The New York herald. [volume], March 20, 1854, MORNING EDITION, Image 4

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NTRW ttWK HERALD.
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Ktw York, 'Monday, March j{C, 1854.
Ctrtulntloii of the I>ally Herald for the Last
Week.
March IS? Monday 50,640
" 14? .Tucday 51,600
?' 1ft? W'edmwday 61,860
?* 16 ? 'ThuivKiuy ... 52,560
?? 17 ? Friday 51,480
** 18 ? {Saturday 53,280
Malls for the Pacific.
EBB NEW TORE HERALD ? CALIFORNIA EDITION,
flie United Ptatrii mail steamship t.eorge Law, Captain
'Metiowan, will leare thia port this afternoon, at
two s'clcck, for Aspinwnll.
He mails for California and other parts of the Pacific
wBl tlose at one o'clock.
be Nbw York Weekly IIeeai.p, California edition, con
taining the latest intelligence from all parta of the world,
win be published at ten o'clock this morning.
Single copies sixpence. Agents will please send in their
mkhra as early as possible.
The Vein.
Our exchange papers are filled with accounts of
Hm disastrous effects of the late gale of the country
8mm idea of the violence of the storm may be
ftnn^ by reading the extracts published to-day,
'which report the unroofing of buildings, levelling of
fetuses, destruction of telegraph poles, and injury to
dipping, bridges, &c. We fear, however, the full
axtent of the damage has not yet been correctly
ascertained. Very full accounts from Albany and
Troy are given. The Albany and Buffalo telegraph
lines were prostrated by the storm, and are still
dawn.
We publish in another column a letter from a
member of the Ohio House of Representatives, by
which the position of Mr. Pugh on the Nebraska
question is satisfactorily set at rest. The writer
asserts that no man could have been nominated for
United States Senator who was not in favor of
Douglas's bill, and that the soundness of the nomi.
?ee on that point was^a test in the caucus.
By referring to another part of to-day's paper it
will be seen that our city still maintains its unenvia
ble notoriety for conflagrations. On Saturday after
Boon a fire broke out at 168 Allen street, thence ex
tending into Orchard street, destroying a number of
workshops and dwellings. The amount of property
?ongumed by this fire is not large, being estimated
at about twenty thousand dollars, but great distress
is entailed upon the mechanics and others employed
on the premises, who are thus thrown out of em
ployment. A member of Hook and ladder Co. No.
6 was killed, and several others severely wounded,
by the falling of a chimney of one of the houses
burned in Wooster street. On Sunday morning a
stable at No. 108 Suffolk street was burned down,
and five valuable horses destroyed.
Our New Haven correspondents have furnished
as with accounts of the recent disastrous riot in that
city. On the night of the 17th inst. several colli
sions took place at Boston between tne police nnd
rowdies, and an officer was severely beaten.
The details of the news from Mexico may be found
elsewhere, bnt there is nothing of importance. The
souutry seems to be in an extremely disaffected
state, notwithstanding the vigorous measures of the
government. A decree has been issued, prohibiting
the consignment of vessels or cargoes to supercargo*
or captains ? they must be consigned to some estab
lished commercial house of the port to which they
go. Our Minititlan correspondence furnishes some
interesting information relative to the Tehuantepec
route.
By the arrival of the Crescent City we have news
fTOm Havana to the 14th instant. From the letters
of our correspondents, published elsewhere, it will
be seen that there hap not been the slightest attempt
an the part of the Spanish officials at redressing the
outage we have suffered at their hands. The re
BKMstrance of American citizens in Havana in con
nection with the subject, which we also publish, will
be read with much interest.
Returns from 204 towns in \ew Hampshire have
b^n received, giving Baker 7'Jo majority. So far as
known, 143 democrats and 154 opposition members
have been elected to the House of Representatives.
Francis N. Shaw, of Massachusetts, a reporter of
the associated press, died at Washington City yes
terday.
The steamship Pacific, from Liverpool, with four
days later news from Europe, is now due.
Our Relations with Spain? The Foreign Poll.
cy of the Administration.
We perccive by the government organ, that
the administration has sent a special messenger
to Madrid with despatches to Mr. Soule, rela
tive to the recent outrage upon our commerce
at the port of Havana. According to the or
gan, our Minister at Madrid will be instructed
to demand indemity for the outrage referred
to, and also to endeaeor to induce the SpanMi
government to confer diplomatic powers on the
Captain-General of Cuba. The last requir;
jnent is made with a view to bring about sue!,
a state of thing* as this. Now we are oblige ;
to negotiate ityon Culmn atVm with Madrid. .
we desire that all this unnecessary delay ni i
be averted by direct diplomatic action on tli
part of the Captain-General of Culm. His go
vernment gives hira the power to do a wrru
bnt no authority to redress it.
The government organ is heroic in the art; '
referred to, and ays that it iinp;itie;itly w,f
the decision of the* Spoalob govujiu it. I,
the organ goes on to t-uy, the Spi.ti-h govir
imnt gives us full iudemaily within it r 'u
ipnable time to our opening diplomatic r
i i v'tl r-t ;v if; i. " *
' disposition on the part of the United States j
to disturb the peace which exists between the i
two countries. If the Spanish government re- !
futxs to do this, the organ will advooate " the
? mploying of all the power which the gover fl_
meat can command in support of our right
interests with Cuba."
