The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-07 00:00:00

ties to which they no longer rightfully belong, the
ever encroaching wave of centralizing assimilation
will break over them likewise. Bristol and other
large cities demand similar special exemptions,
upon the ground of local Acts passed for their
particular use and benefit. The Select Committee
will, one way or other, have a laborious duty to
perform. If they alter the Bill so as to take a
large category of places out of its scope, it will to
a great extent cease to afford the advantages pro-
raised by its introduction, of general uniformity
throughout the kingdom. Yet this is perhaps its
only chance of becoming law this year ; for there
is nothing so difficult to carry as a Bill which, be-
cause it provokes the political enmity of no great
party, leaves individual members of all parties free
to follow the admonition and advice of organized
bodies of their constituents. It is in such cases
that vested interests make themselves most effec-
tively heard. Every long undisturbed institution
is more or less overgrown with parasitical plants of
this description, which in a certain sense help to
defend the old edifice from the first attack made
upon it. Sir Iticaann Birrnau. has learnt this
truth in the course of his assaults on the law of
bankruptcy ; and Sir COaMIWALL Lzwis is very
likely to find himself baffled by an almost
intangible combination of un-notables, acting
together from common instincts, and imparting
concert and organization to a movement that em-
braces far wider and nobler considerations than
those of mere parochial perquisites and positions.

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 7, 1861.

submitted a oommunication concerning the project
of the constitution of 1859, and also a project of
law relating to the provisional position of Holstein.

ITZEHOE, WIDNISDAL
The following are among the royal proposals
submittal to the Notate' of Holstein
The project of a constitution, to be valid for the
whole monarchy.
The establishment of two legislative chambers,
the upper chamber to be composed of thirty mem-
bers, appointed for life.

A.tlii3iinct position for the army of Holstein.
Holstein to contribute two millions towards the
expenses of the state.

COPENHAGEN, WEDNESDAY.
Government, besides making proposals respecting
the common constitution and provisional arrange-
ments, offers to Holstein a revised special consti-
tution for interior affairs, with a responsible
minister, independence of judges, freedom of press
and of association, habeas corpus, religious liberty,
financial competency for the Estates, and inviola-
bility of its members.

SPAIN AND THE SLAVE TRADE.
MADRID, Ma.aca 5.
In to-day's sitting of the Senate government an-
nounced that they had resolved upon stationing
cruisers on the coast of Africa. These cruisers
would be authorised to visit Spanish and English
vessels, in order to prevent the slave traffic.
The ministry seized the opportunity to again
repel the accusations of Lord Palmerston in regard
to the slave trade, which accusations they stigma-
tise as unjust.

The following telegram has been received at Mr.
Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company :

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
The Euxine with the above mails, arrived at
Marseilles at it o'clock last night.

The mails left for London a io p.m.
The Massilia, with the heavy portion of the
mails, &c., left Malta at 10 a.m. on the Srd, and
may be expected at Southampton on the 12th lust-
The Ottawa brought the Bombay mail to Suez,
and the Nepaul that from the Mauritius, both ar-
riving on the 26th of February.

OUTWARD MAIL.
The Pees (from Southampton 20th February)
and the Valetta (from Marseilles on the 28th)
reached Malta on the 2nd of March, and sailed on
the same day for Alexandria.

SPECIE FOR LISBON.
SOUTHAMPTON, TIIIIIIIDAT.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Tagus, sailing hence to-day with mails and pas-
sengers for Peninsular ports, takes 20,0001. specie in
sovereigns for Lisbon.

AMERICA.

(IT xi. =mei ruzza&)
IMPORTANT SPEECH OF THE NEW
AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

In a speech before the New Jersey Legislature,
Mr. Lincoln said :
" The man does not live that is more devoted to
peace than I &M. (Cheers.) None who would do
more to preserve it, but it may be necessary to put
the foot down firmly." (Here the audience broke out
in cheers so long and loud that for some moments it
was impossible to hear Mr. Lincoln's voice.) He
continued:—"And if I do myduty and do right you
will sustain me, will you not ? (Loud cheers, and
cries of "Yes, yes ;we will.") Received as lam by
the members of a Legislature, the majority of whom
do not agree with me in political sentiments, I trust
that I may have their assistance in piloting
the ship of state through this voyage, surrounded
as it is by perils ; for if it should suffer attack now,
there will be no pilot ever needed for another
voyage."

LIVERPOOL, WIMXESDAY.

The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia
Steamship Company's screw steamer City of
Baltimore, Captain Petrie, which sailed from New
York on the 23rd of February, arrived in the
Mersey about b o'clock this evening.
The City of Baltimore called at Queenstown
yesterday, and a summary of her news was tele-
graphed from thence.
The reception of Mr. Lincoln at the City Hall,
New York, on the 20th, was a most flattering testi-
monial of respect to the elect chief of the nation.
Mayor Wood, in a short speech, welcomed the
President, and hoped he would prove equal to the
crisis ; and Mr. Lincoln replied, modestly wishing
he could bring as good a head as heart to the work,
and expressed his devotion to the Union. About
six thousand citizens were admitted to the gover-
nor's room, and either shook hands with or bowed
to Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln made a brief address.
Mr. Lincoln left New York on the 21st, for
Washington, aid Jersey City. At Trenton be
visited the State House, and made speeches
before the Senate and House of New Jersey.
the latter of which was significant and important.
The presidential party proceeded, and reached
Philadelphia in the evening. At Philadelphia the
reception was enthusiastic, as it was also at Harris-
burg, where the party arrived in the afternoon.
The proceedings in Congress had not been of an
important character.
A murderous attack was made at Washington
on the 21st on the Hon. Chas. H. Van Wyck, the
republican member of Congress from Orange
County, New York. Mr. Van Wyck was returning
late at night from the residence of the Hon. Preston
King, and while on Preston Hill, was suddenly
assaulted by three ruffians, who approached him
from behind. One of the villains made a
ferocious lunge at him with a knife, piercing all
his clothes, a folded copy of the Congressional Globe,
and a thick memorandum book, but not touching
his person. The second assailant also made a simi-
lar thrust, which was also ineffectual, and both
were knocked down by Mr. Van Wyck, who drew a
pistol and fired at one, when the third made another
attempt on his life. All three made off upon the
report of the pistol. It is supposed that one must
have been shot, although no clue has yet been ob-
tained by which to determine. Mr. Vau Wyck is
confined to his bed, but is in no real danger.
The celebration of Washington's birthday in New
York, on the 22nd, was characterised by a populrr
participation rarely witnessed. The First Division
paraded in unusual strength ; the lino of march
teemed with spectators in holiday attire, and the
city assumed an appearance worthy of a gala day.
The troops were reviewed by Governor Morgau.
The Order of United Americans celebrated the day
by an oration from the Hon. H. Maynard, of Ten-
nessee, at Niblo's Gardens. Mr. Maynard reviewed
the causes which have led to the present unhappy
crisis in our national affairs, attributing it entirely
to the mischief-makers, backbiters, and elan.
darer of both sections of the country, who
make it their business to misrepresent and abuse
the people of the opposite section, and to excite
ill-feeling between the North and South. Ex-
Judge John W. Edmonds delivered an interesting
address before the Republican Central Committee,
in the evening, speaking in reference to the poli-
tical crisis of the country. He cited the action of
Washington in quelling rebellion by force of arms,
but argued that, under the circumstances, we could
neither concede to the South nor coerce them.
He favoured the middle ground, of letting the
South alone.

The Peace Conference at Washington had come
to no vote at the time the steamer left New York.
There was a prospect, however, that some plan of
adjustment would be agreed to by a handsome
majority.
In the Southern Congress, at Montgomery, the
following resolution had been offered and adopted :

RaoProd—That the Committee on Finance be instructed
to inquire into the expediency of laying an export duty on
the cotton exported from the confederate states to any
foreign country.
The President has nominated and the Congress
confirmed the following members of the Cabinet
Seem ary of State—Mr. Toombs ; Secretary of the
Treasury—Mr. Memmiuger ; Secretary of War—
Mr. L. Pope Walker.
A telegram from Fort Smith states that the over-
land mail had been seized near Fort Chadbourne, and
that all the property of the company within reach
had been taken possession of. A report was also
current that Forts Chadbourne and Belknap had
been captured, but this is nut confirmed.
A telegram from Nebraska City, Kansas, dated
the 19th, says :—" Old Fort Kearney was taken
possession of last night by a party of Secessionists,
and this morning a Palmetto flag waves over the
fortress bearing the inscription, ' Southern Rights.'
Great excitement prevails, and efforts are being
matle to take the fort by the Union party.

"LATER.—An attack was made on the fort this
morning at 10 o'clock, and amid great excitement
the Palmetto flag was torn down, and the stars and
stripes raised in its place."
Governor Brown, of Georgia, in view of the fact
that the arms seized by order of Superintendent
Kennedy, in New York, have not yet been sur-
rendered, has seen fit again to avail himself of
his peculiar system of reprisals. He has seized
three New York vessels at Savannah, with the
intention of detaining them until the arms are de-
livered up.
San Francisco sdvioes are to the evening of the
6th ultimo. There had been several heavy failures
in the dry goods' trade at San Francisco.
Hostilities had again cornmeneed between the
whites and Indians in the vicinity of Humboldt
Bay, and thirteen of the latter were reported to be
killed in one onslaught.
Dates from British Columbia are to the 27th
January, and from Oregon the 2nd ult. On the
24th January there was a large sale of real estate,
belonging to the Hudson Bay Company, situated
near the centre of Victoria, realising 121,000 dols.,