The New York Herald Newspaper, February 27, 1868, Page 4

4 NEW YOR BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. K HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, FROPRIETOR. THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year. Four cents per copy. Annual subscription price $14, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Bro: .—Tox Were Fawn, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th street. Tue Captain or tux Watcu—Wooncoce's Litre Gaur, PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE, 23d st., corner Eighth av.— Crispino E 14 Comana, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Sam. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Bommany—Nuw Foor. ‘MAN. NEW YORK THEATRE, opposite New York Hotcl.— Nosopy's Daveuren. FRENCH THBATRE.—Granp Ducuxss. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Prart or Savor. BANVARD’S OPERA HOUSE AND MUSEUM, Broad- way aud 0th st.—ROUNDHERADS aND CavALIEns. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street, —Gruxastics, Equestkianism, Ac. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Hantow Comnt- ation ThourE AND MiniatuRK Cixcus, KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway. —Sonas, Dances, Eccentnicitigs, &c.—Granp Dutou "3." SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 5% Broadway.—Ermio- TIAN ENTERTAINMENTS, SINGING, DANCING AND BURLESQUES. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Coxic ‘Voca.ism, Neco MinsTRELSY, &C. BUTLER’S AMERICAN THEATRE, 472 Broadway.— Bauter, Fancr, Pantomime, &c, BUNYAN HALL, Broadway and Fifteenth stroct,—Tae Pircrim, Matinee at 2. STEINWAY HALL.—Granp Concert, DODWORTH HALL.—Maz. H. 8. Smita's Reapinas. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.—Itatian Orzra— Un Barto in Mascumra, HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE. Brooklvn.—Ermoriay Minsterisy.—Buruxsqus or tux Witp Fawn. BROOKLYN OPERA HOUSE, Williamsburg.—Sacxixa or Lymsxuruy—A Day In Panis, NEW YORK-MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Science any Ant. New York, Thursday, February 27, 1868. THE NAWS. - EUROPE. By special telogram from London, forwarded through the Atlantic cable, we are enabled to publish tho opinions ‘expressed yesterday morning by the leading journals of England on the Cabinet and political changes effected and likely to ensue in Great Britain from the resigna- ‘tton of Earl Derby and the accession of Mr. Disraeli to the Premiership. The event is treated as a revolution in the official routine of the country. Mr. Disraeli is accepted as a self-made public man, and is lauded for his ability, courage and tact, both in and out of Parlia- ment. Tho news report by the Atlantic cable is dated eleven o'clock last night. , Lord Chelmsford resigns the Lord Chancellorship of England. The Italian journals appear to doubt the sin- cerity of some of the statesmen of the United staies towards the unity of the kingdom. Italy has des- patched a treaty mission to Austria. A meeting of the English friends of America was held in London, John Bright presiding. Consols, 935g in London. don, and 7514 in Frankfort. Cotton unchanged in tone, with middling uplands at 9a 9'4d. Breadstuits lower. Provisions firm and slightly excited. Produce improved, The mail report by the steamship City of Boston has ‘been anticipated in all its chief features by our cabie despatches to the 13th of February. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday a joint resolution restoring the charter of the Farmers’ National Bank of Williams. burg, N. Y., was adopted. The vill tor the surrender of convicts was recommitted, A report from the select committe of seven on impeachment was offered, recom- mending that the senate take proper order on the im- Peachment report of the House, and the order was made, Tho bill providing for the sale of public property at Harpor’s Ferry was passed In the House ir. Mungen, of Obio, offered a pecue Marly democratic resolution for the admission of Alaba- ma, to which won was made. The Sonate amend- menis to the Supplementary Reconstruction bill were agreed to, and the bill ‘now goos to the President, The Indian Appropriation bili was discussed in Committee of the Whole, but laid aside to be reported, and the Cavit Appropriation bill was taken up. The latter appropri- ates $6,9: Without disposing of it the House ad- journed. THE L’GISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday notice was given of bills authorizing the Grand Street Ferry Railroad Company to extend their tracks ; empowering steamboat companies on the Hudson river to 1seue combination railroad and steamboat tickets, and several others of general import. Several biils relative to corporations and private interests wero passed, In the Assombly bills were introduced for the im- provement of Thompson street; to incorporate the Metropolitan Railroad Company; to suppress prosticu- tion in the Metropoliian district; to revulate the fare on certain railroads; to extend fifth avenue; to widen Vanderbilt avenue, Brooklyn; to amend the acts rela- tive to South Seventh street and Fulton avenue, Brook- jyn, and the improvement of Wallabout bay; to amend the charter of Brooklyn, and authorizing the construc. tion of railroads ta avenue C and other avenues of New York. MISCELLANEODS. Tho articles of impeachment were completed by tho