The New York Herald Newspaper, April 20, 1860, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF NASSAU AND FULTON STS. sh in advance. Money sent by madl will be ot fhe ride te sees” Posenge stamps mab recetwed us rubecription eid ny HERALD too conte ; ST per annum. Wee RALD, every Satur kw conse ‘ednenlay, Serums ihe ie Edition ever aod rn Ga por annum to-any partes Great Britany | ores any part of Oe 0 intent toch include, porte Caljornia Kdtion om the 8th and Bh of a: pry ay PUMP RAMILY HERALD on Welncsday, at four cout per NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY. Central Park stock, and the resolution respecting the issue of eaid stock wag retarmed to. the Board of Councilmen. The Mayor sent ine message suggesting that proper arrangements be made for the reception of the Japanese embassy. ‘The subject was referred to a special committee. it appears pretty certain that the visitors will first land at this port, as, owing to the shallowness of the Potomac, it will be impossible for the Roanoke, on board of which the embassy will embark at Aspinwall, to as:end that river to either Annapolis or Washington. The Board of Councilmen met last evening, but there was no business of importance transacted. The City Inspector replied to a resolption of in- OM PONTART CORRESPONDENCE, containing import nell irom any gu he ent sl Verdlly paid Jor. Ba OUR FouRiGx Cowussrospents 488 ey oer Rrqvessay 7o Skat ALL LaTrEas AND Pack- “yO. SNOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. We do not communications. 6. ISEMENTS renewed every day aie A eraiy Hanato, Famine ‘ond inthe California and European Editions, Volume XXV........0c000s seeeeeeeeseseN@e M10 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, ACADEMY OF [MUSIC [Fourteenth street.—frauan Ore- Ri—Nonma. ane Boome Hone ‘Honss. Foy BOWERY THEATEB. Bur-t-Dean—Moonrarn WINTER GARDEN. Travi2n OFreRA—ALESSANDHO WALLACE’S THEATRE. Broadway.—O.v Heaps snp Young Heatts—Maxrisce Buss or Box amp Cox, ‘Bowery Man Awtnoxy Warxe— ‘Pappy Mites’ Boy. 7. Oppoake Bond street.— ADELA. = KEENE’S THEATEE, 62% Broadway.—Cousex WI EW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Ronw Hoop— Benne Bor—Faagrvu. Tracapy w tus Kiguin Avexus. MBB. meoyan awe, THEATRE, 444 Broadway.—Tas Last ov rax Pictans. AMERICAN moe Broadway.—Day aud ‘BUCKLE OF Baiwuiants—JeamiB Obaws—Livinc Ovniosizizs, &c. BRYANT® MINSTRELS. wny.—Bua.esqugs, Soxas, » Dances, Ser tenbeaarces, NIBLO'S SALOON, Broadway.—Guo. Cunistr’s Min- Ornmis Im Soncs, Dances, Bosussaves, 20.—Warro. BLEECKER BUILDINGS—Bupworrtn’s Ps ga at Boncs, Dancas, 4c.—Peten Pirgn Perrer Poogr. COOPER INSTITUTE.—Exnusition or Paare’s OnicuraL Pag ae oop an mare Deata—afternoon and Evening. NATIONAL CONCERT ATOR, Natlonal Theasre.— Bonas, Dances, Buuiesques, £0. TRIPLE SHEET. New Work, Friday, April 20, 1560. MAILS FOR THE PACIFIC. New York Herald—California Edition. The mail steamship North Star, Capt. Jones, will leave this port for Aspinwall, at noon, to-day. ‘The mails for California and other parts of the Pacific will close at half-past ten o’clock this morning. The New York Wexxiy Hxratp—California edition— containing the latest intelligence from all parts of the world, with a large quantity of local and miscellaneous matter, will be published at half-paat mine o’clook in the morning. Single copies, in wrappers, ready for mailing, six cents. Agents will please send in their orders as early as pos- sible, The News. According to our special despatch from Charles- ton, thousands of delegates to the Democratic Con- vention are already on the ground, and thousands are arriving by every train. The President has written a letter to the ehairman of the National Committee declining a re-nomination. The most prominent names for the Presidential nomination are those of Douglas and Hunter. It is, however, useless to speculate as to the result. It is stated that an arrangement has been concladed by which the Mozart Hall delegates from New York are to be excluded from the Convention. The revelations of Hon. Ropert J. Walker before the Covode investigating committee has led to an affair of honor between Mr. Walker and Attorney General Black. Mr. Walker sent a peremptory challenge, by the hands of Senator Brown, to Judge Black, yesterday afternoon, but the latter coolly declined the invitation without explanations. Thns the matter rests at present. It is believed that se- veral other affairs of honor are likely to grow out of these revelations before the Covode committee Ip Congress yesterday the Senate adopted a mo- tion to print two thousand extra copies of the re- ort of the Printing Investigating Committee. The ll supplementary to the act for taking the census was passed. The bill relative to allowing Just compensation for private property taken for public purposes was discussed. The Homestead bill was taken up, and the amendment legalizing the occupancy of mineral lands in California and Oregon by miners was rejected. Several amend- ments were offered, and it was finally agreed to take a vote on the bill on Wednesday week. After an executive session the Senate adjourned till Mon- day. The House went into Committee of the Whole, and resumed the consideration of the Military Academy bill. An amendment, reducing the term of study at West Point to four years, was adopted. The Senate’s amendment providing for @ regiment of mounted volunteers, was rejected by a vote of 50 against 69. The committee then rose, and the House agreed to the amendment by 4 vote of 74 to 72. A motion was made to recon- sider, and the subject was then dropped. The resolution providing for an adjournment of the House from to-day till the 30th inst., was laid on the table—SS to 53. Notwithstanding the refusal of the House to adjourn over to allow members an opportunity to attend the Presidential Conven- tions, no business of importance will be transacted by Congress till after the meeting of the Republi- can Convention at Chicago. The Tax Levy, after much manipulation and delay, ‘was teturned to the Common Council last evening, in its final and legal form. It eomprises only the city and county taxes, amounting to $6,768,126 90, which, with the State and Common School taxes added, will make about nine millions for this year. Decidedly the most impudent item in the whole budget is a proviso for $18,000, which now for the third year makes itaregular appearance in the levy, for the law expenses of the Police Commission, and which was slipped in during the final readings of the act. The members of the Common Council have a salary of $1,200 & year, which amounts to °$49,200, with which they have inclu ded also a margin for expenses as members, making, with this salary, $64.830. The sum of $30,000 is inserted for steam fire engines. The Se- venth regiment is allowed $5,000 for the famous Washington trip. For the improvement of Mouat Morris square $20,000 is eet apart, and $2,000 for a preliminary survey of obstructions in Harlem ri- ver. For a new county Court House $100,000 is ap- priated, and fon the Commissioners of Record to pay for work alryady done $80,000, subject to ju- dicial action. ‘Tip levy contains a clause enabling the Mayor and Cimmon Council to contract out the street cleaningand repair of roads at optional rates for five years,the Mayor and Comptroller ap- Proving the ‘The Supervisors acting for the county are-for the firat time enabled to issue revenue bonds in anticipation of the taxes, as the city has heretofore done. Atthe meeting of the Board of Aldermen Inst evenivg, 8 communication was received from the City Inspector, stating that the expenses of his de- partment for the quarter ending 3ist ult, amounted to $93,753. Aldermen Starr, Cor. nell, Platt, Boole, Genet, Brady and Farley were appointed delegates to the National quiry relative to the. public markets, by stating that there was no acting Superintendent of Mar- kets, and that complaints for violations of ordi- nances ought to be mace to the clerks of the re- spective markets where the violations were perpe- trated. Mr. Finckney presented a resolution di- recting the Street Commissioner ‘o enforce the or- dinance requiring the Harlem Railroad Company to run their smull cars to Forty-second street, which was adopted. The City Inspector was directed to furnish the Board with the names and specific du- ties of all his employés, and whether any of them hold positions under the federal or municipal go” vernment. The Board copcurred with the Alder- men in thanking those members of the Legislature who stood up for the rights of the city during its late session. Mr. Lent said that some of the mem- bers of that body had gone to their farms, others to their merchandise, and another portion probably to pay the mortgages on their farms. A number of general orders pertaining to routine matters were adopted. Ve are informed that no less than six vessels have left this port for the African’coast within the past fortnight, al! of which expect to have negroes for their return cargoes. Among these was a fine clipper ship and a fast sailing brig. In the Court of General Sessions yesterday the case of David Beach, alias Leach, was called up for trial, but on motion of his counsel the indw'- ment was removed for trial to the Oyer and Termi- ner. Leach was tried two months ago, charged with forging a check purporting to have been signed by Robert Bonner, of the Ledger, but the jury failed to agree upon a verdict. Counsel fcr Homer B. Hawkins, indicted for embevzling $1,000rfrom the Overland Mail Company, moved to bave him tried or else discharged, he having been in prison eighty days. His bail was fixed at the sum of $13,000, and his counsel gave notice that unless he were tried on Friday he would move to quash the indictment. We learn that Miss Jean M. Davenport has com- meuced an action of libel in the Superior Court of this city, claiming $5,600 damages against Dion Bour- cicault ior charging her, in a recently published card, with piracy and imposture. Miss Davenport, whose translation and impersonation are so famous, has recently dramatized Sir Walter Scott’s novel, “The Heart of Midlothian,” which has been most fa- vorably received. Mr. Bourcicault, working in the same mine, had previously produced the drama of “Effie Deans,” and this,as he seems to suppose, gives him a monopoly in the subject. By the arrival of the North American at Port- land last evening we have news from Europe to the 5th inst.,one day later than the accounts re- ceived by the Arago. The Carlist revolt in Spain was an abortion. The troops, when they became apprised of General Ortega’s plans, refused to second them, and the General took to flight, pur- sued by his own soldiers. Complete tranquillity had been restored. Some slight disturbances had occurred between the troops and citizens at Paler- mo. Extraordinary powers had been voted to the Swiss federal council. Financial and commercial affairs remained pretty much as previously re- ported. A decline in Minois Central shares, how- ever, is reported. — The steamship De Soto arrived here yesterday after a fine run from Havana, bringing dates to the 15th, one day later than those by the Quaker City. The news contains nothing of any interest beyond the fact of the sailing of a couple of New York vemsels, supposed to be slavers bound for the coast of Africa. The Captain-General had com menced a tour through the northern portion of the Island. On receipt of the European news, the sugar market experienced some depression. By the British brig Africa we have received files of Jamaica papers to the 29th ult. The only item of interest is the squabble between the Gorcrnor and the Assembly. One of the last acts of the or- dinary session, which terminated a few weeks ago, was to pass a vote that the Governor had commit- ted a breach of its privileges; and the first act of the special session, which commenced on the 27th ult., was to vote that his Excellency had again in- vaded its privileges. Advices from St. Thomas to the 29th ult. repre- sent the health of the island as good. We have news from Buenos Ayres to February 25. Trade was dull. The only items of news are the election of Derqui as President of the Confede- ration, the ratification of his part of the contract of fan Jose by President Lopez, of Paraguay, and the conclusion of the Tacuari difficulty by the sailing of that vessel with permission of the British Ad- miral. General Urquiza was to have resigned his power into the hands of Verqui on the 5th ult. The cotton market yesterday was without change in prices, while the sales embraced about 600 bales, on the basis of 1123/0. for middling uplands. Good to fair cot- tons were comparatively scarce and firmly held, while ordinary and inferior grades were plenty, and prices irregular. The proportion of trashy and inferior quali- ties promise to be more largely supplied by the large crop of last year than usual. Some persons have sug- gested whether some of the worst of it might not be reginned or recleaned in New Orleans before shipment, the value of clean cotton of fair staple being so high as to cover the expense. Common grades of State and West- ern tour were heavy and easier, while medium and high- er qualities were sustained, with a fair demand from the trade. Southern flour was active and higher, with pur- chases made for export. Wheat was firmly held for good sorts of all kinds, while sales were moderate; 20,000 bushels of Western club were shipped to Europe from first hands, and some sales of good spring were made on private terms. Corn was firm with moderate sales, Pork was firmer and more active, with sales of new mess at $11 874; a $18, and of new prime at $14 373; a $14 50. Sugars were again firmer and active, and closed at an advance of about 1-Sc per pound, making the whole rise on the week's sales about 1-4c, per pound. The trausac- tions footed up about 3,000 hhds.,, closing within the range of prices given in another column. Coffee was firm, sales 750 bags Rio being made at 13%;¢., with a small lot of ditto at 1d. Freights were steady, with fair engage. ments, without change of moment in rates. Tue Man ror Cutcaco.—The republicans are in almost as distressed a state of mind about a candidate for Chicago as the democrats are about Charleston. The battle between the friends of Mr. Seward and “ availability ” poli- ticians rages as flercely as ever, and a despe- rate effort will be made to kill off the Sage of Auburn. He has already recefved the endorse- ment of conventions in two States—Wisconsin and New York—and probably others will fol- lowsuit. Pennsylvania insists upon Simon Ca- meron, and Pennsylvania is a very important State in a republican convention. If the iron men will not haveSeward, his nomination would seem to be out of the question. Ohio pro- nouncés for Chase, and sticks to it. This aiti- tude of two of the great Central States per- plexes the Seward men more than they care to acknowledge; and against two such men as Cameron and Chase the New York delegation may have some tough work. The three candi- dates—Seward, Chase and Cameron -are the only mga who bave received formal exdorsament, \ { ‘ -will come regularly before: the convea- and Cameron and Chase, with the others who have been mentioned informally, euch a8 Banks, Bates, Fessenden, Wilson and Lincoln, will make a strong fight against Seward. The contest will be a very interesting one, and we shall not lose sight of it for a moment. The Presidemt amd the Covede Commit- tee—The Walker Bomb, We gave in the Heratp of yesterday a very long story upon that remarkably fresh and en- tertaining subject, the Kansas question. The narrative, if not especially entertaining, has, like some of the old-fashioned novels, the ad- vantage of a good moral. It is theevidence of Mr. Robert J. Walker before the immortal Covode Investigating Committee, a sort of roving inquisition, with a general charter to inquire into everybody’s business generally, and to injure the President particularly, all to make black republican capital for the coming campaign. Mr. Robert J. Walker is one of the unfortu- nate politicians who were killed off by being appointed Governors of Kansas, They all died, like those whom the gods love, at a tender age. We dubitate very much as to whether the pub- lic, distinct from the politicians, can recall the names of these sanctified martyrs. Perhaps it would not be recollected that even Mr. Walker, who is a distinguished man in his way, had been Governor of, or governed by Kansas, had he not sworn to the circumstance before the terrible Covode Committee. But there it is. He was Governor. Mr. Buchanan, with tears in his eyes, implored him to go ; Walker only could saye the country. Walker was a patriot, and, on first thoughts, would go. But Walker was a husband as well as a patriot, and he must have Mrs. W.’s consent. She yielded to the persuasions of the President, and the Honorable Robert J. started for Kansas, with his inaugural in his pocket. What he did after he got there was net considered of much consequence at the'time. The people of Kansas went to work and arranged their affairs for themselves, The Covode Committee, however, expected to prove by Walker that the President had sent him two sets of instructions—one through Calhoun, ordering him to assist in foro- ing slavery on Kansas, and the other by means of a letter, written entirely by Mr. Bu- chanan, directing’the new Governor to sec that the actual residents of Kansas had every oppor- tunity for fair play in the foundation of their government. Mr. Walker swears that Calhoun did tell him that the President inclined towards the pro-slavery party, but that he (Walker) would not believe Calhoun in any matter where his interest was concerned. Then we have Mr. Buchanan’s own letter. This document was de- manded by the committee three days ago, and everybody supposed it was something terrible, Mr. Walker saying that he would rather go to jail than giveit up. The next day he thought bet- ter of it, and produced the letter, which places Mr. Buchanan in the best possible light with the country. The President is ready to stand or fall on the question of submitting the con- stitution to the bona jide residents of the Terri- tory. Again, he says:—‘I would advise you to make the great principle of the submission of the constitution to the bona fide residents of Kaneas conspicuously prominent.” And the whole tenor of the letter is that of a patriot, a statesman and a Christian. There is nota tittle of evidence to show that Mr. Buchanan ever varied from this position, and it must be re- membered that the letter to Walker was after the manner of a confidential communication, not a State paper written for show. We put it to the good sense of the country, and ask if the Covode Committee has not so far placed Mr. Buchanan in a much better position than he has heretofore enjoyed? No more effective method could have been adopted to answer the lies which the black republican presses have industriously circulated about the administra- tion than this same investigation. As the facta come out they all tell for instena of against the President. But the fact of the whole matter is that the Forney democrats and Seward republicans never imagined fora moment that the Preai- dent was, in the smallest way, corrupt. They believed, however, that they might damage him by inuendoes such as are contained in Wendell’s testimony, or insinuations to be thrown out by persons like Walker, who have private grief to be atoned for. But Wendell’s testimony contradicts his previous evidence, and Walker’s is all good for Mr. Buchanan. And now, when the Commitice has utterly failed in its efforts to damage Mr. Buchanan, the question recurs as to the sublime impu- dence of the Forney-Seward clique in setting such an investigation on foot at all. They are like the thief who, hearing the hue and cry, joins with the mob, and cries “stop him!” louder than any one else. The Forney clique was notoriously corrupt in the time of poor Pierce; and as for the republicans, the ar- chives of almost every Legislature in the North are stuffed with evidences of their political pira- cy. Look at Maine, Ohio and Wisconsin. Look at the late Legislature of this State, which passed the most outrageous plunder schemes with the express understanding that a portion of the money of which the people were robbed ‘was to be spent to assist in the election of Mr. Seward. As to this latter circumstance, there can be no doubt. The agreement is a formal one between the speculators and the leaders of the party. As for the doings of the party in Congress, we have only to recall the remem- brance of the gang of political pirates organ- ized by Matteson, on the plan of refusing to vote for any bill unless they were paid for it. We know that there is corruption in both parties. We know, too, that Mr. Buchanan is pure. He has expressed his disgust at the manner in which some electionsare conducted, in a public letter. His written views are thoroughly sustained by his acts, and even the efforts of his enemies to injure him redound to his credit. And that, with the single exception of the disclosures as to Forney and that seven ty thousand dollars (where are those vouchers ?) is the total grand result of Mr. Covode’s inves- tigation. It is the old story of the mountain laboring, but we do not even see the slightest chance of its being delivered of anything—not even the smallest possible mouse. A GrateriL Retigv.—Notwithstanding that the pablic have been sorely taxed and grievously oppressed by the action of the deceased Legislature, there remains one senti- ment, at least, of an agreeable character ia re- lation to it, and that is a sense of grateful relief atitsdemise. very one rejoices thatit is dead and gave, ang can do no more misobief for this APRIL 20, 1860.~TRIPLE year at all events, and feels disposed to hold a jubilant orgie over its remains. Few would join in the prayer, let it rest in peace! but many unite in the supplication, let it rest in perditien! A New Revelution in Spaim—Tendoncy of Spanish Affairs, A telegraphic despatch to a Paris paper of the 3d of April announces that General Ortega, at the head of 3,000 men, has pro- nounced at Tortota, near Valencia, for the Pretender to the throne of Spain; and the Eng- lish journals look upon the affair as the re- opening of the old Carlist civil war and the pre- lnde to stirring events in the Spanish Peninsula. Though we do not doubt the fact of the revo- lutionary movement that is announced by the telegraph, it is possible that there is some error as to its being a Carlist pronunciamiento. The Carlist element is pretty well worn out in Spain, and in the Province of Valencia, where General Ortega is said to have pronounced, it has never existed to any great extent, the prin- cipal strength of that feeling having been in the Basque Provinces and Catalonia. It may be, therefore, that the movement of ‘rtega is the result of the intrigues and conspiracies that have been going on for months past in Spain to overthrow the O'Donnell Ministry. Revolution is the normal mode in Spain, as well as in Spa- nish America, of effecting a change in the per- sonnel of the administration, just as are a vote ofa want of confidence in the British Parlia- ment, and a Presidential election in this coun- try, the normal mode of bringing about the same result in them. It is well known that strenuous efforts have been making to oust the O'Donnell Ministry ever since the chief of it got up the war in Morocco and took the com- mand of the troops there, in order to attain for himself the rank of Duke and Grandee of Spain; and no sooner were these obtained by the cap- ture of Tetuan than he forced a peace arrange- ment on terms unsatisfactory to the court and the people. But whatever may be the result of the Or- tega movement, or of the intrigues against O'Donnell, the effect of the Morocco war upon the Spanish nation is ene that will yet produce some effect on the foreign policy of thatcoun- try which will not make her one of the most amiable of neighbors. The martial spirit and pride of Spain, which had been looked upon as pretty nearly burnt out with her long and fruitless struggle with her colo- nies, and her own civil wars, have received a new impulse, and from her victories over the half armed Moors she will now aspire to the position of a great military nation. This aspiration is peculiarly consonant with the proud character of the people and with the personal wishes of the Court. The Queen, who, in her personal conduct, proves that extremes touch, is now disposed to be a saint, and is en- tirely under the influence of her confessor, the Archbishop Claret, an unprincipled and in- triguing priest. At his solicitation the Queen is exceedingly desirous of sending an army to help the Pope in his present straits, and then her family affections lead her to wish to sup- port her cousin, the King of Naples, in his fa. natic and tyrannical course. These leanings bring the Court of Spain into conflict with the Napoleonic policy, and Louis Napoleon has thus far succeeded in keeping her out of the Italian complications by ministering to O’Don- nell’s African aspirations. These are now satisfied, and some new bau- ble must be found to keep the Spanish Court out of mischief in Europe. Perhaps Mexico may suffice for this purpose; and it would be difficult to imagine any other rea- son for the support of the course of Gabriac in Mexico and of Almonte in Spain by Louis Napoleon than a wish to flatter Spanish pride and keep her from meddling in European affairs by giving her occupation elsewhere. This reawakening of the military aspirations of Spain is not likely to be productive of any par- ticular good feeling towards ourselves, and it will certainly go a long way to prevent a set- tlement of the Onban problem, and perhaps of our claims upon her. It may be that in want of some petter quarrel to pick, she may be urged into picking one with us on the tender point of naval supremacy in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Spain has largely increased her navy of late years,and the only region where this costly bauble can be exhibited in active service is around Cuba and near our shores. Spanish pride and Spanish vanity are equal to any enterprise, however Quixotic may be its nature, and recent events have brought these national qualities strongly into play. THe Question or OrriciaL: CLorHes.—We print to-day some very curious and entertain- ing correspondence between Mr. Marcy, when at the head of the State Department, and the diplomatic appointees of’ poor Pierce at seve- ral of the European courts. The correspon- dence was called forth by a resolution of the Senate, and is now given in full for the first time. The question was first started in 1853, in the famous Dudley Mann circular. Mr. Mann (and the Cabinet generally, we pre- sume,) became suddenly affected with an idea that the question of clothes had an important bearing upon our national reputation abroad, and that the American Eagle would soar a great deal higher, and the Star Spangled Ban- ner would wave much more proudly if our ministers ignored all such vanities as cocked hats, dress swords, short breeches, silk stock- ings, embroidery, gold lace, and so on. So the representatives of the republic were re- quested to appear at foreign courts “in the simple dress of an American citizen.” There was a good deal of difficulty about deciding as to the simple dress of an American citizen. In California it is a red shirt, a sombrero, and seedy trowsers tucked into cowhide boots. In Georgia the Crackers used to wear a shirt collar and « pair of spurs only,” which was quite simple enough. In Washington, some of the representatives wear, in the morning, a black dress coat, black trow sers, black satin waistcoat, and a shirt witha tobacco stained: front. In New Mexico there are American citizens who affect the simple costume of Adam, and we have, in fact, every variety of dress that was ever heard of. The diplomats, however, put on evening dresees, looking like upper servants,and present- ed'themeelves at various polite courts, where no ‘objection was made, but where there must have beens good deal of sly fun poked at the rep- resentatives of Jonathan. The only positive objection that was urged to the“‘simple dress of an ican citizen” was made by old King Clicquot, of hata who did not know what he was about. Th England, Mr. Buchanan was g00d deal bothered about it, aud he finally SHEET. compromised the matter by wearing a dress sword with plain evening clothes, Mr. Ba- chanar evidently thought that there was more fuss about the affair than it deserved, forhe hopes, in one despatch, that he has done with the subject forever. In Paris, Mr. Sanford, the acting Charge, went in very strongly for the | simplicity dodge, and there was no objection at | the Tuileries; but'when the new Minister, the | late Mr. Mason, came out, he immediately put on a court suit, whereupon Mr. Sanford re- signed and took to letter writing on the sub- ject—a healthy and agreeable mental exercise, which did no harm to anybody except Mr. Marcy, who must have been a good deal bored with the matter from firat to last. The upshot of the whole matter has been that our Ministers in Burope now wear court suits, generally—doing in Rome as the Ro- mans do. No one has yet assumed the dress worn by Doctor Franklin at Versailles, or that affected by General Washington, as was re- commended to Mr. Buchanan by some joker in London. But, notwithstanding the fact that , our Ambassadors are habited in the garb of despotism, the Eagle still screams as vigorous- ly as ever, the Star Spangled Banner is in splendid condition, and is respected all over the world, especially at Vera Cruz, where it is now unfurled, and the country generally is getting on as well as could be expected after having suffered such a terrible draw- back to its progress as the failure of policy that the gheocratical rule of the Church must be supported, at all hazards, is producing , such disastrous resalts, and is eo opposed to the liberal views that to-day animate the oabi- neta of England and France, that we confi- dently expect to see it abandoned on the coming of Mr. Wyke as British Minister to Mexico, If these results should be obtained im Mexico, as they have been in Central America, the judicious course of Mr. Buchanan will have laid a foundation for our foreign policy in the countries south of us, in spite of the oppesition of factious Congresses, that will prove of the highest advantage for the interests of our own trade and that of the world. The Italian amd Savey Questiens—Re- cogmition by England of the Validity of the Ammexation Votes. We see, with satisfaction, that England has lost no time in giving her sanction te the new order of things established by the popular vote of the Central Italian States. In the House of Commons, on the 2d inst., Lord John Russell, in reply to an interpellation, stated that the government had advised her Majesty to recog- nise the annexation of Bolegna, Tuscany, Mo- dena and Parma to the kingdom of Sardinis. This settles the question, so far as foreign di- ” plomatic interference isconcerned. In presence of such a recognition on the part of England, it is no longer in the power of a Congress to disturb the arr cements effected by the will of the Italian people. France will no doubt the Dudley Mann project must have entailed upon it. The only way to settle the clothes question finally will be by a special act of Congress, founded upon the report of a select investigating committee of metropolitan tailors. The New British Mimister for Mexico— the Cemtral American Questions. The accounts from Central America, which we publish to-day, inform us that Mr. Wyke, the British Minister to the several Central American republics, has concluded his nego- tiations there, and that he is now on his way to England to receive instructions for bis new mission to Mexico. The Central American imbroglio took its rise years ago, in a policy on the part of England which impelled her to send Chatfield to the Isthmus republics, and Elliot to Texas during her independent existence, in order to initiate a policy and feeling in the countries south of us, adverse to the increasing power of the American Union. This led for a time to the “coquetting” of Sam Houston with England against us, which was put an end to by the an- nexation of Texas, and to a long contention, diplomatic and political, in London and in the Central American States, which the Clayton- Bulwer treaty was designed to bring to a close. This result was not immediately produced, for the remnants of the old feeling of antagonism still stuck to England, and she claimed an interpre- tation of the new compact which we could not by any means admit. When it was proposed to abrogate this ineffective treaty by the action of Congress, this was stopped by the plea that if the Clayton-Bulwer arrangement were set aside there would be no impediment of any kind to England’s doing what she chose in Cen- tral America. In order to settle the difficulty without rais- ing the point of honor between the two go- vernments, it was suggested that England should arrange all the matters in question by separate negotiations with the several Central American republics; and it has been stated that such an understanding existed between her cabinet and our own. The upshot of the mat- ter is, that action on our part, on the Clayton- Bulwer mistake, was delayed, and Mr. Wyke, the British Minister in Central America, has in a short period of time negotiated three treaties, two of which settle points on which we were at issue with England. His first treaty was with Guatemala, by which certain claims of ter- ritory for the Belize settlement are con- ceded by the republic. Here we had no question. The next treaty was with Honduras, by which the Bay Islands are re- turned to that republic without the obnoxious stipulations in a former treaty, for the same object, which eliminated the sovereignty of Honduras, while they were evidently pointed at the United States. The third and last treaty has been negotiated with Nicaragua, by which the folly of a Musquito protectorate has been wiped out, and the recognition of the sove- reignty of Nicaragua over that territory con- summated. These movements indicate 1 change on the part of England in her Central American policy, which, if carried out in good faith, will be productive of benefit to the interests of all. Mr. Wyke is now on his way to England to re- ceive instructions for his Mexican mission. In Central America he has exhibited the re- verse of Mr. Chatfiela’s policy. If in Mexico he plays the same part to that established by Mr. Otway, and which bas created such intense dissatisfaction everywhere except in Spain and with the Pope, it is very probable that Mexico may soon emerge from that scene of anarchy and strife which now desolates her, and take the position which the policy of both the Uni- ted States and England desires che shatl occupy. We do not want to annex Mexico. There area thousand reasons why such an operation would be undesirable to us. But we desire to cee her under a stable and enlightened government; one consonant with the spirit of the age and the growing tendency of the Mexican people towards liberalism in matters of State and Church; one which shall insure her peace at home and her respect for the obligations of international comity; and, finally, one which shall open her immense natural resources to the commerce and industry of the world. If Mr. Wyke goes to Mexico animated by such intentions, and guided by such instruc- tions as his course in Central America lead us to expect, we have no doubt that we shall see @ united action there between the representa- tives of the two countries that will soon puta stop to the mistaken policy now pursued by Mons. Gabriac, the French Minister in Mexico. Whatever may be the motives of Mons. Ga- briac’s course, its results have been equally disastrous to the foreign and domestic interests fn that republic. His own countrymen have not escaped the universal disaster; and when their representations to the Imperial govern- -ment against him have been rent to him for explanation,’ his constant reply has been the libel that his accusers are a set of red republicans, who hate him because he represents the Empire. But his plea that his policy is necessary to counteract the southward march of the United States falls before the evidence of facts; andbis shortly follow witha similar formal acknow- ledgment of the fact to which she has secretly contributed; so that were even Austria disposed to depart from that “attitude of reserve” which she gradually prescribes to herself, she would be met by the same pbysical obstacles that have restrained her action thus far. This quiet but summary mode of settling the issues in- volved in the Italian imbroglio is of bad sugury for the Neapolitan despot. It tells his people in plain terms that they have but to accomplish a successfal revolution to have their indepen- dence recognized and virtually guaranteed by the two Powers which at a control Earo- pean affairs. -The appeal made by Switzerland to the European governments which were parties to the treaty of Vienna will, it is now believed, result in a Congress. There is @ principle in- volved in the question raised by that republic which cannot well be disposed of otherwise. The readiness that the French Emperor haa himself expressed to place the neutralized pro- vinces'of Savoy under such exceptional cir- cumstances in regard to French rule as will conserve the interests of Switzerland, shows that on this point no serious difficulty is.to be apprehended. In fact, there are strong reason3 for believing that the absorption of those dis- tricts is threatened merely to bring about a for- mal diplomatic arrangement, not so much for the sake of such an arrangement itself, but for the mode in which it is to be effected. Louis Na- poleon has certain ulterior views which cau only be subserved by the reassembling of another Congress, and this small Swiss dis- pute has been made the pretext for effecting his object. It will be found when itmects that he cares but little about these neutralized dis- tricts of Savoy, and that he will readily enter into the views of his brother sovereigns in re- gard to the future position which they are to hold. For his accommodating spirit in respect to them, he will, however, exact conditions which will, probably, not prove very palatable to the Continental governments, Either in principle or in fact he will make such further invasions of the treaties of 1815 as will leave them of very little account for the fature re- gulation of European affairs. After the manner in which the diplomatic arrangements tatified between the European governments during the last half century have been broken through by the will of a single ruler, political treaties will henceforth cease to have the value in the eyes of states- men which has hitherto attached to them. England gave the first great blow to their im- portance, by the recognition of the principle that a de facto government was entitled to the same measure of respect as a de jure one; or, in other words, that a successful revolution de- cided the right of a people to the choice of their own instilutions. Louis Napoleon himself, ‘the offspring of this dogma, is giving it practical effect, by aiding the principle of elective sove- reignty in other countries. England and France, united in the propagandiam of a theory which renders compacts between rulers and governments dependent upon the will of their people, of what avail become treaties having for object the perpetuation of territorial boun- daries, and of a certain order of political ideas? Very soon these paper agreements to limit the rights and progress of populations will be thrown aside altogether, and the broad under- standing will be adopted that nations are not to be fettered by the unintelligent theories and foolish compacts of past generations. This is the only principle on which the relations of the world can henceforth be carried on. It is certainly the only one which guarantees popu- lar liberty and the progress of civilized ideas. But meanwhile the old dynasties will endeavor to organize a secret combination against Napo- leon, in order to preserve the old régime and crush out the new ideas andethe popular will. A Provuecy Srrxptty Verirtep.—In the year 1852 the Common Council of New York paased a Railroad bill similar to but notin any re- spect more flagitious than those which have just passed the Legislature over the Governor’s veto. The indignation of the whole commu- nity was aroused at such a shameless trafficking with the franchises of the city; the courts were appealed to, and, aided by the force of public sentiment, the scheme was frustrated, and the concoctors of the job were made to feel a sense of shame and mortification which it was hoped would have acted as a salutary lesson for a long time to come. Following in the wake of this attempt. Mr. Taber, a leading republican, in- troduced, in 1853, a bill in the Senate, taking away from the Corporation of the city of New York all right and, power in regard to the granting away of railroad franchises, and lodging them exclusively in the Legislature: A gentleman (Mr. McMurray), who represented New York in the Senate, opposed Mr. Taber’s pill as establishing a dangerous precedent for invasions of the chartered rights of the city, and used on the occasion these prophetic words :—‘“ Human nature is the same all the world 07 the tendency of unchecked power is to corruption—give 40 this Senate and Assembly the same power in regard to these franchises which the Corporation of New York now claim, ard in a short time you will witness. , ¢ » / /