The New York Herald Newspaper, April 1, 1859, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 1859. NEW YORK HERALD | calling on the Common Coune'! to take some steps | to pot the government upon a sure and solid ° JAMES GOADOS BHNNKED, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, ee BYFICH MH. W. COBNER OF FULTON AnD NASSAU } Volume XXIV........5546 jo. 90 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, BROADWAY THEATER, Broadway.—AnronY AXD CLEO- PATKA—FORTONE'S FROLIC. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway.—Cincus PERFORMANcas— Epvcatzn Muiss—TRaixep Hoxses, BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—MuLgs or New JERSEY —BScuoo.mssTER—Jacques StRor, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tum VETERAN ; OR, AND ALGERIA, LAURA KEENE’S THEAT! No. 624 Broadway.—Tus Blum at Law—Bivar tg THEATRE FRANCAIS, 685 Brondway-—-On DEMANDE U Fouveanmox—Un Gaxcox pa Onex Vary. BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—After none Dont. Joba oe APeakaneas Union Olan bv wm Luisu Couste. WOOD'S MINSTREL BULLDING, 561 and 563 Broadway— Eruiorian Songs, Dances, 40.—Mysvio SrELt. BRYANTS’ way.—Naaro New York, Friday, April 1, 1859. MINGTBELS, MECH ANTCS, HALL, 437 Broad- Songs anp Bowesques—Wipe Awake. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. Advertisers are requested to hand in their busivess motices ag much before nine o’clock in the evening as possible. It is our desire to accommodate them so far as ‘We can, but timo, in the present pressure upon our ‘Columns, is of as much importance to advertisers as to our- Bolves, The News. Our correspondent in Buenos Ayres, writing on January 27, informs us that there is a probability of the peaceful settlement of our Paraguayan diflicul- ties. Commissioner Bowlin had had an interview with the plenipotentiaries of the Parguayan go- vernment, and they had expressed an anxious de- Bire for a fair, just and peaceful arrangement with the United States; they further stated that they ‘were authorized to form a treaty with the United States similar to those with England, France and Sardinia, and were willing to leave to arbitration whatever claims the United States or its citizens might have against Paraguay. Mr. Bowlin made Do positive answer, but was to meet the plenipo- tentiaries at the city of Corrientes within thirty days. Our Honduras correspondent makes known a fact of some interest, in connection with other French movements in Central America, viz.: that the French government has made the fine Bay of Fonseca ita naval station on the Pacific; that one vessel had already arrived, and that two others were expected daily. Besides being the Pacific terminus of the proposed Honduras railway, this bay commands the three States of Nicaragua, Hon- duras and San Salvador, all of which touch upon it. A fleet stationed here can be reached from Eu- rope in half the time it would require to transmit orders to Valparaiso; and this movement will com- pel the United States and Great Britain to make a corresponding change. It is not generally known that the French have lately had a very careful sur- vey made of the whole Pacific coast of Central America, by Captain De Lapelin, of tne frigate La Brilliante, the report of which has just been pub- lished by the Departmentof Marine. It says of the Bay of Fonseca:—‘ This vast and magnificent bay, studded with islands, which stretches into the land between the volcanoes of Coseguina and Concha- gua, has no rival on the entire coast of the Pacific, whether as regards its extent, its beauty, or its na- val and commercial position.” It would be a little remarkable if the attempt made by the English to seize this bay, in 1849, should be renewed by the French in 1859, The present movement, whatever its ulterior significance, has no doubt been taken in view of the report of Capt. De Lapelin. By the arrival of the United States sloop-of-war Raratogo at Pensacola, we have Vera Cruz dates to the 12th inst. Miramon had not yet arrived at Vera Cruz with his forces, and it was said that he had me withseveral defeats. There were a number of ru mors afloat, but they were so conflicting that they could not be relied on. The Saratoga reports leay- ing at Vera Cruz the United States frigate Savannah, two Spanish, four French and four English men-of: war. We have advices from Port au Prince, Hayti, to the 15th inst., brought by the brig John Boynton at this port. Port au Prince was reported as very quiet. A vessel of war arrived at that city on the 8th from Jamaica, bringing a number of Hay- tiens who had been exiled by Soulouque. Our special Washington despatch states that let tera received from our Ministers at the different Eu- ropean courts are decidedly warlike, and one of them writes that “in the opinion of all respectable persons war is inevitable.” The administration doubted the report that Miramon had ceded the Isthmus of Tehuantepec to a foreign government, and it is said that our government will at once take prompt and decisive action in regard to Central American affairs, Jn the State Senate yesterday an important re- port was presented from the Lieutenant Go or and the Canal Commissioners stating that the sur- plus fund for the payment of the canal debt was entirely exhausted, and intimating that the Legis- lature will have to provide for the payment of $1,039,000 if they wish to preserve the credit of the Btate. The bill relative to the public health of the city of New York and reorganizing the Health De- partment was passed. In the Assembly the New ‘York City Tax bill was debated at length and made the special order for to-day. The Committee of Ways and Means reported adversely to the peti- tions from several counties asking for an amend” “ment of the laws for the relief and maintenance of emigrant paupers. By the overland mail from San Francisco, at St. Louis, we have advices to the 7th inst., but no news of importance from California. Advices from Vic- teria to February 28, state thata proposition was on foot to annex that colony to British Columbia, and that a reserve of 400,000 acres of land would be made at the forks of Thompson river for emi- grants from Oregon. The Utah mail of the Sth inst. has arrived at St. Louis, but our despatch furnishes nothing of inte- rest. Terrible snow storms prevailed on the Plains. The Indians were molesting the California mails, and thefts of horses and mules were very nu- merous. James Stephens, convicted of the murder of his wife by poison, was yesterday sentenced, in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, to be executed on the 20th of May next. The case will be brought up to the higher courts on exceptions. The proceedings in the conrt, given elsewhere, will he found of a very interesting character. In connection with our report of the Stephens wife poisoning case in this city, we lay before our readers this morning the details of another cold blooded wife murder in Rappahan- nock county, Virginia. Our correspondent in that county furnishes us with an account of the trial and conviction of James H. Johnson for poisoning his wife in the most deliberate and heart- less manner. The evidence against Johnson was of the most overwhelming character, and the jury, after an absenct of ten or fifteen minutes, convict- ed him of murder. He was semtenced to be hung on the 13th of May next. Altogether, the murder bears a striking resemblance to the Stephens case. ‘The Board of Aldermen met last evening, but no business of importance was transacted. A petition from property owners to widen Nassau street was referred to the Committee on Streets, A commu. nication was received from the acting Street Com- missioner, showing the manner in which the city 1ad been overcharged on certain contracts, and to save the city from loss on -ne : contracts. A com rounigation from the Mayor, :enominating Elijah F. Purdy for City Inspector, was on the desk, but was | not acted on, The Board of Councilmen held a brief session last | evening, the business being of a routine nature. Several reports of committees were presented and laid over. A resolution donating $1,500 to the Children’s Aid Soc ety was ado; ted. A document hos been put in circulation by the officers and men of the First div'sion of the New York State militia, petitioning Governor Morgan for the early removal of Adjutant General Frede rick Townsend, for the injudicious and highly re- prehensible course pursued by him in his official business. About seven o'clock last evening, as the Custom House barge was passing the Staten Island ferry slip, she was run into by the steamboat Hunchback and capsized. There were seven persons in the barge, all of whom were saved but Timothy Dono- hue, one of the bargemen, who was drowned. The captain of the steamer was arrested, but at the so- licitation of persons desiring to proceed to Staten ‘sland, he was allowed to go in charge of an officer. The Hamburg screw steamer Hammonia, Captain Schwensen, arrived yesterday morning from Ham- burg, via Southampton. The H. left the latter port on Friday, the 18th of March, the day previous to the Persia leaving Liverpool. March 26, in latitude 43 29, longitude 48 58, passed two large icebergs. On the same day, latitude 43 19, longitude 49 52, passed a ship showing a red flag with a white cross, supposed to be the Thomas Winslow. The Ham- monia brings 250 steerage passengers. The Circassian sailed yesterday for Galway, via St. Johns, with 50 cabin and 130 third class pas- sengers and the largest freight ever despatched by this line of steamers from this port. The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 3,600 bales, included in which were 2,500 in transitu. Tho views of brokers and dealers differed as to prices. One party claimed that cotton in transitu was, at the close, from 3¢c. a 2c. better, and about 3¢c. higher for lots in store, owing to despatches received yesterday from New Orleans stating that the Persia’s news had had no effect upon that market and that ,eports were current that some crevasses bad already occurred from high water. It was again contended, on the other hand, that the market had not recovered from the stuuning effect imparted to it by the Persia’s news, and that in transitu it was from 340. & 3c. lower, while middling uplands in store ranged from 122%c. a123¢¢e, The flour market was dull, aud common and medium grades were rather easier. Choice qualities were unchanged. Southern flour was less active, with the turn of the market ia favor of purchasers, There was much excitement produced on the Corn Exchange yester- day by estimates published by a morning cotemporary regarding the stock of flour in this market. The figures given, it was contended bya large number of persons in the trade, were greatly in excess of the actual amount of supplies, and calculated unnecessarily to depress tho market. Witlout venturing an opinion as to the true gure, between the lowest and higbest estimates, it is probable, as in many other cases, that they are to befound somewhere between the twoextremes. The dis cussion on ‘Chango became fo geveral and animated as to interfore in some degree with the regular course of business. Wheat and corn were moderately dealt in, and prices cloged tamely and rather easier, especially for the latter. Pork was dull and lower, with sales of new mess at $17 75.2 $17 85, old do. at $17 26, and primo at $12 65 a $12 75. Sugars were quite steady, with sales of be- tween 90 and 1,000 hhds. at rates given in another column. Coffee was quiet, and Rio firmly beld, Freight engagements were moderate, and rates unchanged. The Connecticut ElectionThe Last Congress and the Next. The Connecticut election comes off next Mon- day, involving the choice of four members of the Houee of Representatives for the next Congress. Should they all be secured by the republicans the result may probably give the organization of the House to that party, and possibly the con trol of the Presidential election, should it be thrown into that body, as it most probably will be. In the late Congress, however, the Connec- ticut delegation stood two republicans and two democrats; and as there are now several outside opposition candidates in the field, the probabilities are that instead of gaining, the republicans will lose a member or two. In any event the resul will be a matter of comparative indifference to Mr. Buchanan’s administration, inasmuch as from the members already elected to the next House he may count upon an opposition majority. But in reference to the next Presidency, we presume the “old line whizs” and Americans of Connec- ticut will comprehend the importance of pre- serving in their own hands that balance of power in Congress which they can hardly expect to re- tain by electing the republican candidates, We care not a straw for the present demo- ralized and rotten democratic party. In the late Congress they had possession of each house by a large majority; and yet we believe that Mr. Buchanan would have got along with the substantial work of his administration much better than he did had there been a decided opposition majority in both houses, Unquestionably, in regard to the leading measures of the administration, foreign and domestic, which secured the co-operation of the last Congress, Mr. Buchanan is indebted to opposition votes. There was one flagrant act of omission on the last day of the last session for which Mr. Galusha A. Grow and the republicans of the House may justly be held responsible. We allude to the failure to pass the appropria- tions required for the support of the Post Office Department. But here Messrs. Mason, Toombs and other democrats of the Senate, for their ob- stinate foolishness, must be put into and shaken up in the same bag with Mr. Grow and his fac- tious confederates, The result clearly exone- rated Mr, Buchanan from the consideration of the interests of all the Presidential cliques of Congress in the matter of an extra session. He would have been fully justified by the country in the call of an extra session; and that call, while vindicating the administration, would have placed the fuctious and treacherous party managers of this last Congress in their true colors before the American people. Mr. Bu- chanan, however, was overruled by the conside- ration that an extra session would operate to the disfranchisement of a number of States in the new Congress, which will not have elected their members to the House till late in the fall ; whereas, in this next House it is particularly important that all the States should have a voice in the organization of the body. But notwithstanding this consideration against an extra seasion, the President would still have been justified in calling it in view of the inconveniences and positive losses thrown upon the government and the people through the shameful failure of all the bills for the support of the Post Office Department, and because the Presidential leaders and clans of Congress on both sides, at this last session especially, delibe- rately sought to embarrass, humiliate and break down the administration upon every great issue of the President's policy. But the fact that Mr. Buchanan has determined to avoid, if possible, a resort to an extra session, does not remove the duty of the people, in all the elections to Congress still to come off, to mark those candidates for a re- election who in the Isat Congress aided in defeating, not only the Post Office ap- Propriations, but all the efforts of the President footing at home and abroad. Some of these scheming demagogues may pow be runaing for Congrees in Connecticut, and the conservative | people there should look after them; some of | these Congressional misebief makers may be up for a re-election in Virginia, and they should not be overlooked by the friends of law and order in that quarter. Let the people ef Connecticut administer, on Monday next, a wholesome rebuke to the factious confederates of Mr. Grow, and the people of Vir- ginia will be very apt, in May, to attend to some of the Congressional disciples of Toombs and Mason. This last Congress may be justly set down as a public nuisance, and as far as the guilty parties connected with its shameless squads and factions of scheming politicians can still be reached by the people, they should be repudiated by the people. On the other hand, those men who have supported in Congress the wise and needful measures of the administration, regardless of Presidential cabals or sectional leaders, deserve the cordial approval of the peo- ple, North and South. In this connection, we hope that the result in Connecticut will show that other and more important issues have, in that quarter, superseded the dead and buried Lecompton constitution, European Intrigues in Spanish America— Why Congress Should Assemble on the First of October. We published yesterday fifteen days later news from Nicaragua, which presents another change in the kaleidescope of the Central Ameri- can imbroglio, but one which is only a temporary change, for it contains nota single element of stability in it, The present position of the dissolving views in Central American questions may briefly be summed up as follows :—England has obtained by treaty the right to send forces into the interior of Nicaragua on pretence of protecting the ‘Transit route, without giving up the Mosquito protectorate; and Sir Wm. Gore Ouseley, having cheated President Martinez, has gone to Costa Rica, ostensibly on a temporary visit, but really without any intention of returning to Nicara- gua. Sardinia is making a similar treaty, and will be followed in the same key by France. Nicaragua, confiding in the European protection asked for in the Mora-Martinez manifesto, and aceorded by England, France and Sardinia, has clearly thrown out of consideration all friendly proceeding in American questions. The Cass- Yrisarri treaty has been finally and cenclu- sively rejected, and the claims of the American grantees to the Nicaragua Transit route have been completely set aside by a public decree opening the Transit route to all nations, and their property seized. This is the present appearance of the Central American kaleidescope. But other changes are close at hand. We re- print in another column a remarkable article from the Granada Centro Americano, on the free transit question. That journal, which is the organ of President Martinez, proves that free transit on the Nicaragua Iethmus is a fallacy ands humbug. It shows that the river and lake navigation may be thrown open, but that the ten mile isthnms which separates Lake Nicaragua from the Pacific Ocean must be crossed by roads which cannot be built by everybody, nor made free to everybody. It then proves that the government cannot build and work the necessary roads, nor can it be done by native capitalists; and that conse- quently a grant to foreigners, and the employ- ment of foreign capital to build a railroad from Virgin Bay to San Juan del Sur is neces- sary. Now, with our experience in Spanish- American diplomacy, we read this matter this wise: Mr. Manning, British Consul at Leon, claims from Nicaragua some two hundred thousand dollars; Sir Wm. Gore Ouseley pa- raded this as one of thedemands which England would require to be settled; during his stay at Nicaragua he lived in Mr. Manning’s house at Leon; Mr. Manning puiled the cide wires in the recent treaty muking; curiously enough, Mr. Manning’s great claims have neither been settled nor pressed, and yet he is perfectly satisfied; and the river and lake navigation has been thrown open. President Martinez’s organ proves that European capitalists must build the ten mile Transit road, and the next thing we shall bear will be that Mr. British Consul Manning bas an exclusive grant of this privilege, Thereis another little point in the Central Ame- rican imbroglio which is very plain to us. The old Chatfield game of seizing Tiger Island, in Fon- seca bay, played by the British in 1849, is to be repeated, but this time not by John Bull; his dear ally, France, is preparing to establish her Pacific naval station there. ere is a good deal more in this Anglo-French game in American politica, and the scheme of intervention embraces a far wider range than is at present seen. Cuba is to be converted into a negro empire, like Hayti; Mexico is to be reconstituted as a monarchy; the whole of Central America is to be worked into a European protectorate; and even New Gra- nada ig to be turned against us, driving our in- fluence from the Isthmus of Panama, and defeat- ing in the Bogota Congress, next winter, the re- cently ratified convention for the payment of American claims. Thus in consequence of the supineness of Congress we are drifting intoa war with England, France and Spain. The President saw these things clearly, and asked of Congress the necessary power to pro- tect our interests and guard our honor in all these questions, That body refused to consider his urgent recommendations and to act upon them. The most active and agitated agents on the floor of Congress during the discussion of the Thirty Million bill for Cuba, and the President’s mesgage relative to Central America and Mexico, were Monsieur Sartiges and Lord Napier. They were untiring in their conferences with the black republican Senators, and repeatedly expressed their joy when Congress adjourned without taking action. The danger is imminent, and the crisis is close at hand. But two courses lay open tous. Hither the President must at once issue a call for Congress to convene on the first day of October to meet the emergency, or the country must prepare to experience such a filibuster excitement as has never been witnessed in the past. The developement of the republic of trade and our march of empire, both on the Atlantic and Pacific shores of this continent, cannot be stopped by the unwise intrigues of distant and class-ridden European governments, As, when government perverts the law to the base pur- pores of tyranny, the popular instinct seeks relief through the refusal of juries to convict, 80, when government refuses to perform its duties in the public defence, the popular impulse in every free country secks its rights through private enter- er called by us filibusterism, and known to .ord Clarendon by the milder name of “spon- taneous settlement.” | | Morr Po soninG—Necessrry ror LeGrsta- 1 ON.—The frequency with which poisoning cases ocevr in this city aud throughout the country is rufiicien ly alarming to awaken Legislatures to the nee sity of egulating by strict legal enact- ments te sale of poisons. Yesterday the Court of Oyer and Terminer in this city sentenced to the la-t dread penalty of the law James Stephens, convicted of the murder of his wife by administer- ing arsenic. To-day we publish, from a special correspondent, a report of the trial, conviction and sentence, in Rappahannock county, Virginia, of another man—James H. Johnson—for a similar crime. The ‘wo cases present some very curious analogies. The object of both murderers was identical—each wanted to get rid of his wife, that he might the better carry out his design against the niece of that wife; both resorted to the same means, poison ; and both administered the deadly drug without any precautions as to secresy. In the Virginia case strychnine was the poison selected. It was administered in a glass of lemonade—lemon juice being the most effective mode of administering strychnine. It was given in the presence of a neighbor, but under curious circumstances. The poisoner brought into the room where his wife and visiter were seated two glasses of lemonade, handed one to the wife, and retained the other for him- elf. She remarked to him that it would be more polite to attend first to his guest, and to that he rejoined that his guest could help him- self from the pitcher, but that the lemonade in her glass contained aloes bitters, which, he said, tbe doctor had recommended her. She tasted the liquid, but objected to its intense bitterness, One part of strychnine will make bitter nearly a million parts of water. He prevailed on her to swallow the nauseous draught, and then coolly rode out to accompany his friend home. In an hour or two the poison did its work. The same facility to procure poison appears to prevail equally in Virginia as in New York. Jobnson had as little difficulty in getting from an apothecary twenty-five cents worth of strych- nine as Stephens had in getting six cents worth of arsenic. The perpetration of murder and of suicide by poison are becoming s0 common that some effort must be made to put a stop to the unrestricted sale of poisons. Our Legislature is now approaching the last days of its session; and it is not too much to ask that before they adjourn alaw may be placed upon our statute books putting the necessary restrictions on the sale of poisons. Let it be made a penitentiary offence for any druggist to sell, or have sold in his store, any poison, except on the certificate of a physi- cian, or, if for mechanical purposes, on the license of the Mayor. Such a law would do much to put astop to the murderous use of poison. Eyeussn Porrrictans AnD Rerorm ty Enaianp. Notwithstanding the agitated state of public affairs on the Continent of Europe, the domestic politics of England are still in the slackwater state. For want of a hobby the present tory ministry has undertaken to bring in a reform bill, and, as might have been expected from such an ineongruous proceeding, it satisfies no one. Foreseeing a ministerial defeat, the partisans of the ministry give out that the question is not looked upon by them as a test, and that if out- voted, it will neither resign nor appeal to the country. Mr. Bright has brought out his reform bill, and that measure seems to inspire ag little union among the liberals as the Disraeli bill does among the tories. In fact, English politics, like our own, are all broken up for want of some great leading measure before the people. This state of affairs produces like results in both countries. Here, nigger-drivers and nigger-wor- shippers co-operate with each other, and Toombs and Wilson agree on disunion. There, Russell and Palmerston combine, not on public questions, but on the public plunder, and are now hunting office in couples. Their present plan is to get Palmerston in a measure out of the way, by shoving him, with the seals of the Foreign Office, into the House of Lords, and giving to my Lord John the leadership in the Commons. This may look all very well in London, but on this side of the Atlantic English politics lose the varied co- lors of party, and show themselves to us in one concrete mass that appears very different to the American observer from what it does to one in England. We can see that the course of the Anglo-French alliance is carrying those two countries into very serious difficulties with us, and that there is nothing in the present apparent elements of English politics to save the three countries from war. When the questions now germinating shall culminate, look out for a com- plete overthrow of all the old parties in Eng- land and the rising of a new school of politicians there. Commerce aNp ‘HE Crops.—The condition of the crops throughout the country at the present time has no inconsiderabl: bearing on the trade and commerce of this year. It is well known that the West generally failed to meet its com- mercial responsibilities in the financial crisis of 1857, and that the partial failure of the crops for two or three years previous was put down as the cause of this almost wholesale delin- quency. There is no doubt that the short crops affected the trade of that section of the country very considerably; and, in view of this fact, the reports being received at the present season from all quarters of the country—the West as well as the South—which represent the crops in a very healthy and flourishing condition, are indi- cative of a like healthy state of trade during this spring and fall. From all parts we hear that the wheat crop presents an excellent appearance after the snow has disappeared, and things gene- rally throughout the country look well and pro- mising. This is a cheerful assurance, and will no doubt give considerable stimulus to trade. Our Recorp or Crime.—Great crimes, like great misfortunes, never come singly, in this metropolis, at all events. Whenever an appall- ing crime is committed it is sure to be malti- plied by two or three within a few days. Mur- ders, whether by the knife and pistol of the rowdy, or the slower and more stealthy action of Poison, seem to fall upon this community in showers periodically. It is unnecessary to refer tothe alarming record of assassination, success- fal and attempted, which we have spread before our readers in the columns of the Henaun for the past week. The sentence of the law pro- nounced yesterday consigns one convicted mur- derer toa felon’s death. At the present time the Coroners are engaged, and have been for many days, upon several investigations upon the bodies of persons who came toa violent end, while two or three victims of the knife, the re- volver, and the more insidious dose of arsenic are lingering in the hospital between life and death. This isa ead comment on the morality of the city, and a terrible reproach to our system of police. Orsratic Sxmansues—Prosrzct or A DBait- isnt Season.—After the receut extended fall and winter opera season, ali the artistic field marshals, captains general, lieutenants, corpo- ral, and so on, went forth with their armies of prime donne, tenors (some not very prime), profound basses, reedy baritones, fiddlers, &e., &e., to conquer the outside barba- rians in Cuba, New Orleans, Chicago, St. Louis, Boston, Philadelphia, and other places where the people have an especial objec- tion to being called provincial, thus giving the best evidence that they are so. Well, this army, orrather these battalions, all had more or less success. The exact measure of their triumphs no earthly power could ascertain. Many of their number are now en rouwe for New York, to be ready for flush iimes in the early summer. The Maretzek wing seems to have had a chequered time in Cuba. No end of rows with the artists are reported. Gentlemen in suspicious linen have mysterious letters contalning fearful denun_ ciations of the manager. Some of them swore he had been consigned to eternal chains beneath the castle moat of Moro. Again, it was said that Gassier bad refused to sing for Maretzek’s benefit, and that the rebellious baritone had been locked up by the minions of the Captain General, and that La Gassier herself was compelled to come to the theatre and to sing a touching morceau, with tears in her eyes as well as in her voice. It seems, however, that Maretzek and all the others, including Gazzaniga, who has seceded to Ullman, are now at sea literally, and will be in New York within a few days. In the South there has been a separation be tween Piccolomini and Ullman. The fair Siennese is giving concerts in Alabama, which are managed by an agent sent over by Lumley, who is at loggerheads with Ullman. The other artista have arrived in town, and the manager is likewise here. The Formes wing is giving concerts in the West. Strakosch has had no open quarrels with any of his artists, and is going along swimmingly with the Opera at Cin- cinnati, but hasan eye upon, and an agent in, the metropolis. : So we see that of the three companies two are like the political parties of the day, suffer- ing from disorganization and the effects of fac- tious disputes. The artists are quarrelling with each other, and the managers here and in Lon- don are at sword’s points. The entente cordiale is severed in an hundred places. The forces which went out so amicably came back in broken de- tachmente. But permanency is not in the nature of things operatic. It would be worse for the public if it were. The spirit of competi- tion and rivalry must be kept up or the stand- ard of excellence will go down. When the artists and managers are in the heat of conten- tion they always sing better, act better and manage better. The public, too, is piqued into a degree of interest extraneous from that which pertains to the Opera per se, and thus all parties are satisfied. In this view of the case we expect to see a fine spring and summer geason in the metropolis. The artists are numerous enough and ail good enough to give the Opera in a superb way. The managers will form new combinations, and all will go into the contest con amore. The little contentions will only make matters more piquant, and 80, vive l’Opera. Srrikes Aone THE Mecuanics.—It is some- what remarkable, and certainly presents a pow- erful illustration of the recuperative faculties of the country, that so soon after the disastrous crisis of 1857, which, it might naturally be sup- posed, fell heavily on the mechanics, this class should be found at the present time, here and in different cities of the Union, on the strike for higher wages. In New York the gilders, pianoforte makers, cap makers and others, have struck. In Phila- delphia also there have been recently several strikes, and in Cincinnati the hands of the lead- ing chair factories, prebably the most important business there next to the pork trade, are on a general strike. During the crisis in this city it was supposed, from the public demonstrations of want in our streets and parks, that the operative classes were in the utmost destitution, or at least on the verge of it; yet, strange to say, the accounts of the savings banks—unerring barometers as they are—when published, showed that the deposits had increased some millions above the average. This phenomenon, like the present clamor of the mechanics for higher pay, is not very easy of so- lution; but, combined, they prove that the coun- try, financially and commercially considered, is sound enough to stand a pretty heavy shock without materially affecting the condition of the people. Ovr Moyicrpa, Arrams IN THE LxgrsLA- TurE.—The Grinding Committee having re- ported favorably upon the bill to remodel the departments of our city government, we may soon expect to hear of the passage of the bill in some shape best adapted to throw the bulk of our Corporation spoils ond plunder into the hands of the republicans. We await the action of our rulers at Albany, from the “rural dis- tricts,” however, with that hopeful resignation which anticipates romething of relief from any- thing in the way of a change. Besides, as our taxpaying fellow-citizens have been too busily employed in other matters to attend to the affairs of our city government, when they have had the opportunity, over and over again, they should be thankful in being relieved by the Legislature of all further trouble upon the sub- ject. A city which cannot or will not govern itself must necessarily fall under the charitable guardianship of the State. Tne Wasnrcton Uston Soro Acatn.—We understand that Mr. Cornelius Wendell, after the rough and shabby treatment which he has suffered from his associate lobby jobbers, and the printing plunder investigating committee of Congress, has sold out the Washington Union concern, and that Mr. Bowman, Superintendent of Public Printing, is the purchaser. In this transaction we think Mr. Wendell has shown bis usual sagacity, for, according to all appear- ances, the pickings, perquisites and stealings which will fall to the lot of the Union from the next Congress will be exceedingly slim. Wen- dell, like a cunning old rat, knows when to leave a sinking ship. Persowa Liventy iN Massacuuserrs.—The Massachusetts House of Representatives, almost exclusively republican, has sensibly rejected the so-called personal liberty bill—a bill of heavy pains and penalties, nullifying the Fugi- tive Slave law, and the supreme law of the land, the constitution of the United States. At this particular crisis this isa very remarkable back- ing down from the cause of “human freedom” on the part of the Massachusetts republicans, CE ‘They doubtless diseovered that this dove of aak Hifcation was too strong for the people; and the party in question do not care to bura their fingers in their sympathy for “ Uncle Tom,” if they can help it, AxornzR Souruenn Commescrat Convene rion.—The Vicksburg (Miss.) Soulron says :— “ We are informed by a letter received here yes terday from the chairman of the Executive Com- mittee of the Southern Commercial Convention, that after mature consultation, the second Mon- day in May next, the 9th of the month, has beem definitely fixed upon as the day for the assem- Dling of the convention.” This is great news, Our readers will remember that the last of these Southern Commercial Conventions was almost entirely appropriated to the discussion of the revival of that interdicted branch of commerce, the African slave trade; and from the wonder- fully increasing popularity of this proposition im the “cotton States” since that convention, we should not be surprised if the convention of the present year were to resolve.itself into a rege- lar African slave trading company. The para- mount objects of these Southern Commeroiel Conventions are the same as those of the aboli- tion conventions of Lloyd Garrison and his crazy crew—sectional agitation, disunion, reve- lution and a reconstruction of government and society for the benefit of the vagabond pollti- cians and noisy demagogues concerned. In sup- port of this view of the subject, we expect some very remarkable disunion developements frem this approaching Southern Commercial Conves- tion. THE LATEST NEWS. (PORTANT FROM WASHINGTON The Threatened War in Europe—The News by the Persia-The New Troubles in Oen« twal America—What Our Government In- ~ tend to Do, OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON DESPATCH. Wasuincton, March 31, 1860. ‘The State Department this morning received a heavy mail, brought by the Persia, ‘The tenor of letters from the ministers at differen’ courts are warlike. One of our ministers writes as fol- lows:—Notwithstanding the opinion expressed by somo— in which the wish is father to the thought—that the peace of Europe will not be disturbed, the conviction of all in- telligent persons abroad is that war is inevitable,” Private advices just received here intimate that Sir Gore Ougeley will shortly quit Central America, having adroitly completed all the objects of his seorét'mission. It is fur- ther stated that he will be ultimately accredited te the United States, the mission of Lord Lyon being regarded as temporary. The administration doubts the report that Miramon had negotiated for the transfer of Chiapas, Tabasco and Teha- antepec to European Powers. But, looking at the regult of British and Fronch intrigues, and the deception prac- tised regarding the Nicaraguan Transit, the Belly contract, and the great interoceanic routes of Centra! America generally, the administration hardly knows what to believe, Chiapas is in open revolt, stimulated by Guatemala. That State, San Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica are known to be under European influence. The next arrivals may tell us that the Tehuantepec grant, claimed by two disputing American companies, has also passed inte European hands. A majority of the Panama interest is held in England. It is possible the President may have to re- port to the Thirty-sixth Congress that American influence has ceased upon the Isthmns, Daniel Runnells, of Texas, but who has resided for the last ten years at Panama, was to-day appointed Consul to San Juan del Sur. He will leave here on Saturday wilh despatches which are being prepared for Lamar. Our government have fixally got their eyes open in re- gard to Ouseley’s double dealing, and, unless Iam ée- ceived, prompt and decisive action will be taken by the administration in regard to Central American affairs, The intelligence received by General Herran from New Granada is vory satisfactory. THE GENERAL NEWSPAVER DESPATCH, Wastinctox, March 31, 1869. From all that can be learned it is not unsafe to say that if the statements relative to Sir William Wore Ouse- ey’s alleged action in Nicaragua are correct, he has vio- jated not only his own instructions, but the solemn un- derstanding between the British government and that of he United States. Ifthe fucts are as stated the Prosident will, it is said, notwithstanding the refusal of Congress to grant him extraordinary powers to protect the rights and property of citizens of the United States, exact acon- formity with whatever may haye been the stipulations between the two governments respecting Ouscloy’s mis- sion, ‘The recent outrage on the vessels of the Atiantic and Pacific Steamship Company was to-day brought to the attention of the government officials, who were reported to have said that the property ef American citizens sbali and will be protected. The prospects now are that addi- tional vessels will be despatched to Nicaragua. Despatches from the Commander of the dagship Merrt- mac, dated “Harbor of Realejo, Feb. 28,” say, there ia reason to believe that the recent cruise of the Decatur in the Gulf of Fonseca has been productive of results highly beneficial to the interests of our country in that quarter. ‘The object of the Decatur in going to San Juan del Sur ‘was to protect the passengers of the steamship Hermaan, which was expected to arrive there early in March, aud the presence of one of the vessels of the squadron being indispensable, she had been cruising in pursuance of orders, to intercept filibusters. At La Union the Decatur was said to be the first United States vessel which had entered that port. She was visited by the Governor of the department, as well as by other offi- cials. Tho first national salute ever received by the flag of San Salvador was from the Decatur, which was enthu- siastically received by all classes of people. Congratu- latory addresses were interchanged by the Commandante of Ia Union and Commander Thatcher, copies of which have been received by the Navy Department. Lettors from distinguished sources in Paris and Londom exprees the confident belief that there will bo no war, there being a prospect of accommodating the difforences now existing. A rumor prevails that Senor Mata, Minister of the Juarez government, who left here a short time age for the South, has been invited to immodi- ately return to Washington; but the report is denied in reliable quarters, as eur government will not take far- ther action relative to either government in Mexico, until it shall have heard from Minister McLane. * Colonel Seaton celebrated with a few friends Inst night his golden wedding, having been married fitty years, and for about that period connected with the National Intelligencer. Interesting from Mexico. Montix, March 31, 1859. Tho United States sloop of-war Saratoga arrived at Pen- sacola on the 26th inst., bringing Vera Cruz dates of the 12th. She reports leaving there the United States frigate Savannah and two Spanish, four French and four Eoglish ‘men -of war, There were rumors of internal war, but they were so conflicting that it was impossible to rely upon them. Miramon had met with several defeats, and had not yet arrived with his forces within striking distance of Vere Cruz, Hoe was said to be at Orizaba, ‘The Vera Cruzans were perfectly confident of success. The Saratoga will tako ina good supply of stores, and turn without delay to relieve the Savannah, The Utah Mati. LaavenwortH, March 31, 1959. ‘The Utah mail of the 8th has arrived. Terrible snow storms prevailed on the plains, retarding the mails, The Second District Court was in seesion at Provo, Thefts of horses and mules were becoming nrmerens, 4nd the perpetrators were threatened with lynch law, The Indians wero molesting the California mails, and #tealing the animals for food, presenti alae Ty . ‘The Overland Mail, St. Lovrs, March 30, 1869. ‘The overland mail brings San Francisco datos of tho 7 instant, but no news of importance from California, Advices from Victoria are to Fobruary 28, A proposi- tion had been made to annex the colony of Victoria to British Columbia, and it was reported that a rogorve of