House committee yesterday and will probably be pre- sented to-day. Thoy consist, it is said, of six charyvos Generals Emory, Wallace and Lorenzo Thomas were ex+ amined yes:erday before the committee. ‘The caso of Adjutant General Thomas came up in the Bupremo Court of tho District of Columbia yesterday, and aftor numerous legal manwuvres he was discharged, This onds tho caso finally unless another yarrent be issued, and consequently dofeats tho Project ofan early legal decision on the Tenure of Office act. Gel Thomas has cotnmenced suit against Secretary Stanton for falso imprisonment, laying damages at $150,000. The excitement over the impeachment question has naturally subsided for want of material to work upon. Recruiting bas been almost completely stopped by the Jail, and an office which was opened in Brooklyn yes. terday failed to capture a single follower, A “Johnson rally” is to be held at Morrisania on Saturday, In the New Jersey Legislature it was announced that the com- mittee to prepare resolutions of sympathy and co-opera- tion with the President would not report until somerhing further was hoard from Washington. A fight o among some of the prominent geutlemen of Trenton over the question, but no serious injuries wore received on either sde, Our special correspondence from St, Domingo City, ‘under dato of February 8, staves that Gonoral Cabral is accompanied abroad by ail the wealthy who feared the sholera, The capitulation was signed at San Geronimo, January 31, twelve M., and was couutersigned by the Italy, United States, Great Britain Henerals Ozando ani Moreno had pro- claimed Pimentel in the South; the same bad occurred Five-twenties, 7134 in Lon- oT. in Cibo province; Genoral Manzueto wad followed suit | in Cibao, Our correspondence from Pernambuco, Brazil, is dated February 3, and from Buenos Ayres Jauuary 13. The Prospect in Pernambuco, owing to the Paraguayan war, was gloomy. Men of property wore sending their slaves to the army as substitutes, The cholera was spreading ig the Argentine Confederation, The Now Dominion Cabinet are discussing tho voxa- ows question of how to got rid of foreign silver. Buffalo has rocentiy had one hundred special patrol- @en appointed on account of incendiarism, but no 00d has yet rosulted, Two fires occurred thore yestor- fay and one tho day betoro, - (a phe Constitutional Convention yesterday the article urred | NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27 1868. ee on the judiciary was amended 60 as to provi'e for the election of Justices of the Peace and rict Court Justices, The final yote on the adoption of the pew constitution is to be taken to-day. The Sioux Indians have, it is reported, al menced a epring campaign against the um ‘The soldiers at Fort Stevezson are burning house to prevent being frozen to death, and the Indians .| i the neighborhood are eating their horses te prevent starvation, The Supreme Court of British Columbia has decided that the estate of a wealthy American who died there intestate must revert to the Crown if no heirs claim it, Victoria, Vancouver's Island, is frightened about the Fenians from California, Mr. E. G, Sqnier lectured before the Travellers’ Club last evening on tho cubject of “Peru, from the Pacific to the Amazon.” John \i, Konnedy, a druggist in Brooklyn, has been op trial in the Court of sessions for two days on a charge of manslaughter, in having caused the denth of a Mra. Webster by admiuistering to ber an overdose of morphine, The jury retired yestorday, and, being unable to agree, Were locked up for the night. An inquest over the body of Captain Dakin, kilied by the expiosion of the tugboat James A. Wright, was held yesterday. After some evidence showing that the boilers were defective and had sixty pounds of steam on them at the time of the explosion, the inquest was adjourned until Friday afternoon. In the case of Morris Spatz vs. James Lyons, an action in the Supreme Court, in which plaintiff sued to recover for loss of services of his wife, who died in consequence of injuries alleged to have been iflicted in a felonious assault upon her by the defendant in 1864, the jury found a verdict for plaiutiff in the sum of $2,600, In the United States Circuit Court yesterday, before Judge Smalley, the case of Benjamin T, Hutton vs, Augustus Schell, a former Collector 0 this port, which has been on for several days, was resumed, Counsel will probably commence summing up to-day. In the United States District Court, before Judgo Blatchford, the great sherry case is still slowly pro- grossing, Tho stock market was somewhat unsettled yesterday. Government securities wero firmer, Gold was weak, and closed at 140% al41.” The Gull at Washington—The Politicians and the Presidency. All seems to be reasonably quiet again on the Potomac. There has been no requisition for the Pennsylvania volunteers offered by Governor Geary for the support of Congress and the country, and no call for the fighting Philadelphia democracy or the Maryland militia, who have pronounced in favor of John- son and the constitution. That inoffensive but too highly flattered old gentleman, General Lorenzo Thomas, still smelling of the dead men and bones and dust and mould of the national cemeteries, among which for many months he had made himself useful, has proved unequal to a campaign against the terrible Stanton, as remorseless as Danton. It was sheer folly on the part of this amiable old General Thomas to attempt the expulsion of the Giant Grim of the War Office, before whose awakened wrath McClellan and Buell and the mighty Blair family. and a host of others had all come to grief, and from whom even Sherman would not have escaped but for the timely interposition of General Grant. If the Hon. John Morrissey had been appointed Secretary of War ad inéerim, and sent over to the War Department with an order to remove Stanton, the order would have been carried out on scientific prineiples ; but Mr. Johnson, deficient in his knowledge of men, has seldom hit the Napoleonic idea of “the right man in the right place.” Before the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia it was thought, in some quarters, that upon the case of Stanton versus Thomas a judgment might be obtained which would, in an appeal, carry up the question of the consti- tutionality of the Tenure of Office law to the Supreme Court of the United States, and thus, perhaps, head off the impeachment of Mr. Johnson ; but this case has fallen to the ground. General Thomas is brought before the court at the appointed hour ; his counsel are ready for the examination of witnesses, and wish the case to go on; but Mr. Carpenter, of counsel of Mr. Stanton, feels quite unwell and asks a day’s postponement. Then the other side submit that, the bail of General Thomas having been surrendered, he stands in the condition of a prisoner, and it is suggested thathe may as well be discharged, and so thinks the Chiof Justice, and so the old General of the ceme- teries is allowed to go scol free, The proper proceeding is that the esident Johnson, like the fon, cuts off all amendments and ig that will interrupt the settle- main question. a linits of not! ment of the So we conclude that neither m ‘mus nor quo warranto need be attempted in f:vor of Mr. Johnson as a flank movement avainst his impeachment, Upon the issue of tho t therefore, for which the Senate is preparing, the fate of Mr. | Johnson entirely depends, If found guilty by a two-thirds vote oi the Senators present of the charges preferred against him by the House he must retire, and Benjamin Wade, of Ohio, Prosident pro tem. of the Senate, and filling, in his position, the place of Vice President, will become President of the United States, The politicians on both sides, including their office holders and office are accord. ingly beginning to consider the ways and means of meeting this momentous contin- gency. With “Old Ben Wade” in the White Honse there will be a great commotion among the army of office holders, from the New York Custom House to the Post Office at Confederate | Cross Roads, “which is in the Stait of Ken- tucky.” The yeperable Thurlow Weed avd | his lobby retainere are doubtless in a dreadful state of perturbation in contemplating the chances under “Old Bea Wade ;” and herein lies all their interest in the saving interpesi- seekers, tion of the Supreme Court. In any event,ethe | demands of tho Presidential election from the j loyal leagues upon Mr. Wade, if promoted to the White House, mast result in a fearful weeding out of uniortunate conservatives, | Such is the prospect with the return of the flowers of spring, “Come, gentle spring,” says Thomson; but what says Johnson? Strange rumors, too, are in the wind touch- ing the democratic candidate for the, Presi- dency. Some of the outside Tammany Indians, | itis said, without the fear of Hoffman before their eyes, are beginning to sound the praises of Mr. Seward, and some alarm thereby exists in the inner temple. Down Kast they are begin- ning to talk of John Quincy Adams, Jr, From Kentucky comes the Stentorian voice of her | new democratic Senator, who says he is ready to march “‘at the first call of the bugle, and when, in November next, the glorious name of Pendleton or Seymour or Hendricks or Fill- more shall be inscribed on our banner,” &c.; 80 that even Fillmore is alive again. There is hope, then, for poor Pierce and for “Old Buck” likewise. Various other democratic council at Washington when the bombshell ‘rom the While House exploded in the War Ofiice, had nothing 1o say in bebalf of Mr. Johnson, The cdmmitiee ignored him, ap- pointed New York as the place for their Presi- dential Convention and the “glorious Fourth” as the time, and then ‘Thoy folded their tonts tiko the Arabs, Aud as silently stole away, The moral of all this is that the New York democracy intend to fix the flint of Mr. Pendle- ‘ton. Mr. Belmont, Mr, Seymour, Mr. Corning, Mr, Comstock and Mr, Cassidy have some interest in those bonds, and Pendleton, like Ben Butler, is too fast for them. But they have done with Andrew Johnson, His placer of fat offices is worked out; the democracy are not responsible for his mistakes ; he is right in this fight, but he is a republican President any how, and he may go. Verily, politicians, like corporations, have no souls, Ah, yes! after all John Tyler was a happy man, and even Fillmore had a good time compared with Andrew Johnson. Like St. Paul, when the scales had falien from his eyes, he can see at last that he has been consorting with a bad lot. Like the poor traveller, robbed, stripped and left wounded and helpless on the ground, Mr. Johnson 1s in need of a good Samaritan, The democratic Pharisees have passed by on the other side, and the Ishmaelites are left to finish him, It need not surprise him that he has been squeezed like an orange and cast aside ; nor will it be anything wonderful if General Grant, after adroitly securing the inside track for the Presidency, should find himself at Chicago jostled aside by Mr. Chase, and walked back to the stable. But this change of horses will depend upon the issue of the trial of Andrew Jobnson. The Political Situation in England—The Resignation of Earl Derby. By a special cable despatch which we published in the Heraxp of yesterday we are made aware of the fact that the Earl of Derby has resigned his position of Prime Minister of England, and that her Majesty Queen Victoria has summoned to her aid the Right Honorable Benjamin Disraeli, tendering to him the reins of government and requesting him to form a cabinet. The circumstances are seriously important and well deserving of attention. We are not surprised at the resignation of Lord Derby. His lordsbip is now verging on his seventicth year, has seen much and arduous political service, and, as all the world now knows, in resigning his high and responsible position he only yields to the infirmities inci- dent to old age. The feelings expressed in the House of Lords by Earl Russell and in the House of Commons by Mr. Gladstone were as natural as they were becoming, and they will be echoed in all lands wherever intelligence of the event shall be learned. The resignation of his lordship has not taken the public by surprise. It has for some time past been discussed in all the leading English jour- nals as an event which was more than proba- ble. His lordship’s health has been bad. He has clung to his position more for the interests of his pariy than from any love of his office. It was the conviction of his lordship that the party of which, since the secession of Peel and his followers in 1846, he has been the acknow- ledged head was the only party sufliciently united to carry through a Reform bill, which it was no longer possible to deny that the feeling of the country had rendered a necessity. His lordship accordingly, in spite of increasing infirmities, gave to his party, so long as it was necessary, the weight of his great name and the benefit of his large experience. The reform struggle is virtually ended, for, although bills have yet to be passed both for Scotland and Ireland, the passage of the English bill at once determines their character and secures their success, We do not say that in carrying through the Scotch and Irish bills no difficulty will be experienced ; nor can we say that the three Reform bills will give to the three kingloms the quiet and contentment which ar le; but we can and do say that Lord Derby has seen accomplished those ends for which he originally undertook the responsibilities of office. Maving carried the work through so lar, he igns the completion of the task, with all its responsibilities and all ils honors, into younger hands. Henceforward the Rupert of debate—a nobleman who, despite the prejudices of his class, has, both asa scholar and as a gentleman, done honor to English statesmanship—virtually retires from the arena of politics, The resignation of Evrl Derby, suggestive as itis, Mienishes less food for thought than the name of the man who has been called by her Majesty to occupy the vacant place. It is impossible not to believe that that name was suggested by Lord Derby himself, and that, too, vii the conéurtefce of the prominent men of his pa The Right Hon- orable Benjamin Disraeli is now the acknow- ledged chief of the tory gentry of England. This isa revolution in itself, Not that com- moners have not before held the high position of Prime Minister of England, but that there was that in Disraeli’s afiepedents which at one time rendered such suoced3 in his case extremely improbable. A great gentus, how- ever, and an indomitable will, have enabled the once despised son of Israel to triymph over apparent impossibilities. It is now thirty Be ne og MT ° years Sindé, in the House of Commons, he delivered his maiden Speech. He was al- ready known as a snecessful novelist, as a daring political theorist, and as some- what of an adventurer. His advent on the floor of the House naturally enough commanded attention. His first appearance, however, was a failure. To the derisive cheers of the members he was com- pelled to yield, but not until he had pulled himself up to his full height and with an air of haughty defiance exclaimed, “I am not sur- prised at the reception I bave met with. I have begun many times several things; but I have often succeeded at last I shall sit down now, bat the time will come when you will hear me.” The prediction has long since been more than fulfilled. The Canaan of bis ambition has at last been reached. It may now be taken for granted that whatever success attends in organizing a Cabinet, ho has established his right to rank with the barons of England. Disraeli will soon disappear under the more showy title of Lord Hughenden. There is but small chance that the liberals will offer any resistance. This is the last ses availabilities have been named; but never a voice for Andrew Johnson. Mr. August Bol- mont and bis National Executive Copypittoe, in | sion under the ancient system. It is desirable that the authors of the English Reform bill ahow their handiwork ja the bills for Sgqlend and for Ireland. Disraeli’s reign may not be long; but whether long or short, he will at least have accomplished bis mission; and the voice of Lord Hughenden may yet be a8 pow- erful in the Upper House as that of Disraeli has been in the Lower. His name will more and more be the signal for progress. The Western Union Telegraph Company— How Its Earnings Are Spent. In the recent exhibit of the Western Union Telegraph Company to its stockholders the statement of income and expenses for the eighteen months from July 1, 1866, to January 1, 1868, shows the following results Gross Working Ne! were 5 Hecgints, Ezpnse — Projitt Dee, 31, 1866 f°**"* $3,414,001 $2,025,406 $1,389,004 ned ae } sees 8,154,423 1,918,508 1,235,824 nae Fuser } vases 8,475,042 2,251,418 1,224,524 Total.seees .se-+810,084 008 $0,195,422 $5,640,442 This account will no doubt astonish the stockholders more than any other portion of the Executive Committee’s report, Here are receipts in eighteen months reaching ten mil- lion dollars swallowed up by working expenses amounting to over sixty per cent of the gross earnings, In the six months from July 1 to December 31, 1867, during which period the present Executive Committee have been in office, the working expenses aro shown to be larger than ever before, being actually sixty- five per cent of the gross receipts. Every person practically familiar with the business of telegraphing knows that from twenty-five to thirty per cent of the gross earn- ings of a line should pay all ordinary working expenses, including repairs, salaries, taxes and every other usual outlay. This is a liberal estimate, and the idea of any line being worked at a cost of sixty and sixty-five per cent of its gross receipts is entirely inconsistent with proper and prudent management. The most reckless extravagance alone could have expended such an amount. A railroad, with all ita costly rolling stock and its constant and rapid wear of material, is run for less than sixty per cent of its gross receipts. But it does not need a practical telegrapher to un- derstand that the financial exhibit made by the Executive Committee presents a very poor prospect to the unfortunate stockholders of the Western Union. Taking the six months of the present management, and we find the re- ceipts three million and a half dollars. This is at the rate of seven million dollars a year, or nearly eighteen per cent upon the whole capital stock of the company. Such an income ought to yield a dividend of at least eight per cent after payment of all honest working ex- penses, interest on bonds, appropriations to sinking fund and other outlays. But under the present management it realizes not one cent to the stockholders, Sixty-five per cent of the gross receipts are said to have been paid out under the comprehen- sive head of “working expenses,” and the balance has disappeared in appropria- tions to the sinking fund, redemption of bonds, interest, and other items, leaving the victim- ized stockholders without a dollar of divi- dend and with a depreciated stock on their hands. These large receipts of the Western Union have been secured from high rates and the absence of opposition. Now that competing lines are everywhere springing into existence the earnings of the monopoly will naturally diminish. If the company cannot now pay a dividend to its stockholders upon seven mil- lion dollars gross receipts in a single year it is not to be expected that it can pay one here- after upon half that amount of income. The stockholders should immediately appoint com- petent accountants to investigate the “ working expenses” of the company, so as to see of what they consist. The mere statement that two million dollars and a quarter have been expended in six months can scarcely be satis- factory to the stockholders or regarded as the “concise but full” exhibit called for by the resolution of the Board of Directors. The Strects of New York. The New York Yacht Club has a capital opportunity this season for creating a sensa- tion. When the ridges and mountain ranges of snow and congealed mud that occupy the middle of Broadway are well thawed down, and that thoroughfare 1s gonverted into a river or canal, there may be ample depth for our gallant yachtmen holding their next regatta there. Starting from+a stakeboat anchored uader the nondescript bridge near St. Paul’s, the contending yachts can shape their course northerly toward Grace church, placing buoys on those parts of the sidewalk which may possibly be in shoal water. The stages should be well provided with lito preservers at pres- ent, and it might be a profitable invesiment to establish a Filth avenue or Bloecker street line of ferryboats or a few steam tugs instead of the present mode of conveyance. One of the last sensations on this much ill-used thorough- fare is the appearance of a half-dozen men, with pickaxes and brooms, working away at the ridges of dirt that loom up on every block. Mrs. Partington once endeavored to keep back the Atlantic with a broom, and this band of six heroes are engaged in an equally laudable and practicable enterprise. The appearance of terra firma on Broadway will be bailed by tugusands of unfortunate pease gn os ‘ great event, “Would i: be possibfe for dni municipal authorities ‘9 import « sufficient number of those industriout little insects that build the coral reefs in other scaé for the purpose of elevating terra firma to the level, at least, of the Broadway river? As for the Street-clean- ing Department, it has long since ceased to be a reality, and all inquiries after it are sent to the Dead Letter Office. Dick Scurtu.—Among the signers of the call for a public meeting in vindication of Andrew Johnson we find the name of Dick Schell. But we must ask, is not the question of the impeachment and removal of Daniel Drew enough to occupy the attention of Dick Schell? Hasn’t he his hands full with the complications of the Erie business? Why should he desert Wall street for Pennsylvania avenue? Dick Schell should let Andy John- son alone; Daniel Drew is his man. “A Far Excaanae No Ropoery.”—By a special telegram in yesterday’s Heratp we learned that President Juarez had obtained leave of absence for six months for a visit to Washingtov. Why should not Congress, recip- rocating the compliment, accord to Prosident Johnson leave of absence for six months for viait to the City of Mexico? American Commerce—What It’ Can and Must Be. We cannot too often recur to the lamentably depressed condition of American shipping 2s- terests, or too frequently advise some remedial and combined action on the part of Amerivan shipbuilders and capitalists to stem the tide of expansion that seems to be the present policy of steamship owners of Great Britain and France towards the absorption of the entire ocean carrying trade of the United States. While the shipyards of Great Britain for a series of years and those of France more recently have been incessantly at work in the erection of improved iron screw steamships— which the commerce of the globe is destined hereafter to be carried on in—the shipyards of the United States have been almost idle. This apathy has resulted most disastrously, as Eng- lish and French capitalists have lines running from all the important ports in the United King- dom and France to New York, steadily and almost wholly forcing the few American sail- ing vessels left from the wreck of our mercan- tile marine at the close of the war out of the market. To these established lines their owners are designing to make still greater additions in the number and character of their vessels, that the monopoly of the ocean trade may in the future be exclusively foreign. On this subject a recent number of a promi- nent European gazette says:—“ The mercantile marine of this country (Great Britain) far sur- passes that of all other nations in extent, and is increasing in a much greater ratio than that of any other country. The consequence of this is that the British steamship owners have the carrying of nearly all the first class pas- sengers who cross the ocean, and all finer and more profitable articles to and from this country. As far as second class passengers and heavy goods are concerned, we are grad- ually absorbing these.” This is too true. And the same journal, with others, catching the commercial importance of the subject, hints that additional lines of propelling steamships will soon be put into operation between the ports of that nation and those upon our South- ern coast to extinguish that paltry portion of American shipping interest which had sur- vived to be the carriers of cotton hence to Europe. These steamships are to be of large tonnage, and are to be run at the rate of twelve or thirteen knots per hour, with a great comparative reduction of coal per day. Pending the great excitement connected with the political turmoil at Washington the country’s rulers and her prominent capitalists lose sight of this important fact, and seem- ingly give into the hands of our commercial antagonists the wealth accruing from the ocean trade of the United States, How long shall this continue? How long shall the ocean mer- cantile marine of America represénting this nation a few years since, upon whom then de- volved the supremacy and sceptre of the seas, be thus left crippled—a shadow of her former self? Were action prompt and decisive among capitalists and the mechanical skill of the country—which has no superior—it would soon be remedied. When American shippers urge that with all their prudence and skill it is absolutely impossible to successfully com- pete with the heavy subsidies bestowed by Great Britain and France on the steamship companies of those nations, that private enter- prise cannot maintain as high a standard of speed, elegance and equipment in their vessels as foreign corporations, they are inherently wrong. They only want enterprise, only want determination and combination, and they can beas brilliantly successful as the achieve- ments of the Inman line of British steamships, which never received one dollar of such ad- ventitious aid, yet possess some of the finest and fleetest-vessels that ever steamed up the Mersey. Americans have not receded in the science of naval construction. Quite the reverse, as shipbuilding was never thought of as belonging to the category of fine arts, though it may have been carried on ever since the earth was peopled, until here it reached its highest point of excel- lence, justas sculpture and temple building, which were old arts before Athens was founded, culminated in Greece. The clipper ships we have built, where harmony and proportion, flowing lines and perfect symmetry are com- bined, and the steamships, from the Adriatic and Niagara—well entitled to immortal re- membrance as the Parthenon, and their lamented architect as deserving of renown as Ictinus of Athens—down to the present con- ceptions that call forth the praise that “no creations of human art ever appeared fairer,” fully atiest, In years gone by our naval architects frequently became the recipi- ents from foreign governments of practical acknowledgments to their skill and talent as developed in American shipbuilding, and will again by o correct procedure. As tangible evidence of the realization of such a prophecy comes to us as welcome intelligence from our correspondent in Wilmington, Delaware, that the Harlan & Hollingsworth Company of that city, well known builders of iron steam- ships and marine engines, have recently obtained the contract to build an iron steam- ship for the Panama Railroad Company, after along and troublesome opposition from the renowned Messrs. R. Napier & Sons, of Glas- gow, builders of the elegant Cunard ves- sels and of the French steamers Ville de Paris 004 Pereire, who, with the above company, Were invited and did submit esti- mates, This 8h pet iisagt ie hse s * +, @ about two bun an Wiebe Daa feet wide and of two sixty feet long, forty | F thousand tons burden, Hie: ™sines will be of sription, sixiy- the direct acting propelier desw six inches in disaande by four feev stroke of piston. Her proposed size will favorably "°™ pare with many of the William Penn or City of Manchester class of British steamers, and, from the builders’ known skill and talents, will be as successful as any of the iron steam- ships of Hurope. This entering wedge promises to be the beginning of a brilliant fature for our builders and engineers, and should nerve them to instant action. If abuses exist in the laws of the United States whereby they are onerously taxed for materials of consumption and arti- cles of production, let them work in combina- tion to effect their repeal; and in this they must gueceed, as the country unitedly, in press and people, will eloquently and effectually aid them. The commerce of America must be carried on in vessels of our own construction, repre- senting America’s mechanical handiwork and American interests. None who have a just ap- preciation of he extent of such sk:ll in our midst will fo. w momen: doubt of their abuily | be ce ee ae enema to build, both in hull gnd engines, and splens didly oquip, just as large, substantial and swift @ mercaniiie floet of sleamsfiips as at present ply the ocean, reulizing fortaues {rom the Profits of a trade almost wholly belonging to the United States, Paseasonable Demonstrations. Agitation would die ous if there were not politicians wanting places, But these fellowa tako care to feed and fan every flame. In the present excitement they see only a fine oppor tunity to make themselves couspicuous by dis- tinguished services to Congress on the one hand or to the President on the other, and their chosen kind of service is the organization of public demonstrations. It is known to all that the great substance of parties is made up ina great degree of what Horace Greeley, in a letter to the Union League Club, calls “stupid blockheads.” Very respectable fellows are your “stupid blockheads” in both parties. They are men of backbone, with stiff shirt col- lars and a stiffer bank account. Every one is quite aware, for instance, how very respectable the Union League Club is. It is made up of “stupid blockhoads” and nothing else. All the very respectable organizations of the other side are made up of “stupid blockheads” also, and among these the active politician finds just now the great sphere of labor. He knows the absolute nothingness of his men perfectly well; but he knows alse that their wealth or social position has givem their names a certain influence with the public, and the names only are what he wants. He wants these to give dignity, effect, importance to his call for a great public meeting. We have had presented to us one of these “calls,” proposing to bring out the people in support of the President in a great meeting at Cooper Institute. In the number of the names of “stupid blockheads” signed to it we observed those of Messrs. James Gallatin, Josiah Macy, Charles H. Marshall, Richard Schell and William H. Appleton. Without accrediting these men with any sagacity in politics, supposing them only to possess that ordinary sense that has enabled them to gain the money they have acquired or keep that they inherited—in virtue of that modicum of intel- lectual light they ought to be able to per- ceive that the meeting advocated can do only harm. Demonstrations on one side can only beget demonstrations on the other, and be- tween the two the publie mind will be run 4 to that excited state in which alone there ‘danger. What the country wants is calm; what Congress wants is excitement. Only under cover of the excitement made by the removal of Stanton did Congress venture om its extreme measure, and it will be playing the radical game to keep the feverup. As the people cool the destructive programme is seen in its true proportion and awakens popular disgust. Therefore, Messrs, “Stupid Block- heads,” the best thing you can do is to tend your several shops and keep quiet. ' DU CHAILLU’S LECTURE. Anumerous and very select audience assembled last evening at Steinway Hall on the occasion of the delivery by Mons, P. B. Du Chaillu of his second lecture of the season om his explorations, discoveriés aud adventures in interiog Africa, The distinguished lect#wer and savant had chosen ss the subject of his entertainment “£ Journey to the Cannibal Country, Elephant? Hunting, Serpents, &c,, Cape Lopez and the Slave Barra coons,”” and the lecture was listened to with deop attention to its close, interrupted, bow- ever, by not infrequent bursts of laughter as many of the more ludicrous incidents in this wonderful® narration, which were considerably heightened by the speaker's somewhat piquant manner of conveying him impressions and ideas of things. His discourse was illustrated by a number of charts and paintings, and the particular section of the African continent to which the attention of his auditors was directed was that portion lying Oast and northeast of Cape Lopez, on the western coast, He descrived in a vivid style thany thrilling adventures and remarkable discoveries made by bim in his travels and sojourn in the ‘cannibal country,” and stated, as a singular feature of the barbar- ous customs of the bal tribes, that they never waste a corpse of one of their number, though they are eaten by aay of the family of which they wore formerly members, A corpse that had lain or beeu buried five or six days was an especial relish with them, and ho wag of the opinion that asa people they wore very fond of “high” game. Women were among them, as with us, con- y viewed this qualifleation id Lenderest (though tl rnivorous light), little girls were splendid, smalt told mem hy we thought to be wot bad eating, were deemed tough. He congratulated himse! fact that he exhibited no tendency to obesity and waa not sick during bis sojourn among them, as, “if he had been, it would have been difficult to tell what would have happened.” His description of the elephant hant- iug and the costumes and customs of the various tribes was vivid and ioteresiing, as was also his account of the slave trade and the barracoons at Cape Lopoz, King Bavgoo, an individual who had, he |. visited Portugal, Cuba and other countries, and who especially prided himsoif on his acquisition of the French languaee, peaking of Cape Lopez, the lec turer cousidered 4 somewhat peculiar that the negroes were the greatest advocates of the slave trade, Wonder- ful despatch was exhibited in the loading of a vessel With siaves, and ho had geon six hundred embarked om a vesse! within an hour. At the close of his lectare Mr. Do Chatilu was applauded by an audience that had evi- dentiy been amused and instructed, THE STEAMSHIP 10WA. Her Voyage from Glasgow to this Port, The eteamshiv Iowa, of the Anchor line of steamers, arrived at this port ou Monday after the remarkably quick voyago of twenty-seven days from Glasgow. The vessel, under the command of a man named Hedde- rick, left Glasgow on the 29th of January last, and soon after leaving port encountered severe northwester= ly gales. After she bad boon a few days out the gales increased in violence, aceompanied by very beavy seas, which lasted during tho entire voyage, The vossel, it 1s alleged, pitched and tossed in a frighWul manner, so mt 80 that the passengers were time fearful that she would be unable to weather the gales and soas that seemed to have combined to make the voyage one as full of danger as possibile, and to aad to their fears the sea smashed one of the lifeboats and momentarily threatened to carry the others away. Un arriving of Moville the gales were of such a character that the officers, evideatiy knowing what tbe steamer could and could not stand, considered it absolutely necessary to lay to until the gales and high seas had somewhat subsided, ‘The passengers and saliors say that the gales were terri- blo in their violence, and that the steamer was buffered about at ip ab cho morcy of the waves. The mao who commanded her on the voyaue, Hed. dorick, was yesterday requosted by a gontloman to give either tho log ot the vessel or some account of the voyage of the lowa derived from the log for the pur- poses of publication; roquest, alleging as “that he dido’ it he refused to comply wth the jafficient reason for bis refusal out making public the log of any articusariy Woon it Wasa dis. What the man who com. manded her meant by the last portion of bit remakes ta somewhat indefinite, though it apparently intimates %.* the steamer would not be benoiitiod were the Ing, poe gp idensed account of the voyage derived from tha Tog, tad) yn 9g at pio 20. North river, th 1 ow lies at pier N ver, the vol Tne vesee! 1a’ hing But ‘neat and. trim”. No doube picture of every." tng encountered som the severe woather ». ward i any “neat and trim?’ oft, previously possessed. 0s to have escaped damags Binge not look a8 hand. some as they mig! THE RADICAL REPUBLICAN GENERAL COMMITTEE, 7 Pursuant to special call the members of the Radical Republican General Committees turned out m considerd~ ble force last evening at their headquartors, corner of Twonty-second street and Broadway. Mr. 1, J, Fithian, the President, was in the chair, A series of resolutions was offered by Mr. Edgar Ketchum endorsing the action of Congress in ite course toward President Johnson relative to tho attempted ree moval of Mr, Stanton, Secretary of Ws fhe re-ota- wed unanimously without ‘ne usual t Of speeches on such occasions. need that the Executive Commitee and