The New York Herald Newspaper, April 17, 1866, Page 4

4 aos NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFION N. W. CORNER UF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Volume XXXII... AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. THEATRE, BROADWAY Broadway, near Broome etree. —SoLom Sauncis—Live Inpian. WOOD'S THEATRE. Broadway, opposite the St. Nichoiss Botel—Hrrocuoxpxiac—Too Muou rom Goon Narvas. IRVING HALL, Irving place.—Buxp Tox's GRaxo Piano Concenrs. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway, opposite Seeepatinn Hotel.—Grmoriay Stxaid, DaNvtXa, &0.— ‘uw Comurrren ON Ways ann Means. RS OPERA HOUSE. 2l Bowery —Sixa~ Lig A Buriesques, 40.—Tux Wouxixa ¢ Grats oF jew Yous. +4 3% S—OLp Somoo. or Mrnsrrexsr, GEORGE Cu Ty ee. Fifth Avenue’ Overs House, fourtn street. Tux Cau Dutvsns? NTS' MINSTREL, Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Broad- hepa pt Comwauties, Burvesqpas, &c.—Smy.ocn; Wine Jnw ov Cuatuam Semrer. HO0O..g1'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Eraroriax Mie emacs Su qeaapes Buns raaoes ee einen Ww. YOR! COOPER INSTITUTE. went or rug Capers oF Avsterere. GRAND ORGAN AND VOCAL CONCERT—Ar tux Cuvacn or St. Jovx tae Bartist, Lexington avenue, cor- ‘wer of Thirty-fifth street. rt Place.—GRranp ENTERTAIN. New Yor State Vouunteens . SCHAUS’ GALLERY, 749 Broadway.—Mr. G.Q. Tuoan- Piee's New Piotere, “Swans in THe CENTRAL PARK." WITH SUPPLEMENT. New York, Tuesday, April 17, 1866. ADVERTISING OF THE CITY PRESS. — The Herald the Great Organ of the Business and Reading Public. Annexed are the returns to the Internal Revenue Department of the receipts from advertistug of all the daily papers of this city for two years. In the first column are the receipts for thirteen months, being the year 1864, with one month of 1863, and in the second @olumn are the receipis for the twelve months of 1865 :— Thirteen months For the Paper. ending Dec, 31, 1864. Year 1805, $577,455 $662,192 260,960 301,841 251,812 284,412 163,177 222,716 128,056 177,204 100,595 173,646 62,044 164,461 67,550 126,380 94,328 101,793 60,322 77,550 48,968 77,048 Evening Express. . 52,350 68,742 Now Yorker Demokrat.. 21,052 25,734 Totals... $1,878,267 $2,483,724 ‘Tis shows the Heratp to be, by its extensive and “Comprehensive circulation, the chiof organ of the adver- Msersof the Motropolis, and the medium of communi- @ating thoir business wants to the public. NOTE. Tho Times and Tridune, in order to make ashow of ‘business, publish statements pretending that they are from official returns to the Revenue Department. These @tatemonta are made up in the Tim-s and Tribune offices to suit their own parpores, and very curiously the Times shows a larger, business than the Tribune, and ‘the Trilune @ larger business than the Times! But no feturos of the kind bave ever been made to that deparimont. Our table, given abeve, is taken from ‘the official books and is strictly correct in every par- ‘ticular. Any one can satisfy himself on this point by duapecting the books at the Internal Revenue Oftice, THB NEWS. THE PLATE WAR. ‘Our special correspondence from South America, dated at Corrientes 26th and Buenos Ayres 28th of February, Montevideo the 1st and Rio Janeiro the 10th of March, reached us yesterday by way of England. The Teports from the seat of war on the Plate river are inter- esting. The Brazilian Admiral, Tamandaré, reached Corrioutes on the 21st of February, and sought an inter- view with General Mitre, Commander-in-Chief of tho alliod iand forces, immediately. No movement was, however, undertaken by the Brazilians, and their inac- tivity was the subject of severe comment; the fleet under the Admiral being ® powerful one, meluding gome iron-clads. The Paraguayans held out de- terminediy and made some very daring naval sorties, crossing the Parana in armed canoes, on the vanguard of the Argentines. It was thought the Brazilians would ‘atiomp! a passage of the Parana, and that it would be effected, but with immense loss to the allies. The Paso de ta Pateia was more carefully watched by the allies since the success of the Paraguayan incarmons on the “invaders. A very fall account of the fortifications of Humaiia, with a description of its approaches by land «and water, appear in the Hrraw w- day. There was a change of ministry in Brazil. Buenos Ayres was vired of the war, as her financial aut other material interosts were disturbed and de prose by its continaance. There was a ran, amounting almost to a panic, produced by Freneh inflacnco on the nial Bank of that city, The merchants proffered aid to tho institution, and two private banks came for: ward, aud one deposited $150,000 in silver and the oth ng 00 iu gold if it was needed. At States marine, named Murphy, was killed at adrinking house in Buenos Ayres He was from the American war steamer Shawmut, lying in that port. The Ovcurieae took place about the 23d of February. THE FENIANS. Our wtvices from Eastport etgte that a document per- join the Fon ian ranks bas been circulated ow board the British gunboat at Campo- aner, an English vessel, or @uading the English sailors y mon on the Gle at in irons for mutiny. A toward of $1,000 od for the arrest of the capturers of the flag ‘on Indian Eslond. Fenians till arrive at Eastport. Two hundred and fifty wore expected yesterday from Bos- ton The Mayor of Calais, Me., apprehends serious troubie from the presence of Fonlans in his town, and be has telegraphed to the Governor for protaction. No disturbance bad occurred as yet. Doran Killian is to address a mass meeting in Calais, No ‘one is allowed fm the streets of Cornwall after eleven O'clock at aight. Colonel Wheeler is of @ sanguine and cheerful tomperament and takes his imprisonment easy. ‘Two Uaited States Army officers appearing on the streets fin thotr aaiform occasioned some excitement, and nar rowly ownaped arrest. The examination of the prisoners Dogins to-day The Fenian Sisterhood opened a fair yesterday, at the Germania Assembly Roome, for the benefit of the politi- @al prisoners EUROPE. Tho atormship Chiy of New York, from Queenstown April 6, reached this port yesterday, bringing European news one day later. ‘Tho German question remained unchanged, tho pacifie Gapoct being barely maintained It is repeated that France cannot remain neutral \n the event of a war, and nr Varia correspondent thinks that Napoleon would cer- Gainiy side with Prussy—in eecordance with previous @rrangement with Bismark—Avstria be humbled, Prasaia ontrol the German confederation, and ‘France ana Prussia control Europe.’ ft in omcd that the French army will leave Mexico in divisions, marching at different periods from Proven, 1868, to November, 1867. | Cotton advanced one-half of a penny in Liverpool 4, but the rise was partially lost on the 5th inst closed in London at 86340 86% onthe Sth of April. United States five-twenties had advanced. ‘WEST INDIES. ‘The steamship Guiding Star, at this port yesterday, brought news from Cuba dated to the 1th of April. General Scott reached Havana from New Orleans, and embarked on tho Guiding Star for New York, Some of General Prit’s officers, exiled from Spain, had reached the island, In the sugar market the last quotations were maintained. Freights were dull, Tho late advices from Ponce, Porto Rico, inform us that there is a great demand for vessels at that port. About four thousand hogsheads of sugar were awaiting shipment. . ‘At St, Vineent, West Indies, the inhabitants, alarmed by the recent outbreak in Jamaica, loudly demanded troops from England for the protection of capitalists, Coal was very scarce and at very high rates in Barbados, From Jacmel, Hayti, we have a special account, dated on the 25th of March, of the terrible conflagration at Port au Prince, which was reported inthe Hrraup a fow days since. Incendiarism was at work in the city. The fire commenced in the store of Mr. Hepburn, on the afternoon of March 19, and spread with such rapidity that in one hour seven hundred houses wore in flames. It was thought that the town was fired in revenge for the execution of six of Salnave’s revolutionary officers, which took place there on the 17th ultimo. From St, Domingo city, under date of March 20, wo tearn that the Premdent, in his message to Congress, drew attention to the recent visit of Secretary Seward to the island, from which he augured very happy results, os, adopting Mr. Seward’s advice, he was doterminod to pro- mote the development of the resources of the country to the utmost. The late attempt at revolution at San Chris- toval was a complete failure. The new Minister of the United States (General Cazneau) was very popular. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday there was nothing of import- ance transacted. A lively passage of arms took place between Mr. Conness and Mr. McDougall, both of Call- fornia, in which the former declared the latter to be a disgrace to the Senate, and the latter declared the state- ment to be a falsehood. The bill in relation to the Haboas Corpus act was taken up, but not acted upon. In the House « bill was introduced and referred to the Committee on Appropriations, authorizing the payment of $577,623 to the State of New York for paying the claims of the militia of that State who served im the war of 1812, Additional testimony taken before the Recon- struction Comiittce was ordered to be printed. A long chapter of personal explanations followed, in which Messrs, Conkling and Raymond, of Now York, figured conspicuously, without any serious results, however. The bill for the organization of the army was amended by providing that two of the new cavalry regiments should be composed of colored men. A resolution was adopted requesting the President to communicate to the House any correspondence with the French government with regard to the withdrawal of its forces from Mexico wnich may have been exchanged since the correspond- ence communicated to the Houso on January 5, 1866, and especially any correspondence in regard to any ‘specific promise from the French Emperor to put a stop to his proceedings in Mexico, and discontinue imperial- ism there. RECONSTRUCTION. A large mags of testimony was submitted to the House yesterday by tho Committee on Reconstruction, em bracing evidence and opinions from Generals Wager Swayne and C. C. Andrews, Alexander Stephens, Senator Sharkey, ex-Governor James Johuson, and several others; but few facts of great interest or opinions of great value wore elicited. The testimony of Mr. ste- phens was the most important. He stated as his opinion that an overwhelming majority of the people of Georgia ‘are exceedingly anxious for the rostoration of the government, and for the State to take her former position in the Union and enjoy all hor rights and adjust all her obligations as a State, under the constitution of the United States as it stands amended. His opinion is, and the sentiment of the people of Georgia is, that the exercise of the right of secession was resorted to from a desire to render their liberties and institutions more secure, and from a belief on their part that this was absolutely necessary for that object. He thinks that the people are perfectly satis- fled with tho experiment, and that they will never re- ‘sort to that measure of redress again. He believes that the only hope for their liberties now is tho restoration of the constitution of the United States and of the govern- ment under the constitution. He also stated that since the Ist of January the freedmen had gone to work with great regularity, and that the labor question had much improved in all its aspects, The people of Georgia were disposed and ready to do the negroes justice, and to pto- tect them in all their rights. The testimony of Messrs. ‘Stepbens, Johnson and Sharkey is given pretty fully else- where in our columns, THE LEGISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday the bills incorporating the New York Board of Fire Underwriters; to improve Grand and Third streets, Brooklyn, and incor. corporating the North River Savings Bank, were passed. The bill refunding to various banks and insurance offices the taxes paid in 1863 and ’64 on government sccurities, with an amendment making it applicable to New York, was also passed. A bill ap- pointing commissioners to locate an asylum on the ‘Hudson river was advanced to a third reading. THE CITY. ‘The President yesterday nominated Henry A. Smythe, President of the Central National Bank, to be Collector of New York, and Samuel G. Courtney to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, vice Mr. Dickinson, deceased. The car drivers’ strike still continues. No steps have becn taken by the companies towards coneiliating the men and travel still continues very irregular. A meeting of the dri- vers was hold last evening, at Landmann’s Park, at which it was decided to leave the dispute to arbitration. A mecting of sympathizers was held in Marlem, at which nearly one hundred dollars were collected in aid of the men. A committee of citizens has been appointed to receive subscriptions for the relief of the strikers, many of whom had no money at all laid up when the strike occurred, At the meeting of the Board of Councilmen, yesterday, the present strike of the drivers was taken up. Resolu- tions were adopted directing the Corporation Counsel to take steps to revoke the charters of the railroad com- panies and to commence saits acainst them for charging more fare than they are allowed by thoir charters. The Board of Aldermen Girected the Corporation Counsel to notify the proper officers of the several companies to resume running at once, and in cas» of refusal to in- stitute any proceedings necessary to abrogate the grants made to them by the city. In the Roard of Aldermen yesterday the Councilmanic rcolution relative to adtertising the description of the bodies of unknown persons on which inquests have been held was concurred in, as was also a resolution directing the appointment of a committee of five to inquire into the oxpodiency of providing relief for the houscless citi- zens of New York, by erecting temporary buildings on public grounds, and to petition the Legislature to sanction the raising of the nocessary means for the accomplish- ment of that purpose. The case of the United States ve. Sinclair Webb, who is charged with baving done business in lottery tickets without a license, was set down for hearing at ten o'clock yesterday morning before Commissioner Osbora; but no investigation into the circumstances took place, ax \t is understood, the defendant will not contest the matter with the government, It is stated that upon advice he has consented to pay the amount of the license. Had the inquiry gone on it is supposed that a great deal of in- teresting information respecting the lottery system and the operations of outsiders not immediately connected with this suit would have been elicited. The Madame Jumel will caso was called up yesterday in Part 1 of the Supreme Court, Circuit, when, on motion of defendant's counsel, the trial was postponed until the first Monday in May. The General Term of the Supreme Court has non- affirmed the order directing the receivers of the Colum- dian Insurance Company to pay their city taxes in pre- ference to the claims of any other creditors, Judge Clorke has decided that Mr. Thomas North, for- merly counsel to the Hudson River Railroad, who detains the books of the company on the ground that fees are still due him, has no lien for costs in actions between the company and other parties not actually collected by the company. The Judge, in his opinion, cites the circum- stances under which a lien may be maintained. The Kings County Court of Oyer and Torminer com- monced its April session yestorday. The panel for grand jurors was called, when only thirteen were found quali- flod, and the court was adjourned till to-day, In the Brooklyn Court of Sessions yestorday the fol lowing named prisoners were brought to the bar and sentenced —James Powell, sasault and battery on a po- iatoge dyll. Breodevuds quiet and gteady. Cqusgls | eqman, Oued RHQ, or to be imoriaqned fifty dave: Joao fed ‘MoGarry, assault and battery, fined $30; James Meagher, assault and battery, fined $60; Thomas MoGurn, assault and battery, fined $30; Wm. Myers, grand larceny, State Prison for five years. In the General Sessions yesterday Jacob Cline, an old pickpocket, who stole fifty-two dollars from Mr. Wm. HL, Steele, at the office of the Now Jersey Railroad Com- pany, pleaded guilty and was sent to the State Prison for three years, Three boys, seventeen years of age, named David King, James Davis and William Downes, who atolo a gold Certificate for five thousand dollars from Messrs. Morris & Braine, were com yesterday for trial. Two of the boys had got as far as Philadelphia when they wore Caught, living a fast life on the money, A man named John Kane was committed to the Tombs yesterday on the charge of forgery. Among the numerous complaints received at the Com- plaint Bureau of the Health Board yesterday was one from a citizen asking a remedy for serious grievance. He having used a certain rat poison in his house finds that the vermin, instead of going into the open air to die, have gone to their nests in the floors and partitions, where their decomposing bodies emit a sickening odor. For the first time in sevoral weeks no seizures of un- healthy meat wore made yesterday, The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Broadway Taber- nacle church was celebrated last night, when the Rev. Dr. Thompson conducted the exercises. ‘The stock market was firm yesterday. Governments were stronger. Gold closed at 125%. ‘The Money Article is published in the Supplement shoet. The Shipping Intelligence and Shipping Advertise- ments will be found im our Supplement shect this morning. MISCELLANEOUS. The attention of the people of the Central Amorican republics was, onthe 2ist of March, completely occu- pied with the consideration of questions arising from the surrender of Goneral Barrios, ex-Prosident of San Salvador, by President Martinez, of Nicaragua, to the San Salvadorian authorities, when he, Barrios, had been driven by stress of weather to land on Nicaraguan terri- tory. There is no treaty of extradition between the countries, General Barrios was executed after his sur- render, and it is now asserted that Martinez gave him up in order to secure the aid of San Salvador in making himself Dictator of Nicaragua. England, having always advocated a confederation of the five republics, on Gene- ral Barrigs’ plan, has commenced an unfriendly diplo- matic action towards Martinez, Our correspondent in Belize, Honduras, writing on the 27th of March, reports trade as dull in the colony. Tho sugar crop was being taken in, and regarded asa fair yield. Logwood and mahogany were scarce, high and in demand. The weather was cool and pleasant. Finan- clal rotrenchments were being enforced by the Legisla- ture. It was reported in Belize that cholera had broken out in the city of Guatemala; but the particulars had not been received. In our Supplement sheet will be found full particugprs attending the wreck of the steamer Vera Cruz, on Body Island, on the 12th inst. A portion of the crew arrived at this port yesterday, Judge Underwood, in explaining his recent habeas cor- pus decision, says that his opinion simply was that the late peace proclamation did not revoke the previous proclamations of President Lincoln suspending tho writ in certain cases. A terrible explosion of what was supposed to be nitro glycerine occurred yesterday afternoon near Wolls, Fargo & Co.’s building, in San Francisco, Fifteen per- sons were killed, eight of whom are unrecognizable on account of being so horribly mutilated. Ten or more were serlously though not fatally injured. The loss in property is estimated at $200,000. Despatches from Halifax of yesterday state that not a single case of sickness bas occurred among the cabin passeng’rs of the steamer England. Henry 8. Stanbury, of Ohio, has been*hominated Asso- ciate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, *ixth District, in place of Judge Catron, deceased. The German Question—The Game Against Austria. The present position ef Prussia on the ques- tion that agitates Germany is in one sense re- markably like that of the radicals on the vital topic of our own politics. We made war for, four years against men who proposed to carry certain States out of the Union, claiming and declaring constantly that our nationality and existence depended upon the fact that no State could leave the rest. We triumphed ; but no sooner was the war over than the dominant party stepped around to the views of our ene- mies and declared that the States were out, all the time had been out, and that the question of the day was next to determine the conditions on which they could come in. Prussia has just been guilty of the same flat contradiction of herself. She and Austria to- gether made war against Denmark for the two duchies. Denmark claimed them as her own; but Prussia and Austria declared that the rights of Denmark bad expired ; that the duchies be- longed now to a German prince, and that the Scandinavian must give way. On this position the duchfes were taken by force; but now Prussia repudiates all notion that Germany at large or any German prince has any rights in the matter ; declares that the duchies belonged of right to Denmark, and now belong to the Powers that tore them from her. She holds to this last view so tenaciously that she is even ready to make war against her late ally simply because that ally insists that ‘the two Powers did not take the duchies for themselves, but for Germany. In our own case, we know very well what turned the radicals round. To cover and carry out party games it was necessary to hold opinions directly antagonistic to those the war was waged on; and they faced about with- out scruple. They hold that the States are out in order to be consistent with something that they propose for the future, not caring to be consistent with the past. In the same way the Prussian change of front indicates a political game of so much future importance that mere consistency is @ trifle in comparison with it. This game is to be played on a large scale, and is altogether the arrangement of the Euro- pean Napoleon and M. Bismark. The slate was doubtless made up at Biarritz last year. France a few years since desired to extend her frontier in two directions—toward Italy on the one hand and Germany on the other. Her wishes toward Italy induced the Italian war. That was @ struggle in which France and Italy fought against Austria to make Sardinia the one Italian Power. The programme of united Italy only stopped short of Venetia; and it stopped where it did becanse if it had gone farther the war would not have been against Austria merely, but against all Germany. It would have become European; the republicans would have been up, and anybody's throne might have gone down ina day. But stopping where it did, the consideration to France was made secure. That consideration was the Italian provinces on her border that she coveted. Her desire in that direction was gratified. The object of the war that is now to be made in Germany is to satisfy the cravings of France toward the Rhine, just as the Italian war did her cravings toward Italy. It is still France and another against Austria, The only dif ference is that the other is Prussia instead of Sardinia, and that Prussia is to be made the ene German Power, as Sardinis was the one Italian Power. The consideration to France is the whole left hank of the Rhine. Timid ree- soners suppose that France ought to hesitate to make one gteat German Power, even more than one greas Italian Power: bus having gone #0 far toward making one, she must perhaps make the other to balance it, It should be re- membered also that France, aggrandized by these splendid accessions of territory in both directions, would have litle to fear from either Power. If this be in reality the arrangement, it mat- ters not what course Austria may take on the Schleswig-Holstein question. The war agreed upon will be brought about on that pretext or some other. It seems indeed to be well under stood in Austria that that Power can do nothing to avert the contest, and that giving way on one point would only cause her to be pushed on some other. She feels that she might as well fight where ehe is as anywhere else. The Italian war was stopped at the very point necessary in order to secure the objects of its originator; but there is reason to suppose that the greater war to be induced in Ger- many may be less controllable. It is possible that the great schemes may at last ensure the objects of their enemies rather than their own. Venetia will be one more point in dispute. Italy will be active; so also will Turkey and Russia, Revolutionary elements will be up wherever they exist. Hungary will make im- perious demands for concessions; and, on the whole, it is highly probable that the present year may see greater changes made in the map of Europe than have been seen since the first Napoleon was Emperor. The City Railroad Companies and Car Drivers. The city railroad companies and the car drivers who struck for higher wages hold out against each other. In the meantime the pub- lic has been put to great inconvenience, and even in danger, by the inexperience and unfit- ness of the few new drivers that have been picked up. The sympathy of the entire com- munity, apart from the managers and stoek- holders of the railways, is with the drivers. It is evident that the companies are aware of this, too, as they feel the necessity of attempting to justify their resistance to the just demand of their employes. The reason for this sympathy must be apparent to every one. Two dollars for fourteen or sixteen hours labor out of twen- ty-four, is a very poor remuneration for any kind of work in this city. And for such labor, where the men have to stand upon their feet all the time, exposed to the cold, heat and wet weather, a labor which requires some skill and incessant attention, it is decidedly too little compared with the wages at other kinds of employment. It is said the men re- ceived two dollars a day, but in fact they did not, reckoning nine or ten hours to the work- ing day, as is the case at other work, and which is long enough in any labor. The drivers are really not now demanding more than two dol- lars a day for a fair day’s work. The extra time over nine or ten hours should be reckoned and paid for. The men ought to get two dollars and a half for the number of hours-in which they are employed. The Second avenue company, through its treasurer, says, as an excuse for resisting the demand, that its business does not pay. This may be so, and we do not wish to question the statement; though we know that railroad com- panies often spend their earnings in increasing their property, as is shown by a communica- tion in another column, from a person well acquainted with the facts of which he speaks, and then represent that they are not making enough to declare reasonable dividends. But if the statement of the treasurer be asirictly correct as to the Second avenue line, the condition of the other companies is quite different. We know that their pro- perty is highly valuable and profits great Their stock is very high and cannot be easily obtained. In fact, it is too good for much to be seen on the market. They can well afford to pay the reasonable wages asked by the drivers. There is another reason why these rich monopolies should pay the two dollars and fifty cents. That is, they make much more over the legal fare than the increase of wages asked. Thé seven-eighths of a cent for each passenger over what they are legally and strictly entitled to collect amounts to a dollar and a halfa day at least for each driver. They extort, then, three times the sum they have a right to‘collect from the public the increase of wages would amount to. Is it surprising, then, that the sympathy of the community is with the drivers and against the companies? We are opposed to interference, as a general rale, with labor and capital. These should regu- late themselves according to the law of de- mand and supply and the laws of trade, as all kinds of business, without meddling or dic- tation from those not immediately concerned ; but in this case the press and people have a right tosay something. The railway franchises are granted by the public for its convenience. By refusing to pay their laborers properly, or providing against strikes, these companies put the public to great inconvenience and even danger. Their charters are a contract with the public, and in this instance they have vio- lated in principle that contract. While on this subject we cannot but express our gratification at the admirable manner in which the drivers have conducted themselves in this strike. It is reported that there is 2 movement under way to raise contributions for them, and to induce the railway companies to accede to their de- mands. We hope it is so, and that the compa- nies will see it isto their interest to pay some attention to public sentiment and the necessi- ties of their late hard-worked employes. Tar New York Cottecrorsnip.—At last, it appears, the exciting, protracted and demoral- izing squabble of the political candidates, cliques and rings, for the New York Custom House is settled in the appointment of Henry A. Smythe as Collector. And who is this Henry A. Smythe? What bas he ever done for the radicals or conservatives; for Governor Fenton or Secretary Seward; for the Loyal Leaguers or the King of the Lobby, or for the transition elements of Tammany Hall, that be should be made our Collector? He has done nothing for any of these cliques that we are aware of, and has only the antecedents aad recommend- ations of © respectable merchant and banker. It fa manifest, therefore, that he bes been ap- pointed, not for party purposes, bat ta reference to his supposed qualifications for the legitimate business of the office, and in the way of a mild rying the President, till they have exhausted his patience in their shameful wranglings for the prize. is % new experiment in the disposition This of the ‘Sew York Custom House. Heretofore, since the time of Swartwous. under General / | most effective political disbursement of the spoils and plunder by the active agent of-eome political clique. - Under the administration of poor Pierce, when the democracy of New York were divided into hardshells and softshells, the removal of a hardshell from the Custom House, and the appointment of a softshell in his Place, resulted in a complete division of the party throughout the State in the ensuing elec- tion upon a hardshell and softshell candidate for Governor; and from that split and that de- feat the party has never recovered. President Jobneon, in declining to appoint as Collector the candidate urged upon him by the Seward clique or the anti-Seward ciique, the softshells or hardshells of the republican camp, and in singling out » man simply for his business capacities, and in view of the interesta of the Treasury and our mercantile community, has adopted the best course. If Mr. Smythe, fol- lowing this example, will devote himself simply to the duties of his office and the interests of the government, we dare say he will prove a satisfactory Collector to the administration and the public, whatever may be the complaints of hungry and sqnabbling politicians, Tue Broapway Ramzoap—Fins Otp Gan- tLemEN Our or THE Exvewent.—The manip- ulations in regard to city railroads in the Legislature the present session have been very amusing. Some of them have been regular circus performances—expert dodges in the science of keeping half a dozen balls flying in the air without apparently lighting anywhere. At one time the backer of one scheme sees his glittering bubble soaring up above all the others, He claps his hands, and cries “Hi! hi!” But, lo, in a moment down goes the ball, and away bursts the bubble. Then up comes another and another prismatic ball in quick succession, all to disappear as suddenly .as they wore brought to view, with the exception af one well-gilded bubble, which, although a very little bubble at first, gradually expands before the astonished gaze of the spectators, and re- mains the only one to be seen. This latter bubble is the Broadway Surface Railroad scheme, The Albany lobby prestidigitateurs have succeeded in keeping the opposers of the measure charmed with their adroit perform- ances as they tossed aloft the under- ground, overground, side ground and arcund ground railroad batls, at the same time keeping their own little joker snugly in hand, to be used when all the other bubbles have exploded. Promi- nent among the spectators to these sleight-of hand diversions may be seen @ number of opulent but highly respectable old gentle- men from this city, who are tickled almost to death at the fun. They area fine clase of elderly gentlemen, who know more about carrying on the dry goods business on # mammoth scale, or undertaking some gigantic real estate enterprise, than they do about the business of the professional lobbyists and wire-pullers at Albany. They evidently cannot see the game which is being pjayed upon them. Bent upon defeating the Surface Railroad scheme, they have been humbugged into epposing the Underground and other projects. Suppose the Underground bill should become a law? The plan is too preposterous ever to be carried into execution. The Croton Water Department, the Health Commissioners, the City Council of New York, will all interpose injunctions upon the prosecution of the work, and the courts must sustain them. Then what will be the result? The country members, having been made to believe that Broadway must be relieved, will fall back upon the very plan these princely dry goods dealers and kingly real estate operators most object to— the Surface road. The bill will be rushed through, framed in a manner objectionable to them, and they will have their labor for their pains and money. These good, kind, rich old gentlemen, who are laboring so assiduously on behalf of the poor, defenceless property holders on Broadway, are only playing {nto the hands of their opponents. They had better slick to dry goods and real estate, and leave the dodges and jobs of the Albany lobby to more experienced hands. Tue Porviarrry or Concerts.—We are glad to see that concerts are becoming so popular as to practically supersede the old, ordmary operas, of which the people bave grown so tired. Concerts are now given every Sunday evening at Irving Hall and at many of our churches, and thus music is employed to refine, purify and elevate the public mind instead of to debase it. Barili’s concert at the Brooklyn Atheneum, the concert of the Mendelssohn Union, under William Berge, at Dodworth Hall, and the soiree of chamber music, by Mason, Thomas, Matzka, Mosenthal and Bergner, are soon to take place. On the 2d of May Miss Sterling, one of the most magnifi- cent American singers, will give her first con- cert at Irving Hall. There will be no lack of entertainment, therefore, for all lovers of genuine music and for all who desire to en- courage our native talent, which has already rivalled that of Italy, and may in time sur- pase it. Fine Arts. RKORPTION AT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DRSIGN, Last night gumerous lights gleamed from the win- dows of thie strange bat handsome edifice, and a long Kine of carriages passed up Twenty-third street from Fourth avenue, each depositing its gronp of fair occu- pants with their attendant cavaliers on the broad steps of the Academy. Out on the night air through the whieh i i F = 5 News from Mexico. CORTINA WITHIN TWENTY MILES OF MATAMOROS. OnURaNa, ew April 16, 1866. A Brownsville letter of the 9th says with @ pag? os Sans from eyo Rg] Terrible and Mysterious Explosica Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Buildings Blown to Atoms. Fifteen or Ywonty Persons Killed end Many Others Injured. &o. &e. San Francisco, April 16, 1866. A terrible explosion of what was supposed to be nitro- glycerine occurred at a quarter past one o’clock to-day, near Wells, Fargo & Co.'s building. The explosion shook the earth like an earthquake for a circle of # quarter of a mile, Samuel Knight, Superintendent of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, died in half an hour of injuries received. G. W. Bell, Supervisor and Assayer, was instantly killed. Mr, Wallub, Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Assayer, Jo- seph Eltiott, John Gallagher, Frank Webster and William Justin were also kitled. Eight dead bodies wore so matilated that thoy could &e. and cut. Felix Lamax, D. Stacy, Jefferson Taylor, H. Blane, clothing dealer; Captain J. B. Ayres, Fred. Lois, Frank Morris and others, wore injured, but not fatally. Some will never be identified, as fragments of humas flesh, bones and brains, were found nearly two blocks distant. Montgomery, Sacramento and California streets were lined with broken glass, scarcely a window tor several hundred feet remaining whole. Wells, Fargo & Co.’s horses, and everything in the vicinity, animate or inanimate, were blown into frag- ments, The damago is estimated at loast at $200,000. William Havens, a bookkeeper of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, is ascortained to be among the killed. ‘The cause of the explosion is a mystery. The freight agent of the Pacific Mail Company says that two boxes, each measuring about four cubic feet, were taken from the steamer’s dock to the place where the explosion oc- curred, One box was consigned to Idaho City, and the other to Los Angelos. Both wore stained with oil. The contents are not known. ‘Forty men are now engaged in removing the ruins. City Intelligence. Orrice or Derrict Attorney.—A telegram from Wash- ington states that the office of District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, rendered vacant by the death of D. 8. Dickinson, has been conferred by the President on Samuel G. Courtney, Esq., who has been for some time past discharging the duties of Assistant District Attorney with great ability and officienoy. Tax Bar ox tox Dxata ov Dantet 8. Dickivso.—The moeting of the New York bar, called for the purpose of taking some appropriate action regarding the death of United States District Attorney Daniel 8. Dickinson, wild be held to-morrow at twelve o'clock noon, at the United States District Court room. Judge Betts will preside. ‘Tho notice published in some of the papers, to the effect that the meeting would be couvened on Thurs- day, was an error. Wednesday was the day appointed by the committee to make the necessary arrangements, Contracts mx Tux Crorox Derantwxxt.—Yesterday afternoon proposals were opened and contracts awarded in the Croton Department for the following jobs:—For a sewer in Ludiow street, between Broome and Delancey streets, contract awarded to Robert Cunningham, at $1,359 20; time ten daya. For a sewer in Suffolk street, between Rivington and Stanton streets, contract awarded to Robert Cunningham, at $1,644; time tendays. Fors sewer in Ridge street, between oie, boo and Delancey streets, contract awarded to Michael Cronin, at $1,875 41; mn days. For a sewer in Walker stroet, between Baxter and Centre streets, contract awarded to Jobm in ty reotn, contract awarded to John Duffy, at $634 50; ight days. Proposals were «lao received for sewers in Righty-secon', Thirty-eighth and Thirty-seventh streets; but owing to some particular irregularities they were not opened, but withdrawn. A Fain, Unoer tar Avsricms or Tax Fawian Soran. noob, for the relief of the families of the political prie- oners, was opened last evening at the Germania Assem- bly Rooms, Bowery, near Houston street, There are sixteen tables loaded with rich and beautiful articles of all kinds, and a large refreshment saloon, where all the delicacies of the season be had. The ladies of the News from New Oricans. New Onuxans, April 16, 1866. Mail contracts are in operation between Houston anda, New Orleans. The Brashear people are pashing on the direct railroad tele; ‘The frost has killed the cotton im Baton Re: and Point Coupee parishes, and it will havo to re- Planted. Cotton seed is in demand. The crevasses continue to be vory bad. The work of repair on some has been abandoned, and the country ts tlooded. Crevasses are feared near Morganzia. The com- missioners are discussing the means of closing them. Letters to the Methodist Conference report Bishop Soule in a dying condition. Arrived steamer Montgomery from New York. Cotton is depressed by the furcign news and irregular, but better qualities are comparatively firm; sales 1,200 bales low middling at 35. Recvipts since Saturday, 4,850 bales, to-day, 2,780. Sugar and molasses nominal. Flour, superfine, . Corn, mixed and yellow, He. a 9c, Oats 5c Mess pork $28. Hay $28. heavy, 16c. New York bank Gold 126, Sterling exchange 1334. Tobarco, fair light, checks \ discount Freights unchanged. i Distarbance at Nomroux, 108. The negroes were out to-day in a processton. honor of the passage of the ‘Sieil Rights bill. While the procession was passing through the streets a Kee 4 occurred between the ne ‘and whites, during w! one white man was killed, and his brother and mother were mortally wounded. Order was rostore: the military. New Yors, April 16, 1866, TO THE BDITOR OF THE ABRALD. In your paper of Friday last you state that the walls of the old American Hotel building, corner of Broadway and Barclay street, were pulled down, under the direc~ tion of Superintendent Kennedy and a force of police. Thereof rare dkten down, bf ie owner of the property, Saati it Spc onan wae was done under the immodiate supervision of perintendent Adams and West, of tas duparemeat SAMES M. MACOREGO ‘Superintendent Open: “RRR nd Canal. Ho icnrveas CW, Abell 10, 1808 ‘The Welland Canal is clear of \0*, and will be opened ‘morrow, the 17h inst. ‘fmeresa sod deal of ice fat he ake of Port Cot - borne, but if the weather id be favorabin, vessels will be able to navigate through in # few days Court Calendar—This Day. Term—| Ingues of law and fart— ro Se 192, 198, 172, 220, 171, 167, 194, 3 wo ‘Soranon Coont—Trial Term —Part 1— next, Part 9—Now wie, re — 2038, 2000, 2100, 1444 L1G, bt an a0, um