The New York Herald Newspaper, February 5, 1868, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Volume AMUSEMENTS THIS EY NEW YORK THEATRE, opposite New York -Hotel.— Tus Pickwiox Parens. PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE.—Norwa. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Famcnon, Tur Cricaer, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tar Warre Fawn. onamacns THEATRE, Broadway and 18th streot. Hy NEW YORK HERALD WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1868. when his counsel made application to have bim dis- chargod on bail during the pendency of a motion fora now vial, The matter is under consideration. in tue Court of General Sessions yesterday, Recorder Hackett presiding, the Grand Jury was empannelied, when the Recorder, after a brief charge upon the points which the statute enjoins the court to enumerate, di- rected them to retire to their room. Other business was then proceeded with, Whiliain Jackson pleaded guilty to petty larceny; remanded for senteuce. The stock market was unsotiled yesterday. Govern- meus securities were dull. Gold closed at 141. 2 sep mula Peccl Opening of the Presidential Campaign in New Hampshire and Connecticut. Both the radicals and conservatives are fully impressed with the importance of the elections in New Hampshire and Connecticut, and con- sequently are making extraordinary exertions for the event. In a few weeks these elections will be held, and, looking at the programme BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Lirttx Neu anv | and work of each of the political parties, it THE Mancuioness. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Powice Srr—Siamase ‘Twins, BANVARD'S OPERA HOUSE way and 30th street.—Nonopr’ NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street. —Grunastics, Equestatasisy, &c. Matinee at 24. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Ha sion Comat. NATION Trovrs. Mutinee at 234. KELLY & Lf ON'S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway.—Sonas, Danogs, Ecousruicities, Buncesquas, &0. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 5% Broadway.—Etmto- TIAN ENTER AINMENTS, SINGING, DANCING AND BURLESQUES. TONY PASTOR'S Vocauism, NxcRo Mi A HOUSE. 201 LY, Matines owery. Comic it 234. BUTLER'S AMERICAN THEATRE, 472 Broadway.— Baturr, Fance, Paxtomime, &c. BUNYAN HALL, Broadway and Fifteenth street.—Tax Pucrim, Matinee at 2, MRS, F, B, CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE Brookiyn,— Dona. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Eveavsopr's Faimnp—So.on Suincus. BROOKLYN OPERA HOUSE.—Lirrue Treasves— Rovcu Dior. NOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklya,—Eraiorian Minsrautsy, Bavcaps anp Buruxsgors. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Scrence ano Agr. oan oom Wednesday, February 5, 1868S. Tas NAW S. EUROPE. 1oe news report by the Attantic cabie is dated yes- terday evening, February 4. The Fenians made a demonstration by mining under and blowing up one of the gates of the city of Cork and interrupting the telegraph, A number of Fenians were arrosted in Cork, The goverament candidate was élected in Lille, France, Garibaldi writes to Admiral Farragut Uhauking the United Stats for “encouraging” tho ttalian uberais. The Roman question ts being again discussed between France and Italy. Favorable reports had been received from the British army in Abyssinia. Consols 93'¢ 2 93% in London. 7214 in Londou and 76 in Frankfort, Cotton quiet, with middling uplands at 7% pence, Breadsiuils,quiet. Provisions rather heavy. CONGRESS. Tu the Sonate yestorday the oil! of sir. Frelinghuysen providing for the protection of parties making dis. closurag as parties or witnessus Was taken up and passed, The Dill reguiutiag the tenure of certain ofices was then considered, tne question being on a motion Lo except the spectai ageuts of the State Department, which was Fivetwentics 72a finally lost. ‘The discussion on the bill was continued for some timo, and It was recommitted Speeches were made by Uiams aod others on the Reconstruction bill, and (he ~enate adjourned, Tn tho House, the consideration of the Dill to protect American citizens abroad was continued until the expi- ration of the morning bour, when it webt over until to- day. The bill forfeiting certain railroad land grants in theeSouthers States was taken up and discussed at length, vut was interrupted by the presentation of com- munications from the Executive, The bill was taken up again, but without coming toa vote upon it ihe House adjourned, Among the commaunieations presented I” the corre- spondence between the President aud“ Genoral Grant in reference to the Secretary of War, which, after some discussion, was referred to the Reconstruction Commit- too, It will be found in full elsewhere ix our columos this morning. Io his letters Genera! Grant admits that be gavo assurance to the President of an intention to hold on to the War Department, but adds that a close examination of the Tenure of Office bili conviae:d nim that ho could do nothing but give ap the office on the Teinsiatoment of Mr. Stanton. He reflects somewhat upon the versioa of tho alla given to the country as emanating tromthe President, THE LEGISLATUSE. To the Senato y y bills were introduced incor porating Ube trat Underground Rail road Company, and authorizing the consiruction of a tunnol under the Fast river, A bill ceding jurisdiction over David's Island to the United States was ordered to athird ‘ mibly several bitle of a loca! or unim read Tn the As ant characier wore ordered to a th MISCELLAN In the Constitutional Convention yesterday a pre. amble and bil! of mghis were adopted and the considera- tion of the report on adulterated aad tntoxicatin Jigaors was commenced in Commuttos of the Whole Work ou tho western div of the Ceairal Pacile Railroad eat of (ne sierra > A mountains if pro- greasing rapic The westhe ta le and th grading of (wo sections is nearly comp ady for rails. A vow forty ton I b transported acfoss the summit from Sufficient motive power and material ure east of the Siorras to complote the contemplated one hundred miice track in time for the connection to be made at the sum- anil The Georgia Convention yes received a com- munication from General Meade promising them an ad. vance of $20,000 for the payment of expenses, but an- bouncing thet be would no: approve any financial schome for pay involving the ered:t of the State. The Louisiana Convention are engaged op the schoo! Qitestion, Warrants of the meinbers signed by cross mfurke bave been discounted on the streets in New Orteans. Too Virginia Convocation bad another lively scene yes- torday, ® prospective Lght, which was nipped by the Seargeant-a The Republican State Convention for te selection of delegates to (he Republican National Courention will as- semble at Syracuse to-day, A large number of dele. gatos bad arrived tast evening, and the general expres sion was in favor of Grant and Fenton and a radical plattorm There was nothing whatever done in the Mississippi or Florida Cor ns yerterday. The latter baa no quorum, but nevertheless went into « The South Carolina Convention yesterday passed an ordini invalidatiag mogro bonds—9® yons, 17 nays, Nothing ols» of importance was transacted, The election to ratity the new constitution commenced yesterday in Very fow excopt negroes are voting The negroes and police of Savannah bad a riot yester- day, in which several persons wero injured. A largo Fonian meeting was hela at Cleveland, Ohio, on Monday evening, General O'No:), oa bMhall of the organization, offered the !’resident one hundred thousaad Fent for service in & war against E A fire cocurred in Elmira o Monday might, destroying an entire biock aud involving @ lov of $15,000, An other wcourred im Hudson yesterday morning, destroying Property to the amouat of $60,000. In the United States District Court yesterday, Judge Blatchford previ the case of the United States ve. a Sarge quactity of champagne seized on a charge of ut dervaluation, and of which Bowch, Fils & Co. claim. ants, Was called A motion was made for postponement, upon which a lengthy argument followed between coun- sel for claimants and the United States District Attorney, the latter opposing and urging an immediate trial of the case. Judge Blatchford ized Monday next for the trial, Joho Devlin, convicted in the United States District Brookign, on « charge of whiskey fraud on the Was brought inw court yesterday morning. Alabama will undoubtedly be the most exciting contest of the kind in the history of those States. The canvass of voters is most thorough, a great deal of money has been and will be spent, a little army of speakers from the halls of Congress, other States and the:e States themselves will penetrate every nook and corner where there are voters, The granite hills of New Hamp- shire and the mountains and valleys of Con- necticut will resound with the slogan of the radical chiefs and the war cry of the conserva- tives. The whole country will feel the excite- ment and watch with the deepest interest the progress of the political campaign. And why is this? Why will numbers of Sen- ators and members of Congress leave their seats at the Capitol to stump these States? Why do orators pour in from other States to interfere with the local elections of these two small New England States? Why is there so much excitement and why are such extraordi- dinary efforts made? The answer is plain. it is the opening of the campaign for the Presidency. It will be the first show of strengti or weakness of the two great parties, and, in a measure, of the factions of each pariy. It will indicate to a great extent the current of popular sentimeat, and will be a guide post to show the politicians which road to travel on. It will not be the great fight that comes of in November, seven months after, but it will be an important encounter, showing un- mistakably the relative forces of the contest- auts and their future prospecis. Then the prestige of success on one han! and of failure oa the other will hive a great influence in determining the final result, There are a great number of neutrals, of people that be- long to no party or that are indifferent about parties, that go with the side which promises victory. Besides, there are numvers of others, also, political rats, that inva- rably abandon a sinking ship and hang on to the one that will carry them salely to office or popular favor. Again, these coming elections in N-w Hampshire and Connecticut will have a great deal to do with disposing of the different Presidential | can- didates and their factions, aad with pointing out to the national nominating conventions, which will mvet shortly afler, who will be the saiest men to ran for the White House und who should be abandoned. it may be seen, then, from this explanation of the motive, object and character of the- conigst now commencing in New Hampshire and Connecticut, that the struggle must be desperate, and that the people, Irom Maine to the Gulf 0! Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, will watch with intense interest the progress of the campaign. The people of these two small New England Siates never occupied a more prominent position. The future of the republic may depend in a great measure upon their action; tor, as we bave said before, it will exercise great influence over the Presidential nominating conventions, the policy of parties and the public mind generally. There will be in the speecies, campaign pampulets and general elvctionvering ma- chinery a good deal of fraud and misrepresen- taion, The main issne will be avoided, and all sorts of side issues will be introiuced to coniuse and i bug the voters, That is the case more or less in all elections, for it is the tock in trade of pol but we shall see more of it, prob these jons than ever before. As fa » politicians are eoa- cerned, the slake at issue isthe control of the government aud the five or six bundred mil- lions of spoils, aod gol merely wao shall govern orr preseat | sma.i Svates of New iumpshire and Con cut. With th fs and Presidential azpirants it is amvition ; but people itis good orb @ gov roment, the preservation of tue courtiw- tion or insidious revoiution. Under t cumstances it becomes the duty of the iude- pendent press to present the real issue and Ww warn the honest volers agaiast the mivrepre- sent tions and sabterfuges of politicians. Let us sve, then, what is the true and great eto be decided in the Presideatial cam- paign, which, ag has been eaid, is now open- ing in two of the New Englund States, It is whether the glorious republican government which was handed down to us by the fathers, and which has made us a mighty, prosperous and happy people, shall be subverted by the rad cal revolutionary party now io power or be preserved by the repudiation of that party at the polls, It is whether military dictator- ship—the assumption of despotic power by one branch of the government and virtual abolition of anothor—and the creation of a negro barba- rian balance of political pov@# in the republic are to take the place of constitutional law and those wise checks and balances between the different departments which the constitution esiablished, or whether the best government ever devised is to be perpetuated. Our radi- cal Congress is fast destroying the constitution and the government, both in theory and prac- tice, for no other object than to perpetuate power in the bands of the radival party. The Jacobins of the French Revolution were not more reckloss or ambitious, All the clap-trap about the poor negro, universal liberty and equality, with all the declamation about loyalty, rebels, and 80 forth, reminds us of the ery of liberty, equality and fraternity and the loud-mouthed talk of tyranny by the French Jacobins at the time they were trampling every vestige of liberty under foot and deluging the country with blood, The issue is between this party and the conservative party. It matters little what the conservatives be called, democrats or any- thing else ; the issue is the same, and is all- important. The name is nothing, tho cause everything. Whoever may be the candidates or whatever theit gersousl merits or repute- ita the mace of th tion, the people should cast their votes ouly with reference to parties and questions of pub- lic policy. The iséue is conservatism against revolution. Ifthe people decide in the New Hampshire and Connecticut elections, then—as would be the case, probably, in the Presi- dential election afterwards—against the radical revolutionists, our constitutional republic will be established; but if, unfortunately, they shofild not so decide, we shall march rapidly on to despotism, corruption and to another form of government, Such is the issue now before the country, and a more important one never arose in the United States. It is rumored that President Johnson is about to turn over a new leaf and opens new chapter, “short, sharp and decisive,” on those Alabama claims; that the Seward-Adams cor- respondence is ended; that Mr. Adams will shortly return home, and that then a new Min- ister will be sent out with positive instructions from Mr, Johnson himself, involving the ulti- matum of General Jackson to King Louis Philippe touching those old French spoliations on American commerce, Now, if such a requisition shall be made upon England it is probable that without much further chaffering she will close the controversy by coming down with the cash; for we perceive that some of the leading English doctors of divinity, states- men, politicians and political journals, are ear- nestly pleading the expediency and propriety on the part of her Majesty’s government of set- tling those little bills without further evasions and without any more of those unprofitable quirks and quibbles which mark the special pleadings of Lords Russeil and Stanley on “belligerent rights,” the law of nations and the English code of neutrality. We may, therefore, safely assume that a positive demand from Mr. Johnson will pro-” duce the indemnity justly due the United States for the late piratical depredations on our commerce of that Anglo-rebel corsair, the Alabama, and other bold buccaneers of the same Holy Alliance between John Bull and Jeff Davis. We are half inclined to the opinion, however, that as these claims will keep and will be good at any time, it would be as well to defer their collection to somo tuture day. The interest will be accumulating meantime, and with these bills in reserve we shall have the British government under bonds tokeep the peace and bound to avoid, like- wise, any entangling alliances touching the affairs of this Coutinent in conflict with the supreme luw of the Monroe doctrine. Thus, whenever in the fulure some act of British ia- tervention in the affsirs of any of the indepea- dent American States may call for the inter- position of our government, the presentation of those Alabama bills for immediate pay- ment will be apt to bring her Britannic Mayesty’s losal advisors to a proper under- standing of the sav.ag virtues of non-interven- tion and the American balance of power. In this view of the subyect, having brought the Koglish Cabinet to a reasonable frame of mind, we would suggest to Mr. Johason that, as there is no special necessity for the imme- diate setilement of these aforesaid claims, they may be jadiciously held in terrorem over Eng: land, subject to a foreclosure at any time, In a word, in the matler of these indemnities we have the whip hand over England, and we should not tor the present give it up. . The Police Commission and the Politicians. ‘The copperieads of New York and Brooklyn are engaged ina desperate scrimble over the office of Metropolitan Police Commissioner, made vacant by the death ot one of the mem- bers of the Board. The majority on joint bal- lot of the Senate and Assembly assure this nice plum to the hungry democracy, and the question is, which city shall carry off the prize. The small ward politicians of Brooklyn de- mand it because the deceased Commissioner was a Brooklyn man. Tammany insists upoa securing it because the present three Com- missioners are all anti-lammany men, and the Sachems claim the right to have their ninety thousand voters of the city represented m the Bourd. The legislative* caucus is to take place to-night at Albany, and the fight promises to be a severe one. Toe Tammany leaders make no conceal- ment of their object in desiring the nomina- tion of one of their own number to the posi- They avow it to be for the purpose of ing a representative upon the Board who I give them a share of reliable Tammany uocrats as inspectors of election, poll clerks and canvassers, all of whom, so far as New York city is concerned, are appointed by the Police Commissioners, while in Brook- lyo the appoimtment of such officers vests in the city and county authortties. After all the democratic indignation that has been expended on “ partisan commis- sions,” therefore, Tammany now demands the nomination of a strict partisan on one of these cowmissions, avowedly for the purpose of swelling the Daymany vote some fifieen or twenty thousand in the city through the in- strumentality ot partisan inspectors, poll clerks and canvassers. 7 It is time that these unseemly squabbles over the Metropolitan Police Department should cease. The force, to be worth anything, should be held entirely aloof from politics, and the democratic leaders have hitherto professed a desire to give a non-partisan character to the Commiss: and have accused Fenton and the republicans of bad faith in departing from that principle. As the two houses of the Legislature have now adverse majorities it will be a good time to carry out such a reform. Leta bill be passed to provide for the equal political divi- sion of the Commission, and the preservation of the respective party representation when- ever avacancy may occur. The people will approve of such a measure, and Tammany will gain more credit by advocating it than by scrambling and fighting for a place on the Commission for the avowed purpose of seouring the appointment of its own inspectors and can vassers of election, and thus adding fifteen or twenty thousand to its present enormous city vote, toa. Tax Cutcaco anv Ri Istanp Rariroap Svrt.—This case, in which nearly five million dollars are involved, is now in a delightful muddle. The lawyers have got it in their bands, and the unfortunate plaintiffs and de- fendants are wandering in a labyrinth of orders, counter orders, stays, injunctions, at- tachments and all the other mysteries of law. When or ‘how they shail ever be able to extrl- cate themee|ves from this dilemma is a matter ofextreme doubt, The progress of the Uri of the case, however, may bring to light some of the sharp practice of railroad financiers, and the consequent exposure may induce the proper authorities to adopt some stringent measures to check the wholesale swindling that is car- ried on in many of our companies. So far it is beautifully complicated and is rich booty for the crowd of lawyers on eithor side, The Newspapers of the United States=The Secret of Their Success. A late English journal contains some sen- s'ble comments upon the daily press of the United States, and notices among other things the fact thatin many of our cities, and espe- cially’ in the West, newspapers are now estab- lished upon a sound business basis and are making fortunes for their proprictors. In this respect England and the United Statea are alike, While the London Times, like the Hrratp, stands prominently at the head of journalism in the whole country, there are yet many provincial papers that have succeeded by long perseverance, industry and enterprise in secur- ing a firm footing and establishing a reputa- tion that insures their permanence and pros- perity. There are, itis true, in this country a vast number of trashy, obscure, irresponsible pub- lications bearing the name, but without any of the real qualities of newspapers, which en- deavor to make a show of success and are noisy on the subject of their own merits; but they are ephemeral concerns, and die away year by year, one after the other, and are forgotten. They are generally started in the interest ofa particular notion, clique or faction, and invari- bly change from hand to hand and from party to party according as one side or the other can command the means of buying them up. Sometimes tuey commence. as religious organs, and after carrying on a sickly career as saints are bought up by copperhead politicians, then sold out to republicans and after a brief space are again turned over to copperheadism for a consideration; the whole stock company of editors, correspondents and reporters being traded off with the establishment and flopping over from the Church to Satan and from one faction to another as readily as the types with which the paper is set. Such concerns are not, however, worthy to be regarded as types of American journalism. They are now grow- ing more searce than they were a few years ago, and when the present batch have finished their brief career and gone into bankruptey it is to be hoped that there will be an gnd to them forever. People are beginning to understand that a newspaper, to be fully up to the standard of the day, must hold itself altogether inde- pendent of political partics and individual interests. It must be in a condition to take goroad, unbiased views of every great public question; to criticise fearleasly the acts of all parties and of all public men, and to depend solely upon its own re- sources, energies and enterprise for its success, The paper that is simply a political pauper, bought ap by politicians for their own purposes and run in the interest of any particular clique or organization, is no longer a newspaper, but a mere political machine, undeserving of public confidence and presenting no inducements for the sup- port of the masses of tie people or the patron- age of business men. A newspaper business does not spring up in a day nor in a few years, but is oniy estab- listed on a broad and secure basis after noarly a lifetime of application, ability and large in- vesiment. A political paper now and then experiences a temporary increase oi circula- tion in the heat of a political campaign; but such unsubstantial help dies away and leaves its recipient to languish and, expire or to be sold out to the next party that may require the services of an organ. It is only a truly indep-ndent press that can ever hope to acquire a position equal to that of the Heratp or tue London Times. This is, indeed, the case with other enter- prises besides newspapers that depead upon the general public for their success. A good illustration is presented in the instance of the “Tribune Almanac.” This publication, al- though issued from the office of a party has taken a position as a strictly reliable business undertaking, and as such is universally used as a book of reference by all parties, It puts forth facts and statis- tics with remarkable accuracy and without retorenee to their effect upon this or tliat politi- cal organization, and has, on this account, secured a surprisingly large circulation ali over the United States, Every year: other political papers have put forth pampblets in opposition to the “Tribune Almanac,” but they have invariably been the poorest description of partisan trash, full of errors and misstate- ments, utterly unreliable and worthless for any purposes of reference. At one time they are issued from some envious republican estab- lishment and at another by some obscure copperhead office; but they all end in the waste basket, and are eveniually sold to the rag and bottle dealer at so much per pound. As the concerns that father them generally follow them to that final resting place, parent and offspring appropriately find a common grave at last. The Alabama Elect An election in Alabama commenced yester- day, and will run through four days, embrac- ing the ratification of the new State constitu- tion adopted by the radical reconstruction convention, the election of a Governor and a full State ticket, a Legislature and five mem- bers of Congre The opposition, it seems, have set up no tickets for any of these offices, and have resolved upon the “masterly inac- tivity” policy, The law says that unless in these reconstruction elections a majority of all the registered voters shall have voted, one way or the other, the elections shall go for nothing. The opposition hope, by abstaining from the polls and by using all their influence to induce others to abstain, that less than a majority of the registered voters will be recorded as voting in this election, We dare say, however, that as this policy was pretty thoroughly tried and signally failed in the election for the Conven- tion, it will fail again, aud that during this month of February five radical members from radically reconstracted Alabama will present themselves for admission to the House of Rep- resentatives, and will be admitted. The radi- cals, in these reconstruction elections, have never failed yet, and as they have the control of the election returns if they fail in this Ala- bama contest it will be from design or shock- ingly bad managoment, journal, 8. G, Birmingham & Bros.’ satinet factory at Dalton, ‘Mass., was burned on Monday with @ <a of manufactured goods and machinery. 6 lows was $60,000, on which (here was $25,000 insurance, A destructive fire at Frankfort, Ky., on Monday, des- Tho Republican Stato Conventidr. The Republican Siate Convention meo* today at Syracuse for the appointment of t certain delegates to the Presidential National Convention of the party at Chicago in May next, and for the promulgation of a platform upon which the party in this State propose to fight the Presidential battle. After the terrible defeat of the party in their attempt to carry New York for Mr. Chasd and universal negro suffrage last November, it seems to be under- stood that the radical managers have agreed to drop Chase in this Convention and proclaim the compromise ticket of Grant and Fenton. But the quarrel of the original Seward-Weed- Raymond and Rufus Andrews-Grant conserva- tives is as much with Fenton as with Chase ; and they, after protesting against this Conven- tion as premature ang packed for Fenton, have got up, at least from this city, an anti-Fenton or Mozart delegation, to see what they can do at Syracuse. They will probably be ruled out, and thus the radicals, perhaps, will turn over completely to the opposition party the State of New York, on tho principle of a certain pro- found philosopher, who will have it that defeat without these fellows is better than success with their agsistance, Bu. as we shall probably know all about this Convention before to-morrow morning we await our reports of its procedings. Tue Cretan Exsonants.—It is obvious from the report of the Italian Consul at Syra to the Ttalian Envoy at Atbens, a translation of which we publish elsewhere, that the Cretan emigrants are not only suffering great priva- tions, but are also full of regret at having exiled themselves from home and of eagerness to return. We cannot but infer that our pre- vious impressions are correct—that, after all, the Greek Christians in Crete are but tools in the hands of the Greeks of the kingdom, and that the Greeks of the kingdom are but tools in the hands of the Russians, Turkey has recently shown so great a wiliingness to ad- vance in the path of progress as to have earned a claim to be lett alone to work out the experi- ment which she has already initiated. BOOK NOTICE. Gemina. A Novel. By T. A. Trollope, author of ‘Lindisfarn Chase,’ &¢. Peterson & Bros. : Philadelphia. Mr. Trollope has here given another admirable novel of actual private life ia Italy, No English writer, and, with the splendid exceptions of Mme. do Stael and M, de Stendhal (Henri Beyle), no French writer bas ever learned so thoroughly or depicted so faithfully the spirit and traits of Itatian character as Mr. Trollope. The story of “Gemina," interesting a3 it is in itself, is rendered Still more so by graphic descriptions of Italian scenery— for example, thoso of the city of Siena and the surround. ing country and of Savona, “the desolate town of the Maremma,” and by charming pictures of Italian tile apd mannera. But the story is so long that it would be spoiled by a vain attempt to condense it within a fow paragraphs, and the reader witl thank us for leaving to him the pleasure of unravelling the plot and discovering tho final result. BROOKLYN INTELLIGENCE, Comusions Betwenn Cars any Excines,—There was considerable excitement on Myrtle avenue in the vicinity of Hudson, on Monday night, in conse- quengpe of three collisions between cars aud engines. It appears Engine No. 10 ran into a Greenpoint car and caused considerable damage, besides injuring Tuomas McGrath, one of the passongers, very seriously. The unfortunate man was conveyed to his house and the potice had some difficulty 19 dispersing the crowd. ‘En- gino No, 5 collided with one of the Myrtle avenuo cars at the corner of Hudson avenue and Myrtle, about haif-past seven o'clock om Monday night. The passengers were greatly terrified, but no rson was injured. Shortly this, hose carriago jo, 10 collided with @ Myrtle avenue car at the corer of Navy street, The crowd by this time had become very large, and ral cars were stopped, There was 3 of & riot and the police of the poli tion, and bore off one prisoner, who, it appears, was the only one they could recognize as being engaged in the affray. The mao gave his name as Stewart Barr. He was locked up to await examination. Tue Crry Susscription vor Tas Easr River Bainor — Aldermen Whitney, McGroty, Whiting, Fisher and Dan- iels have been appointed by the President of the Com. mon Couneil as a special committee on the application of tho East River Bridge Company. for a city subserip- tion of $3,000,000 to Lhe stock of the company. Meena ov Liquon Deatses—the Kings County Liquor Dealers’ Association mot last might at Montague Hall, A number of new members were added to the roll of mombership. Several reports of committees were received, from which it was suown that the new organi- zation for the mutusl protection of the imteresis of the liquor trade is progressing. A despatch was read from P, Keady, member of Assombly, stating that the bill ex- tending the time ‘or collecting ‘enses had been agreed to in tie Senate d would pass, several modificatious were made iu the by-laws of the Soclety. Tue preamble to the constitution adopted is as foliows — Resolved, That we, (he members of the Kings County Liqnor Dealers’ rdo muttally agree to form ourselves into he purpose of securing the repeal of the ise law. in accordance which will be satis: State; and that we do Ives not to support any cand will not pledze hirnself to secure for us vot our interests, GENERAL NEWS. ITEMS, The Ponnsyivania House of Representatives last night passed the Free Katiroad bill, [t now goes to the Senate, The steamer Clara Dobson was burned: oa Monday night at St. Louis, she was valued a about $30,000 and was insured in a Cincinnati office. A large fire occurred on Pike street, im Port Jervis, N. Y., yosterday morning. the buildings of Jacob Pope and Mrs. Hiarry Stuart wero entirely destroyed, out the goods were neariy all removed. fui all date for otlice wi ‘our rights and troyed property vained at $40,000, upoo which the in- ace was $20,000, corge Bibby & Co., and Connery & Hicks, brewers, in Gloug Falls, have beon arresied by the United States M bottling ale in tirance agent, whois sad eloped with Misa Clegg from New Haven, on is 10 Springfied, Mass,, under bonds to appear New Haven. can County Convention of Bradford , held on Monday evening last at Towanda, county, unanimously passed resolutions recommending | the oa. Homination of General Grant for President an: Galusha A. Grow for Vice President, The Albuquerque (New Mexico) Aeview, of January 21, bi party of Navajoe Indians atiacked ar Bubizo on the 9th, killed one, two, and ran of between three and ‘our thou. sand sheep, «bout fifteen hundred of which were subse- quentiy recovered, THE PRIZE RING. Sam Collyer Challenges Any Country for 35.000. Sam Collyer, the light weight champion, tas tssued the following cha} Man in the ie Broorixy, Feb. 3, 1866 Before leaving this vicinity I wish to state piaoiy what my intentious vm the future .p regard to the prize ring. borowith declare myself ready io Sny one hundred and iwenty-our pound country and fight for from $1,000 to moaths (ime from date of sign ng take piace im tho State of My sole reason for tliere ie no law in @ pena: offence withmn ub States such laws do savle to impr rendering othe: This propositio when, if not chalienge iseued ‘ 0108, tb it North Ca: States 18 4, 20 Bolice will be vaken of my tour through the country. isin ®AM COLYER — ‘Tur Society of Paistans is Water Couors. — mooting in the audio of Mr, W. Brown, 212 Fifth « nue, last following officers ot the Americ Society of Painters in Water Colors were re-elected for the onsuing year:—Presidont, Samuel Colman, Secre- ; Treasurer, J. D, Smillie; Board of ber nan; Alfred Fredericks, tary, Gilbert Controt, William chairman ; Bollowa, R. Gt ‘The President mado tenet THE STATE CAPITAL. pao SBIES 3 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD. Potition! Gossip~The syracuse Convention a New Dew @rture for the Republican Party— The Progrimme, Graut and Featou-Tho Fight Over Me Police Co ssionership— oposed Cmpeachment of ner Van DFa—The Excise censen for TLCC Montha—A aue Underground &uii ALBany, Feb. 4, 1868, The capital bas been alive 4!! the forenoon with the delegates to the Syracuse Con,"eution. Albany 1s a sort of baif-way house for all the east"2 And southern dele- gates, where they rally and comb,@e before meeting their noribora and wostern brethren, The Executive chamber was the Mecca of hundreds of pilgrimages this morning, aid there was a general (efeitation of the Governor on the character of the delogaes—the great majority of whom go to the Conveotion pledged” to support bim for the Vice Presidency. From them. dications it is certain that the Siate Convention will im- struct the delegates to the National Convention to favor tbe nomination of Grant and Fenton, The action of the former tn | the War Office has stifled the cutery Of the conservatives, and at, the same time bas done away with the pretext of the radicals that he did pot belong 30. their party, His name fuses both interests and Ronination is likely to lead to a reconciliation ‘Df the two factions in this State—especiaily as the repub- licans are convinced that avy sacrilico is necessary, after the deieat of last fall to restore the party to its supre- macy. The State Convention breaks ground for a new dey of the radicals, and in this as in oumerous instances Governor Fenton bas shown his ability as 4 party strategist and manager. A few week: the action of the Coatral Comuuitive in assemoling (he con- vention at so early a date was devounced in many nigh republican quarters, That action was the suggesiion of the Governor aad its wisdom has become go apparent that to-day the conservatives are silent and tne ex- tremists rejoice all the moro, After the storms aud shipwrecks of the past twelvemonth the party sees a havea inthe convention of to-morrow—woich haven was (iret described by their gubernatorial leader. Mr. Fenton, individually, bas sbowo bimself a matoh for scores of leaders of the party. He bas succeeded ia pouring oll om the troubied waters, 1t is a significant fact that many, if not @ majority, of the delegates to the State Convention got their cue in the Executivechamber this morning before they took the Syracuse train. THE VACANT POLIO COMMISHIONERSHIP, The phases of this question preseut a kal variety in their changes. The combinations of one are digarranged the yext, while the intricacies of the issues involved and the interests at stake are of taby- rinthive bewilderment, At the close of last week it was sottled that the nomination would be given to McLaughlio, of Brooklyn, op the understanding that the Kings county mon were to sdpport Barnard fur Governor at tue full convention, The Tammany men had irresolute what to do. They were greedy enough to possess tnemselves of (he ollice, but ihey were afraid of the indignation which gucb 4 piece of injusuce might arouse, They kept the Kings county men at logger- heads, so as 0 make their theit of the nomination the Jess odious, The greater and moro important pur- pose of the Tammanyites, however, was to strengthen ‘the combination whicu to make Barnard Governor and Sweeny United Biates Senator. Latterly they kept several candidates io ths field. Matt Brennan was the most prominent, but tue ex-Comptrolier haa incurred the onmity of duer O'Brien, whose nomina- tion for Registur he defeaicd a couple of yoars ago and who was detormined to be revenged. So the Shor® knocked the ex-Lompiroiler into a political cocked hat, in wnich limp condition no still remains, despite the fact that a powerful delegation under Alderman (oman is up here this morning to push bis claims, Snerif O’Brien urged the selection of Alderman Flynn, while tho leaders scomed to tiink it must judicious to nomi- nate George MH. Purser. This was the condition of allairs until overtures made either by Kings county or by Tammany, not known which, to seit out Henry ©, Murpby, the candidate for Governor, against Judge Barnard, The Tammany men thereupon dropped all their candidaies for Police Commissioner and promised their support to McLaughlin, Since their bargain, ho} they bave discovered with alarm tho Increasing strength of Comptroller Farron, and yesterday they renounced the coalition, determmmed to wait for the developments of the present week, They are coquetting with ooth factions to-day and will make any promise, concession or combination that secures the gubernatorial nomivation for Barnard. In this state of uucertaiaty Seuator Tweed is detiberating upoa Wwe propriety of introducing a bill abo ishing tho prosent Loara of Police Comuussivuers and aabdstituting one to consist of two republicans aud two democrats—one of the latter to come irom Kinys county; and the chances Oi ils success are involved im the iollowing facts: —It would go (brough the democratic lower House withow doubt, because it would fix the political equilibrium of the Board for the future. in the Senate a co:nbivation might be got up for its passage there. ‘Then {* would go to the Governor, and there would be the rub, Would the Governor #0 far sacrifice his friendship for Manniorro as to take his long-cherished revenge upon Acton, whom he so ardently desires to get rid of? This little play and probiom of the passions of } humanity Senator ‘weed would leave to time and eir- cumstance for accompiishinent and soluvon, As for Bosworto, hmpgernd pen achieve anotier stroke of icy im getting rid of aman whose loyalty 0 part; Lapeftin te suspected, Such ai ae. grlerind ments in this vexed question. As the election does nus take place until a few weeks hence, or in the last week before the recess, it is still capable of many more very curious phases, In the meantime, the caucus of the representatives ma Metropolitan district is fxed tor the fatter part of this week, A democratic caucus is also to be held this week to de- cide upon the policy, measures and conduct of the party in the Legiziature, IMPEACHMENT OF CANAL OFFICERS. The monotony of the proceedings is likely to be va- ried, at no distant day, by an impeacumeut trial The new democratic State officers, as well as the democrats in the lower house, have come to the determination to fmpeach Canal Commissioner Vau Dorn, and probably the Contracting Board, for alleged frauds in tue admime~ tration of the Canal Department. “The resolution will probably be offered to-morrow, und as it must pass im the House the Senate will have to try the case. The chances of aconviction le in the fact that the demo- cratic Senators may find pelp enough among the Fen- toailes and anti-canal mon, who hate the canal “tiag’* with a bate more bitter than toat they bear their polish cal adversaries, THE EXCISE QUESTION, The Senate Comimiites this morning gave , dud also vo ge Bui hehaif of the Excise Board, warmly opposed any change in the law, The result of the meting was the determi- nation of the committees to report to-morrow a substi- tute for the Assembly amendiuent, which you will re- member extended tbe time for collection of license fecs ninoty days. This substitute kes it incumbent on the Excise Board to grant Ii for ninety days, during which titne, of course, the present question can be seitiod, The hquor men are not dissatinfied, The Dill goes back to tue lower house, where, if te change is coveurred in, the bill will only need the Governor's signature Lo go into éflect, TUNNELS AND UNDERGROUNDS, Senator Murphy gave notice to-day of his intention to introduce a bill (0 incorperate “The Kast River el Company for the Cities of New York and Brook; ‘The sume bill was here last year. ‘the public need some quaraniee toat the objecis of such measures sball not be defeated by interested rival corporations, Thus the stock of the East River Bridge Company—whose bit wont trough last year—is now controled by tue Union Ferry Company, Query—When will ihe bridge be built? Senator Cauldwell's “New York City Central Under- ground Railroad” differs from all o:hers in its route, which is under Broadway to Twenty-third street, thence under Madison br bon! to Madison avenue, and uader the last mentioned thoroughiare to Harlem river. Senator Creamer introduced a bill for s tapnet under the East river The same « bas submitted a bill which pro- Poses to enal no and life insurance companies of New York city to invest their surplus moneys in bond and morigage on property ia Hudson county, N, J. The question arises, would not such a use of their moneys on the part of these corporations be an injustice to our own State? It seems unreasonable that surplus capital should not be invested at home instead of going to enrich our neighbors, Irving's bay bill was in Committeo of the Whole It is curious upou what trifles distinguished rs will quarrel, The bill propoees to x table owners and all such men who have horses to from the swindling practice of filling the hay with make-woights of sticks, dirt and the like, Tho country members fought the bill tooth and nail, and drove i& over, 80 hat it Was progrossed. Mr. Murphy, in the House, introduced @ bill instruct- ing the distriet attorneys of the several countes of State to proceed inst euch persons as have in possession the bal flags and colors of the recent regi. ments of volunteers. Lhese trophies in many cases are now held oy the ex-officers of the reximents, insiead of being sent to the Hall of Military Record, The bill par- ticwarly regards and the Lrish Legion, not one of whose glorious to be seen tn the col lection of those borne by the various regiments of the St ing the Courts of Genera ‘Judge to bold court, opie sought to obtmm as not found and the the movement is not hearing ator Bradley's bill ri pecial Sessions enab. nt which and The imdicum C ' rally of ined o = ompeny ‘or compelling the restoration of the @ oid place. WAVAL INTELLIGENCE. ‘The corvette Wyoming arrived at Boston on Honany jast, (rom Hong Kong, Singapore and Batavia, via St, Thomas, January 21, The following is @ list of her Lieutenant Commander, € C. Carpentor, com- Acting Masters, William Knapp, executive . Wilkins, Qnavigator; Acting Ensigns, R M. . & Hite! Mason, ©, R. Haskins; Act tant Surgeon, J. J. Somerby; Passed Assretang tb, Jr; First Assistant Box t, D. A ginecrs, Jamos Sheridan, in charge; G. W. Sensnar and F.G, Smith, dv. ; Second Assistant Engineer, Thes. Lynch; Third Assis.nnt Engineors, H. M. Connell, J. & Speight, Acting Caard Assistant , Edgar Pewny Boata@ain, Journ Burroughs; Guoner, J. L. Stapleg Matos, ©. 8 Fy, Orawtord, W. 1. Walerat, G. W. B F. A. Warnas, gr. The ron noe Ai from i ua Bishoy