The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR aND PROPRIETOR, OPPicE N. W. CORNER OF PULTON AND NASSAT STS. TERMS, cw) i 2 THE DAILY LERALD. to cents per copy, $1 per annum. THR WEOAL? ALD), every Saturday, at six conte per ° Bere in edition, $4 annum, ta ian, or $9 t0 any part af the Continent, Bosh ERALD, evory Wednesday, at fowr conte per RRESPONDENCE, containing tm any quarter of the work used well be hibe wid ‘UCK FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS AkE Par eiy Regvustep To Seal ait LeTters anp Pacwagrs va. rally yu wrevra Burt AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway —Grun astics—Equrs- TRIANTSM—RBLEPRANT, Lion, TiaeR, Ac. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway—Eourerasawism ann Gye masrics—Penvorsine KitKocenos, MOLBS, ELEPHANT, AO. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Ricaarp [1[—Priwe or ran ManneT—LOCKsMeen OF STOCKHOLM, RURTOn'S THEATRE, Brosdway, eppostie Bond atreef- Meany Wives or Wixpson—Wace or Winpson, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Brosdway—Vicar or Waxz- wieip—Boors at THE SWAN. LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway—Winre Lins— Tur Lavy or tur Lions. BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Brosdway—Afer- noon: Tax Dacxkanp. Evening: Pronzen Paraior. WOOD'S BUILDINGS, 561 and 563 Broadway—Groncr Curustr & Woops MixstReLs—Ime Toopies, witu CacpLe BUCKLEY'S SERENADERS, No. 444 Brosdway—Necro ‘Mr.opins akb BUKLES@ES—Dows In ALABAM. ANTOS! HALL, 472 Broadway—Brvant’s MINSTRELS —Ersiorias Soncs—Bor Riviey's Festiva. ~~ New York, Monde: @ne New York Herald—Faltion for Europe. The Cunard mail steamship Canada, Capt. Lang, will feave Boston on Wednesday, at noon, for Liverpool. The European mails will close ip this city at noon to-mor- Tow, to go by railroad, aud at balf-past two o'clock P. M. be go by steamboat. ‘The Buropean edition of the HeRaxp, printed in French fend English, will be published at ten o'clock in the morn ing. Bingle copies, in wrappers, six cents. Gubscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New Yoax Arar will be received as the following Places ta Kurope:— i Lompon.. ..Samson Low, Son & Oo., 47 Ladgate all. am. Express Co. ,61 King William st Panw.... Am. -Eurvpean Express Co. , 8 Place de la Bourse, Lrvasroot, Am.-Furopean Express Co., 9 Chapel street, R Stuart, 10 Exchange street, Kast, Express Co., 21 Rue Corneille. ‘The contents of the European edition of the Hsrau will sombine the news received by mail and telegraph at the @@ice during the previous week and up to the hour of pub- ‘Omioa. ‘The News. We have seven days later news from Europe, brought by the steamship Arabia, which left Liver- pool on the 23d ult., and arrived at this port last evening. The intelligence is highly interesting. The London money market was still easy. The rate of interest of the Bank of England was not altered- Consols fiuctuated slightly during {the week, and closed firm on the evening of the 22d ult. at 9a 954 for money, and 95j a 954 for account—an advance of one-half per cent as compared with the quota- tions of thre 16th ult. The Bank of Bngland held the sum of £14,435 815 in bullion on the 20th ult. There was no marked | change in the market for American securities. We have to report the failing of Charles Walton & Sons, shipowners, of London, for $425,000; and Charles Plummer & Co., of Newcastle-on-Tyne, for the sum ‘of $1,000,000. Some leading houses in Marseilles had also failed with large liabilities. Cotton of good quality had advanced one-fourth of @ penny per pound in Liverpool, with a quiet market. ‘The eales of the week footed up 67,380 bales, includ- ing 15,500 to speculators. Flour was neglected, and the market easy. Sugars were less active in the London market. We publish full particulars of the late attempt made on the life of the Emperor Napoleon in Paris, with biographical sketches of some of the principals in the plot. The movement 1s likely to lead to seri ous results, a8 a disposition was already evinced on the part of the continental monarchs to preas England into complete refusal of shelter to political refugees. ‘The spirit of revolution was spreading daily, and we bave to announce that two hundred of Mazzini’s ad- berents landed lately at Ancona, in Italy, and at tempted to surprise the Austrian Governor there. They were repulsed with loss. A number of Spanish reformere had been arrested in Madrid. Our advices from China are dated at Hong Kong on the 16th of December. The Canton river was declared in blockade by the French naval com mander, and Lord Elgin had sent in a British ultimatum to the Chinese authorities, which was to be accepted or rejected in the space of ten days. ‘The Anglo-French force had occupied the Island of Donan, opposite to Canton. A report was circulated to the effect that an offer of mediation, made by the Russian Minister, had been rejected, but that a pro- posal to that effect, made by the Hon. Mr. Reed, the United Stutes Commissioner, had been accepted. From India we have news dated at Calcutta the ‘25th, and Madras 29th of December. The British troop had defeated the Ferukabed rebels in two diffrent engagements. There is no further intelli- gence from Oude. The Eleventh regiment of native cavalry had mutinied. Colonel Seaton had beaten parties of mutineers from Delhi. The communica- tion between Bombay and Calcutta was restored. Immense preparations were being made by Queen Victoria for the marriage of her daughter. The Prince of Prussia had arrived in England. The Mayor's police squad last evening visited a number of German lager bier saloons, theatres, and other places of Sunday amusement on the east side of the city, and hotified the proprietors to cease all noisy demonstrations, and billiard playing, throwing dice, Ac. No attempt was made to close any of the establishments, and in a few instances the recom mendations were partially complied with. A fair ac- account of the exhibition is given in another column, from which it will be seen that “sacred concerts” have rather a comprehensive scope in our city. We received a telegraphic despatch from Hart- ford last evening, stating that the railway train from New York bad run off the track, in consequence, as alleged, of the carelessnes af the switch man. The annexed table shows the temperatare of the atmosphere in this city during the past weck, the range of the barometer, the variation of wind currents, and the state of the weather, at three periods during each day, viz.; at 9 A. M., and 3 and © o'clock P. M. :-— 9A. RM ARER, Saturday—Morning, slightly cloudy and cold, night, clear aod cold Sunday —Ciear and cold ali day; night, clear and moon. cht Monday—Morming, overcast, severe hailstorm during ay — , Overcast, with for afternoon, over , moon Tue Wedneeday—Morning, cloudy and mild, afternoon, over as) night, moonlight. Thurecay—Overcnat all day viday—Morning, clear; aNernoon, overcast. aturday—Morning, clear. ty the arrival of the Arabia we have news from ».. wos Ayres to the 2d, Montevideo Sth, and Bahia { December. The Brazilians were preparing the impending negotiations coment failing. Twelve or \ i Ay gov NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1858. fourteen gunboats from England and France are expected in the Brazils in April, and an army of 12,000 troops is to be collected to invade Paraguay. The Paraguans have 300 guns in position on dif- ferent points of the river. From Montevideo wo hear of the death of Oribe. The soeial and political aspect of affairs at Buenos Ayres was improving. Dr. Alsina bas assumed an independent position. The Indians on the frontier were kept in check. Trade was generally dull. We have news from the Amazon river dated at Para, Brazil,on the Tth of January. Our corres: pondent states that trade was quite dull, owing to the falling off of shipments of siringa, (or crude In- dia rubber,) which was quite a drug in the market. Many trading houses which had formerly met their payments promptly, owing to the demand for this article in the United States, would have, it was feared, to suspend. The Amazon River Steam Navigation Company had, in an attempt to curtail expenses, impaired its owe usefulness materially. Only one round trip each month, instead of a weekly commu- nication, was had from Para to the Barra de Rio Ne- gro river. Saw mills, and amall steamboats built for the transport of cattle, were much wanted. Para city was healthy. There were few vessels—only two American brigs—in port. The value of foreign goods imported at the port of Boston during the week ending 5th inst., amounted to $402,999, showing a decrease of $396,525 8 com- pared with the corresponding week last year. The sales of cotton on Saturday embraced about 1,000 bales. The stock was light, and the market closed firm ‘at 11c, for middling uplands. The four market was active, and the common and medium grades of extra State and ‘Western were firmer, and in some cases advanced about Sc. per barrol. The transactions embraced some parcels for export. Wheat continuod firm, with sales of Chicago red at $1 02, and small lots prime Southern red at $125, and choice white do. at $1 35 a $140. Corn was active at Sic. @ 65¢. for yellow, and at 65c. a 66c. for white. Pork was without change of moment, while the sales embraced, including transactions made the previous afternoon, about 1,000 bbls. of mees, chiefly at $15 50 a $15 62. Sugars were firm and transactions were at full prices. Coffee was 4<c. per Ib, better on the lower grades. ‘The sales embraced about 4,500 bags of Rio at 9. a lc. Freights to Liverpool were quite steady, though engage- ments were some less in amount than on the previous day. To other ports they were quiet and unchanged. ‘The News from Europe—Effect of the At- tempted Assassination of Louls Napoleon. The late attempt to assassinate the French Emperor has not only given a great shock to Europe, but it has produced a remarkable effort, which is evidently participated in by several of the Continental Powers, to obtain such a modi- fication of the English laws as will authorise the arrest of political refugees in England, or at least drive them out of that kingdom. The burthen of the address of the President of the Senate to the Emperor is in this vein, and it is stated that M. de Persigny has already remitted to Lord Clarendon a diplomatic note calling for an alteration of the English system. The Austrian Gazette takes up the subject in very strong language, and the London journals comment upon it in very contradictory terms. Lord Palmerston’s organ, the Post, takes the ground that any of the refugees implicated In the late attempt may be delivered upto the French government under the existing extrad!- tion treaty, and that Parliament should enact laws which would virtually be an expulsion from Great Britain of all the political refu- gees there. The tenor of the article, which we give in another column, forms a cu- rious contrast with the recent declaration of Lord Palmerston that the British government bad not the power to arrest persons implicated in conspiracies against the Emperor. The Lon- don Zimes makes a much more logical view of the question, in an article which we also republish, and gives a very practical rebuke to Pg!merston for showing the white feather. It seems to be the general opinion on the Continent that the attempt on the life of Louis Napoleon was connected with a plan for a gene- ral revolutionary movement in France, Italy and Spain. Discoveries had been made in Paris, and arrests were being made daily of implica- ted parties; an attempt had been made at An- cona, in Italy, by the landing of a body of men either from Malta or Tunis; and in Spain seve- ral persons had been arrested in consequence of the discovery of a secret correspondence. A journal in Belgium openly approves the at- tempted assassination of the Emperor. There are, besides, other evidences which tend to con- firm the idea that a general revolutionary at- tempt was to be made, and it is, no doubt, the fear of thie that leads the governments of conti- nental Europe to obtain the expulsion of Maz- zini, Ledru Rollin, Victor Hugo, and all their fellow refugees from the British dominions. But though the Palmerston organ has shown the white feather in view of the momentary ex- citement which has been created on the Conti- nent, there is small reason to suppose that either the British Parliament or the British people would consent to any such measures. An attempt to establish them would strike at the very root of British liberties, and in all probability reeult in « revolution in England, which would be productive of revolution throughout Europe, and sweep away every crowned head there. Yet the attempt will no doubt be persevered in by the other Powers, for a time at least, in order to frighten the refugees; and it may be that some legislation will be proposed. The language of the President of the French Senate and of the Austrian Gazett: is too strong in ite reference to England not to have some meaning. The reaction that has triumphed in all Europe, except England and Sardinia, will be brought to bear now upon these two coun- tries, and the grit of England in the face of combined Europe will be put to the test. AMENDYENTS OY THE Parent Laws.—It will be seen by the letter of our Washington corres pondent that some important alterations are proposed to be effected in the patent laws, ina bill which has been prepared by Mr. Taylor, of New York. Notice of amendments in the ex- isting acts had been given in the eommence- ment of the session by Mr. Chaffee, of Massa- chusetts; but it being found on comparison that most of the alterations proposed by the latter were embodied in Mr. Taylor's bill, the two measures have been harmonised, and now form but one. As it may be inferred from the similarity of name that Mr. Chaffee is the gentleman interested in the India rubber patent, it is as well to state that Edwin Chaffee is the name of the pa tentee, whilst that of Mr. Taylor’s co-laborer in patent law reform is Calvin C. Chaffve, The parties may be related, but judging from the character of the proposed measures, they appear to have no interest in common. From the «ynopsie of Mr. Taylor’s bill, given by our correspondent, it seems to us that it is ealeulated to meet most of the grievan- cee complained of by inventors, whilst at the same time the interests of the public are more fully protected. The chief features of the mea- sure are that it provides for a complete codifi- cation of the Patent laws, aniformity of system ' and equalization of the fees paid by foreign and Dative epplicanta. The enormous inequality that exists in this latter reapect is a crying re- proach aguinst the present system. There is no rational motive that can be alleged for the con- tinuance of the principle of protection in mat- ters of discovery or invention. The existing law itself provides against scientific or mechani- cal plagiari by exacting an oath from the inventor; and the exaction of higher fees from foreigners than from citizens is a measure of jealousy se useless and abeurd that it isa won- der that it bas remained 60 long on the statute book. The inventive genius of the country has long since shown that it needa no such protec- tion against competition, and it isto be hoped that Congress will now remove this foolish bar- rier against foreign improvements and discove- ries, The Late Passage-at-Arms Between Senators Seward and Hale—The Curtain Lifted. We publish to-day, in full, the interesting, curious and suggestive debate in the Senate on Tuesday last, between W. H. Seward and John P. Hale, on the army bill, prefaced by an ex- planatory letter from a Washington correapon- dent. Much to the astonishment and “ morti- fication” of the New Hampshire Senator, Mr. Seward, it will be seen, came out decidedly in favor of an increase of the army. Nor can the novel and unexpected course of Mr. Seward upon this bill be explained satisfactorily upon any other theory than that of our correspondent —to wit—the theory that Mr. Seward has made up his mind to be our next President, and desires, accordingly, the “ police force” of a good sub- stantfal standing army to keep the turbulent Southern fire-eaters in a proper state of sub- mission and decorum, Our correspondent sets down the “ pain’ and “mortification” of Mr. Hale to the presumption of our self-complacent Senator in reference to the succession; and from what is thus fore- shadowed there may be some trouble before long among the several Northern anti-slavery aspirants for the White House, and the enor- mous spoils and plunder of “ this great Empire.” Mr. Seward, also, may he mistaken in reference to the breaking down of the administration and the smash-up of the democracy upon the Le- compton constitution. The Southern democra- cy are a unit in its support; and should they secure “aid and comfort’ enough from the party of the North, the result will doubtless be the reunion of the whole party, North and South, upon new issues, and practical and popu- lar measures, outside of the slavery question, upon which Northern and Southern men may cordially unite. Mr. Seward, from the drift of his remarks, is perfectly sure, and perfectly indifferent about the Lecompton constitution, adopted or reject- ed. He would perhaps prefer, if he has any preference in the case, that the constitution should be adopted, under the impression that it will at once clear the track of the remaining fragments of the Northern democracy. But let not the Northern democracy be led astray by any such delusion; for the only hope of the party, North and South, is the solid nucleus of the administration. If they stick to that, they may recover all that they have lost; if they abandon the President, they are at once scat- tered to the winds. Prostitution is Great Crrtes—There are some subjects which are naturally approached with reluctance in a public journal, and yet which cannot be ignored without a gross | neglect of duty. Such a subject isthe great, the enormous evil of public prostitution in large cities. For two thousand years good and sen- sible men have been studying this question of | prostitution, with results which have varied in everything but their uniform failure. Every student and every legislator has started from the principle that the abandonment by a woman of her chastity and modesty for hire was an evil; but no one has ever devised a method of preventing that evH. There have been laws under which prostitutes have been buried alive, thrust into cages and drowned, whipped naked through the public streets, pilloried and mu- tilated ; there are.laws under which the single fact of prostitution exposes a female to im- prisonment; every penalty, every form of pun- ishment, in short, has been or is inflicted in the view of prohibiting public prostitution; and yet it must be admitted by all that there never was a time when public prostitutes did not infest all large cities. There has kitely been published a report of a meeting just held in London to attempt to de- vise measures to rid some of the larger thorough- fares of London from the disgraceful creatures | who now enjoy a monopoly of them after | nightfall. The general subject was but | incidentally touched upon; that was by a | speaker who proposed to license prostitates. | The question was laid over. It may not be | generally known that the license system which | isin force in France, Prussia, and some other | continental countries, haanever been adopted in England or the United States. In the former | Countries prostitutes and prostitution are re- cognized by the laws; the women are not «ub- ject to punishment from the mere fact of their | prostitution; though they are subject to com- pulsory attendance at a public dispensary, and to various legal and social disabilities. Each woman is ticketed, like a porter or cart, and can be identified or followed by the description ef her person which is taken when she is entered on the books of the police. The advantages of this method are, greater security for health; less likelihood of robbery; greater police con- trol over class of the population naturally calculated to be turbulent. The disadvantage —which in England and in this country has hitherto availed to prevent its adoption—is simply the seeming wrong-—in the eyes of cer- tain religious persons—in recognizing and licensing an evil which nobody pretends to be able to put down. We cannot foresee what will be the upshot of the new movement in London, The same question waa raised in this city some time since, and, if we mistake not, our present Mayor, then a prominent Governor of the Alm* house, took a leading and intelligent part in the discussion. It ended in a direction to the Penitentiary physician, under whose charge prostitutes are placed, to collect all the facts and statistics he could relating to the general subject in this country and abroad, and to em- body them in a report to the Governors of the Almshouse. This direction must have been given some two years since; ample time has elapeed for the collection of all the facte neces sary; yet we hear nothing of the report. What has become of it’ Have the Almshouse Gov- ernors backed down’ From the names of the persons who are iden- tified with the reform movement in England it may be fairly anticipated that the subject will receive a thorough handling, and that all the light that can be brought to bear will be ehed on the question. It is not unlikely that the discussion will epread to this side of the water, There isa public here quite ready to grapple with it, and dispose of it in some new way. But where are the men—divines, legisla- tors, lawyers, or physicians—who possevs a sufll- cient knowledge of the matter to pronounce on the merits of the existing or any new proposed scheme of laws to check the admitted evil? ‘The Santa Anna Bribe and Santa Anna's ‘Tactics, Our Washington corresponticnt gives us to- day a chapter from the secret bistory of the Mexican war, which throws a deal of light upon the late disputed question between several of our Generals, From the new point of view which ie presented, it will be seen that all of the parties have teld the truth about the bribe to a Mexican Gencral, and that the only differ- ence between them arises from the different in- ferences drawn by each according to his point of view of the same circumstances. Generals Scott, Quitman, Pillow and Hitchcock, who had each favored the public with his views upon the subject, can now consider the matter settled so far as they are mutually concerned; and the only point remaining for future arrangement is the little personal difficulty between Pillow and Santa Anne. That, we suppose, will come in proper time. The fact of the negotiations at Puebla had always been conceded on all sides; but the true reasons that gave rise to them have probably remained known to very few persons. It now turns out that Santa Anna brought to play upon General Scott, through the British Minister and interests in Mexico, a little of that skill for intrigue which he eo largely possesses. He hoped to de- coy Scott in an unprepared state into the val- ley, under # promise to make a treaty of peace, only stipulating fora small shain fight to save his own honor; and had he succeeded in so do- ing he might perhaps have changed the whole face of the war. Nothing on his part would have prevented his giving Scott a sound t! ° ing, if in the course of things he should have found himself able to doit. At all events he got the ten thousand dollars in cash, which he probably pocketed, as it his fashion to do. He is seldom so restive under the accusation of having made a profitable transaction as he shows himself to be in the present instance; and this arises, we suppose, more from the inoppor- tune time of the disclosure than from any new sensibility on his part. He he is now engaged in actively conspiring to get power again in Mexico, and for this purpose has raised the cry which he always has resorted to when he wishes to draw off public atten- tion from his own misdeeds. A crusade against the encroachment of the barbarous North Americans is his constant text, and the revelation of his propored negotiation for peace and a million has a damagmg effect upon his political prospects. As he is so anxious for a war the best thing our government can do, as soon as he re- turns to Mexico, isto give him one. Our citi- zens have unsettled claims against Mexico to the amount of twenty millions of dollars and up- wards, and new cases of outrage and spoliation are of frequent occurrence in the small ports of the Pacific, where the federal power of Mexico is little felt. It would be well to bring all these things to a point at an early day. Let the ad- ministration, therefere, prepare a new conven- tion with Mexico, including not only the settle- ment of all these claims, but the giving of some support to the true liberals of that republic in their present efforts to save it, and if Santa Anna should come back hold him to the practice of his preachings against us, and quietly reconquer the whole republic. It would be a much easier task now than it was the first time, for a large portion of the people desire to have us back again, and would do much to help us. One thing is pretty evident, that if the church party gets the government into their hands, we shall soon have a war with Mexico whether we will or not. Tue New Purrranica, Movement—Crvsape Against THE Poor MAN’s Day or Rest.—The movement which is being again set on foot by the high church fanatics against the Sunday enjoymente of the poor is eliciting a storm of indignant remonstrances from those whose in- terests are affected by it. We are inundated with communications on the subject, and all that we can do is to give expression, in the briefest form possible, to the views of the writers, They contend that men who are compelled to labor from ten to twelve hours a day during the week to gain ® scanty subsistence, have a right to choose the manner in which they will employ the leisure afforded them by the Sab- bath. ‘They say that they can better show their sense of the blessings conferred upon them by the Creator by passing their leisure time with their families, in the home circle, or in the en- joyment of the beauties of nature, in the fields and woods, than in going to sleep three times a day over the platitudes of a dull and luke- warm preacher, whose heart is rarely in the work that he has undertaken. They are of opinion, moreover, that the Divine ordinance with regard to the observance of the Sabbath was intended rather as a protection to the poor against the cupidity of their taskmasters, than as an instrument of oppregion in the hands of the priesthood. It strikes us that there isa good geal of jus tice in these views. Prayer and fasting are wholesome observances for these who have too many opportunities for sinning; but as the poor man scarcely ever geta time to think, much less to enjoy himself, during the week, we are of opinion that he might be allowed some portion of the Sunday to exercise his intellectual facul- ties, If he is only to see and reflect through the muddy brains of some lazy and overfed parson, he cannot fairly be called a responsible being. He is simply reduced to the condition of a machine, or beast of burden, without voli- tion of his own or reasoning powers. This state of being was evidently never contemplated by God in the creation of man, and both priests and decalogue bear false testimony if they main- tain the contrary. * Cuntovs.—A curious fact will strike the reader of the pending municipal investigations. Some time ago, the great Municipal Rogue, the father of all that was wrong and corrupt in our city affairs was, according to certain jour- nals, the Mayor Fernando Wood. Now that we have corruption investigating committees, and that the city affairs are being probed, it must seem a little singular to those who believed these journals, that not a single fact has come out to the disadvantage of Mr. Wood. Almost everybody else isin trouble; but nothing has come out against Fernando Wood AccommopaTion ror THE Cowrts—MEETING OF Tuk Bar.—Tu another column will be found a report of the proceedings of the bar meeting held to call upon the Board of Supervisors to provide adequate accommodation for the trans- action of the business of the Superior Court. It is time that some active steps should be taken to enforce upon the city authorities the necessi- ty of attending to the wants of the public in this respect. Nothing can be more inconve- nient, nothing can be more expensivs, than the present scattered manner in which the legal business of the city is carried on. Instead of being concentrated in one locality, as is the case in most other cities, our public tribunals are spread over a large circuit, which entails great loss of time upon both lawyers and suit- ors. As the demand for accommodation in- creases, the Board of Supervisors are compelled to hunt about for space, and having to take it as they can find it in the most crowded part of the city, they are obliged to pay heavily for it. Thus the public and the bar have to pay through the nose for insufficient accommoda- tion, and to put up with the discomfort and loss of time to which it necessarily leada. Itis to be hoped that the steps taken by the bar to bring their grievances in a fonmal manner under the notice of the Board of Supervisors, will induce the latter to take into immediate consideration the destitute condition of our courts. It is really too bad that, liberal as it is in the way of jobs with the money of the tax- payers, the Corporation cannot find means to provide for the legitimate wants of the city, The money that is ennually pilfered from the public revenues would, if capitalized, have long since provided amply for the accommodu- tion of the courts and the Post Office Depart- ment. As the question of providing uew accom- modations for the courts will probably be soon forced on the attention of the Board of Supervisors, it is necessary that we should again impress upon them the fact that no plan will be considered satisfactory which does not bring the business of the courts and city departments within one area. The only site in the lower part of the city that will afford space for such an arrangement, and that can be procured at anything like a reasonable price, is that of the Five Points. The opportunity of securing it should not be lost while the value of real estate in that locality remains at its pre- sent deteriorated value. Tux Onatory or THr Forum 4°» THe Rrva.— It is a curious circumstance, said a writer in Blackwood, that every Englishman thinks h@ can do two things, and is never convinced of his error until he tries, One is that he can write for a newspaper, and the other that he can swim. To this we may add, that every Ameri- can thinks he is an orator. The young lady of ten, in all the glory of crinoline, silk, flowers and kid gloves, astonishes a select company with a reading from Tennyson. The young gentleman of the same age, with new jacket and “shining morning face,” carries off the palm at @ school exhibition by declaiming the adven- tures of a “boy” who remained unnecessarily upon some “burning deck,” from which every sensible person “had fled.”’ The adolescent orator passes next to the village debating society, dis- cussing with much temerity social and political themes which grave men approach with fear and trembling. When he retires from college, with all the dignity of parchment, blue ribbon and the bachdor's gown, he pronounces a Latin valedictory, which he is quite certain is finer than any of Cicero’s orations. At the bar, orin the pulpit, at the political meeting, the State Legislature, or in the Congrees of the nation, our orator addresses the people, and, as a rule, fails. The number of orators is quite dispro- portionate to the number of speakers. In all the debates in the Colonial Legislatures previous to the assembling of the Continental Congress, but few speeches are remembered. In Congress but few great orators have ever ap- peared, and they are all dead. But these facts do not lessen the number of orators or abbre- viate the speeches, So well is it understood that every member of Congress must speak at some time or other, whether he has any- thing to say or not, that the rules provide that House may at convenient times resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, when any member may oc- cupy an hour in talking about anything that occurs to him. The amount of desultory nonsense that is spoken in committee is some- thing fearful to contemplate. Some members are profoundly stupid, like Dogberry of Messi- na; some essay the rile of the “motley fool” in the “Forest of Arden;” others are hopelessly dull, like the Chamberlain in “Hamlet.” The speeches are upon all imaginary subjects, earth- ly and heavenly, terrestrial and celestial. They are not unlike the speeches made by Rice, the showman, at Niblo’s, who is the exponent of the oratory of the ring as contra-dlistin- guished frem the oratory of the forum. Rice resolves himself into a committee of the whole every evening, and addresses the audience upon the topics of the day. He has lately incurred the wrath of the philosophers of the Tribune, who have come down upon him in the usual neat and elegant style of that journal. The showman defends himself exactly like a member of Congress. He begins by deprecating the journal as being be- neath his notice; “but,” said he, “as it might get into some decent man’s house, and create a false impression againstyne,’f am bound to say that, though I am. fool’by profession, I have some regard for consistency, Now, I don't think that a newspaper which ig} continually preaching about hot corn, vegetable dict, and so forth, should object to that Celes- tial grain and South Carolina staple— rice.” The chief use, however, made by the Tribune people of grain, was in the form of whiskey, under the influence of which he had been avsailed. If he (Riee) thought him- self as mean as some of these people, he would “ desert the United States and go to live in Jer- wey. Now, a8 @ piece of denunciation, sareaam ridi- cule and wit, this specimen of the oratory of the ring is not inferior to the average of Con- aressioual speeches, If it had been made by one of the Ely Thayers of the House, it would have been dotted all over with “laughter” in paren- thesis, The concluding mot is entitled to “great laughter,” and would have been so received in Congress, There isa growing disposition among our orators of the forum to cultivate the joke de- partment. It might be considered bad taste for a grave Senator to don the parti-colored habit of the buffoon, but the fanny members might take a lesson from the showman above mentioned. gt the professional jokers of Con- erees summon Rice to the bar of the House, and ETO YAY Sikes ne ee extract his jokes under onth. It will serve te enliven the debates, and in due time some of the members may fit themselves for the cap and bells they @m #0 anxious to wear. _—_—_— THE LATEST NEws. trom Wi THE KANSAS QUESTION—THE POKORS Mar FOR THE BaTTLE—PLOTY OF HE SECESSIONI@TS— COLONBL FORNKY IN BAD ODOR, BTU. Wasmsaron, Feb. 7, 185@, This has been a busy day for the republicans and amsl- ‘Lecompton democrats They tave loft no stone unturned, ‘and their hosts are all marshalled in the field, ready ter action to-morrow They expect to carry the previous question om Mr. Harris’ proposition. The vote will bo very close, with the chances in favor of the republicans, The democratic absentees have all returned. Che vote will not be a test one of atrength on the admission of the ‘Lecomption constitution, and is not 60 looked upon by the acministration. Letters are conatantly pouring in from various sections of the South, all breathing aud tending to the one idea— that {the Lecompton constitution is rejected by Congress the legislatures will be immediately convened by the Governors of most of the Southern States, and their Se. ators and members requested to withdraw from the Union. A movement bas ulready been started for a Southern convention to meet a8 early as practicable, 1 have the very best auth¢r ity for the above information. Mr. Forney’s statement, that the resolutions endorsing the administration hag not been adopted by the Philadel. phia Convention i+ a base fabrication, and has beem #0 denounced ty all the officers of the meeting in a car@. Tt has lowered the Colonei in the estimation of hisowm friends here. THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER DESPATCH, EXPLANATIONS RESPECTING THE FRACAS BETWEEN MESSES. GROW AND KITT, Wasuinaton, Feb. 7, 1868, The affray in the House on Friday morning still afferds an animated subject for conversation, but there is no pre- bability that any further difficulty will oscur between the two principal bolligerents, growing out of the encounter. ‘The account given of the conversation and engagement between Messrs. Keitt and Grow, on the authority of a member of Congress, in Saturday’s despatch, was not desigued as an authentic statement, but was givea on application, as embodying his impression at the time. The friende of Mr. Keitt who were in his viciniey say he was not knocked down by Mr. Grow, but was wrenched from his hold on the latter by Mr. Reubes Davis, who interfered as a peace maker, and further, that as Mr. Keitt premeditated no disturbaace with Mr. Grew, he the more soriously regrets ita occurrence. Itis uncertain when the anti Lecompton constitution democrats will issue their address, giving their reasons why they cannot vote for the admission of Kansas under that instrument. It has not yet been finished by the cem- mittee having it in chargo. The Union of this morning reads Mr. Harria, of Tllinois, out of the democratic party, calling him and the deme. crats who act with bim a little corporal’s guard of rene ‘Weather gades. Northern, Matera Western Southern ‘graph Lines.—ofice 21 Wall surest | og Time (By the 1. House (From Vashington Star, Feb. 6. ‘We have siready beard several versions of (he « fight'* which ocourred in the House of Representatives last night, but the following is the best authenticated account Ppresentatives. we have been able to gather. It appears that the House ‘was continued in session until about two o’closk, by a series of parliamentary stratagems to avoid a direct voto on the resolutions relative w referring the Prosident’s Message which accompanied the Lecompton Constitution. These strategies consisted in raising motions to adjourn, to excuse members from voting, to call the House, &c. Finally, Mr. Quitman, of Miss., attempted to introdace & resolution, which will be found in the report of ‘the pro. ceedings in another column. Of course, unanimous con ‘sont was necessary for its submiasion to the house, and no objection being made, the Speaker proceeded to put the resolution to vote. At this stage of the proceedings, Mr. Grow, of Pa., from @ position on the opposite aide of the house (rom whore his seat is situated, and while ing down the aisle, objected to the resolution. "Mr. Kets, of 8. C., said to Mr. Grow, “Go on your own sile of the house and ebject!”” Mr. G. replied, “1'll object where I please,”"—and, report says, he added, “ without being in timidated by any Southern negro driver.” But fow words passed before these gontlemon were en- gaged in a pitched battle; bat as to which of them oom- menced it we cannot say. In the attempt of their friends and the officers of the to soparate thom, Mr. K. was pushed down, but both the belageronts wore carried from the scene of action in a very short time, and before they had received any serious injuries. In the meantime, however, a large number of Mr. Grow’s friends, headed, itis said, by Mr. Potter, of Wisconsin, poured into the = Lago A in Ln of the Speaker's stand. Here they were met by a nearly equal force of the thes A ly opposition, The shock of the two contending hosta, A lar “free fight’ jod a few minutes, but was fnatly Sroken up by the promos intervention of the offt- cers of the House and many of the more thoughtful and conservative members. Nobody was hurt to any exteat worth noticing. To say the beat of the affair, it was disgraceful, but it will no doubt be greatly maguified by letter writers. ¥rom what we can , BOL more than ten oF twelve members were really in it a8 belli —the others having crowded up tor the purpose of quelling the disturbance. Its principal’ result ia deep mortitication te the moet active participants. After the termination of the affray, the session was con- ducted with quiet and order until adjournment. Fatal Stabbing Affray in a Groggery. The groggery of Martin Dowd, situated at No. 173 East ‘Twenty -fifth street, was the scene of a shocking homocide on Saturday night. The victim was an old man, named Jobn Dooley, who was cruclly slaughtered while endea- Yoring, like a good Samari'an, to do good by putting a step toa quarrel which was going on between a couple of drunken men. Dowd, it appears, kept a low tippling saloon in the first floor of the buiiding, contrary to the ox press desire of the landlord of the premises, while Dooley oscupied a bedroom on the floor above. On Saturday night Dowd and one of his customers, named Thomas | Conway, became engaged in a quarrel, which resulted ina free fight, in which a number of men, women and boys peace he visited th» scene of the disturbance, and vored to quiet the belligerents. tack upon Dooley, catching him by the throat and emdea- fon, & years old, jumped out of bed of bia ent. em proposing to reduce Poe hoar, Several gangs did not join the strike, which greatly aggra vated the strikers.Boston Bee, Feb. 6.