The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-19

The President sent to the Senate yesterday, one
Of the most important special messages ever COM
municated to Congress. 1t calls upon Congress to
confer upon him power to use the army and navy
to protect our citizens and their property on the
Isthmus transit routes. The message is given in
full in our columns this morning. The message was
debated but action taken in reference to it. In the
House the Army Appropriation bill was discussed in
Committee Of the Whole An amendment to strike
out the appropriation for brevet pay was rejected
by vote of two to one, thus putting an efectual
check to the effort of the Senate TO deprive the
veteran General Scott of the trifing sum of money
to which he is entitled.
We have important news from South America,
dated at Montevideo on the Goth and at Buenos
Ayres on the 30th of December. The frigate Sa-
bine, flag ship of the Paraguay feet, with the
steamers Harriet Lane, Water Witch, Fulton and
storeship Supply arrived in the river Plata on the
goth of that month. Commissioners Bowlin was
preparing to 60 up to Asuncion in the Fulton. If
prevented hostlities would ensue; bat the general
impression was that Lopez would arrange all dife-
rences with him amicably. The report, received by
the Prince Albert that the Brazilian authorities had
offered to mediate between the United States and
Paraguay and that the offer had been accepted, is
alluded to in our special despatch from Washing
ton. Neither the commander of our squadron nor
the commission sent out to Paraguay have autho-
rity to accept the medatory services of any Powers
whatever. Buenos Ayres reports state that the
agricultural and commercial prospects of the
try were very good. The French officers in Rio
Janeiro had had some difficulty with the Brazilian
authorities on trifing subject, but their general
course there lately was not pleasant.
We have news from the French West Indies
dated at Martinique and Guadalupe on the 18th of
December General complaints were made of the
want of hands for the work on the plantations. On
the recommendation of the Council General of
Martinique, two agricultural colonies had been
formed-one for young prisoners who had been
condemned to correctional Imprisonment, and the
other for those who had been tried and acquitted
on the ground of having acted without discern
ment, but who had not been given up to their rela-
tives. In the southern communes of the island it
was expected that the crops would be late, in con-
sequence of the drought which prevailed at the
end of the autumn. One of those communicable
Francos-was on the oath of December the scene
of violent fire, which broke out in the building of
plantation called La Pointe, and before it could
be got under destroyed property to the value of
The Young Mems Democratic Union Club held a
special meeting at the Mercer House last evening,
and appointed commtte of three, composed of
Messrs. White, Lebineau and Herrick, to wait
upon Lord Napier and Smith O'Brien-the later is
expected to arrive in the steamer on Monday-to
tender to them an invitation to the Grand Demo-
cratic Union ball ON the 22d instant. A committee
was also appointed to unite with a subcommittee
of the Democratic General Committee to make
preparations for O mass meeting respecting the
Cuba question.
The Wing Central Committee held an adjourned
meeting last night and transacted considerable rou
tine business. Letters we're read from eminen
wings throughout the Union expressing confidence
in the success Of the party in the coming Presi
dental contest. A preamble and resolutions were
passed expressing the same sentiment selec
committee was appointed to extend the courte
sizes Of the central body to such eminent whig
as are now In the city, and also to others who ar,
expected to arrive during the present month.
,. I. Jones, the alleged Colchester Bank default
-, was yesterday conveyed back TO Connecticut OF
requisition Of the Governor Of the State, which
! Sheriff preferred 10 recognise rather than the
warrant issued by the Recorder on a charge Of
sc pretences
The anonymous author of the brochure recentv
addressed to his Majesty the Emperor Napoleon III
upon the French influence in America has con
fiuaed 70 give his name 10 the world. The brochure