Stye CdncaSer Intelligencer :QBO* BANDKRBON, EDITOR. A. BASDBR9OS, Auoetat*. LANCASTER. PA., DECEMBER 30>1862. CIRCWDATIOII, HOOO COPIES I KsmiOH Eua, pw.jumiua. . t&B. H.P*TTw*mut Co.'a Anvis»iaiaa Agawr, ST ginrYofiqty, And 10 Bt>t» ttnjtgaOm^ U^sMtCftrCUl»- Bn* Newip»j3i lntt» United Bfis» «nd th£e«n»d»— Tbty in authorised to contract for os at our lowest rates A Amove, Na 835 Broadway, New York, me authorised to receive advertisements for. The JntaJ> gtmeer. at our lowest into*. 49* V. B. Paxjkxs, the American Newspaper Agent, N. B. corner llfth and Cheetnnt Streets, Philadelphia, is authorised to receive subscriptions and advertisements for this '&t ottr'tow«rTatee. • His receipts -will fee-re garded as payments. B9»Jons Wkxstxs’s AsvzEnsoro Aocrcr is loeated it Ho. 60 North 6th street, Philadelphia. He is authorised to reoelve advertisements and subscriptions fbr The Lancaster No. l Beollay’s Bnilding, Conrt St, Boston, If cor authorised Agent fbr receiving advertisements, Ac. cTtxit, flag. Now our flag Is flung to the wild winds free, Let it float Per our father land, And the guard of its spotless fame shall be Columbia’s chosen band., "CLING TO TIIE CONSTITUTION. AS THE SHIPWRECKED MARINER CLINGS TO THE LAST PLANK. WHEN NIGHT AND THE TEMPEST CLOSE AROUND HlM.”— Daniel Webster. Tax on Newspapers. The Government tax on news papers is excessive. It reaches them in four different 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 loss. 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 Very Latest. From Cairo, HI., we learn that the ■ rebels are becoming troublesome again in North Western Tennessee. They have destroyed two large bridges over Obion river, and de ’ stroyed two miles of trestle-work at Middleburg. It is reported that Gen. Grant’s army has fallen hack across the Tallahachee river. The telegraphic communication between Louisville and Nashville is cut oft. Morgan’s rebel cavalry, 3,000 strong, entered Glasgow, Ky., on Wednes day. Island No. 10 in the Missis sippi is said to have been evacuated by our troops. The rebel steamer Alabama, on the 7th inst-., captured the outward hound California steamer Ariel, off the Island of Cuba, and afterwards released the vessel under bonds of $228,000 as ransorar It is rumored that the rebel caval ry under Gen. Stuart have crossed the Rappahannock, and have occu pied Occoquan and Dumfries, cap turing several hundred prisoners, chiefly guards and sick and wounded soldiers, who were immediately pa roled. McClellan’s Abnegation. The course pursued by General' McClellan, in the evidence given by him before the McDowell Court of Inquiry, cannot but add to the esteem and admiration in which his character is held by the world.— With every, temptation to explain those points of' his conduct whilst in command of our Army of the Poto mac, which have furnished grounds for the malignant attacks made upon him by the radicals, he objected to questions that would have furnished him with an opportunity of defend ing himself, on the ground that they were irrelevant to the objects of the inquiry. That he did so simply be cause they would have the effect of implicating parties in regard to whose share in the failure of the campaign he has all along maintain ed a generous silence, no one can doubt who reads his evidence. One of the radical organs insinuates that his reserve on this occasion was caused by personal motives. It knows the^ character of the man too well to fear that he can be diverted from the course that he has laid down for himself by such imputations.— He hides his time for the full justifi cation of his conduct before the world. Not a day passes in the pro gress of the campaign that does not bring with it fresh evidence of the wisdom of his plans and of the folly and criminality of those who con spired to defeat them. It is Not the Cause. If negro slhvery is the cause of the war, as alleged by President Lincoln in his Message, why did it not produce war for the last eighty years ? This institution prevailed in every State of the Union at the foundation of the government, and is recognized and protected by the Constitution. To say, therefore, that slavery is the cause of the war is simply ridiculous. The real cause of the war is the anti-slavery pro pagandism which has sprung up at the North within the last thirty years, and such is the unbiassed, un prejudiced judgment of the Ameri can people. The Cabinet Imbroglio. The storm in the Cabinet has been allayed, and Sewabd and Chase have returned to their posts again. The radical plot has not succeeded with Old Abe this time. We shall await patiently the next move on the po litical ehhiui-board at Washington. Takes the Responsibility. In a dispatch to the Secretary of War, General Burnside takes upon himself all the blame of the disas trous repulse of the Federal army before. Fredericksburg. He admits that hie crossed the Sappahanno,ck at a point different frqjm the on* in dicated by General Halleox, hut that; he wariiidueed to do so under, the belief that the enemy had weak ened his force in front,by throwing a large portion of it down the river. By precipitating his entire command upon theapparentlyweaken ed point, General Burnside states that he had hoped to separate the forces of the enemy on the river below from those that occupied the rear of the town and the crest of the hill still farther to the south of it, and thus to take him at a disadvantage. He attributes the foilure of his plans to the fog, combined with the unexpected delay in building the bridges; but he de rives some consolation from the fact that if these obstacles had not pre vented his crossing as early as he expected to do so, he would almost certainly have succeeded in accom-- plishing his design, “ in which case,” he remarks naively, “the battle would have been, in my opinion, far more decisive than if we had crossed at the places first selected.” It is at least a melancholy satisfaction to learn from General Burnside’s own official report that he might have been successful if circumstances had been favorable; but that, as it was, after waiting for two days for the enemy to come out of their entrench ments, finding they were not dis posed to do so, lie concluded to re turn to his old camp across the river —a movement which he accomplish ed so quietly that he regained the north hank of the stream “ without the loss of men or property.” Gen eral Burnside estimates his casual ties in killed, wounded and taken prisoners, at “about” ten thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two. Retaliation Threatened. President Davis of the Confeder ate States has issued a proclamation, in which, after reciting some of the alleged atrocities of General Butler, and the vain appeal made to our Government for redress,' he declares “Benjamin F. Butler to be a felon, deserving of capital punishment;” orders that he be treated “ as an out law and common enemy of mankind, and that, in the event of his capture, the officer in command of the cap turing force, do cause him to be im mediately -executed by hanging and further, that “ no commissioned officer of the United States, taken captive, shall he released on parole before exchange, until the said But ler shall have met with due punish ment for his crimes.” The commis sioned officers of Butler’s command are to he “ considered as robbers and criminals deserving death, and, whenever captured, reserved for ex ecution.” The non-commissioned officers and privates are to he treated as prisoners of war, and to he sent home “ on the usual parole.” Gen. Banks at New Orleans. The expedition of General Banks is at length heard from. He has superseded General Butler, and es tablished his headquarters at New Orleans where he arrived on the 14th. Cn the 16th he issued a gen eral order, assuming command of the Department of the Gulf and State. of'Texas. General Butler was To sail on the 22d for New York. TREASOS IN HIGH PLACES, The Providence Post has a chapter on “ Treason in High Places.” It says : We have for months believed that there was a nest of traitors close to tbe very heart of our Government at Washington. Men high in position are making merchandize of liberty, and even Abraham Lincoln himself, if be be ever so hoDest, is not half sojpowerful as the traitors and thieves by wbomhe is surrounded. Is he honest ? Then why does he not lay his hand on these scoundrels? He knows them well enough. Why are they Dot arrested?— Why is not the nest broken up? When be receives proof that an Abolition Senator has attempted to send large quantities of hospital stores to the Rebels, why does he not, even if he dare not expose him, at least slide him quietly into Fort Lafayette, where are many Democrats who have never harbored a dis loyal word ? The truth is, Mr. Lincoln dare pot assail the Abolition traitors by whom bo is surrounded. McClellan and his Generals kept the plans of his Peninsula campaign a secret for months. At length, to prevent be ing ordered in another direction, |t wtw di vulged at a Cabinet council, Tho next day says tbe Prince de Joinville, it wna known to the Rebels ! In the same way have scorce of important facts gone forth. It is nobori'/tic that the Rebels know tbe Government's plana long before loyal men at the North get hold of them. The Administration is too busy with its party machinery to give any attention to rogues. If it can only get a few niggers, everything will go well. REMOVAL OF GEN. WOOL, The veteran Gen. Wool haß been removed from the command of the Department of Maryland, and Gen. Schenck is his successor. The Albany Argus truly says that Gen. Wool has proved himself a good soldier and a wise Governor. He so oondnoted affairs in Mary land as to keep that State quiet and true to the Union. He was hated and denounced by the “ Plug Ugly ” faction —the very men who raised up the mob that killed the Massachu setts soldierß in Baltimore. To get rid of the General, the false charges of the Harper’s Ferry Commission were published. These were refuted ; and now he is removed without pretence. honest iagot The Senate having requested the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish that body with the amounts of money paid on account of legal and other services in investigating land titles in California, since the year 1857, the Secre tary gives the reply of $200,373, exclusive of the ordinary expenses of the Courts in Cali fornia. Of this sum $151,709 were paid to sundry lawyers, for their services and ex penses, and thirty thousand, seven hundred and fifteen dollars to Hon. E. M. Stanton, be fore he became Secretary of War. The petty sum of $25,000 was paid to him simply as a retaining fee. Such third rate lawyers as Webster and Clay never dreamed of such compensation, but they were old fogies. The Gieard House. —By reference to our advertising columns it will be seen that the celebrated Girard House, in Philadelphia, which not long ago was regarded as the bouse of the country, has, after being closed for some time, owing to the exigencies of the times, been opened again under the superintendence of Messrs. Kanaga, Fowler & Co., gentlemen whose ability in this particular line of busi ness, is unquestioned. Mr. Charles Duffy, is at present the agent of the firm, and can be seen at the hotel in.that city, ready to faoili tate the public; in the style ior which this house has heretofore been so proverbial. WAR AHO OTHER NEWS. . Our intelligence from the Army of the Rap pah annook, though not of paramount impor tance, embraces, nevertheless, some pointa'of interest. In the first place, oorreepondents of the Northern papan assure us, with dueenj phasis, that .the arm; is riot going into winter; quarters. They advise os, however, lhaf; “operations in front may possibly be aban doned,” and a porti»Rx of thesoldiera sent beck: to Washington to defend the Capital against any advanoe of the enemy in that direction, whilst “ tha remainder may be shipped south ward to commence operations anew on the All this, of course, is bnt sur mise. At present the troops are busily en gaged invaliding huts, In anticipation of re maining at or near Palmonth for some time yet:to come;' whilst a number: of Generals, have arranged their headquarters in what the writer affectedly styles—“the most fastidious manner." Notwithstanding these, indications of pro longed occupation, an impression prevails that “ another attempt will soon be made to break the enemy’s lines.” In the meanwhile, the enemy does not appear to be idle. A Confederate detachment made a bold attempt, on Wednesday night lasi, to cross the Rappahannock fourteen miles below Port Conway, and, we are gravely assured, that the entire party was only saved from capture from the fact that some of Msjor Keenan’s Pennsylvania cavalry fired their guns prematurely, whereupon the enemy con cluded not to cross at all. General Sigel’s army corps, now stationed at or near Stafford Court House, appears also to be kept on the alert. On Monday last in formation which was deemed reliable reached his headquarters, to the effect that Hampton’s Black Horse cavalry were at Brentsville a few nights previously, and that their pickets were advanced towards Dumfries and Manas sas Junction. Subsequently, a stroDg Confed erate cavalry picket was discovered at the village of Summerville, a few miles west of Sigel’s position. The demonstration was not, however, regarded as a serious one, due pre cautions haviDg been taken to prevent sub prise by a flank movement. The gunboat fleet on the Rappahannock; “ to avoid being ice-bound, and also to ( be secure from attack by Rebel infantry,” has dropped down the river some ten miles below Port Conway. General Foster’s expedition against Golds boro’, now that the fact of its return to New born has been made public, attracts consider able comment in the New York papers. The Times complainß that the entire result of the expedition was that some damage was done to the railroad and telegraph wires," which damage is regarded as “ rather small fruit,” compared with the promising nature of the despatches, and especially when “ the heavy losses we sustained in the four victories ” are taken into consideration. On the whole, the Times is of the opinion that “ a properly or ganized seoret expedition of a dozen men, or a cavalry raid after the style of Stuart or Hampton ,4n ight have accomplished as much without sacrificing a single life.” The World assumes that Burnside's failure before Fred ericksburg “ rendered Foster’s movement of no practical value and addß, bitterly—“the lives lost are worse than wasted.” If we may believe the telegrams from the Southwest, the condition of affairs in that military Department is by no means satisfao tory. Whilst Sherman is conducting his im posing expedition down the Mississippi, for the purpose of co-operating with the flotilla from below in a second attack upon Vicks burg, and Grant is moving slowly by land in the same direction, the Confederates have swept round in the rear of the latter; have burned the bridge Over the Obion river, which cuts off all communication from Columbus and Cairo with Jackson, Tenn., and have captured various Federal outposts, together with the troops that were stationed there. After menacing Columbus and Paducah with one portion of their force, and threatening an attack upon Jackson with another, they have suddenly disappeared from before tho latter place, and made a descent upon Holly Springs, killing and wounding two hundred Federal troops, and taking prisoners one hundred and fifty more. All’tho cotton that was stored there fell into their hands and was burned. One hundred Government wagons were seized, to gether with a depot full of ammunition and commisary stores, valued at half a million of dollars. This, be it understood, is the account of their doings as se D t over the wires from Cairo, aod is therefore not likely to be exag gerated- After this exploit, they are said to have advanced upon Grand Junction for the purpose of capturing that important point, and destroying the railroad bridge over Wolff river. If they succeed, Grant, will be com pletely cut off from affording any relief to Corinth, Bolivar and Jackson, all of which places, it is apprehended, will fall into the hands of tho Confederates. “General Grant” says tho New York Times in an editorial roviow of tho situation “ having boon, as it appear*, effectually cut off from his base at Cairo, and from his interior positions Bolivar, O'nrinih and Jsokson, tho entire - course of tho T«mise«ee river is open to tho Kebnln.” They can occupy at will Forte Henry and Ponolsnn, plant batteries on tho hanks of tho Tennessee and Cumberland rivors and thus flank Gen. Rosecrans at Nashville. If, also, they suc ceed, as it is feared they will, in breaking up railway communication between Louisville and Nashville, “tho magnificent army of Rosecrans would be,” in the opinion of the Times, “ in such peril as would make every friend of the Union tremble.” These, of course, are merely speculations, but enough is already known to make it evident that mil itary matters at the Southwest are by no means so satisfactory as they might be, nor are the Federal expeditionary forces so certain of accomplishing their ends as the public had been previously led to believe. The Washington Correspondent of the New York Tribune, writes triumphantly, that it is now certain that the President will stand fast by his emancipation proclamation of Sept; 220 d, and that be has also made up his mind to garrison the Southern Forts with black soldiers 11 who will doubtless,” it is said, “ be used to enforce the proclamation of freedom for the benefit of their brethren.” It will oc casion no surprise that General Phelps will, in all probability, “ have an African com mand.” The town of Winchester is again in posses sion of the Federal troops. The Confederate pickets stationed there abandoned the place on the approach of Colonel Keys. Genera' Milroy, whose forces were at Middletown, is said to be advancing upon the same point. In the new financial project which Mr- Chase has submitted to the Committee of Ways and Means he not only asks authority to borrow “ nine hundred millions of dollars, in any of the modes heretofore authorized for making loans,” but he also regards the organi zation of Banking Associations under*Federal auspices, as vital to the success of his eoheme. He proposes to force all the banks to oall in their own issues of paper, by imposing a tax of two per cent, per annum upon their circu lation, his avowed object, it is understood, being “ to compel all existing banks to throw up their. present organization, and organize anew: under his proposed law.” Fortunately, itis bejieyedthata mqj brjty ofthe ; Committee , of Ways and Means arenppoaed tQ hi| Bohame, A COSGREBBION&L PROTEST. In the House of Representstiveß, on yester day week, Hod. George H. Pendleton, of ®bio, in behalf of Gimself and thirty five col leagues, presented'the following able.Migtu fifld and oruahing protest, of Mr. Stevens’ Biff tfra®reai tiait for certain arrestpjj’ AeX, jjr. J»3| mg? tion that the Protes£|e-'enter|! ups# thi Journal of the ofcpqiselcrotiai dowteby a corrupt ana tyranmeal majority: On (tie 9th day of December, A. D. 1862. rad doriotc the mmrat session of Cod grew, Mr Stevens, of Pa .introduced bill No. 591, entitled ‘•An Act to indemnify the Preeldent rad other persons for suspending the privilege of the writ of habits corpus, rad sets done in pursuance thereof,” sod sfter Its second rending mavedthat its consideration be msdo-thespeelslorder tbr-the-UoDdsy following;-wkteb ! motion being objected to, be moved the previous question, ''rad operation 4b tevorthe bill was ie«fs third time end paaied. & .. This blllinvolTßs questioned!the gravest importance. It provides 4hat-alt suspensions ofthe' privileges of the wvit.of habeas corpus, all,arrests and imprisonments, upon whatever pretext or .by whensoever made, under .the au thority of the President, however arbitrary, tyrannical or unjust, aro confirmed'radinade valid, aod all perrons who advised, or executed,:Qr aided la vxecntiag such acta, are discharged from all liability, whether to the Btate or to in dividuals, to respect thereof; and that all proceedings against them of every natore, whether for the recovery of damages, or the Infliction of punishment, “commenced or to be commenced,”'are discharged and made void. It also provides that the Preeldent may, daring Jhe'exlstence of tbe rebellion, at any time and anywhere throughout any of the United States, and as to any person, suspend the writ of habeas corpus. The bill is. framed* upon the Idea that the acts recited were illegal and without just cause or excuse; that they-were violations of the rights of persons arrested and imprisoned, and that for them redress might be bad Id the Courts of the United Btatee by resirt to the peaceful, regular and ordinary administration of the law. It was formed npoo the idea that the citizen was arrested witboot the existence of crime on his part, or even proba ble cause to suspect it, and that in making such arrests-the substance, as well as the form, of those provisions of law intended to secure personal liberty were entirely disre garded. It makes no exception of those cases In which the arrests have been made with malice and the imprisonments in flicted with circumstances of brutality and cruelty—in which the “public good” has been made the cloak where with lo cover the gratification of political animosity or pri vate hatred. It distinguishes in nothing between the cases in which an honest mistake has been followed by its immediate correction, and the cases in which malignity has by falsa pretences been enabled to procure the arrest aod to prolong the imprisonment to the loss of property, the destruction of health, and in some cases till the insan ity, suicide or lingering death Of the unhappy viotim. It distinguishes In nothing between the active officer, zealens in the fall discharge of his official duty, and the base mis creant who volunteers to assume the degrading character of spy and informer that he may with more effect secretly nse the falsehood which the .venom of his own heart has prompted him to invent. It proposes to condone all of fences—to protect all offenders, and to take away all re dress for injuries, however great, with whatever circum stances of aggravation or bad motives Inflicted. If these acts bad been done in all cases from the pnrest motives, with an eye single to the public good, with as little aggression as possible on private rights, with all cir cumspection and care that only those who were really gnilty should suffer such confinement as would prevent the commission of an unlawful act —if the public good were, in fact, subserved by them, it might be proper to protect the President and, thoee acting under hisamhority, from criminal prosecution and penal sentence—it might be proper to protect them from pecuniary loss by the pay ment from tbe public treasury of the damages assessed against them. Even than, whilst admitting that circum stances like these would, in seasons of great public daDger, negative all wrongful intent in the commission of these illegal acts, it must bo the duty of the representatives of the people to affirm that, at all times, tho President of the United States, be tore ull other men, shonld adhere to the forms of legal procedure when directing his powers against the personal liberty of tho citizen. It coaid nover be proper to indemnify tbe President and' those acting under his authority, at the expense of ihe cit izen whom they bad injured, ct to add to their security by tbe destruction of his remedies. Tbe Constitution of the United States guards most carefully th? rights of tbe citi •'zen; it was ordained to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and to secure the blessings of liberty; and so steadily wbb this object ever kept in view, that in addition to the preservation of all powers not granted, there are special prohibitions of seizures without warrant, detention without indictment, imprisonment without a speedy and> public trial, or deprivation of life, liberty and property, without du» process of law ; »Dd clauses which extend the judicial power of the United States to all controversies be tween citizens of different States, and secure a trial by jury Id ail cases where the value in controversy exceeds $2O. Congress has hitherto uniformly maintained, and as far as was necessary by its legislation perfected, these guarantees of personal liberty, aod the courts of justice have enforced them by tbe assessment of damages for their infraction. This bill proposes to deprive the courts of the power to afford such protection. It will, if carried into general and practical application, relieve tbe people of the duty of ap pealing to peaceful and legal means of redress, and will provoke more summary and less constitutional measures. Yet this bill—without precedent in nur history— suggest ing such grave questions of constitutionality and expedi ency-believed by many members to be utterly subversive of tbe rights of the citizen and of thizen against whom the wrongful acts have beeu perpetrated, iu violation of the plainest principles of justice and the most familiar precepts of coustitutiluai law. 3d—Because it purports to confirm and mnbe valid, by act cf Congress, arrests and imprisonments which were not only unwarranted by the Cur.ftilutioo of the United States, but were In palpable violation uf its express prohi bitions ) 4th—Because it purports to authorize the President during this rebellion, at any time, as to any person, and everywhere throughout the limits of the United htates to suspend the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus, whereas by the Constitution the power to mispeod ihe privileges Of that writ is confided to the discretion of CongrtSd alone, and is limited to the places threatened by the dangers of invasion or insurrection. sth—Became, for these and other reasons, it unwise and unjust; an invasion of private rights; an encourage ment to violence, and a precedent full of hope to ail who would usurp despotic power aud perpetrate it by the arbi trary arrest aud imprisonment of all who oppose them. 6th and finally—Because in both its sections it is in de liberate, palpable and dangerous violation ofthe Constitu tion, “according to the plain sense and intention of that instrument,” and is therefore utterly null and void. [Signed ] GEO. 11. PENDLETON, .TNO. LAW. WM. A. RICHAHDBON, C. A. WIOKMFFE, J. C. R.OBINEOR, CLI9. J. BIDDLE, P. B. FOUKE, J. A. CRAVENV,- JAMES R. MORRIS, ELIJAH WARD, A. L. KNAPP. PHILIP JOHNBTON, C. L. VALI.ANDIGHAM. JOHN D. STILES, C. A. WHITE, G W. DUNLAP, WARREN P. NOBLE, II 11. WRIGHT, W. ALLEN, W. H. WADSWORTH, W. J. ALLEN, . A. HARDING, 8. S. COX. H P. GRIDER. E. 11. NORTON, CHA9. B. CALVERT, (1. K SIIIEL, J E. KERKIGAN, 8. E. ANCONA, lIENKY MAY, J. LAZKAK. H. 11. NUGENT, NEIIKMIAII PERRY, GEO. A. YKAMAN, C. VIBBAKD, 11. P. GRANGER. Decisions by the Revenue Commissioner. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has made tho following decisions: That morocco, goat, kip or sheep skins are subject to a single duty of 4 per centum ad valorem, payablo either when tunned, curried or finished. Under tho provisions of section 75 of the Kxciso law, by which building-Btone is de clared not to he a manufacture, it is hold that stono dressed for buildings, whether rough hewn or oarved, is not subject to taxation, provided that articles manufactured from stono, marble or slate, such ns fireplaces and mantel-pieces, even though designed for par ticular buildings, but which aro of such naturo that they might bo introduced into the com merce of the country as articles of traffic, are subject to a tax of 3 per centum ad valorem. Other manufactures of stone, marble or slate, which are recognized as articles of traffic, are subject to a tax of 3 per centum ad valorem. It is the duty of Assessors and Assistant As sessors to apply these-jrules to oases as they arise. 5 the way they pile it up. The estimated expenses of the General Gov ernment, for the year commencing on tho Ist of June next, according to Secretary Chase's recent report, pile up as follows : Civil list, 7,163,288.97 Intercoursewith foreign nations 1 256.190 00 Miscellaneous, 1,431,879 83 Interior Department, 10,538,384 27 War Department, 738.629’146.80 Navy Department, 68,257,255.01 REPUBLICAN DOCTRINE, In the debate in the Senate on the subject of arbitrary arrests, Senator Morrill thus avowed the Republican doctrine on the subject of Law and the Constitution : " The laws of war are the law of the land, sir; that is oar state to-day and our condition to-day ; and in that sense it is the higher law ; it is the law above the Constitution and above all laws ; it is the law of our life and the law of our existence to-day. Our state to-day is that state known to nations where the laws are silent. Yonr municipal regulations and your Constitution have no voice for such an occa sion and such a time." Death of William H. Polk.—Hod. W. H. Polk, brother of the late President Polk, for merly a member of Congress from Tennessee, and once Minister to Naples, died suddenly at Nashville, on Tuesday week. He was -a Union man, and his death is a serious loss to the country in its present emergency. We invite attention to the advertise ment in to day's Intelligencer, headed “Valu able Farad, for Sale." . They are among the finest in Cook oounty, Illinois, and are veil Worth, the attention Of capitalists ; LOCAL DEPARTMENT Christmas. “ Cbriatmu CCUIB! bat once a jaar. '>• -in' l » ho “ I‘ cornea Storing. good d™.." Bo too the word* or an old eons, and ractaJia hare erery -g““* t“, b,li, 2™ J*W CMO horaaboote. Jfotwitlwtand figthe ploom-whteh Mora-o Var the eoontrT. and the re oentAarrlblaehngbter at EreSerlekaborg. oorWule wan' ga4t6 thro» aalde for one day (Aleut ddl caraand cot- togla theaualTas madry OTar tha sdTant of Christmas. v**- ’"• •» The itay m a fine one, and all aajoyedtt Many Tern the caltamada andiatnmed, andtha vine -i.— ~- i fM^*a^»rt.wugTMad.»jthhna^w< tamninß, happy feeea. Tat, >oaath all-thTa, than aumad to be a eorreot of sorrow prevailing. The gaiety and jori alty of other Cbrlstmaeee were not part and parcel of this, and for what reason oar readers are just as wall prepared to answer as we. 9 A nnmber.of oar city charches were handsomely fee* tooned and deeoraUd. Among others the Episcopal, Ist Reformed, Moravian and Catholic. Morning eer ▼f»* Held at fi o’clock in Bt. Mary’s Catholic, lstQer oun Reformed, and. the Methodist, and at each large and attentive congregatiOnd-were present- ' Services were aleo ®®J« istw in the day in a nnmber of ehorcheß. So that It .will be perceived a proper religious observance was made of the birth day of oar Saviour. ■The compliments pf the season to each and: all of oar *•*“•*■» a return of many merry Christmases and hap* pier Hew. Ynan to them.: v . * . “Young Men's Ball.”—We acknowledge the receipt of an invitation to attend a “YoongMen’s RaU,” at Fulton Hail, on New Year’s ere, to morrow night. The proceeds of the affair, we nnderstand, after payiog the necessary expense*, are to he given to a charitable ob ject.' The list of managers, with several of whom we are personally acquaints!, is a sore guarantee that a good time Is itf store for the participants. Of coarse “ye danc ing mao” or The Intelligencer will be present, pat his best foot foremost, “ And dance all night, till broad daylight, , And go home with the girls in the morning.’’ Another Soldier Qone to Best.—Sergeant Hctbt hat, of Company G, 79th Regiment, died on the 18th of ttoTember last, of Typhoid F*ver. Tbo following letter, handed to ns by a friend, speaks in the highest terms of bis good condoct and bravery. He was highly esteemed by his comrades in the Regiment and all others who knew him. B. was a son of Mr. Saar, orthis city, and was in the 23d year of his age at the time Of his decease: Camp icsab Nashvillx, Tehn, Dec. 17tb, ’62 Ma. Hsnbt Shat —Dear Sir: It becomes my painful doty to inform you of the death of yoar son, Qxicbt Shat. He was one of ihe Sergeants of my company, and died No vember 18tb, 1862. My company and myself mourn bis loss with you. He was very mneh beloved by all around him in the camp. I could not have been more sorry if he bad been my brother. We moarn hls.loss with your fam ily. May he rest in peace. He is dead.. God knows who will follow nest. The poor young man fought bravely through the bloody battle of Chaplin Heights, and did not receive a scratch. He was soon after stricken with the Typhoid Fever, of which he died. May God bless the fam ily. Your friend, FRED’S STRASBAUGH, Lieut, com’dg Co. G, 79th Reg’t, P. Y. Died op His Wounds.—We learn that F. Asbobt Potts, of this city, a .member of Company K, Fifth Reserves (Capt. Collins) has died from the effects of wbnnds received in the late battle on the Rappahannock. He ha« been throngh tbe whole campaign withthe Reserves and hss received three or four wounds in tbe various engagements, two at Fredericksburg, which Injuries have resulted in his death. He was once so severely wounded as to be sent to tbe hospital at Philadelphia, and as soon as sufficiently re. covered rejoioed bis regiment, and was at bis post when death overtook him. He proved himself a brave soldier, and has left a good record behind him. ’ Our Carrier desires us to Ray that be will j wait upon the patrons of Tax litTEUiasHCSB. as usual, on New Year’s Day. His address is well written and will | doubtless be looked for with more than the nsnai interest, j We trust.that he will meet with a kind and generous recep ) tlon, as he is a faithful and deserving man. j Pleasant Reunion.— Monday evening was 1 the occasion of a delightful reunion, at tbe Lancaster { County House, East King Bt., where our old (and late j bachelor) friend, Col. 8. H. Paics, entertained a host of his : male friends in a most samptuous manner. It is hardly I necessary for us to state the grounds which prompted to j this liberal entertaioment, for a reference to our “bymenial , record” of December fnily explains tbe mystery. Tbe Col j onel haviug gooe off, with a gay and festive part; in a very : nnexpecte-i way—to Philadelphia and New York—at both { of which places a series of brilliant parties awaited them, returned last week, and according to social custom Istued j invitatioos for a “stag party.” The beoch anfl the bar— tbe latter of which Col. P. is an active member—were pres* ] ent in fall force, besides a large number of other friends, ; and were it not- that the table was so abundantly snpptied . with eubutanti.ila and delicacies, added to the relaxed j rigidity of legal muscle, no outsider wogld have inferred ! that some knotty question of law was about to be unravel* i ed. Instead of (his, however, we had a discussion of the j good things on the table, and any number of spirited toasts | for the happiness of our friend and his amiable lady. The j viands were exquisitely prepared, and demonstrated that i mine host of tbe Lancaster County House knows how to j keep a hotel.— Wednesday's Express. i The above occasion we knew would be a happy one to all ; concerned, and our regret is that owing to a pressure of I business we were unable to accept the cordial Invitation i of our old friend Col. Price and bis most estimable lady.— | Long life and happiness be theirs. ] The Democratic Jubilee at Litiz.— The ! Democratic Jubilee at Litiz, on tbe Bth of January, prom , Iseß to be a grand affair. A supper will be served up, i which we know will be in Lichtenthaler’s best style, and 1 speeches will be delivered by a number of prominent Demo i crate. The splendid Fencibles’ Band of this city is engaged to furnish the on the occasion. Quite a number of I Democrats from this city will participate in tbe festival.— , ; We shall possibly be able to give a programme of the at* . fair in our next issue. St. John’s Day.