The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1858, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Enos, AND PROPRIETOR, OFFICE N. We CORNER OF wouro Ax NASSAU STS TERM: suk tn advance. aioe nt oe th Sar eat ES THR DAILY HERALD, tio conts THE WEEKLY HEKALD, every soturday, sail rill be at the ied as subvertption $1 per annum. ‘at wiz cents per co, & 33 p annus: the Baropern Ration $1 por anno Great rt of the Figo Britain, or $5 (0 any part of Veiume 3 xxi, “AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE. Broadway—Eaunsrrian, Gyu- Wastto axy Acnobaric Paat?—-MONEEY OF Beam BOWERY THEATRE, 2aeer—Bems, vas Baxcee— Asraonei—Tom Cxixaus’s Loc. BURTON'S NEW THRATRE, Broadway —Slauix:—Goon for Nornine. wefan THEATRE, Broadway—Mancnant ov Vn. LAURA KEEWNE’S THKATRE, No. we Broedeag-Oun Ammgi0as Covsivx—Tax UArTaty 18 Not A Mi BMOM'S AMERICAN MUSFUM, Reoniway—Aftor- pooe and byenlng—La Frere Dansany—Womsn—Corip and ie? Froucs. WOOD'S MINSTREL BUILDING, 561 and 663 Brondway— Rremorian Soncs, Dances, &c —SovTuens Livy La.gernate,. MECHANICS’ HALL, 437 Brocka Wereurs MinaTRELs —NEGEO SONGS AND Burueseues—l INT GOT TIME TOT ARKY CAMPBRLL'S MINSTRELS, 44 Brosdway—Eraroriax Casndoreninrion, SONGS, 40.—Macte GUITAR. NEW BALL, Broadway, next Bleecker stract—Mrciaxicat PAmrtnc oF tite Desrntt iow or Jexusauea, 0 ‘New Yor! , Monday, MAILS FoR THE PAciFic. New York Herald—California Edition. ‘The United States mail steamship Moses Taylor, Capt. A. ©. Gray, will leave this port this afternoon, at twe o'clock, for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for California and other parts of the Pacific will olose at one o'clock this afternoon, Tho New York Wernty Hrraun—California edition— eontaining tho latest intelligeace from al! parts of the rorid, will be published at ter o'clock in the morning. Single copies, in trappers, ready for mailing, six cents. Agents will please send in their orders as early as pos ite. =< 1 . ‘The News. Ex-President Baez, of San Domingo, accompanied by Gen. J. Cabral, arrived in this city yesterday from Curacoa, in the brig Flying Eagle. They are, it is understood, en route to Europe. The United States mail steamship Tennessee, Captain Forbes, which runs from New Orleans to Vera Cruz, was due at the former port on the Ith instant. Our telegraphic dates from New Orleans are to the 18th instant, up to which time we have no report of her arrival. The season up to the latest dates from Vera Craz had been one of very severe northern gales, but it is to be hoped that no misfortune has happened to the Tennessee. Our European files by the Arabia, which reached this city from Boston at midnight on Saturday last, contain some additional items of interest, which we publish this morning. The main points of the news appeared in the Henacp on the 17th and 19th instant. A letter from Ceylon, dated at Colombo on the 29th of October, says:—The prospects of staple coffee are very fair, and large transactions have taken place in plantation at from 10s. 6d. to 11s. Gd. per bushel. Native rose to 87s., but has receded to 35s. Exchange is becoming more unfavorable to drawers. Freights remain low We have news from Mauritius dated at Port Louis on the 26th of October. The Overland Sentinel of that day says:—Sugers are tirm,and command fully Is. more. The crop is proceeding without inter- raption, with weather most propitious. Trade is active, and Indian productions have slightly risen in price. Immigration has not been extensive during the month. News from Rio Janeiro, dated the 14th ult., has come to hand, via London. A letter of that day says:—Business in imports is extremely dull, and prices have suffered a material decline. Arrivals of coffee are unusually small for the season, and 4,900 to 5,000 reis are demanded for American de- scriptions. Stock 70,000 bags. The Bank of Brazil has reduced discount to ten percent. Still great distrust exists among capitalists, aud anpleasant rumors are afloat. Freights and exchange the same as last reported. At Turks Island, on the 4th inst., salt sold at from 7} to 8 cents per hundred weight, with a prospect of a further decline and a short supply next year. The Royal Standard thinks that twenty-five thou sand free negroes could be induced to goto the West Indies from our Southern States, owing to the action of the Slaveholders’ Convention, lately held im Maryland. Our correspondent at Bridgetown, Barbadoes, writing on the 29th ultimo, says: Vrivate advices from England say that war between Spain avd bangtclan tpt though the belligerents may be prevented coming into collision immediately through the mediation of John Bull and Brother Jonathan. France will Spain in overthcowing the Mexican republic and substitating » rovarehy ip its stead, with a Buonaparte for kin There is no produce here for «ale at preseut. The growing crops have recovered beyond expectation, owing to a cooler and moister at phere, which renders the health of the island excellent. The arrivals of breadstoffs have fallem off, bat still the market continues overstocked with all kinds, and sales are quite limited. Salted provisions are dull. All the codfish in the market is in one hand, and the sapply of pickled fish is «mall. White pine lumber is aban- dant. Pitch pine Inmber. cypress shingles and red oak staves are wanted. Rum 70 cents per gallon in London at 30 days, $490 for £100, cent discount at 60 days. ‘ it the Academy of Masic amt e a 1. attended Repent \ercises “treet, w y sermon was preached in the language by Rev. A. H. Held. The new chapel of the Mount Olive Baptixt church, No. 640 Sixth was also dedicated yesterday. Rev. Dr. Bright conducted the services. ‘The annexed table chows the temperatnre of the atmosphere in this city during the past week, the range of the barometer, the variation of wind cur- rents, and the state of the weather at three perinds @cring each day, via: at 0 A. M., and 3 aud @ o'clock topher e Worship yesterday avenue, Saturday—Clowdy ali day ‘Sunday —Cioudy and un) Monday—Overcast, with rain night. ada overcaat, with fog + a Jomape "TeatelyDvercet, writh tight rain: night, otoar and Niriay Cnr ait das asant al! aay hight, overcast, —ondy al! day ¥ —Morning, clear “sof cotton on Saturday embrace! about 1.200 a pales, closing steady, on the basis of 120. for mit og uplands. The demand for medium and extra brande ({ four was good, with fair sales at full prices, while oom tao grades Of State and Western were lees active and ‘Sucgant Wheat continued firm, while sates wore |imit ei among the lot gold were white Southern at $1 40, ooited Western af #1 18%, and red Southers at $1 156 | Bright, and ¥ | tieal policy of the admini NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1858. a © $124, Corn was Orm, with moderate sales at 71c. for mixed Westers. Pork was in better demand, especially for future delivery; old mess sold at $17 50, new mees at $18, and prime at 18 60 8 $12.60; and mess was sold, do- liverable im January, and also in May and June, at $18; And prime, also deticerabie in March, April and May, om Private terms, and 2 considerable parcel of old mees on private terms. Sugars were firm, and closed at about ‘Xo. advance on the week's sales. The transactions em- braced about 900 bhds. Cuba muscovado at full prices, and 300 do. New Orleans wore soid by auction. Coffe was steady, but quiet. Freight engagements were limited and rates without change. The Next Presidency—The Squabbles and ‘Troubles of Parttes and Politicians. We transfer to our columns this morning two very interesting and suggestive political articles— the first from the Richmond Hngwirer, from time immemorial the cradle of the Virginia demo- cracy—and the second from the National Fra, the central organ at Washington of that “Irrepressi- ble conflict” of the North with the institution of slavery and the “slave oligarchy” of the South. From these two seasonable chapters on the slip- pery party polities of the day, the intelligent reader way form 4 pretty distinct conception of the squabbles of the democracy, and the troubles of the opposition factions, in reference to the next Presidency. Since his memorable clestion as Governor of Virginia, Gov. Wise has secured the Richmond Enquirer ss the active advocate of his claims upon the democratic party in regard to the Presidea- tial succession. A son of the Governor has of late become one of the firm of said paper, and no doubt can, therefore, bo entertained in any quarter concerning the source of its peculiar views and movements, But, notwithstanding the vantage ground thus secured in the Virginia camp with the possession of this central organ, Gov. Wise has found « formidable Virginia rival to Lis pretensions in the person of Senator Honter, Indeed, according to the proceedings of (Le late State Convention, the Huater fuction have the control of the Virginia chivalry, and Governor Wise, as well as Mr. Douglas, has been trai sferred to a back seat in the synagogue. It is not, then, a matter of surprise to find the Ex quiver exceedingly sensitive in relation to an ille rumor from Washington, that “Senator liuuter is now the favoriie of the administration for the Presidential succession.” The Bnguirer argues that the thing is absurd, incredible, aud my Ossible-that Mr. Hunter, to be consistent with himself, “is bound to take issue with the President on a number of the prominent recom- mendations” of bis Message. Next, it appears that “Mr. Hunter's chance for the nomination at Charleston is so very small as to excite but litte hope, even among his most ardent admirers’ which ie, doubtless, the fact. Then follows a statement of the case, intended to show that the game of the Hunter faction has no higher object than a “vindictive” intrigue to kill off Governor Wise. Thus understanding the iseuc, Governor Wise throws down the gauntlet to the Hunter conspiracy, and promises to expose and upset “the whole web of their Machiavellian scheming.” “When such things appear in the green tree what shall we have in the dry?” When the hitherto ever faithful and never flinching democracy wf Virginia are thus found to he demo ralized and divided between two Virginia can- didates for the Presidency, where are we to look for the beginning of that democratic reunion and harmony without which the Charlesion Conven- tion will be an empty mockery and a miserable farce? Can we look to New York, with our squabbling Tammany and anti-Tammany lead- ers, cliques and wrangling conspiratces !—or to Pennsylvania, where the Douglas deserters have turned over the State to the common enemy ?—or to Nlinois and to the excommunicated Mr. Doug- las, with bis vicketty hobby of “squatter sover- cignty *—or to Mississippi, where the secession- ists dictate the law and the prophets? Georgia, where such disorgauizing fuctionists as Toombs and Stephens rule the roast? Is there any hope in any quarter for the party beyond the common nucleus of Mr. Buchanan's administration? We can discover no other basis for a reunion than this. And even here the conflicting: schemes and plots and rival jealousies, among the several cliques, factious and sections of the party, promise anything but harmony and success. In Congress and out of it, in the Cabinet and in the camp, the game in behalf of this aspirant, that and the other, ap- pears te be couductedsupon the theory that the administration stauds in the way, and that ite subordination and submission are the firet things to be achieved Thus we find Mr. Secretary Cobb boldly taking ground on the tariff in direct opposition to the well considered practical revenue policy of the President; and thus we discover the unbroken column of the Southern democracy of C8ngrese arrayed against that incidental protection which Mr. Buchanan, in his specific duties, desires to give the great manufacturing interests of the North and the South, Thus we find the Rich- mond Enquirer repudiating the recommendations of the President concerning Kansas, Cuba, C n- tral America, Mexico, the Pacific Railroad and a General Bankrupt law; and thus, in all pro- bability, the lines of divergence and division be- tween the Executive and the various cliques of the party will widen and deepen until the ad- ieved of all responsibility and ‘ing the Charleston Convention. The President's Mesange furniehes a schedale of bold, practical measures, foreign and domes tic, upon which the democracy may unite and carry everything before them heneeforward to 1860, iggluding the election for the enecession. But it apparent that such personal issues as those betwe TL and Douglas, Douglas and and Hunter, and the desperate intrigues of snch men as Toombs, Stephens, the filibusters, the slave traders, free traders and se- ceesionists, will supersede and set aside the prac- ion, and throw the democracy upon the conntry in 1860 without any basis of order and without any substantial ground or meune of defence. Thus standing upon the defensive, disarmed, disorganized, and in a deplorable minority throughout the country, the chances are, from all the indications of the day, that the democratic party will be utterly annihilated in 1860 with anything like a eoali- tion of the opposition forces. Here, however, the difficulties so graphically prerented in the article from the National Bra call for a solution. As they now stand, there is neither harmony nor a prospect of harmony among the opposition camps. They are as com- pletely demoralized and divided ae the wrangling democracy, and with greater impediments before them in the way of a coalition. We havo fre- quently seen the democracy rallied together at the eleventh hour hy “the cohesive power of the public plonder;” and we have seen the opposi- tion, foolishly divided, from time to time, upon platforms and candidates, deliberately casting the prize away which they held in their handa, *And it is abundaatly manifest now, that upon or to anything like the Rochester manifesto, or their Philadelphia platiorm, or upon any such sec- tional anti-slavery candidate as Seward, Banks or Chase, the republican party oan hope for nothing better than an election by the House of Representatives; and they may be decisively de- feated before the people, It is only upon some such great conservative | national candidate and platform as are embodied in the name of General Scott that the opposition forces con confidently count upon a viotory from the people in 1860. In default of some such policy there will be two opposition parties, as in 1856; or three or four opposition candidates, as in 1836; or an anti-slavery balance of power, 98 in 1844; or an election by the House of Repre- sentatives, as in 1824, compelling 4 new or- gonization of parties, out-and-out, for the suc- cession. On the other hand, the administration among the democracy holds the inevitable balance of power. The position of the President, in apy event, ie secured. If the party sland by bim, the party may be reconstructed upon & firm and efficient footing. But there are no satisfactory signs to this end. On the contrary, from all the party developements which have, followed the President's Message, the adjourn- | ment of this Congress will find the democrucy in @ more disordered condition than at any other time since the defeat of Van Buren. ‘Thue, from all the late disclosures and existing symptoms on both sides, we may anticipate a battle for the succession in which the divisions of the opposition, upon their sectional issues of slavery on the one hand and the positive weak- neas of the democracy on the other, will most probably throw the election into Congress. And what then? Why then the proclamaton of the new President's Cabinet and Inaugural will be followed by a new organization of par- ties, for that political revolution which com- menced with the downfall of the old whig party will only be perfected with the removal of the decayed remains of the old democratic party from the field. A new order of parties is in- evitable with or after the election of 1860. In preperly taking the initiative the opposition may gain the field and choose their ground for the future; in trusting to the desperate issue of the slavery agitation, the republicans may forfeit all they bave gained upon a question which has served ite dey. ‘The Central American Question—Diplomatic ‘Tricks and Subterfages. Notwithstanding the assurances offered to us that the Central American question is in a fair way of arrangement, it looks as if it were destined to preserve to the last tts character of a tangled skein. The nearer we seem to approach the unravelling of its complications, the more involved they be- come, Thus, whilst we have on the one hand diplomatic statements and professions apparently tending towards a satisfactory solution, we hear on the other of proceedings which would lead to a different conclusion. Leaving out of view the importance of the political interests involved, we should regard the definite settlement of this troublesome question as essenti:1 to the reputa- ton for good faith and sincerity of all the foreign governments and diplomatists connected with it. It will be recollected that some little while ago it was stated by one of the London journals, on the faith of information coming direct from Paris, that an Anglo-French fleet had or- ders to proceed to the American coast. This statement produced an unpleasant impres- sion in London, and the funds were tem- porarily affected by it. In the conversa- tion between Mr, Tiallas ond Lord Malmesbury on this and other points bearing on the Central American question, his lordship stated that this rumor was atterly itute of foundation. In ame conversation Lord Malmesbury dis- imed ever having expressed any opinion fuwczable to M. Belly’s project, adding that he * 4 mere speculating adventurer, and had .cither the countenance nor support of Kogiand th it will strike plain speaking and plain dealing men ae curious that in the face of such aseursuces we should bave the statement reiterated by the English journals that the French are about to send to Central America a battalion offinfantry and three batteries of arti- lery. If, as Lord Malmesbury states, neither England nor France favors M. Belly’s schemes, what, we will ak, is the object of this Anglo- Freneb expedition! His lordsbip says that the motive of the presence of an English squadron on the Central Amcrican coast is for the protec- tion of Sir Gore Ouseley during his nego- tiations with Nicaragua. In the recent corres- pondence between Captains Aldham and Molntosh, the former explicitly states that it has been sent there to prevent the landing of Glibusters. On which of these assertions are we to re! Bar there is another point in this Central American affair which is still more curious in a diplomatic sense. If, as Lord Malmesbury ae sures us, Belly is a mere epeculatiag adventurer, without countenance or favor from the Eaglish and Freach governments, how does it happen that to the Belly contract we find appended the memorandum Xnown as the Rivas manifesto’ ‘This document was sent to Europe in that con- nection, and came in the same form to our know- ledge through the European papera. After declar- ing that it places the independence and nation- ality of the republics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua under the guarantee of France, England and Sardinia, the manifexto “supplicater the three governments no longer to leave the coasts of Central Ametica without defence, its rich coun- tries at the mercy of barbarians, and the future route of the trade of the world withont 4 serious guarantee of liberty and neutral- ity.” Was it not, we again ask, in compliance with the solicitations of the memorandum thas appended to the con- tract with « “speculating adventurer,” that an Knglish fleet and a French military force were ordered to the Contral American coast? Bat these are not the only remarkable features of this strange imbroglio of acts and declarations. Tt will be recollected that after the Rivas mani- festo came to the knowledge of our government, the Presidents of Nicaragua and Costa Rica whose names were subscribed to it, were inter- pellated by General Lamar in the spirit of the instructions of General Cass, and that both Pre- sidents at onee disclaimed it, adding that “the principles and policy of the manifesto had otigi- nated in mistaken conceptions.” General Marti- nez stated furthermore that he had appended his name to it simply “as a private individual.” This explanation, lame as it wae, was accepted hy our government, The two Presidente have not the less gained their point by having an English squadron and a French military force stationed on their coasta, All this goes to prove the extent to which duplicity and dissimulation have been carried in the di connected with this question. ‘The lesson which it incaleates should not be lost on our government, It will have to take its stand on a firm and well defined line of policy in regard to Central American and Mexican affairs, and not suffer itself to be diverted an inch from its views by these diplomatic tricks and devices. If this course be not pursued promptly, Sir Gore Ouseley will prolong his negotiations with Nica- ragua, Honduras and Costa Rica, until after the 4th of March, which will give England another year of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, thereby tying up the bands of the President, and knocking into cocked hat the Monroe doctrine, which General Cass bas been at such pains to re-enunolate in his recent despatches to General Lamar and Minister Dodge. Tun Congress PRINTING—SUPERINTENDENT'S Report,—We bave before us the report of the General Superintendent, Bowman, ou the condi- fon of the printing of the government at Wash- ington. From his voluminous array of figures we eelect the following “comparative statement” of the expenses of the printing, including the paper, illustrations, binding, &¢.:— BENATR OF THE UNITED STATES. Pee Toirty-fourth Congress, first session (ont MALED). oe ee eeeeeceerceeee ‘Tarty fourth ‘Congress, second session. Tality- fifth Congress, first session... .. ROUSR OF REPRRSENTATIVER. iret (cat. ‘Thirty fourth - mated), oe 680,721 42 Thirty fou Thirty fifth (shige they omen 862 55 Here we discover, as between the printing ex- penecs of the first session of this present or Thirty-fifth Congress, and the coste of the first secsion of the Thirty-fourth, or the last Congress, an immense saving to the treasury, to wit:— De. do. firet session present Gong Difference saved to the treasury... Taking it in round numbers, here we have a bill of a million reduced to half million as between the long session of the last Congress and the Jong session of the present. This diffe rence is largely due to those splendid illustrated books of the Pacific Railroad explorations, &c., executed under Pierce’s administration ; but there have also been some considerable reductions during the last two years from the pruning processes applied by the committees of the two houses. With all these reductions, however, the Commissioner submits several propositions of reform, which would still diminish these ex- penses. For instance: the House orders the mes- sage and accompanying documents, and the House printer executes the order. The Senate gives a similar order; and although they may have the same man for printer, under the present system, he charges the Senate, as he charged the House, for the type setting of the whole job, The Superintendent thinks that this system of double charging for the composition of these aud other Congress jobs should be stopped; and we think 60 too. He ulso proposes the cutting out from the documents printed for general circula- tion all that mass of rubbish, in the way of use- less statistics and tables, which makes these docu- ments 60 cumbersome and expensive, and #0 repulsive to the general reader. We maintain, however, that the shortest and only efficient method of reforming these printing abuses is in the establishment of a government office, in the form of a separate bureau of the Department of the Interior, under a com- missioner, and all under the supervision of a joint committee of the two houses. Short of a reform of this sort, we may have, now and then, some spasmodic efforts at economy and honesty, but nothing more. The hungry spoils beggars of the party press, and the keen and unscrapulous managers of the obby, will essentially continue to rule the roast as long as these jobs of Congress are considered the rightful perquisites, pickings and stealings of the party majority of either house. Meantime, we hope that the Hon. George Taylor will not let the opportunity slip away for an official in- quiry into this late lobby compounding business of Wendell, Benks, Steadman & Co. Prosect ro Avo Care Horn.—The dan- gers and difficulties of doubling Cape Horn are proverbial, and the necessity has been felt for a long time of something in the shape of a ship canal across the Central American continent to connect the two oceans, and thereby avoid the great risk to ships and their cargoes accruing from the dangerous navigation around the Cape. We publish in another column the memorial of an American resident of Chile to that govern- ment, in which he proposes to establieh a line of heavy steam tugboats on the Straits of Magellan tor the purpose of towing vessels through. There is no doubt that these straits form « natural ship canal, but navigation by sailing vessels is im- posible, This project, then, looks feasible and valuable. The average time required to double the Cape is twenty-five days, while Mr. Nye (the memoriaNst) says that steamtugs can (ake o large ship through the straits in five days. He goes into figures very elaborately to show the great saving in expense to shipowners in wear and tear, insurance, and so forth, by this plan, as well as the increased safety of navigation, and throws a prospective plum to the Chilean govern- ment in the probable annexation of Patagonia with its rich coal mines. The terms proposed are an angual subsidy from the government of $125,000 for the first ten years, and $75,000 for the succeeding ten, to be paid in quarterly instalments —commencing when the work is set on foot—-together with cer- tain rights and privileges relative to the use of coal and wood for the company and locations for their necessary buildings. Mr. Nye proposes to commence operations with the first tugboat in eighteen months from the time at which the gov- ernment shall accede to the terms of his me- morial. Should this project be met by Chile in a libe- ral spirit, it will prove of great advantage to the whole merchant marine of this continent trading to the Pacific, and we are glad to hail it as an effort of Ametionn enterprice. Bravtt, ano Tun Panaovar ‘AYE ram—It may be a matter of some moment, in connection with the resulte of the Paraguay expedition, to divine the position which Brazil will assume in that af- fair. It was predicted by our Paraguay corres- pondent the other day that Brazil was disposed to render aid to Lopez, because that republic had afforded him some facilities in procuring horses; but this is’ evidently mistake, Brazil, we are well aseured, has as fallan appreciation of the justice of our demands upon Paraguay as she had of her own, which she endeavored to enforce some time ago. The transaction in connection with furnishing horses wasamere commercial one, and no more; and we have no expectation that Brazil will be found in a hostile attitude to this country when the naval expedition arrives of the shores of Paraguay. Over Commmeca snp Nava Derences.— We recertly calle] attention to the alarming disparity existing between the present extent of our commerce a: d our means of naval defence. We showed that whilst we are in advance of all other nations in the rapid extension of our com- mercial marine, we are displaying « oulpable in- difference to the fact that in all foreign navies steam frigates and eloops are being substituted for the old sailing vesselsof war. The following extract from an article in the London Ship- ping Gazette proves that our progress in tho first respect is engaging the jealous observation of our English contemporaries:— matter , between the are. 1866 and. 1666, tho number of abn balm the United Bates Ka gg reflec- tion that the enormous interests which we are thus developing would, owing to the short sight- edness or indifference of Congress, be placed en- tirely at the meroy of ‘the immense ateat havy which England ‘ix oreating, in the event of war breaking out between the two countries’ We ‘have the same danger to apprehend from France, which is taking equal pains to adapt her navy te the exigencies.of modern warfare. It is now generally admitted that for all purposes, whether of invasion or of defenoe, sailing vessels have become next to useless, Whilst they are lumbering on to their destinations, or are kept battering away at heavy fortresses, a squadron of light propellers and gunboats will have already decided the fate ofa campaign, by en- tering the smaller harbors and rivers, capturing the shipping, and inflicting an incalculable amount of general damage. These are the dan- gers that we have to apprehend, and for which we are wholly unprepared. We may con- gratulate ourselves on the extraordinary in- crease of our commercial marine; but in our present defenceless state that fuct augments rather than diminishes our motives for anxiety. The growth of the interests that we have to pro- teet, without an adequate increase in our means of defence, is not a fact for us to sleep comforta- bly upon, Congress should at once devote its attention to this subject; it bas an importance paramount to that of all others. Authority should be given to the Secretary of the Navy to have all sailing vessels of war which will admit of the alteration adapted with propellers, and to have at least twenty fast light draught war steamers built in addition. This is the lowest estimate of the amount of naval force which is deemed necessary for the protection of our com- merce. Without it we had better sing small in our disputes with with foreign governmenta, Disusronism iv Sourn Canotina—*Drawina rr Very Mitp.”"—-The new Governor of South Carolina, W. H. Gist, in his inaugural address to the Legislature, says:— Tt is to be that no eccasion will arise requiring the State to cal her sons for tho detonce of her rights and ber iat utions—that our eemics at the North will boos wisdom from the past, and Said ar Neds selves =f Ne nen deen tion of principle is rear to quicken ‘Gar toet Loy fe Pr dangers that threaten us, rescue. And if some of oar pean, dowing with patriotic on ee} love of dignant at the ficted without their own sunny Pnoald venture Of a cold, calculating ‘policy, thing to the epirit of liberty.” This is certainly a wonderful letting down for South Carclina. Thus it is apparent that the sound statesmanlike advice of Senator Mammond has taken root; for we may rest assured that whea a South Carolina secessionist, like Gov. Gist, proposes to wait a little longer, he means an indefinite postponement of « Southern con- federacy. Now-Conrents is Cownou.-A lot of dis- charged Custom House <flicials held « council t.e other night, ander the iniwence, it is to be suprosed, of a sudden revival of virtue, for the purpose of exposing the deplorable fraucs woich tLey say exist in the Custom House. It migut be worth knowing why these gentry did mot make a revelation before they were discharged. His adversity sharpened their consciences? Tor Passacr Across Tie Isrimuus.—The sail- ing of the steamship Washington, of the White & Stebbins line, for San Jaon del Norte, has been postponed until the 23d inst., and there will be time enongh in the Interval to arrive at some definite understanding as to the prospects of her panengers getting over the Transit route without the obstruction and annoyance to which they were suljected on the previous voyage. Our government should see to this in time. There have been too mneh fooling and child’s play about this business «f the Transit to our Pacific States already. By the arrangement entered into be- tween the Nicaraguan gevernment and the White-Stebbins Company, all differeuces be- tween the two contracting parties were to have been settled by arbitration. Up to this time there has been no arbitration, and hence the con- tract holds good. Our government should send out positive directions, about which there can be no mistake, to the American authorities in those waters, that the Washington's passengers should be sent safely across the isthmus, without inter- ference from any parties whatsoever. AFasr Newsraren.—The newspaper in this city which publishes all the treatios, makes such a eplarge sbout them, and is so much in advance of all its cotemporaries, has printed really only one “treaty” in advance of the other papers, and that was the treaty pur- porting to have been negotiated and signed by Sir W. Gore Ouseley and the Nicaraguan Minis ter; but by the information just promulgated by th State Department, it seems that no such reaty was ever madeat a,l. Tom Thumb isa very nimble little fellow, but he jumped too far dowa in the cow's mouth that time. Tuvriow Wreo ox A New Tack — The ve- nerable Thurlow Weed, having fairly exhausted the oil and grease of “ bleeding Kansas,” and being hard pushed for something in the way of a nigger excitement, has taken up the case of the alleged slavetrading yacht Wanderer, a8 affording pretty strong circumstantial evidence of the revival of the African traffic in the South, under Mr. Buchanan's administration. “ Thia is aserry sight.” Why not fall back upon Pred Scott or Mr. Seward's Rochester manifesto? Naval Intelligence. Mr. George Sowall, of the Engincor Corps of the navy, Will leave in the Moses Taylor today for Aspinwall, whence he will proceed to California to superintend the construction of the machinery for the paddle wheel slonp- of war now building at San Francisco. Mr. A. ©, Steiner hae been ordered ae chief engineer to the flagship Merrimack, now on the scific station. He Joaror Vo-day, tm the Moses Toy lor, for Aspinwall, THE LATEST NEWS. Our Washington Despatch. | HOW THR NEW YORK POLITIOIANS BNJOY THRD) SELVES—PROPOSED LNORRASK OF THE NAVY —TH PAOIFIC RAILROAD PROJROT—THR OLD WiiG IN MOTION ON THE PRMSITRNTIAL QUESTION—TH OCCUPATION OF BONOKA AND OMIBUALUA—SRML TOK SLIDELL’S OPINION OF DOUGLAS, ETC. | Wasmnxcron, Deo, 19, 1858. ‘The New York Tammany boys are having a bigh tin im Washington. In regular New York business sty! they are epreading themscives to the greawst oxtogt the shortest time, and are astonishing grave Senators al)| slow representatives with their faculty of making ¢] greatest amount of fun out of their political squabbies «| re-unions. At the same time they are shrewdly work! for tho loaves and fishes of office. ‘The Sevate and Hoase Committees on Naval Affairs & Joint meeting on Tuesday next, to confer with the rather averso to the Seoretary’s recommendation, TV present condition of affairs may force upou the commiss the neceesity of bringing forward a proposition for ’ MOOps At Cnoe, ‘The Special Pacific Railroad Committee are ondeavort to mature a Dill to mect the approbation of the varie conflicting interceta, It is understood it will submit their meeting to-morrow a definite propcsitioa, such will meet the concurrence of the adininistration. A foint resolution will be submitiad lo the House morrow that Congress take a recess for ten days duri the bolidays. It will receive a large vote, and thought it will be adooted, Senor Mata, the Mexican Minister of the constitulior government, bad an interview with the Secretary of St: yesterday, and is to sce the President to-morrow. Nil desperandum! would secu to be the moto of f oid line whigs. Three of FYl more's cabinet—Crittend Stuart and Courad—with many other old leaders of t, party, are here caucureing aud considering the ways / means of resuscitation, and the chances of the next I) sidential term, amidgt the existing demoraiization of p tical parties, Tne Union this morning “haa an editorial naively ¢ tenaing that the greatest amount of public printing is Greatest good. Itaays.—'We are fully committed broadest system of pudlication.” ‘That is disintereax rich, From au article inthe samo paper on the Pt posed military occupation of Sonora aad Chihuahe it would seem the Secretary of War contompiates cet lishing military posts through these States to Guayn But itis pot likely the President will take such ar without some understanding with or permiesion of Mex Senetor Siidell, in acard published today, denies charge that be spoke of Dougiss’ slaves ia Louisianr being badly treated, and concludes by saying:—*« Donglas has, by authorizing and couatenancing ano mous attacn On me, through a person officiating as private secretary, lost ail claim to the expiauations tb would otberwise have promptly voluntecred to give hu THX GEYERAL SRWSPAPER DRSPATCH, Wasenaton, Dec. 19, 1861 The Secretary of War, in reply to an inquiry of House Committee on Military Affairs, has expressed av decided opinion that the proposed military oocupatio Sonora and Chihuahua, eo far from adding tothe exis necessity for an increase of tbe army, would have the posite effect. A line of posta stretched across from 1: to Guaymas would be mach shorter than the pr curved line of posts beld by our troops, and being abo the line could be occupied by a smaller force than is required, besides being more effective than the present rangement. A great saving, too, would be made in means of by Leimence aod Lhe curtulment of the expe of traasportat ion. ‘Tho Post Office Department intends to resort to strimy| measures in ali cases where the offence of using borro franks to cover private correspoudence, so provalea Washington, can, by any powibilty, be traced guilty parties, An effort will be made in the Mouse to.morrow troduce & resolution ivstructing the Comittee on Tor riea to report a bill repealing so mach of the Eng Kansas bill as prohibits the formation of « Stato vot population i sufficient for a representativo in Congr) according to the federal rato. It is t@ be presented | test question. Terrific Explosion and Low “or Life St. Louis. Sr. Louw, Dec, 18, 186) The following are the sames of the four men who killed by the-explosion today at Bolcher's sugar Jjured, one or two of whom will prodat'y ‘al others were elight!y wounded. The ex; ended with euch terrific force that on: = fluc, woightng over five thous eyyg Geers ¢ ove bendred and tity fee oe of build: Fire Smith's Palace, a place of summer resort in Crane waa destroyed by Gre on Saturday morning. Loas $10, insured for $5,460. Southern Ocean Steamer Movements CHARLESTON, Doc. 18, 186) ‘The steamship Marion, Captain Fuster, arrived ( New York at three o'clock this: morning Savamnar, Deo, 18, 185) ‘The — Alabama arrived beidw ai von o'c this morning. Ali weil. New Onizana, Doo. 18, 185 The sales of cotton today were 2,000 bales,’ et: one of x the market cioving very unsettiod, # quctat®s 2, Lime—Lovkland, $1 90, Momux, Deo. U7, 6 ‘The salen of cotton to-day were 4,000 balee, at 1 11) ©, for midal Baler of the week 18,500 ac oh; te Of the week 32,600 bales, against 29,000 ia the na! wer Kk last year. Stock in port 119,500 Sales Mont, Deo. 18, 1si9 gah al al al bales, at Lik Coverswatt, Doo. 18, 18s Flour firm. Whiskey steady at Zio. Hoge higher; 4 at $6 25 a 86 40 for those aver ng 170 pounds. Rew to ay—400, Pork Grm at $17 60. Lard firm at 19% WKe., aad higher. Eee, Mr. Wood's Card on Tammany—No Com, mise at All, TO THR EDITOR OF THR HERALD. Naw Youx, Doc. 18, 186) Tt ia not true, a8 stated, that I or any person author) to represent the anti Tammany democracy, have reo been to Washington for an adjustment of difficulties it! party here; nor do I believe that the President could |) undertaken such @ task. It ts quite cortain, that so fi myself and friends are concerned, we have not se; again trast or respect the men who now govern th ganization of Tammany Hall. Whatever promixes o| form they may make to the President at Washin, know from experience will be broken in New York, out aympathy with or hold upon the rank and file c party. They reiy solely upon machinery and the « at their command to govern the masses. From thisr and corrapt rule wo have appealed to the peopic, un that powor alone will we submit our case. FRANANDO Woo bd Political Inteltigence. Tre New Yora Dimeurres ow Wastnsoroy— Washington Star of the 17th inst. contains the folly in reference to the settioment of the difficulties w — exist in the democratic ranks in this city — ives of Tammany - now i Wm. D. Kennedy, Rijah Purdy, pe Super, William Smail, Geo. Purser, Noweon J. Water’ Connell; , —— Chandler and ‘I 1. V. Fowler—ail ose New York city mantcipal democratic potiie ) Kelly and Macl ves, are undersioed to some two boure and a half yorterday with! Preaident, in consultation apon a feasible more, LJ ible to arrive at one, of harmoniziny tho’ e = ible between the wing of the party in New York represent, and that known as the Wood and Sebel! » thtongh whore differences the very last Now York the democracy—a blow that wi) must eventaay me oy hereafter becanse they hay ume nay from une inert ew Tm igh ge. tl How in high glee, Gy tor and a Mr. Souter (@ city bunk presisent), fo aver anes Wo party Gino ine city, though they were ‘erent at the V House en the ccaston reerred #0. Dovenas ty tie Sora. —A town has been inehrpey in Coffee county, Georgia, under the namie of Douglae Kasrroxt.—(on. Wm. 0. Butler dociinet & nowin for Governor of Kentucky,