rtss4i + FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1862. 'EXTRACT FROM THE LAST SPEECH OF RYSPHEN A, HOUGLAS.—ti The conspiracy -4a break up the Union io a fact now known to osli. - Armies. are befall raised, and mar levied da accomplish it. ,There can be but two sides de the controversy. Every man must be en the - side of the United States or against it. There r-can be - no neutrals la this war, There can be •ote but patriots and traiterc,t, ' THE LATEST WAS. NEWS , The only information yet received from , the iturnaide expedition has reached us through rebel •, sources. It is reported that a large number, of the vessels comprising it are inside of Pamlico Sound, - and that-attacks upon Newbern, N. C., and Roe; aoke Island, are expected; The object of the capture of Newbern is supposed to be to establish a basis of operations against the railroad communioa- . 'lions of Virginia with the Southeastern States ; and the object of a movement against Roanoke Island is said to be to threaten Norfolk and to flank the rebel army stationed there. - It General Burnside tan succeed in gaining pos session of these roads, - and our armies in Kentucky are enabled to destroy the railroad communications • of Virginia with the Southwist, via Tennessee, the rebel atmy on the Potomac will bo in a terrible dilemma. It will either be compelled to disband, to retreat, or to attack, at a disadvantage, the Union forces under General McClellan. The objects of the new expedition of General Grant in advancing from Cairo aro said to have been fully accomplished. It prevented tho robots from sending reinforcements to Bowling Green, and gained valuable information in'regard to the geo . graphy of the country in the vicinity of Columbus, and the condition of the roads and !streams. - The sews of the surrender of Mason and Slidell caused great joy in England. Console immediately advanced from Ito 11 per cent. The intelligence foniardel by the last steamer, that the pirate Sumpter had arrived at Cadiz, has been confirmed. She landed:at that port forty-two prisoners who were taken from the American vessels Vigilant, Ebert Dodge, and Arcadia. Fifteen hundred and twenty-five more bales of ginned cotton arrived at New York yesterday from Port Royal. : It must be peculiarly gratifying to the rebels of South Carolina to see.suppliea of their boasted product furnished to the North and their power to send it to foreign countries destroyed. The United States Senate_ yesterday confirmed the appointment of Brigadier Generals Sohcepff and Ord—a deserved compliment to two of the most succeisful and meritorious officers of the service. The former repulsed the rebels in their late attack upon Somerset, Ry., and the latter commanded the gallant Pennsylvania Brigade which won the battle of Drat:marine. At that battle Gen. Ord sighted the gun • which did such fearful execution in the ranks of the rebels, and so disposed his command, that, although the enemy occupied a most advan tageous position, a glorious Union viotory wos achieved upon a field where Gen. Stuart, with his picked troops, supposed he was certain to seem a second Big Bethel or Vienna Secession triumph. The French residents of New Orleans, in siecisi ing to leave that city, were influenced by the assu rance of the French minister at Washington, Monsieur Bicolor, that France would not break our blockade to obtain cotton. The New York Express, in commenting upon . the lotion of the existing, authorities at Vera Cruz in relation to a rebel eohooner which recently ran our blockade on the coast of Texas with a cargo of cotton, says: "There have been rumors all along that the objects of the coalition against Mexico was to open up trade with the rebel States, through the Mexican port of Matamoros. It was a good place through which cotton might bo smuggled. Unless we. keep a powerful naval force at the mouth of the Rio Grande, nothing' can prevent the carrying on of a brick trade between the rebels and their foreign relations,' which. will enable Jeff Davis 'to replenish his exchequer at home, and enable him to 'resent another argument in London and .Paris, to show the inefficiency of the blockade.' " A late letter from Havana Says: " We came very near having a second edition of The Mason and Slidell affair on the occasion of the last departure of the Karnti. 45n:ow-ilea yea: - anti _had on board several Southerners, among others the captain of the Ella Worley, formerly the /sateit then at 'Nassau, and the former captain of the Webster, who succeeded in getting out of Ha vana-some months ago, under peculiar circum stances. It was decided to seize those persons, and arrangements were made accordingly to board the _Karnak at sea; but the arrival of the City of Bal timore, with news of the intense excitement in Xi:gland, spoiled the game, which was abandoned ratifier then add more fuel to the fire." The Washington correspondent of the New York _Exprest , in a letter dated January 22, says: "Your readers may set their minds at rest about any advance movement of the army of the Poto mac. Officers and their regiments and divisions may receive orders to be in readiness to 'move at a !Moment's notice. General twenty-four baggage wagons, including arrangements for eating and sleeping, with well:Matched bright bays, may be in good running trim, but an advance movement of the army of the Potomac at present, and for ntnety days to come, is out of the question. The winter of this region has just commenced, and the roads are frightful. A piece of bard ground upon which to mancouvre an army of 25,000 men can scarcely be found between this and Richmond. This state of affairs, It is feared, may prevail at the West, where the grand army has so auspicious ly commenced active operations." The Richmond Examiner attaoks a faction in Virginia, which it accuses of a design to secure the election of _Hon. R. M. T. Hunter as President of the Southern Confeßeraey. A Louisville letter in the Toledo Blade, written under date of January 16, gives those particulars of Gen. Buell's movements: "The bridge across Green river being finished, the he:eased energy and busy aspect of every department, together with movements that are feat developing themselves, indicate a forward move ment very aeon. You need not be surprised any day to bear that Gen, Buell has taken the field in person; whelk he does, if he and Gen. Hallook aot in concert, the rebels will have a 'mortality list' along their whole' line, from the Mississippi east ward. The next month promises warm work In this State. "A few nights since there were indications of an attack by the rebels upon our advance at Green River— Everything was in readiness for them. General Buell went down on an extra train, and regiments were moved up to the front lively. It proved a false alarm, bat it showed the readiness cad eagerness of our forces for a fight. An interesting letter from a correspondent on the flog-ship Ntagaia, which forms part of the Gulf Squadron, states that the late bombardment of Pensacola resulted in rendering the navy yard use less to the rebels; in destroying Warrington; and in dismantling Port Mcßae, He also asserts, on the authority of the captain of a prize schooner, and of Wed , contrabands, who escaped to the Nia gara, that negroes, free and slave, are being armed in the Cotton States to resist the Union forces.' A correspondent of the Cincinnati Times, in de scribing the late battle at Somerset, says the rebe forces numbered 8,000 and the Union troops only about 3,000 men. This disparity of force is pro highly one of the main reasons for the attack which resulted so disastrously for the enemy. - The election in the Bucktail Regiment for a co fetid, to take the place of lion. Chas. J. Biddle, has resulted in the choice of Capt. McNeil. The Trent Altair By the steamship City of New York, which left Queenstown on the 9th inst., we learn that news of the surrender of MASON and SLIDELL reached London on the preceding day, and so immediately re-established confidence, that Consols at once advanced from one to one and a quarter per cent. In England, therefore, 44 the long agony is over." The joint props rationalor the; worst, made by Lords PALHEP.- ETON and &mu.; on their own responsibility, without consulting the pleasure of Parliament, have been thrown away.' It is estimated that as much expense as $5,000,000 was thus most needlessly incurred—by no means a desirable outlay, at a moment when the Financial mi nister will have to iinnonnse to Parliament a deficit of nearly $20,000,000 on the year's ro wan,. In all probability, there, will be a •chatige of Ministry in England before the end of, March—if not earlier. .The adjustment of - the Dila difficulty will clear the 'way for the Allhplaceittent of PALMERSTON and RUSSELL. "ffi. „ emitir:Eicalue Btitromir.—The 103 d , waiver. mitt relebrited by t supper at the St: Lords Notel, - Chestout - street, on Saturday, evening, and ffilit - ifftillmenieht le that it Audi olcse,..nt 11. 'Po initibillatis, 'the price has Ibsen pit At $1.25. Diold Wiliityre, Esq., ill! officiate as President, mitlitaceri-Williairi J. Yountand William Pitidlay *PIO tie, iriee Proddate. A *ay pleasant and tiostadWiiiaid mom asitelpiA4A. , , . WE REGRET our inability to print the elabo rate speech of Mr. BINOUAM, of Ohio, deli vered in the House last week. From many of Mr. MixonAst's views we are inclined to dis sent—simply because he does not present them in a sufficiently practical manner. Our pre sent system of politics abounds in theories, and we accordingly have a vast amount of ex cellent logic and brilliant rhetoric, very pleas ant to read for its ingenuity, if for nothing else. The trouble is, however, that they do not go beyond logic and rhetoric. In one of Mr. THACKERAY'S characteristic chapters, he makes an c,xhaustive argument to prove that no profession in the world requires more abi lity, education, and knowledge of the world than • that 'of an auctioneer, while WEIATE LEY'S argument against the existence of NAPOLEON i 8 complete in all of its logical parts. We are often reminded of the plea santry of the satirist, and the skill of the lo- gician, when reading some of our Congres sional essays upon this war ; and without wish ing to apply the parallel to Mr. Bixtment, there are some parts of his speech equally as plausi ble, and,yet equally as impracticable. When the Representative says rc pass your laws libe- rating the 4,000,000 slaves held by the rebels, and thereby break every unjust yoke in that rebel region, and let the oppressed go free," he forgets that for all practical purposes we might as well pass a law annulling the right of property in England, or arrange an internal tariff for France. We have to obtain posses sion of that rebel region before we can legis late for it. The President issued a proclamation commanding certain unlawful combinations of armed men in the Southern States to lay down their arms and return to their homes, and yet the unlawful combinations still exist. Con gress passed a law apportioning a quota of di rect taxes among the same States, and yet their first dollar .remains to be paid. Mr. BINGIIAM shadows forth a result, and in very eloquent terms, but does not show us the first step towards accomplishing it. He says "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof," and yet he says nothing about BEAVREGARD 3 and hrINSTOM, and PIME, who all seem to be in the way, and, for all practical purposes, his suggestions end in beautiful sentences and rounded pe riods. It was with no desire of writing this criti cism that we took upThe speech of the Repre resentative from Ohio. It is so full of good things that we regret he should have passed to the consideration of a question so per plexed and premature. The main body of the speech is devoted to an argument upon the law of necessity in connection with govern ment, and the propriety of taxation for the prosecution of the war. If any doubt existed as to the powers and duties of Congress in re lation to taxation, it must be removed by the perusal of Mr. BINGIIAM 3 EI argument. The constitutional precedents are quoted and the commentaries of the leading jurists are cited in illustration of the spirit of our con stitutional enactments, while the whole posi tion he bases upon this high ground : «11 hat ever legislation, then, is necessary for tho common defence, and to suppress insurrection and to secure the faithful execution of the laws, and is not inconsistent with the humane spirit and declared object of the Constitution, it is the right and duty of Congress to enact that the Government may live, and that the su premacy of the Constitution may be main tained in accordance with the law of the land." He advances the sound doctrine that the re bellion be made to pay for itself. We should like this doctrine embodied in some simple law of Congress. We want a confiscation law that will reach the $800,000,000 of corn, cot ton, rice, sugar, and tobacco, in the hands of the reliels, that will authorize us to convert to the public use all the real and personal pro perty of the enemy; a law that will open up the fertile lands of the rebels to the occupation and Cultivation of loyal men. And for all these suggestions we thank Mr. BINGHAM, and trust they will be heeded. This work must be accomplished as our armies advance. The hardships and cruslty surrounding a universal confiscation law must be avoided by curbing the power of military commanders with just and prudent legislation. These rebels have brought upon us war and disaster, - and an' enormous debt, and we must convert their means of life and prosperity into a recompense for our expended* rcumtrw. - countries along the Potomac, in many parts of Virginia, in Kentucky, Missouri, and South ,Carolina—territory, which in peaceful times was unprofitable and neglected, and has since undergone the devastation of war— should be resettled and recultivated, and inducements for its settlement and culti vation should be made by Congress. Turn the army of the Potomac into farmers and residents after the war is over; give them the broad valley beneath the Blue Ridge, and the banks of the Rappahannock and the country towards Harper's Ferry; enable them to bring their families there, and Eastern Virginia, in ten years, would be as 'free, as great, and as prosperous as Pennsylvania and Ohio. Wash ington would be a metropolis in fact, as it is in name, and the Potomac something more than a pleasant stream for excursion parties, or a way for the oyster trade of the Chesapeake. The army of conquest must be an army of oc cupation; the swords must be ploughshares, and the spears pruning-hooks. Place the conquered country in the hands of these Northerners, protect the suffering Union men, compel the traitors to pay the penalty of their treason and return to their allegiance, and the other questions arising out of the rebellion will be speedily settled. Leave slavery to its destiny, and. emancipation to time. .Emancipation now means separation in the future. Accept the argument of those who insist upon unconditional emancipation being made a part of our military policy, and the logical consequences of their argument will be a plea for separation ; for a dissolution of the Union ; a recognition of the Southern Confederacy. By emancipation we mean a general edict proclaiming the slaves of the whole Southern people to be free. We must either do this or nothing. Mr. BINGHAM phrases it "a legislative act, forfeiting all property and liberating all slaves of these rebels, their alders and abettors ;" but how are we to distinguish between the loyal men and the disloyal men in the Seceded States? No ono wilideny that in all of the Southern States there is a large Union minority; in many parts a Union majority. An edict of emanci pation would injure them as well as their dis loyal neighbors. It would fall upon the Border States, where our armies are ;• upon Eastern Tennessee, where our friends are longing far BUELL; upon Kentucky, Mary /and, Virginia, and Missouri—it would not affect the interior Southern countries. Under existing circumstances, the passage of such a law would injure our friends and do compara tively no harm to our enemies. Mr. BING HAM'S own suggestion shows how theoretical his remedy is. In ten days, the "joyful news of emancipation," he says, tc will reach every slave in the republic, by means of that human telegraph whose living network overlies every slave plantation, and is woven of the lacerated heart-strings of the victims of this infernal atrocity." It would be difficult to construct a prettier sentence than this, but Mr. BlNG rum does not surely intend that his laws shall obtain publicity and force by means of such an,iancertain and fanciful agency as a "human telegraph." Indeed, the whole theory of emancipation, as it presents itself now, is uncertain and fanciful. It is not so much the idea we oppose as the impossibility of giving that idea sub stance-the impossibility of doing anything but injury to our friends in the Border States. Slavery is the cause of the rebellion 7 Granted. If we would crush the rebellion wo must abolish slavery 7 Very good. But how is it to be done 7 Take the plan suggested by General namely'. in his modified proclama tion, make it legal by a vote of Congress, and we shall be satisfied. General FREMONT emancipated the slaies of rebels when he ob tained possession of them, and we would be willing to emancipate the slaves of every rebel in the land if 'they were within our jurisdic tion. Take any other fair and. impartial plan "not inconsistent with the humane spirit " (we are requoting Mr. BINGRAMO " and declared object of the Constitution," and. we shall sup 'port it, We want to see this Union restored; if the abolition of slavery is necessary to its restoration, we aro for the abolition of slavery. Wo are laboring in the same cause with Mr. Bri:num. He professes to see our triumph In the passage of an emancipation act ; we can only see in such an act injury to our friends in the Border States, the alienation from our standard of a vast number of Union mon, and, as we have said before, the ultimate separation of this Union into two Confederacies. We know that the Representa'ive from Ohio is anxious to avoid any such results; but he will permit us to say that, in our opinion, the prac• Real effect of his doctrines would be to hasten them. We cannot pass from Mr. BINGUAM without thanking him for the pleasure we have re ceived in reading his speech. He is a candid and courageous man—and in dealing with the financial duty of Congress, he exhibits a won derful clearness and sagacity. For the thoughts we have written we are also indebted to the speech of the Representative. We think he will see, however, that in the prosecution of the war, we must leave many of the imprac ticable theories and opinions crowding upon us; that an issue like this of emancipation can only distract the Northern people, and bring division into our counsels. Lot us push on the war—let us conquer victory. Slavery and Treason will meet their destiny in their own good time. Taxation and Revenue Were oven such a small stamp-duty as one cent levied upon each copy of a newspaper, it would greatly augment the price, and thereby diminish the sale. For example, THE PRESS_ is a two-cent paper, supplied at $6 a year. There are 312 publication days in the twelve month. Here, then, would be an addition of $3.12 to the price of the paper—raising the $6 to $9.12. The public would fret and com plain under such a pocket-picking impost as this. Not so, however, thinks one of the New York papers, which goes to the length of saying . cf The press will make no outcry, because the impost will not affect their circu lation in the least, every man who reads in America being perfectly willing to pay one cent more for a daily gratification that has proven more necessary to him than many petty, and not always harmless indulgences, on .which the poorest man lavishes dozens." To increase the price of a newspaper from two cents to three would very materially af fect its circulation. Again, if a tax were. levied upon advertisements, the public would have to pay it, for it would be added on to the price of advertising. The absurdity of our imposing taxes on Hnowledge upon the press, after England was compelled to relinquish them, need not be pointed out. An uniform stamp-duty on all receipts and bank-checks would be productive. In Eng land, a stamp-receipt must be given for all sums over forty shillings ($B,) and this stamp costs two cents. It is the same for checks, drafts, or orders on demand. Agreements, letters or power of attorney, bills of exchange or promissory notes, protests, bonds and mortgages, bills of lading, apprentices' inden tures, legacies, male servants, dogs, horses for private use, carriages (except omnibuses and cabs,) and quack medicines, aro all taxed in England, and might be made productive here, now that public purposes require a large public revenue. Would it not be well to try these, or some of them, before imposing Taxes on Knowledge? Mexico The combined European force—Spanish, French, and English—is in occupation of Vera Cruz, but are singularly situated. They re ceive scarcely any food or forage from the inte rior, and are particularly in want of vegeta bles. The Mexicans, for once perceiving the advantages of union, have allowed their politi cal quarrels to subside, and are heartily acting together for their country. They actually are besieging Vora Cruz, landward, and their at tack on it is anticipated by the allied invaders. This condition of affairs is considered as unsa tisfactory as unexpected. Portrait of Colonel Cameron. . . Wo were yesterday shown at the studio of Mr. A. B. Rookey, a spirited and life-like portrait in oil, of the late Colonel Cameron, who fell while gallantly loading his Highland Regiment (the New York Seventy-ninth), at the battle of Bull Run, July 21,1861. The Colonel is mounted on a bright bay steed, sinewy, _fleet, and spirited; the latter having been drawn by Mr. Recite} , from life. It appears that Colonel Cameron, on the eve of making his fatal dash, dismounted, leaving his horse in charge of a groom, by whom the animal was subse quently brought to Washington, and afterwards taken to Lewisburg, this State, where he is now, in possession of Mr. Wm. Cameron, to whose order, we may state, the picture here referred to has i l e . / . 2 2.Sslt i LaPo e u P tti l itirtietfa u nla i r t ikreariit waving his sword and giving the word ' , forward" to his men, prior to dismounting and loading them into the thickest of the fight. The tall and grace ful figure of the dead hero is presented in the picture with admirable Wed. Tho likeness, by those who were intimate with the original, is said to be stliking. The picture will no doubt be viewed with pleasure, not only by the family and personal friends of Colonel Cameron, but by the public in general. We understand that it will be at Messrs. Earle & Son's, Chestnut street, in a few days, where our citizens will have an opportunity of examining it for themselves. Mr. Cleveland's Readings This evening, at the Assembly Building, Tenth and Chestnut streets, Mr. Samuel M. Cleveland will continue hisreadingsof, and analytical lectures upon, Shakspeare's plays, "Romeo and Juliet" being the theme for the evening. As we have already remarked, these readings aro designed to develop rather than to gratify a public taste already popularly formed. Mr. Cleveland brings to the performance of his difficult task a high order of talent, a degred of culture attained by compara tively few, and has evidently entered his ohesen field eon amore. The entertainments hitherto given by him, although not very largely, have been fairly attended, and these who have heard him once, have, in the main, been sufficiently pleased to go again. It is not to be disguised, of course, that a refined intellectual taste is requisite for their full appreciation. However persons may differ in opinion as to the lectures of Mr. C., his merits as a fine dramatic reader cannot be questioned. If he will take our advice, therefore, by reading more and commenting less, his efforts will be much more likely to meet the success they deserve. Ms theme for this evening will afford an admirable field for a popular hit, and we have no doubt ho will have a large audience. Public Amusements AUCH.STREET THEATRE.— " Handy Andy," which is good fer a fortnight's further representa tion, has been withdrawn for the present, and to night Mr. Drew appears, with the full stook com pany, in the famous Irish drama of " St. Patrick's Eve." Ile will likewise represent Larry °Woolf gan in "More Blunders than Ono." "St. Patrick's Eve " will be remembered as one of the best pieces of the late gifted Tyrone Power, who wrote the drama, and enacted Major O'Dogherty, a part which Mr. Drew is said to play with equal felicity and faithfulness. Weratur.srnnEr THEATRE. Mr. and Mrs. Williams appear tonight in three pieces, the first of which in point of time is the "Lakes . of Kil larney." Mrs. Williams is deservedly popular in this drama. She combines fine personal attraction and great suppleness of carriage in a spirited Irish dance. Mrs. Williams has ono of the finest ward robes in this country, and dresses with much taste— an unusual thing, now•a•days, in stage matters. Mr. Williams—indefatigable as ever—plays three parts. THE CONTINENTAL THEATRE is about to do well with.a version of "Uncle 'Tom's Cabin," ono of the most successful novels and plays that we have had in America. The oast appears to be creditable, and we are promised novel scenery and stage ef fects. Tan OLD FOLKS give their concert to-night is Musical Fund Hall. DOWNING'S STATISTICAL POCKET COMPANION.— A pocket-book thus named has just been published. in this city, containing home and foreign statistics, latest American and British tariffs, census returns, chronology, &o,—quito a inultutn in parvo, care fully put together. We suggest, for future editions, a few blank pages at the end for memoranda. lloneas BINNEY.—Tho pamphlet on the right to Impend the Habeas Corpus under circumstances of rebellion, originally printed for private circulation, is now on sale, by permission of Mr. Binney, its pa triotic, author, by C. Sherman k Son, southwest corner Seventh and Cherry. 11.7 i, An artiolo on the subject of " Iron Plates for War Vessels " will be found on the outside of to.day's paper, to which wo invite attention. THE extreme high price of salt makes the present a favorable time for engaging in the ma nufacture of this article and the improvement of the numerous saline springs which aro known to exist in Western Kansas and Nebraska. We loam that a gentleman residing in Jefferson county re cently made a trip to Salt creek, in Nebraska Ter ritory, about 150 miles from hero, whore M eight days, he manufactured eight barrels of pure salt, worth from seventy five to ono hundred dollars. If a single individual, without any of the usual appli ances for the manufacture, could do this, how much better might a company do, properly organized and equipped for the business ? Salt Is now selling hero at six cents per pound, and will probably not be much, if any, lower during the continuance of the war. At that high price, an interest in a good salt spring becomes at once a handsome investment, if not a fortune. Besides those on Salt creek, there are five springs along the Saline Fork of Kansas ri ver, not more than ono hundred and fifty miles from this place.—Nebraska City News, Tart. 11. MOMAS A. Haunts, one of the members elected by the bogus Legislature of Missouri to the rebel Congress, which is to meet on the 18th of February at Richmond, has boon taken prisoner. • • II a a 4 `il; II 4 4 4 is LETTER FROM " OCCASIONAL." WASHINGTON, January 23, 18G2. The question of slavery, like Banque's ghost, will not down. It hangs like a black shadow over every path which leads into our . - futine. Even the most conservative men are beginning to admit that it must be discussed, and, in one way or another, disposed of. Into this war it has entered, and the issues arising out of this war are either identified with it in .13 ELECTION IN THE BIICKTAIL RIFLES. theory, or modified by it in practice. As slavery was the undoubted cause of the rebellion, and Northern feeling against it as a dominant,Capt. McNeill Chosen Colonel. social, and political system the pretext for secession, so in the management of the war , ENERALS ORD AND SVHOEPFF CON. North and South, in Shaping the policy to FIRMED AS BRIGADIER GENERALS. govern our military operations, in legislation . and discussion, we find slavery an agitating. special Despatches to "The tram" imperative, and unavoidable subject. In the hour of their distress, the Southern peep!: WASTIINGTON, January 23, 1332. are beginning to use slavery against the re public. It is known beyond all doubt, the The Black Hole of Calcutta. Dr. J. H. SELTZER, surgeon of the Eighty the Southern mon are now arming their slaves e i g hth Pennsylvania Regiment, gives a most do- We have intelligence from every part of thislorable account of the doings in the slave pon at South confirming this statement. The nogroeAlexandria, which is now used as a guard house are either persuaded, frightened, or whlppocfor our soldiers. The walls of the a pen" are high, into regiments. At a recent review in Not and there is no roof to shelter the unfortunate , Orleans', there were two thousand negtsol o nd " fi e lthl is " a a nc iii le deep, it fm an t d h e th w e e r a e th a e r r e . slaves in line, and all through Virginia t T of h te e n m botween two and three hundred soldiers con slaves are being mustered into the service al drilled into soldiers. The rebels are afraid diersudwha fined in the place at the same time. their' During the bad weather they must necessarily bondsmen, but, so desperate is their c: contract colds, which load. to worse diseases, per dition, that their very fear is an instrumen' Genital), during the bad weather which has pro rebellion. oo They were not united. in 0 Tailed for some days past. In addition to this, the • body," says the intelligent oorrespondt prisoners are often without food for twenty-four from Florida, who tells of the armed slaven hours or more at a time. The most of the soldiers New Oilcans, "but were distributed in ca- who are confined in this hole are arrested for panics among the different regiments, to 0- drunkenness, which makes them quarrelsome. They vent mutiny and revolt." engage in fights between themselves, which often end in serious results A few days ago one of the We cannot ignore facts that force flu- men had his thigh broken, and another his back selves upon our attention, and it woukhe broken, in ono of the disgraceful fights which al madness, for the sake of respecting the s si- most daily occur in :his slave pen. bilities of the traitors, to deny that neceity Some of the drunlen men who aro put into this may compel us to adopt the very course agnet place, when they cone to their senses, almost bog which old theories and prejudices have eon to be shot if they sonnet be released. There aro arrayed. How easy for the southern derVis plenty of houses evacuated and belonging to &cas te say to their chattels: to Assist us to dettt Slonists, which t ivct i l c e h a s eoull ot b o ou e s d ed fr as om he g t uard-hoiises, and the Yankees, and we will make you free. Go theweather. e mena a miserable hole, not fa for inclemency of us your services, and we will give you Cr lands. The commanders of the Federal fair the slaves to bo staled in before the rebellion broke out, and is certahly now not a fit place for the refuse to receive you in their camps, and:- meanest soldier is the army to be confined in. turn' you to your masters to be scourgedar General 141eCLELLAN should send ono of his staff to your desertion." Startling as this policy my Alexandria to haglike into the matter. seem, it is undoubtedly seriously entertaird in the seceded States. Mr. Conway, a naive of Virginia himself, in his recent lecture at he Smithsonian, very forcibly put this point wino he said that the Southern people could mast mit and arm a million of slaves, and yet tot interfere with slavery. In the future tiny would but strengthen that institution, for the women and their posterity would be bondsnen still. I mention these circumstances for the double purpose of laying them before our statesmen and of disabusing the Northern mind. A mass of ignorant prejudice has been allowed to accumulate in the free States on this subject. It has been stimulated by politi cians and by newspapers until, at last, the bare idea of denouncing slavery became a capital offence. But we are being educated by events. That portion of the North which has regarded slavery with favor, and tolerated It as essential to Southern prosperity and to universal commerce, is undoubtedly under going the process of a rapid change. Do not understand me as advocating emancipation. That remedy is so surrounded with complica tions, that no satisfactory defence of it has yet been furnished. But in a state of war we must avail ourselves of every means against the common enemy, and especially against such an enemy as Secession. The purposo of this war, says Secretary Stanton in his splendid order of yesterday, { is to attack, pursue and destroy a rebellious enemy, and to deliver the country from the danger menaced by traitors." These arc brave words, and corning from a Democrat, they should sink into every Democratic heart. This order should be felt and acted upon by every mili tary leader. In many cases it may be his duty to protect the loyal slaveholder in his person and his property : In others it may be impolitic to make war upon the slaves even of the traitors. But, wherever these slaves can be used for military purposes, to protect file whites from surprise and massacre, to con struct fortifications, to bring in or take out Informally), imaroa,tek - l i afty,Wne i pmf i l,fq such agencies. I do not know a loyal South erner in Congress who does not say, if the choiee is presented between the overthrow of the Republic and the destruction of slavery, slavery should go to the wall. In my opinion, one of these two alternatives will soon be pressed upon us, and it behooves the teachers of public opinion to prepare the people for that hour. OCCASIONAL. General Thomas—The Victory in Ken tucky. General Thomas, who contributed so much to the great victory in Kentucky, when the rebels under the late Zollicoffer suffered so much, is an officer highly esteemed, and with military antecedents of the first character. Ile served, in the early part of the war, under General Robert Patterson, who greatly es teemed him, as an officer and a gentleman, and took the opportunity, on one remarkable occasion, to do him full justice. In General Patterson's report of one of the most brilliant achievements of the early part of the war, lie acknowledged the assistance received, in that conflict, from General (then Colonel) Thomas. Strangely enough, this report has never yet been published. We have pleasure in now placing it before our readers : lIEADQUARTERS, DEPT. OP PENNA., MARTINSBURG, VA., July 6, 1861. Sin ; I telegraphed my intention to cross tho Potomac on the let instant. I now have the honor to report my movements since that date. I left Hagerstown on the afternoon of the 20th ultimo, the earliest date my command could take the field in a proper condition for active service, intending the following morning to enter Virginia with two columns (at Dam No. 4, and at Williamsport,) to be united the same day at Hainesville, the location of the rebels. Owing to the danger and difficulty at tending the fording at Dam No. 4, I placed all the force at Williamsport. My order of march for the 2d instant is given in the accompanying circular. The advance crossed the Potomac , at 4A. M., all taking the main road to Martinsburg, with the ex ception of Negley's brigade, which, about one mile from the ford, diverged to the right to meet tho enemy, should he come from Hodgenville, to guard Our right, and to rejoin at Hainesville. About five miles from the ford, the skirmishers in front and on the flank, suddenly became engaged with the enemy posted in a clump of trees; at the same time their main force appeared in front, sheltered by fences, timber, and houses. Abercrombie immediately de ployed his regiments (the First Wisconsin and Ele venth- Pennsylvania) on each Side of the road, placed Hudson's section, supported by the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry in the road, and advanced to the attack agSinst a warm fire before him. The enemy, being supported by artillery, re sisted for twenty-five minutes with much determi nation. Lieutenant Hudson, after getting into po. sition, soon silenced their gees. In the mean -time, Thomas' brigade rapidly advanced and deployed to the left flank of the enemy. The enemy, seeing this movement, and being pressed by Abercrombie, retired, hotly pursued for four miles by artillery and infantry. The ca valry could not be employed on account of nume rous fences and walls crossing the country. In the enemy's clamp were found camp equipage, pro visions, grains, ho. This brush was highly credi table to our arms, winning, as we did, the day against a foe superior in number to those engaged on our side. They wore well posted, /haltered by timber, and sustained by artillery and cavalry. Our men advanced over open ground against a warm fire of artillery and infantry. I present the reports of the Colonels Abercrombie and Thomas, and Lieuts. Perkins and Hudson, and take much pleasure in bearing testimony, as an eye-witness, to the admirable manner in which their commands wore handled, and their commendations earned. I also bear testimony to the efficient Herrin in post ing portions of the troops, and conducting them to the front, and into action, rendered by the mem bers of my staff present and en the field of battle ; Col. Porter, Capt. Sohn Newton, and Liout Bab cock, and Majors Price and Biddle, who were em ployed conveying orders; also, Surgeon Triplor, in attention to the wounded. The loss of the enemy was over sixty in killed. The number wounded cannot be ascertained, as a largo number were carried off the field. I am, sir, very respeotfully, Your obedient servant, R. PATTEIISON, Major General Commanding. Colonel E. D. TOWNSEND, A. A. G. U. B. A., Washington City : Mn. SIDEEY WRIMIT, of Durham, Mass., is blessed with a healthy lineage. Ile has a grand father and grandmother, a father and mother living, and his only son has not only two grandfathers and two grandmothers, but also two great-grandfathers, and two great-grandmothers, living. At the date of hie birth ho had a groat-grandfather and a great grandmother, since deceased, so that the boy has bad since bis advent, three great-grandfathers and three great-grandmothers, and two grandfathors and two grandmothers—all of whom are now living, except one great.grandfather and Great-grandmo ther, who died last year. A. TEST NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. LODI WASHINGTON. ItHE NEW ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF WAR. A Visit to the Alexandria Hospitals—Ob. jections to Female Nurses. The chief pointiof interest at Alexandria are the military hospitals. Of these there aro three in active operation, he Mansion House, Fairfax street, and Washbgton-atreet Hospitals. There are now about ecvet hundred patients in the above mentioned buildims, besides which two more have been recently upend at Wolfe and Pitt streets, and are almost ready for the reception of patients. These latter bulldogs have been put under the charge of Dr. SREMON, the former surgeon in all the hospitals ; recatly, however, relieved by Dr. J. B. PORTER, an oh surgeon of the army. In the management of teso hospitals there is much to praise and much t condemn. The professional de partment proper—that within the exclusive control of the physicians ttending upon the sick soldiers— is most admirabl• administered. Those surgeons are accomplished and able men, and it would be invidious to makta distinction. Most of them aro from Philadelphia. The patients ire carefully and promptly at tended, all the tine of the medical officers being solely devoted tothoir welfare. Considering the large number rocived, and the gravity of the diseases in most aces, the mortality has been re markably light. In the Mansion House there aro beds for five Mildred and sixteen. The ward rooms aro clean and comfortable ; they are well warmed and venilated, and the diet for the sick Is whelesome,fgenerallfwell cooked, and such as is best suited to the silk and convalescent. There are come exceptions, in oases where reprisals aro made by tho attondtnts upon the rations of the sink soldier. These complaints, some of the sol diers Say, they have traced to about a dozen women nurses who have been quartered upon the hospital. These female nurses, sent to at tend, upon strange men, in every stage of almost every variety of disease, are seemingly out of place in a military hospital. The soldiers do not seem to desire their presence—they irritate and annoy them, and from what we could gather, the medical officers prefer, in every case, that the nurses and attendants should be mon. Tho matron of the establishment, the soldiers appear to think, is too strong an advent() of woman's rights, and has encroached, by degrees, upon the authority of the officers, mall aya ge — na. COD , " -.""t, in fact, tbasaYEllefyaemplaint, attamee Eg l A nd ia ii r eeem, is of the women. Their employ went in such an institution is manifestly a mistake. The soldiers very ill-naturedly say that the lady nurses have their table supplied better than any hotel in Washington, and that it is often made up of delicacies ordered and sent to the kitchen for the sick soldiers. From what wo could learn, the lady nurses have no duties to perform which could not be done more satisfactorily to the sink soldiers by the hands of men. As permanent nurses, fe males are out of their sphere in military hospitals. The Fairfax•stroot Hospital contains one hundred and ton bode, and is under the professional care of Dr. ROBERTSON, of Cumberland, Maryland. The doctor manages it alone; he prescribes for all the cases; is the superintendent of every specific de partment; performs the duty of steward, apothe cary, and clerk ; and the completeness of every thing therewith connected is a strong argument in favor of the position that women officers aro useless in a military hospital. Tho little hospital is a model in its way, and to Dr. RODERTSON too much credit cannot be given, for his ability, efficiency, and industry. The Washington-street Hospital is under the care of two brothers Drs. TROSIrsoN, of Pennalvania, and is a well-conducted institution. It will compare favorably with most others of the kind, Here it is that many of the surgical cases aro treated. The whole number of buildings are classified as the General Hospital, and there are fourteen sur geons employed to attend them. Dr. J. B. PORTER is surgeon in charge, and is quartered at the Man sion Deuce. His staff consists of the following gentlemen from Philadelphia : Dr. Robert K. Smith, Dr. Thomas B. Gibbons, Dr. J. Bernard Brinton, and Dr. Mitchell If. Picot. Dr. Rankin, also a Pennsylvanian, is attached to the Mansion House, and Dr. Thomas R. Dunglison, of Phila delphia, with Dr. Edo W. Helmsman, of Lancaster county, Pa., are at the Wolfe-street Hospital, with Dr. 11. Laurence Sheldon, 11. S. Army. The Confirmation of General Ord and General Sehoeplf. The Senate, in executive session to-day, confirmed the nomination of General One, as Brigadier General, for his meritorious services in the field. As some seventy Brigadier Generals are yet await ing confirmation, this prompt action is considered a great honor. General &ROM'S, now in 8132V100 in Kentucky, was confirmed at the same time, upon the same ground. It is hoped that these signal dis tinctions will stimulate other officers to similar ac tivity and energy. Lieutenant JAMES A. SNYDER, Company K, Third Infantry Regulars, has been appointed captain, to act as aid-de-camp to Brigadier General Brans, who is to take command of all the regular infantry now in the service. The Election in the Bucktalls. The election in the Bucktait Regiment for a co lonel, in place of COlOnel CHARLES J. BIDDLE, re signed, took place on Wednesday. By a provision of the law creating the Reserve Corps, the elootion of all field officers is conducted by the privates, and this law held good in the case of the Bucktail Re giment. When Colonel BIDDLH resigned, his friends, and the influence they possessed, were opposed to Lieutenant Colonel KANE, who naturally sought advancement to the position of colonel. He was at first opposed by Colonel CHARLES CAMPBELL, of the artillery regiment, now disbanded, hut Colonel CAMPBELL withdrew and Captain Ryon W. Mc- Erma" from Warren county, commanding Com pany D, was placed in nomination against him. There We a great deal of excitement among the mon during ths election, and it resembled very much a political awembly in a ward or district. A very full vote was cast, the majority against Colonel KANE being 223. The computes voted as follows Company A, Captain lImLAND, from Tioga, for MckTritui ; Company B Captain WINTER, from Perry county, for ISIcIIEm ; Company C, Captain Girronn, from Cameron comity, for KANE ; Company D, Captain IffeNtimr, br MeNnext. ; Company E, Captain Elms, from Tioga county, officers for KANE, imen for Maxim.; Company F, Captain MA oar., from fiehuyikill county, for McNsiutit.i; Company 0, Captaia McDoxecn, from Elk and Tioga, Elk met for KANE, Tioga men for 111 - NEILL ; Compmy 11, Capt. TAYLOR, from Chester. county, divide( between RANT: and fllcliarit, ; Company I, Ctpt. BLANCHARD, from McKean county, for MEE ; Company K, Capt. lawfx, from Clearfield aunty, for MCNEILL. Colonel Men= is from Warren county, and has been a very ifficient officer of the line. lie is about thirty-five Tears of age, and is said to be a good disciplinariat. Lieut. Col. KANE will retain his present positim. Those who voted for Col. KANE aro among toss belonging to the old Book. tail organization. Col. ISlcNnua, will assume com mand when his (Joni:plosion arrives. Peter Punks in Camp. After the payment of a few of the companies of the Tenth Now Yorc Legion, Colonel VAN WycK, discovering that sone camp-sharks were soiling composition and gal'anized watches, had them ar rested, and cempellei the sellers to take back their watches and refund tbout five hundred dollars to the men. A Nex• Tax Ihttl. A now tax bill is in die hands: of a sub-oommittoe of the Committee of Ways and Means. Sovoral weeks will probably clips° before the bill will ho reported. Assistant Secretaries of War. It is said that Jones TUCKER, Esq., of Philadel phia, and PETER T. WATSON, Esq., of Washington, have been appointed Assistant Secretaries of War under the new act passed by Congress. Mr. TUCKER is a Philadelphian, and well known to your readers. Mr. WATSON IS an eminent patent lawyer of this city, a man of influence and large fortune. COl. SCOTT will retain his position at present. The Schuylkill Steamers. The little Schuylkill steamers, Reindeer • and Volunteer, are now making daily trips between this city and Mattawoman's Creek, near the headquar ters of Gen. HOOKEIS'S division. The ice in the Potomac has almost entirely disappeared, and as the roads from hero to Port Tobacoo are almost im passable, the reopening of the steamboat communi cation has been a great accommodation to the Government in forwarding supplies. The War Department Regulations. The recently.issucd regulations of the War De partment result in surprising faoilitios for the trans action of public business, which is taken up end disposed of in the order in which it is presented. All the branches of, this Department aro benefited by the systematic arrangements. Washington News and Gossip. The mud and the small-pox axe the prevailing topics of conversation to-day. The transient travel this week has fallen off one hundred per cent. The new rules and regulations which have boon issued by Secretary Srawrox hold at bay for the present contractors and office-seekers. The postmaster here has issued a notice that treasury notes will not be received in payment for stamps, unless they are purchased in sums of two dollars and fifty cents. The members of Tent No. 2 have presented a beautiful sword mid sash to Captain STICKNEY, of Company F, Third Now Jersey Regiment. Major Many L. BEN/4ER has just returned from General,gooann's division, on the lower Potomac, where ho has been paying off the First and Eleventh Massachusetts regiments, and DENT ING's battery. The rebels are almost continually firing on our works. Their shot and shell fortu nately do no damage. The rebel shells, owing to the bad quality of powder of which they aro manu factured, seldom, if ever, explode. THE VICTORY AT SOMERSET. PARTICULARS OF THE ACTION THREE THOUSAND UNION TROOPS VAN QUISH EIGHT THOUSAND REBELS. CINCINNATI, Jan. 23.—The Somerset correspon dence of the Times says that at 7 o'clock on Sunday morning the enemy drove in the pickets of the Tenth Indiana, stationed at the forks of the road, eight miles from Somerset. The Tenth were drawn up into line, and moved into the woods, whore they were mot by the enemy, six thousand strong, slim instantly opened upon them. General Thomas immediately ordered up the Ninth Ohio, Second Minnesota, and Fourth Ken tuoky, to the support of the Tenth Indiana, the latter holding the rebels in check nearly half an hour before being reinforced. The First and Second Tennesseans wore ordered up on the right wing for the purpose of outflanking the enemy, Standard's and Whitmore's batteries In the meantime shelling the enemy in the woods. After being engaged nearly two hours, the Ninth Ohio, Second Minnesota, and Fourth Kentucky Regiments made a desperate bayonet-charge upon the enemy, and drove them from the woods, com pletely routing and puieuing then; to tilMr en trenchments. At the heat of the engagement, Cap tain Kinney ordered lne sootion of his battery within sixty yards of the enemy's lines, and opened a deadly fire upon them, which added greatly to the successes of the day. Our advance arrived within sight of the real entrenchments ono hour before dark, and opened upon them with shot and shell. Night closing in put a atop to further demonstrations. At daylight next morning a steamboat was observed transport ing troops across the Cumberland. Whitmore's battery of Parrott guns were brought to bear on the boat, which in a few minutes afterwards was in flames. The Tenth Ohio and Fourteenth Ohio were ordered forward to advance on the enemy's breastworks, moving up in line of battle, rand sealing the entrenchments, they found the camp entirely deserted, and everything standing as when occupied by the enemy. The houses, tents, horses, mules, wagons, baggage, cannon, ammunition, and firearms, wore found in perfect preservation. The rebel forces in the attack were led by Generals Crittenden and Zollicoffer, and were 8,000 strong. The Federal forces in the fight did not exceed 3,000. FROM IL'ItTUCKY. UEN. HINDMAN ARRESTED ruv.rivirx 'yr 1m - -nrasraiLEADER.V. GEN. BUCKNER'S CHILDREN BAREFOOTED Hardee Unable to Pay hie Washerwoman. Loursvrim2, Jan. 23.—The Journal learns that General Hardee has arrested General Hindman, for burning houses at Cave City, and other places on the Nashville road. The Fame paper alsolearne, and credits the statement, that General Buckner has resigned his commission. The rebels at Bowling Green are eufforing for want of money. It is reported that General Buokner'e children aro running about the town bare-footed, and General Ilardoe, the second officer in command, could not pay a colored woman employed by him, and gave her a pass through the Confederate lines, as the only means hi had of liquidating hor de :nand. There are no further particulars from Genera Thomas' oommnnd. All is quiet below THE WAR IN MISSOURI. SEDALIA, Mo., Jan. 23.—Two companies of °e very, under Major L. Raldermen, of the First Kansas Regiment, left Lexington on a reconnoitring expedition on the night of the 16th, which resulted in the arrest of Captain Whiting, Joe Shelby, and several other notorious rebel desperadoes, and the capture of a large lot of horses, mules, wagons, commissary stores, ko., taken from Col. Mulligan's command, and a considerable quantity of boots and shoes, and other articles taken from the steamer 8717:shine by the rebels some time since, all of which wore turned over to the Federal troops at Lexington. Colonel Deitzlor, of filo Kansas First Regiment, in command at Lexington, announces, by a general order, that as rebel assassins lurk in the ambush and fire upon soldiers, he has therefore ordered to be arrested a large number of wealthy and influ ential Secessionists who give aid and comfort to Price's army, whom ho will hold responsible for the good behavior of their hirelings, and the assas sination of ono man of his command in this manner will bo followed by the shooting or hanging of tiro of th'ese wealthy rebels. FROM CAIRO. CAIRO, Jan. 23.—Captain Willard, of tho Chica go Light Artillery, arrived to•day from Calloway, six miles from Fort Henry. Ile reports that that place is garrisoned by 6,000 or 7,000 rebels, with several heavy guns. The whole of General Smith's command started across the country for Paducah this morning. From General Banks' Column FREDERICK, January A.—No intelligence has been received from General Lander's division within the last forty-eight hours, and everything hero and in the upper brigades are in strait quo. The excitement and prtparation commenced on the news ofJaalreon's advance on Romney,havo died out, and our troops are mainly employed in looking to their personal comfort. Last night a very recherche party was given by Dr. Schley, ono of the most prominent Union mon, to the officers of the division, brigades, and regi ments. Last Saturday forty condemned horses were sold at auction, by order of Inspector Perkins. The best brought $7O, and the worst 25 cents ; the aver age was $23. Captain Collis, of the Body Guard, has resigned his seat as judge advocate of the general court martial, and Robert B. Brown, of the Second Alas saebusetts, has been appointed in his stead. Owing to the establishment of brigade courtz-martial, and a consequent reduction of tho number of prisoners here, the court will probably adjourn ore many days. A Tory large number of cases have boon ex amined into, and the findings awarded. Mason anti Slidell Sailed from Bermuda for St. Thomas. liEw YORK, Jan. 23 —The British gunboat Racor, arrived this morning from Bermuda, re ports that the steamer Rinaldo arrived there on the 11th, and had sailed for St. Thomas, with the traitors Mason and Slidell on board. The Bohemian Outward Bound CAPE Iteca, Jan. 23.—Tho steamer Bohemian. passed hero at half past 2 o'clock, outward bound. The news station will be kept up hero all winter, and all the steamers will be boarded when practi cable. The Hibernian at Portland. PORTLAND, Jan. 23.—The steamer .7106am/fin has arrived from St. John. Fire nt Saco, ➢lame Seco, Jan. 23.—The Thomson blook of buildings was destroyed by fire this morning. Loss $7,000. Execution at Newton, N. J NEWAIIK ' Jan. 23.—John Cowan was executed today, at Newton, for the murder of Allan Skil linger. Mn. G. V. BROOICE, the tragedian, has quar reled with the manager of the Theatro Royal, Bel fast, because the latter wished the former to play on the date of the Prince Consort's funeral, The dispute is to be settled in a court of lam. MUTH CONGRESS-MST SESSION. WISIIINGTON, Jan. 23, 1862. BEN &TE. . . Mr. HOWARD, of Michigan, preeented a joint reed• lution, passed by the Legislature of Michigan, in favor of an exchange of prisoners, with epeoial reference to the gallant Colonel Wilcox, who wee wounded at 801 l Run. Rewired. Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, presented the re monstrance of the underwriters, ship-owners, and others, of Boston, against auy measures which will impair the efficiency of the coast survey. me. HALE, of New Hampshire, called np the resolu tion in regard to Ward IL Lemon, Marshal of the Dis trict of Columbia, declaring toot, in the order he trans mitted to the Senate, ho was guilty of a breach of privi lege and contempt of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate report the resolution to the President. Passed. Mr. COLLAME.II, of Vermont, from the root Office Committee, reported a bill for the completion of the Poet Office at Philadelphia. On motion of Mr. WILSON, the bill for the comple tion of the defences of Washington was taken up, the question being on the amendment providing the penalty of death for forcing the safeguard, which was agreed to The bill was amended so that no work shall be hereafter commenced, and then passed. On motion of Mr. MERMAN. of Ohio, the bill re lating to Congress, from the Committee on Compensation, Ac., was taken up and considered for some time, whon the morning hour expired. On motion of Mr. WILSON, the bill for the increase of the clerical force of the War and Navy Departments, as returned from the House with an amendment, was taken up, the amendment agreed to, and the bill passed finally. The easel:if Senator Bright was then taken up. Mr. DAVIS, of - Kentucky, resumed his remarks. He said that treasons, as the greatest of crimes. It involves the whole nation in Its consequences; yet, the men who are now engaged in treason boldly confront honest men. There has been 'too much leniency shown—these men ought to be abhorred as the vilest of culprits. Was not Benedict Arnold a traitor I Suppose that the Senator from Indiana had been a member of the Continental Congress, and suppose that after Arnold had been de tected in his treason, the Senator had written such a let ter to Arnold as he has now written to Jeff Davis! In that day of purity and ,patriotism, would he not hove been expelled from the •tenate'l IsJeff Davis less a traitor than Arnold was! Was not Aaron Burr ineffably leas a traitor than Jeff Davis I Yet, the Senate expelled Smith, of South Carolina, for too intimate relations with Aaron Burr. The Senator from Indiana avows that he has not changcd his opinions and will not. IC the Senator holds opinion, opposed to coercive measures to suirlue I the rebels, and Will not vote for any measures to support the Government, he ought to have resigned his position here. But as he has not done that, It must be the duty of the Senate to expel such a member. He (Mr. Davis) regretted that the Senator from Massachusetts had in troduced the subject of slavery. He thought, at such a time us this, w e should allow all such disturbing subjects to sleep till after atrocious rebellion was put down. Slavery was not the immediate cause of the rebellion, but only a rem( te cause. He did not see where the.Sonator from Massachusetts got the power to interfere in slavery. He paid a high tribute to the purity and worth of John Q. Adams, and quoted from the speech of his where he said that, "so long as the slave States have the power to sustain the institution of slavery, I will not interfere ; but if they come to the free States for help, and ask them to help to put down an insurrection, then I say that it mines into the full plenary power of Congress over it. It Is the war power." He referred alto to the assertion of Gen. Jackson, that, in cases where the military power takes possession, the war power must be- - come the law. 'Bathe Senator from Massachusetts would have it in the power of any subordinate general to de clare emancipation ; but that statesman seems to forget that we have a written Constitution. This ConStitu lion reserves certain rights from the States, and gives them inalienably to the people of the United States, but invests the war-making power in Congress. The Constitution provides for the crime of treason, and that the attainder shall not be perpetual. Can military generals alter the provisions of the Constitution in regard to treason 2 He contended that in Congress alone was the power to declare martial law, and to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Martial law Is the mere will of a military commander. Is such a law to sweep away all the provisions of the Constitution/ Such a law would be worse than the bloody laws of Draco. Is this sublime edifice of the Constitution to tumble into ruins when the army makes its appearance, and is commanded to have power to proclaim universal freedom to the slave 7 Such an idea is monstrous. He was for putting down the re- hellion, sod, so far as possible, to hang the leaders. He said, In the name of Justice, hang them, and forfeit all the property you can; and, if it is improper to invest it in the United States Government, give it to true and faithful men. He thought the rebellion had many causes for its rise. If slavery was never mentioned in the halls of Congressy there would never have been any rebellion. Ono of the causes of the rebellion was the admission of Texas; another was the attempt to force the Lecompton Constitution on the people of Kansas. He was utterly opposed to emancipation schemes, and deprecated severely the placing of arms in the hinds of slaves, as was pro posed by the Senator from lowa i Mr. Harlan], as tending to lead to the fearful horrors of an insurrection. Those fanatic, political, and social demons, the Gres lays, Cheevers, and Phlllipaes, who are frying to break. up in fragments the Constitution, for the purpose of achiev ing emancipation, have been here desecrating the Smith sonian Institute. They and that horrible monster, Greeley, have been here sneaking like wolves after sla very. ]f he had the power, he would take these fanatics, and the worst Soceshers, and hang them in pairs. He' feared that the Senator from Ilfassachusetts sympathized too much with these men. lie closed With a eulogy of Gen. Lyon and Gen. Sigel, and said that he wanted all brave men to join in the war for the Union, and to leave out these discordant elements. Mr. HARLAN, of lowa, did not see the pertinency of the whole of the last part of the speech of the Senator from Kentucky. He wanted it known that every day a speech on slavery is lugged in just in this way by some member of the slave Staten. Mr. DAVIS said that his speech was Intended to meet the numerous petitions introduced here. IfARLAN said that in the discussion on another hill he had said that ho was willing to muster into the service of the United States any able-bodied men, wheth er black or Indian. We .might as well arm the slave against the master as arm the child against the father, which was done every day whore one or the other chances to be a rebel. In regard to the Senator's eulogium on the condition of his slaves, it they love him so much he need have no fear of an insurrection. Ile supposed the Sena tor's horses and other animals were also well treated, but does be trent the slaves like men—like men who have im mortal spirits to live equally with our spirit I There is not now in existence a system of slavery so bad as that which now exists in the United States. He knew that hind and Christian gentlemen did treat their slaves well, Wag was. LAl:mini. Immanar nut aut. Ann tr, COA " The &nate vent into executive session, and subse quently adjourned. ROUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. STEVENS, of Penney !Tanis, from the Committee of Wei a and Means, reported the naval appropriation Lill. Mr. ELIOT, of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill authothing the President to appoint eight light•houoo Inspectors for any of the light bousts on the coast, during and for one year after the continuance of the present rebellion. Passed. . • • ... Mr. THOMAS, of Massachusetts,from the Committee on the judiciary, reported a bill to acilitate judicial pro ceedings, and to better regulate the law of prizes. Mr. KELLOGG, of Illinois, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to settle with the States for the supplies furnished their troops called out to aid in the suppression of the rebellion. The consideration of the bill waa postponed. Mr. MALLORY, of Kentucky, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported a bill for a military railroad in Kentucky and Tennessee. The House, in Committee of the Whole, went into consideration of the Military Academy bill Mr. ALLEY, of Massachusetts, said that no questions were ever agitated in the balls of Congress of greater importance, in all their aspects, and in all their conse quences, than the financial measures which the necessi ties of the hour call upon us now to inaugurate, will. all the industrial energies of a great peopla-palsied by the nightmare that is upon us; and Congress, upon whom tho people have placed tho responsibility of providing nays and means for relief, have done nothing bat waste their time in talking about unimportant matters. Great schemes are to be devised and measures enacted, upon hich our very existence depends, which should engage the earnest thought and active energies of every member of this Mouse until the task is accomplished. The first thing to be done is to raise the means to carry on the Government, by making available its credit, at the least possible expense, in the best manner possible, with the least detriment to tbo material Interests of the whole people. In order to accomplish this object properly, you must make 3 our securities good by misquote tax ation. We must provide for the wants of the Govern ment, at any cost and every hazard. Every individual and corporate interest must bow in patriotic submission to the necessities of the Government. The currency question has employed the brain and en listed the pen of the greatest statesmen and emir cat writers of every age. A mixed system of currency and barter was first introduced by William the Conqueror, 800 years ago, and from that day to this wo have an au thentic record of its lottery. In the reigns of the Hen rys and the Edwards the coinages wore frequently altered to suit theexigencies and wants of the crown. A rock less and improvident monarch was sure to produce a dearth of money, and a dearth of money was always fol lowed by a dearth of food. Down to the reign of Henry the Eighth it was the practice, whenmoney was scarce, to reduce the standard of the coin,until Henry reduced it very materially, and his eon, Edward the Sixth, reduced it until it became infamous, leaking 180,000 pounds out of 20,000 of good coin. With the reign of Elizabeth came a determination to improy e the coinage, and in the reign of William and Mary the Bank of England was established, and the currency, ever after, became a mixed one of paper and coin. There was more stability then than there had been with an exclusive metallic currency. Increasing the volume of the currency, in all coun tries and every age, produces the same effect—its undue expansion stimulating unhealthy business, and its contraction causing ruin and distress to fellow in its wake. The great financial desideratum is to pre vent the one and avoid the other as much as possible. Ile spoke of the example of England, because upon this question she bad a moro authentic record awl a wiser policy than other nattered. After the suspension of the Bank of England, in 1797, which continued over twenty four years, the currency of England was almost exclu sively a paper currency. In view of the experience of England, with her overwhelming indebtedness and vast expenditures, together with our own experiences, there is nothing to alarm In our own suspension of specie payments, and nothing In our financial condition to occasion despondency. In all our financial arrange ments the Government should wisely co-operate with these who conduct the financial and business interests of the public. But we must not forget that the Government is supreme. The inquiry should be, not what is best under the circumstances, but what can be done in the crisis that is upon us. In order to determine that enese tlo,i e e meet be governed more or lees by considerations connected with existing sy stunts. There are three great financial =names now under consideration, the adoption of which, coupled with a determination to reform the expenditures, will, in my judgment, resuscitate the drooping interests of trade, improve the currency of the country, establish confidence, and place the public credit upon as firm a foundation as that of any Government on earth. First—Authorizing the Issue (irons hundred millions of demand treasury notes, to be mule a legal tender, con vertible at any time, in sums of not less than one hun dred dollars, In United States six per cent. bonds, pay able In twenty years, or convertible Into sterling bonds of not less than five hundred pounds, payable in London. Second—Simultaneous with this, the levying of one hundred and fifty millions of tax. Third—To provide a uniform currency, by causing all the bank circulation of the country to protect holders against loss, by securing their redemption by a pledge of United States stocks. We would not be in favor of either of these three. measures, standing alone; but in combination, each with tho other, they will copier the triple benefit of relief to our hums ditto necessities---establishing confidence en a firm foundation, and giving to the people a safe currency which shall be uniform in every section of tho country, and ample for ell the requirements of trate. If this ever should continue eighteen months, according to the esti mate of the Secretary of the Treasury, w o shall owe nine hundred millions of dollars. This looks like a large sum; but with one boundless resources and matchless energies in der o' oping the material interests of the country, we can pay the Interest easily, and, if norm eery, a portion of the principal, annually. If need be, we can make our public lands, If properly managed and disposed of judiciously, pay ono-third of this debt before it matures ' if it Is funded for twenty years, and have enough left to pay Iwo-thirds of the balance the succeed ing twenty years. Nine hundred millions of dollars is only about to ice as much as England's usual amount of expenses In time of pone; but little more than she has expended inn ow gle year at several 'periods In her history. Our surplus earnings in two or three years will wipe it out, all out, if we wish, Can any man of reflection doubt, when ho realizes that we bays little cause to question the ability of the Government to maintain its credit un impaired through any pecuniary trial it may be called upon to encounter I He was In - raver of Issuing no notes of less denomination than ten dollars, because he was opposed to the Government competing in the circulation with the banks any more than Is absolutely necessary to provide for its necessities. lie thought that the Interest of all would be promoted by leaving the banks to supply the malt local currency predicated upon United States bowls. The measure of taxation was so obviously wise that he would only remark, in the language of the great statesman. " that nations as welt as individuals, ought always, in contracting debts, provide some plan of re,. deniption: w Itherlit it public confidence could not be re tained." Among the advantages to be gained by the udoption of this national currency system was, as tho Se cretory has soul ; It will unite with the Government all the monetary interests of the country, mid make it for tin pecuniary interest of all to sustain anti sicengtlien the Government and its credit. Adopt thesameasures, and diminish the burdens of the people by weeny prudent rotrenelinient and reform, by ferreting out and punishing MI frauds, and then, if the policy of the. Government In other sresperts should be as vigorous and wise as its financial errengements are politic and just, "we shall have the PM? smaily clpsed, Had a si,sirr, of prosperity as the American people have never witnessed In the whole annals of her history. Mr. II elleitlSON, of Ohio, said the object of the Pa was to execute the laws of the laud, establish permanent peace and security within our national jurisdiction, and maintain republican liberty on this continent. As to the' means of subduing the rebellion, ho held that whatever I. not prohibited by the National Constitution or pub lic laws Is clearly a military necessity, and legally right. These embrace the power to seize and condemn pro perty and confiscate debts. The confiscation ought to be of such a nature as to induce citizens of the rebel States to return to their allegiance, rather than to ren der them desperate. He believed the prevalent senti ment of loyal States, and the views and feelings of a large majority of the army, suggest the volley of avoiding any unnecessary interference with slavery in the rebellions Staters. The argument of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr. Stevens,) yesterday, did not convince him of the necessity of the general emancipa tion of the slaves. This war was waged against our Go vernment by political leaders—by men against lawful authority. Therefore, the object ehould be to destroy the rebel army with superior Union forces, and then promptly punish the leaders for treason according to the Constitution and the law of the land. Such action as may be necessary should grow out of the political necessity. Our ealvettlon depends on adhering strbstlY to the Constitution in all its length and breadth. The American people are thoroughly and irrevocable dotes:- mined that neither the Constantien nor the Union shall be destroyed by any combination or conspiracy e uneer any pretext whatever. If we all maintain an efficient war solely for the Constitution and the integrity of the Union, on the principles of Washington and his com patriots, without being distracted by disputes and im practicable theories, the rebellion will be suppressed, and then the people will be secure in the best, as well as the wisest and the most enduring Government in the world, snore enduring from the fact that it has been put to the test for maintaining its efficiency. Mr. V ASHBURNE, of Illinois, called the attention of the House to a communication In the New York Tribune, editorially endorsed as worthy of confidence, touching the Special Investigating Committee on Con tracts. So for as it regarded Gen. McKinney, he de nonricee the communication as Nee in all material re. spec% so far as it referred to the committee. As re garded the military authorities here, they could tetra care of themselves. He read from the published journal of the committee the letter of the committee to Mr. Cie meats, the clerk of the quartermaster, calling on him for the explanation, which he tendered and showed that the said Clements was before the committee, and testified to the amount of more than thirty pages, es published in the report, and that the committee gave him the widest latitude to put In everything In his testi mony that could explain General MeNinetry's acts, all of which is published in the testimony. Also, that another clerk in the Quartermaster's Department was called before the committee, whose testimony co vered twenty-two pages. He stated that the examina tion of these witnesses disclosed many of the fraudulent acts of Gen. IlicKinstry, which he believed surpassed any thing in the history of the country. He caned to be read another editorial of the Tribune, denouncing the frauds of speculators and jobbers, which, he said, was a good text—the ben commentary on which would be the evidence taken by the committee against Gen. Illc jeffistry, which he thought the Tribune might profitably publish, if it desired to see its suggestion carried out. Mr. is - ANHORN, of New York, maintained that the time has arrived for the emancipation of the slaves, who form the strength of the contest against as. The reSele, hassit g trampled upon the Constitution are, by their treasonable acts, no more entitled to protection than out laws. The loyal people cf the free States, who furnish the men and money, have the right to demand that every means in our possession to destroy the enemy shenld be faithfully and vigorously employed. If the gentlemen here do Ims, they are unworthy of the official po eitions they occupy. He quoted from the Southern papers to show that they made the open confee non that slaves are ono of the• main resources of the rebel strength and belligerent power. Hence the im portance and necessity of striking a decisive blow in that direction. He argued that the Constitution authorized the passage of a law for that purpose The forfeiture of this description of property of the rebels should be for ever. The war cannot be waged for the protection of slavery, but for the good of tho Government and the se curity of a permanent peace. Re did not believe with his colleague (Mr. Steele) that the declaration of such a policy would paralyse the power of the army. He would assume Any responsibility to put down the rebellicin. Whatever hums oily and the salvation of the country demand, he was ready to yield. The Union wilt stand, and everything that comes between it and its ealvatiert must perish The committee then rose, and the House adjourned, PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. Ltd RRISBORG, January 23, 1862 SENATE. The SPEAKER presented the annual report of the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society. Mr. LOWRY presented the memorial of John R. Brooke, colonel of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Regi ment, and thirtysiz of his oßcero, asking for legisla tive relief. 141 r. BENSON, from the Finance Committee, reporter' the supplement to the act establishinc. an asylum for the insane poor. HILLS INTRODUCHD Mr. ROBINSON, joint resolutions relative to the oar , ment of officers of volunteers in the service of the Unltsl States. Mr. lIIESTAND, a supplement to the act incorpo rating the Reading and Columbia Railroad. Mr. DIOTT, a supplemont to the act cI 3.838, relative to the lion of mechanics and others. Mr. CaIi:NELL, a bill to reorganize •the Board of School Controllers of the First School district; also. A bill relative to advertising - claims In Philadelphia. Mr. KETCHAM, a supplement to the act or 1856. relative to the incorporation of insurance companies. DANK or COUMBROB OF ?818 Mr. LOWRY offered a resolution, requesting the State Treasurer to inform the Senate what amount of money belonging to the State was in deposit in the Bank of Commerce, at Erie, at the time it closed Its doors onkel. holders and depositors, and what steps have been taken to secure the same. Mr. 181811 inquired whether this wait a peculiar caps. and whether it differed from that of other banks sus pending payment. . . . Mr. COWRY said that the case was nothing peculiar with banks in his section of the State. The Dd.) City Bank failed with liabilities amounting to 8150,000. 1.1 was then runtinder the new name of the Bank of Costfe merce. He had In hie pocket bills of this bank amount "lng to one hundred dollars, belonging to a widow lady. The officers of this bank occupied very respectable pee• tone; one was an officer of the United States Gowan ment, and another resided on Walnut street, Philadel phis. These officers one the morning closed the doprs of the bank, and never paid the Commonwealth Ous dollar. That bank was born a fraud, fired a fraud, es twice died a (rand. It never had any capital Its oftleetlt were guilty of fraud and perjury In their returns, After further discussion, the resolution was adopted. On motion of Mr. ROBINSON, the Senate proceede4 to the comm.:salon of the resolution relative to the pair meat of officers of volunteers in the service of the United States. [This resolutiqn requests our Repro. sentatives in Congress to secuie to officers pay from the date of their enrolment, the War Department haying refused to pay them fur their services before their reel. menu were mustered into service.] The resolution was discussed, and passed, after being so amended as to extend the inquiry into the iloactiissr with reference to the pay of private soldiers. The Senate then lulteurneit. until Monday afternoOlt i at three o'clock. The House was called to order at 10 A. M., by the SPEAKER. The report of the State Saving Fund was preseriteitarat laid upon the table as well as a communication instil the Western Saving ivad. Mr. IiAINIC presented the report of a committee ap pointed to harmonize the differences between the Senate and House m reference to the pay of retiring officers of the Assembly of 1861. The report recommended their payment at a reduced rate, and woe agreed to. PET I lONS IT li tr.'. A number of petitions wAT,2 vtesente., reteriiirg talons[ 2.r.:erlor of the State. objects in tin ;or WILEENBANK promoted a petition of merchants and others, praying that an act may be passed enabling a creditor to release one partner or joint debtor without prejudice to the claim against the other partner orjoint debtors. . . DIiFFIELD, a petition from the monthly meeting of Friends, asking the right to extinguish certain ground, rents. Mr. ABBOT, a petition from the 'Farmers awl Me chanics' Lend and Building Association, for the exten sion of their charter. Mr. RYON, of Schuylkill, presented a pstition, praying for an investigation into the manner in which the act commuting the tonnage finales was passed i also, the man ner in which the $3,500,000 loan was disbursal. A communication was read from the citizens of West moreland comaty, setting forth that the wife of a tax payer of Greensburg (now a private in a Virginia regi ment) had received aid from the county funds, and de nying the statement' of her husband to the contrary— which statement was presented to the souse last week. It will be recollected that the husband petitioned Mater that his family might be relieved, or that his property might be exempt from taxation, he having enlisted In a regiment outside of the State. Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, presented a petition of the Managers of the School of Design, asking an appro. priation of $2,000. All of tho aboro,were referred to the appropriate com mittees. Mr. CESSNA moved to amend the rules of the House so as to receive retell:Wens only on 'Wednesdays and Saturdays. The motion was agreed to. Mr. ARMSTRONG offered a resolution calling on the heade of the State de sartmenta for estimates for theme.. suing year. Agreed to. Mr. McCLELLAN, of Cheater, offered a resolution providing for the amendment of the common school law so as to make the school week consist of five days- Agreed to 111131ffi Mr. BROWN, of Mercer, offered the following resold tion Resolved, That the Committee on Wale and Mane be instructed to report a bill, if deemed advisable, providing for the assumption and payment by the State, of that portion of a direct tax of twenty Millions of dallers aa nnally laid upon the United States by an act of Coo-grass approved August 6, 1661, •ahich was apportioneir to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to provide for the assessment and collection of said amount as other State tax is now by law assessed and collected. - Agreed to. DRONERS AND PRIVATE BUSKERS _ . Plr. CRANE, of Wayne, offered a resolation calling upon the Auditor General to furnish the names of al brokers and private bankers who have paid taxes ac cording to the act of last torsion. This was amended by Ile. WILLIAMS so as to re quire the names of all those who have not paid. awl was then agreed to. 11=1 The following bills were reported from the various committees as having been acted upon: An act relative to the District Court of Philadelphia, with an affirmative recommendation. An act for the appointment of fence viewers in Phila delphia, With en affirmative recommendation. An act to incorporate the Athena.= Association of Germantown, as amended. The act was taken up and passed. A supplement to the act incorporating the Gettysburg Railroad Company, as amended, authorizing the issue of preferred stork. Passed. - - A supplement to the Duncannon and Droad Top Rail road, with an affirmative recommendation. An act to incorporate the American Engraver? Com pany, with an affirmative recommendation. =EI Mr. SHANNON, of Alleglieny,read in placard! act to establish a State Military Academy. Mr. BIGII.kM, an act to extend the time within which certain railroad companies-may claim the benefit of the fourth section of the bill for the Commutation or Tonnage Duties.' [The time is extended for two yowls for the purchase of their bonds by the , Pennsylvania Railroad, and tire years AS far as the completion of the 'roads le concerned). Mr. KAINE read an act relative to the rr.to of interest, (repealing the law of .Bth May,.11358.). Mr. ARMSTRONG, an act en spending- the- taxation on. real estate owned by corporations. [lt provides - that so much of the capital stock of any corporation as is in reeled In real estate shall not be-sublect totaxation, pro— vided the real estate itself-ia taxed.) Mr. GREENBANK, an act relative to copartnera and Joint debtors. Mr. DUFFIELD, an act Tsweiling forfdling vacancies which may occur in Select Councils. Also. a supplement to an act incorporating the Board of Port Wardens. - Mr. 111cMANUS, an act providing for on oath of alle giance to public officials. Mr. DENNIS, an act relative to evidence in actions. Also, nn art to provide for taking judgment by default. Also, an act relative to foreign attachments. Also, aet act authorizing coal companies to purchase real estate at sheriffs' sales. Mr. BRANNON offered n resolntios Instructing our Senators and requesting our Representatives to pass an act for the payment of volunteers from the time of their enlistment, and officers from the time when they are plated on recruiting service. Mr. KAINE moved to amend by Inserting the words "and to make sufficient provision for the payment of; expenses incurred In recruiting companies and regimentsi for the vohuiteer army of the United States. The restn lotion as amended was agreed to. Mr. VINCENT, of Thie s moved to take up the rent* of the special committee appointed to consider the tilitir and harbor defences. The resolution attaohed to the report urged flostresu to take imniediato measures for the defence of thalbbla. ware river and the harbor of Erie, and the estabNahment of a navel depot at the latter place. The rentstion was adopter EMIEEBTEM . . The House resnmcd the consideration of the reaolntion ' e hic k a committee to investigate Oho mamma — in vrhich the act for the commutation of tonnage dates had teen Passed. Mr. SHANNON, of Allegheny, litlroSged. kbP,DaasaAl of tho resolution. 'rho Hours then adjourned. -'~'~~ i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers