The New York Herald Newspaper, July 16, 1859, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GOBOUR SSXAESE, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OF PWS K. W. CORKER OF FULTON AND NASSAU SH rman, ‘advance, Money wal wilh aaa Ei conduc” Pootage samen" nal resiced ns pasergtios Orda Dab? 100 cone par Ol per anerarn sae KLE nal sary Robern Fines pa Re ros paw “eae Fircr ‘HERALD, on Wednesday, of four emtspar or annum donb rberieee Ri ee oY Fitreclind Coareee cy ‘aus Lanrvans Axe Face: AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ARDEN Brosaway.—Mspace Hearts ~Woon's aTty O'BBBAL, Museen BOWZRY THEATRE, Bowery.—Gaerx Busurs—Jack fuarragp, ‘WALLACK’R THEATRE, Broadway.—O'FLaNNIGAN AND ‘TEs Famiss—Miscuigvous ANNE, LAURA XEEBNR’S THEATRE, No. 824 Broadwar.— — Economr—A Lapy asp GgsntisMax—To Osiicw ENSON. NATiONsL THEATRE. Chatbem street—Fuving Durca- Man—ZOM AND JERKY—GREEN BrxsTE, BARNUWS AMFRIOAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Afer- oom acd Syenin.—WxMaN, THR WIZARD, WOOD'S MINETRBL SULLDING, 55] and 663 Broadway — Bxmorias Songs, Dayces, £0--Dakures on ths Layee 585 Brosdway.—Box- BUCKLEY'S &ERERADERS, aria BORGLA. Ea:Quas, £09G3 anv Daxoxs~ PALACE GARDEN AND HaLL, Fourtseath street — Cosce2: anv Soiwze Dascayre. New York, Saturday, July 16, 1859. The News. Che Weser arrived at this port at a late hour last , with European advices to the 4th inst., two days later than those received by the Canada. The sews is not of special importance, nothing later having been received from the seat of war in Italy. We have, however, by. this arrival the French oficial report of the battle of Solferino, in which the operations of the Alliestn that eventful day are doubtless truthfully recounted and the results of the combat summed up. The French logs in the Lattle was 12,720, the Sardinian loss 5,520, and the Austrian foss is estimated at between 12,000 and 15,000. The Allies captured 6,000 prisoners, 30 cannon, 4 colors, anda great number of ammuni- tion wagons. Consols in London on the 4th were quoted at 95j—animprovement. The Liverpool markets had uadergone no material change. The steamship Great Britain, Captain Gray, from Liverpool 30th ult., arrived at this port early yes- terday mornifig. Two days later news from Europe, which will most probably be of the highest importance, may reach us during today, by the Indian, due at Quebec. The following vessels saMled from the other side of the Atlantic in the order annexed:— Where From. Day Sailing. Destination. July 4 We publish in another column details of news from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, to the Ist inst. A most fearful negro insurrection was initiated at Puerto Cabello on the 15th ult., and a regular war of race and color commenced. The outrages be- ganat Guaiguasa, where Judge Miguel Maro was assaasinated by the negroes. fortunately, the negroes were routed after severe street fighting, and retired to the eountry. AU trade was at a stand still, and commanication with the interior cut off, but the government hoped to soon put an end to the insurrection. in another column will be found a ful! and inte resting report of the present state of Quarantine mattera as presented under the régime of the pre- sent Health Officer and new Quarantine Commis- sioners. It is gratifying to know that the duties of this Department, having solely for its care the con- servation of the public health, are being rigidly aud faithfully discharged, and that every possible care is being taken to protect the city against the en- croachment of yellow fever or other pestilential diseases. The hospitals at the old Quaxantine have been emptied of their inmates, the sick previously confined there having been sent to Blackwell's and Ward's Islands. The bark Pilgrim yesterday en- tered upon her duties as a “ distributing barge,” to convey all arriving hereafter sick with non-conta- gious diseases to the islands named. The steamer Falcon—converted into a floating hospital—still lies anchored at her assigned anchorage in the lower bay. No sick persons have yet been put on board of her, no yellow fever cases having arrived yet at this port. Only three ves- sels were yesterday at the upper Quarantine anchorage, against about one hundred detained at this time last year. The enormous swindles for merly practised upon shipowners in this regard have been stopped by the new Health Officer. | ‘This is a happy change to shipowners; but the hap- piest change of all is the success of the Staten islanders in getting rid of Quarantine. All the Quarantine property on the island is to be sold, and with the sale will douitiess end the so-called Rich- mond county Sepoyism. A bloody affray took place on Thursday night in Forty-first street between three Irishmen and four Germans, which resulted in two of the former re- ceiving each a number of severe knife stabs. The particulars of the rencontre are given in another column. St. Ann’s church, for deaf mutes, has purchased the Baptist church in Kighteenth street, now occu- pied by the Rev. 8. A. Corey. It will be opened fur public worship on the first Sunday in August. There was a meeting of the Health Commission- era yesterday, at which the Health Officer reported the arrivals of the barks Roanoke and Young America from Havana, and that he had givena stream permit to each on their captains reporting all well on board and no sickness at Havana when they left that port. The City Inspector reported that all the nuisances referred to him have been abated, and that he will abate any others of which he re ceives information. City Inspector Delavan made several appoint- ments and removals in his department yesterday: A list of them is given in another column. The post of Superintendent of Markets, for which there was no little competition, has been assigned to Mr. James Irving, It is understood that no other changes than those embraced in the list referred to will be made for the present. ° Agommittee of the Police Commissioners was engaged yepterday in investigating a charge pre- ferred against Police Surgeon Ives of being a mem ber of the Republican Central Committee, in viola: | tion of the rule of the Department which prohibite policemen from belonging to political associations, The evidence went to prove that the defendant wag | a delegate to the Committee from the Twenty. second ward. It is only recently that the Commis, sioners have attempted to enforce this rule against policemen. Ata meeting of the Excise Commissioners yes: terday nineteen applications for licenses were re- ceived, and the licenses granted on condition of the payment of $30 by each applicant. A resolution offered by Commissioner Holmes, to the effect that the General Superintendent of Police he requested At Puerto Cabello, | to furnish the Board with the names and places of business, and the names o! witneases against all parties who have violated the excise law since the lst of May last, was adopted. After the adjourn- ment Police General Pillsbury sent a list of the places selling lager bier and intoxicating liquors to Commissioner Hackett, President of the Board, The number of such places, as per return, is 1,042. In the Seventeenth ward there are 183 places. There are over 7,000 places in this city wherein liquor is sold without a license. A census ‘s now being taken of the Aldermen, Councilmen, policemen and petty office holders who keep liquor saloons with- out license, and suits will be commence] aya'nst them. ‘The private advices by the Cacada, to hand yestercay morning, regarding the state of the L’verpool cxttea ma~ ket, were more favorable than the telegraphic reporte. ‘They gave moro firmness to the article here, waic's ciosad }éc. Der Ib, higher for some grades. The sales embraced bout 1,000 bales, on the basis o” quotations given in another column. The flour market was quite heavy, and prices decidedly lower. The decline ran pretty much through all grades, and ranged /rom 16c, to 30c. per barrel, aud on some kinds of higher grades the fall reached as mueh as 50 cents per barrel, while the sales even at this concession were moderate o far as Stale and Wester brands were concerned. Southern was also lower, but owing 10 some purchases for export to tropical ports there was more dong in proportion to supplies. Wheat was at astand, and prices, inthe absence of sales of moment? were neminal, Owing to geome decreas» in reve pls on account of a break in the canal, corn was bold with more firmness, while sales wore fair at prices given in ancther place. Pork was heavy, but with- out cbapge of moment ip prices; mess gold wt $16 60 8 $16" clear at $18 26 a $18 50, thin mags at $15 75, and prime at $12 15. $12574;. Sugars were frm and in good de- mand, with sales of about’ 1,000 bhds., mainly Cat, end chielly to the trate, with a fair amount to roSners, aad 9C0 boxes for ing, all at prices given in another column. A gale of 2,000 slabs Straits tin was male yester- day, said to have boen at about 3034c. Coffee was steady, with saleg of 700 bags Rio at Uc. a1L¢:. Freights were inactive, engagements having been limited, without change to notice in rates. The Political Abstractions of the Day. Agitation must always have grievances; other- wise there might be a hope entertained of the ultimate extinction of that class of public nui- sances who are known by the not very appro- priate n me of politicians. If this class were restricted to those who possessed any enlarged knowledge of the science of government, to men of high aspirations or enlightened views on pational or State policy, to men familiar with history and able to trace effects to causes, there would be little fear of our being overawarmed, as we now are, with ranting demagogues and patriotic placemen ; but as it is, there is no ham- let 80 insignificant as not to be able to boast of its half dozen public men anxious to thrust them- eelves on public attention and to feed at the pub- lic crib. The locusts of Egypt were hardly more numerous, and certainly could not have been more noxions, than are our swarms of politicians all over the land. And, as an inevitable conse quence and necessity of their existence, we are never free from agitating questions of greater or less importance ; and sometimes the more frivo- lous aud preposterous these questions are in themselves, the more noise is made about them. of effort on the part of politicians to keep them alive in the public “mind until after the next Presidential election. They all come within either the category of frivolous or preposterous ; but the three principal of them are: the revival of the elave trade, the intervention of Congress in the affairs of the Territories, and the extent and character of the privileges conferred on natural- ized citizens. These are the three most promi- nent political hobbies of the day, and it is to be taken for granted that they will be ridden in- cessantly by the epouters and humbugs of all sections of the country, at least until it shall have been seen who is to be the next President of the United States. It is onty within the last two or three years that any of even our most desperate nullifiers have ventured on such a thing as a suggestion of the reopening of the African slave trade. Now it is a familiar topic, aud in certain portions of the South a favorite one. The question has been Intreduced into the Legis- latures of several of the States, and Senators and members of Congress not a few have begun to identify themeelves with it, and to commit them- selves and their political fostuces unreservedly or conditionally to this new, most unpopular and | impracticable scheme. ‘hey have raised the | black flag of the African slave trade, and their cry is for 2 legal restoration of that traffic or a Southern confederacy. But these mon are the mere effervescence of the South. The people of that section are, as «a whole, ‘as much averse to the idea az are the people of the North. In fact, while opposition to it is but a matter of senti- ment to the North, it is one of interest with the South, and particularly with the slave owner, | whom the agitation ostensibly professes to serve, for every new importation of Africans would de- Ppreciate to that extent the market value of his slaves. It is not to be expected, therefore, that an interest representing an aggregate value of four thousand millions of dollars would look ap- | provingly upon a measure the inevitable effect ; of which would be to depreciate that in- terest within a few years fully one-half, | And so there need be no apprehension felt of this | slave trade movement assuming any very impor- | tant dimensions. The self-interest of the South | may safely be depended upon to prevent its be- | coming anything more than « stunted abortion, | that may serve the present purposes of seedy | politicians, but can never serve any other pur- | pose. Ifit were possible of realization, and if } all restrictions on the African slave trade were | abolished, the first effect of the movement would be destructive, in a political sense, to the South; | for Virginia and Kentucky, and Tennessee | and Missouri, and Maryland and Delaware, | would soon cease to be slave States, and would make the preponderance of free States over- whelming to the South. The agitation on the eulject is therefore nothing more than a clap- { trap device of demagogues to enable them to } make a noise in their respective localities, and perhaps to get seme of them sent to Congress or the State Legislature instead of to the peni- tentiary or State Prison. The political hobby that comes next to this in importance, and which is being ridden both North and South, is that in relatfon to the right of Congress to {ntervene in the affairs of the Territories so far us to protect slavery in them. Five years ago it was given out that all dimi- culties of that nature were rendered impossible in | Popular sovercigntys and the Kansas-Nebraska bill was hailed, by the Southern democracy in particular, as an infallible preventative against the evils of Mavery agitation in Congress. But that nostrum has failed signally. Squatter sove- reignty has fallen into contempt, and the Kansas- pebracka bill, instead of being a Guality ia re- ‘There are at the present moment several quea- tions of that character agitated with more or less effect in different parts of the country, and we may be sure that there will be no abatement | future by the application of the famous nostrum of NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JULY 16, 1859. gard to the institutions of the Territories, appears destined to complicate the question still fur- ther. The friends of the squatter sovereignty doctrine aver that the object and effect of the bill were to leave to the people of the Territories them- selves the right to decide what institutions they should have while in a territorial condition. But the political agitators of the South who have taken to ride this hobby hold that the only privilege conferred on the squatters by this bill was, that when they came to form a State consti- tution they should do so in their own way ; that in the meantime they had no constitutional right to legislate against slavery in the Territory; that the constitution of the United States protects slavery there and everywhere, and that if the Territorial Legislature did not pass laws to pro- tect it Congress should do so. That is the state of this question. The differencea are very fine drawn, indeed, but yet distinct enough to enable demagogues to get upan agitation on the subject. Squatter sove- reignty is the veriest humbug that any people or party could set up and worship; but it wasregu- larly inaugurated and canonized by the demo- eratic party in the Kansas-Nebraske bill, and it is only now when its powerlessness to advance the object intended by it is apparent, that its former friends turn their, backs upon it. We may expect to see the whole question reopened in the next Congrees, and do service all through the Presidential compaign. Quite as preposterous is the agitation attempt- ed to be got up in-regard to the protection of naturalized citizens abroad. Sensible letters by Secretary Cass to two or three naturalized citizens are made the text of scores of let- ters and sets of reeolutions from politicians and conventions all over the country in op- position to the plain, common sense princi. ples laid down by the Secretary. If the govern- ment would adopt the views of the demagogues on this point, it would be absolutely necessary for us to maintain a powerful army and navy, so as to be able to make our pretensions good against @ world iu arms; and we would soon have the curious spectacle presented of foreign subjects coming to this country, becoming naturalized in the precipitate manner best known to Tam- many Hall politicians, and returning to settle down in their native land in the guise of Ameri- can citizens, whom our government would be bound to protect at all hazards and against all adversaries. The mere statement of the propo- sition shows the absurdity of the doctrine con- tended for. And yet these three questions that we have thus outlined fotm the aole stock in trade of the politicians of the day. There isno question of national policy dividing the two great parties; nothing but the mere my thin regard to the exten- sion or repression of slavery. In fact these issues are notas between party and party. bat are schisms that have sprung up in the one communion, In regard to tari, the acquisition of Cuba, and kindred topics, itis the same. They serve to mark, not the dividing line between democrats and republicans, but the want of any fixed prin. ciple of policy in cither. Perhaps we ought to be thankful, after all, that our political questions are such pure abstractions, having neither form nor substance. Taz Cuaxtesion CoyveNtION AND THE Cuarteston Cuimate.—The Cincinnati Coaven- tion of 1856, asa tub to the Southern whale, designated Charleston as the place for the na- tional party convention of 1860, leaving it to the National Executive Commitice to appoint the time. The committee, we believe, has been accordingly called to meet in Washington, with the aseembling of Congress in December, to name the day, And it so happens, while the pe- culiar embarrassments of the party will require the largest poceitte margin of time tur the pur- pasos of barmony before the meeting.of the convention, that the peculiar climate of Charles- ton will not admit of any extension beyond the first week in May. And why? Because with regard to “the stranger’s fever,” which sets in at Charleston about the middle of May, or a few days cooner or later, only a small number of the delegates from this side of Mason and Dixon's line will be found upon trial fp be “Northern men with Southern principles.” The Charleston Convention, therefore, consi- dering the important element of the Charleston malaria on the one hand, and the prospect of a long diecussion on the nigger issue, cannot safely be convened at a later period than the first day of May; but considering, on the other hand, the disordered state of the party and the manifest advantages of some delay, the middle of July would be a much better time for the convention in view of democratic harmony. In the next place, the conservative city ef New York would be a much better place for composing the South- ern fire-eaters than that hotbed of nullification and secession, the hospitable, but cramped and contracted little city of Charleston. The city of New York, the great commercial and financial centre of the Union, is the true locality for the purposes of every great national political assemblage whose object is the nomination of a Presidential ticket. The Gclegates of the rural districts, and those from our distant frontiers to such a convention, might learm more in three days in New York, concern- ing the grandeur, the reeources, the develope- ments, the character and the value of this Union, and the true policy of all sections in behalf of the Union, than they could learn anywhere else from six weeks or aix months active observation. With these suggestions to stand upon, and as- suming that the Democratic National Executive Committee will possess a discretionary power over the subject, by and with the advice and consent of the democratic mémbera of Congress, we submit to the committee—first, the expedica- oy of transferring the national party convention from Charleston to New York; secondly, the ex- pediency of putting off the time till about the middle ofJaly. By that time the party issues that may he raised in the approaching new Con- grees will be thoroughly understood, and also the exact position and resources of the enemy) whether divided into two or three armies, or combined in one. The political as well as the physical system of every delegate at Charleston will be affected and endangered more or less by the insidious malaria of that sickly climate, a climate which will probably be fatal to the pre- sent enfeebled democratic party should it be carricd down there, even in April, while still auf- fering from the chills and fever of the nigger agitation. Mr. Augustus Schell, Mr. Cobb's cool and care- ful guerdian of our Custom House, is, we bo- lieve, a mem the Democratic National Ex- ecutive Committee, chur ged with the busiacss we have been considering. We therefore submit the hints grein thrown oui to bis special attention, hoping that efter reading this article be will lay down bis epectacies, sizetch out his logs, and Galucdy thnk i ores. Bie. Cobden’s Stump Bpecch tn Liverpool. Every ove must have been struck by the Ame rican ideas and thoroughly American tone of Mr, Cobden’s recent epeech at Liverpool. The gentleman not only re-echoes the geae ral opinions expressed here in regard to the war, but he promulgates others in reference to the domestic policy of England which are based on the results of his personal observations in this country, Unlike most of our English visiters, Mr. Cobden has discarded bis old prejudices and learned rauch that he can employ profitably in his future career as a legislator. He came here with a good many kinks in bia head in regard to our financial system, our public men, our jour- nals and our editora. He had, moreover, a fixed idea that no great European complication could occur without England being bound to take part init. The ‘influence of an American atmosphere and personal intercourse with our people have effected an astonishing revolution io his sentiments on most of theee points, He now admires, it ap- pears, the financial system on which our government is based so much that he would gladly see it introduced in England. He came here believing that it would not be possible for Great Britain to keep out of the war; he has gone away convinced that she has ho more legitimate concern with it than the United States has. He bad acquired faith in the patriotism and disin- terestednesa of certain of our politicians and jour- nalists whose advocacy of anti-slavery doctrines had proved palateable to the English liberals, Personal acquaintance with them has, as he de- clared to his friends shortly before his departure, proved to him that they are mere factious dis- turbers, without any just claims to the promi- nence which the violence and unscrupulousness of their opinions have procured them. They in nowise represent, as he had supposed, the honesty and the political and literary distiaction of the country, In the crisis which has overtaken Europe it is gratifying to find English statesmen like Mr. Cobden re-echoing from their personal con- victions the sentiments of the American mind. Itisof the utmost importance to the Eaglish people that they should have an opportunity of collecting from sources so impartial the opinions that prevail here on subjects which so nearly tonch the interests of both countries. such men as Mr. Cobden, it cannot fail to exer- cise a powerful effect in checking any disposition that may exist to identify Great Britain with German interests. It ito the working of the American leaven, introduced through the instrumentality of the numerous tourists of rank whe have visited this country within the last dozen years, that we un- questionably owe much of this influence over the English mind. There are continually sojourning amongst us, for the purpose of either pleasure or information, members of the English aristocracy, whose reports of what they hear and see cannot but affect favorably the class to Visiters of this stamp generally possess an amount of education and intelligence which enables them to appre- ciate what is really excellent in our institu- which they belong. tions. The visit of Lord Morpeth, the present Earl of Carlisle, did a great deal towards dis- pelling the many foolish prejudices which had been created by the exaggerations and false- hoods of professional bockmakera. It would have effected more if his lordship had not fallen into the hands of rank abolitionists of the Gar- rison school, who succeeded in prejudicing his views and in neutralizing the benefits that would have resulted from the conclusions of an otherwise candid mind. The exposure of the earors into which a too ready faith has led foreign tourists seems to have latterly induced greater caution on the part of our English visiters, They sensi- bly avoid being lionized, and go quietly about seeing and judging for themselves instead of trust- ing to the eyes of others, Thus Lord Mount- cashel when he was here required no bear-leader, but travelled around without even an attendant, investigating everything for himself and losing no opportunity of acquiring information. So did also the three young noblemen, Lord Robert Grosvenor, the. Hon E. Ashley and the Hon. F. Cavendish, who probably saw more of this coun- try during their visit than any of the tourists who have preceded them, Nothing escaped their attention, from the construction of a railway bridge down to the simplest piece of machinery: There was scarcely any industrial establishment of importance in New York or other cities which they did not inspect. As an evidence of the inquiring epirlt which distinguished these young men, we may mention that happening one day to visit the Heraxp office at an hour when our printing presses were not at work, and being told that they could not be again seen in operation until three in the morning, they aa- tonished every one by coming again at that carly hour and remaining upwards of an hour examining the machinery. Shortly after their departure one of them returned, and stating that he had not quite understood the inking process, begged to have it again explained to him. This was done, and ke went away perfect master of the details on which he bad desired information. We believe. that this rapidly growing inti- macy with American institutions and American habits and notions has contributed in no small degree to liberalize the English aristocracy. The nomination of Mr. Cobden to the Presidency of the Board of Trade, during his visit to this country, is to be regarded as an evidence that the ideas which he might be supposed to take back with him would obtain a certain amount of recognition in the policy of the new Cabinet. If the speech that he has just made in Liverpool reflects at all the principles in which that policy is to be conducted, then we may congratulate ourselves on an approximation between English and American theories of government which promises for the future a close identification in feeling aud interests between the two countries, Anornen Arnantic Cante.—It appears that another attempt to lay a cable acrose the Atlan- tic is about to be made. Letters have been re- celved in this city by the Canada from Mr. Cyrus W. Field, who is now in London, to the effect that the directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company are actively at work maturing their plans to have the enterprise of uniting America and Europe by means of the electric wire led out in the moet permanent and successful manner. The first measure, we believe, will be an at- tempt to raise the old cable, with a view, doubt- Ices, to Gisgoyer the cause of the break ia Great Britain cannot engage in this war without also dragging into it the United States, and it is therefore essential that there ehall be no mis- understanding as to the position which, in such an event, they must occupy towards each other. The influence of the public opinion of this coun- try has latterly made itself so sensibly felt in England that, confirmed by the convictions of the continuity which rendered tle fmt enterprise valueless after all the labor and money expended onit. If this can be accom. plished, which is more than doubtful, it may en- able the engincers to avoid the difficulty, what- ever it wa, which rendered the previous attompt inoperative. Condition of the Street Department, The Street Commircioner presented to the Common Council at the meeting of the Board of Aldermen on Thureday, a report of the state of his department for the past six months, The management of the Street De- partment under its present chief is unquea- tionably better than it baa ever been before; but the operations of the Strect Commissioner are 80 fettered by bad legislation and the blunders of former incumbents that itis not yet perfect by apy means, Owing to the fact that the fiscal year begins on the let of January, the depart- ment is left without sufficient funds for the first quarter wherewith to carry on the necessary im- provements in the city, no money being availa- ble except certain unexperded balances which cannot be legally employed for any work except that for which they have been specifically appro- priated. To overcome this evil it is necessary to fix the commencement of the fiscal year on the ist of July, in order that the Legislature may take action on the tax levy, and that at the same time some means may remain in hand to carry on the work. The Street Commissioner complains of the mode in which the Legislature has cut down cer- tain appropriations for useful purposes, and in- stead of specifying the purposes to which they aréto be applicd, lumpivg them under general heads. This way of making appropriations de- stroys all system and nullifies every effort to establich a check by one burcau or department upon the other. The Street Commissioner suggests many im- provements, without which, he says, the bueinese of his department cannot be properly conducted. Among others, the change of the fiecal year, and the appointment of inspectors of work done un. der the different bureaus at fixed salaries, in- stead of their transitory employment at two dol- Jarsa day, no matter how important the work may be. With regard to the work done by the Street Department for the first half of this year, we find that twenty-three contracts have been made since the first of January, and twenty-two awards of contracts not yet confirmed by the Common Council. The amount of assessments transmitted for collection was $1,593,584; while there was remaining uncollected on the Ist of January $1,040,746, The amount paid by the Collector of Assessments to the City Chamberlain since then was $517,587, including interest; and the amount returned to the Bureau of Arrears $92,389. The total amount reappropriated by the Com- mon Council for the Street Department was $485,068, which, added to the sum of $997,125, authorized by the Legislature apparently for the exclusive uee of that department, made a total of $1,082,193 available to the Street Commissioner, Of this amount there has been expended, and re- quisitions drawn upon the Comptroller, for $402,417, leaving an unexpended balance on the 30th of June of $1,088,087. This, added to re- quisitions drawn against appropriations for sala- ries, contingencies, and other accounts, makes the expenditure of the Street Department for the first half of the year $636,784. The Street Commissioner complains that the sum of $127,000 asked for to keep the roads in repair—a sum which he says would suffice for all the roads on the island—had been cut down to $50,000 by the Legislature, of which $10,000 was appropriated for Kingsbridge road, and the remainder for all the other roads and avenues, an amount clearly insufficient in the present con- dition of those thoroughfares. He represents a portion of Bloomingdale road in good condition, and eays he intends to keep it ao, and do his utmost to put all the roads in repair as far as the appropriation goes—a promise which we trust he will keep. With reference to rebuilding the City Hall, which, as it now stands, is a disgrace to the city, we are informed that a competent architect is engaged on the plans and specifica- tions, which will be ready as soon as practi- cable. The report on the whole is an intelligent and eatisfactory document, in tbis respect dissimilar from the usual reports of the public depart- ments, and seems to be the production of an officer who understands bis Gutics and desires conscientiously to perform them. Meantime we hope that the Common Council will carry out the suggestions of Captain Smith, and urge upon the next Legislature the necessity of making their appropriations with more definiteness, in order that he may be able to perfect the reforms he has set on foot in that formerly chaotic insti- tution, the Street Department. Tae Sons or Manra.—We have received the following invitation from a secret society, of which there are branches in this city and in various parta of the country:— 1. 0. 8. Bf Cuicaco, July 7, 1869. EDITOR OF THR NEW YORK HERALD. Malta ot the United States contemplate an start from this city on the 2ist of July, for and St. Anthony, Mion, founded in charity, ‘the Continent; and we trust soon to seo the stars and stripes shall proudly wave over ‘soil now oppreased by the power of despots. Committee of arrangements respectfully invite your ipstion in the excursion. An early reply will greatly oblige your obedient ser- WM. 8. JOHNSTON, Jr ,) A. M. HYDE, > Coun mittee, JAMES BH. RUITER, We hardly know what to make of the “I. 0. S.M.” Their objects, as stated by themselves, are excellent—charity, love, good will, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and educating the orphan. This is truly disinterested, noble, godlike. But there is something more—‘the dif- fusion of the principles of American freedom over the continent, and the waving of the stars and stripes over soil now oppressed by despots.” How sublime a mission! Who would not belong to the “I. 0.5. M.2” There is, however, one lit- tle difficulty we should like to see explained, aud that is, what is meant by “American principles,” and in what way are they to be propagated? The abolitionists would, perhaps, call their principles American, and cxtend them with Sharp’s rifles; the slaveholders of the South would call theirs American, and propagate thom with bowie knives; “the natives” would call their Know Nothingism “American” por excel- lence, and force it by riotous procecdings and bloodshed. The filibusters regard their manifest destiny doctrincs and the enlargement of the area of freedom, i Ja Walker, as the only true American principles. Really, the Sons of Malta must become a little more explicit before we can acoept their invitation. If the principles and object, of the society arg oo Américua and 60 benevolent, wlat acccesity is there for secreey? Why imitate tae Order of the Dark Luntem? Why ebowd not the Soms of Malia let their light 40 chine before mea that the world may admire them and thew jather-~ whoever be may be—and that everybody may joa what is 60 gocd. It seems that ia the most free couutry ia the world, where every maa can openly proclaim his ecatiments without fear, We cannot get ou withou secret socicties—first we had the ancient Masonic Society, then the Odd Fellows, then the Loue Star, then the Dark Lanterns, and now we have the Sous of Malta. The French ard Austrian Military Systems— ‘Thetx Influence on the Affairs of Europe, The present war in Europe is giving palpable evidence of the effcct which the cultivation of @ military spirit im the masses of the nation, and the adoption of a democratic eyatem in ita armies produce on the affairs of the world. i France and Sardinia are now arrayed against Austria, in what is not a war of conquest, but of principles. The burden of the fight is sustained by the two great military empires with forces nearly equal in numbers, armed with like wea- pons, skilled in similar tactics, and neither inferior in courage. Yet the chance of battle has uniformly been in favor: of the French armies and their Italian allica, In seeking for the causes of thia continuous result, we are constantly carricd to one great influence. Tho military system of France is a democratic one, and opens to the meanest soldier the paths to the highest honors. Every man knows that courage, skill and enter- prise will bring promotion, and therefore ambi- tion pervades all the ranks and stimulates to the higitest effort. And it does more than this, Merit being the test that carries the soldier to the highest command, it fills the posts of leaders with men superior in their class, and secures the great- est efficiency among the officers. Austria, on the other hand, excludes the demo- cratic system from her military organization. Rok is there conferred only on persons who cau claim it through the accident of noble birth, Her officers aré highly educated men, but edu- cation alone cannot make superior generals, and merit has no hope to rise from the Austrian ranks. Her armies are thus deprived of the spur of ambition, and though they fight with courage and determination, they are deprived, by the very system under which they are organized, of that ek'll in leadership which a different system has given to their opponents. While the French generals have shown their merit and attained their positions in the schools of the wars in Al- geria and the Crimea, the Austrian rolls show only officers who have been parade soldiers of peace,‘and have attained their commissions fer eervices rendered in the saloons and the amte- chambers of the Court. The democratic system of promotion from the ranks has been introduced by Victor Emanuel into the Italian army, and as a natural consequence the Italians are sweling its ranks with great rapidity, stimulated by the double motive of patriotiem and ambition. The sons of the noblest families eagerly enter the ranks to learn the art of war in the daily praotice of a soldier's life, and to vie with merit of every class in the contest of emulation. This system will seoure to Italy in future years skill in command anda noble spirit of enterprise in the act of obedience. I¢ is the same principle which animates our own mighty arm; of volunteers, and which secures to us in time of war the certainty of an abundant supply of good soldiers. During the piping times of peace our little army is converted into a sort of police corps to guard our Weatern fron- tier, and promotion lags; but when the blasts of war ring in th-ir ears each man experiences the feelings so curtly expressed by one who rose in the campaign of Mexico:—“A yellow sash or six feet of carth.” Such a system isa continual promise to the soldier, and spurs him on to triumph. It is the great secret which enabled Christianity to tri- umph over the most enlightened of the systems of paganism. The assurance.of ® mastership in Heaven enabled the Christian neophyte to cope with, and finally to overcome, the pagan philosopher. It was seized upon by Mahomet, and strengthened his followers to overthrow many of the barbarous nations of Asia and Af- rica. In every clime, and among all men, the confidence of promotion has stimulated to exer- tion, and led to the developement of merit which secures success. In Europe it ie destined to exercise a powerful influence on the present conflict of political systems. The old feudal theory that excludes everything but birth fron participation in council and leadership secures its own destruction by leaving to its opponents the greatest stimulus that can act on men, To France it will give a continually increasing sway over the affairs of the Old World until other governments break down the barriers that would exclude merit from the hope of reward; and when this is done merit itself will soom change the antiquated systems that now enfee- ble society and government there. Tuk Bris ror THe Qvarante War—A Curious Irem.—A day or two ago we published a list of the bills presented to the Board of Com- miesionersforganized under an act of the last Le. gislature to adjust the claims againt the State for expenses incurred in the foolish Quaran- tine war. These bills, amounting to $3,453, were all allowed, and among them w«w one curious item of “medical stores,” of which the details are the following:— J. & D. Westfall, bili for medical stores’ for tho Fifth regiment, viz :-— Ten gallons pale brandy, a: £4 56 per gallon..... $46 00 Five gallons Jamaica ric, at $2 £0 por gallon. 12 60 Five gallons port wine, st $2 50 per gallon, 12 6 As it isthe «nly instance in which “medical stores” are found in the accounts, it must be presumed that the men of the Fifth regiment have been peculiarly unfortunate in point of sickness, and that campaigning does not agree with them. A very large proportion of the corps must have been reduced to a state of great prostration when so much pale brandy, Jamaica rum and port wine were necessary to resus- citate them and put them on their legs again. Sometimes such sort of medicine takes soldiers off their legs. We fear if they were insuch a cam- paign as that in which the I'rench are now en- gaged in Italy, or those in which the troops under Washington and Jackson were employed, theyy, would cost for ‘medical stores” more than cou’ 4 be well afforded. But this item, perhaps, } sas erisen from the peculiar notions of the do: tor of the regiment, not a hydropathist, and that, he. lieving prevention better than cure, he he, pre- scribed these medicines to prevent the l'if zh from becoming viok—just a liltle to cach man, “for their stomachs’ sake.” “Dua Norice.”—A notice appears in the Al- bany Atlas- Argus requesting the members of the Democratic State Central Covamittee “to meet at