The New York Herald Newspaper, February 26, 1867, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1867.-TRIPLE SHEET. =e ic . ho halls of jation and with tho members TIiTr ATRAN LOB |: the Gamal Board, He set { up as an THE ALBANY LOBBY. |° ite Hine, was quite | suecessfui vteod bis fleld of operations was im a = measure one untrodden by any before him, and he ¢id not, theres encennter the same opposition as others whe invaded peculiar precincts of long es- tablistied lobbvisis. “ir. Wood may be said, consequent- ly to have built up the canal claim business himeelf, and Mt ie asserted he did not find it unworthy of his talents, Ramor has it that the smiling, oily and insinuating Dan found the Canais an El Dorado more reliable and ver- tain tban California or Austratia, Rumor has a sian- derous tongue, however, and this may be only one of her malicious inventions, Whether or no, 1 do not back her up in this instance, Wood, according vo Henry Smith, of Albany, is now a “very venerable and experienced gentleman from Onondaga." No jonger « me of the third house be is at present the republican leader of the Asserably. He has beet member for many years, and in tho present House fills the position of chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means. He ts a prosy speaker, but a good worker and a thorough adept in the tricks and intricacies of legisia- tion. He has fow of the glittering but some of the solid attributes of a leader: is decidedly better in manipu- ‘tie ‘4 caucus than in discussing a nice point in debate, wi eloquence and taking wit are essentials. He is the recognized champion of the canals. + BRN PIRLD, Any history of the lobby, long or short, would be in- os enews come. apes of Ben odie of Albion, jeans county. would be wrong, to class Benjamin among the regular lobbyists, vor be te not one and The Legislative Organ Who Grinds It. CH OF THE LOBBY, PAST AND PRESENT. The Real Law Making Power. THURLOW WEED---HIS RISE AND FALL. &e. &o. &e. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. Anant, Feb, 18, 1867. Article 3, section 1, of the constitution of 1846 opens with the declaration that “the legislative power of this Slate shall be vested inaSenate and Assembly,” and most people undoubtedly fancy that such is really the fact. But they fancy a thing that is not, and indulge in a most stupendous delusion. Tho legislative power of this Stato is vested in a “lobby,” the constitution to the contrary notwithstanding, Tho lobby is the real law- making power, while Senators and Assemblymen are mere ornamental figures, like the little wooden men and women on the organ of a wandering minstrel, which are set in motion by cunning mechanism hidden from the spectators sight, ‘The musician turns the bandle of bis organ, sets the _ figures hopping and jumping about, and grinds out the music to the delight of the eyes and ears of his specta tl any more than could Grinnoll and. sthers of the same class that flourished in “the good old times,’’ now dead and gone. He docs not buy and sell for personal gatn, nor does ho advocate jobs because he has an in- terest or ive share in em. Ben is what may lobbyist. has figured in Albany ber of years, and has worked himself up to the position of leader by dint of good management and remarkable shrewdness. Ben was originally a Weed. man, like most of the prominent politicians of his party, but he fell out with ‘the old man’’ one fine day, and has ever since been one of the most determined, able and industrious opponents of the deposed king of the lobby. He comes here ularly every winter, boards at the Delavan during the legis!ative term, and Qecupres him- self with lobbying for and againat bills for’ political rea- sons, About a month or more ago I gave you a sketch of Ben during the excitement attending the Senatorial canvass, It was a faithful photograph as far as tors. As the musician is to the organ the lobby istothe | i: went. Ben is a large, plump, rosy mortal, Legislature, The lobby turns the handle of the mam- | With a massive head surrounded with plenty of hair and mystery. He is a_ strange, un- moth lative organ, this brings into play a variety of eprings and complicated contrivances, causes the figures up stairs and down stairs to move apparently in a very lifelike «and serious manner, and grinds out your law for you in the most natural looking style ima- ginable, It ts a very delicate performance and quite entertain- ing at times. Asan operation exhibiting a hich degree of mechanical skill itis wonderful and might astonish the famous carpenter-mason of Salbris himself, of whom Victor Hugo tells us in his “oilers of the Sea.” But is it the correct thing after all, this cheating of the people out of their most sacred rights—the right to make laws to govern themselves through their legally chosen representatives? It is not onty not correct, but it is a gross violation of the provi- sions of the constitution, If the lobby is the real gov- erning power, of what use is it annually to go through with the expensive luxury of electing members to the Legislature? Better to omit the custom, abolish it nlto- gether, and transfer openly the entire lawmaking power to the lobby, which now exercises it secretly, That would at least bave the merit of being no cheat. But to treat the subject seriously. If atl one hears of the past and present be tre, logislation at Albany is controlled by a few influential men, of whon the public knows little or nothing, and who have little or no interest in common’ with the public. No bills of a private or corporate nature * can be passed without the assistance of these few inilu- ential men (about thirty in number), and their good will and services are only to be obtained for a valuaple con- sideration. Sometimes the consideration is friendship; sometimes it is an interest in the subject matter o! legisiation, and somotimes it is money. These thirty influential’ men profess to be the conscience keepers of members, their intimate and bosom friends, and in many cases proprietors of their bodies and souls. They ‘doast that they can make or unmake bills, and are regu- larly engazed frequently to make and unmake. Some are the ‘recognized and paid agents of millionaires in- fathomable genius, ever moving about with a thought. ful brow, and supposed to be eternaliy plotting and plan- ning some tremendous scheme or schemes thatare to shake Albany to its very cegtre. Ho 1a provokingly re- ticent, and talks littie, like most oracles; never “blatbers” nor blarts out his secrets unnecessarily, but gets ail Lo can from everybody else. Ben is interested, I beheve, in sleeping cars, and has a nice farm in Albion, Orleans county. With these preliminary observations as to the lobby in general in the past and present, let me without further ado proceed to sketch the live mon of to-day, who seem = control, each in his own way, the machinery of legis- ation, It is proper to premise that I do not wish it to be un- derstood that the people whom I have and shall men- tion come within the descriptions I have already given of the general characteristics of the lobby, Some of them are men who now occupy high social positions, and who are above the breath of low suspicion, This 1s Particularly the case of a few of the old associates of Weed—men who dabbled i lobbying merely for the love and excitement of the thing. But the sketches I am about to give are of individuals whom common fame makes members of the present lobby, and I have no doubt common fame is right. Of one of these individuals, Van Vechten, I have already given a very true and sufficiently correct account, but I may add here that the success which he and Wood met with was the means of inducing others to attempt in- dependent lobbying, and thus was undermined gradually the Weed influence, until now the ‘Old Man” is a mere cipher, deserted by nearly all bis former adherents and totally disregarded by the now men that are springing up all over the State. There is no auccessor to his power aud infivence, however. What he wielded is now divided among some score of hungry imitators, each in- dependent of the other, and no one exercising that large and extended sway over both democrats and re- publicans that so distinguished the Weed era. A great big job has now to be accomplished by a combination among several of these people, effected by nice diplo- macy and the most skilful manceuverine, while before the same thing could be done by the simple nod or frown of one man. Verily times bave indeed changed! iB terested ‘in promoting or slaughtering certain kinds ‘The leading lobbyists of ti ‘of legisintion. Others represent small corpo- | a B, Barber, atten Vane vecnent Hugh “Hostage, ration or private claimants; still others come George 0. Jones, M. P. Bemis, William Richardson, on their own hook 1 hover about bere, | Thomas G. Alvord, Henry Smit nD. Conover, J. like Wilkins Mirawber, ‘waiting for something to turn | C, Carey, Frederick Littlejobn, James J. Belden, Peter Up.” They seldom go away without turning up some- | (. Ward, Kirk Broce, C. P, Shaw, Charles H. Thom ey to their own satisfaction. The best | son, Thomas B. Van Buren, Gcorgo Sherrill, Wa hotels and tho highest rates of board aro patronized by | Hutchina, O. P. Stuart, Jobn Thompson, D. D. 8, Brown, enterprising adventorers, ‘They live weil genor- ally, smoke and drink much, but sleep very homeo- ically. They make themselves ubiquitous during the Legislative sessions, dogging members as closely 8 Shadows, In 1859 Governor Morgan, in his message, referred to them briefly thus:— The duties of legislators, always arduous and ‘perplexing, ‘Wittiam “S. King, Colonel Vandenberg, Jas. B. Swain, Benjamin F, Maniere, Charles Vandervoort, ex-Speaker ‘Hoskins, Croffut, Nelson J. Waterbury, and some mem- bers and friends of the Citizens’ Association, “Behind there, and the real powers who set all the machinery in motion, but who seldom appear here ¢psis personis, are such mea as George Law, the Vanderbilts, Oliver have been rendered more distasteful and irksome of late | Chariock, Jncod Poter 0p, Jeare by the growth and prevalence of the of em: | Foet Wott, fobn Kern Bilt Tweed. Hoge’ smith aod °C surround them in thelr _ them in. their walks with representations amd impor. | NOS of ational, State and municipal officers, besides mapy business men of the metropolis interested in the passage or slaughter of certain legisiation. HUGH HASTINGS: is one of the most remarkabie and prominent ¢unitics in behalf of bills in which a personal or corporat forest is involved. ‘Those agente gain access to the tegis: ‘80 tive halls. and follow mem ‘among * | those I have enw as actual byists, His first existence and ita excesses tend to create a general repug- Ml fis eoene appoaranco in Albany was in the rile of « bright Irish ei treetetnr on ne ® private interest. A claim OF | id fresh from the bative sod, and overflowing with the love of fun and adventure. He was without friends and without moner, but soon managed to fall in with both. One of his earliest occupations was that of clerk to an auctioneer, in which capacity he does not appear to have hammered away much to his own profit pecuniarily. But he attached to him the good will of all the fast vate interest may properly be ex- plained and commended by the person or od interested, Br. by some one authorized to speak in his behalt who should confine his efforts mainiy to the commitice or com: mittees baving in charge the measure in question. Beyond this lobbying fs objecilonable; and when it followa members te their private apartments, ‘and intrudes upon hours re- served for studying documents and preparing reports, is in- sufferable. It is my deliberate purpose to discourage these | young fellows of the town, and by their efforts was soon Practices, and to disapprove all bills which T shall have good | elevated to the dignity of editor and ofa Feasous to believe have been passed by such means, weokly called the Swi'ch, a pul which bada SHORT HISTORY OF THE LORRY, I don’t know that anything lke a rogular, connected history of the New York lobby has ever been written, and Ido not intend to attempt the task. But a short skotch of the institution with little photographs of its meteoric-like existence—short but brilliant. The Switch indulged continually in the expensive luxury of sensation libel, and its Celtic proprietor finally met bis reward in the shape of a prosecution for defamation of character a gentleman named Stone (if I am correctly informed), yg ornaments of the present day will not be | who carried the thing on with so mach earnestness that out of season during this year’s session. When and it ts said, in order to escape a it trial, pub- where lobbying had its origin I am unable to | licly apologized for the article he had q nowl- state. Perhaps it always existed where legislative | edged its falsity, and in fact performed that very - Dodies prevailed. But ite establishment as a regu- | ing operation of cating up his own words. This occurred organized inatitution does not date further bac! it fifteen years and was a heavy blow to our than some twenty years ago. Thurlow Weed is the man | hero. But he was not to be daunted by such an who buitt it up and kept it together for many years | obstacio, even though his enemies made the most of it. with rare t-ct and ability. How weil “the old man” mareged his cards, how often he carried the highest trursps and won the game in dashing style, it is hardly necessary to dwell upon. Thurlow for years was tho absolate despot of the lobby. He ruled with almost an- disputed sway, and held the reins of power in his band with an iron grip. All who entered his dominions had to do homage before the throne of King Thurlow, and oveyed his commands like loyal and dutiful sub- jects. In those days his associates were men as Grinnell, Stmeon Draper, Jim Bowen (since Police Commissioner and Brigadier General, and now Com- missioner of Charities), ‘‘Farmer” Avell, of Livi: ‘Switch, out of existence, and its quondam owner established the Knickerbocker—a daily Peper—wbich i ail in existance, fostering care erratic Hastings. Hugh served bis term out as ‘Gere of Ahe Senate, and thereafter took to lobbying, in which he has since ‘become one of the most famous adepts of the dey. soon became quite wealthy, pat up & large brown stone mansion in State ite the Cay and lived e ton county ; Hollis While, of Ni Falls; Vivus W. | ina style corresponding with his new t estab. Smith, of Syracuse; Palmer V. Ketiogg, of (uea; 0. B. lanoeok, i is wi in larly cal “a good Mattison, of Utica; Sheriff Holmes, of Yan; Oliver } fellow.” He is lively, makes jokes and money Ladue, of Litue ; Austin Myers, of Syracase, and | freely. is hospitality is genuine and cordi#t. He others of tue same stamp. Some of them are now takes the worla onsy, ‘& philosopher, and has the dnto another sphere, but most of them still live, and no sense never to worried when way it doubt look back to the glorious days ot King Thuriow's es im his checkered caseer are * ral zenith with feelings of it “Farmer” | for by ah pleasant re Avoll. was recently appointed Collector of Internal EE by President Johnson, but was rejected by the 6. It would be wrong to represent all the parties I have as regular lobbyiste. They were not go strictly within the meaning of the word, but camo whenever “old man Weed” calied, and gave their assistance with e will. rome ot them expected @ large interest in others stipula:ed for a money consideration, some asked merely for their expenss, whiie some more took @ band in merely for thy love of tho thing, considering 1¢ honor evough to be summoned by “the old man’’ or to show lotters from the veteran chief calling them to Albany. No man ever before or since cised the samo amount but like all other sovereigns, high or how potent, his authority wag sometimes disputed. Occasionally there would be a defection, and some ee lobbyist eee) out in] bs own hook, ‘openly or seerot! t uence of Thurlow and his numerous ‘satellites would soon squéich the rash mortal who dared attempt competition with the manipulator. The squeiched mortal would be happy indeed if afterwards he could find refuge under the broad gis of King Thurtow, WANE. Wrep's POWER ON THR Ttisa very, common but true saying that “every dog has his day,’ even lobbyists, and has human, not excepting bright one, beth bed ite end. and power ipped v ‘ iremmihls hands neven perhaps, to retarn. “Abont 4808 Sun epee by history of the New aver m1 York id prev smart lobby. This was a pretty tall anda pretty figure known as 4 what identified with city bi them through, but sometimes He ts about forty-five years of age. RARBER and counsellor, practisod made his debut in political Ifo as the stats of Governors Hamilton Fish and Wi Hunt. While filling this honorable position he was necessarily brought int eine later, ot ne with the leadit Co red soon becaine one of the bright, particular stars, He is | is a‘plum| entitled to come first omen then’ otoy Se tn food because bo was the first man that succeeded in gaining | and ie one of an independent footiold in opposition to the tof | the lobby, He Weed & Co., and may be said to be the pioneer of the present erilla system of lobbying. Van (since Vechten made his speciality New York city matters, | soldiers) ran for taking charge of tho interest of ban and otl tween himself, corporations, which bo engineered with much skill and | years he figured muccess, -Was os often engaged to kill legisiation as | ment, and then to promote and was about equally roliabie in either democracy. line, Tf ere a Sd dabbling in respectable Knickerbocker in State, traces back his ancestors to the time of the first seve. that ite prinetp ment of Albany by the Dutch. As a lobbyist he bas been ‘one of the most DAN WOOD. About the same time as Van Vechten's succensfal gered un en advocate” ot cage la ft wi aid is to be obtained for mercen: considera. * te. Until this winter he had not made bis Wearanee at Albany for three years, Whenever fivures here, however, he takes a Very leading part, and ‘his ts due as much to his own adrotiness as to the fact that he represents George Law, the wealthy and grasp- ing monopolist. 1 should state that Bemis was one of Weed's selectmen and used oiten to be called to Albany by ‘he old man’ to perform important ser- vices, The skill and smecess he exhibited on these occasions brought him to the notice of Erastus Corning and George Law, and thus he con- tracted business relations with two of the most in- fluontial men of t! Bemis was connected with Law's id gridiron railroad schemes. He resides at Mayville, Chautauqua county, and was many years ago clerk of that county, He is a farmer, and bas 4 nico property of between one and two thousand acres, He is said to be now worth nearly half a million. He is a plossant, gentlemanly feliow, WILLIAM RICHARDSON is a gray baired, smooth faced Englishman, who some years carried on in an humble way the paper hang- alucky combination of cir- of ‘the Assembly about years since, and from being a_ teetotal temperance lecturer and a demure Baptist deacon, suddeniy ome into a trading politician and successful lobbvist, While Clerk of the House several most im- railroad schemes were passed, and the ex- Croton water advocate gained great credit for is services in helping the jobs along. He is now Pre*i- lent of the Bry Dock Railroad Company, and is snug. Mr. Richardson's name waa mixed up recently with a capital joke pl 00 one of the Kings county members. During one of the severe snow storms that occurerd a few weeks back tho afternoon passenger train of the Harlem Railroad for New York got snow-bound near Chatham Four Corners. Among the passengers were Richardson, the Kings county member in question, and & number of other members, b-sides some ladies, A Pood deal of fun and practical joking took place, and the lofowing Sunday an exa; account of the whole affair appeared in one the metropolitan sensation weeklies. Richardson was represented as cutting up capers unbefitting his gray locks and pious antece- dents. The Kings county member was the author of the article, and on his return to Albany was alarmed to hear from his friends that Richardson had’ taken mortal offence at the publication of his name in such a connection. The same evening the member discovered a note on his desk, and on open- bed it found it tocontain the following warlike invita- tion:— Sm—In last Sunday's —— I find an article which I think TO assails my character, Understanding that you are or of the scurrilous composition, I demand an im. apology, or warn you I shall chastise you on sight, sited i. TcRARDSON, WH, Ri The Kings county member looked aghast. He had got himself into a nice fix by his con. founded cacoé’nes scribendi! Visions of pistols, coffins and graveyards floated before his mind’s eve in a moment. He saw himself a corpse, or his friend Richardson “a dead hody’’ and he a murderer, an outcast from society. He was not married, but there were his constituents, who depeaded upon him avd looked to him to become famous or perish in the attempt. Would he offer himself up a sacrifice to the bloodthirsty ex-deacon, or would he not? That was the question, Would he apologize or fight? He would do the former, and forthwith dashed off an humble explanation to the terrible Richardson, He showed this humble answer to some of his friends, at whoge suggestion he tore it up, and resolved to go boldly forth and confront his chal- lenger. Accowpanied bv two of these friends he sallied out from the (apite! and bent his steps toward the Deia- van House. On the way he favored his friends with a singularly accurate and close analysis of the disparity between Richardson and himself in the matter of feet and inches. He . demonstrated how readily Richardson, supposing him to be cannibalistically inclined, might ‘‘chaw’’ bim (the member) up and reduce him to a pulverized condi- tion ina remarkably short period. He exposed the posi- tive folly and downright impieiy of dueling, and strengthened his arguments by some half dozen or more drinks all round at different hotels and restaurants be- tween the Capitol and the Delavan House, At length the latter place was reached, but Richardson was no- where to be seen, neither in the barroom nor refectory, nor reading room nor office. The moro Richardson was not to be seen the more anxiovs the member was to se0 him. In fact, the member played a second Winkle to perfection. Inquiries of Mr. McCloskey, the clerk, at last disclosed the important fact tbat Richarason was not in Albany at all. and that the member consequently had been sold. Subsequent developments showed that the chalienge was the invention of som ww York member, who desired to test the Kings county member's metle, The coolest part of the proceedincs was the pro- testasion of the victimized legislator that he knew all pray was amere joke, and was only keeping it up imeelf. THOMAS G ALVORD is a too well known public character to require an ox- tended biographical sketch. and I sball merely state that he has been a member of the lobby for many years, looking after the interests of salt’ manufactories at Syra- the the tolls and having the Mita “originally allowed parry long Bejewd A a. feature of the vord has placed before the committec a tition from that he mystery end Jogisiation itself would have to stand St C He would not for the you it he works at day and night un- ceasingly. He is also supposed to be ready to take hand in, whenever assistance is needed by the Central FREDERICK LITILEJORN ig made after pretty much the same pattern as So ga let u sty eed He isa brot! ex-Speaker, Dewitt C. Littlejohn, and is adark-eyed good looking ‘man, of medium size city, and Charles Thompson, are ‘Swain in his enterprise. LJ na POE messed aueenh a brother present Senator Walter Sessions, 18 from Chautauqua county, the same place as that which Governor Fenton baits, and 1s said to posacss 9 gentleman very influence with the amiable now at the of the Executive branch of the State govern- ment “10” Sessions, as he is familiarly styled, is to have manifested considerable power in procuring par. dons. and to him in connection with a certain New York Alderman is believed to be due the liberation of Zeno Burnham, the auctioneer, about whom there was such a fuss & short time since, There is a queer ramor that young Ketchum’s pardon will shorty be insured, through ‘the negotiations of this champion of criminais, Sessions has the fame of being a very reli man anything he undeftakes to manage. CHARLES VANDERVOORT. i clerk, and fin ys has undertaken he has been quite successful. At present he is striving to change the law as to police clerks, what prospects I know not, JAMES J. RELDEN AND KIRK BROCR have as their peculiar province of claims, a very oxtensive and lucrative ‘was last year in with the Jacob Si ation, but has been counted HE da it i 3s EP 4 | H e I i u il ‘WALDO MUTCHING, WATERBURY AXD ORLANDO STUART make visits here every other week, Hutchins, with his opp _ and ba pees countenance, was quite sy during the Senator test work! but with Iittle effect, fr nen is NRLGON J, Nel ey when chuck full of little bills to abolish and under the municipal sun, His pet mehsure bimself into the Croton vice Tommy Stephens, | Orlando Stuart early in the session orem one of the supporters of Judge Davis for Unit ‘but later turned up as an advocate of railroad scheme and the Citzons’ Board of Public Works. D. D. 8, WROWN AND WILLIAM S KING are acting as the friends of the w railroad scheme of our oid friend Nowian, who cails it the arcade plan.” Rochester Brown and Ki are sreveinigre oC ee Democrat, and the tater a sent ig the by Merara, and 81 straggling Nowlan. appearing here simply as the counsel of the Hudson River and Harlem Railroad Companies. I mention them, however, as prominent parties who figure here during the logislative session, BENJAMIN F, MANWUER ‘has quite a number of irons in the fire. Indeed he is one of the great powers at Albany, having at bis back s0 many influential people, and thoroughly posted in all the dodees and aris of law ing aud law shaking. His chief projects this winter are one, seeking increased powers for the Board of Police Commissioners, and another to remodel the whole school system of the metro- polis as developed in Assemblyman '8 bill, Both are highly important measures, and the has avi 18 opposition from nearly every class affected by it, niere’s antecedents are well known. He was State Senator, United States Provost Marshal in his dis- trict during the war, and filled other positions. a small man, but‘full of vitality and inexhaustible in ex- Pedients, Fe closing sketches of my picture gallery of lob- bylats Phare reserved some of the ee and elevated railroad folks, not because they are least im- portant, but because I prefer to wind up, as well as open. ‘with some of the big bugs. Foremost among them I should mention OOLONEL VANDENRURGH, who is a] enthusiast on the subject of a tunnel railroad the relief of Broadway. He is a civil en- gineer by profession and is undoubtedly a man of con- siderable ability and extensive information. He was born somewhere in tho interior of the State, but has had the rustic verdancy knocked ont of him by travel abroad and close study. Happening to be in London dumng the construction of the underground railroad there, be became thoroughly acquainted with the subject of tunnelling, ventilation, grades, sewors, gas and water mains, and overything re- lating ‘to subterranean passage-making. On returning home he found the idea bad just been broached before the Legislature of relieving Broadway by a tunnel railway, and he announced ‘himself as an ardent ad -ocate of such aplan. A Canadian named Wilson had submitted to the Leeislature a rather impracticable plan for a route down below the sewers and gas and water mains somewhore in the region of Orcus. Colonel Vandenburzh changed the whole design, and prepared one which recommended itself somewhat more strongly to the common sense and optics of the learned Senators and Aseembivmen. Ever siyge he has been the most dovoted friend of the tithe system, and has spent his time and money in improving and forwarding the prospects of his darling scheme. It is his theme of conversation by day and he dreams of it by night. If he falls intoa premature grave, it will certa’nly be from an attack of tunnel on the brain, OWARLEY SHAW is Vandenburgh’s shadow. Wherever “tho Colonel” is there Charley is almost sure to be found, unless it be early in the morning, when Chariey’s head is snuggled under the bedclothes, while ‘the Colonel’s’’ is indus- triously marching up and down the halla of the hotel, Charley is a gay and festive, dapper little body, full of gossip and good nature. He is a distinguished gradu- ate of Yale or Harvard, and a lawyer by profession. He seorns to be called a lobbyist, and believes all loboyists are his mortal foes; savs they regard him as an intruder, and won't tolerate bim at’ all, A smart, industrious little fetow is ebaw, with a tongue that never tires up- legs his throat ts core, and a brain that is constantly in a ferment, Ho has been mixetl up with a few important schemes, and is now Vandenburgh’s indetatigable assist- ant in the underground railroad project. THOMAS B, VAN BUREN, an ex-member of Asssembly and a prominent republican of the Twenty-first ward, is another advecate of the Vandenburzh scheme, and, asa lobbyist, isclever. Ho is said not to object to take a hand in anything that comes in his way. GENERAL JAMES B. SWAINE is the originator of the three tier railroad scheme, about which so much has been heard of late, and is one of that class of people who when they take hold of an idea allow thomsclves to be run away with and stake every- thing on its success. He is an enthusiast on the subject of his railway plap to relieve Broadway. The General keeps bachelor’s ball up here, and keeps plenty on hand for his friends, He isa hard and persistent worker, Fred Littlejohn, Dan Conover and General Serre! sup- = him in his efforts’ to have his plan sanctioned by law. JOHN THOMPSON, the principal party interested in the wnderground rail- road scheme recommended by the special committee of the Senate, is a small man, about Shaw’s size, and a very shrewd, sharp fellow. He was originally connected with Vandenburgh, but is pow associated with Wolf and other wealthy men of the same stamp. He {8 aided here by an ex-Tribune reporter named Croffut, a sort of a half developed lobbyist, who does the scribbling for Thompson and tries to operate favorably on the corres- pondents and reporters. Croffut is a fair newspaper man, bot of bis genius for the lobby there has been little chance to judge yet. Davison, the Pneumatic Railroad man, also working in the interest of om Besides those I have mentioned above there are a few other undorgronnd and elevated railroad men, such as Willson, the first projector of a Broadway tunnel pl Willams, inventor of an elevated mode. and some partics interested in the bulkhead and Yonker’s patent pro- jects, ven you a sufficiently full account ‘of the lobby for the present, and if I have more that might be added will reserve it for a future paper. CUBA. QUR HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE. Treaty Between St. Domingo and the United Statee—Gallant Act of the United States Steamer Winocoski—Impertant Failure— Commercial, &c. Havana, Feb. 20, 1867. The result of my investigations about the Havana mail bag per Eagle, sent to Key West and not returned till recently, is that the bag was erroneously Iabelled “Key West ;’’ and therefore the delay was caused by your Post Office. The mistake has done @ good deal of mischicf, without saying anything about the disappointment and confusion which it created. The Bay of Samana, affording us as good a barbor as ‘we could desire, having, besides many other advantages, ‘@ good coal mine, for the supply of our men-of-war, is well worth all the perseverance which our government commerce, extradition,” which our Chargs 4’Affaires in St. Domingo, Mr. Sommers Smith, had in hasd, has been concluded, and goes by this steamer—the son of Mr. Smith, who arrived here last Sunday, being the bearer of that very interesting document, Mr. Folsom, our Consul at Cape Hayti, accompanies Mr. Smith, in the Columbia. We wish them a safe trip, and congratulate Mr. Sommers Smith, whatever may be the tenor of the On Sunday morning at half-past ten o'clock, the English Consul to meet Minor, our own 5 5 ? a a 52 Ai af i f i iy za Ey ii i i iz z ? i i : 1 fF 3 2 =, Hi i H 33 2 i 3 3 4 £ EE i FE i Hi iH ae i : F zg 5 ! i fa rie i325 : lee 5s Hl if ihics i ! i z 2 ee H 7 i F iB FH i i iH ri ay of the peep state of thi antiago do Cuve, consatig of eight, hundred ad ei of good and (nel tire if E Rit Fy 2:4 i 5 f | r years, to the news from the Inst mail be augmented to Teo hasioeh ‘thousand freight constwire was eflected at bhd, ougar, Ex- continues firm, acing af 34.80 cont A fair ts done on the Ortega Sent to San Luis for Court Martiat— Juarez Wants Civil Dissensions to be mbrerete—De- MEXICO. OUR ZACATECAS CORRESPONDENCE. Avoided—The Mines Near So scription of Fresnilio—Arrival high. San Quentin is a little collection of mud huts, with the usual casa grande of the hacienda in a prominent position, There are, perhaps, one hundred and fifty in- habitants. The accommodations for tho night were rather poor, and the President, as well as the rest, had to rough On Tuesday we left San Quentin at half-past eight A. M., breakfasted at San Felipe hacienda, and reached El Mortero bacienda, a ton leagues’ journey, at three P.M. The road was good as far as San Fetipe, the lands fa litte. at Zacatecas, Zacarecas, Jan. 23, 1867, ‘We left Durango Monday, January 14, 1867, about six A. M., escorted out of the city by a number of the lead. ing citizens, There was not, however, 80 much enthu- ‘siasm displayed as has heretofore been noticed at other cities and towns. About two P, M. we reached the hacienda of La Punta, where we breakfasted. We after- wards proceeded to the hacienda of San Quentin, which we reached at a quarter to eight P. M—seventeen leagues forthe day. The road throughout the day’s journey was. very rough and the country thickly spread over with volcanic limestone boulders. The valleys traversed are well watered, for Mexico, by the southern branch of the Rio del Mezquital, which flows through Northern Jalisco into the Pacific. The mountains are tumbled about in wild confusion and frequently covered with extensive forests of mezquit and other trees. The lands in the valleys are of good quality, and; irrigated by the waters of the river, produce bountifully of the cereals, principally corn. In the afternoon we passed two large cornfields, one of which had five thousand and the other seven thousand acres, Immense forests of nopral are scattered along the road, many of the troes thirty feet that bordered it very fertile, but not so well watered as yesterday, A few immense cornfields, which we passed, were surrounded by wood and stone fences, The moun- tains around us were very lofty, and we were riding probably at an elevation of seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. Sau Felipe is a small agricultural hacienda, with perbaps seventy-five ifbabitants. El Mortero is a true eld baronial residence, beautifully lo- catéd upon a commanding eminence, and overiooking an tunmense and fertile valley, completely locked in by lofty mountains, are the huts of the peons who live upon tie estaze, the front entrance are the family, arms of Count of Guatimapé, the former owner of Around the great casteliated mansion Over the the estates which, during the time of the’ Spanish Mayor- azgos, belonged to the femily, These ¢states were then imimense, and extended northward beyond the capital of Durango to the hacienda of Guadalftpe. Esteven del Campo was the last heir of the domain; but bad manage- ment and a prodigal life finally reduced him to the hacienda of Guadatupe, which he afterwards sold, and died in a miserable rancho. Fl Mortero in former days must have been a glorious old feudal castle, where feasting and the wassail’ bow! were the glory of the hour, The old mansion is about one hundred and fifty feet square. ‘and built around an interior court yard about one hundred feet on cach side. Pillared corridors run around, the interior, and baleonies are found at all the front windows of the second story. From these balconies you see winding through the great valley the little river, which, like a silver thread, glitters here and there in the sunshine, So vast is this valley that you can trace the clumps,of mezquit trees as they grow smaller and smaller to the view, and, gently climb- ing the long slope of the mountains, are finally, four thousand feet above and many a league from you, lost almost, or at Jeast appear like verdure on the mountain side. On the. side of the mountain, two leagues from the house, the grass and’ bushes were all on fire anda strong wind blowing up the slope. In the darkness of the night tho. sight was wildly grand. On Wednesday we travelied from El Mortero to Som- brerete, cleven leagues. We left El Mortero at seven o'clock A. M., after the usual cup of chocolate, At a point about one and #half leagues beyond, and near the hacienda of Conception, is the dividing line between Durango and Zacatécas, I observe that there has been a marked differoncé in the reception of the government along the foute.¢o-day. It is Chihuahua over again. Every rancho pours out its inmates who wish tostop the carriages and to Shake hands with the President. Beo- formed a part Marfil, about one Teaguefrom the town, mission met the President, and the whole party gathered dent the had ment, re tn Serres ou I did not observe the walk, but walk iny cio Mejia, Tobserved much as possible, Place ‘also noticed on the ; Hitt sit elit i BH ar | [ii i i pepnee iti i R: u g 3 ai fi 3 i; 32 i of his escort onward. At the Arroyo del coat with i j § i ! . Ly i H ze He i # ‘ A Es Hi 3- i Be! 3 h ile i another com- it off the yoke, much trouble city occupied salutary and Anna. * On Friday people from the eandy an leagues were Grande, President. which might eight "league: whole route, feet high. About two principal buil Mexican is the In the Ae sag 3 is z of 52 cit : eataniyan Ef E Pe Eo iE i 1 a i li 22 held a t on pay ai Seared to Durango, It caused the pulse to liberty which was never lost raised the first great army of Nberty, which was #0 orn- elly massacred by the conservative troops under Santa took leave of us, Sance, consisting of haif a, dozen miserable mud huts. The first seven leagues wa’ over very rough and broken ground, barren, nucultiveted and quite uselezs, ravines had been frequently cut into the valleys by the now dry watorcourses.. A few stunted shrubs covered out its joy for a fall hour, of a litile agriculturat district. and 1s bank of a small stream, which irrigates its lands. There is an excellent billiard table and several cages of wild beasts and birds upon the estate; also many other things On the way acienda passed, beautiful atch, finely decorated and surmounted by the ry The names of the most noted among the libers! leaders were posted up in conspicuous places, and various verses written undér them expressive of the jov and bonor of the occasion. On Sunday, the 20th, Governor Auza arrived in tho afternoon from Zacatecas, dent ag sive Loe two ad reparations e government, hit President acceded, as at the same time be could gratify the desire of the whole pee see the mines belonging to the Fresni! ints . afternoon a buil fight came in honor occasion. The President attended. Thera was one borse Bont AG g $3 Se H Hy Pes 38 i i zs i gf A} 5 ¢ fratio before daybreak, which time we loft the little rancho eeetin| HE He that he had_no force; the town said they wanted only ne man. This one man being established a liberal yovernment. the main road of the Frenc! to have their communications thus cut, and ‘When the hurried the -evacuation of the latter city. Freneb occupied Sein the first time the clorgy-poured into ft with them, and immediately there, despite the recognition of the ‘Laws of Reform” by Maximilian, overtoppled them and established the old order of thing® with all its ceremonies, The French laughed at it, for they commanded where they pleased; but the clerzy saw the regeneration of their lost power, and worked hard to fortif; it. It was the same in every town and W the intervention. The clerey as quictly rigs sears upen the occupation of the different points by the liberals, The extreme liberal condition of Zaca- tecas, it is said, is due very much to Governor Francisco Garcia, who governed in 1834. His laws were so liberal, te, that they gave an im- Tt was he who valuable to th we left Soin at balf-past seven A. M. and ‘| reached Rancho Grande at one P. M.—ten leagaes. Some Sein escorted ns a fow leagues and thon ‘The only point passed on the road was Deep d desolate mountain slopes. The last three alittle better, but not much, At Rancho sining, pereps, flye hundred inhabitants, m1 ont: we had the usual m reception, The wagle pop ys: tion crowded out in their rag? to welcome aid to T) A little church attached t hacienda rang nde is the centre situated upon the Rancho Gi ‘add to the pleasure of the family who oc- casionally occupy the place as a country resort. On Saturday we left Rancho Grande at half-past sevon A, M,, and reached Fresnilio at balf-past twelve P. M.— 3. The country 1s very barren along tho and covered for the greater part of the way with thick ciumps of nopal trees from two to nine leaguck from Fresnillo we were mot by its deputation—numerous carriages were in attendance, several of them with Indies. The President and Siinis- ters rode into town in the Fresnillo carriages, At the outskirts of the piace a large crowd of people wished to draw the President's coach into the city, but, as usual, he refused to permit it. The crowd ip the dense, and the enthusiasm unbeunded. Arrived at the streets was ding, there was « reception by the city authorities, who escorted the government to a fine par- lor, where three speeches of welcome were, delivered Pe istrag Lesersnes made by the President. speeches finished, the government proceeded ters, at tho famous mining hacienda of Freani The to its quar- illo, and then had a dinner, which was one of the bost I have th pera ain me jm ‘and’ which 16. mi ex. tended ther banquet to tie President. to the hi we under a with daya nm that the Presi- a longer to complete their i if i i : i Hl HA oe om Tena tase, tr band of masic was in front of the door >» and continued to psy, until sunrise, for at town, escorted for some distance x the director of the Mining Com, and several gen- lemen from seven leacues we Fresnillo. At the end of Cal ily. detigned Dattlomentae tt about forty feet on the outside with and the twenty.two States wero lot fags distributed over different Points on the strocture, Through this aastio we ait pamed on the wav to tho receviion room of the pplaca