The New York Herald Newspaper, December 17, 1855, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. sa BS GORDOH BENNETT, FROPRISFOR AND SDITOR, yOwIOR N. W. CORNER OF NASSAU AND FULTON Bs. ‘E. IN, nah tn advance, eee TY HERALD, eens por copy, 81 per enmum. TH WRBKLY HERALD, every Saturday, ab Or conte per ‘or $8. per annuum; ss (per annum, to eri oy Great Hetaain, or 85 be ony part of Whe Continent, beth Facile wate rth SLNT{RV CORRESPONDENCE, containing : ast cas titled. from any yaarter of Ure 1ooruh-<f ‘used wil be Mia pad for. age OOK PonbiGN UOKNESPORDBNTS ARM eeeclawuy Hixguabrep 10 Bkak Ald LETERRS AND PAOK- dre suet Us : “NO NOTICE wen of anomymous communiation. We do na on tho "GOR PRINTING eexccuted with nactnens, cheapness and dee- “DVER TIS AMUSEMENTS THUS BVEWING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Brondway—Revaus—@eacry am Tis Busse, "5 CARDEN, Broadway-—Sounmes—Taaue Naw Guann Pao—aRvINA BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Hasun—BEn wae Boat SWAIN. BURTON'S THBATRE, Chambers sirect—Ax Tnropent Purry Paine Pootenoes WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Pavara—To Pa- NINTH AND GUARDIANS WOOD'R MINBTRBLS, 44 Broadway—rmornan Paa- rem ANCES. ICKLEWS BURLESQUE OPRRA HOUSE, 599 Broad- wer Buuoegue Orska AND Nucue MANsTaury, ACADEMY EALL. 663 Hrosdway—Krmorean Musical AnD PARPSICNORMAN KNTAMTALNMEN' MMOHABKICS’ TALL, 472 Broaé way--Amwn20an Forme Bau. Ringers axp Vocarisss. NSW YORE BERALD—XDITION FON BUBOPS. Phe Cunard mai) utcamship Ameriva, Capt. Lang, will eave Bwton on Wednesday, at noon, for Liverpool. ‘The Furopcan mails will close in this elty at a quarter to two o'clock to-morrow afternoon, ‘the Ramaw (printed im Bugliok end French) will be patisded at ten o'clock im the morning. Single copies, We wrappers, Kixpence. Swbscriptions and advertisements for ney editios ef the Mxw Your Fymara will be received by the American and ‘Buropean Kixproys ant Hixchinge Company at the following pleces in Caroper— Lowpon 18 Cornhill. Panis, “Lace de la Bourse. Lavmxre 5 7 Rumford street, ‘The contents of the European edition of the Mena will seabrace the news received by mail and telegraph at tho often Gusing the previous week, and to the kour of padlioation. The News. The steamship Empire City, Capt. Windle, from Aspinwall, with the California mails and treasure, arrived off Sandy Hook on Saturday morning, and yesterday came to anchor about six miles from the ‘Hook in the midst of a dense fog. She was boarded by the pilot boat E. K.Collins. That boat succeeded im some way in creepisg up through the thick mist to the city, and arrived at her wharf last night with seventeen of the Empire City’s passengers, among whom is Mr. Joseph E. Smiley, from California. The fog will compel the steamer to remain below till to-day—or till the “ fog lifts.” The Empire City hhas the California mails, $1,750,000 in gold dust, the South Pacifio mails, and about five bundred passen- gers. She has later news from the South Pacific, ‘but no later accounts from California. One of our correspondents at Washington tele- graphs that Mr. McMullen, of Virginia, will intro- duce his plan to-day to clect a Speaker. We under- stand that le will propose that the names of all the members o: the House be pat in a hat, and that the first name drawn out shall be that of the Speaker. If the fortunate member declines the honor, the next name drawn shall indicate the gentleman who is to take the chair #0 long vacant. This plan will cer- tainly not involve the sacrifice of any political prin- ciple. We refer our readers to the letter of our corres- pondent at Richmond, Va., giving a report of the debate in the Virginia House of Delegates, on the 18th inst., on a resolution authorizing the Governor ‘ef that State to tender to the President a regiment of volunteers, for the purpose of preserving law and order in Kansas. This proposition, which is similar to one now before the Legislature of South Ourolina, elicited a pretty free interchange of sentiment upon the position of in _ Kansas and elsewhere with reference to the question of slavery, and was finally referred to a joint committee. In the Court of Common Pleas, on Saturday, Jadge ‘Woodruff delivered an important opinion as to first and second mortgages, in the ease of Angustus Jen- Kins against the Continental Insurance Company. It may be found in another part of to-day’s paper. As everything conuected with Central America possesses just now unusual attractions, we present to-day to our readers another chapter upon Nicara- guan politics, mineralogy and agriculture, which will well repay perusal. J: is stated that the Minis- ter from Costa Rica to the United States has given notice that his government, together with Gautemala, San Salvador and Honduras, have formed a league for the purpose of expelling General Walker and his compatriots from the coun- try; and it is also stated that our government will not receive Mr. French, the new Minister from Ni- earagua. These are certainly serious obstacles to the success of the Walker party; but they are by no means insurmountable. A glance at the cata- ogee of the agricultural productions of Central America, and the untold mineral wealth of that re- gion, will satisfy the reader that neither the leagae of the States above mentioned, nor the proclama- tions of President Pierce, will deter adventurers from flocking thither. The political and social ef- fects of these movements it requires ut little wis- dem to discern. A meeting was held in Christ Church, in Bight- eenth street, lust night, to promote the interest of the general domestic missions of the Protestant Bpiscopal Church in the United States. The Right Rey. Bishop Potter presided. The Rev. Mr. Hill, a clergyman from California, gave an interesting statement of the condition of the missions of the church in that State, showing that aid in this re- spect was very much needed. A collection was taken up. Captain Trow, of the pilot boat Florida, at Charleston, reports that the American brig leabel, Captain Sandford, from Mobile, bound to New York, ran aground on the banks off Bahia Honda, on the night of the 7th inst. At last accounts the wreckors were saving the cargo. The value of foreign goods imported into the port of Boston during the week ending 15th inst. amounted to $516,977. The sales of cotton on Saturday reached about 800 @ 1,000 bales, without change in prices. Flour was @ull for common and medium grades, and prices fa- vored purchasers. Among the transactions about 6,000 barrels of common State were taken for export at $5 60, with some transactions at $8 44 and $8 56. There was rather more done in wheat, chiefly in Western red, at $1 94 and $1 95, with a lot of Southern prime white at $220. Jn corn the sales were moderate, at about previous quotations; a parcel ef new North Carolina white, Deveranx’s, sold at $1 03. Rye was in good demand, at about $) 32 for good quality. Pork was inactive, with small sales, at prices given in another column. Beef was heavy. Lard was firm. “Coffee was firm, with sales at 12c. 4 V2Ae. for good to choice Rio, Sogars were in fair demand at steady’ prices, with sales for Balti- Tore for refining. J ‘eights continued firm, both for English and Conti In 1849 Congress se- cured a Speaker jnst three days before Christ- mas, The present House, a°eording to this precedent, have yet foor days’ 2.7800. But will they save their distance? Who ky We? Who cures? NEW YORK HERALD MO The Poridion of Parties in Congress—The j\arded as second to that of the Presidency; Bpeab.cremip—The Next Presidential Klee ven anf the House of Reyresentatives. Cengreers is rtill without a Speaker. The last and sixty-first ballot on Saturday resnited a3 follow «:—— Seatiering. 6 Necenrary ‘ Thus for twelve days the three parties into which the House is divided have been ma- weeuvring for a position, with little advantage, 7+ would seem, to either, and aone whatever to the country. Ji is conselatery to be reminded that the members reflect, to some extent, the popular mind of the country, as made known in the elections which returned them to Con- grees. That they have business of their own, too, in connection with the coming Presiden- tial contest, is also sufficiently obvious. The whole difficulty in making a presiding officer arises from this little fact—it is necessary to provide for the futere, and in order to do so it isnot casy to sce whether the election of 1856 isto be decided by the people or by the House of Representatives, and that the pre- sent struggle is the shadow indicating that coming event. : We have often said that the whole tendency of our political affairs only signalized the divirion of the country into two great pri- mary partics—those who sustain the govern- ment, as it is; and those who seek its over- throw, in order to give effect to their che- riehed hostility to the South. This feeling entered Congress on the first day of its session, and each succeeding day has only served to bring it out more distinctly and positively. It has come to thie—that in Congress there are substantially but two parties—the black re- publicans on the one side, united with the anti-twelfth section Know Nothings, ready and anxious io form a great Northern abolition party, and the democracy, standing firmly upon the Kansas law and upon the principles of popular sovereignty, on the other side, Between the two are the national Know Noth- ings, giving their votes steadily for Fuller, some of. them perhaps somewhat hostile to the Kansas legislation, but all of them, it is believed, regarding that act a3 altogether of secondary importance, and ready and deter- mined to maintain the integrity of our national compact on all occasions. The gulf between these men and the black republicans is as wide and as deep as that between the black republi- cans and the Old Guard of the democracy. They can hope for no existence as a party by falling into e Seward ranks. They are chiefly from the South, and though not formidable for their numbers, they hold the balance of power not only in the or- ganization of the House, but in the election of President in case of a failure to do so by the Electoral Colleges, This latter fact imposes upon them high responsibilities; for there is certainly a prospect, more or less remote, that upon the present House the duty of selecting an executive to succeed Mr. Pierce may de- volve. Counting the members who sustained Banks on the highest vote as sure to support the black republican candidate for the Presidency, that party will have thirteen States, viz.:— Indiana, New York, Maine, Ohio, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, sland, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jorsey, Wiseonsin. Connecticut, The democracy, judged by the same rule— by those voting for Richardson—will have twelve States, viz.:— Alabama, Loni dans, Arkansas, Miesissipri, Californis, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Georgin, ‘Texas, and Minois, Virginia, Towa is equally divided, and radically, upon democratic and black republican lines. Then we have the following States (in which the Know Nothings, who, with hardly an ex- ception, vote against Banks,) controlled either absolutely or holding the balauce of power by the American representatives in Congress :-- Kentucky, Missouri, ‘Tennessee, Delaware, Maryland, Allowing that the vote of the latter can be controlled by the black republicans, they are still short of the power to elect their President ~-and that power is lodged with the national American reprecentatives from Kentucky, Tan- nereee, Maryland and Missouri—four slave States. + But it is very unlikely that the black repab- licans, should the Presidency be determined by the House, can control the entire vote now given toBanks. It must be remembered that Pierce, Cushing and McClelland are secretly in favor of Banks’ election; that there are many free soil democrats voting for him who are sick of niggerism, and are only waiting for a new shuffle of the cards to fall into the ranks of democracy, and loudly proclaim their horror of efforts to impair the integrity of our federal system. Thurston, a democrat from Rhode Island, now voting for Banks, will most likely choose an early period to abandon the rotten and sinking ship commanded by Captain Se- ward, and fall into association with his old party. This will divide the State of Rhode Island and withdraw it from the black republicans, Indiana is, in fact, in the same category. A cause which at the recent elections could only command positive success in two States—Vermont and Ohio—a cause originating in New York, and wofully defeated in the place of its baptism—a cause of which Weed and Greeley and Webb and Seward are the godfathers—consecrated to treason, and cutluined only by traitors and party gamblers, js not likely to grow stronger, as the eyes of the community are opened to its deformities, It has now been thrust into Congress, and with advantages greater than it is ever again likely to possess, for twelve days; with all its pro- mises and all its fraternities, rewards and in- timidations, it has been unable to elect one of its second-hand men for Speaker. This is cer- tainly » bad exbibit. Tts future is even worse than the present, Should Banks now be elected it will have been doue after showing him and the country that negroism was unable to do it, Seward and his associates are cortatnly in a fix. Hod they succeeded fn the first week of the ession in electing Banks, whatever might have been the future course of that gentleman, they could have claimed it asa triumph, aod by its aid have given a spasmodle life once more to their cause. When Mr. Clay was Spoaker of the House ot Representatives he unfortonately got into a oversy with Mr. Randolph. The latter ailed him bitterly, aod his refucat to rogly was constraed by matiy into an unwillingness to meet bf The trath } W's, caker was re- antagonfet in argument, a those cays the post of Spe and Mr. Clay was advised by many leading mefi that he could not, consistently with his ex- alted position, descend into an argamentative controversy with apy person, if he was second to the President, he was controllie@ by the courtesies and conventionalities attending that august personage. Since then, and in consequence we would say of the flerce parti- zan warfare of mere politicians, the Speaker- ship—“the second office”—has fallen into sad disrepute, insemuch that even now there are at Jeast twenty men in Congress who have strong hopes that it may be conferred upon them, and that it will turn out literally the second office— the first to follow it next year, Meantime the power to make a Speaker, and the possible power to make @ President next year, is in the hands of the conservatives of the American party, that little nucleus sur- rounding Mr. Fuller, and who as steadily adhere to him as that immortal band of eeventy- four, acting substantially from the same motives, have continued to cast their votes for Col. Richardson. : The apparent strength of the black repubdli- cans in the House is about eighty—say one -third. Atleast twenty-six of the hundred and six votes given to Banks on Saturday, are either pereonal votes or the votes of bellwethera, sticking to the black flock in hopes of leading them into the American pen in season for clip- ping. Should they succeed, it is possible that we shall have a Congressional cl, th not exact- ly silver gray, but an old-fashioned cheap mix- tare of white and black. In estimating the strength of the Seward men in Congress, the reader should not forget their defeat in their own State, and that according to our showing they stand no chance of controlling the Presi- dency in 1856, should the Electoral Colleges fail to elect. A political party without present or prospective power is a sinking ship at best; hence we may infer that the black republicans et Washington are being put into their true position, where in fact the last elections placed them. The votes cast for Campbell on the first day—about fifty in number—are really indicative of their strength; the Banks votes are sadly mixed—a kind of joint stock con- cern, with Cushing, Pierce, McClelland, Sew- ard, Greeley, Webb, Weed and Giddings for managers. In such an operation somebody will be cheated. Thus the last two weeks contest for Speaker may be considered the first ballot for the next Presidency. sus Toe Mammors Trex Grove or CaLirornta —Tue Dury or rus Sratz anv or Conaress.