The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1865, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1865.—-WITH SUPPLEMENT. 4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. NEW NATIONAL CIRCUS, 37 and 39 Bowery.—Roves. eas, GIMASTIC AND ACnonaTic Pravs—Stack any Tigut Born Exsncisus, &c, Matinee at 2g 0'Clock. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 95 Broadway, e aN clas Hace —aiorvan tincwe, Damen dane ‘as Burtesqon Crncus. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE. Wi Bowery.—Sins- Fat Daxcina, Bewiesques, &¢.—Tas Dewon's Reve, inge at 245 O'Clock. GEORGE CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—Tar Ouv Scaoor ge Minmrariar. Bat.ape Mestdat Ges, Ac.. at the Fifth Avenue Opera House, Nos. Zaud4 West Twenty-fourth BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechamies’ Hall, 472 Broad- way.—Dax Buvant's New Stume Sreecu—NeGro Comicatt- mis, Busi.csquss, &c.—OLD Times Rocas. HOPE CHAPEL, 72) Broadway.—Paorksson Wise An's Byexixas oF Mysteee AND VamOns. Matinee ul 20°Clock. TEMPLE OF MUSIC, corner of Grand and Crosby colk—Tax Two Faxits OF tam Nuvecmente CENTURY ‘Tamia Cantus Stateansts, HOOLEY’S OPER. USE, Brooklyn.—Erarorian Maw. sracistT—BariaDe, hee axD nee sy NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, G18 Broadway.— Open from Wa. M, till 10 7" ART GALLERY, 635 Broadway.—Hosriveton’s Great Paring. STUDIO BUILDINGS, Tenth street.—Exurrrion oF Farxcu, ENciasi ann View Procenss. Musica, Exree ON, SONS OF TEMPERANCE. PPLEMENT. New York, Wednesday, December 20, 1865. "NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION. Recvipts of Sales of the New York Daily Newspapers. OrrictaL. Year Ending Name of Paper May 1, 1865, Haracy. +» $1,095,000 Times. . 368,150 Tribune... 252,000 Evening 0s 169,427 World 100,000 Bua...... 151,079 Express. 90,548 Now York Arann. $1,095,000 ‘Times, Tribune, World and Sun combined... 871,229 SOUTHERN RESTORATION. ident Johnson, viewing the reconstruction pro- gress being made by the lately robeliious States in a more favorable hyht than the radicals of Congress, is continn- tug the work of relieving the Southern people of their provisional governments inangurated by authorizing the Governor cicet of Alabama to assume executive function, asannonnced in (he official despatches of Scerctry Soward published in yesterday’s Hxratp, By similar despatches from. Mr. Seward which appear in our columns this morning ii will be seen that Provisioual Governor John- son, of Georgia, has also been relieved, and directed to transfor the custody of the papers and property of the State to (ne Governor elect, Mr. Jenkins, thus restoring the Grorgiaus to tho control of the executive officer of their choice, CONGRESS. The provoedings of Congress yesterday wore very important, and of a far more than usually interesting Character. In the Senate = message was recvived from ‘the Presidcot, in response to the resolution requesting information regarding the Southern States, covering the reports oa the condition of those States and their people of Liewtonant General Grant aad General Carl Sehurz. ‘Pho reading of that of General Grant produced a pro- found sensation in the minds of the Senators. It ex. Presses confidence in the good faith of the people lately im rebaliion against the government and their readiness to accept ‘he results of the waras forever dixposing of the and secession questions, and favors their early restoration to the full _ privileges of citizenship. The Presideni’s mezsage accom- panying those reports also strongly advocates the restoration of the Southern State governments to thoir former untrammelled position. The report of General Schurz was not read, but was ordered to be printed. Mr. Sumner, in a short speech, denounced the mossage of the President, saying it was worse than Presidont Pierce's “whitewashing message on Kansas.’ Ho was replied to in defence of the President by Mr. Doolittle, of Wisconsin; Mr. Dixon, of Connecticut, and Reverdy Johason, of Maryland, the debate being some- what animated, A resolution. was adopted calling for the report of Gencral Howard, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, of his late trip through the South. Rosolutions. were aopted calling on the Secretary OC Par for x staroment of the numerical strength ‘ai* Bispoxition of the. yarious portions (of the ariny, " {nereasing the bonds of the Superinten- @ent of Public Printing from forty thousand to eighty housand dol!ars, and amending the House fesolution for the proposed recess so as to make tt extend from (o-mor- row til! the Sd of Jannary. A bill was passed giving to sailors who tiave lost both feet in the national service the same pension of twenty dollars per month as already provided for similarly afflicted soldierz. Bills were inten. ced, and referred, to establish a uniform militia sys- tem throuchout the country, to provide for the defence of our Northeastern frontier, regulating the manacr of the eatry and working of public coal lands, and author. izing the President to extend and maintain branches of the Freedmen’s Bureau in tho lately rebellious States. Notice was given by Mr. Trumbull of another bill of purport somewhat similar tothe latter. An execltive seasion was hold, after which the Senate adjourned. Tu the House of Representatives the credentials of the Touisiana members were presemted and re- ferred to the Committee on the Southern States. A resolution was adopted, by one hundred and thirty-sovon yeas to twenty-one nays, instracting slavery the Committee on Elections to inquire into the cir- with the appearance in the Benjamin G. Harris, of Maryland, who some time ago, as alleged, was convicted by a court martial of having aided the rebels, applanded the char- actor and cause of Jef, Davis, and approved tho assassie mation of President Lincoln, and was sentenced therefor, mong other things, to perpetual disqualification for holding any office under government. A bill was reported from the Committee on Commerce authorizing every railroad company through- out the country to carry freight, mails, passengers, gov. ernment supplies, troops, &c., across States, notwith- standing any State law to the contrary, which, after some debate, was paseed. Its provisions will seriously affect Ma ty land and New Jersey railroad monopolies, The Secreta- ry of War was called on for a statement of the present con. ition of the harbors of the country. A new committee, to be known as the Committee of Mines and Mining, was Guthorized. The Senate's amendments changing the Gates for the proposed recess were non-concurred in. ‘The resolution proposing an amendment to the constitu. tion to prohibit any portion of the debt incurred © mst the rebellion being ever paid by either the nation or any State was reported back from the committee having it in charge, and, after @ long and earnest debate, in which a number of mem- bers participated, was adopted by a vote of one hundred ‘and forty-nine yeas to eleven nays, after which the Hlouse adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS. The anxiety manifested by the members of the Georgia Logisiature when, on the last day of their late session, the announcement was made that another despatch had boon received by the Provisional Governor from the Bigrideat i described by our Milledgeville carresnon. deat as mst intense. Some of them hoped thai 1 might possibly inform them of thoir State's full restoration to her former position, whtle many feared that it con tained another demand got ip unisoa with their feelings, and al! listened almost broathlessly ( its reading. ‘When it was found to be merely « congratulation on the adoption of the anti-slavery constitutional amendment the fooling of relief was general and hearty. Acondition of almost complete social chaos is de- scribed by our Savannah correspondence as existing io some portions of the interior of Georgia. The country is bare of provisions, the roads are nearly impassablo, it is extremely difficult to induce the negroes to labor for any tength of time continuously, and both they and the whites are indulging freely im extensive marauding, thievery and other vices, With the professed purpose of restoring order bands of self-stylod “‘rogulators”” have boon formed, who it appears are guilty of worse crimos than those they pretend to be engaged in suppressing. Their shootings aud hangings of negroes are of such common occurrence as scarcely to excite remark, and they seem determined not to allow the settlement among them of Northerners or any other persoms who propose to pay the negroes wages. ‘The Logislature of California ratified tho anti-slavery amendment to the rational constitution on Monday of thie week. Semmos, formerly captaia of the rebel pirate ship Alabama, was arrested in the State of Alabama, on Fri- day last, by orders from Washington, and immodiately An account of the recent cruise in search of the rebel pirate Shonandoah by the United States naval steamer Saranac, heretofore announced in our columns as having returned tu San Francisco, is given in our correspondence from that city, The Saranac sailed from San Francisco on the 14th of August last, and, after visiting various points inthe Pacific and Arctic oceans without gaining any satisfactory intelligence of the object of bor pur- suit, arrived back at her starting place on the 19th ult., where her officers soon after learned of the arrival of the Shenandoah at Liverpool, and her surrender to tho British authorities. By the Saranac our San Francisco correspondent received and furnishes us with various items from the Sandwich Islands of interest to the com- mercial and shipping community. A description of the waning condition of the imperial cause in Sonora, Sinaloa and other Northorn and Western States of Mexico is furnished in our San Francisco cor- respondence on Mexican matters, The republicans are again in possession of nearly the whole of the two States named, the only remaining imperial troops of conse. quence in them being closely shut up in the towns of Acapuico and Manzanilla, where they are Vory short of byovisions gud other supplios. Meanwhile the forces of Alvarez and other republican chiefs are active in that region, and determined to ullimately force the invaders from every point in the country. in additional letters of our East India correspondent from Point de Galle, Island of Ceylon, given in the Sup- plement to this morning’s Herat, are presented inter- esting descriptions of the topography, productions, pco- vernment, agriculture, commerce and climate of land, and of the coolie labor and immigration ays- ‘The Colorado Legislature yesterday elected Messrs. John Evans and Jerome B, Chaffee, both republicans, a3 United States Senators. Colorado has not yet been ad- mitted into the Union; but she has organized her State government and machinery, aud wil! no doubt soon re- ceive the requisite endorsement from Congress. Judge Richard Busteed, of the United States District Court of Alabama, has rendered a decision sustaining the constitutionality of the oath prescribed by Congress for lawyers seeking permission to practice in natioual courts, which requires them to swear that they have never voluntarily aided the rebellion. At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors yesterday a communication was received from the Comptrotier asking the Board to appropriate five thousand dollars for payment of interest on “Bounty Fund bonds No. 3,” which was agreed to, and the appropriation was authorized. A communication from the Assessor of In- teria! Revenue was received, informing the Board that they would have to pay atax of one-third of one per cent on the stone used in building the now court house. ‘The Board of Suporvisors of Dutchess county sent in a copy ofa resolution adopted by them, complaining of the clause of the militia law which authorizes tho collec- tio of the militia tax in its present form. Bills for work and material used in the construction of the new court house were ordered to be paid. They amounted in the aggregate to forty-two thousand and sixty-two dollars and forty-seven cents. The Board adjourued to Tues- day next. A communication was yesterday sent to the two Boards of the Common Council by the Mayor suggesting @ great saving of time and expenditure of money for advertising, by the passage of general ordinances to cover several classes of trifling cases, such as making swall appropriations to indigent persons, and granting privileges for the establishment of applo stands, and the erection of sigus, awnings, shutter boxes, &., on the sidewalk, for action on which, under the present ordor of proceedings, a separate set of resolutions is necessary in each individual case. The offici: ments of the Boards of Canvassers of tho results of their examinations of the votes cast in tho city and county of New York, at the State election, held on the Tth ult., and the charter election on the 5th inst., are published in full in our Supplement sheet of this morning, and will be scanned with interest by the public generally, and by those who were interested in bets on the result particularly. ‘The trial of the Strong divorce case was continued yes- terday. The earlier portion of the day was occupied with the examination of Arthur Jones, a resident of Spuyten- duyvil, who testified to having seen Mr. Strong enter the house of Mrs. Potter, in Sixth avenue, every second or third day during the month of January, 1865, and remain there from one hour to one hour and a half on the occa- sion of each visit. Im the afternoon Captain Caftrey, Sergeant Dilks and patrolman Davis, of the Fifteenth Precinct, were examined as tothe reputation of the house in Wavertey place: Toward the adjournment of the court. counsel, for, the , plainti? commenced . the | pro- sentation of rebutting testimony. Mr, G. W. Powers brought am action yesterday against Mr. D. M. Porter, a lawyer of this city, before Judge Barnard, for an account of money alleged toremain inthe defendant's bands since he acted in the capacity of coun- sel for plaintiff. Afier hearing testimony in the case and the argument of counsel, the jury gave a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for nine hundred doliars. An action has been brought before Judge Mullen, of the Supreme Court, by John O. Robinson, against tho Erie Railway Company, for injuries sustained while tray- olling over their road in March of the present year. The car in which plaintiff was seated ran off the track, near tho Susquobanna depot, when Mr. Robinson, as allogod, received very severe injuries. Damages are set down at ten thousand dollars. The case is still on. Judge Ruseel presided yesterday in the Court of Gone- ral Sessions, the Recorder having virtually terminated his official career in this court. In consequence of a number of jurors being absent the City Judge announced ‘that he would fine all absentees twenty-five dollars for each day's non-attendance. John Robinson, charged with committing a felonious assault upon Henry Peter. son, pleaded guilty to assault and battory, and was sent to tho Penitentiary for one year. Adolph Jotter was con- victed of an assault and battery upon Patrick Moore, on the 27th of September. James Riley, who picked the pocket of Mr. John P. Durfee of a silver watch while riding in a Third avenue car, pleaded guilty to petty larceny from the person. These prisoners were re- manded for sentence. An interesting law suit was before one of the justices courts of Brooklyn yesterday, in which Henry D. Bois- senhers, a composer and musician, sues Mrs. F. B. Con- way, of the Park theatre, Brooklyn, for two wooks’ sal- avy as leader of the orchestra at defondant’s theatre. ‘This case is one of many that arose out of the late strike of theatrical musicians, and when it comes to trial it will no doubt reveal some of the machinery of the the New York Managers’ Association, of which the de. fondant, it is alleged, is a member, The court room was found inadequate to accommodate the large number of spectators present, and the trial was ad- jJourned to the room of the Court of Sessions. Among the spectators were many actors and musicians, who ap- peared to manifest much interest in the case. After the ease was called for trial a warm culloquy arose between the opposing counsel in regard to an important letter bearing upon the case, The hearing was subsequently adjourned to the 27th inst. upon the motion of plaintiff's counsel for a trial before a jury, a request that was as- sented to by the Court The mild temperature aud drizzly, foggy, soggy weather & yesterday put an end to the enjoyment of skaters tn this vicinity for the present, The ice on all the au- burban ponds was sloppy and slushy, and the ball had to come down, ‘Tne parado of our Motropolitan Fire Deoartingat ia ao. Pointed to take place this afternoon The lino will be Eighth avenue, at a quarter ‘before wo o'clock, and the procession will move through Fourteenth street and dowa Broadway to the City Halt Park, whore, aftor being reviowed by the Mayor and other city officials, it will disporse. Fonianism and “the Irish republic” ace both stil! can- vassed around tho city with considerable gusto. There were some documents shot from either side of the line yesterday. Last evening another circle was christened after Mr. B, D, Killian, of the old management. The Secretary of Military AMairs has issued & statemont de- fining the position of his department. Mr. Charles Carson, the proprietor of a public house at No. 356 West Thirty-sixth strect, known as the Car- son Shades, was killed about three o'clock yesterday morning, in his own establishment, by being stabbed to the heart with a sword cane alleged to have been in the hand of Dr. Honry Otto Clauss, of No. 361 West Thirty- sixth street. The fatal afhir grew out of a dispute over @game of bagatollc, during which tho Doctor, whois gaid to have been somewhat undor tho influence of liquor, accused Mr. Carson and another mau of cheating him, A coronor's inquost was held in tho caso yesterday afternoon, and on its conclusion Clauss was committed to the Tombs. John McGiado, of Philadelphia, and James Lawnoey, of 60 James street, during @ quarrel about two o'clock yesterday morning, in East Broadway, noar Oliver stroet, fired ‘several pistol shote at each othor, cae of which | took effect in Lawney’s arm, inflicting a severe wound. Both were arrested, and McGlade was committed for trial. ° James Carey, of 12 Carroll street, Brookiyn, was severely etabbed in different portions of his person by Patrick Collins, alse of Brooklyn, during a quarrel between tho two, early yesterday morning, in the drink: ing place 61 Whitehall street. A servant girl named Mary Brady was yesterday com- mitted for trial on charge of having stolen over six hun- dred dollars worth of jewelry from the house 218 Seyeuth avenue, in which sho was employed as a domestic, Pauline Bohr, keeper of a saloon at 476 Broome street, and two inmates of her house, named Meyer Gilsey and Aun Smith, were yesterday committed on charge of having, in aid place, robbed a soldier named Hormagn Harris of five hundred and fifty dollars. Miz, James F. Barker, au oil merchant, aged forty-five years, and doing business at 148 Front atreet, where he bad been tocated for the last twenty-five years, com- mitted suicide yesterday afternoon in his office, b; ing bimself with a pistol, while laboring under tempo- rary mental aberration, produced, it is supposed, by recont heavy pecuniary losses. A man named James R. Crawford, while engaged yesterday in drawing somo benzine in the vault of the store No. 42 Ann streot, was severely burned by the benzine becoming ignited, from the ‘lame of a lamp which he carried, and exploding, covering his entire body ina sheet of fire. The fire was extinguished by wrapping 4 coat around him and rolling him in the mud It is believed that the accident will not prove fatal, although he may be deprived of the use of his hands. The fine steamship Fung Shuoy, Captain Hildreth, of the Cromwell line, wil! sai! at three o'clock this after- noon for New Or direct, {vom pier No. 9 North river, The mails will close al the Post Office at half-past one o'clock. A detachment of thirty-sovea men and two officers of the Third Rhodo Island cavalry arrived in this city from New Orleans at a lato hour on Monday evening, en route for Providence, where they will be mustered out and dis- charged, Theg left for their destination last evening. A fire occurred at Owensboro, Ky., on Friday last, which destroyed a block of business houses, entailing a Joss of two hundred and thirty thousand dollars. The stock market was firmer yesterday, and closed with an upward tendency. Gold was firm, and closed at 1465. ‘Business has seldom been duller than it was yesterday. Both foreign and domestic merchandise were in very little request, and, though prices he'd their own gonerally, it was ovident that large sales could only bo mado at re- duced prices. Groceries were duit. Cotton was rteady. Petroleum was dul! and heavy, On 'Change flour was duli and lower. Grain was also declining. Pork was in- active and decidedly lower. Beef was steady. Lard was a shade lower. Whiskey was dull and drooping. Tho market for beef cattle this week was steady for good to prime, but the poorer grades wore hardly so ac- tive or firm. The range of prices was about the same, except we include Christmas steers, which were very plenty—more than two hundred head being offered—and for which prices ran, say from 190. to 20c. There never was 60 fine a display of Christmas cattle in this. market, tho number of fancy cattle om sale exceeding two hun. dred head. Cows wore steady and unchanged. Veals were in fair demand at unchanged prices, Sheep and lambs were fairly active at about last weok's prices, though fancy cofferings sold all the way from $15 to $40. Hogs were dali, heavy and lower, ranging from 9%. to L0Sjc, Tho total receipts were 6,434 beeves, 189 cows, 607 veals, 17,486 sheep and lambs, and 14,150 hogs. Progress and Prospects of Reconstrac- tion—A Short Mcthod for a Compicte Settiement. nN The proclamation of the Secretary of State, announcing that with iis ratification by the Legislatures of three-fourths of all the States of the Union the constitutional omondment abolishing and prohibiting slavery has become “valid to all intents and purposes as a part of the constitution of the United States,” marks one of the most important events not only in our own national history, but in the history of mankind. The slavery question, that fruitful source of political demoralization, sectional contentions and civil war, is permanently set- tled with the extirpation of the institution, root and branch. It sought to overthrow the Union in order to perpetuate ftse)f in. an independent empire; it rose\in the most formidable rebel- lion which ever tried the strength and endur- ance of any people or government, and the hydra-headed monster hag been literally cut to pieces andidestroyed.. Slavery, thus practi- cally abolished by the war, is by this constitu- tional amendment buried beyond the possi- bility of a resurrection anywhere within the limits or jurisdiction of the United States. ‘This is the corner stone of President Jobn- son’s policy of Southern reconstruction and restoration. His other essential measures are the repudiation of secession and all rebel State debta, the recognition of the sovereignty of the United States, and the protection of the liberated African race in their rights of person and property. Upon this programme he steadily pursues his good work of Southern restoration, and has so far progressed in the case of Alabama as to direct his Provisional Governor to surrender the local affairs of State “to the constitutional authorities ch by the people thereof,” believing that this now be done “ without danger to the peace and safety of the United States.” But still, in re- gard to the Freedmen’s Bureau, the President, in the execution of a law of Congress, is con- strained to hold a military supervision over all the States concerned, whether advanced to the administration of a regular or under a Pro- visional Governor, and still the work of recon- struction is undetermined, while that of restor- ation depends upon Congress. — Here we find, according to the radical ideas of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, the radical leader of the House, that these excluded Southern States have no rights which Congress is bound to re- spect—that they are in the condition of un- organized territories captured from a foreign enemy, and that the party in power, looking to its own preservation, cannot readmit thosé States into Congress short of the concession on their part of negro suffrage and of a con- stitutional amendment basing the federal re- presentation from each State upon the number of its voters, Here we have the secret of the great obstacle in this Congress to Southern reatoration. It is the foar of a decisiy balance of power against the republigan garty. How ia this difficulty to be surmounted? How are] Tus Jxvv. Davis Exernawr.—What to do with the intercets of the country, North and South, to be made the interests of the party in power? We answer, by a comprehensive adjustment in the supreme law, satisfactory to all parties concerned; und such an adjustment, we think, is embodied in the following proposition for a constitutional amendment, which we understand will shortly be brought before Congress:— ArricLs —, Section 1. Every State shal! have exclu- save juriadictlon over the right of suffrage within its own limits 5 wever, that no person shall be ex- cluded from tho elcotive franchiso on sccount of color, roligion. Sec. 2. AM porsons engaged in the late rebellion against ged npr open of the United States are heroby restored to all the rights which they have forfeited; pro- vided, howover, that this shall B04 appl to rights of property in regard to which togal i third par- es have intervened. This proposition, it aeems to us, covers the whole ground of our existing difficulties with the late insurgent States. First, it gives exciu- sive jurisdiction to the several States over the right of suffrage, with the saving proviso that there shall be no exclusions from this right on account of color, race or religion. This puts all races, aa to voting, upon a footing of equal- ity, while it leaves to each State the right to determine for itself what qualifications in the way of property, education, residence, &0., shall be required ofits voters. Nothing, it seems to ua, could be fairer to the States and to-all parties concerned than general suffrage in this form. In the next place, the universal amnesty pro- posed will settle all our existing embarrass ments in reference to rebel disqualifications and confiscations; and, in the full absolution for all the sing of the rebellion, the people of the South, from Jeff. Davis down, will feel that they are indeed restored as brethren in the great and glorious family of the Union. Let the republican party make these propo- sitions for a constitutional amendment its re- construction platform, and it will be supported by the administration and the country. Let this amendment within a few weeks be passed from Congress to the States, and before the end of the present session it can be ratified by three- fourtis of the States. Now is the time for ac- tion, when the State Legislatures are in session or are about to convene. Give us this amend- ment, and the task of restoration will be 60 plain and easy that within a few months we shall be fully prepared, with the reunited North and South, to seitle our ouistanding ac- counts with England and France upon a simple demand for justice. Otherwise, in the absence of some such arrangement as this, the republi- can majority in this Congress, in failing to effect any settlement meantime, will have to face the danger of a disappointed people in the elections of next fall for the next Congress. We admonish the republicans of this Congress that a settlement is expected from them, and that against the representations of General Grant and the policy of President Johnson they cannot stand before the people. Upon this suggested constitutional amendment the party may hold ite ground. The British Government on a New Tack. The intelligence from Europe which we pub- lished yesterday contains some curious, not to say startling, announcements, It seems that the British government has entirely changed its tactics with regard to this country, and that it has concluded to concede to us our interpre- tation of the Monroe doctrine, even to the sur- render of Canada and her West India posses- sions, and allowing without grumbling the ab- sorption of Mexico by the United States if the people desire it. The British journals have also changed (heir tone, and are suddenly and wonderfully friendly to this country, while their correspondents in the French capital are equally compisisant towards us when refer- ring to the Mexican question. What does all this sudden exhibition of friendliness towards the United States by the British mean? We may be mistaken, but we think it may be viewed as the opening ball of a@ rumpus between England and France—as o proemonitory indication of a rupture of the en- tenle cordiale between the two nations, and the endorsement of the policy of the United States in its hostility to that of Napoleon in Mexico. In the beginning of such a movement the first and best thing for Great Britain to do is to get rid of her Canadian and West Indian dependen- cies. This we already see foreshadowed. If these possessions be separated from the home government they will naturally be absorbed by the United States or fall in line with the other States of the American Union, and as such be of immensely more benelit to the British nation than if they retain for cen- taries their present dependent positions. - Re- lieved: of these burdens, Great Britain can turn: ber attention to. the expansion’ of her empire in Hindostan and throughout the East Indies, a portion of her realm far more pro- ciousihan all her dependencies on this conti- nent, including the newly discovered gold fields of British Columbia. We see in this new tack of the British gov- ernment the adoption of a new policy not only toward the United States, but toward Napo- leon and his programme to establish the Latin race on this continent, with the Mexican em- pire as the foundation. It will be remembered that when the Latin mouse in the Mexican meal bag became visible the British govern- ment declined to go with Napoleon in his movement to place Maximilian on the throne of Mexico. It is, therefore, natural for Great Britain to be friendly with this country when the Mexican complications be; to demon- strate that the interests of both countries are on this question, in a measure, identical. Events begin to look as if England were about to abandon Napoleon altogether to his fate in regard to Mexico. If this prove to be so an entire revolution in the sentiment of Europe about this country and Mexico may be antici- pated, and a fixed and formidable opposition be presented by England against Napoleon’s attempt to galvanize the Latin race, which has been dead a thousand years, and array it in hostility to the progress of the Anglo-Saxon race. In the meantime the British government should continue its friendly tone toward the United States, for there is no knowing when the kindly offices of this government may be needed in its behalf. Watt Street Exporsements.—When the Wall street people endorsed the musical notes of Grisi and Mario, then on their wane, it was wittily remarked that the endorsement would have done the singers more good had it been placed upon their notes of hand. The same idea occurred to us when we read Jeromo and Company’s <ndorsement of Oily Gammon's musical notes, Why, Oily Gammon’s paper | gress have, in the capture of federate leaders, got an olephant hands, which they do not appear to to get rid of, Chief Justice Chase take the responsibility of trying them President is sick and tired of military sions, and holds the prisoners for Congress to manage in seme way, and thus throw all re- sponsibility upon the radicals. This being the case, why should not Congress pass a resolu- tion releasing the whole batch, from Jeff. Davis down, atonce? There could possibly be no harm to the country in giving them their lib- erty. A republican government like ours can afford to be magnanimous, especially just now, when we have shown to the world the power and stability of our institutions. There would be no better way of furnishing @ contrast with the monarchical governments of the world than by adopting that course. Congress ia the body to do it to make that con- trast striking and télling, Let Congress pass | ® resolution releasing Jeff. Davis and: asso- | ciates, and it would put to shame the English | dates for the position Mr. Joba K. Haokett ap- ~ for the treatment of the Jamaica insurrection- ists and Fenians by that government. It would present such a wide difference be- tween republican and monarchical govera- ments 28 to increase the moral power and in- fluence of republics the world over. It would show that while the old dynasties of Europe are obliged to administer the most summary punishment to keep their own subjects loyal, we can laugh at all efforts to destroy our Union. Here is an opportunity to dispose of this clephant in a way that will redound to our credit and benefit the world. Will Congreas attend to it at once? Toe Vereran Reserve Corrs tx a Foo.— The soldiers of the Veteran Reserve Corps when they were in the field understood their business and did their work well, earning for themselves an honorable uame ; but since they have been posted in our various cities some of them seem to have forgotten those principles of open, manly, fair dealing that should be inseparable from the character of a soldier. We received a few duys since the following letier, which we publish just as it was sent to Us :— Wisewnts, Baraaces, Wasiinarox, Deo. 14, 1865. Buvnere, Sditor, ke, — am one of many who have contributed a of five hundred dotiars to secure your influonce in favor of making tha Veteran Reserve Corps a part of the r Lye time has arrived, but U see nothing in the Heracn in favor of it, though’ the attacks in the Washington de» ey was paid over to. Mr, Cal i hore, It is but fuir that the service ‘ully performed or the money returned. Your Washington despatches have favorable, but not enough so. Mr, Wooley, our BY has also contributed for the Hicaty's influ. cue THORNTON A. WULLLAMS, Second Liout, Vet. Res. Corps. Lieutenant Williams: is a very silly fellow, and we publish his letter as a rebuke to him, and a waraing to all other such silly persons in the country who have no more brains than to believe the stories they hear as to the condi- tions.on which the advocacy of the Henato is to be secured for any measure. We know nothing of Mr. Callender. We have no correspondent of that name; and, whoever he may be, he has never been author- ized to receive any money for us, under any pretext whatever. Neiiber has he nor any other person been authorized to make any promises as to what the Huranp would do. Nor have any of our Washington correspondents received any authority to enter into any such transac- tions. Lei Lieutenant Thornton A. Williams go to Mr, Callender and demand the return of his money, aad if he does not get it inatitute proceedings against that person as a awindler. We believe the Veteran Reserve Corps to be an organization containing many honorable men; sod our feelings toward it are of the most friendly nature, a8 they should naturally be ioward any organization of men whose lives have been imperilled in the national cause ; but we do not wish to receive from its mom- bers any more such impertinent and exceed- ingly foolish letters as this from Lieutenant Williams. Avrican Siavery av an Exo,—The pro- clamation issued on Monday by the State De- pariment placed the final seal on the tomb of African slavory in this country. The rebellion, inaugurated to protect that institution, admin- istered the very blow which caused its death. Thus Providence, moving in mysterious ways, has brought about by war that which without it would have taken generations, and perhaps centuries, to accomplish. As it was in the Yours, c., | days of the Jewish bondage in Egypt, the’Al- mighty hardened the ‘hearts of the masters ubtil. the very means adopied: to.retain their.alaves | has resulted in securing their freeddm. Slavery having been effectually abolished by the war, it only needed an amendment of the constitu- tion to secure its final burial beyond any hope of resurrection. That amendment has been made and ratified by three-fourths of the States of the Union. The announcement has been officially promulgated and the last act in the drama performed. African slavery is dead and buried in these United States. It is now num- bered with the things of the past. Its tomb has been sealed by the administration and the stone erected in our organic law, marking its resting place. The curtain now falls upon this system in our land forever, A New Bougmman.—The Tribune, Times and World have engaged a new Bohemian to bol- ater up their sinking circulation. Oily Gam- mon seems to have given up opera and adopted literary Bohemianism as his profession, and, #0 far as his fondness for lager goes, he is cer- tainly well qualified for his new avocation. He has begun by republishing curious and witty paragraphs from the Heratp of twenty- five years ago, and thus lends to the columr,, of the Tribune, Times and World a lustre ang sparkle which they never had before. gut 7 the editors of those papers behave th.omag’,veg decently we will loan them our file, fyy thirty years back, and thus enable them +, supply their readers with good, livel:y liverary matter, GMistaen Rrowany O'G mvs, ty Trove. — Private Miles O'Reill"’s o natdate prpeere a himself into trouble, wir, the various factions that supported tem, He was first started in the political Face fiat has put him in his pre- sent high ‘Yosi”ion by Private Miles O'Reilly, by whose rssistance he got the nomination of the Oitiar ny Association and the Democratic Uniov Association. But he now refuses to re- oo nize that first friend, and promises all his favors to the rogues of Tammany and Mozart. If Misther O'Gorman does not do the fair thing wita their endorsement, would be quip ag | and make private Miles public administrator, Valuable ta Iadiana State bonds or give him some athar cand niace he will { Loowvnuis, Ky., Deo. 18, 1865. Janes Gonoos Besser ator New Yous Now York, ¥ We hope thie will etimulate a great more rogues to gend their dishonest gains out of the Treasury to Washington, for the govera- ment needs all the money it can get, whether by cases of conscience or in any other way. January.1, 1866, by the election of Mr. Hoffman to the Mayoralty, will be filled by the vole of the Board of Supervisors. Among the candi- |. | pears to be the most able and the most pope- lar, and consequently his election would be doubly acceptable. The Supérvisora should meet and offer him the office at once. A Cuampron Taat Kuts.—The World under- took to champion McClellaa, and soon sent his — corpse up Salt River. It then took General '~ Slocum under its protection, anid his mangled ‘| remains departed for the same destination. Now, since the World has taken charge of Oily Gammon, we advise that individual to make his will, leave his silver plate to Joyce Heth in breeches and’ prepare for a warmer climate hereafter. ‘ 7. NEWS FROM ALABAMA. The Constitationality of Test Oath for Lawyers—Arrest of the Pirate Onptain Semmes. Mowtoousry, Ala., Dec. 16, 1865 Judge Busteed, of the United States District Court, bas docued that the Congressional oath for attorneys and civil officers is constitutional. Raphaei J. Semmes (of tho pirate Alabama) was ar rested Last evening by ordora from Washiagion, and is now en route to the North undor guard. A Good Southern Movement Forty years ago the Hon. Henry Laurens Jincknoy, of South Carolina, a distinguished son of Chartos Pinckuey, who drew the schome and original draft of the United States constitution, established as a political organ the Charleston Mercury. Under his successors, the brilliant John A. Stuart, the chaste and talented ‘Clapp, Colonet Carew, the gifted Wm. R. Taber avd R. Barnwoll Rhott, Jr,, the paper bas grown in reputation and influence. Founded upon those views of the constitution contained ¢ in the Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of 1798-9, with Thomas Jefferson and John C. Calhoun for ite guiding lights, it has long boen the leading aud consia- tent organ of the State rights, democratic ‘républicam party, Cmbracing almost the entire population of Bouth Carolina. Following those principles, tho South was carried into secession in 1860, and the Meroury austained that cause boldly and ably throughout the war, denounce | * ing the mismanagement and imbecility of tho Davia administration of the so-called confederacy. ‘With the failuro of secession and tho downfall of aiavory, of course the peculiar politics of the Merowry are ataneud. But the papor has a high character for truth fulness, courage and ability. It has a strong hold upom the good will of the people of its seotion. [+ cam throw much light upon the presentaituation, and is an organ of Great power. The printing presses and materials during tho war were burned last February at Columbia. But the civil authority being now re-established in Chartes- ton, and the press unmuzzled, woe learn that Colonel Rhett, the proprietor, is now at the Now York Hotel | with a view to the early resumption of its publication ia support of President Johnson's reconstruction policy. Funds are desired, and an interest in the, Mercury can be obtained by any suitable person wishing to tavest. We call attention to tho project, and, as ai of and success- ful newspapor man, recommend the investment as offer. ing every prospect of safe and ample returas. Literary Intelligence. Mrs. Soathworth's new novel, “‘Allworth Abboy,"” has just been issued in Philadelphia, The work 1sine fine vein and full of thrilling incident, being conceived in the same spirit and expressed in the samo elegant and vigor- ous language which characterize the productions of the authoress. The volume is made uniform with the com plete serios of Mrs. Southworth’s works brought out by” her publishers. The “Earl's Secret," the latest love story written by Misa Pardoe, hae also been published in Philadelphia. [t forms a large duodecimo volume, The workings of the human heart whon excited and agitated by the “grand passion’ are described with a power and fidelity which witl render the volume exceedingly acceptable to oar lady friends, who knew long since how true to aature Miss Pardoo is when treating such a subject. “Hereward, the Last of the English,” is the title of @ new aovel by Charles Kingsley. [thas been brought out iu Boston, The many readers of “Two Years, Ago,” “ir Walter Raleigh and His Time,’ and the other works ” of Mr. Kingsley, will bo glad to hear of a new book from his pen. Ber. J. R. Dodge, attached to the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, has published a most useful volume gutitled West Virginia—Its Farms, Forests, Mines aod Olr Wells.” The book, which isa timely contribution, photographs the scenery and population of this interevt- ing region, besides furishing an exhibit of its tnduetriat statistics so completely fu to render it exceedingly usefut to the many immigrants who will soon wend their way there with a view of fighting the battle of life “ou that line” during the remainder of their days. Robert Buchanan’s Poems have beon issued in a aca | library one volui shape in Boston. 3 Mr. Charles Carleton Coffin has had bis encouraging volune, “Winning His Way,” printed in Boston. It # just suited for the hands of Amorican boya; teaching them, as it does, in a most agreeable {etm how to get along so as to reach the highest point of fame and a good name by patriotism and valor. Mr. George W. Carleton pictures modern coioaiat system of Spain most faithful¢ and eloquently in a small volume, which does ot contain one page of* printed matter, with the ©-eption of its proface. The book is named “Our Art’ ¢ in Cuba,” and @ Illustrated with fifty drawings 00 wood, tho designs of which were taken on the spot in (he years 1864-5, Undor each draw- ing is just one ling, ‘of remark, and the whole conveys » clearer idea of ‘ine sort of life amd government rule whioh are enjoyed ‘tm the Queen of the Antilles than had tel. | umes be sy written o@ these subjects. i “Misactrous Fire at Owensboro, Ky. A g1.0CK OF BUSINESS HOUSES DESTROYED—LOSa $230,000. 7 The fire at Owensboro, Ky., on Friday, consumed the block of buildings on the corner of Second and St. Ane streets, occupied as business houses by Messrs. M Biair, Rosenfield, Rothschild and others. Loss $230,000. Senators trom Colorado. Dawvan Crrv, Deo. 19, 1865. ‘The Legislature elected to-day John Evans and Jerome B. Chaffee (republicans) United Statos Senators ‘Wiusrvetox, N.C., Dec. 19, 1965. Two negro men, John Walker and Robert McKoy, cot. vieted of larceny by the New Hanover County Conrt, have been sentenced to bo sold into servitude for a od not exceeding five years, The sentence {s agree- able to the laws of the State in relation to freedmen be- hee ee a a. of mechanics to-night for or- ganization to resist the tax Inid by the late convention, which is considered not only oppressive, but unauthor — ized. ; steat Starlight and Washingt: New vert Shoseer ise. of the Morning, Bostes Fad ‘There is a heavy northoaster outside § Tie steamot Commandor is still at the ber. Ps . Sr Se Been caaig "ar Siete New Vork; , and Matron, New i, uoouers Marie Lom. Mae “Nort: Woevtetia