The New York Herald Newspaper, December 9, 1869, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Herarv. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- trned. Volume NTS THIS EVENING. WALLACK'S THEATRE. Sroaiway and Menuy Duxsaa. Imh street,— FRENCH THEATRE 14th at and 6th av,—Lonpon; OR, LiGuts AND Sua. Wy OF THE GREAT CITY, THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth street.—Tax BURLESQUE oF Ban Dickey .corasrot Fighth avenus and eRA—THR HUGUENOTS. ween 6th ana 6th avs,— OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broaaway.—Unpen Tue Gas- LiouT. THEA’ FIFTH AVENUE Twenty-fourth st.—Tan Tish Herarss. + her crew losing thelr lives. None of the passengers were lost, James ©. Morris, a member elect of the New Jersey Legisiature from Merecr county, bas been hela in $1,000 bail at Trentom to answer to a charge of ravishing Miss Rosy McCavapn the soth wit, Whe National Board of Trade wed Fortress Mon- roe yesterday. A young man in Washington township, Pa., was thrown on a circalar saw yesterday and sawed nearly in two, froin the shoulder, diagonally. ‘The members of the Philadelphia Commercial Exchange are gving to build a new bali imme- diately. An old resident jumped off the suspension bridge at Niagara Falls yesterday and was killed. The City. The Union Leagne of the United States held tts annual meeting yesterday at the Republican Head quarters fn Broadway, and after the adoption of re- soluuions endorsing President Grant's admintstra- tion, and the election of officers for the ensuing year, adjourned to meet In Washington in February next. Recorder Hackett, in his charge to the Grand Jury yesterday, reminded them that the Richardson- McFarland case would come before them, and he suggested that if bigamy was commitied by the death-bed marriage, the parties aiding and abetting it should be indicted. ; Inthe Board of Health yesterday it was stated that smallpox was about becoming epidemic In the Fath, Fourteensit and Sixteenth wards of Brooklyn, and three special inspectors were appointed to vac- cinate the inhabitants, The widow of Patrick Lane, the man who was killed by falling through the Hackensack bridge, has NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broaoway.—Tar Litv.e Dergo- TIVE—AN OBJEC? OF INTE been presented with something over $5,000 by the UM AND Matinee dui Woon's Mu: RIE, Broadway, cor wer thirtieth a. natice every evening. BOWERY THHATRE, Dex Frsisonvie Bowery.—PAUL Cuirroxp— ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 14th treet.—LeoTuRE bY PEER Hyaciy iar, MRS. F. B, CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn. THe SERVENT ON THE HEAWTH. TONY PASTOR'S Vooatiam, Nku )PERA HOU: MINSTRELBY, 901 Bowery.—Comio THEATRE © 18M, NEGRO Ac QUE, 614 Broadway.—Couto Vocar- 18, €0, BRYANTS’ OPER tt—Havanis’ M SAN FRAVCISCO MI¥ PIAN MINSTRELSY, NEGu JSE, Tammany Bullding, 14th i, 685 Broa tway.—Eruio- eC. TRE, No. 220 Broadway.—Eruto- NEGxO Acts, &c. STEINWAY HAL AND INSTRUMES BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC—Itaian Orzna— Winiiam TELL, NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fonrteenth street.—EQueaTRIAN HOOLEY'S OPERA MINSTEELS—Novovy's Daven EMPIRE RINK, Six: EXamition or New Yous Star Third avenue.— ULTRY SOCIETY, DORE ART UNION PAINTING SOMERVILLE ART GALLERY, Fifth avenue aud Mth street,—EXiBITION OF Tux NIN MUSES. roudwWay.—EXMIBITION OF NEW YORK M°SSUM OF ANATOMY, 613 Broadway.— BOIENCE AND ART LADIES' NEW YORK MUSE.'M OF ANATOMY, 618% Broadway.—PEMALES ONLY IN ATTENDANCE, TRIPLE Now York, Tiursday, December 9, 1969. funy NEWS. Europe. Cable telegrams are dated December 8. The United States Treasury report was received favorably by the French ana Englisn press. England rejects the modidcations to the treaty of commerce with France proposed by Napoleon’s government. The march of Austrian troops through the territory of Montenewro ia likely to Jead to a dimiculty be- tween Prussia and Austria, the North Germans supporting the Aoutevegrin§ protest. Spain ia agitated by the consequences of the Political party prosecutions. The Alabana claims question 1s cauvassed vy the London newspavers. Raght Rey. Dr. icmpie bas been confirmed as Lishop of Exeter, Engiaad. ‘he “red” democrats have met in council in Naples. The lay powers are not specially represented in the Ecumenical Council. England 15 scl) building vessels suited ior the Bavigation of the suez Canal. General Banks was in Paris, By mail we have our special correspondence from Europe, dated to the 20th of November, erubracing matter oO. wdc inverest, Cuba. An attempt was made recently to burn the town of Juin, but it was frustrated and many suspected persons have Leen arrested. A movement of troops is being made Irow Sanu Espiritu towards Puerto Principe. . Congress. In the Senate yesterday, after the announcement of the standiag commiltees, Mr. Edmunds gave notice that un Friday he would call up the House resolution co ning the Eight Hour jaw. Bills were introdu: n regard to an international coin- age and to repeal ail laws requiring test oaths, Resolutions were offered in regard to ratification of consiitulional amendments, to bounties for colored soldiers, calling upon the President for information in regard to aifairs in Cuba, concerning the Win- nipeg rebdeilion, the Canadian reciprocity treaty, ana whether any Statea were violating the provisions of the fourteenth a dent, The bill to relieve aboat 600 persons named from political disabilities was passed. The joint resolution providing that upon the final adoption of the Ofteenth amendment ali disabilities sla | cease was taken up and considered, after which tie Seaate went into executive session and adjourued. In the Hlouse Mr. Davis introduced a Dili to abolish duties on foreign coals, Mr. Mungen, of Ohio, introduced a bill to exempt from taxation ex- soldiers and sailors of the United States to the same extent as the property of bondholders, Tue House im Committee of tie Whole considered the Census bill until three o'clock, when the committee rose and the House adjourned, Miscelinneous, The Spanish gunvoat question is likely to be set- Ued without furtser interierence of the courts. The Spanish Minister takes the ground assumed by the Peruvian governmeat s0m6 tWo years ago, that the war between Spain and Peru ceased long since, with no intention of 118 renewal, and yesterday he laia before Secretary Fish @ statement denying that the gunboats were to be the means of carrying on a war with Peru. Tue Peruvian Minister expresses him- self satisfied with the explanation of the Spanish Mluister, and the cause of the detention of tho gun- boats is, consequently, removed. A bill is to be tutrodaced into the House of Repre- sentatives for the establishment of aeline of Ameri- can mail steamers to Burope, India and China, by way of the Suez Canal, aud for reducing the rates of ocean postage. The House Committee on Indian Affairs will soon report @ bill for the termination of all Indian treaties and providing for them by Congressional legislation. ° ‘The Indiang are again depredating extensively in Wyoming ‘Territory. It is believed that @ mall party which left Fort Laramie recently bas been vaptured, Another mining accident is reported near Central City, Colorado. Turee men were killed and a num- ber injured. railroad coupany. In the Untted States District Court yesterday the hearing of argument on the motion to release the Spanish gunboats was further postponed until to- day, owing to the non-arrival of Distric’ Attorney Pierrepont, who is in Washington. Mart Allen, who was sentenced to Sing Sing nearly two weeks ago, is still in the Tombs, Judge Cardozo having issued a writ of error in the case. . The North German Lioyd’s steamship Weser, Cap- tain Wenke, will leave Hoboken at two o'clock P. M. to-day for Southampton and Bremen. The Euro- pean mails will close at the Post Oilce at twelve M. The steamship Eagie, Captain Greene, will sail from pier No.4 North river, at three P. M. to-day, for Havana. The steamship Saragossa, Captain Ryder, will leave pler No.8 North river, at three P, M. to-day, for Charleston, 8, C, The stock market yesterday was strong and active, but, upon realizations, fell off subsequent to the boards. Gold advanced to ana closed at 124. Prominent Arrivals in the City. General Foster Blodgett and General H. 0. Hoyt, of Georgia; Colonel Edward Ellis, of Schnectady; Colonel J, C, Savory, of Des Moines; Judge F. S. Lailin, of Saugerties; Lieutenant Commander Wise, ofthe United States Navy, and Judge W. Whiting, of Massachusetts, are at the Metropolitan Hotel. Samuel Bowles, of Springfleld; Judge Abbott, of Boston, and A, Bierstadt, of Irvington, are at the Brevoort House. commander John Horley, of the United States Navy, and Colonel W. M. Weil, of Cincinnau, are at the St, Charles Hotel Protessor French, of West Point, and J. Murphy, of the United States Army, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. General J. B. Swain, of Scarboro, and E£. Durand, of San Francisco, are at the Coleman House, Major General C. M. Prevost and Dr. J. M. Pre- vost, of Philadeiphia; Robert M. Douglaa and E. D. Larned, of Chicago; Judge J. L. Tallcott, of Buffalo, and G, A, Babcock, of the United States Navy, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel, i Governor Geary, of Pennsylvania; E. A. Bancroft, of the United States Army; James Terwilliger, of Syracuse; General A, W. Eaton, of Washington, and Postmaster M. L. Filkins, of Albany, are at the Astor House, A Return to Specie Payments—Senator Sumner’s Scheme. Mr. Sumner has introduced into the Senate the following bill to amend the Banking act and to promote the return to specie payments :— Be it enacted, &c.. Thatso much of the Banking act as limits the issue of bitls to $500,000,000 13 here- by repealed, and sting banks may pe enlarged and new bauks may be orwanized at the discretion oj the Secretary of the Treasury. But no more bills than are now autnorized by we Banking act shail hereaiter pe issued, unless the Secretary of the ‘Treasuty. at the time of their issue, can and does cancel and destroy alike amount of legal tenders; and the mecrease of bank bilis hereby authorized Shall not exceed $50,000,000 per year, which amount shall be so distributed by the Secretary of the Trea- sury as to equalize, as Dear as possible, the banking interests of the diverent States. And the following are the reasons which this specie payment financier presents in sup- port of this remarkable scheme :— First—1t wiil creave a demand for our national bonds and to tbls extent fortify the national credit. Second—It will tend to satisly those parts of the country, especialivy of tae South and West, where currency and banks are weating, and thus arrest ® difficult question, Thirv-—\t Wiil not expand or contract the currency, so that the oppusite parties on these questions may support it fourti—Under it the banks will gradually sirengthen themselves and prepare to resume specie payments, Fifih—lt will give the South and West the oppor- tunity to organize banks, and will interest those parts of the country to this extent in the national securities and the national banking system, by Which both wili be strengthened, Sa h—it will, within a reasonable time, relieve the country of the whole greenouck system, aud thus dispose of an important question, ‘Seventi—It Will hasten the return to specie pay- ments, Now, here we think we have an exemplifi- cation of the wisdom of that favorite aphorism of Hon. Zadock Pratt, the tanner, that ‘‘there is nothing like leather,” and likewise of the soundness of that ancient maxim, ‘Let the shoemaker stick to his last.” Finance is not the vocation of Mr. Sumner. It is one of the exact sciences for which the peculiar cast and drift of his mind are not adapted, His voca- tion is that of the moral philosopher, the poet, the historian, and the lawyer, on broad and general principles, such as those involved, for example, in the Alabama claims. On that subject bis great Speech in the Senate has placed before the world his abundant resources of learning, eloquence and logic in bold and beautiful relief. The broad facts and general principles presented in that famous speech, aod the logical conclusions therefrom, were such as to astonish and confound the states- men of Great Britain, and to Fright the isle from its propriety. So convincing, too, as the true American exposition of these Alabama claims is this great argument of Mr. Sumner, that we find it adopted in the first regular message of Presi- dent Graut to Congress in the exposition of his practical Amerigan views on the subject. Here we find two minds, as widely different in their elements and processes of thought as the minds of John C. Calhoun and Andrew Jack- son, meeting by different roads at the same terminus. It is because upon this subject ‘all roads lead to Rome,” But upon the why and the wherefore of his views on finance we find the close and practical reasouing of the soldier far more reliable than Judge Hoke, of Louisville, bas decided that tho Kentucky State law taxing the income of national banks arising from United States bonds is constitu. tional, and the Congressional enactment forbidding such tax is unconstitutional, . The ship Orion, which has been missing for some time, Went ashore on a@ shoul near San Diego, cal., on the 6tb inst, but was helped off and towed to San Diego harbor, where she now lies. The steamer Rebecca collided with the pter of the bridge over the Ohio river at Parkersburg, Va., on Tuesday pight and sunk immediately, four or hve of | the poets fancies. General Grant proposes to bring about return to specie payments by | increasing the returns to the Treasury from | the taxes collected and taxes suthorized, by reducing expenditures, by using the reve- | nue above current expenses in the reduction | of the national debt and by funding the debt | at four and a half per cent interest as rap- | idly as his means will permit. All these processes are practical and to the purpose, Generel Grant further advocates a gradual restoration to specie paymeuts, and contends that a hothouse system of forcing would spoil the fruit in the ripening. But from first to last the leading ideas of General Grant are to increase the supplics in the Treasury from existing resources, to cut down expenses in every available thing and to lighten the exis(- ing burdens upon the country, Tlow widely different fs this now financial scheme of Mr. Sumner. Upon the three hun- dred millions of currency in the notes of the national banks now in cireulation the Treasury loses eighteen milliona in gold, which these banks pocket. Upon the samo amount of greenbacks the Treasury saves eighteen millions in gold. Yet Mr. Sumner proposes at the rate of filty millions currency a year, in the supplies to new national banks, to absorb the four hundred millions of green- backs in the six per cent bounty of these banks, and thus increase this loss to the Treasury from eighteen to forty-two millions a year in gold. And one of his’ reasons for this plan of operations is that it will ‘relieve the country of the whole greenback system” and “hasten te return to specie payments.” “Hasten." There is a fallacy in the very word; but how the plan proposed is to hasten specie payments we cannot divine, The Sena- tor's reasons are mere assumptions, and we think they are delusive and absurd, Suppose we try the opposite system of abolishing all this national bank currency and substituting greenbacks for it, Upon seven bundred mil- lions of currency the Treasury will thus save forty-two millions a year in gold—a saving upon which the internal revenue tax upon incomes from salaries might be utterly abol- ished, with still a clear gain of ten millions in currency to the Treasury. In other words, we pay in gold now eighteen millions, we will say, of our income taxes on salaries to support these national banks, and Mr. Sumner pro- poses to increase the cost of these superfluous institutions to millions more than the whole revenue from such incomes. K The Senator, then, to use a homely phrase, “has the wrong bull by the horns.” The forty- two millions which he proposes to take from the Treasury for the benefit of these national banks should be taken from these banks for the benefit of the Treasury. But there is a higher and broader objection to these banks taking root among the people. It is the same objec- tion which resulted in the overthrow of the old United States Bank of ‘‘Nick Biddle” in his conflicts with ‘‘Old Hickory.” These banks threaten to become a sort of political oligarchy, like ‘‘Biddle’s monster” and its branches, or like General Jackson’s pet State banks to some extent. Heaven forbid that we should re- turn to the wildcat State bank paper money system which was extinguished by the late rebellion. But the gveenback furnishes a safe, uniform and satisfactory currency to the coun- try, and it will save to the Treasury in gold forty-two millions a year, as a substitute for the scheme of Mr. Sumner. As for the na- tional bonds, under General Grant’s policy of redemption, they will go off fast enough wiih- out the aid of these national banks. We dare say, too, that Mr. Sumner in due time will discover that his curious prescription for has- tening specie payments is among the impracti- cable vagaries of fancy financiers. Affairs in Dominica. 4 We present our readers to-day with an interesting review of the condition of Do- minica about twenty-three years ago. It is compiled almost altogether from the report of Admiral, then Lieutenant, Porter, of the United States Navy, who was sent during President Polk’s administration to make a survey of the whole island of St. Domingo, under the directions of Mr. Bancroft, who was then Secretary of the Navy. The tour of the Lieutenant was an extensive one, and was made with the view of obtaining reliable information regarding the political condition of the people and the resources of the coun- try. The picture drawn of the island is a flattering one, and cannot fuil in impressing us with the belief that under the influence of a go-ahead nation like the United States it could be made a mine of wealth to its possessor. Even at the comparatively early day at which the report was written the advantages of the Bay of Samana aso naval station for the United States were perceived. Lieutenant Porter in writing about it said :— ‘The geographical posi- tion of Samana Bay is of vast importance to the United States. Situated close to the high- way of all vessels coming from Europe (the Mona passage) and of most of the vessels from the United States bound to the West Indies, the Power that owned it would com- mand the commerce of any nation with whom it was at war.” The views expressed then were regarded with favor by some; but the subject, like many others, passed out of sight. The time, however, is fast coming when the acquisition not only of the Bay of Samana, but of the whole island, may become impera- tive. The prospects of a canal across the Isthmus of Darien lead us to look towards the probability of the island of St. Domingo becoming American territory. The people of St. Domingo, and Hayti also, are, we are led to believe, anxious for annexation, and look to a close relationship with the United States as a means of securing them from the disturb- ances which are almost chronic on the island, owing to petty jealousies of rival military chieftains. Annexation will cure these evils, and the sooner it is accomplished the better. A JAPANESE PRINCE IN A JERSEY CoLLEGR.— ‘The College of New Branswick, New Jersey, is just about to receive a student of the old Asiatic civilization, who comes to the Alma Mater to learn something of the modern views of things in science, art, literature and govern- mont as they are developed by this, the newest nation on the globe. A Japanese prince, it is said, intends to register himself on the rolls of that college for the purpose of obtaining a thorough education. There are a good many Chinamen already availing themselves of our educational system, but we believe that this is the first instance of a royal scion of Japan following that example, The communication between the two continents is now go close and the interests so mutual that an American education engrafted upon Asiatic ideas may become a necessity to the intelligent portion of | our neighbors across the Pacific who aspire to follow in our path of progress, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1869—TRIPLE SHERT. Opening of the Eremenira) Connell. Daring tho present century Romo has wit- nossed no auch display of grandeur and magnifi- cence as was offered yesterday by the assembly and ceremonies at the solema opening of the An Oregen Senator on Obinese Labor. Sonator Wiliams, of Orogon, has got a bill providing that all contracts fur the importation of Chinese into this country sizall henceforth be declared & misdemeanor, and that contracts Ecumenical Council, The uttermost parts of | now existing shall be null and void. The tho eart' wore represented in the procession of | people on the Pacific coast are jealous of seven hundred bishops which followed Pope Pius LX. to the ball of the Council, and in the dense mul'itade of spectators who tironzed the streets, while the bells were all ringing and cannon was thundering from the Forts of San Angelo and Mount Aventine. But it is noteworthy and significant that «ll this pomp was almost exclusively ecclesias- tical. Although the galleries of the Hall of Council were occupied by the sov- memb-rs of the diplomatic corps and by other notables, not # single special representative appeared on behalf of any of the temporal Powers of Rurope. And whata vast proportion of all who profess and call themselves Christians were unrepresented in this splendid gathering of the Latin arch ! It must, moreover, be mentioned among the signs of the times that on the same day the bishops met in Rome the Deists assembled in convention at Naples, and that the news of this convention and of the opening of the Ecumenical Council was flashed simultaneously by the Atlantic telegraph to New York, The Charter Election—Ite Lesson. The election held day before yesterday pre- sented some novel features in politics which convey a lesson that may be profited by in the future, Throughout the entire city the conviction prevails that the system of “repeat- ing” was shamelessly resorted to in some of the wards. That in wards particularly desig- nated bands of itinerant voters visited the different polling places and voted in each, without question, let or hindrance. The pre- sence of the police, even the undisguised fact—patent to all, to the inspectors them- selves—that they were repeaters, did not deter these parties from voting or having their votes recorded. Had the contest been between the candidates of two opposing organi- zations the resort to this flagrant system of fraud upon the rights of the citizens, while it would have been strongly condemned, might not have been #0 greatly wondered at; but here, for the first time, perhaps, certainly for the first time on such an extensive scale, was this wrong practised upon candidates of the same party. This arose from the fact that the republicans, acting as an organization, permitted the election to go by default, and the chances thus afforded to demo- cratic candidates not receiving the regular nomination to contest the election with the aid of their partisans and such repub- lican votes as might be relied on to be cast in opposition to Tammany. It was, perhaps, from the fact that the Aight on Tuesday last was a one-sided one that the extent to which “repeating” was carried was so noticeable and so strongly deprecated within the democratic ranks, As it is said that “curses, like chickens, come home to roost,” 80 it may be said that the curse of repeating never came 60 near home as it did in this case, It would, indeed, prove a benign visitation if it opened the eyes of political leaders to the danger and evil of the practice, whether or not it devolves upon the people themselves, from the experience of Tuesday last, to take such steps through their representatives in the Legislature as will secure an immediate sup- pression of the evil in all elections to come. If the citizens do not move in this matter at the earliest moment and insist upon short, sharp and ‘decisive action in the premises, they submit to a voluntary disfranchisement— a thousand times more slavish and galling than an enforced one. Mayor Hall, in a witty little speech made by him before the St. Nicholas Society a few evenings ago, alluded to the habit of ‘‘repeating” which prevailed in this city so far back as 1702, and said he sup- posed that the same would be practised till elections should be no more. But this is a question for the citizens themselves, and they alone can effectually dispose of it. The lesson of the hour with regard to this ‘‘repeating” business is worth repeating. Both parties say they are anxious to have a law expressly passed to meet and suppress this evil. But who will take the initiative? The people, as most deeply interested, ought to do so, and if they but make a concerted movement npon the Legislature at its next session and compel it to pass a law meeting all the requirements of the case the lesson taught on Tuesday last will not be in vain. Corron iN Eaypr.—A cable despatch informs us that certain Manchester merchants have had an interview with the Viceroy of Egypt, and that the Viceroy has assured them that he is making extensive preparations to increase the growth of cotton in the territory under his charge, It is well known what Egypt can do in the cotton line. Our civil war made the Viceroy one ofthe richest men in the world, perhaps the richest. It is not too much to say that if our cotton supplies had not failed the Suez Canal would not yet have been com- pleted. More than has been done with Lower Egypt in the cotton interest cannot be done. The fact is cotton ceased to pay in Egypt when our war ended. But Sir Samuel Baker pro- poses to give to the Viceroy a cotton-growing district balf as large as our Southern States, The Viceroy is not, therefore, without interest in the Manchester mills. A Roya, axp Wortny Equivatent.—In the Alabama Legislature on Tuesday it became necessary to elect a President of the Senate pro tem. The only negro in the Senate, a man named Royal, and of course a radical, courteously nominated the only white demo- crat, whose name was Worthy. Worthy de- clined the nomination and voted for his dark complexioned friend Royal. This was cer- tainly a Rayal and Worthy compromise as well as a very interesting affair in the Alabama of to-day. Tae ImrgRiaAL PARLIAMENTARY PLATFORM is laid down in the speech of M. Forcade de lu Roquette, the Minister of the Interior, who declared yesterday in the Corps Legislatif that “the government defended the country against evil doctrines and the country endorsed it,” and assured the deputies that ‘the govern- ment wished to establish liberty but with pru- dence and firmness.” Asiatic labor, Perhaps it is natural that they should be so just now, but they need not be alarmed in the Jeast about it, for eventually the growth of Chinese iadusiry and labor will do them no harm. The time is not far distant when the developments of all the States and Territories on the Pacifio will need labor in abundanoe, and when ii will be welcome from any quarter. Labor will not como from the Eastern States, because it will find a field for years to come on this sido of the Mississippi or in the States that lie east of the Rocky Moun- tains—-Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado—and in the States of the South, where it is sought for under the most inviting circumstances, While there is an acre to be tilled, a mine to be worked or a mill to run in these States the Pacific slope can hardly expect an abundance of white labor from the Atlantic States, Senator Williams’ constituents probably know these facta better than he does, and they know, too, that only for the Chinese and the prospects likely to result from their immigra- tion the Pacific Railroad would not have been in operation to-day—that grand bighway which brings commerce and'prosperity to the doors of Oregon and all the Pacific States, from California to the seal hunting grounds of Alaska. The opposition of Senator Williams to Chinese immigration is therefore ill-timed and foolish. The Marriage Rite, Recorder Hackett's suggestion in regard to the indictment of the clergymen who, in the marriage of Mrs. McFarland, abetted o bigamy, is in questionable taste and not with- out a suspicion from which the bench should be entirely free—that, namely, of pandering to popular fancy, Yet it is one thst may properly call attention to a point in gegard to the performance of the marriage ceremony. Our usage is very loose, Marrlage is by our faws a civil contract that @ magistrate may perform; yet the presence or act of a magis- trate,is not held to be necessary, and in far the larger number of cases the ceremony is per- formed by men owning no especial obligation under the Jaw, but merely engaged in the vocation of preaching. All this loose prac- tice is an evil and invites the crime of bigamy. It is nothing that we punish bigamy, for that punishment evidently does not prevent the crime, and it makes but poor reparation to a woman who has by a villain’s act been placed in the very equivocal position of a wife without a husband. In Europe society has found the necessity of throwing many safeguards around the —perform- ance of this rite; and in France, particularly, if it is performed by a priest it must also be done by a magistrate. Some steps are taken there also to prevent bigamy ; and if we could suppose such a marriage as the recent one at the Astor House occurring at all in such a country it could not certainly be performed without legal advice beforehand as to the status of the semi-divorced wife. We shall have to como nearer to that system. Our present liberalily opens the door to all sorts of abuses. War to THe Kyive.—This must be the motto of those irate holders of Erie stock who deem that stockholders have rights which presidents and directors are bound to respect. So, at least, it may be inferred from the indignant complaint and earnest prayer of an Alabamian, whose bill, filed in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court and published by us to-day, alleges that the purchase of a line of steamers and a grand opera house was uo- authorized; prefers a number of a/lditional cbarges on account of mismanagement, pre- judicial to the value of the stock and the in- terests of its holders, and winds up by praying for another injunction and a writ of subpena against the Erie Railway Company, its officers and agents, A ParmruLty Inreexstina Cask IN THE Surreme Court.—The witnesses called and examined by Mr. Shea, who appeared yesterday for Mrs, Caroline ©. Allen, a widow, prosecuted by her own son, an Episcopal minister, and “hated” from childhood by her brother, ac- cording to the latter's declaration, all agreed in testifying that they believed her sane and rational. Mrs, Admiral Farragut was one of these witnesses, Mr. Shea's simple and forcible statement of this painfully interesting case will deepen the impression which their testimony, unless completely rebutted by opposite evi- dence, must make on all impartial minds of either High Church, Low Church or no Church proclivities, As the case now stands it seems to be a fresh illustration of the terribly accu- mulated wrongs of persons who, like Mra. Allen, have sought to be discharged from a decree of lunacy. Tne Extension or Patents,—Colonel Hoe is before Congress an applicant for an exten- sion of the patent on his presses, We do not see any reason for an extension of this patent that is not equally good for an extension of every patent, and it is certain that this matter of extending patents has already been carried too far. We should stand by the law, The law recognizes the propriety and justice of rewarding invention, but it also recognizes that there must be a limit to the reward, and that the public has an interest in the expiration of every patent right. Weare opposed to any interposition of Congress to defraud the people at large of the right they have in the expira- tion of patents, the more especially when snch interposition is exercised in a spirit of favorit- ism that defeats the plain purpose of a wise law. A Littte Liant on an Ovo Mysteey,— The few words that J. J. Eckel appears to have let fall on the Burdell case, just betore his death, are not without thelr value, ile says that when he came home at about eleven o'clock that nigh} Mrs. Cunningham went ap stairs before him and shut Burdell’s door and also put out the gas, so that he had to grope hia way up. This would seem to indicate that the murder was not done in the dead of night, but had already been completed at eleven, that Burdell was then deid in his room where Eckel might perchance have « glimpse of him, and that there were tolltale signs on the stairs that Eckel must not seo, a Se _ & Public Spirited Woman, In all the phases of the woman's movement we have seen none with such a bold, straizht- forward business air in it a6 the movement of K. J. Bennett, described as taxpayer and resident of this city, R. J. Bennett is spoken of as appearing in a certain suit by “her” attorney. This is the only ‘intimation that appears of the plaintiff's sex, unless, indeed, we may assume that the romantic assault she makes on municipal corruption proves her not to be of the sex that acts trom definite calcu- lation in every step it takes. This lady, then, enters the lists against all the giants of all the rings, and prays for judgment whether the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of New York, the Supervisors, Comptroller, Chamber- lain and all the rest, have not made the taxes on property exorbilantly large by their corrupt practices in disposing of the public money. Sho alleges some particular cases of corrup- tion, to which sho more especially invites the attention of the court. Now in doing this the lady only exercises a right possessed by every taxpayer, but no masculine taxpayer seems to regard that he has a duty here as well as aright, No man enters such a suit, perhaps for the same reason that no man would ever have done much with such a suit for pro- Berty as that of Mrs, Myra Gaines. It is a hopeless, romantic case that suits the peculiar spirit of womanly enterprise, and we expect to hear much of it, for the ring will find it hard to quict the women. We rejoice that it has au assailant who does not want an office. Fashionable Life in Egspt. Our special correspondence from Egypt, dated at Cairo on the 1ith of November, affords by its appearance in type to-day an- other and most in‘eresting evidence of the effect of the Suez Canal in “waking up” the people of the land of the Pharoahs, Paris sent out its propagandist mission for the im- provement and modernizing of the style of dress costume and the elevation of the status of the social culture of the inhabitants, and, as will be seen in the narrative, the French apostles had a very good time, They were excellently well received—a fact which pre- senis in statement a pleasing contrast to the doloful reports which are had yearly from the anointed gentlemen who go to China, India, Turkey and Egypt, and read at the Bible House during Anniversary Week. The evan~ gelisis of European fashions and education were enlertaine. in a style of Oriental magnifi- cesce, and dined and danced and wined and were taken to the opera, so that it is quite evident that Egypt is fully prepared for the reception of the new dispensation and will be brought completely within the pale of the nations at a very early day. The religious anniversary clerics tell of senrcely anything else than the savage tortures, stabbings and other wounding, ro}l- ings in the dust, imprisonments, poor (god, passport troubles, robberies and miraculous escapes from b-ing roasted and eaten,*which they have to endure from Mesopotamia to the Pyramids and from the Himalayas to New Zealand, whereas the French lay propa- gandists speak of amusement and progress, refinement and trade, science and success. Ezypt will return to the light. There is corn in the land asin the time of Benjamin. Tue Gatveston Civintan.—This journal, which is now edited by Mr. John S, Thrasher, formerly of this city, is one of the most import- ant and trustworthy news and commercial daily papers of the South. We learn it has a large circulation, not only in Texas, but in most of the prominent cities of the Southern States. It is worthy of the support it receives. Ayotuer Baron or Ocean Canizs,—DBy Atlantic cable we learn of two great tele- graphic enterprises, both of them entirely new. An English company, it is said, is being formed to complete telegraphic communication be- tween England and China, by way of India, and to extend it to Australia by means of sub-marine cables, Another company hans obtaiged a concession from the Czar of Russia securing it the right to lay one or more cables connecting Asiatic Russia with China and Japan. It is added that China aad Japan have equally with Russia given their consent. It is thus that we march on to the New Earth foretold by the prophet. As a barrier the sca is no more; space is consolidated and time is defied. Many run to and fro and knowledge is increased. — Sexaror Trumpvit on Sroius anv PLuN- pEr.—Senator Trnmball proposes a law that would quite revolutionize our present system of filling offices and at once strike a fatal blow to the theory now in force that the offices are the spoils of party success. Appoint- menta, the Senator justly says, are nomi- nally * ie” as the constitution requircs, “but in reality are dictated and controlled by an influence unknown to the constitution and the laws.” Nothing is more clear than that the offices are a price paid by the administra- tion for the fealty of its supporters. This ia an old abuse, one found in every government, and we do not see how our government can be freed from it while men act from ordinary human motives. Ovr Meronant Mariwe.—Under tlie head- ing, elsewhere in oar columns, the reader will fing the interesting and valuable report on the “Decline of American Commerce,” which was prosented yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the Shipowners’ Association of New York. This report is the result of three mouths’ labor on the part of the committen It traces the sad bistory of the decline of our merchant marine and indicates the measares deemed likoly to promote its revival, It emphatically opposes “subsidies in any form, as destroying competition and enterprise.” But i strenu- ounly urges an amendment of the intolerant and cruel registry laws, whieh it dechires to be * oppressive to our own of foreign sh \p- citizens and in the interest owners and mariners.” 4 A New War to Par Ovn Dents. —Woe are of opinion that the Pal Mall ( cele makes a quite unjustifiable ase of Mr. Peabody when it proposes to pay the Alabama claims by demon- sirations fa bowog of Lost great philamthropts:. It is an error to fancy (hat we shall be satisfied in that way. In all that England does to the honor of Mr. Peabody she is paying quite another sort of det, and none too handsomely. She reeognizes Mr. Peabody's unpreoedented benefactions to her people, aad she could wot possibly do olherwise,