The New York Herald Newspaper, January 14, 1861, Page 4

4 ae Ent NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR ANI) PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. — ee Money sent by mas? will beat the Bank bills current in New York TERM OTNE DAILY HER THE WEEKLY Hi tage; the Lot af each month, ut sie Pe P PUD VEMTISEMENTS renowed enery day: adver Wavaty He Fawiny Meat, A Prevopean . TING executed with neatnese, chem WINTKR CARDE As Arras or ilonon—M, JOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Terror or tax Noap— Py nroumancks. Bourse LACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Piavive Were KEENE’S THNATRE, No. 624 Broadway.— , Bowery.—Gianex at New ¥ avis AME Ia. \\ MUSEUM, Broadway.—Day and ? Writ ose 4ND! Teaks—LiveNG UUme ‘ INSTRELS, Mechantes’ Tall, 472, Broad- v aves, SoNGs, J) axons, £¢,--Sornee D Encore, LRY & CAMPBELL'S MINSTRELS, Niblo’s Saloon, eraioPiax Songs, Dancus, Huntesques, &¢.— Yrag. NY MUSIC TALL, 665 Broadway.—Soxes, wuKs, & 'M, Brooklyn,—‘Voop's MiNsrnRis. » ¥ork, Monday, January 14, 1861. Whe News. {t is understood that Mr. Buchanan has offered Secretaryship of War to the Hon. Bedford fivown, of North Carolina. If so, and Mr. Brown accepts the appointment, the Cubinet will be con- elituted as follows:— J. S, Buk, of Pennsylyauia, Dix, of New York. , of N. Carolina. uc Toucey , of Connecticut, ford Brow s FS the Interior. . Vacant. Po-tuineler General, loseph Holt, of Kentucky Attorney General, .. M. Stanton, of Pennsylvania. The War Department is now filled ad interim by Vostmaster General Holt, and the Interior De- parunent by Moses Kelly, Chief Clerk. Mr. Brown is now a member of the North Caro- lina Legislature and was a Senator in Congress from 1829 to 1841. He is sixty-six years of age. From Washington we learn that the instructions asked for by Major Audersomhave not yet been decide: The President is anxious and using all his exertions to prevent bloodshed and the hor- rors of civil war. Many persons in Washington are disposed to censure Major Anderson for not protecting the Star of tle West, but his condact meets the approbation of the administration. The President has been informed that messengers are on the way from Charleston to confer with him in regard to the condition of af- fairs in that city, Seward’s speech, con- tinued to be the theme of conversation in Wash- ington yesterday, and the general opinion appeared ao be that it fell far short of the emergency. The course of General Scott in placing so large a body of military in Washington and the neighborhood had caused much exasperation in Virginia and Maryland, Senator Toombs, with his family, left Washington yesterday, and is not expected to re- turn, He says that Georgia will be out of the Union in ten days. Numerous reports in regard to the steamship Star of the West were in circula- tion yesterday, but they were entitled to no credit. The present Congress is fast diminishing in numbers by the withdrawal of members from the seceding States. The South Carolina delegation withdrew a few weeks ago; Senator Chesnut has taken bis adieu, and the Mississippi delegatign left on Saturday last. Itis understood that the Ala- tion will leave ta-day; Senator Brown, ‘of Mississippi, will take his departure from Wash- ington for home to-day, and his colleague, Senator Davis, will follow him as soon as he recovers from an attack of illness. From Charleston we learn that everything was quiet. The excitement seemed to be subsiding, and it was hoped that the ultimatam of South Caro- rolina sent to Washington by Messrs. Hayne and Hall, would restore peace. At Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday last, the ordinance for the secession of that State was for- melly signed. Caunon were fired on the occasion, and great enthusiasm exhibited by the people. A despateh given this morning states that Fort Bar- rancos and wie Navy Yard at Pensacola had been taken possession of by the Alubama and Florida troops. From Mobile we learn that on Saturday last there were great rejoicings in that city over the secession of Alabama. One hundred guns were fired in honor of the event, aud at night there was a grand military parade and a general illumina- tion of the city. . The bill calling a State Convention in Mississippi unanimously passed the lower branch of the Legislature on Saturday. The bill was read a second time in the Senate, and it is expected will be passed to-day. The Convention is to meet on the 18th of February. Ji hat body determines to withdraw from the jou, its action is to be sub: mitted to the people for ratification or rejection. A banquet to Gov, Floyd, late Secretary of War, came off at Richmond, Va., on Friday night. Gov. F. made a speech in which he related the conversations he had had with the President on the present position of affairs, and charged the latter with a breach of faith. He connselled re- “ance to federal cvercion, inwhich he was sup- *~ several prominent gentlemen who were “# occasion. of Virginia, on Saturday night, slling a State Convention, “onyention should as- | “* to Charles- ° bar maps of tho defensive works of Churlest vannah sud Pensacola, and to them we add to-day @ sketch and description of the Mobile fortifica- tions, which, we think, will be found excgedingly interesting. The troops ordered from Kansas arrived at Sal- timore on Saturday night. Two of the companies were placed in garrison at Fort McHenry, aad the other companies, with a party of mariacs, pro- ceeded to Washington ia a special train of cars, The weather in this city-cxperienced a great change on Saturday uight, and yesterday morn- ing the thermometer stood two degrees below zero. ‘The rivers during the day were iilled with i everal vessels at anchor in the North river were badly cut by it, and the ferry boats running to the adjacent cities had much difficulty in making their regular trips.. The Central Park yesterday was visited by about seventy-five thousand persons, aud nearly three thousand sleighs and cutters, notwithstanding the cold which was intense. A full report will be found in another column, also an account of the state of the weather, The steamship Montgomery, from Savannah, ar- rived here yesterday, brought as passengers the officers and crew recently in charge of the slave brig Bonita, captured by the United States frigate San Jacinto and tuken to Savannah. The New York State Military Association, which is composed of commissioned officers from all parts of the State, meet in annual Convention at the City Hall in Albany to-morrow, at ten o'clock A.M. The meeting this year will be ofa parti- cwlarly interesting nature, in view of the bills before the Legislature in reference to the militia. It should be attended by our city officers en masse. W. A. Jackson, the newly appointed Inspector General, delivers an address before the association in the Assembly Chamber in the evening. The ship Albion from London, arrived at this port yesterday, brings among her freight nine hundred kegs of white ganpowder, an article of recent invention. On Saturday Judge Hogeboom, in the special term of the Supreme Court, gave his decision in the case of the people and others against George Law aud others, relative to the occupancy by the defendants of Greenwich and Washington streets of this city for the Ninth Avenue Railroad. His Honor decided that the plaiutiffs, Earl and Bar- tholomew, have title in front of their lot to the centre of Greenwich street, which entitles them to compensation, but that the people, own- ing no property, nor representing any taken by the defendants, are not so entitled; consequently the injunction obtained aguinst the defendants by Far! and Bartholomew must be continued to the extent already granted, and its further extension over Greenwich and Washington streets refased. In the case of Apollos R. Wetmore and others against the same, a motion to vacate the judgment of Justice Davis, enjoining the defendants from constructing the railroad through the aforesaid streets, was denied, with liberty to renew after the determination of defendants’ appeal from the judgment, or after compensation shall have been made and provided for such of the plaintiffs as are entitled thereto. The costs in ewch case are to abide the event of the action. Frederick Freund, the German, convicted of arson in Division street, was sentenced in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, on Saturday last, to imprisonment for the term of his natural life. The prisoner is over fifty years of age, and leaves a wife and children to the cold charity of the world. Judge Barnard, in the Supreme Court, Chambers, on Saturday, denied an application for a writ to review the proceedings of the Common Pleas in the case of ex-City Chamberlain Platt. Up toa late hour on Saturday the Sheriff had been unable to execute Judge Hilton's order for the committal of Mr, Platt for refusing to give up the books and property of the city to his succcs#or, Mr Devlin, Tho cotton market continued firm Saturday, while the sales embraced about 3,000 bales, in store, closing on the basis of about 127¢¢., including some lots at 130. Flour was steady, and in good requert; prices were firm and salen active. Wheat was firm, with an up- ward teacewcy in prices,and a good export demand. Corn was firmer aud tolerably active, including pur- chases for export. Pork was firmer, with sales of now mees at $17 a $17 25, and of new prime at $13.a $13 12}. Sugars were steady, while sales were light. Coftve was in fair demand, with sales of 800 bags Rio and 1,400 do. Laguayra at steady prices. Freights for grain to Liver- pool and London were firmer, while engagements were moderate. Mr. Seward on the Cri The Senate chamber of the United Siates presented on Saturday one of the most in- teresting scenes in the history, not only of the country, but of the whole civilized world. The Senator trom New York—the leader and founder of the great party which is about to assume power over so many of the States as remain in the Union after the 4th of March next—pro- nounced a most elaborate speech—a speech which bears all the evidences of careful prepa- ration, and which we, in view of Mr. Seward’s position, must accept as an indication of the policy of the incoming administration. Ou yes- terday we gave Mr.Seward’s speech in full,and we purpose this morning to spend a short time in the consideration of the Senator's views. Mr. Seward’s exordium is devoted toa re- view of the various Union saving plans which have been suggested from time to time in Congress and elsewhere. He does not believe in any of them, neither has he any immediate measures of relief to propose. With regard to the seceding States, Mr. Seward believes in kindness, forbearance and conciliation. He states that “discontented citizens have obtained political power in certain States, and they are using this authority to overthrow the federal government’--an assertion which is open to doubt. It would appear rather that the discoa- tented masses in ccriain States have forced the authorities io attempt to resume the sovereign | Dower delegated under the constitution to the | federal government. This, however, is not im- | portant. We bave to deal with effects rather than with causes. Mr. Seward believes that the Union can be hae! not by secession or foree, but by a vention in which the people of all the States shall be represented; and that just aow Congress | ought to supply the President with all the means necessary to maintain the Union in fall force; avd, at the same time, if possible, vedress any real grievances of the Yed States. Afier this has been done vonsibilily of saving the Union be- ‘people. We beg that our readers ‘ast point, as we shall reter to it aw arvived at the second di- review of the power, the * these United States, forcible way with rily arise from ave been ena » treaties with and potentates the event of disso- { this confederacy SO fur as their vela- «sare concerned. In alr, Seward can see no war, servile t ing dowa of him, as ove rrections ountry, Mc. Seward comes to the most eloquent | prove himaclf worthy of the Gust Whteh is re- portion of his speech—bis | argument to show that dissolutiot would net-onty Leave ww uaked to our foicign enemfes, but that it would likewise arrest what the Seastor feli- citously terme “the majestic drama of nationa | ed Progress.” He then proceeds to say thet the federal go; ernment is not to be disoontinued because of its mal-administration or its weak- ness, The only teasoa assigned for the resalu- tionary movemen is, according to the Seaator, found in the vicoumstanee that a President has been elected, and that he is “unacceptable to a portion of the people.”” He then proceeds to charge the responsibility of the present slate of things upon the original disunionists, woThave believed, during the last thirty yours, iu a eon- federacy of the slave States. There is still another Southern party which fiads occasion for secession in the non-execution of the Fugi- tive Slave law; and a third which is restive un- der the resistance of the Northern States to the extcasion of slavery in the Territovies. M:+ Seward believes that these three partics have persistently misrepresented his position, and he declares, first, that the Fugitive Slave act ought to be executed; second, that any State laws which interfere with the operation of said act should be repealed; third, that, if nece+sa- ry, he would vote for an amendment to the constitution to provide that Congress should not now nor hereafter interfere with slavery where it exists by local law. As to the ques- tion of slavery in the Territories, Mr. Seward goes further than we expected, yet not further than he ought under the circumstances. He declares that while he believes that Congress. has the sovereign right to legislate upon slavery in the ‘'erritorics, and while he should never give his voie to establish or sanction slavery anywhere, yet the question as to what consti- tutional laws shall be passed in regard to the Territories is to be determined upon practical grounds, Stick a pin therc. Mr. Seward then procecds cautiously, as if he were treading on very thin ice, to express his willingness to. agree with the Crittenden proposition, if no- thing beiter can be done, and that he belicved in referring the whole question to the people after tho “eccentric movements of secession and disunion shall have ended.” Mr. Seward is not quite certain as to the exact period, when these “eccentric movements” will end, but says, “One, two or three years hence,” which is rather a wide margin. The Senator proceeds to express his determination to vote for any proper laws to put down such demonstrations as the John Brown raid, and advocates the building of two Pacific railways—one for the South and the other for the North. The pero- ration of the speech is hopeful. Mr. Seward thinks that after all the Union will be pre- served; that through “moderation, forbearance and conciliation” the perils which now environ the republic may be averted. To his own par- ty Mr. Seward makes a half way apology. He abandons his higher law doctrine alto- gether; says that, in political matters, if we cannot lead we must be content to fol- low, and that we cannot always do what seems to us absolutely best. Those with whom we act, holding different views, have the power and right of carrying them into action. Another pin there, and we have the three great points of Mr. Seward’s speech—a speech which, con- sidering the character of the orator and the state of fecling among the politicians with whom he is affiliated, is, we maintain, emi- nently hopeful, conciliatory and conservative. Mr. Seward’s first point—the effect of dis- union upon our foreign relations—is a very important one. This government has been in existence only eighty-one years, but through the energy and enterprise of its people has become already a first class Power. All our treaties with the European governments place us upon a footing with most fa- vored nations. We have now but one un- settled question of foreign policy, and that is the dispute with England as to the right of ownership in the island of San Juan. It is understood now that England intends to insist upon her right to that island. In what condi- tion shall we be to oppo our ancient foe, in case this secession moveasent goes on, and the fifteen slave States withdraw from the Union?— for that will be the result unless something is done. This San Juan question is only a » al! matter, to be sure; but hundreds of such small matters would turn up every month, and we should be obliged to occupy the contemptible position of the petty South American republics or German duchies. Next spring the European Powers may be engaged in a general war, and radical changes be made in the map of the con- tinent. The friends of constitutional govern- ment look to us for an example of progress un- der free institutions. Our present condition is not calculated to strengthen their hands, while it will most certainly weaken ours. If a South- ern confederacy should be formed we could not recover our former position in the eyes of the world in a century. This point leads us to a consideration of the question as to the real strength of our govern- ment. Our fathers were born in revolutionary times, and many of us were cradled while a secession movement was going on in New Lng- land. The government has sustained succes- sive shocks, such as the rupture of the articles of confederation, Shay’s rebellion in Massa- chusetts, the D’ennsylvania whiskey insurrec- tion, the Burr conspiracy, the threatened disso- lution of the Union in 1820 (settled by the adoption of the Missouri Compromise), the Hartford Convention in 1814, the Georgia troubles of 1850-32, the South Carolina nullification movement in 1832, the Dorr war in Rhode Island, the Southern disaffec- tion, which was healed by the compro- mise measures of 1850, and the Kansas rebel- lion. Now comes the last and greatest peril of uli, and the people naturally look to Mr. Sew- ard, who appears to be the only statesman worthy the name in his party, for some advice as to how it shall he met. Mr. Seward believes that the whole matter should be referred to a general convention of the people's repre. sentatives, but wishes to postpone such action one, two or three years, afler which time the “ececentrie movements of disunion will have been arrested.” Tow arrested? Arrested by the fact that fifteen stars heve disappeared from the fimmament! No: Mr. Seward is wrong here, and must know it. Then again people will find fault with his speech because he does not come ont bollly with some definite plan. [t must be remem- bered, however, that we educate our public men to be politicians rather than statesmen, and that Mr. Seward has not yet reached that point where he can sink the partisan in the pa- The times demand a first class man at 1 for Mr, Seward to al hele, aad it is the nat pozed in him. We believe that it is not ye! too laic to make peace We do not believe thai even in the cotton States the secession move- teert is so (nanimons as it has been repro-ent In Alabama the vote for delegates to the S.ate Convention is twenty-five per cent less than that for Presidential electors, and we have no doubt that absiention was gencral in Misdis- | sippiandlorida. This proves that there is stil a strong Vaion or anti-secession party in the slave States, but that the hostile or indifferent attitude of the dominant party in the North paralyzes the friends of the Union in the Once let Mr. Seward, who it is under- the incarnation of the views of the next administration—in fact, the administra- tion itselt—place himself in antagonism to the extremists of his party, and he -will rally around him ‘he conservatives, the property holders, the ! iding, Union loving citizens of the Bastern, Middle, Western and Central Southern slave States. He would lose tho radical vepublicans, but would gain ten recruits to every deserter, The whole queetion lies in this nutshell. Mr. Seward comes dowa to Weeds platform, and, rather than risk civil war, will give up all: his party abstractions. That is what he means by treating the question of slavery in the Territories from a practical poiat of view, and his declaration on this point is equivalent to one of war upon the nosurrender section of bis jarty. We may now expect that this speech will give new hope to the friends of the Union, and that it will create a tremendous vow among the sentimental republicans, who will charge Mr. Seward with inconsistency and vacillation. Mr. Seward is not inconsistent. The statesinan who is equal to his responsibili- ties is obliged to keep pace with the progress of events, to be guided by the lessons of the past and the prospects of the future. Mr. Seward has not turned a political summerset, but he has detached himself to a certain ex- ient from his political friends. As the re- sponsible man in the next administration, he is right in preparing to throw off all party tram- mels, and to stand before his countrymen “clothed and in his right mind.” It is to be hoped now that Mr. Seward will so far mode- rate bis views es to advocate the immediate as- semblage of a National Convention. It can- not be possible that he wishes to carry the matter over to the next Presidential election. It must be settled now. The Crisis in Its Present Aspects at ‘Washington, and North and South. Dark and discouraging as is the present re- volutionary condition of the country, there is yet room for the belief that, though we are threater:d with civil war, we may escape it, and that the Union, though broken, be re- stored, sound and e2during, from the crucible of a Southern confederacy. The friends of peace? of Union, of law and order, derive great encouragement from the purification of Mr. Buchanan’s Cabinet, and its reconstruction upon a conservative Uniou basis. Purged of such disunion chiefs and instruments as Cobb, Floyd, Thompson and Thomas, the Cabinet, as it now stands, is a unit upon the con- stitutional and conservative views of Mr. Bucha- nan. The President now, in calling his minis- try together for a consultation, and with that illustrious old soldier and patriot, General Scott, at his olbow, is morally sure of a cheer- ful agreement and prompt action. The con- servatives of the whole country are thus as- sured that, while a warlike collision with the Southern revolutionists will be avoided to the last extremity of forbearance, there will be no more “aid and comfort’ given to the enemy from the high places of the federal adminis- tration. With this advantage gained to the cause of the general government in the South, we can regard as comparatively trifling maticrs the bankrupt condition in which Secretary Cobb left the Treasury; the enormous lobby jobs and speculations charged to the account of the late Secretary lloyd; the untold em- bezzlements occuring in the Department of the Interior under its late Secretary Thompson, and the alleged affiliations of the late head of the Treasury, Thomas, with the disunion con- spirators of Maryland; for all these things are mere trifles compared with the presence of these disunionists in the Cabinet of Mr. Bu- cbanan touching the execution of the laws of the United States. We have heretofore inti- mated that with the cleansing of his Cabinet, Mr. Buchanan, notwithstanding the manifold treacheries, trials and embarrassments he has bad to encounter, would go out of office with credit; but this can be no longer doubted when we now see many of his hitherto most in- veterate enemies coming up to his vindication and assistance. Thus fortified in his position as President 0° the United States, it is evident that he is gaining strengih in, and receiving strength from, the two houses of Congress, without reference to the political party divi- sions of the day. From the indications already before us, we should not be surprised if within a few short days the Union policy of Mr. Buchanan, under the auspices of his new Cabi- net, were to command from conservative re- publicans, democrats and Americans a decided majority, not valy of the House of Represeata- tives, but of the Senate. Meantime, while the popular demonstrations in the cities, towns and villages of the North, from Massachusetts to Minnesota, complimen- tary to Major Anderson, express the universal Northern sentiment in favor of “the Union, the constitution and the enforcement of the laws,” it must not be inferred from these manifesta- tions that the North is thus overwhelmingly in favor of the coercion of the South into submis- sion. The universal sentiment of the North is in favor of the maintenance of the flag and the constitutional rights and authority of the United States, at home as well as abroad; but the peo- ple of the North, if their representatives at Washington will only open the door, are ready for all the concessions necessary to restore the South, including even South Carolina, to the Union. Very true, there have been but few manifestations of a very satisfactory character ‘vom Northern xepublican party meetings, or Governors, or Legislatures, or journals, in sup- port of a new compromise with the South, But Rome was not but inaday. The ropubli- can party, in the very hour of victory, find it hard to come to ® capitulation, as if wader a crushing defeat. Thus, considering the pride and weakuess of human nature, it is not very remarkable that on Saturday last, in the Penn- sylvania Legislature, “Senator Welsh’s resolu. tions proposing to repeal the obnoxious Per- sonal Liberty provisions of the agi of 1847, South. stood NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 186L. | acd the “penal code, were voted dowa, alt the, republicans voting against em." Greeley admonishes the partyythat (hey are under com- palsion, and are mnt to yield au iach; ané Greeley is fort! in thi position by Sir John Falstaff, who re! iced, point blank, to give even the true Prince an opinion upon compal- sion We must, then, make up our minds to let the’ Southewn revolutionary movements of se- ceseion run their eo urse ting meantine to the admininiration to avo war while exe cuting the federal laws, and trusting that the inconveniences of a Southern confederacy on the one hand, and the necessities of conces- sions to restore the Union on the other, will yet bring the South and the North withia hail- ing distance of each other. ‘The State of Europe—The Spirit of Revo- lution in the Ofd and the New World. While every day the revolution now agi- tating our own country is apparently be- coming more threatening in its strength, the signs of the times in Europe clearly indicate that within a very few weeks we shalt see the commencement of a series of the grande’t struggies that ever convulsed » continent or swept tottering throne to rnin, and which will, make 1661 2 year even more tragi- cally memorable than its eventful prede- cessor, We haye Yonly to lock to France to realize a sense OF thE dangers 6 dde-iric! that lie hid in the waceriain futu iow tend our glance to Hungary, io Avsiria, the new Italian monarchy, auc even fe be- yond, we become still more ijnpre-sed with the ominous aspect of every national and po- litical feature that there meets the eye. The tendency of everythin; is warlike, revolu- put happily thers iss ‘rich store of the knowledge ( coming strife willbe the strug against despotism; and right 5 might. The throes of nations and the extinction of an em- pire may bring forth good; and as after a storm there cometh a calm, 80 the wor! may be ulti- mately the better for all that bloodshed aod calamity which, through the obstinacy of sove- reigns, at present appear inevitable. France is arming and increasing her immense military and naval forces ona far larger veale than she did even before the campaign of 1358 in Lom- bardy. The effective strength of er infantry is being raised, and the cavalry augmented by several new regiments, the horses for which are being actively purchased throughout Kast- ern Prussia. At the same time she is buying up all the steamers she can to convert into men- of-war and transports. There is evidently se- rious purport in all this. We cm now see that in the ex- pecied Italian campaign, which is occupying so much attention in Europe, and on the part of the crowned heads especially, the Emperor of the French promises to cut a by no means obscure figure. , M. Thouvenel, we are told, has already written a despatch to Vienna, plainly intimating that a victory over Sardinia, in the event of a war in the coming spring, would call for the interference of France. But, notwithstanding, Francis Joseph is firm in his resolve to fight for Venetia rather than sell it; and herein lies the hope of the Bourbon King at Gaeta. Ans- tria’s victory would be his restoration. Louis Napoleon relies upon an uprising in Hungary while Sardinia is attacking the Quadrilateral ; and in the event of an alliance between the Czar aad the Emperor of Austria, which it is not improbable; may draw England into a great war against the Power of the North, Russia will be fully occupied. At the same time, the interference of Prussia and the German Confederation in behalf of Austria he anticipates as the long covet- ed opportunity for advancing the frontiers of France to the Rhine. With an imperial army of 700,000 men and 500,000 Italians embarked in actual warfare, he doubtless thinks he may regain what his uncle lost, and unite Italy under one monarch, virtually tributary to France. Louis Napoleon is advancing warily but re- solutely in the path he marked out for himself at the outset of his career. When, in 1835, he gave to the world the “Idees Napoleoniennes,” the world little onticipated that the writer would ever have the opportunity of carrying out the views therein expressed. He alone was san- guine of his ultimate destiny. Tlis recent reforms in extending the func- tions of the Senate and legislative body, and so giving the French people, not only {hsoreii- cally, but practically, a voice in the government of the empire, prepared us for the entire libera- tion of the press, and the removal of all restric- tions upon the right of popular discussion, which followed immediately afterwards. Tht suspen- sion of the passport system in favor of the English is the first step towards its total abolition; and when this takes place in France, the other continental natious will be compelled to follow the good example; so that very soon, we hope, this obnoxious re- striction upon travellers will have sunk into a mere matter of history. The French pamphlet by M. Cayla on the subject of the Emperor-Pope was no doubt a reflex of the sentiments of Louis Napoleon; and already the war may be said to have commenced between the episcopate and clergy of France and the sovereign. That he should constitute himself the head of the church in his own empire ‘Js not unreasonable. He would hardly enjoy more power in that capacity than is exercised by the sovereigns of England; but the fact of his having the appointment and promotion of the bishops and clergy would in- sure their support; and the combination of ecclesiastical and political power would strengthen the empire beyond calculation. Moreover, religion in France, by becoming purely national, would gain a new lease of vitality. He will of course expect to encounter oppo- sition from the Cotholie party, the French bar, and the legitimist and Orleanist body, at the first step of open variance with Pio Nono and the hierarchy of France. But tue Catholic par- ty is so weak, and the temporal dominion of the Pope so much opposed to the Italian sympa- thies of the French people, that this opposition could be easily silenced. In the loss of his eldest son the Pope would lose bis best mission- ary; for during the last century the Mrench flag has been the harbinger of Roush proselytism, and more perticularly so fn the far Orient. We ave prepared for this decline —a result to which the events of the last three hundred years have been gradually tending. In the gporiacy of Fagland and the decadence of Spain, Rome saw that ils mastery of the and lig ghance ei — golouizing world seas the eer had gone, That lustre which bad dis- tinguished the Homish religion for a thou- sand years, from the time when the barbarous nations of the North surrounded the old tonan republic, wes gradually dimmed by the light of a civilleatioa brighter thau that which it created, and y soon the Pope will become a powerless chief at Rome. It is pos- sible that the recent concessions of Louis Na- peleon may buve only aimed at securing the approbation of the. Legislature, press and populace, and éven England, to the schemes of aggrandizement which he contemplates. We now turn to Prussia; and Prussia, we are sorry to say, issadly in want of good statesmen; At present all that she has are of second rate abilities. Had she a Cavour there Is a little affair now transpiring in the lite German State of Hesse Cassel which might be turned to very good account in showing Germany her #trengih, ‘Lhe Elector. of Hesse Cussel hus offered bis subjects a constitution which the seeoud Cham- her bas declined accepting, and_the Diet has consequently been dissolved. The plea of the Chomber, on behalf of the poople, is that there isaeonstitution which has long been illegally in @beyance, the restoration of which they de- mand, instead of the one offered by the govern- meat. The people insist thut their liber- ties" are being invaded by the new cdnstitution, and the question, therefore, \ |wuriges, Is the Hleetor bound by the law? Ac- carding to the Austrian theory of government he i@ not; and Austria has already on one oceca- sion interfered in defence of the Elector’s dea- potism, and quieted histesisting subjects, But Austria has now enough to do im minding her own affairs; and, Prussia: explicitly stated that she will permit no Ai an interference : in the affairs of the rate. There is just now es opportanity for Prussia to come forward as the leader of Ger- many, whos¢ position between the two great despotisms of France and Russia is perilous enongh, when we consider that it is itself divided into thirty-six sovercignties. If Hun- gary and Sclavonia become disconnected from the Austrian empire in the approaching war, the necessity for some system by which they may become absorbed is evident; and if Austria itself is swept away in the great strife, Prussia will stand alone as the acknowledged head of German power. What Germany is most in need of to insure strength is union, Why not have a united Germany as well as a united Italy? The petty German sovereigns might retain their crowns as vicegerents of Prussia, and the consolidation could not fail in ele- vating the national character of Germany, while ite territory would no longer be the fight- ing ground or political chessboard of France and Russia. The desire of national unity is already widely felt all over Germany, and so highly is it valued that even the Emperor of the French is talked of as likely to procure this boon. This, there is no doubt, would be a very agreeable duty for Louis Napoleon to perform. It would gratify his own ambition to make France the mistress of the Continent, and it would flatter the vanity of the French people, whose leve of territorial aggrandize- ment amounts toa passion. The credit of hav- ing done the work and the-cession of the Rhine provinces would be an ample satisfaetion. Of course the probability is that this will never occur unless the Austrian empire comes to an abrupt end in the war, and Prussia proves her- self unequal to the emergency. Then anybody strong enough would be welcomed by the Germans in their hour of danger. But why should the Germans not do this ser- vice for themselves, and why should Prussia not take in hand this work of regeneration? Disorganized although the country is, there is still national vitality and love for national in- dependence enough among its people to make us hopeful of the best results. It would be as- suredly a source of pride for these changes to come from themselves, and anything but satis- factory iffrom France. Prussia alone can supply the motive power, and she ought to do it. Her material wealth, tolerably liberal institutions and efficient military and civil organization give her a decided influence and the means of doing much; but the want of brains in her Cabinet is, after all, a serious disadvantage. From the review we have just given, in which is omitted all mention of the Tae-Ping revolu- tion, which threatens the overthrow of the Tar- tar dynasty of China, the affairs of Turkey, Sy- ria, Mexico and other less important revolu- tionary movements, it will be seen, when wa turn to our own country, that we are already sharing a few of the dangers and disasters that have overtaken or threaten ‘o overtake the other nations of the earth. And yet we are only at the commencement of the great strag- gle which may lead to the rebaptism in the blood of our countrymen of the Southern portion of this glorious inheritance—the United States—which, though still united, we know not for how much longer. This, in- deed, is a critical period in the world’s history and our own, and we can only pray that the fearful and melancholy catastrophe which is rapidly overtaking us may be yet averted by the hand of conciliation and a spirit of inutual forbearance and just co mpromise. Tux Canistianity or me Onivese Reses Estapuisnep—Cortovs Lerrer rrom Toem Leaver To Lorp Excts.—In another column will be found an interesting narrative of the interview which took place at Soo-Chow on the 22d of September last between the Rey. J. J. Roberts, a missionary, and Chung-Wang, “the Faithful King,” and commander-in-chief of the Chinese rebels. If, as there is no reason to doubt, it contains a faithful statement of what occurred, it places beyond all controversy the fact that the latter are Christians, acknowledg- ing the New Testament os their guide,.and willing and anxious to enter into relations of amity with all nations professing the same creed. It shows a correct appreciation of thé"obli- gations of the Christian religion that the rebel chief should have accompanied this declaration of the religions principles of his party by a disclaimer of the crueltics and wholesale pil- lage which have been practised in their name. They have been perpetrated, he avers, by mar randers, who have profited by the op- portunities which the war afforded them of plundering and torturing the helpless. Whether this be trae or not, it ghows that the rebel leaders have a clear understanding of the ideas and usages of Christian nations. In the desire to reconcile their religious doo- ivines with those of Christian countries, there is no doubt that they will gradually seek to conform their habits to a similar standard—s guarantee thal Western giyflization will have >