GIBSON PEACOCK. Editor. VOLUME XIX.---NO. 214. EVENING BULLETIN. 4avintz):sm :}411113 (Except Sunday) at No; 329 Chestnut Street - , Philadelphia, BY:THE gINVENING BITLLIVITN ASSOCIATION" 1110752111T07213. !RIBBON PEACOCK, CASTER BOITHI , ff. L. EETHERSTON I ERNEST C. WAIALAIUM, THOMAS' J. WILLIAMSON. The BIILLBTIN la served to asbscribess In the city at 8 dente per week. payable to the carriers. or 08 00 per annum. [For the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.] THE SENTINEL'S CHRISTMAS EVE. BY GULA AIERF,DITH "Slowly I'm pacing my lonely round, Cold is the night and white is the ground, All seems very quiet to-night, I think— Ha! what is that! down there by the brink Of the woods? who goes there?Jtis a dog, Had it be3n a man, he'd been dead as alog." 4 ,`That is Charlie's dog. I must tell his master, : •3I ust keep him in or he'll meet with • ster; Dear brother! we've roughed it all aorts of "-weather; I wish hiand I were both home together, Oz-this Christmas Eve. What a time there would be, What a fuss they would make over Charlie and me." "Sweet 7 ife! I know whom you think of sow, Ad whose name you breathe, as you meekly bow Nln prayer at the miditight hour. I ween, , (The fairest and sweetest that ever was seen), . Our darlings are sleeping, their socks in a row, While I am still trudging it, here in the show.'! 4 "'Tie very cold: I'll be glad when they come, To relieve the guard; I am almost numb, Bark! what is that? 'tis that dog again; What has got into his silly brain To be out such a night as this? call him And send him in, or some ill will befall him." "Come here, sir; come Nero,old fellow, come here! He surely must hear me, make haste sir, don't fear! Here's the guard! what is that? it sounds like the click Of a trigger! who goes there ? run boys, quick! 'There he goes! yes, rm shot! catch him,who may, I'll mount guard no more! he has Tut me away!" “Yes! I'm dying. Don't grieve, boys, 'tis all for the best, 'Tis only one more that is gone to rest. Tell my wife that for her was my last falt'ring aigh; It is .sad, yet 'tis sweet for our country to die; See there, boys, see there, how bright the day's dawning!” For he stood at the gateway of Heaven, in the morning! NEW PUBLICATIONS. We have received from J. B. Lippincott 45r, Co. "The Student's Practical Chemistry;" a text book on Chemical Physics and In organic and Organic Chemistry; illustrated with 163 new wood cuts one colored plate. By Professors Morton and Leeds. We remember how much we were amused by a passage in one of Dickens's stories— David Copper&ld we k it was—in which is described the first attempt at short band writing by David, and how theorator, whose speech he was attempting to catch .s s nd transcribe, walked away from him, leaving him hopelessly behind. Now science seems to be performing the same fe*with those was make elementary books for schools and classes. In books on Natural Philosophy, prepared for such purposes, we have looked i3;l' vain to find any notice of some o the most remarkable discoveries of modem times. Science has walked away from the authors, and they are quite out of sight of some of its most surprising triumphs. The wonderful Ruhmkorff Coil, - which enables the adept to perform such splendid electric experiments, putting at his command the very lightning flash of the sky; the singular spectroscope, which htts opened up a new world of facts with rsgard to the composition of matter by the d of light, leading to the discovery of four new bodies, and revealing the chemical •compo*ion of the fixed stars and nature of the nebulae; , the splendid and peculiar effects of the magnesium light, by means of which the light of gas burners is made_ to diaappear in shadows, and opportunity is offered of taking beautiful photographs by night and in dark caves and 'dim cathe drals;theswand other triumphs ofscience,we havfe'looked to see mentioned in Modern text books for ho - ols, but we failed, till to ( e took up the "Student's actfcal Chemistry." There we find all these matters revealed fully, Clearly and ably, and illustrated by a laige number of admirably executed wood cuts. The prac tical directions and suggestions given in the book are evidently the result of long con- tinned successful experiments, making it useful to practical operators as well as to students. The singular skill which Prot Morton has alWays showed in his taanitni lation and ::experimexital trials led us to ,110 b BEE SIGNOR, BLITZ : ',..'.. - flli , :i - '• ;- T'- "•.- - , -;,, - .:,,, , ~... • 'l,': • - • . , . . • 1 :: • 0 - .-. . .....• . -. -'-, _ .. - - --.- r: - .. i? -,-,-,•-:. , • - , . ~. ._ -... ... ~ _ ...-:, , i .. - . _ . ; .,,1 , ,L -- -- :::: :i " 0 -. - et., . 1 '; , : . " Oil '''' --- ' .'. :, 7 • . ...,, -, ~--- . - .:. : - -. . . . , . 3 . -1 ,%-,. ' ;1.:-... - ** " • ',l', --' ';i: , I z-- - . • . - . . . . . . , •. , ................,.... ... -.."., ~...•.... . . ... .... . „ . .. . . , , - -. . - ,_,.,-, , . ~. .. _ . . . . - ..,... . • - • - look for this feature in the book, and we find that we are not disappointed. As a specimen of typography and binding the book is perfect. Messrs. Lippincott have really given the reading world a volume which would be creditable to a house devoted to ornamental publications, and we feel that we do the public a service by calling attention to the book and ,commending it to general pa tronage. James O'Kane, New York, has just;Ll'a lished an admirable juvenile, called " Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates," by Mrs. M. E. Dodge. The authoress has aimed, with great success, to blend Into an attractive tale all the merits of a capital book of travels, As the title indicates, the scenes are Dutch, and the narrative furnishes an insight into the manners of the curious people of Hol land, which will make the book as instruc tive as it is interesting. It is very hand-. somely printe,d and illustratel by original designs, by Darley and Nast, in the best style of those well-known artists. For sale by J, B. Lippincott Lt Co. "Youth's History of the Rebellion." The third of this series of volumes has just been published by Walker, Fuller & Co., Boston. The series is to be completed in four volumes, each covering the history of one year of the rebellion. The present volume includes .the interesting period of Chancel lorsville, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, G ottys burg, Chickamauga, Fort Pillow and other eventful battle-fields, and is' full of instances of the heroism and self-sacrifice which char acterized our brave soldiers throughout the conflict. The work is • handsomely printed and illustrated. For sale by Jas. K. Simon, 33 South Sixth Street. Railroads in Northeastern Pennsylvania In an article on Railroads in the Norm eastern corner of the Commonwealth, the Pittsburgh Gazette says : The first work of magnitude executed was the Delaware and Hudson Canal, extending from Rondout, on the Hudson, to Port Jer vis, on the Delaware, thence up the left bank of the Delaware to a point nearly opposite the mouth of Lackawaxen. thence across the Delaware, on a suspension aqueduct, constructed by Mr. Robling, upon the plan adopted in one of the bridges over the Alle gheny, in this city, thence up the Lacks waxen to Honesdale. From Honesdale to Scranton is a railroad on which ran the first locomotive ever used in the United States— a huge, cumbrous machine, of English manufacture, that ought to have been pre served as a curiosity, but was not. This road crosses the Moosic Mountains by in clined planes and stationary engines, with two separate tracks, one for empty ana the other for loaded ears. It crosses the moun tains through Rix's Gap, at the elevation of 1,700 feet above this water. Next the Erie Railway, which skirts the northeastern border, part way in Pennsyl vania, but mainly n New rork. In Sus quehanna county, Pa., this road has the largest, machine shop owned by any Com pany in America. Then the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. This starts from the Erie Railway, at Great Bend, in Susque hanna county, passes on to Scranton, in Luzern - county, thence to Stroudsburg,' in Monroe county, thence down the Delaware to near Epton, in Northampton county, where it connects with the New Jersey Cen tral, which terminates at Jersey City. This is a broad gauge road like the Erie. The Pennsylvania Coal Company has two lines of railroad, one for empty and another for full cars, extending from Pittston, just above Wilkesbarre, on the Susguehannarto. Hawley, ten miles below Honesdale, on the Delaware and Hudson Canal. These railroad tracks cross the Moosic Mountains, through Cobb's:Gap, by stationary engines. From Hawley to the month of the Lack awaxen, a distance of fiftaen miles, is a broad gange locomotive road, built by the., Pennsylvania Coal Company, and run by the Erie, Railway Company under a perpe tual lease. The Pennsylvania Coal Company has the right,on the puyment of certain tolls, t use one-half the capacity of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, and has besides access to the Hudson by rail over the Hawley branch and the Erie Railway, The new road spoken of above, by the Scranton Republican, must follow from Hawley over the Meosic Mountains sub stantially the same route as the roads of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. Archibald is in the Lackawanna Valley, a few miles above Scranton. This year, over these lines about 3,500,000 tons of anthracite coal must have been sent from Luzerne county into New York. In the Lehigh region New Yorkers have been equally enterprising. Whatever prejudices may exist elsewhere fn Pennsylvania against' New York 'connections, there is none in the northeastern counties. But for such connections those counties would have remained almost in their primitive condi tion. While the New Yorkers have had an . eye to their own interests in -all these projects, they have necessarily promoted, and. on a large scale, the welfare of Penn sylvania., Execution of a Murderer. _ RocErEsma, Dec. 22.