■C|t TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1862 TIIE ..LATEST WAR NEWS. M'e Lave glorious news from Missouri this morn ing. A grtmd battle lias been'fought, and a grand •victory achieved. Fort Donelson is destined to be wholly forgotten, for the time, in the jubilation over the last ini elligence from Halleck The army of the Southwest, under General Curtis, has com pletely routed the combined hordes of McCullooh, Price, Van Dorn, and Mclntosh, which are being pursued by our cavalry. A large quantity of guns, provisions, etc., havo fallen, into our The loss of the enemy, as may readily be imagined, must hare been enormous, when our own is esti mated at no less than 1,000 men. In view of the remarkable success of the Mo nitor, in the action of Sunday, it is probable that the Senate Finance Committee will reoede from its opposition to the House appropriation of fifteen million dollars for iron-clad gunboats. Until the news of this battle arrived, the Senate committee was determined in its opposition to the gunboat bill, but circumstances alter eases, and there is now a new phase of the case to be considered. A special despatch from Washington says the chairman of the Naval Committeo of the House declares that the disaster will produce a good effect, if Congress will learn from it the lesson that iron is superior to wood for the construction of vessols-of war. At last we have intelligence from Commodore Dupont's fleet, whose departure from Fort Royal we chronicled several days ago. Brm»wiok, Georgia, and Fern ndina, Florida, havo both been taken possession of without resistance, the rebels abandoning the forts at both places, with all their contents, on the approach of our gunboats. The occupation of these points by the Federal forces gives the Government the control of the whole coast of Georgia from South Carolina to Florida. By the arrival of the City of Washington, at New York yesterday, we have several days later news from Europe. Washington’s birthday was celebrated by the Americans in London in a be coming manner. They partook of a public break fast, at which Bishop Mcllvaine, of Ohio, presided. Speeches were made by Minister Adam?, Consul Morse, Cyrus W. yield, and others. The healths of Queen Victoria and President Lincoln were drunk with great enthusiasm. Sir Robert Peel hav ing said something offensive about the O’Donoghue, the latter challenged him; but the matter coming to the ears of Lord Palmerston, it was brought to the notice of the House. The affair was afterwards settled- The pirate Snmpter still lay at Gibraltar,- and on her captain going to Tangleis he was ar rested at the instance of the American consul and Captain Craven, whose vessel, the Tttscarora, is Btill watching the rebel steamer. The French army are still pursuing the Cochin China army in that country, and had captured the encampment of the Royal Guards. The French found the remains of two hundred and fifty Christian prisoners burned in prison. We see no reason to doubt the reports about the evacuation of Mauaeeae by the rebels. The Na tional Intelligencer of yesterday says that the military authorities in Washington have received reliable au'hority to that effect. The lines of the army Of the Potomac were so rapidly closing around the rebel stronghold, that its evacuation or capture was only a question of time. We have stirring news from New Madrid, Mis souri. Gen. Pope’s forces have reaohed that place, and commenced an attack on the rebel strongholds. The Tehels are in large force there, end have seve ral gunboats hriping them, but as Commodore Foote’s fleet have gone down to the scene of opera tion, it is probable that they will not be allowed to do much damage to our forces. If the rebel gun beats are driven off, we may expaot to hear of an other large capture of prisoners, as Gen. Pope’s army has them surrounded so that they cannot re treat by land, while Cum. Foote will attend to them by waler. Reports from Memphis state that the people of that city were greatly alarmed, although they ex pect that Forts Randolph and Pillow will be able to protect the city from the attacks of the Federal troops. The Legislature, after sereral ineffectual attempts to organize, bad scattered and gone in va rious directions. Governor Harris is said to bo greatly excited, in consequence of the failure of his efforts to enlist more men for the rebel cause. The people have turned the cold shoulder towards him, and he does not find as much sympathy as he did before the evacuation of Nashville. Congress Yesterday. Senate.—A bill to secure the fulfilment of our treaty stipulations with Haoorer was passed. A joint resolution was offered by Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, tendering aid to the State of Mary land, and favoring the voluntary emancipation act recently proposed. Being objected to by Mr. Salis bury, it was laid over. The bill to encourage enlistments in the army was taken up and passed, after the clause pro viding for enlistments from the volunteer to the regular service had been stricken out. The confiscation bill was discussed at much length. House,—The MU to appoint sutlers in the volun teer army paired with amendment. Mr. R oscoe Cockling, of New York, obtained leave, by a vote of SO yeas, to 35 nays, to introduoe a resolution favoring the suggestion of the President as to voluntary emancipation with compensation, Pending the question of its disposition the House adjourned. Our Latest Victory. The campaign in the West has been, indeed, a series of iuost brilliant victories, and o;ti 1, has followed each in such quick succession that our forces have become thoroughly im bued with martial ardor, and a spi: it of invin cibility, while the rebels, under such men as Price, have become proficient only in the tactics of retreat, in fact, it may be truly said that we no longer have an antagonist in Missouri, Arkansas, or Tennessee; so that the campaign gives promise of being as brief as it has proved successful. The last blow at rebellion in the West has been a most trenchant and timely one. It will utterly paralyze wbat little animus of treason may have survived the shock of Columbus and Fort Donelson, and will lend a new in spiration to our arms, as It has shod a nmv lustre upon them. Wbat measures, if any, will now be taken by Arkansas to oppose the further progress of our forces, will perhaps prove a question more difficult of t solution to the rebels than ourselves. Shortly before the entrance of General Cebtis into the State, the appre hension of his coming was such that the in surgent Governor had issued a proclamation declaring it obligatory on each county to send one-half of its voting population, deducting the number already sent, to swell the army of resistance. It was further threatened that, unless the order was complied with, a draft would he resorted to. The necessity of such stringent measures is a conclusive argument to our minds that the Union sentiment is not wholly extinct in Ar kansas. There can be little doubt that thou sands of the inhabitants of that unfortunate State would have flocked to the welcome of General Cebtis and the Union army upon its first advent,, had it not been for the fear which then prevailed that our army was marching to its own defeat, and that Price, McCulloch, and Van Dorn might regain their lost foot-hold, a second time to overrun the country. Is This Neutrality 1 On the ISth of February, when the last tnall left Gibraltar, the rebel pirate Sumpter lay there, with no sign of departure. This noto rious vessel had been three weeks, or more, in Gibraltar, which is a British port and for tress. There had been full time for the Go vernor oi Gibraltar to receive and act upon Lord Russell's last neutrality despatch, ex pressly prohibiting any American <i bellige rent” from remaining more than twenty-four hours at any British port. Despite of this stringent order, th tr Sumpli? has been per mitted to remain in the port of Gibraltar for weeks. In other words, Gibraltar has been •the asylum of this pirate. The Tuscarora happens to be in her vicinity, waiting to catch and sink her, and hence she remains, a favored guest, in her British hiding-place. vessel. Third . The imiDflrse pow#>r of the engines and th€ fioeneK bf tbs lines guaranty a much higher speed than baa been attained by any sea-going war steamer —in other words, choice of position. This vessel will have the entire horse-power of the Great Eastern) with about one-third the Great Eastern's resistance, or twice the horse-power of any war vessel. The sharpness of her lines ii un prtcedentsd in an; Government practice, and m any, except the latest and moat successful com mercial practice. _ _ _ j Fourth- The ability of the vessel to turn round Labgs Positive Sale of _Boots aki> Shoes, ! rapidly on her own centre without making head- Pcbbehs, Trunks. Ac.—The early attention of way, by meats of two screws, instead of occupying , * . . P the time and making the circuit reouired by all purchasers is requested to the large assortment;of wfu: vessels, will give her remarkable and boots, shoes, brogans, travelling trunks, rubber important facilities for mameuvring inaction. In shoes and sandals. Ao.. embracing first-class sea- connection with her great speed, it will enable her sonable aoods, of city and Eastern manufacture, to ' to overhaul one after another of an enemy’s fleet, be I Oo 13 AnodonJis Nog, 232 andeffective position; to bring her broadside to My«sAU. f flueuunßßis,iiu fi iiiu u | . eftT j n any direction; to turn round in narrow .•street. D J LETTER FROM “OCCASIONAL ” IVasimnctox* March 10* 1862, The naval engagement off the mouth of James river on Saturday and Sunday last cre ated much cxcitemeut in Washington, and has no doubt produced a similar feeling in other sections. Disastrous at first, the oppor tune arrival of Ericsson’s iron-clad vessel, the Monitor, changed the fortunes of tho fight, and it is to be hoped seriously disabled the Jlfem mac. Not a moment should be lost in agree ing to the appropriation-of fifteen millions for the construction of twenty iron-clad steamers. This appropriation, a few days ago, was una nimously disagreed to by the Senate com mittee on economical grounds, notwithstand ing the Secretary of tho Navy recommended that it should be made. The great efficiency of the rebel steamer Merrimac, and the Union floating fortress Monitor, are powerful reasons in favor of an immediate increase of the navy, by the addition of iron-clad steamers. The Monitor was built in one hundred and one days by Captain Ericsson, and it has ful filled all the expectations of its constructor and friends. Com. Stevens, the inventor of the un completed Stevens battery, is now in this city asking Congress to make an appropriation in order to enable him to complete that death dealing engine. His memorial was this morn ing laid before both Houses of Congress, and having given it a patient reading, I am con vinced that if its suggestions are actwj-upon, it will prove to be of incalculable advantage to the country. The following extract from the memorial, giving a history of the battery, and exhibiting its enormous capacities, will be found most interesting: Tbe Stevens Battery is a shot- proof vessel of war, capable of unusually great speed and manageable ness, and of throwing a broadside of unusual weight. It was suggested to the Government by Robert • L. and Edwin A. Stevens in 1841, commenced in 1854, and advanced to its present state during tho period of twenty months. The hull of the vessel, with the exception of some of the decks, cros3-bulk heuds, keelsons and bracing, is completed, and the engines, screw-propeller ihafling, boilers, and blowing and pumping machinery, are finished and in their places. The main armor or casemate, the side amor, the armament, the remaining portion of the decks and bulkheads, the screw-propellers, joiner work, and upper works, arc yet to be com pleted. - a ■ = The cost of tho work done has been s>r«d,43o, of which Congress appropriated $500,000 —the re mainder, $228,435, having been advanced by Robe. L. and Edwin A. Stevens. The sum of $730,484 is required to complete the vessel and her arma ment, including the sum advanced by the Messrs. I Stevens. The vessel is an iron screw*steamer, constructed in the usual way, of the boat selected plates, beams, and angle-bars. The lines of the hull are unusually sharp, resembling those of the fastest North river and modern ocean steamers. Unusual strength of hull is seoured by longitudi nal bulkheads, by fore-and-aft and athwart-shlp iron girder frames, by a heavy box-keelson run ning from stem to stern, and by the shot-proof decks, the casemato, and the continuous side armor. • The screws are under the quarters of the vessel, and work independently, each being driven by four compact beam engines, situated entirely below the water line. The valve-gear is the link-motion, ad justed by separate engines, as in modern screw steamers. The engine frames, eight in number, are, in effect, cross-arches, connecting the bottom, the sides, the main deck and the casement of the vessel. They are composed of wrought*iron plates, formed into box-girders, on the prin ciple of the Britannia tubular bridge. The strength, proportions, and workmanship of the engines are not excelled, it is believed, by those of any war or commercial steamer. The boilers are of the flue-tubular variety, as used in modern ocean steamers and in the bfisk river steamers, and are proved to carry 50 pounds pres sure by the Government test. THE ARMOR. The two leading principles of the protection of the vessel from shot and shell are as follows ; Fir*t. Tbe settling of the vessel two feet lower into tbe water, upon going into action, by letting water into compartments, arranged to be rapidly emptied by powerful steam pumps. This is done for the purpose of saving the weight and cost of two feet of the depth of tbe armor, which would otherwise be necessary; of allowing a flatter slope and hence a greater resistance of tho armor; of employing to the greatest practicable extent, the best known armor—water; of giving the vessel greater speed while cruising, chasing, or retreating, by throwing overboard the weight of water in the tanks, or, in other words, by dispensing with this two feet of water-protection; and of enabling her, for the same reason, to pass over bars and into har bors which she could not otherwise reaGhi Second* The use of inclined instead of vertical armor, for the purpose of changing the direction, instead of stopping the whole force of the enemy’s projectiles. The side armor consists of a triangular structure of solid timber, extending outside the shell of the vefcefcl, from stem to stern. Its lower slope is plated with iron, three and a half inches thick, to a depth of four feet below the fighting line. From tho outer corner of this side protection, the shot-proof casemate or main armor proceeds up ward and inward, at an angle of one vertical to two horizontal, to a height of twenty-eight feet from the bottom of the ship, and five and a half feet from the fighting water lino, where it is covered by a flat, shot-proof deck. This main armor ex tends only ever the engines, boilers, and blowing and pumping machinery, that i 3 one hundred and seven feet, forward, and seventy-four feet aft the centre. Its ends slope upward and inward at a similar angle from the tWehly-Ohefeet deck, Which is shot-proof, and which extends forward and aft the armor to the extreme bow and stern. Tbe inclined armor, or casemate, is composed of six and three* quarter inches of iron plates, backed by fourteen inches of locust timber, in which arc embedded six-inch wrought-iron girders, two feet apart. The whole is lined, with half-inch plate iron. It is supported by the engine frame, by the girders between the boilers, by the frames and sides of the ship, and by special bracing. The horizontal shot-proof decks are composed of one and a half inches of iron plates, resting on six £pch wrought iron girders, filled in with locust timber, and back ed with half-inch iron plate. TJIE ARMAMENT, This consists of five fifteen-inch guns, weighing twenty-five tons each, and capable of throwing round shot of four hundred and twenty-five pounds weight; and two ten-inch rifled guns. Ihe guns rest on wrought-iron, shot-proof car npges, pf which the recoil is taken up by India rubber springs. The carriages are situated on the top of the casemate, and are trained by steam power, by means of a shaft passing through the gun-deck to within the casemate. Each gun is loaded with celerity by being pointed to a hole in the deck, protected by a shot-proof heed, hdoir which i 8 a steam cylinder, o£ which the piston-rod is the ramrod of the gun; and will be cooled so as to allow rapid firing without injury to the gun, by water automatically injected after each discharge. All the machinery and men for working the guns arc thus within the shot-proof armor. The guns are protected by aoovoring of wrought* iron armor, in addition to their immense thickness —sixteen and a half inches, maximum, outside the bore. THE UPPER WORKS, JfcC. The twenty-one feet shot-proof deck, fore and aft the central armor or casemate, affords ample accozuicodatinn for men afid offidSPS. AbdVd this deck) and flush with the shot-proof twenty-eight feet gun-deck, which forms the top of the case mate, is a light deck, extending at the sides of the casement, and forward and aft, from stem to stern. The entire twenty-eight feet or upper deck is thus level (excepting the usual chamber), and unincumbered, over the vessel. Only the part of it that forms the casement is shot-proof. Above the twenty-eight feet deck are flying bulwarks, to be turned down in action. The height of the bul warks from the water, at the load line, will be thir teen and a half feet. The fourteen-feet deck affords ample space for stores. &r. 7 and for the salt water tanks for settling the vessel to the fighting line. Below the fourteen feet deck, forward of the boilers, are the blowers and pumping-engines, and coal-bunkers. Abaft the engines are coal-bunkers. The total'boal ca pacity is one thousand tons. The fresh water, for consumption on board, will be condensed from the exhaust steam, besides which there will bo ample fresh-water tanks. The vessel will be lighted with gas, made on board. The ventilation of the officers 7 and'men’s quarters will be superior to that of or dinary vessels, as they are situated entirely above water. In cruising, and in action, the entire ves sel will be ventilated by the blowers. As the gum are in the open air, and the ship’s company separated from them, during action, by a casemate, the deleterious effect of smoko and sound will be avoided. The ventilation by blowers, the freeing the vessel from water in the manner proposed, and other operations new to the naval practice of the Govern ment, have been successfully employed by Mr. Stevens for many years. The vessel will have two light masts for emer gencies, but will not ordinarily carry sail. FIGHTING QUALITIES, First. Iron armor, six and three-quarter inches thick, backed with fourteen inches ox the most im penetrable wood, and standing at the acute angle of one in two to the line of fire, is a vastly stronger protection than has -ever been applied or found vulnerable by any experimenters at home or abroad. At the same time it is comparatively light, as its extent is reduced by confining it to the central part of the vessel; by placing the guns (which are their own protection) outside of it, rather than within it, and by immersing the vessel to a deeper fighting draught. The parts of the vessel tore and lift the central casemate are also thoroughly pro tected by a horizontal deck, which is not only shot proof, but a foot below the fighting waterline, The water protection, &s far as it can be judicious ly employed, is at once the most perfect and the cheapest armor. Second. The side protection, extending from stem to stern, is intended to answer these four important purposes: Ist.. Protection from projectiles ; jfid. Pioitctioii faun disaster by collision, 3d. Increasing the immnraod beam, and tho stability of the vessel when fighting. 4th. Adding, in a very great, degree, to the hori zontal and vertical strength and stiffness of the chancels, ami, when neceftwry, to retreat, in any direction, with facility. . Fifth. The employment of two entirely distinct means of propulsion—the two screws and their re spective sets of engines—and the subdivision of the power applied to each screw will enable her to bo steered in case of accident to the rudder, and will affwrd double the ordinary security against disa bility from breakage of machinery, in fighting or Cl £fcrtl’. The steam-loading, by means of stopping the recoil by springs, and the cooling of the bore of the gun at eaoh discharge, allows such rapid firing, that one of these guns, considering also the weight of projectile, is as efficient as a small broadside worked in the usual way. Sevexth- The SitnAUAtt Af the gUM bav&Sii*, or on tbe top of the oasemato, or armor, instead of within it, affords the following advantages in fight ing tbe ship: 1. It gives all the guns the entire range of the horizon. Three guns at a time can be fired in a line with the heel, forward or aft. 2. The seven guns, since eaoh gun is available on both port and the starboard side, will do not only the duty of fourteen guns arranged in the ordinary way, but of a still greater number, because, while guns as ordinarily placed have only a few degrees of range permitted by the size of port-holes, all the guns of this vessel can sweep the horizon. 3. By setting tbe suns* by a graduated index plate, within the casemate, so thAt they shall point at tbe proper relative angles, and then placing the vessel, eitber by turniDgner on her centre, or by going ahead or astern, so that one gun bears upon the objeot to be hit, the fire of all the guns would be concentrated upon that objeot, without losing time training each gun. 4. Ab there is no casemate over the guns, there will bo no port-holes into which an enemy might pour shells and grapeshot, or, according to recent experience, solid shot, with terrible effect, at close quarter. 5. The immense weight and cost of casemates over the guns arc dispensed with. Jiighih. The use of the heaviest successful ord nance known, not only makes the gun its own armor, hut affords the following advantages in fighting the ship: ], The smashing effect of a single heavy project ile upon a single point on an enemy’s sides is vastly greater than that of an equal weight of lighter pro jictiles. In close quartois —a position the vessel is, by her speed and manageablcness, able to assume at her option—the velocity of projselile may be so much reduced, that its weight may be. in like pro portion. inere sed, without bringing a greater strain upon the gun. It is believed that the fifteen-inch gun can carry an elongated projectile of half a ton weight. The smashing effect of such a missile would not only be greater than that of a lighter missile, but even more destructive at a low than a high velocity, according to the representations of military engineers. 2. Besides all the advantages of position and ra pid loading described, these seven heavy guDS throw a far greater weight of metal at a broadside than any other war vessel in the world, as will be ob served from the following table: -WARRIOR. Length 380 feet between porpendioulars: over all, 420 feet; beam 58 feet; draught, when displacing 0,000 tons, 26 feet. Weight of broadside, protected guns B*4 lbs. do total guns (48) 1,564 lbs. LA f. LOIRE. Weight ot broadside, protected guns 1,130 lbs ' MINNESOTA. Weight of broadside (without armor)... .1,122 lbs | STEVENS BATTERY, Weight of broadside Mr. Stevens proposes completing his battery, should Congress make the appropriation he desires, in less than four months. His memo rial answers successfully the objections of a portion of the late commission appointed to examine it on the part of the Government, and proves that by adopting the suggestions of this commission it will be made capable of terrible execution. The distinguished professor, Joseph Henry, a member of the Board, makes a strong argument in favor of its speedy completion. You will perceive how long and laboriously •Mr. Stevens and Ms brother have labored upon this great engine of war; that they have ad vanced $228,000 out of their own pocket, and that they ask an additional appropriation of $730,000. No one who reads the memorial from which I have quoted will hesitate as to the importance of immediate action on this subject. Not only would the money invested hy the Government he saved, but a great floating-battery susceptible of doing enormous execution would be added to our coast and harbor defences. I esteem it of the first con sequence that Mr. Stevens should be now on the ground to urge upon Congress its comple tion. In the. engagement near Fortress Monroe, two of our finest vessels, the Cumberland and the Congress , were destroyed by the Merrimac and its assistants, before the Ericsson came to their aid. Our whole naval force of the old descriptions proved utterly ineffective against the iron-cla-i steamers of the enemy, although for months we had been making preparations to receive them. The value of the national vessels destroyed was probably greater than the whole sum necessary to complete the Stevens Battery. It will readily be perceived how speedily the presence of such a terrible engine would have changed the whole face of the late contest, and how easily the blockade of Norfolk could have been rendered complete, and the town itself placed at our mercy, de spite its frowning batteries. Occasional. [Correspondence of Tbe Press.] Washington, March 10,1862. The retreat, or .the assumed retreat, of the rebel army from Winchester and Fairfax, and from va rious points on the Potomac, excites gr at diversity of opinion. The party that have always insisted upon an advance on the part of Gen. McClellan claim it as a fulfilment of their theories, and insist that he has lost all his chances by allowing his adver sary to escape. They assert that the retreat is preparatory to a demonstration upon Burnside in North Carolina, and probably upon Buell and Grant in Tennessee. The friends of McClellan say that the retreat is a part of his plan; that we will be in Kichmond in ten days, and that the whole Secesh conspiracy has broken down. The details of the naval engagement of Saturday and Sunday will doubtless be given at length in to-morrow’s papers. Lieutenant Wise } U. g. N. } son-in-law of Mr. Everett, and others, who got here this morning from Fortress Monroe, speak of the efficiency of the Monitor , Ericsson’s great lit tle salamander, in enthusiastic terms. She hung on to tho Merrmm with tenacious courage for four hours, and finally drove her off. As to the amount of damage inflicted, that is unknown. The gallant commander of the Monitor, Lieut. Worden, got here this morning, and is suffering from the accidental injury to his eyes. He says that nothing could surpass the entire success of the Ericsson ex periment, and ihe performed wonders. “The day of mail-clad steamers has come; and now sailing war vessels are to be classed among the fogy isms of the age. What a reproach it is that we had not seen this before ! X. X. Z. THE EVACUATION OF MANASSAS. LATEST ADD FULLEST INFORMATION CON CERNING THE REBEL MOVEMENTS. The Washington Star of last evening, com menting on the evacuation of Manassas by the rebels, says: We believe that thev [the rebels] only came to the conclusion to abandon their elaborate defences on Thursday last, when they probably commenced falling back froxu Winchester and Leesburg; the latter having long been really untenable by them, unless they were willing to risk a decisive battle there. They made no contest at Leesburg with the two or throe companies of our troops that oame down from Lovett's Gap, {of tho Blue Ridge,) on the day before yesterday, to feel them, as it were. In re tiring from there, they doubtless struck direct for their Manassas works. We find many incredulous relative to the fact that they aro abandoning them also. That, how ever, is » military necessity, since they hare aban doned their defences on both their right and left flanks. The fact that they are doing so is confirmed by ten or fifteen refugees and contrabands, who, availing themselves of the withdrawal of their (the rebel) picket guards, have come within our lines in ihe last twenty-four hours. They cannot have spiked their guns and fled from their Potomac batteries and their camp 3 and batteries from the mouth of the Occoquan up to Wolf-run shoals—burning and destroying every thing they could not oarry off in a hurrj, as they certainly have done—without thus leaving their right flank wholly at our mercy, as well as their Winchester defences—their left flank—with' any intention of continuing to remain a moment longer at Manassas than may be necessary to enable them to run their main force away from that position. A portion of the refugees and contrabands from whom the information received comes, believe they intend to make a stand at the Rappahannock river, twenty-four miles in the rear of Manassas. That is simply impossible, because the line of that river for ten miles north and south of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad is utterly untena ble. even with properly constructed earthworks— which they are without there. The first range of country which they might make temporarily defensible is at and around Cul peper though its frequent waiawsM affurd quite as good attacking as defending posi tions, and there are plenty of them, too. ( So, we do not believe they will Btop running until within sight of the smoke of the chimnies of Richmond. We deem 4 it prudent to say nothing whatever of the movements of our army that has thus fairly elbowed them out of their only defensible posi tion this side of their nominal capital, farther than that its operations having already brought about their anticipated effort to steal away from Manassas, the country may rely upon it that it is nobly carrying out its glorious work thus so ad mirably commenced. Thu President and Secretary of War and the General-in-Chief, of AOUM©, Are busy Afl bBAS, with the matter in hand, as well as every officer and man in (he army of the Potomac. , We have further to add, that we do not believe the rebels will attempt to hold Riohmond for a week longer; judging their purpose to be to get back into tho cotton States as soon as possible, Riohmond being Ues defensible than Mauoss&s wa3 thfSS days ago. Our speoial correspondent, at Washington, at a late hour last night, telegraphed that nothing positive has yet been received of the evacuation of Manassas. The only foundations for the report are the statements ol refugees and contrabands, which are quite conflicting. Pianos'. Pianos !!—George Stock (New York) makes a Piano-forte which has no equal in fulness nnd richness of ton® «ud beauty of touch. J. E. Gqvlh, Seventh and Cbwtnttfc. THE PRESS.—PHILADELPHIA TUESDAY. MARCH 11, 1862. FROM WASHINGTON. The Rebel Batteries Oh the Poto mac Abandoned. THE EVACUATION OF MANASSAS. MOVEMENTS OF THE REBELS. THE RECENT NAVAL BATTLE. DESPATCHES FROM COMMODORE DUPONT. OCCUPATION OF FERNANDINA AND AMELIA ISLANDS. The Town of SI. Mary’s in onr Possession, THE NEW ARTICLE OF WAR ADOPTED, COM. ROWAN'S REPORT OF THE WiNTON EXPEDITION. Special Despatches to “The Press.” Washington, March 10,1862. A Fine Field lor Enterprising Jour- It is suggested that ns our armies advance into the South, all the rebel journals should be imme diately suppressed, and the types, machinery, and paper used to publish Union newspapers. Nash ville, Memphis, Charleston, Mobile, and Savannah, will be fine fields for such enterprises as these. Onr troops would liberally patronize all such pa pers, and the surrounding people would have an opportunity of understanding the right and bright sides of the questions involved in this war. Evacuation of Winchester and Cen- There is no longer any doubt that the rebels have evacuated Ceiitreville, Winchester, and other important points, indicating a general falling back of their forces. The Lower Potomac—The Abandonment of Rebel Fortifications. Lieutenant Wish, commanding the Potomac flotilla, in his official report to the Navy Depart ment, confirms the rnmor of the abandonment of the rebel batteries at Cockpit, Shipping, and other points along the line of tbe Potomac, and also the burning of the steamer Page and other rebel craft. The following new article of war, which was re ported by the Senate Committee on Military Affairs last week, passed the Senate yesterday. It will be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of the United States army : Article.—All officers or persons in the military ot naval service of tbe United States are prohibited from employing any of tbe forces under their re spective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, who may have es caped from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found guilty, by court- martial, of violating this article, shall be dismissed from the servioe. Section two provides that this act shall take effect from and after its passage. .2,200 lbs. Representative Conivav, of Kansas, has filled the only appointment, to which he was entitled, in the Naval Academy by a selection from that State. Samuel L. Casey took his seat, to-day, as a mem ber of the House from the First district of Ken tucky, to fill the vacancy caused by tbe expulsion of Burnett. Tbe telegraph to Fortress Monroe has been fully ocoupied on Government business all day, which has prevented the Associated Press despatches from coming forward, but there has been no change in the state of affairs at that point. Every effort will be made to give the names of the killed and wound ed at tbe earliest possible moment. Occupation of Fernandina and Amelia Islands. TOWN OF ST. MARY’S IN OUR POSSESSION. Washington, March 10.—Captain Davis, late floet captain of the South Atlantio squadron, ar rived here to-night, bringing an official despatch from Commodore DrrotiT, of which the following is a copy : Sir : I bad the honor to inform you in my last despatch that the expedition for Feraaridina was equipped And waiiii s only for euitable weather to sail from PoH ltoyal. I have now the pleasure to iuform you that lam in full possession of Cumberland Sound, and tbe Island of Fer nandina and Amelia Island, and of tbe river and town of fct. Marys. 1 saiud from Port Boyal on llie last day of February, in tbe WafatsA, and on tbe 2d inst. entered Cumberland Sound by St. Andrew’s Inlet, in.the Mohican . Comman der W. God on, on board of lyhicb ship 1 hare lioisted my flag. Thu fleet comorißed the following vessels. Bailing in the order in which they are named: The Ottowa, Mohican, (accompanied by the Ellen,) Seminole, Pawnee, Pocahontas. Flag, Florida, James Adgtr, Bienville, Alabama, Keystone St*te, Beueca, Huion, Pembina, Isaac Smith, Penguiu, Potomska, the armtd cutttr Henrietta, tbc armed transport McOleil *n 5 (!he latier having on board the battalion of marine* un der the command of Major Reynolds.) and the transports Empiie City, Mariou, Star of tbe South, Belvidfre, Bos ton, Georges' Creek, containing a brigade under the command of Brigadier General Wright. AVe came to anchor in Cumberland Sound at half past ten on the morning of the second, to make aa etamlnh tion of the cbnuitel und wait for the tide. Here T teamed from a contraband, who bad been picked up at sea by Commander Lanier, and from the neighboring residents on Cumberland Island, that the rebels had abaudoned in ha*te the whole of the defences of Fernandiua, and were even at that momeut retreating from Amelia Island, car rying with them such of their munitions as their pre cipitate flightwould allow. The object of carrying the whole fleet through CiAl berland Sound was to turn the heavy works on the south end of Cumberland and the north end of Amelia Islands, but on receiving this intelligence I detached the gun boals and armed steamers, of light draught, from the maiuland, and, placing them under the c -mtnand of Coimmmder P. Drayton, of the steam-sloop Pawnee, or dered him to push through the sound with the utmost speed, to save the public and private property from threatened destruction, to prevent the poisoning of tbe ■wpUbj aod to pat e st<jp to »!l these outrages, by the per. petration of which the leaden of this nefarious war hops to deceive and exasperate tbe Southern people. In the meantime, 1 wont out of tbe Sound, and came by sea to tbe main entrance of this harbor. In conse quence of the bad weather, I was unable to cross the bar till this morning. Commander Drayton accompanied by Commander C. B. P. lloJgers, with the armed launches and cutters, and tbe small aimed companies from the IFa&asA, had ar rived several hours before me. ‘ Immediately on his en tering the harbor. Commander Drayton sent Lteutenaut White, of the Ottawa , to hoist the flag on Fort Clinch, the hist of the national forts on which the ensign of the Union has resumed its proper place since lire first pro clamation of tho President of the United States WM issued. A few scattering musket shots were fired from the town by the flying enemy, when it was discovered that a rail road ti ain was about to start. Commander Drayton, on board the Ottawa, Lieut. Commanding Sti vens, chased thin train for two miles, and fired several shells at it, aiming at the locomotive, some of which took effect, It was reported that the Hon. David Yule©, Into a senator of the United States from the fitateof Florida, escaped from thiß train and took to tbe bush. Commander C. R. G. Rodgers, pushing ahead with the launches, captured tbo rebel steamer DarUngtou, con taining artillery stores- army wagons, mules, forage, Ac., and fortunately secured the drawbridge, which was held during the night by the second launch of the Wa&asA., Thure were passengers* including women and children, aboard the Darlington, and yet the brutal captain suf iain suflertd her to be fired upon, and reinsert to hoi*t, the white flag, notwithstanding the entreaties of the women. Mo one was injured. I send the captain of the sttamer home a prisoner. Ilia name is Ja-'ob Brock. He is a native of Yermont, bht has been a resident of Florida for twenty-thiee yeara. Tbe seme night Commander 0.?. Rodgers ascended the St Mary's with the Ottorca and took possession of the town, driving out a picket of the enemy's cavalry. Early in tho morning the town of Fernandiua was also occupied by a party of seamen and marines from Com mander Dray ton’r command. In both places mo it of the inhabitants bad fled, by order, it is said, of the rebel authorities. A company o t seamen and marines under Lieutenant Miller was sent from tbe Mohican te hold Fort Ollach. It is reported to me by Lieutenant Commanding Downes, of tho Huron, that the whole structure of the railroad on the Fernandina side, including the swinging draw-bridge, is quite uninjured. The rebels have done tpme damage, by fire, to the trelsel work 014 (b? QtIWP side of ihe river, but 1 am not yet informed of its extent. Several locomotives, baggage-tenders, freight cars, and iK-me other property, besides that found in the Darlington, have been recovered. The whole number of guns discovered, up to this time, is la, embracing heavy 32-joundere, 8 iocli guns, and one 80 and one 120- pounder rifled guns. The towns of St. Mary's and Fernandina are nnin jurul. I visited the town. Fort Clinch, and fhe earth works on the sea face of the island. It is impossible to look at these preparations for a vigorous defence without being surprised that they should have been voluntarily deserted. ..The batteries on tbe .north and northeast shores are as complete as art can make them. Six are well concealed and protected by ranges of sand- bills in front of them, and contain perfect shelter for tlu- men, and are small and thoroughly covered by the natural growth and (lie varied contours of the land that to- Strike them front the water would bo the mere result of chance. A battery of six guns, though larger, and affording, therefore, a better mark, is «quaily well sheltered- nod masked. Those balterws, and the heavy guns mounted on Fort Clench, command all the turnings of the main ship channel, and rake un approaching enemy. Beside them there wiia another battery of four gunson tho south end of Cumberland Island, the fire of which would cross the channel inside of the bar. Tbo difficulties arising from the indiiectness of the channel and from the shoalness of the bar would have added to the defences by keeping the approaching vessels a long time exposed to fire under great disadvantage. And when tbe ships of an enemy had passed all these dcs. fences, they would have had to encounter a weH-con ,lruci«4 cud naturally-moated battery At ilia him which commands the access to the Inner anchorage. We are told that General Lee pronouuced the place perfectly defensible. Wo are not suprised at this,, if true. We captured Tort Royal, but Fernandiua and Fort Clinch have been given to us. We had In the expedition Mr. W.H. Dennis, an. as sistant in the const survey,;who posnesaed an accurate kLuultdgeof a part ul ihe gruuutl >rc passed over, of which, indlrrd, he lind nuule the topographical tanp, under the direction of the superintendent. He- was zealous and active, and it gives mo pleasure- to mention him. The Empire City , on board o£ which- woe General,; Wright, grounded on the bar. As soon. as.he arrived in i another ►teHuienmnM-dialc stops were taken to transfer to him the fvi to ami all authority aud pusaeueiuu on the luiul. 1 debits here to speak of the harmonious counsels and cordial co*oprratiou which marked throughout my iutercouree with this able officer.. Our pl&°B of action have been matured by mutual consultation, and have been carried into executiou br mutual help, I take great pleasure in reminding iho- Department that tbe principal and ultimate effect of tkoneval expe dition I Imve (lie honor to command- was,. Id its firat cou- GCfftiiou, io tako and tH* WhiJd 1I»A Af the sea-coBSt of Georgia, to use the lan guage of the original paper, that the naval power that controls the sea-coast of Georgia controls the State of Georgia.” The report that tho fortifications at St. Simons, armed with heavy Colwmbiads bad b**n. abandoned, wliicbilrst peached me at Port Boyah is oonflrm d. This being the case, tbe entire sea eout of Ocorgiftift now either ac tually in my possession or under my control, and thus the views of the Government have been accomplished,. Very respectfully, your obedient servant* t S. F. DI PuoT, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. To lion. Qtgxok Wi'-J-L*??! Secretary of the Wash ington* The Official Account. nalis is. treville The New Article of War Miscellaneous. THE OFFICIAL REPORT. Flag Ship Mohican, llarbor of Fehnaxdixa, March 4, 1862. IMPORTANT FROM FORTRESS MONROE. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE BATTLE. The United States Steamer "White hall Blown Up. the LOSS ON THE MINNESOTA. Explosion of the YorktoWs Boiler. the loss of life probably heavy. [Special Despatch to The Press*] Fortress Monroe, March 10.—The Minnesota was got safely off this morning, and now lies in the same position whieh she occupied previous to the advent of the Merrimac. She does not appear to have been very materially damaged ; but I under stand that she will leave as soon as possible for one of the Northern stations for repairs. The steamer Whitehall was struck by&Bhell from the Yorktown , which killed her assistant engineer, Andrew Nesbitt, and two seamen, named Robert Waugh and Charles O’Conner. During the night she took lire. A shell from one of her guns fell in the yard attached to the hotel here, and exploded, the fragments dying into the fort. She finally blew up with a terrible explosion. The steamtug Dragon received a shot through her boiler* Three of her men were slightly scalded. The brig Rescue came into collision with the tug America , and sustained some damage to her ma chinery. Tbo Rescue was in the action, but strangely enough, escaped without other damage than that referred to, and it is said was notonoe hit. I have just learned that six men were killed and seventeen wounded on board the Minnesota. A rebel tug (name unknown) steamed out from behind Sewell’s Point tki§ morning, but put back iu the moßt precipitate way. Tbe Monitor yesterday fired sixty-two balls at the Merrimac , all of which took effect , although tbe effect was not immediately apparent. Had the Merrimac been twice as strongly constructed, she could not have stood the terrific broadsides of the Monitor for three hours with impunity. The in juries she has sustained will begin to tell most effectually should she ever again engage one of our vessels. I should not be greatly surprised, how ever, to hear that she had sunk before reaching Norfolk. One ef the Monitor's balls entered the York town's boiler, whieh was blown up. As the rebel steamer was crowded with troops, the loss of life must have been fearful. OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM CAP TAIN MARSTON. Washington, March 10.—The following despatch from Captain Maraton has been received: United States Steamer. Roanake, Hampton Roads, March 9,1862. To Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: I have the honor to inform yon that yesterday, at 1 o'clock, one of the look out vessels reported, by signal, that the enemy was coming out. I im mediately ordered the il. linnesoto to get under way, and, as soon as the two tugs appointed to tow this ship canm alongside, I slipped our cable. The Mernmae was soon discovered passing out by Sewell’s Point, standing up toward Newport News, accompanied by several small gunboats. Every exertion was made by us to get all the speed on the JRoaitoli that the twe tugs were capable giving her, hut in consequence of our bad stoerage we did not get ahead as rapidly as we desired to do. Thfl IShrrimm went up ftbct immediately at tacked the Congress and Cumberland, but par ticularly the latter ship, which was hid from us by the land. When about seven or eight mites from Feitress Monroe, the Minnesota. grounded. We continued to stand on, and when we came in sight of the Cumberland we saw that she had careened over, apparently full of water. The enemy, who had been joined by two or three steamers from James river, now devoted themselves exclusively to the Cwg but she being aground, could bring but five guns to bear on them, and, at ten minutes before four o’clock, we had the morti fication of seeing her haul down her flag. 1 continued to stand on till we found ourselves in fathoms of water and were on the ground astern. Finding that we Ceuld go no farther, I ordered one of our tugß to tow us roued, and as goon as Roano&o's head was pointed down the bay and I found she was afloat again, I directed the tugs to go to the assistance of the Minnesota, under the hope that with the two others which had ac companied her, they would be able to get her off. But up to the time I now write they have nob suc ceeded in doing so. At 5 o’clock the frigate St. La.wmm, in tow of the Cambridge, passed us, and not long after she also grounded ; but by the aid of the Cambridge she has got afloat again, and, being unable to ren der any assistance to the Minnesota, came down the harbor. In passing the batteries at Sewell’s Point, both going and returning, the rebels opened their fire on us. which was returned.from our pivot guDB ,* but the range was too great for these, while the enemy's shot fell far beyond us. One shot went through our foresail, cutting away two of our shrouds, and several shells hurst over and near the ship, scattering their fragments on the deck. Between seven and eight o’clock we discovered the rebels had set fire to the Congress, and she continued to burn until one o’clock, when she blew up. This was a melancholy satisfaction to me, for as she had fallen into the hands of the enemy, it was far better to have her destroyed than that she should be employed against us at some future day. It was the impression of some of my officers that the rebels hoisted the Freuch flag. I heard that the Monitor had arrived, and soon after Lieut. Commanding Worden came on board and I immediately ordered him to go up to the Minne sota, hoping that she would be able to keep off an attack on the Minnesota till wo had got her afloat again. j This morning the JM.erri.mat renewed the attack on the Minnesota , but she found, no doubt greatly to her surprise, a new opponent in the Monitor. The contest has been going on daring the most of the day between these two armored vessels, and i most beautifully has the little Monitor sustained i herself, showing herself capable of great endurance. I have r>Qt received any official accounts of the j loss of the Congress and Cumberland, but, no { doubt, shall have them soon, when they will be • transmitted to you. { I should do injustice to the Military Department, ; did I not inform you that every assistance was free i ly tendered to us. They sent five of their tugs to I the relief of the Minnesota, and offered all the aid I at their power. I would also beg leave to say that ! Capt. Poor, of the Ordnance' Department, kindly : volunteered to do duty temporal ily aboard this : ship, and from whom I have received much as ! sistance. Your obedient servant, i ’ styH-V MA|!f>T9N, j Captain and Senior Officer. LETTER FROM FORTRESS MONROE. [Special Correspondence of The Press ] I annex ftirther particulars of ttie surrender of the Cmpress: She hoisted the white flag, and a robel tag came alongside. The officer in charge of the tug asked , if they surrendered,and receiving an affirmative answer, took away the officers, but left the men. The latter then i got ashore as beet they could, and the rebel-, took posses sion of the vessel; and set heron fire. Tho conflagration : made a great light. As her guns became heated, they | discharged of themselves, and the shells could be seen to : buret agatnbt the horizon. About one o’clock this (Sun day) morning, the flames reached the magazine, which blew up with a terrific explosion. Such whs the end of the noble Congress. „ Tho rebel steamer Mcrrimact during the afternoon* had been paying her attentions to the Minnesota, but, as the evening came on, she fell back under the pro tection of the Sewell’s Point battery. By this time it was quite dark. But now the Ericsson I battery, the Afontfor, is reported coming up! Hearts that | were east dawn are now gladdened. After stopping for a pilot, she continued on her course. Later.—At daylight on Sunday morning the Merri mac came from Sewell's Point, and steamed towards the Minnesota , which was still aground. Evidently surprised at seeirg IheMonitor, she put back, and hung out a signal flag, when two more steamers, supposed to to the York* iown and Jamestown , steamed out. The Monitor Uwn got under weigh, and steamed boldly out to meet her adver saries. As she came out she threw a few shells towards , the YorMovtm and Jamestown, when those steamers turned about and incontinently fled. The Mtrrvmas by : this time was engaging tlie Monitor, and tho flashes of t their heavy guns are plainly visible. The Union gun, i too, is firing on the Merrimac. \ As I write this, the battle is raging, but neither vessel |appears to have gained any advantage. The boat which arrived from Baltimore this morning brought a large cargo of Seceabi both male and female, to jrait for the flag of truce. They were intently watching jjie battle, and seemed in great glee at the disaster to the Cumberland and the Congress. As the roports of the juris of the Merrimac could be heard, they clapped their lands and smiled approvingly. They were- profuse «• kieir inquiries a» to which weie the t! ConfuJferAte' 1 aud. Vrhtch wvro the 11 Lincoln” veSleli. ju b t before eleven o'clock, a messenger came to the iCtel, with au order that all tho ladies must immediately Uave, and go on board the steamer, which has steam up, TSRdy to start at a moment's notice. Great anxiety is nuuiileirted for tho safety of the Minnesota. Kortunately,. htvwever, the precaution, though wise, proved unneces sary. ;I have from an eye-witness, one of the sailors of the GwwibcWaitd, an account of the disaster which befel that vessel. Be says, in effect, that the Merrimac steamed up, passed the Congress-, and immediately attacked the Cumberland. The guns of the latter were brought* to bear, and breaddde aStsr bri adaide was pouroddntoCiie Metrimac, hut theshot and shell, all of them of the largest size, rebounded from her iron sides as a-marble-would when thrown agaliet a stono wall. Steaming on* she struck the Cumbeifand just beneafh the water, line, c utting a vast hole eitirely through the side of the vos shJ., She then hack*! and tnrnpd t-pr attention. tc- the ! CWr*f?i Vldle tho Cumberland filled, fell over on« her j broadside, and sank. Nothing but the inastacan.naw be ! efCB it H suppost’d that fully one hundred men are : killed or drowned. The rest escaped in the boats, which, strangely enough* were not fired upon by the Tobols. The flag was *a.wd, nnd brought away by the crow. When I left ta>- begin mj letter, the und the JUmHv* were-tartly engaged; firing into each utkor* Ro turning to my post as soon ai possible, I hails a view of as grand a sight as ever was between two iron clad vessels. The Merrimac. attempted to run the Moni tor down, firing as she adYntic?d 5. but l>hn Latter vessel was too active, nud escaped Liu threatened shock. Now the baHEfrom fmmonae guns of tho Monitor began to tell with foaitul elect ftgauiat the sides of her adversary. Tha heavy railroad iron, with which she was plated, was loin off, while a shell frem the Minnesota was thrown directly into th> amok* stack of the rebel. At this unexpected turn of affair* the J/ermnsrc-turuedrottud km) proceeded ytttk all possible speed tor Sewell’s l’olnl. With a telaacop© h*r deck, or rather what might bo called a deck, being merely a space enclosed by & rnilin|, could be seen crowded with men, while the rebel stats and baraoould be plainly distinguished filing, union doprn,' aa a signal of wo# evidently stilus!) lumped, if not disabled. "Finally, the Jamestown and the I’br&tOK'R camo from behind Sewell’s Point and towed her away. Tho Monitor steamed towards the fluff ship Minnesota, with tl,e purpose of getting her ifl&kt. The rebels do not seem dlspoM-ri to make another attack. The loss of life is not known, but it is thought to bo heavy. The entire loss, howovor, is not over one hue drfcrt and twenty. Much of the spars and rigging, guns, ft® CnmUrUnd mity be recovered. Tin Min nesota is said to bo badly cut in her hull. It was re ported, last night, that sho had had a shot through her boilcri l , but the report is without foundation. So has ended tho great naval battle of Fortrois Mon roe. The raperiority of iron-clad vessels has boon de monstrated by actual conflict, and tho Monitor or Ifrrica eon battery, by hor light draught, her managea bility, and the heavy calibre of her guns, has shown, beyond all possibility of doubt, the immense superiority which fhe possesses over the unwioldy Merrimac. The Ericsson has been described boforo, and I will not attempt to say anything explanatory of her; but I may say that, but for her timely arrival, the rebel Hag might now be waving over Newport News. THE WAR IN ARKANSAS. EXCITING INTELLIGENCE! A MOST GLOBIOXTS VICTORY OVER THE COMBINED REBEL FORCES. THREE DAYS HARD FIGHTING ! Our Loss One Thousand Killed and Wounded. ENEMY’S LOSS STILL LARGER. OFFICIAL DESPATCH FROM GEN. St. Lons, March 10. —Tho following is an offi. cial despatch to Major General McClellan, Wash- ington : The army of the southwest, under General Cur tis, after three days hard fighting, near Sugar Creek, Arkansas, has gained a most glorious vic tory over the combined forces of Van Dorn, Mc- Culloch, Price, and Mclntosh. Our loss is estimated at 1,000 killed and wounded. That of the enemy is still greater. Guns, flags, provisions, Ac., have been e&ptuyed in large quantities. Our Cavalry are in pursuit of the flying enemy. 11. W. Halleck, Major General Commanding. St. Louis, March 10.—The expedition sent out from Sedalia by Brig. General McKeon, into Bates county, has just returned with forty prisoners of war, recruited for Price’s army, and a quantity of arms and ammunition. Progress of the Operations Against Price. Cross Hollow, Ark., March I.—Vigorous re connoissances are kept up to watch the enemy’s movements, and foraging parties are active in ob. tainiDg supplies: Pork and beef are purchased in the vicinity in abundance, and about halt the quan tity of flour rtquircd is obtained in the same man ner, and all our forage. Price, whose retreat is acknowledged on all sides to have been ably con ducted, has found refuge in the Boston mountains. From two deserters, who earns into camp yester day, it is ascertained that he is encamped on Cove Creek road, while McCullooh is posted one and a half miles distant. The latter had burned the vil lage near the Indian frontier, known as Caulfield. The supplies of the rebel army are obtained from Van Bureii. It is skated, oh good authority, that Price and McCulloch had a violent quarrel before leaving Cross Hollow, at Fayetteville. We found all the telegraphic despatches up to the time of the evacuation by the rebels. A despatch from Mcln tosh to Hoibert, in oommandat Gross Holla w, urges him to press forward and reinforce Price, at Spring field, at all hazards, as that point is important to be held by the rebels. Ex-Senator Johnson, of Missouri, who opened a recruiting office in Springfield for the rebels previous to Price's departure, was tho first to roach Fayette ville, where he stopped Beveral days. The clemency of General Curtiss, and the ju dicious policy inaugurated in relation to the treat ment of the citizens of Benton county, is bringing its reward in the general confidence already show ing indications of being restored among the fugitives who fled at our approach. Confederate hills, which were at twenty-five cents discount on our arrival in Benton county, have suddenly become valueless, and the inhabi tants refuse to take them. Major Wright learns that the citizens of Ketty ville knew of the intended attack on that place, and communicated the intelligence to the rebels, but kept all intimation of it from Captain Mont gomery. In the afternoon before the fight, the ladies of the village left, one by one, and during the attack all were out. Major Wright also learns there are five hundred and fifty rebels in Cedar county, Mo., and one hundred and ninety in Dade connty—these parties are committing depredations and swearing vengeance against the Union men. The health of the troops has been good, particu larly while on the maroh. THE WAR IN NEW MEXICO. IHE BZFO&TED BATTLE AT VALVEEDE DISCREDITED. Kansas City, Mo., March 10.—A letter from Santa Fe, dated the 23d, with a postscript on the 24th nit., from a reliable source, makes no mention of ths battle at Valrerde. On the 16th the enemy appeared within a mile and a half of Fort Craig, showing a front of 1,500 cavalry, with a reserve of 500 and six pieces of artillery. Several shots were exchanged, when tbe enemy retired in good order. The loss was one killed on each side. Several small engage ments occurred during the week, in which our forces captured some prisoners and one of the enemy’s flags, which was a United States flag, with the letters altered, As express arrived on the evening of the 23d, twenty-four hours from Fort Craig, but brought no official intelligence. A letter from Gor. Connolly stated that fighting was going on when the express left. Our forces had captured over & hundred of the eneiny’e mulea and the prmeipAl w&gdnmaster, and killed a great number of Texans. The enemy was hard pressed for water, and were moving to ward \alverde, at which point 2,000 of our men were stationed. March Oth. No reliance Is placed In the report via Denver city. Reported Evacuation of Winchester. Charlestown, Va., March 10 —lt is currently rumored and believed that Winchester was fully evacuated yesterday. A reoonnolssance was sent out this morning to ascertain the fact. Intelligence from other quarters greatly encour ages all friends of the Union, as indicating a speedy termination of hostilities. Charlestown, Va., March 10. —It is now ascer tained, beyond a doubt, that Winchester has been evacuated by the rebels* The prominent places between this and Winches ter are occupied by our troops. Ko More Fosses to go South. Baltimore, March 10-. —Major G-efieral Dlj2 di sires to have the notice promulgated that, for the present, no more passes to go South will be granted. Commander Rowan's Report of Ilis Ex- pedition to Winton, N. C. Washington, March 10. — A despatch from Flag Officer Goldsborough, received at the Navy Depart ment to-day, includes the report of Commander Rowan. commanding the Bteamer Delaware, who furnishes an interesting account of his- reconaois sance. On the 16th of February he moved hie forces, and, reaching Wintos, was in-the- aot of letting go the anchor, when suddenly a force of North Caro lina volunteers opened a terrific-fire of musketry and artillery on his vessel. Volley succeeded vol ley in rapid succession, striking her one* hundred and twenty-five times with musketry, but the ene my’s artillery overshot her- Ftre was-oponed upon the rebels from the ship’s shell gun- The Perry, being in position, promptly throw a shrapnel among the forces, which was followed by the ship. As soon AS Captain Quackenbush could extricate her from her position, and turn the ship in* the narrow river, Commander Rowan ran down past the ene my, and anchored his force about seven mOes be low Winton. Our troops subsequently entered the town and destroyed a quantity of* military stored, tents, arms, knapsacks, etc., and the quarters- occupied by the troops of the enemy. Tho official report of the casualties of the navy on the taking of Roanoke Island gives- £ killed, 17 wounded, and 2 missing. HEROIC CONDUCT 0? A, SAILOR. Lieut J. C. ChapiD, commanding the U. S. steamer Vatfoy City, off Roanulso laUad. writes to Cmumudore Goldeboroughj under dace of Feb 25tb, noticing a magnanimous act of bravery displayed by John Davis, gunner’s mate on board of his ves sel, at the taking of Elisabeth City. He says that John Davis was at his station during the action, in the magazine issuing powder, whan a shell from the enemy’s battery penetrated into the magazine ni.d exploded outside of it- Ho immediately *hrew hu»»«df over of pnwdor, protoo injr it with his own body from tho- fire, while at tho same time be passod out the powder for the Commodore Goidflborough, i-n transmitting thts* lettes to the Navy Department, says: “It afford* mo infinite pleasure to forward this conununtcatioii to the Navy Department, to. whose special conwdse rsvUou I beg Iraovo to re«e»ii'dssul tho gallant* nnd sohte sailor alluded to.” In a postscript he- adds, Davis actually seated himself on the the top being curt, and in this position he rexQQined until the flames were extinguished.” Ancon* (X*'m.) Bailey (Vem.),ra. Biddle yltoin.) Browne (U.)* K I. Palvwt (V .) _ Cold* (Dem..} i Alleged Attempt in Enlist BttUsh Soldiers I curiiing tpcm.i ! 1 into the American Army. SSiTiaivT' St. Catherines, C. W., March 10.—A man Uriitendeu (V) i named Cornwall was arrcstcvd here to day, charged | Unl!(U.) * wilb offering inducements 4o the British soldier* . Harding (IM ' desert and join the serviso. tie wfts£o»v- | Mr. ROSOOK C' 1 | V»\W*s for trial. I ts.lp' resolution was HALLECK XffIUTH (MiRESHIJIST SESSION, WABHisQToa, March 10,1862. SENATE. PETITIONS, BTC. Mr. IIALUI9 (Rep.), of New York, presented several petitions iu relation to the employment of homeopathic surgeons in the army. Also, a petition ashing that tho Democratic pApnrs which are now excluded front the mails, whose editors have not been csnvlcted of treason, be allowed tho same privi)eg*s ah the Abolition papers. Mr. SUMNER (ltep.), of Massachusetts, presented several petitions in favor of emancipation. Mr. HOWARD (Sep.), of Michigan, presented a me morial asking Congress to peimit no abridgment of the freedom of the press. THE HANOVER TREATY. Mr. SUMNER, from the Committee on Foreign Re lations, reported h bill to fulfil the treaty stipulations with Hanover. The bill was passed. IT. 8. MAILS TO FOREIGN PORTS. Mr. COL LAMER (Bep.), fcf Vermont, from the Com mittee OH foot Clliceß »ud I’ont KoiuJs, reported back tho lull providing for tho carrying of mails to foreign ports, with amendments. DEPARTMENT OF THE WEST. Mr. LANE (Rep.), of Indiana, from tho 'Committee on Military Affairs reportod a bill to provide for tho pay uiert of the bounty and poutrionu to the eoldiera and offi cers actually employed in ths Department of the West. DIVISION COMMANDERS Mr. GRIMES (Rep.), of lowa, offered a joint resolu tion, that in the opinion of the Senate no person shall be appointed us commander of a division or brlgado, except such as exhibit superior competency in the command of nen, or gallantry iu eon flict against the enemy. Refer red to the Committee on Military Affairs. THE 1 CAVALRY BiLL. Mr. KING (Rep.), of New York, moved to take up the cavalry bill Mr. GRIMES objected. COMMODORE FOOTE. Mr. CHIMED pffprp'l ft rr nlntl /B, teB&flBB ft® ft®»B» of Congress to Commander Footo. Mr. KING objected, as lie said the Senator from lowa li*id utedlesslv objected to the consideration of the cavalry bill. Mr. GRIMES said he hoped It would go to the country that the Senator from New York had objected to giving thanks to a bravo and gallant officer, Mr. KING HiiiU he supposed it would be the duty of the clerk to make tho record. VOLUNTARY EMANCIPATION. Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of Massachusetts, offered a joint lOHoiution tendering aid to the States of Maryland end Delaware, and favoring voluntary emancipation' Mi*. SAULSHURV (L)om.), of Delaware, objected, and the resolution was accordingly laid over. ENLISTMENTS IN THE ARMY. On motion of Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of Massachusetts, the bill to encourage enlistments in the army was taken up. The question being tho motion of Mr. FESSENDEN to amend, by adding the bill to organize tho cavalry, it was adopted. On mdtiou of Mr. 9HEUMAN (Uep.j, the number of cavaliy regiments whs reduced to thirty instead of forty Mr. WILSON (Rep ), of Massachusetts, said there was a story going abroad iu the newspapers that thoio was something wrong about this biil. The fact was the bill re duced the force by 37 colonels, 37 lieutenant colonels, 111 iiihJotp, 450 captain*. and 040 lieutenants, making a saYlDg of $2,900,000 to the treasm y. Mr. FESSENDEN (Rep ), of Maino,moved to amend so that no further enlistments shall bo made until the whole number of the army bus been reduced to 500,000 rank and file, and the army shall uot be Increased beyond that number. After some discussion, Mr. FESSENDEN withdrew his amendment. Mr. DOOLITTLE (Hop.) and TRUMBULL (Rep.) objected to tho provision of the bill which allows a bounty for enlistment from the volunteer to tho regular army. Hr. CHANDLER (Rep.), of Michigan, said he also was oppos'd to any recruitiug officer going to the Michi gan regiments to induce them to leave their colors. All the flghtiug lmd, ao far, boon stotiv by Yoiuutesrs, Mr. WILSON (Hep.), of Massachusetts, did not con sider that the measure would have uny bad effect on the army or volunteers in any way. There ware men iu the volunteer ranks who wish to go into the regular army. But, if the Senate was of the opinion that the effect would bo bad, he would move to strike out tho provision giving & l>6tiniy for tatliatnuAU from the volunteers. Adopted, p Jlr. (UIaK L>LEIt moved to strike out the section pro viding for enlistments from the volunteers to the regular army. Adopted. The bill was then passed. TIIE CONFISCATION BILL. The confiscation bill was then taken up. Mr. ItttLWMNS (RsP,)> of Illinois, said he assumed that tvury Senate r agreed Id the wish that tile war should be brought to a tpeedy and successful conclusion. He also UEHunied that all wished to keep within the limits of the Constitution, and preserve it in all Us parts, lor our protection and for the benefit of posterity for ever. We would prosecute the war to a sod end if we only succetded in conquering the States by the over throw of the Constitution. Unless we can save tho Uon fitituticn with the Union, V 9 bad better let both go. All the evils the rebels are now enduring are the legitimate fruits of a violation ot‘ the Constitution. The Constitution says “ No bill of attainder shall be passed.” But it seems to be Admitted that this bill is practically a bill of at tah der. The Senator from Maine [Mr. Morrill] seems to place the authority of Congress to pass this hill in the u war power•” but all the power Congress possesses is granted by the 0 institution, &hd they were the game yesterday as to-day, and will remain so forever. The unlimited power of Congress, as advocated by the Sena tor from Maiue, is < nly a foundation for despotism. The functions of Congress are civil and legislative, and it cannot control unlimited war power. He con tended that the Supreme Court had settled this ques tion, and decided the power wits in tho President. He cited from the case of Luther vs. Borden, 7th Howard, pp. 43 and 46; also, Martin vs. Mott, 12th Wheatley. If *’ - President -•***• Jhe - • :* •' is a remodv ip. CcngiCES: but if Congress usurps the WdF power, there is absolutely no remedy. He cited further tho case of Cross vs. Harrolson, growing out of the state of things in California. California was conquered in 1846, but Congrats had no power to legislate for it at all, and yet llie President instituted a term of government for it. But this bill relates to property not cap- tured, or expected to ho. captured, aud is uot restricted to property calculated to aid the rebellion, but is intended to strip millions of persons in private life of everything. The sure and certain effect of this bill will be to make pence and reunion impossible. He contended that il the rebel* were public enemies, we couM not con fiscate their prlviU by the IUWB Of BAtIAjM, Atul if they were not enemies, but insurrectionary citizens, tbcu the Constitution forbids such confiscation. The bill n.n inexpedient as it wub unconstitutional. It would only s rve to consolidate our twenties, and make them desperate. [Mr. GRIMES here real a d-spatrh announcing the capture of St Marys, Femandina, &c ] Mr. DROWNING said ho thought h6fidfild g& 6fi With more energy, lie waß willing, on their return to their allegiance, to grant an amnesty to the deluded masses of the people, but he would have the leaders buffer the ex treme penalty of the law on the gallows He said that slavery was the sole cause of the war—that is, if there had been no slavery there would have been no rebellion or war—and if, by some miracle, slavery was wiped oat, the war would not Ikht thirty days. But usithet' toe President nor Congress bad the power to proclaim eman cipation. If slavery can survive the war, be it so. If it dies, no patriot can complain. Slavery was entirely local, and has no right to ask special privileges. It must take care of itself. He would not have any gallant soldier detailed as a slave-hunter. He conceded to a loyal man all tho rights over his property that he ever Lad under the Constitution; but If it should aver come to a question between slavery and Uuion, then he would be ready to wage a war of utter ex teimin&tion against slavery. He thought that the lo)al men in the South were as ready to yield as much as any party ,of citizens for tne sake of the Government; even, if nocespary, to give up slavery; but, ÜBleßs necessity demands such a sacrifice, they ebuuld be protected in their property the same as other citizens. In regard to the property of the rebels— the movable property—he thoueht it might be taken as the property of enemiea under the rules of war. We might tuke a uegro like other movable property, and it needed i.o further legislation. No law was reeded to vin dicate the confiscation of the property of the enemy. He teid that in a ca*>e of necessity he would arm the fugi tives who cnnift to tho army, though there must be an urgent necessity for such a connw. In couclaaioD, Ik* urged that tli6 c&htfcfet mould bo waged with vigor, and be brief and fierce. THANKS TO COMMANDER FOOTE. The joint resolution of thanks to Commander Foote wO9 then taken up, on motion of Mr. KIXG (Itep.), of New York) and iiflßatd. THE NEW ARTICLE OP WAR. On motion of Mr. WILSON (Hep.), of Massachusetts, the bill from tne House providing a new “article of war” was taken tip. It provisos that no officer or soldier shall return fugitives, Ac. Mr DaVIS (U.), of Kentucky, offered an amendment tlmt bitcli (Jllicws, «c„ bM nsfthsr 4?MB> h»rl>or, nor conceal aiiy bucli fugitive. Disagreed to» Visas—Messrs. Bayard, Carlile, Davis, Henderson, Latham, IHcDoneall, Powell, ltico, haulsburjv and Wil son (Mis»o»ri) —10. Nay.-—29. Mr. SAULSBCRY (Dem.), of Delaware,, offered an amendment that the article shall not apply to-Delaware,. Maryland, Missouri, Kentucky, or wherever the Federal authority Is Tfcognintd. fcisugreed to—yeas ? r n»ys 30. Mr. CARLISLE (U.), of Virginia, asked, if in case- the Pn siilent should at any time call oot the militia to'on force the law for returning fugitive kUvcb, which consti tutional provision would this bill interfete with i Mr. WILoUN, of Massachusetts, replied that that would be for judiciaUlociaion. Tins nutation of return ing slaves was a judicial and not a military one; Mr, SAULSBURY ofterel an amendment ao os to pro* vciit officers, Ac., from enticing or decoying any person held to labor or service from the service of loyal masters. Disagreed to—yeas 10. nays 27. The bill was then passed—yeas 29, nays 9—beingthe game relative vote that on Mr. Davis’ motion. The Senate then adjourned. HOUSE OF RJEFREsENTATIYEB SUTLEBB IN THE VOLUNTEER ARMY. The House considered the Senate bill providing for the appointment of sutlers in the volunteer service and-de nning tueir duties. Mr. BLAKE (Rep.), of Ohio, made an unsuccessful motion to abolish such sutlershipfl. Mr ALDRICH (Rep); of Minnesota, favored the motion of Mr. Blake, alluding to what lie hud - heard of the sutlers swindling the t-olriiers. Mr. BLAIR (Rep.), of Missouri, was opposed to-le gislating against any class of men. If there had been fewitkdlin* practised, the fault was with those who ap pointed the sutlers, ftnd WbOW fensißMS it was to prevent such prflpricoß. The sutler system waH dißcussed at length. The bill was then passed, after being amended; Jt requires the schedule of the articles permitted to be sold, together with the prices thereof, to be prominently posted. Sutlers are prohibited from farming out their offices, nor are they allowed to tell to soldiers an account exceeding one-tonrth their monthly pay j nor shall the poller have a IIM. Ob the WUUO. THE VOLUNTARY EMANCIPATION PROPOSI- Mr. ROSCOE CONKLIXG (Hop ), of New York,, asked leave to offer the following resolution as proposed' in the Presidert’s recent message: Jiesolved, That the United states ought to co-operate. with any Stale much may adopt gradual abohtiou.©f (I.VMJ, siTjp* to »wb SM« recUßUty Mil, (Bta U9«l by such State in Da discretion, to compensate for-the incon-. venieners, rubHc and private, produced by such change of system. oa The rules suspended For that purpose—yeas-do, nays* 35 bii suspending the rules, to enable Mr. Coukllng to int trodlice the PMaWent’s emancipation resolution, the voto was as follows: YEAS. English (Detn.) Ffssenden ( Rep. )> Fisher (Union) Fram-hut (Rep.)' Frank (ltep.) Goodwin (Rep.): Granger (Rep.) - Curley (Rep.)) llanchott (Bap.) Harrison f Union) Hooper (Kup.) Hutchins f v ßop.) Julian ( tvp.) lveiley (Rep.) KpUogg (jR )stich. Kelluuu. (R.), 111. Lansing (Rep.) Lehman (Dent.) Loomis (Rep.) Lovsjoy (Rep.) McXnifi’ht (Hep.). McPherson (Rep.) liitchell ( Rep.). Muorhuad (Rod.). 'Morrill (Rep.),Vt. Morrill fKep.Jile. Nixon (kop.) Oliu (Rep.)' Phelps (R.), OaL Ashley (Rep.) Aldrich (ltapv) Arnold (Rep.) Babbitt (Bep.) Baker (Rap.) Baxter (,Krp.) Reaiu&h Bingham Blair (SU-jn), Mo. Blair (RvpO, Pa. Blake ) Brown (U ), Vu. Buffinlwn (Rep.) CuuipbfcU (Rep.) GlinßiberlMin (R ) Clerk ) Col'iu (Bep ) Conklin if, Fred. A. Co»kking,R.(Rep.) Oanway (Kep.) Govtide (Rep ) 3>avis (Hep.) iMven (Hap.) Buell (Rep.) Bunn (Rep.) Yds art on (Rcp.> Edwards (Ueiv> Eliot (Rep ) Ely (Rep.) NAYS. aoliDsnu (DemO Kuapp (Itep.) Law (Dew.) Leary (Vuldu) Mallory (U.) May (Dew ) Morris (D.) l?ot>ie (Pm.) Norton (Dew.) Pemiletju (Dem.) Price Richardson (P.) ONKLINO (Rep)i of New York, aaid ls in the exact words of the President’* toconl spocinl message. It related to a subject with re gard to which nearly every member had made up his mind. Those who had not would not have their conclu sions settled by discussion. He desfrtd, therefore, a vote on ihe mibjftft. Mr GUIDKIt (U.), of Kentucky, said that he had come to no conclusion as to whether ho would vote for or against the resolution, but he must bn permitted to remark that lie saw no necessity for the introduction of the resolu tion this morning, because the message on which it waa ■llgfiffttffl hod been referred tq ft* Cftfnmlttt* $f Whole on the stftte of the Union. Mr. RICHARDSON (Dem.), of Illinois, rose lo • question of order. It was, that a debate arising, the reso lution goes over. Tho SPEAKER overruled the point on the ground that the rules had been suspended for the reception of the resolution. Mr, ROBWB COVKU2W Mjd fo&t fW ft? he bad Already stated, be demanded the previous question, The House, by a vote of 5'J against 07, refusod to se cond the demand Mr. MALLORY (U ), of Kentucky, said that to him and others similarly situated, this measure was more em bfti raßhing than to any other class of members. They wire most anxious that the question should not now be pi'tsseo, because they wauled calm)y am] (9 consider as to what their action shall be. lie was thankful to the House fur refusing tho second demand for tbe previous question, and suggested a post ponement of the subject till .Monday next for further consideration. Mr. RICHARDSON said ho intended to make a similar motion. This matter was entitled to the gravest con sideration. It was one committing them to a policy on which th<H? dohfctitUSbtS hftd UOt teflected. The gentle man frrm Now York (Mr. itoscoo Conkling) had declared that all ought to have made up their minds on tbe subject; but it was one of great magnitude, pud which all gentle men boro bad not considered Thoy had not had time to communicate with their coiiHtitut-nts. He was prepared to agree with the message as to the rights of the Stales, but he repeated that he did not belieyo tho people were pp&p&pedtar tiiiu policy of emancipation. He knew they were uot prepsrrd to enter upon a system of purchasing slaves to be turned loose upon them. He had long en tertained the opinion that the class of persons known a* negroes are not capable of becoming the repositories of the freedom of this Government. When the President, in his annual messogo, declared himseir In favor of pro curing some placo outside of the limits or this Republic for colonization, ho (Mr. Richardson) thought he saw the light Lreakitm upon him bhowing him tbe way by whieh they might get rid of this institution us fast ta possible. Mr. KELLOGG ( Rep.), of Ttilnois, was in favor of tbe postponement of the resolution, so that the true spirit and pm ppm of 111® Prerident’fl recommendation might h& known. It should bn considered calmly. In this view he believed that it would meet with the approbation of thrcc-fourtlis of the member* of this Honan. There was no occasion for raising questions which couid only result in antagonism*. Mr. WICKLIFFE (U.), of Kentucky, while aivo cating a fair cbai.ce for the discuusiun of this measure, said lie must have a butter commentator than Mr* Bing hHni to satisfy him of the constitutional poxor of tbo Government to purchase the slaves of rebels or any other parties. Mr. DIVKN (Kop ), of New York, was In favor of a postponement. Congress should coufider such subjects ns thc*e like patriots and not partisans. He hailed the message us a bow of hope and promise. Mr. THOMAS { Eb'p.), of MAiSachhsette, «Md he was in favor of tho resolution, but would vote for the motion to postpone. It was but justice to tho gentlemen, who were situated very differently from those who camo from the North. Mr. BIDDLE (Dcm.), of Pennsylvania, briefly advo cated tho pOHTponcment of the resolution. Mr. BOSCOK ONKLING, while explaining why ho had urged tho Immediate action of Congress on the measure, said lie had moved tbo previous question after consutiatiou with his friends. His purpose Inul beeu from the commencement to give the Administration an anxious, hearty, and unqualified support. Mr. STEVENS (Rep.), of Pennsylvania, thought they ought not T« posipono the resolution for no long n period as was proposed, Ho moved to shbstlliitfl to- morrow. Pending which question, the Uou>e adjourned. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. Tho Senate was called to order at threo o’clock. The SPEAKER presented the resolutions of the Bchool dirtetors of tho Eighth soction of Philadelphia, in oppo sition to tho change in the mode of electing the Board of Control. Mr. CONNELL introduced a bill to incorporate the Philadelphia Drug Exchange Association. Mr. CRAWFORD, a biil relative to the Mifflin and Centre County Railroad Coznpauy. Mr. FULLER, a Mil to repeal the third section of the act relative to foreign insurance companies., The supplement to tbe act incorporating the Congrega tion of tho United Brethren of Nazareth and vicinity, was taken up and paused. Also, a bill incorporating the Philadelphia Drag Ex change Association. Abo, the supplement to tho charter of the city ol Read ing. Also, a bill relative to the Mifflin and Centre County Railroad Company, Also, a bill extending tho charter of the Southern Mu tual Insurauce Company of Lancaster county. Abo, a bill incorporating tho Northern Don Company. The Senate then adjourm d. Tk& H&uio aaoomhUil at half-past two o'elMk, lion. John Rowe, Speaker, in the chair. The SPEAKER presented a communication from the school directors of tho Eighth section of Philadelphia relative to tbe efficiency of tho present Board of Control. The bill to repeal the act for the commutation of the tonnago tax, tho special order for this afternoon, was taken up, The amendment of Mr. Scott was voted down, £tr. ARMSTRONG submitted a new amendment, Whereas, An act was passed at the last session of thd Legislature, entitled *> An Act for the Commutation of the Tonnage Tax; and whereat, It is alleged that the said act was unconstitutional and void t therefore, Be it enacted iCc-. % That for the purpose of testing the validity of the act ol Mitch 7th, 1861, entitled an t.ct for tho commutation of the tonnage tax, the Attorney General ot the Commonwealth be,Band he is herohy, di rected and required to issue immediately, an execution for the amount of judgments held by tbe State against the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, for tonnage dues, and to collect the ing to'lew } and, if uew#- ynry, to contest Ihn validity of said act beinru the court having jurisdiction ovor said judgment and to carry* the same by writ of error, or otherwise, to the Snprems Court for final decision; and if said act shall be declared unconstitutional and void, cither in whole or in part, It shall betbe duty of the Attorney General to proceed forth with to sue for, recover and collect the whole or each part of the arrearages of tho tonnage dueß as may be by law recoverable. Hr. ARMSTRONG remarked that the net was a con tract which caimotbo repealed. That which the Legis lature does, if dope in the exercise of its sovereign power, it is fallacy 10 say that the grant of the Legisla ture is void. Hhe parties to the contract wet e competent. The act of 1861 requires the Feims>lvauia Railroad Company to hasten the psiymunta upon the purchase of the mMh line if public workn, and alto requires them to file a contract iu the ofiice of the Auditor General. This regulation was complied with. The discretion of the company was limited by the net, for it says that, for the purpose of developing the resources of the State, the company is required to extend aid to certain railroads mentioned in tne act with the sum of fifty thou sand dollars. This was an advantage to tho State, and was net optional with the company. The re quirement has been fulfilled in part by the Com pany. It is alleged, however, that the act Is uncon stitutional in consequence of its passage having been procured by fraud. It is an established maxim of law that the king can do no wrong. Wo have no king, but the Government can do no wrong- nor can the Legisla ture, in its legislative capacity. The acts of the Legis lature must be submitted to the judiciary. It is not conipotent for the Legielalure to repeal All Act of thelAflt eefe&ion, which ia a contract In all the judicial author!* ties of Europe, England, and the United States, there la not a single case upon record where it has been attempted to arraign tho Legislature before a tribunal to investi gate the qutßtion of fraud in the passage of an act of ABit*mbly. If turh a thing was done our liberty would be broken down. tlr. WILLIAMS snid tbnt it ivns net fr-mhl in Lvst. Itlrt fraud in law. Mr. ARMSTRONG remarked that If the act was con stitutional the contract canid not be repealed. If it is unconstitutional, it is v nd uud needs no repeal. Mr. WILLIAMS contended that a contract required competent parties smd a sufficient c Moderation. Tbe Legislature has tho rielit to ropeal tho acts of a former Lcgblatnre. The taxing power ia not re-exaniionble la the courts. The ll«use was established for the purpose or rectifying tbe mistakes of others, aud by not passing: the repeal net this year it would be an acknowledgment of the constitutionality of the law of last session. Hr. ARftHTRONfi considered that the Legislature only had the power to repeal ordinary laws. Mr, AUKOTT b*U«v«l that tha law 3801 was jus* to the Commonwealth ami perfectly consistent with the Constitution. _ landing the discussion of the bill, the Bouse adjourned* until to-morrow morning. The Latest from Fortress Monroe. A despatch from Fortress Monros gays that thi JUTerrimac did not make her appearance to day. The Monitor was honored with salutes and cheers, both from tho fort and the fleet, on her re turn. Everybody was enthusiastic in her praise for the good services she rendered yesterday. liOUlsvillb, March 10. —On Friday night last, a squad of cavalry, under the notorious rebel, Col. John Morgan, (who was some time sinoe erroneously reported killed,) attacked the United States pick ets fifteen miles south of Nasbrllloj taking two prisoners and capttiring six Government wagons. On Saturday, a painty of Ohio cavalry sent in pur suit, came np with the rebels and attacked them, killing four of Morgan’s men, capturing eight, and recovering the six wagons. They are now in hot pursuit of the rest of Morgan’s gang* and confident of catching them. K.OSAS CiTT* Mo., March ID—Qtt&nlrcri UU entered Aubrey, Kansas, on the 7th ffiSt., killed five men, and stole fifty or twenty horses. New York Bank Statement. Ukv York, March 10.—The bank statement for the ’eels eßcltug on Saturday thows A- Of IARYia An increase of s pecie Aa increase of circulation.., A decrease of deposits contatrtan exhibition at tho Wal on t • str eetJT hea- • tr« deserves a creator success thfta ft hIB gftjnslr 89--, y arrt appeared last night In WAI6 116 ISdMhlOg graceful, and has bo cultivolwi the art of mod#*tjr that, in hit female dress, one can readily got up a passion , for him. He it wondrously like » woman—dark-eyed,, trimly-knit, aud voluptuously shaped. His riding la. •narked by the daring of a man aud the fascinating graces. of a woman. Melville, the Auoiralian, has no ntunl iu< bare-backed riding, and lie attempts the moat dangeroua. feats with impunity. Ptfeo (Hep.), Pomeroy (ltep.)i Potter (Rep.)- Kice ( Rep.)* Ho* Rice (ft)* Mesa. Riddle (Rep.) Rollins (8 b N..HL Sai'geaut (Rep.)* rihanks (.Kcp.) : Sedgwick. ( Rep.)* Sheffield (,U:)> Sherman ( Rep.)> Sloan (.Bep.)j steveus (Uup.)> Stratton (Rep.). TIIOIUEU rR;)dULK&. Trowbridge (, ft.). Vau Valkeuourgh (•Rep)) Yorreo (Rep.) Wallace (Rep*) i VValron ( ft-. \ Ho. Walton ( Rep.), Vt. Wheeler (Rap.) Whaloy {Union) . White (ft.), lud. Wilson {Rop.) AViudom (Rep.) Worcester (Rep.) A torture will be delivered i» Concert Hall this even ing, by Miss Annie Dickinson,.a yonng lady of consider-, able ability as a public speaker. The cause that she re-, promts is a deserving one/, and, from the well-known talent* zeal) and ambition oti the young womkft, w map expect a pleasant and profitable discourse. Sale of Furnitcrs,. Pianos, &c.—Household, furniture, plaDO fortes, table ontlery, A'e.,. witttba. sold this morning, at Wb o’clock, at Bircfe)&.,Son's, auotion store* No. 9iiii ChfiSlflUt Stf9®i-i A State Sunday-school, Gonykn* TION A meeting woe bold last evening, at. the Iter* Dr. Crowell’-. Church, Broad street, above otie,tout, for the purpoßti of taking preliminary stope.for the csjlina or a general htat* Convention of Sabbath-school , Ks-OoVSKof Pallualt lust Ilia chair Thu object of UlO meeting hns so tar accomplished Itßpwpo.e M to ageM upon a form of circular to be addressed to.the Church** tliroughont the State. An’ invitation wa» extondedto each school to send one delegate. Ilhe Convention win he held on the 20lh or May. at Sansoin-strcel Hall. Th* delegates will he entertained by tho frionda of tho cans* (laiiug tlieir gcjourn in the oily, Robinson (Sem,) Shlol (Rep.) Smith (Dum ) Steelo (D.), N.Y. Thomas (U.), fild. Voorneos ( Dnm ) WiuisworU, (U.) WfalW (0.), Ohio Wood (l>eoi.) Woodruff (Bern.) Wright (C.) Supper to the Returned. Ym.un- supper give* at Pine Hall, Southwaric, to Lieutenant Kenney and t orporal Brown, of the Cali fornia Regiment, lately returned from niohiaond, WM marked tiy Interesting * aar<!M ™ “" d feel in. k floe w-lla'len met spread beforo the soldiers, and their frieiule assisted them to da honor to it in a manner at once creditable to their own hospitality, and the *xjt taste of the caterer. Cap'alu Hicks, of the “*“• r **?J ment, was present, and likewise, prlvateSchnrzy.of Poyleatowo, llenry 11. Edmunds, Ksa, Mr. Kenney, father of the lieutenant, wd Otnors. Uarrisuoro, March 10, IMS. S£MAT£. BILLS INTRODUCED BILLS PASSED. HOUSE. TIIE TONNAGE TAX. The War in Tennessee. The War in Kansas. #4,819,090 809,685 555.284 4,258,m Public Amusements.
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