me to cr'ticise it, and I write in no spirit of
<: itioium, but simply to explain tbe full diffi
culties that surround tbe enforcing it. If
the enforcement of that order becomes tbe
policy of the government, I as aso'dier, shall
be bsnnd to en-force it steadfastly, if not
cheerfully. But if left to my own discretion,
us you may have gatoered from my reason
ing, I should take a widely different course
irutn that which it indicates.
Io a loyal state I would put down a servile
insurrection. In a state of rebellion I would
oonfiscatc that wbiefc was used to oppose my
arms, and take all that property, wh cb con
stituted the wealth of that state ar d furnish
ed the means by which, the war is prosecu
ted, beside being the cause ot tbe war ; and
if, in so doing, it should be objected that
human beings were brought to tbe free en
joyment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness, sueh objections might not require
much consideration.
Pardon me for addressing tbe Secretary of
"War directly upon this question, as it invol
ve- s me pxluicni c tiMOeraliuUd aa well as
propriety of military action.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.
Decision of the Government.
Instructions to Gen. Butler regarding " Con
trabands. "
"WASHINGTON, Aug. 11. —The following let
ter has just been despatched to Gen. Butler
by the Secretary of War :
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 1861.
GENERAL: —The important question of the
proper disposition to bs made of fugitives
from servico in States in insurrection against
the Federal Government, to which you have
again directed tny attention in your letter of
July BOth, has received my most attentive
consideration.
It is the desire of the President that all
existing rights in all the States be fully re
spected and maintained. The war now pros
ecuted on the pait of the Federal Govern
ment is a war for the Union, and for the
preservation of all the constitutional rights
of States and the citizens of the States in the
Union. Hence no question can arise as to
fugitives from service within the States and
Territories in which tbe authority ol the
Union is fully acknowledged.
Tbe ordinary forms of judicial proceedings,
which must be respected by military and
civil authorities alike, will suffice for tbe en
forcement of legal claims. But in States
wholly or partially under insurrectionary
control, where tbe laws of the United States
are so far opposed and resisted that they
cannot be effectually enforced, it is obvious
that the rights dependent on the execution of
those laws must temporarily fail, and
it it equally obvious that the right dependent
on tbe tews of the States within which miii
tary operations are conducted, must be nec
essarily subordinate to the military exigen
cies created by the insurrection, if not who!*
ly forfeited by the treasonable conduct of the
parties owning them.
To this general rule, the rights to services
can form no exception. .The act of Congress
approved August 6th, 1861, declares that if
persons held to-seryice shall be employed in
hostility to the United States, the rights to
their services shall be-forfeited, and such
persons shall be discharged therefrom. It
follows of necessity that no claim can he rec
ognized by the military authorities of the
Union to the services of such persons when
fugitives.
A more difficult question is presented in
respect to persons escaping from the service
of legal masters, it is quite apparent that
the laws of the State under which only the
services of such fugitives can be claimed,
must needs be wholly, or almost wholly, sus
pended, as to remedies by the insurrection
and the military measures necessitated by it,
and it is equally apparent that the substitu
tion of military for judicial measures, for tbe
enforcement of each claims, must be atten
ded by great inconveniences, embarrassments
and injuries.
Under these circumstances, it seems quite
clear that the substantial rights of loyal mas
ters will be best protected by receiving such
fugitives,, as well as fugitives from disloyal
masters, into the seivioe of the United States,
and employing tbem under such organiza
tions and in such occupations as circumstan
ces may suggest or rtquire. Of course a
record should be kept, showing the name
and description of the fugitives, the name
and the character (as loyal or disloyal) of the
master, and sueh facts as may be necessary
to a correct understanding of the circumstan
ces of the case. After tranquility shall have
been restord upon the return of peace, Con
gress will doubtless properly provide for all
the persons thus received into-the service of
"the UnioD, and for a just compensation to the
loyal masters. In this way only, it
would seem, can the duty and safety of the
Government, and the just rights of all, be
fully reconciled and harmonized.
You will, therefore, consider yourself in
structed to govern your future action, in re
spect to fugitives from service, -by tbe prin
ciples herein stated, and will report from
time to time, and at least twice in each
month, your action in the premises to this
department.
You will, however, neither authorize nor
permit any interference by the troops under
your command with the servants of peaceful
citizens in the house or field; nor will you,
in any way encourage such servants to leave
the lawful service of their masters ; nor will
you, except in cases where the public safety
may seem to require it, prevent the volunta
ry return of any fugitive to the service from
which he may have escaped.
1 am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedieDt servant,
(Signed.) SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary ot War.
To Major Oeneral B. F. BCJTLER, Command
ing the Depsrtmeutof Virginia, Fortress
Monroe.
Purge Washington.
We lately called attention to the remark
able fact, that while our plans in Missouri
ard in Western Virginia uniformly succeed
ed, everything planned at Washington fail
ed. We see that the same observation has
been made in other quarters, and ascribed
to the same cause—tbe prevalence of treason
at the Capital.
McClelian has a hnrl work before him
He is to conduct a campaign in which a
large portion of his pIaDS will he divulged
to the enemy. Such as he may confine to
bis own knowledge nd that of G< D. Scott
and his own staff, may be preserved secret,
but such as from ihe rature of the case, ne
cessarily get into the departments, he will
have no control over, ilis task in Western
Virginia was comparaiivly an easy one—he
bad open foes. In Washington the atmos
phere seems thick with treason. A culpa
ble Unity spares those who should suffer,
and the escape of one spy makes ten others
by such strange impunity.
In this view the whole nation will applaud
the resolute determination of Gen. McClelian
both to keep his own counsel, ent usting it
to DO possibly leaky vessels, and to organize
bis S'aff of perfectly reliabio material.—
Meanwhile the mildness of our government
becomes more and mare difficult to under
stand. When we think of those who fell at
Bull Run, of thousands of Union men killed
plundered, beggarpd, expelled from their
homes,forced into ihe ranks,we lose patience
with tbe tolerance of treason to avoid dis
missing office holders, who, in fact, deserve
imprisonment if not worse.— Inquirer.
Cje Centre Jcntorrat.
BELLEFONTE, PAT
Thursday Morning, Aug. 15th '6l.
J. J. BRISBIN, EDITOR & PUBLISHER.
W. W. BROWN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR.
THE People's Party of Centre county, and those
in favor of sustaining the National and State
Administrations, the Constitution, the union of
the States and the enforcement of the laws. Those
who desire to see rebellion punished and our na
tion 1 honor vindicated, are requested to meet on
Saturday the 24th day of August, in their respec
tive Townships and Boroughs, at the usual places
of holding elections, and choose by ballot, three
delegates from each Township, whose duty itshall
be io meet in County Convention at the Arbitra
tion Room, iD the Borough of Bellefonte, on
Wednesday evening, the 2Sth, (Court Week,) at
7 o'clock, P. M., to nominate candidates for the
several offices at the general election. The elec
tion for delegates to be opened at 4 o'clook, P. M.
and to be kept open until 6 o'clock of said day.
EDMUND BLANCHARD,
Chairman of County Executive Committee.
Garibaldi.
The great Garibaldi fcas tendered his ser
vices to the Federal Government. The cor*
respondence in which tbe offer was made
and accepted took plac6 between the Amer
icad Consul at Genoa and Secretary Seward.
The offer, of course, was accepted and the
rank of Major-General tendered to the noble
Italian.
A New Project.
There is anew project on foot for uniting
Europe and America by a telegraphio cable
by the way of Faroe Islands, Iceland and
Greenland. The proposed line is the one
originated by Col. Shaffner, who has obtain
ed from the Danish government all the
cessary concessions required for carry it in
to effect. It appears that the greatest depth
between Orkney and the Faroe Islands is
255 fathoms, between the Faroe Islands and
Iceland 682 fathoms; between Iceland and
Greenland 1540 fathoms, and between Green
laDd and Labrador 2032 fathoms. The ag*
gregate length of submarine telegraph by
tbe proposed route will be tbout 1750 miles;
land lines about 300 miles making a total
of about 2C50 miles.
Congress.
Congress adjourned on Tuesday the 6th.,
inst., after l aving been in session one month.
In that short time it has accomplished as
much work as is usually done at a regular
session. It has authorized the enlistment of
a million of men, if necessary ; appropria
ted about $300,000,000 for war purposes ;
virtually repealed tbe sub-treasury law ; au
thor zed the issue of treasury notes in sums
of $5, $lO and S2O ; confiscated tbe property
of the rebels ; levied a direct tax ; modified
the tariff ; and enacted all the measures as
ked fur the government for the suppression
of the rebellion ; and enactsd a law increas
ing the fay of the soldiers from eleven to
thirteen dollars per month, which comes up
more to the standard of Justice, and also af
fords additional inducements to volunteer.
It has been an eventual session ; its meas
ures are fraught with the the highest impor
tance ; and their effect upon the country
will be felt for generations to come.
Gen. Butler.
We call the attention of our readers to
the letter of Gen. Butler published on our
first page. Gen. Butler was a Breckinridge
Democrat, voted eighty times for Mr. Breck
inridge in the Charleston Convention, and
was the first mac. to secede from said Con
vention after tbe nomination of Stephen A.
Douglas. He then followed the fortunes of
Mr. Breckinridge to Baltimore, voted for
him there seventy times more, and adhered
to him until after the Presidential election.
If we were to say what Gen. Butler has
written, the dough-faces of the North would
call us an abolitionist. We care not what
they call us, we say that Gen. Butler is right
and we call upon the country to prepare for
the next step this noble hero will take in fa*
vor of Universal Emancipation in the Rebel
States, Let tbe conservative doughfaces of
of the North keep their eyes steadily axed
upon Gen. Butler.
A Sabbath Assault.
We are pleased to see that there is a gen
eral disposition, on tha part of the religious
press, to speak of tho conduct of our army
officers, in their desecration of the Lord's
day, and that also there is a great degree of
uninamity in condemnation of the impiety.
We weuld cherish no superstitious feelings,
but we know that God's Kingdom ruieth
over all, and that man's body needs rest
and man's mind needs tha influences of re
ligion, and that God will bold man account
able for desecrating the sabbath day. We
hope that the officers of the American Army
will, hereafter have the fear of God in their
hearts and never again, if at all avoidable,
lead their men into bat'le upon God's Holy
Day.
The American Presbyterian says of the as
sault at Bull Run.
" We are not among those disposed to
carp at the Government, or to pick flaws in
a policy which as a whole, is SJ wise and so
vigorous ; but we are compelled" to join in
the general proteei against the initiation of
active military movements on tbe Lord's day.
There may have been r atons am OLD ing to a
military necessitv for the movement on the
morning of the da? of rest— the 21st of July
—but we doubt it. Ou toe contrary, it would
seem that the week had been one of severe
fatigue to our untried volunteers. They
had fought a battle and met with severe loss.
They had marched thirty miles, through a
deserted country, and under excessive heat.
The enemy was but imperfectly comprehen
ded. and a days repose would not, for aught
we can see, have resulted in anything but
advantage to our forces. Tbe result, indeed
might have been unchanged ; but the appre
hension that we had perhaps offended the
God of the Sabbath, would not have mingled
a new drop of bitterness in th 6 cup of disas
ter."
Whether defeat was seat to army of. the
North because they brought about the bat
tle on tbe Sabbath, or not; one thing is cer
tain that no attacking army oan expect tbe
Divine being to cause victory to perob upon
its banners simply because (hey did fight on
Sunday.
"T3E3C3ES CE3VTHE OEIttOCRAT -
The Burning of Hampton.
The buranig of Hampton is another of
of those remarkable 'acts of war' for wbioh
the rebels have become so famous. To des
troy property appears to be their chief de
light, and whether it be the property of
friend or foe is a matter of indifference to
tbem. At Martineburg, on the Kenawha,
and now at Hampton, they have inourred
the just indignation of those who might oth
erwise have been their friends, by a wanton
destruction of property, from which they
cannot expect to realize the least benefit—
It is said that their excuee for burning
Hampton is that they desired to prevent
Gen. Butler from using it as Winter Quar
ters ; but as there are no decided indications
of tbe rapid approach of cold weather, it is
not likely that the General had given them
any reasan to think that such was bisinten
tion. It is more likely that they intended
to increase, if possible, the hatred of tbe
South against the Federal troops, by boldly
charging tbem with this act of incendiarism.
Who did it ?
It is pitiable to notice the attempts of rival
papers and rival parties to fix the blame of
the late defeat upon each other, There never
was an effect with so many direct causes. It
was Greely—it was Scott —it was the Preste
dent—it was Congress—it was Sunday—it
was whiskey—it was hunger and thirst—it
was rash valor—it was cowardice—it was
volunteers—it was Patterson, McDowell,
Mileiand newspaper correspondents—it was
the teamsters and heaven knows how many
other persons and things, all of which alle
gations arejust worthless. This panic is not
without precedent. Defeat has endured a
thousand times by the best causes without
involving dishonor, and so now. The fact is
there was a miscalculation of forces. Bull's
Run was Great Bethel upon a large scale,
and one of those apparantly inevitable disas
ters from which a people will rise girded
with more strength and certain of victory.
Let us then abandon these fruitless dis
cussions, thankful that the sacrifice was no
greater, and ODCO more rally for the figh l
with the recollection, (to kindle courage and
nerve the arm,) of the poor fellows so horri
bly mutilated by a foe who neither respects
law nor indulges compassion. Who did it?
will not need to be asked again over a defeat;
when next it becomes the question of the
nation it will be to ascertain the heroes to
whom it ows deliverance, and whose brows
are to be crowned with immortal laurels.
There Shall be No Alps*
Napoleon Bonaparte was about twenty
seven years of age, and had been married to
Josephine only ten days, when he set out to
assume command of the Army of Italy, and
repair the reverses of Schever. " Advance
this young man," said Barras to one of his
colleagues, ''or he will advance himself with
out you." "In three months," said the
young General, "I shall be either at Milan or
at Paris." When told that the Alps were
impassable, he deolared, in the orders of the
dav, "Thereshall be no Alps." In iess than
a month he gained six battles, and before a
year had elapsed, he had grown old in vic
tory. We have plaoed at the head of the
armies of the Union a young hero, who has
already giving us quite aa significant indica
tions of bis capability as had the Corsisan
artillerist when tbe Directory sent him to
Italy. He has begun to train for the future
the material placed in his Lands, and we
believe the brilliancy of the result will justi
fy the truthfulness of the parallel. He takes
up the cause where a mortifying defeat has
left it. He is conscious of the diffieulties in
his path, but by the energy with which he
addresses himself to his mission, he pro
claims his confidence in overcoming all ob
stacles, and by bis every act declares—
" There Bhall be no alps," Not only so, but
be has electrified those around him with the
same ardor, and it oniy remains for tbe Gov
ernment and people to second his efforts, in
order to make tbem successful. We are con
fident that masked batteries, incendiarism
and murder may be met and overcome, and
that though these obstacles may be accumu*
lated in bis way, and stand like mountains
to oppose his triumphal progress, yet to the
Napoleon of the West, as to tbe Napoleon ot
the East, " there shall be no Alps." Three
months will tell the story, and Virginia
must oontinue to yield to him, as did Italy
to his prototype, a harvest of vtotories.—
Phil, luquirer.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.— An exchange
asks this question:
" Would Gen. Washington have surren
dered Maj. Andre to any writ of habeas cor
pus ? The question suggests the answer.—
He would not."
We commend these few lines to those ten
der hearted secessionists, who are so exercis
ed at the suspension of the habeas corpus to
prevent the escape of traitors. They contain
more reason than the speeches of both Breck
inridge and Valandigham.
KENTUCKY.— Kentucky, in her recent elec
tion, has gone overwhelmingly lor the Union.
When this fact was announced by Hon. G.
M. Wycliff in the House, tremendous ap
plause broke forth, which was greatly aided
by the rapping of the Speaker's hammer.—
The recreant son of Henry Clay (J. B. Clay)
is defeated by his Union competitor, in Fay
ette county. A nephew of Gen. Anderson,
the defender of Sumpter, is elected in Frank
lin Co., over a Secessionist.
03r* A New York Zouave recently took a
horse belonging to a rebel, and ever since has
been much elated with his capture. A day
or two since, the owner of the animal presen
ted himself to the Zouave, and demanded the
horse. " I have taken the oath of allegiance,"
said he, "and the horse is mine." " You
may have taken the oath," answered the
New Yorker, " but the horse has not, and I
shall keep him till he does." There was no
replying to this, and the Zouave kept his
horse.
THE DIFFERENCE.— When Gen. Garnett
was killed by our troops in Western Virginia,
his body was taken*care of, embalmed and
sent home to his friends ; but when Colonel
Cameron was killed by the rebels the men
sent after his body were imprisoned. " Cast
not your pearls before swine, lest they turn
agajn and rend you."
Movements of the Rebels.
WASHINGTON, August 11, 1861.
Intelligence was received here this morn
ing, which explains the apparent inactivity
of the Rebels since tbe battle of Bull Run.—
According to these acoonnts, no sooner was
it known at Richmond that Gen. McClelian
had been withdrawn from Western Virginia,
than it was determined to take advantage of
that circumstances, to recover all that had
been lest through the wonderful celerity and
and military genius of that remarkable man.
Accordingly, when the extent ot our de
feat was known to them, and when it be
came apparent that no forward movement
from Washington would be made for some
weeks, orders were issued for the recovery of
their supremacy in Western Virginia. It
was deemed advisable to take Gen. Joseph
E. Johnston from bis post near Winchester,
but Gen. Lee was at once despatched tow
ards the West, with orders to make bis bead
quarters at Stauntoa or Covington, and to
operate in the direction of Cheat Mountain
Pass and Beverly. A force of fifteen thous
and troops had been placed at his command,
drawn principally from Charlottsville, Gor
donsville and Staunton. It is said that he
will be followed by Gen. Albert E. Johnston,
with an army of twenty- five thousand men
more, taken from Lynchburg. It is believed
at Richmond that these forty thousand men,
led by Johnston and Lee, will be able to
drive the Union forces out of the whole of
Northwestern Virginia, and to re-occupy
that territory once more ; but most wofully
will they be mistaken. In order to prevent
Gen. Banks from marching to the aid of Gen.
Rosencranz and the Union men in that part
of the State, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston will
be kept near Charlestown and Harper's Fer
ry and will, from time ta time, make demon
strations as if about to cross the Potomac.—
Such is an outline of tbe plan that the Reb
els have dared to conceive.
The first intimations of this plan were re
ceived here some days ago, and it was stated
at that time that the force under Gen. Lee
had been taken frem the troops at Manassas,
and that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had been
detailed to co-operate with him. Later in
telligence, however, shows that this is not so,
and that the facts are as above stated.
The War Department is also in possession
of intelligence, showing a design on the part
of the Rebels, to bring up a strong body of
troops on the railroad leading from Lynch
burg, Petersburg and Richmond, land them
at the terminus of that road, at the mouth of
Aquia Creek, and then, in case an attack on
Washington is resolved on, cross the Poto
mao at that point, and march on Washing
ton from the South, while two other columns
attack it, one from the direction of Fairfax
and Arlington Heights, and the other from
the North, along the left bank of the Poto
mac. I refrain from mentioning what dis
position of troops have been made to meet
this new move, should it be made. It is
enough to eay that Gen. McCllelan is fully
awake to all the vulnerable points at and
near the capital, and has given his attention
to them all. If the Rebels are confident
enough to make the attack, they will be re
pulsed with heavy loss, no matter at what
point the attack may be directed.
ANOTHER FIGHT IN MISSOURI.
THE REBELS ROUTED AND PURSUED.
QUINCY, 111., Augusts.—A band of Rebels,
numbering from one thousand to twelve hun
dred, made an attack upon the cannon of the
Union men at Athens Missouri, on Monday
morning last, at five o'clock.
There was a considerable amount of arms
and ammunition for the United States troops
stored in this place, under guard of the
troops composing this camp, United States
volunteers, numbering about eight hundred
and fifty, under commard of Capt. Moore.
The fighting lasted about an hour, when
the Rebels retreated. In the meantime, Capt.
Moore having been reinforced by about 150
men from Centralia, lowa, on the opposite
side of the river, gave chase after the Rebels
for about a mile and a half, killing one of
their number, taking eighteen prisoners, and
capturing thirty-one horses and two Seces
sion flags.
Several of the Rebels were wounded in
the chase after the battle, and sight or eight
Rebels were found dead on the field.
In the afternoon, the bearer of a Rebel flag
-of truce to the Union camp admitted that
they carried off fourteen killed, and that as
many were wounded and missing.
The Rebels were led by' Martin Green, a
brother of ex-Senator Green.
The Union men had three killed and eight
wounded.
Athens is a small town on the extreme
northeast of Missouri, on the Des Moines
river, twenty-five of thirty miles west of
Keokuk.
It is reported that the Union troops, hav
ing been further reinforced by five or six hun
dred troops from lowa, marched in pursuit
of the Rebels on Monday night, who were en
camped eight miles from Athens. A fight
has no doubt taken place at Athens, unless
the Rebels ran.
LATEST FROM GEN. LYON'S COMMAND."
I SPRINGFIELD, Mo., August sth.—Our ad
vices from Gen. Lyon's army are to Sunday
last. The cavalry charge, heretofore report
ed, was made by a s . uting party sent out
to ascertain if the enemy were approaching
after our troops had encamped for the night
at Dug Springs.
. Seeing a regiment of infantry coming along
the road, the Lieutenant of the cavalry or
deided a charge, which resulted in killing 30
of the Rebels and wounding 40.
The charge was not intended by General
Lyon, and probably prevented the Rebels
from attacking his main body, when they
would ha7o undoubtedly been routed with
severe loss.
A large body of the enemy's cavalry,
which had taken a position on the high ground
to observe our position and strengthen their
forces, were dispersed by a few shells from
Totten's battery, wounding some thirty of
them.
On Saturday morning our forces moved
forward cautiously, and on approaching Gar
ran, the Rebels, to the number of 3000, were
seen posted on the hill side, southwest of
that place. General Lyon immediately form
ed his army in battle array, and gave the or
der to advance.
As our army was approaching a piece of
timber laDd to flank the enemy, Capt. Du
bois's battery opened fire on the Rebels and
they retreated in haste.
It is not known whether any of the enemy
were killed by this fire. We did not lose a
man.
Important from Washingtoo.
PRINCE NAPOLEON GONE TO RICHMOND.
WASHINGTON, August 9th 1861,
MOVEMENTS 01 PRINCE NAPOLEON.
The departure of Prince Napoleon for
Richmond has caused intense excitement
here. It i 3 said that his intention to go to
Richmond was not expressed until after the
cortege had started. It is known that be
intended to go to Fairfax, and it was suppo
sed that, onoe there, he might desire to visit
the battle field at Bull Run. But it was
thought that the enemy would not permit the
Prince and bis suit to penetrate the myster
ious labyrinth of the masked batteries of
Manasses, and that he would return, as usual
in the evening ; therefore, when the Prince
intimated bis wish to visit Fairfax, two com
panies of cavalry were detailed py Gen. Mc-
Dowell to escort him out 01 our lines.
The companies Were formed in front of the
Presidential mansion early in the morning,
and were reviewed by the President. They
then proceeded to the French Minister, .and
the Prince's party being in readiness, the
cortege at ODCB started. As the Prince en
tered the earriage he remarked, in a jocular
manner, in reply to some ebservation of a
member of the corps diplomatique, "that be
might possibly go as far as Richmond'" The
carriages were preceded and followed by the
cavalry, whose clankiDg sabres, dancing
plumes and sLining accouutremer.ts were
seen flashing in the sunlight miles ahead
When the cabinet met, the matter was refer
red to and discussed. It is understood that
more tban onemtmber of that body express
ed, in strong terms, his regret that the Prinee
and bis suite bad beeu tbus allowed to visit
the enemy.
It must be remembered that, for the last
ten days, the most important military move
ments have been made here ; the Prince and
all the members of bis suite have been allow
ed to examine all the defensive works on the
Other side of the river, and are well informed
as regards the plans and disposition of our
army, and that during all that time the ut
most vigilance has been exercised by Gen.
McClellan and his officers, in preventing any
intimation-of these movements from being
conveyed to the enemy. Of what avail, it is
DOW asked is it to exerci.e this care, and to
refrain from publishing army news, if a par
ty of Frenchmen are allowed to carry the
whole particulars into the enemy's camp ?
TROUBLE WITH FOREIGN FOWEKB.
I telegraphed to you last night that Lord
Lyons bad laid before the President a writ
ten statement of the number and names of
the vessels that bad passed the blockade of
the Southern ports, with the declaration that
England could not regard as effectual a block
ade conducted in such a manner. I now
learn that the French Minister joined wirb
Lord Lyons in the communieatiou ; and that
it was, indeed, a joint paper, in tbe nature
of a protest, on tbe part of tho repeesenla
tives of France and England, against such
au effectual attempt to blockade tbe Southern
ports. It cannot be denied, that this matter
has now assumed a very grave aspeot. The
presence OD our coast of a powerful Eoglish
and French fleet, shows that these nations
are in earnest in the matter : and is in itseii
an intuit that we would not submit to in ordi
nary times. It is idle to doubt any longer
the hostile intentions of those two powers.—
England sees in the present distracted con
dition of the country, the opportunity she
has long waited for to humble our national
pride; and the French Emperor will join
bands with her in the attempt for the reasons
indicatea in a former letter.
The facts contained in the communication
of the English Minister caDnot be denied.—
The blockade has been notoriously ineffec
tive, and therefore no blockade at all. ID
my letters of July 3d and 2th, I stated that
I had then learned to be the designs of the
English and French Governments in the
premises; and the event shows that those
statements were correct. But you are aware
that within a few days past new life aDd en
ergy has been infused into tbe Navv Depart
ment by the promotion of Captain Fox to be
Assistant Secretary of tbe Navy. I am in
formed to-day that it is his intention to make
the blockade effective, if bas to charter a
thousand vessels to do it with.
The Pirates of the Petrel.
The Rebel vessel, in this case, was the
privateer Petrel, formerly the revenue cutter
General Aiken. The captor was the United
States frigate St. Lawrence, and the remain
der of tbe pirate crew is safely ensconced iD
the county prison, on Passyunk road.
The vessels came within spoaking distance
and a man in uniform was seen mounted
upon the pirate's deck, who shouted to the
St. Lawrence to lay to and send over a boat.
The crew were distinctly seen flourishing
their cutlasses, aDd tho gunners ramming
and pointing then guns. She carried three
guns,supposed to be rifled canucn. Then
the St. Lawrence threw up ber ports, and
disclosed a whole broadside of cauaon, with
the gunners at the bre< ohes of the guns, hold
ing lighted fuses, and directly the broad
decks were filled with seamen in bluejackets
armed with muskets, who sprang into tbe
shrouds and ran out the yards, laying prone
in the maintop, on tbe bowsprit, in the fore
castle, and at every point where aim could
be taken with advantage. In a word, the
uglv merchantman was mstamorphased into
a bristliug war ship, with a man at every
point, and a broad side of cannon looking
into the eyes of the pirates. The latter, ta
ken aback, recoiled a moment; but before
they bad time for action, even for thought,
the guns belched forth iron and fire, splinter
ing the masts, cutting the riggiog and sails
as with knives, breaking the spars and the
booms, literally carviDg tbe schooner into
peices, opening gulfs into which tbe waters
rushed, as though sluices, filling the bold,
and admonisbiug the Rebels that their sole
hopes of life lay in the ship's boat or in
wrestling wi;h the sea.
The fire still continued, and the water was
full of driftwood. Many of the men jumped
overboard, and the rest, launching the life
boat, jumped in and held up a white hand
kerchief a* a sign ol surrender.
But one man had au opportunity to go
down into the cabin for his property, and he
was the Lieutenant, a fellow named Harvey,
formerly a midshipman in the United States
service, under command of Captain Sartori
Harvey recovered bis trunk.
The officers of the St. Lawrence now dis
covered the life boat and the flag of humilia
tion. Tney dropped a boat and male out to
the rebels, and finally passed them on board
ship, where they were ironed as fast as recei
ved, and securely confined bslow.
THE PRATING CHRISTIAN SOI,DIKR. —On tbe
Sabbath morning on which ihe battle of
Lake Cbamplain was fought, the British
Commodore sent a man to the masthead to
see what the Americans were doing on Com
modore Mcßonough's ship. The look out
told him that tbey were gathered about the
mainmast, and seemed to be at prayer.
" Ah," said commodore Downie, " that looks
well for them, but bad for us." And so it
proved, for at the very first shot from the
American ship, which was a cbaitrshot, the
British Commodore was cut iu two and killed
in a moment. Commodore McDonough was
a man of prayer, and brave as a lion in bat
tle. He died as be lived, a simple hearted,
earnest Christian,
Disturbance in Baltimore.
SCENE OF VIOLENCE AND CONFUSION.
,1 TRAITOR REHIRED.
Attempt of Breckinridge to Speak.
His Remarks Received with Mingled
Groans, Hisses and Cheers.
INTERFERENCE OF TEE POLICE.
SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.
BRECK. RETIRES IN DISGUST.
BALTIMOREIw The UNION.
Baltimore, Aug. 9. —Breckinridge's efforts
to speak weie continued for half an hour be
fore he was compelled to desist. Among the
broken sentences heard were that " He de
sired te speak for the poor and Weak, and
not for the rich and powerful." A voice re
sponded "You lie and you know you do."
He referred to the position of Maryland
whose citizens had again and again been out
raged in their dearest constitutional rights,
and to all respectful enquiries as to charges
alleged against those who had been rudely
torn from their homes and family, nothing
but contemptuous responses had been heard.
"Do you," he said, " call this liberty ?"
Cries of "no ! no !" intermingled with hisses
and shouts of " Oh! dry up, you traitor,"
&c., &c.
Mr. Breckinridge enquired why they were
present if they did not desire to hear him.—
Cheerisg, followed by hisses, drowned his
voice.
A violent commotion was now observed
among the crowd, which swayed from pave
ment to pavement as under strong excite
ment and the espautoons of the police were
plied with vigor on the heads of those who
seemed to be resisting.
Mr. Breckinridge speaking amid the din
said that !t those who interrupted him with
opprobrious epithets and with hisses were
poor fellows who were tightening the degrad
ing fetters which bound them." Renewed
cheering, followed instantly by a renewal of
violent disturbance.
Mr. Breckinridge. " You poor fellows may
hiss me now, but your children will bless
me.'' A voice, "oh, go to South Carolina,
and be d dto you." This was met by
vehement cheers, and a rush by the police
followed by a gang of men from the right tow
ards the side from whence proceeded the
cheers, during which several men were se
verely beaten and hurried bleeding from the
street.
Mr. Breckinridge. " If you don't intend to
allow me to speak, then disperse the crowd.
I did not volunteer to address you. remem
ber.'' [Cheers and kisses.~\ "If I did not
know the squad of uien disturbing this as
semblage were no opponents of the senti
ments of the people of Baltimore I should de
spair of your city." [Cheers for Jeff". Davis
and Gen. Seott.
Another scene of commotion again ensued.
Amid frequent interruptions the speaker pro
ceeded to say that since the time when the
Constitution had been designated as the lim
it to despotic power, nothing so outrageous
as these enacted by the Administration had
ever occurred. "Liberty," he said, "existed
before the Constitution was formed, and
whenever the issue is presented between that
on the one hand and a mere form of Govern
ment on the other, the form would perish, but
principles would survive."
Hisses, groans and cheers.
Mr. Breckiqridge. I feel personally re
sponsible for the poor fellows so rudely treat
ed. I grieve to think any one should be hurt
on my account.
Cries of "Go on!" Cheers for Jeff. Davis
and the Southern Confederacy.
Important from Fortress Monroe.
THE VILLAGE OF HAMPTON BURNED-
Fortress Monroe, Aug. 8.
The village of Hampton has been burnt,
by Gen. Magruder, and his advance of the
rebel forces.
Scouts and fugitives yesterday morning
brought word of the approach of a large
Confederate force from Yorktown.
These rumors were coufirined at 5 P. M.
an intelligent deserter from the secessionists,
named A. E. Mayhew, a native of Maine,
but a resident of Georgia until impressed
into the rebel service, who furnished an ac
count of the expedition.
Mr. Mavhew has been stationed at York
town since the first of June.
On Friday last Gen. Magruder left York
town with a force of 7000 men, including
200 cavalry and 8 peices of artillery.
On Monday night they encamped at Great
Bethel, which had been oompietelv deserted.
On Tuesday night they advanced towaids
Hampton, and at noon Yesterday took up a
position on Back river, some three miles
from town, where Mayhew managed to es
cape through a cornfield and by swimming
a couDle of streams reached the Fortress
He says the object was to draw out the
federal forces to attack Camp Hamilton,
near Newport News, if practicable, and at
least destroy Hampton, so as to preveut us
from using it as winter quarters.
Gen. Butler at once repaired to the end of
Hampton bridge, where he remained until
II o'clock.
Col. Weber erected a barricade at the
Hampton side of the bridge, and plaoed a
strong guard at various points on this si ie
of the creek.
A few minutes past midnight, General
Magruder, with about five hundred confed
erates, entered the town of Hampton and
immediately fired the buildings with torches.
The greater part of the five hundred hou
ses were built of wood, and as no rain had
fallen lately, the south wind soon produced
a terrible conflagration.
There were perhaps twenty white people
and forty negroes remaining in the town,
from inability to move, some of whose hou
ses were fired without waking the inmates.
Several of the whites and also some ne
groes were hurried away to be, of course im
pressed into the rebel service.
A company of tbe rebels attempted to
force a passage aoross tbe bridge, but were
repulsed with a loss of three killed aud six
wounded.
The destruction of the town was a wanton
act of cruelty to the resident Unionists, and
moreover entirely useless, as General Butler
intends to winter his army many miles be
yond Hampton.
An attempt will doubtless be made to fas
ten the act upon the General, but after ten
o'clock there was net a federal soldier in
Hampton.
General Magruder has encamped near
New Market Bridge. He will hardly attack
Newport News.
Reform in the Aruv.— Grear reforms, we
are glad to learn, have lately been in
the army. Congress has closed all drinking
saloons in the District. Spirituous liquors
have been excluded from tbe army, and Gen,
Butler, at Fortress Msnroe, has commenced
the work of temperance by banishing th.*m
from his own table. Tbe disorderly soldiers
who were allowed to infest Washington and
Alexandria have been put under arrest, and
reduced to discipline. No additional regu
lation, as far aa we learn, has been made in
regard to Sunday, but this, we trust, will not
be long wanting.
Execution of Thos. J. Armstrong,
For the Murder of Rob't. Crawford.
Dying Speech of the Condemned Man.
PHILADELPHIA. Aug. 9.
The dread penalty of the law was inflicted
to-day upon Thomas Jefferson Armstrong,
the convicted murderer of Robert Crawford.
At about eleven o'olook the condemned,
with the Sheriff and his aids, Ret. Mr. Mo
Auley and Mr. Stewart, emerged from the
cell and proceeded to leave the building.—
At the main gateway they were joined by the
Sheriff's jury and the other persons present,
and the mournful procession to the gallows
was formed.
Armstrong was dressed in a plain suit of
black with a frock coat. He wore no neck
.tie and his head was bare. He was very
pale, and he wore a serious countenance;
but be was as firm as at any period of his
trial, and bis step betrayed no symptom or
fear or faltering. On arriving at the scaf
fold, he mounted the steps without any ap
pearance of fear, and took his place under
the fatal noose with an unnerved foim.
The Sheriff, Mr. McAuley and Mr. Stew
art accompanied the wretched man npon the
scaffold. After the party had taken their
places, Rev. Mr. McAuley offered an appeal
to the Throne of Grace in a fervent and im
pressive manner.
During the delivery of the prayer the
most solemnity prevailed, all the spectators
remaining uncovered, not only at that time,
but throughout the scene of the execution.—
Several gentlemen were melted to tears.—
Armstrong stood firm, with his eyes closed,
lie was supported by a gentleman who moun
ted the scaffold for that purpose.
After Mr. McAuley had concluded, Arm
strong stepped forward, and in a firm and
unfiinohing manner spoke as follows :
DYING SPEECH OP ARMSTRONG.
" My friends, let me say in passing, I die
in peace with my Maker, and if at this mo
ment a pardon were offered to me on condi
tion of giving up my Maker, I would not
take it. To the few people here, I would ad
vise them to take warning by my fate. Sab
bath breaking was the first onuse.
" I bid you farewell. To the Prison Keep
ers, to Mr. Perkios. to Sheriff Kern, and to
my Spiritual adviser, Mr. McAuley.
" I bid farewell, gentlemen, 1 bid you all
farewell; 1 now die in peaoe with every
body."
There was much disappointment that the
dying man had made no allusion to the crime
for which he was about to suffer ; and at the
last moment he showed th e same reticence in
this tsspect, as at the time of his sentence.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the fatal
rope was placed about his neck, and all ex
oept the Sheriff and the condemned left the
scaffold. He shook bands with all, and when
Mr. MoAuley was about to leave hina he
whispered something in bis ear and then
kissed him.
The nonse was fixed, the ghastly while cap
was drawn down over the face of the con
demned, the Sheriff took bis leave, and the
murderer of Robert Crawford was left stand
ing alone :
" Twix the hollow floor and the
Stout cross-beam 1"
As the cap was about being drawn down,
Armstrong said : "Good-bye, people!" Af
ter these preliminaries, Armstrong stood as
firm as man ever stood, while in the same
position. There were no signs of tremor,
even the hands which were thrust forward of
bis breast did not move, and there was no
clutching of fingers during this terrible mo
mont. There was a momentary delay before
the pron was drawn. This over, the Sheriff
dropped a white handkerchief, the sigDal
was seen by the Jack Ketch concealed in an
adjacent stable, the cord was drawn, and the
mortal part of Thomas J. Armstrong waa
dangling between heaven and earth.
The condemned had a fall of about three
and a half feet, and his death was almost in
stantaneous. There was a quiver of the form
after the drop had fallen ; but it was evident
that the man felt no agony in hie actual
death.
A Rebel Son of a Patriotic Father.
Hon. James B. Clay was a member of
Congress. He is the son of '' Harry of the
West." but he has inherited from the "old
man" only the o'd bomsstead, which be sold,
in the shape of canes as mementoes, and the
name whose lustre he has dimmed. The
lion, James B. has lately gone to speculating
in less honored articles, and for an M. 0 has
developed into a smuggler. With ten wag
ons loaded with bacon, Clay undertook a trip
to Tennessee via Cumberland Gap. The
wagons started and the owner followed im
mediately. By slow approaches lbs Gap was
neared, and the learful passage of tkia nsa
tral State almost completed without any fatal
accident to his bacon. Clay began to con
gratulate himself on bis success. He h*d
pasted the more rapid Uuion counties and
was nearing the Gap when a small company
of Union men, having the fear of God in
their hearts, the good of the nation in their
minds, and a desire for good bacon in their
stomachs, marched out upon the road and
ordered the teamsters to disgorge. The *•
gone were delivered of their burdens and the
bacon stacked by the way side. The wag
oners aud the Hon. James B. Clay were com
pelled to take the oath of allegiance to the
Union and then, sans bacon, with their oenr
age oozed out of their fingers' ends, they
were allowed to return.
From the South.
LOUISVILLE, August B. —Hon. Alfred Ely
who was taken prisoner at Ball Run,,
is reported To be at Richmond, engaged in
digging ditches.
The steamer Pocahontas, owned at Louis
ville, has been seized by the Rebels on the
Tennessee river, with sixty hogsheads of to
bacoo.
The Courier of this evening has a report
of a riot at Dublin, Ballard county, Ky., be
tween the Unionists and Secessionists, in
whiob two men named Sherfield are said to
have been killed, and another wounded.
The Maeon (Georgia) Telegraph suggests
that the health of the volunteers would be
promoted by liberal allowances of corn meal
instead of bread rations of flour.
The Richmond Whig, of the 3d inat., has
a report from Washington, that persona there
are raising a company for the Confederate
eervice.
The Penßßoola Observer, of the let, reporta
the U. S. steam frigate Wabash off Fort Piok
ens.
Gov. Harris (Tenn.) has issued a procla
mation calling for & reserve force of 25,000
men from the State.
Prince Napoleon gone to Manassas
WASHINGTON, Aug. B. —Prince Napoleon
started this morning, at 6 o'clock, accompa
nied by his suite, for the other side of the
river, designing to pass out of our lines with
in those of the Disunion army, at least aa.
far as Fairfax Court House, if not to Mauas
sas Junction.
General McDowell probably caused him tot
he escorted through our lines by two compa
nies of United States Cavalry.
There is strong ground for the belief that
the Prince's visit to this country is more for
political than for any other purpose, §qd for
the enlightenment of the Emperor on current
t flairs,