The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1865, Page 4

owe TAWA NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1865. Jengthy debale, was withdrewa, ‘The | Peart stroot, a taxpayer, objects, and gots oul & writ of | States; after having exhausted those States of injunction restraining the Comptroller from making 8°¥ | their military resources, and brought ruin and more peyments. We <nderstand from this proceeding desolation broadcast upon them, he would that there ia vo chance for the further payment of the inatitution cartmen until after next February. The matier remains | 880rifice the of alavery itself, and turn over said States to Buropean vaasalage to in statu quo for the present, and for the next month our citizens will be obliged to empty their ashes in the streets. | save his own wretched carcass from the hands of, A plentiful supply 00 the sidewalk woald be beneficial; | of justice. In the proposed division of the States which but it is deplorable to think what will be the condition of our streets for tho next month. ‘An Italian, giving bis name as Joba Cerio, was on he claime as belonging to his “confederacy,” Wednesday afternoon arrested and locked up, in default | England would get Virginia, Kentucky, Tea- of fifteen hundred dollars bail, charged with being oue of | nessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, the three persons who on last Tuesday morning, 12} Alabama and Mississippi; France would get Lovisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and the coun- try west of them to the Rocky Mountains; 4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, President Lincoln's Humorous Diplo- macy aad the Mission to France. President Lincoln is very curious combina- tion of Rabelais and Richeliou. With all the coarse, shrewd wit of the former, he possesses all the diplomatic adroitness and sagacity of the latter. In the West he was equally cele- brated for bis broad stories and his keen cun- ning; but it must be-admitted that since he be- came President his stories have proven him a true humorist, and his cunning, when applied to State affairs, has been transformed into diplo- macy, During his term of office he has dis- played his powers by completely superseding the renowned Joe Miller and by deceiving, de- it may, therefore, be taken for granted that Bigelow will not be unseated. If Rabelais had been our President he could not have managed this delicate affair more humorously. If Riche- lieu had occupied the White House he could not have displayed more diplomatic ability and adroitness, ‘The News from Mexico—Turbulent Condi- tion of the Country=What Does it Meen? The news from Mexico has some significance in its political aspect. Imperial victories are announced, and are only important as indicat- OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. of the New York Supervisors, and to provide for the re- demption of the bonds therein specified; to amead the Quarantine law; also appropriating four millions of dol- lars for the payment of the principal and interest of the Canal debt. The resolutions complimentary to our mili- tary and naval heroes were called up and adopted. The Ninth Senatorial district contested election case was then THE We have no later despatches from the army under General Sherman. The rebel General Hardee, however, in atelegram dated at Charleston on the 2d instant, ‘Thompson street, assaulted and attempted to take the life of policeman Daniels, of the Bighth precinct. The two other assailants have not yet been arrested. stated that large bodies of Union troops were being landed on the South Carolina side of the Savapnab river, and were driving the rebel pickets before them. A despatch from Washington says official information has been received there that General Kilpatrick’s cavalry have seized Hardeeville, on the Savannah and Charleston Railroad. From Alabama we learn that General Steedman’s cav- alry have captured and burned Hood’s pontoon trains, ‘nd taken from him six hundred mules, one hundred wagons and two hundred hogs. The rebel Roddy’s cav- alry have nearly all been dispersed. It is said that Hood has been ordered to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to reorganize his fragmontary army. > One of our Shenandoah valley correspondents says that information has been received direct from Richmond that rebel troops are being hurried off to Branchville, South Carolina, and the adjacent regio, for the purpose of at- tempting to check an anticipated northward movement from Savaunsh of General Sherman’s army. Secretary of War Stanton has left Washington for Fortress Monroo, Hilton Hoad and Savannah, to confer with Generals Grant, Sherman and Foster on important matters connected with the military service of the country, There is little news from the Jamos river to notice. The rebels kept up a considerable fire on the Dutch Gap canal on Tuesday last, but without doing any damage. Major General Canby, in a letter on the subject of the present regulations of the Treasury Department for trade with the insurrectionary portions of the country, says that their evils to the national cause are enormous, He states that if the present system is persevered in its effects will be equal to a reinforcement of the rebel armies by fifty thousand men. The rebol pirate Olustee made her escape from tho port of Wilmington, N. ©., on Christmas night, while nearly all our gaval vessels in that quarter had their at- tention engaged by the attack on Fort Fisher. On the next day ashe was discovered and chased for some dis- tance by the United States steamship Lillian, but finally turned upon her pursuer, which was obliged to make a hasty retreat, owing to having only two guns against five heavy ones carried by the pirate. To last Monday’s Haxaup was given an account of the capture by the new rebel pirate Shenandcah, formerly the Sea King, of the ship Kate Princa, the barks Elena and. G. Godfrey, the brig Susan smd the schooner Charter Oak. We this morning publish the statement cf Captain Libbey, of the Kate Zrince, which was taken by the pirate on the 13th of November last, and bonded for forty thousand dollars. All the other captured vessels named were destroyed. The Shenandoah is not arreed for fighting, but only for the destruction of Ame- rican commerce. She is of cleven hun@red tons burthen, can only run about eleven knots an hour, and has a crew of only forty-three, nearly all of whom are Englishmen. ‘The blockade ranning steamer Julia, with a cargo of four hundred and fifty bales of cotton, bound from Charieston for Nassau, was captured a short distance outside of the formor port, on the 26th ul, by the United States gunboat Acacia. The Julia aud cargo are valued at two hundred thousand dollars, A captain, lieutenant and seven men of Moeby’s com- mand, Who were on thelr way to carry outa raid on the Baltimore and Obio Railroad, have been arrested at the Relay House, on that road. A large amount of money aod valuable papers were found on their persons. Richmond papers of January 2 annonnce that Hood's arty is south of the Tennessee river; but there is rea- son to doubt the truth of the story. They admit that he is suffering for the want of rations and commissary stores; but claim several before unheard of successes for him. A terrible picture is given in these rebel prints of the disaster to the Roanoke river expe- dition, which lacks materially in the important fea- ture of truth The Examiner declares Jeff. Davis to be panic stricken at the condition to which be bas re- duced the confederacy, and thinks it needs a more com- petent leader. General eauregard, ina despatch dated at Charlgston, 8. C., on the 2d inst., infurms the rebel War Department that the Union raiders have returned from the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, going westward. He says that the damage done by them “will be repaired in about ten days.”” CONGRESS. In the Sonate yesterday a communication from the Socretary of the Treasury was received, stating that the roport of the Coast Survey for 1864 was ready, and five thousand copies were ordered to be priuted. Mr. Wade presented petitions asking for the passage of Mr. Chandler's resolution to organize @ corps for the defence of the Northern border, which was referred to the Com. mittee on Foreign Relasions. Various other petitions and memorials were presented, among which was one from officers of the army and navy asking for increased compensation, which waa appropriately referred. Mr. Grimes presented a resolution, which was adopted, that the Secretary of War be directed to inform the Senate the number of men enlisted in the naval service of the United States that have been credited on the mili- tary quotas of the several States, and upon what prinei- ples, and in what manner, and upon what evidence, such credits were made. A resolution was adopted instruct- ing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expedioncy of reporting a bill to distribate the captured cotton at Savannah among the soldiers and sailors of General Sherman's army. The Pension Appropriation bil! was takon up and passed. A lengthy debate ensued upon the reference to the Judiciary Committee of Mr. Wilson's joint resolution to free the slaves and the chil- dren of slaves who enlist in the Union army, which was nogatived. The bill to permit alions who have served one yoar in the army to become citizens of the United Biates was then taken up, but the Senate adjourned without taking action upon the subject. In the House of Representatives yesterday a bill was introduced to increase the pay of officers and soldiers, and also of pensioners, twenty-five per cent, which was referred to the Committee on Military Af- fairs. Of motion it was agreed to Instruct the Commit. tee on Military Affairs to inquire whether any, and if Bo, what, legislation is necessary to afford relicf to the istroased women and children who have taken refuge from the rebel States within our own. A resolution waa falso adopted instracting an inquiry whether bounties due Yo soldiers, but who die before receiving the same, should ‘bot be given to their heirs, Mr. Herrick offered a reso- lution that the Committees on Ways and Means inquire into the expediency of repealing so much of the Ynternal Revenue act as empowers the railroad ®Sompanies to increage their tates beyond those ortab- Uishod by loeal law, or to amend the act so that m® will not be construed to authorize the collection of higher Yatos of fare than those the State of New York or the or: dinances of the city warrant A joint resolution tendering the thanks of the people and Congress to Major General Sherman, the officers and men up. dor his command, for their gallantry and good opin B tho Georgia campaign, was introdnoed had referred , Stovons introduced a resoliflon instructing the Commilteo of Ways joans to inquire into the peer tt ringing ino bill to provent com formbd to raise the price of coin and do ‘Bhaciaty tho value of lawfu) monoy of the United Brates, | taken up and debated till the hoar of adjournment. ter of the City Fire Insurance Company of this city. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. By the steamship Eagle, which arrived here yesterday, from the city of Mexico as late asthe 18th ult. and from Vera Cruz to the 23d. The accounts represent that Maxi- milian’s troops were still making great progress in various portions of the country, having recently captured the tewas of Mauzanilla, Mazatlan, Colima, Tepic, Tlacolulam and in a drunken quarrel, had occurred in a small town near the city of San Luis, whereupon the imperial officers ar- rested about three hundred persons, over thirty of whom, it is said, were shot on the spot. That the whole Mexican territory 1s still in a frightfully disordered social, moral and political condition is evidenced by the numerous executions recorded for the crimes of murder, highway robbery and all manner of outlawry. Some changes bad taken place in the Cabinet of Maximilian, The Papal Nuucio had been received at the imperial court with great pomp, and the Austrian Ambassador reached Vera Cruz on the 15th of December, en route to the capital, The Belgian Legion, for service in the Emperor's army, entered the city of Mexico on the 10th ult. Our Havana despatches by the steamship Eagle are dated to the 3ist ult.; but they do not contain much Cuban intelligence of importance. French troops from Mexico continued to arrive. There was a report, which, however, did not receive much credence, that two ves- sels had been seen burning at sea a short distance off Matanzas. From the 1st inst. all foreign newspapers were to be subjected in Cuba to 8 censorship so rigorous that it was expected to amount almost to their suppres- sion. ‘We are in receipt of the Boletin Oficial of Santingo de los Caballeros, St. Domingo, to the 4th of December. There is but little news of importance, though the papers are filled with proclamations of victories achieved over the Spanish invader. Two sharp though small engage- ments are reported to have occurred at Fundacion and Otra-banda, in which the Spaniards were worsted, with the loss of several men and some wagons. President Geffrard, of Hayti, had offered ee intermedi- ate between the two hostile ts, and great hopes are expressed that his efforts will be successful, ‘and peace be restored, om the basis of Dominican inde- pendence. If uot, the Dominicans say they will fight as long as there is a man in the country. The President of Hayti had sent a commission t the Dominican govern- ment, consisting of Messrs. Romain and Doucet. They were received with great cordiality, and honored with a grand and sumptuous banquet. Enthusiastic speeches were made, all bearing the impress of a resolve to fight the battle out with the Spaniards until they shall decide on leaving the island forever. ‘The regular monthly meeting of the New York Cham- ber of Commerce was held yesterday, at which there was a large aitendance, and the procoodings were more than usualty interesting. The report of the Executive Com- mittee in favor of aduty on exports was received and laid over for action at the next regular meetag. A voluminou sreport of the special rommittee appointed te prepare a paper on the subject of immigration was yead, alopted and ordered to be printed, and ft was also @ireated that copies of it be sent to our national repre- satatives in foreign ocuntries. It shows the vast bene- fits to the country reselting from the immi;:ation hither of foreigners, and doprecates the I-tter of Mayor Gun- ther, published some time ago, docigned to dis- courage the natives of old Kuropean countries from soek- ing a home in the New Worid. The committee to whom was referred the communication of thirty-three merchants of Bahia, Brazil, condemning the seizure of the pirate Florida im that port, by Captain Collins, of the Wachusett, made a long but very interesting report, in whiok these said Babia merchants, none of whom are natives of Prazil, receive a very spirited but merited re- buke for their oficiousnesa. The report expresses the gratification of the merehants of New York, and of this country generally, at the capture of the Florida, and ten- ders the thanks of the Chamber to Captain Collins for his courageous conduct in effecting it. The report was adopted. By a unanimous resolution the Chamber ap- pointed a committee to receive subscriptions towards making a gift of needed provisions to the poor of the city of Savannah. Yesterday the lovers of sloighing and skating were af- forded a continuation of the excellent facilities for en- joyment in the city and suburbs, and the favorable op- portunity was embraced with great zeat by the devotees of both. Many thousands of our citizeus joined in the two kinds of sport. Up town and the environs were resonant with the music of bells and the whir of flying runners, and in the Park and on all the ponds around the city there was an immense attendance of skaters. ‘The appraisers appointed by Judge Betts to valae the prize steamers Emma Honry, General Armstrong and Vixen have reported the value of the Emma Henry at eighty-five thousand dol'ars, the Armstrong at seventy thousand dollars, and the Vixen at sixty thousand dol lars. The government has already signified its intention to purchase the Emma Henry. ‘The whole of the evidence in the libel case of Opdyke versus Weed was brought toa close yesterday, and ex- Judge Pierrepont began to sum up for the defence. He was followed by Judge Emott, om the opposite side, for three hours; but, his argument not being closed, he was allowed fifteen minutes this morning, and the court ad- journed. To-day Mr. Evarts will follow for the defence, and Mr. Field will begin his closing address for the prosecution. It is expected that the trial will be ended on Monday of next week. Judge Leonard, of the Supreme Court, Circuit, was en- gaged yesterday in trying the case of Cathariue Wirth versus Ernest Schulter. Tho plaintiff, a young woman of Pprepossessing appearance, claimed that she was seriously injured in consequence of some slanderous remarks made by the defendant concerning her character for virtue and ‘morality, Damages were laid at five thousand doliars; but the jury deemed fifty dollars safficient compensation for the injury inflicted, and accordingly rendered a ver- dict for that amount. Michael Daly brought suit againt the Third Avenue Ratiroad Company in the Supreme Court yesterday, claiming damages in the sum of Ove thousand dollars, for the death of his brother, who was killed by falling from the front platform of car No. 23. The plaintiff failed to prove any negligence on the part of the defendants, how- ever, and, the case appearing to be one of pure accident, the jury were not slow in arriving at a verdict for the company. ‘The caso of Angus Ross versus the Mayor of this city, where the plaintiff snes to recover eighteon thou- sand dollars for the destruction of the premises Nos. 666 and 568 Washingtoo street, by the July rioters, in the year 1863, was commenced yesterday, befuro Judge Bak. hour, in the Superior Court. The defence set up by the Corporation Counsel is that the fire was the work of an in- cendiary, and did not grow out of the riot in any shape oF manner. The case will not be finished for several days In tho Court of Genoral Sessions yesterday, before City Judge Russel, Kate Ling, Fanny Wood and Henry Kerber, tried on separate gharfes of receiving stolen Property, wore pil AcorZiued. Bridget Smith, charged With ablogptifig to pass a counterfeit bill on the Corn hinge Bank, pleaded guilty to forgery in the fourth degree, and was remanded for seutence. The stroot swoopers, tho ashmen and the dirt cartmen are gain in trouble. The Mayor, after tome dolay and diMenity, signed the warrants for the necessary funda to make these poor laborers happy, and enable the City In spector to put the atroots in order again But the joy of the ashmen waa af chart duration toh Becker, of Iu the Assembly, after the presentation of the several departmental reports, bills were noticed to authorize the erection of a new Capitol; to amend the Registry law; to amend the Revised Statutes in relation to divorces; for the better protection of seamen in New York, and also to close a portion of the Second avenue, Brooklyn. Bills were introduced to authorize the construction of a rail- road in Sixth avenue and other streets in the city of New York; toamend the act in relation to building a public market in the city of New York; also to amend the char- from Havana on the 31st of December, we have advices various other places. Several additional victories over the republican forces are also claimed. A riot, originating Henry Noel was yesterday locked up in the Tombs, charged with ha in company with @ confederate, stolen forty-four dollars’ worth of property, on Wednes- Johnson. Mrs. Throop wore each required to give five hundred dol- Jars bail to appear when the case.is called up for exami- nation. Morgan L. Harris who was assaulted and robved on Tues- day last, but bis son, Morgan L. Harria, Jr. Coroners’ inquests were yesterday held over the re- fire A collision occurred about noon yesterday in the Ber- aud Essex Raijroad and one on the New York and Erie, by which one pe*son was killed and a number were se- riously injured. The funeral of ex-Vice President George M. Dallas took place in Philadelphia on Wednesday of this week. The procession was joined in by a very large concourse of persons, ineluding many distinguished gentlemen, among whom were Secretary Seward; Mr. Robert Lincoln, son of the President; Judge Woodward, of the PeansyWvanta Supreme Court, and a great number of others ogcupying Prominent public positivay, Tue femaing of the deceased wore deposited in the family vault, in St, Poter’s Episco- pal chureh, mn The funeral of the late William L. Dayton, United States Minister to France, took place from the New Jer- sey State Capitol, in Trenton, yesterday, and was largely attended. President Lincoln has granted the request of Lieutenant Governor Jacobs, of Kentucky, to be allowed to roturn from within the rebe! military lines. There appears to be some doubt that the men arrested bang raiders. A Vermont detective has visited their Place of confinement and failed to identify them as such. ‘They are still, however, held in custody to await fuller investigation. The Legislatures of the most of the loyal States are now in session. In addition to those noticed in yesterday’s Hexaxp, the Legislatures of Michigan and Kentucky were convened on Wednesday, the 4th inst. Governor Cony, of Maine, was inaugurated yesterday, and his mes- hich is a lengthy document, was submitted to the of that State. tion assembled at Frankfort, Kentucky, oa this week, designed to take measures for. of slavery. Resolutions were adopted tutional amendment probibiting slave. country, and approving of vigorous re- Against rebel guerillas. ou of newspaper publishers was held “Ohio, on the 4th inst., at which it was hc jalize Congress and the Legislature for a ‘the duty on foreiga paper, to raise the price wapapers to two dollars and a half a year, and to increase the rates for advertising. The steamsh'p Constitution, which sailed from San Francisco for Panaina on the 4th inst., carried a millign and a haf in specie, of which over half a million is des- Uined to this ctty, aud over three hundred passengers, including the new United States Senators from Oregon and Nevada. The stock market was lower yesterday morning, but improved in the afteraoon. Government securities were The Proposition of Jeff. to Sell Out or Surrender to England and France— Our Plan—Me-ico. When the Southern States involved in this rebellion entered upon the suicidal experiment of overthrowing the national government, they were promised by Jeff. Davis and his fellow conspirators an easy victory aad all the bless- ings of the millennium. They were fascinated by the delusions that Cotton was King; that upon his demand England and France would come to the rescue; that the peace, place and money-loving people of the North would not fight; or that, if they should fight, they would be confronted by a powerful armed Southern party in the Northern States; and that, in fine, a Southern confederacy, resting upon the “cor- ner stone” of negro slavery, and protected by King Cotton, would be invincible before the world. The warin any event, after war had been actually commenced, it was promised would be a short war; for with the seizure of Washington, the South would dictate to the North the terms of peace and the boundaries of the new confederacy. How all these glowing and gorgeons antici- pations have been dissipated, like glittering castles in the clouds, a little extract from a late leading article of each of the two Rich- mond journals most intimately in the confidence of Jeff. Davis, will serve to show. The Rich- mond Enquirer, in discussing the present des- perate situation of the confederacy, says:—“If France and England will enter into « treaty with these Confederate States, recognizing our nationality and guaranteeing our independence upon the abolition of slavery in all these States; rather than continue the war, we should be pre- pared to urge the measure upon our readers. We believe such a proposition would be favora- bly received and acted upon by those nations, and it ought to be made to them.” Have we not here an awful collapse. Could anything more vividly depict them than this—the exhaus- tion and despair of the leaders and followers of this rebellion? Yet we have a proposition, doubtless from Jeff. Davis himself, for the sac- rifice even of Southern independence for a for- eign yoke, in order to escape the terrors of “Yankee subjugation.” The Richmond Sentinel, which is the special confidential organ of Davis, in a melancholy rigmarole on the dangers of the crisis, thus harangues ita readers:—“Troublesomo times are upon us. Great exigencies surround us. We need all our strength and our wisdom. Let there be a conference of all our wise men,” and 80 on, including a long homily on exhausting the “last man and the last dollar.” But then, if all in vain, then comes the pinch. “Then,” says this mouthpiece of Jeff. Davis, and no doubt from his inspiration, “in the event of being unable to sustain our independence, we should surrender it into the hands from whom we wrested or purchased it, into the hands of Britain, Franoe and Spain, rathor than yield it [to the Yankees.” These are the sacrifices which the arch traitor of tho South would make to save his own precious bacon. He would, afior having offered up to the bloody Moloch of his ambition almost every white male between fifteen and fifty yours of age, im the rebellious day night, in Burling slip, from a soldier named James Awoman named Letitia Throop, keeper of an alleged disreputable house in Watts street, yesterday had a man named Joseph A. Crookson arrested on the chargo of having stolen from her a gold watch and chain valued at one hundred dotlars. Crookson says that the woman was formerly bis mistress, and that she gave him the jewelry to wear as long as they lived together. Crookson and It was not, as stated in yesterday’s paper, ex-Alderman mains of Miss Emma Baldwin, aged eighteen, residing at the corner of the Bowery and Canal street, and Miss Margaret MoBrite, living at No. 228 Bowery, the deaths of both of whom were caused by their clothes catching gen tunnel, New Jersey, between a train on the Morris at Concord, N. H., recently are a portion of the St. Al- and Spain would get Florida and the empire State of Texas—a very nice division. But if this proposition were now made to the three nations indicated they could do nothing. With the kindling combustibles of a revolution in Canada, England is hardly in a condition to risk a war with the United States. Louis Na- poleon, on the other hand, has a troublesome elephant to take care of in Mexico, and poor old Spain has found her match in the St. Domingo end of the Island of Hayti. These bribes which Jeff, offers for the safety of his neck are princely and tempting; but we guess that they come too late. It is the ery of a mock monarch whose fate is seale?. He is on the top floor of a house in flames, and the value of the building is not worth the risk of saving him. Too late comes this cry for a Holy Alliance and two or three European protectorates over States recovered or at the point of submission to the Union. Too late, also, comes this other proposition for the abolitjon of slavery in the “confederacy” as the price of European recog- nition, The leading Powers of Europe will understand from this offer that the “corner stone” of this Southern Utopia is already knocked out, and that Jeff. has become too weak to be trusted as an ally for war purposes. Bat Jeff. and his associate conspirators, who cannot be pardoned, and bis implacable fol- lowers, who are forsworn against any restora- tion to the Union, may still be turned to a good account, in the exercise of a wise humanity, in another way. Let President Lincoln, through General Grant, propose to Jeff. Davis, his ringleaders, and to all who may choose to follow them, that for the sake of peace, thay will be assisted by the government of the United States to the Mexican frontier as an armed body of emigrants, and with the further understanding that they will be furnished with the necessary means and sub- sistence for a permanent lodgement in Mexico, and we dare say that Jeff. in his present ex- tremities, will speedily make it a bargain. Why not? He and his confederates, who cannot or will not return to the old Union, but who are resolved at all hazards to have 4 Southern confederacy, can establish a splendid one in Mexico. We grant that in regard to its people, it will be somewhat upon 6 mixed basis;and that there may be some difficulty with the “eorner stone” of negro slavery; but surely there need bé 24 trouble in this matter, when Jeff. at Richmond is prepared not only for the emancipation of the negroes, Dstt is will- ing to give them all a free farm if they Wut only give him his confederacy. We hope, therefore, that President Lincoln will seriously consider and resolve to try this oompromize, on the basis of a Southern confederacy in Mexico. The idea, we think is good, and if adopted, who can doubt that it will be attended by the most splendid resulta, including a sub- stantial peace, the Union in its integrity, the Monroe doctrine in full feather and a Southern confederacy to boot. A Return to Sreom Payments—Tae Dorr or Conarzss.—As the recent victorious move- ments of our armies and the foreshadowed rup- ture among the leading rebels have rendered it evident that the war is within a few months at most, and perhaps weeks, of its termination, it becomes the duty of Congress to immediately set about making the necessary arrangements to enable the government to return, as near as possible, to its normal financial condition, and to restore the specie basis. There is no doubt of the ability of the country to produce that long wished for event; and the confidence of the people, which has been so ruthlessly shaken by the miserable mismanagement in the Trea- sury Department since the first breaking out of the rebellion, cannot, ina financial point of view, be again enjoyed by the government until the bonds and currency for which the country is seemingly responsible are based at some price upon gold. It is hardly to be expected that six or seven hundred millions of paper can be made to repre- sent dollar for dollar, the gold and silver issues of the Mint, when it now differs in its relative value over one-half; but, as we have before pointed out, it can be redeemed at some fixed price at the start, and its worth appreciated as its volume is lessened; taking care, of course, that no new issues be made except with a di- rect understanding that they would not be per- mitted to sink below the gold standard. Congress has the power to enact a law com- pelling the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt @ course similar to that which is here referred to, and if it fail to inaugurate a measure— which the resources of the country warrant and the public demand—for the consummation of 80 desirable an end, the members will occupy an unenviable position when the result of their indifference in regard to our hazardous condition becomes apparent to the people. The present rick- etty system of finance, which was thoughtlessly inaugurated by Mr. Chase, and unfortunately fostered and pushed on by Mr. Fessenden, has shattered confidence, and now threatens to bring bankruptcy and ruin upon the fair fame of the nation. The sooner Congress looks these facts square in the face, with the clear understanding that something must be done to provide a remedy, the better able we sball be to turn from the path that leads to that deplorable catastrophe, the wreck of governmental faith. To strengthen the mode abovo referred to for bringing to the aid of the national finances the specie basis, a plan was proposed in these columns at the commencement of the present year, which we see has since attracted the at- tention of some of the leading spirits in Wash- ington. It was to seize the cotton that was cap- tured by General Sherman at Savannah, before greedy speculators got hold of it, and, with such additional amounts as accounts tells us can be gathered in various sections of the South, send it directly to Europe, and bring back the gold for which it can be there readily disposed of, and thus form 4 permanent basis for the pro- posed resumption. Now is the time for Con- gress to seriously think of this matter, and bring orth somothing that will relieve the coun- trv from its presoat financial embarrassment, feating and disappointing our ablest profes- sional politicians. His original nomination at Chicago, for which he undoubtedly pulled the wires, was his firat great triumph as a diplo- matist, and when his election ratified that triumph he filled his Cabinet with his rivals, as a practical joke. Since then these rivals have been more or leas employed in intriguing against him; but what advantage have they gained? He has secured another nomination at Balti- more; he bas been re-elected by the people; he is master of the situation for four more years, and he has a worldwide fame—thanks to the Heratp—as 8 popular humorist and a political diplomatist. As the Commander-in-Chief of our armies and navies he failed; but as 8 humorist and a diplomatist he has no rival in the coun- try. Indeed, so perfectly are the qualities of Rabelsis and Richelieu mingled in his character that his humor is always diplo- matic and his diplomacy excessively humorous. So soon as President Lincoln was re-elected, last November, his political friends began to select and apply for the offices which they de- sired as the rewards of their zealous and patriotic services in the Baltimore Convention or during the campaign. In our opinion the President's estimate of the value of these ser- vices was exceedingly small. He coultl hardly feel very grateful to others for a renomination which he had himself achieved, or for a re-elec- tion which he owed less to tho labors of his friends than to the weakness and mismanage- ment of his opponents. It must have seemed to him rath-r a cool thing for those whom he had checkmated at Baltimore, and those who had been forced to go for Lincoln or nobody during the canvass, to come and ask favors at his hands; but come they did, and in multi- tudes that no man could number. Among the offices especially desired that of Minister to France was most prominent. Paris is a very gay city, a very lively city, very enjoyable city, and most Americans are as anxious to go there as good Christians are to go to beaven. Usage and precedent have settled that it is not necessary to speak French in order to be our French Minister, and so that consideration de- terred nobody. Some forty or fifty leading republicans are said to have applied for this position within a month, and how many names have been added to the list since that time Mr. Lincoln and his private secretary only know. But the best of it is that each of these appli- cants claimed that the French mission had been expressly promised to him before election as the price of his support. Either old Blair, or youn, Blair, or one of the Mttle Blairs, or some responsib:® OF irresponsible agent of Mr. Lincoln, had offered Ss glittering bait, snd each of the forty or fins eons had taken itdown. Ass matter of party tiquette Mr. Lincoln was obliged to consider these ap- plications, and so he listened, and laughed, and got off a few jokes, and hinted to each aspirant that he would surely be the lucky man, and finally said that Minister Dayton was doing very well and could not be removed until after the reinsuguration. With this answer every claimant was of course satisfied, and had it not been for a special dispensation of Providence Mr. Lincoln’s decision and this eulogistic article would have been postponed until next March. But in the course of time it happened that Minister Dayton suddenly died, while visiting an American lady, just after dinner. Hardly had this news been received here before forty or fifty telegrams were despatched to Mr. Lin- coln and forty or fifty politicians were travel- ling with railroad speed to visit Mr. Lincoln, and all about this French mission. It was then that the genius of our gifted President shone most brightly. Inspired by the spirits of Rabelais and Richelieu, he had made up his mind what to do before the first telegram was received or the first applicant for the office had donned a clean dickey and pulled the Presi- dential doorbell. The spirit of Rabelais sug- gedted what a good joke it would be to humbug all the aspirants, The spirit of Richelieu sug- gested that it was not politic to make enemies of forty-nine of the claimants for the sake of pleasing one of them. Jimmy, the doorkeeper, (since discharged by Mrs. Lincoln), received orders to usher in the anxious inquirers singly, and to each of them the President stated that he had not yet decided about that French mis- sion, aad that he guessed he would let Bigelow hold the place ad interim. Words cannot describe the antique gravity of Mr. Lincoln’s classic features as he rolled out this bit of cholce Latin, nor the paralyzing effect upon the forty or fifty appli- cants for Minister Dayton’s shoes and portfolio. They felt an overpowering consciowsness that the game was up, and we can assure them that their instincts were correct. Consul Bigelow is a man of ability, and has a very handsome and independent wife, and he is just the person to remain Charge d’Affairs ad interim until Mr. Lincoln finally retires from office. The Senate might object to confirming his appointment as Minister, although he is quite as well qualified for the position as any of those who seek it; but nobody can object to his being what Presi- dent Lincoln calls an ad interim for four years. There may be weeping and wailing and gnash- ing of teeth among the politicians; but they will be much more likely to revenge themselves upon each other than upon the President; for each will declare that be would have been appointed had no one else applied, and each will be upon his good bebavior in the vain hope of getting the office by and by. The saga- cious costermonger suspends a cabbage in front and just out of reach of his donkey when he wants the noble animal to pull hardest. The French mission is Mr. Lincoln’s cabbage; and while his humor is gratified by the sight of forty or fifty political donkeys straining for what they can never obtain, his political diplo- macy will relieve him from all personal quar- tels, and make the anxious politicians work harder at the State elections than they have ever done before. The President has a prece- dent for his course in the case of a gentleman aemed Brown. who held over ad inforim in the ing that the government still has enemies in arms. Guerillas are apparently very active, and have considerable strength in several States, but military operations proper appear to be done with for the present. The disturbed. condition of the country is the important fact in the news. Now that there is no longer any army worthy of the name to oppose the empire, is Mexico quiet under her new rulert Far from it. On the contrary, her turbulence is deacribed: by the letter writers as “frightful.” States and cities that even received Maximilian with out- ward shows of respect now give vent to the most unqualified expreasions of hostility. The people are “treacherous” to the imperial power. Those powers find no one that they cam trust. The military commandant has been com- pelled to supersede the Mexican civil magi trate at Tampico. lll the civil officers of the departments of Vera Cruz, Jalisco, Puebla and Tlascala have made themselves obnoxious, and are to be superseded. So it seems to be every- where. There is an imperial government on one side and a whole people om the other. Every little tumult naturally excites the authorities cognizant of the condi- tion of the country. Every shout may be the signal of insurrection, and 30 people must keep quiet. There was a disturbance near San Lals Potosi. It appears to have been simply 8 drunken brawl. Three hundred persons were arrested, and thirty-five were shot without the formality of a trial. The supporters of the imperial authorities shut their eyes to the real significance ofall this, They declare that it is the normal state of the Mexican people; that years of war and the lax administration of all laws have unfitted that people for any life but that of the freebooter and cutthroat, and that the state of the country is the necesdary result of the contact of such @ people with an attempt to establish order. That sort of explanation will do very well for Paris; but here it is clear that the condition of the coun- try hasanotherimport. What, then, does it mean? It means that there is still a real vitality and national spirit in the Mexican people; that they hate this new government, and will not bow te it; but will, in one way or another, fight it te the last. It means that unless the imperial gov- ernment can maintain a large military esteb- lishment, and rule by the bayonet, it cannot rule at all. The people must be kept down in order that the government may be keptup. The only tranquillity that the government can ever expect from the Mexican people is the iran- quillity of one who lies still while his ncok is preased by a conqueror’s heel. Mexico must be ruled and kept down by her France- German government just as Saxon England was by her Norman conquerors, and cannot be tran- Po in gny othey way. This is the secret of all disturbances. Moreover, the government knows this, and hence the alarm that it feels at every little tumult; hence the cowardly Baste and cruelty with which it puts down those tumults; henee its discovery that every one is “treacherous,” and that it cannot trust a Mexi- can in office. Axarmma Increase gr Crme.—We have repeatedly admonished our municipal au- thorities and the community that unless vig- orous measures were adopted to stay the progress of crime in this city it would, sooner or later, swell into a torrent that neither statute law, local ordinance, nor police regula- tions could permanently restrain. In this view we have been sustained by the report of the Board of Metropolitan Police, just submitted te the Governor of the State. In this report the startling statement is made that “probably in no city in the civilized world, not the theatre of actual war, is human life so lightly prized and subjected to as great hazards from vio- lence as in New York and Brooklyn,” and that “in no other such cities does the machinery of criminal justice so signally fail to restrain or punish serious and capital offences.” It ap- pears that the arrests for crimes of violence of a serious character the past year numbered seven hundred and forty-two, being an increase of upwards of two hundred over the numberfor a corresponding period the previous year; and it also appears that during the year ending November 30 last five members of the police force have been killed and thirteen seriously injured by collision with desperate ruffans—e fact which goes far to prove that the prevalence of violence is not to be attributed to a want of courage and activity on the part of the police. Much of this crime and violence is to be at tributed to the too common practice of car- trying concealed weapons. But attribute it to what cause we may, there is abundant evidence showing that the security of life and property in this city has become of an alarmingly uncertain tenure. The Legisla- ture is now in session, and if legislation be necessary to strengthen the police authorities, to purify the criminal tribunals, to restrict the indiscriminate and unlicensed sale of poisonous compounds in the shape of liquors, to suppress incendiary and inflammatory publications, to severely punish those who carry concealed weapons, and to extinguish the spirit of rebel- lion against the laws openly encouraged by rebel sympathizers in and out of newspaper offices, let the work be promptly commenced and evergetically pursued until the object be accomplished. Tux Ick Festtvat.—The festival of New Year’s has been promptly succeeded by a mag- nificent festival of ice and snow. Thor and Woden, the Scandinavian deities, could not de- sire to preside over a more merry carnival tham we are now enjoying. The air is all a jingle with bells, whose enlivening music rings above the duller sounds with which plodding com- merce marks its heavy track through the streets, We have never seen at so early a period of the winter so splendid a season for sleighing and skating as the present. The roads in the eub- urbs of the city and the adjacent towns are in fine order, Thoskating ponds which surround us0a every side, and they number some thirty or forty, are in excellent condition for the onjoy- ment of the delightful art—indeed, we might .