The New York Herald Newspaper, August 23, 1865, Page 4

4 F NEW YORK HERALD. * wa MES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OvFICE N. W. CC ON AND NASSAU STS, NEW BOWERY THE winy—-SwCRET—DSOLDIER NIBLO'S GARDEN mus Wiow, Webs Broadway. —Anuan wa Rogue; OR, TREATRE. Broadway.—Bonw to Coop POWERY THE Univcky Goosr— —Kive or Tax Commons— ALABULA GARDEN, Ducusiumead Broadway. —Barno’s Musee NicoLo Fairy, Open Day aud Away. —EvntiOPiAN TONY £ sxc, Da NEW 1 BLITZ i August 23, 1865. New Vork, Wednesday, R Cm CULATION, NEWS?s) Receipts of & of the New Work Daily Nowspapers. OFFICIAL. Year Ending Name of Paper. May 1, 1885. Tigzanp. $1,095,000 Times. 368,150 ‘Tribuné. ” 252,009 Evening Post...... 169,437 World 100,000 Sun... 151,079 2x) 90,548 Now Yore Hers1o...... -..$1,095,000 Times, Tribune, World and Sun combi 871,439 TRIAL OF WIRZ. Very unexpectedly to nearly everybody, a temporary fe jal of Captain Wirz, keeper risow pon, Was ordered In the y. On the opening proceeded to argue in aailitary conrt in Wa of the court the prizon favor of the motion to quash the charges and specifica- tions, on the ground th: tain, and that tho offences charged are not, cognizable by military, but by civil law. This motion was overruled, J and pleaded not guilty. After some further remarks by the members of court and the they ave too general and uncer. when Wirz was arraiga counsel, it was ordered that the prisoner -be remanded tol and that the court adjourn, which Was inmediately carried into effect. In answer to the pro- test of the cceused’s counsel to these proceedings, and @ request to know to What time the adjournment took the Judge te stated that due notice would the witnesses to inform the and qu court of their resid 8, and instructed them not to leave the city anul properly discharged. The reason for {bis adjournment has not been made public; but a rumor Jhas gained curren mado in the charges and specifications against Wirz, , THE CABLE. By the arrival of the steamships Borussia and City of that there are to be some changes Bauitimore at this port yesterday, and the receipt of our Giles by the steamship Belgian, which reached Father Point on Sunday last, we have details from Europe to Dive 10th inst, ‘The speculations of the English papers on the caus? of Vo cable failure possess considerable interest. It ap- Yours to have been, the general’ opinion that the logs of Jasutation which startled the eleciricians on the 2d inst. was caused by the magnetic storin previously alluded to, and not by any fault or defect im the cablo itself, and that, had the Great Eastern proceoded on her journey instead of turaing back to cut out the supposed flaw, the cable might tong before have been safely laid and in working order. ‘ Nothing discouraged by this failure, the cable company have sot about repairing the loss; but it is said that no renewal of the operations will be attempted during the preeent season. How far this resolution will be changed dy the ailvices which the Great Eastern has by this time ‘orne to Valentia remains to be seen. © money loss to the company by the failure is estimated at one million * dollar. Some singular facts as to the bargain struck by the company are stated by a correspondent of the London Star, , Tf uh e succeeded the owners of the Great Eastern were to receive twe hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and nothing if it failed. Hiad the attempt proved # success, the Great Eastern would have been purchased by the cable company, and no fewer than six lines would have been laid Between Irciand and America, THE NEWS. The steamships Ariadne, Captain Crary, and Perit, Catain Delaney, from Savannah, and the Granada, Baxter, from Charleston, arrived here yesterday. ‘There is no news of particular importance from South Carolina or Georgia, To Mr. Gorbam, of the Granada, we are under obligaiions for the early delivery of papersand despatches. ‘Tho Mississippi Constitutional Convention, now in ses- sion at Jackson, has adopted the amendmont to the con- stitution prohibiting slavery in the State, and providing for the passage by the Legislature of laws to protect the freedmen and’ séeure them in the possession of their Jiberty and rights, It is said that twenty-nine thonsand additional troops Bre to be immodiately mustered out of sorvic», as fol- Jlows:—From the Middle Department, six thousand; Do. partment of Washington, cight thousand; Kentucky, five thousand; North Carolina, eight thousand; Missis- sippi, two thousand. The Mayor of Fayetteville, North Carolina, ‘and the Sheriff of Cumberland county, of which Fayetteville it tho county sent, have Istued statements in which they say that the reports recently published of inhuman treatment of negroes in that town are in some respovia grosaly exaggerated and in others totally fale, A letter has been written by General Hitchcock in re- gard to the crueities practised by the rebels on captive national soldiers, and explanatory of the cause of the snapeasion of exchange of prisoners, in which he says that as long as the cartel was respected by the South it ‘Was faithfally observed by the national government. Numerous histories have already been published of the Jife of President Johnson, showing how, from tho poverty and obscurity of his early years, by his own hative energy astry and perseverance, he rose suv- pessively from one position of honor to another, till at fast he finds himeey at the head of this great republic. Everybody almost hae read these; but all are not eo woll indormed as to what manner of man Mf, Jonson Js; and we therefore to-day give a short sketch, by one who knows him, which will supply this want, describ- ing, a8 it does, something of hie habits, his mental and moral force and characteristics, his innate gifts of etates- manship and bis political and rhetorical abilities. In addition to the evidence which we have heretofore presented in our Own correspondonce of the determi. dion of the Spaniards, if possible, treacherously to main- ‘tain a foothold in the republic of st, Domingo, we this Ymorning publish articles on the matter from the Paris Ppinion Nationaie and Journal des Dedats. 11 appears Phat General Gandara, im inserting the objectionable fiause in the peace treaty, and insisting that if it is not Bubmitted to he will renew hostilifies, does not act etm. ply on his own responsibility, but by instructions from jahe mew Spanich Ministry, notwithetanding that their predecessors ordered the unconditional and immediate evacuation by their troops of St. Domingo. ‘After a couple 0! days of intermission in the develop. jnent of extensive forgeries and robberies, another huge case, involving over two hundred th ceived the attention of the police o! In this instance, however, the alleged eruninal, it ap. pears, is not a member of financial circles, A man named Georve Gladwin, a carpenter by trade, and a re. turned soldier, wes arrested m New Haven and brought to this city on charge of having abstmeted trom & letter directed to Mr. ‘Trowbridge, of the former pla a draft for nearly four thou- sand dol drawn by Burdick, Frisbee & Co., of No, 93 Wall street, on the Manhattan Com- pany. On his arrival here he confessed to the police that he had recently succeeded in procuring from the las Hotel, where he was stopping, a two hundred aad four thousand do} worth of Ti Fort Wayne Railroad bonds, by ng the nam » person to which the package was Al’ the bonds were recovered, as well as a spt of jewelry which Gladwin, as al safe of Os package con! for addressed, considerable leged, had py 1 with the. stolen draft, and he was comusitted for a: amination, which is expected to take | place to-day. place of young Edward B, Ketchum still re- ‘The sufferers by his operations have able to arvive accurately at the amount of One of them, Mr. Charles Graham, broker & Co., has agcertained that his will not on and @ half, nine hundred and fifty ars of which are in forged gold checks, ; of the decision on the motion to dis- charge Genevieve Lyons and Charles Brown, under ar- rest on suspicion of implication in Jenkins’ robbery of the Phenix National Bank, was again further postponed y till this afternoon, owing to the absence of counsel for the bank, ‘The case of Andrew Wiseman, charged with counter. pational currency, which was up before United The hidii Commissioner Osborn yesterday, was adjourned till next Wednesday. No evidence was taken in the case, Commissioner of Internal Revenue Orton states that an impression prevalent among bankers and brokers of this city, to the effect that by existing law he has not the power to refund to individuals taxes which the Supreme Court may decide to be illegally assessed, is erroneous. The new and beautiful steamship New York, belonging to the Atlantic Mail Steamship Company, will be open to the inspection of the public on Saturday next, at the company’s now pler, 43 North river, foot of Canal strect. ‘The New York will take her place in the line for Califor- nia, and leave for Aspinwall on the 1st proximo. The steamship Quaker City, recently, purchased by the Brothers from the government, ha8 been elegantly fitted up and furnished by them for their Charleston line of packets, for which port she will leave to-day at three P.M., from pier No, 14 East river, foot of Wall street. ‘The Quaker City was a favorite with the travelling public previous to the war, owing to her great speed and easy sea- going qualities; now she possesses additional attractions in her large and airy staterooms and spacious cabins, which must be seen to be appreciated, no expense having been spared in altering her to suit the tastes and require- ments of the times. The Quaker City is commanded by Captain West, who has ,retired from the navy for that purpose. The steamship Republic, Captain Dollard, will sail to- day at three P. M. for New Orleans direct, from pier 12 North river, in H. B. Cromwell’s line. The mails will close at the Post Office at half-past one P, M. . ‘The taking of the State census in this city is now nearly completed, and 1t appears to have been done most bung- lingly and carelessly, and ina manner to render it en- tirely unreliable. It is evident that the metropolis will not be credited with nearly its full population, it being stated that large numbers of families have not been visited at all by the imerators, and that in some cases entire blocks have been omitted. £ome of these enume- rators, it is said, are very illiterate, others devold of judgment or common sense, and still others negligent of their duties, as evinced by the returns, or no returns at all, made under the different two hundred and eighty- nine headings.on their blanks of questions to be asked by them and answered by the people. An inquest was held yesterday at the Thirteenth pre- cinct station house, on the body of Matthias Bittman, who was killed during the firemen’s fight in Ridge street on last Sunday morning. A considerable number of wit- nesses were examined, but very little evidence of a de- cisive character was edueed. The. jury were unable to determine by whom the fatal wound was inflicted, and rendered a verdict accordingly. A coroner's inquest was held y@sterday at the Twenty- third precinct station house in the case of John E. Dean who was killed on Monday afternoon at Eighty-sixth street and Fourth avenue, by being run over by a New Haven train of cars, The jury, in their verdict, cen- sured the company for the rate of speed run at this point, and further state that they consider the platform in the centre of the track used by the Harlem company @ most dangerous man trap. Two very handsome fire engines built in this city, under orders from the government of Maximilan, for service in Mexico, were tested yesterday at the manu- facturers’ establishment, in Twenty-sixth street, and worked in a manner which gave complete satisfaction to the gentlemen appointed to superintend the matter and all present. They will shortly be shipped for Maximil- jan’s dominions. The trial of Charles J. Colchester, the spiritualist, who was arrested in May last by United States officers for carrying on the spiritual business without a license, in violation of the Internal Revenue act, was contineed in Buffalo on Monday and yesterday. Our report of the testimony and proceedings presents an account of some very funny sayings and doings of the sp'rits, the me- dinma, the lawyers and the witnesses. A train on the Fulton branch of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad on Monday night ran into a cul- vort which had been washed away by the storm, and four persons were killed and three others injured. By a recent royal Spanish decree, a specific duty, vary- ing from one to eight dollars per barrel of two hundred pounds, is tobe paid on all Spanish and foreign flour imported into the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. ‘The stock market was extremely dull and rather heavy yesterday. Government seécuritics were strong. Gold was a fraction lower, closing at 14334 on the street. The commercial status remained unchanged yesterday, and, with a steady gold market, the merchandise mar- kets were without marked change. A fair business was done in most articles, both foreign and domestic, and generally at steady prices. The movement in bread- stuffs was much less activo, while prices were irregular. State flour was higher, Wheat was lower. Corn, oats, provisions and whiskey were unchanged. Cotton was firm. Petroleum was dull. The becf. market was without decided change this week. Prices favored the buyer for all but the best offer- ings; but it was more on account of the weather than anything else. The range of prices was much the same, varying from 9c. to 17c, a 173¢¢,—the latter an extreme price, Sales of good cattle were pretty free; but com- mon cattle dragged, and the market closed heavy. Mileh cows were steady at $40 a $80 a $100. Veals were in fair demand at from 8c. to 12c. a 1244e—the latter rato for choice. Sheep and lambs were if fair demand, but at rather lowor prices, varying from $3 75 to $7 a $8, with occasional sales of choice at higher prices. Hogs sold at from 11%. to 12%¢0. The total receipts were 5,844 beeves, 105 cows, 1,620 veals, 20,388 sheep and Jambs and 10,415 hogs, Tyornase in Ratroan Bustess.—It was the general impression that after the war the traffic by passengers and freight on the different rail- roads in the country would show a large fail- ing off. It was supposed that the loss of the isnmense transportation business of the govern- ment during the war would cause o corréspond- ing decrease in the receipts of nearly every company. But the tacts show the contrary to be the case. Onur railways were never in a more flourishing condition than at this time. The passenger travel has very rarely been so greatas during the present summer. So flour- ishing are these companies that they should be held to.a heavier pecuniary responsibility for the many terrible accidents that are continually occurring. But it is not only in the railway business that the country shows signs of pros- perity, Nearly every branch of trade has revived since the war, and fhe wide expanse of Sonthern territory thrown open to the enter- prise of our people has furnished vast mate- rial for investment and development. The country was probably never more prosperous than at this time. The only obstacles to its continued progress are the politicians and financial tinkera. lars, re- | Weed ws. Grevley—A Fine Opening for the Democracy. The manifesto of Thurlow Weed against Horace Greeley, which we publish this morn- | ing, isa terrible exposure of the weaknesses of political sins and transgreagions, of the in- noeent philosopher of the old white coat. Greeley, however, threw out the provocation, with his eutting insinuations that Weed bad | fixed the time for both the Republican and the Democratic State Conventions of this year, and for the purpose of engineering this year’s New York State election as he engineered the elec- tion of Horatio Seymour in 1863—that is, for the defeat of the republican party; and upon this text Weed relieves his mind in an exhaus- tive attack upon Greeley. Here we sce that the old maxim of “set a rogue to catch a rogue” applies as well to our tricky and scheming politicians, It is astonish- ing, too,as we see in Weed’s delectable reve- lations, how far the paltry personal squabbles of a mere political party scene shifter or lobby manager enter into the shaping of our politi-’ cal elections. In 1860, as we know, the politi- cal firm of Seward, Weed & Greeley was dis- solved by the withdrawal of Greeley because he had not realized from Seward his expected share of the profits of the copartnership. It is known, too, that in retaliation for this ne- glect of his claims Greeley assisted in en- gineering the defeat of Seward at the Chicago Convention of 1860, concerning which Mr. Sew- ard’s friends were as much taken aback as were those of Martin Van Buren at his overthrow in the Baltimore Convention of 1844, when Polk was nominated over the heads of a Van Buren majority. But as Van Buren submitted to this over- slanghing only for a time, in order to lay his plans and await his opportunity for the repay- ment of. his adversaries in their own coin, so did Weed. Greeley charges that he engi- neered the defeat of Wadsworth, the republi- can candidate for Governor in 1863; and Weed, while denying the soft impeachment, chuckles over the achievement asa fair hit at Greeley and his greedy radicals. It is apparent from his chuckling that Weed believes he did defeat Wadsworth, although the public entertain the idea that the unfortunate management of the war by President Lincoln’s administration down to November, 1863, effected the political revolution of that year, not only in New York, but in all the great central States, from the Hudson to the Mississippi river. In that great popular reaction for “a more vigorous prose- cution of the war’ Weed was, in fact, of no more account than the buzzing fly on the cart wheel; but as he believes that he elected Sey- mour, and as Greeley believes it, we will let it so stand. But, not satisfied with this, Weed boasts of another great victory over the unte- liable and vacillating Greeley in the renomi- nation and re-election of President Lincoln— a matter in which, we think, the result would have been the same had both Weed and Gree- ley gone, tooth and nail, for Fremont and Cochrane. How stands this quarrel now? The feud be- tween these two party scene shifters has come to a declaration from Weed of war to the knife. He is like Jeff. Davis—he will have his “rights,” or fight for twenty years. The squabble has become an “irrepressible conflict” for the old boots of Mr. Seward, as conferring the distinction of the great leader and apostle and dispenser of the loaves and fishes tor the republican party of New York. Weed is get- ting old, but he has nominated his heir appar- ent for the succession to Seward’s boots, and his name is Raymond, or the “Little Villain.” Weed, with his little man, has a big job upon his hands. It comprehends 9 Legislature which will elect Raymond to the United States Sen- ate, and give the control of the Dary Times to the Lobby King for the purpose of dispensing both the federal and the corporation plunder of this city. This comprehensive scheme is suggestive of some arrangement between Weed on the one side and Tammany Hall and the Albany regency on the other; and here the in- ference of Greeley that Weed has fixed the time for the Democratic as well as the Repub- lican State Convention comes into the fore- ground, notwithstanding the explanations of Weed. Against these combitiations of Weed, with Raymond as his champion, Greeley, it must next be remembered, is looking for an opening to the United States Senate, and for an anti- Weed and anti-Raymond Legislature as the first move. It is easy, then, to perceive that, upon this miserable personal feud between Weed and Greeley, the republican party of this State will not be in the best condition for a spirited fight against the democracy. It is understood that the Democratic State Convention will take high ground in support of President Johnson and his reconstruction policy; and this will give them at once the inside track against the republican radicals, and will also give a@ good lift to Weed as against Greeley and his immediate and unconditional ne- gro suffrage platform. In short, unless Governor Fenton shall come to the rescue, and make a popular diversion in our November elections in favor ofa sweeping municipal re- formation in this city, there is no telling the extremities to which the spoils and plunder combinations of Weed may go. He has Greeley fairly upon the hip, and Fenton only can save him. There isa chance that the Hon. Ben Wood, sticking to. the democratic principles of the Chicago platform, may make a diversion against the Albany Regency that will save the Tepnblicans ‘from a crushing defeat; but, as thefr quarrel stands, there isa fair prospect that between Weed and Greeley and their contemptible squabble for the spoils the re- publican party of New York will be so de- moralized that its defeat in November will be easy and “decisive. Tar Censvs Hompce—Comine At rie Facts. — We have received several communications in regard to the census humbug, which places the population of the city of New York at consid- erable less than it was in 1860. We find from statements in these communications that otir charge that the census takers have been lazy or incompetent fs amply sustained. It is useless to mix up polities with the matter, as some of the partisan papers are trying to do. It is a mere question of business, in which it is appa- rent the people’s agents have been faithless. It would be well for the next Legislature to take some steps for a revision of the census, or for ite being retaken by careful, competent and eeponsible men, In the meantime we call upon ovr citizens to supply us with all the facts | = tp the remissness of the takers of the present State census. The following note is from a respeetable gentleman, who has furnished us with his name and ad- dress, and the facts stated may be taken as 4 sxmple of the loose manner in which the’ census has been taken:— 70.THE EDITOR OF THE FERALD. Enumerator aks in the Hsnac, ‘How are we to know the census 18 not taken correctly’??? 1 will tell 1 in, for one. I have in my hous thirteen ns, including servants, and no account has been ae Ty neither has any census taker been at my door. others report the same, FIFTH \WENUE Who are the persons engaged in taking this false census? What are their names? Where do they come trom? What are their antece- dents?) To what political party do they belong? Were they the originally appointed census takers, or wore they sub-letters and barroom setters? Who can givé us information on these points? It would be well for our business men and every citizen who takes a pride in the wel- fare of the city to hold a public meeting for the purpose of investigating this huge swindle, this infamous attempt to make this great me- tropolis, the centre of the commerce, wealth, brains and patriotism of the country, a city of only secondary importance. The Spirits on Trial at Buffalo. A very curious trial is now in progress at Buffalo. One Charles J. Colchester, who claims to be a spiritual medium, has been required to take outa license asa juggler, under the In- ternal Revenue law, and has peremptorily refused. The consequence is that the commis- sioner who represents the United States govern- ment has brought Mr. Colchester into court for an alleged breach of the law, and the issue is now joined before an intelligent jury. Mr. Colchest&r’s defence is that he is not a juggler; " that spiritualism is not jugglery, and that the United States government has no more right to require him to take out a lice: to practice his religion than it has to impose*the same con- ditions upon a Presbyterian or Roman Catholic, and, especially, that it has no right to force him to acknowledge his religion all humbug and deception by obliging him to accept and pay for a license as a juggler. It will be seen at once that this defence in- yolves the whole question of spiritualism. The jury must decide whether there is such a thing as a spirit world ; whether men and women do exist after death ; whether, it these facts be proyen, the disembodied spirits can communi- cate with mortals ; whether such communica- tions are made through mediums and by means of (raps and table tippings; and whether, it these points are sustained, Mr. Colchester is a genuine medium and his raps and table tip- pings are bona fide. The United States,’ on the other hand, must show that spiritualism is a de- lusion, and that Mr. Colchester is merely a slight-of-hand performer, who produces. raps and tippings by purely natural means. To prove this the government has summoned a crowd of witnesses, many of whom are profes- sional magicians, necromancers, wizards and prestidigitateurs, who are expected to testify that Colchester is one of their fraternity, and that they can perform all his wonders and more besides, Of course everybody is deeply interested in having the questions at issue fairly settled, and the trial attracts considerable attention. The world will be easier in its mind when an in- telligent jury has solemnly decided whether or not there is a spirit world. No less important is it to authoritatively announce whether or not spirits can communicate with mortal. Mankind have believed in ghostetories for hun- dreds of years without being sure whetker they were sensible or silly in so doing. The Buffalo jury will place that matter beyond a doubt, Home, the Davenports, Judge [id- monds, the Fox sisters, Greeley, Colorado Jewett, the Thorpe brothers, and spiritualists generally, will await with intense anxiety the legal decision as to whether or not Rochester knockings, table tippings, rope tricks and floating guitars are legitimate spiritual manifestations and communications. We think that the occasion is momentous enough for the spirits temselves to inter- fere on Colchester’s behalf, if he have any spirits at his back. They are on trial, if they do but know it, The United States, the lawyers and the professional prestidigitateurs have combined to put them down. Let them come to Colchester’s rescue, Let them mani- fest themselves in open court. If the lawyers’ tables, at a signal from Colchester, trip violently up and down; if the judge’s inkstand be upset and his chair dance like mad; if the benches upon which the government witnesses sit rise up in judgment against them, and if Colchester himself float mid-air about the court room and finally disappear through a keyhole, the jury will have no hesitation in finding a verdict for the detendant upon all the points involved, and the United States will license mediums as dealers in spirits, and not as eck ever afterwards. < The signs of the times convincé us S that something extraordinary is going to happen in the religious world. Perhaps a new religion is to be inaugurated with miracles and won- ders and the opening of the heavens. The upheavals of all the old forms and creeds which usually announce the beginaing of a new dis pensation are not wanting in this generation. In England we find Bishop Colenso and his party denying the truth of the Pentateuch, and the pious authors of “Essays and Reviews” ridiculing the Thirty-nine Articles of the English Chyrch. In France Renan argues against the divinity of Jesus. In Germany Strauss is the apostle of a poetical infidelity. At Rome the Pope denounces all other religions as false and ‘praises his own as perfection, while Protest- ants, in their turn, stigmatize the Pope as an impostor. In New England the parsons all differ, each one seeming to consider himself a little Christ. The North American Review calls Theodore Parker a modern Jesus. The Mor- mons bave started a mew church and are obtaining thousands of proselytes. The Univer- salists, who are convinced that nobody will be damned, fraternize cordially with the Beecher. ites, who believe that everybody will be damned except themselves, The greatest laxity of opinion Is almost allowed. Through- out Christendom it is tacitly conceded that the Bible must not be believed literally, which is the next thing to not believing it at all. In the midst of all this confusion of creeds and breaking up of sects come the phenomena of spiritualism. Who can say that there is not going to be a new revelation, and that it will. not begin at the Court House in Buffalo? Col- chester may be a modern St. John the Baptist, the prophet ahd forerunner of a new religion, or he may not. We shall want to hear the ver- dict of the jury before we decide upon his __ NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 1865. etanding. But, at any rate, now is the time for the spirits to make a grand demonstration in his favor and convert the whole world at a sin- gle stroke. Let us hope that they will take advantage of the opportunity. We may be upon the borders of the millenium without knowing it, and we may be thinking of the Wall street defalcations, the next election, the At- lantic cable, the restoration of the South or the price of gold, when we ought to be listening for the first trump of Gabriel’s born. } The Atlantic Cable—Is It a Failure? We have received some private information from England which eomprises some very curious facts relative to the late accident to the Atlantic cable. It appears to be now a matter of serious doubt in England whether the disaster was owing to any defect in the construction of the cable itself, or whether it was the result of rivalries and jealousies on the” part of some of the firms who pat in contracts for its manufacture. There has been a vast amour of experience employed on the new cable. Everything which science could con- trol or a knowledge of mechanism impart was contributed to render it perfect, and it is, there- fore, improbable that the accident occurred from any imperfection in its construction. A very extraordinary incident occurred with reference to the submarine cable which was laid between Great Britain and the kingdom of Holland, a distance of only one hundred and thirty miles, some years ago. The cable was safely laid, and for a time worked satisfactorily. be enac' Bot soon after the insulation was lost. The ‘edmpany was ata loss to know the cause for this sudden defect, and accordingly they had the cable hauled up and examined, when, to tha’ surprise of every one, it was found’ that a large nail had been driven through it. It was removed and the cable relaid. Subsequently a person called on the manufacturers and inform- ed them that he had been paid by a certain firm, which was a disappointed applicant for the contract, to insert that nail. The case was'the subject of a law suit in the English courts, which was tried at Westminster, and a verdict of ten thousand pounds damages was obtained against the parties who were proved guilty of the outrage. Itis a curious comcidence that the first flaw discovered the other day in the Atlantic cable should have been caused by a piece of broken wire which was found inserted in the heart of the cable and produced An obstruction of the electric fluid. But it is a still more extraordi- dary coincidence tbat the firm which endeav- ored to obiain the contract for the Atlantic cable and was unsuccessful is the very same firm which employed the man to drive the nail in the Holland cable. These facts may suggest a new theory as to the cause of the late failure in the middle of the Atlantic, Itmay turn out, after all, that it is to the malevolent action of a rival house we are indebted for the misfortune which is re- gretted by all the world, and not to any inher- ent weakness in the enterprise. However, we presume the matter will be carefully investi- gated on the other side, and we have no doubt that the company will resume the work with vigor and bring it to a successful issue, Notwith- stonding the difficulties and mishaps which have beset the undertaking, wo by no means regard the Atlantic cable as a failure. “Rartroap Acotpents.”—A coroner’s jury at last has done its duty ia respect to one of the many so-called “railroad accidents.” In the case of the late massacre on the Housa- tonic Railroad a verdict has been rendered that the “collision occurred in consequence of the culpable negligence and want of proper care and cantion on the part of Charles Hunt, President and Superintendent; Henry L. Plumb, Conductor; Andrew Winslow, Master Mechanic, and Edward R. Lyman, Engineer, on said rail- road.” Now, we trust that the above verdict will be promptly followed up and a proper ex- ampie be made of the guilty parties. The loss of life in this country by collisions of trains from direct carelessness, by cars thrown from tracks in consequence of mis- pleced switches and rot!en rails, by the falling of misconstructed and worn-out bridges, by locomotive explosions, &c., is enormous. In the United States, trom 1854 to 1863—ten years—there were’ oue thousand and ninety railroad accidents attended with fatal results, by which one thousand four hundred and sixty- five persons were killed, and five thousand eight hundred and three wounded. But the year 1864 exceeded all others. There were (omitting all casualties in the so-called Con- federate States, as it was impossible to obtain efficient data there‘n) one hundred and forty such accidents, killing four hundred and four persons and wounding fourteen hundred and eighty-six. Of course there were more miles of railroad in operation last year than in any of the preceding ten years; but the percentage ot increase in accidents and in construction will not bear comparison. The excuse made by the railroad companies for this terrible destruction of life was that the pressure of business caused by the government demand for the movement ot troops, war material and stores rendered it impossible to make the necessary repairs to roads‘and stock worked to their utmost capa- city. But certainly no such excuse is now valid. We are at peace. There has been no great or sudden transportation needed by the government since early spring. There has been leisurely movement of troops to their homes in the North, but nothing calling for such haste that there was not time to prop up a rotten bridge or remove a worm-eaten sleeper. And already this year there have been one hundred and eighteen fatal accidents—two hundred and four persons have been killed and one thou- and and three wounded. These are not esti- mates, but carefully recorded statistics. We need better laws for the punishment of railroad officials and employes. There is the grossest carelessness in both parties. The Pennsylvania Legislature, at its last session, passed a law which is excellent 90 fur as it goes. It declares that if any employe of o railroad company shall violate any rule of such company, and injury dp loss of Ufe aball there- by result, the ehall be immediately by the ting attorney of the city of county in Which the accident happened, and, if féund guilty, shall be convicted of mis- demeanor and at the discretion of the court, But we need something more stringent still. Why should not the men who build sucb: weak structares ag our raflroeds notoriotuly | onto! are be punidhed? What is the difference be- tween the guilt of the man who deliberately undermines a bridge or removes a ralj, that a ‘ s train may be destroyed with its freight of hu- man life, and the miserly constructor who erects a bridge without sufficient foundation, or puts in a rotten rail, well knowing that ae- cidents myst ultimately happen? Laws should for the punishment of a higher class of criminals—especially some of our railroad presidents and constructors. eh aati de ab CREE Tue Hon. Ben Woop’s Conprrions.—The Hon Ben Wood notifies the Albany Regency that ie ; they nominate a clean democratic ticket on am unmixed democratic platform they will be all right; but that if there is any trading of principles or mixing of republicans on the ticket there will be a fuss in the family. From this hint it is probable that unless Thurlow Weed can effect an ‘understanding with Wood there will be a good deal of cross-firing in , both party camps in our November elections. Against Weed and the Regency, Greeley and Wood are evidently each in for a big slice of the spoils, or a split, and the worst is yet to come. ¥inemen’s Riors.—We regret to see the spirit of rowdyism lately exhibited in this city among the firemen. The new Commissioners are hard at work correcting the abuses that have grown up in the department for many years past, and the labor of eradicating the evils is one of much difficulty. We hope the regular firemen of the old department, who have for so long a time borne a high reputation for gallantry and self-sacrificing devotion to the interests of their fellow citizens, will discourage these outrages upon law and order. No good citizen can sus- tain the violations of law which that bydrant- headed monster, the New York rowdy, is con- tinually committing. THE WiRZ -TRIAL. The Court Unexpectedly Adjourns Without Naming a Day for Roassombling. ° PROTEST OF THE COUNSEL OF WIRZ. owen No Cause Assigned for the Siigu- lar Proceeding. &e. &ee Bee Wasmnorox, August 22, 1865. The motion to quash the charges and specifications against Captain Wirz, made by tho defendant's counsel, was argued principally by Judge Hughes, who contented, that they were too general and uncertain, and that the offences charged were cognizable by civil and not military courts. The Commission overruled the motion, and, the prisoner then pleaded ‘‘Not guilty’ to the charges against him, Colonel Chipman, the Judge Advocate, to-day sug- gested that the prisoner be remanded to the Old Capitol and that the court now adjourn. In this the Court, without a formal vote, acquiesced. Judge Hugs wished to know to what time the court had adjourned. Colonel Chipman replied that he would notify counsel of the reassembling of the court, and then requested tho witnesses in atiendance to give information as to where they resided, ‘and instructed them not to leave = | city until properly dischargod. Judge Hughes said he would like to be heard. | Colonel Chipman replied that under the parliamentary law there could now be no debate, 4 Major General Wallace said:—The court stands ad- Jjourned, consequently there can be no argument, Judge Hughes—The prisoner baving been arraigned, wo enter our protest against breaking up the court, or an indefinite adjournment. We-ask for the discharge of the prisoner or that the court procoed with the trial. + Major General Wallace repeated that the court had ad- journed. During this colloquy the prisonor was removed from the court room by the military guard. The adjournment without a day having been named for the reassembling of the court took the counsel spectators by surprise. No reason is as yetknown for this course, though there is a, suspicion that the charge of conspiracy may be withdrawn. - 4 There seems to be no doubt that the charges an@ specifications against Captain Wirz will be amended by | the prosecution in several important particulars, His | counsel will take issue that this cannot be done; the — prisoner having already pleaded not guilty to the charges | on which be was arraigned yesterday. | The Trial of Jef™ Davis. NOTE FROM HIS COUNSEL, MR. GILLETT—LETTER FYROM JEFP.—HE PLEADS IGNORANCE OF THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM, ETC Atnany, N. Y., August 22, 1865. Mr. R. H. Gillett, one of the counsel for Jefferson Da- via, in a note to the Albany Argus, says:— | Mr. Davis has no more information concerning bis triad | than others have. In a letter from Mr. Davis dated the 15th - Mr, Gillett, he says:— IT am still ignorant a rceaed Be gene Be, tof source of them, Preah iggdb, ahcenlabed | answer, Your letter core me. the first Washington indictment. Mr. Davis requests Mr, Gillett to have a conference with Mr. Charles O’Conor, his only other counsel, so thatthey ~ may be prepared for the trial whenever it may be Drought on, with as little delay as the nature and im- portance of the case will permit, A direct application to the proper department, asking © to be informed, if not improper, when, where and before what tribunal Mr. Davis is to be tried remaing unan- swered because, as is supposed, neither has been actually determined by the President. . ; , News from North Carolina. Newnans, N. C., August 20, 1865. The health of Newbern continues good. There is ao possible danger of the reappearance of the yellow fever which visited this city last season, Ordinary lumbor is selling here for forty dollars a thou- sand, notwithstanding heavy timber land can be pur- chased for five and ten Gollars per acre on the river banks 8 few miles below this city. The demand for houses is great, and the rents are se high that ordmary houses on business streets pay for themselves nearly twelve times @ year. | THE NORTH CAROLINA “STORIES” OF UPON THE NEGRORS. + The Wilmington Herald of the 16th instant containg — ‘an official communication from Mayor Mclean, of Fay- _ etteville, in which he states that, instead of two negroes being tied up and publicly whipped in Fayetteville, ‘one negro, after being tried and convicted of larceny, was whipped according to the sentence and laws of the State. Algo that the statement of negroes being “tied te troes and whipped, and left tied until a storm prostrated the trees,” is false, the report originating from the fact that a military officer caused two sheep stealing negroes to be tied by their thumbs to lamp posts for two hours as @ punishment for their offence. The Mayor knows of no casos of crue'ty to togroce ‘either by civilians or the civil authorities. i R. W. Hardie, Shoriff of Cumberland county, that the report that he pablicly whipped two» nogroce af Fayetteville 1s faleo. ieee Donwonm Hatz.--A concert will bo given «¢ this hal, Friday evening, Zalda Berrieon, a yous oa ty aires I Tor eontrato vole, st il sce Sea, take ioe as also sing et Pls convert in support of the young ean BP ‘Buere’s New Hart.—Signor Blitz, Jr, ts performing wonderful feats of magic, vontriloquism, and trainet’ opnary bird performances, at his now hall, 720 Broadway, to crowded houses, As a. ventritoquist he is quite re+ markable, and some of iis magigal tricks aro ate now gad very clever t t