The New York Herald Newspaper, February 6, 1866, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU TS, present month so far:— nnn Volume XXXI...... seeseeceeeee@s 3T AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, WAY THEATRE, Broadway, near Broome PP gar yn Smxcus—Live INpiax. USHTON'S NEW YORK THBATRE, Nos es Froud oadway. ee Buack Dommo—Berwaen & xp Mx anp TH Post. wooD's THEATRE, Broadway, pus tax Deaoraite-OLinea ae ew Yous inant Turek. TONY PASSOR'S OPEBA HOUSE. 291 Bowoer.—Sina- 1a, Dancing, BuauEsques, Mourtawx Devin. GronGE Guanrrs yore LS.—Tas Na Sogo or MunstRELsy, rire Avenue Opera House. jen pand ¢ etatw- fourth at SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broxd oPpoeite Metropolitan Hotel.—Ermioriaw SINGING, star Ttaciay Arms ay Native Apvists, ecgrg merase, Mateeet Mes, oh et —Dax Bayan’ — i, Bunasaves, &c.—Tim Hanwp-a-Loxa Baotnens. HOOLEY’S OPERA HO! mara aro Paasouae Mu. sreeist—Bautans, Bi BA HOUSE Be P< yaad aniue 0M Jason Mw Wenw's Gnaxp i MUSEUM OF ( OF ANATOMY, Bioadwa EERE M. til) 10 P.M ee _ LECTURE yoR THE BENEFIT OF THE POOR-Br mux Rev SPALDING, ARCHBISHOP Or BALTIMORE, AT Sturunx’s Cuvmom. New York, Tuesday, February 6, 1866. = Se CONGRESS. In tho Senate yesterday petitions wore presonted from General Sheridan and other officers, for an increase of pay, and from citizens of Detroit, urging greater protec- tion to American industry. A memorial of citizens of Minnesota in favorof a national Bureau of Education was also presented. The Claims Committee reported ad- ‘versely on several petitions referred to them asking com- pensation for war damages, The Secretary of War was valled on for the report of General Roberts as to the best mode of reclaiming Mississippi swamp lands, The bill Jor the relief of Paymaster Rittenhouse, of the Navy, who was robbed of a large amount of government funds, at Panama, was under consideration for a short time, and Mr. Wilson, during some remarks in opposition to it, stated that during the wh:le of the late war the government lost less tlan a quarter of a million dollars through the negligence of paymas- ters, Tho representation basis constitutional amendment adopted by the House on Wednesday last was then called up, when Mr. Sumner took the floor and offered a substi- tute for it, which he proceeded to advocate at length, continuing his remarks, without concluding them, till the adjournment. He considered there was no necessity of interfering with the constitation at all in order to effect the object which the supporters of this amendment had in view, and thought that the end arrived at could bo attained much betier and more directly and thoroughly ‘by a simple act of Congress. His substitute there:ore Proposes that Congress shall declare a complete abolition and prohibition in the States lately in rebellion of all caste privileges and monopolies, and of all'civil or politi- cal distinctions on account of color or race. Alarge number of matters received attention in the House of Representatives. Bills were introduced, and referred, prescribing a stringent oath to be taken by all government employes and lawyers, declaring, among other things, that they nevor held office under rebel authority or voluntarily gave the rebellion financial aid; to fix a new standard of weights and measures, in accord. {nce with the French decimal system; to transfer to the national Court of Claims all suits brought against army or navy officers for acts committed MM the ischerge of duty during the ruvelltumy to improve Mississippi river navigation, and providing for taking the census of the country between the present time and December next. Two additional constitutional ‘amendments were submitted, one of them stipulating that im the event of any future case of secession tho se- Ceding State or States shall be reduced back to a territo- ral condition, and the other giving Congress additional power to enforce the provisions of the constitution. The Kenate resolution to distribute fve hundred copies of Madison's writings was adopted, and th» Senate Bmendments to the Ponsion bill were agreed to. The Fenate bill to guarantee all porsons in tho couatry pro- lection of their civil rights was referred to the Jud clary Lommittee. A resolution that the Southorn States be taxed to defray all tho expenses of the military force re- quired to preserve order within their lim'ts was offered Bad laid over. A democratic member offered a resolu- tion, which was laid on the table, that on one day of ach week, to be calied the “white man’s day,” the nogro should be+ Inid aside, and the public business of the country be exciusively considered. A preamble and resolution directing in- quiry into the expedicucy of locating the national capi- tal at a point nearer the geographical ceutre of the country were offered and referred to the Reconstruction Committee. A few other matters of minor importance were noticed, and then the discussion of the Freedmen’s Bureau bill was resumed, and continued during the day session. It is expected that the vote on th's measure will be taken to-day. An evening seasion was he'd, which was devoted to general d bate on diferent sub- jects, principally the present condiiion of the States which took part in the rebellion. THE LEGISLATURE. The State Senate did not meet yesterday till soven o'clock in the evening, and only a short session was held. The bills to regulate taxes on Tands taken for Croton water purposes and to incorporate tho New York Clay Mission and Tract Society were ordered to third reading; notice was given of additional projects for a railroad in Grand and other streets, and several other matters, of only a local or private nature, and of no gen- eral interest, received some attention, The Assembly was in session during the day, but did not transact a great deal of business. The bill notion ‘on Saturday, authorizing the Central Railrood Company to subscribe two million dollars for a projectod railroad from Athens to Newburg, and the towns on the routs to take stock, wae introduced, as were also bills to increase the pay of the Metropolitan police and in relation to the taxation of moneyed and other stock corporations. A Tesolution was offered requesting such information of the Governor as would enable the members to act intelli gently im regard to co-operating with the authoritics of Maryland in the establishment of a soldier's cemetery on the Anuietam battle ground. Tho advices we publish today from India and China possess considerable interest as aifecting Am rican com mercial relations in the Kast, The fear of Russian en- croachments in Central Asia, which has become chronic with the British government, has latterly med uw new phase, It is now concoded by the Auglo-Iudian press that the slow but sure advances made by the Russian government in Central Asia are endangering the future safoty of England's Indian empire. The Bombay Gace’ admits that England “is utterly helpless to prevent Russia from proceeding in her career of conquest, if it is her will to carry out her poley of annoxation.”’ The Same paper bears testimony to the wonderful civilizing induence which the European Colossus is exercising on her recent acquisitions, and adds that Ruasia ‘is the only Power that can succorfully accomplish this work.” In Cashmere tho progress of Russian power has iudaced the Anglo-Indian government to sud out thres native spies fo obtain authentic infortnation. The Bhootan treaty recently concluded by the British authorities has been the sulject of much comment in England, and will probably be tunde a grownd of attack upon Earl Russell's Cabinet as soon as ment @ wembles, The Calcutta Englishman inforr that by this treaty the Bhooteas have conceded to England “all thoir rights and interests im the eighteen Bengal and Assam Dooars, including all the land Aromarkable picture of the state of affilre in China when Sir Rutherford Alcock; the Britieh Atmbnwndor, arrived at Pekin, is furnished by the overiand China mail. The Chinese, relieved from their fear of the Tae pings, were busily engaged in casting munitions of war and were preparing to exclade all foreigners from the country. English advices state that sir R. Alcock a rived in time to change this policy. THE CITY. Yostorday wos another of the cold Mondays with whih tle ‘AB clx o'clock in the morning the mercury, having continued @ downward course nye pe was only nine degrees above zero, The following figures from Delatour’s weather record show the extremity of cold in the city on each day of the on Above sero. 3 February & 13 —There was a great amount of floating ice if the North and East rivers yesterday, and the ferryboats were much delayed by it; but no serious accidents are reported as a result. The telegraph reports extremely cold weather prevailing in various portions of the country. At a meeting of the Board of Aldermen, held yesterday afternoon, an appropriation of twenty-three thousand dollars was made to mest the extra soworage expenses of the Croton Board during the past year. The Ely and MoKnight @ispute was settled, the former gentleman being declared duly entitled to his seat in the Board. A resolution was adopted direoting the coroners to adver- tise in daily journals descriptions of all unknown persons ‘on whose remains inquests have been held. The stand- ing committees for the present year were then appointed, ‘and the Board adjourned to moct on Monday next. ‘A collision between a freight car of the New Haven Railroad Company:and a passenger car of the Fourth ‘Avenue Railroad Company took place yesterday in Cen- tre street, near Walker, and resulted in the smashing of the passenger vehicle, the killing of the two horses by. which it was drawn, and the inflicting < eo ine ‘two or three passengers. p Board of Cavhclmen were~ in| ‘nie yeaterday- the Street’ Commis- ) Railroad Com- erected by them at pliers 14 and 16 North river, and in case the company refuse to do 80, the Street Commis- sioner was instructed to have the butidings removed at the expense of the Company. The Board concurred with the Aldermen in adopting a resolution requesting the Congressional and State authorities to take measures for enforcing more stringent quarantine regulations. The Corporation Counsel, in answer to an inquiry in reference to the legal rate of faro chargeable by the Eighth Avenue Kailroad Company, gave it as his opinion that the Com- pany should not charge more than five cents to the end of their route. Tho communication was referred to the Committee on Railroads. The Comptroller was author- ized to re-lease the premises 163 Houston street for the use ofthe Fourth District Court. A resolution directing the Clerk of the Common Council to prepare ten thousand copies of the Corporation Manual, and appropriating thirty-five hundred dollers for his services, was adopted. ‘The case of Mr. George Knapp, one of the editors and proprietors of the Missouri Republican, charged with publishing alibellous article on Mr. A. T. Stewart, was indefinitely postponed by Judge Dowling yesterday, on counsel for the defence stating the desire of his client to make a public retraction. An order was yesterday received from Washington for the extradition of George Gustaff, who was held in this city on a charge of administering poison to one McKen- non, in Toronto, Canada. One of the United State Depu- ty Marshals will escort the prisoner and deliver him over to the Canadian authorities. A verdict of five hundred doliars was yesterday ren- dered in the Supreme Court in favor of Mr. Wm. Car- land, for injuries sustained by him in consequence of a collision between a Harlem freight car and one of the Third avenue passenger cars. Judge McCunn yesterday ordered an affidavit presented by the counsel of Mr. Daniel M. Porter to be expunged from the record of the Special Term of the Superior Court, on account of its alieged ungentiemanly and ecur- rilous language. The affidavit was offered on a motion for 8 commission to examine witnesses in Boston and Worcester, Mass., and reflected in strong terms on the defendant, Henry D. Stover,. Judge Foster, in Part 3of the Supreme Court, yester- day ordered that all jurors regularly summoned be fined twenty-five dollars for cach day of non-attendance with- out proper excuse. ‘Tho Court of Oyer and Terminer was opened yesterday morning by Judge G. G. Barnard for the trial of criminal cases, Grand ang jupies were sworn, after which sovreort price ‘the trial of John Connyss, alias Gordon, who was tried and convicted of pocket picking. Evidence of a'provious offence having been given against him, he was sentenced to the State Prison for nine years and six months, The case of J. F. Oram, accused of murder, has been postponed until next Monday, and on Wednosday, the 14th inst,, the caso of the pegplo against tho proprietors of the steamer Arrow, for manslaughter, will be taken up. The court adjourned until to-morrow. The February term of the Court of General Sessions commenced yesterday, City Judge Russel presiding and Assistant District Attorney Hutchings prosecuting. In consequence of a Grand Jury having been empanelled in the Oyer and Terminer, the Grand Jurors summoned for this court were discharged till next Monday. Kate Kelly, charged with stealing twenty-eight dollars’ worth of property from the Gramercy Park Hotol, pleaded guilty. Joseph Prior, indicted for stealing an overcoat and a set of modical instruments worth seventy dollars, pleaded guilty to the charge. Henry Gross, who as- saulted John L. Word»n, Jr., on the 234 of Dovember, Pleaded guilty to assault and battery. These prisoners were remanded for sentence, In the suit brought by Josephine Skillman and Sarah E. Onderdonk against the city of Brooklyn, in the Su- prome Court in that city, and which has been on trial for the last three days, to recover the value of a house de- stroyed by a mob in June, 1865, the Jury yesterday ro- turned a verdict for the defendant. An application was made to Surrogate Tneker yester- day for perm'ssion to release, on payment of thirty-five hundred dollars cash, a bond of the American and Foreign Bible Society for twenty-nine thousand dollars, held by the estate of the late Nathan ©. Platt. It was alleged that the Bible Society had no property except its stock of Bibles, office furniture and stereotype plates, altogether worth about twenty-five hundred dollars. The Surrogate, however, denied the application. ‘The annua) intermediate examination of the students of Columbia College commenced yesterday, and will con- tinue till Friday. Another meeting of the stockholders of the Colum. dian Marine Insurance Company was held yoster- aay, when, after the transaction of some other busi- ness in regard to the late suspension of that inetitu- tion, charges of mismanagement being made against some of the directors, a proposition was submitted re- that if they should refuse to do so legal means be taken to coerce them. The City Inspector reports the deaths in New York for the past week at 455—a docygase of 36 from the previous week and of 15 as compared with the corresponding week in 1865. Of the mortalities recorded 96 were of men, 98 women, 264 boys and girls, Of the latter 221 Were less than five years of age. The stock market was unsettled and lowor yesterday morning, but improved in the afternoon and closed firm. Governments were dull and steady. Gold close@ at 130%. There was rather more demand for goods in some de- partments of trade yesterday, and the week opencd with considerable buoyancy, Still, the amount of busi- | ness actually done was small, Groceries were quiet. Cotton was dalt and nominal pending later European Petroleum was dull and lower, On ‘Change was steady. Wheat and corn were also without de- cided change, thongh the latter was somewhat hoavy. Pork excited, active and higher. Lard was also higher. Whiskey was dull and drooping. MISCELLANEOUS. Rumors of the contemplated resignation of Secretary of War Stanton were again current in Washington yestor- day, General Steedman and Montgomery Blair both being mentioned as among the persons having a chance for the succession, Secretary of the Treasury McCulloch has issued a cit. cular announcing that on the Ist of March next will ter- minate the provisions of the Deportment concession some time ago made by which articles manufactured in tho States lately in rebellion before the establishment there of Internal Revenue collection districta, but still retained in manufactarer’s possession until after such establish- mont, should be held free from the revenne assessments unl! Lraneported beyond the limits of said States, | A letter from Bragoe, Texas, of the Stet ult, enys that Generals Weitzel, Smith and Clark were to be mustered | oot of servic on that day, and that within a month five | regiments of troops would by mustered out in the State, ‘The cutive force in the Department of Texas on the 25th _ Sl comprised nineteen infantry and five cavalry regi. | ments, thtee batteries of artillery one company of ponton iers Further details of the roeent raid on Bagdad, Mexico, taken from s sharply dedned imperial point of view, are questing two of those gentlemen to resign, and urcing | this section of the country hag been favored since the | furnianed 'm n= 7 eee ship Guiding Star, which arrived ere yesterday. The semsaien uqgenee to hore been Cane? dts Nout SH 20m; for he says ‘We saved ourselves by fight;)” how, being = fugitive, sienna fea what transpired, is not explained. He charges that the ‘attack on the town and its capture were entirely the work of American soldiers, principally colored, from Texas, commanded by United States officers, and ferried across the river by » United States revenue vessel. He gives particulars of alleged horrible scenes of pillage, robbery, murder, outrages on women and all manner of crimes to which the captor for some hours devoted their entire attention, and in which it is said they were directed and assisted by General Weitzel's officers, about twenty in number, some of whose names are given. Indeed, this ‘fugacious and horrified tmpenal historian boldly declares that even the soldiers sent over by Gen. Weitzel to presorve order took an equal part with the raiders in the pillaging. The spoils, which are described as immense in quantity and value, and greatly enriching many American officers, are said to have been all des- patched across the Rio Grande to Clarksville and Browns- ville, Texas, then transported to Brazos, and thence sent to sea, Now Qsjeans advices state that a man named Garcia has been arrested in Texas on charge of stealing forty thousand dollars’ worth of goods at Bagdad. A letter from a gentleman in Haytl, giving an account of the visit of Secretary Seward to that republic, during his late West India trip, says that the interview botween him and President Goffrard was very cordial and friendly, ‘and lasted for about two hours. On the departure of the Secretary a salute in his hanes wae Red Oy he. arse War steamer Galatea. Tho lategt-ndvives from Havatia fetont that on the Stet ult. a Spaiwsh war steamer left that port in great haste, in pursnit; {t was-supposed, of soine Chilcan privateer. ‘The Grau Opera troupe_arrived at Havana, on the steam ship Eagle, on the 30th ult,, and received the compli- ment of a sereniade shortly after their arrival. ‘The State Departmont has received information of the loss of the American vessels Harry of the West, from Now Orleans for Liverpool; the Menden, from New York for London, and the Tigress, of Boston, bound for Hull. The crews of all were rescued. A War Department order has been issued discontinuing the District of Missouri as a military command. European Discussion of the Rights of Privateers and Neutral Nations. Spain announced officially in December last that she would treat as a pirate any private armed vessel found cruising under the Chilean flag, unless the commander, officers, and the majority of the crew should be Chilean subjects, and unless the’ authorily to cruise had been received directly from the Chilean government. England felt her neutrality out- raged by this, The British gévernment had already seen that Spanish commerce might offer @ tolerably fair field for that portion of the British people which had built, equipped and sailed the Shenandoahs and Alabamas, and it was very sensitive with regard to their inde- feasible British right to prey on the commerce of a friendly nation. It felt that it must assert that right or otherwise these dull Spaniards might hang some day a round dozen of gallant Eng- lish tars who had been tealned, ike the sailors of the Alabams, in the war vessels of her Majesty’s navy. That would be an atrocity that Britain could never endure. Besides, if the Spaniards gotto hanging, there was no kuowing where they would stop, and perhaps it might finally be determined before Europe that England had not the right to wage maritime war against all other nations under the cover of neutrality. All that must be stopped short. This encroach- ment on the rights of neutral Britain must be nipped in the bud. Sir John Crampton was, thorefore, instructed by her Majesty’s government to point out to Spain that its purpose, as above declared, aid not accord with international law, because in- ternational law “has never considered as piracy the enlistment of the subjects of one State in the forces of another country;” and that, more- over, this said international law, unlike the Spanish government, “establishes no distinction between the letters of marque directly granted by the government of a belligerent nation and those that may be granted with the same object by its duly authorized agents.” Here Sir John Crampton makes a very asinine non-sequitur in one member of his sentence and lays bare in another what he intended to hide—the purpose of his protest. He gives two reasons why the proposed act of the Spanish government fs not in accordance with international law. First, it is not in such accordance, because that law does not consider as piracy the enlistment of the subjects of one State in the service of another. Now, as the Spanish declaration never said that it did, this is a queer reason to give why that declaration should be illegal. This reason has got nvthing whatever to do with the subject. Spain dces not declare, or claim, or require that British subjects shall not serve on Chilean privateers or enlist ig Chilean forces. Indeed, having common sense, she knows that they will be there if there is any money to be made by it. She even leaves open a constructive permission for these -“subjects of a neutral State” to ernise on Chilean privateers. She only requires that they shall not be there in more thon a ceriain proportion. Have as many Englishmen there as you choose, so long as they are less than half the crew in number and it will be all right; but if there are half, or more than half--unless “the majority are Chileans”--Spain will punish all as pirates. That is the declaration, and it is obvious what & diplomatic dolt the English Secretary is when he declares this declaration illegal be- cause the law “has never considered as piracy the enlistment of the subjects of one State in the forces of another.” Crampton’s second reason why the Spanish declaration is Megal is, that international law “establishes no distinction between the letters of marque directly granted by the government of a belligerent nation and those that may be granted with the same object by its duly authorized agents.” Thus Crampton shows us that he knows as little of the law of which he pretends to write as he does of the contents of the declaration that he pretends to answer. His ignorance of the law is fully exposed in the Spanish reply ; but » point that the Spanish dignitary could not well touch—the especial purpose of the protest—is let out in this second reason. England is desirous that there should be no distinction made between priva- teers authorized directly by the Chilean goy- ernment and those authorized by that govern- ment’s accredited agents; that is, that there shall be no distinction between privateers that issue from the ports of Chile and those that do not go through that little formality, but re- ceive their papers by mail across the Atlantio— way through Chilean consuls—and issue at once from the ports in which they are built. This is the real purport of Crampton’s second reason. Now, why should England be sensitive on this? ‘Why should she, « neutral, friendly nation, re- quire that privateers be permitted to sail from other ports than those of the country whose fing they bear? Let the history of the Shenan- doah and the Alabama answer this, as well as the history of all the other rebel pirate ships throughout their careers, entered a port of the Confederacy. John Bull would not feel like. himself if he did not bully some one whom he knows to be leas strong than he is; and, there- fore, it is quite proper that this most gauche and bj of notes should close with threat, It is said at the last: “It cannot be expected that foreign governments, whose subjects are lisble to be “treated ss pirates by virtue of the instructions above men- tioned, will acquiesce in such measures.” The Spanish reply accepts the meaning of Crampton’s despatch as a protest against the Spanish document, and, without criticising it specifically, regrets that the British Secretary did not specially mention the principle on which he olaims protection for privateers, whom all Europe, and England with the rest, have denounced as “scourges of humanity.” It regrets this the more, inasmuch as all the writers of great repute on international law hold opinions different from those of the learned British Secretary. Pistoye and Duverdy are then cited as arguing that all neutrals on pri- vateers, without respect to proportion or num- ber, are pirates, uniess they have been autho- rized by their own government to take! letters- of marque from one of the belligerents.: Orto- lan'is cited in of the’ same view. A vessel manned by: neutrals cannot claim the nationality of the country that gave it the let- ter of marque, since it does not fulfil the con- ditions of nationality; and the neutral nation cannot recognize its own nationality in a ves- sel to which it’ gave no permission to arm. Such a ship, therefore, has no nationality, as its acts are piracy. Hautefeuille and Wildman give their testimony in support of the same point, And thus is very completely answered Sir John Crampton’s assertion that interna- tional law has “never considered as piracy the enlistment of the subjects of one state in the forces of another country.” We have the word of Crampton against Pistoye and Duverdy, Or- tolan and Hautefeuille, It is then shown that it is not less legal to require that the privateer should issue from the ports of the belligerent country, and should receive its authority to cruise directly from the belligerent govern- ment. England is reminded that she had as- sented to that usage before the treaty of Paris, by which tt was supposed she had committed herself to a stricter interpretation of the right of privateering, and is informed that she hasno right to protest on- behalf of the privateers, since they can only come in danger by forfeit- ing the protection of British laws, unless Eng- iand intends to authorize her subjects to take arms against Spain. It remains to be seen whether the learned Sir John Crampton will inform De Castro that the British government does not wish to carry this discussion any further. He probably will not, for much as it would doubtless delight Cramp- ton to get out of the discussion, England cannot retire from the point thus made. De Castro’s citations and arguments, applied to the Confederate ships that were equipped in Eng- land against us, would prove on the most incon: testable European authority that every one of these ships was a pirate; and if England should assent to these arguments she would stand before the world in the moat ridiculous and shaméful position, holding exactly opposite views on the same subject. Thus she would, out of the mouth of Crampton, argue to us that she had done no harm, that she was a quite innocent, much abused Power; and out of the mouth of the same astute Secretary she would acknowledge to Spain that she hm built, equipped, manned and sent out adozen pirates to prey on our ships. She would change her face with the facility of a national harlequin, and even Punch would be forced to picture her, mask in hand, telling us one thing and Spain another. That would never do; and there- fore Spain must be bullied out of her position; both for the sake of consistency and for the sake of all those jolly British neutrals who are itching to get at Spanish ships. The Republic of Dominica—President Baez and Secretary Seward. The report of the interview between Secre- tary Seward and the President of the republic of Dominica, which we published yesterday, was not only highly interesting and gratifying to every American citizen, but it also revealed a new phase in the diplomatic art, far more satis- factory than the usual custom. If Secretary Seward had conducted all his diplomatic cor- respondence in this straightforward and simple style, we should have bad less difficnity than now, and been able to dispense with numerous volumes of essays, which, in reality, say nothing and mesn less, Diplomacy, in these latter days at least, the world over, seems to be conducted on about the same principle as that in vogue in fashionablé society. The lady who makes her afternoon call, is received with flattering attentions, and if there is any point of difference between those who thas meet, a great effort is made to say all that Jan be said, and not allude to it. But the moment that this formal interview is ended and the parties are se parated, these particular points of difference are the only things thought of, or talked abdut, by either. Thus ft is with diplomatic corres- pondence. An important question of dispute arises between nations, and (he proper offic’als ot each government commence a correspondence; but instead of coming directly to the question, they beat around the bush in all directions, and to all appearance direct every effort to see how much they can say without alluding to the question at isene. The reported interview between Secretary Seward and President Baez, of the republic of Dominica, is such a revolu- tion in this respect that we desire to call the attention of the public to it, We trust that this is the dawn of a new era in the diplo- matic art, and that it may yet prove to be one of the blessings of the revolution which we have been going through in this country. The straightforward and frank statements on each side of this Dominican affair have resulted to the mutual advantage of both parties inter- ested. The disabilities that heretofore existed on both sides are fully explained, and « far more triendly feeling secured than could have possibly been reached in any other way. In the brief statement of President Baez we have ‘® more concise and clearer view of the contest and struggle which has been going on on the island of St. Domingo, with the final results, than from any other source. Secretary Seward, in return, gave a short, comprehensive and complete idea of the great progress which we have made in this country since the outbreak of the rebellion. He shows that in crushing the pro-dlavery power in the United States we have, as 4 nation, placed ourselves in a position during the old order of things here, was one of the first fruits of our late struggle which swept the system of slavery from our land and made this country s republic, not alone in name, but in reality. All this having been accomplished, there was no barrier in the way of extending the hand of fellowship to the republic of Do- minica, which for years has, alone and unaided, been contending against monarchical influences, Thus it is, while we have been proving our strength at home, our success and prosperity have encouraged and strengthened the people everywhere, which will in time result in estab- lishing republics like our own upon this as well asthe Eastern hemisphere. These govern- ments will come in direct sympathy with us and increase the moral influence of the whole system the world over. We already see its effect in the unsettled ‘and uncertain condition of nearly all the monarchical Powers of Europe. It is seen in the renewed activity and energy of the Mexicans in their endeavors to resist the effort to estublish a monareby on their soll. Had we been usauccesaful in our struggle for rise, and the crown of the have been firmly established st the capital of the Montezumas, The olear statement made by the Secretary of State in his late jonrney of pleasure in regard to the great progress made in this country since 1860, will give a new im- petus to republican ideas the world over. The influence of those few words will extend farther and penetrate deeper than all the artful phrases or cunningly devised diplomatic letters of his entire official term. It is, in style and charac- ter, peculiarly American and republican, and as each we bail it as an omen of good. We trust that it will prove to be the first step in inaugurating a style of diplomacy more suited to the character of our institutions, which will soon supersede the long-winded, circuitous and unsatisfactory style now in vogue. in Europe—What ‘Will the French Oracle Say? From London to Vienna, according to our latest European advices, the Mexican question and the forthcoming speoch of Louis Napoleon on the subject, to his legislative chambers, were the absorbing political topics of the day. The departure from the Italian waters of the United States squadron, under Admiral Golds- borough, for Lisbon, was interpreted as a pre- cautionary movement in view of a possible rupture with France. Our Florence correspon- dent thus puts it:—“The Straits of Gibraltar are narrow, and Toulon and Brest are tolerably close at band, and it would not he impossible for French iron-clads to close the mouth of the bag which held Uncle Sam’s squadron, Asa precautionary measure, and to remove tempta- tion, the squadron leaves the bag and finds more open cruising grounds.” “There was a deal of talk (at the Italian capital) and wise shaking of the heads among the ambassadors when it became certain that the American squadron was at once to be withdrawn from the Mediterranean, and a rumor that became circulated, to the effect that a private despatch had been received announcing that @ confilet had taken place on the RioGrande, did not have a tendency to allay the excitement.” Thus, among the diplomatic circles of Flo- rence, there was a lively sensation upon two important facts which really justified a warlike interpretation. At Paris there was less excite- ment, but more active speculation upon the Mexican problem. The mountain was in labor, the oracle was about to speak, and all the ears of Europe were anxiously awaiting the voice of the oracle, The 224 of January was the appointed day, and the oracular utterance may reach us at any moment. Meantime the Paris journals and Paris correspondents of the leading Lon- doa journals were predicting or guessing what the oracle would probably say. The Presse had it that from the Taileries ball of the night before the report had come that the Emperor had signified his intention of abandoning Mex- ico ducing the present year, but thought that this could not be true, because “orders yet un- revoked, and prepared to be acted upon in Toulon, prescribe the sending out of two thou- sand or three thousand more troops.” The Déats (St. Marc Girardin) at the same time, in a leading article, pleaded earnestly for evacua- tion as the only course of safety left to France. Another Paris journal (Za France) had learned that despatches had been received from Wash- ington announcing that General Grant bad ma- terially “modified his views in reference to Mexico, that “his policy is assimilated to the peaceful course adopted by President Johnson, and that serious opposition to Maximilian will s00n subside.” Moreover, it was thought that “the death of Winter Davis, member of Con- gress, who had made himself conspicuous for hostility to the new empire,” bad lefi “without a leader the party (in Congress) ill-disposed towards the French.” ‘The superior weight of all this testimony, such as it is, justifies the conclusion that as Jaie as the 19th ult, nothing was known in Paris of the Emperor's purposes and intentions, but to the Emperor himself. The orders prescribing the departure of two or three thousand more troops for Mexico, however, “do not look like an evacuation.” But this dificulty touching the abandonment of this Mexican scheme may, perhaps, be explained by the Paris corres. pondent of the Indépendance Belye, in his state- ment that “Maximilian may count for a year longer upon the presence of our (the French) troops in his empire, but that France will make no engagements beyond that.” One year longer! If Louis Napoleon really entertained the idea on the 19th of January that an an- Bouncement that be would only support his Mexican protégé one year longer would be ac- cepted as a satisfactory peace offering by the United States, we hope that before the delivery of his legislative speech, on the 224, he bad be- come a wiser man. ‘We are not very sanguine of anything satis- factory from him upon this important snbject. We rather look for the same game to be played between the United States and Maximilian that Napoleon has been so adroitly playing for some years past Italy and the Pope. He will probably hold out nothing but the most shadowy promises on the one hand, while he continues his substantial protection and sup- port on the other. We therefore anticipate not #0 much that his speech will clearly define or determine the Mexican policy of France, as that it will determine the course of the United States Congress, In the event of a Napoleonic combed. It is true that the cotton plant can be grows im many other parts of the world, but rarely under sack bolls, causing them to open readily and sccommodating- ly (20 to speak), and thus enabling the picker to gather three times more cotton than he could if the foliage waa preserved, and of @ better too. Heretofore in cotton has been almost ex- Cotton, to be-very profitable, should be cultivated on & large scale, The plantation should bo of not loss than from one thousand to five thousand acres, It should be provided with gins and presses, conveniently located, and sufficient to insare the cotton, the moment it is dry enough, being ginned, pressed and eont to market and converted into gold. The gin and press will be a mint certain to coin fortunes for those interested. To provide these, of course, will require oapital, Some fifty years ago small farmers were wont to raise a few acres of cot- ton. They picked it slowly, and sold it to speculators, who hauled it a distance of miles to a gin, where it was obliged generally to remain in store fora considerable time before it could be ginned. The dolay frequently caused the cotton retathing the seeds and stored in qvan- tities to become damaged. The result was to confine the culture to tatge Iandowners and capitalists almost ex- clusively. Tho cotton plant, it should be remembered, does mot impoverish the goil, Lands where the soil is not friable and liable to be washed away by the rains in time of cultivation oan be preserved by a rotation of crops of corn and beans, one in every four or five years, for the growth of cotton, to the end of time. ‘Tho branches and foliage which fall from the plant retarn to mother oarth the invigorating principlo which sho has imparted to it. Cotton, unlike some other plants, does not rob the soil; it but borrows its wealth, to return it again almost intact. Its product, then, ts more lasting, if, indeed, it ts mot more proiitablo, than all the gold mines of the country. All that is required to make it so is that we ball be able to produce it ang sol it at from fourteen to fiftesn cents per pound; for at that price the world will cease to com- pete with us,in ite production. That we can so produce ‘and sell it, and at a large profit, is beyond question. A plantation, say of four or five thousand acres of well cloarcd land, would require one hundred and fifty good field Inborers. These, provided with the mecessary im- proved implements, can raise cotton plants sufficient te yield from six to seven million pounds of cotton, gross— that is to say; including the seeds. Three and « half pounds of cotton gross will yield one pound of cotton net—that is, divested of the seeds, To raise this crop would require the labor of the,field hands for a period of about five months. For the picking of a crop raised by ono hundred and fifty Geld laborers tho services of five hundred persons would be noeded, also for sbout five: months; and, just here is whore the superiority of the freo over the slave labor aystom ts most apparent. Under tie slave system the cotton grower was forced to main- tain all the year round a force of laborers for whose ser- ‘vices he had need for only @ portion of the time; hence by tho free labor syatem he will only have to pay forser- vices actually needed and rendered. Besides, to pay the cotton pickers will not necessitate s draft ypon his capi- tal, for they cau bo compensated from the crop as it is gathered. Women and children of from fourteen to fifteen years of age can pick as much cotton as adult males—indeed, the women generally pick the most. ‘The laborers would thus be divided Into two classes— the field hands and the pickers. Tho ficld hands might be paid forty dollars a month (a high rate of wages) dur ing five months, and the pickers one cent per pound for all they pick; then two hundred pounds or more per day, and at one cent per pound they would earn very Based upon this calculation the figures and the resulé would be as follows:— 150 field laborers, § mon’ at month. . Hes tern eee thas 04 weleean sa sich, stra wot f mare 5 rainy days, say 90 days during tho season, to average day each—6,750,000 pounds, at 1 cent Total expense for labor...........+e.es0 dosesel 6,760 000 pounds of cotton, with the seed, at 4 cents poond, Bh AIRC seeeeeneeee +. $173,500 In brief, one hundred nnd iifiy laborers can raise am amount of cotton that will realize for the proaecer whem Bold, at fourteen cents per pownd, the sum of $270,000, and leave, after paying the laborers and pickers, a balance: in his favor of $172,500. After paying all other possible expenses what a splendid profit would remain! For the gathering of the cotton really no cash capital © is required to be provided, for the crop itself should bear the expense. Cotton picked one week should be ginned, baled and shipped to market the next, and in that way ainple means would be obtained and provided promptly to pay the pickers. ‘The payment of one cent per pound for the picking of cotton would induce whole famiMes of the people tiving on the upper Mississippi and ite tributaries an- aually t© come down to the cotton growing regions to engage in the business, They could come after their wheat and vats had been harvested— say the first of September—and, a ae December, making more money than during the of the other mine months on their farms. The coat of the trip down on the eteamers, especially if they took « deck passage, would be merely nominal, and they could take with them sufficient of flour and meat to last them duriog the picking season. Of courve it would be neces- sary that the plantations be provided with proper habita- tions for these people daring the season, and with bas- kets, &c,, for thetr use im picking. The cotton, as picked, could be weighed in the fleli each day, and eack picker be given a ticket redeemable in money as evi- dence of the sum he or he had earned. The keeping of and wetting of these accounts would be a very simple and caxy matter, Is there not in the fact here presented a sufficient in ducement for capitalists to invest their money in the Production of cotton? Indeed, is there any other ‘nvest~ ment offering, with euch absolute certainty almost, 60 speedy and profitable a return? New York city should commence at once with the organization of a «tock com- pany, with a capital of st least ten millions of dottarr, ‘The general government, alxo, should hold oat overy possible indnoement to enconrage the growth of cotton, and the selling of it at so cheap a rate a8 to eflectually prevent its production abread. The Sonth*ie now nlmort a waste and wilderness, and time will be required ere the ravages of the war can be repaired, Unalded by Nortir- eT capital it cannot for years resume the culture of otto on the scale it was carried on betore the war; and not then even, if government shall impose any undue restrie- tion npon its prodact in the shape of tax, The tevyime of an export duty api cotton, a» some are arene, wonid be unwise, for two Toasous at leaxt It would te strain production and enhance the price, The result would be to stimulate its production in otherfands The cotton there raised would be of inferior quality it t# trac, but it would be* consumed, and the United States be de~ prived of so much gol, At the prices at present ob- tained for it cotion can be raised with prodt even In hot house, and we may therefore be agmured that if sucte prices are maintained i(¢ production will be stimalated everywhere, even though audcase we but preblemation As near as could be ascertained, the annoal consumption — of cotton by the clvitized world. was about seven million bales, of about three billions five handred millions pounds het, This, nt Gfteou cent® per pound, would realize the