The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1867, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. S GORDON BENNETT, JAME PROPRIETOR. All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Youx Herarp. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications wil! not be re- turned. THE DAILY HE ALD, publ ry day in the year. Four cents per copy. Apnua! ubseription price $14, THE WEEKLY HERA!”, every Saturday, at Five Crvrs per copy, Annva! Subscription price:— One Copy. Three Copies. 5 Five Copies. 8 Tem Copie-... - 15 Any /1rger number addressed to names of subscribers $1.50 cach, An extra copy will be sent to every club of ten, Twenty copies to one address, one year, $25, and any larger number at saine price. Am extra copy will be sent to clubs of twenty. These rates make the Wexexty Heraup the cheapest publication in the country. Postage five cents per copy for three months. . No. 364 ANUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. FIfTR AVENUF THEATRE, Nos. 2 and 4 West 2th street.—Yx Graxp Quien Buss. OLYMPIC Nigur's Duxam. THEATRE, Broadway.-A Mipsuuuan WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th atreet.— Outvex Twist. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.~Marr Stuart. FRENCH THEATRE, Fourteenth street.—MaRmm AN- ‘rouverts. BOWERY THEATRE, Baran Tisas, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Buack Croox. Bowery.—River Prratss—My GERMAN STADT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bowery. — Das Aurrinpan Dex Daxt Zwerce, > NEW YORK THEATRE, opposite New York Hotel,— ‘Unver tax Gasiicur, Y OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street.—Crown STEINWAY HALL.—Cuanres Dickexs’ Reapinas. BANVARD'S OPERA HO! AND MUSEUM, Broad- way and Thirtieth street.—Wintow Corse. NEW YORK CIRCOS. Fourt: Fauxsretanisa, &cr Matinee a ae stroct, —Grunastics, THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Wurre, Corron 2 Suaxrier's MinstuELs, KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway.—Soxas, Danovs, Eockxrniciries, BUKLESQUES, &C. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Rrondway.—Rrio- TiAN ENTKATAINMENTS, SINGING, DANCING AND BUULESQUES, TONY PASTOR'S OPERA H " USE, 201 Bowery.—Comio Vocauism, NeGkO MINSTRELSY, & . BUTLER'S AMER: < THEATRE, 472 Bawurt, Fance, Paytoxi Broadway. — N HALL, Broadway and Fifteenth street.—Tue Matinee at ata EIGHTH AVE R E, corner Thirty-for street.—MiNstRxLsy, Fanci searibiak daha] HOOLEY’S OPERA E Brooklya,—Ermoriax Muvsrrxisy, BAvLavs axp Bui Se NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANA Somncy anp Arr. ‘OMY, G18 Broadway.— New York, Monday, December 30. 1867. TBA NBW 3s. EUROPE Tho news report by the Attantic cable is dated yester- day evoning, December 29. A nnmber of Russian statesmen are in conference on the Eastern question in St. Petersdurg. An intense poh- tical excitement prevails in tho Italian cities, particn- Jarly in Naples and the towas of liedmont, and “‘riaings’? against the government were dreaded, ‘The British gov- ernment will not, it is said, ask for extraordinary powers *. against the Fent The revenne returns of Great Britain Cor the past quarter are likely to show a “serous deficiency.” The Pope offre to pay the laliaa bonds re. Presenting the old debt of the Pontifica! States, taken from his government, which have been repudiated in Florence The Maris Bouree war & Five-twontios were at 76%, With rontes dectining. a Pragxtor. MISCELLAN EOUS. The churchos were as well atended ae eeeal vemter- | day, tho day being a pleasant one and the <orviess gon- erally of an interesting character, Kev. Allret Young, | dividuals, | and commercial centre of the country. Such NEW YORK HERALD. MONDAY, DECEMBER 30 1867. The Cuabinet—Kumors of Changes Aguin, Every now and then we have rumors from Washington of proposed changes in the Cabi- net, Ih fact, this seems to be a standing dish with the correspondents when other materials give out, Still, there may be something in the reaors. Stanton’s removal was spoken of very day or two for some time before it took place, The old saying that where there is so to rumored changes now. McCulloch will send in his resignation in a few days,and that our Minister in England, Mr. Adams, may be his successor. It is added also that Mr. McCulloch will take the position -of Mr. Adains at the Court of St. James, so that itwill be a change of places for these two gen- | tlemen, The President moves slowly in such matters, as we saw in the case of Stanton, and it may be that he has come to the sensible con- | clusion at last to make a change in the Trea- sury Department. é We have no idea that Mr. McCulloch will send in his resignation, to use the words of the correspondent, unleas he has received or should receive a very broad hint from the | President that it is necessary he should | leave the Troasury Department. He is too | much wedded to bis absurd financial theories and too closely cunnected with the interests of Mr. Chase, Jay Cooke, the bondholders and | national banks, and with all these political and money speculators, to willingly resign his post. However, the President may see from the action of Congress and from public senti- ment everywhere that few have any confidence in Mr. McOulloch’s financial policy or ability, and may have told the Secretary that his resig- nation is desired, Whatever views Mr. John- son may have about financial matters he is an old political campaigner, and we kidw of no public man more likely to adapt his course to fopular sentiment, Besides, he cannot help seeing that Mr. McCulloch is incompetent to manage the national finances at this critical time and is the great obstacle in the way of reforms which are imperatively demanded. We think it probable, therefore, that this change in the Cabinet at least will be made. As to Mr, McCulloch’s successor, the Wash- Ington correspondents may be mistaken in their conjectures. - We cannot see on what grounds or for what reason Mr. Adams should be ap- pointed to the office. He has very respect- able abilities for the position he occupies and does very woll in the courtly sphere of am- bassador at London; but we never heard he was an able man in financial matters. Though the President might like to do something to soften the fall of Mr. McCulloch in appointing him to a mission abroad, there is no reagon to believe be would remove Mr. Adams and make him Secretary of the Treasury for this purpose alone, Mr. Jobnson would hardly think so little of the most imporiant position in the gov- ernment at the present time as to make a mere convenience of it for the accommodation of in- In appointing a now Secretary of the Trea- sury tho President will be governed, probably, by two considerations: first, the fitness of the man for the position, and next, the political bearing ofthe appointment. Instead of taking a Secretary from Boston or some Western country bank or law office, he most likely would preter taking one from New York, the great financial & man us our able Collector of the Port, Mr. much smoke there must be fire was verified in | | that case, and it may be so again with regard It is said Mr. | Smythe, would be deomed, probably, the best selection, in a strictly busines# point of view, and looking simply to the efficient manago- ment of the Treasury Department. But the President, in all probability, may look at the political consideration also, and that may have the greatest weight. His indirect but palpa- ble nomination of General Hancock for the Presidency shows great deal of sagacity. If he cannot be nominated himself he will do what he can to deieat the radical republicans, in his movements to this end he looks chiefly, no doubt, to the great Siate of New York. The democrats have gained the ascendancy here through the disgusting negro supremacy | policy of the republicans, and will most likely hold it. Dean Richmond, through the Central of the Paulist Fathers, lectured at Cooper tnstitate on “How and Why I Became a Catholic.” Hor: v Yeotured at the church of the Poritans in Union square, ‘on temperance, in which he advised young ladies to dis. | pense with wine for New Yoar's callers, Rev, Dr. | Blanchard preached at the T'ark theatre, Brooklyn, on “Woman and tho Wine Cap.” A German Catholic | ehurch in Thornton street, Brooklyn. E. D., wae dedi- | cated. Rev. W. W, Andrews preached im the Catholic Apostolic chureh, in Sixteenth street, near Sixth | avenue, on the ‘‘Nearners of the Coming of the Lord.”’ A novel experiment has been in progress among the managers of the Howard Mission for some time. It is that of furnishing breakfasts, clothing and spiritaal in- struction to the great mass of our population who pass their nights in the station houses for want of some better place to he, The scheme has proven a great suc- cons, and it is re that over a thousand persons Dave been fed and a large number reciaimed trom vaga- bondiam by the experiment. A chronological record of the action of the British government in reference to according belligerent rights to the South and fitting out the rebel privateers, com- piled from the files of the Huraup, with a complete list of the American veseols captured by the privateers during the war, will be found elsewhere in our columns | this morning. The recent storm in California 's reported to have | deen as severe as thore of 1861 and ‘62, No damage | beyond tempcrary inconvenience and detention has eon experienced yet. The roads over the Sierra Nevada mountains are rendered almost impassable, A Danish landhoider of St, Thomas bas furnished the Secretary of State, for the benefit of scientific men, | with an accurate record of the shocks and noises ac- companying the late earthquakes In that island. He | says the oarth was agitated like a rippling sea, and it ‘was almost impossible either to walk or to remain in one place. Tt bas transpired that a number of leading conserva- | tives have proposed to the Legislatures of States which recently west domocratic to repeal their resolutions ratifying the fourteenth article of the constitution, If Now Jersey, Obio and California were to do this it is Delieved the article could not be grafted upow the con- | stitation. There are several highly important cases soon to come j before the Supreme Court which will test the constitu. | tionality of the Reconstruction laws. General Howard proposes to distribute the surplas fonds in the Freedmen’s Bureau liberally among the destitute people of the South during the coming winter. ‘There are in the Post Office Department ten thousand photographs of Union soldiers taken from dest eters which accumulated during the war, The ice above Albany broke yesterday, but was forged against the bridge and piers at that city, plec'ng | the canal boots and smaller craft in considerable danger. ‘The United States steamer Shawmut ig still at Aspin- wall, waiting for repairs. Consul Savage, at Havana, bas been ordered to tarn over his Consaiate to Mr. Laremmtrie, by the authorities of Washingion. | President was expressed in the resolations. ‘The coroner's jury investigating the railroad disaster ft Angola have discovered that no compromise cars Railroad, used to carry that party in his pocket, but since his death a mightier man i than he has come up. Vanderbilt not only inherits the power of the Dean, but has become far more powerful. Dean Richmond only drove a one horse affair, though that was pow- erful; Vanderbilt drives a four horse team. The former had the Central Railroad only ; the latter has, besides that road, the Harlem, the Hudson River, and a firm grip on the Erie, Controlling these roads ani the democratic party, the latter, in. connection with Peter Bismarck Sweeny and the Schells, may con- trol the President inthe matter of a Cabinet office. In that case who knows but his fugle- man, Richard Schell, or the other Scbell, might wake up to find himself transformed into a Secretary of the Trpasury? If Mr. Smythe be in this mighty four-in-hand combination he may have the best chance, as he is doubtless well fitted and holds a controlling position; but if he be altogether an outsider his prospects are not so good. The political consideration will be an important one, no doubt, with the Presi- dent. At all events, we trast the rumors of Mr. McCulloch’s removal may prove true. In that case his successor should be s thorough business man from the great financial and com- mercial centre of New York. Our Crazy Agitators—What Shall Be Done With Them? Our crazy agitators--whose name is legion— for many years occupied themselves with noisily urging the claims of the negro as “a man and « brother.” This occupation they found was gone when tho Southern slaves wero emancipated. But they then began as noisily as before to urge a new emancipation—that of woman from her alleged servitude. Nor have they been silenced by the adverse decision of recent elections against their pet theory of female suffrage. A harangue delivered on Thursday evening, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is the latest of . thousand and one similar harangues with which they have voxed and wearied the public ear during the past two or three years. The truth is that, for the most part, our agitators care less for the claims of either woman or negro thea for the titillating become an intolerable nuisance. Is it not high time to suppress this nuisance? If the newspapers were to cease reporiing the names and harangues of these vagrant monomaniscs they would at once be deprived of the stimu- lant to which their vauity has become accus- tomed, and to which their persistency in making fools of themselves is largely due. It is to be hoped that they might thus gradually subside into private life. If, however, their mania should prove chronic and ineurable, what shall we do with them? In that case we can think of no better remedy for th: evil than to let society, in self-defence, ensign them all to some iuuatic asylum. There, with Wendell Phillips and other confirmed sevlds of both sexes, they might hold daily and nightly conventions, harangne each other to their hearts’ content, and rush into print as often as they chose in some such journal as the Opal, the organ of the lunatics at Utica. The cir- culation of their journal, of course, outside of the walls of their asylum, should be strictly prohibited. If they fail to be cured by & method of treatment so severe, nevertheless in the course of nature they must die one of these days, and their madness, we may hope, will die with them. Reported Fenian Doings Over the Water— The Dangerous Classes tn Engiand. We published despatches yesterday to the effect that there were several fresh disiurb- ances in England and Ireland. The mart:llo tower which stands on a hill overlooking the harbor of Cork was taken by assault, and the arms and ammunition carried off by ap armed body of men. A powder mill at Faversham, near London, was blown up and totally de- stroyed. An attempt to burn the Post Office in Dublin was made. This shows that the Action OY thd tnalcontents is ubiquitous. All these things are charged to the “Henians;” but itis a remarkable fact that, so far, not a single man known to be & Fenian has been arrested or proved guilty of participation in any of these acts. If they be Fenian doings, we might inter from this fact that there is a good deal of sympathy in England with that orgsni- zation, or, at all events, with the parties who blow up government powder mills, capture arsenals and set fire to public buildings and jails, and rescue political prisoners, ‘whoever these parties may be. It is the assumed basis of society in Eng- land that all classes but the ruling class are dangerous. Indeed, the really great distinct- ive point between our political system and that of Great Britain—the point that makes the two with some apparent similarities the very opposite poles of politics—is the different basis on which each has established the relation- ship between the controlling power of the government and the people. In this country government starts from the fact that man is absolutely free, and has, as a right, the option to do what he will. It then qualifies this right, limits it wherever the peace of society requires # limit, and thus by little and little controls individual liberty as the interests of order and experience dictate. England oper ates inthe other way. Government there starts with the assumption that man is a slave, and it holds him in a network of repressive law as close as chain armor. It then proceeds to en- franchise him in this, that, or the other point, according as it is considered that it will be safe. In one ago it takes from his, bonds the little piece of whipcord that restrained him from having a fire in his house after nine P. M. In another age it removes a rope, and he is free to travel from city to city without the fear of the stocks, At another time it announces that his enemies shall not have the indiscrimi- nate right to rob and kill him, even though he bea Jew. In this time of progress it goes on until we have seen itin our own time give him, with many doubts of the safety of the thing, a little larger liberty in the matter of voting than he ever had before. From this difference between the two countries resuls practically the fact that we have no dangerous classes, while in England all classes assumed to be dangerous prove so, and are made so hy their natural human struggles against the repression and tyranny of the whole fabric of law. Justnow this long nourished evil of the English system is coming terribly to the sur- face. It manifests itseif in acts which are wild with hatred. It plants earthquakes in the pub- lic streets of a city. It makes the Post Office carry death, and it will go on to make itself felt in every channel of the public life, and a thousand special policemen will not put it down. England must stop uttering her sneer- ing pity over the troubles of other nations and put her own house in order. The Removal of Gienorals Ora add Pope. By direction of the President General Grant, as General-in-Chief of the armies of the United States, has issued general orders (No. 106) embracing 8 command, first to Brevet Major General E. O. Ord, to turn over the command of the Fourth Military District (Mississippi and Arkansas) to Brevet Major General A. C. Gil- lem and to proceed to San Francisco to take command of the Department of California, in place of Brevet Major General Irwin McDowell, who will, on being relieved, proceed to Vicksburg and take the command of the Fourth Military District. Next, Brevet Major General Jol the Third Georgia, Florida and Alabama),end js_ordered to report without delay at the headquarters of the army, Wash- ington, for further orders, turning over his command to the next senior officer until the arrival of his nominated successor, Major General George G. Meade. Brevet Major General Swayne ie next relieved @om duty fn the Freedmen’s Bureau in Pope’s district and ordered to join his regiment at Nashville. This substitution of General Meade for neral Pope will, we have no doubt, prove ood change for the people, whites and blacks, ‘of the Third District; for Pope’s excessive negro serving radicalism has been productive only of mischict. We understand that General Ord is relieved at his own request, and that the administration has no complaints against him. So far as we have been informed of bis proceedings he has consclentiously endeavored in his district to deal justly with both whites and blacks, and without prejudice in his execu- tion of the laws. General McDowell we have always understood to be a military man of the sensation of figuring in public. The passion | same moderate and anti-partisan character. for notoriety is, at the last analysis, their When the two houses of Congress come 4 largo republican mass meeting was held in New Or. |-real mania, The good natured indulgence of | together again we may expect a little flutter of Jeans on Saturday night. A preference for Chase for the press and the forbearance of the people have permitted and even encouraged them to | moval of Pope, but as they cannot belp them- selves “the man at the other end of the ayes, obtrude themselves on the public #0 frequently ‘were atiachod to the train at the tiam of the accidgah land ybiguivquely that they bare. lengip indignation among the radicals over the re- SES Sa Ca eae a ae gS a ER SSRs Semmens 1S i Ne aa ane DBAS casual act I rl Maclin Pi DOI ec POLL NILA A Ca Oe ie NEE 2 ee a Se oem CR le Sie NA Ze ate SER Nee ee Seer ce teat En eS SIE The Eastern Question Hastenlog to a Selution. The Eastern question again looms up por- tentously in the political horizon of Europe. It assumes an aspect more threatening than at any time since the diplomatists thought they had laid it forever away after the close of the Crimean war, Instead of sleeping, it agitates more and more the minds of statesmen and causes increasing irritation and inquietude in the royal cabinets of Europe, which in turn entail the expense and trouble of maintaining vast standing armies on a war footing, ready to be sent out to battle at a moment's notice, Indications of every kind point 10 but one ter- mination of all the discussions, criminations, recriminations and secret workings evolved by this vexed question. The sword must cut the knot which the most subtle and skilful diplo- matists have in vain attempted to untie. Russia must find an outlet to the sea. It is mani- fest destiny that a nation so grand and grow- ing, so boldly and rapidly treading the upward path of general advancement and universal improvement, should not long romain isolated and cut off trom the world. She must have room and chance to develop her latent powers. The world’s market must be open to her where she may send her produce and bring back needful articles in exchange. She has out- grown her limits, and it is in the nature of things that sho should demand room for a proper expansion. For seven months in the year her ports are closed to her fleets by arotic rigor on her western confines, while the Sultan, backed by fstian Powers, forbids their entrance by the east. Her geograpical position, her internal needs and her just weight in foreign affairs, unite in firmly demanding that all the barriers erecied against her out growth by the foars or malevolence of foreign Powers should be at once and forever swept away. The Russian policy thus partakes of the nature of manifest destiny itself, and is so regarded by the Muscovites, and not simply as @ temporary line of conduct. The most impiacable and bitter enemy to the traditional policy of Russis has been France. Napoleon combined England and Italy, with Turkey and France against the Czar, and was most active in the Crimean war. And since the termination of that contest, ao painful and in a degree humiliating to Russia, the latter has never ceased to detest and hate him. England, too, is disliked, but it is too well understood that she is in the future to be a neutral Power for the Russians to feel deeply inimical to her. Although the active efforts of French influence have ndt been with- out effect on a small but powerful element in the Russian court, the vast majority of the court and people are hostile to France and to French policy. The moral support that tho Czar lent Prussia prevented Napoleon from intervening in favor of Austria in the late war, and subsequently doterred him from pushing his olaims to territory onthe Rhine. Indeed, we may safely assume that Russian influence has been effectively employed in all the negotiations that have occurred for ‘years -as against France. Nepoleon’s bold and insolent effort to combine the great Powers against Russia in the Polish affair will not soon be forgotten by her. It was successfully repelled at the time, but the offence rankles yet, in Muscovite bosoms, and has groatly strengthened the gov- ernment in its resolve to find » solution of the Eastern question and an end to French control on the Continent. Tho last move of Napoleon in securing the support of Austria in dictating terms of set- tlement of the Eastern question has aroused Russia and must precipitate affairs. Already the Moscow Gazelle and the Invalide Russe, recognized organs of the nobility and the army, contain articles warning France that hor course imperils the peace of Europe, and it is stated that the Czar has expressed his dissatis- faction to Napoleon with his shifting policy in affairs of the Eas!. If the French Emperor does not withdraw his offensive claims, as he did in the Luxemburg negotiation, he is likely to justify his position by the sword. Russia can- not retrace her steps. Hor vast preparations for war, the ceaseless activity in her arsenals, and her successful efforts to obtain money, all go to show that she expects a collision and is making ready for it The spring of 1868 is likely to be an eventful one, and we may see before the Ist of June a war that shall involve all the great Powers on the Continent. With a common interest against 4 common foe, Russia and Prussia will unite against whatever power- fal combination Napoleon’s skill may be able to form, and docide forever ihe Eastern ques- tion and that of German unification against France’ and Austria. In the contest the Christian communities on tho Danube, in Ser- via, Moldavia, Montenegro and the old Grecian peninsula, already ripe for revolt, will play an important part. Meanwhile, as a Power friendly to Russia, we may discuss Alabama claims with England, and thus relieve her as well as ourselves from the necessity of joining in the fray. Shooting of Judges. ‘The border ruffianism peculiar to the recently settled States and Territories of the West and Southwest is but an exaggeration of the rude and active forces necessarily brought together in the formative period of a commfnity des- tined to become great. The colony that founded old Rome was composed of as rough materials as the early settlements in Texas, California, Kansas or any other portion of what Mr. Hepworth Dixon calls “New America.” So much energy is requisite in the founding of a mighty State that enough cannot be obtained without risking the dan- gers of a superfluity of it. We need not be surprised, therefore, that quarrels and out- breaks perpetually occur among the settlers ofa new country. Mr. Hobbes, who contended that war is the natural state of man, might Have regarded border ruffianism as a develop- ment of the barbarism which is latent even in the most highly civilized societies. Foreigners are more startled than we are at the high titles and positions of some actors in our frequent border ruffian tragedies. Force, albeit accom- panied by brutality, is apt to be in the ascend- ancy in latitudes where such tragedies occur. Moreover, the seething caldron of a new civil- ization always sends up its scam to the surface. It is, however, not more noteworthy that in New Mexico a Chief Justice should be mar- dered in a barroom encounter.on Sanday with & Senator of the Territorial than that civilization has there reached such « point ‘as to render it possible for a Chief Justice and » Senator, the ue abarged with, the. and the other with administering the laws, to meet, even if it be only to take the law into their own bands in so summary a fashion. It denotes a certain progress that there are such things as laws to be violated and such high functionaries to violate them. The ssurder of Chief Justice Slough by Senator Rynerson at Santa Fé on the 20th instant was simply an act of border rufflanism, although it has this distinguishing characteristic, that even border ruffianism has never before shot a judge of so high degree. The name of Chief Justice Slough, by the by, became familiar to the public when, as colonel of the First regiment of Colorado cavalry, he commanded at the battle of Pigeoh’s Ranche, New Mexico, and defeated the Texas rangers under General Sibley, and, afterwards, when he had become a brigadier general and Military Governor of Alexandria, in Virginia, but egpecially when this handsome brigadier general was surprised asleep and captured by Mosby and his men near Fairfax Court House. The shooting on Saturday last of Judge Busteed, at Mobile, was, happily, not fatal, as the telegraphic despatch at first reported. But no thanks for this to District Attorney Martin, who seems to have done his best to kill the Judge, on account of a difficuliy growing out of proceedings in court. Martin had been in- dicted by the United States Grand Jury for alleged revenue frauds and extortion Moet- ing the Judge, the District Attorney asks, “Judge, will you allow that indictment against me to take its course?” Judge Busteed re- piiés, “Sir, the law must take its course.” Thereupon Martin draws his revolver and fires upon tho Judge, who falls on the pave- ment, having received two shots, one below the breast bone and another in the right leg. Now this last case of “shooting of judges” wears an uglier aspect than the first; for, whatever may have been the immediate cause of the shooting, it is a strong symptom of the general spirit of lawlessness engendered in the South by the excitement of the rebellion, and, we must add, by the irritation occasioned by sweeping Congres- sional attempts at reconstruction. fe is true that we witnessed only a few days ago, near the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York city, a murderous street fight, which was an outbreak of the barbarism latent even in our long set- tled and leyal States. But, at least, we have not relapsed eo far into lawlessness as to have a District Attorney shoot a Judge, asin Mobile, ora Senator shoot a Chief Justice, as in New Mexico. Affaire aad Trade in China. .Our correspondence from Amoy, published on Thursday, shows that tho great Chinese empire is undergoing important changes, both in.the interior and with the outside world. . It feels the progress of the age like every othor nation. Still, the influence of European and American civilization has only penetrated the outer sur- face; there yet remains a vast field to explore. The first important step toward breaking down the barriers of Chinese exclusiveness was tho British and French war against the empire and the treaties that consequently followed. Thus good has come out of evil. Tho war, ina strictly moral point of view, was an iniquitous one, It was a war to force a lucrative trade in an article very upon an unwilling and independent govern- ment. It was the opium trade which took the British and French forces to China, though there was behind this undoubtedly the higher object of bringing the populous and exclusive empire into closer contact with the civilized world. However, we will not quarrel with the British and French about the mo- rality or justice of their gunpowder arguments, since they have been the means of openiug to us and the rest of the world several of the most important ports of China, and bringing all into closer relations with both the people and government of that country. Although the Chinese government was not able to exclude opium from the country, it appears that it imposes a heavy duty of seventy-five or eighty per cent on the article. The greater part of this tax, which is called a “lekim duty”—the meaning of which term as used among the Chinese is aptly a “squeeze” — is ostensibly a war tax, imposed for the purpose of affording means to crash the rebellion which is still formidable, and which seems to be chronic. It is said this onerous tax is crippling trade generally. But this does not appear to be an excessively heavy duty on ‘an article of such a character. There are many foreign articles imported into civilized countries on which the duty is higher, par- ticularly those of luxury and those which have something of a demoralizing character. . But the (rath is, the export trade of China is so large that unless opium be largely imported that would drain other countries of their specie to pay the balance. This state of things or condition of trade with China may be suggestive to us Americans. Can we not supply the Chinese with something besides opium or specie to pay for the teas, silks and other things taken from them? No country has such a variety of products, and no people are more inventive and enterprising, and we ought to be able to produce or manu- facture such things as John Chinaman may need, We are in the best position for doing this. The Chinese, comparatively speaking, are our neighbors; for they are much nearer to us than to any of the other great commercial nations. The Pacific Ocean is wide, it is true, wider than the Atlantic; but our steamship communication With China brings that country almost as near to us as Europe. And it may not bemany years before the magnetic telegraph, either by way of the Aleutian Islands or Japan, will bring us as near together as Europe and America have been brought. What we say with reference to China is equally applicable to Japan. Tho people of these two Asiatic empires are much slike, and the character and wants of the trade with both are similar. Not only should the United Sgatos become their best market, but it should le to furnish them with more and ‘& greater varloty of articles in return than any other » The nearer one nation is to ancther(the, greater are the facilities and advan trade. We, therefore, should Prepare ‘ives for acquiring the greatest ‘mount with these poptilous and rich countries of Asia. Both Congress and our enter- prising merchants should turn their attention to this important mattet. The British and French opened some of the ports with their cannon, but we may open more ports aad ponetrate ee a ee commetce. But it is important for this pur- Pose, as our correspondent says, to have the best educated and most intelligent agents of government there as consuls, ministers and other officials, We are badly represented at present, with one or two exceptions, and we ought to send men well qualified. Let the government and our people, then, bestir them- selves to seize the most valuable portion of the trade of Asia, It is within our reach and we have only to stretch out our hands to grasp it. GeyeraL Grayt ND rue Cooper Insrrrure Coumerrex.—Onr readers have doubtless pe- rused the circular of the committee of twenty- five appointed by order of the late independ- ent Cooper Institute Grant mass meeting to push forward his claims and cause for the next Presidency. We think it an interesting political manifesto, considering the amount of capital represeated; but this independent movement as y& has not been making much headway. Mr. A. T. Stewart, as one of the committee of twenty-five, has, we are informed, received a letter from General Grant, in which there is not one word of politics from begin- ning to end, so that the committes, as @ non- partisan body, can now go ahead. We think, however, the letter ought to be published, to give a good start to the cause. OBITUARY. Edward Gould Buffam. The Atlantic telograph conveys to us the intethgeace td that capital, Mr. Buffum wasa native of the State of Rhode Isiand, and the son of Arnold Buffum, the well known philanthropist whofor a long series of years occupied a high position in the humanitarian circles of Now England. In early life he became connected with be Hsracp, and at once displayed an ability of « high order. Hoe continued his connection with this journal util the breaking out of the Mexican war, whea his patriotic feellage iniaced hia to Join Colonel Stever- tson's regiment of New York volunteers, with which se went to California in 1846 aga lieutenant. He served with his command during the contest on the of Mexico, and at the close of the war he turned to California, then & known region. He was there of the gold mines which beve since world, and at once took an active ~~ ae for the precious in an interesting and valuable work, ines of California, When, the. ita Cals? fora’ belie was founded Mr. Buffum became ite he disptayed great ability.as a debater, knowledge ot the wants of the new Just conception of the true means to ends, While in California he wrote a Stevenson's regiment, in which he gare a very graphic and imteresting description of the life in Califoroia io early days. From the Pacific he went dent of the New Yorx Herat, has for thas than eight years, Howse S geniienan of extensive and ments, thoroughly versed in European ‘several of the modern languages, ‘ngs. that knowledge of men and things valuable correspondent. He was a magazines of tener to the WESTCHESTER. » ‘Bunovarr at Fonpmam,—At an early hour on Saturday morning H. B. Claflin’s residence at Fordham, @t present: occupied by his brother-in-law, Mr. Sanger, mae cntered by burglars and <a, of wosring apparel and ail- verware carriod Before leaving the thieves helped thomseives to the contents of the pan'ry and remains of some chickens, ham, &e., on the table dining room. The aflair was conducted wil adroitness that not one of the inmates tl slightest degree disturbed. Mr, Sanger was left without a coat, and had to travel to the city wrapped in a shawl. ‘This is the second time within a few weeks this house has beon robbed. A Bgee Ae ‘Sasumro. Conpimon or tas Roavs at Wasr Fanus.— Complaints are continually received from persons resid- ing in tho village of West Farms in relation to the shameful, no less than dangerous, condition of certain fares, The old Boston road, at a point a thoroughi snort distance above the fire engine house, has been left in a shocking state, It appears that m stone to eomviete the ap; to the new bridge across the Bronx this the- ory ‘Mer ting 2 sumeleat ty of oy After oxcavat quantity x the Fond was loft with @ regular proci jo ite from having been thrown from their w: it was they sustained very serious imjury. connection it may be Lan ge nada Proper authorities to the submerged gidewalk on road from the viliage to Tremont, New Fine Excise Hovses at Mornianta.—A comme- dious frame building fs now nearly completed on Fourth street, near Washin; avenue, Morrisan'® ception of Hope Company No. 2 ani Ladder Company No.1. The bait dist Eptecopal church at ing crushed to death a train in motion. Mamaroneck, narrowly escaped in stiampcing te fam appears ho suc Araest or A Hionwaruas.—About a fortnight since ‘| man was {ntercepted upon the Yaphank highway an@ for Teele ihe, ono othe febing piace and Tesulted in the choice of the ticket :—Aasel Van Nostrand, M.; Charles EB, Tutbill, 8. W; Oliver H. z