— We published yesterday a description of the various monsters which make up the “Wash- ington Mammoth Tree Grove” of California. The finest, the most beautiful and symmetrical of these trees, (though not the largest,) has been cut down, and fragments of it have been exhibited here and in Europe by a set of spe- culators. From this beginning, unless the Goths and Vandals are arrested in their work, the destruction of this incomparable forest will probably go on till the last vestige of it is destroyed. In this view, the point that we make is, that the State of California and the Congress of the Union should interpose to preserve these trees, as the living proofs that the boasted monarchs of the wood of the Old World are but stunted shrubbery compared with the forest giants of our own country. We say that Congress should interpose, upon the ‘ presumption that these trees are public pro- perty, are on the public lands of Califoraia, and because Congress has already interposed to protect the public live oak forests of Florida from the rapacity of unscrupulous speculators, These California monsters are, we doubt not, of the same genus, though perhaps not of the exact species, of the ancient cedars of Leba- non. The California grove is in about the eame latitude, the same altitude, (4,500 feet above the sea) and has the same climate as those mighty forests of the mountains of Lebanon, from which King Hiram supplied the timber for the building of Solomon’s Temple. Of those Lebanon forests only some half dozen gnarled and shattered relics aow remain near the summit of that lofty range; while in California we have a grove of the most magni- ficent specimens coeval with Solomon and David. There they have stood, and have con- tinued to grow, while kingdoms, empires and dynasties have risen and disappeared; and there they stand, the living patriarchs of three thourand years! To these venerable giants, upon a basis of seventy years, the discovery of America was but an affair of yesterday, and the birth of our Saviour an incident of some forty years ago! The old “Hercules” of the group is still among them, of the respectable height of 350 feet, and with the extra aldermanic cir. cumference of 107 feet! And there is scarcely one in thisimperial family less than three hun- dred feet from top to toe! What goose- berry bushes are the forests of Hurope, aud even of the Mississippi valley, compared with this towering cedar grove of California! We repeat, that it is the duty of the State of California, of Congress, and of all good citizens, to protect and to preserve these California monuments of the capabilities of our American foil. Letitbe the law that this Washington Mammoth Grove shall stand, Senaror Doveras Positiveny Decrixes.—We published yesterday a short paragraph assuring the hopeful democracy that Senator Douglas had resolved not to trouble them for their Pre- sidential nomination of 1856—that he had, in fact, withdrawn from the course for the ap- proaching race, avd had made up his mind fixedly to keep his name out of the Cincinnati Convention, In support of thie fact, we find a long editorial in the Chigago Times—the con- fidential home organ of Mr. Douglas—from which we make the following extract. The editor is speaking of the democratic endorse- ment of Mr. Douglas, as the author of the Ne braska bill:— Cheored by such entorsament, recognized everywhere ae the wuthor of that measure which has given vtorna’ vitality to the great inciple of American democracy the turther and most impressive endoreement of tha” et by the democracy in Congress, ho ma; it low his vendors in age—Caes, Maroy, Buchanan, heree & ui Others-—to com pete with friendly strife for the nowination at the hands of a convention Which will re- quire of its choice a pledge of fidelity to the principle of non intervention and popular sovereignty, ‘Senator Dovglas fp not now, nor has he ever been, a énndidate ; No ) is bad or ever has been an- by him to use his nawe in or ont of that conven- tion, nor Will that authority be given, This is explicit, poritive and authoritative. Let the Senator be taken at his word, for we are assured that otherwise John Yan Buren will kick the democratic party of New York out of the traces,as in 1848. If New York is to be counted upon, not only Douglas, but Case, Pieree, Marcy, Dickinson and all con- cerged in perpetuating this demogratio spilt of ritory. We \earn from Washington that the Presi- dent will recommend in his Message the pur- chare of the rights and possessions of the Hud- ton Bay Company on the northweat coast of the