The press. (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1857-1880, February 18, 1864, Image 2

C|t |)ms.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1864.
FORNEY’S WAR DRESS,
FOR THE WEES ENDING
SATUEDAY, FEBRUARY SO, 166*.
This wtelt*o Wax Press is lea'Jy, and Is a spteu
■did number. It con^a^nsj
I. EEGBAYIKG—“Wieci of tbe Suspension Brldeo
over the Eiagara, at Lewietown. A superb and truthful
eDgravli?K. ,
11. ORIGINAL NOVBLITTE—“Jes«e and Mand *
By His. Surma F*frle*on.
111. POEMS—’* Two Travellers. ” by Alice Cary *
** Good Sight and Good Morning. ” * Tte Swans <>. Wil
ton,” “The&a»p>erdlwd ” at ••
IV. ALL *TH3 LETFESS OF *'OCCASIONAL.
' V. BBITORIALS—Gfnerai Or»nt Advaatos Propho
tic Gecßrarbl—Postal Improvement-Jefferson Davis to
U> Soldiers—The Umpire, of Mexco-Pennsjlvanw.
JonrnaHim-In Con«rc»—The Abolition of Slavery-
The Frefdnieu— Are t»*b Afraid of Onr Creed ? —The Pan
libmiDt of Treaffcu—Pareian Substitutes—Ti« Navy
Yard—Tie War Fn blcjn—'The Sanitary Pair.
V 7. THE CASTING OF THS TWENTY-INCH BOB
MAN GUN. specially reported for Thb Press.
* VII. MlSCtLLANSA—Beheliana—American Mineral
Lards “-The Free- State Movement.
VIII. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE—The Late Infi
del. Joseph Barker
IX. CITY INTYLLrOFNCE—Visit of the Naval Com
mittee to League Ihlacd—Barsnm’s Lecture ou the Art
4>f Money Makir g—Washington’s Birthday—The County
Piifsor —The Philadelphia Markets
X. VARIETIES AND FACETLB.
XI. CONGRESSIONAL SUIfAIABY.
45- Specimens of the * * War Press'” "Will be forwarded
when requested. The subscription rate for single copies
Is 42 per ye=*x. AVedncnon from these terms wilL be al
lowed when duV? '-re fotmei. Single copies* pnt up in
wrappers, res dy for mailing, may be obtained at the
counter. Price fir© c;-©ts.
Our Members of Congress and X«eague
Island.
It is one of the misfbrtunes of Philadel
phia, as it has frequently been the misfor
tune of the State of Pennsylvania itself, that
-whenever a great enterprise is suggested toy
-which the whole community is to be bene
fited, rival interests,, and too often personal
•corruptions, intervene to defeat the’ object
■which, ought to receive the support of all
concerned. The dissensions in regard to
the line of steamships, which promised a few
weeks ago to he so successfully completed,
that -we might have direct and rapid means of.
communication with Liverpool, may at last
. defeat—as it has undoubtedly jeopardized—
that most praiseworthy project. And if the
new navy yard should he denied to Phila
delphia, and located at some insufficient and
insignificant port in Hew England, the re
sult may be fairly attributed to the spirit—
which we will hot designate as the spirit of
cupidity and envy—which has set up a com
petition in the neighborhood of Chester,
and which has probably been encouraged
by merely mercenary motives among a few
even in this city. It was a favorite saying
of the lamented Judge Kane, whenever he
came to talk of Philadelphia and of Penn
sylvania, that our people were a good deal
like the boys who saw one of their number
mounted behind a wagoD, and who, out of
sheer envy at his success, could not refrain
naming forward to tell the driver to “ cut
behind,” It is only by a tenacious unity of
sentiment and action that any people can
ever hope to obtain the lead ; precisely as
it is with an individual, who must un
doubtedly fall behind his competitors
unless he is self-reliant and vigilant. Now,
that League Island is the proper and prin
■ cipal site for the great national navy yard
requires no argument to establish. Thf
unprejudiced testimonials in support of this
site, coming as well from residents of other
States S 3 from the highest official authori
ties, aTe sustained by every hour’s expe
rience, and by the result ot every impartial
examination. It is fortunate, in the face of
the efforts to which we have referred to
deprive Philadelphia of that to which she is
clearly entitled, our Congressional delega
tion—Mr. Randall of the First, Mr.
O’Neill ot the Second, Mr. Kbllev of
the Third, Mr. Myeks of the Fourth, and
Mr. Thayer of the Fifth districts—has done
and is doing its uttermost to secure Con
gressional sanction to the recommendations
of the Secretary of the Navy in favor of
League Island. They have sunk all party
and personal feeling in order to consummate
this object. We speak by the book when
we say that they have left no honorable
means untried to impress upon their fellow
members not only Jhe importance of this
-extensive improvement to the navy and the
•country, but the fact that the site, freely
offered by the city to the General Govern
ment,* is, after all, the' most available, the
most accessible, and the cheapest, among all
those which have been recommended by
their respective friends.
The energetic harmony among the five
Representatives in Congress, from the city
of Philadelphia, is a double evidence of the
feasibility and the justice of the claim ia j
favor of League Island, and of the strong and j
irresistible feeling of our people in favor of i
that claim. Because, if there had been any |
serious argument against it, we feel that, in- j
stead of this harmony among our public j
servants in Washington, there would be an j
honest and a manly divergence and dif- j
ference. Mr. Randall among his political j
friends, and his four colleagues among j
their immediate party associates, aTe daily j
doing everything to realize the expectations j
of their constituents. Judge Kelley, in |
his speech at lie banquet to the Navy Com- i
mittee of the House, at the Continental !
Hotel, on Saturday evening last, acquitted j
•himself with more than his usual eloquence 1
and tact, and on the floor of Congress his j
exertions and his appeals show how earnest
and sincere he is in pushing forward this
great enterprise. We deem this reference
to these gentlemen necessary—not that they
require defence against any assaults, but
that our people may know exactly
what those to whom they have delegated
their power aTe doing in Congress. If we
shall lose that to which we believe our
selves to be justly entitled, as well because
of the intrinsic merits of the site itself, as
because of the liberal proposition of the
city to the General Government—and last,
not least, because of the unchallenged and
unequalled loyalty of the second city of the
American Union—it will not be through the
neglect of any of those who represent this
community in the popular branch of Con
gress.
The American Revolution.
Five years ago the Abolitionist believed
that in fifty years men -with backbones
would be sent from the free States to Con
gress—men who would look not at the
Southern cross, but at the Northern star.
This was a dreary prophecy. Fifty years
was a long time to endnre that slave-whip
which was never laid more cruelly on the
back of a negro slave than it was upon
the people of the North. Fifty years be
fore the moral whipping-post and the
gag should be swept from the halls of
Congress! Mr. Phii.ijps made a prudent
calculation. The revolution came as a
storm comes in the tropics—suddenly
out ef a clear sky. The day of wrath, pro
phecied at Fanenil Hall, was nearer than
the prophets thought. No fugitive slave is
sent back from Pennsylvania now, and men
escaped from bondage, walk boldly in our
streets to-day, and openly proclaim them
selves fugitives, and name their old masters
without feaT of courts and commission
ers. There have always been Philadel
phia merchants, of the fighting Qua
ker blood very often, who refused to
-sacrifice their free principles to Southern
"trade ; who, even at the risk of the ruin of
their houses helped fugitives to escape, and
•dared to say slaveholding was a sin. Now
there is not one who dares to say it is not a
sin. There is no eye now so preternaturally
far-seeing that it can, by the ascension of
-the Southern cross, measure the path of
-the nation. The North Star, for so long
visible only in Massachusetts, and often
•clouded even there, shines now even upon
•Arkansas and Louisiana, and begins to
twinkle for Tennessee.' It seems to have
grown larger and brighter, and drawn
•nearer. In Congress backbone is no longer
a curiosity. There is a pro-slavery party
yet, hut what is it worth, and what can it
do ? Like Pope and Pagan, the giants seen
by Bunyan’s Pilgrim , old and feeble at the
mouths of their caves, and scowling im
potently at the paßsers-by, the slave party in
■the North can. only scold. There is no
■longer, a Websteb at its head. The sad
spectacle of a grand and glorious soul, de
voted to the Union, and deceived by slavery,
is withdrawn forever. The man who was
f*resident of the United States from 18r.7 to
1861 is more obscure now than the wounded
negro soldier, who, after the repulse at Fort
Wagner crawled back under rebel fire to hxs
comrades in the hospital, and holding up
the flag, cried out, “ Boys, I never let it
touch the ground.” This was a boast de
nied that President who himself helped to
drag the stars in the dust shaken from the
boots of Tenegade slaveholding Senators.
It is true that decent colored women
cannot yet ride in the public cars,
though they may walk in the public
streets, but then a drunken white man can,
so that, really, gentlemen, we are very ac
commodating after all. The revolution is
one of principles. It is enough that in the
last three years we have made more progress
than in the half century before. The grand
victory we have won is not yet over the
South, but over the North. Here , the great
battle has been fought. Talk of desertions
from the rebel armies ! why, every day thou
sands of men desert from thepro-slavery party
in the Northern States. We speak of
starvation in the rebel armies, but how
poorly fed with hope and power is the party
which has its grand Lama in Canada and
its worshippers in Richmond! We exult
over defeats of our enemies in Tennessee
and Yirginia; but what a victory was that of
last autumn in twenty free States—a victory
which made the great lakes impassable
stormy oceans to Vallandigham, and
Pennsylvania a foreign land to Mr.
Reed and Mr. Justice Woodward.
Even in Baltimore, where Massachu
setts soldiers were shot down by the
citizens, as they marched, in 1801, to the
defence of Washington, we find the uncon
ditional Union ticket- for delegates to select
representatives to the State Convention
headed with the rallying cries, “ Immediate
Emancipation! Ho Stale Compensation '
No Negro Apprenticeship!" And when we
look to Congress again, what do we see of
freedom ? Bather, let us ask, what do we
not see of freedom ?
Negro soldiers made an honorable part of
the army; the spirit of the emancipation
4 proclamation ennobling legislation; the pro-
J petty of traitors who laugh at threats and
| sneer at pardon confiscated forever; the
Constitution about to be amended so as to
I prohibit slavery on every inch of ground
j where the sun throws the shadow of the
stars and stripes. This is what we see in
the Congress of 1864, and for the first time
for generations me not ashamed to send
copies of the Daily Globe to Europe. We
see Sumner exposing the barbarism of sla
veiy without danger of tempting South Ca
rolina to prove Ms argument, by answering
it with a ~club ; we find freedom in such a
majority that the minority is hardly to be
discovered without the aid of a microscope.
In the House Colfax is Speaker; Stevens,
Kelley, Dawes, Lovfjoy, Washburns,
but a few of the men who are making
American history worth reading. And who
arc they who want to give the future histo.
rian work which he would do with loath
ing, and wMch succeeding generations
would read with astonishment and indig
nation? Fernando Wood, Cox, the edi
tor of the New York Daily News, are
among the leaders of a disorganized
and defeated pro-slavery opposition,
which, with hypocritical pretence of peace,
makes deadly war on the Government, and,
elected from the North, gives all its service
to the South. With absolute justice, even
the Herald —always impressive when it con
descends to tell the truth—declares that “the i
would-be leaders of tMs opposition party, in
pushing their blind hostility to the Ad
ministration to the extremity of apolo
gists and adherents of the rebellion, have
become objects of public derision.” It
is not only in Congress that this
party is “weak and contemptible.” Out
of it it is yet more feeble and insignificant;
for while the representatives have remained
the same, the constituencies have changed.
Since the Messieurs Wood, Cox, and
Brooks planted themselves in Congress as
defenders of the vacant seats of Stephens,
Barksdale, Pryor, Brett, and Orr, and
the right of those chief rebels who survive the
war to return, the people have been moving
on. The next election will show liow weak is
this opposition, which belongs chiefly to the
past, is repudiated by the present, and will
be wholly disowned by the future. When
we recall the olden pride and pomp of the
slave party of the North, its imperious and
imperial attitude of command, its mighty j
rulers, its great victories and triumphal |
quadrennial processions to the Capitol, and ]
then think of what it is to-day, w#might I
almost pity so terrible a fall. With obsolete j
politicians and unsuccessful generals for its j
leaders, it is marching on in fear to
a more absolute defeat in November
than the political history of the cen
tury can match. It will be defeated by
what party ? By the despised, insignificant
knot of outlawed Abolitionists, who sudden
ly, hy the miracle of national destiny, are
multiplied into millions, devoted wholly to
the Union, loving it more than it was ever’
loved before, because now the Union is
wholly for Freedom. Our Revolution can
no longer be said to have begun in *1775
the struggle then begun was for indepen
dence. The true American revolution began
in 1860, in the conversion of the North to
freedom, and it Will, be ended before 1870 in
the rescue of the South from slavery.
Bankruptcy Law.
Nearly every commercial country has had,
or has, a general bankruptcy law. There
usually has been a distinction made between
Insolvency and Bankruptcy—the insolvent
being a non-trader who cannot or will not
pay his debts, while the trader who does not
or will not pay is held as a bankrupt. In-
Scotland this distinction has not obtained.
In England it was almost entirely abolished
by the Bankruptcy Act of the present Lord
Chancellor ‘Westbuky, passed in 1801.
The present law is identical in England
and Ireland, Two experiments were
made in the United States to establish
a national bankruptcy law. The first,
passed by Congress in 1800, was repealed
in less than three years. The second,
passed in 1841, was in force only two years,
A third measure of the sort is now before
Congress, and, we believe, purposes to treat
the debtor as. simply unfortunate—unless
where there is primii facie evidence of dis
honesty. This is on the correct principle
that, where he cannot pay and surrenders
the wreck of his estate, the debtor, whether
insolvent or bankrupt, should obtain relief
from the law, and have a chance of again
obtaining subsistence, if not property, by
honest industry and enterprise, without
being weighed down by a millstone of debt
upon his back. The difficulty in framing
and penning a general bankruptcy law
arises out of the fact that each State already
has an insolvency law, to the working of
which its business men are accustomed.
A pamphlet recently published in New
York, which has been favorably received
by commercial and professional men there,
is entitled “ Suggestions for an Act to es
tablish a Uniform System of Bankruptcy
Law throughout the United States,” and is
from the pen of Mr. Edwin James, who as
sisted, as a then member of the House of
Commons, in framing and passing the Act
of 18G1. As a lawyer, as well as a legisla
tor, Mr. James has had ample opportunity
of mastering the subject. The genius of
American is so similar to that of English law,.
that the adaptation of what is good in one
country cannot be difficult or impracticable
in the other. To relieve the honest debtor
from the result of misfortune, and to furnish
some security to the creditor, may be ac
complished here, Mr. James suggests, by
adapting and simplifying the new English
bankruptcy law. His “ suggestions ” -in
favor of such a system are entitled to fair
consideration. Many of them, it is plain,
may he adopted here with Advantage to the
public.
“ Errors Excepted.”
Newspaper articles ought to he read, like
annual balance-sheets, with the reservation
of “errors excepted.” Many a writer has
been made ridiculous, or deemed ignorant,
because of a certain error of custom on the
part: of the compositor who puts him into
type. In an article in this paper, on Monday,
we were made to speak of “ the present Anno
Domini,” but can take our’davy that we
wrote “Annus Domini,” putting the first
noun, properly, in the nominative case.
whereas the compositor, not knowing
Latin, and accustomed to the word in the
ablative case, fancied that the editorial pen
had made a slip, and considerately pro.
ceeded to rectify it, as he thought, by sub
stituting the familiar and stereotyped ex
pression.
Reporters sometimes err, for even Edi
tors do not invariably know every thing.
It is an ordinary phrase, in police reports,
When suspected persons had been looked for
without success, to say “they were non ett"
—forgetting that here they put a plural nomi
native to a verb in the singular. The other
day. twelve young gentlemen in this city,
preparing to get up a fancy-ball fit came off
in the Academy of Music, on the 4th. and
will be repeated next year, on a splendid
scale J, desired to give it a catching title.
As Managers of the entertainment, they had
resolved to be uniformly attired in hand
some white cashmere dresses, and this, no
doubt, influenced their determination. “The
White party” would have expressed this
in English, but not neatly, so they put it
into French. Instead of using a noun aud
an adjective (coterie blanche), they joined a
noun feminine to a noun masculine, and
called their organization “La Coterie
Blanc.” They were ignorant, no doubt, of
the foreign language they used, but their
meaning was palpable, and, after all, as Mr.
8 quec-is said, when Nicholas Nickleby gave
a curious smile at a barn-like Yorkshire
school being designated “ DotheboysHall,”
“ there is no act of Parliament to prevent a
man’s calling his house an island, if he
pleases!” Our young friends were as
happy, and made others as happy, at their
pleasant ball, as if they had so completely
mastered French as to lose the power of
writing their mother-tongue grammatically.
“La Coterie Blanc," incorrect though the
phrase be, represents a very agreeable com
bination. "
An amusing article might be made, out
of almost every/editor’s own experience,
upon errors of the press, the responsibility
of wMch rests, perhaps, more on writers
than comx>ositors. Sir Robert Peel used
to relate, with great gusto, how the Hom
ing Post, once upon a time, represented him
as having gone into the country, in the
game season, “to shoot peasants.” One of
the best, a blunder of the paragraph writer,
was an erratum in a Dublin paper. It ran
as follows: “In our Freeman's Journal of
yesterday, for ‘Her Grace the Duke of
Dorset, of a daughter,’ read ‘His Graee
the Duchess, of a son.’ ”
So obvious a theme for merriment did
not escape Thomas Moore, the poet. In
one of'his latest productions, “The Fudges
in England,” he introduces young Fahkt
Fudge as a contributor to the “ Poet's Cor
ner” of a country newspaper, and makes
her pour out the following complaint to a
correspondent of her own sex and age :
“But ’tis dreadful to think what provoking all-
takes
The vile country Pices in one's prosody makes.
For you know, dear—l may, without vanity, hint—
Though an angel should write, still ’tis devils must
print';
find you can’t think what havoc these demons
sometimes
Choote to make of one's sense, and, what’s worse,
of one’s rhymes.
But» week or two sinoe, in my Ode upon Spring,
Which 1 mccnt to have made a most beautiful thing.
Where I talked ot the 1 dewdrops from freshly, blown
roses!’
The nasty things made it ’.from freshly-blown
noses!'
Aud once, when, to please my cross aunt, X had tried
To commemorate come saint of her clique who had
dledf
Having said he ’had taken up lu heaven his po
sition,’
They made it, he’d ‘ taken up to heaven his phy
sician ■’ ”
If any capable person wants to write a
very amusing magazine article, let him take
up the subject, “ Errors of the Press,” and
he may thereby “put money in his purse.”
LETTER FROM “ OCCASIONAL.”
Washington, Feb. 17, 1864.
Unless the signs are deceptive, we are
soon to witness some decided anti-slavery
demonstrations from that side of the popular
branch of Congress which still calls itself
Democratic. There is an clement of the
old and radical Democracy, that which
nerved the arms and inspired the intellects
of “the party’k when it : followed the
fierce and exacting lead of Andrew Jack
son, made up of men who saw the right
path, and began to walk in it ten years ago.
Their old chiefs and their old principles
were, in fact, their best teachers, because,
however the genuine Democrats of other
days may have adhered to the South up to
the period when the South proceeded from,
threats to blows, and from blows to
bloodsheding, it was at that hour that
thousands saw that hostility to human
slavery was the very gospel of a real De
mocracy. These men, like Henderson, of
Missouri, and Conness, of California, now
occupy the high vantage ground on the
developing issues of the war, and espe
cially on that of slavery. It is however
not of these I would speak. Their re
cord is made, and their responsibility as
sumed. There is another class ia Con'gress
and this country who are manifestly prepa
ring to supplement their past offences and
their recent assaults upon the Government,
by an emphatic avowal that slavery must die,
and that the Constitution must be so amend
ed as to give it immediate and perpetual
burial in the present organization of
the “Democrats,” and many old-line”
Whigs. Indeed, in Philadelphia the leaders
of that party are men who gave their very
best years to hostility to the Democracy,
and to championship of Clay and Webster.
However revolting the sight to see such
politicians joining a party at the time it
was becoming a mere sepulchre of its own
virtues, and a mere conclave of disap
pointed aspirants and schismatics,’ we must
not forget that their early education and
their protracted practice was hatred of sla
very. This they were taught by Clay and
Webster, by John Sergeant, by Horace
Binney, Samuel Breck, and other venerated
apostles of the old conservative school,
when to be conservative was to be for
gradual emancipation. And I believe, as
they remember how truly they believed
what these apostles taught, they may well
be startled at their present unnatural alli
ance with, the Southern persecutors of the
great WMg exemplars of 1834, 1841, 1844,
and 1850. Among the adhering Democrats
the diversion of the old-line Whigs in the-
Democratic ranks will have a great effect.
Let us watch, wait, and read these signifi
cant sigrfe of the times. Occasional.
Catholicism axd StAvißßr.— The Uniueise, the
C&tholio organ of Philadelphia, now powerfuUy
edited Ijy Mr. .T. M. Spellissy, Is not disposed to be
silent upon facts wbieh no one can deny. From its
editorial columns we quote the following very sensi
ble and frank admission:
" In a recent edition of the Univerie the facts b;
wbioh slavery is at present surrounded were exa
mined ; and those facts were fairly shown to lUuatrate
that the institution of slavery is virtually destroyed
by the war; that its overthrow is a just punishment
on the South for the crime of rebellion; and thst the
future peace of the empire demands its subversion.
