The New York Herald Newspaper, February 7, 1859, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. zamns GORDON BHASHTT, am eres @yrics 4. ©. CORNER OF FULTON aND WAdSAU OTE TERMS, asd bn advance ioney sont by mall will be af the v0 WM Seater ‘Ponkage same 06 ma cahecrigtice ilk DAILY HERALD, wwe conte . 51 pet anwee, FUE WEEKLY GEKALD, soory Saourday. 0, conte | the Breropean Edition we BE em oy frases Re eine Forge Bhakforwia mom tha ih ane BO of ch moni af en PE SR’rAMILY MBMALD, cvery Wetnening, ot four tents par “er MLLYLN@ aeoued woth nosinees, eMapnags and a SMURYMENTE THIS SVENING. BROADWAY THEATES srosaway.—Ivanuos—Bios Beau. Fens Foury Tursvas— LOVE AND MURDER—OCR Femae TOMES AN Invu—Harry Maw Whit.0e’s THEATRE Vrosdway.—Tap Varenay ; OB, Peance anD ALormis. LAUKa KEENB’® THR, Ausxicap Sovers—Lrrtie 1% Ko. 6 Broadway.—Ous NOMS ASBKIOAN @USEUM, Srosdway—afer oon ri Grening—Neaeo Winstaxiay—Cuuiostrins, 40. wi KK. KULLULNG, 061 ana 663 Broadway armioriew Raven, Dances, ot New Neat Caine BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, AGUH ANION BALL 27 Brose way Hanno Ronor avn Hraresanee— WIDE AWAKE wir ar INETRELA 146 Srosaway.— ahromes, Wouisaaves, 40. “Doonue Baoven Bone. New York, Monday, February 7, 1859. MAILS FOR EUROPE. ‘The New York Herald—Edition for Europe. The Cunard mail steamship Arabia, Capt. Stone, will leave Poston, on Wednesday, for Liverpool. The Enropean mails will close ty this city to-morrow af- ‘erooon at a quarter to oue o'clock to go by railroad, and Altbree o'clock to go by steamboat, ‘The European odition of the Heratp will be pablished at ten o'clock in the morning. Single copies, in wrappers, wxcente. 4 ‘Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New York Heraxp will be received at the following places asa 47 Ludgate Hill. Lonpon,...Sampson Low, Son & Co., mdgate Hill. Lansing, Starr & Co., 74 King Witham street. \s Lansing, Baldwin & $ place de la Bourse. LivervooL,.Lansing, Starr & Co. 9 Chapel street. R. Stuart, 10 Exchange street, East. Haves... ...Lansing, Baldwin & Co., 21 Rue Corneille. Haxsure .. De Chapeaunge & Co. The contenta of the European edition of the EHsraip will combine the news reccived by mail and telegraph at the fice during the previous week and up to the hour of publication. The News. The particulars of a lamentable catastrophe, in- volving the death of four persons, and serious if not fatal injuries to three others, are detailed in this morning’s Heraup. It appears that the dwelling of Mr. Edward Gill, a merchant of this city, in Ful ton avenue, Brooklyn, took fire about four o'clock in the morning, while the inmates of the house— Mrs. Gill and two little daughters, Mr. Thomas Gill, Mr. Otto Graves, and two servant girls—were asleep in the third and fourth stories, Mr. Gill, finding all chance of escape by the ordinary mode of egress cut off by the flames, precipitated himself from the window upon the pavement, receiving fearful injuries. Mr. Graves attempted to descend by means of a rope made of bedclothes. The rope broke, however, and he fell to the ground. One of the servant girls, after clinging to a window sill until exhausted, also fell to the ground, and sus- tained such severe injuries as to render her recove- ry impossible. Mrs. Gill, her two daughters and one of the servants, were suffocated by the smoke. Every possible exertion was made by the police and firemen to rescue them, but without avail. Mr. Edward Gill was absent from home on business. An interesting communication from the Street Commissioner, containing information and sug- gestions relative to the aflairs of his department, is published in another column. The importance of the topics referred to will insure the letter an attentive perusal by every taxpayer of the me- tropolis. Judge Edmonds spoke on spiritualism at Dod- worth’s Hall yesterday morning, adducing the reli- gion of all ages, and the testimony of poets, histo- rians and philosophers in favor of spiritualism, In the evening he was answered by Professor Monti on the other side of the question. Our reports, given elsewhere, will be found very interesting. The Rev. Dr. Cheever delivered a sermon at the Church of the Puritans last evening, on the iniquity and outrage of re-opening the slave trade, whether foreign or domestic, and the crime against God of its continuance. The church was crowded, and the discourse, which was very lengthy, will be found reported in an abbreviated form in another column. The French section of the International Society held a meeting yesterday, and resolved to celebrate the anniversary of the Revolution of 18343 by a banquet on the evening of the 24th inst., and appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangéments. All the nationalities are invited to participate in the demonstration. ‘Two seamen called at the Hexaxp office yester- day to say that on a recent voyage from Gibraltar @ vessel was seen in a sinking condition; that their captain was notified of the fact, and said “Let her 0," and refused to render any assistance, The Overland Muil, with San Francisco dates to the Ith ult., has arrived at St.Louis. The ships Adelaide and Dashaway, from New York, had ar rived out, and created some little stir in the gro- cery aud provision markets, but no important change in prices had taken place, and business generally continued dull, Late accounts from Victoria state that the notorious Ned McGowan and a party of Americans had seized a British Justice of the peace and forced him to pay a ran- fom, in the shape of a fine which they imposed for Bome alleged offence. The annexed table shows the temperature of the atmosphere in this city during the past week, the range of the barometer and thermometer, the variation of wind currents, and the state of the weather at three periods during each dag, viz: at 9 A.M., and 3 and 9,o'@pck P. M.:— foggy 2a i fey overcast with rain; afternoon, Sanday—Clear all day; night, clear, Monday—Ciear all day: Tueeday—Chenr und ign ht, clear fand pleasant all day and pa WetDeeday—Morning, clear, aflorsoon, cloudy; night, (harsday—Overcast all day; night, snow. * areal clear; rnoesy overc rom the coast of Africa we have some vel & ‘costing news details contained in letters Nand ‘@) correspondent on board the United States ship Viv onnes, dated at the mouth of the Congo river J) s$th, and Saint Pauls de Loando the 234 of Oc- » Ler, which we publish this morning. The Vin- <cnt es had made a ran from Saint Pauls to Ambriz, lieve trade was very bad and fast going to ruin un- «cr the Portuguese. On October 11 she sighted a “easel which afterward proved to be the now famous docht Wanderer, off Suake Head, but the slaver got off. Subsequent information showed the fact that the Wanderer shipped three hnndred and fifty Negroes on the coast, and during their stay there the officers, it was alleged, sported the uniform of the New York Yacht Club. The French slave pens atthe mouth of the Congo are described as fine, comfortable, stationary houses, over which the Im- peria} flag floats in security, protected by two men- ot-wa . In different cases the British cruisers were quite active, and had lately burned the American brig Rufus Soule, leaving her first mate and another American seaman on shore at Kabenda among the Degroes. The Rufus Soule sailed, it will be recol- lected, from Matanzas for Fernando Po. The ‘ mberland was to leave, after returning to St. Pauls de Loando, on the 23d of October, for the Bight of Benin. The Dale, the Marion and the Bainbridge were then on the coast to windward, all hands well. We have files from Bermuda dated on the 25th ult. The British ship Indus, bearing the flag of Sir Houston Stewart, had sailed for Barbadoes. The Admiral had gone on an official tour through the southern portion of his command. Barbadoes advices of the 27th of December state that the prospects of the coming crop, though it would be @ late one, were most cheering. The health of the island continued excellent. Papers from Demerara, of the 29th of December, say that the number of Portnguese immigrants in- troduced there between the Ist of July, 1857, and he 3lst of October, 1858, was 1,563, at a cost to the colony of $46,890, or $30 a head. From Granada, under date of the 26th of Decem- ber, we learn that the American cutter-yacht Royal Charter, of twenty-eight tons burthen, arrived on the 15th, in forty-two days from Southampton, Eng- land. She experienced much tempestuous wea- ther, and from the 6th of November to the lst of December was lying to, her captain expecting every moment that she would founder. The House of Assembly of Jamaica, in a bill to amend the Clergy Act, has inserted a clause to pre- vent clergymen from refusing to baptise illegiti- mate chadren—which, it is stated, they have fre- quently done. On Saturday evening the National Telegraph line worked in an unbroken circuit from New York to Leavenworth, Kansas, and subsequently to Prairie da Chien, Wisconsin. Messages were sent and received with the same promptness with which they could have been sent fifty miles. The distance by the wires to Leavenworth is nearly 2,000 miles. Despatches were also dropped at all the principal cities on the route. The eales of cotton on Saturday were confined to about 500 a 600 baes, chiefly in transitu. The market was un- settled, end dealers awaiting later foreign news. Flour closed rather firmer for common and modium brands, while other kinds were unchanged and sales moderate. Wheat was more firmly held, and sales moderate, at rates given inanother place. Corn was in fair demand, and sales fair, at 793¢c. a 80c. for new white Jersey and South- erp, 80c. for yellow Jersey, and 80c. a 81}<c. for Southern do.; Western mixed was held at 870. Pork was less buoyant, while sales of now mess were made at $18 60, of old at $18, and of prime at $13 50a $13 623g. Beef was steady. Lard was active and firm, including sales on the spot and to arrive at full prices. Sugars were firm, and the sales embraced about 1,100 a 1,200 hhds., with 60 melado, at full prices. Coffee was steady, with sales of about 1,600 bags of Rio, part at Ilo. a 1130. Freight engagements were moderate, and rates withoat change of moment. The Democracy in Congress on the Tarif! Question—Another Caucus and Another Failure. ‘The handwriting is on the wall, and no Daniel» gifted with supernatural wisdom, is required to explain the inscription. It stands out in charac- ters so bold and plain that “he who runs may read,” that “the present discordant democratic party has been weighed in the balance and found wanting, and the days of its reign are num- bered.” x The caucus of the democratic members of the House of Representatives at Washington, on Sa- turday evening, Hon. John Cochrane in the chair, ‘was (as our readers will have seen from our des- patches on the subject in yesterday’s Herp) a very interesting failure, a very significant fail- ure, end, apparently, a very decisive failure, as an effort in behalf of democratic harmony. Only about one-half the party of the House was pre- sent. Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecti- cut were not represented on the occasion; but, on the contrary, the Pennsylvania democratic dele- gation had a little caucus of their own, at which they substantially resolved:—1, That it is inexpe- dient to establish apermanent national debt; 2. That the President's tariff recommendations, in- cluding specific duties in certain cases, cover the true policy of Congress upon this subject; 3. ‘That the acts and proceedings of the other demo- cratic caucus are repudiated, and that a commit- tee of three be appointed to take such steps as may be deemed advisable for united action with other democrats who approve the positions as- sumed by the Pennsylvanians. So much for the Pennsylvania caucus. In the other, or general caucus, Mr. Garnett, of Va., from the special committee on retrench- ment, appointed at the preceding caucus of last Saturday night week, made a report show- ing that the revenues of the present fiscal year would exceed, by several millions, the December estimates of Mr. Cobb; and that large reduc tions in the next year’s estimated expenditures might be judiciously made, in cutting off super- fluous lithograpbing, engraving, printing and bookbinding, including the suppression of the Congressional Globe, and its compensated reports of the daily debates in the two houses. The army estimates could also be cut down, and to the extent of several millions, and the Davy budget to at least three millions. Next, two mi)lions could be saved by the suspension of the work on various public buildings, custom houses, court houses, &c.; by the reduction of the frank- ing privilege ; by the abolition or reduction to a |‘ single line of the California overland mail lines ; by making the ocean mail service self sustain- ing ; and by cutting off the lighthouses from the treasury, and in supporting them hereafter by tonnage duties. Mr. Crawford, of Ga., of this retrenchment committee, and also of Ways and Means, advo- cated this plan of operations, and presented a schedule of specifications whereby an aggregate often millions, in the way of retrenchments, might be secured. Mr. Vailandigham, of Ohio, thought that from fourteen to twenty millions might thus be saved, and warned the party that in 1860 they would he held responsible in the premises by the people. From this poivt it ap- pears the discussion in the caucus became ex- cecdingly eharp, and that it finally resulted in a scene of confusion which could only be remedied in an adjournment sine die, and with the under- standing that another general cancus of the party ehall be held some time this weck. The resolation pending is that of Mr. Crawford, authorizing a re-isane of Treasury notes to the extent of twelve millions, and decrecing that all further deficiencies shall be mvt by retrench- mente. Now, it must be conceded that in these con- fiicting caucus proceedings we have a most beautiful exemplification of demovratic har- mony. Within three weeks and a day or two of the constitutional limit of this demucratic Con- Gress; with all the larger appropriation bills still NEW york neravo! MONDAY, FEBRO ARY to be considered; with treasury deticiencies of ten, fifteen or twenty millions to be provided for; with the Homestead bill pending in the Seuate, which will, if passed, increase these deficiencies to the extent of three or four millions, and with some prospect before us of the passage of vhis bill, we find a powerful numerical democratic majority in the House and in the Senate, npon cratic President, reduced to the impotency of a minority. And wherefore? Because of the con- flicting sectional and local cliques iuto which this democratic party bas been divided by the des- perate devices of the various Congressional aspi- rants and managers of the party for the Presi- dential succession, We remember that upon this tariff question, in the Presidential canvass of 1844, the Penusylva- nia democracy seeured the vote of that State to their ticket, as it was charged, through their local battle cry of “Polk, Dallas, and the Tariff of 1842.” The tariff of 1846, however, told a different story, and having been carried by the casting vote of Mr, Vice President Dallas in the Senate, the act had doubt- less ite full effect in turning over Penn- sylvania to General Taylor in 1848. Since that day the “flush times” created from the gold mines of California and Australia, and