The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-05 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, July 26.—The authorities of
Moscow have voted a sum of 50,000 silver roubles
from the reserve capital possessed by the city, for
the expenses that will be entailed by the solemnity
of the coronation.
The Russian armies suffered severely during the
war from bad military administration. This was
the reason why the Emperor appointed, about two
months ago, a committee of inquiry under the pre-
sidency of A.D.C. General Prince Vassiltebikoff.
The Maritime Journal publishes the text of the
imperial ukase in question, the most importait
regulation in which confers on the said committee,
fer enabling it to ascertain the reasons of those
disorders that accompanied the provisioning of the
hospitals and the old armies of the south and the
Crimea, the right of examining all persons what-
soever from whom it may expect to receive any
information, and of citing as witnesses all the ad-
ministrative authorities.

According to recent accounts, the number of
killed and wounded by the fire at Saionica amounts
to fully 700. Among them are the Russian, Dutch,
and Sardinian consuls.

AMERICA.

WASHINGTON, JULY 23.
In the proceedings of both branches of the Le-
gislature yesterday there were several signs that the
adjournment is approaching. The Senate sent
down to the House of Representatives a resolution
fixing the 11th of August as the termination of the
session. The rules if the house were suspended
to allow it to be discussed, and the debate, as de-
bates often do, deferred the decision. Provisos and
amendments were moved and discussed, but the
house rose without coming to a final resolution.
The Representatives, however, determined to meet
for the rest of the session an hour earlier than
usual ; by assembling sooner, sitting longer, and
attending more closely to the real business before
them, it is hoped the breaking up may be possible
within a fortnight or three weeks. Recent unhappy
incidents and the discussions that arose out of them
have consumed much time ; in truth, some things
more precious even than time have been lost ; a
state of feeling has been created, or, rather, deep-
ened in intensity and bitterness, which renders a
speedy separation of parties very desirable, and it
will be well if they separate in peace.
The weather is excessively hot, all but incapaci-
tatingfor work of any kind ; though the " severity"
of the season is probably a degree more endurable
here than in New York, where you are hemmed in
by miles of wall and pavement, and the atmosphere
is sometimes heated to fierceness. In Washington
the city has not swallowed up the country 7 the
two are more blended ; the main streets are a little
too wide for the present traffic certainly, but they
are well planted with trees, and there are many
pleasure spots of green, reserves and enclosures,
more fresh and verdant than might be supposed
possible under such a blazing sun ; a month or six
weeks more of such heat will no doubt change their
aspect for the worse, but as yet they look cool and
flourishing.
Under a Federal system there seems always t o
have been a difficulty in fixing the seat of Govern-
ment. '1 he Swiss Republic solves it by changing
the locality in which the Grand Council meets every
two years. Even the German Confederation, which
represents the Sovereigns only, sits in a free city,
not within the territory of either of the royalties
represented. In founding the American system of
government many things were settled by a com•
promise ; thus neither of the larger cities was se-
lected as the centre of legislation and the Execu-
tive. A small district of 0 square miles only, a
mere speck on the surface of the country, was
formed on the frontier of Virginia and Maryland,
and within it was founded the city of Washington,
as the centre of the federal Power. It is no more
the metropolis of the United States than Oxford is
the capital of England. It is a special city, within
a special territory, for a special purpose. For
nearly 60 years all the business of the Federation
has been carried on from it • but trade and com-
merce, as they were not mainly sought by its foun-
ders, have kept aloof and found other channels. In
half a century it has only attained a population of
about 60,000—absolutely insignificant when com-
pared with the enormously rapid growth of many
other American cities. if quiet and repose are
essential to the proper consideration of public
affairs, Washington affords them both ; whether
political feuds and the irritation of party feeling
are not aggravated by removal from the influences
of a great capital may be a matter of doubt. It is
very probable the two great parties in the States
—the Bianci and Neri of America—would be re-
strained to a more moderate pitch of feeling, or at
least to a more temperate mode of expressing it,
by the cooler commercial spirit of society in New
York.
The two principal points in Washington are, of
course, the Capitol, the seat of the Legislative
Bodies, and the "White House," the official resi-
dence of the President, in the vicinity of which are
the chief Government offices. Such extensive addi-
tions are being made to the Capitol that all the old
views and descriptions of it are imperfect. It lies
about the centre of the city, yet in the midst of a
park-like domain, abounding in the blessing of
shade and the benevolence of seats, which are fully
appreciated by the citizens. It is a favourite pro-
menade. From the Pennsylvanian Avenue, the
main street of the city, after crossing the enclesure,
a flight of steps leads up to a terrace with a marble
fountain, on either side of which there are flights
of steps to a second terrace, which runs along the
whole front of the building. As every part of it
is open to the public without restriction, you soon
find your way to the gallery of the House of Re-
presentatives, a semi-circular hall, with seats and
desks so arranged that every member faces the
Speaker, who occupies a tribune at the central
point of the diameter, under a canopy with heavy
crimson drapery. The galleries run round the
whole apartment ; the portion above the Speaker
is reserved for ladies, of whom a few were present.
The discussion was rather formal yesterday ; but
the members have more resources in such a case
than with us. The desks were strewel with news-
papers, letters, and envelopes ; many were reading,
some writing, and occasionally fanning themselves ' •
Chinese fans were nearly as numerous in the hall
as straw hats ; the terrible heat compels the gen-
tlemen to adopt the fan and parasol (in the enlarged
form of the umbrella) as in Australia they have
taken the veil ; there is no sound reason why any
of these articles should be exclusively for feminine
use. The names of the members having been twice
read over, with the prospect of a third call, I left
the house sitting, and it rose for the day without
any definite result ; there will probably be some
more lively debates before the adjournment.

THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.

NEW YORK, JULY 23;

"Fremont stock is rising," said a gontleman to
me to-day in speaking of a late visit to the west.
I cannot express my own views of the present state
of the Presidential contest better than in this
brief phrase. The nomination of Mr. Buchanan
fell dead upon the country, exciting little enthu-
siasm beyond the circle of his immediate friends,
and adding no external strength to a party which
at that moment unquestionably controlled a de-
cided majority in the electoral college. Mr. Fill-
more's return added something to the enthusiasm
of the Know-nothing party, and the recent action
of the old Whigs in the States of Virginia and
Maryland has strengthened the chances and ex-
hilarated the hopes of that once formidable organi-
sation. Instead, however, of counting upon placing
their candidate in the Presidential chair by the
popular vote as they once hoped to do, their only
hope now is that, by securing the votes of enough
Southern States, they may divide the vote in the
electoral college, so that uo candidate shall get a
majority there, and thus throw the election into
the House. For the Republican nominee, on the
other hand, there is a growing enthusiasm. In the
West, especially, I am assured that there is .a fer-
Your rivalling that which carried General Harrison
to Washington in 1840 by the most overwhelming
popular vote since the election of Washington. In
the State of Indiana, which my information has
hitherto led me to regard as probably sure for Bu-
chanan, there has been a recent demonstration
which indicates a popular excitement beyond pa-
rallel. There is scarcely any part of that State
which has not sent more or less persons to Kansas.
Driven back at the point
,of the bayonet or the butt
of the rifle, these persons have carried the story of
their wrongs into every settlement, and at a mass
convention of the friends of Fremont at Indiana-
polis 50,000 or 60,000 persons assembled, full of
the enthusiasm which carries popular elections in
that section of the country. I am told that the
same feeling pervades all the agricultural States of
the North-West and makes their vote reasonably
sure for the Republicans. New England is looked
upon as equally sure, though I am told that the
State of Connecticut will perhaps throw asufficiently
large Know-nothing vote to render the result
doubtful. If the North-west and Now England
vote in a solid body for Fremont, the middle
States of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylva-
nia, will decide who shall be the next President.
His friends count upon it as certain by a large ma-
jority, and I cannot see why, making all allow-
ances for sanguine hopes, their calculations are not
well founded. New Jersey I regard as doubtful ;
but I cannot see that parties have taken ground so
decidedly in Pennsylvania as to insure it to any one
but Buchanan. I believe, from all I can learn,
that there is a growing enthusiasm there for Fre-
mont, but I do not think that it has yet reached a
point to place that State iu danger of loss by the
democracy. There are yet three months to work,
every day of which the Republicans may hope to
gain.
Apropos of the influence of the press in this
election, the 11 erald has the following :
" We find, then, from a careful examination of our ex-
changes, and from an application to them of the official
returns of the census of the newspaper circulations of
1850, that at this time the three parties for the Presi-
dency are represented as follows :
Newspaper?. Circulation.
For Fremont....
Fur Buchanan 172 294,763
Fcr Fillmore 53 95,391
"Of these aggregates, it will be seen that Mr. Bucha-
nan has 104 papers in the north and 68 in the south—
that of the whole number, 110 are old Democratic jour-
nals, that eight have been Whig and one Independent.
It further appears that Colonel Fremont has 182 journals
in the north and only six in the south—that of the
whole number, 82 have heretofore been Whig, 18 Demo-
cr‘itic, 15 Know-nothing, and 17 Independent. As for
Mr. Fillmore, he is weak in both sections ; yet,
in the
south, in the way of newspapers, we see that he has two-
thirds of the number supporting Mr. 1312411 mm, and

that his whole list consists of 45. old Whig papers

(nearly all soutb), two papers heretofore Dernoeraiie, 10
Know-nothing, and one Independent."
While the Whigs of the South are organising for
the support of Mr. Fillmore, the Northern Whigs
are taking ground for Fremont. A large Whig
meeting was held in Boston last week, at which
the Republican nomination was endorsed. Some
of the Southern Democrats have it in view, if there

is no election by the people, to throw overboard
Mr. Buchanan, and have dr. Breckenridge, the
Democratic nominee for the Vice-Presidency,
made President. The constitution provides that—
‘‘ Art. 12, Sect. I.—The electors shall meet in their
respective States, and vote by ballot for President and
Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an
inhabitant of the same State with themselves ; they shall

name in their ballots the person voted for as President,
and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice• Pr-
esident ; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons
voted for as President, and of ail persons voted for as
Vice• President, and of the number of votes for each,
which lists they shall sign and certify, and transmit,
sealed, to the Government of the United States, directed
to the President of the Senate ; the President of the
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of
Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes
shall then be counted ; the person having the greatest
number of votes for President shall be President, if such
number be a majority of the whole number of tl•e elec-
tors appoin'od ; and if no person have such a majority,
then from the persons having the highest number, not
exceeding three on the list of those voted for as Presi.
dent, the House of Representatives shall choose imme-
diately by ballot the President. But in choosing the
President the votes shall be taken by Stites, the repre-
sentation from each State having one vote ; a quorum
for this purpose shall consist of a number of members
from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the
States shall be necessary t r a cticice ; and if the House
of Reprelentatives shall rot choose a President when-
ever the right of choice shall devolve upon them before
the 4th day of March next following, then the Vice-
President shall act as President, as in case of death or
other constitutional ditatility of the Presi. • it."
The scheme is that there shall be no election of
President by the house, and that Mr. Brecken-
ridge, being elected Vice-President by the Senate,
shall become de facto President on the 4th of
March, 1857.
In Congress there has not been much of public
interest since my last. The Senate have passed the
' bill for fortifications, reducing the amount front
$3,000,000 (the war estimate) to $1,800,000, and
have voted to adjourn on the 18th of August. The
house have had the neutralisation laws under dis-

mission, and have been debating the Senate's reso-
lution of adjournment, finally agreeing to it.
Parties have been mainly interested at Washington
with the projected duel between Mr. Burlingame
and Mr. Brooks, the hero of the Sumner assault.
Like most Washington duels, it has flashed in the
pan. Mr. Burlingame proposed to fight with rifles
in her Majesty's dominions, but Mr. Brooks
thought it was not worth while to go so far to be
shot at, and intimates that a duel in Canada is
quite a different affair to a duel in the States.
The minority report on the Kansas elections is
printed at length in the Union, of the 19th. The
conclusions are :

" 1. That at the first election held in the territory

under the organic act for delegate to Congress, General
John W. Whitfield received a plurality of the legal
votes cast, and was duly elected such delegate, as stated
in the majority report.
"3. That the territorial Legislature was a legally
constituted body, and had power to pass valid laws,
and their enactments are therefore valid.
" 3. That these laws, when appealed to, have been
used for the protection of life, liberty, and property, and
for the maintenance of law rand order iu the territory.
" 4. That the election under which the sitting delegate
John W. Whitfield, was held, was in pursuance of valid
law, and should be regarded as a valid election.
' "5. That as said Whitfield, at sa'd election, received
a large number of legal votes without opposition, he was
duly elected as a delegate to this body, and is entitled to
a seat in this house.
" 6. That the election under which the contesting de-
legate, Andrew H. Reeder, claims his seat, was not held
under any law, but in contemptuous disregard of all
law ; and that it shou Id only be regarded as the expres-
sion of a band of mak:entente and revolutionists, and
consequently should be wholly disregarded by the
House.
"7. As to whether or not Andrew H. Reeder re-
ceived a greater number of votes of resident citizens on
the 9th than J. W. Whitfield did on the lit of October,
1855, no testimony was taken by the committee, so far
as the undersigned knows, nor is it material to the
issue."

General Smith has assumed the command of the
United States' troops iu the territory, and in reply
to a request from the Free-state men for protec-
tion against the armed Missourians, replied that
he had no authority to do so ; that those bands
were the regularly enrolled militia of the territory ;
that everything they do is done under colour of
law, and that the Free-state men have no redress
except by resort to the civil powers. Tne Senate
have passed a resolution asking the President for
the instructions to the United States' troops in
Kansas.
The Government deny that President Comon-
fort has been offered 6,000,000 for a now slice of
Mexican territory. Notwithstanding this denial,
it is believed by well-informed people in Washing-
ton, that the new Minister at Mexico has been
authorised to negotiate for a further cession with
reference to the proposed Pacific Railroad. All the
iron needed for that road (if made on the Southern
route), imported from the Pacific side, would at
present have to pay duty in Mexican ports. I have
no doubt that the Cabinet are negotiating to do
away with the necessity.
The various reports on this road will be sub-
mitted to Congress this week. One will go against
any Government aid to the project; a second in
favour of a single road, to be constructed by the
aid of cash advances from the Government, these
advances to be reimbursed by the sale of lands to
be set aside for that purpose ; the third, signed by
all the committee except the two making the above
report, recommending three roads, and gigantic
grants of land for their construction that would
throw the Illinois Central grant far into the shade.
We hardly know at Washingt in who is President
at Nicaragua. No reliable account shows Walker as
possessed of more than 600 fighting men ; he is also
reduced in funds, and can hope for nothing from
this country. A foray into Costalßica is made im-
practicable by the rainy season, consequently at
present Rivas is supposed to be uppermost.
In this city.we are as yet free from the yellow
fever, although vessels continue to arrive at quar-
antine with it on board. There is so much of it in
the bay below that I fear we cannot avoid it here.
We have had cool weather for a few days past, but
the fire is returning. We have at last succeeded
in convicting a Portuguese slaver of being con-
cerned in the slave trade, and have sentenced him
to 10 years' imprisonment. These fellows have
almost invariably succeeded in escaping their de-
serts. The late arrivals from Cuba speak of the
landing of a large cargo of coolies on the island to
work on the plantations in the place of Africans.