THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1885. FOENEY'S WAR PRESS, TO* TWB WBBK BBTHKO BATTTRDAY, MARCH 4, 1865. Sabbath Mornin*,” by William H. Boflelgb- To a Fret oa Bl* Blrtbd*y ,, -‘* To Oa« to H«WI ’-“lke One Host of Libsrty,” by E, V.- Sheib-Hmn, by John 0. Whittier-Cfiarads, by W. ■M. Fried. * . «. THE STORY OF LTJCILLB TESTNB. written for the War Press, by A. Richard H-Contumed. 111. GHAUDMOTHEK’S Boom, St CKy Omnia. Jr. TV. EDITOR!AL'—The Cabinet of the NewAdmi llUtratleß—The Fall of Wilminiton—Tho Tax Bill— Public Opinion Abroad, Ac. V. CONGBBSBIOtrsL SUMMARY. VI. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATORS VII. WILMINGTON—Our Special Correapondeaoe. Foil Details of the Capture—Birtory of the Preceding Operations—Sentiments of the Wilmingtoulaoe. yin. CHARLESTON: Detailed account of titf occu pation. IX. LATE WAR NEWS Advices from the Army of theiPotomar, the Army of tbeJamer, the South and Southwest, GENERAL .NEWS. —Description ofthe Execution ot Beall, the rebel fpy and Pirate—The Amertean Wary —Railroad Accident near altoona—The Law relating to Substitutes and Commutation—The Sonora Question— The Storm to India &«. • XI. CITY INTELLIGENCE,—The Press Clah—Nancy James —The Draft—Another Hero Fallen. Ac. XII. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The War Press also contains a large amount of in teresting matter, not included to the above enumera tion. MSF- Bpeclmeni of the WarTPress” will be for warded when rwweated. The subscription rate for sto gle copies Is $2 per year. A deduction firom these terms Will be allowed when dobs are formed. Stogie copies. Eat sp in wrappers, ready for mailing, may be obtained ai the counter. Prise five eoots _ British Statesmen upou America. Earl Bussell is a man of undoubted ability, -with boldness in decision and ac tion, but it cannot be claimed for him that be argues logically. He asserts certain facts, he ■works out certain principles, but rarely draws the right conclusions from them. In his speech on the first day of the British Parliamentary session—calm and even dignified in reply to Earl Derby's passionate and abusive scold—he showed this deficiency in a very marked manner. Avowedly neutral, almost friendly to the ' United States in feeling and statement, it concluded with what Watts and Whate ly, Hamilton and Watland, would not hesitate to designate as a non aeqvilur. The Queen’s Speech had been read, and the usual proforma Address to the Queen (the mere echo ofthe Speech itself), having been duly proposed and seconded, Lord Derby, leader ofthe anti-American party, now in bitter opposition to the Palmerston Administration, delivered an address, the leading features of which were passion #nd abuse, adroitly united with a con siderable quantity of misrepresentation. Taking the part of “the so-called South -ern Confederation,” Lord Debby com plained, with the utmost bitterness and in a very insulting manner, ofthe lately announced on the part of the United States towards Canada. He de nounced our intended termination of the (so-called) reciprocity treaty with Canada, and our announced purpose of augmenting our naval force on the Lakes, and seemed to imply, indeed, that the British Govern ment would not maintain the national honor if it hesitated to demand explana tion and exact apology from the United States. He left no doubt, by the manner and matter of his speech, that his own poli cy, were he again to become Prime Minis ter, would place England in immedlate and deadly hostility to the United States. There is no doubt about “ the Rupert of debate,” as Lord Derby continues to be called; he plainly indicates that if he had the direc tion of public affairs, he would plunge his . country into an immediate war with us. The reply of Lord Russell was at once able and frank. He declared that he was by no means surprised that the United States felt anger—deep and just anger— with England, and, all things considered, the threatened action towards Canada was only what was to have been expected. Englishmen, he said, had built a fleet of -steamers for the express purpose of pro viding the rebels with the munitions of war, ■and all other things needed by persons ■so situated, by means of running the blockade; that, besides these blockade runners, many of Queen Victoria's sub jects had built, fitted up, and devoted several swift vessels-of-war, which, manned and provided with all the “ means and ap pliances to' boot,” were employed under the rebel flag to act as pirates, to the great injury of American commerce ; that the countenance unfortunately given to the rebel raiders in Canada was sufficient to provoke the anger and create the hostility •of the United States, and that yet, so far from exhibiting much temper on the occa sion, Mr. Lincoln’s Government had been remarkably dignified, and even slow to anger. These statements made a deep impres sion, but Lord Bussell proceeded to com ment on certain threats which, he said, had been made in the United States—to the effect that, when this rebellion was ended, a claim upon England would be made for the value of the vessels bonded or burned, and the cargoes plundered or destroyed, by the piratical vessels built by British work men for British owners—a claim, he said, which England would never recognize. Af ter all that his Lordship had previously said, frankly acknowledging how itaglish men had built, fitted up, manned, and pro vided the pirate steamers with the means of injuring American commerce, it might have been expected that he would rather have acknowledged than denied England’s obli gation, by all laws of trade, fair play, and nationality, to make- good the losses incurred by our commerce. He stopped short, precisely where he should have gone on. Having ad mitted the wrong, he should juot have ignored the justice of the repara tion. One of these days he may have to apeak in far different tone and act in far ‘different manner. Patent Laws Abroad. There was a time, not long ago, when John 801 l would take infinite trouble not to do anything exactly in the'manner prac tised by Brother Jonathan. The jealousy which prompted this unpleasant feeling has much abated. England has copied the models of our yachts and clippers, has taken to our sewing machines, our me chanical reapers, our steam ploughs, and even The Timet itself is printed upon one of Hob’s lightning presses, while another is now being made for its rival, the Daily Telegraph, which is to give 80,000 impressions in an hour. Ere long, no doubt, our railway cars will be generally used in England, and it is even likely that the locomotives there will be, completed ■with “ cow-catchers” like ours, Mere we treat ingenious inventors as pub lic benefactors, securing patent rights to them with little cost and the slightest pos sible delay. In England and. France the inventors are treated with seYerity, almost ns if they were criminals. Heavy sums in those countries for patents, and the unfortunates who obtain them are nearly driven to desperation by red tape and the delaying operations of the Circumlocu tion Office. Here we encourage, cherish, and reward invention and ingenuity; there •every obstacle is. thrown in their way. A patent can be obtained in the United States for a few dollars, whereas the charge is about $606 in England, with a like pay ment for Scotland, and a third five hun dred dollars for Ireland. It is intended to reform this miserable British system; to simplify the mode of issuing patents; to reduce the time now wasted in the path» of the document through a variety of offices; and to di minish the charge, making it necessary, t6o, to obtain only one patent, instead of Three, for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The American sys tem of patent-granting is to be adopted into British jurisprudence, and every person, will admit that this ought to have been ■done years ago. In one of Dickens’ short stories, which originally was published in Household Word*, and is entitled “ A Poor Man’s Tale of ft Patent,” a lively and faithful account is given of the difficulties now attached to the application for, and obtaining of;; a pa tent An artisan, after having been twenty years, off and on, completing an Invention aid perfecting it, takes a model of it to London, in order to patent it. Fortunately, he possessed some $640, being a legacy which he had received and never broken into. In London, the first step was to prepare a petition to Queen Victoria, at taching to it a declaration before a Master in Chancery, which cost eighteen pence, or thirty-six of our cents. Next, petition and declaration had to be left at the Home Office for the signature of the Home Secre tary, who took six days to write hU name, and 'charged $10.20. Next, the papers had to be taken to the Attorney General’s chambers for a report—and this, after five days’ waiting, cost $20.16. The invention being not only original but unopposed, the Attorney General made’ a “ Report-of course,” which had to be taken to the Home Office, where a copy of, called a Warrant, was made—cost; $36.84. Then, Queen Victoria signed it. The Home Secretary signed it again, fresh fees being paid. Next it was taken to the Patent Office, where the officials made a “draft ofthe Queen’s bill” of'the invention, and a “docket of the bill,” for which $36.53 was charged. For two engrossed copies of the bill, one for the Signet Office and one for the Privy Seal Office, $6 84, and for stamp duty $l4 40. After that, the Queen’s bill signed again by the Attorney General, who charged $25, and a second signature, by Queen Victoria, at $3B 84. The Queen’s bill was taken to the Signet Office, where the Clerk of the Signet made “ a Signet hill for the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal,” and charged $20.48. The Clerk of the Patents got $28.24 for engross ing, and the sum of $l5O was paid for stamp duty. Boxes for the Patent were charged $3. Then there •vere fees all round: $lO,OB to the Lord Chancellor’s' Purse-bearer; $36.72 to the Clerk of the- Harriper; $2.50 to the Deputy Clerk; $7.56 to the Lord Chancellor again; and $2.52 to the Deputy Sealer and Deputy Chaff- Wax. Besides the delay of remaining six weeks in London, while the Patent was thus put through in this roundabout man ner, and the expense of living there, out of work, the whole cost of obtaining this unopposed patent was $462.64, and if it had been also taken ont for Scotland and Ireland, the charges would have exceeded $1,500. From, the drawing up of the inventor’s petition, and taking it to a Master in Chancery, down to handing the fees to “ the Deputy Chaff-wax,” thirty-five stages had to be gone through in six weeks, and money had to be paid at every stage. In fact, if the poor man could have registered an exact description and drawing of his inven tion, and paid half-a-crown for his certifi cate that he had done so, his purpose would have been fully answered—but then the officials would not have received their fees, under shch circumstance^ It is evident, from the statements here made, detailing the cost and circumlocu tion, that there is ample occasion for a wholesome and wholesale change of the system of granting Patent rights in En gland. Here, where the system is infinitely better, the expense small, and the delay slight, our people can scarcely realize the defects of the English practice, which are much the same, with some national va riations, in France. Like Monsieur Jour dam, in Molibre’s comedy, who had spoken prose all Ms life without being aware of the fact, we have been considerably un conscious of the circumstance that oar Patent Law is the best in the world. It is by comparison that the value of a thing is sometimes best ascertained. Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The Building Find of this Society has put forth an appeal to the citizens of Penn sylvania, through Messrs. James Ross Snowden and John Jordan, Jr,, setting forth the necessity for providing a suita ble, fire-proof building, in which its valua ble library, manuscripts,. paintings, en gravings, relics, and antiquities may be deposited and safely preserved, and wherein the members may hoftl their meetings. The necessity for such a place was obvious last Monday evening, when the annual election of officers came off, and the crush was so great that many members, unable to force their- way into the room, were compelled to retire without voting. Considering, too, the insecurity of all property, public or private, in ordi nary buildings, and its frequent destruc tion by fire, it is not' to be tolerated that our Historical Society shall continue to be located in the third story of the Athe nseum Building, in Washington Square. The appeal before us puts the case thus : “ For the want of a fire-proof bonding, the early ar chives oi New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jerßey, North Carolina, and Virginia, have been entirely or partially destroyed by fire. Valua ble papers and documents of the United States Go. Ternment have, on several occasions, been lost from the same cause—namely: In 1800, when the bnlld lngs used by the War Department were destroyed by fire; in 1833, when the Treasury Buildings were consumed; and again, in 1836, when documents and papers of great value, historically as well as in a pecuniary point of view, were lost from the same cause. “In 1814, when the public buildings at Washing ton were burned by the British troops, and a large part of the records of the War, Navy, and treasury Departments were consumed, it is interesting to note that a portion of the valnable papers of the War Department were saved from destruction In consequence of being deposited in rooms in the building which had been rendered lire proof, " The recent conflagration of the Smithsonian In stitution, at Washington, furnishes additional evi dence or the necessity or providing a fireproof build, lug for our Society. The Institution was a reposi tory of works of art and of science, and of objects of natural history. It contained treasures of incalcu lable value ; and j et the main building was so oom bustible and Insecure that it was destroyed by reason of a defective flue.’^ In the event of such accidents, new buildings can be erected, but the loss of valuable property is irreparable. The ac cumulation of years may be destroyed, by the devouring flame, in a few hours, and can never be replaced. In New York, and in. other places, we. believe, the historical collections are deposited in fire-proof build ings, the cost of which was provided for T»y the liberality of the public. Here, it is now asked—nor is the demand too much— that the citizens of Pennsylvania, and es pecially of Philadelphia, shall aid the His torical Society in supplying the means to. erect a handsome and convenient fire-proof building, in a central part of the city, “ for the use of this Society, where its valuable treasures will be secure, where its library and collections may be properly arranged, and where it will have ample room for its stated meetings, and a hall of suitable di mensions where addresses may be made and papers read on historical subjects, which the public generally may he invited to attend.” It is suggested, in order to ease the payments by contributors to this Building Fund, that their subscriptions may be received in four payments—the first to be made as early as convenient, and the three others in yearly instalments. The Committee, whose Appeal has drawn forth this notice, have not suggested where the new building shall be erected, nor upon what scale. An eligible Site can be found on Broad street, or some Other central part of the city, and the building should be on a scale suitable td the greatness of this State, the increasing importance and in telligence of this city, and the growing value of the collection which it is intended to contain and secure. •‘The Press” Relief Fund. The following contributions were received at this office up to So’clook last evening in aid of the suf ferers by|the recent devastating conflagration in the .Second ward: Edwin A. Hendry $2O 00 Matter John Bulks Hendry 5 00 Barrows St McElroy’s school 88 60 m.g... 600 ass so Previously received 5,372 24 T0ta1.... The.Germah Opbba.—This evening we arc to have Beethoven's immortal opera, “ Fldello,” with ah excellent oast. Madame Johannsen is announced to appear at Leonora, Hermans as Sacco, Hlmtner as- FloretUm, and Habelman as Jacqulno. If the music is given as well as the above would indicate, a fine lyrical feast maybe anticipated.. Chbstsut-stbkbt Thbatka—Miss Helen West em continues her highly successful career at this theatre. To-night she will perform In “ Aamodeus” and“ The Greek Corsair.” — General Grant wrlies that “ If General Sher man's success continues a few days longer the country om safely Indulge In exultation.” In a private letter from the Lieutenant General he expressed his opinion that poace is not far distant- Dfflmef OF THE SOUTH. DESPATCH FROM GEN. GILMOBK, IMMENSE AMOUNT OF ARTILLERY CAP TURED IN CHARLESTON. HAfeOIE’B ABMT REPORTED KN BORIS FOB CHAR TWIS, NORTH OABOMNA. Sherman Believed ie Interrupted • tbelr MaMh. t : " HOOD’S ARMY ON ITS WAY 19 BEAUBEIIAKD GEORGETOWN OCCUPIED BY OUR FOEOES IRE CITY COLUMBIA BURNED. AUGUSTA QfAPTUREO BY OUR FORCES, Washington, March I.—The following telegram from General Gilmore has been transmitted to this department. Edwih M, Siaxtos, Secretary of War. HSAXQUABTBBfi D«PABTKSKT Or TAB SOUTH, Ohabluston, S. 0., Foil, te, IBBS. To i&tjor General a. W. Halleck, SKiefof Staff, Workington, D, C. The InspeoUon of the rebel defences of Charleston shows that we have taken over 460 pieces or ord nance, being more than double what I first report ed. The lot ineludes S and 10-inoh Oolumbladi, a great many 32 and 42-ponnder rifles, some f-inoh Hooker’s rifles, and many pieces of foreign,make. We also captured eight locomotives, and a great number of passenger and platform ears, all In good condition. Deserters report that the last of Hardee's army was to have crossed the Santee river yesterday, bound to Charlotte, N. C,and that It was feared that Sherman had already interrupted their maroh. It Is reported on similar authority that'the last of Hood’s aimy, 12,€00 strong, passed through Augusta last Sunday (the 10th), oa its way to join Beaure gard. ‘ Georgetown has been evacuated by the enemy, and is now in our possession. Deserters are coming In constantly. We have over 400 already. ' Q,. A, Gilmo as, Major General. Naw York, Marsh 1 —The steamer Arago brings Savannah advices of the 25th ult. The Herald con tains no military news. The steamer south Carolina is busily cm pi eyedda rescuing cotton from a Wrecked blookade-runner, near Fort Moultrie. The steamer Fox, captured after the evacuation of Charleston, has been sent to Port Royal with her valuable cargo. The Arago reports, when off Charleston harbor, on the 36th, she was informed that Columbia, S. C. t had been burned, and that Augusta, Georgia, had been captured by car forees. A BATTLE BBTWBXH SHEEHAN AHD JOHNSTON EXPECTBB—BUHOKBD JUNCTION OT SOHOFIHLD WITH SHBKMAM —A. P. HILL’S COBP3 GONJt SOUTH. A special despatch from Washington to the New York Ttmct, says: “In anticipation of a battle between Sherman and Johnston, of which we may receive Intelligence at any moment, the War Department haß despatch, ed & well-appointed corps of surgeons and nurses to Wilmington, from whioh point they will be sent for ward to Sherman’e army. They are amply pro vided with hospital stores, and everything neces sary to the oare of the sick and wonnded. (" Thu rumor that Schofield has formed a junction with Sherman is regarded here as altogether proba ble ; but the Government M confident or General Sherman's ability, even without Schofield’s forces, to take oare of himself and manage any foree the rebelß ate able to send against him. Still, as Deo will undoubtedly exhaust every available resource In the effort to check Sherman’s audacious advance, the speedy junction of the two armies Is desirable, as making assurance doubly sure. ‘ “The arrival of deserters from the rebel army con tinues in a steady stream. Many of them, before they leave onr line#, Are Separately examined, and their testimony tor the past tow days Is 10 the effect that A. P. HtlVs corps tuts left for the Smith to aid in resitting Sherman, If this should prove true, It Is deemed absolutely necessary that Dee must shorten his lines, which necessity is the only ground for the rumored evacuation of Petersburg-” SUPPRESSION OP MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, Johnston in Command against Sherman, GENERAL THOMAS' FORCES PREPARING TO MARCH. The City of Columbia Fired by the Rebels—Pro perty Protested by Sherman. THE BBBEU IOOKIKG FOB AX ATTACK OX THE GRANT MASSING TROOPS SOUTHWEST OF PETERSBURG. The Richmond Examiner on the Evacuation of The *■ Congressmen ” Taking Flight. PBKPABATIOWg TO HAKE BBAHVORT A OUNSBAL Fortxxss Mormon, Feb, %—The steamship Ariel arrived here this aftenoon from Beaufort, N. 0., but brings no news of importance. Extensive preparations were being made at Beaufort for the purpose of making* the general depot of supplies for onr armies operating in the State of North Caro lina, and with a view to the rapid movements of Sherman’s army. The bad weather still continuer. The wind is from the northeast, and there are occa sional showers of rain.. Wasbixotojt, March I.—Wc have received the Blchmond papers of Monday, the 27th nit. The examiner t ays: “In the abtenee of offlijjal information of military aflairs in the Carolines, we take nothing from other sources of intelligence, and omit the usual reference to our file of Southern exchanges. “We do to at the request of the authorities, and with the understanding that other city journals have been put under obligations of re license to the extent Indicated above. The public will, no doubt, be properly patient in this interval of SUence, and not take It as discouraging, for wo are assured that there are good reasons for it, which look to an early Official announcement of favorable results. “ Brigadier Generals Crookand Keiley, of the Uni ted States -army, whose oaptnre was notloed In this column on Saturday, arrived in the oley on that day, and were furnished with apartments at the Libby: “Mr. Bussell, member of Congress from the Wheeling district, visited General Kelley yester day.” The Kiehmond Dispatch says: “Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,on Thursday even ing last,assumed commando! the army In Sher man’s front, lately commanded by General Beau regard.” The Blchmond Whig aaja: “We are Indebted to the enterprise of the South ern Express Company for Augusta papers to the 20th Inst, No important military movements are reported. Cspt. Dickenson captured several officers and a considerable number of enlisted men during the recent Yankee raid Into Florida. “General N. B. Forrest has been placed In com mand of all tbe cavalry In tbe districts of Missis sippi, East Louisians, and West Tennessee. Hla first general order promises a reorganization of the eavalry, with the restoration of discipline. He threatens to exterminate all Confederate stragglers, robbers, and deserters. 11 General Thomas’troops are being mounted for a supposed march through Alabama. “Baldshave been made from Hernando, Missis sippi, towards Senatobla. Many oomplalnts of General Kirby Smith are made in the west “General Wofford Is in command at Atlanta. The reorganization In Georgia has already com menced. . < “ Reinforcements from Northern Mississippi have been seat to General Grant. Large bodies of troops are'moving in the West, and important movements are reported. “ The Legislature of Mississippi is about to con vene in extra session, it is said for the 'purpose of calling a State Convention. “ The Georgia Legislature convened on the 18th Instant at Maoon. “ Obablottb, N. 0., Feb. 24.—There is no alarm here. The enemy are reported to be moving In the direction of . During the retreat from Colum bia, a train of cars filled with ladles broke down, exposing them to the danger of capture by the Yankees. ‘■From tbe best information received here It ap pears probable that a considerable conflagration occurred ln-the western portion of Columbia, occa sioned, it is supposed, by cotton ignited in the streets. It is reported that the fire extended from Main street to Charlotte depot, nearly three-fourths of a mile. The Information is positive as to the oip eurrenoe or the fire, bat doubt Is entertained as to its magnitude. “The news from Columbia corroborates the kind treatment of the inhabitants. Tne Ursuline Con vent waß protected by a guard. No public property was allowed to be burned in the city. " Sherman’s headquarters were at Nickerson’s Hotel. The alarm In Charlotte has subsided. The weather is bad, and ihe--foad« heavy, Interfering with rapid military movements. “ Some of the refugees lrom Charlotte are pre paring to return. “ Charlotte, Feb. 26.—There II no additional news from the front. It Is supposed still that the enemy are making their way to——.” The Dispatch, of February 27th (Monday), pub lishes the following: “Grant has again been massing his troops on Hatoter’a Bnn, on our extreme right, ten miles southwest of Petersburg, and it is thought that an other attempt by his columns to gain the Southslde Railroad was prevented by the rain or Saturday. We think there can belittle doubt that he will make this attempt as soon as tbe state of the roads will permit. In their present state the movement of ar tillery is ont of the question. . “ Grantdias enough of the gambler In Ms charac ter, lor the oleastroua failure of Ms last advance to wards the railroad seems to make him but more Im patient to renew theattaok. At present the extreme left, whieh may be properly considered the advance of the Yankee army, occupies a position on the left or north side of Hatcher’s Bus, between nine and ten mites southwest of Petersburg, and about five miles In a direot line from the Soatbalde Railroad. “ The usual number of Sunday rumors were In circulation yesterday, the most agreeable of which, we regret to sav, were not tbe most authentic—that Sherman had bsen hilled and his army routed and driven into tbe jungles of South Carolina.” 55,430 74 A Renai. Opinion ab to thb Evvbot o» ths Oavtur* or EIOHM.OSD.— Thd Blchmond exami ner of the arth ult., In an editorial speaking of the message of Jeff Davis, recently addressed to his.rebel Congress, in which he said, “if the cam- THE PRESS.—PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 2. 1865. 4DFFIOIAL GAZETTE. SHESMLX. THE SOUTH, 801’THBIDE BAILBOAB. the Robe! Capital. ABUT SUPPLY DBPOT. pfctgb ftg&iDßt Richmond had roanltau In Btt«C9SB lfj- ; eteAdbf failure, aod ir we had b»e» eompaHafl to evacuate Hiohmocd, as well as'Attest*, tha Ooa* federacy would have remained as defiant t^rtr, 1 ’ taym “ li«t not thfg fatal error htt barWofM. Tbftervs*r;» ttonoißiobmoDd would bethelaeaiofailreapeotasii authority towards too Uoniederato me disintegration of the army and the abandonment of the scheme of an independent Southern Of>afed®- racy. The withdrawal of th* anrnv woeM eo narrow the area of eossoriptSon at greitly to reduce our military strength. 11 &b the army would uwitiiiie In numbers It would mwe rapidly w*et»arri, and before reaching tbs Mississippi would have degenerated Into a mere body-guard of a few officials.. From the hear of giving op the seat of Government our cause wonld sink Into a more lebeMum In the egtimatloa of foralgn Powers, who would cease to accord as the rights of belligerents, whilst every enemy would be free to treat our (fficera and soldiers as traitors and criminals, so that every rebel would fight tboooe forwaid with a halter about his nook.** ' The Enquirer of the same date, speaking of the rebellions chiefs Seeing from the oapltai on the ap proach of Sherman's army, says: “ During the last tons week's wild apprehensions of danger have disturbed the minds of the timid. The enemy has lately thrown his forces across the linear easy Congressional retreat to the west and south, sad since that time Senators and Repre atntßtlvee have one by one fled the oapltai, la wing a skeleton legislature, rapidly diminishing to a number below a quorum. “Itla true the president must stand Arm, and grow.fltmer ss the danger thicken*'; and R Is true that the saered army most bare their hearts to the storm with more heroic courage as the columns or the en*my converse and threaten the liberty and existence of the country, “Should the-President waver and Imitate Con gressional examples, tbera will be no difficulty in finding Instances In history to illustrate hi* dis grace.” MEXICO AND CALIFORNIA. SMATUS ESHBELT BLOCKADED. THE, FEENOH BURNING- VILLAGES AND KILLING GUERILLAS. San Francisco to Celebrate the Fourth of March, Saw Fbasoisco, Feb. 28.—The steamship John L. Stephens, from Masatlan, brioga 175,000 in trea sure and a quantity of silver ore. Mssatlan la entirely blockaded, and no one earn go to the interior except at the risk of life. Trade Is at a stand still. The Mexican guerillas are very bold, and the French shoot on the spot all they can patch. The French burned eight'villages because the people had not given notice of tho approach of guerillas. A French, officer, who brought la twenty four guerillas, waa severely reprimanded for not shooting them at the time. . The war news from the interior and !sw c Sailing off the Earopa.- Bobton, March I.— The Earopa sailed to day for Halifax and Liverpool, but took no apt&in. , WASHINGTON. Washihgtoh, M»roh 1, 1865. CSp«i»l Deep&tchw to The Free*,] THE THICKENING PLOT. We have all, ana with reason, congratulated our. selres upon the recent successes of our cause In the capture of the three great Atlantic seaports of the Confederacy. They have given us prestige, have assisted the Treasury In negotiating loans, and hare stimulated recruiting. Thoughtful men, however, most look upon these captures, valuable as they are> slmply as Incidents portending a crisis in the vast campaign which was initiated hy Lieutenant Gene ral Gbamt as soon as Hood’s fatal blunder In moving westward was developed. This profound, strategic soheme, having for ltß objeot the destruc tion of the rebel armies yet In the field, re quires for its BucoessTnl execution military genius of the highest oroor, There Is no doubt that alp possible efforts have been-made hy tho rebel leaders to retrieve Hood’s error,'and that every Available man has been withdrawn from the-Southwest, as well as from the Atlantic seaboard,* to be plaecd between Sbbbwam and Richmond. -The bulk of the Army of the Tennessee, joined tp the garrisons : of Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington, and other less important posts, mmt still constitute a formi dable force. This will probably be united in gome central position to North Carolina, perhaps near: Balelgh, whence It can operate against Snaaxjur, or, If not sufficiently strong to attack Sim oan fall upon SOHoniBDD or Fostsb, should they move from,' Wilmington and Newborn,respectively,upon Golds boro; or even join Ire* at Richmond in the hope of stilklng a desperate blow at Guawt. Should T,sx evacuate Blohmond, or* suooossfully detach a portion ofhls army to reinroroe Bkattux 6AED, the situation to North 'Carolina would be dome critical, if not dangerous. Gkant, to pre vent the withdrawal of lam's* forces from his front, has been compelled to extend his lines to extreme tenuity. He holds a zigzag front between thirty and forty miles long, stretching from Hatoher’s Bnn to the north Bide of the James—a distance whloh it would reqnlre about sixty thou sand men to cover with a strong skirmish line. Throughout almost this entire distance the two armies are but a rifleshot apart. Such a situation has few parallels to the history of war. Tim po sltlon is defended by forts wUhln .easy canister range of eaeh other, connected bj ourtalns or breast work, and the approaches rendered difficult by abatus. Yet however strong it may be; It is an-, extremely delicate question to determine hew long a fortified lino an army oan safely hold. Gbakt knows, however, very neatly the numbers and com position of the armies opposing him. .From the re ports of prisoners and deserters, which are care fully collated and compared with the Information obtained through the secret service bureau, a very close calculation Is made of the enemy’s strength. It will he seen that the situation Jshesomiog one of absorbing interest. The operations of the next few days are likely to culminate in events of start ling importance. Meanwhile, the utter alienee of the Bichmond papers envelopes the manoeuvres of SHsnKAw and Bbaukxoabd In Impenetrable mys tery. In the desperate struggle which impends we can hardly hope for uninterrupted luoooss; yet, confiding in the tried skill of our chief! and the un- Sagging courage of our herole soldiers, I have great faith that when the veil shall be lifted it will show that another crushing blow has been dealt the ornmhltog Confederacy, ' ■ [By Associated Press. ] v PRESIDENT LINCOLN NOTIFIED .OF HIS RE-* ELECTION BY THE SELECT -COMMITTEE FROM CONGRESS —REPLY OF THE FBESI DENT. Senator Tbuhbuix, and Representatives Win eon and Davis, aa the select committee of the two Honses of Congress, to-day waited upon President LißConu and Informed him of his re-election. To this he responded as follows: » Having served four years In the depth of a great and yet attended national peril, I can view this call to a second term to no wise more flattering to my self than as an expression or (the- public judg ment that I may hotter finish a difficult work, in whioh I have labored from tee first, Uian wouldaoj one less severely aohooled to tee task. In this view, and with assured reliance on teat Almighty Ruler who lies so graciously sustained ua thus far, and with increased gratitude to the generous people for their continued confidence, I accept the .renewed trust, with Its yet onerous and perplexing duties and responsibilities.” THE TICE PRESIDENT ELECT- No response has yet been received Horn the Vice President elect, who only arrived here this evening, from the West. - ' THE ENLISTMENT OF REBEL PRISONERS — COMMUNICATION FROM Tteß SECRETARY OF WAR. The Secretary of War to day sent to the House a communication from Provost Marshal Goneral F av, In reply to a resolution asking for Information la relation to the enlistment of rebel prisoners of war. The latter Bays tee 3d Maryland Cavalry regiment, raised under authority of the War Department, had enlisted for it at Fort Delaware four hundred and sixty-one rebel prisoners. These were eredltedto tee State of Maryland. The let Connecticut Caval ry bad enlisted for it at Fort Delaware, and bred - lted to the State of Delaware, to May, isss, eighty two rebel prisoners. All the enlistments of said persona were stopped by a telegram from the Secretary of War, dated August, 1868, but Subsequent authority was issued by the Secretary of War to enlist one hundred and twenty rebelprisonew for ttuCSd Maryland Qavalry. The foregoing men have been p»M the United States bounty. Immediately on the completion of the ltd Maryland Cavalry It was sent to New Or leans, and bas since been serving la the Department ofthe Sooth. There have been enlisted at Point Lookout tor the Ist United States Volunteer* eleven hundred and five rebel prisoners, and for tbe 3d United States Volunteers three hundred and seven ty, nine. There enlistments were made under tbe direoUcn of the President. Keoruitment for tbe second regiment was stopped by order of the Secretary of War In September last. The rebels enlisted at Point Lookout were never credited to any State credits, and payments of boun ties to them were forbidden by the order of the War Department. By dfreotlon of General SniST they were sent to the Department of the Northwest, and have elnoe been serving there. Under special instructions of tbe President, seventeen hun dred and fifty men, held as rebel prisoners of war, a? Book Island, Illinois, were, daring Sep. tember and October, 1864, mustered into the mili tary service, aud credited to Pennsylvania, with the exception of twelve oredited to Ohio. These had been paid no bounty by tbe United States, but were paid the local bounties by the places to which they were credited. They were kept under guard, as other recruits are, uutll organised and sent to the field. On Major General Porn's application they were ordered tc the Department of Missouri for ser vice In the West. No other rebel prisoners than those herein stated are known to hare been enlisted in the service. INVESTIGATION OP FRAUDS ON THE NAVT DEPARTMENT STATEMENT OF BEOBB- TABS WELLES. The Secretary of the Navy, In response to a Se nate resolution, submitted by Mr. Hat,*, says the Department has been steadily assailed for abuses which It could not wholly prevent, and that Impli cated parties have frequently been the most bois terous In complaint. Be states that Investigations have eventuated In the deteotion of extensive frauds perpetrated by oertalu contractors, and that In some Instances office re and employees of the Go vernment have been Implicated. There being no law officer attached to the Department, special ocussel was employed. Colonel 1.. o. Be hub, and subsequently Oolenel H. S. Oloott, conducted these Investigations, which embraced Inquiries Into abuse and mal practice connected wiih purchases for the Brook lyn, Charlestown, Portsmouth, Philadelphia, and Washington navy yards. Provost marshals, police officers, and, other agents, have been employed. Messrs. Fsmiix Smith and his brother. Boko. G. Smith, both contractors, were summoned before a committee of inquiry as witnesses, and afterward arrested for fraudulent praotiaes. They were ar raigned before a court martial in September last, found guilty in January, and sentenced to fine and imprisonment. The testimony in the case covered 2,500 pages of manuscript, which was printed and largely circula ted, and five hundred copies were ordered by the Department that the Government might not be pre judiced by published ex parte statements, persistent ly, maUoloufly,acd Ignorantly made, believing that the publication of the argument on one side justi fied and rendered necessary the publication of the argument on the other. These copies were distri buted to members of Congress and others, and were furnished with the argument for the defence. The expense was (800. The Secretary denies that be has given instructions to employees to Inquire Into the business transactions of auy' member of either house of Congress. The expenses of these examinations as the navy yards were $14,191. Restitution to the amount of $47,661 has been made by persons ar rested In consequence of these inquiries, who have con ft seed their guilt. Parties have also been fined to the amount of $75,000. The Secretary concludes with an emphatic en dorsement of Assistant. Secretary Fox. Mr. Halb entered a motion to reconsider the order to lie on the table and be printed, on the ground that the report of the Seoretary 1s not re sponsive to the resolution. A communication from Assistant Seoretary Fox to Secretary Wxnnas Is also presented, which em bodies a personal defenoe against sundry charges and allegations, and gives the history of his at tempt to garrison and provision Fort Sumpter la 1861, with official orders In the case, THE PETERSBURG MINE FAILUBE—THE FINDING OF THE COUBT OF INQUIRY. Th» President sent to the Sonata to-day a mes sage enclosing the opinion and finding of the court of Inquiry Instituted by Mm In the case of the Fetersfanrg mine. The opinion Is signed by Major General W. S. Hancock, president of the court. After narrating the circumstances of the assault, the failure is asoribed to the following named officers: First. General Burnside, in not obeying the or ders of the commanding general In the formation of the assaulting column, in not preparing his parapet and a battle lor the passage ot his troops, and lu not employing engineer officers to lead the columns with the wcrktng parties—jet the court is satisfied that General Burnside belioved the measures taken by him would ensure success. Second. Brigadier General Ledlie. In falling to push lorward his troops promptly and in blocking up the avenue designed lor the passage of the Hoops ordered to follow, he being most of the time jfi a bomb-proof tea rods in rear of tbe main Hoe, where tho inovvtiiOht could not be witnessed. third. Brigadier General Ferraro, for want of readiness for tbe assault, not golog with his troops, but. remaining in a bomb proof. EF Fourth. Col, Z B. Bliss, of the 7th Rhode Island, commanding a brigade, in remaining behiud with one regiment in a position where he could not see what was going on. Fifth. Brigadier Gen. Wilcox, in lack of energy In carrying out Gen. Burnside’s order to push Ms troops forward to Cemetery HUL > The court concludes the opinion as follows: “without intending to convoy the Impression that there was Any disinclination on the part of the com manders of tho supports to heartily co-operate lu the attack on the Both of July, the court martial express their opinion that explicit orders should have been given, assigning one officer to the com mand of all the troops Intended to engage In the as sault, when the commanding general was not pre sent In person to witness the operations.” IMPROPER TRADING WITH INSURBECTION ABY STATES —REPEAL OF THE LAW UNDER WHICH IT IS CARRIED ON. The report made by Mr. Washbusite, of-lUl nols, from the Committee on Commerce, to-day, says teat trade has been oarried on with the in surrectionary states without tee' sanction of law, resulting in no benefit to the Government, hut In flicting injury and fostering a spirit of speculation and a disgraceful scramble for wealth. Besides, it has tended to demoralization, and led to a prolonga tion of tee war at the expense of tee public treasure. The testimony shows that trade agents or specula tors send to tee rebels through tee linos at New Orleans, Norfolk, Memphis, and other places, sup plies to ail amount surpassing belief. Negotiations are entered Into and correspondence carried on by them with rebel agents for provisions and other necessary articles and supplies, to return for cotton. The committee say that oontraets have been made through agents for a supply of not less than two million bales of cotton with sixty-one persons. No particular proof had been required to show teat tee agentß were loyal and acting to good faith, and to order to conduct speculation It appears teat the President’s Orders have been changed without his oonsent. The committee say it was sever contemplated that such vast transactions should be entrusted to such a small Mass of persons. Bolides, persons who pretended to control tee sale and purchase of cot ton obtained permits merely to enable them to In dulge to disloyal and disgraeefol speculation. They repeat, the result has been to prolong the war, by furnishing the rebels with tee supplies they most need, and quote from letters of Gens. Oakbt and Gordon, and others, to show the enormity of the unlawful and Injurious traffic now oarried on. The House hBB repealed the section of the act or Congress authorising the reappointment of treasury agents to purohase products of insurrectionary States. ENCOURAGING PROGRESS OF YOLUNTEEEING. The following important and enoonraglng inform ation has been obtained from an authentic source: On tee 27th of February, 1865, 5,655 men enlisted Into the service of the United States. The average number of men mußteted daily for tee las t three days of February was 3,436. The average number of men muttered for the last ten days of that monte was 3,296. If recruiting be kept up tee army will speedily be reinforced to the extent necessary to end the war. BILLS APPEOYED BY THE PRESIDENT. The President has approved tee fortlfloatlonAHl, the appropriations to which were out dawn just one half tee amount as originally reported, and has also approved tee bill providing that no part of any ship or,vessel shall he admeasured or registered for ton nage that is used for cabins or state rooms, and con structed entirely above the first deok, which is not a deck to the hull. BENATS CONFIRMATION*. The Senate has oonfirmedthe nominations or S. L. Bbaytok to be postmaster At Fort Royal, S. 0., and John M. EosnaKr to be melter and leaner of the branoh mint to California. PASSAGE OF THE NEYT LOAN BILL. The Senate having passed tee 3600,000,000 loan bill precisely as it oame from tee House, and as pub lished in this morning’s papere, it requires only the President’s signature to become a law. imilllii CONGRESS—Second Session. SENATE. CHIBS' OF STAFF TO THH LEKUTHNAWT 6FFBBAL, Mr. VWILSOF, or Massachusetts, from the Military Committee, reported a bill to give the Chief of Staff of the Litut*D? at General the rack and pay of brigadier general* -which waspaesdd. ABUT BI6IBTBB. A bill to provide for the publication r.f a foil army register of the volunteer and regular ofleer* now ana heretofore in the service wm pasted. SMITHSONIAN BBFOBT. Mr. ANTHOKY, of Bhode Island, presented a resolu tion for the printing of five thousand conies ot the last annual Smithsonian Institute report * which was passed. JttjaTSBlHS OUT. Hr. WILSOH, from the Military Committee reported adversely on the House bill to muster out of the service soldiers who enlisted for unexplxed terms of regiments. The report was received. PACIFIC BAILBOAD. A bill in relation to the Pacific Bailroa£*was then taken no- It provides as follows: That section 2of the act of July 2, j£64, be so modified and emended as to allow the Central Pacific Bailroad Company and the Wet-tern Pacific k&ilroad Company of California, the Union Pacific Batlrosd Company and all other com panies provided for In Mid mi, to Lbu® their six per cent, thirty-year bonds, interest payable in any lawful roomy of the untied States, upon their separate road*; and the raid companies are hereby authorized to lesne. respectively, toeir bonds to the extent of,one hundred mute tn advance of a continuous completed Use from Sacramento. t’F.c 2. That the aßtignmentmadeby the Central Paci fic Ha!) road Company of California to the WestensPac ifie hsilroad Company of said State of the right to construct all that portion of said railroad and telegraph from San Jo»e to the city of 8a cr am en to, te here by ratified and con* firmed to the said Western Pacific Kavlrdad* Company, with all the privileges and fcet-efi'sof the several arts of Congress relating thereto anffsatjeot to all ihe conditions thereof. Provided, That the time within which the Ba d Western Pacific B&Uroad Company she! be re quired to construct the first twenty miles of their said rObd tfc&n be one year from the first d&v of July, 1835* end thst the entire road, shall be completed from nan Jose to taerameiiio, cocn'cting at the latfctr point with tie said central Pacific E&iirosd, within four year* thereaf‘«r Mr. BsBLAN moved to strike out the second region, which motion was disagreed to—jeasfi, nays 38. The bill was passed. LOAN BILL. Mr. BHBB MAH introduced the SSOOJDCO.OOO kan bill of the Bouse without amendment, and asked for; its lm* iufdlatt; ci arid-ration - , Mtekre. Jt HRiOB v &tid TgMBV&L WSNoff ooiilos list tie pwtfiion of ihe bill to attihatfs* thetesoeof loiemwy arise treasury note*would swell the volume 'tftbacum&eyjattas.inachiigffrtesbacks* i. Mr,TRUMBULL moved toftriheoutth* treucnry note* the#nUteammnt of Hi* raJlltoa«itMßOebleiobo»CS. , w*«ark* Mr. t*pU!»*d, in r.elr ‘® «“• s*®* r " fioiu Mr. TroHitmilT‘>ei the O-v-ra™ In* tiut.ad 01 locr.iwiD* tbe atnoont *f l«£*i "Vf notes, ft w*« wftbdrawing th* legal-tcmdew * ft ® w sufbencn lets tendert )ns*elret«ad. Mr TrnmbnUV amendment wee ant adopted. Mr. BKRDKICKB mow*d to em’&c by strtiin« oat tbe provision e*eoipt'Bg All bands and °y l * r '!*£ lions issued ondwr tfci* act from waw ttx»tiop| «Hch wsa.dtMV'Atd to. Tht ijillffMtWfl puced as it came from ih«* ar»orsu.no» box. Mr, CLARK, from t -# coma it tee * f coufereuee o* the l«idslßtiTe approprtutH'ii bill, reported thwt toe ooniiait ite o f tte Senate wd Boom bad'pot been able to agree f ud Mr. Clark explained that tte eaase of disagreement was tluofd qutrrel for additional tooipeuaatlon to the employees ot'he Hou*«. M.. $» REMITS offered an amendment, that the Senate a«r*e tv the appropriation of- forty-throe thousand dollars for the purpose of paying each coatlngeiiMx* pc ntea as may b+ directed by reeojtuinn of th« Hou»*. Mr BTKKALBW offered an amendment to Mr #a rmkl) *s p oporiclon providing for an increase of the aa* iuritsofcmpYyetfeof both Hon*** . - Mr. FOSTERmaintained that the addition of S&OOO to the ccfct'ngent fund of the Bouse could not be appro priated to the payment of an increase of salaries* which -ewe*- contran to Ur. Mr. BALE insisted that the money would be used for tb*t porpnee. Mr, bEdMirH raid it urns the uuder«Undlni In the conference committee that »he moaey would be used to pHV tie iwetty per cent extra to its salaries. Mr. MO&JfULb sold the House admitted the extra comp* nee lion to be illegal, yet they Insisted on it. or It would defeat the legislative appropriation and defi ciency Wlia. Be crou d vote for it under duress. Mr. WILSON said the House 01 Representatives* in violatk s oi law. bad voted &o Increase of salary to its employees Thabenate bed refused to acquiesce. The Bouse then, by a «mal majority, composed in great pert of men who were continually arraigning the Ad u>*Btetratton for its zecfeiess sxp«o ordered Be said that instead of being & reply to bia resolution, it was fimply an ego tteiicai amobiogiaphy of the Assistant Secretary of the Bftty. INDIAN APPBOPBIATIGN BILE,. The Indian appropriation bill was then taken up at lent th an« parsed. One amendment authorizes Indians who have :or fife years adopted the habits of civilised 11/e, aod can speak and read English, and are well dis- the Government of the Baited States, to bec< me citizens and settle on the-public domain under the homestead law. *- * At half pa*t four the Senate adjourned to meat at seven P. M. BVBNISG SESSION. AWXHDATOBY EHBOLMBKT BILL. Mr. WILSON, from the Oommiltee nu Military Af fairs, reported the Bonee bill amendatory of the enrol ment act, with amend menu striking oat sections two, live, seven, and eight. Section 2d requires the Sears ts»y of W&r to master out of service no a- co tamlsalonad office] s and privates whoee regiment* have been mus tered out, and who were enlisted to fill up an notes pxrta teimof service. Tbe 6th section allows provost marshals tbe commutation, for fuel and quarters of certains of cavalry. - Tne stventb section authorizes the appointment ef an ABftihtsirt Provost Marel aL Tb-eithth section makes It nnlawfal f.*r an indivi dual or partnership to engage in substitute brokerage without ike written mm it of the Secretary* of War. ADVABOB TO AW AVAL OOHTBA.OTOR, The Hens* joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of tbe Navy to advance to Paul Forbes, naval contrac tor, s26o,Gluon his contract for building a screw sloop of war, was passed. NAVAL JUDGE ADVOCATE. A bill tolest&blish the office of Naval Judge Advocate, at a salary of $3 sGop*r annum, was passed. THB PSTJSRSBTJjBG MINE. The report of tbe committee appointed to investigate the circumstances of the explosion of the Petersburg mine was received and ordered to be laid on the table THE TAX BILL, Mr SB ERMA If called up the tax bill The pending question was on stilting out the section of tlx* Ho ate biil to tax the issues or estate banks. ■ The Senate refustd to strike out the toettog by the following Tote: * TEAS. Foster, Harris, Henderson, Hendricks, Hive, Johmoa, KcDougaU, Anthony, Baefcalew* Colla&er, Da-vis, Dixon, Doolittle* Foot, • NAYS. Lane (Kansas), Morgan, Moniil, Hy*, Pomeroy, Bamcay, Sherman, Brown* Chandler, GJsi-k, Conneas, Far veil* Grimts, Harlan, Howard. The Finance amendroect: •‘And wbesever the outstandingcirculation of any back, association, corporation,. company, or parson shatl be rtduted to an amount rot exceeding five per centum or the charts) ed or declared capital, said circu lation sbaii be free from taxation, aid whenever any Stste bank or banking association has bees converted into a Nationalbanking association, and snob National banking astodation baa assumed the liabilities of such State bank or banking awrochtion, including the re demption of its blllß, such National banking associa tion cball bo bold fo make the required retumand pay ment on the circulation outstanding, so long as such circulation shaili'itteed Uveiter centum of the capital, before Mich conversion of such btate bank or banking ’* . Hr LAPS, of Indiana, moved to strike onl “Spar cent. *’ in the. two places it occurs in the above, and insert ‘* 10 per cent ? ’ Agreed to, and the amendment was then adopted:^ Hr. GBIMAb, Of lowa, moved to strike out "one half oftone per emit, tsxon salts, ** and insert k sbne fourth of one per cent. ” Ktgativtd', by tne follQiringv’ote : ' ' tbls. ! Johnson, Lane (Indiana), [Morgan, iPowtll, | Biddle, immittee proposed the following Collamer. Covu, EKVfcb Orijnpß, Batlaa, Bexdrlelu, SAYS. Tarweii, Foifer, BerrieV Henderson, Howard, Lane (Kansas), 1 Morrill, Bye, \ Anthony, Brown,:.! nncfc&lew. Chandler, Clark, Couuefli, Dixon- Doolittle, The question on the adoption of the section imposing a tax of % per cent, on sales was then taken—jea* 20, nay* 20 The Chair voted affirmatively, so the section was adopted. 1 he Finance Committee’s amendment for the appoint* roast of a et-mmission of three to inquire and report upon the subjeciof taxation was adopted. An sneedment was adopted repealing the fishing bounties from and after the abrogation of the recipro city treaty. Yeas 17. nays 18. The Senate at 1 A. M. adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AMFNPIUSFTB TO TELE TASIPP, _ The House, in Committee of the Whole, resumed the ‘consideration of the bill amendatory of the laws im posing onties upon foreign importations Mr. GBISWoLD, of ew York, advocated protection te iron interests. Mr. BBuCKS, of Hew York, contended the iron In teies* was the most prosperous In toe country, and earnestly,opposed the imposition of additional duties. Mr. bTfcYJsNS said this was not the position of Mr. Brooks years ago, as a Whig, when he stood by C ay to protect American industry atainst the pauper labor .of Europe. The iron interest in this country had not p&io three per centum on its capital. 3he Bouse disagreed to the motion to strike out the clause lm poring fifteen cents per hundred pounds on lion bars for railroads or inclined planes. The clause which, in effect, prohibits the introduc tion of lead as statuary being under consideration, Mr. KKBBAH, of Mew York, asked Mr. Morrill why this prohibition. HMr. MOhBILL replied, Because lead is imported as statues and tt&tnary Mr. HXBJi AS, as statnes of Liberty, or of blocks for statues of Liberty? Mr. MOBBJLL, And as Washington, Jefferson, etc. . Mr. KBKBaH. Where is this done? Mr. MtiRJKILL. In New York Mr BLDhIDGB. of HewYcric. Who doss it? Mr. kTkVBBS, rising but hesitating to answer, amid crits of * Let us hear, let us know,” said. Well, it is tkc house of helps, Dodge, & Company. Mr. CuX moved to change the tax from specific to ad valorem c uty on ’ea and ouffee, and said this bill ■ pti tended to be fi r revenue, but it war for protection- it was prohibitory. It should be called a bill to prevent revtnue and help class interests The object of the rail read iron increase was to prohibit importation and pre vent revenue. His amendment on tea and coffee pro pose* not to reduce revenue, but to equalize the tax. The amendment was rejected Mr. DAYlfi, of Maryland, offered a new section to re* JLve the arms seized in ban Francisco, August last, and permit their exportation- Also, punishing collectors whv, owing to any military order, shall decline to giant clearances to vessels for exportation of arms, guano, or other merchandise to ports not declared closed by law. Ac. The above was ruled out of order. . The committee rose and i sported the bill,with amen d aents, to t he Bouse. Mr. COX moved they be laid on the table, whisk was decided in the nesative—y eas 43, nays 85. . The bill as amended was parsed, it provides that, from and after the day when this act takes effect, in addition to the present duties,there shall be paid On brandy, rum, gin, and and on cordials, liquors, arrack, absycfcfce,-'&nd all other spirituous li quors and spirituous beverages, fifty cents per gallon of first prooi and leas strength, and shall belnexeaVsd in proportion for any greater stresgth than that of first proof. On spun silk, for filling in skins or caps, ten per cent, ad valorem. Op iron bars for railroads or inclined planes, fifteen cents per oae hundred pounds , From and after the passage of this aet the following, duties ate to ba paid in lieu ot others: Cotton, five cents per pound. JUumin&ting oil and naphtha, benzine and benzole, refined or produced from the dUtiUatien of ooal.asphaL turn, shaie. petroleum, or rock oil, or other bituminous sut stances used for like purposes, forty cents per gallon. Cindepetrolenm, twenty cents, and on crude coal oil fifteen cents per gab on. Beady-made clothing of silk, or-of which silk shall be a component material of chief value, sixty per coal ad valorem. Quicksilver, fifteen per cent, ad valorem. On icbacco dims, fifteen cents per ponad. .section 15 of the act of July 14,1862, is amended so as to impose a tax or tonnage duty of thirty cents per ton instc ad of ten per cent, on the-reeeipts of vessels paying' tonnage duties under this act and not subject to tonnage duty under the act of June 30,1864. The term statuary ia iat to be understood to include professional productions of a statue or of sculpinroouly In all cases where there is imposed an ad valorem duty on foreign goods, and where it Is directed to- be estimated on the vaine-of the square yard, or of any specified quantity, or parcel of goods, the foreign valua tion is to be ssceriained, and if the appraised valua tion here shall exceed, by ten per coat or more the value declaiid on the entry then In. addition to- the duties imposed by law there shall be paid twenty per cent, sd valorem, provided toe duty shall not oeas i essed upon an amount less than the invoice or entry value. fomuch ofihe aet to authorize protection tabs given to citizens of the United States who may discover de posits of guano as prohibits the exportation thereof Is rtpealed, • The act regulating tonnage duties, passed In 1789, Is revived so as to require branding of casks,, etc., of distilled spirits. This act to take effect oa and after April Ist, 1866. A BILL 4BSPBALBD* Mr. WASHBUSHE, of Illinois, made a report show lcgbbe frauds and disloyal practices under the eectUm of the act snthorizittt the appointment of treasury *g*nta to bpy the products of infcurreccionary States, and zeporteda bill to repeal it* which was passe A FBAUBfie He also reported a joint resolution, which was agreed to, continuing the joint Committee on Commerce to in vestigate frauds in connection with, the above subject dating the recess of Congress. : CIVIL ASFBOPBEATIOV MT.T-. The House proceeded to the consideration of the civil appropriation bilL It mhkes appropiiations for ths sui vey of the coast, the light house establishment: patent office, botanical garden, surveying the teubUe lands, snd for many zniaceiHneous items puduc EVBMINff SESSION. COMIUTTBB OS THX OOBDCOT OX TUB WAS. tand te«Ek>nse l o, *;fre«>lnm^nof Mr,Mo«UP«ufOhio, thehtilwaslaid igitl'wjnk ■ - x__ i_ri-.ni A« mMVftKIOB OfltmiTfß W BSTOBV 01- BU*. \ Ut. KMWOKjbf «i fe**w» ao»aritlM «ft g® whUa A* Be«*t« had jodiclal approprlatiojiJSJJt. MIL * clanm la BdM the deflot«D«T s^^ fll Jt( o]l «? the ao*Btwd the d»*»fWßl3#* *![« ififiit Bt oieme appropriating*«|“ to 3Vk?HMM. testa* a* may b« di*«dt*a by readatioa or w* “ tf Ik® report vu eomettrred in, ABUT APPBOiraiATIOW f Mr. STEVES 8. from the « vßmttted of eoafcrtiwrott ht for middling; other ciaselflcations are not quoted. Stock in port, 557-COO bales, including 45,t00 American. Breadstuff* quiet. Wheat firmer. Provisions steady. Lard easier loXDox, I’ob. 17.—Consols cloud at 89X- The bullion In the Bank of England shows an increase „f £ll,OOO Illinois Central shares, ■- Erie, 311^@32>f. [From the London Times, 1 It la only by alow degrees that we arc beginning to understand the poxer of the storm whteh swept over the Bay of Bengal on the Ist of November,' The moat imaginative ef men baa a difficulty ta ao ceptlng an experlenoe different Horn his own, and, just as the King of Siam disbelieved In loe, si are -Europeans incredulous about the natural pheno mena ol the East, After the first shook we rapidly persuaded ourselves that the accounts of the cyclone were unduly exaggerated, and we looked upon the narrative of Its lury as an exampleof Asiatic hyper bole. Later accounts have shown that the earliest dt tails were indeed Inaccurate; hut they were inac curate only in understating the effects of the storm. The trusiworthy reports ol English residents have convinced ns ot the fearful reality of the disaster which visited the cosstß of Bengal and Madras, and Incredulity is silenced before the statistical morns of official Investigators. The art of the rhetorician Is not needed in describ ing such a catastrophe as the cyclone of November. The simple narrative of Defoe has more effect on the mass ot men than the most highly colored pictures of poets, and even than the philosophic real ism ot Thucydides. But by bit the truth Is re vealed, and the horror of the scene fa at last realized by all. Sixty thousand persons were de stroyed by the immediate consequences of the storm of November, and a vast number have met a Slower death through Its later Influence.- Sixty thousand was the number estimated to have beta killed by the earthquake at Ltßhon on another All- Saints’ Day, a century ago. Nor was tha propor tlonate destruction less than It was then- In the Island of Saugor out of 8,2*0 persona but 1,200 have been left. The remaining tsvta thousand passed, in less than an hour, out of existence. AU along the eastern coast ot the Indian peninsula went wind and Storm lulfiUlng His word. It was the time of spring tides, and under the influence of the harrl cune the sea rose to fin unexampled height. Tin the course or the Ganges the wave rushed, over whelming the villages on the banks, and leaving the few who survived the flood to perish for want ofrood their grata rotted and . their crops we£ aurora by the salt water, and they had no resource but to die. But the scene of the greatest disaster appears to have ? b0 . llt was downth#coast. The town Mm a little to the*north of one of the on the plain which stretches from the Kistna to the Godavery. The mud which has for ages been washed down these rivers has tamed a district little above the level of the sea. In the wet season it Is overflowed by the freshets of the Kistna, and It requires at all times to be protected lrom the ocean by sea-walls and dikes. The Dutch, who first settled at Masullpatam, probably saw in Kb situation something whloh reminded them of Holland, and congratulated themselves that the single good anchorage on theooastwas close to such a flat and irultful plain. But the qualities which ap peared to them advantages made Masnlipatam an • eat y prey to the storm. The cyclone, rushing across the Bayol Bengal, rell upon the spot whlchiraß least prepared to meet it. The oeatro of the hurricane passed, within a mile of the devoted town at 10 P. M. on the Ist of November, in a night of utter dark ness. Amid the storm of wind a tidal wave, thir teen feet higher than tha highest tidemark, sur mounted sea-walls and elkea, and poured ora the whole ol the surrounding country. For an hour the water rose and covered nearly eight hundred Senate jßllaa or the plain, andwhenlxretired,atl^the wOTk of destrnctlon waadoiie. i The plain for wirhty i miles etalg the coast, and from nine to teumllee. ' Inland, had been submerged, and In one place the ; storm.wave had reaohada spotseventeen miles Jhe shore. We can only feebly picture to ourselves the desolation of the scene. Tne low-bullttosces been washed away, andtfeose whteh might have readied above the wave,had ; been blown down by the fury of the storm. The fiercest powers of the natural world were at work and In the darkness of night there was no escaoe possible, whatever might'have been dona luthe 1 ght of day. Whole villages were entirely de stroyed; their Inhabitants were drowned? cattle were lost, their orops were burled beneath a thick deposit or mud undsand. To hive bra tta sole survivor of such a calamity was, perhwi, a more cruel fate than, to have perishedwlthbi«S\it and Mends. When kfclp came from S'IsSISA mud^k^wi^, combining £» gwtosqu* t^fcombSf ‘ sw# eubop®. Chambers. ENGLAND. FRANCE. SPAIN. PRUSSIA. ITALY. BRAZIL. LATEST VIA GRBEFCASTLR. The Storm in India. by«de lay one whom despair ha* ... itot resin nation. and another *t» n Mid dettgcbe. Half the ton was i D '' • -s trtee, drift, tha rote* or boose* ass 4“ '“ J talt vuermad*streets and roads Uu u^!.P » 3a bsreva bad bean carried Into tba oot/t-g V 1" 38 ana masses of solid mutnnry raUoj wB tihtsnots or sixty and seventy yam, prrffton of those visiting this ehy v „ * W ftoffirftnUy awful, but when after a of destruction was reckoned, tt was »»„ '■‘Bk- • ttrft terror had fallen short of tea ra Jr» - and foam one third of tte hibablt -.n,, vi/ Atbcurand were drowned In tae f.,„ ; thousand In the town,-and la tba ’ ! i»“ Vlllagee twenty thousand too re had raM , In one Brahmin villa** on the notsstro -gf patam, seventy only mmalntd alive tW, handled. For a single night, or rathe?t hcior, fbe deetreylig angel had bee when bo finished tt was as ir the lit* i-iiffer life of nature bad both been effaced pH Jt sweep.of his. wings the prosper,ms pl,i,' W'V desolation, and the fruitful villa, There is a Wild legend o» the B.otoe «' ‘ s:■ ’ may serve to IHnetrate the dlßerent t*,,J I *** -W. English and HinAeo have net tuts a-, it '*o- An adventurous Frenchman reaolv wl . .-M, v-jgt marsh ooja.-lor.atlr exposed to the tm,., *• 4 sea by hollaing ateawail without j< 31 the land thos enclosed. An old Bret-n ,' r • not to attempt the Implona eoterpri,* „ 4, *- sea and lanpwere fixed by Divine : r . man oonld not gainsay it. Toe f> 9 , f»* • vtred, reclaimed the lend, and wtta a , reaped an excellent harvest, and asttei i-,. 1 - what had beoome ot hla warnings, ‘. T s 5 * not yet," said the Breton. Tie n-2x: ■■ ■ harvest-feast waa celebrated, and at » host *nd gnests retired weary u, , !'» hot, so runs the Breton tale, In tae nt»p * arose, and In the morning sea wall ani f ■ barns, and cultivated flelt had emin-i, d ‘"t The Celtic feeling of passive suboos,> which the legend grew appeared of Masolipatam. A more energetic Jr indeed, have been cowed by the awfo/ejE, : force from which they had suflVa 1. T ‘'J were overwhelmed by this disaster, *' resignation to the stroto they b*. 1 for a time there was a danger la» t 7 dead, the salted wells, bind the ttatLaj? 15 would produce diseases which w.-nt! - ir -- l J who had escaped the first disaster. pL: ■’ there were Anglo-Indians at uar„t ocnnsels. To them, as to any other I; 4 disorder Is a thing to be remedied, aad 47 agslstaDce from Madras they set to W 34 . tlons food was forthcoming and Puiu , careful sanitary measures. Pat tics of Sep, .',4 ..vs and hired oooties, directed by Eurouej, ' . -* went through the town and district coii w :' bnrylsg the dead, while others were set -4,' , clearing out a canal so as to obtala a .■ water partially free from impari ty. After s “ the Bombers no burled were reduced, it */ possible to burn the corpses which were hr . at first Impossible Bom themerealwenoool i. and those who were at first curled nastily v carefully covered. The natives tooh hex- ■ sight, and, through the lufeotion of Eo top., gy, joined In tee worn. We are warrant,; leg that these exertions have probably town from a fearful epidemic. Amid theft,, the catastrophe which- visited- MastUlpt.,, manner In which the. British re-identa counteract the evils which might have Mi,„ itsrcarisasource.of eruo consolation. 1;,: and tub-oollector, the effl'tora of the Sepiy quartered in the Tort, and of the engine.-. Anglo Indians of every quality, amtsja! work. The spectacle of their.resolution n,‘ thonght, their promptness in jweventtnv D » their teal in mitigating foregone disasters, iu v stance of true submission to 4ba lllvtua f, i; —not In acquiescing In the alsordersaui.E;,,. a natural convulsion, but in seokicv t, whole earth fruitful and meet for the euj; toii 5 man. TBB'BSBXI. EaiKOUBBtt-OKiIOHN.-H.j'. ft,,» A correspondent of the Toledo Blwk. ih.--.,., condition of the rebel prisoners on J< hason „ >:■. “There were at thlsdepoton the lu i ./ . srr three thousand prisoners. There hire been forwatfedfor exchange two hund-o Us - four, and others will continue to jollm. - evince quite an lnterestto go, but it u at, that they leave rather with a doalre ami eif~- - of returhlngto their suffering families tin,, to enter again tbe Soutnemserviee or Wa,., cause. Many wbo came arrogant In thru«- : and confident of tbe ultimate success of*.’ tederacy, now unhesitatingly and opealy ». 7 In tbeir opinion tbe Sontir bas exhaoswi ; energies, and that further contention a tv: Government Is a mere mockery. Many ;! ■: blah rank affirm their intention to quit u,. at tbe very first favorable opportunity. “ Since prisoners of war were first sent r post. ApriiOth, 1862, the entire receipts hi: hstant were seven thousand seven ha:.,,; seventy-one, or which numberorly two ha . ten have died, or two and seven-tenths tr; >., 3 the whole number. If that number and ten) bad died last month out of the mi confined hero, it would have been ovly , er cent., eighteen per cent, less than the p r t represented to-have died In the same im prison at Salisbury, N. 0. “Tbe rations allowed the prisoners . been sixteen ounces or flour or soft brew,?' ounces hard bread In lieu thereof, or sliteea corn meal In lieu ol flour or bread; ronrieu : of salt or fresh beef, or ten ounces of purlin;' In lien thereof; beans or peas, twelvear,' Sounds, or eight ounces of rice or hominy; nutted rations; sosp, two pounds; Tinea quarts; and salt, two pounds to every one c rations; with occasionally some potatoes, oh Otiier vigeteblM. The slob aw allowed, laai: to the above, when reoommended by the sew charge, sugar, coffee, and tea, at the rate of > pouucs of sugar, five pounds of groatui,o:s pounds of green coffee, or one pound 0; tei v one hundred rations. In addition to the al lowance, a great many of the prisoners hits - in tbe constant receipt of eatables from in: friends, which, together with their sll-ive; - tions, if properly prepared, would mike %: ‘fit tor the king.’ Some of the pristine! came from Port Hudson, and who were duds siege compelled to subsist on rats, have rate such a taste for them that many have uaheiUst,' expressed a decided Inellaatbm for then and, as strange as it may appear to one wt: 1 nevf T tasted them, many of the prisoners it. them preferable to squirrels, and tuey ei*. with as much gusto as toe huntsman to luscious quarters of nice gray squirrels.” Tbb Mybtbbibs of Inotr.—There it So a recoraed in the annals of any religion more lions, more incomprehensible, more imams . than some of the well known properties n(%;» £le methlyiron. Consider, lqr Instance, ib ! ji. om Its ordinary to its passive state, if spt if tbe metal In its ordinary condition is tmitr: nitric acid, It Is powerfully aetea epos, wi . > Into combination with the acid,, and loss;.- n -y-. talUo iorm. Bat If a piece of,platinum wi:e.r<'. end Inserted In the add, and the iron is '•- % mersed in contact with tite wire, It la s-, c:t f that the sold has no power upon It, ana tt ; < tton continues after the. platinum v- - - withdrawn. The" contact of a slay!, ' : with- the platinum sends a trassion ■ through all of Its particles, which render - Invulnerable to the attacks of the most r - aoid. Even more wonderful Is Us chsmteui:; Influence of a current of electricity. Wen ; of pure soft Iren Is welded with an insais*. ana a current of electricity Is sent thr-.un wlre, tile bar is Instantly converted Into azv , It Is endowed with an unseen force whisk sa- - out from Its ends,and seizing anvother;; Iron within Its reach, draws them to itself sac: them In Its lnvlslDlo grasp. The otijac! oi: lattng the wire la to prevent the elecmeir leaving It, and yet exerted, which eta.; ttrangely the nature of the Iron, enabiluicb. on substances with which, it Is not in ootsti:; toon as the circling current ceases, the tot like Sampson shorn of Its locks—its min;- power has departed. Ho has mysterious than either of these L= at familiar phenomenon of the fall of a piers ‘ tithe ground, under the simple action of tlon. "What 16 that Invisible force whiM rn:- lu all directions from the earth, and elatu matter in Its grasp 1 The fibres of this p* Imperceptible to any of our senses. Ifsvef* hands under a suspended reek we can feels —' reaching from It to the earth, yot therein "> ' stretching up from the earth, taking hell ‘i rock, and drawing It down with thestrri *• honored cables, we walk enveloped 1 In set; > - and our dally life ls.a miracle.— Scimlifa A Paris letter gays: “General MaCIS- 1 tends to prolong hit sojourn In BarlsforScai' f and thence go to Kome and Dresden, witt tentlon of spending next summer in the r- I'rance, and returning to America next mi- The Aroostook (Mo) Pioneer says that I In Aroostook county are getting $4O per ton ' hoy, and yet they complain that they* nothing for what they raise- T*»« Collection or Internal Kev«” To the Editor of The Prete: t Bis: ffify attentionhas been ealled to the t-y *■ article In your paper of 20:h Instant, when? . olscues the questions, first, as to the' erjcE' onrred to oolleotlng the Internal revenue i# - secondly, as to the compensation alio Six lectors. Relative to both points your facte s: cmslons are singularly erroneous. Yon «*•" the cost of collecting the internal revenue *1 bably amount to about ten per cent, mnmtit not to exceed two per cent., st which raw f<® no doubt competent and responsible partial' readily he found to perform me duty, to « Ti to you the great error Into which you bars A* reference to this matter, let me give you ta In regard to the Second district, which a” : . ■ I presume, with all other districts of tae SB?-.-, nitude In amount of oollections made, a s- ■ lections , for the current year will rea!’-. 53..000.000, and the entire expense of mv oS‘- eluding my compensation, Is *LO,SiO, " Instead of being ten per cent., as you coejf-t only thirty-five one-hundredtha of one per ce relation to the second point you areequall’* ’ - According to your notion, a eoliecur i : revenue receives as great a compsasatl* * • Vice President of the united States, trawl*: lltve, Is *B.OOO per annum, an amount . .?■ small, If you consider only the dignity of Now, my entire compensation as cvißctor jp i present year will be *3 560. The law »:> f • that the commission to collectors shall » | cent, on the first *lOO 000, and one per ces- “■«■ next *7OO 000, limiting the aggregate o« c- t stone to *lO,OOO, out ot which every “P'ftv office, except stationery, blank books, etc - mnit [repaid. As my oollections secure tM®r’ commissions allowed by law, my gross re® 4 , exactly —. ITsm which deduct the expen.e o£ adiua’-" terlng the office.... And my net compensation Is ascertained wj —not quite as much, you will perceive. S' ■■■ the Tice President. As the collecfton cj secures the maximum amount of cocnn f' as my receipts this year will be *3,000 on . that I have to collect *2.200,000 wltfio“t pensatlon. You must bear to mind tu» . ,j, that collectors of Internal revenue * re “ * provides at tbelr own cost asd expense* tbelr cffice furniture, but also suck nrc-p***? t necessary for a proper preservation of tke office. » 9 Tbe ed alter of stamps does not enter *2 .’, tlon ot compensation to collectors. f» r i» that the safe thereof Is not a privilege c granted to them, hut can be enjoyed up’- . die same conditions by any otter ' .& . to prosecute the business. 3 I am, sir. yours ttuly, . pHix.Anai.PHiA, Feb. 28,1865. , Labob Fositivh Saxh op 1,100 V^ i " • Lots op Bkitibh, Fhkhoh, Gsa2i' r > * HiCAH Det Goods, Ac., This particular attention of dealers Is valuable and deslrabla assortment ol man, Swiss, French, and American bracing about L,l«Kpackages and *>» ► and .toncy articles In linens, ccitosb worst»ds,..and silks, Including mohairs, and Cohur^; also, 160 linens, to be peremptorily sold bysataM” ( months’ credit, and part for cash, com* , (Thursday) morning, at 10.o'eieak, <*“ ‘.l tinned all day, without Myers & Co., auctioneers, No* 23S sod *" i , street. 1 "" Hum w.Phxtixss Thi3.Mob>' ii > i, T, i remind our readors that thacolleotlos c * pean paintings, rnwble statuary, falbltffin at Messrs. Birch A Son’s a° ct ‘"M, mo ehestnut street, wilt be sold MR 31 o’cffick. UKAyT—POMC2MBK OF Hf To son the city looks. more » a§ ornaitlied men, esoept ward ““““lanilr H volunteers Instead or drafted K eaoh ward dally obtains five Eeora'«J d . 4 y’ K of jsu. a voucher (as weUlas «■* *„!,) aol •: S which for your family's sake TfiSSubad-, that a record may be Kept and pa®" eBBf # 3E desire to know whom to thanks V»> S|| Herman has idready taken severs ;i j. CfS provost marshal. Affltored t i t* Tjca say* their loved ones, whom -A dlfjwiieaMe. the City, MK!blSO