The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1866, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GOZVON BENNETT, EDITOR AKD PROPRIETOR, OFFICE MN. W. CORNER UP FULTON AND NASSAU STS, Wotame KX... ccc. cece cccc eee eeeeene eee Ne. 361 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, OADWAY THEATRE. BRI sireet.—Taxz Puoris's Lawres- WIEN YORK THEATRE, Broadway, opposite Now York —CENDRILSON. THEATBY, FRANCAIS, Fourteenth street, near Sixth orentabcassann Quxan ov Exguanp. “Cenmaw rratsa Dus Tsurss Zorr. GERMAN STADT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bowery.— Komois Mangor up pis Hucenorren. THEATRE, No. 5i¢ Broadway.— " roadway. —PRorEsson HARts wa Ponrons ais Misacues tus’ Heap te Tum Als ELS, 585 Broadway, opposite Pr eg ee erg ee maunts, Singing, Dawoixrg ax Boxiusques—PauLini on Lova's Ramauns. FIFTH AVENUE OPERA HOUSE, Nos. 2 and 4 Wost fourth street.—Bupwoxt's Muisteats,—Srwtorrat ‘Woerbausr- Bateaps, Buavesques, &0,—Gueat Exrzcra- ‘ORB. : KELLY N'S MINSTRELS, 780 Broadway, oppo eg tO Malecis euuin Sonos, Dances: Kove Boruxsques, &c.—Soumitr wita 4 Y—Ici 1'on ARLE HONE SNOW. ‘TONY PASTOR'S OPERA ROUSE, 20 Bowery, —Comrs Vooausx—Nxcro Moneeusy, Baier Diveerisscuext, c.—Lirrie Tom Tockex. CHARLEY WHITE'S COMBINATION TROUPR, at Mechonics’ Hall, 472 Broadway—ix a Vanusry or Ligar axp Lavguasiey Enreatainaexts, Corrs pk Bauuet, &c, Tax Gowen Axx. HOOLEY’SOPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn. —Eratorias Mine ernxisy, BavLaps, BURLESQUES AND Pantomimes. BROOKLYN ATHANEUM.—Ayvurs & Co.'s Great Pan- (TRO-NA-THEC-4 OF TRAVELS IN EUROPE AND AM&RICA, AND Vovace AcRoss THE ATLAXTIO. FINE ARTS GALLERY, No. 625 Broadway.—Exuurtion mt PalNTinGs. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, corner of Grand and Crosby streets.~—Gneat Masomic Fam ux Aw or tHe [ALL AnD Asyiom Foxp, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— pas 8 with pa aig od ners t ae Heap axp Ki Ru or PRonst. rom. a a til 10 P. ML ‘ais } New York, Thursday, December 27, 1866. THE NEWS. EUROPE. The Newfoundiand telegraph lines are reported as “down all day’ yesterday, and we consequently have Sreceived our cable despatches of the 26th instant. ¢ the arrival of the German mail steamships Alle! nia and City of Boston, at this port yesterday, we have our European files dated to the 12th and news reported to the 13th of December. The papers contain very interesting details of our cable reports on the Mexican, Roman and Irish questions. Pope Pius the Ninth delivered a most significant ad- dressto the officers and soldiors of the French army Previous to thelr march from Rome. He thanked them for their services, but exprossed 8 doubt as to their cor- dial reception in France, on account of leaving the city: ‘end Head of the Church exposed to the revolution at that moment. His Holiness acknowledged that the troops-were right in oboying orders, and that France’! ‘was a great Catholic Christian nation, adding the words, “its raler should be Christian also.”” ‘The suit of Platt versus Walter and cross suit of Walter ‘Versus Piatt, in which the Chancellor of England has de- Hvered judgment, reveals some curious {acts relative to the business managoment and speculation of the London ‘Times newspaper proprietors, Cardinal Cullon, in his pastotal, warns the people of Troiand against Fenianism and revolutionary conspira- cies, but says he cannot understand why England agsails Foenianism so soverely after according a national ovation ‘to Garibaldi and cordial patronage to Mazzini, the great |rchitect of secret societies, THE CITY. At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors yesterday $150,000 was appropriated for county contingencies and $5,275 to pay counsel fees incurred during the recent investigation of the charges against Comptroller Brea- ‘wan. Ai tho meeting of the Commissioners of Emigration yesterday an affidavit was read showing that Mary ‘Whipple was seduced by the mate of the ship Cosmos while on her passage to this port from Bremen. The ‘weokly statistics show (hat 1,028 emigraats arrived here last week, making tho number since January 1, 227,443, ‘and that the commutation balance is $44,832. ‘The commissioners appointed by Congress to deter. miue upon a site for the new Post Oflee in this city, hold @ meeting in the Post Office building yesterday and de- cided that the lower portion of City Hail park was the most eligible locality. Soveral of the defoated candidates for city Councilmen held @ mesting yesterday to detormine the feasibility of @pplying to the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus roquiring the Clerk of the Board of Canvassers to grant Certificates of election to those candidates rocviving the sixth highe:t number of votes in tho various Council- manic districts, It is the opinion of their counsel that the act of tho Legislature dosignating that five memvers of the five Senatorial districts shall compose th» Board f Councilmen is unconstitutional and in conflict with the city charter. Ashort time sincs Mr. Jackson & Schultz, Prosident @f the Board of Health, directed Dr. KB. Dalton, the Namtary Superintendent, toasvertata in what manner the ‘Streete.of Boston were cleaned. This moraing we give ‘the report of Dr. Dalton on that subject, togother witt a communication from President Schultz to exJat se ‘Whiting, the Street Cleaning Coutractor, in which many improvements in the present system of street cleaning are recommended. A distillery on the corner of Thirty-ninth street and Tenth avenuc—said to be the largest in the city—was + @olzed by Commissioner J. C. Horton yesterday. Tis capacity ix about five thousand gallons por day. The United States District and Circuit Courts, Judges Bouedict and Smalley, adjourned yesterday until Friday, fsa mark of respect to the momory of the Portuguese Minister, Figanioro do Marad, whose death was reported in the Herat yesterday, In the Supreme Conrt an important opinion was ren- dered yesterday by Mr. Justice Ingraham, in reference to the discharge on habeas corpus under a plea of minority Of soldiers regularly on\isted in the ariny of the Untied Bats Tho hearing on the writ of mandamus issued by the Supreme Court, directing Thomas Stepnons, acting Prea- ent of the Croton Board, to show cause why he should not surrender the papers, &¢., of the oMce to J. J. Brad- Joy, the new appointes, and which was to have tatoo place yesterday, has been sot down for Friday, the 28th inst, The stock markot waa strong yesterday morning, but afterwards became unscitiod. Gold was weak and cloand at 19175. General trade was quite dull yesterday, and commer Cial valves wore in a great degreo nominal, but in the main the fluctuations that occurred were unimportant Groceries were quiet. Cotton dull and heavy, without, however, change in price, Naval stores dull, but an changed. On ‘Change flour was dull, but steady. Wheat ‘was without decided change. Corn advanced Ic., while oats ruled dull and heavy, Pork was more active, but ‘€t lower rates, Beef was heavy, though quite active Lard was dull and hoavy! Freights were quis, Whis Key was entirely nominal, MISCELLANEOUS. Our City of Mexico correspondence ie dated December & Thoreturn of the Emperor to his throne was ro colved with public rejoicing throughout the country. His army, independent of the French, numbors thirty. five thousand men, and are well fed and clothed. . The Smperialists say that if thoy Lave no United States troops to contend against they will witimately succeed. They dosire the withdrawal of the Fronch, and consider that 4 would be the bost thing for Maxtiilian. Ths reports of the hanging of Escovedo are partially conirmed by Galveston despatches, and it is now suid be was iauged pt the instigation of Ortogs. {Our Havana correspondence is dated December 22. ‘The money panic had roached « crins, and rons wore made on several of the principal baoks, and four of Shem closed doors, and suspended payment untor the Pressure, The Banoo Espanol waa prepared for the event, and on being supplied with gold from 1 :fa supposed to be in possession of edvicos*which leave no |@vork near Hamilton yesterday the structure gave way of revolts among the megro slaves on the plantations, are current. The sugar market is in @ complete tui, Our advices from tho West India Islands are dated Kingston, Jamaica, the 16th, and Ponce, Porto Rico, the 14th instant, There was no cholera in Jamaioa. The crew of the American bark Mary Henry, wrecked on the Cuban coast, had arrived. Business was much depressed. ‘Tho yield of sugar and coffee in Porto Rico will be abua- dant. The English troopship Simoom, arrived at Ja- maica from Honduras, reports disturbances among tho natives ia the last named colony, We have files from Turk's Islands, dated at Grand Turk on the 8th of December. The commercial report says:—The demand for salt has not been very active, and the quantity om hand is small and cust be exhausted before any more can be gathered. Price 120, a 130. The Fenian trials at Sweoteburg were resumed yester- day. After some difficulty in empanolling a jury, the trial of Thomas Smith was proceeded with and conoluded. The jury returned a verdict of guily, and he was sen- tenced to be hanged on the 15th of February next. Orders had beom issued to the military about Sweetsburg to prepare for another raid, as an invasion from St. Al- bans was anticipated. Thirty-four overcoats are on the ‘way to Toronto for the prisoners in that city. Colonel Lynch hearing they wore sont by Colonel Roberts, do- Clined to accept one, Sickles to suspend the recent order from his headquar- , tors forbidding corporal punishmont, and ‘the order bag boon suspended accordingly. i Our Washington despatches say that the govorument foom to doubt shat the British Gabinot will fully recog- ‘nize the Alabama olaims, and, ia return, our own Cabi- | net will recognize the British claims against thiscountry. Governor Patton, of Alabama, recently: addressed ‘mass mooting in Lauderdale county, in that State, and strongly urged the propriety of accepting the con- stitutional amendment, Senator Parsons, on the other hand, advises the people of the State to stand firmly by President Johnaon and reject the amondment. It is officially stated that the government has in- structed Minister Campbell to remain, in Now Orloans until “ something turns up in Moxico,"’ The Congressional excursion party were warmly re- ceived and grandly entertained by the principal citizens of Memphis, Tonn., yestorday. A despatch from Fort Laramie dated yestorday says that three officers and ninety privates of the Kightoenth United States infantry and Second cavalry were aur- rounded and all massacred by Indians, at Fort Kearny, on the 22d inst. : The British ship Rangoon, from Java, for Now York, ‘went ashore on Chincoteague shoal, on the coast of Maryland, on Tuesday. A steam tug and schooner left this city yesterday to render her assistance, Letters from Richmond, Va., say that the Legislature ig nearly unanimous against the adoption of the consti- tutional amendment, and under no circumstances will the people favor its acceptance by them. : A member of the South Carclina Sonate recently had ‘an interview with President Johnson, when, he says, the Executive gave it as his opinion that the Southern States should reject the constitutional amendment, and that such action would, he hopod, be sustained by the Supreme Court. A wagon containing four mon ran off a bridge near St. Paul, Minn., on Monday night, and was precipitated with its occupants a depth of one hundred and fifty foot, All the men wore injured, but only one was killed. ‘While an express train on the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway, bound west, was crossing a tresslo Precipitating the engine, tender and baggage car to the ‘bottom and fatally injuring the engineer and freman. . A party of soldiers in Naghvitie indulged in cheers for Lincoln and the Union on Chrigteas night and were sot upon by a party of policemen, whe answered with pekeuts for Jeff Davis, An -alfray ocourred, whem-one ‘soldier was killed and another severely wounded. Great excitement existed over the affair, and squads of soldiers unofiicered were hunting through the streets last night for the murderers, with throats of vengeance. A wholesale boot and shoe manufactory in Fimira was destrored by fire yesterday. The loss is estimated at $70,000. What Are the True Ideas of the Government and the Duties ef Congress. From the steady decline in gold it is mani- fest that the financial and business classes of the loyal States have the fullest confidence in Congress in regard to Southern reconstruction and the general interests of the country. This is en important and encouraging fact, and yet Congrées, like a ship weathering the perils of an unknown coast, appears to have lost its reckoning and acems to be feeling its way by soundings. We are really adrift, and whither are we drifting? Some say to shipwreck and despotism—some say to anarchy; and yet we believe, with the great body of the people, that, avoiding the shoals and breakers, our national argosy, ovontually brought into the true channel, will safely ride into port. Our greatest trouble is in the prevailing conflict and confusion of ideas in reference to the position of the lately insurgent and iil rebellious States and the powers and duties of Congress, All this has resulted from the false directions under which our political parties, sections and factions have been beat- ing about, hither and thither, for the last sixty odd years The constitution of the United States was adopted in 1787, and shaped according to the federal ideas of Washington, Hamilton and the grent Union founders of that school, The gov- eroment which was thus established was not «loose contederatfon of sovereign States, but a notions! government, in the name of “We, the people of the Un States;” that is, of all the States compacied under one supreme netional government, by the goneral voice of their people. This was in 1787; but in 1789 lurid flames of the great French revolution burst wpon the world, and the pernicious dem- rxoratic excesses of that revolution rallied a now party try, with which the minority of the ¢ convention of 7 nto the od ander Jefferson g radicals of their with France—our in our struggle to do with this uew party against sid to be more in sympathy ustitutions of England, jes of the American in this ‘onal arr, and other 1. Populat and active saving ally for the formation the federal y wilh the consers independence—liad much of vtive agai which en p 4 become “xed aad general from the r ns of a seven years’ war. So it was that Jefferson, a disciple of Ve re, and ao hold and q ¢ sgogiue, began to agi- tate new interpretation of tue constitution, Ww be theory roignty and State ri and with from the chart ot “ ending but still bey’ hich have aince befallen suatry, culminating at last in civil war Upon these mis aievons State rights dogmas Merson came into power; bus having thos gained his purpose a4 a politician he dropped them. As the head of the government he had no further use for t and so he became a conservative siatesman. His dogmas, however, til eurvived, and they were next, against tho war of 1812, taken up by the Hartford Cor onista, who carried the ples of Stato rights to denial of the power in the general govern- mont to protect itself agains! a, ( gu enemy. This Hartford movement was mpily sup- seed, and the theories involved were so effectually rebuked that they appeared no more to disturb the country till the Calhoun nullifi- cation movement of 1892-3, Jackson applied The President on the 19th instant directed General. | 4 Gontemporaries who has been sarping and Sgitators of South Carolina, on tho slavery issue, brought forward the State right of seocs- sion. So far, too, in asingle generation, was this revolutionary doctrine instilled inte the blood and bones of the anti-Calhoun demo- oratic party established by Jackson that when, in 1860, the work of Southern secession liad commenced, Buchanan, « Pennsylvanian, as President of the United States, could find no power in the constitation to coerce or interfere with » seceding State. This monstrous and preposterous notion that the government had no right to defend itself against a treasonable domestic conspiracy was in perfect with the Hartford Convention fallacy, that it had no right to protect itself against « foreign invasion. In either case the Jeffersonian and Calhoun theory of State rights and State sov- ereignty was only pushed to its logical conolu- sion. The bones of three hundred thousand Union soldiers, scattered about in the soil of the lately armed insurgent States, form only the main item in the bill of costs. which the coun- try has run up in order to put down these State rights heresies. But. here is the point gained for a new departure. These heresies, put down, Not only so, but.in this oontest of arms the negroes’ rights agitation of Massa- chusetts has been settled with the State rights agitation of South Carolina. We go back, then, to the constitution of Washington, with this important and comprehensive difference—that the amendment abolishing slavery carries with it all the appendages of slavery, and puts the black race on the common political level of the “free persons” mentioned in the constitu- tion; for, slavery gone, there fs no distinction of persons left in the instrument excepting ap- prentioes and “ Indians not taxed.” But how is any such construction to be ap- plied in the South against the unanimous voice of the ruling white race? Let the pending constitutional amendment remain on trial in the intractable States until they are ready to accept it. Time works wonders, and necessity is a powerful teacher. If the States concerned prefer to sacrifice the great advantages of res- toration to their old negro prejudices, f two, five of én or fifteen years, give them their margin, and when cured their cure will be complete. Let the amendment take its course, and let Congress turn its attention to the national Gnances, the currency end our éx- cessive taxations, internal and external, and to the question of a general bankrupt law and other practical measures of relief, retrenchment and reform, and the two houses will be legislat- ing to the general advantage and satisfaction of the country. : A Muay Pssca or Bosniesa.—QOne of our snarling at our inadequately paid Congress- men for s number of years past, beoause they have-drawn mileage from ‘the government and annually voted themselves a few worthless books as perquisites, is now dinning the ears of the public with indignant outcries because the two Boards of the Common Conncil have agreed to give a few poor clerks two hundred and fifty dollars piece to help them over the holidays. This is one of the meanest and most contemptible pieces of reform hypocrisy that we ever know even a mean mileage concern to be guilty of. In our owm business we should think very little of giving an honest and use- ful employé two hundred and fifty dollars, if he abould need it, and no business man of Iiberal views would regard such « reward for falthful services as @ needless extravagance. As to the poor clerks of the Boards of Alder- men and Councilmen, they must have suffered enough from the bad grammar, the tiresome orations, the strong breaths, dirty boots, to- bacco juice and filthy habits generally of the members of the Common Council to make a gift of one thousand dollars a piece an insuff- cient recompense for all they have undergone. The Hxxatp is the advocate of honest egon- omy and of reform, in a broad, comprehensive and liberal way; but we thoroughly despise the meanness and littiencss of the pica- yune retrenchment demagogues who raise an outcry about such s small piece of busi- ness as this. We should be glad, if it were possible, to get into the pockets of some of the wicked old rats of the Corporation who have been thrust ont of office recently, and extract therefrom, for the benefit of the taz- payers, the four or five million dollats they have plundered out of the city treasury. We have labored to secure the clearing out of the several city departments and to put a stop to the shameless cor:uption to which they have been subjected. There is some sense and some benefit to the city in this, and we hope that Street Commissioner McLean, who is an able, discriminating and reputable business man, will aid our efforts by routing out of his abused department Deputy Tweed and all of the club clique who have been doing his dirty work, and retaining only the worthy, hard-working subordinates who have properly discharged their duty to the public and earned their salaries by hard and faithful service. Our fight is not against such men as these, neither does our demand for city reform contemplate the withholding of a paltry two hundred and fifty dollars a piece from a few poorly paid clerks a4 9 Christmas present, Navy Yarp vor Inow-Cravs.—We have re- ceived @ great many communications, pam- phiets and arguments on the subject of locating a navy yard for building and repair- ing our iron-clad war vessels, Several places have been urged, and, of course, very strongly, by the inhabitants, property holders and inte- rested parties of these localities. One urges this advantage and one another, saying little or nothing of the disadvantages. Congress men and the authorities of the Navy Depert- ment havebeen bored to death upon the sub- ject. New York would be the best place, un- doubtedly, if the water of our bays were not aslt. The city of Hudson, up the North river, would not be @ bad place, and the water is frest there. New London wants the yard, but the same objection as to salt water applies to that city ag to New York. League Island, up the Delaware, has the advantage of fresh water and convenience to the coal and iron region; but vessels of deep draught cannot ascend so far up, and the Delaware ts closed up with ice part of tho year. Tbe proper placo is Washington city, the seat of government, There is a navy yard there already ; vessels of the largest class can get np; the Potomac is seldom frozen to impede navigation, and it is fresh water. Besides, it is nearly or quite as convenient to the coal end iron regions of Pennsylvania, Meryland NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2%, 1866. and Virginia, by the Baltimore and Ohio Bail- | sérvice @ newspaper must be a monopoly—it road and canal and by other means of commu- nication, es Philadelphia is to the mineral regions of Pennsylvania, The greater distance from the sea is also another advantage. It would be better protected near the capital of the republic from foreign enemies than else- where, In every point of view, then, and to end the trouble about the matter arising from the rival olaims of the different places and in- terested parties, the government should decide at once to locate the navy yard for iron-olads at Washington. The Reform Movement in Groat Britaln--Ite Latest Phase. It would be hard even for Mr. Lowe to re- fuse now to admit that the British people are really in earnest about this matter of reform. Few men of spirit, indeed, would care to be in Mr. Lowe’s shoes. We have no reason to be- lieve that in his fierce outbursts in regard to the indifference and incompetonoy of the peo- ple he was other than sincere. _ Yet it is unde- niable that if Mr..Lowe’s motive had been to rouse the masees. into activity and to. force the settlement of the question, he could not have adopted a mora effective method. It is not our opinion ¢hat in the initial stages of this movement the poople were, ane way or the other, more than indifferent. It did not originate with them. Is was not the flowering or fruit of ady previous agitution or discon- tent. It originated with their political lead- ers, and was the offspring chiefly of Mr. Glad- stone’s brain. Promises in regard toa farther instalment of representative reform had often been made and had been left just as often un- fulfilled. This mode of dealing with the peo- ple and their friends was all well and safe enough so long as the great name of Lord Palmerston was’ a living power. Circum- stances, however, became entirely changod at his death. If the whigs were to continue in power, it could only be by the hearty co-oper- ation of the Bright and Cobden party ; and to secure the co-operation of that party the re- demption of pledges was neceasary. Mr. Gladstone, in sovlving the question of reform, ehéwed that he thoroughly understood the Situation, I+ would be a great mistake, how- wa i) imagine that because the initiation of this movement is not to be traced direct to the people, it was without their sympathy and en- couragement, Mr. Lowe is a man of unques- tionable ability; but the attitude he assumed towards the people ip discussing the reform question in the House of Commons abundantly proves that in the higher qualities indispen- sable to a great ruler of men he is sadly wanting. as be Mr. Bright has been abused in certain quar- ters as a demagogue and a revolutionist. He can well afford to be indifferent to all such charges. He had, in fact, no choice but to ac- cept the challenge flung down by Mr. Lowe, and call on the people to back him. That the response has been triumphant the opponents of reform, not excluding Mr. Lowe, have long been convinced. The laat phase of the movement, as an- nounced by yesterday's telegraphic reports, is not without deep significance. It has been the boast of trade societies in England hitherto that they are non-political. Perhaps it is best they should be so. The organization, however, is convenient. The machinery, too, is power- ful. Trades societies, indeed, have before now brought England to the verge of revolu- tion. The recent Sheffleld outbreak proves that for purposes of secrecy they can defy the utmost vigilance and scrutiny of the law. Mr. Bright bas repeatedly urged the workingmen of England and Scotland to make use of this powerful instrument. There seems to have been some hesitation about adopting his advice. At last, however, we are informed that “the trades unions have unanimously re- solved to place their organizations at the dis- lof the reform party.” If this arrange- ment is generally adopted over the United Kingdom it will bain the power of the people to dictate rather than submit to the govern- ment in this matter of ropresentative reform. It is really » much more serious affair than a Hyde Park demonstration. Tar Fenians Asking ror Damacus.—It is said that some of the Fenian prisoners, who are citizens of the United States and were re- cently acquitted in Canada, are about io peti- tion Mr. Seward to demand damages for false imprisonment from the Canadian government. We do not sce that our government has got anything to do with the maiter. It is the affair entirely of private citizens. But the Fenisns ought by all means to sue the British govern- ment for damages, and, for the matter of that, for their cigars and brandy as well. We should be delighted to see them get a good round verdict from John Bull, and we are sure that Mr. Seward would have no objection. There ought to be enough of the poor Irish chambermaids’ money left in the Fenian trea- sury to pay the law expenses, and if the poor fellows who were locked up in jail for six months are-of sufficient consequence in the estimation of the men who hounded them on to their dismal incarceration, to get any as- sistance from the funds, it might be well ap- plied in this way. However, let John Bull be sued for damages, no matter who pays the lawyers. Tas Govennwent any Newsraren Teve- anaras.—The long cable despatch which Mr. Seward sent last month to Mr. Bigelow, our Minister at Paris, it is said, cost twenty-five thousand dollars; at least that was the price charged for it by the cable company. But Mr. Seward, it appears, had not money enough to meet the bill, and only paid five thousand dol- lars on it. The United States government must be in avery bad way. All our cable despatches which we have received since the opening of the line were paid for in gold at the other side of the Atlantic, without any reservation or deduction, and we never made any demand for abatement or delay in the payment. Itisashame for the United States government not to be able to pay its telegraph bills as promptly as a New York nowapaper. Tas Nortawestenn Journats any toe Naw Yorx Assoctaten Press.—Some of the North- western journals, in their usual border roffian style, are heaping fearful abase on the New York newspapers. In the eyes of those West- ern termagants the nowspapors of this city are no better than despotisms, monopolies and other terrible things. In exhausting thelr bile with these epithets they do not see that they are paying the highest possible compliment to our efficiency and enterprise. In order to bee groat influontiel instrument im (ao publio must be a despotism. One grand idea must control it, and every one connected with it must be subservient to that idea. So that in their foolish scurrility the Northwestern jour- nals are only certifying to our efficiency. We know how to procure all the news that the public require, and pay for it. And we will know in future how to use it for our own ad- vantage and out off the Western press alto- gether. Meantime the bogus News Association, about which these journals make such « fuss, is falling to pieces already. Theatricals in the United States. Daring the last few weeks the theatrical sea- son in the metropolis has been unusually dull. Neither in the audiences nor in the pieces pro- duced at the regular theatres has there been observable that vitality which is looked for at this season of the year. With the exception ob the two houses which have abandoned the legitimate drama for French spectacle and ballet but tew of them have been covering their expenses. The success of these latter, with their swarms of nude bosuties and gorxeous | scenic’ effects, seems ‘to have swamped every |. otherkind of entertainment, but more espe-}. The return of Ristori to the city has ch: somewhat this state of things. The logitinate drama is once more in the ascendant. With hor appearance comes the consciousness that the lovers of true art have been guilty of shock- ing infidelities. The tinsel divinities at whose feet they have been worshipping remorsefully draw back as she comes upon the scene. In the presence of the great tragedienne they feel that they must seek another atmosphere. And then, how she isreceived! What enthusiasm, what an electric interchange of gratified feeling between audience and artist, what eagerness to catch the quivering accents—the evidences of uncontrollable emotion which’ first fall from her lips! " Oa ae ee Good reason hia Madame Ristori to feel all this. Never before her visit to America has her genius met with so full and generous a re- cognition. Her success here has been some- thing wonderful. She commenced her per- formances in New York on the 20th of Septem- ber, and in the three months that have since elapsed there has been paid to her by Mr. Grau, as her share of the receipts, free of all expenses, about one Landrea tiousaid dollars, sanarea Of Sus period stated she played betwéen New York and Bréoklyn forty-eight nights, the rest of. her representations being apportioned be- tween Boston, Providence, Philadelphia, Balti- more and Washington. Out of the metropolis her success bas been as decided, not only as regards the enthusiasm of hor reception, but the amount of the receipts, a fact that must be most gratifying to her, inasmuch as it marks the general appreciation in whioh she is held by our people. ‘ It is a thousand pities that there is not living: a Shakspere, an Ariosto or a Schiller, to weave fromthe events of our times a series of dramas snited to the genius of this great artist. The occurences of the last ten years would have furnished the materials for a dozen such works. Can there be found anything more dramatic, for example, than the episodes presented by the Mexican empire under Maximilian? What heroine in history, Mary Queen of Scots, per- haps, excepted, offers a subject for more spirited and touehing characterisation than the Empress Carlotta? Her beauty, talent and queen like energy, her coyrageous strug- gles against French dictation. and Mexican perfidy, her stormy interview with Napoleon, her frenzied appeals to the Pope (the first, per- haps, who has been subjected to such an ordeal), and her final transference to a private mad house would furnish scope for the finest effects that can be produced by the pen of a dramatic writer. Then what a chance there would be for the delineation of a character far exceeding Richelieu in ambitious daring, craft- iness, self-control and reserve—that of Napo- leon! The rest of the cast could be filled up with the good natured, uxorious and science- loving Maximilian, the vain and insolent Bazaine, the mysterious Castelneau, the long- winded Seward, laden down with his tomes of foreign despatches, and the mercurial knight- errant Sherman, with bis diplomatic Sancho Panza at his heols. All these would furnish characters fora drama of more intense and real interest than any that has been presented on the stage. is no writer to be found who could do justice to euch piece. As the main personage round whom its interest centres we certainly know no artist who could attract for the character and misforiunes of the unfortunate Carlotta so much admiration and sympathy as the great actress who now concentrates all the attention of our play-goers. THE CONGRESSIONAL EXCLRSIONITS. SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE HERALD. Eathasiatio Reception at Nashville and Along imwrats, Doc. 26, 1968, Tho Congressional excurstonists started last evening from Nashville by special train, accompanied by a dele gation from Nashville, and arrived here this evening. ‘They were met at an intermediate point on the Tennes- fee road by a committee of reception, composed of the Mayor and mombers of the Common Counc i and a large number of citizens, The manifestations of (rieadly feel- ‘ng along the road were numerous ‘he welcome hore is spontancou: The visitors are overwhelmed with hospitality. A grand banquet was given by the citizens this afternoon at the Gayoso House, and eloquent and appropriate speeches wore made by Senators Foster, Lane and Wade and ie- Presentatives Marshall and Hubbell and by Major Gen- eral Howard, in response to the regular toasts, which were reosived by those present with great applause. J. P. McGuire, M. P., from Ireland, delivered an eloquent address, which was enthusiastically received. The dele- gation loaves for the South this afternoon, at five o'clock. New Onveans, Dec. 26, 1986. A special train left this morning Purpose of mevting the Congressional excursion conducting « them to this city, The committee will be met at Canton by General Beauregard and @ number of gentiomen con- nected with the press here, who will show the committee such attentions as may bo necessary and pleasant. The party aro expected to arrive Ure to-morrow, Arrival of the Conaressional Excursion Party No. 2 at Richmend, Va. Rronmosp, Dec. 26, 1968. ‘The Congressional excarsion party No 2 to this city, composed of Judge Spalding and lady, and Senator Kirk. wood and lady, of Iowa; Senator Poland and lady, of Vor mont, and 8, R. Colby, Rogister of Treasury, and lady, panied by Captain Poland, aon of the Senator, 1d here this ovening on revenue cutter Northerner, and will remain on board to-night. The day being fine, the trip op the James river was enjoyed and the varioun points of historical intorest carefully observed and criti. cized, Preparations are being made by General Biunt, Chief Quartermaster of this department, to convey the party to all places of note in the city and the aurroond ing fortifications to-morrow. It t# not decided whether thoy will remain a second day. ort pornt visited Poversburg will be the ‘SENTENCE OF A MURDERER, Woacraren, Deo, 26, 1566, ‘Thomas failon, who murdered his wife in this city Inst Septombor, wan today sentenced in the Supreme Gowrh by Judge Hoar, vo imprisonment (or life It in to be regretted that there | THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Ite Rejection by the Southorn States Reported to Have Been Recommended by the Prosi te Caanteston, Deo. 25, 1866. Colonel Weatherby, a member of the State Senate and who was entrasted with an informal commission to the President of the United States, has returned to this city from Wi where he had « long and highly grati- fying interview with the Executive upon the question of restoration and kindred topics, in the course of which the President gave it as his deliberate opinion that the Southorm States, throagh their Legislatures, should re. Jeot the proposed constitutional amendment, but in such terms as not te give offence to those who are urging it upon the South, Such action om their part, he believes, would be sustained by the Supreme Court of the United ‘States—at least be bad reason to hope that it would. Probable Action ef the Virginia Logisiature. Wasnixaton, Deo, 26, 1868. Letters have been received in this city from Rich. mond taking issue with Colonel Sogar's recently pub- lished declaration that the Legislature of Virginia are Teady at once to adopt the constitutional amendment, Provided that they cau have the assurance from (ea- Gress that this shall be tho ultimatum, and that the loyal Senators from that State shall be-ndmitted without de- , lay, One of the writers says that the Legisisture are pearly if not quite unaaimous‘on the subject in the mog- ative, and the feeling is equally decided ameng the people. Under no circhmstances are the people er Goneral Assembly ready to ratify the amendment, ‘The Amendment iu Alabama. j A mooting Was held in Lauderdate county recenuy, and was addrossed by Governor Patton, whe urged the Propriety of accepting the constitutional ameadmout The meoting adopted resolutions gustaining tne Gov- ernor’s policy, Nearly the whole press of the State strongly oppose Governor Patton's advocacy of the amendinent. Ex.Governor Parsons advises tho people to stand firmly by President Johnsen and roject the amondmont, REPORTED MASSACRE AT FORT KEARNY. Threo Ofticers and Ninety Soldiers Surrounded and Butchered. Fort Lanamms, Deo, 26, 1866. A terrible massacre occurred on tho 22d, near Fort Kearny. Brevet Colonel Fotterman, Captain Brown and Lioutenant Grammond, of the Eighteenth infautry, with Binoy onligted mon of the Socond cavalry eng Bightconta infantry, were gurrounded by Ingians and overy officer and maa ki See ln: saa pal (The above despatch comes in auch questionable shape ; that we are not prepared to fully ondorae ite truthful- ness. Fort Kearny, from which locality it purports te have been sont, is situated on the north fork of the Platte river, about four hundred miles west of the piace where the massacre is said to have occurred. Fort Kearny ison the Platte river, in Nebraska Territory, about two hundred miles from Omaha City. Brovet Colonel William J, Fetterman, who is reported to have been one of the victimns, was a captain ja the regulararmy, He was a Gatite of Connecticut, and omterod tho service ‘a May 1961, as first lioutenant, having doen appointed from the State of Delaware. Captain Frederick H. Brown, another of the victims, was @ native of tis State. —Ep, HaRALy.) THE MISSOURI TROUBLES. The Prosident Declines to Interfere im the Stato DiMcultios, Sr, Lown, Dec. 26, 1606. Tha conservatives report that Prosidest Johnson de clines interferonce in Missouri affairy, on the ground that each™ Staté should be left tree'to’ preserve peace and no interference 61 unless the United Stares laws ave violated wr tho State calls for holp. “‘Thisis ‘the supposed ground for Geeeral Grant's order widraw- ing the troops from Lexington, the latter baving returned to Leavenworth. Warrants against tho militia com- mandor have not been served by the Marshal. The cause pols eapor re The Marahal has gone to Leavenworth te confor with General Huncock, and the Governor has sont additional militia to Lexington on account of threats of busbwhackers in the surrounding bee’ 8 All_ sorts of horrible outrages aro imputed to the militia, The 5 ing conservatives trom Lexington are in St. Louis under pretense that their lives are in danger. Genoral Grant J eee but papers are quiet concerning the jen! , ” MURDEROUS AFFRAY IN NASHVILLE. Collision Between Military and Pollce— Cheers tor Jeff Davis Given by the ico— Ono Soldior Killod and Another Seriously pots Nasuvi.te, Dec. 26, “808. A murterous affray occurred hore last night between & party of the Thirty fourth infantry and a party ef pe- licomen, The former wore cheering for Lincoln and the Union, when the iatter came up with an answering =‘ cheer for Jeff Davia, A melée followed, in which Eé- ‘ward Crogo, a soldier, was shot, and died in afew min. utes, Sergeant Henry Bishiey received a serious wound inthe head. Groat excitement exists over the affair, and » number of unofficored soldiers are to-night out ia Luat of the murderers, with threats of vengeance. / MARINE DISASTER. The British Ship Rangoon Ashore at Chince- toague—Tho Captain at Norfolk, Va.—Hor | Cargo and Ownorship—Assistance Sent to Her from this City. The British slip Rangoon (formerly the American ship Wm. 8. Travis, of Portiand), Captain Murray, 102 days from Sourabaya, Java, for New York, with a cargo con- sisting of Indigo, rice and rattam, went ashore at Chiace- ’ teagne Shoals on the 25th instant, She was consizued to B.W. Cameron of this olty. A despatoh received ag oe the Captain, dated at Norfolk, Va., states that he im that city to the assistance of wreckors, and that the v ‘The stoamtug Philip, Captais port yosterday, towing the schoover Jonson, Captain Pet condor agsiatance to the Ran, THE WEW POST OFFICE. Meeting of the United Staten Comminstovers. Yostorday a mooting of the commissioners appointed by Congress to determine upon a site for anew Post Office was hold at fthe Post’ Office, Postmaster Geuoral Randall boing present. It was fully decided that the lower portion of the City Hail Park was tho most oligibie locality for the now Post Office building. After some business of importance confirmatory of fthe proceedings of the commissioners in thoir joint actions with the Cominon Council committss, the mecting adjourned. A pleasant episode followed the adjournment, which mus} have been highly gratifying to the Postmaster Gonoral. The clerks ia the office learning of the presence of the Postmaster General, dosired, in some substantial mannc® to thank bim for his offorts to increase their salaries, Postmaster Kelly being informed of the wishes of the clerks at four o'clock in the afternoon, formally pre- sented from the balcony in the centres room the Postmaster General, who waa recoived wit’ three hearty cheers, In a short speech he exproased his high appreciation of the services rendores by the clerks in the performance of their ardu a and stated that he should do all that tay in b promote their interests He stated that the salary of maimed soldiers in the employ of the gov thad Already been increased one hundred dollars a : it was his desire to further ingrenso the walarics generally. AIrR OF TOR NEW RUTLDENG, The portion of the City Hall Park gold to the gone government as a site for the new Post Orllos extends along Broadway from tho exireme southern end of ine park a distance of 390 feet and along Park tow for kame distance, The line forming the boundary of northern ond of the rite is aoe wn ll ~~ longth of the morthern face, oxcinding zireme te, 18148 fect. The fountain ie included within thee yan daries. ad ROW AMONG NEGROES 1 WAMPTON, VA. Fourrnss Moxnor, 1 A slight disturbance occurred Among some negroes, Which promi Tae 0 become de veloped into a serious Throngh the prompt toler. diers the incipient riot was prompuy sonnek tee om and free fndulzence in Chrstmat foreonses web th nciting cause of the disturbsuce. ‘saomemasaonapepiasss FEARFUL FALL. Gr. Pavr, Deo 25, 1806. On Monday night @ wagon containing four men wa run off the bridge this aide of St Anthony, and wor hoadiong down the precipice one hundred eod fy fees, The high bridge ta at one ond of this charm, wilhout « igh nd iam fearful pines, bat fortunately thre od them Yecaped ‘rita tajurion While only 009, gamed Casey, (yas killed