—The anniversary of the birth of St. John the Evangelist, one of tbe patron saints of Free Masonry, ocenm-d on Saturday last, and was ap propriately commeir.orated by ibe Masons of this city. Lodg*s in ancient times were dedicated to King Solomon, the first M. E O. M . and continued to be so dedicated un til af er tbe rruaades. Among the various orders of Knigbtfi engaged in those chivalric wars, none were more conspica ooa than tho magnanimous order t f the Knights of St. John. Many brethren of the ancient craft also went forth to aid in redeeming the sepulchre of tbe Saviour from tbo hands of the infidels; between these and Knights of St. John there ex»s f ed a reciprocal fee'ing of brotherly love On the piaios ,c f Jerusalem they entered into a solemn compact of friendship, and it was mntnally agreed between th j .m that henceforth all lodges, whose members acknowl edge! the divinity of Christ, should be dedicated to Bt. John tbe Evangelist, who was the eminent Christian pa tron of Free Mason ty. Appointment of Revenue Commissioner. —Th* Court baa appointed Jacob B. T?hudt, Esq., of JVar wick, to represent thisJudlrl.il District (Lancaster county) Id the Board of Revenue Commissioners, which meets ovory three at the Btate Capital. This appointmsnt is ods of the best that could possibly have been made, and the Court deservta the thanks of the tax-payers for ap pointing so able and correct a business man to represent them as Mr.TsncDT. Fire.— A little after 4 o’clock on Tuesday morning last. Lecher's largo Morocco Factory, in Water street, near No 2 Ontton Mill, was discovered to be on fire. The alarm was Instantly eiven by the watchman of that beat, and several of the fire companies were promptly on the ground, where they rendered efficient aid in saving property. The building, which was of frame, was entirely consumed, but most of ihe stock was saved. The fire was doubtless the work of an Incendiary, as in the part of the building where it was first discovered no fire has been used for several weeks, the hot water used in the manufacturing of morocco being procured from ihe Conestoga Steam Mills. About $2500 worth of finished leather and all the books and papers of the establishment were saved. There Is an insurance of $2OOO on the stock in the Inland Insurance Company. Mr. Locher’s loss is from $lOOO to $l5OO. List of Killed, Wounded and Missing in the First Reqiubst P. R. V. C. commanded by Capt. Wm. Cooper Talley, in the engagement at Fredericksburg, on the 13th: Co A, commanded by Lieut. Cbeyney W. Nields : killed —Private Abraham W Tinsley; wounded—Corporal Jo seph James, forehead slightly; Privates, Joseph L. Pratt, arm and breast, Joseph Darlington, George Large, Albert Evans, John 11. Law; missiDg—Jos. McLaughlin, Charles Stem. Co. B, commanded by Lieut. Wm. L. Bear: wounded— Corporals Wenditz, J. L. Nauman. J. K. Rutter: Privates —G. W. Kendig, J. A. K. Lutz, J. M. Wortz. G. K. Swope. Co. C, commanded by Lieut. Joseph R. T. Coales : killed —Priva’e Alfred Webb; wounded—Corporal Edward El liott ; Privates, David Donaldson, James Aahbridge, Robt. Mills, Edward Farrand, Wm. Bt< we. Co. D, commanded by IJout. Wm. G. Wasson : wounded Private Abm. W. Brubecker; missing—Wm. H. Love. Co. K, commanded by Lieut. Wm. T. McPhall: Private J-’s. Keen, supposed killed; wounded—Private Androw Greenly. Co. V, commanded by Sergeant J. P. Drew: wounded— Sergeant J. P. Drew; Privato Frauk Penoypacker, Wm. Grey, Wm. Mcßride. Co. G. cnmuiimled by Sergeant Armltage: wounded— Privato JJ. Keoley, Chaa. Fry, Robert Spotten, William Miller. • Co. 11, commanded by Sergeant J. A. Growl: wounded— Corporal Wm. Ilaetiogs. Co. I. commanded by Llent. Wm .D. Halbert; wounded —Sergeant G. A. Keller, Private Ritner. Co. K, not In action, de.ailed as Provost. Guard at Brook’s Station. “ Uncle Sam’s Tailor Shop.— The Logan (Ohio) Gazette tbns bits off the contract tbe Government has made with a New York firm to furnish ‘•60,000 suits of clotbiDg for tbe Contrabands Como all yon “Free Americans c.b African descent.” De wisest ob all "measures” gits de Gnberment’s consent I We’re ordered tu de Tailor Shop, to git our ••measures” took— D-ir Is no shoddy in de esse, for Uhcle Sam’b de “crook!” Oh, Caesar—Sambo—Pompey ! Be raoovin ob yo’ boots— And go down to de Tailor Shop, And git yo’ bran new anils 1 De lady-killin’ Gumbo has gone and got bis close. And makes a biz scent aatioo now, to ebery crowd be goes; He weare a fur-trimmed obercoat, and broacloff pantaloons, And wid de ladies passes all de breased artemoonsl Oh, Caesar—Sambo— Pompey! Be moovin ob yo’ boots— ADd go to Uncle’s Tailor Shop, And pick yo’ out yo’ suits! Go airly!—foh do Guberment has lots ob suits to make I Dar la four million measures which de “crook” has got to take! And ebery morning airly de Shop is always fuß, And do clerks is very bnsy wid de cotton goods and wool. Oh. Cfesar—Sambo— Pompey! Go airly foh yo’ suits— Dar is f >or million measures, And ye’d better go yo’ boots! $827,279,134 88 I’s bound to hab n suit ob close— I’ll take a long-tail blue— De green horns dey de green backs make, and oceans ob ’em too 1 I will not foh de ’spenses stop, when to de Shop I’s went; Dey’re paid by ‘-Free Americana” ob 'Mcrican dsecentl Oh, Csejar—Sambo—Pompey l Be raoovin ob yo’ boots— Go down to Uncle’s Tailor Shop, And git yo* Sunday suits! The Weather.— We have been enjoying the mo»t delightful weather for the past four or five days —lt being of a balmy and Spring-like nature. The Washington correspondent of the New York Express writes as follows : Many of the wbanded arrived here last Tuesday night, and they are still coming in by way of the Potomac. Omnibuses and am bulances line the wharves to receive them, and the best of attendance awaits them at the hospitah, and as far as possible, amid the oar nage of battle, near the headquarters. This city has many of men under Burn side and his chiefs, and the deepest anxiety ie manifested to hear the details. There are nu merous personal arrivals and telegrams also for. information. One sees quite enough of civil war even at this distance from tbe fields of battle, lo believe that these are days when the god of carnage, of maimed limbs andbruis ed bodies, of diseased and broken hearts, and death, holds a high earnival over the miseries humankind. The soft air, placid Potomao, the singing of household birds, the bright sun. shine,seem instrange oontrast withtha bloody details yvhioh come freighted upon the tele-: gram and-by pBet.' - iS: THE HORRORS OF WAS. Vrom the Baltimore Ouette, 34th but. COM HITTER OB TBE CONDUCT OF THE WAR. AID THE DEFEAT AT FREDERICKSBURG. Tbe CoQunittee on the Condaot of the War returned from the 'army it an early hour Sunday morning. The committee were in session yesterday, and bave had before them Generals Halleck and Meigs. Their report willbe presented to Congress to-day, it is nn derstood. ' The Philadelphiviifuirer gives the follow ing aa its leading points : It appears that the change of base from Warrenton to Aqnia was a part of the plans of Burnside. He laid bid plans before Gens. Halleek, Meigs and Hanpt, at the celebrated council of war in Warrenton (of whioh we sent-you wort at tbe time.) The-plao was then approved, bnt was bronght to Washing ton to be submitted to the President; on the following day he received notice to-move at ooee; that his plans had the entire sanotion of the President and Secretary of War. His idea was to move'suddenly to'Fredericksburg; to cross there; open his base of sopplies from Aqnia, and pnsh rapidly on to Biohmond.— : From the distance tbe Rebels would have to march to reaoh his front, he expected to get thirty or forty miles south before they came np, and if they gave battle, he felt perfectly confident of bis ability to crash them and drive them into their works at Richmond. Sumner was started on tbe advanoe. In the arrangements made, however, in Warren ton, he was promised pontoons and sopplies shohtd meet him at Falmonth. Snmner was to arose at once, but when he arrived no bridge was there and no supplies. There was the fatal omission that saved the' Rebel army and their capital. It gave them a delay for ten days ; Snmner waited for pontoons to oome up. They came at last, bnt in the meantime the enemy had recovered from their panic and were throwing their whole army in his front. They were fortifying the heights opposite. Jaokson and Hill had made forced marches from the Shen andoah Valley, aDd arrived in his front.— The enemy grew desperate and sent forward every spare man from Richmond to impede our advance. The best evidence of their weak position is shown from tho fact that they hurriedly massed all their army in Eastern Virginia, in Burnside’s front; every other point was eva cuated. Storms and minor matters made tem porary delays, bnt at last the army was ready to move. Several plans were proposed to oarry their works in front." That of General Bnrnside was to oarry the first line by storm, and then to follow them so rapidly that they could not make a stand be hind the others, wheD they were to be driven by the reserves until deoimated, and forced to surrender or disperse, or scatter aDd take to the mountains. The plan was approved by the leading Generals with the exception, we learn, of GeD. Hooker, who dissented, bnt agreed to lend his energies to the attack. It was a brilliant one, and waa endorsed by General Halleok, who had previously issued orders to General Burnside that the enemy must he attacked. The battle was fought. The enemy’s right was turned by FraDklin ; the corpß of A. P. Hill was driven from tho first line into the seoond. Tbe Rebels received reinforcements. Oar troops halted ; none came to them. They were overpowered by superior numbers and fell back. Here was the critical moment of the d ay ; we loßt it for the time. On our right we were leßs successful, but won some ground at nightfall. Burnside was dissatisfied with the work, but not disheart ened. He determined to make another effort at daylight, and believed we could succeed, but a council of war was called. All were opposed to it; and he had but one course to pursue—to fall back. “None will ever believe how near we came to haviDg a success,” said Bnrnside. We l'-st, by Burnside’s testimony, about 10,000 killed aDd wounded; and many of the wounded, perhaps two-thirds, will be able to join their regiments. It was said that Snmner onght to have forded the river when he arrived ; but there was four feet of water, and the men would have been in an isolated condition if a rain had raised the river, and the Rebels might have fallen upon him when reinforcements could not have reached him, and crashed him, and. perhaps, taken the whole prisoners. General Honker wanted to come down on the south side of the river, but his doing so would have plaoed him in the eame isolated condition. General Kaupt is exhonorated from all blame in not having had the railroad in ope ration sooner. He acted subordinate to Gen. Halleck, and completed his work in a mnoh shorter time than any one imagined could be done. There was a delay there, bat it rests solely with General Halleck. General Meigs throws the. blame of the non arrival of the pontoon train on the engin eers, but Gen. Halleck-Bays they are in no way responsible for any details regarding any movement. Gen. Woodbury, Chief of Engineers, attri butes the delay of the pontoons to their not having been started in time, and the bad roads. Who is directly responsible for this the committee are now endeavoring to ferret out. The President and Secretary of-War are entirely free from all responsibility ; there is no civilian interference ; the censure will all fall npon military men. The testimony of Gens. Halleck and Meigs closed the evidence before the committee.— The despatch ordering the pontoons to be sent to Aquia was written at Warrenton by Gen. Meigs, and signed by General Halleck. Both shield themselves upon the idea that they are not responsible for the failure of their subor dinates. Halleck aays he had no more bnaineas with it after issuing the order than he had with the morning of the artillery, and Meigs says the engineer department is not nnder his control. The action of the engineer brigade in Fal mouth, in faltering when put underfire in the booming, and taking all day to put up the bridge, is a fault of no litt'e magnitude, as Gen. Burnside says their delay allowed Lee to oonoentrate his forces in front—a part of which were down at Port Royal. For The Intelligencer. HISS LUCY BECOMES EXCITED OVER THE SUSPENSION OF “ WILBER. FORCE DBITERSITT”—SHE EF FERVESCES, AND THEN GROWS JUBILANT OVER THE PROSPECT OF GENERAL EMANCIPATION. lam surprised. lam chagrined. I am belligerent Wilberforce University has suspended. lam disappointed that we have not philanthropists enough Id the country to sustain an Institution as respeotable. lam indignant that tbe necessity for its existence is not appreciated. I wonder where ail the Progressives are. I ask, why do they not come forward, with their money, to sopport this hon ored and valuable seat of Learning? I enquire, must It become forever a thing of the past, crushing tbe hopes and dwarfing the aspirations of the noble “Americans of Afri can descent?” I am amazed that the supporters of our wonderfully worthy Administration will - allow eneh a disgrace to shadow their fair names and fame. lam afraid they are unconscious of the flight of time. I fear they forget that iu two days more an immense part of tbe Southern Liter ati will be rnsbiDg North to seek a higher intellectual cul tivation. Oh! must they meet with disappointment?— Must their ardent longings still remain unsatisfied?— Mercy, mercy; ye lovers of our cherished “colored breth ren 1” Will you allow the want of sordid pelf to limit tbe upward Teachings of immortal minds? I thought your trust 10, end care for, the everlasting Negro waa deep, ever-abiding and without the possibility of change. Verify my opinion; open your purse-strings and make provision for tbe educational wants of the Unchained Four Millions. I would have you also manifest your joy in the approach of the day of liberation. I would like you to lift op tbe voice of rejoicing till it startles the “wide, wide world.” I desire yoo to “ Shoot tbe glad tidings, exultlngly sing,” The Black man is free, and Abraham’s King. * lam filled with unspeakable thanksgivings. lam burst ing with praises of the great Emancipator. lam overflow ing with love to his dear, oppressed proteges. lam exult ing over this Administrations! triumph. I am smiling over tbe discomfiture of its opponents. I am thinking bow unresistingly those diabolical masters must submit to the Proclamation decree, as unalterable as tbe laws of the Medes and Persians. lam thinking how Jeff. Davis will bide bis diminished head under the mandate of one greater, and wiser, and higher than he. Our King Is “a tower of strength.” He can sway his seeptre over both Lincoln’s and Davis’ dominions. I believe that on the Pir«t day of January, 1863, every son and daughter of Him will “go free.” I see, in imagi nation, “a great cloud of witnesses” far in the South. I hear their glad, triumphal songs. I perceive that the air Is heavy with stout incense ascending from the midst of that dark mass, and wafted hitherward by the breezes of liberty in b!a*tefxnc, A iQO* 2 5 ■ O S -Jg A S 2 D - • Z 5 M m D 2 •* d£&s a m < ;.:' cd . S 5- h fa CD JANUARY ~T~2 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 FEBRUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6' 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 - 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 MARCH 1234567 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 APRIL 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 - 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MAY 12 3456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JUNE 123456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JULY 1 234 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUGUST 1 2345 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 SEPTEMBER „ 12345 * 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 OCTOBER 123 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 119 20 21 22 23 24 ' 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NOVEMBER 1234567 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DECEMBER 12345 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 107 'BT. A BILLION OF DE_ The Chairmen of the Committee of Ways and Means in Congress, Mr. Thaddeus Ste vens, has introduced a bill repealing the law requiring the payment of interest oh the pub lic debt in gold, and authorizing the issue of a Billion Dollars of U. S. Bonds for the pur pose of providing means to carry on the war. In this connection it may be well for us to try and comprehend just what a billion is. It is easy to say that it is ten hundred thousand millions ; but that conveys no adequate idea of the vastness of the amount. What, then, is a billion ? Avery short answer will suf fice for a very long story. It is a million times a million. But whb could countit?— No man ! A quick bank teller can count one hundred and sixty or seventy a mioute. But let us suppose he could go as far as 200. Then one hour would produce 12,000. a day 288.000, and a year or 3G5 days 105,120,000. Let us suppose, now, that Adam at the be ginning of his existence had begun to count, had continued to do so, and was counting still he would not now, according to the usually supposed ago of our globe, have counted near enough. E**r, to count a billion, he would require 9,520 years 34 days,'s hours and 20 minutes. Now supposing we were to allow poor Adam 12 hours dailv for rest, eating and sleeping, he would use 19,024 years, 60 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes.— Exchange. THE PRESIDENT’S THANKS TO THE ARMY OF THK POTOMAC Washington, Dec. 23. The President has issued the following: Executive Mansion, 1 Washington, Deo. 22. j To tbe Army of the Potomac: I have juat read your Commanding Gen eral’s preliminary report of the battle of Fredericksburg. Although you were not successful, tbe at tempt waa not an error, nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, maintained tbe contest against an entrenched foe, and the consum mate skill and success with which you crossed and reorossed the river in the faoe of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of popular Government. Condoling with the mourners for the dead, and sympathizing with the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is comparatively so small. I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the tbanke of the nation. Signed, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. A WARNING TO THE NEW UNION AND NEW CONSTITUTION MEN, WHO AHE TRYING TO DESTROY THE GOVERNMENT. The New York Express otters the following warning to the Abolition radicals who tell us the old Union and Constitution are gone, and that we must form anew and different one. It says: “ But, if these new constitutional mongers be, as Thad. Stevens hinted, (and be acts upon the hint,) really reforming a new Union for a new Government—with a new Constitu tion—let ns all aot in the reformation. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the Great "West, can have a much better Gov ernment, with the Sumners and Wilsons, of Massachusetts, out than with them in. A new Union—with a line drawn from the Connec ticut River, and extending to the Rio Grande —would go on well. ‘ The olergymen of Massachusetts,’ alias the politicians, in mock clerical robes, nowso much worried by slavery, wonld then be worried"no more. Tbe sin of slavery would not then rest on Sumner’s con science. Canada might welcome what we wonld then be rid of—but Canada would soon learn wbat an element of mischief and disorder she had permitted to nestle in her unhappy bosom." Serious Charges Against a Congressman. The Albany Evening Journal quotes the fol lowing paragraph from the Cincinnati Gazette, and accompanies it with the comments ap pended : “ Certain New York members of Congress are said to have been detected in receiving fees for procuring commissions in the army, in one ease charging as high as four hundred dollars for their services in procuring a single commission of a low grade." “We have heard similar rumors, and they point to Hon. Alfred Ely, Representative in Congress from the Monroe District, in this State. A case like this is stated : A young gentleman from his district was an applicant for a position in tbe Navy. Tbe application was pressed for some time, but without appa rent success, when Mr. Ely informed tbe young man that there was another applicant for the place, who could be bought off for $250. This amount was handed over to tbe member, and the commission was soon after secured. Sub sequently, as the story goes, it was ascertained that there was not only no other applieant in tbe way, bat that Mr. Ely had the commission in his pocket when he bargained for the $250.” Several other cases of a similar character are being brought to light. “ One of Mr. Ely’s brokers—one Brown, of Rochester—is an applioantfor paymaster in the Navy. This position, requiring the highest integrity, is to be secured for the applicant, if possible,|to reward him for his past servioes in behalf of this ‘ venal Congressman.’ ‘ Like master like man,’ is an) old adage; and ~ the community in which both ‘master’ and:‘man’ live, do them both injustice if either of them are proper persons to oceopy the responsible position of Paymaster in the Navy.”—if. K Times. . Shipment of Cotton.— A commission merchant at St. Looison Saturday week ship ped 820 bales of cotton for Pittsburg. whenoe it will’go via railroad to Eastern markets.— This cargo is worth, at present prieesj « quar ter of a million doUqrf.. A gqual torn* before by oae twit.