The New York Herald Newspaper, December 15, 1866, Page 6

6 NEW: ¥ORK HERALD. JAMES GORDUN BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. a OFFICE N, W. CORNER UF FULTON AND NASSAU Volume XX : “AMUSEMENTS TUIS AVTERNOON AND EVENING, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broatway, street.—Witp Oats—Biack Ermp Susan. o'Glock—Si, Mano. EATRE FRANCAIS, Yourteouth stfeet. mear Sixth Pte ry Cae teats sinoasan, Matinee at (ne Psy Clock—=@ ALATHER. near Broome Matinee at Ly GERMAN THALIA THEATRE, No. Sié Broadway. Hamurr. GERMAN STAD THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Pow ery — Last Appearance OF Orritie Gaze IN Four ))FYERENT CHARACTERS. STFINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street.—Corc#at OF THE Puussmonro Sooty Or New YoRs. IRVING HALL, 1 aoe. Mn, West Moruennaden's Sixta Cuassican Mises Anxa Parue’s Guanp Comes aur. sAN wi LS. 685 Broadway, opposite a econaline eka race Ermoran ENrEaraine Singita, Danall® AND Bueesques—Tas New Sonckess. Morwina Epwarp 6— Mxs. fF SE, Nos. 2 and ¢ West we dantiauret. SB/orovn’s Muara, cengorcag Mingrenesy.. Bauros Huavusevas. €c. Tun Maw in Busog. Matinee at 23, o'Clock. MINSTRELS. 720 Broadway, 0 oy eno Mite raik Sonus, Dances BoseR: mecuume, Bosucsaces, &c.—MATRIMONY—AFKICAN POLKA— ‘Tak Brace Stratus. , ‘OR'S OPERA HOUSE, Mt Bowery. -—-Comta eeey Pate. Miwsenmest, Bauiar, Diveerisoress se Nons mx Newapor. Matinee at 23¢ o'Clock. LEY WHITE'S COMBINATION TROUPE, at SATE Teale ae brealwayin Variety oF Lite “UND LACGHABLE ENTERTAINMENTS, CORPS ps Bauurr, &c, Tar Misciinvous Niccew, Matinee at 245 o' Clock. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn,— Senious Famiy—Iretnn AS Ir Was. alee SQOLEY'SOPER A FOUSR, Brooklen —Eratortas Mise mikey, BALLADS, Burexsours AND Pantomimes. PRESHYTRRIAN CHIRCH, corner of Grand and Crosby streote.—Gimeat Masoxt Faw iw At oF Tue HALL axD Asvium Fun, ST. STEPHEN'S CIURCIL ‘Twonty-cighth street, be. tween Lexington and ‘hird Wes, —GRaND Fain, Festie VAL 4D PROMENADE ONCER, NEW YORK MUSHJM OF ANATOMY. 618 Brondway.— worores wire tny Oxy-liy»xoceN Microscorx twies dally. | Hxap anp Hidur Ann or New York, Sai Frossr. Open from § NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. the pultic are hereby notified that the eilver badges heretofore, used by the regular reporters of the New Yor Herjiv have boon recalied, and will no longer bo used as a means of identifying the attachés of this office. EUROPE. By special telegrams through the Atlantic cable, dated io Baglend onthe 13th and 14:h inst., we have melan- chely details of the resuits of the fatal mine explosions fm Yorkshire and Staffordshire. Five hundred and thirty-seven persons, at least, lost their lives by the econrrences, Thero was a third explosion in the Oaks pit. A special despatch from Munich, transmitted througl the cable, informs us of the resignation of Baron Pford- ‘ten, Premier of Bavaria The London Times is more hopeful as to the speedy quetling of tho “Fenian rebellion” in Ireland. Pius the Ninth fs likely to remain in Rome, The city is tranquil. Another Amorican war vessel has anchored off Civita Vecchia. ‘The representatives of tho United States in Paris have proceeded to record a of two and a quarter millions of franca against MM. Arnmn, the shipbuilderf, paid to the house by the Jef Davis government for iron-clads, Prussia and Austria Keck to renew thelr commercial retations. ‘The civil war in Japan is suspended during a trnce. Console closed in Loudon at 88% yesterday. United Staten five-twentios wore at 7114. American bouds sold at 75% on the Frankfort Bourse, with the market more stoady, ‘The Liverpool cotton market rnled steady at noon yes- terday, the prices being the same as the closing of the 13th instant. Broadstuffs tended downward. Provisions fat and downward. CONGRESS. In the Senate tho doficiency bill passed by the House recently was amended and passed. A bill authorizing the ostablishment of a Wbrary in the city of Washington for the use of government omployés and other porsons, ‘and appropriating $10,000 for that purpose, was intro- duced. The bill for the admission of Nebraska wag, after considerable debate, taken up, and Mr. Wade and others spoke on the question. Mr. Wade, in the course of his remarks, said that if the Southern States should fall to accopt the amendment in a@ reasonable time he was for applying the strong arm of the military power ‘to them, and reorganizing all governments on the basis of equal rights, and that he would consider that reason- abletime exhausted when the Southern Legislatures had met and cither refused to ratify the amendment or failed to considet it. Mr. Brown proposed ‘as an amend- mont that Nebraska rhonld be admitted only when she had abolisned all distinction in civil and political rights on account of color. Pending the consideration of this sutiject, the jo.nt resolution concerning the survey of the Isthmus of Darien was called up and passed. The Tesolution received from the House to take a recess from Tharaday, the 20th inst,, untit Thdrsday, January 3, was taken up amd adopted. Tho Senate then adjourned until Monday, In the House two bills for the construction of govern- ment telegraph lines were introduced and retorred to the Post Office Committee. One of them authorizes the Postmaster General to construct a line from Washington to New York, the price of transmission of messages to be one-half cent a word, and no message to be sent Without a three cent postage stamp is attached. A bill providing temporary territorial governments for all the Soathorn States except Tennessee was introduced and referred to the Reconstruction Committed, The Senate amendments to the Deficiency bill were concurred in, and the bill now awaits the President's siguature. The Dis- trict Franchise bili, passed on Thursday by the Senate, was tho next business in order, and the yeas and nays on ite paesage were talen without debate, The vote resulied yeas 118, nays 46. 0 che bill only awaits the Prosident’s signature to become a law, The House soon aller adjourned until Monday. THE CITY. The State Senatorial Committee on Railroads, which has been in session in this city lately on the question of city raitroads, adopted resolutions yesterday recom. monding underground railways for'the transportation of passengers along the route of Broadway. Three victims of the tenement house fire in Thirty. first street have died—Mra Webb, who jumped from the window, and two others who were burned or suffocated. The Phelan family, who perished in the Division street fire, wore buried yesterday. They were followed to the grave by two companies of the old Volunteer Bire De- pertmont. In the United States District Court yesterday, before Jadge Benedict, in the case of the United States va Henry Holmes, alias Hall, who had been charged with counterfeiting plates of $100, $60 and $20 Troasury potes, a motion was made by defendant's counse! to the @ffoct that the four several indictments found against him be quashed, and that the recognizance given by tho Gefentant to the amount of $35,000 for his appearance to answer those indictments be cancelled. The District Attorney consented, and an order to that effect was ac- entered. ‘The trial of Michael J. Whelan, Peter Wart, Michael MocOoy and Michae! Dougherty, charged with robbery in the first degree, was finished yesterday in the General Bemsions, When the jury came into court for further instructions Recorder Hackett withdrew the case from farthor consideration by making the startling announce- goont that it was officially communicated to him that Mr. Wm. H. Bolton, one of the jurors, offered to disagree for the sum of $260, Mr. Bolton denied the allegation, hereupon the Reeordet informed him that the matter ould be ormouted to tee Grad Jury, and (bat be Chambers, by Justice Ingrabam, inthe case of Wm, 2 Baboook, one of the parties alleged to have boon tmpii- cated.in the Lord Bond Robbery, and who recently mado application, through counsel, for admission to bail, do- nying the motion, and remanding the prisoner. ‘Tho internal revenue officers seized two more distil- leries yesterday, and it is cstimated that not more than ten or twelve distilleries are now af work in this city. ‘Vai ious rumors wero afloat yesterday respecting changes which are to be made in tho internal revenue offices in this city The Congressional investigating committee bas arrived in town, and will commence its labors on Monday next. The Compton House, on Third avenue, corner of Twenty-fourth street, was the scene of an explosion, supposed to be of a barrel of gasoline in the lamp room, and a consequent fire. Eight persons were terribly burned, aud three of them it {s supposed will not re- cover, The flames did not oxtend above the basement story, and the damage will not amougt to more than ‘one thousand dollars. The fino steamship City of Paria, Captain Kennedy, Delonging to the Inman Lino, will sail at noon to-day from pior 45, North river, for Liverpool, touching at Queenstown. The mails will close at the Post Office at half-past 10 o’clock. ‘The National Steam Navigation Company’s steamship Denmark, Captain Thomson, will sail from pier 47, North river, at noon to-day for Queenstown, aad Liverpool. The Aychor Line steamship Iowa, Captain Craig, wit! sail to-day at 12 M. for Glasgow and Liverpool, calling at Londonderry to land passengers and snails, The steamship Manhattan, Captain Turser, will leave Pier No, 8, North river, at 1 P. M. to-day for Havana, ‘Sisal and Vera Cruz, ‘The first class steamship General Grant, Captain Holmes, belonging to H. B. Cromwell & Co.'s line, will sail from pier No. 9, North river, at 3 P. M. to.day for New Orleans direct, ‘The favorite steamship San Jacinto, Captain Loveland, of the Empire lino, will aail at three P. M. to-day, from pier No, 13 North river, for Savannah, The popular sidewhoe! steamship Quaker City, Captain William H. West, of Leary’s live, will sail at three P, M. to-day from pier No. 14 Zast river, for Charleston, con- necting with the steamor Dictator, for the Florida ports, ‘The stock market was buoyant yesterday morning, but in the afternoon it became poavy, Gold closed at 187%. MISCELLANEOUS. Our correspondent at Brownsville, Texas, writing un- der date of December 2, gives the full details of the occupation of Matamorés by General Sedwick’s troops, as well as a history of events just previous to and immedi- ately succeeding that event. On the Ist of Decomber Escobedo, in command of the city by the surrender of Canales, issued a proclamation to the citizens of Tamau- lipas, explaining his intentions, The Matamoros press severely condemns Sedgwick's course. Our correspondent writing from Concord, N. C., under date of December 10, says that the gold mining fever is becoming imminent in that section. Old Califoroia miners pronounce the North Carolina mines far superior im wealth to those of California, Large numbers of capitalists had arrived from the North, and many of the mines were being prepared for reopening and reworking. Our correspondent in New Orleans gives in full the radical petition to Congresg, signed by numerous citizens of that city, asking for tho abolition of the present State government in Louisiana and the gubstitution of a pro- visional or territorial governmont. Our Georgia correspondent enumerates some of the relief bills introduced into the Legislature of that State, Some of them are too ridiculous ever to receive legisla- tive consideration, and are only proposed to delay the Collection of debts, it being wall known that the Gover- Ror would veto them or the courts declare them uncon- stHutional if they were passed. They sorve, however, to show the straits in which dobt haa placed the people of the State. The Legislature adjourned yesterday. The preelding officers expressed great determination in their closing speeches not to succumb to unlawful demands, ‘Tho sentiment soems to be in favor of territorial govern- ‘ment in proference to the acceptance of the constitu- tional amendment. Chiof Justico Chase rendered a docision on the motion for a rearguinent of the Missouri test oath, in Washing- ton yesterday, ordering that it be overruled. Judge Sherman, of Texas, made the motion in question, in order that he and Governor Hamilton might make further argument on bebalf of the loyal men in the South, before a final decision, as the case is considered a test case, Goneral Schofield bas decided that Dr. Watson, who was tried by the civil courta of Rockbridge county, Va., for the murder of « negro and discharged, shall be tried by & military commission on the 17th instant. Tho cage of Sanford Conover, one of the witnesses in the Surratt trials, was arguod yesterday, in Washington, before Judge Fisher, by counsel for the prisoner and the District Attorney. The decision was reserved. The North Curolina Senate yesterday referred two res lutions to the appropriate committees, one sotting forth the loyalty of the people of that State and the other expressing a eincere desire to restore harmony and for a reconstruction of the whole country. The Provincial Council at Ottawa, Canada, yesterday decided to arm all volugteers with breech-loaders. It was also decided to appropriate a certain sum of money to influence the press in favor of confederation. Barcy McGee, in a long letter, says ho thinks the Ynited States wish to forma new treaty with Canada, and are willing to grant better terms than formerly. Navigation for the season has closed on the St. Lawrence. G. W. Smith was hung at Washington, Fayette county, Ohio, yesterday, for the murder of John Gray on the 19th of October, 1864. He made an impressive speech from thd scaffold, and died without a straggle, A Now Jersey Central Railroad train strack a wagon in which a man and woman were seated, at Bound Brook, on Monday evening, killing both persons in- stantly. A brakeman of a gravel train on the Erie Rail- way was killed by being run over soar Penbora City, on Wodnesday, A riot between whites and blacks occurred in Ports- mouth, Va., on Thursday night. Three white men were dangerously wounded, and several others, as well asa number of negroes, slightly. Early yosterday morning a fire broke out in the neighborhood of the riot, and four buildings wero destroyed. The nezroes engaged in the affray are supposed to have been the incendiaries, Soveral were arrested. A great deal of property has recently been destroyed by negro incendiaries, or white men disguised as negroes, in the southwestern part of Virginia and the northwost- Mexico—SHerMaN ann CamPpett, tN Seance or Isrormation.—The last news from the special embassy to Mexico is that the Susque- hanna, with General Sherman and Minister Campbell on board, was in the vicinity of New Orleans. It is evident that these gentlemen are floating about on the Mexican question, which appears now to be in a greater muss than ever. First they turned up at Havana, then at Vera Cruz, and so on, in search of the Juarez republic, but they could notfind it. Now they are drifting about in the neighborhood of New Orleans, in search of information from Phil Sheridan, who is supposed to be posted on Juarez and Mexico generally. Sherman once marched half across the continent to get a base on the Atlantic, and he got it. _Now he is looking for a base in Mexico, but he does not seem to be so snocensfu 1. The Mexican question, upon the whole, is becoming & laughable mystery, and we may find very soon a French republic established there, and an Ortega republic, and a Santa Anna republic, and perhaps half a dozen others under Miramon, Marquez and the rest of them, so that our government will have a wide margin. for selection when it comes to deal with the Mexican republic diplomatically. The State Departmont must be very careful and see iis way clearly into the future, or it may stretch its hand out too far and get burned. Meantime we have wo expectation that Napo- leon will leave Mexico until some arrange- ment ie made to settle the French claims, and we know that Juarez has most emphatically declared that his government will not under ‘to circumstances ssspme (pe paywogt of ané Fical Plan. ‘The important bill for th) reconstruction of Nor‘h Carolina from the very foundation, which Mr. Stevens in in the Ylouse of Repro- sentatives on y, is the last, most thorough and we think final plan of settling the whole question of Southern resteration. It is comprehensive and both liboral and couser- vative at the aame time. Itleaves no room for quibbling about pretended rights based upon a state of things anterior to the rebellion and subjugation of the South. It deals frankly and directly with the actual condition and status of that section of the country. It is, we are per- suaded, the surest and readiest way to re- Store the South within the shortest time prac- ticable. This bill, it is true, only provides for “re- establishing civil government in North Caro- lina, to enable it to resume its former relations as one of the constituent States of the American Union;” but it is undoubtedly the plan in sub- stance which is to be applied to all the other rebel States. And although it was intro- duced ins quiet, unostentatious manner, “at the request,” as Mr. Stevens said, “of several, gentlemen from North Carolina,” it was evi- dently carefully prepared and endorsed by the dominant party in Congress as a platform and basis of general action. In introducing this measure, framed by the mind ofa statesman, Mr. Stevens has abandoned the réle he sometimes takes of an extreme radical partisan, and is made the lender ofa great party for carrying out a grand and compre- hensive policy. The bill was referred to the Committee on Territories, but we suppose it will not lie there long. In all probability it will soon be brought before Congress again, when the whole question of restoration will be discussed and disposed of for all the other rebel States as well as for North Carolina. The preamble of the bill declares that the citizens of North Carolina did rebel and vio- lently “set aside and destroy the organized constitutional government of the said State.” This is directly in conflict with the theory of the President, upon which the whole of his programme of reconstruction was founded. He held that the functions of the rebel States were only suspended and not destroyed. But this theory, whether soupd or unsound, has no practical value nows The Congress of the United States, which alone has the powerto de- fine the status of these States and to refuse or admit them to be restored, thinks proper to de- clare that, after having put down the rebel- lion, it “finds no government organized or offi- cers qualified, according to the requirements of the constitution of the United States,” in the rebel States. It is then assumed that the action of the President throughout in the Southern States was under the war power and martial law, for the purpose of “preserving peace and order and of relieving his subordinate military officers from exe- enting details of civil regulations,” and that now “it is the duty of Congress by law to cause to be organized a government, republican in form, based on the civil and law-making power of the nation.” ‘ This is the whole argument on the part. of Congress upon which that body proposes to. act. It is not even said that the President ex- ceeded his duty, nor is it assumed that what he did wasillegal. In fact the bill legalizes ao far everything he has done, But it is claimed that he was not competent to complete the work of restoration, and that, consequently, the law-making power of the nation—the Con- gress of the United States—has to finish it. In doing this that body, by the terms Mr. Stevens’ bill, deems it proper to begin de novo—at the foundation of all government in this country— that is, by a regular constituent convention chosen by the body of the people. This con- vention is to frame a constitution, republican in form, under which, when approved by Con- gress, the State will be entitled to cletm admission and the people “all the privileges and immunities appertaining to the citizens of the other States of the Union.” We are struck with the broad and liberal provisions of this bill with regard to the suf- frage. In the election of delegates to the sovereign convention to form a Siate govern- ment it is provided “that all male resident citizens of the age of twenty-one years, without distinction of race or color, who can read or write, or who may own in fee real estate of the assessed value of one hundred dollars or more,” shall be allowed to vote. This is more liberal than the suffrage law of New York for the negro. Yet we know that few, compsra- tively, will. be qualified. So far, therefore, it is both literal and conservative. But with regard to the whites the proposed bill is very liberal; for it provides “that no one who has heretofore exercised the right of suffrage shall be disqualified from voting at said election.” This Congressional basis of suffrage for the election of a constituent con- yention is the best, we think, for all the South- ern States to adopt in forming anew their State governments. It is an excellent basis, and would probably secure their prompt ad- mission to Congress and consequent complete restoration. As to the delegates to be chosen to the con- vention, they will be required to take an oath prescribed in the bill, that they did not will- ingly, after the 4th of March, 1864, sup- port the rebellion—-that is, that they wished, if they had had the power, to accept the terms of President Lincoln’s proclamation of December, 1863, to ‘end the rebellion and return to their allegiance to the United States; and also that they will hereafter faithfully support the constitu. tion and government of the United States. This, we take it, after all, is not such a terrible oath, We do not see anything “iron-clad ” about it. None but the most determined and incurable rebels would be debarred from taking it. By fur the larger portion of the Southern people must have become disgusted with the rebellion and desired to return to their allegiance to the United States by the 4th of March, 1864. Every reasonable South- erner will say it is only right that the delegates to form a new leyal State government should have as much original loyalty about bim as The bill provides for an election of delegates on the Ist of next May, and for the assembling of the convention on the 20th of the same month. It is ytd hoped that Congress will report a bill or bills for all the rebal States to be put through the process of reorganization at the same time and in @ similar manner. In the concindiag clause of the hill the Presi- tli MO a at A li ot Ne dont is axt d It ts made “his duty 06 to dispose and employ the military and naval forces as to enforce the prompt and efficient execution of the provisions of the act.” Thus, then, the late rebel States are to be forced by the supreme power of Congress to roturn to thelr status fn the Union. They will not be allowed to keep the country ina dis- organized condition to gratify their sullen and ridiculous opposition, or to indulge their ab- surd hair-splitting quibbles about constitu- tional rights which have no real existence, The loyal States are tired of the present ab- normal state of things, and will force restora- tion upon the people they still hold under sub- jugation. The Northern people want peace and harmony and‘ the resources of the country developed for their own sake. They want that strength, both at home and abroad, which @ restored Union only can give. This is the secret and™motive of the present important movement in Congress, If the South be wise it will cease talking about its fancied rights and imagined griev- ances, learn that there has been a revolution, see that it is absolutely in the hands of its con- querors, and accept promptly the Congres- sional'plen of reorgantzation and restoration. If they do this ‘they will be fully restored to the Union within a year or so, their troubles will be ended, their beautiful country will enter upon a glorious career of prospérity and they will help to elect the next President in 1868, A Narionat. Democratic Cosvention-—Mr, Betmonr’s Oppoxtunity.—Mr. Auguste Bel- mont has not had a very long nor very bril- liant career as the engine-driver of the Northern democracy. In fact, at his famous Chicago Convention, where he excited the wonder and admiration of “the outside barbarians” from the Far West with his coach and six, in select- ing Vallandigham to draw up his instructions to General McClellan he made a great mistake. But there was one shrewd thing which Mr. Bel- mont obtained from that convention. It was the extraordinary power, as head of the Execu- tive Committee, of calling the convention together again, before or after the election, at any time which he might deem expedient and proper. There was no telling what might happen in the interval to March 4, 1865. “Sher- man, who at the sitting of this Chicago Conven- tion was at Atlanta, might be gobbled up; and General Early, from the Shenandoah Valley, might make another dash into Washington, and might possibly even yet catch “Honest Old Abe” napping and carry him off. In anticipa- tion’ of some such turn in the fortunes of the war, it was a shrewd idea, we say, to hold the Chicago Convention subject to another call, eapeciaily as it had pronounced the war a failure and declared for peace at any price. The war turned out. somewhat differently from the estimates of the convention, to be sure ; but still we contend that the power of reconvening the convention given to Mr. Bgl- mont was a shrewd idea, and may still serve a good purpose, thongh not the purpose antici- pated. The democratic party has come éut of these late elections routed, “horse, foot and dragoons ;” but we may say of it what the great Napoleon once said of Old Blucher:— “Out of the way! No, sir. Give him half a chance, and that fiery Dutchman will soon be atus again.” So with his democratic forces of the North still remaining of over a million of meu, Mr. Belmont may, in recalling together his Chicago Convention, and in shaping out a new plan of operations, soon have the demo- cracy in good fighting trim once more. In these days, when all sorts of politicians, by their ground and lofty tumbling, recognize the revolutionary forces at work around them, why should Mr. Belmont stand still? Why, there is no reason why he should, but many why he should not. A few words will make it plain. Suppose, for instanee, that he has called together again his Chicago Convention; that it has cast away the last remains of the Vallan- digham platform and built up a new one—not according to the constitution as it was and the Union under Buchanan, but upon the constitu- tion as it is, upon the Southern situation as it is, and with the banner flying aloft of the pending constitutional amendment and the doc- trines embodied in “Old Thad Stevens’ ” new bill of Southern reconstruction—let us sup- pose that all thie has been done by the de- mocracy, end that once more, upon this new platform of new timber, in the name of Gene- ral McClellan, they are in the field for the Presidency, can they not make a splendid fight? Satisfied that they can, and ready for the sake of old times to help the demoeracy out of the dirt, we urge this programme, and in the name of General McClellan. We may, perhaps, have a scrub race among the repub licans in 1868. The Chase faction are working like beavers with their banks against the sol- diers of Grant, and Ben Builer bas Brother Beecher, Wendell Phillips and his colored re- serves at his back; and, lastly, the Johnson republicans are not all dead yet. In any view, as the democracy have no more fizht in them as they stand, Mr. Belmont ought to call their chiefs together, and put them in a new position. hi Procarss of tae Revoicrioxary Movement ty Great Brrraw.—The connection between the present Reform agitation in England and the Fenian insurrection in the sister island be- comes @ matter of serious speculation. At one time it was thought that the one would defeat the other and that the revolutionary clement would be completely swamped in it. Mr. Bright’s course, since his visit to Ireland, would lead to the inference that, if he is not directly in league with Stephens and his aaso- ciates, he looks upon their plane as auxiliary to his own. Else hew are we to regard his toleration of Irish revolutionary omblems in his presence at public meetings and the bold declaration made in his recent letter to a gen- tleman in Exeter? “If Ireland,” he says, “were one thousand miles away from us, all would be at once changed. Justice would be done or the landlords would be exterminated by the’ vengeance of the people.” What stronger incitement to rebellion can be used than Isnguage like this? All the arguments employed by Stephens’ emissaries do not pos- ress half the force that a simple declaration of this kind, from o maa like Mr. Bright, will have, That he bas the temority to make it shows that he is heart and soul with the Irish leaders. But does it not prove some- thing more? It seems to us that he would not have dared to have used such language if he was not conscious that he was in @ position to brave the conseauences. The conclusion to Irish on the road to revolution. manifestations in which they have united on ity which | several occasions lately, and the the government has exhibited about interfering with them, go to strengthen this conviction. The assertions made by the Fenian organs that the outbreak in Ireland will be followed bya movement of « similar character in England would seem to be founded on positive assur- ances. It is plain that the authorities have be- come seriously alarmed on the subject, for they are not only afraid to despatch the English militis to Ircland, but are sending regular troops more sparingly there than the emergency demands. Could Mr. Stephens but rely on getting his military supplies into the country we believe he weuld have but little difficulty in insuring the success of his move- ment. Tae Sxcrerany or Tue TREASURY AND THE Fianons.—We are glad to observe some little evidence on the part of the Secretary of the Treasury that the views expressed by this jour- nal have not been entirely without influ- ence in correcting his ideas respeeting the cur- rency and specie payments. Although his last report to Congress was no more’ satisfactory than the previous one with regard to these im- portant subjects, he has recently written a let- ter to the President of a bank at Buffalo which, while it contains a sort of half apology for the crudities of the report, makes frank acknow- ledgment of a desire to do what we have been constantly urging, namely, to work beck to specie payments without any very large cur- tailment of legal tender notes, thereby avert ing a financial collapse. He says, furthermore, that he will act in the fature with great can- tion, and attempt no impracticable thing, which a resumption of specie payments on the Ist of July, 1868, as predicted in his report, would certainly be. The text of the letter is as fol- lows:— Treascry DerartMent, W. Dear Str—Your favor of the 4th tnst. is received. Yon will roceive a copy of my report through the Comp- troller of the Currency. It was very hastily written, but is, I think, sound in doctrino, What we need is an increase of Inbor. If we could have the productive industry of the country in full oxer- cise we could return to specie paymonts without any very large curtailment of United States notes. My object has been to keep the market steady and to work back to specie pavments without a financial collapse. 1 shall act inthe fature as T have in the past, with great cau- tion, nnd attempt no impracticable thing. Iam. very truly, yours, HL. McCULLOCH. Hon. E. G. Spavipixe, Farmers’ and Mechanics’ National Bank, Buffato, N. Y. This is an encouraging sign, so far as the views of the Secretary with regard to currency contraction are concerned. There are other matters, however, connected with his manage- ment of the finances which demand attention, and particularly that of Congress. It is well known that the Treasury is in the babit of selling gold secretly and in like manner con- verting one form of governmont security into another. This is so clearly unfair to the gon- eral public that reform is urgently called for, and we trust that Congress will so legislate as to define the duties of the Secretary of the Treasury in every important particular and provide for the public sale of all gold which the necessities of the Treasury require to be sold, and for the public conversion, with timely notice, of all securities which stand in need of conversion. As it 1s, damaging rumors are in circulation in regard to these transactions, which should be avoided in the future, and this can only be done’by definite legislation. It is very important that public confidence in the stability of values should be preserved, and this is only to be secured by an open and above board course on the part of the Trea- sury, a natural working of the money market and an absence of undue contraction of the currency on the part of the government, an appreciation of the importance of which Mr, McCulloch evinces in the letter we have quoted. “Let well enough alone” should be the motto of the Secretary. marvaron, Dec. 7, 1566. Sarerr or Passexosrs on Cry Cars.—On Thursday evening last a passenger horao car of the Grand Street Railroad line was run into and demolished by a freight car of the New Haven Railroad Company. The horse car was filled with passengers, most ef them re- turning home to a comfortable supper after a hand day’s work. Perhaps they little dreamed of peril to life and limb from a railroad colli- sion while turning into the Bowery; but it came, nevertheless, and with such a complete smash up that it appears to be a miracle that no lives were lost. Probably the fortunate passengers who so narrowly escaped being carried home to their families mangled and crushed and maimed for life may realize the fact that the city government is really in need of reform. While the city authorities,» who should be looking after these outrages, are squabbling over the municipal patrenage and struggling to secure the spoils of office for the remainder of their brief term of power, a car fall of unfortunate travellers jogging quietly through the streets may be run down at any moment and smashed up by a heavy freight car or a dummy. What do the city officials care, so long as their “rings” are well supplied with jobs and patronage? The only hope for a remedy for these evils is in our legislators at Albany. Let them put the railroads and all the city government under the control of an executive power independent of city politicians and the jobbers of “rings,” and people may expect to travel in safety and to live in peace. ‘ Tos Bay Manners or Conoress.—A few pious members of the Senate and House of Representatives in Washington have organized a Congressional prayer meeting society, of which Senator Foster has been made chairman. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Colfax are among the shining lights who represent cach branch of the legisla- tive department of the government. This is a very excellent and much needed movement in view of the exceedingly bad manners and im- proper language so frequentty displayed in Con- gress. For example, the byplay between Mr. Thad Stevens and Mr. Scofield, on Thursday, in which the President and the Secretary of State were spoken of in anything but respectful terms. The Executive is a co-ordinate branch of the government, and the gentleman who occupies that position is certainly entitled to the respect of Congress in session. But mom- bers do not seem to observe that In abusing the President and using ribald language in their places in the House they are bringing the country into contempt. Nor does Mr. Speaker Colfax understand that it is his duty to sup- press such language. But there is not a dis- graceful scene which occurs in the House that he is not direcily responsible for, and if at any future time the language go freely indulged in We are glad, then, joined the Congressional p"8¥@r mécting, and we hope Thad Stovens, Mr. Bouswell and other abusive gentlemen will become acive midth- bors, They should all pray*fervently for Divine grace and good manners; for they need both very badly, Tae Stare Consriryriovat, Coxvention.— The copperheads and mugdiehoads of the press are indulging in a great amount of twaddle about the State Constitutional Convention. They raise a quibble -upon the ee the constitution, and affect to believe that the ques- tion, Shall there be a Convention? must be de- cided affirmatively by » majority of all tie elestors voting at the election, and not of the electors voting on that particular question, before the Legislature can proceed to provide * by law for the election of delegates, The | affirmative vote in favor of the Convention wae som@ seven thousand less than a majority of the total vote cast for the Lieutenant Gov- ernor, who ran highest on the ticket; and hence these twaddlers olaim that {t is doubtfal whether the Convention hae really been consti- tutionally carried. 5 The absurdity of this mare’s nest may be seen at a glance. Who cam tell how many electors actually voted at an election? : The highest number of votes enst for any one office does not show the total vote at all. Tew thou- sand electors may vote tor Governor alone, who do not vote for Lieutenant Governor or Canal Commissioner. Another ten thousand may vote for Lieutenant Governor alone, who do not vote for Governor or Canal Commis ‘sioner ; and yet another ten thousend may vote for Canal Commissioner alone, and not for either of the other candidates. . Here would be an aggregate of thirty thousand electors voting, but only ten thousand would appear upon the | | canvass, These matters are decided by sensible mem on the principles of common sense. A large vote was cast io the election on the Constitu- tional Convention question, and a very de- cisive majority was in favor of the Con- vention, The Convention is therefore or- dered, and there is nothing left for the Legislature to decide one way or the other. The quibble was raised in the first instance by the copperheads, who oppose the Convention because it is certain to destroy their corrupt power in this city and to give us an honest taunicipal government. It has been taken up by the maddicheads, who cannot see any point clearly and who never know which side they are on. The returns of the State canvassers show that the Convention is ordered, and the Legislature will only have to perfect the neces- sary legislation for. the election of delegetes. They should do this at the commencement of the session and fix an early day for the assem- bling of the Convention, y, AN Investioation Into Castre Garvey. Am investigation is at present being made by & committee of the State Senate into the manage- ment of Castle Garden. The committee con- slats of Senators Sessions, Thomas Murphy and Goddard. They commenced their investiga- tion yesterday, with the examination of the ticket agents of the three ratiroad lines that ate admitted into Castle Garden for the pur- pose of booking emigrants who arrive hore from the old countries to their several destina- tions. It is to be hoped that the investigation will be made thorough, now it is commenced, and that the Senators engaged fn it will take a broad view of their duty and notconfine them- selves to any picayune reform. Castle Garden is one of a batch of wildeat commissions, without responsibility to any authority, that were created by Weed and his political lobby friends years ago as remunerative jobs. The present board has some very good men in it; but it bas been subject to abuses, as all such hoards are and always will be. The whole batch of these irresponsible commissions should be swept away or placed under the control of, and made responsible to, one executive head. The Senate committee should report in favor of such legislation, The Metropolitan "an of Control, embracing the cities of New York and Brooklyn, with Staten Island, should be the real head of all these commissions, and under its authority all necessary reforms can be made. Neoro Sorrrage tw Tax Disrricr or Cotou- Bra.—The Senate has passed by a two-thirds vote, to begin with, a bill establishing uni- versal suffrage im the District of Columbia, irrespective of race or color. As the House passed a similar bill at the last session, there ean be no doubt that it will concur in this new measure, and it is apparent, too, that it will be passed, if necessary, over @ veto by both houses. This, then, is to be the future law of the District of Columbia. It is a great revole- tion from the old order of things, and it bas been reached by gradual approaches, begin- ning with Henry Clay’s compromise measure of 1850, abolishing the District slave pen located not far from the Washington monument, where the negroes were bought and sold and locked up for safe keeping until they could be shipped off to New Orleans and a market. Under this proposed new law perhaps one-thind, if not more, ot the present white voiers of the Dis trict will be disfranchised, in having given voluntary aid and comfort to the rebellion, end thus probably the blacks will wield one-third thé total vote of the national eapitat in ite local elections hereafter, from which we see that revolutions never go’backwards until they have ran their forward course. Oxe or tux Best Men Yer Nowiateo.— The name of William McMuriay, the late Po- lice Commissioner, bas beem™ seat in to the Board of Aldermen for the office ot Street Com- missioner. He is the best man thet has heen nominated and would make a oxcellent Street Commissioner. But what of that? His nomination is only a repetition of the juggling that has been going ow for the past two or three weeks, No one will be confirmed who will not make « bargain with the Aldermen in regard to the patronage of the office, and, as Mr. MoMurray Pitt not do that, he will be re- jected, The present management of the Street Department suits the “ting” well enough, and will be continued, probably, until the Logisia- ture steps in and sweeps away the power of Mayor, Aldermen, Conncilmen and the whole troppe of manicipal iyeaiore { , y \ —