The New York Herald Newspaper, January 9, 1859, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON NNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS é dvance. Money sent by mail will be at the | eT ENE, SE tenet umpc cn vecdoed as aber gtion Mle DAILY HERALD, two cents per copy, $1 per annum. THE WEERLY. HERALD, every Saturhiy, at, wz cents per | p, or 83 Empooor the Seropean Battion cvery Weanony | ‘cents per copy, mun (0 any part of Gre : Ge MS fo aly, purl of the Continent. bth 1) include postage; the California Baition on the 5th andl 20h of each month, at six cents in per annum. PTk FAMILY HERALD, every Wednesday, at fou sper or $2 per annum. é NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence, We '0 not return rejected communications. Volume XXIV......... No.8 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, QITY ASSEMBLY ROOMS, 416 Broadway.—GaaxpD Con. mnt or Sackgep Music. AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth stree:—Irauian Oreea La ZinGaRa. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Potsau—A Hus BAND at Sigur. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Mou Pitcur2—GoLpex Axe—TeRnor or WaLLacuta, BURTON'S NEW THEATRE, Broadway—Viroimivs— ‘Drseavvmeacx. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Mencuant or Vu ICR, LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, Awrgican Covsin~ Tax Mat BARNUM’S AMERICAN ISEUM, Broadway—After Boon and —De. Kane's Anctic Vorage [.iust@atep —Howax ap OTuge Ccrtositigs, &c. No. 6% Broadway.—Ovr Rake. ‘WOOD'S MINSTREL BUIL! Ernioriex Bonas, Dances, &c. 561 and 563 Broadway— Year Cais, MECHANICS’ HALL, 427 Broadway—Brvants’ MINSTRELS Necro Songs ann Buxcesques—Surcocn. SNIFFEN’S CAMPBELL MINSTRELS, 444 Broadway.— Metopigs, Buxresqves, &c.—On! Hes: New York, Sunday, January 9, 1859. To Paper Manufacturers and Agents. ‘The proprietor of the New Yons Heraty wants to make @rrangements for a constant supply of printing paper, Buck as the Hgratp is printed upon, to the amount of 1,000 to 1,200 reams per week, payable in cash at the end of each week. Apply immediately. The News. The steamship Quaker City has arrived at New Orleans with highly important news from Mexico, and a week’s later advices from California. The dates from the capital of Mexico are to the 26th ultimo. General Zuloaga had been deposed by the forces under General Robles, and had taken refuge in the house of the British Minister. General Robles had announced himself as the head of the 8o-called conservative party, and despatched com- missioners to Vera Cruz to treat with President Juarez for a union with the liberals. The Quaker City brings the California mails to the 20th ult. The shipment of specie by the Pana- ma steamer on the 20th amounted to $2,209,000, of which $1,366,000 was for New York, $100,000 for New Orleans, and $743,000 for England. Business at San Francisco was dull and the markets un- changed. By the arrival of the schooner Amy Chase, Capt. Brevoor, we have advices from Porto Cabello to December 15. The country was apparently quiet. ‘There were great preparations being made for the reception of Gen. Paez; a grand display was antici- pated on his arrival. The Venezuelans were criti- cising the Americans for making such grand de- monstrations at his departure from the United States. Capt. B. reports Porto Cabello as being very sickly when he left. Accounts from Caracas to the 15th ult. state that a resolution granting a general amnesty to all political offenders had been adopted by the Convention. It was deemed proba- ble, however, that neither Gen. Monagas nor his family would be permitted to return immediately. They were at Port Spain, Trinidad, and not in Pa- ris, as reported in Spanish papers. The act was to go into effect on the Ist inst. A new tariff, said to be highly advantageous to the United States, would also go into effect on the Ist inst. The new consti- tution had passed to a third reading in the Conven- tion. Beriah Magoffin was yesterday nominated for Governor, and Linn Boyd for Lieutenant Governor, of Kentucky, by the democratic State Cenvention assembled at Frankfort. Ex-Governor Bingham was yesterday chosen United States Senator by the Legislature of Michi- gan. The news from Washington this morning is unim- portant. The Senate was not in session. The House, for the first time in fifteen years, refused to adjourn for the celebration of the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans. Nothing of importance, however, was done, and after a discussion respect- ing the claim of Cormack & Ram: contractors+} for carrying the mai] through Mexico to Califor- nia, the House adjourned. ‘The anniversary of the Woman's State Hospital— an institution established for the treatment of dis- eases incidental to married women—was appro- priately celebrated yesterday. A report of the ‘proceedings is given in another column. We learn from the report of the City Inspector that there were 391 deaths in the city during the past week—a decrease of 9 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 4 more than occurred during the corresponding week of 1558. Of the whole number, 216 were of ten years of age and under, and 68 inmates of the public institutions. The following table shows the number of deaths for the past two weeks among adults and children, distinguishing the sexes :— Men. Women. Boys. Girls. Total. ‘Week ending Jan. 1 ot 89 116 101 400 Week ending Jan. 69 90 100 «61230891 Among the principal causes of death were the following:— — Week ending— Diseases. Jan i. Jan. 8. Bronchitis. 13 Consumption ot Convulsions (infantile): 58 Dropsy in the head, ‘ 18 Inflammation of the bowels. +6 8 Inflammation of the lungs 0 7 Inflammation of the brain 9 8) Marasmus (infantile) Bearlet fever. There were also 9 deaths of apoplexy, 9 of con- gestion of the brain, 6 of congestion of the Inngs, U1 of croup, 11 of debility, 5 of erysipelas, 8 of puerperal fever, 6 of disease of the heart, 1) of hooping congh, 4 of intemperance, 3 of scrofula, 9 premature births, 25 stillborn, and 10 from violent | causes, including 2 murders and 1 suicide, The | annexed table shows what portions of the human system have been most affected :— NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1859. fiour was also in good demand at steady prices. Wheat ‘wasin better request, with rather more doing. Corn was quiet, while prices were unchanged. Pork was dull and lowor for immediate delivery; new mess was sold at a $17 35, and old at $16 90, and new prime at $13 25 a $13 35, and tor spring delivery at $18 25a $18 50. Lard was firm. Sugars were firm, with sales of about 400 9 500 hhds, New Orleans at 63c. a 734c., and about 300 a 400 boxes, part at T3gc. a 83g¢, and part at p.t. | offee was quiet, The stock of Rio was much reduced; 400 bags ‘Maracaibo were sold at p.t, Freights were inactive and engagements light, while | rates were unchanged. The Re-Election of Senator Douglas—The Northern Anti-Slavery Break in the Demo- cratic Party, The re-election of Mr. Douglas to the United States Senate is one of the most significant politi- cal events of the day, It is an event which in- volves something more than a personal triumph of Mr. Douglas over his enemies, and something deeper and broader than a new lease of power to “the Little Giant,” as a member of the demo- cratic party. In a word his re-election is an event which confirms, establishes and perpetuates that anti-slavery break in the democratic party which, commencing with the agitation of the annexation of Texas, culminated, in the late Northern elections, in the complete overthrow of the democracy, from Maine to Minnesota. The Presidential election of 1844 turned upon the annexation of Texas; and, as the boldly proclaimed and unequivocal advocate of the scheme, Mr. Polk was elected. It is generally believed, however, that an unfortunate elec- tioncering Alabama letter or two from Mr. Clay, leaning towards annexation, lost him those fifteen thousand anti-slavery votes in this State which were given for Birney, and upon which the whole election turned. Had Mr. Clay re- mained silent during the canvass, he would, in all probability, have received those votes, or the most of them, and would thus have been elected President, in securing the decisive electoral vote of New York. But the entering wedge which has at length split the democratic party in twain was driven in at the Baltimore Convention which nominated Polk. The majority of the delegates in that Convention were elected as Van Buren men; but Van Buren, like Clay, had written, a few months before, an anti-annexation letter to an inquisitive North Carolina correspondent at Raleigh. Thatletter brought up the Southern wing of the party against him, under the lead of Robert J. Walker; and under the ingenious con- trivance of the two-thirds rule, Van Buren’s majority was overcome, and he was set aside to make room for Polk, a Southern and annexa- tion man. But still, in hopes of another trial in 1848, Van Buren and his New York partisans—Silas Wright at the head of them—capitulated and co- operated decisively in behalf of Polk’s election. On the eve of his inauguration, 1845, the Texas annexation resolutions were passed, embracing two propositions—that of the House, for direct annexation, regardless of consequences, and that of the Senate, providing for preliminary diplomatic settlement with Mexico, and giving the President a discretionary choice. Senator Benton and other Van Buren democrats be- lieved that President Tyler would pass this important matter over to his successor; and we have Benton’s positive authority for the state- ment that Polk would have adopted the diplo- matic alternative. But although the bill be- came a law on the last day of Tyler's term, he was resolved to go out in a blaze of glory; and so, under the favoring shades of night, he posted off a special messenger to Texas, with the direct proposition of annexation, and thus the first serious business of Polk’s administration was the war with Mexico. Thus this anti-slavery leaven, which was in- troduced into the party with Van Buren’s rejection in 1844, was aggravated and com- plicated by this unexpected proceeding’ of Tyler; for it was charged to Calhoun, and the Southern ultra pro-slavery wing of the party acting under his counsels, Thus, in 1848, with the nomination of General Cass at Baltimore, the Northern democratic, Van Buren, anti-Cal- houn, anti-slavery faction were ripe for rebellion; and hence the Buffalo anti-slavery ticket and anti-slavery platform, under which Van Buren defeated Cass, and made that first positive anti- slavery split in the Northern camp, of which this re-election of Mr. Douglas is the last and most momentous developement. We know that in 1852, upon the Compromise measures of Mr. Clay, the democratic party car- ried their candidate almost by acclamation. It was because the whig party had finished its career, and could no longer be held together. But that fatal experiment of poor Pierce and Douglas—that disastrous Kansas-Nebraska bill— re-opened the old sore which had defeated Cass, and from which Polk escaped as by the skin of his teeth. And the consequences are before us. A terrible Northern anti-slavery reaction instant- ly followed, and the first result was an opposi- tion House of Representatives, and the second a Northern anti-slavery Speaker. Next came the Presidential election of 1856; and although from this contest Mr. Buchanan slipped into the White House between two opposition candidates, the Northern popular vote of that campaign sounded the death knell of the old national democratic party. Eighty thousand plarality for Fremont in this State, a majority of seven thousand in the staunch old democratic county of St. Law- rence, and similar opposition gains in other counties, betrayed an anti-slavery rebellion among the Northern democracy equivalent to a political revolution. In Illinois, by a fusion of the opposition forces, the Douglas Kansas-Nebraska bill candidate for Governor was defeated by a heavy majority, al- though Mr. Buchanan on the same day carried the State, from the Presidential division of the opposition between Fremont and Fillmore. Here was a sufficient warning for Mr. Douglas; and accordingly we find him seizing the first oppor- tunity to slip through the meshes of bis own net, in his rebellion against the administration upon the Lecompton constitution. He has thus turned his ingenious excuse of “ popular sovereignty ” to a good, practical purpose ; and yet, in reduc- Diseases. Jan Jan. 8. Bones, joints, &¢ +2 : Brain and nerves. » 4 87 Generative organs ae il Heart and blood vyersels. ~ i IL ‘Lungs, throat, &. 148 122 Old age...... * . ae 7 Skin, &c., and eruptive fevers. oe 20 22 Btillborn and premature births........ 40 a4 Btomach, bowels and other digestive organs. 50 49 Uncertain seat and general fevers, ob “4 Urinary organs. 2 _ Unknown, ... 2 2 Total........ 301 The number of deaths, compared with the corres- ponding weeks in 1867 and 1558, was as follows :— ‘Week ending Jnn.10, 1867..,, ‘Week ending Jan. 9, 1868 ‘Week ending Jan. 1, 1858... Week ending Jan. 8, 1869.00.00 0 0.) a The nativity table gives 266 natives of the United States, 72 of Ireland, 20 of Germany, 10 of England, 3 of Scotland, 3 of France, and the balance of va- rious foreign countries. The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 2,500 Dates, including about 600 in transitn. The market closed without change in prices. The flour market exhibited sncreased animation and firmness, with some speculative feeling. The sales were more freely made, and closed at a slight improvement in State and Western brands; Southery ing this “popular sovereignty principle’ to its real elements, it becomes nothing more than the Wilmot proviso in a new disguise, although the most heantiful device that could be con- trived as a convenient shelter for this widely dif- fused anti-slavery sentiment of the Northern de- mocratic camp. What, then, is the prospect for the Charleston Convention, when we know that, pari passu with the growth of this anti-slavery sentiment in the Northern camp, the pro-slavery spirit of the Southern camp has been’ inflamed into the crazi- est excesses of filibnstering, slave trading, nulli- fication and secession? How is this chasm to be bridged over Charleston’ Will any other man than a { vier be acceptable to the controlling fire-eaters of the party South? Or will any other man than Douglas, or @ man in- volving the full recognition of Douglas, “ popu adherents of the North? No. The breach is too wide, and the chasm is too deep for any bridging. There is a Northern democratic party, and a Southern democratic party, and the differences between them are as broad as the difference be- tween “popular sovereignty” and the Lecomp- ton constitution— between niggers and no niggers, or between slave soil and free soil. The under- lying sentiment on. each side is marked and strong; and if Mr. Douglas has saved anything to the democratic party, it is an anti-slavery balance of power, which, but for his excuse of “ popular sovereignty” would have gone over to the republican camp in the late autumnal elections. Accepting, then, this re-election of Mr. Douglas to the Senate as clearly foreshadowing a split in the Charleston Convention, and two or three democratic candidates for the succession, will not the opposition walk over the course? We cannot answer. From the present disordered and divided condition of the opposition forces, they have quite as good a prospect for two or three tickets as the democracy. Indeed, from all the existing intes- tine rivalries, jealousies and antipathies on both sides, and from the conflicting movements of Cliques, factions and sections for the succession, we can undertake to predict nothing but a disorderly scrub race, and a contest over the three highest candidates in the next House of Repre- sentatives for the Presidency, which may possibly tear the government into pieces, and drive the country headlong upon the rocks of disunion, and into something like that horrible anarchy of revolutionary Mexico, ‘Thage is no visible hope from the democratic party. It has filled its mission of good; it has entered upon that suicidal mission of mischief which is the inevitable result when disappointed leaders, demagogues and reckless spoilsmen of the same faith turn upon each other. The oppo- sition command an overwhelming popular ma- jority of the Union; and in behalf of the Union, and of law and order, this majority may be con- solidated in 1860 against all the sectional disor- ganizers of the day. In such a fusion as that of 1840, and upon a great national name like that of General Scott—a name synonymous with patriotism and nationality—the opposition may sweep the field, and inaugurate a party in power competent to hold the government for twenty years to come; but in default of some such move- ment as this, we can look for nothing else than ascrub race of fighting sections and fuctions, and a final contest in Congress, which may in- volve an abrupt dissolution of the government, and, North and South, a general call to arms. These are the reflections and the contingencies suggested by this re-election of Mr. Douglas to the Senate. He is but one of the bubbles on the stream which mark the dangerous cross currents, the whirlpools and rapids in the midst of which we are drifting onward and downward to destruc- tion, unless seasonably rescued by the peoplo. The Bank Department and Counterfeiting. ‘The Superintendent of the Bank Department, in his annual report, which we published on Fri- day, devotes considerable space to the subject of the alarming increase of counterfeiting, and re- commends, as the only alteration of the law which appears to him necessary on this point, that all counterfeit plates or other devices for counterfeiting, and all counterfeit bank notes, which may come into the hands of public officers, shall, after having been used for the conviction of the guilty parties, be surrendered to the Bank Superintendent for destruction. We think that the Superintendent’s own lan- guage goes to prove that the remedy suggested by him is not adequate to this growing and alarming evil, which he justly remarks is “be- coming a question seriously affecting the utility of bank note circulation.” The report sets forth that all the bank note engraving in this State is done by a consolidated company of engravers, which, in the opinion of the Superintendent, has greatly promoted the safety of our bank note circulation. But the evi- dence in the recent Austrian Bank coun- terfeiting case goes to show that some of the large number of excellent engravers thrown out of employ by this consolidation, which uses the old devices and materials, and has therefore no need of so many artists and engray- ers, were actually employed in executing coun- terfeit work. This was not owing to the dishon- esty of the engravers, but to the defect of the present system of engraving bank notes, which enables a counterfeiter to employ a dozen honest engravers to execute the separate parts of a note, which, when combined by the counterfeiter, pro- duce the illegal issue. These unemployed en- gravers, by the State law, which secures all the honest bank note engraving in the State to one firm, are thus subjected to the designs or tempta- tions of counterfeiters. Again : the Superintendent says the possession of two or three plates under the system of trans- ferring now employed in engraving bank note plates enables the counterfeiter to combine new counterfeits at pleasure, while he very naively remarks on having in his possession all the plates of the banks in this State. He seems blissfully ignorant of the law which directs him to keep the custody of the dies, plates and materials used in the manufacture of bank notes, By the pal- pable violation of this law, engravers are allowed to retain copies of all the plates which they en- grave, and duplicate them at pleasure for wild- cat banks of the same name in other States. It is in this manner that copies of genuine plates get into the hands of improper persons, and are 4 fruitful source of counterfeiting entirely over- looked or ignored by the Superintendent. What is the use of his retaining the plates when en- gravers are allowed to sell duplicates at pleasure? ‘The fact is, the whole system of manufacturing our paper currency is wrong. In order to give perfect security, three things are absolutely ne- cessary: Let the business of bank note en- graying be thrown open to the entire engraving talent, so that the banks, for their own protec- tion, will select. the best engravers and the best manner of engraving. Let the law giving the Superintendent the custody of the dies, plates and materials be enforced, and the sale of du- Plicates of good bank note plates be prevented. Lastly, to give a crowning security, let the Bank Department issue a paper with a water mark, similar in character to that used by the Bank of England, which has protected their currency from counterfeiting for a hundred years, since the conviction of Frederick William Vaughan, the first counterfeiter, who, strange to ray, operated in preeisely the same way as the Austrian Bank counterfeiters. Fvery good bill would be known by the water mark, which could not be counterfeited without immense expense; and in connection with the other securities sug- gested, the business of counterfeiting would be materially injured, if not altogether abolished, lar sovereignty” and all, be acceptable to his | Municipal Reform—A Scheme of Government That Will Work Well. We see that the principle of responsible government in our municipal affairs is fast ac- quiring advocates amongst our city contempo- raries, The party cooking and tinkering which were to have provided remedies for the abuses ofthe existing system having failed, it is now conceded that some other plan must be resorted to. To persevere in a course which must eventuate in bankruptcy and disgrace is a prospect too humiliating even for some of the black republicans. It is only those who live out of the laxness and corruption of the present sys- tem that venture openly to uphold it. If party organizations can only be brought to repudiate it, there is hope that the reforma which we have so repeatedly urged will be adopted by the general sense of the community. We have always contended that the only true model for our municipal administration is that of the national government. There we find the representative principle carried out in its highest perfection; for, with all the abuses incident to it, there is no other system which can be said to give 50 much satisfaction to those who live under it, It is this form of government which prevails in all the great European cities; for whatever changes have been effected from time to time in the imperial systems, the municipalities have al- ways clung with attachment to their charters, convinced that in them they had not only a guarantee for good government, but a bulwark against the encroachments of despotism. Under these they have thriven and grown into powerful bodies, enjoying the largest amount of protec- tion for the smallest relative amount of taxation, and wielding all the political influence to which such an aggregation of wealth and intelligence is entitled. Contrast their position with that of the citizen of New York at the present day. Taxed enormously, we cannot boast of the ordinary protection for life and property which is possessed by the inhabitants of the remotest rural districts of Great Britain or the Continent. Our streets are as insecure as the Calabrian highways, and our reyenues are expended more profligately than those of any Italian or German despot. We have all the abuses and vices of delegated authority, under the worst monarchical systems, without the unity and force which constitute their strength. Our municipal departments being independent of all central control, and under the sway of the lowest and most corrupt class of politicians, it is evident that there can never be either harmony of action or a proper sense of responsibility in the general working of the system. Each official thinks and acts for himself; and the result is that we are at once the worst governed and the most heavily taxed community in the world. ‘The only remedy for this state of things is the centralization of authority to as great an'extent as is consistent with representative institutions We would give to the Boards of Aldermen and Common Councilmen, relatively speaking, all the powers and attributes which belong to the na- tional Senate and the House of Representatives. In the Mayor we would centre the responsibility of all corporate appointments, from the heads of departments down to the lowest employé, sub- ject, of course, to the ratification of the Board of Aldermen. We see no reason why the powers which the nation thinks fit to vest in the President should be relatively less ample or more liable to abuse in the hands of a mayor. Elected, as the latter is, by the general suffrages of the citizens, and accountable to them for the conscientious fulfilment of his duties, he would stand in the same position as the national executive, with this difference—that he would be less pressed by party obligations. Experience of the working of this plan would, we believe, show that political influences would have far less to do with the choice of the Mayor than is the case of the election of any other functionary, State or federal. This fact once established, we have in it the basis of a sound and efficient municipal system. But there are other requirements called for to impart to it the safeguards with which it is de- sirable to invest it. It is not sufficient to have responsible officers without removing from them all the temptations to corruption. As long as there is a chance of peculation escaping detection, so long must we ex- pect them to be liable to such influences. In order to guard against them effectually, we would pay to all our corporate employ¢s salaries proportioned to their responsibilities, and abolish the fee system altogether. Thus we would regu- late the salaries on a proper and economical basis, and take away all the patronage of the offices. The Corporation Counsel would, we think, be well paid by a salary of $5,000 a year, instead of the present enormous income, which insures neither talent nor efficiency. The Sheriff should also be paid by salary, instead of fees, $5,000 being as much as the incumbent of the office should receive. The County Clerk, whose place is now worth a fortune in one term of the office, should have $2,000 or $3,000 per year, and no fees. On these three offices alone, in patronage, fees and perquisites, the an- nual saving to the city would probably not be less than $200,000. If this principle were car- ried through, all the subordinate details of our city administration, and the responsibility of all appointments cast on the Mayor, we will answer for it that the present burden of taxation would be reduced by at least one-third. But it is less for the purpose of effecting reductions than to arrest the rapid increase of taxation that we suggest this plan. If the wasteful expenditure under the present system is permitted to go on, it will end by bringing ruin and bankruptcy on the city. Although we have but little hope that the present republican Legislature will make any alteration in the charter in conformity with these suggestions, it is still our duty to ring in their ears the necessity of reforms of some kind, and to cast upon them the responsi bility of neglecting the A Yerar’s History or New Yors.—The nota ble events that have taken place in this good clty of ours within the last tivelvemonth are re- counted in their chronological order in a resumé which we publish elsewhere. Not only is this annual review of importance to the historian, who can see in it ata glance the memorable things of the year 1858, as connected with our city, but it is interesting to all classes of readers, and to every one who holds, with the Latin poct, thatanything that affects humanity cannot he indifferent to him. Here, passing in review, are the ghosts of what were the realities of 1858, and as they pass they each suggest trains of thought, some pleasant, some sombre, and all interesting, The chronicles of this city for the year occupy about as much space in our journal as did those of the rest of the world. 80 much for the stir- ring character of life in New York. THE LATEST NEWS. ARRIVAL OF THE QUAKER CITY. HIGHLY IMPORTANT FROM MEXICO. DOWNFALL OF ZULOAGA’S GOVERNMENT. General Robles at the Head of Affairs. HIS NEGOTIATIONS WITH PRESIDENT JUAREZ, ONE WEEK LATER FROM CALIFORNIA. $1,366,000 En Route for New York, &., &o., &o. New Or.Eans, Jan. 8, 1859. The steamship Quaker City, with one hundred and twenty passengers and San Francisco dates of the 20th of December, arrived here this evening. She was detained at the Coatzacoalcos bar by heavy northerly winds. The California news is unimportant. ‘The Pacific mail steamship John L. Stephens had on board $1,366,000 in gold for New York; $100,000 for this city, and $743,000 for England. Business at San Francisco was dull and the markets generally unchanged. The dates from the city of Mexico are to the 26th ult. General Zuloaga had been deposed by the forces under General Robles, and had taken refuge in the house of the English Minister. General Robles announces himself as the head of the conservatives, and has sent commissioners to Vera Cruz to treat with General Juarez for a union with the liberals, Arrived at San Francisco, ships Henry Brigham, from New York; and Siam, from Siam; barks David Godfrey, from New York; and Black Hawk, from Liverpool. Our Special Washington Despatch. THE RAMSEY CALIFORNIA MAIL CONTRACT CLATM— THE COPYRIGHT BILL—THB SLOOPS-OF-WAR BROOK- LYN AND ST. LOUIS ORDERED TO THE GULF—COM- FERENCES ON THE TARIFF QUESTION—SENATOR JONES THREATENED WITH ASSASSINATION, ETC. Wasnrxcton, Jan. 8, 1859. The Kentucky Democratic State Convention, sitting at Frankfort, nominated to-day Beriah Magoffin for Go- vernor. ‘The remains of General Henderson will be interred on Monday. It is understood there will be an extraordinary outside pressure made upon Congress to push through the great claim of Cormack and Ramsey, the papers of which the President has just referred to Congress. Mr. Mallory, from the Naval Committee, will bring for- ward a proposition early next week to increase the num- ber of pursers and surgeons of the navy. Mr. Morris, of Pennsylvania, will move bis copyright billnext week, and press its passage the present session. ‘The Secretary of the Navy has awarded the contract for building the engines for the Philadelphia ship to Rea- ney, Neafle & Co., of Philadelphia. Instructions will be immediately transmitted to the commander of the sloop-of-war Brooklyn, that she may leave for the Gulf on the 15th inst. The St. Louis will algo be sent to the Gulf, instead of the African coast, as stated by some New York papers. Senator Jones has received anonymous letters from New York, warning him not to interfere or injure a hair of Judge Douglas’ head, unless he wants to be assassi- nated, ‘The Democratic Congressional Delegation from Penn- sylvania met in caucus to-night for the purpose of con- ferring together to determine their course of proceeding with regard to the tariff. Other delegations will have meetings next week for the same purpose. The Postmaster General is preparing a statement, in answer toa call of Congress, as to how the Post Office Department can be made self-sustaining. He will submit it at an early day next week. ‘THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS. SECOND SESSION. Senate. Wasurxctos, Jan. 8, 1859. The Senate is not in session. House of Representatives, Wasnryatox, Jan. 8, 1859. THE RAMSEY CALIFORNIA MATL CONTRACT CLAIM. The Sreaxer laid before the House a_message from the President, enclosing reports from the Secretary of the Treasury and Postmaster General relative to the claim of Cormack and Ramsey, for alleged abrogation of their con- tract for carrying the mail via Vera Cruz and Acapulco¢o San Francisco. Mr. Nicuors, (opp.) of Ohio, said the executive officers of the government have refused to carry out the law authorizing the First Comptroller to adjust the damages. He thought the reasons assigned for the refusal ut. terly indefensible. Itwasa high ureurpation of power which it became the dignity of Congress to resist in the most efficient manner. It was important to know whether bureau or cabinet officers have the right to make law for themselves. He wanted the Judiciary Committee to ex: amine and report whether any further legislation is neces- Bary. ite. Horerow, (adm.) of Ala., said the former Attorney General gave an opinion adverse to the claim, but Mer. Whittlesey declined to yield obedience to it, taking the ground that the law authorized him, as First Comptroller, to adjust the damages. ‘The present Comptroller, Mr. Medill, was governed by a similar opmion of Judge Black, that there had been no violation of contract, and therefore there could be no damages. Mr. Nichors reminded Mr, Houston of the fact that the Jaw instructed the First Comptroller to carry ite will into effect, and contended that the Attorney General had no power to prevent the execution of the law, Mr. Jones, (adm.) of Tenn., understood that Congress did not decide whether damages were duc or not, but con. stituted the First Comptroller a chancellor to act upon and determine the case on its merits. Mr. Pururs, (adm.) of Pa., said the first Comptroller had no right to set up his judgment over an act of Con. gress, which he as a ministerial officer had disregarded. Mr. Grorsurcx, (adm.) of Ohio, as an effort had been made to inflict censure on the First Comptroller, invited an invertigation into his conduct. ‘The documents were referred to the Committee on the STudiciary. TRE HOUSE WILL NOT CELEDRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THR BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, Mr. VALLANpicHam, (adm.) of Ohio, reminded the House of the fact that this was the anniversary of the battle of Now Orleans, that the Senate had set a patriotic example by adjourning over, and that from his information Con- gress had not sat on such an occasion for fifteen years, For these reasons be moved that the House adjourn Nogatived—86 against 3, ‘THE ROCK SSLAND MILITARY REFERVATION, On motion of Mr. Faxwsworri, (opp.) of Til., a resola tion was adopted calling on the Secretary of the Interior for information as to whether the Rock’ Island military reservation has been transferred from the War to the In- terior Department, and thrown open to pre-emption at a dollar and a quarter per acre, ‘Another ineffectual motion to adjourn was made. EXPENDITURES OF THR ARMY. Mr, Facucem, (adm.) of Virginia, offered a rogolution, which was avopted, calling on the Secretary of War to furnish a statement of the moneys expended’ during the last ten years for barracks, officers’ quarters, etc., the object. being to reduce the expenses of the Quarterinas- ter's Department. Mr. Davis, (adm.) of Mies., moved the House adjourn. Mr. Monoan, (opp.) of N, ¥., demanded the yeas and aying that he wished to show for what the admin- istration democrats are wasting time. r. Leitek, (opp.) of Ohio, remarked that if the demo- crats are determined that no business shali be done, the House had better adjourn. The question was decided in the affirmative by seven majority, and the House adjourned. Democratic Gubernatorial No: ation Kentucky. Lowrie, Ky., Jan. 8, 1859, ‘The State Democratic Convention at Frankfort today nominated Beriah Magoffin for Governor, and Lino Boyd for Lieutenant Governor, Election of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Massa- chusetts Legislature. Bostoy, Jan. 8, 1859 Mr. John Morrissey, editor of the Old Colony Memorial, printed at’ Plymouth, was to-day elected Sergoant-at Arms by both branches of the Legislature. The Case of Mrs, Fisher, of Boston, Bowron, Jan. 8, 1968. Mrs. Fisher, the victim of the reoent accident, cannot aurvive her injuries Affairs of Kansas Territory. Sr. Lous, Jan. 8, 1859, ‘The Kaneas Legislature has adjourned to Lawrence with the sanction of the Governor. ‘The Committee on Contest- ed Seats reported in favor of Lewis, Graham, Allison and Stevenson in the Third district, and Veale, trom Marshall county, andthe Secretary was requested to administer the oath, which he refused to do, when the Secretacy pro tem. was authorized to perform the act, which he did. Mr. Holliday, of the Council, gave notice of a bill asking Congress to annex to Kansas all that portion of Nebraska south of the Platte river. Bills were introduced in the House to repeal the bogus statutes and to abolish slavery. The Governor's Message regrets the growing disposition of various parties in the Union to override the voters and corrupt the batiot box, and says—To the victors belong the spoils; but they are the epoils of patronage given to a power for the public weal. No one basa rightor a reason to complain of the successful party ‘distributing the posts of favor among its political friends. He hints that Kansas may get more liberal favors from Congress as a Territory than as a State, Mg The report of the Commissioner appointed to audit claims shows the amount presented to be upwards of $801,000, and the amount awarded $254,000, of which $89,000 are of a public class and $216,000 of a private nature. ‘Tho Comptroller reports the taxable property of the Ter- ritory at $25,000,000, and the number of acres of land sald and pre-empted at about 3,000,000. The Governor strongly reprehends the conduct of por- sons in Linn and Bourbon counties, and says he is pre- pared to unite with the Assembly in the most cordial man- ner for the adoption of such measures as sal! restore or- der, and will bring to their aid all the power placed at his discretion by the Executive. Several papers in Southern Nebraska say that public sentiment there is almost unanimous in favor of annexa- tion to Kansas, News from New Mexico. Sr. Louis, Jan. 8, 1859, The New Mexican mail, with dates of December 20, reached Independence to-night. The Navajo Indiana were perfectly submissive, and willing to do anything to secure peace. Colonel Bonneville and Indian Agent Col- ling left Santa Fe for Fort Deflance on the 14th, to conclude apeace. Nothing had been heard of the mail party that left Neosho, Missouri, October 15, for Albuquerque. Election of ited Si Michigan. Derrorr, Jan. 8, 1859. ‘The Legislature to-day, at Lansing, elected Ex-Governor Bingham United States Senator. les Senator from Message of the Governor of Massachusetts. Bostos, Jan. 7, 1859, Governor Banks was inaugurated to-day, and delivered his message to both branches of the Legislature. It is quite lengthy, exclusively confined to State matters, and gives an encouraging account of the material progress of the commonwealth. The bank returns show that while the specie in banks bas been increased to $11,112,715, against $3,611,097 last year, the loans have been increased in the same period of time from $92,458,572 to $101,662,- 947—indicating that the ability and confidence derived from a larger amount of specie have enabled the banks to increase the amount of loans, from which their profits are derived. The expenditure of the past year for educational purposes was $1,474,488. The number of children between five and fifteen years of age is 223,304, of whom 218,198 have been in attendance upon the schools during the year, showing an increase in the attendance of 15,167 pupils on last year. The School Fund, from which our ‘system of schools is supported, is about $1,500,000. ‘The Governor recommends the school fund to be in- Peeps to three millions, from the sale of land on the sy. The public debt is onc million three hundred aud four- teen thousand dollars, for the payment of which, as it be- comes due, the most ‘ample security and provision has been mace. The messago recommends retrenchment in county ex- penditures, especially in Suffolk county. The Governor makes no allusion whatever to national politics. Loss of Schooner Worcester—Schooncr Sam’L Castner Ashore. Provivence, Jan, 8, 1859. The schooner Worcester, of Providence, Rhodes, from Philadetphia for Mobile, with a general cargo, was lost December 10 on Babama Banks. Captain Elisha H. Rhodes and the mate, John 8. Adameon, were lost. The schooner Samuel Castner, Shepard, from Philadel- phia for Boston, with coal, went on the reef near New- port last night. She is full of water, her bulwarks are stove, and her rudder is gone. The crew reached the light boat at Brentor’s reef after being eight hours out. Assistance will be sent to her immediately, The Mutineers of the Ship Flying Dragon. Norvork, Jan. 8, 1859. Fight of the mutineers of the ship Flying Dragon, that went ashore yesterday“on Horseshoe Shoal, near Old Point, have been brought up here by the United States Marshal. The ship is not now aground. Loss of the Brig Thomas and Edward. New Beprorp, Jan. 8, 1859, The brig Thomas and Edward, of Thomaston, Maine, Captain Bailey, from Salt River, Georgia, with a cargo of hard pine, went ashork at Cuttyhunk on Thursday night, and isa total loss, Fire in Corning, N. ¥. Coxsine, Jan. 8—8 P. M. A fire occurred here to-night, destroying the dwelling house of Charles De Witt, and a shoe store occupied by Jacob Hoffman. Loss not estimated, ‘Weather Reports. Osweco, N. Y., Jan. 8, 6 P. M.—The weather was quite warm here yesterday, with rain, until towards night, when a sudden change took place, the thermometer sink- ing to zero and a strong N. W. wind springing up. To-day there have been flurries of snow, but not sufficient to bring the sleighs out. We bave had no sleighing as yot this winter. Warmrows, N. Y., Jan. 8, 6 P. M.—Thermometer at zero, No snow. OcpesspurG, N. Y., Jan. 8,6 P. M.—This is the coldes! day of the season. The sleighing is good. ‘Thermometer 6 degrees below zero, Boston, Jan. 8, 6 P. M.—Weather clear, with strong N. W. wind. At sunset the thermometer stood at 17. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. Pmitapeneata, Jan. 8, 1859. Stocks steady, Pennsylvania State 6's, 03; ‘Reading Railroad, 2734; Morris Canal, 48; Long Island’ Railroad, 1146; Pennsylvania Railroad, 43. more, Jan. 8, 1859, Flour quiet: superfine $5 13 Wheat unchanged. Corn scarce and better: yellow 72c. a T5c., white 686, n Tle. Puitap even, Jan, 8, 1869. Flour dull. Wheat unchanged. Corn scarce and wanted, Whiskey unchanged. City Intelligence, Ferry Berwken WEEHAWKEN AND Forty seconp STREET. — People who reside in the upper part of the city, and who occasionally have buainess to do on the other side of the North river, will be glad to learn that a new ferry has re- cently been opened between Forty-second street and Wee- hawken. The ferry was opened to the public on Saturday last, the Ist instant, since which time the boats have been plying regularly. it will prove of great advantage to cattle dealers, as they can pasture their cattle within an hour’ sail of the city, and will therefore be able to bring thetn forward to market any hour in the day, or in case of an abundant supply, withhold them. The company have secured two large and commodious boats, which were built expressly the Union Ferry Company only threo ears ago. The ferriage is the samo as charged by the Hoboxen boats The boats are to be run every fifteen minutes. Ovr Gay SRasox.—The geason has opened with unusuay spirit and brilliancy among our fashionable circles, and balls, receptions and festivities are in vogue, as though hard times had never been seen and were never expected to come again. A very large number of families have adopted the European plan of making their weekly recep- tion evening a scene of fashionable gaicty and amusement. The leading hotels too are preparing for the occasion with great spirit. On Wednesday evening the Metropolitan led cit with one of its delightful hops in handsome style. About eight hundred invitations were issued, and the la parlors were thrown open for the promenaders and tite-a- tétes, while the large dining room was cleared for the dancers. The supper was laid in the long tea room from haif-past ten until one o'clock, and seven hundred and fifty quests partook of the numerous delicacies provided by the hosts, The festivities were kept up until some lime after the smatl hours, and everything weut off in @ delightful style New Yor Crry Gvarp.—Tho rogular annual mocting of , this fine corps of New York citizen soldiery took place on the 4th instant, and was very fully attended, The reports of the various committees, exhibiting the condition of the company, were of a vory satisfactory nature, and showed the guard to be in splendid military and civic condition. We annex the namos of the officers elected on the ocea- sion:—President, David Banks, Jr; Vice President, A, Tn Secretary, ©, 8. Wadaworth: Treasurer, © rs ; for Standing Committee, John B, Coppinger and tl. ‘ ‘