AMERIIp VOLUNTEER.
J9HB B..BUMTON, Editor & Proprietor.
CiRLISLE, I>A„ JUNE 20, 1851,
OUR F LAG.
*« Forever,float, that standard sheet I
■ Where breathes the foe but falls before list
With Freedom's soil beneath our feet.
And Freedom’s banner waving o’er ns I
[£7-Wo see it stated that the expenses of
our Government, at this time, amounts to one
million of dollars a day! Heavy.
. O* A dispatch from Albany states that
sixty two full regiments have been offered
and enrolled in the State of New York, be
sides many odd companies. ( Over 50,000,
men.are enrolled in these regiments.
Returned.— The Hon. George M. Dallas,
late Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States -to the Court of St. James, returned to
his residence last week. Ho has proved an
efficient and popular officer, His reception in
Philadelphia was gratifying in every partic
ular. - ■
Hypocrisy.- —The Black Republican papers, ■
.now that Stephun A. Douglas is dead, are
lavish in their praises of the deceased states
man. During his lifetime no epithet was too
foul to ho applied to him by those same jour
nals. Their praises now is an insult to his
memory and his friends.
. Rather Expensive. —The New York Times
estimates the expenses of the war at a million
M dollats a day. Congress will have to au
’ thorize a loan of a'huudred millions to last
until the meeting of Congress in December,
when another hundred millions or two will
■ be-necessary,’ United States securities are
now 15 per cent, below par. Verily, what
hayoo docs war make with the productive re
. sources of a country! ... ;.
Missouri —There are serious indications of
an outbreak in Missouri, and a portion of her
population are prodably as rabid Secession
ists as can be found anywhere in our co in try.
But fortiinatly, they are not only surrounded
bn throe sides by loyal States. But many of
their own fellow citizens are warmly devoted
to the Union. It is not possible for them to
. gain complete control of the State, and it
they carry, their treasonable schemes, very far
they will .be spcedly attacked and overawed.
Death op Hon.. G. M. Keim. —Hon Geo.
Me Keim, a prominent and well known cit
izen of Beading, and equally as prominent in
Pennsylvania, died in that city on the 11 inst.
He represented the Berks county district in
Congress from 1838 to 1813. Subsequently
he served for a number of years as United
States Marshal for the Eastron District of.
Pennsylvania, resident in Philadelphia. He
was a gentleman of excellent character, al
waysranked high socially, and Was universal
ly respected. •
Gooey poa Joi.v.—lEe have Godoy’s Lady’s
Book ifor July which commences the sixty
third volume. This volume will be furnish
ed to subscribers for One Dollar, and will
comprise the six best numbers of the year.
It will contain seven steel engravings, six of 1
the double extension plates, and all the win
ter cloak patterns. This offer is made to
meet the times, and all our lady readers should
■ avail themselves chance,to procure a
work worth double the price asked. Address
L. A. Godey, 323 Chesrint street, Philadelphia.
Lieut. Slemmer. —This gallant soldier re
turned to his homo in Norristown, last week.
Ho was accompanied by his fathful wife, whose
patriotism and devotion at the time the rebels
wore thwarted in their plans to seize Fort
Pickens attracted the admiration of the coun
try. Wo are sorry that Lioat. S. is in poor
health, caused by his long aud arduous service.
Ho was cordialy welcomed by his old friends
and neighbors; and the city authorities of
Philadelphia gave him a. public reception on
Tuesday in Independence Hall. This is a
compliment rarely ooffered an ffioor of his rank.
Ho is a son of the veteran printer, Adam
Slemmer, for many years editor of the Norris
town Register.
Death Warrants. —Governor Curtin caused
death warrants to bo issued in two murder
cases, for the execution of the criminals con
victed at the time specified in the warrants as
follows.
William Weaver, of Perry county convict
ed and sentenced to bo hung for poisoning his
wife. The evidence on which Weaver was
tried and convicted was of a circumstantial
character. His execution is fixed for the Gth
of Sdptembcr next.
Armstrong, tried and convicted in Philadel
phia for the murder of a man whom ho had
decoyed into his wagon on pretence of taking
a ride, will be hung on the 9th of August
next.
CnußEii!,«iD V alley Rail-Road. — The Har
risburg Union, in.speaking of the profits this
read is making at this time, says:
; Thq Cumhetiand Vailoy railroad, ■which
for years has done nothing hut a small local
~ trade,' (enough however to pay a handsome ,
dividend,) and has always been looked upon I
ns n “one-horse road,” has suddenly hoeomo
one of ' thd most important routes for the time
being,' in Pennsylvania, if not in the Union.
It is not alone the transportation of troops,
horses, and munitions of war that has thrown
an immense amount of business, upon tho
Cumberland Valley railroad, but tho number
of people who travel to Chambersburg to see
their friends, as well as those who are attract
ed there to see tho operations and movements
of the army, is immense. If the war in the
direction of Harper’s Ferry continues, and tho
Cumberland Valley ronte continues the groat
thoroughfare, the Cumberland Valley rail
road will make live times more money than it
Oost originally.
“A TRUCE IN POLITICS'”
In God’s name, lot there ho a truce in poli
ties,” exclaims the Herald, Thou why don’t
our, neighbor rebuke the' 11 powers that bo” fo¥
the miserable proscription now practiced upon
Democrats? Look at the recent army appoint-'
moh't's, and then answer candidly whether most
-of these wore not selected solely because they
are prominent as Republican brawlers? Wo.
never assumed, as our neighbor intimates,
“that because a man is a member of the Re
publican party, he is either a knave or a fool.”
We are incapable of using such language.
But'wo Jo say, and can prqv^otnrassertion
true, that a number dfsfendves and fools have
been appointed to military positions, because
of their , politics. And wo do say, and can
provoits truth, that Cameron and Curtin have
refused to accept the best military talent in
the State, because those possessing this talent
are Democrats.
The Herald admits that great frauds have
been practiced upon our volunteers, but at
tempts to relievo the Republican party in part,
by, saying “that,the charge of fraud will not
have to bo borne entirely by Republicans.”
Indeed! And who else, pray, can be' held re
sponsible ? Let the Herald name a single De
mocrat, if it can, who has beefl selected to fur
nish supplies to the soldiers. There is not
one, so far as pur knowledge extends, The
millions and tons of millions of dollars thus
far spent have passed, through Republican
hands. The beef and pork contracts, blanket
and shoo contracts, cloth contracts, flour con
tracts—every thing—have been parcelled out
to Republican pet politicians, many of whom
stole half .the money placed in-their posses
sion. This is notorious.
“ A'truee in politics)’' indeed 1 If the Her
ald means by this that wo shall cease expo
sing Wrong, we answer, never 1 Wo will “cry
aloud and spare .not. 7 *’.’and shall hold up to the
public gaze the gmlty parties, wo care not
who they may bej brswhat position they oc
cupy. Those demagogues who only lust, fall
made their throats Sore in advocating the doc
trine of “free speech and a'free press,’’ arc
now. attempting to act the tyrant, and would
muzzle the Democratic press, if they could.
Democratic editors are frequently reminded
by the hirelings and pimps of the adminis
tration—we have no reference to the Herald—
that the exposures of the villains now prac
ticed by the robbers of our array, might bo
considered " petty treason.” And sonic of the
cnivens who thus “ caution” Democratic edi
tors, are foreign mercenaries, who, in all prob
ability, wore compelled to leave their own
country to save their thick necks from the
halter. A pretty state of.affairs, indeed, when
;American citizens must be “cautioned” by
dirty, worthless, thieving foreigners.
We. are firmly of tho opinion, too, that it is
not only important, but absolutely necessary,
that the Democrats maintain their organiza
tion, and thus save the.people, as far as pos
sible, from tho oppressive burthens of taxa
tion that dishonest men have imposed upon
them. Wo will do all in our power to assist
on with this unfortunate war, and to crush
out rebellion, but wo will not bo blind to the
iniquities of the Republican party. The re
i peal of tho tonnage tax last winter, by the
1 Republican Legislature, 'was not only a stu
pendous piece of wickedness and scoundrel
ism, but it was a most villainous fraud upon
the people. This act, together with.tho more
recent acts of robberies committed- upon our;
patriotic volunteers, should, forever damn the
Republican party in this State.
Lot tlio Democratic party, then, preserve
its organization, anil never grant ‘‘a truce”
until victory perches upon our banner.
In conclusion, we call the attention of the
Herald and our readers to the following arti
cles from the Philadelphia Inquirer, a paper
whoso editor supported both Linooen andGu.r
tin. There is certainly something wrong,
when papers like the Inquirer “speak out in
meeting.”
Let us.have no more Paper Genetiai.s.
There never was a braver or more patriotic
army than ours. Our soldiers are of the very
best,material —the bone and sinew of tho coun
try. They should have cool, sagacious com
manders, possessing that deliberate impetu
osity which always distinguishes the accom
plished soldier. In our present contest, a largo
portion of our commissioned officers are ap
pointedby the. States, and in most instances,
up to the rank of Colonel, are elected by the
privates or their appointees. There will, of
course, ho many mistakes made, and incorii
petent persons will .bo found in many of the
regiments, but they will be gradually wooded
out, as their want of talent for command is
discovered. ‘A good Colonel is soon known
by the superior discipline and efficiency of
his regiment. . '
The greatest difficulty is, of course; in the
selection of Brigadier and Major-Generals,
upon whoso coolness, courage ami.experience,
the fortune of a decisive battle may turn, and
there is no better rule than that prescribed
by our late act of Assembly, that they should
bo competent person lf ‘of military education, ex
perience and skill. No State Executive should
appoint any other persons, and if ho does, he
must bo held answerable to the people for all
such disasters as have lately occurred at Great
Bethel.
In the regular army, and in all appoint
ments of officers in the military service of the
United States, the War Department is respon
sible, and its policy should bo to disregard all
private friendships or associations, all politi
cal hacks, all contractors who have neither
capital, character or credit, and all mere poli
ticians, wloo, either as members of legislative
bodies, or as lobby members, have received
pay for their services in either capacity. If
the Department appoints as commanders men,
however distinguished in civil life, who btuie
neither military education, skill nor experience,
then it is responsible to the whole country for
all the terrible misfortunes that must follow
from entrusting the command of armies toper
sons incompetent, from want of military know
ledge, for tho successful manoeuvre of troops
in the field.
This is the time to speak out, and every
civilian who is offered high military rank
should ask himself: Can I drill a company
or a regiment, or carry a brigade successfully
into action, without first looking at ScorV’s
Tactics ? and ho should reflect, before making
up his answer, that there is no time to study
hooks of tactics while under fire in the field.
Under such inexperienced Generals, soldiers
i might very properly say: We do not wish to
[ho sacrificed, for wo remember Great Bethel.
Wo have in the regular army, say eight
hundred educated and gallant officers, besides
those who, are eleven of West Point, or who
have served their country in the field. Oan
not Generals ho found amongst these men?.
VTni w? /’ kiontenant-Colcmcls and
Majors can be, and why should such men de
voto their lives to. milttary pursuits, when a
civilian, without military skill, is to bo placed
over their hoads._ The military profession re
quires great genius and long experience. In
the principal coiiimaftdora, and in our great
chief, wo arc singularly fortunate in posses
sing the greatest soldiers of the ago. Wo
should hot furnish so groat a captain TOfh in-
Compoteut generals, who must CR«T w*t“
them into' action' th'd last edition
Tactics, to enable them to mancpttvre their
commands in the field.. IVo hope to hear of
no. more civil Generals.- _ jJ , " ■ -
Lieutenant Grf.bi.f.’s Remains, at Inde
pendence Hall.- —The body of this noble
young officer and thorough soldier, ot the
United States Regular Army,.who.was killed,
at Great Bethel, through’the military ignor-'
anco of a small .'politician, appointed to a com
mand over him, was conveyed to Independ
ence Hall, yesterday, at half-past one o’clock,
amf'tfty there in state, while his sorrowing
fellow-citizens flocked avohnd tohidn mourn
ful idien. The coffin was draped with a flag
of his Regiment; his hat, sash and sword
were deposited on the lid, together .with
crowns of orange flowers, white satiu ribbons,
labelled “Purity,” in letters of gold, and, at
the head, the young soldier’s photograph, dis
playing a manly face, that bespoke nobility of
soul and a generous heart. '*
It was considered advisable not to display
the entire corpse, which, however, was dressed
in full Uniform. Unlike the simply mous
tachioed portrait, a thick black heard was left
entire. By a covering of orange flowers and
of hair, combed upon the spot, the side of the
face shot away was completely hidden. The
funeral obsequies hod previously taken place
at the residence of the soldier's parents, atten
ded by his family relatives and a deputation
from the City Councils, At that place the
Episcopal service was read by the Rev. Mr.
French; his father-in-law, a short funeral
eulogium pronounced by Rev. Thos. Bral
nard, follbwcd bv d prayer from Rev, John:
Jenkins. Rev. Mr. Brainard, in his re
marks, enlarged upon the strict temperance
and purity of life of the deceased, and upon
the many virtues of his boyhood and subse
quent life, Mr. BrainaiU) had baptized him,
and watched his career from infancy.
It,is related that Lieutenant George Gre-
Bi.fi had written a few lines in pencil to’ his
wife,’previous to the action, in whioh hecx
perienced a presentiment of his approaching
ond. Also, on witnessing the blunder ofBn
" gadier General Fierce, he remarked that he
■ would rather lose his life twenty times over
i than that such a disgrace to odr arms should
. have occurred. When left isolated on the bat
tle field with his men, it Was suggested that
’ ho should retreat. He replied, that ho knew
1 no such Word, till the buglo for retreat sbun
. ded. ■ '. ,
Appointment of Incompetent Officers.
We find the following in the Washington
correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer:
I learn that there is an open rupture in the
Cabinet between the President and the Secre-
tary of War. There is said to bo a radical,
difference of opinion between them on all im
portant subjects. The recent high appoint
ments in the army made by the Secretary, of
civilians, utterly ignorant of all military know
ledge, have deeply grieved and wounded the
President who protested against them in en
ergetic, language,’and only yielded at last a
reluctant consent. There.nro other subjects,
too, in relation to which the President declares
that the Secretary is embarrassing the service
and injuring theeountry. It is rumored that
old Abe bluntly told the Secretary , that he
m igh t give up his portfolio whenever he wished
to, for. that he was President,, and was deter
mined to be Commander-in-Chiof in deed, and
not in name only. .
Whether all this is true or not, we shalhseo
hereafter; but one thing is certain, that the
patriotic sentiment of the people of this State
has been insulted and Outraged by the ap
pointments civilians to high military rank,
who have no experience or knowledge upon
that subject, who have not the confidence of
those who know them, and who are distin
guished only for trickery, corruption, aud dea
perato speculating propensities. When our
people are putting forward every effort to pre
serve the Nation, giving their men and their
means with hearty free will, and just as these
efforts are about to result in something effec-
five, their patriotism and moral feeling is sud
denly insulted by the appointment of men to
Generalships, &<j., that they would not entrust
with a drove' of dogs.
Tint Hessian,' of the. Harrisburg Telegraph.
Cool impudence from a “ native bom” may
be endured; .but when a IleHsian —-a native of
Ileaso Darujstadt—attempts to decide who are
and who are not “gentlemen” hero in his
adopted country, he deserves to have his ears
propped. The little, thick-necked, ignorant,
impudent, imported Hessian of the Harris
burg Telegraph — George Beboneb— a follow
wTio fills the several positions of Post Master
of Harrisburg, and liek-spittle andboot-black
to Simon Cameron— has expressed his wise
opinion that wears "no gentleman,” because
we do not consider Dave T aggabt’s recent
appointment one fit to beraade. Well, well,
wo care very little for Beboner’s opinion of
us ; but if any body wishes to know who
BERGNEB-is, and the manner in which he has
made his money, wo refer him to the records
of the Auditor General’s Office at Harrisburg.
None but a thief, a perjuror, and scoundrel,
could have that kind of record. •
Defeat of Henry Winter Davis.—Mary
land elected a full delegation of Union men
to Congress on Wednesday last, with possibly
a single exception, one district remaining in
doubt. The defeat of that arrant demagogue,
Henry Winter Davie, by some two thousand
majority, is something we did not anticipate.
Wo trust that his defeat disposes of the last
of the Plug Ugly tribe. Mr. May, his-,guo
oessful opponent, is a firm Union man, and
more reliable than Davis, who industriously
pandered to the vilest mob spirit as long as
he could obtain a seat in Congress by this
means. During the secession outbreak in
Baltimore, he was nowhere to bo found, but
as soon as the tide turned, he'too turned up,
and by the usual appliances of fraud’ and
trickery foisted himself upon the Union men
as their candidate for Congress, much to their
disgust. Though devoted to the Union,"this
was a little more than they could bear—and
the verdict of AVe(J§esday last informed Mr.
Davis that his career of political infamy was
‘finished.
The Secession Conspiracy.— Edward Ev
erett, in a private letter, reoonily published,
declares his knowledge of the fact, that for
thirty years loading Southern politicians had
boon resolved to break up the Union, and that
the slavery question' was but a pretext for
keeping up agitation, and holding the I South
together. The Now York World is informed,
from a trustworthy source, that one of the
latest occupations of the now deceased Sena
tor Douglas, was the partial preparation of a
pamphlet exposing, from a personal know
ledge siniilar to that from which Mr. Everett
speaks, the secret machinations and public
plans of this great Southern conspiracy.
BQf Upwards of seven hundred slaves have
escaped from Virginia within the past two
weeks, and are now hold by the Government
1 forces as contraband of .war. Value to their
I owners 5700,000.
MOftE ABOIt 'THB FRAUDS.
■Day after daj£ says the Charabersbnrg
Times, more light 'iq being thrown Upon .the
stupendous frauds that have been perpetrated
upon the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
the General •Government, in supplying the
Volunteers of thii State with food, clothing
and equipments. The Grand Jury of tho U.
States District Court, at Philadelphia, have
'had the Matter .under consideration for some
weeks, avid in their presentment to the Court
make distinct charges of fraud. Though, as
they soy, from tho fact that they were limited,
by the instructions of the Court, to an inves
tigation of only those contracts made with the
National Government, lind because “ these
frauds have been so ■.carefully concealed, and
so sedulously guarded by the parties commit
ting them, that the Grand Jury has found it
impossible so to separate them ns to bo able
to present tho cases, which would properly
bring tho guilty parties under the jurisdiction
of the Court,” yet, they declare that, “ the
most indubitable evidences of the perpetration
of these frauds have been, detected.”
It should bo remembered- that these charges
are preferred by a jury of unprejudiced men,
acting on their oaths, under the direction of
a,Court of Justice; men sworn to*do their
duty,between.man and inan. It is no party
matter, but a fair and open judicial investiga
tion, dealing with facts of the deepest magni
tude; and, incomplete af}d unsatisfactory as
it must bp, for the reasons above given, is en
titled to the greatest respect and consideration.
One of tho most serious charges.against the
State Administration, beyond that of actual
rascality, is that from tho beginning,.a set of
incompetent and unreliable men wore assign
ed tho managemontof affairs, and that through'
their carelessness and ineompetency, the State
, has lost thousands of dollars, We quote from
the presentment of the-Jury (
“ Admitting the fact that, to meet a sudden
and extraordinary emergency, the Executive
of Pennsylvania was called upon by the Pre
sident of the United Stated to furnish provi
sions and equipments for a large body of
troop's, and that the militars£organization of
the State was not upon*such a footing, ns
would enable the State Executive to oomplj
with the requisition as economically as might
have seemed desirable; still, this inquest has
failed to discover in either the suddenness or
magnitude of the requisition anything tojus
tify the palpable mismanagement which char
acterized the effort. When men entirely in
competent were appointed to take charge of,
and assist in managing the niost important
military departments, such a result was ine
vitable.
“ In no case jvhioh ciime to the knowledge
of the jury, was there in the* Commissariat or
Quarter-master’s department anything in the
form of a written contract between the Gov
ernment agent and the , parties furnishing
supplies.
“No evidence was presented,to the jury to
show that there was any inspector of the pro
visions. This fact applies more particularly
to that'branch located at Philadelphia.
“The requisitions appear to ha ve boon made
simply as to quantity; quality and price were ,
rarely referred to, and for,aught that the jury -
could learn to the contrary, the orders were
filled or not, as suited the disposition of the ]
sellers. Beyond,the more issuing of the re- ,
quisitions, the'acting agents appear, to have ,
given the subject no further consideration. If
the parties filling the : requisitions did not
avail themselves of the doors for fraud thus
freely and widely the - fault was not
with these .Government agencies. _ ■ : ;■ _
“.With, hundreds of men in Philadelphia
entirely conversant'with Uio business—men
;whh, (if mot have given
their services to the Government for a fair
compensation, this inquest cannot but con
demn the policy of appointing to places of
such importance, men so notoriously incom
petent ferr such dutieWf;.
If there bo no aettm |?ailt attached to the
transactions of tho Administration of Gov.
Curtin, tho facts hero brought to light are
enough to condemn it. There were no writ
ten contracts; there was no inspector of pro
visions ; the requisitions were made simply
In regard to quantity—-quality being out of
the question, when nothing hut insignificant
soldiers were concerned.- can readily
imagine why no written contracts wore to he
found.. If such things were in existence they
would bear upon their very faces the evidence
tho iniquity in which they Were conceived.—
Wo can also understand why no, inspeemr Of
provisions was appointed ; if rumor he cor
rect, it would have been instant death to any
man who attempted!to inspect some of the
provisions furnished at Philadelphia, Harris
burg and Lancaster. That furnished at this
point, under the management of J. Allison
Eystof, wo; are happy to say, was abundant,
good and wholesome.
' , The presentment further goes on to state,
that —
“ They have evidence .of the fact, that the
purchases, as a general' thing, wore made,
not from first hands, but through jobbers and
middle men, and that, in consequence, the
prices paid were manifestly higher than the
market rates at that time, or than they would
have been had the ordinary rules of business
governed tho transactions."
The next charge preferred is in the follow-
ing language:
“ The arras supplied by tho United States
Government to some of the troops; from tho
Frankford Arsenal, have in many cases been
proven unfit for the soldiers, and dangerous
to thorn in their own hands for want of proper
inspection. Tho attention of tho authorities
is directed to tho mismanagement, neglect or
incompetonoy of tho U. States officers there
in charge, and the remedy that is needed."
After carefully reviewing this sickening de
tail of incompotency, carelessness, and vil
lainy, tho inquest close their report with tho
recommendation that “ a full and searching
investigation should ho made, by some com
petent tribunal,” and yet express tho fear that
tho nice manner in which all possible traces
of fraud have been concealed from tho public
eye, will render such an investigation exceed
ingly difficult, and perhaps fruitless. Like
tho wily Indian, who covers his tracks through
tho snow or over tho ground, when ho anti
cipates pursuit, these sharpers who have boon
hanging around tho Administration of Gov.
Curtin, have involved everything in such an
inexplicable mystery that wo entertain hut
faint hopes of a thorough and satisfactory in
vestigation. The commission appointed by
the Governor is an able and reliable one—
“ Honest old Jacob Fry” is not a term of
more political favoritism—ho is as true as
steel. But they will be able to discover noth
ing. Suppose an investigation of tho tonnage
tax speculation was ordered to-day—jfcho affair
in which our model Governor and his boon
companions played such an important part,
is it likely thatnny direct evidence of bribery
could bo discovered? Yet, every observing
man knows that hundreds of thousands of dol
lars word expended by the company to secure
the passage of tho bill. So it may prove with
this commission. Tho tracks have boon cov
ered. Good men wore chosen as commissioners
merely as a blind to deceive the people. We
sincerely hope that something more may bo
brought to light by the commission. If they
are unsuccessful, the next session of tho le
gislature will have to take the matter in hand.
There will be good men sent there with that
express purpose, ’ If they fail, wo shall have
to be resigned to our fate.
AS ABOLITION TRAITOR CAUGHT.
Among tho telegraphs seized by tho Gov
ernment is one from J. E. Harvey, a leading
Republican, who was very recently appointed
Minister to Portugal, inf&rming the Charles
ton authorities of the intention of tho Pres
ident to reinforce Fort'Sumter, of tho strength
of the fleet, ten.—Exchange.
Mr. Lincoln had better see to it that ho
has not more than one Harvey among his
office-holderdS' loading Abolitionists, who
have been praying for a dissolution of tho
Union for the Inst quarter of a century, re
quire watching these times. And yet Lin
coln has appointed scores of these very dis
unionists to office.
James E. Harvey, was for many years the
Washington correspondent of the Phil. North
American, and wrote over the signature of
“Independent.” All who have read Ids'let-
ters will remember that they wore couched in
beautiful language, and were strong and pow
erful. Ho was also correspondent of the
New York Tribune, and his letters to that
paper ho advocated a dissolution of tho Union
as the best way to abolish slavery. Ho was
and is a rampant Abolitionists—one of those
fellows who “ preferred the Chicago platform
to fifty Unions.” The administration knew
he was a disunionist before he was appointed
Minister to Portugal, but yet his abolition
principles gave him favor at the White House.
Wo copy tho following dispatch concerning
his treachery from the N. T. Herald :
Washington, Juno V, 1851
The man to whom James E. Harvey .tele
graphed the government secrets, referred to
in my dispatch yesterday, was A. G. Mngrath
ed, of Charleston, lata United States Judge.
One of his dispatches to Magrath contains a
denial of the fact that he was one of the Wash
ington correspondents of the if. Pi Vribune.
Harvey’s object in. deceiving Magrath on this
point can be easily imagined. He probably
kenew that his friend Magrath would have ho
confidence in the 'statements of any man who
represented an antbslavcry paper.
Harvey’s dispatch', informing Magrath of
the determination of the government not to
withdraw Major Anderson from Fort Sumpter,
was sent the day before the fleet with reinforce
ments arrived at Charleston.
The more the case of Harvey’s alleged trea
son -is investigated, the greater the offence
against the law of treason is made manifest.
The fact that Mr. Harvey, with the commis
sion of the President of the United States in
his pocket, accrediting him as the representa
tive ofthogovernmenttoaforeign court, should
at the same time communicate the secrets of
his governmenttdanv person, would bedeemed
a high offence; but that ho should select Judgo
Magrath, tho so-oalled Secretary of State of
the treasonable, seceded State of South Caro
lina, makes the offence more aggravating, and
should subject the offender to the niost prompt
and severe punishment. What seems most
extraordinary, is the statement that a certain
high official knew the fact that Harvey had
committed this high offence, and allowed him
to depart with his commission, deeming him,
of course, a proper representative of this gov
ernment.
: General fierce.
Gen. Pierce, who commanded, the expedi
tion to Great Bethel, is a citizen of Massa
chusetts, and held a military command in that
State in the militia. Many, persons suppose
that Gen. Franklin Pierce, ox-President of the
United States, is tho person alluded to, hut
tho ex-Prcsidont is a Now Hampshire man,
and is not in the army. The Massachusetts
Pierce is more of a civilian than a soldier,
notwithstanding his command in the militia.
The'Boston Transcript, speaking of the lat
ter, says; , 1 '
“ We have no more to fear early in the war
from incompetent Generals and Colonels, than
from any other source. Lot us bear no more
of incompetent militia officers having claims
to command. In all respect, we must say let
the Governor not mince matters one day long
er in appointments and in removals. This
Commonwealth insists that tho valuable lives
of her troops shall not he risked under incom
petent officers, and that in appointments the
rule shell be, in case of doubt, for offiers ask
ing appointments to show competency, and
not for their opponents to make out a case of
incompetency.
“If the telegraph can be, depended upon,
we can be reasonably certain that had Col.
Gordon or Lieut. Greene, or any officer whose
qualifications have been tested, been in Brig.
General Pierce’s place, this sad and humiliat
ing defeat would not have happened.”
. Maryland Congressional Election.— The
election for members of Congress in Mary
land, on Thursday, has resulted, in the Fourth
District, in the defeat of, Henry Winter
Davis, and the election of Henry May, who
was a supporter of Mr. Dodgi.as in tho last
Presidential canvass. Mr. May is a very
eminent lawyer in Baltimore, and has com
mitted himself, in the most unequivocal man
ner, fdr the Union. He is said however to
favor moans of compromise, and is not com
mitted'in favor of tho present policy of the
Administration. -The Second, Third, Fifth,
and Sixth districts have elected the Union
candidates.
Another Regiment. —Col J. IV. Geary, who
commanded the Second Regiment of Pennsyl
vania volunteers in Mexico, has received from
President Lincoln an order to raise a regiment
of volunteers for tho war. Col. Geary is now
in Philadelphia, and his desire is to procure
tho host military talent for officering his reg
iment so as to do credit to himself and tho
State which ho represents.— Exchange.
Glad to publish the above. Col Geary is
a soldier, and proved himself a sagacious offi
oea iff Mexico. Wo hope a few more men
Isko Col. Geary may bo selected to head our
regiments.
o*At tho Relay House, Md., some of tho
scouts of Col. Jones, regiment (sixth Massa
chusetts) had fallen in withja.lady travlirig in
a two horse buggy with a trunk fastened on
behind. Some circumstances of suspicion
led tho scouts to examine tho trunk, when it
was found to bo filled with percussion caps, an
articnl now tmioh in request in tho traitor
camp. Tho lady was suffered to go on but
tho caps were retained, lost they might go off
in tho wrong hands.
o*Maher, of Chicago, is tho lowest bid
der for tho great boof contract for tho army.
Ho offers to deliver it at Washington for $4,
48 per 100 pounds.
APPOINTMENTS NOT FIT TO BE MADE
■ The civic administration of the War De
partment seems, to bo experimenting on the
public patience. At a time of mortal peril
like the present, when the Republic is engag
ed in a struggle of life and death —when,
through.the black treachery of Floyd and his
fellow-conspirators in the military service pi
the country, the array has been placed at .a
double disadvantage of being inadequately
armed and short of skilled officers—when the
noble army of volunteers who have gone to
the defence of the Union with their lives in
their hands, most requite educated and prac
ticed military skill to direct their mighty but
undisciplined energies—at such a tune, com
mon sense people expect the War Department
to make its selections of officers from the very
host material fit its command.. Plain ns this
duty is at any time, it would seem to be im
perative now. ,We most deeply regret to find
the public expectation in the matter referred
to very frequently disappointed. Almost every
telegram from Washington brings intelligence
of some appointment to high military com
mands of persons totally unfit by any previous
training to bo entrusted with even the smal
lest squad. Many, of these are persons in
other States, bat somo of them are taken from
our own, and of these wo design to speak, be
cause it is a local duty.
‘ few days ago, tho public mind of Penn
sylvanja was shocked by the telegraphic in
telligence that a certain B, Rush Petriken
had "been appointed to the command of a re
giment in the regular army, over the heads
of a vast number of. meritorious officers, who
had scon service in the field. To justify such
a proceeding, Mr. Petriken should be a gen
tleman of high military qualifications, but he
is nothing of the kind. Wo use mild language
when wo say that .he is totally unfit for the
responsible duties of a Colonel in the regular
army, and is distinguished only as a local
party politician.
Yesterday, tho people of tho State were
subjected to another and similar shock, by
tho announcement that John P. Sandcyson,
formerly of this city, had been made a Lieut.
Colonel in tho regular line, with rank next to
Col. Anderson. Mr. Sanderson is widely and
not unfavorably known in Philadelphia os a
lawyer and as an editor; butdt'Will he news
'to the people here to learn that he has any
sort of qualification for a Lieut. Colonelcy in
the'regular service. - In this i case, also, it is
using temperate language to say that it is “an
appointment not fit to bo made.”
To-day, Philadelphia and. the Common
wealth w'll be surprised by the official bulletin
announcing tho appointment of * Alexander
Cummings, Esq., to a Brigadier-Generalship.
While wo share in the general appreciation
of Mr., Cummings’ abilities in the sphere in
which he has had long practice and training,
we feel it to bo a duty to declare that we have
never heard, and known of no one who ever
heard, that he has the first element of either
education or experience for the responsible
position in which he has been placed.
Let us place these appointments in the
broad light of contrast. Lieutenant Slemmer,
whoso soldierly skill and decision saved. Port
Pickens from the grasp of the traitors, re r
mains still a Lieutenant, while John P. San
derson is made a Lieutenant-Colonol. Gapt.
Doubleday, Anderson’s brave and qxpoi jonoed
brother-officer and valuable colleague in the
defence of Fort Sumpter, and for whose life
blood the Palmetto traitors were fairly pant
ing because of his dauntlees zeal and energy,
has just marched his men again to the field,
but is still only a Captain, While B. Rush
Petriken is made a Colonel. Major Anderson,
whoso discretion and ability as a military
commander, displayed through the trying
piogo in Charleston harbor, was, after long
delay and apparent hesitation, made a Colonel,
while Alexander Cummings is, at the first
leap, and with no claim to soldierly science,
made a Brigadier-General. ■
Such anomalous and reprehensible conduct
in tho administration of the War Department
invites examination, scrutiny and remark.—
.Much of the public censure which it will be
sura to-provoke, may bo visited .upon the
Chief for to him . tho appointing
power belongs. But those who are well in
formed of the relations between the persons
we have named and the Secretary of AYar,
cannot fall to trace the influence thro’ which
these important but unfortunate appointments
have been made, and they will lodge there-'
sponsibillty upon the proper head., It gives
us no pleasure to indulge in such comments;
We .were among those who. hoped and ex
pressed-the belief that tho Secretary of War
would, in the administration of his high office,
falsify all the .aspersions of his, life-long foes.
But we have misgivings that this hope is- not
to be realized. Thus far appearances indicate
that the powers of the War Department are
to be directed to the aggrandizement of more
personal adherents, regardless of tho superior
demands of the public service, and the safety
of the bravo soldiers whoso lives are entrusted
to incompetent hands.— Phild. Inquirer. , |
Monument to Senator Douglas. —A num
ber of the friends of the late Senator Douglas,
representing several States, assembled at the
National Hotel in Washington on Thursday,
for the purpose of concerting measures to
erect a suitable monument in his honor, and
make preparations for delivering an eulogy
upon the deceased on the evening-of the '4th
of July. Hot? C. Hnskin was chairman and
John. F. Ennis Secretary. After an inter
change of views, J. J. McElhone, J. E.
Ennis, Thos. C. Fields, A. M. Sallade, and
George W. McLean, were appointed a commit
tee to arrange for a future meeting,
E. Joy Morris, the new Minis
ter to Constantinople, telegraphed to Gover
nor Curtin on Thursday, (resigning his seal
as Representative from the Second Congres
sional District, Gov. Curtin . responded, ac
cepting it, and appointing Tuesday, the sec
ond day of July next, as the day for a special
election to choose his successor. Hon -Gdo.
M. Dallas is spoken of as the Democrat can
didate.
Cotton Mir.r. at Harrisburg, Pa.—ln con
sequence of the short supply of cotton, the di
rectors deem it advisable'to close the mill for
the present. .
o*ln Cecil county Md., the Union candi
date for the Maryland Legislature has re
ceived 400 votes against only 15 for the reb
el candidate.
The Confederate Government has appointed
General Leo Commandcr-in-Chiof of the forces
in Virginia, in which State there are said to
be about 55,000 men enrolled.
The Minnesota was blockading Charleston
on the sth Inst- The Brooklin is off the
month of-the Mississippi. "Mobile also is
blockaded.
BZfThe secession ordinance in Tennessee
has carried by a very large majority, some
say 70,000, Pity.
BQf" Troops are constantly flocking into
Wheeling from the adjacent countries, for de
fence of the Union.
flSyGon. D. E. Sickles, New York Brigade
takes one company from Heading, besides
other companies from Pennsylvania.
O-O; II Browning has boon appointed
Senator by Gov. Yeatos,-io fill the vacancy
ocasioncd by the death oP Senator Douglas. :
THE WAR NEWS.
Advance of United Stales Troops
on a Rebel Battery,
Fnenfis Firinynipon Fiicnds.—liepulse of the .
United States Forces.—A Mashed Battery.
—List of Killed and Wounded.
Baltimore, Juno lii— The steamer from
Old Point Comfort has arrived with ,the fal
lowing intelligence, dated at Fortress Monroe
last evening. ■
This has been an exciting,, and: sorrowful
day at Old Point Comfort.
Gen. Butler, having learned that'the rebfds
were forming an entrenched camp with strong
batteries at Groat Bethel, nine , miles from
Hampton, on the Yorktbwh road, ho deemed
it necessary b> dislodge them. Accordingly,
movements were made hist night from Fortress
Monroe and Newport Nows. , , , .
About midnight, Col. Duryea’s Zouaves and
Col. Albany regiment crossed the
river at Hampton by means of six large bat
tcaux, mannod/by the Naval ’ Brigade, and
took up the lino of march. The former wore
some two miles in advance of the latter.
At the same time, Col. Benedix’s regiment
and attachment of the Vermont and Massa
chusetts regiments, at Newport News, moved
forward to form a junction with the regiments
from Fortress Monroe, at Little, Bethel, about
half way between Hampton and Great Bethel.
The Zouaves passed Little Bethel at about
4 o’clock, A. M. Benediz’s regiment arrived
next, and took a position at the intersection
of the roads. Not understanding the signal,;
the regiment in the darkness of the morning
tired upon Col. Townsend’s column, marching
in close order, and led by Lieut. Butler, sou
of Gen, Butler, and also his aid, with, two
pieces of. artillery.
Other accounts.say.“that Col. Townsends
regiment fired first. At all events, the fire of
the Albany regiment was harmless, while that
of the Germans was - fatal, killing one man
and fatally wounding two others, with several
slight casualties. _ ,
The Albany regiment being back, the Ger
mans discovered from the accoutrements loft
on the field that the supposed enemy was a
friend.. They had in the meantime fired nine
founds with small arms and a field piece.—
The Zouaves, hearing the fire, had turned and
fired also upon the Albany boys.
At daybreak, Col. Allen’s and Col. Carr’s .
regiments moved from the roar of tho fortross
to support the main body. The mistake at
Little Bethel Having been ascertained, the
buildings wore burned, and a major, with two
prominent Secessionists, named Livery’ and
Whiting, were made prisoners.
The troops then advanced upon Great Beth
el in thd*following order: the Zouaves, Col.
Bender, Lieut, Col. Washburne, Col. Allen,
and Col. Carr. At that point our regiments ■
formed and successively endeavored to take a ’
largo masked battery of the Secessionists/
The. effort was futile, our three small pieces
of artillery not being able to cope with the
heavy rifled cannon of the enemy, according
to some accounts thirty jn number.
The rebel battery was so completely-masked
that no man could be seen, but the flashes of
the guns only. There were probably less than
1,000 mfin behind the battery of the rebels.
A well concerted movement might have se-'
cured the position, but Brigadier Gen. Pierce,
who commanded the expedition, seemed to
have lost his presence of mind, and the Troy
Regiment stood an hour exposed to a galling
fire. An order to retreat was at length given,
but, at that moment; Liept. Greble, of the U.
States- army, and in command of the artillery,
was struck by a cannon ball and instantly
killed, He had spiked his gun, and was gal
lantly endeavoring to.-withdraw his command.
Capt. George IV. Wilson, of the Troy regi
ment, after the order to retreat, took possession
of the gun, and with Quartermaster McArthur
brought it off the field, with the corpse ol the
beloved Lieutenant.
They brought them, to the fortress, this
evening.., There are probably 24 killed anf
100 wounded. '
Lieut. Butler deserves the. greatest credit
for bringing off the killed and wounded.
Several of the latter are,now in.’the hospital
It should, have been state'd that Col. Mc-
Chesney ? s regiment formed a reserve, and that
Col. Hawkins’ regiment moved from Newport
News during the day. The armed vessels
wont up to the Newport Nows, excepting the
Cumhcrland. All the regiments are now prob
ably at their former quarters.
Much indignation .is manifested against
Brigadier General Pierce.'. Gen. Butler'has
been übiquitous, doing all in his power to
save our men and the honor.of bur cause.
From the Baltimore Patriot of Wednesday
evening, we obtain . some additional particu
lars in regard to the battle at Great Bethel.
The number of . killed on the Federal side
will,not, it is said, exceed fifteen,of sixteen,
and the wounded fifty or sixty. All the killed
and wounded were brought back to
Monroe in boats, under the charge of the Na
val Brigade, who lire said to have acted in the
bravest manner in going on .to the field,, and
bringing the bodies off during the thickest of
the fight, thus exposing themselves to the
greatest danger from the fire ,of the enemy.
The entire blame of the unfortunate result
of the affair is laid on the shoulders of Gen.
Pierce, who, is execrated by every one for his
total want of efficiency. ' This sentiment was
shared alike by both Union men and Seces
sionists—-the latter especially openly expres
sing their contempt for him. Gen, Butler was
perfectly enraged against him, and when'
Pierce was brought before him, he cursed
him, called him a fool and a coward, told him
he had failed in the pofformonco of his duty,
declaring that he would not hereafter trust
him, ho matter how small or unimportant the.
affair,
When the first of the Federal troops arrived
vicinity of the river, and before the.
commencement of the battle, they captured
three prisoners, who were cooking some vic
tuals before a small fire. These men had been
sent out on a reconpoitering expedition; and
did not perceive the Federal troops until too
late to retreat. One of them was Capt. Whit
ing, a commander of a company, and the other
two privates. - „ , ,
Capt. Whiting states that, the Confederate
troops were commanded by Col. Magruaer,
late of the United States army, and that ther
were at least 2,500 men in tho batteries,which
were constructed in tho most formidable man-
n(3 Tho loss of the Confederates is reported by
the passengers to have boon heavy* but tie
exact number of killed and wounded is not
kD There were only three regiments on the
Federal side in the engagement, comprising
1,800. The colonels of the other regiments
refused to order their men to march up to the
battery, declaring that such was their whntof
confidence in Gen. Pierce, that they would
not run the risk of imperiling their lives, pre
ferring rather to bo court-martialed than do
so.
There wore three thousand men in Fortress
Monroe, and eight or nine thousand in the
vicinity. Provisions and fresh water were
plenty.
Gen. Butler was making extensive prepay
ations for another movement, which ho would
command in person, and it was expected tna
the battery would be taken before the close o
the week.
CiiAunEnsnnna, Juno 13.—Under J
tions from Major General Patterson, Colon
Lewis Wallace with his regiment
volunteers, .loft Cumberland on the lltu in q
for Romney, Virginia, where he surprised
after a hard fight, completely routed pw
cession troops, capturing some prisoners,
ling two, and wounding one, and taking
class camp equipage, provisions,
stores, arms, &o. On our side one was a t
wounded. The regiment returned to
borlnnd the same day