NEWS FROM ALL NATIONS. —A sleeping car on the Philadelphia and Erie Head caught fire near Lancaster, Mouday | night, and was totiilly consumed. The passengers barely escaped with the loss of clothing and bag- j K*ge. —The House Committee for the District of Columbia, have discovered that seventy persons committed to the District jail have been recently bailed out and sold to substitute brokers. —Jacob.Little,the great Wall-street stock j operator, is said to have become deranged. His j life for the last forty years has been one of contin- j tied excitement —Those who are interested in the Erie Canal are exercised about the proposed ship canal around the Falls, fearing it will divert traffic. —A Paris letter says : " General McClel lan intends to prolong his sojourn in Paris for some weeks, and thence go to Rome and Dresden, with the intention of spending next summer in the south of France, and returning to America next autumn." —General Grant writes that " if General Sherman's success continues a few days longer the country may safely indulge in exultation." In a private letter from the Lieutenant General he ex pressed the opinion that peace is not far distant. —Gen. Mosquera, President of the Re public of Columbia, and its Minister to London have arrived. —Gen. Grant, the War Department con curring, has declined an offer of Gov. Fenton of ten regiments of the National Guard for 100 days' service in garrisoning the forts at Savannah, Charleston, 'Wilmington, and other rebel ports. —The Louisville Journal says, editorially, the rebels are expecting soon to startle the whole country, and astonish the world. —A naval expedition of considerable magnitude is said to be fitting out at Cairo. The fleet will comprise 30 steamers. — A telegram from Memphis states that Major-Gen. Washburn has been assigned to that department. —Of all the coast forts seized by the reb els, and which Mr. Lincoln in his innagttral, de clared it the duty of the Government to repossess, not one, since the possession of Fort Snmpter. re mains in their hands. —One hundred paroled officers and nine hundred and seventy-five men reached Annapolis from Richmond last week. All were in a wretched condition, and three hundred were carried to the hospital. —Mr. John Overton, the Tennessee mil lionare. who, it is said, gave $5,000,000 to aid the rebellion, has deserted the cause, taken the oath, and is once more a pence- able citizen of Nashville. —The Grand Jury at Rochester have re turned two bills of indictment against coal monop olists. The contents of the bills will not Vie made public until the parties indicted have been brought tip to answer upon bench warrants. Nevada produced $15,000,000 in silver last year. Tliut is about twice as much as the av erage annual production of the mines of Pern or of the mines of Mexico for the last two or three centuries. —The Springfield Republican states that Gen. Banks, not to permit the government or the public or himself to feel that he was a superflons appendage to either the military or civil list, has offered his resignation to both the Secretary of War and President, and both have declined to ac cept it. —Estimates of Gen. Leo's strength,made from the best authority, prove him to have from on the subject. —About 3 o'clock Wednesday morning, Feb. 22d, a fire broke out in tire second story of Asa Austin's store at Upper Lisle, and spreading rapiily soon destroyed the entire building. Only about S3OO worth of goods were saved. Total loss >i,000 or $7,000. Insuraiie s-.700 Vl\. Austin was absent at the time. By virtue of the Constitution of Dela ware. Gov. Sidsbury, President of the Senate. le --euuieti Governor of the State for tin unexpired term of Gov, Cannon. —On Wednesday of last week about 50 guerrillas dashed into the town ot I'aoli. Tenn., burned the dejsg and robbed the families resident there. —Dr. G winn's San Francisco organ de nies emphatically that the Emperor Napoleou has withdrawn from the Sonorft colonization scheme. —The Richmond Dispatch confirms the intimation that Sheridan is advancing down the Shenandoah valley at the head of two of the finest eavalrv divisions in the service. There was a rutnor afloat in Wheeling Tuesday last, that the Union garrison at Bnlltown. (Braxton County. Va..'t had bc gobbled up by a lew of the enemy. — A dispatch from t)il City says a fire oc curred at one o'clock Friday afternoon, which to tally destroyed the New York Hotel, four dwelling house* and the building occupied by l'ool Brother* and Iteixiuger. The heaviest loss is on the New York Hotel. The tali filings were new, just finished and ready to le opened in u lew days, ihe insur ance amount* t<> s'Z.tioO. The tire is supposed to have been tl.e work of an incendiary. No further jxiriieularK have la-en wsiivwl The legislature of Vermont has sent the thanks of that State to the, per.pl*. of Philadel phia for their fiospiUiity to Vermont soldier* p&ss .iig through that city. Bradford Reporter. Towanda, Thursday, March 9, 1865. THE IMAI OI'RATION. On the Fourth of March, 1801, the oath of office was administered to President LIN - COLN, who had by stealth arrived at the Cap ital of the Nation. Washington then swarm ed with open scecessionists and secret en emies to the Union. The life of the Chief Magistrate was hardly deemed secure from the of the conspirators who sought the overthrow of the Nation. Ad dressing, on that occasion, the multitude which surrounded him, the newly made President plead in an honest and fervent manner for the peace and prosperity of the country, and for assistance to guide the good ship of State safely through the perils which had already begun to environ it on every side. His earnest desire was that the Union should be preserved inseperable and that the "madness which ruled the hour" should be allayed and our "erring Southern brethren" be brought back to a realizing sense of their duty to their country, and of the wickedness and futility of the schemes which had been formed, and which were just beginning to develop themselves.- - There was in his address at that time, noth ing but words of kindness and persuasion— utterances which acknowledged the rights and privileges of the South—and which should have caused the wickedest and most desperate of the conspirators to pause in their mad career. Since that time four years have passed— four years of fratricidal war, of unholy re bellion, of blood and carnage, and desola tion. The South has been ravaged by the conquering armies of the North. The re bellion, confined to a limited section of her territory is now about exhausted, and tot ters to its fall. Again President LINCOLN takes the oath of office, and in compliance with universal custom, addresses his fellow citizens, who surround him. On this occa sion he is greeted by thousands of loyal hearts, and treason, if it be present, hides its head in silence aid secret. The voice, which four years ago besought the South ern leaders to return to their duty and al legiance, now properly utters the truths which the events of the intervening time have written with characters of blood upon the history of the Nation. To those who have doubted, by the President, the realiz ation of the causes and objects of the Re bellion we commend his plain and earnest words. "To strengthen, perpetuate and extend" the institution of Slavery "was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war ; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it." In this war,with its desolation South, and its misery North, the President acknowl edges the purposes of the Almighty. That it may speedily end is his fervent prayer, to which an anxious Nation will respond Amen ! WHO MADE THE AVAR I That pink of modesty, and honesty, R. M. T. HINTER, the sullen demagogue who used to figure in the United States Senate as a Senator from Virginia, and who, more recently was one of the rebel Peace Com missioners, made a speech at a war meet ing held in Richmond, after his return from our lines, iu which he says "We (meaning the rebels) are not responsible for the war." This bold and infamous falsehood is in char acter with the whole rebel programme. The rebellion was started on a lie, and it has been sustained by lies up to this hour. It could never have been inaugurated, if the people of the Southern States had not been deceived as to our feelings, and the intend ed action of the general government, tow ards them. All rnanuer of frauds were per petrated in order to mislead, and get them into a fighting fever against us, and now the brazen-faced HI NTER says " we are not responsible for the war." What does the record say ? It is a well known fact, that the Southern democrats, who commenced the war upon the government, have almost always iiad, with the aid of their Northern allies, who invariably went with them on political is sues, the control of the government, and could and did legislate about as they pleas ed. It is equally patent, that if the rebel ring-leaders had not deserted the govern ment, they would still have had the control of both Houses of Congress, after President LINCOLN'S inauguration. This power too, they could, in all likelihood, have retained until their party was again in the ascenden cy. for it was through their own division that they were defeated. Then, when the factious, discontented, and arbitrary South demanded new conces sions, and new guarantees—ail unneces sary because they had still power over the legislation of the country—many, perhaps the majority of the people of the free States, were willing to concede their insolent de mands, not that they thought them right or just, or had any cause to make