continent, These rights and possessions are exercised and held within the Territory of Ore- gon, @ large portion of which formerly be- longed to the old Pacific Fur Company. This was the company which was to open up the Pa cific elope, and earn such colossal fortunes for Astor and his aseociates, but which, on the breaking outof the war in 1812, 1adly embrac- ed the opportunity of dying, nd selling its real estate and rights to the famous North- weet Company. The Nor’westers, as every one knows, did a poor business, and wasted their profits in ceaseless ware with their rivals and the Indians, until the fearful massacre at Red River virtually put an end to their existence. Somewhere about the year 1821 they sold out to the Hudson Bay Company, which thus be- came sole possessor of the fur country of the north and west. Ata later period, this nsso- ciation gave birth to another, called the Puget Sound Company, whose special business it was to farm, and not to hunt. When the Oregon treaty was concluded spe- cial reservations were made in favor of the Hudeon Bay Company, and its bunters. They were confirmed in their @aim to navi- gate the Columbia river, ond all the rivers flowing into it from the point at which the forty-pinth parallel crosses the same; and their possessory righte in the territory south of the forty-ninth parallel were pronounced safe from molestation, Thus it came about that the actual sovereignty of that country was in Pritish subjects, while the nominal sovereigaty appertained to the United States, The expe- rience of the Oregon dispute alone taught both parties the danger and inconvenience of an ar- rangement of this nature, nor were their anti- cipations long unrealized. Before the treaty had been in force half a dozen years, contlicts arose on its interpretation—the Hudson Bay Company claiming more than the United States were willing to allow, and the latter on thefr side narrowing their occupation of the term “possessory rights,” within smaller limits than the western hunters chose to recognise. It was clear, as long agoas 1849, that unless measures were taken to avert future trouble, the peace of the two nations might be difturbed by the consequences of the anomalous position of the Hudson Bay Company in Oregon. A negotiation was accordingly set on foot by Sir George Simpson, the Governor of the Hudson Bay Company, in order to sell the rights of the company to the United States. In 1852, he valued the buildings and trade of the Hudson Bay Company in Oregon, at $2,330,000, exclusive of the joint right to navignte the Co- lumbia. The chief items which went to make up this sum were Fort Vancouver, at the head of ship navigation on the Columbia, which, with its dependent mills and farms, was valued at helf a million of dollars, Smaller forts and farms—Forts Champooick, Disappoint- ment, Umpqua, Nez Percés, Colville, the Camelitz Farm, the Nisqually settlement, &c. —were set down at various sums, from $50,000 to $15,000. The cattle ranges throughout the country on which the company was used to pasture its flocks and herds previous to the treaty, were valued in round terms at half a million; and the god will of the business, including the trade with the Indians, was set down at a milion of dollars. All this Sir George offered to sell for one million—less than one half the stated valua- tion. We presume the offer is still open to the acceptance of the government. It should be accepted withont hesitation, Considered in a financial light, the sum asked is small. The cost of the buildings alone, at the seventeen forts and farms occupied by the Hudson Bay Company, was $450,000; at least Sir George Simpson says so, and there cannot be much exaggeration. In 1849, the trade -at Fort Vancouver yielded anet profit of $85,000, which is alone more than the interest of a mil- lion. And if the strip of barren land on the Mexican frontier was worth ten millions, the exclusive navigation of the Columbia and the undivided possessiou of Oregon are surely worth one. But theee are peddling reasons, The United States should hasten to acquire the rights and posecssions of the Hudson Bay Company, be- cause in a few years the possession of the mouth of the Columbia, and the commaad o/ the whole southern country, may be tanta- mount to the control of the Northern Pacific. Fort Vancouver is destined to be the New York of Oregon. A mere trading post at present, where settlement is not encouraged by the company, it is hardly known: but let it pass under the United States flag, and ten years will not elapse before healthy efforts are made to build a great town there. As was remarked before, the river is navigable for ships of large burthen up to the fort; very little expense would build wharves at which they might dis- charge cargo within a stone’s throw of the dwelling houses. The back country is a rich prairie, with well wooded patches, and plenti- fully intersected by streams. The climate is excellent: men live to a prodigious age there. It is certain that were it thrown open to set- tlers, an influx of immigration would flow thither, and the fame and wealth of San Fran- cisco might soon be ecligmed. We hope, there- fore, that nothing will stand in the way of a speedy purchase of the property. Mr. Bucranay’s Detention tn Exatann.