The New York Herald Newspaper, December 16, 1868, Page 6

OO TR 1 FORE RAND, RAY, DETRMNER Me Pee NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yorke HERALD. Rejected communications will not be re- turned. Letters and packages should be properly led. Volume XXXITMI............ sevseesseeee No. S51 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Littis BARBYOOT— VILLAGE BARBER, NEW YORK THEATRE, Broadway.—Ta® BORLESQUE or BAaRnBE BLECR. PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenue end ‘28d street,—Les BAVARDS—BAELE BLEUE. OLYMPIC THEATRE. Broodwey,—-MUMPEE Doumrrr. with NEw FEatunes. Matinee at 1%. FRENCH THEATRE, Fourteenth street and Sixth ave- nue.—GENEVIEVE Dz BRABANT. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tae EMERALD Brine. CK's THEATRE. Broadway and 18th street. — onenantor rox Watcd—Woopooox's LITTLE GaME. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—AFTE8 DARK ; OR, LON- DON BY Night, MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S ae THEATRE, Brooklyn.— Gio, THE ARMORER OF TYw WooD's MUSEUM AND THEATRE, Thirtieth street and Broadway.—Afiernoon and evening Perform: BRYANTS' OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Building, Mth atrect.—ETHIOPIAN MINSTRELBY, 40. KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 730 Brosdwer. imo: PIAN MINSTRELSY, BURLESQUE.—BARBER BLU. SAN FRANCISOO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway.—Era10- PIAN ENTERTAINMENTS, SINGING, DANOING, &¢. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE 201 Bi Matinee = COMIO Vooa.isn, NEGRO MINSTRELSY, &o, aM. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourtcenth street.—EQurst#ian AND GYMNASTIC ENTERTAINMENT. Matinee at 235. CENTRAL PARK GARDEN. PROMENADE ConcEnt. z0. THOMAS’ GRAND STEINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street.—Pror. eg MAN'S LEOTURE, “PHILOSOPHY OF THE TEA KETTLE. HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—HOOLRY's MIneTRELe—A DUTCHMAN IN JAPAN, £0. HOOLEY’S (E. D.) OPERA HOUSE, _re— HOOLEY's MINSTEELS—THE LANKYSUIRE Lase, & NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— SOIRNoE AND ART. TRIPLE SHEET. New Yerk, Wednesday, December 16, 1868. Europe. ‘Our cable despatches are dated yesterday. . Political affairs in Spain continue unsettled. There ts great distress among the poor of Madrid, and Many persons are leaving the city through fear of trouble. The Correspondencia denies that there was any truth in the report of a coup d'etat in favor of Duke de Montpensier at Cadiz, The Duke has re- turned to Lisbon. General Duloe was to embark from Cadiz for Cuba to-day. The members of the House of Commons went to the bar of the House of Lords yesterday, when the Royal Commission read a brief speech from the Queen, in which she stated that several members of the Lower House having accepted office under the crown it is her pleasure that the vacancies thus caused be filled before Parliament proceeds to busi- ness. Writs have been issued to fill these vacancies, and Mr. John Bright, in a brief address to his con- stituents, announces himselt a candidate for re-elec- tion. William E. Baxter, member of the House of Commons for Montrose, has been appointed Secre- tary to the Admiralty. It has been decided to recall Earl Mayo from India and to retain Sir John Law- rence as Viceroy for one year, when the Marquis of Salisbury will be appointed to the post. On Sunday last memorials to the Queen were extensively signed at all the Catholic churches in Great Britain asking the release of tho imprisoned Fenians. War is decidedly imminent in the East. The Greek and Turkish Ministers have left Constantino- ple and Athens. At the latter city the people made enthusiastic demonstrations before the American, English, Prussian and Russianembassies. The semi- oficial Correspondenz of Vienna has a despatch from Greek sources which announces that the government of Greece has rejected the Sultan's ultimatum amid great popular enthusiasm. The Austrian Ambassa- dor has been recalied from Constantinople. Cuba, Despatches from Havana state that the govern- Ment is actively engaged in searching for political offenders in that city, and several well known citi- zens have been arrested. Count Balmaseda was in Havana on Sunday last, and after an interview with the Captain General he returned to Nuevitas with reinforcements, A steamer arrived yesterday with the first reinforcements from Spain, and transports ‘with two thousand additional troops sre expected at Havana to-day. The Spanish troops in the interior Rave become dissatisfied with the lenient policy of the government in pardoning insurrectionists, and dave determined to change the character of the war by refusing to give or receive quarter. The revolu- tionista are confident of success, and expect aid from the United States and aisofrom Nassau. It ts stated that among the revolutionary officers killed at Moron were two who had been colonels tn the Mexican army. Mexico, Our Mexico city letters are dated November 27. Considerable rejoicing has taken place over the con- templated renewal of work on the Vera Cruz and Mexico Railroad, The earthquake*which occurred on the 6th was felt very generally throughout the country. In the neighborhood of San Luis the tremblings of the earth were quite terrible and huge rocks were roiled down the mountains. The campaign in Tamaulipas is being carried on with considerable vigor, Hayti. Our advices are to the 19th of November. The Picos before Jacmel had been repulsed after a bloody el ment, — West Indica, Advices to November 7 from Antigua and Deme- Tara contain no news of Importance. Many agricul- tural hands who had been introduced in Antigua at Great expense liad occasioned trouble by enlisting as poldiers. The crops looked well, in consequénce of ample rains. Many of the laboring class in Tortola fre dying of starvation: In St. Kitts the crops are food. All British vessels arriving at St. Thomas are required to undergo quarantine, Congress, In the Senate yesterday Mr. Wilson presented a memorial from the Americaa Missionary Association jn reference to certain matters in the Soutnern Btates. A petition was received trom Cornell Jewett pgainst granting any further subsidy to the Pacific Railroad. A number of citizens of Massachusetrs Bnd Michigan sent in @ petition asking for equal suf- frage. Mr. Sumnor reported joint resolutions tender- ing the sympathies of the United States to the Span- people in their endeavors to establish a liberal ernment. Mr. Oatteli, from the Committee on 08, reported a resolution condemning the policy fecommended by President Johnson in his Message in regard to the payment of the national debt, Mr, Edmunds introduced a bill to prevent the holding of civil oMfces by military omcers, The bill to punish the holding of oMce im violation of the fourteenth article was taken up, and afer speeches by Messrs. Ferry and Stewart it was referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Wilson’s bill to repeal sue law prohibiting the arming of (he militia in the NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1868.—TRIPLE ‘SHEET,, Southern States was taken up, and, after generat debate an amendment excepting Virginia, Missis- sippl and Texas was adopted and the bill was Passed. The Senate soon after adjourned. In the House the bill fixing the amount due Iowa for military expenses during the war occasioned some debate and went over on the expiration of the morning hour. The select committee on the New York election frauds was announced as follows:— Lawrence, of Ohio; Dawes, of Massachusetts; Blair, of Michigan; Dickey, of Pennsylvania; Hop- kins, of Wiscons!n; Marshall, of Illinois, and Hub- bard, of Connecticut. A motion to go into Com- mittee of the Whole on the Tariff bill, was passed by a vote of 102 to 69. Mr. Brooks being entitled to the floor, went on to say that $500,000 had been contributed by Union Leagues in New York and Philadelphia to corrupt the elections in Indiana Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine, Generat debate then ensued on the tariff, pending which the committee Tose and the House adjourned. It is believed that the nomination of Collector Smythe as Minister to Ruasia will be rejected by the Senate, several Senators who were expected to favor the confirmation having expressed themselves op- posed to it, Miscellaneous. ‘The reunion of the armies of the West took place at the Opera House in Ohicago yesterday. The armies of the Ohio, the Cumberland, the Tennessee and of Georgia were represented. General George H. Thomas presided, and General Sherman delivered the address of welcome. ‘News hasbeen received at Washington that the famous Samana Bay purchase has been completed, A company of New York capitalists has secured of the Dominican government a perpetual lease of the bay and peninsuls, and paid a large sum down to secure the bargain. It is understood that the United States government will proceed to establish a naval station there as soon as the Dominicans: give up possession to the New York lessees. Three naturalization treaties with the smaller Ger- man Powers, negotiated by Minister Bancroft, and similar to the one entered into with Prussia, have been received. A HERALD correspondent recently had a conver- sation with John W. Menard, the colored Congresa- man elect from Louisiana. He appears to be a rather Prepossessing mulatto in appearance. He de- nounced the carpet-baggers. in Congress, who had snubbed him since his arrival, although they were warmly devoted to htm before the election, and he seems to think that Governor Warmoth intends to withold his certificate, No more convicts have been released by Judge Underwood on writs of habeas corpus on the ground that the courts were disqualified under the four- teenth article, Both of the convicts had been sen- tenced to death. One was a woman. ‘The British troop ship Simoon, loaded with troops, is overdue at Halifax. General Sully, who has recently arrived at Fort Harker, Kansas, thinks that the hostile Indians have taken refuge in the Comanche country for the winter. The troops will follow them there; but, ow- ing to the extent of country, it is probable the war will extend through the winter. The officers of the Union Pacific Rallroad deny the report that trains are blocked up by snow on the plains. They claim that the road is clear of snow through its entire length. ‘The Pacific House, in St. Joseph, Mo., was de- stroyed by fire yesterday mbrning, and several of the guests made narrow escapes. The loss is $100,000, A steamboat is being constructed in Great Salt Utah. on The City. Admiral Farragut was recently tendered 3 public dinner by the prominent citizens of New York, but he declined it. The Park Bank building having been completed ‘was yesterday thrown open to the inspection of a large number of invited guests. It is unquestions- bly the finest banking building in this country. The bank will move into the new building to-morrow. The Watson & Crary distillery case was resumed yesterday, and after the examination of several wit- nesses was adjourned until this morning. The August Belmont branch of the Erie litigation was resumed before Judge Cardozo yesterday. After hearing considerable argument on both sides the case was postponed until Thursday. There were 824 deaths in New York and 126 in Brooklyn last week. The steamship Holsatia, which sailed yesterday for Southampton and Hamburg, took out on freight $82,225, ‘The Cunard steamship Ouba, Captain Moodie, will sail this morning for Queenstown and Liverpool. The mails will ciose at the Post Oftice at seven A. M. The steamship Nebraska, Captain Guard, will sail from pler 46 North river at three P, M. to-day for Queenstown and Liverpool. ‘The steamship Rising Star, Captain King, will leave pler 42 North river at twelve M. to-day for As- pinwall, connecting at Panama with steamship Mon- tana for San Francisco. ‘The Black Star line steamship Thames, Captain Pennington, will sail at three P, M. to-day from pier 13 North river for Savannah, Ga. Gold opened yesterday morning at 135%, fell to 136% and afterwards advanced to 135%, at which figure it closed. Governments were largely dealt in and closed steady. The stock market was doll and steady. 7 Prominent Arrivals in the City. Judge A. Wylie, of Washington; Judge Robert Cochrane, of New York, and Captain H. P. Connor, of the steamer Henry Chauncey, are at the Metropoll- tan Hotel. General J. Spaulding is at the Astor House. General C. C. Washburn, of Wisconsin, and Gene- ral James Craig, of Missouri, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel. General George T. Steedman, of Cincinnati, is at the Hoffman House. Major W. H. Mills, of the United States Army, is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. General T. Moore, of the United States Army, is at the Clarendon Hotel, Captain Kennedy, of tho steamship City of Paris, is at the New York Hotel. ‘The Spanish and the Eastern Question—The Policy of Non-Intervention. On the list of current topics we have two questions which may be regarded as interna- tjonal in their character, and which really are going far to test present international leanings and to determine the international policy of the future, The one of these is the Spanish and the other is the Eastern question. The Spanish question is new; the Eastern ques- tion is old. Both, however, are now equally active; and it will not be surprising to those who have been observant of the progress of these latter days if their combined action should introduce a new era of what the world haa hitherto known by the name of diplomacy. Our news from Spain, which, day after day, is singularly lively, shows that all is yet in uncertainty ; that, though the ultimate future is not doubtful, the immediate future is gloomy. The elements actively at work are numerous and discordant. There is want of sympathy between the people and the rulers, and there seems to be no unity of purpose among the ralers themselves, The situation as between Turkey and Greece is, if possible, more alarm- ing than ever. Greece, which is manifestly in the wrong, is stubborn and unreasoning. ‘The Ottoman government is determined at all hazards to assert its dignity. What Spain and what Turkey want is to be left alone. Interference on the part of an outside Power in the present stage of affairs might ruin—it could hardly beneflt—Spain. Interference of 4 mean and contemptible kind threatens to revive trouble in the Turkish empire. There is one consolation that remaina to the lovers of poace and justice that foreign intervention is growing in disfavor. Lord Stanley has recently declared that non-interference must more and more be- come the policy of the future. ‘No foreign alliance,” he says, ‘‘no European guarantee can protect a government against a financial collapse or against rebellion in its own pro- vinces. In those matters every country must be left to work out its own destiny.” These sentiments of the late Foreign Secretary of Great Britain are valuable, not merely because they are the sentiments of an able and far-see- ing statesman, but because they are the senti- ments of one who is singularly fortunate in seizing and giving expression to the growing thought of the day. Lord Stanley knows, and, what is better, he has the courage to avow it, that the history of the policy of intervention has been a history of sin and folly. A glance at some of the more prominent cases in recent years will prove this. The last grand example of intervention of foreign nations in the affairs of another on this Continent was the French occu- pation of Mexico. The last grand inter- vention of foreign nations in the affairs of another on the European Continent was the interference of France in the affairs of Italy. The latter was a comparative success; the former was an egregious failure, It is not to be denied that the results of both those cases of intervention have, to a large extent, been instrumental in convincing diplomatists and international politicians generally that on the whole it is, perhaps, better to allow all nationalities and all govern- | ments to settle their own affairs. Interference has. always been expensive, invariably annoy- ing, and in its resulta seldom satisfactory. If we go back toa date the memory of which is not altogether lost to the living world we can point to the case of Poland. Russia, Prussia, Austria iniquitously partitioned that fine country and broke the spirit of that brave and high-minded people. What was the result of that policy? Poland unquestionably, to all intents and purposes, was ruined; but the undying, the invincible spirit of the Poles, was one of the principal agencies which made the First Napoleon for a time the master of Europe. Interventions of a similar kind have taken place more than once since Napoleon deceived and since Napoleon fell; but, in spite of all opposition, Polish na- tionality is, perhaps, as much a question of the present as it ever was a question of the past. Take the case of Hungary. Hungary in 1848 gave every evidence that she was a match, and more than a match, for Austria. Russia, however, unfortunately for her now promising future and her wiser policy, lent a too powerful help to crush out the hopes of a brave and deserving people. In this case the results of interference have been quite hs unsatisfactory as they are ‘in the case of Poland. Poland, though bound, is still spirited and hopeful; but Hungary has acquired something better than freédom—she has made herself the centre of the Austrian empire. Take the case of the Netherlands. How few are prepared to say that the estab- lishment of the kingdom of Holland and the kingdom of Belgium, although for a time a serviceable, has been at all a satisfactory or conclusive arrangement. The establishment of the kingdom of Greece and, later, the union of Moldavia and Wallachia have been equally unsatisfactory as results of international diplo- macy. Italy, as we havesaid before, is one of the latest as well as one of the most hopeful results of the policy of interference. But that it would have been better for Italy had she been left alone to work out her destiny few who are acquainted with the facts will hesitate to admit. The experience, in short, of the European Powers for the last hundred years has but one lesson, and that lesson is almost, if not entirely, conclu- sive of the folly of forcibly interfering in the settlement of the affairs of any nation or of any government. Almost all the live and troublous questions of the day have a histori- cal connection with former unnecessary, if not unjust, meddling on the part of those who might have been better employed in minding their own affairs. It is not wonderful, therefore, although facts in this particular direction have been some- what slow to teach, that a change has begun to pass over the dreams of diplomatists. Let us hope that Lord Stanley in the shades of opposition will pursue this policy as actively as if he were in power. Let us hope that Napoleon will lend to it the sanction of his great name and the aid of his mighty influence. The United States, pursuing their ancient policy, will not refuse their help. Those three Powers are strong enough to make the policy of non-intervention the policy of the future. In all matters of internal policy let every nation settle its own affairs, In no other way can nation be just to nation. - The Postal Telegraph. Congress appears to be disposed to move promptly in the matter of the postal tele- graph, but its head seems at present to be turned in a wrong direction. Propositions have been made to incorporate new companies under the sanction and patronage of the gov- ernment, or to make contracts with the existing companies for stipulated services to be ren- dered to the Post Office Department; but these are only weak devices of the enemy, designed to prevent the accomplishment of the great reform of the age—the amalgamation of the postal and telegraphic administrations. To all such schemes Congress should turn a deaf ear. Their object is to embarrass the main question, which is the introduction of the same system in the United States as has proved so advantageous to the people and so remunerative to the governments in Europe. They emanate from the telegraphic monopo- lies and private corporations which at present enjoy the enormous profits of the business and afford such meagre facilities to the public. What the people and the press demand is a complete reform which shall make the electric telegraph as much a public in- stitution as the Post Office, and insure to the citizens as low rates for messages as now prevail for letters. We publish to-day the opinions of some leading journals on this sub- ject and recommend them to the notice of the Congressional coramiltee. It will be seen that the press and the people generally favor this reform, and that ita only opponents here, as in Europe, will be found among the officers of private telograph companies and those whose interesis are identified with such corporations, Woman Saffrage in the District of Colambin. Senator Wilson has introduced a bill so to amend the suffrage laws of the District of Columbia as to give to women of all colors and races, as well as men, the right of suf- frage. As Congress has “exclusive powers of legislation over the District of Columbia in all cases whatsoever,” here is a fair chance to try the two houses upon this very interesting question, There are a few outspoken members of the Senate in favor of woman suffrage, and first and foremost among them is ‘Old Ben Wade,” who goes for the whole programme of negroes’ rights and women’s rights. Senator Pomeroy, of Kansas, has so far advanced in the cause of woman suffrage that he has pro- posed to make it part of the supreme law of the land, But we like the idea of Mr. Wilson of first trying the experiment in the District of Columbia. We remember the time when, in full view from the west front of the Capitol, there was a regular slave pen, which was also a market where niggers were bought and sold. The abo- litionists first raised a hue and cry against that pen, and they kept it up to 1850, when among the compromise measures of Henry Clay passed that year was a provision abolish- ing the slave trade in the District. Some twelve years later, during the rebellion, the bolder and broader experiment was tried of abolishing slavery én doto in said District, and @ year or so after that an act followed estab- lishing universal negro suffrage in said District. These measures over a reserved bit of territory over which Congress possesses absolute authority were deemed judicious experiments and were demanded for the sake of consis- tency, in view of the legislation resolved upon in Southern reconstruction. So now, in view of a constitutional amendment establishing not only manhood suffrage but womanhood suffrage throughout the United States, Mr. Wilson doubtless thinks it wise first to try the experi- ment of woman suffrage in the aforesaid Dis- trict, to see how it willwork. Very well. We believe at a medical institution in this city they keep a dog for purposes of vivisection, and the dog, it is said, still lives, though dreadfully disfigured and mutilated. So, as the District of Columbia has not only survived but has flourished and continues to flourish under emancipation and negro suffrage, we cannot imagine why there should be any hesitation in trying therein the experiment of woman suf- frage. At all events, let Senator Wilson push forward his bill, so that the country may know, so that General Grant may know and so that the women may know who in the Senate in favor of negroes’ rights will dare to oppose women’s rights, | er Cénatituttonality of the Legal Tender Act. There is some anxiety in the public mind to know what the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States may be on the constitu- tionality of the Legal Tender act in the cases now pending before the court on that ques- tion. It is, undoubtedly, an important ques- tion, involving not only the powers of the gov- ernment, but the obligations and transactions of trade and the value of property, both past and present. Still, we think there is no need for apprehension or disturbance of business; for whatever the technical interpretation of the constitution or law may be there is an impera- tive and a higher law that must govern in the matter, and that isthe law of necessity—the law of public welfare. It was this law that led to the issue of the legal tender currency to preserve the government and the life of the republic ina great crisis, and it wilt now save “the country from the shock of annulling the act of Congress and declaring the greenbacks worthless. Of course we do not know what the decision of the Supreme Court may be; but if even adverse to the constitutionality of the act it would be comparatively inoperative, for the great and general interests of the country would prove superior to the dictum of the court, But we suppose the court will be gov- erned by higher considerations than those of doubtful constitutional or legal technicalities, and that under the abnormal and extraordi- nary circumstances surrounding the issue and operation of the legal tenders it will look to the public welfare. On several occasions in the history of the country, under the pressure of great financial difficulties, specie payments have been sus- pended, and it is well known that the laws were powerless to compel the banks to pay coin. The same has occurred in almost all other countries. The law of necessity is stronger than all other laws. It will prove so in this case. Mr. Evarts, in his able argu- ment before the court, maintains that’ while the several States are prohibited by the consti- tution from emitting bills of credit this is not forbidden to the federal government, and that by implication it has the power to emit bills of credit and to declare the value thereof. “Let the end be legitimate,” he says, “let it be within the scope of the constitution, and all the means which are appropriate, which are plainly adapted to the end, which are not prohibited, but consistent with the letter and spirit of the constitution, are constitutional. Under that the Bank of the United States was sustained in time of peace. Under that the embargo was sustained in timeof war.” Then he lays down as a proposition that “to determine what shall be the money of a country and how it shall- serve its pur- poses as ® measure of value and a medium of exchange, including its efficacy as a legal tender in satisfaction of debts, belongs to government. So, too, to deter- mine whether anything besides money shall be a legal tender in satisfaction of debts among its subjects or citizens belongs to govern- ment.” Then Mr. Evarts argues that the law can no longer be questioned under the four- teenth amendment of the constitution; for that has ratified every act of Congress relative to the public debt, and the legal tenders area part of that debt. That amendment declares, in effect, that the laws passed during the stress of war in aid and support of the public credit shall not be questioned. The Supreme Court may reserve its devision if it finds a constitutional difficulty, or it may render one not directly bearing upon the broad issue, to save the country from financial trouble ; but it will ‘be botter if the question can be settled at once and forever that the Legal Tonder act is valid and cannot be disturbed. Public opinion is strongly in favor of such a nottlement of the question, Even the on-to- specie-payment theorists are alarmed at the | EN 5 NRE oY (A BE os a EY PCI i ONT EMMI IE NORA PRESSE 9 ERC Rr the Legal Tender act be | The Removal of the Hell Gate Obstruce declared unconstitutional. But, as we said, we think there is no reason for apprehension and that under any circumstances the law of necessity will uphold the value of our green- back currency, The Game Laws. Nothing could be devised more unwise, absurd and contrary to the rules of nature than the statutes of the State of New York, passed nominally for the protection of the birds, fish and animals that inhabit our flelds, waters and forests. These laws have become so muddled under the conflicting interests of the game vendors and the game protectors, aided by the total ignorance of the Legis- latures which annually disgrace the Common- wealth at Albany, that they fail utterly to attain their object. The amendments which are yearly added seem but to make matters worse, and the public is threatened with the early extinction of one large class of food, and the sportsman with the destruction of the objects of his sport. Game of all kinds has never before been so scarce in our fields or so high in our markets; this is partly due to the severity of the late ‘winters, but far more to the incongruous and ill-digested character of the Game laws. The first and most manifest defect of these enactments is their want of positiveness; they are loose, unsystematic and liable to be easily evaded. The main point for them to effect is a limitation on the time of selling game. Birds and wild animals will not be killed if there is no sale for them and if the possession of them isa crime punishable by a heavy fine. Some established period, according as closely as cir- cumstances will allow with the time in which nature herself has determined that the crea- tures ate ‘“‘in season,” should be determined on, and during this there should be no restric- tion on the killing or selling of game; the period of sale might even be extended beyond the date when the killing was stopped, in order to enable market dealers to dispose of surplus stock; but after the prescribed limit the prohibited species of bird, beast or fish should not be killed, had in possession or sold on any pretext whatever, whether it came from Canada or Kamschatka. The present law in referring to the wood duck adds the elucidating phrase ‘“‘commonly called black duck,” and in speaking of gray duck the words ‘‘commonly called summer duck” are appended. As the wood duck is not a black duck at all, but is a summer duck, this provision of the statute is as effective as it is brliliant. it then goes on to forbid the kill- ing of swallows, woodpeckers, brown thrushes and such small game—a prohibition that might as well be omitted, as it has ad et in 4 single instance been éhforced. { next makes a special exception in favor of counties border- ing upon waters where the tide ebbs and flows— wherever that may be—to allow partridges to be killed in such favored localities on and after the 3d of July, when they are scarcely fledged and not able to fly. There is then lugged in a provision of a Scriptural nature, which, if it should exist at all, ought to have no place in such a statute. Finally, after the taking of trout is authorized during the month of September, which is entirely wrong, this budget of blunders closes by excepting from its provisions all game killed in places where the laws are different. Let the sportsmen’s committees which are to meet at Albany this coming winter look to it that such a statute no longer disgraces our statute books and urge its amendment in the particulars which we have pointed out. Ifsomething of the sort is not done the present scarcity of game will become & famine and our epicures will miss their haunch of venison, larded partridges, broiled quail, roasted woodcock and fried trout from the hospitable board, while the people gene- rally will have to pay an advance on other food to make up for the deficiency, and the sportsmen will be selling their guns, dogs, rods, powder flasks, shotbags and fishing tackle for want of use. General Rosecrans in Mexico. The reception of our new Minister to Mexico, General Rosecrans, upon his arrival at Vera Cruz, was of a very flattering character. The highest honors were paid to him on his land- ing, showing that he was cordially welcomed by the Mexican people upon touching their soil. He was escorted on his land journey to the city of Mexico by an escort of fifty sol- diers. There is no reason to suppose that his diplomatic mission will not find as much favor with the Mexican government as that bestowed upon him by the Mexican public. General Rosecrans has a very delicate mission in hand. He is, in fact, the advance guard of an active system of diplomacy in Spanish America. The result of his labors in the sorely disturbed and afflicted republic of Mexico may have much to do with our future relations with all the Spanish American States. No doubt General Rosecrans comprehends this, and as the government and the country have reposed an important trust in him they will rely upon his judgment and firmness in dealing with the authorities of the republic to which ho is ac- credited, in order that good fruits may come from his mission. It is no easy task which he has to perform, but his antecedents warrant the expectation that he will accomplish it with credit The TrRovpies BETWEEN TURKEY AND Grexce.—Our cable telegrams, via Vienna, published this morning bring the important intelligence that the Greek and Turkish Minis- ters had left Constantinople and Athens, The previous reports of the Grecian government having rejected the Sultan’s ultimatum are also confirmed by special despatch to a Vienna newspaper, which states that this rejec- tion was made ‘amid great popular enthu- siasm.” The indications now are that a war is imminent between the two nations—a con- flict which, considering the strength and resources of the presumed belligerents, cannot be of long duration, unless the great Powers of Europe see fit to take part. This latter event ts now hardly probable, as the Austrian Ambassador at Constantinople has been with- drawn on the representations of the French and English Ambassadors at Vienna to the Austrian government that hor attitude on the Eastern question was endangering the peace of all Europe. Should such a lamentable event tranapire, however, it would be likely to plunge the whole Continent ta a desolating war, dons. Mr. Schenck’s resolution calling on the Sec- retary of War for information as to ‘‘what haa been done towards removing the Hell Gate ob- structions” is most timely. As yet we do not know anything about the matter. Plans should have been completed long since. These should show a thorough cross section of the river at every ten feet for the whole distance along the line of the work, .A topographical survey of the bottom should also be made, showing its lines of equal level, and in such a complicated matter @ wooden model of the river bed should be made from the . This would enable the engineers to study the effect of the currents and the best method of removing the rocks. As tothe bids which have been offered, wo have very little confidence in them. There has been work enough done under water in the last ten years in different parts of the world to render the whole matter one of approxinfate mathematical calculation. Any bid not based on such a calculation is not worth listening to, for it will be a failure and prolong the time for the removal of the impediments to navigation. If our United States military and civil engi- neers are not capable of devising a method to carry out the work let us acknowledge our ignorance and import foreign engineering brains from some European schoolhouse, The Union League and the New York Election in Congress. In a government based on the expression of Popular will as ascertained at the polls wo ought to guard very carefully against corrup- tion of the vote in any form; but at the same time we ought to be equally careful in listen- ing to the charge of any party that the defeat of its candidates is due solely to fraud. There is danger both ways. Perhaps the greater danger lies in making precedents based on the proverbially wild estimates that men of one party make of the dishonesty and evil purposes of men of another party. According to the democrats all the republicans are fanatical wretches of the worst possible stamp, and according to the republicans there is no place on earth that is quite bad enough for a fully developed democrat of this city. It is evident that if we should accept and place on record the view that each party, as it is in power, would give currency to with regard to the other party, we should act nationally as the bird that has too little care for the state of its nest. We would give public sentiment here and give to the world abroad a debased and unjust impression of the results of republican institutions on political morality. At the same time, where there is so much to be gabisd éven in the money value of official patronage by success at the polls fraud is always possible, and, of urEe, elways an evil of the greatest magnitude.” This gévern- ment rests on the acquiescence of the people in the result of the election; and we must, of all things, guard against giving the People any reason why they should not acquiesce in the result, Such a reason, however, is always handy when it can be shown that the declared and apparent result is not the real result, since part of the vote was false. Civil war lies in this matter. There can be no reason why an investigation should not be made if it be made in the proper spirit, An investigation properly conducted would do good by settling this ques- tion one way or the other on facts, and could dono harm; and it is not in favor of the demo- cratic conseience that the democracy seem to oppose a virulent opposition to the very thought of inquiry. It is to be considered, however, that they are naturally averse to trial before a court of the other side; and it is to be remembered that in many cases on con- tested seats that have come before this repub- lican Congress there is an astonishing average of decisions in favor of republican candidates, We cannot trust the republicans to try such a case, It seems that the democrats themselves are the parties on trial; and how, then, shall we make up the court? Congressional Thanks to General Reynolds. A resolution was offered in Congress yes- terday to thank General Reynolds for his “ability and impartiality in discharge of the delicate and important duties which devolved upon him as Commander of the Fifth Militaty District.” If there isa military district which requires more ability than that just named we fail to know it. Its government during the administration of General Reynolds was per- haps more difficult than at any previous period and far more troublesome than it can be here- after. At the close of the rebellion Texas was the only State which boasted that she was unconquered, She had, as a single instance in the South, made large sums of money by the war, which was very popular in conse- quence, The vast territory was covered by renegades and desperadoes who gave alle- giance to neither God nor man. It contained the worst of the Southern, the Indian, the negro and the Mexican element, and was situ- ated so far out of reach of our general govern- ment that these hybrid elements ran riot in everything but morality. To be military governor on the Rio Grande del Norte, where General Reynolds was first sent, was the posi- tion most fitted to try the ability of any com- mander; and that it was so well filled isa 4 proof of rare merit. We therefore heartily approve of the resolution of thanks as shove mentioned, and it should be given to the soldier who 80 richly deserves it. ANOTHER AMERICAN Ipka—Jonn Bett. 1% Favor Ir.—One of our latgst cable despatches informs us that the low rate of postage for newspapers and the ‘free exchange system” of this country are being discussed in the lead- ing journals and recommended for adoption in | Great Britain under her new and more liberal form of government, Education of the people is now felt to be a necessity. Everything must be done to encourage it. The point, however, in this piece of news is this—that Great Britain is beeoming Americanized and that she bogins to know it, Our institutions must become more and more hers. eee ens WAVAL INTELLIGENCE, The United States steamer Shamokin, from tio Inneiro, passed up by Fortress Nonroe fosterday for Norfolk. ‘The United States steamer Gottyaburg, Com- mander Irwin, leaves Key West this morning for Havana, under orders from Rear Admiral Hoff. 1 is expected that ste WH! rerun at Havana for some ome. ’ ) |