But we now see tbat the Boston Post— which is the
most respectable Democratic journal inphe country,
the New York World, which has been a most formida
ble enemy to the Administration, and the New York
Herald , which has upheld slavery with the most sig
nal ability and pertinaciousness for twenty years,
now view things in precisely the same light. We
Irish Democrats may not like this complexion of
things, and we may abuse tUI we burst the Abo
litionists as principal instigators of the Southern
revolt: butfaots, whether just orunjust, are against
us. The AhoUtionlstg have actually carried the
day, and it is utterly out of our power to drive
them back to-night again. Abolitionism of the
most perpetual and sweeping kind is seizing the en
tire nation. And we may as well not attempt to
reeiat the national ourrent. The tide is rising; let
us not permit it to leave us in the soUtary sand.
As there Is Christian philanthropy In emancipating
the blacks, let us have that philanthropy; as it is
justice to the nation to destroy slavery, let us be
just to the nation: and as the future peace of the
country demands the ruin of slavery, let us secure
the future peace of the country. Away with par
tisanship ! Away with mere prejudice. Away the
nonsense of resisting the national current. Bet ua
at all events aocept with graoe what we cannot
undo.”
The Great Orktral faib von the Sanitary
Commission. —The Great Central Fair for the Sanl
tary Commission, which embraces the district of
Pennsylvania, West New Jersey, mud Delaware, it
has been decided, will be holden in this city In the
early part of June. The almost invariable excite
ment which attends a Presidential campaign was
deemea a mffioleot reason for not holding the fair
In the fall. All should bear in mind that this is not
merely a olty or local matter, and that the whole
State of Pennsylvania, with our sister States of
New Jersey and Delaware, are also dtreotly con
cerned in and responsible for tbe measure of its suc
cors. Of couise, considerable contributions are ex
pected from other quarters, as Pennsylvania eontrl.
buted liberally to the Great Western Fair at Chica
go, and again to that of Cincinnati. But this li sips*
dally tbe fair of tbe three States named. The
splendid results aehleved by the fairs at Chicago,
Cincinnati, and Boston, and the aotivlty at present
displayed in the preparation for the Metropolitan
THE PRESSPHILADELPHIA THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 18,1864.’
B'alt at New York, should stimulate the oeutral dis
trict to enrrgetlo effort. Tbe ladies here are already
at wozk, >d4 Mr. jotua tveleb, the chairman of the
(xecutive committee, U putting forward his at
raDgtmente vigorously. Already sixty ehairmen of
sub-comm it tees are appointed. Co-operation from
all quarters Is desired, and especially from every
county in this State, and Delaware, and West New
Jersey. Let every county organize at onoe, and com
municate with the chairman here. The cause needs
no recommendation, and our self respect should not
allow us to he laggard in a race wherein our aider
States have already won such deserved laurels.
The National Committee appointed by the Chi
cago Convention, will meet at Willard’s Hotel, in
this city, on Monday, the SKd inst„ under oall of
ex-Govemor (now Senator) Morgan, to fix the
time and place of the meeting ol the National Union
Convention. Five vacancies will be filled by loyal
member* of Congress.
A Great Union Paper in Louisville.
A great Union paper is to be established at Louis
ville, Ity., early in March, to sustain thB Adminls.
tration, oppose slavery, anil sustain G-rebn Olay
Smith, Brutus J. Olay, Randall, and Andbi>
son, Unconditional Unionists from Kentucky in
the preient House.
The New Hampshire Campaign,
Governor Andekw Johnson will probably start
for New Hampshire on Friday to speak for the
Union ticket.
It is expeoted one million of dollars will be raised
in (be free States for the relief or the loyal people or
Fast Tennessee. Goods are to be sent free by the
Government, which Is taking a great Interest in the
matter.
Great efforts are being made to put Gen. Shi el
in com rnand of the Department of West Virginia.
A number of Senators and Representatives have
been invited to speak at the Philadelphia Union
League on Monday evening next, to discuss topics
of profound Interest.
Chief Justice Taney.
This is . the coldest day known in Washington in
twenty years. The army suffers much.
Tbe California Legislature, after an able debate,
have by an immense vote declared in favor of Mr.
Lincoln for the next Presidency, and against sla
very as the parent of rebellion. The full proceed
ings have just arrived, and prove the growing popu
larity of the Administration among the people of
that State.
There is a strong feeling in Congress to confer a
leading command upon General George Cadwal
j.adbr.
The President to-day sent to Congress a menage,
accompanied by the papers in the case of the ship
La Manche, captured in August last by the Ino, as
a blockade runner, with a recommendation from
Secretary Seward for an appropriation in payment
of the award of 141,000 francs, made bp the arbitra
tor to La Roux, Fobkres, & Co., tbe owners,
Tlie Congressional Committee ou Whisky.
The committee of conference, of the House, on
the disagreeing votes of the’two branches of Con
gress on the whisky amendments, consists of
Messrs. Wabbburnb, of Illinois; Stevens, of
Pennsylvania; and Fernando Wood, of New
York. *
The House of Representatives several weeks since
passed a resolution calling on the Secretary of the
Navy for information relative to. the modeol ob
taining supplies, &o. The Secretary has responded,
communicating the draft of a proposed law to create
the offices of disbursing and pnrehasieg agent, a
naval storekeeper, inspector, and receiver. It ap.
pears, from the documents, that in the Bureau of
Equipment and Engineering nearly forty per cent,
of purchases, amounting to $2,014,000, were obtained
in open market by navy agents on requisition, and
the remainder by contract.
In tbe bureau of navigation it is deemed unsafb
ard impracticable to procure nautical instruments'
and ohsrts by oontract. Since the war commenced,
most of Instruments, formerly purchased in
Europe, are obtained at home of improved quality.
Ships’ iihraiies have been supplied by oontract to
tbe amount of $6,300. The ordnance bureau makes
no contracts. It is by law exempt from such re
quirement, and with the public exigencies of the pre
sent time it is held oould not be met by the contract
system, as the number of manufacturers la so limited
that they might easily combine.
It is recommended that contracts, when practl.
cable, shall be made with known manufacturers,
and purchases in the Bureau of Construction are
made by contract as far as practicable.
The Chief states that contractors sometimes com
bine high and low prices to complicate the award
and deter others from bidding, and thinks that a law
excluding middlemen, who sometinfes underbid
manufacturers from contracts, might lead to a com
bination of manufacturers.. He recommends that
guarantees be required that bidders fulfil their con
tracts, that contracts he only for specific quantities,
am) that classes embrace only articles of one genera]
character. .
Of file piiTCbiuiES in Ilie Bureau of Tara*'ana
Dock?] lorty-lLue per cent, have been made in
open market, mainly through navy agents. The
chief acknowledges a disposition on the part of
sortie navy agents to fasten Government patronage
on certain favored parties. He recommends a mate
rial modification of the larv respecting naval
fuppllesr
The bureau of engineering in which the eontraet
system Is maiDly adhered to, suggests that purcha
sing agents should have no discretionary power
whatever, hut their modification should be prescrib
ed by law. The bureau of provisions and clothing
is compelled to purchase in the market extensively
certain perishable supplies for the b’ockatUbg ves
sels. Further legislation Is proposed to exoiude ir
responsible and designing parties from bidding for
contracts. It is asserted that men without capital
or credit propose to supply hair a million dollars
worth o( goods, and their bids must be accepted un
der the present law if they make the lowest offers.
There is no doubt that Congress will pasß a law
reforming the manner of procuring supplies for the
Navy Department.
A New 'lnvention.
A travelling clilcc wagon for the Adjutant Gene
ral's department of the Department of the Cumber
land, has just been completed at the Government
shops here. It is a new invention. It accommo
dates seven clerks and a driver, is drawn by four
horses, and oan be taken apart and put together in
five minutes. A similar one will shortly be com
pleted for Gen. Fleasonton’s command in the Army
of the Potomac.
General itenham Restored to his Rank.
General Bskhas having on August 7, 1863, been
reduced from bis rank of brigadier senerai of volun
teers, through a conception that he had broken po
sitive orders at James Island, in attacking the rebel
works at Secessioiiville, but no charges having been
preferred agsinat him, the President ordered his
case to he investigated by Judge Advocate Holt,
who decided that he bad not broken any orders, hut
had, instead, obeyed them to the best oi his ability-
He was, therefore, restored to his rank, and placed
in command of the engineer brigade of the Army of
the Fotomae. Injustice to General Bexham the
President has recently ordered Judge Holt's opl
nien to he published, in order to correct the impres
sion that General Bkkham had not been restored to
his petition.
Attempted Escape of Rebel Prisoners.
The King Philip, Acting Master Frank, arrived
at the navy yard yesterday afternoon, from the
lower Potomac. A few days ago the officers at the
esmpof the rebel prisoners or war, at Point Look
out, diseoverea that some of the prisoners were evi
dently making arrangements to escape from their
quarters. It appears that by some means the prison
ers in one of the quarters had procured some lumber,
with which they had built two boats, in which it was
supposed they were to embark for the Virginia
shore. They were detected in their operations berore
they had caulked the boats. It appears also that
they had collected some seventy old muskets and a
lot of atones, (a scarce article in that locality, and
which must have been brought some distance,; which
they probably designed using as weapons against
any persons who should resist them. It is thought,
however, that but few of the prisoners were ioxt
tempt the escape, unless more boats were to be
built, as the two boats discovered would not be able
to carry more than fifty persons.
An TJ. S. Officer Sent to the Penitentiary.
Yesterday Captain ff*. Wicks, of the 169th New
York Volunteers, was taken from the Old Capitol
prison, where he has been condned for some time
past, and forwarded to the Albany penitentiary, to
serve a term sentenced by court-martial.
Confirmations by the Senate.
The Senate, in executive session, to-day, confirmed
'the nomination of Edwakd h. Dukc-.sll, to be judge
of the District Court for the Eastern district ol Lou
isiana ; Thomas Seely, of lowa, to be register of
tbe land office at Dcs Moines; Ossamcs Irish, of
Nebraska, to be superintendent of In'dlan affairs for
the Territory of Utah; Johw H. Me Mon ag hah, of
Colorado, to be hospital chaplain.
Gen- Sloiigli’s Administration of Affairs
at Alexandria, Va.
The friends of Gen. Slough oomplain that great
injustice hss been done to him by a recent publica
tion relative to his administration of affairs at
Alexandria. They say that the report of the Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War will show Gen.
Slough to be innocent of any retention of fines, and
not to bare been oppressive on tbe contrabands
under his authority.
Surprise by Guerillas.
A scouting party of some fifty men were ambushed
by guerillas when crossing the bridge over Cedar run,
about two miles east ofßrentsvfile, last Snnday, and
Major James. H. Labriher, AsHng Inspector Ge
neral of General Cbawfobd’s staff, was killed.
Two cavalrymen were also killed and four wounded.
Our men were driven back, but reinforcements arri
ving, the guerillas ffed in' the filreotlon of Frede
ricksburg, after having robbed the dead. Three re
bels were left dead and several were wounded.
- Arrival of Deserters.'
Forty-one rebel deserters, from North Carolina,
Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia regiments,
were sent in from the front yesterday, and last night
were quartered in the Soldiers' Rest, at Alexandria-
This morning all appeared before Colonel Welle,
the Provost Marshal Generel, and voluntarily took
the oath of allegiance.
The Weather.
The weather ia bitter oold, with a strong north
west wind.
The Interest on the Seven-thirty I.oan.
New- York, Feb. 17.—The interest on firt; mi',
lions of the seven-thirties, for six months, falls due
on Fiidsy, amounting to $1,826,000.
WASHINGTON.
[Special Despatches to Tlte Press. ]
Washington, d. 0,, Feb. 17.
The National Union Convention.
Belief for East Tennessee.
General Sigel.
The Philadelphia Union League.
Chief Justice Taney is in a most feeble condition.
Cold.
California Legislature.
General Cadwallader.
[DKSrATOHES TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ]
Tbe La Manche Case.
Naval Supplies.
THE I SPATE FROM RICHMOND.
lloxv the TJ»io» Soldiers Iseft
tbe Libby Prison.
FIFTY-ONE DAIS MAKING A TUNNEL,
PURSUIT BY REBEL CAVALRY
Baltimore, Feb. 17.—Tbe escaped Union officers
reacted here this morning, and leave for Washing
ton this afternoon*
The account of their escape ft full of thrilling in*
terest, but, tor prudential reasons, many of the par*
Honiara are withheld from publication at present.
They were fifty-one days engaged in making a tun
nel. Having managed to find access to the cellar of
their prison, they commenced to work, relieving one
another as opportunity afforded. Their instruments
were case knives, pocket knives,' chisels, and files.
Twice they had to abandon their work and com
mence anew, on aocount of obstructions whioh they
oould not pass. They had hoped to have availed
themselves of a culvert, but found It impracticable.
After getting through the wall, they disposed of the
excavated soil by drawing it out iu a spittoon,
which they attached to a cord.
This would be filled by the party at work in the
tunnel, and pulled out into the cellar by their
companion?, who disposed of it by spreading it
in shallow layers over the floor, concealing it be
neath the straw. The work was necessarily very
Slow* So dose was tee atmosphere ia the tunael,
that they could remain in it but a few moments at a
time, and their candles would go out.
At one time, they got so near the bed of the street,
that a small hole about the size of a stove" pipe
broke through; but, fortunately, this was not ob
served by the guard, and was a great service, ad
mitting air and enabling them to prosecute their
work more rapidly. The tunnel, when completed,
was about fifiy feet long, and opened into an old
tobacco shed beyond the line of guards. As soon as
they found the way dear, they emerged slowly la
small iquads of two and three, and sauntered off
until they got clear of the guards, making their way
towaids the Williamsburg road by the shortest
route. The darkness favored them, and
that all the jrebel soldiers whom they met were
habited in the army coats of Uncle Sam, which
they had stolen ttom, the supplies sent to our
prisoners by our Government, was of great help, to
them.
Although they were attired in our army coats, and
many of them had their haversacks, they found the
national uniform a better disguise4han if they had
been provided with genuine rebel' uniforms. In
order to elude their pursuers, Whom they knew
would soon be on their track, they scattered as
much as poislble* Many were their hardships and
sufferings, and frequent their narrow escapes from
the rebel cavalry, who next morning were bush
whacking in every direction for them. The joy
which they experienced when they first caught sight
of our troops, sent out to help and protect them
from their pursuers, cannot be expressed.
Washington, Feb. 17.—Twenty-seven of the re<
cently escaped Union officers from the Libby Prison
have arrived here. They are nearly all from the
West and Southwest* among them are Gapt, Nor
ton Tower, 30 th Massachusetts *, Lieut. Col, Gh G.
Davis, 4th Maine, and Gapt. McGollagher, 2d New
Jersey*
S. C. Brae, captain 4th Regiment Missouri Ca
valry, T. Olailc, captain 79th Illinois Infantry, Al
bert Wallter, Ist lieutenant 26th Wisconsin, James
J. M* Wells, lieutenant Co. F, Bth Michigan. The
names sent are in addition to those already pub
lished, .
CARD FKOM THE PRISONERS ESCAPED.
Baltimobb, Feb. 17.— The following resolution
was adopted by escaped officers today, at a meet
ing held here:
At a meeting of the undersigned officers, escaped
prisoners of war, from Richmond, Ya., Col. U. P«
Kendrick, 3d U. S. Teqn. Cavalry, was appointed
President, and Col. West, of the 24th Wisconsin in*
fantry, was chosen Secretary, The following card,
having been unanimously adopted, it was ordered
to be published: _
Card —Tbe undersigned, officers of the United
States army, and recently prisoners of war, desire to
exprf es their deep gratitude to Major General But*
hr, Brigadier General Wister, Gol. West, of the Ist
Ktgucem Pennsylvania artillery, and tne gallant
officers and men of the llth Pennsylvania ca
valry, and Ist New York mounted rifles, for
their effectual atssfstanoe in completing our escape
fiom the rebel Libby prison, at Richmond,
and the lines, pickets, ana bloodhoundß of the
rebel army, and also for many acts of kindness
so gracefully tendered us in our present time of
need* We desire also, in common with every loyal
heart in The Union, to tender to Major General -Bat*
Ur our high appreciation of his prompt and exten
sive efforts to aid our comrades, who are yet in the
rebel lints attempting to elude their vigilance, and
make good their escape from that prison of refined
ciueJiv and slow death.
W. B. McUreery, colonel, 21st Michigan Infantry.
George G. Davis, lieutenant colonel, 4th Maine.
T. S. West, lieutenant colonel, 24th Wisconsin*
H. C. Bobart, lieutenant colonel, 21st Wisconsin*
Dated Baltimore, Feb. 16th, 1864.
THE WAR IN THE SOUTHWEST.
Reports from Cumberland Gap.
DESERTERS FROM LONGSTREET'S ARMY.
CtrsißßTttASD Gay, Feb. 17.—Captain J. B. Wat
kins, provost marshal at this post, reports that the
average number of deserters from the rebel army of
Longatreet who report to him, is live per day. They
all complain of being hertily sick of the war. Their
accounts are corroborated by their;officers,(who ge
nerally consider themselves whipped, but thinklthst
the finances of the North arc giving out. Sometimes
rebel officers going the rounds, relieving guard,
find that whole lines of their pickete have deserted.
The couniiy is full ot such, awaiting opportunities
to give themselves up. On Friday last Longstreet’a
headquarters were at Morristown, and his main
force at Strawberry Plains, under marching orders.
They believe that Longetreet did not attack our
force because of want of confidence in bis men.
IMPORTANT NEWS.
Tlic r irate Alabama Hemmed ia at a
Chinese Port.
HER CAREER POSSIBLY AT AN END
San Francisco, Feb. 17.—Previous to the depart
ure of the -bark Rogers from Kanagawa, the brig
Mary Capen arrived there from China, reporting
that the TJ. S. sleamer Wyoming was, on the 2d o f
January, off Amoy.
Hea commander reported that the pirate Alabama
wae in the port of Amoy, going into dock.
The following letter has been received by a mer
cantile firm in this city, extensively engaged in the
China trade:
“ Kanagawa, Jan. 7,1861,
“ To Messrs. McCondray Sf Co , San Francisco:
“Dear Sirs: We are enabled by the delay of
the bark Rogers in the harbor, owing to calms, to
give you good news.
''The privateer Alabama is in dock at Amoy,
China, and the Wyoming, Captain McDougal, is
standing sentry over' her. We may hope that her
career is ended. The Jamestown is also there before
this.
“The sews comes by the brig Mary Capen five
days from Shanghae, and is authentic.
" WALSH, HALL, Sc CO.”
JAPAN.
BVBNIJiG OF THE PAIACE OF THE TYCOON.
Tlie City of Yeddo Ravaged on New
Year’s Day.
Sak Pbancieoo, Feb. 17.—The bsrk Rogers, ar
rived at tfils port to-day, from Kanagawa, Japan,
on the 7th ult.
The palace of the Tycoon, at Yeddo, was burned
on Christmas day.
On the next day the Custom House was dosed,
the officials declaring themselves so grieved at the
Tycoon's misfortune that they were wholly unable
to transact business.
It was reported that the fire originated in a gun
powder plot to blow up the palace for the purpose
of killing the Tycoon.
The city of Yeddo was again ravaged by fire on
New Year’s day. The buildings on eleven large
streets, in the wealthy business quarter, besides
numerous adjoining baek streets and alleys, were
destroyed. It is estimated that five hundred houses
of the belter classes were burned.
News had reached Kanagawa, that on the 31st of
October all of Hokcdadi had been burned by In
cendiary fires.
Collision of United States Gunboats.
Um Vock, Feb. 17.—A letter from Key West re
ports that a collision took place between the United
States gunboats Tioga and Metaoomet on the Ist
inat., off Cape Hatteras, in which both vessels were
considerably damaged. The Metaeomet was in pur
suit of a prize at the time, but the latter escaped.
For Europe,
New York, Feb. 17.—Tbe steamer City of Cork,
which sails to-morrow for Liverpool, will take out
8,000 sovereigns in specie.
The steamer Olympus will also sail to-morrow.
Connecticut Union Convention.
Hartford, Feb. 17. —The Union Convention as
sembled to-day, the Hon. James F. Pratt being
el osen to preside. Gov. Buckingham and the whole
of the present State officers were nominated for re
election by acclamation.
Gold for tbe Government.
New York, Feb. 17.—A despatch from San Fran
cisco says that the steamer Constitution, which left
on the lfitb, for Panama, took $1,500,000 for the
United State* Government.
Fire m Maine.
r Auovbta, Me., Feb. 17.—Lang’s woolen mill at
Vaaaalboro’ was burned this morning, with all the
machinery contained In it. A portion of the stock of
wool was saved. The loss Is $60,000. - The fire ori
ginated accidentally.
Fire at Chicago.
Chicago, Feb. 17.— The tannery of Gray, Mar
shall, Sc Co,, was destroyed by fire last night. Tbe
loss amounts to $35,000, on which there is a partial
insurance.
Snow Storm In Nova Scotia.
Halifax, N. S., Feb. 17 A heavy mow storm
occurred throughout this province last night. It has
ooveied the ground to the depth of eighteen inches.
Markets by Telegraph.
Baltimore. Feb. 17. —Owing to the storm and wind
yeeieiday but little Giain was received Good Corn has
advanced 1 cent. Wheat firm. Fjonr dull and heavv.
WM'kv fteady; Ohio fh@9Zc. Coffee firm and soarco;
K:054@34J40.
It Is beginning to be the fashion, now that the
Empress Eugenie stows the traces of waning beauty,
to speak of her Majesty as possessing an immense
fund of wit and gieat cultivation. It has just been
divulged that her favorite poets are Lopez de Vega,
Shskspeare, Motor Hugo, and Alfred de Musset.
DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.
Another Blockade Uunner Captured.
Nuw Yobs, Feb. IT. —' The 6(earner McQKUan,
from the mouth of the Mississippi on the Bth, and
Key West on the 11th instant, haa arrived. She
left at Key West the steamer De Molay, with
troops aboard, the gunboats Tioga, Meta, Cornet,
and Huntsville; also the prize steamer Cumber*
land, captured a few days previous by the De Soto.
She had a cargo of ammunition, arms, etc., and
was bound from Havana for Mobile when taken.
1; xhe McClellan spoke on the Sth, off the
west Foss, the steamer Oahawba, for New Orleans
KANSAS.
Leavenworth, Feb. n.—Advices from Colonel
Phillips l expedition in the Indian Territory state
that he penetrated farther into the rebel territory
than was ever before reached, and is marching on to
Texas with Kansas troops and a loyal Indian bri
gade. The rebel General Cooper has his headquaf
ten at Wasbua. Oois. Standwaite and Adair are
at Austin, Texas. Q,uantrell is at Bonham's, and
there are two rebel regiments at Boggy D6p6t»
loss of a Western Steamer.
Cairo, Feb* 17.—The steamer Imperial, from St,
Louis, has arrived, and reports passing tbe steamer
Orient, sunk to her hurricane deck in Dog Tooth
beDd, twenty miles above here. She struok a snag
at half past seven this, morning, and wentMown in
ten minutes. Twenty-five or thirty lives are sup
posed to have been lost, including the wife of Gapt.
Horton, the chambermaid, steward, barber, and the
oustom-house officers of the boat* She was laden with
Government stores, including eighty horses, all out
three of which were lost. The Imperial brought
down the surviving passengers.
The steamer Continental, from New Otleans, ar
rived here this morning with a large cargo of sugar
and molasses, for St. Louis, and the Ist Indiana Ar
tillery and 47th Indiana Infantry, numbering a
thousand veteran volunteers, en route home.
The mercury was ten degrees above zero at seven
o'clock this morning.
Departure of a Massachusetts Regiment*
Boston, Feb. 17.— The 32d Massachusetts Regi
ment left this afternoon, via Fall River, to rejoin the
Army of the At roll-call to day not a
single veteran was absent, and a large number of
new recruits have strengthened the ranks.
The weather to-day has been the moat inclement
of tbe season, the thermometer ranging from seven
to fourteen degrees above zero, with a piercing
northwest wind. - -
The gald continues this evening.
Fire at Reading.
[Special Despatch to The Press. 3
Reading, Feb. 17.—A fire broke out about nine
o’clock this morning* The 'Washington House, oc
cupied and owned by A. Davis, opposite the Penn*
sylvan!a and Reading Railroad DdpOt, entirely de
stroying the building with a greater portion of its
contents, but by the desperate efforts of the fire de
partment the flames were prevented from spreading
to the. neighboring buildings, whioh were in great
danger, tbe wind blowing very high. The damage
will be about ten thousand dollars.
NORTH CABOLINA.
[Correspondence of the XT. Y. Tribune. 1
Morbhkao City, N. C., Feb. 9.—On the 27th ult.,
Colonel Jourdan, commanding sub district of Beau
fort, made another dash, into Jones and Onslow
counties, N. 0., for the purpose of aurprisiog and
capturing detachments of cavalry near Swansboro
and Jacksonville. He returned on the 29$h, hwiag
been entirely successful, the expedition being a com*
plete surprise to the rebels. He captured about
thirty prisoners (cavalry), including one lieutenant,
a large number of horses, arm* and equipments,' and
destroyed a large quantity of ammunition, property,
&q. His command, consisting of detachments of the
168th New Yoik. 9fh Vermont, 12fch and Mix’s Ca
valry, in all about three hundred men, marched
about one hundred miles in about fifty hours. He
met With no loss whatever. This has been one of
the most successful raids that have occurred in this
vicinity for some time past.
Major General J. J. Peck, who has acquired an
honored reputation in resisting sieges, has issued
the following order:
Gfnbbal Orders No. 16* —Army and District
of North Carolina, Newbbbn, tFeb, il, 1864 -
No officer will tak6 Me wife or any memberof his
faznilv to any of the outposts in North Carolina.
No officer or soldier will briag any member of his
family into itbe field {without express permission
from these headquarters. All officers and soldiers
who are living away from their proper commands
without special authority, will at onoe join suoh
commands. All surplus baggage will be turned
over |to the quartermaster's department, in com
pliance with orders from army headquarters. The
troops must hold themselves In readiness to act
offensively or defensively at a moment's notice, by
night or by day. The amount of ammunition, sub
sistence, clothing, and transportation, as well as
the number of spades, shovel*, picks, and axes, will
be at once reported by the proper commanders.
Commanders of sub-districts, brigades, regiments,
and companies, will be held responsible, for the exe
cution ol the foregoing.
By command of Major General Peck.
BENJAMIN B. FOSTER, Asst Adjt Gen.
The French Rebel Fleet in China*
[Correspondence of the XT. Y. Times ]
- Paris, Tuesday, Jan. 26.1864.
Tbe Monileur de VArmte. the official military paper
of the French Government, contains a paragraph in
its it sue of the 21st Inst., which, I am told, was in
stiled by superior order, and which.concea.ls, under
a simple form, an evil design against the Govern
ment of the United States. The paragraph reads
thus:
u China.—Our private correspondence from Ghtua
is to the 12th December. By it we learn that the
officers of the English navy who had taken service
in the Chinese navy had broken their engagement
and left for Bombay, taking with them the war ves
sels constructed in the ports of Great Britain on
Chinese account. The Chinese Government, in this
dilemma, ordered to be bought in America a certain
number of gunboats, whioh are to arrive about the
middle of I’etrn»ry st Petcbi-li, and whioh are to be
used in the blockade of Nankin. It was decided that
several other, vessels should be ordered from the
private ship builders of Frauce. Among these vessels
are tico cuirassedfrigaUs t which are to form the baste of
the new Chinese fleet*”
The work on the Confederate vessel* at Bordeaux
and Nantes and this inoffensive*looking
note of the Monileur de VArmSe , is said to he intended
to prepare the way for the ,sortic of these vessels
when finished. If The vessels, by any successful
doi-ge, Bhould get into the hands oi the Confederate
agents, the French Government can point to the offi
cial arm; paper as having indicated that they were
intended for China, and that the Confederates
bought and turned them from their original destiaa*
tfon* We know that the French Government often
adopts this small method for securing its ends, and
it may be that this paragraph of the Monileur de
VArmie is piinted with the design I have indicated.
It is at least worth pointing out and watching.
Tlie Danish Army*
[From the London Times.]
The Monilcar de VArmie publishes a letter from Its
correspondent at Copenhagen, dated the 16th inst,
•which contains some interesting details relating to
the defensive force prepared to resist an invasion of
the duchy of Schleswig. The Danish troops con
centrated in Schleswig form an effective force of
32,800 men and 6,300 horses. They are under the
command of Lieutenant General de Meza, whose
headquarters are established at Fiensburg, Softies*
wig, according to a census taken by order of Frede
rick VII., in 1862, contains a population of 378,000
inhabitants, of which 52,000 are Germans. Its super
ficies is 2,250 square leagues. It possesses 13 towns,
14 boroughs, and 200paiishes. Fiensburg, situated on
a gulf of the Baltic, is the most important place
in tbe duchy. It contains 18,000 inhabitants.
The other towns occupied by the Danish troops
are Schleswig, Fredcricksoart, Fredericksstadt,
Tonningen, Tondern, and Hueem. The Danish
line of defence rests on the Eider." This river
takes its source in a small lake at about ten miles
from Kiel. It traverses several other lakes, and
among them the Westen-Sea and Fiemhourde-See,
directs its course to the west near Kluvenslok,
washes Rendehurg, forms the northern boundary of
the German duchies, and falls into the Northern
Ocean near Tonniges, after a course of about 60
miles. The Eider being navigable from Kendsburg,
as the Danish gunboats oan render great servioe ar*
ter the frost disappears.
Holstein having been evacuated, and Schleswig
alone beirg at present menaced, the Danes have as
sembled all their means of defence there. The coun
try ia marshy, and contains numerous lakes and run
ning streams* It is traversed by a continuous forti
fication called the Danuewerk, raised in 1310. and
reconstructed some years since. This fortification
may be rendered of great service for the defenoeof
the country. General de Meza was born on the
14th of January, 1792, and is the oldest general
officer of the Danish He entered the service
at 16 yean of age, and he has taken part in all the
wars in which his country was engaged since that
period. According to the last census, which docu
ment served as the basis for the establishment of
the number of deputies fixed by the Constitution of
tbe 18th of November last (the cause of the present
difference), the population of Denmark, including
the Faroe Islands* amounts to 2.235,006 inhabitants.
Its superficies 1b 36,000 square miles* The popula
tion of Holstein amounts to 397,000, and the two
duchies united, to 775,0C0. Should Denmark lose
the two duchies her population would be reduced to
less than 2,000,000.
XXXVIIItb CONGRESS—Ist SESSION.
Washington, Feb. 17, 1664.
BBNAT2.
Proposed Sole of Mineral Lands.
Presents! petitions of citizens
°l Eimrisn at! spraying for the sale of the mineral lands
of the Rocky country; also, a bill to aid in tfts
ccnstnctlonof the Northern aud Central Pacific Rail
roads. Referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Abolition,
iff- Missouri, offered a joint resolution to
abolish slavery throughout the states and Territories.
. 7 n P rov ld®? that, from and after the passage
of this act, slavery shall not exist in any State or Terri
tory, any law or usage, claim or custom, to the contrary
notwiths'anaiug. It prohibits all iuvoluafcary set vitud-3,
except for cr me. Referred to the select committee oa
s.avery and freedmen.
L>ands for Orphans of Soldiers.
Mr. FOMBROY introduced a hill donating public lands
to the several States, for the support and education of
the orphan children of soldiers and sailors who may die
in the military or naval service of the United States.
® Coinmlttee on Public Lands.
This bill donahs the &ame amount of land that was
given/or colleges—namely: 30, UOO acres for etch Repre
sentative and Senator; one-fourth of the land scriplmay
be applied for homesteads for such orphans as desire
them. Acceptance within two years, receives the bene
fit of the proposed act.
Mr. LA NE, of Kansas, introduced a bill to amend an
act for a grant ot land to aid In the construction of rail
roads and telegzaplis, which was referred to the Com
mittee on Fubiic Land?,
Report Against tlie Amendment to the
Confiscation Act.
Mr. from the Judiciary Committee, re
ported bacK, ad versely, the resolutions in amendment of
tho joint resolution explanatory of the confiscation act,
Which Cassedthe House February fith.
Mr. JOHXfSoii also, from the same committee, re
ported bsck, adversely, the bill of Mr. Bumuer, to re-
Co 2 B tractl°u of the joint resolution
explanatory of the confiscation act, and to declare that
fetich resolution shell not be construed to create any
other restriction on the lorfeiture of the reU estate of au
°.?f n .« B sri!? r^ e . Ba i^. act * than is created by the Con
stitution of the United states in the case of an attainder
of treason.
General McClellan’s Report.
Mr. AJSTHOIfY, from the Printing Committee, report
ed back the resolution to print 10,000 copies of McUiei
.aii b Report w “h at amendment reducing the number
to 5,000. -
The resolution &b amended was adopted.
Kqual Pay to Soldiers.
The bill equalizing the pay of Soldiers in the Unite l
|utes Army being under consideration. Mr. DaViS nf
r * Bl9rk ' tlw
Rcmnikg of Mr. Garrett Davis
He *aid, though the writ of habeas corpus was sus
pended, it didnot suspens the trial which every citizen
has a right to under the Constltutimand the laws. The
' r «!!^? , rt£+v? lft fi CUOllaoa £ responsibility topro
a,\4*r their Constitutions,
and required that certain condition*, whiehwereab
horent to the Juniority of the people of these States,
should be complied with before tbe State shall ba
Unlo n- The re-election of tha
the ***ti<m of a person of similar
radical views, would confirm these
ln thfl Cours& of his SPOSqi'.
Mr. Davis referred to a remark attributed to Mr. Seward
by L o*“ on newipaper authority, in which ths
Secretary of State w reported as bavlug said. “ aty L-jrd,
I can ting this bell and a citizen ol New York will be
arrested, and this, and a citizen of Indiana will be
placed is dure»B. ”
Mr. Davis proceeded to comment on the consequences
of snch a state of affair*. .
Mr. ANVBUNl.ofßhude Irlaud, interrupting. wUhed
toknow wte-hfr the senator from Kentucky was cog
nizant of the truth of the pardgi’aph. it ad would'tuqul'-i
oP ° n,h Mr. Bavl* 1« Tired of T«Uit»S-
Mr. DAVIS declined to t>a Interrupted. as he Kttew ine
g o “se WM W.arr With his talk.ca/tK
th® God’s trutkf? he was tired of .it faun: ell tUfoai
referred to a meeting held at one IWme to
Kaieacbmetts, at whieh resolutions were passe t in
citing the terroes of the South to revolt agaiE't their
maatere. The Senator from Massachusetts tools a Promi
nent x art in that metting, aid vet did nofcr*ieea word
of objection against each an outrageous proposition.
Mr. WILSON eaid he was at t*e meeting as a spec
tator.
Mr. DAVIS proceeded at great length in denunciation
of the course of Massnchuoeets Btnce thegfo'seationof
the Federal Government, and made some satirical alia
iiors to her Senators on the Senate floor at this time. He
said the mUittuy Senator (Mr. Wilson) had attempted to
hull* and domineer over those who were his peers on
this floor
Mr. WILSON called Mr. Davis to order.
The f'HAJB sustained the question of order.
Mr DOOLITTLE thouifat the whole tenor of the te
marks ofthe Kentucky were calculated t )
create personal strife. He should either oall the Senator
frr-zn Kentucky »o order or leave the Senate, as he would
not sit in big teat and listen to there personal attach.
'ibtT WGJ6 JOtonlj out of order,hut beneath i the dignity
of the Senate- The time of the Senate was too giredons
to be wasted m nersonei vituperation-.
Mr JOBNSON arreel with the Senator from Wlwou
sin li st much of what had been eald by the henator
from Ke> tucky was productive of nothing but mischief.
Mr. WiL-ON hoped the Senator from Kenlucky woaid
he allowed to conclude his remarks, they
n> MrsnMsEKhHd never mate any *a«h allusion to
tbo Senator from Kentucky, and he was wuling that t*
should proceed in his attacks against him until dooms
day. .
Mr. Davis then concluded hie remarks.
Mr. Siunncr’s Hew Amendments Abolishing
Slavery.
Mr SUMNER offered amendments to the floastUutiou
of the United States as a substitute for thoss reported by
Mr. Trumbull from the Judiciary Committee, a few days
ago. and t sfc ed that they might be made the special order
lor Monday next.
Mr fcomner’a amenemf uta are as follows:
I'irst, The re shall be neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude an-* where in the United States, or within the
jurisdiction )hereof, otherwise than in punishment for
crin e; and that may make all laws necaswtry
and proper to eftfriceita prohibition.
Second To strike out the third paragraph of the
second tection of the fourth article of the Constitution,
except the words “excluding Indians not taxed,’’ to
that The who) e clause shell read: * * Reprasenttui ves and
diifct taxes shall be apportioned among 'be several
States of the Union according to their number. excluding
Indians not taxed. *•
Third. To elriko out from the third paragraph, second
section, fourth article Of the Coaatitatiun. ths
“No person held to service or labor in one afcats under
the laws thereof, and escaping into another, shall, tu
consequence ofafiy law or refutation thenjln, be dis
charged from such service or labor, but shall be de
livered up on the claim of (he parly to whom such ser*
vice or labor xnav he due.”
On motion of Mr. HALE, the Senate went into execu
tive session,, and shortly afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. HOoVJCfi. from the Committee of Ways aui
Meats, asked leave to introduce a joint resolution au
thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to. sell any
suTpluß of gold in the treasury.
re*ohuion C< ° f ohio * ot -i ectecl to the introduction of the
. ?*. r : of 4 lowa,; introduced a bill to grant
st> 5 t> * 0W j . to xs eT t? in railroads heretofore provided
i*?? 4 ! 10 the Committee on Public Land* ThU
is lntexded to insuxe a speedy completion of the Miasia
fijppi-and Missouri Railroad atro&s lowa to Omaha, con
n* ctTug with the Union Pacific Railroad at that point.
wii I S/?S o *9r on to be reportpd by Mr. Hoopor
Kfaiffv?;? providesthat ttj o Secretary of the Treasury
i2 r^®4 f ro *P * llne *° time. at his discretion. to sell
< ? 1 . u in the treasury over and above the amount
Simt required by the Govern-
Oll the public debt, and for other
re B \ v ! consent to the introduction
to know how much gold is in
]~e ?hat is the object of Belling at thta time,
and what wil he the effect of selling a large amount of
gold upon cornibprce and exchange at this time? Would
ijyetemf™ Ac tffect of c °avulBingtha whole commercial
Vi Xl J 4ia “a. objected to the resolu
little wi y iie ff s ld wUI briaß a hiiher price after a
w??L,SA S £ 01 *' of lowa j fluid the demands of the Go
vernment for payment in gold had brought into the
treasury so large an amount of coin as to embara?* regu
lar-merchants in obtaining gold to dischfrgS thir lta
bUities. Ibis has caused a rise m the price of gold in
tre market, and had placed the GoveruWt (t 5 use a
technical term) in the position of tie Principal l “ b? 3 ”
I'Hleee the Secretary th all be authorized torelieve this
t 2 0 prirff orVoia! a 8 ‘ the tff “‘ wiU iJSa&TSSR™
*“ W , BW York were half a
million in gold. So. from day. to day, as importations
c< me in, the want of gold and the facilities of the mer
chants for obtaining it diminish. It was roVthis reason
too Committee of Ways and Means, while believing it
not ntcesi a* y for the treasury to relieve itself of the an*
ti« am.iuut or su'd oa hand, had prepaid tU B «?olS
t on anthoiiztng the Secretary of the TwwmVfroiß
tlin« tot-me, as the anrplnu will al( ow , to e«U gold to
meet the legitimate and constant demands Imposed by
.The price of Ko’d yesterday reached a hundred and
8 iiy*ODo. The h&iaiice now in the treasury beyond
the wants of the Government, Is eight or tea millions of
do*Jars.
Mr. BROOKS, of New York, said the bill was of great
importance, and should not be hurriedly parsed. The
Secretary has control of all the paper money of the coun
try. end is a great rag baron,
Mr. KASSON. of lowa, aeked that the resolution
should he permitted to b 6 reported to-day and considered
to-muTTovr; hut an objection was made from the Opposi
tion side.
Thanks to Veteran Regiments.
Mr. FAHNhWphTH,.of Illinois, introduced the follow
ing joint resolution:
St it ii€solved.&e. « That the thanks of CongeeßS are
hereby given to those noble and brave men who, having
alreauy bo gallantly endured the hardships Bnd perils of
war for more than two y*ars in support of their country
and n&g. present the sublime Bpectacle of again volunta
rily enrolling tbejn&elvee )n the army of the Union for
a ? 1 taree years’ campaign, or ho long as the war
snail continue.
Second, That the Secretary of War may cause this re
? to be read to each of the veteran regiments
which have re-enlisted, or thnll re-enlist, in both the
volunteer and egular tones cf the United States
- The resolution was unanimously passed without de
bate.
Mhssachufettfl’ Representative.
M*- DAWES, of Massaclinseits, from the Committee
on flections, reported resolutions declaring that John
rL £ is not entitled to a s«?at as Representative from
-he Ji bird CongTesgional district of Massachuaettz, and
thatA.esftnder H Rice, is entltkd to tie seat.
Bureau-of Freedmen’s Affairs.
The resolutions were ordered to be printed, and the
House resumed the consideration of the bill to establish
a bureau of freedmen s affairs.
Mr. Cox’s Opinions.
Mr. COX, pf Ohio after discussing its constituUonalUy
and humanity, staled that he could not support eo
novel, fe\reeping, aud revolutionary a scheme as ostab
lishiiig an eieemosj riarv ays l era f.-vr blacks by the Fede
ral Government, and making the Government a planta
tion speculator and overseer. He held that the highest
humanity was adherence to the Constitution We are
invoked to look the fact in thfe &ce that millioni more
of slaves will be freed who are unfit for freedom and
need care. This is too true- We cannot, bv shutting
our eyes, v ignore the fact He accepted events, aad he
gdvlfed tie humanity of New England, fatt«»nifl* upon
Western toil, to do its pirt in saving the slaves so im
providently freed If slavery be doomed, thentaeco -
flici will be between black and white, and no longer
between slavery and freedom. No system like this can
save the slave, rionewrybtem of miscegenation. Which
l-i but Hi oth sv u&m- for amalgamation,and which ia being
urged by ibohtiomstfi. and to establish which a? a tys
tf m no doubt we shell soon have a bureau, will save
tbee:avp.
- The Northern Democracy are rot responsible fur h r s
Wbiio we never were pre-slavery, we
were for non intervemlon. Slavery may be crushed
ontes the war Roes on, bm so will the slave. Ifalavery
bad to die. good men would have prepared the slave to
be saved, and that it should have been by ibe enforced
action of ibe States not by the rough, usages of war aad
the bass usurpations of power.
For this condition of the slave the dominant party 5s
responsible. In striking at slavery they have strode
down locai liberty, of which the Northern Democracy
are the charDpiers They have marrea the perfection
end perilled the endurance of bur political fabric. For
this they must am wer next fall. No more cry of pro
slavery democracy The issue will be the old order,
with Democracy to administer or continued revolution
with <ze«po.lsm: the grand old Union, with as much of
local tovmißiay ard constitutional and personal free
dom as mey be saved from the abrasion of war am tha
aggrand zeioest of or a new Abolition military
unity of territory, with a trinity of debt, tyranny, and
fdnaiicism.
Mr. Wasliburn e’a Reply.
Mr- WASHBURNE said be had always listened to the
speech with attention, for he barf heard it
sever&l times before. They should not, ‘probably, du
rirg the next session of Congress, hear the gentleman
again ,eheariehis speech; for, judging by che recent
ehetuns in Ohio, and parucularly in the gentleman’s
district, he would say to him, in the language of Warts,
and in as solemn a ‘Ye dying men,come view
the src-TOd where you must shortly lie. *’ f daughter O
Honse to hear What their*fritud
from Ohio had written m his book called '‘Theßatkftva
Abroad, kb to what he saw at Borne, and w. lie'ha was
rambling among the glided corridors of et. Pete™
the mnnio whicli ravished the ear, Sd the
incense whiifli titillated the nose, the author says, soon
m that chamber—what a shocking th'.nstt
plaiß » 4 ftic “. delivering a seimon in
Latin in Ihe most graceful manner. The priest re'erred
to was an abj isiniau. What» commentary, Mr Waah-
P" T: 3 e ££. ld African prejudices. CLaugh-
? r -,\ head cf the great Catholic Church snrronuned
li? th© ripest scholars of the a*e. from »li parts of the
r>?Fi^wt S teniDg, not to our distinguished friend from
uehum^ce^^Sughter 0 ] br ' bat binds
Mr. WA6HBUBNK further read from Mr. Cox’s book,
making ccmmeats as be proceeded, and referred to the
patsage id which it said copies of the sermon of the cltt*
bnt an opportunity wu not
Thanks to Major General’Thomas.
The Honse took np tli9 Senate joint resolution of i hooks
to Major General Georee Thoma. and the offlcVrs Snl
n, Mr' l G* i pyrei o n 1 of a n'i, at thc bl o' J . e «Jhickamingn
lnclnd9 tbe ™ 9
gtSm- . f ARNSWO hTH thought thanks to that offiier
ought to be provided for in aseparate resolution.*
Carfleld’s Tribute 10 den. Roiecraus
Mr, GARFIELD eald tbat the thanks of Congress had
Sf chc i 9p e T M Wme was when tha aka wej<a
-besaowed only for great deeds, sad then In the mo-fc
emu m*nn<tr; fcnUhfinkeare now givon not only to
t t^Ttb? bot ' dil,ates ’ aad inquired
in thanking one man somebody else was not
to thank any man. th*t
he had not seen fit to interpose any objection. Now.
however, when it cents so close to his own history, he
could net permit such a resolution to go through with*
out protest. He appealed to the House rot to do in
justice by aingnng out a subordinate iu battle, and
gj" "I® the thanks rf Congress, wl-hout saying *
word about tne principal; not only in the battle of
i/hickamauKun. but in a series of important campaigns.
homojone has said that Congress had already voted
thanks to General Sosecrans. but that was last year, for
his conduct at Murfreesboro. He wai ready to meet
J!u dea SSk/? t *P aai i. who say Bosecraus
was, not entitled to thanks for hia conduce at CJi'cka
*£ au £ a ic. lc *■** been the custom of the press to treat
the battle as a defeat,. If that was a defeat, we might
welcome all suelx disastern. If our army eon-'*
times to suffer such defeats, the rebel armlet
would soon be destroyed, and the great c»m
paigns limited. The ob ect of the movement at‘
chiclramauga was to drive the enemy beyord the
Tennessee liver, and lay the chase for future operations.
The Army ot the Cumberland met and repulsed the
rebels, and gaised the key of the Cumberland mountains
and held it. If there had been greater snccess against
such odds, since the war began, he had not heard of it.
Our army, on that day not more than forty-two thou
sand, met not less than seventy-five thousand of the
enemy, who threw the weight of his migfr-y forces upon
us, and in the afternoon not more than twenty, five
thousand of our troops met that immense host, and at
mi? charge the rebels were driven from oar border.
The • history of the country would tell us that Rosacrans
won the battles in Western Virginia at the commence
ment of the war, but another had carried away the
honor.
Mr. GARFIELD rapidly traced the military operations
or Kosecr&ns at Bowling Green, Murfreesboro, and at
other points, and said that at Chattanooga we had num
bers superior to the enemy, while at Cuickamauga the
rebels outnumbered us. He would honor Gen. Thoma?,
bnt Tiaoiaas would not desire to be honored at th© ex*
penr-e of Rotecrans. Thomas 5 name deserved to be writ
|n letters of gold. Before he pitted with Thomis,
the latter said to him in the most solemn manner, after
the cattle of Chickamauga: •* By all means prevent the
removal of Bosecrans from the command of the army. ”
This m&n, said Mr. Garfield, you would burden with
thanks at the expsnte of bis superior officer.
On motion or Mr. FKNTON, of How York, the reso-
Intlon wa* referred to the Committee on Military Aifoirs
Tie House then wont into Commutes of th« Whole on
the ttale oj the union on the navy appropriation bill.
Mr. DAWSON, ot Pennsylvania, made a speech in
favor M an amendment paying seamen in gold or its
equivalent. *
, Mr McBMDE, of Oregon. regarding the war ae ona
for self-defence, made a stiong Union speech
H^eadml* 11 ' 0 10891 and a * baWp “‘ «■«
PEMSTITAMA lEGISLATIBE.
Haskisbubo. February 17,1£6L
SBBATE.
pTGiented a petition from the residents
SSl£ idjonmed? ll9 ta faTOr of * clty !,s,sa;!CTf
The SPEAKER pro tem. (Mr. Smith, of Chester) pre
sented a communication from the Board of Comnls
elcnera to dispose of the land scrip (donated to the State
by the National Government), stating that no rales had
yet been adopted for the sale of said scrip, nor had any
been sold.
Kailroatl from Ka«ton to Maneh Chunlc.
,Mr. BICB, moved to consider the act allowing tho
Lehigh Goal and navigation Company to construct a
J«e69 d nl™M. Sa ' 1 ° n *° MaUOll Cbu “- A * , « el to
v The bill wee then read, and varlona amendments wars
proposed Boforo they wore aoied upon, however,
sohu ck iiA K an inueJ!!)).‘fl postnonsment of tho
r. JjA BAR said that he had reasons to believe that
™ lll C a “r 11 lalr ' ?®Lha<l seen borers button.holing
the members for teveral days pact, and even this
leg, on the floor of tho Home. He nndorstoSJi S™'
ovjr. that the bill bad been to arranged In
to be ‘*pnt right through ” The new road, ovsnff eni
structcd. would tuiow Ua sonaago on tha
contoro.led by Hew York iSteresK aadnS *
t'ji would beueflt the coatumeis Milin PhUselT
by affording a new rontmlira^VVwi.'ir I *^
1 Messrs. •. OLSMaV WATSON „d wTg , i o « ; m l?'' s ' ,
the pareage of the bhi iu^exSnded remark? 85, aTOrs4
The motion to ooitpons thdefin® wff lkt
- W»» added to'Sl hS? l Slatrin E th,
rMd to b« commenced In two. and completed fn c
years, >*i
Of the Bill i
The bill passed as fallows; ;
Be It In<Kted.ic . Thu. to suable tha Labi.h n«..
»arl,stloD Co.mpani to
hersbv auihonard w incretwte tho l2sn5 n, ’ they an*?
they are authorized to borrow h y j
act to which this ta a suppiem^t! l '
as (herein provided, by ah additions! amonnt A® B ®*®**
•U e present funded debt of the said eonrsS5 a LSES l J*
the bonds to be issued, or “onets to u {JJJJ
the provisions pfthe said fourth section of tuu act, o»
any pari thereof* at their discretion, to pay oil or caniw •
hftid debt, cr any part thereof,
Suc.2 That the raid company be, and they are EtiPlh* •
ftothoiized to extend their railroad from Mauch Chonii
down the valler of ibe Lehigh to the river asLawara, *
to any intermediate point, and to connect the ■*roe wui
other railroad* authorized or running CO OF* aLon* «an
valley: to build biMcbea ”? t k 8 f C0 * d i“JLi I JJ*h f i L r h
length each; tocrofis the Lehigh *>T 06e *K5tS!L
if necessary- with the “aim road or its branchOi. i #
croes other ra lrvade at grade. •jJ
acrofcs ihe river Delaware, and to !J ithat if*
rt ad with any railroads now or that
bet eufter be constructed in the vicinity in toe stats <»;
New Jeuey; Provided. That in so do mg the cavUi.U,
of ibe Delaware shall not b« Injured, and that
erecting taid bi idge concurred legislation in "BW Jer^j
shall Hist he obmined. . , aaetlon of m.
Sf.o. S That the provisions of the fifth section or ii
act to which this is a supplement hew and
hereby, ex ended, so a» to embrsM> *}• rjuroaa *an
branches, aud the bridges heMbyprovlded #omnau» Ia
Seo 4. That it* hall be lawfnl tor wmpauy
increase their capital stock from exceuruS
amount an may bo necessary P
or to he expended in the «ons#hc«io» of toelr wort-, n j
iißpmcniest, wticb. have been or may o . jj
□I he Camden anti Atlantic, and R'vvlUu-u .
Delaware B»f Knilrt*®,.
Mr. SMITH, of Philadelphia, offered the follow es
Waxeuas, It Is well known that the fhoimj-, r, )r
the transportation of troops and munitions oi war V#l
twet-n Washington and the Northern and Baßtem filainn
are entirely inadequate; aud «« «» -
Whtrmfi. One of 1 1 e railroad cmntjanieai In■
s*y is now endeavoring, by a suit at I^wSSiSSK 1
ard and R&ntau and. Delawaro b4r
Railroads, to take up tbotr ralu-, and refund money rv>
ccived forcarryingtro?p«i and _.v AW dlu
WfurenB> Tbeto companies did great serricft wneo chj
CBpiral was threatened by the r«bel tosions. by vam*
ait their avaitabJe means at the of the uenary
1 important that all aT^*Eitf /Sl*
and should be left open to their faiiau
e3 Jß?olmws, r ThS*our Senators
Congress are reqnes td to urge npeu Congress e .
sure* as wiil open the read, already built, a* J M-l
route, andmtit the man-feet exigencies ( »r (he 'Bengal
Government- and that a copy of the sam.o heiorwaraM
to our senators and members m Cengross inn <*o
The above reto-ution was, on motion of Mr. BAKU-n»K.
rererted to the Committee on Federal Relations,
Bills Intrmluctt.' ' 1
Mr. BLIHE, an set relative to the Hanover Br»»»t
Mr. JJEHT.ET, an act Incorporating the Mewor anl
Bntter Railroad Hompany. .
Mr. BILLINGFBLft an ac. Incorporating the EphraU
and Lancaster Railroad. „ . 1-V i«
Mr BECK, an act relative to tho Philadelphia Ofii)
U*ocompany to appropriate grßOgrl
f °Mrf COCHBaN. an act relative to certain evidence u
C °lt r was agreed to consider a bill
sertamed by the rebel raid at a special, eejjri oll * to "#
held on Wednesday evening next at 7 H ° €s®**; _ , .
Mr. SUITE IN. an act to exempt the Penosyivaniit
Frankfordeni Hornes
construction of anew railroad from oaiumorD w T??w»e
“Mr°. n GKABER. an act to pay bounties to poldlers i»
Schnvlklll county. Passed. Adjourned.
Public Entertainments,
The German Opera.— “ J,a Dame Blanche" was
euog again at the Academy laat evening, and tvsa
even more succeseful aa a rendering than belore. It
la quite a pleasure to hear eo good a voice as Her
mann,’. It 1, rich, broad, and nonoroui, and wo
hope to hear him in opera* where It* qualities nitllie
better teated. Meadames Johanneea and Prederioi,.
and Herr Habelmann, who aang the beautiful air la
the third ast with apecial good taate and feolieg,'
were generally applauded.
Walk tit- :-tkkrt Trbatrb. —We havefreqiiCAtly
adverted to the faults and excellences of Mita West,
em’e repreaentatlon of Lady Isabel Anil Madame Vit w,
and have likewise complimented her upon the very
evident improvement* which mark her present sea
iron. Yet it aeema inevitable that the more she
advance* the more ahe retrogrades, and that tho
larger the audience ahe draw* the leas ehc really
gives them in return. We believe that ahe is very
energetic and' painstaking, and that ahe is aontor.
entious in endeavoring to please. But in some re
spect* her coneienoe needs enlightenment. We have
ao olten reprimanded her for the absurd manner
in which the aing, “ Then you’ll remember
me,” that we give up ‘ reprimanding aa a bra
job. Mies Weatern, though ahe haa improveii
-In her rendition ot the »ong, eeems totally beyoa i
redemption past the point of acceptability she has
now reached. But the principal fault which wo ad
vert to la that ol lengthening out or curtailing her
performance at ber own pleaaure. According to
her humor, ahe dismisses her audience at hair-pisi
ten or eleven o’clock, or an hour after. Perceiving
that one judicioualy-acted point takes ahe ttrlves
to increase the artillery of applause by stretching
the scene to its farthest tension. For instance, In
the dinner-ordering acene with Mia. Comcy, sn,«
Western, instead ot rendering it amusing, makes it
stupid and extravagant. In the earlier nights
of her engagement her acting did not have this
fault. Lady Isabel would never have been so stupid
as to have dwelt for nve mtnntes upon the possi
bility of a whole cow’s being ordered for dinner :
Miss Western interpolates and stretches out this
scene beyond endurance. She plays and trilles with
her Indulgent audience, and makes pause, one
minute and a half in length for the display of what
she considers beauties, Again, when she asks her
husband whether he thinks Barbara Hare a prsity
girl, she ruined the whole scene by her own acting,
She shrugged and pouted without uttering one sin
gle word, for one minute and three-quarters, by the
watch. Again, in BpeaUing with Lord bit. .S'guwa ia
relation to Sfi> Frarcis Liuisen, she dwelt upon lire
point of Lady ML Severn's partiality for the la'ter,
-more'than Mrs. Wood’s novel would ever have war
ranted, and presented the lady in the light or
too prudent wife, and Lord ML Severn in IhaTo! a
sutpioioua cuckolded husband. Neither the novel
or the play admits of this. Occasionally she ir :v
miso In giammsr, and exclaim, every night in role,
tion to Sir Ftancis, "not a very bad man he cannot
Still, takir g Miss Western altogether she has m»\eri'
ally improved. She possesses the quality or tv lai ii
called throwlrg one’s self into a character. We us
sure that the faults which we hgve reluctantly d.vcit
upon are wearying to the audience: and we think,
if they were corrected, Miss Western would cons/ii
date her reputation. She will probably appear raj
soon in new plays.
Arch- stkebt Theatre, “ Diadeste, or the
Veiled Lady,” was last night presented for the
first time in Philadelphia. The plot seems to turn
upon a sort of philopena pasiion of Celena (Miss
Eichlngs), which, in the last scenes, puts to rest the
suspioiCDß of her jealous husband, the Marquis Man*
fndi (Mr. W. J. Hill), and bring* together in happy
betrothal Countess Amatji (Mrs. W. ,T. Hill) sad
Count Steno (Mr. Edward Seguin). As the opera was
presented last night, one or two|very pleasing pss<
•ages had ample opportunity to elicit applause.
These were confined to the singing, and, we might
add, the acting of Miss Richings. In our opinion
she is the only member of the troupe whom It
Is worthwhile sitting a couple of hours tojhear.
Her acting was very chaste, very correct, excessively
ladylike. Too much so. And yet she threw iut»
the character as much warmth and coloring as she
is capable of. Her stDging was very ohartuing.
The duet with Manfredi, “Diadeste, charming
game I”, was dlliciously rendered on the part of
Miss Etchings, and theexqulsite solo in the second
act was sung with such sympathy and sweetness
that it is a miracle how it escaped an encore • Tee
opera opened with a chorus, and with some sort of
a medley song by Zambo (Mr. H. Peakes), of which
all that was intelligible was the refrain, ••Break
your head.” Zambo afterwards favored the audi
ence with ‘'Ohuokabeo !” or something which was
pronounced very much like it. Fossibly the pro
nunciation was Italianized, and oooutringl unex.
pectedly in English opera, seemed etranger than it
would otherwise have done. The members ot tha
Etchings Opera Troupe, In this opara at least, are
not worth lurther individualization.
The audience felt this, and was. correspondingly
small. Compared with the audiences whioh hsva
lately thronged the other theatres, it was beautifully
diminutive. This in some measure acoounled foe
the coldness which marked the reception of the
whole performance, or possibly the bare Walls anil
comfortless appearance of the house infected the
audience with a coldness whioh was enhanoed by
tbe harsh weather without. It would indeed bB a
pity for the Arch to lose prestige, for the- manage
ment has struggled hard. Furthermore, Miss Bich
ings herself, apart from the members of her troupe,
deserves a success which it must be confessed the
audience of last evening did not give much promise
of coßfirmi&g.
CnESTKOT. STHEBT Tbeatrk.—“ The Tlcket-of.
Leave-Man” has not yet received from the public
hi* ticket df departure. Mr. Grover has presented
this attractive play so well, that the theatre is
crowded nightly.
The Saemgeebubd Grand Annualßallls an
nounced to take place on Monday evening, February
acd, at both saloon, of the National Guards* Hall,
and the members of this celebrated society, undee
the direction of their leader, Mr. Carl Gaertner, will
add to the pleasure of the evening by performing tho
comic opera of the “ Incognita,” by H. Hippie. Tha
opera begins at S o’olook, anil admission for one gen
tentleman and two ladies to the entire entertain
meat is announced at one dollar.
TheMorrts MiNßTn.ai.B— This famous band of
minstrels are playing a short star engagement at Con
cert Ban They have drawn iarge ZtaoS
and gentlemen to that place. The Hall is not very well
adapted to such displays, because m ™
tors rise from their seats in order to see and thus
the Vision of those to the rear i, directly ob“ruotcil.
The staging should be raised several feet then ail
could eee. The Minstrels as nartoJi™** ,aea * 1
nal, and loss objectionable thaif anv nrhl* ol1 ®*"
they avoid all allusion to political
programme of entertainments Is enttoall
for the remainder of the week. Ewies iL
men fond of a pleasant entertainment for an^!^!”'
“If fail to *>*7 the Mo ' rt * Mlnstrei. at lease
Mb. Mubcooh gave the first of a course dr .-i
and Scriptural reading, on Tuesday eventog witu
unqualified success. The sacred classic. a
new intereat and effect from Mr. Murdoch’s eloouant
and Intelligent expression. To-night, at the J
Fund H.ll, he will givehl. second Madtag
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, will deliver
at the Academy of Music, Monday, Feb 29t0
National Circus The testimonial
tawT“ h lVe “ thU ® Venln « to and Mr,. Whi“
taker-has been postponed until next Thursday eve
n,n B> in consequence of » death in their family
Father? DErGo »« l CARPETS
of i^q u «M e S I the^ dPl * rtl#Ul " attentio “
1 060 packseeiMuifvi oatber *> *°‘i embracing about
and loto 01 “fioloeand desirable stapla
worsteds llnen *> cottons, woollengf
losna f d * Uk *> *° be peremptorily sold by eata.
month.’ credit, and part for e.to;
U < Tbur »U»y) and Friday mornings,
h« l9tb ’ ** precisely ten o’clock, to
a Mv^^ij he U^**t part of 6aob d »y> by • Toh "
ket sheet, 00,1 auotlonee ™i Nos. 232 and KU M»r,
Auction Notice.—Sale of 1.500 oabbs Boors
and Shoes.—The attention of buyers is called to the
I"l B “ dat . tfaoa ™ .«»!«of oases boots, shoes,
brogans, balQonl*, cavalry boots, fcc„ to he aoia by
, , Ofifißi for cash, this morning, commencing at to
o dock precisely, by Philip Ford A Co., auctioneers,
»* their store, Nos, 625 Market and 632 Oommaro*
treat.