SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1862.
THE LATEST WAR NEWS.
England has now in the coarse of construction
15 iron-cased ships, of which there will be 11 afloat
in the course of the present year. In the course of
3863 there will be 12 afloat; and in 18(54 there will
be 15, and, in addition, there will be a new ship,
provided the Committee of the House agree to it.
The first-class of ships, including the Agincourt ,
the Mi not it, and the A*c r t h umb e rltivd , wore
agreed to last summer; they are in process of
building, and they will be ready in 1861. They
are 400 feet long, and it is expected they will at
tain n speed of knots an hour. They will bo Of
6,021 tons, and are of a peculiar build, as they
carry their plating right round. The Warrior
und other iron ships are only partially plated
up to a certain distance from the bow and
Stern. The Sieik claaa comprises tilt) War
rior, the Slack Prince , and tho Achilles.
They are partially plated, are of 0,100 tons, and
have a speed of 14 knots. The next class of
comprises tho Jlcctor and the Valiant, each of
4,060 tons, with a speed of 12 knots. The next
class includes the llesistance and the Defence,
which are of 3,008 tons, and have a speed of 11.43
knots. The next class is that of the Prince Con
sort. the Ocean, the Caledonia , tho Royal Alfred,
and the Royal Oak, which were begun as line of
battle ships, jrhich are now being converted to
iron-plated frigates, and which are to be platod
right round. Their tonnoge is 4.015. They are
wooden line-of-battlo ships, and they are to be
lengthened 12 or 13 foet. The Prince Consort
and the Caledonia will have engines of 1.000
horse-power, and an estimated speed of 12-41.
The K nyni Alf red and the I.Oak arc of the
same tonnage, with SI.H) horse-power and a speed
of 11.52.
Our Fortress Monroe correspondent sends U 3 late
files of Southern papers containing the rebel re.
ports of the late naval engagement in llampton
Roads. It will be seen that they contain many
statements which are either wholly untruo or
greatly exaggerated, and which will bo news to our
people at Fortress Monroe and Washington. The
rebels accord great praise to the officers and sailors
of the frigates Cumberland and Congress for the
bravery they displayed in defending their vessels.
Our foreign news by the arrival of the Africa
at New York is to the first instant. Mr. Griffiths
had given notice that he would call the attention of
the House to the case of the pirate Sumpter, whose
lieutenant (not captain) had been arrested. Tho
blockade question is still pending in Parliament.
A despatch from Earl Russell upon the subject had
been submitted; likewise Secretary Seward’s des
patch to Lord Lyons relative to tho stone blockade,
and a letter from traitor emissary Mason.
an is generally believed, by members of Congress,
that the bill providing for the completion of the
Stevens battery, which was introduced yesterday,
will pass without opposition or material modifica
tion. Mr. Stevens’ plan, it is said, is the original of
Iron-clad vessels, but embraces all the valuable
principles which should be observed in their con
struction.
It becomes our pleasant duty to record a fresh
victory to-day. A despatch from General Strong,
commander at Cairo, to President Lincoln, states
that “New Madrid is ours.’’ This is all the news
we had received up to the', hour of our going to
press; but there can be no doubt of its reliabili
ty. General Pope, with a large army, hi# been
esieging the place for some time past, and we
1 ave been hourly expecting to hear of its capture-
Congress Yesterday.
Snx’ATfi.— Mr. Hale, of Now Hampshire, intro
duced a bill authorizing the construction of an
iron-clad ram and steam gunboats, and the com
pletion of Stevens’ battery, costing in all §14,000,-
000. Referred.
The case of Mr. Powell being resumed, that
gentleman spoke at length in his own behalf.
Finally, it was decided, by a vote of 2S to 11, that
Mr. Powell was entitled to a seat.
House.— Thanks were voted to Captain Footo.
The report of the special committee on the Fa
olio Railroad bill was made the special order for
next Tuesday.
The tax bill was taken up.
Pennsylvania Legislature,
Senate. —Tbe supplementary act relative to the
Hoard of Health of tbiß city was passed.
The bill incorporating the United Presbyterian
Congregation of this city was passed.
*Alse, the bill incorporating the Pennsylvania
Lying-In HotpiUl.
House*—The act of Mr. Williams, to repeal the
act of March last, which commuted the tonnago
duties, was passed by a vote of 65 yeas to 31 nays.
The act to tax bankers and brokers was reported
from committee with amendments.
Mr. Duffield, we arc glad tc perceive, has intro
duced a bill to authorize the election of a Board of
Education for this citj. The interests of . ducation
demand that sneb a Board should be appointed.
The bill will be found in full in our Legislative re
ports.
Tiie advance upon Manassas, and some of
the results flowing, from it, suggest one or two
thoughts in reference to the question of
slavery in Eastern "Virginia. The experiences
thus gained will go far towards solving the
problem of slavery in the other Southern
States. Hundreds and thousands of these
negro slaves arc abandoning their misters and
coining within the lines of our army. Mas
ters fly from their homes, and many of their
servants remain. It is so in Kentucky, in
Tennessee, —and especially so in "Virginia,
as the experiences of the past fortnight
testify. It results In malting free that part
of "Virginia occupied by-our troops, and in
virtually making free a great part of our West
ern territory. This proves the wisdom of lot
ting the question of slavery depend upon the
progress, of our army and the occupation of
the rebellious country,-and also the feasibility
of Mr. Lincoln’s proposition in reference to
gradual and compensating emancipation. In
Mr. Lincoln's plan, indeed, we see tllO only
way to save the slaves of loyal o wners. If
this goes on, all the slaves must either es
cape or be concentrated in the Cotton
States. Those who come within our lines
become immediately dependent upon the
Government, and the Government must de
vise some means for dealing with
cannot be returned to slavery; they cannot be
held in trust for the masters who have aban
doned them. If they aro simply liberated,
they burden the States and communities
where they happen to remain. If they are
supported by the Government, they burden
the treasury. They cannot, to any general
extent, be employed, for we have little WOl’l;
for them to do, and, indeed, little work they
can do. ,
It would probably be the best plan to make *
an appropriation, authorizing the President to j
purchase for these people a home in Hay ti, Li- i
beria, or some of the nugro countries. In the •
bill of Mr. Blair we" have this proposition !
fully elaborated, and if the principles he em- j
bodies could be carried into effect, this difii- ;
cultv would be overcome. The idea of re-'
moving these negroes is a feasible one. They
are dependent upon the Government, helpless,
and very poor, and it would be a measure of
charity, as well as a measure of public econo
my, to place fhem in congenial territory, and
give them the opportunity of earning a liveli
hood. In carrying out this scheme of coloniza
tion, we must of course discriminate between
those who are criminals, and those who are
worthy but unfortunate. In doing this wo
meet one branch of this question. We pro
vide for the slaves of disloyal masters who fall
within our lines. How those who are carried
away to the extreme Cotton States are to be
sustained is a mystery. They can only be
come an additional burden to the Southern
people, and be an clement of danger and
anxiety during the whole rebellion.
The effect of this exodus from Virginia
will be to increase the value of lands and in
vite settlers from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and
the Northern States. The country is desolate
and neglected—tho shameful conduct of its
inhabitants having brought ruin upon it. It is
adapted to the cultivation of wheat and grain,
and is very fertile. Under the influence of
Noi thorn enterprise and industry it would
very soon bloom and blossom. At any event,
it bybecome a part of the free territory of
the Republic, and will be forever more un
der the enlightening influences of free insti
tutions. This, in itself, is one of the triumphs
of civilization and one of the most gratifying
results of the war.
Col. Josiah Harlan, of the Eleventh Regiment
of Pennsylvan’a Cavalry, has been presented with
a handsome sabre by the men under his oommand.
The nnorosE® Tax ltrtr. is now attracting
great attention in Congress and throughout
the country. Many amendments will doubt
less be offered, and a considerable number
adopted. That the war will entail heavy pe
cuniary burdens is inevitable; but they will,
in the main, be cheerfully assumed by the
American people. Every good eiticon should
be prepared to surrender apart of his resources
to preserve the whole. Practically, the rebel
lion compelled the nation to choose between
anarchy and virtual destruction and a her
culean cilort, which would, necessarily, be
attended with great expense, to preserve
the Republic and all its mighty interests.
Self-preservation and patriotism impelled us
to adopt the latter alternative, and having
adopted it, .iil the sacrifices that may be ne
cessary to maintain it will be submitted to.
The people ask only that the war be con
ducted as vigorously and economically as
poesible—that no time should be lest in strik
ing the enemy frequently and effectively, and
that no money should be unnecessarily squan
dered.
The amount of revenue that should be col
lected to maintain the national credit during
the continuance of the war, is estimated
at from SI 50,000,000 to §200,000,000 per
annum. Tho latter sura, great as it
may appear, is but about ono-half the
amount of revenue derived in times of peace
by the British Government from the people of
England, Scotlaad, Wales, and Ireland. There
arc single articles of luxury upon which we
annually expend nearly as much as this whole
sum. The annual agricultural and manufac
turing products of the country in ordinary
times, arc estimated at §4,000,000,000, and
all the national taxes now contemplated will
probably not yield more than five per cent, of
this amount. All the interests, and all the
citizens of the country, will bo expected in some
way to contribute to the revenues of the na
tion ; but if the burdens are fairly and equita
bly distributed, they will not fall very heavily
upon any class, for those who may be called
upon to contribute large amounts will have
correspondingly large incomes or estates.
Tub lUchmokd journals contend that their
army, in falling back from Manassas and Win
chester, is neither defeated nor disgraced, but
that its sole object is to assume a new line of
defence, which can be more easily maintained.
They allege that their former position was
originally assumed mainly as a basis for of
fensive operations against Washington and
Maryland, and that hereafter they will devote
all tiieir energies to the protection of the rebel
capital. How completely they failed in their
attempts to accomplish the first object, the
whole world now knows. That they will be
equally unsuccessful in baffling the efforts of
our gallant army to rescue all portions of Vir
ginia from the dominion of the conspirators
cannot well be doubted. Some bloody battles
n ay be fought, and.thc onward inarch of our
forces may he somewhat delayed, but of the
final result we entertain no fears.
Tub Montheab Gazette, in discussing the
late emancipation message of the President,
commends the purpose it has in view, but in
the midst of its rejoicings over a measure that
it supposes will eventually lead to the abolition
of slavery in this country, it indulges in sucli
sentences as this: “ There is some prospect
that the tropical American colonies of Great
Britain, and her own great Indian dependen
cies, may be enabled tp CQiapQW for the sale
of their products in the markets of the world
upon fairer terms than heretofore.” If Brother
Jonathan always keeps one eye open to the
“ main chance,” John Bull never shuts either
of liis visual organa to any promising pecuniary
venture. Even his rejoicings over the possi
bility of the abolition of slavery, after aH the
abuse that he lias showered upon America for
tolerating it, are like the lamentations of Shy
lock, when he exclaimed, “My daughter and
my ducats ! Oh ! my ducats and my daugh
ter !”
In ocr rejoicing over the many victories
achieved by our gallant army and our intense
desire to hear of We Should
not forget to do honor to the memory of the
“ unreturning brave,” who have lately yielded
up their lives upon the altar of their country.
The gallantry of Captain McCray and Lieu
tenants Stone and. Miciiler, in defending their
battery in the battle near Fort Craig against
the Texan Rangers, is one of the most thril
ling and tragic events of the war. Deserted
by tlic cowardly Now Mexicans, they resolved
to stand to the last by their posts, and they
welcomed death rather than dishonor. The
ami ids of history contain few nobler examples
ol determined heroism and exalted courage.
Glorious martyrs to the cause in which they
fell, their stern devotion to their duty affords
an example which will be imitated under more
fortunate circumstances.
Those who at one time complained of tha
slow progress of the war have certainly no
cause for such complaints at present. Scarcely
a week elapses without two or three important
battles taking place, and in every direction
Our army is pushing forward rigorously against
the enemy. Price has been recently routed in
Arkansas; Fort Craig has been gallantly de
fended against great odds; new successes
have been gained in Tennessee ; Commodore
Dupont has taken possession of the whole sea
coast of Georgia and of the strategic points
of Florida; and the army of the Potomac has
occupied Manassas and Winchester.
In these times, when everybody must ex
pect to hear a share of the public burdens, it
will not he out of place to make a reference
to the enormous tax that must be borne
directly and indirectly by newspaper publish
ers. If the war has stimulated many avoca
tions, its effect upon journalism has been to
increase expenses in an enormous ratio. The
people who will not do without their daily
reading can scarcely conceive the amount of
labor and tho outlay of money required to
produce a first-class newspaper. Tho compe
tition is so great, and the rivalry to excel so
animated, that the owners and editors forget
their individual interests in order to gratify
their patrons ami to surpass each other.
When we reflect that, notwithstanding the
almost incalculable increase in circulation, tho
advertising custom lias not been proportion
ately enlarged; that tho price received for
every printed sheet is not much more than
that paid for the white paper, great surprise
may well be indulged that our leading journals
should he able to subsist; and yet, to their
lasting credit be it said, few or no complaints
are made when it is proposed still further to
increase their burdens by imposing a direct
tax upon their circulation and advertising.
Oui: hosts of Washington readers must not
forget that. .Tames E. Murdoch will this evening
read « The Wagoner of the Alleghanles,” at
"Willard’s Hall, on F street, back of Willard’s
Hotel. He lias been invited to repeat this
splendid poem by a large number of Senators
and Representatives in Congress—gentle
men who not only admire Mr. Murdoch, but
regard the author, Mr. T. Buchanan Read,
as one of the most deservedly successful of all
modern writers. This will be the only oppor
tunity to enjoy this rare intellectual treat. -
Oil Wedii#sday evening Mr. Murdoch will
read the Wagoner of the Alleghanies at
Harrisburg, invitation of Governor Curtin
and both Houses of the Legislature.
The London Timas is unnecessarily exer
cised in regard to the necessity of the speedy
settlement of the existing difficulties in our
country. It is not customary for England to
regulate her domestic policy by our wishes
and interests, and she has no right to suppose
that we will permit the disintegration of our
great Republic to please some of her statesmen
and political writers.
It is singular that while the warlike na
tions of Europe were experimenting upon
iron-clad steamships, and anxiously discussing
their utility in actual warfare, America should
at once have proved their fearful superiority
over ordinary vessels, and discovered an en
tirely new device for successfully resisting
and assailing them.
Congress is evidently deeply impressed with
the importance of increasing our supply of
iron-clad steamers and gunboats, and a bill has
been introduced into the Senate providing for
the completion of the Stevens battery, and the
construction of a powerful steam Tam gqd %
largo number of new. iron-clad gunboats.
While many of the friends of our bravo
i soldiers are grieving over their absence, with
! hearts filled with gloomy forebodjngs, the
| army oB tlio Fotomau is in admirable physical
! condition and buoyant spirits. Thousands of
j the men are happier and healthier now than at
j any former period of their lives.
\ THE PRESS-PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY. MARCH 15,1868.
LETTER FROM “ OCi
Washington, Marclf
President Lincoln seems to have lost the
confidence of the Breckinridge leaders in the
Freo States. He was their prime favorite so
long as they snpposed he could be flattered by
their empty compliments. 'Whenever they
desired to embarrass Ills Administration, or
to attack a member of bis Cabinet, or to mis
represent his party friends, they ingeniously
selected him as an object of invidious eulogy,
and assured the country that ho was not re
sponsible for the acts of those of his friends.
This is an old game of old politicians. 1 low false
and deceptive it is, is proved by the conduct of
these Breckinridge sympathizers, Tho Presi
dent liasatlast spoken; not as apartisan, but ns
a patriot. He has made a recommendation to
Congress in favor of gradual emancipation in
the Border States, with the consent of the peo
ple thereof, and compensation to the loyal own*
ers of slaves. In doing this, he carefully avoids
the extreme men of his own party, and ad
dresses himself to the well-known record of
others. And how is this Presidential recom
mendation received by the Breckinridge lead
ers—the chiefs of the so-called
party ? As yet, not a single newspaper in their
interest has uttered a word in its favor. Some
denounce it—others criticise it—and others
hypocritically regret and deplore it. The
President’s plan has always been contemplated
with favor by the old Democratic leaders. The
Virginia statesmen, even so late as their Re
form Convention of 1820-80, came within an
ace ol recommending an emancipation law to
the people; and such men as Van Buren,
Silas Wright, Benton, James Buchanan, and
Cave Johnson, always favored the same idea.
At this moment, when onr necessities demand
action upon the question of slavery, when
thousands of contrabands are escaping into
our linos, and forever freeing themselves from
tiieir masters ; when the loyal as well as the
disloyal owners of tho Border States will be
equal sufferers from this stampede of the
slaves, the men who hold that they are ex
clusive Democrats resist the wise and humane
recommendations of the President, and refuse
to second them. It is Well for the people, ■
who are deeply interested in tlic doings of
Congress on this and kindred subjects, to
watch the intrigues and inconsistencies of
these heartless and desperate politicians.
In reading over the late debates in the
Senate of Pennsylvania on the proposition in
favor of the abolition of slavery in the District
of Columbia, no honest observer could fail to
ho amused at the ridiculous attitude of the
Senators who call themselves Democrats.
'Not a vote was thrown by any one of them in
favor of the proposition. Afraid to express
themselves directly on the side of the rebels,
they contented themselves with lame apolo
gies for their course, attacks upon the Repub
licans, and repetitions of the stale and thread
bare arguments of the pro-slavery leaders in
Congress. Not a man of them rose to the dig
nity of the issue. Can these politicians be
tho.veal representatives of any portion of the
people of Pennsylvania ?
. A striking evidence of the insincerity of
party demagogues is the manner in which they
try to excite popular feeling against President
Lincoln’s scheme of gradual emancipation by
statiDg that, if it should ever be adopted, a
heavy tax will be levied upon the loyal States.
Ignoring the unanswerable argument of the
President, that if some such remedy is not
adopted in regard to tho B,ordev States, the war
will probably be protracted at an enormous ex
pense, and the property even of loyal men will
be sacrificed in the general stampede, they look
forward to the day when, by making opposition
to taxation their hattle-cry, they may regain
power, and, by uniting their fortunes with the
rebels in arms, defeat the object of the present
war, viz: the restoration of the Union and
the maintenance of the Government. Have
these narrow partisans ever reflected that the
soldiers now fighting for the Union, and the
relatives and friends of those who have fallen
in its defence, will never consent to a peace
that is not based upon legislation that will
inflict the severest punishment on those who
have been guilty of such atrocious crimes and
have shed so much innocent blood ? Do they
suppose thaWhese bravo men, who must wield
such a controlling influence in all our future
elections, will allow politicians, whose only
hope is to get into power, to frighten them
by these objections to taxation? A great
change has unquestionably come over tile opi
nions of many of our countrymen in arms on this
very question of slavery. When they see the
slaveholder beginning and pushing forward
this monstrous rebellion, and exulting over the
massacre of their companions and friends,
they will care little what becomes ot the slave
property of this aristocracy. A great clamor
is raised at all attempts to interfere with
slavery even on Mr. Lincoln’s plan, and one
of the favorite arguments used by these party
leaders is, “ You are exceedingly anxious to
take away the property of the Southern peo
ple and to tax us in order that emancipation
may bo effective, but we hear nothing from
you about protecting the poor white men
and women of the free states.” How easy
to turn this shallow reasoning upon these
shameless partisans.
The loyal people of the free States are
robbed of their property by rebel confiscation
and capture. Their rents arc cut down, their
business paralyzed and destroyed, their com
merce ruined, and yet, in tho face of this spec
tacle, the only interest that excites the indig
nation and sympathy of the so-caiied Demo
cratic leaders is the protection of slavery. They
see the property of the white men of the North
and Northwest depreciated and destroyed,
with no indemnity to those who uncomplain
ingly sutler, and yet they throw themselves
around tho institution of slavery, and declare
it inviolable, not to be touched even when paid
for without shaking the foundations of society
and Government. It will require a very litt/h:
experience of such manoeuvres as these to
consign all engaged in them to oblivion and
shame. Occasional.
We are justly called to account by a
Douglas Democrat, who goes for the war and
against the rebellion, and who supports tho
Administration in all its efforts to prosecute
the one and put down the other, for speaking
of the Breckinridge Democracy. He says,
with great truth, “ there is no such thing as a
Breckinridge Democracy. There is a Breck
inridge party opposed to the war and sympa
thizing with the rebellion, but this cannot be
called a Democracy. Ton might designate
the slave-holding treason as a Democracy
with as much truth. When the Democratic
organization fell into the hands of the Breck
inridge leaders, it ceased to be a Democracy.
The only combination now opposed to the
war and in favor of the rebellion is the Breck
inridge party.” We accept the suggestion.
Hereafter, let us refuse to give the name of
Democracy to any men or party that devote
themselves to assaults upon an Administration
that can have no other or higher ambition than
to conduct the war successfully and to crush
out the rebellion.
Gregor# on the Blockade.
Mr. Gregory, representative in tho British
Parliament of the Southern Confederacy and
the county of Galway, was to bring the ques
tion of our blockade before the House of
Commons on the 7th of this month. Con
sidering that the British Government has de
clared that the blockade is sufficient, it is pro
bable that Mr. Gregory took nothing by his
motion.
The continued stay of the ■ Sumpter at
Gibraltar, a British port and fortress, is re
markable, considering Lord Russell’s recent
circular directing that no “belligerent” ves
sel should remain more than twenty-four hours
in any British port, home or colonial,
The Silent Comforter.— Under this appro
priate title, the American Sunday-school Union,
1122 Chestnut street, have issued a folio Volume,
containing a judicious selection of short, striking,
and appropriate texts from the Bible, under thirty
one different heads—branches of three subjects,
viz: Christ, Heaven, and God. There is also the"
hymn “Just as I am.” This collection, printed
in large and very legible type, is chiefly intended
for persons oonfined to the sick chamber, but may
be used by all who read the Word of God the last
thing at night and the first thing in the morning.
We would suggest their uso in the Sunday school
also. There is a simple mcobanical arrangement
whereby the ooiieotion can bo bung up in view,,
and any particular subject made visible ■ The price
of the whole collection is only half a dollar, and it
can be safely sent through post for thirteen cents.
Real Es? Ate, Stocks, Ac., Tuesday Next, at
the Exchange — Pamphlet catalogues issued to
day comprising full descriptions of Thomas & Sons’
third spring sale stocks, real estate, etc. See ad
vertisements.
ON THE BATTL^iILI).
lIONAL."
W,'1883.,
Cbntriville, V*., March 12,1862.
I have been rambling this glorious afternoon
over the fatal field of Bull Run, And roaming
throngh the country hereabouts. The weather has
all the sweetness and temper of a pleasant summer
day, and the coy and braeing breeze that comes down
from the mountains sends new life into the veins,
and buoyancy into every nerve. Thoso mountains!
distant, dim, and blue, they trace their rugged
and ragged peaks along the horizon, and seem
Nature’s type of calm sublimity. Who does not
love these cloud.wrapped homes of freedom ? In
fill ages of the world, tho mountains and the moun
taineers hare preserved independence and civiliza
tion and religious liberty, and wherever, in this
Republic, these majestic peakß exist, liberty and
loyalty exist amoDg them. The heights of Centre-
ville are but the commencement of a series
of hills whioh rail and swell until they reach the
high mountain ridges. The view is comprehensive
and magnificent until it abruptly terminates in the
forests and fastnesses near Manassas. We pass
down the old road, along whioh tho centre of Mc-
Dowell’£ column advanced, and by which the re
treat of the paniorstrioken teamsters took place.
On the left, at the top of a hill, are Beauregard’s
old headquarters—deserted and lonely. A little
farther on is a small frnm? houac, where a negro
family resides. The father beckons smilingly frwin
his door as we pass along ; the children gambol and
romp over tho grass, shouting heedlessly. Most of
the fences have been demolished. The race of
fences in this part of Virginia sooms to havo ex
pired —some are in a primary state Of decay, some
are in a secondary stato, while most of them have
passed away and loft no token.
We ride along the ascending and descending road.
It is covered with evidences of the haste and waste
attending tho retreating rebel army. Shattered
pots and kettles, half burned-out equipages, torn
cartridge-boxes and haversacks, remnants of old
clothing, hats, shoes, pipe heads and stems, bones
and biscuit, horse-shoes and|cattered harness, strew
the road in great profusion. There are long lines
of rebel encampments. Whatever may be said of
the rebel soldiers, it mußt be admitted that they
passed the winter in a very comfortable manner.
Their quarters are commodious and compact, and
consist of log walls and partitions densely plastered
with mud sad mortar.
Inside berths were erected and furnaces wars
buried in the earth. Large chimneys projected
from the roof, and in most of the buildings there
were one or two windows. Many of the encamp
ments are in the middle of a forest, occupying pic
turesque positions. Thoy wore left in great haste,
but, with the exception of those around Manassas,
none were burned. I should think, from my own
hasty observation, that there are buildings enough
now standing, and in good order, to accommodate
fifty thousand men. Indeed, from Centre
ville to Bull Run, the line of encampments
was continuous. I expressed some surprise to a
Virginian, with whom I rode part of tho way, at
the hut 3 being left unharmed. He replied by say-
ing that when the retreat was ordered, on Saturday,
express orders were given, by General Johnston,
not to destroy anything, as he intended to return
again very soon. “But, I guess he changed, his
mind when he got to Manassas,’’ said my com
panion, very quietly, “ for then he commenced
burning, and he keeps it up all the way along.”
It was painful to see tho number of dead horses
lying around. In every field they were festering
away. They had died from overwork—from a
want of food and attention, and from brutality. Tho
sight was extremely painful, and it was always
present.
I stopped at the hospital cottage. It was here
where tho dead and wounded were brought during
the battle. The former -owner had moved away,
and it was now occupied by a family of negroes. A
number of our soldiers were sitting on the porch,
sutiuing themselves and eating a lunch of biscuit
and bacon. The well, where waters soothed the
thirsty agony of many of our brave soldiers in their
dying hours, was still there, but very muoh dilapi
dated. At Cub Run the bridge bad been de
stroyed by fire, and we were compelled to ford
the water to roach the other side. Cub Run is a
narrow, shallow, and insignifioant stream, which
empties into Bull Run. Beyond this tho Ohio
troops had hold a position on the day of the fight.
To the right, Sherman’s battery was planted.
When we came to Bull Run, we found the massive
stone bridge which btd been the scene of a fierce
conflict in the early part of the contest, blown up.
The timbers were shattered, broken, and scarred
with powder. The stream is deep, rapid, and im
petuous. On the opposite bank, a high bluff arises,
oovered with soanty foliage, and overhung in some
-places with trees and shrubbery: Crossing a broad
and open field, wo came to Rlaskburn’s ford. Wo
can see traces of the conflict in shattered trees,
broken trunks, limbs and houghs. Thß grass is
long and rank, the ground is uneven and marshy,
and in some places traversed by streams of water.
Crossing the ford, wo go over the Manassas road.
Here the rebels were strongly entrenched,
and along this road camo tho t roinforoe
ments of General Johnston, whioh,turned the
fortunes of the day. At this point of the field
Beauregard was stationed, and a house was shown
where a stray cannon-ball passed over the table
while he was eating his dinner. The, wall of the
house is broken, and although this stor.j, like many
others, may be apocryphal, the building evidently
suffered from the fire of the Union artillery.
Beyond the fsrd the rebel cavalry were stationed,
and over these broad fields they made tbe charge
which completed the panic *£ car troops, find cap
tured Mr. Fly, Colonel Corcoran, and a number of
prison ers. On a knoll to the right, at the edge ef
a rock, the battery of the rebels was placed, whioh
commanded the road and raked our retreating
foioes. The way was narrow, straight, and for a
smile or two very even, affording a sure aim for
the guns. The effect of a few rounds from heavy
cannon could easily be conceived, and the loss of
life mußt have been fearful. The spot where
Colonel Cameron fell was pointed out, but
in the mind of my informant there was
some doubt as to the exact location of the
death scene. The extent of the battle-field was
very large and intricate. It is impossible to
form any definite idea of the nature of the field.
The scene ef the action changed from one part of
the ground to another, varying and shifting, ad
vancing and receding, according as the tide of bat
tle went with us and against us. I fancied I could
trace, from the open field near the ford, where the
feigned attack was made early in the day, the
course of our army as it slowly pressed the enemy j
back. On the right, where it is said the regulars, j
the New York Sixty-ninth, and the regiment of j
Burnside were engaged, the trees are broken and .;
shattered. One heavy oanjion ball passed through j
the tinnks of two luge trees and shivered them into |
splinters. The limbs still remain browh and decayed, j
I was curious to see if any traces of the far-faintd-i
masked batteries existed, but nothing was covered.
The position of the enemy was naturally > a strong
one, They had the devious, intricate, and heavily
wooded basks of Bull Run as a natural defence;
they commanded everyford and every bridge. For
a great part of its course it reminded me of thk
scene along the banks of the lower Wissahickon,
although the grandeur and majesty surrounding
that beautiful stream were wanting. Nature was
the strongest bulwark of our foes, and In failing to
surmount it we were vanquished.
In an open field, from which the fences had beeg
torn away, immediately beyond What is known Its
“Lewis’ House,” where'the rebel General Stuart
had hie headquarters, our dead lie buried. There
are no distinctive marks to designate the names
of the fallen, but there they lie, “ in one red burial
blent.” It was some days after the battle before
the dead soldiers of the Union army were placed in"
their graves, and I am Sorry to say that, from what
I heard, all the stories of the indignities heaped
upon their remains—the plunder and rapine—were
tine. They were huddled into a common grave,
and «(rer their resting-place the deep ruts of wagons
and teams were marked. It seemed so strange, on
this bright summer afternoon—with Narine haul
ing into spring; tbe songs of birds ringings,
merrily through the air; the distant hamming'
of the noisy stream coming like a "murmuring
cadence upon the ear, with all the realities,
around beautiful and romantic —to ride over,
this sacred ground. My companion had gone on
his errand, and I came back alone. Every
thing was calm and subdued, and so far as the out
ward seeming went, there oouid be no more attrae-}
tive place than tho battle-field of Bull Run. An
occasional soldier passed along theroMaiu his pil
grimage, an occasional officer rode quietly and
curiously along the Manassas road. There were
the woods, the fieldß, the streams, the heights, the
lonely encampments cf huts as silent as tho city
of tbe dead; no longer the roar or cannon
as on that sad Sunday in July—the contest of angry
and infuriated men—tbe wounded and the dead,
they were constantly carried along to the nearest
hospital—the rattle of mnsketry—the noise aud the
shouting—tbe long-continued strife —the sudden
lull, and the Bhamefui retreat In the shadows of Okb
evening hour —the panio and utter rout.
Two scenes —the summer day in July, the spring
day in March. Very different—very distinctive.
Each with its great lesson, each the moral of a na
tion’s history. lYe come over the hill and Gentra
ville appears. Over its heights the Union flag is
floating, and tho Union musicians fill the air with
sweet and patriotic ssunds. I think the lesson of
Manassas has been learned. J. R- Y.
English Pictorials.—From W. R. Zikbkr,
South Third street, we have Punch and the Illus
trated London News (the latter with double sup
plement), and from S. C. Uphah, 403 Chestnut
street, we have the above and illustrated News of
the World, of same date, with portrait on steel. It
is worth notioing that Punch, lately so vulgarly
and savagely satirical on thisoountry, has only two
allusions in this number, and these are mild M
milk-and-water.
Pianos ! Pianos !!—George Steok (New York)
makes a Piano-forte which has no equal in fulness
and riohness of tone and beauty of touch. J, E.
Gould, Seventh end Chestnut. , .
Special Army Correspondent
PROM WASHINGTON.
HEW POST OFFICE ORDER.
major «eit. mcdowell confirmed.
CAPTURE OF NEW MADRID, MO.
NEW IRON-CLAD GUNBOATS ASKED FOR
The Slovens Buttery to be Complftfil»
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS SATISFACTORY.
Special Despatches to “ The Press.”
WasuinqtON, March 14.
Iron-Clad Gunboats—Steam Ham—The
Stevens Battery.
Senator Hale introduced a bill in tbe Senate to-day
for tbe construction of an iron-clad steam ram, iron-clad
gtenm gunboats, and tho completion of the Stevons
floating battery.
Section first provides that the Secretary of the Navy
be authorized to have constructed an iron-clad Bteam
vessel or not lees than five or six thousand tons burdon,
of great speed and strength, to act nolely as a rami and
for that \\urpan& tli\t million of dollars, or as much
as is necessary of that sum, he appropriated.
Section second provides that $783,294, being tbe
amount Bccefisary to provide, as estimated by a board
appointed for that purpose, to finish the Stevens battery,
now partially constructed at Hoboken, New Jersey, be
appropriated for the immediate completion of said bat
tery.
Section third authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to
extend the present facilities of the Washington uavy
yard, bo as to forge or roll plates for armored ships 5 for
■which purport! $OOO,OOO is appropriated.
Section fourth appropriates thirteen mi'Hions of dollars
for the construction of iron-clad gunboats.
This hill was referred to tho Committee on Naval Af
fairs, who have entirely reversed their action in rejecting
House bill for the construction of those iron-clod
steamers.
A large number of inventions are before the Comnaittoa
on Naval ASTafra, in the House, relating to this subject.
New Confiscation Bill.
Senator Harms introduced a bill to-day, providing for
the forfeiture of tho property of persons who may bo
found holding any civil, military, or naval effiee, Under
the so-called Confederate States, or who may be found
aiding them in rebellion. Provision is made for the con
fiscation of all slaves owned by those who do not make
oath that they did not give aid and comfort to the rebel
lion, and that they were loyal to the United States. All
the rights and privileges of those persona, arising from
the Constitution of the United States, which, but for the
provisions of this act, such persons would be entitled,
are forfeited.
The laßt section provides that nothing in tliis shall ope
rate to prevent prosecution against any person wfe<? mar
have incurred this forfeiture, to punish crime which
may be incurred under any other law of the United
States. Tho President is authorized, in his discretion by
proclamation, pardon, or otherwise, to exempt or dis
charge any person from the forfeiture thus prescribed,
upon such terms, and under Buch restriction!?, ftß ho may
see fit; and ho may suspend at any time, by proclaoia
mation, any portion of this act.
Assigning the Command of Troops to
Officers of the same Grade without Re-
gard to Seniority.
In the Senate this morning, Mr. Wilson, from the
Committee 011 Military A flairs, reported a joint ro.-s?iu
tion, 11 that whenever military operations may require the
presence of two or more oflicers of the same grade in the
same field or department, the President may assign the
command of the forces in bucL field or department, with
out ngard to seniority of rank: and he may dismiss
from the service, at his discretion, without the sentence
or a court-martial, any officer of the army, when, in hla
judgment, the efficiency of the service will bo promoted
thereby
The Tax Bill
The House considered tho tax bill to-day, in Commit*
(§0 pf the "Whole, find ham thus far considered some ten
section?. Every section has been amended. It will be
some time before the list of articles to be taxed is reached.
The House decided, to-day, not to allow the States to
collect the tax.
No Prize Money for Soldiers.
The numerous of rebel boots, &Ci, by our sol
diers naturally excites the inquiry whether thoy should
not bo permitted to share the prizo money as sailors
do 1 The sailors always get a portion of the property
they capture. Why should not the soldiers, especially
in Hallrck's Western division, whore they havo taken
an ahothteiii amount of valuable property, such as
steamboats and their contents 7 Great good would
result from an order to this effect.
Six Millions for Coast Defences.
The Military Committee of the Senate, yesterday, hail
under con*i«3oi»tioii, tnid it is believed will favorably
report, & bill, placing at the didpoa&l of tbe Secretary of
War six millions of dollars , to be expended in the de
fence and fortiticutiou of our coasts, harbors, and rivers.
This is not intended for shore defeuces only, but for
floating batteries, &c. Why should not Philadelphia ap
peal to Secretary Stanton to assist iQ the strengthening
of Fort Pelftwre find the Breakwater t ,
George 4*1011161 Smith, of Pennsylvania,
"Who has just returned from Europe, where he so
journed on Government business during ail the excite
ment consequent upon the detention of the Trent , and
the arrest of Slidhll and p&yuthe highest com
pliment to certain American citizens, who labored in
season and out cf season to defend the Federal authori
ties and the people of this country against the malevo
lence of the Secession agents, and the prejudices of the
British people. Among these he prominently names
Bishop Mclltaisx; of Ohio, and Arehbishop Huobbs
and Thurlow Wised, of New York. He adds that Dr.
Jno. McClintocx, formerly of Philadelphia, also merits
tbo.tbanVs of our people and our Government, for hi
unwearied and effective labors in the same cauie.
major General Fremont's Movements
General Fremont is expected to arrive here to day.
Jftreiidy a new German regiment is partially raised in
Few York, it is said here, to accompany him to East
Tennessee and Georgia.
Our Foreign Relations.
The relations between the United States and foreign
nations are now entirely free from any apprehension
whatever of disturbance. The tone of all the correspond
ence is conciliatory find amicable. It is considered that
the British as well as the French Ministry is evidently
gaining strength owing to the discountenancing of the
sympathy with the SuenSHionists.
Major General McDowell Confirmed.
The Scnato wasin executive session an hour and a half
to-day, the result of which was the confirmation of Briga
dier General McDowell as a major general of volunteers.
Dwellings Burned at Ceutreviiie.
Yesterday evening a number of dwellings in Centre
vino were wantonly burned by some of our soldiers.
Return of the Assistant Secretary of War.
The Auisiant Secretary of War, Mr. Scott, returned
from the West to-night.
i'rom Alexandria and Fairfax.
Tlie provost marshal at Alexandria to-day closed all
the drinking-houses and all the stores of sutlers who
had been selling liquors.
A number of itinerant- speculators went to Fairfax
Court House yesterday and took possession of the vacant
stores to commcnro business. Tlie provost marshal,
however, promptly ejected them.
Post Office Regulation.
Post Omen Dbpautjikxt —Ippoint.mrn't Office,
March 13,1862. —Postmasters who make up packages for
members of Congress direct urs?f the order of Dtfcembor
Sd, 1861, and mail them direct to Washington, should
write distinctly on each package “ Congress,” embracing
therein only matter for Senators and Representatives.
This will enable any distributing office through which
they may pass, to place them, without delay, iu the Con
gress i??Si JOHN A. KASSON,
First Assistant Postmaster General,
Signed by the President.
The President has approved, to-day, the bill providing
for an additional article of war* This prohibits the
military or naval authorities from returning all persons
of color within their lines to any claimant.
The Karat Academy.
A delegation of citizens from Perth Amboy, New Jer
sey, were before the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs,
this morning, urging the permanent establishment pf tl)9
Naval Academy at that place The Maryland Legisla
ture is also endeavoring to have it removed back to the
old quarters id Annapolis. The citizens of other pluccs
are urging their claims.
Personal.
Governor Andukw, of Massachusetts, and Wksohi.l
Phillips, the well-knpwu lecturer, Wfre present on the
Hoots of the Senate and Houso to-day.
The Committee on the War at Manassas.
Messrs. Cqvowe, Odkli., and Julian, of the Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War, are to-day at Ma
nassas, examining the rebel fortifications, defences, etc.
Their views will probably be incorporated Id the report
t,f the eouMttltU*.
ANOTHER VICTORY!
,NRW MADRID IH' POSSESSION OF THE
UNITED STATES TROOPS;
Washington, March 14—11 o’clock P. M.—Presi
dent Lincoln has just received a telegraphic message,
from Brigadier General Strosc, briefly announcing
that “Sav Madrid is I>UISB. W
THE WAR ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
BATTLE I;V PROGRESS AT SEW MADRID.
Chicago, March 18.—A special Cairo despatch to tho
Times lays that heavy cannonading was heard, to-day, iu
the direction of New Madrid. The officors of the steamer
Lake Erie, No. '2, say that the cannonading was heard
Very difetlnetty at Colunibuo from four tih Wo o’clock
this morning.
jpu motion of Ml’. PENNEY* tUu supplement to the
act relative to mechanics’ liens was considered and
PHBBId.
On motion of Messrs. BENSON and IMBRIE, tho
vote by which tho supplement to the act laying out a
State road in the counties of Becks anil Lebanon was
negatived, whs reconsidered, and the consideration of
the bill postponed; .
On motion of Mr. II AMTLTONi the supplement to the
act incorporating tho New Holland Turnpike ltoad Com
pany was taken up and passed.
On motion of Mr. UIESTAND, the supplement to the
act incorporating the Columbia Water Company was
consider!'! and passed.
Mr. BOUGHTfiR moved that the Committee oil Claims
be discharged, and the Senate proceed to the considera
tion, of the bill relative to the claim of Burke & Gouder.
Not ngreed to. ,
Mr. LOWRF, on leave given* offered a resolution pro
viding that hereafter it shall be one of tho standing rule*
of the Senate that a vote of two thirds shall be rwiuiretl
to ditcharge ft standing committee from tho conwijwjr
lien of a bill, and n like vote of two.thirds to consider
any bill reported negatively. . .
A motion was made to postpone the resolution inaen
mtely. Not agreed to—yeas 13, uays 19.
The latter portion of the resolution was not agreed to,
and the resolution ns amended was adopted—yeas 19*
nB on motion of Mr. CONHSM'i ttio uiippiwneot to tho
. net incorporating the city of Philadelphia, relative to tlia
The New Hampshire Election. ! Hoard of Health, W»3 conßideicd anil passim.
t co =’ wrashsr srs w? ‘ IZ3XSS&
Wh«®r(lndS.l.M3. itarry'a majority in not far from niCHOLS, tbs DUi to incorporate
2,W). |
From Fortress Monroe—All Quiet—Re
connaissance by Two Rebel Tugs—No
Signs of’the Merrimac —-Arrival of Guu
boats.
FoHTitHSS Monuoe, Karch 14—Eveuing.—AH is quiet
here. Two rebel tugs were seen off Sewell’s Point this
forenoon m&kiug are eonnoissauce.
There are no signs of the rebel steamer Merrimac.
The gflbhttttfi Vn<Mh CurriUwh and Sachem arc
here.
Jt was Cart. Davis who recently resigned the post of
provost marshal at this post, and not Cupt/ Phlneas A.
Sprague, as erroneously telegraphed.
English Opinion on tliejSettlemßnt of the
American War.
New York, March 13.—A letter from London, dated
the Ist of march, to toe Commercial, says: u On the
whole, there is an obvious growth of the impression, in
Ensland, that tlio struggle in America will be terminated
tbl« spring. American securities have consequently been
buoyant.'*
XXXVIITH CONGRESS-FIRST SESSION,
IRON-CLAD GUNBOATS.
THE STEVENS BATTERY.
VOTE OF THANKS TO CAPT. FOOTE
THE PACIFIC RAIL ROAD BIEL,
THE TAX BILL UNDER DISCUSSION.
SENATOR ?oWell betains his seat.
Washihoto*, March 14,1862,
■ SENATE.
Contr-riior* lor -Slrnni Machinery.
Mr.IIALK (Itepj.ofNow Ilnmpshiro, from the Naval
Committee, reported back the resolution to authorize the
Secretary of the Navy to make equitable arrangements
with the contractors for steam machinery who failed to
perform their contracts, and to remit the ponalties.
Passed.
Alignment ot Comma ml* i
Mf. WILSON (Hep-), of Massachusetts, from the
Military Committee, reported a joint resolution au
thorizing the President to assign the command of troops
on tho same field or division without regard to seniority.
It also gives the President the power to dismiss any officer
from the service, if he sees fit to do ao, without the find
ing of k a court martial.
Mr. SUERMAK (Rep.), of Ohio, objected to the lat
ter portion of the resolution as giving tho President too
much power.
Mr. McDOUGALL (Dera.), of California, also ob
jected
The resolution was accordingly laid over.
Iroiuolud Rniiic mid Cuuhont?.
Mr. HALE (Rep,), of New Hampshire, introduced a
bill to authorize the building of a steam iron-clad ram
and steam gunboats. Also, to complete Stevens’ battery.
It appropriates SI ,000,000 for the ram, &13,000,000 for the
gunboats, and $700,000 for tho completion of Stevens 1
battery, deferred.
Mr. HARRIS (Rep,)i of New York, introduced a bill
to confiscate the property of rebels. Referred.
United States Lands in Louisiana
On motion of Mr. HARLAN (Bcp.), of lows, tho bill
to authorize the settlement of certain lands sold by the
United States in the State of Louisiana, was taken up
and passed.
Case of Powell*
The case of Senator Powell was taken up.
Mr. POWELL (Leu.), ef Kentucky, said be hoped
to treat the subject dispassionately and considerately.
He thought bis colleague had been rather personal and
ungracious. Courtesy might liavo led his colleague to
notify him that be waß going to make Buch a complaint.
The resolutions for his expulsion, it appears, were drawn
ill hla colleague's handwriting, though they were pre
sented by the Senator from Minnesota. Ho gave notice
to his colleague, that, if his duty ever called him to make
any charges against him, he would notify him of the fact
and do it in his own proper perron. Bis colleague
had said that he (Mr. Powell) attended a treason
able meeting in the county of Owens, and that ho
knew Humphrey Marshall wad organizing troops to
attack Frankfort. The fact was, that be bad not
been in the county of Owen since 1856, and had no
knowledge of Marshall doing any such thing.
Indeed, he bad a letter from Marshall, In which
he denied any such thing. If be was popular in Ken
tucky, us his colleague had said, it was because he had
always acted with strict integrity. He denied that he
had advocated neutrality with any intention to deceive
the people, but bad acted honestly. He simply meant to
keep Kentucky as a peacemaker for the sake of pre
serving the Union. He referred to tho resolutions
adopted at a meeting which was held at Louisville,
and at which Mr. Davis was one of the committee on
resolutions. They ©-.-vacated the adoption of a compro
mise as an amendment to the Constitution, or else
tliote- States that did adopt it should form a sepa
rate Confederacy. And yet bis colleague says he
has always been an unconditional Union man.
He (Mr. Powell) was then in the Senate urging
the compromise as a means of peace, but he never
hinted at a contingency which could separate the
Union. He referred to several other meetings where
resolutions were passed, to show that tho Union men in
Kentucky favored uenimiity, and tho refusal
to raise troops and opposition to coercion, and there was
certainly nothing worse than this in anything that his
colleague had charged agaiDSt him- lie then read several
resolutions of the Legislature of Kentucky, in favor of
neutrality and opposing coercion From all thpse facts,
lie contended that ho (Mr. Powell)had faithfully followed
the wishes of tho people of Kentucky, and of {lie Yeiy
Union party which hU cetleagno eulogizes ; and jut now
ho was to be driven from the Senate by lii.s colleague. Was
ever such injustice done to a public man i lie stood with
and represented the State as long as it adhered to neutrali
ty, and when the State changed its position he acquiesced.
There was a provisional Government formed for the
St*tß, but he roumiued here true to the old Government
and loyal 1o the Constitution, and lu* Intruded sl‘ll to re
main true, notwithstanding this attack of his colleague
He defied his colleague to find one sentenco in any speech
of his expressing anything like disloyalty to the Union.
He desired the Union to bo preserved. Ho might have
erred in the means ho thought best for its preservation.
If so, he had erred honestly. But his colleague says his
iMr. Powell's) purposes, if not hie acta, were disloyal,
io thought nobody Dm the Almighty Goa had tlw riijlit
lo look into a rnan'B heart and see bis purposes. Man has
not the power to search into the heart of a brother and
condemn him for what he proposes to do. And if the
Jehovah decided to appoint a Vice* Regent on the earth
with power to look into the purposes of the heart, he
thought he would select a more amt Able man than his
colkague«M3iiG not so hasty and erj-ys. Be thought It a
strange doctrine that a man should be expelled from the
Senate for mere abstract opinions. He referred to the
votes in the war of 1812 and the war with Mexico, where
persons had voted against the war measures. In the
latter case, his colleague, together with Senators Foot
and KiDg, who were then in the House of Representatives,
voted against the loan hill—thu~ showing that tbOrtiJ hODD
i uhlo gentlemen could at tinier vote against W;U- measures
without censure or charge of disloyalty.
Mr. DAYIS (Union) replied to Mr. Powell, defending
the Union men of Kentucky, aad his own course, and
contending that the course of Mr. Powell, especially
since the battle of Bull Run, has been a state of passive
hostility to the Government.
Mr. WILKINSON (Rep.) said that, as he had pre
sented the resolution, he would aay a few Wdwto. When the
resolutions were presented to him he looked them over,
and concluded that no loyal man could preside over a
meeting that passed resolutions like those in the charge
against Sir. Powell. But the discussion had taken a cu
rious turn, and be bad listened with attention to the re
marks of tlje {Senator (Mr. Powell,) from which it appears
that the whole people ut one time advocated the doctrine
of neutrality, and perhaps tho Senator might have been
actuated by the same feelings as actuated mauy who are
now Union men, and he (Mr. Wilkinson) had now little
feeling about it, one way or the other.
Mr. TRUMBULL (Rep ), of Illinois, said that the
committee Inul reported against tli© expuh*:on, not be
cbu id they believed in the doctrine of R&utraUty—for
they thought it mischievous, and wholly without excuse—
but the whole people ot Kentucky seemed to take that
position, and the United States Government at least paid
some respect to it; but at last the time came when the
people of Kentucky had to go ou one side or the other,
and the traitors went to the wide oF the provisional go-
Vdmuent, hut lire foustur came to the Govornmont of
the United State.-*, and lift 3 discharged bis duties here;
and although bis opinions differ from the majority, yet
that was not a cause for expulsion, and there was no
evidence before the committee to show that, since tho
people of Kentucky had taken their position, the Senator
had committed any overt act favoring rebellion. These
considerations governed the committee in their report,
Mr. TEN EYCK (Kop.). of Now JeMoy t ioiild not
*ee how a Senator ot the United States, as late as the
10th of September, could counsel the State to resist the
United States in its attempt to coole into tho State to
crush out the rebellion.
m taken on the resolution, with the
The vote was tiu
following result:
YEAS.
Howe (Rep.)
Lane (Bop.), Ind.
Pomeroy (Rep.)
Sumner (Rep.)
Davis (Union)
Dixon (llep.)
Harlan (Bep.)
Howard (Rep.)
NAYS.
Harris (Rep.)
Henderson (U.)
Kennedy (Imion.)
King (Ren.)
Lane (11) Kansas.
Latham (Detn.)
McLongall (Lem.)
Nesmith (Lem.)
Pearce (Pom.J
Anthony. (Rip.)
Drowning (hep.}
CarlUe (union.)
Clork (Rep.)
Cowan (Rep.)
Doolittle (Rep.)
Fessenden (Rep.)
Foot (Rep.)
Foster (Rep )
Hole (Dep.)
Mr. HALE (Rep ), of Now Hampshire, introduced a
bill authorizing the President to transfer the moneys ap
propriated last summer for gunboats. Referred.
Mr. WILSON (Rep.), ofMassiichusctts, introdused a
bill to provide for the organization of the army corps,
and to organize tlio staffs, corps, and divisions, Re
erred. p
f The Senate went into executive session, and subse
quently adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Cuptaiu Foote.
On motion of Mr. &XPGWTCK (Rep.), of Now If Oik,
the Bouse toot up tbu Senate joint lonyluliou tendering
the thankß of Congress and, the American people J o Cap*
tain Foote and >he officers and men of his flotilla for the
gallantry exhibited by them in the recent naval victo
ries.
Mr. BEDJWICK briefly urged its pnssage. Captain
Foote vas employed in a dangerous service*, and, if he
should falUiiß haii a may remember with grateful roeol
lectlnns the thanks voted to him to-day.
Theresolution was unanimously passed.
Co pt ain Wor d en«
The Senate resolution of thauks to Captain Worden
was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Pacific Railroad.
Mr. CAMPBELL (Rep.), of Pennsylvania, from the
special committee on the Pacific Railroad bill, made a re
port, which was made a special order for one week from
Tuesday next.
Increase of Clerical Force,
The House passed the bill authorizing; rh increase of
the number of clerka in the office of Lho assistant troayuror
at Boston. _
The Tax Bill
The consideration of the tax bill was resumed.
Mr. ELIOT (Rep.), of Massachusetts, offered an
amendment that the provision forcollection by Federal
officers shall not apply to any State which shall, through
its Governor, notify the President that such State will
cause to be duly assessed and paid over the duties and
taxes prescribed by this act.
The amendment was discussed and rejected.
An interesting proceeding was had in the considera
tion of the general provisions of the bill, including the
duties of the officers, etc.
The House, without action, adjourced till Monday.
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.
Close of Thursday’s Proceedings.
Senate, March 13— Evening Session.—The Senate
met at 7 o'clock, and discussed the resolutions for the
abolition of slavery in the Dfttrict of Columbia until 12
o'clock, when they were passed finally.
* HIMUUQIA, 14,180 T.
SENATE.
The Senate was called te order at 10 o'clock by the
Speaker
Petitions,
Mr. CONXEIX, » remonstrance from Philadelphia
against the extension of the lien law to alteration* and
repairs •
Mr. REILLY, two petitions from SohuylkiU county for
the passage of a law to protect the wages of labor.
Mr. MOTT, a petition from Philadelphia for the pas
sage of the supplement to the North Philadelphia Plank
Road Company.
Bills lutvadueed.
Mr. BEILLY, a bill to authorize the Court of Com
mou Pleas of tchuylkill county'to appoint auditors tore
examine the accounts of Samuel M. Kepner, late trea
surer of said county.
Mr. SMITH, of Montgomery, a bill relative to the ap
pointment of auditors in Montgomery county.
Bills Considered, &c.
the Eighth United Presbyterian Congregation of Phila
delphia was considered and passed.
Od motion of Mr. CONNELL, tho bill to incorporate
the Pennsylvania Lying-in Hospital was considered and
passed.
On motion of Mr. BERRICiL, the bill to incorporate
the Downingtown Cemetery Company was taken up and
passed.
The Senate then adjourned until Monday afternoon at
E o’clock.
[Conclusion of Thursday Evening's Proceedings.]
The Tonnage Tax Bill Pasted.
After the conclusion of our report of Thursday eve
ning, the bill entitled “ An act to repeal an act. apafrw&l
the 7th of March, 1801, entitled 1 An act for tbocommn
tation of the tonnage duties,’ ” was further discussed by
Meesrn. Abbott, Tracy, Cessna, Early, Williams, Smith
(Chester), and Dennis.
The amendment of Mr. Armstrong was then voted
upon, and lost—yeas 31, nays 65.
Mr Williams’ bill was than pawed—yeas Cf.,
The rules were then suspended by a vote of 79 yeas to
13 nays, and the bill was put upon Vts final passage.
The yeas and nays were then called for by Mr. CALD
WELL, seconded by Mr. WILDEY, and resulted as fol
lows :
Ykas—Messrs. Alexander, Banks, Barron, Beaver,
Beebe, Bigham, Blanchard, Bliss, Soileau, Brown of
Mercer, Brown of Northumberland, Busby, ttowma,
Craig, Cralne, Dellone, Divina, "Donley of Green, Dough
erty, Elliott, Fox, Freeland, Gamble, Graham, Graut,
Gross, Hall, Ilapper, Henry, Hess, Hoffer, Hoover, Hep
kins of "Washington, Hutcbman, Kaino, Kennedy, Kline,
Labar, Lehman, Lichtenwalluer, McClellan, McCoy,
McCullough, Myers, Netman, Peters, Potteiger, Ramsey,
Res, Rhoads, Kittorj Robb of Luiierne, Boss of Mlflllu,
Rowland, Russell, Byon, Shannon, Strang, Tate, Tracy,
Tuttorij/A'akcfield, Weidner, Wrlljamß, Wlmley, Windle,
"Wolf, Werley, Zeigle, Rowe, Speaker—7o.
Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Armstrong, Bates, Caldwell,
Chatham, Cochran, Cowan, Donnis, Donnelly (I’hiladel
phta), Duffleld, Earley, Gaskill, Greenback, Ilbpkinß
Philadelphia), Jagipba, Mc&iacKin, McManus, Fulfill
ing, Quigley, Scott, Smith fChester), Smith (Philadel
phia). Thompson, Vincent, Warner, Wildey— 26.
So the bill of Mr. Williams was passed.
Tho House then, al twelve o’clock, adjourned.
[Noth. —Some errors occurred in the report of the
afternoon session. Mr. Vincent said that theru wero four
given by the friends of tho present lull why it
should josh: First, That the act hod been procured by
fraud. •Second, That it was unconstitutional. Third ,
That it was impolitic. Fourth, That tho friends of the
present bill have the numerical power to repeal the Act
of but session. Mr. Worley said that tho Pennsylvania
Railroad Con pan y should come back to their orglnal
charter.—Riii’OjrrEn.]
The House assembled at 10 A. M., Hon John Rowe,
Speaker, in the chair. Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Do Witt.
Messrs. MOOUK and TWITCHELL obtained leave to
record their votes upon the tonnage tax bill. They voted
<( nn «
My. BOSS reported, with a negntivo recommendation,
a bill making an appropriation to cerium hospitals in
Philadelphia.
Mr. BIG HAM, with amendments, an act to levy a tax
upon bankers and brokers in this Commonwe&Ub.
Mr. BROWN, of Mercer, with a negative rucommen •
dation, an net to repeal certain provisions of au act Ap •
proved May 16,1801, to provide for levying a apocint tax
of one half mil) on a dollar,
The committee, to whom was referred the bill an tho
rizingjhe sale of certain real estate in Philadelphia, and
to invest the proceeds iu New Jersey, asked to be dis
charged from its further consideration. The request was
granted. The bill was then referred to the Committee
on Estates and Escheats.
Mr. FLUSHING reported favorably an act relative to
certain records in Philadelphia
Mr. GREENBANK, favorably, an act explanatory of
certain acts relative to tho inspection of bnildingß in the
city of Philadelphia.
Mr. KAINE, with amendments, a supplement to an
act to incorporate the Brady Bend Trou Company .
Mr. woQiAM'S, with amendments, an act to incorpo
rate the Philadelphia and Eastern Transportation Com
pany.
Also, favorably, an act to incorporate tho Philadelphia
Drug Exchange A3?ociation.
Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, with nu amendment, an
act to incorporate tho Philadelphia and Now Jersey Fer
ry Company.
Mr. HOPPEII, favorably, a further supplement to an
HCt to incorporate the Philadelphia and Delaware River
Railroad Company.
Bills Introduced*
Mr. SHANNON introduced a bill to provide for the
military education of youths.
Mr DUFFJKhD, “an acr to authorize the election
of a Board of Education iu the city of Philadelphia, and
to abolikH. the prewibt Board of Controllers of Public
Schools for the First school district of Pennsylvania.”
This bill reads as follows :
Skc. 3. lit it enacted, (f-c. That the uualified elec
tors of each ward of tbe city of Philadelphia shall, on the
second Tuesdai of October next, elect two persona, ®ho
shall possess tbe qualifications now required for the dec
lion of School Directors—ono person for the term of one
year and one person for the term of two years, and an
nually thereafter on the second Tuesday of October elect
one person for the term of two years, who, whan organ*
ized. shall be known us the Board of Education of the
(,’ity of Philadelphia, and shall have all the powers, du
ties, rights, privileges, and immunities now invested in
the Board of Controllers of the First school district of
pAhftnylVanm.
Sec. 2. That on tho first Monday of January, 1883,
and in every year thereafter, on the first Monday of Jatm
ary, the members of the Board of Education shill meet at
eleven o’clock in the morning, and shall organize by
electing one of their members president, a secretary, ami
such other officers as may be requisite or necessary.
g 80,3, That the Board of Controllers of tho First
school district of Pennsylvania, as constituted by the
22d and 23d sections of an act to incorporate the city of
Philadelphia, approved February 2, 1854, shall be, and
is hereby, abolished from and aftei the Ist Monday of
January, 1863.
Mr. DUFFIELD also introduced an act to attach the
townships of By berry and Moreland, in the Twenty-third
ward of Fbilftdflpliiflt to Pucka county.
Mr. ARMSTRONG, an act to authorize the sale of the
stock of any stockholder in banks in certain cases.
The House proceeded to the consideration of the pub
lic calender.
“An act to attach Erie and Crawford counties to the
Eastern district of the Supreme Court” was token up
and djaciUKawi by Me. VIJSCENT la and Mr,
£ll AS NON in opposition.
The bill was finally postponed until Thursday next.
The Hou c o then adjourned until Monday afternoon at
three o’clock.
ADDITIONAL FOREIGN NEWS.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
THE TIMES’ OPINION OF THE WAR
By the arrival of the Africa, we are placed in posses
sion of our London files of the Ist Inst. We make extracts
of the mofet prominent topics nreseuted:
Teiriiic Blast from the loud&ii Times —
The War must he Settled.
“This war must he settled somehow.” The world has
bei*u waiting to hear fliest? words. It has bean
only a question of time. The present moment
is, perhaps, rather earlier than anyone expected, but
already wo stitch the expected phrase, borne in confiden
tial whispers across the Atlantic: It bns fouml birth in
Wnll street, It stirs gently in Its cradle, and it is swathed
in unconvertible rags. N'o one yet dares to own it
openly. The thousands of vultures who are living upoa
their prey would scream horribly, and attack with beaks
and claws auy one who should without adequate power
interfere with their banquet; but still the phrase is
heard, and it is growing into more potent voioe=»“ln
some way or other thia war must be satfclol.”
“ Wait a while; wait just ninety days, and the rebel
lion will to crushed,” is still the cry; as it has been for
thrice ninety days, the cry of the contractors, the Go
vernment officials, the fanatics, ami all who fiurt power
or profit or distinction in this civil war. Tlio merchants
and baukei s and trading have waited, and what do
they see 7 They seethe Atlantic cities witheringfrom hour
to hour; they see the warehouses empty, thelarger dwell
lug-houses uutenauted, property valueless, and trade dy
ing. They see a wasteful and corrupt expenditure of half a
million s»te« ling every day, and no resuUsoxccptan accele
rated pace towards national insolvency and general ruin.
Still they are told to wait another ninety day*, and
fell will Ire well. It may be well for those smart iudi*
TlduHls, who bj ibat lime will have gathered all they
can hope to gain, have realized their plunder, and
lodged it where waste paper is not a legal tender. But
will it be well with the owners of house property in the
East, who are uow letting their storeß rent*free to any
one who will pay the rates ! Will it be well with the
poor and thrifty producers of tho West, who are con
by th& term* of the OonulHuHoa to be taxed in a
ratio proportioned to population, and not to property 1
Will it be well with the holders of State . bonds,
which were hitherto holding a respectable posi
tion as securities, but must now overlaid
by the mountain of National debt 7 Will it be
well, either, with the holders of the Federal Stato
securities and tho possessors of paper money, who
Will AVBll&d ili Villn for feonie sources, vrhwqce ihelf
claims may be met, ami will awako to tho reality that
their property is but a delusion and a dream ? This is
nil that those who wait will ever see. Tho very joy and
exultation which tbe “successes” of the last fo«v weeks
have .caused in the North show bow little the promoters
of Ibis war really expect that absolute conquest which
they pioniise* Tie capture of an earthwork on the
Tentuifinee rivet', even if it bo followed by the capture
of the stronger neighboring fort upon the river
Constantine, is only one of the first of a long series
of military preparations for a campaign in Kentucky
and Tennessee. If the invaders should obtain this
success, its use will only be to enable them to feed tho
ftfiny UliUli hftfl ftJ*&S»cSd through Kentucky, 9p4 to
keep it in winking orderfor operating on a theatre 500
miles distant from the opposing armies on the Potomac.
A year of successes would only give them military pos
session of two States which were never among the most
zealous iu the Southern cause. As to the descents upon
the coaßt. they are annoyauces rather than wounds.
They are bin like the burning darts which the Spaniard
tniubta into tho fiauKa of a sluggish bull to sting him
from bis defensive posture. A hundred such victories
and such inroads as those tell nothing towards the con
quest of a country half as large as Emope, If that coun
try be really earnest In Us own defence. The Southern
States before tlmj revolted must have expected all this, and
much more. We have always in Europe given the North
credit for first successes very greatly superior to these,
and have reckoned that their real difficulties wojjld only
commence when they bad mastered tho groat strategic
points throughout the South. At the rate at which the
war is now proceeding, it will take, not ninety days, but
ninety years, to “crush ibis rubotlion;” and tho re
spective grandsons of General McClellan and t.aneral
Beauregard may at last fight out the battle for Manassas.
“ Wall street” begins to see all this more clearly. It
was worth a costly experiment to retain that rich South
ern business, and Kw York will be hard put to Neither
to win it back or to do without It. Rut tho capitalists
have now come to the conclusion that the game
is up. and tlutt tho experiment is passing out of
their hands. The sugaosiion to raise $150,000,000
yearly, by direct taxation, does not deceive them.
Obey know very well that, even if tho sovereign
people would submit to endure a taxation as heavy
m Dm* of liuriftiidi America could not continuously
raise more than .bi 0,000,000 sterling annually. The
rough calculation lias always been that in capacity
of taxation the proportion hotweeu tho two countries
i*, that Atierlcau dollars are equal to English pounds
sterling. If wo raise £50.000,000, exclusive of our cus
tom*, America probably couhl, if she pleasod. raiso
Jfall.OOOiCflO nr /U 0,000,000, Such « pumiMo ruvnnuo,
even ir it wore noL based upon tho wild improbability
that tbo Western Sta.es will consent to pav any such
taxes, would be a very poor security for half tbe debt
which has already accrued. In this state ot things the
commercial adage, that “ the first loss is the best,” comes
into play. And tho capitalists of Now York are now
watching for the first opportunity when It may be aaie to
say oponly. “ This war must bo Rottlod somehow.”
TChis “firstloss” is indeed bad enough. There are all
tho profits of the Southern agencies gone. The coft'ors
are all drained by a disastrous loan of many muhons.
Having suspended specie payments, of course they can
not boriow any money from abroad, and they have a
Government so recklesdy manufacturing Wf f"®" 0 ,?.
tlmt lbm is w »9Pf?f Swiss
time tlie delusion that it ta or value. Still there would do
some hope if Ihoy could slop where they now are. reace
might restore to them some trade relations with the
and while the more indolent Southerners have.wealth the
sharp Northerner may always hope that he will get some
ot it. How the frightful current expenditure can bo
stopped, or how tho war can be settled, it is, perhaps, pre
motnroto speculate, Norst? vcvontwcje eftlettlßte that
the power or capital is immediately folt as decisive on
such a question. America hae such imperishable advan
ta„ea in >,er great unbroken wastes of fertde sod that no
mere financial difficulties can strangle her. She may
borrow and repudiate over and over again, and nun
every capitalist she lias, and yet rim. again and thrive.
lint B t such a crisis ns this tlis interests of moneyed men
are likely to he of great influence upon events. Wo are
much misinformed if the opinion of the com nercial body
in tho great cities of rederal America has not recently
veered round, and if there be not, all up and down Wall
street, a general disgust and antipathy to ninety
days’ hill, and a unanimous resolution to protest it when
it next comes to maturity.
Ten Eyck (Rep.)
Wade (Bep.)
Wilkinson (Bep.)
Rice (Pem.)
Sauisbury (i)eiu.)
Stark (Lem.)
Thomson (Lem.)
Trumbull (Rep.)
Willey (Union)
Wilson (R ), Mass.
Wilson (U-), Mo.
Wright (Union*)
Tho London Times says, under the heading of “ In
ternational Courteey,” a cotemporary publishes the
following extraordinary specimen thereof It Is a letter
rrom Mr. Bewaril to Mr* Harpor Twelvetreety presiaout
of a »* rcaco rfßolcing mooting ** held somewhere iu the
Tower Hamlets region: n
“Lkfautmsnt op State, l
u WASHiN'G'XtVV, February 4,156 T. {
“Leah Sir: I acknowledge, with sincere pleasure, the
reception of your letter of the 17th of January, and also of
the proceedings of ® public roeoUngi which was hell on
HOUSE.
HOUSE,
Reports of Committee#.
The Public Calendar
fI\ER STEAMER AFRICA.]
liiterhiitiofiM C&tlftfc&y.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY SEWARD.
thefllth of that month in the Timer Hamlets, on Ch 9
subject of tbe relations between your t&ufityp tfcd mine,
It is very gratifying to me to assured, as lam by
those proceedings, that the course* which this Go
vernment has adopted in regard to a question
of neutral rights In maritime .war to approved
by a Inrge and respectable portion of the British public.
The policy of tho American people, air, is » policy of
peace homei peace abroad, poaca with All nations, a
policy of freer om for tbomselVAs, or freedom in their ex
tending empire, and a policy hopeful of, and conducive to#
the ultimate freedom of all classes and couditious of mm.
Whoever shall wage war against the American people
will find thvtnstilveH obliged, not only to commit the first
wrong, but to become, whan they enter the contest, the
enemies, not only of ordor r peacn t and VroffTCflS 0& this
continent, but of Human nature itself. With many
thanks for your groat cout leny, and with best wishes
now, as always, for the prosperity and happiness of all
your countrymen, I have the honor to bn your most obe
dient servant, WM. H. BKWAUD."
Washington*!* Birthday,
[From WHmer A Smith’s Timas.]
The arniversary of Washington’s birthday drew to
gether a large assemblage of tho loading Americans in
Loudon at a public breakfast, and the opportunity was not
lost of n uking most of tho occasion. It has boen the
good fortune of the great Western Republic to have been
1 jug represented at the British Court by men of diitfn
eutfthed ability, but we question whether the United
Stefcß ever Had an abler diplomatist or a more skiifnl
speaker than Mr. Adams, and bh eloqueoco and terse
ne.«H fully sustain tho reputation enjoyed In their day
by his father and grandfather. In this trying mo
ment of his country’s futu Mr. Adams mado
& speech which contains an admirable sum
mary of Washington’s career and the which ill *’
joints, l5AMb£, t»s lb« speaker oo skilfully made it do, on
the present position of affairs on the other side of the
Atlantic. But It Is worthy of notice that this apprecia
tion of America’s greatest historical personage is not con
fined to the Federal*; the opposing party draw from the
hero’s reverse* and success exactly tbe same comforting
ftpfmmnce to Buntain them in the struggle in which they
are engaged. For iußUmes, when the American minis
ter spoke of thu Fabian policy of Washington, “ called to
take the command of an army, ho found himself burdened
with tho task of creating one, without money, ani with
very slight provision of all the indispensable munitions of
war, and this in the face of an enemy abundantly pro
vided with all these things,”—the picture
it s&£33ni§ Is more applicable io Mr, Jefferaon D&VIS
limn to Mr. Lincoln; but when the orator described
the war between the Aorth and South as “ an assault
upon tho Government of the United States which carrte.-i
with it an aggrosf ive principle that, if not defeated, must.
In the 6rd, bo fatal to freedom,” he made a huppy hit. at
those who are striving to destroy the integrity of -
Union* - Tho civil war, Mr. Adams de
scribed, ay “the fire of purification,” to “gather,” ha
added, “the moral fruits of self-devotion to honorable
ends.” The speech of the American Minister breathed,
it is needless to say, tho same determination to put dowu
aud suppress the revolt of the South which we see re
flected in every movement of M*. Lincoln’s Govern
ment. Whether these gigantic efforts will be crown
ed with Buccoss or end iu failure, ft short timo
must determine. The struggle is about to begin iu
earnest, and must terminate between March and May.
We enter this day ou tbe first of these months, and the
next few weeks will bo the most important iu the history
of the United Stateß that have occurred since the States
wrested their independence from the grasp of George the
Thhd. Washington's gr»»t experiment, which has
worked such extraordinary results dttfjhg lb? three
quarters of a century, will hayo to pass in tho next
ninety days through tbe severest ordeal to which it has
ever bton subjected. If the North cannot subjugate the
South in this brief time—which is very uulikely—it is
almost morally certain that tho European Powers will
etep in nnd propose terms, and in mercy to all parties—
to tho famishing upßMfciVfei of England Prance, as
well ae to the combutauta themselves, the act will be real
humanity.
A French Candidate for the Mexican Throne*
The claims of the Archduke Maximilian to the throne
of Moutczuma are, it appears, contested by no less a can
didate than a certain M. Bertroo, who reubln In the de
partment of tljo Seine, and Uvea by extraivtog ©U Irem
Paris dil'l. He has Issued Ike following dr-ctinn address •
“Mexicans: For a long period I was hnoianikary
candidate for a place in the Corps Legistatif. My
fellow* citizens were, thank God, always deaf to m/
exhortations, for a higher destiny was in store for m<'—
tho doßtlny of being charged with working for the wel
fare of Mexico.- 1 have been told that yon absolutely
desire. a king. If you do, take me. I an not of fpytil
raeft. I am ftfaly a pfr>2>ri£l<*irQ at Bccuuxj in tho
department of the Seine, and extract oil from the filth of
Paris. ! would, wore you to honor mo with your
confidence, reduce to order the chaos of Mexican
anarchy, J would dismiis the great army that has not
known how to protect the highways or abstain from
plundering what it should guard, anil all the money
which the soldier* devoured, I would expend on works
of public utility. Th&y wi>uld, under n,y government,
become householders, aud take care of their own daugh
ter, instead of abducting those of other awn, &od keep
ing alive that pag&lon for gambling so fatal to your coun
try, your dignity, anil your liberty. Iu tho interior, I
would suffer each to have his own way in his own con
cerns. You would thus become accustomed to dispense
WMh tuuvli ot # Cinvcnmient. soil lonru how to take cu»
of yourselves and protect yourown Interests. As for me*
1 would be satisfied with the most modest civil Ust that is
ponille, being desirous of giving you the example of
simplicity. AD “ I,l* lIE BE UT Uo N,
“ Humanitary Candidate.”
The Blockade in Parliament—Letter from
John Ai< Alngon—Atr. Seward to Lord
Lyons.
The following letter of the Confederate envoy Masoa
is among the blockade papers submitted to Parliament:
“IU9 I’R'CAWi.Ly, Feb. 17.
“Mr Lord: I have the honor to transmit to your
lordship herewith (by permission) retufijg pf YpaaoJs ©a®
tervd and cleared at the blockaded porta or the
Confederate Erato* of America at tho respective
dates to which they refer. Your lorri’lhlp will ob
serve that the returns from the ports of Charles
ton and Savannah ara ouiy up to the 31st of October
last; from New Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola, and Lavaca,
to the dates given in August; and from Wilming
ton till 10th doptember. Your lordship will ftUTHOf ©be
serve, Uir.t In the Ust from New Orleans a large number
were inland by tbe river Mississippi, and theroforo involv
ed no Question of a breach of blockade. Wishing to be per
fectly frank, it may he proper to remark also, that others
from some of the ports may have boon quasi inland; that
is to say, through the estuaries and sounds along the
coast.
“ I state, as ad example, from New Orleans J© Mobil©,
wbvre ihp route for entail vessels nrnj or may not have
been through the inland sounds. But in regard to the lat
ter, T do not see why the obligations of a blockade do not
extend as fully to them as by access to the port from the
open&ca. These estuaries or sounds are accessible by
inlets from tho sea, and, if not guarded, the ports to
which they lead may be reached us successfully bP 09k*
going light draught through those channolg as by
a direct sea route. That tho Government of the United
States so considered, is proved by the fact that tho inland
sea communication between New Orleans and Mobile*
Charleston and Savannah, and, perhaps, other places, is *
claimed to be blockaded by naval forces of that Go
vernment, _ , ,
“ The tr&h&criphj herewith were those furnishod to too
by my Government, to be communicated to your lordship.
Although purporting to be copies of the original returns*
they were copies made at the proper department at Rich
mond from these returns, and are, therefore, authentic.
I ask permission also to incindo herewith a printed list of
vessels entered end cleared at ports in Cuba from and to
the blockaded porta of the Goufeder&to Bt&tea, These,
For tbe tnost part, nreenumorated in September; and all
for the mouths of November ano December are of course,
net included in the transcripts-from my Government.
This paper, sent to me from Havana, was taken from
official documents there by a gentleman of intelligence
and integrity, well known to me, and worthy of entire
reliance, ihe marginal notes are, of course, unofficial.
• “TiH fAM (Jis.su iiied) of f])© mTITBI Of the VOBMIB
cleared (»t their portß of doßtinatlon) was matter of no
toriety, from the almost daily intercourse between Ha
vana uiul those ports. I have no official returns from
my Government for the months of November, December,
and January, to be accounted for in the fact that, until
very recently, it could not be Known when I might reach
Lawton. But, y*up topeUMp U doublUsa aware*
breaches of the blockade at most, if not all, of these
ports, by vessels of large as well ur of small tonuage, both
inward and outward bound, have been during the last
three months, anil )et are constantly reported. I have,
&c, J.M MASON.”
The following despatch from Lord LyOU9 (ft Kitfl Bath*
sell, respecting the obstruction of tho Southern harbors,
lias just been hud before Parliament. It was received on
the 24th of February :
“ IVASiiixoTO.v, Fell. 11,1342.
“My Loud: Yesterday* in obedience to the instruc
tion conveyed to me by your lordship’s despatch of tho
16th ultimo, I Bpoke to Mr, nwctibg the 1 cl>»
Btructiou of Southern harbors by TesseU sunk at the on*
trance by order of tho Uniiofl States Government.
“I referred to the conversation which I hail hold with
him on the same subject, on the 11th of last month, and
I observed to him in your lordship’s words, * that the ob
ject of war is peace, and the purposes of pence are mutaal
goodwill and advantageous intercoursej but that this
proceeding will tUflriva war of it* UyitlaaU object, by
stripping peace of its natural fruits. 1
“After aomo further con\erfiation, Mr. Seward told
me that 2 might inform your lordship, that all the vossbl*
laden with stone, which had been prepared for obstruct
ing the harbors, have been already sunk, and that it it
notlihehj that any others will be used for tJtdt purpose.
“Ihave, Ace., LYONS,
Forger Notes. —The semi-monthly number of
Peterso?t*s Counterfeit Detector } published this
day, announces forty-eight new bank forgeries in
the month, and the following* on Pennsylvania
banks, within the last fortnight:
Bank op Cuawfoiui County, Meadville, Pa—la r al
tered vig. an eagle poised on a Bhield, cars, Ac.; oo
rii-lit end a girl gleaning and figure 1; on left female
Boated near grain* holding an eagle aud the stars and
Btripes.
UoL-i.miiA Bank, Columbia, Pa,—le, 2p, 3s, and 5b OTO
In circulation, altortd from a broken W9AWu|tlon bank
of the s*ame name. Observe the name of tbe State and
the city, which ate darker than rest of note. Mostef
them have a coarse red stripe ou each end.
Cm nnuA Bank, Columbia, Pa.—2s, imitation—vig. f
eyread eagle ou a nUteld,carH and bridge in distance; tuv
left wing of tho eagle is blurred and coarsely engraved ;
right end, female and child in faucy 2 j left end, portrait
of Waeldngton, ByHvr HW all £«, utlfcf 1 BWf
ure genuine.
KAitMuns* Bank, Reading, Ta.—ls, spurious—vtg.»
cattle scene, trees, Ac , train of c*rs in distance ; figure
lin g)cen each side of vig.*, female with scales on right;
locomotive on left; olio on all four corners.
I'Aii.MKii.s’ Bank, Pa—si, spurlouj—lndian and 5
above on left; portrait with 5 above on rigllt. Nauw
across tbe bill. ■
lUit«ter.n«3 Ba{sk, I‘a.—ss, wUercd—vi«n bust ot
Genual Scott; girla ou right. The Is have ouly a bust
of the General.
Public Amusements,
This isthl* Fifty-fochth Night of John Drew’s eu
gagtmentnt the Arch-street Thentre, wheu he will ftp-
Dear m Connor the Hash,-in the “Knqiil ofAtra,"
011.1 I'mlJij Mi&Juhl), 111 “’l'll. lrloU Diasooii." Mr.
Drnv is, nuiuuliteilly, tlie very liMt ik'lim'alur of tho
Jrisli jeasaut on tlio atage. One of tin, most touching
piuct'B of acting wo have over witnoMwt is his porform
aucoof O'Jlrh'ti, in llio “ Irisli Emigrant." Tho actor
who ran Jraw tours ono momonti nnil sot the honso in *
roar tho noxt. ia a trno artist i ana this John Draw does
ill the character of O'Brien. A now lush liiece, with a
most unpronounceable name, is underlined. The public
is getting impatient to see what “Orohooto-na-lHllough”
is like.
Tiiuiiu u'u.l ftfi jvr afUPURSii Mib® WM*
nnt- street Theatre to-day, by Dan Bice and his astonish
ing rompany of bipeds and animals. In the evening,
Mr. Kice takes a boneftt, Madame Tontnaire aud Mr.
Melville are certainly wonderful performers. On Moil
day evening, tho irrepressible Mr. nnd Mrs. Barney WIU
Hams will commence another engagement, or six nighti,
after a highly successful one In Washington and Haiti
more. Wc are not lllfo.iuod what pieces will he played
the first night; whatever tlioy may be, however, a fhU
house ia likely to he in attendance.
At the Acadhmt or Mvsxc, to-night, Mr. Gottschalk
the eminent pia&Ut, poifoWm for the I*H tfB4t. Tit*
opera of “ Betley” will bo performed, with Miss Hinck
ley, and Signors llrignoli -and Sneini, in the principal
roles.
Thkuk will be an 11 Uncle Tom’* matinee this after
noon, »t tho Continental, when ladies and children, mbs
do 1141 wish t* visit lha theatre ut ninlit. will have an op
portunity of sympathizing with little Eva, and laughing
at the drolleries of Top iy.
Mr. William Qoayls, once so popular as a ballad
einger, will have a benefit concert at the National Guards*
Hall on Wednfisdhy evening next, at ‘nhloh Mr. Pra*4f
nnd many ataSttUM Will assist. Mr. QUityte ha* ffl*hd»
enough to fill a larger room.
Hand Crushed. — William Campbell,
agi-tl twenty-six, was yesterday admitted to thehiw^tal,
having had bis hand cfiuhod at Wood 8 Iron Foundry*
in Wood street, near Yweuty*fi™t.
Anniversary.— Tlie tliirtiotli anni
versary of tbo Robert Morris Hose OompMiy was cele
brated, last evening, by * dinner at taelr house, w
iPßibaiU etreet, nbovf Elglilb,
KECDVERiNa —Wc are glad to letra
that Mr. Joseph D. Murphy, the popular treasurer of
the Arch-street Theatre, who has been ueriousiy ill for
Home days, was much bettor yesterday, and ia mow oao
gidered uuito out of danger.