—Wilson, the mur derer of Devoe at Portage, was hung to-day at Genesee. The murder took place'on the 16th of May. Wilson went to the gallows with the same callous spirit he had shown since his con viction, and smiledwith contempt upon the scene in which he was the most prominent person. He deniedthat he had killed Devoe, but admitted he knew whciwas'the guilty party. He refused to entertain any clergy man as spiritual adviser. Sheriff Chase has caused a photograph to be taken, as he was on his way from the jail to the gallows, against his protest. For this he , told the sheriff, as he stood with the rope about his neck, he would take his (the sheriff's) pic ture quick t if he had the power, He died like a brute, without looking for sympathy_ from any one present. Wilson confessed he didnot bear his true name, and' refused to diaclose it, or tell his history to his coru3seL He did, bowever, confess he killed the Hon. „Burr Burton, of Syracuse, in May last, and also a Mrs. Lewes, at Lancaster, Ohio,about a year since. He hinted at many other crimes but disclosedno particulars, and gave his body to hie counsel, who sold it to a sur geon at Nunda. ' AND LIVE, LAME, : i 'I = It I ' I Li s , 1865.---TRIPLE SHEET. AND GROW FAT The Supreme Court—The Continuation of Garland's Case—Constitutionality of the Test Oath. WAsinNerox, December 22, 1865.—1 n the Supreme Court of the United States, to-day, pending the case =parte A. H. Garland, of Arkansas, tusking to be allowed to practise as a counsellor, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson delivered an argument against the constitu tionality of the Congressional test oath, say ing, there being no such antecedent Govern ment as our own, it is necessary to look into that instrument itself, to see what powers were originally conferred upon Congress. None being stated, Congress is authorized to pass all necessary and proper laws to carry them into effect. These powers are to be so construed as to effect the object they are designed to accomplish. It is the duty of the court to ascertain what this is, and then to determine whether the impeached legislation will defeat or secure the end. A restriction to this class of powers is that Congress shall pass no ex post facto law, or bill of attainder, and the meaning of this is well understood to be any law which makes an act a crime which was not a crime when the act was committed ; that the law of 1865 does punish in point of fact, because it precludes the petitioner from the exercise of a lawful occupation, and strikes at a pro fession in vi , hich his hopes and ambition and the support of himself and his family are involved. The punishment is severe, cruel and un exampled: It subjects him to all the obliga tions of the Constitution, while it takes Isom him all its advantage. The original act of 1862 was not made applicable to Attorneys in the Courts of the United States. Three years were suffered to elapse, when some one in Congress, who may have been peculiarly sensitive, and who saw danger in every man who had taken part in the Rebellion, introduced a bill apply ing the provisions of the law to practising attorneys. The bill was submitted to the Judiciary Committee of the Senate, and by a unani mous vote was rejected. It afterwards, however, received the sanction of the Senate. It was passed for the purpose of excluding the petitioner and all others similarly situated, and to punish by excluding them Trom the United States Court. It was not for conduct subsequent, but antecedent to the passage of the statute. This act comes within the clear meaning of the clause in the Constitution that "Congress shall pass no cx post facto law or bill of attainder." No rights can be taken away by law unless theaccused shall be first convicted of the cffence charged, and those rights include the holding of offices of emolument and trust. Such laws as that of 1865 were penal statutes. The Attorney General, on Friday, had argued that the admission to practise in the Courts is not a natural right, but is created by law, and therefore may be regulated by law, and be either given or