The New York Herald Newspaper, January 24, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETO! OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STB. TERMS, cash in advance. ‘UHE DAILY HERALD. two cents per 1, BT per annum. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every at viz cents per , =r. ‘annum; the Luropean edition, $4 ‘o bor or Breas Brissin, or $6 to any part othe Continents, both e PAMIET HERALD, every Wednealay, at four conte per CONT ONELET CORRFSPONDENCE, ‘querer of the world, 4 weed sib toe. Lm WOK FORKIGN CORRESPNDENTS ARR Par- TWULARLY Requmsrep ro Skat alt LETTERS anp PackaGus BEROADW. THEA‘ broadway—Equereuy Gisee Burree KIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway—Equesteunisy awn Gru- 3 i cael Rasnocesos, Mces, Exgraant, ann JORBES, Ac, BOWERY THRATRR, Bowery—Heaxs, tus Hoxtsr— Pavi Per—Kine or Cone. BURTON'S THEATRE, Jroadway, opposite Bond sireot— Twairts Nicut—Gorcuaus. —_ WaLLaCK'S THEATRE, Broadway—Tuz Vicar or Waxarnip—A Deciwen Come —_— LAURA KERN®’S THEAT! Broadway—MULTsER OF ‘oLmpo—Taz Licut ours. brecras Beisesnose Bak \MERICAN Mi! Broadway—Afternoon Jes eee Prowsez Pareror. WOOD'S BUIDINGS, $61 and 663 Broa¢way—(once Danity & Woon's Mixstaais—Tus Toopiss, witt CavpLe Lectures, Ne BUCKLEY'S SERRNADERS, No. 444 Broadway—Nearo MxLovies apy BuRcasquss—Tar Great Ox Horse Siow, MECHANICS BALL, 72 Preotwar-Bat anv’s Miner Es —Brnoriss Soncs—Daw Brvawe's Great Siow. ee ew York, Sunday january 24, 1858, ‘The News. After anexcited and protracted session the As- sembly adjourned last evening without having elect- ed a Speaker. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will present their report on Monday and sustain the ‘President generally in his views on Central Ameri- can affairs. They believe Commodore Paulding ex- ceeded his authority in arresting the filibusters in Nicaragua, and recommend an amendment to the neutrality laws, so as to hold for trial all persons engaged in hostile operations against nations with which we are at peace. The Lecompton constitution ‘was expected to reach Washington last evening, through the arrival of General Clarkson, “from Teavenworth. The army and navy warrants, that have accumulated to the amount of two anda half million of dollars, will be patd next week by the is- sue of treasury notes of all denominations. The Treasury Department has but little specie in its possession, and the employds of government will like- wise be paid in treasury notes. Despatches from Colonel Johnston, received ut the War Department, confirm previous accounts of the suffering and loss of animals endured by the expedition. Further ad- vance to Salt Lake cannot be made without an ad- ditional supply of animals, which Captain Marcy has been despatched to New Mexico to procure. ‘The troops were in fine health at the date of the despatch, November 30. Elsewhere will be found copious details of the latest news from Utah. We have news from Sisal, Yucatan,to the 6th ‘inst. It is reported that the blockade of that port was raived on the 3d, in consequence of the appear- | ance of a Spanish ship of war in the harbor. Some important facts relative to the alleged de- falcation in the Comptroller's department were brought to light yesterday. The committee of the ‘Board of Councilmen appointed specially to investi- gate the case met yesterday, when the Comptroller was placed upon the stand and examined at conside- rable length. The defalcation is aaid to amount to two hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Flagg stated that J. B. Smith, who, it appears, had the control of the books and important documents in his office, is the person implicated. He discovered the defalcation about the time of the failure of the Bowery Bank, with which Smith had dealings so ex- tensive fora mere clerk asto give reason for sus picion that fraud had been practised. Several of the vouchers showing the amount of money paid out of the office, and which were in the keeping of Smith, are nowhere to be found. It appears, more: over, that four thousand dollars have been paid for the erection of a wall in connection with a public work in Fifty-seventh street, which was never speci fied in the contract. The books in the Comptroller's office are now being overhauled, and the investiga- tion is to be resumed next Friday, when some fur- ther important disclosures are expected. The January term of the Court of General Sessions closed yesterday, when a number of prisoners were sentenced by the City Judge and the Recorder. The Grand Jury were discharged, having found one hun- dred and fourteen indictments—an unprecedented number. We ascertain, from the weekly report of the City Inspector, that there were 423 deaths in this city during the past week, which is a decrease of two on the mortality of the week previous, and of fifty as compared with the corresponding week in 1857. The principal causes of death appear to have been com- plaints of the throat, lungs, &c., diseases of the brain and nerves, and skin and eruptive fevers. Of the mber of deaths 256 were of children under of age, and 54 inmates of the public institu- The following table exhibits the number of deaths during the past two weeks among adults and children, distinguishing the sexes:— Men. Wi » Boys. Girts. Total. ‘Week ending Jan 16. 6s 1h 122 45 Wees ercng Jan ..06 14s 11 43 Among: the principal causes of death were the following :-~ — Werk ending~ Jan. 16. Jan, 23. .% “8 2 oe i Bearlet fever ‘. PY ‘Marasmus (infantile). 7 Dropsy im the bead w Measles ..... 2» Croup..... . Broochitis. a 12 There were also 6 deaths of congestion of the brain, 5 of typhus fever, 17 of small pox, 1 of rup- ‘ure of the heart, 1 of dysentery, 4 of disease ef the heart, 2 of teething, 2 premature births, 34 stillborn. and 5 from violent causes The following is @ classification of the diseases, ‘and the number of deaths in each class of disease, during the week :-- Baie. aod ere 66 Beil! orn And premature birthe., 8 a Ftomaeh , bowels avd other digestive organs. 67 “a Uoorrtain seat and geveral fevers, 6 2 Urknown The wamber of deaths, compared with the corres ding weeks in 1856 and 1857, was as follows :— ‘Week ending Janoary if, 1 Week ending January 23, 1451 > ‘The nativity table gives 318 citizens of the United Btates, 67 of Ireiand, 23 of Germany, 7 of Eagland, 2 of Maitish America, 2 of Sweden, 1 cachof France ud@ecotand, and 2 unknown. A fire broke out last night, at about ten o'clock Me the paper box manufactory of Silas Jon-s, No. 47 Maites ‘ave, The two apper stories and roof were damaged. ‘Tetal loss estimated at © on $derabiy aeinaat $15,000 The steamslip Waropa, which left Livernos! o- dhe 9th is row due at thie port, with a ¥ .ek's Boter news. The cotton market was leas buoyant yesterdey, whil> ‘the sales cobraced about 600 bales, closing at about yc NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 24. 1858 Accline, and some brokers quoted the depression equal to | honor isa jewel or a humbug. The Southern about ‘yc. from the current rates in the fore part of the week. Not much change can be expected in the present aspect of the market until further news is received from Europe. The giving way in prices, at the South, has tended to weaken the market bere. The flour market was inactive and prices were some less buoyant, while they closed without quotable change. The sales were mode- rate. Wheat was frm for prime lots, which was scarce. A small eale of choice North Carolina white was re- ported at $1 40, Corn was less active, with sales of new yellow and white at 65c. a 67c. a 68¢. Prime dry white was held at 70c. There was a speculative move- ment in pork, and including sales yesterday and the pre- vious afternoon, they amounted to about 1,800 bbis., in- Cluding some purchases for export to California, closing at $15 for mess and at $12 for prime. About 500 boxes ba con, Cumberland cut, were sold@sabout 7}<c. Lard was firmer. Sales of sugars were limited to 200 a 800 bhds. New Orieans, and sales of 2,800 bags were made from Hong Kong, the latter at 6c. a6%c. Freight engage ments were moderate. To Liverpool, about 3,000 bbls. flour were taken at 2s., and some wheat at 51¢d. in bulk. Rates for other goods were unchanged. The Great Question—The Administration— and the Country. The salient points of the Kansas entangle- ment now stand out before us in bold relief. Our latest advices from Washing- ton and Lecompton light the way through the labyrinth. The administration adheres to the Lecompton constitution—the peo- ple of Kansas are opposed to it; but hav- ing permitted its legal ratification to go by de- fault with them is the responsibility. The Presi- dent therefore cannot recede. Congress may; but why? Is it notas clear as the noonday sun that the speedy admission of the new State, as proposed by the President, will eettle the’ ques- tion, pacify the country, and “leave the people of Kansas perfectly free to regulate their do- mestic institutions in their own way?”’ Is it not just as clear that the rejection of the Lecomp- ton constitution will re-open with tenfold bit- terness this senseless Kansas agitation “from the centre all round to the sea.” The Leccmpton constitution, we understand, will within a few days be submitted to Con- gress, with a message from the President. In this message he will, perhaps, recommend, also, the early admission of Minnesota and Ore He anticipates no difficulty in regard to two new free States; but, on the band, though admonished of a dead; opposition in both houses, he will ad here to the Lecompton constitution. He will submit it to Congress as the only Kansas State charter possessed of any validity. The 10,226 votes cast against it on the 4th of Janu- ary will not embarrass him, because the work was consummated in the election of the 21st December. Thus, valid as were the Kansas elec- tions on the 4th jnst., for a State Legislature and State officers under the Lecompton pro- gramme, the constitutional election of that day was a dead letter. It was after the fact—it was mere surplusage, and of no legal effect. There is no alternative with the President. He must accept the lawful instrument as he finds it. And why should there be any difficul- ty in Congress? Why not promptly second the administration? What damage will follow? Under this very Lecompton programme the free State party have secufed the initiative State Legislature, the State officers and the member to the House, and the power to choose the two Senators to Congress. What sort of a slave State will Kansas be under such an organ- ization? A slave State only in name, and only £0, perhaps, for sixty or ninety days. Why, then, agitate this business any longer? Cui bono? What good will it do? Is it possible that Northern statesmen and Northern demo- erats have become so squeamish in regard to niggers that they cannot even concede to the South the empty abstraction of slavery? Can there be such folly and infatuation predominant among sensible men? Onur intelligent Kansas correspondent has re- cently given us a birdseye view of the state of things in that refractory Territory. Agita- tion, wrath, vengeance and war are the order of the day on both sides. The anti-slavery border ruffians were resolved upon a bloody revenge; and the pro-slavery border ruffians were in the same amiable frame of mind. The admission of Kansas under her Lecompton constitution was to be the signal for the war-whoop. Let them have it. If a hundred or two of the leading vagabonds on each side were killed off, we have no doubt it would be an excellent thing for the moral health of the new State. The de- pletion would be followed by a more whole- some circulation through the body politic. Decent men and law and order would supersede those whiskey drinking ruffians, and that whiskey border ruffianism which, thus far, have kept Kansas and the whole country in a state of senseless partizan fury and fanatical madness. Admit Kansas as a State, and leave it to the people of Kansas to purge it of her border ruffians of both parties, and the whole will soon be done. But it is manifest that among Northern and Southern ultras and political schemers at Washington there is much flutter- ing. Some have bolted, others are ready to bolt, and some are dixposed to shirk the issue. The nigger agitators at Wash- ington, whe live upon the slavery excitement, with the admfaticn of Kansas would find their sine qua non, of equality in the Union, is a prin- ciple or a trick. The test is this Lecompton constitution; and if Southern men ebandon it or sbirk it, their chivalry, honor and equality will sink into bankruptcy. To the democracy of the free States in Con- gress, and especially of the Northwest, it must be evident that if they wish to disband their party, and to give the black republicans the absolute control of the North, they can do it by keeping open this miserable Kansas cx- citement. And they can soon inflame this ex- citement to white heat, by rejecting this Le- compton constitution. A direct anti-slavery insult, thus cast into the face of the South, caa- not fail to produce a fierce and deadly sectional agitation. Admit Kansas under her Lecompton constitution, and within six weeks thereafter there will be a general calm; reject this con- stitution, and sections and factions and parties will be thrown into a strife of bitterness and fanaticism which few of the interested politi- cians will survive. The integrity of the demo- cratic party is a small affair compared with the peace of the country, but both are here at stake, The Bank of Pennsylvania—Mr, Allibone’s Defence. The reply of Mr. Allibone, late President of the Bank of Pennsylvania, to the charges circu- lated against him during his absence in Europe, by his colleagues in the direction of the bank. has a strong interest at the present moment. The revelations of financial and commercial rascality that have of late been crowding them- selves upon our attention would have been in- complete without the lessons to be drawn from this singular case. Without pretending to judge of the specific truth of the charges made against Mr. Allibone, and which we presume will, in some shape or other, be submitted to the test of legal investigation, we are bound to say that the statements contained in his reply are, if correct, wholly inconsistent with these accusations. fle avere that so far from having absconded with a view to defraud his reditors, a8 swornto by the directors, be left for Europe with their full knowledge and con- | currence, so far as these were to be implied from the fact of several of his colleagues urging his departure as easential to the recovery of bis shattered health, and also from their accompanying him to the boat to see him off. The acting President of the bank was apprised of his movements and was requested, if informa- tion connected with any of the matters of the bank was required, to advise him of it. Besides these circumstances of publicity there was nothing in the then condition of the bank which, according to Mr. Allibone’s impressions, render- ed his departure either inconvenient or critical. Before be consented to leave he was given to understand that the arrangement with the other city banks to continue the daily exchanges, and not exact immediate settlement, bad been per- fected. To constitute the fraudulent intention charg- ed against this gentleman, we have, therefore, if we are to believe his statement, most of the circumstances wanting which would go to es- tabish a moral, much less, a legal inference, An absconding debtor he certainly was not, if the publicity with which he asserts that he sur- rounded his movements is not contradicted by reliable evidence. With regard to any prospec. tive intentions that might be attributed to him, based upon anticipated difficulties of the bank, his answer seems equally plausible. He states that he was the largest stockolder in the concern, owning upwards of two hundred thou- sand dollars worth of it—a portion of which, he admits, was paid for by money advanced by his private friends: that if he had been called upon to take up this stock, and give other securities, he could readily have done so, having a large and mostly unincumbered real estate, which would have enabled him to meet all demands; and that when he left home, he left the full legal contro! of his property to two attorneys— one of whom was a director of the bank, and at the time its acting President. If these state- ments be established, then it is clear that neither in appearance nor in intention, neither in equity nor in law, was Mr. Allibone an absconding and fraudulent debtor. ‘There is another circumstance in this case which would tend to bear out the presumption that Mr. Allibone is incapable of the conduct attributed to him. The moment that he heard of the charges made against him during his ab- sence abroad, he wrote to contradict them, and to ask the public to suspend their judgment until he was sufficiently recovered to return home to confront his accusers. The instant his medical advisers considered him strong enough to travel, he fulfilled his promise; and as soon as he arrived in Philadelphia he published his reply. We await the coumsee statement of the directors before we pronounce any more posi- tive opinion upon the merits of this controversy ; but, judging from the prompt and decisive manner in which Mr. Allibone has met these charges, and the fact that they were advanced at a time when it was not expected that he would ever live to refute them, we are afraid that it will tarn out that they were made from occupation gone. Théy are the border ruffians | convenience, and with a view to throw upon of Congress. Kansas is thelr téreat stock in trade. It is slipping through their fingers. Their case is desperate, and they will fight hard. In this eategory we have reason to suspect that the clamorous fire-eaters of the South are as treacherourly inclined as the noisy dirt-eaters of the North. They live upon the same hot broth of agitation; and it is as necesdary to the life of the fire-cater as to that of the dirt-eater. Bot we are persuaded that the masses of the people of the Union, North and South, like the body of the people of Kansas, will be satisfied with the Lecompton constitution, Why not? The people of Kanens will thus have their own affairs entirely in their own hands ; the squabble will be removed out of Congress ; the question will be settled ; and the agitation will evaporate and disappear like a dirty fog at sunrise. We call upon Southern men to take their position. Consistency, honor, good faith and self-respect require them to stand by the Presi- dent. The hobgoblin of Kansas as a slave State has not frightened him. He stands to his policy and the law. True, the Lecompton con- stitution upon slavery is only an abstraction; and Kensns 4 a slave State isa myth; but the Pcint of honor and consistency is the point of Soutoern anfety. If they of the South recede or flinch, they are lost. They have been making too many tareats ard warnings, and altogether too much noise, for the last ten months, to back out row, without incurring the disgust of their ‘tiends and the contempt of their evemies, Southern chivalry ie a fact or a fiction. South- ero right: mean something or nothing. Southern the shonlders of pn¢ the responsibility that rhould have been shared b? man;; It was pre- clsely in @ timilar way that the fafié ana previously tnspotted reputation of Nicholas Biddle were ntade to bear the odium of the mismanagement of his colleagues in the direc- tion of the United States Bank. We know the Kistory of Biddle’s Anse well. He was a scholar and a gentle274p—s man of compiderable natural powers, elegant tastes and large fortune. He became a lawyer to have the name of baving something to do, and obtained the reputatien of being a ready and fluent writer. It was these qualities that probably poiuted him out to the attention of the specula- tors who were concerned in getting up the United States Bank, and he was drawn into the direction in order that bis name and influence might inspire confidence in their proceedings. Although it was bis pen that drew up most of the reports of the bank, he was only permitted to learn as much-of ite affairs as it euited his colleagues to impart to him. They furnished him the statirtics, and he clothed them in the graces of a style that has ever since served asa model for the diction of the school of florid finance. But notwithstanding that he could turn a period well, and make ready use of the facts of others, Biddle was only an instru- ment in the hands of the crafty and designing men who made use of his name to advance their personal interests, When through the mismanagement and unprincipled conduct of these persons the bank broke down, they turned round upon poor Biddle, procured his indictment before a jury, and ulti- mately broke his heart, whilst they themselves retired into private life to enjoy the profits of their villany. Taken as a class, there is not a meaner or more cowardly or &® more contemptible set of speculators on the face of the globe than the Philadelphia financiers. They have not the manliness to face the consequences of their own rascalities without endeavoring to cast the blame and responsibility of them upon others. It is conduct like this which Mr. Allibone charges against his late colleagues. It is to be hoped, both for their sakes as well as his, that they will be able to show that they have acted under the influence of erroneous impressions. THe Corruption InvestiGaTiING ComMItrEEs or Conaress.—It isa curious commentary upon the legislation of the country that there are now going on no less than five investigations of alleged frauds upon the country, through the corruption of executive officers or members of Congress. We allude to— First—The eighty+even thousand dollar bribe said to have been paid by Lawrence, Stone &Co. to members of Congress to secure the passage of a certain clause in the amended tariff act of 1857. Second—The item of eight thousand dollars for editorial serviges said to have been dis bursed to certain persons connected with the New York press. Third—The alleged corruption in the sale of the Fort Snelling property. Fourth—The examination into the accounts of ihe Clerk of the late House. Fifth—A similar examination with regard to the Doorkeeper of the late House. There are several other matters of the same kind that have not yet taken a definite form, and among them some alleged frauds in the contracts for army transportation during the Mormon war. It will be remembered that the New York Henatp was the first journal to direct the atten- tion of Congress and the people to the whole- sale lobby operations during the last Congress. Other journals took the matter up, and the last Congress, about a year ago, was shamed into appoipting an investigating committee, of which Mm Kelsey, of New York, was Chair- man, and Mr. Speaker Orr one of the members. On the 20th February that committee made a report which created a tremendous sensation throughout the country. That report recom- mended the expulsion of Mesars. Gilbert, Ed- wards and Matteson, of New York, and Welch, of Connecticut, members of the House, and the exclusion of Simonton, a correspondent of the New York Times, from the floor. It was shown that these persons were implicated in land speculations, railroad grants, private claims, book speculations and other aflairs of the same sort. There was also some curious testimony in relation to adraft for one thousand dollars issued by the Fort des Moine’s Company, which draft Mr. Horace Greeley “carried in his pocket” for some time, but never accounted for its final destination. All these things, and much more, appeared in evidence, but Congress was near to dissolu- tion and the guilty members dodged expul- sion by resigning. In the new Congress we find Matteson taking his seat as if nothing had hap- pened, and Simonton still continuing to haunt the scene of his public shame and disgrace. All the matters now being investigated by the Thirty-fifth Congress are legacies from its immediate predecessor. The old committee only half finished its work, and the new ones should complete it. They should find out all about the circumstances under which Matteson keeps his seat ; they should clear up the matter about the thousand dollar check which Greeley has never explained, and prosecute to the farthest extent all the inquiries commenced last year, and necessarily suspended on account of fhe late period in the session at which they were com- menced. The honest members of Congress owe this as a measure of justice to their own reputa- tions ; and in the name of the people we demand from them a full and fair exposure of all the fraude, corruptions, and rascalities of the last Congress, More Minacies—Tue Arvostortc Aor Re- TunneD.—The best story of the day is that in the Freeman's Journal, to the effect that the Rev. Father Gaudentius, a shining light among the preachers of the Roman Catholic church, has recently performed several miracles in Brook- fyn; and that the fame of his exploits has spread so far and wide that the sick are flocking to him from all parts, and that a physician has actually been converted. Resting on the authority of Archbishop Hughes’ organ, the story will doubtless meet with implicit credence. We therefore hasten to notify the sick, the infirm, the halt, the maimed and the blind that the Rev. Father aforesaid will cure them, as he cured the pious Catholics a couple of Sundays since; and we doubt not but bis charges will be far more moderate than those of even the cheapest doctors of the city. We make this an- nouncement the more readily as Father Gauden- tins—doubtlees from drexpericnce—has not yet begun to fill the papers with advertise- mente, after the fashion of Radway and Senator Brandreth. The practical result of thie new feature in medical science cannot bat be injurious to the medical profession, Ae Fathet Gandentius’ weluore lncreane.’ ‘a will doubtless take a leaf from the Pope's book, who, from blesing single rosaries, got to blessing cranks full, and lastly whole streets full, at o 9 Toke; he will be able to lay his patient. in « row, and cure them all at a shot. At the most moderate calculation he will be able to effect a thousand radical cures in a day; which is allowing the Holy Father fourteen hours for sleep and three for eating and drink- ing—(these boly men, especially when they are performing miracles, require an abundance of sleep, also beef, and strong liquor, malt and spiritupus.) It is doubtfal whether New York and vicinity could supply much more patients than thie; though perhaps the country round about might keep the Holy Father employed. Still, when the fame of Father Gaudentius’ miraculous cures goes forth over the land, it is evident that the Protestant clergy will be rous ed te go and do likewise. The Rev. Father Beecher will unquestionably proceed to perform miracles also; and he will be followed by other preachers, black, white and gray. The chances are that a Inrge proportion of our popular clergy will be discovered to possess miraculous powers, and that our churches will be filled, as the Christian chapels were in the apostolic days, with infirm and sick persons waiting for Father Beecher or Father Somebody else to come and cure them. mode him the scape-gost of their misdeeds, ' What, in this case, is to begome of the doctors? Aaron Berr’s Lerrens.—A controversy is going on in some of the newspapers on the ques- tion whether Aaron Burr did or did not leave behind him a quantity of amorous correspon- dence, being the relics and evidences of his in- trigues with ladies of high family in this State and in Virginia. A letter from “Aaron Burr's best friend”—namely, the lady who housed him during the last days of his life—appears in yes- terday’s Express and denies point blank that there was any such correspondence. The lady is mistaken. When Burr died, we were in the habit of oceasionully meeting his biographer, Matthew L. Davis, who, having known us for many years, usually conversed with us freely about his affairs. On two dis- tinct occasions he mentioned to us that Burr had lett a quantity of letters from females of every rank and station, including several from ladies of good family in this State and in Vir- ginia; that these letters were in the highest de- gree compromising to their authors; that Burr had not confided the secret of their existence to any one but him; that, in giving them to him, Burr had charged him to destroy them; and that he either had already or intended to do so, We took little interest in the matter, and in a few days had almost forgot- ten even the names which Davis men- tioned as those of ladies implicated in the correspondence; had we desired to see the letters, or to obtain an insight into their contents, we have no doubt Davis would have gratified us, for he was a free talker, not famous for discretion, and was at that time full of the subject he had in hand, namely, the life of Burr. We have therefore no difficulty in believing that Thurlow Weed, who was intimate with Da- vis, did, in truth and fact, as he says, read the ‘amorous correspondence from beginning to end. We are quite prepared to suppose that he gloat- ed over it, that he made memoranda of the names mentioned in the letters, and that he treasured up alike the prurient details and the fatal secrets which that correspondence con- tained. To say that no man of honor would, unless compelled by duty, possess himself of the contents of such letters on such topics and under such circumstances, is merely to assert what every one is aleeady saying ; yet there seems no reason to doubt that Thurlow Weed did so. A New Way 10 Pay O1p Dests.—We have received the following letter from Chicago:— TO THE EDITOR OF THB HKRALD. CxicaGo, Jan, 20, 1868. ‘The papers of this city have continually barped through the present crisis that Chicago has had less failures than any other city in the Union. The reason is easily ox plained. 1 had occasion to try to collect a judgment to- day of a merchant. I found ‘his whole stck recorded uncer a chattel mortgage in the Clerk's office. The num- ber of chattel mortgages recorded up to to-day 1s 06,830, (uinety six thousand three bundred and thirty). vor 000 of them have been placed there within fess than three months, and rome of them contain inventories of whole stocks, making twenty pages of the record. Judg- ments seem to do no good, for near all levies are reple- vined. There are now over 6,000 cases im suit in this coun- ty, from the United States Gown, COLLECTOR, OF N. Y¥. It would really seem as though the laws of many of the Western States had been framed for the purpose of enabling debtors to cheat their creditors. How come these chattel mort- gages to be held good” Here, we should break them up—at least those among them which were executed subsequently to the insolvency of their makers—without any ceremony atall. Is there no such remedy at Chicago? If there is not, the State of Illinois ought to be noted especial- ly for the unsoundness of its laws, and people should be warned against trading with its citizens. From all that we can learn, the city of Chi- cago, where so few failures have taken place, is really ina more rotten state than any other city in the country. There is no noise about, failures, there, because nobody pays, and every- body is alike in default. Credit and property seem alike to have disappeared, leaving nothing but debts and insolvency behind. THE LATEST NEWS. EXPRCTED ARRIVALS PROM KANSAS—ILLNESS OF THE PRESIDENT—THE NEW YORK POLITICIANS AND THE NEW YORK AVPOLNTMENTS, ETC. Wasnisuton, Jan, 23, 1868, Both Mr. Calhoun, with the Lecompton constitution of Kansas, and Mr. Stanton, with the proceedings of the Le- gitlature in opposiiion t> that constitution, are expected this evening or to-morrow. There will be an exciting time; but the President is firm for the Lecompton consti tution, as the legally expressed opinion of the people of Kansas. Mr. Buchanan is indisposed to-day, with a coll, and has refused to receive visiters in consequence. The New York delegation and the New York politicians are intensely active about appointments, Yesterday Mr. Creswell was in the State Department for some hours, and inst night Mr. Sickles had a gathering, on ape. cial call, at his house. Tt is understood in official circles that Captain Meigs, the Superintendent of the Capitol Extension, will certainly be removed,on account of extravagant expenditures and arbitrary conduct. It is not yet determined who isto take bis piace. The Treasury Department bas but little specie in its possession, and its officers are somowhat surprised at ite condition. The employés of government will be paid in Treasury notes, except the fractional parts of their sals- ries, which the Department may be able to pay in hard money The Committee on Electiona have been in seasion every day for the last week, hearing the Ohio contested election case of Campbell and Vallandingham. Lengthy argu- ments wero to day submitted by both parties. Campbell's counsel asked more time to get additional evidence. The committee refused tho request, but finally concluded to report the facts to Congress on Monday, and let the Louse také #fith Retion as it thinks proper In the Maryland contested election eneg OFF Davie, the committes were unable to AETO* there being a tie as Wo the SomARERTHOR gf De IAF. They will also report the case to the House on WA” Stoke L. Roberts of Poeun it Mate Te Mr, Pacrincote of Ponn., Consul to Venice, Mr. Wyman of Ky., Consul to Vera Cruz. — ‘THe PRNERAL NEWeTAPER Dew ATOR Wasnixotox, Jan, 23, 1858, The Senate Committes on Foreign Relations to-day agreed upon @ report to be presented on Monday, sustain. ing generally the President's Central American Mossage, believing with him that Commodore Pautting went beyond bis legitimate limits in arresting the filibusters on Nicara- nan soil, and recommending an amendment of the New. trality laws, #0 a8 to bold as prisoners for trial all offend- ers captured in the provecution of their hostile pian Against nations with which we are pt peace. General Clarkson, Postmaster of Leavenworth City, is expected here to-night with the !ecompton constitution. It ie estimated at the Treasury that by the end of next woek Treasury notes to the amount of three millions of dollars, of ali denominations, will have been issued. Army and navy warrants to the amount of two millions and balf baye accumulated, and will bo mot by these issues. Patrice de Janon haa been confirmed by thasenate as Professor of Spanish at tho Woat Point Military Academy. ‘The witow of the inte Commodore Cassin was danger. Otsly burned at Georgetown yester lay, This morning hopes are entertained of her reeovery. —_—_—--- The Tornado at New Orleans, Wasser ow, Jan. 23, 16.8. Now Orleans papers of the 17th are io hand. che tor- nado spent its greatest force on the shore of Lake Borgne, but no soriour disactor ia reported te ee Ln Dempatehes from the Utah Expedition, Wasuixoron, Jan. 23, 1858, ‘The despuches received at the War Department from Colonel Jobnaton, dated Nov. 20, confirm the previous re- ports of excessive suffering and great loss of draft am- mala by snow storms, cold and starvation. A suiliciems number of oxen, though poor, had bocn saved to supply part rations in six days of the week, and there was-on band enough bacon for one day of the same poriod for seven months; also four and small rations. The storm dealt roughly with Colonet Cook’s command. He lost half of his horses, besides a number of mules, Further advance toward Salt Lake City cammot be made without a new supply of such animals, to precuro whieh Captain Marcy had been despatched to New Mexice, fer their use carly in spring, when the army, with @ volunteer force 2,000 strong, will mesume its march as soon as sap plied with horses and mules, and when the grave ca the mountains is sofficient to sustain them. Two volunteer companies baye been mustered inte the service for nino months, and it is expected that in a few days two more wili be mustered in. ‘The troops have borne the dangers end privations of the march with patience and cheerfulness. They are ia fine health, although some of the regiments are st!! suffer ing from frost bites. Another lettor from an officer of the army aays that ‘the Mormons are afraid of mounted mon. They area sot og cowards, like all assassing and robbers,’ and he foams that their leaders and those who have no claim im the val- ley will run away and require their deluded followers te destroy their property, lest it may benefit the army. NEW YORK LEGISLATURE, Assembly. Asayy, Jan. 23, 1866. ‘The question pending being Mr. Wolford’s motion te ée- clare Mr. Van Valkenburgh Speaker and Mr. Hugues Clerk, Mr. Crary (dem.) moved to insert the mame of William Richards on in place of Charles Hughes. Mr, Moons (dem.) moved to turther amond by insort- ing the name of Mr. Alvord for Speaker, and that of Mr. 0. Godfrey Gunther for Clerk. Mr. Sur, (dem.) ot N. Y., inquired if the gentionam had authority to use Mr. Gunther’s name. Mr. Moors replied that he would answer that the olec- tion would prove acceptable to him. Mr. Dayton (dem.) moved to reconsider the resolution of yesterday, declaring Mr. Alvord Speaker, for the par pose of renewing a point of order raised yesterday, that the amendment adopted was really equivalent to the adep tion of the resolution, and that Mr. Aivord was ia reality or. ‘A good point was turned upon Mr. Dayton by Mr. pernoll, (rep.) who reminded him that that ruling ud elect Mesers. Van Valkeoburgh and Rithardson, such am amendment to a regolution having once been carried, bet was lost on boing Fd to @ vole as @ resolution #0 amended. A great deal of talking, occupying nearly two hours, epeued on this point without g at any business ‘It was one o'clock before debate was ended, whea the decision of the Clerk was sustained. The question being on the motion of Mr. Moore to insert the names of Bir. Alvord and C. Godfrey Guntner im the pending resoluticn, Mr. Moore stated Mr. Guntaor ‘was one of the Almshouse Governors, and a worthy and competent man. He bad offered the name aa a compro- mise, ho (Gunther) having been found recently in the pie- the regular pominaiions of tbe democracy in New York, pom! ns 6 democt lew York. He pibdaese tas cnancwech. however, and moved that Mesers. Jeremiah and Seeley be aj waiton Mr. Alvord and conduct chair. (Much laughter.) The motion was ruled out of order. ‘The question was then taken on the motion to lay the whole subject on the table. Lost, 21 to 78. The question being on substituting the name of Mr. Richardson for Mr. Hughes for Clerk, Mr. Bakkk moved to — by inserting she name of Jobn J. Reilly. Motion inted @ committee te to the Speaker’a AFTERNOON SESSION. A vote was taken for Mr. Alvord for Speaker and Mr. Hughes for Clerk, with the following result:—Ayes 49; nays 52—Mesars. Adams, Beck: r and |, Americans, ‘voting with the republicans in the negative. An amendment, making Mr. Alvord Speaker, and Mr. Wilson Clerk, was also voted down by ayes 49; 52— Messrs. Adams and Russell, Americans, and itr, Roven. son, democrat, voting in the negative. Mr. Moors, ‘a8 a privileged question, moved that the doors be thrown open and the seats of mem bers be aban- doned to the lobby. Mr, Cran moved to amend by excluding all bat the members, officers and reporters the bar. He charg- ed that favor was shown to the republicans by the door- es. and prominent democrats excluded ir. Baker r d the insinuation and defended the officers of the from the charge. The CuKRK exptained that great Segre experienc- , because they ed by the officers in ing their dut were only holding over, and their ruthority' was question- ed by those desiring admission to the bar. After debate, Mr. Crane's resolution was adopted, aad a acene of indescribable confusion followed. The doorkeep- ers cleared thefl oor of the house amidst the laughter of the galleries. ‘Some of the more impudent of the lobby- iets slunk away into corners and endeavored to the notice of the doork re, but were, by direcuoa of the Clerk, ferreted out removed. A strong effort was then made to adjourn. Mr. Law opposed the adjoarnmont, saying that the House was now nearer than ever to an organization, for the reason that all the stakes were broken. It the House adjourned now, new stakes would be formed and new ia. jee set afoot. ¢ House refused to adjourn. Question after question was then put on amendments contemplating the election 0! diff-rent members for Speaker and Clerk. Every imaginable change in names was made, with the intention of driving off the vote on the proposition to elect Mr. Van Vaikenburgh Speaker and Charles Hughes Clerk, which appeared likely to succeed. ir. AtvorD then rose, and charged that republicans “bo Lad paired off were voting on all questions that arose. Much excitement followed this charge Mr. Hi. Baer, in & spirited and eloquent speech, re- pelled the insinuation, and called on the democratic candi- date for speaker to substantiate the charges by paming the individuals, Mr. Atvonn refused to name tho parties, en account of bis peculiar position on the floor, but repeated the charges, ind enid they were tru: of his own knowiedge. H called on members, if thus treated, to defend themselves by leaving the House. Mr. Moons, of New York, endorsed the statement of Mr. Alvord. Several gentiemen followed Mr. Moore, amongst others Mr. Cuvrew, who said:—If the democratic candidate for Speaker is afraid of tarnishing his houor by naming the momers who have been guilty of the offence charged, he uld have been mindful enough of it not t have made the assertions. One or two members then stated that bad paired off, but had yoted on questions to adjourn only. A storm of amendments, and and counter no- tions, and appeals, and attempts to adjourn, and poiu's of order, and questions of privilege then followed, one after apother, and were kept up unintermittingly, exhau-ting every device of parliamentary or unpariiamentary rule. For seven hours this was Kept up, the ayos and nays being called on évery trivial question, U6 P.M, whea Mr. Lawnive rose to & to some appeal takea from democracy. Seat grew vacant one after another, and = retiring ——- bg stalking across the fleor, lisappearing throug cloak room door. It soon be- camo apparent that the democracy had rosolved to follow Mr. Alvord's advice, and protect themselves by flight. After ny oe 4 the roll was calied, and sixty three members ohly were found to be t. These were Se were i ube renion and orwre rmatrong, Chauncey, , Engs, Lanning, Me’ M. Miller, Parsoos. aud Platt, democrats, and sam, ir, donaspignited ifthe Houne had ir. ARD inquired if the had powor to estenten Setaten om over omee Tho Clerk said it bad not. ‘Mr. Apams then move an adjournment, and the [onae, day, at 1AM. = The and intense excitement prevaiiod sion. ‘News from Yucatan, : Wasmnatos Jatt, 28, 1958. Port tat => hoon raised on the 34, in gppaeasenr” Of the appearance of a Spanish ship of war, Don Francisoo Poraza had been elected @. Large Fire in Hartford—1.% $100,000, Hartroxp, Conn., we , 1858. Tho large five story buliding owned by WA..¢ Thrall, and occupied by several manufacturers, was totaly dea troyod by fire Inst night. Loss about $100,000. Wills Thrali’s and the Screw Company's lorses on buil’ting, ina ohinery and stock is $40,000, and the insnrance $1 5,00, T. Kohn, silk woaver, lose $3,000; insured for 8) “ov. Willians & Wylie, bookbinders, loss $6,000; insured ‘or $4,500. 8. Androws & Son, lors $2,000; insured. Ww. W louse, sterootype piatos, loss $3,000 ; insured for $600, A. R Jobneon, machinist, lows $5,000; no tosurance. Chas. Parker, epectacte maker, lose $12,000; insure for $1 000, L. Stebbins & Co. , publishers, less $4,000; insured 3 !,500. George Metcalfe, silver ware, loss $2,000; no iasuraace. B. K. Robbins & Co., wood cute, bes $400; no insursnon. A. ©. Goodman & Co., paper and stereotype piater, jae $3,600. Fettridge & Co., loos $1,000. Phillips, Sampson & Co., 1ons $5,000; insured $2,000, Drake, Prown & Co, bookbinders, lose $10,000; insured $6,000. There wore several other losses, amounting to one or two thonuand doliars. The building, with all ite contents, was a total loss. A large number of persous are thrown ont of om- ployment ip Conseqnence of the fire, It was the largest that has ocourred in tho city for twenty years. Unica, dam. 23, 1958. The leather store belovg'ne to % A. Gilbort, of tne cl'y, Was destroyed last ight by fire. Loss eethmated a6 $85,000; insersred for $90 100, Reeapture of Verena Criminals, Grvesvrenp, Maga, fan. 23, 1968. The nine prisoners who brok. from the jail in this poe qa Wodkonday night jast bave all boog captured and wv