The Sun. — 1841-01-15 (London, England)

UNITED STATES.  PHILADELPHIA, DEC. 19:—The political ball has at length been opened in Congress by the introduction of resolutions adverse to the sub-treasury scheme, and a powerful speech in favour of a repeal of that law by Mr. Webster, in the course of which that statesman condemned the policy of the administration of Mr. Van Buren in making a national debt (now about $4 500,000 a governing principle; and closed with remarking that the "new administration would have to manage the affairs of the Government without means, while the present Administration had expended `37.500,000 beyond the receipts of the Government." This speech is copied far and wide. It may be named in connection with this gentleman, that it is confidently affirmed that he has been tendered the post of- Secretary of State, or Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Crittenden, of Kentucky, it is said, will be the new Attorney General. The affairs of China will probably occupy the attention of Congress at an early day, as M. ex President Adams has submitted a resolution for all the information on-the subject to be laid before the HouSe. The Report of the Secretary of the Navy has been read, but it contains nothing of interest to European readers, except that the experimen:s with Paixhan guns, on board the steamfrigate Fulton, are favourably mentioned, and the two new steam-frigates are to be completed by the cunning summer.  Some excitement has been created by a statement . to the effect that a British regiment had been ordered into the disputed territory, and had arrived at Madawaska, Our most authentic accounts affirm that these troops were sent thither by the Governor-General of the British provinces, Lord Sydenham, without the knowledge of Sir John Harvey, who immediately apprised Governor Fairfield, of Maine, of that fact, in consequance of the ‘• arrangement of non-occupation" between► him and General Scott. Despatches were also sent to Washington and Montreal. Thus the matter ►emains for the present. The report of the Treasury, which was forwarded to you by the last packet, doubtless furnished the extraordisiary fact that the exports of the United States, for the year ending September 30, 1840, exceeded the imports by $26,716,059. 1 call this en extraordinary fact, because it is the first commercial phenomenon of the kind that has occurred since 1825, when the imports were $96 340,075, and the exports $99,525,388 One of the main causes of increase has been the great export of wheat to Liverpool; another, the unusually abundant crop of cotton in the harvest of 1839 40. By way of enabling you to judge by comparison, I subjoin the commerce of five years:— Imports. Exports 1836 5189,985,742 $127,663,040 1837 1838 1839 1840 " 104,805,891 131 521,950 According to the Postmaster's report, the Post-office report for the year ending June 30, 1841, the receipts were $3,539,266; expenditure, $4,759,111; leaving a deficiency of $219,845. Advices from Texas confirm the account given in my last, of the escape of 125 Texans from the Mexicans, who intended to murder them. Only eight , Texans are reported as killed, but great numbers of the Mexicans. It appears that the Texan Government think of making a road to Santa Fe, in New Mexico, to secure a share of the trade and dollars of that region. The project is urged by the Texan Secretary of War to his Congress, and the length of new road required from Austin, Texas, would be 600 miles.  I mentioned in my last the disappearance of a Mr. Suydam, President of a bank in New Jersey ; and the doubts created thereby as to the causes of the mystery and stability of the institution. The integrity of Mr. Snyham and the correctness of the bank arc fully established ; but, alas !at the expense of his life. He was foully murdered, as is believed, by a carpenter named Robinson, against whom he had a mortgage of only $6O ! He was evi,lently robbed of a gold watch and money. His body was found on Tuesday, buried in the cellar of anew house belonging to Robinson. The supposed murderer is in custody. Thus has society been deprived of, an ornament, and a large family of a tender and exemplary father. More troops have been sent to Florida, but there is no favourable prospect as yet from the seat of Indian war. The seizure of the brig Tigris, of Salem, by the British brig of-war Water Witch, on the ground of being a slaver, because she had on' board a black boy, said by the owners to have been " shipped at St. Thomas's as a free lad," has created much talk and some feeling in this country. The vessel is daily expected at. New York, with an English prizcmaster on board. Iler cargo 'was coffee and ivory, and she was seized oft the African coast. The extensive drug stores of Messrs. :Trippe were burnt, at New York, on Tuesday. Damage $15,000, but insured. A laige artificial lake has been formed near Cleveland, Ohio, vs a reservoir for the canal. It is described as tbo most extensive artificial piece of water in the world, as it covers 13:000 acres. Suicides have been mournfully frequent. On Monday W. H. Jcfferd, E'q., a respectable merchant of New York, destroyed himself ; Mr. Underhill, postmaster at Amherst, on the same day: Mr. E. Davey. of Greene, on the previous Saturday ; Mr. G. W. Warner, a printer, of Providence,--on Tuesday ; and Mr. Boelim, a. German, at Alba, New York. Mr. S. Maynard, a married man, was mulcted to the tune of $4,000, in a court at Worcester' on Monday, for basely seducing a young lady. " Served him right."