The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, TUBSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1858. NEW YORK HERALD. SAMESB GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. @PFFICS W. W. CORNED OF FULTON AND NAS3AT BTS. —O——————— Wotame KEMM.................... aeseegereel No. 11 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADW. THEATRE, Broadway—Eqeereus. rx MEBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway—Joono—Tic8t Rorz Evo- BOWERY THEATRE, Gowery— Mazarrs — Aceosaric Faste—Wance Asnous. BURTON'S THEATRE Brostway, Bond street— A Baonn.on's Wirs, on tax Voice or Peesor—Oouumevs. WALLACK’S THRATRE, Brosdwsy—Tas Poos or Naw KKENE'’S THEATRE, Brosdway—An Unzgv: oi Buse Base. . ARNUMWS AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway—Afternoon wuararee, ontan Tne Kuicuarr, Evening: Vacentixs 4x0 Onson, LAURA Marca ‘Woo! SILDINGS, and 663 Broadway—Guores ra wooo’ Minoruete—Naw ‘Yeas Cas. BOOKLEY'S SERENADERS. No. 444 Broadway—Necro mangos is Bumumsquee—Wuan's Ma Mammat . MRO NTIO’S HALL, 472 Broads -—Baranr's Misstezis —rmortun Bowoe—faainep Muss. New York, Tucsday, January 1%, 1855. me New Fork Herald—Edition for Europe. ‘The Cunard mail steamship Niagara, Capt. Wickman, ‘will toave Boston on Wednesday, at noon, for Liverpool. ‘Tho Guropean mails will close in this city at noon to- Gay, te go by railroad, and at balf-past two o'clock P. M. te go by steamboat. ‘The European edition of the Heras, printed in Freach aad English, will be published at ten o’cleck in the mora- fag. Bingie copies, ia wrappers, six conta. Bubscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New Yous Haass will be received at the following places in Europe-— Leesor.. ..3amaon Low, Son & Oo., 47 Ait. Puan An Ruehes apres tractors aaa fy yo ee aga R. Stuart, 10 Ex stroot, Kast. ‘za,.... Ama. -Saropean Express Co., 21 Rue Coraeilie. ‘The News. We have advices from Vera Cruz to the 7th inst. ‘The news is important. A strong and active party had risen in opposition to Comonfort, among them Gen. Parodi, who had issued a proclamation against the Dictator, and recalling the acceptance of the plan of Tacubaya. Comonfort bad appointed a new | Ministry, among whom were Alecairis, Exparta, | Cerdo and Payno. On the Ist inst. he left the Capi- | tal at the head of a division of troops, but his desti- nation was not publicly known. Civil war was re- garded as inevitable. The death of Gen. Alvarez was reported. But little of importance transpired in Congress yesterday. In the Senate propositions were pre- sented for the establishment of mail lines between the United States and the north of Enrope and South America. A resolution was adopted calling on the Secretary of the Treasury to report the amount of revenue collected in each collection dis- trict from 1852 to 1857, also the amount expended and the number of persons employed in collecting | the revenue. General Houston introduced a resolu- | tion to give the President power to allow the fifteen | ‘officers who comprised the Naval Retiring Board to be tried as to their fitness for the naval service. A { joint resolution was adopted extending the power | of the President with reference to the naval | officers reported on by the Courts of Inquiry. | ‘The further consideration of the Kansas ques- tion was postponed till Monday next, by which time the result of the recent election in that Territory ‘will be known. The President's message on Nicara- gus affairs was referred to the Committee on Foreign | Relations. The debate on this subject will not be re- sumed until the committe report. The House re- fused to receive a bill providing for five additional | regiments for the army, and after a speech from an | Ohio member, sustaining the President's views on | Central American affairs, adjourned. 3 Mr. Pickens, of South Carolina, was yesterday confirmed by the Senate as Minister to Russia. The Legislature reassembled last evening. The | Assembly balloted half a dozen times for a Speaker, bot without effecting a choice. In another part of today’s Hararp will be found an interesting catalogue of the failures in America, Great Britain and on the Continent of Europe, with the amount of liabilities and assets. It will be seen that io Great Britain, while the former amount to four hundred millions the latter do not exceed eighty millions, or that the bankript firms will not be able to pay more than two shillings inthe pound, which is equal to about ten cents on the dollar, As this, however, may be considered an under estimate it will be seen by reference to the article that we have set down the assets at four shillings in the pound. The following are the liabilities and assets as pub- lished and estimated: — Liabilities Assets To Great Britain $400 090,000 $89 000,000 Continent of Burope . 900,000 {000 ‘60,000,000 Cane) States aad Canada 500,000,000 144,000,000, Total $1,000,000,000 $284 ,000,000 These statements show more forcibly than any language the rottenness of the whole system upon which commercial business in England and on the Continent has been conducted for years. Efforts have been made and are making to patch and bolster up the bankrupt concerns, in the hope that by such means the unsound portion of the commercial community will be saved from the impending ruin. Whatever aid they have received, or may obtain hereafter, will, how} ever, prove unavailing in the end, although they may postpone fora while their ultimate downfall. Attempts of a similar character were made in this country during the financial revulsion of 1937, but the efforte resulted ina most signal failure. The true policy is to let the revulsion take its course, for only auch houses as are conducted on right princi- ples will be enabied to stand, while those which are unsound and rotten must go down in the crash. We are now presented with a somewhat similar case to that to which we have just referred. The operation of the Bankrupt law which was passed after the re- vulsion of 1837 showed that there were nearly Sorty thousand . and that the amount of assets did not exceed fen cents on the dollar. During the recent crisis here, beginning in August last, the total liabilities, including the defaulting railroads, amounted to about siz hundred million dollars, and the assets will bly present a pro- portion of about tiwenty-five per on this sam, or @ total of one hundred million of dollars. The whole number of failures in this State, for the same period, ‘was about seven hundred, while throughout the whole country, North, East, West and South, includ. ing New York, about fire thousand took place during the crisis. Of these a considerable proportion were granted extensions. Mr. Theodore Sedgwick. the newly appointed United States District Attorney, was yesterday Guly qualified and entered upon the duties of his office. 2 We publish to-day the letters of instrnction from the Russian Minister of the Interior to the Military Governor of Vilno, and the Governor Generals Grodno and Kovno, developing the plan decreed by the Emperor Alexander for the partial and gradual enfranchisement of the serfs in the Rosian Empire It is a most important progressive movement, and doubtioss will result favorably for the prosperity of Ramia. The letters of instruction of the Minister of the Interior will be found full of interest, ps they Bet forth the details of the project. A serious accident occurred to the Chied Justice of Wie Buperior Court, Hon. Judge Duer, on Saturday might, from which he is likely to suffer for some Sime. It seems that he visited the house of his Prroriats, Judge Woodruff, in Twenty-ainth street, near Fifth avenue, and while descending the steps, which were slippery, he fell, and in doing #0 frac- tured his right thigh. He was immediately taken to his house in Union equare, where, at last accounts, he was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances, The Board of Aldermen was completely flooded last evening with public documents. The Street Commissioner sent in an important communication on the illegality of the street cleaning contract, and embodying the gist of an opinion of the Corporation Counsel to that effect. A lengthy document was re- ceived from Mr. D. D. Conover, containing alleged wholesale and startling frauds in the Street Commis- sioner’s Department. A message was received from the Mayor respecting the imperfect manner in which the work of the Battery extension is being done,and recommending that the Common Council adopt neces- sary measures for completing the proposed enlarge- ment. The annual report of the Corporation Coun sel, detailing the number of suits pending against the Corporation, was presented. The number of suits has increased fourfold during the past year, caused, the Corporation Counsel says, mainly by the refusal of the Comptroller to pay bills against the city of the validity or legality of which there can be no question. An ordinance to raise $170,000 for re- building Tompkins market was referred. President Clancy announced the various standing committees for the year 1858, In the Board of Councilmen last evening the President offered a memorial of Peter Cooper and others asking for the passage of an act by the Le- gialature declaring the office of Street Commissioner vacant, and empowering the Mayor to fill it. A Spe- cial Committee was appointed to inquire into the alieged defalcation in the Finance Department, consisting of Messrs. Genet, Bickford and Cross. The standing committees of the Board for the en- suing year were announced. The quarterly report of the Street Commissioner was received and laid on the table. The Brooklyn Board of Aldermen last evening adopted a series of resolutions, expressive of their sense of the public loss by the death of Alderman Charles C. Fowler, formerly of the Fourth ward of that city. In the Court of General Sessions yesterday John Cornell, indicted for grand lgrceny, pleaded guilty to the minor offence, and Judge Russell sent him to the penitentiary for six months. Bernard McCann pleaded guilty to an assault on officer Hyatt, and was remanded for sentence. John Caffrey, charged with rioting and assaulting officer Lloyd in Ninth avenue on the Sd of November, was acquitted. The trials of a number of parties charged with rioting on election day were postponed till next week. Thomas and Jas. Vansten were charged with assaulting James Stuart with intent to take his life, but the prosecution was obliged to abandon the case in con- sequence of the complainant being a convicted felon. Stuart produced what he supposed was a pardon of the Governor, but on examination it was discovered that his sentence was only commuted. Hugh Boyle, tried for burglary in the third degree in break- ing into the stable of W. Ryder, Laurens street, on the 23d of December, and stéaling horse blankets worth $45, was convicted of larceny and sent to the State prison for three years and nine months. Robert Mathews, a notorious character, indicted for robbery in the first | degree, very prudently pleaded guilty to assault with intent to rob. The City Judge observed that it was | his intention to punish this crime severely, and sent Mathews to Sing Sing for four years and nine months. John Ward pleaded guilty to an assault and battery on James Coates, he having been indicted for stab- bing him with a knife. As the complainant sought the quarrel, the Court sent the prisoner to the city prison for three months and fined him $25. The Grand Jury brought in a number of indictments to which the prisoners pleaded not guilty. John Wik liams (colored), indicted for burglary in the first de- gree, pleaded guilty to the third grade of that of- fence. His Honor, in sentencing him, reprimanded (ip for carrying a pistol, and imposed the highest penalty*the law allowed—State prison four years and nine months. Charles Ferguson pleaded guilty to an attempt at burglary, and was sent to the peni- | tentiary for one year. Our correspondent at Pernambuco, writing on the ‘2st ult.,says:—Sugar is quite plenty, but on account of the exorbitant prices demanded by holders all European and American vessels are leaving in bal- last. In fact, it is three cents a pound dearer here than in the United States, and one and a half penny dearer than in England. The stock is greatly accu- mulating, notwithstanding the demand at Buenos Ayres and Montevideo, Which is very great for re- finers there and at RioGrande. Flour ranges from $9 50 a $11 per barrel. American provisions and dry goods are steady, with a fair demand. The foreign news received by the Africa imparted greater buoyancy to cotton yesterday, The sales em braced about 800 a 1,000 bales, closing at an advance of from 7c. alc. per Ib. The news had no perceptible effect upon the market for breadstuffs. Flour was in mo- derate demand, with light sales at Saturday's quotations. Wheat was quiet and sales quite limited. A small lot prime Missouri red, with a little Southern white, sold at rates stated elsewhere, Pork was inactive and rather easier, with small sales of now mess at $15. Sugars were sold to the extent of 400 a 600 hhds., at rates given in an- other column. Coffee wae unchanged and sales light. Freights to Liverpoo! were easier, and 28,000 bush- eis wheat in bulk were engaged at 44., and 2,000 bbls. flour chiefly at 18. 10344. a Is. 11d., with smal! lots at 2s. Engagements to other porta were light and rates un- changed. Kansas In Congress—The Decisive Issue upon the Slavery Question. We publish this morning two very suggestive articles upon the Kansas question—one from the Charleston Mercury, representing the views and the position of the Southern pro-slavery ultras, and the other from the Chicago Tribune, defining, with equal boldness, the position of the anti-slavery ultras or nigger-worshippers of the Northwest. Between these extremes there is a broad and deep chasm which it will be impossi- ble to bridge over without the most violent collision between the sectional elements of hostility thus arrayed against each other. And in view of this tremendous and momentous contest, which is now close at hand, all other political questions, measures and movements, whether of a ministerial, sectional or party character, sink into comparative trifles. For some weeks past the two houses of Con- gress, “to keep their courage up,” have been “ whistling’ Yankee Doodle, with “all the modern improvements,” except the Kansas va- riations, all of which is very much like the playing of “ Hamlet” with the part of Hamlet left out. We have had all sorts of small beer #peeches upon treasury note issues, Commodore Paulding, filibustering, “the gray-eyed man of destiny,” the Mormons, and what not ; but since Christmas, Kansas, the overruling and para- mount question, appears to have frightened aH the men of Buncombe of both houses into si- lence upon that subject, as by common consent. And well may they shrink and pause upon the threshold of this Kansas difficulty; for as it now stands, it not only involves the dissolution and reconstruction of parties and Presidential factions and cliques, but the last and decisive battle of the South for her vanishing balance of power in the general government. With the admission of Kansas, the power, the prestige and the unity of the South will be vindicated, or they will be lost, and if lost, all the efforts of Southern men, and all their achievements in preserving something like the law of sectional equivalents since the adoption of the constita- tion, will cease to be of any practical value. All the merits and all the contingencies of all the compromisee upon slavery since the or- ganization of the government are concentrated in this Kansas question. Every intelligent reader knows that but for the wise and conciliatory policy upon this subject of slavery recommend- ed by Dr. Franklin in the Convention which framed our federal constitution, that Convention was in danger of being abruptly broken up. It is well known that the issue of slavery threatened the ‘destruction of the Union upon the Missouri question, until the practical com- promise was hit upon of admitting Missouri and Maine, a slave State and a free State to- gether. On the ether hand, the adjustment: of 1850, with all its little compromises, amounted to nothing more than a sectional armistice; and even as anarmistice it met with a formidable and organized resistance in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. With re- gard to’ the Kansas-Nebraska bill of 1854, it was @oubtless