stjc Canrastcr Intelligencer GbBO, S/kWOKRSON, BDITOR. K. WAWPBRSOW. LANCASTER, PA., DECEMBER 9; 1862 CIB.CUI.A.TIOH, 9000 COPIES I gmaOßlPtrox Paid. per annum. M.PniimiiLL k Co.’b tiiimum Aanor, 87 Ink Row, N«w York City, and 10 Btata itraat Bolton. 8. M. Pirrareni * 80, ar* A*snH tor_ ra» b&D&Qm&Ty aaft tiie most Influential and U»Ssft ting Newspapersin the United States and the CM*daar- They are authorised to contract for ns at our &*«** J™?* k Abbott, No. 835 Broadway, New Yorft. are authorized to receive advertisements for The Jtueli *- gencer. at oor lowest rates. . . v 49* V. B Palkir. the American Newspaper Agent, N. S, corner Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, is authorised to receive subscriptions and advertisements for this paper, at oor lowest rates. His receipts will be re garded as payments. . . . . 49* Joins Webster's ADvrannsa Agebct is located at No. 60 North 6tb street. Philadelphia. He Is authorized to receive advertisements and subscriptions for The Lancaster bt/eHiocncrr. , S. R. Niles, No. 1 Scollay’e Bnilding. Court St, Boston, /s our authorized Agent for receiving advertisements, Ac. 017 lT r P L -A. C - - Now onr flag Is Hong to the wild winds free, Let it float o'er oor father iaod. And the guard of its spotless fame shall he Columbia'e choseo band. “CLING TO THE CONSTITUTION. AS THE SHIPWRECKED MARINER CLINGS TO TllE LAST PLANK. WHEN NIOIIT AND THE TEMPEST CLOSE AROUND DlM.”— Daniel Webster. Tax on Newspapers. The Government tax on news papers is excessive. It reaches them in four ditferent ways. The tax on white paper is enormous—so also the tax on ink, on every advertise ment, and on the income of the pub lisher. It would seem that the tax —direct and indirect—was purposely arranged to embarrass newspapers. It certainly forces them to raise their prices, curtail their dimensions, or continue to publish at a ruinous los,g. The price of white paper has in creased within the last two or three months nearly one hundred per cent. — If all who are indebted to us will pay what they owe us, during the present month, we shall continue to publish The Intelligencer, at its present size and without any addi tion to the price. But we cannot longer afford to send it to people who never think of paying the prin ter. THE WAtt NEWS, The gunboat Lexington had a lively skir mish with the rebels abouttwenty miles below Helena lately. Although the boat was rid dled with cannon shot and musket halls, do one was hurt. Several of the rebels were killed and a number of negroes and a quantity of cotton captured. Secretary Welles has written a letter to the New York Chamber of Commerce stating that an aditional force will be sent to cruise after the Alabama. There is no authority to graot permission to private vessels to go in search of her. An expedition, consisting of three regi jments, left headquarters in Missouri, lately, and destroyed a saltpetre works, arsenal and storehouse, with a large quantity of arms, at Yellville, Arkansas. A number of prisoners and horses were taken. A schooner loaded with turpentine and rosin has been captured while endeavoring to run the blockade ht Charleston. Several per sons believed to be pilots were on board. The rebel General Holmes is reported to have crossed from Arkansas into Mississippi, at Vicksburg lately, with 40.000 men. The rebels are still troublesome Dear Mem phis, being engaged in burning cotton and impressing men. The rebels have retreated from their forti fications at Abbeville, Miss., and our troops now occupy the place. Before leaving they greatly damaged the works. There is another rumor from Suffolk of a skirmish at that point between the rebels and the 11th Pennsylvania cavalry, under Col. Spear, which resulted in the capture of a rebel battery and forty prisoners. Gen. Sherman is reported to be beyond Coldwater, a small town in De Soto couoty, Miss., and 31 miles south of Memphis. It is reported that the line of railroad from Richmond to Petersburg is being strongly fortified with batteries and rifle pits. The expedition which left Ilelena is re ported to have consisted of 20,000 men, and to have Granada for it* destination. LATEST WAR NEWS. General Burnside's army is still at Feder icksburg, evidently biding its time to strike a decisive blow atthc Rebellion in concert with other forces, directed against Richmond. It is currently reported that Stonewall Jackson has j dned Lee's army, and that the Rebels feel that their all is staked on the issue of the ■ impending battle. The health of the Union j Speaking of the correspondence between Army is said to be good, and it never was in j Gon. McClellan and Gen. Halleck, tbe New better spirits. i York Herald says :—“The letter of McClellan The Great Banks Expedition Bet sail from | proves him to be equally a statesman and a New York on Thursday evening. General j soldier. The report of Ilalleck shows that Banks accompanying it in the steamer North ' neither one nor the other." Again: Star. Its destination is unknown, the secret ; “Halleok's calculation, with the whole situa having been bo well kept that even the before him, completely failed. McClel- Rebels are in doubt where it will strike.— lan's letter, on the contrary, contains the most General Banka himself says it is going— singular predictions of the disasters that must South. Another high officer, previous to start- i follow, if Halleck's plan should be adopted; ing, said it was “going to eea." The truth of j and thos e predictions were literally ful these statements as to the voyage are beyond j hlled/' doubt. ! BST* Hod. Charles J. Biddle, M. C., will The Democratic Citizen , published by A. R. accept our thanks' for important public docu- Van Cleaf, at Lebanon, Ohio, has again made znents. So also the Hon. S. E Ancona. its. appearance. It was destroyed, some months since, by a mob of Abolition traitors, THE PUBLIC DEBT, The Secretary of the Treasury, in his report j trho are too cowardly to render service in the to Congress, estinS’ates the public debt on the j arm y» but who sneak about their hellish mis lst of July, 1363,5f51, 122,297,403.24, and on ; ohief at D >g bt . when booest people are abed; the supposition that the war may last until j who defame, slander, and malign those the Ist of July, 1864, at $1,744 685 586.80 ' they have not the courage to meet openly.— The amount yet to be provided for by Con- j The time is coming when such recreants to gress, for the fiscal years, 1863 and 1864, be- i humanity will wish they had never been yond resources available under existing laws j horn. Mr. Van Cleaf is a son-in-law of our he states at $899,300,701 22. ! esteemed Democratic friend, Mr. Daniel D. 'HEW ELECTION. ! ° f FU ' ton tOWDBhi P’ thla °° Unt y- The election for City Comptroller, Corpora- ' *”*’ tion Counsel, and for Alderman in nine wards, ' _,, THE '' ,KX ’*' CL,EbK; ' took place on Tuesday, and resulted, as anti-1 lhe . name of Hon ' Thomas B. Florence is ■ . , . i . .. . . , ■ extensively mentioned in connection with the cipated, in a complete Democratic triumph. TT „ , Brennan, Democrat, was elected Comptroller : Cl " ksh ‘ P of ‘ ha ” ext U ‘ S - Hous ° of Re P re ‘ by 13,536 majority, and Deyelin, Democrat, j BBDtat ™ 3 - Mr ’ Flor ™“ has ha(i ten J ears Corporation Counsel by 23 022. The vote ! ex P erlence aB . a member of the House, and was much smaller than in November. The ! ™ th 'T Cle ” Ca . l talent - a g °° d voice - and a Aldermen elected are all Democrats. ! th ° roUgh ae( l ua ' Dtance with parliamentary —, ...... i rules, wonld make a most capable und efficient Great Fire.—On Saturday last a serious j officer. He has ever been a faithful and un fire'occurred Rt Lock Haven, Pa., which de- j tiring Democrat, and his selection as the ere- The estimated loss U $lOO,OOO, mostly covered I bves woul<l b 8 a compliment he has eminenly by issuranoe. j merited. WHAT NEXTt By the proceedings of Congress, on Thur*. day lost, we observe that Mr. Stevens has signalized hie appearance in the Honee at the present session by introducing the following bill, in substance: ; ; Whereas, -'On the 4th of March, 1861, some of the United States were in Insurrection, and a rebellions condition of the public safety re quired the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to be suspended, and several arrests, and imprisonments made in consequence therefore. And Whereas , There is not entire.uranim ity in the branches of this Government as to the right of declaring of sach a suspension of the writ: Therefore be it enacted That all such sus pensions, arrests and imprisonments by whom soever caused to be made, shall be confirmed and made valid; and the President, Secre taries and Heads of Departments and all con cerned, or advisiog sach sots are hereby in demnified and discharged in respect thereto ; and all indictments, informations, salts, prose cations and proceedings whatever, commenced or to be commenced against the President or any other person, are hereby discharged and made void. The second section requires that daring the existence of the rebellion the President shall be and is invested with power to declare a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus at sach times and in regard to each persons as in his judgment the public safety may require. By reference to the first section it will be perceived that it is a deliberate attempt to violate the Constitution of the United States by enacting an ex post facto law—in other words to create a statute which shall have a retrospective as well as a prospective effect. In the 9 th section of the Ist article of the Constitution it is expressly provided that 44 No .bill of attainder, or ex post facto law shall be passed.” And yet, in the very face of this plain provision of the organic law, Mr. Stevens, for the purpose of shielding those high in authority from the consequences of their arbitrary and tyrannical acts against the personal liberty and rights of the citizens, is willing to disregard the oath he took to support the Constitution, and not only wipe out past offences, but also give a parte blanche to the officials at Washingtou to play the part of tyrants and despots with perfect impunity. That he will succeed in carrying his bill through the present Congress we have not a doubt; but, thank God, there is a day of re tribution coming, and the Supreme Court will have to pass upon the constitutionality of such an enactment. In that enlightened and im partial body rests the hope of the citizen for redress, and we plaee implicit confidence in their firmness and integrity. Congress may, perhaps, pasß what laws they please to take effect in the future ; but when they attempt to wipe out past offences, they so far outrage common sense and Constitutional liberty as to defeat the ends of justice, and such legisla tion will be a dead letter on the statute book. GEN. HALLECK’S report. The report of Gen. llalleck to the War Department gives the correspondence between General McClellan and the Commander-in- Chief upon the removal of the army from the Peninsula. According to the correspondence, which will be found in another column, Gen. McClellan, after the change of base to the James River, desired reinforcements for the purpose of enabling him to advance upon Richmond, believing that it could be more effectively accomplished from that direction than any other. General llalleck differed with General McClellan, and feared that | Washington would be in danger if reinforce ments should be sent from Fredericksburg lie desired a new base to be established at Fredericksburg, and the advance to be made from that quarter. The candid reader, we think, will admit that Gen. McClellan gives some excellent reasons for making the James River the way to approach Richmond, and the subsequent events which followed the un fortunate removal of his army from the Pen insula, the defeat of Pope, the fright in Wash ington and the raid into Maryland, all prove that the military judgment which ordered the removal was either greatly mistaken in the expected results, or that the work was most wretchedly managed in its execution. The difficulties since experienced in making Fred ericksburg a base for Burnside’s movements, give additional force to McClellan’s argu ments. Ho seems to have better comprehend ed the situation than the Department at i Washington, and if he had been reinforced as j desired, we believe that Richmond would by | this time have been captured. There is noth ! ing in Gen. Halleck’s report, wc think, which | is likely to impress the public mind differently. PAY TO THE SOLDIERS Why is it that many a soldier who has bled for hie country—whose health has been im paired in battling for the Union—is not paid bis money? Surely, somebody is to blame. In some cases there are as high as seven months’ pay due the men. Where are the paymasters ? Uncle rfam has plenty of green backs—why don’t his agents “shell out?”— Many of the soldiers have families dependent upon them for support, and these are suffer ing for the waDt of the money earned by their husbands and fathers in the service of their country. Whilst dishonest contractors are stealing millions from the treasury, and pay maste s and officers have :heir pockets stuffed with greenbacks and faro sumptuously, the families of the poor soldiers who fight our battles are left to want and starvation I The existence of such a state of affairs is dis : graceful to the government, and the soldiers ' have reason to complain. PITHY AND POINTED: started AGAIN TUB PRESIDENT’S JOBSS AGE* The President's Message will be found at length on onr first page. It is undoubtedly the production of “Old Abe” himself, and he is entitled to all the credit for this luminous production. The subjoined remarks of the Patriot & Union are apropos and to the point, and express onr views so clearly of the docu ment, that we give them to oar readers with out note or comment: We do not wish it to be understood that we dissent from all the opinions expressed by the President in his message. Oq the contrary, we agree with him that “ it is not so easy to something as it is to pay nothing”—that “it is easier to pay a large sum than it is to pay a larger one”—and that “it is easier to pay any sum when we are able than it is to pay it before we are able.” By what process of reasoning hearrived at these important con clusions we are left in the dark ; bat thev ap pear to ns to be sound, and we think the Pres ident deserves some credit for divulging them. If every other part of his message was as clear and incontrovertible, there woold be little room for unfavorable criticism. We are sorry we cannot carry onr approval much further.— However, we will go as far as we can. When he says : “We, of thiß Congress and this ad ministration, will be remembered in spite of onrselves” —“the fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation”—we say, even so. But when “We Bay we are for the Union”— “We know how to save the Union. The World knows we do know how to save it”—we take the liberty of saying we don’t believe it; or, if they are “for the Union” and “know bow to save it,” we beg leave to suggest that it is about time they were giving some evidence of their love for it, and their knowledge of the manner in which it can be saved. Hitherto, it appears to us, they have been trying their best to convince “the world” that they hate the Union and wish to destroy it. The asser tion that “God must forever bless” the “way” they have chosen, is rather too positive. We do not think there is any compulsion in the case, and are, in fact, rather inclined to the belief that God, at present, has very little to do with them or their “plans.” ONE DELUSION LESS. The Chicago Tribune— the most violent and unreasonable Abolition journal, with one ex ception, in the country—is forced to make the following admission : “We believe the fallacy is no longer cher ished of starving out the rebellion. It will read strangely in the history of this war that the idea was ever seriously entertained that by a cordon of forts and -gunboats thinly drawn about the vast states of the South, the people of that richest agricultural region on which the sun shines could ever be starved into submission. Why, two bounteous har vests, that have filled the garners of the South with plenty, have smiled derisively at such delusion. Nor will they succumb because they have no salt, and because the shoes of the confederacy have waxed old like those of the deceitful Gibeonites. Tell us no more of con trabands or reliable fugitives; charmiDg never so wisely with reports of discontent, demori lization, and debabilitation in rebel lines. We have had too much of this. We have acted too muoh as if we expected the rebels to fall apart and come to us for relief.” This starvation theory, which prevailed so extensively at the commencement of the war that all who professed to doubt it were pro nounced secessionists, was a direot conse quence of the teachings of the abolition orators and journalists who, through the press ami rostrum, gave currency to the most absurd delusions respecting the weakness of the South. Helper’s book, the Tribune , and Wen dell Phillips have cost the country more blood and treasure than did the southern armies, on account of the chimeras they fostered in the northern mind. Look at a few of them : “The South would not leave the Union though “a bridge of gold was built to pas 9 over.” “The slaves w uld rise at once in the event “of a rebellion.” The South could not exist “three months without northern clothes, tools, “or manufactures.” The whole civilized “world would be with the free North in a con gest with the slave-holding South.” “The “southerners are semi-barbarians (vide Sum “ner,) and have not the moral or physical “stamina that would fit them to fight north erners,” etc. Well, we are unlearning all this, but at what a cost! No wonder the Republican party is rapidly melting away. It was strong only from the delusions it fostered, and as they disappear it disappears. But is worth while to consider whether the nation had better trust its life to the quacks who have,so often deceived it, and who now confess themselves so frequently self-deceived.— N. Y. World. ELECTION FRAUDS IN DELAWARE The people of Delaware appear to have had their share of trouble at the late election.— They wore not only beset by government officials, by threats, by having their State rights trampled upon by armed volunteers, but by deliberate fraud and forgery, some of which is coming to light to the infinite dis credit of the participants. The Delaware Gazette, speaking of the Cour* proceedings, says : “ It will be seen that bills have been found against several parties for frauds and illegal voting at tho late election. We are told that about twenty bills were presented. One, or more, of these bills found is against James Montgomery, editor of the Delaware Inquirer, for forging tax receipts. It is alleged that several hundred of these forjed receipts were used by voters in this county. Several have been traced to,the hands of citizens of strong Abolition proclivities, who heretofore claimed respectability and are members of church.” By these Irauduleot proceedings the AbcT lUionists of Delaware succeeded in electing their candidate for Governor by a very small majority; but it is very doubtful whether he will be allowed to fill the office under such circumstances. GENERAL ItlcCL ELL AN TO GENERAL PORTER, The trial of Gen. Fitz John Porter, now go ing on at Washington, brings out many inter esting facts. At the conclusion of Gen. Pope’s testimony on Thursday, General Fitz John Porter offered in evidence the following letter of General McClellan’s, written to him from the War Department at Washington, dated “September 1, 5 20 P. M. Major General Porter, Centreville, Command ing Sixth Corps: I ask of you, for my sake, that of the coun try, and of the old Army of the Potomac, that y<»u and all friends will lend the fullest and most oordial co operation to General Pope in all the operations now going on. The dis tresses of nur country, the honor of our armies, ore at stake, and all depends now upon the cheerful 'co-operation of all in the field.— This week is the crisis of our fate. Say the pame thing to all my friends in the Army of the Potomao, and that the last request I have to make of them is, that for their country’s sake they will extend to General Pope the snme support they hpve ever to me. lam in charge of tho defences of Washington, and am doing all I can to render your retreat safe, should that become necessary. Geo. B McClellan, Major General. A PROPHECY We see it going tbo rounds of the papers that the late John C. Calhoun, in 1850, and within a short time of his death, said to a distinguished Senator who called to see him in his sick chamber: “ The seeds, sir, of dissolution have been sown and must bear their fruit. The two sections [North and South] oan no longer live under a common government. I think I can see clearly, within what time, the separation will take place, and fix it at twelve years [1862] —three Presidential terms. My judg ment is clear upon the subject—but I am not so clear as to how it will take place, but think that the greatest probability ie, that the Gov eminent will explode during a Presidential election.” How well this prediction of that extraor dinary statesman has been-Verified, we all bat too well know. A Sensible Preacher.— A olergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, writes to the Harrisburg Union, as follows: 44 1 f the Lord requires a man to be an Abolitionist before he can be a minister, I am certainly misin formed. I cannot preach a sincere gospel and, at the same time, advocate a falsa philac* thropy.” 18 THIB “HONEST 1” Mr. Lincoln’s friends delight to call him “Honest Abo”—which people generally re gard as no proof of honesty, considering tht character of the most influential of his friends. But some developments have been made in a Court Martial at St. Louis which “don’t look jnst so honest.” Gen. McKinstry, Fremont’s Quartermaster daring his rale in Missouri, has been on trial there for’allegedfrauds upon Government ia the purchase of army supplies. The fundamental ground of complaint against him is that he made purchases without adver Using for proposals. A contract with one James L. Lamb, of Springfield, Illinois, was under investigation, and Lamb’s agent who made the contract was on the stand. In the course of bis examination the following letters were produced and read : Washington, Sep. 10,1861. J. McKinstry, Brigadier General and Quarter master, St. Louis: Permit me to introduce James L. Lamb, Esq., of Springfield, 111. 1 have known Mr. Lamb for a great many years. His repotation for integrity and abil ity to carry out bis engagements un questioned, and I shall be pleased, if consis tent with the pnblio good, that you will mata purchases of him of any army supplies needed in your department. Your obedient servant. A. Lincoln. Washington, Sep. 9, 1861. J. McKinstry, Brigadier General and Quarter- master, St. Loais: Sir: The bearer of this, James L. Lamb, Esq., of Springfield, 111., is the personal friend of the President as well as my own. He is a gentleman of integrity and business capacity, and any engagement entered into will, no doubt, be faithfully carried out. As Illinois is bearingher burden of the war, both in furnish ing men and means, it i 9 the desire of the Ad ministration that the citizens of that State should have a fair share of government pa tronage dispensed in your department. If you can do anything for Mr. Lamb, in purchasing supplies, you will oblige, provided he will make his prices suit you, Your obedient servant, Simon Cameron, Secretary of War. Among the parties to tfie contract made to reward the State of Illinois for the patriotism of her citizens, was a Mr. Young, of Middle town, Pa., and a Mr. Ely of Harrisburg, and it was stipulated that a Mrs. Grimsley should have a certain sum out of the profits. Now who arc these parties ? Mr. Lamb himself was a partner in business with Cameron’s eon ; Mr. Yuuog was a neighbor and particular friend of Cameron, and Mrs. Grimsley is the President’s sister 1 A nice family arrangement, made probably in view of St. Paul’s declaration, that he who does not provide for his own household is worse than an infidel 1 But look at the honesty of this matter. The President orders an officer to be tried by court martial for making purchases in an illegal manner, without advertising for proposals, while he bad himself asked him to do that very thing—asked, in fact, ordered him to purchase of a man who felt bound to give the President’s sister a share of the profits ! We forbear to comment upon this humiliating de vplopment; every intelligent reader, while blushing for his country in view of the exhi bition of its Chief Magistrate soliciting con tracts for his friends in direot violation of law, will draw hiaown conclusion as to his knowl edge that his sister was to share the profits of the contracts thus illegally obtained. —New Hampshire Patriot, FROM EUROPE. The steamship China, Capt. Anderson, from Queenstown on the22d, reached New York on Friday afternoon. The Russian note on mediation in full is re ceived. Prince Gortßchakoff appears desirous ia behalf of his government to maintain friendly relations with America, and at the same time prepare the way for a cessation of our civil war. But he deems the present tim e unfavorable for any attempt at intervention. Should Eogland and France insist on inter vention, Russia would throw no obstacles in the way, and would lend all moral support in its power. It is said that M. de I’Uuys had replied to Earl Russell’s note. Several steamers were nearly ready to leave English ports for the purpose of running our bluckade. An account of them, their names, cargoes, etc., are found in the column of Eu ; ropeac news. A steamer was reported to have l loft Liverpool lately, having six hundred tons | of arms for the rebels. The London Morning Herald asserts that the relations of France and Eogland were un friendly, and Earl Russell was about to resign from the Cabinet. The cotton market at Havre was stagnant, and on one day not a single bale was sold. The Cost of a Siege. —The sipge of Sebas topol commenced in October. 1854, and ended by the reduction of the south side of the city in September, 1855—eleven months. The French started with sixtv pieces of cannon, supposing these to be sufficient. The Allies 2 557 cannon, for which they served 2 381 942 shot and shells, and 11,484 304 pounds of powder, exclusive of what was used by the fleet on the day on which they assist ed in tbo bombardment. The fleets mounted 2156 guns, half of which were brought to bear on the fortifications, Alexander and Con stantine, and the quarantine and cliff batteries mounting 261 guns, 200 of which were brought to bear on the squadron. The bombardment lasted five hours and a half, and 968,680 shot and shell were used. For the infantry of the French army there was provided 61,606 869 musket cartridges. The artillery constructed 118 batteries, requiring 800.000 sand bags, and 50,000 gabions The engineer depart ment constructed 59J miles of intrenebments. requiring 80 000 gabions, 60,000 fascines and nearly 1 000 000 sand bags, besides 1,251 metres of mining galleries, some of which were fifty feet below the surface Tho French transported to the Crimea 309 268 men, and 41 974 horses and mules ; of the men they lost 69,229 by sickness and casualties. The rea der can make his own calculations as to the number aud tonnage of vessels it would re quire to transport the men, horses, guns, &o. MORE STEALING. The Washington correspondent of tho N. Y. Tribune says that it has been discovered that a conspiracy has existed between the clerks in the public departments and the contrac tors, whereby the Government has been rob bed of large sums of money. He further says that the matter is now undergoing an investi gation and that “astounding disclosures” may be expected in a short time. From the time that Lincoln’s Administra tion came into power up to the present, we have had nothing but a series of “astounding disclosures” of fraud, villainy and corruption. It has no parallel in history. According to the testimony of the Washington correspon dent of the Chicago Tribune , the public de partments have been filled by the Abolition ists with thieves, and recent revelations would go very far to establish the truth of what he says. We expect to hear of “astounding dis closures” of fraud and corruption as long as the present Administration holds power in Washington city. They always steal, and we have no hope of things getting any bettor until the advent of a Democratic Ad ministration.—Pottsville Standard. THE WESTERN ARMY IN MOTION, The grand army of the South is all in mo tion. General Sherman left Memphis, on Wednesday with his forces. General Grant’s army struck their tents at dawn on Friday, and marched off on the Holly Springs road.— Seven days rations were prepared, only one tent was allowed to twenty men, and one tent to the officers of each company, and six wagons to each regiment. The rebels are falling back towards Grenada, tearing up the track. They carry off tho rails and burn the bridges, and destroy the ties as they retreat. It is even reported the rebels are removing all their valuables from Jackson, Mississippi. A Commissioner of Contrabands. —The War Department is about to appoint from oivil life a Commissioner to look after the in terests of tbe'oegro contrabands now in charge of the government.— Exchange. Certainly. Anything to bleed tbs treasury. Go in, gentlemen. There are not half enough officers yet to supply the thousand of hungry Abolitionists who are applying for a ohanoe to “serve their beloved eountry.* LOCAL DEPARTMENT. IMPORT AST DECISION. The following important opinion was deliv ered by Judge Pxa&sox, at Harrisburg, on Saturday week. In a oaee loTolTing cerUlo rights at Issue between the Drafting Commissioner of this county, James L. Reynolds. Erq .‘and Mr. Jos* Maksiiy, who was drafted in exoess of the qoota cal ed far from this county: The CbaunomcazZtt an the Relation of John MarTdey a Ibl. Everard Btixtr.—Habta* Corpus * *. . The complainant, John Markiey, aoed out a writ of Ha* bets Corpus directed to OoL £rerard Bierer, tha command* ant at Camp Curtin, averiog that ha is Illegally restrained of hia libertyj to which the respondent replied that he held him as a militia soldier, regularly drafted, and sworn into tbe service of the United States. Evidence has been adduced to show that the draft was illegally conducted, and the complainant not bonnd to serre. and the following facts have been established: After the enrollment for ban caster county was completed and plaeed In the hands of the-Commissioner appointed agreeably to law, and tbe number of men ascertained which was to be fhrnlsbed by each township, borough and ward, it appeared that tbe quota for the connty was one tbonsand six hundred and seventy-seven, and that for Hempfield township, in which the complainant resided, was forty-nine. Regular notice was giTen of the time and place for hearing excuses and claims for exemption, and all who- came forward were beard. Tbe Commissioner at tbe time and place, aud In the manner prescribed by law, proceeded to draw for a few tcwoahips, and alter drawing the nnmber required, con tinned to take some small additional names from the wheel to make up for any th-tt might be rejected by tbe muster ing officer on account of physical -disability. About this time he received orders from the department at Harris burg to allow any vsl-d excuses which should b<* made after the draft, tlxo same as if they had been presented be fore, aud an additional list of tbo*e entitled to exemption was famished him. Believing that tbe number to be excused under these new orders would be very considera ble, the Commissioner greatly Increased*his over draft In all subsequent drawings, and on coming to Hempfield township, proceeded to draw one hundred and ten names from the wheel iottead of tbe f'Tiy-nloe required. Markiey was not one of the forty-nine first drawn, bnt was in the over draft. Of the forty-nine first drawn, s ? x were excused on account of being conscientiously scrupulous about bear* iug arms, one as being under age. three for physical disa bility, and one a justice of the peace None of these bad appeared before the Commissioner until drafted, wi-h the exception of the justice, whose claim was digallowed by the Commissioner, but was afterwards allowed by an order trom the Deportment. The over draft for tbe whole county of Lancaster was nine hundred and twenty-five, and that for Hempfield township sixty*one. Tbe name of John Markiey was drawn the sixty third, but owing to the exemptions allowed sub eequent to tbe appeal, it reqaired two, and including the sixty-fourth name drawn to make the number ordered tj be furnished. The Act of Congress of eighteen hundred and six‘y-two authorised the President of the United Btat*s to prescribe a system for drawing such portion of the militia as he should deem neres-ary, to take effect in those States u h we laws were imperfect or where none existed uoder whh h a draft could he made, and by virtue of this delegated order No. 99 was devised and adopted, and to it we must lo k for tne whole system of enrolling and drawing the miil'.ia iu Pennsylvania, as we had no law under which it could have been effected. The Governor is directed to appoint officers to prepare rolls of aJI able bodied men between the ag*s of eighteen and forty five, and those li-ts or roils are to be fi'ed in tbe sheriff's office of the proper county. The Governor l< also to appoint a Commissioner for oach county, whose duty it lr to superintend the drafting, and bear and determine excuses of persons claiming to be exempt from military duty. Notice is to be given of the time at wbi<-b excuse* will be heard, and all persona claiming exemption must, before tht day fixed far the draft, make proof of 6«cb exemp tion before the O mmi-sioner, and if the same is found* sufficient, his name is to be stricken from the A list ot those entitled to exemption under the laws of ths United States Is set forth in tbe order, in addition to which the Ci.-rnmnsioaer is direct d. to absolve all persons exempted by the laws of the r-spective States, concerning whom proof shall be made, or who he knows of hiß own ktt- wl edge to come within th. resp-ctive clisses. After the rolls are thus ptoperly prepared, ballots containing the names of all remaining on the rolls a e to be placed in a vh-el. *and a number drawn therefrom equal to the quota Jix d by the Governor of the State for the proper county, or for any mnnlcip'ili'y or town 1-ass than a county It will thus be perceived that the order contemplated that ovory excuse should be heard before tbe drawing took place, and thit no more names should be drawn from the wheel than was required to fill the quota of the proper county, or smaller precinct; and had the scheme been thus carried out it would have been found that but tew persons would have been draf-ed who were legally exempt. A very small number might have been r-jected by the mastering officer on occouot of bodily disability. But, unfortunately, as we conceive, tbe law was departed from by the State authorities, and tbe Commissioner was in structed to allow excuses If urged at any time before the drafted mao was mustered Into service. Thns tbe whole scheme was broken up, and men were tempted to forbear claimiog the exemption until after they knew they had been drafted. This is more especially exemplified iu the cass of persons claiming to be conscientiously scrupulous against bearing arms, who are exempt by the Consti'ution, lut rnayjbe .required to pay an equivalent. Those p*-rsoos are to be subj-ct to such penalties «b the Legislature may prescribe, aad all who are exempted by tbe Commissioner for that reason are to be so notified by that officer. Bnt the coarse authorized i-i a direct encouragement for them to lie back and not claim this personal privilege at the proper time If afterwards they (hmre to be drawn they will come forward and claim it; bur should they escape the draft they will be exempt from tbe penalty. Tbe course directed is well calculated to encourage fraud, and, it is fe»red, will conduce lo perjury al-o Of those escaped after this draft for Hempfield township, seven were for that cause alone, not one of whom had appeared before the Commissioner at the prescribed time. It was a personal privilege, and if not claimed according to law should have been disallowed. Had tbe State alone been interested in this question her officers might waive the ime without objection ; but as every man whose name was in tbe wheel hail a deep interest In it, I am of »he opinion 'hit it could D<»t be lawfully waived to his prejudice. To nth w excuses after the draft, except for causes which would lead to tbe rej-ction of the man by the mustering officer—as for age or personal disability—was a very zre.it Irregularity. Dot authorized by the army orders so far os they have been exbibiied on Ihis hearing. [Here follow quotations from the various authorities in the case, which we omit for want.of room ) After the mos f careful consideration, wo have reluctant'y came to the conclusion that the over draft was void—’hat th*re was no authority in the Commissioner to make it His powers ceased tbe moment he had drawn forty-nine ballots from the wheel; and all names t*ken out after wards cannot be treated aa a drawing under tbe law, but iu express violation cf its direr tioos. aud Markiey *s name mu*' be considered as one not drawn; bnt he stands in tbe situn'ion of a person forced into the service without being drafted. The jurisdiction of tbe Commissioner ceased when he drew the number prescrib'd; and an act done without jurisdiction is clearly void, and mu-t so ho de clared on habeas corpus—l Dal. Vtfi -Such was the ' pinion also of Lvd Matjsfirld wbeie tbe D-ahiug Commissioner exceeded bi* jurisdiction in the case alroadv cited, f-oin 1 Burn was. H 37. Nor does this cotne in conflict with, but js iri precise conformity to, what is said by Chief Justice Marshall In the ense of T. Watkins, 3 Peters, 302 3; and also in 801 l man & Swartwoul’s cas». 11 is a-titi h >w>ver, nn behalf ol th-»U'’i f ed States, thit tbo complainant voluntarily nppenre-1 before the mustering officer aDd b ok the pres rite I «>»th to serve in the army, thereby waiving all irregularities The only evtlencewe hive that he was sworn ie th* return of the respondent, who coriifles that he was "mastere J Into the service of the United States ” When or bow is n< t stated; bat it is con tended that he must have been Bwc»n at the time of mus t-ring in. The evidence sho*3 that Marklt-y wss notified of his beiDg drafted, and was **• .it to Camp Curtin under charge of a lance eerceaut, accordiog to the army order No act of his appears to havo been voluntary, bnt whs ap oarently compulsory. And where the draft >s void, it w nld require som- distinct act of volition on' his part to ruako that go il which was void from the beginning. There must be a new coo'ract nf service voluntary en’ered into to render it binding. When a nnn is thus draf 01. and afterwards j’ins a volunteer corps, or procure* a substi tute to serve lu his Btead, he could not be relieved Nor would he have cause of c> mplaint, as his own subsequent act bound him. and not th* irregular draft. He was as much bound to know the law as was the Commissioner, and should have claimed a discharge bv legal process in- : MISS M'rY HAS RKACHED A (( HIGH* stead <>f obtaining aumh-r to serve for him. j Ed HAS BEEN AH- We have no doubt that the Executive of this Stats ws«j j SOCI tTINU WITH THE UNCHAINED actuateil hy the porent m -five in permitting excuses to be j lAi WASHINGTON CITY* heard Bflurw.rd., which the law contsmpl«red sho.il Ihe j jam r rozr»s»lDfZ fetter and faster. I have roarh-d a presented tn the Commission-.- and determined betoro the wbicb only s fa en„ d fcw „f mv colnrand sex dare drawl, g commenced. Bnt gol motives will not cure tile- I b attain . , am „„ lnng-r an ordinary helms. I,m galitT It was known to the Uovernor that many persons , occ , lpy) „ g a -hither plane " I dwpll in a “sphere” of pre baviog legal excuses had failed to present them; and the ! enl|o ” ntw e l eTa ,.,. d intellectuality and exqnisit.lv refined object was to relieve sneh from the hardship of performing . c „ ni ,e Di T l, c k language to desclibe the exceeding military duty against conscience, or where they were by | hl> , ht „ f } . wh-reabnuts. r ran scarcely realize the un law entitled to exemption But it should be borne io m istakeab!e fart of my sas&clalionjai‘h the Unchained Ex mind that the law as-ists the vigilant not the negligent c | uaivos rf Washington. I am convinced that I talked, or pleepy. The Commissioner also believed that he was eat &nd atfl them, only from evidences of the Impetus not only doing his dnty, bnt citizens and w , rd » hlch my -higher nature” has received, benefi ting the servlce, # by giving tbe~oue m 're time to I j wa , a u aDßf >nsci)aP of the honor awaiting me when I prepare than woold be avowed should it become oecssssary f , rolled towards the -Barrackß” on Tbanbaeiving d*v. I to make a new draft, and securing to the nation in any WPn t with awed spirit to watch froraafaroff tho uniquely event the quota required rom the county . costumed and graceful figures flitting to and fro. or. per- This would all have been w*ll, bai the law made such chance , to catch only hurried glimpses of the awinl provision, but as it did not the omm s loner could not se- shadowt of zreatnevs I found a desirable position. I cure men by that course. If the necessary nuihber was Btood> with open mo uth. looking in absorbed wonder. till not obtained, a new draft must be directed by the Pre*i- a f r |fs nd —one of the happy invited—roused me from the deut. We cannot for a moment permit any question to be static trance, and persuaded me to enter theatcred build raised as to the validity of this act of Congress the power lnR i wa3 lnsu i te d at the door by a low Breckinridge of the 1 resident, or the general regularity of the proceed- wa |ter. He, with pronunclatim most vile, wondered ‘ what ings under which the draft was effected in this -tate j ftn ( gporan t white woman wanted among people of such Those regularly drawn under the army orders must render , „ ncomra „ n s «n(z.” (I d | d n „ t inform hlm 0 f my profession service to their country, but in this particular case the j M ~.Writ-ress ”) I administered a sharp rebuke Ire complainant mnst he discharged. minded him of his want of common sense I entered tremb Our apology for examining this question at surh length IID j Mt , ery hamb l,. J f-U very meek. I was re must be found m the fact that the service of over one hn o- Ml . ar ' d by tbe welcoming smiles of several notabilities, dred Midlers depends on the correct disposition of the It wai and fairy ,| ke Tbe ltm o,phere was question, although the liberty of a single citizen is deter- hm , y wltb tbe odora of perbapfi , bnpgb i mined by this decision. dvidqov n— ~ .t a conld not tee any. The tables, whi- h were just being snr* - a . IHa9 P . r8 h J °. dge *. I rnnnded, were groaning with all the substantialities and Nov. 291 b, J882.-It is ordered th.t Jrhn Marklcy be d , nclcl ,; of , h * i no . lc , d . wh e-i the long cer discharged trom the control and custody of Coi. Eve-ard ! th , , b nrettv effertnallv clearnd Blerer. and that he he relieved from the ,service of the I vIS. J hiit .S!I„„? , b : United States. Th. Judge decline, togive any costs in | ln tho d '- i s‘r n mc ’ l anb °“ ndeil * JNO. J. PEARSON, President Judge | p^,, " proMbPd tb , chalrmsu. Seu.tnr Pomeroy. I ex- PvrmmTTS Thfl Rpv A f! WpnPR-irsrn ; pruned my nimiratiuD of tbe brilli»Dt festival. I advocstad , xvELIGIOUS.— 100 nev. A. _U. W EDEKIND, a the u of Bcpoortini j and ths once enslaved minster of reputed ability in the Lutheran Church, has re- | bnl now roar , eil African,, and wllhholdlng payment from signed the pastorship of Zion s Evangelical Lutheran ; the Roidiers. I a=ked. what need have they of money when Chnrch at Leoanon, In order to nccept the charge of St. , , ba aoT( , ro ment furnishes them to rapidly with “sop- John s Church In tins city, which wn« made vacant by the j pjj •» and bestows such fatherly care upon their families? resignation and removal to Dayton. Ohio, of Rev. Mr. Sfeck. | j Ba j,j t why should r.ot the Contrabands repose at their : R-v. ,1 Walker of Philadelphia, w H prpat-h io | esgoi b e honaed. clothed and fed, while so many women nf tbe Duke Street NJ. E Chnreh this evsiniog—also on Wed- j onr j n f er jor color are livin? somptu'iusly on the enormous nesday, Thursday and Friday evenings. | weekly Income of tixly ctriix subtracted from the tmd o mi j e .» r ii : earned gains of hone«t C-intractors? I congratulated him ON'>W. Lbe ReCOnd snow Of the season iell j npon ho-’o»s I S9id he presided With almost the erace on Friday last to the depth of fmr or five inches, since j aDd d j an ity of a soo of Ham. lassored him I could detfct which tim , \ until yesterday when it began to moderate a \ little difference between him and the Blacks. I acknowl little, wo bad extremely cold and blustery weather. ; edged only a distinction in « hade. I complimented him Brought Home Tho roroaira of Corporal j I turned from the honorable gent’eman to one cf the John A Ivelli-r. of the 70th Reeiment, P. V, who 'Med . feas'e' 1 , wjs listening to onr conversation. I remarked from wounds received iu the battle at, Perryville. Kv , 1 grandlv—“Your mrenanimltxJs commensurate with your were brought home on Sunday la*t. The fnneral will lake | condescension in allowirg theTmconditional mingling here place this afternoon, at 2 o’clock, from his father’s resi- j to-day nf two antagonistic races.” Verv sweetly he smdt-d dence io Orange street. Funeral to proceed to tho ; aod replied—‘-Oh. we doesn’t disanst edificated white.folks Lancsster Cemetery. j jf dey isn’t poor and Bas<y.” I thanked him in the name The remaius of Corporal FrtorßTck H. 985 ER, of the j of al! colorless American citizens, same Reeiment, who die l from wounds received in the ' Preacbim/ now commenced. Several floqnent Divines same battle, also arrived at the earns time Tho funeral electrified th** audience in expounding peculiar Scripture, win take plac- to-morrow (Woinepday)afternoon. from bis : i ihn-ned hwhile I then rauntered away to where a pro- Blsier’a rcfidence in North Prince street. Funeral to pro- i found and inb-nsely pious Vermonter, with beautifnlly to Woodward Hill. * ; lemithy lovelocks and a generous quantity of white neck- 1 „ r>_ rr • -ra- rr i clcth. was giviog utterance to astonlshlnc truths. Hlfl IRIBUTES OP RESPECT —Union Dire Coin* bearers were mnen moved. I likewise. "When informing pany, No. 1, lately met In tbeir Ha>l, Market street, and l ns that he regarded ‘"the Democratic party as a moral passed a series of resolutions, expressive of tbeir regret on : devil.” the excitement reached a crisis. There was one the death *>f B. IJapmav. of tho Ist Reserves, and xslmnltanems shout of “Amen.” Penat''r Pomeroy chanced Corporal Eli Kramcp., of the 79th Rozlm«nt, who was '■ along just then lie and I Amen—ed so vociferonsly that killed in the recent battle at Perryv lie, Ky. Buth were • a sage Freedman Hternly shook bis head at ns, active and honored members o f tbe Union. 1 ‘ Dis am a ’spectahle ’semblage, wn doesn’t want demeetln’ Company h. 135th Regiment, P. V, have also passed a ’sturbed.” We subsided. I left subdued. Jn-*t as one series of resolutions, erore*«ive of the regret of tho mom- 1 brother wsa whispering to soother—^“Datam a fine preach* bars on the death of Jacob Frank, a fellow-member. ■ er, he’s an ororyment to de perfeshnn.” ■p._. T A/anrr,T.»,m » „ . «• . . , , I like Thanksgiving dinners in Coo trahand “Barracks.” r ATAL ACCIDENT. —A most distressing ana I believe in tbe philanthropy that feeds tbe numoroos es &tal accident occurred on Monday last as a steamboat, ’ taped. I consider this the proper time to doit. I rejoice 1 used for carrying stone for tbe canal company, wa* passing that tbe country is prosperous. I know that it is full of down toward Colombia, when on nearing the Hopkins’ ‘-Greenbacks w I anticipate more correocv. I base my 1 bridge It was found that tbe boat would not pass under tbe ■ hope on Chase. LUCT 6TONE, JUHIOR. I bridgo and whilst endeavoring to raise some of tbe timber-!, i * a large piec'i was thrown np and on coming down canght • ; a deaf and domb lad. six or rieht years old, son of Nicholas Horn, between the timber stick and the stone wall, crush. ■ lug bis head in ft horrible manner ard killing him instant ly. On taking tbe fcoy to bis father’s h uv;. the sight of whom appeared to have crazed the father, he picked up a l gun and thieatened to shoot Mr. Jacob M. Erisraan, who had charge of tho lad; he was prevented by the Jnterfer -1 ence of a bystander. Wbat Is still more singular is that tbe boy killed is the third deaf and dumb son of Nicholas Horn 3/arte'fjan. the editor’s book table. i timated that from 700,000 to 1,000,000 hogs GODEY’3 LADY’S BOOE.--Tbere is an armv of talent | Will be disposed pf here d*mpg the packing contributing to the pages of Godey’a LaOy’a B'X»k. that ; season that has just Opened. Wfl BuOOld DOt cannot be enrpaewi. Pnrity of eentlment and a high J, O BUr prised if the number will eiOeed this.— moral tone are among the excellent characteristics of tnls j . r 7 , book, and one feels sensible that the better feelioga of tbeir j ijfciCQQQ JOUf'tlQl, nature are appealed to while perusing Its piges. It Is a j i _ -ieasr home necessity, and that family circle which does not re- j , ceive the monthly Tisits ofGrodey. lacks one thing need* i Mftu Ifc fa said that the pork trad© IQ th© Inl. Tha term. are, cone crjtf ono year: *3; four coplea | w , nrnmieon to hn dull At LouisTille one year, $10 ; five coplea one year, and an extra oopy to j ” eBt promises tO_ Do anil. dl nuuißTiiio the -person sending theclnb, sls. Arthur's Home Maga- packers were offering V£ Jo to $3 groBS. AS line and the Ladj’a Book one year, foa $3 SO. Ztw Jana- Q; nr ,innat) the market WM itasdT at $4.25 ary nmmb«oominKioeaa newToloma., Loon A. Oornr, i r ll , 0 , 11 !. n ■ “S**** "*■ aewau/ >•«, pabllahar, la Ctuatnnt Straat, Philadelphia. to $4.65. For The Intelligencer. WAS Til 1C ASSAVLTOIFORT SUMTER tbs: cause ofthe waai WE3SB3. Editors: The inherent disposition io m*n to shift ihe responsibility of a terrible crime, or an act which tends to entail misery and suffering npon his fellow man. never was more manifest than stoce oor National calami ties bare been fastened npon ns. Who was the instigator, and what the instrumentality which sunk, this great Na tion from a state of the highest eone-ivable prosperity and happiness into the awfnl condition of rnln and raflenng which Is everywhere apparent, are questions not yet set tled in the pahlle mind, nor indeed will they be until the aspersions of party malire and sectional hatred shall hare been eradicated, and the noble prerogative of calm and dignified reason' shall have reasserted her sway In the minds of men and the coundls of the Government. So suddenly has the overpowering calamity been precipitated upon ns. and so fnriooily has the storm been raging, that the pnblic mind has scarcely, even at the expiration of two long years, sufficiently recovered from the shock to realise the magoltade of the ooao try 7 s disaster, or to aeek seriously for Its cause and its origin. The Administration of Ur. Lifooln and thq Republican party generally are free to regard the attack on' Fort Snm ter as the canae of the war. This, of course, involves an antecedent, and the Inexorable force of their irgic would Brem to imply, or directly charge, a serious reflection upon the preceding Administration for neglecting or refn. B iog to reinforce that Fort, and thns the psaeo and interest of the country became jeopardised by an omission which other wise might have been potential In crushing the rebellion *. a a ®'lncipient state. The assault on Fort Sumter was no doubt the occasion of hostilities, hut the cause penetrated deeper interests and Involved more widespread and com prebenme responsibilities. The menacing attitude ofthe P®°P’® of }*• Cotton States, and the authoritative pwitton of ths Federal Government upon a question of ad ministrative jurisprudence, and the special wants ofthe Fort itself, as well as the concentration of power and inter est which was every where apparent in and around Charles ton Harbor, involved of course serious political complica tions, but It became a question of strategy with the parties concerned as to which should strike the first blow. In these circumstances it waa clearly the duty of the President not only to avoid a breach of the peace, but to pnrsue such a policy as to leave every avenue open and 'every hoc** alive’to every section of the country for an am icable adjustment of the difficulties—so long as there was a possibility of such a happy termination of the quarrel— and a healing-up of the wounds made upon our common nationality by the aspersions of political intriguers, and the selfish inro »ds of sectional jealousies. President Bcohaxan, always alive to every constitution al duty, and clearly perceiving the totality of the veiled and multiplying difficulties daily presenting themselves, at once comorebended'the demands of the Interests, both civil and poii'ical. ofihs whole country, and pursoel just fU’b a policy as the emergencies of the time* seemed to require, and thus closed his term of office without encoun tering the necessity of a bn-ach of the peace, or performing any act calculated to entail the horrors of civil war upon bis country so long as compromise and conciliation, upon principle* of justice and honor, were possible. Hi* refusal to reloforce any of the forts along the Southern coast, when such an act required force, especially in the excited condition of the B>-uthern mind so apparent, was simply and pitrioticaUy to secure to the Natioo tha untold blessings of peace, lie was well aware that an effort to bold, supply or reinforce any fort or garrison at that time would have been met with corresponding demonstrations of hostility, and a collision of arms between the peopio of the seceded States and *ha Government w- aid have been inevitable. The logieal conclusion, therefore, confirmed by subsequent facta, was that the attempt to reinforce would have been the overt act, and the result just the op pod'e'to that so much desired. There can be scarcely a doubt in the mind of any intel ligent. free-thiokiog citiieo that the real causa of the war was the formation, and success in ita advent to power, of a party avowedly hostile to the peculiar institutions of the Southern States. Republicanism as it was at Chicago and as it is at Wash ington, with its inherent sectionalism—its Inborn hatred of •Southern principles and Southern men; with its con tracted ideas of government, and its impracticable theories of the real purposes and true objects of our tree im-tHu tiooe; its fanatical perversion of the cardinal doctrine* and guarantees of the Constitution, and insane frenxy of its corrupt men and measures; with its negro loving propen sities and devilish system of Abolition agitation and bas tard philanthropic sentiment; wi'h its persecutions, its threats, its wanton violations of Constitutional law, and manifest tendency to anarchy and despotism, will furnish to impartial history and farther generations a proper solu tion rf the great problem we are now considering, and tbe identity of the true subject for the execrations of our chil dren’s children, because of its agency in the overthrow and destiuction of one ot the best governments ever devised by man. It Fort Sumter, upon recorded military opinion and ad vice, conld not have been reinforced without a collision of arms, which would to the nature of the case involve the whole country in war and carnage, it was an all soffletent reason and necessity fofc Its peaceable evacuation. This was a duty Bn si lent Lincoln - soTamnly owed to the hesitating Btatos and the Union men ail through the Scu h, who were pleading as never men pldad to save them and their country tbe curse of disunion, by Ipifgthening tbe way of reconciliation, and thus strewmg'their future pathway with fi wers and blessings, instead of planting it with thorns and corses Tbe statement in his message that the "Government desired to keep tbe garrison in ihe fort merely to maintain visible possession, and thns prevent tbe Union from actual and inevitable dissolution, trusting to time aod disenseion and the ballot-box for final adjust ment,” *hows that be knew tbe only way by which adjust ment could come, without provoking actual hostilities, and sunoondiug his Administration with dlfficolti-s from which he would never be able to extricate't. Thenssau't on Sumter whs the result of violating the promptings < f bis better judgment, aod the unfo-tunate yielding of his executive authority to tbe policy dictated then, and in every important measure since, by the fanatical Abolition wing of the party that gave him his power. It was the occasion of tbe outbuist of a storm that was gathering from the time of his election, tbe cause of whirh restei in the organic existence of his party, and the accumulating force and power of sectionalism so palpable in ail tho States nrrth of Mason and Dixou’s lino. Would it have been h- norable or politic to have evnen aled that Fort, when it seemed to be demanded by men who were io a treasonable attitude agaiust tbe authority of tbo fioverument ? It would at least have beeD patriotic, because it would have been yielding to a military necessity for ihe-publi • weal, and any policy that is patriotic in such circumstances is both manly and honorable. Tbe people of tho country were recouci'ed to the evacu ation of that Fort as a military necessity When it was announced that such was the determination of ili-» Adrain i*tratinn the conservative mind experienced a relief for it seemed to promise a peaceful policy and the removal of at least that bone of contention. Had there been a manly independence manifested by Mr. Lincoln in regsrd to the Abolition faction of the North at f lnt early day in his Ad ministration, and tbe inroads of their sectional schemes and their fanatical toiqoity obstinately resisted in every important public mea>.nre since, tbe country this day would hove been enjoying the ble-slngsof peace and per haps barm'-ny in tbe affairs of the Government, and he would have rendered his name immortal as a judicious, humane and patriotic statesman. The policy of yieldiug to what is regirded “a military necessity” has been torced upon him in more ways than one. and in many instances of fully as dishonorable a character, since the sending of that unfortunate fleet into Charleston Ilarbor, which provoked the attack, and adroitly shifted—in the popular mind at least—the respon sibibty c.f the war upon the shoulders of Mr. Bocuanan for Dot reinforcing tbe Fort, and mainly upon the people of the South for doing just what every one knew they would do so soon as ih-y were wei e provoked to the attack. Yielding to ••military necessity,” so insipid at first, has become exceedingly popular since. It is like charity, a cloak for all the sins ofthe Administration. And not only ; of the Adtninistrali m. but also of other governments ; and ; If the extremely philanthropic and charitable sentiment j of Mr. Lincoln and his Abolition advisers <>f the North h»d ! have ext-n-led to our erring brethrea of the South and the i s-tme policy observed toward them at that propitious hour, i all the blood and treasure of <h)s terrible war would hav-» | been sav“d, and the Union—'h- great deHldentom ol the life, happiness and prosperity of the Government. tin true | value of which they have re'uctaotly learned since their | destiny depends upon it. and there seems to bo a p sMihiil ! ty of 'permanent dissolution—would have been hop-fnlly i and permanently perpetuated. Orserver. For The Intelligencer. S«gr- Chicago, so long the greatest grain market in the world, is now also the greatest pork centre. Last year 514,119 hogs were cut up in this city—3l,llB more than in Cincin nati, whioh has the nnrne of being the great Porknpolie of the world. The capacity for slaughtering aDd packing hogs has been vastly increased for the coming winter, and it is ee- PHILADELPHIA CORRESPOS DESfcB? Messrs. Editors: The Mowsgi and a'v'ompanying dncu* merits are before the public and are being digested, if any* body can digest the crudities, backwoods rlansr, and bad r' e oric of the MTat-ion characterized as The Second Annual M-osage of e\o,etc. A few months ago and wo deluded ourselves with«the hopo that Mr. Lincoln -was a constitu tion-loving, conservative President: but bin Message dis pels nverv shadow of a hop* or doubt that ever existed on that subject. It begins with nipg j r, ends with nigger, and s]velN nigger all through it. la not a word that looks to an alleviation of oar troubles, nothing to reach the grand idea of tho time. Instead it only breathes emancipation, the year 1900 (1) and a walling complaint that no nation on the face or fte earth will receive the nl?g*raft‘r Mr Lincoln hasba<fthehumanity to free him! The beet friends t f the Pn sldent are dlrapfolnted. what* ever may to said to the contrary, and the only jubilant ones over tbi* s»d error Into which the chief magistrate of the nation has fallen is that wretched, contemptible, small faction, the early f.upenter* of sedition and secession, to whom the Present thus appears to have sold blmtelf In the meantime Barnsid**, who was to have gone “on to Richmond ” so rapidly, don’t gv at all, and the whispers « f the removal of that officer but confirm what we said when he was appointed that he was to be sscnfi 'ed to make a place for Fremont, or Hooker, or some other of that Ilk. And Hal-eck’s report of ih» operations of the year, which report was intended to nse up McClellan completely, and was prepared for that end, only confirms the opinion of the people Ion; ago expressed as to the abl Ity of -Little Mao, and a%tlsfl-severy reasouingraind that Ualieck Is tbe man who should have bean removed, subsequent events proving th« troth of all McClellan’s qnrmbej exprcs»ed In his •Peninsula correspondence, and falsifying all that lUHeck predicted. But in the present beautiful mix of nfTilrs Mc- Clellan may thank his star* that he is not io command, and that somebody el-e meat hear the b'ame. He has got the inside track rf tbe politicians, the administration, and everybody else. :>nl With his etioog common-sense and prudence to guide him he can keep It. May his shadow n<-ver bele*s. To Phi adelphlans and Penneylvanlaufpthe most inter esti:-g portion of the Documents accompanying the PresV dent’s message is that Dor'ion of the Fecretary of the Navy’s Report which announce* hi* accoi-tmce of League Island as the now Naval Tter-ot fo» the country, for the construc tion cf Iron-Ciad Sie-truer- - , etc. Ail the intrigues of politicians, the machinations of New York-members and Interested committees, have tailed to shake the determina tion of the Secretary. who. although a Connecticut man and supposed to be open to a conviction in favor nr his own State, yet gallantly looks m tho interests of the country, astonishing the corrupted knaves who tried their b**ev to take advantage of h’B supposed pr-ju lic*s in favor of New London, and says that League Mmd la the p'ace. Let ihose who kr.ow that Pennsylvania is ti e great coal and iron producer for the conn rv. and that Philadelphia !« the groat centre/f manufactures for the natiou, rejoice that there is <*• m > honeaty left In ill * Cabinet. u Aa the holiday seas 'n approaches the annual book fever attack a u»nl' and ‘ifararv comm si I ties increase In interest. Foremost of all. now as ever, *.taod the valuable reprints of Messrs. L Sco-f ACo, New York, o mpri.-dng •• Black wood's Magazine.” and tho four quart* riv Reviews, the whole five of which are furnUhe'd to A-nerl-an readers at about the price of one at home—s-iv ten dollars per an num, while any single one may he had for three dollars. The November nurabrr of Blue- w> o I i-» a verv iuteiestlng one of this splendid rfid rori'dle*!. prcsenMog a mfac-1-- Uneous and attractive tab cof contents. Thin is the very time of year to begin n»*w subscriptions. There are nine readable articles in the now. or October, nnmber of tbe Westminster Review ”In tVee of which the religious views of th-> editor* nre collaterally set f-rth. There is a grand article oo Gibraltar om-on Se* Fisheries, o a on Railways, their O'st and Pr-fit, etc.. » ut the gem of the Dumber to American readers is a fair and candid reviaw of The Have Pover, a w* II written and well con sidered paper showing that we have some friends The resume of Contemporary Literature Is as usual full and thorough. Another of flnstsvn Almard’e floe stories. “ Th* Pirates of the Prairies,” or Adventures in the 'm-*rlran Deaeit is published this week bv T. B. Peterson A *-r there Ohesnnt street Taking his model f.-oni the Losiher Stocking of Cooper. Aim.ard makes th« heroes and heroims of a form»r st >ry. The Indian Scout, reappear in the i*re»»»o* exciting tab*. Tbernffi-in Shaw and hiss m Harry. Valentine Kblen, l)onna Clara aud Bed Cedar, arc all fine portralturea of a class of people of whom we should forever remaio in ignorance but for tho enterprise of mon like Almard. who spent uoarly bis whole life among the denizens "f tho wild forests thst he pictures so faithfully In this volume there are Inimitable descriptions of forest lite and scooery, masterly portraitures cf Indian character, and thrilling sceoes with robbers, etc , tho narrative being as fresh as a real advonture. It has lost nothing in boiog reudered from French into Krglish. The London illnstrated periodical, “ Once-a-W*-ek,” one of tho most beautif.il and Interesting periodicals published, continues to roach Am-rh-au readers through tho agency of Messrs. WiMmer A llo’ers, Nassau Ft, New York, and Uchatn and Zither, this city The great feature in Once a-Weok at present is tho admirable storv of Vi-ruer’s Prldo, by Mrs. Wood, au*hor of East Lyr>n«, Tin ChanniDgß, etc., popular s'o-ies that have had no rivals since John Halifax and Jane Eyre. Tbo Uiustratic-UH to Verner’s Pride are by the talented artist, Chas. Keene. Every uumlier of Once a-Week is pn fusely illustrated, and tbe articles and stories are all by tho leading authors of Englaud. A new volume is to be commenced tblsjnontli. and we urge our vendors to inquire for It at tho periodical depots, or to send for it to the agents above named They will n-ver regret taking into their families so henuHful and interesting a journnl. Meters Sheldon A Co. N*»w York, publi-h a very n-at little hook f«’r tbe Juveni’es al Christmas times, entitled Walter’s Tr nr iu by Mr. Eddy, author of lha popular series of little volumes entitled The Percy F nniiy. llatiflsoirtsl • prit:t -«i on tine ;>Ter, with good clsar tvpe, the illust-ati ms many and 1:00 t. and tho binding neatly done in scarlet and gt r, titi-r little book must come into great demand as the ••scas'n ” approaches. It is jn«t the kind of a book that, all good children like to get h Id of, comldniog ROchtl scenes and children’s play aud conversa tion. with insights into the mar-ell.ms thing? unfolded iu new and Rtrange countries. W*lter la a capital traveler, and parents should remember him fur tbe instruction and amusoment of their children. In one of th* mo-t eleum-t little volumes of the year, tinted paper, gilt e-hr-d tad b -u"’l in hovel ho-rds. >I-s-;rB. Tlcknor A Fields, of Boston, publish 'ho-rim dime p-omhad new Imok n f pains by Bnja>d Taylor. '-The Poet’s Journal.” Tbe beauty of the ext rlor of Ih s b-iutiful volume is not marr-.; Ibv a roforenco to its c intents The Poet’s Journal ih a record of crtiiu ev>»n<B io th<> domoi-tic life nf 'tie amh ir. in which ft friend and tho po.-t ? H sifter are tbe parties immediat-I'. int.-rf--Ett-d. Tb marriage, or thecunsent to the I)rid 1 1. i« <if course the result; the who'e courtship lu-ing celaio 1 io a variety ot metres, as it embraces a varietv of lin m*-s t'-hl in language of much totidernc-fls and de’*l<- tcy, y a is >u t : -d to Mr. Taylor’s muse, and require! by thi subject Bavari I'svlor’H poetry id rau'h superior t" I■ iu piooj, an t this del'ghtlul volume will add greatly lo hiq already v idts repu'ution. TI:o sniue publishers issiio u ni-w p-ethuniou? work of Major Winthrop’s - T-m» Canoe and the Saddle, or Adven tu es among the Norlbwen'orn Bivcrs and Furosts.” Tbo distant and p ctnie-qiie region* lying betwo-u tho mouth t'f ihe Cilumt i \ river hdcl Itu j si\n Am-ricß arc tbo locale <f this spiri’ed narrative. Two rh'efs of tho Indians, whom the an'bor sarcasricn'ly names King George ami tho Dukb of York, are the heroes i f tho b- ok, and tboro oro many b*-aniinl legends aid pictures of ton-st Ilf* aud scenery intersperse I throne! out th** record, it 13 a charm ing hcok and will add to tho fame of the author of John Brent, f'ecil IJreeme and Edwin Brnthvrtnit. It is pub lished in uniform style with tboso famous volumes. LATEST FKUffl VIRGINIA, INTENSE COLD —THE TRVtPA SUFFERINO FOR BLANKETS —ICE IV THE RIVERS —J aCKSON AT FREDERICKSBURQ —TUE P )VT )0V BRIDGE. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, ) « Dt’oember 7. j Last night the weather pras intensely cold, and some of the troops suffered fur want of blaoketa. Ice formed on the Potomac and Acquia creek from one and a half to two inches thick to day. The sun came out fair aud ohoering, hut the air continued piercing oold. The roads are hard and very rough. Officers well informed state that Jackson has arrived near Fredericksburg, and j lined his forces with those already there. [They also report that the enemy have extended their lines several miles further down the Rappa hannock. The report that Mojor Spaulding, of the Engineer Brigade, i?' under arrest for unne cessary delay in the transportation of the pon toon trains from Washington, is unfounded. That officer has been commended by his supe riors for overcoming weighty obstacles in exe cuting bis orders. There have been no field movements to day. , The Beauties of Newspaper Publishing The New York Times, referring tojthe expenses of newspaper publishing nt the present time, says white paper, the most expensive of all the articles which enter into the composition of a newspaper, now sells for 18 to 20 cents per pound, while ten cents has hitherto been the outside prieo/ J A ream or 480 sheets cost from $9 to $lO and returns to the publisher, at a cent and a half a sheet, after bemg printed, $7.20. On the cost of white paper alone, therefore, there is”a loss of over $3 on every thousand printed. Add to this the cost s> f news, com position. machinery for printing reportorial and editorial wages, tax on advertisements, tax on gross recipts, and the amount of profit -on newspaper publishing at the present time is not so great as to present very tempting in ducement for people entering into such enter prises. Washington’s Will Stolen and Sold. —lfc appears bv a statement madfi at a meeting of the New York Historical Society, that tbewill of Washington was stolen on the advance of the army into Virginia, and has since been sold to the British Museum. It was the last production of his pen, having been written ex clusively by Washington. It was deposited in the Fairfax court house, and was stolen by a Federal Boldier, and has found its way, not withstanding tli9 general announcement of the theft, into the cu i sry shop of the British, where it will doubtless remain, unless efforts are made to have it restored. ANOTHER LE TT h R FRO.tt GEN. SCOTT. Washington, Dec. 5. Gen. Scott, through the Intelligence*', finally and briefly replies to Mr. Buchanan, denying that he has any private resentments to gratify, stating that he has received many official courtesies from the late President, but to vin dicate justice and the truth of history, is a par amount obligation. He insists and shows that certain Southern States received an undue proportion of arms, and that many of them were not condemned. JJ.500.000 Dollars In Unsigned Certifi cates Stolen* A special despatch to the Times says that certificates of the denomination of $5,000, amounting to $2,500,000, have been stolen from Treasury Spinner’s desk,at the Treasury Department, Washington. Fortunately, they were unsigned. Measures have been taken to prevent the engraving of anymore of the same kind. AFFAIRS IN CANADA. Montreal, Dec. 4 —The thermometer, this morning, has fallen to 4 degrees below zero. Navigation has been closed, the- last river steamer leaving to-day for winter quarters. To-day fa observed a* thanksgiving through" outthe provinces. - New York, Dec. 7.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers