NEWS FROM ALL NATIONS.
—The funeral of Mr. Everett, at Boston
Thursday, engaged universal attention, and was
solemnized in a manner befitting the illustrious
dead. Both houses of the Legislature adopted
appropriate resolutions, and appointed committees
to represeut the State at the obsequies.
— A train of seven cars on the Hudson
River Railroad was thrown from the track near
Yonkers, Thursday morning, owing to the breaking
down of the track. A number of persons were
bruised, and some were drenched in the river in
which the cars fell, but no lives were lost.
—The Belief Agents of the United States
Sanitary Commission accompanied the last expedi- I
tiou against Wilmington, with clothing, dressings, \
stimulants, hospital diet, and battle-field supplies !
generally, and rendered effective service on the j
field.
—Forty guerrillas under Pratt and Mc-
Gregor, 011 Tuesday, made a dash into Bardstown,
Ky.. for the purpose of recovering one of their
men confined in the jail at that place. The gner- i
rillas set the depot 011 fire and it was burned to the
ground. They were finally routed and driven from
the town. The pursuit was continued till dark.
A band of mounted guerrillas attemp
ted to invade Illinois at Metropolis, on Monday j
night. Only a few succeeded in crossing the Ohio !
River. A boat from Paducah shelled the woods j
and dispersed the marauders.
—The nomination of Parson Brownlow '
for Govern or of Tennessee is very generally com
mended by the press. Should he be elected and I
fairly seated in authority, that State would be about
tin most unhealthy region for Secessionists out- :
side of a small-pox hospital. Hemp and coffins J
would be in lively demand.
—A refugee from Richmond confirms the
report that Lee has sent troops to operate against '
Sherman.
—Secretary Seward has issued a circular :
announcing that the legal fee for issuing a passport
if five dollars.
—Mrs. Foote had a passport to leave the
confederacy, and her husband accompanied her to
->ee her safely across the Potomac. 111 the mean- ;
time an order for the arrest of the Senator was is- j
.tied, and he was captured at Dumfries.
—Deserters from Fort Fisher report that
that fort was about surrendering on the '2sth nit.,
when attacked by Butler, and was only prevented
from doing so by the retreat of our troops. They
report the garrison as demoralized and the quarters
bndlv injured. •
—Col. Samuel Fowler, a member of the
NVw Jersey House of Assembly, died 011 Saturday
. veiling. This gives the Republicans one majority
111 the House.
—There is a slight military stir along the
Kastern border, and the coast and frontier of Maine
are being put iu condition for defence. Two com
panies of state guards were sent to the batteries
at Belfast Thursday.
—Licut.-Gov. Jacobs, of Kentucky, has
returned from Richmond. He represents the feel
ing in favor of peace to be strong among not only
the lower classes but among the officers of high
grade.
—The Mountain Eagle, a brig, and the
Francis Hatch, schooner, have been captured in the
< 'hesapeake.and condemned for contraband trading
between New York and Virginia.
—Memphis papers say the British Agent
from Liverpool at Corinth was paying 40 cents for
cotton, part in gold and part iu supplies. It is
also stated that considerable cotton, failing to get
within our lines, has been taken to Corinth.
—The President lias approved the joint
resolution charging the President with the com
munication of anotice to the Government of Great
Britain of the wish of the United States to termi
nate the Reciprocity of 1851.
—There is starvation at Newfoundland
011 account of tlie failure of the fisheries this year,
and the people ol that country kept a day of fast
ing and prayer because of the calamity.
—The Central Pacific Railroad Company
advertises for five thousand men to work on the
gradi of the road over the Siena Nevada moun
tains. They expect to have fifty-two miles in run
ning order by August.
—The announcement that the citizens of
Philadelphia bad presented a 550,000 house to Mrs.
Gen. Grant is premature. They are intending
to do something handsome for the General and his
nmily. but have not decided what yet.
—Mr. Peter Cooper, the well-known lib
• ial and patriotic New Yorker, now seventv-fonr
years of age, has furnished two representatives in
tlie army during the last 40 days.
—The War Department lias in its pos
si'sioti two hundred and five flags captured from
the rebels in battle. This, of course, does not in
clude all that have fallen into the hands of the
Union troops within a short time,
—Jaines Shannon, of the 148 th Pfi. Vol.
son of the Treasurer of Centre County, was killed
at ('arlisle barracks in an altercation with some of
his fellow soldiers. In attempting to pacify a
couple of his comrades, he was fatally wounded by
stabs. His remains arrived at Bellefoute for inter
ment tiu.t Tuesday.
—Col. Morgan, brother of the deceased
•\ierilla chief, JOIIII Morgan, and one hundred and
fifty other captive rebel officers from Hood's army,
arrived in New York on Friday evening last, en
mute 10 Fort Warren, Boston harbor.
—Mr. Voting, dispatcher of the railroad
company at Snnbury, was murdered on Sunday
night. After be was killed his body was thrown
upon the track, ami mutilated by a train of cars
that passed by.
—Rev. Ibitan —one of the Fishingereek
conspimtors had his trial, and has lieen sentenced
to pay 11 fine of two hundred dollars and undergo
an imprisonment of six months in Fort Mifflin.
•
-—Western papers give currency to ru
mor that marriage is likely to take place ere long
ls-tweeii tlie Ron. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and Mrs. Dongiac, the
widow of tin- lamented Illinois Senator.
—Tlie best order is maintained in Savan
nah, by the military authorities, and but few sol
diers are visible 011 the streets. Trade is limited,
but prices are now regulated bv Jaw. Just before
leaving Atlanta tlie army was paid about eight mil
lions of dollars, and the soldiers spend their mon
ey freely at the first opportunity. It is said that
the suffering among the citizens of Savannah is noj
so great as has been represented.
.—The expedition tinder Col. Brayman,
which left Vidalgi on the 11th for a raid through
Concordia Parish, hau returned with several pris
oners and 17b head of cattle rhey also broke up
several bands of guerrillas,
—The hull of the gunboat lndlaooia,
sunk in the Low. >• Mississippi by the rebels, two
years ago. has la-en raised, and found in excellent
condition. Bhe will la- rebuilt.
The newly elected Governor Kenton of
Sew York, tyas formerly a Democrat and voted for
his predecessor, fiov. Seymour, three times ihrthe
Mtuie office of Governor, and sustained liiui during
the first two years of his administration.
—The Union colleagues of Ron. Tliaddeus
Stevens in the House of Representatives, addressed
a note to liim requesting the use of his name iu
connection with the Secretaryship of the Treasury,
but Mr. Stevens in reply declines the honor.
—The Richmond press propo**, that the
jrebel soldiers l>e offered one month's pay in gold
3 a cancel for their last year's services.
fMfotd Importer.
Towanda, Thursday, January 26, 1865.
THE PROGRESS OK FREEDOM,
We had barely time iti our last to call at
tention to the new position of the States of
Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, on the
subject of Slavery. The acts of these
States, with what lias taken place in Mary
land, Delaware, Louisiana, Arkansas, Col
orado and Nebraska, are immensely signifi
cant, and are promising a proud future for i
our government. No one, the least convers-!
ant with the indications which are coming ■
up around us, can fail to see, that ere long, '
African Slavery, the bane of tlie master,
tlie curse of the State, the clog upon Ameri
can progression, and the only discordant
element which has ever threatened the exis-;
tence of our Government, will be among
the things that have been. And what well
wisher of his country, what patriot, can re-1
fuse to rejoice over this bright prospect of!
I iuture peace, prosperity, and greatness to !
; our beloved land ! Or, are the democrats :
j of the present day, so blind to the past ,
1 teachings of the fathers of tlie party, so '
lost to all that is grand and noble in our
history, as to be indifferent to that which
1 magnifies our greatness, and insures tlie
tranquility, the public and private virtue !
| and honor which no nation before us lias
i enjoyed? In earlier times, when to be a
democrat, was to be a patriot, democrats !
did not make it a duty to cultivate animos- i
1 ity to the poor negro, and go about the !
country impiously declaiming that he was
the white man's inferior, and made to be his
slave, for the reason,that to assume to know
what God meant by the creation of the Af
rican, was impious and overwise in the j
first place, and, in the second place, dis
placed an absence ol humanity altogether
unbecoming true manhood. For, supposing
it to be true, that the black is the white j
man's inferior, is that any reason why he
should impose upon him ? Has lie not, on
the other hand, and for this cause, a claim ■
upon his protection ! Is the man consider
ed humane, honorable, right, in any sense of i
the term,who takes advantage of the weak,
innocent, and ignorant ? Surely not. When
democrats allowed negroes to vote in old i
Virginia, and the democratic legislature of 1
all the free States passed resolutions against
Slavery, the doctrines and practices hinted
at, were considered peurile depravity. But
the distinctions, and animosity, the adverse
interests, and criminations, which Slavery
has begotten in late years, are to be buri- J
ed forever. The man of the South is to
stand on a free labor basis with tlie man of
the North. The Southern States are to have ;
tlie benefits which the growth, the wealth, j
tlie morality, the honor, the glory, of free '
labor confers on society The Southern ;
man will no longer be charged with bring- j
iug dishonor on the land, and idleness and
poverty on himself ; and he will no longer !
claim superior social distinction, and the |
right to rale, because lie was born a mas- j
tcr. He will no longer grow arrogant, dom
ineering, and quarrelsome. He need no
longer send his cotton to the free States to '
be manufactured into cloth for his Slaves. '
Tlie dilapidated villages, and exhausted |
lands of the South, will henceforth feel the j
plastic manipulations of free labor, and
thrift, beauty and gladness will follow.—
Rivalry, jealously and envy will no longer !
grow into national characteristics. The !
Church South, will greet the Church North,
on comino i ground. And then, what shall
happen to the poor down trodden slave?
Only this, that he shall not be longer lash- i
ed at every caprice of ill-natnred men and
women. That he shall not he driven to |
darker and more despotic bondage, further
South. That he may work, live and grow
higher and better. Only this, that he may
enjoy, in his own way, the wages of his
labor. That he may own himself, his wife,
his children, houses, and lauds, if he will.
Only this, that humanity is 110 longer out
raged in abuse of an ignorant, helpless
race, who claim our pity, and have done
nothing to deserve barbarity. And when
all these sources of animosity, of antagon
ism, of wrong and complaint, are dried tip
between the people of the Northland the
South, what is to hinder the enitlyatjon of
harmony, amity, and fraternity ?
NATIONAI. RANKS VS. STATE RANKS.
Congress having organized a hanking
system for the country, there is no longer
any need of tjie State Banks. We rejoice
at this, and think our entire bugipegs com
' munity should. These State institutions
have always been an incongruous anomaly
in our finances. The Constitution of tlie
General Government expressly declares
that "Congress shall have power to coin
money, and regulate the value thereof,"arid
as expressly "forbids the States frofll coin
ing money, and emitting hills of credit
and we wonder what a State bank note,
j which promises to pay in the future, is, if it
is not a bill of credit ? The truth is, that
from the beginning, some of our best, and
clearest headed statesmen, questioned the
legality, as well as the propriety, of the
State Banks. But, in the absence of any
substitute for a circulating medium—coin
being too scarce, and inconvenient, especi
ally in the early settlement of the country
! —they were allowed to grow into common
use. And that they have been of immense
advantage in building up the country, and
developing its resources, is admitted by all.
; Not it denied that the large majority of
these institutions have been honestly man
aged. Vet. with alt these admissions, the
system has been a sad infliction on tiie peo
ple. Tlie corruptions in our State Legisla
tures, which the creation of the banks has
I engendered, is not the least of these evils ;
and when we add to this the enormous los
ses which the nation has sustained, at dif
ferent times, through their failures, the
j question of the utility of the system, be-
I comes more than problamctical. In General
Jackson's message vetoing the bill re-char
tering the D. S. Banks, encouragement is
! given to the creation of State Banks, in lo
calities where they are needed, to make tip '
for tlie withdrawal of the capital of the U
S. Bank, and its branches. This advice ,
was so promptly, and so extensively acted
upon, especially in the Western and South-:
western States, that in eighteen! months af- •
terwards, three hundred, and mxly-five new
banks had been chartered by the Legisla
tures of the different States. Three years
after the advice we have alluded to, was
given, only eleven of these banks were in i
existence, all the rest having failed, and ,
thrown upon "the community a loss of!
about three hundred million#of dollars. This. !
of itself, is enough to condemn the State !
Bank system ; but is only a small part of)
the gross amount out of which the people j
have been swindled, since it went into oper
ation. W repeat therefore, that we rejoice,
that there is a prospect of a speedy relief j
from the State Banks; and this gratification
is not a little enhanced by the fact, that the
law has secured tlie people against frauds i
in the National Banks, which are taking i
the place of the old ones. In the new !
banks, the issues, which has mostly been I
the source of trouble, are furnished by the I
government, and are limited to tlie amount •
of the bank's capital, this being govern-!
ment securities. This makes all reasonably
safe. In the old system, the officers ol the
banks have the entire control of the issues. |
and may order,and put out as many as they ;
like, and they often like to put out too 1
many. Thirty, or more years ago, a bank
was started in one of the lower counties of j
the State, with three thousand dollars for
capital in tlie vaults, and in twelve months
afterwards, had a circulation of its bills of
three hundred thousand dollars. This hank
is still standing, and in good repute, but it
is a marvel that it is so. We mention this !
case, in order to show more cle'arly the dif- j
ference between the old and the new sys-!
tern ; and if the republican party leaves ;
nothing else of its administration of the
i government than this constitutional bank
ing system, it is enough to ensure it the
lasting gratitude of the American people.
PIRITANS VS. t'AVAIirtCRS.
It has been the fashion, of late years, for
| the Democratic orators and presses to de
; preciate and vilify New England and New
j England people. There lias hardly been a
i paper published in that interest, or a speech
made by the Democracy, that did not as
i sault the dependants of the Puritans. These
attacks are mere rehashes of the diatribes
of TOOMBS and RHETT and YANCEY made at a
! time when it was fashionable for the Slave
lords to air their " plantation manners " in
! the halls of Congress The idea has even
been broached by these toadies to Southern
i influence, of separation from the New Eng
land States, by the Middle States, for the
| purpose'of joining our lot with the Slave
; holders.
The Patriot and Union, (the Democratic
; State organ) we recollect, in the midst of
!an article squinting towards repudiation
|of New England, spoke sueeringly-of the
" Mayflower landing her pestilent crew upon
Plymouth Rock.' 1 Which impudent sentence,
might have been appropriate to the columns
| of the Richmond Inquirer, but was sadly
I out of place in a newspaper printed in the
, North, and circulating in part, at least,
i amongst the deccndants of those "pestilent"
■ fellows who were unfortunate enough to be
' passengers on board the Mayflower.
We noticed lately in a Democratic news
; paper, the old charge made that the Puri-
I tans sold their slaves to the South. Now,
whilst i here is not a particle of evidence in
the United States to prove this charge, it is
perhaps not amiss to quote from a prominent
copperhead leader on the subject. , Judge
WOODWARD says, "that tlie New England
States were the first t>> abolish the slave
trade and slavery, and that Pennsylvania
soon followed in their footsteps." Jn the
Judge's able address against the horrors of
j slavery, lie gives Massachusetts the first
honors. He says, " that State not only a
bolished slavery, but passed a lau- prohibit
ing the buying or selling of Stares'' This is
pretty good proof of the consistency of the
Puritan fathers, and we honor their descen
dants for the efforts they have made in the
l ' ' J * •
1 cause of freedom, education and science.—
In the Revolutionary war Massachusetts
sent 82,000 soldiers to the field,while South
Carolina, of nearly equal population, sent
sir thousand, and it required more than this
j force to keep down the toriesof that State.
The tories then hated Massachusetts, and
the traitors of to-day pour out their intensi
i fied wrath on the good State. In the eyes
of the copperheads, the New England peo
ple ape all base-born, and in their tastes
| low and groveling*,while the Southern folks,
are the chivalry, and all honor and intelli
gence. It is a historical fact, not gainsay
; ed by any intelligent candid man, that in
the early settlement of the country, the
Puritans came to the rock-bound shores of
New England to enjoy religious freedom,
; bringing their wives and daughters with
i them, while the adventurers who settled
the Southern States came without families.
Some were exported thither for crimes, un
der these circumstances wives were scarce
in the early settlement of the Smith, and
the mother country, very considerately,
shipped a large number of young women to
these new colonies and exchanged them for
tobacco. Each young women had a parish
certificate of health and good character.—
To all tiiis we haye no objection ; but the
descendants of Puritan mothers justly think
they havo as honorable a national parent
age, as chivalry, und bloods of the South,
whose mothers were a tobacco trade.
If any reader has allowed himself to be
lieve the somewhat popular delusion, that
the slaveholders of the South are the descen
dants of tlie (Jl t ivary, vft refer them to the
extracts from the lecture of Hon. GJJARI.KS
iSt MNER, published on our outside. He dis
i poses most eftectually of the false and high
flown pretensions of the women-whipping
| Chivalry, by showing that their progenitors
where the scum apd refuse of England,
! exported to the colonies to rirt the mother
country of their presence. " Pestilent"
i criminals, dissolute adventurers, and young
women sold for tobacco, were they who
reared the lordly aristocracy of the South,
who now turn up their noses at the "greasy
mechanics and small-listed fanners of the
North." i
THE BL AIR MISSION.
Mr. BLAIR returned from Richmond, last
week. Nothing has transpired as to the
results of his "negotiations." On Friday
last he again returned to the Rebel Capi
tal. The Tribune —which ought to be pos
ted—says of this latter journey :
" We learn from Washington that Mr. F.
I'. Blair has again gone to Richmond 011 (lie
Tnited States steamer Don. The Presi
dent, it is said, declares that he has no
faith that any good will come of his mis
sion, but has 110 objection to his efforts to
bring about a peace. He could hardly give
stronger evidence of his entire acquies
cence in Mr. Blair's movements than the
fact that a Tnited States steamer is put at
his disposal. How apprehensive the war
party in Richmond is of the influence of
this talk of peace upon the popular mind,
is shown in the continued deprecation oi"
aqy discussion of the subject."
FU 0 M IIA Jl RIS R FRO.
•January 10, 1805.
Ice on the streets, on the upright walls of the
buildings, on the walks, ice on the trees,and fences
and rail-roads, iee everywhere. Boys, girls mid
Tnen. are skating all over the eitv. in the middle of
the roads, on brick, plank and gravel walks, on the
capitol grounds, up ltill and down hill. In fact the
only safe way to get along anywhere is to skate.—
To walk on the brick or stone flagging is impossi
ble. while attempting it. a man's body immediate
ly becomes, in one particular, very similar to wa
ter. it has a strong tendency to seek a level.
A ride over the Cumberland Valley rail-road to
('humbersburg gives one a favorable opportunity
to enjoy, so to speak, the perfect gloominess of the
day, and the beauty of the iee-bonnd earth. Dur
ing the whole route the rain continued to, fall just
as fast us it could freeze, and everything around
was enveloped in a dense cloud through which the
train appeared to cut its way, the passengers could
' not see ten rods from the ears. The whole coun
, try was one unbroken sheet of iee. smooth and
glassy as ice was ever made.
No creatures, brute or human, stirred abroad,un
less compelled t<>. to break this glassy sea. Long,
and continually lengthening icicles were pendant
from the eaves of buildings, the rails of the fences,
j the branches of trees, and even from the sides of
j cattle and sheep that were out in the storm. The
j few people that gathered round the stations appear
ed to be encrusted in ice. •
At Chambersburg the same scene was presented,
the desolation caused by the fire last Summer was
made to appear more desolate, by the utter dreari
! ness of the day. Here and there, along the desert
! Ed streets, may be seen a lone building newly erect
! ed. or repaired, or patched up, standing amid the
] ruins that surround it, while for many rods, and in
j some cases for whole squares on either side there
j is naught but piles of blackened bricks, or half de
; molished walls,or charred timber. Beside some of
| these repaired houses may be seen burned arbors,
| over which once hung thrifty grape vines, but
I which are now dead, but they appear to be still left
j to call to the minds of the inmates the happier
i days when pleasant hours were spent beneath their
shades.
Many families have erected cabins or shanties,
in which they reside and transact their business.
Where a year ago stood fine brick residences or
stores you now see these cabins with signs on them
indicating that they are stores, or shops ; yet other
families, and there is not a few of them, are house
less. It will be many long years before Chambers
burg will all be rebuilt.
The morning of tin- 11th was clear, cold and
windy, and X was booked for MeCopntllsburg,
Fulton county. At 8 o'clock A. M., the stage was
announced, which stage, was a sleigh with a lum
ber box and a broken tongue or pole, with no scats
except rough boards placed across the top of the
box. The passenger, for there was but one, de
murred to the operation of riding in such a vehicle
twenty-two miles, on such a bitter cold day, but
he must go 111 that, or not at all, and he had en
gaged to be at McConnellsburg on the 11th. There
was therefore no alternative, go he must or forfeit
his word, so. after considerable grumbling he took
liis seat on the board perched up in the wind as
high as he could be placed, with no buffalo robe,or
blanket even for protection against the cold. To
complain was useless, you must pay eleven and
four eleventh cents per juile for the privilege of
riding in such a conveyance, and with such accom
modations.
Oft'we started, the horses were frightfully popf.
hut when they began to move, it Was seen that
their leanness was not the worst, the near one was
lame in the off' fore leg. and the oft' one. in the
near hind leg. The driver was drunk when we
started, and took measures to become more so at
every tavern on the road, he stopped to drink but
would not stop long enough for the passenger to
warm, because, as he declared on all occasions, his
horses were so lame lie should be late, we therefore
rode the whole twenty-two miles without wrgnring.
The sua shone brightly end the roads and fields
and fences and buildings and stone bridges were
covered with glare ice, grass and grain stubble
looked like pure silver, indeed the whole country
appeared, as you could see it at a distance, as
though it were covered with bright burnished silver.
A person could skate nine-tenths of the distance
from Cliambersburg to McConnellsburg.
Between these two places the North, or Cove
Mountain rears its rugged, rocky peaks. From
valley to valley over this ridge is eight miles. The
scenery is as wild as the most romantic would de
sire to see. From the top of the mountain, the
view is most grand, the hills of Maryland and West
Virginia stretch away to the southwest, as far
as the aye can reach, while almost at your
feet lies the Cumberland Valley on the East, and
the McConnellsburg, or Cove Valley on, the West.
McConnellsburg is literally surrounded and hem
med in with mountains on all sides. In the ravines
and gorges of these everlasting hills, are secure
hiding places for rebels and non-reporting drafted
men. There is a company of mounted artillery
stationed here, the men are busy in hunting up
and arresting such men. A few weeks ago eight of
of them came upon sixteen of the deserters, and a
sharp skirmish ensued, in which one of the draft
ed men was killed and one severely wounded.
The Legislature has done but little except ap
point the committees and get ready for business.—
A committee from the house has been on to Wash
ington to consult with the proper authorities there
relative to the quota of the tState, under the Inst
call for men. The committee has made no formal
report, but it is understood that each member re
turns satisfied that if injustice has hitherto been
done to our State in this matter, it will be made
right in the coming draft.
It is expected that Maj. HARRY WHITE, of sena
torial notoriety, will Lecture in the Hall of Repre.
sentatives on the evening of the 18th inst., at
which time he will give his experience as a prison
er in Richmond and other places in rebeldom, such as
his unsuccessful attempts, and finally successful at
tempt to escape. The lecture is anticipated with
much interest, and no doubt will call out a large
audience. X.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, I). C. Jau. 19, 1865.
. Since the reassembling of Congress after the re
cess for the holidays, the House has had under
consideration the joint resolution of the Senate,
proposing an amendment of the Constitution to
abolish Slavery. It was taken upon Thursday, sth
inst., and made the special order for every day's
session nntil otherwise ordered, and the discussion
has continued until this afternoon, when the fur
ther consideration of the subject was postpontd
tor two weeks.
The (lehate upon this important proposition has
been of the most interesting character, and the
cause of freedom, justice, humanity, and light, has
been ably and manfully sustained ; while the apol
ogists of Slavery and rebellion have lost much by
the discussion. Among the^dvocat<-s of the meas
| ure are Kino and Boixtns, of Mo., and Teaman, of
, Ky., who have heretofore stood in a somewhat
doubtful attitude, and of Democrats of the North,
I who have heretofore acted upon most other ques
tions with their party, we have Baii.ey, of l'tmn'u.,
: Oueix, of New York, and perhaps Kern an of New
| York, on the side of the amendment. The debate
i was opened on Thursday liwt by C res well of Mary
| land, in an able and effective speech in favor of the
i amendment, and it has lieeu manfully sustained by
| nearly all the administration men of the border
! States, as well as by the friends of the admin is tra
i tion generally, representing the free States. The
■ speech of Mr. Hcofield, of the Warren district,
: Pa., made oil Saturday last, in reply to Mr. Brooks
I of New York, is pronounced one of the ablest of
; the session ; it commanded the most profound ut
; teution. both from the House and the galleries,
it was keenly though gracefully sarcastic, and ex-
I posed the hollow hearted fallacies of his opponent
; in a most convincing manner. This effort has
place Mr. Kcoveeld high in the estimation of his
fellow members, as an effective debater.
When this discussion commenced, I had but lit
tle faith that the amendment could be passed dur
| ing the preseut Congress, but f now feel almost
| confident that it can and will he. But whether
passed at this session or not, all men must see and
feel that slavery is soon to he reckoned among the
i tilings of the past, and its power as a disturbing
: element in this government, will be felt no more.
Slave-pens and slave auctions, can but a brief pe
j riod disgrace American soil.
A resolution of thanks to" Gen. Sherman and the
I brave officers and men of his command lias been
j unanimously passed by both Houses.
The failure ol the attack upon Wilmington, has
excited much censure iigainst the officers charged
with the command of that expedition. The pro
gress of the war has reached a point, where the
people will not excuse blunders, or failures from
prejudice or want of hearty co-operation among
officers in command. Even- true patriot believes
and feels that the government has the power to ef
fectually overcome and put down the rebellion,and
in fact that the strength of the rebellion is already
spent, The disappointment is the more keen, at
any failure, in proportion as public hope and con
fidence becomes strong. Out of these causes, in
my judgment, came the necessity for the removal
of Gen. HITHER from his command of the army of
the James. While lam not prepared to say whether
his removal was right. I feel that it is the duty of
every man to acquiesce in the action of the Presi
dent in removing him, at least nntil such time as
the action of Gen. BUTLER has been thoroughly
and impartially investigated, as I am confident it
will be. His parting address to the army, is, to
say the least, in bad taste.
The Senate have not as yet taken any action up
on the bill passed in Dec. by the House to estab
lish a uniform system of bankruptcy.
As I write, a telegram is received, announcing
that HENRY S. FOOTE of Mississippi, a uieifiher of
the Rebel Senate, ill attempting to make liis es
cape from the rebel confederacy through bur lines,
has been captured by the rebels anil taken back.
His wife lias succeeded in gettiug through, and is
now at Alexandria.
Rumors of peace propositions from the rebels
are current here, but nothing is known outside of
official circles in regard to them. There is no room
for doubt, however, that the rebellion is tottering
to its fall.
The question of the admission of the gentlemen
claiming seats as members from Louisiana and
Arkansas, will probably be decided next week. If
these men are admitted, the Constitutional amend
ment will gain several votes. Yours truly.
COMB.
RUFFIANLY ASSAULT ON JUDGE KELLEY.
Special dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 1865.
The question of the admission of Louis
iana got settled in part last night very ef
fectually. While Judge Kelley, member of
the House from Philadelphia, was at Wil
lard's at supper, near midnight, Field. >ue
of the applicants for admission from Louis
iana. bawled at him with an oath, from an
other part of the table, that he was afraid
to show his hand on the question of admit
ting the Louisiana delegation.
The Judge made no reply to the man, who
was a stranger to him. Field became loudly
profane and abusive. Kelley then quietly
said to him. " When my game is called in
the llonsc on that vote, it will not take me
long to decide on your ease, Sir.''
Field, with slave-driving fury, shouted :
"T>— n you, you Northerners want us back
in the Union bad, and yon Congressmen
dare not face your constituents if you don't
let us in," and then stalked out of the din
ing-room swearing that he would take care
of Kelley and all Northern Congressmen
like hint, and laid in wqit fur him in the
hall.
As Kelley passed a few minutes after
ward, Field, a powerful, tall man, throttled
him and drove a bowie-knife at him. Kelley
is said to have warded the blade with an
upward motion of Ips arm, which caught
the knife on the back of bis hand and laid
it open to the bone.
Bystanders threw themselves on the ruf
fian from Louisiana and stopped a murder.
Dr. Stone was summoned and dressed Kel
ley's injuries. A police officer took Field to
the station-house, but lie somehow got back
to \\ illard's and to his comfortable bed.
This morning lie has been refreshing
hiinscli in A\ illard's lower t'uoum with pro
claiming his ability to whip any d—d mem
ber of Congress that insults him.
SOUTHERN MERCHANTS PAYING THEIR DEBTS
AT THE NORTH. —We hear, with pleasure that
a number of the leading merchants of Sa
vanah have already forwarded to this city
funds for the part or whole payment of
debts they owed in this city when the war
broke out, and which they were then pre
vented from paying. Some who have made
but partial payments this time, have, we
understand, given notice that they intend
to clear off all their obligations as quickly
as possible.— New York' Post.
GLOOMY. —The Richmond Examiner of a
recent date makes the following sombre re
flections upon the rebel situation. If there
is a scintillation of comfort or consolation
to be derived from it, we hope it may do
those whom it may concern good; but we
don't see it,
" I herp is such a thiqg us heart-break for
nations, as for individuals. There are such
things as hopelessness and despair, lethar
gy and apathy. A conviction that all that
it will do must come to naught, all sacrifices
it can make, be rendered vain, by an ir
redeemable cause—a conviction resting on
rational grounds, both of reflection and ex
periment, will produce this state of feeling
in any nation, however heroic and however
obstinate,"
OUR PRISONERS. —It has been represen
ted that nothing has been done by our Gov
ernment to carry out the arrangements for
taking care of prisoners, agreed upon by
Generals Grant and Lee. We now observe,
by Richmond papers of the 6th, that 2,500
blankets have been sent to our men in that
city, the first instalment having reached
them soon after Christmas.
LATEST WAR NEWS.
CAPTUftE OF FORT FISHER—OFFI
CIAL DESPATCH FROM STANTON
FORTRESS MONROE. Tuesday, Jan. 17 —10 |. 111.
To the J'resuleiU:
The Rebel flag ol Fort Fisher was deliv
ered to me on board the steamer Spaulding ,
off that place yesterday morning, Jan. l(i,
by Major-Gen Terry.
An acknowledgement and thanks for 1
their gallant achievement was given iri !
yonr name to admiral Porter and Gen. 1
Terry, from whom the following particulars j
were obtained.
The troops arrived off Fort Fisher Thurs
day night. Friday they were all landed '
under cover of a heavy fire from the squa
dron, and reeonnoisauce was made by Gen.
Terry on Saturday.
A strong defensive line against any of
the enemy's force coining from Wilmington
was established on Saturday, and held hy
4,000 men, chiefly colored troops, and an
assault was determined on. The assault
was made 011 Sunday afternoon, at 3| o'-
clock.
The sea-front of the fort had been great
ly damaged and broken by a continuous
and terrib'e fire of the fleet for three days,
and the fort was assaulted at the hour,
mentioned hy a column of seamen and
marines eighteen hundred strong, under the
command of Capt. Breese.
They reached the parapet, hut after a
short conflict this column was checked,
driven back in disorder, and was afterward
placed on the defensive line, taking the
place of a brigade that was brought up to
reinforce the assaulting column of troops.
Although the assault on the sea-front failed,
it performed a very useful part in diverting
the attention of the enemy weakening their
resistance to the attack by the troops on j
the other side.
The assault 011 the other and most diffi-!
cult side of the fort was made by a column
of three-thousand troops of the old Tenth
Corps, led hy Col. Curtis, under the irnrne- '
diatc supervision of Gen. Terry. The ene
my's force in the fort was over two thous
and two hundred. The conflict lasted for
seven hours.
The works were so constructed that
every traverse afforded the enemy a new
defensive position from whence they had to
be driven They were seven in number, ;
and the light was carried on from traverse
to traverse for sevifo hours by a skilfully
directed fire thrown into the trenches.—
One after another they were occupied by
the enemy.
Admiral Porter contributed to the suc
cess of the assaulting column by signals
between himself and Gen. Terry at brief
intervals. His fire was so well managed
as to damage the enemy without injury to
our own troops.
At about ten o'clock at night the enemy
were entirely driven from the fort, forced
down towards Federal Point, followed hy a
brigade of our troops, and about twelve
o'clock at night, Gen. Whiting surrendered
himself and his command to Gen. Terry,
unconditionally, as prisoners of war, num
bering over eighteen hundred, the remain
der of his force being killed and woun
ded.
Our loss was not accurately ascertained
on Monday afternoon, but was estimated
at between seven hundred mid eight hun
dred in killed and wounded, besides the
naval loss, which was slight, not exceeding
one hundred killed and wounded. Not a
ship nor a transport was lost.
Col. Curtis was severely but not mortally
wounded, Col. Bell died of bis wounds
Monday morning. Col. S. VV. Moore and
Lient.-Col. Lyman were killed. Col. Pen
nypacker was badly wounded ; also Lieut.-
001. Coan. A complete list of the killed
and wounded will be forwarded as soon as
it can be prepared.
General Leroy reported to Surgeon-Gen
; eral Barnes that lie had amplo provision of
surgeons, nurses and hospital supplies for
the wounded. They vvill he sent North to
their respective States as fast as they can
he placed .011 transports, of which there was
ample supply.
011 Monday morning, between six and
. seven o'clock, the magazine of Fort Fisher
exploded,killing and wounding two or three
hundred persons.
After the capture of the fort all the troops
were withdrawn, except one brigade left in
charge of the works.
How the explosion occurred was not
known, but General Terry believed it was
occasioned by accident or neglect.
General Hoke's division, reported as five
thousand strong, was at Wilmington A
portion of it was thrown into the fort not
long before the assault, and while that was
going on a demonstration was made by
General Hoke against our defensive line,
tut it was found too strong for any thing
more than a skirmish attack.
About 11 o'clock on Monday morning a i
heavy cloud of smoke was observed over
Fort Smith, on the south side of New Inlet.
The naval officer commanding that station
reported that the enemy had tired their ;
barracks and evacuated that fort.
You will be pleased to know that perfect
harmony and concert of action existed be- ;
tween the land and naval forces and their
respective commanders. Admiral Porter
and Gen. Terry vied in their commendation
each of the other. Each seemed more
anxious to do justice to the other than to
claim anything for himself, and they united
in the highest commendation of the naval'
and military officers and the forces en
gaged.
To this harmony of feeling and the con- i
fident spirit inspired, may perhaps be attri-j
buted in some degree the success of our :
attack, within nearly equal numbers,
against a resolute enemy in a work nnsur- i
passed, if ever equalled, in strength, and
which Gen. Beauregard a few days before '
pronounced impregnable. The armament i
of the fort was Seventy-two guns, some of j
large caliber and rifled, undone Armstrong '
gun. The troops in the fort had rations for
sixteen days Their loss in killed and
wounded was between four hundred and five !
hundred.
Gen. Whiting had three wounds in the !
thigh Col Lamb also, who had gone into j
the fort with reinforcements and to relieve
Gen. Whiting on Sunday, is wounded. 011 !
Monday everything was quite as. a Sabbath
day. The dead were being buried, and I
wounded collected and placed in transports
an field hospitals.
SHERMAN'S ARMY.
Gen, Sherman renewed the movement of
his forces from Savannah last] week. The j
Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps went in
transports to Beaufort on Saturday, the
14th. The Seventeenth Corps, under Maj.-
Gen. Blair, crossed Port Royal ferry, and
with a portion of Gen. Foster's command
moved on Pocotaligo Qen. Howard, com- :
iiiandiiig that wing of the army, reported
on Sunday that the enemy abandoned his
strong works in our front during Saturday
night. Gen Blair's Corps now occupies a
strong position across the railroad,covering
all approaches eastward to Pocataligo.
All the sick of Gen. Sherman's army arc
in good hospitals at Beaufort and Hilton
Head, where the genial climate affords
advantages for recovery superior to any
other place,
The peace and order prevailing at Savan
nah since its occupation by (Jen. Sherman
could not be surpassed. Few male inhahj.
tants are to be seen in the streets. Ludi s
and children evince a sense of security __
No instances of disorder or pergonal injury
or insult has occurred. Laboring men ami
mechanics, white and black, are seeking
employment.
The troops, are cheerful and respectful
toward every one, and seem to feel them
selves much at home and on good behavior
as if in their native towns.
TRADE WITH SA\ AXXAIf.
Trade is restricted at present to actual
military necessity. Many ships with mer
chandise from the North are waiting at
Hilton Head for permission to go to Savan
nah, but Gen. Sherman has admitted onlv
a limited number of supplies required I,V
his troops.
A mistake prevails at the North as to the
present inducement for e riirnerce at Savan
nah. There is not yet any large popula
tion to be supplied, no credit or money, no
commodities of exchange, and there can he
no great amount for a considerable period.
All the cotton and products now within
Savannah belong to the Government a,
captured property.
Stringent precautions against supplies
that might go to the enemy, have been
made, and will be enforced by Gen. >!>(.[•.
man.
The cotton captured in Savannah, of
which there is a good dc-a! of Sea Island,
has been turned over by the Quartermastei
to Mr. Draper, special agent of the Treax
ury. The Quartermaster-General remain
at Savannah to execute the arrangements
for shipment
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of \V.
DESPATCH FROM ADMIRAL PORTIJ;
XOKTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON, (
FLAGSHIP MALVERN, OFF FORT FIKHKH,
January 16, 1860. I
Sir: 1 wrote you yesterday. We havi
all the forts. The army have captured one
thousand eight hundred men and a large
number of officers including General Wha
ing and Colonel Lamb.
The gunboats are now in the river, and j
Wilmington is hermetically sealed again-:
blockade runners.
The rebels have destroyed the works on
Smith's Island, and if they" don't destroy
Fort Caswell it is of no use to them. \\i
will get that after a little while. You inu-t
not expect too much of us at one time
These works are tremendous. 1 was in 1
Fort Malakoff a few days after its sunn
dor to the French and English. The 1 u - 1
bined armies of these two nations were 1
many months capturing that stronghold,and |
it wont compare either in size or strengti ;
to Fort Fisher.
The fort contained seventy-five guns, an* |
many of them were heavy ones.
1 have not yet learned what our casu
ties are in killed and wounded, but 1 thin.
three hundred will cover them all. We In
u bad explosion in the fort this nioriiii I
which killed and wounded a number of men
—about one hundred. Some of our seamen 1
were blown up, and Acting Assistant I'm- 1
master R. 11. (fillet, of the Gettysburg w.n
killed.
I will send a detailed report as soon as f
can get off the wounded and arrange mat
ters generally. The world never saw sin.,
lighting as our soldiers did.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient serv a.:. •
1). D. PORTER, Pear-Admir ,i
Hon. Gideon Welles. Secretary of the Navv. V
iugtotl, il. C.
FROM GEN. THOMAS'S ARMY.
No PRESENT MOVEMENTS—ARRIV U
OF REBEL PRISONERS.
C'vßJo, Saturday. Jan.4l. 13'1
The present indications are that Gc
1 homas s Army will not soon move from:;-
present position 011 the Tennessee River. -
\\ inter quarters are being constructed.
Adj.'-Gen. Thomas and Staff have pa.—ol
down, the river 011 the steamer Rockett.
Over 200 Rebel prisoners have recentlt S
arrived from Rock Island, destined Sum.
to be exchanged.
HEAVY FIRING IN FRONT OF PETEIS
Rl lit!—DESERTERS COMING iXfo
OCR LINES—GREAT REJOICING
AMONG THE REBELS, Ac.
WASHINGTON, Saturday. J;ui. 21. 1 miW.
Information from the army of the Pot-- j
mac states that considerable firing - t >. k f
place in front of Petersburg, near the Ap*|
pomattox, on Friday morning, but wit I i
what result is not known.
About 40 deserters came into our lines ■>!.
j Thursday, many of them being hi a -'lj
state of destitution.
An arrival from City Point yesteid-.o
morning states that a great deal*, if pick.': jj
firing took place in front of Petersburg." i
I burs.lay night and some reports of tin ,
evacuation of the place were current, hm
yesterday morning matters remained -
usual.
Ihe Rebels seemed very jubilant m
something 011 Thursday night, as thev in
dulged extensively in cheering,hpll-riiigii.
for hours.
EVACUATION OF POCOTALIGO BY Tli
REBELS.
(From Rebel Accounts.)
CHARLESTON, JUU, 11. 186.1.
A heavy force of the enemy advance
1 10111 Beaufort yesterday morning again-
Pocotaligo, which place* was evacuated he
night by Gen. McLaws.
Refugees from Savannah report one corp> J
ot Sherman's army gone to Wilniingtm 1
and that the cotton in Savannah has'lie- %
or will be confiscated,
CHARLESTON, Jan. 11l •
After abandoning Pocotaligo our fum- |
took position behind the Combahee Riv. i
No further movement was made yosterdui
fiie enemy is believed t>. be arriving ?
Branchville.
Two monitors were sunk last, night
this harbor, probably by torpedoes. The ,j
lie about eight hundred yards from For: V
Sumter, toward Sullivan's Island. Thci J
smoke-stacks only are visible.
CHARLESTON, Jan. IT.
Deserters and prisoners report the fore a
that advanced from Beaufort to consist C \
the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, witi
little artillery or baggage trains, ami that M
Sherman was moving by railroad with to 5
remainder of his army, artillery, trains, \c
They reported also that Charleston is their 1
destination.
fhe enemy advanced within two miles P' - "|
Combahee yesterday, and then retired.
CHARLESTON, Jan. IT -j
We have nothing direct fron Genera ]
Wheeler.
One ot the line officers who left from D
low Mcßride's brigade yesterday lnornin- 'I
reports that the enemy are still below. IV |
sorters who come in report that a corp- %
had crossed at Port Royal.
The courier says there were cavalry. 1
tillery and infantry coming from Coesav
liatchie. The forces of the enemy arc be*
lieved to be concentrated above Mcl'hei - *" 1
villc.
CHARLSTON, Jan. 18. 18('> ;> -
The enemy made a move in the direct i" u >Jj
of the Combahee River yesterday, h " M
believed to be nothing but a feint. All 1* |
quiet there to-day. There is nothing b'" m jj
any other point.