The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-12-16

| fall and ample powers 10 the Mayor. and in hold
ing him alone responsible for the government Of
the city. The proposal to get up board of out
siders to be appointed by the Governor, and to
which the Mayor himself is to be subordinate, re-
vcais a scheme too plainly fraudulent and alb
surd to deserve moments discussion. The city
could be procured for members of the Common
Council there would be no difficulty in the way
But there's the rub. As things CO. they cannot be
got. The only other alternative, them is to give
almost supreme control to the executive. Let
him hold all The subordinate departments Of the
city government in his grasp and then, if we
do Dot have good government, we will at all
events know on whom to throw the response
biiity.
| TIE News from NfcarsEun-Kmp OrtaBt POSI-
non % Affairs IN Central and south
| America.
The import ant news from Nicaragua which we
| publish in another column shows the critical
condition OF the filibnsters, and fully bears out
The anticipations we have before expressed. Il
viii be seen that after the battles of Massaya and
Granada in October, the Costa Rican forces ad-
vanced and took possession of San Juan del Sur
and the Transit ronte Gen. HOrnsby, not sue
ceeding in dislodging them with the force under
| his command. was reinforced by Gen. Walker
| in person, who attacked them at the HALFWAY
| House and drove them back and then out Of San
| Juan del Sur. The route being open, Walker re-
| turned TO Granada, and becoming alarmed for its
safety, which was again threatened by the allied
! forces, he sent down a part OF his troops under
| Col. Jacques to hold it. He then attacked
Massaya, where he partly dislodged the enemy
and destroyed part OF the town. Finding that
| 1t was impossible to hold both the Transit route
and Granada, he determined to abandon the latter
and burn it. This duty he conided to Gen. Hen
ningsen, while he proceeded TO remove his
wounded and sick to the island of Ometepe, in
the lake. The enemy advanced on Granada aad
succeeded in taking the small FORE on the
lake about half mile from the city,
aud planted two guns in battery, one
on each side, and AT the same distance from the
ioTt, cutting on all communication between the
| city and the steamer General Henniogsen, with
| 400 men, having partly destroyed Granada was
cut off in his retreat and took possession of
| church about half way between the city aqd the
lake; he was at the last accounts besieged there
| but is said TO be well supplied with arms and
ammunition, having, in fact, the greater part OF
Walkers stores, and q well OF water. His eXpec-
tation is to be relieved by Walker. who win have
for this purpose Colonel jacques battalion, which
had been sent to Virgin Bay to reinforce the gar
rson Of the Transit route, 100 men from Calfor
MA who were at Virgin Bay on the I'd inst, and
800 from New Orleans, who were met at Castillo
Rapids on the 81. If he he's been able to main
tain bis ground he will also have received progi-
sioLs, clio hing, howitzers, minnie rifles and ammu-
milton, shipped from here some three weeks
ago. 1t is also stated that the natives on the
island Of Ometepe had mastered the SIX
and wounded which had been conveyed
there. The accounts published yesterday
from the Guatemala papers state that
| Central Americaexhibits united front yainst
the flibusters; and The accounts We publish today
from there show that the latter are being cor
| nercd in something the same style as is done ia
! Wall street occasionally. Rivas is recognised as
President by all the native parties in Nicaragua,
| and We shall probably soon know the aaal result.
| The Honduras, San Salvador and Guatemala
| Wall street flibusters who seem bent upon dcs-
troying each other.
| The full detail of the interesting news from
| Central and South America, published In the
HERALD this morning aud yesterday, gives
at one view dagueTcoypc Of our com.
mercal fltbustering, diplomatic aud sos. II
| relations with all those countries. There
are many points in this news intimately con-
nectcd with our progress and influences "a a
nation, a. well as with the defeat or success Of
our individual flibustcIs. al Is remarkable tiat
except il Cuba. where the Spanish rule pCcya. !,
and IN Central America. where all parties are
| united against Walker, there is a general move
| ment against the church as X is constituted ia
| thosc countries. In Mexico Il Is q: open war
and ia arms against the governmcnt-the chusch
miliiar, prevailing over the CHURCH peaceful In
New GRANADA Il has lately entered into the popu-
lar election and placed 0spina, jesuit at hcars
and in principles, 10 the Presidential
chair In Peru il Is refusing It's as
sent 70 the pewly adopted Constitution. which
limits it, privileges, and Is fOmcnting rebellion.
/ la Chile i has refused TO recognise the suqrcua-
cy Of tbe civil power. AID m open collision Witn
the government has just been oi1rd ly an as
tue evasion Of the point in dispute. This anti
/ church movement il only one Of The numerous
processes Of social and political disiniegcsr,on
going on in nearly all Of the countries sodth Of
us Considered separately, their present situa-
,ion may be summed mp in u few words
Cuba exhibits all the signs Of rapidly devel-'
| oping material prosperity. New railroads are
being projected and the stock taken up With great
repidiiy. Paper money l. to BE- introduced there,
and the Spanish Bank had already received it,
frs, batch of engraved notes, which would be pat
in circulation early In TIC coming year 1ne
purpose Of this new movement In currency is 10