the di- version of the universal public mind of the country to the exciting issues raised upon the slavery question, have operated to relieve the national democracy of this Pennsylvania test question of the tariff, But the expensive federal legacies turned over to Mr. Bucbanan from his last two predecessors in the White House, and the crusbing effects upon the financial world of the general explosion of 1857, have now brought once more the money question into the fore- ground, And as the financial revulsion of 1837 resulted in a general coalition in 1840 against the democracy in power which swept the country like a whirlwind, so now, from the revulsion of 1857, we have before us the accumulating ele- ments of a similar opposition coalition, and a similar result in 1860, At this crisis, and with these contingencies staring them in the face, we find the Southern democratic leaders of both houses of Congress cutting adrift from the administration—their only basis of a party reunion—and boldly de- manding of the prostrate democracy of Penn- sylvania, upon a revenue question, the sacrifice of their most important domestic interests to the Southern policy of free trade. This test has never been s0 distinctly presented to them be fore; but now, from the mannerin which the Pennsylvania representatives of both houses have met this issue, there can hardly be a doubt remaicing that “the last link is broken” which has heretofore bound them to the controlling Southern wing of the party. The question involved is simply this:— Shall we, in a bill to increase the deficient reve- nues of the treasury, adopt such specific duties upon iron manufactures and some other foreign imports as will afford some encouragement, ia the way of protection, to our home producers and manufacturers; or shall we, in this matter, adhere to the exclusive interests of the consumers of the South and West, regardless of the interests of the manufacturing States? Or, in other words, the question is: Shall we, the Southern democracy, consent to any. further compromises on the tariff, order to attempt the recovery of the State of Pennsylvania, which we have lost? ‘The answer, as we interpret it, from all these Congressional tariff caucuses, controlled by the Southern managers of the party, is: “No! Let Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other States similarly interested, be cut off. We desire no further political assistance from the North. We mustlook to our Southern elections for the new Congress. Our policy and our purposes are directed to a purely sectional contest in 1860, We want the balance of power in the House; aud, failing in this, instead of avciding, we rather desire the ultimatum of a Southern confederacy. Under our present federal organization, we of the South have been reduced to a dependent minority. Under a federal government of our own, limited to the slave States, there would be honors and offices enough for all our politicians, and the means of protecting slavery by treaty stipulations, and the means of territorial expan- sion, which we can in no other way command.” This way, perhaps, be a too highly colored picture of the present designs of the Southern leaders of the democratic party, Let the future settle the question. But in detaching themselves from the administration, in their difficulties with the reckless African slave trade agitators and lawless filibusters of the South, these Southern Congressional leaders of the democracy have, we fear, accomplished already an irreparable amount of mischief to the party as a national concern. We fear, too, that from these tariff caucuses will come the last little parcel which brewks the camel's back; and that with the ad- journment of this Congress the democratic party will be razeed to the northern limit of Mason and Dixon’s line. In conclusion, the chances of an extra session are now as ten to one, and the new Congress, if thus called together, while it will afford the fall- est justification of the President, will also farnish the most favorable facilities for a solid coalition of the opposition forces, and for the decisive dis- eolution of the exhausted democratic party. Prooness or Musto ix tae Untrep Stares—The Cincinnati papers contain extend- ed announcements of the festival to inaugurate Mr. Pike’s new opera house by a soirée dansante on the 224 of February, Appended to the ad- vertisements we find the names of the most prominent citizens of Ohio and Kentucky, and the affair is evidently considered a matter of the first importance, as it is. A splendid Opera honse, such as we hear Mr. Pike's is, will be a great attraction to the Queen City of the West, the growth and progress of which are something marvellous, Operatic matters bave had a gene- ral start all round. At this moment Mr. Stra- kosch’s artists aro singing to crowded houses at the St. Lonis theatre, while the fair Poccolo- mini is entrancing the diplomats and. politicians at Washington. In fact, Opera, at reduced ex- peneee, is found to Pay better at this season in the provinces than in the metropolis, The Bal- timoreans have had a surprising attack of enter- prise and talk about building an Opera honse. The name of the Boston theatre will be changed to the Boston Academy of Music, and the lease of the Philadelphia Academy is sought for by Fevernl managers. With acw Opera houses, finer than those of Europe, and an audience at once appreciative and generous, the best artists will be anxious to make Amerizan engagements, and we have a fair prospect of better singers at lower prices. Before many years the Opera will be the most popular, as it is the most pefucd and agreeable, of puble amusements, ‘The Tople of the Day—The Farceurs of the Academy of Medicine. We of the metropolis must always have a topic. Sometimes it is the last prima donna and the “three hangry Frenchmen ;” sometimes it is the frerhest murder, though they are rather too common ; sometimes the Broadway Railway ; always the awful tax bills; frequently the dirty the most important recommendations of a demo- | *7eets, As a general thing, however, we are singularly indifferent to the matters that concern us most, We talk about them for a day or two, and then something new comes up, and we plunge into that with the ardor of a schoolboy breaking his first pocket money, But the last topic—to wit: is the ridiculous exhibition of the doctors at the Academy of Medicines in their famous probang controversy. The case was & very simple one, aud presented no novel pointa ; and yet the consolidated and condensed medical and surgical wisdom of the country was brought to bear upon it for no result whatever. “Nihil fit” should be endorsed over the portals of that Academy. This giorious result was not reached without considerable difficulty. The mountain labored awfully over the mouse before parturition, aad the gentle public watched with straining ey. and parted lips for the happy ending of the savants’ labors. Did the man div from the improper use of caustics?—or, if not, what did he die of? That is the question which everybody, from the Fifth avenue down to the Five Poiuts, is waiting to hear answered. Flora McFlimsey here tukes common ground with Bridget O’Flanvagan. The thrdat of the tasbiopable belle, although encircled by sable or nestling in Valenciennes, is not more safe from the sponge-armed probang and the awfu' cuustic than the trachea of the laundress. Disa- greeable as it may seem, the legs, arms, brain, Jarynx and physica) conformation generally are precisely the same with Flora as they are with Bridget. So also with the steraer sex, who are oftencr more afraid of a doctor than the ladies. So it will be seen that everybody this side of Greenwood was more or less interested in the probang war, and this interest has been height- ened to a pitch of intense excitement by the ab- surd proceedings in the Academy. The topic bas swallowed nearly all the minor questions of the day, and the gossips have not had sucha grand festival since Barnum brought over Jenny Lind. It is indeed a curious case. Here we find the Academy of Medicine, the Pierian spring from which flows all the medical lore of thecoun- try, positively drained dry by the simplest casein the world. All at once it is found that these great doctore, whose names are never quoted without a certain degree of awe, absolutely know nothing. Dr. Beales has achieved a miracle greater than Barnum or any other showman in the world. Van Amburgh trained tigers and lions till they were as docile as dogs. Barnum made a nonde- script out of the parts of several animals, and called it a woolly horse; he manufactured a mer- maid of the most approved pattern; he tamed the Swedish Nightingale, and carried her about in his pocket, and in the Happy Family he proved to a demonstration that all animals, ex- cept men and women, may live together without quarreling. Those were fine things, and made Barnum’s reputation, such as it is; but he never could have equalled Beales. Through the efforts of that practitioner the gravest professors of the weightiest scientific body in America have been shorn, in one debate, of every vestige of public respect and confidence. A surgeon whose name is honored at home and abroad; an anatomist who is compared to Hunter, and an operator with @ museum full of trophies of brilliant successes— this man comes to the Academy and compromises his reputation of fifty years standing by giving upon one occasion a direct contradiction of his words upon another. Of course, the others are equally absurd, or moreso. At one moment the Fellows were earnest, grave, respectable and scientifically mysterious pundits. Doctor Beales comes in with a Pandora’s box in the shape of the memoranda in the Whitney case, and lo! the Happy Family is snarling, quarrelling, fighting and backbiting just like ordinary men or mem- bers of Congress. All the punctilio, the gravity, the decorum, the pomp, the dignity, the owl-like stare, the Burleighan shake of the empty head, the awful contemplation of the gold headed cane, always pointing to the cemetery—all these, the stock in trade of the Doctor Buncombes of all days since Hippocrates, were swept away ina moment. The old school doctors were glad to have an opportunity to show up the men of sefence whose office practice cuts into