a Presidential peacc-offering to the South from Mr. Pierce and Mr. Douglas; but 60 far from operating as a compromise in any way, it has shivered to pieces all preceding compromisesupon slavery, both of a party and sectional character. The first result from the Kansas-Nebraska ex- periment was the destruction of the democratic party North; its second result would have been a President elected by the Northern opposition forces but for the intervention of Millard Fill- more; the third result will be the disruption of the Southern democracy, or the most terrible and the most momentous sectional agitation in the history of the country, The question to the South, as the slaveholding section, is the simple issue of life or death. If Southern men unite, they may enforce the admission of Kansas asa slave State, and thus maintain their prestige and their moral weight asa political balance of power, even though, with the admission of Minnesota and Oregon, the substance be lost. But if Southern men are divided in Congress, their cause is already lost, and their future destiny is that of humble submission to the North, or the hazards of open rebellion. The decisive struggle cannot be much longer evaded or delayed. Minnesota, with her State organization perfected, and with her Senators and representatives to Congress waiting impa- tiently to be admitted, must be attended to. Oregon will be also on hand, perhaps with the arrival of the next steamer’s mails from the Pacific. But Kansas is the overshadowing trou- ble; and we presume that all hands at Washing- ton, from the President down, are waiting the official returns of the late Kansas elections. The Lecompton constitution “with slavery” was ratified on the 21st of December by a heavy majority of the voters in that election; but the free State party refused to participate in it, and, through the Territorial Legislature, another election was ordered for the 4th instant. The returns of that election will probably show a heavier vote against the Lecompton constitu- tion than that which was cast for it on the 2lst ultimo. In this event, the Lecompton constitution will appear before Congress, first, as having been ratified by the people with the slavery clause ; and secondly, as having been bodily rejected by the people, slavery and everything else. What the President may do in this emer- gency we cannot undertake to say ; but, as the leading Presidential aspirants of his own party in Congress appear to care very little what his particular views may be upon any subject, he would serve them right to lay all the facts before them, and leave the whole responsibility to them, where it justly belongs. If he were to do this, and express his readiness to acquiesce in the decision of the people's representatives in Congress—whatever that decision may be—he would leave all the little cliques and factions to a free fight among themselves; for there could be no complaint made of executive dictation from any quarter. With the men of the South, however, there can be no flinching upon this issue, unless they are prepared for an unconditional surrender to the future tender mercies ef the North. This is the Jast foothold and the last chance for that balance of power for which the South has been doing battle for seventy years. The Charleston Mercury assurgs+us that Ala- bama, Georgia and Mississippi are prepared for disunion should Kansas be refused admission as a slave State. South Carolina of course is ready. But what of the border slave States? What of Virginia’ She was not ready in 1851, and according to the Tammany Hall manifesto of Gov. Wise she will not be ready now. But whatever may be the calcula- tions or the Presidential policy of Gov. Wise, the policy.of the Céhgressmen of the South is to unite upon this Kansas issue and stand their ground. In union and concert of action they will at least establish the sincerity of all their demands, threats and protestations in behalf of slavery of the last forty years. On the other hand, by ingloriously backing down they will prove to the world that all their past history has been a history of false pretences, and of wind and gas, and fuss énd fury, and nothing more. We may venture to say to Southern men that there is no danger of a Northern disruption of the Union from the admission of Kansas asa slave State. The commercial North under- stands too well the financial value of the Union to permit any Northern experimemt of that sort. The letter of Gov. Wise indicates the real point of danger against Kansas as a slave State to be on the south side of Mason and Dixon's line. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” We await the opening of the battle. Tue Pate or Commercials, Rascaurry.