The New York Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1868, Page 6

6 es Re aga cL per etigibl Ses sc ae NEW YORK HERALD | 22 rzzscist!e acta azo unam tn fue BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETY. PROPRIETOR Volume XXXHIL.... AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NEW YORK THEATRE, Broadway.—Muou Apo Auoor NorHing. Peet PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE, corner ot Tighth avenue and 23d street, —UEAND DUCHESSE—BARDE BLEUF. FRENCH THEATRE, Fourteenth stroct and Sixth ave- nie. —GENKVIEVE DE BRABANT. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Homery Donrry. wits New FratoRRs, , BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tur ExrnaLp RING. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway and Lith street.— ‘Tas Lancasnine Lass. * NIBLO'S CARDEN, Broadway.—Averrs Den; 0x, Lon- won BY NIGHT. A ee THEATRE, Bowery.—-Arrex Dats—VoL-Aau- RN. ' GERMAN STADT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bowery.— MaRQUISY DR VILLETTE, MRS. F. B, CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn— Gio, THR ARMORER OF TYzK. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.--Livcany AND Vaupevinin Comrany. Dis BRYANTS' OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Bailding, Mth street. —ExHIOPIAN Mins’ 720 Broadway. —ETHio- KELLY & LYON'S M a QUE. --TAMT CATS. PIAN MINDIVELSY, BO SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 635 Broadway.—Druro- FIAN ENTERTAUNMENTS, SINGING, DANGLING, Ke. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA Hi VOOALIGM, NEGRO MINSTRELS! 21 Bowery.-CoMto irtieth streot and WOOD'S MUSEUM AND THEATRE, Broudway.-—Alternoon and evening Ves! NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth strect.—EQunstnian AND GYMNASTIO ENTERTAIN “PNT STECK’S HALL, 141 Eighth street.—Oacan Prererya'’s Bomek MOGIOALE. CLINTON HALL ART GALLERIES, Astor pince.—PREn Bxuwirion OF PAINTINGS. Vay and evening HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, fro MINeTZELS—A DUTCHMAN IN JAPAN, Iyn.—HOULEYA HOOLEY'S (F. D.) OPERA HOUSE, Widiamsbnrg.— “HOOLEY'S Minsreris—Tuk LANK Ys: c Ags, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 615 Brosdway.— OR AND ART Be) | Se ee TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Tuesday, December 8, 1868. THA NAWS. Europe. ‘The cabie telegrams are dated December 7. The steamship Hibernia, of the Anchor line, which eft New York November 14, foundered off the Irish coast onthe 25th. The passengers and crew took to ‘the boats, five in number. A large number of those ‘on board the Hibernia are known to be lost. Fifty- ‘two persons, including the captain, are saved. Two of the boats are still missing. » Mr. Peabody has made another donation to the ‘London poor. + The republican demonstrations in Spain are not yet quelled. The military in some instances have ‘been called out. ‘dt ts rumored that the general elections in Spain ‘will be postponed until the 15th of January, and that ‘tae constitutional Cortes will not assemble for o nonth later. Cuba. ‘The intelligence from Cuba shows that the insur- rection in that tsland has assumed formidable pro- portions. A severe battle has been fought at the foot of Mount Alta Garcia, between Puerto Principe and Nuevitas, In which each party lost fifty men ‘killed. Another battle was fought at Morrau, and ‘the government troops, 180 in number, claimed to ‘have defeated a large body of insurgents, killing teighty-three, with a loss to themselves of only twe men killed. The insurgent’s account, however, says ‘the government forces were badly whipped and ‘tuetr loss in killed and wounded was very heavy. Japan. Our Yokohama letter is dated October 25. The Mikado was crowned at Kioto on the 12th, but no foreigners were invited to witness the ceremony, owing to the ancient customs, which forbid foreign- eraentermg Kioto. The civil war was still raging violently. Congress. The third session of ihe Fortieth Congress began yesterday. In the Senate the new members present were Maines and Kellogg, of Louisiana; Rice, of Arkan- it Robvertaon, of South Carolina, and Spencer, of Alabama. The usual committees to wait upon the President and the House were appointed. ‘The cre- dentials of Mr. Lill, of Georgia, were presented, but ‘Mr. Drake moved to refer thei to the Judiciary Com anittee, as the State of Georgia was in rebel hands. A debate ensued and the credentials were finally ‘aid on the table. Mr. Sumner totroduced a bill to watablish negro suflrage in all the Stases, which, on ‘nis motion, was laid on the table and wordered to be printed. Mr. Sumner aiso introduced Wills providing for # return to specie payments on he 4th of July, 1869, and for cheap ocean postage, nd @ resolution congratulating the people of Spain ton the overthrow of their ancient royalty. Bills and ‘resolutions amending the naturalization laws, pro- ;Posing constitutional amendments relative to unt versal manhood suffrage, providing for tne issue of yarms to the militia in States lately in rebellion, and relative to vacancies in the grades of general, lieu- deaant general, admiral and vice admiral were iniro- duced and the Senate adjourned. In the Hoase 164 members answered to their nawes. Among the changes since last seaston are four members deceased. The credentials of Mesars. Dickey and Pettis, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Stover, wot Missourt, were presented and they were sworn in, ‘The credentials of Messrs. Christy and Wimpie, of Georgia, one furnished by Governor Bullock and the ther by General Meade, were referred to the Com- ‘tions. Mr. Hamilton, of Tennessee, who asa supernumerary, was refused the privilege of a seat, and his credentials were similarly refused. A bill was introduced by Mr. Boutwell, providing for universal manhood suffrage in ali the States, and two resolutions for ap amendment of the constitution to the samo erect were antroduced by Messrs. Kelley and Broomal. A resolution of censure against Revendy Jolson, Min. ‘ster fo Engiand, and requesting the President to order his immediate recall, was referred to the Gum- aoittes on Foreign Affairs by a vote of M4 to 4t!, A resolution, appropriating $50,000 to retmburse Presi- dent Jonnson for his expenses in the impeachment trial was laid on the table, A resolution looking to amendments in the naturalization laws was adopted after a strict party vote of 2 democrats to 126 repub- Vicans, Mr. Robinson, of New York, offered 4 resolu. | tion. calling for correspondence on the subject of American citizens imprisoned in Ireland, butar ae motion to refer prevented him from making 4 few remarks in reply to Lord Stanley, as he wished, he withdrew the resolution, The House then ad- Journea The committee of Congress which walted upon the President were informed that he would send in bis Message on Wednesday. We publisu elsewhere this morning the following Teporis from the heads of departments and bu- reaus:— |. Department of the Interior, by Secretary 0. H. Browning, “ 2. Post Omce Department, by Postmuster General Alexander W. Randa), % Internal Revenue, by Commissioner Rollins. 4 The Currency, by Compirotier it, H. Hulburd, Miscetfnneon Judge Underwood, tn the | Court, tm Richmond, Va., ns Orin, a negro, who was convi rey of shooting @ white mau, hia couns pewled for hunt harge States District discharged Cmaar (having ap- be grouad Judge NEW the plea, but the case will be carried on appeal to the United States Circuit Court, when Chief Justice Chase will preside, ‘This decision, it ts said, Qnnelg the Joga! decisions given since the war of two-thirds or the judges in the Stgte. The Cole-Hiscock trial waa ended yesterday by & verdict of acquittal, the jury having a doubt of his Sanity at the momeut of te killing, though they be- Heved him tg be sane the mament before and the Woment after, 7 ir * eee ry Governor Geary, it ta said, has informed Hester Vaughn that he will never enforce the sentence of the court against her, and has the question of abso- Jute pardon still under advisement, No death warrant has been issued in her case, Jay Cooke and Wiliam G, Morehead have agreed to defray her expenses to England if she is pardoned, Deacon Andrews, in his trial for the murder of Cornelius Holmes, was placed upon the stand yes- terday to testify as a witness for the defence. He confessed to the murder, but claimed, as he did in his former confession, that it was done in aelf-de- fence. The Canadian Parliament haa been prorogued an- til the 16th of January. Tho City. General Grant visited the Union League Club yesterday, and dined with the St. Nicholas Society | in the evening. ‘The Board of Aldermen are counting the yotes cast at the last city etection, In a majority of the wards votes were cast for Net! Bryant for Mayor and Chris. O'Connor for Corporation Counsel. ‘These two gentlemen appeared yesterday and insisted that these votes should be counted in the oficial canvass, and their counsel will probably argue the matter to- day. In the Board of Councilmen the resolution passed by the upper Board over (he Mayor's veto, in- creasing the salaries of the clerks and attachés of the Common Council nearly twenty-five per cent, was adopted unanimously. Several donation reso- Intions were adopted, The United States Marshal yerterday seized the property of Robert Bogart, of Brooklyn, the pay- master’s clerk, who, it is alleged, absconded last month with $12,000 of the government's funds in his possession, A carriage, two fine horae4, house- hold effects and other property were seized, and Mrs, Bogart, his young wife, is left, with one little child, almost unprovided for, ‘The charges of fast living on the part of Bogart are denied by bis friends, his greatest misfortune or erime being Wall street speca- lation. ‘The coroner's jury in the Sixth ward assassination case rendered 4 verdict yesterday that Thomas Hamil- ton came to his death by a stab wound inflicted by rome person unknown In self-defence. Captain Jourdan, of that precinct, stated on the inonest that three murders had occurred at No. 19 Mulberry street, where the present took place, and it was the very worst resort of thieves and murderers in the city. His theory was that the decoased had at- tempted to rob Barrett, and that the latter stabbed him in self-defence. Tn the case of Marsh, who is charged with obtain- ing $15,000 from Heiser’s Sons, Wall street, by means of a check signed ‘Temple & Marsh, 4 firm which had dissolved copartnership at the nme, Mr. Tempte tes- tified yesterday that no special written notice was given of the dissolution of the copartnership. Mr. Ellis, a cousin of Marsh, who is cashter of tne Bank of the Commonwealth, according to Mr. Temple's testimony, frequently certified checks for the firm when there was no cash to their credit. Judge Siendley, after hearing the argument for the defence in the Broadway theatre outrage yvester- day, announced that he would render his decision on Friday. Another Erie sult was started in the Supreme Court yesterday, in which the Erie Railway Com- pany bring suit against Daniel Drew and the Erie Railway Steamboat Company, claiming damages at $1,000,000. The case has only as yet got as far as the submitting of aMidavits, but it will no doubt take its place with the other complicated suits under the head of the great Eric litigation. ‘The Hamburg American Packet Company's steam- ship borussia, Captain Franzen, will sat! from Ho- boken at two P. M. to-day for Southampton and Hamborg. ‘The European mails wl close at the Post Office at twelve M. Transactions in beef cattle yesterday were mode- rate, the inclemenecy of the weather checking the demand, but there war no alteration of consequence in prices. The offerings were fair, aggregating about 3.000 bead. Extra steers were sold at 16\c. a 16X%c., prime at I6ce. a 16\c., fair to good at 14Xe. a 15%c. and infertor to ordinary at loc, a Ide. Milch cows were in fair request at the following quoiations:—Extra, prime, $90 a $95; fair to good, $75 a $85; common, $60 a $70; inferior, $45 a $50, For veal calves the market was steady at 12)<c, a 13\e. for prime and extra, 10%. a 12c. for common to good, 9c. & 10¢. for inferior. Sheep were in moderate sup- ply, and, being in fair demand, were quite steady in value, extra selling at 6',c. a 6\c., prime at 54e. a 6e., common to good at 4)sc. a 54¢. and inferior at 4c. a 4%. For swine the ma t was fairly active at the followmg quotations:—Heavy prime, 8\c.; fair TO good, $c. & 8%C.; COMMON, 3146. % SC. Prominent Arrivals in the City. General Hl. L. Robinson, of Binghamton; General Thomas Ewing, of Washington, and J. Davenport, of Richmond, are at the St, Nicholas Hotel. Gener: H. J, Hunt, of the United States Army, and . of Posion, are atthe Grevoort House. Colonel iilldt, of West Point; J. H. Wilcox, of Bos- ton, and Pred. Pearson, of the Untied States Navy, are at the Hoffman House, Major Staford and Captain Dixon, of the British Army, and ©. Koegler, of Caleutta, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Colonel Price and Captain Ross, of the United States Army, and Surgeon Green, of Norfolk, Va., are at tho St. Charles Hotel, Dr. James Field, of Baltimore, and Captain Vin- cent, of the United States Army, are at the St. Julien Motel. x ‘The Fortieth Congress—Virst Day of the Closing Session. The two houses of Congress yesterday, with- out standing on ceremony in regard to the President's annual Message (which is promised on Weilnesday), proceeded to business, ham- mer and tongs. Itis probable that neither house expects much enlightenment or en- couragement from ‘Andy Johnson,” and that both are indifferent as to his policy and bis recommendations, In the Senate, after a prayer by the Chap. | lain, the President, Mr. Wade, announced a communication from the Governor of Georgia, and next Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, presented the credentials for a Senator elect from Georgia, of Mr. Hill, whereupon a conversation followed in reference io the recent doings of the Georgia Legislature, from which we infer that that reconatrneted State will be reconstructed over again. The case reste upon the adinission of Mr. Hill, and for the present his papers have | been laid upon the table—an ominous proc ing. YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1868.—TRIPLE SHEET. ocean postage, on the other hand, belongs to the order of practical measures; nor do we suppose any mischief can result from the adop- tion of his resolution recommending the pro- visional government of Spain to abolish gla- very throughout the Spanish dominions with- out further loas of time, as we are now in a position to, inake the recommendation with a g00d tace. After several more propositions for the amendment of the constitution on suffrage and the naturalization laws, a proposition to furnish arms to the reconstructed Stata, &c., the Senate adjourned, the budget of the work cut out being somewhat remarkable for the first day of the session. In the House of Representatives Mr. Bout- well, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill pro- viding that all male citizens of the United States not less than twenty-one years of age shall be entitled to vote for Presidential electors and for Ropresentatives to Congress—a half-way adop- tion of Senator Sumner’s proposition. Mr. Boutwell also offered a suggestive resolution of inquiry in reference to the three unrecon- structed States of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas. Mr. Lynch, of Maine, introduced a bill to provide against undue expansions and con- tractions of the currency—a most excellent thing and very much needed to prepare the the way for specie payments, Mr. Pike, of Maine, however, proposed to settle this ques- tion forthwith by a bill providing for the imme- diate redemption of greenbacks in gold; but Mr. Pike has not told us who is to provide the gold. The Secretary of the Treasury is not equal to the task just at present. beyond a hundred millions. Mr. Wood, of New York, offered a resolu- tion requesting from the President the instruc- tions to Reverdy Johnson, our Minister to England, in relation to the Alabama claims, and we guess that this inquiry will result in throwing some light on Mr. Reverdy Johnson’s extraordinary sayings and doings on tho other side of the water and in putting an end to his folly. This is doubtless the purpose of the House, as indicated in the adoption of Mr. Wood’s resolution, We dare say, too, that in the resolution of Mr. Morrell, of Pennsylvania, proposing the recall of Mr. Johnson, the prevailing sentiment of Congress is expressed, although the proposition was referred to tho Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Johnson has been eating too many English dinners to do justice to his subject. From the various bills or resolutions sub- mitted in regard to the naturalization laws, the State of Georgia, the Ku Klux Klan and such things it is evident that they will be among the foremost measures of the present session, The programme from the first day's foreshadowings in both houses will be ®& constitutional amendment for universal snffrage, a new law on naturalization to guard against election frauds, a general overhauling of Reverdy Johnson and of Georgia, Louisi- ana and the unreconstructed Southern States, and a vast amount of tinkering of the cur- rency looking to specie payments, but precious little effective work in the suppression of whiskey frauds, the lessening of our taxes or the burden of the national debt. The Telegraph and the Government. There is no more powerful clement for good or for evil at present known to the world than the electric telegraph. This great agent of progress and development enters actively into all the relations of life, and has already worked a great revolution in news, in commerce and in business of all kinds, and yet up to the pre- sent time it has been used only as a means of enriching corporations and individuals, with- out regard to the benefit and advancement of the people. A few shrewd speculators, with judgment enongh to appreciate the enormous power the telegraph is destined to wield, have succeeded in obtaining control of the principal lines throughout the country, and have thus created a monopoly which is to-day one of the most dangerous in the United States. By keeping up the rates for messages they have confined the use of the wires to comparatively afew individuals, and thus, besides giving undue influence and advantage to capital, have secured to themselves and their immediate associates the opportunity of trading upon the earliest news to the damage of the reat of the community. These evils have not been confined to our, own country. They long since made them- sclves felt in Europe and induced many of the governments of the Old World to take the control of the telegraph into their own hands. The proposition met there in its inception the earnest opposition of the telegraph coinpanies, who had already begun to feel the importance and pecuniary profit of the power they held, although nowhere the other side of the Atlantic was there so complete and over- shadowing a monopoly of the business as at present exists fn the United States. But the statesmen of Europe foresaw that the inte- rests of the great mass of the people and the safety of the governments themselves demanded that the telegraph should be o national institution, and the great reform was accomplished. In England. after a searching on prominent reasons presented to show why it would be desirable and beneficial for the gov- ernment to have control of the telegraphic communication of the United Kingdom wore as follows : Pirat—That the eharges for the transmission of messages by private corporations were too bigh and tended to oheck the growth of teiegrapiic corre. spondence. Seoond—That in the existing system there wae finproper delay in tle transmission of taes rd—That many important districts were un 1 with facilities for telegraphic coumunt- | Fourti—That in many places whieh Were pro- Vidert with nome facilities for t , Mr. Sumner introduced his bill providing for the establishment throughout the United States of universal or ‘‘manhood suffrage,” including all races and colors, resting his authority for the measure upon the late awendments of the constitution, This is a shorter cnt than the new amendment advocated by General Grant ; but Mr. Sumner will most probably fail to get hie scheme ewen to a third reading in the Senate. We fear, too, that the same may be said of the other bill whieh he has introduced providing for specie payments by the 4ih of July next. We do not agree with the learned Senator that anything and everything | pubic aud ultimately great revenue wo can be done by act of Congress, regardless of the laws of gravitation or the lawa of trade. His third bill yesterday, providing for cheay 1 cation (ie telegraph office was contre of basiness and populath ion of the day. Jiutie or no Impro pee as the working conducted by commercial ost chiedy to carn a dividend and ¢ competition