; .-1"*. tOrrOM 41T-OHOTNIIT STREIT THE D'AiL PR-EB6, TARLYR Cuß PRA WEIR, pueblo to the ()airier. ritettedio Subeoribere out or the City et Si .DOLLAIte PRA ARIII 411, POUR POLLARA 70A Etna: MONTRS, TERRI Mimosa roa Six bloirreettlyariebtr In tetra= for *be tine Odom; THIS TEX-WEEKLY. PRESS, . *MO to listroOrtbers out of the 01t7 'at Tawas' Boz.- a.isa 111 Maur, In Mviacs. . ' NOTICES. • J grTHE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE. ilatual Fire Insurance Donipany of Philadelphia wits b.l betel - on.110IIDAY; Jaunari WIN at 12 o'clock Itooaihotthisßoardot Trade,No.,sos OFINCT 4 ' NUT . Street, at w hich time -an .eleetiori williCO held for welfelfirectore. , T. NLLWOOD CHAPMAN, j a g,* I • • _ , Secretary. ',ANNEAL, MEETING . Or TIME — Stoolihtddets. et the FARMERS' WESTERN . Me BRET COXPANT will be held at the WESTERN MARKET .11.0XEL,Aio. 2129 .11.4EKET.street, on FM: DAY,theilith instant at o'clock.P. M., to pled Mem -,tOr-thiretiditts-Set‘r• - J. V: SINES, Ja., 389.61 , 1 - , . • • Secretary. ViPHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION. FOR sr THE BELIEF OF DISABLED FIREMEN.— Vl4s,Adjonrpea T3trenty-eighth Annual Ideating of the -Aaiaefrtrt!ir will be beta on SATURDAY EVENING, Jimmy 11th, 1662, at 7x &dock, at the RALI# OF Tax -mg ; ASSOCIATION. 318.4 t ,Wfd." - J, PASCOE, Assistant See-Mary. pyVak FAME INSURANCE COMPANY, Office 400 CELBSTNUT Street. . - PHILADISLPHIA, TallUSTril t 1862. -' , ..At &Meeting of the _Board 'of Directors of the Fame • litluitMee Company, bold this day, a eembanunal Ditiri debd YbroOpercent was declaiedi Payable on and after the firstday of rebrilbrit 1 86 2. , WM& 1. BLANCHARD, Secretary. re/ FIVE OF • THE run..A.Dairmtte. . 'City Passenger BallwaY Company, 2100 OAST , I' Street—January 10152.-Tbo - Board of Direct:no bare THISDAT declared a taridoal of ONE DOLLAR and MIT CENTS per share on the Oasaal,Stook from O,e earnings for the past six' montlie. payable to the Stookhoklers or their logabrepresentatires on and atter We 18th init. The transfer books will tie closed antiltho 16th inst. - la7-10t ' AM. W. 40LICET, Secretary, orptior; OF THE RIDGE &VENUE. AND ZIIAN&YIINK PASSENGER BAIGIVAY ,•• `ollCPANY::coraerof RIDGE audGOLUMOIA avenues. ". • . P mow ' • • • 6 ISM _ 4 ;:f1 Daft ' a.; ‘, ' ' re" ay - OFrIVE OF:THE'rßitfilltrOltil AAD DODTHWARK,pIittaDIGLPHIa. 9/ITY PAS; DPIOICB ItAILDOAD COMPANY; - BUMS , (late *teat, below, Ftiarth. • Poltaoahonta,,Xatinary 20562. Thelloaritof Directors have this dap declared a dirt or Three and Cue-halt Per Cent. on the Capital Mak* . ; Patel the Mantilla's for the past WY months, papa. Sib to the atockheldent or their legal-#PMentativee on Sao after,t4elath inst. , , ' Vhillnuitifer'books will be aoica tuitiljbelsth inst. • Of AS. R..AriBOTTi t3eerebsry. ff (WOFFICE or THE PHILADELPHIA AND DABBg• EAMBOAD COMPANY. ' - • December 28, 1861. • The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of this Cont. )any will be held at the Depot, on.DARDY Avenne;be thetas forty-ninth *lid Fiftieth streets. on MONDAYt day 61,3tonoary, Ufa, at P. Id., at which tiara an deotionforillesident and Directors to serve for the en maths year viln-bit • The Supplement tratihe Charter, approved ale twenty eighth day of February last, will be submitted for accept.: anceor rejection; • TICOMANSPARKS; ' de3o-tiala / Secretary. ITOFFICE OF THE MARANON AND BROAD MOUNTAIN PAILDOAD COMPANY, , KoUltt 7 111 RD Street. • :The Animal Meeting of the Stockholders of this Com 'Nur tide held on :MONDAY, January-I;th, 1662, at 1 o'clock P. zir., at the Office of the Compaby, at which time and place an election will be holdfortcPreeldent and ts'el.ve Directors to nerve the ensuing your. dOO-neat* N. B. BROOK, Secretary. Tr-OFFICE OF THE FMANKFORII AND ROULDIVADE PHIhADELPHIA. CITY PAS. RENOIR RAILROAD COMPANY, BERM (late Chatham) Btreatebelow FOURTH . Pichansauts, December 29,1861; The Annual Koettng Of the Stackholders of the Frank. Cord and fiouthwaric Philadelphia City Passenger PAW. toad Cattupany will be hold at the Office of the Company, .on MONDAY, January Mlth, 1862, at 12 o'clock H.. at nadolY" time and place an Efemion will be held for Prost. Klent una Twelve Directors to serve the ensuing year. 410-thilB ‘ OIIAB. It. ABBOTT, Secretary. lir OFFICE OF THE ENTERPRISE 1.. N SUNANCE COMPANY, 400 WALNUT ST. „PIILADHLIIIIE, DO:0111ber 28, 1861. NOTICE.—The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Enterprise - Insurance Company will be held on 7fioramor,the 18th day of January, /802, at 10 o'clock 4.11-: at the Office of the Company. Aki Election for Twelve Directors to wove the ensuing Year will Fie held on the same day, at the same Place, be- Direm the hours or 10 o'clock A. N. and 2 P. 11. .o.lB' ONARLES W. COXE, Secretary. orOFFICE OF THE PHILADELPHIA CITY PARBSNGRII RAIL W ' °RYAN Y. • DSOEMDER UM. " The' Annuli Sleeting of the Stockholders of the PELL LADEDPRIA. OPIY PASSENGER RAILWAY 00N. PANY will be bold at No. 25 MEROHANTS' EX %MANGE, on XONDAY, the 13th day of January, 1862, at twelve o'clock M., at which time an Electionfor Prod deaf nod Biz Directors to serve for the ensuing year 'beheld. WM. W. <JOLIET, fle2S-14t. , Secretary. OFFICE OF THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY FOR INSURANCES ON LIVES AND GRANTING ANNUITIES, 304 WALNUT St. PIEHLAUELPHIA, January 2,1802. - The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of this Com pany will take place et thelrofflce, 304 WALNUT Street, on MONDAY, 10th last., at 2S o'clock M. ; *Oat the nadnis time an glectlon will bo hold for thirteen Directors tr.. - ilao O. twister; "'Or. - - WILLIAM B: lIILL, - Js342o* Arleen'. ter°FIVE IMPITINGDON AND BROAD TOP MOUNTAIN RAILROAD CO. DECHMIIVR 21lib t VOL EOTICE.—The Annual Meeting of the Stockholders or the Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Railroad `and Coal Company will be held at their Oflice,'_No. 258 South THIRD Street, ou TUESDAY, tbd Ittli day of January, 1882, at 11 A. If., when an Election will be held for a Piesident and twelve Directors, to servo for the ensuing year. J. P. ABRTSEN, de27.dtial4 Secretary. OTINSURANCE COMPANY OF THE STAIZ OF PENNSYLVANIA. TANCILRY 2, 1882. An election for thirteen Directors of the °employ, to eerie for one year, will bo'held at the Company's Office, Nos. 4 and 5 =GRANDE BUILDING, on MONDAY, Ja.Allan', 13, 1861, between the hours of 10 o'clock A. M. and 1 o'clock P. M. WILLIAM DAR PNB, jai-fl 3 Hecretary. PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER 20th, 1861.—The Annual Meeting of the Stock . Ple:of the LOCUST MOUNTAIN COAL AND IRON COMPANY will be held at their Office, No. 230 South THIRD Street, on MONDAY, the 20th day of January, A. D. 1862, at 11 o'clock"A. 11., when an Election will 'be held for seven Directors, for the ensuing year. The ' , trawler book of the Company will be closed for fifteen •days verb:ins to th e - day of election. ' '0 , 21.4)a20 JOS. 0. COPPUCK, Secretary. i ry• - • FAME INSURANCE COMPANY, OF FICE NO. 406.0IIESTNUT STREET. Pati.Anslattria, December ao, 1881. The Anneal Meeting of the Stockholders of the FllllO6 Insurance Company - will be held at the Ofaco of the Com pany on MONDAY, the thirteenth day of January" 1802, at 10 o'clock A. M. An Election for Twelve Directors to serve for the ensu ing year ',Yin Le held at the aim time and Itt the same place, between the home of 10 A. H. anti P. X. d2O -1j,"18 W. 1. BLANCHARD, Secretary. faIrOFFICE OF THE GIRARD COL. LEGE PASSENGER RAILWAY COMPANY Ilprner of Cnkunibla and Ridge avenues. PIIILADELPHIt, Jan, 6th, 1803. 'lhe Board of Directors of The Girard College Pas. iipger Iteilway Contoany" have tble day declared a Dividend of ONE DOLLAR PER SHARE out of the earnings of the last six months, payable to the Stick. Belden, or their legal representalives, on demand. ja7-6t W. S. , BLIGHT, Nreaeurer. MOFF/CE OF. THE MINE DILL AND SCHUYLKILL DAM RAILROAD COM- PHILADELPHIA, 12th month 2 0‘ 1861 A stated Anneal Meeting of the Stockholders will be beld M their office in the Hall of the Franklin Institute, South SEVENTH Street, the 13th day of Ist Mouth, (January,)* 1802, et 11 o'clock A. M., at which limo a report of rho proceedings of the Board of Managers will be presented, and an election will ho held for a President and teat Idavegere to conduct the affairs of the Company for the year ensuing. WILLIAM BIDDLE, den. tisl3* Secretary. PHILADELPHIA AND READI NG RAILEOAD COMPANY, Office 227 South FETE Street, _ _ _ _ __ Pnu.snutruts,Jannary 2, 1862. DIVIDEND NOTICE—A dividend ofseven per cent.o2 the Preforred Stock of, this Company has been declared, payable on the 16th instant, free from State tax. Stockholders on the books of the Now York Agency MAlge paid at the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company. stOckholdera on the books of the Boston Agency will be paid St the office of Messrs. J. R Thayer to Brother. .118.416 • S. BRADFORD, Treasurer. WEANKLIN INSTITUTE LEO- TunEs.—Thp second course of lectures before the Institute swill commence on MONDAY EVENING, the Bth inst., at 7g o'clock, and be continued on Monday, w e d oo d a y, and-Friday eVBI2IIIIO. for ten weeks. as fol. Lowe: '0 MONDAY MYENINO, by Prof. T. M. Drysdale, on the "Microscope and Microscopic Objects." WEDNESDAY EVENING, by Prof. Pairman Rogers, on " Ice and the Glaciers." FRIPXY EVENING, by Prof. J. AfkonVolga, on TERNIfi OV NEMBERSiIIP of the Institute, $3 per annum, or 925 for life, with a charge of $t the first year for a certificate of membership. Each member to entitled to a season ticket to the lectures for himself and a lady, and any additional ladled tickets at $2 each. The minor children, wards, and apprentices of mom heti will receive tickets for the course of lectures for $l, or for the use of the Library and Reading-room and the Lectures for $2 Gentlemen wishing to become members will please ap ply at the gall of the Institute, iri SEVENTH Street, above Chestnut street, to WILLIAM lIAMILTON, ia4-11 Actuary. FINE SHIRT ,111ANUFACTORY. The enbeeriber would invite attention to Lie IMPROVED OUT OP SHIRTS, Which be makes a specialty In hie business. Also, con stantly receiving NOVELTIES EOE - GENTLEMEN'S WEAR. J. W. sco'r'n, GENTLEMEN'S FURNISUING ' STORE, No. 814 CHESTNUT STREET, jao.4 . Four doors below the 13,intInental. trNITED STATES DEMAND IfOTES TAKEN Al` PAR.—O. DON ) 01TUE, 23 South WATER, Street, bus for 5e0,10,000 Paelnegas of Atom Itedned Engin; and Syrup I oleo, Mo. and Java Career et low vial for cash or -approved abort eiv•dit. Agent for Kelly's french Broody Coloring, 11194t* LARD AND GREASE-50 tierces prime Leaf lard; 60 tlercee White Grease; Direct from the West, and In store. For sato by MURPHY & KOONS 1.7-6 t No. 146 NORTH IVElegirES. I' AM S .-I,obo - pieces sugar cured Citystttoked flans for Salo by 0. 0. SADLER & CO., • AO 103, MUM Street, 2d door above Front. kWOULDEAS,--1,500 pieces eitY- Lir. smoked Shoulders; also. 70 bhda. Shoulders In dry silt; for sale by O. Cl. S O.IIIOEII & CO., jsf 103 ARCH Street, 2d door above Front. VOR SALE-= , 301418..50UR KRO UT, w best quality; tot up :for Array purposes. Apply to C. 411.-WILDINAN, 426. MARKET street,' jsB-61,* -1 / 103T QUALITY 100FINOALATES - shiers ore Irol end ter ode at tirdo2l Wharf, MP MOM are* 1110Y1116 /WM* ' bea, BtLL-ILEAD - , PRINTING, BEST said °heaped is the city, at lIINGWALT ,211/Mllll. M Sara THIRD Street. _ nap rIiROULAR PRINTING, BEST NJ and Cheapest hi ate_Oitr, at 111,14GWAIT 811011,11% 34 North TRIM Wreak stair . ... ' - • ' , , . ~ ' 4 1 / 4 ‘\\ k 1 ,/ • .0.,...- 41 . f t. 4 - , ,.. , . \\\ \t,i 1 l>,l l 1 .., ...; , • ':: : ,.9 . ':: - ' ''.:•-' ft't ft C._ C. --•- • , • : ...,,,,.- • . . 1 . c" • ,MSI " 7 .2.4 - 5 , I I .. "., \,;,' ' l_c _ lK l . '-fri . ,,,0 ~..- • - -..-:.,-..,- .. tr tt ' 4 fi nk • - -:-.-,----.-- 111 -- "4, . , 7 - _,<, - ... • ~:,-:- I. ig,._ :. itt4 . ., .: -- - _ . ~,roe\ Il• L 4 . . .., ~ ~- . •••• . PI . , a t __,_..,,..,..,. (..„,,,......„..,..._..,..,_,..„.,„„, ..„,..,,T.,_.,...„........„:„.....,...,...,......„....,:._...,::...__.........,...,,, __,„____.,,,_ „,..,...•,.. , 4„„.,.,„:„........._..,_ 11 - col. .. ~..Ir , ,--,....--.....• _ -..,.. .... •••,. ~ . _ ~.-..., __ _ - --...,..' 7 - ---- . 7--1--7 7''' ---14 ;' , _''''''.t..Y r ; ' T .,„r-...:f:_ -- ' ) N i t4, ' , •, 0 , 01 . 4.4 ' ..-- .i..,„:'',..--., 714 ! .:V• • -- . - QQA ": .L., - ...;.: : , - ; , _.. l ,.:•;iiii, ( if:',, , ---.:-..,..,' ' -.,,„_- . T - . .. _ ... , . . • .. . . (• .. .„)' ,_-) . , •. . . t' - .- - '-. ,•--.4.;- ,--- ;--1- -- - \-, - --. ...usl i_. • -.... .--.. --.: ----. , .t.;. , . - ~ ,-....: i - -.-'-- 1 - - __1....-_, . . . . \ VOL. 5.-NO. 135 t rtss FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1862. THE REBELLION. THE WAR IN KENTUCKY. TOE REBEL DEFENCES AT BOW LING GREEN AND COLUMBUS. WEEBE BRECICIIIIIDGE'S BRIOADE IS LOCATED WHAT GENERAL BUELL HAS DONE FOR THE ABM IN IiENNUCKY. INTERESTING SOUTHERN NEWS. THE EFFECTS OF TEE BLOCKADE. NAVAL ENGAGEMENT NEAR NEW ORLEANS, ,ZEE, WAR, IN MISSOURI. .10:T.1.311'01 . 