The New York Herald Newspaper, March 7, 1867, Page 6

6 ‘W YORK H iERALD. JAMES GO By BE NVETT, PROPRIAIVR OFFICR N. W. CORNEK UF FULTON AND NASSAU STB. THE DAILY HERALD, pvblish * aunual ry “ete in he year, Four cents per copy. bseription price, G4. AMUSBMENTS THIS EVENING, BROADWAY THBATRE, Broadway, near Broome street. —Facky Crncte—Ly anv Out ov PLace. NEW YORK THEATRE. Broadway, opposite New York ga. —PuRSkUS AND ANDROMEDA—=Ninw Poinrs oF THE aw FRENCH THEATRE, ¥ Fourteenth etreet.—Lonpom As- SURANCE. eoeenee THEATRE, Broadway.—Steexrs or New QERMAN SPADE THEATRE, « and 47 Bowery.— Rieuagp LL DODWORTH'S HALL, ‘506 Broad way.—Pnroressor Hartz wits Pavone His Miwacues—Tur ikap tN Tite Aue Tus InviaN Basket TuicK—Prorxvs. STFINWAY ROOMS, Fourteenth street.—Sxconp Sores or Cuausze Music. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTR the Metrapolit 585 Broadway, opposite tan Hotel—in riz Erwiorias EXTERTAIN- ments, Suvcine, Dancing axo BURLESQUxs.—Tux BLACK ‘Coox—Tux Uxauruy Corips. KELL? & |.EON sitethe New York Ho! TRICTIIRS. BURLESQUE: 1wpEn-L&on—MAD, Bauuer Trourr—stor init Lavanine. rwony-fourts streok vind Cuitsry's Mixer Ermorian Minsragisy, BALLADS, Buatrsques, & Uceay Vacur Kace~—Tw yon! PASTOR'S O JOUSE, 2M Bowory.—Cowic roo meisy, Bauer Diver % oes re, ow Karur, OR IkELAND's Last 51K CHARLEY WHITE'S co INATION T Mechanics’ Hali, x D LAvGHani. # Inatous Wi WOOD'S TALATRE COMIQUE, Broadway, gppodtie St. Nicholas Hotel, —Gnanp Commixation oF Minsrnkicy, Bat~ MRS. F, B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.— East Lym. HOOLEY'S OPERA HO ernmasy, Bariaps AND rooktyn.—Erniorran Mux KSQUKS.—THk BLACK Crook, THE BUNYAN TABL Twenty-third street aud Tak PuGuin’s PRogress— Cnn Hall, corner of ¥.—Moving Miknoz or GNIFICENT SCKNKS. M. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. 618 Rroadway.— Heap axp Rigut ARM OF Proust—Tue Wasnincton Twine —Wonpans re Natona Histoxy, Scrmxcr AND ABr. Lacrorys Dairy, Open from 8 A.M, til OP. ML INSTITUTE OF ART (Derby Gallery), 625 Broadway,— G@ranp Exumition or Paurnas—"' Tax Rurve.ican TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Thursday, March 3 i 1867, THE NEWS. EVEOPE. ‘Our news report by the Atlantic cable was not re- ‘cotved when the Henatp went to press this morning. Despatches from Heart's Content reported the cable in 00d working order, but that the Irish wires to Valentia || ‘Were down yostorday. Our Buropean files and special correspondenck, dated to tho ist of February, contata very important details ‘of tho cablo news. From Dublin and Cork we have special reports of the Political situation existing in the South of Ireland sub. gequent to the dispers‘on of the Fenian insurgentsin Kerry. * No arrests had been made, and the country re- ‘mained, ovidently, in a state of very unhealthy exsite- ment. Ten thousand troops were held ready to be launched against any spot where treason may again show itself in arms. James Stephens is said to bave landed at Dingle Bay and gone to the in- terior, The government continued ils precautions against any show of active sympathy with the Fenians im England, and it is asserted that the Cabinet had good reason, by reliable information, to fear trouble at Wool- wich, if not an attack on the Navy Yard. Earl Carnarvon, in moving the second reading of the vill for the confederation of the British North American Colonies, made one of tho most important speeches to ‘the House of Lords which has been delivered in Parlia ment for many years, In his capacity of Colonial Secro- tary he went mioutely into the details of the measure and combatted the objections raised against it. There is @o Stat» rights reserva.ion, the bill being one of com- promise, federation emanating from and perfected at the royal centre. Speaking of the future of the Kingdom of Canada, Lord Carnarvon said the territory would te- come ‘greater than England and second only to Russia." John Bright’s letter denouncing the Derby Reform resolution plan is published. Our special correspondent in St. Petersburg furnishes @ very intoresting statement of the Russian policy towards Turkey and the Christians in the East generally, with his views of how the course of the Czar may be affected by the diplomacy of Napoleon and England. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday resolutions for the sppoint- ment of certain joint committees were agreed to, one of them reviving the Committee on Retrenchment. Mr. Doolittle and Me. Patterson made speeches denying ‘the reports connecting them with the alleged New York Custom House frauds, A bill to provide for a republican form of government in the lately rebellious Statos ‘was introduced by Mr. Sumner, It is very Jengthy and provides for tho re-establishment of civil governments on the basis of loyal voters, Ho. also introduced a bill to prescribe an oath to main- tain a republican form of government. Both bills were ordered upon the table until the committees were formed. Mr. Wilson offered a resolution. declaring the municipal offices of Alexandria, Va, vacated, and for- bidding the present officers from exercising any au- thority, under penalty of fine and imprisonment. It ‘was ordered to be printed. The Paris Exposition resolu- tion was called up and the Senate adjourned. Tn the House the motion to suspend the rules in order to introduce the bill to amend the National Carrency act was lost and the bill was not introduced. A resolution Girecting inquiry by the Secretary of the Treasury into the alleged seizure of champagne wines by the New York Custom House went over until to-day, and another calling for statements of the collectors, naval officers, surveyors, &c , who have been removed from office since March, 1866, was adopted. Pending consideration of a motion to refor the Tariff bill and its proposed amend- ments to the Committee on Ways and Means the House adjourned. A republican caucus, held at the Capitol last night, favored the reference of the impeachment question to the Judiciary Committee and the taking of a recess until the Sth of May, THE LEGISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday the Constitutional Convention Dill was reported from the Committee of the Whole and Smended #0 a8 to limit the elective franchise to males, Bills for an experimental line of railways in New York and Westchester, for a railroad in Broadway, Lexington avonue and other streets, and relative to sewerage and drainage in Now York wore also reported from commit- tees. Bills toamond the act changing the route of the Broadway and Seventh Avenue Ratiroad; relative to assessments in New York, and authorizing the New York Central Railroad to charge two and a half cents fare por mile for passengers, were introduced, In the Assembiy 4 communication from the Street Commissioner of New York was presentad. The Annual Appropriation bill and biil# to enable husband and wife to be witneases for or against cach other; to regulate the carriage of passengers’ baggage by raliroad companics, and relative to military exemptions in Kings county, wore reported, Bills to regulate the driving of sheep and cattio through the streets of New York, and for othor purposes, were passed, Bills to suppress prostitation in the Motropolitan district; to provide for the election of a Board of Aasistant Aldermen avd to abolish the Board of Conneiimen in New York; to amond the Excise law; to incorporate the West Side Elevated Suspension Railway Company, and for the construction of railways in Fulton and other streets of New York, were introduced. A recess was taken, and on reassembling several bills of a Private nature were advanced to a third reading. THE CITY. ‘At the meoting of the Board of Education last even- NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1867.—TRIPL4S SHEET. for the purchase of a site enty-second ward, The subject of appropriating $102,870 for the erection of a schoolhouse in 115th street, was referred to the Fingnee Committee, Hess yc Qiving to the absence of cartain members of the Board of Vire Commissioners yosterday the Board did not hold its usual weekly meeting. Thirty-five policemen were tried at Police Headquar- ters yosterday, atthe trial sitting of the Board, for alleged breaches of discipline, and two cases, in which citizems were complainants, were closed. The case of the executors of W. H. Burroughs against A. T, Stewart & Co. ef al came before the Supreme Court, Chambers, yesterday on a motion for a reference and an tnjunction to restrain the executors from paying out the funds of the firm antil so directed by the Court. In the Supreme Court, Special Term, s question of partoership came up for adjudication in which the parties had formerly been sutlers to the Sixth regiment New York Volunteers, under General Corcoran. The plaintiff furnished the “influence” and the defendants the money, and upon a demand for a division of the Spoils the latter repudiated the alleged copartnership. In the United States Cireuit Court yesterday William Browne, alias Browney, plead guilty to an indictment charzing bim with uttering counterfeit United States currency with intent to defraud the government. Sen- tence deferred. In the United States Commissioner's Court, yesterday, before Commissioner Osborn, John Healey and H. G. Ditterich were charged with passing $10 counterfeit bills of the Flour City National Bank of Rochester at Pough- keepsie. Several witnesses having testified, the further bearing of the case was adjourned for a week. The case of Georse N, Carleton, who is charged with having, while acting as treasury agent at Memphis, Tenn., embezzled money and property belonging to the government to the amount of half a million of doliars, was further adjourned till Saturday, pending the receipt of instructions which are expected from Washington, The case of Patrick Curran va, Catharine Duffy, au action to recover damages for alleged false imprisonment was tried yesterday in the Marine Court, before Judge Alker anda jury, and resulted in a verdict for tho plaintiff of $200 damages. In the Court of General Sessions yesterday Judge Rus- sell sontenced Alfred Reither to the Penitentiary for two years and ordered him to pay a fine of ten thousand dol- lars for falsely personating a member of the detective force whereby he obtained nine bundred dollars from Mr, Thomas M. Taylor. Terence O'Neil, a resident of the Twelfth ward in Brooklyn, disappeared on Friday last, having in his possession a considerable sum of money. Suspicions of foul play are entertained, The stock market improved yesterday. weak and closed at 13514 a 3. In domestic produce there was an increased business consummated, but at irregular prices, though some arti- cles sold at advanced prices. Merchandise continued quiet but generally steady in value. Cotton was mode- rately active at a decline of Xe. per pound. Coffee was unchanged. On ’Chango flour was firmer, with more doing. Wheat remained dull, while corn and oats closed heavy, with but little doing. Pork opened firmer but closed lower. Beof ruled steady. Lard was heavy, Freichts were very quiet, Whiskey was dull and nominal. Naval stores were quiet, but valugp were not essontially changed. Petroloum was a shade easier. MISCELLANEOUS. . Dates from Rio Janeiro to the 25th ult. are at hand by way of Europo and the Atlantic cable, Tho French and English agents are making strong efforts in favor of a cessation of hostilities, They are satisfied, however, Gold was that the United States alone has.tbe confidence of the South American republics, The revolution in Mendoza was spreading, and Genoral Paunero was compelled to ask for reinforcements from Buenos Ayres. ~ Vera Cruz Geapaiches, under date of February 26, cay that everything was in a chaotic state. Tho troops were still embarking, and transports continued to arrive daily, Yellow fever had made its appearance there already. One Americas had died of the disease on the 2ist. Aca- pulco was abandoned by the imperialists on the 19th ult. Alvarez was on the march to join Diaz, near Mexico City, with four thousand troops. General Tavora, the im- perialist, had been completely defeated near the capital by General Velez. Our Georgia correspondent says that a strong party, ennnclating the principles contained in Ex-Governor Brown's recent letter favoring the acceptance of Sher- man’s military reconstruction pion, has sprung up and bids fair to be the controlling party in the State, The money market is tighter than was ever known there be- tore, owing to the withdrawal of Northern capital and the employmont of all funds for the purchase of pro- visions. ©The steamship Andalusia, Captain W. HL West, of tho Leary line, from New York for Charleston, was burned at sen off Hatteras on Sunday evening. Four of the crew and four male passengers were lost. The steamer Manhattan was near at band, and rendered valuable assistance. The hose carriage intended for presentation to the firemen of Columbia by the firemen of New York was on board, and was burned up. The saved arrived at Charleston yesterday. The statement of the public debt for February shows the total to be $2,827,868.959, which, in comparison with the total last year, shows a reduction in the debt of $157, 281,690. The President and Cabinet, in connection with General Grant, are perfecting arrangements for the immediate enforcement of the Reconstruction law. Thomas, Sheri- dan, Sickles, Ord and Schofield are reported to be the five commanders who will have charge of districts, Instruc- tions for thelr guidance are being prepared by Secretary Stanton and Gencral Grant, The President's reply to the committess of both houses, informing them that he had no communication to make at present, is regarded as indicative of his ac- tion in ease of impeachment, and it is stated on good authority that he will refuse to appear for arraignment before a Senate wherein only twenty States are repre- sented. Letters have been received by the Commissioner of Indian Affaire, from agents on che plains, whgch con- tradict several reports of outrages by Indians, The agent for the Arrapahoos, Choyennes and Apaches says not a single overt act bas boon committed by those In- dians, The Kiowas and Camanches were much alarmed when informed that the United States was about to make war upon them. Collector Smythe has addressed a letter to President Johnson, which we publish elsewhere, In which he de- fends himself against the attacks of the Congressional investigating committee. In another column will be found an opinion of the United States Supreme Court, delivered at the present term, defining the office and prescribing the occasion of the issuance of the ancient writ of prohibition. A new biil providing for the election of a Mayor and City Council of Baltimore has been introduced inthe Maryland Legislature. A memorial has been presented in the Louisiana Legis- lature, charging Governor Wells with being a dofaulter to the State of $88,000, while holding a petty office in Rapides Parish. It was highly probable that he would be impeached. A political meeting of colored men was held in Rich- mond on Monday evening. The Committee on Federal Relations of the Maine Senate have reported upon that portion of the Governor's Meseage relating to the proposed confederation of the British North American provinces, and protest against it as an implied infraction of the Monroe doctrine, and dan- gerous to the friendly relations existing between the people of the provineos and of the United States, Reso- lutions were also reported to that effect, and asking tho government to interpose in friendly remonstrance against tho ‘proposed confederation. A destractive storm in Tennessee bas prevailed for the Inst four days, flooding the country and carrying away several railroad bridges, Ixptcations of Mons Fextan Trovpte ts Ire- Lanp.—We have no despatches from Europe to-day, but a suspiciously sounding report from Heart’s Content tells us that the cable is all right and working finely, but that the Irish lines are down, “probably in consequence of a storm.” If a storm prevailed in Ireland yes- terday it is certain that the fact would be well known at Valentia, and the report would scarcely be sent in such an ambiguous shape, The details that reach us by mail show that the Fenian scare has been much greater in England than the meagre cable despatches have indicated, and it looks not unlikely that the trouble in Ireland has been renewed. 1 phe Southern Press on _Be With Beaurogara’a bombardment of Fort Sumter one of the most remarkable and radical revolutions in the history of the human race was inaugurated in the rebel Confederate States. The full import and consequences of this revolution have just been officially pro- claimed in the new law of Southern recon- struction, With all the warnings that had been given them, however, touching their scornful rejection, from Virginia to Texas, of the pending constitutional amendment, this new law, with its sweeping and decisive exactions, seems to have fallen upon the lead- ing politicians of those States like an unex- pected calamity. It appears to have created something of that consternation among them which followed the terrible march of Sherman through South Carolina, They are disap- pointed, confounded end excited to a high pitch of impotent wrath: but the scales have fallen from their eyes, and they are beginning to realize and recognize the fixed facts and the necessities of their situation. The Richmond journals,.in near rapport with the progress of events at Washington, have for some days past been wholly absorbed with this astounding uitimatum of a radical Congress. One of them compares it with the “Domesday Boke” of William the Conqueror; but the wrathful editor, after showing how the English people, by submission to the Jaw of neceasity, sur- vived that invasion and the revolution of Cromwell and that which expelfed James the Second, counsels the same policy to the South. Another of the Richmond journals harps away through three columns upon the atrocities of this “bill of attainder against nine millions of people,” but at the end advises the responsible people of Virginia to accept the situation and proceed to action in order to save the State from seizure by radicals and negroes. A Petersburg paper, of the rebel type, says “the South will accept the slavery under Sherman’s bill. A thousand straws show how the current is setting. No hazard now in the prediction that ere sixty days have passed a majority of the Southern States will voluntarily have con- formed to the new order of things.” The special offence, however, which appears to have most deeply wounded the leading organs of Richmond is the advice of submis- sion to the Iaw volunteered by an officious cop- perhead journal of New York. The Southern response to this advice is that it was not asked and is not wanted; that from 1861 to 1865, in all that the Southern people saw, “there was as greedy a palm for bounty money among the Northern democrats as among the republicans, while, with a few exceptions, the protests that came from the democratic leaders had the tone rather of a whine for office and power than the heroic ring of men ready te die sooner thanibe made slaves of.” Just so ; and yet the South has been the willing victim to the false prom- ises and delusions of the copperhead leaders and organs of the helpless Northern democracy from 1861 to 1867. But what is the prospect among the people of the South? Their case is progressing “as well as could be expected.” Their nstonished and infuriated leaders of the old pre-Adamite school are raving that the destraction of their institations is complete, that the constitution has become a mockery, that the Union is destroyed forever, that they are ander the terrors of an absolute despotism, and all that; but still there is a prevailing undercurrent in favor of submission to Congress, not only from the law of necessity, but for reasons of sound policy and common sense. Wall street is im- pressed with the fact,in the decline of gold since the passage of this bill. Wall. street recognizes it as a settlement which, instead of turning the world upside down, will turn the South right side up. Delicate and shaky as is the machinery of our present financial system, sensitive as it has become to the slightest touch from passing political events, the passage of this sweeping reconstruction bill has not shaken it, but has strengthened it. This South- ern settlement makes the retention or removal of President Johnson a secondary matter. We presume that he will be given a reasonable margin in reference to the execution of this law and other lawg, and that in seeing them “taithfully executed” he will be no more dis- turbed. The people of the ten excluded States are naturally in a state of excitement and per- tarbation. Two hundred years of the teach. ings, distinctions, castes and prejrdices, laws and usages of African slavery naturally pro- duce a violent Southern recoil against negro suffrage, even at this late day. But stern ne- cessity will teach a people how to remove mountains and shut out the sea; and the neces- sities of the ruling Southern white class are already leading them to this dreaded conces- sion of negro suffrage. Why should they hesitate when they can turn it to the greatest advantages for both races, socially and indus- trially, and in bebalf of the political interests of the South in Congress and in the federal ad- ministration? It seems only yesterday that our armies, while fighting for the Union, were instructed to protect rebels in their slave pro- perty. We have crossed the Red Sea, the Wilderness and the Jordan, and have entered into the Promised Land since that last trial under the bondage of Egypt. President John- son as Moses was left behind on Mount Nebo, and “Old Thad Stevens” as Joshua is no great shakes, but he must do until we can get a better. The ten excluded rebel States, unlike the re- volting ten tribes of Israel, will not be ulti- mately lost, but will be reclaimed. The work of reclamation now begins. It will be carried out, and then we shall have a new Union, a new epoch of national power and prosperity, overshadowing that which passed away with slavery, and a new organization of parties on the bank question, the tariff, taxes, retrench- ment and the negro vote. This balance of power in the South may be gained for the South, and in order thus to gain it no time should be lost. Conkress and the Gold Market. Gold declined yesterday afternoon to 13554, and the indications are that it will go consider- ably lower. The Tredsury holds forty millions more of coin than it did a year ago, and the state of affairs in Enrope is favorable to a far ther large absorption of our bonds, The Bank of England rate of interest has been reduced to three per cent, and money is a drag, not only there but all over the European conti- nent. The apprehensions of trouble arising from a difference of views between the Presi- en paces wiih a wanage chooses dig nify with the title of opera. ~ =." Ea Pr. epect of a Short Session of pani “ Impeachment Question. The Speaker of the House of Representa- tives baying announced that he would to-day name the Committees on Elections, Mileage and Rules only, it is believed the session of the new Congress will be short. Leaving the announce- ment of the other committees to a future time indicates this, The session will terminate, pro- bably, this week. This, however, will depend very much upon what action the republican caucus took last night on the impeachment question. Mr. Boutwell, when asked in the House on Tuesday how long it would be be- fore a recess, replied that “if they wok up the impeachment proposition immediately it would probably be some wecks. It all depended upon that.” While some think this language indi- cates immediate action on impeachment, the gencral impression is that Congress will leave the matter in the hands of a committee and close the session in the course of afew days. The course that will be taken, probably, will be to leave the whole question in the hands of the new Judiciary Committee, which will be authorized to pursue the in- vestigations during the recess, It is thought that Ben Butler will be one of the most active members, and that he will work up the case in a different manner from that in which Mr. Ashley and the old Judiciary Committee managed it. Should he be put on the committee it is be- lieved he will drop all the improbable charges about the President’s complicity with rebel conspirators and assassins and pro- ceed on the higher and broader grounds of Executive usurpation of power, of obstracting the will of Congress and the execution of its laws, and of obstinately keeping the country ina state of disorganization, contrary to the voice of the people and the will of their representatives. oné-and Congress are being dissipated by te knowledge that the President is powerless, anu the speculators in gold for a risé aro disap- pointed in consequence. So much for the prophecies of those who thought Andy John- son’s veto of the Reconstruction bill would create a grand hubbub. The tempest was all in a teapot, Changes tm the British Cabinet. Our cable news for the last three days has been informing us of changes in the Cabinet of Lord Derby. First we are informed of the re- signations of the two Secretaries for the Colonies. Next we are told that the vacant offices had been filled by the Duke of Richmond and Mr. Stephen Cave. Then again we learned by yesterday’s despatches that the Chief Secretaryship for the Golonies had been declined by the Duke of Richmond and had been accepted by the Duke of Buckingham, to whom it had been subsequently tendered. Our tele- graphic news in regard to.the Cabinet changes, though not contradictory, is up to this moment exceedingly imperfect. We are not told, for exomple, that General Peel had resigned ; yet we learn that the office which het held as Secretary of War has been filled by Sir John Pakington. The inference warranted is that General Peel has resigned. The First Lordship of the Admiralty, formerly held by Sir John Pakington, has been accepted by Sir S.afford Northcote, who was formerly President of the Board of Trade. . Mr. Stephen Cave becomes President of the Board of Trade, thus vacating the vice presidency of the same. Who has been appointed Mr. Cave’s successor we have yet to learn. The Duke of Buckingham, who has succeeded the Earl of Carnarvon as Colonial Secretary, leaves vacant the Lord Presidency of the Privy Council. His successor in that office does not appear yet to have been appointed. The Hon. Mr. Corry, who has become Under Secretary for the Colonies, is the only new name which appears on the ministerial roll. It is evident from all this that Lord Derby is sensible of the loss sus- tained by the resignation of General Peel, Earl Carnarvon and Mr. Adderly, and that, by a dexterous use of the men at his command, he is resolved to turn them to as much account as possible. The most important point to be noticed in connection with these changes is the bearing which they have on the question of reform. So long as it was not known that General Peel had resigned it was somewhat difficult to comprehend the course adopted by the two Colonial . Secretaries. Now, however, that it is no longer doubtful that General Peel has abandoned his friends, the whole difficulty is sotved. Lord Derby bas fairly’ gone in for reform. The measure, it has already ooz:d out, is to be thoroughly liberal in its provisions. ‘This is too much for General Peel, who, true to the character which has been, with too much justice, ascribed to the parvenu, is of all the torica. the rankest and most tnbending. The marvel is that his young friend Lord Cran- bourne, the Secretary of State fox India, who, on more than one occasion, has revealed his sympathy with the General’s ultra toryism, has not followed his example. The Derby government have it yet in their to win honors in this reform struggle. These changes prove that they are moving in the it direo- tion. Whether they have gone far enough to entitle themselves to the support of the House of Commons and to the gratitude of the coun- tey atlarge, their promised Reform bill will soon give proof. be authorized and directed by Congress to call @ special session if, after full investigation, im- peachment should be deemed urgent. It is not likely Congress will leave this important busi- ness unfinished without providing for earlier action than could be had next December, should such action be necessary. We shall doubtless have more light upon the subject in the course of a few days, and shall then be able to judge better what will be the fate of the impeachment movement and of Mr. Johnson. Reform in the Merchant Marine—Protection te Human Life at Sen. The American people are of such a go-ahead and pregressive disposition that, so far as per- sonal safety is concerned, they will travel over the same ling of railroad or in the same line of steamships upon which a disaster of the most frightfal character bas just occurred without giving the casualty hardly a moment’s passing consideration. _Sappose 9 railroad smash up | occurs, attended with the loss of a hundred lives—the only question asked by the Amori- can traveller is whether the trains will be interrupted or whether the next train will start on time. An ocean steamer founders with hundreds of precious lives, the boilers of, a Western steamer »xplode and scores of human beings are sent into eternity, an emigrant sail- ing ship loaded down with a mass of human- ity is stranded and all on board perish—yet the impulsive American and many commercial travellers of other nations pay no heed to these calamities, and heedlessly and recklessly take passage upon a class of vessels not a bit more secure trom danger than either of those whose sad fate he perhaps has seen chronicled in the morning paper he reads at the breakfast table. It is no wonder that foreign life insurance com- panies demand extra premiums upon the lives of those who intend to travel upon our West- ern wators, It is time, therefore, that the government should Initiate some reforms in our merchant marine calculated to protect those who take so little pains to protect themselves, as well as to guard the lives of those, by far the greater class, who are compelled to trust themselves on shipboard, upon ocean, lake or river steam- ers, as well as upon emigrant sailing ships,and upon longer or shorter voyages. With this view a bill was introduced, among the closing days of the last Congress, to meet and remedy these evils by instituting some radical reforms in relation to the merchant marine of the United States. The bill provides for the estab- lishment of a coast marine board, of three mem- bers in each collection district on the Atlantic seaboard and on American portions of the Pacific. Also marine boards-at each of the collection districts on the interior rivers and lakes. The members of these boards shall be competent men, of good character, and shall have practical as well a: theoretical knowledge of shipping and navigation, one of whom, and two of the board established at the city of New York, shall be selected for knowledge, skill and experience in the use of steam navigation, and shall be competent to judge not only of the character of steamers but of all parts of the machinery employed in navi- gating by steam. Among the important duties of these boards is the examination of persons who intend to become masters, first or second mates of veasels, first, second, third and fourth engineers, first and second pilots of steamers, and if found competent to furnish them with certificates accordingly. Penalties are pre- scribed for any steamer leaving any port in the United States unless supplied with her comple- ment of engineers and pilots, or for any one to go as master, &c., without @ certificate. In- spectors are to be appointed to see that suita- ble provisions are made to guard against fire, that there is the requisite supply of double act- ing pumps, fireproof steering apparatus, life- boats, life preservers, fire buckets, &c, The bill requires masters to select crews for each lifeboat or raft, and cach passenger assigned by due notice to a lifeboat or raft at a dosig- nated part of the steamer in which he shall seck safety in case of emergency. Boilers must be made of steel or iron stamped by the manufac~ tarers, with severe penalties for false stamping. ‘The penalties for non-compliance with the pro- visions of the bill in ease of loss of Tife inclade the trial of the master or owner or owners for manslaughter. The regulations about emigrant sailing ships are stringent and explicit regarding space, cleanlt- ness, medical attendance, provisions, &o. Par ticular attention is paid to the prevention of collisions by day and night, the rights of soa- men are particularly considered, and the bill altogether onters into « thorongh and much needed reformation of the merchant marine of the United States. The bill waa read twice on How the Opera Might be Revived. It seems that we are to have opera again, but under the same fluctuating and poverty- stricken conditions as have characterized it for many seasons past, It is true that it will have the advantages of a new building and enthu- siastic stockholders, but these will do but little for it, The novelty of the one worn off, the benefit from it ceases; and we all know how the enthusiasm of the others cool down in the absence of dividends. ‘The nonsense written about the great things that are to be done during the season is so much in the old epirit of puffery that people only laugh at it, Half a dozen representations will serve to demonstrate how utterly inade- quate are the elements brought together to sustain the interest of the public in this spas- modic effort. Opera is not a thing to be kept afloat by mere promises. Its notes must be current and of such genuineness that neither public nor singers will be inclined to dispute them. The result o. this fresh experiment will have one good effect, that of convincing every one of the justice of the opinion to which we gave expreszion last season, that opera can never he permanently established here under its present auspices. To impart to it vitality it must have a new manager and artists of a very different stamp from those now presented to us. Enter- prise must characterize the one and a fair share of vocal ability the other. Our public are tired of hearing wornout voices and of assist- ing at the failure of débutantes picked np in boarding schools or among the chorus singers. A great metropolitan and music loving com- munity like ours will not submit to be treated like the inhabitants of a country village who have never had an opportunity of cultivating their tastes or correcting their judgment by com- parison. We hope that the stockholders of the Academy will at last exhibit some appreciation of this fact. It is absurd to urge in their behalf that they are doing all they can in the dearth of operatic talent existing here. Whey are mainly responsible for the present unsatisfactory state of things. By giving a monopoly of their building they prevent such competition as would tend to remedy it and conduce to the advancement of art. Let them steer clear of “these entangling alliances” and hold the Academy at the disposition of all who have fair claims to public favor, and they will soon place the opera on such a footing as will entitle it to support. Even now there is rea- son to believe that Strakosch, who has Adelina Patti in charge, could be induced to bring her over here if an end could be put to this mis- chievous system. We need scarcely point to the effect which the return of a singer who has created a sensation in Europe groater than did ever Malibran or Sontag would produce upon our community. It would revive their enthusiasm for the Italian lyrical drama and place the institution en such a basis that it would be out of the power of any mere speculator to get hold of it and bring it down to his own sordid level. Until this he done we suppose we shall have to endure the provi- sioual thing. made up of discordancy and shreds The committee left in charge of this matter may | © ope yo narraner cane, mee the 17th ultimo agd referrod to the Committee ce Commerce. The new Congress cannot do a er or & better thing than to give itearly and practical eration, and thus perhaps be the means of saving hundreds of lives during coming summer season, when an unusual tide of emigration will set in for this port, ac- companied not only by the customary perils of the ocean, but also with the danger of bring- ing to our shores some serious if not wide- spread and deadly epidemic. England and the Eastern Question. The Eastern question does not appear to be- come less complicated as time advances. In yesterday’s issue we published a telegram an- nouncing that “a general rising of the Chris- tians was considered imminent.” We also published an extract from the speech of Lord Stanley, delivered in the House of Commons on the 15th of February, on the occasion of the debate on the affairs of the East. The specoh of Lord Stanley, whatever may be the opinion entertained in regard to the policy it advo- cates, is a clear and masterly statement of the whole question from the government point of view. Lord Stanley tells us what the govern- ment might have done and what the govern- ment actually have done. In regard to Servia we are informed that advice was tendered to the Porte to the effect that certain concessions should be made, and that the advice was received in a spirit of conciliation. The Cretan affair was more difficult to deal with, The gov- ernment, whatever might be their sympathies with the struggling Christians, felt themselves bound by the laws of neutrality from any act that might be interpreted as armed interference by the other European Powers. In Lord Stan- ley’s opinion there were three possible courses open to government. One was “to carry out the principle of non-intervention in the strictest and most literal sense.” As there had beem intervention in the shape of advice that point was dismissed. Another course was “to advise the cession of the island to Greece.” It is manifest, from the language employed by his lordship, that he considers it a question open to some doubt whether the Cretans would be actually benefited by the transfer. Not that he is opposed to the union of the Greek races, but becanse “it was impossible to say that the present state of Greece was satisfactory.” His chief objections to this course sre—first, that the interests of the Mussulman population in Crete, numbering some seventy thousand, had to be consulted ; and secondly, that it would establish @ precedent which was certain to be urged: in future difficulties and could not fail to lead to “the farther dismemberment of the Turkish empire,” There wase third course— they could tender friendly dvice. That they liad done, not, perhaps, preciacly in the terms nor in the way some cout@ have wished it done, but to the bestof their ability, in cir- cumstances of very peculiar difficulty. They had reminded the Porte of the treaty rights of 1856, which placed the Christian population in ® position of perfect equality with the Mussul- man. They had not, however, advised the cession of Crete to Greece. Such in substance is Lord Stanley’s speech. It shows the attitude of the English government at that date. Weeks, however, have since elapsed, and it is not im- probable that the policy of government is now greatly modified. Russia has since ad- vised the Porte to cede the. island of Crete to Greece. Whether England has seen fit to con- cur in that advice we have yet to learn, It is significant that Lord Stanley does not indicate what are the views of the other Powers in re- gard to this vexed question. Turkey, it is manifest to all the world, is in a pitifully help- less condition. The European Powers cannot do better than leave her alone. The Christians are numerous enough and powerful enough to lead their own cause to ultimate victory. All things indicate that we are on the eve of a great struggle. ° The New Pest Office Site-The Propesed Broadway Blockade. The crowded condition of Broadway from the Astor House to the Battery at the present time surpasses anything that has previously been experienced in this city. In the busiest hours of the day vehicles of all descriptions are blocked in and unable to move further than two or three blocks in half an hour, and the moat venturesome pedestrian is compelled to wait from ten to fifteen minutes before he cam effect a crossing. Business suffers materially by this interruption and delay, and cries loudly for relief. Some time ago it was proposed by many people interested in affording greater facilities for travel in the lower part of the city to open Ann street to the East river, so as to ereate second great channel through which the con- stant stream of vehicles might flow after leav- ing the broad space opposite the Park. This would have afforded a great relief and would have been a valuable boon to the trade and cominerce of the city, until further improve- ments—such as the opening of Fifth avenue to the Battery—could have been secured. The singular and narrow-minded opposition of Mayor Hoffman postponed this necessary work and left the lower part of the city in its present deplorable condition. Not contented with setting himself ap as an obstacle in the way of a desirable public improvement,Mayor Hoffman has since procured the location of the new Post Office at the south end of the Park—an under- taking which, if suffered to be carried into effect, would render Broadway, from Ann street down, actually impassable for hours during the busiest and most valuable time of the day. The: mail wagons and carts, which are rapidly driven and claim the right of way, would dash up and down and accumulate around the balding and blockade the street as effectually os if a stone wall were built up from the Park to the Astor House, All travel would be virtually suspende@ and our business men down town would suffer far worse than at the present time. ‘This outrage should be prevented. A pudlio meeting should be held to protest against it, Whatever ulterior jobs may be dependent upon this principal one, it should not be suffered to be carried into effect. Independent of all other considerations, the serious injmry that would be indicted upon the trade of the city should alone be sufficient to ensure its defegt. No person wauts the Post Office located in the City Hall Park. Every person who has any real interest in the matter or studies the con- venience of the public protests against it, The city would lose by it,as the valuable piece of property proposed to be taken for the ite is to be sacrificed for one-sixth of ite appraised value. It has not a single feature r |