with each other. @reedy and exacting by manvpol) Steh—Viat under the tien ¢ development of telographic corr United Kingdoin had been retarded. Seven(h—That the growth of euch correspondence had been greatly stimulated in Kelgtum and Swit- zerland by the annexation of the telegraphs to the Post OM ces Of those count 1 the cousequeul adoption of a low seale of charges. Bighth—That in Pnglapd like resnite would follow K reudered in y. ing aystent the tence in the the adoption of like mekus, and tat from the an- nexation of Engiich telegraphs to the Gn@liah Post Office there would accrue great bey a to the the Staie, The absorption of telegraphic communication in Belgium aud Switzerland by the governments of those countries had been en ntly suecessfal. Ail the statistics proved an ense increase of tele. Te inquiry by the houses of Parliament, the most |* adoption’ of a lower scale of charges , but also on acodunt of the inaurement of secreoy, feanlarity and espatch. England, fore, cit thetr e exper one, and the oppasition to government absorption could not claim that the proposed measure was merely an experiment. The many benefits con- spared apon the public were facts that could not be disp! . <A very decided op) ition to government absorption was made manifests but it appeared upo! investigation that the opposition emanated entire from the telegraph Gg ory who, fearful that the monopoly they had so long enjoy was about to be wrested from them, used their best endeavors to defeat the bill, At the same time a vey decided public sentiment was expressed in favor of govern- went absorption. The same arguments that prevailed in Europe to induce the governments to become the owners of the telegraph can be urged with more force in favor of a similar policy in the United States. They are, indeed, so conclu- sive that the monopolists who at present hold control of that powerful engine, hopeless of refuting them, have resorted to the expedient of proposing a compromise in the shape of a patchwork arrangement by which a company is nominally to be organized to transmit mes- sages for the Post Office Department, as tho railroads carry mail matter, for a stipulated sum. This is simply a fraud, designed to head off the movement in favor of a government control of the business, It means, in plain terms, a contract with the existing tele- graph monopoly by which its present power would be confirmed and increased under the prestige of a government contract. It would in no respect benefit the public or re- move a single evil at present pressing 60 heavily aud unjustly upon the people. The truth is our government should take the busi- ness of the telegraph wholly into its own hands as a part of the Post Office system of the coun- try, and should build new lines to every post town in the United States. It could do #0 ata coat of fifteen million dollars, and secure better wires, posts, insulations and equipments than can be found on any portion of the Western Union route. Last year a ring of managers in. that corporation endeavored to sell the whole concera out to the United States for sixty mil- lion dollars, but this was a preposterous at- tempt at imposition. Let the government build new and improved lines at a fair price, and messages can be sent from New York to New Orleans at very little more cost than the postage on a letter. It is only by such a grand and comprehensive policy that the country can expect to realize the full benofit of the greatest engine of civilization and progress at present known to the world. ToRKRY AND Gurkkor.—The relations of the Greek government and that of the Ottoman Porte have at last reached a crisis. The Sultan has sent his ultimatum to King George. The Turkish Ambassador at the Court of Athens has been recalled and the Greek Ambassador in Constantinople has received his passports. ‘The next thing naturally would be a proclama- tion of war. Late advices say that Russia has interfered with friendly counsel. It remains to be seen whether Russia will be able to prevent hostilities. The presumption is that we shall have a fresh council ofall the great Powers on this vexed Eastern question. It is not for a moment to be doubted that Greece is to blame. Her conduct for some time past has been simply intolerable. If she will not yield to reason and take friendly advice she will lose the sympathy of Europe and the world. The patience of the Oitoman government has been long-enduring. No one who knows the facts can blame the Sultan for the course he has taken. We have sympathy with the oppressed wherever they are, but we must not forget to be just. Ovr Spanish News.—It appears from all our latest letters and despatches from Spain that the situation, so far from improving, is becoming more complicated thin ever. The delay in the elections is -working a world of mischief. If it be true, as some think, that Prim and Serrano dread the result of the elec- tions, they are not actually improving matters by putting them off. The affray which has taken place in Madrid can only be understood if it is regarded as an expression of popular discontent. The people, formerly so unanimous and orderly, are now becoming impatient and difficult of control. Nothing can save Spain from anarchy naw but the elections. If these are not to come off until January it may be impossible for the present government to main- tain their hold on the army. If the army becomes mutinous we may look for chaos. Ovr Litre Samana Bay Jos.—When people have a little job on hand for which it is necessary to get a government appropriation it is wise to prepare the public mind in advance. We do not mean to indicate that the honorable President and Secretary of State of the United States would interest themselves in any little private purchasing job; but it is strange that in the President's Message it is indicated that ‘the government has failed, so far, in its negotiations for the purchase of a naval station in the West Indies, and learns that the French are trying to get the Bay of Samana from the Dominican government.” This little Wall street dodge looks very undignified for the chief officer of a great nation. We suggest that if it ia desirable to shove the Samani Bay job through it be done in an abler and loftier style. Tue Neauo Riot IN Savannant.—The ne- groves of Georgia appear to be in a somewhat rampant condition. They have been making such frequent raids of late upon the whites in the vicinity of Savannah that the Mayor of that city found it necessary to commission a special police force for patrol duty on the out- skirts of the city. A party of these police, principally composed of German farmers, who were protecting their property, tuder orders of the Mayor, on Saturday night were fired upon by a band of about forty negroes lying in ambush, and the chief of the’ police was killed and three of his posse wounded. Is it not time that the white citizens of the South were protected from the. brutality of their negro masters? Does not the present system of recoustrnetion require to be remodelled ? Tue Revorerion Barree.—The accounts we publish this morn- ing by Cuban cable from Havana furnish brief particulars of a pitched battle which occurred at the foot of Mount Alta Gracia between the loyalists under Balmaseda and a large force of revolutionists. Tho reports are contradictory as to final results, both parties claiming a vic- tory. There has also boen fighting at other points, and, whatever the results, the facts reported are sufficient to show the formidable character of the revolutionary movement, in Cupa—A_ Prronep | Lows of the Steamship Hibernia and Thirty-three Lives. We scarcely cease chronicling a terrible steamboat disaster upon our own waters when another report reaches us by the Atlantic cable of the loss of an ocean steamship on the Irish coast. Tho iron’ steamship Hibernia, bound from this port to Glasgow, foundered off that eoast on the 25th of November last, and one of the steamer’s boats containing thirty-three persons was lost. The captain and fifty-one passengers are reported to have been saved. The first mste was drowned. Two of the ship's boats are still missing, and much anxiety is felt in regard to the safety of their passengers, This is the first account of the loss of an ocean steamer bound from this port to Europe that has reached us since the present stormy season commenced, and in the absence of details we cannot understandingly comment upon the causes that led to the disaster. Most of the lines of ocean steamers between New York and Europe are well governed and have for # long time enjoyed a comparative immu- nity from serious accidents, But as Congress is now in session we hope some legislation will be had immediately looking to the prevention of similar catastrophes in the future, so far as human care and sagacity can prevent their occurrence. Report of the Secretury of the Ivterior, If another column we print the report of the Secretary of the Interior. The report on the whole will be admitted to be satisfactory, It appears that 6,665,742.50 acres of public lands have been disposed of, thus leaving still in the hands of the government 1,405,366,678 acres. One Revolutionary soldier is still living., During the last fiscal year there was paid to invalid military soldiers and dependent rela- tives the sum of $23,658,598 and to navy invalids the sum of $352,383, That part of the report which refers to the Pacific Railroad will be found at once interesting and instruc- tive. It has already cost a large sum of money to the nation, but the result will be one of the triumphs of the age. To United States mar- shals has been paid $1,337,042 and to district attorneys, assistants, &c., and United States commissioners the aggregate amount of $1,789,177. The Secretary dreads a deficit unless the fines beincreased. The closing part of the report, which treats of residences for the President and Vice President and the heads of the executive departments, will be read by all with interest, by some with approval and by others with doubt. . We may have more to say of the report on another day. Meanwhile we commend the report to public attention. Report of the Postmaster General. The annual report of Postmaster General Randall, which we publish this morning, is interesting, although the leading facts have been anticipated. The ordinary revenue for the year ending June 30 slightly exceeded sixteen and a quarter millions of dollars, while the expenditures amounted to nearly twenty- two and three-quarters millions, thus leaving a deficiency of over six millions. Congres- sional appropriations, however, reduce these figures to a deficiency of not quite three-quar- ters of a million of dollars, if it even does not do away with the admitted fact that the ex- penses of the Post Office Department are about one dollar and forty cents to every dollar re- ceived. Mr. Randall does not believe that the postal service can or should be made self- sustaining for fifty years to come. He esti- mates that ten years hence the expenses will be forty millions and the receipts only thirty millions, but he expresses.the faith that when the country is fully developed there will be no deficiencies for Congress to supply. On the past year’s business of the department, the recommendations and suggestions, the report is quite full and interesting. Report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenne. All the important parts of this docament will be found in another column. It will be seen that in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, the sum of one hundred and ninety one million dollars was collected from internal revenue, the expense of collecting which was five per cent. The heavy items in this account are the taxes paid on the indulgence of popular appe- tite. The amount received, for instance, from the tax on chewing and smoking tobacco was, in round numbers, fifteen million dollars, All the railroads paid together less than seven millions, the insurance companies less than two millions, and the telegraph and express companies not a million between them, so that chewing and smoking tobacco—our small vices, as they are called—are really “bigger things” in the Commissioner's report than all the railroads, telegraphs or express and insu- rance companies in the United States taken together. The number of cigars taxed was six hundred millions, The tax on distilled spirits and brandy netted fourteen millions, and other liquors run the total of the figure on stimolants to fully twenty millions. It is estimated by the Commissioner that the in- come from internal revenue for the next fiscal year will reach one hundred and forty-five mil- lion dollars. Some important recommenda- tions are made in the report—among them one urging the erection of this portion of the Treasury Department into a department by itself. Report of the Comptroller [of the Currency, The Comptroller of the Currency, in his | annual report to the Secretary of the Treasury, shows that there are 1,629 national banks in active operation, with « circulation within a fraction up to the legal limit of three hundred tnillions. Twelve national banks have been organized since the last annual report, tive of which are new associations. Fourteen national banks have fniled to redeem their cir- culating notes and were put into the hands of vers.” The loans and discounts 1sde by tional banking associations amount to 004 The Comptroller recommends several reforms in the national banks. One is an amendment to the act creating these asso- elations, authorizing the Comptroller to call upon the banks for five detailed statements or reports during each year, fixing upon some day that is paat forthe date of the report. THe argues that the day for the specified quarterly reports being known in advance, the banks prepare for them by a process of operations which do not represent their actual working condition, And here he takes occasion to con- den the banks for leadiag thamaelves to com- ieee oe binations and speculations for affecting the money market, and particularly the prac- tice of the New York banks in issuing certified checks to Wall street gperators. He remarks:—‘Taking the call loans and the certified checks together, the somewhat startling fact is developed that the New York national banks furnish (daily) seventy million dollars of capital and one hundred and twelve million dollars of credit for speculation.” He urges the establishment of a central redeem- ing agency, by means of which the national bank notes shall be redeemed and made con- vertible into the lawful money of the country, whether it be paper or gold, at the principal centre of trade. To prevent panics and specu- lators locking up tte currency and to supply a sufficient and equable circulating medium he recommends that the Treazury of the United States shall hold in reserve a certain amount of legal tender notes in excess of the amount in regular circulation, as a source of relief, and to be let out in times of stringency, some- thing in the same way that the British Chan- cellor of the Exohequer authorizes at times the Bank of England to issue more notes than is strictly prescribed by its charter. Of course the Comptroller urges 9 return to specie pay- " ments, but does not tell us when this can be brought about, and prodently intimates that we must be careful what steps are taken to thatend, In fact he sensibly leaves that to the people. He favors free banking as 000 as the restrictions imposed upon the issue of circulating notes by national banks may bo safely removed. Mr. Hurlbut’s report, on the whole, is a respectable one, though he errs in some of his financial ideas. He concludes in asensible manner by saying that with regard to the currency and banking the business pub- lic of the United, States is the only competent judge. The Union Pacific Railroad. There appears to be some difficulty in Wash- ington with reference to the payment of the government indebtedness to the Union Pacifie Railroad. At least some members and officials of the company apparently consider that such is the fact, for it is said that they called on thé President to inquire if any reports contradic- tory to the official returns of the regular com- mission appointed by law to examine the road had been presented. The President knew nothing about any such report or com- plaint, but stated that the report of the com- missioners was in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Browning. This, we say, is the rumor; but the facts are, that whether there be any attempts at blackmailing, a¥ alleged by the railroad officials, or not, thé re~ port of the duly authorized special commis. sioners, signed by Brevet Major General War- ren and Messrs. Blickensdorfer and Barnes, testifies most favorably to the good construc- tion of the road. General Warren, who is an excellent engineer, and served with great suc- cess on General Hooker's staff during the wari is not the man, one would suppose, to put his name to a document about the truth of which . he is not amply satisfied. Having made a per- sonal examination of the Pacific Railroad, we presume that General Warren and his col-' leagues may be trusted when they say in their official report :— Taken as a whole, the Union Pacific Railroad har been well constructed. The general route for the line is exceedingly well selected, crossing the Rocky Mountain es at wome of the most favorable passes on the Continent, and easing: capabilities for easy grades and favorable align- ment unsurpassed by ey ee railway line om similar elevated ground. The energy and persever, ance with which the work has been urged forward and the rapidity with which it has been executed are without parallel in history. In the grandeur and magnitude of the undertaking it has never beem jualied, and no other line compares with this in the arid and barren character of much of the country i! traverses, ee rise to unusual inconveniences an difficulties and im) the necessity of Co pe almost every requisite of material and labor and of — for its construction from the extreme initial point of its commencement. Deficiencies exist, but they are almost without exception those incident to all new roads or of a character growing out of the peculiar duties encountered or inseparably connected with the unexampled progress of the work. That deficiencies are to be found there can be no doubt. In crossing small ravines and creeks the bridges may not be very substantiak In fact we know that in many places they look rather shaky. The original ties also were not made of the best kind of wood, although th¢ best that could then be had; but it is true) nevertheless, that these defects, both as re+ gards bridges and ties and other deficiencies have been remedied as soon as possible. Tha commissioners state that the ballasting of the road is not perfect and in some places tha higher embankments are not brought to the proper standard, All these defects, they sa; must be repaired. On the distance of ps miles surveyed there are employed 117 loco« motives, 27 passsnger cars and 1,799 baggagd cars. The commissioners estimate the expen» diture which will be necessary for the comple« tion of the work to Weber Cafion as a first class railroad at $6,489,550. The cost from this point to Great Salt Lake is estimated at three millions and a half more. If the road be imperfectly constructed and a mera makeshift to lift money from the government; it is somewhat remarkable that we have neves heard of any accidents occurring in the dis« tance of nearly a thousand miles since the road has been in operation, nor that there has oc-? curred any more delay in the safe delivery of. passengers, freight and mail matter than on any other road in the country. However, if there is anything wrong in the construction of: the road it is of conrse the duty of the Presi- dent to withhold his sanction to the issue of bonds. It does not appear, however, that the President can retuse to adopt the report of thet commissioners and to act upon it. Such, we believe, is the opinion of Attorney Genoral Evarts, a3 recently expressed when this ques tion was raised. It is probable, therefore, that no obstruction really exists in the progres* of this great national work, The Pacific Railroad Company, however, through their Vice President, Mr. Durant, and consulting engineer, Mr, Seymour, have pul- lished a reply to the statement of the Commis- sioners, attempting to refute many of the alle- gations therein; for example, showing that the additional sum of more than three millions anda half ought to be thrown out, because the equipment of the road is adequate for iis pre~ sent business, The company report that they have forty-five new locomotives building in addition to the one hundred and seventeen reported by the Commissioners, and have four hundred cars east of the Missouri raady for tise and three hundred more in course of con- struction, ‘The company deny that the ballaat- ing of the road is imperfect, except for about two hundred sail Gfty miles in the Platte