The New York Herald Newspaper, January 26, 1865, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. FFIOR N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. aE New York, Thursday, January 26, 1865. aseeeeM@. 25 THE WEEKLY HERALD. The Specie Basis of the Republic. ‘The interesting dcecription of the splendid resources of Colorado, Idaho and Montana, with the Map of great parks, will be publish:d in the Werxty HenaLp this week. Agente will please send in their orders this morning. Single capizs, in wrappers, five cents, THE SITUATION. The famous Richmond squadron, consisting of four Bron-clad vessels, came down the James river Tuesday morning and sucoceded in running by Fort Brady, the Shigh water, caused by the freshet, and s dense fog en- lpbling them to pass the obstructions, intending to de- {stroy the Union works and depot at City Point, One of rebel vessels was blown up and entirely destroyed one of our batterics, and another disabled, The remaining ones appeared to be aground the date of our last despatches, and the [phot from Fort Parsons were striking thom fairly at every “discharge. The probability was that all of the rebel vea- ols would bo destroyed. Admiral Farragut left Wash- ‘ngton night before last for the James river, it is sup- {posed to at once assime command of the naval forces ‘there, ‘Wo have very important intellig:nce from Richmond. 6 revolution in the rebel confederacy has commenc-d. jThe rebel Congress, in secret scasion, bas virtually do- Pposed Jeff. Davis by creating the office of Gen»ral-in- \Chicf of their armies. The rebel Presidont’s Cabinet has toon dissolved by act of Congress, and he has becoma yat a cipher in the confederacy. 4 Washington is filled with peaco rumors. Our corres- there states that a member of Jeff. Davis’ Cabi- met had made a direct proposition to or inquiry of Mr. ‘Blair, while he was in Richmond, to the effect that, if ‘they (the rebol government) were willing to give up the wontest, would tho United States government forego ‘emancipation, confiscation, &c., and permit them to dis- {pose of their cotton, then leave the country for Mexico, ‘with the understanding that no obstacle should bo placed ‘In the way of the private soldiers in the Southern army, ‘at least all who may desire, to follow the leaders into that ‘country? If that would be consented to they wo: ld bind ‘Ahomselves to drive the French under Maximilian out of ‘Mexico, secure the full control of the government there, ‘and, if necessary, pledge its ultimate antiexation to the ‘Wnitod States. Mr. Bluir stated, in reply, that the North ‘would not, in any contingency, abandon the idea of emancipation, but that our government was willing to bo ‘merciful as far aa confiscation was concerned. We have news from Savannah to the 18th inst. Gene- val Sherman’s army was still rest'ng upon its well earned laurels, The work of reorganization and refitment was, Dowever, actively going on in preparation for more v.c- Yories. A number of promotions have been made. The news of the capture of Fort Fisher had been received, and occasioned much rejoicing throughout the army. Our dates from Fort Fisher are to the 20th. A recon- Bolssance was made on the 19th, which found the enemy 4m force about two miles from our extreme line. A s2- vere skirmish ensue, in which fifty prisoners were taken. The object of{the reconnoissance having been ac- complished, our forces returned. The Anglo-rebel blockade runners of Bermuda have Jearned of the fall of Fort Fisher, the steamer Owl having uccseded in reaching Fort Caswell the night it was Pvacuated. She immediately returned, arriving at Ber- NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY, 26, 1865. the adjournment THE LEGISLATURE. In the State Senate yesterday bills were reported favo- rably to amend the charter of the Society for the Re- formation of Juvenile Delinquents; amending the charter of the Brooklyn Mercantile Library Association; waiving the State interest in certain lands in favor of the Mission- ary Society of the Most“Holy Redeemer. The adverse vote on the bill relative to the German Hospital was re- considered, and the bill recommitted. Bills were no- tleed to incorporate the Arion Society of New York; enabling the New York Dry Dock and track; for a new Capitol; Protection from fires in New York. Bills relative to un- claimed property; relative to the officers of the Depart- ment for the Inspection of Buildings in New York; for the appointment of measurers in Kings, Queens, Rich- mond apd Suffolk counties; also providing pay for the Erle county Supervisors, for extra services, were intro- duced, Bills were passed to amond the charter of the ‘New York Guaranty and Indemnity Company; incorpor- ating the Portchester Savings Bank; incorporating tho Now York Studio Building Association; authorizing the Manufacturerers Bank of Brooklyn to remove to Now York; enabling the Trustees of the Seamon's Fund and Retreat to borrow money. The resolution of thanks to Admiral Porter and Goneral Terry was then taken up and unanimously adopted. Mr. Fields mado @ motion that the Attorney General be requested to report what legal authority, if any, the Hudson River Rallroad has for discontinuing their regular passenger trains below Twenty-ninth street, Now York, and to operate a city horse railroad between Twenty-ninth and Chambers streets, which was adopted. In the Assembly bills were noticed for a Bureau of As- sessments in New York; to incorporate the Masonic Sav- ings Bank; incorporating the East River Tollgate Com- pany; to incorporate the New York Literary Club; rela- tive to the savings banks in New York; relative to the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society of New York; to regulate the freight tariff of State express companies; to regulate the feos of the County Clerk of New York. Bills to establish a steam ferry between fag Harbor and Greenport; to amend the charter of the Republic Fire Insurance Company; and relative to marshals in New York, were introduced. The Tax Office bill was argued before the Committee of Ways and Means this afternoon, Henry H. Anderson appeared for the commissioners as counsel, and obtained a post- ponement for two weeks. The Assembly held an even- ing session, the special order being the State Bounty bill. Progress was reported and the whole subject laid over for this evening. Governor Fenton sent in a communication specifying the quotas by Congressional districts, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Tho European mails by the Canada at Boston arrivedin town last evening. The details do not contain any addi- tional intelligence to that received by telegraph from Halifax, and published in the Henatp last Monday. By the arrival of the steamship Engle, from Havana 2ist inst., we have received interesting news from Mexico. Maximilian has issued @ decree nominating a new Council of State, of which Senor D. Jose Maria La- curza is named President, with eight associate council- lors. “Goneral Courtois d’Herbal is reported to have mado a reconnoissance up to the very walls of Oajaca, from whence he had returned to Etta, Porfirio Diaz is reported to have a large force under his command, and an obstinate resistance was expected. The church party, it is stated, is strongly opposed to the empire, and has se- crotly been aiding Diaz with moncy and men. Thechurch party also dvclare that Maximilian has gone further than Juarez in attacking their “peculiar institution,” and that the tendency of the new order of things is to flood the country with heretics and heathen. tho old mint at Oajaca, coining gold and silyor brought by the churches and people. The news from Havana is of little importance. The famous revenue cutter Harrict Diaz is using Lane was burned on the night of the 18th inst. The Diario basa letter from its correspondent at Monte Christo, St. Domingo, dated January 1, referring to the attack upon the Spaniards by General Polanco, whose forces consisted of nine hundred infantry, one hundred and fifty of them mounted, It was reported in Havana, from Key West, that the blockade runner Denbigh had been captured, with a valuable cargo. Tho revenue and trade statistics of Ccba for 1864 show an increase gonerally over those of the preceding year. ‘We were in hopes of being able to announee that this city would not be subjected to a draft, for we knew how much our Supervisors’ Committee had done to secure us adopted, Messrs. Harris, of Mazyland, and White, of Ohio, only voting against it, The report of the select com- mittee in favor of members of the Cabinet occupying seats In the House was then taken up and discussed ull from this hardship, and how anxious its chairman has been in reference to it. But there is somo strange moddling with our affairs, and whisperings are abroad of change of quota—returning or withdrawing crodits already allowed—of visits of influential gentlemen from other parts of the State, where it is desirable to have amall quotas, to Washington in reference to our affairs as well as their own, All these things, with occasional givings out, lead us to fear that our quota 1s not only to be increased, but that a draft is almoet inevitable. All that our city asks is simple justice. We have filled all our quotas, furnished for the army from this city alone one hundred and thirty-six thousand men, and are ready at all times to rospond to every re- quirement of the government; but, whatever is done, let even-handed justice prevail. Give us credit for every man we put into the army or navy from this city, and our Supervisors’ Committee will bo r-sponsible for the muda on the 21st, stopping quite a fleet of blockade run- ners that were all ready to sail. A number of vessels phat left Bermuda for Wilmington between the 13th and 20th Inst., however, had not been heard from. ‘The proposition of the rebels to substitute St. Marks, Fin, for the purpose of blockade running, in place of ‘Wilmington, ia certainly not tenable at presont. An ex- tract from a private letter, dated December 31, from Ueutenant Rockwell, commanding the blockading Squadron off that port, states that he has three vessels ‘under his orders, onc of which is a very fine one, carry- Ang soven guns, and as fast as most others. The Lieuten- Ant states that he shall be very busy for some time in Conducting operations against the enemy. Captain Gayit, master of the bark Clifton, which ar- rived at Fortress Monro on Sunday, from Pernambuco, foports that the rebel pirate Shenandoah has dostroyed moveral American m/°rchantinon on the coast of Brazil. ‘Vessels bound for the United States were obtaining British registers in cons quence, The message of the Governor General to the Canadian ‘Parliament, recomm nding an appropriation to replace the $90,000 in gold given up to the St. Albans raid- ‘ere was road by the Speaker amid crics of “Hear, hear.”” ‘Thoro were no expressions of dissent to the proposition. ‘The Allon and Anti-Raid bill, it is stated, will be one of ‘Ghe first measures passed. The speeches made in both houses wero eminently friendly in tone towards the United States. 4 man named Herekiah Payne has been arrested in Detroit on suspicion of being one of the St. Albans waiders. On searching him sixty-five dollars in bills of Generil George B. McClellan, lady and child, eailed for Europe yesterday in the steamship China. Mr. August Belmont, the well known banker, and Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, accompanies the dis- tinguished party, the intention being an extended tour throughout Europe, principally for the benefit of Mrs. McC lellan’s health. ‘The bark Sacramento, Captain Hussey, from New York for Rio Janeiro, put into Bermuda on the 16th instant to land the crew of a vessel reported as the ship Ganges (but which was probably the brig Ganges, Capt. Johnson, from Cadiz November 4, for Boston), which had been abandoned. The famous black laws of Iilinots have been repenled in the Sonate by a majority of four votes, and tho des- patch states that the House will cortainly concur in the action. In 1863 the first legislation on these “black laws,’’ as they have been called, occurred in the Logisia- tare of Illinois. In that year a bill was introduced into the House of Representatives of the State prohibiting the immigration of free persons of color to the State, or the setting free of slaves within its limite, In 1866 the bil was finally passed, and the “black laws" have since been * ghe objects of the Convention met with the hearty con- ‘the 8t. Albans banks wero found sewed up in the lining fof his overcoat, An important military Convention of the Adjutant ‘Generals of the loyal States was held at Columbus, Obio, on the 17th, 18th and 19th inst. The Adjutant Generals of ton States wore present, while it was understood that currence of a number of others unavoidably absent, Whe object of the meoting of these gentlemen was to ‘Rompare notes as to the best mothod of raising troops, the adoption of a uniform military system for that throughout the loyal States. The Convention ad- Journed, to meet at Boston on the 10th of July nox CONGRESS. Tn tho Senate yesterday the House Bankrupt bill was weported by the Judiciary Committee with some unim- | amendments, and ortered to be printed. The Committee were instructed to Inquire into the ‘expediency of relieving the shipping of the country from Ghe income tax, and reducing the duty on chains and 7 . ‘The Military Committoe were discharged from farther consideration of tho meinorial of ox- Burgeon General Hammond, asking an investigation @ato the ciroumstancos of the court mortiel in his ease. The Secretary of War was called upon to state why be has not appointed commissioners to compensate loyal owners for slaves enlisted jn tho military, Tho bill Sanaking appropriations for deficlenctes wae defeated, tho Tonge insisting on an appropriation of thirty-eight thou- \pand dollars to increase the pay of fis employes, which Phe Bonate refurw'! to agree to. Tho consideration of tho Pesolution advising retaliation in tho treatment of pri- Boners of war was then resumed, and the subject was dis- ‘qussed till the adjournment. | In the House of Reprosentatives the bill for aship jetnal around Niagara Falls was postponed till Monday, Dil to increase the saleries of certain clerks in the il service was reported, and Monday next asetgned for consideration. A substitute for the Senate biil for the Of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts was and recommitied to the Ways and Means Com- A fesolution of thanks to Genoral Sheridan was Pililee, a part of the history of the State. ‘The Legislative Investigating Committee, appointed to examine into the administration of the Tax Commission. ors’, City Inspector's, Street Commissioner's, Comp- troller's, and the Creton Aqueduct departments, as well as the proceedings of the Board of Supervisors and affairs in the Surrogate's office, are to meet to-day at twelve o'clock, in room No. 6, 41 Chambers street, where Mayor Gunther is to appear before them for tho purpose of being examined in matters relating to the affairs of his office, In tho Millspaugh-Adams seduction case the jury yes- terday brought in a verdict for the plaintalff, assessing the damages at $10,000, Some of the jurors were in favor of giving $25,000, and one of them held out a long time for $60,000, The trial of Theodore Yates for the murder of police- man Curran was resumed yesterday in the Court of Oyor and Terminer, Brooklyn, before Judge Barnard. Some rebutting testimony was put in on either side, principally on the part of the defence, to show that there had been a disturbance and a row in the crowd, and that the prisoner fired the first shot in self-defence. The cause of the prisoner was not at all improved by this course; for the ‘witnesses failed to prove that there had been any émeute among tho crowd during the meeting, or to prove that the prisoner had been in any way molested, much less ‘attacked in such a way a* to warrant his discharging his pistol to the imminent peril of those near h'm. Counsel for the defence argued that the prisoner, being attacked in the Grst instance, fled after Gring the shot that struck Kinney, and when porsued and arrested by deceased fired again, this time with fatal effect, under the impres- sion that it was one of his fancied assailants whose hands Were upon him, Counsel for the prosecution followed. After the summing up of counsel the Judge delivered his charge to the jury, who, after being out two hours, returned @ verdict of ‘Guilty of murdor in the frst de- ” ‘The trial of Bernard Friery, indicted for the murder of Harry Lazarus in Houston street, on the 3d instant, was resumed yesterday in the General Sessions, before Judge Russel, The whole of the session up to five o'clock was spent in empannelling the Jury. Eleven Jurors were so- Jeoted and sworn, when it was found that the new panel returned yesterday was exhausted. The delinqvent Jarore were each fined twenty-five dollars, An additional panel of one hundred and fifty jurors was ordered for Friday morning. ‘The jury in the case of Gertrude Crossman vs. David Harrison (where the plaintiff sued te recover three thoa- sand dollars damages for assault and battery), brought in ecealed verdict against the defendant yesterday, asses- sing the damages at fifteen hundred dollars. ‘A young man, named Johnson K. Pollock, was shot ‘and instantly killed, on the corner of Lispenard and Church streets, by aman named Henry Yelverton last evening. A young woman, two lovers, and Jealousy, it ie stated, form the tragedy. Patrick Doyle was convicted of attempting to pass counterfeit Treasury notes of the denomination of fifty dollars, in the United States Ciroult Court yeaterday, be- fore Judge Smalley. A meeting was held in the Cooper Institute last even- ing to commence the raising of funds for the negroes who followed Sherman’s army through Georgia. It was slimly attended. Many speakers addressed the meeting, a collection was taken up, and a committee appointed to collect funds to carry out the object of the mecting. ‘The number of emigrants landed at this port last week was 1,725, making the number of arrivals since January 1 3,904. The number landed in the same period of last year was 5,173, The balance of the commutation fund at present is $30,513 40, A telegraphic despatch was received at Police Head- quarters yesterday morning, stating that Mr. Horace Cushing, a broker, residing at No, 18 West Thirty-third street, had jumped from a second story window of his residence, while in a state of insanity, and been instantly killed, Joseph Mayer, a German, residing at No. 80 Rivington street, died yesterday from the effects of injuries reozived ‘on the 17th inst., by accidentally falling into tho cellar of a new building on Broadway. The Burns Club of th's city celobrated the one hundred and sixth anniversary of the natal day of the Shepherd Poet of Scotland last night, at the Maison Dorce. This club is still presided over by Mr. James Nicholson, who has held the office for the last six years, and who is in- stalled for another ycar. Under his auspices, this club has on each succeeding anniversary attracted to its fes- tivals the élite, not only of the sister societios but of some of our best citizens, without regard to country. The cel~bration last night was all that the best friends of the society could desire. Harmony prevailed, and it might be truly said that after due and necessary attention had been paid to the good things provided by the pro- Prietars of the Maison Dorée, the ‘feast of reason and the flow of soul” went on uninterruptedly till the wee sma’ hours ayant the twal had come and gone. A very disastrous fire broke out in Buffalo yesterday morning. After destroying @ vast amount of property the conflagration was stopped by the blowing up of a building; but the flames burst out again last evening, and at the date of our last despatch, on account of the d'fl- culty the firemen experienced from the intense cold, the fire was still raging. Several persons are reported to have been injured by falling walls. The loss so far will not fall short of half @ million dollars. The court house at Rensselaer, Jasper county, Indiana, with nearly its entiro contents, including the county land and court records, records of the Circuit Court, together with every book and article belonging to the County Treasurer, Auditor and Sheriff's offices was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 18th inst. The Cincinnati and Ghicago papers are comparing tho number of men in each city who pay income taxes on over $20,000, In Chicago eighty-seven persons returned $3,280,006, giving an average of $36,897 65 to ea h; while $4,976,400 of large incomes in Cincinnati were re- turned by one hundred and fifty-four persons—giving an averace of $32,316 88 to each. By a powder expiosion in Philadelphia yesterday three Persons were killed and one seriously injured. The stock market was active and stronger yesterday, and at the first and second boards a marked advance took place, but it closed heavy. Governments were firmer. Gold sold up to 207%, and closed at 206. ‘The rise in gold bogot considerable activity in somo kinds of merchandise yesterday, and prices were very generally hich:r than om the preceding day. Foret:n commodities wore quiet, with few excoptions. Cotton was kept down by expected arrivals from Savannah. Petroleum was active for export, and prices were 2c. a 80. highor, “On Chango” the flour market, was rather mero active, and an advance of 5c. a 10c, was established. Wheat was very quiet, but 1c, 020. higher, Corn was inactive and nominal, while oate were a shade firmer. The pork market was more active and firmer, while beef was fr mor, with a fairdemand. Lard steady. Whiskey heavy. Freights were quiet but firm. With tho receipts of beef cattle for the week swelled to over 7,000 head the market ruled heavy, and, though afairdemand prevailed, prices receded from lo. to 20. per pound, ranging from 11c, to 20c. a Zlc. for inferior to good, and 21c. to 260. for a few choice. The average de- cline was about 1c. a pound. Cows were unchangsd. Veals were steady at 10c. a 1c, al4c. Sheep and lambs were active and sold at extravagant prices, ranging all the way from $6 to $21 60; Hogs were lower. They have sold during the week at 120, a 14c., but at the close 18%c. was the outside price for heavy Western corn fed. The total receipts were 7,103 beeves, 83 cows, 451 veals, 11,312 sheep and lambs and 6,215 hogs. Important from Richmond—The Virtual Overthrow of Jeff. Duvis’? Power. The news from the Richmond papers which we publish this morning is of the highest im- portance. The long anticipated uprising against Jeff. Davis has been inaugurated. The rebel Congress, in secret session, has effectually de- posed him by creating the office of general-in- chief of the armies, and virtually dissolved his government by inviting his Cabinet to resign. For months past it has been apparent that the confidence of the rebels in their leader was rapidly waning. The distrust which the rebel Congress has intimated was felt in the Cabinct extends to the President, in consequence of his many usurpations and numerous failures. The people of Savannah abandoned him and his cause before their city fell into our hands. The news this morning shows that the citizens of Charleston were despondent and ripe for revo- lution. The citizens of Wilmington are ready and anxious to fall into our hands, and will not leave the city, which Bragg is evacuating. Not only in the rebel Congress, but in every portion of the confederacy, the people are ready to abandon the sinking ship of Davis and throw themselves under the protection of our flag, or, where that is impossible, under the command of another less cruel, selfish and uncompro- mising leader. The indications grow stronger and more numerous every day that the dissolu- tion of the rebellion is rapidly and irresistibly approaching. Thus Davis has ceasod to be the head and front of the rebellion. The new leader is, in all probability, to be General Lee, who, though undoubtedly the most popular man in the South, is not, according to his own confessions, the most ardently devoted to the cause of the rebellion. In placing him at the head of their armies the rebels elect a leader who declared that he “recognized no necessity for revolu- tion,” and who had no “desire to draw his sword save in defence of his native State.” All that can be hoped for, and, indeed, all that ap- pears to be anticipated, by the rebels as a re- sult of this change of leaders is a temporary revival of the public spirit and the addition of @ few thousand conscripts, gathered in the brief hour of enthusiasm to thelr failing armios. But the change has come too late, The te ! organization is too dangerous a movement, and the country will be surprised indeed if Grant and Sherman and Thomas do not add, by well directed blows, to the “confusion worse con- founded” which now exists among the rebels. ———————_______ The New Freneh Vice Royalty in Mexi- co—The Momree Doctrinec—Important Revelations from Richmond. Our readers were doubtless somewhat aston- ished and puszled yesterday by the intelligence from Mazatlan, via San Francisco, that Dr. William L. Gwin, late United States Senator from Celifornis, and more recently in this city a discharged candidate for Fort Lafayetie, had been dabbed a Duke of Mexico by the Emperor Maximilian; that the Mexican States of Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihushua,.Durango and Lower Cali- fornia, had been ceded by Maximilian to Louis Napoleon, in payment for the French subjuga- tion of the republic, and that Dr. Gwin had been appointed, as the representative of Napo- leon, Viceroy over said States, soon to enter upon the duties of his office. This is certainly extraordinary news, It reads very much like s proclamation from Baron Munchansen; and yet we are eo strongly inclined to believe it substantially trae, The idea of this partition of Mexico between Maximilian and his master is a genuine Na- poleonic idea. It is the idea which secured the cession of Savoy to France in compensation for her services to Young Italy in her late war with Austria, The same iden will probably some day secure the island of Sar- dinia to France in payment of her services in turning over Rome and Venice to the King of Italy. In this Mexican business a little cir- cumlocution was necessary to satisfy the French people. The direct seizure of Mexico by Napoleon they might have regarded as a usurpation again:t popular rights. Maximilian is therefore brought in, and the forms of a local ratification of his government, are adopted. Thus be becomes, after a fashion, according to the French theory of popular sovereignty, the legitimate Emperor of Mexico. The thing is a barefaced mockery, but it will do. Then, of course, comes the question of compensation to Napoleon for his services to the Mexican Emperor. And here we have it in this new viceroyalty of Dr. Gwin, Duke of Sonora. Nor does this Mazatlan report of his promo- tion stand alone. It is supported by similar rumors from Paris some weeks ago, and by later reports from Havana. We have also cor- roborative information from Dr. Gwin himself, through an intelligent American gentleman, who met the Doctor in San Diego, at the south- ern extremity of Upper California, about three months ago. We understand that the Doctor owns considerable real estate in San Diego, and that, with the development of the riches of the adjacent Mexican States, he expects that little clty, in its commanding position, to be- come a great scaport, and that he will thus speedily become one of the richest men on the continent. As the head of a neighboring French viceroyalty, he probably calculates that our government will respect his property rights in San Diego. At all events, give the Doctor, in his viceroyalty, half a chance and he will make of it a good speculation. Now we come to a larger view of the sub- ject. The design of Louis Napoleon is the por- manent occupation, as French colonies, of the Mexican States indicated; the development of their vast mineral wealth, and the erection of a powerful commercial and naval establishment for the Paciflo at the outlet of the great Gulf of California. How does this idca strike President Lincoln? We cannot tell, but we shall-proba- bly learn in his inaugural address on the 4th March touching his future foreign policy. What do they think of this French vice royalty of Dr. Gwin at Richmond? The Enquirer of that city, in a recent significant article on the Monroe doctrine, has “let tho cat out of the bag.” They do not like it, The Mnguirer broadly intimates, in fact, that the expulsion of Napoleon and Maximilian may yet become the bond of union between our loyal and rebe!- lious States, and draws a glowing picture of the grand results that will follow a reconciliation upon this basis. But we have a despatch from Washington which embodies information more directly te the purpose. It thus appears that this Mexican problem lies at the bottom of the mysterious peace missions of old Mr. Plair to Richmond; that the rebel chiefs are roally thinking of the expedient of making Mexico and the Monroe doctrine the basis of a treaty of peace. We have on several occasions thrown out the hint that the proposition to Jeff. Davis and his appa- rently intractable confederate rebel leaders to set them up in a Southern confederacy in Mexico, if they would agree to leave the United States, would probably be accepted. This mag- nificent scheme,as a compromise, has, proba- bly, attracted their favorable attention, and they may have been finessing around old Mr. Blair for this purpose. “Where there isso much smoke there must be some fire.” The Southern confederacy set up at Richmond is on the verge of dissolution. The leaders concerned in it are in a state of despair. What are they to do? Where are they to go? Unqualified submission, even with an amnesty, will be as ruinous to these leaders as subjugation. They want « loophole of eacape—something in the way of a compromise as abasis of reconciliation. In this view, Mexico and the Monroe doctrine stand invit- ingly before us, and we seriously begin to think that they will, after all, open the door to reunion and peace. The Duty on mThe Duty of the te. The House of Representatives has passed a resolution reducing the duty on paper from twenty cents to three cents, This resolution was rushed through in the hastiest manner, and & motion to refer the subject to an appropriate committee was voted down. The ostensible ob- ject is to “relieve tho newspapers of some of their burdens.” The assombled representa- tives of the nation having agreed some timo ago that it was necessary for the cause of the country that certain taxes should be laid upon nearly all necessary articles, also agreed, after mature deliberation, npon what articles and to what extent {t should bo laid, and fixed the scale minutely, Werre not aware that any one maintains that this was not right. Nearly every branch of trade, it is true, complains that the system oppresses it, and in many in- stances its burdens fall heavily upon the peo- ple. Whiskey dealers have a notion that the world would go on better if the taxes on their commodities, home made or imported, were lighter, It is the same in dry goods ‘ns in wet goods, and itis the same throvgh the whole catalogue of goods and bads thit men buy aad sell. . All complain, but all feel that they must endure for the good of the country. But now Congress is asked to make @ clear and distinct exception in favor of one partiou- lar branch of industry. Itis asked to reduce to a nominal figure the duty on paper, And why? Can any one urge any good reason why Congress should make » change in favor of pe- per and leave the duty as it is on all other arti- Clest No; there is not » single fact in relation to paper that entitles {t to distinction from the articles with which it is classed in the Revenue law. Congress is asked to reduce this duty be- cause it is oppressive to publishers, and is » burden heavier than the press can bear. Sup- posing for an instant that this is true, is it & reason? Taxes are necessarily more or leas oppressive always; and in our own case, as we have said, every branch of industry regards the tax on its own commodity as more than it can safely bear. Consumers of every article could make the same complaint that the consumers of paper do, and quite as honestly. Is Con- gress to lend a willing ear to all these com- plaints? Then brash away the whole system of duties at once, or otherwise leave all alone. If, indeed, Congress felt called upon and author- ized to exercise the national magnanimity in favor of any one article, is paper even the article on which that magnanimity would be most felt by those who have most necessity to feel it? Certainly not. Reduce the duty on the single article of coal, and every cent lost to the treasury by that reduction would do more good in the country than a dollar lost in the same way by paper. Reduce the duty on that article and you effect at once a favorable change in the price of heat and light that every man, however poor, is compelled to buy and pay for more or less directly. But it is a movement in favor of the press— “to relieve the newspapers.” Doos the press need the national charity? Then let it die and make room for a more vigorous growth that can flourish without such assistance. The press that is not able to stand unless tho national legislature exempts it from burdens that fall upon general business ought to fail; and the Congress that gives it a shove downward will be the truo friend of a healthy press. Is this appeal to Congress indeed but another appear- ance of the shameless dead-head abuse? For years newspaper men have gone free where others had to pay. They have ridden on the cars with free tickets, and they have gotten better staterooms on the steamboats by “courtesy” than others could get for honestly paid money. They have had their dinners free at the hotels, and the very waiters, down to the bootblack, exempted the miserable devils from the customary fee. They have had free lodgings, free drinks, free tickets to the theatre, and have, indeed, been free everywhere. All that disgraced and degraded the press, and was moreover an open imposition upon the peoplo— for every tender of a free ticket was a bribe to induce its receiver to tell the public a lie and keep the truth out of sight. The free ticket was a price. Now, then, a shameless press wants to be dead-head on the Revenue law, and goes into Congress and is enabled to openly tell Congressmen its price almost in plain terms, Down with such a press and shame on the lawmakers that listen to its mean and miserable appeal. We have above, in allusion to the assertion of the Western editors that the tax was heavier than the press could bear, supposed that asser- tion, for the sake of argument, to be true. But it is false. We are subject to the same law and use more paper than any one or two, or even three, of those who complain; and we can bear the tax as well as any other manufacturer bears the tax on the commodity he uses. Moreover, the assertion is not even true of the papers whose editors make it; for we see by the re- turns of the income tax that one of the most clamorous of those who make this beggarly appeal pays taxon an income of forty thou- sand dollars, And that is the kind of men that Congress is asked to “relieve” at the expenso of the nation. The Metropolitan Mayor or Commissioner and City Reforms. The plan which we proposed recently to reform the government of this city by the ap- pointment of a metropolitan mayor or commis- sioner has been received with general favor. We hope that before long a bill will be drawn up and submitted to the Legislature in order to carry that plan into effect. The mismanago- ment of our city officials has been so gross that @ committee haa been sent down from the Legislature to investigate the very numerous complaints of our citizens; and from this com- mittee, composed of respectable, intelligent and influential men, we anticipate several prac- tical suggestions as to the best mode of cor recting the abuses about to be examined. But it must be evident, even to the most thought- less, that no city reform can be of any avail unless it is thorough and sweeping in its character. The political machine, which runs’ 80 nicely now, can be easily adjusted to suit any slight modifications of existing arrange- ments, and the only way to stop its working is to destroy the machine entirely. This we propose to do by the appointment of a metro- politan mayor or commissioner, and we take this to be the only feasible and effectual mode yet presented for the consideration of our people and our legislators. The bill providing for the creatfon of « me- tropolitan district need not be at all complex. On the contrary, the simpler it is the more ac- ceptable it will be to those concerned. Its main provisions may be found in the original Dongan and Montgomery charter, and a few changes of names are almost the only altera- tions necessary. The bill should authorize tho Governor to appoint a mayor or commissioner annually for this city and Brooklyn. This mayor or commissioner should be invested with extraordinary supervisory and executive powers. The two cities shonld be united in ono district for all general purposes, as they now are for the purposes of the Metropolitan Police Department, A Board of Aldermen for the two citios, to be elected annually, shouyl be empowered to do the legielative work of £ho government. The metropolitan mayor or com-, iiasioner should have the authority to apposnt his subordinate executive officers, and ¢ ro. move them for cause. It is doubtful whether the Board of Aldermen should be ®'4owod the power of confirming these subordqtos, since aldermon have often used that » wer to force bad men into office and kop good mon out. ‘This board should conglsk of abontforty mem- bers, to be apportioned between the two cities upon the basis o”, tare to achieve. If they do it they will be enti tled to the warmest gratitude and support’ of their constituents, country, It is great not only in its size, but in its commerce, its finances, {ts intelligence, ite influence and its patriotiem., The whole Siate is therefore interested in having it well ruled and developed. The country members, as they are called, have almost as great a stake in ite prosperity as the city members of the Legisla- ture, and they should reflect upon the manifold fal representation at Albany, and we could introduce it and carry it as a party measure were we so inclined. Buta subject so import ant as this should not be regarded from a par- tisan point of view. Our plan, es will be at once observed, does not create a@ number of new offices. On the contrary, it cuts down the present num ber of officials and gives the remainder a bet ter and more practical character. There is no gentleman in the State, however high his posi- tion, great his wealth or extensive his acquire ments, who would not be honored by the ap- pointment to the office of mayor or commis- sioner of a metropolitan district comprising the two great cities of New York and Brooklyn— cities which have the same harbor, the samo in- terests and the same future. By having this mayor or commissioner appointed annually we secure his speedy removal if he prove ineff- cient, and the Governor can reappoint him year after year if he prove competent to discharge his varied and responsible duties. In voting for Governor the whole State will vote in effect for the Mayor or Commissioner of this metro- politan district—a fact which should not be overlooked in discussing this subject’ The office of alderman would be raised from the -mire of partisan corruption, and the leading citizens of the metropolis would be eager to oo cupy a situation so honorable and so im fluential. In that legislative board our fatare senators would be schooled, and there would be ample scope for the display of the truest statesmanship in dealing with the local lawa necessary to protect and develop the metro polis. We believe, therefore, that such a sy» tem ought to be adopted forthwith, and we urge the Legislative committee to recommend it in their report. Some reform must soon be made, or a vigilance committee will be as necessary here as it was in San Francisco. Letter from Mr. Thurlow Weed. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Your Washington correspondent strangely misapgre- hends my errand to Washington and my views im rele {on to Mr. Henderson, the late Navy Agent, So farfrom “endeavoring to procure @ sottlement of the suits against Mr. Henderson,” my judgment of the questien is that these suits ought to be vigorously prosecuted— first, because the accused, if guilty, deserves punishment; and next, because, if innocent, he is entitled te a public vindication. I made the charge against Mr Henderson deliberately and upon information which I believed reliable. I sought that information om accoum® of the malignant and persistent aspersions and calumales upon myself in the Evening Post, of which journal Mr. Henderson is a proprictor. Judge Pierrepont, during the recent Opdyke libel trial, informing me that he had been retained as counsel for Me. Henderson, inquired if personal differences existed be- tween Mr, H. and myself. I replied that I did not know Mr. HL, and had no personal {ll feeling towards him ‘He expressed his own conviction that the charges against Henderson were and that the evidence would satisfy me of thelr injustice. To which I replied that, having never intentionally injured any man, I would cheerfully, when satisfed, repair the wrong. Since that time no word between Judge Pierrepont and my- self on that subject has passed. And, while I had not intended to speak of Mr. Henderson during the pendency of his trial, I am now bound to say that subsequent tm- therefore, the Navy Department or the United States District Attorney fail to “prosecute the matter to the end” they will do less than their duty. Official corruption is the rife and raling vice of our country. It is the vice that most easily bescts all gov- ernments involved in war; but ours has been eminently tense feeling of tollivade f0F national existence, the pub tense ing itn rn oxi lo sensibility has been 0 dulled that official derelie- tions and rapacity go unrebuked. I am informed, believe, that through recklessness or dishonesty in the miseari« ment ment has beem jt ie ul i i i i : i & Ee . uf & 32 , New Yona, Jan. 24, 1966, Ma. Wavoorr.—It is the intention of Mr. ‘Walcot to appear before the public at Wallack's on Wednesday, the Ist proximo, at the request friends in this city, They are desirous of sceing ‘once more before his departure for Europe, The com respondenco on the subject is published in another column. Miss Baarcern’s Conorrt.—Thw accomplished vocalist gives a concert at Dodworth Hald this ovening, She will vo aseisted by Alfred H. Peage, Theodore Thomas and Signor Remi. ‘Tue New Orns Suasca.—The now opera seasom is to begin immediately. The box office opens this morning, The Dagascus at Portland. Ponriann, Me., Jam. 25, 1865, ‘The steamshig Damascus, from Liverpool on the 6th, Va Londonderry on the 6th inst., has arrived. News anticipated, Her maile were forwarded to Boston by the afternoon train, A Passenger Lost Overboard from the Damascus. Pontiasp, Jan, 20, 1866, ‘The steamship Damascus, which arrived to-day, lout overboard on ‘he passage « cabin passenger for Quebea, named M. Saoppard. lack Laws of Iilinois Repeated. ae: Srruveriecy, Til., Jon. 26, 1866 ‘The Iinots Senate have repealed the Black laws by @ Pinjority of four votes, and the House |e cortain to conows rl poptilation. Thus, by these | in this action.