SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1862. THE LATEST WAR NEWS. From the lower Potomac, we learn that maranding bands of rebels continue to hover around Shipping Point, committing depredations on private property, but taking good care to keep out of the range of our gunboats. Two desorters from the rebel army state that Gen. Johnston’s army aro concentrating at Rappahannock, where they nave determined to make a stand. A telegraphic despatch from Strasburg inform 3 119 that ths rebel Colonel Ashby with four guns gp. peared near that place on Thursday, and threw several shells into the place, but without doing any damage. Gen. Banks has reconnoitred ail the positions around his oamp and made himself per fectly familiar with the country. Jackson is at Ebensburg, but he keeps very quiet. Many of the inhabitants of Strss’eurg and vicinity are found to be strongly in favor of the Union. The bombardment of Island No. 10 still con tinues. A reconooissance developed the fact that th® eltYßtion of pur mortars and the charge of powder have been too great, but this will be reme died hereafter, and greater execution may there fore be expected. Heavy firing was hoard on Thursday, in the direolion of Point Pleasant) aud it was surmised at Cairo that the rebel gunboats had made an attack on Gen. Pope’s batteries planted at that place. A skirmish between a squadron of the First New Jersey Cavalry and a company of Texan Rangers took place sear Dumfries, twelve miles below the Ccccqußß) yesterday. Ton rebel prisoners were taken and brought to Washington. The speech of Senator Henderson, of Missouri, printed in our columns this morning, is remarkable not alone for its clear, cogent, and incontrovertible argument; but as being the expression of a Senator who comes from a slave State, and who is therefore competent to deal with tho subject of emancipa tl*B, without Buspicion of boing unduly prejudiced in favor |of it. Mr. Henderson's views have no thing ultra in them. They are calm, dignified, and statesmanlike, in which characl eristics they have much in common with Mr. Lincoln's message, and are entitled to the same woight and consideration with which that document has been received. Secretary Welles, on behalf of tho President, has sent a letter to Lieutenant Worden, the commander of the Monitor during her engagement with the fllerriinac } complimenting him and his crew for their heroism on that occasion, and expressing tho deepest sympathy with the gallant Lieutemmt m his affliction. Congress Yesterday. Senate. —Mr. Wright introduced a bill for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. The bill remitting duties on arms ordered by the States prior to JiAuary 1, 1862, was passed. Tho naval hill coming fcp, an amendment was adopted that Mr. Stevens shall be refunded the cost of constructing his battery, unless it shall prove a failure; also, an amendment appropriating $13,000 000 for war-olad vessels, and $250,000 for casting heavy ordnance. House. —A resolution of thanks to Mr. Ericsson, inventor of the Monitor, was reported from the naval committee, and passed- The tax bill pro gresses. Among the xtemS ACtOd UpCtt yesterday, were illuminating gae, coal oil, rectified spirits, coffee, tobacco, cigars, gunpowder, and other ex plosives, printer’s ink, clothing, iron, and hoop skirts. In a debate anting out of the proposed amendment of the latter item Mr. Pendleton con ceived it necessary to the dignity of his character that he should get off a jest that would have been out of place in a concert saloon, and was certainly cot apropos in the halls of Congress. Legislature Yesterday. Senate —An act relative to recording ordinances ia Philadelphia was passed. A hill to promote the efficiency of the military of Philadelphia was in troduced, but under the rules was laid over. The bill incorporating tho Chestnut Hill Cemetery was passed. House —The House, by a unanimous vote, re pealed the bill, passed several days ago, requiring the payment of mercantile taxes to the Receiver of Taxes instead of to the City Treasurer. Wednes day next was fixed fir the diseussien ef the Sunhury and Erie Railroad bill. The Loyalty Resolutions of the M. E Conference. The loyalty resolutions adopted by the Me thodist Episcopal Conference, now in session in this city, deserve special attention and com mendation. They are comprehensive, firm, and decided 1 and, at the same time, neither fanatical, sectional, nor abusive. They form a platform which all loyal men in every part of the Confederacy can cheerfully sustain, no matter how much they may differ in regard to the numerous incidental questions that grow out of the war. As the Conference represents, in part, a con stituency residing in slave States, where a considerable number of disaffected per sons reside, no resolutions could have been unanimously adopted which were not cha racterized by a tinge of conservatism; but the enthusiastic feeling of loyalty that per meated the whole body, as a mass, could not be satisfied with anything short of an un equivocal expression on all vital points. The rebellion is denounced as “ unjust aud wicked;" the duty of the Church “to employ every appropriate means for the maintenance and perpetuity of good government, and to sustain the powers that be in this great strug gle,” is strongly enforced, and a willingness to “ cheerfully bear ” “ any tax or taxes that may be required to defray the expenses of the war ” is expressed. It is, a cheering sight to witness a great Church rallying thus strpngly round the State in this hour of national tribulation. The New York Tribune, of Thursday, in an article commenting upon the great battle and victory near 'Winchester, Virginia, speaks as follows of the Pennsylvania troops, who deci ded the fortunes of that brilliant day: “ The rebels renewed the action on Sunday morn ing, making an effort to turn the Union rightly a heavy fire of artillery and a feigned attack on our left. Their eannen, superior in number, (93 to 21,) were advantageously posted; their infantry were covered by woods and a high stone wall. The rebel right wa3 driven baok half a mile by an infantry charge, but gained a strong position, whence, by the help of their artillery, they regained all they had lost. A heavy cannonade and fusillade was kept up by both parties till 3 P. M., without heavy loss, though the armies were for the most part but three or four hundred yards apart, and at times still nearer. At 3 the infantry of the rebel left debouched from the woods end charged our right, intending to capture the battery there stationed. Their first charge nearly succeeded, but was repelled by a storm of grape-shot. A second and still weaker charge was more easily repulsed; and then (Gene ral Tyler, commanding our left, ordered an ad vance on the rebel batteries in his front. Two charges were successively repelled with slaughter, but the third prevailed, routing the rebels who opposed it. and capturing two guns and four caissons Of the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania, which led this charge, Colonel Murray and twenty-site other men. wire hilled and eighty three wounded; in all, one hundred and nine out of the three hundred who followed its standard into the battle. “ This success decided the fate of the battle. The rebel left ms utterly broken and fed, where upon their centre- wavered and gave ground. An attempt to retrieve the day by a charge of the rebel right utterly failed, an Irish battalion, whieh was pushed forward in advance, utterly refuting to fire on the Unionists.” Notwithstanding the fact that more than one hundred thousand Pennsylvanians are now in the field, exclusive of those who are serving in regiments mustered in and credited to other States, she has frequently been charged by politicians with having received too large a share of the patronage of the Federal Government—an accusation that would be triumphantly disproved upon examination, even if the great truth that she has contributed more soldiers to the Kepuhlic than her wealthy and populous sister, New York, did not en title her to pre-eminent consideration. Her children are gathered in thousands in the far South, along the banks of the Potomac and the Shenandoah, and in the fertile valleys of Tennessee; and wherever ordered to attack the foe they cover themselves with imperisha ble glory. At Ball’s Bluff, at Dranesvilie, at Roanoke, at Port Royal Ferry, and Winchester, their devotion to the country has been shown in deeds of unexampled heroism, and in the loss of hundreds of precious lives. The gallant Murray gave up his own at Win chester, falling at the head of the column that pierced’the enemy’s centre. It is just to add that the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylva nia Regiment, which suffered so severely in the same conflict, was commanded by Colonel Wm. D. Lewis, Jr., son of our patriotic fellow citizen, Hon. Wn. D, JjEwis. It is called the Juniata regiment, and is chiefly composed of men from that region, though filled up with one or two hundred from Philadelphia. Wi Ann requested to call attention to an adver tisement in our columns of a handsome residence on Tulpebocken street, Germantown, for sale. For lMatlw- Menery, or convenience it is unsorpused. LETTER FROM “OCCASIONAL.” Washington, March 28. The best military despatches are those writ ten before or after a great battle. They have the ring of reality in them, and no matter how awkward their English, or deficient their grammar, they always become classical. Some of the best despatches have been the worst written. What is desired at this time is not the flowers of rhetoric, but the fruits of victory. Among the modest and brave men of the American army, let me name Banks, Shields, and Sigel. Each represents a class ; each is the ideal of a peculiar military the ory ; and yet they agree in one thing—to let their deeds answer for them, and re fuse all blast of trumpets before the execu tion of the work beforo them; The German Sigel’s address to his soldiers, after the battle of Pea Hidge, is a paper of exhilarating elo quence. It thrilled me, as I read it, like a grand march performed by a great band. There is an utter ignoring of self; a present and vital devotion to the country and the cause, and at the same time a brevity, yet a splendor of diction, that speak of the accom plished scholar and practised martial chief. Shields, like Sigel, a native of foreign birth, played a conspicuous part in the rout of tlio rebels at Winchester; and I pre dict that, when his account of his actions there comes to light, it will bo as unpretend ing as Sigel’s, so far as their leader is con cerned, and equally commendatory of tho lank and file. General Bauks, eminent in po itical life for reticence and unselfishness, and always averse to ostentatious display, scarcely needs anybody to predict IV’llilfc his report will be of the conduct of Ms army. When he has ceased from the pursuit, he will, for a time, drop the sword, so promptly drawn and gal lantly wielded, to tell the story of one of the finest scene in this marvellous struggle. Do not misunderstand me, because I select these three types of men, as desiring to ignore the admitted merits of such sailors as Dupont, Foote, Goldsborough, and Porter, or such sol diers as Curtis, C. F. Smith, Logan, McClcr nand, Haileck, Buel, and others. The rivalry among both of these classes is SO great that all of the defenders of tho good cause will prove as heroic in fighting for the flag as they are