The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR Orrios §. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'$ GARDEN, Broadway.—Conwim Soooas. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Navat Exoack mants—OLD ExGutsa GEntixman WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Ticaer or Leave Man. a we OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway —A Bout im 4 Caixa Buor—Cousix Cuxuuy, — NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Masrrra—Doc Or rae Ovv Stox« Caoss—Hicuwarman's Houtpar. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Rac Wowan anv Her Dogs—Petan Beii—Srxcree Brinec Room. BARNUM’S MUSEUM, Broadway.—Faenca Gran, Gut Bor, Liciivotian Kine, &0,. ab all hours, TICKET Or Leave Maw. Afternoon and Evening BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanica’ Hall. 472 Broad. poy. sEnnorsay Sonas, Dasoms, Beavesavss, &6—Uxcu aM GRANT. WOOD'S MINSTRE Goncs, Dances, &c.—] L, 514 Broadway, —Ermrortam aD EXPLOSION. AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway,—Bau Parrommmss, Buatxseuss, Ac.—Hovuse Taat Jack Buin BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 485 Broadwav.—Grw. guns ae Equxstkian PERFORMANCES. Afternoon and vening. HOPE CHAPEL, 718 Broadway.—un .reevoscortican on Minox or tax Universe, BEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Brosdway.= Crmositgs xD es. from YA. M. tO P.M BOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Ermrorus Gores, Daxcns, BURLESQUMS, 40 Now York, Tuesday, January 12, 1864. THE SITUATION. The steamship Fulton, from Hilton Head, brings us news from Charleston to the 7th instant. Gen. Gillmore has been ‘‘amusing"’ the enemy by throw- ing shells filled with Greek fire into the city. On Bunday week twenty shells thus loaded were pitched into the city, and every one exploded. The result was that a fire was kindled in the south- ern part of the city, which burned with considera- ble fury during the balance of the day. Heretofore St appears that Gen. Gillmore has not been able to throw shells containing Greek fire into the city, fs they generally exploded in a second or two after leaving the gun; but by a recent contrivance the shells have been made to land their fearful Bad destructive contents just where they are ‘wanted by our artillerists, but where they are most unwelcome to the Charlestonians. The city is thus regarded to be at our mercy. The fleet is perfectly quiescent. - We have some interesting news from Fortress Monroe. General Butler had arrived there. The engineer and firemen captured from the steamer Star of the West had also arrived via Yorktown, having made their escape from prison at Rich- mond. The latest news from the blockading squadron at Wilmington is to the 9th inst. It states that Admiral Lee, of the United States gunboat Fah- Kee, entered Lockwood's Felly Inlet, about ten miles to the south of Wilmington, and while examining the blockade runner Bendigo, a vessel ashore by her captain about ® week before to prevent her being cap- tured by our blockaders. The enemy's sharp- shooters appeared and opened fire upon the boats’ crews, which was returned by the Fah-Kee’s @uns, when a rebel battery opened fire and our boats returned to the ship. The Fah-Kee con- tinued her fire until the Bendigo was well riddled. Night coming on, the Admiral returned to his fleet, and the following morning despatched three vessels to the inlet and made the work of destruc- . run tion complete. General Kelley highly commends the late action of Major Cole and his command in repulsing the attack of Mosby’s cavalry near Harper's Ferry, the particulars of which we published yesterday, And the official account of which appears in our columns to-day. Itis ascertained thatin one of the late cavalry skirmishes in Western Virginia Captain Blackford, a somewhat notorious rebel guerilla, was killed. The rebel guerilla McCown, together with three of his men were, captured near Sperryville ‘On the 8th inst., by a regiment of New York caval- ry, which is reconneitring in that direction. The question of the Lieutenant Generalship, in Connection with the name of Gen. Grant, has ex- It was rumored in Washing- ‘ton yesterday that the Committee on Military Af- fairs in the House would refuse to recommend that the title should be conferred upon him. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday petitions were present- ei for the exemption of members of the Society of Friends ‘from the draft, for the abolition of slavery in the Territories, and for the abolition of slavery thronghout the United States. A bill to bet apart a portion of Texas for the colonization of freed negroes was introduced and referred. Mr. Sumner introduced a bill in reference to forfeit- ures of estate for treason, defining the intent of the constitutional provision in that respect, and modifying the joint :esolution of Congress, ap- proved July 17, 1562, providing for the disposition of the property of rebeis. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Henderson, of Missouri, Proposed 8 join! resolution for the amnendment of the constitution of the United States, so as to prohibit slavery in any portion of the republic. A joint esolution in relation to the occupation of Mexico by the French was introduced and referred to the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr. Wilkinson offered a resolation in reference to the imprison- ment of certain Minnesota volunteers within the Department of Missour!, which caused a debate of some length in reference to affairs in that depart- ment and the administrations of General Scho- field and Governor Gamble, but was finally adopt- cited much interest. ed. The House Consular and Diplomatic Appro- Priation bill was referred to the Finance Commit- tee. Mr. Wilson's revolution for the expulsion of ‘Benator Garrett Davis, of Kentucky, was then ‘Taken up, and the subject was discussed by Mosers. Lane, of Kansas; Davis, Jobnson and Foster; after which its further consideration was postponed Wil to-morrow (Wednesday). The fdeath of Senator Bowden, of Virginia, was an- mounced by Mr. Carlile, and, after ewogies by Messrs. Willey and* Wilson, th mate, out of spect to the memory of the deceased, ad- ourned. | In the House of Represestatives, among a num- ¢ of bills presented were the following:—Por ¢ construction of a military and postal railroad ‘om Mew York to Washington, for a ship canal to nite the Mississippi and the great lakes, to reim- urse loyal citizens for damages sustained by the raageed to compensate citizens of Kansas for by robpl raids, and ia relation to pilots and HERALD. | NEW YORK,.HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1864. pilotage. The use of the hall was granted to Miss ‘Anna E, Dickinson to deliver an address in behalf of the Freedmen's Aid Association, by a vote of 79 to 48. Mr. Fernando Wood offered a preamble and resolution for a general investigation of the conduct of affairs—civil, military naval—by the present administration, which were laid on the table by 77 yeas to 63 ‘nays. A resolution was adopted refer- ring the charges of misconduct in the New York Custom House to the Committee on Public Expen- diture. A preamble and resolution were offered in favor of placing colored soldiers on an equality with white in respect to pay, bounties, clothing, rations, &c. The Committee on Military Affairs were instructed to inquire in reference to the com- pensation of soldiers for losses of clothing, &., sustained in the performance of duty. A bill to reimburse the State of Pennsylvania for expenses incurred in repelling rebel invasions was intro- dueed and referred to the Committee of the Whole. The death of Senator Bowden, of Virginia, was an- nounced by a message from the Senate, and after a eulogy on the deceased by Mr. Brown, of West Virginia, the House, in respect to the memory of the late Senator, adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. «ln the session of the Board of Aldermen yester- day, that portion of the Mayor's inaugural address which refers to the regulation of the city govern- ment was referred to a special committee. A resolution was adopted directing the Committee on Printing to inquire into the present method of advertising the proceedings, to ascertain whether it cannot be done more cheaply. A commu- nication was received from the Croton Depart- ment, urging the necessity of a new regervoir in the Croton valley. The matter was referred. A resolution to place Mayor Opdyke's portrait in the Governor's Room was referred to the Arts and Sciences Committee, The Mayor transmit- ted some interesting correspondence between himself and prominent citizens in reference to the sanitary affairs of the city, which will be found in another column. A resolution was adopted calling on the Park Com- missioners to report by what authority they give the use of one of the skating ponds exclusively to certain persons. The Board adjourned to Friday next, at two o'clock. The Board of Councilmen met at one o’clock yesterday, when a® communication was received from the Mayor, containing an ordinance to regu- late the passage of vehicles through the streets in the lower part of the city. It was referred to the Committee on Ordinances. The members ac- cepted several invitations to annual balls of en- gine and other fire companies. The report of the Committee on Salaries and Officers of the old Board, containing a list of commissioners of deeds for the present*year, was called up for adoption. Mr. David R. Jaques, one of the two republicans in the Board, opposed its adoption on the ground that the newly elected members of the present Board had nothing to do with the appointment, whereas he thought they were entitled to ame some of the commissioners. Solitary and alone Mr. Jaques spoke in favor of laying the paper on the table or refer- ring it to a committee. His motions were all quietly and effectually swamped, and the report adopted by a vote of nineteen in the affirmative— Mr. Wm. 8. Opdyke, thefother republican, voting with the majority—to one, (Mr. Jaques), in the ne- gative. The Board being satisfied from this trial that the democratic interests were all safe, imme- diately adjourned until Thursday evening next, at four o'clock. Surrogate Tucker was occupied yesterday with the trial of the disputed will of Thomas Kelly, de- ceased. The will is in favor of the widow, and is contested by children of the first wife of deceased. The accounts of the estates of John Rogers and Samuel Rogers were finally settled. John Smith, a man whose appearance indicated brutality and ferocity, was yesterday convicted in the Court of General Sessions of highway rob- bery. The crime was committed about two o'clock on the morning of the 2d inst., when the prisoner robbed Mr. A. K. Martindale of a watch anda purse, containing about six dollars. The complainant’s face was fearfully battered, and the bridge of his nose broken by Smith previous to the robbery being committed. The jury delib- erated but a few minutes, and returned a verdict of guilty. Recorder Hoffman sentenced him to the State Prison for ten years and three months. According to the City Inspector's report, there were 487 deaths in the city during the past week— an increase of 11 as compared with the mor- tality of the week previous, and 54 more than occurred during the corresponding week last year. The recapitulation table gives 5 deaths of alcohol- ism, 4 of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; @1 of the brain and nerves, 4 of the generative organs, 14 of the heart and blood vessels, 184 of the lungs, throat, &c.; 7 of old age, 31 of dis- eases of the skin and eruptive fevers, 7 premature births, 61 of diseases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 47 of uncertain seat aad geueral fevers, 3 from,unknown causes, 12 of dis- eases of the urinary organs, and 17 from violent causes. There were 311 nattves of the United States, 116 of Ireland, 10 of England, 30 of -Ger- many, 7 of Scotland, and the balance of various foreign countries. ‘The stock market opened firm yesterday morning, but as the day advanced it became unsteady. Cleveland and Toledo and Chicago and Rock Island Railroad shares were run up, however, respectively thirteen and fourteen per cont under the speculative movement, which was inau- gurated about ten days since. Gold was firmat an ad- vance, the market closing at 153 @ 16354. Monetary af faire are becoming close, and loans are difficult to obtain at the legal rate of interest. Government securities were firm, without alteration in price. Inactivity was the most prominent feature in business circles yesterday—business everywhere outside of the Produce exchange boing called dull. The markets were firm, though the rise in gold rendering holders of goods, especially of imported goods, tenacious of high prices. ‘The amount of business transacted at the Produce Ex- change was large, flour, grain and provisions having mot with an active sale at prices showing a further improve- ment. Cotton was firmer undor the news from New Orleans. Groceries weré quiet but firm. Petroleum was very dull and tended downwards. Freights wore firm, with small engagements. Anvses fx tax Navy.—The facts brought out in the Dickerson and Isherwood controversy demand a careful and searching investigation by Congress. So fat as we are concerned we have given both parties the full benefit of our columns; but the issues involved in their dis. pute are not of a nature to be decided in this way. Mr. Dickerson makes charges against the Chief Engineer of the Navy, which, if sub- stantiated, warrant his dismissal, and Mr. Isher- wood replies by attacking Mr. Dickerson’s pro- fessional qualifications. The latter says that these have nothing t2 do with the question, and in this we agree with him. Mr. Dickerson evi- dently knows enough of engineering to make out a strong gase against the department, and: this is all that concerns the public. It is for Congress now to act and to put tho investiga- tion in such a shape that it will be thorough and satisfactory. The House has appointed a committee of inquiry, and the Senate will no doubt also be called upon to nominate one. We submit whether it would not be better to appoint a joint committee of both houses, and thus avoid the conflicts of opinion and the delay that are sure 4o arise from the separate action of the two bodies. There is always danger in the latter case of the evidence being frittered away and the investigation ending in smoke, xt President! jection—The Up- @l and Dispersion of All the Old Political Elements, The agitation and turmoil among all the old Political organizations consequent upon the independent nomination of General Grant for the next Presidency continue unabated. The feverish excitement still rages among office holders and office seekers, among all the govern- ment fed organs, stump orators, closet and re- frigerative wireworkers, stupid newspaper hacks, cheating contractors, and that unlimited train of seedy and needy politicians and small demagogues who are content to play the part of lackeys to their more fortunate and better paid but equally venal masters. By this nomination the old political elements have had an upheaval that will shake the former nominating fabrics to pieces. It is moral as well as a political earthquake. The old parties are completely split asunder, and they see nothing but harass- ing difficulties and mortifying defeat if they attempt to interpose obstacles to the triumph- ant election of General Grant to the Presiden- cy of the United States. From all parts of the country we continue to receive proofs of the growing sentiment among the people in favor of the-election of General Grant. It is true the class of cormorants re- ferred to above cannot afford to come out at onoe and openly avow their preference for the hero of Vicksburg. They dare not lose their present hold upon the government—for from it they receive life and sustenance—but some of them are already practising the science of art- ful dodging, and, while they profess to hurrah for Lincoln or Chase, they secretly declare their determination to go for Grant when they can do so and not jeopardize their bread and but- ter. But it is amusing at this time to witness the twists and tutnings of the political news- paper hacks that are paid directly or indirect- ly from the public treasury for their support of projects for the successorship ad’ they are con- cocted in private chambers and closets. These petty counterfeits of journalism dare not openly assail General Grant, nor specifically oppose his nomination or eleotion; but they take a cowardly way of showing their spite and vexa- tion at his presence in the political field by showering their spleen upon the editor of the New Yorr Heratp, who has been foremost in placing the name of the General bofore the American people for the highest office in their ft. er ere are a few specimens of this sort of brotherly and Christian spirit, selected from the fifth batch of exchanges we have overbauled since the nomination of General’ Grant in the columns of this paper. The Troy Whig, once prebably of some candor and sense, says:—“The impression that the Heratp is running Grant in order to kill him is entertained in many minds.” Well, is not that all you want? With General Grant out of the way, does it make any differ-- ence who kills him? But the Whig does not believe what it says. It knows that the Heratp never yet has killed its favorite candidate for the Presidency—no matter what it may have done afterwards. A little ratting concern called the Evansville (Ind.) Journal says that “the President (Lincoln) wouldn’t fee the Heratp, and hence the change’—the abandonment of Old Abe. The only fee we ever exacted of uncle Abraham was the fee simple of manag- ing our own business in our way—an inheritance we, in common with every other honest man, expect to enjoy under his as well as any other administration. A Washington correspondent of that indefatigably obtuse and obstinate sheet, the Chicago Tribune, says that some one has told him that some one else asserts that he don’t believe General Grant has ever written a Igtter to a friend in Washington stating that he would accept the nomination for the Presidency if ten- dered him. But at the same time the same corres- pondent admits that General Grant has written a letter in “the style of Roman simplicity, and exhibiting sound Saxon sense, expressing his desire to break the army of the rebels.” That he will do after his own style, while his Roman simplicity and sound Saxon sense will 60 heartily commend themselves to the American people that there can be offered no other token of their esteem and devotion than a firm seat in the Presidential chair. The Cleveland Leader, whose editor has the dullest comprehension of all the army of rural editors now on the anx- ious seat, becomes absolutely rabid. He de- clares that “the Heratp is rapidly reaching the perfection of donkey bliss,” spasmodically proclaims that “General Grant can’t become the candidate of the copperheads”—as if we ever hoped he would—and finally simmers down and comes softly and cat-like around to the Heratp’s views, saying:—“If he (Grant) is made President it will not be due to the Heravv’s careasings or purrings.” Never mind; 80 long as Grant becomes President it will not make much difference who does the caressing or purring, and the singed cat of the Leader may then prove after all that, wecord- ing to the old saw, he is “a little better than he looks.” The Boston Courier canvasses the subject of the nomination of General Grant pretty candidly; and in referring to what it is pleased to term the Heratn’s “fundamental error” in its speculations on the General’s elec- tion, says it overlooks altogether the “esse n- tial principle involved in the next Presidential election,” which the Courier defines to be the taking of “our vital safeguards of law and order in the loyal States from the hands of the people by the persistent action of the adminis- tration and its aubservient party.” The Courier is wistaken. We have not overlooked the point in question. We held that the spontaneous election of General Grant will restore to the people all the safeguards they have lost during a state of terrible war,and bring about » speedy and permanent peace which none at the North nor at the South can find fault with, unlees they be army contractors or bigger and more unconscionable rascals. If nominated by & popular convention of conservatives there is no doubt the Courier will waive all its objeo- tions. The Schenectady Star says the “Hera has already dropped Grant.” Put on your spectacles, my little puss. The Louisville De- moerat still looks favorably towards Grant, al- though it expresses a fear that the HexaLp will use up what it terms its sensational am- munition before the election. The copper- heads of the Cincinnati Knquirer are almost on the eve of declaring for Grant; but they cau- tiously hold back for the present, But we have not space for further references to-day. We have said sufficient for the pre- sent, and are reassured in our conviction that, as the Revolutionary war produced a President in George Washington, the war of 1812 « Presi- dent in Jackson and again in Harrison, the 4 war with Moxigo a President ia General Tarter, so will the present war produce President, and that President will be General Grant. bai In 1848 a fewfdetermined men—prominent among whom were Ledru Rollin, Marrast and Louis Blanc—began inciting the people of France against the rule of Louis Philippe. Se- cret clubs were held and speeches made at great public dinners, and at last, as a result of all these inflammatory proceedings, the King fled, and for a few months a republican government flourished in France. Louis Napoleon adopted that republic but to strangle it. He became Emperor, and marched onward in despotism until he had obtained seemingly unyielding hold upon the destinies of the people he ruled so arbitrarily. In an unfortunate hour for his interests the Emperor of the French allowed himself to be persuaded into granting freedom of discussion to the Legislative Chambers, and since that move on his part he has experienced the cares and anxieties of his predecessors on the throne of France. He has heard the wisest men of the country denouncing his political schemes, and now he finds M. Thiers, the re- spected and popular opposition candidate, op- posing, with a calm but forcible dignity, the method whereby he (Napoleon) seeks to obtain the treasure he must have to prosecute the, immense expenses he has entailed upon the country through a mistaken policy of aggres- sion and conquest. M. Thiers, who, with the government of Louis Philippe, was overthrown in 1848, is now ac- complishing ‘against Louis Napoleon the same manceuvres which were successful against him: that is, he attacks boldly the errors of the government and defends the rights of the people. In France such @ course on the part of M. Thiers will be productive of important results, and ere many months have elapsed we may see Napoleon once more a sojourner in London and a frequenter of its clubs and its theatres. The Emperor of the French asks the Corps Logislatif to give him three hundred millions of francs, and M. Thiers opposes this demand, and asks, where will it allend? He foresees that, with such a policy as Napoleon’s, next year another loan of three hundred mil-. lions will be required, and asks, how will the “country meet that demand? Mr. Thiers desires that all email wars should cease; they absorb all the treasure and impoverish the country. He desires peace and a reduction of the enormotis expenses Of the government. He feara that the present policy pursued by France may entail upon Europe a general war which shall last beyond the time of\the present generation, and he cannot see why France should foster any such great danger. He con- demns the Mexican expedition, the wars in China, Cochin China and Japan, and asserts that France is mistress of peace or war at her pleasure;-and, in the name of the people, he desires peace. He is willing to give money to the government to pay its debts; but he wishes to curtail the extravagant expenditure of the different departments, and wishes to reduce the amount of the loan demanded and to secure the country against any further attempt at thus raising money. This speech of M. Thiers will have a great and lasting influence throughout the French empire. The people are becoming tired of Napoleon’s rule, and these exposes in the Le- gislative Chambers will immensely reduce the prestige and influence of the Emperor, who has for years persisted in a course of policy tetally unpopular in France. To attack his financial resources is the surest way for the opposition to cripple his political schemes, and this is doubtless well understood by M. Thiors, whea he so firmly and persistently denounces the proposed loan. Even should the Emperor obtain this sum, he will never again dare to appeal to the Chambers for a like assistance; and herein the opposition succeed in hamper- ing his future movements, as they well know that the three hundred millions will be apent as soon as obtained, and that ere many months Napoleon's treasury will be once more empty. If this need of treasure puts a stop to the schemes of the Emperor he will lose his only hold upon the people of France—the gratifica- tion of their vanity and warlike tendencies— and he would then become insufferable to them and his downfall be assured. All these con- siderations add great weight and importance to the movements of M. Thiers and his able as- sistants in the opposition in France. Tue Privateers 1m THE INpIAN OceAN— Rerorn og tax Vanpersi.t.—For two years the rebel government, without ports, with- out naval depots, and with all embarrass- ments in its way, has been able, by means of two or three ships, to sweep the seas, and has plundered our commerce, by the statements of Captains Semmes and Mafiit, to the extent of thirty millions of dollars. Hew many ships we have lost since these statements were made we do not know. Some time ago it was annonuced that the Alabama, the most active of the rebel cruisers, had gone into the Indian Ocean, where we have still a commerce of immense extent. Our govera- ment sent after her the steamer Vanderbilt—an efficient and excellent ship, and one of the fastest we have—under Captain Baldwin, and it seemed probable for a time that the Ala- bama would find the Indian Ocean a hot place. Indeed, Semmes is reported to have spoken very doubtfully of his chances to do much theré in view of the presence of the Vanderbilt in the same waters. But now, when we might fairly have anticipated news of a collision between the two ships, we suddenly learn that our commerce in all that quarter of the globe is left helplessly exposed to the depredations of the pirate, and that the Vanderbilt is on her way home. She arrived at St. Thomas from Cape Town on the 21st ult. What Captain Baldwin's orders were of course we do not know. But itis fair to as- sume that he acte under orders in this return; for it is hardly to be supposed that an officer of any enterprise, with such a magnificent ship and such a golden opportunity, could volunta- rily relinquish his chance and come quietly and ¢tamely home, unless expressly bidden to do #0. Certainly, if he does not act thus under orders he is not fit for his place; and if he doce act under ordera it is hardly possible to char- racterize properly the degree of official stupidi- ty in which those orders must have originated. No blunder that the Navy Department has made since the war began surpasses this, and but few equal it in the extent to which it will injure our commerce and disgrace the service for whose honor 60 many gallant men continu- ally peril their lives. It is full time that the people gave definite form to the indignation aad disgust that all feel at acts like this, and required of the government thet it should do @ great deal more in regard to these privateers than it bas yet th ought it worth while to attempt. Mayer Gunther and Municipal Re- municipal reform last evening. He sent to the Common Council a special message upon the Department of the City Inspector, Mr. Gun- ther’s recent rival for the Mayoralty. The ob- ject of this message is to expose the corruptions of Mr. Boole’s department; and we suppose that it may be said to accomplish ite object. The fact is that nearly all of the ten, twelve or fourteen independent departments of the city government are either notoriously corrupt or inefficient. The one or two exceptions only more clearly prove ,the rule that, from the Cus- tom House down, the political departments in New York either swindle the public by pecula- tion or incapacity, or both. The City Inspector's Department is by no means the worst of this very bad lot. Gunther’s expose as we should have been had | he suggested a feasible and satisfactory reform for the evils from which we suffer. all government is corrupt. We all know that; but we want to know something more. We have ‘plenty of doctors who tell us, and have been telling us for a long time, how very, very sick we are; but what we need is adoctor who Gunther is obviously not that anxiously ex- pected person. He proposes to reform the city | government through the Common Council. That is equivalent to the old charlatan dodge of curing a bite with the hair of the dog that form. Mayor Gunther made his first attempt at But we are not so much interested in Mayor | It is very well to say that the city will tell us bow to cure ourselves. Mayor bit you. The Common Council is the origin of the corruption. Most of the members take a hand in it and share the spoils. To ask them to reform themselves is a very good joke; but it amounts to nothing more. We have pre- cisely the same objection to Mayor Gunther's more general plan, recommended in his inaugu- ral message, and approved by us as an abstract idea. That plan is to get the Legislature to give the Mayor the power which originally belonged to his office. Unfortuaately, how- ever, the Legislature will do nothing of the kind. _ It is a republican Legislature, and will give no power toa democratic Mayor. That settles this question; for a remedy which we cannot obtain is as useless as no remedy at all. But, not to imitate those whom we rebuke, and expose evils without ehowing how they may be removed, we confess at once that we have a scheme to submit to the Legislature. The Romans used to check-corruption and force their officials to honesty and energy by means of a public censor, who was always se- lected.for his purity and. iadependence of obar- acter, and whose duty it was to investigate, re- port upon and punish the misconduct of the Senators and other public men. We should suggest the appointment of such a censor here, were we not afraid that the worst rogue would be selected for the office, or that, even if an honest man were chosen, the rogues would soon manage either to corrupt.or to hoodwink him. Therefore we go upon the principle that in a:multitude of counsellors there “is safety, and so urge the Legislature to appoint a commission ef five gentlemen of ‘high stand- ing and indisputable independence, and to give this commission power to investigate all charges against our city officials; to send for persons and papers, and to remove immediately any officer whom they may find guilty of omis- sions of duty or commissions of fraud. If such gentlemen as Judge Roosevelt, William B. Astor, A. T. Stewart and Charles O’Conor were to be appointed upon this duty, and would consent to serve, we do not doubt but that each of them would soon win for himself the reputation of a Cato, and that the municipal government, in all its independent departments, would be better administered than it has been for years. This would be a shorter and surer mode of reform than to attempt to smash all the political ma- chines, and elect only virtuous and incorrupti- ble men to all our public offices, and a much safer and more satisfactory mode than a popu- lar revolution and a vigilance committee. We believe, therefore, that we are doing the city a service by pressing it upon the attention of the Legislature. Terria Youra to Truancy ano Wrong Doro.—The late report of the Police Commis- sioners contains some portinent remarks about the necessity of punishing receivers of stolen goods and the prevention of truancy by school: children. Although classified under separate headings, both topics might be well discussed together; for to the receiver of stolen goods tan be traced most of the grievances to be complained of under the head of truancy. But this is not all. The report should have gone further, a nd treated of those petty second hand shop and junk dealers who tempt children, even while on their way to achool,'tg afi for a paltry sum their school books, slates, satohels and everything they possess that can be made saleable to other parties. Thechild then plays truant, fears punishment both at gohool and at home, if he goes to either, and hence is led, from one step to another, to the commission of more serious acts of wrong doing. Surely the tempter, who is certain to prove a noted or cowardly rascal, should be punished for thus leading echool children astray and to the per- petration of deeds from which their, home in- struction and better natures teach them to re- volt. If one will glance at the blank pages of school books found on the stands of Irrespon- sible second hand book dealers on the corners of streets and in the small second hand shops we have reforred to, both in the city aad vicinity, it will be seen that most of them contain the names of children who have been tempted to sell them at nominal ‘prices to those contemp- tible inciters to evil prdbtices. Such villains should be reached by the law and punished ac- cording to their moral turpitude. Recevirma—New Yore Swixptep Ovr oF Hen Mry.—The facts disclosed in General Spinola’s letter, published yesterday, fully ex- plain the cause of the falling off which has taken place in the business of our recruiting offices, The Loyal League—that body which makes itself so. mischievously active where its interference is not called for, and which holds back when its services might do some good—is, the General asserts, mainly responsible for it. He states that after increasing bis enlistments to over a hundred a day, and turning the ow of recruits to our city, he found the members of the League driving them off again to the Kastern States, where they are now being con- veyed daily, to the number of @ hundred and more. The consequence is that the cecruiting busingss hace has fallen of olmoet to nothing, -rather saddening effect of the.music .and that within the last ninety days we have been cheated out of as many men as would have sufficed to Gill up the city quota-under the President's last call. Now thig is an alarming state of things, and steps should at once be taken to put a stop to it. General Spinola asserts that the agents en- gaged in this traffic are members of the Loyal League and are making large sums of money by it. Why not let us bave their names? If we cannot find legal means to stop their pro- ceedings, the dread of exposure may possibly do it. The Legislature is, however, now sit- ting, and a short act might be passed to reach and punish these recruiting crimps. We trust that the suggestion will be acted upon; for if we allow this atate of things to continue another fortnight we shall have to pay in our persons for the shortcomings of the New Eng- land States. A. There was @ good house last ovoning at the Academy of Music, on tno occasion of Mme. Johanasen’s benefit. Tho opera Fidelio was satisfactorily sung. Tne now basao, Horr Hermanns, made @ very successful debut. This artist's voice is of a ploasing quality—is fall and poworful and well cultivated. We were prepared to hear * an artist of merit, judging from bis European reputation, ,and wore not disappointed. Horr Hermanns ts @ very ‘great acquisition. to ¢ke Gorman Opera troupe, which 60 smauch needed a basse. ‘The Arion Society, who sang tho “‘Prisonor’s Chorus,” Gave this lugubrious chant to thoir usual effective man- ner, and would have been much applauded hag not the obitied the audience) ‘The three overtures wore all well played by thé orchestra, under the ablo.direction of Mr. ‘gmann. The artista were more or less successful in their Mile. Canisaa apoiled much of the concerted musio—which waa 8 great deal for one artist to accomplish. Mme. Johann. sen, who is ever @ most conscientious performer, was ver, satiatneers, = = Horr Hoblemann, as In- quino, sang and acted well. 5 itively last performance of On Friday evening vely i tyionnbed Faast will take place on occasion of Mine. Federici ond Herr Himmer. The Arion Society will sing in the choruses. Theatres. NIBLO'S GARDEN. ‘The new (rish drama, the Connie Soogah; or, the Jolly Pedier, which bas been so long in preparation, ‘was produced last evening to an overflowing house. 8@ much had beon said and promised in convection with it that the oxpectations of the audionce were evidently raised to the highest pitch. The following will give some idoa of tho plot, which, tt will be seen, is tolorably tntri- Cator— conan % San At Tho first act opens in the cottage of Mrs. O'Gorman (Mrs. Grattan), the widow of Col. de Courcy O'Gormaa, who is in impoverished circumstances, thtough the vil- lany of Trickett (Mr. Burnett), Lord Berrysford’s ‘agent. ly ‘ Ot irey — eee rrdyeay —— gon in love wi Lacy Connor, ries re fe Heyy wo bas ‘been forced by the will of her uncle, under pain of forfeiture of his ostates, to @ union with mond O'Connor (Mr. Ring- old), brother to Lacy, and @ scamp of the fret water. Nolly Nolan (Mrs. Williams), @ favorite attondant of the family, is coneg Elleen when Connie Soogah (Mr. Barney, Williams) enters with bis and, after ovorhea! the rascality of Trickett, of Lacy and de; pted. greos appropriated all the De Courcy estates, even the Ogee’ peosion: throwa off his disguise and difcovers bimsolf as Cornoy McGrath, the faithful follower of her refugee lover, giving present comfort to Eileon-and pre- mising her aid when aid will be required. Tho scene now ,changes to the Sea Gull Rock, where Trickett is at work ‘Sbe thom out of thelr Corney appears and bids de- F ‘among tbe peasantry, for hou-paymont. of rent. fiance to the agent. ‘Berryatord- Casto, ‘where Siloen ang the guesta, who ance,. 1s. is now NeceaeAr} with woman’ We fat od to a hail in fo are now noguced A ‘her and creates ut Lac; ‘avoid suspicion, cooks up a story as to his for They start on their enterprise, giving price to seone in the house of Mrs. O'Gorman between Kileen and Nelly, in which the latter displays al! votion ana Kk aud ready wit which are pecsant itl, a for cera” trlomphay ode ‘again bled Nolly, the scene closing with a laughable Picturesque tableau of Redmond’s discomfture, We follow Trickott's bloodhounds through The Giant's Gate. way, ou the road to the Care Taker’s Hut, when we meet wit Mary Rogan (Mrs. ere: , who is there concealing r husband’s intended 1 ', who discovers the plot to Lac; 8 ul adventure, which he relates. takes the hint, and scapes. have now the tableau of the pieco—the Cascade and Devil's Basin in the Giant's Causeway—in which arapid succession of offects and bairbreadth escapes ensue, winding up wita @ doath at between Trickett and Lacy (who is thrown over the fatis with the papers recovered from Tricks his band), the fearful leap of Corney into the Dovil’s and appearance of Wild Elsie in the crags, the drop falling amid tremendous applause, The third act opens at Lord Berrysford’s, who ts in consult witb bis son Redmond, whea Trickett enters with the hat of Lacy, who he supposes is drowned. Tho agent again toduces Redmond to seek the hand of Eileen, ana goes to the house of Squire Maitiand, where she bas taken refugd. Eileen, who hag been tostructed by Cornoy, parently consents. Trickett, overjoyed at the success of his pians, appoints the following evening for the ceremony at the castle, The fourth scene discovers Lacy wounded in the cavern of Elsie (Miss Mary Welis), where ho is awaiting the return of Corney, who bas sent the recovered papers to the Lord Lieutenant, i come to the last scene of the piece, the grand ball In the oastlo, WhOFS Sroryiming en for the bridal core. mony. Elsie ruabes in, claims Trickett as her denounciog him as the murderer of Colonel O’Gormas, and Redmond as their child. They are arrested, Lao; recovers his ‘and marries Eileen, and tho ‘connie Soogah takes unto himself Nelly Nolan, and all ends happily. ‘Wo nced not tell our readers (hat thedtama being writ- ten for Mr. Barnoy Williams its whole interest ts made te centre round him. It is not his aim to give much promi nence to any of the other characters, and on his offorte eae H if by Liss isthe there is, of course, but little room for criticiem, ears bak of pationce with him, If Mr. Ringgold, too, infused a little more of the gontloman into his Irish fox hnter it would have’been nearer the fe. The Cennte ‘Soogah, although Lad features: origt- nality, is one of hose rollicking creations which serves to bring out all Mr. Williams’ strong points. the of taughter all a advantage. OLYMPIC THEATRE. ‘Two pieces, both new here, were performed at this theatre inst night, entitled A Bull in « China Shop, and Cousin Cherry, The Bull in a China Shop is a vory tnugh- able (Ilustration of that proverbial title. Mr. Tipthorpe, ‘an old gentioman who has his peccadilioes, is neverthe- fess very quiet and happy with his family—a wife and daughter. Thoro ts « suitor for the daughter's hand, be- loved by the daughter and approved of by tho father and mother. There is @ @ervant maid married to a piano tuner, and who keeps bor marriage secret for tear sbe will loge her place, Excopt this little trouble, every one | in the play is perfectly happy, when suddenly this domes- Lic circle in entored by Bagshot. the friend of Mr. Tipthorpe. He immediately discovers a grent'tmmaay mysteries, sees that Tipthorpe’s family is menaced’ with ruin, and de- votes bimselt to save it, But in Pie eee process he every ouo by the oars ja. the — hor, sete the oat at croas purposes x 7 ry 0. Many comical and Famerous Wd har J Aaa faporation of this taea, ‘at least Afty good laughs init, though Wis retier'h farce than @ comedy. hot’s character is happily sketched. Mesars. Davidge, Morton, Stoddard and Owens pie: the principal parts with capital spirit, Mr, Stoddard’s make hI sad particularly excellent, as was also that of Mr. Owens. Cousin Cherry is a very much slower piece, though Mra. Wood was the Cousin Cherry, and th she te eupposod to be A lively widow who talks every subject to pieces, Such lively widows are time honored insitu- tions in Uho drama, must be vory tiresome to Ty ireaaes, aa they certainly are to the audience. Weoa's Ninwe wioge ‘oxception to. the Fale 1m this 1attor r , though she doudtiess aid tap Date ey eaaliy have beon done with it, Mra. Brown #0y “a love with 6 Te a al Pk lw ‘accordingly depends Its success. In otha SE