The Express.
London, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

MR. COBDEN AND THE BIRMINGHAM

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The following letter from Mr. Cobden haii been
received by the Mayor of Birmingham in acknowledgment
of the vote of the Chamber of Commerce :

" Algiers, Jan. 8,1861.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
communicating • resolution passed at a meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce for Birmitighana and the Midland
District, approving my services in connexion with the
Treaty with France. I feel the more indebted for this
liberal inteneetetiou of my conduct, because it emanates
from a body representing an interest which in one
important branch has met with very unfavourable
treatment. I allude, of course, to the duty on
rail and bar iron, which, not by any inadvertence
or mistake, but by an exceptional provision in the treaty
itself, has been subjected to • rate of duty far exceeding
that of the other articles in the French tariff. This arrange-
ment, by which a most important raw material, forming the
main iniprethent in the productive force of almost every in-
dustry, is rendered nearly inaccessible to the French mann-
(octane forms as great an anomaly as did the preservation
of the darn Law by Sir Robert Peel in his early reforms of
the English tariff. It is self-evident that, in justice to the
French producer, such an arrangement can only be tempo-
rary. It would, however, be unreasonable, and this is
doubtless the view taken by your enlightened body, to ex-
pect that the Emperor of the French could, by one sudden
measure, reverse entirely a systern which has been fostered by
✓ummies governments for centuries ; sod it will certainly
be only in accordance with our own experience if in the
struggle for existence it be found that the most powerful
monopolies prove also to be the longest lived. In begging
you to convey my grateful acknowledgments for their kind-
OW
to the members of your body, it must not be forgotten
that my thanks are particularly due to Mews. Fletcher
and Wagner for then- repeated visits to Paris, and whose
practical linowledge guided my colleagues and myself in all
our estimates and calculations. Let me also assure you per-
sonally how highly I appreciate the friendly expressions
contained in your letter.—And I remain, sir, your obliged
servant. " RICHARD COBDCS.
" Arthur Ryland, Faq.,
" Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce for

ii;;;;;08-1;in-i,;it

Several French journals have announced that the
government was going to have acommemorative medal struck
for the soldiers who have taken part in the Chinese expoli-
tem. Varieu. pleas are being diactuoed at thi. moment.
mays the Cowditat;oanef, and according to one of them the
ribbon would be yellow, and bear, 11S a black woof in the
warp, the Chinese characters sigui4:l4; (Pekin) ur
'Unita of the N srth."

THE UNITED STATES.

Tho Governor of the State of New York, in hi.
opening speech to the Legislature, said in referent..•
to the secession question :

- - -
The complicatioos which euviron the question of
speedy adjustnient of existing national difficulties are out
the result of any new and unexpected causes, but are the
slow growth of a generation. The event+ of the past year,
among which is the significant disruption of the Charleston
convention in April Lot, have served to pnaluce a more
general conviction that there exist. an active and
ui-
fuential class of politicians at the South, deliberately con-
spiring to destroy the American robin, and to construct
from the ruins a Southern confederacy. While many Lave
believed that the frequent mandestatione of discontent
among our Southern brethren had their origin in real or
fancied wrongs on the part of the North, and have been
willing to give a sympathetic ear to those complaints.
they are not disposed, now that it is more apparent
that secession has been contemplated for years, to
encourage an attempted destruction of the government
upon mere declarations unsupported by evidence.
But Ido not question the sincerity of all who threaten
secession. On the contrary, I accept the declaration of
many as those of earnest and determined men, and while I
have faith that time will essentially modify their views,
change,their and prevent them from rushing
madly to inevitah e destruction through the paths of treason
and civil war, ordinary prudence dictates that this patriotic
Vealerinwealth ah not hoLi a posn et apparent
ference, bat that we ithould deliberately consider our rela-
tions to the question of proposed secession as well as the
duties which such an event nay force upon us. Believiog that
as this confederacy had its origin and consummation in mu.
teal sacrifices and benefits, that it is based cet a solemn com-
pact to which the whole people of the United States were
parties, and by which all are firmly bound, and that this
compact provides for a peaceful redress of fundamental
grievances, it is clear that without • disregard of mutual en-
gagements DO state ean voluntarily swede from the Union. A
separation of oneor more of the states, though called secession
and claimed to be lawful under rights erronemudysupposed to
have been reserved to the States, can nevertheless be prac-
Scilly nothing else than disunion ; and disunion, so neon as
it shall take its needful form and proportions, must reveal
itself in the character of treason which it will be the high
duty of the general government to arrest and punish. The
laws of the United States must be executed, the require-
ments of the constitution must be obeyed. If the national
government is to exist, its power must be adequate to the
enforcement of its Lim in any of the States of the Union,
and under any circumstances. To permit or to acquiesce in
• treaeonable conspiracy against the national authorities is
to confess that our government is an absolute failure. The
people of the state of New York, in my judgment, are not
prepared fur such an admission on the contrary they will
give to the federal authorities in the adoption of all wise,
just, and necessary measures fur the enforcement of the
laws, their just, earnest, and faithful support- -

A resolution had been adopted in the New York
Senate referring that portion of the Governor's
message relating to the crisis to a select committee
of bye ; and Senator Spinola, democrat, imme-
diately offered a preamble and resolution, autho-
rising the Governor to tender to the national admi-
nistration 10,000 of our militia to put down insur-
rection in one portion of the country.
Mr. Robinson offered a preamble and concurrent
resolution, recommending, as a compromise on the
slavery question, that after the admission of
Kansas as a state with her present constitution,
the whole remaining territory be divided in two
great states, and admitted into the Union as soon
as they adopt constitutions which are republican in
form.

The New York Herald of the 3rd of January
lays:

The President's reply to the commissioners of South
Carolina hu just been communicated. They demanded as
a preliminary step to the initiation of negotiations that the
troops be withdrawn from the forts in Charleston harbour.
The President positively refuses to do this, and reiterates
his views in reference to the public property as set forth in
his inessige to Congress, and informs them that he not only
intends to collect the revenue and execute the laws, but to
defend the property of the United States with all the power
et his command.
He dote not recognise the commissioners officially, bet
regards them as distinguished citizens of the United States
from South Carolina.

The policy pursued and the understanding had with South
Carolina up to the evacuation of Fort Moultrie are given,
Dad the people of the United States will now understand
what kind of pledges existed between the President and the
authorities of South Carolina, and whether South Carolina
will be sustained, even by the South, in taking possession
of property which does not belong to her.
The position taken by the President has produced the
utmost consternation among the commiasioaers and their
friends.

Instructions have been sent to the commander of the
steam frigate Brooklyn, now at Norfolk, to put her in
readiness and be prepared to leave at a moments warning.
The question of reinforcement has not been fully determined
on, but should an attack be made on Port Sumter, a large
force will be at once despatched.
The commissioner have telegraphed Governor Pickens all
the contents of the President's letter, and also that they are
satisfied that the President had determined to reinforce
Major Anderson. They urge upou the governor to put the
state upon a war footing, and to concentrate all his force
at once,

The President sent the name of Mr. ld'lntire, of Penn.
sylvania, to the Senate to-day as collector of Charleston.
The President could not find a Southern man who would
accept. He will, it is understood, be sent to Charleston in
• revenue cutter, and if not allowed to land he will anchor
off the harbour and there collect the revenue. From the
action of the Southern senators to-day, in refusing to go
into executive session to confirm the collector of Cheri,—
ton, it seems that they intend to resist his confirmation.

The same journal states that
Governor Ellis, of North Carolina, has despatched
troops to seize upon Fort Macon at Beaufort, the forts at
Wilmington, and the United States arsenal at Fayetteville.
GT-0114TA, Jan. 2.
Returns indicate that Georgia has gone for im-
mediate secession.

The state troop; of Georgia now occupy the forte
of Pulaski and Jackson and the United Stated
arsenal at Savannah.

An extra edition of the New York Times, pub-
lished on the afternoon of the 2nd instant, con-
tains the following : _ _ _

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.
We have a government at last. High authority an-
nounces that the policy of the administration towards the
secessionists is entirely changed. Henceforth it will be
conciliatory but firm in the execution of the laws.
The steam-frigate Brooklyn and another vessel at Nor-
folk were yesterday ordered to be in ready em for imme-
diate departure to Charleston.
The secession leader discovered yesterday the intention
to start these vessels, and notified to their sympathisers at
Norfolk to have the minute men ready to seine them if they
attempted to go to eta. The administration is on the watch
to prevent it.
Secretary of War Holt has appointed Captain Charles
Stone, on the recommendation of General Scott, to be in•
specter-general of militia in the district of Columbia. To
him is entrusted the important duty of immediately
organising the district militia, to repel invasion, suppress
insurrection. and preserve public property.
The rumour gains credence that all the important
southern posts will be immediately reinforced by troops.
Mr. Buchanan having shaken off the traitors, henceforth
will be sound. Let him experience immediately, then, that
he has the support of all union men so long as he upholds
the fin of the country.
Advieca from Havanna!' to the SOth ult, state
that the late issue of Treasury notes had failed to
affonl relief, and that they were not generally re-
ceived by merchants.
Advices had been received front San Francisco to
the 19th tilt. Owing to the continual heavy rains at
San Francisco there was no business doing, but
prices remained without alteration. There was no
news of importance from the interior of the state.

THE FRENCH At %DENT. —'4 Great interest," says
a Paris letter in the Franre erstrok, "is felt in the ap•
proachiug reception of Father Lecordaire at the French
Academy. The solemnity appears to be decidedly axed
for the 24th of the present month, and M. Guizot is now
terniinating the reply which he is to make to the reve•
read gentleman's discourse. That discourse is said to be
very democratic, and K. Guisot is reported to have said.
' The author is not enough of a monk in it—l will be more
monk than be.' It is described as well written, but as
offering nothing very striking. Father Licorduire, indeed,
appears to have been so much afraid of exposing his faults.
that he has not shown his great abilities. M. Guinot, in
his reply, will dwell on a fact which is generally but little
known ; it is believed that the illustrious restorer of the
order of St. Dominick in France is the first monk Admitted
to the academy, but that is a ruhdake. lioa.net replae..l a
iaonk of the Warne of Dhandion, hut the renown of
former has caused the latter to bra entirely forgotten.

C It.
N E".• tPHOisTEIII. lINITU RE
I tb• OH Al. FIN.
k.. 1 67 la 11.YPMlkl f., I,se b th• rrisem's nestre.

HARMONIUMS-23%V MODEL....
M PLUZ. sal 201. Kasent-streot.

QT. JAMES'S HALL RESTAURANT,
I..‘...t..givgt ?Imam".
ST.
wirm La.,m.rs„ tr.. tor Families, Ladies
SD4 (it oth frt.; WM. DuNALD, Fropeseter.

cb
era)reSiS.