The New York Herald Newspaper, February 24, 1856, Page 4

3 conte por ape Lo ag ae AMUSEMERTS TO-MORROW EVENING, ' — mBoapw. Grosdwar—Hauws rx BUxrss, RIPLO'S @AWORN, Brosdway- Buz Kuve, on Waara amp Fovenry ‘Harry. sowgst petarns, Bowery Buoxan Vow—Praaa sssaned — SUBION’S THEATER. Tambere sreet--Grist TO THE Mus—Uncery Purvare Arrains—Buarcn’s New Yore Di- AMOTORY VOR 1856. ‘Woo Lawe—Xoverry. WaRL..0Z'S THRATRE troeadway--Kxicers oy cnx Roun Tanue—A Carian Marca. SRBOCADWAY VARIETIES, Broadwayv—Ws2ap Quran Spm Woop ‘Asn Onnseas Worn ieee WOO!)'s “INSTR ALS, 444 Broaawa- -srmoran venmences— carer Man, om Takery wirn Jarax, BOCELET’S BURLESQUE OPERA HOUSE, 690 Brond- oe ~Macne Wixeruxusy—Two Powrrys RABERNACLE, Broacy AGAINRT SPOEIFUS LION. Lrcroen The steamship Atlantic, from Liverpool, arrived below last might. She brings advices to the sth inst. There is no intelligence of the Paeific. The British press was agitating the question of a war with the United States, and a lively public feeling had been excited upon the subject. The Central American question had also created considerable discussion. The peace negotiations were progress- img favorably. The money market was tight. “@onsole are quoted at 90} a 90f. Cotton was steady, but breadstuffs, provisions and sugars were depressed. We give on the first page ful! and graphi: réports ef yesterday's proceedings of the Presidential con- ventions at Philadelphia and Pittsburg. The Know Nothings were occapied the whole day in debating and voting upon a proposition to adjourn until the 3d of July Finally the motion was rejected by a vote of 128 to 73. After an ineffectual attempt to proceed with the nomination of candidates for Presi- + and Vice President, the Convention adjourned y, atid the greatest confusion and excite- ment. In the evening the various cliques and fac- tions were engaged im caucussing and wirepulling for the nominations. The only names yet mentioned ‘ connection with the Presidency and the American party are those of George Law and Millard Fillmore, Judge Smith, of Alabama, is spoken of as likely to receive the nomination for the Vice Presidency. Nigger Worshippers at Pittsburg appointed National Committee, and adopted an d re-olations embodying the well known rit of that organization. A convention, eomposed of the usnal number of delegates from each State, will meetin Philadelphia, on the 17th ef June~the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill— to nominate candidates for President and Vice President. Col. John Charies’Fremont, the celebrat- ed explorer, and the owner of seventy square miles of gold bearing land in California, is mentioned in eonnection with the nomination for President by the Nigger Worshippers. All persons interested in property and the Presi. dential election will be charmed with the particular account of the great Las Mariposas estate, recently eonfirmed to Col. John Charles Fremont, which is given by one of our Washington correspondents. This immense property comprises over seventy square miies. More than thirty millions of dollars are believed to have been taken from it, and the amount remaining is incalculable. Col. Fremont is now said to be the richest man in the world, and a candidate for the Presidency, to be taken up by the nigger worshippers in June next, as the begin- ning of the great contest of 1956 and 1860. Vive /a Republique! The Société La Montagne celebrated their eighth anniversary .of the French Revolution of 1848 last night, at No. 210 William street. Speeches in French and English, of a most radical nature, were made, Revolutionary songs sung, and much enthusiasm ‘wae manifested. Le Perfidé Louis Napoleon was soundly berated, and the hope expressed that red republicanism would soon prevail universally. The moderate French republicans hold their anniversary this afternoon. The new steam frigate Niagara was launched from the Navy Yard about noon yesterday, amid sal- vor of artillery and the cheers of an immense throng of delighted spectators. An account of the lannch —which was a very successful one—together with a statement of the dimensions and capacity of the vease], may be found in another column. The committee appeinted at a late meeting of flour dealers at the Corn Exchange, to investigate the subject and report upon a plan for raising the standard of inspection, were expected to report yes- terday at 12 o'clock. When the hour arrived it ap- peared that they were not ready to report. The subject, however, was informaily discussed—the proposed change meeting with a good deal of op- position on the part of several reeeivers and sellers of flour. The commitiee finally announced that ther would report complete at 12 o’clock next Tuesday, the 25th inst.—alter which the subject was dropped for the time. The sales of cotton yesterday reached about 2,000 @ 2.500 bales, the market closing steady. Flour was ned, while the sales were to a moderate ex- unch tent. Exporters were disposed to await the receipt of late m news. Wheat was quiet, and in the absence o' of moment quotations were more or Jess nominal. Corn was heavy and sales light, at @5c. a 7c. for mixed and yellow Jersey, and 75c. a 76e. for Southern yellow and white. Rye was dall. A sale of western was made for delivery on the open- ing of navigation in the spring, at $1 12. Pork was more active, and sales were pretty freely made of mess at $15 87 for the article on the spot, and at $16 for March delivery, buyer's option. Sugars con- tinued firm, with a fair amount of sales. Coffee was firm, with sales of Rio at full prices. Freights were stiff, with moderate engagements. According to the official report of the City In- spector there were 387 deaths in this city during the last week, namely: 68 men, 64 women, 138 boys and 116 girla—an increase of 10 on the mortality of the week previons. There were 8 deaths of apo- plexy, 12 of bronchitis, 53 of consumption, 7 of con- gestion of the Inngs, 14 of inflammation of the Jungs, 4 of congestion of the brain, 25 of dropsy in the head, 6 of inflammation of the brain, 9 of inflam- mation of the bowels, 34 of scarlet fever, 5 of typhas fever, 4of disease of the heart, 7 of amallpox, 30 of convulsions (infantile), 14 of croup,8 of debility (infantile), 18 of marasmus (infantile), 5 of measles and 3 of hooping congh. There were also 7 prema- ture births, 28 cases of stillborn, and 5 deaths from violent causes. Of the whole nnmber 250 were under ten years of age, and 37 inmates of the public insti- tutions. The following is the classification of dis- eases:—-Bones, jointé, &c., 1; brain and nerves, 91; generative organs, 3; heart and blood vessels, 12; Jungs, throat, &o., 108; skin, &e., and eruptive fe- vers, 51; stillborn ahd premature births, 35; sto- mach, bowels, and other digestive organs, 46; uncer- tain seat and general fevers, 35; arinery organs, 2 old age, 3. The nativity table gives 292 natives of the United States, 47 of Ireland, 24 ané the hala ns a e of various of Rogilané omni NEW? "SORE: HERALD)SUNDAY, FEBRUARY: 24,1856. Tee Hartford, Pailadeciphia and Pittsburg (Cenventions—Beasties ef the Caucus By.~ um. Weare now receiving evidence of the sa- preme folly of the whole convention system. The Niocer Worshirrsrs are in conclave at Pitteburg—a band of traitors, sowing the seeds of dissolution, striving to weaken the bonds of the federal Union, to array the North against the South, to build up sectional prejudices, to organize a sectional party, and to show to all the world to what extent of folly portions of our people are willing to go. The Hartford Con- vention, compared with this Pittsburg hot bed of treason, was a patrietic ceuncil; the Pittsburg gathering is but a mass of un- leavened human passions and follies. It is an aggregation of all that is troublesome and wicked in our system ; the disturbers of the peace and harmony of the Union, and, possi- bly, the teat of its ability to “execute justice and maintain trath.” It is the soul of anar- eby, because it seeks to undermine the consti- tution itself, which it avows to be “an immoral compact.” It is infernal, because it strives to array brother against brother, and to secure permanent estrangement between the States. It is dishonest, because it avoids or annuls the obligations of treaties, and substitates in their place its own parti¢an devices and disia- fectants. It is, nevertheless, a convention representing a smal) fraction of the Northern people—all the insane politicians, Nicer Worsuirrens, traders, hucksters and baobling humanitarians per ercellence ; but it isa fraud on the honest puolic septiment of the country, @ perversion of its good faith, and a libel on the fair fame of the republic. The Know Nothing Convention of Philadel- phra, and its transparent mancuvres to trim its sails to the popular breeze—-to constract a platform to suit the sections, instead of the constitution—to steer by the capricious de- mands of geographical parties, rather than by the chart of the federal Union—is another evi- dence of the chronic evils of the whole con- vention system. If the people of the United States are not perversely oblivious to the fol- lies and wickedness of this system, they wiil not fail to set upon it the impress of utter repudiation. It is useful, at such a time, to contemplate the past, and it is especiatly well to consider the origin of the evil which has grown to such unendurabie proportions. The project of nominating Presidential can- didates by Congressional caucus, which first assumed a definite form in 1808, expired, ia fact, by s meeting of sixty-six democratic members and Senators out of about three times that number in Congress, on the 14th of February, 1824, by whom Wiliam H. Crawford was nomimated for President and Albert Gallatin for Vice President. [tis a notewortby tact that Martin Van Buren was present at this caucus, avowing it to bea meeting of individuals to express individual opinions. Previous to balloting, Mr. Van Bu- ren addressed the members, maintaining that it was @ legitimate and proper mode of concen- trating public opinion, and of securing unity of action by the democratic party. The great mass of the democracy had utterly repudiated the caucus as an unwarrantable usurpation of the rights of the people, and a practical denial of their right to choose their President and Vice President. The State of Alabama had, by & resolution of her Legislature, denounced the caucus, and recommended General Jackson for President; and there was a growing senti- ment all over the South and West that he was the fittest man in the Union to preside over public affairs. It is remarkable to note that the popularity of Old Hickery was at once the means of breaking down and of building up the caucus and convention system. It is need- less to say that the meeting of the 14th of Fe- bruary was little regarded, and that the elec- tion of President devolved on the House, and resulted in the promotion of Mr. Adams. Four years afterwards, under an entirely new combination, Mr. Clay and Mr. Adams having been driven into the federal ranks, and the lines of party having been drawn closely upon all the leading men of the couatry, General Jackson was presented by a national convention, the members of which were elected by the people. This was the Van Buren and Marcy substitute for the old Congressional cau- cus. The two latter personages, by the re-or- ganization of parties made in 1827, by which Mr. Calhoun, then Vice President, was to be sacrificed, became the friends of Gen. Jackson, who thus allowed himself to be the instrament in fastening upon the country the most tyran- nical and aristocratic institution which has ever found favor with a free people. This was the sacrifice which General Jack- son was required to make in order to procure promotion to the Presidency. In fact it was a treaty between a Presidential aspirant and the politicians, by which the former agreed that the latter should control and dispense the patronage of the government. Under the old Congreesional caucus, the members of the t.. houses enjoyed the exclusive control of the President as his actual constituents. This was a trifie more than the politicians bargained for; so the Van Buren scheme of national cos- ventions, based upon the deceptive and frau- dulent presumption of popular control, was substituted in its place. By this means and through this medium all the loud-mouthed and noisy political gamesters in the country leagued together and organized a party, with fixed statutes imposing pains and penalties for the slightest infraction of itslaws. Francis P. Blair was imported shortly after from Ken- tucky, and Amos Kendall, a bitter partizan, @ man of loose morals and implacable hatred, was made the chief of the Post Office Depart- ment, and these notable personages were set to work to draw up the rituals of service and enforce the rules of the party in all parts of the country. The political reader will not fail to remem- ber how successfully and how mercilessly these patrons of the largest liberty succeeded in their work. The laws of the democratic party were as rigidly enforced by Blair as were the laws of the Union by General Jack- ‘son, and it was safer to violate the latter than the former. Jn thie work Mr. Van Buren and Mr. Marcy were in their true element. At the very threshold of this movement and intend- ed to constitute a part of the executive ma chinery of party, Mr. Marcy introduced his Project of rewarding (buying up) the press and announced the famous doctrine that to the victors belong the spoils of the vanquished. The compensation for the time this shocking process of poli means employed by the hucksters In securing the inauguration of the convention vystem. That was Mr. Van Buren's capital which he squandered in the two first yeats of his admnistration. Meanwhile, party spirit had risen so high and had oreated such bitter acrimony, that it is not to be wondered at if the machinery of party was mistaken by the people for the principles ef democracy. It is not the first time in the history of society that forms have become consecrated ordinances— the vessel to hold the fires of devotion. Mr. Van Buren was discarded, but the evils of his life remain behind him and yet fill the atmos- phere with political miasma. Nigger Worshipping Moralitics. Last year’s farce has been played over again. It is within the recollection of all our readers tbat last year when the Philadelphia Know No- thing Convention eplit on the subject of slave- ry, the news was telegraphed toa republican convention then sitting at Cleveland, and received with vociferous applause. It was noticed at she time as a singular coincidence that the republicans should have held their convention at the same time as the Know No- things ; and remarked as still more curious that until the news of the Know Nothing split reached Cleveland, the republican proceedings were dull as ditch water; but atter that hila rious, announcement they were spicy and ew citing in the extreme. Well, the comedy has been revived. When the modern Niccer Wor- suirrers had made sure of the assembling of the nominating convention of the Know No things at Philadelphia, they calleda convention of their own to meet at Pittsburg, not for the despatch of any particular business. The two conventions met—the Know Nothings were lively, argumentative, evidently very much in earnest ; the NiGGerR WorsHirrers flat, stupid, and wearisome. But after a time, the old split among the Know Nothings is revived, anda bolt of the Southern members rendered almost inevitable. The news flies on the wires to Pittsburg, and wakes up the Niacer Wor- SHIPPERS to frenzied activity. Can any one mistake the principle of these phenomena’? Are they not consistent with the character of the Niccer Worsuivpine chiefs, with the antecedents of Seward, Garrison & Co? Not to oppose enemies in front, but to stab them from behind: not to tell the trath, but to prevaricate ; not to meet an issue fairly, but to creep around it, and court victory by means of tricks and political intrigue, aud dishonesty and corruption : are not these the characteris- ties of the party whose aim is the disunton of the contederacy, and the enthronement oi Seward, or Chase, or Wilson, or Fremont, or Bavks, or Benton, or perhaps Garrison, as President of the Northern republic? What could be easier? When it was appa- rent that the Know Nothings woutd constitute a formidable party ai the election of this year, a trusiy detachment of the Niccrr Worsnip- PERS was detailed to desert to their side, They had oaths to take, promises to make, obliga- tions to incur—all of them wholly inconsistent with their fealty to Seward—but what matter? They took the oaths, made the promises, in- curred the obligations ; became membersot the Know Nothing body, and officers; by manew- uvres and intrigue rose even to command a majority of votes in the Councils, and to get themselves delegated to the Philadelphla conventions, Then, when all was ready, and these men held the Know Nothing stronghold, they signalled their old friends to prepare to receive the announcement of their treachery in a striking manner—to call 8 simultaneous convention, so that the triumph of the Niccen Worsuiprers should be simulta- neous with the prostration of the Know Ncthings, and the work of their hands should not grow cold before it was turned to account. It was so done, both now and last year. The conventions were called for that very purpose—there was no fear of their being disappointed, for had not some of these sham Know Nothings sent Seward to the Senate ?— they were completely successful. There is much talk just now about the Ro man empire, and the Consular Didius Julianus who bought the imperial throne of the Preto- rians. Some peopie think we are coming to that. or at least say so. But they need not travel so far for illustrations of the fatal effects of dishonesty and want of principle. All the Spanish republics are at our doors, teaching us how infallibly civil war, ruin, and national decrepitude must follow from a gene- ral laxity of principle, and disregard of moral obligation among politicians. The fatal defect of all Spanish politicians in Americs has been that you could not rély on them; that they made light of their word, their oath, their honor; and thus that all pariies were necessarily kept in a state of armed watchfal- ness for fear of each other. The conduct of the followers of Mr. Seward who have now, on three distinct public occasions, by fraud and falsehood, obtained admission to the Know Nothing Councils and control over the Know Nothing body, which admission and control they have straightway used im order to defeat the Know Nothing aims, and to advance those of the Seward party, is a melancholy proot that the defect is not confined to the Sp:nieh race, The Streets !—The Streets !!—The Streets!!! Will no one do something for the streets? Will no one relieve New York from the dis grace of being the filthiest city in America, and Broadway the filthiest street in New York? Is there no man here who pays taxes enouzh to take the trouble of trying whether the law cannot be brought to bear upon some one for the hideous mismanagement of which Broad- way presents so complete a case? Our friends in other citice have no idea of the unparalleled spectacle which that great thoroughfare presents. The gutters have been cut open, and the ice, hewed ont in large lumps from the sides of the parapet and the edges of the roadway, has been piled up in a wall several feet high in the middle of the street. In places openings have been left in this wall for carte to pass through; but, as usual, half the openings are in the wrong places, and it is quite common to see a car and horse struggling to dash over or throuzh the wall. Now the horse is up to his girths in the ice lumps; he makes « frantic bound, whipped by driver and policemen, rears and falls down; then the crowd in t fter no end of shouting and fussing, p and set him on his legs; he gives ano to the cart, aud it goes over on it may; then more shouting, tog, nad whipping of th 4, the wall is par er. All this wh carte and carriages, going up or down Broad- way, have been forcedly stationary. They cannot move either way so long as the horse end cart are there. In long moarnfal lines, on either side the wall, they wait patiently, the drivers chatting pleasantly with each other, and speculating whether it will take them one hour or two <o travel from the Park to the South ferry. In some places, the wheeled ve- hicles have asserted their rights to the pave- ment 2s well as the roadway. Opposite Trinity church and for some distance up Broadway— along the Bowling Green, and in many other places, carts and omnibuses have taken pos- session of the sidewalk, and pedestrians must be careful in passing that way not to get squeezed between the houses and the wheels. A lady, yesterday merning, had a narrow escape against the rails of Trinity church- yard; of course there was no policeman any- where near. Now, it certainly was not the intention of the framers of the city charter and the muni, cipal ordinances that, under any combination of circumstances, Broadway ever could sii into the woful condition in which it now stands. There must be laws to prevent such a scandalous infamy; there must be officers ' whose duty it is to prevent the streets becom- ~ ing @ nuisance, and who must have grossly neg- lected that duty this year. We have a Mayor and @ Street Commissioner, and some thousand policemen; all of them, more or less, directly charged with the business of keeping the streetsin order. What have they done? When the snow first fell, the Mayor would not allow the city railroads to clear their tracks by shovelling the snow into heaps; they were obliged to cart away the snow, and the Third avenue road alone paid over $2,000 for thisitem. How comesit that the Mayor allows the ice from the guiters and sidewalks to be piled up in the middle of the street? If it was unjustifiable for the railways to pile up snow banks in the streets in January, it is much more unjustifiable for the Street Commissioner to pile them up in the very middle of Broad- way during the present thaw. No ordinance of the city is better under- stood than the one ordering peonle to clean away snow end ice trom before their doors. The policemen are especially charged withthe execution of this ordinance. Yetit is a fact that many persons have wholly neglected to clear away the snow and ice from before their @oors--hare never been punished therefor— and at this moment incommode their neigh- bore by the melting of the snow. The fact confirms the impression—now rapidly gaining ground—thas the police have fallen back into as miserable a siate of inefticiency as ever. And we have a Street Commissioner! What the occupation of this worthy may be, the public would be curious to learn. What his duties are, we all know; acd how they are neglected, we are also most painfully made aware. But how he spends his time—what he does for the money he gets from the city—it appears a wonderfully puzzling matter to dis- cover. It would be a happy and a meritorious act if some member of the Common Council would, in view of tne horrible condition of Broadway. impeach the Commissioner of Streetaon acharge of malfeasance. Such a proceeding might spur him to exertion; and most certainly the author of such a@ prosecu- tion would earn no small popularity thereby, besides having the proud satisfaction of per- forming an act of great good to the public. Francs P. Bram ar THE HEAD OF THE Niccer Worsuirrers.--The election of Fran- cis P. Blair, of Maryland, as President of the Niccer Worsnirrers general Convention at Pittsburg, is one of the most remarkable politi- cal events of these remarkable times. Can this be the same Blair who wielded the tren- chant battleaxe of Old Hickory, and whose word, as the head of the Washington organ of Jackson and Van Buren, for three administra- tions, was the law to the universal democracy from the St. Lawrence to the Balize? The same, Can this be the Francis P. Blair who did so much to crush the great bank monster and to establish the independent treasury— who fought through, with Benton, the ex- punging resolution, the internal improve- ment vetoes and the pet banks—and who bat- tled like a giant in harness for the re-election of Van Buren in 1840, upon the emphatic declaration, 1n writing, that our “Northern man with Southern principles” was “inflexibly opposed” to the disturbance of slavery in the District of Columbia—is this Blair that Blair? The same, with a difference. But Jackson’s Blair was enriched by the democratic party. He was from Ken- tucky, too; apd after realizing at Wash- ington, through Southern support, a splen- did fortune from the public treasury, he settled among the slaveholders ot Maryland, at a place called “ Silver Spring,” where he dispenses the hospitality of a phitos 9 pher in retirement. Is this the Blair who has gone to Pittsburg, and who has been made Pre- sident of the NicGer Worsuiprers Convention there? The same. But what are his grievan- ces? and, situated as he is, and at his time of life, what can be his objects insuch a stupid, unnatural and suicidal movement? It is the old, ungrateful story of a disappointed politi- cian. Let us explain. Notwithstanding the crushing defeat before the people of Van Buren in 1840, the kitchen and confidential clique who surrounded him, holding, like the Bourbons, that they held the only legitimate right to the crown and the succession, made his nomination again, in 1844, 8 sine qua non, Defeated of this object, how- ever, upon the Texas question they hoped yet to repair the disaster with “the sober second thought” of the party in 1848. Again defeat- ed, headed by Van Buren himself, they formed against the democratic nominee the first holy alliance of the Niccer Worsurrrers, and thus opened the way to the election of Gen. Taylor. But since 1844 there are many of the Van Buren Bourbons who have believed, and still believe, that the real Simon Pare Jackson-Van Buren democratic party has been displaced by @ spurious democracy, which should not be tolerated. Conspicuous among these Van Buren Bourbons just now, are Thomas H. Benton, C. C. Cambreleng, Abijah Mann, B. F. Butler, Preston King, and last, though not leart, Francis P. Blair. And as Van Buren was set aside at Baltimore upon the negro question (the annexation of Texas) in 1844, and as the revenge of the leading Bourbons in the defeat of Gen. Cas: in 1948 appears not to have been gatisfic sonelusive, we now have son faa Baren democr prominent of the democratic party, upon the new ismue of the Kansas-Nebraaka bill. Thus we find Francis P. Blair, who, under Jackson, was a sort of “ Warwick, the King Maker,” seated among the abolition con- spirators at Pittsburg, and at the head of the table. His is but another example illustrating how far the promptings of disappointed pride and ambition may overrule the dictates of gratitude, prudence, patriotism and common sense. That’s all. Tae Aupany Arcvs snp Ts Historr—Tus Fusion ExpertMent or ANOTHER REGENCY.—We publish to-day the histories pf the Al- bany Argus and the Albany -4élas, com- prehending the hooks and crooks, and bar- gains and intrigues, and cliques and tricks through which, for so many years, these once powerful party organs managed the im- maculate Albany Regency, and absorbed the lion’s share of the public plunder. It is a cu- rious, instructive, and somewhat melancholy history. The glory of the Regency has long since departed. It was annihilated with the emash-up of the Van Buren oligarchy. The glory of the Argus went down with the ex- piring sun of the Sage of Lindenwold. For some years past the Argus has been passing through the torpid but interesting pro- cesses of the chrysalis state; and now it has come out a sort of mulatto butterfly, of mixed white and black, hardand soft, part Van Bu- ren, part Marcy, part Dickinson, part Pierce, part Tammany Hall, part Stuyvesant Institute, with one wing marked “Atlas” and the other “Argus,” the poor Atlas having been swallowed up, body and breeches. This blending of the two organs into a joint stock concern is held up as a visible sign in the heavens of the im- pending re-union of the two democratic fac- tions throughout the State. Nay, more: it is considered by the knowing ones at the head of the ‘overslaugh” as the first step to. the re-establishment of “the Re- gency” upon a more solid and powerfal foundation than that of the palmy days of Jesse Hoyt and Prince John, and that hence- forward the career of the Argus joint stock coterie will involve the monopoly of the spoils at Albany, and a potential voice in the distri- bution of the plunder of our Custom House, and all the loaves and fishes dispensed by the President and by Congress at Washington. We are sorry to say, however, that we re- gard these calculations as somewhat prema- ture, delusive and chimerical. The Argus and Atlas does not reunite the democratic party— does not reinaugurate the Albany Regency-— does not secure either the plunder of the State or of the federal treasury to the joint stock concern. On the other hand, we regard this Argusand Atlas fusion as a venture in the po- litical market, which may win or may lose, ac- cording to the developements of the times; but which can never attain the despotic power of the old Regency, under any possible circum- stances, And why? Simply because the inde- pendent press of the country, has superseded the epoch of regencies and patty organs. Read our interesting histories @f'the Argusand Allas, and compare the glory of the old Regency with the independence of public opinion of the present day, and the power std influence of the independent press; read and’ be con- vinced. THE LATEST NAWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, Interesting from Washington. THE TEXAS DEBT BILL—PEACB PROSPECTS IN EU- ROPE—SENATOR DOUGLAS’ FORTHCOMING REPORT ON KANSAS AFFAIRS. ‘Wasnincton, Feb. 23, 1856. Mejor Holdman arrived here this evening, direct from Texas, with a certified copy of the act of the Texas Le- gislature accepting the act of Congress in relation tothe Texas claims. The following is the section of the act abandoning the claims of Texas upon the United States, and the proviso to it :— Be it further enacted, dc. That the State of Texas hereby withdraws and abandous all claims and demands against the United States growin; out of Indian depredations, or otherwise, which originated on or before the 28th day of February, 1855; provided such abandonment shall not extend to individuals who have lost property by the enemy. Letters received by the last foreign mail in diplomatic circles here, state that the prospects of peace are highly probable, Senator Dougias is now engaged, as chairman of the Committee on Territories, in a lengthy report on the Kaneas imbroglio. It is said he will be very severe on the free State men in that Territory, dD. APPOINTMENT IN THE PENSION OFFICE. Wasurncton, Feb, 23, 1856. D. T. Jenks has been appointed to sign the name of the Commissioner of Pensions to certificates or warrants for bounty Jand, thus relieving the Commissioner of that duty. The number remaining unsigned fs nearly seven thousand. Enthusiastic Democratic Meeting in Ver- mont. Bruiows Fars, Feb. 23, 1856. Avery targe and enthusiastic meeting of the democrats of the Second Congressional district in Vermont, was held at Windsor yesterday. A large number were present from New Hampshire. Addresses were delivered by Hon. 0. M. Ingersoll, of Connecticut, and ex-Governor Hubbard, of New Hampshire. National resolutions, strongly endors- ing the administration and the Kansas bill were passed. The Court House being too small, the meeting adjournoi to the Baptist church, filling it to its utmost capacity. Two bands of music were in attendance. After the speeches and the adoption of the resolutions, the meeting adjourned, with nine cheers. H. E. Stoughton and R. Harvey were appointed delegates to the Cincinnati No- minating Convention. Marine Disasters at the Eastward, Boston, Feb, 23, 1856. ‘The brig Naritiske, of and for New York, from St. Jag» de Cuba, put into New Bedford yesterday, in distress, short of provisions, &. The propeller Osprey, from New York for Providence, was cut through by the ice yesterday, off Gaxpee Point, near Bristol, R. I., and was throwing overboard her deck Toad of cotton. ‘The steamer Island Home arrived at Hyannis this day in 24 hours from Nantucket, The ice has broken up, and 1m some places is from three to five feet in thickness, through which the steamer forced her way. ‘The schooner Gen. Clineh, from Boston for New York, went ashore in Chatham Bay this morning. She wi!l probably get off at high water. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. PrinapeLpnta, Feb. 23, 1856. Stocks dull. Pepneylvania State fiv 463%: Long Island, 1714; Morris Canal, 15! mia Railroad, 447%. New ORLEANS, Feb, 22, 1856, The cotton market is feevle, out quotations are un- Ey? Sales to-day 8,500 bales. and for the weer 62,000 bales. ‘Che reoripts of the week have been 70,000 baler, against 26,000 inst year, The increase in the re- ceip this port amount to 325,700 bales over the same Cate last year. The ateek on hand is 245,000 bales. Cotton freights to Liverpool, 4, Obituary. Died, at Chillicothe, Ohio, on the 16th inst., Hon, Tuomas Scorn, in the 894 year of hia age. Judge Scott has been a resident of Chillicothe ever since the formation of the Sta‘e government, and was sesretary to the convention that framed the original constitution. Mir. J. Burperr. long known as the musical director of the band of negro minstreis known as the Campbells, died in st. Louis on the 9th instant, at the Sisters’ Hospital. He received a very xevers fall on the pavement of the St, Louis theatre, which, in connestion with the bad state of heal'h under which he was laboring, brought about a x, an old and meh esteemed citizen of re on the 14th instant, aged 70 your ‘ WAVAL INTELLIGENCE. —— Splendid Launch ef the Steam Frigate Magara. ‘The United States stem frigate Niagara was lanached, from the Brooklyn Navy Wit at eleven o’clock yester- day forencom. The readers of the Huma being correctly informed of the time the lauach would take place, those ofthem who desired to witness the spectacle were ad- cordingly on hand; but we are sorry to say that most ef our contemporaries were, as usual, about an hour and @ half bebina time, and the consequence was, their patrons ‘were sorely victimized. It was a sad sight to witmess tha disappointment and chagrin of the crowds who continued to throng the entrance to the Navy Yard for am hour and « half after the fum was all over. Our reporter couldnot help sympathising with them, especially the ladies; at the same time he consvled himself with the refectien that it was not his fault, and that if people would pat ronize slow coaches, they must expect to arrive behing time, ‘The launch was one of the finest and most euccessful that has ever taken piace in the vicinity ef New York Not the slightest damage was done to the vessel, and 90 easily and smoothly did she gliae down into the water that not even the slightest creaking of her timbers could be heard. At precisely ten miputes past eleven o’closic she brok@ Joore from her fastenings, ana began slowly to slide down the ways. Guns were immediately fired from the North Carolina, near by—the band on board the same vessel struck upa lively air—the thousands of epectators in the vicinity rent the air with cheers, and amidet all these sounds of rejoicing, the majestic vessel, like @ ‘thing of beauty” as well as a “thing of life,” entered her destined element and rode triumphantly upon the waves. Her progress was very slow, scarcely faster than cm ordisary walk, owing to her not getting loose from her cradle, (the whole of which she took with her,) and seshe dipped gradually into the water and separated the float- ing ice which clung about her sides, she seemed like » huge leviathan reluctantly and shiveringly entering a bath, The impetus was so slight that she only ran fbout three times her length into the stream. There were about seventy five ladies and gentlemen on board of her at the time of the launch; and after she had been drawn up to the dock, a bottle of the Commodore's best sherry was broken upon her bow, and she wae duly baptised and christened by Miss Annie C. ’Donnell, of New York. At the close of this ceremony a few invited guests went to the house of Mr. George Steers and partook of a collation. A collation was also given at the house of Commodore Smith tos number of distinguished gentle- men who hai attended the launch, in charge of the com- tmalttee of the Democratic Union Club. Among them were Gen. Quitman, Col. James L. Orr, of South Carolina; Hon. Thomas T. Davidson, of Louisiane, and others. Ther@ was also a large attendance of beautiful ladies, and ald seemed deliguted with the spectacle of the launch, as well as grateful for the hospitality of the Commodore. The committee, with their guests, drank to the success of the frigate, and returned to the St. Nicholas Hotel im high spirits. The Niegara is one of the five steam frigates now im process of construction for the United States Navy. Her main dimensions are:—Tonnage, 5,200; extreme lengtla on deck, 345 feet; load line, 823 feet. She is to be shipe rigged; mainmast 111 feet long, ard 3 feet 4 inches in diameter; mainyard 56 feet ong, amd mizen spanker boom. 67 fect. Full complement of men 400. Some idea of her immense capacity may be formed from the following schedule of her mests and spars, which are now being: built :— : Mainmest 00 Maintop. Maxutopga lon’ 61.03 1¢ Malnroyal. $2.09 8 Mai 21.00 5% yA 90.09 22 Foretop . i 67.09 16% Koretopguilant, % 4703 «11 Foreroyal . , te «91.09 18.03 53% 19.06 5% 85.09 72.10 163g 50.04 16 61.08 11g 27.09 8% 3110 8 18.00 — 2.03 «6 lot — 15.1. 4% + 6200 11% 85.00 8 P 86.00 11 3L00 7 Maintop gallant do. 41.00 8% «23.00 5g Mainroyal do. 23.00 55 11.00 4 Bowsprit, outboar 20.00 24 - = 38.00 18 - = 33.00 — - = 67.00 16 - = 48.00 103f arte he 2 42.08 93% _ = 41.03 9 - — . _- no — 854.00 feet and 3 inches as the whole: Jength ot the masts and spars to be used in sa‘ling the vessel. The mainmast, from the kee! tothe fisg pole, will be 200 feet high. The folowing materials—exclusive of armament and machinery—bave been used in her construetion:— Lfve oakMimber, cubig feet... ‘Xellow bine timber, enbic feet Yollow pice plank, “superfisial White Aygas mer¥ cu fc feet, White pit plank, superficial Trop, }bs .... Copper, Iba Spikes, Ibs... . 20, The armament will consist of twelve 11-inch pivot gum, tocarry 170 pound shot and a charge of 16 Ibs. of powder. The machinery is from the Fulton Iron Works. The boilers, four in number, contain over 8,000 brase tudes, and weigh about 280,000 lbs. She has three engines. The bed plates weigh 62,000 Ibs.; the straight sha(ts, 90,000 Ibs.; the crank shaft, 45,000 Ibs.; the cylinders,. 59,000 Ibs.; condensers, 68,000 Ibs.; pistons, piston rods, pillow block, eaps and cupolas, about 40,000 Ibs. ‘The cost of this superb craft will be not far from one million dollars. She is to be full rigged, and Mr. Steers. estimates that she will go 17 knots an hour with a good breeze, and 15 knots under steam. It has been erroneously stated that this steamer wil } be the largest in the world. The Adriatic, new upon the stocks at the Messrs. Steers’ shipyard, will be larger by several hundred tons. Her main dimensions are—Length over all, 352 feet; extreme breadth of hull, 50 feet; depth of hold, 83 feet 2 inches; tonnage, 6,888, carpenter’s measurement. Like the Niagara, this steamer is divided into water-tight compartments. Her engines (osciilat- ing) are from the Novelty Works, 12 feet stroke, and cy- linders a hundred inches. The Messrs. Steers are rapidly hastening the completion of the Adriatic, with ali their disposable force, and she will probably be ready for launching by the middle or last of March. It is thought that the Niagara will be ready for sea in about tour months. eotecniabalhh S Religious Intelligence. ORDINATION. At a meeting of the Presbytery of New Branswisk held at Princeton, N.J., Feb. 5, Mr. Andrew B. Morse was ordained as an Evangelist. Mr. Morse graduated at the Princeton Theological Seminary in the spring of 1854, and has since been engaged in pronolking and in stadies, preparatory to his future labors. He is now under ap- pointment as a missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, andgexpects to aafl, with his wife, for Siam, in a few days. INVITATIONS. Rev. H, A. Nelron, of Auburn, N. Y., has been culled to the first Presbyterian church, of &t. Louis, vacant by the death of Dr. Bullard. Rev. F. H. Hedge, D. D., of Providence, R. 1., has sc- cepted the unanimous {ovitation of the flaxt parish, in Brookline, Mams., to become their pastor. The salary is $2,000, and a parsonage house is also provided. xy The Rev, Mr. Brank, of Lexington, Ky., hae reveived a all from the Second ay Mord church of thie city. ‘The Presbytery has not yct, whether to release him from his present charge, in Wilntogton, s'Ge ha received t calle the churches f Carmel and Forest, near Natchez, Miss. Rev. Eagar W. Clarke, of North Evans, New York, hee received and accepted a call to the Presbyterian courch in Medina, New York, weet a Randolph, Mase., has been call- Rey. C. B. Boynton, of Cincinnati, has been cali the South Congregational church in Pitteseld, Mocs & whieh Dr. Harris was formerly pastor. fe Rev, 8. G. Clapp has been called to St wa HB, urbridge, Mass.,. Rev. Thomas Wilson, of Westford, has ao to Stoughton, Mass,” priest geting The. Rev. George F. Thrall, assistant to the Cho the Epiphany. Philudeiphia, has boon elostel roses, oF the Chureh of the Mediator, and has accapted the eal At & meeting of the corporation of Zion i Newport, R. I. a unanimous call was onenaed ce the Rey. Mr. Dickenson, of Brookline, Mase, to become. ree- tor of the church; the enlary to be $1,000. INSTALLATIONS. hrank was installed over the Second 0. 2. levilla, Ky., on the 18) Pev. R. G ehoreh mT wary WS DE heen Sasbek os bles Laas 166)