The New York Herald Newspaper, December 28, 1855, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. ee 2aMBS GORDON BBYNETT, FROTR STOR AND EDTTOR, soPi0k NW. W. CORNER OF NAEDAU AND FULTON GPS. LEE a se pony Tak WERE Y HERALD, cory Bir Yate conte Po Fst cts Cie ct Britt, 0°85 08 any art 0) Won Condit Goth VOLUNTIKY CORRESPONDENCE, emiaining import. tool sotioiled from Cir of the workd—if Sate Feng id Yor.” Ba OUk FoRBION Oonnenros re STIOULATLY REQUESTED 10 SkAL a8 Lerruns AND PacK- aeze Sent vs. Ae NOTICE taken cf cnomymous communications, We do we JOB P. (Ccwecued with noatnese, Gempres end der TD VERTISEMENT'S renewed ceery dow. felume KK on Noe 360 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVS¥ING, S¥OSDWET THEATRE, Broadway—Kine Ouanamnc— & Pore.ak Pence. 2 IRTA’S GARDEN, Breadway—Jovits, en tas Boooa- wemns— lena. SOWERY TREATRE, Zowery—Tux CarrtSoy or ram Dar ‘KQUESTRIANISM. SURTON'S THEATRE, Chapters street—Oxiy 4 Panxy —@1p Dou SovexNon—Tue ToowtEs, ®. OK'S THEATRE, Broadway-—Lavy ix Dirrice nes Po-0d-won-ras—X. ¥. 7. LAUSA KEENE'S VAAIMLIES, Broadway—Orp Beans amp 2 0NG Heanss—Vatcey ov Frowses, WOOO MONSTRELS, 444 Broadway -Zrwmorun Pes NTAE ANCES. E@OKLAY’S BURLESQUE OPARA HOUSR, 699 Bread. sae boinmsave Oreaa SND Nogno MinornuiaY. Kew Yoru, Fitday, Beecmber 28, 1855. The News. The steamabip Pacific isnow fully dae at this pex, -with one week's later news from Europe. Our accounts from Washington are somewhat er:- citing. The Houce yesterday voted three times for @peaker. On the first vote Banks came within three fan election. A ntiss, however, is as good as a mile. A number of members were absent, bat they moon rallied, and the second and third votes demon. strated clearly that no choice could possibly beof- fected. Great excitement was occasioned caring he session by Mr. Millward, of Pennsylvania, who @hkarged one of his colleagues with attempting to drive him to vote for Mr. Banks, by the promise of ‘the chairmanship of the’-Committee on Engraviag. Daring the explanationa-which followed strong hints were thrown out implicating the black republicanain Shameless attempts to procure support from among the inflexible patriots whose candidates are classed as scattering. Importam‘ revelations, confirmatory of these charges; are promised, and will perhaps be forthcoming to-day. As we expected, the House rescinded the resolution providing for a continuans session, and Mr. Campbeli withdrew his proposition That Mr. Orr act as Specker protem, The Senate met and adjourned, alter a short executive session. Hvis stated that a number of appointments were went in by the President, including thatjof Wilson @hannon, as Governor of Kansas. Shannon's re- Jection is regarded as inevitable. By the arrival of the steamship Daniel Webster at New Orleans from San Juan del Norte we have two weeks’ later advices from San Franciseo and Micaragua. The news from California is animpor- tent. here had been no marked change in com- mercial affairs. The Oregon Indians continued troublesome. The Star of the West left San Juan ferihis port on the 20th inst., with, passengers and a half a million in treasure. She will probably ar- Tive.to-morrow. Everything was quiet in Nicara- g@ea. Walker had received a reinforcement of troops from San Francisco by the Sierra Nevada, which made the connection on the Pacitic 5 We have important news from Vera Cruz to the 92d, and from the city of Mexico tothe 18th inst. Alvarez having resigned the Presidency and retired to the South, Gen. Comonfort had assumed supreme authority, and organized a new ministry. Dr. Kane, the celebrated navigator, addressed a meeting of the members of the American Geogra- phical Society last night, in the chapel of the Uni- versity, upon his voyage to the Arctie regions. The ehapel was filled with an oudience of both ladies and gentlemen, which the doctor was surprised to see, as Le supposed Le was only to have a conversation upon his cruise with his old associates of the so- eicty, instead of giving a lecture to a mi ve @ience. The doctor says be discovered at the high- est latitude be reached an open sea of thousands of miles in extent, abounding with animal life, such a8 fish and fowl, and this sea was iceless. He was of opinion that thi might be reached with boats, ed and ex- remarks we plored. In connection publish an interesting s to the bark Resolute and Sir Edward Belcher’s abandonment of the fleet is command. p Snpreme Court yesterday morning the reapective claims of Judge Cowles Henry Davies, # for the office of dge of that court, Judge Movtia, de: were settled by sion in fuvor of Judge Cowl The opinion of Judge Roosevelt in the case i nin another column. [i is thought the decision wil! be appealed from. The Board of Aidermen closed it) seasons for the year 1955 jast evening. A communication was re eeived fr or, wiving his reasons for with- to the resolution directing the Street Commissioner to advertise for proposals for regulating and grading Fifty-ninth street, from ay to Tenth avenue, and to charge the sume, is made, to Petor Masterson, Al n of the special Police Cc rred the message of the Mayor in reference to the removal o! © Chief of Police, presented a seport apon that t. Both locuments are nin onr report of th ceedings of the Board. After the transa some other busi Alderman Verri im case a contract) the custom f thanka to the presiding ofiver, Mr. Teaae 0. who delivered a graceful vale- dictory nddress in response to the compliment. The iwpertant act of the Board of Councilmen List uight was passing a resolution requesting the Counsel of the Corporat to draft a permitting o the extent of ¢100,000 per month, towards defraying the expenses of erect- ing a new City Hall. A petition was received from the visiters now at the different hotels, set! the city to borrow m the impositions to which travellers are in the city from hackmen, an ng for m, This is a significant step—we suffer enough already i from our own m, but ifthe whole voming in to h for us, we may well pray to be delivered from “too much government.” The Board of Sug ra met yesterday, but trans” acted no business of general importance, The Legislative Police Committee resumed their investigations yesterday. Mr. McKellar, Clerk of the Chicf of Polive, and Justice Mountfort were examined with reference to the routine of bosiness in the pol courts and the disposition made of recovered stolen property. Judge Mountfort's tosti- mopy and suggestions are very interesting. We give a full report of it eleewhere. The Aldermanic Police Investigating Committee held a meeting yesterday, and examined severa witnesses a3 to cortain alleged irregulas‘ties of con- duct on the part of Lieut. O'Keefe. From the evi- dence, a report of which we give, it seems that Police station houses are occasionally used for pur pores different from those for which they were de signed by the Common Conncil. Arison, of infernal machine notoriety, whose second trial for the murder of Mr. Harrison com. menced last week in Cincinnati, has heen remanded to privon to await another trial, the jury being un. able to agree upon a verdict. The jurors, it was viderstood, were elght for qnittal and four for eorvietion. One of them, named Spencer Cooper, tus severely reprimandgd by Jodge Jor surrep an w NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 185d. titiously handing a writtes paper to the oounsel of the accused. Considering the tightwess of stock, a fair businesa “continued to be @ens tm cotton yesterday, and the sales reached about $00 a 1,000 bales, the market closing quite firm. Flour was steady, with fair sales hoth for domestic wae and for export, without ing portant change in prices. Among the transactions yesterday and ‘the day before were purchases of 14,000 barréls of Southern floar for shipment te Mediterranean ports, with a portion taken for the Crimea. . Congrets ‘snd the Spenkership—SUll Tied Up—Symptoms of a Democratic Opening for Bavke—Policy of ‘the National Knew Nothings. The proceedings in the Honse yesterday upon the Speakership were pretty mach the | same o1d repetition of the stale and disagrec- able'ferce, with s variation or two, however, deserving of some little notice. ‘Mr, Oampbell, ‘bleck republican and Know Nothing, of Ohio, who proposed the previous day that Mr. Orr, of South Carolina, be adopt- edvas the Speaker pro fem., till one coulé be re- gularly elected, withdrew his motionyeeterday ) morning—the result, perhaps, of the outside pressure of Weed, Greeley & Co. on Wednes- doy night. The idea that a SouthCarolina ‘proslavery democrat should be mede the Speaker from a-nomination by the first anti- slavery candidate for the office, was of course “flat barglary”*to that flaming abelition Don Qnixotte, Tharlow Weed, and his faithful Sancho Panza, Horace Greeley. So we guess that they set upon Campbell and shamed him out of a really creditable and manly proposi- tion in behalf of an early organization of the Honre. Our Fourierite philosopher, with but a sin- gle thought in his head upon this busines, could not discever that, as a party mancuvre, there was coneidcrable sagacity in this motion of Mr. Campbetl to make a South Carolina slaveholder the temporary Speaker. It is well known that Mr. Orv has been regarded as the dernier resort of the Fuller men or the national Know Nothing balance of power, and many have supposed that they have only been par- tially waiting the dropping of Richardson and the concentration of the democratic vote upon the South Carelinian, in order to carry him in. Campbell, of Ohio, therefore, may have made his motion in behalf of Orr with the express object of cniting off this retreat from the Know Nothings; and it is very probable, thankful as Mr. Orr was for the compliment, that it has dished his chances entirely. How can Humphrey Marshall and his friends agree upon a candivate'for Speaker proposed for the office by a black pepublican ? It will be observed that, in the voting yes- terday. anks fell bat three votes skort of an election, owing to democratic absentees from the House. ‘This leoks as if the hitherto im- pregnable democratic column were beginning to give way; and Campbell's offer m behalf of Orr may have bad something to do with this apparent softening of the hard demosracy. With these symptoms before ua, it becomes the duty of the regular Know Nothings of the Tlouse to determine upoa some decisive eourse of action very roon, or Banks may yet be thrust upon them as their