The New York Herald Newspaper, February 3, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. TERMS cash ingivenms. AILY HERALD, conte annum wit etter Menus Sy Eea Sacmate 1 or WS per emu: ‘ons ase "Briain, OF GB toamy part af the Continent, bth of acrecrads HERALD, every Wednesddy, at four cenle por “Worcn tan’ CORRESPONDENCE, certaining important rece, eoticieed from any quarter of the world, rally pot for. bar Ovn Fourian Conusarmpeats aus Pam Seer = alt LETTERS 48D PACKAGES Wokame KEM cee cccsecceceee sees sees No. 33 AMUSEMENTS THIS DAY AND EVENING, BROADWAY THEATE: Broadway—Afterncon and PR A i Me Took, Tiguus, £0. PIBLO'R GARDEN, Broadway— Afternoon and Evening— somreuarsss Arp Grwstics-Paxronmina Ruirocenos, ftuies, Kexruane, Houses. do. BOWEEY THEATRE, Bowery—Pact Curronp—Forty ‘Tnreves—Briaw O'LYNN. BURTON'S THEATRE, Broadway, opposite Bond street— Mennr Wives or Winpsen—PooaHonTas, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Brosdway—How to Guow Biow—A Decider Cass. LAUBA KBKENE’S THEATRE, Broadway—Wuirs Lise— frrcren BrineaRoom. BARNUM'® AMERIOAN tad Evening: fuz Prowzer Parnior. WQOD'8 BUILDINGS, 661 and 663 Broaéyey—Geoucn Guusts & Woon's Minsramis—Tus Toopiss, wits Cavpie Broadway —Afterncon BUCKLEY'S SERENADERS, No. 444 Broadway—Ncro ‘MeLopies 4xD BuRLESQUES—DOWN IN ALABAMA, MECTRANIC’S HALL, 472 Broadway—Brvawr’s Mivsrexis Beaton as Romaa—G amen OF THE CURRICULUM. Wew York, Wednesday, Febraazy 3, 1858, MAILS FOR EUROPE. @ho New Fork Herald—Edition for Europe. ‘The Cunard mail steamship Europa, Capt. Leitch, will Loave this port to-day for Liverpool. ‘The Buropean mails will close in this city at a quarter before ten o'clock this morning. ‘The Burcpoan edition of tne MrRatp, printed in French ead English, will be published at nine o’cleck tn tke morn- tog. Singie copies, in wrappers, six cents. Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the Mae Yors Besa will be received at the following Pinces in Europe:— Lowsen.. ..Sameon Low, Son & Ca. , 47 nil. ‘Am.-European Express Co.,61 King William st com .....Am.-European Express Co. , 8 Place de la Bourse, (Crvmerooi.Am.-uropean Express Co., 9 Chapei street. . Stuart, 10 Exchange street, East. Aaynn.,...Ama. European Express Co., 21 Rue The coatenta of the European edition of the Hwratp wil yombine the news received by mail and telograph at the sifice duvng the previous week and up to the hour of pub. een, i ‘The News. Yesterday was a day of excitement in Washing- ton. The Lecompton constitution, accompanied by &@ message, was sent into Congress by Mr. Buchanan. ‘The President says that a great delusion seems to pervade the public mind in regard to the state of parties in Kansas—that the dividing line there is not between iwo political parties, both ackuowledg- ing the lawful existence of the government, but be- tween those who are loyal to this government and ‘those who are endeavoring to destroy it by force and usurpation, and that their efforts would have been accomplished had it not been for the troops of the United States. The President further states that a | large portion of the people of Kansas have | deen in a state of actual rebellion ever since | thia imauguration, and that the Topeka govern- ment is in direct opposition to the one pre- sented and recognized by Congress. So far as | regards slavery in Kansas, the President asserts that | dt exists in that Territory by virtue of the constitu. | tion of the United States, and that Kansas is as much a slave Stute as Georgia or South Carolina. | Mr. Buchanan advocates the speedy admission of | Kansas asa State, as the only means of restoring tranquillity to that distracted Territory. An ani- mated and exciting debate ex la the Senate «pon the motion to print th ange, journmeat. Ia the House vouch excitement and confi prevaited. Farther intelligence from Washington confirms the hisel, the Mormon delegate, has pabitious to the President for the purchase | of the Mormon property ia Utah. Mr. Bachanan | Appears to have rather rejected the overtures of Mr. | Bernhise!, who ia said to be acting without the au- | thority of Brigham Young. Mi. dernhisel represents | the Mormons as generally inclined to ace. { Tater and favorable accounts of the U ’ tion have been received from Col Johnston by | dhe War Department. Colone) Johaston bad mus tered four additional companies of volunteers into serrice for a period of nine mouths. The troops | were in good health, and very comfortable in their | winter quarters. Au abundant supply of fat beet | | mi con bad been obtained from a settlement to th north of Galt Lake, The administration has decided not to enter into a contract for the conveyance of the Pacific mail scrom the Telnantepee Railroad at present. The matter will probably be postponed for some months. Very little business was transacted in the State Senate yesterday. A tew bills were introdaced, and the Senate adjourned. A bill for the repeal of the Metropolitan Police law was introduced into the House by Mr. Moore. After an unsuccessful attempt to have it referred to delegates from the police dis trict it was referred to the Committee on Cities and Villages. The House paid a compliment to Mayor Wood, who was observed in the lobby, by inviting liim to a seat on the floor of that body. Elsewhere will be found additional details of the late Mexican news, including ell the pronunciamien- tos, positions, &c., of the leaders of that distracted country. An interesting document will be found in another part of our journal, relating to the state and condi- tion of the quarrel between Mexico and Spain. The reader will not fail to perceive on reading the ac. { M. Lafragua’s interviews with the Spanish r of State, at Madrid, that Spain has by sof a proud and stupid Minister enlarged a hb by fair and moderate conduct might easily been healed. Mexico seems to have done all in ber power to pacify Spain, while the Apauish Minister seems to have sought a quarrel. ‘The jary in the case of Maurice O'Connell, the boy murderer, after being in deliberation twenty-one hours, brought in a verdict of guilty of murder, but with a recommendation to mercy, yesterday after- at four o'clock. The prisoner heard the verdict calmly and unmoved. The proceedings in the General Sessions yesterday were unimportant. William R. Beebe pleaded guilty to an assault and battery on Charles Puller; but the Recorder on learning that the complainant made the first attack suspended judgment. Julius Richter was acquitted of grand larceny, he having been «barged with stealing #26 sod a watch from Thomas i. Plumb. Barclay Connor alias Conklin pleaded guilty to an assault, and was rei for sentence. Joseph Thoma was charged with bb Christo- pher Lout in the cheek with a knife, but the evi dence being entirely insufficient to connect him with tue offence, the District Attorney abandoned the «ase, and the Court adjourned. The property of the “ Cosmopolitan Art Union,’ 9 Ohio concern, was to have heen attached yester- iy for debt, by the proprietors of Bmerson's Maga- ne, and we suppose that the property is now in varge of the Sheriff. It is an institution something ke the Art Union which existed in this city some sre ago. The Board of Commissioners of the Central Park ‘dan adjourned meeting yesterday afternoon, and ) ‘sed @ number of resolutions. One of them di- « that a memorial be presented to the Legislature, ng the State to pay an amount of rent equal to interest of the money paid by the city scenal within the Park. It was also ‘) competitors for plans for laying wound ‘ ir rey the State out the Park that their estimates must include, in addition to other particulars, the fencing, lighting, draining, irrigating, grubbing, trenching and plant- ing the ground; the filling and excavating, width and mode, of building the several roads for walking, driving and riding, and the cost of each item in de- tall, with full and sufficient specifications by which the work can be done—competitors to be allowed to present duplicates of their plans in colors. Ten thousand dollars were ordered to be drawn from the Bank of Commerce for the payment of employés: James E. Cooley, late President of the Board, sent in a communication acknowledging the receipt of the complimentary resolutions passed at the last meeting of the Commission. Reports from the trea- surer and the superintendent of buildings remaining in the Park were also received. The Board meet again next Tuesday. The business transacted in the Board of Council- men last evening was of a routine character. A mes- Sage was received'from his Honor the Mayor, to which was appended a communication of Mr. Smith, the Ottoman Consul, stating that his Excellency Rear Admiral Mahomed Pacha and suite, from Con- stantinople, were daily expected to arrive in New York. His Honor requests the Common Council to extend to this distinguished foreigner, whose object is to contract for a steam frigate, the courtesies of the city. The subject was referred to a special committee. The Committee on Streets of the Board of Council- men met yesterday and received several plans from various parties for the improvement of the Russ pavement in Broadway. As the meeting was known to be the last at which this subject would be con- sidered before the committee would report in favor of some plan, much interest was manifested by the large number of persons who were present at the meeting. The Committee on Assessments met yesterday, and agreed to remit the assessment levied on the Colored Orphans’ Society property. Dr. Felch ap_ peared in behalf of the society. After the commit. tee had disposed of some smaller matters it adjourned. The Board of Ten Governors met yesterday, and took the final steps to separate the two hospitals on Blackwell's Island from the Penitentiary. They are hereafter to be known as the Island Hospital, and will be under the care of Dr. Sanger, the Resident Physician. There are now 8,426 persons under the care of the Governors, being an increase of 1,596 as compared with last year's report. It is stated positively that the Police Inspectors + intend to present Police Commissioner James W. Nye with a house and lot as a testimonial of regard for his services in the Commission. What the pecu- liar nature of the services is—whether for engincer- ing through certain appointments, or as Chairman of the Committee on General Discipline, in smother- ing certain charges against high officials in the force—is not stated. Some such adequate service has doubtless been rendered to secure so substantial a testimonial. Mr. Perit's resignation ha® not yet been accepted. Colonel Frank Anderson and his party of fitibus- ters arrived at New Orleans yesterday from Key West, in custody of the United States Marshal. We give our monthly statement this morning of the marine disasters which have been reported dur- ing the month of January last. The loss has been rather light for a winter month, amounting to 1,735,775, and is more than half a million leas than for the previous month of December. The list will be found in our maritime columns. The cotton market was quite firm, with sales of about 2.300 a 2,500 bales, closing at about 10%c. for middling up- ands, which exhibited an advance of about \{c. above the lowest quotations of last week. It is supposed that the deficiency in the receipts at the ports, compared with last year, now amounts to about 570,000 bales. Flour con- tinued heavy, with eome more inquiry for export at the late concession in prices, while quotations were unchanged. Wheat was scarce and firm, eqpecially prime qualities of redand whfte. A sale of 4,500 bushels goo Southern white was made late the previous afiernoon, on private | terms. Corn sold moderately at 68c. a 70c. for now yel- low and dry white, Pork was firmer, with sales of meee | at $15 375 $1550. Sugars were firm but quiet, while sales were vonfined to about 200 thds., chiefly New Or- | Jeans, et prices given in another piace. Coffee was stendy, with sales of 850 bags Rio at Be. alle. Freights were | taken tom fair extect to London, with, moderate engage- menta to Liverpool at unchanged rates. ‘The lasuc Befoce Congress—The Great Crista of the Republic at Last. Weare on the verge of one of those gréat turning pointe in the history of nations from | which they take a new departure for power and | glory, or te downward road to dissolution and desiruct'on, The issue now before Congress | brings us face to face with that great peril which the patriots of the country, from the old colo- nial times down to this day, have always re- garded with the keenest apprehensions. But the crisis is upon us at last, and the danger in- volved lies in the possible application of the mere will of a sectional majority in Congress, | regardices of the spirit of the constitution and the principles of the Union. Three new States are knocking at the doors of the federal Capitol for admission into the Union—Minnesota, Oregon and Kansas, The first two as free States, and the third with a pro-lavery constitution. It is upon this that the whole question betweea the North and South hinges; and it is upon Kansas that the conse- quences of sectional supremacy, sectional princi- tional parties and sectional discords and eon the one hand, or sectional con- ceesions and harmony on the other, entirely de- pend. It is true that the admission of Kansas as a slave State will not disturb her manifest destiny as a free State; but for all that, the prin- ciple involved comprebends the alternative of Southern submission to the will of the North, or Southern resistance, in a shape more sharply defined than it has ever assumed heretofore. The disposition, therefore, of this Kansas trouble must necessarily resujt in the most tranquillizing, or in the most mischievous, con- sequences to the country. The first symptoms of the impending struggle in the two houses are significant of the depth and breadth and inten- sity of the conflicting sectional passions and animosities that will be brought into play. The comparative calmness with which in the Senate this Lecompton constitution is approached, is, we fear, but the calm which immediately pre- cedes the hurricane. But when we see a dense black cloud rolling up from the Western hori- zon, and extending, as it rises, its heavy wings, North and South, and when we see the first flickerings of the lightening, and hear the first solemn mutterings of the distant thunder, we know what is coming, and we pre pare to ercape the tempest or to meet it. In this instance we may find shel- ter and security only under the compro- mises of the constitution, and by following the examples which have saved the republic in its severest trials. Let us recall these examples, for in times of peril we cannot too often recur to the lessons of the past. Our first great compromise upon slavery was the constitution of the United States. The wise and eagacious men who framed that instrament were, at one time, in dagger of an abrapt disso- lution from the apparently insuperable difficul- ties of a sectional character which they were called upon to reconcile. But through the con- ciliatory counsels of Franklin, and of others who seconded his views, peace was restored in the Convention, harmony was established in its deliberations, and fts glorious task was happily | absolute submission. consummated in the establishment of this migh- ty confederacy. From that day to this the peacemakers of the Union have been those men, and only those, who have followed most care- fally in the footsteps of the fathers of the con- stitution. There were thirty years of peace upon slave- ry from the adoption of the constitution; but then, in 1820, upon the question of admitting Missouri with her slave State constitution, the Union, pro-slavery and anti-slavery, wae shaken from its centre to its circumference by an agita- |. tion which threatened a violent disruption. But Henry Clay, Calhoun and their compeers of that day, came to the rescue, Peace was restored, not so much by the Missouri compromise line as by the admission of Missouri and Maine—a slave State and a free State—together. From this point some thirty years more elapsed with- out any serious sectional quarrel upon slavery. But in 1850 the territories acquired from Mexi- co, the Texas boundary and the fugitive slave question brought up the slavery agitation in all its comprehensive bearings. But here again Henry Clay and his associate peacemakers were found equal to the necessities of the crisis; and their several compromise measures acted like a charm in re-establishing the peace of the Union. That adjustment of 1850 would, perhaps, have lasted also for thirty years but for the Kansas Nebraska experiment of Mr. Douglas and poor Pierce in 1854, for the presidential succession. The ripened fruit of the Kansas-Nebraska bill is now before Congress, in the shape of the Le- compton constitution. Governor Walker rejects it, Secretary Stanton denounces it, Governor Wise despises it and Mr. Douglas disowns it; but it is none the less the legitimate offspring of that Kansas-Nebraska bill, The Presi- dent adheres to the law, the South de- mands its fulfilment; bat Northern men, thus far steadfast and consistent, now flinch and fall back. The law demands the acceptance of this Lecompton consitution, ard that great principle of compromise of 1789, 1820 and 1850—the prin- ciple of mutual concessions, North and South— imperatively calls for the admission of Kansas as a slave State. Thus admitted, she will, as we all know, possess only the abstraction of slavery; but the rejection of this abstraction in- volves the direct issue of Southern submission to the anti-slavery pressure of the North, or a distinct political organization ef the South, for its future safety within or without the Union. The acceptance of this Lecompton constitu- tion may spoil the calculations of numerous scheming politicians, and temporarily modify the present national organization of the democ- racy; but these things are trifles compared with the hazards of that purely sectional organiza- tion of parties which will follow the rejection of the President’s policy. With the repudiation of this policy the Southern democracy will inevit- ably proceed to the organization of an ultra Southern party. The next result will be a purely sectional organization of parties in the North, and the next step we may conjecture from the intense disunion excitement of the South in the campaign of 1856. In this view it will hardly avail to call if an idle and foolish re- mark should any Southern man venture the prediction that the rejection of the Lecompton constitution will be followed by a deliberate and formidable Southern movement for a sepa- rate Southern confederacy. The Kansas issue to the North is of no practi- ‘or, under whatever constitu- tion admitted, Kansas must be a free State. But even could she be made a Lona fide slave State, the two new free States of Oregon and Minne- sota would render ber utterly useless as a Southern balance of power. But to the South, although this Kanras question is that of a mere abstraction, it is an abstraction of vital impor- tance. Its solution amounts to nothing leas than a verdict from the Noith in favor of peace with the South, or a judgment demanding her Nt Regarding the subject in this light, we care liitle for the alleged election frauds of this precinct or that precinct in Kansas; for all such things may be readily rectified by the people of Kansas themselves, But, consi- dering the case in its broader sectional aspects, and in view ofa possible decision by Congress which may resuit in leaving to history James Buchaven as the last of the Presidents of the | United States—North ard South-—we urge upoa the conservatives of the North Ia Congress the adoption of the Leeompton constitution. The | social, political and commercial ties which bind this Union ‘together are worth more to the North than all our Territories, from the Missis- sippi valley to the Pacific oce: Curvarien Ween Fisiio ror « Goin Syurr Box.—The Chevalier Webb has come out in his big blanket sheet in a prodigious splurge of piety and thanksgiving to all the gods and goddesses, for the preservation of the life of the Emperor of the French in the present most im- portant epoch of his history. This is all very well, and every man of correct principles will rejoice at the frustration of the machinations of the cowardly conspirators at the Grand Opera, | as well as for the safety of Napoleon. The Chevalier Webb, however, claims that he is ‘the exclusive and peculiar favorite of the Emperor, and even ignores his rival, the Chevalier Wikoff, who has published mor, written more and knows more of Napo- leon than any other Americen. This is not the only error of which the Chevalier Webb is guilty. He claims that his big blanket waa the only newspaper here which, at the establish- ment of the Empire, predicted that it would stand. The truth is, thet the blanket sheet of Chevalier Webb did not take that position. The New Youk Heratn was the only joarnal which had the sagacity to predict at that time that the coup d'état would be successful and that the Em- pire would be permanently established. This position was taken by us in opposition to the combined press of New York, and the result has shown that we were correct in it. Tue Nove Festiva, or mae Day.—The grand Calico Dress Bal), which is announged to come off to-morrow evening at the Academy of Music, promises to be the most novel and origi- nal public entertainment that has taken place here for many years. We understand that there isa perfect furore among the ladies all over town in relation to this extatic affair, It will be more unique than any fancy or maequerade ball, and the novelty of the new tasteful calico dresses will be more piquant than all the fun of the masques and character dresses of the old régime. Nothing has been an- nounced here for thirty years—not even the famous bachelor balls at the City Hotel, or the masquerades at the old Park theatre—that can be compared to the Calico Dress Ball, as @ taking novelty. We further understand that ao great has been the rush for tickets that even the space for standing room is already alriost exhausted. NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1858. ‘The Real Condition of Mexico—The Conflict | The Falluze of the Bank of Pennsylvanta— Between the Church and the People. The condition of Mexico, as presented by our latest advices from that country,,is lamentable in the extreme. While the power of the federal government is, and hasbeen for many years, steadily waning, every little State and petty leader think themselves authorized to get up a plan for vaving the republic, and-to support it by 8 pronunciamiento, the respectability of which depends entirely upon the ability of the leaders to buy muskets and powder. We pub- lished some days since the plan of Tacubaya; this was followed by counter plans in several of the Northern States, Vera Cruz and Guerrero; yesterday we hada “saving plan,” got up in Havana by Santa Anna’s wite and father-in- law, expressly for the Mexican market; and to- day we have sundry others af the most opposite character and tendencies. In one thing all of these plans are identical; that is, ina sharp look- out for any possible revenue that may accrue. Thus Vera Cruz pronounces and remains per- fectly eatiefied with the collections of its own Curtom House; Moreno looks after the revenne of Acapulco, but the trade being small he is not satisfied; Parrodi makes a clean deduction of twenty-five per cent in the duties on goods im- ported at Mazatlan; and Garza pronounces at Tampico, arrogating, in his plan fer saving the republic, the right to make a new customs ta- riff to suit himself. These movements have re- duced the federal government to such straits that it is obliged to borrow, from day to day, the money necessary to support Its semblance of power, at rates of usury which Shylock himself might be ashamed of. A perfect exemplifica- tion of this is given in the particulars of a loan made recently to President Comonfort by Senor Eecandon, through Mr. Hargous, an American citizen, in order to give an American character to the claim. Ostensibly $250,000 were loaned, but of this only $125,000 is cash, and the rest in bonds of the interior debt, which can be bought at from six to nine cents on the dollar. This amount is to be fully repaid within a short term in cash, or else the government forfeits a claim it has upon Mr. Escandon for three mil- lions of dollars of the interior debt, for which it gives him new stock for the same amount, with a peculiarly guaranteed interest. In a few months, therefore, this small payment will be converted into bonds amounting to three millions of dollars, held by an American citi- zen, with a right to demand certain revenues of the government to pay the interest. The causes of this state of things are simple and apparent to every student of Spanish- American affairs. Spain left as a legacy to her American colonies a vicious fiscal system, that even in peaceful times could not but result in evil; and to this she added a union of church and State that has been for forty years the great cause of intestine disturbance and revolution among them. Under the protection of this union the church has gone on accumulating wealth and power until it has overshadowed the land. The political ideas of the age have en- deavored to find developement in these coun- tries, but everywhere they have met the antago- nistic interests of the church, which has fought, openly and secretly to maintain a theocracy with political power. Hence it bas resisted the political developement of the country, and fo- mented revolution after revolution, as it isdoing WwW. Here we have the true secret of the instability of government in Mexico, Attacked on one side by the pressure of the political ideas of the age, and on the other by the intense conserva- tism of the church, if it cedes to one it is ruined by the other, und falls. We should have had the same thing here, but fortunately the power of the church was broken in England before the Bri- tich colonies sprang into existence. Yet even now the church in New England endeavors | every once in a while to acquire political infla- ence, and political parsons claim a power which regularly brings out the political life in the people to erush it. There is and can be no remedy for these things in Mexico but the crushing oat the church a# a temporal organization. This is the only fight that is now going on there, hydra- headed as it seems to be. The liberals are in arms for the defence of their political existence, and are preparing sweeping measures against the power of the clergy. In the contest Mexico may be become debilitated as a State, and there is reason to believe that some of the Powers of Europe may look upon her as a “sick man,” af- ter the fashion of Turkey. But they may be ware how they endeavor to take advantage of her weakness, There are many reasons why we should sustain a republican government in Mexico, Not only is there an aftinity of politi- cal ideas and interests between us, but we may look upon her even in the light of a ward. We held her whole territory not Jong since by right of conquest, and in giving her back her political existence we assumed a moral guarantee over her. Then she isa contiguous territory to oar own, with many mutual interests between the citizens, which are continually increasing in im- portance, and with a future that looks to thi cbuntry for its developement. Under these cir- | cumstances our government cannot contemplate with indifference either the decline of or Baro- pean intervention in Mextco. Nberal government there, and time is pressing us to a solution of the questien. In the fight between the charch and the people the United States will be found on the side of the latter. A Goon Move tm tHe Rronr Quarrer.—Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin, has presented a petition to Congress, from his constituents, praying that measures be taken for the purchase of the island of Cuba and its admission into the Union. This is a good move in the right quarter. The Northwest is the great region that is most inte- rested in the purchase and admission of Cuba into the Union. That island consumes half a million barrels of flour and forty millions of pounds of meats annually, of which nyt five per cent goce from the granery of America; while that region consumes tea millions of dolls worth of sugar, tobacco and eegars trom Cuba, on which an average of three millions of dollars are paid as duties into the national treasury to feed the leeches of public corruption. Mr. Doolittie’s petition is a grvat nativnal moaeure, above parties and above sectional issues If this is a sample of the futuce policy to be pur sued by the Northwest, it will soon make its mark as the home of national principles, and the enemy of all sectionaliem and public plun- derers. The next quarter we expect to h from on this subject is New England. The lumbermen, fishermen, onion and potato raisers, and manufacturers of Yankeedom are far more deeply interested in the admission of the Union than they are in a hundred Sw and it is time they should find’: out, Axes, We are forced to | give rome moral if not material «upport to a | We publish elsewhere a report of a meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Pennsylvania, hich took place at Philadelphia on the let of owes The report of the directors wae presented ; it presents a pretty full view of the history and condition of the bank, and winds up with the recommendation that its property should be assigned for the benefit of its stdtk- holders. A stockholder naturally expressed a wish that “the destroyers of an old institution like the Bank of Penntylvania should not go nameleeg and unscathed”; and accordingly the meeting was adjourned to meet again on Wednes- day, on which occasion some thorough exposure of the frauds which have ruined the bank will probably be canvassed, In reality, no exposure could be more crush- ing than the statements made in the reports of the directors. In counting up their assets, they find $119,266 in checks and notes ot an insol- vent honse, of which Mr. Allibone’s brother was a member ; “of thie sum only $12,350 was dis- counted by the Board.” Another asset was the paper of an ex-director of the bank for $146,- 818 ;; and the directors “have no knowledge how this paper came into the possession of the bank.” Another asset was the notes of a railway company for $289,000, ‘discounted without the knowledge of the Board.” In fact this Board of Directors might just as well have been fn Kamschatka or Timbuctoo for any good they did to the bank or anything they seem to have known about the business they were elected to superintend. They seem to have been just as well posted in regard to the liabilities of the bank as to its assets. The bank sold bills re- ceivable to an amount of $178,128; and the di- rectors cannot tell whether this trifting little sum was ever accounted for. They were, in fact, such thorough know nothings in reference to the transactions of the bank that according to their own confession their President could borrow a hundred thousand dollars on the credit of the bank, and use the money himself without awak- ening suspicion in any one’s mind. Of course we must not be understood as en- dorsing the directors’ charges against the late President, Mr. Allibone. When that gentleman has made his defence we shall be better able to see what basis there exists for the wholesale accusations of fraud and dishonesty which these directors bring against their late colleague and chief. But whether these accusations are true or whether they are false, the fact none the less remains that these directors of the Bank of Penn- sylvania most of them, it seems, men of charac- ter and standing, paid so little attention to, and knew so little about the buvivess of the bank, that the stockholders could be robbed on every side and finally ruined without their entertain- ing the least suspicion of what was going on. Tf this is what they were chosen for, then the popular notion of bank government is very far from the truth. For our part we regret to think that the Bank of Pennsylvania is not the only financial institution in the country which is managed so loosely that its success would be a prodigy, and its ruin a natural event. Banks could be named much nearer home whose directors know no more about the concerns of the institution over which they are set than these Philadelphia gentlemen. Nor would the parallel stop here. If the statements embodied in the Bank of Pemmsylvania report are correct, that institu- tion seems to have chiefly existed for the benefit of a small clique of fortunate individuals, who were either in the direction Liemselves or had a friend in it; the vulgar herd of stockholders and dealers were not expecied to need the as- sistance or to claim the favors of the bank. This, also, is a feature which may be recognized in some banks not located in Philadolpiia. There are institutions in this city which have been started by enterprising men simply ia order to get discounts: that is to say, Indi- viduals who have not enough money for their own business and cannot borrow what they want, have undertaken to supply their neoemities by enter- ing into the business of lending to others: an operation which may be considered one of the particularly bright manceavres of finance—a homeopathic dodge in banking. It is perhaps rather (o be regretted that our banks should have gone through the crisis so handsomely and eo boastingly, in defiance of jaw, as they did. It would have done some of them good to be hauled over the coals It would have been instructive to see what pro- portion of the total discounts of auy bank wae given to the directors and their relatives, and what average balance they kept. Whether it be true that the great commercial banks will give a man $100,000 discounts on au average eash bal- ance of $10,000, so that in fect a person with ten thousand dollars in cash and a good deal of brass may do a business of million or two in the course of a year, it may be worth while at come future time to inquire: meanwhile, for the | present the banks are masters of the situation and can defy criticiem. Greevcey'’s Carp.—The Hon. ins away all the monton, except How. Massa Masea Greeley’s last card expl charges made against bim b: i in one point; and that is, who got the proceeds | of the thouraud dollar draft paid over to Gree- ley by the treasurer of the Fort Des Moines Company. Marsa Greeley denics that he paid it to Matteson, but admitted in a card, pub- lished some time since, that after carrying it for some time in his breeches pocket he paid it | over to somebody. Who was that somebody! Answer, Massa Greeley, if you please. Coroner's Inqnests, Srrcine my roomie Hinerty.—Corouor Hills held an quert yesterday at the tavern of Fiuliy Sammer, No. 370 Figbth avenue, upon the body of # German, named Ernest L. Backmann, who committed suicide by shooting himself, under the following circumstances —!oceased, who was & lokemith by trade, resided at the above number | for the last two years. He was naturally of a cheerful disposition, and never in any way intimated that he con- template’ suicide. On Monday eveniag he went into the barroom of the above establishment and asked several of bis friends t join with bim in a eoctal giaas of wine, Soon afterwarde ho left with the intention, ag it was supposed, of retiring to bed. No sooner had he got out into the hall than the report of a pistol startled the inmates. Upon pro- ceeding to the apot from whence the noise proceeded they ound deceased lying on the floor, bleeding profusely from 4 wound in hie rite, and straggling in the agonies of deat’. Deceased had shot himself through the teft breast, and died befsre a physician could be calied in. No reason could be assigned for tho commission of the rash act, De- conse’ was viaily employed at his trade, and always ap peared to bo in the poasesmon of excellent health and spirits, The jury in this cage rondered a verdict of «Death by suicide.” Deceased was a single man, twenty- five years of age, and had no relatives in this country. Sticioe wy Cornxe ms Turoat—Coroner Gambie hold ‘an inquest yesterday at the New York Hospital, apon the body of William Groate, the German who committed aui- cide by cutting hie throat while laboring unaer a fit of tomporary insanity, cavsed by misfortunes in affairs of businew. Deceased, it |, has not been in a sound state of mind for nearly two years past. In the summer of 1856 he waa un struck and rendered partially insane, ‘and over since he has been considered plight! po oraned house at No. 86 pereri peters of ton and leaves a wife snd family to lament his untimely end. Verdict, ‘Death by ev ad THE LATEST NEWS. from W: DESFATCHRS YuOW GOs GOUNOTON THE FESUTE PRC BAILBOAD—THE PARSIDENT'S MueUSAOR, WTO. Wasmncrtom, Feb. 2, 1858. ear Carr nnaS ot Titan uthics o the paneet conversation. There is but one opinion smong fair minded aad cendid men—whieh is, that thedoenment, ts Just the thing for the times. bas caused prodigious excitement among the black repubticans Despatches were to-day received at the War Depagt- ment, from Cot. Johnston of the Wtah expedétion, dhowt Camp Scot, Black Fork,, at Green River, on the 13tt of I bave the honor to report that twovadditional companies of volunteers have been mustered inte the service of the United States for nme months, making in al! a battalion of four companies of men, numbering in the aggregate three hundred and twenty. A term of six. months would be without utility, ag im that case the men would be entitled to their discharge im the midet of active operations. & term of twelve months was objectionable, as it would bring the period of discharge at #0 Inte a season as te make it impracticable for the men to reture to their homes. ‘These men were needed immediately, to-nid in protecting the supplies for the army, and the exigoney did not allew time for asking authority for their employment. Colonel Johnstom requeete that Colonel Huffman, who is in command at Fort Laramie, but who was ordered to Fort. Leavegworth on general court martial, may be relieved from that duty, aud repair immodiately to Fort Laramie to put in progress the execution of orders for bringing forward supplies for the army of Utah. ‘The troops are very comfortable and in geod health ia their winter quarters, Information Is also transmitted through the Subsisteace Bureau, that an abundant supply of fat beef has bees: eupplied to the army at Fort Bridger from a settiement two hundred and fSifty mi‘es morth of Salt Laie, and from whence it is supposed large quantities can be furnished in the spring chould it be needed in the army. The new Tehusntepee Company, composed! of Garay, LeSere, and Benjamin, have been laboring for nearly & month to get the administration to enter into stipulations for carrying the mail across the Isthmus of Téhuaatepes. It was decided in Cabinet to-day not to enter into eny con tract for the present. This will postpone the matter for eome months, THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER DESPATCH, ‘Wasuinatox, Fe). 2, 1866, It is true that Doctor Bernbeisel has had several lag interviews with the President relative to affairs in Utah. He proposed that the troops be withdrawn and that commission be despatched to the Territory to arrango for the settlement of difficulties. The President rejected re ther thax received the proposition which Bornheisel made in virtue of his powers as deiegate of Utah, and not par. suant of instructions from r Young. The Doctor saya thatthe people are disposed to peace and would come to any reasonable terms of accommodation: Tho bill reported to-day by Senator Mason, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, appropriates $60,000 ar indemnity to the owners of the Spanish schooner Amis- ted. The roport of tho majority is the same as that pre- rented to the previons Congress. The minority, Mesere. Seward and Foot, contend in their roport that Ruez and Montez bad no property in the fifty-three allegod slaves for which payment is proposed to be mete, and were themecives violators of law, snd held the Africans in un, lawful imprisopment; that our treaty stipulations with Spain contemplate the restoration of lawful merchandise removed out of the bands of pirates or robbers on the high seas, but that these negroes were not lawfully merchandise, having been stolen from their homes in vio- tion of all law; tha: the vessel an¢ its owners wore en- gaged tn acts of piracy end robbery; that the claimants did nct prove property, and that the claim generally is net supported by right or hw. ‘Special agents Maguire and Shallcross, assisted by do- tectives Allen and Bass, succecded in discovering largo Post Office robberies, and traced the act io the Washing- ton office. It is said that a considerable amount of money has been recovered. The persou detected is Robert W. Young, Jr., aged about twenty years. He is uow under bonds for trial. Affaire at the State Capital. 18 THE LEGISLATURE IN CONSTITUTIONAL RXISTENCEE —AN INQUIRY TO BR MADR—NRW PRESIDENT PRU ‘TRM. OF THE SENATR—DISSATISFACTION WITH THS SPEAKER'S = COMMITTEES—MAYOR WOOD—FRKP DOUGLASS—REPRAL OF TILK METROPOLITAN PO- LICE BILL —COMPLAINTS AGAINST LEFT WRITERS MR. ROC) ¥ ON THE EXROUTIVR—MK. OH ATFIBLD ILLNESS-—CLERE OF THE HOUSE—OCOMPLIMENT TO MAYOR WOOD, EYC. Arnay, i ob. 2, 1958, There is a very grave question now pending, which tw | nothing lees than this, whethor the Tegislature of this | State is now in KeKAlOn constitutionally? —Notwithstroding | an express provision of the cvustitutian, which declares \ that neither house of the Legisiature shal! adjourn orcr | for more than two days withont consent of the other, tot Dravches have disregarded that injunction, Sons vo days #= ce, when the Senate adjourned ever for more thas | two days, the people wore advised of it by the Maat when the qu ion was raised whether that act did no! render the legiviation in future void, and wh ther, if ear ried to the conrts, a decision of tat import world not be rendered. Sinco taen the House of Assembiy has a¢ Journed for more than two days without consent of the co ordinate branch of the Lagialature. This morning ono of the members of the Mouse--Mr. Lattin, of Ulster county—submitted a serio: of resolutions, raking for the opinion of the Atorney General whether the Tagislstera ia now in constituticval oxistonce, and whothor the Gover- por should not issue a proclamation for an extra session, in Consequence of this adjourn. ment of both branches of the Legis'ature without consulting each other, or witheut a joint resolution, » thy constitution provides. Now, the days included iu Sunday, which is pretended to be ignored in legislation. the excludes no day. Toe Sanday is in- cluded in the hundred days of the session. Sunday ia in- cluded within the ten in which the Executive i re- quired to retarn all bills in his hands, otherwise the: como laws. Mr. Al General Tremain has a sabmitied to bim whieb common sense of aay echoot oy can readily auswer. Will he present an eixborate, quibbling, hair splitting, technical argument, tending to prove that Sundays are meant to be excluded from the two days, at declared panty ‘and explicitly iq the consti- tution they should not be? A body of men img them- selves a Legislature, are not indu'ged, or should not be, in rm Assembly divtricts ene year after the ti stiution deciares tt should have beea done. that opivion, Mr. Attorney General Tremain ‘A very important morning. Mr. Halsted being elected president tem- ro, being obliged to be absent to-day, appointed Sonar . A. Wheeler to take the chair as presiding officer of tha day. Without looking into the matter, he took that posi. tien. Mr. Stow, upon reflection, thought it was an illegal method of choosing a presiding officer. Wo have a Lieuto- nant Governor and a president pro tem. already, and pow, Hurry up qnertion arose in the Senate this the latt: r being necessarily absent, a substitute for the day. je tif Mr. Wi ia chosen prent dent pro ten, and the Lientenant Governor in the mean- time abould rosign or die during the day, then he wanted to know who would be Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Halsted and Mr. een could not possibly be that officer. Peingsa q grave importance, Mr. Stow thought we ate ahoul 4 make choice of ita own presiding officer, Which was done by vote, electing Mr. Wheeler unas! mourly Very little business waa transacted in tbe Senate. A fow bills were introduced, and then adjourned for the day. The Speater announced the committees this morning, ‘and from the fact that several of the New York delega- tion sought to be excused from serving in positions them, it seems evident that their wishes have not ae itis an way pan cate matter for the Speaker to gratify any S — of the members io assigning them places which prefer. Fx-Mayor Wood's presence in the lobby induced Mer. Hanford to offer a ——ey resolution t»ndering him the civilities of the and a seat on the floor. Gen, Duryea, of Brooklyn, strongly opposed it. Tt wan Unjust to tender such a compliment to any man simply om account of having been Mayor of a city, There is no Precedent for it Mr. — ee tee priviene county , also opposed asked for. He eaid if thie movemeat was for the purpose of passing @ vote approbative upon the course of the late Mayor, this was the wrong time, and the Assom. bly, moreover, the wrong place. The resolution was adopted. however, by 61 to 21, thowe in the — all republicans, a few of that party voting in the atfirmative. ‘Whether his honor availed himacif of the courtesy of the Hionee is immaterial, #0 long as the invitation was fully Mr. Bliss, (rep.) from Chautanque, offered an additions resolution, presenting the sane compliment to Frederick Douglass whenever should arrive ia the city. Mr: Hanfora moved that the gentleman from Chaatanque be ® committee to escort Fred to the House No farther pro- ceedings were bad, as the Speaker declared the motion should lie over, aa it gave rise to debate ' ‘The bill to repeal the Metropolitan Police law was intro. duced by Mr. Moore, and after an ansnevesafal effort te refer to delegates from the Police district, it was referred, to the Committee on Cities and Villages, consisting of Mr Wier, Mr. Lanning, Mr. F. Palmer, (jem ,) Mr. Reynowley (Am..) and Mr. Church, (rep.) Hon. Mr. Lewis, (rep ) of Herkimer county, where the most ratical doccrinca have ever provailed sine, valley of the Mor i, and made com © sornebody & bic procs whict ? cal Albany bad written something for the pu he disliked. He pronounced some ot the stitements tr the paper as ‘eg whilet a greater portion he dir not contradict. This watching the Albauy correspondens of the country papers ond then rising in the House to a 1