The New York Herald Newspaper, February 10, 1859, Page 4

SaMES GORDOE BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. Su F108 XN. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU OTS FEBMS, cash to advance. Money sont by mal will be at (he sek of tha condor, nee ee a eteed as vabecription DAILY HERALD, hee conte: , ST THE WEEKLY iB" oony Somartay. lta conte Sb coer 94 pe anmwam to sew part of rent Brats, Timdinont. bath 10 incbude 4 Sansa ket aee tak month af ofa cons Volume XXIV.......... seveseeesceeescsess Oe SO pubrtee scaibesmnstbihi nicht hid acts doecocitsmeu tohinaastd AMUSEMENTS THIS SVENLNG. BROADWAY THEATES, Brosaway.—Ivanuon—Buve Braup. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadwav.—Afternoon and Eveaing— Omven Punronmsnso- Chained Homans, MULES, £0; BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Huntnsss or THe Missis- surri—Psrrection—Wanpesine Bors. BUBTON’S NEW THEATRE. Broadway—Our Fax Auggicax Cousin—Kinc's GaRpemen. WALLACK'’® THEATER, Broadway.—Tus Versean ; on, France amp ALGBRLA. i ‘o°8 THRATRE, No. 64 Ome sinus Sonnets Sara BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway—Atter eon and Evening—Necro Minsrexisy—Cuniositiss, £0. WOOD'S MINSTREL BUILDING, B61 and 663 Broadway— rmarven Sones, Dantes, baw Yeas Caius, BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, MECHANICS’ HALL. 497 Broad way—Neano Sones axp Buaiesares—WIpe AWAKE. SNIFFEN’S CAMPBELL MINSTERLS, 444 Broadway.— Wavopins, Denanaves. ‘4c.—Dovsis Beppep Boox. New York, Thursday, February 10, 1859, The News. Another caucus of democratic Congressmen was held last evening for deliberation upon the finan- cial exigencies of the government. Mr. Phelps, the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means of the House, presented a programme of measures for the relief of the temporary.necessi- ties of the government. It proposes an extension for two years of the provisions of the law autho- rizing the issue of Treasury notes, as recommended by the Secretary of the Treasury; also that the ap- propriation bills be acted on by Congress as speedily as possible, and concludes with the decla- ration that the expenditures of the government ought to be reduced to the lowest point consistent with an economical administration of the public service. - After considerable palaver this pro- gramme was adopted. A resolution declaring it inexpedient to alter the existing tariff was rejected by a vote of 27 to 25. It was understood, how- ever, that the members present were not to be bound by the action of the caucus. , The proceedings of Congress yesterday were un- usually interesting. In the Senate the vote whereby the Pennsylvania avenue railroad project was de- feated was re-considered. A resolution was adopted directing inquiry into the operations of the re ciprocity treaty with Canada, and the expediency of its abrogation. Mr. Bigler’s resolution declaring ‘that a large public debt is inconsistent with the true Policy of the country, and that Congress should proceed without delay to adjust the revenue and expenditures, wasthen taken up. Mr. Toombs criti- cised the arguments of Mr. Bigler, and contended that the present tariff is ample to meet the just and proper expenses of the government. He intimated that the estimates of expenditure had been forced to an excessive point, and the surveyed public lands kept out of market, in order that the tariff on imports may be increased. He was in favor of reducing the expenses of government to meet the revenue, and not of increasing the reve- nue to meet the expenses. At the conclusion of Mr. Toombs’ speech some discussion arose as to the priority of business, but finally the Thirty Mil- lion bill was taken up. Mr. Doolittle made a speech in opposition to the measure, and concluded by offering a substitute to the bill, providing for an appropriation of $50,000,000 to purchase terri- tory in Yucatan, Central or South America for the colonization of negroes, under the guarantee of the United States. In the House a reply was re- ceived from the Secretory of the Treasury to a resolution relative to the new court house at Balti- more. The Secretary stated that he has postponed the construction of all authorized public buildings which had not been commenced previous to the late financial revulsion, owing to the insuffi- ciency of money in the"treasury, and that he will continue to act on this rule until Congress shall provide the means to meet the liabilities, or shall otherwise direct. The paper was referred to the Committee on ‘Ways and Means, with instructions to report a bill appropriating $200,000 for the Baltimore court house. The General Appropriation bill was then taken up. Several items were stricken out, among them $200,000 tor mileage of members of the next Congress; $73,000 for the Congressional Globe; $100,000 from the wages of the San Francisco Mint workmen; $22,000 from the New York Assay Office operatives, and $225,000 for the purchase of pro- perty in New York now leased for court purposes. $175,000 was added for deficiencies in printing, and the bill was then passed by a majority of sixteen only. A bill was reported increasing the number of surgeens and pursersin the navy. The bill for the acquisition of Cuba was reported by the Com- mittee on Foreign Relations, and referred to the Committee of the Whole. Leave to introduce a bill making appropriations for the ocean postal service was refused. A bill was reported making appropriations for the Post Office Department. The debate on the Nebraska contested election case was then resumed, and continued till the ad- journment. Among the subjects before the Legislature yes- terday was a bill, introduced in the Senate by Senator Ely, of this city, appointing Hamilton Fish, Charles O'Conor and Henry R. Selden, a commis- sion to revise and alter the charter ofthe city of New York. They are required to complete the work and have it submitted to the citizens for ap- proval or rejection at a special election to be held for the purpose. If ratified by the people, the charter is to be submitted to the next session of the Legislatare for confirmation. _ The Republican Central Committee held a meet- ing last night, Alanson 8. Jones, chairman pro tem. The whole evening was occupied in settling the questions on contested seats from the Sixth, Eighth, Sixteenth and Eighteenth wards. The dele- gation from the Eighteenth ward, headed T. G Glaublenskee, were admitted. The Sixth ward delegation were referred back to the ward associa- tion for settlement. Leiser Kaufman was tried in the General Sessions yesterday for receiving a quantity of cloth caps knowing them to have been stolen from Marx Ri naldo, 102 Maiden lane. A portion of the property ‘was found in the possession of the defendant, bat the evidence was insufficient to convict. John Jarry, who was indicted for attacking Thomas M Keon, at the corner of Third avenue and Bighty- +. th street, on the 7th of December, pleaded guilty %. assault and battery. John Broe was charged ¥ } afelonious assault upon Henry Rassan. He bit off cassan’s nose on the 15th of December, but ‘!o complainant refused to testify against him. by im B. Fogarty was charged with pointing a yistol at Samuel Wilson on the 16th of January, ond pleaded guilty to assault and battery. James fbannegan, aliag James Devoy, was indicted for a f tonious assault and battery on Thomas Riley, by attempting to shoot him with a pistol on the 31st of October, at 189 Grand street. All these defendants were remanded till the last day of the term, when they will be sentenced. The dirctors of the New York Central Railroad met at Allany yesterday, and declared the usnal four | er cent semi-annual dividend, payable on the 21st 1st. 7. ¢ leases of the Peck slip and Grand street fer- res, two of the five ferries connecting this city w th Williamsburg, were sold at auction yesterday at the City Hall. The leases have ten years to run from t’ e Ist of May next, and sold for $21,050 and “15,060 per annum respectively. Messrs. Loftus Wood, John O'Donahue and Isaac V. Meserole were the successful bidders. The prices paid for hese leasesare regarded as exorbitantly high, and wht esponding advance in fares is jikely to be the It. trenchinents. ‘The two houses of Congress have been fully informed of ‘he present and estimated deficien- cies of the ireasnry for the ensuing fiscal year, its revenues. With equal impreasiveness the Preside: t has recommended the policy of re- trenc'ment in all available cases, so as to re- duc:, as far as practicable, the present heavy esosedvles of government expenditures. All tis infi rmation—with the figures, fac'a, argu- ments and estimates of the several executive departmen‘e—was laid before the two houzes on the fret Monday in December last, ani now, within some three weeks of the end of the ses- s‘on, the question recurs, what has beeu done by Congr: ss in reference to these executive recom- mendations? First, upon the tariff question, we have had any number of consultations and caucuses on the part of the democratic members of both houses, who are responsible as the majority party; and the nearest approach to any definite line of action isin the proposition of Mr. Miles Taylor to suspend for two years the reduced tariff law of 1857, wh'ch, for the time indicated, will be the restoration of the “higher law” of 1846. The proceedings of last night’s House caucus in this connection we turn over to the careful digestion of the reader. There may be yet time enough for thesimple proccss of suspending the law of 1857; but it is quite pos- sible that even th's expedient of relief may fail. In this event, the President, in order to provide the ways and means whereby the revenues may be brought within striking distance of the finan- cial liabilities of the government, will have no other alternative left him than the call of an extra session of the new Congress. On the subject of retrenchment we have had some very" beautiful proceedings in both houses. The Senate, for instance, bai passed t'e old French Spoliation bill, a measure which involves a demand for five millions of dollars beyoud the calculations of Mr. Cobb. The House has pass: d an omnium gatherum Old Soldiers’ Pension bill, wihic!, should it become a law, will call, perhaps, for au extra sum from the trea:ury of five, :i:ht or t2n millions of dollars—no man can tell how much within several millions. The same body has passed the Homestead bill, which, if it chou'd beccme law, will at once cut off from the treasury the three or four millions a year now received from the sales of th» public lands. i ‘These are retrenchments “ with a veny ance.” But the most farcical proceedings of the House in this direction have yet to be recited. That learned body of buncombe political managers abolished our diplomatic esta- blishments «f Rome, Sardinia, Switzer- land, Persia, and other places, and then they were all restored to the bill, and it has thus passed. Ando, the other day, the appropria- tion for the support of the Congressional Globe was stricken out of the bill under consideration, by the casting vote of the Speaker; but shortly thereafter this item of $67,000 was restored by nine majority. It was again struck out yester- day. (See House report for this and other items.) These are the most conspicuous of the retrenchment experiments attempted by the “men of buckram” and the men of buncombe of the House. But should they get the expected astounding reports from the naval investigating committee of Mr. Sherman, and the public print- ing investigating committee of Mr. George Taylor, they may, perhaps, be furnished with matter for some retrenchments and reforms of a practical character before the close of the session. The House, however, has done one good thing in the way of economy, and the Senate another. The House measure to which we refer is the adopted resolution from Mr. Faulkner, of the Military Committee, that, “ preliminary to the final settlement with the citizens of Oregon and Washington Territories for their military ser- vices against the Indians in 1855 and 1856,” the Third Auditor of the Treasury shall overhaul these claims and report thereon to Congress, “No double pay to be allowed, and supplies, transportation, &c.,to be paid for with a dues! regard to the number of troops, and the prices current at the time.” This is called “scaling.” and to the fishy contractors concerned it will be pretty rough scaling. Ifwe are not mistaken, these Oregon Indian fighters have made up a budget of claims which reaches the handsome figure o five or six millions of dollars, including all the fabulous extortions of the Florida war under Martin Van Buren’s administration. But in that case the bills were paid, while in this they are to The Police Commissioners met yesterday and suspended the pay of policeman Riley for twenty ays, on @ charge of intoxication. The resignations of Wm. Davis and Robt. Stevenson were received. Sergeant Williams was transferred from the de- tailed squad to the courts to the Fourth precinct; Sergeant Johns to Williams’ former place, and Sergeant Seaman from the Fourth precinct to the Broadway squad. After the transaction of this momentous business the Board is said to have ad- curned for one week. The Alcermanic Committee on Streets held their final mecting yesterday in relation to the proposed removal of ihe telegraph poles from the streets. A ¢ mmunicetion from S. F. Armstrong, statiag that in 1855 he cffered to lay down subterranean tele- graph lines ‘o: the American Telegraph Company, wasread, a.d another from the same party was also read, conta‘ning a statement made by Mr. Charles T. Bright, the chief electrician of the At- lantie Telegraph Company, to the effect that there niles of underground telegraph in England sent,and that in this 821 miles there are 6,348 . The line from Dublin to vniles in lepgth, and has been in operation for the ‘ast ten years, Tal. P. Schaffher was present, and reiterated most of his former arguments against ubterrazean telegraphing, which he pronounced impossibility. He finished by submitting his i in writing to the committee. Mr. Wood, of the Unicn American Company, stated that the company with which he is connected have recently been obliged to remove their lines from the tunnel of the Harlem Railroad, owing to the dampness of it, which 1 endered telegraphing next to impossible. The diffcultics, he said, would be still greater were the wires under ground. The committee then final- ly adjourned the subject. The Committee on Streets of the Board of Alder- men, at their meeting yesterday, heard parties on the subject of improving the Russ pavement in Broacway. Messrs. Blake and Woodruff offered to break the pavement and ran conical grooves throvgh it for $1 20 per square yard, and they would require two summers to complete the work. They |, Submitted drawings illustrative of their plans. A S. Swagner said that Belgian pavement would be best suited to Broadway, and proposed to pave it with Belgian pavement for $2 80 or $3 per square yard. He thought any attempt to improve the pre- sent pavement would be labor in vain. He stated that the Pelgian pavement has been recently adopted in St. Petersburg, London, and other Euro. pean cities in preference to any other. The Com- mittee, ascertaining that no one else desired to be heard upon the subject, adjourned. The special committee of the Board of Council. men appointed to consider the subject of alleged fraudulent practices of coal dealers in weighing coal, met yesterday in reference to the matter. Alfred Barber appeared before them and said that many parties complain that they are continually cheated by coal dealers, who sometimes sell them no more than seventeen hundred or eighteen hun- dred pounds of coal when they pay for aton. He spoke of a coal cart that is used in Philadelphia and New Orleans, which, at all times, shows the amount of anything it contains, by means of a bal- ance on which the box of it rests. It is called “the self-weighing coal cart.” He estimated that over $100,000 annually are paid to coal dealers more than they are entitled to by coal consumers. The inventor of the cart was also present and submitted aspecimen of his invention to the committee, and exhibited its susceptibility to pressure or weight in various ways, to the satisfaction of those by whom it was examined. The committee said they would consider the subject further and perhaps hold another meeting. A lecture was delivered last evening in the Cooper Institute by Dr. M. Eyre Foy, on“the diseases of air passages and their treatment,” in which he reviewed the case of the late Mr. Whitney, and took Dr. Green's position, advocating the use of nitrate of silver and the probang. A sketch of the discourse will be found in another column. The receipts of beef cattle during the past week amounted to 3,084 head, an increase of 576 head over the receipts of the week previous. The abun- dant supply, combined with the bad weather, caused a decline in prices of halfa cent per pound on all descriptions. The stock offered was, more- over, of a better quality than usual. Cows and calves were in moderate demand at $50 a $30. Veal calves sold quick at 4}c. a The., according to quality. The supply of sheep and lambs was limit- ed, and prices advanced 25c.a50c. per head, the be “scaled,” or razeed down to the regular market price, which makes all the difference in the world to the treasury, to say nothing of the difference to the contractors. ‘The Senate bill of econcmy in question is the bill passed by that body calling for bids for the construction of the Pacific Railroad by the Northern, the Central and the Southern route, before entering upon the prosecution of the work by any route, or upon any plan of opera- tions. Here, between the policy of proceeding blindly into this enormous enterprise and the Policy of first ascertaining the best and cheapest route, and the probable cost, there will be a margin for the saving of twenty or thirty, and perhaps even fifty millions of dollars. Upon this subject, therefore, the Senate have hit upon the practical idea of retrenchment; but their bill has still to run the gauntlet of the buncombe men of the House. Beyond these few measures of precaution and economy we have had little or nothing from either house in the way of retrenchment, From the time wasted upon trivial questions and mo- tions from day to day, however, we still are of the opinion that nothing in the way of reducing the government expenses, and nothing to in- crease the treasury receipts, will be accomplished range being $3a $10 each. Swine also advanced in price, the best corn fed selling for 7}c. ‘The cotton market was unsettled yesterday, with sales of about 300 bales, which were insufficient to afford any correct criterion of prices. Larger sales were reported, which, however, we could not fully trace. The business was simply confined to middling and the lower grades, Fine cottons continued scarce, and holders were not dis- posed to make any abatement in their views. Most of the shipments en rowe for Northern ports are on account of manufacturers, as little or none is reshipped hence to Eu- rope. Flour was again casier for medium and common grades, but more active at the concession. Wheat was unchanged, and sales limited. Corn was firmly held, which tended to check sales, while prices were unchanged. Pork was Jess buoyant, but in good demand, both for im- mediate and future delivery, at prices given in another column. Sugars were steady, but owing to the inclemen- cy of the weather and bad condition of the streets, the sales were confined to some 300 hhds. New Orleans at 7440. a83{c., with a small Jot of boxes in bond at 7c. ,and about 500 8 600 boxes besides were reported on private terms. Coffee was quiet. Freight engagements were moderate, while rates were steady. Tux Decuiwe axp Fat or Niaosr Ivee- RIALISM.—AlIl the accounts received from Hayti concur in describing the fortunes of his Majesty Faustin the First as hopeless. To use an em- phatic Yankee vernacular, he is a “goner,” but whether physically or spiritually we have yet to learn. The last news left him ready prepared this session sufficient to avert the necessity of an extraordinary call upon the new Congress. At all events, we may logically conclude that a Con- gress which was opened with defections, rebel- lions and treacheries in the dominant party camp, will close in confusion and disgrace. Its time is short, and the question approaches a defi- nite solution. for a bolt, with his interesting family and hard ravings securely freighted on a vessel in the harbor of Port au Prince. It may be, however, that Geffrard has got him into his clatches, and in that case God help him. The throne of impe- rial niggerdom has not been built up without a vast amount of cruelty and suffering. The hardest taskmasters in the world are the blacks who own slaves, and the hardest nigger driver of all was, as is well known, Soulouque. If those whom his exactions have ruined, and his persecutions driven into exile, get an opportu- nity of revenging their wrongs upon his person, there will be but small chance for him. The law of retaliation is an instinctive principle of nig- ger nature, and it would not, therefore, be sur- prising if the next news that reaches us fs, that the Haytien revolutionists have furnished a parallel to the historical tragedies of Whitehall and the Place de la Revolution. Pere Arr ror Ove Junces.—The Justices 0” the Superior Court have petitioned the Board of Supervisors for better rooms than those which they now occupy, and which are totally unfit for acourt of justice, They are so near the street that the Court is disturbed by the noise; they are deemed to be in danger of falling; they are too small for jury trials, Lastly, these rooms are so badly ventilated that the air soon becomes foul and vitiated, and neither judges nor juries nor lawyers in @ protracted trial can properly discharge their duties, The witnesses, too, if ‘Treasury Deficiencies and Congressional Re- | they are in delicate health, saffer severely, and often become seriously ill, It is important that | the intellects of our judges when hearing causes should be clear and vigorous. How can this be | the case in a fetid, poisonous atmosphere? There ‘and of ‘he imperative necessity of a modifica- | ep tion 0” «1 tariff, with a view to the increase of | is, therefore, an ubsolute necessity for a change, and it is to be hoped that the Board of Super- visors will take the proper action in the premises, The Position of the Cuba Question Before Mr. Slidell has announced that if the Senate will not take up regularly, and consider, the proposition to place thirty millions at the dispo- sition of the President, with authority to en- deavor to effect the peaceable acquisition of Cuba by peaceable negotiation with Spain, he will force the subject to adiscussion by moving the bill asan amendment to the Appropriation bill. This will be a legitimate motion, and we shall hold Mr. Slidell to his promise to make it. The whole country wants this question venti- lated. It is immediately connected with so many of the sources of our material prosperity that it comes home to the business of nine-tenths of the active men in the Union; and if the poli- ticians, to suit their own selfish purposes, keep it off and kill it by delay, they must be held to answer for it to the country and to their con- stituents. . fi There are but two arguments brought against the immediate passage of this bill, and those are arguments adduced merely for partisan pur- poses of delay. The first is, that it is not proper for us at this time to attempt to acquire Cuba by peaceful negotiations; and the second, that Spa- nish statesmen will not take into consideration any proposition on our part. The first of these arguments is the most fallacious that ever was adduced against any measure, and is peculiarly so in its relation to the question of the acquisi- tion of Cuba. All parties acknowledge that political necessities, as well as industrial inte- rests, cause Cuba to gravitate towards the Union. At some future time, then, the thing will be right and proper ; then it is surely right and proper now. Moral principles never change their relation to things, and it is always and at all times proper to do what is right. The argument that we shall have at some future time a better opportunity to acquire Cuba has been completely overthrown by Mr. Seward himself, the leader of the opposition to the acquisition of Cuba. In his speech on the bill, when it was introduced, he tells us that “Spain holds the island now more tenaciously—with a stronger and safer grasp than that with which she has held it at any time within the last fifty years.” This is undoubtedly true; and that grasp, in a political point of view, will become every year stronger, in the same ratio with the increase of trade over the various routes of isthmus transit, and between our Gulf ports and those on the Atlantic shore. The construction of the Panama Railroad, at a cost ot millions of dollars of American money, increased the political value of Cuba to Spain, because it brought a great increase to the tides of national wealth which must pass before its gates and within its easy grasp. In a moral as well as a material point of view, therefore, now is the time to act, and in delay there is danger. To the second assertion, that Spanish states- men will not take into consideration any propo- sitions on our part, Mr. Seward has also fur- nished the best reply. He tells us in the speech which we have quoted above that “to political necessities all actions of government must bend, and all sentiments of nations must accommodate themselves.” This axiom is as true in Spain as in the United States, and it will bear with as much force upon Spanish statesmen as it did upon those of this country who were so ready to fight for fifty-four forty, which they did not get and did not fight for. But we will consider the subject under a point of view which Mr. Seward cannot take, and that is with a personal know- ledge of some of the Spanish statesmen. One of the most eminent of those of the present day is Gen. José de la Concha, the actual Cap- tain General of Cuba. He has been twice placed by the home government in that important post, on account of his practical ability—an honor that was never before conferred upon any Cap- tain General. During the period of his first command he passed through the trial of the second invasion of the island by Lopez, and to his ability the crown owed the preservation of its power there. His services were acknow- ledged by the Queen, and on his return to Spain he published an essay on the political state of the island, in which he showed a statesmanlike appreciation of the force of political necessities, and boldly attacked the policy in civil affairs which Spain pursued in Cuba. His successors, wanting his ability, soon brought the island into a state of quasi revolution, and a widely ex- tended conspiracy there, and the preparations of Gen. Quitman in this country to co-operate with the Cubans, created 8 more formidable danger than the Spanish colonial government had ever before been called upon to encounter, Gen. Concha was the only man in Spain that could be counted on in the emergency, and he was sent to meet the danger. His success in Cuba in doing this is the best evidence of his ability; but only those who know the details of his action can comprehend the skill of the policy he pursued. To-day he is the champion of the grasp of Spain upon Cuba, and he will be so as long as the efforts to sever that island from the mother country are confined to the individual efforts of filibusters and buncombe seeking poli- ticians, But whenever the policy of the acquisi- tion of Cuba becomes a part of ‘he national policy of the American government, no man knows better than General Concha the truth of the remark of the old Count Villa- nueva, who was for thirty years Intendent of Cuba. “So long,” said he, “as the affuir is in the hands of private filibusters, we can defend the island; but when the American government takes the question in hand, we must leok for another solution.”’ General Concha is not the only Span- ish statesman who comprehends these facts and the true state of things in relation to Cuba. His brother, the Marquis del Duero, knows them through him, and O'Donnell, the present Prime Minister of Spain, Miraflores, Pezuela, Canedo, and many others who have held high command there, know them equally well, as do numbers 0 deputies in the Cortes, and other persons of high influence in Madrid, who have had a personal knowledge of the island. When the question, of the acquisition of Cuba shall have become, through the action of the representative body of the republic, a part of our national policy, then the stetesmen-of Spain will look at it in another light. It should become ¢0 at once, and Con- ee upon the proposition now be- t. —_—____ Lirmtx Etta’s beneat takes piace this evening at the Academy of Mus!o, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1859. An Exaurie vor New Yonk—Dnawace or Lonpon.—We learn that the British gov- ernment have made arrapgements to raise, by guaranteeing 3} per cent on the loan, the sum of three millions of pounds sterling, equal to fifteen millions of dollars, to be placed in the bands of the Commissioners of Drainage, for the extensive works which are now contem- plated with a view to the purification of the ‘Thames where it washes the city of London. One of the leading British journals calls it “a work of primary necessity to 3,000,000 of souls,” and applauds this expenditure for “the interests of the public welfare.” Now, New York proper hasa population of 750,000, and if we take into account the numbers who sleep in Jersey, Long Island and Staten Isl- and, but who spend their waking hoursin the business part of the city, the population may be estimated at at least 1,000,000, or say one-third of the population of London. And shall not we ex- pend a proportionate amount—one million of pounds, five millions of dollars—on the purifica- tion, not of our rivers, but of the city itself, which is to our million of souls and bodies “a work of primary necessity” in a still stronger sense ? Now we do not want to have our two rivers purified. Nature has done perfectly for us what the Londoners must achieve by art imperfectly, and at enormous expense. London is sixty miles from the sea; the Thames at the city averages one-quarter of a mile in breadth, and twelve feet indepth. Its muddy-puddle water, almost stagnant, has but small current. New York is in the sea—an island; the strong salt water washes its quays on either side, and is so deep as to float the largest ships. Even at low water there is no strand laid bare. The average width of the two rivers which wash our island city exceeds a mile each, and the depth of the channel is from thirty-five to fifty feet. There is, therefore, a quantity of water full thirty times as great to purify a city with one-fourth the in- habitants of London; and if we take into account the rapidity of the currents, the volume of water cannot be less than one hundred fold. The cur- rent is so rapid here that the filth of the sewers is carried completely away, never to come back StiH more: at the southern point of the island; or at the confluence of the East and North rivers, the bay expands into a circumference of twenty- five miles. What we want, therefore, is not to meddle with the water, but to avail ourselves of what nature has done for us even on the land. There is a natural fall from the centre ridge, or backbone of the city, to either river; whereas many parts of London are below the level of high water in the Thames, and consequently are not only un- healthy, but almost beyond the reach of im- provement. There is no part of New York below the level of its rivers, and by a proper system of drainage and sewerage, at a comparatively small expense, we can carry off not only all the filth of the city, but also the underground water in the low, flat localities. Great must be our neglect and culpability, when in London, with all its natural disadvantages for health, and all our natural advantages, only one in every forty- five in that city dies annually, while one in twenty-seven dies in New York, which isin the proportion of three to five—a tremenduous dif- ference. Before the system of drainage and sewerage was established in London it was more unhealthy than New York is now. The ele- vated, dry and healthy parts of New York are more healthy than any portions of London. What is to prevent the whole of our Em- pire City being far more healthy than the British metropolis? The ground around St. Paul’s church and the Heratp office, the site of the Bowery theatre, Union square, Murray Hill and the upper part of the Park, and the Fort Washington Ridge, in the Twelfth ward, is extremely healthy. By proper drainage the unhealthy portions, such as St. John’s park, Washington Parade Ground, Madison square and Tompkins square, might be rendered perfectly healthy. Had the whole of New York been drained and sewered at first,as London is, the cost would bave been small. Let us now spend even one million of dollars upon it, and see whether, with the aid of two broad, deep and rapid rivers run- ning around, and one (the Croton) running through it, the city will not, be rendered the healthiest on the face of the globe. Tue Drvorce Laws—Leqis.atinG By Favor.— We see that efforts are being made in the Legis- lature to alter the laws on divorce. It is sought to assimilate the legislation of this State to that of Indiana and other convenient jurisdictions where the marriage tie is treated as a mere con- ventional arrangement, which can be adopted or discarded at pleasure. These attempts to modify enactments which are, if anything, too liberal, emanate, it is scarcely necessary to say, from libertine husbands and wanton wives, who find the slightest restraint imposed upon their incli. nations intolerable. These persons, through their Political or other influences, find members of the Legislature always ready to advocate their views and to propose such measures of relief as may suit their cireumstances. In the same way we find the collective interests of Sing Bing and Blackwell's Island endeavoring to legislate off the bench the Judges by whom the policy of the criminal laws is vindicated. The thieves, the burglars and the assassins who fill our prisons have all their representatives in the Legislature. Whether these persons consider themselves the delegates of the low ward politicians or of what are called the dangerous classes, the result is the same. They are always found ready to urge such alterations and modifications in the laws as will favor delinquents and insure their escape from justice. It is not, therefore, surprising that the attempt to relax the statutes relating to divorce in this State should find advocates amongst such men. The impunity of crime would be imperfect without a legislative license for concubinage. We trust there is sufficient de- cency left amongst our representatives to resist these audacious efforts to bring us within the conditions of Indiana and Utah legislation. Noersertes ror Cvsan ANNEXATIONISTS.—To those who question the readiness of the Cubans to ally their fortunes with this country we would recommend a perusal of the annual catalogues of our colleges and private schools, They will thereby satisfy themselves that the Cuban people are preparing themselves for the political changes which their own condition and the policy of our government render inevitable. The number of Cuban youths who are at present being educated in this country is much larger than is generally supposed. Were we to set it downat three thou- sand we believe it would be considerably below thenumber. Considering that those boys are the scions of the wealthiest and most influential families of the island, there cannot be much doubt in which direction the inclinations and future hopes of their parents lie. Cuna mw me New York Leomiators—A Facr vor vu Rocaxster Miuers.—In the — State Senate on Tuesday last, Mr. Diven, black republican, called up the concurrent resolution © presented some time since by Mr. Schell, { porting the proposition, now before the Congress, to place thirty millions of dollars the disposal of the President, with authority epen negotiations for the purchase of Cu Mr. Diven wanted to know what Senator Sc! meant by the words “open negotiations; bu not getting any explanation on that point, offered the following amendment to the resola- tion:— Resolved, That the Larjentod the State fully appreoi: the im ‘ot extending to the people of the q Cuba the benefits and blessings of all the institutions prospered so ab: i he Constitution that shal: secure the existence therein liberal institutions and rewarded labor. ‘The Cuba proposition, presented by Mr. in the United States Senate, in accordance wit the suggestions of the President’s message, thrown into confusion every section of the blac republican camp. Its leaders dare not op; it, for they well know that if they do so the; will lose “four-fifths” of their followers, as hi been confessed by one of the Seward organs this city. Seward himself accepts as a politic: axiom that “Cuba gravitates to this continent,’ and another of his New York organs asserts thi if it is made an issue by the democrat | in 1860 “the fight is already half won d Mr. Diven, who represents Monroe county.’ in Western New York, evidently feels as shak} about the course of his constituents as do the other black republican leaders. Rochester) turns out a vast quantity of flour, and Cuba, i! she were annexed, would take from us a million of barrels yearly, while now she does not take any to speak of. So Mr. Diven wants to bel assured that if Cuba come into the Union she}, shall “be governed by a constitution that shal ) secure the existence of liberal institutions an’ rewarded labor.” We would remind Mr. Divi that if Cuba is acquired, she must be governed) by the constitution of the United States, or by one made by herself, establishing a republicam| form of government, according to the fourth| section of the fourth article of the federal con- stitution. Is not the constitution of the United States good enough for Mr. Diven? Or does he| | desire a better form of government than the republican? As for a government securing to anybody “rewarded labor,” we do not think the employment or the rewarding of labor comes within the sphere of the duties of governmens! and if the Cubans, when they are annexed, onl; pay the millers of Rochester for what flour thy take, we do not believe that either the milles, or the farmers who raised the grain, will cart a4 fig whether the Cuban flour consumers are warded for their labor or not. If Mr. Dire doubts this, let him ask his Rochester cm stituents, Governor Wisk AnD Fernanpo Woov.—Wi the defeat of the Hon. Fernando Wood in last election for Mayor, it was given out that had resolved upon a pious pilgrimage to Holy Land, in order to wash off from his link the dirt of Tammany Hall in the sacred watn of the Jordan. But soon it appeared that indomitable ex-Mayor had no notion of giving up 60, and from that day to this he has bre fighting and smiting the Tammany Sachems the ancient children of Israel smote the Amale kites, hip and thigh. And so now he has thy upon 'the hip, and from his purchase of the onl; regular democratic paper in the city, the Dailj News, it is evident that he intends to “carry war into Africa.” Ike Fowler and his set ms: as well hang up their fiddles, for Mr. Wood going to teach the New York democracy a ne sort of music. He has made several trips to Old Virginia, and has got his cue from Governo Wise. Wise and Wood ‘are a strong team; ani Wise with the Richmond Enquirer, and Wood with the New York Daily News, will be apt stir up the democratic menagerie as with a long pole, or rather as with two long poles. Let th Tammany Sachems look sharp, and let the “v, terrified” outsiders keep step tothe music 3} Wise and Wood. Vatve or Crry Fraxcmses.—It will be seeq that the franchise is only accounted in the ligh of a second or third rate one. The fact is ve important to the taxpayers of this city, just the present juncture, when the lobby at Alban; is endeavoring to force a number of city railwa; bills through the Legislature, and cut up o streets for the emolument of a few jobbers. Th railway grants, in Broadway and elsewhere which are now asked for at Albany, are wortl fifty times as much as the Williamsburg ferri and they belong to us—to the taxpayers of th city. If we are to have railways in this city, th right to construct them should be sold at auctio to the highest bidder, and the sums acc: from such sale should be placed in the ci treasury. That is the ground taken by th Mayor; and he is right. The New York deleg tion in the Legislature, and the Common Council should see to this matter before it is too late. ANoTHER ADMINISTRATION OrGAN.—One the black republican journals of this city pub lished yesterday some particulars relative to th capture and burning of the American brigantin Rufus Soule by her Britannic Majesty’s steam Viper, on the coast of Africa, last October. news, it is announced, is given exclusively to th journal aforesaid, by the Secretary of the Na Now it happens that the particulars of 4 “British Outrage” aforesaid were printed in tH HeEnatp of Monday last, so that the enterprise a Master Tom Thumb and the “courtesy of Toucey” avail nothing. It is a litile singul however, that the Secretary should select ag Mr. Toucey displays a wonderful amount of th Christian spirit which is generally wanting amon politicians, and his meekness is worthy of admiration. Ovr Dirricuurmes wirn Paragvay.—A shor time since we published a couple of articles the Seminario—the organ of President Lope: from the context of which we gathered a favorab opinion of the chances of a peaceable adjustme of our difficulties with Paraguay. One of these was, to be sure, rathor trucule in its character, and abused in no very measu terms the report of the Senate Committee, conduct of the President, the transactions q Mr. Hopkins, and the diplomatic incompeten of Commander Page. From the other, hoy Wa learned that if the Frengh language ¥