The New York Herald Newspaper, January 31, 1856, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT DP, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. Seren x. W. CORNER OF NASSAU AND FULTON STS. | You Osx, FRR. Broadway—Tur B. Ro: a pe Se 7. orca yon KHENE’S V. j—Muce ADO BAUEA KHER -ARIBTIES, Broadway THEATRE, Obambere strest—A OURE roe Pp es PLot—Ls0Gm WHEN ‘The News. ‘The steamship Arabia, now in her twelfth day out from Liverpool, had not been signalized off Halifax ‘at eleven o'clock last night. At that hour the wea- ‘ther was clear. In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr. @lingman brought forward his resolution to adopt the plurality rule in the election of Speaker. An imtense excitement prevailed throughout the cham- ber, as it was regarded as certain that the proposi- ‘tion would command a majority of the votes, and thereby enable the House to organize. Upon taking the question, however, it resulted in the rejection of the resolution. The vote stood one handred and ten te one hundred and six. Messrs. Clingman, of North Oarolina; Herbert, of California; Barclay, of Penn- sylvania, and Kelly, of New York, democrats, voted, with the black republicans, for the resolution. Mesers. Dunn, of Indiana, Scott and Moore, of Ohio, Diack republicans; Haven, of New York, black re- pablican Know Nothing; and John Wheeler, of New York, anti-Nebraska democrat, voted against it and defeated it. It is evident, therefore, that Mr. Banks must be withdrawn before the House can or- ganize. Our correspondents state that the plurality rale will be again offered to-day. The Legislature yesterday had before them seve- val measures of importance to the people of this city. Inthe Senate a bill was reported to prevent Mega} voting, and Mr. Sickles introduced a bill au- thorizing an increase of the compensation of the Croton Aqueduct Board. In the Assembly the bill proposing to change the title and character of the Marine Court was reported upon unfavorably. A bill for the more effectual prevention of fires was passed. Notice was given by Mr. Ray, representa- tive from the Second district of New York, of a bill making the office of Fire Marshal elective by the Fire Department, and providing that such office shall be filled by a retired fireman. The question as to the policy of levying tolls upon railroads is to be again discussed during the present session. Mr. Brady, of Albany, yesterday introduced a bill im- posing a toll upon the Central and the Oswego and Syracuse railroads. An effort was made to have it referred to the Railroad Committee, but it was final- ly, aftersome debate, assigned to the Committee on Canals by a vote of sixty-two to eighteen. Ex-Comptroller James M. Cook has been appoint- ed and confirmed as Superintendent of the Banking Department, in place of Marcus Schoonmaker, re- signed. The steamship George Law arrived at this port yesterday from Aspinwall, with the California mails te the Sth inst., $881,000 in treasure on freight, a fall complement of passengers, and later news from Australia, the South Pacific and New Granada. She brings no later advices from California than were received by the Star of the West, which reached here on Tuesday morning. By way of Callao we have Melbourne (Australia) Gates up to Nov. 10. The reports consist of want of confidence in money operators, riots and robberies, and new gold discoveries. Twenty miles from Gee- Jong rich quartz had been found. The price of gold at Melbourne stood at £3 15s. 3d. per ounce; in Sy ney at £3 18s, Flour averaged from £45 to £48 per ton, according to quality. From the South Pacific we have news from Val paraiso to Dec. 15, Callao Dec. 26, Lima Dec. 27, and Guayaquil Dec. 30. The Chilean Congress was still in extra session, and a vast amount of legisla- tive matter, tending tothe permanent good of the country, had been disposed of. An iron pier was to be built at Valparaiso, roads And bridges were to be repaired, and the agricultaral schools rendered more useful. The new civil code had been fally approved, and its author, Don Andres Bello, had received a vote of thanks from Congress, the sam of $20,000, and retirement upon full pay from the first office in the Department of Foreign Affairs, which post he had held for & Jong time. A railway was about to be opened between the port of Coquimbo, the city of Serena, and Peralta. A violent norther had caused damage to the shipping on the coast. In Bolivia, General Cordova was at Potosi. Some difference with the Argentine Republic existed, in consequence of a cattle foray made by Bolivian troops near Jujuy. Yellow fever had appeared at Munecas. The cop- per and silver mines yielded well, In Peru the new constitution was not yet approved of. The executive government had quarrelled with the A ssembly re lative to certain acts of General Castillo. He re mained firm, but a revolution was stili dreaded. Doctor Tirado, ex-Minister to the United States, had died. The Argentine Republic was quiet. General Paz was at Mendoza inspecting the frontier troops General Alvarado had resumed command ia the province of Salta. From New Franada we have files dated at Pana- ma on the 19th and Aspinwall on the 1%th of Jana ary. The trade of the Isthmus was rather dall, but the railroad was in excellent order and its freight business very large. The British warfteamer Brisk had arrived at Panama with n two million dot Jars of Mexican treasure for England. The stes Emelie was daily expected from Central America. From the lst of February the South Pacific steam- ers will sail from Panama on the 15th and 30th of each month, instead of the 14th and 29th. The steamship Columbus had left Panama on a trip to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, San Salvador and Guate- mala. Several robberies had been committed on the Isthmus. The policy of Brazil in respect to Paragnay is be- ginning to disclose itself. The Emperor has offered the government of Uraguey between two and three million dollars for possession of the city and harbor of Colonia for a fixed number of years, in order to convert it into an arsenal for his warlike prepara- tions against Paraguay. The Southern Commercial Convention commenced ‘ite session at Richmond, Va., yesterday. There was but a slim attendance of delegates, and the conven- tion merely organized temporarily. The cotton market was more active yesterday, and the sales reached about 5,000 bales, about 8,500 of which were sold in transita. The market for cotton in transita was somewhat easier, and closed firm for the article on the spot, the receipts being light and the stock reduced. Flour was firm at the full rates of the previous day, Wheat was more firmly held, which restricted sales. Corn was rather easier, without change of moment in prices. Pork was in fair request, with sales of mess at $16 26 a $16 37}. Hugar and coffee were quiet, There was a move, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1856. ment in spices. Besides the cargo of the Ceres, of 6,473 piculs, sold the previous day at p.t., 1,000 bage were sold yesterday at 11c., the market closing firm; and 10,000 mats of cassis sold at 3¢6c., which was afterwards held at 374¢. Freights were steady, but engagements were moderate and without change of importance in quotations. The Young Men's Democratic Union Club gave | their fourth annua! ball and supper last evening at the City Assembly Rooms. The affair waa one of the most brilliant of the kind that has taken place in this city for a longtime. At the supper speeches were made by Mayor Wood, Mr. John Cochrane, Mr. L. B. Shepard and others. The lateness of the hour obliges us to omit our report, which will, however, appear in to-morrow's HERALD. The defence of Commander Bitchie was read yea- terday before the naval court martial at Philadel- phia. We give a aynopsis of it in another column. The Judge Advocate was allowed the privilege of reading his reply to the defence—an unusual privi- lege in courts martial. The public will find in another part of today’s paper a report of the most important debate that has taken place inthe Virginia Legislature for the ‘ast twenty years. There is every reason to fear that a collision will take place between Virginia and Pennsylvania, growing out of the arrest of a citizen of the former State and his imprisenment upon a charge of kidnapping when he was in pursuit of or had arrested a slave of which he was the owner. The Committee of the Board of Alderman having under investigation the contesting claims-of Alder- man Drake and Nicholas Seagrist to a seat in the Board from the Twenty-second ward, met yesterday afternoon to hear the summing up of counsel for con- testants. The case on behalf of both claimants was argued at length, when it was handed over to the committee for their final adjudication. The commi- tee, it is undersood, will report speedily. ‘Threatened Civ War Between Virginia and Pennsylvania, We give place in another part of the Heratp to the debate in the Virginia Legislature on the subject of the arrest, some months ago, of James Parsons, Jr., a citizen of Virginia, who was in pursuit of a fugitive slave, by the local authorities of Pennsylvania. We also publish reports from a committee—majority and mi- nority~-of the Pennsylvania Legislature, on the proposed right of transit of slaves through that State. The subject is one of profound ia- terest, and the proceedings of the two legis- lative bodies indicate that the time has come when the rights of the States must be thorough- ly tested in this matter of fugitive slaves and the legal privilege of transit claimed by the South through the territories of the North. Aside from the mere legal bearings of the matter, it is remarkable indeed that there should be a conflict between members of the federal Union on the subject cither of the sur- render of slaves or of transit through each other’s territory. The commoa courtesies of life, good neighborhood between members of the same general family, without any special constitutional or legal guarantees, should have been sofficient to induce the State of Pena- sylvania to aid the people of Virginia to enforce the rights of her citizens to such property as ix recognized in the latter State. We can imagine nothing better calculated to sow the seeds of permanent es- trangement than evento confine a neighbor strictly to his legal rights ; to deny him those rights under an assumed condemnation of their immoralities, is an offence against justice, the obligations of law, and the comities of good neighborhood. But we must take things as we fiad them, and call them by their right names. The fede- ral constitution provides for the surrender of fugitive slaves to their masters on proper de- mand. It is not too much to claim that the object of this provision was two fold—to give to the slaveholder a legal right to claim his fugitives from labor, and to impose an obliga- tion upon the free States—indeed, upon all the States--to make the surrender. In order to give effect to this constitutional right and obliga- tion the act of 1793 was passed. That act, in process of time, became powerless, by reason of the refusal of citizens of the Sree States to discharge their general obligations—to act in good faith towards the slaveholders in the mat- ter of escaped slaves. The supplementary act of 1850 was finally passed, the necessity for which arose entirely from the bad faith of t ¥ North. We had substantially refused to me and discharge our solemn constitutional ob’ {{ gations. We became technical. We refused to surrender slaves, and interposed every spe- cies of factions obstacle to the enforcement J the law. So far has this work of repudiation and bad faith and offensive intermeddling been carried that no means have been spared to render the pursuit and capture ofa slave a work of vast expense and personal annoyance to the pur- suer. States have entered the field with dis- tinct projects to obstruct the execution of the laws of Congress. In the present instance, the State of Pennsylvania not only prevented a citizen of Virginia from reclaiming his proper- ty, but pursued him as a criminal, indicted him asan abductor, and now holds him for trial. This is a especies of nullification which has grown into an enormous national disgrace; and we rejoice that Virginian bas at length deter- mined to assume the responsibility of her citi- zen and conduct his defence. The question involved in this controversy is one which has a broader bearing than that which is connected with the rights of James Parsons, Jr., a citizen of Virginia, now under indictment for crime in Pennsylvania. It has an enlarged political feature. It involves the integrity of the constitution of the United States and the power of the federal courts to execute the laws of Congress, That constitu- tion bas given the right of capture to the slay holder, and it is absurd to claim that such a right does not imply the security of the pur. suer from the operation of State laws. Tue legal of this action is laid in the organic law; the utes merely point to fac es to enable him to execute his rights. The eriminals in the case of Porsons are the anthorities of Pennsylvania, who, by obstructing Paraons in the capture of hie slave, were obstructing the laws of the United States. The act of the authorities of Pennsylvania was illegal, crimi- nal, and should be punished; and itis the daty of the commonwealth of Virginia to assume, as far as possible, the place of her injured citi- zen, and prosecute the case to a final hearing in the federal cour It isa duty she owes alike to Mr. Parsons and to the fature peace and harmony of the Union, which, in Tespect to the constitutio: al rights of the slaveh olders, has become a rope cf sand. basis The State of Wisconsin, in the Booth case, | has directly nullified the federal compact, That cage is before the Supreme Court of the United States, and its decision may be regard- | ed ascertain. The act of the State Judges of Wisconsin was one of those palpable aswump- of Congress | tions of power by an inferior and an iguo- rant tribunal to nullify the obligations of the constitution. The celebrated Lemmon case will come up in February before the Circuit Court of the United States in thia city, involving another point, not so clear; but still it is believed in that case it will be decided im favor of the right of transit of slaves through the States and Territories by virtue of the spirit of the federal Union. It would be more credita- ble to the country to place this right on the comitio: of intercourse, than to deduce it from the po:Rive provisions of the constitu- tion. It isan unspeakable disgrace, indeed, to the free Stafes that their brethren of the South are compeMed to resort to extreme reuse- dies to enforce their rights of property in our territory. The mere privilege of transit of slaves would seem to follow from the general objects and nature of the federal government. Itia aright fairly deducible from the act of Union iteelf; from the fact that slaves are made the basis of representation in Congress, have been sold on execution from the federal courts, and title given by federal officers, If they thus enter into the very structure of the government, what sense is there in regarding them, when they are conducted through our territory, in a light different from that which attaches to them in their own country? They are the creation of municipal laws; but their mere transit through free territory should not be construed as divesting them of the le- gal character which attaches to them under those laws. In any just sense—in the spirit of our Union—by the comities of our inter-State intercourse—by our conmsen history and bro- therhood—by the interests and honor of our people—by their trade and commerce—by their faith and friendship, the right of transit should be regarded as the right of hospitality: sacred and unsullied. Conpitions or Peace.—A British journal commenting on the recent proposal that the Ruggians should bind themselves, in the event of peace, not to keep or build ships of war on the Black Sea, remarks that a precedent for this stipulation is to be found in the last treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain. This is partly, though not entirely, correct. After the last peace was made, John Quincy Adams signed at London a convention by which Great Britain on the one side and the United States on the other, agreed to re- strict themeelves to four armed vessels each on the lakes between Canada and our nortk- ern frontier. These armed vesgels—which, also in pursuance of the convention, carry but one gun each—are to be seen rotting in the lake waters. Passing over the difference in point of fact between this convention and the one the Allies propose, it does not appear that the historical existence of the one is any reason for the other. No one defends either the treaty of Ghent or the subsequent conventions made at London. They were all bad, unsuitable, inde- fensible in point of theory. The United States were hoodwinked and cheated in all of them; and this, close on the heels of a victory which showed how futile the British successes would be in the end. The treaty made no mention of the question on account of which the United States had gone to war. I¢ drew no boundary line between the wild lands of his country and those of the British colonies. It took from the fishermen of Maine and Mas- sachusetts the right of fishing in the Gulf. And, in perfect consistency with these stipula- tions, it—or rather the subsequent convention —limited our naval force in our own waters to the standard suited to the poor wild colony of Canada. if any statesman at the present day were to make such a treaty as this it would be his political death warrant; and the Senate would speedily do justice upon it. The old one is now matter of history, and for the present it may lie where it is. Some day we shall want & new one, and the world may rely upon it that the extent of naval force kept in our waters will be fixed by our own means and de- sires, and not by the capacities of any foreiga colony. On the same principle, Russia would act with great folly were she to accede to the Allied request. Nesselrode has declined, ou the side ground that a treaty on such a subject should be made with Turkey, and not with the Allies. But the proposal should be promptly rejected on its own merits. Tue Way Trey Raise true Wisp iw Con- Gress.—The Washington Union, in an article defending the Sergeant at-Arms of the House of Reprerentatives from certain newspaper at- tacks, charging him with speculating in his advances to members of Congress, gives this explanation of the matter:-- So far from having any pecuniary benefit in the al vances he has made to the members of the House of Re- presentatives on account of mileage and per diem, we know that he is making a consilerable pecuniary sasri- fice. ‘The case is simply thus: It is well known that, of the large amount of money now due the members on the ledger of the Sergeant, (about $290,000,) not one dollar can be paid to them from the treasury except on the re quisition of the Speaker of the House, In this emergen cy, the Sergeant-at-Arms, in a epirit of accommodation which all who know him agree to be characteristic of tha: cfticer, has raised on his own credit, and paid to mem bers, some $80,000. For this, we suppose, he pays legal tnterest. So far from the funds thus paid haviog been of 8 depreciated character, about one third of it was of the notes of some of the oldest, soundest and best banks in Pennsylvania; about $80,000 in gold, or notes of the banks of this city; and at least $15,000 in dra‘ta on New York ani Vhiladelphia, which are worth more than par in this city. Tn addition to these supplies from the cashier of the House, the Seward republicans have been receiving advances and contributions in behalf of “ the cause,” and thus the garrison has escaped the fate of thatof Kars They have not been starved into a surrender. More's the pity. Ayorner Net to ne Crackep ar tHe Putna- peLputa SrectaL Nattonar Covnciu.—In the State of Louisiana native born Catholics are admitted into the Know Nothing ranks; where- ae, on the other hand, the President of the State Council of Wisconsin has just issued a decree to the subordinate Councils mak- ing “eligible to office Protestant forcign- ers who are thoroughly trained and educated in American principles. You are therefore” (he says) “at liberty to admit into your Councils persons of that class who are naturalized citi- zops of the United States and of known in- tegrity of character, not to exceed in number one-third of the native born citizens in each Council.” The question, then, in this matter, to be decided upon by the reconstructive special Philadelphia National Council of the 1sth Feb- ruary, is whether the uniform law of the Order eball be the admission of native Catholics, as in Lonisiana, or the admission of Protestant foreigners, as in Wisconsin, or both, or neither —a very interesting problem, Pinancial A@aire at Heme and Abroad. The Bank of England, say Mesers. Brown, Shipley & Co., may shortly be expected to raise the rate of interest again. Specie flows with freshened tide to the Continent ; unless money be made dearer in London, the Bank will be in danger. Simultaneously with this chronic disorder, the chronic disappearance of gold and silver is likewise renewed. The Bank of England loses over a quarter of a mil- lion sterling in a week, that of France three- quarters of a million ina month. Where the mo- ney goes to no man tells ; but old men have not forgotten the hoards where their fathers used to bide their napoleons and their sovereigns in the dreadful time of the old war, and if the truth were known, the dust of forty years has lately been brushed from their cover. Some months ago, when this phenomenon firet ocourred, the financial community took the alarm both in England and here. It was shown that if the flow of bullion to the Conti- nent continued and the battle of the banks went on, & suspension of specie payments both in London and Paria would be the inevitable result. Anticipating this event prematurely, & commercial revulsion—of limited extent, but decided character—took place both here and abroad. In couree of time, by dint of un- heard of expedients, the government of France overcame the difficulty, and emerged from the straits into which it had been planged. A calm ensued at London; and, as usual, the calm aseumed here the magnified proportions of a period of remarkable buoyancy. The banks being as tull as usual at this season of the year—perhaps a little fuller; and the gen- eral condition of the country being undoubt- edly prosperous—good times revived, and a feeling of general confidence spread through- out the country. The recovery was as precipitate, perhaps more ill-judged than the alarm. The real diffi- culty has never been surmounted. Itnever can be, 80 long asthe war continues. The tempo rary relief of October has done its work; it is now spent, and the old situation returns upon us with increased violence. The outflow of specie reported by the Baltic is larger than any similar operation reported by a single steamer during the year 1855. At the present Tate of decrease, the two banks of England and France, holding together about eighteen million pounds of specie, are losing some two millions a month, in spite of large arrivals from Australia. They may derive a temporary re- lief from us. No doubt they will. We have in bank in this city nearly fourteen million dollars, and could perhaps, by straining our exchanges, draw some four or five more from the country. But one month—if our shipments assumed the proportions they bore during the last commercial revulsion— would exhaust our surplus supply, compel our banks to curtail their accommodation, and Place them on a footing of strict defence. We are just at the beginning of a year—a year which, whatever politicians may surmise —must be a year of war. The two chief com- batants on the Allied side cannot well spend less than five hundred millions between them before the year is out. The French estimates are not yet before us; but those of the British government call for a sum not less than £92,- 013,172, including ordinary expenses of gov- ernment and interest on debt. Enormous sums of this kind cannot be paid by direct taxation. Even by raising the income tax to ten per cent —-a tax so heavy that it is questionable whe- ther the people would bear it—only £24,000,000 can be raised. The governments must fall back, therefore, on the old plan of loans. We hear of them already. Heed not the con- fident denials of the bulls who will assure you that the loan which the English gov- ernment is going to put out is less than £30,000,000, and that the French will manage without any loan at all. Money must be had: money for the Crimea, money for the Baltic, money for Asia Minor, money for Turkey, money for Sardinia, per- haps, money for Germany. Where is th's money to come from? Not from the voluntary contributions of the citizens, for the clumsy tailure of the last financial trick at Paris will deter a second attempt of the same kind. Nor from the legitimate produse of the taxes, for on referring to the last revenue returosin England we find that under increased taxes, the revenue fell off last quarter £321,475, and under higher duties the customs returns declined £315,500. In fact, whatever may be said by ardent apolo- gists of the war about its not being felt in France and England, there can be no doubt but it is felt, and very seriously too, by.all who are engaged in trade om the one side, and by i!1 consumers of commodities in common demand on the other. It is much less felt than former wars. Englind’s ships still plough the seas, and France’s loom is not idle, nor are her vine- yards laid waste. But bread isdear, and sugar isdear; cotton is high, and the demand for labor--other than as food for cannon—-is less; there is no spirit of enterprise ‘in London or Paris; men of money take car? of it: all look tremblingly to the fature. This is feeling the war, certainly; and if signs belie not the coming months, it will be better felt still, soon, and we shall feel it too. Tne Sort Suri, Cenrran: Orcay anp THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE Kansas Question.— The Albany Atlas, since the late Van Buren Soft Shell Convention endorsing the Kansas- Nebraska bill, has evidently two fiddlers in its service on the negro question—the one to play the new soft shell music of “squatter sove- reignty,’’ and the other to play the old ant3 slavery airs and marches of the Buffalo pla‘- form. In proof of this conclusion, we find in the A/lvs of the 20th, one little article defend ing the President’s late message on Kansas af- fairs, in these words:— ‘The President asks for a law authorizing the people of Kansas to form a consti‘ution by the peaceful auffrages of its righ(ul voters. That is all, Per contra--an elaborate leader In the same paper, on the anti-slavery side of the question, closes in this style:— This we regard the caluminating point in the doctrine ot “equatier rovercigaty.” itis, indeed, composed of many stronge consistencies, all, doubtless, very satisfac- tory to its advocates and supporters. To’elesi a legisia- ture by yotes of ‘border ruffians’’ and non-resident aliens—this {x ‘‘non-interventicn.”” To enforce laws thus enacted, by the strong arm of the foderal govern- nent, and hang those who prove refrastory—this is “ self-government.’ To put down the people in the for- roation of a State constitution, because unauthorized by Corgiess, and to array the authority of the Union on the rice of outrage and violence—this ix ‘ popular sove- reignty.”” But we suppose it is ail right, Tne President noys it ip—Congrers declares it to be so—and the State Convention resolves in its favor. We bow in humble re- verenee to such august authority; and yet our acquion- cence is somewhat akin to that entertained by Galileo, when, at the dictation of the Inquisition, and at hagaed of life and limb, he disavowed his doctrine of the motion of the placetary bodies, With him we way, ‘it moves, nevertheless.”” The President's organ at Washington, we be- lieve, has taken the softs, including the Albany Atlas, formally bagk again into the demogratig chureh, with their endorsement of the Kansas Nebraska bill. But it will never do to permit these people to play the “squatter sovercign- ty” fiddle and the Buffalo hurdy-gurdy tege- ther. We think that Mr. John Cochrane or Captain Rynders, with special instructions from the Kitchen Cabinet, should be sent up to Albany without further loss of time. Tur Reason Wuy Tuey Can’r Fuse.—Mr. Carlile, the regular Know Nothing member of Congress from Virginia, in a late speech in the ‘House, declared the Kansas-Nebraska bi’) adopted as the platform of the democracy, the great obstruction to a fusion of the Southern Know Nothings with the democrats upon a common candidate foraSpeaker. The difficul- ty lies in the fifth section of this Kansas-Ne- braeka bill, which is as follows :— Buc, 5. And be it further enacted, * * * * Pro- vided, That the right of suffrage and of holding officeahall be exercised only by citizens of the United states, and those who shall have declared on oath their intention to be. come such, and shall have taken an oath to support the con- eae ree United States and the provisions of this act. It will be seen that under this provision the “exile from Erin,” or Germany, or Russia, or Turkey, has only to go to Kansas or Nebraska, declare his intention to become a citizen, and swear to support the constitution, when he is invested at once with all the attributes of “squatter sovereignty.” This, the South Ame- ricang, 80 called, declare to be “too much pork for a shilling,” and they can’t therefore rally upon a democratic candidate for Speaker pledged to the Kansas-Nebraska bill. Was there ever such asnarl as this? Was there ever such a miserable squabble, even in the Legis lature of Mexico? Mr. Borrs anp His Puatrorm.—The Rich- mond (Va) Whig gives the following as the Presidential platform of Mr. Botts and the American Councils of Richmond that have no- winated bim for the Presidency :— 1. We believe that Congress possesses the constitutions) power to sbolish slavery in the District of Columbia. 2. We believe in the constitutionality of the Wilmot provisc—that is, in the constitutional power of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories. 3. We believe that Congress possesses the constitution: al power to reject any slave State applying for admission into the Union, upon the ground that i+ is a slave State, 4. We insist that the entire question of slavery and Southern rights shall be ‘‘ignored’’ in all future conven- tions and platforms of the American party. 5. We believe in the ‘immaculate conception” of John Minor Botts, snd prefer him to any other man in the world for the Presicency. Now, if this really is the platform of Mr. Botts (and we believe it is not very wide of the mark) we fear that he will not be nominated at Philadelphia, for our Know Nothings of the North holding such principles will be very apt to go to Pittsburg to aid in the deliberations of the Seward abolition alliance. Mr. Botts, how- ever, is young enough and strong enough to wait till 1860. He is behind time for the im- pending campaign. Meeting of the Republican State Committee. Pursuant to announcement the Republican State Cen- tral Committee assembled at the Astor House yesterday atnoen, ‘The following are the names of the committee appointed at the Republican State Convention that met at Syracuse on September 26, 1855:— New York City—Kawin D. Morgan, Simeon Draper, James B. Taylor, D. Dudley Field, Joseph Blunt, James . Nye. Atany—John L, Schoolc: Deodatus Wright, Joseph Davis, Jobn M..B. Davison, C. P. Williams. ? Troy—Abraham B. Olin. Bupfalo—E. G. Spalding, Philip Dorsheimer. Cooperstoun—Levi C. Turner. Herki ish Barry. Binghamton—Levi Dimmi Delaware County—Ste phen C. Johnson. Onondaga Cre a T. Jones, Allen Monroe. Ellicotewillo— A. G. Rice. Medina, Orkans County—Silas M. Burroughs. Rochester, P, Allen, ee 2 ing County—Cnarles 0. The attendance was not large, the country members being detained by the snow storm. The meeting was private, but it was understood their action related to the Pittsburg convention, They adjourned at 3 o’clock. Meeting of the Ninth Ward Live Oak Club. SPEECHES IN FAVOR OF THE AMERICAN CANDIDATE GEGRGE LAW. The above club met at their rooms, northwest corner of Hudson and Christopher streets, last evening, for the purpose of advocating the cause of American principles, ‘and upholding George Law as a candidate for the Presi- dency. Mr. McDougal ocoupied the chair, and as soon as the hour for business arrived took occasion to introdue Mr. S. W. ANDREWS, who proceeded to address them upon the wants of the American party in the coming contert. They wanted a man who was upright and honest, He did not believe that they were blessed with such a President at present. He did not believe that they had in him that high minded, upright, honest American that they ought to have. (A voice, “That's so.) in the inaugural of Franklin Pierce he pledged himself to eus- tain American citizens abroad in their rights and privi- leges. Now, he was sure that there was no period when the American fing was so grossly insulted and looked upon with contempt by foreign governments as during the term of Franklin Pierce. They wanted a wan to oc- cupy the White House who had firmness of purpose, soundness of judgment: one who would stand up and say to the proud monarchies of the Old World: “Thus far shalt thou go and no further,” in your seqreasions upoa us Americans. They wanted a man for President who valued the true principles of republicanism, who would not be afraid the country was going to pieces because California or any other country was added to the Union. He knew that there were any number of croakers in the country who quaked and moaned whenever the people of apy Territory atked to be admitved to this glorious Union; but the vast majority of the people for republic and the spreading of hberty a'l over this entire continent, He trusted the time would soon come when the whole continent would rest in peace under the one government. ‘The American people wanted a man for the highest Office in the gift of the publie who understood the wants of his fellow me—-none who bad attained notoriety am» his countrymen without having ever identified himself with any political party. The great American party was composed of men from sll parties, who had come ther for the purpose of carrying ous the principle * Ameri. cans shall rule America.”” The er then went on t> show the audience that it would be very impolitic for the American party to nominate any man for the Presidency who had at all identified witn polities. If they nominated a whig their democratic bi ren would feel somewhat annoyed, and, perhaps, would refuse to give him their support for fear he would be {afluenced by his former party considerations, Heuston, Crittenden, Fill- more, and other men equally eminent were highly objeo- tionable a8 candidates because they were so long identified a8 leaders in the whig and democratic ranks. The man of allothers whom they shoula nominate for the bighest office in the Union was George Law. (Applause.) This ‘America was born inthe town of Jackeon, Washington county, N.Y. George Law, by dint of frogelity, firm- ness of purpese and far-sightedness, has gone on