The New York Herald Newspaper, January 26, 1861, Page 5

sources of the greatest annoyance to those who ced to obey them. Some of them, however, are ns so laughter-| even now, and others, convictions under them, prove a state of society, Puritanical New England, which the Five Poin's ashamed toown. These laws place not only inions, but his actions, and even his frazichiso, e control of the church, under the peualty of d yet the Pusétans are said to have brought Nor were these laws intended merely as warn- The court,” says Governor Winthrop in the pase, “did not intend their order as a mere sewe- you write), for you will tind it real and eifec- ou transgress it,’? URITANICAL RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. d to the persecutions of other sects by the Pu- omething has been before written, but the sub- now be examined more in detail, to show that “Nonconformist martyrs” brought no personal, cht less religious, liberty. Mr. Chalmers says:— he year 1650 to the Restoration, Massachusetts fly employed in a business that, of all others, have been most congenial to it—in preserving, eution, uniformity in opinion and discipline.”’ that in a paper, signed by the leading Puritans, ed not to “deal hardly or oppressively with d that Mather said 4 Queen Mary, when apply- the charter of 1601, and in reply to the Nuestion, “I doubt not there have been diffor- ere, a8 well as here, about church government.” be iy) — are generally who are onconformists, but they carry it with all duo unto others. ‘We judge some of them to be bet- than ourselves,’? But these are but mere words, ‘haets give the lie direct. In the words of Ross of Religions”), the Puritans of New England ped all reformed cburches, except themselves, and unclean,’’ and persecuted them accordingly. THE QUAKERS nong the first to suffer from Puritan persecution, the last to be relieved from it. In 1657,“ It by the Court (of Plymouth) that if any shall D any Quaker, Rantor, or other notoriouse here- he shall take them to the place whence they clear the government of them,” under tbe po- a heavy fine. A similar law extends to those ‘tain Quakers. In October, 1657, Humphrey Nor- convicted of being a Quaker, and taken out of Poy by the Marshal. In 1658, any person con- being a Quaker was ordered fined, whipped and hed. In the same year Quakers were disfran- and anumber were banished. In 1659, Daniel ckand his wife were convicted of being Qua- d ordered to be sold to ‘‘any of the English na- Virginia and Barbadoes.”—(Mass. Records.) books were ordered seized; persons were for- under severe penalties, from attending their +. In 1659, also, William Robinson, Marmaduke on and Mary ‘Dyer, Quakers, were ordered Mary Dyer’s sentence beng altered to standing lows With a rope about her neck till the rest ecuted—and the sentence was carried out; and eral Court of Massachusetts issued a defence of saying that ‘‘the justice of our proceedings 1nay rouade us to expect encouragement and com- on from all prudent and pious men,” and going on P Scripture in support of their conclusions. Con- , following the example of Plymouth and Massa- ' ordained, “That if any person turn Quaker, ho banished, and not suf to return, under pain .” Quakers were forbidden Christian burial, aud es of a dead Quaker were burned. Patience Scott, ‘ears of age, was sent to prison, and her mother H for pityingher. Women were whipped through towns, while ministers, like the Rev. Mr. -y, justified the act in their sermons, and Fadicott H thiat it was “his delight, and he could rejoice in jg the Quakers to execution.”” Executions follow- dings and banishments. ‘“ There,” says O'Leary, er woman’s silent groans were raised to the y of loud shrieks, when the Lord's deputy her profane breasts to be whipped the Gospel scourge.” Sewall’s history is such instances. At last’ the ‘King thot proceedings stopped; but tho laws were e-ensotad, and it 704 the Quakers wrote to the rs in England, begging them to advise their n in New England to repeal these laws; a request 8 complied with; but the advice was not regard he New England Paritans. : THE EPISCOPALIANS but little better treatment. As early as 1646 tho pments began. The Rev. Mr. Blackstone was to give up his plantation and remove to Rhode he brothers Brown were summoned before Endi- pdemned as Tit f a faction, and sent back Aa the Rev. Francis t, after a year's resi- fas also forced to return. Shurches were refused palians; they were not allowed to preach in Puri- pits; it was declared that ‘‘the church of Rome ea true church, but the church of England never ;”” copalians were disfrauchised and aimed at in quoted in the phrase, ‘other heretics.” Tho jan ministers, in an address to King William, nd who could have believed it of these apostles fous liberty ?—that they have been ‘injured and both in their civil and religions eoncernments; ‘h, by their rage and fur} VI oou greatly 'damuified, and daily. t featened to be pulled ind destroyed; our minister hindered and ob- in the discharge of his duty and office, and wo under the burthen of most excessive taxes.”” direct interposition of the King of England this fury, years after, and the tithe law was not f\ untill 1834. . THE BAPTISTS ne the better; and as Brevel was banished be p believed in “perfection,” the Methodists would od the Puritans eqnal enemics. The Buptists, too, other heretics,” were banished, disfranchised, and al s forbidden harboring them. Bolk- s that ‘the Anaba) fined and banished, flock- ode Island, whict fn those dayt looked upon rain or sink of Eng! vieted of being a Baptist. Winthrop says, “Painter was very poor; 80, a8 no other but odv- mishment could be fastened upon him, he was to be whipped.” “The New England churches,” , “would neither suffer Baptists to live quietly communion nor separate themselves from it.”’ known case of Roger Williams, once a Puritan wever, must answer for all, aud he was, by an he court, in 1635, sent out of the Dominion, never n, unless he retracted his errors wholly. THE ROMAN CATHOLICS leated with extraordinary persecutions. A law, it fore 1656, provides that ‘no pricst shal! abide in mivion; he shall be banished, and suffer death on ro, Priests may be seized by avy one without a i.’ Any persons “suspected” of Popery might be 4, and hung if they returned, As recently as F00 another law, the penalties of which were itn ent or death, was passed. No second rate punish ould do for Papist#. The emblem of their reli so hated that Endicott tore it out of the English ¢ Sulemites put the King's arnt# upon thetr bin bavold using the cress (Felt’s “Salem) Sand there British ensign ecen in Salem until 1634, then was borrowed. (U) ‘8 this while “Popish Maryland” w Bancroft says:—“There religious tiberty-obt its only home in the world; and iu comment, n the conduct of the Puritans who went there, not hesitate to add, though their oulo- herally, ‘they. had neither the gratitude tare. he rights of the government b: ich they Bad the, wived and fostered, nor magnanimity to cou ho toleration to which alone they were indebted residence in the colony.” The Puritaus to the THE PRESBYTERTANS. eabyterians are popularly supposed to have been al with the Puritans in religion; but the Puritans pettor, and 80 did the Presbyterians. They were ntical in England. The Presbyterian ministers, in Instrance addressed to the Puritans, said -—'‘some refuse to hear us preach at all. You renotince all communion with us a* members, and not only so, wr invite our people from us by telling them th 5 with without " nnot continue . wy Gitered, ‘aan far ax. church maviera concerned, ih their views upon the true upon ordination, and npon of ehurehs A In New England, says Hetherington, the Feworld not admit the Presbyterians “to oom with them, unless they were willing to aly and terianism and become Congregationalis's.”’ bi- cays that the Puritans believed ‘that \d the Presbyterial governments are thy ’ ‘d the beast spoken of in the Revelations.” we that Presbyterianism was at lonst as offensiv “New England Puritans as Epiceopacy, — Baill Jn all New England there is no liberty of oul Presbyterian.” Hutchinson tort fies: —"sevral ve from England in 1643 mode & muster sr reabyterian government unver the authority of Westminster; but a New England Reneral Court—soon pit them to th was seem —the In 1710 an act torian ‘tendencies, Inot he too badly killed. \ disfranchised and perseout A withs tire ‘at first forbidden to worehip; then, in 1720, their torn down and they obliged to flor, aad viforts in 1705, to exclude them from Massachus tts, And Puritans treated those Who, in popalar esti iffered from them brt little; and here inast end the t of the religious persecutions by the Purttans, tun wirenes. not to be exproted that the non-conformists who ted non-conformity, the postios of religous J who called toleration * should, after i observing the counection between an Epiecypa Papistical altar and a Puritanical halter, omit to that between an old woman and a ducking stool Jief in witehoraft, it is true, by no means origi- ith the Puritans, but is as old, at loast, as Pharaok wigurds. But that the strong minded Puritans have fallen into the popular error, at that time, in to witches, and that they should have punished so hy what some of their descendants, and thos: who are to adopt their opinions upon religious subjects, hold phigh esteem, Is certainly remarkable. Such props ‘of religions liberty shoald certainly have been ent towards error, and such systematic fault- should certainly have examined more closely what comet a delusion, since they thomeelyes were ted—-if persecnted at all—for 4 what were t their ‘foolish delusions”? in rege to doctrienal Tt ia not necessary to rehearse in full the story ri to theee witches and their punishments. Wo ire charged with erimipal intercourse with Satan, and guilty by “intelligent juries” others werd ‘af curing hurte with seives, peas, keys, nails ree xhoes.”” The afflicted wretches were pinched od Dive, pine would be ran into their flesh, they be scalded until blisters werg raised, or would parsed wf the while Presbyterians aginst NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JANUARY have their hands tied with ropes plainly to be seen.” Others still would be tempted to sign away their souls. “One woman pulled” an iron spindle from a spectre, and locked up the spindle, but,found it taken away; another tore off a portion of the sheet flourished at her by a demon; ethers were branded “so that they will bear the marks till their dying day,” by unseen Spectres; others were bitten; others swoonet as invisible hands were laid on them; others railed against the church aud the government (taking the opportunity, no doubt, to do this with imponity under the guise of be. ing afflicted by a witch), and for all these inflictions some old woman or other was punished. Cotton Mather solemnly retails all these things, and adds:—*Flashy people may burlesque these things; but when hundreds of the most sober people in a country, where they have as much mother wit cortainly as the rest of mankind, know them to be true, nothing but the absurd and forward spirit of radicism can question them”—an argumentum ad homi- nem which will be gladiy used by our spiritualists. TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS, According to the Puritans’ own account, the ‘main end of their plantation’? was the propagation of the Gospel by the conversion of the Indians; and this, says King James, “was the royal inten- tion’? in grating their charter. If they had gone to America az money makers, it might have been expected that they would, following the example of other adven- turers, have oppressed the Indian tribes; but theirs was ““@ plantation of religion, and not a plantation of trade,” they assure us. How, then, can we account for the fact that they neglected the ‘‘main end” of the plantation al- most entirely ¥ Hutchinson, in his History, says:—“One professed design of the colony charter was the Gospelizing the natives. The long neglect of any attempts this way cannot be exeused. The Indians themselves asked how it happened, if Christianity was of such importance, that for six and twenty years together the English had said nothing to them about it.” Like some of their descend- ants, the Puritans preferred guns to Bibles—Sharpe’s rifes would have been fashionabie if they had been invent- ed. King Phillip was cheated into anger, and then hunt- ed like a wild beast, and his gon, nine years old, was.con- demned to death, aud spared only to be sold into sla- very. (Everett's Orations.) Other captive Indiaus shared the same fate. The ‘‘History of New Hampshire,” quoted by Belknap, says ‘that of the Indians taken in King Phil- lip’s war afew were put to death, but most were sold into slavery in foreign ceuntries.”” Lands are taken without recompense, and if the Indians complain, war is declared, and the entire tribes destroyed, as in the case of the Pequods. Even the women, as they came out of the meeting-house (Hutchinson’s History), murdered cap- tive Indians; and Trumbull, in his ‘History of Connecti- cut,” gives an abstract of the manner in which the Pu- ritans propagated the Gospel. “Though the first plunt- ers of New England and Connecticut,” says he, “were men of eminent piety and strict morals, yet, like other good men, they were subject to misconception and the influence of passion. Their beheading sachems whom they took in war, killing the male captives and enslaving the women and children of the Pequods after it was finished, was treating them with a severity which, on’ the benevolent principles of Chris- tianity’, it will be difficult e, on to justify. The executing all of those as murderers who were active in war in kill- ing any of the English people, and obliging all the Indi- an nations to bring in such persons or their an act of severity unpractised at this day by ci and Christian nations. ‘The decapitation of their enemies and the setting of their heads upon poles was a kind of barbarous triumph too nearly corresponding with the ex- amples of uncivilized and pagan nations.’” ‘That was as strongly as Trumbull dared put the case, writing as ho was for New Englanders; but the facts are there to speak in bitter invective. In 1675 a law was passed, “that whosoever shall shoot off any gun, on any un? necessarie oceasion, or att any game — whatso- ever, except att an Indian or a woolfe, shall’ be fined. Indians and wolves soon became equally scarce under this regimen. “Oh, what a hap- py {hing would it have been,” cries John Robinson, jad you converted some before you killed any.” A law that Indian grain should not be bought, and that Indians should not be associated with, bears perhaps as hardly upon the Fnglich as upon the Indians; but the manner in which the Puritans dealt with the Indians generally may be seen by a law passed in Hartford, 1636.” First, it is ordered that Indian chiefs shall make good any trespas- ses which may ocour in their vicinity, unless they can produce the éffender, and show that he is a stranger; and next, as it appears, “after full debate and hearing,” that Soheage had committed outrages upon the English, “yet, because, us was conceived, the firet breach was on the said English part, all former wrongs whatsoever are re- mitted on both sides.” ‘This is the “‘you take the crow and | the turkey; or I the turkey, and you the crow’? principle exactly. If the Indians were dissatisfied, they ad their remedy—the men to be killed, and the women and children enslaved. SLAVERY AMONG THK PURITANS. But Indians were not the only slaves which tho Puri- tans held, And as their connection with negro slavery 18 interesting, us well as important in the full oomprehen- sion of their characters, room must be made for a few extracts inregard to it, from the replies to a serles ef queries propounded by Judge Tucker, of Virginia, and answered by the Rev. Dr. Belknap, an abolitionist, April In 1630, says Belknap, Gov. Winthrop and others found one Samuel Maverick residing upon Nodd Island, and in 1638 John Josslyn came from England and lodged with him, Jogslyn noticed that Maverick had a young and handsome negro woman, ‘‘ who had been a queen in her own country,” and whom the other negroes treated with great respect. One morning he found her in great rage, and, upon inquiring the reason, found that Maverick, desirous of securing so fine a “breed,” had commanded a young negro to commit a rape upon her, she refusing to keep company with him. This is our first introduction to the Puritan slavebolders of Massachu- setts, whoare not, unhappily, referred to in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Tn 1645 a law was made ‘prohibiting the buying and selling of slaves, except those taken in lawful war and re. duced to slavery for their crimes by a judicial decision; and these were to have the same privilgesas were allows by the law of Moses;"’ but how the legality of this slavery was to be ascertained the law does not state. Tn Josslyn’s “Description of New England, 1663-1673," he says of the people of Boston:—They are well accom- modated with servants; of these some are English and some negroes.” Belknap says:—"“ By the ingniries which I have made of our oldest merchants now living, I cannot find that more than three ships in a year belonging to Boston were ever employed in the African slave trade. rum distilled here was the mainspring of this traftic. The slaves purchased in Africa were chiefly sold in the West Indies or in the Southern colonics, but when those markets were glutted and the price low, some of them were brought hither, Very few whole cargoes ever came to this port. One gentleman says he remembers two or I remember one, between thirty and forty Yeurs ago (1765-1775), which consisted almost whoily of children. “At Rhede Island the ram dis African trade were prosecuted to a great Boston, and I believe no other seaport in Massachusetts concern in the skye business thedthoe Island vessels, having sold the the West Indies, brought th Since this commerce has declined, the town of ort has gone to decay. y conscientions pérsone, who would by no means have engaged directly in the trade to Africa, yet, when negroes were brought hither, had no seruple to buy them because they supposed that our education, ‘in a” land of Gospel light,’ wes prefgrable to ong ia ‘beathenieh darkucest” Thee & led that the buying them and holding them in <ervitude might be justified by the exam ple of Abraham and other good men of antiquity; and, as his servants were cireurmtised, theirs were baptised.” Responding to queries in regard to the oon- dition of the negroce, Belknap says:—They were sickly, and not hard worked.” “They in ventoried and rated as taxable prc Dut_not so at tached to un estate a8 to be sold w ‘There was a a net their manumission, unless their ma: bonds that they should not, im sickness or dec become burdens to t with aw ti pain of being sent to It is Very evident where the wnd ite 8 Lut the Judge tor cif free, and between thi ve code. res whether the blacks are any bet r. Belknap replies:—If « comparison be (former and present condition of this cuss of people, in the New England States, it may be suid that, uniess liberty be reckoned as a compensation for any barcehips, the former condition of most of them to the present.’ + wishes to know how the negroes obtained their freedom; and in bis remarkable reply Mr. Belknap pi ts fore idea which might have Seward, Greeley & lof trouble. What is the a of hk “ es, when, if the principle here wn ie true, they were all free the moment the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and are #0 new it thy havea mind toassert it. This is for th copsides ation of the republican Supreme Court, which is present constitution of Massa “was established in 1780, The “Declaration of Rights’? asserts that first article of th “all men are free and equal.’ This was jusertcd, not merely os & moral or — political truth, but with a particular view to establish the liverstion of the negroes on a general principle, and fo ft Was undersiond people at large, Dut some doubted whet sufficient, Many of the bucke, taking a!vautage of the public opinion and Of this general assertion of the Dill of rights, asked their freed sm and obtained it; others took it with jeave, In 1762, in Worcerter county, am indictment wi feond ayainet & man for beating ‘and imprisoniag a bieck. ‘The cose was tid io the Supreme Court in 1748. ‘The defence wee that bhicks were slaves, This was an. swered Ly citiig the clave from the “ill of Rights,” and the ag found guilty and fined forty shil lings, bocarke be hod no right to beat or imprison the block under the enue cited. Mr. Belknap gi state that in New Hampehire the constity aviepted in 1783, and that its kinguage is, born equally free md independent.” This was held to free all slaves born atter the passage af the constitution, and was 80 acted epon,—(Mass. Hist. Coil, , 1796.) Slaves,” says Felt's “Ipswich,’’ “were owned for a con- siderable time, though in no great numbers, by inhabj tunis of Ipswich. ‘They were Indians as well as Africans, Besides these, in the early history of she eolon nals were sold into servitude for a term of years, accord ing to their offeners.”’ And in l@s “Salem’” he gives the fellow ing account of a pleasant little trading voyage, “In 1637, Capt. Pierce, of the chip Desire, was commissioned to traneport fifteen boys and two women, of the captive Pequode, to Bermuda, ( sell them ae slaves. He retarnod from Tortugas, the 26th February following, with a cargo of cotton, tobacco, aalt and—negroes.”’ NEW ENGLAND-—PAST AND PRESENT. In this review of the chy and condition of the Puritans in England and in Holland, of the causes of their removal here, and of their conduct in the colonies, it is very evident that bigotry, intolerance, hypocrisy and inconsistency perpetuate themselves from generation to generation, descending, like physical characteristics, from Parent to child, So much has beon written in regard to he good qualities of the Puritans, and that phase oft! character has been so often and so ably presented to the Public, that it ig doing no injustice to omit from this article what every reader knows so well, and what it is It will be’ seen, however, w Eng as not our intention to deny. that those features which have made the ) land Puritans opproptiously notorious, as well those which have made them deservedly respected. energy, intelligeneo, industiy, thrift and progress tauice—were derived directly from the ancient Puri- of England, and no less distinctly can the principles Practices of the New Euglanders of our day be traced back to their Puritan ancestors, ‘That inconsistency which persecuted here the non-conformist, which was a virtue in England, is more than equalled by tLat extreme latitude of opinion now allowed by a religious sect former ly the most strict. Free speech and the rig ut of petition denied by the Puritains here, but insisted upon in Eng land, are now mace, by another turn of the wheel, the basis of a great party, and, as in England, ave pushed to an extent “dangerous to the State.’ That hy- pocrisy which covered a desire for power and wealth under the flimey pretexts of resistance to perae. cution and a desire to convert the Indians is paralleled now by the effort of a New England party to secure the spoils of office under the pleas of shrieks for freedom and jianthropy to the negro. That German mysticism which origimated Puritanism, and declared itself in the Dehef in witeheraft, is a; evident in New England spiritualism, and schemes of social reform, Fourierism and phalanxism, In that vilification of the government of the country, and that ascription to our chief magistrates of the pettiest crimes, so peculiar to New Fnglanders and tending to disgrace us abroad, Cotton Mather would recognise the perpetuation of that characteristic which he ascribes to New England in bis ‘Life of Phipps,”’ when he calls it ‘a province very talkative and ingenious in th» Villification of its publi¢ servants.” Nor fous doce. that carelessness as regards consequencesand disloyalty to the goverpment which distinguished the ancient Puritans, and was the cause of trouble under every monarch, good or bad, Elizabeth and Charles alike, show itself in th) Hartford Convention, and in the present sectional wedg > which, driven by the New England rail splitters, is di- viding this great Union. The same spirit which, in Elizabeth’s time, it was feared would ruin England, and which the Episcopalian bishops declared to King Wiliam would ‘accomplish the destruction of his colonies,” ha nearly succeeded in destroying our country. This is the real origin of secession. Nor is that aptitude and fucility of proving anything right by the Bible, which distin- guished the early Puritans, wanting now. By the Bible the Puritays proved that first non-con- formity was right, and then, when it served their pul @ better, that it was wrong; and so the New Englanders who, when slavery was profitable, proved by the Bible that slavery was right and the slave trade (Iudian and negro) Christian, now, by reference to the same book, demonstrate the fallacy ‘of both these ag ol and declare slavebolding a sin. So long as we have Wendell Phillips, we shall not want parallels for turbulent and cowardly Puritan elders, nor do we have to Jook further than the works of New Englanders to find that John Brown is claimed as an __ illus. trious example of that Puritan fanaticism which Would involve itself and its opponents in a common ruim rather than tolerate a difference of opinion upon any sub- ject. Helper’s book, Spooner’s Treatise and the like pub- lications are markedly similar in their style ag well as sir objects to the inveetives and scurrilities of Mar- tin Marprelate, John Cotton and the like, since only ‘de. sruction and turbulency were their aim.” That princi. ple which cries out against oppression, and yet is itself the greatest oppressor ; which asserts rights for itself and denies them to others, which maintains freedom of opinion for itself and persecutes all who do not agree with it; which exclaims against the union of chureh and politics, and yet makes politics its religion, and its religion political, has been exhibited fully in this review, but has not less noble exponents in our Beechers, Cheevers ana y England politicians generally.” And to pur- further a parallel whic! our readers ed no will continue for themselves, and which may be exte: to every point of Puritan character, we can recognise the same spirit which among the New England colonists ban. ished and distranehised ull who could not agree with the Puritans in all their opinions, and which re-enacted laws pronounced by the supreme government unconstitutional and obnoxious, now taking root everywhere Englanders gain the ascendency, driving an tion out of this common Union, seizing upon T belonging equally to both sections, denying Tixht of private judgment in regard to slavery, and enacting wud Tefusing to repeal laws pronounced wLconstituitonal and obnoxious at ouce by public sentiment and by the Su preme Court, Here, then, is the real origin of secession, here the real root of treason, and until New England shall purge her- self of her ipiquities, and, in a spirit of conciliation and friendship, address herself to the work of reuniting the Union, once so great and glorious, there can be but little hope of its peacefwl porpetuity. ‘Let New England, the first to give occasion for wrath, be the first to offer the olive branch of peace, and then Americans can sing once more the “Star Spangled Banner” and ‘Hail Columbia” with no sorrowful choakings at the thoughts they cenjure up; and with no bateful echoes of «Jaa Marsolias.” if the Puritan spirit of obstinacy and revenge be still so deeply rooted in New England that no efforts of reconeili- ation ehall be made, let each prepare himself for the worst, Blue lignts once burned to lead an enemy's ships upon our little navy; they burn now like false beacons, luring the ship of State upon the breakers where lurk ruin, destruction, annihilation. Lecture on the Arctic Regtons by Captal: Sam Whiting. At the request of some of our most prominent merchants and citizens, Captain Sam Whiting, late commander of the Steamship Marion, which was seized by the Governor of South Carolina for the use of the State, delivered alecture at Clinton Hall, Wednesday evening, giving an account of his experience while on the Hartetein Arctic expedition, which left this city in 1855 in search of Dr. Kane and Sir Jobn Franklin. Captain Whiting prefaced hie remarks by stating that of ali Arctic expeditions this was the least noticed, although really it was as usoful and intereeting as any of the others. He said that he was not going to give @ minute description of all that he saw, bute merely a rough eketch. He then proceeded to givea de- ecription of the departure of the two vossels thas com. prised the expedition—tho Arctic and Release—and ‘heir arrival at Disco Island, Greenland. He then over the domestic state of’ the inhabitants, their appearance and mode of living, and other things of interest, giving « vivid and beautiful description of the long summers and wipters of those dreary and inhospitable regions, and the many narrow escapes from instant destruction that they bad bad while attempting to. push forward the almost endless sea of tce which surrounded them on every side. During the lecture Captain Whiting expressed his opi- nion of there Arctic expeditions, stating that the informa tion that was gained was not worth the lives and auffer- ings that it cost; and even if the northwest passage ‘was established, that the benefit derived from it would amount to little or nothing. He spoke in the most pure ‘and touching manner of the noble conduct of Lady Frank- lin end her efforts to search for even a trace of her much beloved and deeply regretted husband, and concluded by telling how great was their joy to find Dr. Kane and his associates at Disco Island, when they returned without a ray of Lope as to the safety of this gallant band. ‘At the conclusion of the lecture Captain Whiting said that he had been requested to say a few words in relation to the seizure of the Marion and his resignation. He spoke as follows»— T was at Charleston, in command of the United States mail at ship Marion, when the gallant Major Anderson excculed hie glorious comp de main by ane possession of Fort Sumter; and on my passage down the bay some days thereafter, while under the walls of that fortrese, in the carly dawn of ‘ning, the American ensign was dis- played from the flag-staff on the ramparts, which I an- ewered cheerfully and at once by running up the stars and stripes to the Marion’s peak. Ishould have been ag destitute of patriotistn as of common courtesy had I failed to respond to that signal—that glorious flag under which ] was born, and under whose protecting folds my asces- tore and kindred have fought since the early days of the Revolution. My friends, 1 haye been for twenty five years a world-wide rover, and I never saw that banner proudly floating on the breeze, in any distant portion of the globe, without a feeling of love and veneration which Teannot describe. That etar spangled banner! how man: sacred and time honored memories cluster around eac star, how many deeds of heroic valor does each strips recall. And I was expested to substitute for my coun- try’s banner a flog like this—a most ungraceful tr entwined by a rattlesnake—a reptile which has over been my utter abhorrence. | have no desire to cast oppro: briom Upon the local flag of any State; but when such flag is raised in rebellion against ovr glorious Union I ignore and repudiate it now and forever. Ou my return trip to Charleston the Marion was seized by order of the Gove nor of South Carolina for State servicw, and I was offered “the command as sailing master’’—though what kind of command that is I am at a loas to determine, The avowed object for which the Marion was seized was to sink (he Star of the West, then off the harbor: but, as I had no stomach for such warfare, I resigned, and wok the railroad to my Northern home, 1 have since learned that extensive preparations were in progreas to give me the benefit of a lynch trial and execution, but I saw no manifestations to that effect 1 wae fully pre. pared to resist any such attempt; and I know that T was resolutely determined that if 1 fell I should not fall alone. I fully respond to the patriotic sentiments of the immortal Webster, ‘Liberty and Union, now and for- ever, one and inseparable.’ I hold to the Union stil and if it is destined to be divided—if thie noble fabric must crumble to decay—I shail cling to that portion of it which recognizes the s' and stripes as its national ban ner. I close my statement with the gentiment contained in an address which | delivered before Southwestern Masonic Lodge last winter, for I entertain it still — Let us impress upon our youth a horror of his crime, ‘Who dare to touch @ prop of this, our edifice sublinn me base factions strive to preaca disunton thro’ our land, Upon the constitution rock let patrio # take thetr stand Oh that sure retuge trom the storm we eafely may rely; And with the Unfon let as live, or for the Union die, The sentiments contained in this statement were warm- Jy and frequently applauded, particularly at the allusion to the American flag. Miencaw Dewocramtc Cowvestion.—The Pemocratic State Convention of Michigan is called to meet in Detroit on the 7th of February. Frucittesrp at 4 Sianow,.—The Boston Bee, ono of the “not an inch" and “no concession” republican papers, | aye We are in porsession of information that leaves no room to doubt the existence in this city, and in various parts of the Commonwealth, of so-called Union clubs, secret maumer, and organized on the same plan as the formor Know Nothing lod This organization has for ite object thé overthrow of the republican party. Under the guise of Union sentiments it ss thought that some of our timid republicans will be induced to join ihis new dark lantern party. Six Cortox.—The Augusta (Ga.) Chronirte records the sale of four bales Zippora «ilk cotton at twenty eight cente per pound. This cotton ia pronounced by the best tup in a | 26, NEWS FROM THE STATE CAPITAL. Bobinsen’s Resolutions in the House—The Lepubliecans Smoked Out—Commbsioners to be Appointed to Mect in Washington—Mr. Seward and the Crittenden Amendments— Greeley Looming Up as Senator — His Chances as Claimed by His Friends—Capital Pusish- ment—Report of the Central Park Invest gating Committee—Debate on the Gover- Ror’s Message in the Senate, Ker Kes, Ree Aunayy, Jan, 25, 1861. Yesterday was an eventful day at the capital, and will be long remembered by the leaders in the lower house. The reading of the Governor's message upon the Vir- ginia resolutions came upon them like a bombshell, and at once opened an igeue upon this question. Although this was a severe shock to them it was nothing compared to the position that the speech of Kernan placed them in when he appealed to their good sense to rise above the action of a mere party caucus, and cousider this question as its importance demanded from their hands. Mr. Robinson took the ground that they would com- promise with the South either at first or last. Even if they went to war they would finally, when the hurly burly was over, end the matter by forming a treaty, and then the whole world would exclaim what fools that they did not compromise before they went to war. A treaty will have to be made, will it be before or after a war, was the question that they had to settle. His resolutions were not to be considered a compromise, or in the least backing down from their position. The Territories would be sooner or later admitted into the Union, and his resolutions only contemplated the antici- pation of that event, and settling the question now and forever, He could see nothing in that position con:rary to the republican platform, Mr. Ellingwood (dem.) argued that principles must somctimes yield to political necessities. ‘The general go- verument was bow looking to the State of New York to see what shall be her action at this time, The fathers of the republic found slavery existing and knew it to be an evil; it was unfortunately an heir loom in the family, and they recognized it and formed the constitution in view of its cxistence. That was the first act of concession, and cid any person now bere charge the framers of that instrument with being enemics to our country? Let us then imitate their example. He believed that there was no choice except concession or civil war, and if the example of war is once set it will become chronic. We are now stronger than the South; but those who had watched the progress of our couutry must gee that there {s a mighty power growing up in the West, and if we set the example of war upon the weaker party now the time may come when the West will rise up snd settle whatever diiferences there may be between the two eections with the sword. Mr. Kernan had heard with suprise and saw with rorrew the indication about the House that there is to be bo «fo ten the part of the majority of this Legislature tosetUe Unis Wouble at preseut agitating the country. Le cou! seareel: estuutil he saw that they were being bound by a secrot caucus to oppose any conciliation and concession in these times of trouble, and even to hold their peace and refuse to give the House ‘heir reasons for withholding their support to these resolutions. He could not belive that the members here in this emer- gency would study the behests of a party caucus, held for party purposes, rather than the dictates of patriotism and duty. Tho North must, in his opinion, do eomething but taik war, He respected a war spirit at the proper time, but if we are to subdue States 1o2 them be foreign and not those who have been our associates and brethren, Let these resolutions that have been reported by your committee be defeated at the command of a party caucus, and thereby refuse to join hands with Virginia and other Dorder States in their efforts to rve the Union, aud reproach and shame will ever be upon those who by their stubbornness brought about this result. Mre Bingham argued against the resolutions, and thought that if the fears that bad been expressed hore in regard to the dissolution of the Union were well grounded these resolutions would be of no avail; but for one he was un- willing to get down on his knees and beg the South’s par- don for electing a President in a constitutional way. His speech was somewhat ludicrous, and took well. Mevers. Smith and Wright took strong grounds against the resolutions. Mr. Finch said that if another Bi had been elected President he would be opposed to any euch proposition; but now that they had elected a Presi- dent whose sympathies and antecedents were on the side of freedom, it would not in the least endanger their cause by these resolutions. Several of ing republicans were peon after the fpeech of Mr. Kernan dodging about for some one of their party who was prepared to speak to answer Mr. Kernan; but as they all came there under the expectation that there: would be,.no debate, they found pone ready 9 answer them, and feel og, that they could Rot go before the country the arguments of Kernan, and hie charges upon them unanswered, they adjourned the question ant made Mt the special order for next week. We shall now beable to —" their reasops for not holding out tho olive branch. ‘The resolutions of Robinson, unless there is a sudden change in the sentiment of the members of both houses will not be adopted; but there will be Commissioners pointed to meet those from Virginia in Washington on t! 4th of February. There will be « strong effort made to have a post nement of that day, and certain republicans are busy trying to prevent the State from sending Com- missioners at 60 early & day; but their efforte will be of no avail. ‘The Legislature will hardly dare to take the ground of not meeting the State of Virginia on this pro position. Commissioners will be appointed, and the only fear is that they will be so restricted that their journey will be useless, ‘The speeches last night have placed the republicans upon slippery ground, and it shows conclusively that either one or twe positions will be taken upon this ques tion. The prediction of Robinson, and the suspicions of both Ellingwood and Kernan, some proposition stronger than these will be agreed upon by the republ cans; and there is considerable loose material laying around that points very strong towards the conclusion that Seward and Camero iating with Southerners upon tl Aments, which go a great deal further than Robinson's resolutions and should they come here endorsed by Seward, they will be endorsed by two-thirds of the republicans, notwith Ftanding they may have previously rejected a sitnilar pro. position before. ‘The Senatorial contest has assumed altogether diferent proportions in the lust forty-eight hours, The friens of Greeley are growing more and more confident every day He is getting the support of a majority of the members from the Western part of the State, where the Weekly ‘Tribune is to be found in almost every family, and the people believe that Greeley writes every pears in the paper. His friends were offel hight tbat he would be the next United States and that he would have fifty yotes on the first ballot in the caucus. This statement flying around amongst th: Weed men created quite a consternation, and has aroused no little uncasiness in that quarter. They are, beyond a doubt, counting upon those who will not be found su ing their favorite when the hour for action arrt there is bo wiping out the fact that is today as” strong any one candidate who may enter the field on his own ‘strength, and he wi if not nominated by the caucus, be only second on t! list. He will receive for more votes than his opponent are willing to give him credit for; they will find that be will present a frent that will trouble them to moet. ‘There is an effort being made to centre the radical strength of the Legitiature upon J. C.£mith, of Canan- Gaigua. It meote with much favor from a portion of the members, but the general impression prevails that the lines will be drawn between Greciey on one side and the man presented by Weed, and this will bring the en tire anti-Weed strength upon Greeley. Others may be ‘voted for on the firet ballot, but they will finally fa'l up on Greeley, and he is the man that Weed has got to meet, defeat or be jrouted himself, A formidable rupture is openly predicted by leading republicans, ‘The Judiciary Committee reported this morning a bill to amend the ‘act to abolich capital punishmont, They have reported in fayor of making two classes of murder— one to be punished by hanging and the other imprison ment for life, and leave the grade of manslanghter the same os it is now, or murder in the third degree. The Committee on Cities and Villages reported the bill in favor of takigg the assessments from the Stroet De partment and phcing them under the charge of the Cemptroller. Mr. Moore geems to have an enquiring turn of mind Tie offered a resolution to-day requesting the Brooklyo Cos Light Company to report in writing a complete state. ment of the liabilities, expenditures, dividends, &c., for the last three years, Mr. Fisher ¢ffered a similar resolution, which was adopted, in regard to the Brooklyn ferry companies. ‘There were a number of bills reported by the commit. tees of the House this morning, but mastly of a local nature, The real work of the session progresses slowly, but it is perhaps well that it does; for as long as they but little and pass few laws we are so much the less in- fileted by them. The evt.v of the State is too mach and too basty legislation. From the numerous bills that are daily being noticed and introduced there is « fair evi+ dence that there will be no want of work this sossion, and the last few weeks it will be rushed through with railroad epeed. Many of the fat jobs that are brewing are being held back for that portion of the session, ‘The Centra) Park Investigating Committee mace their report thie morning. It is a Jengthy report and goes into a history of the purchase of the ground, the legislation that has been had upon the subject, the style of conduct ing their work, explanations in regard to the aystem of keeping their accounts and checks adopted, together with a large amount of other matter whieh will be valuable to the public. They state that out of some ninety witnesses examined, none were able to substantiate any charge ogainet the Commissioners, and that the charge all arose from political and personal disappointments, fully re- moving all suspicions from the Commissioners. Thoy leo recommend a reduetion of the Conganissioners to #ix, or three from each party, and will probably to morrow judges the finest and longest ataple over grown on up jande, It produces equal to Pettit Gulf seed. report a bill to the Senate providing for that reduction She feature of the Senate this morning hae been the 1861.—TRIPLE SHEET. debate on the Governor's message. Senator McLeod Murphy opened the discussion 1n a strong, bold and for- cible speech against seceasion, considering it perfectly. . justifiable on the part of the South. He reviewed the position taken by the South and its effect upon the pros- perity of the North and South, beheving that the South \¥ vuld be the greatest sufferer, He also deprecated the call for a State convention by’ the democracy of this | State, and lockgg upon it a8 @ move of politicians to work themeclyo® into notice, and would not result in any | good at this time. Sepater Lawrence replied, and congratulated the ro | publican party upon enother accession to their ranks in | the person of the Senator from New York, and denounced the position ‘aken by Mr.@furphy, and was going to read him out of the democratic party. ; Senator Spincla was glad to see the Senator from New York speak out so bold upon this question, and lead off in a different chanvel than had been the sage with most of the Senators about the circle, Aa , in which nearly all the Ts participated, continuing for about three hours. ‘The Senators having mostly aired themselves upon this question, they will be prepared to work practically when: the question of appomting commissioners comes up for their consideration. ‘Thurlow Weed has his first party to-night, at which ono half of the Legisiature is invited ‘in alpbadetical order. A general attendance is expected. These parties of the Albany chief are amongst the features of tho session; | both friend and foe, politically speaking, are always in! | vited by him. They always have been the most pleasant | social gatherings that take place during the winter, and there is no reason to suppose that this will be an excep- tion. Mr. Sherwood introduced a bill to regulate the fare between New York and Staten Island, as follows:— Section 1. No individual, company, corporation or associa. tion engaged in the transportation of persons or property between the city of New York and Biaten Island shall, after the passage of this act, charge or reortve more than three cents for each nger carried by them, nor more than | two-thirds of the amount now charged by them for the trans- portation of property. Kee. 2. AN bouts used for the purpose of transporting persons or property between the above named points shall such as rate Al among the insured vessels entering the port of New York, Sec, 8, Each boat engaged in the transportation of persons operty between sald. poate sball, at ell times, be pro- viced with the most improved Hfeboats In such a manner and in such numbers as to accommodate with safety ali the pas- sengers and crew which said craft is capable of carryln ogy Ba fn Te Company corporation oF association, or any n having charge any craft used for the conveyance of persons or property be- tween the points named in the frst section of the bill, who of the provisions of this aet, aball be deemed femeanor; and the owner or owners of such held Hable for a sum not exceeding fifty dollars for exch offence. Scid fine, when collected, to go, one-half to the individual making the complaint, the batance to be di- Vided equally between the counties of New York and Rich- or Dana, Field and Conkling, of New York, are here, and have been in caucus with several mombers all the éven- ing st Congress Hall. They are canvassing the chances of Gi ley, and are determined to break Weed's slate, ‘The senatorial question shifs as often as the sand bars in the Mississippi river. Last night and this morn- ing it was all Greeley; to-night Evarts loads off, and it looks as though he was to be put on the slate. A reac tion has taken place, and very suddenly, too, in his fa- vor. ‘To-morrow, however, may find the current setting in another direction. There is @ strong force in his fa- vor from New York. veod’s party was well attended to-night by men of all and out of the Legislature. Three or four of the aspirants for Seward’s mantle were on hand. ehall viola Our Albany Correspondence. Aunany, Jan, 22, 1861, The City Chamberlain Affair—The Speedy Settlement of the Contest—The Ameniiments Agreed to be Put Through— Devtin to le Retained in Office, and the City Funds to be Tvansferred For'hwith to the Broadway Ban':—Curious Mixture of Interests and Rival Managers—Greeley and Wood, Weed and Devlin, Raymond and Boole, &c., de. The City Chamberlain contest will be effectually closed today. The amendments to be put through here, by which Manierre’s bill can be passed, are definitively agreed upon, and there will be an immediate solution of this affair. The day goes in favor of Devlin. The pro- posed amendments will retain him in office, and transfer the city treasure now retained in the Park Bank forth- with to the Broadway Bank. Some little manifestation of fight may be made in the Assembly, but not worth ovn- sidering. The course to be adopted will prove the speediest, and 80 far the most expedient mode of treating the matter of the Chamberlainship. As the appointing power is not in. terfered with, the idea of making the Comptroller the accountant, the treasure keeper and the auditing officer of the city is abandoned. The settlement of the question will not involve a violation of the reason and the forms of the city charter for mere personal or partisan objects, The check upon the Finance Department of an indepen- dent treasury will be maintained. The removal of Platt, the late Chamberlain, is generally spoken of as a hasty and invidious proceeding; but when it is realized that he had impaired his official standing by his course before the Supervisors, that his bank was closed and exploded, and also that his brother is a director and a large owner in the Broadway Bank, the thing takes a different complexion. In fact, Platt never had any very considerable interest in the premtsos, and as the subject is one of quite a lively character hore I give you aechedule of the real partice moving in the matter. In the first place the bill now before the Senate ori ated in tho interest of ex-Chamberlain A. V. Stout, in whose favor the Senate last year granted an extension of his official term, which enactment was exploded by the courts almost as soon as the great gridiron session had adjourned. Mr. Stout has made a oonstant fight since to regain his vanished treasures, and it is well known that the movement by which Platt was remoyed was engineered with the confident anticipation of the restoration cf Stout. Even the communication which acting Mayor Peck sent to the Board of Aldermen, it is understood, was drawn in the Shoe and Leather Bank, the only alteration made in it being tho of the name for appointinent, But Mr. Stout has now but very little capital bere for himself or his bank since tho death of Schoolcraft, Weed’s banker and purse bearer. The eflective skill Of Sickles, which formerly upheld him (as his couneel), is no longer available, and his entire capital ‘appears to be the New York Times and the aspirations of its chief redacteur for the Senatorial robes of Seward. It is by no means certain that the Comptrolier would havo appointed Stout, although the Deputy Comptroller, Mr. ‘arren, as well as Stout himscif, it seems, has ‘been Positive that they had the means of securing this impor. apt pomt, However, there is now as little prospect of Stout's Chamberliinehip as of Raymond’s Senatorship, whieh were a fort of caucus twins here. ‘The next important moving tnterest in this matter is the Greeley or Trilune asocttion interest, as represented by Benj. F. Camp, member of Assembly from West chester. The name of Platt, the late occupant of the office of Chamberlain, was in reality a figurative way in which the word Catmp was expressed to the heathen of the Corporation. Mr. Camp was the leading direetor in oe and Leather Bank while the deposits wore held but turned up in the same capacity fn the Artisans’ Bank on tho enine day with the transter of the city money begs. Perhaps the mest significant point of view in which the City Chamberlain contest can be seen is to be found in the fact that Mr. Camp is the succossor of McElrath in the fiscal affairs of the Tribune shareholders. From this point of view may be clearly observed the active and imevitable influence of Weed, which is en- listed for the rpeedy settlement of the question, with every kindly and characteristic regard for Horace and hie estab Finally standing of Devin, the present occu mberlain,there appears to be htt! ehas had the on ot there di erially benefitted to be, perhaps, ibe only citi: who an consiter himeelf conflicts of those high coutending parties — He ja not a politician, and, a far as h represeible We d and Gree e Aluermen were concerne’ (in the Directory on the me responsibility and the convenience of his bank to the City Hall. The real bargai pointment was, that certain immunity should be granted to the Common Council, by Weed and others holding sway hero, against tain revisions of the ¢ “Mayor vertitled might bave been picked ground of his pocunt s. Mr. , which was ane ccesary qualification before th wine “unterrified’ complexion of the appointing power. It appears that ho read his appointment in the newspapers with as much surprise a8 the bridegroom Mayor must have scanned the news on his wedding tour. It is certain, however, that the humor of Boole had less to do with the joke than the characteristic good will of Weed towards ce: tain New York newspaper people, whose kites have been out ex- tensively on the city treasure, KEW YORK LEGISLATURE. Senate. Aumaxy, Jan. 26, 1961, Mr. Romertson reported a bill giving jurisdiction to the Pilot Commissioners over piers which are now exenpt by law Mr. LAWRENce reported favorably to the repeal of the act appointing Commissioners of Record for the ci'y of New York. NOTICRS OF MILLS, ¥ By = Raweay—To abolish the oftice of County Judge of Yew Yor By Mr, Coxxotty—To amend the act designating holi- days to be observed in fe payment of prom ssory notes, &e. Alro a bill relative to the law of divorce. Mr. Ronenrson introduced a bill for the better protec- tion of game. Mr. Maxrenne introduced a bill to repoal the act aa- thorizing the construction of railroad track in South, Wert and other streets in New York. Mr. Prowser reported by bill to provide for the oxten- sion of the Chenango canal. Mr. Rammgy presented a written report favoring the bill we Sate tax to wid in the building of the Susquehanna road. RILIB PASSED. ‘To incorporate the Artista’ Fund Society in New York eit, Y 1 mereace the salary of Deputy County Clerk in New vork. ‘The Governor's annual message was taken up as the #pecial order. Mr. J. Mchrop Merpny took the floor and spoke at length, He approved the general tene of the while diseenting from its political features, and defe the report of the Committee on Federal Relations, whieh ho alone of the democratic members of the committee had signed, He assailed the South as educated in the school 5 smeageuey that might arise. He disapproved for a Democratic Convention, which mort Se P-4 sad attempt to raise @ political standard when all em- blems of party strife should be cast aside. Mr. Lawnece, in reply, denied that the Southern brethren were destitute of m and religion. the Senator's remarks would imply, aud defended tte vetion of the democratic party. He eon! ot cougratulate re- pubsicans on this last accession t ir ranks. ) Mr. PP. Mugviy reviewed the positions of the mes. age and argued to prove his own consistency in having voted in former years for John P. Hale and Martin Van Buren, and last year for Lincoln. Ho ageailed Vaa Baren ‘«mocrats who supported the present democratic party. At the close of his remarke the: uate adjourned, ‘atid Assembly. ALBANY, Jan. 25, 1861. Mr. Fixcu reported a bill to repeal the capital panish- ment act of 1860, and to substitute a law dividing mur der into first and scoond class, the first punishable with death, and the second with imprisonment for life, sen- tenee to be excouted not sooner than three, nor later than six months from the date of sentence. Mr. Bewxict reported against the special act to autho- rize the formation of the Railroad and Steamboat Life In. surance Company, and in favor of an amendment to the General Life Insurance act, 80 a8 to authorize the forma, tion of such companies under its provisions. Mr. Watson reported favorably on the bill to provide for the payment of interest on canal drafts and awards Mr. ‘eine wood was appointed a member of the Com- mittee on the Internal Affairs of Towns aud Counties, iv place of Mr. Walsh, resigned. Mr. John Clancy, County Clerk of New York, reported that the total net receipts and fees of his office for 1860 amounted to $10,200, and that there had been recrived, | tm adaition, and paid into the county treasury, $13,634 82. Out of the amount of fees all the ex) for errors have been paid. er BAS INTRODUCED, By Mr. Suerwoon—To regulate the ferries between New York and Staten Island. wee the Commonwealth Savings Bank, New ‘ork. By Mr. Hurcumas—To incorporate the Loaners’ Bank, New York. By Mr. Bexepict—To prohibit the use of camphone and Durning fluid in private houses, hotels and. boarding By Mr. Provosr—To facilitate the collection of moneys on executions. The bill for a railroad on Spring street, New York, was taken from the table and referred to the Committee op Cities and Villages. Mr. Moox# moved for a report of all the assets and re- celpts, expenses and dividends of the Brooklyn Gas Light Company, under oath, for threo years past. Agreed to, Mr. Fiske moved for a similar report from. the Brook- lyn Ferry Company since its incorporation, Agreed to, Nothing further of interest in the House. The Great Snow Storm of the Season. THE SNOW ON THE HARLEM RAILROAD—DETENTION OF AN EXPRESS TRAIN OVER THIRTY HOURS— SNOW NINE FEET HIGH. ‘The snow storm of Thursday appears to have been more severe on the Harlem Railroad than anywhere else. All along the road the snow has drifted more or less, in some places the drifts reaching to the top of tho cars. Between Hillsdale and Millerton the enow is said to be from eight to ten fect in height, and packed so hard that it was impossible to proceed without digging through, A gang of between one and two hundred mon were at work all day yesterday with picks and shovels between theee villages. Up to five o’clock last night, when our reporter left Albany, no trains had got through. ‘The express train which left this city at seven o'clock on Thursday morning, as wel! as the passengers, wero wrapt up in mystery and snow drifts until yesterday afternoon, when news reacted Albany that they were between Hillsdale and Millerton, and that they might be expected in that city every moment. This was about three o’cloek, but at five o'clock the train had not arrived Itis reported that drifts formed so rapidly in the rear of tho train, after it had passed different pointe along tho road that /t was impossible for it to proceed either way until a road was dug. To add to the disromfort of the passen- gers, the telegraph wires were prostrated by the storm, Fo that no news as to their whereabouts could be sent to their anxious friends. A train left Albany for New York on Thursday night, but returned, being unable to proceed. It left at tour. o'clock P.M.) and retarned to Albany at four o'clock next morning. The forty-five minutes past ten o'clock express train did not leave yesterday morning, and notice was given that no tram would start until the express which left New York on Thuraday had arrived. The passengers tock the cars on the Hudson River Railroad. On the Centrakand Hudson River roade yesterday ali the trains were on time, and arrived at their destination each way as epecitied on their time tables. Considerable delay was also caused on the Troy and Rutland Railroad. A passenger train left Rutland at five o'clock on Thursday night and did not arrive at Troy until yesterday afternoon, at four o'clock. The distance from Rutland to Troy is twelve miles. . TELEGRAPHIC, Boston, Jan. 24, 1861. ‘There was a thick snow storm this evening. It is raia- ing heavily this evening. The morning train from New York was reported at half-past eight in the evening stack ima snow drift near West Brookfield, and not expected to reach Boston to-night. Coroner's Inquest. Coxcivsion OF Tux Bowery MurpER Case.—The inves'i- gation in the case of John Sexton, who was murdered in tho Bowery, near the corner of Rivington etreet, on Sun- day evening, the 13th inst., was concluded yesterday by Coroner Schirmer, at the Seventeenth precinct station house, ‘Tne occupants of Ling’s liquor store were closely examined, with a view of ascertaining whether there war any truth in an anonymous communication which the Coroner received on the subject of the murder, but. nothing was elicited which could in any way eluc! matters. The jury were compelled to render a verdict ef “death from hemorrbage, the result of @ stab received at the banus of some person unknown,” id thus ended this jlong and tedious examination. The anonymous communication referred to above reads as followa:— Sir—Whilst reading the papers my attention was drawn to the notice of the finding of a murdered man {n front of 109 Bowery; and deeming it my duty to assist in bringing the perpetrator of #0 foul acrime fo answer, I give the following:—Oa Sunday evening, January 13, whit going down the Bowery, I ob- vd (Wo men running Into the tavern corner of Rivington as if trying 0 hun danger. TI ame time 1 observed a stout egering outside. He was dressed © & moustache, and was somewhat set men, 820U in dark cloth; below the ¢ rs, . ¥.A—The men, after getting tnaide, rubbed the glass of the door and looktd through. After that the light was pat out. «it not look suspicious? Coroner ecbirmer tried every means to find out the author of the communication, but failed, and the case still remains a8 deeply involved in mystery as ever. Stree ny Taxes n inquest was held yester- day by Coroner O'Keefe upon the body of Augustus Pe rine, a native of this city, aged twenty-four years, who committed suicide at his residence, No. 183 Third avenue, by taking hydrocyanic acid. Deceased, it appeared, was formerly a clerk in the Register’s office, took an ac- tive part in local politics. On the first instant he nISUN situation, and being unable to procure anothe . dent and declared he would rather die than of the world, Dey r day he f life, and the desire to commit bvious that his friewws determined to Bloomingdale Luvatic Any tn d- ay two phyticiaus weet before Justice Conboily and made the pecessary affoay upon which deceased could be conveyed to the asyhun, but strange to say, that very afternoon, before Lue #3 could direeyane 4 himself of ered was be executed, Perine procured a vial acid, and, ewallowirg the poircn, toon all bis earthly troubles discovered before the vil n could be procured by the Core cured the poison, but man aud bas @ child hiv Court of Oyer a Before He THE MURDER OF WM. GUILTY OF MANSLAUGNTER GREK, Jax, £6.—The case of John MeGuire, charged with the murder of Wm. P. Ge , in Water street, the partion. lars of which we published yesterday, was fiuishot ty day. After the summing up on both sides, and the barge of the Jucge, the jury retired, and after an ab- ro- Termin. Leon ord N—M'GUIRE FOUND IN THK THIRD Dit Fence of about two hours they returned with a verdict of “Guilty of maoehey on the third de ? The pri Foner Was Fomanded for Kentence THE HOCKREITER MURDER. Xavier Hockreiter, who was convinted of the murte vos. He of Leonard Gander, was broaght up for ser coupe! moved for an “urrcet of ja. ganent.”” wrgiinent the Judge overruled the motion ip torrertence the prisoner, which sentence was that the privover be imprisoned for bis natural lite THE MURDER IN TWELPTIC STREPT. Alfred Buchanan, who was indicted for the murder of Mrs. Sehenks, wae placed on trial, It is supposed that the prisoner is insane, and bofore he {8 placed on trial that question will have to be decided. A jury was there fore empannelied, and the examination was comme Dr. M. A. Raney, of the Blackwell's Island Lunati Asylum, testified that he was of opinion that the pri eoner was insane, apd so Much go as to be incurable but on the cross exarfination it was shown that he had formed this opinion pope 8 from information received from the parents of the prisoner, and from the prisoner bimeelf. Dr, Ogden endorsed the testimony of Dr. Raney, and also thought that the prisoner was incurable. The Court thought that the trial was not correct, as the epinion of the doctor had been partly formed from the statements of the prisoner and his parents, and the testimony of the doctor was partiy read when it should have been clicged by question in open Court. As a pre. cedent it would not do to allow the case to be tried ip this manner. The case was nocérdingly adjourned till tomorrow morning, when everything will be io proper order. | of disloyalty to the Union, and declared that the duty of the Legislature was plain and the State should be armed, if necessary, to the teeth, in order to guard against any Merper of « Hrenavp t Block Islant, Mass., om | Saturday night, Nathaniel Mitchell was murdered by bik wife,