the regular business, and in so doing, if they proved that the new school men knew nothing, it was likewise made apparent that the Buncombes of antiquity were equally in the dark. Dr. Beales did all this. Let us glorify him. He is greater than Dr. Barnum, or Doctor Buncombe himself. Such a miracle as has been wrought in the Academy has astounded the public not a little. Everybody is keeping a sharp lookout for their organs, and shuddering at the sight of the doc- tor’s chaise. The only persons that are really delighted at the discomfiture of the butchers and the buncombes are the irregular guerilla prac- titioners, who are called by the Academy savants, quacks, although many of them have received what is called a professional education. Of course these guerilla doctors, whose attacks upon the regulars are frequent and bitter, ,are perfectly delighted with the grand’ row that has weakened the enemy’s camp, and left it at the mercy of its foc. Some of the pill men have gotten up a little private quarrel on the merits of the case, which war they carry on through the advertising columns of the leading papers. One favors the probang, the other is against it— both, of course, believing firmly fo their own pills, and kepping the public au courant to their merits, The quacks, as the regulars call them, have not had such an opening for many aday. They are glad, as a general thing, to get hold of a single case of professional stupidity; but here isa whole Academy, headed by the greatest medical luminaries, all acknowledging that their science and their prestige is a humbug anda sham. No wonder the quacks rub their hands with glee. But what is to become of Flora and Bridget, and all of us, from Murray Hill to the Swamp, without any confidence in our doctors? It is too awful to think of; but there is one consolation, after all. With the humbug out of the way, it is barely possible that the profession may improve. Bors axp Wisk IN THE MeTnorons aT THe Same Time.—We perceive by the journals of the day that it is purposed to render the celebration of the birthday of Washington (the 224 Inst.) more interesting than heretofore. The Order of Untted Americans havo invited Mr, John Minor Botte, of Virginia, to deliver the oration which is pronounced annually before the fraternity, at the Academy of Music, and he has accepted the 7, 1859. invitation. Mr, Botts being covsidered as the representative of the fursil era in Virginia poli- tica, will be after the manner of a curiosity. Then, agaiv, a putriotic citizea has paid for the compiling, prioting and biading of a historical account of the incursion duriug last July of the Seventh regiment, “National Guard,” N. ¥.S. M., into Virginia. Ou the anniversary of the birth of the most illustrious eon of the Old Dominion, copies of this record are to be presented to the officers, non-commissioned officers, privates aud musicians of the National Guard, aud Goversor Wiee, of Virginia, bas been iovited to visit the metropolis on the interesting occasion. It is to be hoped that he will come. Every one will be glad to wee and bear Wise. Of course he will speak. Let us have Botts and Wise—two great provincial political stars—on the stage of the Academy, where all notoricties, whether in the world of art or politics, must make their metropolitan début previous to an appeal for the suffrages of the country. Botts and Wise are both talked of tor the Presi- dency. Let them be fairly trotted out before a New York audience, so that we can judge of their vind and bottom for the sweepstakes of 1860. The Cuba Question in Congress and Before the Country=A Hint to Our New York Politicians, ° Last week was to have been devoted by the Senate to the discussion of Mr. Slidell’s bill to authorize the purchase of Cuba, but the week passed away without one word transpiriug on that subject. This week Mr. Branch will make an effort to get his report and bill before the House. ‘The close of the session is so near at hand that we may set aside all hopes of seeing the Presi- dent authorized to open negotiations with Spain on this important question by the present Cou- gress, It has been reserved for a longer and a stronger fight in the next Congress, when the session can be prolonged until after all the President nominating conventions have been held, and members can make strong speeches, that shall serve alike for Congressional debate and campaign harangues. Such a course may do for thé House ; but from so grave a body as the Senate a more practical course should be expected. It is one of the most important questions in the list of our foreign relations, and should be acted upon by that body without reference to its avatiability as a popular political measure. Their action alone upon the bill will strengthen the hands of the President in any juncture that may occur during the nine months’ Congressional interregnum, and it should be taken without delay. In strong contrast with the course of the poli- ticians on the subject stands the movement among the people. Already the popular masses are beginning to move. Standing committees, political clubs, young men’s organizations, and all the customary machinery of a political cam- paign, are astir among the masses. Cuba resolu- tions are being passed everywhere, and on all sides the people are pressing up to the support of the President on this subject. The old political newspaper hacks that at first thought the ques- tion was some partisan dodge, and looked at it askew, wishing to know first how their set would g0, are now discovering that it is a national issue, and nothing but a national issue, and so they are all wheeling into line. Some of them, who thonght themselves big enough to head off any question, and at first opposed it, finding that their trumpets were nothing but penny whistles, have suddenly changed front, and shout to give the President, not thirty millions, but one hundred and thirty millions, for the purchase of Cuba. These signs show beyond a peradven- ture that the issue is emineatly a na- tional one. It is as popular in the At- lantic slope as it is in the valley of the West; and California and Oregon will hail it with the same enthusiasm, for it stands midway in their paths of intercourse with their Atlantic brethren. The fishermen, lumbermen, and sail- ors of Maine will come up as one man on it, and redeem the old democratic star in the East. The farmers of Rhode Island and Connecticut will accept it, for they have for long years found the best market for their farming products vexed by the jealous restrictions and high duties of the Cuban Colonial tariff. On the prairies of the Northwest no question can be more popular, for it opens an immens¢ and permanent market for their meat and grain, which, by taking off the surplus, will enhance the value of the entire pro- duction. Every interest in Pennsylvania is ab- sorbed in it, for Cuba consumes vast quantities of coal, iron and machinery, which she would take from there. On this point we have a word for our New York politicians, While they are off in Wash- ington vexing the Cabinet and Congress with their greedy quarrels for the spoils, the people at home have calmly and considerately de- termined to bury them and their old selfish personal issues together—Tammany Hall and Mozart must alike go down, and the squabbling members of “General Committees” and “Peo- ple’s Committees” be left alone in their dirt. A new issue brings forward new men, and before the strong popularity of the Cuba question, bunkers and barnburners, hard shells and soft shells, will be alike forgotten. Those of the old leaders who are wise will forget issues that were fought and decided by « generation that is past and gone; and we would say to the President that when any of them go to Washington, and to him, with the story that they were this ia '44, or that in ’48, or something else in '62, he can set it down for a certainty that they have no popular support in ‘59, and cannot raise a cor- poral’s guard of followers. No man who has not a defined position as a supporter of the Pre- sident’s policy for the peaceful acquisition of Cuba commauds any popular sympathy to-day in New York; and we trust that the President will eo understand it, and guide his countenance to our New York spoilemen by it. Invasion or New York py a Berrrsa Force, AND A Warm Recerrion.—The Forty-second regi- ment of Highlanders, of the British army, with a regimental band and pipers, are now on their way from England to this port, in two steam transport vessels, en route for Fort Vancouver, Fraser river, Oregon, where they are to be gar- risoned. The regimental quartermaster’s stores arrived some time since, and are now in bond at the Custom House. Not since the British army evacuated New York, in 1783, bas an English soldier been seen in our streets, if we may except an artillery company of Canadian militia from Montreal, which visited us during the AUlantic telegraph eclebration last fall, and took part in the procession, when it was cheered by our people all along the line of march, and reecived with every demonstration of friendly feeling. Now we «re to be distinguished by an invasion of a wholy regiment, and {hat one of the most celebrated and: “ eraek ” regia the British Tine —not a mere militia or Can fancy corps, but regular fighting boys, whe light is ia the carnage avd the roar of They will meet with a warm reception warmest they bave ever mot. Alread, crack militia regiment—tbe Seventh, or Navi Gusrd—bave voiuntecred to face them, an doubt will give them a taste of their qnq But, considering that they are #o formidab) the field, and bave wou so many Jaurels tor d of valor and heroism, we would suggest + is necertary for the whole, First division, uj Gen. Savdford, to turn out to meet the inva The Forty-econd regiment is famons in annals of war. At Waterloo, where; decisive battle was fought which threw Napoleon, it played o distinguished In almost every British war for the last cen it has acted a brilliant purt, reaping glory an nown in India, in Spain, and in the Crij Enough bas been eaid to enable us to claim the regiment a reception worthy of its Let the Forty-second be received by Ger Sandford and his whole division, Let it b creed the bospitalities of the city by a vo the Common Council; let it be quartered ig principal bote]s of the city at the public exp Let a grand public entertainment be given, m 'y to the officers, but tothe men: It de. ratic regiment of real fighting men, aj Is fit that in this democratic city they ehoul received as euch. Let tbem encamp in Mad square, in order to give our citizens an of tunity of seeing their strange costume, hej the shrill pibroch, or Highland pipes, and paring their high discipline with the drill o! National Guard. Let them be brought to all the lions and the elephants of the city, even the bull: and the bears of Wali street, let everything be done to give them a good and, above all, Jet them see the institu When it was rumored that Victoria inte to visit Canada, we invited ber to New ¥ and had she come the would have met s welcome as she never found among her } subjects. Awaiting the coming of the Queen usdo all bonor to the Forty-second, Ovr Srreer Deranrment.—The Street q missioner has transmitted to the Common O cil a very full report as to the couditio which the business of bis department was fd on the termination of the famous contest] tween Messre, Devlin and Conover, and the g which have been taken since that time for a ter organization of the important interests y the care of this officer. ‘ The report, though very moderate in| language, givesa startling picture of the chinery under which the public treasury pleted previous to the appointment of My ward Cooper. In most of the bureaux—m of them expending from two hundred thou to a million of dollars annually—no books, papers or any other legitimate record business, were to be found on the terminatio the controversy. A dozen different and jj sponsible men were allowed to draw against| same suffering appropriations; and when ments were collected for street improvem the persons collecting seemed just to their legal rights, and to pay two and a half cent to the City Chamberlain, while keeping balance for their own remuneration. E Under the present system, as seen in the St Commissioner’s report, and still more p! ihe reports from the various bureaux under control, it will be found that full and s tory records are kept of all public n tions, and that the business of contrac has been surrounded with such precaut as to make fraud extremely difficult, if not possible. It will also be seen that for e shilling expended by the bureaux under present management a detailed report is nished; and with the system of payments triplicate vouchers now in use, we think cient guarantees are afforded that the inter of the city will be faithfully administered. One of the documents accompanying this port of the Street Commissioner is a letter ff accounts and payments similar to that now, lied upon in the Bureau of Construction the Treasury Department of the United Stal This system of triplicate vouchers and requ tions was finally adopted by the Mayor, Coq troller and heads of gepartments of the q government, and forms the basis upon Wwihtich| the business of the Street Department ig n conducted. We may congratulate ourselves thus having transplanted into this city a plan financial checks and balances which has wor! 80 advantageously in the best regulated dep ment of the general government. ‘The report aeks that specific and dofinite Propriations be made for the Street Departme that they shall be made in advance, and put der the exclusive control of the head of the | partment, 80 as not to be drawn out of the ci treasury except for the purposes origin had in view, and on the requisition of Proper authority. This is undoubtedly right, when half a dozen different offices and are allowed to draw against a fund, in all pro bility there will be deficiencies at the end of year, and it will not be possible to fix the re sibility on any particular individual. Each ecutive officer is entitled to know what he is pected todo, and what means will be allo him to do it with; and against the money aside for specified purposes no other should be allowed. If the Common Coun would in future attend exclusively to legislati duties, and leave the executive business of 4 city where it properly belongs, in the hands the Mayor and the executive departments, might expect to get along much better. The detailed account of expenditure and o jects of expenditure, accompanying the repo is, we think, one of the most explicit and sati factory statements that has been furnished to public by any executive department of the cil government for mauy years, The Street Co missioner advocates a change in the commeno ment of the financial year to the 1st of July! place of the Ist of January, and we commen this portion of the document to special con ration in Albany. f [oe eae f Aporrrion oF The Frankina Privitgo and Free Excnanoxs.—A bill has b recently reported to the House by Postal Committee, abolishing the frank privilege enjoyed by members of Congress, substituting instead anu appropriation of hundred dollars worth of postage stamps nually. This is very good ns far as it goes, tienlarly if we can get no other measure; but th free mail system should be abolished entirely for it has grown tobe a gigantic nuisance, have not the least doubt that half the ma