modest in reciting their own achieve- Tuexais. Major General McClellan is with the great army of the Potffmac, and many anxious hearts are beating for his own safety .and yic tory, and for the safety and victory of the two hundred thousand he is leading. In this crisis of our own fate, and jirobably of tho fate of the civilisation and Christendom of tho human race, so many noble spirits have come forward to contest for the prize of doing the most and the best, that no one man, even if he performed feats of supernatural daring, can hope to carry off all the honors. But if Gen. McClellan succeeds in his present campaign he will fairly divide the honors with any of those who havo immortalized themselves. He lias had a gefod long season to prepare for it, and inexhaustible resources have been placed at his command and control. Some of his over zenlons friends havo complained that injustice has been done to him in this correspondence. If it were necessary to deny this, I would do so; but having from the first supported him, as well from personal feelings as from State pride, no such misconstruction can he placed upon a fair and candid statement of the late events with which he has been identified. No true soldier will complain of just criticisms upon his movements. These are always the in cidents of a great war. There is hardly a general officer now wearing a sword that has not been subjected to the severest of military and legislative scrutiny and examination. General Butler, of Massachusetts, was at tacked for returning home after his achievement at Ilattoras Inlet. General Pliolpg was de nounced for his anti-slavery proclamation at Ship Island. General Patterson is still cen sured for the proceedings of last summer; mid many of those’who claim that tho aban donment of Manassas was creditable, be cause it was effected without bloodshed, refuse to listen to General Patter gon’s explanation that his attack upon Johnston would have ended in his de feat and in the slaughter of many of onr fellow-citizens. It is a matter*"of " notoriety thatj although General Grant was made a Major General for gallantry at Donelson, he has since fallen under partial censure. The brave General Charles F. Smith was dis cussed and decried considerably before his | wonderful deeds of daring at the same battle, | and was confirmed by the Senate in the midst ; of these strictures. How Gen. 'Wool was post | poned and even rebuked—how Gen. Harney j was scolded aud temporarily shelved—are | parts of the history of the times. Some al lowance will doubtless be made by Goneral McClellan when he recalls these things to mind. He will also he able to account for the public impatience and anxiety when he recol lects what hopes and fears are filling the hearts of the relatives of the mass of troops under Ms direct command. My expectations are high that he will prove to be worthy of this vast responsibility, and if, he should be, ho will be entitled to all, and to more than all, the honors now claimed for Mm by men who only espouse his cause from political and partisan motives. Occasional. The reported escape of the steamer Nash ville from Beaufort, N. C., is much to bs re gretted. But as it is believed that she was heavily loaded with cotton, she will probably seek rather to deliver it safely in England, or at some port from which it can be safely tran shipped to England, than to prey upon our commerce. It is scarcely possible she will ever again attempt to return to our coast, as the " rat heiee” have searly all been effectually closed up. “ANew Sartor Resartus.” A new pamphlet has been issued In reply to Mr. Reed’s scurrilous and querulous assault upon Mr. Seward. It is entitled “ A New Sartor Resartus,” and is a searching analysis of the ex-Ambassador’s pamphlet. Its author is a young gentleman of talent and information, and he attacks Mr. Reed with searching sarcasm Thcr record he makes upon the placid politician is an unenviable one. We trust it will have a wide circulation. Gunpowder, Cannon, and Projectiles. —We take pleasure in calling attention to the lecture of Prof. R. A. Fisher, of New Haven, on Monday evening, at Sansom-street Hall. For months past, in no subject has the public been so deeply inte rested bs in the implements of modem warfare. We have heard of the Armstrong and Whitworth guns; of the Dahlgren and Parrott; of colombiads, howitzers,*nd mortars; of rifled cannon and other projectiles; the Sawyer, James, and Hotchkiss shdle J hut few among US h&vo a general idea of the difference in these formidable engines of war. Prof. Fisher’s lecture gives just such infor mation as is wanted. It is historical, scientific, and practical; the subject being digested, and, in a single evening, information obtained that could be only had from a military library after prolonged study and research. We hope he will be received here, as in New York and other places, with a large audionee. Public Amusements. Mr. Murdoch will give a final reading to-night, and will example bis high didactic and dramatic powers in acme of the best and moot Yersatlle selections of wblcn our literature can boast The natural capacities of Mr. Murdoch for public recitation are assisted by long ex periences in the rendition of every variety of character. He has been a student of human nature In all its mani festations, and has rendered both its serious and comic phases with eaual success. His Hamlet is a line, intel lectual and physical impersonation, and he excels in the lighter characters of the sterling comedy, as in the lead ing parts of the plays of Morton, Colman, and Sheridan. We have noticed him in criminal courts, and In all public places, a cion student of man as the creature of circum stances, and the thousand incidents of his active life have been applied to the perfecting of hiß powers of Imitation and representation. The social excellenciosof Mr. Murdoch have made Wm kindred with the most gifted Americans ofevery profession and degree of genius. He is, therefore, appreciative and experienced beyond many of the most noted performers and peculiarly fitted for parlor elocu tion, where the meretricious advantages of the stage are set aside, and ease, grace, and ability axe IeBS easily re cognized than their absence* m Thousands of people who never patronized a theatre have attended the readings of Mr. Murdoch, and all have been charmed, interested, and instructed. The senes of viewß of India, exemplifying the Sepoy insurrection, will be exhibited at the Assembly Buildings, this after no on and evening. Ladles and children wiU find this entertainment moral, novel, and interesting. Navigation in Abe Southwest. St. Louis, March 28.—General HaUeck has issued an order that; in view of the rapid extension of steamboat navigation into the loyal States, and the importance of having the boats engaged in such navigation controlled by loyal citizens, it is ordered that all licenses to pilots and engineers, navigating the waters of this Depart ment, shall be revoked on and after the 15th proximo# but the said pilots and engineers shall take out licenses from the tmpervising inspector, who will only grant them to persons of approve! loyalty, or, in case of doubt, wiU require bonds with security. Stocks' and Heal Estate, Tuesday next.— Bee Thomas A Sons’ pamphlet catalogues, issued to-day, for next Tuesday’s sale, comprising, also, a listof public sales Bth, 15th, and 22J. inst. I3jj= They sell regularly every ' FROM WASHINGTON. A CAYA&BY SKIRMISH NEAR DUMFRIES. TEN REBEL PRISONERS CAPTURED. The Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia. IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS IN THE TAX Health of the Army of the Potomac. EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY TO BRITISH SUBJECTS. Bayard Taylor Offered the Secretaryship of Legation to Russian THIS DEFENCE OF THE CENSORSHir OF THE PRESS. Special Despatches to “The Press.** WASHINGTON, March 28. 1802. The Tax Bill—Gas, Coal Oil, Vinegar, Sugar, Candy, Tobacco, Etc. The House resumed the tax bill to-day. The tax on gas, twenty-five cents per thousand feet, was first con sidered at great length by the members, who displayed much knowledge of this particular subject; but the amount named was agreed to. So with crude coal, pe troleum, or rock oil, which was left at fire cents per gallon, illuminating oil being leu cents per gallon. The tax on vinegar, which was fixed in the bill at five cents per gallon, was stricken out. On ground coffee, and all preparations of which coffee .forms ft part, or which is prepared for sale as a substi tute far coffee, tbe tax was reduced from one cent per pound to three mills. Ground pepper, cloves, ginger, and all imitations of tbe same are retained at one cent per pound. The tax on refined sugar, whether loaf, lump, or gra nulated, or pulverized, was raised from two mills to one cent . Sugar-candy and all confectionery, made wholly or in part of sugar, is taxed at two cents per pound, though there was a strong remonstrance against it. Chocolate and cocoa (one cent), salicratus (five mills), and starch (six mills), were left as in the bill. The tax of three cents per pound on tobacco, leaf or stem, (unmanufactured,) was stricken out, the commit tee desiring; to tax all tobacco as a manufactured article; but tobacco, cavendish, plug, twist, fine cut, and manu factured of all descriptions, was increased fromjtreto ten cents per pound. ’ Prepared smoking tobacco is taxed at three cents. Cigars not valued at five dollars per thousand ore taxed ten cents per pouud, and all va lued over five dollars per thousand at fifteen cents per pound ; over ten dollars per thousand, twenty cents per pound. Gunpowder remains unchanged, (one and five cents per 1b.,) while tbe tax on printer’s ink was stricken out. Broome, ready-made clothing, pails, straw-bats, caps, bonnetß, and hoop-skirts, which were taxed specifically, were altered to three per cent, ad valorem ; and pins, umbrellas, parasols, five per ceut. ad valorem. After changing the tax on priuting paper from three mills per pound to five per cent, ad valorem, the House adjourned. New Bill Tor the Abolition of Slavery. Mr. Wright (Democrat) introduced a bill in tho Senate, to-day, (making the third one pending,) abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia. Ituiffers in many respects from the pending bills. The first sec tion provides that no person not now within the District of Columbia, nor now owned by any person resident here, nor hereafter born within it, shall ever be held in slavery in its limits or without it, if born in the Dis trict : Provided, that no officers of the Government, being citizens of elaveholding States, coming into this District on public business, and remaining only so long as may be reasonable, may be attended into and out of said District, and while here, by the necessary servants of themselves and their families, without their right to hold said servants in service thereby being impaired. The following £££ttafi £?6Vi/163 tk&t All dMMPSU of slave mothers within this shall be free after the firßt day of , 1862, but shall ho educated by' their parents, and serve as apprentices in return therefor till the age of 21, when they shall be entirely free. The corporations of Washington and Georgetown are em powered to carry iuto effect this provision. The fourth section enacts that all persons held as slaves in this District, or owned by persons resident within it, ehall remain such at the will of their respective owners; provided, that any such owner (or legal representative) may at any timo receive from the Treasury the full value of his or her slave, upon which such slave shall forthwith be free. The President and Secretaries of State and War shall he a board for determining the value of such slaves as their ownors may thus desire to emancipate, and hold sessions on the first Monday in each month. The filth section empowers the corporations of Wash ington and Georgetown with efficient powers to arrest and de iver up all fugitive slaves escaping into this Dis trict. The sixth section submits this bill to a vote of all white male persons (on April 1) above 21 years of age, and of twelve months’residence here; and, if adopted, the President is to announce the fact by proclamation. The corporate limits of‘Washington and Georgetown aro extended by this bill to the District for the purpose of enforcing this act. The Defence of the Censor. The report ef the House Committee on the Judiciary on the censorship of the press, as heretofore in force in the Washington telegraph office, has been .the subject of mur v ' v 'comn>ent, pro and con. I understand that a pub shortly appear in defence of the oeneor, l)Mfd*tlie following gr««»4s; First. That the committee present as suppressed despatches those which were actually approved and pub lished. Second. That despatches of a serious character that were suppi eased are not made public. Third. That the committee omit the evidence of tbe censor showing that one executive department issued an order allowing one journal the exclusive privilege of sending any matters that it chose to. Fourth That the committee omit to state that it was in evidence before them that the Associated Prea&, the French minister, and others, were permitted to send by telegraph that the Trent affair was amicably settled— thus removing the charge of, stock-Bpeculation. Fifth. That while the committee personally abuse the ceneor r they omit the evidence of eight out or ten repre sentatives of the papers before the committee, that they were entirely satisfied with his course, and that the blame, if any, rested elsewhere. Sixth That the New York journal which instigated tfe? investigation has the largest record of suppressed military despatches. Refunding Duties on Fire-Arms. The following bill passed the Senate to-day Be it enacted, cOc., That the authority given to the Secretary 6f the Treasury to refund and rtnifc the duties and imposts on all arms imported into the United States by or for the account of any State, as provided in the act to which this is an addition, shall extend only to arms for which orders or contracts were made prior to the Ist day of January, eighteen hundred end sixty-two : Provided, That said Secretary shall have satisfactory proofs exhibited to him that the said arms were actually purchased in a foreign country for account of a State, and that the pricepsid for the same bytiifl State was oily the first cost ami th? atij customary charges attending the purchase and impor tation of the same, exclusive of duty. “ New Law on Pension Claims. The following House bill passed the Senate to-day, without amendment, and ealy awaits the President’s signature to become a law: Be it enacted, That from and after the passage of this act no claim for a pension, or for nn increase of pension, shah be allowed in favor of the children or other descendants of any pePttb who BBFv&d in the wap of the Revolution, or of the widow of such person, when such person or his widow died without having established a claim to a pension. This law is believed to be very detrimental to the in terests t f claim agenie. The Health of the Army. Thiß morning, public attention was called to a long string of four-horße ambulances, bearing to the railroad depot, for transit Norite* §om? three 9? four hundred rick soldiers, from the hospitals at Alexandria. Inexpe rienced and mischievous persons here, who sympathize with the rebels, have stated that much disease had been engendered by recent exposures of the troops to cold and rain; bnt it seems that the mortality and the present rick list is smell indeed. Probably* more disease is on* gendered in close tents and huts than by sleeping on the cold, wet ground. Napoleon never used tents for his Boldiers in campaigning. The Philadelphia Zouave Re giment has lost only seventeen men, thus far, by sick ness. The Re-Establishment of Southwestern Secretary Chase means to cany out the principle he announced some time ago, that commerce shall follow tho flag, and has accordingly issued instructions to the treasury agents, collectors, and surveyors, on the Ohio and Mississippi, dispensing with applications to the Sec retary for licenses to trade, and authorizing the ship ment of all goods not intended for the aid of the rebel lion to all places occupied by our troops in the Yalley States. Applications for permits can be made henceforth direct to the collectors or surveyors of the different ports. Bayard Taylor. Mr. Minister Cameron is in town, making arrange ments for his departure to Russia. He has tendered to Bayard Taylor the position of Secretary of Legation. Mr. Taylor has the proffer under consideration, and it is thought ivill accept. The Proposed Tax on Crude Oils, Ac. At the suggestion and earnest solicitation of Repre-, sentativeß McKnight and Patton, or Pennsylvania, and Fekton, of New York, who represent mostly the petroleum or rock oil region, the Committee of Ways and Means have consented to the striking' out of the pro posed tax on crude oil and rock oils, leaving the tax of eight cents per gallon on the refined article, with a draw* back when entered for exportation. Executive Clemency to British Subjects, The President has unconditionally pardoned two sub jects of Great Britain* who were convicted* three years ago* by the District Court of Florid a t and sentenced to imprisonment in the District of Columbia Penitentiary* for resisting and preventing the master and pilot of an American vessel in the free and lawful exercise of their authority and command on board thereof. The Presi dent* in his proclamation to Marshal Lamos, says the convicts, it now appears, were guiltless of criminal in tent, and that Lord Lyons had caused a special inquiry to be made into the merits of their case, and besought him to extend to them the executive clemency. Steam Communication Between Wash* ington and Fortress Monroe. A i rang' tnents are nearly completed for establishing a line of steamers between Washington a>d Fortress Mon roe bo as to secure a daily arrival; the trip to be made.in nine hours. The proprietor will extend the facilities for carrying the mails, and it is more than probable that the Post Office and War Departments will encourage the en terprise. New Treasury Motes. Hearlj a million of the now legal-tender notes reached the Treasury to-day, and will be paid out immediately. The signatures are printed on them, but the precautions against counterfeiting are even more effective than witli the present notes. By the middle of April, the Depart ment hope to bare at least bait o t the one hundred and fifty millions for Issue. The Railroad to Manassas. The cars are now running to Manassas, and the road is open tons miles beyond. THE PRESS.—PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, MARCH 29. 1862. The Tenth Legion ofNew York, This afternoon, a *|4»ndM flag presented to the Tenth Legion (tbe Fifty-sixth Regiment of New York Volunteers), by Major Morton, of New York, who re ferred to tne great issue of the present straggle, and to the patriotism of th« sectiou or country from which the Legion came, the birth-pUce o! DsWitt Omnton and "Wm. H. Seward, and the headquarters of WAsmxftTOS during the Revolution. Colonel Van Wtci, In response, assured him, in the name of his regiment, that the banuer should never be trailed in dishonor. They might fail, but falter—never ! The determination for all time of a republican govern ment was now staked on tin wagerof the battle. Bitter perish the wbole army ol the Union than imperil the freedom of mankind and the principles of constitutional government. The army was invincible, because they realized the great issues at stake ( end were panting for the conflict. The NftJihville and Louisville Railroad The Pott Office Department is advised that tbe Nash t>!l« «ud Lpnitmlfo railroad I, B9iy pppn, null that the trip through is made in eight hours. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is to be opened by tbo Ist of April. A meeting of farmers of the upper part of Fairfax county was held to-day, at which it was agreed to form an association for mutual defence, so that they could plant crops without great expense. They aho agreed to co-operate with each other in building fences, Ac. Captured Prisoners. Five rebel prisoners, consisting of Lieutenants Hat wood and AVvvill, of the signal corps, and three pri vate?, were captured to-day, and brought here. The Episcopal Clergy. Two Episcopal clergymen of this city reruse to obey Church orders, directing the rendingof thanksgiving ser vice for Government victories. Their coarse is dividing tbtir parisbloDers, and should subject the offenders to safe quarters at the instance of Mr. Seward. Reports have reached here that the steamship Pensa colat which has gone to the Gulf, does not promise much efficiency on account of the bad wjrkof her engines, which were built a? an experiment. They “ cut off *’ at a quarter of the stroke, and the foundations are said to be weak There aro ft large number ef mail contractors from the North in this city just now. The contracts are small, and worth little as compared with years gone by. Still, tbe old stagers keep tbeir “ hands in ” a« if for the fun of the thing, as woll as of coming periodically to Washington. The lettings are to be announced on Mon day. The United States Ship Vermont. Latest newß from tbe ship-of-the-line Vermont, which is now drifting about the ocean, is to the effect that her riding out of & severe gale is chiefly attributable to the skill and coolness of Lieut.- Ricuakd L. Law, son of Hon. John Law', of Indiana. It is an interesting fact that the grandfather of Lieut Law was a member of Congress, from Connecticut, during the war of 1812, and his great-grandfather was a member of the first of tbe United States. The following named prisoners were to-day released by the commission relating to State prisono rs: O. Noa ms Bryan, A. J. Michael, and Wm. B. Bryan, on giving their written parole. F. P. Ellis was discharged on taking the oath of allegiance. K. P. Bryan, H. A. Stewart, P. W. Cooper, aud W. J. Raisin, were re committed. THE BATTLE NEAR WINCHESTER. List of the Killed and Woutfded, Winchester, March 28—The following is a more complete list of the killed and wounded in the battle of last Sunday. RIGHTY-FOUBTII PENNSYLVANIA. The following is the surgeon’s return of killed and wounded in tbe Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Regiment '• Killed. —Colonel Wm. G. Murray, Captain Patrick Gallagher, Second lieutenant Charles Reem, privates Paul McLang, Job Miller, John Gilmore, Aaron B. Wayght, James Myers, Leo Keech, Wm. Fowler, John Kelly, Jeremiah Gates, Thomas llancoff, Simon Kerrcher, Joseph McClaren, Jacob Wainwright, James Graham, and Daniel G. Smith. WorsDKD.—Privates Wm. S.Davig (mortally), Thos. Ravcnhill, Daniel McLane, Peter Miller, Samuel Burk, Adam Frank (slightly), James Barn (mortally), Michael Forney (severely), First Lieut. Samuel Byron, Corporals Peter Lines, John Shadden, Alfred Grague, Charles P&rker, P. S. Simmons, Mack Saxton, Alexander Warn (slightly), Private Reuben Kiltiam, James Kurtz, Terrence Kinnoy, Isaac Johnson, Abram Hertzler, Jacob Spidle, John Jennings, First Lieut. B. Morrow, (slightly,) Sergeant Henry Pink, (seriously,) Corporals James M. Price T Charles Mummy, T. C. Fpw* ler» (slightly*) Privates C. D. Bowers, Wm. Prosser, J. C. Tester, J S. Wheeler, Jay Holcomb, (slightly,) Sergeant Philip Smith, (slightly,) Corporal Emanuel Brubaker, (seriously,) Alexander Taylor, James Gallagher, (slightly,) Privates P. R. Hawking Thomas Gorn an, slightly; Corporal Shureaker,slightly; Private John Tolbert (seriously),Daniel Beitler, Ser» geantSanford Johnson, William E. Stead, slightly; Ser geant Franklin Houston, Privates Henry Btrickier, (Bligbtl) ), William Casridy (mortally), OhislopherSmith, (seriously), John L&cree, Abraham Hertsler, slightly. Killed.—Sergeant David Brocket, Corporal J. R. L&ntz, Privates L. P. Smith, McMasur,' Henry Edwin Mercer, Captain H. G. Ford, Lieutenant Wig gins, Privates Robert Norris, John Fox, Nicholas Ger-, sler, Robert Pearc, John H. Greene, Adam Sutton, P. Gallagher, Sergeant David Brecker. Wounded given in previous list. FOURTEENTH INDIANA. Killed. —Corporals Jacob Fust, L. W. Keller. Pri vates Edward Herht, Peter Shaffer. Wounded —Captains J. H. Martin, J. H. Kelly, Sergeants Weggs* Mayhoff, Dalzel, j. M. Mitchell. ThbmaS Kidd. OotyWalAf G. W. Smith, Weiner, J. T. Mull, Alexander Putnam. Privates 0. T. Warren, F. Brown, John A. Marks, Edward J. Waldron, James Quillian, W; Kapper, Henry Frank Feldman, Jacob Ottinger, Wm. Ottinger, James Jolly, J. E. Spaker, Howard Jespak'ee, Howard Senor, Peter Naitay, Mike Prater, Wm, Neice, Mike Hutville, John G. Con ley, T. H. Burnett, Harrison Andcrman, Jefferson Thames, Wallace Hooker, Cornelius Obeam, C.W. Hears,- Drummer, Elijah Barret, Severn S. Crump, Wm. MeJiorV J. H. Rosser Howard, Laner Keigga, J. Bober, P. F. Barret, A. Weele, T. Wilbert, Wm. Miller.. SECRETARY WELLES CONGRATULATES Washington, March 28— The Hon. Mr. Stanton, of Kansas, served notice to.day on the parties interested, to the effect that be intended to contest the Senatorial seat of General Lane. Nothing has as yet been heard of any offensive mov&a men! of the rebel iron-clad steamer Merrimac. General Cameron visited the Senate this morning. The Treasury Department to-day received engravers nearly a million of dollars’ worth of the new legal-Undevnoteß. The following letter, from Secretary Welles to Lieuten ant Worden, is published by authority: Navy Department, March 15,1802. Sir : The naval action which took place on the Ipth instant, between the Monitor and Merrimac at Hampton Roads, when your vessel with two guns engaged a VOW-. erful armored steamer of at least eight guns, and after a few hours 1 conflict repelled her formidable antago nist, has excited general admiration and received the ap plause of the whole country. The President directs me, while earnestly and deeply synjcathizicg with you iu the injuries which you have sustained, but which it is believed are but temporary, to thonk you and your command for the heroism you have displayed and the great service you havo ren dered. The action of the 10th, and the performance, power, and capabilities of the Monitor r must effect a radical change in naval warfare. \ ""- Flag-officer Goldaborough, in your absence, will be furnished by the Department with a copy of this letter of thanks, and instructed to cause it to be real to the officers and crew of the Monitor. I mi) ntvestfullj’i mr obedient evrvtnit, Gideon. Welles, Lieutenant John L. Worden, United States Navy, Commanding United States steamer Monitor , Wash ington. _ THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. Washington, March 28 —Two squadrons of the firs Now Jersey Cavalry, under command of CoL Windham, yesterday surrounded a company of rebel Texas Ran gers, near Dumfries, twelve miles below the Oceoquan. A few shots w ere fired on both sides without injury, ex cepting that one of our men was slightly wounded In the wrist, Ten prisoners were taken end brought to Wash* ingtott. Our troops have captured a number of wagons,:, loaded with wheat, but owing to a‘want of hones, were enabled to bring off only four of them to their camp; SKIRMISH NEAR STRASBURG. WHEREABOUTS OF JACKSON, Etf.asburg, March 28.— The rebel “Ashby, with four guns, appeared near Str&gbnrg, yesterday, and threw several shells into eur camp, killing or wounding one of our men. His position was such as to prevent any attempts to cut him off, but pur guns drove him away. Banks reconnoitred all the positions within several miles of the camp, returning after dark. - * Jackson is supposed to be keeping very quiet below Edenburg. •- Most of the people of Stratburg have been Unionist* ibrongh6ttl the war and are so still.. An agent of the Manassas Bailway Company, who has been hiding in the mountains for weeks, to avoid Jack eon, has returned and given much valuable aid to Gene ral Banks. Many ef the inhabitants have been remaining for weeks in ibo mountains and cares. All is quiet to-day. FROM THE LOWER POTOMAC. Washington, March 28.—The steamer Yankee ar rived at the navy yard last night, ftom an expedition down the Potomac. She reports that, on Monday morning, two boats* crews of the Yankee landed at Shipping Point to re move the guns left by the rebels; but while they were so engaged, a squadron of rebel cavalnry, said to be the Dumfries Cavalry, numbering fifteen hundred, made their appearand £& the hill. Our men immediately pulled off, after securing two a 9-inch Dahl grtn, and the other a long 32-pounder, both being Bmooth-bore—which were brought up to the yartft and found to be double-shotted. - • The Yankee fell out into the stream at the of the enemy, and had trained her guns, but the cavalry retired, and kept out of range. . • • The Yanket brought up, in addition to the two rebel guns, one hundred and sixty 9-inch shells, loaded, and four hundred 6-Inch shells, unloaded, whlcfcwere taken from the rebel batteries. At Ev&nsport the rebels have left the saw mm un touched, and there is sufficient lumber it themUlto make quarters for several thousand men. Two deserters came off from Acquia Creek a few deys since, who state that large numbers of rebel troops are congregating at Bappahannock, where they will xniike a stand. are coming daily to the flotilla. Thirty-,- sevtn arrived in one day* litely* from the vicialtr of Dumfries, and were sent over to the Maryland shore* * White refugees a!so find their way to the flotilla from day to day. Among the latter Is Dr. Eastmac, a IJew Torker by birth, but who lias resided near Dumfries for several yens past. » The Farmers of Fairfax County. The Steamer Pensacola. Contractors. Release ol State Prisoners. SIXTY-SEVENTH OHIO REGIMENT, WASHINGTON NEWS. LIEUT. WOBBEN. Cavalry Skirmish near Dumfries. Aim REFUGEES ARRIVING. The Bombardment of Island No.lo. Cairo, March 28.— (Special to the Chicago Time*).— An arrival from Island No. 10, yesterday, reported that the effeciof mir fire on the rebel batteries was very sari our, anc the upper battery was entirely silenced. Sixty nine men have b>-en killed, and twenty or thirty more killfd PR tb* Island. The rebels e mtinuo to fortify. Steamers can be seen continually running up and down between the Island and mainland. There have been no tidinss from Goneral Pops. EXCITEMENT IN BURLINGTON, N. J. A BAPTIST CLERGYMAN ATTEMPTB TO DE LIVER AN ABOLITION LECTURE. UPROAR AMONG THE AUDITORS. HE IS THREATENED WITH TAR AND FEATHERS. BrnLiSGTox, N. J., March 28.—The Rev. Samuel Aaron, a Baptist preacher or Mount Holly, New Jersey, attempted to deliver an Abolition lecture, at the City Hall, last evening. He commenced by denouncing the Administration, and avowing himself opposed to the manner in which the war was conducted, whereupon the crowd commenced hissing and pelting him with eggs. This produced much excitement, especially among the Indies in tho audience. Several of them jumped oat of the windows. In the meanwhile the crowd was cry. iug 41 kill him,” tur and feather him.” The mayor of the city was present, and endeavored to stop the con fusion, but did not succeed. Finally, Mr. Aaron with drew, and was taken away by his friends. No one was hurt, AO far ae is known. THE WAR ON THE MISSISSIPPI. The Bombardment of Island No. 10. CABNOSADING HEARS AT POUT! PLEASANT. THE BALLOON RECONNOISSANCE SUCCESSFUL- St. Loois, March 28.—The Democrat's Cairo despatch says that heavy flriDg and rapid cannonading at Point Pleasant was heard at tbo fleet, night beforo last. Point Pleasant is on the Missouri side of the Missis sippi, about seven miles below New Madrid. It is occu pied by Gen. Pope, who baß erected batteries for tho pur. pppe 9f preventing the rebel transports and gunboats from passing to and from Island No. 10. Captain Maynadier and Col. Bufort, who accompnied Professor Steiner in his balloon reconnoissance on Tues day, discovered that the shells from our mortars had ge nerally fallen beyond tbe enemy’s batteries. Tbe elevation of the mortars and the charge of powder have both been too great. This will be remedied imme diately, and greater execution may be expected here after. FROM FORTRESS MONROE. Fortjiess Monroe, March 27.—The work on the arte -Biun well,lnside of the Fortress, lias been recommenced for the season. It haß now reached a depth of three hun dred and eighty-five feet, the last one hundred feet of which have been through fine clay. The steamer Atlantic arrived from New York this morning, on the way to Fort Royal. The arrival of several paymasters this morning is the occasion of much joy to tbe soldiers. A flag of truce was sent out to-day, but no news was received from the Sooth. The Case of General Stone in the Massa chusetts Legislature. Boston, March 28.—The resolution instructing the Comnittee on Federal Relations to petition tho President to cuu3& General Stone to be immediately tried was al most unaDiuionsly voted down in tho House to-day, as being an uncalled-for interference with the military au thorities. Him CIMESS-MST session. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IRT THE DIS TRICT OF COLUMBIA, A NEW BILL INTRODUCED. REMISSION OF DUTIES ON STATE ARMS. THE STEVE3SS BATTERY If Efficient, Mr. Stevens to be Refunded its Cost. THE TAX BILL ASSUMING SHAPE ADOPTION OF FURTHER AMENDMENTS, Appropriation for Iran-clad Vessels and Heavy Ordnance* Washington. March 28, 1802. SENATE. Petitions Presented. Mr. TJJN EYOK (Rep.), of tSTew Jersey, presented the petition of citizens of New Jersey against further traffic In and monopoly of public lands. Mr. WRIGHT (D.), of Indiana, presented the peti tion of citizens of Indiana in relation to the prsP999d tax on spirits. Pensions to Revolutionary Survivors* - ' Mr. KING (Bep ), of New York, from the Committee on Pensions, reported a bill to prevent the allowance of pennons hereafter,to the widows and children of Revolu tionary BPlr"?:*' unless thfm.v,.<Uaimo ore established. Pweeed. Reciprocity Treaty. Mr. MORRILL (Hop ), of Maine, presented the reso lution of the Legislature of the State of Maine in rela tion to the reciprocity treaty. Referred. Internal Revenue. Mr. FESSENDEN (Rep.), of Maine}’ presented the resolution of the same Legislature in relation to Internal revenue. Referred. A Question of Privilege. Mr. HARRIS (Rep.), of Now York, presented a pe tition that the New York Caucasian, and other papers, he allowed tbo same privileges in tho mails as the Aboli tion papers. Slavery in- the District. Mr. 'WRIGHT (U.) introduced a bill for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Appointment of Brigadier Generals* Hr. GRIMES (Rop.), of lowa, moved to take up the resolution in relation to brigadier generals. The reso lution iflroyidea that there be no more appointments to this office! unless as a reward for gallantry in action, &c. He said there were already a hundred and eighty brigadier generals appointed in tbo regular army, and he thought it safe to say that the expense to the country from the appointment of brigadier generals alone would be a million dollars. He thought there was no need of so many brigadiers. We had also twenty major gene rals. He wanted it understood that he was opposed to the cox stant aggrandizement cf the army. We had bri gadiers enough* if each had a proper command' fur an array of 730,000. He wanted to know when we were .going to slop appointing brigadier generals. Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of Massachusetts! said he be lieved there been one hundred and soventy-five brigadier generals nominated. The gentleman should remember that we have a very large army, and have less officers, in proportion, than we had in the Mexican or Revolutionary wars. The army must be well officered to make it effective. Mr. FESSENDEN (Rep.), of Maine, said he agreed mainly with the views of the Senator from lowa, but he thought the blame was partly with the Senate in allowing so many. There seemed to be a State pride in the matter, each State being anxious to boast of the most generals. We had a largo paper presented here yesterday, con taining a loDgJlistof recommendations from the aldermen, Common Council, &c.» of New York. If men could not rely on their own merits,without the aid ofsomuchoutside recommendation; he considered it ns rather an evidence pgamet them. W e had now a larger army than Congress ever intended. We have too many men now who look well on review, and will probably fight weU if they are given a chance. We have now more men than we want. The Sonatoi from Massachusetts contends that we must !I«YS gSSfr*!® f? commandf fefla flUt siw fort is it is ex travagance of tbo greatest kina, saddling the country with a quarter of a million more men than they can use. The Army too Large, Mr. WILSON (Bep), of Massachusetts, said he agreed w ith the Senator from Maine. He thonghtthat the army contained 150,000 more men than wore heeded. The War Department ought to immediately stop enlistments, and also have the thousands of men who are unfit for duty discharged. He thought Congress could unmake generals as easily as it could make them. Mr. COLLAMER (Bep ) } of Vermont' opposed taking up the resolution at present, as the business was proper for consideration In executive session. It had got so now that the President does not nominate, but he pre sents the name of “ A. 8.” because“C. D.” recommends him. The motion was disagreed to. ' Duties on Arms. On motion of Mr. KING (Bop.), of New York' the bill remitting duties on arms, ordered by the States prior to the Ist of January, 1862, was taken up and passed. Naval Appropriation Bill. The naval appropriation bill was taken up, the ques tion Iwlfig on the amendment fey eompUtlOhof the Steve&i battery. Stevens Battery. ■ Mr. FESSENDEN (Rep.), of Maine, offered a proviso that no part of the appropriation be paid until said bat tery shall have been completed according Ip the satisfac tion of the Secretary of the NftTy as fully adequate for tbo purposes of its construction. Mr. THOMSON (Dem.)» |of New Jersey, proceeded to speak in favor of the amendment. .He contended that Mr. Stevens had done all he could in accordance with the contract. He had been obliged to chaage the plan by the inwewd rflkiosoy pf nay*! warfare. Great in justice was done him by the report of the commissioners, and if the battery was completed it wilt be the most pow erful armament In the world. Mr. CLARK (Bep.), of Rhode Island, said that, ac cording to the pamphlet of Mr. Stevens, tho gnus are to be exputd and also the gunners. He desired some one to tell him how the guns or gunners were to be pro tected. According to the pamphlet, tfee gunners must dodge the balls for safety. Let Mr. Stevens finish his battery, as Ericsson did, and then, if it proves satisfac tory, the Government will pay him for it.- The Experiment should be Tried* Mr. WADIS (Kop,), of Ohio, was in fayor of trying the experiment. He wanted to place ihe navy on tho best basis. He knew tho experiment was a costly one, but it will not cost a* much as the experiments wo are trying with our immense army, who seem to be try ing the experiment of conquering tho onomy without moving. After further disGUßitoni ft rote wm taken on Mr. Sherman’s amendment, to the effect that Mr. Stevens shall be repaid the money ho baa expended in the con struction of this vessel, unless it is unsuccessful, Ac., and it was agreed to—yeas 24, nays 16. Mr. COLLAMER (Bep.), of Vermont, offered an amendment providing that the said money shall not be expended unless the Secretary of the Navy is of tho opinion that it will socure to the public service an efficient steam battery. This amendment was adopted—yeas 20, nays 19. And the amendment, as thnH amended, was agreed to— yeas 26, nays 10. Appropriation ler iron-oiad vessels. Mr. HALE (Bep), of New Hampshire, offered an amendment, appiopriating $13,000,000 to enable the Se cretary of the Navy to construct iron clad vessels-of-war. Adopted. •"* Heavy Ordnance. Also, an amendment appropriating 8250,000 for casting heavy ordnance, at the Washington navy yard* Adopted. Tho bill was then passed. The Senate adjourned till Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Acknowledgment to Mr. Ericsson. . Mr. SEDGWICK (Bep.), of New York, from the Conomiitee on Naval Affairs, reported a joint resolution declaring it fit and proper that a public acknowledgment should be made to John Ericsson for the enterprise, skill, energy, and forecaste displayed by him in constructing the iron-clad steamer Monitor , which, under gallant and able management, came so opportunely to the relief of our Heel; in Hampton Roads, and defended it against tho vessel of the onemy, seemingly irresistible to any other power at our command, and that the thanks of Congress be presented to him for the great services thus rondered to the country. • The resolution was adopted Invalid Pensions. Mr. WABHDUBNE (Bep), of Illinois, inquired of the chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions whether any action lias been taken toward passing a lavr pensions on account of deceased oftt psts and uoMiero of tho prtmint war. Mr. XDWAROS (Rep.), of New York, replied that a bill for that purpose bad already beea reported. The Tax Bill. The House resumed the consideration of the tax bill. Illuminating Gas. An amendment was adopted that when the manufac ture of illuminating gas shall not be above fiTe hundred thousand cubic feet per month five cent* per thousand cubic teet Bhail be paid ; above flverbundred t&wusand, and not exceeding five million feet, ten cents; above that, and not exceeding fifteen millions, fifteen cents, and when over fifteen millions twenty cents. Gas companies are authorized to ndd the duty or tax to their collections, any bmitation of any State laws to the contrary not* withstanding. The coal oil resulting from the manu facture of illuminating ga<j or its is to be exempt from duty. Coal Oil, etc. The tax of five cent* a gallon on crude coal oil or tar and other bituminous substances, used for like purposes, and on crude petroleum or rock oil, wa* stricken out, Oil roUiicd and produced by the distillation of coal ex clusively shaH bo subject to a duty of eight cents per gallon. The next clause was modified so that spirits rectified and mixed with other material, or prepared in any way to be sold as whisky, shall pay fifteen cents per snllou. nnd vtlicn gold .9 l>rauil)'i Kin. wise, or under othor name, thirty cents per golion, on the basis of first proof, and so on in proportion for any greater strength. A tax of five cents is placed on vinegar, manufactured from materials other thnn cider, and the tax of nine cents stricken out. The tax ou ground coffee, and ail prepa rutioun of which coffoo formn a parr, or which ia prn. pared for sale as n substitute for coffoo, is ro t need from ono cent to three mills par pound. Ground mustard and sogar are each taxed one cent por pound. Tobacco and Cigars. The committee struck out the tax of three cents per pound on tobacco leaf or stem unmanufactured, and in creased the tax from five to tea cents on cavendish to bacco, plug, twist, fine-cut, and manufactured of all de scriptions, not including snuff, cigars, ant prepared smoking tobacco. The commitc*e increased the tax on prepared smoking tobacco to five cents, and on snuff or tobacco [ground dry or damp, of all dftcripttoUDi except aromatic or medical, to eight cents per pound. Cigars remain ns originally reportod. Gunpowder and Explosives. Gunpowder and all explosive substances used for mining, blasting, artillery, or sporting purposes, of a value not exceeding eighteen cents per pound] are taxed five znillß; rot exceeding thirty cents per pound, one cent; over thirty cents, six cents per pound. Oxide of zinc And sulphate of barytes are taxed twenty-five cents on the former, and ten cents on the tattor, per pound. Printers’ Ink, etc The clause ** Printers* ink and all other descriptions, three per cent, ad valorem ” was stricken out. Corn brooms, wooden* pails and buckets; straw, palm leaf, and grass hat?, caps and bonnets; hats and caps of fine felt, wool, ftlnzed. India rubber, or silk, wholly or in part: steel hoop skirts, or skirts of metal 9f vthsf Hft* terml, all three per Centura ad valorem. Hoop Skirts. Mr. WRIGHT (Union), of Pennsylvania, appealed to Mr. Horton to show his gallantry by sustaining his mo tion to strikeout the clause taxing skirts. It was known that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Horton) was not only a favorite with the ladies, but the best* looking and be*t-behaved man in the House, and ho, therefore, ap pealed to him. Mr. II ORTON (Rep.) replied that, with this tax, the cost of skirts would not be ore-fourth the price they were four years Ago. The tax would produce half a million of dol lars. Those who wear hoops would be gratified in in directly sustaining the Government which ia sustaining them. lir. PENDLETON (Dem.), of Ohio, inquired whether this amendment would have the tendency to raise or lower the skirts. [Laughter.] Mr. HORTON euprsased his surprise that his Col league, of all other men, shobld have asked this question. Mr. Wright’s motion was rejected. Clothing, Ac. Amendments were made to the tax on ready-made clolhir? and pins, to bo & por ceulnm ad valorem; on umbrellas and parasols, 5 per centum; on iron, from SI .50 to S 2 per ton, according to its condition of manu facture. The committee then rose, and the House adjourned till Monday. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. Harrisburg, SEMATK. The Senate was called to order at 11 o’clock by the Speaker. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Martz, of Harrisburg. Petitions. Mr. CONNELL, a petition from two hundred and thirty • four citizens of Franktord far the ifiCdrp&fAtloh of the Fr&tikford Railway Company. Messrs. NICHOLS and DONOVAN each presented re monstrances against the passage of House bill No. 557, supplement to the Philadelphia and Delaware River Rail road Company. Mr; HOB OV IN; a petition in favor of House bill 143 to prevent the fraudulent use of castings. Mr. CLTMEB, a remonstrance against the North Phi ladelphia Plank Rnad Company. Bills Introduced, Mr. BENSON, a supplement to the Fall Brook Rail road Company. Mr. McItLUBE, joint resolutions relative to tonnage duties. Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, a bill to promote the efficiency of the military of the city of Philadelphia. Bills Ac, Mr. LOWRY, chairman of the select committee to investigate the affairs of the Bank of Commerce, at Erie, reported a bill of expenses amounting to 5885.96. On motion of Mr. CONNELL the supplement to the act incorporating the city of Philadelphia, relative to recording ordinances] was taken up and passed. On motion of Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, the bill relative to agencies of foreign insurance companies, was considered and postponed. On motion of Mr. CLYMEB, tha bill granting the Supreme Court jurisdiction of a Court of Chancery in all cases of mortgages, Ac. Gfi fitotkn 6f Hr. BOUGHTER, the suppU&iiht to the act incorporating the city of Harrisburg was taken up and passed. On motion of Mr. CONNELL, the bill granting a pen sion to Henry Stuart, a disabled soldier, was considered and passed. The bill to incorporate the Chestnut Hill Cemetery Association was considered and passed. On motion of Mr. STEIN, the suoplement to tho Ca ta&Auqua and Fogelsville Railroad Company waj taken up and passed. On motion of Mr. CONNELL, the supplement to the Philadelphia and Cregson Navigation Company wag taken up and passed to third reading, when it was laid over. Adjourned. HOUSE. The -House was called to order at 10 A.'‘jff., hy-tbe Speaker. by Et>v. Mr. Cattoll. The appropriation bill was received from the Senate. With amendments. It was referred to the Committee of Ways and Meausof the House, ordered to be printed, and to be reported, not before Wednesday next. Advertising Delinquent Taxpayers. Mr. WILLEY asked that the Clerk read an editorial from the in gel&tldo td the bill requiring the pa) ment of mercantile taxes to the receiver of taxes, in stead of to the city treasurer. The article denounced the proposed change. Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, read an extract from the Bulletin » favoring the change. The till, as it passed the two houses, and was Bigned by th& Governor, Ik as follows: Be if. enacted, etc., That from and after January Ist, 1863, the charge for advertising delinquent taxpayers of the city of Philadelphia shall not exceed fifteen cents for all advertising of each name, in any one ward, which shall be payable by the person or persons liable for the tux. nor ijL.ll the sune be i[inerted in more than tiro newspapers; and if the name of any person shall be so advertised, after haring paid their tax, the Receiver shall pay the expenses thereof. Sbo. 2. it shall be the duty of the mercantile apprai sers of Philadelphia, in making their returns of mercan -111? aisttsHMls !<? the r?«iyer 9? tssss sfs&M «it}’i le make the said returns on or before April Ist, 1862, and each and every year thereafter, and the said receiver be, and be is hereby directed and authorized, in and for_thi collection of this and all State taxes* to make under oath weekly returns thereof to the State Treasurer. Any and ; all delinquents of mercantile taxes to be pro ceeded, against by said receiver* in the same manner, and within the time prescribed by existing laws, under a pe nalty of 880 for any negleccjby said receiver ; and the said receiver shall be allowed, and shall receive for the collection of said taxes the compensation now allowed by law. Any &ct or acts hereby altered or supplied, or that are inconsistent with this, be, and tho same are hereby, re pealed. Mr. HOPKINS declared that the act had passed the House without due reflection—that it placed an important trust in the hands of an irresponsible officer, and that the secoid section, while it provides that the receiver shall make weekly returns, does noi .require that he shall make weekly payments to the State Treasurer. Mr. DENNIS was glad to find an opportunity to express his hearty disapproval of the act wliich it was proposed to repeal. He believed that every office-holder during good behavior should receiveall the emoluments to which ho was justly entitled, aud would never vote, no matter to which party the incumbent belonged, to take one dollar of such emoluments. Considered as a law, the bill was moHt pernicious, aud he trusted that there would be no hesitation, on the part of members on either side of the House, in voting for its repeal. No ci'y member «5§ cognigi&t ikd KAKiSF Hi Wkiih it h&d passed. Mr. ABBOT said that the second section waft cer tainly objectionable. As act repealing the above bill was presented by Mr. "WILLEY, and passed unanimously. Congressional Apportionment. It was decided that tbfc Congressional apportionment bill should be considered on Wednesday next. Extra Session of 1661. An act was passed relative to the tax imposed for the payment of the expenses of the extra session of 1861. TUe-act provides .that the special tax of one-half mill on the dollar shall be levied aud collected only on such real and personal property as was liable to pay two and a half mills on May 16th, 1861. JPflijlk Bill* Defeated. A» act giving justices of the ,s*cs tower to try oasos of incendiarism. An act to authorize the settlement of military sapplies irregularly ordered. An act to pay the officers and men of Col. J. W. Mc- Lane and Captain Dick. Stinhury and Erie Railroad. A short but exciting controversy took place upon the bill to repeal the Sunbury and Erie act of 1861. It was considered in Committee of the Whole, and the committee rose, reported progress, and at,ked leave to sit again. The question was put by the Speaker : “When shall the committee have leave to sit again !” The Ith of July was named, aIBO April 16 and April 11. All tbeso propositions wore lost, aud Wednesday next was fixed upon. Reports of Committees. The following bills were reported favorably by the various committees: An act regulating water companies ] relieving the wi dow of John Haney; granting additional powers to tbo Courts of Commou Pleas in the Tenth district; an act reintive to the Pennsylvania Canal; for the relief of George S. Key; confirming the revldeu grade regulations of tho first and second sections of West Philadelphia; re* lating to Shamokin Valley Railroad Company; to incur, porate the Euson and Iron HU! Railroad; for tho relief of the Chester Valley Railroad Company. The House then adjourned until three o’clock P. M. on Monday next. _ The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, BAI.TIMOHK, March 28.—We are at length able to make tbo following reliable announcement, which will be re ceived with interest by mercantile classes East aud West: The engineers and track-layers report that their forces engaged in restoring tho track of the Baltimore and Ohio Bailioad have finished tholr work' with the exception of three miles only, about midway between Martinsbarg and Harper’s Ferry. All the numerous bridges, large and small, are thoroughly completed, and tho last rail necessary to reconnect Baltimore and Washington with Wheeling, Parkersburg. Ac., will positively be laid on Sunday morning, the 30rb inst. L&yge quantities of freight for tho Govornmsut and oa private account, from East aud West, ore loaded, and have been pushed forward to Harper’s Ferry on the one side, and Martinsburg on the other, to go through on Sunday and Monday, as soon as the track is ready. The first through'passenger trains will leave Baltimore, V heeling) and r»rl;*>rri’Wg ?n Wednesday April S4,st the latest. The restoration of this great line of communication will certainly be permanent anil effectual, as the country south of it Is fully occupied and possoMed by Govern ment troops in the departments of Generals McClellan, Dixdand Fremont, respectively. Renewed life aud energy is inspired into the business communil) of Baltimore by tills happy result. The New Jersey Legislature. Tkknton, N. J., March 28.— The Legislature have re solved to adjourn sine die this evening. Cen tral American Transit Company bill was passed W-W? Opening of Navigation. Dunkirk, N. Y., March 28.— Navigation on Lake Erie is now open to Toledo. A Prisoner Murders his Keeper. Hartfojui. Conn., March 28.—Daniel Webster, the warden of Uie State Prison at Wethersfield, was mur dered by a refractory prisoner, who had managed to secrete a knife about his person, with which he commit ted the deed. Naval Items. Boston, March 28.—The U. S. steam elnop-of-war Canctndaiffud was launched to-day. ' The gunboats Ge ncire mid Ti'djfl will V? Immsfer* nelt *«**■ LETTER FROM NEW YORK. Death of Mrs. Watson, the Female Slaver— The Mourning the Bull Hun Heroes—The Hudson River partially Open— Brooklyn Library Association—Trial Trip of a Revenue Cutter—The Homeopathists at Supper—A Tremendous Tumor—Dry Goods Market—Provisions, Stocks, Ac. [Correspondence of The Press.] New York, March 28, 1802. Mrs. Watson, the. notorious female slaver, who was driven from thlßi her native city and country; taut gunu mer, owing to the pressure brought to bear upon the gentry engaged in the slave trade, by United States Mar shal Murray, recently died In Cadiz, under the most wretched circumstances. About tho time that she left lliis city three charges wero brought against her of having been engaged in the slave trade, by way of fitting out vessels- bho did not quit, howovor, until she learned that testimony was accumulating against her. She was born m Fraukfort, between William and Gold streets, In this city, her maiden name being Alary Jane Lackey. Her brother is now a policeman in the filth metro politan precinct, and many of her leading transactions have been covered by his niune. She was divorced from her lititband, and as she had undertaken a business re quiriug masculine effort* §o she contracted many of the pernicious habits peculiar to the stronger sex. In formation received by the last steamer states that having heard of several utter failures of her vessels on this side; that three indictments were hanging ovor her here, and that the registers of the three vossels, which uhe had chartered at Cadiz had been withdrawn by the consul. It ig gUPDOBid lllAt bit* fell Lack iuto her old habits, became too familiar with the bottle, and sank in horror. The flags in the city are generally at half-mast to-day (Friday), in honor of the memory of Colonel Slocum, Major Ballou, and Captain Tower, of thoaßhodo Island VfilUtttMM, tt'kfc fell At Bull HUB, whose bodies are expected here Ibis afternoon from Philadelphia. Tho Aster House Broadway entrance has been draped in black. The Huds:n river is still closed from Kingston to Al bany. Tho river baß been closed at so late a period but seven times in forty-four years. That wag firm ia 1819, when it opened April 3d; in 1839, April 1; 1826, April 4; 1837, March 28; in 1843, April 13th; in 184 f, April 6th ; and 18t0, April 4th. The Brooklyn Mercantile Library Association has just held its fourth annual meeting. The receipts for the last year were 54.623.04; the fixpuidltii**, $4,000.08, The number of members is 1,355; the whole number of volumes in the library 15,656 It is proposed to reduce the yearly dues from 55 to S 3. The United States steam revenue cutter Lady Mer chant left the city yesterday at 4 P. M t and steamed down to the narrows. Her trip proved to be n porfect buccoss ; the speed attained was thirteen knots per hour. She is most elegantly fitted up, and carrios four guns. The following is a list of her officers: Captain, Douglas Ottirger; first lieutenant, W. Davis; second lieutenant, A. Cary ; third lieutenant, W. F. Holloway. Dr Hadden, city physician in Jersey City, was called upon yeßterdny to make a post-mortem examination of tho body of Mrs. Webster, who died at her residence, No, 14 York street. Mrs. W. bad been ailing about two years, during which time she had been attended by several physicians, but without any apparent benefit, as they were somewhat at a loss as to the real cause of Jho malady. The body in the region of the stomach was swollen to an enormous size. After first taking away three gallons of fluid matter, the doctor opened the stomach, and tbero found n mass oftfatty flesh enclosed in a sack, and weighing thirty pounds. The kidneys and lungs were somewhat diseased. Tho primary cause of <leiklt was dropsy. The Dry Goods Market. —ln most departments of the package market trade is still dull and unsatisfactory. The retailers have not been in tho distributing market yet to any extent sufficient to call for a general reple nishing nf stocks among the jabbers, and until this pe riod arrives business must remain dull. The importers, nevertheless, continue to crowd considerable quantities of goods into the auction rooms, and fur desirable de scriptions continue to obtain better prices than tliOße obtained last year. Some kinds of the most desirable goodsobtaln a profit over cost. Generally, however, the case is otherwise, owing to the amount of old stocks which is offered. Tbere is considerable confidence that the jobbing trade will be better next week, owing to the warmer weather, and the fact that merchants in the country had been heard from as intending to come on Red purchase hex! week. The jobbing trade this week shows some improvements, but its sum total is only to a moderate extent. March 28, The following were the sales at the Stock Exchange, Second Board : lWWV&fc’Mfßw.. ton 5000 U S 6b ’6B, Reg. 94 IJOOOUS 6s ly, Cer.. 91 fit 00 U S 6b ’Bl/C.blt) 93ft 36000 do 6000 US us 1865 92ft 3000 Missouri 65..530 51# 4000 do oijj 1000 Gal-State 7s BC»,J 5000 Tol &W2d..b60 48ft 1000 Mi Gen 8 1 s Ist m 103 77000 Amergold 101% 100 Chi&Bl 1t.... 54% SO d 0.,.. 61 Cieve J: Pitts... 17% 100 Hi Cen £ Scrip. 64 Ashes.—The .market is without chauge : sales of Pots at $5.75 and Pearls at $5.50. Flour and Meal.—The_ market for Western and State i'loar is irregular, and the low grades are easier, and lu fair request at the close ; trade brands are firm) and In fair demand for the trades the sales are 8,700 bbls at $5.2005.27% for superfine State and Western ; $5.25 <2-5 CO for unsound extra State ; $5.3005.40 for good do 5 85 45®3.55 for firasy do; 85 Wai.ii for the low grades of extra Western; $5.7505.80 for shipping brands of round-hoop extra Ohio, which is ecarce, and 86.9505.60 for trade brands do. Grain. —The market for Wheat is quite dull, and prices nro irregular; prime spring is scarce and wanted, but winter is neglected and is very heavy; sales of 85, 000 Lids at SI 18fflil 20 for Canada Club* $l-18 for rod State, Milwaukee Club on private terms, $1.37 for red Jersoy, and $1.42 for white Western. Provisions.—The Pork market is lower, and ia less active. The demand is moderate for mess. Sales of 11,080 bbls at $10.37 ©10.62 for prime) 81'2 25®12.60 For 'Wretvrn prime mess, anil $13013.25 for mesa, Beef is steady, and rather more active. Saleß of 200 bids at $12®13 for prime mess, and $l3 87014.25 for extra. Prime mesß is firm; Bales of 150 tierces Western at 820.50, and 50 tierces India mess at $23. Beef Hams uuietat3l7®l7,W, lard is better and in good, demand; sales of 2,000 bbls and tierces at Bfi»B#c. Bacon is firm and in demand; sales of 100 boxes, FIKMCIALdLNIt *CUMMEfijGIAL.S THE MONEY MARKET. • Philadelphia, March 23, 1862. But little business was transacted at the Stock Board to-day, &ud & declitt* # par writ, was fc&t6d upott city sixer, and # on Rending and Long Island, while the market was weak on the whole list. A'fcwaharcs of Mechanics* Bank stock sold at 23, and Northern Liber* ties at 54; 120 for North America; 106 for Philadelphia; 50# for Farmers* and Mechanics* j 46# for Commer cial ; 21# for Mechanics 1 ; 37# for Girard; 55 for West . era; 22# for Manufacturers* and Mechanics’; 45 for Commerce; 40 for City; and 20 for Commonwealth. Schuylkill Navigation closed at 4 bid for the common, and 10# for the preferred stock. Green and Coatee-street Passenger Railway shares sold at 22# ; Spruce and Pine-street at 10; 43 was bid for Frankford and douthwark; 54# for Second and Tlmd-strcet; 4# for Race and Vine; 53# for Market street | 30 for Chestnut and Walnut, and 18 for Arch- Btreet. The Money market shows little change A slightly increased demand is noted, but it is freely met at pre vious quotations. An excellent move was made yesterday in Councils by Mr. Weaver, of theJSeventeenth ward, in the form of a resolution calling for information as to the number and dates of the warrants paid by the City Treasurer. It is freely asserted, and generally believed, that no rotation 1b attempted to be observed in the payment of the past dee warrants, and that ihe door is Urns open to the * grossest abuses. We would suggest to Mr. Weaver, o any other member of Councils who is in favor of honesty and fair-dealing, that an ordinance should be passed requiring the payment of warrants in the order of prlotltj? 6f Ileus, just as mint certificates are paid. It could bt a little trouble for the City Treasurer to give no tice that warrants, up to a certain date, would be paid on a fixed day, as often as he was in funds for the purpose. We have often urged the honesty and propriety of a re gulation far the receipt of city warrants in payment of taxes, but there appears little probability of the enact ment of such a measure, and it is a matter of rejoicing to find an attempt made to protect the poor creditors of the city from delays resulting from the capriceor cupidi ty of officials. We hope Mr. Weaver wtU persevere m the good work he has commenced until a better and fairer system of paying the debtE of the city shall be inaugu rated. The following is the amount of«oal shipped over the Huntingdon and Broad Top Mountain Baiiroad, for the week ending Wednesday, March 26,1362, and since Ja nuary 1 Week. Previously, Total. TcUOr Tons. Tons. 18«2 • 5,968 69,952 186 1* t4 ’ 2,760 27,361 80,930 Increase .3,109 42,591 44,990 The anthracite and bituminous coal brought down on the Beading Bail?’®" 1 and Schuylkill Canal this week» was as follows' llailroad, this week in 1860 ......35,409 tons. #, *< 1861...., 27,709 u *4 1892 36,753 Canal, this week in 1860 29,818 u »« 1861 15,395 it « 18ft3.......''...20i273 Railroad's increase this week 9,044 Canal’s increase this week 4,878 The inspections of Flour and Meal in Philadelphia, during the week ending March 27, 1862, were as fol lows ; ... Barrels of Suporflno. ; ; 111 ;. t.. »i 11 .»»»• 12,60 a do Fine... 275 do Middlings 05 do Bye 213 do Corn Meal 1,429 do Condemned. 135 Total Messrs. Drexel & Co. quote: ftow Tork exchange. ....par«l-10 dis. Boston exchange • P*r©% ais Baltimore exchange ~.par®% dia. Cboiilry ftUida -. .If BU dll. American gold • • • ••*/%& 7 B*lo Treasury notes par® % dis. The stock market is extremely dull to-day, anti %® % per cent, lower on the railroad shares, especially the Western stocks, which are freely offered, owing to un favorable accounts from Chicago in regard to earnings this, upriug. The market closes heavy, with sellers at the following prices: New York Central, 82% ; Brio, 36% ; Brie pre ferred, 60; Illinois Central, 64%; Galena, 07% ; Bock Island, 65% ; T01ed0,45%. l’rairie l>u Chien stock fell 1 per cent. Cleveland and Pittsburg is quoted 17%®17%. The Border State sleeks are vrWt, ispsiialty ViraU nias and Tennessee?. The formor close with sollors at jib. Governments are steady but quiet at 93% ©93% for both Registered and Coupon Bixes of 1881. The Money marktt ia active at 6% ®7 per cent, on call, chiefly at 7. Gold remains almost stationary Exchange is dull and quite nominal it 111% ©ll2 tor first-class sterling. ~, . The Certificates of Indebtedness are selling at 97© 97 v. These will come rapidly upon tlio market now ijiut tho quartermasters, navy agents, and the various disbursing officers, prepared to draw their special chocks upon tho Troasury Department IB P»ymm 91 audited claims. This greatly facilitates the issue of cer tiflea es, as delay at Washington is thus obviated. Tho bank-note companies forward to Washington, to- day, their first instalment of new Treasury notes. These are ss, 10s and 20s. We have as good as official authority for stating that the earnings of the New York Cdhtral Baiiread Com pany for the first hair of March are $40,000 less than in the same time in February. Wo see it stated that tho company have sold to the Government thirteen locomo tives, seventy passenger coaches, and a number of freight cars. They are destined for the Baltimore and Ohio Bailroad. .... The falling off In the eWnlHgflM the Illinois gi'&ln wvftdi is regarded by some as only temporary; but it is more likely to prove a prominent feature of the business of them lines this spring, as the movement towards the sea beard last year this time was very active, on account of tho largo shipments to Europe, while at present Chicago snd Milwaukee are glutted with grain, with low prices At tho Eastern markets. In referring to our files of last fall,' we find another reason for the light earnings, in the following paragraph from the Chicago ZVttume, of Sep tember, 1861: ' ' •i II has been found that the wheat crop does not thresh out anything like the affibttht expected, la the north; era part of the State is the yield deficient. Along the line of the Galena and Chicago Railroad and Us branches it will not yield, on an average, quite ten bushels to the acre, while last year the yield was full thirty btuheK On the tin? of the Bock Island and 75 Pacific Mail SS.. > 97 50 do 97# 200 do s3O 97 50 do 97# 50 do b6O 97# 100 N YCent8....&60 82# 350 Erie 1t........... 30# 150 Erie R pref.6o# 100 Mich S A N I 23# 100 do 23# 100 do s3O 23 26 Panama B 121# 100 CLev & Toledo It.. 45# 250 do 45# 20 do blO 45# Burlington' 1 rOMa ' artf fcft ijBMVM gtWAy. butxbebigheat yield we ban rwonad to.ua la twain biudiela to the Here, on'afi areragw.'wMlwlaaoine glace* It la aa low ae ten boabela.” Philadelphia stock Excheage Saida, March 28,1801 Baroano bt 8.8. Blitmaxbb. Philadelphia Exchange, „ FIRST BOARD. • ? Penna R 45 X 1 Norriltown 8,,, 44* 25 dff mmmt 46# 2 Oltfi prtfiMvti Bft 200 city 6anew 4000 ReadingCa'TO... 90% dOO do flax 160 L Inland B 12* fSOO do 9»x 60 do 12* 100 do «0* 4000 Penna R litm...MO 100 do oa s Mechanics* Bk.. 2» 100 no .»>■■>•>> 00 17 N Llliarty Or. 30 200 Minehmit...... 46 20 Bk N Llbertlea.. M _ 1000 D S coup OB'Bl.. 94 10 do M BETWEEN BOARDS. 4 Cadi & Am It 123 ft 20 Penua 11. 7 Term* 8,,,,,,* 46ft SECOND 4 Klmiraßprer..., 16ft! 4 Germantown Gas 48ft 2000 Lehigh Val 6»... 97 200 City 65..» <lO 2200 Penna 5h 63 ft GLOSINO PftlC Bid. AtkedA U 8 6g *Bl 93ft 94 US Tr 73-10 N 99ft 100 Pbilada 6a 90ft 91 Philada 6s new. 96ft 96ft Penna fciiititi. 88ft Beading B 20 94 21 Bead m6a ’BO ’43 .. 95ft Road Ms 1870.. 90ft .. Bead xnt 6a 1886 77 78 Penna 8....... 45ft 45ft Penna R Ist m6sloo 100 ft R2d fit 8i 94 B-lft Morris Cnl con.. 40 41 Morris Cnlprfe.lllft 112 Sch Nav Stock.. .3 4 SchNATprf.... 10ft lift Sch Nav 6a ’82.. .. 65 Elmira & 7ft 8 [4OOO Peuna 55........ 83# 10 Green A Cts-st B 22# 14 Penna 8........ 46# 2000 Beading B 6s *7O 00# 100 S A Flne-st B.bb 10 MSB—STEADY. Bid. Allot. Elmira Bprf... 16# 10 Elmira 7a *73... 73# 74# Long laid R.... 12# 12# Lehigh Gl A Nay 60# 61 # Le Gl & Nav up 86 80 N Pennaß.,,.. 7 7# N Pennaß6s,. 07 67# N Fauna B 10s. 82 84 Cat R Con 1# 2 Catawissaprf... 6# 6# Frk A Sthwk B. 43 47# Sec A Thd-st ft. 64# 65* RaceA Vlne-atß 4# 6# West Phila 8... 63# 56 Spruce A Pine.. 10 10# Green A Coates. 22 22# Chest A Walnut 3A 31# Arch Street...*, 18 18# Ninety-seven Negroes, of all hues between mahogany and ebony, reached this city yester day por rnilrnail; diroot from ITarper’i Forrj: The moD» of whom there were about sixty* had been employed in Government work upon the Baltimore and Ohio Kail rood. The women were of ovcry conceivable character, acd one old woman was said; to have been one hun dred and four yearn old, who had noon the mother of twenly«four children. The blacks were taken cars of by philanthropic people here* and a number of them will remain In town, anil go to work at any occupation that may be open to them. Some of these ucgrooß are said to be slaves of C. J. Faulkner and James Y. Mason. Slight Fire. A largo tenement house took fire yesterday morning* for the third time during the past week. The bouse is situated on Coates* near Twenty.sevonih street, and is occupied by about eight families* who were represented as being continually iu a state of intoxication, and the fires have bach tint been the result of absolute carelessness. CITY ITEMS. Lecture by the Rev. Dr. Bomberger at Handel and Haydn Ilall. On Tuesday evening a large audience assembled at Handel and Haydn Hall to lißten to the lecture of Bev. J. 11. A.. fi&fiiLerger, D. D., on H Out* Ualioruxt Rcfi gton, 1 ' given in behalf of Christ (Evangelical Reformed) Church. The subject, though not to be classed with the ordinary topics of the day, was handled in vigorous style. Hii reason for sot speaking upon some theme connected with the Rebellion, the lecturer remarked* was that the latter was being discussed and settled In a more effective way by the generals in the field. He laid it down as an axiom that no government could long maintain its integrity, protecting and preserving the rights of the citizens, unless based upon the conservative principles of puro Christianity. There was, however, a wido distinction between a national Religion and a na tional Church. Such an establishment might be largely supported by the State, and yet the prominent civil offi cers might be the most corrupt and debased men, of whom he instanced Henry Till, the immoral Louis XIV, the cruel, bigoted Philip 11, and the unprincipled Lord Jef freys. There might be a National Church, without a N&ti&tl&l Iteligibii, SO tIiSPA ffilglit be a deep, pervading National Religion independent of any national ecclesias tical establishment. In giving an affirmative answer to the quejftm: Have we a National Religion ! he deduced three sources of proof* Tlithe rtlJglolis history of the eitabHehmeut of our country and government. The firm maintenance of religious principles and great Christian truths had given us PI > mouth Bock and Charter Oak* the first memorable landmarks Id our eventful history* The lecturer contended, eloquently, that this religious foundation, so deeply and strongly laid at the first, now enabled the Republic to resist so successfully the com bined and malignant attacks of fraud, treason, and strongly-armed sedition. Never, since the Jewish Com monwealth, had any nation been planted by hands so often stretched out in earnest prayer to Almighty God. The Pilgrim Fathers, ho said, were noted above every thing else for their unyielding piety. So, too, of the Pnt?b erillwe of New York* and the German settlers of Petnlylvania—though these last scarcely had a place ia history, and lived not in song as the former. The lecta rer, at Hus point, paid a jnst tribute to the deeply religi ous character which marked the early German pilgrims— the founders In the New World of the Lutheran* Mora vian, and Reformed Churches. Those facts, underlying the settlement of the country, lie observed, determined ua from the stait a people, not of infidels, Mahommedans, or Jews, but of Ghristiaus, with a religion, too, fre-emi neatly of the Evangelical type. The sicond source of proof that Christianity Is the re cognized religion of our country, was the Constitutions and laws of the General and State Governments. The Declaration of Independence avouched the existence of a Supreme Being* and* so far as such a document tyuld* the fundamental principle:? reyepkd religion. So, tod, the CpDst’t’utions and the lawß of the several States proceeded upon the same assumption—that Chris tianity wasthe legally recognized religion of the land. .Hence the* laws touching the profanation of the Sab bath, and blasphemous speaking of Almighty flod, Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Scriptures of truth. Hence, too, the prescribed form of oath administered in all our courts of justice, and the law against perjury. The lecturer hero met the objection urged by unbe lievers and ultra-liberaliria, that civil government is ex* clueively political, designed only to regulate the affairs of society. Tlougli this was the primary objoct of govern ment, yet the highest good of society, he Bali, bound the Government, tn all possible ways, to promote the moral aB well as social condition of ita citizens. To the objec ttafi that tk& CAftSlhutlofi gwmßU&l to all Us SoHftlfni protection to worship God, each according to the dic tates of conscience, and must nut interfere with or limit that right, he replied that Buch religious toleration did not preclude the full and direct recognition of that Bys toni of religion held by the vast majority of the citizens to be the only tine one. The third source of proof that we had a national re ligion, and that religion evangelical Christianity, was drawn from the life and moral character of the people* No country had 10 many church edifices, so many church members, and so many regular church-goers. Nowhere was there displayed so much religious activity and zenl; nowhere was there so much voluntarily con tributed to Christian and benevolent purposes ; nowhere were there eo many heartily enlisted iu the j»aa4 work &f evangelization; and, as a consequence, the masses were morally more elevated than in any commonly-recognized Christian nation. The pulsating heart of the nation* he Bald, was Evangelical Chrietiauity. In the ten thousand arteries and ducta of active life there flowod the pure life-blood ot revealed religion—that religion which only could exalt a nation. Another Meeting in Behalf of the Sol niEu.-?.—The next of the series of meetings now in pro gress in this city, under the auspices of tho Young Men's Christian Association, in behalf of tho soldiers, will be held at the First Reformed Butch Church, Seventh and Spring Garden streets, to-morrow (Sumliy) evening, at 7% o'clock. The exercises are to be cjndncted by tho Kuvt George Hi Fishon D. Du who will address the meeting, in connection with the Bev. John W. Kraveu, late chaplain of the First Maryland Regiment,’ at Win chester; Bev. John Patton, D. D., Bev. John Chambers, nnd Joseph M. Zane, Esq., a returned prisoner from Richmond. From tho fcrdgr&EMS, llili Sleeting will doubtless be one of the most interesting of the series. Ibe object of it is most praiseworthy, the proceeds being devoted to the procuring and distributing of religious literature in the army. A Popular Restaurant*— Mr. J. W» Price, proprietor of the popular Restaurant, southwest corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets, has demonstrated the problem of “ success in business,” in a by gividg his numerous patrons tlio vei-j? beat fA?2> &t fil? charges. His patronage has been steadily increasing, until it has actually become necessary for him to lengthen his cords and strengthen his stakes—not his beef* steaks, for they are always long and wide, and plump and ten den We are glad to lcaru that an improvement Is soon to be commenced on his premises, and adjoining them, that will greatly enlarge Ins present room. Tbe public literally demand this increase of his dining facilities. Delicious Spring Confectionery for the Fjopi.e.— Messrs. E. G. Whitman & Co, Second street, below Chestnut, tho great Philadelphia confectioners, are now displaying, among other choice spring prepara tions, several new varieties of chocolatos, rich bon-bons, and burnt and roasted almonds, of tbe most delicious flavor aud tho purest quality. Their store is crowded with customers from Monday morning till Saturday night. Nowhere do people get better value for their money than at E. G. Whitman & Co.’s. Light for the Million.— The celebrated paten t.lemps sf Mw m Witter? * c °., f°r burning Ke * r oßtne Oil. made and sol. at tlieir establishment, Ko. 85 North Eighth street, corner of Filbert, are without a ri val, for safety, economy, and convenience They aro taking the place of all other lamps in nse. A Charming KsTintiauMENT.— I Tho magni ficent new store of Mr. A. L. Vansunt, manufacturer of French and American Confectionery, Bontheast corner of Ninth and Chestnut, now presents a tempting specta cle. His confections are a luxury worth enjoying. Uia Orargo Cream Chocolates, and sweet Jordan Roosted Almonds, are at the present time partlculiMP jjSpulaP' In fruits, we invite attention to ills dollcioUß Almorla Grapes. F. Brown’s Essence of Jamaica Ginger.— This medicine enjoys a wide-spread and well-merited popularity (of !M. tWHldortully effective dualities. It assists digestion, cures diarthtna, and is excellent for the sick stomach, and Is likewise an excellent and invigorating tonic. No family should he without it. Also, to hie pure Georgia Arrow Boot, which, fortunately for the public, he secured # supply befpro all intercourse with Georgia was stopped. Lighting cp the Mississippi.— The rebels are fearful that somo of tho Yankoe gunboats will work their way down the river past No. 10, some dark night, as they pot up a nightly illumination or the river, by means ol huge bonfires, Ac. these Illuminations form a scene for a painter. Abovo, are the low, black hulls of our gunboats, surrounded with llielr transports, and, at short intervals, sending an enormous ahell high up in the daikneSß, to strike in their fortifications, which lay firm and silent, disdaining to reply, while at their vory ban runs the tnrbid and tnrbnlent current of the Father of liivers. So strong is the light, that occasionally the dim outline of a soldier can he seen going around the fire, while our own soldiers have sufficient light to enable them 14 P4WI4 »»»ll pflht, &Hd ts rend in thsip Phlladd. phia papers tbe notices of the elegant garments made at the Brown Stone Clothing Hall of BockhlU A Wilson, Nos. 603 and 60t Chestnut street, above Sixth. Modern Definitions. — Oversight — To leave your Old umbrella In * hall and carry away a naw one. Unfortunate Man—One born with aoomcience, Progress of Titne—K pedler going through tbn land with wooden docks Bigid Juslivt—A juror on a murder cue fast asleep. Independence— Wonting a handsome and fashionable suit of Spring Clothes from the Mammoth Olotbing Eos poriom of Granville btokeß, No. 609 Cbeatnut street, whioh have never been paid to-. BOABD,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers