The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1866, Page 6

4 O_O NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBEK NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AKD PROPRIETOR, OFFIOB N. W. CORNER VP FULTON AND NASSAU STS, Volume XXXM cece. ceseccsseseseseseeeee No. 361 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE. Broadway, near street.—Tux Pmoris's taniype lave Tnpuan. Broome ABW XORK THE THEATRE, Broadw Broadway, opposite Now York THE. FRANCAIS, Pourtesnth street. near Sixth Pe oy Quean ov Exguann. AN wae THEATRB, No. 514 Broadway.— Des Tsvrs.s Zor GERMAN STADT Tange. wee. 4 id and 47 Bowery.— Komotx Mancor uxp pix Hi DODWORTH'S HALL, 806 Broadway.—Prorasson Hants wit Peavoam mip Mimacurs.—Tus Hxap Ix THR AIR. SAN sco ELS. 695 Broadway, opposite she'Metropalian otis tune fraorias Ewrenratse Sunes Sincina, ‘pawonso anp Buaiusques—L'auLing Curis on Lova's FIFTH AVENUE OPERA HOUSE, Nos. 2 and 4 Wost ‘Pwenty-! street.—Bu pworti Mutsraats.—Rrmortay Se ete, Muuuesdots, A0.-GusaY EXPECTae KELLY 4 LEON'S MINSTRELS, 78 Broadway, Hotsl-—is euain Sonus, Dances. Evous. agg BES jaMatt WitK 4 Y—Lct Lox HS ee Bunvesares, ae TONY PASTOR'S OPERA ROUSE, 20 Bowery. —Courg Voosusa—Nxaro Mumeanisy, Bauer Divertisseuen2, ‘ dc.—Lirrix Tom Tuckxn. CHARLEY. bdo COMBINATION TROUPE, at Mechontes' Hall, 472 Broadway~[x a Vanwery or Ligar axp LAUGHABLE AINMENTS, CORPS DE BaLLer, &C Tax GOLDEN AXE. HOOLEY'SOPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn. —Eraiorias Mine ornuisy, Batuans, BURLESQUES AND PaNtoMiates. BROOKLYN ATHANEUM.—Avurs & Co.'s Great Pan- HO-NA-THRC-A OF TRAVELS IN EUROPE AND AM&RICA, AND Vorage ACROSS THE ATLAXTIO. FINE ARTS GALLERY, No. 625 Broadway.—Exuuuition or Frencn Paurtings. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, corner of Grand and Crosby streets.—Gneat Masomid Fam ius Aw or me Lact AnD Asyium Fox, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Lrcrunss wit tux Oxr-Hroxoaex Dicuoscore | twieg ., Heap axa Kigut ARM or Puonst. rom, ry 23h tn loP. M. ig New York, Thursday, December TH wa W 8. EUROPE. The Newfonndiand telegraph lines are reported as “down all day” yesterday, and we consequently have ceived our cable despatches of the 26th instant. the arrival of the German mail steamships Alleman- 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, Boman and Irish questions. Pope Pius the Ninth delivered a most significant ad- dress to the officers and soldiers of the French army Previous to their march from Rome. He thanked them for their servicos, but exprossed a doubt as to their cor- dial reception in France, on account of leaving the city and Head of the Church exposed to the revolution at that moment. His Holiness acknowledged that the troops were right in oboytng 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 hasde- livered judgment, reveals some curious facts relative to. the business managoment and speculation of the London ‘Times newspaper proprietors, Cardinal Cullen, in his pastoral, warns the people of Treiand against Fenianiam and revolutionary conspira- cies, but says he cannot understand why England agsails Fonianism 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 $6,275 to pay counsel foes incurred during the recent frrenenies of the charges against Comptroller Brea- TR the fact 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 passago to this port from Bremen. The weokly statistics show that 1,028 emigrants arrived here last week, making the number since Junuary 1, 227,443, ‘end that the commutation balance is $44,832, ‘The commissioners appointed by Congress to deter: ‘mine upon a site for the new Post OMee in this city, held . @ meeting in the Post OMce 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 a meeting yesterday to determine the feasibility of ‘applying 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 rocuiving the sixth highe:t number of votes in the various Couucil- minic district, It is the opinion of their counsel that the act of the Legislature dosignating that five members of tho five Senatorial districts shall composy ths Board of Councilmen is unconstitutional and in conflict with tho city charter, Ashort time since Mr. Jackson §. Schultz, President ef the Board of Health, directed Dr. & B Dalton, the Nanitary Superintendent, toascortata in what manner the atreeteof Boston wero cleaued. This morning we give the report of Dr. Dalton on that subject, togother wittr a communication from President Schultz to exJadse Whiting, the Strect Cleaning Coutrattor, in which many improvemonts in the preseat system of street cleaning ere recommended. A distillery on the corner of Thirty-ninth street and Tenth avenuo—said to be tho largest in the city—was ,@elzed by Commissioner J. C. Horton yesterday. Tis capacity is about five thousand gallons per day. The United States District and Circuit Coarta, Judges Bouedict and smalley, adjourned yesterday until Friday, sa mark of respect to the momory of the Portuguese Minister, Figaniore do Marad, whose death was reported in the Havaty yertertay In the Supreme Con dered yeatorday by Mr. J im important opinion was ron- stice Ingraham, in reference to the discharge on habens corpus under a plea of minority of soldiers regularly enlisted in the army of the United Bars The hearing on the writ of mandamus isauod by the Supreme Court, directing Thomas Stephons, acting Prom ent of the Croton Board, to show cause why he should not surrender the papers, &0., of the ofice to J. J, Brad Joy, the new appoinies, and which was to have takea piace yesterday, has been set down for Friday, the 28th inst. The stock market waa sirong yesterday morning, but afterwards became unsettied. Gold was weak and closed at 191%. oral trade was quite dull yesterday, and commer Clal values wore in a great degree nomiaal, but in the main the fluctuations that occurred were unimportant Groceries wore quiet, Cotton dali and heavy, without, however, change in price, Naval stores dull, but an changed, On ‘Change flour was dull, but steady, Wheat wns without decided change. Corn advanced Ic., while oats raled dull and heavy, Pork was more active, but At lower rates, Boef was heavy, though quite active Lard was dull and hoavy. Freights wore quiet, Whis Key was ontiroly nominal. MISCELLANEOUS. Our City of Mexico correspondence is dated December ®& The return of the Emporor to his throne was re. colved with public rejoicings throughout the country. His army, independent of the French, numbors thirty. five thousand men, and aro well fed and clothed. . The Imporialists say that if thoy bave no United States troops against they will altimately suceced. They withdrawal of the French, and consider that it would bo the bost thing for Maximilian. Ths reports of the hanging of Escobedo aro partially confirmed by Galveston despatches, and it now said be was laaged Bt the instigation of Ortega } Our Havana correspondence is dated December 22. The money panic had reached a criws, and roos wore made on several of the principal baoks, and four of them closed doors, and suspended payment untor the Pressure, The Banco Espanol was prepared for the event, and on being supplied with gold from the Srnment oftice managed to Hoather Whe wwrm, Hepyrls es ¢ :4a aupposed to be in possession of advices*which Icave no }.gvork near Hamilton yesterday the structure gave way sPrecipitating the engine, tomdor and baggage car to the j upon by a party of policemen, whe answered with aeputs for Jeff Davis. An alfray ocourred, whem-one ‘woldier was killed and another severely wounded. Great excitement existed over the affair, and squads of soldiers of revolts among the negro slaves on the plantations, are current. The sugar market is in # complete iuil, Our advices frem tho West India Islands are dated Kingston, Jamaica, the 16sh, and Ponce, Porto Rico, the ‘14th instant, There was no cholera in Jamaioa, The crew of the American bark Mary Heury, wrecked on the Cuban coast, bad arrived. Business was much depressed. The yield of sugar and coffee in Porto Rico will be abun- dant. The English troopship Simoom, arrived at Ja- maica from Honduras, reports disturbances among the natives ia the last named colony. We have files from Turk’s Islands, dated at Grand Turk om the 8th of Decembor. The commercial report says:—The demand for salt has not been very active, and the quantity on hand is mall and must be exhausted before any more can be gathered. Price 120, a 1230. The Fenian trials at Sweotsburg were resumed yester- day. After some difficulty tm empanelling a jury, the trial of Thomas Smith was proceeded with and concluded. The jury returned a verdict of guily, and he was sen- tenced to be hanged on the 15th of February next, Orders had besn issued to the military about Sweetsburg to propare 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 were sent by Colonel Roberts, do- clined to accept one, The President on the 19th instant directed General. Sickies to suspend the receat order from his headquar- tere forbidding corporal punishmont, and the order hag boon suspended accordingly: ‘ Our Washington despatches say that the goverument agitators of South Carolina, on tho slavery issue, brought forward the State right of seces- 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, a Pennsylvanian, as President of the United States, could find no power in the conatitation to coerce or interfere with a seceding State. This monstroms and preposterous notion that the government had no right to defend itself against a treasonable domestic conspiracy was in perfect with the Hartford Convention fallaoy, that it had no right to protect itself against a 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 handred 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 gained for a now departure. These heresies, chy. that final appeal of the, aword,.have\ been room to doubt’ that the British Cabinet will fully recog- ‘nize the Alabama olaims, and, ia return, our own Oabi- | net will recognize the British claims against this couatry. Governor Patton, of Alabama, recently: addressed @ mass mooting in Lauderdale county, in that State, and Strongly urged the propriety of accopting the con- stitutional amendment, Senator Parsons, on the other hand, advises the people of the State to stand firmly by President Johnson and reject the amendment. Tt is officially stated that the government has in- structed Minister Campbell to remain, in Now Orleans until “ something turns up in Moxico,"’ The Congressional excursion party were warmly re- ceived and grandly entertained by the principal citizens of Memphis, Tenn., yeatorday. 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 New 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,, aay 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 momber of the South Carolina 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 auch action would, he hopad, be sustained by the Supreme Court. A wagon containing four men 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 tressic arms the negroes’ rights agitation of Massa- chusetta has beon 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 persona” mentioned in the constitu- tion; for, slavery gone, there is 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 profer to sacrifice the great advantages of res- toration to their old negro prejudices, a P two, five ot ton or fifteen y 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 finances, the currency and our ¢x- cessive taxations, internal and external, and to the question of a general bankrupt law and other practical meagures of relief, retrenchment and reform, and the two houses will be legisiat- ing to the general advantage and ‘satistrotion ofthe country. A Muay Prec or Bustesa.—One of our Contemporaries who has. been carping and snarling at our inadequately paid Congress- men for s number of years past, because 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 ontcries because the two Boards of the Common Council 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 knew even a mean mileage concern to be guilty of. In our own business we should think very little of giving an honest and use- ful employé two hundred and fifty dollars, if he should need it, and no business man of liberal views would regard such a reward for faithfal 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 Hrxatp is the advocate of honest egon- omy and of reform, in a broad, comprehensive an* liberal way; but we thoroughly despise the meanness and littieness of the pica- yune retrenchment demagogues who raise an outcry about such » small piece of busi- neas 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 tax- payers, the four or five million dollars they have plundered out of the city treasury. We have Isbored to secure the clearing out of the several city departments and to pdt s stop to the shameless cor:uption to which they have been subjocted. There is some bottom and fatally injuring the engineer and freman. . A party of soldiers in Naghvitie indulged in cheers for Lincoln and the Union on Christmas night and were sot unofficered were hunting through the streets last night for the murderers, with threats of vengeance. A wholesale boot and shoe manufactory in Fimira was destroyed by fire yesterday. The loss ts estimated at $70,000. What Are the True Ideas of the Government and the Duties of 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 animportant and encouraging fact, and yet Congréss, like a ship weathering the perils of an unknown coast, appears to have lost its reckoning and seems to be feeling its way by soundings. We are really adrift, and whither are we drifting? Somo 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, oventually 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 tho laiely insurgent and till 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- evament which was thus established was not a locse contederatfon of sovereign States, but | a notions! government, in the name of “We, the le of the United States;” that fs, of all | #ense and some benefit to the city in this, and the Staies compucied under one supreme | We hope that Street Commissioner McLean, netional government, by the goneral voice of who is an‘able, discriminating and reputsble 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 snbordinates who have properly discharged their duty to the public and earned their salaries by hard and faithful their people. This was in 1787; but in 1789 Invid flames of the great French revolution barst upon the world, and the pernicious dem- ocratic exce of that revolution rallied a rty ¥, with which the tional convention of now in this c minority of the consti 178’ ) the foreground under Jefferson ant Burr, Lother } radicals of their | 8¢tvice. Our fight is not against such men as school. Popular sympathy with Franco—our | these, neither does our demand for city reform active and saving ally in our struggle | Contemplate the withholding of # paltry two for ind nee—liad much to do with | hundred and fifty dollars » piece from a few the for of this new party against poorly paid clerks a4 9 Christmas present, the federal pa » be more in sympathy Navy Yarp vor Inow-Cravs—We have re- with the conser institutions of England, ceived great many communications, pam- s t which the eamities of the American phiets and arguments on the subject of v sad become Ixed and general from the locating a navy yard for building and repair recollections of a seven years’ war, So it was | ing our iron-clad war veasols, Several places that Jefferson, le of Voltaire, and ®| have been urged, and, of course, very strongly, bold and cunning googie, bogan to agi- | by the inhabitants, property holders and inte- tate rpretation of the cor rested parties of these localities. One urges upon ’ sovercignty and this advantage and ono another, saying little ny and with thie departure from the cbart or nothing of the disadvantages. Congrese- men and the authorities of the Navy Depart- ment have’been bored to death upon the sub- ject. New York would be the best place, an- doubtedly, if the water of our bays were not but have rating at leat saniry, culm Upon these mis bievous State right dogmas | aslt. The olty of Hudson, up the North river, Jelerson came into power, bus having thas] would not be @ bad place, and the water ts cained his purpove ass politician he dropped | fresh there, New London wants the yard, but them, As the bead of (be government ke had | the same objection as to salt water applies to no further use for n,and so he became # | that city as to New York. League Island, up sorvative slates {i} eurvived, and ¢ His dogmas, owever, the Delaware, has the advantage of fresh water and convenience to the coal and iron war of 1812, tak by the Hartford ¢ region; but vessels of deep draught cannot t la, who car ed the ples of Stato rig ascend so far up, and the Delaware ts 1 denial of the power io the froner closed up with ico part of tho year. mont te pro tect itsolf agrinal », ( The proper place is Washington city, the seat * Hartford movement was mpily sup- | of government. There is @ navy yard there ssed, and the theories involved were so | already ; vessels of the largest class can get efectually rebuked that the ino more | mp; the Potomac is seldom frozen to impede to disturb the country till the Calhoun nullifi- | navigation, and it is fresh water. Bosides, it cativa movement of 1852-3, Jackson applied | is nearly or quite as convenient to the coal tar extinguisher to the, aad goat the agok put down. Nos only so, but.in this. contest of end iron regions of Pennsylvania, Meryland 21, and Virginia, by the Baltimore and Ohio Bail- road and canal and by other means of commu- nication, as 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-clads at Washington. The Reform Movement tn Great Britain—Ite Lutest 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 incompetency 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 moro effective method. It is not our opinion that in the initial stages of this movemest the poople were, ane way or the other, more than indifferent, It did not originate with them, Tt was not the flowering or fruit of -aty previous agitation 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 further 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 80 long as the great name of Lord Palmerston was a living power. Circum- stances, however, bocame entirely changed 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 necessary, Mr. Gladstone, in reviving the question of reform, showed that he thoroughly understood the Situation, It would be a great mistake, how- , fo imagine that because the initiation of this movement is not to be traced direct to the people, it was without their sympathy and en- couragemont. 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. . Mr. Bright hag been abused in certain quar- ters as a demagogue and a revolutionist. He can well afford to be indifferent to ali 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 last 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 Sheffield outbreak proves that for purposes of secrecy they can defy the utmost vigilance and scrutiny of the law. Mr. Bright has 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- of the reform party.” If this arrange- ment ts 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 representative reform. It is really s much more serious affair than a Hyde Park demonstration. Tae Fens Asxiva ror Damaces.—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 to peti- tion Mr. Seward to demand damages for false imprisonment from the Canadian governmont. We do not see that our government has got anything to do with the maiter. It is the affair entirely of private citizens. But the Fenians 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 Goverswext any Newsraren Teie- 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. It isashame for the United States government not to be able to pay its telegraph bills as promptly as a New York nowapaper. Tue Nontawestern Journats any tx New Yorx Associaten Press.—Some of the North- western journals, in their usual border ruffian style, are heaping fearful abase on the New York newspapers. In the eyes of these West- ern termagants the newspapors of this city are no better than despotisms, monopolies and other terrible things. In exhausting thelr bile with these epithota they do not seo that they are paying the highest possible compliment to our efficiency and enterprise. In order to be @ groat influcntiel instrument im tee publio 1866. service a newspaper must be a monopoly—it must be @ despotism. One grand ides 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. Thoatricals in the United States. During 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 rogular 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 few of them have been covering their expenses. The success of these latter, with their ‘swarms of nude beauties and gorzeous| oi, Under no circumstances are the people or scenic effects, seems to have swamped every a oe eras oe ae ee: vcigtly the opera, The return of Ristort to the city has changed | somewhat this state of things. The logitimate drama is onoe more in the ascendant With her appearance comes the consciousness that the lovers of true arthaye 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 bike first fall from her lips! . ot ba 49 Good reason his 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 Landred inousaiid dollars. Of tis period stated she played betwéen New York sa Brdoklyn 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 énthusiasm 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 from ‘the events of our times a series of dramas snited to the genius of this great artist. The occurences of the Iast 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 characterization 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 hia heels. All these would furnish characters fora drama of more intense and real interest than any that has been presented on the stage. Itis te be regretted that there | is no writer to be found who could do justice to euch a 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 unfortunste Carlotta so much admiration and sympathy as the great actress who now concentrates all the attention of our play-goers. THE CONGRESSIONAL EXCURSIONITS. SPECIAL TELEGRAM T TO THE HERALD Kathasiatle Reception at Nashvile and Along the Route. Mawrms, Doc, 26, 1966, Tho Congressional excurstonists started Iast evening from Nashville by special train, accompanied by « dele. gation from Nashville, and arrived here this evening. They were mot at an intermediate point on the Tonnes- see road by a committee of reception, composed of the Mayor and mombers of the Common Council and a large number of citizens, The manifestations of (rieadly feel- ing along the road were numerous ‘ihe welcdme hore {s spontancous and general. The visitors are overwhelmed with hospitality, A grand banquet was given by the citizens this afternoon at the Gayouo Houre, and eloquent and appropriate apesches wore made by Senators Foster, Lane and Wade and Ite- Presentatives Marshall and Hubbel! and by Major Gen- oral Howard, in response to the ‘reguiar toasts, which were received by those present with great applause, J. P, McGuire, M.'P., from Ireland, delivered an atc addreas, which was enthusiastically received. The dele- gation loaves for the South this afternoon, at five o'clock. New Onteans, Dec. 26, 1966. A special train loft this morning for the purpose of mesting the Congressional excursioniate and conducting « them to this city, The committee will be mot at Canton by General Beauregard and ® number of gentlemen con- nected with the press here, who will show the committee such attentions as may bo necessary and pleasant, The party are expected to arrive Bore to-morrow, aressional Kxcursion Party ‘3 at Richmond, Va. Rronsosp, Dec, 26, 1966. ‘The Congressional excursion party No 2 to this city, composed of Judge Spalding and lady, and Senator Kirk. ‘wood and lady, of lowa; Senator Poland and lady, of Vor mont, B. R. Colby, Rogister of Treasury, and lady, accompanied by Captain Poland, aon of tho Senator, arrived here this evening on revenue cutter Northerner, ‘and will remain on board to-night. The day being fine, the trp @ james river was enjoyed and the various points of Tustorioal Interest carefully observed and criti- cized, Preparations are boing made by General Blunt, Chief Quartermaster of this rtment, to convey the party to ali piaces of note in the city and the surround ing fortifeations to-morrow, It is not decided whether thoy will remain a second day, Potersburg will be the next pont viaited. SENTENCE OF A MURDERER. Worcraren, Deo. 26, 1366. ‘Thomas Fallon, who murdered his wife in thia city last Septombor, was today sentenced im the Buprome Gower, by Judge Hoar, vo imprisonment (or life Arrival o THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. : Ite Rejection by the Southern States Reported to Have Boen Recommended by the Prosi: me Cuanuasron, Deo. 25, 1864, Colonel Weatherby, a momber of the State Senate and who was entrusted with an ihformal commission to the President of the United States, has returned to this city from Washington, where he had e long and highly grati- fying interview with the Executive upon the question of restoration and kindred topics, in the course of which the President gavo it as his deliberate opinion that the Southera States, through their Legislatures, should re~ Ject the proposed constitutional amendment, but in such terms as not to give offence to those who are urging it upon the South, Such action on 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 Legisinture. ‘Wasuisarow, Deo, 26, 1860, Letters have been received in this city from Rick. 4 mond taking issue with Colonel Segar's recently pub- lished declaration that the Legislature of Virginia are ready at once to adopt the constitutional amendment, provided that they can have the assurance from Vea- gress that this shall be tho ultimatum, and that the loyal Senators from that State ehall be admitted without de-, 4” lay, Ong of the writers says that the Legisiatare are | nearly if not quite unaaimous'on the subject in the neg- ative, and the feeling is equally decided among the General Assembly ready. to ratify the amendment, ‘The po wd fa Alabama. ‘Mowrcomenr; v0.20, 1868. dance hela tm Eauderdate county recently, and was addrossed’ by Governor Patton, whe urged the Propriety of accepting the constitutional ameadmont, The meeting adopted redaolutions eustaining the Gov- ernor's policy. Nearly the whole press of the State strongly oppose Governor Patton's advocacy of the amendinent, Ex.Governor Parsons advises the people te stand firmly by President Johnson and roject the amondment. REPORTED MASSACRE AT FORT KEARNY. Three OMicers and Ninety Soldiers Surrounded and Butchered. Four Lanamrs, Doo, 26, 1866. A terrible massacre occurred on tho 22d, aear Fort Kearny. Brevet Colonel Fetterman, Captain Brown and Lieutenant Grammond, of the Kighteenth infantry, with ninoty onligted mon of the Second cavalry ang Kighteenta infantry, were surrounded by Lugiang and overy officer and man killed. =<: ae nS: ate el (Tho above despatch comes in auch questionable shape that we are not prepared to fully ondorse its 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 is on 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 victims, was a captain ja thoregulararmy, Ho was a ative of Tonnecticut, and omtered the service ta May 1961, as first lieutenant, having doen appointed from the State of Delaware, Captain Frederick H. Brown, another of the victims, was @ native of this State.—Ep, Huratn) THE MISSOURI | TROUBLES. to Interfere in the Stato DiMculties, Sr, Lown, Dec. 26, 1666. The conservatives report that Presidest Johnson 4e- ¢lines interferouce ip Missouri affairg, on the ground that each” State should be left tree'to’ preserve peace and no tnterferente ti unless the United Stares laws dro violated ‘er tho State calls for bolp. “Thisis bere: oo bebe thet latter bat ver mt 10 troops: v' ed Leavenworth. Warrants against the militia com- mandor have not been served by the Marshal. Tho cause isupknown. The Marahal has gone to Leavenworth te confor with General Hancock, and the Governor has sont additional militia to Lexington om account of threats of busbwhackers in the surrounding country. All sorts of horrible outrages aro imputedto the militia, The lead- ing conservatives trom Lexington are in St. Louis under | aoe that their lives are in danger. Genoral Grant it Neer A but papers are quiet concerning tae MURDEROUS AFFRAY IN NASHVILLE. Collision Between the Military and Pollce— Cheers tor Jo! Davis Given by the Police— One Soldier Killed and Anethor Seriously Wounded. = Naanvitie, Dec. 26, “806. A murderous affray occurred here last might between ‘& party of the Thirty fourth infantry and a party of pe- licemen. The former wore cheering for Lincoln and the Union, when the iatter came up with an answering =, cheer for Joff Davis, A mele followed, in which Eé. ward Crogo, hebry ven y= whet and died in a few utes. ae Bishley received a serious wi in the Groat excitement exists over the affat are to-night out Is vengeance. ‘f ‘and s number of unoficered soldiers hunt of the murderers, with threats of v MARINE DISASTER. The British Ship Rangeon Ashore at Chince- One co eo Captain Norfolk, Va.—Ner | Ownorship—Assistance Ment to fer jen this City. Tho British slip Rangoon (formerly the American ship ‘Wm. 38. Travis, of Portiend), Captain Murray, 102 days from Sourabaya, Java, for New York, with a cargo con. sisting of (indigo, rico and rattan, went ashore at Chince- * teague Shoals on the 25th instant, She was consizued to BR. W. Cameron of this city. rondor sanistance to THE WEW POST OFFICE. Meeting of the United States Comminsiouers.’ | Yosterday a mooting of the commissioners appointed by Congress to determine upon « site fora new Post Office was hold at [the Post Office, Postmaster General Randall being present. It was fully decided that the lower portion of the City Hail Park was the moat eligible locality for the now Post Office building. After soup business of importance confirmatory of jthe proceedings of the commissioners in thoir Joint actions with the Cominon Council committe, the meeting adjourned. A pleasant episode followed the adjournment, which mush have been highly gratifying to the Postmaster Gonoral. * The clerks im the office learning of the presence of the Postmaster General, dosired, in some substantial mann to thank bim for bis offorta to increase their salaries, Postmaster Kolly boing informed of the wishes of the clarks at four o'clock in the afternoon, formally pre sented from the balcony im the centre room the Postmaster General, who waa recoived wit’ three hearty cheers. In a” short specch he ‘exproased his high appreciation of the services r by the clerks in the performance of their ardu and stated that he should do all that tay in hiv promote their interests He stated that the y maimed soldiers in the employ of the government hag already been increased one hundred dollars a year, aud ft was his desire to further ingrenso tue walarios of clerks generally. SITh OF THR NEW fTLDNG, The portion of the City Hall Parke gold to the gonoral government as @ site for the new Post Olbee extends along Broadway from the extreme pouthera ond of ihe parka distance of 330 foot ‘and along Park tow for the sane distance, The fine forming the boundary of tee ae eo nn oe 4 tongth of the northern face, excinding the ex:reme an 16, sae tect The fountain is included within eve aries. A slight disturbance occurred todey in Hampt among some negroes, which promised to become de voloped into a serious affair, Throngh the prompt intay forence of the soldiers the Incipient riot was prom queiied. Too early and free indulpence tn Chr beverages was (he inciting cause of (he disturbaace. FEARFUL FALL, Br. Paw, Deo 25, 1806. On Monday night & wagon containing four men way run off the bridge this aide of St Anthony, and wor precipice one hundred and fifty foe. one end of thisebasm, wilt hows *