MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1862. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS.—“ The conspiracy to break np the Union in a fact now known to all. Armies are being raised, and war levied to accomplish it. There can be but two sides to the uontraveriT. Every man most be on the side of the United States or against it* There ran be no nentrnls in this war. There can be none but patriots and traitors.” THE LATEST WAR MEWS. liuiicg the past week, important military move ments hove taken place on the upper Potomac. On Monday, Gen. Banka’ division commenced to cross the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry, Col. Geary’s Penn sylvania regiment being in advance. On Wednes day .our troops occupied Harper’s Ferry, and imme diately took possession of Bolivar and Loudoun Heights, so that our position could not be flanked. Our forces did not meet any opposition, but, on the contrary, large numbers of rofugees returned to their homes, and manifested great joy on tho ap pearance of our troops. It is said that tho condi tion of the country is deplorable, in consequence of the vandalism and marauding depredations of tho rebels. Tho plans of our generals are not known, but ail may rest assured that tho positions wo havo g lined will b: maintained at alt hazards. [The de spatch on our first page giving the particulars of the movement was approved on Friday ovcning last, and placed in the Sandy Hook (Md.) telegraph office for transmission to The Pres.*, in which it should have appeared on-Saturday. That it did not, was attributable to the blunder or forgetfulness of an operator, who failed to forward it. ] The Teport that Columbus, Ivy., had been ova cuatcd by the rebels is fully confirmed by tho offi cial despatches forwarded to Washington. Com mander Phelps, who was sent with a flag of truce to. the town, returned to Cairo yestorday, with the report that the hegira had commenced, and that the rebels had fired their quarters, which, with a quantity of army stores, were destroyed. Large fires were also seen in the town, indicating that the torch had been applied toil- The belief prevails in Cairo that our forces have occupied the post. Commodore Foote i 3 doing enough effective work on the Western waters to win an imperishable fame, and the thanks of the nation will reward him. Our gunboats have made another reconnoissance up the Tennessee river. Tho Taylor, under tho command of Lieutenant Owin, proceeded up the river as far as Eastport, Mississippi. The com manding officer, in his official report, states that he found the Union sentiment very strong, and that the late glorious successes of our army have been most benefieial to tho Union causo through- out the country ho visited. Ho warned the in habitants of the different towns along the banks of the river that he would hold Secessionists and their property responsible for any outrages com mitted on the Union people. Official despatches from the Burnside Expedition have been received in Washington. Our forces sent up the Chowan river had returned. They did not go beyond Winton. Tho rebels fled when they saw our troops approaching the latter place. Hon. F. W. Seward, Assistant Secretary of State, has informed Superintendent of Police Kennedy, of New Toik, that the passport system is now abo lished, and that it will therefore be left optional with persons to provide themselves with passports or not, as they may deem necessary for their securi ty and protection abroad. Foreign passports will no longer require to be countersigned. We have an “ important, if true,” despatch from Washington, stating that the object of the Allied invasion of Mexico, is understood to be the erection of that unfortunate territory into a monarchy. This, of course, is in direct contravention of the assurance given to our Government, and the only plea that will be advanced to justify it, is that of respect for the “ free choice of the Mexican peo ple!” This invasion of their country, and dicta torially assuming the reins of government, is giving them “ free choice” with a vengeance ! We have fureign news to the lfith ultVby tho arrival of the Arabia at Halifax. It is important, though not startling, in tenor. Tho French papers apprehended the disruption of the Palmerston Ca binet upon Mexican affairs. The belief had been expressed that England would withdraw from the Mexican filibustering expedition, should France and Spain attempt to interfere in the internal ' polioy of Mexico. The Independence Jklgc had asserted the positive acceptance of the throne by Maximilian. The official documents relative to the blockade were being prepared by the British Government to lay before Parliament. A supplementary naval estimate had asked for an extra appropriation of £364,000, probably to defray the expense of the Meson and Slidell bluster. It is reported that the TiucArora had arrived at Gibraltar, where the S/, mpter still remained with out coal. In response to an inquiry of Lord Stnnhope, Kerl Busseii bad etated that be bad uo official informa tion respecting the “stone blockade.” The Go vernment had protested against the permanent destruction of Charleston, or any other harbor, as unjustifiable, and its protest had met the approval of the French Chambers. We have read with much interest the report of the “ Select Committee on the De fence of the Great Lakes and Rivers,” of which Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, of Illinois, is chairman. To this committee were referred those'parts of President Lincoln’s recent mes sage, recQnmiending defences and fortifications on the great lakes and rivers, the specific re commendation of the President being, as will be remembered, a belief «that some fortifica tions and depots of arms and munitions, .with harbor and navigation improvements at well selected points upon our great rivers and lakes, would be of great importance to our na tional defence and preservation.” The report of tbe select committee is luminous and elabo rate. Many interesting and startling facts are developed, and we have the claims of the great Northwest presented te the country as they have never been presented before. Mr. Representative Arnold is overwhelmed with bis theme, and lie takes an enthusiastic delight In displaying the resonrees and advantages of his rich and fertile region. As we look upon the pyramid of figures representing his argu ments, and sec calculation after calculation showing the population, the wealth, the ton nage, the commerce, the manufactures, the real estate and personal property, and the po litical power of the Northwestern Sta’es, we feel humbled. And when we remember that theee things have come almost in the span of a single generation, that the first white man born in the State of Illinois is hardly old enough to be ft grandfather, we stand aghast at the power and strength still to come, and see the glory of tbe Empire and Keystone States pass away to tbe shores of the great lakes and the Upper Mississippi. Tlie Westem Statea ime been neglec ed children of the Union. They were turned out into the prairies and forests to hew timber and dig the soil, to navigate broad streams in rude boats and light tho In dians, and they attain the years of manhood strong, burly, uncouth, honest, and affection ate sons. During the generation in which their petted Southern brethren conspired to destroy the Union, they have added to thal Union an empire greater than the Republic itself fifty years ago. And now, when our good old moth or is menaced by fratricidal hands, they are enduring privation and death to vindicate her honor and punish her unna tural foemen. Thera is something imposing in the power or this great empire. There are immense inland seas, covering eighty thousand square miles of surface, and surrounded by five thousand miles of coast. On these coasts a vast population has come together. Look at the State of Illi nois. In 1812, the brave, barbarous, eloquent, and ill-fated Tecitmseu roamed its uninhabited prairies, meditating war upon the white man. In 1818, when it came into the Union, there were not 00,000 people within its limits, now its population is rated at 1,711,753. We may appreciate this fact more when we remem ber that in 1818 our own State of Penn sylvania contained 1,549,408, and in 1800 it was reported as numbering 2,900,- 370. In twenty years Chicago rises from a town containing 4,470 inhabitants to a me tropolis numbering 109,203. Nor do we see nny signs of surfeit or languor. This terri tory is far from being developed, even to the point attained in the East. The wealth of Illi nois, which was $150,205,006 in 1850, is esti mated at $871,800,282 in 18G0, and some curb ous statistician whose figures Mr. Annor.ii prints with pride, tells us that if the North western States were peopled as densely as the State of Massachusetts, there would be over 133,000,000, anil if Ibe average to a square mile was as large as it is in England the popu lation would be nearly 280,000,000. These Western States possess every element of strength and power. The people are brave, intelligent, and religiously loyal. Tho land is as fertile as the land of Canaan with its overflowing milk and honey. It is rich in the products of the soil, and rich in mineral treasures. Nature has given the husbandman and merchant broad seas and navigable rivers, while the enterprise of man has covered it with railroads, telegraphs, and canals. The interests of an empire as vast as the empire of the Wcst demand the earnest atten t ion of Congress. We must foster these S tates if we would reap all the benefits their wealth and glory will bring to the Union hereafter. It requires no argument of Mr. Abnomi’s se lect committee to make this duty plain, for, indeed, tho foots they give us render argument unnecessary. They urge upon Congress four distinctmeasures: The establishment of shore defences at some commanding positions ; the establishment of a national foundry on the up per lakes, and naval depots on I.akes Ontario, Erie, and Michigan ; the improvement oi har bors on the lakes, and the enlargement of the Illinois and Michigan canal. These shore defences comprise a fort at the entrance to Lake Superior, commanding the Sault St. Marie canal; a military road on Lake Superior, from (1 re on Bay to Margucttc; the fortification of the Straits of Mackinaw, at the entrance to Lake Michigan ; the erection of a naval depot on Lake Ontario; and the fortification of Toledo Bay, Maumee Bay, and Put-in Bay, in Lake Erie. We heartily recommend this plan, and particularly in relation to the Straits of Mackinaw and the Sault St. Marie Canal. The establishment of a naval depot on Lake Ontario does not seem to be so necessary-. With the Falls of Niagara impeding all communication between the lakes, and the absence of any necessity for such a depot on Lake Ontario, this recommendation nun- he safely postponed until more urgent public reasons require it. Tho Mackinaw Straits should be immediately fortified. In commanding Lake Michigan, they command the richest part of the Westers territory, and, in the possession of an enemy, would render the speedy conquest of that territory- iuevita ble. Without entering as fully into details as Mr. Arnold, wc pqss over a number of bis recom mendations. There is one of great import ance, however, and that is the enlargement of flic Illinois and Michigan canal for military purposes. Tho proposed canal would extend from Lake Slicliigan to the Mississippi river, and would thus bring together the two great systems of water communications of our coun try. “ This communication, so vast,” says- Mr. Arnold, “ can be effected at small ex pense, and with no long delay. It is but car rying out the plan of Nature. A great river rivalling the St. Lawrence in volume at no distant day was discharged from Lake Michi gan, by the Illinois, into the Mississippi. Its hanks, its currents, its islands, and deposits can still he easily traced, and it only needs a deepening of the presen£,channel for a few miles to reopen a magnificent river from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi.” The necessity of such a communication would be felt in the event of a war with England. It would ena ble us to bring from the Atlantic tho means of defending tho lakes and rivers of the West, and would bind the Gulf of Mexico with the St. Lawrence in an uninterrupted line of com munication. We Ibel disposed to criticise some of Mr. Arnold’s propositions ; but, in view of the great good he proposes, criticism would be ungracious. Wc might also question the taste which recommends Eastern members to vote for lake defences, because the lakes “ havo been the scenes of the most brilliant naval triumphs which adorn our history,” and stops to tell us that one-half of the soldiers in the field are from the Northwest. There arc many excellent suggestions in the report; it exhibits great labor, and is written with skill and care. Mr. Arnold and his associates on the com mittee have dene their work well, and it only remains for the House to take the propositions submitted to it, and give to the Northwestern States that encouragement and protection they deserve. The Elephants of Siam. The King of Siam, as a brief telegraphic despatch announced a few days ago, was re cently prompted, by his warm desire to cul tivate amicable relations with the people of tlie United States, to offer us what he sup posed would prove a present of great value. It was no less than a gift of a number of young male and female elephants. He had lieard of the eager curiosity of our people to see tlie largest of the living quadrupeds, and had learned that our Government had im ported camels from Arabia for transportation in Texas and on the overland route to Cali fornia, and he, not unnaturally, snpposed that fliis proposition would he gratefully accepted, lie, therefore, expressed, over his own signa ture, which IS “ SoMIiKTCH PIIOA PaKAXESDS Maiia Mongkut,” liis views, as follows: “ It has occurred to us that if, on the continent of America, there should be several pairs of youug male and female elephants turned loose in forests where there was abundance of water and grass, in any region under the sun’s declination, both north and south, called, by the English, the torrid zone, and all were forbidden to molest them, to attempt to raise them would be well, and if the climate there should prove favorable to elephants, we are of opinion that, after a while, they will increase until there be large herds, as there are here on the continent of Ada, until the inhabitants of America will be able to catch and tame and use them as beasts of burthen, making them of benefit to tho country, since elephants, being animals of great size and strength, can bear burdens and travel through uncleared woods and matted jungles where no carriage and cart-roads have yet been made.” The excellent King also makes these sug gestions concerning the care of the elephants: “We, on our part, will procure young male and female elephants, and forward them, one or two pairs at a tune. “ When the elephants are on board the ship, let n steamer take it in tow, that it may roaehAmeriea as rapidly as possible, before they become wasted and diseased by tbe voyage. “ When they arrive in Amerioa do not let them be taken to a cold climate out of the regions under the sun’s declinations or torrid zone, but let them, with all haste, ho tiirr.6 il Alii tA Flin wild in some jungle suitable for them, not confining thetn any length of time. “If these things can be done, we trust that the elephants will propagate their species hereafter in the eontinent of Amerioa.'' Mr. Lincolh, however, very respectfully declined to accept the proffered gifts, on the ground that they could “ not be made practi cally useful in the present condition of the United States but he assured his Majesty of Siam that he would, at no distant day, trans mit to him some token or indication of the high sense which this Government entertains of his friendship. Familiar as the story has become of the man who was placed in a perplexing quandary by the gift'of a white elephant which he could not keep without pecuniary ruin, could not give away, and dared not kill for fear of mortally offending an illustrious donor, few could have expected that an incident affording a close parallel to it would ever oedur in our own na tional experience. But, singularly enough, it happens at a time when the idea symbolized by the eant phrase “ (seeing the elphant” is more fully realized by the American peo ple than at any former period of our history. The system of modem warfare would not warrant us in using them as did the ancient Romans, Grecians, and Persians, to add to the terrors of the battle-field; and, as the President justly observes, “ steam on land; as well as on water, has been our best and most efficient agent of transportation in internal commerce,” although in the East, at the present day, elephants are employed for transporting baggage, dragging artillery over difficult places, and otherwise, in connection with army movements, by exercising their sa gacity and strength in lifting, dragging, and pushing with their luather-protectod fore heads. The project of turning the elephants loose would scarcely meet with much favor in any inhabited portion of our country. The ex perience of the neighborhoods which have occasionally been alarmed by the wild animals that have accidentally escaped from menage ries, or by the fierce exhibitions of anger in which the best-trained elephants sometimes indulge, would clearly condemn it. The peo ple of the section of Illinois in which Dam Rice’s famous rhinoceros indulged his wild freaks, last summer, would resolutely oppose it. The consternation of the contrabands of the South, should they unexpectedly find any such gigantic intruders stalking through tlieir cotton fields or forests, may more easily be imagined than described; and even the boasted courage of flic Chivalry might be somewhat daunted by an infuriated attack from one of the pro posed Siamese gifts. The most resolute opponents of the general policy of Mr. Lincoln will, therefore, doubt less be ready to approve his reply to the illus trious Mongkut. That his offer was prompted by a peculiarly friendly disposition, that should be highly appreciated, is proved by a feature of the Siamese Court which deserves mention. One of the peculiarities of their Government consists in having a Second or Vice King, who bears a relation to the First or Senior King, slightly analogoms to that of the Vice President of our country to the Presi dent. This «Second King” has a band of foreign musicians, which is led by his son, who is called George Washington, and under his direction the Siamese capital is often made to resound with the martial strains of Yankee Doodle, Hail Columbia, and the Star-Spangtcd Banner. 'Our Asiatic friends have thus in cidentally shown their appreciation of the objects for which wc cherish a feeling little short of adoration—the memory of the Father of our Country and our favorite national airs— and thus established one link of sympathy with us. Though in the hour of our na tional peril their tribute of good will was ten dered to us in an unavailable sliajie, we should not regard it solely in the humorous aspect in which it is apt to present itself. Some day or other, when it may be deemed advisable to take by the horns the Bull that was over-eager io gore us, the tusks of the elephants of Slain may prove not altogether useless, and wo rather relish the idea that they are even now being trained to march to the tune of Yankee Doodle, LETTER FROM “OCCASIONAL ” Washington, March 2, 1802, Before John C. Breckinridge left the Senate his daily task was to arraign Congress and the Administration on the grave charge of having repeatedly and deliberately violated the Constitution of the United States. He was the especial champion of the Constitution. He desired to preserve it intact. He had taken an oath before high Heaven to support and de fend it; and whatever Senators might say, he would dare to tell them, from his place in the Senate, that every act of the majority, almost without exception, since the commencement of the war, had tended to bring the Constitu tion and the Government into contempt. These arguments, daily pronounced and pub. lislied, were read by his followers all over the Union, and did much to invigorate those in arms against it, and to poison those who, although not in arms, had no heart in the groat struggle for its preservation. During these professions of love and reverence for the Con stitution, no word fell from the lips of Breck inridge against the men who were seeking to mutilate and to murder it. I shall never forget the gloomy morning after the battle of Bull Kun, when every loyal heart beat with the expectation of the advancing hosts of treason, and when the now secret enemies of the Kepublic waited eagerly to welcome them, how defiantly and bitterly this Presidential candidate of the Secession De mocracy treated and taunted the true friends of the Constitution and the war. Had Beaure gard ascended the steps of the Capitol with his myrmidons, their swords dripping with tho best blood of the free States, his first act would have been to honor Breckinridge, and to direct the execution of those who stood by the Administration of Abraham Lincoln. Such men as Andrew Johnson and John S. Carlile would have been sentenced to death on the spot by a drum-liead court-martial, for daring to stand by the Constitution of the United States, and for refusing to obey the mandates ol‘ those who had sworn to annihilate it. We should have had no trial by jury then. The Fede ral Constitution, overthrown by its boasted ex pounders, would have been succeeded by the rebel ritual of the Richmond conspirators. The inexpiable crime would have been fidelity to the Union ; and Uie accuser, judge, and executioner of all men guilty of this crime would have been found in the person of a sin gle military despot, flushed with victory over the army of the Republic. As it was not per mitted ,to Mr. Breckinridge to be present at this carnival of bloody lie retained his seat in the Senate until tho close of the called session, exalting himself as an apostle of peace and preaching profound affection for the Federal Constitution. These sentiments wore caught up by bis partisans and widely circulated as [lie utterances of an incorruptible patriot and sage. Even when the lamented Baker, of Oregon, in a burst of inspired eloquence, which electrified all who heard it, called this incar nate traitor to a sense of his shame, and de nounced him as tho unblushing advocate of rebellion, his appeal fell dead and cold upon the partisans of Breckinridge, and those Demo cratic papers , then so loud in his praise, and now carrying out his counsel of exclusive de votion to the Constitution, refused to lay before tlieir readers the glorious rebuke of the man who, after denouncing the recreant Senator, went into the field of battle and gave up his life for Iris country. John C. Breckinridge, with all this adoration for the Constitution on his lips, volunteered in another service, and, when the doors of the Capitol closed against him, lie passed over to the enemies of the Constitution and drew Ills perjured sword against it. I have deemed this reference necessary at this juncture, when the same arguments, so flippantly and frequently used by Breckinridge, are being employed by the men who followed his flag a little more than a year ago. Like him, they make the Constitution their fortress and their palladium ; like liim, they bewail the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus; like him, they denounce the arrest and imprison ment of Secession sympathizers and spies; like him, they charge that the war was preci pitated by the Abolitionists; and, of course, in the same vein, and doubtless to save him from punishment, they insist upon a trial by jury of all the men whose hands are red with the blood of patriotic hearts, and who arc still striving to murder the Republic. These conservators and casuists, still true to the les sons taught them by their favorite candidate for President, steadily ignore the fact that but for the prompt and rigorous measures of Mr. Lincoln, when Congress was not in session, all of which were adopted without law, we should neither have a Constitution nor a Union to-day. I deny that partisans like these are capable of teaching constitutional obedience to the Ame rican people. If that great instrument has been weakened in any of Us parts, their theory of States Rights, still adhered to, has done the work. They encouraged Secession even after it blossomed into war against the Consti tution. The true, if not the only effective champions of that great charter, are the men who believe in the justice of our country’s Cause and the injustice of the Rebellion. The effort of the Breckinridge Democracy is such a reconstruction of the Government as will bring back into power their late Secession as sociates. Thus it is that we find them opposing ail legislation which looks to the condign punishment of the rebels, and to tbe forfeiture of their property. Such acts being, according to their theory, in violation of the Constitu tion, must not be attempted. They will clamor for a trial by jury for Buckner, Floyd, Davis, Benjamin, and Beauregard, and, when this is conceded, will intrigue for their acquittal, hailing the occasion as another opportunity to oiler a premium for treason, and to divide and degrade Ihe people of the loyal States. Cold and callous while their country is bleeding at all its coins, they will be most merciful and magnanimous to its betrayers. Should this programme triumph, the whole war will have been fought for less than nothing. Tho reign of the Breckinridge Dc* mocraey will be restored, and the Govern ment itself, weakened in the strife, will be come the prey of factions and the victim of heresies, which all good men had hoped to put down forever. If tlie founders of the Federal Constitution I were now living, they would confide neither its construction nor its preservation to these baleful influences. They would find a remedy for its maintenance in strong and thorough legislation —in bold blows at treason wherever found—in the inexorable and speedy punishment of all its leaders—and in such a policy as would strike them in their possessions, their pro perty, and tlieir franchises. Who that re members George Washington’s opinions on the question of slavery could ever suppose that he would allow it to remain, a continual source of power in the hands of men whose mission is the extermination of free institu tions ? Would Thomas Jefferson, identified with all the efforts of the fathers, hold back his hand in such an hour as this, because the pro-slavery Democracy plead for the Federal Constitution ? They would see that if present exigencies demand the extremest measures, the highest and most imperative considera tions would sanction tlieir adoption. If there were no precedents to excuse such measures,- THE PRESS.—PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, MARCH 3,1862. they would make precedents. With them, the chief thought would lie to consolidate such a government as would make it impregnable to domestic treason and invincible over foreign foes. I believe that the spirit of those good men made perfect dwells upon and lives in the hearts of most of tho friends of President Lincoln. There is not one who contemplates moving beyond the strict let ter of the Federal Constitution, nor is there one who will not readily sacrifice him self if, in order to preserve and perpetuate it, more rigid and searching legislation is re quired. The country will sustain them in view of these awful responsibilities; but it is now more than evident that the greatest ob stacles in their pathway will be tbe arguments and efforts of those who profess, after the pattern of Breckinridge, exclusive devotion to the Federal Constitution. No revolution, ancient or modern, has ever prevailed that was not animated by just prin ciples, and pushed forward by strong and con scientious men. No revolution, started like the Secession rebellion, to maintain slavery, and to sanctify perjury, robbery, and assassi nation, hut did not perish. When England was rotting to decay, after her scaffolds had been reddened with tbe blood of lier bravest and best, and a besotted aristocracy had made her people worse than slaves, it was the strong hand of Oliver Cromwuii that arrested the. disease and applied the cautery. However his memory may still he assailed, the histori cal fact remains that England could nevor have attained her proud position among the nations of the earth but for his bold and uncompro mising policy. Long may it bo before such an example is necessary in this Kepublic; but rather than allow this Government to fall, and treason to triumph, there is no true American that will not demand and applaud the strongest measures on the part of Mr. Lincoln’s Admin istration. Occasional. Mr. Smith O’Brien has so many and such warm friends on this side of the Atlantic, that wc have a certainty of making them rejoice at the satisfactory settlement of Ills property. It may be remembered that, in 1848, when about being tried on a charge of high treason, Mr. O’Brien prudently took the precaution oi settling bis estates upon his children, ap pointing his elder brother, Lord Inciiiquin, and a London lawyer, as trustees. Otherwise, on conviction, his property would have been forfeited to the Queen of England. From the time of Mr. O’Brien’s return from exile, under a pardon under the Great Seal, which completely rehabilitated him, be received all the rents and admin istered the property, just as he did be fore his trial. But his trustees, on the death of his wife, last summer, affected to believe that thereby the estates passed to his children, and applied to the Court of Chancery to bo relieved from the trust—tlie children to be made a ward of Chancery, and Mr. O’Brien to become wholly dependent on their filial piety or on their charity for the means of support. The London Times , which has a special antipathy to Ireland and Irishmen, gravely congratulated its readers on tlie ex pected poverty of Smith O’Brien, which, it said, would exile or silence him. Mr. Maziere Brady, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, has had Mr. O’Brien’s case argued before him, for two days, in open court, and has just pronounced what will probably be a final decision—though Lord Inchiquin and his friend certainly have the power of bring ing it, by appeal, before tbe House of Lords, as an ultimate tribunal. The cost, and tlie risk, would probably deter them from this course. The Chancellor has dismissed the petition of the trustees, set aside the trust deeds of 1848, and confirmed the deeds of 1801, by which the eldest son becomes possessed of the property, paying his father £2,000 a year during his life, as well as charges for the support of the younger children. The net value of tlie estates is over £5,000 a year—-so that Mr. O’Brien actually loses three-fifths of his income. Still, as his eldest son must support the younger children, Mr. O’Brien will probably have, in his certain £2,000 a year, a larger sum for liis personal expenditure than he ever enjoyed be fore. The machinations of his unfraternal Tory brother are signally defeated by the above decision. Intelligence received from Com. Foote leaves little doubt of the evacuation of Colum bus by tho Secession forces, and it cither is now, or soon will be, in the possession of our troops. There are but few points on the Mississippi below that town which can be very strongly fortified, and by its loss the enemy arc de prived of their most important barrier to the free transit of the great American river. It has cost them many a bitter pang to abandon so important a position, and the panic already prevailing in the Southwest will now be greatly intensified. The New Orleans Della recently said: “ Should Columbus fall, what is to prevent the enemy from sweeping down the river with the immense fleet of gunboats and floating batteries which he has been so long preparing at SL.Louis and Cairo, and with a hundred thousand menuoder Halleck to attack us on one side, while an expedi tion striking up from the sea would attack us on tbe other? Who can answer? Do effectual defences answer? Do preparations for defence in rapid progress answer ? Where are the defences ? Who is engaged in the preparations? These questions admit of no satisfactory answer. “ Our dependence at present for the safety of the city from the approach of a formidable expedition down the river, is upon Columbus. That is the Tiorthern ley to the Mississippi delta. That in possession of the enemy, the floodgates of inva sion will be opened. Our situation would not be hopeless, for the soul of Southern men, fighting a war of independence, must not dream.of despair; but we would be confronted with terrible dangers and the whole country exposed to fearful evils.” The dangers thus foreshadowed arc now Intensified by our complete command of the Tennessee and Cumliedand rivers, our occu pation of Nashville, and our virtual possession of tlie late Western stronghold of tlie enemy. Attempts will probably be made to create new barriers to our descent of tbe Mississippi, but none can equal in completeness the strong works that lately frowned npon us at Columbus. We have the “ key to the Mississippi Delta,” and the day cannot be far distant when it will be completely freed from the dominion of tho rebels. Death General L. IV. Lander. The intelligence of the death of General Lander will be deeply regretted throughout the whole country. He was one of tlie most useful and promising officers of the army. Trained to endure hardships in every form, and to battle with danger in every shape, by liis active life and his experience as an ex plores Of the overland routes to tho Pacific, he was peculiarly well fitted to render im portant service in the presentjstruggle. His manly course as second of Mr. Potter, of ’Wisconsin, in his . difficulty with Pryor, of Virginia, will nqfr soon be forgotten. At tbe outset of the war he accompanied General McClellan in liis victorious campaign in Western Virginia. He arrived upon the field at Edw ards’ Ferry ift time to witness tlie con clusion of the battle, and to receive a wound, which, though not deemed at the time very serious, has proved the cause of his death. Nervously anxious to do his whole duty, lie has been making vigorous efforts to follow up his late successes, and in liis enthusiasm sacri ficing his life in tbe cause of . his country. A few years ago General Lander married Miss Jane M. Davenport, the accomplished actress, whose grief at his untimely loss will be shared by tlie whole nation. We copied from the Washington National In trtlisencer, on Saturday, a list of the officers of ths rebel aery. Among the names of commanders appears that of Henry K. Hoff. This is an error. Captain Hoff, although appointed to the naval school from South Carolina, is a citizen of Phils* delphia, and one of the most loyal aooomplished officers of our navy. H® is mw i“ wamsad of tb® United States aloop-of-war Lancaster, on the Pa cific etation, and, besides, has several of his relatives in the Union ranks nobly battling for their country. We hope, in justice to Captain Hoff, that this cor rection will be published by those journals that have given currency to the Incorreot statement. Auction Sale of Fuescu Goons, Embroide rs, Ac.—The attention of pnrshasers is invited to the valuable assortment of French, German, Swiss, and British dry goods, tarletans, needle-worked bands, velTet and bonnet ribbons, white goods, Ao., ein bracing about 500 lots of gtaple and fanny articles, to be peremptorily sold, by catalogue, for oash, commencing this morning, at 10 o’clock, by John B. Myers A Co., auctioneers, Nos. 232 and 234 Market street. Sale This Mobsimo, Residence, Furniture, Ac., North Broad street. Sale To-moiiiiow, Stocks, Real Estate, Ac-, at the Exchange. See Thomas and Sons’ cata logues and advertisements. Smith O’Brien Righted. The Evacuation of Columbus. FBOM WASHINGTON. Special Despatches to “ The Press.'* Evacuation of Columbus Confirmed OFFICIAL DESPATCH OF COM. FOOTE Allied Intervention in Mexico. ns PURPOSE TO ERECT A MONARCHY. RELEASE OF 400 UNION PRISONERS. COLONEL CORCORAN EXPECTED AT BALTIMORE. death of gen. lander. Official Confirmation of the Evacuation of Columbus. Washington, March Z, 18G2. Tbe following despatch was received to-day from Commodore Foote, dated Cairo, Maroh 1: “Lieutenant Commanding Phelps, sent with a flag of truce to-day to Coiambus, has this moment returned and Teports that ColumbuSls being evacua ted. He saw the rebels burning their winter quar ters and removing their heavy guns on the bluffs, but the guns on the water batteries remain intact, lie also saw a lafgd fordo of cavalry drawn up Os tentatiously on the bluffs, but no infantry were to be seen, as heretofore. The encampment seen in our armed reconnoissance, a few days since, has been removed. Large fires were visible in the tAwn of Columbus and upon the river bank below, indicating the destruction of the town, the military stores, and equipments. “ A. H. Foote, Flag Officer.” It is believed here that our army has by this time occupied Columbus. Sketch of Colnmbns, Ky. Columbus, Ky., has thus been described by a special correspondent: Columbus, Ky., is situated on the southern slope of a high bluff, on the east side of the Mississippi river, and is in tbe midst of a heavily timbered region, and the rebels have carefully availed them selves of all the advantages which the forest pre sents for facilitating tho defences of the place. Few placeß in the South are capable of being more strongly defended than this, and nothing has been left undone to render it impregnable. Information which is deemed reliable fixes the rebel force in the city at about thirty thousand men, the great por tion of whom are enlisted for the war, and are well ftTmcd, The sixty-days men are few in number, and generally have old shot-guns and hunting rifles. The fortifications are well supplied with cannon, three of which are one hundred and twenty ; eight pounders, whieh are placed in such a position as to command the rirer from tbe highest point of the bluff, which is elevated at least seventy-five feet above low-water mark, The number of guns cer tainly does not f&U below eighty, and probably reaches one hundred. The first fortifications which an attacking fleet will encounter will bo a battery of fourteen guns, generally thirty*two pounders iifled-cannon, and the battery of one hundred and twenty-eight pounders already referred to. As the former is situated on ihe river hank, it can be reached by our shot, without any greater difficulty tbmi was experienced at Hilton Head and Hatte riw; but the latter will certainly be silenced wHh the greatest difficulty, and only at a great distance. On the northern slope of the bluff are two light batteries and a rifle pit, one mile in length, which are designed specially to protect the place against a land attack from the north, whilo on the summit of the hill is a strongly* entrenched work, com manding ail directions, and manned by eight can non. On the south ride, and to protect the town from a rear attack, is a small battery of four guns, and in the river to the north of the town is the celebrated submarine battery, which is to explode and destroy our fleet, if we take the word of that voracious in dividual, Commodore Hollins. But submarine batteries never have been effective means of war fare, and it is doubtful if they ever will. The time and money expended upen them have always been thrown away. A church near the centre of the city is usod for a magazine, but why so exposed a position should be chosen we are unable to conjecture. When Com modore Foote made his last reconnoissance, he could distinctly see the garrison removing the pow der to a locality farther south and out of reach of the shells. Whether it has or has not been replaced we are unable to say. IMPORTANCE OF TIIE POST. To show the importance of the position, we take the following from the St. Louis Republican of the sth ult.: The rebels attach groat importance to their situ ation at Columbus. The report, first circulated several days ago, of the removal of General Beau regard from the Potomac to that quarter, comes to us reiterated by Southern journals. That an im mediate attack upon Columbus is generally appre hended by the rebel officers, seems quite evident, and that the place is daily being strengthened and prepared to withstand a siege, admits of as little doubt-. Tbe New Orleans Delta shows that the safety of the South, and the effectual resistance 'of ibe rebels to tbe Union armies, depend upon the holding of Columbus Wnd its supporting military posts, while to Southern Kentucky all eyes are turned as the probable seat of a coming fierce and decisive conflict. The recent defeat of flolliwffer near Somerset, whereby the rebels were driven from a valued posi tion, was the first note of this great contention. By that signal action Gen. Thomas has nearly turned tho right of Gen. Johnston’s forces, and very mate ri&Uy advanced to the assistance of the troops on Green river, who are but waiting some co.operatiag movements to march on Bowling Green and take it. If, meantime, the communication between Bowling Green and Columbus can be cut off, the Union forces will have it in their power to achieve such a -victor; as will make the Confederates tremble from Nashville to Pensacola. The fortifications that defend Columbus are situ ated on the bluffs just above the town and along Lucas bend. They are so placed, and the natural advantages of the ground are such, that any at tempt to take them without the co-operation of a powerful land force will prove unsuccessful aud disastrous. I noticed but one Aannofi on the bank in front of the town, and that was a small one. General Johnston commands the forces there, and has with him Pillo w and Cheatham. The number of their troops was stated at 35,000, of whom 25,000 were then at Columbus. AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE REBEL ENCAMPMENT. The houses of the town are generally small, ’’ mrny painted white, and some few showing good taste b; their surroundings of shrubber; and culti vated grounds. On the river bank is the depot of the Mobile and Ohio Kail road, a commodious build ing, and tbe chief ornament of the place. About half of the soldiers were uniformed, while of the balance many bad an army cap, a coat, pants with a stripe or military mark of some kind, and the rest simply ordinary costume. Their arms were decidedly mixed, some of those in tents or hands of sentinels being revolving weapons, others breech-loading common muskets, hunting rifles, Jo. The correspondent says: I picked up one with the stamp “ Harper’s Ferry” upon it. Tents [ were of the eld style ; some tattered and useless, others strong and new, but pitched in regular order. ! Discipline was evidently more lax than in Federal i camps, and the men appeared to take things in a ; free and easy style. Shoes gave the most melan choly effect of the blockade. Those of leather showed numerous patches, aud the long-haired captain said a style made of thick cloth were being used instead. None oi the uniforms of the soldiers were new, and a pinch will evidently come when they are worn out. Blankets were also I scarce, and preparations for winter scanty. j The War if Tennessee—Official Be* I spatches—A Military Provisional Go. i vernnaent to be Established—Andrew i Johnson to be a Brigadier General. ! Official information to the War Department, from Nashville, represents that the military work in ; that State is about completed, and that it only re mains to effect- a oivil reorganization of the State Government. It is believed that the United States forces will occupy Columbus to-day. The rebel forces, under Albert S. Johnson, are being steadily pressed baekirard by General Buell. Cotton to the value of $700,000 has fallen into onr hands at Nashville, and the Treasury Depart ment has taken measures to have it brought to Now York. The President has designated the Hon. Andbeiv Johnson to be a brigadier general, and he proceeds to Tennessee to-morrow to open a military Provi sional Government of Tennessee, until the civil Government shall be reconstructed. Gen. Buell will be nominated to-morrow as a major general of volunteers. The Town of Columbus in Flames. Chicago, March 2,=A special despatch to the Times, dated Cairo, Maroh Ist, reports that the unanimous disloyalty of the citizens in and around Nashville is confirmed by every arrival from the Cumberland. The difference in sentiment between the people along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers is very marked. On the former there were many Unionists, but on the latter none have yet made their appearance. Reports are current, and credited hOSe, that Co lumbus lias been evacuated and destroyed. The town was in flames last night. Great quietness and inaction reign at Cairo. The IHonnrohy for Mexico. It is said to he already understood between the allied Powers that a monarchy in Mexico will re sult from the invasion of that country, notwith tandvng the assurance given to the United Staten that they should not seei any political objects there. It is believed that they have disposed of those assuTinees by saying that the monarchy will be established by the free choice of the Mexioan people, just as the empire was established InPranoe by the free choice of the French nation. Major General Hitchcock. Major General Hitchcock declines his appoint- j meet to tbit fAsllian, on the gfounil that the bad j health with which he has been suffering for several years will not permit him to perform the duties of the field. -His letter of declination utters strong Union sentiments, his fervent desire that the rebel lion may be Speedily overthrown, and his confident belief that this will soon take place and the autho rity of the Federal Government everywhere re established. He expresses great admiration of the brilliant achievements recently in the West, and of the military genius which they manifest. ! Fusses for the South. j The War Department refuses te transmit any letters to the Southern States. Numerous passes j have been given to women and children, and i persons in ill health, to return to their friends and | families. Passes for business purposes, or to persons ■ merely desiring to visit the South and West, Afo . invariably refused. ' Heath of General Lander. General Lander died this afternoon, at Pawpaw, Western Virginia, from the debilitating effects of his wound, received at Edward’s I'erry. His body is on the way to this city, where his widow resides. General Lander had every attention which his eld and well-tried friends around him could bestow. His death was somewhat sudden. It was not until G o’clock this &fte»tt66& that his wife received in telligence of his illness She immediately took measures for obtaining a special train to proceed thilher, but, before the arrangements could be completed, Secretary Stanton called in person, and, with much feeling and delicacy, acquainted her with the fact of her husband'B death. Secretary Chase, and other distinguished friends, subsequently visited her in her affliction. Sketch of General Lander. Brigadier General Francis W- Lander, whose sudden death will take the country by surprise, and evoke a universal feeling of regret, was a native of Massachusetts, and in his thirty-eighth year. His earliest years were marked with a love of adventure, and a taste for tho profession of arms. Although not a graduate of West Point, ha was, undoubtedly, one of the ablest military leaders of the present unfortunate struggle, and was a Tory Cour de Lion on the battle-field. Innumerable instances have been related of his personal daring) amounting almost at times to recklessness, and there are few special correspondents who have not chronicled instances of his manly courage. His name was first made prominent in connection with an exploration for a wagon-road to the Pacific some few years since. At the breaking out of the present rebellion he was appointed by General McClellan, then in West ern Virginia, to be n membor of his staff. The bril liant exploit at Phillippi was mainly due to himself and Brigadier General B. F. Kelly. At Rich Mountain his worth again displayed itself, in the valuable assistance which he rendered to General McClellan. Upon General McClellan’s appointment to the command of tho army of the Potomac, General Lander accompanied him, and proved a valuable auxiliary in reorganizing the demoralized and dispirited ,forces. So highly was he esteemed that the Government shortly after despatched him upon seoret service} which he performed with credit to his own sagacity, and to the entire satis faction of the President. Upon his return from his foreign mission he was pieced in command of a brigade in Gen. Banka’ division, Abd At th* df EdWArda 1 Perry, on the 21st of October, he was for the first time wound ed, being shot in the leg while gallantly cheering forward his men. The wound was of such a serious character that he was compelled! although reluc tantly, to relinquish his command for several weeks. About three months since he was appointed com mander of our forces at Romney, Va. On the approach of the rebel General Jackson, he was forced to evacuate that position} to prevent himself from being outflanked—a movement ex tremely distasteful to himself, and only made at the instance of his commander-in-chief. It was but a few days since that we chronicled his dashing exploit at Bloomery Gap. Having heard that a rebel camp was at that place, ho marched a distance of thirty-two miles with his four thousand men, and succeeded in surprising it completely. By thi3 coup he succeeded in cap turing no less than seventeen commissioned officers and forty-five privates, losing but two men. The affair elicited the following complimentary notice from the Secretary of War: War Departmrnt, ) Washington, February 17,1862. $ the President directs me to say that he has observed with pleasure the activity and enterprise manifested by yourself and the officers and the soldiers of your com mand. You have shown how much may be done in the worst weather and worst roads, by a spirited officer at ihe head of a email force of brave men unwilling to waste life in ramp when tbs enemies of their country nro with, in reach. Your brilliant success is a happy presage of what may be expected when the army of the Potomac shall holed to the field by their gallant general. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. To Brigadier General F. W. LiA'bßlt. However, the wound received at Edwards’ Ferry was still painful, and excited the alarm of his friends and medical advisers. The sad telegraphic despatch, which we publish in another column, shows that this alarm waS Ohly toO founded. General Lander was a finished scholar, and a gentleman of fine literary tastes. One of his latest poetical effusions appeared in The Press imme diately after the Ball's Bluff disaster, an incident of which suggested it. His was the true type of the American soldier. Fear was an emotion of which his nature was in* capable, and courage the strongest impulse of his breast. His sphere was the battle-field, and his pride the head of his column- & T o other man so justly deserved the compliment of General Scott, “that he was America’s natural-born soldier.” The nation has few such soldiers to immolate their lives on the altar of its nationality. General was married less than three years since to Miss J. M. Davenport, the distin guished tragedienne, and a most accomplished lady. Her loss is the nation’s loss, and her grief will be shared by the entire American people. General Shields succeeds General Lander in command. SKETCH OF GENERAL SHIELDS, Brigadier General James Shields, just appointed to the command made vacant by the death of Gene ral Lander, is a native of Ireland. At an early age he emigrated to this' country, and took up his residence in Illinois. Ho was without any decided prominence until 1346, when, upon July Ist of that year, he was appointed, by President Polk, briga dier general of volunteers. He was breveted major general, for “ gallant and meritorious conduct” in the battle of Cerro Gordo, on the 18th of April, 1847, when he was dangerously wounded. He afterwards commanded a brigade, composed of a battftlldtt of marines, and a New York and South Carolina regiment of volunteers. He was again wounded at Chepultepec. In July, ISIS, his brigade was disbanded. Fr?m 1849 to 1350 he represented the State of Illinois in the U. 5. Senate. His subsequent honor able career is well known to the public. The trust which has just been reposed in him will be found to he not misplaced. The SixtY-sixth Pennsylvania. The Sixty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, for merly commanded by Col. Cuaxtrt, has been brought here from Frederick, and is now encamped on the Bladensburg road, about two miles from the city. The regiment is in a sad state, and will no doubt be disbanded unless Gov. Curtin sees proper to fill it up, and place efficient officers in command. The repp?t & that Company A ? of this regi©§nt, will be attached to Col. Fritz’s regiment, and three other companies to Col. Kolte's regiment, unless the Governor interferes. Presentation in Col. Bftllier’s Regiment* A committee of Philadelphians, composed of I>r, Mon witz, editor of the German Democrat , and Messrs. G^ass, -Meyer, and Ladner, have been here for the purpose of presenting Captain Gjsnal, of Colonel Ba,i.lier’s 98th Pennsylvania Regi ment, with a handsome sword and sash. The Colo nel ordered the whole regiment out, and 9tirring and patriotic speeches were made. Dr. Morwitz made a most eloquent address in the German lan guage, and was most eloquent throughout. Colo nel Balmer and Captain Gekal replied in Eng lish. The occasion was a most happy one, and will not soon be forgotten by the regiment. Colonel Ballier is still encamped at Tenallytown, ready to march at a moment’s notice. The Pennsylvania Troops. Some persons here appear to take particular de light in sneering st the lmps, They tay that Pennsylvania boasts that she has a larger number of troops in the field than any other single State, yet they have as yet done nothing to show their courage. If they have not, it is because they have not had an opportunity. At the same time such jealous grumblers should be reminded that it was Pennsylvania troops who did the hard fighting at Ball’s Bluff and Dranesville. A Distressing Case of Small-Fox. Yesterday morning l while a hack man was con veying a colored woman from Capitol Hill to her mother’s residence, she died in the carriage from small-pox, from which she was suffering. The mother refused to receive the body until she was compelled to do so by the authorities. Strangers coming to the city should be very careful in em ploying hack men. SMW Storm. The fine, clear, cold weather, has given way to quite a snow storm. The ground is covered, this evening, to the depth of two or three inches. A Philadelphian Dangerously 111. Mr. George Furniss, a well-known Philadel phian, is lying dangerously ill, at Willards' Hotel, of typhoid fever. The Patent Office. There are rumors afloat of trouble in the Patent Office. As investigations are the order of the day, it is not to be supposed that this institution can escape. Reports of Investigating Committees. It is suppled that two of the recently-appointed investigating committees will be able to make their reports before the close of the week. Shoe Contractors, Some of the down East shoe contractors have swindled the Government in the most outrageous manner. Another investigation will reveal the names of tho contractors, and the prioos paid for the contracts. Col. Corcoran, and Four Hundred Re leased Prisoners, expected nt Baltimore. BALTIMORE, March 2.—The boat from Fortress Monroe, to-morrow, willlbring four hundred more released prisoners, and it is confidently expected that Col. Corcoran, and other officers, will accom pany them. Gen. Dix has ordered out the New York Fifth Zouave Regiment to escort them from the boat to the rooms of the Relief Association. Sailing of the Arabia. Halifax, March 2.— Tho steamer Arabia sailed at half-past 3 o’clook this morning, and will be due in New York early on Tuesday. The steamer Adriatic left Sydney yesterday fOP England. FROM GEN. BANKS' COLUMN. MARTINSBURG. OCCUPIED. Chabientown, (Va.,) March 2.—The main body of Gen. Backs’ division rests in tho vicinity of Charlestown. No disaster or accident has occurred since its concentration at and departure from Sandy Hook, to cause any anxiety to friends at homo. Three inches of snow fell to* day. Tho hitherto rancorous Secessionists now pay marked respect to the United States uniform. Tho citizens who had been compelled to suc cumb to rebel force, are elated with the prospects of the future. It is gratifying to poroeive that tho country throughout which the army passed bears marks of the usual agricultural industry. It is apparent that the future cereal crops of this pro* lifio region Jiaye not been neglected. As might be supposed, the town and country are destitute of imported articles of consumption. There is no lack of bread, meat, and coarse clothes. Hundreds of contrabands are hourly seeking refuge within onr lines, but they are allowed to roam at large withoi* espionage or care. In fact, but little notice is taken of them, except to prevent their return be yond our posts. The general (reports from Winchester are con flicting, and but little reliance is placed gpog then), coming as they do from refugees and contrabands. The military commanders undoubtedly are bet* ter informed than the public, and are consequently prepared for any emergency which may arise. Considerable flouri acorodited to tho robol nrmy, has been seized, bat private property has been strictly respected. Martinsburg has been occupied by the United States troops. TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE. THE ARABIA AT HALIFAX. TIIE “STOKE BLOCKADE” AGAIN. Coat to England of the Hason-Slidell Affair. ; THE MEXICLANT GOAXiITION. England to Withdraw if the Internal Affair* of Mexico are to be Interfered with. Halifax, march l.—The royal mail steamship Arabia, from Liverpool on Saturday, tho 15th ult., via Queens town the 16th ult., arrived here at 2.30 P. M. to-day, short of coal. She experienced strong westerly gales during ft? whole passage, g),o [iM (ft piissyggws for New York. It Is reported that the Tuscarora hod arrived at Gi braltar, where the sNmnjrfer still remained without coal. GREAT BRITAIN. In the House or Lords, on the 14th, Lord Stanhope called attention to ihe report* of additional stono block ades at Charleston, and asked what Bteps the Government would take. Bari BusbcU had no official information, and knew not whether the reports were correct. Government hod pro tested against the permanent destruction of Any harbor* as unjuntifirible, and the American Government responded that they had no intention to permanently destroy har bors. The views of the French Government were iden tical with those of England. Lout Dunkellin, in the Commons, gave notice of an inquiry relative to the state of the negotiations betveon tiie Government and the Galway line. John A. Turner called attention to the distress In the manufacturing districts* owing to tiiu American trouble* and urged the Government to do everything in its power to develop the cotton production ehewhere. The Government is busily preparing all the informa tion relative to tho American blockade to lay before Par liament. The O’Donoghuo gave notice of a motion for returns a& to nil the British veescU which hivve run tho blockade, or been captured in the effort; also, all British vessels which have put into Nassau and other ports, with con traband of war, and been permitted to refit, &e. A supplementary naval estimate asks for an extra vote of £264.000, which is regarded an representing the ex litnso of the Mfluon and Slidell Affair, r FRANCE. Prince Napoleon had offered an amendment to the address in the French Chambers, regretting that the Pope did Lot listen to the conciliatory propositions of Fiance for the settlement of the Roman question, but witlidiw ft? nmendmimt On ft, WB4?HtMrfi»S ft»t ft? address is to contain a mild rebuke to the same effect. The I’airie points to the efforts to get cotton via Mexi co, as a probable solution of the blockade question. Tl>e Bourse was flat at 71f. 10c. The Austrian Concordat is to be revised, with tho con sent of the Pope. THE LATEST VIA QUEENSTOWN, Paris, Feb. 16.—The Moniteur says the Council of State has discussed the bill for establishing a supple mentary tax of ten francs per hundred kilogrammes on all sugars for consumption. The same bill fixes twenty fanes per hundred kilogrammes consumption tax on salt. CunsTANTisorL*, Feb. 15. —A commercial treaty has been sigued between Russia and Turkey. Warsaw, Feb. 15.— The churches have been solemnly reopened Berlin, Feb. 15. —Au identical Prussian note was re mitted yeste;day to Atißtriaand the other German States of the lVurtzebourg Coalition. The note says since Austria, considering her general interests as well as her uosttiTo rights, feols called uron to urotest against tha Prussian view* in reference to German affairs, Prussia will not conceal the fact that there appears no well founded motive or right for such a protest. Tho stir, rendered still more striking by the sending of identical notes, has so little of the character of an exchange of opi nions that Prussia cannot discuss the views expressed in the Austrian note ournslue thosa of Prussia. Prussia yields precedence to none, confident in the conscientious fulliwent of her Federal duties, in representation of real German Interests, and serious In her endeavor to Jo jus tice to well-founded national claims and to induce the Fe deral Government to do likewise. Should the views on the reform of the Federal Constitution hinted at in the latter part of the Austrian note, favoring the establishment of a Constitution for the whole Confederacy, with an efficient executive power at its head, and aiming at a poli tical consolidation of a wider extent, comprising non-German territories, as stated in the Austrian note of the Bth of November, be realized, Prussia would be compelled to see iii each realization a tar greater peril to the continuance of the Confederacy than in the reforms indicated in the Prussian despatch of the 20tU of December. Prussia is far from opposing a formal pro test to a mere ‘expression of opinion, but at the samo time she considers it moro proper to await the proposal of a reform in a more concise shape. At present, as far as Prussia can judge, tha proposed reforms are impracti cable, the proposals being entirely in contradiction with Prussian views. Prussia, on its part, considers It impos sible to enter into discussion on any such reforms. Paris. IStU.— The French papers tliink the question relative to Mexicnn affairs mifflit lead to the fall of the Palmerston Cabinet. It is believed that England will withdraw from the expedition should its aim be aban ifoiied by Spain and France, and should 1 bey interfere in the internal policy of Mexico. The Independence Itelfje assorts the positive accept ance of tbecamlidative throne of Mexico by Maximilian. The Emperor of Austria will make another journey to Yenetia. The btslitf cafitinuflß in Italy that Austria motlLtatos war against Piedmont. The emigration of young men from Yenetia continues. Tie journey of Victor Emmnuuel to Naples has been postponed. His son, Prince Humbert, will go there. The Prince of Wales has left Vienna. It U g£h£¥&ll? briUved that Prussia will recognize tho Kingdom of Italy. Victor Emmanuel is to send a frigate into tho Mexican waters for the protection of Italians. Liverpool, Saturday—Trade Report.—The advices from Manchester are favorable, the market for goods and yarns having an upward tendency. LIVERPOOL BREADSTUFFS MARKET—Brea 1- stnffs gtncrally are steady. The various circulars re port: Flour steady. Wheat steady; red Western IOsIOJ ffrl2s, red Southern 12s0>12s Sd, white Western 12s 6J, white Southern 12s 9d®l3a. Corn downward : mixed 30«. LIVERPOOL PROVISION MARKET,—Tiie Pmi sion market has a downward tendency. Bigland* Atliya, A Co., and others, report beef steady • pork heavy, and declined 2s 6d; bacon dull, and declined Is; lard still declining, and quoted at 4*2ff43s; tallow quiet and sternly. LIVERPOOL PRODUCE MARKET.—Ashe3 quiet; sugar easierj coffee steady 1 rice firm [ rosin quiet, corn* men 12s Pdff ISs; spirits turpentine has a downward ten dency, quoted 68s 6d®7os. LONDON MARKETS—(Baring ) —Breadstuff's dull. Iron dull at £ ss. Coffee quiet and steady. Sugar dull. Tea steady: common Congou Is 2d. Rice dull. Linseed Oil still upward: quoted 34s 3-I®34s 0,1. Tallow inactive at 40s Oil, Spirits Turpentine inactive at 655. London, Friday evening.—Consols closed at 03 for money. The bank return showß an increase iu bul lion of .£86,000. AMERICAN STOCKS—The latest Bales are Illinois Central sham 44 discount, Erie shares 28 From Fortress Monroe* NON-ARRIVAL OF THE RELEASED PRISONERS, Baltimore, March 2.— The Old Point boat has arrived, hut brings no news* The flag of truce steamer Wfci&k had gfißfi lip the JjUDOS ritTflF tO bring down the released Union prisoners had not returned when the boat left Old Point. Fortress Monroe, Feb. 28. —TheStermer Mys tic has arrived from the blockade off the Rappa hmmook. The War in Kentucky. Louisville, March I.—The Journal has ad vices that the rebel Captain John Morgan has been captured near Ky. - Arrival of Col. .Lee at Boston* Boston, March I.— Colonel Lee, Major Reeve, and Dr. Reeve were received at the depot, last evening, by Governor Andrew and staff, and a large crowd *>£ £itiZ4ft§. They were received with a hearty welcome and most enthusiastic cheers. The city government of Roxbury propose giving Col. Lee a public reception next week. The IT. S. Frigate Vermont in Distress. Boston*, March S —The Mhftftne* Flying Mist, at Chatham, reports, on the 27th ulfc., ninoty*five miles from Capo Cod, spoke'the U. S. frigate Ver mont, with loss of rudder, both bower anchors, suit of sails, and four boats. She wanted steam to taw her into port. Commodore Hudson sends to: night the steamers San Jacinto, Aroostook, and Saxon , and two tow-boats, in search of her. The Passport Order Rescinded. Netv You?*] Mflftfe I.—Secretary Seward has re scinded the order requiring persons leaving this country to procure passports. From San Francisco. San Francisco. March 1. —Sailed, the ship IF*** JV77IJ j for Hong IvoSjC- The steamer St. Lotus, for Panama, sailed to day, with a few passengers and SdSfkOOO in treasure for New York, and $212,000 for Kogiand. Arrival of Captured Cell?”* New York. March 2.—The bark G. W. Hall, from Key West, has brought 250 bales of ootton, the cargo of the schooner Lizzie tVeston, cap tured off the Balize by the U. S. gunboat Itasca. Public Amusements. To-night, at tho Walnut-street Theatre, Mr. Dan Rice inaugurates an equestrian engagement of more than ordi nary attractiveuc-68 “ Slla Zoyara”—established i*> a niASHitiuf Aflfr»i?«srbf s ! <>k> fl ieaidiflCn9oion —*‘ aud her sou” will be some of the features of this exhibition The horse «• Excelsior,” the famous mules, and Melville, the wonderful rider, uro also included in the list. Han Rice himself is known to ho a humorist of the most popular di'Bcriiition; and lio will iniorlintl tho broakiiecfc mid tumbling feats with soiue of bis characteristic wit. Christy’s Minstrels have been doing woll at Concert Hall. The company ia one of the beet on the continent. All the Jokes and songs are new, and there.are some new faces among the Dtliiopa. John Drew has been drft wing splendid houses for nearly fifty nights. The great combination bill will probably have a success of a hundred nights. In this piece, the |#bor devolves upon John Drew, who mimics Frauk Drew,and thus preserves the resemblance of tlio Dnwiios. Mortimer ami Ringgold do not look alike; John Gilbert is tedious iu the first act of the comedy ; but the Dram/or cannot be distinguished from each other save by con noisseiirs. The “Cvrapii *«¥«" Ml the “SeriviM Family” will be repeated to-night, NEW YORK YESTERDAY. THE WEATHER AND THE STREETS—SLUDGE AND SNOW-WATER—WADING THROUGH BROADWAY—THK CfiNTBAIi FASK SKAfiSd POND—THK LADIES ON SKATES—PROSPECT OF A LONG SPUING TRADE REGULA TIONS POIt LENT —NEW COUNTERFEITS— THE WAR—DISTRESS AMONG THE POORER CL ASS—SPECIK SCARCE—ST. PATRICK’S DAY— THE THEATRES, Etc., Etc. [From Our Corrcßpomfoiiti) Nbw Yohk, March 2,1862. The over-hopeful season of spring was Introduced to the notice of the people of this city, and the surrounding districts, in the most agreeable manner, yesterday morn ing, The|bittng cold, and tempestuous northwest wind which prevailed for the ttt‘o previous dfiJ*S &hd night* subsided before daybreak, and the woather had conside rably moderated at dawn. About 5.30 A. M. the ther mometer stood at 24 degrees, being six degrees higher than at the same hour on Friday, when the mercury just reuched eighteen degrees. As the day advanced the at muspliorfl became warmer, on that at hood, the air being perfectly still, thp rays of the sun shed quite an April balm over the heads of, our over-busy, and over-out-of door population. I must confess that the balm was all over head; for the unexpected warmth rendered onr tending thorough fares, with tha MliW WlhWbi fe&pbned to list IhJltiriice, iu is miserable plight, by a sudden thaw of tire hoavy snow which came down lost Thursday morning to the depth of three inches, and remained frozen on them highways sliice.' Broadway was completely liquified, and the tra veller downward from Union fifiimro found Canal otreet with Homewbal of the original riverlan appearance of that locality at the time when adventurous young Knick erbockers, who lived over their fathers’ stores iu Pearl and Front streets, wore wont to resort thither for pur poses of duck-shooting and boating. The ferry landings on the North and East rivers, the Battery grounds, and the streets in the neighborhood of the great railroad de pots, were completely submerged in dirty sludge and snow water, so that men, women, and children, drays, express wagons, cariintros, post-office vans, with un hitched and yoked* up teams, wore all to be seen splutter* ing and spattering through the mud, from noon until evening, ** blent” in the most soiled garments and most singular coufunion. Everybody seemed in good humor, notwithstanding, and everything was taken in good part. Indeed, I am of opinion that a good many of our city “bail to be out,” and were to gn shopping”—rather rejoiced in the occasion afforded them for the utterance of their dolicnto “Lab !” “labs!” and the display of their tasteful Balmorals as they slipped, or waded, over Broadway. Tlxu Central Park Skating-pond was very wfll patron istd from 3 to hair post fi o’clock in the evening, and one city railroad cars filled with enthusiastic hygiesti and juveniles, who kn?w full well that the hours of the ska ting season are numbered, and aro resolved to make the most of those which remain. New York ladles enjoy ■bating hugely. There ii no ilonht tint that the physical development and digestion of thousands amongst them have been vastly improved and benefited during tha winter by the frequent practice of this exhilarating ex ercise, but whether the mode of transit to and from the park, the intimate association of such miscellaneous mu'ria, and the mannw iti wlkieU the diffeieat p&fcul&p rendezvous at and around the park have been conducted, have produced a corresponding good effect on.the morals of the visitors is a matter of grave doubt. Iu fact, I have noticed, with regret, thAt, like every other grand, noble undertaking or institution in New York, the Cen tral Park has bean greatly abused or late by the ice pend Wing made a place of out ami fixed resort for the majo rity of the worst characters—both mate And female—ln the city, who have flocked thither, completely callous to the ennobling influences which surrounded them, for the mere pui suit of tbelr infamous avocation. Even in the railroad car* their demeanor and most equivocal lan- v gtmgo hare been calculated to tuliy tha minds of tha young and Innocent on too many occsslaus. But (o these, and ah such, is now held out the oppor tunity to “ cease to do evil nnd learn to do well.” The “ Regulations for Lent” were read from the altars of tha Catholic churches * f New York to-day, and on Wednes day next—Anli Wednesday—Gotham Is naked, asl hope It vvilli in rut oil' Its mi'initiftfi cross hersell with the asbn % of humiliation, don the sackcloth, and live for the ensu* 'ing “forty days on ill-dressed fishes.” The “ Regula tions” are promulgated in the name of Archbishop Hughes, now absent, either in Paris or Rome, and the code of discipline docs not differ materially from that en forced at tho same season during the past few years. Even should the great bulk of our fellow-citizens refuse to 4i hearken to the call, 1 * many, many thousands of sin cere Catholics—lrhh,'Gorman, and American—will keep tho Lsnt very strictly, and your Pennsylvania graziers And large farmers—taking a hint in season—may just now commence to diminish their supply of cattle, pork, poultry, and eges accordingly: for 1 assure you, from Ahh Wrdnc.-iilrtj to Hunter Saturday moruiiigi the atalU in Washington and Fulton markets are very dull of cus tomers. Making duo for thn diminished area of our commercial operations which has resulted from the Southern rebellion, the spring trade of New York promises to belively, gome six or eight of the lato UC&BlfcM I«MH EMtofkft IAHIIWI Valuable lA\g6Zi of firllLk and French goods, and the boxing aud packing for cus tomers in the other loyal States is even now pi etty brisk in our wholesale warthouves. Thestock of French cali coes and muslins entered at the custom house, is exceed ingly heavy, but whether it is the result of well calcu lated orders or the voluntary shipments from the other side of an imJiistriffl accumulation} I cannot say, Counterfeits of the five-dollar treasury uotes made tlifir appearance In the city about four o’clock on Satur day afternoon. The Metropolitan Police were imme diately warned of the fact by #ie police telegraph, and set to work to caution storekeepers and the proprietors of refreshment saloons of the f*ct, Tho first amwuucv— ment produced a onnsirterAhln sharp of astonishment to say the least; but the distrust of the money ha* not spread, as was at first anticipated it would, it having been shown that the counterfeits wnnt the iuitiallettera ** U S.»” which are to be found very finely engraved ia the centre t f the shield which is fixed on the breast or the female figure which stands oa the left-hand corner of the temiiiif) paper* Above all the matters just referred to, looms up tha question of tho progress of the war. During Thursday, Friday, and Saturday the city was deeply agitated by the circulation of hundreds ot ««rumors,” “reports,” and “ authentic Information,” (!)of a “'march of the army of Ilia Potomac,” an “advance in force on Ma iMMißf)” the (‘defeat of lleiieral Banks." **General McClellan’s gland centre (!) falling back,” tho “Union army will conquer or die, but never retreat,” and so forth. Tho feeling on the subject of a grand movement from the line of the Potomat was painfully intense on Friday night in most parts of New York, and as there was no means of allaying it by a telegraphic statement of tiie facts, the G crt . sc j( »uudo,” or IU extension as It went, was very plainly ohsurrable. The announcement by one of thu morning papers, yesterday, of the crossing of the Potomac by General Banks’ column, and his un opposed inarch into the rebel territory, cased the publio iiiiuil to a sreut extent, but 1 must say that at 11 o’clock lust (Saturday) liiKbt, tha Vnion-lnvlng iimitres t?f lift city found unquiPT in the absence of more positive and full reports from Washington, while tha cZ,*bri‘s or rump of Secession commenced to hope against hope from the gnmn cause. )t i*, I hope, no contravention of Ihe recent order of the War Department to stare that amatonr military rirtttfktets ftMwfte'l during Ok tim<h »nd m* yet to Iw met w ith in tho city, nans of a “ battle now raging,” the strength and position of “ wings,” centres,” “re serves,” anil “advance and rear guards,” were, audare, promulgated, discussed, and decided with as much.mnff frvi<l as if no such person as tho censor oi the telegraph hud ever been horn or salaried. Jeff Daria’ message to the rebel Congress Is regardful a ftofel (U&potffliHg {tp&dttoiten M Ml tlasm h»i. This (Sunday} morning opened with delightful weather. Calm, cold, and braciug, but with sunshine and a fair amount of warmth. Crowds are running up to tiie Central Paik,and some pioneer excursionists have ventured over the North River to Hoboken. Thnrn in no dooht hilt a considerable auidimt of di*> trem* exists amongst the nrtisanß and laborers—particu larly the classes not engaged in Government work or the production of implements or accoutrements of war—of New York just uow. Our usual May migration, or “moving,” has been anticipated tlm Beason in a great iueatum a large number nf families leaving in Murclu in order to seek cheap domiciles. Uills of ”to let** are exceedingly numerous just now, both on Btoras And dwelling*housep. I counted yesterday nineteen for “apartments” in one block, betseen the Eighth and Ninth nvennes, of » fashiouabfo and excellent etreet. TIo scarcity of gpfcio is n lit lie embarraMioff to tho people. In tiie city railroad curs it is hot at all uausual to *ee quite a fashionable gentleman having to pocket thirty or forty cupper cents, given in change by the con ductor, as well as the affront of “ such a load” being of fered to him. I was tftbl yesterday, that at our post office they will not take a fivc-doHar treasury note iu payment For slumps, unlVw ihe purchAsfef tW?S ilft-t fifty cents' worth of the stamps—a truly ridiculous read ing, in my opinion, of the Intentions of the Government. The Irish residents are making energetic preparation.-! for the celebration of Saint l’atrick’B Day. It will bo a fine JrUli-Ainerican and Unlou-loviug affair. As tli<* rebels have kept Colonel Corcoran so long, perhaps the) will permit him to drop In jnvt in wiwn Ws** his place in the line of procession on that day. If they do tlmt, we can forgive them a good deal, in the name of tho Apostle of Ireland. The Tammany Society is to do suitable honor to Colo nel Cogswell, of Ball’s Bluff fame. The “ Brothers ” of that ancient body are to meet in the “Wigwam” to morrow (Monday), when Nolwn J, Watorburj-, GWMI»I £achtm elect, will be installed, uud other important business transacted. Our theatres aro in “full blast,” and will continue a>* o Ash Wednesday. The commercial report or the city, for Saturday, may ha gumn ted dp thita, at 2 30 1\ M.; Flovr.—Tbo market was heavy wH fell off about nr* cents 4P bbl, while the gales embraced 8,000ff19,000 bbla at g5.40eft.75 for exlra Stale. I Win-: at was heavy and irregular ; sales of 15,000 Imah f els at 9] .40 fer red winter Western, and gwi Chicago 1 spring at #1 SOfllulL Corx aas heavy and lower, with sales of 20,000 bus. mlxid at 60ati2#Ci in Btoro nnd delivered. Fork wb* firm, with sales of 3QQ barrels at 814.37 14.r0, closing at the latter figure, and new prime at *ll. Svhisky was higher, with sales of two barrels at 5Wc, Arrival of Released Prisoners.— For several days p»6t the friends of the lately released Richmond prisoners have been anxiously awaiting their xetival in Philmlnlshia. On Saturday morning a (Is. eputch was received, stating that throo hundred of tho released prisonei e front Richmond had started front Wa.h ingtor, and that they would reach the city at about nine o'clock in the evening. A large crowd collected at tho refreshment sblooiib, and the tallies were spread with daintier, tot the hWisaas Rlvlnß tlw reluMwl eaptiVM a heartv and substantial welcome on tlioir arrival. There are thousands of warm hearts throbbing, to meet the loved ones who were so lately in tho h tods of the r bels. Towards midnight the crowd somewhat diminished, but a large number deter jtlined to rtmain all night, if necessary. About 2 o'clock the ioilg-BNpected train arrlrcd, Add IhOfo wli much disappointment felt when it bt“come known that Olliy 80 out of the 300 men who arrived were PhiUdel pi,inns, ah hands were woll feasted at. the saloons. Tho remaining two hundred left about daylight for New York Mil MttegttchusetU.JThe Philadelphia boya coon scattered Tor their*"homes’.' They are farnifdieA -with furlough* for eight days, and have been paid in.full for theli ra tions and service. Shortly after the arrival of tbe released prisoners*, a train consisting of nine cars, each tilled with sick floldtcrr, catne in. Those men ware immd rtiatvly tekfß to Hte various Govenimont ljospitoli. \t the corner ofowiwsou aaa Washington streets, the American Hag was Hying, and below it (Uniondown,) was a sample of tbe Secession rag, found near Newport News by a party of our soldiers. The trophy attracted considerable attention. During yewterdny, a number of thu released Philadelphians were seen strolling about t,wR. Tlity All lank remarkably wall. And confirm tbs statements already published in The Press relative te matters in Richmond. They are all anxious to go back to their regiments. The friends J Lieut. George W. Kenney and Sergeant George L< Brown, or the Seventh-first R**yimeut, P. V., who returned homo several days since from their cap* ‘ tivity in Richmond, design giving the released a handsome aupiter this evening at Pine Hall. The Medical Colleges.— To-day st uuoh tho fourtmitli miihibl S9H!»*B9?9»Et 9f tin Hoimvopatbic Medical College will take place at the Musical Fund Hail. The valedictory address will be de livered by Dr. J. K. Lee, professor of materia medica. Tbe commencf ment of the Jefferson College will take place at the same hall ou Saturday next, the examina tion of ihe studenta being now in progress. Dr. Charles I>. who has resigned hll {UMItIMV W professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and chil dren, bade farewell to hi* cUbs in an appropriate ad dress, on Friday last. The commencement of the University will follow that of the ( * Jeff.” The examination of tbe students of this toi iner institution la also laklnp place. Tbe ilahnemanniefh Medical Institute of the llotnooo patliic College held their twelfth annual commencement on Friday evening, at the college, in Filbert street, above Eleventh, The Institute is composed of the students, who have a commencement every mn M the f)pm of the course of lectures. The exercises commenced ou Friday evening by h few remarks from l’rofeaajrßroaksi who stated the objects of the society, after which ha gave Bome practical advice to the graduates in relation to their duties as medical practitioners, The valedictory address war delivered by one of the students* Mr. Fuse? Wilson, of Delaware. The address was interesting and full of information, relating, as it did, to the great dis coveries in the science of medicine from the remote periods, down to the time of Hahnemann. Prof. Gau«e made a few remarks in conclusion, afler which the audi ence dispersed* The proceedings of this body are alwwi very interesting and W?U ftttwMi
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers