gly ;1,0rt55. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1863 4k-We can take no notice of anonymous commu nications. We do not return rejected manuscripts. Ali Voluntary correspondence solicited from all pelts of the world, and especially from our different military add naval departments. When used, it will be, paid for. CONGRESS. SIiNATE.—A petition of the citizens of Pennsylva nia was presented, asking for it reliable camp, hospi tal, and ambulance corps. Mr. Ramsey's credentials Were presented. A resolution inquiring concerning the death of General Ward in Mine was adopted. A resolution requesting the Military Committee to inquire into the case of Captain John Weathers, for merly of the 4th New Jersey Regiment, who has been confined fOr several months in Fort Delaware, and report in relation to the charges against him, and by what authority he was confined, was laid over. After a lengthy discussion of the bill to encourage enlistments, and the enrollment and drafting of the militia, the Senate adjourned. liogay..—A bill to establish thirty-seven addi tional post routes was passed. Amendments were considered to the legislatiVe, executive. and judi cial appropriation bill. A joint resolution to revise and codify the naval laws was passed. The naval appropriation bill was then considered, which ap propriates an aggregate of $68,000,000. The appro- priation for the Philadelphia navy yard was reduced from $230,000 to $28,600 for repairs of all kinds. The appropriation for the Brooklyn navy yard was in creased in order to accommodate the three vessels now building there, 420 feet in length. $82,000 was appropriated for the Norfolk navy yard to facilitate the repair of vessels, but not to be understood as re establishing that yard. Without concluding the action upon the bill, the House adjourned. THE LEGISLATURE Si:NAT/L-111r, Ridpvsy presented the petition of the directors of tho flank of Northern Liberties for an extension of their charter. Also, the remon strance of residents on Twelfth street against the construction of a passenger railway thereon. air. Reilly offered a resolution that ono thousand copies in English, and five hundred copies in German, of the proclamation and farewell address of Andrew Jticksombe printed for the use of the Senate. Adopted. HOUSE.—Mr. Schofield, of Philadelphia, present ed the resolutions of City Councils in regard to the arrest of Albert U. I3oileau. Mr. 111sidurtrie offered joint resolutions .expressing confidence In the General Government in its efforts to suppress this rebellion, and pledging to the Administration the support of Pennsylvania in its patriotic efforts in sustaining the Government; and thanking the officers and soldiers of the Union army, for their consummate gallantry and self-sacrificing spirit in their defence of the stars and stripes. fir. Champ neys, of Lancaster, read in place, a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, granting right of suffrage to persona in the military service of the country. THE NEWS. A it.Errv.n recently intercepted from a distinguished officer in the rebel army to a person in one of the Western States, contains an account of a magnificent dinner, recently given in Charleston, to Captain Du buquois and his officers, of the French frigate Milan, anti the French consv.l, Mons. St. Andre. It is de scribed as being "a magnificent affair." The fol lowing important extract we are permitted to pub lish. It explains itself: "There were thirty of us at the table. Toasts were drank to the Emperor and Empress and responded to by the French consul and Captain Dubuquois, of the French frigate Milan. They seem to think there is no doubt that alliance offensive and defensive has been made or will very shortly be made by our minister, Btr. Slidell, with the French Government. I have also conversed very freely with the officers of her Majesty's frigate the Petrel, now in port also, who express much faith in our being recognized during the month of February." A .MaxicAx correspondent of a San Franolsco paper writes " The Mexican army is some forty two thousand men strong, and well provided with artillery, and determined to defend every inch of their soil. The people are united as never they were before—all politics are laid aside for the one grand purpose, to defend the country, and the greatest sacrifices are willingly submitted to. Con gress sustains the President in all his actions. Women and children, even, contribute to help the prosecution of the war, and large sums of money arrive, for the same purpose, from nearly all parts of the globe. The few traitors that have joined the French arc not worthy the name of Mexicans. Marquez and Lozada are men of no character; they are assassins and robbers, tind have 'always always been enemies to their country. The war, in fact, Is Ina. mensely popular, and no peace will be made until the French have left Mexico.', Na are now daily looking for the most important news from the Southern Coast and the Mississippi. In lees than a week the world will learn the desti nation of the immense Union armament, land and ' naval, assembled in the waters of North Carolina, and which is expected to strike its blow before the rebels can possibly concentrate their forces where it may design doing its work. The armament assem bled against 'Vicksburg is twice as powerful as either preceding expedition to the same point. COL. OWEN, of. Philadelphia, lately returned to his command, wearing a star. He was not in the recent list of brigadiers, but It is understood that his appointment was st the special request of Gen. Hooker, for gallant services wtth the 69th Pennsyl vania Regiment at the battle of Nelson's Farm, under the immediate eye of the General. General Owen commands the well•known Philadelphia bri gade, formerly commanded by General Burns, now commanding the first division of the ninth army. Corns, _ . Or ALE, the miserable, desointc, and forsaken places in the West, Napoleon, Arkansas, must take the, palm. In good times its reputation was bad enough, but now it is almost as forsaken as a city of the dead. There Is ono-fine building—a United States marine hospital—which serves an excellent purpose now, and is a beautiful monument of the beneficent Government against which the rebellion is waged. DIXTOR-AID•Dtt-OAAtr-CAPTAIN-QUARTERMAB- Trm Limn, Esq., author of "Zane Months in the Quartermaster's Department," and other poems, has turned up in Santa Ed, New Mexico, as editor of a newspaper called The New Mexican. THE Athens (Tenn.) Post says negroes are selling in that section of the State at from $l,OOO to $2,000 a piece; and notwithstanding the enormous prices, rge numbers are purchased in Virginia and brought to that region, and resold to the farmers. Grxl AY. MovenELL, in command at Nashville, Tenn., has given notice that no passes will be given to go outside the picket lines of that city except to peisons of known and undoubted loyalty to the Go. vernment of the 'United States. Ttos EC nA NS' A n is all ready for another advance upon the enemy, and orders for its movement have been issued. The rebel force, which is strongly for• tilled at Tullahoma, Ss believed to number 126,000 men. GEN. W. S. Ilsiteocx, V. S. A., who has acted a conspicuous part in every battle in which the Army of the Potomac has been engaged, is at present on a visitto his family near St. Louis, Missouri. THE monthly table of . mririne losses for the past month shows an aggregate of forty-four vessels. Of this number one was a steamship, ten were ships, ten were barks, eleven wore brigs, and twelve were schooners. Of the above; four were captured and burned, two foundered at sea, five were abandoned at sea, one Was burned, and eight are missing, sup posed lost. The total value of the property lost and missing is estimated - at $1,885,300. Viavani.v. salt springs have been discovered near Leavenworth, Kansas. They are said to be inex haustible. A SCHOOL-TEAOHER in Kent county, Maryland, corrected one of hie puplie, and the lad's father, in revenge, corrected the teacher by knocking hire on the bead with a bludgeon. The school-teacher drew a pistol and shot hie assailant dead. ACCORDIVO to 'the London (Canada West) Kew, the railroad agent In that vicinity refuses to take silver, except at a discount, and a gentleman who offered to pay his fare with two American quar ters was ejected from the cars for refusing to pay the difference between silver cola and .the bank cur , rency, • IT is said the owners of the bark Parker Cook, of Boston, burnt by the pirate Alabama, have made a claim upon the United States Government for nine thousand dollars damages for loss occasioned by the destruction of that vessel. A mid. has been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, which provides that married women shall be empowered to make wills and dispose of whatever property it may be their good fortune to possess, in like manner with the stronger sex. PETITIONS are 3n circulation in Newark, and other places in New Jersey, asking the Legislature to adopt the Holman resolutions or some equiva lent. They are signed solely by copperheads, and lack both character and numbers. The Disaster at Charleston. Some of our contemporaries are discuss ing the credibility of the news from Charles ton, While others, admitting its truth, are discussing the present condition of the block ade. So far as the facts are concerned, we think there can be little doubt that there has been an attack upon our fleet ; that one of our vessels was injured, and perhaps sunk, and that the others ran away. In relation to the blockade, there is a popular impres sion that, our vessels having retired from the bar, the blockade has been broken, and that it cannot be renewed until after sixty days' notice had been given. The effect of this, were it well-founded, would be to make Charleston a funnel, as it were, through which England and Fiance could fill the Confederacy to overflowing. Two months of :trade would' give the Confederacy new lite. We do not think there is any danger •of such a claim being raised, and we are glad to know that our Government will not tole rate it for a moment. The facts are very .conclusiVe that at no time was the blockade broken, and we think it can be shown that, had it been broken for days and weeks, in lernational law would not permit any such advantage to betaken as our enemies would like to sec.', A blockade is a siege. A siege maybe, broken, but that-dots not prevent a general from renewing his linei of circinn. viillation punishing any enemy or neutral who'sought to carry information or sktpplies through his lines. This point can be Nide and sustained : that when it is an -11011"ml a blockade has been raised, and a tided port under that impression finds it still guarded .by war vessels, and is captured, she cannot be confiscated, but must be re leased and warned away. Our blockade is still a question of force. It the rebels vessel leaving a foreign port for the block can drive us away, and keep us away, then England and France may send guns and take cotton ; but until that is done they can only do so at the usual risks of war. Admiral DuPont. We ivero sorry to see in a, loyal newspa per ,of this city disparaging remarks ou this gallant officer. A distinguished tzenator re cently said that no one in our army or navy had shown more genius than Admiral Do PONT, and none as much administrative ability. After his brilliant exploit at Port Royal, he could do nothing but keep up the blockade, fit out expeditions, and aid the land forceswhere their leaders chose to take them. We venture to assert that history will be searched in vain to find an extent of coast, like that held by Admiral DuPovr's fleet, ever attempted to be blockaded by a single ',squadron, or even a smaller line, so thoroughly closed. The rebels falsely boast of the amount of their trade in spite of the blockade, in order to inspirit their people and create discontent among our own. The mere prices of foreign goods would prove the untruthfulness of their statements. Au admiral cannot be in every vessel of his fleet at tilt same time, nor even always at every point held by his ships ; but we have no doubt at all that, when the Navy Department shall receive Admiral DuPONT'S report of the recent occur rence. at Charleston, it will be found, either that the disaster was an unavoidable accident, so far as he was concerned, or that it occurred in consequence of disobedience of his orders. We will predict further, that, as Admiral DuPolir has probably received permission to make decided movements, the nation will soon enjoy a triumph like that of Port Royal All that we know of Ad miral DuPowr leads us to give him our most generous confidence ; and While we are very sure that the disaster to his squadron, and the shameful flight of the Mercedita's con voys, cannot be attributed to him, we arc convinced that he will speedily redeem the honor that his subordinates seem to have so shamefully thrown away. The Case of the ,4 .tettersoutan” News-. Some criticism has been excited by the charge of Mr. Justice Low= in the action for damages against the United States Mar shal for suppressing the Jeffersonian, a news paper published somewhere in one of our rural counties. We do not think the matter worthy of the attention bestowed upon it. These actions against the Federal au thorities are but parts of the general sys tem for annoying the Government, and no doubt serve to amuse the leisure hours of Mr. REED and Mr. BIDDLE, Who sem?). to be the leagued defenders of the enemies of the Union. If they do no more harm than they are capable of doing in:thc Supreme Court, we shall be satisfied. Our habitual respect for Mr. Justice LOWRIE will prevent us from saying anything disrespectful about him or his court, yet, at the same time, one or two suggestions occur to us that ,hemight have taken into . consideration, while there are some points that seem to be extra-judicial. It seems that:, iin ~ the charge of his Honor, in this case of HOD:a wl.; vs. MILLWARD, he told thejury that the that the plaintiffs were at all events entitled to compensation for what they had actually lost, and that exemplary vindictive damages might be given in addition, if the defend ants had been- guilty of a moral wrong, if they knew at the time, that their conduct in seizing and suppressing what they deemed a dangerous and seditious publication was contrary to the law of the land. That this instruction was sound we do not presume to doubt, as -it is the language of common sense and reason. But when -his Honor thus declared that the question of ~damages was also one of ethics, that the moral guilt , or innocence of the defendants shOuld be taken into view in determining the amount of the verdict, was he equally sound in omitting all reference to the moral attitude of the plaintiffs, and impliely negativing the right to consider whether they stood before the jury *as journalists who had keut_ within. the __line- of- thAkir ditty, or had been guilty of an offence against public order and safety, that had led to the commission "of the acts of which they complained ? A writer, who, in time of war, when the State is menaced with inva sion, gives the enemy aid and comfort with his pen, and seeks to discourage those who _are taking up arms fOr the defence of their country, is guilty of an offence that neces sarily provokes the just indignation of his fellow-citizens, and stimulates them to use every effort to prevent the repetition of the injury. That this will not authorize the persons whose safety he endangers, to take the law- in their own hands, and to re dress one wrong by another, is clear; but it is surely not less so, that the party by whom the first wrong is done is in a very different position from that which he Would hold if his conduct had been blarneless. A man who goes into the street and uses of fensive language to the passers-by, may, no doubt, bring an action against any one who retaliates by a blow, and require the court to declare that the provocation does not jus tify the assault, and that the. veidict must be in his favor. But the court would 'hardly do its whole duty if it failed also to point out that the wrong done by the plaintiff might be weighed against that committed by the defendant, in estimating the damages. We arc persuaded that the Chief Justice is not wanting in a just sensibility to the public cause, and would declare a pub lication, " seditiously, maliciously, and• wilfully aimed at the independence .of the United States," libellous as readily as any of his predecessors. • Yet he no tices the fact that a rebellion existed at the tittle when the offence was e:ommitted— a 'rebellion, too, that had established a hoStile government on our borders, alien, iii fact, and which will, if it succeeds, become alien de jure—only to tell the juiy to dismiss it from their thoughts, as • without bearing on the case before them., We submit that this instruction was true but in part, or at best only stated part of the truth: TheeX istence of the rebellion was irrelevant so far as it regarded the right of the plaintiffs to establish their title, and the wrong done by the defendant. It should haveliCen allowed to have its direct and natural influence, on the equally . important question of the prepon• derance of culpability, as between them and the defendant, and the extent to which the • latter, could justly be made answerable in damages. Mr. HODGSON may be made a precedent, and therefore WA consider this comment necessary. As for the practical point involved, it amounts to little, as the plaintiff and his newspaper belonged to that insignificant class of persons and things which only attain importance by the mis taken zeal of good and loyal men. The Free Banking System. It would be hardly profitable for us to enter into a discussion of the - ingenious question, is gold up or currency down ? There are many arguments on both sides, and it is probable that we shall never have an answer. There are one or two things, however, inevitable. The war must affect our currency in a certain degree,—and we cannot come out of the war without remodel ling our Wye system of finance. The Wisest legislation is that which looks to this great change, and we are accordingly in clined to• favor the system now before Con gress; in the bills of Mr. Senator SHERMAN, and Mr. Representative HOOPER.. As we un derstand these bills, they embody the policy of the Administration as set forth in the re port of the Secretary of the Treasury. They propose to provide a national currency se cured by a pledge of United States stocks, and to provide for its circulation and redemption. A bureau is contemplated, to be known as the Bureau of Currency, .with proper offi cers. Power is given to any association of five or more persons to forma banking asso ciation, Capital stock may be subscribed, and the operations will be conducted in the manner customary to such Corporations. They will purchase aCiermnent bonds, and transfer the same to the Treasury Depart ment for . the security of their circulating notes. The currency will be of a uniform character, and will bear the authority of the proper officers upon its face. There arc other provisions in the bill, but this is the general idea. The effect of the measure Will be' to displace the present local bank currency, and instead of arbitrary notes from private corporations, we shall have one general. note, possessing the same value in every part of the country, and free from the in fluences that make the money of Illinois be low par in New York, and the money of New England at a discount in California. Thie; is forced upon the Government principally as a measure of war. The circu lation of the banks of the loyal states is estimated at $150,000,000. In the words of the Secretary himself, "The whole of this circulation constitutes a loan without interest from the people to the banks, costing them nothing except the expense of 'issue and redemption." This, it will be seen, is a mighty interest, and in his anxiety for money to carry on. the war it could not escape the covetous and eager eyes of the Secretary of the Treasury. The banks are merely so many stockholders; and the bene fits of the currency accrue only to the stock holders. We are now in a people's war. The people sustain and strengthen the cur rency, and in a period of general taxation and distress, the benefits of that currency should belong to the Government. This reasoning suggests the course now proposed, and more particularly as many eminent publicists -contend that the issue of notes by