taken away; but it is not trte that Ccngress can by law pro hibit the appearance of counsel in the Courts of the United States. The Constitution provides that parties charged with crimes still have the benefit of counsel, and therefore Congress has no ju risdiction over that subject. It is true that every Court is vested by the common law with power to make regulations to exclude improper officers, but Congress has no right to say who shall or who shall not appear as counsel. The obligation which is imposed on Con gress to create Courts carries with it an ob ligation on tha part of the Court , to admit counsel, and the safety of the ,citizen dee pends on the existence of the provision for the admission of counsel, and the preserva tion of liberty demands, as illustrated by the history of the world, that there should he such a body of men. In all revolutionary struggles and despot isms which have disgraced - the world, the accused have been denied counsel. Con gress would convert itself into a tyranny if a hill establishing courts would exclude such's class of men. The act of Congress under review compels a man to swear against himself, while ico power is given to the Court to inquire into the facts. No man, by the Constitution, is compelled to testify against himself. The petitioner, with others, was involved in the effort to establish their separate independence of the authority of the United States, and resisted it by levying war. The punishmenn for treason anterior to the passage of the act of 1865 was death or imprisonment, but this act - imposes an additional penalty, that persons thus ac cused shall not be admitted as attorneys in the United States Courts. Congress, in 1862, passed a law, saying whenever the President deemed proper he might declare a general amnesty, while the Constitution itself confers upon him the exclusive power of granting pardons and reprieves. The pardon places the recipient of it in the position he stood before the com mission of the crime, and makes him a new man and divests him of all antecedent con sequences. Suppose the law of 1865 had been made a part of the act for the punishment of treason and the man committing the crim. had been pardoned, would it not also tilipe[ex empted him from the punisetit for the offense and prveented him from - being ex cluded from practising as an attorney in the United States Courts. The pardon covers every part of the offence, and Congress cannot, after the pardon has been granted, pass a law to punish tor the offence pardoned. The disgraceful fact is presented to the world, that Congress undertakes to interfere by denying the power of pardon, as conferred by the constitution exclusively on the President without limit. Congress cannot say to the petitioner, you shall be tried for treason, after having been pardon ed. If this was true of one class, of coarse it was true of all others. Mr. Johnson quoted from various judicial opinions to fortify the points of argument by him presented. The Court holds the matter under advise ment, and has adjourned until Tuesday next. SPEER'S SAMBURG 'PORT WINE.-Mr. Speer, an enthusiastic horticulturist in New Jersey, has a very excellent wine matte from the Samburg .or Port grape. The bent judges pronounce it auger!). it said to have been adopted by the New York Hos pital and physiciansgianerally, as a very superior wine, and held fin high estimation for its medical properties. It is also reconi mended by ':Many medical gentlemen for female weakness and general debility. We touched it to our lips somewhat unwillingly, but were agreeably disaPpointed in finding one of the most delicions wines we have ever tasted. We hope I that_ our leading physicians will test the virtues of this wine. , —N. I r . Times. Bold by our druggists., EVERY NIGHT AND EVERY AFTERNOON OUR: WI" OLE COUNTRY Sherman In Arkansas—El Good Speech. A convention of delegates from all the counties in Arkansas met at Little Rock on the 11th, to take into consideration the po litical affairs of the State. Maj.-Gen. W. T. Sherman, who was visiting that Department, was invited to attend, and accepted the invi tation. He was received by Dr. T. L. Gib son, the President, who, in his address, made certain complaints on behalf of the citizens of Arkansas, theprincipal one be ing the test soath adopted by the existing State authorities, and asked the General to aid them to a full realization of their civil rights without delay. Gen. Sherman responded as follows : Gentlemen: You are fully informed of the reasons why I am here, which is by spe cial invitation of your committee. I am a military man, and as such it is not expected or desired that I shall engage in any politi cal discussion, or give you any ' advice politically. We military men dislike to mingle in political movements. We are sworn to obey the Constitution and laws, and in this country the laws govern. I have not stopped to inquire by what authority you come together nor do I care; for citizens of any neighborhood, county or State, have a right to meet together and consult as to the best mode of promoting the interests of the community, but be sure you represent the sentiments of the people. I think you ought to be very careful that you reflect the opinion of the whole people of Arkansas. I know the people of the South, and I know no Southera gentleman would willingly or intentionall y represent himself to be what he is not. But I under stand you are citizens of Arkansas, and delegates of the people,therefore you have a right to be here to discuss matters of inter est to yourselves ; to consider your grievances, if you have any, and to peti tion the President or Congress for redress, and I believe they will do you justice. But you have a more important work. It is not . politicaL Your State needs attention in other directions. I come here from a distance, and I tell you I lind;you far be hind all other parts of the country. Give your immediate attention to these things which will make your State inviting to the stranger to come and settle among you. You have not fifty miles of good roads in Arkansas. Improve these; make traveling more easy from point to point. You are be hind your sister States because you have not adopted any system of internal improve ment or developed any of your vast re source's. You are welcomed back into the Union, which is today stronger than ever, and the United States is now more highly honored abroad than heretofore, and beloved at home. But you think you have not all the rights you are entitled to, yet you now have more rights and privileges under existing circumstances than you would have in any civilized country except America. Had yon done 'as yon did in this land, under the bloody flag of Great Britain or the tricolor of France, many of yon would not be here, and you would not have'been permitted to assemble as you are now assembled, and talk over political questions and rights. Is not the meeting of this Convention the best evidence that you have a good deal of liberty. As to the measure of your rights I cannot inform yon. What is right and wrong Ido not profess to know, and Ido not think you know, but we can all under stand what is law. In mire as to what is lawful--that is plain and simple. Act law fully and you will do right. There are large lumbers of lawyers within the sound of my voice who can tell you what is lawful. Confess to the law. This is all we, as mill tarymen, can sanction. Law iigg our guide. I _lake the liberty of suggesting to you the propriety of every citiyAn helping his neigh bors. The country is poor, and you can all do something towards building it up and restoring it to prosperity. Cultivate the soil; Set your plantation' in order; make every possible improvement; get your local and county affairs in good shape. Such work will be far more important and benefic.'..l than whether you shall vote this year or next, or not until two or three years hence. There need be no hurry about this political organization; bide your time; help build up the country, and never mind about voting for the present. I believe all will work out right in a few years. What you want in this State is work—"elbow grease." You have minerals and other resources; develop those and let the matter of voting alone for a while. With one million of acres of good soil, fine rivers, yet: our population is thinner than in South Cairolinn, that you have been taught to call uncivilized and barbarous. You are partially responsible for this. Im prove your roads, and do all you can to make your State attractive to the immi grant, You are behind in all this. Now go to work earnestly in these directions and then invite immigration. Fully as favored as Missouri in climate and resources, you can invite people hither, and many will come and settle with you. I think lam not overstating when I say that from 50,000 to t;.1,000 persons will have come into Missouri within the year, who will pay into the trea sury from five to fifty dollars each as taxes. With proper efforts Arkansas can receive a large addition to her population and tax paying citizens. With reference to the particular thing which brings youtogether, I have nothing to say. Yet it yoWa' teed advice concerning your interests as military men we cannot give any, but as one gentleman to another we can. General Reynolds will, as it is his duty and will be equally his pleasure, cheerfully confer wilh any of you and ren der you all the aid he can. But you think you are oppressed by the State government. The fact that you are here to-day to talk concerning it, shows plainly that you are not suffering any severe oppression from it. Yon want peace; the nation wants peace; we all desire peace, and I know we will have it. Whether you want it or not yon shall have it, for we have the power to en• force it. [Loud cheers.] AN ENORMOUS VASE.