Governor. The de- mocrats would have no ebjection to the elec- tion of Banks, becanze one of the methods of destroying a political party that is an enemy, is to furnish it the knife with which to cut its own throat. The issue, then, appears to have come to that crisis when Jlompbrey Marshall and his party must choose Richardson or Banks, Mr. Marshall has told ue thot in suck an event he would vote for Richardson, though opposed to his platform of the Nebraska bil. Why op- posed to it? What is the dilference between that bill and the doctrine of popular esvereign- ty in the Tesritaries? Is it because that bill is the “raw head and bloody bones” by which weakminded men and old women have been frightened in the North, that Mr. Marshal) caa- not risk the danger of endorsing it by came? if you go for the principle, why not say you go forthe principle ae laid down in the Ne- braska bul? Why take two bites ata cherry ana choke in swallowing the kerne The Kansas Nebraska bili is the existing ov- ganic law tor those Territories, [It provides that slavery may be established ia either ot them, or excluded therefrom, aa the people thereot may decide.. Mr. Marshail agroes to this; but mark you, there is a featare in this Nebraska bill somewhat incon: % with the Know Nothing ritual—that feature which, upon a very short probation, admits aliens and Catholics to the rights of sullrage and oftice in Kansas avd Nebraska. Waen the bill first passed the Senate, the Clayton pro- viso gave iva shape a ilttle more compatible with the exclusive doctrines of the Americaa party; but that proviso was stcicken out ia the Houee, and the bi ed to the form in which it ho ome the law. This, then, gives to the hostility of Mr. Marshall and his party to the Nebrasba bill a perfectly coa- ‘ory explanation. This being the van understand at once the antipathy of the Know Nothiags of the House to the Nebraska platform and to Rich- srdson. If Douglas be tho father, Richardsoa was the godfather of t! raska bill, alien privileges and concessions included. The lat ter gentleman in the House occupied, in re- ard to tbe act, as Chairman on Territories, the preci lation of the former ia the Sonate. If upen this ground, however, there are Kaow Nothings enough oppored ‘to Richardson, bat ready to unite upon and elect some less obnox ious democrat, we cannot perceive why the de- mocratic party should not try the experiment of some other man, especially when e them stands upon the platform of* ti ka bill. Here again, however, the burden of initia. tory action falls back upon the Kaow Nothiogs, They are the smaller party. The overtures of a junction should come from them. Let them, therefgre, name the democrat that wonld be acceptable to thom, as a medium for defeating Banks, if there be one; if not, let them authoritatively declare to the House that they have no compromise in view, and that Puller is their ultimatum. Thus, in the first instance we may secure a speedy organization, and in the second also; for, when authoritatively in- formed of the fact that there is no democrat upon whom the independent Know Nothings can unite, the democratic party of the House, as the minority in the body, will be authorized, in view of the public interesta, to leave the ficld open to Banks and that division of the opposition majority which promises to be least detrimental to the democratic ticket in the Presidential campaign. Thy national Know Nothings must write with the democrats upon Richardson, or some other democratic nominee, or make up their mirds to the election of Banka. The old story of 104 for Banks, 74 for Richardson, 30 for Fuller, scattering 9, has been run from a farce into a nuisance. Let the orthodox Know Nothingg, therefore, decide for a demo- cratic, or prepare for 2 black republican Speuker. He muet be eftver one or the other, and the twelfth seetion men can have now no other alternative than Banks or a democrat as the head of the House. Tue Dank Days‘er 1855—Sriertvasieat ao | tae Muxver Canexpar—-There is net much doubt that in point of morals at the North and East we sre ‘retrograding. We build great clippere ‘and astonishing bridges, but -in the arts we are ‘behind the old Greeks; in the graces we sadly need missionaries; a wild In- dian is more polite, more generous, more civi- lized than ‘many a New York politicien ; in morals we have examples of deformity almost as gross as those of the lowest South Sea Island- ers; and future historians will write that we are more superstitious and bigotted ‘than the most insane worshipper of Brahma—the most profound: devotee of Jobanna Southcote, or the most ardent disciple of witch-hanging, Quaker- whipping Cotton Mather. The criminal: calendar of eighteen hundred and fifty-five will substantiate a great deal of what we -have said. The Mormons et Utah— the Free Lovers in New York and‘Wieconsin ——the insane asylums filled with maniacs on the subject of spiritualism—the general tenden- dency on the part of a large portion of our infatuated people to run after anything that is new, however absurd it may be, and the readiness of certain presses, such as the 7ri- tune, to sustain novel docirines without any regard to their foundation or tendency, is fur- ther evidence that, although we may be “smart people” in the making of revolvers and patent pitchforke, we are in some respects the great- est mass.of fools that ever lived in any age of the world. There is nc* so much talk now-a-days about the spiritual humbug; but we hear of it fre- quently through its effects. About four months ago a Kentuckian, who bad emigrated to Cali- fornia, became impressed with the ided that he was a medium. He was a person of fair cha- racter, regpectable connections, and some eda- cation, He took up the doctrine of “affinities” and formed a connection witha young woman, (also partially insane on the subject of spirit- uslism,) whom he afterwards murdered. He was executed, after having made a full confession. In Paris, recently, we hear of the death of one of the most notorious of New York courtezans. No turn-out on Broadway equalled her’s—no liveries were more tasteful—no horses more spirited—no coupé more neat and distingus. Her house was the resort of statesmen, politicians, merchants, and all sorts of people. She was as notorious as: Broadway itself. After numerous adventures, which we sball not detail, thie woman formed the aeqnain- tance of a shrewd old French woman who pre- tended to be a spiritual medium. The courte- zan got up “circles” at her house, which were attended by numerous respectable peo- ple, so called. She was pronounced a “seeing medium; and strange things were eaid to transpire in a mysterious zoom which was roserved entirely for the “circle.” The chief priestess was the old French woman, who persuaded the usually guick witted courtezan that she might thus obtain a title of nobility. The spirits had in- formed the old woman thet a barber near Bond street (the old woman’s reputed heir,) was an IMegitimate son of the King of Denmark. Tae courtevan believed this story, and married the barber. She sold ali her property, amounting to twenty thousand dollars or more, and thea went abroad to look for the Jerge tithe and estates which her husband was to have as the gittof his Majesty of Denmark. The party went to Hamburg, where’ the peor deluded victim was persuaded by the “ spirits” she was encicite, and that the King would settle a large sum on her child and make her a countess, She believed everything and oaly awoke from her dreams when lier new busband walked off with oll her funds, leaving her entirely destitute, in debt, and in a foreign land. The remainder of the story is not quite clear, but it is stated that the deserted womia found her way to Paris, aud there died miser- ably in a public hospital. We might multiply these cases to an almost indefinite extent, There is not an insane asy- lum in the country that does not contain one or more victims of this delusioa, and their insanity is generally incurable. In New H{o- ven, Connecticut, last week, a most horrible murder was committed by the dupes of an old woman, who pretends that she is one raised from the dead, and who has quite a large circle of followers. The scene was more horrible than any that ttanspired iu Massachusetts during the dark days of the Salom witchcraft delusion. A man named Mathows, it seems, was blindfolded, bound and murdered by the New Haven maniacs, on the ground that he was possessed by an evil spirit that must be cast ont. lis sister blindfulded him ond tied his hands, One womaa testified at the inquest that she be- lieved in the divinity of Myra, Wakeman, (the prophetess.) “I believe,” said this wit. ness, Abigal Sables by name, “that judgment would come if Mrs. Wakeman should die; Ma- thews (the dead man) was driving away her spirit with his evil powers.” She also swore that Mathews fasted three days in order to starve out the evil spirit. It further appeared that the murdered man was persuaded that if he offered himself up as a sacrifice the Mille- nium would come, aud that he consented. He was first knocked down with a clab, his skall fractured, and his throat cat, Ten og twelve people were ia the house—they all heard his cries, but made no efloria to help him. All this transpired in the niucteenth centary, in the pleasant city of New Maven, the capital of the moral State of Connecticut, which is dis- tinguished for the piety and enlightenment of its people, the excelicnce and number of its common schools. Let us not talk about for- eign missions. We could take a lesson in de- cency and true religion from the man caters of Borneo. We have thrown together these facts to show that while we are boasting of our enlighten- ment and our greatness and our learning, we are still, in some respects, little better than savages, The spiritual delusion has spread into all ranks of society, from the highest to the lowest; the free love and affinity humbng has grown out of it,and the tone of public morals hag beyn mucklowered. The home cir- a ee cle has been desecrated—wives have left their husbands—children have disowned their pa- rents. The victims of all these delusions have been #aindled and humbugged and murdered right and left. And theendisnotyet. The af- fair ut New Haven is the breaking out of the somve morbid disease in a more malignant type. A partial remedy for the mischief may be feund in the prompt execution of the law. ‘We hope that none who participated in this tou) murder will be allowed to escape the scaf- fold or the lunatic asylum. Tue Norruern Liout Nicaragua Eicrants AND THE GoVERNMENT.