AMERICA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 431, 20 December 1856, Page 5

AMERICA.

By way of Sydney we have intelligence from New York to the sth of August, and from San Francisco to the 30th of that month. The Vigilance Committee had not been disbanded, and the usurpation was—so at least says the San Francisco Herald — generally condemned. The tenacity with which the members of the committee clung to power had called forth animadversions from the principal journals of New York and other of the Atlantic States. The friends of the Vigilants were rapidly leaving them from the same consideration. To show the summary manner in which the Vigilance Committee conduct their movements we quote the following note of warning : — Another Warning.—We have received from "33 Secretary 5' the following resolution which we publish for the benefit of the party concerned :—" Executive Committee Chambers, San Fiancisco, August 27th, 1856.—Resolved, That J. D. Musgrove, late Supervisor of this county, be notified through the daily papers that he can have the privilege of leaving the State, never to return, on or before the 20th September next; if not, he will be subject to the usual penalty. By order of the Committee, 33 Secretary." The number of the committee is stated to be 4678. The most important political item is the fusion of the " Hards" and " Softs" in New York, who in their convention, recently held at Syracuse, have united upon a State ticket. THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. It is thought by some that there is a strong probability that there will be no election byr the people on the 3rd of Nov. next, and that the Presidential contest will be thrown into the House of Representatives. In the election of a President by this bodyr each State has one vote, given by a majority of the delegation of that State. If there is a failure by the people the election will go to the House in February. A President can be elected by the House only- by a union of the Democrats and national Know Nothings. If a union of this nature cannot be effected and no President should be elected by the House, on the 4th of March the whole question will be transferred to the Senate, iv which bodythere is a strong Democratic majority. Of the election of John C. Breckenridge to the Presidency by the Senate, if both the people and the House should fail to elect, very lit'le doubt need be entertained. The friends of Colonel Ftvemont appear to be very saturnine of success in securing bis retu;u as President. The action of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee has been very generally and severtdv eor..nu-:i'ed upon by the press of the Atlantic States, ar.d characterful as a monstrous usurpation ol authority by an irresponsih.e mob. Tho>e of the press who a-tribute patriotic motives to the committee in the first place think they have overreached their aim. P. T, lb-r.'crt. M. C, from California, has been acquitted vi' the murder of tho

waiter, Keating, at Willard's Hotel, in Washington. Messrs. Brooks and Keitt have been unanimously re-elected to Congress from South Carolina, Colonel Brooks received seven thousand nine hundred votes, and six hundred dollars were contributed towards the payment of his fine and expenses in the Summer affair. John W. Geary has been appointed by by the President, Governor of Kansas, vice Wilson Shannon removed. Mr. Whitfield, who has been sitting as delegate from Kansas, has been ousted, but the House refused to admit Reader to the vacant seat. The House amended the Army Appropriation Bill, by providing for the withdrawal of the military forces from Kansas, and that the militia be disarmed and their arms reclaimed. It was rumoured in diplomatic circles at Washington, that the British Government will very soon send a Minister to supply the place of Mr. Crampton. Lord Howden, j formerly Ambassador to Madrid, is mentioned, A State Convention of Radical Democrats was held at Syracuse on the 24th ult. It was numerously attended by gentlemen who have heretofore been prominent members of the Democratic party, but who, by their action in. this Convention, have now unreservedhy endorsed the Republican ticket on the platform. The Freemont section of the Massachusetts Know Nothings met in Convention last week in Boston, and renominated Governor Gardiner and all the present State officers. The Fillmore Know Nothings who seceded from this Convention, have resolved on calling another meeting for a new nomination. Several parties of the Saints returning from Salt Lake gave a terrible picture of the state of affairs there now. The poorer class had to subsist on roots, such as thistle, seco, &c, which the Indians gather aud sell to them for one dollar per bushel. The grasshoppers, which caused the famine last year, have commenced again this season, and bid fair to destroy the present crop of wheat and vegetables. Many of them appeared very much dissatisfied with the Mormon faith, and stated that they had been deceived, I that the poor had everything taken from them in the shape of tithes and taxes to support a few leaders in the Church. Nica-EAgua.—We are in possession, says the Panama Star, of private reliable advices from Nicaragua of the highest importance. It would seem that this unfortunate country never is to have peace. Anarchy and misrule exist there now in their worst form. Walker's position is a most precarious one. He has only twelve hundred followers —all told—whilst Rivas, who still contends that be is President, is fortifying himself at Canendagua, and has already three thousand well-armed troops. He has the sympathy of the entire country, except the few Americans who still adhere to Walker, and his countrymen are daily rushing to bis standard. 'Honduras and Guatemala are organising forces to invade Nicaragua, and drive "Walker from the country ; aud it is understood that as soon as the dry season resumes—now at hand— they will make a descent on Nicaragua. "Mivas will, of course, receive their sympathy and co-operation, as Walker is now regarded by the people of Nicaragua as a usurper. At first they were disposed to look upon him as their deliverer—buL bis many blunders iuulzcisof cruelty have induced them to change their minds with regard to his character, aims and purposes. (The above statement: should be received with some grains of allowance, inasmuch as it comes from a very prejudiced source.— JKd. S. F. Herald.)