The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-01

treaty obligations; the insolence of her official
press, the duplicity Of her statesmen, the GEN.
duct of her agents in this country, all point
the goversns0t at Washington to infexibae
tirmness ss the only means Of meeting the just
demands Of the people Of the United States.
The News txoA EsssPs.
The America, ut Halifax, brings no news of
The missing steamer Psci6c. She had been
| twenty four days out from Liverpool when the
America sailed, and is now consequently thirty
seven days out Let us still hope that some
accident has happened to her machinery; that
rhe attempted TO make New York vnder can
vas, and that, like all sailing vessels, she is de-
| lsyed by the adverse weather.
The news from Europe is wholly un;nportant.
| Yesterday there were in Wall street all sorts
| of rumors; it was said that the Peace Confer
| ences had broken up; that war with Eoglaud
was imminent; that private letters" were full,
| of evil tidipgs; and ON the strength thereof,
spectators gaMb.ed no doubt probably. The
truth. as it will be found in our telegraph de-
| spateh elsewhere, is as re-assaring as could
| have been anticipated. The funds, which the
| feverish excitement consequent upon the &C.
| ceptance of the Austrian propositions had
raised to the almost unparalleled price Of 81,
had. quietly subsidized, and ruled at the more
reasonable, though still high figure of 80 IA.
The demand for cotton was rather on the in
crease, with a rise Of an eighth; while bread
ssuffs, as was to be expected from the prospect
Of peace, had slightly declined. There was
SEINE talk OF a new loa2- doubtless in order to.
wind up the war account, and capitalists were
gathering IN their funds to take advantage
Of it.
The Peace Conference must have met last
week in Paris. That its issue would be
favorable to peace was SO confidently expected
by all that the war is universally spoken Of
as a thing OF the past. Though the govern
ments speak Of the war preparations being
still continued, 1t is evident that they are
prosecuted in lex manner, and that the
whole people of Europe would be taken by
surprise, nay, would burst into ouscry, if the
Conferences terminated like those at Vienna.
As to war with this country, there seems to
be no apprehension in England. There had
been debate in the British Parliament OF
which particulars have not reached US; bat it
is plain the British people will not do without
their cotton and -four for the sake Of crafty
ing the personal feelings of Lord Clarendon
or Mr.. Marcy. Being selfconfessedly in the
wrong, they will undoubtedly do the right
thing in the end, aud settle the difficulty.
PROGRESS OF CITY TAxArioN.-Between six
and seven millions Of taxes are required to
be raised from the hard earnings Of our
citizens for the year 1856. To this sum are
to be added several large amounts for the
purpose Of sewering the Central Park, and
otherwise rendering it eligible for the use and
benefit Of the people. Besides these demands
upon us, we are in want of large public edi
fees, which can hardly cost less than seven
millions of dollars. The great reservoir is also
to be undertaken this year, the cost of which
cannot be accurately estimated. All these out
lays superadded to the ordinary expenses Of
the city government must make formidable
and onerous total, and it behooves our city
fathers to take the utmost care that no portion
of the peoples money is profusely or unneces
sa1ily expended. The expense Of laying out
the Park and making it available should be
thrown upon succeeding generations, who are
to have the benefit of it's establishment. So
ought that Of the great reservoir. But the in
terest upon the capital required for these
works will from this year make a part Of our
annual expenses.
As to the propriety Of erecting an expensive
City Hall at the present time, there are dit
ferent opinions. Should six or eight millions
he expended now to erect an edi6ce in the
Park, it is pretty certain that in the course or
very few years. before indeed it will have
been completed, the rapidly growing popula-
ton in the upper part Of the island will require
an equal, if not larger expenditure, for the
accommodation Of the city government in some
situation nearer the centre Of population. Ii
may, therefore, be question, whether 1t is not
better to get along with our defective accom-
modations for year or two longer, until the
public mind becomes settled as to the proper
place to locate the new City Hall, rather than
expose the city to double taxation for the same
purpose at later period.
The antagonism between the up and down
town interests have for two years defeated all
the plans that have been presented. Last year
a scheme was arrested by the inaction OF the
Board of Aldermen which would have cost the
city at least eight millions Of dollars. This year
new plans are pressed upon the city govern
ment which will cost the city not less than six
millions. Let all these schemes be held ins us-
pense until the public mind becomes satisfied
where the new ediice should be located for the
convenience Of the people for centuries to
come A new impetus is about to be given to
the growth of the city by the opening of the
Central Park. 1t is now evident that very
few years will witness the occupation of both
sides of that splendid reservation by dense
and opulent population. Business, too, is
augmenting 30 rapidly that 1t must expand it.
self along the two rivers and through the cen