—It appears now that the grounds of the government prosecution against the Northern Light steamer and the Nicaragua emigrants on board, are:— 1, That these Northern Light emigrés were military recruits destined fo the reinforcement of the army of Gen. Walker, whose govera- ment is repudiated by the administration. 2. That the expedition was in violation of the anti-colonizing article of the Clayton-Bul- wer treaty. 8. That the movement was in violation of our neutrality obligations. ° 4, That these alleged filibusteros were not destined for Nicaragua, but for the island of Cuba or St. Domingo. On the side of the alleged filibusteys it has been proved or admitted:— 1, That they were destined for Nicaragua, 2. That they calculated to join the army of Gen. Walker. 3. That there were some vague givings-out among them that Cuba or St, Domingo would be their ultimate “happy hunting grounds.” 4. That they had not paid their passages, because of an understanding of some sort that that little matter would be settled on their ar- rival in Central America. The third party in this affair, to wit: the Nicsragua Isthmus Steamship Company, have substantiay pleaded:— 1, That they have violated no public law in the premises—that the Clayton-Bulwer treaty doesnot apply to these emigrants, or military volunteers, as the case may be, and that the interposition of the government in the libel, arrest and detention of the Northern Light is an outrage upon the company’s rights a3 com- mon carriers of traffic and passengers, 2. That Walker’s government being the de Jacto government of the independent State of Nicaragua, the company had treated with it as such, and had accordingly agreed to take out emigrants to that couatry upon certain terms not yet minutely specified. 3, That our government in bringing back the ship, and in overhauling and sorting her passenger list, has rendercd the company a substantial service, in relieving them of the charge of scveral hundred emigrants or voiun- teers who had not paid their fare. These, as we understand the case, are the material points and facts upon all sides; and in thus dove-tailing them together they pre- sent us a very complicated and “pretty piece of business.” The whole merits ‘of the case, as far as the government is concerned, rest, we think, upon two questions:— Is the government which General Walk- er has set up in Nicaragua, de facto the government of that State? If it be so, is Gen. Walker or the State of Nicaragua engaged in war with any other State with which we are at peace? To the first question there can be but one answer. Walker’s government is de facto the government of Nicaragna. To the secon interrogatory, we can only say that there isno public evidence that this govern- ment of Nicaragua is engaged, or about to en- gage, in war with any other State with which we are at peace Accordingly, we cannot per- ceive how these New York emigrants or volun- teers for Nicaragua were liable to arrest and detention by our govern cent, either as violu- tors cf the Clayton-Bulwer treaty or the neu- trality laws of 1818, We fear that Mr. Presi- dent Vicrce, in this matter, has simply been aiming to fortify himself for the belligerent philippic which itis ssid he has prepared ia his Mersage to Congrees against John Bull and bis Minister Crampton, touching those enlist- ments for the Crimes. Oh! that Congress would organize and give us that warlike Mes- sage! It must be somethiog unusually strong when our uniform international policy and the rights of our own citizens are invaded to bol- ster it up. Ciry Taxes.—The Finance Committee of the Board of Councilmen administered to Me. Comptroller Flagg on Wednesday evesiag, a lecture whiek it is to be hoped that gettleman wili not readily forget. The readers of the lieraLp bave long been familiar with his ha- bitual mismanagemest and mistatoment ot the financial affairs of the city; they will bo glad to eee that the committee of the Council- men have at length found him out. The com- mittee notice bat a tew of his errors, They objectto his calling the aunual iacrease in the city tax for police $315,000, and that for print- ing $70,000, when these sums are in fact the aggregate increase for four years. They com- plain that he sends them his printed report far too late in the year, leaviag t! examine it thoroughly; likewise, that he pro- mises year after year informatioa on the sus ject of the city flaances, to show how the taxes are swelled; but that he never furnishes any- thing of the kind. Several items of expendi- ture called for by the heads of depirtweats, the Comptroller took upon himself to omit ia bis budget: the committee restore them. Such are $175,000 for building Tompkias Market, $27,000 for a monument to Gen. Worth, $39,- 060 for Third district jail, $30,000 fora county 0,000 for a joil, bulkhead at Manhat- fanville, $37,500 for removing Diamond Reef, $19,856 for pay of Sireet Laspec- tors, $100,000 for iron or Belgian pave- ment, &c. The committee suggest 1 few reduc- tions, the chief of which ate bureau of Cleaning Streets, and $2: the buildings for the Fire Department. De- ducting the proposed deduction from the pro- pored increase, the latter is equal to $449,382, and swells the tolal amount to be raised by tax to $6,952,537, or $1,099,514 more than last year. In justification of themselves the committee show that three-fourths of this increase are canted by the acts of the Legislatare, and aro wholly independent of their control. Those three-fourths are as follows: Almshous, increas Board of Fiueatlon Common Schi als for State, increase, State Mili Tex, increase....... Legislature hae usarped legislative powers properly belonging to tue Common Council, and baa latterly assumed to tax the people of the city for objects which ought to be support- ed by the people of the State. Tow extrava- gantly institutions under State control, and freed from the supervision of the.city govern- ment, are managed, the public may learn from the records of the Almshouse, which did not cost quite $200,000 in 1845, whem under the contro) of the Common Council; but now, un- der that of the State, costs $817,600 in a year. There is no doubt much truth in this por- tion of the report, Turevisn Postuasters,-We beg to propose to the Postmaster General and to Congress the adoption of a law whereby the New York Heratp shall be furnished at the expense of the nation to all Postm: ughout the country. We are willing der to effect this object, to sell it congiderably below its cost. ‘ We propose this sacrifice because we find it impossible to transmit the Henao by post ia safety to our subscribers. It must pass through the hands of Postmasters, and some one of these—perhaps several—almost invariably take the Heratp out of its wrapper, aud cheat our subscribers, If--as everybody knows is usually the case--it happens to contain some particularly amusing or instructive matter, the roguish Postmaster cunnot resist the tempta- tion, but takes it home to his family and keeps it. Now, we ask Congress whether this is fair? We have a letter before us from the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in which the writer states that the Heratp is habitually de- layed between New York and that place, and often retained altogether. A subscriber re- siding near the boundary line between North and South Carolina, assures us that hé seldom receives any Heraxp oftener than once a week —that, then, five or six come to hand-together— but that the paper containing the European news is generally missing. Similar complaints from the North and West have algo reached us, The question must be grappled with in a practical manner. If the Postmastersin the country cannot live without the Heratp—and we are bound to say this appears to be the in- ference from our experiencc—-they should be made to buy, not to stealit. It should either be charged to the State, like stationery and so forth, or it should come ont of the pocket of the Postmaster, like election tax and party black mail. We care not how the difficulty is settled, and are willing to furnish it, as we said before, at a loss, Anything rather than submit to have our country subscribers pil- lnged day after day by the Postmasters, THE LATEST NEWS. BY ELECTRIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Two Weeks Later trom California and Niea~ regua. ARRIVAL OF THE DANIEL WEBSTER AT NEW ORLEANS —DALY 4 NILVION OF TREASURE EN ROUTE FOR XW YORK BY THE STAR OF THE WiST—REIN- FORCEMENTS FOR GEN. WALKER, ETC., ETC. New ORtEANS, Dev. 26, 1855, The steamship Daniel Webster arrivad here yesterday from San Juan de Nicaragua, bringing San Francisco dates to the 5th init. The steamship Star of the West left San Juan on the 20th for New York, with a fair complement of passongers and about half a million of dollars in treasure. The news trom California presents no feature of ina- portance, The rafoy season had fatily set in, Al & Francisco avd several of the ixterior towns the fall of ne- bastopol had been celebrated by banquets and other de- monstrationa, The Indians continued to be very troublesome in Ore- gon and elsewhere, Tho San Francisco markets were generally quiet, and provisions had a dull and declining tendency, The following ships from Atlantic ports liad arrived st San Froncisco during the fortnight, viz.:—The Andrew Jackson, Flying Dragon, Almena, and Spirit of the Times, from New York; the West Wind and Grace Darling, from Boston; and the ftroceo and Thomas Watson, from Phila delphia, Affeirs in Nicaragua were in an apparentiy settled state. The Walker party received reinforcements to the ox. tent of 120 men by the s'eamer Sierra Navada, which made the connection on the Pacilic side. Important News from Mexteo. RESIGNATION OF ALVAREZ AND SUCCESSION OF GEN. COMONFORT TO THE PRESIDENCY. New ORLEANS, Deo, 26, 1835, The steamship Texas has arrived at this port with Vera Cruz dates vo the 42d, and city of Mexico to the 18th inst, Alvarez had resigned the Presileney of the republic, and been succeeded by General Comonfort. Anew ministry had been organted by Comonfort, a4 follows:— Foreign Retations, Justice,, «Senor Lafragua. \ Seuor Selici >. Finance... Senor Payne, Alvarez had gone to the south. Unitea States Supreme Court. Wasninctox, Dee. 27, 1855. No. 161.