The New York Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1866, Page 4

— 4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, Qrricn N. WwW. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. ———————————————————————— Volume XXXI,......0---seeesseeseecese ee M@e 35 = AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. BROADWAY THEA’ Btreet.—So.on Suinaus—! LUCY RUSHTON'S NEW YORK THEATRE, Nos, 723 and 730 Brandes, an Buace Domino—Berwaex You amp Mu axp tux Post. WOOD'S THEATRE, Broadway, opposite the St. Nicholas Hotl.—Tun Deauraxre—Gvance at Naw Yous—Inisn adway, near Broome DIAN, ' SAN FRANCISOO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway, opposite Foye, foe adh trig By Danvina, &0.— TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Sina- mo, Danoma, Buacesques, &0.—Tas Mountain Devit. GEORGE CHRISTY'S MINSTRELS.—Tas Ovn Sonoon ov Minstaecsy, Bactaps, Musical Guws, &0., at the Fifth Avenue Opera House, Nos. Zand 4 West Twenty-fourth st. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanios’ Hall, 472 Broad- way.—Dax Bavant's New Stor Spascu—Necro Comicati- rum, Buuiasgues, &¢.—Tae HaNp-4-Lome Buore HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Eruiorian Mix- BYRELST—BALLADS, BUKLESQUES AND PANTOMIMES. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. Open from 10 4. M. till 10 P. M = Er ——— a New Yerk, Sunday, February 4, 1866. Ni WSPAPER CIRCULATION. Receipts of Saics of the New York Daily Newspapers. OFFICIAL. Year Ending Name of Paper Bay 1, 1865, Herap.. + $1,095,000 Times... 368,150 ‘Tribune 252,000 Evening Post. 169,427 World.. 100,000 Bun.. 151,079 Express. . oe +» 90,548 New Yorx Henan... $1,095,000 Times, Tribune, World aud Sun combined., 871,229 THS NEWS. MEXICO. The old story of the imperial sympathizers, that Presi- dont Juarez, of Mexico, has deserted his country and arrived at San Antonio, Texas, again comes tous from New Orleans. This report has become so threadbare as tg be no longer worthy even of contradiction. General Weitzel has written a letter in reply to the published charges of the merchants and foreign consuls at Matamo- Tos, noticed in yesterday’s Hrnatp, that the raid on Bagdad was made by American soldiers, and that the Mexican republicans have only been enabled to keep up the war on the Rio Grande through American aid, The General, while disavowing, as he says he knows his government will likewise do, all complicity im the capture of the town, snd announcing that a military investigation of the whoie affair is now proceoding, acording to his instructions, reminds these high toned Matamoros merchants of the important assistance they gave the rebels during our late war, ‘The order mustering out the Ono Hundred and Eighteenth colored infantry, some members of which were charged with taking part in the Bagdad foray, has bocn revoked by General Weitzel, Five regiments of colored troops belonving to the Twenty-tifth corps have been ordered to be mustered out, ‘They will probably be replaced by regulars, 4 fitting xecompaniment to General Weitzel’s retort.on his Matamoros antagonists is the thorough dissection given by our Brownsville correspondent of the attitude ud conduct of the imprrialists on the Rio Grande during Our contest with the rebels. He shows how, as was no- torions at the time, that, instead of observing any sort of neutrality more than merely nominal, they wore most active in giving the rebels material aid and comfort, ¢ CONGRESS. ‘Tie Sonate wos not in session yesterday. The House of Representatives, however, held both a day and an evening session, which were almost wholly devoted to debate. The bill giving naval officers and men who have Jost one foot and one hand in service the same pensions as are allowed to any pensioners similarly wounded was passed. A petition of New Jersey soldiers for additional bounties to the volunteers of 1861 and 1862 was pre- sented. The Executive, Legisiative and Judicial Appro- priation bill was made the special order for to-morrow. The consideration of the bill enlarging the powers of the Freedmen’s Bureau was then resumed, and was continued through the day and evening. Several mem bers, both advocates and opponents of the measure, took part in the discussion; bat the principal portion of the speaking was by its antagouists, including border State republicans as well as Northern democrat. Gono- ral Rourseau, republican, of Kentucky, spoke against it at considerable fh, and was followed by Mr. Shank- lin, of Kentucky, and Mr, Phelps, of Maryland, both Topublicans, who also opposed tt, No vote was reached, THE LEGISLATURE. ‘There was not much busiuess transacted in the State Senate yesterday, Among a few other bills of little import reported from committees was that for the restoration of securities of life inssrance ved in other States held by our State Insurance Department, The annual report of the Cooper Union of this city was presente bil extending the ime for the collection of ta: at the State, but which not apply to cities jected wader special law, was ordered provid companies orga bly notice was given of a bill to authorize the New York Central Railroad Company to subseribe two million liars fora railroad from Athens, Greene ‘ewburg, and the towns on the route of the Proposed road to take stock in the same, Several matters were tutroduced, among which were bills to amend the Militia law by making those who were officers in the late war supernumerary, to incorporate the Metropolitan Medi- cal and Surgical College, to regulate the use of docks at the foot ot Broome street, and to provide for the appoint ment of a Supreme Court reporter and the publication of decist The remainder of the subjects under con- sideration were not of general interest, THE CITY. The mails of the steamship Africa, from Liverpool on the 20th and Queenstown on the Zist alt., arrived in this city from Boxton last night, A full telegraphic report of her news, transmitted from Halifax, was published in Friday's Herat, The extensive stables of the Bleecker Street and Fal ton Ferry Railroad Company, in Fourteenth street, be- tween Tenth avenue and the North river, were totally destroyed by fire last night, and sevonty horses which they contained were burned to death. The total loss is about forty thousand dollars, on which there is full in- surance, The origin of the fre has not been ascertained. ‘The case of Robert Martin, charged with implication in the rebel plot to burn New York, was brought up again yesterday in the United States Circuit Court, before Judge Sbipman, on the hearing of @ retarn to a writ of Havens cornee to produce the body of said Martin, A w " also been issued for the production 1 ¢ Commissioner Osborn, on «seed was committed for trial, The District inole (he roturn, but argued that the writ of certionar ih (he case was legaily and properly not com. plied with, Judge Shipman reserved his decision till Thursday next, ‘The case of Charles H. Coles, charged with being one of the Lake Erle rebel pirates, came up again yesterday on a habeas corpus before Judge Suthoriand, in the Sa- prome Court, at Chambers. An amended return from Gonoral Hooker, upon whom the writ was servod, was banded in by the Assistant District Attorney, which was traversed by counsel for the prisoner, ‘The case was then givon toa feferce to take evidence, and adjourned over Uo Saturday next, Anumber of decisions were given yesterday in the general term of the Suprome Court, The decree of the Surrogate in tho Lawrence will caso was reversed, and the case Wae-remitied to that functionary, with instruc- tiona to admit the will to probate, The court adjourned fo the 19th inst. The cane Of Carl Noolte, accused, with others, of frving embereled several thousand thalers, the property Qf Moyer & Co,, bankers. of Borlin. was bofore United ‘Stes Commissioner Newton yesterday. Baron Von Grabow, the Prussian Consul General demanded the extradition of Noelte, the Prussian; but, aa the Sheriff of New York county, by whom the arrest of Noelte was effected, has, under the advice of counsel, declined to send the before the United States Commissioner, the matter has been adjourned till Thurs- day next, when it is expected there will be # solution of the point at issue. In the case of the alleged libel on A. T. Stewart, the morning at half-past ten o'clock, before Judge Dowling. The February term of the law courts commences to- morrow. From the appearance of the calendars avery heavy business will be transacted. Several important cases aro to be tried, and ipteresting decisions given. ‘The Strong divorce suit is om the Superior Court calendar for trial. In the Supreme Court the action of Deputy ‘Collector Mudgett against ex-Unitod States District Attor- ney Smith, for alleged detention of certain moneys, is to be tried. The Court of Oyer and Terminer opens with the trial of Oram for the Beaver street homicide. The indictment of the owners of the steamboat Arrow is also in this court, The seduction sult against McCabe is on the calendar in the Superior Court. Judge McCunn is expected to give his decisions during the present month in the alleged Washington Territory steamship frauds and the case relative to three cent fare on our city rail- roads, . In the United States Circuit Court in Brooklyn yester- day, before Judge Benedict, a namber of prisoners were brought up for sentence, John Daelly, convicted of sell- ing and dealing in counterfeit money, was sentenced to three years in the Penitentiary at hard labor, Francis J. Lacey pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit ten dollar ‘Treasury motes, was sentenced to eightecn months’ imprisonment in the Peni- tentiary and to pay a fine of one dollar. T. Flynn and Michael Dunn, convicted of petit larceny from the Navy Yard, was sentenced to ten days’ imprisonment in the county jail. John Doe, convicted of stealing from the Navy Yard, was fined twenty-five dollars, Skaters certainly cannot reasonably complain of a lack of opportunity for enjoyment this winter. The ice has been now for many days in splendid condition, and pres- ent prospects aro favorable for its continuance in this favorable state. All through the past week the ponds in the Park and all around the city have been thronged, and yesterday there were extra crowds, and of course great sport and cnjoyment, Though many of the favorite resorts will be closed to-day, the Park lakes will not, and thither no doubt will wend from all directions the de- votees of the gliding art. Aconvention of the school trustees of the city took place last evening, in Rivington street. Chartges were to have been brought against the Board of Education io this convention, and work of great interest to the taxpayers was to have been performed, according to previous promise. After certain ludicrous proceedings, however, the only action taken by the convention was the appoint- ment of a committee to wait upon the Prosident and Clerk of the Board of Education, to consult with them in Foference to the proposed amendment to the School law. Alexander Herschel, a broker and commission mor chant, of 28 North William street, was yesterday required by Justice Dowling to give two thousand Uollars bail to answer charges of false pretences in he matter of cer. tain purchases made by him in December, 1964, pre- ferred azainst him by Mark Quayle, doing business in Beavor street. In yesterday's Herat was given an account of a man named Charles Harrington, on Thursday night, in Canal street, withont provocation, firing five pistol shots, one of which took effect, at a German scavenger named Herz. It now appears that Henry Curwen, mate of the steamship Manhattan, who was passing at the time, and not Herz, was the man fired at, and that one of the balls entered his head, producing a supposed mortal wound. Curwen, it will be remembered, is the man who, during a difficulty on the 28d ult. with soveral of the employés of the Manhattan, inflicted injuries on one of them, named Haley, which resulted in death, but who was.dis- charged on the ground of justifiable homicide, The al- leged n:tempt of Harrington to take Curwen’s life is said to have been made for the purpose of avengng Haley's death, Curwen was removed to the New York Hospital, whero a coroner's ante-mortem investigation of his case was made yesterday, and Harrington was locked up in the Tombs. The strect cleaning contractors yesterday submitted to the Mayor a statement showing that the occupants of no Jess than ten thousand and forty-two houses throughout the city are in the habit of daily throwing into the gut- ters and streets their accumulations of ashes and gar- bage. Tho sixth annual report of the Commissioners of Chari- ties and Correction of thelr supervision for the past year of the various criminal and chariteble institutions of our city, and the prosent condition of the same, is published on the third page of this morning's Hxnaun, and will be found to be a document replete with interest to our citizens, The February promenade concert of the Twenty- second regiment took place at the armory last night, and was attended by a numerous and brilliant assemblage, The largest steam cylinder ever cast in thjs country was successfully turned out at the Etna Iron Works, in this city, yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a large number of scientific gentlemen, The cylinder weighs eighteen tons, and is one hundred and ten inches im diameter, with twelve feet bore. ‘The stock market was unsettled yesterday. ments were firm. Gold closed at 139%. There was but little business done outside of the seve- ral ‘changes yesterday; but the markets, though quiet, were generally firm, especially for imported merchan- dise. Groceries were steady, Petroleum was dull and lower, Cotton was heavy, On ‘Chango flour was very firm, with a good demand, Wheat was unchanged, Corn was dull and heavy. Oats were steady, Pork was firm. Lard was dull and unchanged. Whiskey was very irregular and dull. MISCELLANEOUS. The desertions from the regular army during the past Govern- NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 4, | 1866. the proceedings on his bebalf. The state of afairs in | when that credit cold be used to ease our ‘massacre, is represented as being still far from tranquil. An interesting chapter on the affairs of Italy, political, The details of @ most ludicrous affair which ocourred lately in the Hawaiian Islands, but which yet seoms to have its serious features, are given in ouf issue of to- day. The captain of a British yacht, the Themis, having adesire to carry off with him a pretty native girl— “perhaps as stewardess,” the local paper puts it—applied to the King for pormission, which was refused him. ‘He thereupon invited the King to see him off, and, in deflance of all the Hawaiian authorities, Put to sea with the girl First a steamtug was despatched in pursuit of the Themis; but the cap- tain coolly told the royal marshal that if he chose to come on beard as a guest he was welcome, as dinner was just ready, but that if in any other way he would be ro- pelled by foree ofarms, This pursuit having resulted in nothing, a sugar-laden steamer was next unloaded and fitted out as a man-of-war. The entire military force of Hawaii, consisting of twenty soldiers and policemen, was put on board, in addition to some guns which had the questionable merit of going off from the touchhole as often as from the muzzle. This second Pursuit resulted no more favorably than the first, and ‘eventually the British captain ran in ashore and landed the girl, declaring that the whole affair arose out of bra- vado. Some further explanation was demanded, and certainly seems to be needed. The remains of the late Rev. Dr. Nott, President of Union College, were interred in Vale Cemetery, Schenec- tady, on Friday. There was a very large attendance on the occasion, made up of alumni of the college and distinguished men of this and other States, Scoretary Seward, who is a graduate of the college, was unavold- ably absent. The ceremonial at the grave was of an im- posing and affecting character. There is a brisk and rather sharp contest going on for the succsssion to the Presidency of the college, At the Commencement in Jvly next Scoretary Seward will deliver a oulogium on the career of Dr, Nott, and the initial steps will be taken to erect a monument to his memory. The commissary and quartermaster warchouses at Fort Riley, Kansas, were totally destroyed by fire on Wednes- day last, entailing a government Joss estimated at a mil- lion dollars. A recent fire t Jackson, Texas, destroyed buildings and other property to the value of fifty thou- sand dollars. The Currency—Beginning at the Wrong Ena. The policy of withdrawing the legal tenders from circulation and to supply their place with notes of the national banks, we deem a very short-sighted policy—a policy which, in the end, must prove disastrous, both financially and politically. In fact it is be- ginning at the wrong end. We do not know what amonnt of circulation the Secre- tary may consider adequate, or not more than adequate, for the business of the country. In his report he expressed the opinion that our currency was redundant, and that it ought to be contracted in order to return to specie pay- ments; but, judging from what he has done ‘nce and proposés to do, he does not find it prac- ticable to carry out his views. The hard money theory isan excellent one, and we are all for it when-it can be practically applied. The theory that all men are born free and equal ig anex- cellent one, too, to the extent to which it is ap- plicable; but it so happens that nature has made great inequalities in races and in the in- dividuals of the same race. So with regard to an exclusive hard money circulation, natnral or adventitious causes may stand in the way. But surely the way to return to specie pny- ments is not by withdrawing orfe kind of paper money and substituting another for it—is not by taking away the best, as the legal tenders, based entirely on the government credit, and ging us in their place the less relinble and less substantial national bank notes, I! may be said that the government securities depos- ited to secure the redemption of the national bank notes, or thereabout, are a gnarantee to the public. This is true only to a certain cx- tent. There is no security against these banks becoming insolvent throuch overirading, spec- ulation or mismanagement; and even the se- curities held for their circulation, when forced upon the market ina crisis, may not meet the amount their notes call for, A great financial crisis would necessarily reduce the valne of these securities, and the note holders or credit- ors of the banks might not obtain more than fifty per cent of the vaine promised on the face of the notes. There is something bordering on a frand upon the public in these national bink establishments, They are called national few months have been so numerous that General Grant has issued an order directing department and regimental commanders to take the most stringent mea-ures for putting a stop to them and arresting the runaways, and to institute investigations for discovering and removing the causes of this extensive and criminal abandonment of the service General Woods, commanding the Department of the Mississippi, consisting of the State of Mississippi and embraced in the Military Division of the Gulf, of which General Sheridan is commander, bas ordered the discon- tinuance of the military district subdivisions into which his department was partitioned; but military posts are to be established at Vicksburg, Jackson, Meridian and Natchez, and temporary stations at Columbus and Gre- pada, The recently revived excitement regarding an appre- hended Fenian attack continues, and aven intensifies, along the Canadian border, and the inhabitants of each frontier town are momentarily looking for the dread onset, The militia. remain under arms, and at Sarnia and Windsor trains are kept ready to move off with troops at a moment's notice. The reason given for the Mayor of Hamilton not causing the arrest of Hoberts and Sweeny when he saw them sleeping in a car isa foar that it might have led to the burving of the town, The Fenians of Jersoy City have Issued @ remarkable call for an immense gathering on Tuesday evening next, at which the Mayor of the city is to preside, O'Mahony and his entire staff being on- nounced as speakers, General Sweeny, on last Wednes- day evening, reviewed the military Fenians of Cinoin- nati, and made a terse speech at a mass miveting regard- ing the military movement, Three other generals of the Western armies took part in the progeedings, and Sweeny's call for bayonets and men set the Fenian men in a furor of excitement and enthusiasm, Joff. Davis imprisonment and the manifestations of public execration of his offences whioh hé sees in the newspapers, our Fortress Monroe correspondence informs: us, are wearing upon his mind and causing him to lose his amiability and self-possession. The Congressional propositions for his early trial and the constant allusion & to his crimes have soured him terribly, and rendered him rather violent in both langaage and mauner, Dy way of Port au Prince and Turks Isiqnd we have news from Jamaica to the 18th of January, Sir Henry Storks, who arrived in Jamaica on the §th of Jauuary, took the oath as Governor on the Oth, On the 17th the Colonial Legislature waa comvened, and a message from the Governor was read, asking for powers to summon wit- nesses for the approaching inguiry into the causes of the Terent massacre, Aftera somewhat stormy debate, inthe course of which one member declared there could be no Peace until the death of George W. Gordon was re- dreesed, the Legislature adopted an addres promising the Governor every assistance ig prosecuting the im auiry, Kx-Gove mor Eyre bas retained counsel to watch banks, the notes are printed and issned by the government, and the mass of the people are led to believe, consequently, that the govern- ment is bound to redeem the notes. They are no more national in this sense than the old banks. The government does not guarantee the payment of the notes and could only pro- tect the holders to the extent of what the secu- rities deposited might fetch. It requires but little sagacity to perctive, therefore, on what an insecure foundation we rest, or what a fear- ful state of things must be the consequence of any great financial difficulty in the untry. On the other hand, the government is bound for the legal tenders, and whatever troubles we may pass through they wou!d be good in the end, for the government exisis always. Indeed, who could have any doubt that the notes issued by the government of this great and productive country, on its own credit and in its own name, will always be good? But, independently of the superior value and greater security in legal tenders to the pub- lic, it seems monstrous for the government to lend its credit to those private corporations called national banks even to the extent it does. If there is to be a circulation of three, four or five hundved millions of notes called national, why should they not be really and truly national—that is, government money? The profit on the currency loaned to these pri- vate corporations, even while its full redemp- tion is not guaranteed, is enormous, Besides this, they draw six or seven per cent on the se~ curities deposited. In all, probably the banks make over fifteen per cent out of the people upon their capital invested, Should their cir- culation reach five bundred millions, as it must ifthe present system should continue and the banks be proportionately distributed over the whole country, they would draw from the in- dustry of the people sixty or seventy millions annually. And what do they give for it? Ac- commodation? Would not legal tenders ac- commodate the public quite as well, or better? If persons or companies wish to bank, why can they not bank on legal tenderst Why the eovernmont lend its credit to individ tm this city, has |/the parish of St Thomas in the East, the scene of the | burdens or to pay the national debi? The amount literally given away in this manner for the benefit of a gigantic and mono- poly would Uquidate the national debt in thirty or forty years. Suppose the govern- ment were to issue legal tenders as currency, and pledge itself for their redemption, in place of the notes of the so-called. national banks, and to the same amount, or to whatever amount the country might require, it could withdraw the interest-bearing bonds now used as banking capital by the national banks to the extent of the issue. Say five hundred mil- Hons would be the circulation of the national banks, and les it be determined that legal tenders shall take its place, could not the withdraw the interest-bearing bonds to that amount? In other words, gov- ernment could buy up the bonds by legal tenders, and substitute one form of security for another. This alone would’ save thirty millions or more a year. Thirty millions a year could be saved in this way only by government using its own credit for a circu- lating medium, instead of giving it away to monopolizing private corporations; and the people would be far better satisfied and feel more secure in having such a currency instead of that of the national banks. Apply the sum thus saved asa sinking fund for the liquida- tion of the national debt, in addition to a fixed annual appropriation equal to the present interest, and the debt could be pald in about thirty years. Unquestionably tho government has begun at the wrong end when it withdraws legal tenders to make way for the notes of the national banks, and the sooner it begins at the other end the better. We believe the financial evils this gigantic national bank system would bring upon us in the end, great as they must be, would be less than the political. It is a monstrous machine set in motion by Mr. Chase for ambitious pur poses and from the worst party motives. It was intended to be, and will be, doubtless, far more potent than the old national bank, which nearly proved too strong for the government, It will create a moneyed oligarchy which will monopolize and forestall the markets, oppress the laboring classes, and control the govern- ment itself Let this dangerous monster be strangled in its infancy, before it becomes too powerful; let the government issue currency on its own account and credit, and let there be a bureau established to regulate this curreney according to the exchanges of the world, the balances of trade, and the necessities of intar- nal commerce. Then we need not feel troubled long about specie payment; that would soon follow, and the currency of the government would become as good as gold all over the world, as the notes of the Bank of England are. Congress would show its wisdom and patriot ism by taking ho!d of this important matter at once, instead of disgusting the country by ab- surd negro legislatio, Revowriosanr flux Dantox — Marat — Trappevs Stevens—We do not know of two men who have come up prominent- ly before the world in revolutionary times more alike than Marat and Thaddeus Stevens. The American radical and professed frignd of the negro is the antitype of the French Z’Ami du Peuple. Stevens resembles in some respects andtef French revoiutionist, Danton, in boldness, daring and remorseless proscription; but hi bas, besides, the cynical nature, ‘affected purity and demagogism of Marat. | As first one and then the other of these Jacobins of France held the Convention and public functionaries in terror, so Stevens holds our woak Honse of Representatives. Such is the power of his will, and so resolute his pnr- pose, that he carries the members with him against their own judgment. Without the guillotine to back him, as Danton and Marat had, he is equa!ly powerful, dogmatic and dictatorial, and the frightened members of the Tiouse are fully as pliant to his dictation as were the members of the Convention and the revolutionary authorities in Paris to those men, In the mame of universal equality and fraternity they ecommilted deeds that bomanity will shwdder at through all time, and he, in the name of justice, freedom and liberality, would adopt ineasures of remorseless proscription. They made republican ideas and institutions odions hy their Infumons conduet, and he would de- stroy this great country by bis intolerance and impracticable abstract theories. They plunged France into such a fearful and exhausting war that the nation bled at every pore purely from a reckless spirit of propagandism and to cover up their crimes, and he, from a similar motive, proposes extreme measures that may involve us in foreign wars. lis proposition to give direct aid to Juarez in the war now raging in Mexico shows how radical and dangerous his policy is in foreign mattery as well as in domestic ones, While we all sympathize with the republican cause in Mexico, we are not prepared to wage a war of propagandism. We prefer the deliberate but firm course of the President with regard to. that country, and we believe it will sooner accomplish the object we desire than will the extreme one of Stevens, These radicals, whether of France or America, are revolutionary and dangerous in every- thing. But we may be thankful that they will not be able to do so much harm here, for we have a prudent, firm and conservative Presi- dent to checkmate them. Stevens may rule over the weak members of Congress for a time, but the age of the guillotine and committees of public safety is past,and his power will decline before the liberal views and generous sentiments of the people. Asswrant Scrorons or Tux Aruy.—A com- mittee representing the assistant surgeons of the army have presented # memorial to the Surgeon General showing the injustice of that section of Senator Wilson’s Army bill which refers to them, This section increases the number of surgeons in the army, but provides that all vacancies of this grade shall be filed by persons who have served as staff and regi- mental surgeons and assistant surgeons of volunteers two years during the war. This provision is manifestly anjust to the assistant surgeons of the regular army, many of whom have served four, five, and some of them six years, have passed the second examination provided by law, and are now entitled to the next vacancies which may occur in the grade of surgeon, Many of these officers, though commissioned and paid as assistants only, have done the duty of surgeons throughout the war; they have been placed in charge of general hospitals, purveying depots, of regiments, divisions. corms and armies in the field, Now that there is a chance of promotion the claims of these officers should certainly be considered by Congress, We repeat our suggestion, made a fow days since, that it is but fairthat a board should be appointed to examine the merits of those assistant surgeons who are in the line of promotion, and of those surgeons of voluateers whose promotion is so. inconsiderately con- templated by the provisions of Senator Wil- son’s bill, The board would, of course, select those found most worthy and competent to fill the advanced grade, and the medical branch eas seme gorimealiy Lanne by the opera- 2. The New Revenue 5, m—Its Operations Simplified. Whatever may be said about the details of the report recently made by the Revenue Com- mission, it cannot be denied that its prac- tical effect, if carried into operation, will be to very much simplify the workings of the Inter- nal Revenue Department. The present system is exceedingly cumbersome, furnishing great opportunities for frauds of all kinds. It is in many respects vexatious to the honest tax- payer, while the dishonest finds a loophole to escape and evade the payment of his portion of the public burden. According to the state- ments of the Commissioners, one-third of the tax under the present law is never collected, Whether this arises from the incompetence oy neglect of the officials whose dut” ”, is to ad- minister the Jaw, or from “iuits in the law it- Self, the Commisgivaers do not clearly state. Let the cause be what it may, the result reveals an alarming inequality in its operations, and calls for immediate remedy in some form or other. It is hardly to be expected that the honest taxpayer will long pay the tax levied against him without grambling, if he finds that his neighbor, engaged in the same business, but less honest than himself, avoids paying his portion. Upon this rock the whole syswm will fait unless remedied, for it is an injustice which will not be long endured in silence. The recommendations of the Revenue Com- mission, if adopted’by Congress, will no doubt go a great way toward removing this evil, from the fact that it will ina m asure simplify the machinery of the law. But we very much doubt if even this will prove sufficient to pre- vent an evasion of the law, unless greater care be taken in the selection of the men to adminis- ter it than has been the case heretofore. But as a step in that direction we hail it as a good omen. At any rate it removes all excuse for evading the tax, and if the tax officials do not ‘administer it to all alike, then the fault can be traced to its true source. In advocating the principle of taxing a few articles in the bulk, instead of diffusing it in detail over a thousand trifling things, thus imposing several succes- sive taxes on the same article as it changes form, the Commission recommend a wholesome: change, that must commend itself to every candid mind. We donbt if the people of any other government would have so silently sub- miited to the injustice of the present system as the American people have. But it will not answer for Congress or the administration to try the patience of our people too long. When once it becomes generally understood that thére is an inequality in the appli- cation of the law, the dissatisfaction will take @ deep root snd cuuse. more. serfois” embarrasement in raising govern- ment revenue than many now suppose. Equal justice, above all things, is necessary when the purse of the business man is touched. Onr legislators cannot, therefore, be too care- ful in framing the revenue laws, nor the tax officials too impartial in administering them. The cardinal rale of simplicity should be followed throughout, and at the same time preat care should be taken that the burden of the tax does not fall upon the articles of necessity to every family while luxuries are almost scot free. The report of the Revenue Commission is open to this objection in its recommendation of an increase of the tax on sugar and reduction on whiskey. The former is a necessity to every family, while the latter is purely a luxury, and a luxury that can well afford a heavy tax. We are, a8 a nation, just emerging from an impor- tant and costly struggle. The war produced a complete revolution in the business of the country, stimulated speculation and increased largely the number of financial adventurers, With the advent of peace this class found their operations curtailed, and will sooner or later be compelled to adapt themselves to more arduous pursuits. We are thus going through a system of business and financial reconstruction ar important to the country as the political ad- justment of the Southern States, Many of the adventurers and fortune seekers during the war hope to delay this transformation of the business of the country by prolonging the agitation in regard to the Southern States, But sooner or later they will have to face the reality and adjust their operations to the new commercial basis. Now that Congress is about to readjust the tax laws, they should see to it that its application will be such as to adapt itself to the great changes now going forward. The report of the Commission, while faulty in some of the details, has in its general policy opened the way for Congress, which should be heeded before it is too late, While all this is done its efficient application should be secured against all contingency as a protection to the honest taxpayer. Without this great injustice will be done to the business of the country. ing the condition of affairs there. If such a than ever, and they are mixed up enough now. We should suppose that there is quite light enough upon this subject already, or there cer- tainly will be, if the report of General Sher- man’s observations in the South—which has been asked for—is laid before gress, We have had the tal Grant upon the condition of in the Southern States, and this, nection with General Sherman’s observa- tions, which we have no doubt will prove con- firmatory of the general opinion that President Jobnson’s policy is the surest and quickest intention of getting up testimony hostile to the President’s policy, and thus delaying the object nearest to the hearts of the whole people—the consolidation of the Union—their proiect of & tour through the South shousa pe It will be énly wasting time and money to send these gentlemen on this mission. The country will rely upon the statements of such men as Grant and Sherman, which are of infinitely more value than anything which the missiona- ries of the Reconstruction Committee can get up. Rapicat Trromre oy THe SenaTs.—The radi- cals in the Senate at Washington, under the lead of Sumner and Wade, have been laboring for a month past to secure the reference of the credentials of the Southern representatives to the Committee on Reconstruction. Every effort failed until last Monday. On that day they renewed their attack, and were successful, The certificates of the Senators elected from the Southern States, therefore, now go to the Joint Committee. This means that no representa- tives from the Southern States are to be ad- mitted during this session. Thus the con- trolling minds of the extreme faction are gradually carrying their points, and each day weaving their net around the President and tying his bands, all by gauging their action in a manner that the Executive is not permitted to say yes or nay in regard to it How long does President Jobneon intend to sit quietly by and permit this kind of work to go on? At the present rate the radicals will soon have him completely in their power. The mode of treating the pplication of the Southern representatives on the part of Con- gress is plain and simple. Congress, under the constitution, is the judge of the qualifiea- tion of its own members. Bott! houses should, under this authority, examine closely the record and standing of every person apyiying for seats from the late rebellious States. The committee to do this is that on Elections, and not the Joint Reconstruction Committee. It in this examination only six representa- fives from all the Southern States have a clean, loyal record, admit them, and reject all the others. If there is but one man among the whole lot who remained true to the Uaion dur ing the war, then admit that one man and reject all the balance, If a man remained firm against all the pressure that was brought to bear upon him during the existence of the rebellion he certainly can be trusted in Congress now. He should be at once admitted, and the others sent home for the people to send men who have not been disloyal in their place. It may be said that the Southern people will return a ect of men in their places equally obnoxious, If they do, all that Congress has to do in the premises is to refuse to receive them. If the South are in earnest in their desire to return to the bene- fils of the Union they will not long persist in sending disloyal men to represent them if Con- gress pursues this course, There is no better way of testing the honesty. of their professions than this, Nor can there be any better guaran- tees for the future than by Congress establishing the policy of admitting Union men only, and rejecting those who took part in the rebellion against the government. The policy now pur- sued strengthens the old secession party in the Sonth and places the Union men at the mercy of that class. Suppose, for instance, that Con+ gress rejected the men claiming seats from Vir ginia, who were disloyal during the war, and continyed to do so, yet at the _same—time-e@- hit Union men who applied from other States, how long would it be before the people of Virginia would send such men as John Minor Botts to represent them? Croton Water axp THE Unvercrounp Rant RoaD.—The reply of Mr. Craven, the Chief En- gineer of the Croton Aqueduct Department of this city, to a resolution of the State Senate in- quiring as to the practicability of conducting @ railroad under Broadway, we think has settled that question, and we trust will put the final quietus on that visionary sebeme. He has shown it impossible to construct # road in that form without disconnecting the main water pipe through the city, and thus eutting off the supply of water from a large portion of the metropolis. It willébe impossible to eonstruct that road while the pressure of water is on the pipes, for the simple reason that the moment the earth is removed below the water main the foundation is disturbed, and the least settling will cause a break in the pipe, which will in- flict inestimable damage before it ean be stopped. The numerous breaks which have heretofore taken place at the upper end of Fifth avenue, from the sinking of the Croton pipe, show conclusively this fact, To besub- jected to this risk for one, two or three years occupied in tunnelling Broadway, is more than our people will be willing to endure. The only possible way that the work can be car- ried out is by disconnecting the water pipes; and this will cut off all supply of Croton from a large portion of the city! All manufaetgries will have to stop operations, and, in fact, many classes of business will be brought to a stand- still, to say nothing of the loss by fire which will surely follow, laying the entire lower por- tion of the city in ashes. The benefits of an underground railroad, when completed, will hardly compensate for this damage to the city. Even if it is finally carried into practical operation, what will an underground railroad be worth with all the lower portion of the city destroyed in its construction? Chief Engineer Craven has shown the scheme to be an imprac- tieable one, and we hope that the Albany Solons will now give it the go-by, and go to work upon some practical measure for the relief of Broad- way. Avorger Mustany Man on tae Conprriox or Tus Sovrmzrn Prortz.—Gencral Sherman adds his excellent testimony to that of General Grant on the real extent to which the pacifica- tion and settlement of the South has now real- ly gone. He finds that travel is safe, even in Arkansas, and that all classes of the people are content and perfectly satisfied with the re- sult of the war, except the few office seekers, who, of course, are soreheads in every commu- nity, These are his words:—“So far as my ob- servation goes there is perfect satisfaction felt by all classes of the people, exeept on the part ofa very few, who are looking to future com- binations involving the local and unimportant State offices.” And General Sherman thinks the settlement 80 positive that all the land that {s cleared will be under eultivation next year. ‘We have thus had the opinions of Grant and Sherman on this matter—the opinions of men who went down South very early, and who have seen the Southern Ly ay heat opinion of the {ilustrious Schurz, who went down South « great deal later, and who thinks that the South is not yet subdued, The South: ern people seem ferocious and terrible to him even yet, bis memory is 90 good,