until he bes ‘attained a position in the eyes of the people which renders him a fi; candidate for the highest office in their gift, Rising through poverty and misfortune, like Henry Clay, George Law now stands higher in the estimation of the American people than any man exist- ing. Some persons said George Law was an ignoract hoor, who had obtuined wealth and riches by chance. But Mr. Andrews knew George Law, and he knew him to bea mon of profound thought and wonderfal intelli gence. Durivg his leisure hours, when away from the tolls of bustrevs, he wae constantly found reading and improving his mind. Thus, again, George Law was a trus Americap, He loved the stars and stripes, and cared the proud Spaviards at Havana to fire into his yorsel, whea he carried Purser Smith intothe harbor. He was not afraid of the boasting of the Spanish government, and contrary to the expectations of the cabinet at Washing- ton, ordered his steamer to ail into the harbor of Hy. yana, while the Moro and other fortresves were bristliaz with cannon, ready for the destruction of the American craft. He was the firstinan who formed a steam com- munication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the firet man who contemplated and perfected a railroad across the Isthmus; he is now connected in all enter- prises where the mind and erance of man is most neeced, He is not a superficial man by any means; he understands and has worked at half a dozen trades. He, therefore, can more readily know the wants and feelings of the masses than any man who has been elected to office, Mr. Andrews wasan ardent admi -rer of George Law, and was quits willing that his charas- ter might be scrutinized by all who doubted his preten- Hone for te Pres dency. ‘The American party were to meet on the 224 of next month for the purpose of nomi- nating a candidate for the Presidency, and he hoped that the wnanimous vote of the convention would be given ia favor of that great man, George Law. (Applause,) The speaker then tok his leave of the assemblage, when Jvpex Rvcerss was introduced, This gentleman fol- lowed in a strain somewhat similar to that of Mr. An- érews, and {n the course of his remarks paid several high compliments to the character and genius of Goorge the an extension of the ve thanks of the meeting wore bestowed upon the kers and the reporters for their attendance, when ‘Giub adjourned until next Wednesday evening, United States District Court, Refore Hon. Judge Betta, Jaw, 90,—The case against Mr, Towles, naval offiver— a disputed matter of accounts between him and the United Stares government—was dismissed, ‘Tre Gey . Young New York is engaged ‘three deep” for tho next month. If we accepted all the invitations sent to ‘un to participate in gayeties incident to the season, we should be obliged to employ all our time in esting, drinking, waltzing, polking and quadrilling. We do the next best thing, and give publicity to the invitations. The first that attracts our notice is as follows:— | 4 EMPIRE } Atihe eereee® | CITY REGATTA CLUB BALL, Assembly Rooms, 450 Lary \URSDAY, ¥EB. 14, ae, B. TS, President. J.D, RB. Porman, Le NNILCIDID IONS NOOL NESE ORODORAROD DNL DEDEDE EE DE OE: ‘The Jadiev’ ticket gives a view on the East river, with | ‘the club boats Lady Putman and Olie in a closely contest- ed race, and the order of dancing contains twenty-six va- | sieties of choregraphic exercise. This club will bs fuvo- rably remembered on account of its triumphs during the past summer, and we bave no dou >t that its members will be as gallant and agreeable in the salle du danse ae the were invincible on the rea, It 1s confidently expected that this ball will be one of the finest affairs of the ‘Beason. The hotels are now giving pleasant soirees dansante tor ‘their guests, and the Irving House proprietors do some- thing of the kind to-n’ght, ¢o which wo have reecived the annexed invitation: — Mr. Janes Gonpox Bun wert — edai tie Founns beeeereomen atthe TV IRS HOUSE, on Friday evening, Feb. 1, 1806. in ig SPECIAL COMMITTER: Hon. Hiram rapeice, J. Newcomb Knapp, Esq. A.W. Gallear, Haq. 7 Joreph Naylor, ba 0 EE: 8. Shock, ¢ 1.0, Goetchius, ; ri em reher, Fe # bated Be Sma, ‘webb, F. Hi. Kilis, J, A. Mordo, ites Goo'Anduckeos, = = HPO, oy succinate Bola 3 Dancing to commence ai nine o'clock. z ALODAPERDOAOLES DE TE OEE BEE Here ia something « little more practical, but quite in- Hosoxen, Jan. 28, 1856. To James Gorvon Buxn ett— Dsar Stx—The regular annual meeting of whe New JuRseY State Hoxmoraruic Mepicat Socizry will be eaday, the + The ‘the attendance of all the memhx yf ty their [r facet} mae ae society, wita that of friends, J. B. PETHERBRIDGE, Recording Secretary. ONODNIILOLEDOIE SIDE OLE ELTON DOONEDT EE DOOR * The officers of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Mary. land, have sent us the following:— aeennnnr nn. eenrweoece cece NAVAL BALL. +4 ‘Vignette—Repreventing a sea shore, on which is & cannon and balls, with un American flag and dram, and a lighthouse in the distance; @ pleasuré of your company is requested at the Lyceum of tbe Naval Academy, Friday ‘evening, Feb. 3 ruary Ist, at 9 o'clock. Purser B.Frank Galiagher, Lieut, William H. Wilcox, Lieut 8B. Franklin,” Lieut William K. Muyo, Lieut, B. W. Lieut. J. Taylor Wood. - Seott, ANNAPOLIS, January 19, 1856. 3 ONIN ONIN IONNIOINDICEODNIOO EL DE DOLE LE OE We should be glad to mingle in the mary dance. with these gallant sons of Neptune, but it is rather t20 far off. There will be @ fine disp'ay of Maryland beauty. They get up splendid women down on the: Eastern shore, From Maryland we should have to go to Albany. and see numerous fine chickens and Shanghaes; more va ua- pelos those who promenace Broadway. Here is the card:— enenrnrenee: rere nnee ee COMPLIMENTARY, NEW YORK Tate POULTRY SOCIETY, February )2th, 13th and 14th, 1886, at VAN VECHTEN HALL, ALBANY, XEW TORK. Mr. J. G. Bennett. E. E, PLATT, Secretary. emnnnnnnnes. ‘The Staten Islanders, although cut off irom raie com- munication with the metropolis, intend to have # good time to-night, and have cent us a nicely engraved eard, ‘thus:— pene roooee, THIRD ANNUAL BALL or CATARACT FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, ‘ORIENTAL PORT Hau, aree rece RICHMOND. January $1, 1856. ‘g eeee ene. Onur friends born and brought up on the soil of La Belle France are to have s nice time at Tammany Ha!) on the bth of next month. They, too, thought of us:— lekeaneaapeasahaanenerreeaen a ei aee NOUS N’AVONS QU’UN TEMYS{A VIVRE, AMIS, PAS#ONS LE Garewenr. DOUZIEME BAL, PARE ET saya’ DES aMI*® DE LA GAITE, de ta Gailé vous pitent hoe vous prient d’honorer de voire pré-3. Je Bal Paré et Travesti qui aura leu a : * TAMMANY HALL Le 6 Fevrier, Mardi-Gras, : coMirh: J. Lecceg, L. Lepine, Skarren, C, Lehe, J, Blanquler, F. ‘%} Heldet, D. Lebo, 0; Mercier. ; CLERKOX, Secrétaire. wen A. Qrrensrnrannnnnnnnnnnnes Passcns-le gaiement, Vive la danse, And on Monday next one ot our crack fire companies has its annual soirée at Niblo’s:— as sine, Niblo’s, Mon¢ay eraing ty WENN 1856. ; Cuarzes A. Gray, Secretary. 4 eroveroosoneree eco reee’ All these affairs, of which we have received notice within « day or two, with numerous private festivities, will keep the heads and heels of our young friends busy: for some time to come, close up to St. Valentine’s day. As this is Leap Year, we presume the ladies will not forget their privilege, and that the cry will be, ‘‘Union for the: rake of the Union.” cece coon COMPLIMENTARY, ANNUAL BALL COLUMBIAN ENGINE COMPANY 14, The Central Park Case. SUPREME COURT—SPECIAL TERM. Before Hon. Judge Harris. Jax, 30.--The Chief Justice of the Coart of Appeals as- signed Judge Harris to hear the motion te confirm the Commissioners’ report for opening the Central park. ‘There were several counsel in attendance on the part of the objectors, Mr. Dillon, ex-Corporation Counsel, appeated for the confirmation of the report. He alluded to the advan- tages posressed by the park in the diversified character of its surface, amd in the capacities for adornment which: the new Croton aqueduct to be established in it would af- ford. The reservoir itself might be made picturesque in shape, and abundance of water be obtained for rivers or waterfalls in various parts of the park. He thonght {t porsible to have the park in five , and expa- tiated at considerable Jength upon ihe beauty of the views and drives which our citizens would enjoy in it. The cost, be raid, was almost unexampled; and it was @ highly honorable thing for the elty of New York that she ehoula be willing to ccntribute five millions of dollars for public pleasure grounds, which in European cities are generally donations from royalty, or which have car- inly cost them very slight sums, It appears that the total number of lots included in the proposed park is 7,620, at an avers, cost of about $650 per lot; the ar- to $1,667,590; the number of lote. asressed being 27.500, making’an average of $60 per lot— the highest assesement being $525 and the lowest $2 per lot. The area of the park in acres will be 774 acres, namely: the park fteelf 624 acres, the State arsenal 16> acres, the reservoir 33 acres, the new reservoir 107 acres. The amount of awards in the Commissioners’ report for the property required in $6,111,426 30; the assessments amount to $1,657,500, leaving s balance of $3,453,836 30. There are additional costs of $67,913 60, namely: Commissioners Clerks Survey Collection. Advertising, &e. ‘ 6, The total amount cf expenses is $5,111,779 90, of whick« is payable to the Corporation for lots $844,846 90, and for mortgsges $209,801 25, The amount added to the debt of the city is $2,867,041 85, to be raised by a loan at 5 ver cent, payable in 45 yearn, secured by the pledge or mortgage of the entire pork, forming the best socrarity in the world, the annual interest being $143,352. Mr. Dil Jon coniinned to say, thet supposing the annual taxation to be $5,000,000, this will make an addition to the taxa- tion of $148,052 per annum, fo that a perton hitherto. yaying $100 a year in taxes, will hereafter poy $102 86, + the advantages of a park more 1. This nual in for which ke will bave all than royal, and superior to any in the wo amount will be gradually decreased by the crease of the wealth of the city, Say poring the popula- tion cf the city of New York fo be 760,000, this annual taxation for the Park will be 19 cen‘s for each individual. 1 $100,000 8 yeas, for five years, be applied to the regu- lation of the Park—for making roads, drainage, fencing &e , tien the annual addition to the taxation will be about 5 per cent upon the present amount of taxation, so that aperson now paying $100 in taxes will then pay $105. Tt must then be borne in mind that no portion of this amount is wasted, It Js not spent in wars or feasting, or in works which will cromble away. It is vested in Jand which wili remain for us aud our pos terity for all time. It will be a place for the public buildings of our city, for establishments whieh will rival the Garden dea t# of Paris, and the Zoological Garden of London. Mr. Dillon continued to argue at con- siderable length in favor ot the confirmation ct the Com- missioners’ report, and stated, among other things, that the wont of ruch a park was the means of driving 400,000 of the people of New York to the shores of the neighbor- iug boys. r. Shecden, one of the property owners, hoped the court would suspend its opinion ea to the merits of his care until h’s counsel, Mr. George Wood, who was now in Washington, Sppearod betore hin Honor in the morning. Mr. LeviS. Chatfield appeared for Mra, Reckless, on0 of the objectors, Mr. Murphy, on behalf of eighteen owners of property, amounting to near $300,000, appeared to withdraw their opposition. He, himself, was one of the objectors, but on inquiring into the amount of assessments on his pro