The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-04

being regarded as virtual rejection Of the subject
Yesterday morning, At about o'clock, fire took
place In the store of o. IL A. Wetmore, Nos. II
and 70 Water street, wholesale grocers. TIE bald.
ing was not consumed, but considerable amount OF
property was destroyed. A report will be found
elsewhere.
A caucus Of democratic members Of Congress was
held st Washington yesterday, to consider tue pro
prety of revising the tariff 1t was resolved tina:
a reduction of duties to the revenue standard
should be made during the present session Of Con-
gress. Mr.. Wslbridge brought up his proposal to
abolish the coal duty when Senator Broihead
stated that the Pennsylvanians would offer no OPP
position 10 the measure.
The Senate yesterday was mainly occupied 10 dis
cussing the provisions of Me-. Brodheads bill grant
ing bounty lands to soldiers in certain cases
In the House, yesterday, Mr.. Keitt, of South
Carolina mao slashing speech against the Know
Nothings, assuming that the organization is detr
mental to State rights and dsturbs the sanctity of
the social relation. 1t may be well Tor our readers
to keep posted up respecting the movement in Con
gress for and against the Know Nothings. The first
step was taken in the House by Mr.. Sellers, Of
Maryland, who advocated an extension Of the pro-
stationary term Of foreigners. He was shortly after
followed by Senator Adams, of Mississippi VINO in
troduced bill abolishing existing laws on the sub
jec. of naturalz ation and requiring residence of
twentyone years to entitle aliens to citizenship.
Mr.. Barry of Mississippi, in the House, denounced
the proceedings of his colleague and the principles
Of the new party. He was replied to by Mr..
Banks, of Massachusetts,, who is prominent cham
pion Of the new party. On the occasion of the de-
bate upon the bill to repeal the massachusetts
act, Mr.. Campbell, Of Ohio and Stephens, Of Geor
in q marked manner. Mr.. Ksitt's speech will
no doubt cali forth reply from some un'
| expected quarter. Mr.. Clingman made speech
in support of his resolution requesting the President
tomediate between the belgerent European pc wers
II was stated by Mr.. Bayly that our government
had already taken this matter into consideration
and had made overtures to mediate in the existing
difficulties in Europe. There is nothing new in this
statement to any reader of the HERALD, for we
stated soon after the departure of Mr.. Carroll
Spence in the San Jacinto, for Constantnople that
part Of his instructions were to offer ths mediation
Of the United States In the pending troubles be-
tween the Western Powers, Turkey and Russia but
he was SO long in reaching his post that it was
deemed too late to make the prefer, for when he
received his instructions hos.ilities bad not
been declared. The mediation was designed to settle
We publish to-day the message Of the President
giving his views on the important question of the
consti,utionality of Congress making internal i'm.
provements. 1t is regarded by the democrats as
complete settler of this vexatious subject but
some half dozen former Presidents have heretofore
vetoed about the same number of bills OF similar
character as that killed of by Mr.. Pierce, without
settling the matter, we should not be at all sur
AL.-A xvAxc,ux en. 10
Interpolation of the veto power before the 4sh Of
March next
Little business has been transacted in the Inv
courts since the of the year, aud few
jury cases have as yet been tried.
We refer our readers to the letter Of our Abanv
correspondent, under the telegrsphis head, for q
sketch Of the proceedings 10 the Legislature yester
day. The Know Nothings claim victory on the
! question Of appointing chaplains
| The report that the sloopofwar Albany was at
| Lsguayra on the 9Th of October is probably
| grounaless as that she was at Carthagena on the
| 10th of the same month. We have received six or
eight weeks later advices from both places, aud we
are of the opinion that if she had touched at either
port some one of the two hundred persons on board
would have written home.
The Governor of Michigan, in his recent message,
recommends the repeal of the p,ohbitory liquor
law and the passage of an act prohibiting the sale
Of liquor in less quantity than one more gallons
| in its stead.
BY reference to our money article and the tsle.
graphic dispatches, it will be seen that several
tensive commercial houses have recently succunbed
to the financial storm, and that others shortly
expected to follow.
A meeting was held at the Corn Exchange yes
terday, when the committee appointed to make col
ections for the suffering poor Of the city announced
that they had collected 81 600. committee Of five
/ was appointed TO make distribution OF the same.
William 0'Brien, who was shot on New Years
evening, by Joseph Hall, at grocery store corner
Of Grand and Lsurens street. died last night In the
New York Hospital, from the injury received. The
! Coroner will hold an inquest on the body.
Flour was some What easier to purchase yesterday,
at previous rates, though many holders continued
firm. Missouri wheat sold at 81 37t and Canada,
do. at 50 To- Indian corn was higher, with sales at
81 OIL a 81 OF. Pork was dull--a contract was set.
tied for mess, ct $l2 so. Beef was steady but less
active. Lard ranged from 10lc 10ic. The sales
Of cotton reached from 600 to 1000 bales estab-
fishing decline Of &c. since the Atlaptio's
We quote middling Uplands at 7sc., Florida and
Mobile at 71sc. &c., and Ne Orleans, whi,h was
scarce, at SIC. &c., and some lots held at Sic
Considerable lots were offering for shipment to
Liverpool, most Of which going forward, was being
transferred from one vessel to another, without
going into store.
Our Relations with spaIn-Fresh Cuban Ont
rages-what Will the Administration Do!
We publish to-day an interesting and truly
American letter from Mr.. John s. Thrasher, of
New Orleans, to the Secretary of State, touch
ing the arrest and Imprisonment of two Amcr-
can citizens "a new case) by the authorities of
the island of Cuba. Our copy is from the files
Of the State Department, and from the same
source from time to time, we expect additional