The New York Herald Newspaper, December 26, 1855, Page 3

The Submarine Teleguaph—Its Origin and Progress. In September, 1851, the first submarine cable was Jaid across the English Channel, from Dover to Oa lais, a distance of twenty-four miles, and since then about a thousand miles have been laid between dif- ferent points on the continent of Europe. As early, however, as 1843, the idea of the submarine tele- graph was suggested by Professor Morse, in @ com- munication, dated August the 10th of that year, ad- drested to the Secretary of the Treasury. In this he use#the following words, speaking of an experiment which he had previously made to test the practica- bility of transmitting the electric current through wire submerged in water:—“ A telegraphic com- munication on my plan may with certainty be estab- lished across the Atlantic. Startling as this may nov seem, the time will come when this project shal be realized,” ‘the firat experiment on record of telegraphic cosmunication beneath the water, was made by Professor Morse in 1842, in this city. .The wire was laid from Castle Garden to Governor's Islad, and was about a mile in length. The expeiment was announced in the daily papers and ‘great deal of interest was manifested in it by the pople of New York, and the Battery was crowd- ed wh spectators on the appointed morning, The nigh before, the..Professor went in a small boat witltwo assistants and paid out the wire which was insted and protected from the water by means of stton saturated with shellac and afterwards steeed in bitumen. They completed their work in fe hours, and awaited eagerly the time appointed forte public exhibition. They had tested it them- eels and were aatisfied of its success; but still there we) dread apprehensions that some accident might oce to interfere with its operations on the follow- ingday. Unfortunately their worst fears wore remed; the morning after the wire was lai they had the mortification of seeing sen vessels lying at anchor immediately ov it. When the Professor observed this heemarked to his companions that they would have nexperiment that day, as he felt certain some of tee vessels would take up the wire on their an- cire, He proceeded, however, to attach the bat- ‘des and instruments,and found that it still worked iat successfully. Soon after, one of the vessels wa perceived getting under weigh, and it was find that in raising her anchor she had pulled up te wire, about a hundred feet of which was hauled ¢ deck by the sailors, who were in woful ignorance -cits use. The accident caused, as might naturally Xsupposed, much public disappointment; but it yoved, however, the practicability of transmitting -ectricity through a submerged wire when insulated ad kept entirely free from the action of the water. ‘here was one great difficulty which it was found possible to overcome: the protection afforded by fe Covering of cotton saturated with shellac nd bitumen, was only temporary as the ‘material ould not long resist the continued action of the vater. In this emergency the virtues of India rub- yer were tested, and a wire covered with it laid seross the North river, between Fort Lee and Fort Washington, in 1846 or 1847, by Mr. Cornell, but with the same discouraging result. Several other materials were tested, and having failed, the project of a submarine telegraph was about being abandon- ed when the invaluable properties of gutta percha were discovered. It was found that it not only re- sisted the action of water, but that asa non-con- ductor it was even superior to glass. Shortly after its discovery the manufacture of the submarine cable was commenced, and, as we have already stated, Dover aud Calais were brought into instant RoR an with each other. Harwich and Os- tend, and don and the Hague were also con- nected; and, as we have seen, a cable has been laid -across the Black Sea since the commencement oi ‘the war, while another is at present in course of -completion across the Mediterranean. In May, 1561, Mr. H. B. Tebbetts, of this city, asso- piace with Ue ere influential penis for irpose of organizing a com) steam- ers ofa large size and run them between New York and Galway, Ireland. These vessels were to be apataly bein age to perform mail service between two continents, and to accomodate the large emigrant travel from Ireland to the United States. In originating this enterprise Mr. Tebbetts con- ceived the idea of the Newfoundland telegraph, now #0 prominently before the public. He immediately entered into a ¢ dence with different mem- hers of the Newfoundland government concernin; the feasibility of constructing a line of telegra across its territory, with the view of making St. Johns a port of call for the steamers to and from Galway. He was assured that the plan was perfectly practicable, and that the government would make liberal grants and concessions to secure its accomplishment. Shortly after, the government ordered a survey to be made, and employed Mr. F. N. Gisbourne, an engineer, who, on the completion of the survey, waa sent with a letter of introduction to Mr, Tebbetts, in December, 1851, from Mr. 8. G. Archibald. The result of the interview between Mr. Tebbetts and the engineer was the offer of 20,000 by the former to the latter, on the condition that he would :eturn to Newfoundland and procure such a charter as Mr. Tebbetts desired. ‘The object of #0 large an amount was to secure bop gh which, at the time, was absolutel; necessary to the success of the mission on whic! ‘Mr. Gisbourne was sent. Tne charter was obtained, ints queried in peomouting the work: “A lane tol: 8 ex, work. A land tele- graph was constructed across Prince Edward sland, a distance of seventy-four miles, and a sub- marine cable ten miles long, across from that island fo New Brunswick, Untortunately, however, the company were obli, to suspend their operations in consequence of pecuniary embarrassments. Through the exertions of the originator of the rise, ver, the gentlemen now en, in the enterprise. Mr. Cooper, Cyrus 'W. Field, M. O. Roberts, Chandler White and Moses ‘Taylor, were induced to take hold of it; a new char- ‘er was obtained, the property of the old compan; urchased and its debts paid by them. Avail- fog themselves of the experience of the old company, ‘these gentlemen pushed forward the work with ener- ry, until they every reason to believe it wonld & fully completed this fall. The accident in layin; down the sul cable across the Gulf of ‘Lawrence has, however, disappointed them, and the public will have to wait till next summer for tele- graphic communication to be established between ew York and St, Johns. After making these ar- ran, for the Newfoundland enterprise, Mr. Tebbetts turned his attention to the ides ot a transatlantic telegraph. The distance be- tween St. Johns and Gal vy being 80 great, it was thought by him highly impractica- ble, if not utterly impossible, to make those the connectifig points fora sub-marine cable. Ac- cordingly, Mr.T. P. Shaffuer was despatched to Ku- rope a8 his agent to obtain from the Danish gov- ermment such concessions as would enable the line to be established by way of Greevland, Iceland and the Faroe Islan Tt. Shaffner was eminent!, successful, and obtained the necessary grants, wit! exclusive privileges for one hundred years. At his interview with King of Denmark Mr. Shaffaer addressed him in the following words:— “Denmark gave birth, through Oersted, to elec- tromagnetism; America, through Morse, to the telegraph; it behoves the two nations to be foremost ju ‘tee sosimection of the hemispheres by lightning.” On signing his name to the grant, the king, turn- ing to Mr. Shaffner, said:— “You are the ouly nation on earth that I would give that to.” ‘This was a flattering ns opener but it is doubt- ful whether he wonld pay it to us now in the excited controversy Fare ah oo the two governments, Whatever may be result of that, however, it is not likely to affect the great en se which we feel proud in being able to say was originated by one ape’ own countrymen. hie original plan for Inying the cable across the Atlantic from St. Johns to the southern coast of Ireland is still however enter- tained, and may be carried into execution. It is esti- mated that it would take about two months, allowing for all the deiays on the way, and ff, as is almost certain in that tite, a storm should arise, the whole, cra portion of the cable, might be lost. In view of the 8 probabilit; woman bad eaten. Tile presser had been sent to through her husband, by a widow ae Praia: sodl ‘those parties are now ander ar- rest, charged with poisoning the deceased. NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 18565, Coarespondence. Tonowro, Dec, 7, 1855. How Canada Makes Faces at Jonathan, and How Canada Independent—Who Proposed it, and how it was Received—A Great Northern Power to Rival the United States, or what may be Left of Them--The Inevitable National Des- tiny of Canada. - “This here Canada” is a curious enigma ‘to all smart Yankees, and few others ever go so faraway from home. If we of the “ stars and stripes” and uni- versal progressiondom but make a face at John Bull, the Canucks set up their backs like galvanized Tom cats, and actually have the audacity to chal- lenge us out to have a set-to on their own account. Asmart letter about Moaquitodom—which is a kindom,’ by the way, I should rather write about than live in—riles these critters on the north side of '45 most amazingly. Old Sir Allan Macnab, who is worse crippled thana Broadway omnibus crab of twenty years’ active service, and who never had an idea beyond the actual dimensions of the piece of bread he wanted buttered, takes down his old rusty rapier at every plain talking article in the Hezaxp about England, and swears that he will give twenty millions of people “ particular smithereens’ with two millions of raw boned Canadians, one-hal of whom are fed upon frogs. The moment you say that John Bull appeared in the Crimea as if he ex- pected to lick the world by looking at it, and ex- pected that men and cattle would be previdentially fed and housed, and that plans of battles and the ways and means of taking fortresses would come by inspiration to the dullest men that ever were put into the most difficult places—the moment you say this, Canada kicks up its heels like a donkey at an elephant, and challenges a people to mortal combat that I really believe would o them with quids of tobacco. I wouldn't be afraid to takea bet that if the whole United States came down upon Canada with one vast volley of quids, the brightest gem in her Majesty's crown—for that is the name of it—would fall ander the tobacco avalanche. But though these “loyal critters” talk such poeti cal thunder and small beer about us Yankees—you know I stepped out here a few years ago—just hear how they talk about themselves, and hear how they lecture big John Bull, and threaten to shake the brightest gem out of his governmental beaver. A Mr. Arthur Rankin is a member of the Canadian Legislature for Essex, one of the finest and most populous counties in Western Canada. He is @ fast man; that is to say, he bas made him- self rich by speculations nobody else thought of ; spends his money freely; makes a tour of every two or three years, and loiters about the United States just enough to keep his eye teeth cut and well polished. This gentleman—who is one of “the coming men” in Canada—was lately enter- tained ata vey. spicy and extensive banquct by his constituents, which is thus partially described by the local paper:— A troop of about fifty of the young farmers of the neigh: porhcod met “Mr. Rankin between Malden and Robinsoes tavern, on the lake shore, and accompanied him into Kingsville. At Robinson’s ho was received by a salute from mounted field piece, which bad been cast express. ly for the occasion, and by'a deputation of the more cate portion of the inhabitanty, whore feats of horsem i ship were numbered it the thingy gone by, yet whose welcome was not the leas fervent or sineere that their days of activity had waned, and who preferred ac- companying the procession in car A neatly rigged ship ‘on wheels, decorated with flags of all kinds, among which, on the fore and main wasta, were conspicuous thore of England and France, and full manned with a outhful crew of amateur sailors, headed the procession, ext followed the excellent string band of Kingsville, which played lively airs as the cavalcade advanced upon the village, and during its progress through the streets, whilst cecasional cheers and discharges of the field piece, which was now and then unlimbered for the parposs, served to add to the excitement of the scene. The whol? was imposing in the extreme; ani, when it it remem- bered that but a few short years since the wid, densely timbered forest reigned supreme where now flourishes the loyal, prosperous and rapidly inereasi ¢ of Kinga- ville, we might in truth exclaim, wit Dominie Sampson, of horan industry and perseverance verily ye are ‘pro. digious.”” At this decidedly tempting place to make the inner man happy, Mr. Rankin held forth in the fol- lowing style, and which was highly applauded by his two or three hundred auditors :— He would, with their permiseion, avail himself of the present cecarion to offer an explanation of lus polittes! views, which he was desirous of submitting for the con- sideration of his constituents rally, in order that, it proved of, Ge might be st ened usge them upon the favorable con- sideration of Parliament and the country; while on the other hand, if his politics were not aceeptable to his friends, it wos but fair that they shou:d be undec- stood in time, so that, when the proper time should ar- rive, some other ye advocaiing other views might be choscn {n his stead to represent the oe 9 Every one must admit that in the case of individuals there is a time when it is both natural and proper that the son should separate from hia father’s control; and that while he retained for that parent feelings of reverence and attachment, he would nevertheless be sensible that the time had arrived when he must commence the race of life on his own account, and by honorable exertion seek to achieve @ position which should not only be creditable to himse f, but add strength and glory to the reputation of those from whom he was descended. If this is so generally acknowledged to be the case, was not the same rule applicable to com- muvities? In his (Mr. Rankin’s) opicion, it always must be ro, and he felt convinced that the time was not far distant when, in the natural course of events, such a reparation as he then ceseribed must take place between Fogland and this Province, and therefore the true polley for Canadians to adopt was to endeavor to bring about 2 union of all the British possessions im North America while still under the protection of the Imperial govern ment. If all the British North American possessions, ineluding the Hudson’s Bay Territory, were united, they would give an extent of country grenier than the wile of the United States contained in 1776, and would p'ace this country ina position to maintains distinet national exist- ence whenever it became necessary to separate from the parent State, He thought that all this might be brought about reasonably, bly, and with the consent of all parties; and that land would not only sanction but vor such @ consummation, for it would be the best means that could be taken of establishing a pow*r on this continent capable of restraining the aguressive disposi- tion of the neighboring republic; while, on the other hand, he as trmly believed that if these Provinces remained te, ty Br aupetod to tho United Bintan, tincs few perssas oa be found who really imagined that G alone could waintain an independent ational existence. For these reasons he had made up his mind to advoeste a union of the provinees, and id be prepared to give his hearty support to any government or party who would sustain sch a policy as he had described; and he was happy to tell them that the number of thore who had entertained sentiments similar to his own was rapidly increasing in the ceuntry, and be had reavon to hope, that whenever anvther general election took place, a large number of members would be returned prepared to con- tend for such a live of policy as he had delineated. Now, are these views generally ee in in Canada? The spirit of them is, but not, perhaps, the mere form. Upper Canada, which is prospering, as you showed in a recent number of the Heranp, beyond what the peor themselves even seem to be aware of,and which is adding twenty or thirty thousand Americans to ite ition every year, is not in favor of taking any more bad partners into its government. Lower Canada is obviously a drag upon it at present. Whilst the Great Western Rail- road in Upper Canada is paying beyond all expecta- tion, the pre of the Grand Trunk Railroad from Richmond to Quebec, in Lower Canada, carries pas- sengers at a cost to the company of eight pounds,or thirty-two dollars, a head—that is, there are so few travelling over it, each one coats “— pounds, and pays ten shillings, or two dollars. This is a sliding seale downw: with a vengeance. Nor is this the worst bill Upper Canada has to foot up, in #0 tar as Provincial credit has been pledged for the Grand Tronk road. Piers, costing about five hundred thon- sand dollare, were built at the public expense on the lower St. Lawrence—that is, below Quebec— for the use and benefit of the agriculturalists of the parishes and counties adjacent to them. These piers bave now been in use for two or three years, and they bave never yet paid the first dollar towards even keeping them in repair. The necessities of the adjacent to them have never #0 mach as called for a storehouse at any one of them. gentleman who visited them all @ steamer, last summer, told me, in Montreal, that the only articles of produce which the vessel ht back were a few moose ine Dies eee pa Lge Wg ora potatoes get. finest piers on the continent of ‘America are there aS rather to keop 1 ive a folly by the necensity then ia'r3p ir. od ‘ Now. the gommaly wal Tper Conete, te thas jeadon by the government, Cuiadischer national partner—requires ancther thousand «pent within her territory to balance it; and hence the folly of these iers; hence the folly of the Quebec Rich: Railroad; hence follies, tit! Upper Canada can no longer bear the monstrous bsurdities. al ‘ I am inclined to think that the lower inces— I mean Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, &c—would be introducing but so many new hands to milk the U Canadian cow. has or no Canada ti trace with them, either; and the little she has, she can better carry on Fp aged United States than in any other way. Mean’ reel ity is making Upper Canada the garden and growi field for New York and the Eastern States; and eg D ees and mo; Rook rie em ate a and money conuec- pe oo, and what do ee You ve remembrance of a national con- bi the peerage and vital one nection money way enterprises with the United thaten aud etbst dv vow dnt You place Ceres Canada's prosperity in thé hands of her mu neighbors. ™m low, these things are well undorstood in Eng- Jand; and the consequence is, that Canada is a4 in- dependent as any country on the face of the earth. ‘he makes her own tariff4—contracts her own debte—has a right to form a national army— changes her own government—and if she pleased to-morrow to ask England for the privilege ot elect- ing her Governor, it would be granted, apon the ground that she has made a good use of self govern- ment, and must know what would be best for herself. This being the case, Canada has no reason to be dissatisfied with England. It benefits her credit to belong to her. It gives her the prestige of glory, and security of defence. But should any cir- riean people may rely upon it that Upper Canadien people may rely w r Ca nationality will Yellow upper Canadien: wheat; and every one knows where g0e8 to, YELLOWPLUsu. It is useless to aelte the fact that the it bey, oF cae eel ctors Ao, SOY unfit for ir ion. ey are perso) avery reapect- able dlass of men—inen well to doa the world. and standing fair before their fellows in character and influence; but still entirely unfitted either by educa- tion or natural taste, to conduct profitably com pened affairs of amy of our paleay enterprises. men have ri er bert their active business lives, credit and successfully, and after retirement from active pursuits, 2% Ay in the minds of some men, eminently fitted to fill and adorn a director’s chair. Never was there a greater mistake made. What is wanted for rail- way director? An active, clear headed and practi- cal man, and those characteristics only beloug to in- telligent men who have not outlived their time of active business life, and men who, by experience in the details of management, ve fitted themselves to fill the office of director. Where do you find such on our boards? Here and there you may find one or two; but if you do find them, they are overshadowed and outvoted by their fellow members, and thus their influence is vitiated and set at naught, so far as practical results are con- cerned. Once in a great while some man of strong will and perseverance, and possessing a fund of com- mon sense, gets into our railway boards. He sces that almost everything is done wrong, and he makes an attempt to set en right. His fellow mem- bers, the disciples of Dulness and Routine, are rather frightened, and perhaps piqued at his effort to reform out some time-honored abuses, and the: shrug their shoulders, looking so solemnly wise an scared all the while, that the shareholders are straightway convinced that the new director is hardly sane, and he must not be allowed to break away from all the old fashioned ideas of ruil. way management, “he must be restrained and tutored, and by and by he ‘will become one of js."’ It he is a man of strong will, ae and money, he can carry on the war for a while with success, but in the end he will have to succomb. This has been the experience of the past ten or fifteen years, and would have been for the next ten or fifteen years, had not our railways turned out so Ly invest- ments of a dividend baying character. Now many persons are beginning to think, and say that our railway directors should be chosen on the score of merit and practical talent. It is now thought that experience in the details of railway management is worth something, and worthy to be considered in the choice of men. This idea, as yet, however, is not the popular one among shareholders, but it soon will be, and then we shall tind our railway property worth something in dividends, We want railway dhectors who know how to reduce the operating expenses per mile; who are capable of point ing out the methods of doing this, and then sn- perintending the details of the work. No sagacious man chooses any but a thorough bred lawyer to do his important lega! business, any but a thorough bred physician to treat his maladies, or any but an expe- rienced mechanic to repair his watch. Does the mere fact that a man brought up as a merchant, is respectable and rich and past the active business age, make it certain that he can repair a watch a4 Well as one who has served an apprenticeship to the business of watch making or sh ts Is not this apprenticeship to the business you have in hand worth something ina practical point of vi There is but one answer to this among sane men, and yet in the choice of railway directors this principle is daily violated, and men are clected to fill these important offices who have served no apprentice. ship, had no experience, and have shown no particu lar natural fitness for the duties they ought to fulfil. It would almost seem that the only qnestions to be asked with regard to the fitness of men for being railway directors are, ‘'Is he rich and is he respe :ta- bie?’ If he has these qualifications, and is _prett stupid withal, he is pretty certain to be in the fair line of promotion or election. We tell our railway readers that, if they desire to make their property valuable and rescue it from be- coming @ byword and a reproach, they have got to elect men of an entirely different character. They have got to choose men of practical experience, in the very best sense of the term, men who know the details of railway management, and who have intel- ligence enough to know and rigidly apply all those vital reforms upon which depend the future value of the property. The men of the workshop, the track and the locomotive, have got to institute those re. forms which are so much needed, and we shall yet find the more jntelligent of them taking the place in the directors’ board of the retired merchants, lawyers, physicians and other very respectable gen- tlemen, who now only Jend their names and their re- spectability to perpetuate a system of folly that has reduced our railway management below con- tempt. With this change in the men of the man- agement, will come a change of system, making every man employed in the operation and repair of the road pecuniarily and personally interested in the success of the enterprise. With this interest comes the responsibility for the result, and it is only when these men feel this interest and responsibility that we can hope for any resulta that differ from the unfortunate change of affairs that has come upon railway property during the past three years. We wish that we could impress upon our readers the | absolutely 0 conviction that is 80 our own, that no permanent good will take place in railway manage- ment until the managers are really interested in and responsible for the property of their different roads, If directors’ salaries were in proportion to the per centage of ‘earnings on the capital, it would make a material difference in their views of their dut ‘or us to say, that we believe every director should he paid for his services, and for the pay received he thowld give his time and talents as in every other employment. As at present constituted, our boards of directors are, on the w 4 very showy hat useless piece or mechantm, gery at- tend to meetings when they feel . , and sign their nemes to documents and its that b been prepared for them by others, w: it kuowledes of what the contents gpg se duties are mostly riding over their Own or nect- ing roads, free of charge. There are exceptions to thle, we know, but every one who Ss familiar with our aystem of management knows that the great majority of directors do not work and labor for the succers Of the road. There are some other bad feaimes showing out just now, and one particularly, that hak been and’ is new considerably talked about. We allude’ to the fact that many of the di- rectors do not own but a very small amount of stock in thelr own roads. Many of them only own but just stock enough to qnalify them for election. Either they should show faith enough in their own management to put a fair proportion of their pro- perty in the stock of the roads they mange, or they should resign. Sharebolders are invited to look into this matter and see the’ application of the remark. You cannot expect, Messrs. Shareholders, that men of leisure will work very hard for other people with- outpay. You will not do it, and i must not ex- P others will. Pay your directors, but don't pay ™ Without they work, or rather do not elect direc- without they will work, and then you can afford to pay them handsomely. The «nalification of rail- way director should be looked to just as much as that of a clerk, physician or lawyer. A competent. ractical, working railway director is valuable and profitable to hie employers, while one who does not possess these qualifications should be regarded jast what he is—a quack or humbug, and a charlatan, ad wld be discountenanced by all sensible a people. pO EES Punt eetween px-Govy. Suira oy Vinoinra AXD ax Enrror.—The Washington Organ of Satar day eays : Yesterday afternoon, about 4 o'clock soon afier the adjournment of Congress, the Hon. Wm. Smith, M. C. from Virginia, met Mr. Wallach, the editor of the Stor, on the avenne near the corner of Eleventh street, and, accosting him, pro- nounced @ statement in the Star of the day previous, in relation to himself, to be falee. Mr. Wallach re- plied, that if Mr. Smith made that assertion, he pro- nounced his assertion false; whereupon Mr. Smith struck Mr. Wallach, and both combatants grappled each other and contended manfally for the mastery. At length they fell to the @ with a mighty ehock; and by the force of the fall, as we are in- formed, Mr. Wallach’s bowie knife fell out of its hiding place, and was thrown to some distance. When the parties fell Mr. Wallach es, capes. most, bot Mr. Smith turned him, and malutained the — until separated. After a minote or two w of severe and scratching, the billigerents were penton Smith with ry a mit! his face bedty bruised and marred, and Mr. Wallach with ome of bie fingers “chawed up.” And bere we feel that it is no more than jus- | Our Texas Correspondence. Hovaron, Texas, Nov. 29, 1355, Roads at Houston— Pleasure of Travel—The Yel- low Fever—Political Rancor—Sam Houston and the Presidency—Live Oak George's Chance— Railroads—A Dew Hunt—Exciting Sport— Emigration. John Bunyan would have been in ecatacies of de- light at seeing the roads in the vicinity of Houston. A more perfect realization of his “Slough of De- spond” could not, perhaps, be found in any other country. During a ride over three miles of country, ina light wagon drawn by two stout American horses, 1 broke down five times, and twice had to avail myself of the assistance of the passing team- sters to draw my wagon out of the mud holes with their oxen. As for avoiding these holes it is an ut- ter impoesibility. The late lamented Jehu, the son of Nimshi, would have quitted bis chariot in in- tense disgust had he even essayed to have “driven furiously” over the Texian prairies, and would have betaken himself either to a mustang, or, in the ver- nacular, would have “toddied" into town with the sole assistance of such means of locomotion as na ture had provided him with. We are now enjoying the most delightful season ofthe year, The yellow fever has entirely disap- peared from the town, and the weather is just warm enough to be delightful. Our “heated terms” are over, and we now begin to look out for the approach of the “northers.” Our political struggle is over. The result you already know. Party rancor is carried to a great extreme in the city of Austin, 40 much so that the ladies belonging to the democratic and Know No- thing parties refuse to visit each other's houses, and in some {instances have carried the matter so far, that they have refused to worship God in the same house. I say democratic and Know Nothing, be- cause in fact they are the only parties here. Not a vestige of a whig to be seen. Sam Houston is at home in Independence, grimly calculating his chances for the Presidential nomination; but he can'tcome in. If the American party would make @ popular nomination, one that would suit the feel- ings of all sections, North, South, East and West, they must free themselves from all connection with intriguing, battered, unscrupulous politicians, and nominate some man in whom the people have confi- dence, some man who has done his country, his whole country, some good, unbiassed by sectional prsudice—aid such a man’ is “ Live Oak George.” 2 him be nominated, and Texas will respond nobly to his call. He is known here, and will find many warm friends and supporters. Our two railroads are progressing with tolerable diligence, and expect to have sufficient road com- pleted to enable them to avail themselves of the “ sixteen section” bill, by which they are granted sixteen sections of land for every mile of road finished. Messrs. J. W. Burke & Co, are the con- tractors for the building of both the Galveston and Red River, and the Galvetton, Houston and Hender- son roads, and their great experience in railroad building augora well for a speedy completion of these enterprises. The Buffulo Bayou, Brajos and Colorado Ruilroad has been extending its live to Richmond, and will soon be completed to that city. Ih been reeently diverting myself with the break-neck pastime of hunting deer with hounds, Asa description of the wforesaid amusement may not be uninteresting to some of your readers, { will essay a brief description thereof, internally praying for the pen of a Frank Forrester. Disgusting to re- late, 1 turned out at daylight, saddled my horse, got into a pair of Texian spurs, rowela three inches in diameter, shouldered a double barrelied shot gan, with twelve buck shot in each barrel, took my hora, (not an Anti-Maine law one—yes, I did though— but a cow horn,) and sallied forth upon my steed to join the hunt. The country through which we were to hunt was thickly studded with post « intersected in every direction with dry gallie ten to twenty feet deep, and about ten feet across, Hard riding, that, even for a Meltonian. I was late; in point of fact, on your Lagat early excursions, I om always late. Jogged on, thinking of nothi! heard the hounds giving Me to ny right; blew my horn, no answer; jogged onto the right, but this time on a gallop, performing some feats in the way of dodging branches that would have thrown Frantoni entiely in the shade—didn't hear “vary thing: blew again—dogs to the left—travelled over there, blowing continuous strains not exactly “inked sweetness long drawn out;” stopped—didn't hear “ nary thing” again; got down, and damned a litte; went ahead, stopped, and cursed some more; would have gone back, but didn't kuow my way; heard a horn, biew myself inside out, answering of it, and, joyful to relate, tound the hunt. Oh! how delicious that a/ fresco breakfast was! Shall I ever forget it? Cold beef, ham and little fixing, corn nice, Ae. as I During my Lon bape 2 life in have seen some tough times, and have campe “some,” that is to say, from April to October I have been nomadic, and a’“ dweller in tents;” but in all my experience, that breakfast has never beea sur- passed. ee Boot and saddle" was again the cry. The “driver” went forward with the dogs, the various members of the bunt posted themselves at stations where they expected the deer would pass; and as I wished to see all the sport, 1 Lge) py d the driver. Slowly and cantiously the good dogs beat the ground from right to left, acenting care- fully and silently, the driver occasionally eycouraging them. Fach one did his own business, keeping ot acme distance from bis fellows. Suddenly one of the old dogs gives tongue, the others leave their beats and rueh to bim, take up the scent; the pack are in full ery, and we are after them. Gulleys are jamped, branches dodged, streams dashed through, but still we follow on, our horses seeming to partake of the animation of the sport. On we go, taking leaps that a men in his sober senses never would have of; eyes strained to catch a glimpse of the ger reedy to pull trigger when le should be We bear a shot and a long drawn note from a en the recall is sounded. We answer it, and call in the honuds. A fine buck is dead, and after having dressed him, we go on another “drive,” in quest of more. Your fine deer graced our first day's sport, and I was informed that that was but very in- different success, Such a mde and imperfect description of “deer driving,” but the sport pos- restes, in spite of ite danger, such a charm aa, in my mind, lia« never been equalled by any other. Smigratic n is steadily pouring in, and when the vast resources of Texas shall have become fully developed, it will, no doubt, heeome one of the first State the Union. M. Vi Jonsiderant’s colony of Fouricrists are inecting with great disfaver, both at the har ds of the public press and in public senti- ment, and we trust that it may be long cre we are again favored (7) with a similar visitation. ze (xe of the Amertean Com Matanzas. TO THE EPITOR OF THE WERAL Denawanr Crrv, D 1, 18556 I have had placed in my hands your paper of the 19th, in which Is a letter from Matanzas, Caba, da ted December 10, which conteius these words I have heard nothing else im regard to the loteresting nerape of the Ameriean Copenl in this I anc wait for the result, and will communieate to you any in formation } ean get about it. I most respectfully ask of yon, a# « public jour istand a guardian of our country’s |aterest, that you publish nothing relative to the diffienity which @! me to leave Caha until I pablich my exporé of Je whole matter. I have been delayed in conve quence of the want of an organization of the Hons, a) nti) that takes place my correspondence will not be called for by ti Benate. The sniject is one of vitel importance to American interest and American honor, but one too long neglected, too long unheard Pr T intend to set it fairly, honest! y and fally before tie country. I, however, eannot do so until my cor r-wpondence \a demanded by the senate which will be done by both Senators of iny State a' proper time. My manuecript, containing e ready, ond has been for some time, but ite public ‘on bas Leen delayed in consequence of the delay in «action of the ale, [have prepared a fall and complete exposé of my whole action in the matter, embracing my complet: correspondence with the government of Cuba, as wel ae with the State Department, and I hope my object will not be frustrated by a publication of letters from soribblers that know nothing, nor can oy know, of the matter. a Manurcript contains 136 pages o letter paper, whieh will make siout 64 to 6% pages of printed phlet matter—so you will we I have not been in the matter. I therefore beg of you not to publish an relative to the matter to frustrate my object. wi is «imply a vindication of own oMelal course and a protection of the mm ‘+ \aberitance. witew '* legacy and the orphan ar Womans th Srarterics OF Gz0nata—The census reports be fore the Legielature show the following: — fe popula eevee ‘ » MIA Sieve” rorseion. . 989,257 White males between ax and «i xtee 7 Pree of color. . eee 428 Deaf and domly $32 ‘otal pope yes ‘ Representative T7504 Nomber of fpmilies.,y..6ccs0e Our Albany Correspondence. Axpany, Dec. 22, 1855. Trial and Acquittal of McCrossin, upon a Charge of Murder by Shooting Michael Brennan, The greater part of the week the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Harris presiding, has been occupied in the trial of William McCrossin, indicted for shooting Michael Brennan with a pistol. From the evidence adduced, it seems that the parties were both fighting men, though there was great disparity in their size, weight, &c., Brennan being a large, athletic, power- ful man, and McCrossin possessing no extraordinary strength or muscular power. On the fourth of July the two parties met, and Brennan gave the other a most anmerciful beating, nearly depriving him of life. Though there were several persons present, not one dared to interfere, on account of the fear they had of Brennan. He is represented as hav- ing been a man of the most desperate charac: | ter, constantly seeking for fight, beat and mutilate, without respect to person, age, c! ter or sex. On subsequent occasions Brennan threatened further maltreatment ‘f McCrossin, which induced the latter to procure a pistol, intending it for use in case he should be again sseaulted by his powerful adversary. On the 6th day of November the parties met at the Second ward polls, Brennan threw off his coat and ran to- wards McCrossin. He was held by the people unti) McCrossin spoke and said, “Let him approach me: | am prepared for him.” Brennan then broke loose and started towards McCrossin, aud when within three feet the latter discharged a the ball taking effect in his heart, and he died almost in- stantly. McCrossin surrendered himself into the hands of the police, and remained in prison until this morning. Such is a substantial statement of the case. The jury deliberated upon the testimony some ten hours, when they returned into court, rendering a verdict of not guilty—in effect, declaring the afair, lamentable as it was, justifiable homicide. The pri- soner left the court room escorted by a large num- ber of friends. Brennan was a profewional bully, anda terror to that portion of the city where he resided. He even defied the police, not one of them to whom warranta had been given for his arrest to answer for his beat- ing McCrosson, daring to appre him. He was also the standing bully for certain political dictators, and at ward meetings, at election polls, at conven- tions, was always on hand, redy for a riot, 9 rash ora fight. He ‘was one of John Van Buren’s “quiet and peaceable freemen and witnesses,” a few yous since, at the New Scotland outrage, which nsaction became notorious through the country, on account of the rough usage meted to certain lead- ing hunkers. opportunities to ALBANY, Dec. 24, 1955. War Proclaimed Between the Softs and Barn- burners—Strife for the National Delegates— The Latter Likely to Succeed—Softs and Hards will Agree, on One Conditon—Barnburners Ready for Another Buffalo Stampede—The Two Rival Papers—Prospects of an Arrangement, The softs, free soil and barnbarner democrats, have called a convention, to be held at Syracuse on the tenth dey of January, for the purpose of select ing delegates to the national convention at Clnein- nati, This Syracuse assemblage will be the end of softshell and barnburner fusion; it will distract, divide, and estrange the two sections, and barriers will be raised, gulfa constructed, over which nei- ther can leap. The time has now come when such disuption must effectually aud literally ensue, There can Le no possible approach towards unity and harmony in the selection of delegates to the Presidential nominating convention. It fs the height of absurdity for any one to imagine or sap pore that either a half and half or a united delega- tion can be selected, and for thege principal reasons, to wit -— Marcy, Seymour, Cochrane, Stryker, J.C, Wright, and others, leading softs, have pre-determined that every delegate sent to Cincinnati shall be a man fully known to have voted for General Cass in 1e48, when the black Van Burens defeated him. These leaders are aware that from the course taken by the bara burners individually, and through their accredited or gans—the Post in New York, and the Al/as in thi city—there can be no possibility for an entrance o a barnburner or free oiler within the Cincinnati sanctum, All the friends of Buchanan, Pieree and | Marcy are firmly agreed upon this point; and for the purpore of allowing the great State of New York to exertper ponderous influence in the selection of a candidate—it is indispensable—that there must be no doubt as to the nationality of the delegates. On the other hand, the barnburners, led onward t the slaughter house by Dix, Flagg, Dean Iichmond, Martin Grover, J. 8. Wadsworth, 8. J. Tilden, LV. Fowler, and H. J. Redfield, are a» equally determined | that one half of said delegation shall comprise barn. lurners, now office holders under Pierce, They de. mand this share, they allege, in order to save the barn- burners from going over in a body tothe Seward camp, and also to maintain what they elaim—the control of the democratic party of this State. Pur ther, they desire to send barnburners to Cineinnal well knowing their prompt tion. They desire with John Van Buren, to oppose and defeat the Cin cinnati nominees. if the barularners are rejecte: or, as he says, “subjected to reproach”—in fine, to go over, body and soul, to black Sewardiam. ‘The strife between the two factions, in outoum- bering each otber, has already begun, and being carried into the primary gathering. the varions Assembly districta for delegates to the State convention will be more desperate than it ever was between the hards and the softs in thelr bitterest encounters; and as the softs proper, din connected from or divided with the barnbarner re a mere handfal, and mostly Pierce officeh« " there is no reasonable doubt of the success of the Seward allies. They will rale the Htate convention, relect such delegates ax they desire, with the fail knowledge, understanding and belief that the Cha cinpati doors will be strongly bolted against them. The softs being thas outgeseralled, will retire to ome “ ladies’ parlor’ at Syracure, sleet another de- Jegation, and proclaim a formal separation (rom the , plectoceaiten of Inds, and the black Vao of TAGS. rofts, then, with Seymour in the van, will offer ijation and fraternity to the bards, and one condition offer to onite; and that i, to leave open the question of a Vresidential candidate. hat to be sbnffied with Buchana, Douglas, Cobb bright, Cass, or a dozen of greater obacarity. No, they will await the action of the Know Nothing eon vention at Philadelpbia, in February. If Dickinson, there lays out “ Live Oak George” and Fillmore. then the bards, if their profeeions heretofore are | any guarantee for the futare, will abandon “ Serip ture Dick,” and accept propowala from the softa, the latter offering no objections to the hard delega tion already appointed, and which is sure of being ad witted inte the Cincinoatl convention. 1s there not rearon in ali thin? Throwing aside the bare burners, and tarning them over to Reward, Mann, ‘ Co., ean the softs and hards-—the demo nite? Van Buren, the egotiet and arrogant , ways the democracts of New York “ must unite before the national convention—they eannot unite in or after Think of ‘48! The dive is ready for ane ry twdrag the old man ful from “ under t There bar b re ny again, relative to the long tal the rival papers bere the Ar nd Atiae. Ut got cireulation through the Troy Know Nothing paper, by intelligence sent from city. Hoth papers came poets ww the n bat aby arrangement bad been effected. ng the proprietors of both papers to make a consolidation, so aa to save expense in potdishing both. Dut there are dicvators, claiming power privilege on both who ¢, thos far, interfered in preventing an agree An the Atlas now stands, it iy both barobarn or, an in ‘4%, aod soft national; one day the cxtenal ble proprietor throws hot @helle ot the national ad ministration— Pierce and all; the next edition ie fill ed with “union, harmony” aod hone The last plan of compromine iw, that the two editors —Com- stock, of the Argus, and Camby, of the Atiae—ere to upile in the publication of the former, while the latter is to be discontined. The fnanclal managers of both concerns are ready lo step out ax soon as the necessary documents are produced. It may will be effected hy the fret of Jannary, and before meet ing of the Leginiature. a te! Ansan, Doc. 24, 1866, Tortics of the American Party tn the Assembly — No Entangling Alliances Nullity of Officials Who is Governort--Candudates for the City Sudgersip— The Hawks and Harpies. Thongh a denen of Gotham, lam bowed on « visit Hamilton county, for the double purpose of hunting ond “viewing.” My tithe deeds and taxes compelling me to visit the Mate Comptrolier, | am obliged te tarry bere a day, and have exercieed my geval pctivity lo picking up “ttitte” of polities | The contest in | upon | Bat | the bards will not consent to throw Dickinson inthe | aor | and other matters, which may not be without fa terest to your numerous readers. From what I gather here, the Americans elect | the Assembly will present @ candidate for Speaker —will support him to the last, to the utter exclastemy of all “tangling alliances.” For one,\ om at this step, By it is maintained the dignity of am independent party, determined to avoid & #uxpiciog which “aliances" might give rise to—a suap)cion that the American movement was a “whig” or Sane foco” trick. teatiiate here weems to be, externally, a leaden bility to the change which will ‘soon in the partment, ch an epoch, of course, has tts great interest in the localities where te (oe in chiefly expended; but one would nat ly. Es to ree some symbol of it at the fountain head, to. There i6 a ponderable frigidity both in the buildings and in the occupants of the departmenta, You pay your money for taxes to an automaton lined with ice, and ask of your title to northers Jands of a man tempered by the latitude in which Ke your poseeasiona, he Attorney General has an active department, bot the * Original Jacobs" has long since made hia exit from the * Stadt.” Of course business does 206 suffer by his absence. No man who knowa Ogdem Hofman will accuse him of neglect. On my return, I ghall tarry & day or two to see the new Legislature “at work. It cannot be more than the last one. Seldom have more schemes of pisnere and mere arty legislation been devised. han were attempted at the laxt session. Lat the \ prone look well to these matters. The hawks aad ‘arpies are more ready to rob the treasury than are industrious people to ruptible integri tire session. gard it. A person of incor 'y should be stationed here the em wer tee Nimnop ALMANY, Deo. 24, 1865. Presidential Preferences of the New State Ada nistration—Candidates for the Clerkship of the Senate— The Demoerate Holding the Long Trump — The Game a Lively one, Speculation as to the Presidential preferences of the new State administration is busy here. The Live Oak men