The New York Herald Newspaper, February 17, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD.| JAMES GORDON BENNETT, NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1868. cvimmatmaenrdraimmmimmmn ge gle doilur for the tax payers, or in caforming | Tus Commnsionexs ov Exranaeis = 48D THE LATE ST NEWS. the mapzer of making and executing comtracta | Ameviewn Sarewasrens—At @ Tate meeting of enna for reguinting streete? Nota bit of it, Atwvest | thy Comulsioners of Emigration, » petition WVTERESTING FROM WasmiNeTeR, ed rge: than Imowa for many years, and the | The ¥raudeen the City Treasnry—An Inte Board would be compelled to call upon the city for | ztottng History for Tax Payers. assistance to relicve the auffering that prevails among , —'n order that our reader# may form some Idea EDITOR AND PROPRINTOR. the unemployed mechanics and laborers, who have | of thy oniure and amount of the alleged frauds A ae i ww rato AANA . ‘ their dak will only serwe to aseu: 1 ele Voy th the most ve aad serious ma legate ndageend OPTICR N. W. COPNER OW FELTON AND Nagsig ars. | been forced, by lack of work, to sclieit public charily on the trensury, DOW Cecupying the atten- wy 7 nae Cae we ner pen’ the Prana ges! American ohip: The Bord-nux Consuinte—‘The me ef ee cask tm toons copy, BT per annum. Pa et vc conde per ‘Bi wer annum, fo the Continent, dowd ALD, erory Wednenday, at four cents per adverticmont: in BALD, aad in Oh .. No. a7 oon and ve CATIE, Brondway—Att PROADWAT THEATSE, Hrondway gon sae Fe. ning—Cinous 480 NevaGkaae—Uvisrver & 7) — x BOWERY THEATRE, ery—Vingtnigs—Frascu Srv Mr ROTRR BRIDEGROOM — PURTON'S THRATRE, Lrosdway, opposite Bond sireei— LONDON AS#URANCE—POU AMODTAS, WALI ACK’ THEATRE, Broadway—Tam Ties—Crowx Roots at THE SWAN KEEN#’S THEATRE, Broadway—Counikk o¥ s—Mr Nriouron’s RARNUM'S AMER neon and Kyening: Pio: MUBRUM, Broadway—After- Yartaior. WOON'S BUILDINGS, G61 and SAR Broadway—Geonce Contr & Woovs Mixsraxis—Tam Toovies, wiih Cavois Lrorures. BUCKLEY'S SERENADERS, No? 444 Broadway— Mr .onies aND BURLESQKS—Eram Moun's Mexacraur cro YEOH ANICS’ HALL, 472 Brosd@ay—Rarawr's Minsrais —Erat0rlas BONGS—HRVANT'S DENAM OF SHOVEL BY. @ne New York Herald—Edition for Hurepe. The Cunard mail steamship Arabia, Capt. Sone, will Leave this port to-day for Liverpool The Kuropean mails will close in this city at eight o'clock this morning. ‘The Ruropean edition of the Henin, printed in French and Engligh, will be published at seven o'clock in the mor- cing. BSingie copies, in wrappers, six cents. Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the Wee Yorx Bmnaip will be received at tho following pinces in Europe:— ‘Lewpon,. ..Bamson Low, Son & Co., 4 Ludgate hill. ‘Am.-Puropean Express Co., 51 King William st Paes ,....Aun.-Buropean Express Co., 8 Place do la Rourse, ‘Lowearoot. Am. -Ecropean ixpres: 9 Chapel street. RB. stuart, 16 Eachsnge street, Fast. Garex,,...Am. Huropear Eapross Co., 21 Rue Corneille, ‘The oontents of the Europeaa edition of the Haran will gombine the news received by mail and telegraph at tho nifice during the previons week and up to the hour ofpab easlon. ‘The News. The European mails to the 30th ult., brought by the steamship Niagara, reached this city from Bos- ton about midnight last night. Our files do not con- tain anything of importance that was not embraced in our telegraphic summary of the news published on Monday morning i the Senate yesserday Geueral Houston pre- sented a resolution directing inquiry as to the expe- diency of the United States establishing a protecto- rate over Mexico and Central America. A joint resolution conferring upon the President authority to make appropriate arrangements for the reception and entertainment of the Turkish Admiral Moham- med Pasha was adopted, after some opposition, in which allusion was made to the Amin Bey and | Kossuth ovations. The Post Office Committee was instructed to inquire whether the transmission of the mails between Boston and Washington cannot be expedited and twelve hours detention in New York prevented. The discussion of the Army bill was resumed. Mr. Wilson offered on amendment pro viding for the employment of volunteers in Utah, bat the question was not taken on the proposition. The Chairman of the Military Committee gave notice that he should ints consideration. A resolution was adopted allowing the contestants in the case of the Indiana contested | seats ninety daye to make return of the testimony taken. This is regarded as equivalent to confirming the claim of Messrs. Bright and Fitch to the seats they now occupy. In the House yesterday the Deficieney Appropri ation bill was reported by the Committee of Ways and Means. The Maryland contested election case was discussed until the adjournment, without, how ever, any definite action being taken. ‘Tae special committee of the House on the Le- compton constitution have decided uot to send to Kansas for persons and papers, but to rely upon the facts contained in the official documents in the de- partments for their guidance as to the genuine nes of the constitation, whether it is republican in form, and presented by the legally constituted repreeentatives of the people of the Territory. This action bas balked the plans of the opposition, who hoped to delay the report of the committee for three months at least, and thas keep alive the agi- tation. It i# thought the committee will he prepared to report to the House some day this week. The Senste Territorial Committee will probably report the Lecompton constitution on Thursday or Friday next. The House Committee on Territories will sbortly report a bill organizing Carson Territory, mposed of territory lying west of the valley of Lake Salt But little of interest occurred in the Legislature terday. Lorenzo Burrows, the republican nomi- for Regent of the University, was elected, in place of Mr. Puige, deceased. The report of the anal Auditor wing the tolls, trade and tonnage of the € 1857, was presented. it ay be ther part of today’s paper. The depa 1¢ steamship Philadelphia for javana ap aus has been deferred until Thursday, the 14th avon. The Foraytl at two o'clock in the after street Methodist Epis was crowded day to heara funeral dis on the death of Bishop Waugh, the senior bishop f the church, preached by Bishop Janes. A la number of distinguished divines of the Met e verenasion occupied seats in the palpit and altar smong them Drs. Bangs, Kennedy, Park, Stevens Porter, Whedon, Holdich and Mitchell. The book Concern in Mulberry street was closed yesterday as « mark of respect to the memory of the deceased. A slander case was commenced in the Marine Court yesterday against Rev. Mr. H. Hobart Brown, for an alleged verbal libel on one of his church wardens. Mr. Brown was rector of the church of the “Good Angels.” The Board of Supervisors yesterday adopted re- solutions directing @ committee to inquire as to the propriety of reducing the pay and increasing the number of the present police force, directing the Comptioller to report the sums received from the several District Courts of the city, and providing that the by-laws shall be so amended that reports of committees shali be laid over unless two-thirds of the Board shall otherwise direct. An interesting vomupteation was received, setting forth that the in Of $46,081 76, placed in the tax levy for the de iency for cleaning the streets for 1857, is legally oned to be levied. in the Coart of General Sessions yesterday John ec ket was tried for a felonious assault upon Fran- is Lares, and convicted of an assault and battery. vemiah Flynn was convicted of burglary in the third degree. They were remanded for sentence. The jary could not agree upon determining the guilt nnocence of John Brewer, charged with stealing s horse and wagon, worth $500, the property of N. i Renton. At the meeting of the Board of Almshoure Gover nore held yesterday, the question of rebuilding the howpitel recently destroyed by fire was discussed it was finally resolved to erect the new edifice upon the site of the old one, and $200 were appropriated for plans. The work will be commenced immediate There are *,169 persons in the institutions un the charge of the Governors, It was stated that wwmber of 1 ot to whom relief is aflord pal church nurse uce a substitute for the bill under | to eave themselves from starvation. Both the Tax and Assessment Committees of the Rosrd of Covvreiimen held meetings yesterday. The € committee on Taxes was eggaged in considering the petitions of several individuals whe state that their property has been crroneousiy taxed. The com. 1. agreed to report in favor of the remission of several sma'l sums, bat nothing of iraportaucc en gaged their attention. The Assesement Committee Was 0} ting several parties who own property in Cana. street speek in opposition to th payment of amoun's assessed on their property for the paving of that street from the Bowery to Hast Broadway, at a cast of 325,000, on the grounds that they did not receive due notice when the measure was introdiced to the Common Council, and that the paving of the street does not increase the val of their property. Others who sppeared before the committec said that the persous who are now giving their opposition to the payment of the price of doing the work were the very individuals who signed the petition in favor of the measure. There was considerable speaking om both sides, but no action was taken by the committee. The cotton market yesterday was without change of moment, while the sales embraced 600 w 809 bales Dealers were waiting the receipt of the Niagara's letters Flour operod with more animation and witha firmer feeling for State and Western branas, but the market closed dul but rather frmer for medium graces of State and Western. Wheat continued firm, and especially ao for prime lots, which were scarce, while sales were limited. Corn sold moderately at 8c. a 6c. for yellow and white, and at 70c. for good white, delivered. Rye sold at 7Sc. Pork was again firmer, with sales of mess at $16 60 ¢ $16 75, and prime af $15 26 2 $1550. Lard wold at 97{¢. a 10%/c. Tallow was firm and soldat 11+(c. for prime. About 550 hhde, Cuba sud New Orleans sugars were sold at prices given in another column. Cotfec was quict but firm. e atock of Rio was reduced to about 45,000 bags. Freights were steady, with rather more doing for | iver pool, while engagements to London and other porta were light and without change of moment. Kanere in Congress—The Lecompton Com- mittee Clearing the Grouad for Action. According to our special telegraphic advices from Washington, which we publish this morn- ing, the Lecompton Investigating Committee of Congress will make short work of the investi- gation ordered by the Harris resolution. The majority of the committee have resolved to div pense with the trouble of sending to Kansas fer persons and papers in reference to the alleged election frauds and illegalities under which the Lecompton constitution was framed and ratitied, and bave concluded that there is evidence enough in Washington to meet the purposes of the investigation. It is therefore believed that the committee will be ready to report be- fore the expiration of this w and that a ma- jority of the Mouse, by Monday next, will be ready for action upon the bill. Tbe Senate, in the meantime. have deter- mined to yoke Kansas and Minnesota togviher, afier the fashion of the great compromise of 1520, of Maine sud Misseuri—a free State and a slave State side by side. In this shape Kansas ¢ Will go over to the House: and, with a special | proviso giving to the people of Kansas the | largest liberty at any time to alter, amend or | abolish the Lecompton constitution, the provi- | sion of its schedule which prohibits any modifi. ! cation or repeal till the year 1864 will cease to frighten the tender footed of our Northern de- | mocrats who are afraid ot making Kansas a | permanent slave State or a scene of civil war, | by passing the Lecompton constitution, If it is contended that no new constitution can be legally adopted in Kansas, and no constitu- tional amendments made but in pursuance of the organic law of the State, that objection will cease to exist with the adoption of the simple proviso we have indicated. Thus qualified, there will be no practical objection left against the Lecompton constitution. The South will gain nothing except the naked abstraction of slavery: for within six months after her admis- sion Kansas will not only be de facto, but de jure, under anew State constitution, a free State; and that will be the end of the matter. Let the Senate, then, proceed to finish up its work upon the admission of Kansas; for by the time their bill can be sent over to the House that body will be ready to receive it. | i | Hox. Mr. Taynon ayo THe Peter Foxns or vue New Lossy Patest Sare Game.—From the statement of Mr. Taylor, of the House of Representatives. concerning his bill for the amendment of the Patent laws, we are satisfied that on his part it was brought forward asa measure of honest legislation. On the other hand, however, we are quite as well satisfied that the Peter Funks of the lobby have been playing the patent sfe game with our innocent representative. The provision of his bill which confers upon the Commissioner of Patents the diveretionary and decisive powers therein ex- pressed is all that the patent operators of the lobby, from Woodworth’s planing machine and Colts pistols down to Goodyear’s and Chaflee’s India rubber applications, could desire. The passage of the bill would thus soon make a millionaire of the Commissioner of Patents, in spite of himself and operate to the taxation of | the people upon all sorts of patent monopolies, dollars. The Patent laws, Mr. Taylor, will do very well as they are. There are many other subject much more worthy of your special attention ; but, of all things, don’t permit your- self to be made a decoy duck of the lobby. Ovex Crry Post Oreck Location. —The ques tion of the site for our city Post Office is beginning to be agitated again; and we perceive that some parties are intent upon locating the Post Office on the Chambers street side of the Park. But, in behalf of the Park itself we protest against this desecration. Instead of puting any more buildings in the Park. all that are there should be removed except the City Hall, which should be appropriated as a general gallery for the fine arte. In view of this arrangement, the Corporation should purchase all that nest of drankennes#, roguery, debauchery, vice and pestilence, moral and physical, which lies be- tween Centre street and Chatham square—that is to say, the locality known as the Five Points and ite dependencies; and after cleaning all the existing rubbish away—popnlation, buildings &c.—the city should appropriate the ground to a new set of Corporation buildings—City Hall, Post OMce, Court Houses, &c.—upon a seale u a style worthy thie great metropolis A ding margin of the ground thus pur- ame eur chased and appropriated might be made to pay | to the city all expenses, if cut up into lots of twenty-five feet front for lawyers’ offices, sto | and hotels Ity this process we should preserve | and purify the present Park, abolish the pesti- Jential nuivnce of the Five Points, and es- tablish in ite place the most beautifal set of mu uicipal buildings in the world, with very little, if any, increased taxation of the people, and in ihe very heart of the ety to the extent of fifty or seventy-five millions of | ne committees of the Boards of Alder- J Councibnen, we have prepared the fol- lowing enzamary of them. It must be remarked thai they are all based upon contracts for regu- Iyifng ood gending streets, which, through the ledgerdemain of contractors, surveyors and in- ave been swelled fo @ considerable and above what the original con- ided for. case of Chenwng Smith, eG with beving paid John Fitz- setgnee of Cherles Devlin, $12,800, $2,500, thue defrauding the (reasury Then comes the grading and regu- lating of bifty-ffth street, between Sixth and Seventh av . Where the eum of $2,077 50 hus bern paid lo Coutractor Farley for work not specified fn the contract, In the case of Vifty- sixth street, from Fourth to Vitth avenue, Mr. riey also received the sum of $2,500 for an item of earth excavation not contained in the copy of the contract in the Street Department, but, strange to say, inserted in the copy in the Finavee Depariment. In the case of Fifty- seventh etreet, between Third and Fifth avenucs. 160,000 cubic feet of wall, cost- ing $19,200, not in -the contract in the Finance Depariment, {fs charged for by the contractor, and an over messurement baa been returned by the Surveyor of 46,540 cubic yards of earth filling, and 7,047 cubic yards of rock blasting—a pretty heavy item. In the F econd street case, 2 wall is charged for which is not included in the contract, on which an over payment of $4,251 40 was made. in Vilty fifth street, between Third and Fifth and Seventh and Eighth avenues, the Surveyor Ts an over measurement on the work donc of 74 cublo yards of earth filling, at nine cents a yerd, sod 186 feet of culvert at $20 6 foot— making in all an over charge of some Ii seems to be a favorite plan with con- uggle a piece of wall or culvert work. T are, no doubt, the fattest j g to a statement of Mr. Flagg before the committee. It appears that Mr. Farley undertook & contract to build a wall on Fifth avenue, st twenty cents a cubic foot, in the expeciation that an ordinance could be passed through the Common Council author- izing the wall to be inserted in the contract, which, indeed, was dome just as he calculated. At this price Mr. Flagg says he would be re- ceiving $5 40a cubic yard for the wall; whereas forty cents « cubic yard is considered a fair price. In fact, Mr. Flagg informs us that a that very time Farley himself was putting up a wall on Sixth avenue at the latter price. This jeb on Fifth avenue would have cost the property owners $4,900; but Mr. Flagg represented to the Common Council that it was s useless piece of work, and at the same time warned Farley not to go on with it, ashe would never pay him. ‘Whe work was ac- cordingly not done, and the tax payers of Fifth avenue were spared. Neat comes the most monstrous job of all— that of grading Sixty-sixth street through the Central Park, at a charge of $15,000. This work | was actually done since the ground has been laid out for the Park. The omy good thing about thie job is that it ie not yet paid for. All these cases of alleged frauds have been | testified to by Mr. Flagg before the Committee of Councilmen; and besides these, he states that | suspicious, if not fraudulent, entries to the amount of some $15,000 more remain on his books | still unexemined. In addition to the contracts above enumerated there are several more un- dergoing investigation by the Standing Com- mittee on Frauds of the Board of Aldermen. In Fifty-fourth street, between Lexington and | Third avenues, an assessment of cighty-one | dollars « lot was made for flagging. There | were three bidders for the contract—one at | twenty cents a foot, one at sixty-three cents, | and one at seventy-five cents; but by some hocus pocus, which of course no one could ex- plain, the highest bidder got the contract, the | lowest having declined, and the middle one be- ing jumped over altogether. The contract was then assigned to Mr. Farley, and when the work wae done an over charge of nine hundred and seventy-five dollars appeared the Surveyor’s return—twelve lots being cer- | tified as done which were not touched at all. | Then came up the Fifty-second street case. | Here also there were three bidders for the con- tract—the lowest being the ubiquitous Mr. Far- ley, at $4,151; the next Mr. McGrane, at & 80; and the highest Mr. Cummings, at $ Farley is awarded the contract: then ¢ it; it is given to McGrane, and be ime assigns it to Farley, who docs the work at the higher figure 280. But this is not all. In the original contract the charge for curb and gutter is fifty cents a foot; but In the contract in the Assessor's office, upon which the assesment | is made out, It is charged at $150. And when the case comes on for examination the original paper is found to have vanished mysteriously from the Street Commissioner's office. Fortu- nately, however, a certified copy had been made of it by the agent of the property owners. | Then there is 5,500 feet of wall charged for, which is not specified in the contract at all. The taxpayers in this case complain that they have been defrauded out of $1,305 on the job. At the last session of this committee two new cases of fraud were opened up. One was in the grading of Seventy-ninth street, from Eleventh avenue to Broadway, where the property | owners claim that the contract has not, been fulfilled in any shape. The other is | in the grading of Third avenue, from Sixty- j third to Eighty-ixth street. These cases | are still pending, and will no doubt i | in precisely like the others. In the Seventy-ninth treet case one of our city surveyors favored the public with a new interpretation of the specifi- cations of # contract. In all contracts for grading strects there is a claue which specifies that rock shall be excavated two feet below the surface; and the surveyor interpreted this clanse as meaning that the “average” excavation should be two feet below the surface. Accord- ing to such an understanding, if the rock on one block should be eight feet below the surface of the «treet, the contractor might allow it to re- main two feet above the surface on the adjoining block; thus securing th ‘and com- ' plying with the terms of the contrac | t | Such is the history of the alleged frauds on our tax payers, now being ripped up, as far as | we can extract any intelligible history out of the mass of contradictions, concealments and inystifications whieh charac gations And what will the work of theve committess Will they sugeced in rygovering a sin. erized the investi- ead in are the vietims of a finely arranged system whereby contractors, surveyors aud inspectors acoumnlaie sovg fortunes, aud that Flagg is not fit for the office he holds, In fact, the com- mittees are mere bumbugs, and the sooner they closs their proceedings the better. ssiona: Investiaatina Commi Congressional Committee of Lavesti rz the alleged corruption of Congress easrs. Lawrence, Stone & Co. have rua st a snag, their principal witness, Mr. ott, having positively refused to answer questions put to bim by the committee reapect- ing the employment of moneys he received from one & Company. d by the committee may in afew words, They have dis- -d nothing tending lo rhow that any mem- ber of Congress reevived a bribe in any shape for his vote on the late tariff omendment. They have ascerisined that $6,000 of the $87,000 expended Ly Lawrence, Stone & Company was spent on the Times and Journal of Commerce of thisoity, They have further discovered that the famous Matteson offered to seoure twenty- five votes on the tariff question, provided $25,- 000 were placed in the hands of s certain honest editorin New York: but it does not up- pear that the transaction was consummated. Aad it has likewise been ascertained that # sum of $58,000 waa paid by Lawrence, Slone & Com- pany to Mr. Wolcott, who went on to Washing- ton to urge forward the amendment of the tariff, Furth: this (be commiltee has not gone. When « what he did with the money, Mr. Wolsott refused to answer, though he distinctly declared that he paid no Congressman for his vote, and bribed no meiober of the House in auy way er shape. ner the committee nor the House believe ; at least such is the reasonable inference forte et dure to which Mr. Wolcott has been subjected in the hope of opening his mouth, Unhless the money was spent in bribing members of Congress, Congress has no concern with it, and would have no pretext tor continu- ing to examine, much tess for imprisoning Mr. Wolcott as a contumacious witness, Mr. Wolcott takes the ground that his answer—denying that he bribed members—is trac, and that Congress has no authority either to question him further or to hold his body in durance. The issue between them will probably be set- tled on an application for a habeas corpus, Tt seems quite likely that Mr. Wolcott may get the better of Congress in the fight. There is no in- trinsic improbability in his denial that he bribed Congressmen. It is known that many Eastern men are quite remarkable for their tenderness of conscience; there is nothing radically absurd in supposing tH¥t afier having got the money— for what purpose we can all conjecture --Mr. Wolcott's conseientiousness may have rebelled against « corrupt use of it, and thus, that not a dollar may hove ever reached a Congressman’s pocket. If, on this showing, the question be renewod—What beoame of the money’ the only anewer that can be made the money remained where it was, viz: in the pocket of the conscientious Wolcott. It appears to be generally understood that at the time the money was paid over to Wolcott, he was a clerk with Lawrence, Stone & Com- pany; and that subsequently he has gone inte business asa banker with an ex-Governor of Massachusetts. No doubt he put money into | the business, and no doubt he could show that such money came from avery legitimate source, and formed no part of this long-sought $58,000. All these things could doubtless be very factorily explained, and no doubt they will be. It hus Lecome so common of late years for po- litical rogues to get money from rich men or associations under pretence of bribing Congrese, the Legislatures or the press, aud to keep the whole for themselves, that Mr. Wolcott must expect to be rather roughly handled until he discloses rather more of his private business than he now seems willing to make public. ise Prayer Meeriyos wy rae Cuvncnes.—We are rejoiced to inform our outeide readers that, wit} the upward reaction from our late fiff presture, in quite a number of our city churchew the most hopeful and glorious revivals batt *prung up, and are spreading from churgh to church like a contagion. Prayer meetings are accordingly the order of the day. At some of our up town churches the most beautiful saints, in the most exquisite silks and laces, have be- come the hopeful attendants of these prayer meet- inge; and these living saints and angels, blue eyes and black, hazel and gray, draw the sinners after them, including many young coxcombs heretofore scoflers of religion and the gospel in every shape and form. Should this good work continue to prosper as it has begun, our thea- tres, billiard saloons. oyster cellars, gambling dens, &c., will roon begin to lose the choicest of their customers. And thus we do hope and pray that the good work of these revivals may circles there have much, yea, very much, to an- ewer for, and have not fora long time been blest with such an opportunity as the present gracious dispensations of the divine spirit afford them for repentance and sanctification. In some quarters on the Fifth avenue, the prepatory work of fasting at the rate of seven dollars a _ month for the butcher's bill has doubtless qua- lified the parties practising these self denialy for the higher offices of prayer and for works of real charity and love. Let the good work, then, go on. Saints and sinners, now is the time. Rereest or tHe Usrversrry.—The three po- litical parties of our Legislature have been casting about each for a proper candidate for Regent of the University; and as with everything else of late, great or small, they made a practical job of it A man distinguished in the walks of literature would certainly have been the proper man for the place, and such a maa is William C. Bryant. But Bryant was ignored, and some obseure vil- lage politician, of the name of Burroughs, with a little nigger under his right arm, and a dark lantern in his left band, is to receive this hono- rary appointment. This is but another of the increasing evidences we have from day to day of the utter degeneracy and rotienness of the dirty pipe layers of our political parties. We except none. Democrats, republicane and Ame- ricans, they are all alike. As a Regent of the University, the name of Bryant would have conferred honor wpon the place; but thix was too much for the narrow comprehension of our mouring poliligians at Albany. go on, expecially up town; for our fashionable | Mozart, araeices, and ealoulated to affect, through them, ths interests of American commerce, was read end grdered to be gert to Congress, with the view ot procuring the enactment of a law for the suppréesion of the evil set forth therein, It is alleged that cases of seduction on beard emigrant ships dave become so numerous and so flagrant, and the law is so inadequate for the punishment of the seducer, that unless Congress paass o epeciai act on the subject this crime will continue to be committed with the most perfect impunity. The Commissioners say that they are unable to redress the grievance, and intimate that the offending shipmesters aad officers can only be reached by the action of Congress in the way suggested. Now, 9s the charges upon which this petition 6 based affect the reputation of a class of men who have heretofere deservedly held a high piace in the confidence and esteem of the com- mercial world, the passage of such o law would be @ gross imputation upon their character. The effect of lt would be to add another to the many unfounded charges which have been made against them, and which have been so eagerly seized and disseminated by those who are jea- lous of their superior prowess and our rapidly extending commerce. Two or three prominent cases of the kind complained of have, it is true, eccurred recently, but the offenders have not,as has been intimated, escaped punishment. And for the-e solitary cases an imputation of the most disgraceful, the mosi atrocious character, is to be cast upon all the men who command our commercial marine, and who in point of morality, intelligence and enterprise are second to none other in the world. But the Commissioncrs are not, as they have intimated, 0 powerless in the matter: they have the same means of redress in such cases as are open to others. They can complain to the owners of the vessels on which such crimes are committed, and we have no doubt that, having a due re- gard for their own reputation and interests, the owners will immediately discharge the guilty party or parties. They can also publish their names, and if sued for libel, the law will not oxly afford them the necessary protection, but ou conviction the courts will punish the crimi- mal for the crime. Tun Orera av Havana anv New York.— When our Cuban ncighbors get up an excite- ment there is no half way business about it. Latterly they have been laboring under a per- fect tornado of enthusiasm about the singers of Mr. Maretzek’s troupe, particularly Mlle Frez- zolini and Mme. De Gazzaniga. These rival prime donm have each a party more fierce than the Capuleis, more hot than the Montagues. The zwrore apread through all classes of society. yen the staid commercial correspondents, who once only talked about the state of the sugar market, the price of doubloons, the value of piguers, or the rate of exchange, now write of cadences, and trills and shakes, and roulades and benefits and wreaths, and other details of the theatre. We read that after the benefit of one of the prime doune, & grand old hidalgo @rives her home in his own carriage ; that she is serenaded by a military band ; presented with “a silver box containing four thousand dollars and a gold crown; to the other nightingale sundry rich gifts were donated ; a lady “ threw her head dress” to her favorite ; and another “jiterally tore her magnificent pearl earrings from her ears and threw them on the stage.”” It will be remembered that no one went mad with delight when these singers appeared in this city. We fear that there is no probability that any New York lady will throw her ear- rings to ® prima donna. Some of our belles would be more likely to take the singer's jewels to adorn their own persons. It is only in Havana where they have real solid enthusiasm ; and, as Mr. Maretzek is not one of those persons who give up @ good thing for an uncertainty, he has concluded to remain some time longer among the gems of the Antilles. Meantime, Mr. Ullman, after a triumphal foray upon the rural districts, turns his steps again towards the metropolis, and announces that he will commence his «pring season at the Academy on Monday next, with the “ Puritani,” in which La Grange, Formes, Tiberini, Gassier and others will sing. In addition to the regular Opera nights. he gives motin‘er; and is pre- paring for some grand promenade concerts, under the Sion of the famous composer and conductor, Musard. The most in- teresting fewtuly in Mr, Ullman’s official programme, however, is the announcement that he intends to produce Mr. William H. Fry's ope- ra, “Leonora,” during the coming month. The opera is to be done ina style “worthy of the occasion,” as it is “the first grand opera by an American composer ever performed at the Academy of Music.” We say this will be the moet interesting event of the season, because it is claimed by Mr. Fry's friends that “Leanora” is the greatest opera ever composed, and better than anything that has ever been written by Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, Verdi, Donizetti, Bellini, and all the long line of illus- trious masters of crochets and quavers. It was | produced twelve or fifteen years ago at Phila- delphia, but it is said was killed by the incom- petency of the singers. Now it is to be per- formed under the most favorable auspices, and we must all give it a fair chance. —_——<$—$ + — ‘The Utah Expedition. ove roRT VENWORTH CORRESPONDENCE. Fort Leavexwortn, K. T., February 3, 1858, The Quartermaster's Department at this Fort—probably the most extensive branch in the army—ia commencing tts labors for the reinforcing Utah army. Missouri horse traders, mule contractors and supply furnishers, gene rally, are as thick as peas in the pod. The action of Con- grees ia much needed to delay. Between the fifty niggers in and a man they call ‘Walker, it will be June; now, ere the long march Deging. In my private opinion “Jobuston will not wait for thie lagging reinforcement. There \# too much fre and strength in his little host to remain inactive long after the spring wun shall thaw them out. It is thought the administration ‘will not permit Johnston to be superseded, in which case Col. Sumner cannot go out with his regiment. Gen. Harney bas relinquished the command of the post to Col. Munroe, and proceeds soon to Washing\on. In the meantime, the Sixth Infantry—wintering ihe Cincinnat! houses of (eo, Banders—will form a separate command. Two important enterprises are now agitating Loaven- worth Guancicrs; ono ia the | oavenworth and Fort Gibson railroad the other # tlegraphic connection with Boon ville, Court of Common Pleas. Before Hon. Judge Daly. ACTION POR DAMAGHS— CURIOUS DEFRNCE. Pen. 16. Charles J. Hatery ve. Charles H. Moore. The Piaintitt in this case suea for damages for injuries done by the defendant firing an ait gun through his window and shooting him (plaintiff) in the thigh, whereby he euffered mee, “THe defence set up is the it ‘was dying of consumption at the time, ancl that the wound Hictad bad the effect of restoring tim to hoalth. The Rta aac apd tar Saeed w Women (this) wwrning. the Kansas Investigating Commijtes—The Senate Keport on the Lecompton Constiem lon—A New Territory catkd “Caron” te de Organized—Now York Politicians on the Alent. &e., &e. Wasmatox, Feb. 26, 1858, Tieara tha’ Wr Hodge, who was American Const a Morseilies, and dismissed by President Pierce, is making efforts to defeat &'° Confirmation cf Mr. Fleurot as Consat for Bordeaux, Mr. Hodge,] suppose, ie after the piace himself, and ho desires t© get rid of Fleurot by cating Lim a foreigner. Thigh‘ @bout aa irapudent an asvortion As 40 Office Reker could a Ke. Mr. Fleurot ise native of Now Jermey, and his relatins @nd connexions now renide in that State and on Long isi! Such sunall busineas as this can have litho cflect in maa ig & vacant place for Mr, Hodge. The colors of the House special Committee on the Le. compton constitution haye been unfualed The commities mot last evening, whon tho democrats sdccooded in laying down @ course of action fur iis vem (gations, whicn, while it will elicit the fullest information, Will defeat the purpoce of the faction that originated it t proSong this Kansas agitation, The cominittes has determtoed not te consume time and cause delay in thg settiement of" the Kansas difficulties by admitting or discussing irrelov wot matters. ‘The investigation wil! sot hinder @ apeedy sola- tion of the Kansas imbrogho through tho action of Cou grees in admitting that Territery as a Stale. Every mem. ber @& the committee was present. A motion was made to send to Kansas for persons and papers. ‘Thin was promptiy voted down without argument, and the Chairman instructed to procure a complete copy of the record now in this city, aud haye tho samo before the committee to-morrow. ‘Tho majority have determived that all the facts necessary to bo ascer- tained can be learned from the record, and they wil! re- port the subject back to the House this week, with a re- commendation that Kansas be admitted under the Lecomp- ten constitution, The minority (seven) came propared with a string of resolutions calling for a full im vestigation into all the questions connected with Kansas, with power to send for persous and papers. Tho objeat of this move was to delay action and keep the agitation alive for an indetinite period. The majority promptly Inid ail these revolutions ou the tablo. Tho resolutions referred to were presented by Mr. Adrain, empowering the chairman to send for persons and papers, Ko.—in fact, embodying the resolutions offered im the House by Mr. Harris. An amendment was offered by Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, requesting the chairman wo pro- cure copies of all the papers in the various dopartmonts re- lative to this subject, which was adopted by a vate of eight toseven. The majcrity of the committee wore satistied thas all the infortaation requisite could be procured at the De- partments; at least, they desire to be satisfied of that fac before they allow a commission to go to Kansas to invosti- gate the frauds practised during tho last two years ou both sides, and which it would take four months to accomplish. A second meeting will bo held to-morrow evening. The majority intend to investigate al! tho facts bearing direot jy upon the subject for which tho committee was appoint- ed, and which can be obtained here on the spot. These are, the genuineness of the constitution presented, whether it is republican in form, and presented by the constituted authorities legatly aud regularly representing the Couven- ion of the-people of Kansas. Horace F. Clark will vote for the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton constitution. John B. Haskin has received a letter from the demo cratic organization of bis district, instructing him also te vote for ite immediate admission, He will, however, go with the black republicans. The Senate Committee on Territorieu met this morning. ‘The majority were ready to report, but Mr. Douglas in- formed them that he had not yet completed his report, and asked for more time, which was granted. The Com- mitte meet again on Thursday, when the reports will be submitted, and the question settled and reported to he Senate for action. The House Committee ou Territories, at thoir mecting this morning, directed a Dill to be submitted at the next meeting, for the organization of a new Territory out of all territory west of Salt Lake, in Utah, to be callod Carson. The action of the Senate to day on the Indiana contested election cases has settled the matter. Senators Bright and Fitch will retain their seats, ‘The President has determined to make a thoroagh change in the federal officeholiers in Ilinois and the Northwest generally, removing those who are opposed to his administration, and appointing in their stead persons who support his views. As Judge Douglas has a large number of his friends in ofce the changes will be nume- rous. They will probably be announced in a day or two. Mr. Hatch, of Buffalo, stirred up a hornot’s nest to-day in pitching into the Know Nothings. The scene for atime was exceedingly rich. . H. Gardner is to command the Colorado, the flag shig of the home squadron. Postmaster Fowler, with quite a number of other New . Yorkers, is here, looking after the New York nominations, which are shortly to go before the Senate. Some of them may never reach that body. The Fort Suelling Committee are earnestly at work. It has examined Mr. Steele, the purchaser, and others, at great length. Tt is likely the whole affair will ond in smoke—tnat there has been ho fraud, and that the cost will bo rome forty thousand dollars to the government. Advices from Now Orleans state thet President Oomon- fort and his family, with Senores Garcia, Conde and bers, will remain for the present in New Orloans, tm order to be near to Mexico, and to establish reguiar communications with the liberal government at Guana- junto, but an agent will be sent to New York. I am tld that the friends of Santa Anna that aro now in New York bave ostablished regular Junta to promote his interests, and areactively at work there. THE OXNERAL NEWSPAPER DRSPATOH, Wasmivorow, Feb. 16, 1868, The President has removed Mr. Price, Postmaster at Chicago, and re-appointed Mr, Cook, his immediate prede- cossor. He bas also removed Mr. Miller, Postmaster at Columbus, Ohio, and appointed ex Governor Medary in his place. Messrs. Price and Miller were appointed dur. ing the recess of Congress. Calhoun today placed in possession of the So- nate's Committee on Territories his statement relative to the late clection. He is preparing an address to the public. ‘The official statement shows that the whole namber of arriving from foreign countries last year was 271,558, of which 109,000 wore females. The War Department bas received despatches from Lieut. Ives, in command of the expedition for the explora- tion of the Colorado river of the West. The party arrived at the mouth of the A small steamer, brought from Philadelphia, after «reat labor was put together and launched om the 1th of December, and answered admi- rably the purpose for which it was intended. Lieut. Ives found the charts of the river defective, but material for their correction had been gathered from the mouth of the Colorado to Fort Yuma. the river was vory crooked and fullof shoals, snags and sand bars, and the channel changes ‘80 constantly that the best pilot cannot ayoil repeatedly runping boste aground. It was supposed that fower obate- cles would be met with above Fort Yuma, ‘There are as yot no signa of the steamship Baltic, now due off this point, with four days later nows from Europe. Wind northwest and blowing a gale. Weather clear and cold. News from Kansas. Sr. Lown, Feb. 16, 1868. Late advices from Kansas state that a party of Lane's men hai! visited Westport, Mo, to search for Mr. Danforth, & momber of the Lecompton Convention. The Missourians made no resistance. Mr. Stofor, the democratic repre entative from Leayen- worth county, was recovering from the wounds received In the lato attempt to murder bit. ‘The grocery of Pat. Laughlin, who killed Collins, at Doniphan, a year or two ago, was broken open duzing his ‘adsonce, a fow nights since, and {{. cont nts burned in the sdroct. A skirmish is said to have occurred at Fort Seott, bat ae particulars are given. Gov. Denver had refused to somd the troops there Arrest of a Kidnapper. Lovisvit ‘eh. 16, 1968. A private despatch ays that N. B. Van Twyle, who kid- napped two free negroos at Geneva, New York, and sold one as @ainve in this State, has hoon arrested in New Orleans, and” waits a requisition from the Governor af Kentucky. Arrest of a Marderer, Wasniseroy, Feb. 16, 1868. Lact vight offiger ctlenry agrested Wy, Plguning, alian