Newspaper of The New York Herald, February 2, 1855, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD JAMBS 60R00S BESVKTT, >'ROPRHETOR AND SD1T0R. imCI M. W. CO .IN Ell OF SA.BBPU AND fTLKW BTM. Y*tuu>< UK., Ho. 31 AJftmittUtTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY r HEAT UK, Broadway? Cindbbh.ua ? &u>A fn>? TBAVBia-ci^ #CW5RY THRATRB. Bowery? Sh?xdy HMintl IBIKH A?ll KAMCB AND TlRkU Moi>*?T Y - 8 ATT!.* or Ai.fciri<*. _____ ?jJRTON'S THCATRK, Gbaiaoert itr??t? Thc Sbbioc* Tamii -Toodlbs. WALLACE'S THEATRE. Broadway? Town and Couji lll-l ADl AND GBHT1.B.MAK. METROPOLITAN TUBATKR, Rro?dway-K<4CBJTBiAN rBIIVOBMANL'E*. .iMERICAN MUSEUM? Afternoon? Eistacm*. Evening ? RaCXKTH. WOOD S MINSTRELS, Mechanic*' Ball, *72 Bro*.tway. ? ? JWCKt.RT S OPERA HOC? E, M ? Broadway- Buob HI'I irMIVMAH Ov Aft A TboI'FC. DONALDSON 3 OPERA UOUSB? Dope Cb?r?l, 718 and Tail Brcadway. Jlw York, Friday. February 4, 1833. The ."few*. There is a political crisis at Albany. The whig Members of tbs Legislature met in oauuis last night to ballot for & candidate for the seat to be vacated by William H. Seward on the 4th of next March in the United States Senate. Great efforts were made to have the caucus full and emphatic; ?nd the vote shows that Seward and his friends have cot been idle. One half the members of each Housa were in attendance. The Legislature to composed of th'rtytwo Senators and one him. dred and twenty-eight Assemblymen. There were in the caucus sixteen Senators and sixty-four As semblymen. After the usual proceedings, and a speech from the Lieutenant Governor, the balloting took place, and resulted as follows: ? For William H. Seward 74 ? Washington Hunt 2 " Millard Fillmore 2 ?? Ira Harris 1 ?' R P. Culvtr 1 ?' Blank * Total 8? H thus appears that Mr. Seward has not a msjori'y in either House. Even if the entire caucus had goBe for tim, there would be one against him in the Senate, and a tie in the House, in joint ballot he would be in a minority. But this is ek*e shaving; and it will be neeesswy for the Know Nothings to look sharp, aud bare every mem ber on duty bright and early next Tuesday, the 6tl last, Albany is full of politicians. There Is alto a political crisis at Washington, and the cause ia tbe spoil?? the much coveted spoils. Collector ttedtield, of this city, badgeied to the last extremity by the voracious softs, has resolved to resign his office, aud the paramount and all -absorb ing consideration just at thia moment with the administration lickspittles is, who is to be his sue. otfltor. Upcn this p-.int our special despatch from Waatirgton sheds a flood of light, by which the toawteps of the faithful may he guided. Meanwhile, the < ffice holders are shaking as with an ague. There was again no quorum In the Illinois Legis lature jeaterday, and consequently the election of a United StaUs Senator was further postponed. The Wisconsin legislature, in joint conventioa, on Tuesday and Wednesday balloted for a United fttatea Senator, but without effecting a choice Ano-her tr al was made jesteriay, but we have not learne-l the result. In the United States Senate yesterday Mr. Se ward, from the Pest Office Committee, reportsd a joint resolution providing for an overland weekly ?mil communication with San Francisco. It was ?rdfred to be piinted. After refusing to take up the Fiench Spoliation bill, the consideration of the Army Aoprcpiiation bill was resnmed, the ques tion being tbe amendment relative to pravidirg Means to suppress Indian hostilities. Finally it wns agreed to increase the regular force of the array by adding two regiments of cavalry and two of in fantry, and two million? and a half of dollirs were appropriated to defray the expense. This iucreasa of the army meets the recommendations contained in the President's annual message; but the banate refused to carry out the suggestions of the Execu tive aud tbe War Department with regard to raising ? special volnnteer force of three thousand men to overawe the savages. The House bill autao rleing the construction of a line of telegraph to the Pscifl : Ocean was read and referred to the Com mittee on Territories. In tbe House yesterday, the bill authorizing the oocstruction of a line of telegraph to tbe Pacific Ocean wm passed by a vote of 110 to 70. It gives the right of wayl and exterds the penal laws of the United States i ver the line for its protection, the put of two million of acres of land being withheld by eonaent of all parties. The bill establishing the office of Surveyor General of Utah, ani granting fends to actual setters therein, was taken up. This ?object was debated at the last session, during which the practice ot polygamy in Utah was freely com ?anted on. Yes'erday Mr. Disney proposed a sub ?Mute for tbe bill, omitting tbe clause donaUng fends to settlers, and retaining only the provisions establishing the office of Surveyor General, and gmnting lands for educational purposes. It was adopted, and the bill passed. Au effort was mide to obtain an expression of opinion relative to the poly gamy question, but it proved unsuccessful. It seems quite certain, however, from the incidental exoies towns uf opinion daring the aotlon of the House upon .wu bill, that the Mcnnona will receive but little favor at tbe hands of Congress until tbe peculiar iiutitu. ttan of that sect Is repudiated. Mr. 11 jnston moved to go Into committee on the tariff, but afterwards wttbd'ew the motion, stating that he should renew Dm teat question next Wednesday. Don Felipe Molina, Minister from Costa Ri >a( Guatemala and Bin Siivador, died at Washington yesterday morning. A briet sketcn of his career la given under tbe obituary head. We give elsewhere some additional extracts from ear California fl'es received by the Star of the West, among which will be found a portion of Governor Bigler's message, relating to the finances at tbe State, the condition and prospects of the mines, and tbe exports of golJ dust during tbe past jt?r. Among our extract* wi I also be found some interesting statistica made up at the close of the Two cases of arson were yesterday under Investi gation by the Fire Mars lal, uefore the police ins tioes. A report of the proceedings will ?>e found in soother column. Cotton continued firm yesterday, with sa'ei of about 500 bales in transitu, and about 300 a 400 do. on the spot, at full prices. On the 3d ot January middling Upland cotton sold at 7|c.; it is now woith 9c., showing an advance within the month of lie. per lb. The average advance has probably been equal to lc. per lb. Of the whole crop of the UDited States we have probably shipped about 700,000 bales, leaving a balance in the country cf about 2,500,000 bales. The advance of 1 cent per lb. is fully equal to 14 per bale, or to $10,000,000 on tte whole gained lu the valne of this great staple in a single month in behalf ot the L'fclbd States. Flour was steady yesterday at the previous day's prices. Wheat was nominal, and cern unchanged. I'ork was firmer, with sales of eld neas at 112 C2. The stick of old mess pork was taken yesterday, and amounted to 27,207 bbls., ardef ?ew do. to 8D2 bbla. Beef was unchanged; jard Of r*tb*T ?ort buojaot, There was mow ! doing in Nsw Orleans sugars, and the Biles em braced about 900 a 1,000 hhds., at prices rangiaic from 4ic. a 5^c., with small lots of prime to the trade at 6:. The notice of stxsks, &o., will ba found in another colamn. Freights were unchanged. We publish el?e where sonn additional news from Knrope, received by the steamship Africa Tbe mails broaght by this vessel reached New York abont one o'clock this morning; bat as our tele graphic summary of the news, heretifore published, contained the main points of the Intelligence, we are induced to postpone ths publication of detailed ac counts until our next issue. The question of tbe choice of a successor of W?. H. tie ward to the United States Seaite occupied tue attention of both branches of the Legislature yes terday, to the exclusion of all other important busi ness. Under the appropriate beid we give a sketch cf the debate on Mr. Pettjf's resolution defining ths qralifications of a Sena.or, fiom which it will be keen that tbe excitement at the capital is rapidly in creasing. The National Democratic General Committee sua; las' evening. The aiiti-fuiinn sentiments adopted recently by the 3tate Central Committee were fully endoised, and a resolution urging tbe democratic n embers oi the Legislature to stand firmly by their piicoiples, in the election of a Sanator in place of Mr^Seward, was agr -ed to. The Kinney Central American expedition turns up in sourd condition. Our Washington eorres pondent states that the rnmor of a proclamation by the President heading off the enterprise is un funded. But what about the British Minister aid bis instructions to the West India squadron ? Onr legal reporter has famished us lately wi';h a great number of oases of slave traffiskiog, which have been ferreted oat by the United States Distrht At* torney, whose hands, it appears, are fall of prose" cations of the kind. But we think, many as he has before him, he should have more if o'har ofBciala were on the alert. We would a^k what has become of the schooner after which the United States At torney despatched a steamer, the schooner having left port without e, clear&nca paper f What has be come of tbe brig and two schoonora lately mys teriously fkting out at this port ? Where is the Collector ? Where is tbe Surveyor ? We publish to-day a graphic acoount of the wreck of the British bark Argjle, near Squan Inlet, oa the 28th nit. Of eleven persons who were on board, only one, a sailor named Paul Da Coste, escaped. We publish elsewhere additional news from Mexi co. Our correspondent at Laguna informs tfs of the popular lethargy existing in Yacatan, which he states is merely a slumbering volcano, as the pro vince is ready for revolution. Trade was very dull, and a nnmbar of vessels were in the harbor wait ing Heights. It was not credit ad that Santa Anna weald be allowed to continue in his infanoas traffic iu Indians for Cuba. The American Geographical and Statistical So ciety held its usual weekly meeting last evening, in the New York University. A paper on the aborigi nal languages of this continent, displaying great ability and research, was read by Dr. Hawk). A brief t ketch of the proceedings will be found in an other column. Another Prcclom Row I., the Ciutom Hoiwe Mr. Bcdfitld'i I'lUinatiun-Soft Shells l? Washington. The newspaper reporters and correspondents at Washington have been cudgelling their brains to get at the secret ot the extraordinary g v thc ring of New York soft shells, visible tor some days past, on any line morning, in and aroand the "White House, the Treasury and the State Department. Some have supposed that these birds of evil omen had come to entorce upon Mr. Pierce the appointment of ex-Goveraor Seymour as Minister to Frauce? some, that their business had reference to the proposed nomination of Tammany Hall for the sucses 8ion; but with all the vigilance and sagacity of the newspaper corps on the spot, they have tailed to ferret out, in advance of the Herald office, the real mission of Seymour, Cochrane & Co. to the White House. Our special advices this morning from Wash ington, among other things, throw considerable light upon this mysterious Custom House dele gation. Its object is said, by our correspondent, to be a proper successor to Mr. lledltld, whose resignation awaits the action of the Cabinet. But, according to our private advices, the Col lector is but a secondary question, the mam issue being a change in the spoils policy of the Custom House. Mr. Redfleld has taken his stand against the conciliatory policy ot Coch iane 4 Co., and if their plan is adopted in Cabinet council, the Collector s office becomes a vacancy. Nature abhors a vacuum, and so does Tainmany Hall. Accordingly, the Tam many plan is lirat to Cirry the spoils policy ot Cochrane Jt Co., when? the resignation of Mr. IUdtitld being continued ? it will become neces sary to provide a satisfactory successor. Tbe row between Collector Redfleld and the Cochrane clique bas been upon the division of tbe ppoils. What else could it be ? But, though similar in character, it is exactly on the oppo site tack to that of the Bronson imbroglio. It will be renumbered that, to conciliate the hard shells to Mr. Pierce's free soil and secession Cabinet and foreign appointments, Gov. Dick 1 ineon was first chosen as Collector for this port, and that upon bis positive refusal to accept | either tbe honors or the plunder ot this de.*ira ! ble berth, Judge Bionson, as the next best hard 1 shell, was appointed, and that he accepted and was duly installed Into the office. It will also be recollected that the honest old Judge, hav ! ing no sympathy with the dogmas of the Buffalo | platform, and none for the Van Buren free soil heretics. gave them the cold shoulder in p<*r 1 celling out the spoils. The wrath of these Van Buren heretics was. of course, cxcitcd. They went to Washington, Hocks of them, picked up all along the road from New York to Buffalo. They demanded, and Pierce ordered, and Guthrie instructed Bronson to give the softs a sop in the rich pap of the customs. Bronson protested, ne would do no such thing. He recognized no Baltimore amnesty to the traitors. They were blick pheep, and not entitled to feed witb the pure white southdoAns of the democratic fold The Judge was. therefore, contemptuously turned out, atd there was a precious row. Iu the twinkling of an eye the happy result of all the labors of the two factious, from 1818 to 18.V.2, was thrown to the dogs. Our efforts in behalf of peace were unavailing. Tbe re united democracy were again split into two halves, and never again to be reconciled while clams are gathered around Coney Island. The ruinous revolts and accidents which, from ibis beginning, have successively fallen upon the administration like so many ocean breakers, until at la?t it sticks a hopeless wreck in the Hind, it is needless to recount. Our preseut ol-ject is this latest spoils mission of the soft 1 shells to Washington. W hat is it for Incredible as it may appear, it is to insist that tbe bard shells shall have a sop in tbe spoils of the Custom House. It is a cbarity movement. Mr. Redfleld was appointed to quiet the soft shells. He has been doing it to the best of his ability, t? the total exclusion of the hards, reversing the plan of Bronson en tirely. But M??re. .Seymour, Fowler, Coch" rane, (with the Scarlet Letter in kis pocket,) and othtf 'hiefs of the Tammany eaal hole, and the Custom House clique, have got the precious idea into their heads, that aa the New York democratic party was split upon the spoils, so it can be reunited upon the same platform. Hcnce their miesion to Washington, preparatory to the nomination of that poor, deluded man, Franklin Pierce, for the succession, by the re conciled officeholders of Tarainny Hall. We understand that, in behalf of a treaty of peace with the famishing hard shells, (whose ribs and hip bones have become painfully pro minent from a dependence upon the soup houses.) that Cochrane ?fc Co., are urging upon the administration the advantages of a little roast beef and a mutton chop or two to these outside hard brethren. Redtield, however, is said to be as implacable against them us Bronson was against the softs. If. therefore, the schedule of Cochrane & Co , which pro poses to tuyi out from the Custom House a ot of soft t-hells (including Captain Rynders,) and to put in their places an equivalent number of hard shells, is agreed upon as the basis of the reunion of the democratic party, Redfleld's resignation before the President holds good. W e shall get a new Collector. We shall have Franklin Pierce nominated for '50 iu Tammany Hall by the reconciled spoils democracy, and all tho squabbles of the Cabinet will be at an end. John Cochrane, (with the Scarlet Letter in his pocket) will most probably be successful. We may therefore look out for the happy con sequences which are to follow his scheme and Redfield's retirement. One other thing, essen tial to enable the administration to cope with the Know Nothings in this State, appears to have been overlooked; and that is a portion of the spoils to the Seward coalition party . in pur suance of the holy alliance lately entered upon in our Twenty-ninth Senatorial district. Short of a fusion with the Seward coalition, we suspcct that the scheme of Cochrane's delegation for re building the administration and the democratic party upon the plunder of the Custom House, will fall through. Master Cochrane (with the Scarlet Letter in his pocket) should instantly call upon Seward and bring him into the pro posed reorganization. He and the administra tion are ready for anything to checkmate the Know Nothings, and this is the last chance. What a precious lesson is all this upon "the cohesive power of public plunder !" ? what a commentary upon the rum and rowdy patriot ism of Tammany Hill, upon the principles of hards and Bofts, and the peddling spoils sca vengers of thiB most wretched and imbecile Pierce administration ! Mark the perplexity of Pieroe concerning these Custom House spoils. Neither Cuba nor Central America appear to have given him half the anxiety which be be trays upon these spoils of the Custom House. Let us be patient. Let us hope for the best, from the prospect of a new Collector and a new Custom House spoils policy. John Cochrane has the business in hand, and he seldom goes upon a fool's errand to Washington. He cannot I be resisted, for he has the Scarlet Letter in his pocket. Marcy and the Letter Writers. ? The Washington letter writers persist in the asser tion that Marcy will shortly resign. We have no faith in any such tbing. We rather suspect that Gushing, Forney, and other Kitchen C ibi net conspirators, are the sources of these re ports, and that their object is to familiarize Mr. President Pierce with the idea that it would be good policy to get rid of Marcy. To be sure, in the Dudley Mann disclosures there is sufficient provocation for Marcy to throw up his commis sion in disgust; but as against the Kitchen con spiracy, it is plainly his policy to hold on. France has no temptations lor him, for there the spoils fall short of the expenses. Marcy will stick to the spoils, ani let the Kitchen dis place him if they can. The best expedient for driving him out will be to despatch Dudley Mann as Minister to Paris. Hints, we perceive, have been thrown out in this direction; but we presume that Mr. Pierce has bad enough of Dudley and his projected socialist rupture with Louis Napoleon, by this time. The administra tion dare not send Mann to France ; Mr. Pierce is afraid to remove Marcy, and Marcy will not resign. ThiB is our view of the position of Marcy and the Kitchen. Marcy has the whip hand, and he will hold on. The Mayor's Complaint Book. ? The public have had a fair opportunity to judge of the effect produced on the condition of the city, both in its moral and physical aspects, by the ' complaint book established by the Mayor, im mediately after he entered upon the duties of his office. For it New York is entirely indebted , to Mr. Wood, and to him, therefore, belong* all the credit of the good which it has o fleeted. Dirty streets, obstructions to the sidewalks, and nuisances of all kinds, are recorded in it, > and the officials, whose duty it is to have them removed, are instantly notified by a clerk ap pointed especially for that purpose. Occa eonally some rather singular and amusing com- i plaints find a place on its pages. A woman i ! charges ht r husband with having deserted ber ' , for another; a shoemaker calls upon the Mayor I | to assist him in obtaining a debt of a few dol- 1 lars which a delinquent policeman owes bim ; for a pair of boots: a bookseller, who has been compelled to remove a sign because it ob structs the sidewalk, complains that his neigh- I bor on the other side of the way is allowed ! to violate the ordinance with perfect impunity. 1 But the great bulk of the complaints is against j the street contractors for fading to perform their duty. In this last particular it has been i the means of effecting a partial reform: and if the Commissioner of Streets and Lamps con tinues bis work with the same energy which he displayed in the commencement, New York will Ixcome one of the cleanest and healthiest cities in the country. It is incumbent upon euoh citizen to a*>i*t theMnyor in carry ing out the objects for which tbisMok was established, and the most efficient way m which he can aid him is by reporting every case of neglect to the clerk, either by note or in person. Kvory violation of the Sun day liquor law coming under his observation shculd be entered upon it. and every omission of duty on the part of the polije brought before the notice of the Mayor. As a proof of the I gcod which It has produced already, we may I state that over a thou*.uid dollars have been recovered from Peter Funks, emigrant botrd ing-bouse keepers, nnd other impostera, snd restored to their original owners. Rowdyism, too, in its worst forms, has been to a grea* extent suppressed: arrests on Sunday for drunkenness, and the crimes of which it is the prolific parent, have been reduced to lew tban one tenth of their former number) the po lice are m?re efficient because every neglect of duty it promptly reprimanded or punished; swindlers of every kind, who have heretofore preyed upon the community without fear of de tection, are now watched with a lynx-eyed vi gilance which has driven many of them out of the city. All this and more has been effected in less than a month, and still the work of re form proceeds with unabated rigor. In some instances, however, and we are glad in being able to say they are as yet very few, persons take advantage of the opportunity aiforded them by the Mayor's book, to indulge in com plaints of a most trivial nature, tor the mere gratification of an ill will against their neigh bors, while parties arrested by policemen make use of the same means to annoy them lor any fancied insult by which their dignity has been attended. All such complaints should be dis countenanced at the commencement, for they must interfere with the successful operation of the whole project. No charge that cannot be substantiated should be recorded in it; but where the proof is undeniable, the grievance complained of should be promptly redressed. In this way the Mayor's book oun be made a terror to all evil doers, whether in or out of office. Mr. Soile and tub Aumi.vistra.tion. ? The article under tnis caption, which we publish in this pau? from the New Orleans Bee, sub stantially liopts our statements and opinions concerning the chain of causes and conse (juenoes of the Ostend Convention, and the resignation of his mission by our French Minis ter to Spain. If the resolution adopted in Con gress calling for all oar diplomatic corres pondence not heretofore published upon this Cuba question, is answered by a transmit on of this correspondence to the House, we doubt not that our views aud explanations of Soule's mission and the Ostend conference will be fully confirmed. We ure a little appreheueive, how ever, that the Ostend journal, and the confi dential correspondence upon that extraordinary assemblage, will be withheld from tho public eye as long as possible. It is almost too rich for immediate publication. One of the moat striking evidences of the moral cowardice of Mr. Pierce is in the fact that the anti-Nebraska agitation in the North frightened him otf from the island of Cuba Thus the last instructions to Soull, resulting in his resignation, were due to the anti-Nebraska excitement which entered so largely into our Northern elections of last fall. Thus have the South been sold upon the Nebraska bill. They have gained Kansas and Nebraska, if they cau outnumber the free soilers, but they have lost Cuba. What a glorious administration ! Let us wait the return of Soul?*. The Sardinian Criminals and the Adminis tration. ? Notwithstanding the efforts of Mayor Wood to secure from the government at Wash ington some action on its part appropriate to the outrage which the Sardinian government has thought proper to inflict upon this country in a shipload of criminals from the dungeons of Genoa, nothing to meet the case has been done. On the contrary, we understand that thft District Attorney, Mr. McKeon. is instructed to see that these criminals are received as ex iles; and a procession in honor of their arrival, a, la Kossuth, may be in store for them, for all that we know. Who will volunteer to send the Koszta letter to these valuable emigrants, on the arrival of the ship, and the inaugural? THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. CAKCI8 NOMINATION OF !flB. SEWARD. THE POLITICAL DEBATE IN THE ASSEMBLY, 7 i Ac., Ao., Ac. Iuiporant from tile State Capital. THK WHIG LF.018LATIVK CAUCUS ? THR UNITED STATICS SKNATOK?HIP. Auaxt, Feb. 1 , 1855. | Albany in alive with politicians. The topic to-night is the wh'g legislative ciucui. Annexed is the notice issued by the leaders : ? WHIG LKflIQLATIVK CAFCl'9. The whig Senator* and member* of Assembly are re quested to meet in caucus in the Assembly Chamber, on 'Ihurcday evening, Feb. 1, at 7 o'clock, for the purpose of ncrniuatiiiK a candidate to be supported by them lor the ollice of United States Senator, on Tuesday, the t>th day of February next. By order of the committoe. W. II ROBKRTSON, Chairman of Senate Committee. R. M BLATCHFORD, Chairman of Assembly Committee. Amu my, Jan. 30, lt>56. The raucua met in the Assembly Chamber this even ing, and wai called to order by Mr. Blatchford, who nominated Senator J. B. Williams Chairman, and Senator i Richards, and C. P. Johnson, of the House of Assembly, Secretaries. The roll of numbers was called. Kighty one were present, including the 1'reeident o the Senate, being one less than the majority in the Senate and one less than the majority in the House. Absentees in the Senate, Messrs. Barnard, Brooks, Field, l'utnam, and Whitney. Of the Assembly, twenty whig* were absent; of these four are out of town. Of the New York members there were piesent Mesirs. Stuyve?ant, Jimmerson and ( Uigli. Senator Robertson moved that the caucus procted to ballot for a candidate for United States Senator. Senator Crosby and Mr. Boynton were appointed tellers. The tirst ballot resulted as follows:? For William H. Seward 74 j Kor Wachington Hunt 2 For Millard Fillmore 1 For Ira Harris I For K. 1). Culver 1 Blank 1 1 Total ->0 The vote lor Mr. Fillmore was cast by Mr We?d, of I Frie. Mr. Littleiield moved that the vote be de -lared unani mous. Carritd. Mr. Raymond addressed the member" of thecaucis, when they adjourned. THICKS OF 1HI XIWAKDITO ? BXCITINO 1'EBATK IS I MB AMKMBLY? KKJOICINQS OF THB KNOW SO TS MM? OOMX7CT OF THK 8TATK PRISON-" COMMIS SION? PHELPS THK HITUTRKR ? OKI: AT O ATHi:* INU OF POLITICIANS, KTC. Amavv, Feb. 1, 185.V Ihe House of Assembly presented the most excltin* scene ibis morning, though no absolute disorder occur red etUI, for a moment, fesrs were entertained tbat par. liameatary decorum would he violated. The facts are these: Mr. Leigh was permitted to close hi* unfinished ? peech ot yesterday en Mr. I'ctty's resolution. lastetd of taking side against Mr. Reward, as there was reason 1 to believe he would, he disappointed a large number of he membtra In advocating the Senator's re election. Mr Heaaley followed in a no party sense, cared very litt'a whether the resolution was adopted or not, espe cially since, as he now perceived, that it was Introduced under a misapprehension that the Know Nothings were anxlons for ite adoption. Mr. L*ifh called Mr. Headly to order, an I commence. 1 ?peaking. ??Commit your question of order to writing, " said Mr. Wager. ?'Ia writing"? "in writing, ' reiterated Mr. Ferdon. " Put your point of order in writing," responded from every portion of the chamber, with rapping upon the desk*. Mr. I>figh rose and withdrew hla point of order, and elaimed a question of privilege. He spoke a moment, when, in alluding to a gentleman of the Housa, pretended i.ot to know either bis name or his county, but said, ?? the gentleman who wanted to be Bpeaksr, but couldn't l<t votes enough." This unmaul/ a??ertion and per. eonal allusion called Mr. Stevens to his feet instantly. Permission was given him to anawer Mr. I.?Kh, when be atated that be deslrwl ? imply to iofonn the House bow be became connected with the resolution. A few days itince, Mr. Leigh applied to blm, (Mr. 8.) wishing tbe in troduction of a resolution into the House on tbe subject of United Stales Senator, in order that he (Mr. L.) might have un opportunity to deline his position, inti mating that he was opposed to Seward. The resolution, as dra*n up by Mr. Leigh, (except its grammatical er ror h,; was submitted by Mr. I'etty. Mr. Mteveus inti mated that fcimself aud Mr. I'etty had both been de ceived by Mr. Leigb. This aunouneem at created great excitement n the Hou->e. Mr. Leigh bad just concluded a spee:b extolling Wui H. fee ward a'iove ail other men; ami now the infor mation was g ron that Mr. I.elgii had procured the intro duction of '.he resolu'ion under false promises, written by his own hand, thus: ? Unsolved, That in the now distracted state of parties it Is the duty of Ibis Legislature to cast oil tbe bonds of party traders, and vote only lor such men lor the office of I nited States Senator us have shown thjjjseives t>y their acts, speeches and votes, that they are true to the interests of tbe State, to the publio schools, and to the whole co'.intry. Many of 'he ablest debaters ot the House w?re called out, uiid among others, .Mr. Speaker Llt'ljjuhn himself, who advocate ; the choice of Mr Seward in an aole nod eloquent manner. Mr. Stebolns, Mr. Jouns'in, Mr. lla*er, ani several others, made appeals to tbe extent of the.r ability in favor of the Sen itor. l'he democratic free (oil ers were -ailed upon to vote for Mr. Seward on account of his higher 1 iw and abolition doctrines. All party prefer ences were di.-cardeu by these Seward whig* proclaiming lustily tha*. tbey should not vote for bun as a partisan, but solely and only because he sustaiued the higher law doctrine, and the abolition of slavery. It was truly laughable to hear these wbig political sinners proclaim themselves slatterns of pure saints upon the question of penator. They were no-party men to-day ? precious innocents ! It is now undeniable, th u the resolution was intro duced by an underground movement of the Seward wb who were surcharged with tloquence in support of the Senator; and that Leigh was designated to play the conspicuous part of producing its introduction. Over and over again, professing to be opposed to Seward, to be a member of tbe mystic order, though he had last some of the signs, he succeeded in inducing Mr. I'etty to biuiu the resolution forward, as the House would then believe, coming from him, it was of pure lvuow Nothing origin. This la equal to tbe game pluyed by Mr. Loomls, in the House, two or three years since, who induced Henry Shaw to introduce a resolution of inquiry into the conduct of certain State officers, when the only ob ject sought was the impeachment ol Mather. AVben all tho eloquence ot the House will be spent upon this matter it is iuiposiible now to form the least idea. Ttis to be again taken up in ths morning after tbe reading of the journal. The friends of the Senktor hav ing; consumtd the entire session to-day, it is probable that bis opponents will prepare themselves this evening to rebut some of the in my statement* made to-day on bin behalf. Tbe debate in the house absorbed all legislation. The Penate did but a triUe, as most of its members were en gaged in listening to tbe harangues in the House. It may be well to state thai tbe galleries aud lobbies were crowded with Seward whigs, who applauded tbe Speaker, Mr. Baker and others, during the delivery of their speeches. It seemed more like a mass meeting than a quiet, peaceable legislative audience. The American (arty li'ed one hundred guns at twelve o'clock, in honor of their victory in the Twenty-ninth Senate district. Complaints against the new mans.einent of the State prisons became so alarming, during toe la-t session of the Legislature, that the members were induced to enact a law, ever Governor Sevuinur s velo, authorizing the Comptroller to institute a commissi >u to Investigate tbe attain 01 those institutions, a certain man, well known in this city, was placed at the heud, and the investiga tion commenced some six or eight months since. It was expected that a report woula be submitted at tbe open mg of tbe session. There are many matters under con sideration, relating to tbe prisons, before committees of tho Legislature; there were bills pending, relating to money transactions of agents and contractors, upon which information whs indispensable. But alt such in formation being withheld, the Senate has been compelled, in ?>ne or two instances, to call tor copies of specific por tions of the testimony in the hands ot the caairman of the State Prison Commission. Yesterday, however, nearly five weeks after the commencement of the session, the report was received, and anLounced in the House of Assembly, a motion made *.o print, and the copy ssnt to the public printer. The moment tbe report was pre sented to the House of Assembly, it liecame public pro perty; not only every member ot the House, every repor ter for the press, but every citizen of the State, is en titled to the privilege of examining that public doou inent. But no. 'Hie report of that committee is still a sealed book. The dlctatoiial chairman has placed the printer under injunction ot secrecy, and the press, aud consequently tbe public, are deprived of the right of an examination of a public document. The democratic members of both houses will hold a caucus in a day or two. They will decide not to present a candidate for United States Senator, but that each Senator and member of the House will exercise bis own discretion as to bis preference ol a candidate. The K. N.'s keep mum. of cnuree. Tbe Slier I IPs special jnry, empannelled to decide upon tbe question of the sanity of John H. Phelps. have de cided that be is of sane mind; consequently he will lie executed on Friday next, unless the Governor shall de cide upon another day, of which '.here is no expectation. The city is becoming filled with politicians from every | portion of the State: almost every assembly district re presented by a whig Know Kothiug has its delegates at the capital. Tbe aU-ab-orbingquestion is, Shall Seward be Senator!1 or shall the election go over to another Legislature, when both houses will be new.' Never be fore was such a pressure ktown to elect a single indivU dual or nobody. No labor, no time, uo mouey, no means are withheld. It may be well to inform the New York barbers, that as matters now stand, there is no prospects of the Legis lature closing their shops on Sundays. It tr.ere ever, was an intention of introducing such a bill it is'now ab.iu doued. Shave on. Important fioiu W Wellington. THE NEW YOKE C0LLECT0R811IP ? HESI'KRATE STRCO OLE OF THE SOFT SHELL LEADERS? WHO 18 TO BE HEllFIELli'S 8UCCES80R ?? THE ADMINISTRATION NONPLUSSED? POSITION OF SECRETARY MARCY. Washingtoh, Feb. X, 186S. For Home days past speculation bin been rile her# ?* to the neeret conclave of solt shells from New York. I am at length enabled to put you in possession of the fact*. Several months ago Mr. Kt.ltleld, the Collector o( the New York Cuiitom House, ten leieJ hi* resignation, ami assigned an a reason Us desire t ? avoid tbe political entanglement* of the office, anil retire to the shades of private life. Hut owing to the approach of the fall elec tion*. and the uncertaintie* of the remit* involved therein, he waa earnestly desired to hold over at least until ttio Cabinet could *ee through the mist and agree upon a successor. With the close of the f<ecember oo counti, (no action having yet been taken, and the po licy of the President relative to tbe bards and softs not agreeing with bis notions,) Mr Kfitield reiterated his request to be relieved. This was the signal for a general gathering of the soft ?tells at head quarters. It is hardly necessary to tell you, however, that thi* meeting ha* been anything but harmonious- Cov. Marcy, who claims tne appointment a* hi* own, is said to be strongly in favor of Cornelius W. lawrence; wbile Uutbrie, to wh'ine department the ]<o*t of necc*sity belong*, insist* upon John J. Cisco, whose conduct, as Sub-Treasurer, has given ^reat satis faction, and wou for him the reputation ot being the best financial officer under the government. The N?w York soft shells, headed by John Cochrane, are in a great stew about the matter, and favor neiUier 1j?w tence nor Cisco. 1 hey have managed to posses* them selves of tbe ear of the Presiuent, anu will " hold linn in their arms " uutil Marcy and Uuthrie are wearied ont. They are understood to favor Kobeit Kelly, whose recent elect. on to the posi tion of "head boots'' at Tammany jlad was designed as a checkmate to both lawrence :ino I isco It may seem strange to your New York reader* that Marcy aixl Coch rane ? hotilu illtlrr, but the tact that they Lave split can no longer be concealed, and U?nc? tbe 'lovtrnor's deter mination to put some old fa*Lioued fellow at the bead of | ullaus who will keep his fiery tirst lieutenant in train. The result of the New York election, which was left 1 almost exclusively to Cochrane'* management, has j given great dissatisfaction and be is now openly ac- | cused of baviDg purpo?ely connived at (iovernor Sey mour's defeat, by loading ? own the ticaet with m- n wtio wet# notoriously unpopular. The appointment of a new , ColUctor, tbeielore. involves Cochrane * own position, and he will not die without a desperate struggle. Poor I'lerco, in the mean time, is between a ?