The New York Herald Newspaper, February 22, 1856, Page 4

4 NEW YOF.« HERALD. SANBS 60’ 508 BENNEO?®, FROF? <s30R8 AND EDITOR, SeMCD ¥. ¥- 6° gun OF MASBAU AND FULTON rd. "sta atone. Bi tag Te any ae, metre a hon ey ANTae Arar ODOR ine Ee. dented frome grin of : ee ae ee deoLanss Screen 70 fms. aa Larrens anv Picx- FORO TICE tater of cnonyncm covrmunieasions We de cn "ADVERTISEMENTS reveced eeory day. ouleme XII... secocees ceceseeeeeM@e 52 AMUSEMENTS Ses THIS EVENING. Py ah YHEATRE Brest ‘Beane rai Boxras, Fenner Fuso xp tap Du aren Woon & WOOD'S MINSTRELS, 444 Sroacwav--trmoriun Pan- Vemmancee—Harry Man, on TREATY Wits J4ran, BOCKLEY’S uE OPaRA . Soren. (630 Broad: wap—Facno Mousmnsr-—Locarzs Bo 04 DEMY HALL, 063 Broadw ‘Broséway—Paxowamo Proroszs wom any Jaram, ‘ew York, *ridey, Schraary 22, 1656, The News. ‘The steamer Atianti: had not been telegraphed up ‘to a late hour last night. Attention centres upon Philadelphia and Pitts warg. At these points the politicians are actively engaged in mapping out the Presidential campaign, and our copious reports of their doings, which we pablich on the firs: page of today’s paper, will, no doubt, be read with the avidity the importance ef the subject justifies. The American National @ounci] at Philadelphia yesterday made an im portant move. The platform o! last year was Mrown overboard, and another, called the wict of Colnmbia platform, ted in its pl wy alarge majority. This new declaration of pr ples ew! ‘its recommendat slavery Questic proper appre PS coo eed 472 Broadway—M4iap QUEEN CHILDRER. r ea 6 good deal of bombast and gammon; the hat it totally ignores ous text, and evinces v ater gruel adwinis: ton of Franklis P . The Coanci? adjourned to meet in New Yorkin June. The American Conven- ‘ton called t© nominate candidates for President Vice President meets today. There is much ouseion to whe will be the nomines © speculate npou that matter. General Houston has declared that he not play second fiddle to any ene, 80 he may be of the field « gether. The full ) eail for Oonvenvon :— TO THE AME! TATES. Naniona’ Hw, } 1855. | Be it inewn, ng of the Na More) Conti] in June. 1865, “be flowing resolution was cogresmonel dis ack Sta’e Conneil, ae Senatorial delegates at large. Im consequence of the existenze cf tots resolution and ‘te give it full efieet, I ben Wat, without delay. tne Gongreseions! Gstrict in « @ouneil, spall proceed to el tm seid Nations) Conventi on; snd, to secure s ful mended that for eacs Con; feo alternates be at the war trict axd State Covnei!. E. B. BARTL President National Council U. The Nigger Worshippers Convention at Pittsburg will no doubt be attended by all the greater and Jesser lights of that organization. Yesterday a Jarge number was already on the ground. The fol- Jowing is the call under which they have as eembied:— tate, and that aa lega-es to rep:esen: pprinted by said nal ea aelega'e e OF THE UNITED STATES. peare to be the genrral dle- , and et the suggestion of a ican press, the undersigned, biicam Committees of Maine, Vermon’, Murrncausetts, New York, Pentisylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Iudiaca and Wisconsin, hereby invite the re- wablicane cf the Union to meet in informa! convention at Pittedurg, on eh the 22d of February, 1856, for the purpose reais the na’ional organization, and providing fo- Jegate Convention of the repablican party, at some paeabeegeect day. to nominate candilates for the Presicency and Vice Presidency, to be supported at the election in November, 1856. A. P. STONE, of Ohio. + OODRICH, ot Mass. DAVID WILAOT, of Pa. LAWRENCE BRAINER®. of Vt. WILLIAM A. WAUSR, of Vis. RUFCS HOSMER, @aairman, Of the Michigan State Republican Committee. Nothing worthy of mention occurred in the United Btates Senate yesterday. The House, after a farci- ai and somewhat protracted debate, elected Daniel Waldo, to the chaplaincy. Mr. Waldo is of this ity, and is now in the ninety-fourth year of his age. He wasa soldier in the Revolutionary war, and bas served under the banner of the Cross as aclergyman of the Congregational Church for more than seventy years. The Senate's appointment of Hon. George E. Badger and Professor Felton, as Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, were concurred in. Seve- ral bills were introduced—among them one for the construction of a railroad and telegraph line to the Pacific. It was referred to a select committee of thirteen. Both houses adjourned till Monday. A Jarge namber of Congressmen immediately pr¢ ceeded to Philadelphia and Pittsburg to attend the national conventions. Euwin D. Morgan and Cyrus Curtis have been appointed Commissioners of Emigration, in place of Charles A. Marshall and James Kelly, resigned. The Board of Aldermen met last evening. The annual report of the Comptroller, giving the receipts and expenditures for 1855, was received. We give the document elsewhere. Fire Marshal Baker, it seems, has been, with his enstomary indefatigability, tollowing up an incen- @iary charged with firing the building No. 82 Nas- sau street last Sunday night. The accused escaped from the city on the morning after the fire, and took refuge in Philadelphia; but the persevering efforts of the Marshal have caused his capture. He is now safely lodged in the Tombs. An account of the af- fair is published elsewhere. The Rhode Island Democratic State Convention met yesterday at Providence, and noninated Ame- neous V. Potter for Governor. The new steam frigate Merrimac, which leaves Boston on Satarday on her trial trip, has been or- dered by the Secretary of the Navy to cruise in search of vessels on the coast in distress. It was statedon ‘Change yesterday that the pri- vate letters received by the Canada, which came to hand yesterday morning, contained orders for the purehase of considerable cotton. The market be- came quite excited and very active, and with one or two exceptions, the sales were larger than hitherto made in this market in a single day for the space of some eight or ten years, having reached about 14,- 000 bales, chiefly in transitu. The transactions for jote on the spot were based upon middling uplands, at about 10} cents, and Mobile and New Orleans do. at 104 cents, closing firmer; common and extra su- perfine State ranged from $6 75 a 7 124, within which range, 1,500 bbls. were purchased for export. In the absence of sales wheat was nominal. Sound yei- Jow and white Southern corn sold at 75 a 76 cents. Pork was a little ivregular, with sales of mess at $16 674 $16. Sug spt tog c.a de. higher than before rt of the news from Hava- med busyant and lite were firm, with fair en- the rece ha, with more in ¢ em , ; > thet ‘ontinent NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEPRUARY 22, 1856. Brag War between two such Powers asthe United States and England is a serious thing. We know this, and England knows it, by experi- ence ; but the brage and bluffs of Lord Palmer- ston’s Cabinet and press are by no means £0 important. We can afford to receive them for what they are worth, and to give them their just weight in the consideration of the differ- ences existing between us and our transatlan- tic relatives, The tone of the British press—liberal extracts from which we laid before our readers yester- day—are in the last degree both puerile and insulting. We cannot question the courage of our progenitors without reflecting upon our selves ; but there is much in the article of the London Post (the official organ of Lord Pal- merston) to show that little confidence is felt either in the right of English enlistments in the United States or of the justice of the British pretensions in Central America, or in the abi- lity of the government, in the event of war, to maintain its assumptions. Men do not talk so grandiloquently of their prowess when they really possess the genuine article. Besides, it isin the last degree nauseating to hear the chiet of a great State talk of his ability to erush, by a single blow, his adversary. If trae, the assumption is arrant folly; if not true, it is disgusting gasconade. If the United States is no competitor for England, and it ie in the power of the latter, in case of war, to “sweep American commerce from the seas and lay the whole seaboard of the Union open to the attacks of the greatest naval Power in the world,” what sense is there in proclaim- ing sach wonderful achievements before the peace of the two countries is seriously me- paced? Does it make England more powerful? Does it paralyze our strength? Does it con- vert history into fiction? It is all very well to be able to estimate our strength and resources; but when these are made in the face of impending or possible col- Hisio u, the opposite party ought to be excused if be does not fully credit his antagoaist with entire impartiality and truthfulness. We eave to the British Cavinet the question of the propriety ot using offensive menace at a time, and whether it is proper for a e that of Exgland to forecloze a coa- sy by fighting naval and land battles id advence of actual hostilities. yould be folly to deny that England is a eat naval Po ver, or to suppose that she will in the event ofa war with us, use her vast resources to intercept and capture our commerce upon the high seas; but it would be Nucious to pretend that she is at all our a} opon land. The time has gone by when vils of war can be confined to disasters specially such a war as is aud press. The resources of Englané constitute the foundation of her ability to carry on war 1; aud these resources, happily, are almost lly dependent upon her supplies from this ountry. That which shall “sweep our com- merce from the seas,” then, will sweep away tbe occupation of millions of her operatives, and produce civil commotion, if not famine, in the kingdom. But we ate not altogether, we apprehend, at the mercy of our kinsmen, even upon the seas. We, too, have a great commercial marine—a vast population, some noteworthy energy, and, duly considered, some right to contest the empire of the ocean, even against the “enormous fleet of her Majesty.” We have never beenswept entirely off this element, and if it were not imitating the puerile braga- docio of the Palmerston manife -toes, we should unbesitatingly assert that two yearsof war would find two American to one British vessel upon the Atlantic ocean, and twenty Ameri- cans well employed and fed on the land to one Englishman. But we detest this kind of statement and as- sertion. It is better to leave such matters to those who may be called upon to settle them ina different and more authentic way. We cannot, however, avoid referring, in connec- tion with the pretensions of our adversaries, on the present occasion, to the two ‘ enormous fleets” which have for two consecutive years sailed into and out of the Baltic, doing a little business in the way of “ coast surveys,” afford- ing provender for the Palmerston Cabinet aud press, and a theme of abuse to Sir Charles Napier and other fire eating Admirals of her Majesty—nothing more. Nor will it be con- sidered out of place if we point in the spirit of “ friendly menace’’ to the achievements of the “ well trained armies of England” at Sebasto- pol and at Kars, making no reference to the battle of New Orleans, to our campaigns in Mexico, and a half dozen naval engagements between American and British veseels during the war of 1812. The efforts and failures of her Majesty’s officers to enlist soldiers for the Russian war in England, and the notable devices of doing a little of that relief ser- vice in the United States, and the nervous anxiety manifested by the Palmerston Cabi- net to exchange its money and its carrying conveniences for French and other Contine 3 tal soldiers, are not entirely forgotten in t: @ country. Meanwhile, it may be well to mea- tion in this connection—without the slightes belief that we shall require their services—that we have two millions of able bodied men, regularly enrolled according to law, edu- cated--not trained and drilled—to the use of arme; and, what is more, thoroughly indos trinated with the idea that it is their duty, ‘a certain contingencies, to defend the State. It isno exaggeration to eay, this is a Power capa- ble of defending the country against England; and there is little hazard in asserting that it will be exercised in such a manner, in case of war, as to do away entirely with the impressions which the London Pos and Times have im- bibed concerning the ‘utterly helpless mili- tery and naval resources” of the American government, There is one field—and one alone—upon which the United States are ready to acknow- edge the superiority of their transatlantic relatives. Out of a dozen or fifteen treaties made with England—commencing with Jay’s convention, in 1794, and particularly includ- ing that of Ghent, in 1815, that Concerning joint occupation in the Northwest, in 1818 and 1828, the Ashburton and Webster convention, and ending with that capsheaf of folly in 1850, the Clayton-Bulwer treaty —we have been overreached and These things rather prove that our government is not as strong as our ee It is tae Jatter whom we wera in war. temol igre ey ele 1 the ocean, ¢ pou contemplated by the London Cabiue out-wiited, upon wards the people of the United States, We are not utterly helpless—we are not powerless; and it in this faot, well known to the nations of Eu- rope, which places the London Cabinet ina most contemptible position. It drops away from the discussion of the merits of the con- troversy, in which it has been wholly unsuc- cessful, to a dashing assertion of its power to enforce ita position upon its adversary. It leaves the field of argument to exalt and mag- nify its own resources, chuckling over its pros- pect of peace with Russia, and of being able, by a single blow, to crush the United States- All this is characteristic of the British aristo- cracy; but itis no evidence either of the justice of British pretentions in Central America or of its power, ultimately, to enforce those pre- tentions against the opposition of the United States, It is no evidence of an advance of England, either in the elements of civilization or of positive courage, to meet the issue in- volved in the dispute between the two coun- tries. Jt may be well, just at this time, when the Powers of the Continent are about to be re-organized and new combinations effected, to talk big towards this republic and to magnify the resources of the kingdom; but such things are so well understood on this side of the water as to leave no other impression apoa the public mind than that of DGeare and contempt. We can ill-aftord to engage in a war with England about Central America; but once un- dertaken, there can be no doubt of the result. The United States possess more resources for war than any other sixty millions of people on the globe; more than double those of England. These resources may not be at firet entirely accessible; but they will be developed, even upon the high seas with a mar- vellous celesity, and upon the land in full season to meet every possible contingency. We shall not require, in such a contest, an auxiliary force in the heart of the British nation ; but we shall have it in all the great trade, manufacturing, moneyed and navigatioa interests of the kingdom—in all central, pros- perous, industrial England. Such a war will light up the fires of democracy on every hill and in every valley of that country ; it will ve the signal of a collision between freedom and absolutism everywhere. The seeds of free government bare been sown in all parts of the world ; they have taken root in England, and they will grow aad ripen and be harvested by such a war. It is possible that the United States may be driven into a contro- versy which, in its consequences, will serve to stir up the slumbering energies of democracy ard hasten the utter downfall of aristosracy. But what is the daty of Congress in view o! these facts? Is it not to throw aside the selfisn bickerings of politicians and act for the coun- try? Isit notin the tace of the threats o England to prepare for the emergency? Le: Congress take up the subject of our navy, in crease our steam vessels of war, look after our coast defences, and place the United States in an attitude that will show to the world tha: we are prepared to maintain our rights at all hazards. High Doings at Pouuadcelphia and Pittsbar; —the Know Notuing and Nigger Worsnip- ing Conventions oz To-day. It will be ceen from our telegraphic des- patches t'at the special National Council of the American Order convened in Philadel- phia on Monday last, for the purpose of recon- structing the party, its rituals, constitutions, ceremonials, plattorms, &c., upon some ra- tional and national basis, had “a high tims” yesterday upon the everlasting stumbling block of the “nigger question.” The “twelith section,” the requirements of the constitution, “no more, no ies,” and the “restoration of the Missouri compromise,” and other things, were the expedients discussed. The South seems to have agreed to drop the “twelfth section,” but wanted something tan- gible in exchange for it; and were decidedly suspicious of an impracticable double-faced humbug in the proposed compromise of fol- lowing slavery as far as the constitation, “no more, no less.’ Senator Sumner, for example, declares positively that the Fugitive Slave law is unconstitutional—that the extension of slavery is unconstitutional, &c.—while, on the other hand, the Know Nothings of the Soath hold that the Fugitive law is the essence ot the constitution, and that slavery may bz constitutionally extended into new States and new Territories, and that it is right that it ehould be. With the meeting of such extremes, repre- sented by the anti-democratic chivalry of the South onthe one hand, and by sach rampant abolitionists as Lieut. Governor Ford, of Onio, on the other, whose hostility to siavery ia as intense and “undying” as that of Gen. Wilsoa, Seward or Giddings, what else could be ex- pected than the perilsof another separation of the great American party by Mason and Dix- on’s line and the Ohio river, as in June last. It is but the old farce of the New York hard» and softs, under a new name, with more nume- rous and miscellaneous materials, and uson a larger scale of operations. On this day—the anniversary of the illus- trious and immortal Washington—the regular National Council or Convention of the Ameri- can party is appointed to meet in Philadelphia, for the express and exclusive object of nomi- nating a national ticket for the Presidency— that is, provided always that the constitution of the Order, its rituals, ceremonials, oaths, grips, signs and passwords, dark lanterns, pro- scriptions, exceptions, and principles of all kinds, shall have been 80 modified, codified and accommodated to the universal and special ne- cessities of the heretofore disorganized brother- hood as to render them in fact, intact—a har- monious, living, active, hopeful and practica' national party. But if these prerequisites are not fulfilled, then the nomination may be postponed, or there may be two or three tickets nominated, or the whole concern may be dissolved, leaving nothing ia the world but “Live Gak George Law” and his “live oak” principles, and the “ live oak” clubs at his back, to tell the lamentable story of the general wreck. Whatever else may fail, whatever else may be done, with any other nomination, or without any other nomi- nation, of one thing we are privately inform- ed: that, “sink or swim,” “ Live Oak George” will be brought out to stand his hand arouod the whole course on the great “Derby day” of next November. How he will come out is a horee of a totally different complexion. We feel, however, comparatively easy con the nominating convention, under the sumption that, whether they make or } Live Oak George Law” will irvive, CORDS: Ase ewes eu meuide general convention to-day, at Pittsburg; to give shape and discipline and unity and cobe- eion to their piebald legions and mercenaries of all kinds, and to prepare some genera! plan of operations in view of a fature convention for the nomination of their Presidential ticket. Holding their convention at point between two rivers, frozen over in some to the bottom, we hope they will be able tokeep cool. We suspect that this Pittsburg gathering was intended as a scarecrow tothe Northern birds of doubtful plumage assembled at Phila- delphia, and we fear it has had some effect upon them. But ae it is the result which crowns all, we await the upshot of the row at Philadelphia, and the conclusion of the orgies of the Nicosr Worsurrrers at Pitts- burg. Curious incidents, these, in the cele- bration of the anniversary of the great and glorious Washington. . ‘The Prospect of Peace. We are apparently no nearer peace than we were a couple of mails ago, though the Bri- tish ‘prees #0 confidently expresses itself on the peint. Ruseia, it appeare, from the diplomatic circular and the despatch of Count Nesselrode of Jan. 5, still declines to consent to any modi fication of her frontier by the cession of terri- tory in Bessarabia, and objects to any vague fifth point, under which other territorial con- cessions might be demanded of her. She con- sents to throw open the Danube, and neither to erect nor to maintain strong places on the Black Sea; she stipulates that some permanent protection shall be afforded to the Christians in Turkey; as to the rest, she proposes to sur- render Kars in exchange for Sebastopol, and conceives that with this the Allies should be eatiefied. If the language of the British press can be regarded as, in any measure, a criterion of the intentions of the government, England will demand more substantial guarantees for peace than these. France is ready, it appeare, to negotiate on any terms which the Czar is willing to suggest; but unless Lord Clarendon hos stated a glaring falsehood, the Emperor is of one mind with the British government. It appears certain, however, that the masses ot Europe are tired of war. In the language of the Débats, “both conquerors and conquered feel a moral necessity for peace.” In Russia, as well as France and England, civilization has im- planted the conviction that there is something better to be done with flesh, blood and muscle than te tear them in shreds with ball, steel and grape. The horrid massacre at the capture of the Malakoff gave the first impetus to the sen- timent; and nothing has coatributed more powerfully to extend it than the wholesale destruction of those miracles of art and science, the docks at Sebastopol. In former days, says the French newspaper before quoted, wars used to last thirty years; at present hu- menity recovers from the delusion at the end of two. We noticed the other day that the desire for peace was so powerful in Austria that a Viennese newspaper which ventured to doubt its advent was rigorously suppressed, apparently to the satisfaction of the people. Asimilar sentiment has seized euch hold of the public mind at Paris, that the most violent anti-English articles have lately found their way into the papers in anticipation of difficul- ties being thrown by England in the way of a treaty of peace. Nor is there any doubt but the same viow will obtain with the bulk of the British people. The war has always been op- posed by the Manchester men; the merchants of London and the sea board cities, who some time since were resolute for the prosecution of hostilities, now speak hopefally of peace; Par liament is evidently well pleased at the pros- pect. Of the popular feeling in Russia it is impoesible to speak with any confidence, from the want of a free press and free speech in the dominions of the Czar; but there, too, the weari- ness of the war must be decided, or Alexander would not have ventured, in the face of Con- stantine and the strong war party among the nobles, to have made concessions for the sake of arriving at a basis of negotiations. Should the war now be brought to a close, it will figure strangely in history. Neither side can properly call itself the victor. If the Al- lies have taken Sebastopol, the Russians have taken Kars: one offsets the other. The excess of material damage has doubtless been inflicted on Russia; but the loss of moral prestige has been felt by the maritime nations who, with Sardinia and the Ottomaa Porte to back them, have only just held their own sgainst their single opponent. Neither side can be said to have been reduced to sue for peace. Lord Derby says that the opinion on the Continent of Europe is that the Western Powers bave sent to St. Petersburg to beg for peace; and though it is easy to detect in this assertion the dishonesty of a partisan, there is unquestionably much trath in it. On the other hand, the Count of Nesselrode ad- mits, in his diplomatic circular to the Russian Ministers abroad, that one of the chief motives which bave pressed Russia to negotiate has been “the existence of a coalition, the tenden- cy of which was every day to assume larger proportiovs.” In other words, Russia nego tiates in rder not to be beaten by a European coalition. It will nos be until the terms of peace are made known that the exact propor- tion of glory and disgrace can be meted out to each combatant, and then it will doubtless appear that the only conqueror has been Louis Napoleon, whose arms have been his pen, and whose troops have been diplomatic circulars, If Russia is beaten, she will have been beaten in the c binet more than in the field. Poetry oy Ciry Lire—Tue Syow Crap Huis or Broapway.—The yearly amount paid by our citizens for keeping our streets clear of rubbish is set down in our annual tax bili at between $200,000 and $300,000. In addition to this the Councimen have just appropriated an additional sum of $15,000 for the purpose of removing the accumulations of snow and ice which for some weeks past have rendered the public thoroughfares almost impassable. Now, since the storm of the 5th of January, the Street Commissioner has had no opportunity of spending anytbing for the execution of the ordinary work of his department. The heavy falls of snow which have interrupted the gene- ral bueiners of the community have also ren- dered Mr. Ebling’s office a sinecure. He has, therefore, or ought to have, in bis hands, the proportion of the regular tax which was in- tended to cover the last six weeks, besides the extraordinary appropriation recently made, How is he employing these resources? For the last few days a number of laborers have been scen engaged in a peculiarly inte. 16 eag'cecriug operation in resting and diffieu Od Bmeyes oe ee way wemiwteaeey ws etd + geene eat ms amiss BeSoai ay 6. gl labor of Danse. In order to create imagi-] PRB BASZRST WEWS. nary facilities for the passage of vehicles on either side of that thoroughfare, they have been piling ep mountain ridges in the centre ot the street, which require no small effort of courage on the part of foot passengers to tra- verse. Here and there, longo intervallo, may be discovered a Simplon, through whose sinuosi- ties the traveller may wind his puzzled way across; but we have heard of more than one instance in which hopeless females have been lost in these Broadway Alps. Now, if this ar- rangement were effective for the object contem- plated, we should not pay so mach attention to these individual cases of distress, But it un- fortunately happens that by confining vehicles to this single file passage on either side, the slightest obstruction or accident arrests the whole circulation of the street. Although our stage drivers are proverbially daring, they are Rot insane enough to attempt to surmount the barriers opposed to their enterprise by the Street Commissioner. The consequence is that frequently for half an hour together, a long line of vehicles is kept stationary by the fall- ing of a horee at ita head, or by some other of the numerous street casualties, which in ordi- nary times would scarcely cause a moment's delay. With the large amount of funds -which Mr. Ebling has had placed at his disposal, we cannot understand the motive of this mode of proceeding. Is it economy? We can easily show him that the plan he has adopted will prove no saving at all, His snow piles will be consolidated into a standing nuisance whilst the cold weather laste, and inthe end addi- tional sums will have to be voted for their re- moval, seeing that the street soil is collected with them. In the meanwhile, the city will have to suffer all the inconvenience and an- noyance arising from an obstruction which renders the passage of vehicles of léttle or no value owing to the slowness at which they are compelled to move. The proper and only efficient mode of re- lieving the thoroughfares would be to have a certain amount ef the snow carted away, and the rest so equally distributed over the street as to ensure its easy liquidation by the sun. Where this has been done by private enterprise, the results have been most satisfactory. With the money which Mr. Ebling has in hand, and the abundance of unemployed labor which the severity of the season has unfortunately placed at his disposal, we cannot imagine why he has resorted to the present ineffective plan. Frame Bur.pines Wiruty tHE Orry Liurrs.— We had occasion recently to call attention to the fact that a number of frame buildings were in the process of repair and enlargement in various parts of the city, and in connection urged that the Fire Wardens should report all such cases to the Council of the Fire Depart- ment, in order that the legal penalties might be imposed on the offending parties, and the protracted existence of these dangerous edi- fices within the city limits be put a stop to for the future. We find, however, upon inquiry, that in this matter, at least, the Fire Wardens are not 80 much to blame as the law under which they work; which, while it expressly forbids the construction of frame or wooden dwellings, permits such a modification of the premises as nullifies the spirit of the act, and allows the builder to reconstruct the house throughout, and thus perpetuates the existence, within the city limits, of a class of edifices that place life in jeopardy and reduce the value of property in their vicinity. Daniel O’Connell said he could drive a coach and six tbrough any act of Parliament ever passed, and if any builder failed to ran two large omnibuses abreast over and through the following provisions of the act relating to the subject of improper buildings, he certainly could not be deemed smart:— Sec. 14 —If any brick front, frame or wooden dwelling houre already erected within the fire limits, as the same are extended by this act, or may hereafcer be extended, ball require new roofing, it shall and may be lawful for the proprietor, or proprietors thereof to raise the sax for the puapoed of ating s iat toot thereon; provided that such new roofing shail be made of copper. fe tin, zinc, or iron: and also provided that suca dwel house, when so rated, shall not exceed thirty-five feet in height es ae level of the sidewalk to the peak or highest part er ec Sec. 20, No wooden or frame butlding whatever, whe- ther the same may have # brick front or otherwise, with- in the fire limits, as ex sence 8 aforesaid, or as the same may hereatter be extended, be raised, enlarged or built upon, or removed Soni e lot to another, witain the fire limits of the said ci 6 the same are extended a6 aforesaid, or may he “be extended; provided, however, that brick front frame dwelling houses wooden dwelling houses only may be raised, under the circumstances, and in the manner specially povided for in the fourteenth section of this act. From this it will be seen that the building may be raised an additional story under plea of repairing the roof, and further, permission is given to repair the dwelling, which may mean anything from tightening a shingle to reconstructing the house throughout. It isundeniable that frame houses are dan- gerous to person and property in case of a conflagration, and the intent of the law for- bidaing their erection in the city isa good one, and should be so amended as to make it effec- tual. As this isa matter which interests the Fire Department more particularly, as the fines collected go to swell its fund, we cali upon their representative board to take this matter in hand, and draw up an act revising the fire Jaws and those relating to the construction of buildings in the city, and urge its adoption by the State Legislature. With such an endorse- ment it would pass without opposition. The reform demanded is a thorough one, and should embrace the reconstruction of the Board of Fire Wardens, who are notoriously remiss in their duties—more froma want of responei- bility than from any other cause—also the appointment of a board of practical builders, who are disiuterested, to report upon all edi- fices in the process of construction in the city, with a view to their being built in 2 more sub- stantial manner then they are at present; for it is notorious that there are over six hundred houses in the city in which, should a fire occur, every inmate would perish. We have had too many disasters of this kind occur of late years to render it necessary for us to particularize such cases in proof, Let the representatives of the Fire Depart- ment, then, draft such a law as we have pro- posed, and the press and public will not be backward in calling on the State Legislature to pase it forthwith. Obituary. THE LATE COMMODORE ABBOTT. Advices iroro Hong Kong, dated the 16th of December, announce the death of Commodore Joel Abbott, evm- mander of our Bast India squadron. This officer entered the vavy in June, 1812, and received his commfasion as captain and eommanter in October, 1848. Oat of the forty-four yours that he was in the srvice he only pass. yirtewn yeare nt nen, tes years and nice wont ber duty « heving teen epent op shore and c BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Frem Washington. TREATIES WITH THE INDIANS—THE CHAPLAINCY— STAMPEDE OF THE POLITICIANS—@EN. HOUSTON AND THE VICE PRESIDENCY, ETC. Wasainatoy, Feb, 21, 1666, ‘The Senate in executive sessior to-day ratified a very important treaty between the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians and the United States, enlarging the boundaries of those tribes. No quorum having voted yesterday postponing, thé election of Chaplain came up again this morning, when, . after a deperate struggle, Daniel Waldo, of New York, | ‘aged ninety-four years, belonging to the Congregational- ist church, was elected Chaplain, Mesars. Orr, Richardson, Quitman end Davidsen left this evening for your city, to address the democracy at ‘Tammany Hall to-morrow evening. A large number of members left this evening for Philadelphia, to attend the Knew Nothing Convention, the House having edjourned over till Mondsy for that purpose, Offers have been made, I understand, this evening, to Gem. Houston to stand as Vice President on the same ticket with Fillmore. Bat he declines. In reply, he says he is ‘too old, and that he nerer would ge cecond te any man since Jackson.” A good desl of interest is felt here as to the-result at Pailadelphia. Dd. THE CASE OF JUDGE TRUMBULL AND MR. KEOOEDY —THE KANSAS CONTESTED SEAT—THB CHAPLAIN OF THE HOUSE, ETO. ‘Wasmneton, Feb. 21, 1866, The Senate, in Judge Trumbull’s case, will have to de. cide the delicate question of conflict between State and feddral constitutions, The same question will arise in. the case of Mr. Kennedy, Senator elect from Maryland. Thearthat Judge Trumbull has letters from Governor Matteson and Senator Douglas, both endorsing the vali- dity of hia election. The Committee on Elections in the House ‘‘won’t stay whipped.” ‘hey will report again their resolution ask- ing for power to send for persons and papers, and the reason upon which they base their report, viz., to force the production of certain records and documents now suppressed. Mr, Waldo, the newly elected Chaplain to the House, is s Revelutionary hero, and so old and deaf, it is sald, that he can neither hear nor be heard. Many members of Congress are absent at Philadelphia. Gen. Houston appears entirely indifferent to the actiom of the Convention. He will not consent to be the tail of any ticket. The current rumor that Secretary Davis is about re tiring from the Cabinet is entirely without foundation. ’ BR BXTENSIVE ROBBERY AT WILLARD’S HOTHs ‘Wasmncron, Feb. 21, A theft of money and jewelry took place at Wiilaed’s hotel this noon. The rooms of Mrs. Wood, wife of Col. ‘Wood, member of Congress from Portland, Me., were en- tered while she was out riding, and one thousand dollara in gold, and about thirteen hundred dollars worth of jewelry, were stolen. A lady’s watch, with a nets jewelled case, was left in the room. CONTRACT AWARDED. ‘Wasurncton, Feb. 21, 1866. The contract for furnishing guns to the Indian Depart- ment has been awarded by the Indian Bureau to H. E Lemar, of Laxeaster, Penn. VHUIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, WIRST BESSION. Senete. Wasirxcroy, Feb. 21, 1856. ‘The Senate passed the bill providing for the establish- ment of a Young Men’s Library in the aiatelet of Cor lombia. Executive documents relative to Indian disturbances on Bills of no penaral imporeancs were passed, and the Sea of no were ate adjourned to Monday. House of Representatives. Wasuineton, Fed. 21, 1856. ‘ELECTION OF A CHAPLAIN. The House took up the subject of the election of » Chaplain, and considerable discussion took place ypon it. The proceedings connected with the subject were desig- nated as farcical, and the hunt after the office was se- verely condemned. Several gentlemen wished to have ontinued the order inviting ciergymen of ali denomina- ions to officiate alternately. Mr. Lercume eaid this would ans rer admira¥ly, as men were here of every shade of re igion, and some of @igion at all. (Laughter.) The applause from the galleries which followed My. Letcher’s remarks was promptly rebuked by the Speaker. here were sixteen candidstes for the Chaplaincy, and on the second trial to elect, ers Waido, a New York Revolutionary soldier in th the nine’ age, anda “ile. Brooke, sa to ‘Be Gidaings, and M ‘vo! us R. Gt and Mr. ner for Antoinette Brown. oe al REGENTS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. ‘The Sepate’s resolution for filling the vacancies in the, Boara of its of the Smithsonian Institution by the Lerten of George E. Badger and Professor Felton, COMMUNICATION WITH THE PACIMIC, FTO, Internal improvement — a bils were then intro-| duced, inclu tion of a x A resolution was paseed providi ead ith usual number cfnewspapecs: ing ma Noes. ‘United States Supreme Court. Wasuincton, Feb. 21, 1856. Case 66. Argument was concluded by Mr. Aeller for] appellants. Case 67. The Executors of Michael Allen et al vs. David Aller. Argument was commenced by €Mr. Mams for plaintiffs. Rhode Island Wemocratic State Provipence, Feb. 21, 1856. The Democratic State Convention was held in this ci to-day, and was fully attended. The following nominations were made:—For Govornor, Ameneus V. Potter, of Providence; Lieutenant Governer, Duncan ©. Pell, of Newport; Secretary of State, Asa ter, of South Kingston; Attorney General, Nathan Por. ter, of Cranston; Treasurer, Edwin Wilbur, of Newport. The delegates chosen to attend the National Conven: tion are Wm. Beach Lawrence, Alfred Anthony, Ballou, Peleg W. Gardiner, Henry J. Burroughs, Wm. J. Miller, Elisha R. Potter, Albert 8, Gallio. The Sheriffalty of New Orleans, New On.eane, Fed. 20, 1856. The bill removing from office Mr, Huffy, the Kno Nothing Sheriff of New Orleans, has passed beth es of the Izgislature by a party vote. Considerabie feel. ing is manifested in consequence. The election contested on account of the illegal breaking of the ballo! boxes during the election in November last—the destroyed (as is testified to) containing a large majori| of votes for the opposing candidate, The office w. awarded to Mr. Huffy by the District Court. Arrest of a Supposed Murderer. Pur.apetrma, Feb, 21, 1856, E. D, Worrell, charged with the murder of Gordon, Missouri, was arrested last night at Dover, Delaware, officers who traced him thither, He expresses his ipgness to retarn with the officers to Missouri, withou waiting for the requisition of the Governer. He the commission of the murder, but acknowledges standi: by at the time. A watch, pair of saddle bags and found in pesseesion of the prisoner, were recognized belonging to the deceased. The arrest waa made at th house of Worre'l’s father. —nceeaiantatilnartenctiiill Brom Boston. Boeron, Feb. 21, 1856, ‘The Seoretary of the Navy has ordered the Unit Staten steam frigate Merrimac to cruise up as far as Banks of Newfoundland, to relieve vessels that may be distress. She will leave on Saturday. The machine shop of Harrison Loring, on First South Boston, was nearly destroyed by fire Jaxt night Loss $25,0C0; insured. —_—___ Fatal Raliroad Accident, Wueuxa, Va., Feb, 21, 1856, ‘The morning train from Baltimore to this place yester: day, met with an accident about » hundred miles east here, One of the wheels of the forward engine broke, the engine was thrown over an embankments distance one hundred feet. The cars remained upon the and none of the berg were injured; but the fi man, Christian Ziegler, of Frederick county, Ma., was in} stantly killed, and the engineer, Thomas McKinley, Baltimore, seriously j Thi nto River. Sx. Louis, Feb, 21, 1856 of blasting the ice in our harbor wes com: fey. and will be continued antil the ri