—Wm, S, Hungerford, appeilant, vs. John si- gerson, Appeal from the District Court of Wisconsin. On motion of Mr, Gillet, the appeal was docketed, and dismniesed with costa, No. 17.—Wm. D. Price et al., vs. the Farmers’ Bank of Virginia in error to the Supreme Court of Uhio, The de- cree of eaid court affirmed with costs, No. 28.—Jecker, Torre & Co., et al., appellants, Ar- gament in this case was continued by Keverdy Johnson for appellee, and concluded by Mr. Neleoa for appellant. No, 20,—Adain Ham, plaintiff, ys. the Stale of Missouri. Argued by Mr. Geyer for plaintiff, The Weather and the Telegraph. Hurrror, (Conn.) Veo, 27, 1856. Tho storm of rain and sleet on Tuesday night was very severe in this vicinity. The telegraph wircs were so loaded duwo with ise that over fifty sections are broken between here and Springfield, and we learn that matters are stil! worse between the latter city and Boston, Large trees on the route, some of them with trunks two feo: in diametor, were also brokon down by the weight of iee as cursule‘cd on thelr branches, It wiil probably take tw» ‘or three daya to put the telegraph lines in thorough ro- pair again, Burro, Dee. 27, 1855, There is good sleighing here, Weather clear and vory windy. The coltest day of the season. Cama, Dee, 26, 1855, Tho Missisrippi tx fall of floating ice, The thormome- ter here stands at 9 cegrees above zero. Rocurstre, Dec, 25—A, M. Thermometer 11 degrees above zero, and growing colder, wi b high winds and snow dri"ting bad}; Roenreran, Deo, 26—1', M, n> fovt of enow has fallen to day, and sleighing is fine, The Southern Mall, Bavnwonr, Deo. 27, 1856, We havo regelved no mait south cf Richmond, to-ta| Markets, arse es are stendy. ¢ Railzond, 1636; 1 ‘enn-ylvaria Bal BeLTIMO) ives 8ixy; Island, 154; Morris Canal, Bartimony, Doe, 27, 1855, At cot enttle market to-day, only 400 head of beever were offered; 160 of these were driven eastward and the remainder sold at 86 69a 88 75 net, mostly of superior quailty, Hogs in lstge supply—sales wt $7 25 a $7 6234. Naw On) i, Dee. 24. 1855, Cotton gales to-day 5,000. bale cour at $8. " pork, Sif, Corn OT e.a 700, Fre'ghts oa ex verpeel, i1-3ed. Meas no Lk Ceanumere Dee. 21, 1865, Loticn qniet, Sales to dey, 000 pales. , The $50,000 Robhery of the American Hze Messrs. Ayer and King, implicated in the robbery of fifty thousand dollars from the American Express Com- pany, were eenveyed to Albany to-day on the requisition of Governor Clark, Navigation of the Hi River. Me Atpasy, Deo. 27, 1855. The river is fullof flosting 1ce, No boats are up, and none expected, The thermometer at 7 A. M. stood at 16+ degrees, Conflagrati: DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BRAI iT, & Co Couvaera, 8. 0., Dec. 27, 1855. A fire occurred on Monday last, at Beaufort, 8. C., dea- troying many Aweltings and stores, The total loss ie estimated at $25,000. FIRE AT KINGSTON, C. W. Krvastoy, C, W., Dee, 27, 1855. A fire broke out on Christmas eve ia the Commissariat. ‘wood store in this place, but by the united exertions of the military and firsmen it was extinguished before do- ing materia! damage. FIRE AT UTIOA. Unica, Dec, 27, 1865, A fire last night in the store occupied by Mr. Goodwin, book auctioneer, did damage to the extent of about $2,000. No insurance, FIRE AT BRIDGEPORT, CONN. Brienrort, Veo. 27, 1866, The Pequonnock Hotel, in Kast Bridgeport, wa destroyed by fire this morning, together with two build- ings adjoining, occupied aa dwellings and stores, The total loes is about $16,000; insurence $10,000. Fatal Accident. . Puraperma, Dec. 27, 1855, Henry McCirdy, from county Down, Ireland, was killed by a blact on a railroad im Dauphin county recently, Any friend want’ng information, can obtain the same by yoiting te Patrick Quinlan, Humelstown, Davphin coun- y, Pa. Laura Keene's Vuricties. Opening Night, ‘The initie] night of a theatrical experiment is always @ pleasant thing. It ‘a like the first dinner party—the first New Yesr’s call—the first flirtation—the firet pair of troweers, or anything else which one looks forward to with pleasure, and enjoys to satiety. What a pity it is that everything is not always couleur de rose. We have hardly ever pe:ticipated in » more enjoyable ovation than that at the Varieties last night. The house was crammed, and an immense number of people went away without » sight of the interior. The audience included ail the welt known people about town, and the boxes presented a briiliant array cf female beauty. The house has beon considerably improved, and the private boxes in the second tier seom to fill the great gap which formerly existed between the audience and the actors, and make | the house look more cheerful and compact, Some im- | portant alierations have also been made in the stege ar- rongements, ‘The performances commenced with the “Star Spangled Panner,’? sung by the whole company. Miss Keone then came down to the footlights and was received with en- thusiasticacclamations, She commenced to recite the opening address, of which the following 4s a copy:— ADDRESS. Once more surrounded by my early friends, On whom each hope of fair success depanos; 1 fee) iropelled—though sone may deem mo yain-- fo ery with joy, “Inura’s herself again!? Night after night, ¥ bile toiling in the cause Fer others’ good, your generous applause Made study plessure, Labor something dear, Cherished armbi‘ion and extinguished tear, Now, for nyseif, try my wimte skill, Anxious my boxes (play avd cash) to All, Will you sisist me with your gengrous aid? If so, a grateful debtor twice you've made. What shall I promixe?—Toat a!l things shall be done, Or new or old, e’er seen beneath the sun. Make up a pie crust batch, profoundly spoken, fo hear the proverb out——both made Nat to be broken; Dee Ine the patent ev!l'a from every land Shall at your nod combined vefore you staad, « Ob, no; excuse me © of the clasvic rhymes, Which foxi’d ad * in Ou) good old times, Vil try the rajiroad pace of this our age, And hurry up by steam their slow coach stsge. Variety is i1ie's vest spice, folks say That be my aim—my motto, “ Ever gay.” Not heresball tragic muse, with tearful oyes, And heaving breast :eplete with anguished signs, Gaze on her dagger an her fatal enp ’® if shout on poisen ntill vo sup— No—i’ she come unless we toil in vain, We’) Hil her pus cup with mirth’s chatopsgus ; With Muses’ spel'a make glad each last’ning ear, And dance with flying {ert away from care; Vo all we can to dri-e lifa’s gloom away, Aud end with joy ‘be labors of the day. (Ive welcome to you a). Tien let me ask, Ladies, your smiles, t) cheer our willing task; Ard you—gooo gracious! what n palpitation 1 foe) before you, leres of the creation | Excuse me—was ever avything much more untusky !— ‘have no smelling salt), nor «en a decent bouquer, Therefore take pisy on my sad complaint. You see——— Tmnst proceed; with feelings truly Keene Tark your presence at our testive seen. An apxious suppiiant before you atands— Shall I succeed? that splendid show of bands Removes nll doubt. armed in Hope's fear prouf mail, | 1 feel, indeed, there’s no vuch word as—tiati | Miss Keene had spoken only about ten lines, when she showed signs of severe illness, and was supported by Mons. Monplaisir. She sgeia attempted to proceed with the delivery of the address, but fafated, and was taken off by Mr. H. Hall, ber stage manoger. ig The new polka, “ Boubiog Around,” was thea played hy the orchestra, which fs respectable. Tho polka is not brilliant. Mr. Hail then came before the drop, and apologized for Mies Keene's illness. Ie assured the audience that she wou'd only claim ibeir indulgence for a few ynomenta After a short delay, the evening’s programme was con. tinved. The openfog piece was Mr. Bourcicanl’s five act concoction, “Old Heads and Young Hearts,’ cast ay follows — : Earl Poinpion., Colone! Roct et Littleton Coke, lard Roebuck. q . Jorden was discovered as ion Coke, he was greeted with a capital recoption; and Miss Loar: Reene, on her entrance in the second act, was rocelved with thiee cheera. The cther members of the corpe dre matique were also heartily applanied. The eowedy wae generally well acted, and was very woll moanted. The performance of Mius Keene is expectally entitled to pr the scene with Mr, Jorden, at the end of the third « was capitally done, Mias Keene looks well, and is yuit as charming as when she drew ail young New York t/ Wailack’s two years since. A right pleasant and 2iquante wetress is Mise Laura Keone. Mr. Jor lav ay soyed Littleton Coke for the first time, wa ) hy played it nicely and gracefully, as ho des everythis he undertakes, Wo hays seen Jesso Rural ptayed betto than it was doxe by Mr. Bass. Ho acted too rach, an was too fast for the adsent minded old priest, who really @ strange character for an Englist play. My Chandler, a stranger he'e, was rather unwieldy in fr Charles Roebuek, and wae hardly well dressed Londen drawing room. Mr, Johnston played usual ciisp end clever style, misstag no py making «ome that the an*hor never thought >. Dyott epi Hall were good. Mrs. Hongh did not velope Kate Rocket tuficien'ly, Kate is than a could walking lady, all confide and x Thanks to Biss Keece ond Me. Jordan, the pisco pleasantly, ard apparently much to the eatisterio the audience, who ca!led every boty out. ballet, led by € 0 went home cha with Faure Keene and hy Miss Keene has fair start, and our bes! wishes for by uceess. There is room Me Avery cca, sv Varistic wh for all. Cormscnaix’s Concent to-night, at Dod wor: must not be forgotten. It is genor tly a that our American pianist bas no equal ia this Phere, and we hope he willbe usod “according to J Cererts.”” I euch is the case Dodworth’s Rooms wl ontuin his audience this evening. Nrpro's © srry —1be pew grand pantom me bs lot titled ‘Jovita; or, the Buccaneers,’ wns pei night at Niblo’s for the first time in this co piece is cue of the best of its kind that ha duced at this place of ammusoment for s long t! with the exeeption of afew slight defects in the work cf the machinery, was very successfal, The prinsi attrection, next to the Revels, who alway: of houses, waa Mile. Robert, who is deserv among the first dancers that haveappeared b York audience for some yoars past. She por rare quality of performing the most difficult step. an ense and grace that we have never seen ex: wan well enpported by Miles. Pauline Genet, It Je), Mme, Marvet(i, M. Mand UeMant and M, weu's wn. The performances concluded with Ue tal-y mime, “Medina; or, @ Dream god livaliiy,” whi