The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-10-18
The News.
. POLITICAL MATrERe.

1a two mast important features In the recent
pslica movements in this city are the letter of our
5eNoE- citizen John N Genin, declining the indepe
Cent nomination Tor Mayor, and the address Of the
Municipal Reform Committee. The former is writ
ZEN in good taste, out the excessive Eodosty Of the
htser will mrprise those who have watched Il .
progress. of the reform members of Gle Boards (
Aldermen and Coen il. These documents ore
given ia to days pepper, and we trust tour readers
win pevuso them attectively.
The froasoil convention in Msssachusett, yester.
day was failure, in pe.nt Of numbers. Tie objec.
Of the meeting was to eject union Of the free soil
end republican organizations in support of the can
didates Of tho latter and ls no one was present t.
forbid the bans the nuptia,s were duly celebrated
Hon. John p. Hale assisted II the ceremonies.
The soft shell Democratic Judicial Convention
hast night nominated Richard Busted as a caEdi
date fer City Judge.
may be interesting to the anti-Nebrasks Sew.
aritcs to know tia. their candidates will receive a.
the coming electica the support Of colcred voters
Of Kings county, that highly influential body Of
citizens having resolved in mass meeting to vote for
Congressman who win restore the Essouri compro-
mise line. 1t is fortunate that the election takes
place in cool weather.
THE LONDON COMMISSION.
In another column viii be found cor uunication
aEon Mr.. Nathaniel Upham, Of the Londcn Commits
MON for the settlement Of outstanding claims b.
tween the United States and Great Britain, which
contains much valuable information as to the ques-
sions which come properly within their jurisdiction
We the more readily give insertion to Mr.. Upham's
letter, from the fact that many persons have been
subjected to serious inconvenience from their mis-.
conception Of the powers of the commission.
PROMOTIONS IN THE ARMY.
On the 4th OF August Congress passed an act
authorizing the promotion of non-commissoned Off
Gers in the army, and the War Department has just
issued an order, dated on the 18th inst, directing
how the selections from the ranks shall be mad
Onefourth Of the vacancies occurring annually are
10 be filled from the non commissioned grades. The
regulations provide for promotions as reward fer
neritorous services; but in time Of peace opportu
mites to render such services rare, and the quail
cations required Of candidates are such that fe in
the ranks can hope for the desired elevation. Each
candidate must be physically sound, and Of good
moral habits, and likewise pass muster before
board Of Off ers in arithmetic, geometry geography
astronomy, history, the constitution and government
Of our country, and the general principles which
regulate international intercourse. We are not
familiar with the mental csIbre Of the noncommis
stoned officers, but If it comes up to the standard
Of the War Department: it is a pity the Law pro-
vidng for promotions FROM the ranks had not been
sasctcd half century ago.
THE FIRST sNov
Our telegraphic dispatches state that considerable
quantities Of snow have fallen in the western part
Of Massachusetts,, New Hampshire and Canada.
LATER FROM HAVANA.
BY the arrival Of the Cahawba yesterday we have
intelligence from Havana to the 18th instant. The
health Of the city continued good, and business was
quite active. All the general news Of interest may
be found in the letters Of correspondents, pub
lished in another column.
AFFAIRS IN THE CITY.
The jury in the case Of James Smith, tried in the
Court Of Oyer and Termner on . charge Of murder,
yesterday rendered verdict Of manslaughtcr in the
second degree; whereupon the Court sentenced the
culprit to seven years confinement in the State
prison.
The Almahouse Governors held their regular
meeting yesterday afternoon when the reports from
the various Institutions read showing that the
number Of persons urder their charge on 18th inst
Was 5,587.
Yesterday Archibald Irwin, another victim Of the
~,wdyism which infcsts our city, died at Bellevue
Hospital OF wounds alleged to have been inflicted
By one Hugh Darrow. The coroner's jury returned
q verdict duplicating Darrow, and the police officer,
have made diligent search for him, but 80 far with
out success.
STATE or THE MARKETS.
Common grades of State -four we're cassr yester
day, while extra brands were lrmer. Wheat was
in light stock, and sales limited. small lot oil
Southern red brought i5jc. Corn was drner, with
sales at zoe. soc. Mess pork sold freely Of sI2 u
q 81 25 chiefly at the first figures. Cotton has ad
vsnced lc. 10 &c. per To- since the receipt Of the Bal
ties news. Among the sales were 900 bales mes
crop Texas mIddIipg al go.
1Lc hQs.nesa IL the au...ina r,fna Yea srlly Vas