The New York Herald Newspaper, January 24, 1865, Page 4

4° NEW YORK HERALD. eg EDITOR AND PROPRIEVOR. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE, re NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tus Suamnock. Bowery.—Vaisua—Tux Junsey BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tux Live In. Dian—Peorie’s Lawrsn, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—H amuse, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tux Ocaneszixe Manaiage. oleurse THEATRE, Broadway.—Taz Srazets or New ‘ORK. NEW BOWERY, THEATRE, Bowery.—Guexvowza— June Anensuaw—Tinorny 70 THX RiesouR. BARNUM'S MUSEUM. Broadway.—Two Mamworm Far Wowen—Livine SkeLeron—DWanr—Lraryep SEAL—Ti Havas—Tus Umon Pauoxee—Day and Evening. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- ee raioriam Sons, Dances, Bur.esquas, &¢.—Live - * WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway.—Staeets or ee Slee Play Buir—Ouw ips (—Ermiorian Songs, to SALLE DIABOLIQU! —l "t ‘ (QUE, 586 Broadway.—Rowent Heuren's VAN AMBURGH & ©O.'S MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, 509 and 541 Broadway.—Open froin 10 A. M, to 10 P. M. HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth _streot.—Bouestaran, Gyunastio aND AcROMATIO KNTENDAINMENTS—HARLEQUIN Browseanv. AMERICAN THEATRE, Payton, BuRLESS 0. 444 Broadway.—Baucers, HOOLEY & CAMPBELL’S MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 Bowory.—Sones, Danoxs, Bunexsques, &0.—Roap 70 Ricu- MOND. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— ‘Open from 10 A. M. till 10 P.M. New York, Tucsday, January 214, 1865, THE WEEXLY HERALD. The Specie Basis of the The interesting description of the sph Nevada, Colorado, Idaho and Monta: the great parks, will be publish Of this week. Agents will pi Dofore- Thursday. Single copies, in wrappers, five cents, send in their orders THE SITUATION. We publish this morning some inter and interesting Gospatohes regarding the capture of the Cape Fear river forts and the subsequent movements of the national forces'tn that vicinity, Both (he naval fleot and Ue army Commenced moving towards Wilmington on the after- toon of last Wednesday. There is yet no confirmation of Whe report that General Terry had occupied the place; but on the day the movement commenced explosions in that direction were heard, and it was supposed that the Yebels were blowing up their fortifications there, prepara- Lory to evacuating the town. fwest side of Capo§Fear river had been occupied by tho Union troops, who met with little opposition. A chart ‘f the river had been found, showing where ihe rebels had sunk tho torpedoes, and many of these had beon faken up, A number planted in tho ground above Fort Wishor had also been removed. Two gentlemon who Wore lately. doing business in Wilmington as mer. chants’ arrived in this city yrsterday. They got Dutside the rebel lines when Fort Fisher was taken. They say the town was not well provided with works or troops. The departments of North Carolina and South Carolina have been consolidated, and both. will hereafter {bo under the command of Gonoral Foster. We give to- Qay General Ames’ official report of the important part §akon by his division in the brilliant action of the 15th nst., atid an additional list of the casualties on the occa- Noa. ” A party of rebel cavalry made their appearance in front ‘@f the Union ontpost pickets near Newbern, N. C., on the @ight of the 14th inst. During their stay som® of them ‘Boserted to the Union lines, and on the discoviry of this ‘ene reménide? fell back, and were pursued to near Kins- ton by adetachment of the Twelfth New York cavalry. Rebel deserters are continually coming in at Newbern. ‘The Union steamer Mystic, while recently attempting to Jand som> passongess at Washington, N. C., which for Bome time had been considered neutral ground, wus fired upon, and Colouel McChesney and another gentleman ‘were slightly wounded. Two hundred of Forrest's cavalry were encountered and Gefeated on the 18th inst., ten miles from Columbus, Ky., by a company of Tennessee Union cavalry, under Zicutenant Nesby. It ts eaid that from five to ten of Porrest's men come into Cairo dvily and take the oath of allogianoe. The Toronto Globe says the statement that the British government designs placing thirty gunboats on the lekes Jn the spring isa hoax. Tho counsel of Burley, the ‘Biloged Lake Erie pirate, moved yesterday, in the court ‘wt Toronto, for a writ of habeas corpus in his case, with ‘Bho object of delaying proceedings at prevent for his ex radition to the United States, and ultimately, if possible, Proventing his rendition to our authorities. The argu ent on tho motion will probably be heard today. The Boecesstonists of Toronto se on Bast Friday night, on which occasion cheers for Jeff. Davis wore mingled with cheers for the Queen of Eng- Yond. Tho Richmond papers of Satur¢: ‘wesignation of Mr. Seddon, rebel Secretary of War, but do ‘not state who 9 to succeed him. In the rebel Senate on |Mast Friday a dill was passed repealing that portion of a Former act which provided that troops enlisted for State ‘efence should not be required to go beyond their own Btate limits. A long discussion took place on the same Gay on the bill for the reorganization of their armies; but ® final vote on it was postponed till Thursday of this week. Tho rebel House on Inst Thuradoy, by « vote of Yorty-three to thirty-one, instructed one of the!r com ittocs to roport a bill for the seizure of all cotton and @obacco on government account. Mr. Foote made his n of his A large earthwork on the aded Burley’s coun lay last annonnee the @ppearance in the House, and gave an explana Wocent attempt to reach Washington, He exp! Bo was on an independent miseion for the negotiation pod that YF peace, and took occasion to express his opinion of Jom, Davis and several other chief rebels in language "vory wnoomplimentary to them. Bis spirited harangue he for the second time forever took Goave of the House, A revolution for his expulsion waa Bntrodnced and referred to the Committee on Elections. ‘Cuptain Semmes, being in Richmond, was unenimously The Lynch At the conclusion of Anvited by the House to a seat on the floor. burg Republican says that operations at the Saitville ealt ‘Works will bo resumed by the Ist of February. CONGRESS. , Im the Senate yesterday, a communication was re- ‘Boived from the Secroiary of War, stating that replies to alls for information, which had been mado dur- Ang his absence at Savannah, will be sent in as speedily fos possible, The credentials of Mr, Howard, re-elected from Michigan, wero preeented. A resolution by tho Missouri Constitutional Con- ention, and ® Joint resolution of the Ohio Legis re, in favor of the constitutional amendment abol- ing slavery, were also prosented. A petition king for an exchange of prisoners of war was referred the Military Committee, Tho Secretary of War an- unces that the eutire subject of the exchange of pri- NEW YORK HERALD,’ TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1665. a ee eS soners has been placed in the hands of General Grant, and that there is reason to boliove that a full exchange will soon be effected, A memorial of Ohio publishers, asking for the abolition of the duty on printing paper, was referred to the Finance Committee. A bill in effect increasing the pay of army officers in the field was introduced and referred to the Military Committes. It increases the commutation price of ra- tions for all officers below and including brevet brigadiors from thirty to fifty conts, gives volunteer officers three months pay on being honorably mustered oot of service at the close of the war, and also relieves all officers of tho army and navy from the payment of the income tax. The Conference Committee on the Deficieney Ap- priation bill reported that they could not agree upon the House amendment increasing the pay of the em- ployés of the Houso; wheroupon tho Senate, by vote of twenty-five to one, refused to acceds to the proposition for an increase of pay, and a new Committee of Conference was ordered. The case of ex-Surgoon General Hammond was transferred from the Judiciary to the Military Committee. Mr. Clark, of New Hampshire, offered a resolution, which was ordered to be printed, declaring, as the sense of Congress, “that no negotiation, terms of settlement, or concession, or compromise, be entered into, proposed, yielded or made with the rebels, directly or indirectly, until they have manifested their implicit and unconditional submie- sion to the authorities of the government; and further, that, however much poace may be desired, the present war must be waged with ull the resources and energy of the government until said submission shall be secured, and the supremacy of the constitution and the laws ¢s- tablished over the entire territory of the United States as heretofore claimed.” A joint resolution to amend the constitution so as to permit Congress to levy export du- ties was submitted and referred to the Judiciary Commit- tee, The resolution of thanks to Genoral Terry was adopted, as was also the joint resolution for the purchase of the New York Merchants’ Exchange, The bill defin- ing the rank and pay of paymastors in tho navy was dis- cussed, and after an executive session the Senate ad- journed. In the House of Ropresentatives, a joint resolution, substituting for the twenty per cent duty levied on printing paper, a duty of three per cent ad valorem, was adopted by a vote of ninety-seven to forty. A resolution of thanks to General sherid 3 referred to the Mili tary Committee. Resolutions of the New York Lo ,isla- turs, in favor of tho constitutional amendment abolishing slavery, wore presented and referred, ‘ho Military Committee were authorized to send for per 8 and papers and examine witn in reference to the treatment of prisonors of war. The dificulty be- tw on Mr. Field, of Louisiana, and Mr. Kelley, of Penn- sylvania, was brought up, on a resolution providing for the appointment of a select commitice to inquire into tho facts, which was agreed to; and it was also ordered that pending the investigation Mr, Field be excluded from the floor of Une House, Mr, Brooks, of New York, £01 time since called General Butler a “gold rebber,”” ro- forring toa transaction at New Orleans involving the sum of fifty thousand dollars in coin, and tho General accidents, all of which occurred last week, and’by which | and South, will be signally bold, grand and four persons were killed and sbout sixty wounded. Al! | syooeasful. He will be bailed as the rising sun appear to have boon the result of negligence. ‘Tho City Inspector reports 463 deaths in the city during the week ending on the 23d of January—a do- of the administration party—he will be nomi- nated as the candidate of that party in 1868. crease of 42 us compared with the mortality of the week | Like Buchanan, in 1856, he will have escaped previous, and 58 less than occurred during the corres- | the squabbles of the politicians in being out of ponding week last year. A gratifying feature in this weok's report is the decrease in the number of cases of smallpox, there having been only 26 deaths from this disease, while daring the previous week there were over 49, ‘There are also now fewer cases of it under the way, and will return in triumph, to reach at last the goal of his ambition. This is the cul- mination of our Presidential programme, hing ing upon the transfer of Senator Morgan to the treatmeat than there were a week ago, Provision is | Treasury Department. made by the city authorities for the free vaccination of all persons who apply. An advertisement of the Mayor regarding this matter appears in another column of the Heranp. The stock market showed improvement yesterday We are assured, however, that this first move may be confidently predicted, and that, with President Lincoln, it covers this magnificent scheme in behalf of Mr. Seward as our next morning, but gave way to a semi-panic in the afternoon. | President, What is there to prevent its success, Governments were dull at the first board, and depressed | with the able assistance of Mr. Morgan in the afterwards. Gold tended upward at the opening, but closed weak at 199},. The Next Presidency—The Money Ques- tion the Monroe Doctrinc—Mr. Seward ground. It is generally expected that, with the inau- Treasury, and of Mr. Weed in the Senate, and with the President himself at the head of the combination? From a comparatively insignifi- cant starting point—the Cabinet quarrels about im Looming up in the Fore- | Mrs. General Eaton—Martin Van Buren, in with- drawing from tbe State Department, became the successor in the White House of Andrew guration of Mr. Lincoln’s second Presidential | Jackson. term, there will be some modifications of his domestic and foreign policy, and at least a partial reorganization of his Cabinet, adapted to the present condition of things, and the now and important duties which lie before him. Itis Peace Rumors and What they Portend— The Richmond Press and the Monroe Doctrine—The Paris Press Bewildered. In the midst of the various conflicting ramors and surmisos in regard to the prospects of an generally understood that Mr. Fessenden is | early peace, the tone of the Richmond semi- merely awaiting the convenience of the Exe- | official organ on the subject of the Monroo doo- cutive in the appointment of @ new Secretary | trine is particularly significant, In that paper of the Treasury; that this appointment will not of the 19th inst. we find revived and endorsed be delayed beyond the 4th of March, and that | tho doctrine advanced by the New York H=rat> it will probably cxert a powerful influence in determining the administration programme and candidate for the Presidential succession. In this connection, whatever may be tho reconstruction of our Presidential parties for 1868, and whether limited to two parties or extended to halfa dozon, it is manifest that the money question and the Monroe doctrine will be the ruling issues of the day. It needs no elabors ray of facts and figures to establish the primary importance of tho money question, and the advantages or misfortunes which wil! acorue to the party in power from ils manage ment of our national finances in the interval to the nox! Presidential election. The slavery question before that day will cease to be an element of discord or agitation; for in the meantime, through an amendinent of ‘the con- sent a note to Mr, Brooks, by an aid-de-camp, requiring an explanation of the offeusive adjective. Mr. Brooks brought the subject before the House on a question of e, and an interesting discussion ensued, which ed till the adjournment. THE LEGISLATURE. Inthe State Senate yesterday a bill was reported against legalizing the proceedings of the New York Com- mon Counc.! forthe benefit of the German Hospital, which was adopted. A communication, — report- ing prozress, was received from the commissioners ap- po'nted to erect a public market in Now York. Bills were noticed to remove the restrictions as to faro on the Hudson River Railroad; also for the appointment of commissioners to erect an armory for the Eighth regi- ment, Bills were introduced in relation to the use of slips and wharves leased to the New York Mail Steam. ship Company; for aid to the Children’s Aid Society of New York; o the Metropolitan Health bill, Several ills were ordered to a third reading, In the Assembly notice was given of a bill to reduco the rate of fare on the Fulton ferry to one cent, and on the Hamilton avenue ferry to two cents. The Metropoli- tan,Health bill and Metropolitan District Fire bill were + introduced; also a bill increasing the salary of Justices of Session to five dollars per day. Bills incorporating the New York Yacht Club; the Atlantic Base Ball Club and the Union Yacht Club of New York were ordered 8 third reading. o MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The Board of Supervisors met yesterday and appointed their special and standing committees for the current year. They adjourned till to-day. ‘Tho Board of Aldermen were unable to muster a quoram yesterday. Consequently no business was transacted by them. The Board of Councilmen held a short session yester- Siu hate ere meres ings of the Board in any of the corporation papers where such proceedings are not published in the next succecd- ing issue of the papers; alsoa resolution directing the issuing of ten thousand copies of the Corporation Manual, at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. Tho Board ad- Jorrned till Tharsday noxt. Tho evidence on both sides in th» Millspaugh-Adams suit, in the Supreme Court, before Judge Leonard, was Closed yesterday, On its con‘lusion the counsel for Mr, Millapaugh moved the exclosion of af testimony relative to the procurement by Mrs. Millapaugh, in the State of Indiana, of a divorce, The Judge postponed the rend ring of his decision on the motion till to-day. After it ia givon the summing up of counsel will be proceeded with. . A motion was made yesterday in the Supreme Court, by th Corporation Counsel, for the appointmont of ths throe commissioners to loeate the new Croton reservoir to be constructed on the upper end of Manhattan Island, The Croton Board have everything arrdincged for com m neing work on it, and as soon as spring opens it will be proceeded with. Yout vas fixed upon for the hearing, before Re corder IL n, at chambers, 63 Wall street, of the libel suitof Peter B. Sweeny against Erastus Brooks, of the Express, An adjourniaent was had, by consent of counsel, and the case stands over till the first Tuesday in Feb- rowry, the 7th proximo. ‘The trial of Bernard Friery, Indicted for the murder of Harry Lazarus, was commenced yesterday in the Court of General Sessions, before Judge Russel. Counsel for the prisoner moved a farther postponement of the case, on the ground of the absence of a witness named John Hayes; but tho motion was denied, and the process of empannelling a jury commenced and continued until seven o'clock, when the panel was exhausted. Four jorors were sworn. Judge Russel ordered an additional panel to be returned on Wednesday morning. ‘The city and vicinity were yesterday visited by another rain storm, which continued, with occasional intermis sions and changes to mist, throughout the greater part of the day. Skating was, of course, again suddenly brought to a termination for the time being. Yoatorday was the day for opening, at the Street Com missioner’s office, the bids for lighting the city with gas; but owing to the non-attendance of the Comptroller the mattor had to be postponed. A fire at No. 43 Fulton street, between nine and ten o'clock last night, destroyed property of the occupants to the amount of about ten thousand dollars, and damaged the building to the extent of wbout five thousand. It is not known how the tire originated. The cead boty of a soldier named John Connigan, a member of the Second regular Infantry, aged about thirty years, was found on last Saturday evening lying om the east side of Governor's Island, where the regiment to which he belonged is stationed. He had evidently been mur- dered, as his skull was crushed, and thore were other marks of violence. Nothing to indicate who committed the murdor has yet been ascertained ; but a coroner's inquest is to be held on the body to-day, when the mystery sur- rounding the case may possibly be dis Tho Kings county Board of Supervisors have sneceeded in effecting the reduction of the quotas of the Second and Third Congressional districts under the President's last call for three hundred thousand troops from seven thou- eand six hundred to two thonsund and sixty-two. This has been accomplished by presenting to Provost Marshal Genoral Fry figuros showing an excessive enrolment and a large nomber of enlistments for which credit had not been given. ‘We learn from San Francisco that the Monitor Caman- cho mado her trial trip from that city on last Saturday, ‘The various portions of this vessel were manufactured in the vicinity of this clty, but, without being put together, wore shipped to the Pacific coast on board a sailing ves- gel, While lying in San Francisco harbor this vessel sank, and the dismembered Monitor went down with hor, She was afterwards raised, when the Camancho was put in shape, and she is now ready for service. In another column wo give dotails of sovoral railrond. stitution, this bone of party contention, sec- tional animosities and civil war, will be removed | South from the country. It will be superseded by the money question, and, perhaps, by the revo- lutionary pressure of a sweeping financial con- vulsion. We are approaching the end of the rebellion; but the current necessities of the at the beginning of the war—viz: tho ro- cognition and enforcement of the Monroe doc- trine in order that the North and the South might uniie, and instead of fighting among themselves, make common cause against a common enemy in maintaining the freedom of Amorican ¢oil from foreign intrusion and occu- pancy. We can see three objects the Richmond organ bad in view in taking this position at this time, The first is, to ascertain whether a fright cannot be produced among Huropean Pov at the colossal strength of the United ies in the cyent of @ cordial reunion, and recipitate recognition and interven- nm. The second is, to prepare the Southern mind for a peace settlement on the basis of erecting a stupendous naval and military power on this continent that shall strike European governments with awe, and enable the to avenge itself upon “them for theix failure to sustain Southern efforts to establish an independent government. And the third is, to show the North that, if favor- able terms of settlement shall bo agreed upon, the United States will be a unit, and become a war still demand more heavy loans or more | power gigantic enough to satisfy the aspirations Treasury notes. The city of New York, which | of the most covetous and amb‘tious among the has thus far been the main reliance of the goy- ernment for tho sinews of war, must still supply them. Independently, therefore, of all people. The almost enthusiastic tone of this eem!- official Richmond organ at the prospective party considerations, it is essential to secure a grandcar of the United States upon tho resto- Secretary of the Treasury whose experience shall command the confidence and co-operation of our banks and capitalists in his financial movements. Upon this point we cannot doubt the con- currence of President Lincoln. What man, ration of peace and union, and the expressed sontiments of many of the Southern leaders in regard to the war, Jeff. Davis’ usurpations and other matters, all go to show that somothing looking to an early peace is in the wind. General Foote’s indignant withdrawal from then, of all the probabilities named, ia best | the rebel Congress, and his subsequent con- adapted for and most likely to secure this posi- | tumelious treatment at the hands of a Jeff. tion? Not a mere theorist, we should say, like | Davis official; General Joe Johnston’s decla- Mr. Boutwell; nor a man of one idea, like Mr. | ration that he was out of the army altogother; Thaddeus Stevens; nor a haphazard cxperiment- | General Leo’s refusal to accept the absolute alist in vis‘onary speculations, like Mr. Robert | command of the rebel erm‘cs, and other J. Walker; but a practical man of business and | events of a similar character, all go to show of useful experience in financial affairs, Such | the tendency of the minds of the Southern & man, ex-Governor Morgan, of New York, | leaders. Ifthe eldor Blair's frst visit to Rich- now one of our Senators in Congress, we are | mond was altogether connected with his pri- gratified to believe, is the very man most likely vato business, there is sufficient evidence to in- to be next placed in charge of the national dicate that bie second journey to the same Treasury. From his long, useful and snocessiul capital bears = wore important if not an experience as a Mow York marchant, he poe ; ontirely officit! aspoot, althonst, of ecusod, eeases, in a high degree, the confidence of our none outside of governmont circles are qualified banks, capitalists and business men, and that | to state what bis precise authority or mission intimate knowledge of our financiat and com- | is. It is evident from what has beon thrown mercial affairs so essential to the suceess of | out by the Southern organs and leaders, that heavy Treasury requisitions im this quarter. | they anticipate some propositions from Presi- Assuming, therefore, that hie superior qualifica- | dent Linceln. They seem prepared themselves tions for the office, at this crisia, will secure him | to demaud, among other considerations for the appointment indicated, we reach the ficst | laying down their arms, the recognition of & link of a chain of political combinations which | portion of their debt; that @ general amnosty extend to the next Presidency. shall be declared, and that emancipation shall With the retirement of Mr. Morgan from the | be gradual—not immediate. They see that Senate there will be a vacancy to be filled in | slavery mast be swept away if the war is that body; with his entrance into the Cabinet, | allowed to goon, and hence in stipulating for Mr. Seward will recognize the propricty of | peace they will not be inclined to insist upon withdrawing, in deference to the established | too heavy indemnification for the loss of their idea that there ought not to be two Cabinet, members at the same time from the same State. slave property. An attempt will, of course, be made to secure whatever can be saved from Who, then, shall take the place of Mr. Morgan | the wreck of what was once a potential source in the Senate, and what is to be done with Mr. Seward? There are several ou'standing or hiold-over republican candidates for the Senate; but we consider them all eclipsed by the mere announcement that the venerable Thur- low Weed, the “King of the Lobby,” would of wealth to the South. These are briefly a few of the propositions which the South will, in all likelihood, insist upon, and it remains to be seen how far our government will go in meet- ing their demands. ‘The developments on all sides show that wo not heaitate, if offered, to avail himaclf of the | may prepare ourselves for stirring and startling opportunity of rounding up his industrious | events within the coming few months. The political career in the United States Senate. Richmond organ no. doubt expected its article And why not? Is there # man in all the coun- | would be capied into Northern papers, and try more thoroughly skilled in all the aris and mysteries of legislation than Thurlow Weed? Not one. Who can estimate the value of such through them receive » European circulation. It cannot be concealed that a sentiment of indignation against beth Emgland and France a man to the administration in the Senate | is spreading and becoming deep-rooted in the in detecting the schemes of the lobby? He | South. The Southern people find that they evidently has the control of the State Legisla | have boen deceived and cheated by govern- ture, and so we may set down Mr. Weed for | ments from which they had reason to expect the present place of Senator Morgan. sympathy and succor. But eventa have proven This brings us to the main question—where | that those governments wore alike secretly hos- is Mr. Seward to go? Where else, but to Eng- | tile both to the North and to the South, and land, to relieve Mr. Adams, our Minister at Lon- | that all they aimed at was the crushing out of don? Butis not Mr. Seward a temporizer on | the spirit of republicanism on this continent. the Monroe doctrine? No. Woe grant that ap- | War among ourselves has been fostered and pearances are against him; but appearances are | encouraged by them only for the purpose of often deceptive. President Lincoln has ad-| breaking up the republic, and establishing hered to the principle of one war at a time. | upon ils ruins European dynasties, just as He has been, therefore, and is, tolorating, but | they have established them in Mexico, and only tolerating, the now Franco-Germanic em- | just as they expect to in Canada and in pire in Mexico. The day of toleration, however, | the Northern British territory of Co'mmbia. is drawing to a close with the closing scenes | But they have found that the tenacity with of the rebollion. Mr. Seward, if transferred | which Americans adhere to republicaa. liberty to England, will go there as the messenger, ex- | is not easily disturbed. A Parisian organ pounder and champion of the Monroe doc- acknowledges that the “most chimerical minds trine. From his long and distinguished career | have ceased to speak of interveniéon;” argues as the head and front of the anti-slavery move- | from the experiences of the rebellion that ment of the North, on the stump and in the-}“liberty is mot fatally destined to perish in the Senate, and especially from his learned and | tempests of civil ‘wars,” and declares that in voluminous diplomatic correspondence as See- | “the abundance - of material and moral re- retary of State during this war, Mr. Seward, as sources of which’no idea existed, all European our Minister to England, and as the champi ideas, including; its own, are completely be- of the Monroe doctrine, will occupy grand | wildered.” It, is no wonder, for the war has and commanding position. The arbiter of the | been worthga century to the South in the do- balance of power on the American continent, | velopment of its resources; and to the North it he will at once occupy the first seat in the front | bas had “the affect of hardening its nerve, en- rank among the diplomats of listening Europe. largine ; its patriotism and perfecting it in mili- What then? A few words will suffice to ex- | tary golence, toa degree which no amount of plain, With the rebellion put down, Mr. | P? ace instruction could ever enable it to at- Seward’s diplomacy on the Monroe doctrine, “tain. During its continuance thus far we have backed by the gombingd armies of the North | discovered and developed # substitute for the products of the Arctic and South Sea and Indian Ocean. We hawe made a vast accession to our gold and silver do- minions, and opened their productiveness with a rapidity that rivals California and Aus- tralia; we have built up an immense navy and organized a tremendous and unconqnera- ble army. It is time, then, that Europeans be- came bewildered at our progress; and it may be that by the 4th of next March peace shall have been declared, and the united armies of the North and the South be joined under the same banners, prepared to vindicate the nation’s honor and to propagate the principles of repub- lican liberty all over the earth. Peace may come in a night, as at Villa Franca; and let foreign nations that have deserted us in this our great struggle for national existence look out for us upon the morrow, when we shall again emerge from the dark clouds of civil war, @ great, prosperous, united and happy people. How to Reform the City Government—A Commissioner for the Metropolis, There are now before the Legislature a bill to create a Metropolitan Fire Department and a bill to create a Metropolitan Health Depart- ment. These bills are important in themselves; but they are still more important because they suggest a perfectly practical, immediate and effective method of reforming our city govern- ment, The Metropolitan Police Department has given such general satisfaction that it is not at all strange that our legislative reformers should desire to extend that system to all of the othor departments of the city. Should this idea be carried out New York and Brooklyn will be controlled by a variety of independent boards or commissions; but as the depart- ments are so related to cach other in the very nature of things that these commissions can- not possibly be completely independent, we should soon bave the same wrangling, con- fusion, disorder, inefficiency and corruption which now distinguish this municipality. Be- aides this, it cannot be denied that such an ex- tension of the system of separate commissions would be obnoxious and unpopular. The Legis- lature would govern the city entirely, and to this our citizens would not willingly submit. Both the State and the citizens of this metropolis have great interests in New York and Brook- lyn; and although those interests are in many | respects identical, yet in other respects they | are decidedly diverse. Extremists upon both sides have pushed their opinions to the utmost. The Court of Appeals has just decided that the city has no rights which the State is bound to respect, and especially that the city has no right to alienate any of its real estate, either by sale or gift. The city rights men, on the other hand, refuse to acknowledge the claims of the State Legislature to interfere with our municipal affairs in any manner whatsoover. Now, is there no middle ground, between these two extremes, which will reconcile the opinions of both the State and the city champions, and upon which all reasonable, intelligent men can firmly stand? We think there is, and that we have discovered it. In every discussion it is well to return to first principtes. Tho first principles of our, municipal government may be found in the Dongan and Montgomory charter. Under that charter the city enjoyed its golden age. Then officials were honest and Common Council- mon respected. Then all the work was well done and tho taxes were low. Then har- mony prevailed and the city prospored. Studying that charter by the light of the experience of past years, we sre enabled to-form a plan which ought to gratify everybody, and.to: which no sound objection can be offered. Let the Legislature pass an the Governor is empowered to red ds ea Tor we metropolis of New York and Brooklyn, and lot that act pro- vide that the people of both cities shall elect their Boards of Aldermen, as at present, and the work will be thoroughly done. Instcad of & number of independent commissioners, some* appointed by the: Legislature, some by the Governor and some by the Mayor, we shall thon have a single commissioner, who will ad- minister our affairs, with the assistance of the local boards, Brooklyn and New York will then be under one general government, but their local intcrests will be attended to by the Aldermen whom: thoy eleot. The municipal Mayor, who is now a mere clerk and figure- head, will be supereeded by a motropolilan commissioner, in whons all the former powers of the Mayor canvbe safely vested. It may be made indispensable that this commissioner be a resident of one of the two citios to be united in the metropolitan district; but that, with the othor details, we leave with the Legislature. It is certain, however, that no Governor would appeint any but a geod man to this high posi- tion, which would be worthy of the am- bition of any citizen. Having such a re- sponsible person, o8 commissioner, liable to be removed: by the Governor for cause, we could trust him. with the power to appoint and remove his subordizates, and if anything went wrong we should! know to whom to look for the remedy. Thus our wrangles would be cwer; the irresponsibility of our officials woul# be atan end, andi the metropolis would bearell and cheaply governed once more. Noghing can. be simplorthan this plan, nothing; more feasible; and the more it is discussed tha, more popular, it will become. In proposing to unite New York ead Brook- lyn to form,a metropolitan district, it; will be observed, we are proposing no new tuing. The two cities are abrendy united to foam a motro- politea: police district; and wo Reve yot to hear avything ike complaint uyom that score froraeither sido of the river. Tho. samo union Js aontemplated in the bills for a,metropolitan firo districk and a motropol#n, health dis- trict, now pending in the Logisiature. The union is therefore a fact aceomplished; and it it can be extended to the departments of police, fre and health, why: not extend it to all the departments, as we design? The lecal boards, elected by the poople as at present, would take care of the: purely local concerns of each city, and the commissioner would |. Wildfire story. The audience, though small, simply adjust and tarmonize these legal. inte- reats. For example, the strength and, ibe weak. ness of Brooklymare her ferries. "Teuch them, and you touch a vital spot. Vat, as matters are now arranged, the Common Council of New York has the practical controy of those ferries, and dictates the rates of ferriage. A motro- politan commissioner w-suld soon regulate that 80 a8 to do justice to “srooklyn interosts. Thus, while the two oi%ieq would be united in every- thing which ‘affected both, they would be dis- tinct whore, they are naturally independent of | frre von te met each oer. Nor is our idoa of @ metropolitan | Broonsr™, Jao, #3 17766, commissioner an untried exper, ‘ent. It is a revival of the system of the ‘ginal, funda- mental Dongan and 4 ‘barter which was so successful. That reviya} , is presented in a new aspect; but in no part of , our plan is there a feature which has not been p ‘actically tested. The combination of these fa tures is novel and original; but it at once reco, amends itself to the good sense of every leg ‘slator, That our respectable citizens will ea serly approve and endorse our plan, we do not doubt They are tired of allowing the porter honses to rule. They are tired of sea 58 ward politicians elect our officials in spite of e the utmost efforts of honest voters. They a tired of having gangs of shoulder hitters club together and force their candidates into the highest places in the city government, Under’ these circumstances they will glady welcome #/ commissioner appointed by the Governor, and’ will gladly confide in him extraordinary powers. At the same time they wish the people to have the right to elect their local representatives te assist the commissioner in his labora, Nay, the best men in the metropolitan district will vol- unteer to accept those positions in the Common Council which are now bought and sold. by cliques of small politicians. We urge the Legislature to consider these facts, and we request Mesera. Munger, White and Humphreys, the @ committee, to bear them im mind during the investigations they are about commencing. Unless the Legislature soon inaugurates some such reform our municipal squabbles will be summarily ended by « vigt- lance committee. Tun Panic anp Its Exrecr—The excitement and fluttering among the stockjobbers and ont side speculators which foHowed the fall of Fort Fisher continued in Wall street yesterday, and shares were freely offered at a further decline on Saturday’s sales of two to three per cent. It will be seen on reference to our money article to-day that this sudden depression is not confined to New York, but that it has disturbed the offshoots of Wall street in other localities, The most notable feature, however, which hag attended the panic, and the one which creates the most rejoicing among the people, is the effect which has already been produced upon the prices of breadstuffs and provisions. In Chicago we learn that wheat fell fifteen cents per bushel, which is equivalent to a decline of sixty cents a barrel on flour, and that pork could be purchased two dollars per barrel under former prices. Amusements, THR BROADWAY ATUENABOM—MR. HACKETT. ‘This unctuous veteran mado his bow to a city. audienee lest night, for the first time ina great while, in an enter- tainment made up of recitations, imitations, anecdotes, &c; The house was rather thin—an offect defective that undoubtedly came by cause of the bad weather, The extracts from Falstaff wero given in the as were also the imitations of Kean Wind entertained and appreciative. WALLACK'S THEATRE. Last night Mr. Falconer’s: comedy, entitled Men of the Day, was played here for the Orst time. Though the night was so extremely unpleasant the house was well filled by a very Uberal and genorous which ex- tended to the play quite as full » méed of applause as i6 deserved. Mr. Fisher and Miss Henriques have the more important parts, and of course did them woll; while Mr. Hollaud and Miss Gannon contributed largely to the mea riment and good humor of the occasion. MISS LAURA HABRIS’ CONCERT. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the evening the first concert, at Niblo's Saloon, of whioh Miss Laura, Has+ young lady in concert was warmly greeted. finished the beautiful air ‘O Luce dé Quest 'anind” and retired, the audience encored londly and persistently, when the young prima ‘Yea: -and sang a dcwna Sats ed a striking ‘bc, and. ex Scuisiety winced paurit; — 4 that delicate sphere of harmony required ts the concert tity of the CG sang Vike deeson moos and frocdom: doubtless find many admirers cert ‘WOOD'S MINSTRELS. A decidedly new thing was introduced‘ at Woods last nitht. It consisted of a short but lively bur- lesque on the “streets ef New York,’’ which, by the- way, were im a shocking condition on, tho occasion of its first representation. The first scene affords a good’ view of the Union Park, at the junction of Fourtecnth. street, with tho Everett House in the distance. The characters are well cast and the dialoguoumuaing. It te all Etbiopian, with colored newsboys, bootblacks. and other local curiosities, The extravagansa hinges om some amusing allusions to the Play Dill, and a house.om fire, the latter showing some unique points which cannes fail to raive a laugh—a live pig being one of the principal formers. Tho oddity was very much applanded and will havea run. The fashionable. intelligoncorof ian apolly hit of, capectally the reference . ' of our é C0, ag the newsboy, “Black your Boots” and “Chestnuts hable interjections. A joke that Uncle.Abe- fun for the Play elicited a mirthfal | round, and the question, while a bootblack was polishing is my boot like Horace Grecley?” and the - response, “ Because it sustains the nigger,” also exched, an approving expression the audience, The balance - of the programmo. was sus'ained in that artistic aud aa — manner for which Wood's Minstrels are.ee- popular, Soton Smnxarz.—The public will be sorry to learn.that. the engagement of Mr. John KE. Owens (as Solon Shingle. ‘and the Live Indian) at the Broadway theatre is about to. terminate, After nearly three months’ continuous effort, Solon Shingle is.about to leave the stage with more tha, an ordinary complement of honors. It is gonerally com, ceded that a0 greater delincator of character has been, seen on the stage of this oity for many a year. From the. Jong run wich Folon Shingle has enjoyed, and the em, thusiastic crowds that hrae filled the Broadway theate, it ig to 30 hoped that Mr. Owens will retire with ful pockets and plenty of Misure to enjoy not only the beat, kind of society, but a'f tho “apple sasa’ that Now Eng-. Jand cx@ produce. >——_—__——_ The. Mysteriows Death of. Miss, Kethar Brown. TO THE, BDITOR OF THE HERALD. Tmyour issue of Saturday leat you give: what to be an account of the circurystances connected with, oath of Esther-Brown, whica occurred,on the 54h, a No. 117 South Thiad streot. Withowk buting any unkind or unjwt motives to yourself, Leg leave to statathat the statement a published, is agper. version of facta which J, am not ¢isposed to pans Gyr an. heeded. "Who facte are these:—L was called.on T evening, the 3d inst, as you stased; remained wish patent “turing the sight, and, used all the profeestomak ekill to. relieve her bomeg Barly oo Wedneatay morning Tacq.aistod Judge Dailey with the cirourastances of the caso, a8 also the. poliwm Judge Dailey sent Capt, Guivebard, of the Porty-fifih to Laquire into he ease aad to take possomwon of a property that might belong to the unforvemate worn, Tha trunk was not “droken” open, waa opencd by Captala Guischard with the key, which was furnwhed him by the people of the’ house The undertaker was not sent for wntll some hours aftr the death of the young waman, and the body was net put in the coffin until the follewing Friday. The disposition on your part to laud tho poliee may be a very genorous one; but when it ts considered that they Rotified on Wednesday and did nob oct until Friday, 1, does not sem that they were over prompt. Tt is guid the capacity ta chooeo ft instruments base near alliancs toa spect @ of wisdom. In the school of rockl-ss habits and criminal practions there is de abtioss a prescionc# attained in the highest degree diser minating to varnish character unutterably despicable, to brace fortunce equally desperat, to browbge’. te innocent violate the truth, would seem to by kod requisites 10 suit the neceseitles of certain off¥-ials, When public officials seck rough the columns of @ newspaper to convoy false twypressions in regard to the rofessional integrity of ® ee it is time to 6: tho 2 ie ‘WM, H, HANFORD. M.D. sent ee