-A dispatch from Toulon, France, announces the arrival there of the ship-of-war Perdrix,from Limisso, in the island of Cyprus, where the crew suc ceeded', with great difficulty, in taking on board the celebrated vase of Amathonte, one of the finest ornaments of the temple of Venus, built by the Phcenicians. Limisso, the ancient Amathonte, was one of the cities of former times most remarkable both fok the luxurious habits of its people and the splendor of its monuments. It was lately 'a mass of ruins possessing nothing but the enormous vase brought to Tonlon by the - Perdrix. This work of art weighs thirteen tons, and its removal was hitherto con sidered impossible. DURING THE HOLIDAY WEEK ll:fields.= Potato trade. ' (From the Detroit Free Press, Dec. 10.] The origin of the potato traffic in Michi gan is so recent that its history can be summed up in a few words. It was inau gurated by Mr. Shoecraft, of Sturgis, St. Joseph county, in the fall and winter of 1857-58. He bought at that time at fifteen to twenty cents per bushel, according to quality, and shipped them to New York city. Of course the amount of his shipments was rather small, since but few worth ship ping could be obtained by him, and the fa cilities for transportation were not first-class. He packed them in barrels and sent them in return emigrant cars, with a number of men with each lot, to keep fires in the cars to prevent the potatoes freezing. He also shipped a few in the same way to Chicago. In 1858 or 1859 he brought to Michigan,from New Jersey,a quantity of the varietyknown as "peach blows." He distributed the amount brought by him to the farmers for feed, and pledged himself to take in return, at twenty-five cents per bushel, all they could raise in two years from the seed fur nished. The farmers considered the price offered a most extraordinary one, and gladly took advantage of the offer From that time to this, but six or seven years,.the trade has annually increased, and was this year much larger than ever before. Mr. Shoe craft's operations were originally along the line of the Michigan Southern R. R., where the amount of production has accordingly greatly increased from year to year. Be tween White Pigeon and Hudson it is estimated that there are more potatoes shipped than from all the rest of the State together. In most of the other portions of the State the trade is much newer, the farmers having not yet become aware of the importance and profit of raising potatoes. This is practically the case along the line of the Michigan Central Railroad, where the trade has never been carried on to any ex tent until within the past two or three years. Eighty-one thousand eight hundred and fifty bushels have been shipped from the several stations on the line of this road during the present season. The average price paid was forty cents per bushel, which gives the round sum of $32.740 paid to the farmers for their potatoes. The ship ments are ended for the present by the setting in of cold weather. The farmers through the region of country specified have heretofore, and have this year, kept back the bulk of their potatoes to sell in the spring, as they usually bring better prices at that season of the year. Besides, they have them on hand to feed to stock, in case they run short of other food. Taking into account the amount already shipped with the amount already held back, the trade in potatoes is of no inconsiderable importance. Michigan has the facilities for furnishing potatoes enough to feed the whole people of the United States. From North Carolina. WILMINGTON, Dec. .V...—People who are sensitive about the negroes as the holidays approach have observed that the number of negroes in this city very perceptibly di minished within a day or two, and it is said that they have gone to a rendezvous in the country. The authorities entertain no ap plehension for the safety of this commu nity, but admit the possibility of trouble in the sparsely settled portions•of the country in the interior. It is reported that suspicious characters have been seen lurking about for- a- week, inciting the aeges to an outbreak. Mach allowance should be made for the timidity of the people. The apprehensions may be well founded, but the best informed antici pate nothing serious. Should anything occur,the military force is sufficient for the emergency. The organiza tion of a home guard, under the ordinance of the Constitutional Convention, is pro ceeding rapidly, and fifteen to eighteen full companies are organized in this county. The officers have been appointed, but no arms have yet been distributed. General Rogers's order forbids the issue of arms by the Government ordnance offi cers, but they can be quickly distributed if foun dwnecessnry. Cleared, steamer Washington, New York; brig Logan, 'Havana. From Fortress Monroe. FORTRESS MoNRoE, Dec. 21.—A portion of the cargo of the English brig Victoria, which was wrecked near Cape Henry, on the 30th ult., was sold at Norfolk yesterday, by the Board of Underwriters. Among the lots sold was an assortment of brandy, the duties on which amounted to $lB,OOO. Fourteen Government buildings will be sold at Portsmouth, Va.,on the 28th. The steamer George Lary ran over an oyster schooner in the bay last night, and it is presumed sunk her with all hands, as her boats could find no trace of the vessel or of the crew. From St. Louts. ST. Louis, Dec. V.,.—The remains of Pre sident Lincoln were removed yesterday from the vault at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, to the new vault erected near the site proposed for the monument. The remains of Mr. Lincoln's two children were placed in the same vault. Robert Lincoln and the Directors of the National Monument Association were pre sent at the removal. A•heavy snow has fallen on the plains, and over twenty teams are snow bound at different points, and large numbers of the animals are dying from cold and starvation. .From Georgia. SAVANNAH, Dec. 22.—The trial of General W. W. R. Mercer, charged with murder„in shooting seven Union prisoners in this city in December last, has been temporarily suspended, awaiting orders from Washing t6n. The steamer Indian River, belonging to a New York Fishing Company, went ashore at the mouth of the Indian River, Florida, on . Dec. 3d. The vessel and cargo were lost; but all hands were saved. The receipts of cotton for the week have been 5,397 bales; exports, 1,524 bales; stock in port, 10,070 bales. Sales of Middlings at 48@49c. A Tram WORD.—"Spiridion" of the Bos ton Gazette says : I remember one evening I was thrown in company with the princi pal of the most memorable duels of this century. The other guests had taken their departure. I was fond of late hours. It was nearly two o'clock in the morning, and we were alone. In the course of conversa tion he said to- me, " Depend upon it, the man who falls ifia duel is the party to be envied, for the survivor ever afterward finds earth to be hell." The longer I live, the longer my experience, the more convinced lam of the truth of the remark. No man, let the provocation be what it may, can spill blood with impunity. CHRISTMAS DAY, - THRRE GRAND PERFORMANCE F. L. FETIEERSTION. PubliAer THREE CENTS. Lsterary Men In the French Legislature _ . A Paris letter in a London Journal says: "The number of editors of newspapers and contributors to the daily press who have either a seat in the Senate or in the Chamber of Deputies is note worthy. The great writer on political economy, M. Michael Chevalier, is perhaps among the most dis tinguished of the Senators; next in im portance ranks M. de . Sainte Benve, whose 'Causeries du Lundi' in the Constitutionnel are written with as much care as any of that great writer's most important works; M. Darimon, one of the celebrated five, a. recent convert to Imperialism, is deputy of the Seine, and one of the most active con tributors of La Press, M. Gamier de Cassagnac, deputy of Gers, not only writes in the Constitutionnel, Pays and Nation., but in several other papers. ,M. Gnerault, deputy of the Seine , commenced his lite rary career in the ebats; he was then con tributor to the Pre,sse, and is now the well known editor of the Opinion Nationale. Another of the deputies, M.'Havin, edits the Siecle. M. La Thnr Dnmonlin, member for baube, wrote for fifteen years in the Bulle tin de Paris, and latterly in the Fauche Comte; Eugene Pelistan, Jules Simon, ecc., write in, the daily papers as often as they speak in the House, and I need not remind you how indefaiisable a contributor M. Thier.3 has been to French journals. I merely give the details to prove, the influ ence and high standing which the notabili ties of the press enjoy in this country, and you will even find persons of high rank and members of the anciennes noblesse—as, for instance, Viscount de la Gnero - nniere, Vis count de Calonne, Viscount Ponson do Ter rail—gladly signing a leading article or even afeuilleton in any of the daily papers. From California SiN Flu/casco, Dec. 22.