The New York Herald Newspaper, January 27, 1857, Page 2

NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1867. THE PECULIAR (CONDITION OF CALIFORNIA. Our San Frendlsco Corvempedinsce. Ns FRancisoo, 20, 1856 The Repud ation of the State Debt— Will the People Insist on P’cying it?— Fraudulent Grants of Land in San Fi ai.ciseo— Terrible Excitement about the Limaniour Frauds—Six Millions of Dollars at Stake—H story of Limantour—Confessions of his Clerk— The Mexiecn Government and French Agents scid t) be Implicated—History of the Aleged Froud—The V gilance Committee—Op- yoition to t'e Democracy—Personalities of ther San Francisco Press— Testimonial to M. Dillon late Fyench Con ul. Whe intelligence » hich leaves California to-day ig the mcs! tant and interesting that has ever been borre trom our shores since the accession of Californie to the Union, not excepting the establish- ment of the Vigilance Committee in the month of August la:t. Then it was rebellion—now it is repu- diation. We ure hound to be an anomaly in the family of States, and every day gives us greater claims to tho distinction. Our constitution restricts the power of the Legislature from contracting debts over $300,000, and when it is desired to imcrease this amount for any purpose, the question has to be sub- mitted to ihe poople and their assent fitst received. Onr present debt is over $3,000,000, and by a recent decision of the & eme Court $2,700,000 of this is declared not to be binding on the people. fall re- ports of the decivion and the comments of the pross wiil reach you by the mail which leaves to-day. In this city, and all over the State, the announce- ment was reccived with amazement, though it eught to bave been preceived and understood years ago. ‘The effect on California credit out of this State will of course bea terrible. Stocks will go dow wo the lowest point, and foreign capi- talisis will lose all contidence in our stability. We will nave to bear up the best we can agaiost the charges of dishonesty which will, without doabt, be heaped upon us, and even by some with a belief that we deserve all the hard things taat can be said to our disadvantage. But when the whole question is endersiood, and tbe intention of the people known, these harsh opinions will asenredly be modided Though the decision of the Supreme Court virtua. ally and actually repudia‘es $2,700,000 of our State debi, yet the people and press cf California are ananimous in pronuncing for its payment and as sessment by the peopte. Of the newspapers of the State, all that have been heard from, witn one ex- ception; aivocate this course; avd there is no donbt when the question comes before the people they wil! reapond with an olnost universal voice in favor of ih We are not.efgalous of acquiring the bad name earned by Mifsissippi, and with the immense wealth which ties hid in our mountains and slong ear water courses, we can well afford to pay debts contracted in good fi The most anfortnn ste part of the matter i tution the scbject cannot be wotil next fall. Onr constitution prevents an ¢ appea), and in the meantime the interest for first half of the year 1857 must remain unpaid. Some hare complained that this point shonid have been passed upon by the Supreme Court years ego; but unless they made a case for themselves in- volving the question, it was impossible fur them to do so. Even now it would not have had pot a bill been passed at the last se Kegislature, appropriating $499,009 for th tionef a wagon road, which bill some citizens regard- img a2 unconstitational and sued ont an ipjanction to prevent the money from being paid out of the trea- gary. Another act was passed at the session of 1855 and ‘56 to build a capitol, and appropristing $300,000 for that purpore. In ihe latter case a @ontract wes en 0 and a considerable part of the work performed. Of course the decision had the effect of stopping the contractor, for the same principle applied to it. it is apeerted in some quaite s that at the present mo ment California does not owe a cent for which ste is Fegally Viable. The first Legislature incucred a do of $200,00¢—the constitu‘ional limit-—which de¥t has beew. p: of the remaining deb* is declared unconstitutl ‘This idea hos but few supporters, for the people 4 @etermied that cvery dime owed by them sball be @iseharged to the last farthing. I! would be bad policy for parties holding California boads to dis pose of them at c sverifice, Nodoubt some wili al tempt to getu> a pani mt the wisest course would be to hold oa to the bonds fur a few moaths until a fall and uninistakeable expression of opinion is ¢')it- ed from our people on the matter. If the press is avy ‘indication of their resotuti mn to assame its pay- ment the reeponse will be in the «Mirmative. Other decisions of the Supreme Tourt give to the city of San Prencisco several lioa dollars worth of prope:ty, the sele of which nominal prices is declared to be fianduient and void. Tots will be good news () Lolders of city bonds. A large amount of verip claimed to be good against our city ts leo declaved to be illog +] and of no binding effet. Another event that bas ove even farther in awa kenlng public cxvitement, siace the departure of the last stecmer, is the exvlosioa of the Limantour al- leged fraud. The ‘eve ments made after his ia @ictmen: by the United 5 c @iselose one of the most stupendous frands ever at. tempted. Linontour, in 1853, appeared in this city an claimgnt for four lesgues of land, upon which the mest iable buldings had been erected, and em. bracing the most desirable land property in San Francisco. He rested his claims on Mexican grants, supported by other positive test mony, that app to be concivs:ve ax to his rights. When this evidence ‘was submitted to the Board of Land Commissioners hile claime was pronounced to be good. There was thos established a basis for him to prosecute his claims before the higher courts for a confirmation of this decree. The (ands assigned to Limantour by this decision embraced considerable more than oneth rd of the city, te present assessed value, ine!ading improve about siz mitlion and a half of dol- dare. When it is borne in mind that in Californ’« spec- ulations in land has almos. become a pasaion, that men ewe constantly invested their means n real estate,and Bhat this practice of the people has been prodactive of immense wealth to some and has heen rvinous to others, it can be imagined how great was the sens: thon when this stapend us claim reached the ligh Previcug to this other parties had appeared wih grants ie considerable portions of the city, bat non» approximated in ex‘ent tothe demand of |.imintour. Property owners were kept in a continual fever re garding the titles by which they held their lends, and it became a part of real estate purchasing t) sa- tisfy the claims of the different grantees by buying their titles, so as to avoid what appeared to be end- jees litigation. Limantour in this way received over £100,000 for bis title, and it seemed he was in a way ‘0 realize the fullest venefit for his grants. About a month since he arrived in Sax Franciseo, having, it is reported, three hundred th mand dol Jars in his possession, to prosecute for a fina! —— of the princely domain be had tried with snen peri macity (o obtain. It ts now stated that had prope: efforts been made to procare testimony before the Land Commission, by tne United States, grant would not bave been confirmed. It is unfort - Mantourshouid ever have received their endyrae'aen', for many land owners bad mortgaged their property to raire means to chtatna revocation of his title. The administration at Washington had ite attention drawn to the proceed'ngs, for there was alv:yea number who would not betiewe the grant: were o- and insisted that the whole was * monster d, eapeci lly ss pert of the lands covered oy the grants e owned aud oocnpred by the federal go verni fo forts aud bghthower An agent vas Pent ico tor the purpose of making a thororgh exam into the validity of grant, and by the testimcny piocured by him the arrest and indiet- Ment of Liman‘our were acc mplishel. The cou plete expomtior of the means ased to establish this Vabble, as it must now he called, being laid before the public, prodoced an excitement only equalled by that occasioned by the Vigila J few months ago There was, indees , & seizing Limartorr snd visttiog bim with summary venrexore; bat ‘he tran is the great majority of cthe peapie bave beoome co hewrtily diagnated with bigherlewiem, ond me partiowlarly with the and by tue late decision the whole 4. outrages and erimes of the Vigilance Committee, that if such was contemplated by any, the project was frowoed down. The confession of Limantour’s secretary, if re- liable, leaves no doubt of the frand atte: to be perpetrated. Meseys he filled up the nine years after they bear date, in the city of Mexico, at the instigation of his emglore The grants par- port to be dated at ‘San Angelos, in 1843. Letan- neur, the secretary, left ee and arrived in Mexico in 1850, and because a clerk in the employ of Limantour. His testimony is exclusive of that jiven before the Grand Jury by witnesses mona from the city of Mexico. it was supposed at first a considerable number of persons connected with Limaatonr in get- ting up these claims would be arrested, but none were imprisoned except the chief personage in the attempted fraud. He refused to go out on bail, whether through fear of violence or from finding it impossible to procure the required bonds, is difficuls tosay. Ee remains in privon still. At first he was anxious to bave a speedy trial, but afterwards made an application to have it deferred until he could get witnesces fiom Mexico. Judge McAllister yester- day delivered an opinion in the case. ond took ocea- sion to condemn the unfair course of the press of this city in poisoving the public mind against Liman- tour, and rendering it impossible to find unpreju- diced jurors to (ry the case. The Court postponed the tat nntll n May. Limantour, if guilty, has pnt himse!f in the lion's mouth, and in bringing his secretary to this city furnishes the best testimony to break down bis claims and establish his own oimi- nality. Itis quite apparent from the great exer tions of the United States to ferret out testimony, that the prov ner t is dcterwined to proseoute the case with vigor. The result of the Garduer cease in Washington rome few years since, givns an instance how energetically the federal authorities can push @ matter of this kind. The fate of Gardner at the time caused & greet sensation; and we were not without rumors that Limaniour had attempted self- destiaction. The following is a short arc’ of the origin of Limentonr’s gigactic claims and a skete of his career: — In the month of February, 1953, Jose Y. Li- mantour presented 2 petition to the Land Commis- sion to haye coutirmed to him two tracts of land sitnate in the county of Sau Francisco, This claim covered four leagues of the most valuable land in the city, incladiog Alcatraz Island, upon which the goveroment have Pant the principle fortifications to protect the harbor, and the Fi jones, upon which a lighthouse bas been erected. “Phe value of al! the property claimed by Limantour exceeds six million dollas. Froin a pamphiet published by his counsel the following facts concerning his history are col- leoted:—Limantour is by birth e Frenchman, and still claims france.as the country to which he owes ollegiance. His ently life was passed upog the sea, engaged in uavigation and commerce, 1981 be came to Vera Ciuz, and for sever traded from France to that port. Ly round the Alors, and since then has m. ¢ Ps the theatre of bis enterprises. In October, I entering this barbor he lost the vesrel he com- mended, and wa3 in consequenee detained a whole year, being unable to procnre a sitaa- ble ship to get away with safely. During this tine }ehadan oppertuvity to become acquamted with the great advantages possessed by this harbor, and bed the sagacivy to perceive that the insignificant town of Yerba Buera wae destined to become in course o! time the great commercia! metropolis of the Pucific ocean. In 1342, aud while the adventa- rer was stili here, a vess"l artived wich several ofti cers of the Hucson’s Bay Company on board. Among ike passengers was an agent of the Preach goveru- ment, sent to this coast with a view of enlightening it oo the resources of Colifornia and Oregon. From him and the others Limantour oe impression that the English were anxious to obtain the country im payment of the debt fhen dur them by Moxies. the conversation of the oiticer tarued on that sub- ject, and they wld bim if he ceald get a grant of land on the Bay of Sam Francisco be would one day be ea rich as 4 7 ttled deep r has erty a man of sea another ves- js and effects and at Monterey and nia was distracted anna, who Was Mich fel, saied Jowo other ports. with political supreme ruler of Mexivo, ee: clothed wii uli powers to allay the existing ditoord, and more vfectvally to unite California to Mexico. The former bad in ‘fue, i 1697, for » sh sumed the a'titnde ef gn independent Srate, with Juan Alvarado ot Me [ea*. Micheltorrena had under his cop inerd four or five bundred men, vut on arriving at San 4n,elos be found hiaselt desti- tute of proviefons, nron-y, and munitions of war. The treagury of the mgther country was empty, and while thes Cotayed, fem want of means, ind unable to proceed to tee ecsoe of bis duties, Limaatour ar ved with ble vessel at San Pedro, avout twenty kee frog Lor Anpotoy. This was about the begiu- Bing of te poor 1843. The General immediately qe a coremma@ence with Litantour for lunds, light ee- were not vlr@ady oveupled, having full ake grants of vacant Iunds Two days uiter the date of the lust letter between them, Liman- torr preented a petition for the lands, which he claims cn account of advancing the sum of four thousind dollars to Gen. Mighelwrrena. On payiog the mouey over to the letter, Limantonr received the gronts of lend, a doeame owner of the most valuable part of thie city. When the case was before the Land Commission, the foregoiug | 8 were put in evidence, 20 atteropt wes made to impesch their genuiueness. A contract ma y Limontour with Micheltorrens, whereby, in considerytion of money and goods fur- uisbed jor the use of the troops by the former, the Supreme overnment grauted him the lands em! four leagnes prayed for in bis petition, ent was signed by Bocasegra, the Mexican Mioister fur Foreign Aiiin, who approved of the grant, and who he now P inrists i6 a material witucas for his defence. ai the signatures were woved to be fu the proper handwiitiug of the dulerent officials with who; iear:tour t lence, and we made the grants. 4 iderable ‘estimouy he- for: the Commie show the papers were forged, and toat Li our had made offers of pro- erty to witnesses to bim by t testimony. he Board, however, decided that the weight of proof wos immenrely in tavor of the claimaat, and accordingly confirmed his title. A tow evenings since a lecture was delivered to show the fraudatent character of Limantouc’s documents, by a person named La Reintree, wh» was secretary to Commo- dore Jones daring toe year 1%; this coast. He stated that the veese! com Limaotoar was net ot San Pedro any time in 1843, as tt appesred from the log kept by the ships of the Pacitic squad- ron, and toat therefore the story of visisiog Los Angelos was unuue. There can be no donbt of the injarious effect these conticting titles, relative to lands, have bad oa the ao of California. Our courts have been rthened with mits to test the right of litigants. This has cen the Ny in San Franciseo. Blood has, on diff casions, been shed, ana there monster claims enveloped the city as with a cload, rendering porsib e to see any end to the interminable ties relative to lends, It is said the Mexic ciala, long after the cersion of California , United States, vigned grants of land ty adventarers who come here. snd on the strength of these frandu- levt documents insisted on obtaining lands that other parties bave paid for and were in ofcupancy ot for yeare. Otbers state it was a practice for Mexican officers to #ign grants in blank, and that Limantour ade hie secretary to write in dates and the desc el ay me to make them complete. If the present is a the Mexican suthorities sre implicated, for they bave counte- nanced Limentour’s pretentins from the first. He came here with letters from the French Minister at Mexico, strongly recommending him to the good of- flees of Mr. iillon, Oongul here, and his claim has been the subject of o be- tween the latter and the Minister of Foreign affairs at Paris, Ina community like ours, it would be dif ficult to sey how the trial of Limantour will result. Public indignation is aroused toa high pitch, and would not pause at mere formalities or dotots be- fore visiting on tye head of the ac-nsed the fullest measure of punishment. The evidence him to this has been all on one side, and what pearance it will present when his counsel have an opportunity of analysing it and subjecting the witnesses to croa#-exanioation, we can only ima- } pie from previous investigations of Nike Baga trial will take place in the United pee 4 Coart, woich ia o sufficient guarantee of the t | justice that will be meted out to him. | If the press would only allow the law to take course, and avoid prejudicing the public mind | against him, the ends of law and justive would be | reached. But jourvals in this city are so we ided to | @e principle of mob law, and so lost to every | sense of decency and truth, that their course is a } continual source of mndignation to men possersing | feelings of uprightness and honor. They are already | satisfied of Limantonr’s guilt, though if it were for the interests of their patrons to think otherwise | they would not hesitate to write the very reverse of | what they do now. In no coantry and in no age did 80 debauched a press ever exist as that of San | Francisco. The most shameless tbels, and known to be snch by their writers, are constantly cireniated for no higher purpose than mercenary motives. High toned journaliem, with a few excep- | ter tione, is apknown in California, A morning paper, the Chronicle, thus speaks of an evening published bere, whieh has distinguished ioe toe advocacy of most violent Come gd even counsel- led a ruptuce with the United States, and secession, at the time of the Vigilanee rebellion case:— What can the community expect from such a sueet but moral pestilence. We bave seen a base attack upon ® citizen publisned, and bis mame forged to an answer in. tended to misrepresent and 1i ‘bim, as if no bad tun it, and the whole editorially endorsed genuine. All rights and public morality are outraged by such bieckgvardism, and be who woaid be guilty of 80 fou! and upman!y atienspt to stab character is capable of any avd every baseness, meanness and crime Th whipping post sbould be his bride and the hangman ‘he impart the blessing at his death. Woaile al! good struggling for reform—and there seems a hope h earnest and united effort many of our public nich nave weighed for years like a leprosy may euob execrable violations of all right aud decency throvgh a public press ts worthy concempation To fejure individuals through personal b rage 61! decency, ail the manly airibates are all public moraliky roorued, flouted and spit the Dase parsions courted and gratified. A deed whicn, if done upom s nove of hend, would consign the per- ,etreter (o the on, is doge through a Dew: scr and in tho name of mora ity, What should th mupity do with such @ Joseph Surface of the press? It it touches the leper it ow the disease. Ii should ayeld the contact as it would a plagne.spotted corpse. The foregoing was called forth by a base and u.wertby atiack on David C. Broderick, one of the candidates for United States Senator. In the peper referred to several letters were published, vio- jently asewiling Mr. Broderick, and painting bis chaz acter in the worst possible manner. A commu- nication appeared o few days since, over the sigua- ture of “broderick,” replying to these aspersions, and which, from its style aud tone, would put that gertleman down even lower than his most inveterate enemy would attempt to place him. The signature of the genticwan was torged, for he never wrote the letter, but it was placed in the columns of the paper in such @ manner that it might be supposed ic was genuine. Malevolence and dishonorable motives could not urge a journalist to a much greater act of turpitude, aud it Lam not greatly in error, this inox- cusable and shameless abuse of the use of the press will militate in faver of Broderick and agsiast his unprincipled enemies. Broderick’s crime, in men's eyes, is that, with a commendable ambition, he aspires to wesent his adopted State in the bighest council of the nation. He pos- sesseg sterling integrity; his private and public life are pure and virtuous. He is a man of great n ral yas | and exerci¢es 2 powerful influence in his party. Wo one doubts that he will be elected at the coming sestion of the Legislature, and it is this cer- tainty of his success tat provokes the bitter and upwialy assaults on bis repatation, The muititade of candidates that are on hand, to be brought for- wor. by a greater or less number of their friends, is astonishing. The partisans of each nspirant are confident, and labor umveasingly to forward their interests. Jt is the qnesiion that swallows up all others with politicians; and a9 the contest is near its termination, there isno lack of men ready to offer themselves to serve the State, hoping that by some combination of circumstances thei = refth the ascendant. As it is now, Broderick concidered certain of election and 1t is said now, Mr. Weller, our present Seuatwr, will be the second for tnnate candidate. Tne latier earned, by his de- serving course end devotion to oar interests, the co. fisence of the party, and hss many friends who will labor hard to hus election. _ Rhere existed in this city an organization gince the commencenent of the Presidential cam- paigm wnat deserves a notice, not alone tor the iwportapt services rendered by it to the de- mocratic eauue, but for the position of dedant and nmcot armed 6} ition it fied towards the ance ‘Th i Cead, vad its leading apirite the uplawful, come were pring opposition their influence: can candidstes. t # erp d by member y harges of tien made gait st onicials, past avd eau, were Tiowise des mocrais, The democratic purty was in a fair wayot being blotted out of existence in this 8 i of course, the vote of Califoraia would sequence, to the republican candidate, vles and frvads of the American party at lee 8 were entirely overlooked; at least nothing was raid sbout them, probably because thew strepgi& wos considered too insignificant to occa- sion aarm. The democratic party was rapresented to be “the mother of sbomina‘ions;” not directly, it is tee, but by implications that it was imposmble for the dullest person to mistake. The Executive Committee were, for the most part, Northern men a pone ot affairs the Young Nen’s Democratic Club” was formed, under the presidency of Nugent, of the Herald, and i short ti: wrought a cha°ge in public truly astonishing. In it were congre; young avd fearless, whe, indignant at the high- banded outrages of the Vigilance Committee, sought out covgental spirits in this Club, aad to these the dangerous position their members was only udaitional attraction. The jen coon numbered two thou- end incladed in reminent and distinguished members of other parts of the Btate. By its efforts teree und fearful fragments of the ered together, and a new spirit ii genization. It bad become perilous to avow any coppecticn with the pioscribed de’ » but the fearicesne determination of the Club geve to their adherents. The the ber ie Held, and dois, they their arrogan ¢ field, and secing this, it tore when speaking of theie power. Their boast it all the respectable portion of tue people sym- to fay that without the aid of this Crab the ot the cemocrucy would have been light indesd in this Staie, In the face of dan, of no ordinary kind they battled against enemies, and with the aid of the talent and genius posses- sec by their members, they gained converts without numver to the democrsiic cause. It would be uu- jast to deny to this Club the swilest meed of praise for its tervices. In fact,it represented the partyand wes endorsed by it in selecting from its members neat!) the candidates put defore the people, it 16 true there were sone democrats who sn; Mr. Buchanan and ogposed this Club. Ti coa- ouct hes since been repudiated, and they in fact been iead out of the party. Tney the ground of giving aid to the Presidential caadidate. while they voted for republican Congressmen and State officers. In California this clase of men bave forfeited the confidence oi the people, and no better proot need be adducen iu eddition to numerous oth- lating course relative to the Vigilance be At one time bespoke in their favor, and it is report ea ured bs influence with the gencral government to prevent federal ioterference.from snopressing ‘he insurrection. This conduc: on his part has driy- m fiom his support all the friends he ever bad. The President of the Young Men's Democratic Club has made the following report, ond as it may be looked upon asa manifesto from the anti-vigil iy tbe comuunity, | give the more material part of ‘De Lewes of the adoption by the Cincinmat) Convocation, tandara bearers of iA My, free Americas cit) ene who had nos even been ine ictea by & jury of their conntrymes. The con. *titmiems of the State and of the Uniied Biates wore were pressing law fall Poy Bay) L sand men, whore avowed object w subvert the oon. sthutton and laws, was orgeaizet ia our midst, a citadel Wee rected in the heart of the wity, with fications and the aud order of we city was oy day hourly disturbed by armed ban/s, woo at the Didding of tocir masters, maintaiaed and violence thetr Intolera' 8 and icoarcer rately ‘cir opmim—a . ik wae at viorat geance couraged and app’ of the Biate—the voice of out the land awards us the bo tite ee tive an we have an active organi: two thousaud men, of the democratic clube whose delt- cate nerves were shocked by our bluntness, what re mains? They Bave been dissolved, and have gone, ‘like the baseless fabric of a vision,” leaving not a wreck be- bind, Of what we have done in the cause of democracy it may not be meet for me to speak; but that the Club has made ite mark in the regent struggle all must concede. It is the unanimous wish of its members torts ‘p the good cause should not ceaso with the election just ronciuded, but that we should constitute ourselves a per manent organization, dedica'ed to the maintenance of the constitution and laws, and_to the support of democratic interests and principlos. That tae Club can accomplieh & vast deal for the well beirg of democracy during the next four years, aud for the couservation of democratic principles and the attainment of democratio objects in the menatioe, tis past brief history shows; while st the ame time its permanent organ'zasion will subserve not slone the interests of the democratic party, but those of he public as well, XM. Dillon, the French Consul, leaves on thé 5th of January for the scene of the new duties allotted to him by his government. M. Gautier, his succes- sor, arrived by the last steamer, and in due form paid his respects to all our officials, by calling at their offices, The occasion of the caper of M. Dillon was taken advantage of by his numerous American fiiends to honor him with a testimonial in the form of a public dinner. It wasa d af- fair, and the most perfect harmony and good feelin, characterized it throughout. About three hundred gentlemen (Amerisans exclusively) sat down to a sumptuous banquet. The army and navy, the ju- diciary, the press and the professions were repre- sented. Some of the most weaithy and influential of our merchants a)so joined in the testimonia!. The compliment to M. Dillon was marked and am- cere, and could not fail to be fl to him in every sense. Few officials occupying tions simi- lar to hia have been honored in a like manner, and, considering the many easton ore perolving 5 Ag interests in ene ad * been Co or _ the et given im mui pecul grati- fying to his feelings. M. Dillon, in ait | to the toast to his health, made a lengthy, and what must be considered a very able speech. He speaks Eng: lish as finently and ‘as free from foreign accent as if it were his native tongue. While he resided in San Francisco he was a Ii patron of our charitable institutions, and in bis private relations maintained the character of a high toned gentleman and excel- lent citizen. In his address he acknowledged the kindness with which he and Frenc! al treated in this city, end reterred to of attachment existing between the two countries— a friendsbip cemented by French and American blood on the battle field, and which he h to see broken. The countrymen of M. scribed a large sum to @ fitting testimonial of their esteem to Poet to him before his leaving for the new fisld of his labors. He, with a generosity ‘wortby of: imitation, refused to accept it, but recommended that the amount be equally emeng the orphans and a society rene for sending back to their native coun- ‘t and infirm Frenchmen. caper at ts have been made to. mix up the Consul in the four alleged frands. Some questions have 0 pat io him through the medium of an evenin, , Angiing if be was uot peeuniarily intere: the azctsed. M. Dillon repliea by from the French Minister of Fo- aud the French Plenipotentiary at the ‘ico, requesting him to use his official ‘and influence to establish Limantour’s just tnd that be took no further steps toan what when a citizen.of France appeals to the laws of the to establish bis rights, and that none of the money received by Limantour or his agents ever came into his han A large number of adventurers go down to Nicara- gua by the steamer of to-day. It is sup many a8 250 will leave, some to recruit Walk force, others to engage in commercial and mechani- cal pursvits, There are a great number of men in tha State always ready tor any exciting enterprise, tield for them elected, are going to wy their fortunes further south, and accordingly have taken passage for that coun I. There is some talk of an ‘ion in couse of preparetion to snvale’Soeore. Robe lieved such an undertaking would meet with the a many persons in that State, who ds re to ane miserable government vider wi ey at present for ; f a En Ero ce. H : ge ' a H HE | ‘ i merce and pavigation would tion. Agriouitere ard all ibe wdusivie! pursuit, of the peep'e would be more or lees Genefiied oy 1. ‘aro Bince the pubiication of these was commonocé may cid Of ships across the sen Dave Mw he abstract log of the Mandarin was received here esterday. It ts an admirab); sae 100k H ree alluded to avove.” Hed returned direo: ani the old routs en'ireiy, in peventy days from New York. Thur, hs one spread before her there char, which embeday experience of @pabled to “pick her winds” and jer canvass atone for 1! nan bef way round the world, nearly or quive two mw 4 sea milena day. jiande dwoovered Heard, of the Amer ‘Oriental, Im 185%, He along thie route. Tas have beon wrecked upon them. for th-y fare way 10 Avetralia, and thelr possioc nar determined. bee the boner be'ore of calling Four aneovon Re each day, stating the readings of thelr instruments, Persons at sea, avywhere within 500 miles of the the Gulf of Me: Ue a5 the United alee hope receivo repo m every county in every Respectfully, &0., The New Law of Congress about Witnesses. A Bit more effectually to enforce the attendance po hd the sussmons of either House of Congress, Sec. amined end teatityin ‘apy committee of either House, shall be held to answer crim!nally ip any court of justice, or subject to any penal- ty or fortetture, for ob ol oF act be required to fore either ness before either House, or either Houre, sball be ne ea nal proceeding against wit tos [* which bo shall be or apy committee pe may tend to di r [= sahny Provided, Iehutent for persiry commited T, aforesaid segs : Peo. 3. And be it furtber enacted, ness shall fail to testify, as tions of this bill, and the House, it shall be the duty of the or tha Preaident of the Senate, the seal of the House or Senate, ‘The Atlantic Agreeably to ni be the seuate, asked en lowing bill, which was read twice aad Comm 'ttee on the Post Office and Post }, om Janoar: 36 wae Sqpested withent aepencenean, ane pu he Se wap. pareed:— 4 LL TO FXPEDITE TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION FOR THE ERS OF THE GOVERNMEST LV ITs IN LNTRROOUREE, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Heprescnts- tives of the United States of America in assem Died, Thet the Secretary of State, in the oe (atte ee! the United States, may ¢ with any com person. persons or as- x iicn, for the ald cf ihe Onived States, is lay ing down Wisyooton Jan 81367 INGTON, . Bee. 4. It is no part of the a postmaster to ane liver to submcri ree bic come ia the oF to ently just decision of considerable importance to post merters bes just been called oat by the following cor reaposdence — Cuveasp Poet Ormen, Jam, 10, 1857. Uncer the late Post office law and decisions of the de- partment requiring prepaymeo! by stamps of all tram lottery ctroulare and Kon, Boranok ve, Firet Assistant Postmaster Wochingten. REPLY OF THE DUPARTWENT. Arportanet Orrice J Your letter of the 10th imstant is received. In atewer to your fst inquiry 1 am jostrocted General to inform you that {t is not apen & HE Bwaii Bovs—Nacenty Yourms —Foer young men, de ignated by the police as ‘‘short boys,” ware brought before Justice Davison, at ths Jeflersom Market Petco Oourt, on charge of having forced their way into the store of William #. Secor, at 545 Spring rtreet, aad car ying off seme dead pige from the premiece. Mr, Secor pays thas the accused bebared themselves in the most un raly manner, (riving all the inmstes {rom tne house, and den tere, bo had aasombied «i: the foot of 100th wirent, Rant river, for the purpose of having ® pugilittic enoornter, ‘Were surprised by officer McQuade, of the Twoilta, and officer Austin, of the Twenty fret ward and olsperse’, Two of the fellows were se diorderly persone, and were taken before Justloe Brownell, of the Fourth Matrict Police Court, where they were committed for examination. Prcnine Pockars in 4 Onvncn —As the congregation of the Methodiat Episcopal Church in Norfolk street were leaving the ¢diSeo, Mre. Searles, the wife of tho clergy. man of the church, had her pocket picked of @ porte: ie, Containing about $0 in bills, & young soamp Abrough the middie aisle, eeoape from the bi a ‘Mt once srresied on Huey cion of beim What 2 Let us look af the facts, It ts quite generally believed that the prosent C | ; i Hy i i Z f 1 "a8 Fi i ij ate F i: ii i eri HET! tat HATH i : i 7 i fad