claim «x of the new State ofticers—all but the Comptroller, and he is said to be cautiously and darkly noncommittal. The general sentiment here is to coincide and harmonize with a majority of the delegates when they shail be appointed, so thas the New York Know Nothing» may present an unbre- ken front. Black republicaniam is clinging like grimy death to the remnants of power, Their only chaneg about the Capitol, this winter, is in the Senate chanm- ber. The ve a formidable list of candidates for the clerkship; but as they lack two of a majority of the Senate, the Know Nothing will contest the matter with mach spirit. Jobn J. Reynolds, of New York, seems, from the hopes entertained by his friends, to be pes | aa active fight. Dean, of New York, is elso ap ing himself. His father is up for Clerk of the Assem- bly ax a democratic hard shell, and it will go hard but ee will secure one or the other between | F. W. Waterbury, of Westchester, having heen de- feated for the Assembly, and not coming in as De- puty Reeretary of State, also now takes a chance for he clerkship of the Senate, thinking, probably, that he must land somewhere. On the whole, the game will be a lively one. The democrats hold the long trump, and will play ft ne that somebody will will win the odd trick. The business ia growing lively, and the fun inoreasing. Axpany, Deo. 24, 1856, The New Agricultural and Geological Hall—Me Size, Dimensions, Accommodations, Cost, &e. Under the munificence of the Legislature of New York, there has been erected daring the past season, a public building at the capital, more useful to sel. ence, agriculture and the arts, than any other edifice here. The large collection of natural Listery—more extensive and valuable than any other extant in thig whole country, embracing almost every department | explored by selentific and penetrating professors— required more extensive aecommodationa for the | constantly increasing objects of laterest depos\tod | there than were allotted in the old State Hall, The | Legislature has also furnished the State Agri- | cultural Society with rooms in the same building, | for the transaction of its business and a deposttory | of nomberless objects of particular Interest to the | forming community. This eoclety, also, during sever ral late years, was materially incommoded, | in consequence of the con-tant increase of ite | business and the necemity of crowding together ta a very limited space articles of usefulness, whick. should have “ample room and verge enough” im order to be seen and examined with care and greater consideration. More convenient and larger apart- ments were also required for exidermie operations, the te chemist, heating apparatas, Ac. The old State Hall, which bad been appropriated to there highly landable purposes, was erected im 1797, ehortly after the location of the Capitol of the tate ut the elty of Albany. It was a venerable and | mubstantial pile, and at the time of it erection was considered ax standing in the front rank of architectural display and mechanical construction, It contained the State offices and was the head- quarters of John Jay, George Clinton, Daniel D. | Tompkins, De Witt Clinton, Joseph C. Yates, Kaos %. p, John Broome, John Taylor, Frastas | Root, James Tallmadge, Bdward R Livingston and | others, whilet holding the first and second offices ia | the State; and of Daniel Hale, Thomas Tillowon, Pileha Jenkins, Jacoh Huteen, Van Rensselaer, John Van Ness Yates, a Secretaries of States and of Samuel Jones, John V. Henry, Archi- | bald Melntyre, John Savage snd others, a | Comptrollers of the State. Within the walle | of this old building, and in the private oMfee of the Secretary of State, whilst Avartah C. Flagg and John A. Dix were incumbents of that office, and | Van Boren, Marcy, Wright and Creswell were eo- \ pir #, the whole machinery of the powerful, J the then trrestetible Albany Megeney was pro- genes Hot | am aneconecioudy running inte | nee, * Pb t, inappropriate reminiseeuces, ne Legislature of 1864 being willing to eu better sceommodations for geological, ‘late toral and netaral history, very generously eontritva ted twenty five thousand dollar for val ine pelle. Lie wings in the rear of the old State House. Upom demolishing the rear portion, it was found thet the | walla of @ pp of the main building were ina dilapidated condition, and the work waa sum i nded until the meeting ef the next Legisiatare. hat body granted « further wand dollar, to be added to the former mum, for the purpore of erecting an entire new srug- tore. The bailing is now nearly completed. 16 is of belek, with freestone dremings to the ows, doors, &e., with ashlar basetent and ud entrance, all of cut ume. The mais ing Upon Btate etreet ie eighty-one feet from and rear, an ty feet five inches d The wing ix eixty-eight feet by forty, and four stories high. | The basement tory of the front part tw for the ac | eommedation of the texidermist, janitor, Btate chemist, heating apparatas, do. The principal flooe of the main Vollaing is devoted to the office and I Urary of the Rtate Agricultaral Society, The prin- cipal floor of the rear pare will be used’ a# « lectare root, and roOme for meetings of the soolety. The ball above thie lecture room is lighted in part rky light, and surrounded by two galleries, and to ba used ter the Agricultural Kociety'# collection. The whole of the residue of the main building te intend- ed for the State collection of natural history, mine- rals, Ac. The whole batiding, lighted by gas, warm- od by furpaces, and nearly every room supplied witls water. Hoth exterior and interior, the workmanship ta plain Wot woletantial. The efforta at architect dinplay ere failures, There to regular order of architecture about it, and the commie voners might bave saved mane two or three theomand dollar by dispensing with meb services altogether, The mnavter ca and stone cutters could, without the least a Laing architects, have farniabed a front iuch more appropriate for » Btate edifice and at much lees ex pense. The mechan’ have devoted thematives | rinietly to the work, abd completed it ins remarka- bly sbert of time The Commbedoners, and | eapectally thelr agent, 1. P. Jownson, deserve mach | credit for having the betlding completed in all ite parts within the on of the forty thom | wand dollars. Every other pabite edifice ever erect 76 here has cost one or two hundred pet coat over the original extimate, partieularly the new building. Now that mch cconomy haa been in the erection of this ball, the agalatare, it is beped, will nt hesitate he BS iy towards procuring the necesmry furniture for varlous roctne and departments. The 4 petertifie jon of the people of wil hold iq remembrance the Legislature Aber individoals through whow agency Unde public bail bas Leen erected. According to the New Orleans Commercial Bul. letin, the agaregate asseandd valuation of jwopertp in that elty Vie year le (646.500 lene tien io the ear i864. The valuation of the Mo Doovgh eatate ts redaced slyal 25 per cent