—The Pacific Railroad Land Grant bill passed the Senate to-day. _ . Legal tenders, 66-1; mining stocks firm; Savage $830; Ophir, $335. Arrived ship Ladoga, New York. Spoken December 8, latitude 38° 23' north, longitude 134° 28' west, barque Hallett, irom New York tor this port, 145 days out. SACRAMENTO, Dec. 21.—The Legislature took an excursion on the Pacific Railroad to Colfax to-day. The road was found in splendid condition. Frank Pixley has bought for the Yuba. Railroad, the California Central Railroad and rolling stock for $78,560. THE FIRST AND LAST DITEL IN I —The St. Louis Republican says: In Ford's history of - Millais he states that the year 1820 was signalized by the first and last duel which was ever fought in that State. It took place at Belleville, St. Clair county, between Alphonso Stewart and William Bennett, two obscure men. The seconds bad made it up to be a sham duel, to throw ridicule upon Bennett, the challenging party. Stewart was in the secret, but Ben nett, his adversary, was left to believe it e. reality. They were to fight with rifles;, the guns were loaded with blank cartridges; and Bennett, somewhat suspecting a trick, rolled a ball into his gun without the know ledge of the seconds, or of the other party. The word to fire was given, and Stewart fell, mortally wounded. Bennetk,made hia escape, but two years afterward he was ar rested in Arkansas, brought back to the State. indicted, tried, and convicted of murder. "A great effort was made to procure his pardon, but Governor Bond would yield to no entreaties in his favor, and Bennett stif fened the penalty of the law by hanging in the presence of a great multitude of people. This was the first and last duel ever fought in the State by any of its citizens. The hanging of Bennett made duelingdisuredit 'table and unpopular, and laid the founda tion for the abhorrence of the practice which has ever since been felt and ex pressed by the people of Illinois. The late Judge Lockwood was then the Attorney General of the State, and prosecuted this case. To his talents . and success as a prose cutor the people are indebted for this early precedent and example, which did more than is generally known to prevent the barbarous practice of dueling ,from being introduced mto Illinois." INTVRESITNG STATISTICS.—From the re port of General Meigs, Chief Quartermaster of the Army, we learn that during the last year of the war we used 214,102 horses and 58,818 mules. These poor, dear creatures were hardly ridden, especially when the merciless genius of Sheridan controlled the cavalry of the Potomac. How fearfully he rode his men will be apprediated when it was known that a horse did not last a man more than four months, and that his army had 'to be remounted three times a year. To feed these horses when in Grant's army, cost $1,000,000 a month. Fifty years ago the whole Government did not cost more than what was last year paid for forage for the oraes of one of its armies. If our readers are anxious to know how much the horses of an army eat, General Meigs will inform them. During the war we gave' them nearly 23,000,000 bushels of corn,. about 79,000,000 bushels of oats, more than 1,500,000 tons of hay, and 21,000 tons of' straw. This does not include what was gathered from the country. It was enough, Heaven knows, for it cost us over $155,000.- 000. Horrible life and blood exhauster. War! How many schools this would have built, how many miles of railroad to the Pacific ! It was eaten up by slavery in its vain struggle to live. HARD ON I'lll, MORMONS.—The office of the Union Vidette has been removed from Camp Douglas to Salt Lake City. In giving notice of the fact the editor says : "We shall stop not, nor yet move a peg, until obedi ence to the laws, abolishment of beastly polygamy, and equal rights and privileges, with securityof life and property, to Jew and Gentile, are the order of American principles in Utah, under Territorial or. State government; until the robbers of the righteous and the tramplers of the weak, the usurpers of the land and obstructors of iromigant enterprise, the stumbling blocks to continental greatness, and the damning disgrace to our country's glory, are legiti-• mately removed; until the bounteous birth land of the free is developed, and made the home,of men obeying wholly and uncondi tionally the laws and statutes of the govern ment that protects them—not the home of foreign fanatics, duped into degradation and disloyalty, 1311 , high-minded men and women. THE Secretary(of War is daily reducing the number of clerks in his Department. It is stated that the present "general service" is to be abolished, and only regularly en listed men of the regular army will be de tailed. i AT iSSEMBLY LINOLS.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers