The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-01

Our report OF the FIRE MarHhaIs investigation,
published in another column exhibits some curious
Developments in reference to an alleged charge Of
setting fire to liquor store. Mr.. John Begin and
wife have been arrested suspicion OF having per-
petsated the offence.
The Coroners jury in the case Of Mr.. Neville, "
Williamsburg, concluded its labUs yesterday. A
verdict WINS rendered that the deceased came to his
death by being drowned, while lsboring under tenn
porary absence of mind.
The trial of Louis Baker, charged with the homi
eide OF Poole continues to excite an intense interest
Our report Of the testimony taken yesterday u
given elsewhere.
Canal navigation Is closed for the season by ice.
Between Schenectady and Utica there arc, 1t is said
about eigin hundred downward bound boats fast.
There is an immense quantity Of breadsufs locked
up The memorable Jack Frost has anticipated the
Canal Commissioners by nearly week.
Congress-The Organiz ntion-Piots and Coun-
terplots-Thc Excitement Increases.
We have variety of reports, rumors and
peeulatons from Washington concerning
tatives; but there is remarkable unanimity
Of opinion in this fact-that the pl0ts,
ccunterplots, schemes and estimates Of the va
rious parties and factions iavolved are thick
/" ening, and that hourly, as the FIRST Monday in
December draws on apace, theeXcitement, the
agony, the noise and confusion" are increas-
ing. This will be an awful night in Washing
ing more pipe-laying, more debating and spe-
eial pleading carried on tonight in Washing
ton, in the Capitol, in the White House, in the
hotels, in the boarding houses, and in the oyp-
ter houses, than on any similar occasion since
the adoption of the federal constitution. Who
shall be the Speaker s--who shall be the Clerk
and, above all, who shall be the Printer2-are
night in Washington.
Ii is triangular fight, with several subdivi-
sions of guerllas The three general parties
neither having majority-are the democracy,
the Know Nothings and the black republicans.
But then there are the Northern anti-slavery
Know N0things, the Northern flexible Know
Nothings, and the Southern pro-s1ayery Know
Nothings ; and between these divisions the
Seward party and the democracy are man@u-
wiring for the balance of power. Greeley is in
favor of fusion between the anti-Ncbraska
Know Nothings and the black republicans
but the National Era ct Washington--.he
central organ of this republican party--is
dead set against any fusion with thu
Know Mornings. It says g Choose ye this day
whom ye will serve, Repnblicanism or Know
Nothingism. Yon cannot serve two masters.
You cannot belong to two political parties."
This warning and challenge betray some dan
ger in regard to the Seward plan Of a coalition
Of his friends with the Northern Know NOthings.
On the other hand, the Cabinet organ assures
us that the democracy will nominate their
candidates, stick to them, and virtuously
eschew all coalitions with the republicans or
Know Nothings, from first to last. If this be
SO, the question of fusing rests between the
Know Nothings and the Seward party. There
is, however, still another party in the field, aud
the most numerous, hoisterous, anxious aud ac-
tive of oil the parties concerned. This party
is thus described by the Washington Senhnel,--.
We have learned that the large cnss Of very patriotic
uusefsh and disnterestcd men known Z" outsiders
are more than ordinarily busy in arranging for the
ganiaton OF Congress AMI the distribution Of the oces
Just as though Congress wanting in The requisite in
tengence for doing This effort which has been going
for years past, TO get up outside
Congress- control to be exercised .oo by men who in
many instances, have sort Of standing ut home or
abroad-who could not be elected sonsabe y those who
know them best-is outrage Congress and the
constituent body We believe that the who engage
in this effort generally broken down IN character
and fortunes men who have particular pa Of resi-
dence and who consequently deprived t privilege
OF voting in any of the State elections they live
"aboat in spots" They here to-day thepo to-mor
When Congress meets they come from their wa uaer
pps, and settle down in the hotels and boarding houses
Congress and on the suragans x Tie various states 81
this Union who'sect their Representatives that out
side seconsttuted controlling body should prcsvme to
dtrect what QaperSse shall aud shall notdo.
This pahe, always fully represented at the
| gathering OF new Congress, is now quadrupled
in its aggregate strength, from the division end
subdivision of tine chances for the plumber.
| Hence the extraordinary excitement at Wash
.ngtoD, and the busy and anxious consultations
and conferences which will come off there in
every available hole and corner tonight
! A correspondent Of the Charleston .Standart
makes short work Of ell these inexplioable diff
fculties. He says tina. the democrats will act
independently of all conglomerations; and that
"than come the Southern Know Notkings, and
cry their wares Though tie market Taey are
ready for sale to any purchaser, and at elnost
any price, as they are ropu6iated by the North
ern wing of the mysterious who, by harmo-
NOUS Sad natural union with the black repub-
licans, hope to organize on the first day OF the
session, and sweep every Office in the field
This, it lie confidently believed, win be the re-
suit OF the present strange state of affairs.o
Well, the old Tennessee lady looked on With
compiacency at the fight between her husband
and the bear; and with something Of the SAME
| eauanmlty [as balance of power) we await
the solution of the squabble.
| The AMERICAN PARTY IN Missouri AND THEIR
| bssEEsro-Too MucH AND Nor QUITE ESouoH.-
| Inc American State Council Of Missouri have
| published lorg address, re-aflirraing the
Philadelphia National Platform. In ,lusing the