13:t*ra0)410:44ifliki:o EFFECT OF GEN. SIGEL'S REKONATION. RETREAT OF THE REBELS UNDER GENERAL JACKSON. The Military Keys of the Country THE WAR IN KENTUCKY. The Rebel Defence! at Bowling Green and Columblis. A Louistille correspondent of the New York Tribune says: The rebel defences in the shape of fortifications are really formidable only on the Mlesiesippi river, 'But, even if they, together with those on the Cum• beilaisd and Tennessee and about Bowling Green, were more extensive, ,and better provided with armament than they . are, • they would be of but little effect toward impeding the Union advance upon Tennessee, and thle simply: 1. Because the rebels have no artillerists to serve their guns with anything like efficiency. I venture to assert that not ono in fifty of the pretended prac titioners of the Brief gunnery among them would be pronounced fit for active duty by competentjudges. There has been'for a long while a solcalled artillery camp for instruction opposite this place, on the right bank of the euitiberland, which afforded use a fine opportunity for observing the mode of schooling and. the progress of the recruits. They lay for months in camp without, even a single piece whereivlth to learn the manual. Latterly they received a few guns, but I have yet to hear of their practice at the target. I ascertained bat a few days ago from an intelligent Kentuckian, who spent nearly the whole of October and November at Bowling Green that, save a few salutes in honor of arriving generals and " Southern 'victories," no exercises whatever were had in all that time by the " artillerists " at that point. The marksmanship of those . at Columbus was strikingly illustrated by the battll of Belmont, at which the only damage done by them, according to their own officers, was the bursting: of their big gest gun. 2. Because there is no necessity Whatever for a direct attack by the Union forces upon any of the fortified positions of the rebels. A knowledge of the topography of Southern and Western Ken tucky, and of the vast latitudinal extent of the rebel lino of defence, from Columbus to the vicinity of Somerset, near the Upper Cumberlaud, will bring any ono to that - condemn. It would require an .army of at least 150,000 men to cover effectively the front of over 125 miles from Columbus to Somerset, while the rebels have hardlyl3o,ooo for that purpose. Their armies at Bowling Green and Columbne really - represent two wings, with nothing for a centre be yond a brigade at ilepkineville and the forte on the Cumberland and Tennessee, to the right and left of which there are entirely unprotected gaps of from 40 to 00 miles. If, with a forms at Bird's Point, - Cairo, and Proinenh, eufficient to check any aggres- ' sive movement by Gen. Polk, a Union corps of 25,000 men ehould advance from Green River upon' 11opkinsville, or bo carried up the Tennessee or Cumberland under the protection of gunboats, and take a position near the State tide, it would at once isolate the army at Columbus from that at Bowling Green, white it would threaten the rear and could ho made to out off the means of supply and retreat of either. The right of Columbus at Bowling Green could easily be flanked, menacing them with an at tack in front, while passing a column down the turnpike from Munfordsville to Glasgow, from which point it could also get into their rear and en tirely prevent all communication with Central Tennessee. Such a distribution of the Union forces would inevitably result in an abandonment of Co lumbus and Bowling Green and falling back, on the part of tho rebels, in the direction of Memphis and Nashville, or in encircling them with a cordon of Union columns that could either separately destroy them by attacks in front and rear, or starve them into surrender by isolating them from the South. Should the Bowling Green army fall back into Tennessee to escape that dilemma, the battle de cisive of the fate of Tennessee will probably bo fought along the base of the romp of bills already • alluded to, farther above. 1f disastrous to the rebels, Nashville will fall, and the job of freeing the Mississippi Valley from rebel rule be more than half finished. Polk's army will he readily die ; parsed, end another army, far a second stand against the Unionists, the rebels will never be able to collect. Their generals know this fully well, and hence they are now moving heaven and earth to increase their means of defence. Breclunridge's Brigade A letter in the Nashville Union and American says that " General" Breokinridge's brigade is lo cated "north of the Big Barren, in the direction' of Glasgow." That is to say, the rebels have dis covered the danger of a flank movement from Co lumbia, on the east of Bowling Green, and have sent out Brecklnridgo's brigade to oppose some sort of check to such a movement. They will need to put forward more than one brigade, From General lileCoolE's Army. WHAT GEN. BUELL IBS DONE POR THE ARHY IN KENTUCKY—TIM WAY TO BRIGADE AN ANNT— MIL NELSON'S POSITION—ABOUT TIM NEXT FOR WARD NOVF.TtENT. [Correspondence of the Ciucinnati Commercial.] CAMP WOOD, MUNPORDSVILLE, Ky., Jan. 4. The rebels may bo short of coffee and corn s wheat and whisky, and also of money, but they are cer tainly better supplied in one respect than we are, and that is in the matter of generals ranking "high up in the figures." By some means or other, the rebels afford three majors and countless briga dier generale to their army in Kentucky, while, strange to say, the Union Government can not afford one. Wo have had rumors of ap pointments; but the appointee has never made his appearance. Major generals have been flitting about and around us, but the "dark and bloody ground " is likely to be rebaptized by a " briga dier general commanding." We have had an inti mation of a major general from the civil list, but the once-militui general has not walked forth General Buell is only the acting major general, as you are aware. Why aro wo not entitled to a ma jor general ? Perhaps we have not deserved one, as the two previously "acting major generals " cer tainly did not win the commission, but may it not be said that General Befell has? I believe you oc casionally indulge editorially in a slur at the work done and doing in this State. I sincerely wish that the editor who "got on the rampage," as did Joe Gargery'a wife, could have witnessed the formation and disciplining of the main army in this State. General Anderson loft the chaotic mass as ho found it, only increased in dimensions. General Sher man, on taking the mass in hand, immediately proceeded to so increase the confusion as to render the object unrecognizable. I had a week's care ful study of the army at Camp Nevin, when Gen. Sherman left it. Confusion worse confounded is the beat description I can give of it. Augmented into vast proportions since then, separated into di visions and brigades, stretched along the wide fron tier of the occupied Dixie of the rebels, it is under as complete control and management as the best singlezegiment in the State. Oen. Buell had to reorganize, after the departure of Sherman, in eve ry department and every respect. Gen. Sherman, in fact, is half " States Rights," and ho appeared to manage the State feeling in the army - by dividing the brigades in each a manner as to compose each of several regiments from the same States. Thus Indiana had two or three brigades, Pennsylvania had ono, Kentucky several, and so on. General Buell bee avoided any of the natural results of a rivalry on the part of different States by redividing the army. For instance, General Negley has two Pennsylvania, one Isdiana, and one Wisconsin regiment in his brigade, and thus all through the whole army. But while General Buell and Achilles McDowell McCook have been laboring to produce this perfect organization, the only re ward hnsbeen an indiscriminate shower of vitupera tive adjectives upon their devoted heads by the newspapers. IVe have interesting ueivs to-day from General Nelson, and which I think will still be news by the One tjaveaches you. Ten miles east of this the First Wisconsin Regiment has boon engaged.in building a pontoon bridge for General Nelson. The bridge is reported finished, and thed . duipany of the First Wisconsin are to return here to build another at the ferry at this point. General Neleon encamped near the river on the let list , and is preparing to cross at a moment's notice. General Nelson's division—be is acting as major goaeral—mnat not be looked upon as the left wing of General McCook's army. The main force—the central oolummi—are composed of these two brigades, and they aro to act in concert. lam led to infer that they will noon be joined in one force, and under one general —McCook. The point of arming for General Nel sw's division is what is familiarly known as the "'Tipper turnpike crossing." This " upper pike" is en old Louisville and Nashville road. By a glance at the map, the reader will perceive it stretching due north from Glsogow to New Haven and Bardatown. At a point twenty miles south of this the turnpike road, from Mumfordsville south, and the one over which General Nelson is marching, approach to within eight miles of each other, and a branch road connote the two. Tbo workmen speak of baling the bridge—rail road bridge, I mean—iloishod by Tuesday. They will not succeed in completing it so soon—not be- fore next Friday or Saturday. But even if they do, it does not follow that General McCook's divi sion will push forward. As I telegraphed you, the railroad, four snifesheyond the river, to destroyed for a distance of four or five miles. Gen. McCook will not move forward in force until all this is re paired. Beyond the" river about eight miles, the country, for three or four miles to the north, is commanded by a series of hills, which are in pos session of the rebels. I do not think they will make a stand ,there, but from the point they could easily shell should we move forward over -five miles. - .vdo not think General McCook will move from his present position until he has posses sion of the points iralioated. At any rate, You may set it down as positive that our next move forward brings on a battle. Then look out for stirring and startling news. LATE SOUTHERN NEWS. The Effects orthe Blockade The following articles, being a portion of a cargo recently arrived from Havana, were sold at auction last welik,.by Messrs. La Roche .b Bell, of Sayan. nab 1,038 sacks coffee, various brands, brought from 65 to 66:10. per pound; 20 pieces army and, navy cloth brougbt $lO to $12.50 per yard ; 20 car boys carbonic acid brought $1 per pound ; 100 hhds. clarified. and brown sugars brought 8 to lie. per pound ;'8 8 roams letter paper brought $9 to $10.50 per ream. From Wlliiillllollrg, [Correspondence of the Petersburg krprei.s.l - Jan. 1, 18(12.—Although we have not bad a visit from our enemy, still, wo have anticipated one. In this we have boon die appointed; but they are probably satisfied that they never had bettor quarters for the winter, and likely never will again. Our gallant General Ma gruder bus accomplished agreat work in our midst. ' --mot opt hrax6xs skill and prudence coma toe to lone me enemy °lit In inottat ho hes also kept the whole Peninsula awake and ttetire, that the enemy might learn, through their lici t that we were a unit in sentiment and in ac tion. Ile set a noble example before his command of industry, energy, and temperance. When the din of battle is over it will be seen that our nom mender has accomplished as great a work in pre venting a battle as ho could have done in a full and complete conflict with the enemy. The health of the army, we trust, is improving. While our city is filled with the sick, and while death gathers home many a noble and brave spirit, yet wo have reason to believe that sickness in our midst is decreasing. Naval Engagement near Mobile. [From the Mobile Evening News, Dee, 26. j About midday yesterday the stout gunboat Flo rida, C. . S. N., concluded to celebrate Christmas eve by a small set-to with the Lincoln cruiser New _London, which was lying off the mouth of the har bor. The Florida ran down to the westward of Sand Island t and challenged the New London to come on, which she did, .and for an hour or two a lively cannonade at long taw furnished an exci tingly-interesting exhibition for the entertainment of the great audience which viewed it—the 4,000 men who garrison Forts Morgan and Gaines, as welt as the crews of the blockading vessels, being tho spectators. The Florida could not come to (deaf) quarters with the enemy by reason of the shout water of a batintervening, and could she have got out it is likely km would have had more than she could attend to with the several blockaders that were lying of in deep water. The engagement was lengthy, and many shots were fired on both sides, and ended by the New London backing out, as usual. The Florida was not touohed, but it is thought that three o her pills took (Abet on the enemy. All but these throe were seen to strike the water, but the thousands of oyes which watched could not tell where these three went to if they were not stopped by the New Line lion. She was evidently hard hit, for after hocking Out of the light she signalled the fleet, and ono of them ran down and lay alongside of her for several hours, rendering assistance, it is supposed. From _the. South Carolina Coast—Con. federate Account of the Recent Engage ' meat- - The Charleston Courier, of Friday last, has the following : The eonfitoting. rumors throughout the oity, Wednesday and Thursday; of fighting at Port Royal, caused much excitement. It wen stated early on Wednesday morning that despatches had been received saying th,t the enemy had landed at a point near Port Royal ferry; that they had been met by our forces and driven back to their gun boats. This was partially confirmed by a despatch received in official quarters, stating that the enemy bed landed near the ferry, and driven in put pick ets, but that Generals Pemberton and Donelsen had taken a position to meet them, should they attempt to advance beyond the range of their boats. Passengers by the Charleston and Savannah Railroad, on Thursday afternoon, state that the fighting of Wednesday was renewed on Thursday, and very heavy firing heard in the direction of Coosawatchie and Pontaligo. The accounts given of the first tight state - that' our troops, consisting of. Colonel Jones' regiment and three companies of Colonel Ponovant a regiment, met the enemy Ott landing at Chisholm's place, and, making a brilliant charge, repelled and drove them back to their gun boats. Our men scoured a number of small arms which the retreating forces threw away in their flight, and also took ono prisoner. In the pursuit, a portion of Colonel Jones' mon rather impetuously advanced within range of the gunboats, when a shell (rein a howitzer fell and exploded among them, killing six and • wounding *we've. The wounded men were brought up to the hospital, un der the charge and treatment of Surgeon Hough, of Colonel Jones' regiment The' enemy's force was said to be about three thousand five hundred, and our own but very little over a thousand. The loss of the enemy in the engagement was not asoartained. It was also re. ported that our battery at Page's Point had been attacked by three gunboats, and the battery aban doned, after removing all the guns but one. A despatch from Gen. Pemberton states that the fight was renewed on Thursday morning. A correspondent of the Courier says Gen. Leo is in command at Pocataligo, S. C. The correspond. out also says that very heavy firing was heard on the first instant in the direction of Savannah, and there was much anxiety in camp to hear from that quarter. The Charleston Mercury of Friday says: Our loss, beyond those killed and wounded by the shells of the boat howitzers, was but tritliag. Of the enemy's loss we have no definite account. When they finally departed in their boats, they left four killed and many wounded on the field ; but it is known that, besides these, they carried off with them numbers both of killed and wounded. Early yesterday morning the enemy again ap proached the main in much heavier force than on the preceding day. Gen. Gregg's brigade, which was stationed in the neighborhood, fell back a short distance to secure an advantageous battle ground, and, at lest accounts, the Yankee forces were ad vancing up the Combahee road, the skirmishing between the pickets being heavy and continuous. Of the results of the action of the day we have no news whatever; but the fighting was steadily maintained until quite late in the afternoon. At 5 o'clock P. Al yesterday, official despatches were received, announcing that the enemy's gun boats bad again opened a sharp fire of shells upon White Point, but for what purpose was not known. We have advices that, on Tuesday hut, a Yankee gunboat entered Bull's Bay, and chased a schooner that wee coming from Santee, by the inland pas sage. The steamer was crowded with armed men on deck: She ran the achooner up a creek, but finding the water too shallow, oeased the pursuit. From Western Virginia. RICHMOND, Tan s.—Conflicting reports roach us from the mountains, but it is evident that the Federalists are making demonstrations there at various points. Tho mail agent from Staunton tells the postmaster hero that Colonel Johnson, at Alle gheny, says that he can hold his position, but ap prehends that his supplies will be interrupted.— Petersburg Ea., Wooden Shoe Manufactory They have at Raleigh an establishment for the manufacture of 'wooden shoes, of ' which the Standard thus speaks: The enterprising manufacturers have in their employment some thirty hands, and are turning out about ono hundred pairs of shoes per flay. The shape and size of the shoe are firartnarked and `sawed out, then scooped out and fashionedlat the bottom, and sand-papered , and lined, and painted, and topped with leather, and thus finished in various rooms in the same building. Most of this work is done by machinery driven by steam. The wood is gum and poplar, which is well steamed before the shoe is mad°. %understand that these shoes aro notually lighter than the leather brogan of the same number, and, as for durability, the bottoms will last until the next war. We learn that Messrs. Thuim k Props, who aro finishing ono bun dred.pairs per day, have more orders than they can fill. Wooden shoes are worn in the northern part of Europe, and in some localities in this country; but we suppose that this is the first manufactory of the sort by machinery and steam which has been esta blished. THE WAR IN MISSOURI. Sigel's Resignation A St. Louis despatch to the Chicago Traunc says : News from Rolla states that resignation bas created groat excitement among f trodp3. Many other German officers have resigned. - - - The Grttud Movement The Chicago Post Bays: We have information regarding army movements in the West, which may be of considerable sigralearlCO in relation to the general movement of the Grand Anaconda, which is expected to first crush and then swallow up the rebellion. Brigadier General Jim Lane, of Kansas, has been appointed a major general, and is assigned to a new department, to include Kansas, Arkansas, and the Indian territories. Ile is to have a command of twenty4lve thousand men, including six thousand cavalry, with which, it is supposed, he is to swoop down through Western Missouri, exterminate the re bellious Creeks and Cherokees, and Nuelch the re bellionin Arkansas. Three of the regiments now in Camp Douglas, Chicago--the Fifty , seventli Infan- try, Col. Baldwin, the Fusileers, Col. Wilson, and Col. Brackett's cavalry—have received orders to re. portto Gen. Lane, and to be in readiness to march at once. Tho general is expected to arrive in Chloe• go, on his way to the field. some time this week. All this, by itself, is perhaps of little consequence. But the appointment of Lane takes away the pre sent command of General Hunter, who, we orb credibly informed, is to have command of the Mis sissippi expedition. No better officer could have been selected for that important work, General Bunter is a thorough and accomplished soldier, and one of the very best mon to be at the head of an army in the Geld that we have got. Taken together, these movements upon the no. tional chess board indicate that our great armies in the field are not to spend the entire winter idly in camps ; but that a stupendous effort is shortly to be made to crush out this monstrous rebellion with a swiftness that shall be all the inoro surprising on ac count of the apparent inactivity that preceded tho grand movement. PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1862. MISCELLANEOUS WAR NEWS. From Fortress Monroe FORTRESS Mositoz, inn. 8, via Baltimore.—The Steamer Connectecut, from New York, arrived this afternoon, and is to edit this evening for Port Royal. Judge Marvin, of the Admiralty Coart at Key West, takes passage in the Connecticut. Tho Wench Steamer Catinat arrived in the Roads, from Now York, this afternoon: The rebel batteries at Cranny Island have boon Practising alltlay The steamboat „MOM Z has sailed for Port Royal with the snails: for small sire and lightdraugbt of water will make her useful in that vicinity. The iteamboat Rancoctts has sailed for Hatteras. No Southern papers have heenireeeived hero today. 'Retreat of' the Rebels under Jackson. BALTIMORE, January 9.--The correspondent of the American, writing from ifagoretown, January 7, says "Reliable reports from Hancock last night, state that the rebel force under Jackson had been driven by the Union army, under Gra. Reynolds, from that vicinity to Bath, Morgan county, whore they attempted to make is stand, but were finally re• phlsed and are now in full retreat on the road to Winchester." - — rannanicu, January B.—Thorn isno now 1110V9._ inept bore or up the river. It is believed that Jackson has been joined by Generals Anderson and, Loring's Brigades and gone to attaok Geberal Kel-• lay. All eyes aro now turned toward Romney.' Jackson's rebel force probably exceeds 10,000 men,. Gen. Hamilton, of our Second Brigade, is moo voring from a savors bilious attaok. Last night was the coolest of the season hero, but tha tram arise...fel:table and, wake no complaints of hardship's. -, The Indinn Tribes The St. Louie Republica?! nye Reports in relation to the 'dissatisfaction of num-, boys of the eopper•eolored inhabitants of the Indian Territory with the Confederate Government are. confirmed by every succeeding account that reaches us from that quarter. The bravo, undaunted, Opothleyholo, a chief of great popularity and in fluence, remains a firm and steadfast chempion of the Union. Ile has gathered about him between four and five thousand Cherokees, Seminoles, Creeks, and Choctaws, who have declared their unswerving fealty to the Government that has be friended them, and determined to do 'nil in their poWer to check the warlike endeavors of some of their tribes attached to Jeff Davis' army. , About the middle of December, Opothleyhelo nt tacked'withgreatfury the camp of Col. Cooper, on' Bushy creek, near the Verdigris river, and drove his force of 1,500 men a distance of several miles,, taking a large number of scalps, and achieving a marked victory. The effect of this triumph can best be judged from. the following, which la from the Fort Smith Times: An express arrived 'yesterday from,Col. Wattle, from which we learn his regiment is on the move to aid Col. Cooper. Nothing has yet been heard from. Captain Parks and his company. It is feared that, they hare all been killed, and Wattlo's mon are highly exasperated. We learn that Colonel Mclntosh, in oommand of the troops on this frontier, has ordered eight com punks of Colonel Young's regiment, five companiet of Colonel Greer's regiment, and Colonel Whit field's battalions, to tho assistance of Col. Cooper, against Opothloyholo and his Jayhawking allies. Obsequies of General linker in San Fran- The obsequies of the late General E. D. Baker took place to San Premise° on the 11th ultimo. The ceremonies were very imposing. Every class of society was 'represented in the procession, and men of all parties joined iu the general lamentation over the loss the nation has sustained. The people of the Pacific coast have given indisputable testi mony of the high estimation in which they hold ttie deceased. During the movement of the military procession the Russian frigate in San Francisco bay fired minute guns. SPEECH OF'HON. CHAS. SUAINER ON TILE TRENT AFrAIR Idr. SUMNER. bin President, ovary principle of in. ternational law, when justly tend authoritatively settled, termites a safegnanl of peace and a landmark of civilize• lion. It constitutes a part of that cot% which Is the en. prente law, above all municipal land, binding the whole commonwealth of potions. Such a sentiment may les by a general °ohne eon of nations, 119 at Munster, Vienna, or Paris; or it may be through tho general accord of tree. lice ; or it may be by a precedent established under seich consptcuous circumstances, with nil nations as assenting witnesres, tient It shalt at onto become In lksif a com mending rule of international conduct. Especially it this The cane, If disturbing pretension, long mnintalned to the detriment of civilization, are practically renounced by the Poner which has maintained them. Without nay Congress or treaties, such in precedent has been es tablished. both a preet-dent ought to Ito considered and under brood In its true thargems,...in untlertatimi,ta , ....b4a I shall w.tat (or niYa , dralonni hat 1 shall lineal (rankly, aceistaies to the stise freedom of public debate ' Mid the plain teachings of history on the question Involved, trusting sincerely that shat I say may contribute some thing to elevate the honest patriotism of the country, and perhaps to secure that tranquil judgment which ',till render this precedent the herald, if not the guardian, of International Mummy, Two old men and two younger associates, recently taken from tho BMW' ninil packet Trent on the high retie, by order of Captain Wilkes, of the United States Levy, and afterwarce detained in custody at Fort War ren, have been liberate.] and placed nt the disposition of the British Governient. Tlllll hoe been done at the instance of that Got eminent, courteously conveyed, and tout ded on the assumption that the original Lupton, of these men Ai as an net of violence was an a ff ron t to the British nag and a violation of international law. This Is a simple outline of the facts. But in order to appreciate the value of this precedent, there are other matters u filch must be brought Into view. These two old men were citizens of tho United States, and for ninny years Senators. Ono woe the author of the fugithe-elave bill, and the other was the chief author of the filibustering system which has disgraced our national borne and disturbed our national peace. Occupying places of trust and power in the service of tit iir coun try, they conepited against it, and, at tact, the secret ti alters and conspirators become open rebels. The pre sent rebellion, now surpassing in proportions, and also in wiskedness, any rebellion in history, wee, front the be ginning, quickened and promoted by their untiring energies. That country to which they owed lure, honor. and obedience, they betrayed and gave over to violence and outrage. Treason, conspiracy, and rebellion, each iu succession, have acted through them. Tho incalcu lable expenditures which now task our national resources, the untold derangement of affairs, not milt at home but aloe abroad, the levy of armies almost without an example, the devastation of ex tended regions of territory, the plunder of peaceful ships on the ocean, and the slaughter of Nina-- citizens on the murderous battle-held—such aro some of the consequences proceeding directly from them. To critry tinware still further the gigantic crime of which they were so largo a part, these two old men, with their two younger assmiates, atoll) from Charleston on board a rebel steamer, and, under rover of darkness and storm, running the blockade and avoiding the cruisers in that neighborhood, succeeded in reaching the neutral island of Cuba, white, u ith open display and the knowledge of the British consul, they embarked on board the British mail packet Trent, bound for St Thomas, salience caw limo to embark for England, in which kingdom one of them woe to play the part of ambassador of the rebellion, while the other Sias to play the same part in France. The original treason, contplracy, and rebellion of which they were so heinously guilty, store all continued on this oyage, which became a prolongation of the original crime, declined to still further excess, through their am bassadorial pietenbions, which, it teas hoped, would at ray its o great nations against the United States, and enlist them openly in behalf of an accursed 'sleet:Mold ing rebellion. While on their way, the ambassadors were arrested by Captain Wilkes, of the United States steamer San Jacinto, tin accomplished officer, already well known by his scientific explorations, who, on this occasion acted without inch tuitions front his Govern moth it, in this arrest, he forgot for a moment the fixed policy of the Republic, which hoe been flout the be ginning like a frontlet bolds eon the OW, and trsnscentl cd the law of nations, as the United States have always declared It, his apology must be found lu the patriotic, im pulso,py which be xas inspired, and the Widen exam ples which he could net forget. They were the enemies of kits country, embodying in themselvea the triple es sence of worst enmity—treason, conspiracy, and rebel lion ; and they wore a pretended ambassadorial charac ter, which, as he well knew, according to high British authority, rendered them liable to be stormed. If, in the ruder of an honest nature, Captain Wilkes erred, he might w ell buy : " Who can he wise, mated, temperate, and furititts, Loyal end neutral In a moment l No man. The expedition of my violent love Outran the painter reason. " Who could refrain That had a heart to love, Raclin that heart Courage to make his love known 1" _ . . If this transaction ho regarded exclusively in the light of J3ntlNh precedents; if we follow the seeming authority Of the British admiralty, speaking by its greatest volco ; and especially, if we accept the oft-repeated example of I:111110h cruisers, upheld by the British Government nattiest the oft-repeated protests of the - United States, we shall not find it difficult to Antillean) it. This act be comes questionable only when brought to the touchstone of these liberal principles, which, front the cattiest times, the American Government has openly avowed and sought to advance, end which other European nations have accepted with regard to the sea. Indeed, Great Britain cannot complain except by now adopting those identical principles; and should wo undertake to vindi cate the act, it can be done only by repudiating those identical principles. Our two cases will be res ersed. In the strtigglo between Laortes and Hamlet, the LAW corn- Istants exchanged rapiers; so that Hamlet was armed with the rapier of harrier, and Laertcs was armed with the rapier of Hamlet. And new, ou• this seneltne ques tion, a similar exchange has occurred. Great Britain is armed with American principles, while to us are !enmity those British principles which, throughout our history, have been constantly, deliberately, and siemnly re. Ected. Loral 11116aell, in his despatch to Lom nicafutl la Ittr. Seward, coatenta himself by sayffif 4 "it appears t hitt herinitt ttl irillllala have boon ford mi taken from on board d British vessel, the ship of a nuu tt al Poster, while such iwasel sad. pursuing a lawful curd innocent voyage—an act of tbilencii width was an anon t to the Ti, itch flag, and a violation of interim- Venal law." Belo is a positive assertion that the ship, notorfeusly Loving on board the rebel einlwarie4, wits pursuing a lawful and innocent voyago; hut there is no specification of the precise ground on which the act In ',nestled' is regarded as a violation of international Of coerce, it is not on affront; for an accident can never be on affront to au individual or too nation. But public report, authenticated by the concurring testimony of various authorities, English and continen tal, forbids us to continuo ignotant of tine precise ground on which this act is presented as a rlola thin of intiruational law. It was admitted that a tinted States man•of.m or, meeting a British mail I.lranar her owd the territorial limits of (hoot Blituin, might subject her• to visitation and search also that lino United States ship•of-war might put a price crew on board the British steamer, and carry her oft to a port of the Untied States for adjudica lion by a prize court there; but that she mould have no right to Moore the emissaries, who were not, appa rently, officers in the military or naval service, and carry them off as prisoners, leaving the ship to poraue her voyage. Under the circumstances, In the exercise of a, belligerent right, the British steamer, with all on board, might hare been captured and carried off; but, according to thoßritlsh law Mum, on whose professional opinion the British Cabinet has acted, the whole proceeding was vitiated by the failure to take the packet into port for condenmation. 'I his failure has been the occasion of touch unprofessional objurgation; and it has been em phatically repeated that it P.n.s impossible is consent that lira custody of the twin id oats In question should bo do let mined by a navy officer on his qiiarter.deck, so as to stipertedo the adjudication of a prize court. This lion been 'confidently stated by an English writer, assuming to put tie case for his Ooveratnent as follows ff It is not to the right of search that me object, but to Maio/lowing seizure without process q r taw. What see deny Is the right of a naval officer to stand in place of a prize court, anti adjudicate, sword in hand, nab a one rote slept/4o on the yea deck 'ranch Is a part of our tet Mot y." • Thus It appears that the present complaint of the Bel- Mb, Gorerroneet Is net founded on the assumption by the American vier steamer of the belligerent right of search ; nor on the ground that this right woe exercised on board a neutral 'Vessel, between two neutral ports ; nor that it was exorcised , on hoard a mall steamer, sustained by a subvention from the crown, and officered 'in part Iron:tam royal navy' nor that it wee exorcised in acute where the penalties or oentraband could not attach; but it is founded' simply and precisely on the idea that persona other than apparent officers In the military or naval see; vice, cannot he taken out of a neutral ship at the more will of theofficer who exerchos the right of search, and without any form of trial. Therefore, the law of notions has been violated, and' the conduct of Captain Wilkes, must be dleavowed; while Alen, who are traitors, con spirators,, and rebels, all In one, are allowed to go free, Surely, that Criminate, though dyed in guilt, Should go' free, is boiler than that the lawof nations elionld be vio. especially in any rule by whlcb our is restricted and the meal of peace Is enlarged; for the law of nations canrad be violated without overtmming the protection of the Innocent AD a ell as the guilty. On this general prin. Ciplethero Cita Ire no question. It it but an illuatration of that important maxim, recorded in the Latin of For tescite, ft Better that many guilty should escape than ono Innocent Man l,hould finger," with this dilference, that In the presto! VINO u few guilty escape, while the innocent everyndiers me the sea obtain now security. And this security becomes mere valoable es a triumph of chill settler, - when it Is considered that it was long refusal, even at the cannon'a mouth Do 'h'f'dsforp,tft, air, that the question involved in this controversy it s fr ictly a question of la w—precisely like a question ,f trespass between two neighbora. The Bri tish Cobbler Logan proceedings by talents, the opinion of their law whiten, precisely as an 111110111 W begins pro ceedings In a snit at law by taking the opinion of his attorney. to make such a question a case of tour, or to Rigged lAA War to a proper mode of deciding it, Is simply to revive, in Wessel proportions, the exploded ordeal by battle, and to Imitate those dark ages when such pro •ceeett.p. nos-ffoettly declared to be the beet and meet honorable Mode of deciding oven an abstract point of late. "It vat a matter of doubt and dispute," says an emit Idatorien, "whether the none of a eon ought, to be reckoned etgeug the children of the fatally, and succeed equally with their uncles, If their father happened to die aline their, grandfather was aro. An assembly was called to defibeasta on this point, tend it was the general ophnotinhatlro 1,6 t to be remitted to tho examine Bo n dud decision of ;Itelgrs. But the emperor, followhm a better coney, andtlenofus of dealing honorably with his people and tiobles,Amioluted the matter to he decided by battle between Vela Xnareptene." In similar spirit ban It been latterly PrePortd, amidst the amazement of the civilised World, to Withdraw4he point of law now raised by Great Britain fromleaceful adjudication, and submit it to trial by mallet. 'Bolt the irrational anachronism of such a promeltion*ccoies more nagrantfrom the inconsistency of the MO which-takes it ; fur it cannot be forgotten that, In tinuhrpast, en We identicakpoint of law, Great Britain Traeledently held an opposite ground from that which she Mw takes. ,ThelrJffteieplaintseems to hove born narrowed down to wiriesle point ; but it Is not to be disguised that there are pi - Litter points on which, had the ship been untried Into Port for adludicattou, controversy must have arisen. Not to omit anything important, let me ear that the tired following points, among others, have been I:e• sented in tied nose: 1. That the seizure of the robed. emissaries, without taking the ship into port, wee prong, inasmuch as a ettiov,officer is not entitled to substitute hin4seif for a judicial E, ihnna7. 2. That gad the ship been carried into port, it would not have been liable on account of the rebel emissaries, bummed, its.3entrul ships are free to carry all persons not sypatmOtty to the military or naval service of the enemy. , ' 3. Xre derpatches contraband of war, so as to rendor the thtp Habit. to sdzuro 'pirse telttan I shall consider in their order, giving special ettpltion to tho first, which is the pivot of tho Iltilish c,tuplpint If, in this disci:orlon, I shall expose grioances which it mere bitter to forget, be assured it is Irvin no 'willingness to awaken theelumbering animosities they num to justly aroused, but simply to exhibit the prourfv4sWelt on thin question which the United States early rind constantly maintained. A outation of international law should not he presented On any ireilt,e arglellitiliflM act hontinem. It would be of 11111 show that Caplet - 111%111;ra wns sustained by British nether!ty and practice, if he were condemned by fidel - national law as interpreted by his own country. It belongs to on now, nay, lot it be our pride, at ally cost of indishhistprepossebsietis or transitory prejudices, to up bold that law in ell its force, as It was often declared by the bey Mien In our history, and Illustrated by national acts; nod let us seize the present occasion to consecrate its Positive and unequivocal recognition. In exchange for the tirtiOners set free, we receive from Great 'Britain a practical meta, too long deferred, to a principle early propoui.4o by our country, and standing forth on every page ot history. Thu same voice which gs k i , for their him - Minn, renounces in the seine breath an odious pretension, for whole generations the scourge of peaceful commerce. (Meat Britain, throughout her municipal history, has practically contr ibuted to the estalillslunent of freedom I.,c)m.d erirothar nations. There are M least seven is stitntiond or principles which she has given to civiliza tion: Paid, the trial by jury; secondly, the writ of ha• beau cotpaa ; thirdly, the freedom of lire press; fourthly, bills of lir. [lntl fifth' y, the represent at ive system; al xthly, the rage and orders of debate, constituting parliamentary law; and ;monthly, the principle that the air is ton pure for a slave to breathe—long ago declared, and first made a renlitj j by British law. No other nation can show such psueeful triumphs. But while thus entitled to our gratitude for glorious contributions to municipal .Itor, we turn with dimwit and sorrow from much as filch iDe , hoe sought to fasten upon international law.: m liiunicfpal questions, (treat Britain drew inspi ration frets her env native common law, which was instinct with ft terioin i but especially in maritime goes floes-riding under the law of nations this Power seems to have toted on that ohnoltiout principle of the Roman law, posltitely discarded in munielpal questions, Quart priottp(placuit le ti;s *went ha bet, and too often, under this Inspl.rellen, to have imposed upon weaker nations tier own nrbii;t!ry will. The time Sans been when the pro tonacil 10 . f.ivereignly orpr the enalgurrottailing the Bd. fish isree„es.. far as Cape Ifinisrerre to the south, and Van ttatry'lg. flOrwar to-.the north. Burtirtragi - from title breliliminber pt et-5tet,,, ,, , less local -hat hardly less 'oftener.,-, were avowed. The boast 01 0 Rule, Britannia, rule the waves," was practically adopted by British courts of adniiralty, and universal maritime rights were subjected to the op,cial eNigencl, a of British interegq. In the consciousness of Wrointli, and with a navy that could not be opposed, this Power has put chains upon the see. The cennuereo of tho Coiled States, as it began to whiten hit ocean, wit., cruelly decimate...l by these arbi trary preteneluns. American ships and cargoes, while, 1u the langdaee of Lord Musa, a pursuing a lawful and innocent voyage," sutler,' from tire British admiralty costs more than from rock or tempest. Shipwreck was less frequent than confiscation ; and when it mane, ft was easier to bear. But the loss of property stung lees then the outrage of Impressment, by which foreigners, tinder the protection of the American flag, and also Atnethean cltizene, without any form of trial, and at the mars mandate of it navy officer, who fur the moment acted as %judicial tribunal, worwiltogged away front 010 deck width 'should have been to them a sacred altar. This ontrage, which was feebly virelleatol by the municipal claim of Great Britain to the services of tier own eulfjeets, was terforeel arrogantly and per petually on the high erns, where municipal law is silent, and International law alone prevails. The belligerent right of search, derived front interria• ,tonal law, woo employ ed for Cris purpose, and the quar ter-deck of every British cruiser Wan made a floating tidgmenbeent. The practice began early, and was con tinued ronetant4; nor did It discriminate among its vie time It Is mentioned by Ur. Jeffereon and repeated by a British writer on International law, (fiat too nephews, of Washiiigtort, on their way home from Europe, seers ravished from the protection of the American flag, with out any judicial proceedings, and placed as common Sea l-M.l under the ordinary flrserplino of British ships of se or. The victims were counted by thoueands. Lord Castlereagh himself admitted, on the floor of the house of Commons, that at Inquiry instituted by the British Government lied discovered In the 13raish fleet three thousand hive hundred men claiming to be impressed Ame ricans. At our Department of State six thousand Cases were recorded, and It seal estimated that as ninny more might have occurred of which no Information hurl been re eel% ed. Thus, according to this official adinfolon of the British minister, there was reason to believe that the quarter-deck of a British man-el-war line boon made n Ileatarg judgment-neat titres domain() five hundred times, while actordlog to the records of our own State 'Department, it had been macho it floating judgment•seat six thousand binge and upwerris ,• and each time an American eitiren had been taken thorn the protection of Iris flag without any loon of trial known to the law. If pretension so intrinsically lawless could he sanctioned by preceth nt, Great Britain word have succeeded In in terpoleting it Into the law of nations. Protest, argument, negotiation, correspondence, and war itself—unhappily the last reason of republics as of kings--were alt employed to seta by the United States to procure a I enunciation of this intolerable pretension. The aid* papers In our diplomatic history are devoted to this purpose ; and tho only serious war in which we base been engaged, until eminnoned to eircounter this re bellion, was to overcame by arms this very pretension, which would not 3 hid to reason, Beginning in the last century, the correspondence Nat last closed by the recent reply of AIL Seward to Lord Lyons. The long-con tinued (motion of conflict la new happily removed, and the pretension disappeam forever—to take Its place among the curiosities of the past. But Ido not content myself with asserting the per ; elstent opposition of the American Government. It be ' longs to the mei:mord that I should exhibit this opposi tion and the precise ground on \finial it was planed, being Identical with that now adopted by Great Britain And hero the testimony is complete. If you will kindly - follow Ills you shall see it from the beginning in the public life of our country, and in the authentic recent% of our Government. This British pretension aromas] rind startled the Ad minietratima of Washington, and the pen of Hr. Jeffer son, Iris Secretary of Stale, Was enlisted against it. In letter to Themes Pinckney, our minister at London, dated Juno 11, 1702, he said : "The sitopled rule will be that the vessel being Amerl tan shall be evidence that the teamenlon hoard her are such." In another letter to the same minister, dated October 12, 170.2, he calls attention to a case of special outrage, on follows : "I inclose you a copy of a letter from Mossre. Blow end lifellieddo, merchants of Virginia, complaining of the • taking <tansy of uncle sailors on the coast of Africa by the commander of n British armed vessel. So many In stances of this kind have happened that it is mate neees snry that their Government should explain themselves on the subject, and bo led to disavow and punieh such con duet."—Slate Papers, vol. 3, p. 574. Tire emus British pretension was put forth rimier the Administration of John Adams, and was again encoun tered. Mr. Pickering, at that time Secretary of State, in a letter to Births King, our minister at London, dated June 8, 1780, after repeating the nibs proposed by Mr. Jefferson, ea) s "Bat it uili be an Important point gained, if on the high seas nue flag can protect those tf whatever na tion who Shell sett under it. And for title humanity, ns well as interest, powertully plead."—State Payers, vol. 571. And again, at a lato» day, during the same Adinlois- Baum!, 51r. ninetieth afterwards tire: venerated Chief Justice of the United States, and at the thee Secretary of Stale, In his instructions to Thalia King, at London, fisted %clamber 20, 1800, says: "TIM Impressment of our seamen Is an injury of von' serious nergnltude, which deeply affects the feelings and the horror of the indium" * r err, Allen team., not British subjects, engaged in one met:Jetta s^re ice, 01117)/t 10 be e/leellY enmitt smith eitizenS. Bri tain has no pit test nut right to their persons or t(7 Mel! Service, To tear them front our possession is at the mute time an insult and an injetru. It Is an act of violence, for which there coleus no palliative."—State rapers, vol. 2, p. 48e, The Bruno British pretension Showed itself constantly linden . the Administration of Nu. Jefferson. Throughout the eight 3 ears of his Presidency, tho t epeated outrages of British cruisers never for a moment allowed it to ho forgotten. 81r. Madison, during this period, was Secre tary of State, and none of the ran fed productions of hie pen are more than those in NI hid, Ire exposed the tyranny of this pretension. In the course of this ossion ho showed the special hardship found in the fact that the Bailors wore taken trot» the Alpol tho mere will of an officer, withont rep form of judicial proceed ings, and thus curb' presented against the pretension of Great Britain tlio pretise objection which is now adopted b 3 her. Here are his emphatic wade, in his celebrated instructions to Dlr. Monroe, at that time our minister et Lotion, dated January 5, 1004: "Tithing reason and justice for the tests of this prac tice, it is peculiarly indefensible, because it deprives the dearest rights of persons of a rotifer trial, to which the most Inconsidereble artielo of property cap tured on the high fleas lo entitled, elel laws the destiny to the will of an officer, 1101111e7111104 cruel, often Ignorant, and generally interested by want of manners, in his elm demsions. 'Whenever property found in a neutral vessel Iv Plll , l , oSed to be liable, on ally ground, to captain and condemnation, the role In all cases is Oita the question ',hell not be decided by the captor, but be carried before n legal tribunal, where a regular trial may be lied, and where tire captor himself reliable to damages for an abuse of his power. Can It be reasonable, then, or just, that a belligerent commander who is thus reetocted, and time responsible In a case of mere propm ty of tliviel amount, ' , horrid be permitted, without 7 altering to any (Mnta/ 21h a serer, to examine the cern , of a neutral vessel, lode. cute the important question of their re.spertiee alle giances, amt to cool that deCl9lOll Into execution by• forting every individual be may choose into attendee oh horrent to hie feelings, cutting him off from Ms most ten der connections, exposing his mind and his person to the most humiliating discipline, and Lis life itself to the greatest danger 'I Beason, lustiee, and humanity unite in protesting against so extravagant a pro.eding."— Slate Pavers, lob 8, p. 89. Negotiations, on this principle, thus distinctly de. cloned, were Intrusted at London toJames 'Monroe, after. wards President of the United States, and to William Pinckney, the meet accomplished master of prim law which our country has produced. But they wale ulnae metal Great Britain persisted. In a joint latter, dated at London, September 11, 1808, the plenipotentiaries say 0 That it was imonaailale that we should acknowledge In favor of any foreign Power the claim to such juris diction on board our teasels found open the wain ocean, as this sort of impressment imptied—a claim as plainly inadmissible in Ito principle, and derogating from the an nnettlenable rights of our sovereignty, no it was VeXll. 'Hone in IN practical conseguences."—Mate Papers, vol. 3 , P. /34. In another Joint letter dated at London, November 1.1, 1900, the same plenipotentlarlee say : "The right was denied by the Tiritish commissioners, mho untried that of their Government to seize its sieb= jests on board of neutral merchant vessels on the high seas, and who aloe urged that the relinquishment of it at tide time would go for to the overthrow of their navel Ironer, on width the safety of the State essentially de pended."—.State Popo% vol. 3, p,133, still onother letter, dated at London, AMA 22 1807, Messrs. 'Monroe and Pinckney say of the Britial: com missioners: "They stated that the Dr.judlce of the navy and of the country generally wee KO r trong infavor of their preten sion tint the Ministry could not encounter it in a direct fan; and that In truth the support of Parliament could not have Owen relied on by such a case."—Slate Papers, vol. 8, r. 1110. The British commissioners ware two excellent persons, Lord Holland and Lord Auckland; but though friendly to the Vnited States in their declarations, and Liberals in politics, they were powerless. At home in the United States the question continued to be discussed by able writer& Among those, whose opinions were of the highest authority, was the late Pre sident, John Adams, who from hie retirement at Quincy pent forth a pamphlet, dated January 9, 1899, iu which the British pretension was touched to the quick; and again the precise objection wee presented which id now urged by Great %halm Depicting 'the acene Irlien one of our ships is encountered by eßritish cruiser, he says: • tt The lieutenant is to be the Judge, the'mldshipman is to be clerk, and the boatswain sheriff or marshal." * tk * i' is impossible to figure to ourselves, in Ima gination, this solemn tribunal and venerable judge with out smiting, till the humiliation of our country comes into our thoughts, and interrupts the sense of ridicule by the tears of grief or vengeance,"—John Mame Works, vol. 9, p. 222. At last all redress through negotiation wne found to be Impossible ; end this pretension, aggravated into multi• tralinoue t) runny, was openly announced to be one of the principal reasons for the declaration of war against Great Britain in 1812. In his Menage to Congress, dated Juno 1, of that year, Itfr Idadiaon, who was now President, thud exposed the offensive character of this pretension ; and 111 a WOMB, directed against a persistent raactice, are now echoed by Great Britain, In the single instonco which hoe accidentally occurred: „ Could the seizure of British subjects In such cams ho regarded as As Ithin the exercise of a belligerent right, the arlmweledged laws of war, *lath fella an article of captured property to be adjudged without a regular In eatlgatiour before a compotont tribunal, would imperi ously demand the fairest trial where the sacred rights of persons were at issue. In place of such a trial, these rights are subjected to the will of eterypetty command er."—Statesman's Monual, vol. 1, p. 291. White the aver aas a aging the subject was shit dis cussed. Mr. Grundy, in the Ilonse of Representatives, In a report from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bald; „A subaltern or any other officer of the British navy ought not to ho arbiter in such a case. The liberty and lives of American citizens ought not to depend on the n ill of such a party."—Slate rapers, vol. 3, p. 605. Such was the American grossed. The British preten sion IVID unhesitatingly proclaimed in the declaration of the Prince Regent, afterwards George re, given at the palate of Westminster, January 9, 1813: "The President of the United States has, it !steno, since proposed to Great Britain an armistice; not, however, on the admission that the cause of war hitherto relied on was removed ; but on condition that Great Britain, as a pre liminary atop, should do away a cause of war now brought forwa.d as such for time first time—uamely, that she should abandon the exercise of her UNDOUBTED swamis of search to take from American merchant vessels nritish seamen, the steturni-born smitjects of his mafejesty. "His Basal Highness can never admit that, is the ex ercise of the UNDOUBTED and. .hitherto undisputed right of searching 'retard/ merchant vessels in time IV sear, the impressment of British seamen, when found therein, can be deemed any violation of a neutral flag. Neither can ho admit teat the taking of such seamen from on board such vessels can be considered by any neutral Blatt us a hostile measure or it justifiable cause of scar.” Wile war was closed by the treaty at Ghent; but, per versely, the British ploteuelonst an not renounced. Other uegosiations In 1818, under President Monroe; in 1823, also under Monroe, and again in 1821, under John Quince' Adams, expressly to procure Its renunciation, were all unavailing. At last, In 1842, at the treaty of Webbington, Mr. Webster, calmly setting aside all islon of further negotiation on this pretension, and without even proposing any stipulation with regard to It, de liberately announced the principle Irrevocably adopted by our Governineut. It tells the principle early an nonnocn nt the beginning of the Republic by Mr. Jeffer son. This despatch Is one of rho most memorable In our history, and it bears directly on RIO existing controyerey when, in exposing the British pretension, It says: st But the lientenant sit a man-of-war, having necessity for men, so apt to be a summary judge,nrel his decbdons Is 111 be quite tie eignificent of Isis own Is ants and his own power as of the truth and Justice of the eabo."—Webstor's WOI Ly t 01. 8, p. 4123. At a later day still, on the rem eve of recent events, e find General Cass, as Secretary of State, in his elaborate instructlona to our relulatere in Europe, dated 27 tic June, 1859, declaring principles which may properly cetit:Ol the present question. le sayer "It le obvious, from the tensvrof the age, that the present is no cafe time to assert salt enforce pretensions on the part of belligerent Foss ere affecting the late. rest of nations at ponce, milers suck pretension are dearly isishysa by the /ow of nalionS." * t * ss one stopping of Benin , / Vessels upon the high nor, their forcible enhance, and the overhauling and examination of their cargoes, the seizure of their freight, at the will of o foreign officer, the frequent interception of their voyages by compelling them to change their destination, in order to seek redress; and, Chace all, the abases winch are so prone to accompany she exercise of an/hatted power, where responsibility is remote; these are, indeed, serious obstructions, little likely to be sub mitted to in the present mato at thew oriel without a for midable effort to prevent there." Such is an authentic history of this British pretension, and of the manner in which it has been met by our Go vernment. And now the special argument formerly di rected by us against this pretension is directed by Great Britain against the pretension of Captain Wilkes to take two rebel emissaries from a British packet Alp. If cap tain Wilkes is right In this pretension, then throughout all these international debates., extending over at least two generations., w e have been u roug. But it has been sometimes said the steam packet having on board the rebel emissaries was on this account liable to cuptute, and therefore the error of Captain Wilkes iu taking the emissaries was simply an error of form and not of substance. I do not staple consider whether an ay.ercise of sununary pow er against n Melt our Government has so constantly protested can be, under any circumstances, an error merely of fern,, for the policy of our Godernment, most positively declared In its diplomacy, and also attest ed in nun crone treaties, leaves no room to doubt that a neutral ship with belligerent passengers--not In tho mi litary or no, 01 service—is not liable to capture, and therefore the whole proceeding was wrong, not only be cause the passengers were taken from the ship, but also Limnos, the ship, IxoWdooVir guilty morally, was not guilty legally In receiving such passengers on bond. If this question were tumult on Englbh authorities it might be °Monism; but according to American principles the ship scan legally innocent. Of course, I say nothing of the moral guilt forever indelible in that ship. In the middle of the last century, the Swiss professor Yalta) declared that on the breaking out of war we cease to be under nay obligation of leas lag the enemy to the free eoso) meat of his nights; and this principle he ap plied loosely to the transit of ambassadors. (Voile!, book 4, cap. 7, sec. 81.) Sir 'William Scott, quoting this authority, at the beginning of the present century, let fell the so monis: "The belligerent may stop the ambassador of the enemy on his passago."— The Ater/aura, 6 Hallam R., p. 040. And this curt proposition, though in some respects in de truth, bus been often repeated since by writers on the law of editions. On its face ft leaves the question un settled whether the emissaries of an unrecognized Go vet 'intent can be stopped t But there is another case In which the same 'trifle', judge, who has done so amen to illustrate international law, has used language which seems to embrace not only authentic ambassadors but also pretenders to this character, and all others who aro public agents of the enemy. Says this eminent magis trate: "It appears to me, on principle, to be but reasona ble that, whenever it is of sufficient importance to the enemy that such persons should be sent Out on the pub lic service, and at the public expense, should afford equal ground of forfeiterre against the vessel that may ho let out for a purpose so intimately connected with hostile operations."—The O, orembo, 1 Robinson R., p 434. Admit that the emissaries of nn unrecognized Govern ment cannot be recognized ne ambassadors, with the lia bilities na well as immunities of this character, pot, ill the taco of theso words, it is difficult to see tom a Go vernment boxing habitually to the authority of Sir Wil liam Scott, and regarding our rebels as „ belligerents," can assert that a steam packet, conveying emissaries from these belligerents, " sent out on the public service and at the public expense." was, according to the language of Lord Russell, "pursuing a lawful and innocent voy age." At least, in this assertion, this Government sterna to turn Its hack again linen its own history ; or it sots aside the foots so openly boasted with regard to the public character of these logiiir Os. On thin question Ilritish policy may change with cir cumstances, and Itritlsli precedents may be uncertain, but the original American policy is unchangeable, and the American precedents which illustrate It are solemn treaties. The words of Valid, and filo Judgmen is of Sir Willlnen Scott, were well known to the statesmen of rho United States; and yet, In the face of thew authorities, which has e calmed so largely kilo thtidebate, tho Ame rican Government, nt an early day, deliberately adopted a contrary policy, to abide for half a century, it has steadily adhered. It was plainly declared that only sol diers or officers could lie stopped, thus positively ex cluding the idea of stopping ambassadors, or emissaries of any hind, not in the military or naval sees ice. Mr. Madison, who more than any other person shaped our natiOlilll policy on maritime rights, has stated it on this question. In his remarkable elespatth to Mr. Monroe, at London, dated January 5, 1864, he says: "The article renounces tire claim to take front the ves sels of the neutral party, on the high sells, any person is lintever not in the military service of art enemy, rill ex ception a hi, h no admit to cenne within the hire of na tures, on the subject of contraband of sear. Itheet this exception, we consider a neutral ,;lay at the high seas as a safeguard to those suilia9 under tf."—State Pa pers, I°l. 3, p 83. Then again, In tiro same despatch, Mr. Madison says! it (treat 'Britain, then, must produi o nn exception In the low of natipliP in favor of the right she contends for. In what nrltien and received authority sill oho find rt ? In what usage, except her on sr, wi 1 it he found Pt 4.3. "But nowhere u ill she find an er:cep• lion to this freedom of the seas and of neutral flags, which justifies tl P linking umli;, of any remit, not On enemy to military ..crier, found on board a neutrel p. 84. And then, again, in Ow slahricelcepittelh he says: "'Whenever a belligerent <beim against persons - ;lee hoard n neutral sessel is referred Ivan treaties, enet*.4..s in military service Mono are exceldert front 11 , 0 geifterl Immunity of pet sons in flint situation ; Opel this excel,. Ilion confirms the 111011tinity if those who arrrrt included in ii."-11.1d., p. 04. It Mae In pursuance of this principle, thus clearly di.- nounceit and repeated, that Mr. Illadison Instructed Mr, Monroe to propose in convention between the United States and Great Britain Containing the fulioning stipu lation : "No nelson whatever shall, upon the high seas, and trlthont the jurisdiction of either patty, he deluandod or taken out of any ship or vessel belonging to CitlAoll9 or Isidorets of one of the pal ties, by the public or private armed ships belonging to, or in the sort tee of, the other, tea lees such person he at the ((mein the military service of an enemy qf such other P. 82 . 31r. Mao is m pressed this stipulation most earnestly upon the British Government; but though treated cour leouSbl, ho could get no satisfaction with regard to it. Lord Harrowby, the Foreign Secretary, in ono of his cancel sattenr, "expressed a conceit, to find the United States opposed to Great Britain on certain great neutral questions in favor of the doctrines of the modern law, 1,1 belt he termed noodles." (State Papers, vol. 3, p. OW) And Lord Mulgrave, is ho succeeded this (wont visited nobleman, persevered in the same dissent. Mr. Monroe writes, under date of 18th October, 1805: "On a review of the conduct of this Government ton ands the United States, I am inclined to think that the delay rvffick bas been so studiously sought is part of tt ..ystern, and that it is intended, as circumstances favor, to subject .our commerce at present and hookfter to es en restraint in their power."—Slate Papers, val. 3, p. 107. TWO CENTS. Afterwards, Mr. Monroe was loincel by Mr. Pinkney in tbe mission to Loudon, and tbo two nnitod In presenting this .same proposition again to the British Government. ((State Papers, vol. 3, p. 137.) It was rejected, although the Ministry of Mr. Fox, who was then In power, seems to have afforded at ono time the expectation of an agree ment. While these distinguished plcdpotentlaries were press ing this principle at London, Mr. Madison was maintain, jng it at home. In nn unpublished Mr. I.7.errs, the ' British Oldster at Washington,bearingrdate 9th April, 1805, which 'extract from tile tiles of the ttate Department, he declared : The United Stares cannot accede to the claim or any nation to lake from their vessels on the high aeon any as. script - ion Of pe r sona, except soWiers in the actual sea Ice of the enemy. ' In a reply, bearing date 12111 Aprll, 1805, this principle tree poidtively repudiated by the 'British minister; so that the two Governments were ranged unequivocally on oppo. site sides. The treaties of the United States with foreign nations are in harmony with this principle, so energetically pro- Posed and upheld by Mr. Aulison. In the treaty of commerce with France, in 1778, it Is expressly provided thn•-_ " Enemies to both or either party are not to be taken ont of the raid ship, 11,11e35 they are zokliers and in actual service of the enemies."—Statutes at Large, vol. p. In the treaty with the Netherlands, In 1782, the ex ception is confined to "military men actually in the Service of an enemy," (Ibid., p. 38;) and this same ex ception will also be found in the treaty with Sweden, in 1782, (Ihid., p. 64 . 3) with Prussia, In 1785,-,(lbid , 90;) with Spain, In 1,90, p. 146;) with Prance, in 1800, (Ibid., 0. 184;) with Columbia, in 1824, (UAL, D. 812•) with Central America, in 1825, (ibid., p. 22815 with Brag), in 1828, (Ibid., p. 393;) with Mexico, in 1031, Ihid., p. 416;) with Cblli, in 1832, (Thid , p. 438;) with Venezuela, in /836, ' p. 472;) with Peru- Bolivia, to 1836, (Thid , 4900 with Ecuador, in 1839, (hid, p. 040;) with New Granada, in 1816, (Sta. tales, vox. 9, p. 808;) with Guatemala, In 1840, (Statutes, vol. 110, p. 880;) with Ball Salvador, in 1850, (Ibid., p. 894,•) and to the treaty with Peru . , in MI, (Mid, p. 936.) Such is the unbroken testimony, in the moat solemn form, to the policy of our Government. In some of the trea ties the exception is oimbiy "soldiers," In others it Is "officers or soldiers." It is true that among these trea ties them 8r pone with Greakßritaln; but it Is also trite, that this Is einrely;becauee this Power refused its assent when this principle Vas myst.nted by our Governnient as an undonbted putt of international law which it desired to confirtn by treaty. 'Clearly and beyond all question, according to Ameri can principles, and practice, the ship was not liable to capture on account of the presence of emissaries, "not soldiers oroilicers r nor, could such emissaries be legally taken from the ship. But the completeness of this an thorny Is increased by the concurring testimony of the continent of Europe, Since the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, the policy of the Continental Suites bag refused to sanction the removal of enemies from a neutral ship, un less military men In actual service. And now, since this debut elms commenced, we have the positive testlmonY of the French Government to the same principle, given with special reference to the present case. IC 'neurone!, the Minister of the Emperor for Foreign Affairs, in a re cent letter to Br. Soweid, published with the papers now before the Senate, earnestly insists that the rebel emis saries, not being military persons actually in the service of the enemy, were not subject to seizure on board a neutral ship. I leave this part of the subject with the tonark that it Is (treat Britain alone whose position on this question can be brought into doubt. But still another question occurs. Beyond all question, these mete "despatches" from the rebel belligerents on board the ship—ouch "despatches" as rebels sea write. Public report, the statement of persons on board the ship, and the boastful declaration of Jefferson Davis in a public document, that the so emissaries were proceeding under an appointment from him—which appointment would be a " despatch" of the highest character--seem to p'eeo Ibis fact beyond denial. Assuming this fact, the ship WS liable to capture and to be carried off for adjudi caticn, according to British anthorities—ruiless the positive judgment of Sir William Scott in the case of the Atalanta (6 Itoldnsou 8., p. 440,) and also the Quesn'a proclamation at the commencement of this rebellion, where "despatches" are enumerated among con traband articles, are treated as nullities, or so far modi fied in their application as to be words, and nothing more. But however binding and peremptory these au tborit es may ho to Great 13ntain, they cannot be accept ed to rep eras the standing policy of the United States, hick here again leaves no room fer doubt. In order to give precision to the rights which it claimed, and at the same time accorded on the ocean our Government has sought to explain In treaties what it meant by contra• baud. As early as 1705, in the treaty with Spain, after specifying contraband articles, without including de spatches, ft is declared that •Free goods are ail other merchandise and things which are not comprehended and particularly men tioned in the foregoing enumeration of contraband goods." —Statutes at Large, 01.8, p. 148. In other treaties, subsequent to the judgment of Sir William Scott, recognizing despatches as contraband, am!, therefore, practically discarding it, after enumera ting contraband articles, without specifying "despatches," the following provitipn is introduced: " All other merchandises and things not comprehended in the artlelee of contraband explicitly enumerated and classified pa above, shall be held and considered as free." lb tl, p. 312; Treaty with Columbia and tater treaties passim. Titus tire bare not only poeitlre words of enumeration, vithout mentioning"despatches," but also positive 'sterile of exclusion, se that dospatche, cannot be consi dered as contraband. These treatlee constitute the con- Pillar° record of our Government on this qnestion. And here let me remark that, ttldle decisions of Britiel. Ad miralty courts on all these matters aro freely cited, no decisions of our Supreme Court are cited. Of course, if any existed, they would be of the highest value; but there are none, and the reason is obvious. Those mat tere could not arise before our Supreme Court, because, under our Got eminent, they are so clearly settled by treaties and diplomacy as to be beyond question. Clearly then, and beyond all question, acvortling to American principles and practice, (be ship was not liable to capita eon account of despatches on board. And here afoul we have the concurring testimony of continental Europe, and especially of the Branch Governtneut t to the recant letter of ill. Thouvenet. o e -source this whole discussion, proceeds on the asc scunntion that the rebels aro to Le regarded aa Leiligerents,: , v. hick in the character already accorded to them by Great Britain. It they are not regarded as Issiligerents, then the proceeding of Captain Wilkes fa indubitably fllegal anal void. 'I o u political offender, however deep his guilt —though burdened with the undying execrations of all honest men, and bending beneath the conscloustieasof the ruin which he has brought upon his country—tha asylum of a foreign jurlecitction is sacred, cc 'tether on shore or on sea; and it is among the proudest boasts of England, at least In recent days, that thooliles of defeateddemocracies 113 well as of defeated dynasties, have found a sure protec tion beneath her meteor ling. And yet this power has not aluays accorded to other nage what she claimed for her Win. One of the oljections diplomatically presented by (*cat Britain, at the beginning of the present cen tury, to any renunciation of the pretension of impress ment on board American vessels, seas "that facility would be given, particularly in the British Channel, by the immunity claimed by American vessels, to the escape of traitors," (State Papers, vol. 3, p. BG,) ;hos assuming that traitura—the companions of Robert Emmett in Ire land, and of Horne Took in England—ought to be ar rested on board a neutral ship; but that the arrest could be accomplished only through the pretension of impress ment. But this flagrant instance cannot Le a precedent for the tutted States, witch has always maintained the tight of any lam as firmly as it 1133 rejected the pretension of impressment. II I out correct in this review, then the conclnsion is inevitable. The seizure of the rebel emissaries on hoard a neutral chip cannot be ynntiflexl according to our be-t American precedents and practice. There seems to be no single point where the seizure is not questionable, un less no choose to ins eke Bi lush precedents and practice, ne filch beyond doubt led Captain Wilkes into the mistake which he committed. In the solitude of his chip he con sulted familiar authorities at hand, and felt that in fol booing Vette} and Sir William Scott, as quoted and af limed Icy eminent scribers, reinforced by the inveterate practice of the British navy, lie could not err. Rs was mistaken. There was a better example; it was the con stant, uniform, unhesitating practice of his own country on the ocean, refusing to consider despatches as contra band of cc ar—refbsing to consider persons, other than soldiers or mincers, an contraband of war; and protesting alma) a against an adjudication of personal rights by the EMI Diary Judgment of a quarter-deck. liad these well attended precedents Leen in his mind, the gallant captain se mild not, ee ell for a moment, Lave Leon seduced from Lis allegiance to Hance principles which constitute a part of our country's glory. Mr. President, let the rebels go. Two ;ricked men, ungrateful to their country, are let loose with the brand of Cain upon their foreheads. Prison doors are opened; but principles are established which will help to free otter men, and to open the gates of the sea. Never before In her acthe history has Great Britain ranged her self on this side. Such an °rent is an epoch. So.'s so durum nascitur ordo. To the liberties of the sea this Poser is now committed. To a certain extent this cause is WA undtr her tutelary care. if the immunities of passengers, not in the military or natal service, as well as of sailors, are not directly recognized, they are at Matt implied ; 'while the whole pretension of impressment, so long the pest of neutral commerce, and operating only through the lawless adjudication of a quarter-deck, is made absolutely impossible. Thus is the freedom of the seas enlarged, not only by limiting the number of persons who aro r xpesed to the penalties of war, but by driving from it the most offensive pretension that ever stalked upon itswai es. To such conclusion Great Britain is Ir. revocably pledged. Nor tieoty nor bond was needed. It is sufficient that her late appeal can he vindicated only by a renunciation of early, long-continued tyranny. Let her bear Iha rebels back, The consideraron is ample; for the sea bemoan free as this penitent Poser crossed it, steering westward with the sun, on an errand of libera tion, In this surrender, if such it may be called, our Go '3 el nruent dues not even stoopto conquer." It simply lifts itself fo the height of its own original principles. The earl) efforts of i s best negotiators—the patriot trials of its soldiers in au unequal war—have at length pre vailed, and Great Britain, usually so hatiglitY'invites us to practice upon those principles wffich alto has en stlenlionsly opposed. There are victories of force. Bete is a victory of truth. If Great Britain has gained the custody of two rebels, the tailed States have secured the triumph of their principles. If tills result he in conformity with our cherished principles, it will ho superfluous to add other considera tions et policy; and yet I vouttire to suggest that es, trouped slthpathies abroad may he secured again by an open adhesion to these principles, which already have the support of the Continental Governments of Europe, smarting for years under British pretensions on the sea. The powerful organs of public opinion on the Continent ore aloe with no. II Ilitutefenille, whoso work on the LW, of Nations is the arsenal of arguments for neutrals, has mitt red into this debate with a direct proposition for the release 01 these emissaries as a testimony to the true interpretation of international law. And a journal, hich of itself is an authority, the Dente des Deno ,Vondes, hopes that thu United States mill lot the rebels gm, simply because " it would be in triumph of the rights of sienna's to apply them for the advantage of a nation mhicL has user maser]. and siolated them." fi But this (Oomph is not enough. The sea-god will in flame use his trident less; but the same principles whi,ll tel to the pm emit renunciation of early proton slims naturally conduct to yet further emancipation of the sea. The murk of maritime civilization is not finished. And hero limo too hating, venially endowed by commerce, nod matching each other, sehilo they sur pass all Other nations, in peaceful ships, may gloriously unite in setting up now pillars, which shall mink new triumphs, seueleung the ocean a highway of peace in stead of a acid of blood. The corgtess of Paris, in 1856, aliens were assembled the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain, France, Austin', Prussia-, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, has atreaoy led the may. Adopting the early policy of the United States, often proposed to foreign nations, this congress has au thenticated two impel tact changes in t estraint of bond gere»t rights: first, that the neutral flag shall protect enemy's goods except c.ottraband of war and secondly, Chet neutral goods, except contraband el war, are not liable to capture under an enemy 'a flag. This is much. Brother proposition, that privatecting should lie abolish cti, was defective in two respects ,iirst. because it left nations free to employ private ships under a public com mistion as ships of the navy, and therefore, seas nuga tory ; and secondly, because if not nugatory, it was too Obviously in the special interest of Great Britain, which, throw - It her commanding navy, mould thus be left at will to cult; the sea. No change can be practicable a hick is not royal in its ads outages to all nations; for the equality of nations is not merely a thy dogma of international law, but, a vital national sentiment common to all nations. This canno t be forgotten; and every proposition must 'so brought sincerely to this equital do test. But there is a way in which psis steering can be ef fectively abolished without any shock to the equality of nations. A simple proposition, that private property shalt enjoy the same immunity on the wean which it now enjoy a en land, ail' at once abolish privateerhig, and re lieve the commerce of the ocean from its greatest so that, like commerce on laud, it shall ho undisturbed except by illegal robbery and theft. Soot, 0 proposition Mill °pet ate equally for the , advantage of all nations. On this account, and in the pulley of peace, which our Go scrataeld has shears cultivated, it bas been already pre sented to foreign Governments by the United States. You bare not forgotten the important paper in which Dlr. Marcy did this service, Or the recent efforts of Mr. Sea aid in the same (direction. In order to com plete flu efficacy of this proposition, and still further to banish belligerent pi etensions, contraband of war should to abolished, en that all ships may freely navigate the t clan w Shout being exposed to any Question as to the 'l_ l ll,,Pl WAR PREMiI. 2'22 12.12, Faigif . will be mat to subocribetv mail (per trant*ln - Piaskr.e) at 112.00 Throe Caplets 66 COIF FITS it it it O.IHP T en II It u 12.00 Larger Chiba trill be Charged a the acme Tate, Mae : 90 copies will coat Ed ;60 coptee will 00e; i 100 conies pl2O. for a Club or Twenty-one or ever, we will 091, zztra Copy to the getter-op of the Club. INT Postmasters are requested to set Si Agents Ste Tau WAR Pussa. character of Perseus on things onboard. The right of search, which, on the occurrence of war, becomes an omnipresent tyranny, subjecting every neutral" ship br the arbitrary invasion of every belligerent-cruiser. would then disappear. It would drop, as the etyma drop from an emancipated slave; or rather it world only exist Be en "occasional 'agent, under rerun treaties, - in the war waged by civilization against the stave trade; and then it would be proudly recognized aeon honorable surrender to the best interests of humanity", glorifying the flag which made it. , • With the conswnmation of these reforms in maritime aw, not forgetting block tides under international law, war would be despoiled of its mast o cantons prerogative,, while innocent neutral, would .be exempt from Its torment.. The statutes of the ate, thus refiried and elevated, will be the agentoof peace instead of the agents of war. Ships and cargoes will pass michanenged from shore to them; and thew terrible belligerent rights, under which the comnierce of the world has so long suffered, will cease from trdribling. In this work our country began early. It had hardly proclaimed its own independence before It sought to secure a similar independence for the sea. It had hardly made a consti tution for its own government before It sought to este, blish a coretituti m similar In spirit for the government of the sea. If it did not prevail at once, it was totems* it could not overcome the unyielding Opposition of Great Britain. ,And now the time is came when this champion.. of belligerent rights "has checked his hand and changed` his pride." Welcome to this new alliance. Meanwhile, amidst all present excitements, amidst all present trials. it only remains for Iso to uphold the constant Policy of the Republic, and to stand fast on the ancient ways. mrumuM)7=g THE MONEY DIARKET. PHILADSLPIII/, January Stocks continue to advan.c . e as paper money becomes uncertaft and depreciated. To-day city loans and State bonds gained another quarter per cent. on au Willi narked ,• Pennsylvania Railroad shares advanced _X. , Beaver Sleadow Railroad shares X, Reading- Railroad stock X, North Pennsylranla stock tiatiwiseSl74ll- , road X s and; 111 fact, nearly everfshing tioldsbron4lit`an advatee upofi precious mutations: - One iiindred arid flficen shares of Little Schuylkill Ratiread stock sold at 0; Long Island brought 10%. 11Se0re. Drexel & Co. quote exchange, to-der, as fol lows: Now York exchange, par to 1-10 premium; Bed- • ton exchange, par to 1-10 premium; Baltimore ex. change, par 0 X discount; American gold, 4 to premium. The premium on gold advances so rapidly as to cord. mend much attention, and there is a great deal of speculation in private circles of conversation as to the future in this respect. Much of the increased Premium is, doubtless, to be attributed to the desire for hoarding always remarked iu time of war In every country, but the greater part of the de. mend comes front speculators, ale are anticipating higher rates in the future—groat enough to pay them a handsome profit on their Investment. To same extent' these very speculations are a discounting of the future, and it would be by no means displeasing to those who wish the Government Snanciertng to be successful, if the hopes of these gamblers were disappointed. - Both ex change and gold will recede upon the passage by Con green of goad laws for revenue from taxation and excise, and the issues of Government notes will stimulate opera tions in all dividend-paying stocks. The movement in Congress to abolish the franking privilege, and thereby to increase the income of the Post Office Department, meets with universal commendation in all business circles. The suggestion of the Hon. Henry D. Moore, State Treasurer of Pennsylvania, that the tax imposed upon the interest paid by the State on her own bonds should be repealed, is one that ought to meet with a prompt and accordant response from the Legislature. Every word of the Secretary's remarks is true, and the honor of the Commonwealth requires - that the srong complained of shall be remedied. The amount of the public debt of Ohio on the 15th of November, according to the message of Gov. Dvanison, was as follows Total issued •:6,794,367 56 .524.9,838 76 6,009,766 00 .6,211,466 45-11,901,021 22 Cancelled, Redeemed Redeemed by reissues Outstanding lior. 15, 1881 The New York Trilame says: Banks and others should know that demand notes aro now received and paid out at the Sub-Treasury withogt regard to the place of payment. It is understood thht under the new net large denominations will be issued 100s, 300 s, tc., Ac. Some of the banks are taking a very factious course in regard to treasury notes, and one which,while theY are at present the creatures of sufferance thEllather to not calculated to win friends for them. ,•.• The legallender bill will, however, arrange this question.. The fellow ing from an evening journal may be somewhat rose-colored, bet there is enough of certainty in it to show ...that, unless some sudden change in the traffic of the road Occurs, the company will earn 5 cent. on Oho Preference shares in 1341-62, and that the values of this two great through routes to the West are more nearly equal than the market quotations would indicate: The opinion that the Erie Railway will earn a dividend uron its preferred stock 14 10132 seems to be doubted. The annexed figures shim that it can be done very readily: iThe canines in the first quarter—October, November, and December—were $2,257,003 'Earnings, Jan. to Sept. 30, 1301...53,940,511 Add 15 per cent. for 154 ...... 511,975 - Total 56,775,436 Less opernting expenses as in 1861.83,620,63:. Liongsgeinteeent. ' 1,3'18,05 - Rent of reads 138,400 Remaining for floating debt and preferred stock $1,638,046 The road had last year, as now, Intl business one way oniy. The traek and e,mipments are in first-rate order, and the Long Dock in full use. So far as can now be seen, the preferred stock of the Erie Road is as secure of 7 per cent. as New York Central of 6 per cont. The New 'York Fort of this evening says The stock market remains very dull, all eyes being inroad impatiently to Congress. The adoption of an adequate tax bill, together nith the issne of legal-tender demand notes, would At once Infuse new life into Wall street, as other elements seem to favor a more hopeful view of affairs. In the meantime, no deckled activity can be expected, unless some heavy blow he struck - at the rebels, stiller by an advance in Kentucky or a success fill and ♦igoreue attack by Burnside's expedition. The speculative railroad shares were scarcely so good as yesterday, but, in the absence of any pressure to sell, prices ti ere well sustained. The advance• of last evening Was lost in some descriptions, though at the decline there is a foir demand. New York Central closes at Fame 91X, Es le 34034,1, Toledo 353,0'36, and Bock Island 62,4 ¢52%. Ono of the striking features of the market is the great firmness in railroad bonds. We refer to our list tf quo tations above, which show an -.trance of 2,3, and 5 per cent. it: some kinds within a few days. Hudson Pirsts went to 1062(, Erio Thinla to 89090, Erie Fifths to 72, Michigan Central 8 per cents. to 955. The low-priced bonds ore also wanted. Toledo and - Wabash Seconds sold at 483, Terre Mute and Alton Seconds 33, Michi gan Sc litho n Seconds at 613-1. The list of Government stocks has a much better appearance within a day or two, and this morning, there is a good demand, with few offering. For the coupon sixes of 1351, 89X is bid, for the registered 53, and for the various issues of fives the bids are Net per cent. higher. Monet Is dail) growing easier, and borrowers now feud no difficulty is supplying themselves at 6 cent., and we hear of some transactions at 5a5,14 oa prime securi ties and large mat gins. Nothing will be done by the banks in their relations with the Government till the return.of the itelegationa from Boston and New York, who are now in Washington seeking a new understanding with the Secretary of,tho Treasury. The nature of this understanding, however,' will depend greatly upon what Congress does with the financial plans before it. The total amorint of interest on the public debt payable at the New York Snb•Tressury is 83.500,000. This in cludes the interest on treasury woks as well as on the registered and coupon bonds. About $2,300,500 of at lea alread) been called for and paid. We are authorized to state that coin is now only paid by the Assistant Treasurer for the interest on the pablio debt. Up to within a day or two checks for redemption of principal were mot in coin. Foreign exchange is quiet to-day, as la usual immedi ately subsequent to the closing of the tunil. It is rather earl) yet for business to take shape for the Saturday steamer, though some speculation is going on among the bankers in commercial bills. The nominal rate for first class bills on - London is 114,; calls, on Paris 490. Philadelphia Stock Exchange Sales, 9, 1832. January BerOaSED or S. E. SLarms. FIRST 10 Penna. B 37% 22 do .... 37% 3 d0............37% 8 d0............373( 21 do 877 g 7 d0............373k 2 do. 37%1 37 d0............37 , % 4 d 0............ 373 i IS Caton itsa B Prf 6 d 0...... ...... 690 City (Is new cash 88% 1%0 do...new gas. 83%, 200 do...new gas. 83' BETWEEN 100 Long Isl`tl P. 10%1 10 Com tt And , B. ~.123 ERCOND 13 Norristu,tu ;LLD 4214 300 cit.) Os new... 1,5 00 500 do.. new 00 700 do.. new Idys 32 110 do.. new 24. 90 100 Sch Nay Prcfd.. , 12 5000 Beading Os '48.. 91 2000 do .... ...'58.. 74 1000 do ..'BO.. 74 1000 do .......'86.. 34 10 Delan are Dir.... 39 100 Read It C PlB 1.10 100 do C4P 410. 18/' ' AFTER 2 Lehigh Serip....s rgi du .....s5 37%, 3 do ..... . 37(4 Ci . ,oBll , za f , Ask.l V S 6s 1881.... IS Philo 6s . ...... . 83% 54 Philo 6s 11 833' 84 Plata 6s new... 90 90% Penna 5s 78% 80 Reading R.... 18 1-16 IS Beading Nig '7O 83 86 R'dg DI 60'80'43 91 94 Bead DI Os v 4.. 74 74% Mina R 37M 37% Penna R 2d m Os 85 sa, Philadelphia Exchange. OABD 15 Bearer Meadow. 60 1000 Gr'nkCon's is 05 ES 100, do •5 88 2000 N Penult 6s 60 1000 S Nac 63 '8.... 61 2 Morris Canal.... 28,1 t 2 Norristown 8... 413 i 4 do 42) 2000 Delaware R nog. 00 . 50 Little Schoyl R.. 9 25 do .... b 5 9 ' 8000 ra My bds 90 9000 do 90 100 Recall. C& P... 13 'BOARDS. 300 City Es new...... 898 e: 9000 DeIMY Div MS... 90 BOARD. 100 Read 11 C & P 18 1.16 10 Peoria R...... 85 SIN 2 do b 5 37% 50 do 37% 14 d0............37% 5 do .... 3T3 - 5 d0............ 37% 18 d0............17 50 d0...........37,4 2.5 Little Sell R.. 85 9 820 t 7 Derma liScrip 00 180 do 60 40 Lehigh Scrip.... 37 CARDS. 8 Harrisburg 51 5 Road C P /3 lOES-FIRM. Bid. Alt Elmira R. 4)4 6 gliunre B Prof. 9X 19 Elmira 79'73... 63 65 Long Island I. 10X 10X ' Lela CI Nay.. 5 52 Leh CI & N 3crg BT 87,4 N Penne 531 0 N Ponna B 63.. 60 N Fenno, lOs CithwiE93,l3, Can Catawissa Pref.. Frkfd 3 South .13 24 ROI ats it. 3. 40 W Phtla B .... 60 Norris CI Con.. 30 37 Morris CI Pref.lo9 Sch Nav 6e'82.. 61 62 Soh Nay Imp Co 72 74 Bob Nav Stock. 4 5 Sch Nav 12!‘ 1$ Spence & Pine areeZt , :i Goatee 16x, IgI!IMM3 Philadelphia Markets. Tho Flour market is steady but quiet to-day, with far ther tales of about 3,000 bbls, mostly good extra and ex tra faintly at $5.9234 afi 75 for the former, and $5.873¢ for the latter. The demand for superfine is limited, most ly confined to the wants of the home trade, at $5.2505.50, extras $5.62.1.4 425.31, exh a fancily ss.B7ct 6.25, and fancy l o t s at $05006.75 bbl, as to quality. Ryo Flour is unc hanged, and 350 bbls sold at $3.75 41 0 bbl, at which rate it is freely oared. Corn Meal is quiet, and Pennsyl vania is held at $3 4' bid. ll'itgAr comes lu slowly, and meets with a fair demand nt fully former prices ; about 7,000 bus have been taken at 133013fic, the latter for choice Pennsylvania red, in store, and 1450150 e for white. Bye is steady, with small sales at Vic for Pennsylvania. Corn is scarce and firm, and about 3,500 bus sold at 58059 c, mostly at the latter, for dry new Southern yellow in store. Oats continue dull; a few small sales of Pennsylvania are reported at 39c. BARK is scarce, and a small sale of first No.l was made at $3l .1 ,0 ton, N , /deb is an advance. COTTON.—There is no change In prices, and the market is firm but quiet- Gnomons dell raorimoxs. —There la very little mom went in either, and the market for the latter Is dull. Sszice.—There is rather more Cloverseed offering, and nt out 300 bus sold at $104.50; the latter for prince. Wiirsia.—The market Is excited and on the advance. Holders ask 25c for bbl, and 23X iitalc 4fr gaiter drudge,. 814,897,273 34 75 80 X .. 38 J D—Evening.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers