rEit (t)rts.s, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19,1862. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.—“ The conspiracy to break up the 'Union is a fact now known to all: Armies ire being raised' and War to accomplish it. There can be but two sides to the controversy. Every man must be on the side of the United States or against it. There can lie no neutrals in this war. There can be neat but patriots. sad trailers -1s THE LATEST WAR NEWS. We see no reason to doubt the rumor which comes to us from Norfolk, via Fortress Morava, to the of. feet that Savannah had been captured by our forces. When the last steamer left Port Royal, ac tive preparations were being made for such a move matt, grid it is probable that the plan has been car ried out. Our naval offteera had discovered a channel by which our gunboats could reach the Sa vannah river, and thence the city itself, without running the gauntlet of the guns of Fort Pulaski— one of the bat structures of its kind on the South. ern coast. On their way to the city, the only ob stacle that our forces would be likely to encounter would be Fort Jackson—a small fort, situated four miles from Savannah—mounting ten twenty-four pounders, two mortars, and about eight howitzers. A despatch from Chicago states that the position occupied by our troops in the attack upon Fort Donelson was such that but one of our regiments could operate at a time, while the rebels could con centrate their whole strength upon us. The first zegiment to receive the rebels was the Eighteenth Illinois, which fought with desperate courage. They were followed by the Eighth Illinois, who at length, from leek of ammunition, were forced to retire. Oen. Wallace then sent his brigade to re inforce Glen. MoClernand. The Thirtrfirst Illinois defended Swartz's battery under a most destructive fire, until its lieutenant colonel was killed, and its acting major, seven captains, and a number of lieu tenants wounded. The object of the rebels was, undoubtedly, to out their way through our troops, wbieh they might have accomplished but for a portion of Wallace's division driving them back into their entrenchments. The General Johnson captured is a Bashrod Johnson, and not A. Sidney Johnson, as at first reported. The escaped prisoners have, it is sup -1,06,3d, gone to ...ashen% or Clarksville, where they will make another stand. A despatch from Cairo states that, on the evening of the 17th, a great light was seen in the direction of Clarksville, and it was thought that the rebate might hive burned their town in anticipation of an attack from tha gunboats. We publish an order issued by Secretary Stanton, in which he states that after the Farewell Address of Washington is read, in the Rouse of Representatives at Washington, on the 22d of February, the rebel flags captured in the late bat tles will be presented, by the Adjutant General, to Congress, to be disposed of as that body :nay direct. &Concerning [the blockade of the Southern ports, an officer of our fleet writes that only three steam ers have got oflt of Charleston in ninety days, and only two out of Savannah. In the rigid blockade of the French ports by Great Britain, during the last great European war, there was nothing that was as complete and effective as our present block ade is. Our blockade against vessels going in is 4xjually. effective, which :is proved by the exorbi tant prices for all foreign commodities throughout the Southern States. Wspccial despatch from Fortress Monio r flag of trace was neat to Oraney island on Monday with three passengers and packages of letters. A communication was sera by this oppor : tunity to General Huger, the rebel commander at 'Norfolk, proposing a gancral exchange of prtsoii ers. General Huger referred the question to his Government, and a favorabltqn.mworatice- some it-iljbekrhilindied of our brave soldiers who still remain in the hands of the enemy, and gladden the hearts of thousands of their friends. Congress Yesterday The victories in Tennessee continued to absorb the attention of both branches of Congreal yester day, to the extTtision of important business. In the Senate; a bill was introduced by Mr. Harris, of New. York; declaring a forfeiture of the rights and pri vileges of those who take up arms against the United States. it was ordered to be printed. A joint resolution of the House, directing the cons misnomer to have the public building in Washing ton illuminated on the evening of the 22d inst., in honor of the recent victories, was passed. In; the House, the joint Senate resolution tender ing thanks to Captain Dupont and the gallant offi cers and men of his command for the Victory of Port Royal in November last -was unanimously concurred in. The United States note bill, with the Senate modifications, has been made the special order for to-day The report of the House Committee on the Senate's amendments will be found in another column, The Homo adjourned unusually early, as a testimonial of its admiration of the courage evinced by our officers and mon in the recent battles in Tennesesee. The reunsytvania Legiehature. In the State Legislature yesterday, resolutions of thanks and congratulation relative to the recent successes in Tennessee were adopted. In the Rouse, a resolution was read instructing the Committee on Ways and Means to have pre pared and printed such tax bills, and also such bills revising the laws for the assessment and col- lection of State and county taxes, as in its judgment might be deemed necessary to be acted upon. The resolution was laid aside for the present. In the Senate, a joint resolution was introduced, providing for the adjournment of the Legislature on the 218 t of March, to re-assemble on the 17th of June. The Latest Foreign News. The steamship Edznburgh has arrived at New York, with dates to the 4th inst. The pirates Nash ville had left Southampton on the 3d inst., passing the Tuscarora off Cowes. The Federal gunboat had steam, up and was ready to give chase, bat the British steamer Shannon was hoveriug round to keep her in check for twentyfour hours.--The Naahville was last seen outside of the Needles, Steaming out of the channel at full speed. It is very doubtful that her twenty-four-hours' start will save her, as the Tuscarora is a Philadelphia gunboat, and remarkable for her speed. Earl Remain letter to the Amiraiii, relativa t 4 the We made of British ports by the belligerents, was re ceived with general favor by the English press, and Commended for its impartiality. Austria has agreed to accept the throne of Mexi-' co, which the Arch-duke Maximilian will ascend. In exehange for the crown, however, Venetia is not to be ceded. THE overwhelming news from all parts of the country ; the general retreat of the rebels along the whole line, Mid the Unceasing record of victories, recall the prophecy of our corre spondent s; Occasional" as written in the month of June. We reprint it as being peculiarly appropriate at this joyous time : "When Davis retires, where will he go? Beaten in Virginia, disgraced and humiliated, where will his army like a wounded snake, drag the length of its poisonous and bleeding body? Of course, to the Cotton States—to North Carolina, Georgia, Ala bama, and Mississippi! And what to do there? To resuscitate, to feed, and to plunder. What an invocation, this, to the misguided people to whom be bag presented himself as a great Deliverer? What a sequel to all his promises! Weil may they behold the retirement of his troops urea - their fields and threshholds with terror. lie never can advance to the position he has lost and is losing. He must fall back—fall backs.- - all the time. AM what a re treat ! Before him a Government stronger than•any in the world, and a people united by the consciousness of a good cause; behind him a disappointed, de pressed, and bankrupt population. Nor, when these Secession hordes leave the soil which they have pol luted, will Mr. Lincoln pursue them. His first care will be to assist to heal the wounds of Virginia, to teeters to her her fields channelled by the hoofs of the traitor, to that they may once more blossom and bloom ; to give back to her the Constitution stolen from her, and to bring together those who have beets part( d I,:t insidious and treacherous us-n. As to Mason, Wise, Hunter, and the rest of that fast failing aristocracy who have lost the prize they have played for, he will leave them to their own people—the same stern jurors and judges who will dispose of the chiefs of the Confederacy in their own good time, when they get them back trb their respective bailiwicks. " Richmond, which is now the capital of the Southern Confederacy,' Rill not gee many ses sions of the Traitor Congress. Montgomery was the cradle of the new Disunion—Rielunond will be its graven' MANY OF TUE REBEL TROOPS, whose twelve month term of enlistment has expired, have returned-to their homes. Some of them, it is true, haVe nominally re-enlisted, and promised to rejoin the Secession army after enjoying a short furlough. But if they spend a few weeks at their flre-sides, it will probably prove so difficult for them to find their old comrades and commanders, unless they seek them among the prisoners in the Union camps, that they will scarcely attempt so desperate an un dertaking. THE shout of victory is over ! Let us see what we have gained ; We read the multitttde of despatches with an eager and bewildered eye—the glaring announcement of- the tele graph—the confused statements of excited eye-witnesses—the elaborate narratives of the special correspondents—the sober chronicle of the official despatch—the long lists of the dead and wounded, and . the clear,ringing sentences of the Secretary of War thanking the army for its gallant deeds, and recommending the cold steel and close grapple to loyal soldiers. We revel in a sea of triumph, and catch the grateful waves of victory as they come from the West and the South—from the tributary streams of the Mississippi, and the stormy coasts 9f Carolina. We doubt the eestaey of our own feelings, and in the gush of general joy filling every heart we 'see only the victory and the triumphant standard of our country unfolding over the smoke and carnage of the well-fought field. We ring out merry peals in honor of the brave, and toll the funeral bells to the memory of the fallen; we tell our children of the bravery of McCmcia.A.N, and GRANT, and Brnxspz—of the sad and gallant fate of BAKER, and LION, and ' GRNDLN—and roe in these triumphs only the glare and glory of military success. Let us now pass from these personal and fascinating details, and, while the story of our recent successes is pass• ing into history, see what has been gained by the Republic in the triumph of its arms. The immediate result of our Western victo ries will be the liberation of Kentucky, Mis souri, and Tennessee. " promised when I came here," said General HALLECK, on Mon day evening, to an enthusiastic crowd in St. jmuis, gc with your aid, to drive the enemies of our flag from your State. This has been done'; they are now virtually out of Kentucky and soon will be out of Tennessee." In these results we see the masterly strategy of those who managed this campaign. The.victory at Mill Spring freed Southern Central Kentucky from the grasp of - BeLmcorran, the triumph at Fort Henry, and the _energy with which it was followed up, brought an immense army in the rear of Bowling Green and Columbus. The evacuation of Bowling Green was a Union victory, for in the departure of the rebel army ~ rebellion forever departed from the gallant State of Kentucky. The haughty me- nace or BRECKINRIDGE and BURNETT when they seceded that theywould drive the invader from the soil of Kentucky, anti that in taking• up arms they were conducting a defensive war, finds an appropriate answer in their present 'rapid flight from the theatre of their tyranny and usurpation. The success at Fort Donel aaa--the greatest victory of the war—gives us the control of the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and will compel a hasty , retreat from Columbus. Columbus was the point from which the army of Nice drew its sustenance; the strength of Columbus was maintained by the army of PRICE in Southern Missouri ; and now that the Missouri rebel army has surren dered, leaving GRANT in the rear of Columbus with an immense army, Columbus must be evacuated or captured. Missouri and Ken tucky are no longer the battle-grounds of con tending armies, and the war is transferred to Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. In our political vocabulary such a term as "The Border States" no longer exists. The trials of the loyal men in these States are over. They have had a fearful time since the commencement Of the rebellion. The horrors of this conflict have been brought home to their doors; their fields and farms have been desolated; devastation has spread along the banks of the Ohio, the Missouri, and the Cum berland; families have been divided, and all the untold miseries of civil war have been I upon them for months. Instead of being the 1 instruments of Secession, they were its , vic tims. Their public men were only broUght 1 into the oligarchy When a refufgal to enter I would have been •followed by the v confis- Ication of their property, banishment, or 1 death. The very Gustavus A: HENRY, I after whom the captured.fort was named, was one of the most eloquent of the Union men sc tl eTe bt ol t i l l tr ' re i Centl i blordy 1 Seorn u thA_ L SBut.li e in I conflict, was not only a hereditary friend of the I Union, but represented a great Union party in 118.56, for the second office In the gift of the American people. These men were among the last to join the rebels. c, Ti'an. became traitors when loyal+, noonme a test of courage. There are thousands like them, who went into the Confederate scheme with reluctance, yielding up their alle giance rather than endure the pains inflicted upon such men as ANDREW Jonesoe, Mr. MAYNARD, Mr. IsTersos, and their followers in I prison and among the mountains. These men 1 are now upon the magnanimity-of the Govern ment. Those who have sinned will be pun ished, according to the measure of thektrans- I gressions. For the weak and timid, pardon ; for the malicious and treacherous, punishment. We have gained confidenCe in our army. It is no longer a debated question, as to whether the men of the North or the men of the South are the braver, laud more disci plined. The present contests have presented all the phases of war, and in no one liranch of military science have they shown themselves superior, or even equal to our armies. At Mill Spring there was a hand-to-hand fight, a F bayonet charge, and a resistance to cavalry, and we whipped them. At Fort Henry there was an artillery combat, and behind our wood en walls we overmastered the long line of well made and solid ramparts. At Fort Donelson the most celebrated scenes of the Crimea, scenes immortalized in the bloodiest memories of the Malakoff and the Reda . % were again enacted. Thero is no feat of war more difficult than to carry a fort at the point of the bayonet, and yet at the point of the bayonet we carried Fort Donelson, over guns and eartlaworks, and every defensive appliance. The forced marches of this war have been made by our own men. They were in a strange, rough country, and in midwinter. They have not only conquered the enemy, but they have conquered the tempest on the sea, and She rain, the snows and frost on the land. Few narratives are more heartrending than those which tell of the trials and dangers of the Sherman and Burnside Expeditions. The stormy days off the inclement shoals of Hat teras, the perilous navigation to Port ROyal Harbor, the wreck of transports, and the loss of men and horses in the ocean, and those who know anything of war will Appreciate the indescribable hardships attending the march of an army from Cairo to Fort Donelson in the dreary days of midwinter. We have gained confidence in ourselves. What a sad and weary nation we were a few days ago. Our Senators sat- in a gloomy Senate,.and, looking out upon the darkness brooding everywhere, vainly looked for a gleam of hope, We looked over the sea and found the allow of the earth laughing at our ca. larnity, and mocking the fears that filled our hearts. There were those who_ actually be lieved that, in the hands of haughty Eng land, the destinies of this nation and the termination of this war rested. We were angry, impatient, petulant, selfish, and • sick at heart. The menace of an English nobleman—the dreaded menace of the Em peror of the French brought terror and grief upon us. Our treasury was empty, and the suggestion of a magnificent treasury scheme almost demoralized Congress. The patriots prayed for protection, our enemies plotted a disgraceful and humiliating peace. Members of Congress delivered elaborate orations, and their only theme was the nation's shame. They seemed to have a morbid delight in de tailing villainy and error, and misfortune; they gloated over every administrative blun der, and declaimed tragedy and poetry about contracts and short rations. We doubted the President, the Cabinet, our Commander-in- Chief, the commanders of our various armies. We doubted tele another ; we doubted our selves. We were on the eve of general de moralization, but any fear of Such A disaster no longer exists. Mr. COLFAX arose amid profound silence, says the telegraph, and read a despatch announcing the victories in Ten nessee, whereupon there was loud applause on the floors and the galleries. No more elo quent—no more cheering and joyous senti meet ever appeared upon the records of Con. gress. It was the sign of returning vigor. The clouds are-lifting from the national sky, and we look upon a glorious and majestic prospect. We look upon a prospect of speedy peace. No concession to slavery here, or despotism elsewhere. No compromise with treason and infamy. No surrender of national honor and self-respect. No abject submission to the social and political tyranny which has kept a whole Republic in thraldom. We look upon a discomfitted enemy lurking amid the Courts and Cabinets of European Powers; for in this general job we must not forget the victories conquered by the Secretary of State, the silent thunders of whose artillery have been as effective as the cannon of BURN SIDE and GRANT. It is a day of triumph, and the coming anniversary will be such a day as has never been , known in the history of this or auy land. The Rebellion is rapidly perish ing. As Mr. SEwARD so truthfully and beau tifully said in his instructions to Mr. Mmisii, our Minister to Turin—“ It will perish by simply coming to confront the American people, fur the first time brought to meet that enemy of national peace and safety in f arms; Vie people are aroused, awakened, resolute, and determined. We no longer fear—indeed we hardly deprecate—the disaster of civil war brought upon us, without fault. Vire, now see that it may, be regarded as a necessary trial to preserve' the perfection of our Constitution, and to remove all remaining distrust its du rability and adaptation to the universal wants of mankind." The Suppression tf the Rebellion Rebellion, like many other disorders, is speedily crushed when it is vigorouSly at tacked. It will soon become so difficult, if not impossible, for the people of the South to protract the war, and they will have so little to gain and so much to lose by vainly attempt ing to resist an irresistible Powers that they must <inevitably awake from their fantastic dream of Southern Independence. Every great nation has been profoundly agitated at some period of its history by insurrections and by rebellious wars. Sometimes, even in the strongest Governments, these attempts are temporarily crowned with great success;; but vigorous and warlike peoples, who are im pressed with is strong feeling of pistriotiain or of nationality, rarely fail to suppress them. We have seen the rapid rise of the Secession conspiracy, 'and we are now witnessing its almost equally rapid decline, To use an old simile, it went up like a rocket, and it is now going down like a stick. But a few months ago Maryland was 'deeply imbued with the Secession feeling. Large portions of Missottel and Kentucky, were in the possession of the Rebels, who, indeed, had so-called Confederate State Governments established within their limits. Before the advance of our armies these traitorous orgenizations have dis asipeneed as morning mists beneath a burning sun. In the districts we overrun, Unionism speedily becomes more popular and fashiona ble than SeCessionism. The strong pressure against treason on the outer limits of tho re bellious region will soon create an almost equally strong Pressure against It from the very heart of Secessia. Already the faithful Union men of the South are beginning to be treated rather as men whose favor is to be so licited rather than as objects of cruel and unjust persecution. The prominent con spirators are fast losing their influence over their dupes and 'victims. Their prog nostieations have been unfulfilled. Their plans have failed. They promised wealth and independence--they have poduced po verty and subjugation. They promised vic tory, and they have met with overwhelming defeats_ They promised security for Southern institUtions, and they have endangered all the interests of the South. They promised to surround slavery with new and insurmountable bulVcarks, and they have inflicted upon it more lgorous bloAt thati all the &mead Abolitionists in the world Could have dealt it. They claimed to be the saviors, and they have shown them selves the betrayers, of the South. The peo ple in the rebellions States have a thousand fold more reason to rise up now in rebellion against the conspirators who misled them than they bad 'to rebel against the bend dent Government which protected all their rights, and was the source of unnum bered blessings. NOW that out vietorious standards are planted in nearly every State, and that divisions of our army are rapidly ap proaching nearly every important point, the Union sentiment must speedily again find en• bvyresdsei°snpa;ira,nsdomoure B b ta y n i da nt r e d re S s w :b 1; but 11 1 : an k Se °di:: n Sin w ee h r i e ch ioVlfo d r the Union . and y, t w h e e 1.! f c tr o u ns t li b tL a o noble Republica e tills nation tho that ever existed. acn nV'taZi'lltnnazit - achievement of our army, instead of satisfying the patriotic spirit of our troops and the adventurous genius of our generals, proves but the incentive to further euterprises. Scarce had Fort Henry fallen before Fort Donelson was attacked, and simultaneous with the news of its capture, we heard of the expedition of Commodore FOOTN against Clarksville, Tennessee. BURNSIDE, not satisfied with taking Roanoke Island, pushes his way gallantly into other quarters of North Carolina. SHERMAN has beleaguered Savannah, and there are rumors that it stir rendered without firing a gun. PRIOR has been pntsued to the remotest corners of' Southwestern Missouri, and his position is a very hazardous one, He must either retreat, disperse his hordes, or risk a battle in which he will inevitably be defeated. BUELL and HALLEOK lave an, immense force ready for an irresistible march upon Tennessee, which will drive the enemy in dismay before it. The rebel army in Virginia will, in due time, also, no doubt,, be properly attended to. When its communications with the Southwest are cut off by our occupation of Tennessee, and its communications with North Carolina are destroyed by the Burnside Expedition, it will fall an easy prey. There is an f 4 ana conda tightening its coils around Virginia, which will give a death-grip to rebellion in the Old Dominion. An Unconditional Surrender When the rebel commanders at Roanoke Island and Fort Donelson asked our victorious generals on what terms they could capitulate, the answer was pointed and decisive : an un conditional surrender. These are the terms %Mt Which the Whole rebellion will eventually be. crushed. The American peoplo are not Cruel or vindictive; they are more apt to par don offences which should be punished than to inflict unmerited chastisement. But the armed foes of the Republic must and will be van quished and dispersed; and the misguided citizens of the South will find the Govern ment of the United Statesfar more mindful of their true interests, and more beneficent in its eperetiene, than the, hegus Ventederacy which the haughty 'conspirators, who have as sumed control of their destinies, have-vainly sought to establish. The Letter of General Buckner There is something peculiarly amusing in the letter of General BUCKNICR to General Grum; in which the former complains that his desire tor favorable terms of capitulation was not complied with. The doughty rebel chieftain says he is compelled, notwithstand ing the brilliant success of the ConCederate arms, to accept the ungenerous and.unchival rous terms" proposed by the victorious Union hero. He could not refrain from uttering a characteristically vain-glorious boast, even at the moment when, by his own confession, he had met with a humiliating defeat; and he had the bad taste to talk of unchivalrous terms, after the booted 'Southern chivgiry had become the jest and scorn of the world, both by its want of prowess; and by its violation of all the humane, loyal, and generous instincts of the ancient order of knighthood. -II up The Next News from Europe. The steamer Norwegian, which was to have left Liverpool for New York on the sixth, can scarcely bring the Queen's speech on the open ing of Parliament unless she drop in at Queenstown p en route. The Canada, leaving L:iverpool for Boston, on the Bth inst, will bring latest news from Europe to the 9th, and may be expected, olf Cape Race, to-morrow or next day. She may bring very important news of the proposed policy of England and Pfarice towards this country. No PEOPLE rejoice more enthusiastically over the Union victories than the refugees from the South, who were driven from their }mimes beco.uso they would not support the Secession movement. They fully understand the selfish aims and the barbarity of the ambi tious conspirators. They have felt the op_ pression of the reign of terror, which the rebel leaders established, and they rejoice now that retributive justice has inaugurated a new Reign of Terror, in which the Union armies are awaited with fear and trembling, by the promi nent traitors. A LATE telegraphic despatch from Ken tucky stated that a division of our troops was about to go up Salt river. At all events, they have rowed a large portion of the enemy up that classic stream. THE PRESS.-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1862. LETTERS FROM 64 OCCASIONAL." Wesnixams, Feb. 17 5 1862. Tho late city.election at Lancaster, Penn sylvania, which resulted in the success of the Breckinridge Democracy by a very meagre majority, teaches a truthful lesson to patriotic voters. The opponents of Sanderson, the Buchanan-Breckinridge candidate for Mayor, charged upon him and his followers sympathy with the enemies of the Union, which these latter stoutly denied. They even went it DlM shot beyond the most loyal in their profes sions of patriotism. Mingled with these os tentatious declarations, however, was, of course, the usual assaults upon Mr. Lin coin'a Administration, and the tiSilei anti sions to extravagance and corruption. It was this attitude of noisy patriotism and complaining partisanship that induced enough people to vote for Sanderson to re-elect him. The point of the moral is the man ner in which this result is received. Is it received as a tribute to the country any where ? Is it regarded as a verdict in favor of the Union by any one man, or by any one newspaper ? No Wherever it is greeted with exultation, it is by those whose hatred of the war is so intense that they only refrain from expressing it because they dread incarceration and punish ment. The people who elected Sanderson believed what he said to be true. They have only to see how he is appreciated by the avowed enemies of the country, since their Totes bate been given to him, to Seel how mistaken they were in this belief. It is scarcely possible that they would have elected James Buchanan Mayor of Lancaster. I hear that he is one of the most loyal of men now ; 'that his patriotism breaks out all over him like an erup tion; that he drinks it in his water, his whis ky, and his wine; eats it with his ducks and his roast beef; and hugs it to his artar"Ct a m in his delicious dreams. He even Mika of his country as if somebody but bleu& 'had not put the dagger to her heart, and the poi son in her veins. And yet, who would believe in such a man or such professions ? The fact happens to be that Sanderson is his warmest defender and friend, and that in honoring Sanderson you honor and gratify the greatest ingrate and traitor to a free people and the deadliest foe of free institutions, not excepting Jefferson Davis, on the face of the earth. Some of the apologists of the ex-President may call this personal feeling. It is not. My only object is to forewarn the people agaipst trusting the men who have produced this state of things in Ahaping the events that are rapidly developing themselves. The great work of the war will be how to dispose of the seceded . States after they have been conquered—and those who are to take thArge Of this wp.ric mu st not be the refuse of the Buchanan Adminis tration. In fact, the moment the rebels realize that their day is over, they will constitute the Dreckinridge Democrats of the North their legatees, and will rely-upon thOn-tO melte 0011 tents us kill enabla the despoilers of the Re public to come back to Washington and renew the despotism they have so long exercised in the Federal councils. The first object of the sympathizers with secession in the free States is to secure the next National House of Representa tives, and every such election as that in Lan caster is simply preliminary end preparatory to this achievement. In their efforts to this end they will outbid everybody in loyal demon strations. How far these demonstrations are to be trusted, you may understand by look ing over the votes of the . majority of the Democrats in your State Legislature, and of the majority of the Democrats in the Congress of the United States. heuld the popular branch of Congress be lost to thii Ad ministration by the intrigues of the Breckin ridge leaders and the divisions among loyal men, any reconstruction of the Union would, in all probability, be the eventual restoration to power of the Secession leaders. This would be accomplished by a series of manoeuvres against the policy of Mr. Lincoln, and by wearing out the public patience to such a de gree that any settlement would at la* beau- , cepted. Do not understatid me as -pleading for a pure Republican party organizapn• No such purpose, I am _satiafic.i--i---auu 4, rindJur to - De deSired is a solid, 'rigor ous, and generous union of all loyal men, with out reference to old , party names, and, lam happy to say, that this idea meets almost uni versal approval among the most distinguished members of the Republican, party. Against such a combination, of course ; all the instincts and interests of the Breckinridge party will be arrayed. Every nerve will be strained to de feat it, and there is not a calumny too, gross, a misrepresentation too monstrous, that will not be resorted to in order to effect this ob ject. Hence, the election at 'Lancaster was a most admonitory lesson. In a short time , elections will take place in Maine, New Hamp shire, and Connecticut, and next October Pennsylvania will be called upon to choose members of Congress and a Leg'slature, which will have the duty to perform of choosink, a United States Senator for six years from the 4th of March next. In the city of Philadel. delphia, many important officers will be upon the card. Your Mayor, your City Council men, five Congressmen, and almostone-fifth of of the Rouse of Rvpresentatives of the State. I You will perceive at a glance how the fireek infidge Democracy will struggle for tbeseprizes. at is the duty of loyal Denimit - ifs;with such a prospect before them ? Will they strike hands with the men who sympathize with Davis and the Secession traitors? or will they array themselves under the broad flag of the Union in order that the relmllion may be crushed, and such a reconstruction brought about as will give tone and vigor to the loyal men of the slave States ; and punish or banish those desperate despots now in arms against the country. They are invited to this, not only by the President and his Cabinet, but by every sincere Republican in. the land, and my ardent hope is, that they will aecept,this invi tation, so sincerely tendered, with promptitude and joy. OCCASIONAL. WAsurbrrox, Feb..lB, 1862. The-happiest of the Secession Traitors are the worthies now sojourning and luxuriating in London and Paris—John Slidell, James hf. Mason, W: L. Yancey, A. Dudley Mann, Philip Rost, George Eustis, and that most ac tive of all the agents of treason, the notorious P. Corbin, operator, money-lender, and general political intriguante. Safe from all harm, these selfish men will never venture to return to the United States. Long before this, they have, doubtless, been convinced that their unequalled ingratitude and scoundrelism was destined to defeat and to punishment. The failure to enlist even the over-willing syMpathies _of England and France actively on the side of the rebellion must have been anfheient to disgust them with their mission ; and when they hear bow their so-called Confederacy is crumbling into rottenness and ruin, they will felicitate each other that they are safely out of danger. Not one of these traitors will ever dare to show his face either in thh adhering or the seceded States. -If- they enter the first they will be tried, convicted, and punished as traitors, and if they seek their old homes they will turn upon and rend them. Yu most pitia able contrast to the sedurity of these men in their foreign hiding-places is the dilemma of _their fellow-conspirators who are forced to remain and to run the hazard of the die. What the course of the Government will be in re gard to these men cannot be anticipated with certainty. That they have forfeited their lives by their many overt acts of treason is undoubt edly true, and that an earnest public opinion will demand their execution or their perpetual exclusion from the United States is equally true. What measure of justice would be too severe for such a man as Jefferson Davis, or John B. Floyd, or John Letchur, or Howell Cobb, or Alexander H. Stephens, or John. C. Breckintidge ? Hew they would have acted had positions been reversed with Andrew Johnson or John S. Carlile in their hands, everybody knows. These patriots would have been summarily punished because they re fused to accept and endorse the crime of the Secession leaders. If there is one thing that loyal men can agree upon, it is that the coun try must be rid of the men who have plotted its destruction. They must neither •be per witted to live in the South nor to come to the city of Washington ; and it is the duty of Mr. Lincoln to take' imme diate steps to effect this object. There will be no lack of the friends of the +Union hereafter in the Southern States. The traitor chiefs arc a minority even of the leading men of the slave States, and thousands who have been forced to give , way to these demagogues, and to follow their - lead, will now emerge from their obscurity, accept the offers of the Administration, and assist in the trial and punishment of those Who have kept them down and plunged the Republic into a civil war. There is not a seceded State, with the exception, possibly, of South Carolina, in which a large Union party could not be speedily organized. Tennessee contains thou sands of patriotic men, who would gladly seize the opportunity to depose lahata G. Harris, the recreant Governor, and to seize the Legislature and commit the members to the same process that was so successfully resorted to against the Secession members of the Maryland Legislature. In North Caroßua, the experiment of Secession was forced upon the people. Men like Holden, of the Raleigh Standard, ex-Governor Morehead, George E. Badger, and W. A. Graham, yielded only be cause they could not successfully resist; and when they _realize in the indulgent and magnanimous rule of the Federal Govern ment the ample encouragement to follow the example of the patriots of Kentucky and Mis iouri, they will only be too proud to act. In Alabama, the ordinance of Secession was car ried by a eta - Armed fraud, and those of us who recall the agony with which George S. Houston left his seat in Congress, and the tears and self-reproaches of Wil liamson R. W. Cobb, when he retired, can easily imagine the joy with which such men will welcome the advance of our conquer ing columns. Georgia cannot continue to be oppressed by Cobb, and Toombs, and Stephens. All her interests are on the side of peace and against disunion ; and her young men will seize .upon any pretext to assort their supre macy and to accept_tle liberal offers of the General Government. As to Louisiana, Pierre Soule has not been silent and inactive without a good Cause, and you will remember that, even in the very torrent and tempest of the Secession insanity, the Now Orleans True Della continued to hurl its defiance at the heads of Davis and his cabal. That paper, conducted by the intrepid Irishman, John Maginnis, can now wield a tremendous influ ence if properly sustained by our victorious arms. The reasons that will operate to cre ate a formidable Union party in Louisi ana are strengthened by the fact that the Mis sissippi is being rapidly cleared by our gun boats, and that the mouth of that great river is hermetically sealed by our squadron; and when the blockade is removed by the capture of New Orleans, bankruptcy, starvation, and commer cial atrophy, will be succeeded by prosperity, peace, and a universal revival of trade. As to Texas and Arkansas, even the most intolerant of the Secession leaders have frequently and lately admitted that there was a strong loyal sentiment in both these States. Arkansas is, infect, the creature of the Federal Govern ment, and her people will loudly rejoice when I I they can once more feel that their generous almoner is about to reappear among them. The Germanaof Texas want no inducements to strike for the old flag. Their inherent hostility to slavery, their frequently manifested contempt for such miscreants as W 'grail, would in them selves render them an element most difficult to hold, even if treason were not certain to be crushed. Mississippi will, of course, attempt to maintain an independent antagonism, but there is a latent Union element even there. Jefferson Davis himself was defeated in Mis sissippi when he opposed the Compromise measures, eleven years agorand a Northern I man, Wm. Henry auriso, orrio tho glecto rat vote of that State against Martin Van Buren when the latter was the spoiled favo rite of the Southern politicians. Should South Carolina refuse to surrender, let the strong arm and the strong remedy be applied in her ease ! Absorb her in Georgia, or _blot her name forever from the American map. Establish a Provisional Government, re duce her to a territorial condition, and let her leaders be taught the severe pe nalties of the great crime they originated, and the indescribable calamities they inflicted upon millions of happy people. Florida alone remains to be considered ? but as she is relatively not a township in popula tion} she may be left to the wise guardianship of polow3l Brown, the military statesman who has exclusive charge of that Congressional district. OCCANONAL. L A - T ES T NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. FROM WASHINGTON. THE REBEL FLAGS CAPTURED IN THE LATE VICTORIES. THEY ARE TO - BE.PRESENTED-TO CORGREM AN MORTAL= RUMOR ABOUT THE REBEL VICE PRESEDEIT THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. THE CASE OF MR. STARKE, OF OREGON. The Senate's Amendment to the Foititcation Bill Adopted by the House. REPORT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE TREB6URY•NOTE BILL. Special Despatches to " The Press." WASHINGTON, February 18,1802. The - United States Note Bill—Report of the House Committee on Ways and Means on the Senate Amendments. The Committee on Ways and Means recommend that the House agree to about two-thirds of the Senate amendment' to the United States note bill, and that they disagree to those reducing the num ber of the United States notes authorized to be is sued from $150,000,000 to $100,000,000, and to the striking out of the original provito that fifty millions of the notes shall be in lien of the;demand treasury mates authorized by the act of .1 . 14 last, he. The committee also recommend that the House disagree to the Senate amendment that the July notes shall be receivable in payment of taxes, duties, imports, excises, debts, and demands of every kind due tit the United States, and of all claims and demands of every kind, except for in terest upon bonds and notes; which shall be paid in win. Also, to _disagree to the amendment fixing tbe redemption of the bonds at the pleasure of the United States after five years, and payable"in twenty years from data The committee recommend the retention of the previa° for the exchange of the bonds of the United States bearing interest at 7 per contain, and a disa greement to the Senate amendment authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to dispose of the bends at the market value. They recommend a disagreement to the Senate's new section, which pledges the custom duties and the proceeds of the of public lands and of property seized and sold under the laws of the United States as the property of rebels as, a special fund for the payment in coin Of the interest on the bonds and notes, and for the purchase or payment of one per centum of the en tire debt, to be set apart as a sinking fund, the in terest on which, in like manner, to be applied to the purchase or payment of the public debt; the residue thereof to be paid into the Treasury. The . committee recommend the agreement of the House to another new section of the Senate, with an amendment which they propose—namely, authorizing the deposit of notes or coin in exchange far certificates , and instead of five per cent= into. rest on such certificates, to substitute, at snob rates of interest which the Secretary of the Treasury may from time to time prescribe, not exceeding six per centum ; and any amount of notes or coin so deposited may be withdrawn from deposit at any time, after ten days' notice, on the return of the certi f icates." .The President's Household. The usual Tuesday reception did not take plaoe to-night at toe Executive mansion, owing to the eon tinned iEnms of the President's children, one of *horn IN Intim* in, Rejected Army Clothing. The Militery'Board of Impeders, appointed by thefleneral in chief, are engaged in examining the supplies recently received at the clothing depart ment from Philadelphia and New York. The re main of their first day's labor was to condemn 25.000 infantry privates' coats, which articles cost the Government $187.750. From all appearances, the Board will continue in seat-ion fur a lung time. It has been found necessary to order the erection of a huge shed ) for the purpose of storing rejected clothing. In order to protect the Government from being swindled by the wholesale, and the better to secure the health and• comfort of the army, efforts are making to organize a bureau to furnish the troops with clothing,oamp and garrison eqdipage, and to he eStablished aiigiisr to the other bureaus of the War Department, though separate and die- Unet from them all. Among the arrivals to.night are General Rums and Minister CAMERON. - An Important Rumor. nig currently reported to-night that ALEXA.N. Dan H. PrarnENS, the recelitly-eleated Viee Pre sident of the rebel Confederacy, has resigned that office, and urges the return of the seceded Status to, the Federal Union. Presentation of Rebel Flags to Congress— The Celebration of the 22d Tho following ordor, rolatiro to the presentation of rebel flags to Congress, was issued to-day : WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON D. C., Feb. 18. It is ordered by the President, Commander-in. Chief of the army and navy, that, on the 22d day of February, in the ball of the Home of Repre. selitatiVeti, 'lmmediately after the Farewell Ad dress of George Washington shall have been read, the rebel flags lately captured by the United States forces shall be presented to Congress by the Adjutant General, to be disposed of as Congress may direct. By order of the President. EDWIN M STANTON, Saeretary of War. Circular. HEADQUARTERS OF THE U. S. ARMY, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, D. D., Feb. 18, 1802. The general officers who, under the joint resolu tion' of Congress, may be invited to attend the ceremonies in the Chamber or the House of Repre sentatives on Saturday, the 22d day of February, inst., will assemble in the old Supreme Court-room at a quarter to twelve o'clock of that day. By command of Mar General McClellan. L. THOMAS, Adjutant General. Senator Ltttham. The City Councils of New York appropriated the sum of three thousand dollars to celebrate the Coming anniversary of Washington's birthday in an appropriate manner. Senator LAMOI, a Cali fornia, was invited to deliver an oration; but in consequence of his numerous engagements as a member of the Military Committee, and his ardu ous duties in the Senate, he was compelled to de cline. This is a high compliment, on the part of New York, to the eminent and eloquent Senator from California. Confirmations. The Senate, yesterday, in executive session, made the following confirmations : MOHAN B. WALLACE to ho Vatted Staten Mar shal for the Western District of Missouri. J. HOWARD ReTnnea, of New York, to be asp tain in the Twelfth Infantry. Senatorial Wit When the 046retery of the Senate, Mr. Fenunr, read the despatch announcing the victory at Fort Donelson, there was loud applause in the galleries. The following dialogue took place : till! VICE PRESIDENT. That's J2igkt! The chair rules that the Cheating in the galleries wag not in applause or censure of any action of the Senate, and they would not, therefore, be called to order. [A despatch from a rebel source was afterwards read, confirming the first account, when the ap plause in the galleries was renewed. I Mr. FOSTER. I would inquire of the chair if it is in to applaud a rebel despatch ? [Laughter.] Tea Vice PRESIDENT. It IS, when 8110 h It des patch is reliable and true. [Laughter and Ap plause.] THE FORT DONELSON VICTORY. FURTHER DETAILS. Desperate Bravery of our Troops GENERAL A, SIDNEY JOHNSTON NOT TAKEN, SUPPOSED BMW OF CLAEXSVILLE TILE REBELS Cuteado, Feb. 18.—The Tribune's special de spatch from Fort Donelson says that the position of the ground occupied by our troops in the attack neon Fort Donelson was such that riot more than one regiment could operate at the same time, while the rebels could bring nearly their whole force to boar against us. The first regiment to receive the rebels was the Eighteenth Illinois, which fought with desperate courage until their ammunition was errhaueteti, when they were forced to retire. They were replaced by the Eighth Illinois, who were also driven back after firing their last round. Meanwhile, the other regiments were lending such feeble assistance as their positions would ad mit. General Lewis Wallace was then ordered to reinforce Genera Meeleriiabd, ad he itek two brigades to the centre. The Thirty-first Illinois, Colonel Logan, fought like veterans, defending Swartz's battery, under the most gallant fire, until every horse at the battery was killed, together with all the officers who bad charge of the gum, as well as the lieutenant colonel, the acting major, seven captains, and a number of lieutenants wound ed. The regiment being nearly surrounded, Capt. Cooke, who was left in command, drew off what there was lett, not, however, until their last round was expended, and they had commenced driving the rebels before them. The Second brigade then came up and took the place of the retired one, and fought desperately, _losing a great number of killed : butL__wttliikega, ty-ninth and Fifty-ninth Ohio, drove the rebels back to their entrenchments—gaining a portion of the ground lost. The object of the rebels was evi dently to cut their way through our troops. The General Johnston taken is Bushrott Johnston, a brigadier general, from Tennessee, and not A. Sidney Johnston, as generally apposed. Caine, Feb. 17.—The steamer Memphis arrived from Fort Donelson this evening, bringing a Missis sippi regiment as prisoners, and fifty or sixty wounded soldiers, who were left at Mound City. Eight or nine other boats are on their way with rebel prisoners. The rebels who have escaped, it is supposed, have gone to Nashville or Clarksville, where, it * is believed, the rebels will attempt to make another stand. 2hia evening a great light was seen for several hours in the direction of Clarksville ; and it is sup posed that the rebels have either burned the town or their steamboats in the river to prevent them falling into our hands. The rebel officers admit that if we take Nashville, the rebellion in is gone up. Tho prisoners will probably hc int it. Cifit. Douglas, Chicago. Another Account of the Last Day's Fight. CINCINNATI, Feb. 18.—The following is an ac count of the fighting, on Saturdah at Fort Donal- On Saturday morning the battle was resumed with unusual vigor and determination. The Eighth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, and Thirty first Illinois Regiments occupied positions above the fort. They were about preparing a little food for the day's sustenance when the rebels opened on rhea a fire of musketry. A line of battle was at once formed, and the storm of leaden hail returned, perceptibly thinning the rebel ranks. The rebels, from their advantageous positions, showered upon our ranks most murderous volleys of musketry, grape, and canister, killing and wounding our men almost by companies at every round. Yet every man stood his ground bravely. These four regiments held their ground, dealing death and dying, and fighting against appalling odds, and in the face of every disadvantage. The Eighteenth Illinois Regiment seems to have resisted the aeierest storm. Against their ranks the rebels directed their heaviest fire, but, instead of falling back, they advanced to the face of the enemy, and there stood in the very jaws of death, with scarcely a prospect that a single man would escape. ' For three hours these regiments, numbering Scarcely 3,000 men, held their ground against the whole rebel garrison, At one tibia the Eighteenth, being Fatally flanked, was exposed to a crass-fire of both mus ketry and artillery, bat our right wing soon re lieved them. At this critical moment, Col. Lawler fell. baptain Bash, acting lieutenant colonel, then assumed. the command, but was soon wounded. Captain Cruse was shot dead. Captain Lawler was mortally wounded. Lieutenants Munsford and Thompson were killed, Captains Dillon and Wilson and Lieutenants Kelly and Scanlan wounded, so that the daring cs Egyptian Regiment" stood before an almost overwhelming force, witbotili offs. ears. They fell in heaps, dead and wounded. Com panies were bereft of captains and lieutenants, and captains were almost bereft of companies. Thirother three regiments did their duty nobly. Colonel," Oglesby, Marsh, and Logan, dashed along the ranks, waving their hats and cheering their men on to the conflict. "Suffer death," cried Logan, "but disgrace never ! Stand firm !" and well they heeded him. Many fell dead and wounded. Among the latter were Colonel Logan and Lieut. Col. Whit*. Col. Ogelsby and Marsh's regiments fought des perately, losing, like other regiments, an undue proportion of officers. • Col. Ogelsby displayed a coolneas and courage that has elicited the highest praise, and served well in stimulating his men. Never, perhaps, on the American continent has a more bloody battle been fought An officer who participated, and was wounded, in the tight says the scene beggars description. So thickly was the battle-field strewn with the dead and wounded that he could have traversed aorwrof it b 7 - y taking almost every step upon a prostrate The rebels - fought with desperation, their artil twist using their pieces with the most fearful effect. On either aide could be heard scores of those in command cheering on their men. The four Illinois regiments held their ground full three hours. Nearly one third bad been killed or wounded, and yet the bnienee stood firm. Linadly, reinforce tuenta arrived, and for Am hour the slaughter was continued, About 4 o'clock our right wing . turned the ene my's left, and the rebels fell back into their fortifi cations and our flag was planted upon the position occupied by their left wing. Fee a time the slaughter then ceased. Dresser's and Schwartz's batteries were captured during the action, but the Eighteenth Illinois, with clubbed muskets, recovered Dressers's battery, while the Thirty-first recovered that of Captain Schwartz. Still Another Account. Sr. Louis, Feb. 18.—The Fort Doneloon cor respondent of the Republlcan gives the following account of the fighting on Saturday : Yesterday (Saturday) morning, just at daylight, a heavy sortie was made by the garrison from the left portion of their works. This attack was made upon the extreme right wing of the Union army, where it was strongest. A part of Oen. MeClernand's division, under Col. Oglesby, consisting of his brigade, was sta tioned there ; also, 'Schwartz's and dloVister's batteries. The point was upon a ridgd leading into the right redoubt, and situated just about the main fort. During the night the enemy eould be heard busily at work, but it was impossible to tell at what, es thicket and woods encompassed the Union troops on every side, obstructing the view in every direction. At daylight, a large body of the enemy suddenly appeared on the extreme right will of Coloud oglesby'e command, and openid a tumble Are with cannon from their redoubt, playing, at the same time, upon our forces from the guns which had been placed in position on the night previous. The camps of the Twentylaiath and Thirty-first Illinois were most exposed. The whole brigade was at once formed into line, as follows : The Eighteenth Illinois Regiment hold the OX • treme right. The Eighth Illinois came next; then the Thirtieth Illinois, then the Twenty-ninth Illinois supportin_g. the right of Capt. Schwartz's battery, and the Thirty.first Illinois defending the artillery on the left. From the firing t,r the RA guff until 0 15'8186k, the battle raged unremittingly and with tearful loss on both sides. Again, and again, our troops drove the enemy back, but they were often rein forced, while our troops had, owing to the ex tended lines of the army, and also their position on the extreme right; to ght unassisted, More gallant fighting never took place than that of the Union troops. Exposed to the terrible firing of triple their number, they stood their ground un til, in some regiments, every officer was killed or wounded. At last, and then reluctantly, regiment by regiment, they slowly fell bads, 'leaving Schwartz battery, and three of McAllister a guns in the rebel bands. Retiring a few hundred yards, they all then made a stand, and Gen. Smith arrived with reinforcements, and at once drove the enemy again into their works. In the first of the battle also, Col. W. H. L. Wallace's brigad, comprising the Eleventh, Twentieth, Seventeenth, and Forty-eight re giments participated. Also Cot McArthur's brigade, all of which troops suffered severely. Opposed to them were 12,000 rebels, supported by guns that had been carefully placed in proper posi tion. , tioncral grant baying, in command of tho divi sion, driven the enemy beek with reinforcements, and gained the lost ground, at onoe ordered an ad vance, by General Smith, on the left. Reported Capture of Price PITTSBURG, Feb. 18.—A private despatch from Chicago nye that Price and his whole army have been captured by our troops. No Foundation for the Rumor Camerae. Feb. 18.—There is no foundation for the report that General Prioe and his army have bean capturcd, Exhibition of Union Feeling at Baltimore. BALTIMORE. Feb. 18.—A lecture, delivered to night avtbe Maryland Institute, was the occasion of an exciting demonstration of Union feeling. The Rev. Mr. Fogit, while delivering a leoture, branched off on political affairs, and, alladiag 49 049 test.oath, by the Legislature; for clergymen, said that, whilst he was a Union man, he would suffer martyrdom before he would submit to such an oath, adding, if this be treason, make the most of it! The audience immediately became greatly excited, and all sorts of noises were made. Cheers were offered for the Union, and groane for the git7ealief, The lecturer was compelled to desist, and the audi •nce dispersed. Rejoicings at Lancaster. LANCASTER, Feb. 18.—The city is enlivened this evening by She ringies b9lle, bury% firing of gems, and other demonstrations of joy over the re cent Union victories. This demonstration was gotten up by the Association of Patriot Daughters, whose labors in behalf of the volunteers have been unremitting since the issuing of the President's proclamation in April last. Arrangements are also making for a propor oelebration of Washington's Birthday in this 4:34. Itejoicingik at San Francisco . SAN Fnescisco, Feb. 17.—The announoement of the capture of Fort Doneleen has been received here, and there is great rejoicing over the victory. Fire at Hamilton, C. W. ILAMILTON. Feb. 18.—The Great Western Eleva tor was burned, this afternoon, with 28,000 bushels of grain. Rejoicing in Chester. [Correspondence of The Press.] CHESTER, Feb. 18, 1862. All the bells in our town are sending forth jubi lant peals this morning, in honor of the great Union victory in TOPIieSPIP9., The 914 cannon fias been brought into requisition, and the gunners are firing round after round for the glorious success of our arms in the South and West. The stars and stripes are displayed from every flag-pole and win dow ; work has been, in a great measure, suspend ed, end our cidzene have given themselves up to general rejoicing. W. THE WORLD'S HORSE FAIR will be held in Chi cago, commencing on the second day of September next, and continuing two weeks. The fair will be open to all nations for competition, and it is ex pected that the collection will be the finest ever exhibited at a horse fair in America, $25,000 in premiums will be given. There will be a $l,OOO premium for the best trotter, and probably the same for the best running horse, one mile; also, a e5OO F rei:am - a fat the best lady Adam, COI muss= teen exhibitions every day; also, a series of elk races and other novelties. Stock, farm, and road horses will receive over one-third of the premiums, which are the largest ever given. The otters tr i s . ; Pere', - air Ivratg; liintri * w York ; general superintendent, J. Milton Smith, Chicago; secre tary, W. P. Isham, Chicago. Our Washington correspondent states that an im portant rumor was prevalent in Washington last night, to the effect that Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice President of the rebel Confederacy, has re signed, and that he favors a return of the seceded States to the Federal Union. XXXVIITII CONGRESS-FIEST SESSION, WASHINGTOII6 Feb. 18, 1882. SENATE. Relief of Ireland. ?dr. HOWE (Sep.), of Wisconsin, prosented the joint resolution of the Legislature of Wisconsin in favor of the relief of Ireland front famine, referring to her brave eons who area winning glory for us on our battle fields. Re ferred. Forfeiture of Personal Rights. Mr. HARRIS (Rep.), of New York, introduced a bill declaring the forfeiture of the rights and privileges of under the Cosnititution of the United States. Referred. lise of Railroads in Missouri. Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of Massachuaetts, front the Ju diciary Committee, reported back the joint rerolution from the House in relation to certain railroads in Missouri. The resolution authorizes the Secretary of War to pay certain railroads in Missouri for the transportation Of troops and supp!ies. Mr. TRUMBULL (Rep.), of Illinois, thought it in volved the very important gueetion of paying damage% and should be well considered. Pending the consideration, a message arrived from the House asking for the return of the resolution, The Wafthingtott Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of NaHßACiausetta i introduced a resolution that the Committee ou the District of Colum bia be instructed to inquire into tin, judicial management of the jail in the city of Worthington. He had read a let ter from Mr. Duval, stating that great Rinke@ were com mitted in the jail, and especially the hogging prisoners in a severe manner. Adopted. 1 7 11ELIMUYA of Mtlit4 Mr. HABILIS moved to print the bill offered by him. He said the bill was founded on the English principle of outlawry, and provides for a forfeiture of the rights and privileges, under the laws, of those who take up arms against the 'United States. It was ordered to be printed. Illumination of the Public Buildings. Ili joint resolution received from the ROll5O, tLrt the Commissioner of - Public Buildings be directed to nate all the public buildings on Saturday next, the 22d of February, in honor of the recent victories, was taken up and passed. The Case Of Mr. Starke. 'The ease of Hr. Starke. of Oregon, Wa3 taken up. ldr. HARRIS eald a number of papers and atildartti were laid before the committee in regard to certain con versations, &c., of Mr. Starke. The question before the committee was whether such evidence wee' sufficient to prevent the prima facie right to take the oath of office. 'The committee thought not They thought that the Se na s had only the right to judge of a member's qualifies- OM Of fitTtiggi MA tin constitutional right of the per. son to IBM his Seat Mr. MALE (Bey.), of New Hampshire, offered an or der that the case be recommitted to the Judiciary Com mitten, with instructions to report on the tact@ whether they were sufficient to show Ms disloyalty or not. He thought the very question for the committee to decide was whether the person was qualified to hold a seat. If there wee no radium° to prevent hie tithing the then there was no evidence to prevent his holding the seat. Mr. SUMNER (Rep.), of Massachusetts, proceeded to speak at length on the question. He contended that if the Senate was to judge of the qualifications of a Sena tor only the age, citizenship, and residence in a State, than an open traitor might come and claim Lis seat, and the Senate had no right to lonian' out: He affirmed that loyalty was also a qualification, and referred to ar ticle sixth, section third, of the Constitution, providing that an oath to preserve the Constitution must be taken previous to a Senator taking his seat. He contended that this was, in fact, a qualification of loyalty. Then disloyalty was disqualification, and the only question left is, when is the evidence to be moldered BV claimed that offering to take the oath was not eufficient against evidence of disloyalty. Mr. TRUMBULL (Rep.) of Illinois, said he did not think a very important question was involved in this matter. The committee claimed that any person coming here with a proper certificate had the right to take his seat, no matter bow infamous his character may have been. It anoint absurd to receive a man only to turn bim out the next day. 'Under such a rule, Governor Magorlin, of Kentucky, might send Buckner, or any known traitor, and the Senate be obliged to receive him. The courts have decided that a disloyal person can hold no office or nubile trust under the United States. He admitted that the decision of the courts was not a rule for the Senate i but, would any Senator vote to admit a judge who bad taken a btibe,, and thus rendered himself Malls gible by the law of courts 1 If not, then the Senate must agree to this principle. Importance of the Case. Mr. CARLILE (U.), of Virginia, considered this ono of the most Important questions that could be presented. It was a question of ths power of the maiority of the fie• nate to exclude a State from representation. Rethought It fair to infer that a State should be careful to send norm but persons lit aild maim to represent a State. The eyi. deuce in this case is entirely ex paste,' and the person claiming the seat solemnly declares that MI these charges are from bitter political opponents, and that all the ails go dohs em,ibst his lei e false. Was not a State the hest Judge of the qualifications of its representa tives 1 He thought that the Senate had only power to expel a member after he took his seat, and for hie eabse (Luria uric, • • Mt. TRIJMRULL asked, Suppose Floyd were sent here from Virmuts, could we not expel Lima '1 Mr. CARLILE thought not; but It was not fair to assume that the State or . Governor would send such a person. Mr. CLARK (Rep.), of New Hampshire, asked if the Stale of Nity f Omuta send here a man who was afterwards found to be a horse-thief, would.not the Senate expel him Mr. CABLILE did not think the State would do such a thing; but if it did, he thought it would be one of those disadvantages to which the Senate would have to submit. He did not believe that either House lout pot er to go beyond the qualifications mentioned iu the. Constitution. He moved that. if the ease be recous, sniffed at ail, it be to a special cammittea. Mr. MoDOUGALL (D.). of California, thought ittrea • question of right of the State of Oregon. That State had passed on the qualifications of the Senator, and he do. med that, when a person presented himself with. all the constitutional qualifications and the credenttels of the State, the Senate had any right to shut lta dome eft him. Mr. TEM EYCK (Rey.) *odd the simple atuuddon was whether the subject should be recommitted to the Judi. Clary Committee. There could be no earthly podia that, It would only cause delay. The equate already has all the facts is tha me, Pad ought to sat cut the cm so tt stud,. Mr. DAVIS (Rep.), of Kentucky, spoke at some length against the report of the committee, contending that loyalty was a proper qualification for consideration. Mr. CLARK disagreed from the report of the com mittee, tie argued that the pros - Ilion Of the Consti tution that the oath be taken to support the Constitution shows that iryalty is a proper qualification, and the Senate wee not precluded by the taking of the oath from considering other evidence, Mr. MORRILL (Rep.), of Maine, thought the Senate was In no condition to judge the ease. The only evi dence before it wee entirely ex parte, He would tend the subject back to the committee far further evidence:l Mr. FOSTER (Rep.), of Connecticut, said that the credentials of the Senator and certain papers were re ferred to the Judiciary Committee to ascertain whether the appointee was untitled to take the oath. It was now argued that the committee had decided that even a dis loyal man might to he admitted If he had the proper eredentiale. The committee had decided nothing of the tart. Ile referred to their YOWL They decided the question referred to them, and nothing else. Ile did not believe a mere majority was sufficient to expel a man un der the Constitution, and thought It doubtful whether we ought to keep a man out until we made an investiga tion, thus practically expelling him. Mr. SUMNER moved to amend the resolution of the committee, so as to reed that Mt. Starke, being now charged with disloyalty, is not entitled to take the oath without previous Investigation. Re contended that the presentation of the credentials did not cut off the. Senate from Inquiries as to age or citizenship, and surely ought not to preclude Inquiries on the graver question of 109-. Mr. FESSENDEN (Rep), of Maine, said the papers were in the first instance Rent to him, and though he had doubted as to whether Mr. Starke ought net tote allowed to take the oath, still he thought it best to have the case submitted to the committee. The committee have reported that, under all the circumstances, the applicant is entitled to take the oath, and be was dispelled to concur in the report. According to the ideas pul. forward, an applicant would not be allowed to purge himself by taking an oath. He would not allow an, admitted traitor to take the oath, but he thought this was not a case where such a rule could be established. It is a precedent fraught with immense danger to give a mere majority the power to exclude a Senator, and should only be done In the most extreme cases. Was this oda a case 7 If such language had been used by a Senator as is attributed to the appointee from Oregon, It would be sufficient to justify his expul sion. But this evidence is all ex parte, and we do not know the circumstances. Most of the language was ut tered long ago. He knew men who are now serving their country In the field who at the same time talked ae freely OH the Sehalor from Qftel9ll J 8 Neill tp have lotto, 441 p, the applicant's allegation of loyalty now and willingness to take the oath ate strong points against makingeo very danterons a pr. cedent. Mr. HALE t Rep.), of New Hampshire, thought that the report of the committee contemplated subsequent proceedings. He paid a high compliment to the talent and ability of the Judiciary Committee, and said we ought to expect from them a full and explicit report, Mr. DIXON (Rep.), of Colieetielit, said amps of the graveet kind had been brought against the applicant fur the Senatorship from Oregon, which, if tree, certain ly unfit hini for a seat on thin floor. Ile did not think any man who would utter such language, or entertsin comb views as charged, could ever purge himself of dis loyalty by taking the oath, 11ir, Dixon then read from the affidliVite. Mr. NEM' rrt . (Rep.), of Oregon, called attention to some of the evidence which said that Starke spoke of the Palmetto flag, Ac., but this in said to have been in De comber, 1860, long before the semeseion of any State was known in Oregon. Mr. lIRNORR . SON (If 1, of Missouri, said that taking ea untie liEld a saltier with a man's own conscience, UV thought we could not go behind the Constitution, but must admit the applicant, and then, if we tind him disloyal, ex pel him. Pending the consideration of the question the Senate adjourned. OUSE CIF REPRESENTATIVES. The Port Royal Victory—Thanks' On motion of Mr. %VASIL (Rep.), of fitinobi, the 'donee took tip the See ate joint resolution, tendering the thanks of Congress to Capt. Dupont, and the officers and men under his command, for the decisive and splen did vitt wy at Port Royal, in November lust. Also, the Senate resolution tendering the thanks Or COPPOVIP to the Juin 1414 hh fef i fifidif 00 , RoVidaig+ of Almighty God, achieving a series of brilliant victories over the enemy, and iu behalf of the Union and the Con. Ptitut ion. •both were passed unanimously. The Fortification Bill. The Hii coinurM to tli9tii.nsWi M 1 '4'03104 0 the fortification bllL The U. S. Note Bill. BTETENt (Rep.), of Pennsylvania, from the Committee of Ways any Means, retorted back the United States note bill with some modifications. On hie motion, it was made the special order for to-morrow, at one The Grade of Navy-Line Officers, Mr. BIiDCWICH (Itep ), of Nnw York, reported a bill to equalize tLe grade of the line officers of the Mary. The Prize Law. bfr. TIMM AS (Roy.), of Massar:hnsetts, introduced kw for the better administration of the law of prim. The Illumination of the Pithlie Buildings, Mr. TRAIN (Itep.), of Massachusetts, introduced Ups following, which was unanimously adopted : Resolved, the Senate concurring, That the Commis sinner of Public Buildings order the public buildings to be illuminated on Saturday evening, in honor of the re cent victories obtained by the army and navy of the United States. Appreciation of the Recent Victories. Mr. WASUBMINE Introduced the following, Which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, As a mark of respect for the memory of the brave men who have been killed, and sympathy for those who have been wounded, in the recent victories of our arms in South Caroiiun, Kentucky, TomoNols if4ftl4 Carolina, And Virginia, as wall as a testimonial or the profound admiration of this House for the persistent and undaunted courage of all the officers and soldiers, sailors and marines engaged, and who have achieved for them selves and conferred upon the country imperishable honor and renown, that this House do now adjourn. The resolution was unanimously adopted, and the noose accordingly PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. Hanlon/so February 18,1892. _ _ SENATE, The Senate watt called to older at It o'clock by the Speaker. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Woods, or the Baptist Church.: Kr. DONOVAN presented a petition of two hundrei or Philadelphia for the abehtion of cnrbatona hir. SMITH; of Monti/omen% run ni ng of the peerage of a law for preventing cattle running aflame in Montgom ery county. Reports of Committees Mr. BENSON (Finance), with amendments, the MU providing for the payment of officers for recruiting ser vices. Mr. CRAWFORD, (itame), with a negative recom nitiniliii9Rl tho bill ;Tolling for the payment of certain military expenses, Mr. CONNELL (game), ag committed, the bill ding for the adjudication and payment of certain military claims. One thonoand extra copies were ordered to be printed for the me of the Senate. Mr. MaOLIIRE (same), as committed, the bill for the relief of John Boas, late euperintendent of the Allegheny Pettege !tamed Mae, ea oat emitted, the filiki.lemeutio the penal laws of the Voramoowealth, Mr. PENNEY (Judiciary), as committed, The bill to establish a fee bill in Dauphin county in certain cages. Mr. CLYMER (same), as committed, the bill to la th:lC@ the rate of payment for advertising delinquent tax payers in the city of Philadelphia ; also, as committed, the bill to divorce George Parker and Garottes bla Milli IBEFOaii;ei , d ; Mr. CLYMER, a supplement to the act Incorporating the Rita Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mao, a bill Dying the commencement of the term of sheriffs in the 'leveret counties of the Commonwealth. Mr. IabILTZ, a bill relative to hawkers and pettier. in York and Montgomery counties. . . Mr. PENNEY, a supplement to the Pittsburg and Chill:laud Bulimia ConiPittiyi Bilis Considered, &c On motion of Mr. CLYMEE, the supplement to the act regulating proceedings in courts of justice was takau up and passed. This bill is intended to facilitate 11111014. ments in equity Droneedinge. - • 9n motion of lslr. LA:100N, the bill providing for Nit trausportatton the remelts of deceased soldiers wee con. shirred and passed. On potion of Mr. PENNEY, the bilrrelative to the claim of Thomas J. Keenan, prothonotary of the Western district of the Supreme Court, was considered and passed. On motion of Mr. REILLY, the bill to incorporate the North American Shaft Company was takes up snit missed to second reading. and laid over under the rule. On motion of Mr. SERRILL, the bill to Incorporate the New London Aemociation, for the detection of thieve. and the recovery of stolen property, was considered and passed. Mr. CRAWFORD, on leave given, Introduced a joint resolution. providing for the adjenrornent of the Legis lature on the 21st of March, to re-aseembTh oq Marla of June next. Bfr. 135tVrtf rend in place a bill relakire ko For i atils streets in Philadelphia. Mr. NICIIOLS read a bin creating two additional' W. 'minors in the First ward of the city of Philadelphia: On motion of Mr. CONNELL, the bill relative to rail road companies, empowering them to accept the provi sions of the general railroad law, so far as they , may Billet; waa considered and postponed, Mr. DONOVAN, on leeve even, read In place a bill relative to gas companiee. Adjourned. HOUSE. The , House assembled at 10 ALAI., Hon. Jam Itows # Speaker, in the dolt . . Prayer by BOY, Mr. Shulnakar. A quorum of toontbora orment. Thejournal of vaster• day was read sad approved. On motion of Mr. (MANX, the House took a new until 11 o'clock. The Recess Luring the reseed: the membere witnessed the Arinz of a salute of a hundred guns by Tillman's Battery. Oho thunder of cannon was accompanied by inertial meal° and the ringing of bells. Reassanabling of the Mouse. The House reassembled at 11 o'olock, Hon. At,. BOWS, Speaker, iu the chair. Mr. WILLIAMS, of Alloghwy, from the Comiiltkil on Federal Relations, presented the following isinPressa. lulimle relotiTo to the recent yictorin of the maim et the United State.. Retrived, by the Senate, &c., That the general Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania haareceived with , a thtill ad exultation, to which no language can gives adequate expreseion the glorious tidings which have flashed in rapid andtlazzling succession from the fields of. Mill Springs, Fort Berry, and BAnaneke, and-culmi nating in the bloody but triumphant and• desists* struggle of Fort Donelson and that, in ilektioWletigithnit of the holy patriotlem andl unflinching valor which hays reflected now lustre upon the American 11 ame,.and given those fields to history, they do hereby tender to the officers and men who have so nobly sustained the honor of our Hag thereon the heartfelt thanks of theveoplo.or Ole Story, Resolved. That it is not amongst the least gratifying fact connected with recent triumphs of our arms thattba navy of the United States, whist' has already contributed so largely by its prowess upon the seas in giving 1111-11 name and position amongst the great Powersof the earth,. should have done so much in the present struggle-to testify its unshaken loyalty to the nation,aull to vindt nate its anuient and wellasarnsd ronnwm . . . . . Resolved, That While they thue testify to.the stirsiwitsl of those bard fought flehle their souse of the great ser— vice rendered to our common, country, they dedre to give a tear to the memories of the martyred dead, who have sealed their devotion to the cause of freedomity tits offering of their lives, anibto tender their sympathies to every loyal heart and home that have been saddened by the calamities of war. Resolved, That the Governor be rentleated to fogrard copies of these resolutiout to the commanding oilleetwor the several divisions of our army and navy which bays participated in the engagements referred•to therein. with the request that they may lie read In the , preemies of their respective commode. The resolutions were taken upon., by oneasui minted. WILDEY called for the yeas and nays at their final nallltago—yeaa 83, nape 10. Gtr. CRASH?. remarked that, on thteiday one year am Jefferson Davis ntai inaugurated President. of the South. ern Confederacy. SI r nit H INV, a Cambria, from time entatalttee on Ways and Means, presented the fallowing resolution Respired, That the commissioness of each county be requested to Inform their respective cepresseitativee of the number of fatuities of volunteers, anti the number of persons coinpoe i ng vault falai' whit irirosiiit itid froin %ft county, and the amount paid each family per week, and the esgresate amount paid by the county up to lids date, and that the clerk bu directed to have circulars printed, to he forwarded to the commissioners of the respective counties to be returned with the information required., Passed, Mr. 21/OHAM, of A 1141065 -7 41Mial ills MOWN& revolutions: Whereas, The joint caismittee of both flonseitoinoo thorieed to confer with the thatenittee of Ways, MA Means of Congress and theflecretary of the Treenail,lts. regard to the reTenne noir to bo required from the of Pennsylvania, after such conference, was unahht. ascertain, definitely. the ontotrat and el:Weal' of olio* Strati on until the WARM lAbs of the went should be MOW fully mahlred therefore, Resolved, The the present Legielature %ensilage= oh Tnday, March 21, at I o'clock P. K. of said: dies, to re. aseengile, in *Mounted session, on Tuesdlons 11, at 10 o'clock h. N. or said day. Resoleo3, That the Committee of Ways Li Y ears, Of Ouch sub. committee of ha members as NI authorises to see for It, La instructed to hare preeetted, said printed denims the recess, in the form of bilis, ready to he acted use AI bit Ws House, mph tax bills, and OD tbill revising ocumiwa for th e aeteeethent and collection of State and onion texas, ati in its judgment may be required. The rotelutione are IRK edge ter the prompt,
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