The New York Herald Newspaper, January 27, 1859, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDO. BENNETT, ‘DITOR AND. PROPRIETOR, Orrics x. %. COKNEX OF FOLTON AND NASSAU BTS FERMS, cash in acdoance. Money sent by mail wil beat the oon Of the sender, Postage sams nat 4s subscription ¥ HERALD, two conta per copy, $1 per anne. PAMALY HERALD, ecery Suture. at via cents een, or Be ones anna te may partey Greet Oru, Dyer CoM SH Der annua (0 2 Z as ame ae aid of the ontinent. th ts énchade : ° the ifornea Edition on the 8th and 20th op SLO per annum. Poa pasts TY/GERALU, every Wednenday, at four cen's por m:, wR INEARY CORRESPONDENCE, contnining dmportant meres, solicited from any quarter a the world; tf used, will enilly paid for. BarOUK FolbeiGN CORRESPONDENTS ARE Parriguiatiy Biqiasres to Beak Att Larrans axo P40k- nt US. 400 NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. Wedo not weturn rejected communications. tt TLS. TS “ ; advertisements in- ABV ERIISEMEDTS reveal wy Sey eden ie verted me Wrek.y i. a iforwia. in Beditions. OO Gn PsiNTis executed with neatness, cheapness and de Volume XXIV... aeceeereeee NORE AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Brosdway.—Pizanno-—Ma- zr, NTHLO'S GARDEN, Brosdway.—Crncus Perrormances— ‘Tuatnx Horses, MuLEs, &c. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tur Tare Fast Mex, Ox, THe Fexate Rosixson Cxvsoes. BURTON'S NEW THEATRE, Broadway—Inscanp AS Tr is—Ovn Gar—lrisa Lion. WALLAGK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tag VerTeean ; OR, FRANCE ADD ALGERIA. LAUSA KR¥NW’R THEATRE, No. #4 Broadway.—Ovk Aweaicas Cocsty—Aunt Caaktotrs’s Marp. BARNUM'’S AMGRICAN MUSEUM, Brondway—Atter- oon acd Eveaing—NeGRro Minstkeisy—Cunrosittes, 4c. WOQD'S MINSTREL BUILDING, 561 and 563 Broadway~- Brarortes Sones, Danoxs, 40.—New Year Cais, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, MECHANICS’ HALL, 427 Broad way—Nvano Songs axD BuRLESQues—Riouakp III. SNIFFEN’S CAMPBELL MINSTRELS, 444 Broadway.— Mscovies, Boniesques, &c.—Puoun-1-Tateves. ADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street—Pror. Mit- ouet's Lecture on THe STELLAR UNIVERSE. New York, Thursday, January 27, 1859, . The News. The proceedings of Congress yesterday were in- teresting, and in some respects important. The question of admitting the claimants to seats from Indiana, in place of Senators Bright and Fitch, the nitting members, to the privileges of the floor of the Senate, was again discussed at length, and the reso- lution in favor of extending such privilege was laid on the table by a vote of thirty-one to twenty-two, which probably settles the question definitively as against the republican applicants, Messrs. Lane and McCarty. The Pacific Railroad bill was then taken up, and all the pending amendments having been disposed of, one o'clock to-day was assigned as the time for taking the vote on the final passage of this important measure.’ In the House bills providing ‘or carrying the mails from the Atlantic to the Pacific were reported. A re- port was presented adverse to amending the act establishing the Court of Claims so as to permit creditors to sue the government. A bill to punish the forging and counterfeiting of military bounty land warrants was passed. Joint resolutions de- claring it to be the duty of the government to endeavor to effect the removal of the restrictions imposed by foreign countries on American tobacco were adopted. The Homestead bill was again introduced, and referred to the Committee of the Whole. In committee, the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was taken up, andthe debate on the slave trade was renewed with increased earnest- ness on the part of Southern members. The point under consideration was whether the contracts entered into with the Colonization Society, with regard to the negroes captured on board the slaver Echo, should be confirmed; and the committee refused to agree to an appropriation for carrying out said contracts. This does not dispose dually of the subject, however. It will be brought up in the House at the proper time, when no doubt the action of the President with regard to the Africans will be sustained. In the course of the debate Messrs. Barksdale, of Mississippi, and Miles, of South Carolina, wahesitatingly avowed themselves in favor of re-opening the slave trade with Africa. The State Senate yesterday contirmed the no- minations of Messrs. John C. Green, Horatio Sey- mour and George W. Patterson, the newly appoint- ed Commissioners for the removal of Quarantine. The appointments of Benjamin J. Welch, Jr., as Commissary General, and James M. Cook Superin- tendent of the Banking Department, lave also been confirmed. We publish under the telegraphic head » report of the pro ings of the Convention of Compen- sated Emancipationists, held at Albany yesterday from which it will be seen that this knot of entha- siasts do not make much progress in endeavoring to couvince people of the practicability of emanci- pating negroes at the rate of $250 per head, when their market value quadruples that sum. The steamer Harriet Lane, of the Paraguay fleet, which arrived at Rio Janeiro on the 4th ult., was taking in coal on the 8th, preparatory to leaving for the River Plate. ‘The screw steamship New York, Captain Von Santen, which left Bremen on the Sth inst. in the morning, reached this port early yesterday morn ing. She bronght eighty-four passengers. The New York experienced very rough weather since the l5thinst. The news has been anticipated by the Europa. The Committee on Streets of the Board of Alder- men were to have held their second public meeting yesterday afternoon, in reference to the subject of removing the telegraph poles from the streets, and having the wires under ground, but there was not a quorum of the members in attendance to hold the meeting. A large number of parties imme- Giately interested in the matter were present. A fire occurred yesterday morning at No. 541 Broadway under very remarkable circumstances. Fire Marshal Baker was immediately called to in- vestigate its origin: the result was the arrest of a young woman named Mary De Young, the daughter of the proprietor of the store. A brief account of the affair appears in another column. The receipts of beef cattle at the various yards @uring the past week fell off about 1,000 head as compared with the week previous, and, with an active demand, rates advanced half*a cent per pound, the general selling prices being S}c. a 94c., while some sales were made at ile. There was a steady demand for cows and calves at a slight advance in rates, the range being #25 a $70. Veal calves were in request, but without noticeable change in prices. The receipts of sheep and lambs were light, the demand active, and an advance o 25c. was obtained. The quotations were $3 a $8, according to quality. Swine were dull of sale, at declining prices. The eales of cotton yesterday, embraced about 1.500 bales, closing with some Jess animation at 12/40. for mid dling uplands, Flour was again in good demand, with a Tair amount of sales, closing at an advance of about 6c. a 10c. for common and medium grades. Southern brands ere in speculative demand, with free sales, and at higher prices for common grades and middling qualities. ‘Wheat was firmer, with fair eales. A lot of choice Ken- Bucky white sold at $170. Corn was heavy, while sales ‘wore light, chiefly Western mixed in store, at 87c. Bar- ley andrye were steady, and oats less buoyant. Pork (eras quite active and firmer, with free sales on the sppt at $18 25 for new mess, and at $17 6214 2 $1775 for old, | ‘with prime at $13 373¢ a 13 6234. Sugars were steady, | ‘with gales of about 700 bhds, at rates given in anothor ®olumn. New Orleans molasses was active and firmer, With sales at 420. a 48c. Coffee was firm, while sales Were limited, the stock of Rio being light. By the way Of Southampton, England, our dates from Rio Janeiro fome down to the 8th ult. By a shipping list and price Bumrent of that date it would appear that for gievea months of 1858, ending December 1, the totat exports of coffee had reached 1,642,500 bags, of which 1,016,008 had been shipped for the United States, against 893,400 for the aame period of | the previous year, showing an exeess of exports to this | Country in cleven months of 1858, over the same period in | 1857, of 123,000 bags. If we average the weight of the ‘bags at 160 Ibs., and estimate the average value at 104¢c. per Ib., it will be perceived that the value of the 1,016,- 400 bags sent to the United States from Rio alone, for the | eleven months of the past year, amounted to $17,075,520. | The price current referred to quotes sound lots of coffee as | ruling at 4) 670 a 4}800 for United States, and 44500 a 4}700 for the Channel, and at 4/300 a 4/900 for the North of Europe. During the first five months, of the new crop of 1858, 618,500 bags were shipped to the United States, against 380,800 bags in 1857. Freights to the United ‘States ranged from 50c. a 60c, Galego & Haxail flour was quoted at 18/500 a 187600; Baltimore at 18}000, and Phi. ladeiphia at 15/000 a 16}000. Freights were dull yester- day at this port, and engagements light. The Great Question of the Day—Opening the Campaign for 1860. We publish to-day a full report of the con- test over the preliminaries of the programme for the Presidential campaign in 1860, as it occurred in the Senate on Monday, on the presentation of the bill, by the Committee on Foreign Relations, authorizing the purchase of Cuba. The ball opened with the reading of the mas- terly report of Mr. Slidell. This report follows up the initiation of the question in Mr. Buchanan’s Message, covering the whole ground in a concise and logical argument, and recommends the pas- sage of the bill authorizing the President to open negotiations for the purchase of Cuba, and plac- ing thirty millions of dollars at his disposal, to be used towards the payment of any equivalent we may stipulate with Spain. In his argument Mr. Slidell cites the opinions of many of our most eminent American statesmen, such jus Jefferson, Adams, Clay, Van Buren, Buchanan and Everett, in favor of the acquisition of Cuba, and contem- plates it as one of the irresistible results of our national existence. American independence led to the acquisition of Louisiana and the opening of the Mississippi river; Louisiana led to Florida, both led to Texas and California, and all lead to Cuba, to “ fill up,” as Mr. Jeffer- son said, “the measure of our political well be- ing.” He then reviews the three alternatives in the future of Cuba:—lst. Possession by a European Power, which the nation has declared, even in its early days, that we would resist at all hazards; 2d. Independence, which could never be more than a nominal thing, and would inevitably lead to annexation or a Euro- pean protectorate; 34, Annexation to the United States, either through conquest or negotiation. Mr. Slidell, with the true spirit of a statesman of the nineteenth century, sets aside the question of conquest as incompatible with our own multi- farious interests, and with the interests of the whole civilized world. He accepts the Presi- dent’s recommendation of negotiation, and urges that success cannot be anticipated unless the President be furnished with the means suggested in his annual Message. The argument that there would be danger in conferring these means upon the Executive he reviews and confutes, and cites the precedents of similar powers having been conferred preliminary to the acquisition of Louisiana and Florida, and to the treaty of peace with Mexico. Our diplomacy, he urges, should be open, frank, and based upon the same essen- tials that are required to advance honest enter- prise in private life ; and the question of the in- delicacy of the proceeding and its offending Spanish pride is treated with a mature know- ledge of Spanish affairs, and completely overthrown. He urges that should Con- gress determine not to grant the pow- ers asked for, such a fact must be considered by the President as an inti- mation that we do not desire the acquisition of Cuba. He then proceeds to discuss the wishes and the social condition of the people of Cuba, the recent official manifestations of indig- nation at the President's Message. and the side issues of the slave trade, the right of search, the coolie trade, the aggressions upon our citizens by an arbitrary Captain General, the delay of their reference to Madrid, our commercial and industrial intercourse with Cuba, and the final question of the real cost of its purchase to us in afinancial point of view. The whole report is a complete and unanswerable defence of the re- commendation of the President, au: of the effort | to acquire Cuba at the present time. The reading of this important document at once brought on a debate, in which Mason, Seward, Bayard, Foot, Toombs. Hale and Doolittle took part. The opposition was led off by Seward, who at once took ground against | the making of Cuba the race course for the | Presidental sweepstakes in 1860. He said be | opposed it on constitutional grounds, and not | because he was against the acquisition of Cuba, | which gravitates to the continent, while the re. ‘sult of bringing it into the fight in 1860 would only result in making somebody else than Wil. liam H. Seward President, and he would not contribute to any such scheme of President | making. He* wished to know how Cuba |was to come into the Union, what would ; be the status of her bond and free popu- \ lation, and how many hundred millions | we were to pay for it before they examined the | question of purchase; and he was decidedly of opinion these inquiries should not be made until ot 1860, though he was in favor of Cuba by natural gravitation, and thought, with Mrs. Toodles, that “it would be so handy to have it in | the house.” The contest was followed up in | good style by Mr Bayard, who put in some good hits in favor of the President's policy and in reply to Mr. Seward, and by Mr. Toombs, who came to the support of the measiive with true Southern warmth and chivalry. | These discussions, however, are merely the | preliminaries to the greater fight which is to | come off next week, when the whole budget of | Presidential programmes will no doubt be opened. | The bill was put down as the order of the day | for Monday next. This movement of Mr. Ba- | chanan is destined to make a recast of political | Parties throughout the Union, and produce the | same popular reeults, but in a greater degree, than flowed from the Texas question in 1844, party leaders to the contrary notwithstanding. It presents to the country a living issue which is pertinent to the business relations of every man in every section of the Union, and it will move the national feeling deeper than it has been moved by any public question for one generation at least. Some idea of its relations to the indus- try of the country may be formed from its relations to the commerce of New York. In 1858 there were imported into this port alone, from Cuba, 160,249 hhds. and 166,947 boxes of sugar, 47,334 hogsheads of molasses, and 61,418 | bales of tobacco (besides the segars), which, with the honey, fruits, woods, &c., made up a com- | mercial value of imports in round numbers of twenty-five millions of dollars. During the same period the exports from this port to Cuba, of agricultural products, butter, cheese, machinery, ' cotton fabrics, mechanical productions, and raw | NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, materials, such as iron, leather, lumber, &., did not amount to three millions of dollars in value, ‘These are the practical clements of the discussion which Mr, Buchanan has caused to be brought before the people, and which is initiated in the Speeches we reprint to-day. The political issues contained in it are not less interesting to the country and to the whole world, They involve the highest questions of our sogial developement and political well being; and their free, frank and open discussion will not only have gn immenee moral effect in Cuba and Spain, but the developements of the policy of every Cabinet in Europe will await the decision of the American people upon the questions now presented to them for judgment, We have said that Mr. Buchanan has touched the chords of statesmanship with a master’s art, and before the discussion now begun is ended it will produce the greatest and the most unlooked for changes in the political relations of the world. Tue Curvarier Weep IN Favor or an Exrra Sxsstoy,—The Chevalier Webb is firing up again: On the subjects of Cuba and the administration he seems to have been suddenly inspired to the highest pitch of wrath, between the editorials of the Hrratp and the French imperial manifesto of Monsieur Belly. Thus, the Chevalier talks of “stealing Cuba:” of “Mr. Buchanan and his satel- lites;” of “thirty millions appropriated to bri- bery:” of “the contemplated robbery;” of some design “to bribe the Spanish ministry;” of the re-election of Mr. Buchanan under “this halluci nation;” of “the threat to forcibly seize Cub: of the movement to “let slip those dogs of war, the “filibusters and land pirates,” “to perpetrate the robbery for our benefit;” of “the toady press of the country;” of the “national honor;” of the long interval of “nine months” to the next regu- lar meeting of Congress; of the danger in the in- terval that “James Buchanan,” if left to himself, may precipitate the country into a war with Spain, England and France, from this foresha- dowed policy of “robbery and piracy.” Then, asks the alarmed and indignant Cheva- lier Webb, “how are we to guard against the threatened danger?” And he answers the ques- tion himself, with the recommendation of forcing upon the President the call of an extra session of the new Congress in “May or June.” ‘“Com- posed,’’ says the Chevalier, ‘‘as this new Congress will be, of members fresh from the people, it will be fully prepared, not only to enactsuch a tariffas the treasury and the industry of the country imperatively demand, but by its pre- sence in the capital will prevent any contemplat- ed acts of piracy on Spain, and consequently the rupture with European nations, which such piracy would inevitably bring upon us.” Such is the stuff of the argument of the Cheva- lier Webb in favor of an extra session of the new Congress; but we suspect that his paramount desire for this extra session may be tracked to the Chevalier’s lobby calculations. That “free wool” business of 1857 certainly leaves him open to suspicion whenever he talks of a “protective tariff;” and, with a new scheme before a new Congress, with a probable anti-democratic majo- rity in the House, who knows but that the Che- valier Webb might succeed in securing an ele- gant house at Washington for the session, richly furnished, and with a bountiful larder and sup- ply of liquors, all free of charge, as one of the prime ministers of the lobby? Who knows? Have Poverty anp Scrrertne INCREASED IN New Yors ?—When the commercial crisis took place, one year ago last fall, the croakers and prophets of ill predicted that the poverty and suffering of the people would be fearful this win- ter. It was said, that from want of employment, the savings of clerks and mechanics would be all used up, and that destitution would stare thon- sands in the face. But what are the facts? We now hear Jess of those ills than we ever did be- fore. A few years ago, when there was no com- mercial crisis, it was found necessary to institute soup kitchens to save the poor from starving. There has been nothing of the kind this winter. Never were the public amusements better attend- ed than they have been of late. and the ball sea- son has opened with great ¢clat. Both facts are good criterions of the comparative prosperity of the city. But there is better proof. The super- intendent, of outdoor poor reporis that destitu- tion has decreased, and that the applications for assistance to the Almshouse are fewer than in former years. Accordingly, less money has been distributed from that source in the present year, the amount being only about $8,000, exclusive of the distribution of coal. No doubt there is poverty io this city. and consequent suffering, for these are some of the ills to which flesh is heir to in every community ; but it is evident that the amount has not inereased in New York, and that it is not greater in proportion than in other large cities of the Union. Indeed, from all the evi- dences, we are inclined to believe that it is less ; and when we take into account what a large proportion of the poverty is recently imported from Europe, and how little of it is native, we fecl safe in saying that in no other city in the world. in proportion to its inhabitants, (exela- sive of emigrants.) is there so little destitution, and such an abundance of money in circulation, as among the mass of the people of New York. Moral. or tHe Carecoricas INyesTiGation.— Although the Senator from Obio did not ascer- tain that there was any collusion between the mysterious black cats and the correspondents of the New York Heraup, yet the country re- ceived positive assurance that the famous cats in the public meal tubs have a real existence. The Corruption Investigating Committees have usa- ally searched for the cats in the lobby ; but now, it appears, they have invaded the sacred pre cincts of the Senate itself. Mr. Pagh ought to keep a sharp look out for all the cats in the meal tubs, IvportaNt TO THE TRAVELLING Prarie. most of our readers are aware, there has opened recently a new railway route from New York to Boston, by way of New Haven, New London, Stonington and Providence, so that there are now two means of Eastern transit by railway and three by steamboat and railway com- bined. The Eastern travel is not sufficient, ex- cept during the summer months, to support all these; indeed, we are of opinion that the steam- boat routes have not paid expenses during the past year. It is not purposed, as we learn from the New London Chronicle, to consolidate the steamboat line which rans from New York to Norwich with the new railway route. The steamboat terminus, in the event of consolida- tion, would be at New London. At the same time the steamboats which now go to Stonington would ran to New London, thus extinguishing two sea lines, and obliging the Norwich and Worcester railway to depend chiefly on its way travel for support. The new roate would have As been Abela 2 Haein J. Some sdvantages over the old ones, and save time and distance. With a steamboat like the Commonwealth, through trips ought to be made in ten hours. The movement we presume is in- tended as a stock jobbing operation to bull up the stock in the new line by knocking down the shares of the old one. But if the travelling com- munity is the gainer, it is of no vital consequence whether one set of stock jobbers or another gets the spoils. The Fishery Difficulties tn Newfoundland. Some of our contemporaries, colonial and pseudo-British, have latterly been expending a good deal of indignation in relation to certain difficulties which are alleged to exist between the French and English governments on the subject of the Newfoundland fisheries. These journals, which profess to be so well informed on all mat- ters connected with the laws of codfish and fogs, are wofully in the dark as to the precise origin and character of those difficulties. It is curious that in our capacity of American journalists we should be so frequently called upon to set our British contemporaries right on the history of their own questions. The fact tells badly for their patriotism and enterprise. It is assumed by these journals that the British government are sacrificing the fishing grounds of Newfoundland to France; that the interests of the colonies are trifled with, and that the French Emperor is in a fair way to obtain possession of the whole island. The late convention is adduced as a proof of these assertions. Now, no one will accuse us of a disposition to stand forward as the apologists of Great Britain, whose errors of policy are great, Heaven knows; but we are bound in fairness to state the fact that the convention of 1857 with France, of which so much complaint has been made, is, to all intents and purposes, a dead letter, for the British stipulated in this instrument that it should be inoperative and of no effeot until sanctioned by the colony itself and the impe- rial Parliament. Newfoundland refused her assent, and the agreement fell te the ground and perished, inasmuch as it carried with it the seeds of its own dissolution. The Convention was, it is true, published in the Moniteur in March, 1857 ; but no sooner was this fact made known in London than a despatch was sent off from the Foreign Office to Lord Cowley, the British Ambassador in Paris, with orders to bring the matter under the notice of the Emperor. Lord Cowley had an interview with the Emperor on the subject, and made his remonstrances against the official publicity given in the Moniteur to a treaty which was ac- tually defunct. Louis Napoleon expressed his regret at the circumstance, and immediately sent off his finest and swiftest steamer, Le New- ton, to Newfoundland, with instructions to the French commodore not to act on the provisions of the convention. Le Newton reached her destination, delivered her despatches, and then proceeded to other parts of the coast on the same mission. While thus engaged she unfortunately struck on a sunken rock, and went to pieces; but she had sufficiently executed her or- ders previous to the catastrophe. She was a beautiful vessel—the same, indeed, in which the Emperor and Empress made their celebrated ex- cursions along the coast of France: Some of her splendid cabin fixings and gilded ornaments are, we believe, still visible above water at the entrance of Port au Chaix, where she was lost. The French did not fish that summer, nor since, on the coast of Labrador, nor do they pretend to have any right to do so under the convention in question. So much for this charge of Gallic aggression on British colonial rights. Again: it is said that the French are dispossess- ng the British settlers of their lands and set- tlements in St. George’s Bay. Now, even after setting aside the convention, the French have mportant rights on certain parts of the coast of Newfoundland, guaranteed to them by old trea- ties, which cannot be abrogated without their consent. This is the case at St. George’s Bay, where the French have a concurrent right with the British to take, landand cure fish; so much so that the colonial government have never made any grants of land, established courts, or admit- ted the inhabitants to electoral privileges, Law- less persons have, however, settled there without their authority, and in their ca- pacity as squatters now claim as their own what they have illegally possessed them- selves of. They have been repeatedly warned that they have no rights. Yet it is from this qtfirter that the complaints chiefly come. A series of articles in the London Globe has contributed to increase the irritation arising from the present state of things, These articles, which are very inaccurate and inflammatory, have been traced to the Hon. James Tobin, a member of the Executive Council and Financial Secretary of Newfoundland. In them the cha- racter of the Roman Catholic Bishop, Dr. Mul- lock, has been grossly assailed. In consequence of this, the Catholics of St. Johns have recently held a public meeting to vindicate the honor of their prelate. They passed resolutions defending the Bishop and denouncing Mr. Tobin. The latter has been granted leave of absence from his offi- cial duties and sent about his business, The worthy gentleman has, we understand, taken himself off in one of the Galway steamers. The British government doubtless knows what it is about in this matter. It will not allow the French to have greater privileges than are their due, especially as the object of the latter is to encourage sea fishing, by granting large bounties with a view to raise up seamen for their navy and dispute the dominion of the seas with their neighbors across the Channel. That there is a good deal of complication in this Newfoundland question is evident from what we have stated. The rela- tive rights of the two Powers to the shores of the island are not sufficiently defined for general use, The territorial rights, at least of St. George’s Bay, require elucidation ; and energetic means should be taken to prevent disputes and col- lisions between the fishermen of the two nations. It is the business of the British government to look to all this without delay, Perhaps a little of its troublesome diplomatic vigilance in Cen- tral America might be advantageously trans- ferred to the shores of Newfoundland, The Chamber of Commerce of St. Johns have applied to the Governor, Sir Alexander Banner- man, for copies of the old treaties and other documents. The Governor, in reply, stated that he has represented to the British government the advantage, and, indeed, the necessity, of appoint- ing a commission to inquire into the whele sub- ject—the commissioners to visit St. George's Bay and all parts of the coast, and make such personal observations and inquiries as the nature of the case requires, This he recom- mends should be done before any further nego- tiations are entered into with France. There geems to be much good sense in the suggestion VUARY 27, 1859. : Suam Rerreacameyt.—The Richmond Ln- Qquirer, with all ita recent aberrations, sometimes hits the nail on the head, It does this particu- larly in a late article on the “sham retrench- ments” commenced in the House of Represeata- tives at Washingtan, iu the abolition of foreign missions, and in the work of reducing the small salaries of the poor clerks of the executive de- partments, and in indignantly laying upon the table a paltry bill of five thousand dollars fur extra clerk hire from the Post Office Depart- ment, when the great lobby job of the public printing, ranging from half a million to a mil- lion of spoils per annum, is left untouched. The jobs and schemes of the lobby constitute the real business of Congress in this matter of retrenchment. Let the House proceed to work in this mine of millions and tens of millions of spoliations and extravagances, and the country will believe they are in earnest. But this saving at the spiggot while pouring out at the lobby bunghole, will never replenish the treasury. Tus Two Buack Cars ov rin Senare.—We have not been informed of the disposition made of the two black cats in that “small room, within ecar-shot of the Senate chamber, ia the northeast corner of the lobby.” Were they sacrificed or were they saved? If sacrificed, have any two newspaper correspondents, or any two Senators, fallen suddenly sick, according to the science of Salem witchcraft? If so, the two unfortunate “eaves droppers,” or leaky Senators, should instantly be arraigned and tried before the bar of the Senate for their scandalous breach of the rules in reporting that confidential Tam- many Hall squabble between Messrs. Douglas, Fitch, Davis and others. If, according to the process indicated, the guilty parties should be discovered, let them be put to the old Salem test of some deep place in the river, and to the Salem verdict, that if they swim they must be executed as guilty of witchcraft, and if they drown that they are innocent and discharged. There isa good deal of lobby witchcraft in Washington, we know; and who knows but that there may have been something of it represented in those “two black cats,” in that “small room in the northeast corner of the lobby?” “Northeast!” That point of the compass is very suspicious: Phew! THE LATEST NEWS. AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Our Special Washington Despatch. EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF THE NEW BRITISH MINISTER— RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY WITH NICARAGUA— CHANGES IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT—NAPOLEON ON THE CUBA QUESTION—THE CUBAN POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION--THE TARIFF MODIFICATIONS— THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE AFFAIRS OF THE NAVY DEPARTMENT, ETC., ETC. Wasurnctox, Jan. 26, 1859. Lard Napier informed the Secretary of State to-day that he expected his successor, Lord Lyons, to arrive about the end of February or the beginning of March. ‘The State Department is in daily expectation of receiv- ing information from Nicaragua of the ratification of the Cass-Yrisarri treaty. Jerez, the Nicaraguan Minister, speaks confidently that the next arrival will bring this gratifying news. There is a rumor of some changes in the State Depart- ment, but they will not be made immediately. Mr. Harris, our Minister to Japan, will perform the duties of Consul General as well as those of Minister, ‘The State Department is satisfied there has been no ac- tion on the partof the French Emperor hostile to this country on the question of Cuba. The conduct of the administration on the subject of Cuba not being well understood, and being misrepre- sented by the opposition press, it may be well to state that it has none other than the most friendly disposition towards Spain, but it wishes to be prepared for any possible emergency, such as a revolution in Europe or a general war, when the acquisition of Cuba might be a necessity for us and acceptable to Spain. It is thought the volcanic fires of disorder already show indications of agitation, and we ought to be prepared. The essay by John 8. Thrasher on the ‘Purchase @f Cuba,” which has just been distributed in Congress and to the heads of departments, bas caused a marked sensa- tion. The question of placing a sum of money at the disposal of the Executive for the acquisition of Cuba gains favor daily. It is believed Judge Irwin, of Pennsylvania, is so hard preesed by accumulating evidence against him, that he will resign immediately. The Committee of Ways and Means had another meet- ing this morning. Mr. Morrill read his tariff bill, which is supported by Messrs. Davis of Maryland and Howard of Michigan. It is very elaborate, having specific duties on a large majority of articles imported, distinct and in de- tail, some articles being subject to both kinds of duty. It covers the whole ground, and is intended to be an entire tariff, Mr. Phillips, of Pennsylvania, also presented his bill, which meets the support of Mr. Maclay, of New York. It revives the tariff of 1846, reducing the two highest schedules. It retains the free list of 1857 almost unal- tered, and imposes specific duties on iron, coal, sugar, molasses, hemp, fruits, spices, and a few other kindred articles. As a majority of the committee cannot unite upon any one project, no report cau be agreed upon or made in its present condition. This will prevent them from reporting the loan bill, as they have resolved to report them together. Leading democratic members of Congress unmasked to- day that if the tariff bill passes and a revival of business follows, it will be claimed by #he opposition as the effect of that measure, and an increase of duties will become a leading feature in our next Presidential election, upon which the democracy will be swept from power, in not only the federal (ut in a majority of the State govern- mits New York democrats of the soft stripe are bere again in shoals, pressing bard upon Coilector Schell. The special committee investigating navy affairs are laboriously engaged raking up everything connected with that department, ‘hey have thus far failed to produce an jota that cannot be explained. It is feared that the enemies of the administration on the committee will en. deayor to cause delay, so that the matter may not be thoroughly cleared up this session, for the purpose of Jeaving a cloud over the department for political objects. There will be no delay in furnishing the evidence called for from the department. In connection with this, how- ever, it is stated by intelligent naval officers that the cost of our naval establishment is nearly double what it should be with the pregent amount of service and pay. It is said that this is notthe fault of the Secretary, but of a chronic, vicious system. THE, GENERAL NEWSPAPER ORSPATOH, Wasmixcron, Jan. 26, 1959, The House Committee on Ways and Means had a pro tracted and animated meeting this morning on the sub- ject of the tariff. Mr. Phelps, of Missouri, laid before before them a bill, framed jn accordance with the sugges- tions of the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr, Morrill, of Vermont, presented one, supported by the two other op- position members—Mr. Howard, of Michigan, and Mr, Davis, of Maryland—contaiuing principally specific dutics, compounded and admixed with ad valorem rates. Mr. Phillips, of Pennsylvania, introduced a bill, based on the tariff of 1946, with a short list of specific duties, and re- taining the principal part of the free list of the act of 1857. Neither of these projects seem to be acceptable to the majority of the committee, Messrs. Letcher, Dowdell and Crawford being opposed to any change of the tariff at this time, As less than » majority cannot make a formal report, the pro ability i that nothing on this subject will be reported from the committes this session. ‘The above named bills may, however, be brought tmto the House by courtesy, with the view of obtaining a de cision on theif separate merits. The committee have de cided they will report no loan Dill except with a revision of the tariff attached, and have fixed that amount at twenty five millions to fund the treasury notes and pay the interest thereon, the loan to be payable at pleagure after two years and before ix. All partios are in a quan dary about the tariff, Tt seems to be uwaterstood that the republicans aad Venasylvaaia democrats geoerally will ei. support Bpecific Auth’; but the majority of the rather than do tbia, will let (be tariff stand ag it is, even if they. have to como to direst ‘wxstion to support the government. Sach, at feast, i the report of geatlemen who have given cose allentou t the subject. Tho result may be the passage of a twenty-five million foam bill, and nothing more for the relief of the government during the oom fiscal year. ‘The cost of the Coast Survey for the thirteen years ond ‘ng with 1856 was $3,710,000, and for the hal€ your of 1857 it wa’ $258,000, making a total, added to the faoili- ties furnished by the navy, of $4,247,000. THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION, Senate. Wassintron, Jan, 26, 1859. TUK KANSAS CRCISLATURR, A joint resolution was introduced, asking for tweaty days exteusion of the Legislature of Kausas, Relocred to the Committee on Territories. MEMNRR'S CREDENTIALS OFFERED. Mr. Hamusx, (opp.) of Me., presented the credentials of Mr. Fessenden as Senator (rom Maine for six yoars from March next. ‘TOE INDIANA SBNATORS. Mr. Sswann, (opp.) of N. ¥., made a motion to admit Mesers. Lane and Macarty, claiming to be Senators from Indiana, to the privilege of admission on the floor, pending the decision upon their claims. Mr. Tavanvrs., (opp.) of I., spoke earnestiy in favor of the admission, and hoped this act of courtesy would be extende@ without discussion. A refusal would be disre- spectful to the State of Indiana. ‘The question being put, whether to take up the resotu- tion, the noes had it; whereupon Mr. Ivgnson, (adm.) of Ga., suggested that it be taken up and voted to lie on the table, to prevent ils coming up again daily until tho ond of the session. An animated debate ensued. Mr. Mason, (adm.) of Va., moved to lay the subject om the table. Mr. Skwarp, in reference to Mr. Iverson's remark, said the Senator from Geor knew him sufticientiy well to know that he (Seward) was tho last man to appeal by factious i ens from any well matured decision of the Senate, The question was to grant to two geatlemen claiming to be Senators from Indiana the privilege to stand behind the backs of the two persons who occupy the chairs which they claim to be their own. He bad seen the Hungarian patriot, foreign ministers, and multitudes of others, given the poor privilege of standing room oa the floor, while gentiemen claiming to be Senators, and whom the Judiciary Committee may at any momeut ce- port to be the veritable Senators, are refuged the number of square fect they would occupy. Mr. Bayarp, (adm,) of Del., spoke against the admia- sion. The discussion haying re-opened the parallel case of Claiborne and Colson in the Twenty. fifth Congress, Mesars. Bell and Davis discusged that subject, the former in a tone of favor of and the latter in opposition to admission of the Indiana claimants. Finally the resolution was laid on the table—Ayes 31, noes 22—Meesrs. Bright and Fitch not voting. TUE PACIIC RAILROAD BILL . ‘Was taken up. Mr. Wilson’s amendment, of which the main features are a board of five civil engineers to locate the line be- tween the thirty-fourth and forty-second parallels, was tae 18, ndes 32, Mr. Davis’ amendment, being the substitute proposed by the minority of the committee, then recurred and was lost—Ayes 18, noes 23. Mr. Pugh’s amendment, that the railroad stop at the eastern boundary of California, was also lost—Ayes 26, nays 28. A point of order then arose. Yesterday in oxecutive bce en subject was made the special order for to-day at2 P.M. The galleries were accordingly cleared to discuse whe- ther they would rescind the said order or continue the discussion of the Pacific Railroad bill. On the re-opening of the doors the discussion on the Pacific Railroad bill was resumed, Mr. Bat spoke ou the bill. Various amendments, including the one introduced by ‘Mr. Rice for the northern route, were voted on and lost. Mr. Haanoxp moved to lay the bill on the table, which was also lost, by ayes 21, nays 26. Ali the amendments being now disposed of, to-morrow, at one o'clock, is appointed for a vote on the final passage of the bill. Adjourned. House of Representatives. Wassincron, Jan. 26, 1859. POSTAL AFFAIRS. Mr. Craic, (adm.) of Mo., from the Committee on the Post Office, reported a bill providing for the transporta- tion of the mails from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. Mr. Excuse, (adm.) of Ia., from the same commites, reported a substitute therefor. THE COURT OF CLAIM. Mr. Crark, (opp.) of N. Y,, from the Committee oa Judiciary, made an adverse report on the bill to amend the act establishing the Court of Claims, so as to permit creditors to sue the government. On motion of Mr. Grow, (opp.) of Pa., the report was referred to the Commuttee of the Whole on the State of the Union. FORGING AND COUNTERFEITING MILITARY LAND WARRANTS, Mr. Cuarmay, (adm.) of Pa, from the Committee om Judiciary, reported a bill punishing the forging and coun- terfeiting of military bounty land warrants, certificates of location or purciiase, etc., or knowingly’ uttering o circulating the game, by a punishment cf not less thar three nor more than ten years in the penitentairy. Mr. CuaPmaN called atiention to the importance of the bill, saying that it had received the unanimous approba- tion of the Committee on Jadiciary. There is not a stat- ute at this time to punish such offences, although there is for forging Treasury notes. The bill was passed. FORKIGN RESTRICTIONR ON THE TOBACCO TRADE. Mr. Wurretey, (adm.) of Del., from the Committee on Agriculture, reported joint resolutions declaring that it is the duty of the government to use all its constitutional, diplomatic and commercial powers to procure from foreign governments a modification of their systems of revenue in ret to American tobacco, with a view to the removal of the present restrictions, and that instructions ought to be given by the Executive to our consular and commer- cial agents, that such a desirable result may be produced. Mir. Garner, (adm.) of Va., objected to that pettion of bo resolutions which, in bis opinion, looked to retaliatory uties. Mr. Warzny replied that there was no such intention. Mr. Mornus, (opp.) of Pa., wished American iron and other products included in the proposed protection. The resolutions proposed special protection to tobacco only. Mr, Srernes, (adm.) of Ga., did not see anything like protection in the resolutions, which merely contemplated the removal of restriction. The resolutions were passed. ‘ THE HOMESTRAD BILL. Mr. Ketsey, (opp.) of N. Y., introduced the Homestead Dill, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. Mr. Grow, (opp.) of Pa., said a similiar bill had twice passed the House, and had as often been defeated in the Senate. As the subject had been debated for the ast eight years, he now merely wished to remind gentlemen that the government should be brought back to the sound prin- ciple of legislation laid down by General Jackson, that the yablic lands should cease to a source of revenue, and e set apart for the homes of actual settlers. He trasted Congress would sanction this principle, and put an end to ‘speculation and land monopoly, i latter has been tried in the Ola Worid, and its fruits are written in the tears of the people. ‘The dictates of humanity and wisdom require the public Iands to be disposed of in such a way as will best promote the genera! welfare and elevate and ennoble the human race. He gave notice that he would to-morrow ask a vote, and in this there seemed to be a general concurrence. The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union on THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL—EXCITING DRRATR ON THE SLAVE TRADE. The committee rejected the pending amendment, which was to the effect that no money shall be expended in sup- Port and for the education of the re-captured Africans. Mr. Ceawrorp, (adm.) of N. C., offered an amendment reducing the proposed seventy-five thousand dollars—to enable the President to carry out the law of 1819—to forty-five thousand dollars. He contended that the Presi- dent had no authority to contract with the American Colonization Society for the education and support of the Africans of the Echo. Mr. Srewarr, (adm.) of Md., said if it was necessary, in carrying out the act of 1819, to stipulate their eda cation and support, no objection could ve made to the con- tract entered into by the President. The North make war on the President for enforcing the Fogitive Siave law, and if the President enforces the law for the suppression of the slave trade the South make war ou him. He was opposed to this ultraism. ir. Moors, (adm.) of Ala., admitted there are prece- dents for the President’s action, but there was a question above that. It was whether this government shouid con- nect itself with the scheme of the Coionisation Society, and bolster up that roten concern in Liberia, which has proved a failure and an abortion, Mr, Mitsvon, (adm.) of Va., expressed his surprise at the sensitiveness exhibited by gentlemen who holieve that to condemn the slave trade is to reproach siayery. He did not know what cle the President could have done re- lative to the recaptured Africans. Mr. Cask, (opp.) of Ind., said he could not see how they could consistently vote money to educate these Africans im Liberia, when the education of negroes ip the slave States is made @ criminal offence. Talk about the horrors vf the Middie Passage’ He had read an adver- tisement of a runaway, right under ovr immodi- ate view, who, it was stated, could be dentitied by bis seared hands and back. Hence, for the ake of consistency, they should strike ont the provision of the {J how under consideration. . Kent, (adm,) of 8. 0., in reply to Mr. Millsom, said that Southern gentlemen had merely protested agatat Uhts government, full mounted on an anti-slavery rentunens riding down the restrictions of law. ‘The President lad ho right to make a contract for the support and maiute- Hance of the negroes ‘of the Keho. The charity of this government has been prostituted to upholding the Coloni. zation Society, whieh sprung up from a spurious sentimen. tality in a single wight, and whieh receives its gu from old maids and dilapidated politicians, whe colonies negroes from a maudlin humanity, This’ is what the President has done, ‘ (adm.) ofS. C., proposed and advocated nt confirming the appropriation to the act of and striking out the words “and any subsequent ow ia force,’ Sewann, (adm.) of Ga. preveution and su vowed on the laws for the Mo aly g trate a8 in violas