local institutions is against the Constitu tion. Heretofore the question has been of such a . trivial importance, and our gold and silver was always so abundant, that we did not care to trouble ourselves. about it.. We now claim it as a matter of necessity, and we pi'opose to make our claim a just and permanent policy. We, are glad to see the bankers themselves acceding to the justice of the Government's deMands. They feel as great an interest in the esta blishment of a lasting currency as we do ; for experience has shown them that the busi ness of banking, on the basis that prevails in most of the States, is full of vexation and danger. The very restrictions of the bill are those that every honest banker observes in his own business ; and none but unrelia ble and avaricious men, who endeavor to speculate wildly, and profit by discounts, and accommodations, and over issues, will per sist in these objections. The people will have more confidence, and be -less at the mercy of rapacious and had men. The weak banks will feel it more keenly; for the weakest banks issue the most money, while those of immense capital and unlimited re sources have merely a nominal circulation, and take no pains to preserve it. This is the case in New York and Philadelphia, and, accordingly, we find the bankers of New YOrk and Philadelphia gradually ac cepting the proposition of the Secretary as the best that can be done for th country. There is, we are glad to learn, but little doubt that Congress will accept the pro visions of this free banking bill. Wall street has had its panic, and is staggering. " Spe culation," says the New York Post of last evening, "has come to a dead pause, and the dulness in stocks, gold, and demand notes, seems to be most welcome. Most of the transactions are between the brokers themselves, the public apparently stand ing aloof." Considering that for the last hundred days these dealers in. money have had a saturnalia of speculation, and that they have made fortunes out of every disaster, .and discounted our national grief at cent. per cent., ive shall re joice at any indication of a change, or even of a returning tide. This free banking bill will accomplish the advan tages its friends claim, and it Will be a proud monument of the genius of Mr. Crum, placing him in history beside the illustrious HAMILTON. Hereafter, in peace or war, we shall have a currency that is American, representing the national faith and being accepted everywhere with confidence and joy. The war is welding us together, and our finances cannot escape the general destiny. 'With the crumbling of State rights and other banefid heresies, we shall have an end of our multitudinous paper cir culation, and instead of money representing all styles of execution, from -the -rea. °ketch - or are -- vveSt - ferthe ftkished - vignette of the Etist, and all manner of persons, landscapes, and designs, we shall have a note as uni versal and convenient as that of the Bank of England, and as welcome as the golden eagles that bear our nation's legend. Odo Russell's Romait Blunder. A singular diplomatic blunder or miscon ception that lately occurred at Rome, has given rise to a correspondence between M. DDOITYN DE Limn, the French Minister at Paris, and Prince de la Tour D'AUVERGNE, French Ambassador to the Papal Court. To make it perfectly clear to our readers, it is necessary to go back a little and describe the "situation." In former clays, when English Protestan tism was in a chronic terror of .." Papal en croachments," the British Parliament en acted that there never should be diplomatic relations between the . Court of St. James and -the Court of Rome. A heavy penalty was declared as the inevitable punishment for violating this law. While any of the deposed STu. IRTs lived and were fostered at Rome, there may, have been some slight reason for this prohibition. The Stuart dynasty; deposed as much by its own folly as by the popular will, was ostentatiously Catholic, and its exiled head was acknow ledged, in Rome, as the de jure Sovereign of the British Islands The eldest son of JAMES 11. Was known as JAMES 111., from his father's death until his'own demise in 1760. his eldest son, (" the young Chew,- yeller" of the Scottish rebellion of 17460 was , known as CHARLES :111., until death snatched hint away, in 1788. HENRY STUART, Cardinal York, only brother of this CHARLES EDWARD, had the title of 11*ty IY., in Rome, where he died in 1807, the last of his line.. At that time, the Hanoverian family had been a full century on the British throne, and the dread of :fur ther Stuart invasions had so much declined that' GRORGR the Third gave a pension to his unfortunate. relative Cardinal. York, and. the Prince Regent ; erected handsouie mo nument over his remjtins,•ln Rome, in 1810. Diplomatic-intercourse between the BA . - - tish and Papal sovereigns has continued ta booed to this hour. Yet, as the interests:of both rulers may render such Communication necessary at'times, England has a semi-offi cial representative at Raine. This is Mr. Ono. Rolnor4., nephew of Earl RUSSELL, Foreign EaeietarY of England. Ho is really Resi dent at Rome, in a semi-official capacity; but nominally, ..is attachd to the embassy at Paris. Ria personal relations with the POPE are friendly, and he is all but accredited to his Holiness, There lately appeared in the European journals, a statement that Mr. Ono RUSSELL had personally informed-the POPE that, in the event of his being compelled to quit Rome, the British Government would be glad to place a palace at Malta at his ser vice, as a residence, and to' givelhim an asylum on that island, as long as it might please or suit him to accept it. On hearing of.this, M. DnouYN DE Lutt i ts asked Mon signor thuor, the POPE 's Minister at Paris, whether it was true "that Mr. ODO Rus- SELL; on being received by the POPE, gave to His Holiness, in the name of Earl Rus- SELL, the advice to quit Italy, adding that, in such a case, Her Britannic Majesty's Go vernment would willingly offer to him the island of Malta as a place of residence ; that English vessels would be at his disposal; and that the POPE might rely upon the eagerness of England to give him in the asylum that he might accept all the condi tions of an establishment worthy of him. These propositions were made in an official form, adopted for the first time in the inter course which Mr. Ono RUSSELL has held with the Holy See." The Nuncio confirmed the above, where uPon .31. Ili:onyx DE LTRIII3, rather irri tated at the idea of any other power but France showing . a kindness to the Pork, told Monsignor CrErox that "we (meaning ',France) Loped very much that if the Pork -which God 'fOibid---were compelled to TEIE PRESS.-PHILA.DELPEIIA; FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1863. quit Italy . he would grant us the preference over England, and that we should ask it of him," This conversation he comin,gnicated to the French Ambassador at ;Rome, who immediately reported back that be believed the facts, as stated, to be generally true, and then gave such details as he had learned on the spot. Wo condense his statement. Last autumn, Mr. ODO RUSSEi..L, on the eve of leaving Rome for a short time, soli cited and obtained an audiene of leave from the PorE. In the convenia 'on which I ensued, Mr. Russmt, intimated that the British Government were deeply •nterested in the cause of Italian unity, as o which, by the way, the Pmt.'s conti ed occu pation of Rome, under the rotecti6n of 17,000 French bayonets, is supposed to be the greatest, if not ie only, obstacle. AB Mr. RUSSELL etas leav ing the cabinet, . actually at ie door, the POPE said, "Adieu, dear Mr. itissitt.T., who knows if one day I shall not ie forced to go to ask you for hospitality" The French Ambassador says that the e words were uttered by the Holy Father without sz l i attaching the least importance them. On hearing the observation, Mr. DO Rus- SELL, the Ambassador's report e ntinues, " immediately returned into the cabi et of the Holy Father to ask him if he inde feared that he should be compelleil to qui 'Rome ; and if, in that case, he would reall be t, dis posed to go to England. The Po ; very quickly reassured. Mr. RUSSELL by adding. that he ,was ignorant of the trial which Providence reserved for him:. but hat for the moment ho had no apprehension, ] m and did not at all dream of removing fro me." This ought have satisfied Mr. ussELL, -but it did not. It set him upon di. overing 1, what is vulgarly called " a mare' l est" such as his little uncle at the i oreign Office is apt to find. He teleg hed his own version of the conversation to Is uncle, ir t in London, and a message iminedia ely conic over the-Wires summoning him:fro Rome to Downing street. He did not returnto Rome until November, when he liniteneato Car dinal AriiroliEma, the Pope's Prime Mini ster, and, with all due solem`nity, hinded him a note, in which the French Aqassa ti dor says : " Lord RUSSELL, after l ving supported the cause of Italian unity a the right of Italy to possess Rome, advisd the Pope to quit the Eternal City, and annolneed that in case the Holy Father were diAosed to follow this advice, the English Medi terranean fleet would be placed at 11 1 ser vice to convey him either to Frsincepr to Spain, or to Malta, where a palace . ld be put at his disposal, and where hi could' Wait freely • until Italy had pronoured in relation to his sovereignty." This, tho Ugh probably meant as -atkind ness, was more cool than, pleasant. cardi nal • ANTONELLI, to whom Lord Rusgm.'s note was handed, (in order, of cours; , that lie might show it to the Pope ) ) ans \erect that he had no occasion to use it, in tht or any other way, seeing that the Poi 4, did not dream the least in the world of quking Rome. Here the conversation ended. lE TONELLI maintained complete silence pon the subject, but Mr. Ono RUSSELL, witches his uncle's unhappy predilection for taling out of season, made no secret of the at tese proposal, and particularly mentiond it to the Minister of a Foreign Court accredcd to Rome. Weeks passed on, however,i nd the affair appeared a thing of the st, until, last Christmas, with a pertin ity which is considered unwarrantable, Y r. Ono RUSSELL again intruded upon Canal ANTONELLI, and informed him that lielatl received a private letter from Lord Russ w,, in which 'that Minister expressed ‘ ~ ' his lively regret at seeing that the Popt not disposed for the moment to 'aec - 4) is propositions, adding that he had reasoi to believe that Me Holiness would, in alery short time, find himself under the necisity of profiting by them." To this commuim tion, which bore marked incivility o its face, Cardinal ANTONELLI did not ..e le seend to make any reply. i The whole proceeding illustrates the Illy,. of not baying a duly qualified diploniiist' from England at Home. It is palpable:let Mr. Ono RUSSELL is a young .gerie man whose genius 'chiefly lies an blundering. After the , Pope's firsOu tirnation that he had no apprehensiortr , being driven out of Home, no dream of V: -moving" from it, a.man.of ordinary emu t 1 sense would have. dropped the matter,' - stead of which this over-busy and not ov c) bright laclhurries to telegraph his miscon tion all the way to London. His first in .