them, but because the slave-holders threatened to break up Uje government, if the North did not yield ; and rather than have even a pre tended cause for this, the people of the tree I States, were willing to submit to almost ' anything. With this view Mr. CRITTENDEN, of Kentucky, introduced one set of pacific resolutions,and Mr. CORWIN, of Ohio,another for the purpose of satisfying these demands of the South. The moderate, and reason able men of the South declared either of these measures ample, but they generally preferred that of the former. This meas ure. when it came up in the Senate was de feated by six of the Southerners refusing to vote, and these six scoundrels—Hi NTKR ! among them—afterwards became the ring > leaders in the rebellion Moreover, these men with their colleagues, who withdrew from the Senate, when leaving their purpose to make upon the gov- I eminent Then followed in rapid succes sion those aggressive acts upon the goveru ment, such as taking possession of forts, arsenals, navy yards, ships, the robbing of Custom Houses, tiring on the "Star of the West" when she was sent with provisions for Major ANDERSON. All this had taken place, and six States had passed edicts of secession, before President LINCOLN was in augurated, and while the government was still in their possession, yet these impudent vidians, have the hardihood to assert that " we are not responsible for the war." Nor did the government amidst these open as saults upon her rights resist them. So that no act of hers could offend, or aggravate the hatred of her enemies. She submitted quietly, and waited patiently, for the res toration of reason among the rebels ; and A. 11. STEVENS, the rebel Vice-President, de clared in his Montgomery speech that the government of the United States had given them no cause for complaint. Yet they make war upon her, and are still not re sponsible for it. Well, this is one way of reasoning. We have the satisfaction of knowing that it is not believed, and SHER MAN is taking HUNTER'S falsehood home to roost. The government is defining its pos ition, and this vile petifogger of secession is ruled out. Right, justice, and truth are arbitrating her cause, and the verdict is, liberty, equality, and Union, now and for ever inseperable. CHARLESTON, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA. Since our last publication the news has been heralded to all corners of our land, that Charleston, the haughty,the guilty city of Charleston, has fallen. Her proud crest is lowered, her taunting insolence is silenc ed, and gloom and sadness hangs over her dismantled ruins. A just retribution. No fortunate event of this terrible war has been hailed with more quiet, serious satis faction, by the Union-loving people of the North, than this closing scene of this mis chievous, and rebellious city. Not that the loyal people take pleasure in her misfortune, not that they bear malice, not that they take delight in the suffering of their ene mies. Nor yet, that they are pleased to see this turbulent city humbled to the dust, her population sent adrift, houseless, and breadlesß—for they would feed them if they could—and her walls darkened with the smoke of the scourged tire. No, for none of these are we satisfied ; but, because justice has been done, because punishment has come where punishment was deserved, and needed, because the sword came to him who slew with the sword. If a man sets fire to an inhabited dwelling, burns it part ly down, and some of the inmates are con sumed in the flames, the right-minded, the humane, the just, nay all rejoice if the crim inal is punished. Not that all these take pleasure in suffering, oh no, only this, that the merciless, the wicked, are punished for inflicting sorrow and suffering on others So here—Charleston—(we can hardly name the blasted city with composure) deliber ately kindled a civil war in the best gov ernment under the sun, and the consequent loss,sorrow,and suffering, no human tongue can tell ; and people, the world over, so long as man lives, will rejoice that ven geance came to the perverse jade who kin dled this torch. Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, and second only to Charleston in criminal ity, fully as proud, as rich, as rampant in bitter hostility to the government, as influ ential in Southern councils, and as domi neering, has also fallen into our hands. The conquering legions of SHERMAN took this boastful city, and her palatial surroundings. The first secession ordinance was concoct ed, promulged,aud adopted here ; and here, as in Charleston, the last ditch of the chiv alry was to be found. When the trial came, the vaunting braggadocios of South Caroli na, who were going to show the world an example of heroic devotion to a cause, such as had never been given before,took to their heels and ran when the yankee bayonets bristled in their sight. We suppose these braves consoled themselves with the old adage k • He who tights and runs away. Lives to fight another day." THE CHAV6E. Now that the conquering armies of the Union make the tottering cause of the reb els, daily more visible, the spiteful, sneer ing, boastful words, and tones of the rebel organs, are wonderfully changed. They now tell of SHERMAN'S glorious march thro' their territories, the fall of Charleston, the probable taking of Wilmington, of Raleigh, of Mobile, and eyen of Richmond, without promising one severe thrashing, or killing repulse, to the yankee armies. We hear nothing now about the impregnability of Fort Fisher, of the preparations made to receive TERRY, GII.MORE, and SHERMAN "with bloody hands and hospitable graves.'' And our Northern democrats, the sympathisers, no longer tell us that the South can not be whipped. We hear no more from them of the superior armies, of the super ior equipments, of the superior discipline,of the superior tactics, and strategy of the rebels. No more do they tell us that our victories are humbugs, and give promise when the truth is known, they will turn out to be disastrous defeats to our armies.— Some of them seem to have lost all inter est in the contest, such too, as used to be very busy, and were ever ready to give glowing accounts of rebel valor and suc cess. From these travelling, noisy cunning democrats, who saw, and knew, long before hand, how this struggle would end, one can hardly get a word. They don't read the papers, they appear to be afraid the great SHERMAN, and his great army, will be en gulphed. Poor fellows, they begin to see " mene, rnene, tekel, upharrin," 011 the wall; but no matter, so that the war is ended, the government i* saved, the union perpetuated, and freedom is universal. The reported expulsion of the Ameri can Consul from Matamoros is confirmed by tfie latest New-Orleans advices, and the re port given that our Hag had been nauied down by some person unknown. FROM HA BR ISBV RG. HARBISBCRG, March 3. IHS. On the 22(1. Washington's birthday, the two Honses met at 10 o'clock, and, after the journal of the House was read, the Senators came into the Hall to listen to the reading of Washington's fare well address. The doenment was well read by the clerk of the House, and I was sorry to see so little attention paid to it; a great majority of the mem bers were reading news-papers, writing letters, franking documents or talking, and some were passing round the room. We have all read that address, perhaps many times, still respect to the occasion, and veneration for the author should in duce us to listen to it whenever read upon a public occasion, with at least becoming stillness. After the clerk had concluded, Mr. WEKEB, of Lehigh, moved that five thousand copies in English and three thousand in German be printed for the use of the House. KEIXEIT, of Washington, moved to strike out the German, this motion was strongly opposed and was finally voted down, by 70 nays and 10 yeas. Some one then moved to print one thousand in French, voted down. DONNELLY moved to print one thousand in Irish, voted down, by 39 to 35. MILLER, of Philadelphia, moved to add, the same number of Jackson's farewell ad dress, agreed to. THOMAS, of Philadelphia, moved to print one thousand in Welch, five thousand in French, and one thousand in Italian, not agreed to. Mr. BUDKEMAN moved too add five thousand in Latin, voted down. ALLAMAN, of Dauphin, moved to print five thousand copies in English of Jack son's Notification Proclamation, and one thousand of Gen. Sherman's proclamation to the people of Atlunta, not agreed to. The resolution was finally amended so as to have ten thousand in English and three in German of the two farewell addresses. During these proceedings, a telegram was read in which it was announced that Fort Anderson was taken. This called forth a spirited applause in which one side of the House participated with great earnestness. The Speaker's desk was ornamented with an ele gantly executed portrait of Washington, which was presented by Miss ANNIE L. COLLADAY, a pupil iu the "School ot Design for Women." located in Philadelphia. The painting is creditable alike to the institution, and the young lady who presented it. But little except local matters are attended to. There are several important bills yet to he acted upon, but unless attention is directed to them soon, they will hardly he reached if the adjournment takes place on the 24th of March as it is now ex pected. The committee on ways and means has reported the finance hill, it has not been printed so I can give no information relative to it. this bill will occupy two weeks or more ; then the revenue bill prepared by the cominitb e of last year's legisla tion, has not been touched. I presume that there will be a week recess to allow the members to at tend the inauguration, this will not leave much spare time before March 24th. Soldiers are coming in rapidly, not a day passes that companies do not pass out of the camp for the front, and frequently several companies per day. X. NEWS FROM EUROPE. —The Moravia, from Liverpool Feb. Ifi, via Londonderry, Feb. 17, arrived at Portland Wednesday with two days later news. The Rebel steamer Shenandoah was at Ferral and said to be leaky. The news of the Peace Conference produced a great de pression in commercial and financial circles, which ceased, when from later accounts it became apparent that the war would go on. The Owl of London claims to have received from special sources of information the the terms of peace proposed by Lincoln through Blair to Davis. They are said to be as follows : Abolition of Slavery to be left to the Legislatures of the Southern States, restoration of the Union with the same rigiits of the Southern States as he fore, incorporation of the Confederate Army with the Union Army, with a view to for eign wars, the past to be forgotten. Cardinal Wiseman died on Feb. 15. The French Chambers were opened by the Emperor on Feb. 15. His speech was entirely silent on the American question, and with regard to Mexico, expressed grat ification at the consolidation of the Impe rial Government and the development of the resources of the country. CONGRESS. —The Senate sat all Friday night, and then went into Executive session. The Civil Appropriation Bill was the main feature, to which several amendments were made. The report of the Conference Com mittee, on the Amended Enrollment Bill, was concurred in. A number of private bills were passed. About 7 A. M., on Satur day, the Senate had a brief recess. Upon reassembling, the hill for the coining of three-cent pieces was passed. The question of admitting the Senators from Arkansas went over. While discussing thin&ill reg ulating Commerce between the States, the special matter being an amendment that no citizen shall be excluded from any public conveyance on account of color, the hour of twelve drew near, and preparations were made for adjournment. Vice Presi dent Johnson was introduced ; Mr. Ilamlin, the retiring officer, made a brief address, the oath of office was administered to Mr. Johnson, after some remarks by him, and Mr. Hamlin pronounced the Senate adjourn ed sine die. The Clerk immediately read the proclamation for an extra session, the new members were sworn in, and the Sen ate iu a body joined in the ceremonies of the inauguration of President Lincoln. The House was also in session all Friday night. A bill was passed regulating the i disposal of coal-lots on the public domain, j It was voted to print 35,000 copies of the i report of the Commission on Flax and i Hemp ; 20,000 of the amended internal rev enue act, and 35,000 copies of the Agricul- I tural report for 1804. The House concurred in the Senate's joint resolution that this ' Government will never recognue the rebel debt on any condition. By a vote of 53 to j 67, they non-concurred in the Senate's am endment to the joint resolution, changing j from three to fifteen per centum ad valorem j the duty on printing paper. The House re-! fused to lay the resolution on the table, and j asked a Committee of Conference. The ! Army Appropriation Bill was passed, omit ting the section to compensate the Illinois ! Central Railroad for doing Government i transportation. The Senate bill removing all disqualification of color in carrying the i mails was passed. A resolution was adop- j ted requesting the revocation of a military j order requiring that all colored persons leaving the District of Columbia shall have i passports; At 7:15 A. M., the House took an hour for breakfast. On reassembling, a \ few unimportant bills were passed. The i bill to organize a (governmenttor the Indian I Territory was put over. The Committee of! Conference on the Miscellaneous or Civil ! Appropriation Bill made a report. The | question left unsettled was that introduced i by Mr. Davis, of Maryland, exempting eh : viiians from trial by court-martial and mili-' tary commission. The contest on this point! consumed the session, and while calling the yeas and nays on an unimportant motion,! the hour of twelve arrived, and the Civil | Appropriation Bill did not pass. The Spea- j ker then delivered an eloquent address, and the House adjourned sine die. I NAUGPR AHON. ADDKESS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, March 4. The procession reached the Capitol at about a quarter to twelve o'clock,escorting the President-elect. At a subsequent period the President and Vice-President, together with the justices of the Supreme Court, members and ex members of Congress, foreign ministers and other persons of distinction, assembled in the Senate Chamber. There was a very large attendance, and the scene was one of marked interest. At 12 o'clock Mr. Johnson was introduced by the Vice-President of the United States, and addressed the audience until 15 min utes past 12. The members of the House of Representatives then entered the Senate chamber and stood behind the persons seated in the circles of the Hall. The oath of office was then administered by Chief- Justice Chase to Mr. Johnson, and he was duly inaugurated to the office of Vice- President of the United States. The newly elected Senators were then sworn in, and belore 12i the marshals had cleared the passage and President Lincoln entered the Senate chamber. A procession, there formed of the persons on the floor, moved out of the Hall and (entered the rotunda, pass to the platform erected on the steps of the east entrance of the Capitol. The Judges of the Court and the members of the Cabinet were, seated on the left of the Senators, and members of the House on the right of the stage. The members of the foreign legations were seated behind the Judges and Cabinet officers, and a pressing crowd of ladies, membere of the press and other persons soon tilled the stage and the landing of the east entrance of the Capitol. . On the ground below, and on the vast platform erected in front of the south wing, not a foot was left unoccupied. The vast assemblage extended into the park, half filling it with its swaying mas ses, and long columns occupied the streets beyond the public grounds. The procession from the White House had already arrived, and coiled itself in numerous folds in front of the Capitol, .fust as the President and Vice President came forward and took their places between the officers of the Court and Cabinet on the left and the representa tives of the people on'the right, the thin clouds that had overcast the sky were dis pelled into thin air, and (he sun shone brightly on the scene, lighting it up with dazzling splendor. The court dress of the diplomatic corps reflected diamond light and rays of gold from the stage and over the vast field between the glitter of the sabers and bayonets of the soldiery, the gaudy plumes of the cadets and the fiery uniform of the engine and hose companies, formed center-points in tlie immense con course that surround them. When Presi dent Lincoln appeared on the stage, the music of the bands was drowned by the cheers of the people. As soon as the marshal had quieted the multitude the President rose and thus addressed the peo ple around him : THE INAUGURAL ADDKESS. Mr. Lincoln's Inaugural Address was as follows : Fellow countrymen : At this second ap pearing to take the oath of the Presiden tial office there is less occasion for an ex tended address than there was at the first Then a statement of a course to he pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, daring which public declaration have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still ab sorbs the attention and engrosses the en ergies of the nation, little that is new could he presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this, four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. Ail dreaded it : all sought to avoid it. While the Inaugural Address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to .scr im/ the Union without war, insurgent agents were in this city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide its efforts by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would woept war rather than let it perish ; and the war came. One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the South ern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claim ed no right to do more than to restrict the territoral enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has al ready attained. Neither anticipated that the canoe might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and prayed to the same God, and each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just (tod's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces, but let us judge not that we he not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered— that ol neither has been answered fully.— The Almighty has His own purposes. Woe unto tiio world because of offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come ; but woe to that man by whom offense comes. If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of these offenses, which in the providence of God must needs come, but which having continued through His appointed time He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any depar ture from those Divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him ? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speed ily pass away. Yet, it God wills* that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of the blood drawn by the lash shall be paid by another drawn by the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so, still it must be said, that the judg ments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation*'? wounds, io eaie for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphans; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all na tions. THE OATH ADMINISTERED. Chief Justice Chase then administered the oath of office to the President elect, whose clear tones were heard in the pro found silence that reigned, far out in the assembled thousands of his countrymen who had Hocked to the National Capitol to visit the second inauguration of their chief magistrate. As Mr. Lincoln kissed the book the great applause burst forth louder and more earnest than before. The roar of the artillery salute, reverberating through the recesses and halls of the Capitol building, startled the non-military portion >f the as sembly. The bands played the national airs, the column of the retiring procession began to forjn, and the people filling every street and passage-way hastened toward the White House. The column returned up Pennsylvania-avenue in somewhat the same order as it had approached the Capitol in the morning. THE WAB IN THE CABOLINAB. General Sherman's line of march through North Carolina was expected by the rebel strategists to follow the line of the railroad from Columbia to Charlotte and Greens boro, and accordingly they made their preparations there to obstruct his progress and offer battle. They have now ascer tained to their own satisfaction that they were mistaken, but not until they had con centrated their forces on that line, and al lowed Sherman time to penetrate into North Carolina on his own chosen routes, and proceed to carry out his plans. The rebels had evidently fortified Charlotte and prepared for a siege. To keep them there Sherman seems to have advanced a de tachment along the line of the railroad from Columbia,and passing through Winns boro this detachment would seem, after threatening Charlotte, to have got around it and destroyed the railroad north of it. Meantime Sherman, with his main army, did not go by that route at all. In fact, he went oil in the direction of Camden, S. C , which place he passed through on his road north. The Richmond journals now inform us that advices from Charlotte indicate that that place is not now threatened, and that Sherman's line of march is in another direction, from which we infer that the de tachment which was operating near Char lotte, having accomplished its purpose in keeping the rebels there as long as was necessary,has now gone off to join the main arrnv. Some of the northern press now fancy that Sherman has gone to Goldsboro, which would be altogether unnecessary, as with the capture of Wilmington by our forces the Weldon Railroad becomes of no use to General Lee, and it is therefore not likely that he has attempted to hold the Goldsboro junction, except temporally as an exterior defence of Raleigh. Should Sherman attack Raleigh, of course all the rebel troops in eastern North Car olina would be previously withdrawn and concentrated there, as Sherman's strategy has separated Beauregard's forces from it. The troops available for the defence of Ral eigh are those of Hardee and Bragg,and a gainst Sherman's main army they would be unable to hold the place unless heavily rein forced by Lee. Here Sherman would be joined by Schofield. Our impression is that in marching north Sherman has preserved an interior line between the eastern and western forces of the rebels, not following the railroads at all, but moving on and using every common road leading north, so that the whole country is filled with his troops, and is laid under contribution to furnish supplies. But on reaching Raleigh he would un doubtedly use the railroad from Wilming ton to that place to obtain all he might stand in need of. As to the rebel force under Beauregard or Johnston, should they at tempt to reach Raleigh by railroad, they would most probably find all communica tion by railroad destroyed. It is evident, then, that Sherman's position in North Car olina, as well as his policy, are much the same as in South Carolina, separating the rebel forces, apparently threatening seve ral main points at once, and yet attacking none. Supposing Hardee to be at Fayette villc, Bragg at Raleigh and Beauregard's troops at Charlotte, Greensboro and Dan ville, with Sherman occupying the interior position between them all, it is evident that he has them at a disadvantage, and can move as he choses and light where it suits him. REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR. The annual report of the Secretary of War was laid before Congress Thursday. Mr. Stanton says it was delayed in order to give General Grant an opportunity to fur nish a summary of his military operations ; but the summary lias not been received, as the activity of the campaign in progress demands his unceasing attention. The Sec retary says the military events of the past year have been officially published as tiiey occurred, and are as fully known to every branch of the government as throughout the civilized world. They constitute a series of successful marches, sieges and battles, attesting the endurance and cour age of the sold ers of the United States,and the gallantry and military skill of their commanders. "The report of Provost Marshal-General Fry says, in reference to the re-enlistment ol veterans, that during the Autumn of 1803, more than one hundred and thirty six thousand soldiers, who would otherwise have been discharged, were secured for three years longer. Organizations which would be otherwise lost to the service, were preserved and recruited ; and experienced officers were retained in command. This force has performed an essential part in the great campaign of 1864, and its importance to the country cannot be overestimated. The result of recruitment in tho rebel states is reported as unfavorable " The arrest of deserters and stragglers is continued with vigor, and 39,392 were arrested between October 1, 1863, and Oc tober 1, 1864. The total number received from the establishment of the bureau to October 1, 1864, is 60,760. The Veteran Reserved Corps, on October 1, 1864, consis ted of 764 officers and 28,738 men. Tbe report of the secretary gives a summary of reports of heads of several bureaus con nected with the War Department, and con cludes by saying the general exchange of prisoners effected under tho instructions of the department, is in course of execution, and it is hoppd that all our prisoners who are in the hands of the rebels, will soon be returned," TENNESSEE. —The loyal men of Tennessee voted on the 22d on the amendment of the Constitution of that State abolishing slave ry and otherwise adapted that instrument to the changed condition of the peeuple,— The vote in favor of ratifying the amend ment was nearly unanimous, and will reach 20,000 throughbut the State. Davidson pounty, in which Nashville is situated,gives over 1,450 votes for ratification, and the other counties voted about the same way. Tennessee is free,* LATEST WAR NEWS. SHERIDAN AGAIN AT WORK: Reported Defeat and Capture of Early! WAB DEPARTMENT, , WASHINGTON, D. C., March 5, ( To Maj.-Gen. Dix : The following enemy. Five regiments of the First I'; ion of the Second Corps, to which the or inals belonged, were assembled to witu tlie execution, the details of which wer. charge of the Provost-Marshal of the 1 vision. REBEL NEWS. SHERMAN'S OPERATIONS. The Richmond papers of March 2 given rious speculations concerning the in ments of General Sherman, but no deli " news. The Whig: says: "Since Sherman has already been re; ted as moving toward Cheraw, there ><> impropriety in indicating that this mro a movement by the flank to cross the Cats 1 ba river below the railroad, and tlier; move on Charlotte, along the eastern ba; or it may mean a change of front, with i intention to reach Favetteville and l>< co-operation with Schofield. "\\ e hear nothing from Shernu'u.Sclioi;- or Schimelpfenning. It is believed it bottomless and impassible mud suncn.; tlieui all. The roads are still too bad '■ movements of troops. "It is stated our forces under General Bragg have ceeded in checking the forward movent. Irqm W ilming&n under Schofield, on t \\ ilmiugton and Weldon road, and that'' latter has advanced no further than \ >vtf cast River, ten or fifteen miles from d city. It is thought that Schofield will '■ to effect a junction with Sherman by r way of Fayetteville, perhaps. HOT The First Presbyterian Church oft mini is tho scene of so many accidents s ' to make its name almost unpleasant, has been burned, lives being lost by t l ' conflagration. Last summer a storm tlir® down some of its walls. Now we l^ r that a scaffolding fell, injuring a nuinh | ' r persona. The Elmira Gazette of Feb. 24" says: " An accident occurred at the l ;r ' Presbyterian Church this morning, about ' 1 o'clock, caused by the falling of a scaff ' ing while the masons were at work or" menting and finishing the ceiling. It : to the floor, some thirty feet, with a crash, completely burying the workmen r< neath the ruins of mortar, boards and t ber. Mr. Geo. Freneli was so seriously jured that he was immediately taken t residence in a carriage. How serious 1 ' injury may prove we wore unable to l' a Several of the masons were badly brui-e , but considered themselves fortunate i" 1 capiug with their lives. The cause of : accident is charged to the carpenters, t->. having removed some of the braces h l the scaffolding a few days since."