ttt )rtss. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1865. XS - We can take no notice of anonymous commu nications. We de not return rejected manuscripts. iKir Voluntary correspondence Is Solicited from all parts of the world, and especially from our different military and naval departments. When used, It will be paid for. Internal Taxation. There is some prospect, it seems, of a commission being sent to Europe, to in quire into the various modes and principles upon which national taxation is levied there. If capable persons are thus sent— men with no foregone conclusions and un wedded to any pre-conceived ideas hero— much good may be the result, The mis fortune is that this, if it comes at all, will come very late. The inquiry ought pro perly have been made before we com menced the imposition of internal taxation. And .it is a matter of equal congratulation and surprise that the precipitate and fre quently absurd system which went into operation when the expenses of the war had to be provided for has not been even more annoying and burthensome than it is. A fact it is, which our lawmakers seem to have overlooked, that it requires great financial ingenuity to distribute taxa tion so as to make its burthen tolerable. Until the war began, in 1861, the United States scarcely knew anything of direct taxation. Sufficient money for liberal na tional expenditure :was raised by the cus toms duties, by occasional revenue from excise, and by the sale of public lands. The war rendered it indispensable that a large revenue should be raised, to pay the interest on the Debt and to meet expenses —the amount and increase of which no human sagacity could even approximate. That revenue is paid, but a still larger amount might have been raised, in a man ner less burthensome to the tax-payers, had the framers of the Internal Revenue Law known how to do it. In Europe each tax bill is framed by or under the supervision of the Finance Minister, whose duty it is to place it before the legislature, explain ing_ its details and stating the principle upon which it is based. A moderate time is allowed to intervene between its intro duction and its second reading. In this interval the individuals or the classes who may think their interests likely to be affected by the new imposts have the op portunity of submitting their views to the Finance Minister,—sometimes this is done in person,—and modifications are frequent ly the result. Finally, the measure is discussed, clause by clause, in the legisla ture, before the proposition passes into the statute-book. Here, our Finance Minister f lpas nothing to do with the system of taxa tion or its details. A Congressional Com mittee of Ways and Means frames each tax-bill, and a measure which would re ceive a month's discussion in and out of the legislature, in England or France, generally passes here, in a lump, almost as a matter of course, and no one is respon sible. We appear to have taken up, in our new taxation, the very worst parts of the Euro pean fiscal system, and particularly those which, after long trial, British legislation has finally abandoned. For example, Eng land clung, for a century and a half, to the taxes upon knowledge—viz : the imposts upon paper, advertisements, books, and pamphlets, and the stamp upon newspa pers. Our Internal Revenue system levies the tax upon paper, print, and advertise ments, and virtually will impose an equivalent to the newspaper stamp, if the proposition that publishers shall pre-pay their newspapers sent through post become the law. Again, when Sir ROBERT PEEL imposed his Income Tax, in 1842, the English complained, bitterly and justly, that its operation upon perma nent and upon uncertain revenues was un fair and unequal. He persevered, and the tax was imposed as he desired, and a great public wrong, which Mr. GLADSTONE'S moral courage has not dared to remedy, was committed, and has since - been perse vered in. When our Income Tax was im• posed, did our law-makers, when they studied the details of the English statute, take notice of its unjust and unequal ope ration ? They did not. With their eyes open, our " Ways and Means" followed PEEL'S plan, and made no distinction be. tween certain and uncertain income. The lawyer, the medical man, the clergyman, the man of letters—al], in fact, who live by the labor of their brain, whose income de pends wholly on their own exertions, whose sole means of subsistence may be suddenly swept away by a fit of sickness, or by an accident which would prevent them follow ing their usual avocations—these, who literally live from hand to mouth, are squeezed under our income tax as much, and no less, as the milliohaire whose per sonal revenue is derived from the interest on mortgages or other investments which preserve his ample capital in full, what ever may happen to himself. The man whose income is actually an. accident, for it may be destroyed in an hour, is taxed here equally with his rich neighbor whose eternal income cannot fail, for it is the permanent interest or profit out of perma nent capital. We grant that this is also the evil of the English income tax ; but one thing we have done which the British Parliament, had it been proposed, never _would and never could have sanctioned— we enacted, contrary to every recognized principle of taxation, that the income tax for 1863, which was duly paid once, should be paid over again. Such an en post facto enactment cannot be found in any statute book but ours. The proper principle of taxation is to press as lightly as possible upon the neces saries, and to draw liberally upon the luxu ries of a nation. When Sir ROBERT Punr, undertook to remodel the British systein of taxation he found twelve hundred articles subjected to various duties. He remitted nearly all of these duties. The amount realized from them was small (a trifle over $2,000,000 per annum), but an immense number of vexatious custom house restric tions were swept away, and a little army of tax-collectors was dispensed with. At present, in round numbers, $120,000,000 are annually raised by the customs duties upon cocoa, coffee, corn, fruits, hops, spices, spirits, sugar, tea, timber, tobacco, and wine. From the excise, $100,000,000 is the annual revenue—four-fifths arising from the consumption of home-manufac tured liquors ) hops, and the license-duties for selling liquors. The remainder is made 14 of license duties, payable by some pro fessions and trades, tobacco-dealers, soap makers, vendors of quack-medicines, let ters of horses and carriages, game-killers, distillers, vinegar-makers, legacy-duties, arc. To subject lucifer-matches, bill heads, pins, wood-screws, and such small wares to ad valorem taxation, would be received in any European legislature as a sorry joke. Taxation ought to visit our domestic productions very lightly, or not at all. 'Upon luxuries—of food, dress, fur piture, fashion, travelling—the taxation ought to be large. If people want super fluities, let them pay for their whistle. The amount of taxation must be paid, and can be readily raised; the objection is to the mode, which augments the price of the necessaries of life. Taxation upon. a great variety of small articles produced in this country, at once discourages enterprise and industrial labor, and creates a necessity for a large number of persons to assess and collect the impost. There are, in Philadelphia alone, as many its four Collectors of Internal Revenue— each receiving a large income, with a per centage on the sale of stamps. When ens gentleman is capable of performing all the duties of Collector of Customs in New -York, it maybe a question whetherfour Col lectors of Internal Revenue are necessary in Philadelphia. Whenever our system of national taxation is remodelled, no doubt considerable alterations Will be made in "this respect. Too large a staff of tax col lectors, too highly paid, is not to be com mended. • poisible, the money raised brcustome and internal taxation should rather come from a few great than from many insignifi cant articles of consumption. Those who can best afford it should contribute most to the public necessity. Taxation, which is for the benefit of all, should reach the pockets of all, but in a degree proportion ate to their means of payment. We should like to see our national taxation based upon the broadest principles, and anxiously await "the good time coming," when our system will be judiciously revised and care fully adapted to the means of every citizen. The Law of Evidence. An applicant for the benefit of the In solvent Laws makes himself a witness, and upon his examination must produce all books and-papers, and must answer all questions put to him by the court or his creditors, and if by his examination or other evidence the court should believe his insolvency arose from gambling, or the purchase of lottery tickets, or that he has embezzled any money, either as bailee, agent, or depositary, or that he has con cealed or conveyed his estate with intent to defraud his creditors, it is made, their duty to commit him for trial ; and if upon such trial he is convicted, ho may be sen -tenced for embezzlenient or concealment of property, to:undergo an imprisonment, by separate or solitary confinement at labor, not exceeding seven years, and for in solvency produced by gambling or pur chase of lottery tickets to an imprisonment not exceeding three years. Trustees, bank ers, merchants, brokers, attorneys, agents, directore, officers, and members, for certain breaches of trust, are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, but they cannot refuse to make a full and complete dis covery, by answer to any bill in equity, or to answer any question or interrogatory, in any civil proceeding in any court' of late or equity, but no such answer shall be ad missible in evidence against such persons charged with said misdemeanors. These persons are, therefore, witnesses, although in the first instance their testi mony may convict them of a crime, and in the second instance they are forced to tes tify as to transactions for which they are liable to criminal punishment. But a party or person in interest may make affidavits to hold to bail of defence; and in Allegheny county he is forced, in cer tain cases, to swear to his cause of action. In all these cases he is a witness for him self, and if subjected to cross-examination he would be a witness for his opponent. Trt equity, on motions forinjunctions, both parties testify as witnesses now, on affida vits; and if cross-examined, as we be lieve is now done in England, they would be, to the fullest extent, witnesses in such cases. An affidavit presents one side of a case, or, with cross-examination, pre sents both sides, and in England, in equity, a very large number of cases are decided upon affidavit. A motion for a preliminary injunction, involving thou sands of dollars, may be granted on the affidavit of the plaintiff, and refused on that of the defendant ; if both were cross examined the court would have the whole truth, so far as the parties could tell it. These are some of the instances in which interested parties really testify, and we re fer to our former articles for others. Now, what is the objection to parties and interested persons being competent wit nesses in civil actions ? A disbelief in their veracity ; a total exclusion, because we believe they cannot and will not tell the truth—this is the only ground ; if so, no party or person interested ever should be allowed to testify by affidavit or other wise. But the law says no ; in a great number of instances from necessity, or some other reason, we do consider them .competent, and we will judge of -their credibility ; if so, why not make them competent and subject to the same rule as to their credit ? Because a witness is com petent we are not bound- to believe him, and his credibility.is always for the jury. How often do' we heir a judge say this witness has sworn positively, if you believe him; or where two witnesses have sworn di rectly contrary to each other, how common is it to say, if you can reconcile the testimony of these witnesses do so—if you cannot you will take that one whose evidence you be lieve IS most consistent with the truth and your view of the facts ? Why not hear every one, who knows anything, and let the cre dibility of each witness be judged sepa rately of by the jury ? Do you not in the ordinary intercourse of life trust what your neighbor says of a matter in which he is interested? Do you say to him, You are not competent to narrate what concerns yourself ; you will tell me an untruth, and, therefore, I will not hear you ? If such were the true doe trine the business of life would stop, be cause before you will hear anything you must investigate whether the narrator has not six cents interest, which he has not and perhaps cannot get rid of. But what is the evil if you hear both parties for and against themselves, subject to an oral cross-examination before a court and jury ? Do you distrust the capacity of thirteen men, one of them a lawyer of emi nence, to find out the truth ? If both tell the same story, or if it is told with imma- • terial alterations, then there is no difficulty ; if each tells a different story, in what does it differ from any two ordinary witnesses doing the same thing; or suppose one is a rogue and the other an honest man—you' treat them as any other two .ordinary wit nesses of similar character—you believe one and not the other, where the variance is material. But it is objected, if one party is dead should you examine the living party ? Certainly you should—always get as much truth as you can. The deceased man may be able really to -tell nothing, for he may have acted by an agent; but whether or not, why exclude the living witness ? It could only be on one hypothesis, that he cannot tell thQ truth. • SuppOse each party has live witnesses ; the five witnesses of the defendant die ; for a similar reason the five living witnesses of the plaintiff should be excluded. Why are friendly references made of important cases? Because each party tells his own story, and witnesses, competent or not,`are heard, and often without the sanction of an oath. Is it not wiser and more consistent, with our knowledge of human nature, to hold all these persons competent, and let the proper tribunal judge of their credit. The present rule of• exclusion has many broad and striking exceptions, which demonstrate that it is erroneous and founded on the narrowest and most technical views, and that the ex ceptions should really form the general rule. Gentlemen who have practiced in the criminal courts often believe witnesses are rogues, particularly those who are called to prove alibis; but they must recollect that they are generally dealing with a depraved class of the community ; but still, they must concede that this objection does not apply to parties ; for the defendant cannot be a witness, and the prosecutor is always com petent. The objection, therefore, is to all witnesses, and, if true, then no witnesses should be permitted to testify. .But there are signal instances of rogues defeating themselves. A person named SMYTH claimed to be heir to an estate of £BO,OOO per •annum and to a baronetcy, and was the plaintiff in an ejectment tried at the Assizes, at Gloucester, before Justice CorxmDoE, and was put upon the stand to prove his own case. His counsel, Mr. Bovuye, Mr. PHIPBON, and Mr. DownEs wELL, were men of high character. Sir FREDERICK THEBIGER, afterwards Lord CHELMSFORD, was counsel for the fendant. The plaintiff told an apparently plausible story, and pretended he was a man of education. Upon cross-examina tion, it appeared that he did not spell cor rectly, and was evidently a mere charlatan. He contradicted himself; but what finally put an end to him was the production of a family brooch and rings, which he made a conspicuous piece of evidence. The.evi deuce was regularly telegraphed and pub. lished in the Times, when Sir FREDERICK received a telegram from a jeweller in London, who bad read the testimony, sta ting that he bad cut it for this man. a short, time before. The perjury became so clear that the vowel of the plaintiff threw up their briefs, stating 'that they had been completely deceived, and this ended the case. This policy is so firmly settled by expe rience in England, that neither the Legitr lature, the Bench, the Bar, nor the people could be induced to return to the•old anti quated and absurd rule of exclusion. The reader will find the case of SKIVE( VP. EMYTU, in the Law Mrzgazine and Quar terly Review of Jurisprudence, for Novem ber, 1853, vol. 19. New Series, p. 294. The editor says : " Among the causes calibres, which at intervals appear in our courts of justice, the case of v - TR" vs. SMYTH, tried at the late Assizes for Gloucester, deserves to be recorded. We have here an instance of a gigantic fraud being perpetrated upon attorneys, counsel, and all who listened to the plaintiff's story, until he appeared in the witness•boz, when, by the combined efforts of cross" examination and electricity; the claimant of family name, honors, and es. tate was made to appear but a clumsy for ger and perjurer of the fifth or sixth mag nitude. It is interesting to the philosopher and the lawyer to trace schemes of cunning through their dark and winding mazes, as it is gratifying to the moralist to behold the retribution which follows their eXpo sure." " When the counsel withdreir from the case there remained upwards of fifty witnesses to be examined for the plaintiff, and eighty for the defendants." The judge committed the plaintiff for perjury, and said they could go before a magistrate and prefer the charge of forgery. Greek Fire. The storage and manufacture of all arti cles of a character dangerous to the lives and property of its inhabitants are contra ry to law and nuisances in the heart of a large and populous city. Like new poi sons, the number of these articles has been increased by the addition of petroleum in immense quantities in the inflammable re gions of Western Pennsylvania, where it flows out from the openings in the earth and covers the surface of the Allegheny river as far down as Pittsburg. In its crude state, before' it is purified from the benzine, a half-extinguished cigar -will set it on fire, when no amount of water will extinguish it. Unlike gunpowder and salt petre, it separates itself from the water and floats upon it, so that if the surface of a river were covered with it, and then the oil ignited, it would form a river of living fire, supported by a river of living water. The dangers of petroleum in all its forms, crude or refined, cannot be exaggerated, and the horrible deaths inflicted last week upon our helpless fellow-citizens attest the im pbssibility of controlling its ravages in, a thickly-built district. Gunpowder deters the _most - daring fireman, and the expe rience of the past will go far towards inspiring a dread of venturing with in the charmed limits of burning Petro_ leum. Gunpowder has long been prohi bited, and its keeping regulated with great strictness and particularity. To this gun cotton has been added, and since the great fire, fourteen years ago, saltpetre has been put he the same category. To this list the terrible calamity of last week must add petroleum, which may have been the cele brated Greek Fire of the ancients, for its destructive effects are equally ,certain and even more astonishing. First, therefore, the Legislature has a duty of humanity-to perform, for its act of the 10th is lamentably inefficient. Second, the City Councils should exercise their full powers, and they should be assisted not only by the Mayor and his police, but also by the whole . of the judicial autho rities of this district. Outside of Mifflin and Allegheny streets no such combustible article can be brought within one thousand feet or • nearly three squares of any house without the consent of the owner. It is, therefore, left inside of those limits within the range of the common-law of crime, nuisance, and the regulations of Councils. Now, to proceed practically : Ist. A book should be opened at the Mayor's office for complaints of the storage of pe troleum, or oil factories within those limits ; the names of the complainants and their residences should be taken, with all the particulars of time, place, and amount of petroleum, where stored or manufactured. 2d. This might be extended to the police stations. 3d. Upon each complaint the police should institute inquiries at once, and make a report of the facts to the Mayor, who may either proceed to act, or to lay the whole information before the District Attorney, and also report it ,to Councils. We shall then know the exact nature of our danger. We would then re commend that all the fire insurance compa nies— the Fire Association, as representing the interests of the firemen, taking the lead— should meet and resolve to insure no petro leum within those limits, or any building in which it may be either stored or manu factured. The quantity of oil to be kept within these limits should be very small. One of our cotemporaries says there are three hundred and sixty-four petroleum companies, and he recommends they should each one pay $lOO for the relief of these sufferers. Report says.the nominal capital is one hundred millions of dollars, and, therefore, it requires popular action to make the present movement for future se curity really efficient. The whole family of women who were burnt consisted of poor people, of whom we know only the names ; but suppose the family of our richest and most respect able citizens had been the victims, what would have been done the very, next day ? A great public meeting would have been held, Councils would have met at once, the advice of Our most eminent coun sel would•have been taken in addition to that of the City Solicitor as to the measures to be pursued, the Legislature would have been called _upon for the most efficient ac tion, and the whole executive and judicial power would have been invoked, not only to prevent, but to punish any such infrac tion of the law. The name of this poor friendless family was WARE. A Commission of Relief for the Poor. We have often wondered at the feeble ness of the organized efforts which have been put forth by society for the relief of its poor. Even at the present time, when the work of benevolence has been gene-,, rously enlarged to alleviate the hardships of our armies in the field, it has nok with equal assiduity cared for the siffferiEgs of those who are more remotely, bit'not less certainly, affected by, the war. The splen did systems of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, which reach in their opera tion every camp and hospital,, and meet with exquisite precision the wants • of a soldier or an army, are, in their own sphere, perfect. But their business stops with the soldier. The sufferings of his family, and of all those upon whom his absence in the field has entailed more or less of hardships, are, with few exceptions, left as before, to the ordinary agencies of benevolence. That the resources of these agenCies are unequai to the magnitude of the demands upon them is shown by the reports of every charitable society in our midst. It may be questioned, indeed, whether their separate efforts, however earnestly se conded by the Tublic, will ever effectu ally meet the exigencies of the evil. Not one of our many 'benevolent institu tions aims to cover more than a very limited field of operations, and even in that field its work is by no means exhaustive. We venture to say that no local charitable or ganization possesses funds and facilities sufficient, even if they were exclusively devoted to that object, to relieve fully the distresses of the poor of a single ward in the city of Philadelphia. We mean to speak in no sense disparaging ly of the good effected by these or ganizations. They are, indeed, beyond the need of praise. Nor do we mean to ,say that any amount of organized effort will ever render the labors of existing in stitutions superfluous. But we do mean to say,' in the light of the experience afforded by this war, that a system of charity, to be commensurate with the needs of a wide area iof suffering, must ;be the result of con centrated effort. A single , reference to the THE PRESS.---PHILADBLPHIN; TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1865. history of the two institutions we have named 'will effectually prove this. Had a separate relief commission been required to be extemporized for every camp and hospital, and for every battle and campaign in the present war, the efficiency gained by wide experience would have been wanting, and the contributions of the benevolent would have been fewer, because of the many and bewildering calls for aid. The funds of the Sanitary and Christian Com missions have amounted to millions of dol len, because it was UZlieved by the donors that every dollar in those treasuries would be expended at the mealiest cost, and with the least delay, in precisely that spot of the vast theatre of our military operations where the call for relief was most pressing. What the Sanitary- and Christian Com missions are doing for the army we claim should be done by some local' commission for the poor of our great city. Let the gentlemen who originated 'and control those bodies in Philadelphia, and to whom the details of organized effort may be pre, sumed.to be familiar, unite in establishing a relief commission in- this city. Let a visitor be appointed for. each ward, whose duty it shall be to familiarize himself with the special wants of every family and in dividual in his district who may be suffer ing from poverty. Let such a history of each case of destitution, thus brought to light, be kept by the society as will 'deter-- mine the kind and extent of the relief to be given, andwill show its probable efficiency. Let special efforts be put forth to produre applicants employment for those who may 'be able to labor. For such an'enterprise, we admit, the highest prudence and skill, and a liberality which shall compute its offerings by millions, would• be required. But we believe that the good which would result, through its instrumentality, to the highest interests of society,.would infinitely more than compensate for the outlay. We write earnestly upon this subject, incense we feel' that the unrelieved Suffering of poverty, and the moral,degradition which is too often its attendanAare a terrible re proach to the Christianity and philanthropy of the ()resent day. The evil is so pressing, and the duty of attempting its amelioration is so clear, that no rfkhtly constituted effort for the performance of that daty can appeal in vain to the community for the necessary aid. - , As the fourth of March approaches the rumors of changes in the Cabinet increase. The first step in its reconstruction will fol low the resignation of •FASSENDEN, whose successor, Mr, Monekkx having de clined the nomination, is not unlikely to be Mr. McCuiLocu, of Indiana—a man se cond to none , in financial ability and expe rience. It is certain that VI must have a first-rate Secretary of the Treasury. The country has been fortunate in Mr. CEASE and Mr. FEBBENDBIT, and it needs their equal in the future. Our financial condi tion is sound—sound as it can be with a great debt—to keep it so, tiiergy and pru dence are needed. A PEW DAYS AGO, a colored lawyer from Massachusetts was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the- United States. Last Sunday a colored clergyman preached, by invitation of the regular chaplain, in the Hall' of the House of Representatives, at Washington. FREDERICK DOUGLASS, in his lecture next Thuriday evening, upon the subject of " Equality be fore the Law," may well be encouraged, and not even the persistent exclusion of colored people from the street cars of this city ought to make his people despondent of their future. Those rights to which every man is born the heir cannot long be withheld. • The spirit of the age is reform ing and educating white as wall as black men, and neither race can hope to rise by keeping down the other. Mrss Armi. E. DroKrifsort has been invi ted to lecture before the Republican Invin bles, and the title of her address on Friday night is " A Glance at our Future." Cu riosity to hear a woman A.:th2- rostrum has, in 'kiss DramisoirOir:bare, given place to an earnest deaire to 'profit by her patriotism and eloquence. Women, too frequently, profess-that they have nothing_ to do with politics, but the value of Miss DICKINSON'S services to the Union ought to be acknowledged as a proof that the re sponsibilities of loyalty do not rest alto gether on one sex, to the exclusion of the other. Hon. Thomas Holliday Hicks, - United States Senator from Maryland,: died in Washington, yes terday morning, of a stroke of4aralysis, which overtook him on lest Friday. He ikas born in Mary land, and from his earliest childhood manifested those qualities which at once ornamented the man and made him a successful popular leader. He frequently served with credit in the Legislature of his State, and was elected Governor in 1858. He held this office until 1862, all through the oritleal time when Maryland, before and after the Siimpter attack, was wavering between truth and perjury, between loyalty and treason. Even when Treason in the very streets of Maryland's metropolis red. dened its hands in the bleed of the first offerings to a holy cause, he was undismayed by the, apparent strength of the unruly, and took measures, "sharp and decisive," to crush contention while it was yet a puling babe. Though It was al most death to speak admiringly and lovingly of the old Union, be spoke, and in unmistakable tones, too. When the secret commissioners of the Con federaoy mine to bim to sound Mit on thireentiment of Maryland, he persistently refused their every advance, and turned a deaf ear to their every argument. If he had but listened to them, or If he bad made even the most insignificant advance towards their ideas, Maryland might have been voted out of the Union,,Washington cut off from the North and captured, and President Lin coln's inauguration rendered a necessity in some more Northern oily. The effeets of the conventions which met in February and March *ere nullified by his influence, and to him is due the loyal Legisla ture which met in April and refused to pass a semis. Bien ordinance. So admirably did he perform his duty, that the extremists of the State, once with love of the Confederacy at feverheat, slowly (tooled down, repented of their haste, and accepted the Union as a normal condition—an absolute neces sity. . - In 1862 he leg the Gubernatorial Chair, and Soon was eleoted Senator vice James A. Pearce, de ceased. He took Id; seat et the 3d session of the 37th Congress, and, his term expiring, was reelected for the term ending 1867. lifkwaa on several im portant committees in the pricent Congressional body, among whioh the Uommittee on Naval and the Committee on Claims. , The rman Opera. The announcement that the German Opera Com pany of Mr. Grover will begin an engagement at the Academy of Music, next Monday, has rejoiced our musical public.. We owe the German Com pany a debt. Without it we should.be destitute of opera. The Italian companies havetreated Phila delphia with profound contempt, alternating be tween New York, Boston, and the West, and appa really ignorant that we have the finest opera house In America, and a public which has never failed to make the season of a good company sac. maul. We have not had a tolerable Italian com pany in this city for years, and there Is little hope that Maretsek will come In the spring. Thus for all our opera we are dependent= Mr. Grover, and we are glad to see that his anneuncement promisee a season ofenuenal Interest. The programme contains two works never sung complete in Philadelphia—the " Oberon" of Weber, and the " " of Donned. The " Tannhea ser " of Wagner, a work of peculiar power and worthy of all study and rasped', is also announced. Then we are promised the "Marriage of Figaro," ever fresh and charming, a wilderness of melody; "Fra Diavorda "Les Huguenots," "Rebottle Dia ble," "The Jewess," "Faust," "Don Giovanni," "Der Freischnts," " La Dame Blanche," and Repro bably, we hope, "Martha." As the season Is limit ed to ten nights, we trust one will not be wasted on "Martha," which everybody 14nows. The company seems stronger than in the recent season. Mesdames Johansen, Frederiol, and Rot ter are still its leading sopranos. and a new con tralto, Muse Adelina Motto, is announced, with Karl Formes, Ilermanns, Rabelmann, Himmer, Lehmann, and Rob:woke: I$ appears that we are to have a chorus of forty voice*. We have no doubt that the, German Opera will obtain a great success, and it should have, not only from its inerit, , but bemuse without it our *musical season would be dependent entirely upon concerts and oratorios. _ LAwnancE's RitAnnuoa,,— At the Assembly Buildings, Mr. Philip Laid Moe, the well-known teacher of elocution, has - givin tvto series of read ings and recitations, which were so suocessfal that their repetition is inevitable; Re was assisted by his daughter, Mary Lawrence, an intelligent little girl only twelve years old, whose natural ability has been improved by judicious instruction. "The Snow" (by Jobs W. Watson ' of New York) was recited by her VITIL strlkbsg street-the beauty of the poetry being brought out by appropriate action. Bsaelelor" was another of her hits, and Mary Hewitt's "Spider and the ,Fly" oontrasted well with the ,seriousness of other pieces. Mr. Law. fence, himself, drew team from bright eyes by Men nyson's " Death ofthe May queen,” and Famine front Longfellow's "Hiawatha; ' and the domle 41 piece, The Apprentice fanoled Venlig( a Traisedian,u 1101$ Onotsrett. P ' The Cabinet. ea Tot Sem : t Hi sof la,d WASHING' C)/q. - WAsaiNoToN, Februsai DEATH OF EX-GOTERNoF WOK& United States Senator THOMAS HOLLIDAY HUMS, ex-Governor of Maryland, died in this oity at 7 o'clock this morning. He was struck with para lysis on Friday last. TIM NEW SECRETARY OF Tint TREASURY. The President, this afternoon, sent to the Seilate the nomination of Senator ElortuAß, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury, but In the course of an hear - withdrew It. NOTIFICATION OF RE-ELECTION. Senator Treusincix, and Representative of lowa, and DemsOrr, of Pennsylvania, compose the joint committee to wait upon Provident Liu mix and inform him of his re•eleitlon, and also notify FiIIDEBW Josrnsow of his election to the Vice Presidency. THE ALIXOED FALB OF TWO TO TIM REBBLS Further information In referenoe to thißordeaux steamers said to have been obtained by the rebels is looked for with interest. The -Danish minister, tlr. RAABLOFa, denies the report that the vessels were sold to the rebels by the Danish Government. This information has been obtained from an an thentio source. MARINE RArLWAT AROUND NLAGARA rArzs. At a hearing before the Senate Military Qom mittee today a proposition was submitted on behalf of several capitalists to construct a marine railway around Niagara Falls, at their own expense, caps, ble of transporting the largest vessels employed In the commerce of the lakes, as well as gunboats, be tween Lake Erie and Late Ontario, provided the Government, In consideration of the fall use of the work forever, will, on the completion of the railway, give to the company Its bonds payable In twenty years for $1;000,000, and also $BOO,OOO in bonds an nually for ten years, after the demonstration of the entire success of the work. The canal bill which recently passed the Rouge proposes a GovernMent loan of $6,000,000, to be repaid In tong. REPORT ON THE SUBJECT OF MEANT ORDNANCE. The Committee on the Conduit of the War, through. Senator WADS, have made a report call- Ing attention to three classes of heavy guns. First, those made entirely of cast Aron—the Dahlgren and Rodman guns. Second, those , made of cast-iron, and bound with wrought-Iron—the' Parrott gun. Third, those made entirely of wrought-Iron—Me Ames gun. The committee say Destryager never received any compensation in the nature of royalty, that PsanoTT never charged anything excepting what he deemed a fair manufacturer's profit, and that Anne has made only twenty-one guns for the Governmynt, charging so much a pound for them. The committee have examined Into the bunting of the Parrott guns of large calibre, together with the bursting of some of the east-Iron guns of large calibre, upon the vessels engaged in the operations against Charleston and Fort Fisher, and which has tended to weaken confidence la their durability, and seems to show the necessity of obtaining, if possible, some other grin which can be more impli citly relied on. The bursting of these guns is gene• rally attributed to the premature explosion of shells within the nave of the gun. The committee, in view of all the facts elicited by the testimony, recommend that Congress immediately adopt such measures as will enable the War and Navy Depart ments to obtain and introduce into the service wrought-iron guns, especially of large calibre, at as early a day as possible. A CONSUL RECOONTZED. The President has recognised Jortannns F. SCHRODER Bark* 0008E1 of RAMIS at New leans. TIM FREEDMAN'S TRUST COMPANY. Senator Wusorr to-day introduced a blll. to In. corporate the Freedman's Savings and Trust ppm. pang. It includes as oorporators, among others, WILLIAM CIILLBN BRYANT, PRTHE Coorsa, A. A. LAW/NINON, and J. WHARTON SMITH. PROPOEIRD WESTERN NAVY YARD. The conunfeelon to eeleot a alto for a navy yard and naval depot on the Western waters have re; ported in favor of Carondelet and Mound City. XXX VIIIth CONGRESS.—Seeond Session. SENATE. MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS. Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland, presented the memorial of Chancey Brooks and other merchants of Baltimore, praying that the bankrupt law do not pass. at least so as to include relief from existing debts. Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, presented the of the Boston Board of Trade in fayor of a ship canal around Niagara Falls, which was referred to the Military Committee. Mr JOHNSON presented the petition of Andrew J. Wilcox, of Baltimore, praying that steps be taken for closing the war. Referred to the Military Committee. Mr. MORGAN, of New York, presented the petition of book and newspaper publishers and printers of Buf falo, asking for the repeal of the duty on articles used in the manufacture of paper; also, a reduction of the duty on imported paper. Mr. Morgan also presented the petition of citizens of New York city asking for the passage of the bankrupt bill. PlDlVAoV,t , itilu 4, l;io , l l ,FAVA:tal..o , 4 , l•l444 , ol4k*ll Mr. CONIES. of California; called up the bill to es tablish a mail steamship service:between the United States and China. It provides that the Postmaster Gene ral shall have power to contract with anycompany who will ewe for the lowest price to establish. a line of steamships to make twelve (12) round tripe between San Francisco and China per year. the contract to go into effect on the Bret a January. The bill was passed —yeas 26, na3 s 11. TAB NAEBDTEEP"B BIIEBLII BILL. The special order for half past 12 o'clock being the re port of the conference committee on the Freedmen's Bureau bill, was then takenup. The report was read. It is as follows: The first section establishes at the seat of Government a department of freedmen and abandoned lands, whose object shall be the good of the freedmen and the ad rainistratlors of "the lands and other property falling to the Bappnal Government in the rebel States not here tofore appropriated to other uses; and this department shall be under the charge of a commissioner, who ehall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice end consent of the Senate, at an annual salary of $4,00,7. Section 2" authorizes the commissioner to appoint a chief clerk, and such other clerks as may be necessary. The chief clerk: et commissioner shall give bond in the sum of $100,(00 for the faithful discharge of his duties. section 3 providds thatthe commissioner shall, under the direction of the President. create Meals to of freed men and abandoned lands Within the rebel States, not to exceed two in each State, so far as the same may be brought under the military power of the United Stathei and each district shall be under the supervision of an assistant commissioner, with an annual eatery of 212,5011, to be appointed by the President, and to give bond as required by the chief clerk. bastion 4 regulates the duties of the commissioner, and provides that every freedman shall be treated In all re spects as a free man, with all proper regard in courts of justice, and no power or control shall be exercised with regard to him except in conformity With law. There are fourteen sections in the bill, most of them Pertaining to the leasing of grounds, the work of freed men, &c. The thirteenth section repeals the last clause of the confiscation bill, which provides that confiscation shall only have effect during the lifetime of the person sub. Jested to it. P.EDVOTIOX OF THB F.APIR. DI7TT. No action was taken on the above, its consideration having been postponed to give stay fur Mr. Sherman's motion to take up the House joint resolution reducing the duty en imported paper. The question was upon the amendment of the Senate Committee of Finance to strike out thirty' one and in cept fifteen per coat Mr. SHERMAN, of Ohio, explained that the present dims on foreign paper was twenty per cent. The amount of tax paid by home menufaeturers amounted to ten per cent. It wee manifest that to redude the foreign sax to three per cent. would be unjust to home Manufac turers. It was said that this three per cent. Was wind to six per cent because It was paid In the gold valua tion. It was three per cent. ,or $l6O per ton. The in ternal lax in this country, which has to be paid in Ohs currincy va'uation, is about sioo.per ton ' Mr. Sherman stated that he was in favor, in the committee, of making it ten per cent , orbital would create a lively competition between home and foreign manufacturers The committee had overrated him, however, many of the members being opposed to any change 'whatever. HoZelleved some change ought to be made In the tax, because under the present rate not one pound of paper had been imported. Fifteen per cent. bad been adopted as a compromise in theecom naltleer bnt he thought it would be more just to pat ft down to ten per cent The Government. he said, was more interested than any Individual in this matter. It consumed more paper than any individual, and thesefore It was interested In this question. It has been proposed by some to allow the Government to import, free of duty, but this would be regarded as vidious. Mr. OOLLAMSR, of Vermont, spoke In favoeof main taint r g the present rein of twenty per cent. ea an act of justice and protection to home manufacture. - Mr. WADS, of Ohio, said he and his colleague. Mr. Sherman, had 'been instructed by the Ohio Legislature to vote for a reduction of the duty.' He questioned the right of that body to instruct him on such a eabject He believed the means nt In favor of the reduction of duty on paper would apply equally well to all other arti cles. He wee opposed to opening American manufac tures to foreign competition,believing that little were done, the country would be deprived of means for pay- Mg_ the eational. debt. Mr. HALE, of New Harophire, was in favor of the indefinite postponement of the resolution so as to leave the duty where it le now, twenty per cent. He made ibis notion. Mr. FOSTER, of Connecticut, said that In the State of Ohio, last, year, there bad been 44.808,966 worth of paper made, and this a tax of $.54,269 had been paid. This was a great and growing interest arid ought to be protected. in whatever light the subject was viewed, It mud be looked upon as inexpedient to reduce the duty. Mr. SHERMAN. of Ohio, hoped the subject would not be indefinitely postponed, bac that it would be met squarely b a frank vote. He was sure that if the State' Legislatures had examined the tariff law they would not have voted as they had in favor of a repeal of the duty. Paper, no said, had not increased in price more than ,other. articles It had only followed the invariable standad of value. which was gold He had examined this subject carefully, and had found that it would be unwise and unjust to reduce the duty to three per cent. The amount of paper manufactured In the United States was $107,000,000 worth for the' year. On this there was collected an internal tax of 4110.000.000. If .the duty were placed at three per cent. there would be imported about $42,000.000 worth in gold, on which the Government would receive about $l, 250.000 in revenue. This worild be a loss to the Government of the diffe ranee between $10,000,000 in paper money and $1.810,000 In gold: The motion to indefinitely postpone was decided in the negative—yeas 14, nays 25: Potter, Hale, Morrill, Nye, NAP& Howard, Howe, Tolleson, Lane Lane ( Kusae) Nesmith, Pomeroy, Powell, Collamer, Cowan, Dixon, two tue. oot, Brown, Mackelaw Clark, Coziness. Davie,Farwll. Grimes, Henderson. litendriake. Mr. LANE, of Indiana, offered an amendment to strike out fifteen, and insert ten per cent. After some remarks from Messrs. LANZ. of Indiana. and JOB MOM, Mr. Lane's amendment was rejected: YEAS. Hendricks, Howard, Lane (Indiana), Morgan. ' Nesmith., Pomeroy. NAYS. Brown, En Icalew DaTIN G Imee. Harlan. Henderson. Foster. Bares. 6iorriJoluxson. nYe. Itaintray, Biddle. Clerk, CoCareer, Conners', Cowen. Dixon, Doolittle, Farwell. Foot, The oneetion then recurred on the amendment of the Finance Committee to make the duty 15 per cent. This was decided in the affirmative—yeas 20, nays 18, as follows: YEAS. Feder. }lstria, Henderson, Howe. Johnson, Merrill, Dye, Pomeroy, Ramsay, Riddle, NAYS. Hower d. Lane (Ind.). Morgan, Powell. Chandler, Clank. Collamor, Connoso, Cowan, w a D awe, Doolittle, Farwell. Foot, Brown. nocentew. ertmee. Harlan. Hendrick., • The question wan then taken on the final passage of the reeolution ae amended, to etrike oat 3 and insert 16 um cent.. and It wee decided in the afarnative±yeae 21. 037..19. The Senate then went into executive seeelon. and soon after adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On motion-of Mr. SOMENCIC, of Ohio, a joint rono• lotion we adopted►2proprlfithw 826.060 [or ► contract with 11illistsli.11. Powell to Paint a &tart tliwitantira of tome naval victory. to be placed at-tbe head of nut trend stairway of the Cap!toL ANOTESNE CONSTITUTIONAL ANNZIDNISINT. Mr. OHARLN3 O'NEILL, of Pennsylvania. prevolubsa a preamble end ;evolutions of the Philadelphia Board of 'Dade, favoring an amendment to the ConettlntiO Of the United States ',Mob will confer on Nontresi the nbwer to amens duties on exports. Referred to tha Cone =Mee on Cemmeroe. BAD CONDITION Or NIKOROILS lOW WASHINGTON Mg ASHLEY, of Ohio, offered a preamble declaring that Whfreae, Ia consequence of the rebellion, and since the proclamation of emancipation. a large number of persona of color have beau brought from the States of Maryland, Virginia, and other Stales, fund left In and around the national capital; whereae, It is reported that many of them have died for want of food ; And whereas', It is reported that from ten to twenty thousand are in the service or the United States and fighting In defence of the Government; therefore Beef 'hod, That the Committee on Military Affairs inquire into the truth of the said reports, and that the committee report what action. if any. is necessary in the promisee, with leave to report by hill or otherwise. The resolution was agreed to. / 1:7138 OP TIM BALL 086.11 TED. On motion of air. SPAULDING. the nee of the hall of the Dome of Deprorentat Ives was granted to the Na tional Freedman's Beller Aimeeteflon for next'llandai evening. Mr. JOHN 1.. DAWSON. of Pennsylvania, offered the followthg: Whereas, The American people have now been en gaged in s civil war of gigantic dimensions for nearly four yeare, which has resulted in frightful destruction of life, property', and treasure, creating an enormous pubic debt, imposing the most oppressive taxes, cover ing. the land with affictlon, corrupting the general morale. and putting in peril the liberties of the nation; and. whereas, on the part of the United Statee, and the people of the States which adhere to their Government, this is and ought to be a w ar solely to vindicate the Constitution and restore the laws to their into eapre- Macy. t p l edg e ee are bound by onr oathe and b oar solemn made in the face of ths world. whe n the war commenced: therefore, Sesofeed, That the President-of the United States be requested to use, all honorable and just means to bring about's lasting Peace and the re-establishment of fra ternal ndations, among all the people, by a restoration of the Union upon the simple and just bash; of the eon. stitntldn and laws, with every proper guarantee to the Southern States that-the y,shail be protected in the fall enjoyment of their rights and in that undisturbed con trol of their own local affairs which the Federal Com stltntion was intended to secure to them and. as. , On motion of Mr. THaTES, of Pennsylvania , the co. solution was laid on the table—yam 73. nays O. Anderson, Asbley. Bal Bai ley vr , dn (Mee.). Beaman, Bontwell, Boyd. Brandaee. Broom 1. Clark. A. W. Clarke. Freeman Cobb. Cole. Dawes,' 4 Deming, Dixon, Donnelly, Briggs, &Key, - Eliot, Garfield, Bele, ./DitbY. • Alien. J. D. Bliss, Broom, Brown (W.Va.), entailer, Fl'frAtb. Box, Cravens, Dawson, Dennison, Edgerton, Eldridge, Fink, PKACIC XIIASURMS MOT RBOOMMIINDHD. Mr. WILLIAMS of Pennsylvania, offered a series of resolutions declaring that there le no power under the Conatitation which warrants um to treat wise. the Southern States, either for-the severance of the Union or the alteration of any article of the fundamental law; that inasmuch as said Confederate States have taken up arms against the Government of the United States without AMA provocation, and for the avowed PDXPOSS of asserting and maintaining their independence, and. still persist by armed resistance to the authority of the United Slates; and whereix, our public authori ties have declared it was their duty to decline to ac. apt of any terms or anything short of absolute Bub mission to its laws; and whereas, with a magnanimity almost unsurpassed. an amnesty - was promised to all excepting the chief. oonspiratore, it is hereby declared that the Goverment has already exhausted all the re sources of a just and wire statesmanahip, except so far as regards an earnest and vigorous prosecution of the war, to effect a restoration of peace, and to that awl has done all that a proper iegerd to our interests allows, and which a decent respect to.the opinions of the world could demand; and. therefore, no further overtures, public or private, official or unofficial, looking to a treaty or compromise with the conspirators at Rich mond. should be made, as this would be inconsistent with our rights and digaity, and expose ue to mis conception as to our ability to compel the rebels to obedience. On motion of Mr..RLDRIDGE.of Wisconsin. the reso lutions were laid upon the table—yeas 74 nays 72. Allen, J. C. Allen, W. J. Alley; Ames, Armour, Anderson, Ball ey, Blair, Bliss. Bontwell, Brandanee, Brooks, Brown (Wit ), Brown (W.Va.). Chanter, Clark, W. Clay, Coffroth, Coy, Cravens. Dawes, Dawson, Dennison. Damont„ dahley . , Baldwin (Mars.), Baxter, Beaman. Blaine, Boyd, Broomall, Clark, F. Cobb. Color Dixon, Donnelly, Drs. . Hubbard (Iowa) linalburd, Intornoll, The Hones resolved itself into a Committee of the W hole on the state of the Union on the amendatory re venue bill. Idir.MKI.SON, of New York, moved an amendment to tax maple sugar and maple molasses. In this sonnet Mon he referred to ti e fact that the yield. was thirty nine rations of gallons annually. Mr. moartru, of Vermont, said the remarks of the gentleman were iniended to be sweet on him. but he would remind him that New York produces more sorg hum than Vermont. This proposition was debated, among others, by Mr. Stevens, who said if the gentle man would go to the labor of abstracting the sap of the maple, and boiling it all day, he would thinly he had been taxed enough. Mr. MALLORY. of Kentucky, thought the gentleman from Dew York (Mr. Nelson) used microscopic power to nd out what articles shoolci be taxed ; bat tale sorghum should not be taxed. . . Mr. Nelson's amendment was dieagreed to. Mech. time was consumed in considering amendments to exempt bibles and testaments, or volumes containing only parts of either. asd prayerdrooks, from any duty or tax. These were agreed to. The same section also emempte from duty or tax arithmetic! spelling-books. g<ogranhico, grainmars, and school-lbOoks of the kinds used in common and primary schools, and ail books printed exclusively for the use of Sunday schools ; pro vid ed this s'aoll not apply to books valued at more than two dollars a volume. At hair pest four o'clock the committee rose and the Rouse adioruned. ;2 , * DIP 1,73 int.l4 'Lei ;I Mr. DIIRLIT read a supplementary act giving the Beading and Columbia Company the right to extend their.road to Safe Harbor. . . . . . WILSON read a bill authortzbig the Erie Mining Company to build lateral roads. The following bills paned: lining persons who sell diluted or adulterated milk to chime and butter enufacturers; %bill Moons/rating' the Titusville Gee and Water Oempesty. Mr COCHRAN, of Philadelphia, offered a resolution recalling a bill regulating the storage of_petroleum In Philadelphia. from the custody of the Governor, for amendment. Agreed to. • The following bills were introduced: Mr. SMITH. a bill allowing insurance companies of Pennsylvania to increase their capital stock. Passad. Mr. -11111.1.111 t called up en act providing for the ex amination of teachers by the Board of Controllers, re quiring certitioateamet capacity Passed Mr. ItUDDIBIAN. a bill creating fifteen Guardians of the PZ.072 Instead of twelve, and taking the appointing power out of the hands of the &flora me Court. Mr. COCHRAN. a bill allowing the New Boston Coal and PenneYlvania ..Quartz Company to increase their capital stock. _ Mr. SUTPHIN, a bill vacating Montgomery street below Beach. Mr. Pali COAST, a bill Incorporating the West Creek Manutectaring Company. The Impending Draft: Special Despatch to The p.m..] Xr. Hall and the rest of the Senate committee have just returned from Washington, where they conferred with the Secretary of War and General Pry, who gave the following information to them : No promise was made that the draft will be post poned, but it will not take - place on- Wednes day in districts where recruiting is going on brisk ly. The statements contained in Governor.t/urtin's letter to President Lincoln have been referred to Attorney General Speed, General Delaneld ,and Colonel Foster, who will make a repott. The 25 per cent. of which New York was relieved is now re• garded as only temporary, but, lipermanent, Penn sylvania will receive the same favor. The Wash. ington authorities contend that Pennsylvania's quota is right as it Stands, and that the New York quota is right without 25 per cent. ImmedLate and rapid recruiting alone can save us from a draft. PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S Acrrunrs ENDORSED BY TEE Sprague. Ten If Van Winkle. Wade. Sr. Lotus, Feb. 18.—The State Convention to. day unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the gotten of the President in the late peace conference, and pledging the loyal people of Missouri to sustain the Government to the last extremity in prosecuting the war till peace shall - be established or conquered upon the basis of the instructions contained in Kr. Lincoln'e note to Secretary Seward. Ramsay, Etchardsoll. Riddle Sberman, anther. Trumbull, Wilson. Flour flat. Wheat quiet ; prime $1.90. Corn dull at $1.15511,22. Oats lower at 990. Whisky $2.1802.20. Powell Richardson. Sanlabari. Sherman. Sumner, Trumbull. MB INDIAN TROUBLES-BXLMILSNEE3 AND NIGHTS OMAHA CITY, N. T., Feb. 12.—The telegraph is again working to Denver City. Indians in small bands are at different points ail along the road from Fort Kearney westward. The train to-day has gone up the North Platte river. Colonel Collins, with hie command, has had a series of engagements with the Indians between Jules. burg and Loraine, which lasted for slx days. The Indians are estimated to number two thousand, while our soldiers number only about two hundred, not sufficient to ibilow and ohaatlae the Indians Ten Tan ankle Wade, Wilkinson. Sherman, Sprwgauraet. Ste. Sumner, Ten Ny_ak, Van Winkle. Wade. Wilson. gmairmr, N. S., rob. 13, A. NE.—& furious north. east gale commenced this morning, and still Con tinues. At 13 0)look about six inches of snow had fallen. lowrrnint REruprrearr Rimnr..—The St. Louis Republican says : "Andrew J: DoteLson, who will be remembered as a prominent citizen of Tennessee, and whOWaS a Candidate for the V 1045 PreeiderlOY on the ticket with /laniard Fillmore in 185 r recently name within the Federal lines at Nashville. took the amnesty oath, and has since been privileged to 'go where he pleased in that State without Let or hindrance from the Federal authorities. Daring his term in Dixie he did not enter Into either the civil or military service of the rebels, and did not oompromise himself in support of the cause of seces sion further than cironmetances compelled. Re passed - Cairo a few days ago, bound to Bolivar, Mis sissippi, where he owns two or three plantations. Nothing monies of ,them, we believe, but the land. - -the nesters, stook, ithd improvements itnitiff WO swept away by thrravars sr War." • Richavdswn. Sardebuy. Trumbn.u. Wilkinson. • PicAcir. mzesuwas BICOOMMSNDIM. YEAS. Hooper, Hubbard (lows), Hubbard (Germ.), Hurlbard, Ingersoll, Jailan, Kamen, Kelley, Kellogg (M)oh 3. ! Kellogg (N. Y.). Knox, Littlejohic. Longyear, Marvin. Mcßride. McClurg. Menden.' Miller (N. IL ). Moorhead. Morrie (N.-Y.), Myers, A -o',o sill (Pa.), Orth. Perham. Pommy. Randall, (Ky.), Rice (Mass.). Rice (Maine). Itolnns al, H. Schenck. Sooteld, Shannon. Smithers, Tayer. Thomas. Tracy. Van Valkertbnrg Washburn (Mese Webster, Whaley. Williams. Wilder, Wilson, Woodbridge. Worthington, wiczo. Hall. Harding. Harris (UL ). Herrick. Holman, Johnson (Pt.); Johnson (Ohio), Hatbilcisch. Kiss, Lamar. Le Biondi Mallory. • 4. McAllister, Middleton. Miller (Pa.). Morris (Oltio). Morrison. N N eiO' (Ohio). Pendleton. Rollins (Mo.), Ross. Steele (N. SO. Stiles. Sweat, Wadsworth, White. Jos. W. Tasman. YEAH. Eckleg. Edgerton, Eldridge, Eliot, Pluck, Frank. (locoh. Gilder. - Hale. Harding, Harris(Md ), Barrie (111. ). Herrick, Holman. Hooper Hubbard (Conn ). Hutchins, Johnson (Penne). JohnsontOhio), Kalbgel soh, Nilsson. Kellogg (H. Y. ). Lamar, Le Blond. NAYS. Kellogg (Mich. Knox, Loan, Long-year. Marcia. McClurg. Mcindoe. Moorhead, Morris (N. Y. ), Myers, Amos O'Neill (Pa ) Orth, Patterson, Forum. Kendall (Ey ), Rice (Me. ). Mallory. McKinney, Middleton, Miller(Ponna Morrill, Norris (Ohio). Morrison, Nelson, Pendleton, Plke, Pomeroy. Prnyn, Rios (MUL). Rollins (Mo- Ross, Spaulding. Steele (N.J . .), Stiles, Townsend. Wadsworth. Webster White, .1. W. Rollins (L H. Schenck, Schofield. Shannon, Sninhers, Starr, Thayer. Tracy, Upson. Van Valkenburg. Washburn (Kase) Wilder. Wilson. Windom, Woodbridge, Worthinaon. BRDBI) ICIMENIIIS BILL HARRISBURG, Feb. IS, USIS SENATE. EVENING SESSION. . HOUSE ILtnniseusa, Feb.l3. ussounx. STATE CONVENTION. NEBRASKA. WITH rale The Weather. THE ST. 11BAN'S RAIDERS' CASE. TESTMONY BEFORE THZ COURT The Connection of the Prisoners With Ite- bel Schemes. Diosurnsar., Feb. 29..—1 n the St. Albans ease to day several witnesses testified that the prisonerit were in the Confederate servioe. Their commission TM sworn to as genuine. One of the witnesses testified that a majority of the prisoners had been at Chicago, where fifty or sixty_ Confederate soldiers had_calleotad to release the prisoners at Camp Douglas. This expedition falling, two others were organi sed, one of Which was the St. Albans raid. This witness said they were instructed to report to C. C. Clay, the Confederate Commissioner in Canada. The court then adjourned. Heavy Bask Hoblbery at Provitienee, IL E Puovinurog, R. L, Feb. 19.—The Traders' Bank of tbis eity was entered byburglars some time be tween Saturday night and Monday morning, and a large amount of Government bonds, some 815,000 belonging to different parties, and 86,000 in golab.• longing to the bank were stolen. It is stated that no bills of the bank were stolen: Burning of a United States Laboratory. ASTORIA, L. L, Feb. 13.—The U. S. Laboratory at this place was burned this morning. The loss was heavy. RAW YOBS CITY. (Correspondence of The Press. 3 Ifßw Yoox, Fob. 13,1865. THE BALL BEESON, so far ae balls of a public nature are oonoerned, has not been so brilliant as those of past years. Ia num ber they show a marked decrease. The bat masque has, however, grown In favor among social envies, and we find it to some degree transplanting the more rigid Palpable ball. The Arlon Masque this year has been remarkably successful, and every thing seems to point to an abandonment of the old conventional affair, so far as it is feasible. The In- Mallon suggests our progress under the roles of European fashion. A few years ago our ladles never dreamed of adhering rigidly to the "etiquette - of dress," yet now there is a certain morning carriage habit for thorn, and a certain afternoon carriage habit, which differ essentially from the street-habit. This propriety of dress bids fair to become a despo tism, and one naturally sighs Alas I (although Kinglake has told us that no one ever says alas ! except in print) as he sees the fairest of the fair go by in her phaeton, bolt upright, and clothed with marvellous preOlsion, gotten Up fOr the occasion, like one of rffsdatne Trissaud's wax works represent ing the ' , Frightful Example" of our best society. In the strict matter of rearm= we represent, unfortunately, only the third-hand We take. from the English what the English have taken from the Frenoh. The present promenade dress is absolutely touching. What Impenetrable mysteries of Each Hair! What sinuous cataclysms of curls (false) I What mere shreds and figments of bonnets I What hair-lip, style of looping the dress I What destruative style of balmoral shoes, covering the most ultimate of monad-lo feet I The above Is the best that a correspondent can (whatever a oorrespondent might) do. As for limn- daring among the perplexities of "guipure," of "melon pouffe," of "Faust-shaped bonnets," the thing were impossible ; the case is net a supposable one. A correspondent among "illusions" and "tulle skirts," is what a oorreepondentess would be amid the :dismal horrors of sines, maims!, and in tegral calculi. Let ne remark the fact that, twelve Months ago, EDO& ladies visiting these shores were the cyno sure of eyes impertinently curious if they ventured upon Broadway or • Fifth avenue; and simply be cause their style of dress was almost the archetype of that style which now obtains so extensively among our own Pearls above Price, and wins the perturbable hearts of the young sprigs of our pay-Nobility. The science of new publicationS is being forgot ten ; we are now at the ebb-tide of the season. Ne ver theless, there is a desultory scrimmage kept up between ogressive authors and an outraged and used-up public. Most of the volumes now put forth from the press are at the expense of authors, pub lishers not oaring to risk their capital in ventures put forth by untried aspirants for fame. There are, at least, two of our most popular firms, indeed, who -in reality publish scarcely more than one-tenth of the works which are ostensibly published by them; merely lending their names and selling the volumes on commission. The Appleton have just Issued a volume by "Samuel Ward," entitled ' , Lyrical - lieoreatlone." Samuel Ward's name Is not in the Dlreotory as is Poet." On di; that an author of repute, traveller, poet, tad novelist, has thrown himself into the arms of the artists, and!e to devote a portion of his time and activities to painting. DRA7T MATTHRS There is something of a "rampage" , evident among our supervisors, incident to the recant and continuing arrests m ade by Oolonel Baker, the War Department detective. Said supervisors. like Mrs. N. ' who always declared that she "would not forsake Mr. Micawber," are protesting their inno cence in the matter of false enlistments before any one inculpated them. _ 'To add to the snare, Super visor Blunt, of patriotic and alleged ' l sso,ooo.glitn renown, has been denounced In the Legislature for "having stolen Governor Fenton's thunder,” and receiving , public thanks which belonged to that official according to all proprieties. The Common Council has passed an ordinance to prevent the enlistment in this city of men designat ed for other coutties or States, or the seduction from the city of men to serve as substitutes in other localities. Penalty not lesil than $l,OOO or more than 0,000, and imprisonment for not more than one year or less than six months. BANK STATENEPT Statement of the condition of the New York banks for the week ending February 18,1865: Loans Decrease 020,0a0 Circulation Decrease 40,000 Specie .Inoreatie 800,030 Deposits Increase ~4,000,000 THE EVENING BTOCIN BOARD. 10 P. M.—Gold, 207%; sales after call at 208%, 'osing at 207 3 g. Stooks strong; ten-forty coupons, ; New Y ork Central, 107%; Erie, 77%• .5% End son ' Railroad, 109%; Reading 11; Michigan Southern, 71%; Pittsburg and Cleveland, ; Itoek Island & Chicago, 97%;. Chicago and Northwesters', 35%; do preferred, 65%; Fort Wayne and Chicago, 96 ;Cumberland, 51 ; klariposa, 12%. XARlarB INIrDLLIGEWCE. Arrived—Ship Corea, from Foo Chow. Below— Sldp Albert, Hamburg. Spoken 2let, let. 23 30., long. 0106, ship C. O. Duncan, Queenstown for New York. Negro Troops in the Rebel Army. The project of filling up the ranks of the rebe l armies with slaves is meeting with a great deal or favor even among the most prominent men of the Confederacy. Benjamin, in Ms speech before the recent mass meeting in Richmond, gave a verygood ensample of the Ideas and arguments of those favor able to the new policy.. He said : I will now call" your attention to some figures, which I wish you to seriously ponder. Li 1860 the South had 1,664,000 armebearing men. How many men have the Yankees sent against tte i In 1861, 664,000 ; in 1862, 740,000 ; in 1868, 700,008 ; in 1864, they called out 1560,000. Here you have the figures that they brought out 8,000,000 men, against 1,664,000 Confederates, who lived at the beginning of the war to draw the sword in their country's service. Our resources of white population have greatly di minished ; but you had 680,000 black men ofthe same ages; and could Divine prophecy have told us of the. fierceness of the enemy's death-grapple at our throats—could we have g own what we now know, that Lincoln has confess that without the 200,000 negroes which he stole from us he would be coin• pelted to give up the contest, should we have en tertained any doubt upon the subject I •I feel that the time is rapidly coming on when the people will wonder that they ever doubted. Let us. say to every negro who wishes to go _lnto the ranks on condition of being made free: and fight ; you are free.” If we prase them they against us. We know that every one who could light for his freedom has had no chance. The only side that has had the advantage of this element is the Yankee—a ;people that can beat us to the end of the year in making bargains. Let us imitate them In this ; I would imitate them in nothing else. Iffy own negroes have been to me and said : a Master, set us free, and we will fight for you; we had rather fight for you than for the Yankees." But suprxwe it should not be so, there is no harm in trying. With all my early attachments and prejudices, I would give up all. It can only be done by the States separately. The Coat of Pease in Europe. • Those Who are alarmed &tithe expense of cirry lag on the war against rebellion in this country, may find, comfort in the following extract froth the Peals &Ude. While we axe temporarily compelled to expend our money, in order that a permanent and prosperous condition .of affairs may be re-esta blished, the mere maintenance of a factitious peace among the jealous nations of Europe causes a con stant and enormous outlay. The Siecie says : "In spite of the assurances which are given to us on the maintenanoe Of peace, it is difficult - to close one's eyes upon the feelings which ani mate the governments one toward another. Dia. trust is the rule of °ends:Lot. Not one of them thinks Of attacking his neighbor, but all arm themselves for defence. The misfortune is, that defensive armaments cost as much as offensive armaments, and as the expenses which result from these warlike precautions weigh heavily upon the peoples, I would not be surprised to find out that these should desire war through a love for pease. The peace that we enjoy, this armed costing annually four or fi ve thousand millions opeace, f francs to Europe, resembles war 80 much that a good war which would lead to a solid pima*, to a disarmed peace, would certainly be preferable. Europe presents the spectacle of a sick man whom physiclexis would recommend to expect his cure Irby]. chance : You are sick, be patient ; you sub for, wait e and no other presoriptions. ilf politicians were to proceed solentUically, the remedy would soon be found. Europe Is sick, they would say, ,andshe is siek because her constitution is vitiated by the diet to which she has been mibjeoted so many years ; let us change this diet. But poli ticians are prudent men ; they proceed slowly and wisely ; they do not want to kill the patient; they much prefer to let him die 1" What They Say in Richmond. Democritus, surnamed I SThe Laughing Philoso pher," might take some lessons In Ironical mirthful ness from the Richmond papers at this time. The editors find in the slightest victory and the greatest defeat of the Confederate armies a like advantage to their cause, and declare that even the capture of Port Fisher arm a blessing In disguise At this moment they are occupied mainly In dliP cussing the various peace embassies, and are reso lute In urging a prosecution of the war, unless Southern Independence Is recognized. The Excisi on- says : "Better go down fighting, battik be sub jugated and eonquezed, than live to recollect that we brought ruin upon our heads by deceptive moon-. stmotlon." The Sentinel Baja : "Let us kee' clear. ly In view that Independence, to maintain which wa drew the sword, and listen to no suggestion of Ps compromise as the price of pease." The Whig says : "in the Soutb, peace Me 8.1113. 90• paradox! and Independence." The Diseptch. has an article showing that " the independence of the Confederacy is necessary te prosperity of the middle and lowsses." deolares commendable audacity er S da lat, "if slavery is rem withoved the poor whites are reined I" The Sentinel is most .bloo4i.thlnity, It opprises compromise. Its voice Is .• still for war. DencranoNg submission, it finial= with Irresistible rao•Jk dignity—Ms past at /east is secure!" A poor fupe who has Invested his fortune in alottery and Or.aan a blank, exclaims! "The past Is !minuet" A. r i an-ridned seedy renal, pawning his last shirt for a /dollar, to spend In , exclaims grog °lge past is wear., What waste of blood and tremolo, what losati happy, fortune, high prospect, and honorable tame , Is involved In the past of the °m adam/4N words -mut be timid IMF %a glageortoci he. It althea Pooh retrospiot , a n -iminal when the rope Is fattened t6' the tee drawn Over hie eyeo. Yet 4 4 , e i r eumstasees, wretches have been k no 5 t a lees, a nd leap Into eternity Pith a Be ep , I , .. e rh,:ps Y mit of much czeisequ e . .. Richwomi editor , toY, for It is they Terraced the opinions of the Mr,f,,,, t ,; M e s ou th er n. people. Notroombetainte duet their campaigns with mat vt ge , , thousand miles from the scene of limbo deliberate atm at the enemy. The Lap p :. Mde for a proveadton of tlee seer is that 4:: LOW/ in blue—Me MCA WO have to do Q. voted for it. When ins& ell ammeat by the Confederate'''. shall be to tbi a i t • without absolute zuhjugetioir is not a.:• usaeune„ without thinking that the over Immediately, we believe* that k lest this generation, and that It win not er.' another year.--Johestown (Pa.) riitiume. -A• ••Tie Preis" Belief*riti BIIBESOp2PTIONB 111 AUP OO THE elll.Tructi The following etatriblltions in aid er ' by the late cenfiagratton have been reT* o . office since the report of yesterday, t p " many residents of our etty who will pryt, ' , the list of contribution!' to the charltar,!•' The sufferers have been temporarily ;c m ,. this is not enough. Quite a number of tk e ,. sons, husbands, and Whore in the army • "5:;, the Union : I Hiss S. Wiatar , . Thomas Potter.... . .......... Henry A. Bower J. A. Ti1ge............. Miss Hannah Walker Mrs. Gebbard Harms .... - Mrs. A. J. 0W.... Dr. W. L. Ohallies Children of the Northwest Girls' Gramme; School Field & Cogley Charles Jewell Henry Handy Wm• Petherick Sterling & Frank Cash . • Mrs: De Bonneville Rev. Albert Barnes C. T. W J. W. Wilson Sympathizer, Bridgeton, N. J H.O. Townsend... Frank Townsend Harry Townsend Laurie Townsend George Hallman James E. Caldwell & Co A. EL Yarnell B. D. Yarnell Mrs. th. Ja mesan C. Fisher, two bandies of oloth d Mrs. H. K John Gilbert Royal & Royer W. H. C John Pearce John Beckeribach, from the Employees of the Ninth- ward Gas Works Three little boys—G. W. J., IA iwiars.... A. R. J., 8 years.. H. W. J., 6 years.... S. H., one bundle clothing and. J. H. Simmons John B. Steck T. S. Reed • Mrs. T W. EL 0 Z. F., Germantown, Penns A mother and throe obllitreni Botkeionls, Pennsylvania Jacob Harman - • Amount previously reported.. .... .. . Total Public En FOR THE BaNsi/T ON TEM SIITNNIII2IB.—Iyi the pleasure of immunising that Mr. A. pea w• business manager for Miss Lasalle Wasters r in the city last evening, and hes already mg rangements for the substantial benefit of tlei; sus by the late disastrous oonflagration ; as seen by his card in another column. Miss 1.. Western. hes tendered her valuablelerviees needy, and is to appear on Saturday ariernee: at the Academy of Bins% in "East Lynne; 5' Elopement." Mrs. Garrettaon's entire vs:. from the Walnut-divot Theatre, have veins:, and-their tervicase are placed at the disposal Western by that popular manageress. It understood that the directors of the Acader not make any charge for the rent of the hey next Saturday. THE Barr YOE Tun Simmons by tit Are, to be given at the Walnut street Theses afternoon, should be liberally-patronized by al: feel any sympathy far the houseless, the widow the orphan. The entire proceeds, without ar auction, will be applied to the noble object or rt fug the families rendered destitute by the ie.- event which hail rent a thrill of horror throw. community. Dirs. Garrettson has generously the use of the theatre, Mr. Praia Drew Non form one of his best characters, and everyys connected with the eatoblishment will gratzh - . aid in making the occasion worthy of the es Let there be a crowded house, and let thou cannot attend personally at leant buys, ticket Math. lona Daxw half voluntaxily tenders! services and theatre for the benefit of the Inn by the coal•oll fire. Wednesday night is set a for the desired object. The attractions at "Arch" on this occasion will be very great. entire receipts will be contributed to the fund. NATIONAL GEBOM2I.—The renowned &Met James Melville, made his font appearance r circus last evening. He is a great horseman. Dan Rice's engagement will close on Saturday Ding next. Own of the strati*, New York amusement r thus announces a now attraotlon on the part Strakoseh Stop a minute. I have forgotten something. I have forgotten to say that chief amosg l "goods " to come is a very wonderful young r who has been brought over from Europe by' Strakosch. Her name is Helene De Eases( - 'she plays on the violinoodo, an instrument v usna.ll. requires.a. giannt strarOlew*d three L to "handle" properly. Halo. Helekte plays t vinely. Max has brought her from the eternal enr• Russia for mg. This was good: for her, itis goo. us. We must all go Monday week -to NlbloN S. to welcome this wonderfulmelden. She is the Byron who riddled, met exactly e Rome was burning, but while Victor Hugo wiz 1)0MR "Lea Miserable." Yee,ltuat sublien, r they say, was written under tterinfluencse of tee Helene's entrancing melody. Wherever "Las Miserables " drags in istr - therefore, we shall have to ascribe the dunce three moments when Helene's fingers grew and her music slacked off. • In addition to Male. Selene, Strokes?,lt brought over a wonderful and' original pl; Earned "Mall. They aro both to go on a concert tour sem: natives, beginning, as I have said, with the! Yorkers, at Niblo , s Saloon, Monday. Tun recent performance of the ~, Stabat by the Handel and Haydn Society, was such 5 east musically and in patronage that it dew to be repeated. Many people were unable to Beate. If nothing better can be effected, cE thin valuable Society repeat. the “Stabat at its third concert ? LARGE SALE OP BOOTS AND SIMES.—Thee attention of purchasers is requested to the lar; rortment of boots, shoes, brogans, army goods embracing samples of 1,110 packages of lir& Seasonable goods, of city and Elston" ma: tare, to be peremptorily sold, by Catalogue, or, months' credit, oommencing this morning, o'clock" by john B. Myers & Co., auctioneers,: 232 and =4 Market street. 148,000 Bonne Noire Eaaiu CAmtt pan - Ir.—lncluded In Thomas & Sons , Bale t& row noon, at the Exchange, will be $58,000 the North Branch Canal Company. •J V *eV. 44 RA W 4 I=l liri-tee OP Wiernwurrtr, TAvnius, tr. Bs' NKR GALLuOP PAINTERWAIII) PELOTOGEi —We have the pleasure et - announcing thx new rooms, PIO. 914 Chestnut street, are we The old friends of the establishment, and the generally, are respectfully invited to visit this gallery, where will be found not only ererP. that is beautiful in our line of art, but °Yea 7 . fort and elegance of arrangement for Me gilt tion of visitors. WENDEROTN, TAYLOR., k BROIM 914 Chestnut BO Ncereca—Mtemun.—Owing to chomps 0 taking- place, ft le our intention to realize 3t, on our elegant gook of Dien and - Bore Or: and Funnelling Goode. We therefore offer the entire etoek-of out r amounting to $200,000, consisting of winter, spring, and summer 03; at a large reductionfrompratentprieer. Our fine stook of pima goods will be order in our best styles• at the same liberal $ ment in price. WAisawAFint & Bnows, Oes 110- 1 fe9-51 S. E. corner Sias and Mums? A. Bra PILN or BAOGAGE.--The EMU= El f took to Portland, Maine, a few days ago. I us :. a boy with seventeen heavy trunks, and 06 , - guessed that some .big thing or other war g" , Z the Southern Confederacy, vle HAnraa. U lag the baggage it turned out that. the ovoe o . were harmless travellers who. bad beeema lighted with the elegant , garments madef. • Brown Stone Clothing Hall of Rockhilt 5 Nos. 603 and 605 Chestnut street, above Sts.a. : they got seventeen trunks full of them. FIRET•CLAESS CLOTHING AT 0148. sTOBE 3 '‘ First-elan) Clothing at Chas. Stokes k co One Price, One Priem,. Ready-made and made to or(, Ready-made and made Marla) Under the "-Continental." Under the "Continental.' SEAT= (1, SKIATErG !,ON PELL A.Dira ?Fla THIRTINTPIRST ABM WAraimm smajrras-7 inner Der. on mna Szeson.—Tha gro t Sunday, the Lilly haaall been. removed, of the }latent snow ploughs. Tke lee planed and is Insplandid oondition. B 1 Olt:, day and night. Park open until ro ow do: , and brilliantly illuminated. Mom mammy ea Tim Ram, ixf Ha pestis e. and natural color, may be preserve, to $ age. its premature dew and I" vented. Even after the Bair has began to perm 1 • the natural fonallona may be re stored, and healthful and lustuiant mat?' by 0001, /inlay, who • ham reeeatly 007 An to oar evened elnaea at 13810bealopw*L meet, for ' oloqloal treatment otlbe Si' ap and Sslr f. Moe hotutalOr ladles titie m 9 A. i. to Ir' Office hot= forgeoetleael f r onato Or. Wroonn ilorectonnos o. on street {241loor), are V an t s f or Co., :o v erusing w c , l leading Ilem P s P er a S t a the United SIM °. re , on Ole at the ethos.- rtraa +LT 1 0081.: —squirrel m vrol ai to t o 1 1 1 $l2. tO Xb''k mom $lO to $2O, : g . o °' Clwing ' Ol 6 bounce of our too ° do not intend "to oarry any over. OnAnza. OARFORD, • ClOntinenC" WW I nYIROTA, TAYLOR, & BROWNI - a op ; I. Y 1 - No. 914 Chestnut street. " Until . SX P. N. ON the present. thz. LARDS NOR Elms.—ClomPo les toalslngese adrwtssmaintin mos 0020
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers