed for the moment in its interest all party distinctions and differences, and united the whole of the Bristish people in one common bond of patriotic policy. There was only one drawback to the hopes which this administration held out, in connection with the war, and that was the lurking suspicion in- duced in the popular mind by the intimate and cordial private relations which the head of the Cabinet was known for many years to have entertained with the Emperor of Russia, It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that, when the conduct of the war began to show evidences of want of vigor and earnestness of purpose, when in addition to the failure of its military plans, the disgraceful negligence and incompetency of the departments at home placed in astill clearer light the indifference and lukewarmness of the head of the government, popular discontent should loudly attribute to treachery the short- comings and disasters which have marked the opening campaign. This suspicion has not cer- tainly been weakened by the extraordicary dis- closures which Lord John Russell thought proper to make in defence of his dosertion of his late political associates. The conduct of Lord Aberdeen in wilfully persevering, in spite of the remonstrances of one of the most influential of his colleagues, in a course of administration which was ruining the honor and the influence of his country, presents, to say the least of it, an example of fatuity and obstinacy so unas- countable as to justify the most unfavorable inferences that could be drawn from it. In the general distrust created by these evi- dences of political and individual perfidy, in- volving the reputation of some of England’s highest etateemen, the man who undertakes to form a new ministry will have a difficult task. Few will be inclined to accept the legacy of labor, suspicion and personal annoyance which the abortive and disastrous measures of these men will bequeath to those who succeed them For the present, at least, it seems to be the general opinion in England,that another coalition administration is unavoidable. The Derby- Disraeli party can of themselves do nothing, Nor do we imagine that another coalition min- istry will embrace any of the leading members of that clique. Lord Derby is unpopular with the people of England generally, and would inspire no confidence, and Disraeli’s antecedents, both of family and conduct, render him dis- tasteful to the higher class of the Commons, whilst at the same time they are not of a na- ture to recommend him to the democratic mem- bers of that body. The only combination that could possibly give force to a Derby adminis- tration would be Lord Palmerston’s adhesion; bat Lord Palmerston remains ‘master of the situation,” and will be Caesar aut nullus. But though supported by the unanimous feeling of the English people, and armed with all the prestige that unbounded personal popularity can give him, we fear that even this able states- man will experience great difficulty in gather- ing together elements that will work harmo- niously together. It is objected that his ad- vanced age incapacitates him from combining in his own person the offices and duties of Premier and Minister at War; but unless he can do this, or secure the services of some one in the latter office on whose energy, experience and loyalty he can rely, it is likely that bis administration will disappoint the sanguine hopes that are formed of it. There is on}y one English statesman that we know of, besides Lord Palmerston himself, who possesses the necessary qualifications for that important post, and that is Karl Grey; but there are con- siderations which render it doubtful whether it would be advisable to offer it to him in the pre- tent emergency. This gentleman, with natural telents and attainments of the highest order, labors un- der one misfortune, which in England is a very great one—he never was at school. In conse- quence of his lameness in infancy, he was edu- cated under the eye ot a private tutor, dwell- ing within the walls of Howick Hall, the an- cestral mansion of the Greye. The consequence is, that while his mind bas been richly stored, his temper has remained so undisciplined that whether in the Cabinet, in committees in Par- liament, or on the magisterial bench at Quarter Sessions, every person who has had the misfor- tune to come into collision with him has been annoyed and harassed, not to say disgusted, by his Lordehip’s cross, perverse, and crotchety temper. This is his only failing—his instincts are noble, liberal, and in every way worthy of the high name he beare. He has always been the consistent advocate of political reforms and although the views which he entertains re- garding the present war are peculiar, he has upon all occasions enforced the necessity of prosecuting it vigorously when once entered upon. Such is the man to whom the London Tynes points as the probable colleague of Lord Pal- merston. From what we have stated, the con- junction does not seem to be a very favorable ora very likely one. Lord Palmerston, if he accepts office; will take it with a full under. standing that, as the popular voice has de- volved upon him all the responsibility, so must he wield all the discretionary powers and necessary control connected with the prosecu. tess we are much mistaken, only find a fretful and peevish obstacle to hie purposes. The constituent elements of the new aimin- istration will, we apprehend, be taken princi- pally from the Peelite and radical parties, the former of which has become almost as mach identified as the latter with the principle of re- form. The nomination of Lord Palmerston to the premiership, in despite of the backatairs in- fluerce that has been brought to bear against him, will be another triumph of this priaciple —a concession to the indignant com- plaints of the people of England against the results of a system which is fast ruining the country, and which, from a first rate, has already reduced her to the rank of a second rate European power. Bat, although in compliance with present necessity, there will probably be a large infusion of democrats into the ministry, the choice of theee men wil) hold out no assurance to the people against the re- currence of the evils which are now pressing upen them. Such a ministry will only answer the demands of the hour, and will afford no permanent guarantee against the consequences of aristocratic venality and treachery. The truth is, that England has been brought by her oligarchical system t» pretty nearly the same condition of moral degradation as that which led to the first revolution in France. The union of church and State, the monopoly of all the gifts and offices, in both, by the aris- tocracy, and the consequent corruption, iaefli- ciency, and profligacy which pervade all branches of the governing classes, are now bearing their retributive fraits. As long as there occurred no violent shock to dislocate this apparently harmonious and well oiled political framework, its parts continued to work together without much danger of disruption. It only needed a great convulsion, like the present, however, to lay bere all its defects and incongruities. ‘When England has greatest need of dextcrous and +kilful statesmen, she finds only drivelling senility§or inexperienced red-tapeism at her command—when she looks for leaders to place at the head of her armies, her choice is re- strained to military bureaucrats who have no- thing but their aristocratic connexions to re- commend them. What chance have capacities like these, in rivalry with the vast administra- tive and military ta'ents of sovereigns like Louis Napoleon and the Emperor Nicholas, whose will is Jaw, and who embody all the powers of government in their own persons? The answer js to be found in the widely spread conviction arcased amongst the English people, that the whole -ystem of their institutions is rotten and must go by the board. If prompt effect be given to this feeling, the honor of England may still be saved, and a new state of things brought about in that country, for which even the disasters of the Crimea will not be too dear a price to pay. Intolerance at Harvard University. We trust the people of Massachusetts will congratulate themselves on the progress whioh Harvard College has made in tolerance and en- lightenment since the Quakers were hanged and the Independents whipped and exiled under the advice of the overseers of that learn- ed body a couple of hundred years ago. We trust they will read once more those gratifying portions of their history, and compare them carefully with the decision rendered on Thars- day, in the matter of the vacant law professor- ship, by the same body, whereby Edward G. Loring, U. S. Commissioner, was rejected as a candidate without discussion, in consequence of his tum discharge of his duty in the case of the fugitive slave Burns. There is no question about the facts. Loring is rejected because he did not resign his office as U. S. Commissioner on the first occasion when he was called upon to act, or because, retaining that office, he did not yield to the mob and play false to the power which appointed him, or the constitution he had sworn to curry out. Had he done either of these things—had he played the coward or the knave—he would undoubtedly have received the suffrages of the overseers of Harvard, and might now have been in fall bloom as law Jecturer. He chose to do neither —to be courageous and honest—and he is re- jected without discussion. This is the estima- tion at which honesty aud courage are held by the oldest academical institution in the United States. The event is not a fit occasion for an idle parade of words: it demands deep earnest thought on the part of every northern man. Every day that we live the danger presses upon us; every hour the spectre Disunion advances a step nearer our homes. The time for ab- stract discussion has past. Slavery, in all aspects, has been thoroughly exhausted by speakers and writers; we know all that we shall ever know both of its merits and demerits, of its past history and of its future prospects. All that remains is to act upon the knowledge that isin us. Whether that action shall be such as to render the dissolution of this Union a mere watter of time or not depends upon a very few men, io whom itis given to lead the minds of the masses—upon none more than those to whom the edueation of youth is entrusted. If the instructors of our young men set their en- ergies to the great work of nurturing a spirit of unswerving fidelity to the Union, we may defy the efforts of the demagogue andthe Unit- ed States will stand. If on thecontrary, they direct the influence they wield to the ungrate- fal task of fostering sectional strife, we may feel assured that the seed they sow will bring forth fruit, and that the generation now about to spring into manhood will earn a questionable fame by destroying the work of the men of 1776. Harvard bas chosen her side: she selects the latter part, as the one most congenial to her sym- pathies, the most worthy of her name, and her honors, and her learning. It must henceforth be understood that all the power she wields will be thrown into the scale opposed to the Union, opposed to the constitution, opposed to the law. In her halls law will be taught as for- merly, but students will be taught to break nct to obey its provisions. The constitution will be read and studied, but its readers will be care- fully admonished that disgrace and ostraciem are the penalty of carrying it into effect. On gala deys the Union will be lauded in one breath, but the necessity for its dissolution will be inculcated in the next. Strange predica- ment for a teacher to be placedin! The gen- theman who fills the chair trom which Mr. Lo- ring has been excluded cannot explain to the students the nature of civil or municipal law ; for that, we are told by jurists, eprings from a mutual compromise of interests and opinions, each member of society yielding something to the will of he o'Ler gumbers; and Digyisd , ke ute of the most ceontely yielde nothing, knows of no compromise, will , hear of no concession to the will of others. Her own narrow prejadice is the only law she knows. He canrot, in descanting upon consti- tutional law, explain in any intelligible man- ner the theory of popular government by ma- joritics, for that rests on the submission of the | minority; and the minority at Harvard do not submit ; they rebel. He must never touch on that great cornerstone of American prosperity, | the respect for established law which has en- abled this country to thrive, under good and bad, weak and strovg governments, during an uninterrupted period of nearly eighty years; for Harvard respects uo law, however estao- lished, that does not precisely coincide with her own views. A strange performaace and .otable will be these law lectures at Harvard. Retaliation from the South is of course o be expected. Independently of the feel- ing which so gross an attack on South- «in institutions is sure to engender, the men at the South who desire to give ibeir sons a liberal education will not send them to institutions where by precept and cxemple disobedience to the laws of the land isincnleated. They may be as ready as others to admit imperfections in our Statute Book, and as anxious to see them cured; but they will not allow their young men to be taught that when they dislike a law they may openly deride and violate it. The general admission of such a principle would in time put an end to all socie- ty; and whatever progress Maesachusetts may make toward that end, the South will have no hand or part in the disgraceful work. We ought, perhaps, to exonerate the former from responsibility for the acts of Harvard College. All experience teaches that college men, like churchmen, are unsound guides in matters of politics? They live in a world of their own, and know little of any other. They read Plato, but ignore Calhoun; recite Isocrates but disown Jeffereon; know all about the slaves in Atbens and Rome, but are quite unconscious of the working of the system of slave labor in Virginia: can tell off the laws of the Twelve ta- bles on their finger’s ends, but have never read the laws of the United States: can solve the pro- blems in Algebra, but cannot answer the sim- plest question of modern politics. It is notrea- sonable to expest these men to act wisely when they travel beyond their sphere. Many a western farmer is @ far better politician than the profeesors ot Harvard: few settlers in the backwoods of Iowa or Minnesota would have committed so great a blunder as that which has just disgraced the Alma Mater at Cambridge. ‘The Judgment tn the Fry Case. We publish elsewhere the opinions of the Judges who have ordered a new trial in the case of Fry vs. Bennett. It will be noticed that stress is laid in one or two of the judgments on the erroneous admission of the evidence of the plaintiff’s witness—Strakosch—and that the Judges were unanimous in deciding that on this ground alone the defendant was entitled to a new trial. To prevent misappreheneion we may observe in this connection, that on exam- ining the points on which anew trial is demand- ed, it is usual for Judges to stop at the first point which, in their opinion, is fatal to the former proceedings, and to proceed no further with the other pointsurged. Thus in this case, the inadmissibility of Strakosch’s evidence be- ing one of the first points urged by the defend- ant’s counsel, the Judges decided on that ground, and paid but little attention to the other points raised. Our counsel had taken about fifty other exceptions to various procsed- ings at the trial; most of which, we are advised, would have been as fatal as the one relating to the witness Strakosch. Many of these points involved high and important questions of law, One objection raised was to the vindictive damages awarded by the jury, on the ground that no other than positive damages, or damages equal to the loss actually sustained, can be claimed ina civil suit, and that vindictive dam- ages can only be properly awarded by a crimi- nal court on an indictment. This point seems very plain and obvious. When a man deems himself injured by the publication of certain facts in a newspaper, two courses are open to him. He may pro- ceed criminally by indictment, in which case the Court condemns the publisher, if convicted, to such punishment as the law awards; or he may sue civilly for damages, in which case, if he succeeds, the jury will award him such com- pensation as may be deemed sufficient to make up for the loss he has sustained through the publication. Mr. Fry, in the case of Fry va. Bennett, attempted to blend these two proceed- ings together, and sued civilly for damages, not by way of compensation, but as a punish. ment to us for the wrong he said we had com- mitted; and the jury granted him what he de. manded. It ie so important to obtain a decision which shall be final on this and some other high legal points involved in the cage, that we have not yet determined whether or no we shall rest con. tent with the judgment published elsewhere, We are convinced that were we to carry the case to the Court of Appeals, the resalt would be completely to quash all progeedings hereto- fore had in the case; and for the interest of the press, it would be well to take this opportunity of taking the opinion of the highest legal au- thority in the State on points involving nearly the whole field covered by the law of libel. It is worth considering. Re-Oreninc or Nisto’s Taeatre—A New Srar.—Among all the operatic promises which have been made—among all the attractions heretofore offered to the public—we remember none more tempting than that held out at the most popular opera bouse in the city, Niblo’s Garden, to-night. This great attraction is found in the person of Gen. Sam Houston, an individual who has made his mark upon the history of the country, and may be considered the great star of the age. He will deliver one of his peculiar essays upon the manners, cus- toms, history, religion, social habits, politics, literature, history, philosophy, oratory, amuse- ments and politics of the Indians. This event may be considered as the opening of the Presidential canvass for the coming cam- | paign. Although Gen. Houston will not speak upon this subject, yet every man aad every woman, (the General is said to be very popu- Jar with the ladies.) who goes to Niblo’s this evening, will think of hardly anything else, and will mentally take Gen. Houston’s measure for the executive chair. Gen. Houston has hed a most singular and eventful life, and if he would, at the end of his lecture this evening, give a chapter of his por. ronal experiences, in the style of the Chevalier Wikoff, or Barnnm—or even Greeley—it won'd bits Of Mograyyy , Touluuee, ever spread before the. public, “The Senator from Texas has passed through every rank and condition in life, First, a country trader, a schoolmaster, a soldier, a lawyer, a stump ora- tor, ® member of Congrese, a Governor of a State, a voluntary exile among the Indians, commander of the Texan army, hero of San Jacinto, twice President of Texas, orator, statesman, Senator, iegislator, pacificator, war-, rior and politiciaa. With such a star at Niblo’s, the programmes of the Academy, the Metropolitan theatre, aud all the other opera houses, sink into utter ia- significance. Our Commerctal Intercourse with France. It is not improbable that the attitude as- sumed by the American people in reference to the pending war in Europe may lead the Empe- ror of the French to pay a closer attention than heretofore to the commercial relations existing between this country and France. The Freach have not, it is true, exacted sympathy from us in as imperious a tone as our British neighbors; but still, they have shown in more ways than one since the war began that they are not in- different to the opinion of the United States. And it is by no means unlikely, as the French are rapidly becoming practical people, that, when they find our neutrality a fixed fact, they will make some decent exertions to indace a state of feeling here more in harmoay wit their hopes and wiehes. The task is not a very difficult one. We have few principles but many sympathies in common with the French; and our ma- terial interests are closely united in many particulars. There are more Americans living in France than in any foreign country, not excepting England; and for many years the American residents of Paris have cut quite afigure. Of our exports of cotton about one- sixth goes to France. France took last year about five millions of dollars worth of floar from this country. Over four hundred vessels cleared last year from the United States for France, a greater number than cleared for any foreign country except England, the British North American Colonies and Cuba; and about the like bumber entered o1r ports from France. We took from France during the same period about five millions worth of wines, and ten mil- lions of silks of various kinds, not to a)lude to minor articles. All this certainly conatitutes a trade of quite important extent. It is susceptible of far greater developement. The population of France is nearly ten millions greater than that of England; the French fac- tories are quite as skilful and as perfect as the English; and as large a quantity of manufac- tured cottons are worn and might be exported from France as from Eogland. Yet France only takes $15,000,000 worth of the raw arti- cle against $60,000,000 taken by Great Britain. The reason is obvious: it is admitted free into England but is taxed on its entry into France. It is true that a drawback is allowed on French manufactured cottons exported, and that the amount of this drawback is supposed to be equivalent to the import duty. But it is ob- vious that no judicious man of business would lay out his money in paying duties to the gov- ernment with a view to get it back again seve- ral months afterwards; and besides, every one who has done business with government offi- cisls in any country knows that the trouble of claiming money from them tosts more than the amount obtained. We have no hesitation in saying that in the present state of the French Jaw the regulation respecting the drawback is & mere nullity ; while the import duty on raw cotton is enforced with the usual strictness, to the grave injury of the manufacturer and con- sumer in France. Again, there is in certain parts of Irance, especially the large cities, a considerable de- mend for salt beef and pork. These are articles which we produce in surplus, and export largely. But hitherto the high duty in France has prevented their introduction thither. It has usually been contended by the inveterate protectionists of the government that the admission of American beef and pork would ruin the cattle grazers of Normandy. It hap- pens however in this case that the statement cannot be sustained even by the obsolete logic of protection ; for eo far from militating against the native produce, our beef and pork would never come into competition with them. To them the fair fields of Normandy, Paris and the other rich cities ; to our beef and pork the barren spots, and overcrowded towns where soupe maigre is the laborers’ ordinary fare, the navy, and the seaports. If the duty were entirely removed, the cattle feeders would not sell a bullock the less or cheaper than at present. A more onerous provision of the French com- mercial system than either of these is that which regulates tonnage duties. Under this old law, which was intended to build up the merchant navy of France, end failed as all such laws are sure to do, our vessels entering the French Ports are subject to tonnage daties nine times higher than French vessels pay here. Re- monstrances against this inequality have we believe been long on file in the State Depart- ment at Paris ; but hitherto nothing has been done. Had we been fortunate enough to possess an administration imbued with anything like energy, some steps would have been taken long since: either our tonnage duties would have been raised in the case of French vessels, or theirs would have been lowered upon ours, We neither hope nor expect anytuing from Mr. Pierce and his Cabinet. But the Emperor Napoleon is a man of large experience and practical mind. He will readily see, if he gives his attention to the subject, that the re- forms we have indicated would not only be practically beneficial to his own subjects, bat would exercise a material influence on the tem- | per of the American people towards France. An equalization of the tonnage dues is impera- tively required by sound policy and justice. We have a right to expect it; and France can- not surely be a loser by increasing the number of ships which visit her ports. The removal of the dutics on raw cotton and salt beef and pork would, in the first place, give a wonderfal | stimulus to the industry of France. Men who now starve or grovel as peasants in unprodac- tive lands would turn operatives and the wealth of France would be increased in propor- tion. The danger of such famines as that which cost the State so much last year would be diminiehed in proportion to the foreign food imported, which could be laid down in Paris so cheap that every workman could have his pot au feu. Finally, all the beef and cotton ta&en from us would be paid for in French wines and silks. For these articles, there might be created an inexhaustible demand here. No in better suited to our climate than the light wines of the routh of France, which are eold ia onty depends on the Bamperor to increase our. consumption of thie staple of France from five to Len or twenty millions of dollars 2 year. ee _t THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, General Houstoa’s Movements, WaAsnnoron, Fed. 18, 1855, General Sam Houston left here last evening, for New York, to Jecture before the Young Men’s New England Association of that city. Indian Troubles in Texas, New Oxieans, Neb. 17, 1855, later dates from Texas bring the aunoun:ement of numervus Indian depredations cn the frontier, within the past fortnight. Kleven men have been billet, and four captured. The settlers are greatly excited, and have assembled their families for protection. Parties. are scouring in all directions. Five companies of troops. are organizing at Fort Chadbourne to proceed agaimst the Southero Camanches, who are endeavoring to juim the northern tr bes, and a war seems inevitable, Par.apecrata, Feb. 18, 1855, ‘The steamer North Caroliva, irom this port, for Liver- pool, returned to port to-day, in consequence of having- encountered a heavy gale, during which the blades of her propellor were broken She shipped a number of heavy s¢as, causing several leaks. She will bave to dis- charge her cargo and undergo repairs. Cornelius Fassett, the sgent of the Underwriters at Berlin, Maryland, died on the 15th inet. Sudden Death of a New Hampshire Editor, Concorn, Feb. 18, 1855, Mr. Parton, editor of the Concord Reporter, dropped down ccad yesterday, from disease of the heart. He had just concluded a speech at a political meeting, and was in the act of taking his seat, when he fell and expired, The Weather tn Boston, Boston, Feb. 18, 1855. Weather to-day cleer ard fine. The snow bas nearly disappeared. Markets. New ORteANS, Feb. 17, 1855. The cotton market is dull. The sales ior the week have- been 29,000 bales, The sales to-day amount to Palen at unchanged prices. Freights to Liverpool are- Prov mexce, Feb. 17, 1855. Cotton.—Prices firm and unchanged; sales moderate. Wool.—Market steady. Sales for the week, 57,¢00 lbs. Printing cloths.—The demand for ly continues. active, and prices tend upward. les, 38,400 pieces. Young America in Costume. MADAMB FERRERO’S GRAND FANCY DRESS BALL. The annual fancy dress ball given by Madame Ferrero, at her dancing academy, 69 West Fourteenth street, om Thursday evening, was an occasion of more than usual interest to her numerous pupils. With the exception of the parents of the children, and a few friends, they were all dressed in costume; and such a diversity of characters” as were represented we have rarely seen at apy similar- ball. There were vivandieres of all ages and sizes ;cupids of both sexes; Yankees, with the usual allowance of coat tails, pants and straps; Hamlets, as ueual, in sable; Dearded ladies, got up for the occasion, without re- gard to expense, and exhibited free of charge; Titania, the Fairy Queen—very Shakespearean; drigands’ wives associating on terms of perfect equality with queens and kings; Spanish senoritas, realizfog all that. travellers tell us of the wondrous beauty of Castilian maids; Turks without the long, flowing beard, and with the long, flow- ing pants; Irishmen, wth very poor brogaes on their feet, and worse on their tongues; the Queen of Night, and the White Knight; the genius of America, Gressed in the national colors, bespangled with stars, and bearing in ber hand # wand surmounted by the cap of liberty; Greeks of Albania and Epirus as- sociating on the most friendly terms with their matual enemy, the Turk; St. George, unaccompanie) by bis amiable associate the dragon; nobles of the court of Louis XIV; French, Swiss and Italian peasant girls; General Washington and his lady, represented by two youthful and fair looking specimens of young America, not yet in their teens; Hungarians, Poles an] Russians doatmen, sailors, soldiers, clowns, flower girls, barbers jockeys, postillions, &., &c. The vivandieres, pessam: girls, soldiers and sailors predominated, bat there was also a pretty fair sprinkling of kings, queens and nobles. Francis the First, of France, amused himself during the evening in sonversing upon affairs of state, it is to be presumed, with a very beautiful peasant gir), of Nor- manéy, and Mustapha Pasha (Mr. L—f—1), one of the most Christian and ¥ peared to have: susrcncered hiaselt eutirly te tke 9h tractions of a lovely dark eyed Senorita (Mite T—k—r). Miss E. M—rr—tl, as a vivandiere, enlisted pole ments of juvenile suitors, and ber sister, Miss J. M—ri 5 os eer queen, performed wondrous works of enchant- General and Lady Washington, by Master C—r—ce P—n and Miss Grace B- ( ton of both rcter, ‘B, presented « fair representa. ster J. N— wi the bearded lalj, and’ trom his revemblanee to thet dine ting uished character, to attracted the attention of the whole ———. The Queen of Night was admirably personified by Mise per one in ber Rhea with silver and was &) rophized more Hamlet. presen perfect k ~" oth tote characters; but we were somewhat astooished to find the Deaserk ‘4 coneeey with a postillion, a poe “ A Mies A—j—pa, as a’Greek girl, was very richly dressed, and her picturesque costume set off to great advantage: ee fone cae sone, features, 5 ‘aut lungary had a bewitching bere on tive in Miss Van L—r, bef bose throne: bowed the knee in fealty birt bie table speci wor SESE re, ener and ladies of sit igamd Frevch it itis Reet et send a i eammthe ‘night, and of “peice yeere ee oe —a, both got up as newly arrived sons of the ule, em pt ya iule, played quite a conspicu~ done, they Ly vis oud Aas ccities ot u tow cose | * Imeem” Ansley oo alt pn Sant deestan wlte all, though the brogu somewhat tot ae en the chatnctirs. telerel ‘well for. amateurs. dress, hi It iy ovine ed di they made thei must ve to way through the crowd Chou to t their carriage, to be asked in the real genuine accent, “ you ever home?”’ for with all their exaggeration was cer. tainly no mistaking the characters they bad assamed. ofa mn of the Cours f Louis tleman of art of Quatorze and girl. The dresses of both were ii taste, and that of Mr. F., wan of the richest, The three Misses N—bl—« costume, were dressed lo admirable taste, “foots foncan ‘man! ners and brilliant conversation will not be soon vy, pea who had the pleasure of an Mr. M—t—n wore the unifi f an officer New York State Guards, one of thy duere meteor coors at pene mp Ban hi vs to flatter him, however, when Tag Ba Ange & very poor one that would sot Messrs. J P. F—n—s H. B. B—tn—tt, W. R. W—p—le é Sree sumer diene as members of @ new lub, rece Omecti. The tonto very Weemine Ee ee - sod payed bis pap meet coosnel rs patie in conclusion, we in to both Mr, Madame Temebeny wees & bal ft oe most, at least one of the most that bes not the deen in New York this season. The musie, under the direction of Mr. Wallace, was excel'ent, sodwete lieve there was not one the five or si: present, who went away disneti«fied. ! Court of Common Pleas, Before. Hon. Judge Woodrnff, Fen. 16.—This was an action for an assault und batte- ty, brought by sne John Brown against Mr. George H. Boegehold, a merchant tailor, of thie city. ‘The plaintit had been in his own house, directly alleges that in August hi fren tn font of x porter house ia Tutcty-esnhun onset eae defendant passed out of the front of the house, and, without a frorgention, inflicted a desperate: wound with a knife in plaintif’s bosom, He at $5,000. One witness testified tively that Mr. inflicted the tiow. His was: Mt amen Mebey, ‘who npeared f ‘sit . Jame wi a allee ged that at the time of stabbing * ] rome that it was minutes or more; ed committed the ect, ane thal he mes es erase: the street immediately after the ovcurrence, One i plaintiff's witnesses was also proven eoveral t L seapdlvcmnniaae aly om the same 2 oes took the Iatter view of the and ‘@ sealed verdict, on Saturday morning, for the Ennsts.—Ine notice of the Turkish coffer bonse, Henan of yerterday, for C.J. Seavyan read 0. og for “Framhlin Coffes Bouse " Tarkish Cnflee Ronse: fom } ——