—The following is an extract of a letter from Mr. Buchanan, dated Nov. 16, 1855, and received by the last steamer, addressed to a personal friend in Washington :-~ Thad coleulated with confidence that I should return home by the steamer of the 6th of Uctober last; bat un- expected events render this impossible, T shall now be detained here, I know not how long, in consequence of the resent aspect of affairs between the two countries. 1 | hm however, that within the of three months 1 may moet you all again, At such is my anxious de- wire. Those “ unexpected events” to which Mr. Bu- chanan refers are, doubtless, the Crampton en- listment imbroglio, those Russian privateers, that Irish-American invasion of Ireland, and the revolutionary condition of things in Central America, under the auspices of Gene- ral Walker, Col. Kinney & Co. In view of these events, and the diplomacy which they will require to set them all perfectly straight, our Minister at St. James may well say that he knows not how long he may be detained by Marcy in London. We presume, however, that Mr. Buchanan will be back among us, (aettle- ment or no settlement with John Ball) in good season to take a hard in the Cincinnati Demoa- cratic National Convention, And that will do; for Governor Wise of Virginia, will look to “<@ must be set aside, That’s clear enough, * bis interests in the interval. NDAY DECEMBER 17, 1855. Pures se Of the Hudson Bay Company’s Ter~ Tus Sreaxeremp—Mr. Groniwes Exriarns tue Rea Issue —The letter which we repub- Nish to-day, from the pen of Joshua R. Gid- dings, as we find it in his Ohio home orgau— the Achtabula Sentinel—explains exactly the platform of the fusion msjority in Congress upon the question of the Speakership. The original mystery of the holy zeal of Thurlow Weed, Genera] Webb, and Greeley, ia behalf of Mr. Banke, is no longer a mystery. It seems that the anti-slavery coalition ia the caucus of Saturday preceding the Monday of the first meeting of this Coogress, resolved unanimous- ly, upon the motion of Mr. Giddings, that they would support no candidate for Speaker unteas pledged, among other things, “to organize the standing committees of the House, by placing on each a majority of the friends of freedom, who are favorable to making reports on all petitions com- mitted to them,”” As one of the rales of war this may be per- fectly fair. The Senate have appointed their committees, from first to last, by placing on each a majority opposed to abolitionism ia al! shapes and dirguises. If the mojority of the House, therefore, are with Mr. Giddings, they have the authority to appoint their commit- tees with @ majority on each in opposition to Southern slavery in every shape and form. Bui we say that this platform dissipates all doubts concerning the rebellious conduct of the na- tional whigs and KnowNothings supporting Fal- Jer and the scattering candidates for Speaker. The Giddipgs resolution, upon which Mr. Banks is standing, requires— 1, An anti-slavery committee on Foreign Affairs, pledged against all measures and resolutions identifying the general goverament with the institution of Southern slavery. 2, A similar committee on Ways and Means, pledged to report against all proposed appro- priations in any way defensive of the rights of property in Southern slaves. 3. A Judiciary Committee which will render its decisions upon all contested sectional questions against the South, beginning with the Fugitive Slave law. 4, A Committee on Elections which will re- port against Whitfield, and in favor of Reeder, as the rightful delegate from Kansas, d&c., dc. 6, A Committee on the District of Columbia, which, upon a ‘petition to that effect, will report a bill to abolish slavery in said District, 6. A Committee on Territories, which, upon a petition to establish the Wilmot proviso over all the Territories of the Union, will report a Dill accordingly. 7. A Committee on Commerce, which, should the outside abolitionists require it, will report a bill to abolish the traffic in slaves between the several States, upon the plea that Congress has the “power to regulate commerce.” And so on to the end of the chapter. A formidable programme of active and radical abolition legislation such as this may well drive back all such men of the anti-administration majority as those re- sisting the election of Mr. Banks; for, if elect- ed, his duty in appointing the standing com- mittees of the House will be as Giddings has prescribed it. Nor are we surprised to learn thatthe democrats desire the election of Mr. Banks upon this programme; and that asa last resort, if necessary, they feel inclined to aid, directly or indirectly, in his election, be- cause the democratic party could not ask a better thing than the organization of a North- ern anti-slavery party for 1856, according to this broadly defined scheme of Joshua R. Gid- dings. The probabilities of the Speakership, then, are still in favor of the election of Banks. The Giddings resolution fully justifies the protract- ed scattering opposition votes against him thus far; and let those scattering gentlemen still beware of the final disasters of a fusion upon the platform laid down by the oldest, the rankest and most unscrupulous abolition agitator of the House. Tue Prestpent’s Privare Apvices to Gov. Suannon.—The Springfield (black) Republican, of Mass, publishes what purports to be the private advices of President Pierce to Gov. Shannon, of Kansas, upon the demand of the latter for United States troops to put down the rebellious free soil squatters of the Territory; and here is an extract from these supposed confidential instructionse— PIERCE TO SHANNON—NOT OPFICIAL. This {s bad, Shannon. It is worse than your blunder ip showing your private instructions to the Mexicam gov- ernment, You have made me ridiculous as well as your- self. Why didn’t you wait at least half aday to ascertain whethor the stories of the miserable muiderer Coleman apd my stupid ond profane iter at Weston were true, before sending such he toa despatches to me over the wires? And how miserably I am compro nised by pledging you in reply that you shall have Sie bese if necessary. Pshaw! Shannon; nothing bat m: religious scruples me using the empha epi . I have received no letter from , anid I don’t Ps eg po In fact, I think a discreet silence {a now the only thing for you. * * * * Judging from the New Hampshire antece- dents of Mr. Pierce, and the “Scarlet Letter,” we have no doubt that his thoughts ran in this direction, whatever he may have written to Shannon. We think it probable, too, that he never will receive a letter from his Governor by mail calling for those troops. The Govern- or is rather a green hand on the frontiers, and some allowance must be made accordingly for his being so easily frightened. We must re- member that when first brought into the battle- field, Frederick the Great took to his heels. Acclimation is everything. We must allow the Governor a margin for acclimation. Justice is justice. Tue Sorts 1x Motion ror Crxcrswati.—A soft shell call has been issued for a State conven- tion of their faction on the 8th of January, to appoint delegates to the Cincinnati National Democratic Convention. On the immortal 8th, likewise, the Democratic National Executive Commitice meet at Washington, to appoint the day for the meeting of the grand Cincinnati Sanhedrim. Our soft shells are, therefore, fully up to time; and this call of theirs foreshadows the appointment again of the two sets of delegates—softs and hards —to the national party love feast for the loaves and fishes. In 1848 the respective cla'ms of the two sets were submitted to a special com- mittee, which, after several days’ discussion, reported, through the efferts of Hopkins L. Turney, of Tennessee, in favor of splitting the difference, by admitting both sets. The convention adopted the report; whereupon the indignant softs, disgusted at the idea of being placed upon the same demooratic level with the harde, left the convention en masse, packed off to Buffalo and set up that free soil Van Buren ticket which defeated the democratic nominee. The democracy of Congress, however, in this case have laid down the law. It is the Nebraska bill. Should the soft convention agree to swallow this bitter dose, they may yet fuse with the hards and go in. Has not Mr, John Cochrane the fat office of S ‘ of this port? Does it not agree with 2 las he not charge of “tbe heavy business” of the Tammany faction? Moreover, has not Prince Jobn Van Boren backed out? Tha softe, then, we say, will swallow the dose pre~ scribed ut Warbington. They may sugar coat. it, but they will swallow it, Mark that. Somzraine vor THe Licur-Hovse Boarp— We respectfully direct the attention of tha. Light-House Board to the following communi- cation — NOTION TO MARINERS. BIG Soxews, OF CHARLESTON, 8. C., } ‘Taos. Warson, Master, Dee. 1, 1855. ‘TO THE EDITOR OF THR HKRALD. 1 wk te will publish this tor the benefit of nn paring te Double Headed Shot Key light on Salt Key ak, mas, and also to call the attention: of tight~ boure keepers to ® proper rense of their important.duty. At SP. M., Nov. 40,1 passed through the Dog Rock Pas soge, ron WSW. for the thot Light, kept ia sight of the Keys until off the Bank, sna saw no light whatever. There was no Ugh dung the nigat of the 80:h Nov. 1850, on the Double Headed hot Keys, though it was moon- light the best part, of the might. For the truch of what I herein agsert—not belog known by you—I refer you to apy Havana packot captain from the = of New York. THOMAS WATSON, Master. JOHN D, WHIPTMORS, Mate. THOMAS ‘THOMPSON, Captain McGowan, of the steamship Philadelphia, ure rived at Havens trom New York, states that on the night of the 27th ult., he passed within a short distance of the Double Headed Shot Keys Light, and that ft was not light~ ed on that nigh’. It is to be boped the keeper of the lighthouse will, if living, be able to give some explanation as to why itwos not lighted on those nights, ‘TO THE RDITORS OF THE HERALD, Tadd my testimony to the above statement, that o@ the night of the S0th November, 1855, the lighthouse Double Headed Shot Keys, cid not exhibit any ligh: Please notice this, as ic is a very important Nght for n.- vigatora of that neighborhood. F, BRUNEEL, Master of ship Courier. New Yonx, December 15, 1855. This is an important matter, and we hop» that the authorities at Washington will attend to it at once. At the same time, we would say to sbipmasters, and others having informatiox in relation to the master alluded to above, or similar cases of neglect, or other affairs impor- tant to commerce and navigation, that if they willsend it directly to this office we will giv> it due prominence in our columas. Pro hone putlico, —_—4+ Iumioration To THE Tropics.