The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-08

Ahcctu8 ulSut, Oduiel Ia OcieSou IA VIZ SH"~N'
The evening was occupied in initiating new mem
bers. No other business was transacted.
At the meeting o. the Board of Aldermen las
even he the Board agreed to adhere to their
amendments to the tax levy and appointed com
m.ttee of three to confer with the Counciimen IN
rraiion thereto. resolution appropriating -, 900
for altering and repairing the Comptrollers rooms
was laid over The resolution appropriating $2,OO0
.of The celebration of Washingtons Birthday was
rejected for want Of constitutional vote re-
consideration of the vote was carried and then the
subject was laid on the table. Fire Marshal Baker
sent in his report relative fires and alarms of fires
during the half year ending Nov. 30, 1853. There
were curing the six months las fires, involving an
alleged less of property to the amount Of 81 2Ss35l
The insurance on this loss amounted to 81 05l ,5S5,
and the amount of insurance paid to the sum Of
s253,943 There were forty insendiary fires during
tie six months being ten less than in the cores
ponding six months of the year previous. The
Fire Marshal recommends special law for the
punishment of arson.
The February term of the General Sessions COM
nenced yesterday, when the Grand Jury were EN-
panneled and charged at greatlength upon various
topics by Recorder Barnard. synopsis of the
charge will be found elsewhere. Patrick Lane, in
iicted for the murder of Jeremiah Looney, pleaded
guilty to manslaughter in the third degree, and
was remanded for sentence.
An American propeller seen off Pernambuco
on the sth tit, bound south which was probably
one of the Paraguay expedition.
The Beard of Counoilmen met last evening, and
transacted large amount of business, but nothing
OF special Importance was brought before them.
committee Of i've was appointed to extend the
hospiiates Of the city to the officers Of the Forty
second Highlanders, of the British army, on their
arrival N this city en- route for Aspinwall. The tax
levy was returned by the Aldermen, and was re-
fened to a Committee of Conference.
The Councimen's Committee on Cleaning Streets
met yesterday afternoon to hear parties on the
expediency of prohibiting the omnibus and rail-
road companies from using salt on the streets for
tie purpose of melting the snow off them. Col.
Darling, Of the Third Avenue Railroad Company,
and Baily Meyers, Of the Sixth Avenue Railroad,
Informed the committee that it is to keep the
grooves of their tracks open and free from ice that
| they use salt and that if they were prohibited
| from using it they would not be able to continue
their regular service to the public. They said that
hey consider the use of salt public good, because
| saves the wear and tear of vehicles in very
material degree, and soon dries up the sush which
| always follows the melting of snow in a city like
New York
cotton market the absence of the steamer news
quiet and unsettled The sales confined to about
200 bales too small quantity afford any cr
eriou prices The Asia telegraphed in the
citing until the close OF Change, about 81 r.
-Four less buoyant for common and medium grades,
which we're easier, while sales to fair extent
Wheat steady: sales of choice white Michigan at 81
So choice amber colored do at 81 45 prime Southern
white II 65, and choice white Kentucky at TO- Corn
was without change of moment, while sales mode
rate at rates given In another place. Pork less buoy
ant and for immediate delivery the turn Of the market
favor OF the purchaser with sales Of old at
sls do. at SIS &c. and prime at sl3 30, with
Of mess for June delivery, at So Beef and lard
continued firm Sugars rm with sales Of 900 hhds
at full prices included which 400 do Cuba go
of Market the remainder consisted of New Orleans COT
fee quiet, but steady. Freight engagements were
moderate, while rates were unchanged.
The Administration and the Sectional Agi-
tasors of aA> D~s.auo.~4se p~.<y-
The availability and personal popularity of Mr..
| Buchanan in 1856 saved the democratic party
from absolute destructfon; and it will require no
argument to show that it is only upon the common
basis of his conservative administration that the
party can be saved in 1860. And yet, with this
important fact before them, the factious and Sec
tional agitators who have assumed, here and
there, North and South, the control of the party,
have, for the last year or two, through all sorts
Of devices, intrigues and conspiracies, been
laboriDg to destroy this administration. This
suicidal policy is wholly inexplicable, except
upon the theory that the ultimatum Of these dis.
affected party leaders and managers is the per-
manent dissolution Of the party, and the reduc
ton of the contest of 1860 to purely sectional
contest, in view of some Northern aggressions
which will afford plausible pretext for the ex.
pertinent of Southern confederacy.
We think, too, that it has at length become
sufficiently evident that with the prostration Of
the administration the last remaining impediment
within the party camp, in view Of q Southern
ultra sectional reconstruction of the party, would
be removed. But the administration still sur
wives. 1t has been seriously embarrassed upon
almost every point in the prosecution of its
just and well considered policy; but the dead
weight of the mischievous consequences Of
these sectional treacheries in the camp has
fallen upon the guilty leaders concerned and
upon the party. Thus while we find these Of
tending party chiefs and managers without any
definite position or general influence, we find the
party in the condition Of an army broken up
into guerilla detachments hardly less hostile
against each other than against the common
enemy. And 80 we have the singular anomaly
presented Of democratic administration still
firm and strong after the democratic party has
been broken to pieces. But the shortcomings Of
the party have been supplied by patriotic men
from the opposition side; and hence, thus far, the
success Of Mr.. Bucbanan's leading measures in
Congress, in spite of a democratic majority re.
duced to the impotency of hostile eliques and
| factions