The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-01

The News.
The topic Of the day is the sad tragedy at Wash
ington. The examination of Mr. Sickles did not
take place yesterday. The death of Mr.. Key was
appropriately noticed in the Circuit Court and by
the members of the bar at Washington, and the
latter resolved to wear the usual badge OF mourning
and to attend the funeral. Our dispatches report
Mr. Siekes as being as il were paralyzed by the
dreadful event while Mrs. Sckles is Frustrated by
Illness 1t is said that as the circumstances which
led to the homicide are brought to light, public
sympathy for Mr.. Sickles rapidly increases. Throngs
of citizens congregated about the prison yesterday,
but admittance was refused to all but the most
intimate friends of the prisoner. We refer to our
dispatches for additional particulars of this de-
plorable affair.
In Congress yesterday the Senate refused to take
up the Homestead bill--2G against 20. Gen. Hous-
ton delivered his valedictory, reviewing his public
life and paying off some old scores due to his enc
miles, Conference committees were appointed on
the Consular and Diplomatic and General Appro-
priation bills The bill making appropriations
for Post ONCE expenses was taken up. The House
passed the Naval Appropriation bill Leave to re-
port bill authorizing the reissue OF Treasury notes
was refused-9s against lOS. The Miscellaneous
ApprOpflaOOn Dill Was tahtH up, duu III
to discontinue the Atlantic and Gulf Coast survey
was rejected. report was presented from the
select committee appointed to examine into the
accounts Of the late Superintendent of Printing,
with recommendation that the papers be sent
to the prosecuting Attorney of the District Of
Columbia.
Dispatches from Gen. Lamar, our Minister to
Nicaragua of a late date, received at the State De-
4 Ia toto fhlfn tlarf ha
British treaty nor the Cass -Yrisarri treaty had
been ratified.
terrible catastrophe happened on the Mississp-
pi on Sunday last. The steamboat Princess, while
at Conrad's Point near Baton Rouge, exploded her
boilers and caught fire. There were on board
about four hundred passengers, mostly residents Of
Louisiana and Mississippi, of whom it is believed
two hundred lost their lives.
By an arrival at this port we have news from
Rio Janeiro to the 18th Of January. treaty had
been agreed to by Brazil, the Oriental Republic and
the Argentine Confederation, but its objects had
not been made public. The coffee trade was dull
Our correspondent at Cardenas, writing on the
10th ult., says" The better class Of Cubans are
decidently against the government, while 1t is well
known that the lower classes Of the population
would join any party that would promise repub
lican form of government similar to that of the
United States. The exports of Cardenas during the
past year comprised 2s7,4ls boxes sugar, $4,000
hogsheads moasses, besides honey wax, fruits,
tobacco, &C. The plantations for cotton and coffee
are being extended since the introduction of coole
labor, which is regarded as far superior to slave
labor
By the arrival of the schooner W. L. Richardson
we have received Porto Rico papers to the 18th
ult, but they contain no news of interest.
From the French West Indies we have news
dated at Martinique and Guadalupe on the 18th of
January. The journals express great satisfaction
at the reaxations which Prince Napoleon caused
to be made in the regime of the colonial press.
The crop of sugar in 1858 in both islands is de-
clared to be fine; that of coffee in Martinique was
Indifferent, but in Guadaoupe the yield Of coffee
was greater in 1868 than has been known for seve.
raj years. Count de Fitte, Governor Of the two
colonies, was, ON account of i'll health, about to
leave for France.
Advices from Hayti to the 9Th ult. have come to
hand, but they contain nothing of Importance. A
report has been issued by the Central Committee
Of Gonaives showing the origin of the revolution.
1t appears that in December last eight men, of whom
President Geffrard was the most prominent signeda
document, and took the name ofthe Committee the
Department swearing to die or release their country
from Soulouque's power. In three days Gonaives
and the surrounding country gave In their adhesion
to the revolutionary scheme and IN eight days more
Gefrard found himself at the head of ten thousand
willing men The subsequent events Of the revolu
ton are too recent TO require recapitulaton. The
popularity Of Geifard continued undimlnished
The Republican Central Committee held an ad-
journed meeting last night. Alsnson S. Jones,
chairman pro tem presided. ExJudge G. A. Pea
body was elected chairman for the ensuing year
on the second ballot. Theodore Glaublenskee and
Thomas Little were elected Vice Presidents; James
Kelly Treasurer; H. T. Cleveland and George
Sparrow, Secretaries; Charles Missing, Sergeant
alarms, The meeting then adjourned
The joint municipal committee appointed TO con.
slider the best means Of protecting the city
from undue Albany legislation were to have
held their third meeting last evening; but at the
appointed hour, there being no hope Of obtaining q
quorum, the chairman adjourned the meeting SUP
ject to his call.
At the meeting Of the Board of Supervisors YES
Ierday Inc special Committee on the expenses Of
the courts and other objects for ls5e made n m.
port accompanied by the draft Of bill to be pre-.
scented TO the Legislature, authorizing the Board to
raise the sum of $1,000, &c to meet the contem.
plated expenditures. Among the items In the bill
are 81 220 1856 for police salaries Is 900 for police
contingencies, and $3.50 730 for arrearages of the
Police Department, making a total Of 81 ,3ss 0o5
for the Metropolitan police, whose services would
be dearly purchased at half that sum- The report
was adopted The Mayors veto Of the resolution
directing the Comptroller to provide aga.as. sae