The New York Herald Newspaper, October 30, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. — ee BENNETT, Orrick N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sont by mail will b ft the risk of the sender, None but bank bills current in New York taken, ‘THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year, Four ocnts per copy. Apaual subscription price, $14. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five ents per copy. Annual subseription price:— Postage five cents per copy for three months. tte eeeeeeeees ce NOs BOB AMUSEMENTS THIS BVENING, —_ BROADWAY THEATRE. Broadway. —Sax, SAN Broad r Metropolitan: ny pm gr Youne Avkica OM THE Fivine Trarxsx. TONY FASTOWS OPERA, HOUSER. 201 Bowery.—Sinc- awe, Dancisa, &c.—O1v Dawes Grimes, TRY! 0 wh ING HALL, Irving place.—Covcent sy tax Formers DPODWORTH HALL, 906 Broadway.—Buino Tom's Piano Concerts. BROADWAY ATHENAUM, Broadway.—Moving Diona- ms oF NogTuxan anv > Eonore MONTPELLIER’S OF HOUSE, 37 and 39 Bowery, — Munsrexisy, Singing, Dancixa, PaxTominns, a0. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn. —Ermortan Mry- STRELSY—BaLiaps, BUPLeSQuEs AND PANTOMIMES. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Open from WAM. Ll Mw ) OF ART—Corner of ‘NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION. New York, Monday, October 30, Receipts of Saics of the New York Daily Newspapers. OFFICIAL. Year Ending Name of Paper. May 1, 1865. Hexap » . $1,096,000 ‘Times. 368,150 Tribune. . --+ 252,000 Evening Post. «se 169,427 World...... 100,000 Sun... 151,079 Expres: 90,548 NOTICE. New York Herald Building. TO MASONS, IKON, MARBLE AND DORCHESTER STONE WORKERS. Proposals will be received until Monday noon, October 30, for a Fireproof Building, to be orceted for the New Yore Heraiy Estamusexxyt, on Broadway, Park row and Ann street, Plans and specifications may be seen and examined at the office of JOHN KELLUM, Architect, No. 179 Broudway, THE NEWS. ‘Tho steamships ‘Helvetia, Captain Prouse, from Queens. town on the 13th inal. ; the Corsiea, Captain Le Messurier, from Havana on the 21st, and Nassau on the 24th; the Morning =tar, Captain Nelson, from New Orleans on the Uist; the Granada, Captain Baxter, and Moneka, Captain Marshwan, from Charle-ton on the 26th, and the Louisa Moore, Captain Wooster, {rom Newbern, North Carolina, ail arrived here yesterday. Foreign advices of a later date (han those by the Helvetia have already appeared in the Hino, An ipteresting presentivent of political, social and in- dustrial affairs in France, Htuly and Prussia ie given ip our Rhoims, Florence and Berlin letters. The wine dealers of Rheuuns, and the wine producers of the entire province of Champagne, are greatly excited in regard to seizures NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, OCruseK 30, 1865. liberal to the negro, than those members who kept out | Ate the Southerm States to be Repre- of the fray, but who are still bitter secessionists. Memphis, Tennessee, is represented by our correspon- dence from that city as havi the effects of the war, and ite former ‘ There is again an extensive river trade, and the railroad lines running out of the place, though the repairs on them are not vet fully completed, are still doing a heavy vising special agent of the Treasury Department in the | And, however it may be decid Clerk Memphis district, has beon suspenied from office, and it is ne be bg po fie | said that charges are pending against bim of having de- frauded individuals and the government of large amounts of money. be organized, and for the purpose of organiz- Tho feeling in favor of an early enforcement of the | ing it—whether he should decide to place the Monroe Doctrine in Mexico and extending material aid to | Southern representatives on the roll and admit the republicans of that country has, our Sap Francisco correspondence states, recently experienced a great re- will come up before that body will be organ- freight and passenger business. General Orme, super- | ized even, and in the process of organization. them to a participation in the election of vival among our fellow-citizens on the Pacific slope. ‘There have lately been considerable shipments of arms, marked “Pianos,” from San Francisco for President Juarez’s government, and a new order, organized for the special purpose of assisting him in his contest with the invaders, and known as the Sons of Columbia, is said to be rapidly spreading and increasing in numbers in Cal- ifornia and the other Pacific regions, The excitement and anxiety of the government and loyalists of Canada over the present and prospective movements of the Fenians are further depicted in another letter from our Toronto correspondent. The: have yet been no arrests of members of the order; but prominent Irishmgn are aware of having their steps constantly watched and dogged by spice, and there is great uneasiness regarding the intentions o: the brother- hood on both sides of the border. Both the regular and volunteer troops are much mistrusted by their officers. Of the former squads are constantly deserting; and at least one-third of the latter are believed to be enrolled for or in sympathy with the dreaded Irish uprising. There is no abatement im the mysterious stir and preparations in the British provincial camps and garrisons heretofore noticed, indicating apprehensions of something extraordinary shortly to occur, and the soldiers are being put in the most complete state, as regards arming, equipment and discipline. The Camadian press and peo- ple, apparently in dread of retribution for the foray from ther soil upon ours at St. Albans, are, looking forward with fear and trembling to a Fenian raid from the United States upon their frontier towns and banks, and are ex- pecting to suffer from scenes of robbery and plunder similar to those which were looked upon by many of them with so much favor when inflieted on our side of the line by men finding a refuge in their midst. A pro- vineial Cabinet minister is said to have recently acknow!l- edged that the government expected a Fenian invasion, and already Toronto and-other towns are stirred by the anno!ncement that a body of ten thousand invaders is at Port Huron, waiting to cross, and other equally terrify- ing rumora. Another of those shocking and frichtful catastrophes that every now and then send a thrill of horror through the community occurred yesterday morning on the North river, opposite this city. The larboard boiler of the large river steamer St. John, which left Albany on Saturday evening about eight o'clock, when the vessel was within a mile or two of her landing, exploded, kill- ing nine persons almost instantly, injuring two others so badly that they died during the afternoon, and sert- ously, if mot fatally, injuring fifteen others, The Ho- boken ferry boat Morristown, which was at the time of the dreadful occurrence crossing to New York, was im- mediately headed for the scene of disaster, and rendered valuable service, taking off'a large number of the passen- gers of the St. John and landing them safely in this city. Coroner Wildey empannelled a jury, who made a survey of the vessel and viewed the bodies of the dead. They will hold an inquest on Wednesday, the 8th of No- vember. : Accounts of additional disasters and supposed heavy loss of life at sea during the recent severe weather con- tinue to reach us. The steamsh'p Kepnblic, which:lett this port for New Orleans on the 18th twstant, carrying, besides her officers and crew, about fifty passengers, was wrecked on the coast of Georgia on Wednesday last, and of all those on board only seventeen, who reached Charleston in one of the sbip’s boats on Jast Saturday, are known to be saved. It is hoped, however, that the others have succeeded in reaching the sbore, as three other boats and a raft containing them put off from the ship. The steamship Victor, from this port on the 21st inst, for Now Orleans, was towed into Hampton Roads yes- terday by the Alabama, having encountered a terrific gale from the 24th to the 27th inet... and become cam: pletely disabled. On the 25th inst. the Alabama fell in with the English brig C. W, Reeves, from Galveston for Liverpool, and saw two ships whose names were not asceriained, all three of the vessels being dixmasted, ‘The yoyage of the steamship Havana, which left this port for St. Thomas, West Indies, on the 30th ult., is described by our correspondent in the tatter place as having been an exceedingly tempestuous one. The police of the city have for some time past, in accordance with instructions, beep engaged in collecting facts, of which they have aecunulated a great mass, in regard to the present condition of our streets, and the of thoir staple by the revenue officers in New York and Yan Francisco, and are boisterous im their denunciations of our government for permitting them. The Hxnatp's correspondence from St. Thomas, West Indies, communicates the fact that the Haytien rebetlion has at lust collapsed. This news was brought to St ‘Thomas by the United States gunboat Kansas, |.ieatevant Wolis commanding, who, in conjunction with the United States Oonsul, Folsom, seems to have taken an important part in bringing matters to a crisis. For some months past the insurgents, under Salpave, have been besieged in the town of Cape Haytien, and at the date of Inst ac- connts previously received were reduced to such @ con- dition of starvation that tlour sold for twelve hundred 4 ‘a barrel, and bread for four dollars a loaf. Consul Folsom came near falling a vietim to their Inwlessnesy. Coal belonging to the American government was seized, and in other respects the American flag wae violated. ‘This ted to prompt action on the part of the Consul aud Lieutenant Wells, and a hint about resorting to oxtreme measures brought the rebellion to the cround. On the 2d inst., when the Kansas left Cope Hayticn, it ‘was agreed to surrender the town to President Gef- frard and the legally constituted authorities of the re- public.” The captain of the British ganboat Fawn acted in concert with Consul Folsom and Lieutenant Wells throughout this affair. . Official orders have been issued for a further redaction ‘of our national army, by the disbandment of fifty-four regiments, consisting of organizations of both white and colored troops, in addition to those heretofore announced. Hesides this, it is expected that in a short time the majority of the Veteran wilt be = mus. department commanders tered out of service, as have been instructed by the War Department t ascertain what officers and enlisted men of vat corps desire to leave the army, and to immediately grant discharges to all such. It i+ alleged ‘that asa general thing the privates of this organization desire to ‘be unustered out, while the officers, finding themselves 4n comfortable positions, wish to be retained im the Bor- ‘vice of the country, and are making strong efforte to accomplish their object. A circular purporting to have been issued to these officers, and calling for contribu. tions of money and a meeting in Philadelphia to farther their designs, bas been sent to us. ‘The rebel pirate Shenandoah is said in a san Francisco doxpatch to have been last seen, 60 far as reported there, dn the arly part of July last, when she was steaming southward rapidly. She bad destroyed a large number of American whalers, whose names have already been | Aven. ‘The personal appearance, antecedents and past and present predilections of the members of the Mississippi Legislature are described in our Jackson corresponden:e. ‘The majority of the Senators are old men, who appa- Tontly Cally realize the importance and responsibility of their positions under the changed condition of affairs in their State, There is great anxiety among them to get the plodding preliminary work of their session disposed of and reach the legistation which is to fix the position and relations of the freedmen, with a speech upon which they aro nearly all prepared, That they are disposed {9 follow the lead of ex Governor Sharkey in giving the freedmen thé benefit of the courts is tadicated by their recently Gadling, by 4 vote of twenty-one to eight, a resolution which declared that the colored people should have no greator civil, political or social rights than those enjoyed by free negroes before the rebellion. Inthe House of Representatives, however, there is a stronger opposition 0 this Concession; but even here there is a majority of eleven in. favor of cupporting Mr. Sharkey’s policy. A large number of the members of this body are-ex-rebel officers, and many of them have lost a log or an arm in the rebel service, These men, itis said, have renewed their allegiance to the government in much better faith, more cheerfully acquiesce in the radical changes ef. fo-ted, aro more reliable, and are disposed to be far more result is said to be that many of the streets are shown to bo ina very uncleanly condition. AS a consequence of this, complaints have been preferred against the present strect cleaning contractors, Messrs, Brown, Devoe and Knapp, of faiture to comply with the terms of their agreement, and an imventigation of the charges by the Street Cleaning Commission is expected to com mence to-day. A young man claiming to be a discharged soldier, and } giving his name as James H. Ride, was arrested on Satarday, taken to General Huoker’s headquarters, and a‘terwards sent to Fort Lafayette, on charge of appear- ing at the Paymaster'’s office in Bleecker street and presenting as evidence of his right to demand fips! pay- ment forged discharge papers. While being conveyod to General Hooker's office Ride fought desperately with the officer having him in charge, and almost snecoefled in cffecting his escape. Some of the merchants of Windsor, Chafham, %t. Thomas, London and other places over the border im Canada have, it is reported, been recently very extensive. ly swindled by purchases of sight drafts, which proved to be worthless, on prominent houses of this city. The person who ixsued the drafts ix said to belong to Odio; but Iie mame has not been ascertained, A man named Metiregor is credited with the sale of the worthless doc ments.” The conspirators have fled 10 this side of the line; but, as there was.no forgery about their neat, little operations, it is thought that the law could not punish them even if they were arrested. Sir Morton Peto and bis father-in-law, Mr. Kelseli, at- tended and spoke at @ gathering inst evening in the Strong place Baptist church, Brooklyn, of the Sanday | and mission school scholars in. charge of the congrega- | tion worshipping in that edifice, There wae a very nu- merous attendance on the occasion Both these Kaglish gentlemen are members of the Baptist denomination, The ninety.seventh anniversary of the John street Methodist Episcopal church was celebrated yesterday. The building was crowded, aad sermons were preeched by Rishop Janes and Rev. Dr Rartine, of Philadelphia. ‘The new Christian church in Twenty-eighth street was formally opened yesterday, and a sermon explanatory of the principles of the sect was preached by Rev, Mr. Hud- san, of Louisville, Ky. tan Gas Company's yard, foot of Forty second street, Northy river, caught fire on last Friday, and has been | slowly burning ever since, all efforts lo completely extin gvish the fla having s0 far proved unsuccessful, | Nashville Railroad on Inst Tuesday evening was throes | from the track in some unexplained manner, precipitat | ing five of the cars down # thirty feet embankment Every person on boatd was injured, some of them +e. verely, but no one was killed. | The dead body of H. B. Grove, & photographiet, on Baitimore street, Haltimore, waa found lying in his ope | rating room yesterday afternoom There was a jistol shot wound in the back of his head, and it is supposed eeias aes No clue to the murderer tas yet Tue Issue ty THe Comme Exgction.—Both Slocum and Barlow are gallant generals ; both have unblemished characters ; both stand upon the same platform; both cordially support President Johnson. The only issue of the State election, therefore, is whether or not Comp- troller Robinson offered his hand to Thurlow Weed. Robinson says that he did not. Weed says that he did; and the only way to decide the matter is to take the opinion of the people at the polls as to which storv is really true, About seventy thousand tons ef coal in the Metropoli- that he was shot by some person whose pictare he was | Speaker or not, the question of their right to seats, with all the political bearings, will be discussed. If the Clerk, Mr, McPherson, should refuse to put their names on the roll the ques- tion would stand over till after the election of Speaker, and the discussion deferred till the House be organized and in full working order. But whenever the debate may arise, before or after the Speaker is elected, it will be very im- portant, and probably exciting. The question is entirely s new one, and there is no precedent to guide either the Clerk or the House. The action of the Clerk, then, is of the high- est importance. There is no one to control him. Congress does not exist till organized. Neither the’ President nor any other officer of any department of the government has author- ity in the matter. If he should adopt the theory of the administration, that the late rebel States never have been out of the Union, and never have ceased to be members of it; tbat, in fact, they have not absolved and could not absolve their, federal relations with the other States, he ought to place the names of their representatives on the roll, provided the Presi- dent should declare the rebellion suppressed and the States to be exercising their functions again as heretofore, and provided there be no law hindering him from doing so. It is said by the radicals, who oppose the admission of the Southern members, that there is a law which will prevent the Clerk giving to these members certificates of jon to the floor of Congress till their claims and eligibility to seats be determined by the House. On the other hand, it is said that this act referred to, which was passed during the rebellion, is neither applicable nor constitutional. Without discussing this question, it is evident that a grave responsibility rests upon the Clerk. He must decide what his duty is legally in the case; and if there be a doubt as to the legality or constitutionality of refusing to: place the names of these members on the roll’ he should decide in accordanee with the restoration policy and wish of the President, and for the: peace, harmony, and best interests of the country, The admission of the Southern representatives to the floor by bis certificates, whereby they may participate in the election of a Speaker, would probably settle the matter. It is mot at all likely they would be turned out afterward. But, looking at the political character of the House, if organized without them, we appre- hend the conflict ow the subject would be fear- ful. Indeed, it is doubtful whether they won!d be admitted at all. The radical element may be so strong and determined that these gentle- men may be sent back to their homes, and the country kept in a state of anarchy. We recom- mend Mr, McPherson to ponder well over these things, and above alt to put bimself in rapport with President Johnson. Let him learn what the wishes and policy of the President are, and act in accordance with these. He will be right then, and will obtaii the commendation of the conntry. The consequences that would follow w re- jeetion of the Southern members to scats in Congress, or a prolonged agitation on the sub- ject, can be easily imagined. Every one looks with satisfaction, if not admiration, upon the successful restoration policy of the President. The Southern people, frankly accepting the arbitrament of war, have gone to work im good earnest to bring themselves in friendly politi- eal relations with the North. Shall they be disappointed? Is the work of the administra- tion to be frustrated or delayed by a vindictive faction of radicals? Is it wise to keep open the wounds and alive the animosities made by the war? The response of the whole country, apart from a certain set of crazy and’ selfish politicians, is, No. From the Atlantic: te the Pacific, and from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico, the response is, No, There is among the people a general sentiment of conciliation and a de- sire to stimulate fraternal feelings. We want no more sectional agitation. By nature we are a homogeneous people. The causes, that divided us, and made one section inimical to the other, have been swept away, and the bitter feelings which the war inflamed may soon be extinguished by magnanimity, concilia- | tion, and pride in a common and mighty coun- | try. If we were to treat the Southerners still as | ® conquered people, refuse them the political | privileges they always: enjoyed in common | with ourselves, and consequently alienate their | feelings and excite their passions, what could | we expect but continued trouble? Is not his- tory throughout all its pages fall of examples to warn us against such a fatal course? We need domestic quiet. We have to provide for | our enormous debt and maintain the credit of | the government. This can only be done by | peace and harmony at home and by the great- eat development of our resources, Continued agitation would paralyze our efforts and destroy confidence. We should have to keep & large army, a host of satraps spread over the South, and maintain despotic authority, all of which would increase our burdens, limit our means and endanger our own liberties. There are, too, other important considera- | tions, showing why we ought to admit the representatives of the Southern States into Congress at once in order to have domestic | tranquillity and cement the bonds of union. Our foreign relations demand the attention of | the country and government. Questions of | great magnitade loom up that require all the | Sagacity and firmness of the government and unity of the people to solve them with dignity and safety. We have the | difficulty with England relative to our | claims to settle, which at present has rather | an ugly appearance. There is the question of | Mexico, and @ settlement to be made with European Powers as to a fixed American policy regarding the affairs of this continent. Besides, we require well established international laws concerning maritime matters, neutrals, block- ade, and other things, about which the present laws are very loose. Such weighty questions fare pressing upon us and ought to be settled. If the country shoald be distracted by such « Policy as the radicals wanld warme, these tmths Connie by neoee mony restored to the whole country. the sentiment of the people also; and we give the Jacobin radicals warning, that if they oppose guch a wise and healing course they will be defeated, overwhelmed with obloquy, and wil! never be heard of again, except to be exe- erated, as their prototypes, the French Jaco- bina, were. Our Finances—The Public Debt and the Currency. The return of peace to the country has brought with it other considerations be- sides those of a atrictly political bear- ing. It has brought forcibly to our un- the war we contracted a debt which already exhibits the round numbers of nearly three thousand millions, to which a sixth of the aggregate will probably be added before the lia- bilities incarred are all cancelled. It tells us also that this enormous expenditure has entailed upon the government the necessary annual pay- ment of one hundred and eighty millions of dol- lars in the shape of interest; to which we must add the expenses of an extraordinarily large peace establishment and the percentage for the sinking fund, in order to get an idea of the amount of taxes that must be levied to keep the machinery in working order. Hundreds of projects and theories have been advanced by financial scribblers to show how the necessary amount of money to meet the yearly expenses of the government can be raised without op- pressing the people or running the risk of creating monetary disorder; but not one of them would bear the test of applicability to existing circumstances, or that history would not show to be fallacious. Besides we have afloat an irredeemable paper circulation, which may be detailed’ as ger 217,012,141 *-o,a00900 Total amount of currency.............. - $922,586,245 The redemption of this vast amount of cur- rency attracts to a greater extent at present the attention of men moving in monetary circles than does the ultimate cancelling of our enormous public debt. The financial histories of European uations are‘in vain referred to in the hope of finding some eacoessful theory that might be profitably followed. The records of England are searched, and nothing is found that by imitating would’ be unattended with danger. It is seen that at the close of her pro- tracted atruggle with France her finances were as low as are our own at the present time, also seen that while gold was. at a discount of thirty to forty-five per cent. the landholders and bondholders in her assembled Parliament, through interested motives; sought to restore the currency to the: metallie basis, and that in the attempt, although partially successful, they brought upon the country a series of disasters which nearly ruined her commerce, prostrated her trade and impoverished her working people, The Bank of England, which was induced in 1821 nominally to pay specie, was forced to adopt the rule of con- traction to save itself, and the great revulsion of 1825, which was about the most severe that England ever felt or the world ever knew, was the consequence. It was then discovered that forcing a retarn to the specie basis was.a stroke of mistaken policy, and it required the succeeding five years and the mild Influences of the laws of trade and the strength bestowed by increased population to restore the finances of England to a sound and bealthy condition. Are we prepared to submit to the trials that the British government experienced during the period embraced between 1815 and 1825? If not, let us refrain from looking thither tor pre- cedents for our action. Let us rather permit our increasing trade, foreign and domestic, the natural augmentation of our already immense real wealth and the steady additions to our population to work out the problem of a return to the specie basis and the manner of discharg- ing our national debt. Secretary McCulloch, like Nicholas Vansit- tart; the Boglish Chancellor of the Excbequer at the time Great Britain was struggling to overcome her monetary difficulties, lies an- noanced his desire fom a speedy restoradion of specie payments; bathe is nevertheless fully aware of the dangers that would attend hasty action im that respect. ‘Those who snticipate the use of gold in their daily transactions for a year or two hence will be sadly disappointed. And if at any time summary measures ore adopted by Congress to bring about such a re- sult, or the wild theories of Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, who was chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means in the last Con- gress, are listened to, we must look for the re- enacting of those scenes which not only ruined and pauperized a large portion of the people of the British islands at the time we have re- ferred to, but brought thet country to the verge of a revolution. At the next meeting of Congress one of the most important subjects that will probably be brought forward is that relating to the con- dition of our finances; but we can anticipate bo good results from the tinkering process that the question will be likely to undergo at the ‘hands of the members, The people of the country, qualified by their intercourse with each other and with the world at large, better understand the requirements of trade and com- merce than political mountebanks and vision- ary theorists. We recommend, therefore, that the matter of our finances be left in their hands, in which event we will be more likely to avoid the disastrous consequences of financial revulsion than if Congress attempts to force measures for the immediate transforma- tion of our present monetary status, Tue Sqvaseie or THE Facrions,—Over their candidates for the Legislature the @ifferent Political factions of this city—the Tammany, Mozart, McKeon and constitutional democracy, the rump of the Know Nothings, the radical black, the radical red, and the conservative republicans—are having a jolly time of it. The Citizens’ Association, in the general melée,’ seems to be in the condition of an ontsider at Donnybrook Fait—not quite so anxious to itch in ag to get off the croup? questions must either remain unsettled or Sake :qdyantage of our upon us bum/Tisting terms, For all these reasons, and many more, we hope to see the restoration of the Southern States completed by the admission of their representatives in Gongress as soon as that body shall meet, and thus have peace and har- This is derstanding that during the progress of while her debt was more than equal. It is: A Reatty Narionar Tuanxsarviva.—The President of the United States has designated Thursday, the 7th of December, as a day of na- tional thanksgiving, when the .people are to render thanks for many blessings, but particu- larly for this; that “it has pleased Almighty God, during the year whieh is now coming to an end, to relieve our beloved country from the fearful scourge of civil war, and to permit us to secure-the blessings of peace, unity and harmony, with a great enlargement of civil liberty.” The choice of the day and of the terms'in which the proclamation is worded has its significance, and shows the original bent of President Johnzon’s mind. People may won- der why it is that the anniversary is changed from the ast week «in November to the first week in December. The reason is obvious to us, and will be as cogent amd proper by all. It is simply this: Congress meets on the first Monday in December, just three days before Thanksgiving. Our practical- minded President is determined that then, for the first time in four years, the representa- tives of every State im the Union shall have seats in the great council chamber’ of the. nation; end he realizes that it is only when that is accomplished, when the States are rehabilitated, when ‘North and South meet together again in amity, that » real true national thanksgiving can be ob- served. If thore be: any obstacle sought to be interposed to the organization of Congress by fanatics who are resolved to clothe the. negro with all political rights, Mr. Johnson’ will be justified in having such obstacles brushed aside, in order that ‘the people of the United States may enjoy their national thanksgiving. It is a capital idea, worthy of the-head that gave birth to it. In its terms, too, the proclamation is note- worthy. The President does not speak of the attainment of the most comprehensive civil liberties, but he does speak of the attainment of “a groat enlargement of civil liberty.” The former would have embraced the dogma of negro suffrage, and President Johnson has not yet given in his adhesion to it. But he recog- nizes that in the abolition of negro slavery the country has largely advanced’ in’ the way of civil liberty. Taking these views of the selection of Thanks- giving Day, and of the terms used in the procla- mation, we think that they will meet the hearty , approval of all good citizens, and that the peo- ple, North and South, will hail it as the begin- ning of an ers of good fellowship and’ unwaver- ing loyalty. Anorazr Feanrvt. Catastrorue.—We have to record in our news columns to-day another ‘ awful steamboat disaster within the precints of the city. The magnificent Albany stenmer St. | John, on‘her arrival here yesterday morning ‘from the State capital, was the scene of @ most terrible calamity, by which nine lives were ‘instantly sacrificed and fifteen persons horribly ‘wounded.. As the steamer was- nearing her dock in the North river, opposite Hoboken, the hoiler exploded, blowing away several of the staterooms either killing or scalding all the inmates, the statements which have reached us this accident was evidently the re- sult of gross carelessness, the engineer, or his assistant, as it is asserted by a passenger, having been discovered asloep previous to and at the time of the explosion. We trust that the inves- tigation will be conducted with a view to as- certain: if this be so, and to put the responsi- bility upon the gnilty parties. It will be remembered that the Grand Jury recently indicted for manslaughter the owners of the steamboat Arrow. There is now another case in which the authorities can exercise-them- selves with great profit-to the community, and we hope:they will not be deterred fromdoing 40. Axorner Carp or Iysrrucrions rrow Prest- DENT Jounson.—The Secretary of State has informed Governor Johnson, of Georgia, that “ the President cannot recognize the people of any State (lately in rebellion) as having re- sumed the relations of loyalty to the Union that admitses legal obligations debts created in its name to promote the war of tlie rebel- lion.” This will doubtless be sufficient, not only for the reorganizing State Convention of Georgia, now in session, but for the proper understanding. of the subject by Governor Perry, of South Carolina, and his Legislature, and. by the: responsible authorities of every other State eoncerned.*The repudiation of its rebel detts is # condition precedent which must be met by every State of the late so- called Southern confederacy before its recon- structed government can be recognised by Pre- sident Johneon, to say nothing of Congress. Roother indisputable consideration mast be met by every State concerned before it can ex- pect to be recommended by the President to Congress—and that condition {s the ratification by the State Logislature of the amendment of the federal constitution abolishing and probib- iting slavery within the limits and jurisdiction of the United States. The new. loyal Legisla- tures of Mississippi and South Carolina are now in session. Neither of them has yet moved in the matter of this ratification ; but it is to be hoped that they wil? each very soon perform this needful and important work. We want only four more States to make this constitutional amendment a part of the supreme law of the land. With the two Southern States above named enrolled in the ratification, we shall only lack two te com plete the work, and North Carolina and Georgia will fill the requisition. To the States in the list required to make just three-fourths of all the States will belong the honor of this amendment. All the rest that may be obtained will be superfluous, If, therefore, Mississippt, North and South Carotina and Georgia present themselves as the first States from the rebellion to ratify this amendment they will be the first to walk into Congress, provided, always, thai they shall not have forgotten the repudiation of their rebel debts. North Carolina has led off in this repudiation, clean and absolute. Now let her, when her Legishature meets, lead off in this aforesaid ratification, and her appli- cation for @ readmission into Congress cannot be resisted. Tas Rerorray Noro Ixsveawerion at Ja- matcay—If the report from Morehead City may be relied upon, that the English Consul at Havana had applied to the Captain General of Cuba for aid to put down a rising of the negtoes in Jamaica, and that four Spanish vensele-of-war had been despatched for that purpose, the insurrection in question must be one of some magnitude, and it must also have been svrung upon the local authgtities | imeidental to the subject. It is a ll of Jamaica unexpectedly. What it is about we are not informed; but it is probably the work of a conspiracy of idle and mischief-plotting blacks anxious to be in the fashion of their independent brethren of Haytt, We shall, at ail events, Jook for further news from ica with some interest, because the working of emancipation in that island, when it culmi- nates in an insurrection, becomes a matter of some insportence in the reconstruction of our Southern States, Law or Faeiomr.—We observe that «. meet- ing of the shipowners of this city was recently held, inviting the sttention of the Secretary of the Treasury to the hardships to which they sre subjected by the Revenue law, “whereby the lie of the shipowners for freight upom goods imported into this port is rendered inef- fectual and in many instances is practically destroyed.” This Is owing, as they allege, to the fact that goods are landed umier general | orders, irrespective of any question of freight. The laws of affreightance are at presentunder very grave discussion in Belgium, France and | England, invelving not only the lien of freight, But many otter questions arising out of and thaé @ general international law in relation to the rights of freighters and stiipowners has become indispensable, and a projét ofeach a law has been originated in Belgium’ submitted to the British and French authorities. Our fast foreign arrivals inform us that it was undergoing consideration at the meeting of the Social Seience Association, at Sheffield, where there was a large assemblage of representatives from various European boards of trade and cham- | bers of commerce, and the projét of Belgium, drawn ap by Mesars,. Engel and Van Peborg, was debated article by article; The discussion had not been concluded, but it was unanimously agreed on the general principle that the cargo was liable for the freight and not to be disputed. How this might be justly affected by accident and. justi- fiable variations on the voyage had mot yet been fully determined. We have not space at this time to enlarge on this prolific theme, but it strikes as that the New York shipowners have: the remedy for the: grievance of which they complain in their own bands, without ap- pealing to the Secretary or Congress; and in this we: are sustained by competent’ English writers om tits subject. The: remedy is a very simple one: it is to demand freight in advance or on-arrivai in port, by a memorandum te that effect on signing the bills of lading,. in'which case the shipowners might in- default of” pay- ment become the mortgagees rightfully in possession ofthe goods, enter them om their own account, and thus fully protect: them- selves, We: shall probably, however, at the next meeting of Congress have the: whole question legitimately before: it, and all the intricate questions may be then dealt with and settled in a lump, im correspondence: with the proposed changes abroad. Our Locat,.Wanrs.—We: have been for @ long time very:far behind many of the capitals of Europe in certain local conveniences which are almost indispensable to. the comforts of a large community. But we-are glad’ to observe that there have’been some-improvements made of late. First among them-was the establish- ment of the letter boxes on the street corners for the facility of city delivery of letters. | Peo- ple-may now perceive in the streets a number of men wearing scarlet caps with: the'words “New York Gity Messenger Company” on the front, These are the employes of a: company established fora very useful purpose,.and their duty is to go» of errands, deliver packages, sweep side walks, put in coal’ and’ do other things necessary for the convenience-of the citi- zens.. The company pledge themselves as re~ sponsible for the honesty of their messengera: If this institution is properly managed it: will prove an addition to our social comforts.. Now we want two or three other: improvemente— for instance, a better system: in the omnibus lines by the addition of a. conductor on the Londoa plan stationed inthe rear-of the: con- veyanceto collect the fares and: otherwise miniater to the convenience-of the. passengers. We also need cabs to do.away with the expen- sive nuisance of backs ;: and a complete , refor- mation in our ferryboat’ lines, with a view to the preservation of life, would: not be- emits. When.we have obtained. all these: improve- ments, to say nothing of a little more-Honesty ib the city government, we will’ be on par with other large capitals in the: Old World, and Iifé in"New York:will be much more: en- joyadle, ‘Tas: Exorisn Oxerratasrs’ av Riengonp.— Several of the English railway: capitalists could not resist the temptation of a trip to. Richmond and the famous: lines of /fortifi- cations and battle fields around tliat! first and tast stronghold of the rebellion, We have no doubs that these Hinglishi. rail- way kings have returned with a pretty clear understanding of the: magnitude of our late war, of the stupendous forces and re- sources employed’ on both sides, and of the skill and masterly strategy and tactics devel- ‘oped by General Grant in-the reduction of the rebellion. They have aleo acquired muah-vala- able information of the mos vital. importance to Jeff. Daviv of those- radiating railway lines, and will have seen for themselves that with the loss of these railways: his. costly andexten- sive lines of fortifications amounted to nothing. We presume, too, that these men of capital have discovered from this trip to. Richmond that in the “reconstruction” of the South, in the matter of railways and other things, there is a field for the profitable investment of mil- lions upon millions of money. The Alleged Frauds i@ Brooklyn. THR SKIZURK OF THAKK HUNDRED BARRELS OF ALCOHOL. On Saturday Inst we published some of the detatls of the sniznre of three himdred harrely of alcohol by the United States: aathorities in Brooklyn. The alcohol be- longed to Mears, Cuthbert & @uutingham, extensive dis- Lillers in the Bastorm District, and wae sold to Bentham Fabian, and placed in a bonded warehouse for ship. ment, This warelfouse belonged to Messrs. Cuthbert & Canningham ; but it appeats that that frm are taino way wmplicated in the ilhegal part of the transaction; they are, on the contrary, vietiime They sold the aloobo!, and while Arrangements were heing made, a9 tt was supposed, for its regular shipment, the officers of the government seized the three hiendred barrels. About tho same time, it also appears, Fabian, the bayer of the atcohol, disap- peared, Military Affairs. ARRIVAL OF A PENNSYLVANIA BATTERY. An independent Peansylvania battery, numbering one hundred and thirty-six mon, arrived in this city from ‘Teka last @vening. They were under command of Cap- ‘Triger, and are quartered at the Batlory barracks Seay will lgave for howe to dav: a4 » s ¢) ‘