- view with Cardinal ANTONELLI should hie shut him up, seeing that his false impresgn was again strongly denied ; but it did It. So much for the British systeM of thrusg a young man into a situation lie has It brains to discharge creditably,—his appolt ment arising from no presumdd capac , but because his uncle happens to be a C i net Minister. Blundeting is thd first-b 1 of Nepotism.' • • : . . .. • The . nillitsay strength, of -France is alw s a stihjset...of apprehension in: Europe. ..' cost•ormitintainitiglitconstitnies the lar_, t item in . the annual exp enditure, and is ma i . dOnble the whole naval and Colonial outl . .The usual peace establishment consists f 404,192 infantry and 86,908 cavalry; .. war these numbers may ,be •angruerited. 751;725 infantry and 148;208 cavalry, mall' a total of 913,489 . soldiers, or very` ' near i one in forty of the whOle•Poplllation,•• - a4 -. and otherwise. The establishmentler t ' year 1863 is counted and distribUted as - f . lows : Interior, 838,562 ; Algeria, - 55,. Italy, 16 , 950.; China, 915; .Cochin Chin 1,179 ;, Mexico, 27,945. • Total, 440;880:1 : doubt the 'force in Mexico must 1361 creased. .• The first detachment, :in conjini '. tion with - a British naval' squadron and : Spanish army, was 6,600 men. The all's having withdrawn, Franee has more t quadrupled her first contingent. ' The Me - can expedition is very unpopular in Frane,.. which iii. One reason why it must be prosett, ted, with :vigor. It is Naroinort's first bl I .... 6ei, but a great one.. .- • • . • . . • Reform in Sweden. 1 It is gratifying to record the progresiof good government in every part of the woicl, for nations are the links which constitite the: great chain of civilization. - Theii:.- liamant of Sweden consists of four estatd . .of I the realm : the house of nobles, consist! ' of 900 peers, of whom about - 300 usual! litas semble; the house of clergy . with : 5' :the house of burghers with :00 . members; d the house of . peasants with 188-+being; ne member- to every. 21,000 - constitueits. Hitherto, ' . the nobles and the: . cle4s ,lave successfully united to preventthisinecpality of representation being corrected. _•Aow, the Government has taken up }he queiion and proposes that the Swedish Parliament shall henceforth consist of two„Chamiis— the first elected by the Provincial Asiim blies, those persons only being eligible tho' are possessed of a considerable income ; the second by popular election with a low standard of qualification for the elec ral franchise. . - . Were this reform adopted, popular lib • and the conservative interest would - equally balanced. The proposal was ell received in the Diet, and public opini. is decidedly in its favor. It ignores the rig , or pretended rights, of the nobility, as 80, and really resembles a revolution raer than a reform. CHUSTMIT-STREET THEATRB.—This . evening Fr. Forrest, without doubt the greatest Richelieu onhe stage, will appear in this character for the last tae probably this season. Mr. Forrest has drawn lage houses, notwithstanding the weather, so auxins has the public been to see this masterly renditin. Mr. Hackett appears to-morrow evening, and wilbe succeeded by Mr. Forrest on Monday evening. WALTIIIT-STREET TIIEATIM—This evening .r. Setchisll, a young comedian of considerable talet, receives a farewell benefit, and appears in live dill , eat characters. A fine bill is preiented, affordtn n ample opportunity for the display of Mr. Setch talents. • - AnCII•STILEZT THEATRE.-Mr. and! Miss jogs, artists of acknowledged ability, receive a fee well benefit this evening. A grand vocal cont will be given by Mies Etchings, to conclude i• •,‘ Santanella." A crowded house will doubtless g t them on this occasion. TUN HUTCllnisox Fax ILY.—This interesting co pany of singers will give a concert at tiie.HandeL Haydn Haltnext Saturday afternoon. This alb an oppoitunity for the young folks to hear ow: singing and enjoy a musical treat. Military Resources of Prauce. Public Amusements. LETTER FROII "OCCASIONAL." WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 1136$ It is a fortunate thing for our beloved country that the wicked counsels of bad men are subjected to the alembic of reason and reflection. If the sudden resentments• produced by these counsels were allowed to , sway the public mind, there would be neither order, nor law, nor security, in any one of our thousand communities. That the elements of anarchy are now at work .in these communities, daily proofs sufficiently testify. Thank Heaven, they arc no longer operating in secret. The outside cloak of professed loyal ty has been thrown aside, and he mmt be blind indeed who cannot see the hideous' machinery of treason moving on with steady and unpausing system. The citi zen, at his fire-side, whcris endowed with ordinary faculties, can study the danger thus frankly disclosed to his judgment and his vision. He must be an indbrated partisan, indeed, if he cannot apprehend, from the machinations of the now unconcealed ene mies of the country, his whole duty to himself and that country. I care not how he may have heretofore voted;. how bigoted his politics; how trenchant his prejudices against Abolitionists or the negro—if that citizen honestly loves the Government and desires its preservation, his mind must lead him to the conclusion that the self-con stituted managers of the Democratic party hope for and toil for the dissolution of the Union. I forbear a repetition of facts esta blishing this result. They abound on every hand, and are regularly supplied with osten tatious boldness by the guilty chiefs of' the disorganizing movements of the hour. There is one aspect of our present and pass ing experience which cannot be too care fully observed. It is the key to the entire conspiracy against the Republic, and should open every loyal heart to an overwhelming sense of the impending danger; and that is, that by no oneword or sign is the Government assisted by these leaders, in and out of Con gress, in its efforts to put down the rebel lion. Accepting this as an indisputable truth, it teaches us a fearful lesson and im poses an instant duty. We must not stop to ask if other men could have better ad ministered the Government and con ducted the war, in the midst of such unparalleled and novel complications. Our only effort should now be to strengthen those who have the Government in charge, and to expose and prostrate those who are opposing and weakening them. -Does any common-sense man suppose, for .instance, that if a loyal Democrat had been President when the rebellion broke out, he would have hesitated at any remedy to arrest it ? That when he saw the traitors resolved upon bloodshed, he would spared them in any of their resources ? That, when he was convinced that they existed and grew strong upon slavery, he would al low slavery to live and grow strong ? Mr. Lincoln has acted upon. precisely this experience, neither more uor less. I contend that he has taken no one step that would not have been forced upon a Democratic President. HoW mon strous, for instance, to attempt to prose cute a war against slaveholders, upon the condition that their chief granary of wealth and power, the institution of slavery, should be exempted froth the casualties Of such an event ! Such madness•would only be 'equalled by the fatuity that refrained from taking a captured enemy's ammuni tion and stores. Mark well, in the same connection, the clamor in favor of con stitutional rights raised by the sympa thiiers with Secession. Not your. rights, or mine, blit the rights, (Heaven save the mark !) of the authors of, the re bellion and their eiders and abettors in the free States. Do you ever hear of a loyal citizen's rights being in .danger ? And is every school district, town, and borough, and ward; in ourfiappy country, to be con vulse'd, and the 'whole object of the war obstructed, because men who care for neither country nor Constitution .hre pun ished by the Government they seek to undermine and destroy ? And this of every other clamor and complaint of these men. They know what they intend. It is the annihilation of everything we have held sacred and inviolable. It is the dis ruption of, every political and social tie. It . is the downfall of credit. It is the separa tion of States, of counties, and of families. It is to make of this Republic another Mexico, where there is neither a real re : ligion nor a lasting law ; where every year sees a new ruler elevated upon the bayonets of a successful army; where foreign despots wish to divide what we were too weak and corrupt to save, and where good men see no rescue from disgrace but in death or exile. ?God, in His infinite mercy, save our happy country from that dreadfurfuture, when we shall see " The rich men despots, and the poor banditti; Sloth in the mart and schism within the temple; Brawls festering to rebellion ; and weak laws Rotting away with rust in antique sheaths." And if it is to be saved at all, it will be by a brave, intelligent, and loyal people. The Union L'eague. We are requested to state, -for the benefit of the members of the association known as "The "Union League," that the club house, on Chestnut street, above Eleventh, will be open on Monday. WASHINGTON. Special Despatches to 64 The Press." WASHINGTON, February 6, 1863. The Proposed Air—Line Railway. The bill prepared by the Air-Line Railroad Com mittee proposes to charter the Washington and New York Railway Company, authorizing it to locate a 'road upon the most practicable and direct route \breech one or more of the States of Maryland, belmrare, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, to the west 'shore of the Hudson river, or Raritan Bay, Oppotite the city of New York, with a capital stock .of %in:anions of dollars. Thirteen directors, all of whoM shall be stockholders, to be chosen by the atochiolders, and two additional ones to be appoint. ed , hy ihe President of the United States; first class -parer trains to run from Washington to New York Within eight hours, and the tariff of prices not to 'exceed two and a half cents per mile for first-class passengers, nor five cents per ton per mile for.firit. class freight; the Government to have a per: petual right of , priority of business, and not to be charged to exceed two cents per mile for the trans portatiOn of troops and seamen, nor more than three cents pet: ton per mile for the transportation of mu nitions of war, navy and army supplies, and other Goveriment freights, subject, however, to the con trolof . (iongress,so far as the Government transpor• tatiOn idconcerneil. The charter further provides that the company shall have the power to connect with any railway now constructed leading in the gene ral dirO'.Stion of the' line specified, and provides ithe raiiwav when completed shall be of the kind and charaCter specified in the charter; and urther, ;hat no arrangement shall be entered into Vith any existing company which shall tend to de feat the object of this act, viz : an additional through line of railway from Washington to New York. No lid is asked of the Government except the implied kith that the Government passengers and freight shall be conveyed over it in preference to any other line at the samerates. The location of the road is subject to, the approval of the President of the United States, and it is to be completed within two Years after the passage of the act. . - ' 1 The Gold Speculation. The fall in gold, as compared with the last week's prices, and the recent appreciation of the public stocks, is hailed here as evidencing the confident an ticipations of moneyed men that the national free.: banking bill and the general financial measures,of Secretary CJIASIL will become laws, checks the cur rency inflation, and improves the public credit. The currency panic: is regarded here as likely:to be sue. ceeded by a panic against the gold speculators. The Patent Office. The annual report of the Commissioner of Patents shows that 5,038 applicatiordi for patents were made during 136; and that 3,621 were granted; caveate filed, 829; applications for extension, 41; patents extended, l 22; patents eXpired, 648. All except 83 of the patents granted were issued to citizens of the 'United States. $153,618 were received for patents, reissues; ; $ll,OBl fpr copies, and the recording expenses were $1822,600. The receipts were swollen by an appropriation for refunding moneys expended of nearly $41,000. The cost of clerk-hire was up w.arda of $112,000, of wkiih $44,462 was for tempo rary clerks. The McDowell Court of Inquiry. The evidenie in the McDowell court of inquiry is ,closed. Gen.MeDoweLL will, on Monday, submit : his statenient'reviewlng the testimony. bi,ew.Yoilt Chamber of Commerce. NEW YORK, Feb. t.-At aTmeeting of the Chamber of Commerte, , ,to.day, a resolution was adopted dis countenancing the effbrts of Secessionists and others.. to depreciate dile United States legal-tender cur- . 'rency.below the par of the non-specie-paying banks. An address in behalf of. the North was read fro ; the operatives of Preston, England, many hundreds . lof.whom ' aays the address, express the wish to e !grate to America. LATEST FROM CHARLESTON. THE BLOCKADE NOT RAISED. AItRIVAL OF OUR IRON-MADS. THE CITY TO BE ATTACKED WAsnizroTow, Feb. s. = Tbe. reports in regard to the encounter off Charleston harbor, being from rebel sources, are doubtless greatly exaggerated. There has been no interruption of the blockade, and no such. seam:option will be admitted by the Government. A telegram was received from Fortress Monroe to-day, saying 7 "General Dix le- in. receipt of rebel news from Charleston to the. ad instant, at which time the port was thoroughly blockaded, the Federal iron-cladb lying inside or the• wooden walls. 'rite former were not with the fleet at the time of the attack on the let instant. An attack upon the citrwas momentarily expected , on the 3d. A despatch-boat, with an official account from Admiral Dupont, le hourly expected. ADDITIONAL DETAILS. THE NMI , I /10NSIDE6 OPW CHARLDSTON-TDE: RIC/I MOND EXAMINED. AND THY. NAVAL VICTORY-PIN ATTACK ON PORT 1101.,LL6TER BALTI mons, Feb. 6.—The news later from Fortress Monroe, which has just been received, contains ex tracts from Richmond papers of the 2d and 3dinat., giving an account of the affair at Charleston. The following deapatches are addLtional to those already published : The Richmond Dispatch of the 3d inst. says thatthe Yankee iron-clad New Ironsides is lying in the offing near Charleston bar. BALTnione, Feb. 6.—Strange to say, the Rich mond Examiner of the 3d inst. makes no sort of re ference to the great rebel victory and raising of the blockade, but simply has this announcement "THE SEW lItONSIDES OWI ClUata:STorr.l) "CrrAtimEs.rorr, Feb. 2.—The British ship Carde one touched off Charleston bar this afternoon. An officer with a boat's crew came up to the city, pass ing by the Yankee ironclad New fronsides, lying in the offing. ,, The Richmond Examiner of the same date has the following: SAVANNAH, Feb. I.—During the attack upon Fort McAllister this morning, the_ flag-st%tt of the iron clad was shot away. She was anchored within one thousand yards of the fort. She retired, evidently injured, as she did not reply to the shots from the fort when retiting. The parapet port of one of the guns of the fort was entirely demolished. The •men remained firm. There is no excitement, but the best spirit pro. vans. About 3 o'clock this afternoon, one ironclad and a gunboat approached within two miles of Thunder bolt Battery, dipped a flag, fired two shots and re tired. The Thunderbolt Battery is five miles south of the city. The gunboats came up to St. Mary's on . Monday last ; one of them went up the river and set fire to the houses on several plantations; Captain Harrison's company of cavalry fired on them, when they hauled out to a distance out of range of small arms and shelled furiously. Another boat was landing men in St. Mary's on Tuesday. A rriva of Union Prisoners—Severity of the Storm—Sehoouers Aground—Rescue of the Steamer Monitor. FORTRESS MONROE, Feb. 4.—The nag -of-truce steamboat New York arrived to-day noon from City Point, bringing down seven hundred and fifty-three Union prisoners from Richmond, who report more prisoners now there, ready to be exchanged. News has just reached here that an unknown schooner is sunk on the middle grounds between Old Point and Cape Charles, and the crew were clinging to the rigging. Captain J. M. Hunt immediately despatched a steamer to their relief. One other steamer is aground near Old Point, and four aground on the bar between Sewall's Point and the Rip Raps. The storm was very severe, but has abated. The steamer Monitor, which got aground night before last, has been gotten off. She was loaded with horses, and as soon as she takes in coal will Sail for North Carolina. 774 We hear of two more schooners Ashore between here and Cape Henry. It 113 expected that the most of these schooners will be Rot off soon by the steam tugs which are being sent to their aid. 6 cocLocir. P. M.—The steamer sent out to rescue the men in the rigging of the schooner sunk in the middle ground has not yet returned. ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE. The Rebels Repulsed nt Fart Donelsonl Federal Loss Small Nothing Further inrom Island No.lo. CAIRO, Feb. 4.—General Tuttle received a despatch this afternoon stating that the rebels were repulsed at Fort Donelson with considerable slaughter. The Federal loss was from forty to fifty; Nothing further has been heard from the rebels at Island No. 10. It is supposed the attacking party were completely driven off. NASRVILLM, Feb. 4.—About 6,000 cavalry under Wheeler, Stearns, and 'Whaiton, who attacked our force at Fort Donclson, were repulsed and utterly routed. Gen. Mitchell has selected the prominent Seeee doilies here in providing quarters lot. the Confede rate wounded. Forty-live of the wounded from Fort Donelson have been thus quartered. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis' division, with a brigade of cavalry, now occupy Franklin. ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Sir Feet of Water lit the Vicksburg Caual— The Rebel Force 60,000—Further Details of the Fight at Fort Donelson—Feelings of our Generals and Soldiers. CAIRO, Feb. s.—Our forces at Vicksburg are re pairing the crevasses in the levees, made last fall, in order to keep the water out of their camp. There is now six feet of water In the canal, but It is doing but little execution in widening or deepen ing the channel. The rebel force at Vicksburg is estimated at 60,000, and this is believed to be all they can raise. One thousand negroes are to be sent from Diem phis to work on the canal. A despatch from Fort Donelson to•night, says that the fight lasted from 1 till 8 o'clock, when the rebels retired in great disorder southward. The rebel killed is estimated at 200, and the wounded at 500. Our loss was 2 killed and 41 wounded and missing. An intelligent gentlenian, who has conversed with the different major generals and briga dier generale in General Grant's army, with the understanding that he wanted an expression on the subject of the action of our State Legislatures in Illinois and Indiana, reports that they denounced the Copperheads to a men, and compared them rather unfavorable with Jeff' Davis. General John A. Logan, known throughout the Northwest as a Democrat, remarked : "Tell them up North, for me, that we can whip the rebels. We are going to do it, and when we are done we are to return home. When we get there we shall yet be strong enough to summarily punish Any secession sympathizers or peace preachers that we may be able to find in our way." OCCASIONAL Gen. Loomis was equally strong in his language. Our Illinois and all IWeetern soldiers are unani mous in denouncing every man who raises his voice for peace, peace conventions, or armistices. They are only anxious to be allowed the privilege of going forward and putting down rebellion at the point of the bayonet. They do not fear the result. General 'McClellan 1 Town—Cftre of the Wounded Soldiers—Serhius Illness of Col. BOSTON, Feb. s.—The Board, of Aldermenr by a tie: vote, refused to pass the resolutions extending the hospitalities of the city to Gen. McClellan. He visited Salem to-day, and was welcomed by a salute of thirteen guns. A salute also greeeted the passage of the train through Lynn. - A large delegation of the citizens of Augusta, Maine, including the members of the Legislature, are expected to arrive here to-night to pay their respects to General McClellan. The State Medical Society, at their annual meet ing, appointed a committee to confer with our State societies and the Governors to secure reforms neces sary to the comfort and safety of volunteers in the army, and to transfer the Wounded soldiers to their homes. Colonel Cross, of the New Hampshire Fifth; is dangerouslysick in this city. He was on his way to join his regiment. ALTOONA, PL, Feb. s.—The severest snow storm that has occurred here for several years has pre veiled throughout' the day. It has drifted so much on the track as to hinder the passage of trains, and at 10 o'clock this evening there were twelve trains snowed up in the vicinity of Galitzln. NEW Yonx, February 6.—A. fire occurred nt 3 o'clock this morning, in the cap store of Messrs. Ri naldo and Lasky, on the third floor of No. IGO Broad way. That floor and the rear of the entire building were consumed. The total loss, including the build ing, is $25,000. The other sufferers arc Messrs. Per kins, Stern, & Co., Sranzant & Ledgerwood, Joseph Murphy, Machold & Wickless, lff. May, and F. Mac clued, the owners of the building. Theirlosses range from $l,OOO to $7,000 each. No. 162, occupied by the Rope Express Company, Westcott's Express, sod others, was damaged by water. Loss $5,000 to $7,000. B . A . Vllo t it a T u reb. s.—Flour le himrant. Ohio V 7.81. mdc; coffee firm aT.T4TX."ged Whisky tlrm at 65 FLAX-COTTON.—We are very glad to see that the Senate, in its appropriations for the Agricultu ral Department, provided $20,000 for experiments In preparing hemp and flax as a substitute for cotton. Invention has already reached a point where it seems to be on the very verge of complete success, in the manufacture of flax on cotton machinery. Our most skilful manufacturers and machinists, in this part of the country, are very sanguine in their belief that the result will be accomplished, and - those who have given most attention to the subject are the men who are most sanguine. But the requisite investigations and experiments need to be conducted on a scale which requires some considerable outlay. If the problem shall be solved, and the vast quanti ties of materials that are now absolutely thrown away shall be used upon the spindles that are now spinning cotton that costs a dollar a pound, what a blessing it will be to the West, to the East, to the whole world ! • DEATH OF AN OLD SOLDIER.—Jacob R. Bright, Esq., died very suddenly of disease of the heart, at his residence, in Reading, on Sunday after noon last. Dlr. Bright was a native of the city of Beading, ..iterks county, a highly respected citizen, a soldier of the war of 1812, and a reSident of that sOnlqairice THE SOUTHERN COAST. FROM BOSTON. Snow 011 the Fire in New York. Markets by Telegraph. XXXVIIth CONGRESS—Third Session. WASHINGTOIf, February 6, 1863. SENATE. IfydrogrAphie Coast Charts. The VICE PRESIDENT presented• a; memorial from the shipmasters of New York and insurance companies, risking tri.hsve prepared liydrographle 'want charts, for the . use of "icemen. Pennsylvania Petition. Mr. ICESDll'rli (Dem.), of Oregon, presented the petition of citizens al Pennsylvania, asking. for a reliable camp, hospital,. anti ambulance corys. Mr. Hammer's Credentials. Mr. ItICP. (Dena), of Minnesota, presented' the crecleretlaLq of Hon. Alexander J. Ramsey, elected United States Senator fronyMlnnesota from thr4th• of Ma)eh next. • 'Kansas Railroads wed; Telegraphs. Mr. POMEROY (Rep.), of kenene, introducer, a' bill to aid the construction 00 ridlroada and telt graphe in Kanefts. Death of General Ward. Mr. SUMNER , (Rep.), of Massachusetts, offered a resolution requesting the Presidecr to communicate to the Senate, I f compatible with the•public interest, any information he may have received from the le gation in. China fn regard to the death of General Ward, a citizen of the United States, Lathe military service of the Chinese Government. The molutionwea adopted. Captain John lVeather: • Mr. WALL (Demi', of New Jersey, c4rered a re solution requesting the Military Committee to in quire into the case of Captain John Weathers, for merly of the 4th New .Trosey Reglment,who has been confined for several mouths In Fort Delaware, ana report in relation to thcreharges against him, and by what authority he was confined. Laid over. Court Juirles. Mr. TRUMBULL (Weis of Illinois, called up the bill in relation.to junes•in the courts of the United States. The National Alasociatioirk. Mr. GRIMES (Rep.), of lowa, introduced a bill to Incorporate the National Aeimeiation for the Re lief of Colored Women and Children, Referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. Bills Passed Mr. TRUMBULII. eatled• up the bill concerning courts in Washington Territory. Passed. Also, the bill to temporarily supply vacancies in the Executive departments. Passed. Also, a bill fo change the time or holding the Dis trict Courts in certsiti.distrions Passed. The .111411410. BM The bill to encourage enlistments, and the enrol ment and drafting of militia, was taken up, the question being on Mr. Crudites motion to strike out the fourth section. It was discussed at conside rable length by Messrs-. CoLamer, Bayard, and Davis. Mr. CARLILE (D.) wished to call the attention of the Senate to the question before them. The ob jection to this section was thatitgives the President the power over the persons drafted, and subjected them to the articles and rules of war before being mustered into the service of the United States, the same as if in actual service. He Said that this very question was raised and the same objection made in the Convention which framed the Constitution. He quoted from Story's Commentaries that there was a distinction in being simply drafted and being in ac tual service, and that the General Government did not have control of the militia until in actual ser vice. Be said there was an impression that this war is waged for other purposes than restoring the Union as it was, and he thought there was much to give strength to that impression. lie was for the Union as it wfts, and he believed there was force enough in the Constitution if adhered to, to preserve the Union. Force might be employed against the rebel lion. but not against the loyal people of the country. If the policy of the war is to give liberty to the slave or death to the Union, then the latter would be the only result obtained from the attempt to prosecute such a war. If the Administration had a policy, no mutter what it was, it should be changed if it was against the will of the people, and the people have declared, with great unanimity, that the war was not a war of subjugation, but to restore the Union and put down an armed insurrection. Mr. SHERMAN (R.), of Ohio, was surprised at the opposition to this bill. We have arrived at a condition when we cannot fill up our army with volunteers, and the question is, how shall we fill up the army? Is the Senator from Virginia willing to give up the contest 1 Every nation has some kind of a conscription law, and Congress has the power to raise armies. In regard to this section, it simply .fixes the time when a Mall shall be considered to be in the service of the United States. The opinion of Judge Story, therefore, has no bearing on this section. Mr. DOOLITTLE (R.), of Wisconsin, said he had a decision of the Supreme Court on this point. The case arose in Pennsylvania, and Justice Washing ton delivering the opinion of the Court, laid down the rule that a distinction was taken between a person called into the service, and one who was &Avails- employed, but he further says that Congress might 'have declared, and perhaps it was better it should have declared, that the time when a man was in the service might date from the time he was drafted, or when the order was given to the Gover nor; but Justice Story, who was from New England, and perhaps disaffected to the war of 1812, delivered Kdissenting opinion, and that is what is quoted. Mr. SRERMAN claimed that the question really was whether we shall till up our armies and eon tinuelhe war, or whether we shall give it up ; and the bill, instead of being liable to the objection urged, settles the question referred to by Judge Story, and makes the time definite when the time of service begins. He would have had the bill gone further, and made the proper exceptions of those who should be drafted. The laws of France and Prussia had many wise exceptions, which would prevent many hard cases which would occur under a general law. If we would have fewer political speeches and less talk about the negro, and turn our energies to the suppression of this rebellion, we should soon see the good results. Re believed a proper conscription law, with the hecessary limita tions, to be one of the most important laws this Congress could pass. If no such law was passed, he should despair of success. If we allow our armies to dwindle in consequence of party disputes and quarrels about generals, we might as well give up the contest; but he did 'not believe the people ever would give up the contest until the rebellion was crushed out. Mr. CA RLILE claimed that the decision referred to by the Senator from Wisconsin was merely the dictum of Justice Washington. The motion to strike out was rejected—yeas 13, na is 28. . _ i Ir. DAVIS (1.i.), of Kentucky, moved to amend by inserting the word " white," so as to make it read " all able-bodied white male citizens." Mr. LANE (Rep.), of Indiana, moved to recom mit the bill to the Military Committee with a view to incorporatocertain exemptions. Mr. HOWARD (Rep.). of Michigan, was willing to go as far as the farthest in the prosecution of the war, but he wanted to know if it was the desire of the leaders of the Democratic party to indoctrinate that party with the idea that this is en unconstitu tional war, and that they were under no obligation to give it a support. Mr. ItIcDOUGALL (Dam.), of California, did not understand the Senator or see any reason why he should make a partisan speech at this time. lie would not engage in any party strife with him. He had endeavored to keep out party politics from the dis cussions in the Senate. The Democrats of the loyal States were willing to do all that was necessary to strengthen the Government tuul restore the Union. Mr. DOOLITTLE regarded this as one of the most important Mils that Congress could pass. It was necessary that this war should be carried on, and the rebellion must be put down by the sword and bayonet, and if necessary the whole strength of the country should be called out. He very much regretted to hear this war discussed in a partisan spirit. There was a time when there were no parties in regard to the war, and he believed that now, the people without distinction of party, were true to the (Government when the real issue was presented of whether this Government should live or die, and a military despotism be erected in the ruins. If the people for any cause shall fail to support this Go vernment, and the Southern Confederacy is es tablished, it needed no prophet to foretell the result. Appeals would be made first to the Border States to join them, and then to Pennsylvania, and Indiana, and Illinois, promising them a monopoly of the manufacturing, and under the lead of such Demo crats as James Buchanan, an effort would be made to compel these States to go into that Confederacy. lie believed this to be the original conspiracy to which James Buchanan was a party. The friend of Buchanan, Judge Black, had said if the South went the State of Pennsylvania would go with them. Mr. RICE (Dem.), of Minnesota, asked the Sena tor if he would express hie opinion of Horace Greeley. Mr. DOOLITTLE said he was perfectly willing to express his opinion. He regardedthe course of the New York Tribune in December, 1860, and also the course pursued by that paper latterly, as among the most unfortunate of occurrences, and most mischiev ous in its tendency. The New 'York Herald was re garded as the organ of the Democratic party, and day after clay was saying to the people of the South, " If you go out of the Union, and the friends of Mr. Lincoln shall undertake to force the people to sub mit to his authority, the Democratic party North 'will rise in arms, arid no Republican soldier shall ever be permitted to IPAVethe State." Titis was the language of the Herald till those at the South be lieved that the Democracy of the North Would tight against their country, and if there was a civil war it would be in the free States. The New York Tribune at .the same time, almost equally unfortu nate, said if they want to go let them go. Here was the New York Tribune claiming to be the leader of the great Republican party, sayin g substance übstance to these Secessionists, if you go the Republicans will not fight you. These, two papers working upon the minds of the Secessionists made them believe they could enter upon and carry through their attempt to reconstruct the Union without any war. Mr. LATHAM (Dem.), of California, raised the point of order that this discussion was out of order on a motion to refer the bill. The VICE PRESIDENT decided that it was out of order. . hir. DOOLITTLE said there had always been the utmost latitude on such motions. RIDE moved that the Senator have leave to go on. Rewanted the Senator to express his opinion of the Conduct of the Secretary of State in sending the French minister to Richmond, and in sending messages through him to Jeff Davis.. . . Mr. FOSTER (Rep.) said this was entirely out of order, and he objected to any answer. Mr. WILSON (Rep.), of Massachusetts, hoped that the Senator would answer. Mr. DOOLITTLE did not wish, to say anything out of order, and deedinedlo proceed. The bill was then recommitted to the Military Committee. LATHAM presented a memorial front the Pacific Telegraph Comany, received to-day, rela tive to the Dill to modify the present Atlantic and Pacific Telegraph law. Air. COWAN (t.), of Pennsylvania, offered a resolution requesting the 'President to communicate to the Senate the numbeeof volunteer and drafted men actually raised and mustered into the service by the several States,. and the times when their service expire. Adopted. - ' The .bill to revise the act to. pay. bounty and pen sions to the nien actually employed in the Depart ment of the West was taken up. Adjourned. HOUSE OF EEPRESENTATIVES Additional Poat Routes. Mr. COLFAX (Rep.),,of Indiana, reported a bill to establish thirtpseven additional post routes, but making no appropriation". Passed without being read. _ • The judiehigyipproprintion ' Mr. STEVENS (Rep.), of Pennsylvania, repotted back the Senate's amendments to the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial appropriation. bill. The House disagreed tot hat. restricting the mileage of members to ten cents per mile-to and from Wash ington. The House, by a vote of 62 yeas to 64 nays, con curred in the Senate's amendment striking out the' appropriation for the subscription to the National lniellignicer to the Second Comptroller's office, and inserting one city. newspaper. A similar amend ment as to the office of the First Auditor was agreed to. Before the vote was taken Mr. MAYNARD '(U.), of Tennessee, spoke a kind word for the Inletligencer. - He said : Although it might dittbr from the Admin istration and the majority of the. House as to the conduct of the war, It was honestly devoted to the maintenance of the Government; was-of good morals and honest constitutional tastes; that it was a stern opponent of. treason there was no doubt. Mr. LOVEJOY (Rep.), of Illinois, said he did not agree with the gentleman. The paper was this, that, and the other. Dlr. MAYNARD wanted to know whether the gentleman was in the habit- of reading the Intelli gencer. hl r. LOVEJOY replied that he heard about Were ry morning in the family where he was boarding. It was a fair specinien'cif nothing. Idr: MAYNARD thought the gentleman was not competent to express such an opinion, after admit ting that he did not. read that paper. For himself, he read it every day before getting out of bed. Mr. LOVEJOY did not see why the hitelligencer should have any pecuniary benefit over other papers, and thus be petted and cherished. A- Personal Explanation.. . Mr. WRIGHT (D.), of Pennsylvania, rising to a question of privilege, said that his colleague (Mr. Stevens) in a recent speech, had charged ham with, after having made some patriotic remarks, advising compromise and conciliation which, in such a case was to make 1, a covenant with hell." .Mr. Wright denied that he had ever proposed such action. 'rhe compromise he suggested was with regard to legisla tion to secure harmonious action. lie denounced the rebellion out and out, fram the threshold, and every man connected with it. He Was for vigor• may carrying on the war to put down the rebellion. He should compromise with no rebels it arms. He Was sensitive on the subject of the charge, because it was so distant from his feelings and desire. He war for no compromise, except an honorable One; by whSeh the country can be saved; but not whYle Use rebels are in arms, and in a threatening attitude; Mr. STEVEN'S (Rep.), of Penne)lvania, Was very glad to hear from his colleague. He wiser satisfied that he had misunderstood his remarksc but this was not wonderful, considering the distance of his seat from that of hie colleague, and the con tinuous confusion in the hall. There was nothing objectionahib in his colleague's remarks, and he would take the earliest occasion to• make the proper correct-ion in print. The Nevada Legislature. Mr. SARGEANT (Rep.), of California, intro (kited a bill disapproving of certain acts of the Le gislature of Nevada, whiciS require's' the of of all mining corpotatione mining in the Territory to reside therein. Referred to the'Climmittea on the Jud Naval Laws. Mr, sEDawrait" (Rep.), from. the' Marx! Com mittee, reported a - joint resolution to• revise' and codify the naval laws: It wan palmed. Mr. SEDG WICK also reported' a Bill, which iv passed, amending the- second aeadon of the naval pension act of June 119, 1862, so ae to give the par , ties therein mentioned Twenty Inateatl'of lifteen-dol lore per month. The House consideredtlie naval apn:mpriation wiiich appropriates an aggregate of $03;000,000. The' item of $12,000,000 for iron•war steamers was amend ed eo as to provide that no contracts shall be en tered into for their construction until proposals be' solicited from the principal iron ship builders, and. made olhe most favorable terms. The appropriation for the Philadelphia navy yard was reedreed from $230,000• to , $28,800 for repairs of all kinds. The appropriation for the Brooklyn navy yard was increased. In order to accommodate the three'vessels now building there, 420 feet in length. $85,000' was appropriated.fer the Norfolk navy yard, to facilitate the repair ef 'vessels, but notto be understood , aa re , establishing that yard. Without concluding the action upon the bill the- House adjourned. PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE. liertataatrun, February 5 ; 198$. SENATE. The Senate met - at 11 o'clock, and was opened! with prayer. The SPEAKER laid before the Senate a comma• nication from the Select and Common Councils of Philadelphia protesting against the incorporation. of a company to construct a passenger railway On. Ninth and Twelfth streets, which was read and re !erred to the Committee on Railroads. Also, the resolutions.of theboard.of.Port•Wardena against the passage of the bill read in the Senate by Air. Connell. Petition% Mr. RIDGWAY, the petition of the directors of the Mink of Northern Liberties for an extension of their charter. Also, the remonstrance of residents on Twelfth: street against the construction of a passenger railway Thereon. SMITH, a remonstrance against legalizing the act of the commissioners-of Montgomery county in appropriating $25,000 for bounty purposes. Mr. KINSEY, a petition from Bucks county for the passage of. ft law placidg the drafted militia on, the same footing, as regards county relief, with.the volunt volunteers. Itir.ISTEIN, a petition from Lehigh county for the• recharter and increan of capital of the Allentown Bank. Mr. CLYMER, a petition from Berko county for the passage of a law prohibiting blacks and mulat toes from coming into the State. Mr. REILLY, two-petitions for the recharter of the Miners , Rank of Pottsville. Messrs. KINSEY, STEIN, and. MOTT, severally presented remonstrances against the rebuilding of the dams on the Lehigh Navigation above Mauch (Munk. Mr. JOHNSON presented the remonstrance of Tx Governor Packer-and 41 others against releasing the Lehigh Navigation from the obligation to re build dams above Mauch Chunk, which was read. Mr. JOHNSON reported favorably from the Judi-- chirp Committee, the joint resolutions providing for an amendment of the Constitution conferring the right of suffrage - Jpon soldiers-in actual military see vice. Bills: lutvoductil. Mr. STEIN, a bill relative to taxes in. the-borough of Bethlehem. Mr. RillawAY,.a bill to extend the charter Of the Bank of Northern Liberties. Mr. GLATZ, a bill to extend the charter of the York Bank. Mr. KINSEY,.a supplement to the Doylestown and Willow Grove Turnpike Company. Also, a bill to extend'the powers of the corpora tion of Bristol borough. .Mr. REILLY, . a bill to. prevent the payment of workmen and laborers in orders from storekeepers. Mr. WALLACE, a supplement to the act to pro vide for the payment of the interest on the State debt. Resolut Lon. Mr. REILLY offered a resolution that one thou sand copies in English, and tire hundred copies in German, of the procla'.ation and farewell address of Andrew Jackson, ha printed for the use of the Senate. The resolution was read a second time and adopted. Bills Considered. On motion of Mr. BOUGHTER, the supplement to the act authorizing the county of Dauphin to borrow money was considered and passed. On motion of Mr. GLATZ, the hill to authorize the borough of York to borrow money was taken up and passed. On motion of Mr. REILLY, the bill relative to the office of Coroner of Schuylkill county was taken up and passed. On motion of Mr. RIDGWAY, the bill to incor porate the Warren Fire Company of Philadelphia was considered, and ruled out of order, the courts having power. The supplement to the Thomas Iron CoMpany, increasing its capital stock, was passed finally. On motion of Mr. mom., the bill to authorize the Lehigh Navigation Company to extend their railroad from White Raven to Mauch Chunk, and releasing them from the obligation to rebuild the dams on the upper Lehigh, was taken up and passed to third reading. The Senate refused to suspend the rule, and put the bill on its final passage—yeas 17, nays 12. On motion of Mr. WALLACE, the bill extending the provisions of the act for the payment of the State interest to the banks organized under the free-bank ing law was considered, and passed finally. The bill relative to landlords and tenants came up in older on third reading, and passed finally. The bill providing for the draining of wet and spouty lands came up in order on third reading, and passed finally. The Senate then adjourned. HOUSE. The House was called to order at the usual hour by Mr. Speaker Cessna, after which the clerk read the journal of yesterday. Petitions. Messrs. WEIDMAN and POTTIE(IER, of Berke, presented petitions from the citizens of Read ing, for the passage of some law restraining the emi gration of negroes into the State. FATTEN, of Greene, one of a similar cha racter. • Mr. LA BAR, of Bucks, one from the residents of Bucks county, of the same purport. Also, one from ice citizens of the town of Hope, Bucks county, praying that the Legislature of Pennsylvania take initiatory proceedings towards calling a National Convention in relation to the subject of our national. difficulties. Referred to the Committee on Federal Relations. Mr. TWITCTIELL, of Erie, one from the militia of Erie county, called into service of the State for the purpose of repelling invasion, asking for com pensation at an early date. Mr. CRAIG, several against the reconstruction of damson the upper section of the Lehigh Navigation. Mr. EARLY, one of a similar character, and ask ing for the construction of a railway in lieu thereof. Mr. 110PKINS, of Washington, one signed by Wm. Packer and forty-one others, against releasing the Lehigh Navigation Company from an obligation to reconstruct their canal above Mauch Chunk, 69 destructive to the interests of a large number, of people who have made investments, and who will be ruined by such release. Mr. REX, of Montgomery, presented a remon• strance from citizens of Montgomery county against any lavelegalizing the action of their county com missioners in granting bounties to volunteers. Mr. SCHOHELD, of Philadelphla,presented the resolutions of City Councils in regard to the arrest of A. D. Boileau. The Arrest of Mr. Boileau. Mr..I3ROWN, of Mercer, submitted the following : Whereas, The House of Representatives of Penn sylvania has, by a resolution, requested the Go vernor of this State to immediately repair to Washington to demand of the General Govern ment the release of Albert D. Boileau, of Phila delphia; and whereas , the said Boileau has writ ten the following letter to Brig. Gen. Schenck, [here Is inserted the letter of Mr. Boileau, already published,] whereupon he was released : Therefore, Resolved, That the Governor be released from the duty of visiting the city of Washington for the pur pose indicated above, and that the committee ap pointed by this House on the same subject be dis charged. On the question, " Shall the House proceed to the second reading I" the yeas and nays were demanded, and resulted as follows : Yeas 39, nays 48. So the resolution was laid over for one day. Mr. HOPKINS, of Washington, offered a resolu tion calling upon the heads of departments for in formation relative to the expenses of their levee tive departments. Passed. The Suppression of the Rebellion. Mr. MckillliTßlE offered joint resolutions ex pressing confidence in the General Government In its efforts to suppress this rebellion, and pledging to the Administration the support of Pennsylvania in its patriotic efforts in sustaining the Government, and thanking the officers and soldiers of the Union army for their consummate gallantry and self sacrificing spirit in their defence of the stars and stripes. Laid over one day, according to rule. Mr. LEE, of Philadelphia, read in place an act to incorporate the Greenwich and Western Passenger Railway Company of Philadelphia. Mr. SMITH read in place an act to incorporate the Germantown Woolen Manufacturing Company. Mr. HOPKINS, of Washington, read in place an act repealing an act passed the 7th day of August, Thal, entitled "An act for the commutation of ton nage duties,” and moved that a special committee of three be appointed to take the bill in charge. This was objected to, and after considerable debate. it being claimed that the Committee of Ways and - Means, to which the matter had been referred, were capable of considering the matter properly, Mr. Hopkins withdrew Ms motion for a special com mittee. - Mr. CHAMPNEYS, of Lancaster, read in place a joint resolution pro Posing an amendment to the Con stitution of the State _ of Pennsylvania granting right of suffrage to Persons in the military service of the country. Mr. PATTLIst also offered a preamble and joint resolutions, asserting that the present civil war could and would have been prevented by the adop tion of the Crittenden compromise or some other measure just and equitable ; that the blame of reject ing that compromise rests with the dominant party in Congress; that the object of the present war had been unanimously declared by Congress in July, 1561, to be the restoration of the Union and the vin dication of the authority of the Government, and not to interfere with the rights of the several States or their institutions; that it was for this object as declared by Congress that the sons of the North rushed to arms ; that that solemn pledge of Congress had been violated, and that the war has been con ducted as against the institution of slavery alone ; and further,• resolving that if the Administration does not iecede from its inflammatory proclamation of emancipation and return '.o the prosecution of the war under the Constitution, it can have no further claims upon the loyal State of Pennsylvania for men or other means for carrying on the war. These resolutions were also laid over for one day. On motion of Mr. HOPKINS, of Philadelphia, the House considered and passed the bill relative to the estate of Peter Keyser, of Philadelphia. Ad journed. "New Jersey Legislature TnExTorr, Feb. s.—Mr. Scovel t tof Camden, (War Democrat), offered the following joint resolutions in. •the House of Assembly to-day : Resolved, That the unparalleled events of the past two years have revealed to the citizens of the United States beyond question or the possibility of doubt, that a peaceful reconciliation upon the tom of our Constitution is repelled and scorned by every State now in rebellion, and that secession means treason, and that in the hearts of - its supporters, North or South, means war against our country and the dis integration of our nation. Resolved, That the citizens of the United States in the State of New Jersey, believing it the duty . of citizen to every 'irselfeilr o es ui ts . co te, Valise s; declare their unalterable determination to sustain 'the Government in its effbrts to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National. Union. Resolerd, That no differences of political opinion, no badge of diversity upon points of party distino tion, shall restrain olwithirold us in the devotion of all we have or can command to the vindication of our Government; the maintenance of its laws, and 'the defence' of the flag of our country. lieferie , l to the Ocunmittett on Federal Relations.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers