The New York Herald Newspaper, February 6, 1867, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. | JAMES GURUS BEN. GTT, ALE EDITOR AND PROF + @MUSEMENTS Tito APY Bradway, near Broome BROADWAY THT’ IFUL SCAMP—CINDE LE ult street. —ALanpim, THY NEW YORK THEATRE, Broadway, opposite New York Bovel —Binp or Pauavion. GERMAN OPBRA, Olymple Theatre, Broadway.—Tus Maco Prore. STEINWAY TALL, Bast Piace.—Gnamp VOCAL aND eace Nigur. wenth street, near Irving SUMENTAL CONCSHT—Wale age—Proresson Hanns Tisao iM TH AlR— GAB PRANCTIOO MINGTR 8} Braat@ay, oproaite fhe Met: a Moet —[y rice Ermoviae Bw raeracte Dancixa ano Boacesqoes.—Commirrxy FIFTH AVENUE OPERA HOUSE, Nos. 2 and 4 West Twenty-fourth stroot.—Gxirein & Cukisty's MINstRRLS,— Brmorian Minstanisy, bateans, Buwcusquas, &¢.—Mept- ‘Gal Brupent. Bin KELLY & LROWS MINSEREL2, 720 Broadway sitetne Now York toty'.—Is tune Joxas, Daviet 7 ODO Eoonne ymorms, Buacesques, &c.—Ovps .xD EXDS—CODER-LEON— Mapagasoan Batter Trovrs. b A HOUSE, 201 Rowery.—Courc aeist. Banter Diveasisanaey:, and Cuter, Matines at 234 o'Cluek. TONY PASTOR'S 0! Voostasw—Neoro CHARLEY WHITH'S COMBINATION TROUPE, at Meohanics’ Wall, 472 iway.-iy 4 Vawery or Laur amp Liavousate Enreuratnaents, Comes be Batuar, &c. Seuovrsers’ Frou. MRS. P. R. CONWAY'S PARK THRATEE, Bro Tax Now OF AmiRNs—Tue Ooean Vacut Kacu—cic HOOLEY'S OPRRA MOUS! memox, Baueaps ann bi Axovan tue Wout, sera Mix cna ‘Da THE RUNYAN TAD! Twenty-third wrest and Picania's Progusss—Sixry M NEW YORK MOSEUM OF A Heap axp Tout Aen ov Twins—Wonpras iy Naren ss Hy prunks Dax, Open irom 8 Now Work, Wednesday, Febraary 6, THHE NOW s. EUROPE. Our dates from Rurope by the cable arc up to yerver- day noon. Queen Victoria delivered her address at the oponing of Parliame.t. The postal service of Germany bad beon transferred (o the goverument of Pruseta.,The Churcb bill in tho Iialinn Legislarure had been defeated. ‘Console were quoted in London at 9011-16 for money, United States five-twenty bonds wero unchanged. Thé cotton murkot* were dull and irregular, Middling up- lands were quoted at about 144gd. per pound, CONGRESs. In the Sonate yesterday resolutions wero adopted In- quiting if Genoral Sherman had issued any orders for the Protection of trains crossing the plains; relative to the management of the Charlestown Navy Yard, and rela- tivo tothe relief of discharged aoldiers who have lost ‘theie papors. Tho bill providing that the aod for the Payment of warclaims shail not be construed to provide for she payment ef such Claims in the rebel States, ox- eopt to loval citizens in Tennessee and West Virginin, «was called up and passed, ‘The bills defining the rank of admiral and staf oMicers, and appropriating $33,280,000 for the payment of invalid and other pensions for the year ending June 30, 1868, were reported from commit- toma, with amendments. Bills to ensble States to select swamps and overflowed lands in their limits, omitted in @ former act; and autuorizing committees to remit fines ‘or fosfeitures in certain cases, were Introduced and ge forred. A resolution directing the Secretary of tho ‘Treasury to roport what amount of money has been re- ceived for sales of cotton was adopted. The Bankrupt Dilt was then taken up in Committee of the Whole. ‘Sovera) important amendments were proposed and acted ‘apen, and on being taken out of the committes the bill ‘was votod upon, resutting in its defeat, by 22 nays ~ 20 yeas. Mr. Harris changed bi: vote iu order to move a reconsideration, and the Senate soon after adjourned. In the House, Goneral Sheridan was received and pro- sonted to the members, during a recess taken for that purpose, and on the resvinption of business, reports from commitiees were called. A number of memoria! from the Committee on Military Affairs were reported and passed. The House thon wont into Commities of the Whole, and Mr, Hooper made a speech on the fiaan- etal question, The bill appropriating $2,600,000 to carry out the stipatations of Indian treatles was reported, Boveral Executive documents were pressated aud tho House adjourned. THE LEGISLATURE. fa the Senate yesterday a bil! forthe more effectual prevention of crucity to animals was reporied upot favor- abiy. Bills to create a Department of Charities and Corree- tioa ta Brooklyn; to incorporate the New York Yacht and Jvuckey clubs, end retative te the compensation of exe- entora, adminisirators, &c., were iatroduced. Several otis of @ local, personal or private character were passed, Me. Low offered a rosolution inquiring tnto the lottery, or prine concert lately held for the benciit of the orphan sad widows of doceasod soldiers, but after s short dis- cussion {t was withdrawa, The Metropolitan Health bill wes Chon considered, but without siazndinost, aud the Senate soon after adjourned. Ie the Assembly, the Quarantine Dill was referred back (othe Committee on Commorce aud Naviratlon, an qvouing session wax held, whon several piil¥ af « local @t personal characcer were consiicrod. , MISCELLANEOUS. The Street Cleaning Commission nics yeatertay and Airecved Judge Whiting to break up the snow and co on the sidos of Broadway as required uy bis auneract, Sadge Whiting was prosent and stated that he woult do @ at ones, although he did not think he was required to do ao by bis contract. { Our Havana correspondence is 4ated the Ist instant, ‘The Harriet Lane was nearly ready for sea. The Grocers’ Bank was to be resumed under another name T amaipox has abated in Matanzas Geuvral Vieler, Gov- ernor of the Eastern Department, died on the ain alt. OMivial despatches have been receive at tho War De- partment stating that there is no truth tn the report that | itty men wore killed by Cheyenne lodans recontiy at | Fort Wallace, Tho tnvestization of the difflaulties beiween ihe Central and Hudson River railroads was coutinued be. fore the House commitioe at AlDany yertorisy, wheo Commodore Vanderbilt was examined. The State Workingmen's Society met at Alibavy yes. terday. Tho address of the President was recoived, and oMcors for the ensuing year were elected. Among the communications received was oue from the Buffalo orgaplzation urging the formation of # workingmen’s party. Resolutions were iatroduced in the Maine Legislature Posterday demanding impartial suffrage throughout the Union, tho haugiug of Jed Davis om conviction, and the wwolition ot the pretendea civil goveraments in the \acoly reboltious States, They were referred to the Com: mittee on Foderal Relations. Rdward Wayland, the clerk who, i t alleged, ab- Scouded from Jersey City somo time ago with $15,000 belonging to the Erie Raiiroud, was arrested in Rich- toond, Va., last night. Golonol Lynch, the Fenian prisoner, is a roman io the foundry at the Kingsion Penieatiary, aud Rev. Mt MeMahon does duty as puddier. Ai) ihe prisoners bad their hair cropped penitentiary fashion About noon yesterday an adroit ihiet robbed Leonard W. Jerome's office, No. 43 Exctiange piace, « Sates bonds to the Amount of $100,000. Only a ver furnt Glue to th perpetrator i® furnished A reward o| $25,000 is offered for the recovery 0: the bonds. Six porsOma were arraigned before the various police enurte yesterday morning for alleged yiclations of ine Race law. The name of Christopher MeConneil, ot Woahington street, should have been omitted from | ‘mong the lat arraigned before Jusliee Dowling on Mov- day, aa he was not among the Bamber of oflending Hquor 32 In the Court of Oycr und Torminor yesterday Judge Ingraham delivored an nnporiant charge to the Grand Jury in reference to the itegality of loteries and the workings of the new Excise law, protibiting the silo of lntoxiqating dr.oks in the Metropoiitam Polivo disirics of New York of supday*. Sergeant Schoonmaker, of the Fifteenth precinct police, last evening made a descont upon the alleged | gembiing house kept on the second floor of No. 90 Sicth avenue by Joseph Wallace, and arrested the prose privtor with o'gut other parvies, who were detected ta the act of playing keno, Tuomas A, Colt, a achool teacher ef Irvington, N. J., was tried in Newark on Monday for manslaughter in whipping ® scholar so severely on the 12th of November ast that me died om tho 2ist of the month, The trial was concluded yesterday, the jury bringing in a verdict of guiily of assault and battery. A large steamer is said to be ashore on Brigantine Shoals, off the New Jersey coast, The ice commenced breaking up in the Potomac river above Washington yesterday moruing, and Loug Bridge and tho newly constructed railroad bridge were partially Swept away. Soveral lives are supposed to have becn lost. The wharves in Georgetown were overflowed, and Much damage done. The stcamboats were in consider. able danger, and tho city canal was overflowed. Rail- road communication with the South was suspended. ‘The stock market was heavy yesterday. Gold was strong in the morning, and advanced to.138%, but sub- sequently declined to 137. The merchandise markota, almost without exception, wore firmor yesterday, and in many cases there was con- siderable .excitemoat, while prices deman@ed wore al- most invariably Lighsr. Cotton aud coffes guled steady, On ’Change flour was more active, and 5¢..@ 15c. por bbi. higher. Wheat was quiet, but firmer. Corn olosed arm, with a falringwry, Pork was moro active and firmer, Beef and tard ruted steady and firm, Freights wero genora'ly firm, Whiskey was quiet, Naval stores wore generaily tirmer, with @ moderate demand. Petrolev was dull, but frmor, Mr, Johnson and His Proposed Compromise— A Tub to the Whate. Side by side with the constitutional amen:- ment adopted by Congress and elready ratified by seventeen of the loyal States, requiring only three more to fix it, we give the amend- ment agreed upon es & compromise between President Johnson and certain leading politi- cians of tho rebel States. Here they are :— CONGRESSIONAL AMENDMENT, THE PRESIDEN''S SUBSTITUTE, Ariicus 14 5 AecLy ec, 1, No persons born State, under the constita- in the United States and tion, bas a right of its own subject to the jurisdiction will'to renounce its plico thereof are citizens of the United Stsies und of the Stato whorere they reside. No State sbali make or en- forse any law which shall abridge the privileges or nanunities of citizens of the United States; nor sball any ~tato deprive any nm of life, liberty or property without due pro- cosa of law, nor deny toany parson within Its jurisdic. tou the oqual protection of the laws, esc. 2. Representatives shalt bo sppoluted among tho several States according to their respective num- bers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the Tight to vote at any e!ection for the choice electors for Pregident and Vice President of the Unlved States, Represenietivos in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of « State of tho members of tho Legislature thereof, is de- nied to any of the male in- habitants of such State, be- ing Lwenty-one-years of and citizens of the United Sites, or in any way abridge, except for partici- pation in rebellion or other crime, the basts of ropre- sentation thercin shall be reduced in the proj ortion which the number ef such male citizens shali bear to the whole number of imate Citizens twenty-one years Of age in such State, Sue. 3. No person shall be # Sonator or Reproser- tative in Congress, or elec- tor of Pres.domt and Vico President, or hwld any of- jeo, the Vai od us un- fof ghe Univ at or under any Sialé, who, bav- ing previously’ taken ao oath, as a inember of Con- in or to withdraw from the Union, nor bas the federal government agy right to eject a State from the Union, or to deprive it of i wal suftiage in the Senate, or of representa. tion in the House of Rep- resenta‘ivea Tho Union, under the constitution, shail be perpetual. Svc. 2, The public debt of the United States, au- thorized by law, shall ever bo held sacred and invio- late, but neither tie United States nor any State shal aesume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the governmont or authority the United Statea, xc, 3, AM. persons born or naturalized in the Urited subject to the jurisdiction thereof, ere citizens of the Gnited Statics an@ of the States in Which they-reside ; and the citizens of each State shall be entitled to all the privi- legos and immunities of citizeus in the sovoral States. No State shall do- prive any pergon of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within ite Jjariediction the equal of the i shalt be apportioned am the. soverat. States acoorde ing to their respective num- bets, counting the whole uuimbor of persvas in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when apy State shall, on account of race or color, or previous condition of servitude, oan the a of the Live diag Hass fo Tas tbls tt electors for President and Vice Prosident of the United Siates, Represcata- tives in Congress, members. of the Legislature. end Mibuad ‘State, tb nae Cae Fd titial officer of an: the any of the SS eieert ‘the epnstitution mato inhabitants of such of the Uniled States, shall Stu! have engaged iu insurrec- years of age tion or rebeilion against Of tho United Sistes, thea the same or given sider the catire class of persons @o excluded irom the ex: terects But Congrem may, ercise of the elective. fan: . But ma) elective at chive shall not be counted by a vote of two-thirds yy basis of representa. disabilit; Sec, 4 The validity of the pudiic debt of tho Unit autuorized by law, including debts ine curred fur payment of pen- sions aud bounties, for ser- vices tu suppressing ingur- rection and rebeilion, shall not be questioned.’ Hut neither the United Stuer Dor aay Stoleshall assume tion ineursed In ald of tes surrection or rovellion agains: the United Staten, or any ctalm for tue loss or owancipation of any #ix but all such debt, obliga tiona of etaims shall be beld tliewal aad void. Sec. 6. The Con have power to enforce, by appropriate logistation, the provisions of this article, At the first glance the reader will be struck with the wonderful general resemblance be- iween these two plans, and he will be apt to inqutre, why should there be any farther dif ficulty between the President and Congress, when the compromise proposed by Mr. John- son is substantially the plan of Congress? A little examination, however, will show that the difference between the two plans is just the difference between the genuine Brazilian and the bogus California diamond. Let us see, Mr. Johnson proposes, first, to declare in the constitation that no State has a right to secede, which is superfluous; that the general govern- ment has no right to eject 4 State, which is clapirap, or io deprive any State of its equal suffrage in the Senate without its consent, which is already in the constitution; or of re- presentation in the House, which is already sufficiently secured. What, then, is the mean- ing of this proposition? It is only a reaffirma- tion of Mr. Jolnson’s theory that, after what he has done without authority from and in defiance of Congress, in reconstrocting the rebel S tates, Congress has no right to deny them admission into either House, It is the sophistry of Mr. Johnson’s stump speeches, vo iled down, in defence of his rejected policy. His second proposition in reference to tie national debt, and all rebel debts, is eubstan- tially the pending amendment; an d his third, in reference to citizenship and the equality of rights before the law of citizens of all colors, is also, in sabstance, the Congressional decla- | ration, and it involves on his part a conversion to the Civil Rights bill, which he vetocd and which he is charged as neglecting to see teaters. | The comsmittes appointed by the (nsurance companion | + tevige measures Tor the prevention of fires, recom. | moud that mo rleks be taken on outidings used for genes | rel storage of cotton for lew tham fix per cemt per ‘Aunero, tnless competent watebmen in euffictent num- bors he employed by tho storekeepere day and night; ‘tho rate of Insurance to be three per ont of warehouses \ Provorty guarded again Orm “faithfully executed.” Next, in regard to the ballot box, the President proposes what may be called impartial suffrage, with the condition that “when any State shall, on secount of race or color or previous com dition of servitude,” deny the el franchise, &., then the entire ol persons #0 exoluded shail not be goanted ta NEW YORK HH { | | the basis of representation, This seoms to bo perfectly fair; but what says the ameadment of Congress? ‘That when any Stato “shall in any way abridge” the snffrage, “except for participation in rebellion or other crime,” tho basis of represen ation therein shall be reduced accordingly. According to the Prosidens’s plan rebels are not to be excluded; and a reading and writing and property qualification, upon all classes alike, may be imposed by the States—a qualification which he has reecm- mended to the South. Now let us take ihe State of South Carolina ‘and see how each-of these plans would operate therein, taking its population at three hundred thousand whites and four hundred thousand Llacks. Under the eonditions of Congress rebels may be excluded from the polls; but, adopting one hundred thousand people as the ratio for a member of Congress, if the blacks are wholly excluded, South Carolina will lose four of the sevin members of the House to which she will, by universal suffrage, be en- titled. She will lose, too, in proportion to the effects of any restriction whatever upon blacks or whites, go that 9. property or reading and writing qualification will involve the same losses in Congress as exclusion on account of color. _ By the property and reading ond writ- ing qualification, on the other hand, which Mr. Johnson proposes te grant, the whole black population (excepting the few taught to read and write by the Freedmen’s Bureau) and most of the poor whites would be excluded from the suffrage, so that South Carolina would be more a close corporation under her old rebel oligareby than ever before, And so of all the other rebel States, more or less. To make this thing sure Mr. Johnson pro- poses no equivalent or substitute for the third section of the amendment of Congress, exciud- ing certain classes of rebels from office, State or federal, until absolved by a two-thirds vote of each House of Congress. On the eontrary, he proposes to give the rebels full swing, as if nothing had happened. He does not yet seom to comprehend the fact that the very sirongest section of the Congressional amendment in the North is that which proposes to make the mas- ter spirits of the rebellion take back seats in our political affairs until they can be syfely absolved by Congress. Not long since Horace Greeley, in his benevolent desire to conciliaie tho South, issued, at a venture, bis mani- festo in favor of a general amnesty. The day before he did this he was good for the United States Senate; the day after he was as dead as Raymond or Thurlow Weed. Theidea that the North shall be badgered again in Con- gress by such Southern rebel leaders as Jeff Davis, Benjamin, Mason, Slidell, Wigfall and company, is just as odious in the loyal States as.was the Chicago-Vallandigham platform,of peace af any price. Mr. Johnson's substitute for the pending constitutioual amendment, in shori, is a dead failure. What, then, can the Executive do 40 save himself? His only way of safety is to abandon all this useless hedging and ditching, fincasing and quibbliug, and squarely recognize the authority of Congress, and frankly adopt the pending amendment, togethor with the idea that the States which forfeited. -their rights in the late rebellion. are subject to the terms of Congress in the muaiter of their restoration, The great issue of his impeachment does not depend upon the merits of this plan or that plan. It rests upon bis usurpation of the exclusive powers of Con- gress, his hostility to the authority of the Jaw- making powes and his failures to “see the laws faithfully executed.” In a word, it is because he bas stood and persisis in standing in the way 0? the legislative rights of Congress and the will ef the people, as expressed upon this pending amendment, that heise to be impeached. By falling in with Congress and the amendment he may still be saved ; otherwise no hedging or Gnezsing will avail him. He has gone to the end of his rope, aud he must fall back or be displaced. The Post Ofico Job—Mayor Hoffman and the Architects. Mayor Hoffman, who Is trying to sell a plece of property belonging to the city for half a mii- lion dollars when it is worth six million, has opened a correspondeace with some New York architects in relation to the plans for a Post Office building. These gentlemen recommend him to pay the full compensation to the suc- cessful architect, which would be twenty-five thousand dollars for the first five bundred toousand dollars expended on the building, and three per cent additional on all the cost over that sum. They further counsel bim to Invite seta of sketches from a certain number of architects, to be sclecied by himself, and to pay two thousand dollars for each set ; and they deem it advisable, in addition, that he should offer premiums of five, three and one thousand dollars for the three best plans outside of the one accepted. They think some thirty thousand dollars “judicionsly expended” among them- selves in premiums the best means of securing good designs, As all the money Mayor Hoff- man and his friends propose to spend in such @ free and gentlemanly manner belongs to the people and must come out of their pockets, we would suggest that before incurring any expense the general government had better find out whether they can get any good tiile to the proposed Post Office site. An injanc- tion against the attempt to sell the real estate of the city at one-sixth of its value should be applied for ut once, before the publie money is equandered on any of the jobs that hinge upon the transaction, Will the Corporation Counsel, with his uswal regard for the public interests, look after this matier ? Tae Baykrvrr Bivt, Dereatep w tas Ustrep States Senate —The General Bankrupt bill, which passed the House of Representatives Inst session, was rejected yesterday by the Senate, hy @ vote of iwenty to twenty-two, on the question of its final passage, This unexpected result will occasion very general disappoint- ment and regret. A bankrupt law for ail the States is demanded for the protection of debtor and creditor alike, and no measure would more maierially conduce to restore commercial confidence or more efficiently aid ina gradual and healthful return to specio payments. The House bill war carefully guarded and fair in its provisions, There is now but little prospect of passing any bill this session; but if the Senate does not reconsider its vote, as it is to be hoped it will, the House ehould make a few amend- ments to the bill they have already #0 maturely eonsidered, act upon it speedily and again send Jt to the Senate, Let them in the good work and lonve to the Senate the full re- sponsibility of the defeat of the measures. KALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAKY _6, 1567. —————__ Queen Victoria's Speech—Lord Derby's Paticy Foreign aud Héme. 4 Tho British Parlinment reassembled in Lov- don yesterday. Queen Victoria opened the adjourned session with a speech from the throne, which we have reporied by the Ailan- tic cable and publish to-day. Taken as an indication of the future policy of ber Majesty’s advisers, or read either ag an expression of their aceeptance of the great changes which have been accom- plished by war on the continent, or @ declaration of their present attitude towards foreign Powers, the royal measage, penned by Lord Derby, is a3 non-committal as a premier could readily make it or a popular sovereign wish to speak it. Queen Victoria sets ovt with the pleasing assurance that her relations with foreign Powers “are on a friendly and satisfactory footing,” and immediately disposes of conti- nental questions with the hope that the “war in which Prussia, Austria and Italy have been engaged may lead to the establish- ment of a durable peace in Europe.” The literal interpretation of this sentence appears tous to be that England ia pleased ai the aggrandizement of Prussia—even although the royal Guelphs of Hanover, with their crown, are extinguished—pleased that France guined nothing by the war in Germany, and that the Venetian people have asserted their franchizes and independence from Austria, The paragraphs of the speech which most concern the American people are those which relate to the Alabama claims and other “questions pending” , between England, thé¥ United States and the confederation of the British North American provinces, With regard to the American claims, the Queen says she has “suggested to the government of the United States a mode by which the questions pending between the two countries arising out of the civil war may receive an amicable solution,” stating that if this “ suggestion” ‘be met in a spirit similar to that in which it has been tendered it will “remove all grounds of possible misunder- standing and promote relations of cordial friendship.” This royal suggestion is no doubt embraced in the proposal for an inter- national commission of jurists, mentioned some timo ago, empowered to examine the accounts and strike a balance—a plan which was at the time regarded as scarcely up to the prompt payment ideas entertained by the people of the United States towards Great Brilain. : A bill will be submitted to Parllament for the confederation of the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotis and New Brunswick, under such conditions of union as will “give strengih te the sovereizn provinces as members of the sime empigo and animated by feclinga of Toyaliy to the same sovereign,” results which, if-obtained, will. bo of great service te her Majesty’s subjects over the border, and conse- quently pleasing to our citizens, Looking at home, the atiention of Parlia- ment is directed to the subjects of reform, the organization of the trades’ unions, the Fenians, land tenure in freland, an Increase of the army and navy and the public health. The members of the House of Commons are ear- neatly requested to consider the subject of re- form, with a view to the extension of the fran- chise; but it is not particularly clear whether the enbject will come before them as an “open question” or in the form of @ Cabiuet mexsure. Toe Fenien movement is treated as having progressed (oa certain extent by the “per- severing efforts” of “unscrupulous” agitators and “conspirators ;” but the danger is now passed and the habeas corpus may be restored. Ircland is to have # land tenure adjustment bill, with compensation for the tenants’ im- provements, a measure whieb, in our opinion, will extinguish the conspiracy and prevent the organization ef others of a like nature. The plan of tcades’ unicns confederation in England is to be inquired into bya royal com- mission, the character of which, as outlined by the Queen, will be slightly !nquisitorial, and the proposition for which may go fur to nen- tralize the effect of the Derby reform plan in the eyes of the workingmen and laboring classes, and creaie a new danger by an official attempt to temporize with the people. Eaglvnd will not act alone in the East. In conjunction with France and Russia she is now negotiating with the view of satisfying the Christians and maintaining the Integrity of the Sultan’s government ot one and the same moment, Queen Victoria fniled, in conjunction with Napoleon, to reconcile Spain and the republics of Chile and Peru. These countries aro still at war, and the efforts of any friendly Power— an inviiation perhaps to the United. Siates—in mediation, if more successful, will be very agreeable to the allied sovereigns. The English army and navy are to be in- creased, the poor are condoled with in their sufferings from cholera and storms, the factory system is to be overhauled and reformed, and the care of the rights of the millions of her sub- jects is solemnly committed by the Queen to the wisdom and discretion of the assembled ropresentatives of the nation. The Currency—Resolution of Agninet Contraction. Our national legislators are evidently making great progress In correct views of the currency question. The vote in the House of Represent- atives Inst Mondey on Mr. Grinnell’s resolu- tion, “That the public interest demands that there shall not be during the current year any reduction of outstanding United States notes, éommonly known ae greenbacks, and that the Committee of Ways and Means are instructed to report such a billas may be necessary to effect this object,” was a very significant one Ina House of one hundred and fifty-four the vote stood eighty-seven for the resolution and sixty-seven against it There was no mixing the question up with any other; the proposi- tion was simply and clearly put as to whether there should be « contraction of the currency or not during the present year, Legal tenders were only named; but every one knows there was no intention of contracting any other kind of currency. Those even who advocate the withdrawal of national bank notes from circu- lation do not propose to reduce the whole volume of currency, but to substitute legal tenders in their place. Thus wo see, then, that upon the simple and naked proposition in @ pretty full House there was a clear majority of twenty against contraction. Several motions made afterwards to weaken the effect of the first decisive vote wore voted down, all show- ing that the Ipuse haa srrived at the same the House | views we have repeatedly urged relative to | ghe currency. It is to be hoped that the Senate will act as decisively, and thus give stability to the business operations of the country. The neXt step-should be to repeal or modify the Natio,14! Bank act, so as to give us in place of nationa, bank notes, which make our circula- tion a mixa,? one, a uniform legal tender cur- [reney, This a,'02€ should be the legal monsy | of thé country at ,"Fesent. If Mr. Grinnell, Mr. Randall and other m,2mbers of large views on these questions will wrk in earnest for the needed reform we think »2¢y may find a ma- jority with them, notwiths‘an<ling the powerful opposition of the national bank, bondholders and money tradera. 7 ‘The French Retorms—Napeleon’s Let/er and We publish to-day the full text ot the Emp.- ror Napoleon’s letier signifying the constilu- tional reforms or “modifications” which he has determined to extend to the French people, and of the decree substituting the right of questioning the government for tho address in reply to the speech from the throne. The suppression of the address is, in substance, tho gagging of tho opposition in the Chambers. Since 1860 the address bas afforded the oppo-- nents of the government an opportunity to assail the policy of the Emperor, of which they | have not been slow to avail themselves. The time consumed in debate before the address was voted has extended from one month to within a few days of three months, during which time the acts of the governmént have been minutely seruiinized and severely reviewed. The Em- peror deprecates this ag a “losa of time pre- cious for the affairs of the country ;” but it is probable that he has just now special reasons for desiring the suppression of exciting debate. The democratic members have enjoyed in the long recess a favorable opportunity to prepere ass2ulis upon the Mexican end German policy of the government, end it might well be feared that the masses, already discontent-d and wounded in thefr vanity on these points, were liable to be dangerously worked upon by such tirades. The French are a peculiar people. Rub off the gilding from their idol of the hour, and they are ready in a moment to cast it aside or shiver it into atoms. In euppressing the debate on the address the Emperor offers certain supposed equivalents to the people. One of these is the right of put- ting questions to the government through the Ministers, who are to be present in the Cham- bers, The unsubstantial character of this priv- ilege ig fully set forth by the London Times, whose comments we also publish to-day. Another is the right of assembly; but this is fo be. restrained “within the limits which public safety demands,” by legislation in a body three-fourths of whom are the ardent supporters of the government. But the new concession, regarded as the most important, is that by which the press is guaranteed against arbitrary warning, suppression and arrest, and allowed a sort of trial or hearing when charged with offences against the government, We are inclined to regard this apparently valuable reform as having far less substantial value than appears to be assigned to it by the French and English jovrnala. The “irial” is to, be before the “Correctional Police,” and no jotitnal ts to be suppressed or suspended without the approbation of the Council of State. This will be about equiva- lent to the substitution of a hearing before Baker and his detectives and a decision from the Cabinet for the more summary system of arbitrary arresis during our own rebellion. A jury trial and the judgment of a court would bea very different sort of reform from that now tendered to the French press, Now that the concessions of the Emperor to the people are better understood than they were when viewed in the light of the meagre cable despatches, they will scarcely be regarded as very important gains to the cause of “liberty and equality.” > Bread Riots in Bolgiam. ‘A cable telegram of Monday evening from London corrected the previous telezram from Paris, which reported that a bread riot had oc- curred at Marchiennes, in the Northern part of France, and that several of the rioters had been shot and killed by the troops called upon to quell the disturbance. The riot actually took place at Marchiennes-av-Pont, a village of tle province of Hainault, on the road to Brue- sels, A subsequent telegram states that “the labor riots in Belgium ere spreading.” Whether originated by laborers on the Northern Rail- way or by factory’ operatives, these riots in Belgium must be added to the signs which of late have becn ominously muitiplied through- out Europe in proof of the serious pressure of famine. Among these signs are the call in the London Times for a general relief com muiitee, in view of the dearth of food and the distress prevailing in Great Britain, partiou- lerly in the manufacturing districts ; the bread riots in London, Liverpool and Madrid; the failure of crops in Germany and the dosti- tution following in the wake of the recent wer; the starvation in Italy--in fine, the wail of bun- ger from the North Sea to the Mediterranean. longer long ago entered as “a distinct and well known element futo the calculations of European statesmen. Raids on bakers’ shops ‘were among the earliest scenes of the revolu- tion ‘of 1789. The hanging of an innocent baker by famished St. Antoine did not chéapen bread, but it read a terribly iustroctive lesson to the ruling classes. That the present imperial government has profited by the lesson has been shown by fis solicitude, at any pecuniary sacrifice, to keep down the price of bread in France. The French government, and, indeed, every conti- nenial government, is almost as deeply inte- rested as the Belgian government in the poe sible consequences of “labor riots spreading in Belgiom.” It is probable that these may be quolled without serious difficulty, They may not “fire the Belgian heert,” as hunger and the music of Auher’s Masaniello fired it ot Brussels in 1850; but at the present juncture of affairs and in the hungry irritability of the working classes, not only in Belgium, but throughout Burope, it ts impossible to predict how exten- sive and momentous « revolution might be kindled ‘by oven a riot in a little Belgian vib lage. Belgium is one of the richest, busiest and most densely populated countries on the Continent, But the prodigious development of ite agricultural, and espeotally ita_manufac- turing wealth, has unfortunately been accom- panied; as in the case of England, by an alarming gtowth of pauporism, which govorn- mont hgq made the utmost offorta to check. Should famine, however, render these efforts tn- effectual, hunger may yet again prov the sym- bol and the fruit of suspicion, indignation, .sits- tion, disorder, in fine, of revolution. Ever if this extreme result should not ensue, its latend causes exist, and these may at least suffice to disable the Western Powers from interfering with Russia, if the Ozar should scize the oppor- tunity to carry out his ambitious designs in the East. The Eastern question would, per force, yield precedence to the food question. A Moveyen? iN Tae Ricat Dinecrion.—The resolution of Mr. Bingham in the House of Representatives looking to the proclamation of the pending constitutional amendment as pard of the supreme law of the land with ite ratifica- tion by three-fourths of the States lawfully con- stituting the government of the United States, the States represented in Congress. Twenty is the whole number necessary; seventecr have ratified. We want three more, and Pena- syfvania, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, California, Iowa and Michigan are still to come. Among them they should proceed at onco to make up the rfuired twenty; for then the work of re- construction will substantially be done. CITY INTELLIGENCE, - ApprricnaL Weextr Forstan Matt.—The Post Office Department bas made arrangoments by which mails will .be forwarded from this country to Europe and from Eu- Tope to the United States on one additional day of each week, on and after Thursday, the 2lst of March next, when a versel of the Bremen linc will leave Now York with the extra mail, and on and after the 2d of April (Tuesday), when the new arrangemont goes into effect, from Southampton, England. After the dates above mentioned Thuraday will be the regular sailing day of the Bremen steamship live from New York, and on Tues days the vessels will touch at Southampton on their re turn. This chango will increase the number of European mails to three every weok. Sats ov Tas Rev. Da. Cnerver’s Cavrca.—The Rev. Dr. Cheevor’s congregation are desirous of selting their cburch edifice at the corner of Fifteenth street and Union square, and occupying a less valuable site farther. uptown. ‘They estimate that if they can dispose of it at a fair valaaiion thoy will be able to erect a building euiliciently commodious and have a balance ip band for other purposes. The lot upon which their present bulla ing siands is part of the “Sp'ingler estate”? 4 it 13 understood, cannot be alicneted. They @ lease which wili expire in April next, but the terms of which give them the privilege of twe renowals of twenty-one years each, at en inc rent of five per cont upon its vaiuation. at the time of renewal. The present ground rent is $1,500 per year. It is this lease, together with their building, which the trustevs propose to sell. They are anxious te dispose of the property, and have offered it for sale as $110,000. If, however, they cannot satisfectorily con- summate this project, they propose to remodel the in- terior of the church aud 80 arrange the bullding thas a row of stores can bo constricted i the basement, the reutal of which will add cousidoravly to the revenue of tho congregation, Tur Faruzrs’ CLun—The regular weckly meeting of the Farmors’ Clad was bold yesterday afternoon at the Cooper Institute, ex-Alderman Nathan ©, Ely in the chair. Several intersting communications from cen respondents upon farming topics were read, afier which Mir. Cavanagh presented to the club a valuable pal “Rare Vegetables, their calture and the best cooking them.” MrgnixG or Liquen Draters,—The regular monthiy meeting of the ‘New York Liquor Dealers’ was held-at the Metropolitan rooms, No. 160 by many of these were elected teesrvs for the year, and othor bust iro anurans Yo ach ns ae makiog aa fication of the statutes sow in force in vending of liquors as will permit their gato during.cer. tain hours on Susday and authorize # graduated scale , fo the of Ii varying im accordance with tne size of Teeteese testes. A bill looking in this dires- tion is very s00m to be introduced at Albany. ‘Wanat rrou Cataroawia.—The ship Haze arrived & this port yosterday with acargo of 24,704 basholaef whoat, valued at 066 im gold, from San Prancises, California, ie MUSEMENTS. ‘Thontre Framcais. > | ‘The programme iast evening was particularty etiree- tive to these playgoera who profer the joyous vaudeville to the more substantial ontertainment afforied by ave act plays, A twouct comedy, Ce que Femme Veut, whereof the story is illustrative of the powor of @ woman's wilt’. New York Theatre. + The Bird of Paradise continues to fit across the stage of this fashionable theatre, defying night after night all Miss Sallte Hinckley’s power to capiure it, Mr. Gomer- ‘eal still sips tho magic elixir of specch, and receives tm consequence the power to make bimsel{ heard as well as seen, Mark Smith siirs his mystic bowl, and delivers the magical slaps. Lowie Heker finds and loses his mas- ter with the same ease and frequency as onthe ficst aight the piece was ‘the ‘bal the same J evolutions, and Mile, de Vere recetves the came Inevitable bouquet. In fact the Bird of Para- dise is in. run, and in #s great favor with the pablic ge was fairiy to be expected, from the full bonsewwhieh ‘were prevent at its oarlier representations, Masteal. ‘Tho second night of Mr, Grover's German Opera tea- sop, at the Olympic theatre, was very successful, We Dave seldom seen the opera of Faust hotter performed ‘than Inst evening, and the Immenre audience preseas showed their appreciation of it by repeated applausa Hermann t undoubtedly the best Mephistopheles we cece? i i pads a ase