New York Daily Herald from New York, New York • 5

THE WOIERFDl TRIAL A Dissection of General Tracy's Address. MISTAKES OF JUDGMENT How Tracy and Shearman Came Into the Case. THE MODERN HOTSPUR Some Amusing Statistics of the Trial. General Tracy's speech, which bat consumed the better part of a week, has at least been a success tn inflaming a great number of people who have not hitherto put in an appearance in the court room. If Mr.

Beeoher had chartered General Tracj to run a muck and Inflict a upon a conuiderable portion of mankiud as he passed them his lawyer conld hardly have been more ferocious. If Tracy's speeoh had been delivered spontaneously ltsflerce philippics might have beeu attributed to histnteusa temperament and love ol combatlveness; but, on the contrary, the whole speech whb carefully committed to paper; every alternate line left blank lor amendment, and It was amended, toied ana expurgated. For all that It was un extraordinary piece of characterization. Mr. Tiitou Is mildly described as a putrid corpse, lingering superfluous above the ground and presently lo be burled by way of charity.

Mr. Monlton Is carried to the city of Milan, where Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Knpper" clings in mouldy fragments to the wall so as to be hardly Intelligible at the present time, and Moulton Is compared to the picture of Judas Iscariot delineated lace, by the way, which has excited much admiration fcmong artists Full SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS. By parallel reasoning Mr. Tracy might have transferred his client to the central spot in the Baine picture; but, the General's Inclination does not run to eulogy. He did not succeed in making any presentable picture of Mr.

Beectier whatever, but etcned him in parts and by splashes. Ii Mr. Richards inflicted cureless wound upon his sister she had the satisfaction in turn or hearing Tracy describe her brother In terms hardly satisfactory to the lamily stock. This puts Mrs. Morse In a very singular osltiuu.

tine is already subpoenaed to testify against her son-in-law, and mnst now elect between her daughter and her son. Perhaps this state of affairs will lead oar species to bear with wayward sons-in-law rather than to explode tbe household and surprise tbe public. It 1b when the eye falls on this unhappy family, particularly tbe female members or It, that all the oomedy and melodrama or this case vanish, and we see bleak, uninteresting, remorseless tragedy, Greek in its severity, almost as tr there had been a direct Interposition or the cruel gods. It is among the melancholy necessities of inch charge as conspiracy that WIDENS THE CIRCLE OF ACCUSATION as witness alter witness enters with testimony for tne plaintiff, but General Tracy seemed to UUlUbiUllUablUU IIUUI tillO DligUfc fctauce. "Have at ye all I 1 was bis motto.

He dismissed Kate Carer, who bad testined to two affectionate scencs in the Tllton household, as a mass of corruption, diseased, marketable and gaseous. Sucb die tbe penalties or blring out as a vet nurse. Mrs. Frank Moulton's position In tbe course of Bucti a line of argument woull bave been made nnhappy but tnat tne orator hesitated to take tQe responsibility 01 classifying tbe niece of two of his wealthy clients with persons he had bo harshly stigmatized. In point ol lact, Mr, Beecher's mistake from tbe beginning has been In retaining any lawyers whatsoever attached to bis personal circle in the' city of- Brooklyn.

It is stated bis original Intention was to keep General Tracy as a physical associate and confidante, and not to bave Mr. Shearman at all. The latter's nlmbleness and anxiety were such tbat be came into the cause per force. He can make as mucU noise as a dry pea around In a half bushel measure. His devotion ia unquestioned and be ts smart, but it Is not metropolitan smartness.

During this case, when Messrs. Evarts, Porter and Abbott have exclusively done Mr. Beecher's work, there has been a unity, moderation and effectiveness about It which bave, so to speak, civilized tbe conduct of tne case. These old praotitlouers prefer to earn tbelr money by their talents and not: through their tempers. But Mr.

Tracy strides In like an Imperious barbarian, and somewhat suggests Pope's When Aim strives some rock's vast weight to throw, The Hue, too, labors anil tho words move slow. the work of a cosmopolitan advocate than his preference for gentle words and affable characterizations over harsh and brutal means, it the former will be equally effective. BUT THKHK WAS A DESTINY overhanging the growth of this case from the beginning. Iu the effort to suppress the scandal, whatever It was. a voluminous correspondence tooK place, ltv another fatality tho whoie of this correspondence was kept In the custody ot one person, and with It a pile of family letters not germane to the main ISBue, but well adapted for mud-throwing and insinuation.

By a third here is where Mr. tieecher made his great custodian, instead of being conciliated at every cost, was antagonized at a certain stiige 01 the Drocecdings, and, according to Mr. Moulton's explicit charge, Mr. Beechcr was put upon this course by the rash counsels of Tracy, Shearman and tlill. The occasion ol thus antagonizing Moulton was a trifling one.

A newspaper statement had appeared, alleging that Moulton bad said certain things derogatory to Mr. Beecher and in praise of Tilton's general demeanor. When challenged to contradict this statement Moulton replied that he should not make it, because it would lead to an interminable series of newspaper cards. At once Mr. Beecher was directed to bundle up Moulton with Tiltou and to charge at tiiem both.

It is not probable that any first class lawyer In the city Of New York would have given such ilotspnr advice at such a crisis. But Moulton was not only called a conspirator with TUton to entrap and defame Mr. he was called such a conspirator for the iukc ol a matter or $8,000, distributed over three of time. That Is to say, there being two principals, Mr. Moulton's annual receipts from the blackmailing fund were about (iuu a mourn.

At tiio namo tlrao Moulton wan a partner tn the largest warehousing and salt Importing Arm In the Now World. When he was assailed It was Inevitable thai his uncles, the Robinsons, and tti. 1 partner, Woodruff, should come to his support, and, If stcru necessity compelled It, his wife ts well, rexarulem of her secondary feelings of repugnance. When Mr. needier put tn tils 8tathmknt bkfoke tog church committee, Impugning Moulton, lie gave the latter the onlj excuse lie could havu tu manliness tor printing Air.

Heecher's letters. Bat for bucIi an Imputation, It would linve better become Mr. Frank Moulton to leave tho United States and take his documents With him, rather than to admit that ho had rnado fcucli a urievourf failure as a mutual (rtend. It Is iu Mr. Kvarts brought it Moulton and Mrs.

Moulton tiad brought Ttlton to despair by reaming to be made the instruments of Ills rrVfMltrA mill that Mra Moulton hml rallpil blin Tliluin, aclinic treaclieroualj to Mr. Beeclier. and nail ordered lit in to leave house. Monlton showed Mr. he brief and unimportant utatemeut whlcU lie liret dealgned to make, and it received Mr.

BcecDer's cucomium, being perfectly honorable to NEW 1 Bin. Moulton ttaen flad beyond the Jnrlsdlation of this State. His wile went to Rhode Island and he to Maine. And lie had designed to go ont sailing and flailing upon the Atlantio Ocean ror the month, so as to be out of the reach or the church committee, the interviewers and the lair. He bad irom tUe Urst tried to make Mr.

Beecher beat down an investigation by tbe oburcn. That bad been 'Mr. Beecber's position all along, and be bad an Id to Mr. West, wbo bad been sworn In tbe caae, tbat tbe accusations against blm rested upon tbe Woodbull pabllcatlon and uotmng else. Tbe church committee accepted Mr.

Beecher's versiou of tbe complication, and Prank Monltun went before the world, on the au? thorlty or like H. B. Claflin and pbl? lantiiroptsts like iienry Sage, as a blackmailer, whom Mr. Beeclmr ought to nave consigned to tbe police station. This led Moulton to come to tbat conclusion, which be very aptly expressed in his testimony, that he never changed bla leellnga to Mr.

Beecher "until he tried to ruin me." Mooiton aaid this with feeling. It would have been wise, pernapa, to have treated him In tbe evidence as tbe victim of an hallucination; lor it does not appear that eltner he or bla wlie bud ever expressly received from Mr. Beecber an unmistakable confession tbat bla offence was more than love, which might have meant the love of communion and sympathy, and not the grosser thing of which the law takes cognizance. Bat Mr. Tracy seems unable to make very subtle discriminations and preserve Moulton's neutrality at tne expense of Tllton.

Hence tlae error of the Plymouth pastor bas been In choosing bis counsel from among bis friends, rather than from oool, clear-beaded barristers. Publto opinion bas been careful throughout the length and breaatb of this land to mike the discrimination winch Mr. Beecuer did not make. Front Moulton is not ldentlfled by any very great proportion of the American people; Mrs. Monlton Is still less Identified.

In the Indiscriminate zeal of Mr. Tracv, Mr. bbearman and perhaps Mr. Hill, the "mutual friend" Is put Into the same category with tbe dark, restless and malevolent plaintiff. It appears from the testimony thus iar given, without regard to tbe speeches of tbe lawyers, that Mr.

Tllton bas NEITHER SLUMBERED NOR SLEPT since tbe maggot or jealousy entered bis head. Having condoned whatever offence he tbougbt to be attached to his family be still brooded npon it and touched bis supposed enemy with a spear from time to time, constantly renewing the war with that Irresolute malice wblch belongs to men who nave forgiven what they should not forgive, and seek to live on the exterior of a sphere whose interior contains a bollow, hideous secret. The speech of General Tracy bas, tberefore, stirred up a number of people wbo have not yet appeared upon the stage and defined their position. It lias brought out Henry 0. Bowen as a stern and anxious party In the case, lull of combustion.

It bas classified tbe artist Carpenter, who, so far as the outer world knows, Is a quiet, man. unit not nnknnwn to thA htq. or the country as a protege or President Lincoin, with the other vIctlmB or General Traoy's lulmlnations. These errors or judgment and polloy being valid It remains to be said that for virility, pluck, literary lorce, antithesis and good reading General. TTacy has made a superb speech, qnlte comparable In every intellectual respect to Mr.

Ueeoher's own testimony before the Church Committee. STATISTICS or THE THUL. A correspondent, who has evidently watched the great trial very closely, has prepared the following curious and amnslng table of statistics, based on the first seven weeks of the Number of persons managing the case In court? Judge 1 Court officers and attendants 18 Counsel lor plaintiff 8 Counsel lor dcteuaant Jurors 12 Keporters and Spectators 800 Total flU Number of days of lour each 33 Number of hours (less two hcurs when Mr. Uvarts could not cross because ot ice) 130 Aggregate number or hours given to case in court bv aforesaid 614 persons 79,820 Estimated number of civilized beings (excluding Iudiaus not taxed, persons of unsound mind and very small children) conducting and discussing the case out of court Average number of minutes devoted by each perrflcm to this 20 Aggregate number ot minutes for days 8fl0.000.000 Aggregate number ot hours for thirty-three days. 11.000,000 Agereirate number of hours given to the case in und out of court 11,083,890 Estimated value of time (plumbers' standard, taken from recent bills rendered for stopping leaks 91 an hour $11,083,600 Hours occupied in debating wbicn Judge should prcsiuv consumed In getting a Jury 30 Jurors examined 94 Questions lurors and witneues testltying about Jurors 8,122 Hours occupied by opening of General Morris Hours given to dlreoi examination ol' Mr.

Mauiton Hours given to cross-examination of Mr. Moultou 22 37 Questions put to Mr. Moulton on direct inatlou put to Mr. Mouttoa on crosa-examinatlon 8.262 Total Hours occuplcd In discussing the admissibility of Mr. 1 llton's A 7 Hours devoted to dircct examination of Mr.

Xilton 19 Hours devoted to cross examination of Mr. illtun 28 Total 54 Questions put 10 Mr. Illton on direct examination 744 Questions put to Mr. i'litou on cross-examination 8,086 Total Objections made by plalntlfTs counsel 76 Objections miiae uy defendant's counsel Exceptions to His Honor's rullnc by plaintiff. II hxceptlons to is Honor's ruling liy defendmil 8U Phrases employed by Mr.

livarts in of Honor will note our exception" 25 "Your Honor notes our I "To that we except" 1 "Will your Honor bo good enough to notet" Ac 9 "Will your Honor please Ac 5 "Your Honor, we except to that ruling" 1 "Your Honor will lie so kind as to note," Ac. I "Wo except" i We take 1111 exception" 1 "Your Honor will please note," Ac 2 "We exceiit to Your Honor's decision" 1 "Your Honor lias my exception" 3 "Note exception" 1 "Your Honor will he so (food as lo note." 15 "We except to Your Honor's ruling" 1 "Note my exception" 2 "1 excupt" Lengthy Mr. fcviris 33 Mr. shearman 3 Mr. Tracy 3 I Mr.

Hill I I Mr. 1 Mr. Beach SO Mr. Kullcrton 21 Mr. Morris 3 Mr.

Prvor 2 THE EXCISE LAW. The Excise lair was parrly enforced yesterday throughout clt.v; that is to say, In bo tar an ordinary police surveillance can mane ll go, the saloon Keepers were obliged to comply with the law to tne extent ol making a show of keep in? tnelr places cloned. Throughout the city some 8,000 front doors were closed and some 8,000 back doors were open. A lew haa been iright eued tnto closing up altogether, but they were la a minority. The police, as a rule, did not Interfere with the places in the slightest, having notlfled the proprietors tho of wnat they were expected to do.

As mentioned In day's Hrkald, the compliance with the law difiercd In various portions of the city. In iha uptown portions and in the neighborhood of tho churches tho rule was much more rigidly eurorced than In the commoner neighborhoods, where the feelings of the churchgoers were not likoly to be touched. Special pains were taken in 1I1C I cum si inn iv snusij mo qilUIIUH UI I members and congregation of tbe Aiansoa Methodist Episcopal church, Norfolk street, whose petition was led to this state of tblnirs. Here the orders of the of Police wero more strictly carrlcd out, and the Methodists wore, no doubr, correspondingly happy. It ir not believed by the liquor men generally that the present atate of ufTairs will have a lonn run, but that the vigilance of the police will only extend over a couple of Sundays to satisly the present line and cry.

They launh at the power of the Commissioners in the matter, and say that the extent to which they mako the taw mild is tbe extent 01 the term in which they will remain tn then otlKlal 'ORK HERALD. MONDAY. RAPID TRANSIT. Tbe Valni of the Propoied lateral and "lAAn Ilnn" nf Railtrnii uiuva vi UHlinUJ plained and Illustrated. The Topio of Fares Discussed by an Engineer.

To tbi Editor or tbx Although New York has very nearly passed through Its annual paroxysm on the subject or rapid transit and vast amounts of printer's Ink have been expended in the discussion of it, there has been very little said about the rates of rare which snould be charged on such roads, and there Is great danger that ir the Legislature tales any action at all It will authorise the collection of much higher rates of lare than win be necessary to make such a road pay a reasonable profit on its cost, it la known rrom past experience that If such rates are once authorised It will oe extremely difficult, if Bot Impossible, ever to have tnem reduced. The excess ol tare over what would be necessary to pay a reasonable Interest on the cost will be a perpetual tax on the people and the prosperity of New York, which would be transferred to the pockets of the owners or such a road. It la, of course, absolutely necessary that a rate or rare should be authorized that would make such a road "REASONABLY" PROFITABLE. An Investment which would pay eight per cent, with a very fair chance or paying still more, would, It Is believed, be considered a reasonable profit, and it Is upon this basis that ttie members ol the American society ot Civil Engineers, appointed to Investigate this subject, made their calculations, whloh are oontained in a "paper" Just Delng printed. The conclusion reached la that "paper" Is that a double track elevated road, extending from the Battery to Firty-ntnth street, a distance ot five miles, costing not to exceed $400,000 per mile, exclusive or equipment, and having the right ol way iree, would, with a trafflo or firteen million ol passengers per year and a rare or six cents, or 11-sth cents per mile, pay eight per cent on the whole cost.

It Is suggested to the paper referred to that a double track road should be bant on eaoh side or the city, and the two connected by loops or crosstown lines, so that trains could be run continuously around In one direction on one track and the reverse direction on the other. this ls.done and a line is built from the Battery to Fiftyninth street on the west side, as indicated In the map by the line and another on the east Blue, us nuunu uj uiu 11110 it uuu uie two connected at their upper ends by the line It then would obviously cost no more to ran trains from the Battery to Fifty-ninth street and back again by going up on the west side line and down on the east or vfce versa than It would to run up or down on one ilde alone, excepting ho far as the additional length or the connecting line, would Increase the cost, but whloii would bs so small an Item that It may ne disregarded. Therefore the tare on cars running around tho loop, eflejiti, could be PBOFITABLT FIXED AT SIX CENTS. If, however, we subdivide this loop Into two, A and by making another crosstown connection, 9, say at Thirteenth street, which is about halfway between the Battery and Fifty-ninth street, then trains could run around either of the loops A or twloe In the same time that they rnn around both of them once. The tare on cars whlchrunaroundeachofthe.se two loops could therefore profitably be three cents, or lust half what It would be In those running aronnd both ot them or from the Battery to Fifty-ninth street.

If, however, the system of roads was extended to the Harlem River, as the map gyp II 1 i 5 si jH SI (ft L'-' filL I f'3' A Ik illustrates It, and connected above as shown In tfta map by tlie lines enple, then the distance would be Just about twice that from the Battery to Ftrtyntnth street. Trains would, thereiore, make only hall as many trips around the loop en that they would around the loop e. The fare should, thereiore. be twelve cents around tho former Instead oi six. If unother cross-town loop be added on liotn street, or just north 01 central l'arlt, the whole distance irom the llattery to the Harlem River will i subdivided Into lour nearly equal loops, 11, 0 and I).

Tne lare around any one of these loops could then be proiltably fixed at three cents, around two loops, six cents; around three, nine cents, and around all lour, twelve cents. Line of cars, painted dliferent colors or combinations 01 colors, could then be run around eacn loop, and cach two, three or all four contiguous loops. Such a system would miiKe tne lollowlnx combination possible, and would provide ten different lines of cars, the larea on which are pven in tne Lnopr Round of H7iirh From Fart. H'oulit OntM. A Hatterv to Thirteenth street A nnd tliiitcrv to Kllty-nlnth street fl mid Itiittery to 1 li'tli A.

and ItiitnT) to Hsrlein Kiver 12 it ihlrtociitli utreet to Fifty-ninth and I Thrteiiitn to uwn -irm a It, ami street to Harlem Kivor. t) iKiity-itinill to HOtb plrrot. 3 (' mid I) I Mm ninth street to llarlem lllver. 6 atreettu Harlem lllvor With stich a system a very lartte proportion of passenKers would on oblijrea to pay a mucli lower lare than is now poi'I in inrtaee railroad cars. Thus, a person living a Irw (docks above Itilrtreutii street, con Irt, by walking thai list it nee.

iret into the line oi cars runninu around tne loop In which the fare is three cents. A larjre propor1 tlou ol pcrsoua whojjo dowu town la tbo uioruiug MARCH 1, would And a abort walk agreeable who are qotte Incapable ot walking the whole distance. Worklnu men and women, wbo have not the strength leu to walk the whole up or uown town, would with such a svstem Ond It quite noMlb'e. by a little extra exertion, to save uly lour cents In car tares out or THIIH nAHD EARNKO WAGES. It would afford a very convenient means of travelling from points long or near the line on one side or tbe city along iho line ou the otner.

Thus, tr a person desired to go irom on the wost aloe to I on the east side, be would take a train ruumna around the loop ma gui tliere as quickly as he could ride direct on a surface roau. It should also be observed, that it is shown id tbe "paper" reierfed to, tbut an average tramo of 16.000,000 passengers per uii.e oi at a fare of i 1-3 cents per mile, will pay per cent on tno whole cost oi suet) a line; that utruffle oi 20,000,000 will pay 8V4 per cent, with tiud 80.000,000 10per cent. As the Sixth aveuuo line carries about lj.uuo.ooo passengers j.cr year uud the Third it is not unreasonable to expect that a system ot rapid irausli roads, such as has been indicated, wouid soon carry more 1 than either. The London Underground road carried 2j.000.000 duriujt the last six mouths which have Jnst been reported, or at the rate of passengers per year, it is, there or-, verv probable that at a rate of lare 01 1 l-5ceuts mile a rapid transit road would pay reasouubla interest on its cost. Unless, however, oar lawmakers win take pains to iniorm themselves about tne rates ot tare, wlu6u will be there is cause to tear that the city will be saddled wttn a perpetual tax on transit, which will be dauy extracted from our pockets, while we will be as helpless as the "people" were in tne old leudal times under the system or taxation imposed by their rulers.

Whether New York will hare rapid transit now depends 011 the Legislature. Tbe enactment of any Jiwt bill authorizing responsible parties to bulla such a road would lusuie the speeoy con Vi auvi UD UdO UCVU heretofore ttiut when authority been given It had been eltiier with such restrictions tunc responsible people would nuc take hold oi it, or else the authority haw (alien tutu the hands ol entirely Irresponsible people. If the General ltaiiroad law was amended ho that any parries could organize a company, and by juvinn oonds to the amount ol nay 0 per mile, should be allowed to select a route and present plans 10 a board of commissioners appointed 111 any way to insure men of atililtvaud integrity, the occupation oi the route and tiie construction oi the road to be sunject to the approval ol the commissioners, it wouid, it is believed, at once luduce a class of uien to engage In the construction oi sucn roads who nave herefore held entirely aloof iroin such projects. AN KNG1NEEU. the vandebbilt underground cbabteb, To thi Editor or the I have read with Interest the numerous articles which have appeared from time to time in the columnB of the Hkkald on the all-absorbing question of "Rapid Transit," and must confess that 1 have Been Utile else in these articles than words, words, tangible.

Men mar write, speechify and theorize as much as they please; but neuher talking nor writing nor theorizing will build and equip an expensive railway. Nearly ail the articles to wnich allusion is made seem to ignore the fact that "rapid transit" is, or very soon will be. an accomplished fact as far south through the city of New York as Forty-second street. Jt seems to me that the real question is, How is the rapid transit or steam railway from torty-second street (Grand Central depot) to De continued to the City Hull or to the Battery? Now, everybody knows that a charter was given by the Legislature to commodore Vanderbllt, two or three yeats alnce, authorizing him to balld an underground railway irom the Grand Central depot to the City Hull Park, and that be went tne work In good earnest. Ho directed hia engineer, the late Isaac Buckhout, to make the necessary surveys, prepare plaus of the work and estimates oi Its cost, and that in accordance wu)i said directions Mr.

Buckhout did make the surveys and prepare the plans and estimates, and that instructions were given him to Invite proposals tor the construction or the work, when, for some unexplained reason, the "Commodore" changed tils mind, and operations on the contemplated extension of the Fourth avenue improvement to the City Ilall wore Indefinitely postponed. The estimates ol Mr. Buckhout, I am cieoitabiv inlorrned, showed conclusively a double track underground railway lroui Fiftieth street to the new Post Office could be bunt lor less thau and 1 am also lniorined tnat contractors ol large experience and unlimited meaus were ready to do the work or construction for a sum considerably below the estimate of the engineer. It has been said that some city officials, appointees of the late Ringmaster weed, parties interested in the Tweea-sweeny arcade project, interviewed the Commodore and luduced him to believe that tne work could not be done tor the amount set lortti in the estimate ol the eugineer, and that it was owing to the representations o( these parties that Mr. Vanderbllt abandoned the idea oi building the underground railroad down town.

Be this as it may, there is one thing certain, that the only way to secure rapid trausit to the southern part oi tne cur within a reasonable time is to continue the tracks ot the New Yors and tiarlem Railroad as lar south as tne city Hall, on the plan proposed by the late Mr. Huckhoui. It is practicable and can be done at a reasonable cost. Therefore, let your rapid transit side, east side, west siue and every other side association menuntie on tins practicable undertaking. Let them secure the Vauderolit charter, and, it possible, secure the interest and aid oi tne Commodore, and the great corporations whose roads terminate in tne Urand Central depot, aud iu a short time rapid transit to tne City Hall Park would be secured.

or even while this work Is in course of construction, other lines may be projected and put in progress. Tom, Dick and Harry will not be debarred irom pu. suing tweir iancy flights on tnree-tler ways, one-legged whirligigs, noops, loops, walking sidewalks, or pneumatic peramuuiators. But tor goodness saKc give us something practicable. Let us have the fourth avenue improvement carried underground to the new Post Office, as the llrst ttiiuw needful, and let.

the Commodore Immortalize himself by giving material aid to the enterprise. Without his aid aud assistance the worlc, 1 regret to say, Is not likely to be accomplished. His assistance, 1 thluK, may secured irsome sensible geutleman would couvinco him that the construction of an underground from the Central depot to the I'ost Office would not lesson tho receipts ol the Now York and Harlem nor.ie car railway. JACK SMITH. Monterlonky, Feb.

23, 1876. THE WAR IN CUBA. concha's campaion against the rebellion extended beyond the twenty days' fighting with heavy losses in the desperate band of spanish auxiliaries routed by the rebels. Havana, Feb. 21, 1875.

General has not succeeded, according to his promise, in ending the insurrection In twenty days irom the time when be lelt Havana for the front. The ontv ohlect ncromnlishnil nn fur is thn suppression or any Intelligence relating to the Insurrection in the Cinco Villas being published In tue Havana papers. PROGRESS OP TUB ARMY OPERATIONS. A letter from Sagua, received here on the lSth, states that the Spanish troops were throwing up entrenchments In the streets or sagua, and thai the blaze of six sugar estates burning could bo seen irom the town while tne letter was being written. A report is also In circulation here, which comes from reliable aources, that 300 Spanish troops, only a tew days landed from Spain, and 200 volunteers, were attacked b.v SaugulU about ten mi es from Sagua, and after a spirited action, which lasted two hoars, the volunteers were captured and seventy-one of the Spanish troops were killed and about forty wounded.

Sanguill disarmed the volunteers and allowed them to teturn to Sagua. "WAR TO THE ROUTED BY 1'IIK KKRF.1.9. On the 16th General Concha sent forward from Moron two companies of Chuppegorres, a volunteer organization on the Island who neither give nor take quarter, who were encounterc I by Maximo Gomez, and after a close engagement the Chappegorrra made hasty retreat with a loss oi sixty killed. SPANISH BULLETINS OK VICTORIES. The Havana papers this morning contain a dated 20Ui ituting mat two of toe Spanish Army had penetrated an far as the Gonzalez, which had served as a stronghold of the insurgents, and had captured various eitects.

The despatch also states that the lo.yai troops han ned the insurgents at ihe estate Qjuesada and compelled them to retreat, with loss, to the estate Manton. The lUtrrin tie In Marina says, "Tntn the 'ottlctal' report arrives we cauriot (five a lull report 01 the engagement at the Oat (Hal Gonzalez, nut we are sure that the enemy is tu lull retreat, probably to blRUanea." CONCHA l-OOKKD KOH AT TIIF. VAI.ACK. The same paper says (ioneral concha will soon return to this city. TUK SI OAK RSTATRS' LOSSES.

The number of sugar estates reported burned 'lie Insurgents is lorty-two, nut no reliance can We placed oil those mil the sugar Inakoii and engineers arrive tu Liavana uo reliable a cuuut cau be gtveu. SHEET. THE CENTENNIAL. The Law Exempting from Duty Goods for the Exhibition. Ex-Governor Bigler's Earnest Appeal to tbe Capitalists of the Country.

During tbe last week many inquiries have been made at the Centennial headquarters tn this city by gentlemen representing European firms in regard to tbe dnty on goods intended for the Philadelphia exhibition. It Is somewhat strangs that the impression should still so generally prevail that goous sent to tbe Exhibition would he liable to the same duty as levied nnder the usual circnm. Btances. congress passed a law expressly for the purpose oi admitting tree or duty articles that are simply sent to be displayed at the Exposition of 1870. as this matter is of great importance, and the regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury concerning the Importation or goods require to be luliy understood, we give tbe lull text of the law and tne ruies based upon it lor the guidance of European senders.

They are as fol una. TBI LAW. Be It enacted by the Sonata and ot Representatives of the United States ot America in Congress assembled. that ah which shall ce Imported tor the sole purpose of cxhtoltion at the International Kxlutdtiou to be held in the city ot Philadelphia In the year snail lie admitted without the payment of duty or ot customs tees or charges, under such regulations as the ot the Treasury shad prescribe; provide that all such articles as shall be sold in the I luted or withdrawn for consumption therein at unv time alter such Importation shall be subject to tlie iluiies, if any, imposed 0:1 like articles by the revenue laws forcn at the date of importation; and provided further, that In rase any articles imported under the provisions of this act shall bo withdrawn lor consumption, or shall he sold without payment of duty as required by law, all tho penalties prescribed by the revenue laws shall be applied and enforced agulust such and airainst the person who may be guilty ot such withdrawal or sale. In pitrsunnce ot tbe provisions of this act the lollowing regulations ate prescribed SPKCIAL REGULATIONS.

duty or customs foes or being required on any Importations, a new torui of entry is prescribed, whicu will be employed in all cases at too port where such goods are received. he ports of New York, Boslou. Portland. Me. i Burlington, suspension ttrldse.

N. Port Huron. Chicago. Philadelphia, Baltimore. Norfolk, New Orleans, and San Kraucisco, will alone constitute ports ot entry lit which Importations tor said i--xhibttion will be made free ofduty.

articles designed lor such Exhibition must bo forwarded, acoompanied by un Invoice or schedule ot the uumhors, character, and couiiuci ciul vuiue ot each shlpiuciit, which statement shall be attested betoro a consul ot the United states, or a civil magistrate of the country In which they are pruduoed or from which thoy arc shipped to the c'nlted States. verified bill of Contents aim values win uo transmuted 111 triplicate, one copy to tho collector of customs at the port where it is desired to make entry, which will be retained for the tiles of his office; one copy to Hume duly authorized agent, either of tho owners or ol the foreign commission of the country from which shintnent was made, which agent must in all cases be reoogntaed by the Director Uenoral ol the hxlitbition, who will, by virtue ol that authority, verity the goods and make entry; and one copy to the Collector at the Port of 1'hiladclphla and ail packages and con atnlng goods destined tor such Kxhibltion must bo plainly and conspicuously marked with the words "Kor the International Exhibition or 187M, at 1'hlladelphU." goods arriving so marked and represented, either the tiuie of arrival or at any time while in the custody of the oollector of customs at the port of arrival on general order, will, wnen entered at tne port of arrival, be delivered without examination to such recognizcd agent or agents, to be by him or them forwarded trom the port ot arrival by bonded line of transportation Philadelphia, there to be delivered to the custody ot the Collector ot that port WAUKBODSK B.fTttT. lor warehouse will be made for all such transported packages on arrival at the said port ot Philadelphia, and original entry for warehouse will be made of goods directed bv first shipment to Philadelphia. Warehouse entry having been made, the fiacksges will be held in the oustody of the said Colector until the Exhibition building or some building erected by or in the custody ot the officers controlling the said exhibition, ana suitable tor secure oustody us a warehouse under the authority of the United states, id ready to receive them. and complete records of all so transmitted and received by tho Collector at Philadelphia will be made by the storekeeper at the port of Philadelphia in a book prepared lor the purpose, in which will be entered, so tar as known, tne owner's name, tho agent's name representing the artloles, the country trom which shipped, the date of such shipment, tho name ot the importing vessel and the date ot arrival, the general description and value of the goods and the specific marks and numbers ot the packages.

Such record will ulso be kept In duplicate bv a special Inspector 01 customs, who, uiidor tho direction of the secretary of the Treasury, shall bo uppointed to Identity, forward and care lor packages so properly marked and intended in good faith for the Exhibition, but which may not be properlv represented by an owner or agent. lien the said Exhibition building, or a warebouse suitable tor secure custody of articles Intended for the Exhibition, duly authorized tor receiving bonded goods, (halt he ready to receive articles theu in the custody of tho Collector of the Port of Philadelphia, uescriptlve permits, in duplicate, shall be Issued by the said Collector to the torekeeper of the pcfrt, directing the delivery of packages as required by the owner or or by the uttlccrs ot the said copy ol which permits shall be Drescrved by the sai Storekeeper, the second copv to be delivered with the goods to a proper officer ol the customs stationed at the said Exhibition building or warehouse, to be there Kept as a record of goods entered for such Exhibition in addition to the duplicate required to be kept In a ook ol prober lorm as before referred to. And all packages shall bo opened In presence of an officer ot the customs who vprifv thA noiitmtfl from unit uimn live list, correcting and completing it the may reoulre. case of recelot by the Collector at Philadelphia of packages Imperfectly described or verified, or in regard to which information may be received questioning the good faith of the persons forwarding the same, the aald Collector may itirect an examination in proper lorin tor the purpose ol determining the question, and it, on conference with the Director (ieneral, the goods arc touud to have been forwarded not In good faith for Maid Exhibition, they will be charged with duty according to their value and classification, anil hold by the said ollector, subject to appeal to the Secretarv ot" ttie Treasury, to await proper claim and payment of duty by their OTUKH CHARGES TO BX HID. b'inth? An charges tor transportation, draynve and freight accruing on goods arriving tor tbe said Exhibition will be required to be paid by the owner or agent at tho time of their delivery into the custody of the Collector of Customs at Pnlladelphla, or lr on packages of small bulk or weight, not accompanied by tho owner or or consigned to a foreign commissioner, and not exceeding $5 in amount, will be charged against the goods as so delivered into tbe custody of the Collector ut Philadelphia.

to be paid with other charges subsequently accruing before the permit is issued lor their delivery to the Exhibition Bnilding; and on alt packages exceeding fifty pounds in weight, halt storage, as provided by regulation tor the storage of ordinarv merchandise in the public warehouse at port of I'hiladelphiu, will be charged agaiust the goods received and stored therein from ttio tune ot receipt to th? time ot delivery 10 the Exhibition Building. Mo tees for entry, permit or other official act and 110 duties will he charged upon or against such paoKagus nntil after their withdrawal trom such Exhibition for gale, at close or during its continuance. articles received and entered at such Exhibition in tho manner hereinbefore provided mav. at any time consistently with the regulations controlling said Exhibition, be withdrawn for sale or delivery to other parties than the owuer or agent concerned in their importation on payment of the duties properly accruing on sMiit goods accord inn to the laws in force at tbc limu oi the importation thereof; and lor the purpose of assessment ami determination of such duties and lor proper Identification of the an officer of the Department of the port ol Philadelphia shall be detailed to make due examination of the articles so withdrawn or sold. verifying tliein by the record of their introduction, aud Charging upon a proper form, to ihj prepared lor such purpose, the said rate and amount of duty: and on payment of ilio duty so charged, but without lee or other expenses, the owner or agent shall receive a permit for tlioir removal troni the Kxhlbition.

hulks kok the kktiirn. designed to be returned to the foreign country Irom which tbc saiue were imported, or to he removed trom the United states, will, at the close of the Exhibition, or at such time as shall be directed bv the officers ot such Exhibition, be verified by the customs olhccr in charge at the Exhibition, re-enclosed, duly marked, and forwarded, under permit ol the Collector at Philadelphia, to any other port tor export, or may he directly exported trom Philadelphia. Export entries tor such use will be prepared, corresponding to the import entries under which the goods were originally re ceived. A special Inspector 01 customs will, under the direction of the Secretary or the Treasury, report at intervals to the Collectors of tne ports ol Philadelphia and of New Yortt, or ot such other as he may be directed to visit, for the purposo of applying the regulations herein provided. U.

II. brisTOW, Secretary. The financial agent was busy yesterday de. spatchlug letters to all the principal capitalists of the conntry. The following is a specimen of the earnest style in which he seeks to impress upon tne minds of our leading men the grandeur of the patriotic interests involved In the succesa of the TBI ArFIAL ckntbnnial headquarters, St.

Nicholas Hotkl. Niw York, Sept. 27, 1876. Dear a stranger to you it Is my duty to endeavor to impress vonr tr.iud the pungent significance ol the coming Centennial celebration. Beyond all question it will oe the grandest aisplay 01 modern times, and it will be In honor ol an event that brought countless blessings to independence of America.

It will do honor to the memory or the authors 01 this event? Washington and all his compeers. aii tnc rei i-uiuuicn arc piuviucu lor oy law and are under the ausplcen of me government of ttie United States. It will be an exhibition ol all the works of science and art lor the past century of the Kepnbiic. All the nations of any note In the world have been invited to attend und have accepted the invitation, and have appointed their most distinguished citizens to appeal as Ministers and Commissioners, It will also be an occasion ot begetting groat good will among our own people, and thereby tending to assure the tuny of our tree institutions. The magnificent.

buildings, covering tony-nine acres, are under i contract and ure to be constructed before the 1st ui next. No such event ever has been seen or ever will bo again in the liictune ol any one now in exi tence. 1 urn sure, from what I know of your character, that you will desire to witness ihn graini scheme, atid so have some part in it. It is uuitti probable thai you will set a largo wruDoriloa ir of what yon luteal baca again, bat ttili will at do ce.ntisxia.l ccri081ties. Quite a number or artlciea win be aent to the PhlladHlDliln Exhibition nar.nllftrlv trie occasion, from the faot that they will jnst bt one hundred rears old in 1878.

One oftbe most la tere-ttntf oi these objects is a harpsichord, madali 1776 by a celebrated London firm, which baa beet sent on from England expressly to Omro other remarkable Ceutenuial curiosities. competent Judges say that the instrument is of xquimte workmansulp and of great vaine. and additional Interest is given 11 by the statement that General Washington owned tills veritable harpsichord at one time ami ha' it afterward passed back into ths hands 01 the manufacturers. The young ladies oi a generation winch has almost forgotten what the lustrumeut Is like Hint their giandmotbers loved much as they the piano will certuinly view this harpsichord with attention. THE CHURCH WAR IN MEXICO.

Details of the Assassination of Protestants in Acapolco. Eight Persons Said to Have Been American Catholic Clergyman Released by the People. Mexico, Fsb. it, 18ti. The news received In this city op to tbe latest moment in regard to the assassination of tba Protestant worshippers at Acapulco reaches tha point thai eight oi them have died ol their wounds or have been killed outright, while as many more are still badly off.

Only one of assassins has died or was killed, as lar as Known, up to the present time. TUB AMERICAN WAS KILLED. The American Killed was a worshipper who bad long lived in Acapuico. ana went to tbe door of the bouse of worship to quiet tbe attaoklng party, when they cut his head nearly off bis body. TUB CLERGYMAN RELEASED BV THE PEOPLE.

The priest who is supposed to bare Instigated the attack was arrested, but subsequently released. as the federal lorce in the to vn, being only sixty men, was not strong enough to the arrest. ACTION OP TDE EXBCUTIVB. As soon us the federal government can plaM lorces in Acaaulco it is supposed an r.tiempt WIG be made to enforce the laws ami secure to the pie ireedom of religions wot ship. FUTURE TROUBLE ANTICIPATED.

Rev. Mr. Hutchinson has salted for San cNco, and will soon be en route for Mexico via Men Orleans or New York. It is to be supposed that tbe government of Mexico has already taxen measures, such as It can command, to preveut outbreaks of tbe kind in other parts of The country, but ignorant Indian communities "led to glory" through assassinations by bigoted priests, are tougU elements to contend with, even by governments, where municatlons and transportations are scaroe. MEXICAN PBESS OPINIONS.

the Tiro Republics (Mexico city) Feb. We -reproduce the following artlole irom the Trait a'union, being, as it is, suggestive to all parties or the benents to De derived in the country by the exercise of more tolerance. But we do not agree with our colleague mat tbe liberal part? exercising Us Influence la behalf of the Protestant Church, tne apostles of which, our colleague are Americans, nor do we arrive at the oonoluaion of our colleague that political danger to tne country Is likely to flow from tbe spread or the Protestant relisrlon, under tne ad minis tlons or the American missionaries. To tbe flrsi point we have this 10 say: -We wish onr trlends la the United Statos and England to their mtndg, ir any believe that tne "liberal party" in Its war upon the power and Influence of the Catholic clergy In Mexico Is a Protestant movewent. We can assure them to the contrary, these are not Protestauts; they do not oppose tba catholics on sectarian or doctrinal grounds, having no affinity with any religion, and they act, aa they allege, on grounds ot poltttoal reform.

Wblle they tear down the Influence ol tbe Catholio Church, they do nothing toward baiidlnsr up anr other religion. Our colleague, as usual, draws upon his nightly dreams or "Yankee which he ihiuks may happen at any day. and lures the dreaJiul that are lobelal the Mexican Republic, in consequence of tbe liberal party according a declared protection to Protestantism, aod that there is danger a religious assimilation. Tne day has passed when religious assimilations aflect national or political combinations. We have only to reier to the United Stales; the difference 01 religions did not prevent the Coniederates iron uniting; while tne Northern armies were filled alike by Catuollcs and Protestanta.

Germany of. lers auetber evidence in support of oar position; the uerman Catholics lougut beside their Proteatant brethren against catholic Kranoe. boon ideas as put lor jvard by the Trattd1 union may be plausible out they tade away before tbe powerful ences of flxed republican principles, one 01 wblcn is equal protection to all rellgiona. The American maxim is, that error is free to live so long ai truth is tree to combat It. tbe Trait d'Unlon of Mexico, Feb.

TDK RELIGIOUS QUESTION. It la a curious study, that which tne attitude of the two parties that divide Mexican society presents to us in this movement. Hatreds wntcft seemed to oe lorgotten, passions wnlch were believed to be appeused, polemics wnicn recall by thair rna wnrar a so nf fhn ufvnmtU Ka. IUGII "VIO" VI tMO VW tween religious fauaticlsui and the encycToptedist school, have assumed for some time past a character oi bitterness which does not (ail to present possible dangers. The organs of the clerical party record daily protests sinned by thousands oi persous, and the prudent attitude observed since tb? full 01 the Umpire has (riven place to the most open nosttlity.

The liberal Journals reply to tbese attacks with no less violence, aud this begun with the pen. could well degenerate into a bloody conflict 11 men of reason do not Interpose in time to calm tins angry effervescence. We will seek neither the origin nor the cau-es oi a situation which we believe has beoome more aud more extended by the Imprudence the two names. We think, in effect, that with a little more tact and mutual concessions it would possible to arrive, if not at accord (which is not possible) at least at a relative pacification, one of the errors or the liberal party Is to seek, by hatred of c'atnollclsm. to extinguish completely the religious sentiment in the masses, to suosti iuie mi ii, iiioaiiBm HUU UO academic morality, which may suit a reunion of learned men, but cannot be put in practice by aa entire people.

History, in effect, does not preI sent to us any example of a nation having been utile to live without some kind oi religion. On the day in which tue religious idea should disappear entirely from a community tinit community would be miaillbly devoted to the most anarchy, which could only be ended bv death. The duty oi the liberal Mexicans ougiit then to be, it seeins us, not to extinguish, but rather to enlighten the religious sentiment. Auotner error 01 tiie same party la to acoord a declared protection to Protestantism. Philosophically speaking Protestantism, an well aa Catholicism, docs not admit oi tree thou a hi, and lrom a political point oi view wc see lor Mexico In her progress a veritable danger lor the future.

The apostles oi tne reiornied religion are, for tttr most part, American. The money which they scatter handling, and whion In a powerlul auxiliary of grace, is money furnished by the Bible societies or the United states. It la very certain that when there exists oetwecn two neighboring nations a community of religion assimilation be comes more easy. Prince LUsmark, whose is inseparable irom all that constitutes political machiavelism, was so convinced oi this truth mat, having to send bis engineers to 1 raise the pinu of the citadels oi Alsace i and Lorraine, he had favored by every possible means Oalvtntstic propauandlsni In these two provinces, sometime oelore the war ot 1870 the situation created by the Herman Chancellor presented dangers which did not escape inr seeing minds; lor, if our memory serves us, General Ducroi, who commanded at Strasbourg, wrote at that tune to General tin event ot a war with Prussia we should seriously count. npon me sympathies which it would meet with among many of the Protestants oi our departments." lhat which has happened in Francs wohUI infallibly happen to Mexico, in the case ot events which it is not rasn to predlc.

Certes, we are iar irom advising hostility against Protestant Ism, since religions liberty exists; but we would wish to see the parties preserve more calmness ami not to envenom ihosc questions which, untorttinately. divide them too much already, and which hinder the development and progress of the country. SUICIDE BY SHOOTING. Abo at ten o'clock yesterday morning Mr. Bar.

mann ftephany, late of wo. 113 Chrratte street, wtid, with lilx engaged In the flowet business at No. Ill) Bowery, committed suicide to presence or hU family shooting lumpen througl the head with a pistol, the bullet passing into tli? (train and caiiping death in a lew momenta artar ward. Mr. It is said, had bean driBltini to excess ol lati', and doubtless, at tne time com in 111 line flic deed, was not in his mind Coroner CroKer wus noiiilud to hold an mquea over tne remains.

was about forty yean 01 and a native ol liermany. Mr. btepDaoj liiw lelt widow aud several children..