*reat and lomt ' thing a great real worse. The reports of a change in the Cabinet are all hum bug. 'I here is not a werd of truth In them. Vhey are got up and circulated by Custiing. Forney & Co., to drive* liarcy out of the Cabinet, rhat ? tbe reason, l oth Msr< y and (tutbrle are stumbling blocks to the Kitchen Cabinet, and hi no* tbe i ftortr to jet tbrtu out of be way Cushing, Forney i* Co. use the newspaper corn spondents to spread '.liese reports to uianuticture public opinion to carry out tUe r "peeial purposes, liarcy aoes not want to go to Kmrland or France, an 1 has to idea of going. He wont budge an inch. THE KINNEY EXPEDITION IN FTLL HLA*T. WasmxtiTox, Feb. 1, 18ft5. The rumor that the President will tnuea proclamation prohibiting the departure of the Kinney expedition I* without foundation. Theieport, It 1* reported, originated with Mr. Cnrhlng, who i* said to oe largely interested he Transit Company . Mr. Marcy still endorses the en erprlse. TBI FINANCES? 8INATOR FISH, ETC. Wasiiincito*, Feh 1, lSftfi. j Tfce Vnited State* Treasurer report* the net amount in : tbe treasury in the U'Jth ult. as twenty-one million i rune hundred and twelve thousand seven tiuudred and j six dollars. Senator Klsb leaves here to-morrow for Havana via Ntw Orleans, on account of ill health, lie w a* in the Senate to-day. "Ham" attract* <rre*t attention In the Senate, by writing with an enormou* quill In full feather ? proba bly from an American eagle. SI rRRME CO CRT OF THE UNITED STATES. Vmriiiormi. Feb. 1, 1865. No. ? Fdward Hemdon, v* James C Kidgaay, et. al. Appeal fro* the District Court ot the Northern district e.f Mis?i??lppi Judgo < ampbell delivered the opinion of tbe o??rt; afl)iBi n| tbe deem of tbe District Court, with coita. William Short'*, Ex'rs, plaintiffs, in ?rror. vs. ti e State of Pei nsylvanla. Argument concluded , by O. Kwing, for f>laiutitr? 1b error. No. 58? Jane A . "'oy, Ku?nliHD, fcc., appellant, vs. Clias. Mason. Argument was com mem -il bv Piatt Smith, for appellant, and continued by Hon. S P ("base. for defendant. Heart W. He I'uy, late l'rlvato Secretary to Uovtrnor .Seymeur, wee admitted a counsellor and attorney hi this aourt. United States Senator from WUcoiuln. Clin a (jo, Feb. 1, 1855. Hie Senate and Aasembly or Wisconsin met la joint convention for the election of a United 8tate? Senatoroo Tuesday ard Wednesday, but without effecting a choice Tbev agreed to ballot again to-day, hut we bare not jet 'earned with what result. United State* Senator from Illinois. OHMauo, Feb. 1, 1805. There if no quorum to-day in the joint convention of the twe houses of the legislature for the election of % United .States .Senator. A Singular Discovery. Cafe Islam*, Feb. 1, 1855. A man cutting down an old tree near the Cape Hay Court Houie, discovered the remain* ol a manttiat ara supposed to be those of a Mr. Smith, wlio disappeared here very strangely some sixteen years ago. The over coat and boots still remain around the skeleton. Arrival of the Csuiada at Halifax. Halifax, Fob. I, 1865. The royal mail steamship Canada, from iioftonatlS o'clock A. M. yesterday, arrived htre at an early hour this evening; and after taking on board the provinoia mails and a supply of coal, will take her departure at about 10 o'clock for Liverpool. The Pacific Railroad Project. Nkw Ohlkaxs, Jan. 31, 1855. An expedition is being organised here by tlie govern ment for the purpose of securing further information relative to a railroad route to the Pacific. Capt. Pope, with a force of 150 troops, Js to proceed to Lanof de Ks tecado to ascertain whether water is obtainable thereby means of artesian wells. Marine Disaster. Bostox, Jan. 31, 1855. The bark William M. Harris, from Galveston for Boi ton, came In contact on the olst ult. at five o'clock ir? the morning, with the bark Celestla, from lialtimore, and in consequence of which the Harr s had to be aban doned with live hnndred bales of cotton on board. Her crew were saved by the C'elostia, and brougnt to this port. The Africa's News at New Orleans. Nkw Out kav, Jan. ill, 1855. The advices by the steamship Africa reached this city on Tuesday night by the natioual Hue, and to-day exer cised a favorable elloct ?n our cotton market, causing; more firmness, but without advancing quotations, Tho vales ol the (lay foot up ll,60u bales. Markets* PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. Philauklphla, Feb. 1, 18">5. T1 e money market is easier to-day. Stocks are Inac tive. Reading, 86,'i; Morris Canal, 14',' ; Ixmg Island Railroad, 15J?; Pennsylvania Railroad, 43', , Pennsylva nia Fives, 88. Personal Intelligence. Hn Excellency the Governor of the State of N?w^| York; Hon. K. W. Leavenworth, Secretary ot State, and the numbers of the Senate and Assembly Committees- 1 of Comnerce and Navigation, left the city yesterday, i noon, for Albany. Hia Excellency Governor Dutton, of Connecticut, and! | Governor l'rice, of New Jerijfy, also returned home yes terday. ARRIVALS. At St. Nicholas ? Hon. W. 8. Latham, Washington: Cant. Sim |it on, California; I <>1 W illiainn, do.; Col. \V. U. I'ayton. Virginia; M, C. ReoVcs, Cincinnati; G. 8. Morriy, Baltimore;! J. JT t.ilbert, 8?. Johns; M. O. Comatock, Toronto; Bayard I Van Kenarelaer, All ^nj .C. S. Newell, llnatou ; Col. F. I'rstt. f Vir?iula;H. Moots, C. h:t n> pla in ; E, S. Moacly, New bnrvport; K A. Robinson, Albany; 0. F. Arnold. Philadelphia; W. II. Vooley, Pittatleld; John A. Simuia, Troy. From Norfolk, Ac, in ateamablp Jamestown ? W J M orri ? . A J Wocdworth, Miw C llniinnond, tin Wsrner and daagh* ter, Daniel Sweeney, F Mnrktiss, M Main n, A C Mann, 0 W Stewart, A Kaydnin, I. Rows and lady, John Bowline, iiaao I Biles, K Squire*. W Hamnoad. James Welah, A MoConaell, I Cant B Howe, 11 J J< y, Tiioe Caivart Seth Cooper, N Kin/, Hiking, F J bmitb, N A Smith, William Youag ? 27 in tha eti tra&e. DKPARTTRES. For Liverpool in atuam-bip Cawdl, from I; >?t n ? Bias I Adains, Mr N G Chapin, Alexander Sldi, boarcr of de rpati Iich to London; Mr< Janet und Mr I' l'srsa, of Buston:a Meaara F A Calvert and tun, of Lowell; J U Itrooka, otJ Weatliele, Mae*aetiu<?.'tt , Kerr, Eualid, Mr* l'slUttee, Eeaars J J < lapp, I, Ilitll, S Srniti,, Geo l>?>da*<ri. B liarton, Attn, mi and ?on, R II Jnhnt-on, VV F Uol'-\ Trait*]!, H Jonea, W tl/.ahnuml wife, J i; W|tte, hearer ol de*|>alciio?, and l> MeLennon, of NYork; K Maw t-ley and wife, of Brooklyn; B W iuntr, of I'enu:-} In uutrj U Scott and two daughter*, ot Buffalo, NY; A Hamilton ami it Y Chamhury, of New Or leana; Rol in*<>n and w ite a od Jam Naiii, ot St John. NB; Patrick Cnllinen, >t Stephen, .\ H; D Ilavldaon, Sir James| E Alexander, < :> i t l> ? Benj D Shaw. W If Campbell, and l.'enjamm aud friend, ot Montreal; J S Fry, J Hewatt, and John Hmoua, of Quoin c; M Neemith, ot Toronto; A Mot latte, of Nova Scotia; Janus lieaae and W R .1 Reynolds, of I- i r lain1 ; J E Lspewlnb and ion and Jaa Sullivan, of Liver pool; Mial Kate Joyant, ol Ireland; Moasra T c.arbette and| wm Cnaylia, of F.ance; F Tetrel, of Paris, beam -of de apatehss; Jaa Raua, ol >wit>erland; ? Bengueral, ol do; ( tiaa Burr, of Germany? U. Fire Uarahal'i In veaUgalleni. AKREST8 OS CHARGES OF AB*0N. Before Justice Wood. Fim in Pitt Stkkkt. ? A very curioua itnte of aifaira baa been existing on tbe premises No. 36 Pitt street dur ing the laat alx or neven weeka. There have been no lesa| than thirteen attempts made to burn the aald pramiaea. The parties cccnpying the building* have been kept in great itate of excitement, expectiug every uight to burnt out. Mint of thcs? attempts hava been made byfl throwing cainpheue or turpeutine on the lloe>r or ?oo<l-| work ot ihe knUdtSg, aud letting it on Ore. In no i lias tbere been any amouut of damage done to the prem< I iaee, but enough lia.i been done to justify the insurance companies in wittidrawing their responsibility. Hence, i the owner is without insurance. On Wednesday even ing laat another attempt was made to tire the ?ald prem | ire*. A boy of about uitie years of nge, name 1 PbiliipL | lalv, whose moth* i* occupies apartments in the rearl I building of ihe p;< mirea in ((ueation, Is alleged to liavap beon *eeii to atrike a inutvh and throw it do * n amongl pome campliene or turpeutine, und set the aanM oo Hre.r tin this informatiOB, officer Cnurchlil, of kthe inirtaentlil ward, arretted the boy and convejed him to tIM slationl house. Yeaterdsy the Kire Marshal conducted the investiga tion belore .lu-tice Wood, and the evlceuce ot a young girl, named Roaanna Hiley. showed that as she paaaed from a rear room into the entry, the eaw the striking ofl a match by tlie stairs, and luntantly on tbe match lignt-| iiiK i-ln- recogm.eit the bov 1'hilip lialy. Ha dropped tha liijlittd mate h on the floor, and inxttntly a flame ascend J eil. apparently from camplieae. or a fluid of that deacrip I tion. the inatnntly gu\e an ^tlaruj. ana tlie inmates off the premire* run into the entry and extinguished tha Hie. Search was made lor the boy, but he could not ai that time be found, and :n about twenty miuntes afterfl the police' came and to<4 the boy into custody. On the part ol the detetice, tne relatives of the boy show that lie-left with tliem at ubout half past s:x o'clock 'from the adjoining builnini; and went to St. Mary's church J for the purpose of btcoming -jion'-iir to the tiaby of hia uncle. ?ml it wua not until bin retain that he was arj r?'aUd by tbe police Tlie boy d?nies tlie chirge, and lus frienda assert that the witue>* tins been inistasen in tbe identity of the boy. lbe case is not yet eonoludedJ It will be continued to <lay. Fian I* Prsri. mucrr? AKixirr om 8rsptnoN or Atj xoy. ? At abont 1 o'clock jcrWday morning a Are waa discovered by officer Vualea of the Sixth ward, in thJ upper part ot tbe_ t^b?nt hon-e No. 51H Pearl street^ Tbe officer discovered amoke on tha top of the building and at once knocked at the door, when it was opened by tne occupant of tbe first floor. The officer proceeded uf stairs, aa<l on hts airiviag oa the tnird tlo?ir he met a woman and a men, ttljy dressed, coming down atair? 'n ? rest haate. The man Lad a liundla in h<a arm*. Thf rlhctr ssl.ed the nun wiiai was the matter uj> atairs, aid le understood tbe reply to l*, ??lire." Tne officei t ubtluueu up etaira to the louitb door, where he discover, covered in ore of the rooms, but the uoora were locked, lie lorced op? n tlie di-or. siol tterahe saw a cot, witk a lot of other furniture, apparently piled up together fi^ the D.icule of the roe in, on Are. The alarm w then given, the Bremen came and ase^eded extivguiibliiK the Haines before they bad til to tttend bejond tae room ia which thej orif mated, f ubaequently, it was aacertaiueil tha' tbe whole of the touito r. i w ?e oceupii-d hy a French mau nsmed Chart- -t Clali . and hla wife and ctiili* Tbest were tlie | at?ie? h<- officer -aw coni ng doert> ?*n -? w her tie sua g< in ^ up ut the t me of tlie Are. Captain llow I l e ot tbe Six'li wsr<l police, considered tti* "iri'um tances suspicion*, and during tne day found that Mr < la r had taken lodsint;- ?t the irvmg Houae, and no coid ngly. sati-teo by ?? fl eer Lord, took Imu lota custo dy in or. er that tbe Ifre Marahai nuglit make a tho rot gh inveatlwatl' ii It is -bean tliat Mr. Clair lias ai bauraure on nla fhrnitute of gSCKl in tbe Kutxers In snrsnre < < mpsr v wh ? . .aid to he e,>naid?rai-ly won thsnibe property Is worili. >!r. Clair was eenveye< '?elore Justice Connel'i . ui.o r.itsined bim ffireinmiua tion. Tha case will t? la^eitlgated by the F.re M.i-hn before Jmtlce Ctnnelly to day. The Mew York < lismber of Coaamerie. | The t ham er of Commerce held a meeting m the Mer| chant- lank at one o'clock yeateriay afternoon. Mrl I'erit, Preai lent, snd a ?inorum were preaent. a "ter U>4 reaiUng and adoption of the minutes of the la>t i the first bunne-a in order wan the balloting for nev niem^ers of the board \fr. Henry Ludlsui as>: Mr. C F. Habicbt were duly elected; snd Mr. Isaa-. H. -tnitl w?? elected a ror mix r ol the Arbitration Committee. Mr. Parstow. aa chairman of tlie coinmi'tee on th I aury laws, said that be bad la-en to Albany, and pre e< nted lo the Ijgi* 'atur' the memorial prepare t on th -object * liat it w?? iea?l n IU? leaata, aad re.enwil t the Committee on Ctmmerce and that it wasala>>m ;n tbe tloi.-e, ami referred to the Jadleiary I <,tr.niitti-e A communication wa? imlw4 iroiu tt.e go rlsM Hear^^ of Trade, in regard to a<amen, aud referred te the approH pr ate committee. Pereral other communications of minor iinpaetan l aving been reeenred snd rvferred to tbeir afpreariall