Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-04 00:00:00

TRADE CIRCULAR.

TOBACCO.

•
In 'their circular, of date the 2nd instant, Messrs.
Samuelson and Pike say—We have to report another
good month in North American Tobacco, the total sales
reaching 1,386 hhds., of which 78 hhds. were Virginia
Leaf, 53 hhds. of Virginia Strips, 310 hhes. Kentucky
Leaf; 477 hhds. Kentucky Strips, and 468 hhds. Mary-
lands; and of these 204 were taken for Ireland, 273
for export, and 907 by the trade. • The deliveries of the
month are computed at 1,302 hhds. Of the exports, 115
;.104 werashipped-toAfricar and-11 to theisle of
Man. Stock-15,503 hhds. against 15,389; 9,538; 10 889;1.
10,215, and 12,227, at the close of the previous five
years. Thus we have 'a satisfactory termination to a
year well begun, for on taking a review of the course of
our market since last January, we find that nearly
8,200 hhds. were sold during the five months ending
31st May, and about 8,200 hhds. additional , from
that period until now:- . The settliid decline in
prices that had already_taken place, coupled
with the fact of over 15,000 hhds. ,of American
Tobacco remaining in the Liverpool Warehouses at the
Commencement of the year, afforded sufficient justifica-
tion and ample scope for home manufacturers and dealers,
whose stocks were mostly exhausted, t 9, operate with
freedom.: Happily also importers, profiting by past
experience, took the initiative and held out induce-
ments to the trade to supply themselves
so that'with such a concatenation of circumstances
there can be no room for surprise at the result.
Tag ranstlngtiolis of our home manufacturers were

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The unexpected effects of the celebrated pam-
phlet, " Le Pape et le Congres," in the French
provinces, and the indefinite postponement of the
Congress, have produced au important fall on
the Paris Bourse. But there has not been a
corresponding depression in the English Funds ;
although the rise in the money market which
might have been expected, from the otherwise
highly flattering prospect of affairs abroad as
well as at home, has not taken place. This,
however, seems to be only a momentary lull in.
the favourable progress with which the year bas
so happily commenced. The clouds that have
temporarily obscured the French horizon it is
thought must soon pass away.
,
By the latest intelligence we learn that the
Duke of Grammont, the French ambassador at
the Papal Court, has to some extent satisfied the
Sovereign Pontiff that the pamphlet, " The Pope
and, the. Congress,"
_does not contain the pro-
gramme of the French Government for the Con-
gress. And, in consequence, it is said that hopes
are entertained that his Holiness will consent to
be represented at the Congress.
The GOvernment of Naples continues to pur-
sue a most fatal policy towards its subjects.
And it is impossible to avoid the conclusiotty
come to by the Times, that "unless Francis
changes his policy Naples will certainly change
her dynasty." Not for any known crime or,
offence, not for any political sympathies on the
part of her latest victim, not for any other ascer-
tainable reason, than that " the desired vibration
of terror throughout the city" might suddenly
and mysteriously be struck in the interest of a
suicidal policy on the part of the Neapolitan
Government, a young gentleman, a member of
" one of the best known but least political'
families in Naples," has been pounced upon by
the police and carried off—no one knows where
—no one dares to ask where. .His own family
do not enquire, or complain—they dare not; -and
the news has only reached this country through
a stranger, and in the most furtive manner. The
state of the country is said to be beyond descrip-
tion or imagination. Surely such an awful con-
dition of things cannot continue to exist much
longer.
A remarkable proof of the change that has so
recently taken place in Central Italy, is to be
found in the proceedings of the Modenese Govern 7
ment in the Mortara case. What must have
been the feelings of the Holy Father and the
Sacred College, on learning that the Reverend
Father Inquisitor Filette, who was the principal
agent in effecting the seizure of the boy, has
been himself apprehended on a criminal charge
of having kidnapped the child, and judicial pro-
ceedings commenced against him ! But such is
the fact. Perhaps not the least important con-
sequence. of this step will be, to render any recon-
ciliation between the Central Italians and the
Pope wore and more hopeless and impracticable.

There are no very definite or reliable accounts
of the progress of the war in Morocco. This
only seems certain, that the Moors, by the latest
accounts, had still the courage and" means to act
on the offensive, while the Spanish forces are all
bat stationary—the long-talked•of advanec being
still in prospectu. There has evidently teen a
great miscalculation on the part .of .the Spanish:

Generals ; and the issue seems to be still' doubt-
ful. It will be observed from a recent telegram,
that the Spaniards have seized three vessels
sailing under the English flag, and laden with
contraband of war. They have been brought
from Ceuta to Algesiras.
Mr. Cardwell, M.P., the Secretary for Ireland,
addressed his constituents at Oxford on Monday
evening. Coming to that meeting, as he did,
from assisting in administering the Government
of Ireland, he naturally took the opportunity of
expressing his opinion with respect to the pre-
sent, state of the sister isle. He had found, he
said, her agriculture prosperous, her commerce
advancing, and a great thirst for education among
the population. He urged upon the people on
this side the Irish Channel to apply to those on
the other side the golden rule, and to endeavour
to form a judgment of them and their interests
by first regarding.things from their own point cf
view ; by which course alone he considered
Ireland would add to the strength of the British
Government,,and the honour of our name. He
made a general and passing allusion to the
coming Reform Bill, and declared his belief that
the Income Tax would be a permanent burden.

It is satisfactory to obseive that the annual
burdens of the country for 1860 will be reduced
by one million six hundred thousand pounds, in
the charge for the interest of the national debt.
This arises from the large amount of Exchecpter
Bonds paid off in May, the expiry of annuities in
October last, and the further expiry of the Long
Annuities on Thursday next. It is to be hoped
the present Ministry are truly. thankful for the
highly advantageous condition in which their
predecessors; the Derby Ministry, beqUeatled.to
them the finances of the country.
The . local stipendiary, magistrate, Mr. J. S:
Mansfield, having been appointed to a ' similar
office in one of the metropolitan courts, and yes-
terday being the last day on which he discharged
in the Liverpool Police Court the judicial duties,
he was presented with an address emanating
from the Law Society, of this town. There was
on the occasion a large and influential gathering
of the legal profession, and Mr. Mansfield, in

some remarks, expressed his thanks to the pro-
fession for their kindly feeling towards him. In
charging the Grand Jury at the Borough Sessions,
which were opened yesterday, the learned Re-
corder took occasion incidentally to pay a "high
compliment to Mr. Mansfield, for the able and
impartial manner in which, for upwards of eight
years, he had fulfilled the onerous functions of his
office ; and at the same time expressed his belief
that he would carry with him to his new sphere
of labour the respect, the esteem, and the grati-
tude of the town at large.
At the monthly meeting of the Birkenhead
Commissioners, held yesterday, some valuable
information was given with respect to the pro-
gress which 'the township has made during the
last'few years, in the number of new buildings
which have been erected. In the ten years just
ended, the total number of places of worship and
public buildings erected, has been 22; of dwell-
ings and shops, 416; of cottages, 555; and of
offices, workshops, and alterations, 282 ; making
,a total of 1,275. A discussion upon the manage-
ment of the ferry during the recent heavy fog
engaged a considerable portion of the time of
the meeting ; and the 'great danger of vessels
being allowed to anchor in the track of the boats
was pointed out by various members. It was
ultimately agreed to forward petitions to the
Board of Trade and the Conservancy Board on
the latter subject.
The philanthropy and great liberality of our
respected representative, T. B. Horsfall, Esq.,
are manifested in various and frequent ways ;
but on no occasion more strikingly than when he
entertains the children of the Soho-street Indus-
trial Ragged Schools to a substantial dinner.
This annual entertainment took place yesterday,
in the Rose-hill police stationovhich was taste-
fully decorated for the occasion. The children,
as might have been expected, enjoyed themselves
amazingly ; and the value of the proceedings was
considerably enhanced by addresses from various
influential gentlemen who attended, including,
amongst others, His Worship the Mayor, T. D.
Anderson, Esq.

IT is curious to see the different aspects which
what we call " Constitutionalism" presents in
this country and in America. The meeting held
in aid of a very strange cause, " Justice to the
South," in New York, on the 19th December, is
an illustration in point. There is a struggle im-
pending both here and there in which "Constitu-
tional principles" are at issue. But the difference
is, that whilst in this favoured country the Con-
stitution is assailed only by the abstract theories
of a venturesome and one-sided political philoso-
Phy, there its strongest opposition is found in
the laws and maxims of universal humanity. •

It appears, there is a class of men in America
not immediately connected with the slave
trade, who are anxiously concerning them-
selves on behalf of the slave-owners of the
South, , on the. ground of political justice
founded upon the compact " the compro-
mises and concessions "—which the whole body
of the States originally entered into as the
acknowledged basis of union. Nor can there be
any doubt as to the political rights of the case.
The „bond which serves to keep the States
together not merely recognises or allows of
slavery, but it is slavery. Our protesters are
not without their formal evidence, their standing
quotations, their written and legal instances:
The original resolution of " the people of the'
United States," it appears, was "to form a more!
perfect union, establish justice, and ensure domes-0
tic tranquillity.". And the best mode they thought
of doing fig wan "to ordain 4 Government of non-

Slave-holding and of Slave-holding States." Tls
latter enter into .partnership in this character.
Their acknowledgment as an integral part
of the whole is synonymous with. the•
embodiment of slavery as one charaeterititie
of the American " Constitution." Accordiney,,
abundant examples are given of the special'
enactments by which this sacred right of slave-
owning ,is fenced round. Slaves are recognised':
as part of the property for which the master is
taxed ; and their personality is legally ignored_
Congress was prohibited by another act from
suppressing the trade; and, still more, the geo—
graphical limits of slave-trading territory are by
others definitively laid down. An ordinance -
which makes free certain territories' within the
legal bounds, provides for the compulsory sur—
render of fugitive slaves. Elsewhere acts hrae
been passed more stringent in support of the•
trade than in these cases, evincing altogether•
that the general spirit of the Constituticin is not
only legally identified with, but is voluntarily and:
preferentially in favour of the system of slavery.
It is hard therefore to quarrel on logical grounds.
with the practical inference which these persons
have deliberately come to, and put into somewhat
solemn words: They resolve that the Union thus-
" formed demands from each part 'a warm and
"earnest consideration for the safety,,prosperity
"and happiness of the other, and that whatever•
" policy tends to subvert these ends is hostile to. the•
"true spirit of the compact ;" they declare it to be
their " duty, as good citizens of a common
" government, in good faith to stand by the Con,
" stitution, by the treaties and by the laws."
Now, we may say in passing, that a great
mistake would be committed by the English people
if they attached too much importance to this.
meeting as an expreision of feeling in the
city of New York or other cities of. the North.
The 'fact we believe to be that not even
the sense, of political right and legal proscrip-
tion is really at the bottom of this extraordinary
protest, but that it is prompted by the old
selfish motives of interest and profit. It is well
known that many of the traders and merchants.
of NeW York, feel themselves constrained into a_
. e
course of conduct at war with their traditions
and with their convictions, by their business con-
nection with the slave-owning traders of the
South. We believe the explanation of a move-
ment, which the London Times, with its custo—
mary precipitation, has taken as too popular an
evidence of opinion, to lie simply in the-trades—
man's wish to maintain a business connection and.
a satisfactory understanding with his customer-
and.his client.

Our object, however, now is, to accept this.
manifestation of feeling, not as an expression of
a large body of opinion in the Northern States ;.
but in its logical aspect as having a national
foundation in the political system of Federal
America. In this sense, we thank these pro-
testers for the timely lesson they convey to the:
world and especially to Englishmen in politica
and Constitutional ethics. Let us admit to them_
how clear it is that the Constitution of the-
United States, not only allows slavery, but is
based upon its maintenance ; that slavery is-
part and parcel of the system in which the States-
generally participate and are bound together ;
that this is the Constitution which demands their.
allegiance and fidelity, and which involves all
" good citizens" in the guilt, or in the necessity
of au admittedly loathsome and unmanly system.
With this admission, the conclusion which we
wish to draw is enough for us, at this present.,
crisis in our national system. It is with thank--
fulness and increased satisfaction that we turn to
our own political possessions, and contrast them
with those of a people sometimes, set up for our
example. We, too, are troubled with theories of
the abstract rights of man, as well as our trans-
Atlantic cousins. It is with figments that-
claim a basis 'of this sort that our own
Constitution is assailed as well as theirs.-
The difference between the two cases is, that
with us the right to a complex political privilege
which cannot be said to be originally involved in
the individual or the social constitution of man,
is made the ground of a political revolution : with,
them a man's property in himself, a man's poWer
to make barter of his own liberty—the first law of"
humanity—is the thing in question and the thing
at present trampled under foot. The other and°
crucial difference is, that the spirit of the English.
Constitution, that the spirit of Constitutionalism
at the present day is, to extend political privi-
leges to all who are fit to exercise them, and to
extend the range of that fitness. But not only--
is' it the plea of the American Constitu—
tiOnalists—over and beyond that of fidelity to the.
Constitution—that negroes are not fit for free--
dom ; but it is the spirit of the Constitution to.-
keep them unfit, in order that they may be.
slaves !

THE WAR IN CHINA.—Her Majesty's steam store—
ship Himalaya, Captain John Secombe, on Monday
commenced preparations for the embarkation of the.
Armstrong guns and batteries, &c., some time under
orders for China. The Himalaya is ordered to be•
in readiness for sea on or about the 15th instant ..
Letters complaining of the trying position in which they
were recently placed have reached Plymouth from some
of the crew of the Himalaya. The men complain that
they were detained for eight days idle in the Sound,
within sight of their homes, where their families had to.
"enjoy" Christmas separated from them, because the
ship. was under what is termed " sailing orders" for a
foreign post.

NEW LrxE OF BATTLE-SHIP.—The magnificent three—
decker, the Howe, pierced for 121 guns, now in course-
of construction at Pembroke Dockyard, is so nearly com-
pleted that she will be ready by March next, and will
be launched in the early part of the spring. The for
lowing are the chief dimensions of this first-rate, which
is the largest vessel of her rating in the navy—viz.,
length over all, 300 ft. ; ditto between perpendiculars,.
260 ft. ; ditto of keel for tonnage, 229 ft.; breadth, ex-.•
treme, 61 ft. ; ditto for tonnage, 60 ft. 2 in. ; ditto•
moulded, 59 ft. 4 in, •, burden in tons 4,236. The
Rowe is the same length as the ViCtoria, recently-
launched at Portsmouth, but is of greater beam, and is.
aLs9 9f lalaTicr biirthil bi 119 ten§ than the Yivtoriaii: