The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. 2 on ethane birwebnn OFFICE KX. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STB. Ree TERMS, rach (n adronce. THE DAILY HERALD, two cents per copy, $1 per annum. THE WEEKLY HERALD. every he emere wry. annum, the European etition, F ‘port of Great Brdiain. or $6 86 amy part ofthe Continent, bo‘h Tint HERALD, every Wednesday, at four cents per ‘$2 per annum. ear arta ae Ener Requssren ro Seal aid LETTERS AND PACKAGES vs. ADVERTISEMENTS renewed every oy in ferted in the Werxuy Hematp, Fasitr ALD, in the Oniformia and Buropean Editions. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, fy LOOLO~ wai any Herropaamanc TRAY AN MENTS NIBLO’S GARDEN, Brosdway—Roscnt amv Beataamn— ‘Ticut Ror Faats—Gorpan Kao. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Porsam—Equesrathwise: —foovce or Tax Oowam: A atreet— Anornsa. eesuors ‘THRATRE, Broadway—Tum Poos uw Naw JURA KRENR’S THERA’ Broad Aw gt AK me Seeren, lway—Aw Uneqvar ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street.—Marivee at ly Sivening, Goan PulLuagwonic Concert—TuaLnenc’s F ark: wer. Comocsnt—Requisa or Mozant, dc. BARNUW’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway—After- noon TeMrTATION OR THE IuisH KuiGRANT. Evening, VaLEen- FIRE an Oneon. ‘WOOD'R BUILDINGS, 561 and $3 Broadway—Grorcs Oaniste & Woon's Minstaeis—Naw Year Gaus BUCKLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 585 Broadway—Erm10 Pus Mecovims—Gouwex Kincvou. . MRGHANIC'’S HALL, 472 Broadway—Bavanv’s Mivereeis —Eraiorian BomGs—Bunissque Cimon. RMPIRE HALL, 596 Broad Aprerrunss in THE ARotro Rt —Diowama ov Da. Kane’ m8, AILS FOR THE PACIFIC. New York Herald—California Edition. ‘The United States mail steamship Moses Taylor, Capt. ‘MoGowan, will leave this port to-morrow afternoon, at two o'clock, for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for California and other parts of the Pacific ‘will close at one o'clock to-morrow afternoon. ‘The New Yorx Wexx.y Heratp—California edition— @ontaining the latest intelligence from aH parts of the world, will be published at ten o'clock in the morning. Single copies, in wrappers, ready for mailing, six cents. Agovts will ploase sond in their orders as early as pos- sibie. Advertising for the Government—What it Costs and What We Get. Under the law of Congress which gives the advertising of the Lists of uncalled for letters to the newspaper having the largest daily circulation in the district where the Post Office is located, those lists have been printed in the New ‘Vors Hensiv. Unfortunately, however, when Congress made the law referred to, it neglected to provide that the government should pay a fair remuneration for the labor performed, as the annexed statistics will show :— We published during the yoar 1867 227 columns and sixty, lines of the lists of uncalled for let- ters, making 65,890 lines, or 2,108,480 ems, which cost for composition S24; cents per 1,000 ems, and amounted 0.........6 0... 05 $1,1 ‘The proof reading at 4 cents per 1,000 ems, cost. i} ‘The 227 columns and sixty lines of letters make 4% editions of the NeW York Heratp, which | required 610 reams of paper at $5 75 per ream, ' GEBCEMING 10.........-0-c 000000 serscsserses H ‘The expenses of the the 4% editions of ye” aipaiecivestaneen 486 00 The ink used cost. cies : 130 00 ‘The wear and tear of type and machinery, at Bisex oveconesacsenscossecasscuenniee os 155 00 Net annual cost of printing the Post Office letters.85,469 20 Recetved from the Post Office for 1857........... 1,781 71 Total lous for the year........sceeeseeees ee e83,087 61 ‘The letters, published at our usual rates, would * have amounted to........ $8,338 75 Received from Post Offioe | : 1781 71 Difference between government and private ad Wertising........se+ : vesetnse aes oe BO BOT O6 We give these figures m order that our readers may distinctiy understand why we cannct afford to work for the government of the United States. It is unfair to our Private advertisers to make one price for them and tw ac- cept another from the government, and it deprives our readers of a great deal of «pace which we can occupy to much betier advantage. The blame rests entirely with Congress. The executive officers of the government have to obey the law as they find it. The law was made many years ago, and since that time the population of the country and the expenses of the government have quadrupiec. Congress has from time to time made changes in nearly all the laws involving the expenditures of the government, with the exception of the public ad vertising. It will be remembered that this law was evacted when the work was done by newspapers having @ small circulation—one thousand was something enor. mous. We have changed al! that, and the government how enjoys the advantage of advertising in the indepen dent prees, with its circulation counted in hundreds of thousands, for the same price which it pays to a village sheet with five hundred subscribers. We say the inde- pendent press, because, in none of the great ities has any party jourpal been abie to show a sufficient circulation to be entitled to print the lists of uncalled for letters. We believe that every business maa will agree with us in denouncing this miserable, mean, niggardly and con temptible policy of the government. It originated ina mistaken idea of economy, and has been perpetuated sim ply because it is nota party matter. No purely partisan journal can show the circulation of the leading indepen. dent presses; and Congress, which can find a hundred thousand dollars per annum to throw away upon two Country editors, and forty thousand for a party hack, is too mean Worenist the vemptation jof picking our pockets of eix or seven thousand dollars a year, We'll have no more of i ‘The News. The Buropean mails to the 19h ult., brought by the steamship Niagara, reached this city thix morn- ing. Our telegraphic despatch from Halifax con- tains all the news of importance by this arrival. Monetary affairs are somewhat easier in England and Hamburg, but in the North of Europe the pressure was «till felt with great severity. At Lon don money was plentiful, consols had improved, stock speculations were active, and a redaction in the bank rate of interest was expected to take place shortly. The mte of interest at Paris and Hamburgh had already been reduced. Mean- time heavy commercial failures continued to be reported daily. The failures of Edward Smith, wool Stapler; Saaifield Brothers, of Leeds, and Powell & Son, of London and Manchester, all with large lia Dilities, were announced. The Dartford and Graves end Benk; Messrs. Cheesebrongh & Sons, one of the largest wollen manufacturing firms in Yorkshire; chute A Schemman, of Hamburg, and James Holmes, of Kidderminster, had suspended. The lia bilities of suspended houses in Great Britain since October last are estimated at $250,000,000, and this enormous sum is believed to be inside the mark. The American produce markets were depressed. Cotten had declined one cent a pound on all de scriptions ile breadstaffs were quiet There is no political news of importance. It was reported that the Emperor Napoleon would grant a general amnerty for press offences on New Year's day. The Spanish government had granted an am meaty for political offences in her trans-Atlantic pos- ERM OLA There is nothing later from Ladia or China. The contractors for raising the sunken ships in the barbor of Sebastopol have abandoned the work. Our correspondent at Bridgetown, Barbadoes, @riting on the 18th ult. says—The market is well @upplied with breadstuffs and provisions, and prices tend downward. From Great Britain we are well supplied with oats and butter, lumber, staves and shingles. The weather continues highly favorable for the growing crops, and sugar making is going on at ® moderate rate, chiefly to get plants for the crop of 1869. The health of the island is good. Billa on London at 30 to 60 days $482 50, and at 90 days $480 0 $475. Bills on New York at 10 days, 4 “#08 Coat promivan, payable in curreat mouey. The NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1868, Governor has received advices from London to the effect that many thousands of Sepoys will be trans- ported from India to the British West Indies, ten thousand of whom are destined for Demerara, where their labor will be directed to the culture of cotton, rice and tobacco. The mortality record of the island of St. Thomas, made up from January, 1840, to September, 1857, shows that nine hundred and sixty-nine persons died of yellow fever, seventeen hundred and twenty- five of cholera, two hundred and seventy-one of small pox, and six thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine of all other diseases, during that period. ‘The average annual deaths from all diseases were five hundred and fifty-five. Our correspondent in Nassau, N. P., writing on the 21t ult., says that provisions were abundant and cheap there. A Nassau schooner took a cargo of food to Turks Islands, and sold it profitably at Grand Turk and Salt Cay. Salt was plenty at Inagua, and it was proposed to run a small steamer from Nassau to the different salt islands,ending there. Advices from Venemuela, dated at Puerto Cabello on the 18th ult., state that the monetary advices from the United States and Europe had brought down the prices of produce. Holders were, how- ever, firm. Money was very scarce, and freights dull. The markets are quoted thus:—Coffee, washed, average $11 50; unwashed, $10 (currency); indigo, $1. $1 06} per Ib.; superior cocoa, $30 per 110 Ibs.; inferior, $25, and brown sugar, 5c. per Ib. at an average. Our correspondent in Ponce (Porto Rico), writing on the 27th of November last, states that twenty- four thousand hogsbeads of sugar were produced in that district during the past season. The first canes of the present crop had been cut, and promised an abundant yield. Cane land was worth $300 per acre. Owing to the ravages of the cholera in 1866 the price of labor bad advanced, and a negro who for- merly sold for $300 would now bring $800. It was impossible to procure slaves from the African coast direct, but still the most liberal terms were afforded to industrious blacks wishing to purchase their free” dom. The filibuster question continues to be the leading topic at Washington. Congress re-aasembles to-day, when the subject will, it is thought probable, be brought before them by a resolution tendering to Gen. Walker, as President of the republic of Nica- ragua, the high compliment of a privilege toa seat on the floor; and it is reported that Senator Douglas will advocate the cause of the renowned filibuster. What to do with the filibusters who have arrived at Norfolk in the Saratoga appears to puzzle the gov- ernment not a little. The men are entirely destitute, and refuse to be turned adrift. A cabinet council is to be held to-morrow to take their case into consider- ation. An immense mass meeting of the fricnds of Gen. Walker was held in Mobile on Saturday evening. The seizure of the filibusters was indignantly de- nounced. Gen. Scott is now in Washington, planning the spring campaign against the Mormons. Fire Marshal Baker appears to have another curious case of arson under investigation. A colored woman namef Pamaza Cox and her three children are under arrest, charged with firing their dwelling house in Twenty-ighth street. One of the remarka- ble features in this case seema to be that Mrs. Cox and her children endeavored to fasten suspicion of guilt on aman named Bennett. A report of the facts, as they appeared before the Police Court, will be found elsewhere. The value of foreign goods imported at the port of Boston during the week ending 1st instant amounted to $564,287, a decrease of $100,665 as compared with the corresponding week of the year previous. The annexed table shows the temperature of the atmosphere in this city during the past week, the range of the barometer, the variation of wind currents, and the state of the weather, at three periods during each day, viz.: at 9 A. M., and 3 and 9 o'clock P. M. : Saturday—Commenced snowing at 10 o'clock, and cen- Unued during the day; night clear. Sunday and cold, but pleasant all day; night clear Monday—Overonst, with light snow in the morning; afternoon, overcast night clear. Tuesday—Morning, overcast, with sleet; afternoon, snow. Wednesday—Morning, overcast ; rain all the afternoon and evening. ‘Tocrotay—Morning, overcast; 3 o'clock P.M. clear, 4 o'clock heavy squall, with rain and snow; night, clear and —_—_. Friday—Clear and pleasant all day and night. Saturday—Clear and pleasant. There was more doing in cotton on Saturday, the sales having reached about 1,000 bales, chiefly before thepub- lication of the Niagara’s news. Though holders mani- fested some more spirit in the forenoon, the market closed with the turn in favor of the buyer, while prices were not fully established under the news. The market for flour was rather stiffer for common grades, while extras were dull; yet prices were without change of moment. Among the sales were about 3,000 bbis. common State, purchased for export, at $4 25 per bbl. Wheat was quiet, and quotations, in the absence of sales of importance, were nominal. Corn was in fair de- mand, with sales of new yellow and white at 6Tc. a» 60c and @2c. Pork was steady, with sales of old mens at $15 60, and new do. at $15 $16. Sugars were quiet; 160 bhds. New Orleans, and 119 do. moiado wore sold ‘at steady prices. Coffee was quict. Freighta were un- Kansas—The Crisis in Congreas—The Old Com- promise Policy of « Free State and a Slave State. In the interval of the Christmas holidays (which the two houses of Congress have dis posed of in the social festivities of the season), the Kansas imbroglio has assumed a most alarming and critical shape. The unexpected ratification of the Lecompton constitution, with the slavery clause, makes Kansas as stiff a slave State as South Carolina, notwithstanding the fact that four-fifths, and probably as many as nine-tenths, of the people of the Territory are oppoeed to the recognition of slavery. But as the refusal of the free State party to partici- pate in the election of the 21st of December does not impair the validity of that election, the delinquents are alone reeponsible for the comsequences. With the power in their hands to produce a different result, they cannot justly eompisin should Kansas be admitted upon the basis of the Lecompton constitution as a slave State. It is difficult to perceive how the administra- tion, after having recognized the proceedings of the Lecompton Convention party down to | the said December election, can now re- treat. If a fractional vote rejecting the slavery clause would have been acceptable, that vote cannot be rejected, because it has resulted in the ratification of slavery. We presume, therefore, that the administration will adhere to the Lecompton programme, not- withstanding the unexpected and exceedingly embarrassing shape which it has assumed. With or without any official information on the subject, this perplexing business will, doubtless, be pretty sharply discussed at both ends of the Capitol with the re-nsembling of the two houses to-day. At the same time, the fact should not be overlooked that two addi- tional elections are to come off this day in Kan- sas—one the election of State officers, provided for by the Lecompton constitution, and the other on the adoption of the consti- tion ordered by the Territorial Legislature, At the latter election the Lecompton constitution will be submitted to the people in three forms : First—Constitution with slavery; Second— Constitution without slavery; Third—Against the constitution. Under the instructions of the President, the Governor has to recognise both elections as legal, and te use all the force at his command, if necessary, to protect the polls, and secure a full expression of opinion. Here the question arises, is it the duty of Congress, or is it expedient on the part of Con- gress, to await the results of these elections, and to shape the law for Kansas accordingly? We should say no; because, as the case stands, the regularly authorized popular proceedings in reference to this Lecompton constitution were closed with the election of the 21st Decem- ber. On the other hand, we are well aware that a vote for the admission of Kansas as a slave State will be a dose of wormwood to most of oar Northern democratic representatives at Washington; and we may, therefore, expect: 8 prolonged debate upon the subject, -a fierce sectional agitation, and all sorts of parlinmen- tary expedicnts to stave off the main question. But our Northern democratic compromisers may rely upon it that no compromise will now be scceptable to the South short of the admission of Kansas under her Lecompton constitution, including, most particularly, the full recognition of the slavery clause. Col. Forney, through his Bhiladelphia Paess, informe us that *the President did not’ expect the question to take this shape, nor do we be- lieve” says Master I’orney, “that he expects that admission will be effected without a re-submis- sion.” But we shail know more upon jhis point within a fewdays. In the meantim@pthe Presi- dent, we apprehend, upon the receipt of the official report of the December Kansas election, will feel that he has no other resource than to accept it, and leave the issue of its final adoption or rejection to Congress. At this point, we fear, the North will be met by such a determin- ed front on the part of the South, that the issue will speedily become the admission of ‘Kansas with her slave State constitution, or the seces- sion in a body from both houses of the members from the Southern States, as the initial move- ment to a separate Southern confederacy. And yet there is a very simple plan of com- promise at hand, as between the North and the South, and the required materials are also on the spot. It is the old plan of admitting a slave State and a free State, side by side. Thus, even if Kansas should be admitted asa permanent slave State, instead of a slave State for six months or a year, the new free States of Minnesota and Oregon will be more than as two to one against her. This system of sectional State equivalents was put in practice two years after the adop- tion of the federal constitution, in the admission, simultaneously, of Vermont and Kentucky, and has been followed up from that day to this. Thus, in 1816, Indiana was admitted, and an enabling act was passed authorizing the people of Mississippi Territory to form a State consti- tution. Thus, in 1820, the acts for the admis- sion of Maine and Missouri formed the real basis of the Missouri Compromise. Thus, with- in a short interval, Arkansas and Michigan were admitted; and thus, as a Northern equi- valent for Florida and the admission of the Senators and representatives from the new slave State of Texas, in 1845, enabling acts were passed in reference to Iowa and Wiscon- sin. But as there waa no Southern equivalent for the admission of California asa free State in 1850, that fact gives the South an additional claim in reference to Kansas. In this old and frequent plan, then, of a com- promise in the simultaneous admission of a pro- vision for a free State and a slave State, or a slave State and a free State, we have the only practical method for a satisfactory solution of this Kansas difficulty. The North will surely be content, for the sake of peace, to recognise Kansas as a temporary slave State, with two permanent free States coming in at the same time. Should this good old plan be discarded now, and should the Kansas Lecompton consti- tution be rejected because of its recognition of slavery, the next proceeding will probably be a practical Southern movement for the dissolution of the Union. When the old rule of sectional conciliation is displaced by the law of sectional coercion, the Union, in fact, may be declared already at an end. Tue Five Porsts anp tae Postic Buripres. —The advantages of selecting the locality of the Five Points for the site of our new Post Office in preference to the Park, are so manifold and so patent to every one that none but the most reckless speculators can overlook them. Yet there are a set of persons, whose god is cupidity, urging that the new City Hall shall be placed in Madison square, thus choking up one up-town avenue through which fresh air can find its way into the city, and clamoring for the erection of the Post Office in the Park, the only lung which that part of the city can boast of. The Five Points have been a nuisance and an eyesore ever since the city was a city. The nursing place of vice and degradation—a foul plague spot in the very heart of the city, where the vilest morals flourish luxuriantly, and disease fattens upon the squalor and evi) habits of its population—its existence is not only a great source of danger to the health and morals of the metropolis, but a blot upon its reputa- tion. If the whole pestiferous locality were cleaned oy, there would be ample room for our new Post Office, City Hall, and all the other public buildings we require. We would not alone be getting rid of a crying nuisance by sweeping the whole locality away, but we would have one of the most beautiful portions of the city, in the place of what is now a reproach to New York. By erecting our public buildings at the Five Points, the much talked of relief to Broadway would be in a great measure secured, for travel would soon be directed towards that part of the city adorned with handsome public structures, and where the Post Office, City Hall ahd¥ourts were located. All the buildings in the Park should be removed, the grounds laid out4vith fine shade trees and ehrubs, fountains and ata- tues gracing it throughout; and thus, instead of a little patch of arid ground, blocked up with huge buildings at both ends, and ugeless either for comfort or convenience, we would bave an open breathing place for people down town, alike an ornament and a source of hAalth—a Dlessing to ourselves and those who are to come after ua. The comfort of the people is paramount to, the profits of speculatora; and we are sure that the people of New York will never consent to be swindled out of « portion of the small breath- ing place which commercial necessities have left them. Every measure will be resorted to by inte- rested parties to have the City Hall built ia Ma- dison square and the Post Office in the Park; but the public should take care that all their achemes shall be defeated. The Five Points is the cheapest and most suitable location for all the projected public buildings. Let us, with one movement, get rid of the sbomination which now ewelters there, agg convert it intoa healthy sais CemRNCOcNS quareer of tho oily Our New Corporation—Meeting of the Com- mon Counctl—City Reforms, The members of the new Corporation under the amended charter passed by the last Legisla- ture, take office this day, As our readers are quite well aware, this charter makes some im- portant changes in the form of the city govern- ment, without, however, doing away with any of its radical abuses. The old many-headed system introduced by the humbug reform charter is perpetuated, the most important de- partments—finance and law—being placed alto- gether apart from and irresponsible te the- Mayor and Common Council. The Aldermen have been elected upon the district system, in order to counteract the malign influence of ward politicians. Whether or not this has been done, time will show. At present we notice ne particular improvement in the Board, except that it is somewhat smaller than before. Under the new law the Aldermen are no longer Super- visors, but twelve gentlemen have be@ selected to perform the duties, The old Council Board has been swept away, and its place supplied by a smaller body, elected from the Senatorial districts. ‘Thus we commence the new year with a new corporate régime, which, like the season, brings with it new hopes, and, it may safely be pre- dicted, new disappointments. Those who have visited on individuals instead of on the system the blame of the shortcomings of the past twelve months, will not, we fear, havea much better batance sheet to show at the end of the next. The good intentions that periodically pave the avenues of the City Hall, as well as those of the nether world, do not usually stand much wear and tear; and we confess we do not see any fresh features in the prospect before us which hold out the hope of a marked improve- ment in the administration of our city affairs. It is to measures, not men, that we must look for effectual reforms in that quarter; and those who expect that the shifting of the responsibili- ty from one set of shoulders to another will alter the character of the evils under which we are suffering, will find themselves, we fear, greatly mistaken. The new Mayor, Mr. Tiemann, has the repu- tation of being an upright and worthy citizen, and we doubt not enters upon his duties with the determination of discharging them con- scientiously. But in what shall we be benefitted by this integrity of purpose on his part? Be- tween the intrigues of the spoilsmen and office seekers who have contributed to his election, and the restrictions imposed upon him by the new Charter, he will find himself tied hand and foot, and exposed, like his predecessors, to the odium of other men’s acts. If he possesses energy and firmness, he may succeed in making his own conduct stand out in relief from the atmosphere of corruption by which he will be surrounded, but he will not be the less powerless to work out the views with which he is said to enter office. His administration may redound to his own credit, but it will benefit but little his fellow citizens. Should he, on the other hand, allow himself to be made a blind instrument in the hands of those who have taken him up, he will become one of the most unpopular Mayors we have ever had. Weakness in a chief magistrate is a much more dangerous quality than even venality, for it makes him an easy tool in the hands of the corrupt. The really dishonest man is content to secure his own in- terests, whilst the weak man is made to subserve the interests of every rogue that approaches him. It is this very easiness of character that the new Mayor will bave to guard against as one of the greatest dangers of his administra- tion. Had the principle of centering the controlling powers over the departments in the hands of the Mayor been fully carried out in the new charter, Mr. Tiemann would probably have been as good a man as any. other to wield it. His uprightness of purpose would not then be thwarted by counter influences, or his amiability vexed by a deter- mined opposition to his will. With a machinery to which he alone would possess the key, all would go smoothly and well, and the city be benefitted by his administration; but with the imperium in imperio created by the new charter, in the independent powers granted to the Comptroller and the Corporation Counsel, it is evident that the present system must work un- satisfactorily both for the public and the Mayor, and that the latter will in the end be as much damaged by it in reputation as any of his pre- decessors, It is a pity thus to throw cold water on the hopes expressed of the results of the new Mayoralty. The experience of the past, however, should warn people how they in- dulge in such rose colored anticipations, If it be desired to give Mr. Tiemann a chance of exhibiting the influence ef the qualities claimed for him by his supporters, and of making his official career one of un- | questionable utility to the public, the opportunity has yet to be created. With the charter as at present framed, it is evident that be can do nothing. Why not amend the charter? Let the Legislature subordinate all the departments of the city government to his control, subject of course to the approval of the Board of Aldermen, just as the powers of the President are in their turn controlled by the Senate, and we will answer for it that the influence of an honest Mayor will make itself felt throughout every branch of the city ad- ministration. Until this be done, it matters but little who fills the office, provided he have suf- ficient independence of character not to allow himself to be made a passive tool in the hands of profligate gubordinates. It is unity of sys- tem more than individual merit, or even up rightness, that is required. When we get a charter framed for the public interest, and not for that of political adventurers, we can readily find men to give it effect. Mayor Woop Anroan.—Our late Mayor, who gracefully resigned the staff of office on New Year's day, is, with his family, about to depart upon an extended tour through Burope and Asia, visiting the principal Continental cities, Greece and Turkey, and passing through Syria to the Holy Land. Mr. Wood will have an ampleopportunity to study the various forms of municipal government in the great Euro- ri cities, and to verify his own theory, that t is our system alone that is to be blamed for the misrule of New York. The New State of Things in Mexico—The Last Chance of that Repubiic. No one who has followed the course of affairs’ in Mexico during the last twelve months is at all surprised at the events which have taken place there. When the Mexican constitution, which has so lately been swept away, was pro- mulgated a few months since, we carefully ex- amined its provisions, and unhesitatingly as- serted that it was utterly impracticable as a theory of government, and must end either in anarchy or absolutism. Stripping the execu- tive branch of all power, the interests of the country were given over to a mere debating club, under the name of a Congress composed of a single chamber, which was to be in per- petual session, either as Congress or as a Con- gressional Committee of one member from each State of the confederacy. The experiment of government under this form failed in the first thirty days of the first session, and resulted in the conferring of limited dictatorial powers upon the constitutionally elected President. But the Chamber still wished to be above these powers, and President Comonfort soon found himseif under the necessity of putting out of the way a set of ignorant but wordy debaters. _ This ia what has been done, and President Comonfort has undertaken the herculean task of reconstructing the decaying government of Mexico. How he will succeed in this, time only can determine; but it is very evident that he is now in the hands of the money lenders, who are helping him with small sums at the most enor- mous rates of profit. Unlesshe can relieve him- self from the drain which they are making on his future resources, or procure some assistance from abroad, he stands but emall chance of se- curing a long tenure of power. We learn from good authority that the establishment of a monarchy has already been proposed to him, with an offer of European assistance; but such a course offers even less chance of success to him than the attempt to carry out his high purposes through his own unaided efforts. The fiscal question is the one that Mexican and all Spanish- American stateemen have failed in; and the cause of their failure is nothing more than the fact that none of them have based their policy upon the golden rule that the public debt ought to be provided for on the basis of the contract under which it was created. But while we leave President Comonfort to work out his own policy in this respect, there are other points in the present condition of Mexico which demand the earnest and im- mediate attention of our government. It is well known that the power of the federal government of that republic is paralyzed in all the portions of country distant from the capital, and that the local officers of those regions re- sort to every scheme to fill their coffers. Nothing presents a fairer mark for their greed than the increasing trade between our Pacific ports and those of Mexico; and therefore, under the most frivolous and unjust pretexts, American vessels and cargoes have been con- fiscated, until our flag has been nearly driven from the coast. If the federal power cannot make its authority effective in the extremities of Mexico to enforce a just protection to com- merce, the nation has become dissolved in fact, and might as well be in name. The seizure of the schooners Curlew and Adda are cases of unmitigated villany, and the case of our Consul at Mazatlan is one of the most flagrant out- rages upon our fing that it has ever been our unwilling task to chronicle. Whatever may be the result of the new gov- ernment in Mexico, the duty of immediate ac- tion in all of these cases is imperative upon our government. A wholesome visit of some of our men-of-war to those ports might enforce upon the Mexican officials a greater respect and obe- dience to their own government, and do Presi- dent Comonfort a service in his efforts to re- establish the federal authority by making them feel the necessity of its sanction and protection. Such a visit would be of eminent service to our own citizens and their interests. ‘The New State Government. We have given in another place some valua- ble information in relation to the State govern- ment, the legislative part of which will begin its work at Albany to-morrow. The democrats have again the supremacy over the most important executive branches, and it is to be seen whether they will keep their fair promises made before election. It is, however, to the Legislature that we must look particu- larly, just atthismoment. There are threepar- ties in the Senate and Assembly—elected as re- publicans, democrats and Americans. The State Conventions of these parties were unanimous in denouncing many of the special acts of the last Legislature. Even the republicans, by whom these odious laws were enacted, had not the impudence to defend them, but declared, by resolution, that many of them ought not to have been made. The democrats and Americans denounced them altogether. Simple-minded people would naturally suppose that, as all the members of the Legislature go there pledged in this manner, the first thing they should do would be to go to work and repeal the in- famous legislation of 1857. Any one who hugs that delusion may as well let it slide. The first thing to come off is a grand struggle for the spoils. The republicans have a plurality in the House; the democratic side is much stronger than last year; but the balance of power is believed to be in the hands of a very small minority of “ Americans.” This balance of parties in a small body like our As rembly gives a grand chance for the operations of a hungry lobby, and it is quite unnecessary to say that the Albany lobby is the most rave- nous one ever known. Its members spare no pains in their clutches at the spoils, and they are abetted by the Albany journals, of all par- ties—journals which eke out a sickly and misera- ble existence by yearly stipends from the pub- lic funds. The lobby this year will be still more hungry than ever, because its mem- bers can expect nothing from Congress, The cormorants have been expelled from the House of Representatives—the Presi- dent has set hie face against the land dwindles with which poor Pierce was bumbugged, and the affairs of the nation are too weighty for Congress to take up its time in passing bills for the emolument of private persons. For all these reasons the lobby will be very fierce at Albany this year. It therefore be- hooves every honest mau in’ the Legislatare— we have uo doubt that there are a great many such—to keep a sharp lookout for the lobby. The members of the “third.house” will leave-no means untried, no stone unturned, in their en- deavors (o circumvent you. You must be more than honest—you must be vigilant, strong and watchful. Prospects of an Opposition in Fraace. The article from the Courrier de Paris, which is published elsewhere, is the famous article ascuibed to M. de Girardin, which has been um derstood in the salons of Paris as the continua tion of the crusade begun in the Presse. It will be remembered that the article of the Presse, which we translated yesterday, waa vague, loose, and revolutionary in tone. talked generally about a rising of republicans to achieve some undefined purpose; but what this purpose was or by what method it was te be achieved, not a word was said. The infer- ence of course was that the aim in view wae the destruction of the government, and the means a popular revolution. Hence the Em peror, in strict accordance with his well knows policy, suppressed the paper for two months. The Courrier is evidently in the hands of older men. None of the vague generality and ardent precipitation which marked the opinions of Mons, Peyrat and his colleagues can be de- tected in the article given elsewhere, and te which, no doubt with good reason, the name of Emile de Girardin has been attached, It looks straight and ‘boldly to the organization of a constitutional opposition to the government im the Legislative Chamber, with view to hold the government in check, and to secure for the French that practical enjoyment of liberty which under the Napoleonic theory, the empir: is of all governments the best calculated to secure. Care is taken to disavow all desire for revolu- tion. Elaborate distinctions are drawn between, the proposed new party and all the existing old ones. All the old parties, says’ the article; are based on the assumption that liberty and the empire are incompatible: our theory is precisely the reverse; and therefore we call for a new party to aid the the government in working out the Imperial regime to best advantage. All governments are benefitted by an opposition: why ours less than others? Such are, in brief, the ideas carefully expressed, under cover of much special pleading in the article under review. Two points will suggest themselves for com- sideration. In the first place, every attempt which the French have ever made to get ups constitutional opposition has been a failure. The opposition to the ministries of Charlee Tenth and Louis Philippe were futile until they became dangerous, and then they were merged in anti-constitutional and revolutionary ‘fac- tions, All the benefit which constitutional governments derive from a lawful opposition, working practically in concert, though nomi- nally in antagonism to the administration of the day, is unknown to the French statesmen. M. de Girardin himself promised at one time to be one of the most able parliamentary leaders of France; but he too fell short at last, and found no place in the chaos of parties which preceded the last revolution. Those peculiar elements which form the be- sis of parliamentary character—the power to submit patiently to defeat, and still to labor in the old track; the capacity of aiding ina work without being at the head of it; the coolness and fortitude which enable politicians in constitutional countries to endure abuse and every kind of ill treatment and still to carry on their daily work: these qualities have hitherto failed to appear in the French character. They may be there, of course; but they have not come out. The more, however, the position of French politics is studied, the more conspicuous does the advantage seem which the Emperor could reap from seconding the aspirations of the writer in the Presse and his friends, and which, according to the news by the Niagara, he appears disposed to adopt. Experience teaches that you can no more shut up alte- gether the mouths and hearts of an ardent and intelligent nation like the French than you can sealup permanently a boiler full of steam ‘There must be anexplosion ifsome valve be not opened. Now, what safety-valve so convenient as this constitutional opposition in the Legiala- tive Chamber could possibly be devised? Start- ing from bis present stand point, the Emperor could regulate the speeches of members and the license of reporters and commentators in the press with perfect ease; that which was really dangerous might be suppressed; for the rest, the opposition deputies might be left to blow off their superfluous steam in wordy assaults on the Emperor’s ministers, it being understood that the dynasty was beyond the reach of as sault, Really, as the Courrier says, the scheme is perfectly feasible, and commends itself to the Emperor's mind—the proposed amnesty on New Year's day will show to what extent, It may be the means of saving his dynasty when he is gone. THE LATEST NEWS. from Wi . ARRIVAL OF GENERAL SCOTT—ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SPRING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THR MORMONS— JUDGE DOUGLAS INTENDS TO SUPPORT THR FILLI- BUSTERS—OOMPLIMENTARY SERENADE TO GENBRAL WALKER—WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THR CAP TURRD PILIDUSTERS?— WALKER'S LOSSES IN NICARA- @UA, BTC. Wasmarow, Jan. 3, 1858. Gen. Scott arrived here yesterday. He will remain for some time, arranging matters with reference to a campaign against the Mormons in the epring. The ed- ministration is determined to pursue an effective and decided policy, and will send a force sufficient to overawe them, at the earliest possible moment. M Congress should refuse to raise the four new regiments asked for by the President, volunteers will bo immediately called into service. A joint resolution may be introduced into Congress te morrow, tendering to Gen. Walker, ag President of Nica- ragua, the privilege of the floors. It is stated on the Avenue this evening, that Judge Douglas will take open and strong ground in the Senate tm favor of General Walker and the filibastors. This, it thought, will set him all right with the South. To-day’s Union contains an article npon the Walker and Paulding affair, which is indicative of the course the admi- <histration intend to puraue.* Tt palliates Paulding’s course, and condemns in strong language the Walker expeditions, as tending w do grievious injury to all our national interests. Gen. Walker was serenaded at his hotel quarters last evening. A number of Southern members of Congress were present. Gon. Walker being called for, he received the party in the public parlors, where he gaye cach one @ cordial shake of the hand. A special metting of the Cabinet will be held on Tueaday, to consider the condition of the filibusters. The mea om board of the Saratoga refuse to be landed or discharged at Norfolk. But few of them have any money, and are wnac- customed to a cold climate. Gen, Walker estimates his losses, by the scizures of Davie and Paulding, at one hundred and forty thousand dollars. Gen. Houston intended t announce the death of Gem. Rusk in the Senate to-morrow, but owing to severe hoarse- ness he has postponed it until Tuesday. THE GRNHRAL NEWHPAPER DRePATON, POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE FILIBUSTER QUESTION, 2 Wastiwctow, January 3, 1867, The Union of this morning, in speaking of Nicaraguan affairs, eaye — Tt is quite clonr that the breaking up of Waiker’s cxpedition was the very result contemplated by his pre- vious instructions, however much the mode and maanor of the interruption may have been in conflict with either (es Veuising | Wag UebORs OF Uae strict Tuden of inten