New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-15
YROM HM-1DELPHI.i.

HOW THE OPPOSITION cas- rNITE-THE CIVIL
IIATION soCIETY-THE Posr-OFFICE JOB-
CONSUMPTION OF COAL a NEW AIMS
HOrSE- TRIAL OF CoAL-BuRNrNG LOCO
MOTIVES.
From Our own Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, Dec IL, ISIS.
The proposition put forth in IHE TRIBUNE Of
the OH Instant indicating two plans whereby the
whole Opposition vote of the nation may be con-
c,ptrated on an Opposition candidate for the Pres!-
dencv in ls6O. has excited much remark, discus
sion and very general appreciation The Ameri-
cans here are willing TO regard IT as large con-
cession from the Republicans, and are by no means
disposed to be captous or exacting. Their conduct
in cur late City and State elections affords abun
dant evidence Of such disposition. They went
into the Peoples Party as energeticay as dld the
Republicans. The good faith With which that Goa
lition was formed was msnair ed unbroken at toe
pol~ nor has there been the slightest bickerng or
eakusv smong them owe the disposition OF theirut
of The common victory The good faith in which the
union originated has been semented by generous
rerrd for the Gle ms Of each when the honors
came 10 be divided. In this State, then, the OPP
position is compact and potential. 1t is so III
New Jersey, and ought 10 b. IN Newton these
States thus secured they are IN condition 10
indicate the course which all the other Opposition
Ststes should adopt in 1850. THE TRIBUNE has
very opportunely held up the true light by which
our future pathway can be made the high road 10
victory. The Americans of Pennsylvania Will as
heartily support a moderate Republican for Presl-
dent Ms the Republicans themselves, by giving them
the Vice President But taking theaternate PROPOSE
ton the Republicans will go enthusiastically for
moderate American President, with Repuohcan
Wee Pledges as to the Slavery propaganda need not
be insisted on too strngently even on this vital
issue we all understand each other we'll enough as
il is. That aggressive despotism has gone so far
as To stsgger the torbearance of the whole American
party Just as it has split mp and dsintegrated the
Democracy itself. The people have spoken so un-
mistakably on this question, that any Republican
President whom the Americans might adop', or
any American whom the Republicans might en-
dorse could BE- safely trusted as sure To put his
foot upon the neck of the now prostrste monster.
Every way he would gain more by being honest,
than by proving himself to be- dishonest. On ex-
actly such programme as this, New-Jersey elect
I'd Der present Governor though the Democracy
carried three of her five Congressional Districts.
That State would cheerfully adopt and triumphant
ly sustain either proposition ot The TRIBUNE II
sou can prevail on the three States already named
e. unite hsmonousy upon one of them even at
gested, an extermlnating conquest of the sham De-
Wocracy will be your reward. Such an event will
be- the crowning obligation which the giant efforts
Of The TRIBUNE IN the cause OF Freedom have
already imposed on the whole American People
The seed you have Gown broadcast over the land,
though sometimes falling by the wayside and some-
times upon stony ground, has, nevertheless, taken
root in the good soil of million human hearts, aud
is already ripened into an abundant harvest of
Emancipation on the green slopes OF oncc-sub|N-
gated Kansas.
i can bear testimony to the dsinterested phian-
thrOpy of Mr.. Benjamin Coates of this city, in his
effort to throttle the Slave Power and elevate the
negro through the agency OF the African Ciylliza-
ton Society. Like all men at the head OF every
great and good enterprise, be has been attacked in
quarters from which sympathy and encouragement
only ought t0 have proceeded. But how vast an
idea it is that he is seeking to r"alissthe ."pr"nt-
ing or the slaye-grOwn cotton OF America by the
free-erown cotton of Africa. His excellent PAM
phlet shows cOnclusivey that it can be done. That
pamphlet ought to be circulated by millions. 1t
contains of facts proving that the CiyllIza-
tion Society can, in time, reyolutiOnZe the cOtton-
trade of the world. The Society is already under
respectable headway gaining more knowledge of
the condition OF Africa making new friends out Of
old opponents, and from present appearances will
take high rank among the humanitarian enterprises
of the century.
We hear no more of our new Post Office than
YOU do of yours. Either the poverty of the Trea-
sury or the completion of details as to how good
private job it shall be, and who shall be the gamer
by it, causes this much needed Improvement to
hang fire. AT present the Office is kept in private
house in Dock street, badly c0ntrlyed and very
inconyenient-up high steps into narrow entry,
where stands for newspapers and peanuts abound,
making the place constant and disagreeable jam.
A fine store on Chestnut street, next to the late
United States Bank, now the Custom House, has
been purchased c0ndltionay for a Post-Ofice
The lot Is 20 feet front, and the price $40 900. As
the lot is evidently too small, it is proposed to ruin
the appearance of the fine marble Custom House.
by adding ~ feet from that lot This will make it
lop.sided affair and utterly destroy all It's arch-
tectura proportion aud beauty. To help ont the
financial abortion it il said the old Pennsylvania
Bank building, for which the Government paid
$3.50, 600 in flush times, IL to be worked 0h into
the new Post-Oi'ice at $4,000. There are per-
sons here who feel quite certain that though the
Government lose heavily by the operation, there
will be- somebody sure to make profit
well posted coadeaer tells me that the con-
sumption of coal in l-57 was 36 900 tuns less than
in l-j6, and that the consumption of this year
will he fall 500 GOO tuns less than III 1857, making
1855 fall IA 900 tuns less than l-56 n0twithstand
ing that the annual increase Of consumption il IL
to % per cent. The hard times have not only
checked all increase, but greatly reduced the for
mer consumption. This does not include the de-
creased consumption in Virginia, Maryland and the
West. In l-57 foreign coal imported Ia the !
extent of 23-, 1872 tuns The import OF this year
must have fallen off very considerably.
II is singular how short-sighted are most Amer
lean municipalities. In all their great public un.
dertakings they provide only for the present, in.
stead OF also providing, by little additional outlay.
for the future of q growing community Several