Now all this Is very well Raid, and jB cheer
ing to the American people to kno y w^at course
thv organ will "advocate-," but ft is also very
evident that th? Spaui-h go./erumeut, which ia
dibtio^uihhed Rn' delays, w 111 take a long time
for coasidera&km befov c the matter is tiually
settled. TIm present, movement of our govern
1 Yuenl uppetYH proPjpt and decided; but on ac
count of X.he Imbecility of General Pierce uad
b/s adders it is very doubtful whether or not
ibo K>.uiniHtration will adhere to one li?? of
I poli;-y from one week's end to Ike beginning of
HiM'ther. Neither the American people or the
American press can trust General Pierce with
important a question; and unless he in spur
. red up to some decisive action at the present
i time things will go on the suinc old way; and a
very bad way it in.
For a series of years the interest# of Arnori
can citizens sojourning in Cuba have been in
sulted und outraged by the authorities at Ha
! vana. Americans resideut in that city, have
been subject to insult and contumely ? florae
times to tine and iiuprisonmeut ? on mere suspi
cion tlr.it they had committed some overt act ;
vessels have been seized and detained on the
most flimsy pretexts ; our consuls have inter
fered in vain, and our trade with Cuba has been
injured l<y restrictions snch as are without a
parallel in any other part of the civilized world.
Varions administrations have neglected these
matters, and have failed to see the necessity of
demanding in.-tunt reparation from Spain, as
well as to require such action on her part as
would confer upon the Captain-General full
diplomatic powers. Now we have another out
rage, and the President has transmitted in
structions upon the snbject te our Minister at
.Madrid. Well, suppose the instructions reach
Madrid, and Mr. Soul?, having no more duels
on hand, and having settled his tailor's affairs,
immediately commences his diplomatic opera
tions with the Court of Madrid, what will be
the result? The Spanish government is not the
only party interested, as we shall see.
According to the avowed admission of Lord
Clarendon, as stated in a late speech in l'arlia
I went, the present coalition between the great
powers of Europe has not only in view the set
tlement of the Eastern question, but France
and England have also united for the purpose
of arranging American affairs upon such a basis
as may be satisfactory to them; so that it will
be easily seen that Spain will have the aid of
English and French diplomats in the settlement
of her present difficulties with the United States.
Mr. Soule, then, will have to treat with an alli
ance between England, France, and Spain.
These diplomats are well aware of the advan
tage to be gained by that formidable diplomatic
weapon, delay; and the Spanish ministry, as
sisted by the representatives of France and Eng
land will make the most of it. Then they will
deal in protocols, diplomatic notes, couriers,
and every other species of the ceremony for
which these gentlemen are distinguished, so
that one or two years may elapse before Mr.
Soule can obtain any definite reply to send back
to his government. In fact, during the interval
of time which will be occupied in this consulta
tion, Mr. SouU will have sufficient leisure to fight
half a dozen duels, and settle all vexed questions
ol costume for double that number of ministers
plenipotentiary to any court in the civilized or
uncivilized, Christian or barbarian world.
Ought our government, or our people who
make the government, and by determination
con dictate its policy, to put up with all this
antiquated nonsense about protocols, notes,
j couriers, and similar humbug, in which diplo
macy in tl e Old World sees fit to disguise it
self? In a similar difficulty between Russia
and Turkey , the Autocrat pursued quite a dif
ferent course. He marched his trcops into the
Turkish Principalities? he keeps the Principali
ties. and he probabily will keep them until
England and France shall bring Turkey to her
senses, and the matter shall be settled in a
manner compatible with the dignity and the
power of Russia. This is the style in which
the Autocrat conducts his diplomatic negotia
tions; and his boldness and vigor astonished the
vacillating cabinets and hesitating sovereigns
of Western Europe.
We are disposed to believe that this would be
the proper mode for the government of the
I nited States to deal with such an effete and
broken down government as that of old Spain
and we are inclined to the opinion that the
proposal to suspeud the neutrality laws was
a good one. Our government should send a
powerful tleet to Havana to take possession of
that port and the island of Cub.L We could
then wait for Spain to make the reparation we
demand; and she with her allies could take as
much time for diplomacy as the farthest limits
of its rules might allow. Meanwhile, the "Gem
of the Antilles would be increased in value,
ut least one hundred per cent by the influx and
establishment of American capital? American
merchants. American ships ? American mecha
nics?American newspapers? American educa
tion. and American regulations.
The Future of Rnitl*.
Those who regard the present position of
Russia ax a hopeless and a desperate one, must
know but little of her vast internal resources
or of the incidents of her singular caroer.
There is no country, perhaps, which possesses
within herself more of the elements of commer
cial independence, or that can afford to con
tinue longer in a state of political isolation
She grows more grain than is required for her'
own consumption; the produce of her mines is
immense, and since the time of Peter the Great,
and more especially during the reign of the
present Emperor, her progress in the manufac
turing arts has been unprecedentedly rapid.
Of manufactories of every kind, smelting
works, engineering works, cotton and woollen
factories, tanneries, tallow melting works, and
.-oap factories, she possesses sufficient to supply
the wants of her population, and her inland
trrde is curried on 1 y ;i: e Misivc and adini
r*bly devbed system Oi' ,%-:?.t?-r communication
The natural facilities ; ,v I I hy her great
rivers, such as the Volga, Dwiim, Dniester, and
Don, which place the heart of the Umpire in
communication with the \V bite, the itlwk, the
(Vjitin. and the lialtic sens, have been irn
proved und multiplied by the co:i?t;'uction o.
eaimls, intersecting the country in every diroc
i t. n. and connecting those riv< is an 1 seas. Sh
is ?, ptndent upon foreign huj>orts to u com
ruiivt ly insigml'cant extent, and the s'ispe.i
k ti ot h< r exports t?y the blockade of her port*,
il not inflict any material inju y upon he>
I' i
her own dominions, or fresh outlets and 1
6* *nnels through Lcr Asiatic poeBesmons. ,
Thus situated in a commercial point of viei^
and unassailable in her territor al poa,ton,
Russia ban but little to apprehend fr^m the
*tate if ii-olation in W ich b e tln^ her elf.
This very isolation, in tead of bel^g a source < f
weakness, is, in fact, a source qj strength to her;
for it imparts unity and fow to her action, and
teaches her t , rely alone upon her own resources.
A declared enemy iH safer than a doubttul
ally, and ? forcing Austria and Prussia to a
cu^coriotil explanation of their intentions, the
! Ofcar has clearly defined his position, and re
1 moved from his mind considerations that would
' have ultimately bumpered and embarrassed
' htm He now stauds uns ackled by either po
litical sympathies or former alliances, and is
free to give effect to the traditional policy of
his predecessors. The course that he has to
1 "pursue is a simple and effective one; and he ap
pears, from his late declaration to the peace de
putation, to be fully impressed with its advan
ta-es. lie bas only to act up n the defensive, and
wait patiently until tl.e force of events and the
diversity of interests that prevails amongst his
i opponents break up the coalition formed against
' him, and leave him at liberty to carry out his
designs. A year or two of barrassing and re
! sultless hostilities, continued at enormous ex
j pense and waste of life, will i.evitably lead to
' discontent and perhaps revolutionary explo
sions in both England and France, and dissolve
of itself this grand political combination, on
which the cabinets of the Western governments
so much pride themselves.
The i mpress Catherine, in writing to Vol
taire. in 17f.9, made use of this remarkable and
prophetic phrase, which up to the present time
has been strikingly exemplified: ? "We have
war, it is true," she said, (war with the Porte,)
"but Russia bas been long carrying on that
sort < f game, and Bke always issues from it
more flourishing than she entered it. Each war
is with her the parent of some new resource,
which imparts a fresh impulse to her commerce
and influence." The results of the approaching
struggle will prove no exception to the prevail
ing rule of her destiny. The acquisitions that
she has already made in Europe, at the expense
of Sweden, Germany, Poland and Turkey, and in
Asia by successive invasions of Persia, Georgia,
Tiflis. Erivan and Clrcassia, are but the first
steps in a successful career of conquest, which
will ultimately bring under her sway a wider
extent of dominion than has ever before been
ruled over by any Christian potentate. The
only eventuality that can arrest this otherwise
inevitable course of events, is the triumph of
the revolutionary principle throughout Europe,
which, by destroying the old and effete systems
ol' government, and inaugurating a new era of
progress far in advance of the semi-civilization
of Russia would give another turn aud direc
tion to the affairs of the world.
John Van Blrkn, General Pikrck, and ttie
New York Press. ? Some time last January,
the proprietor of the Evening Day Book, which
had made a very respectable reputation on the
strength of Mr. Foster's spicy city articles, and
its consistent advocacy of the constitutional
rights of the South, was in want of an assistant
editor? Mr. Foster having left the paper Bome
two years before. Mr. Stimson consequently
applied to Mr. Hall, of the Commercial Adoer
liter, whd rent him up " a young man by the
name of" Wright, a nephew of Governor Wright,
of New Jersey, who rolled up his sleeves aud
went to work with paste and fcissors.
Shortly after Mr. Wright made certain pro
posals to Mr. Stimson, to the effect that it he
would bring the J Jay Book out as an organ of
the Pierce administration, he (Wright) was au
thorized to ofl'er him $10,000. Stimsoi was a*
poor as a rat. and the bait took. Ike young
man by the name of Wright went od to Wash
ington. armed with a letter from Johi Van Bu
ren to President Pierce, aud with other creden
tials.
The President and Cabinet apparently re
sponded heartily to Mr. Van Buren's warm
recommendation of his protegi ; and all sorts
of promises of patronage, government adver
tising, &c., &c., were made on behalf of the
Day Book. A sop or two, in the shape of some
advertisements, seemed to clinch the matter,
nnd the paper gradually came out for the ad
ministration, by which, of course, it lost the
greater portion of its friends and subscribers.
When they thought the concern was sufficient
ly crippled, and could never recover from the
dose of Piercelsm it had administered to itself,
they cooled off, and John Van Buren refused
plumply to sign an endorsement ?f the Day
Book , which had already been sigred by seve
ral of the leading friends of the administration,
on the ground that it had not yet sufficiently
nastified itself with free soilism.
Stimson, now becoming alarmed and finding
that he had been "sold," made haste to rid
himself of his new assistant; and tie Day Book
has recently resumed pretty mudiitsold tone
and position. We recognise, toj, again in it
columns the pen of its old editor, Mr. G. G.
Foster, who is an experienced journalist, and
shall be glad to see that he has lot taken hold
too late to restore the " spicy Utile Day Book "
to public favor.
Something like a similar negotiation must
have taken place with the Timet , for it has
been following ? rather weakly, to be sure ? in
the wake of the Day Book , till recently the
Nebraska movement ha? blown everything sky
high, thrown John Van Buren on shore, and
consigned the leadership of the administration
to Captain Kynders alone.
The Harbor Encroachments. ? We are gra
tified to hear from Albany that the bill known
a8 " the anti-harbor encroachments bill," has
parsed the Senate by the very large majority
of twenty-one to one. Mr. Hutchins, the only
dissenting m m'.?> r, introduced an amendment
that of course ww negatived. It embodied the old
plea, which has be. n urged over and over again,
and always refuted, that thi? bill interferes with
the vested rights of the citizens of Brooklyn.
The contest all along has been one literally be
tween New York and Brooklyn ? the former
beirig the champion of the public, and the latter
of its own private int rest. Th'j point at issue
?that for which New York contends? is that
the harbor of the city thould not be injured in
order to gratify the wishes or the cupidity o
ary clique or purty. It has been clearly proved
by practical, experienced nv n. before the com
mittee appointed by the State Legislature to
investigate the matter, thai the piers along the
I.Of-t river have so far diminished the body ol
watcr.nnd hare, so obstructed the navigation, that
i i re vcfk 1 in former years could sail with
.no utmost ease it is now bardy possible, wit?*
Ill Hill of a ti'g-1 oat. to ft. r:\tl; m round. Seien
lif e iron? nwn tlioroTt?Mv prru'fi't V! ? *!h th
b' aped opinion that the harbor of New York will
be ruined if the system of building these piers ia
continued. Upon such evidence &h this no disin
terested citizen of either New York or Brooklyn
can help concurring with the provisions of 'his
bill. Within a few years New York has become
the second commercial city in the world, and
in a few years more she will rank as the first;
provided ? and it is an indispensable proviso ?
that her harbor is preserved intact. The peo
ple of New York have been accused of being
actuated by selfish motives in this matter. It
has been said that they have aggrandized them
selves at the expense of the harbor, and are
now jealous lest the same privilege should be
extended to Brooklyn. This is a mistake, as
every one must see, with the facts of the case
before him. It involves, to a certain extent,
the question of our future commcrcial supre
macy ? a question in which all are alike inte
rested. The vote in the State Senate demon
strates how small is the party opposed to the
measure; and we believe that in the House the
result will be the same.
The Mains Liquor Law ? Importance of the
Recent Decision in Massachusetts. ? The re
cent decision of the Supreme Court of Massa
chusetts, declaring unconstitutional a section
of the liquor law of that State, commonly
known as the Maine law, is an event of con
siderable public interest and importance. The
opinion was drawn up and delivered by Chief
Justice Shaw, and was concurred in by all
the Judges. The Supreme Court of Massachu
setts is distinguished for its learning and
ability, and the decision will have much weight
throughout the country.
The Court declare the fourteenth section of
the Massachusetts act unconstitutional. That
section directs that if three persous, voters,
Ac., should make complaint, under oath or af
firmation, that they have reason to believe, and
do believe, that spirituous or intoxicating
liquors are kept or deposited, and intended for
sale, by any person not authorized, Ac., said
justice or judge shall issue his warrant of
search, to any sheriff, &c., who shall proceed to
search the premises described in said warrant.
The clause contains a provision for a more spe
cial complaint to warrant the search of a dwell
ing house. The Court says:
I. The measures directed by 1 1 tli section of
tills act are in violation of the article of tlie
Bill of Rights, lhat article dt that every subject
has a right to be secure f rum ; m reasonable searches
and seitares of his person, hi .uses, his papers, and
aH his possessions. All war nits, therefore, are con
trary to this right, if the foundation of them be not
previously supported by oath or affirmation, &c. Itap
)>ears to us iliut this act in to. ids warrants and requires
unreasonable searching and seizures, and U, therefore
contrary to the constitution. '
II. Another ground upon which we are of opinion that
tl.e act is unconstitutional, is that the commencement
and courre of proceedings required and directed by the
series ol measures provided Tor in the act. many of the
precautions and safeguards, for the security of persons
and property, and the most valuable rights of the sub
ject, so sedulously required and insisted on in the law- or
all well ordered governments, and specially proscribed as
the growing rule of the Legislature in our declaration of
rights, are overlooked and disregarded.
'Ihe Bill of Rights declares, article one, that all men
have certain natural, essential, and Inalienable rights
among others, that ol acquiring, possessing and pro
tecting projerty. 1
Article X. ? Lach individual has a right to be protected
in his property by standing laws.
Art. XI. Lwry subject ought to find a certain remedy,
by having recourse to the laws, &c., to obtain right and
justice freely, tic.
Art. XII. No subject shall be held to answer for any
offence until the fame is fully and plainly, substantially
and formally tombed to hitn. He shall have a riirht lo
pioduce all proofs favorable to him, to meet the witness
es against him face to face, to be fuUy heard In his de
tence; imd no subject shall i>e arrested or deprived of his
property, liberty, or c-tate. but by the judgment of his
j eers or the law of the land.
The opinion is very long, and the grounds,
as stated in detail, on which this part of the
law is pronounced unconstitutional, are nu
merous.
They are, mainly, the uncertainty which, in
many respects, characterizes the proceedings;
the iact that the person proceeded against has
no opportunity to be confronted face to face
with his accusers; that be has not the benefit oi the
legal presumption of innocence, but is obliged
to prove that he is not guilty; and that no pro
vision is made by the statute for a trial, for a
determination by judicial proofs, of the facts,
upon the truth of which alone the property can
be justly confiscated and destroyed. On the
contrary, the statute expressly directs that if
the owner fail to appear, or (that is, if he does
appear) unless he can prove that the liquors
were lawfully kept, they shall be declared for
feited, and the owner shall be adjudged to pay
a fine and costs.
As to the provision of the statute which au
thorizes a judgment for a fine and costs, with
an alternative sentence to imprison thirty days
in case of non-payment, the court say :
The specific ground on which this part of the statute
directing proceedings in ptrtonam, is repugnant to the
provisions of the constitution in that as a charge of
crime or offence, there is no provision for an indictment
information or complaint, on oath or otherwise, In which
?f W* 0r deP?fiiUnK spirituous
"l?". '"tended for sale, is in any way described, so
that it can be put on record and traversed, or an
issue thereon be joined and tried In the due course of
By those old-fashioned people, who, through
all the madness of fanaticism, have adhered to
the notion that^nan's personal liberty, his ex
emption from unreasonable search, tin unmo
lested enjoyment of his property, are things
equally as important as the virtue of tempe
rance, this decision by a court of so much emi
nence will be hailed as an evidence that some
of the safeguards of our rights remain firm and
steadfast. A man's house is his castle, and
when it ceases to be so a house is hardly worth
having. Invading the highest rights of the
citizen, for the sake of reforming his diet or
drink, is a proceeding too arbitrary in its charac
ter to be long maintained in this country. Tem
perance is an excellent thing; but there are
other things? great personal rights? excellent
and valuable also.
I his decision of the Supreme Court of Ma?
sachusetts will be followed in other States.
Important results will ensue from it. It will
be well for those who frame future temperance
statutes to have more regard to the fundamen
tal principles of all law, and to rights which, at
this day. even 1 eglslatures cannot invade with
impunity.
Sanders is Coming ? Clear the Wat for
Yoi-nq America. ? The recall of George San
ders by the Senate ha? given rise to a good deal
of speculation amongst the quid nunct of the
English press. They cannot understand why a
progressive democrat like George should be un
fortunate enough to fall under the disploasuro
of a democratic body. They have yet to learn
that there is in this free country, as in others, a
considerable amount of old fogy Ism, which is
antipathetic to the political smartness and go
ahiadativeness impersonated by the entertainer
of Lciiru Rollin and ilazzini. They are repre
sentatives, in fact, of two opposite principles ?
the one furnishing the steam and the other act
ing as the drng to the political wheel. As -oo
as Georpe has completed the details 01 til?
prrat movement which he is engaged' in or
ganizing in Europe, he will no doubt return to
this cour.try to settl? his accounts with the
;? |.g p 'V' rt v ^vk ?|
The Covkt of Common Plbas ? Its Ikcbei?- i
ma Dltkb akd its Akcucnt Origin. ? A peti- '
tion was recently presented in the Senate, i
signed by all the leading members of the bar ;
of New York, without distinction of party, call- 1
ing for the pottage of a bill which would place
? the clerkship of the Common Pleas upon the
? Feme footiug as the clerkship of the Superior
! Court. The subject was referred to a commit
j tee of the Senate, who immediately Reported a
' bill, which we have already published, and
which, it is coulklently expccted, will pass.
This measure has become indispensably neces
sary; the business of the County Clerk's office
has become so unwieldy from having added to
it the clerkship of the Supreme Court, in which
are embraced all the records of the late Court j
of Chancery with the clerkship of the Common
Fleas, that it can no longer be managed
with satisfaction. The records and papers of
the Common Pleas are consequently in a state |
of the greatest confusion, which not only ob
structs the daily transaction of business in that
court, but is attended with still more serious
consequences, a3 the title to real estate depends
upon the regularity of many of the proceedings j
of the courts, such as the partition of the estates
of infants, and Bales of land ordered by the !
court.
In investigating titles, important papers re- :
lating to such matters are asked for, but cannot
Le found, and papers of the Court are couliuu- I
ally missing. This state of things has existed
for tome time, and is daily growing worse; and
although attempts have been hitherto made to
corrcct the evil, by separating from the office
of the County Clerk the clerkship of the Com
mon Pleas, and limiting it to the clerkship of
the Supreme Court, and the various other du
ties appertaining to the county, the County ;
Clerks, who have a great pecuniary interest ?
t< get her with considerable political patronage,
in keeping up the present regulations ? have
managed from time to time to stave off the ac
tion of the Legislature. But this cannot be
done forever. Lawyers and litigants have
borne with those annoyances for a long time,
and they have at last become so thoroughly
aroused that they will endure it no longer.
| Political influences will no doubt lie brought
I to bear ugainst this desirable change, and
though the present Legislature is whig, we
have no doubt that the needed reform will take
its course. The system maintained in the office
of the Clerk of the Superior Court is admirable,
and we have no doubt that a Bimilar arrange
ment in respect to the Common Pleas would
be highly advantageous to that court, where au
enormous amount of business is transacted. It
appeared by the statistical tables which were
published in the Hkrald on the 1st of January,
that although composed of but three judges,
the Common Pleas did more business d.iring
the past year than pother courts where the
judges are more numerous. This, however,
may be attributed to the popularity of the
court, and the fact of its being the final appel
late tribunal from the Marine Court, aud all
the other inferior courts. It is, moreover, the
oldest court in the city ? its records extending
back to the days of the Dutch dynasty, when it
was presided over by a burgomaster and
schepens, in the days of the redoubtable
Stuyvesant. The English afterwards gave it a
new name, the burgomaster being changcd into
mayor, and the schepens into aldermen.
The bill now before the Legislature will ac
complish what iB necessary to ensure the full
and efficient despatch of the business ot tiie
court, and as a movement of convenience and
acility to lawyers, litigants, aud reporters, we
with it a speedy passage.
Tiie New Yoke Crystal Palace. ? The Tri
bune asserts that there ia no truth in the state
ment that the " Prince of Showmen," Barnum,
intends to resign the Presidency of the Crystal
Palace. Mr. Barnum accepted the office condi
tionally, and with the understanding that if,
upon a careful examination, it was possible to
resuscitate it, and moke the exhibition remu
nerative to the stockholders, he would give his
best energy to the work. A committee was ap
pointed to make the investigation. And what is
the result ?
It appears that the company was chartered in
the year 1852; that its capital sto* k is $500,
000, of which amount $489,000 were issued.
By the statement of the directors, dated Febru
ary 1, 1854, it is shown that the total receipts
of the company from all sources, including its
capital, was $938,873 05. As the above state"
ment does not show any cash on hand, it is
proper to add the $125,000 acknowledged in
debtedness as so much received either by labor
or otherwise. Hence, it will appear that the
total receipts were $1,063,873 05; and upon
investigation it is discovered that the company
is now in debt $178,000. It further appears
that $100,000 of the bonds of the company were
issued by the old directors, which Messrs. Dun
can & Sherman hold in trust, and have as col
lateral security for their payment of a mortgage
on the building. Of the above bonds, $73,000
have been sold ? $35,000 to Messrs. Duncan &
Sherman, and $38,000 to the late directors ?
almost exclusively to those who were re-elected
on the union ticket. The balance ? $27,000 ? of
ihe bonds not sold, it is said, will not briug in
Wall street more than sixty cents on a dollar.
The charter expires by limitation in 1857.
Article ninth of this charter reads as fol
lows: ? 44 The stockholders of the company here
by created shall be jointly and severally indi
vidually liable for all debts that may be due
and owing to all the laborers, servants, and
others in their employ, for services performed
lor said company.''
At the expiration of the lease of Reservoir
square, the building, without any further
equivalent, becomes the property of the city
by the terms of the lease ; and we learn that
an effort has been made to induce hotel keepers
and others to purchase one or more thousand
dollars worth of tickets, to meet immodiate and
pmsing demands; but for waut of success it
has been abandoned.
The only hope now remaining is to assess the
stockholders twenty per cent, which will fur
nish Mr. Barnum about $100,000 to meet
present emergencies.
The present average expenses of the company
are $425 per day; the average daily receipt-t
are $126 ? making a daily loss of $300. Is it
probable that Mr. Barnum will continue the
management of this concern, with such u crash
ing weight upon it ?
Our. n? Tins /. n5*M is ttik far am of tpb Wwwwiji Fi'oi
nvl hutvK /.i.kvtkp ?-lit. Jlooth, tlifl p.litor and proprle
t< r of tlic MilwnuMa l',tt Democrat , been nrcsie<lo;i
n dt.irgi' of obstructing tht pnTorcpmont of tlio fugitive
flaie liiw ii. tl.'c enw of Joshua (ilovor, tn Wlwun .n.
? r? r- r ?? t1: T1 a V '' Mt* ?>??? V'? ~ ?- I
WT. I ? i.Hltt ?? tUWMll j I. ill
Diuutk ?4 HwImI Matter*.
For the past week, the them tree, with the exception of
the Broadway, have experienced a falling off in the ?am
ber* of the audience*, aa compared with the very full
hotter* ? hich hare greeted the eye* of the manager*
?ince hit September. Even with thi* falling off, how
ever, the business baa been good, and several popular
favorite* have taken their """"l benefit), and each ha*
been greeted with a goodly array of their friend* on th*
interesting occasion.
At the Broadway theatre, Mr. Edwin Forre*t com
nienced an engagement on Monday evening la.it, and wa*
enthusiastically recehed by a very full house. He haa
a] reared during the week as Hamlet, Richelieu, Brutus,
Holla, I -ear, and Damon. This evening, he will play
" Othello," with Mr. Conway, a* Isgo; Mr. Pope, aa Caa
sio Mm. Poniai, a* Desdewona, and Mrs. Abbott, aa
Emilia.
At Burton's theatre, during the week, there have been
varied and attractive performances. Mr. Q. C. Jordan
and Mri>. EucUand have taken benefits, and good one*.
The last novelty at thia house, " The Lancers," haa been
played several times, to the delight of the people. Mr. Jor
dan as " Pe Courcj," and Mr. Fisher as " Col. Do Franc
Epce," give us aome fine acting in thin pitae. Mr. Burton'*
"Blauquet" ia excessively Burtonian, add immensely
funny. The mounting of the piece, music, uniforms, 4c.,.
are superb. The piece was played at three London
theatres, but we do not think that either of them sur
passed Barton's. At this theatre, to-night, Mr. Charles
Fisher, an excellent actor, has a benefit. He playa ' 'Wil
liam Tell," and hia daughter makes her debut as
"Albert." Two other pieces will be givep, and we doubt
not that Mr. Fisher will have a bumper house.
At the Bowery theatre, last Monday evening, the le
gitimate drama was restored, very much to the delight of
its patrons. "Macbeth" was the play; Mr. E. Eddy as
Macbeth, Mr. John It. Hcott a* MaetulT, and Mrs. Hamb
lin as Lady Macbeth. Messrs. Eddy and Scott wero
warmly received, and Mrs. Hamblin received a eordia
greeting. Through the week, legitimate pieces have been
I lajed to full houses. This evening, "Evadne," in which,
'he artists above named will sustain the leading part*. Mr.
Enckstone's farce, "The Pough Diamond," will also be
jliiyed; Miss Alice Cray, a stranger to the metropolitan
loards, w ill appear as Margery.
At the National theatre, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" keeps
he stage. During the past week Mr. J. J. Prior, Mr. J.
llngard, and Miss Cordelia Howard have had benefit*
"Uncle Tom's Cabin" is to be played this evening. On
Tuesday, Mr. G. W. L. Fox, a favorite at this hoa*e, soft:
a clever comedian, has a benefit.
At Wallack's theatre a new farce, called "A Good Fel_
low," written by C. M. Walrot, has been played. Mr. L.
S. Thompson bad a benefit- on Tuesday. Thi* evening
"Love for Love" and "A Good Fellow."
At Barnum's Museum, "The Old Brewery" ha* bees
delineated to good houses. It is to be played again to-
night, and there is also an afternoon performance.
At Christy's MinUrels, 472 Broadway; Wood's, 444
Broadway; and Buckley's, 530 Broadway, interesting en
tertainments are offered for this evening. Mr. G. 8. Back
ley ha* retired Irom Buckley's Serenaders for s short
time, and Messrs. E Horn and T. F. Briggs have been
engaged in his place. Mr. Buckley's health ha* been
impaired by over-exertion and a campaign in California.
The sixth anniversary dinner of the American Dramatic;
Fund Association is to take place at the Alitor Hoose (Ra
the 10th of April.
Miss J. M. Davenport had a benefit at the Charlos
street tbeutre, Baltimore, on Saturday evening.
The Orleans theatre is open again, with " The Wander
ing Jew," arranged from M. Sue's novol.
The Front street theatre, Baltimore, I* occupied by an.
equestrian company.
Mrs. Anna Cora Mowatt commenccd an engagement at
the thesnut street theatre, Philadelphia, on Monday
last, and took her benefit on Friday night. On Wednes
day the appeared as Parthenia, in "Ingomar," Mr. A.
H. Davenport appearing for fhe first time aa Ingomar.
She will remain another week at the Chesnut. It i* an
nounced as her last engagement in Philadelphia, and
her farewell to the stage.
Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams are playing at Rialey's
Varieties, Washington.
A company, under the management of J. G. Cart
litch, is gh ing performances at Cleveland, Ohio. *
A late Calcutta paper advertises two bands of negro
minstielsaiid a theatrical performance by araatoars.
Senora lepita Soto is dancing jit Charles' theatre,
Memphis, Tenn. Van Amburgh's menagerie wa* ther*
on the ltth, en route for the North.