—Ft has long been usual to follow Sydney Smith's ex- ample, and write and speak of thie country as a nation of eharpers. In every great city of Bu- rope the rascality of merchants in the United States is aseumed as a thing too well known to be questioned. It is generally understood that the more respectable classes among us devote their leisure to the manufacture of wooden nut- megs and heree hair hams, which are disposed of by the people of the Fifth averme to the Irish and German immigrants on their arrival. This is a very common German and French view of the United States, The English view hase not changed much since the time of Sydney Smith, Recent events will necessitate some correc- tion of these opinions. From the statements of the London Times, it appears that able as we have been supposed to be in every department of swindling, we are yet eurpassed by our transatlantic cousina, the English. We seem to do very well on a small scale; but their rogues operate magnificently, by hundreds of thousands. They rob banks of balf a million ata time ; they draw a quarter of a million of bills on imaginary persone ; they cheat royally, and fail imperially. All this is ahead of. us. Were it not for our railway companies which we will back against any concerns or indfviduals in the world for downright barefaced frauds, we should have to confess that we cannot hold @ candle to John Bull in the way of rascality. We publish to-day in another column a mass of statistics and information relative to the great revulsion that has recently passed over the commercial world, and which, though still prevailing to some extent in the distant points, it is to be hoped has already exhausted its fury on the active centres of trade. The facts’ and figures we present open a wide field for reflection sd comment, but we shall only group together the great points of interest, and follow out some of the higher truths which they force upon our mind. The great accumulation of speculative values which our own market presented a long time since—railways built by loans, competing with each other with a ruinous extravagance of ex- penditure, and paying dividends with borrowed, not earned, money ; operators in cotton, sugar, coffee, grain, and many other staples, carrying large amounts of produce at prices which left a profit of from fifty to one hundred per cent to the producer; new towns and cities laid out upon lands held at immense prospective values, for which promises to pay had been given; ships of gigantic size, sufficient todo the carrying trade of half the world at 9 single voyage, built upon credit; the pockets of everybody full of paper, and a rate of living unsur- passed in extravagance based thereon, all tended to convince us, many months since, that the state of things then existing was fictitious and must very soon melt away. The ratio of profit was largely out of level, and the immu- table laws of trade demanded that reaction should come. It was then that we expressed our opinions fearlessly and honestly, and fore- told what our judgment and our experience as- sured us must come to pass. The revulsion began here, but soon spread to all the great centres of trade, for all were in- volved in same vortex of speculative values. England, Germany and Northern Europe have experienced its dire effects with greater degrees of intensity than France, Spain and Southern Europe, which have in a measure escaped. The immunity of these countries is owing to the fact that they are not commercial nations in the sense in which the others are so. In Italy and Spain credit isathing hardly gnown, and the same is true, though in a less degree, of France. These are in a great measure cash trading countries, and that system of distribut- ing the staples of commerce to their producers through the kiting system that obtains among the other nations, is almost unknown. The consequence is that their transactions are con- fined to the smaller operations of commerce, and to their own people, they participating in a small degree in the labors and the profits of exchanging the productions of other nations. Our tables showing the effects of the revulsion are made up froma variety of sources. Those of the United States are the tables of Messrs. B. Douglass & Co., whose mercantile agencies in this city and throughout the country enable them to present a view of the disasters here more complete than can probably be presented by any other country in the world. Those of Great Britain and the Continent have been gathered by ourselves with great labor from our files of European journals. They are in- tended to present a view of the commercial dis- asters, and therefore exclude railways, Credit Mobiliers and all other stockjobbing losses. From them we fearn that one thousand millions of dollars of what was supposed to be property has passed away, there being about one-fourth of that amount represented by assets which in them- selves are not free from doubt. This annihila- tion of commercial wealth is distributed as fol- lows:— United States and Canada... .. .$300,000,000 $14,000,000 Great Britain... .. 400,000,000 "80,000,000 Continent of Europe, Totals... ssesseee ++ 0:81j000,000,000 $284,000,000 To this sum we may add, in this country alone, an annihilation in value in railroad and other securi- ties amounting to not less than three hundred millions. In Europe the final addition of these losses has not yet been reached, but we can hardly sup- that in England it will bear the same pro- rtion to the commercial depreciation which it does here, from the fact that their railway re- vulsion occurred in 1848, since when their spec- ulative temper has been more thoroughly di- rected to kiting in trade. France, however, presents a field where the most extraordinary exertions are being made by an arbitrary gov- ernment to keep up the prices of stocks and to repel the commercial panic. The fear of large masses of unemployed workmen impels the im- perial government to extend aid to all needy manufacturers, and the Credit Mobilier and other stockjobbing concerns are being let down easily and softly, so as not to cause a panic by their sudden disappearance ; but these vast companies are rotten and hollow to the core, and before long their names will disappear from the lists of admitted wealth. One great truth is evident in these statistics. The result cannot be laid to any particular scheme of banking or credits: The financial systems of the United States, England, Ham- burg and Northern Europe are all dissimilar, and their paper currencies rest upon very un- equal bases of circulation. Yet the effects of the revulsion are alike in all; and if we may say that it is worse in any one community, it is in that which was supposed to possess the most rigid and unexpanding system of banking—that is Hamburg. From this we must deduce that the evils we have experienced of late cannot be laid at the door of any one scheme of banking more than another, but that it exists in a deeper and more all-pervading cause. Such a cause does exist in that enterprising spirit and ever active hope that is stimulating the Teutonic stock and its offshoots to multiply production with all the energy of its energetic nature. It is planting colonies, building cities, opening avenues of communication, ransacking every quarter of the globe for new articles of trade and use, urging greater consumption of new and old things upon every nation, all based upon the hope of future ability to pay; and, owrunning every few years its own and others ability to consume, those periodical revulsions occur in the financial world which now #0 regularly mark our history. But the results of all these labors and strivings remain with the world, and for the world, to its real great advantage. ‘The railways and steamships still facilitate the intercourse of nations and bind them together. The cotton ¢glothes man better, the grain, su- 2 ee eeeeensientinteenennneentin gar and Coffee improve his food, the palm ial cities abield him more perfectly from the tem pest, and the new articles for his use contribute to his greater comfort. His condition is every way improved, and thus, though nominally dia- appearing, the intrinsic wealth is either con- sumed by or remains with him. All attempts, therefore, to stop entirely these speculative manias and consequent revulsions must and will be futile. The progress of credit expansion is gradual, and is built up step by step. Merchants may endeavor to shorten cre- dits, but the attempt must always be partial, for as capital increases, the individual desire to augment trade will carry them to the utmost limit of the retailer’s or the consumer’s scheme of payment. The only thing that can be done is to provide a sound and safe currency for the community by stringent laws regulating bank issues; to separate the finances of the body po- litic, federal, State and municipal, from the speculative currency, and to augment the in- dividual ability of the wholesale trader to learn the standing of his customers through an organ- ized system of general inquiry and informa- tion, The power of our periodical revulsions to affect the great mass of producers and con- sumers will then be limited, and their effects be deprived of their sting. The world has already made some progress in this respect, and its re- sult is seen in the fact that the effects of the late financial crisis are found to lic with those classes holding accumulated wealth, rather than with the great mass of the community. As a necessary consequence, the revival of trade will be quicker now than was the case after the panics of 1825, 1837 and 1847. Tae ALBany Lossy anpits Inrivences.—The Albany lebby is one of the greatest controlling powers over the legislation of the State of New York. We have a Governor, a Senate and an Assembly, it is true, but the Albany lobby manages all these legislative existences as it chooses. The lobby consists of railroad mana- gers, canal managers, bank managers, office- holders, speculators, rogues out gf the State prison, and swindlers not yet found out. This combination of intellect and rascality in search of business, is the main constituent feature of the lobby, and is at the same time one of its most efficient instruments. One of the most potent of the lobby thfluences is that connected with the Central Railroad, Of late it has assumed almost the entire control of the legislation of the State. Throngh the lobby and its organs—the Argus and Evening Journal—it can work out almost any object of legislation in Albany. Occasionally the two railroad inter ests—the Central and Erie—come into conflict and have a regular set to, but they unite and make common cause together when- ever it becomes necessary to do battle against the canal interest. This latter also exercises a powerful influence in the lobby, being composed of delegates and contractors who have been making vast fortunes out of this branch of the State expenditure, and who are determined not to part with their chances if they can help it. Again, there is a new influence—that of the banks in Wall street—but how it will operate no one can tell as yet. Last, but not least, is the influence of the office seekers, who for the last week have been making their own arrangements and bar- gains in connection with the election for Speaker. The essential characteristics of all these interests and influences are corruption and ras- eality, under the guise of the public good. The Albany newspapers live out of this corruption, and literally owe their existence to the drip- pings of unclean legislation. As during the present session all these inte- rests will be actively engaged in pushing their schemes, through the agency of the lobby, it is important that a close eye should be kept on their movements. In view of the magnitude of their operations and the amount of public plun- der involved in them, we intend to despatch two secret correspondents to Albany to watch their proceedings and to report to us regularly thereon. Fine Arts, MR. ASPINWALL'S MURILLO. Mr. Aspinwall’s recently importod picture of the “Con coption,’’ by Murillo, ia now on exhibition at Williams & Stevens’ gallery,on Broadway. We had an opportunity of inspecting it yesterday, and have no hesitation in pro. nouncing it genuine. Although not as fine a specimen of this great master's style as those in the Louvre and the National Gallery in London, it is still a glorious picture. In general treatment, tone and physical attributes, we have in it all the characteristics of those celebrated works. The face of the Virgin is divine, and enchants the specta- tor by its marvellous beauty and softness. The arrange- ment of the accessories 1s almost identical with that of Marsbal Soult’s famous picture, but there are marked dif- ‘ferences in the tints employed. Every one who has soen the latter will recollect the wonderful transparency of the atmospheric effects, although prosenting a sufficient body of color to throw the face of the Virgin into relief. In Mr. Aspinwall’s pictare there effects have been to a certain degree Jost, either by the fading of the colors or the injudicious restoration of that portion of the painting, so that where we expect to find transparency we have only an Opaque mass of yel- jow ochre, through which the heads of the angels have the same difficulty in forcing themselves that they would find in a London November sky. Apart from this defeet, which, as we have said, may have arisen from causes be- yond the painter's control or calculation, this picture is an acquisition of inestimable value to the arte of this country. In devoting a portion of their wealth to the purchase of ; such treasures, men like Mr. Aspinwall contribute toa Progress which only required these auxiliaries to place it upon a level with that of the foreign schools. SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO CHIRF JUSTICE DUER. Jax. 11.—Much auxiety was manifested in the Superior Court this morning at the report of an accident which had. occurred to Judge Duer. Tt appears that aa the venerable and learned Chief Justice was leaving the house of Judge ‘Woodruff, No. 10 Twenty-ninth street, on Saturday even ing, betwoen 5 and 6 o'clock, he slipped on the steps, fell and broke hia right thigh. Judge Duer was removed to his own residence in « carriage. We understand he is somewhat castor. The injury is what is called a simple, ‘and not a compound fracture, and will be the more onsily knitted togethor. United States Distriet Court. Before Hon. Judge Botts. SWEARING IN OF THR NRW UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Jax, 11.—This e@Bing the Hon. John McKeon and Mr. Joachimasen entered court, accompanied by Theodore Sedgwick, Feq., the newly appointed successor to Mr.” McKeon, as United States District Attorney. Mr. Sedgwick received the congratulations of the Judgo and the few members of the bar who wore present. The Clerk then administered to the new official the fol. lowing oath of office — I, Theodore Sed |, being duly sworn, vl that I will ipport te Conmtitution of the Gnited Staten, and that I will thfully execute the office of Attorney of the United States for the Bouthern district of New York. 80 belp After the oath was admi — Personal ab J, Ragne wen eee infer of tallahasee, Fie, 8 a ‘inet. Fx-Governor Jt ©. Jones, of Tenn., and Hon. A. H. Douglas, ex Mayor of Memphis, Tenn., arrived in Charles. ton, & C., on the 7th inst. Ip sucamahlp: Neshetile—Mes Van, West, MESA P ON EW Boyden, L deodeld, J 8 Mallory, ¥ Dare Dell, aud 25 in the steerage, THE LATEST NEWS. Important from Mexico. OOMTBINATIONS TO PUT DOWN COMONFORT—A NEW MOVISTRY DEATH OF ALVA- REZ—OLVIL WAR INEVITABLE, ETC. New Oxcaays, Jan. 11, 1868. ‘The stenmahip Tennessee, from Vera Cruz on the 7th inst., has arrived here. A numerous party had riven against the plan of Taou- baya, consisting of a large majority outside of the mill- tary. Comonfort, the dictator, left the capital on the It inst. ‘at the bead of a division of troops. His destination wag unknown. Before his departure he organized 4 miriury, among whom are Alecatris, Esparta, Cerdo and Payno. ‘On Now Year’a day the Diplomatic Corps paid theie rea- pects to Comonfort; but the absence of the British Repre- sentative caused much remark. ‘There was a rumor of the death of General Alvarez. General Parodi had issued s prociamation against Co- monfort’s action and has recalled the acceptance of the the plan of Tacabuya. Civil war seems inevitable, ‘The Election in Kansas. ‘Sr. Louis, Jan. 11, 1868. The Kansas correspondent of the Democrat says that the froe State legislative and State ticket received an average majority of 186 votes. At Wyandotte the majority against the Lecompton constitution was 373. The Leavenworth ‘Times says that the average majority of the free State ticket in that city was upwards 061,100, and the majorigy against the constitution 1,370. Gentlemen from the Ter- ritory say that there is little doubt about the election of the freo State ticket by a large majority. No disturbance 18 reported thus far. Int from Washington. STEAM MAIL LINES FOR THE SOUTH OF EUROPE AND SOUTH AMERICA— INQUIRY INTO MORMON AFFAIRS— THE BOSTON RIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLAR FUNB— THE CHARGES AGAINST THE LATE OLERK OF THE HOUSE, ETO. Wasmmvatow, Jan. 12, 1858. Tn the Senate to-day a number of reperts, petitions and resolutions were offered and referred. Mr. Seward pre- sented a petition of Christian Hansen, asking the establish- ment of a mail between New York and Glackatadt, on the Elbe, via Ylymouth and Rotterdam. Mr. Bigler submitted resolution that the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads inquire into the expediency of establishing mail lines between the United States and Brazil and the repub- lics of South America. It is rather a significant fact, that with all our pretensions to the right to influence the acta of all our sister republics on this continent, we have not the most ordinary mail between the United States and the South or Central Ame- rican republics, and we bave to depend eatirely upom British monopoly. The Kansas question, at 1 e’cloek, was called up, Mr. Brown, of Mississippi, being entied to the floor. The subject, however, was postponed until Mon- day next, in order that all the facts relative to the recent election in that Territory might be laid before the Senate. Mr. Davis’ joint resolution to extend and define the au- thority of the President relative to the Naval act waa then taken up, amended and passed. The Senate then went into executive session. Quite @ number of unimportant appointments were sent to the Senate to-day by the President and referred. They cen- firmed Mr. Pickens as Minister to Russia, alsoa few In- spectors of Customs and land officers. In the House almost the entire day was frittered away in calling ayes and noes on frivolous and nonsensical matters. Mr. Faulkner, frem the Committee on Military Affairs, introduced a bill to increase the army by the ad- dition of five new regimente—two of dragoons, two of in- fantry and one of mounted riflemen. Objection being made it had to go over, the republicans all voting against it. The bill will ultimately pass. The House then re- solved itself itself into Committee of the Whole, when Mr. Groesbeck, of Ohio, delivered an able and convincing speech on the filibuster question, sustaining Commodore Paulding’s act and vindicating the course of the adminis- tration. The House Committee on Territories are making @ thorough examination into the administration of justice in Utah, whether confined to the church or civil officers, and as to the disposition ef the people towards the United Mr. Zollicofter, of Tennessee, had a resolution prepared, which he intended to offer to-day, to appoint a committee to investigate and inquire into the eighty-seyen thousand dollar transaction of Messrs. Stoncand Company. I under- stand, this evening, that a letter has been addressed to Lawrence, Stone & Co. , signed by a large number of msm- bers of Congress, calling upon those gentlemen to state whether or not that money was used in Congress, and if 60, who received it. If they do not give scme account of the matter they will doubtless be subpornacd to appear before an investigating committee of the House. Orders will issue in a few days for the discharge of the crew of the Cyane at Norfolk, and that yeesel will be pus out of commission. The Pawnee chiefs now in this city will visit the United States Arsenal and Navy Yard on Wednesday, accompa- nied by Secretaries Floyd and Toucey. These Indians mot to-day a band of Sioux en friendly terms, the first instance of the kind ever known. They have always boen sworn enemies. The Sioux made approach, and were re- ceived by the Pawnees with the left hand, the right bay- ing been used im their bloody work. Several members of Congress, who bad been summon. ed, appeared beford the Grand Jury in connection with the charge of fraud against the late Clerk of the House, but they pleaded their exemption and were excused with- out testifying. Mrs. Secretary Cobb gives a large dancing party this evening. Secretary Floyd’s first reception takes place on Wednesday. Twelve hundred invitations have been is- sued. Dr. Mariano de Briceno, the Venezuclan Minister, had his first interview to-cay with Secretary Cass on the sub- ject of bis special mission. ‘THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER DRAPATON. Wasumsaros, Jan. 11, 1858. The Treasury Department received to-day from the en- graver, and will iseue to-morrow, 150,000 Treasury notes of the denofnination of $100. ‘The President sent to the Senate to-day, for confirma- ton,'abl the Rhode Island appointments. ‘The consideration of Mr. Clifford’s appointment to the ‘vacancy in the Supreme Court will come on to-morrow. ‘The Post Office Department has issued proposals for con- veying the mails in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, lowa, Ulinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas. The advertisement is the largest ever pre- parod by government, making one hundred and twooty- seven columns of the Union, Vi 3 vice by railroad and river is sired, ana toeeoeade in of weekly routes are changed to daly and-trl weekly. ‘The number of routes in these sections jg probably twice aa many as those advertised four years Ago. ‘The Virginia Legislature on the Admission of Kansas, and Gen. Walker's Cause. ‘ward copies of the to our Senators and sentatives in Congress. oo A similar resolution was offered in the Senate. Both were laid on the table and ordered to be printed. Gen. Walker arrivod bere to-day, supposed for the pur- ‘The Nebraska ae the Lecompton Sr. Jan. 11, 1868. Resolutions have been introduced into the Nebraska