The New York Herald Newspaper, February 25, 1859, Page 4

4 ‘WwW YORK HERALD. JAMBS GORDON BESUEPT, EDITOR AND PROPRIBTOR. OFFICK N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSA\) ST'- TERMS, cash tn advance. Money sent mak wil eure risk of the sender. Fraenyp han he plas wm “Tile DAILY HERALD, two centa per copy, $1 per im wn Volume XXIV AMUSEMSNTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Asuopa '3—Liriy Karr- Faron Bor. NYBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway.—Afternoon and B21 in3;— Crces Peeronmances - Ckaineo Houses, MUL, £0. BOWERY_THKATRE. Bowery.—Ovrantancust—Tas Ix- ORNDIAKY—WAnDEKIPG MinoTREL, WALLACK’S THEATER, Broadway—Tas Varseay ; on, FRANCE AND AlGBRIA. LAURA KERNR’S THEATRE. No. 624 Rrowdwiy—Oue Awenicax Covsex—Inuusreations or tax Lire or Wasu- motos. NUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—After- Biot Evening~ Necuo Mixstaxisy—Ovriositins, &0. ‘WOOD'S MINSTREL BUILDING, 561 and 565 Broa tw; — wmiorian Boas, Dances, £0 —Mrstio Sraut, BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, MECHANICS’ HALL, «7 Broad. —Neoro Soxcs axp Buxiesques—He WouLo am Aw Atron, New Veork, Friday, February 25, 1858, ‘The News. The steamship Canada arrived at Halifax last evening, bringing a week's later news from Europe. The political news is deemed favorable to peace, though immediately before the sailing of the steamer rumors of war were again prevalent. Notwithstanding the apparently pacific tone of the Emperor's preparations were going on in France on an extensive scale, and the Sardinian Chamber of Depu- ties had voted a loan of fifty million francs, with the avowed purpose of defending herself against Austrian aggression. The Emperor in remarking on the interest taken by France in the affairs of distant countries says, “that the interest of France is everywhere where there is a just cause and where civilization ought to be made to prevail.” Austria had consented to withdraw from the Ro- man States in case France did the same. The speech of the Emperor, together with the details of the news, will be found elsewhere. The London money market was generally un- changed. The bullion in the bank had increased £167,000. Consols closed depressed at 96] a 96] at noon on the 12th inst. American securities were quiet, with no quotable change in prices. The Brokers’ Circular states that cotton had slightly advanced on all descriptions, The sales on the 11th were 10,000 bales. Breadstuffs were dull, with a steady market for provisions. The proceedings of Congress yesterday were important. The Senate held a protracted sitting on the Post Routes bill, which elicited much dis- cussion. Without coming to any conclusion the Senate adjourned, and the bill was laid over until to-day, when a final vote will be taken on it. Owing to the failure of the government coatrac- tor to farnish a sufficiency of printing paper, the Senate adopted a resolution authorizing the Su- perintendent of Public Printing to purchase paper in open market. In the House the Post Office Ap- propriation bill was defeated by a vote of 86 against 119. Mr. Bocock presented the majority report of the committee appointed to investigate certain alleged charges of abuse and fraud in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The report alleges the ex- istence of glaring abuses that have been growing up for along time, and require legislative inter- ference; also that reform is needed in the agency for the purchase of coal. The committee com- mend the Secretrry of the Navy, and say that he has kept in view the good of the public and the interests ef the service. An abstractof the report and also a portion of the testimony will be found elsewhere. Elsewhere will be found some very interesting particulars relative to the late defalcations in the Atlantic Bank of Brooklyn. Our report gives a complete history of the causes that led Oscar 8. Field, step by step, to his rnin—gambling, fast women and fast horses. His defalcation should serve a8 a warning to bank directors in future, and iuduce them to more strictly scrutinize the habits of their employs. Field is supposed to be on his way to Europe, but nothing is yet positively known as to his movements. The bank has offered a re- ward of $00 for his apprehension and delivery in Brookly: The Board of Aldermen met last evening, when a communication was received from the Mayor, stating that upon a thorough examination of the accounts of Isaac Edwards, formerely Collector of Assessments, a deficiency of $41,317 71 was disco- vered. A resolution was offered respecting the suits against the city, with a view to the action of the Legislature on the tax levy. A resolution was passed for widening Duane street from Broadway to Chatham street. A communication was receiv- ed from the Corporation Counsel defending his course in relation to the suits against the city. That gentleman also sent in another communica- tion relative to the right of the Common Council to investigate the affairs of the Almshouse Commis- sioners, He states they have no such right, except in certain specified cases. The trial of Abraham D. Thompson for the kill- ing of Daniel Stackpole at Harlem, which was commenced in the General Sessions on Tuesday, was concluded yesterday. The prisoner was con- vieted of manslaughter in the third degree, and will be sentenced on Saturday. . Last evening the French revolutionists in our city and suburbs met in the Stenben House, Bowery, to celebrate by a banquet the anniversary of the French revolution of 1848. The banquet hall was crowded, and the speeches were of the deepest dye of revolution. A large and influential meeting was held at the Brooklyn City Hall Jast evening, to protest against the bills now before the State Legislature for the appointment of three perpetual Water Commis sioners anda Sewerage Board. The proceedings were very enthusiastic, and appropriate resolutions were agreed to. A case involving the liabilities of railroads as common carriers was decided in the Brooklyn City Court yesterday, and a verdict of $5,900 obtained by the plaintiff, E. B. Spooner, against the Brooklyn City Railroad Company, for personal damage sus- tained by him. Owing to a sleigh of that com- pany—on the outside of which he was riding— coming into collision with another vehicle, he was thrown out and severely injured. The Judge charged the jury that the railroad company was compelled to carry their passengers safely; and that if accident occurred through the negligence of the company in permitting persons to stand in ex- posed and insecure positions, they were liable for any damage that might ensue. The steamship Black Warrior is still lying in the same position, Strong hopes are entertained of getting her off, should the weather prove fayora- ble. A steam pump has reduced the water in her hold about two feet, and an additional one, which is being fitted on board, it is thought will keep her free. The steamtug brought up last evening all the ship's bedding and furniture, and some forty- nine bartels of flour. Great rejoicings took place at the celebration of tue inayguration of General Geffrard as President speech, warlike NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1859. of Hayti, on the 23d ult. Port an Prince papers of the 29th ult, state that Geffrard, in the costume of @ general, on horseback, proceede to the legisla- tive hall, took the oath of office, and then went to church, where a Je Deum was performed. The inauguration took place inthe Senate chamber, and was witnessed by a large concourse of people, ce \cing many strangers of distinction. The screw steamship City of Manchester, which left L verpool on the 2d inst., at eleven o'clock in t © morning, arrived at this port yesterday evening. Three days’ later news from Europe had been re- ceived by telegraph on the night of the 17th inst., ¢ arrival of the Prince Albert from Galway si.d0 ns, N.F., the details of which reached us by the A‘rica on the 22d inst. We have files from Bermuda dated on the 9th * vere weather set in on the island on the lst of January, and avery heavy northwest gale ushered in the real winter season on the Ist inst- Capt, yennes Arthur Quartley, of her Britannic Majesty's Twenty-sixth (Cameronians) regiment, as drowned in the harbor of St. Georges on the of tle 27th ult, He had dined with the head- term ss, left at eleven o’c¢lock at night, and when ls bedy was found next day bis watch was topped at five minutes to two o'clock A.M. T were 10 marks of violence on his person. The yoop shi Melbourne, which brought the ex-Empe- or Soulcugue to Jamaica, was at Bermuda, on her way to Fngiand. Forty military invalids would be ent from the island home in ler. We have advices from Jamaica dated on the 4th of February. Our Kingston correspondent writes, ‘There is notan item of news.” The steamship Washington, Captain Welsh, sailed from Kingston n the Sd ii st., for San Francisco, via Rio Janeiro. ‘The cotton market was quiet yesterday, aud sales were onfined 10 300 a 400 bales. The transactions were too ‘imited to enable us to give any reliable quotations, though n the main they were without material change, Dealers were waiting for later foreign news, and especially for the receipt of tue Emperor Napoleon's message. No Conti- cental war cap occur without affecting the cotton market. Geeides producivg @ considerable portion of cotton fabrics on the Cortinent, the people consume a larg amount of arog ane other cotton goods manufactured in England. 4 war would of course interfere with this trade and react ipon the value of the raw material; hence the anxicty among dosleré to know the contents of the expected mos . The Cx orks of cotuon to Europe since the Ist of September last do not amount to much over one-half of the receipts at the ports. In other words, the recaipts have been about 2,700,000 and the exports 1,400,000 nales. From the large number of vessels now loading n the Southern ports, we expect goon to see a conaiderable increase, On the 12th of February thero were 146 sb ps avd 45 barks in the port of Now Orieans— o° which 91 were loading or up for Kurope, The Ocean Monarch had cleared on the 14th inst. with a cargo of over 7,000 bales «f cotton, of tho value of about $350,000, Flour was firmer yesterday for common and medium grades of State and Western, while all kinds wero steady» with fair sales, chiefly to the homo trade, Wheat was firm, with sales of Western, including Kentucky prime to choice white at $1 73. $1 75. Corn was less active and buoyant, while sales were without alteration of moment. Pork was firm, with sales of now mess at $18 25, old at $17 75, and prime at $13 25. Bocf and lard were firm. Sugars were less active, and sales restricted to about 300 hhds., at rates given in another place. There was rather more doing in coffee, including Rio, chiefly at 1134c- allxe. Freight engagements were moderate, and rates without change of moment. By reference to another column, it will be scen that a large sale of lots was made by auction yesterday in Jones’ Wood, on the upper and eastern side of the island. The prices obtained for pro- perty in Luane anc in Canal streets give evidence of tho progress of business further up town. 'The News from Europe—Are Words or Deeds to be Believed t ‘The news by the Canada, published in another column, will not bring much consolation to the moneyed and commercial interests, which have been waiting to see what Louis Napoleon would say to his Chamber of Deputies touching the threatened war in Italy. We had suspected that it would prove to be one of the sweetest and most honeyed speeches that ever emanated from a kingly or imperial throne ;. and so it has proved to be. The Roths- childs knew very well what they were about when they postponed the time for receiving the bids for the Austrian loan of five millions of pounds, from the day that Napoleon was to ad- dress the Chamber to four days beyond that date. They knew better than the Queen of England and her Cabinet what the Emperor intended to say, and so they held back, in order to get a bet- ter price for their loan. The first effect of the speech has been to give a more peaceful aspect to affairs on the Continent, and to raise the prices of public securities in Europe; but the latest advices state that the movements continued to be warlike, and the public sentiment tended more in that direction. The fact is, that deeds are stronger than words, and it matters little what Bonaparte says while he is preparing for war. Secresy is pe- culiarly a Napoleonic attribute. Of all living crowned heads, Louis Napoleon is the most re- markable for his silence, aud whea he is not to blab about his designs, but to divert attention from them. Who knew anything of his intentions about the coup d'état till it was an accomplished fact? He is a firm believer in the maxim of Talleyrand, that “the use of lan- guage is to conceal our thoughts.” The conviction is evidently gaining ground in Enrope, that notwithstanding his honeyed words, Louis Napoleon means war, and will have war. How long it will continue may depend upon how long the United States will consent to back up his faicbful ally, John Bull. speaks it Axornern Rattroap Convention—Wuat ov Ir?— There was another railroad convention at the St. Nicholas Hotel yesterday, and it is claimed that an agreement has been entered into by which the existing difficulties, as they are called, have been settled. This means that they think they have formed a combination which will hold together, and secure the largest pos- sible farcs and freights from the public with the smallest possible accommodations. The fact is, these conventions never have amounted to much. There have been we don’t know how many of them, because they are kept secret when it is possible todo so. They have always been useless, because neither road ap- pears to have the «lghteat idea of keeping its agreement. The only result from them is ap- parently a pleasant meeting at a fashionable hotel here, in Washington or somewhere else, for the presidents and directors, with perhaps champagne and oysters at the expense of the poor shareholders, many of whom are in want of food for loss of dividends. If these roads— costing in the neighborhood of one hundred mil- lions of dollars—cannot be worked profitably on their own individual merits, we think the lest way for them would be to wind up for the benefit of the mortgagees, and sell out to the highest bidder. Oprvosition MovEments.—Since the demonatra general movement to organize the opposition definite form in Kentucky, New York and seve- ral other States, It is an attempt to revivify the old whig party ander a new form, but with some of the ancient leaders, and is worth look- ing at as one of the political movements of the day. tion of the old whigs in Virginia we notice a throughout the country. It has already taken The Great Senatorial Debate on Stuvery— Mr, Douglas and the Democracy. The protracted, spirited and suggestive debate on slavery iu the Senate on Wedoesday bast has lifted the curtain upon the Southern Presi makers of the democratic party, and has pretty followers. The very essence of the debate is the repudiation of Mr. Douglas by the Soathern leaders of the party, and the rejection of his favorite hobby of territorial popular sovercignty- The Presidential signification of these prooeed- cratic leaders concerned have firmly taken their ground that nothing short of a candidate at- tached to Mr. Calboun’s doctrine of territorial Congressional sovervignty shall pass through the crucible of the Charleston Convention. This policy unquestionably involves the shelv- ing of Mr. Douglas, the segregation of the Nerth- ern democracy from the Charleston camp, aud the reduction of the whole strength of that Coaven- tion to the south side of Mason and Dixon's liac. We have no belief in the constitutionality or consistency of territorial popular sovereignty. While Congress dictates the boundaries of a Ter- ritory, and prescribesits fundamental law of or- ganization—and while our federal executive, under the authority of Congress, appoints the Territorial executive and judicial officers, aud gives them their instructions, it is absurd to talk of such a thing as territorial popular sove- reignty. There is no such thing. There caa be no such thing, except through a surrender of the supreme authority assumed and exercised by Congress, from the beginning of the government down to the present day. The popular sovereignty of the Kansas-Ne- braska bill was but a mischievous Congressional concession for electioneering purposes. True, it contributed to the election of Mr. Buchanan in 1856, because the conservative people of Penn- wylvania were satisfied that the people of Kansas had heen given the power to adopt a constitution. with or without slavery, in the power to “regu: late their domestic institutions in their own way, subject only to the constitution of the United States.” But this constitutional reservation, re- garded only as verbiage then, has since become the paramount abstraction. The Dred Scott de- cision, since the election of Mr. Buchanan, has made sad work with the theory of squatter sove- reignty; and Southern politicians, thoroughly disgusted with the result of this sort of sove- reignty over the slavery question in Kansas, are resolved to have no more of it. We repeat, too, that upon this matter, as a legal and constitu- tional issue, these Southern men are right. There is no popular sovereignty in a Territory, save that which may be granted from time to time, in the discretion of Congress. But alas! here comes the rub. The popular concession in the case of Kansas has done its work among the Northern democracy, and its abandonment now involves the loss of this division of the party. Unquestionably this will be the result, if, in addition to the repudiation of squatter “sovercignty, the party supporting the Charleston nominee in 1860 shall be required to stand to the newly broached Southern policy of Congressional inter- vention to maintain and protect the institution of slavery in the Territories. There is much in this debate of Wednesday to justify the conclusion that this is to be the exact issue between the Southern and the Northern democracy—Congres- sional legislation for the protection of slavery in the Territories, or popular sovereignty over that subject. The Kansas-Nebraska bill, it appears, from the explanation of Mr. Hunter, was an ingenious party device or compromise for staving off this very issue. It has served its purpose, and, as with all such experiments of clectioneering trickery, it has done a world of mischief to all parties concerned. Mr. Buchanan was opposed to the whole thing; but, the scheme having passed, he accepted it with his nomination, as the law and as a settlement. The squatter sove- reignty disorders which culminated in the Le- compton constitution were the natural poiats of this Congressional law ; but, as that constitution was the emanation of the law and the lawful Territorial authorities, the President had no alter- native than its acceptance. Through the resist- ance of Mr. Douglas and his followers, that consti- tution was referred back to the people of Kansas, and they rejected it. In vindication of his course upon this question, Mr. Douglas appealed to the democracy of Illinois, and they have re-elected him to the Senate. The late elections in all the other Northern States, in which anti-Lecompton was confined to the opposition, were all carricd by the opposition. Now, the question arises, what will be the fate of the remnants of the Northern democracy, with the formal rejection of Douglas and his popular sovereignty hobby by the Southern dic- tators of the party? Mr. Douglas and his sup- porters of squatter sovereignty, it is substan- tially decreed, will have no place in the Charles- ton Convention. This decree, therefore, will, most probably, confine the Convention to a Southern man and a Southern party; aad then, in addition to the anti-slavery republican party, and a separate constitutiomal opposition party, we may expect a separate Northern democratic popular sovereignty party in 1860. At all events, upon one of the most unprofitable, barren and impracticable slavery abstractions of the day, the Southern leaders of the democracy have pro- nounced against Mr. Douglas. But there is no flinching on his part. He maintains his ground. He has chosen his course. And between the constitutional position of the South on the sub- ject at iesuc, and the overwhelming public senti- ment of the North, his is the only position for the Northern democracy. This Senate debate of Wednesday, therefore, strongly foreshadows a decisive sectional divi- sion of the democratic party, as the matured fruit of that KansasNebraska bill. That fatal experiment of Northern traders upon Southern capital has already destroyed the pre-existing prestige of the South; it very nearly destroyed the democracy in 1856, whea the party, by the skin of its tecth, was saved through the personal popularity of Mr. Buchauan. Now the party leaders, North and South, in abandoning the eafe landmarks of his adminiatra- tion, and in reviving these Territorial slavery abstractions, seem resolved upon the most perilous sectional shaping of parties for 1560, regardlers of the consequences to themselves or the country. Every day's disclosures increase the chances of a riotous and reyolationary serub race. Mr. Hale may chuckle over his sudcess. He has punctured the old Kansas sore of the demo- cratic party very skilfully, and has, we fear, prevented by this untimely explosion between Mr. Douglas and the Southern fire-eaters, some expected reconciliation and treaty of peace. “It broadly disclosed their purposes on the slavery | question in reference to Mr. Douglas und his | ings is simply this: that the Southern demo- | Mr. Drsow at red bh amendment, the @rat eortion of which wai shee the frau Ibe privilege e Urely. ‘be second eechon prewses Lat printes envelopes aus wropoers far ment dacuments be furnished by tae Warhington ‘ost Office, id Lhe gaid postage to be charged to te purticutar & partment forwardmg the is a sorry sight’ fur the tortorn fragments of the Northern democracy, Tnx Corroration Counsei «xp tur Jrpa- ments Against THe Crry.-- At the meeting ot the Board of Aldermen last night, a eommuniea- tion was reecived from the Corporation Counsel, provides that a! tnatter recaived « f Loogress, uapai ear tinent receiving se sume, or the appropriate branel of Covgress explaining away the silly cherges brought ‘Tbe fourth section provides that of mail salar eball . + be i of os cons | Sgainet him thut the onerous judgments obtained ptipe pod Bea eee one pond for against the city resulted from the fact that the printed matter, and that none of tue above provisions shall apply to the transportation or charge for mail mat- ter for tbe government, except each as shall be received or sept from the Post Offiee in Washington, D. C Mr. YuLkx then proceosed at length to explain the pro- visions of tbe bill apd armcudments, as reported. He did Lot propcee to make the Department a gelf eustainiog ove, but poiuted out where the expenditures might be yreatly reduced, He thought that some of the Pacific mail service ought to be paid for out of the Trensury specially, The committee propose to make fn this bill a compromise be tween the acta of 1845 and 1851 regarding the tacrease of the rates of postage. Since the passage of the act of 1861 there bad pot been an increase ia the revenues of the De- partment commensurate with the increasing population of the country. Mcsars. Dixon, Mason, Hale, Iverson and others then adoressed the Senate, Mr. Ivexson, (20m.) of Ga., in the course of bis remarks rend a curious document, showing bow many of bis gpeecbes each Senator had folded and mailed from the Senate's folding room at the expense of the public. They were folded, mailed and franked, but not printed, at the public charge. [The reporter could not obtain access to tho document; hence there may be a few inaccuracies in the figures, but he follow!pg statement ja in the muip cor Mr. Allen sept 800; Mr, Bates, none; Mr. Bell, 7,(00; Mr. Benjamin, 11,000; Mr. Bigler, 54,000; Mr. ‘Bright, 16,000; Mr, Broderick, 18,000; Mr.’ Brown, 18,000; Mr. Comeron, 10,000; Mr. Chandler, 24,000; ‘Mr.’ Chesnut, pone; Mr. Clark, 6,500; Mr. Clay, 11,500; Mr. Clingmaa, 21,000; Mr. Colitmer, 3,000; Mr. Crittenden, 10,000; Mr. Davis, 6,000; Mr. Doolittle, 4,000; Mr. Douglas, 345,000; Mr. Turkee, 6600; Mr. Feseenden, 14,500; tr. Fitch, 11,600; Mr. Fitzpatrick, 1,600; Mr. Foot, 2,000; Mr Fos- ter, 7,000" Mr, Green, 12,000; Mr. Gwiu, 19,509; Mr. Baie, 14,000; Mr. Hamlin, 10,000, Mr. Harlan, 10,000; Mr. Houston, 6,000; by Hanter, 2,000; Mr. Ivergon, 3,000; Mr. Jobucon, of Arkansas, 8,000; Mr. Johosou, of Tean s fe, 11,000; ‘Mr Jones, 4,000: Mr. Kennedy, 5,000; Mr 0) tuits were not defended by Mr. Busteed. From this statement, which we publish ia our report of the proceedings of the Board, it ap- pears that there were over four hundred cases against the city disposed of during the past year, and that every one of these was defended, aod the plaintiff obliged to prove bis claim, except about twenty or thirty ; and these were allowed to go by default, either by the express direction of Comptroller Flagg, or because a written etatement from the head of the appropriate department, to the effect that there was no de- fence, was received by the Corporation Counsel. Mr. Busteed complains that the Street Depart- ment refused him the uecessary information to move for setting aside a judgment in a case where an alleged fraud existed. He states further, that many of the suits gained were for the salaries of officials, which Mr. Flagg refused to pay unless sued for and put in judgment. Thus, it will be seen that the Corporation Counsel did his duty in the matter—the snarling of discontented jourvalists to the contrary not- withetanding—and that the principal part of the blame rests with the ex-Comptroller and the ‘f Kink, 19,0 Me. Mallory, 6,000; ‘Mr | Mason, 20%; Mr. Council Pearce, 6,000; Mr. Po! , 4,000; M-. Rau, Comman Co 1,000; Mr. Rice, 4.00; sir Se SMe. S wad, » 2 $1,000; Mr. Shicida, none; Mr. Simmons, 2,600; Mr. Sietl, 8,000; Mr. Stuart, 49,000; Mr. Sumner, 1,000; ‘br. Thomp: gon, of Kentucky, vone; Mr. Thomson, of New Jors:v, 1,000; Mr. Toombs, 2,000; Mr, Trumbu'l, 40,000; str. Wade, 2,000; Mr. Ward, none; Mr, Wright, 7,00); Mr. Yulee, 2,000. Mceers. Mason, Toombs, Cameron, Hale, Reid, Fessenden, Smith and otbers spoke in favor of the total abo... of the franking privilege. Meesre. Davis, IVERSON and others favored this in a mv- ditied shape. : Mr. Hovstow would retain the franking privi'ege, but raise the rate of postage. Mr. Has moved an amendment, providing thx! fro u THE LATEST NEWS. AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL OUR RELATIONS WITH MEXICO. Interesting Report of the Navy Yard restigatio: the Orst of July fravking, as a personal privilege, shall be Investigations, ubolighed, and that persons now eatitied to frank’shall ra- &., &., &. ceive ther mail matters free. Tost, by ayes 19, nays 27. Mr. Davis: moved an amendment, that franking, except to specislly privileged persons, shall be abolishod, and that the laws which require pre-payment shail be re- pealed, Lost, by ayes 18, nays 26, Mr. Tremnvit (opp ) of Ill, moved to strike out the clause which retains the franking privilege to ex: Pre:i- dents, Tost. Mr. Haig moved to strike out the franking privilege from the Post Office, Carried, by ayes 18, nays 16, Mr. Coaster, (opp ) of Vt., moved to insert a claus2 to repeal so rouch of the acts of March, 1847, and March, 1851, a8 make appropriation to detray the expenses o/ the franking privilege. Agreed to. Mr. FiizpaTRick, (adm.) of Ala., moved to strike out the clause which restricts tbe Postmaster General to con- tracting for the conveyance of mails, not passengers. Lost, by ayes 16, nays 26. Mr. P’RARcE, pen), of Ind., moved am amendment that po new routes be established’ unless they will pay ex- penscs, Lost, by ayes3, nays 35. Mr. Gwin, (adm.) of Cal., moved to strike out the clause that limits the pay of postmasters to box rents. Lost, by ayes 15, nays 22, ‘Mr. Wisox, (opp.) of T4ass., moved an amendment that letter postage be three cents ‘or distances under, and five Vegi distances over, 2,500 miles. Lost, by ayes 16, nays 24. Mr. Kix moved an amendment, that lotter postage for all distances within tho United States be the uniform rate of three cents. Lost, by ayes 18, nays 31. The committee's amendments were then carried. The bill was then reported to the Senate, and read a third time; but the yeas and nays being called upon its passage, no quorum was found to be presont:— Our Spectal Washington Despatch. THR POST OFFICH APPROPRIATION BILL—OUR RELA- TIONS WITH MEXICO—INTERESTING KBPORT ON THE NAVY YARD INVESTIGATIONS, BTC. ‘Wasinxaton, Feb. 24, 1859. Mr. Seaman foels aggrieved at tho paragraph in fues- day's Benatp referring to the proceedings of the investi- gating committee in his caso, There was no intention on my part todo him any wrong. ‘iho information as tothe course of the committee was derived from what was re- garded as competent authority, and given as a mere item of news. regret if it bas unintentionally done him a wrong. The defeat of the Post Office Appropriation bill is the subject of general conversation. ‘There is evidently a majority who prefer an extra ses- sion to tho defeat of a tariff bill; and, unless those op- posed to change in the tariff give way, an extra session must be the result. Some of the oldest members now re- gard this as inevitable. The Searing Investigating Committee will report to- morrow, exculpating members of tho Committee on Ac- counts. It is understood that Mr. Eustis will follow his report by a resolution directing the Speaker to see that Fitzhugh, Thomson and Shirley are prosecuted for violation of law in having offered bribes to a member of Congrees. Fitzhugh’s denial as to tho affidavit is special | _ Yxas.—Messrs. Benjomin, Broderick, Brown, Clay, Fitch, pleading. “he fact is, bo wrote a lotter last fall denying RaSh Sui llinfie Roa Wad nat cad that Searing was in any way guilty of the alleged charges, |ays.—Mevers. a pon gy or a a age ‘ot, Foster Gwin. Bale, Harlan, Trumbull, and Wilson—15. After considerable delay in trying to come to an agree- ment to adjourn, Mr. Brown moved a call of the Senate, and the Sergeant at-Arms was sent to summon the absen- tecs. AD Cokes astro! however, was made that a vote be taken upon the bill to-morrow, without debate. ‘The Senate then at 11 o’clock adjourned. and contradicting the testimony he now gives. ‘The government has received no intelligence from Com- missioner Bowlin by the recent arrival from Buenos ‘Mr. Mata, the Minister representing the Juarez govern- ment of Mexico, arrived here last night from New York, and had a long interview with the Secretary of State to-day with regard to affairs in Mexico. It is understood he was requested to come by the administration. Mr. Churchill, special agent of the government to Mexico, has sent important despatches, and it is said urges the im- mediate recognition of the Juarez government. The admin- stration bas been anxious to ascertain the state of affairs in vhat country, and the relative strength of parties there, before taking any action in receiving a new minister Tho administration has inquired particularly as tothe means of Juarez to resist or defeat the military expedition of Mira- mon against Vera Cruz. The representations are fayora- ble to the liberal party. In view of this fact, and of the apparent active interposition of European Powers against the liberal party, it is probable that within a few days Senor Mata will be received as the Minister from Mexi This, it is believed, will defeat the anti-American plots of tho reactionists and European party, and cement good re- lations with that meighboring republic. House of Representatives. Wasutnatox, Feb, 24, 1859, ‘FER POST CFYICE APPROPRIATION BILL. ‘The Poat Office Appropriation bill was taken up. The question was taken on concurripg in the amend- ment reported from the Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, providing that the contract with But- terfield & Co. for carrying the overland mail shall be so construed as to allow them to carry it by any route they may select, according to the act of Congress under which said contract purports to be made, and it was negatived— 99 against 102, The proviso that the advertisements of the mail route proposals shall be published in two newspapers only in each State and Territory having the largest circedfiion was rejected—O1 against 104. A ‘The umendment tw the appropriation of $80,000 for printing the bianke, that they shall be given to the lowest reaponsible bidder, was adopted—ayes] 114, noes not counted. The wrapping paper is to be furnished in the same way. Among the amendments adopted was one providing that all sums heretofore appropriated to the erection of Post Office buildings, which shall remain in the treasury unex- pended at the close of the present fiscal year, are hereby re-appropriated for thoge objects. ‘Tne bill was rejected by $6 against 119. THE NAVAL FRAUDS INVESTIGATION, Mr. Bocock, (adm.) of Va., from the Select Committee to examine into the alleged naval contracts and frauds, presented a report from the majority of the commitiee, an abstract of which will be found below. Mr. SuxnMaN reported a bill to regulate the navy yards and docks, and for other purposes. The consideration of the report was postponed until Monday, and the Naval Appropriation bill taken up in Committee of the Whale on the State of the Union. THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION RIL. Mr. Wiisoy, of Va., argued against protection. He said there was no necessity for an alteration of the tariff, and defended the appropriations for the navy. Mr. Howaxp, (opp.) of Mich., contended that it is im- sible to raise fifty six millions from the present tariif. Je favored a discriminating tariff for protection. Mr. Corny, (adm.) of Ala., insisted that we must oqual- ize our revenue and expenditure. There were retronch- ment and economy on one side, and enormous taxes on the other, and no American statesman should hesitate to select the former. Mr. Nico1s, (opp.) of Ohio, avowed himeolf in favor of free trade and direct taxation. Our present evils arise not from tariff bills, but from legislation hero stimulating speculation. Mr. Konxet ary in favor of specific duties, and that & protectivo tariff was the best revonuo tariff. Mr. VaLLaNnicnam contended that all interesta should be regarded in making a tariff. He was nota friend of the tariff of 1857, which he regarded as a manufacturers’ tariff, and highly protective at that, sacrificing the {ate- rests of the producer. Mr. Tnaver, (opp.) of Mass., pointed out the confusion that existed in the democratic party, and contended that the republican party was highly national. Mr. Briss, (opp.) of Ohio, advocated a tariff revision ‘and specific duties for revenue purposes only. Mr. REAGAN, (ot ) of Toxas, advocated a bill to re- imburse Texas for money expended by her for tho sup. pression of Indian hostilities. Mr. Boyer, (adm ) of 8. C., spoke againet a modifica. tion of the tari, but for a reduction of expenditares, and for making the Post Office Department self-sustaining, to bring the expenditures withia the receipts, Mr. Grane (opp.) of N..Y., spoke for the protection of the monufacturing interests, and thereby benefitting all clases. Several other speeches were made, when the House ad- journed. ‘THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER DESPATCH. Wasittncton, Feb. 24, 1869. The Post Office Appropriation bill, which was defeated by the House to-day, by thirty-three majority, appropri- ated upwards of twenty millions and a half, nearly four millions of which are to supply deficiencies in the revenue for the year ending the 3¢th of June next. Various rea- sons, contributed to its rejection—among them that of striking oat the amendment authorizing tho Butterfield Company to carry the overland mail by suce route as they may select—but the chief one is said to be a disinclina. tion to pass the general appropriation bills without first modifying the tariff. Mr. Ezra Clark, of the First Congressional district of Connecticut, intends running as the people’s candidate against the Republican Convention nominee. ‘At no time to night were there more than elght mom. Ders in the House, and they wore waiting to deliver epecohes. THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, BEOOND 8KS3ION, Senate. Wasnincton, Feb. 24, 1859. Nothing of real interest transpired during the morning hour. Mr. Hunter’s motion, that the Senate mect daily at eleven o'clock, was agreed to. ‘TRE WAGON ROADS. The Cram laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, enclosing a report of the ‘wagon roads constructed under the authority of the United States. Mr. Brice, (adm.) of Ind., announced that had ho been present last night he would havo voted against Mr. Hale’s amendmont. PAPER FOR PUBLIC PRINTING. Mr. Frren, (adm.) of Ind., from the Committee on Print- ing, introduced a joint resolution, authorizing the Super- intendentof Public Printing to purchaso papor in open market until new contracts can be made, a8, owing to the failure of the contractor to furnish a supply, the printing threatens to be stopped, Adopted. ‘THR MAIL ROUTES. On motion of Mr. Yvrxg, (adm.) of Fla., the Post Routes Dili was teken up—yeas 31, nays 19. In reply to a question by Mr. Hamlin, Mr. Yours said it was the intention of the Post Oftice Commitwe to amend the bill by tnereasing the rates of postage, aud wo make other reforms to augment the revenue of the department #ix and a baif millions of doliars, The debate which ensued was of great lougth, but not of a nature requiring a detailed report. On the Jith of February, Mr. Yourr, from the Post Oftice Committee, introduced a bill, wich he moved as aun amendment, to abslish the franking privilege, It has twelve sect'one, and is complicated in character, Various ameodmenta and suggestions equally compli- cated were to day discussed as a substitute for this amend. ment, but totais hour (eigbt o'clock) no action has boen taken Mirers, Yolee, Davis, Iverson, Hale, Cameron, Col- torn mmons, Bigler, Rice, Clark, Wilson, Toombs, Fee ee Dixon, King, Smith, Houston and otbers par- ticipated ating Committee. REPORT OF THR MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE AP- POINTED TO INQUIRE INTO ALLEGED ABUSES IN CON- NECTION WITH THE NAVY DEPARTMENT AND NAVY YARDS. Messrs, Pocock, Grocabeck and Ready join in @ re- port— First, on (he management of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They take the porition that appointments have long been made on political grounds; that on the incoming of the preecnt administration the patronage thereof was con- centrated to two or three districts. All these districts at the time were represented by democrate, The delegation from the city of New York and that noighborhood, poti tioned the Secretary of the Navy to divide the patronage among them equally. Thoreupon there was a great doal of confusion ond controversy among the different mom- ere of the delegation, and between the delegation itself and the Secretary of the Navy; that great abures had pre- viously existed at the yard, such aa idleness, insnbordina- tion, levying of contributions by the master workmen on THER MAIL ROUTRA ‘The Post Route bill being taken up in Committee of the Whole, Mr. Yulee offered bis amendment abolishing the {ranking grivilege and providing for furnishing mem! of Congres with peg lieu thereof, to the amount of #150. The right of franking documents is reserved to the | the men, ond the appointment and retention of incompe- Voetmnneter General, bis Grat aseistant and chief clork, and | tent workmen. to the Aucitor of the Post Office department and bis chief ‘Tho committes admit all thea abuses, but say they have clerk, and to certain ex-Presidents of the United States; | not eprong from anything dono, or any steps taken by, and cther special eases are provided for by en the p event Secretary of the Navy, uniess this pouicy of ‘The amendment increaner the rates of postage from three | attempting to distribute the patronage equally be the cause to five cents for distances under 3,000 miles, and to ten | of @ part of the abuses. No complaints have been made cents for over that distince. For double and treble letters | to him on the subject, and no requost to redress them in tho amount is proportionately increased, ‘The rates for | most of the cases; but go far as these abuses have beon drop and advertived letters ure the same, For newspa- | made known to him, he has promptly taken means to cor- rect them. Tn additition to this, he instituted measures for @ reform in this particular nayy yard, About pers, the amount for traneit papers in the United States la one cedt. Papers are entitied to free delivery in the county where published, to actual subsoribers. hh, CE ® year and a half ngo he iesvod an order ‘bat before a man Wis appointed to the place af rkman, herbed be sobjooted to an ex «ming to hie qualificatous aud cha: acter; that under lng Weetion BLrevuOUS Eflorys Wore Tate LO prevent 4 prac tice which obtaned in the yard of mee auswering to their umes ut roll call and afterwards sbscuting thoranelvens ‘bat in addntion to this, on the 14th day of December he lesued an order giving power to the commauder of the yard to Gecharge worthtess aud incompey- nt mem—imea- rures Of retorm, all of which were very importact. ‘The committee repeat, he bad endeavored to rodress particniar cases Of abuse whiew came to bis knowledge, ‘he committee, however, beheve shat the yard can never he mansged in a proper manner and a profitable way to the goversment util some reguiation shal! be atopted preventing sppoibtments in the yard from beng made ou peitical grompes, ‘the commmttee instituted particulary examination into the manier in which the Navy Ageot aud Vaval Stere- keeper cicbarged their respective duties. No charge off malfeasance against them was proven; but it was pro- ‘Ven that they bad not devoted as much time and a) jen- tion to theie offices ag the important dutics thereof re- quired, ‘Ihe second point of examination is the anthracite coal agency. It wes proves that Dr. Hunter, the ageut, hae given ro gort of attention t the duties of the office, but bas entirely peglected it. He bas a partaer ia the profits and duties of the office located at Philadelphia. But the partner has bestowed very little more time upon it than bas the agent himself. has of the coal business firm of coal dealers in Philadelohia, he title of Tyler, Stove & Co. It appears th be gets a requisition for coal, he bands it over to she ubd that they superintend the whoie business of proce ing the cou, shipping it, &c. The comaitice condemn t! course of Dr. Hupter and his partuer, Mr. Smith, but say that be has always been a geutleman of standing and oba- sacter, tbat be lived in the nerghborheod of the coal re- ion, and bad been engaged in the iron business, whieh tended to make bim acquainted with the ditferent kinds of coal; that he was recommended to this office by members of the Pennsylvania Legislature and other intl pual citizens of Reading and Philadelphia; that since bas been ip office there bas been notbing w cail the atte ‘ion of the Department to bis neglect of duty. No com- taint hag been made by anybosy to the Secretary of the Navy onthesubject. The coal ia of the very bes: quality, »nw bos been fornished reguriar y for the use of the govera- ment by the firm of Tyler, Stone & Co., und, it appears, as 40 cents per ton less than the government had obtained & for up to the spring of 1848. In 1657 the government bought cor! at $426 por toa, apd uncer this new agent purchased ali the time at $3 85. Its true that a large number of geotiomen nad aworm they could have furnished coal ata lower price, but the committee are of opinion that they could not have furmeb- ed un a:ticie suitable for the government use. A8 to the selection of Dr Hunter ana his recommenda- tion to the, office by some of the appiicants for ugeacy themecives, the committee say Wat tho retary of the Navy bad never been informed of the arrangement. The previous coal agent, Mr. Tyson, re- sived at Reacing, and bad @ partner residing at Philadel phia, as the present agent, also reriding at Readiog, has one at the game city. Some intimation was mudo WO the President op this eubject, but it was indefinite, and if the President understood anything about it, it was moroy ae to a division of duties, 23 heretotore, In tho frm of Tyler, Stous & Co, is Mr Bench, a nephow of Mrs. Toucey; but m making the arrangement w tn that fim Dr. Hunter swears that he did eo wituout the toass intimation, or any request, direct or inviirect, from the Secretary of the Navy that be desired pic: to do 60; and £0 far as be knows or believes, the Secretary had mutner kpowledge por wish upon the subject } ‘The rate of compensation of the coal agent was fixed during Mr. Fi)lmore’s administration at the preacut price, and the preeent large amount of compensation was im con- sequence of the ext: aordivary demand for coal ia conaes- tion with the Paraguay expedition. ‘The third branch of the examination relates to the live oak contracts. Two dealers had live oak om hand—Swift, the most. At the time proposals were issued the govern- ment bad taken steps for the construction of seven now s'oops of war, and tbe expedition to Paraguay had beem avthorize¢— much less time was aliowed tor the delivery of the timber than heretofore, because it was tod for use very soon. Some of it, which was immodiately needed, was Lought up and used by the government be- fore the time for awarding the contracts. The Secretary of the Navy, in bis specifications, inserted an unusual clause, by which he regeryod to himaolf the right not to award the contract on the bids of aa! party unless the price was a fair and reasonal one; so that he wished to get the timber of these two men for the use of the government, he would sbow to them and to the world that be did not intend to give them for it anything more than a fair price. Whom tho bids camo in uncor these , these two men who bad the timber, (Swift and Jas. Bigler), were not the lowest bidders. Others bid below them, and the contracts were awarded to them. Immediately after the contracts were awarded, the contractors came to Washington aud told the Secretary of the Navy that it was impossible for them to Raging ‘with the contracts. They knew when they made the bids that they could not get the timber im time, but relied upon getting the time extended for the de- livery. Failing to tar A with their contracts, the latter were declared void. Under the law the Secretary had the right to contract with Swift or any Person, even if be bad to give a rate than these men Bg tw fu the timber for, and charge the difference to the defaulting contrac- tors. But Swift came forward and furnished at each and all of the yards at the lowest price bid by any ane ee The committee believe that the price was fair, and that there was nothing in the transaction that im ay way eset ie eae of the offices of the navy lepartment. 1854, while Mr. Buchanan was in England, Geo j Plitt, whose wife has some family connection with Swift entered into a contract or arrangement with Sqift, to the effect that he, Plitt, would endeavor to get contracts for him to supply timber on the condition of receiving ten per cent on the gross amounts of all the contracts. Plitt in- troduced Swift to the Secretary of the Navy, and other influential persons, and put his on good relations with all bis friends. Sooh after the Cincinnati Convention Plitt introauced Swift to Mr. Buchanan, but _ merely said that he was an ‘‘old line whig,’ and that he bad given him (the President) a cordial support. Swift, it appears, contributed freely to the Presidential election. n wtroducing Swift to Mr. Toucey Plitt made a similar remark. Tbis was all that was ever told tothe Secretary «r to the President until some time after the contracts for live oak in September last were awarded to Swift. Some | time in October or November, while Plitt was at the White House, he showed the President the agreement with Swift, saying that Swift had refused to carry it out, and atked him if there could be any objection in prosecuti Swift for a non fulfliment of the agreement of 1854; an the President replicd he could see no objection to it, aud that Plitt could do as he pleased. It appears that Swift claima that his contract with Plitt only extended to the end of the iast administration. y ‘The next and last branch of inquiry was in relation to ~,| the awarding of the contracts for the seven sloops of war ordered at the last session ot Con; There wore seven contects in all, and in awarding five of them it appears that no political’ or any other improper influence was ro- sorted to by the different bidders; that the proposais were advertised according to the law; that the loaiog estab- hishments in New York, Philadeiphia, Boston, Ba:timore and Hartford presented bids for each and all of the engines; and that the contracts were in every instance awarded to cetablishments of high reputation for undoubted mechani- cal efficiency. These bios were referred to a board of en- gincers, consisting of the engincer-in-chief and three chie? engineers, and the covtracia were given out according to the report of the board—in some cases unanimous, and im others on the recommendation of the ma- jority. Mr. Martin was a member of this board, and the inventor of a boiler which was included in the plang of all the bidders, except two, whose plans were decided on by the bourd, of which he was amember; and the plans which did not include his boiler were rejected by every member of the board. All of the p'aus tor real competition included Martia’s boii ers. ‘The committee flad under the state of the case that no preference conid have been given to any plan by Mar- tin on that ecore, but suggests that i would have been ‘better if be bad not been put on that board. One of the contracts was awarded to Merrick & Sons. ? Thi ty Wid wee nevt $9 the lowest of seven. Ono was only four thousand doll rs lower, «nd some bids about forty WoUsene wouars wgher. Ittcrther appears that the plan of the bid which was lower was condemued by every member of the boar, and tho plan of Merrica & Sons waa approved by every momber of it not politicians, avd never undertake to influcnce their workmen. Two of tho three incline to the opposition. In connectiou with Uiis, a letter from Colonel Paiterson to the President, recommending the firm—not for this particular contract, for they bi! for many—was ex hibited, but it fully appears, from the testimony gouorally and the statement of the Secretary of the Navy, that the President took no part whatever in it—made no examina tion of any bid for thie or any other contract during hia administration; but merely, in the course of business, as was shown by the testimony, referred this letter, by the common and usual endorsement, to the Navy’ Depart- ment, to which the subject properly belonged—the prac- tice being to refer letters on business to the proper de- partmeut. When perrons are implicated in the investigation by by committecs, witnesses are summoned at their requogt. As to the charge against J. Glancey Jones in the annex- ed minority statement, he being out of tho country could have no knowledge or notification of the existence of the charge. Therefore, so far ns he ix concerned, the evidence being altogether ex parte, the committee think it would bo wrong for them to , pronounce or form any opinion upon the subject. The committee come to the concluaion that the action of the Secretary of the Navy bas been judicious and care | ful; that he has been actuated only by @ desire to got the best machinory at the lowest practicable cost, and would not venture or desire to change one of the contracts which be hes made. The committeo report resolutions to the following offect:— 1, That the testimony taken in the investigation proves tho existence ‘of glaring abuses in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and require the interposition of logislutive re- form; that it ia due to justice to declare that those abuses have been siowly and gradually | growing up during a long course of yonra, and that | 7 aiaad administration should have the entire blame ereot, 2. That the coal agency for some time has been in » the bands of persona wholly inefficient anh grety incom- patent, and that reform is needed in the regulations which exist on the subject; and that there is no proof which traces Lo knowledge of such inefliciency and incompe- tency to the responsible authorities in Washington. 3. While the committeo will never sanction or approve, on the part of any officer of the government, any favors to contractors, yet, if the Secretary of the Navy did con tem] any favor to Swift, he did not design to beatow tt . Fd bpeaciansd (a4 BA ing aed but that in all he did ways in viow th public and the interest of The servioe, fitting 4. That in the letting of contracts for the construct of steam machinery for tho use of the navy, during Present administration, nothing has beon shown which calls for the interposition of the Congress of the United Beaton; but it is manifest the present head of the Navy rae hae bee pe fod a very Inudabte zeal to secure amount of 4 it attainabl wid nnd peed and officioncy nable to leeers. Sherman, (opp.) of Ohio, and Ritohio, (opp, of Penn. join in a tatenetie ‘and resolutions:— (om) First —That the Secretary of the Navy, with the sanction of the President, abused his discretionary power in the selection of a coal agent and inthe purchase of fuel. ‘bat the contract for live oak with Mr. Surf was stain aan Morr ck & Sons are