The New York Herald Newspaper, January 24, 1875, Page 4

4 yuri DANGER, The French National Struggle Over the Constitutional Laws. Refusal of the Assembly to Create’a Senate. Parts, Jan. 8, 1875. France is rapidly approaching the political situa- tion Known asa deadlock. On the 6th inst, a message from the President was read in the ‘Assembly in which MacMahon pressed upon the ‘Deputies the necessity of voung the constitutional lawa, Immediately after Ministers demanded priority of discussion for the bill creating a Senate. On @ division government obtained only 250 votes 4n support of this proposition, while 420 were re- corded agaivst it. The majority was composed of Jegitimists, imperialists and republicans, A RESIGNATION OF THE CABINET followed as a matter of course, but what is to bappen next it is bard to foresee, In his mes- sage the Marshal hinted that he wight ve com- polled to appeal to the people, but a dissolution will not necessarily render the government of the country any easter, unless, indeed, MacMahon should consent to accept a republican Ministry. But he nas always spoken of himself as allied with the conservative party, and as holding oMice for their benefit. He bas even declared, though this ‘was before the estab‘isnment of the Septennate, that as he came into power through conservative | votes so ne would not consent to retain it except | by the same suffrages. Now the republicans, though they clamor fora | dissolution of the Lhamber, which they justly be- Meve no ionger represents the country, yet desire that the Chamber should itself ix the limit of its curation, The DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSEMBLY by an arbitrary act of the President would be quite another affulr, and would be accspted by repub- Means solely on condition that new elections | should forthwith be ordered and tha tne Chief of the State should submit to the decision of the next Assembly both as to the choice of his Minis- | ters and as to his general policy at home and | abroad, But the Marshal could not, with any pre- | tence of honorable motives, cling to oMce while he remained the mere grand elector of a sityes constitution and lent the prestige of his name to the very party for the purpose of keeping down | which he was raised to supreme aathor- ity. If, on the other band, the Mar- | the shal, unable to act im concert with present Assembly, and despairing of more friendly reiations with any succeeding ove, were to close for good the doors of the theatre of Ver- sailles, and attempt, like Serrano, to govern per- sonally, unfettered by any parliamentary institu. tions whatever, the result would be tragical— netther more nor Jess than civil war. In the sum- mer of 1873, when a monarchical restoration was anticipated, the republican members had deter- mined that in the event of any Jorcible dissolution of the Assembly they would refuse to acknowledge the decree which terminated its existence, and rotiring in a body to Besangon, continue their sit- ngs in that town and commission a govern- ment of theirown. And if MacMahon were now to | adopt a similar course in his own interests the republicans would equally fall back on this former plan of therrs. Nor isit impossible that the re- publican General Faidnerbe would, under such circumstances, follow another precedent from Spanish politics, and, at the head of an armed | force, “pronounce” for the Republic. At ieasta | Jair proportion of THE ARMY | employ the experience they had gained in com- NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 1875.—-QUADRUPLE SHEET. ture of men and treagure, the superiority of pres- tige which it so long enjoyed among the Hindoo and Mohammedan races of Eastern Asia. The complete success of the Abyssinian expedition for some time secured this result, and, alded by skil- ful diplomacy and a judicious employment of the English naval forcesin overawing and bullying the petty potentates who rule along the coasts of the Indian seas, seemed to have secured to Great Britain the undisputed supremacy among Euro- pean nations in the far East; but within the last few years the greatly more important and more durable nature of the conquests achieved by Rus- sia, which bave brought her into such close prox- imity to the very frontiers of British India, and the infinitely more tolerant and judicious beha- vior of her ofictais as compared to the employés of the Angio-Indian Civil Service, have more than outweighed the military renown of Lord Napier of Magdala and the dubious diplomacy of Sir Bartle Frere, Tne unreasonable and blood. infrsty clamor for revenge of the English papers, & short time ago, when a report of the capture of the notorious Nana Sahib had been falsely circulated shows how little the conquering race have for- gotten or feel disposed to forgive the terrible oc- currences of the disastrous revolt of the Sepoys, while evidence enough might be cited to showthat the bitter feeling of enmity toward their foreign masters which years of oppression and misgov- ernment have engendered bas been crushed, but not quelled, in the nearts of the natives by the merciless severity which the British commanders displayed alike toward the mnocent and guilty when they had succeeded in putting down their insurgent subjects. Before the mutiny, under the rule of John Company, the native troops had been commanded by ofiicers who had almost veen brought up in India, who | had lived among Indians from the age of sixteen or seventeen, and who fully | understood the prejudices of the soldiers, and If obliged to act against them did so in as gentle and unobtresive a manner as possible, striving by all means to gatn the good will and confidence of | their men, for they well knew that soldiers, no matter of what nationality, have their folbies and | prepossessions, and that he would be buta bad | leader who would undertake to manage a French | soldier as he would @ German or an Englishman like a Russian, For more than seventy years this | oid system worked admirably, the Sepoys fought on many @ bloody battle field and never betrayed the trust placed in them by their white leaders, while many of the latter who were called away to manuing and fighting native troops, to assume the leadersnip in Europe of Britizgh armies against some of the most renowned and skil- ful chieltains of modern times, acquitted themselves in @ manner which won for them and for their country everlasting fame, | One atal event destroyed forever the glory the Indian army had gained in so many actions and at the cost of sv much blood and suffering. In 1857, for reasons too long and too various to be rehearsed here, 9 portion of one of the three Presidential armies mutinied. Great atrocliies of a kind which can never be palliated were no doubt committed, and many officers were murdered by men in whom they had put their full trust, Such things will occur wherever one na- tionality rises against another, and were seen bat too olten in the various revolts of the Hungarians and Italtans against Austria and of the Poles | against Russia, It isnot only natural, but just, that they should be promptly and sternly repressea and punished, but ia such punishment the greatest care siould be used not to confound the innocent with the guilty. When Russia employed a somewhat exaggerated severity toward the Polish insurgents, and when Marshal Pelhssier exercised summary reprisals upon the savage Arabs of the desert for the cruelties committea by them upon the French prisoners who fell into their hands, the whole press of England arose as one man to reprobate their actions and to thank God thata free and civilized community like that which they repre- 1s republican; for an army raised by untversal conscription, lke that of France, must to acer- | tain extent reflect the spirit of che nation, and | there can be no doubt that a large proportion of | anathema, oblivious of the fact that, ifthe mutiny | had been general and if numbers of native regi- the nation is republican, A dissolution, “then, 1s both illegal and is not likely to help the Marshal out of his diMculties. If he will not abdicate his powers no one can compel him to that step; bat the Assembly can render the government | of the country well nigh impossible. They can and probably will throw out every measure pre- sented by MacMahon’s Ministers, He may at- tempt to carry on the administration of affairs by acCapinet of clerks and simple heads of depart- ments, as ne has before now threatened to do, and pay no heed at all to the debates iu the Assem- | bly, but he can only pursue such a course if a ma- jority of members are content to let the country be ruled without any reierence to their wishes. No Parliament of which history makes mention ever consented to hold a position so manifestly ridiculous, nor would the Chamber at Versailies tolerate it. In short, If the representatives of the people found tne President affecting to treat them with silent contempt, they might any day force REVYUSAL TO VOTE THE SUPPLIES, an extreme measure, which would at once bring the conflict bevween the Executive ana the Legis lature to an issue, Again, it is very doubtful whether MacMahon can much longer form a Mints- try at all. I think it was Presiden Lincoln who Said eight postmen selected at random would con- stitute a fair working Cabinet, and the statement contains a deep truth if appked to America or England, where government ts but the instrument of public opinion. But Prencd Ministers govern as well as reign, and France will not saomit to be ruled even by head postmen iu hand- some uniforms. In France ridicule would kill a Cabinet consisting of adozen permanent under secretaries, of whom nobody had ever heard. In truth, MacMahon’s experiment was tried long since by Louis Napoleon, and it jailed to avert the inevitable collision with the Assembly. Tne cari- catures o( the day represented the President as | mi of the semi-independent sovereigns of India. | conferring at the council table witha namber of headless men. Yet Ministers, who are at once statesmen and FRIENDS TO THE SEPTENNATE, are extremely hard to find at the present moment. The Duke de Brogile has reused to undertake the task of forming a government. diffret-Pasquier and M. Buffet, the Speaker of the Assembly, are equally unwilling to serve the Marshal. His alliance with the Centres has always been, to use @ French simile, rather a marriage of reason than of meclination. The Centres have no enthusiasm | for the person or the principles of the Duke of Magenta. They wit! continue to afford him a sin- cere, if not hearty support, against the fanatical assaults of socialists and legitimists alike. But they will not for his sake expose themseives to the risk of incurring the fate of Prince Polignac and hia colleagues, who for manifestiy disregarding the will of the nation were sentenced to meat for life under tile comparatively miid rule of Louis Philippe, and actually remained six years in captivity. Woltucs in France are a dangerous game. pears ee THE GUICOWAR OF BARODA BEVIEW OF THE ENGLISH POSTTION IN INDIA— THE RUSSIAN ADVANCE TOWARD THE ASIATIC DOMAIN OF JOHN BULL. The despatches from British India announe- ing the arrest of the Guicowar of Baroda, by order of the Indian government ana the pro- vimional annexation of his domains, are of grave import when we consider the character of the deposed Prince and the serious resuits which followed the last experiment of tne Britisn gov- erament in dispossessing native princes of their hereditary rights. it would be vain to deny that ‘at no period since the great mutiny of 1967 has more uneasiness prevailed among the governing classes of England with regard to the safety of their Indian possessions than at present, and many powerful causes, now at work, contribute to Justify their apprehensions, as may be ciearly seen from the attitude the leading organs of the British press assume whenever the state of their great Oriental Empire comes under discussion, end by the gigantic efforte made by the Government to retain, at no matier what expendi- imprison. | sented could never be stained by such deeds of blood; but when these Sepoys rebelled the whole nation confounded all Indians in one universal | ments had not remained loyal, fighting bravely against their own countrymen and co-religioniats, not au Englishman would have been left alive in India, and the immense empire, founded by so much genins and cemented with so many noble lives, would have been as mucha thing of the past as those of Babylon or Nineveh, Even when the excitement immediately attend- | ant upon the mutiny was passed, it was decreed | that the native troops should be not entirety | abolished, for that was impossibie, but reorgan- ised and put upon a completely different footn, whtie the European army was to be largely it creased and always maintained in sufficie: | strength to cope with any disaffection on the part of the natives. Neither of these measures has been satisiactorily carried out. It has been found impossible, on account of the financial incapacity | displayed by the government, whicn logds tts sub- enced officers, who had spent their lives in the | country and were thoroughly conversant with the manners aud customs of tue inhabitants, were pensionea off or resigned in disgust and thetr places were filed up by raw youths fresh trom staff | colleges, who bad learned the art of war from | books or maps and derived their knowledge of | Hindoo language and mode of life from the school- | room of the crammer who had coached them | through their examination papers. No won- | der, with such causes for native dissatisfaction | and with such means of resisting it, if the Brittsn government feels somewhat uneasy and | resorts to the extremest measures to prop up its tottering power. The Guicowar of Baroda, whose arrest lor the attempted poisoning of Colonel Thayre, the English political agent at his Court. | | tune, to be enjoyed by his widow during her life, | has just been reported, 1s one of the most power- | His dominions emorace vhe greater part of the fertile province of Guzerat, one of the great cot- | ton producing districts under the jurisdiction of | the Presidency of Bombay, and many smailler | native chiefs obey him as their feudal | ana pay him a very considerabie Medium of a British government agent, under the | his part. | men, besides a body of Cavairy, oMcered by Buro- The titie | of Cows,” and he derives it from an ancestor of nis, Peelazee Guicowar, the son of a cowherd, who, in the year 1730, attained a position of semi- | sovereign. Abogt 1802, the then reigning Guico- | War having quf@rrelied with the Peisnwa, and, finding himseif too weak to oppose lim success- fuliy, applied to the British ior assistance and | consented to acknowledge their suprem- acy, a8 his successors have done ever since. The present incumvent of the “Musnud” has always hitherto been of approved loyalty, and in 188 requested English | aid against his own subjects, whom ne professed | himself unable to control, and the Guzerat con- tingent was accordingly disarmed in the month of May of that year by Generai Sir Richmond Shaks- | pear, Tuls conduct on his part at so critical a danger in arresting @ chief, not only himself, but whose deposition would inevitably provoke the jealousy of tue two other great Mah- | ratta Pripces, HolKar and scindia, the elrcum- stances o| Whose rise and present tenure Of power are identical with his own, and on whose always been laid by Knglish writers on India. is troe that during the mutiny all three of these Manratta culels used their influence in the cause of order; but it is by means certain that this line of action was | Inspired by any overweening affection for governing caste. Nana Sahib, the Insorrection in those parts, made no secret of his intention to claim, in case of the success of his parvisans, the rank Of Peishwa, or Supreme Man- ratta enief, which bad veen so long hereditary in his jamily, aod the others probaoly foresaw that by supporting him they might indeed destroy the rule of the British but would exchange their position of semi-independence for one of com- piste subjection. It appears that quite lately Holkar and Scindia have had a conference, whico bas given great umbrage to the [ndian govern- ment and may possibly be connected witn their | seemingly barsb action, Colouel Thayre, the agent at the Court of the | Guicowar, bears a high reputation in India and | has seen much service, extending over many | years of oMetai life in that country. | jects with the most oppressive taxes to keep up the | him into an attitude oi respectful attention by a | eMicient state of the Kuropean army at above 30,000 | purchased it from the Baron for the sum of men; while in the native forces the old experi, | head | tribute, | Tue Duke d’Au- | which he, however, can only collect through the | | ostensible prevext of preventing any extortion on | His revenue may amuunt to about | £670,000, and he is pound to furnish a contingent | Y% tn time of war to the imperiai government of 6,000 | peans and styled the “Guzerat Irreguiar Horse.” | yuicowar” literally signifies the “Lora | independence under the Peishwa or Mahratta | | riod | can only strengthen the suspicion that the Indian | government must have feared some imminent | werful im | idelity | toward the kuropean rule such great stress nas | it | no | the | nief of the | | Hare, LONDON GOSSIP. POLITICS—NO THIRD PARTY FOR THE PRESENT— CHURCH AND STATE—CUTTING CALI- FORNIA DIAMONDS—ART—PER- BONAL—THEATBICALS, LONDON, Jan. 9, 1875. ‘There recently was an expectation, not to say & hope, among certain members of the liberal party that negotiations were in progress for the forma- tion of a new “Cave of Adullam,” as it was called, similar to that which a few yeara ago was carried out under the auspices of Lord Eicho and politic- tans of his stamp, which was described by Mr. Bright as resembling the Scotch terrier dog im- mortalized by Leech, of which you could not tell the head from the tail, and which melted away alter a brief, ignominious career. It was supposed that the leaders of the new “Cave”? would be Lord Hartington and Sir William Harcourt, both of whom, the one secretly, the other openly, differed considerably from Mr. Gladstone and were indisposed any longer to acknowledge his authority. 1t would appear, however, tnat the differences, whatever they may have been, have been healed and that the threatened split is not likely to take place. Sir William Harcourt, who ts one of the members for Oxford, is in the habit of making a speech at the annual dinner of the Society of Ancient Druids, held on the 1st of January, and this year there was a report that the speech would be more or less a pronunciamento of the views of the discontented liberals, But after a certain amount of wirepull- ing Sir William found it convenient to be ill on the day of the banquet, consequently no speech was delivered, and itis now understood that in the coming session the liberal party will enjoy their full and undiviaed confidence. The conser- vative phalanx, in which, also, there were rumors of disloyalty, is again compact and firm, and, with Mr. Disraeli at its head to take the fleld, full of courage. FOCLESIASTICAL LEGISLATION 1s likely to take upa great deal of the session. Mr, Russell Gurney, who is well known at Wash- ington, has pledged himself to introduce s meas- ure for extending the Ceremonial bill, passed last year, to questions of doctrine, in the discussion on the measure we may be prepared to hear odd notions ventilated by certain members concerning that Athanasian creed. We are further threat- ened with @ bill to be introduced into the House of Peers by Lord Lyttleton, for increasing the number of bishops, and another for reforming the Rubric. THE MONEY MARKET bas been rather unquiet lately, Peruvian and Spanish stock being principally dealt in. The former has been swiftly and unceasingly running down, the latter, owing to ‘the prospect of Spain having at last a chance of a settled form of government under King Alfonso, has migrated from the depths to which for months past it has been relegated, and enjoys a litile temporary sunshine and prosperity. Not, how- ever, that any one believes the prosperity will | last, fora new loan is hinted at; and what ts to | become of the stockholders in the old? Some of | oie Journals pene Urgently, Oy See eee the | rival here two of the casks, holding 130 gallons, authorities of the Stock Exchange the necessity of insisting that outstanding obligations be met | Apropos of fuan- | before new ones are incurred. cial matters, a curious trial at law, which was postponed jor the Christmas holidays, will be re- newed next week. It purports to be an action for libel, brought by a person named Ruberg against Baron Grant, the well known financier, and Mr. Sampson, ex-city editor of the Times. Ruberg, an Englishman of very shady character, has given you the benefit of bis irequent presence on the other side of the Atlantic, and was instrumental in bringing before the public that tremendous swin- die of the was exposed in the Times, otneg he became aware of certain monetary transactions between Grant and Sampson which afforded him, as he imagined, a good clatmn for | blackmail, and on their declining to accede to bis | terms he brought this action, which he imagined | they would compromise for iear of exposure, They, however, are fighting it boldly, and though the evidence shows that Sampson received checks for large sums irom Grant “for services rendered,” the exact style of which you can judge for yourself when you remember Sampson’s po- sition, there is no Coubt that in exposing this dla- mond fields swindle the ex-city editor deservea the thanks of the community at large. The odd- est part about this story is that these in- culpatory checks were stolen from Baron Granv’s strong-box by a confidential Kensington ts nearly completed. With the excep- tion of Sir Richard Wallace’s mansion, in Man- | chester square, it will be the largest house 'n Lon- don, and will have magnificent grounds. There was a rumor that whep the Emperor of Russia was over here be saw it, and desiring it as a resi- | dence for bis daughter, the Duchess of Edinburgh, £700,000, There was, however, no truth in the re- port, though it is a fact that the house 1s in every | way superior to Clarence House, the future home of the Duke and Duchess of Edingburgh. The large space at the back of Baron Grant’s mansion, which is now being converted into beautiful grounds, was two years ago a complete rookery of Irish families, known as tne ‘‘Pigsties.’’ The Baron bought the land, pulled down the hovels and gave the proprietors permission to carry of all tfley could, well knowing that was the best way of preventing their return. THE ART WORLD, has just come in for a tremendous slice of luck. Lady Chantrey, the widow of Sir Francis Chantrey, the great sculptor, died last week. Thirty-four years ago her husband had preceded ner to the Silent Land, leaving bebind him a splendid for- ana at her death to be devoted to the furtherance ofart. The old lady lived till nearly ninety years of age, but she is gone at-last, and a sum of about £100,000 is DOW at the disposal of the Royal Acade- my, the interest of which is to be spent in aa- vancing painting and sculpture. The Loan Ex- hivition of the works of ancient masters (on which I shail send you @ separate letter) is now open at Burlington House, but it is not comsidered to be equal to those of previous The deceased British painters whose works are included in the collection, are Caicott and Maclise. William Etty was to have been the third, but he was @ painter of the nude, and the Council of the Academy received so many protest- ing letters from clergymen and other old ladies that at the last moment they withdrew the pic- tures from view. MR. BENJAMIN MORAN before undertaking the duties of his new post as United States Minister at Lisbon leaves London on Monday on a six weeks’ visit to his friend, Mr. James McHenry at Cannes. All Englishmen | are pleased at Mr. Moran’s promotion, though | sorry to lose his genial presence. The gossips are again busy renewing their former reports of MR, DISRAELIS INTENDED MARRIAGE to the widow of an English peer, {t 1s stated that | @ new wing 1s about to be added to nis residence, HMughenden Manor, There may be some troth In this item of building news, which has served as the foundation for the rest of the story, There 18 no likelia00d of Mr. Disraeli! plunging into marriage again. He is within one year of three score and ten, and his health, thongh his friends talk about his recovery, has been very severely tried. THRATRICALS, The raid against immodest dancing and the Want Of a proper amount of clothing on the ladies of the ballet commenced by the Lora Chamberlain and carried on by the press ts having its effect. | The performances at the Opera Comique, under | the management of Miss Amy Sheridan, at which most of the strictures have been levelled, have, since Christmas, been so unsuccessful that the the- atre is about to be closed. Miss Litton, who vacates the Court Theatre in | favor of Mr. Hare, bas, itis said, secured the St. James. Mr Honey and Mr. Horace Wigan, th it. ter as stage manager, have been engaged by Mr, Misé Ada Cavendish commences a short engage- | ment at the Caaring Cross Theatre to-night, | California diamond flelés which | By some meansor | clerk | and not returned until alter photographs had | been taken of them. Baron Grant's new house at | | ran, Martin Hofman, T. R. O1 THE COURTS. Action Against the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for Loss of Wines in Transitu. Neglect in the Mail Service— Grand Jury Presentment. ALLEGED CRUELTY AT SEA. Constitutionality of the In- come Tax. SUMMARY DISPOSAL OF OLD SUITS. In the United States Circuit Court, yesterday morning, Judge Benetlict denied the motion for a new trial in the case of Custom House Inspector Harris, who, it will be remembered, was found guilty of being implicated in the smuggitng of about 20,000 cigars into this port. He then sen- tenced bim, on the first and sixth counts of the indictment, to two years’ imprisonment in the Kings County Penitentiary. In sentencing him, Judge Benedict said that he hoped tue punish- ment whieh would be inflicted upon him would be @ warning to deter others in the same position as be had been, from transgressing the laws. The Grand Jury of the United States Circuit Court, Criminal Branch, came into Court yester- day morning and presented indictments again William Walker, for robbing the mails; Robert B. Leitch, for forgery; Edward J. Woodward and Danicl Bennett, for receiving goods stolen from ‘and also one against Samuel Woodward, Josiah Parker and Samuel Hoyt, for breaking open mail bags and stealing letters therefrom. They also filed a presentment against the New York Transfer Company for intrusting the mails confided to their charge to boys, who are incom- petent to properly guard them, and who gave no bonds. The presentment will be found at length in another place. FONDNESS FOR NATIVE WINES. The first shipment of California wines to New York, which first began but a few years since, has recently very largély Increased, so that these wines now form an important portion of the car- rying trade of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com- pany. Some of the wines from various causes are lost while In transit, and the matter is occasion- ally the subject of controversy in the courts, though the company stipulate in their bill of lad- ing that they shall not be accountable for leakage, breakage, sbrinkage, barratry, the effects of climate, or loss from insecure packages. Abraham Sternfels in May last shipped twenty casks of Cal- ifornia hock trom San Francisco, on which he paid freight at the rate of twelve and one-hal! cents, gold, per gallon, the wine costing bim filty-two and a half cents, gold, before shipment. On ar- were nearly empty. The owner, suspecting that the wine had been abstracted by boring a hole under one of the hoops and then closing the pas- sage, took with him a cooper to inspect the casks at the dock, but was not permitted to do so. Mr. Sterniels then brougbt suit before Judge Quinn, in the First District Court, tor $125 damages, the value of the wine here. It was shown tbat the casks were in good condition, and no evidence was given sufficiently indicating how the wine was lost. It was shown that the bigh temperature on the Isthmus caused the expansion of the wines so a8 often to strain the casks In such @ Way that they leaked. Tue case was elaborately argued, the steamship company’s counsel arguing that i: the wine was stolen by the crew, or if it leaked, they were not liable under the biil of lad- ing. A large number of cases were cited on both sides, but none covering the precise point in- volved. Judge Quinn found from the testimony that the wine had been avstracted by somebody, and held, on the authority of the recent Englisn case of Taylor et al. vs. the Liverpool and Great Western Steam Company, 9 Queen’s Bench Law Reporta, that it lay on the defendants, the ship- owners, to bring the loss within one of the excep- uons by showing by whom the abstraction had been commjtted and that the plaintiff was, there- fore, entitied to recover for the loss, GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT. NEGLECT IN THE MAIL SERVICE. In the United States Circuit, criminal branch, yesterday, belore Judge Benedict, the Grand Jury came ito court and made a presentment, in which they say tnat during their investigation into certain offences against the Postal laws it appeared that the New York Transier Company are contractors jor carrying the mails of the United States in the city of New York; that they are in the babit of intrustiag the said mails to the custody and control of young boys employed by them to drive their wagons, and in whose se- lection no proper care is exercised. No oath is | required of the boys, they give no bonds, they are incompeteut to guard ‘or protect properly the Mails intrusted to their charge, and they do not possess the requisite qualifications for the dis- charge of sucD responsibie duties, by reason of which, in the opinion of the jurors ajoresatd, the said contractors are guilty of gross negiigence in the execution of their contract, and the matis of the United, States, with the correspondence and property of citizens intrusted thereto, are dally in danger Of loss, destruction and embezziement in passing through the city of New York, and for Such @ gross negligence and the disregard shown by said contractors of the interests confided to them, in the opimion of the jurors aforesaid, their contract should be annulled, and the transporta- ton of the United States mails through the city of New York intrusted to parties more competent and faitnin!, uniess the abuses of the preseat contract are immediately reiormed. No acuon has yet been taken by the Court in the premises, ALLEGED CRUELTY AT SEA. Cyrus E, Staples, captain of tne American park La Planto, was yesterday brought before Unitea States Commissioner Shields, charged with crueliy beating the steward of the vessel, Joseph Jackson, colored, on the 26th and 27th of September last. From the statement made by Jackson it appears that there was one passenger on board the vesse) | who was in the habit of receiving coffee with the officers. On Sunday morning, September 26, coffee Was sent to him, but he reiused to take it, anu It was brought back to the gailey by the cabin boy. The passenger, whose name was Washton, alterward compiained to the Captain, wno tnere- upon punished the cabin boy, beating and til. using him. The Captain then callea the compiain- anton deck and there beat him witn a belaying pin. Jackson says that the first mate, Elisha putheriand, also struck Nim on the head witha heavy piece of iron, inflicting @ severe wound, ‘The next day he Was anabie to work, and told tne Captain that he would could, The latter told him he would either have to go to work at once or be “triced up.”’ On stating bg that he was unabie to work be was tied up if the rigging and his clothes torn off bim, afver which he wi flogged by the Captain’s order, getting twenty-five or thirty lasnes with a rope’s end. fhe bark arrived at Boston, to which port she was pound irom Batavfa, dava. The Captain then told him he could not do anything against him, and offered him $25, telling him to go to New York and he would pay bia fare when he arrived himself, Plaintul reiused to take the money, but came on to this city, and on the Captain's arrival here had bim arrested. Tne Captain yesterday fu ofshed bail in $3,000 to await examination, which was set down for Wednesday next. TRUSTEE OF A VETERINARY COL- LEGE. The suit of Edward Van Ranst against the New York Veterinary College, of which he was a trus- tee, bas been lately before the Supreme Court in various shapes, and was ap in Chambers, before Judge Donohue, Plaintif™s piace was declared vacant in 1863 by resolution oO! the majority of the trustees, under a bylaw making forteiture of office the consequence | of failure to attend six consecutive meetings. Pleven years alter sult was brought by piainull, Who Claims that he never jorieited office, inasmuch as he never got notice to appear anu deiend hime seli at the seventh meeting, at which tue resolu- tion was passed, The case was argued to-day on motion by plaintiff for jucgment ip his favor, de- ciaring that he still holds ofnce, and a counter motion tor an order to restrain plaintl from liti- gating a8 against delendants, ‘The Court took the papers. SUMMARY DISPOSAL OF OLD SUITS. in the United States Circuit Court yesterday, be- fore Judge Benedict, United States District Attor ney Bliss entered noile prosequis in the cases. against the following persons, who have been in- dicted for various offences, some of the indictments dating back to 1868:— Jacob D, Smith, Charles J. Farley, George C. Mo- ndar, Daniel south- erton, George E. Brinkerhoff (two indictments), Mary J, Calendar, W. B. Sudiow, Willtam H. Winter (iour indictments), James H, Casson. Samnel Hut 0 to work as soon as he | on two conflicting motions. | ton, Charles Katt, James Calhoun. Frederitk B. Bowman, Daniel J. Kelly, Thom: Bennett, Rob- ert Pennel, Anton Moller and Charl 5.7. Blateniord and Zedanko Hussa, Martin Hott » Peter Kirel James J. Reilly, F. C. Jt and Henry Esmond, isaac Taylor, John Moon, James B. Smith, Samuel S' a8, W. Be Girard and Jesse C. Rowe. The entering of the nolle prosequis in these suits removes the cases m the courts. MARINE COURT—PART 1. ACTION BY AN AGENT OF A CHARITABLE TION FOR FALSE IMPRISONMENT. © Before Judge Alker. Ramecar vs. Rich.—The plainutf, the Secretary of the Peabody Home and Reiorm Reilef Associa- tion, on the 28th of February last, in the perform- ance of his duties, that of soliciting aia for his society, entered the store of the defendant on Broadway. His application being denied, he then unsuccessiully endeavored to sell some, soup tickets ana left, The defendant, on coming to his place of business next morning, found it broken open and about seven thousand dollars’ worth of silks stolen, Later in the day, meeting the plain- ‘if on Canal street, he gave him into the custody of @ police oficer, by whom he was taken to the atation, Where he was detained some hours until inquiries could be made concerning him, and then sent to the Tombs Police Court ior the purpose of being discharged, the defendant being able to give no reason why be suspected him except the fact that he bad been in the store the day befor® soll- citing ald for the institution. It appeared on the trial ant on being, discharged, plaintiff told de- fendant if he would send $50 dollara worth of bread up to the institution to feed the hungry peo- Re there he would tet the matter drop; that de- fendant said he would send $20 worth, and make plaihtuf a present if he recovered his goods, but no bread ever appeared. The jury rendered o verdict in plaintii’s favor for $400. MARINE COURT--PART 2. ACTION ON A NEWSPAPER CONTRACT. Before Judge McAdam. Emory vs. Rowell.—Tne plaintiff sued to recover upon @ contract made in 1867, by the terms of which the defendants—well known advertising agents in this city—were to insert in the plaintif’s newspaper, published in Peorta, [1., miscellaneous advertisements, occupying @ space not exceeding twenty inches, every other day for one year, with afurther understanding that the contract was to contmue from year to year until either party for- bade its continifance. The plaintiff continued to advertise under the contract until the firstof the present year, and brought his action to recover the contract price trom October 9, 1869, until De- cember 31, 1873, aaa dente interposed as a defence that on thé 17th of May, 1869, tney deposited a notice in the Post Office notifying the plaintiff that they Sleated Fo terminate the contract. ‘tne plaintiit disputed the receipt of the notice. The Court charged the jury that they were to say from the evidence whether tne notice was gous to and received by the plaintiff, and that the fact that certain agvertiscments enciosed in the same envelope witl INSTITU. e Ww the notice had reached the plaintiff and Biibsequently appeared in his paper was evidence to be considered by them in cousid- ering that question. If they believed, however, that the notice was not sent to or received by the plainti@ they should find for the plaintiff for the amount claimed. The jury, alter a short absence, found for the defendant, DECISIONS. SUPREME COURT—CHAMBERS. ef, Judge Donohue. Moran vs. Hattlela; Mackenzie vs. Hyde; Hays vs, McMahon; Conkiin vs. Goodwin and others; Browning vs. Squu —Granted. Scott vs, Ketcham; Thornton vs. Hollaway; Hozan vs. McGull.—Orders granted, White vs. Crittenden, Barstow vs. O'Donnell, Peck vs. Brinsmad.—Memorandum. Darling vs. Brewster.—Motion denied. andum. Fairche vs. Martin et al.—Allowance granted, MacMardo vs. Marknam.—Motion denied. SUPERIOR COURT—S8PECIAL TERM. By Judge Curtis. Gould vs. Moore.—Motion tor a new trial denied. Matthews vs. The Mayor, &c.—Motion to con- tinue injunction denied, with costs, See memor- andum. COMMON PLEAS—SPECIAL TERM. a By Judge J. F. Daly. Sparks vs. Sparks,—-Divorce granted. JEFFERSON MARKET POLICE COURT. Before Judge Otterbourg. ANOTHER STREET OUTRAGE. On the night of the 2ist o1 January Mrs. Van Tassell, of No. 157 East 112th street, was walking tbrough Twenty-eighth street, near Eighth ave- nue, when she was encountered by two rough looking men. One of them knocked her down, and, snatching her satchel, ran away with his companion. Mrs. Van Tassell,as soon as she Memor- could recover herself, went to the Twentieth pre- | cinct station house and told her story, at the same Ume giving @ very accurate description of the man who committed the assault. OMcer Kehoe, of the ‘Twentieth precinct, having heard the description, at once proceeded to arrest a man well known in that neighborhood named James Brennan. Brennan was taken be- fore Judge Ottervourg yesterday, and was posi- tively identified by Mrs. Van Tassell as the person who struck her. The prisoner was committed in $2,500 ball to answer on a charge of robbery. ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. William Smith and John Grey were seen on Fri- day night last by Mr. Charlies Lemkan in the act of breaking into his grocery store, No. 266 Sixth ave- nae. Mr, Lem called the attention of Omcer Mahon, of the ‘'wenty-ninth precinct, who took the two men into custody. Judge Otterbourg yes- terday held them in $2,000 each to answer. ESSEX MARKET POLICE COURT. Before Judge Murray. ROBBING THE CLOTHIERS. About the middle of last December three men went into the store of Moses Adler, No. 75 Canal street, and pricea different styles of goods. After their departure Mr. Adler missed a piece of casst mere and also a piece of diagonal cloth, in ali valued at $75. On Friday officer Sullivan, of the Tenth precinct, arrested a young man named dames Carleton, of No. 108 Jivision — street, on suspicion of being connected with the theit. Carleton was brought before Judge Murray yesterday, and was fully identified by Mr. Adier as one oi the three men who had stolen nis property. Mr. John G, Miller, another cloth merchant, also identified Carleton as a party who had stolen $27 wortn of cloth trom him in a similar manver afew weeks ago. Judge Murray held the prisoner in $2,000 bail to answer on eaca charge. ANOTHER POLICY ARREST. OMcer Johnson, of the Thirteenth precinct, yesterday morning went into the policy office of Albert Kelloy No. 129 Pitt street, bought a policy slip trom Mr. Kellogg and immediately aiterward took him into custody. The prisoner was heid by Jnage Murray in $1,000 bali to answer. THE INCOME TAX CONSTITUTIONAL. A suit was brought in the United States Circuit Court, district of New Jersey, by Oscar Snetdberg against James V. Bentley, collector of internal revenue, to test the constitutionality of the tax on incomes imposed by the act of 1870. The piain- tif paid the tax under protest, and brought an action against the collector to recover the amount paid, on the ground that the act imposing the tax was unconstitutional The case Was argued vetore Judge Nixon, of the United States Circuit Court, at Trenton, by Miron Winslow, counsel for plaintiff, and A. Q. Keasley, United States Disvrict Attorney, for defendant, Judge Nixon has rendered an opinion deciding that the act imposing the tax was constitutional, and sustaining the demurrer oj the defendant. RAPID TRANSIT. A SUGGESTION OF SEL¥-HELP FOR WEST PROPERTY HOLDERS. To THB EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Thave read with interest the communi¢ation of the West Side Property Hoiders’ Chairman in rela- tion to the wants of that section, He truly says that rapid transit is the great need and its ab- sence the principal cause of the deserted condi- tion of (he Boulevard and other beautitul avenues SIDE which have been opeved at so much expense. | Bat the remedy proposes—a rapid transit road in the centre of the Houievard, although @ good one, Would take years to accomplish, wile that part of the city needs immediate relief, Let the property holders stop cailing upon Hercules and try and do something to help toemselves, For instance, let them see that the Greenwich street Elevated Katiway is completed as soon as possible to Fiity- ninth street by assisting that company pecunia- rily, if necessary, by taking their bonds, 80 as to enable them ‘to jay a douvle’ track at once to that point. line of steam vehicles, with rubber tires (ax 18 done now in England), to run on the Boulevara as far as 155th street, to connect with the Klevated | road, and put the fare low, say ven cents, tor the entire distance from tne Battery. The rubber tires render the vehicies noimeless and prevent any injury to the surface of the road. 1 have seen these steam venicles running along wihout creating any alarm among the horses, so there can de bo troabie from that source. Six months alter soch a line Was put into operation the prop- erty owners would be repaid touriold for theit outlay by having their property sought tor for immediate improvement. It wouid vecome the most desirable point for a residence tp the city. Naw Youx, Jan, 22, 1875, NEMO, Then let them organize a | IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DEAD? PRESS COMMENTS ON THE RECENT LETTER OF VICE PRESIDENT WILSON ON THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Says the Boston Advertiser (republican) :—It (the letter) nas the ring of the true metal If Genera! Wilson’s counsel were followed in the temper and spirit in which it is given the repubit- can party would have no enemy worth a moment's apprehension. * * * ‘This timely expression of confidence in the future of tne republican party, and courageous statement of the steps by which its er and usefulness mi be prolonged, is every way worthy ot the Vice Presiden ada one more to his many claims upon the respect and regard of the country. The Troy Pimes (republican) says:—What Mr. Wilson says of the liberal republicans is most true. The most of them belong with us and not with the democratic party. They should be treated generously and with honorable consideration. They have nothing in common with the democratic party, © and though the democrats have gained power by their assistance they have not shown tne least appreciation of liberal services and connection, In thia State the name of Senator Fenton, the head of the New York liberals, was not mentioned once in a democratic newspaper in the prelim- inary discussion of candidates for the office of United States senator. in Missouri Carl Schurz, the foremost liberal in the country, was set aside jor an unknown democrat. ‘The republican party will be glad to welcome the honest masses of tho liberals back to the true fold and accord them such consideration as their merits deserve. Many of them have alreaay returned. The Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin (republican) says:—With the letter in the matn no republican can disagree. What he says of the work still loft for the party todo cannot, in the light of recent events, be denied. Mr. Wilson would open/the doors wide for the return of all who left the party in 1872, and would invite them on a platiorm which combines fair treatment to the South with an imperative and uncompromising demand that equal rights shall be enjoyed by every man in this country without let or hindranes, Saye the Philadelphia Inquirer (republican) :— Whatever Mr, Wilson may have to say in connec- tion with his party will be certain to be listened to with respect, His faith in the wise and elevated principles of the republican party is as strong now as ever it was. He does not underrate the strength of the democratic party, nor does he beltevs tnat t will, in the national contest of 1876, triutipn ove thé tepublican organization by electing ademocratic President. There are fe intelligent men who will not snare Mr. Wilson’ beliel, or who will not insist with him that the mere politicians must take back seats and let the party be led by men of pure and unselfish aims, who will zealously gaard its principies, The Rochester Democrat (republican), saya “there is danger that the democratic party may come into power tn this country,” and adds:—If one trath is more apparent than another to saga- clous political observers it is that the majority of the people are not iriendly to the democratic party, critical as they are of its history and dis- trustful of its aims. And where Will the cause of human rights be when the democrats come into ower? God save the negro then, for man will ot. Is Le Wilson, Borate e yeay mee out of the way wh suggests to the republican party ych measttes abd fitch affiliations as will most Seely preserve ity ‘There is wisdom tn his words, We trust they may be heeded. The Burlington Vt.) Free Press (repubiican) avers that Mr. Wilson’s counsel {s good, and in re- gard to the liberal republicans states that in Ver- mont, “where the party could best spare the liberals, so far as numerical strength 18 concerned,’ the republicans have as a rule extended a hearty welcome back to the Greeley republicans. ‘Ine republicans of Vermont consider them of their fold, and have no desire to remember past divi- sions. ‘this example can well be followed else~ where.” ‘The Philadelphia Press (republican) affirms that “any declaration on public affairs by Vice Presi- dent Wilson Is certain to be received with respect and to command attention,” and adds that “there is nothing in his letter to which the most orthodox of republicans will refuse to subscribe; nay, notning in it which they do not demand.”’ Says the Worcester (Mass.) Press (democratic) :— Mr. Wilson beleves the republican party will re- gain its prestige and power because he does believe it, and he proposes a haif-dozen impossi- bilities as the means by which this resurrection is to be accomplished. The New York Express (democrat) says:—Mr. Wilson has given his party wise advice, but the leaders have not wisdom enough to heed It. The Cleveland Herald (republican) agrees with Vice President Wilson, but remarks that “the problem 13 how to accomplish the results he de- sires.’? 5 The Concord (N. A) Patriot (democrat) asserts that Mr. Wilson “knows his advice will not be heeded, and, therefore, the party must be de- feated,”” The St. Paul Despatch thinks that “if the repub- lican party is to live it must take the dose Dr. Wilsoy preacribes.’? The Richmond Whtg (democratic) declares that Mr. Wilson “is undertaking a task too heavy for him. He had better give it up. His party is doomed, and, with sagacity enough to see it, he ought to fold his arms, seal his lips, throw away bis pen, and gracefully suomit to the inevitable fate that awaits him.” The Bangor Whig (republican) says:—With all due respect to our hohored Vice President, we feel that it is much easier to point out defects than to avoid them or provide the remedy, ana, all things considered, we do not believe that Wilson and Grant would have proved a stronger team than Grant and Wilson, The New Orleans Times (democratic) says:—~ “The Vice President of the United States, with a penetration which, even at this late day, will place him above his compeers, has struck the key- note in defining public sentiment in the South.” The Providence Journal (republican) ‘“neartily approves what the Vice President has sald on the topics which he mentions, and hopes that his sug- gestions will have a proper influence tn shaping the policy of the party.” THE VICE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY, [From the Springfield Republican, Jan. 23.) Henry Wilson’s letter, upon the necessity and | means for restoring the republican party, attracts the attention that its sincerity and earnestness deserve, that the position and character of tie writer challenge, and that the party aanger, which he does not exaggerate, stimulates. With ail its frankness, however, his letter 1s open to the criticism of glittering generality and tllogtcal inconsequence, Still, we all know well enough What he means, even when he fails to be specific. When he depiores the division of the republican party in 1872 as distressing, ana invites the di contented and the rebellious all to return to the party fold, we know, of course, that he is not so ignorant as to regard that division as causeless, or the prevalent discontent and rebellion as un- provoked, or to aream that the wandering ele- ments will return, until they find something grateful and trustworthy to return to. General Wilson’s whole letter 1a pregnant with sympathy with the dissatisfied elements of his old party, #8 1t 18 Suggestive of the fact that if ne had the power he would so change its policy and its Jeadership as to make it not only easy, bul abso- lutely necessary for all liberal and reform .repub- licans (o ratly again about the old standard, bat there is the rub. General Wilson cannot change the policy or leadership of his party. is, and has been for years, a pittiully powerless factor in the councils of its management. His words are as so much wasted water at the White House or the Capitol, and he sees and feels tuat there are to-day more men with whom he is in sympathy among those who are either in upen or secret re- voit against the White House and Capitol than there are among those who are in sympathy with those depositories of power. Practically Hen Wuison ts just 48 much of a party rebel as Ca: Senurz. Nothing but the thin wall of @ nomin party position separates the! while both al equally tar away irom the sp! nd policy of neral Grant and ms upholders and defenders, bis 18 the barren truch of the political situation. It is vain lor any man—folly for General Wilson S toshirk tt. Three years a ago dozen republican Con- gressmen, with Henry Wilson at their head, could have thrown off tis binding yoke of Grantism— this demoranzing policy—rom the repuvlican paity. ‘They saw, they felt the danger then; but they wanted re-eections, they wanted offices, they had not the courage to seize the opportunity, and the realizaton of 1874 and the promise of 1876 are Uheir reward. General Grant bi no intelligent appreciation of the republ can party, ita traditions and princi- ples. Honest he may be, ignorant he certainly 18, of the ways and means of civil administration, abd the needs aad duties, either of bis party or of the national government, at this crisis, His ac- cepted advisers are scarcely more intelligent, certainly no: less fateful; the conduct of some we could hardly explain ou other grounds than that they are wickeuly luring him and his party to de- stroction. Any Way, hothing but chances, BO ex- traordinary as to be almost miraculous, can now save them from popular condemnation and politi- cal retirement. The desperation of a great fear may force the revolt, foroidden to the instin>ts of a great truth, or the danger of such revolt may en, produce @ revolution in administration policy; and either, com- bined with the Bourbon reactionism that is hopetully straggling for dominance in the demo- cratic party, may give the party @ new opportu- nity; vat these are smaller than the ehauces of the earthquake and the lightning ; and General Wil- son's letter can only ve reckoned as the Nag of dis tress that one of the noblest and most intelligent ot the expiring company throws out irom the de scendipg wreck, |