The New York Herald Newspaper, March 12, 1860, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1860.—TRIPLE SHEET, ee ‘NEW YORK HERALD. 5 guns. Wis Majesty will receive Admiral Popoff, | The Candidates and Thetr Platforms— openly aid secretly attacking, by open assaults, the right at will to order the imprison-| Aré We to tave @ Dally Matt to ths commanding the Russian squadron, euii{his officers, | > e Plank of the True Issues for | jy ceoret minsces, by new interpretati d of " Pacifley M A y secret mimsxs, by rp! ions, and | ment apy citizen, it is a most alarming JAMES GORDON BENNETT, | * the palace this morning, Jam. 21. ‘The brig Con- | 1860. by constant misreprosentations, Here is the | and dangerous power, and ils exercise de-| It isetated that a very genera, feeling pre- EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICH N. W. CORNER TERMS, cash én adea trish of the sender, Postage stamps AND FULTON STS. t by mail will be att! received as subscription sent not THE DAILY HERALD two cents per copy, 81 per annum THR WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at siz cents per copy, oF $8 per annuny: the European Edition every Weinenday, 6 ata cents per copy, $4 per annum fo any part of Great Britain, or $8 to any part of, the Continent, both to include postage; the fon om the Sth and 20th of cach month at conts . OF BL 80 per annum THE FAMILY HERALD on Wednesday, at four cents per copy. or $3 per annum. lllle>qq&=£{]€@]@]q@[—[[—[=[=====>” Volume XXV....., tte eeeeeeeee seteeeee +.-No. 71 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO’S GARDEN, ol r a w pees re “radia Canin. Y THEATRE, Bowery.—Dzan Heant—To P. rot od rou Five Pours Bakawe Youre Man—Mamtac WINTER GARDES, Broadway, Quace Docros—Ivamnon. eeAlypon's THEATRE, Broadway.—Romancs or a Poor opposite Boud street.— LAUBA KEEENE’S THEA’ Broad: —V, Famm—Onsrinate Famity, ase ‘yo leona NEW BOWERY THEATRE. Rowery.—| . m, -Horsesmor Ronix. PeRET AY OTR. 444 Broadway.—Tax Romance wa NG ~ Two Buzzanps. BARNUWS AMBRIVAN MUSEUM, Brondway.—Afer- Fanmars—Yovr Lire'six Daxuge, Even ~ _ BRYANTS MINSTRELS, Hall, 472 Broad: - ‘*Buacasanes, Soncs, Dances, 40.—We COME ruow tu Tics. NIBLO'S SALOON, @rnmis iN Sonas, NATIONAL CONCERT SALOON, National _ ‘Bones, Daxors, Buatzsques, 2 aAdiss mee ‘TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Monday, March 12, 1860. Broadway.—Gso. Cunisty’s Mrx- ances, &c.—Mxs, Day's New Year Caris. The News. Our special dispatch from Washington informs us that our government have received information that the Miramon party in Mexico had determined to blockade the port of Vera Cruz and other ports in the Mexican gulf. In case this should prove true, our government have determined to pay no re- spect to such blockade. The steamship Brooklyn has been ordered to Hampton Roads, to conv+y Mr. McLane immediately to Vera Cruz, and orders have been issued to our squadron in the Gulf to use meceasary force in the protection of American com- merce and property. The steamship Atlantic, Capt. Pearson, arrived at this port yesterday noon from Aspinwall, bring. ing the passengers and $1,198,711 50 in treasure that came from San Francisco to Panama by the steamship Golden Age, which left the former port February 20. The entire passage from San Fran- cisco to this port, including the detention at the Isthmus, was accomplished in twenty daya and one hour. Governor Downey, of California, has approved the bill authorizing the transfer of indictments for duelling from the Courts of Seesions to the District ‘Courts. This act appears to be specially intended for the benefit of Judge Terry, who killed Senator Broderick. The action of the Governor has created much excitement, and the newspapers were teem- ing with indignation articles at the conduct of the executive. The origin of the Indian wars in the interior of California has been the cauze of much legislative inquiry, apd it appears that the aggressive conduct of the whites has been the cause of the Indian forays, and that the atrocities committed by volun- teers in thece Indian wars have not been equalled in the history of the country. The Japanese embassy to this country, which was to have left Jeddo on the 22d of February for _ Washington, consists of seventy persons. They were expected to arrive atSan Francisco in the U. S. steamer Powhatan, about the first of March. Orders had been received at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, to have the dry dock there in readiness in which to repair the Powhatan, before completing her voyage to Panama, with her distinguished pas. sengers en route to Washington. The mining news from all parts of California is very glowing; new discoveries, of quicksilver, silver, gold and civnabar were almost an every day occurrence, besides other developements of mine- ral wealth peculiar to that State. Our files from Portland, Oregon, are up to Feb- ruary 13. The news is unimportant. From British Columbia our files from Victoria are up to Feb. 10. The British newspapers at that place were endeavoring to create an excitement. from the fact that Lieutenant McKibben, of the United States boundary survey, at Semiahmoo, on British soil, by consent went over to Fort Langley, nd arrested two deserters from his company. Some of the papers assumed a moderate tone, and exculpated the American officer from any blame. By reference to the news columns the details of the news wiil be found interesting. Our advices from New Granada are dated at Panama and Aspinwall on the 3d of March, and are interesting. Several ports of the Confederation had been declared free to foreign commerce by decree of General Herran. A revolution had broken out in the State of Cauca, at Cartago. The opposing parties hadumet in battle, when a number were killed. Among the latter was Genera) Mar- guetio, who fought in the war of independence. General Mosquera, as Governor of the revolted “ State, was in arms in behalf of the federation; but each of the parties claimed to be the troops of the government. A dissolution of the federation, owing to internal dissension, was dreaded. The United States Minister in Bogota was not present at the Bible burning there, as reported in some of the papers. There is not much news from the Isthmus. An Aspinwall correspondent furnishes a short, but very vivid, description of the condition, manner of life, and style of dress of the Jamaica negroes, called “free,” residing in that city. We have letters and files from the South Pacific, dated at Valparaiso January 31 and at Callao on the 12th of Febrnary. The news from Chile is pleasing a3 far as regards commercial and educa- tional progress. Trade had improved vastly at Valparaiso. Capt. Lionel Lambert, of her Bri- tannic Majesty's steamship Vixen, was murdered in Lima on the 9th ultimo. The particulars of the tragedy, so far as learned, are given in this paper President Castilla had retarned to Peru from Eoua- dor with the remainder of his troops. [t was thought the new government of Ecaudor would be driven out by .a revolution. Bolivia was arming sort, lately from Port Madison, with a load of lum- ber, and now lying at the Esplanade, was formerly for Commodore Wilkes in his exploring expedition, being at that time bark rigged. The vessels of the expedition caused much excitement, and left a Great deal of money here; but the old Consort now looks unpretending enough, ani isnot likely to create much stir.” The steamship New York arrived at this port early yesterday (Sunday) morning from Southamp- ton, with European files to the 23d of February. Her financial and commercial advices were antici- pated by the telegraphic despatches from St. Johns, N. F., published in the Hxraup on the 9th and 10th instant, after the arrival of the Nova Scotian there. We give, however, to-day a very interesting report of the debate which took place in the British Parliament on Mr. Disraeli’s motion to consider the commercial treaty with France apart from the annual budget. Disraeli, Bright and Gladstone, with Lords Palmerston and John Russell, made very important speeches.. The Duke de Chambord—signing “Henri,” as King of France—- had written a letter on the Papal question, and Na- Poleon had published another official manifesto against the clerical agitation. We publish the latest betting on the forthooming races in Eng'and—Chester eup and Derby--with some new facts concerning the agitation cause! by the approach of the day of the fight between Heenan and Sayers. Neither the steamship Niagara, due at Huifax. now in her sixteenth day from Liverpool, no: the Australasian, due st this port, had been heard from at the time of our going to press. The bark Sasan Clark, at this port from Buenos Ayres, brings us files and letters dated to the 12th of January. A good many steamers were repair- ing in port, amongst them the Argentina and Sauta Fe, of the American exploring ex editior. The bark Z. D., of Boston, was burned to the wa- ter’s edge in the ! arbor, on the ‘4th of January. The ship Twenty-ninth of September, from Buenos Ayres for Montevideo , was wrecked, when twenty- five persons were drowned. Brazil was still col- leetirg troops on the frontier of Buenos Ayres, and it was imagined that a war between the re- pu'lic and the United Argentine Confederation might ensue. Our Cespatches from Albany this morning will be fourd fall o* matter interesting to our readers. The fit ancial condition of the State, the troubles of the Excise Commissioners of the metropolis, the Gridion Railroad bill, the Central Park investi- gations, are all treated at length, and will be found of impc rtanc* to our citizens and taxpayers. The Missouri Republican state Convent on as. sembled at St. Louis on Saturday. The att :ndance was rather slim, only about two hundred persons being in attendance. They adopted resolutions ap- proving the principles of the republicans as set forth in the call for the Chicago Convention, pledging themselves to support the nominee of that Convention, favoring the coloniza- tion of free blacks, and recommending Ed- ward Bates as a candidate for the Presiden- cy. They also passed resolutions recognizing the “irrepressible conflict” between slave and free la- bor in Missouri, treating with contempt and scorn. the threats of a diseolution of the Union, and pledg- ing their lives and fortunes to its preservation. . A central committee was appointed, with power to- form an electoral ticket. ‘The Legislature of Maryland adjourned about midnight on Saturday last. The session has been one of the most exciting ever held. The appropri- ation bills were passed during the last few hours of the session. ~The Governor had aignitied to the Legislature that he would comply with their re- quest, and remove Judge Stump, of Baltimore. | The Legislature of Louisiana has paseed an act | allowing a greater rate of interest than eight per cent per annum, but accompanied by a proviso that written obligations shall not bear more than that per centage after their maturity until paid. The Rey. Dr. Manahan delivered a lecture on the “Pope and the Congress” at St. Mary’s Church of the Purification, South Brooklyn, last evening. There was a large number of persons in attendance, and the lecture gave evident satisfaction to the | congregation. There were several Protestants | also present, among whom were one or two cler- gymen, who paid the strictest attention to the lec- | ture throughout. The chess match between New York and Boston probably determine. pocket, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES. 1—James A. Bayard, Delaware. 2—John C. Breckinridge, Kentucky. 3—Jesse D, Bright, Indiana. 4—Albert G. Brown, Mississippi. 5—Howell Cobb, Georgia. 6—Caleb Cushing, Massachusetts. 7—Joefferson Davis, Mississippi. 8—Daniel S. Dickinson, New York. 9—Stephen A. Douglas, Illinois. 10—James Guthrie, Kentucky. 11—James H. Hammond, South Carolina. 12—Sam Houston, Texas. 13—R. M. T. Hunter, Virginia. 14—Alfred Iverson, Georgia. 15—Andrew Jobason, Tennessee. 16—Joseph H. Lane, Oregon. . 17—James L. Orr, South Carolina. 18—Charies O’Conor, New York. 19—Franklin Pierce, New Hampshire. 28—Thomas H. Seymour, Connecticut. 21—Horatio Seymour, New York. 22—John Slidell, Louisiana. 23—Alexander H. Stephens, Georgia. 24—-Robert F. Stockton, New Jersey. 25—Heonry A. Wise, Virginia. 26—John E. Wool, New York. BLACK REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES. 1—Nathaniel P. Banks, Massachusetts. 2—Edward Bates, Missouri. 3—Simon Cameron, Pennsylvania. 4—Salmon P. Chase, Ohio. 5—Cassius M. Clay, Kentucky. 6—Jacob Collamer, Vermont. 7—Wnm. L. Dayton, New Jersey. $—John C. Fremont, California. 9—Wm. P. Feasenden, Maine. 10—John P. Hale, New Hampshire. . 11—Abram Lincoln, Miinois. 12—Wm. Pennington, New Jersey. 13—William H. Seward, New York. 14—Henry Wilson, Massachusetts. UNION CANDIDATES. i—Edward Bates, Missouri. 2—John Bell, Tennessee. 3—John M. Botts, Virginia. 4—John J. Crittenden, Kentucky. 5—Edward Everett, Massachusetts. 6—William A. Graham, North Carolina, 7—-Washington Hunt, New York. 8—Sam Houston, Texas. 9—John M’Lean, Ohie. 10—William C. Rives, Virginia. 11—Winfield Scott, New York. The claims of. all of these candidates are preseed, each by his respective friends, princi- pally on the ground that he is great on some little matter—-as, for instance, the tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee of sovereignty of the people will be resumed this evening. » The sales of cotton on Saturday embraced about 1,200 | tions. The flour market was again active, with free sales | of State and Western, while prices wore again higher, | ‘Wheat was firmer, and in good milling demand, with a | fair amount of sales. Corn was firmer, with a good de- | mand from the Eastward, while sales were made at 792. a | Sle. for white and yellow Jersey and Southera. Pork $18 12% a $1820 for new, and at $1710 a | Charleston, Chicago, or Baltimore, as the case may be; and after coming together, they will in each Place select one man—somebody, per- fair, Sugars were steady, with sales of about 1,200 bhds, | Hape, thatis now nobody's candidate—and then $1715 for old do.; new prime sold at $1450a$14 624; | old do, at $12 25. There were also some sales for March | and April delivery. Beef was firm, and the demand Cuba, with 150 hhds. Porto Rico, at steady prices. Tne | coffee market was excited, and the market for Rio was | a.133<c., and one lot of 300 bags at 14c ; 300 mats of | Java, with 300 do. Jamaica, at full prices. Freights were firm, with fair engegements to English ports, at full rates. Cotton, to L@erpool, was engaged at 932d. a 6-16d., aad | one lot of 160 bales was reported taken at 34. per ib, Tune Berorenanp.—Mr. Abraham Lincoln, who | | to its annihilation in the concrete; to it. home, for the canvass and the contest. Besides the candidates there are ianumerable decidedly higher, with sales of about 1,500 bags at 5c. | differences about the platform, and many a politician thinks he has got just the planks, cut ; and seasoned, from which to make the plat- form, and the only platform, upon which the respective candidates are to be placed. In A PresientiaL Asrmaxt Maxine a Goop | this, poor schemers, they are all wide of the ‘The rising waves of fanaticism and ran against Judge Donglas for the Senate, and | demagoguism have left buta single plank on mark, Within the next nine weeks three great party conventions are to meet, three party standard in the United States service. She was storeship | bearers are to be chosen, and a man-child is to be born who for the next four years is to be President of the Union; but whether the last of his line the election next November will It is a popular belief among the politicians that no man is an available candidate for the Presidency unless he has a State at his back; but we have nearly fifty popular candidates in the field, as has been seen by the full lists of the respective conventions, and the biographical notices of the candidates before them, which we have published in recent numbers of the Heratp. We now bring them all together, or- derly arranged, for the greater convenience of review by our readers; but in view of the fact that there are only thirty-three States, while there are about fifty candidates, we shall leave it to the critical acumen of each reader to deter- mine which are the candidates that have, and which that have not, a State in their breeches through their representatives, or of popular sovereignty through themselves in the Territo- ries; the stages of indefinite projection of black republican abolitioni:m, from the destruction of slavery and the South in the abstract, or bales, closing rather tame, but without change ia quota. | the civic merits or martial claims of some man who has committed the great public sacrifice of especially for medium grades. Southern tour was also | holding office from the first moment he could higher and in good demand, while the receipts were light. | get it just as long as he could possibly hold on On these high, noble and national grounds the delegates and partisans respectively | are abusing and quarrelling with each other's was again beryy and lower, with sales of mees at | candidates, preparatory to ceming together at key to the coming fight—the plank upon which the battle has to be fought. The constitution and the Union against the assaults of fanatics and the corrupt intrigues of demagogues. The candidates are nothing—all other planks for the platform are nothing—the brotherly relations of North and South, the constitution and the Ucion, are the allin all of the next campaign. The Harper's Forry Investigation—W hat Are the Rights of the Senate ? Since the capture, conviction and execution of John Brown, a set of fanatics have endeavor- ed to push themselves into notoriety on his skirts, Atasafe distance they brawl for the honors of martyrdom, and are in seeming des- pair that no one will notice them sufficiently to give them their deserts. These men had not the courage to rum the risk of assisting old Brown in spilling the blood of the unoffending citizens of Harper’s Ferry, but their approval of these deeds, and their attempts to elevate the character of their perpetrator, prove that but for a wholesome dread of losing their own lives, they would have had mo conscientious com- punctions in becoming participants in the mur- ders there committed. . It ia, therefore, out of no consideration, any of these men that we notice the proceed- ixgs tow going on in the United States Senate, where a motion has been made to incarcerate what is termed a “contumacious witness,” who, beingsummoned before the committee appointed to investigate the Harper’s Ferry affair, has re- fused to answer the interrogatories, evidently with a view of giving himself a notoriety which he mistakes forfame. Were it a matter coa- cerning himself personally it would be of little consequence what course the Senate saw fit to adopt. But the consideration before the Senate is of much graver import, and, aside entirely from the individual involved, we consider that it presents a question not only of moment to the Senate itself, but involving also the consti- tutional right, power or authority of the houses of Congress—purely legislative bodies—to ex- ercise functions which are clearly judicial. We hold that neither house of Congress has power, under the constitution, to order the im- prisonment of any citizen—unless, indeed, he be one of their own members—for any offence whatever, whether contempt or otherwise. Congress is the mere creature of the conatitu- tion, having no powers not directly conferred by that instrument. There is mbt one word in the constitution which authorizes either branch of Congress to arrest and punish citizens, or to act ina judicial capacity, except only in the case of impeachment. In the latter instance the Senate is created into a court, for the trial of the specific offence. But the constitution, in order to mark distinctly the fact that when the Senate is thus constituted it is acting in an “entirely different <capacity from its ordinary duties, directs thatupon such occasions Senators shall be on oath or affirmation. And further, it is declared that the “judgment in cases of im- peachment shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification: to holé any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to-indict- ment, trial, judgment and punishment ac- cording to law.” So that even in the case of impeachments—the only offence for the trial of which the Senate is given judicial power by the constitution—it is so guarded as to leave the punishment of the offence, so far as it can in apy way affect the ‘personal: liberty of the accused, solely to the regularly appointed judieiat tribunals of the-country— the Senate having no powe over his person. The misapprehension which is growing up as to the powers of Congress over the personal Hiberty of citizens is due in a great measure to the assumption that the powers and “ preroga- tives” of Congress are analogous to those of* the British Parliament. Jefferson’s- “Manual,” to a great extent, assumes this, end lays down tules of “ privilege,” &c., all drawa from British. parliamentary precedents and decisions Nothing. however, can be more erroneous, The Parliament of England is the highest court ofthe realm. Its functions, powers and attri- butes are not derived from any. written conati- tution, but are the result of precedents which, long continued, assume in England all the force of constitutioval powers. The history of the English Parliament is a record of continued contests between the kingly prerogatives, the privileges of the nobles and the claims of the people. Mr. Disraeliin his recent speech on the new French treaty, published in another column of this merning’s paper, points to this fact. Each successful assumption on the part of Parliament becomes an acknowledged power. That body assumed the right to impris- on whom it pleased, and as there was no ap- peal from its dictum the subject was compelled to acquiesce. Nay, the Parliament goes fur- ther, and claims even to be able to alter the succession itself; and the only question is, not got soundly thrashed by the Little Giant, is one | which to defend, in 1860, the great issue of of the aspirants for the Chicago nomination. | the preservation or destruction of the fair The aspiring Lincoln has illuminated the me- | edifice of the American Union. The rapid tropolis with his oratory, and about three weeks growth of our prosperity and the increase ago entertained more or less an audience which | of our wealth have led men to think tha; included Hon. Massa Greeley and the poets of | if they took care of their own business the the Post (Bryant was stage manager of the republic would take care of itself. So show), at twenty-five cents 4 head, no money ‘ fapaticism, corruption and demsgogueism returned, and children in arms not admitted, , bave been left at liberty to” fasten upon Our Illinois philosopher belongs to the school | the public places and to sit without of comical politicians. He is not witty like | Shame in all our high seats. To be a poli- Touchstone, but he has an odd manner, like | tician, an officer in municipal government, a Clod, so people laugh at him, and not with Tepresentative in the State Legislature, and him—a most important distinction. Like all even a member of the Congress of the nation, the other theatrical stars of the day, Mr. Lincoln , has come to be a thing to obtain which {t is has to be well paid for his funniments. In the | neceesary to stoop to arts which honest men metropolis. for one night only, he received two scorn and noble souls despise. hundred dollars, which is almost as much as Aided by this unpatriotic negligence of pub- her frontier to secure it against any military ruption from Peru. Our files from the Sandwich Islands are to the 24th of January, but later news had been received | dy the overland mail. The Commercial Advertiser, of Honolulu, says:—“A flag was presented Iately on ‘the part of the American shipmasters, by A. J. Cart- ‘wright, to Abner Pratt, Ameriean Consul at this It consists of a new silk flag, 10 by 20 feet in size, made in San Francisco expressly for the object ‘intended, and cost about $200. The wharf at Ba- Ker’s Island—the new guano island—had -been car- tied away by a heavy westerly surf. C. 5, Horton, charged with mansisughter, in cau: ing the death of “Charlie,” steward of the bark Frances Palmer, in Honoluln, on the 16th October last, resuited in a verdict of “aot guilty.” Several natives had been arrested for the murder of H. Bigham, for- merly of Macon, Ga., who was killed at Makawao. The Polynesian saya—-‘We have now three Ras- sian wenof war, propellers, in port, viz: the Ry ads, 10 guns; the Norik, 10 guns; the Ptastoon, ®@ great attraction like Forrest, or Charlotte | lic duty, fanaticism bas banded with the dema- | Cushman, or Patti, would get. Abraham has | gcgues and invaded the holy places of the na- | Tepeated the same performance in the provinces | tion. It proclaims theories which, if not put. where he gets, we suppose, from twenty-five to | down, and put down forever, by the uprising of a hundred dollars, according to the size , am indignant people, will inevitably carry the of the place and the fervor of the brethren in country into revolution, civil war, usiversal the vicinity. The idea of the Illinois orator is | bloodshed and final ruin. These theories have worthy of a Connecticut Yankee, or a Camden | sundered the churches of the land into hostile and Amboy Jerseyman. He knows that things | communions that do not recognise each will be a good deal “mixed up” at Chicago; | other: they have rent and destroyed nearly that there is not much chance for him to | every national political party; and now they get the nomination, between Master Seward | are attacking the last bond that preferves and Madame Bates, and if he should be nom!. | the brotherhood of the States. This bond nated there is no great probability that he will | 1s the commercial relations between North and be elected. Consequently he is introducing | South. It is these that now constitate the only himself ashe goes along—“ hedging,” as the | centripetal forees in the Union, and when they sporting men call it. It is a very good dodge, | £0, the Union goes with them. The constitution that of the show politician, and quite character- | becomes nothing but a shred of paper from the istic of the Weed and Seward party: they never | moment that it loses the heartfelt respect ofthe let a chance to make a dollar ont of the nigger, | People, North and South; and this respect the or anything else, slip through their fingers. gdolitionists and the black republicans are whether it is constitutional, but whether they have the power to carryout their designs. This gradual growth of power on the part of Parliament was looked upon with favorable eyes by the people of Englaad, for they felt that it was their fight: it was curtailment of the oppressive anointed rights of the sovereign, and the scarcely less dangerous and odious privileges of the nobility. But the Congress of the United States is not only a widely different body from the Parlia- ment of Great Britain—having the most limited powers, and those plainly laid down in the constitution—but its encroachments are in their effect precisely the reverse of those assumed by Parliament. The encroachments of Parlia- ment, to a great extent, are lefelled, as we have shown, at the sovereign’s prerogative and the nobles’ power. The encroachments of the houses of Congress are against the rights of the citi- zen—a usurpation of his privilegee—and in direct violation of those limitations in the con- stitution which guard, as strongly and forci- bly as lapguage can, against the exercise by Congress of judicial functions. The argn- ment that the right to arrest and imprison is a tight incident to the existence of a legislative body, a8 necessary to its protection, is without force in the face of the direct powers conferred on Congress by the constitution, the absence of any such powers as are thus claimed, and the care which has been taken to provide that the judiciary shall alone try cases affecting the life or liberty of the citizen. ‘The Senate is to resume the consideration of this important question. It should be discussed calmly ond dinpassionstely, as a great coa- stitutional poict. If the Senate possesses mands caution and forbearance. The whole genius of our institutions is opposed to centrali- zation of power; and yet the right of either house of Congress to order to jail without legal process any citizen, to suspend the operations of habeas corpus, and to act whenever it sees fit as a judicial as well as a législative body, is an assumption, if successful, over which the people are powerless, and makes Congress om- nipotent. We do not believe any such powers exist in Congress. The constitution does not confer them, and the precedents of the British Parliament are no more authority for their exercise than the edicts of the Emperor of China would be. We do not desire to see the authority of Congress resisted or brought into contempt; but no surer means could be adopt- ed to bring about both these results than the attempt to usurp powers which do not belong to it, and claiming prerogatives which have no warrant in fact, and are directly opposed to the liberties of the people and the principles of a republican government. The Finances of the State in a Bad Way— Special Report of the Comptreiler. On another page we publish an importantre- port of the Comptroller in reply to an inquiry of the Legislature asto what will be te amount of tax required for the next year, and whether the condition of the finances will warrant any appropriations for new works. The inquiry appears to have been suggested by a re- cent message of the Governor, again calling the attention of the Legislature to the imperative necessity of increasing the revenue to be derived from the public works, and returning to the financial policy preseribed in the constitution. In consequence of departing from that policy, the great Empire State is at this moment in a condition of shameless baak- ruptcy, while millions have been squandered in flagrant and corrupt jobs. The answer of the Comptroller is, that nearly five millions and a half of dollars must be raised by tax this year, to pay the interest on our debt and the expenses of government, and that not a cent can be expended on new works, and he fully agrees with the Governor that the railroads ought to be taxed and the canals protected, so as to pay the reve- nue contemplated by the constitution. It ap- pears from the proceedings of the Convention which drew up the constitution, that the sec- tions of that instrument appropriating the canal revenues to pay the interest of the debt con- tracted by their construction, and also to pay a portion of the principal every year into the “sinking fund,” which has now become a myth, were based upon certain calculations of revenue derived from the actual receipts of the canals and the tonnage paid and to be paid by railroads. The Legislature, ig aceordance with these views, imposed a uniform tax on the railroads, which worked well, and broughtin a handsome revenue; butin an evil hour, through the in- puence of the'railroad interest, that policy was departed fronr in 1851, and the: financial affairs of the State are now placed im the most embar- rassed position. While the tolls from the canals decreased from $3,700,000 im 1851 to $1,800,- 000 in 1859, the receipts of the Central Rail- road from freight increased from: $1,800,000 in 1853 to $3,300,000 in 1859. It is very olear, therefore, that what the canals have lost the railroads have gained; and the question now is, whether these private cor- Pporations are to- be enriched at the’expense of the people. In the words of the Comptroller, the issue is simply this: “Shall:the trade and tonnage passing through the State on our public works be tolledeufficiently to pay our cenal debt and interest, according to the original design, or shell that debt and interest be paid’ by taxa- tion on the whole people?” A bill is now be- fore the Legisiuture to tax the railroads insuch a way as to restore the revenues of the canals. It has passed one house; but whether the rail- road interest is not sufficiently powerful to de- feat it in the other remains to be seer: Srump Sreaxine FoR THE Porr.—The Holy Father cannot complain, of his American chil- dren. The clergy and. laity of the Roman Church in the United States have demonstrated in the'strongest manner their reverence and affection fon the Pope, and have given him all they can—the strongest moral support in his preeent difficulty with the Emperor of the French. The Catholic clergy are engaged in a regular crusade against Louis Napoleon, and the subject is treated with as much vigor as if it were a question between two clever politicians, instead of a dispute be- tween the bead of the Church and his unduti- ful eldest son. The bishops wrise long letters, and the priests exhort their people, from the altar, to be firm in their allegiance. This has been the case im various parts of the country, as well as in the metropolis; and at Brooklyn, yesterday, Father Manahan made a regular stump speech for the Pope. We have a report of the reverend gentleman’s semarks, but it is crowded out. If the anathematising Louis Ne- poleon will maintain the temporal sway of the Church, then the Pope is all right; for the Em- peror has by this time been very thoroughly cursed all round the world, thanks to steam and electricity. The ola Popes could not have had the job done in anything like so short a time. Town Execrioxs.—Byery now and then we find partiean journa’s publishing the results of town elections as indices of political sentiment in the different States. The Albany Jowrna! of Saturday last, for instance, published a table of the opposition majorities at recent town elec- tions, and heads it, in large capitals, “ Political Fashions for 1860.” These town elections, as our readers know from their own experience, are controlled more by locel ties and prejudices than by political or party-feeling. Some pro- minent citizen has contributed largely to some local charity, or has opposed some locally un- popular measure, ‘and the town-folk, itrespec- tive of their political creeds, cast their votes for the local favorite. Or, some candidate is per- eonally unpopular on account of his connec- tions, associates or habits, and the electors, disregarding his political opinions, cast their ballots against him. These elections, then, are no more exponents of political sentiment than was the passage of the Hoboken Railroad bill in the New Jersey Legislature indicative of the popularity of the Camden and Amboy monop- oly, or the recent vote upon the Gridiron bill in the New York Senate of the popular senti- ments in regard to the granting of charters for railroads in this city. These returns are there- fore no gnide to the paliticel sentimeat of s State, vails in Congress in favor of increasin,” the pre- sent overland mail to California t> a daily <er- vice, instead of, as at present, semi-weekly; aad this feeling but echoes the desire of the public, both on the Atlantic and Pacific, to have this great work accomplished. Such a proposition a few years since would have been derided as utterly inmpracticable; but the evidence of the past eighteen months, in the successfyl working of the existing Over- land Mail Company, has demonstrated not only its feasibility, at has rendered it obvious Qiat every consideratien, political and commer- cisl, demands that government shall cota lish s daily mail, if it can be had within ree~ sonable expense. The regularity and certainty with which the mails are mow carried across the continent are astonishing. Deserts, mountaine and plains are traversed with far more apparent ease than the mail experiences between this olty and New Orleans; and the wonderful fact has just been announced, that advices from Londen, England, were received in Saw Francisce, by this overland ronte, in thirty-one days. The enterprise of a private company which, by libe- ral expenditures, indomitable energy and true American perseveraase, has succeeded in over- coming the obstacles which nature hee reared up in the hundreds of miles of savage territory which have to be traversed from the Mississippi to the Pacific, seeks in vain a parallel im the history of the world. The véry magnitude of the enterprise would be sufficient to appeal any but the most daring, conrageous and om- terprising men. That it has been accomplished is a matter of national pride, al- though due to individual enterprise. The cir- cuitous isthmian routes, conveying the maitp but twice a month, or three times a month ua- der the new arrangement, and possessing no incidental advantages, such as promoting the settlement of the interior of the country, and affording us a means of uninterrupted communication with our sister States on the Pacific in case of war, are no longer adequate. All the contracts with these routes will expire on the Ist of next July ;s0 that there are no embarrasamenta in the way of the pro- posed legislation for a daily mail service acrose | the Plains. Independent of this consideration | is the not unimportant fact that the contem- plated daily overland route will be a saving to the Post Office Department of several huadred thousand dollars yearly, over the expense which would be incurred if the semi-monthiy ocean mail contracts are revived. The present semi-weekly overland mail was contracted for by the Post Office Department under a special act of Congress, on the 15th of September, 1857. The route is not direct, but- starts- from two pointe on the Mississippt, Memphis and St. Louis, but joining each other, and then running to San Francisco. The con- tract specifies that the time between th Mississippi and San Francisco shall be accom- plished within twenty-five days. In one year from the date of the contract the stages left the several termini, and performed the trip within the specified time—traversing nearly 3,000 miles of line through a new and almost unexplored country, Vast tracts, without a drop of water to sustain-either man or beast, did not deter these hardy dontractors. Again, swollen rivers to be crossed without bridges had to be en- countered; and then, to add te these trials the thefts and attacks of prowling bands of se- vages had to be repelled. All these difficulties, as we have seen, have been surmounted, and or eighteen months this semi-weekly service has been maintained, through-al!. seasons, with @ regularity astounding in itself and marvel- lous when compared with the failures and mie carriages upon some of the oldestroutes withh the settled portions of the United Stats. Scarcely an-instance has. oecurred where the contractors have failed to make the time, and most of the-trips have been performed in from twenty te twenty-three days. Three hundred and twelve trips, of 2,900. miles each, have already been performed, or a total distance of over 900/000 miles, To accomplish this work the contractors now employ sixteen hundred horses.and mules, and about six hundred: men, besides an abundance of stages and covered wagons. The local trade is represented as beiag considerable. and increasing. The country along the route- is settling steadily, and thus one great object of! the enterprise is already being accomplished. The first month the mails carried but three hundred letters one way. Public confidence has grown so rapidly in consequence of the regularity with which the trips have been por formed, that the mails from San Francisco sow bring from fifteen to twenty thousand letiers each trip, and the numbevs are rapidly sug- menting. With a daily mail to San Francisco we sball want telegraphic wires stretehed acroes the continent. After these are aceon- plished a railroad to the Pacific becomss im easy matter. Asoruer Rica Piaces Orexep in THE @rty.-- On another page we publish a very eurioas statement of charges presented to the State Senate by Mr. Kerr, one of the Commissioners of Excise;againat tae other two Commission- ers—Holmes and Maskett—who, it {a alleged, understood each other, and voted always against Kerr, leavieg him if a minovity of one. The most extraosdinary developoments rome out -in consequence—developements showing that the Excise Board is one of the rehast placers yet diecovered in the city—equal jo.the Board of Aldermen, with its $2,000 bribes, ‘but with this difference: thas the majority in the Board of Excise do an hoaest busines, and according to law. ‘ It seema that Haskett aad Holmes, wio are lawyers, monopolized the whole power ¢f the Board, aad voted that ane of them, (Hélmes) should be pleted, Mr. Holmes naturally appointed his own partner, Mr. MeKeag, as attorney ia a business whose profits are almost fabulons— ten thousand . suits. instituted, the taxable costs of which will amouat to one million of dollars, and must be paid, whether the suits are lost or won. If is already ascertained that for at least eligi. hundred of the cases no-color of law or fact could be found. If the suits are properly and justifiably instituted, the taxable costs which can be recovered from the parties would amount (o half a million of do!- lare. If they are not justifiably instituted, the parties wucd have no redress, and canaot re- cover costs of the city, but must pay thelr owa opsts in any case; and the best ofthe joke is, that on thie ground the Conimissionere claim ed-