The Broadway Theatre Association, consisting of gen
tlemen attached to that theatre, gave it* first
ball at the Apollo Room*, on Monday. Some four hun
dred ladies and gentlemen were in attendance, and th*
ball wa* a successful and pleasant affair.
The Montreal theatre is now open, and a company frrna
New York, under Mr. J. Crouta, are playing "Unci*
Tom'* Cabin" with success.
The New Orlean* Picayune, of the 12th, siys:?
1 here has been a perfect round of gayety in oar elty
during the week now closed. A soirej daruante at th*
St. Charles Hotel, one of the most brilliant re-nnion* of
the season, wa* postponed from Monday evening to Tues
day, and wa* then attended by one of the most fashion
able throngs that have graced any of the numerous par
ties of the winter. The debut of the Sontag and Berries
troupes at the bt. Charles theatre, was also an event in
our gay annals. There has rarely been seen a mors at
tractive and pleasing spectacle In New Orleans, th...
presented by the dress circle and parquette, so fall of well
dressed and beautiful ladies, on this occasion. Two other
audiences of the same character have lent the charm of
their presence to the subsequent performances of
accomplished company. Besides these, Jullien has been
busy at Odd lellows' Hall, having given foar concerts
and one lal masque, all of which have been well attended.'
But these are not all. We hare had two French opera*
at the American theatre, and one at the Orloans. and
theatricals ad lilitum.
J. P. Addams is performing an engagement at the Na
tional theatre, Cincinnati.
Mrs. McC ready commenced an engagement on Monday
evening last at Newark.
Miss. A. Ince, a young American actress, made her first
appearance at the National theatre, Washington, oa
Monday evening last.
F. P. Cbanfrau, Miss Albertine, and Sir Willi... Don,
are playing at the Howard Athenasum, Boston.
Paul Julien has been delighting the citizens of Havana
with his wonderfully precocious powers. Gottschalk, th*
pianist, is also there.
Madame Sontag and her company, it ia stated, includ
ing Alfred Jaell, the pianist, and Camiilo Urao, the vlolin
1st, have concluded an engagement to go to Mextoo, to
give concerts and operas.
Mr. and Mrs. Waller have made a great hit, it is said,
in the Sandwich Islands.
The Monplasir troupe have arrived in San Francisco
from Maratlan.
Mr. Couldock is playing at Chicago, HI.
Mr. and Mrs. Florence commenoe an engagement at
Buffalo this evening.
The new museum at Lowell, Mass., Is a commodious
and elegant house. It is now open under the manage
ment of W. L. Ayling. Mr. D. S. Palmer is sta^e man
sger.
At the Museum. Boston, on Saturday, Mi** Robertson
played for the benefit of the Ronton Provident Asso
ciation. This evening the museum management and
company give a complimentary testimonial to Mr. Bour
cicault. MUi Robertson has played seven weeks to full
house*.
Mr. and Mrs. Vriah Clarke, of New York, are giving
Shakspeurian readings in the New England towns.
Mr. Lewis E. Josseijn, of Lynn, has come out as a
read* r of Khakspeare.
Mr. Maeallistor la giving exhibitions at the Portland
theatre, under the management of W. B. English.
Mr. Eempster is giving concerts at Savannah, Qa.
The Gtrmania Musical Society give ? concert at Pro
vidence, R. I., on Tuesday evening. A " burlesque Jul
lien orchestra" of twenty -four persons, gave a concert on
Thursday, ICth.
W. V.. Anderton had a benefit at the Charleston (S. C.)
theatie on the llth.
Mudnme Anna Bishop had given three concerts In San
Franchio with {artial success. The firat drew a crowd
ed house at five dollars per seat. The second was not so
well attended, and for the third the prioe of tickets was
1 educed to two dollars. Miss Ileron waa playing at the
Mi tioj olitan. Madame "lhillon was playing an engage
ment ut Sacramento. At the Adelphl, C. R. Thome,
mnnsprr, "Incle lom'sCabln " had been produced ? Mr.
J hou.e as L'ncle Tom; Mrs. Thome as Topsy; Kliza, Miss
E. Ihorte; Mrs. Bird, Miss J. Pelliy. The Clmpmans were
[l?J?ng ?t Ibe American, manaped hy Mr. John Jones,
Mr. Lewis 1 aker ai;d wile, (mvr Alexin* Fisher,) wlU re
ti.m to the 1-ast in May. They are among the "hundred
thousand dollar people."
Mr. Lroole has appeared in hi* version of "The Corsi
ci.n l'rotlit rs," as played at the Astor Place Opera House,
mo jeaifi since. "1 1 ere was some hissing at the long
sciiien. 1 be It met calls It a version by an " American "
author * i.rh '? not the fact. The piece was ttrit played
in N< w ^otk, but it waa arranged by Mr. Brooke. At
il e 1 iii:ctm' Ali. Lean lias revived 4' Richard 111." The
l?*i tew f( ree, ?' Nourish Need Apply,'' has been quite
si^.mt.l jit Ibe gtrard Tiie Lyceum Is open agn'n
'? I ? <?!.? *??r iT i f ? Mr. R. r. Mnit *
iu\cnui>, at vrury a ?? Mboul