The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1859, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND WASSAU STS TERMS, cash in advance, Money sent by mail wilt be at tha Pd ths onder” Posage sampe net received as subscription rf UILY HERALD, tieo cents: 1, $1 per annum. THE WERE HERALD, pany A at sie cents per eopy, or Sper annum; the European Edition $4 per annum 10 snp bart Grom Briate, oF $8 to any part of he inent, both fe rae ¥ HERALD, every Wednesday, at four cents per or. ‘annuin. “ Ro tombany CORRESPONDENCE, containing important any ‘of the world; ¢f used, will be . BGPOUR FOuRiGn CORRESPONDENTS ARE Pawricvrarty ReQuestep 10 aL any Pack: 486 PE Tiras ren cry doy deinen perted én the Weuxty Heratp, Famity Henan, and in the California ions. JOB PRINTING executed wich neatness, cheapness and de- "NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. Wedo not return rejected communications. AMUSEMENTS THIS RVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth sireet—Irauian OreRa —La Zingana. E. Broadway—FQvesrRrax, Gre men O ADD Alanine Pears CLOWN IW 4 Baunin’ SHOP. THRATRE, Bowery—Kwicurs or tae Mist— et—Cartain Ky. BOWE! Mac 7 BURTON'S NEW THEATRE, Broadway.—Uncis Tox's Canux—Gaann DiIvERTIsEMENt. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Meucunr or VE mos. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, No. 624 Broadway.—Ovk Amsnican Cousix—Tum Marniep Rake. NUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway—After- uganee Evening—Bsex Bott—Harusqvin VILLAGER. ‘WOOD'S MINSTREL BUILDENG, 561 and 563 Broadway— ‘Ernrorian Songs, Dances, &0.—New Yeak Calis. MECHANICS’ HALL, 427 Broadway—Brrants’ MivsTRe“s —Necno Sones axp Bykiesavas—SurLoos. ‘AMPBELL} MINSTRELS, 444 Brondway.—Ernioriax ooiicasneon, Songs, 40.—Dovsix Benpep Room. New York, Thursday, January 6, 1859. To Paper Manufacturers and Agents. The proprietor of the Nsw York Herat wants to make frrangements for a constant supply of printing paper, Bach as the Hxrat is printed upon, to the amount of 2,000 to 1,200 reams per week, payable in cash at the end of each week. Apply immediately. MAILS FOR THE PACIFIC. New York Herald—California Edition. ‘The United States mail steamship Illinois, Captain Mc- Gowan, will leave this port this afternoon, at two o'clock, for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for California and other parta of the Pacific will close at one o'clock this afternoon. The New Yore Weesty Hensrp—California edition— ontaining the latest intelligence from all parts of the ‘world, will be published at ten o’clock in the morning. Single copies, in wrappers, ready for mailing, six cents. Agents will please send in their orders as early as pos- Bible. ‘The News. The European mails to the 1sth ult., brought by the steamship America, reached this city last even- ing, and by the arrival of the North American at Halifax yesterday, we have Liverpool advices to the 224 ult. The delay in the receipt of the mails was caused by the express train, on which they were taken from Boston on Tuesday, having been @etained for many hours in a deep snow drift near Worcester. The North American is bound to Port- land, but put into Halifax for a supply of coal. On the morning of the Ist inst., when off Cape Race, she struck a rock, which caused some damage, but it is supposed she will proceed on her voyage to- Morrow, unless ordered to remain at Halifax. The news by these arrivals is interesting, as will be seen by the copious extracts from our files and the telegraphic summary published in this morn- ing’s Heray. The London money market on the 22d was heavy, and consols for the account, ex divi- dend, were quoted at 96j a 96j—a slight decline. At Liverpool the cotton market was easy, at un- changed prices, though some circulars reported a Gecline of one-sixteenth of a penny. Breadstuffs and provisions exhibited no improvement. The English newspapers were occupied in dis- cussing President Buchanan’s annual Message. Bome of them had printed the document entire. ‘The expression of opinion regarding its contents ‘was as various and contradictory as can be ima” gined. The steamship Weser, the non-arrival of which at this port has already occasioned no little appre hension for her safety, left Bremerhaven on the 4th ult. Nothing has been heard of her since that date. A report of the proceedings of the shareholders of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, at an extraor- digary meeting in London, is publishe@ in another column. There are half a dozen sclfemes for tele- graph lines between the two continents now on foot. It is reported that contracts for the transporta- tion of twenty thousand emigrants from Africa to the French West India islands have been con- cluded. We give a copy of the form of contract under which this new slave trade is to be carried ‘on by the French government. It appears that the preparations made by the Sixty-ninth regiment of New York State Militia to -visit Ireland seriously alarmed the English govern- ment, and that the joy of the people at the ex- pected approach of their American brothers in arms has caused many of them to get into trouble. The steamship Prince Albert, of the Galway line, which left St. Johns on the night of the 10th ult., ran to the Irish shore in five daysand sixteen and a half hours, and delivered a synopsis of the Presi- Gent's Message, with other important news. There is considerable excitement in Switzerland, occasioned by the advance of French troops into the territory of the firstnamed republic. The mat- ter had led to diplomatic notes on the subject. The steamship La Plata, with the South Pacific and West India mails, brought $806,935 in specie to Southampton, England, on the 16th ultimo. The steamship Cahawba arrived at this port last evening with news from Havana to the 31st ult. The excitement concerning President Buchanan's views on the question of the annexation of Cuba continued, although the demonstrations of loyalty were evidently less fervent than upon the imme- diate receipt of the Message. In Matanzas two persons had displayed sufficient courage to refuse to sign the petition to the Queen which had been prepared by the government officials. The holiday festivities were in full blast, and business was very Gull. The capture of the brig Rufus Soule and the schooner Kate Ellen, by British cruisers, on the coast of Africa, is reported. The Supreme Court had prepared an order giving up the brig Nancy to her commander. The order had not been issued, and would not be until after the holidays, The weather was delightful. ‘We have news from Venezuela, dated at Caraccas on the 6th and Porto Cabello on the 18th ult, Gen Paez’s arrival was daily and anxiously looked for Our correspondent says his reception will be very enthusiastic. The whole nation is unanimously in his favor, and the political concerns of the country fre being conducted as if he were already at the head of affairs. Other accounts state that Venemela is rapidly going to ruin, and that if Gen. Paez does not soon arrive the re- turn of Monagas will be among the least of the evils that could occur. In Caracas especially, so it is reported, much discontent was manifest. A let- ter from Porto Cabello says:—Produce from the interior is coming to market more abun- dantly. Business is assuming its wonted acti vity, and confidence is being restored on a firmer NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1859. footing than has mn known for several years. Mining is prosecuted with great energy and yield- ing most satisfactory results. The construction of railroads is in contemplation by companies siready organized at Caraccas, and the future shines with brightness. In Congress yesterday the death of Gen. Quit: man was announced in both houses. Appropriate eulogies were delivered, the customary resolutions of respect were adopted, and an adjournment fol- lowed. There will be no business of importance transacted in Congress this week, as the death of Mr. Harrjs vill probably be announced to-morrow. The L&slature has commenced work in earnest from the start. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Mather gave notice of a bill to repeal the Metropolitan Po- lice law. Jt is not at all likely, however, that the present Legislature will make any material altera- tion in the law. Notice was also given of bills to amend the usury laws; to amend the act relative to assessments for local improvements in New York; to limit the responsibility of newsvenders and dealers in periodical literature, and to incor- porate the Long Island Steamboat Company. In the Assembly notice was given of bills to equa- lize the Taxation act passed in 1846; to abolish the seventy-five cents militia commutation in New York city; to amend the banking law; to abolish Com- missioners of Deeds in this city; te amend the act for the better regulation of the New York firemen; and to regulate the salaries of county officers in this city. This last proposition comes from a democra- tic member, and the republicans will not be slow to adopt any recommendation for reducing the fees and perquisites of the democratic office holders. Senator Douglas wae yesterday re-elected to the United States Senate by the Legislature of Illinois. The vote stood 54 for Douglas, 46 for Lincoln. ‘The election yesterday for member of Congress in the Fourth district of this city, to fill the va- cancy caused by the resignation of Sheriff John Kelly, passed off very quietly. There was no ar- ganized opposition to the democratic nominee, Mr. Thomas J. Barr, and he was, of course, elected. Mr. Barr is member elect of the next Congress. In the Fifth Minois Congressional district Mr. Hodges, democrat, has been chosen in the place of Col. Thomas L. Harris, deceased. The steamboat C. Vanderbilt, while on the pas- sage from this port to Stonington, on Tuesday morning, went ashore at Race Point, Fisher's Island, during the thick snow storm that prevailed at the time. The passengers and mails were saved, but it is expected that the vessel will prove a total loss. The Street Commissioner has notified the Com- mon Council that as the annual appropriation for 1859 was not passed by the last Common Council, it will be impossible to make any expenditure in his department until an appropriation is made. He advises immediate attention to the matter, in order to facilitate business. Judge Russell gave his decision yesterday in the case of Wood, Eddy & Co., charged with being en” gaged in the lottery policy business. He held the defendants to answer in the sum of $3,000, and di- rected the papers to be sent to the Grand Jury, which will be empannelled to-day, there being no court yesterday, in consequence of the char ter election. The decision is, in substance, that lottery tickets cannot legally be sold or offered for sale in this State, even though the lottery itself may have been legalized in another State. The ship St. Peter, from this port bound to New Orleans, has arrived at Charleston in distress, hay- ing received damage in a collision with the brig Sarah, from Cardenas for Boston. The crew of the brig were taken on board the St. Peter. The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 1,000 bales, The market closed quietly, without change in prices. The total receipts at the ports, according to the latest mai} dates and telegraph reports, since the 1st of Sep- tember last, amounted to 1,780,000, against 1,057,000 last year, and 1,520,000 for the same period the year before, showing a gain over the receipts to the 6th of January, 1858, of 729,000 bales, and over those to the same date in 1857, of 294,000 bales over thoge of 1856, and 260,000 over those to the same time in 1855. The total exports were 919,000 bales, showing an excess over those in 1857 of 582,000 bales, and over those of 1856 of 551, and an ex} cess of those of 1855 of 119,000 bales. The stock on hand amounts to about 712,000, which is slightly in excess of the three previous years. We have reason to believe that the crop at the South, and particularly in the Atlantic States, has been sent to market earlier this season than usual. To this result good prices, high rivers, and the extension of railroads, have all con- tributed. It was seldom, if ever, the case before, that so large a proportion of the crop has been sent forward. If we estimate the crop at 3,500,000 bales, a little over one-half of the whole has already been re- ceived at the ports, while something over half the receipts have been exported to Enrope, and a considerable portion taken for Northern consumption, where the mills as a general thing are actively and profitably employed. A letter received from a planter states that nearly all the cotton had been sent to market from the up country of South Carolina and Georgia. In other words, the growers had sold out, and money was plenty, while negroes and lands were high; and many were busy clearing away lands preparatory to the planting of another crop. Flour was in better demand and prices firmer, espe- cially for common grades, with a fair amount of sales. Wheat was firm, with moderate transactions. Corn was quiet and sales limited. Pork was firm, with free sales, part in settlement of contracts; mess was sold at $17 75, old do. at $17 26, and new prime at $13 75. Sugars were firm, with sales of 500 a 600 hhds. at rates given in ano- ther column. Coffee was firm and quiet. Freight engage- ments were limited, while rates were without alteration of moment; there was something doing for Continental ports, at unchanged rates Presidential Candidates—The Press and the People Casting off the Shackles of Party. We seriously begin to believe that the Ameri- can people will not be carried into the next Pre- sidential election bound hand and foot by the shackles of party. We find encouraging signs of anew order of things, from the freedom with which the party press is entering into the dis- cussion of the party candidates in the field for the chances of the succession. For example, the Richmond Enquirer contends that the issue at the Charleston Convention will be limited to the choice of Wise or Douglas, and that Wise must thus we chosen, because the South is clearly en- titled to the next democratic nomination. On the other hand, while the Northern democratic organs of Douglas do not appear to recognise the possibility of superseding his peculiar claims, there are democratic papers, North and South, that consider his removal from the chair of the Territorial Committee of the Senate as equiva- lent to his expulsion from the councils of the party. On the opposition side, while the Cheva- lier Webb has proclaimed W. H. Seward as the inevitable candidate of the republican party, and while the National ra, at Washington, is in favor of Gov. Chase, of Ohio, the venerable Francis P. Blair, of Silver Spring, calls to- gether the magnates of the republican camp from Congress, to impress them with the superior popularity of Fremont. These, and all other movements and phases of the Presidential ques- tion, are rapidly becoming the leading topics of newspaper discussion. And thus, in every quarter of the country, among our political journals of every complex- ion, the Presidential question, the movements of parties, the claims of party candidates, and the prospects of the national nominating conventions of the democraey and the opposition in 1860, are beginning to be agitated with a refreshing con- tempt of King Caucus. In fact, that caucus cen- sorship over the political newspaper press vabich heretofore has shackled the party journalist, and bound him down to silence or a saving caution regarding the pretensions of this candidate, that and the other, for the Presidential office is a cen- sorehip which has had its day. The independent press of the country, after the labore of a quarter of a century against this despotism of party juntas, cliques, caucuses and conventions, is thus rewarded with the most satisfactory evidences and indications of a wholeseme revolution. The prospect which is thus opening before us, of a restoration of the supreme authority in our Presidential elections into the hands of the inde- pendent masses of the people,we thus welcome and commend to their active attention. The corrupting appliances, devices and restraints which have been used 80 long and successfully by the cunning and unscrupulous managers of the party caucus and convention, for their own benefit and their hungry fellow spoilsmen, have been carried to the last extremity of rapacity and tmpudence. The splendid successes of these party managers with Van Buren hay? naturally operated to a steady increase of the numbers of these active candidates for the honors and spoils, with every succeeding Presitential elec- tion, among the domocracy and theopposition. Thus, according to the sound old maxim that “too many cooks spoil the broth,” the old whig party was torn to pieces and destroyed in 1852; and thus, but for the stringent necessity which compelled the nomination of Mr. Buchanan, the democratic party would have been aipihilated in 1856. Even with the solid popularty of Mr. Buchanan, the party escaped destruction as by a miracle; and yet its success was but the signal for the revival of those feuds and quabbles among the contending leaders and facjions for the spoils which had reduced the party under poor Pierce from a powerful majority t) a mise- rable, contemptible and demoralized popular minority. ‘Who can enumerate the all-importart party politicians who, for their good offices in the Con- vention at Cincinnati, or in the loca) ¢aucuses here and there, sorting out the delegats to that Convention, have claimed of Mr. Bucianan the lion’s share of the spoils? And who cm tell the beginning or the ending of the defectiois and re- bellions in the party camp, fomented by these disappointed President makers and iffice beg- gars?’ We shall not undertake the enuneration; but the corruptions and demoralizatiom of party leaders, spoilemen and Presidential ‘spirants, from the causes assigned, we are happy to say, have pretty thoroughly brought into ptblic con- tempt the whole of this rotten caucusand con- vention machinery of the wrangling and disjoint- ed democracy. And so of the managing cliques and jtntas of the republican and American camps. Thy have carried their presumption and impudetce too far—they have fallen into disrepute; ail thus we find the three great parties of 1356in that state of mutiny, disorganization and chaos which opens wide the door for a bold anf dash- ing independent movement of the people utterly regardless of any and all of these old patty asso- ciations, or principles, or platforms, or cacuses, or conventions. All the prominent candidates for the ngxt Pre- sidency, involyed among the caucus and jonven- tion managers of the opposition and th demo- cracy, are necessarily involved in he in- trigues of this clique or that clyue to make everything else subservient their selfish purposes. Thus the federal jdminis- tration, as it has been, will continu to be, regarded as a machine to be used, or a8 a stumbling block to be removed out of the way; and thus all the great substantial interests of the country, in our foreign or domestic rela- tions, will be made subordinate to the peculiar aspirations, schemes and combinations of the va- rious Presidential cliques of Congress, North and South. In a word, the measures of the adminis- tration, the proceedings of Congress, the wants of the government, and the requirements of the country, must all be graded and shaped by Ton, Dick and Harry, and the followers of each, b suit the programme of this demagogue, or thit aspiring leader for the Charleston or the republ- can nomination for the next Presidency. Let us do away with this party caucus ani convention machinery; and the two houses ¢f Congress, which now become two bodies ¢ scheming cliques for the next Presidency, with the inauguration of the President elect, wil soon be rendered capable of attending to the public interests. Let the people take the busi: ness of the next Presidential election in hand, and by a succession of concurrent independent meetings and clubs throughout the country, upon some great and popular name, disconnected from the party corruptions and shackles of the day, anticipate and supersede these juggling party conventions, and they will he destroyed with the next Presidential election. Thus, too, we shall secure a President free to act in bis appointments and disbursements of patronage, and as free from the troubles of wrangling fac- tions and party spoilsmen, But where, upon either side, shall we find the proper man to answer these requirements of an independent, national and popular candidate? Mr. Buchanan, no doubt, will positively retire from the political arena with the expiration of his present term. Otherwise, the sensible masses of the democracy might find in him the proper champion for a solid and conservative recon- struction of the party. Of the democratic aspi- rants in the field, all that can be said is that they are allin the game for the Charleston Conven- tion; and whether the issue of that Convention shall be one, two or three Presidential candi- dates, it will be a convention of party spoilsmen, gamblers and hungry loafers around the trea- sury, and nothing more. On the opposition side we are not aware of the existence of any candidate who does not equally depend upon the corrupt caucus and convention jugglers of the republican party. We say no- thing of the managers of the ramp of the Know Nothing order, as it is evident that they are only plotting and contriving to get into the republi- can camp. There is a man, however, among the opposition forces who will answer the purposes of the people—a man untrammelled by party, section or faction, and with the records of almost half a century of brilliant achievements in the country’s service—a man who has not grown tich from the treasury, from railroad land grab- bing, from the lobby, or fat contracts, or Gal- phin or Gardner claims, or Indian indemnities, or town sites, or anything else in the schedule of the party spoilamen—and that man is General Scott. His public record, like that of Mr. Bu- chanan, exhibits a clean pair of hands, unpollated by the drippings of the public plunder; and such aman, with all his trials and glories, of well nigh fifty years of public service, may be trusted. He failed in 1852, because no mortal power was strong enough to save the sinking whig party. Try him now, and he will succeed in 1860, be- cause none of the old rotten and disordered party machines of tho day will he competent to reach him ‘The Cuba Question and the Spanish Misston— What will Mr. Preston Say and Wo at Madrid? Congress is about to take up the recommenda- tion of the President, that the Executive should be authorized to purchase Cuba, and have placed at his disposal a sum for the preliminary pay- ment; and Mr. Preston, our Minister to Madrid, ia about to depart on his mission. In the absence of any action by the representa- tive body of the nation on this great question, we do not see what particular public service Mr. Pres- ton can perform by going to Madrid, On the great points fer diplomatic arrangement between ourselves and Spain, the course of several past administrations on one hand, and of numerous Congresses on the other, has left our representa- tive in Madrid, be he who he may, without the slightest moral influence. Indeed, we may go still further, and say that what, with vacillation on one side and inaction on the other, on many of the vital questions of our national progress and international intercourse, the position of every American Minister abroad—in Europe and out of t—has been lowered in an immense degree, and is far below that which corresponds to our industrial and commercial importance, our intellectual developement, our territorial extent, and the vast future which the world now concedes ous. It will take Mr. Preston, however, some ittle time to reach his post. He will require to confer with his colleagues in London and Paris, and he will have to gather in the latter city, and send before him to Madrid, those many appliances of comfort and taste which he cannot procure in Spain, but which are indispensable to every civil- ized household and Saxon home. In the mean- time we may see what can be done in the great questions with which he is charged. Their position just now is weak in the extreme. Ifthe American Minister at Madrid should en- deavor to press the claims of our citizens against Spain, he would be met at once with the rejoin- der that the American Congress had assiduously ignored the just claims of Spanish subjects. For twenty years the Amistad case is unsettled, and though President after President has urged it, Congress refuses to do what isno more than tight. If he should urge upon the Spanish go- vernment some amelioration of the present barriers to our commerce with Cuba, the Spa- nish Minister will reply by showing him our unwise retaliatory acts of 1832 and 1834, which practically and unjustly exclude the Spanish flag from our ports. Ifhe should, at come fortunate juncture, hint at a negotiation for Cuba, what could he reply should the Spanish Minister ask him ifthe United States desires to acquire Cuba ? He could not say yes, for if one President has proposed it another has opposed it. President Polk instructed our Minister to endeavor to nego- tiate for it; President Fillmore instructed him not to do so; President Pierce pretended to favor the policy, and yet threw away the golden op- portunity, to the great surprise of every Cabinet in Europe, not excepting that of Spain; and with the lessons of the past before him, President Buchanan does not know whether or not it would be safe for him to offer to negotiate. In this way it must seem to every statesman in Europe that in this country the question of the acquisition of Cuba is nothing but a soap and water bubble, with which the politicians amuse the people. And they can only be confirmed in this idea by studying the course of our /public men. If they suppose it is at all a party mea- sure with us, that idea is overthrown by the fact that Mr. Doolittle, a black republican of Wis- consin; Mr. Blair, an anti-slavery man from Missouri, and Mr. Giddings, abolitionist, of Ohio, are pro-Cuba men; while Mr. Hammond, a South Carolina State rights man; Governor Wise, a fire-eating democrat, and Mr. Mason, an old fogy democrat, do not want Cuba at all. Take men who are better known in Europe : Mr. Everett, an old fashioned whig, when Secre- tary of State, wrote the strongest pro-Cuba letter in reply to the tripartite Convention proposition that has ever been written; while Secretary Marcy, said to be a democrat, knocked down the only policy of action in the Cuba question that has ever been proposed. Come into the present field of politics. Stephens and Toombs, of the Georgia fire-eating democracy, are willing to go for Cuba in any impracticable way, but will not vote in favor of practical action. Mr. Hunter, who prides himself upon being a conservative democrat, does not favor action either of the practical or impracticable kind. And Senator Douglas, who has lately been investigating the popular breath in diverse latitudes and longi- tudes, with a view to catch the most favorable slant for the White House, made a pro-Cuba speech at St. Louis, advocated the policy of waiting for it at Memphis, and skipped the question by adroitly jumping on to Central America when his audiences in New Or- ans and New York called out for ais opinions in regard to it. In view of these facts, we ask Mr. Preston, calmly and conscien- fiously, what he could reply if the Spanish Minis- fer should ask him if the United States desire to tequire Cuba? ir. Preston cannot answer the question, nor cén any man, until Congress has acted upon the subject. It is the duty, then, of the Committees on Foreign Relations to bring the question plain- ly and directly before both houses of Congress, and to force it to an issue. If the President is elethed with power and endowed with money, Mr. Preston may find a favorable juncture at Mairid, in which he may say and do much. If Congress refuses to do this, the question must go before the people, and all action must be de- layed until they have acted in their primary as- semblies and their sovereign capacity. Wehave nodoubt as to the result there. Men who have never before acted together in politics will be found fighting shoulder to shoulder, while others, who have hitherto thought themselves represen- tative men, will be ignominiously laid upon the shelf. If Mr. Preston is obliged to wait for the result of this conflict he will at least have the merit of being a worthy representative of our American social and progressive character, and of the good old Kentucky gentleman. Re-Oventxa or tHe Orera.—Piccolomini and the rest of Mr. Ullman’s forces have returned to town, flushed with Bostonian triumphs and loaded with Athenian dollars. State street has been liberal for once, and the month’s receipt comes upto nearly fifty thousand dollars; which is greater, we believe, than the amount taken dur- ing the famous Grisi and Mario season. The campaign here, although brief—being limited to six performances—will include two novelties— “The Bohemian Girl,” with which the season opens to-night, and “Martha”—both in the Italian versions, and recently revived by the composers for London and Paris. Piccolomini sings the role of the heroine in the first named opera, and her return to the metropolis willno doubt be hailed with enthusiaam by hee thousagds of ad- mirers Our City Government—Legisiative Reforms ‘The suggestions of reform in State and city aflairs contained in Governor Morgan’s Message will, we hope, have some influence on our re- publican Legislature. Recommendations which they might not be disposed to accept from their political opponents should- have some weight, coming from s0 prominent a member of their own party. When a republican Governor de- clares that the present condition of things re- quires amendment, it is time for those who form members of the same political organization to bethink themselves of the improvement of their handiwork of the last session. If the republicans are really desirous of ob- taining credit as a party, they will have to re- trace their steps to a much greater extent than that indicated in the Governor's Message. The main share of the odium attaching to them in this State arises from their legislation in reference to the government of our city. It is all very well for Mr. Morgan to endeavor to make capital out of such questions as State retrenchments, the par- doning prerogative and prison discipline. These are features of State policy which have undoubt- edly a general interest, but they do not bear on the issues which directly affect the city of New York. In the whole message there is not a single sug- gestion or recommendation which has a practical application to the local evils under which we are suffeing, and for most of which we are in- debted to republican misrule. The present Legislature has it in its power to retrieve the disgrace brought upon the political organization of which it is the representative, by an honest and straightforward course of pro- ceeding in reference to our city affairs. If not ashamed to acknowledge the errors of their pre- decessors, they will proceed to undo, seriatim, all that the latter have done. Some indications of this disposition are manifest in the message of Governor Morgan. Let us hope that the contrition, of which these may be taken as proofs, pervades generally the members of the party, who constitute the majority of the present Legislature. There is hope for repentant sinners, and we do not despair even of the black republicans. If they will only introduce such amendments into the city charter as modern ne- cessities call for—abolish the commissions which they have created to the detriment of the principle of self-government, centre the responsi- bility of all the municipal appointments in the Mayor, change the charter elections to the spring, and give usa new Registry law, we are not sure but that we may be brought to regard them as fair dealing and well intentioned men. Under our present municipal system it is evident that we must daily decline from bad to worse, and any party which will have the ho- nesty and firmness to arrest our downward pro- gress will earn a title to the gratitude of the New York constituency. Let the republicans, then, bid for the popular favor bya fair and straightforward course of Je; tion in regard to our city government, peculiar constitu- tion of the party will not, it is true, permit them to achieve much in the way of reform, but any attempts that they may make in this direction will be attended with benefit, by putting the democracy on their mettle, and keeping them in the path in which they should move. How tae Moxey Gors.—We have from time to time published accounts of the numerous swindling transactions that have been brought to light in the office of the Street Commissioner during the past three or four years. The facili- ties for overcharging in the Street Department were magnificent, and it does net appear that the hungry politicians who hang about the City Hall allowed them to go unimproved. For many months the office was besieged by two sets of cormorants, hangers on to the antagonistic claim- ants for the superintendence of the department. The books were in disorder, and chaos reigned supreme. Numberless suits were brought against the city, and allowed by the law officer of the Corporation to go by default. In this way many persons were paid for work that had never been performed; others were overpaid, and in only isolated cases was the city treated as an ordinary employer, asking that a certain job should be done at a fair price. These things were patent to all, and could not escape the attention of Mr. Cooper wha@i he assumed the office of Strect Commissiontr. In obedience to a resolution adopted in July of last year, directing the Street Com- missioner “to cause an examination to be made with regard to the various claims sent in against the city for work done or supplies fur- nished during the contested administration of Messrs. Conover and Devlin,” Mr, Cooper ap- pointed Mr. John B. Cozzens, an experienced ac- countant, to make such examination. Mr. Coz- zens proceeded to his work, meeting with difficul- ties at every step, but gained a sufficient amount of information to show that in almost every case the work done, or supplies furnished the city, was charged thirty or forty per cent more than the same work could be done and the same ar- ticles purchased on account of private persons, The report of Mr. Cozzens has been transmitted (Dec. 18, 1858) to the Common Council, and we call the attention of the new Boards and the pub- lic in general to its startling revelations. In bills rendered to the amount of $40,945 40, there are overcharges to the amount of $11,290 39. In one case, @ person sues the city for work not done and goods not delivered; in another, a bill for iron safes, amounting on its face to $1,669 70, is cut down to $1,061 75; another ‘puts in a bill for work done in the City Hall Park, when the labor has never been performed; another for chairs in the Street Commissioner’s office, when they have never been furnished; a mason’s bill of $11,944 77 is cut down to $8,412 63, Nearly all the small bills are overcharged fifty per cent, and @ well known politician bas been furnishing sup- plies to the engine houses to the amount of $7,000, at an advance of thirty per cent over the retail prices. A person who furnished stone and gravel for the roads has re- covered by judgment $845 50, when he was only entitled to $224. The city paid to him $407 for work that was never performed. Mr. Cozzens refuses to allow $1,564 in bills, many ot which have already been paid under judg- ment. Two persons bring in bills for labor which have already been paid. One contractor has cut down a street two and a half feet, in order to ob- tain earth to fill in on some other place, so that the city will have to pay for raising the grade of the street cut down. This person has drawn $1,866 50 from the Comptroller, when he was entitled to only $281. Other bills, to the amount of $1,200, are for work which has never been done, There are further bills to the amount of $24,937 for work done on the roads, of which Mr. Cozzens believes, from inquiries and inspec- tion, not more than balf bas beea done. The a ne _ whoie amount involved is $68,693 10, of which without doubt, one-half has been stolen outright | from the city. As for the work on the roads, it is an utter humbug. Occasionally one may see a solitary laborer pottering away on the Bloom- ingdale or Kingsbridge road, but they are re- ally in a worse condition than even before, Some of the bills have not yet been paid, and persona are suing the city for the amount charged. They have been encouraged by the success of many suitors who took judgments against the city by default. We trust that the Corporation will order its law officer to defend all such suits to a final issue, and that some action will be taken in the matter at once, These revelations from the Street Commis- sioner’s office form only part of the system of plundering which has been rife in almost every department of the city govern- ment. The rate of overcharge is nearly equiva-, lent to the frightful increase of taxation; and it is only by such figures that we can see what might be saved by a prudent, business-like ad- ministration of municipal affairs, We hope that the new city government will inaugurate such a reform as is needed, but have no great faith im it. In the meantime, however, we shall keep a sharp lookout upon all the departments, and let the people know how the money goes. Brrvsh Covrresmes To AMERICAN Vaga- Bonps.—The kind assistance and courtesies ex- tended by Governor Seymour, of Belize, and the officers of H. B. M.’s steamer Basilisk, to the shipwrecked vagabonds on board the schooner Susan, has created a marked sensation, and augmented the good feeling towards Eng- land in every circle and among all classes in this country. In-view of the hostile feelings to which these self-styled heroes gave vent when they ran away from our sheriffs, and their loud threats to fight every Englishman they met, the British officers might have imprisoned them, or sent them up for trial for their lives, and little notice would have been taken of it here. Instead of that, they looked upon them as unfortunate Americans, and in o spirit of friendship, worthy of the highest praise, have sent them home to Mo- bile, giving them a chance to repent of their evil ways, and to become honest and industrious citi- zens, Congress should at once give expression to the general sense of the country, and concur in a resolution of thanks to the British officers for the courtesies and hospitality extended to the unfortunate American vagabonds wrecked on board the schooner Susan. Perhaps Mr. Cling- man, who does all the patriotic, as he cannot get the Clayton-Bulwer abrogation through, will in- troduce the patriotic resolution now called for. Way are nor Tae City Onptnances Ew- FORCED?—We give elsewhere an abstract of the ordinances passed at various times by the Com- mon Council, relating to the duty of citizens to remove the snow and ice from the fronte‘of their dwellings, so as to afford an unobstructed path- way for pedestrians. It will be seen that the ordinances themselves are all that can be re- quired; but the trouble seems to be that the police fail to enter complaints against delin- quents, as it is their duty to do; and Mr. George H. Purser, the Corporation Attorney, is equally remiss in his duty in not causing the legal penal- ties to be enforced. The ordinances provide that the snow and ice are to be removed from the sidewalks within four hours after the stoppage of a storm; that the gutters must be cleaned, and the snow in the streets levelled; that the occupants of corner houses must keep the crosswalks clean half way across the streets, and that when householders fail to perform any of these requirements it shall be done by the Street Inspector, at the expense of the delinquents. Now, this is all very well; but it is notorious that no sort of attention is paid to any of these ordinances, simply because the police, the Street Inspectors and the Corporation Attorney, do not see to it that they are enforced. When will our sleepy officials attend to their duty? THE LATEST NEWS. AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Our Special Washington Despatch. HOW THE NEWS OF THE RE-ELECTION OF DOUGLAS WAS RECKIVED—THE PACIFIC RAILROAD SPECULA- TIONS—PROPOSED ALTERATIONS IN THE TARIFF— INCREASE OF THE NAVY—AMENDMENT OF THE NEUTRALITY LAWS—A STEAM REVENUE CUTTER FOR PHILADELPHIA, ETC., ETC. Wastuxatow, Jan. 5, 1859. The topic of conversation in Washington among poli- ticians to-night is the re-election of Judge Douglas to the Senate, but there is not any enthusiasm in consequence. ‘The most prominent and almost absorbing subject be- fore Congress and with the high lobby is the Pacific Rail- road question. There are at least fifty patriotic capitalists here, who are ready to handle the money of the United States for the great work. While the majority admit the necessity or incalculable usefulness of the Pacific Railroad, there is a very general impression that a bill cannot pasa this Congress. The Committee of Ways and Means meet every day, and are bringing up their work rapidly, Winter Davis and Mr. Morrell, on this committee, are preparing a bill favoring the views of the protectionists. When this bill comes before the House, Mr. Morris, of Pennsylvania, will bring forward a proposition, on the basis of the tariff of 1842, with specific duties, enlarging the present free list. It is generally believed that a change in the tariff will be made this session. Mr. Mallory will proes the bill he reported yestorday for building ten new steam sloops, and to increase the pay of officers in the navy, next week. An effort will be mado to increase the number of vessels to twenty. The House Jadiciary Committee took up the Irwin im- peachment case to-day, but made little progress. They have also under consideration th tion of changing the neutrality laws, There will probably be two reports, in neither of which will it be proposed to change the severity of the laws so far as armed expedi- tions are concerned, but to modify them in other respects. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs did nothing of importance at their meeting this morning, All matters of importance were postponed until the next meeting. ‘The House Committee on Commerce at their mooting to day authorized Mr. Landy to report a bill for building @ ftoam revenue cutter for Philadelphia, the cost not to exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The same committee postponed the Fishing Bounty bill for one week. It is not thought it will pass this session, even if reported to the House, IT send you the following document relative to Senor Yrisarri and his position towards Nicaragua:— ‘The General President of the republic of Nicaragua to its inhabitants :— Considering the just causes which Senor Don Antonio Jose de Yrisarri bas set forth in his resignation of the Dost of Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinar; Nicaragua in the United States of America, and it being for the interest of the republic that there should be only a single representation, decrees:— Art. 1, The resignation by Senor Don Antonio J. de Yrisarri of the poet of Minister Plenipotentiary and Fa. voy Extraordinary of Nicaragaa in the Uni Aeverica is socopted. a Art. 2. To Buy apd General Don Maximo is appointed, whh the like representation, 1 adbapes Art. 3. The Secretary of Staté in the Department of Foreign Relations will communicate this decree to the parties interested. Given in the city of Leon, the 84 day of December, 1868. TOMAS MARTINEZ. Senor Yrisarri has tendered his resignation throo dif- ferent times to the Martinez administration of Nicaragua, on account, no doubt, of the extraordinary course pur- sued by Martinez in relation to the tromty signod by General Cass and Yrisarri, and the Belly contract, We are happy to say that Senor Yrisarri continues ae Minister Plen'poteutiary of Guatemala gud Salvador agar the