—Some of our - best Northern material has lately been seize. with a fit of emigratioz to Central and Souih America, and we have received ca‘is from large numbers of persons anxious for informa- tion as to the movéments now going on io. Nicaragua, Central America, New Granada and other localities in the same vicinity. A. few days since we published a letter from « gentleman connected with the Kinney expedi- tion, and his address has been requested by several persons. We are informed that a scheme is on foot to fit outa clipper ship for Greytown with five hundred young men as passengers, They intend (osettle in Nicaragua and become citizens of that republic. Tho steamer Osprey—the first of a line between this city and New Granada--sailed on Saturday with a large number of passengers, among whom were General Mosquera end Mr. John §. Thrasher, formerly of a liberal newspaper at- Havana. The new Minister from Nicarague, Mr. Parker H, French, has received bundreds. of persons, anxious to learn something about Nicaragua, and the government of that repub- lic hes advertised in our columns, offering facilities for immigration. Very shortly there will be a great rush of immigretion to that. quarter, and the infasion of Anglo-Saxon en- terprise and energy will have a fine effect upon the sleepy Southern republics. Their resources have never been developed; but now—thanks to Northern enterprise—they are in a tair way to be fully brought out. We hope the powers at Washington will give heed’ to these signifi cant facts. The Central American question has become too important to be trifled with. Ir Has Bren Goro on Too Lono.—We are informed that some two years since Messrs. Abraham Turnure, Edward C. West, one of the Almshouse Governors, and Danie) Dodge, ex- Alderman, were appointed commissioners to settle some matters in dispute relative to lands for the new reservoir. They were to have four dollars each per day, room rent, clerk hire, stationery, toothpicks and other luxuries, all of which they have been enjoying, and that without making a report. The parties inte- rested are anxious to know when they will ar- rive at some conclusion, and as a tax payer we have a right to insinuate delicately that this sort of thing has been going on too long. The gentlemen above named were appointed by the Supreme Court to arrange matters between property owners and the city, and it is quite time they had concluded their labors. Let us hear from them. Too Mvon Crowic.—In one of our English exchanges we find the following decision against an over-clamorous rooster :— A curious point of law has just been decided by a coun. ty court judge at Exeter, The question was, whether an inhabitant of @ town was at liberty to keep animals whose noise proved @ serious annoyance to their - bors. It was shown en the partofs Mr. Abraham that his neighbor, Mr. Minty, had # cock which crowed one hundred and ff y times in twenty-five mmates. The learned judge thought this wasan amount of crowin; which human nature was not bound to put up with, and awarded to the plaintiff ore shilling damages. When they get a Speaker of the House of Representatives at Washington, he ought to : have a present of a rooster of this kidney. The triumph of Banks, Richardson or Fuller— especially Fuller—will justify the employment of a bird fora whole day that can crow one hundred and fifty times in twenty-five minutes, with all the old cackling hens of the success-. fal party thrown in for good measure. THE LATEST NEWS. BY ELECTRIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. r From Baltimore. THE AMOSKEAG VETERANS—THE SOUTHERN MAIL. Bavemons, Deo. 16, 1855. Senator Hale attended the banquet given ia tnia elty last night to the Amoskeag Veterans, and made quite » Union speech. New Orleans papers, of the 9th instant, are to heod, ‘but they contain nothing of interest. Markets. Prov Dec. 16, 18b5. Corrov.—The salon have beon moderate duricg the week, at umchanged prices. For wool there has an in~ creased demand; sales, 00,000 be, the market closing firm. Printing clotha—Sales of the week, 42,000 pieces. _—_———— Fires in New York. PIRE IN THE BOWERY. Shortly before five o'clock yesterday afternoon, a fro broke out in the four story frame building No. 103 Bowery. It was first discovered in the third story. The firemen were soon at g confined Fottlea of tos unset nace ied by J. H. Hayer, on Ai nel 5 - reotyplst, The first, pee gt A A on the tated floor is occupied by James H. Andeison & Co., oil cloths, &e, The fire did not extend below the ficor, but the water caused considerable damage to the carpeting, &e. ir. Ha on te tantra tie 00m te oe ote 3 it In urance ny. amount a | ‘Anderson & On, are insure! to the stagunt of 61 000, Excelsior, 5 4 uf not be estimated, The building is 7, W. Tarker, damaged about $600. Inenred for $3, in the Bowery Insurance Company. FIRE IN WEST TWENTY FIRST e@TRERT. Petween 12 and 1 o'clock on Sunday morning a fire wns discovered in the bay loft of # large brick stable, tor >