Pennsylvania daily telegraph. (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1857-1862, December 16, 1861, Image 2

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kiurever 'float that standard sheet I
Where breathes the foe but fella before us I
A flee teteefloo's ton henealh our feet,
Ana Frieedloitn'A. banner !trearreing o'er
t) k- L. A T 0 Kin
VIE UNION-THE CONSTITUTION-MT!
THE KNFORCEMENT OF THE LAW
THE:UNITED STATES LAWS
ABE PITBLISIIED BY AUTHORITY IN
THE PENNSYLVANIA. HILT TELEGRAPH.
THE PENNSYLVANIA TELEGRAPH
1121 MEI
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
The publisher of the L PMMSYLVANIA TELE
GRAPH has made the 'most ample and complete
arrangements, by, he engagement of an expe
rienced corps ot reporters, to give the, public a
complete synopsis of the proceedings of the
Legislature, embracing all legislation that will
be of a general character and such private busi
ness as may have an effect or.influence on the
public interest. Added to these reports, with
the reports of the Heads of Departments, the
debates will also be published when they are of
a character involving questions in which the
people are interested. These features regularly
and carefully conducted and supervised by ex
perienced reporters, our reports of the proceed
ings of Congress at the approaching session,
the current events in the progress of the war,
together with such domestic and foreign news
as shall daily occur and come within our reach,
will make the PENNSYLVANIA TELEGRAPH one of
the most valuable and interesting newspapers
in the country.
TER3ISe
The DAILY will be published during the ses
sion of the Legislature for 51,00 per copy.
THE Sean-WEEKLY will also be published at
the low rate of $l,OO for the session.
The WEEKLY is printed on a very large sheet
at the low rate of $l,OO per year.
Address,
GEORGE BERGNER,
Harrisburg, Penn' a
H a it ; I L-; 13 1.; It (1 PA
Monday Afternoon, December 16, 1861.
ENGLAND
England's interferences with the colonies on
this hemisphere, lost her the American States.
This should be warning to a government as old
as that of England, but her rulers seem to be
unmindful of the past and regardless of expe
rience, if we may judge from the foreign news
published this morning and repeated this after
noon, in the TELEGRAPH. We are not willing
to give the statements thus made by the English
press, as much credit and importance as they
will receive on 'change in London and New
York, but, nevertheless, if it is true that Eng
land intends to interfere in the contest for the
authority and perpetuity of this government,
the act may loose her all sway on this conti
nent, if it does not affect her sway and influ
ence everywhere throughout the habitable
world. From the beginning of the struggle in
which we are now involved, the British gov
ernment has been itching to interfere, if it has
not actually dune so by supplying the slave
driving rebels with arms, arnunition and
finances. We have maintained from the begin
ning, that the loyal men of this . land, had no
right to depend on the aristocracy which con
trol England ; and tterefore the pretence which
the British cabinet seeks to make of the Mason
and Slidell case, is the shallowest of all the
pretensions on which the British government
now rests, and the meanest subterfuge to which
it has ever resorted to justify English perpe
tration of a monstrous and cowardly action. It
is not Mason and Slidell for which the English
cabinet is solicitous—it is not any right of na
tions which has suffered, that so moves John
Bull and his aristocratic upholders. All these
are mere secondary considerations in comparison
to the hope that by such an interference, every
vestige of free government would be swept
from this earth, and man's ability for -self-gov
ernment at once and forever destroyed.
If the news brought by the Europa is correct,
and England has really concluded to raise her
arm to aid the rebellion among a portion of the
people of this government, we must neither
permit the information to startle us from our faith
in our cause, or hesitate one moment as to the
policy which should govern us under the cir
cumstances. To give up Mason and Slidell
would be political suicide, while to be compel
led to fight England now would add prestige
and attractions to our arms, that would gather
an army around our banners, such as could at
least cope for a little while both with slave
driving rebels and the purchased cohorts of the
English government. And yet we do not be
lieve that England can's() forget her own posi
tion as insanely to attempt an interference in
American affairs. Her relations to the govern_
ments of France and Russia are neither friendly
or frank, so that in the emergency of her med
dling in our quarrels, both a French and Rus
sian army might be found arrayed whereever
a British bayonet gleamed for the purpose of
aiding American rebellion. But on this aid,
our government will not depend. Its depen
dence will rest on the loyal people of the land.
If we must battle with the world for the main
tainance of our free form of government, it is
best that the contest begin at once, that the
fight may be speedily ended, the victory made
our own, and peace once more bless and pro;per
our people and government.
SENATOR POLK of Missouri, is in league with
the rebels, and will therefore be expelled from
the Senate immediately.
THE TRUTH.
The truth is always potential. Error and
falsehood may prevail for a period, but results
prove that in the end, when judgnient is to be
fairly controlled, and common sense allowed its
just sway, the truth becomes the most accepta
ble and beautiful in the estimation and the eyes
of intelligent people. These facts in relation
to the truth, were never more fairly illustrated
than they have been recently by a peculiarity
in this respect in the report of ono of the cabi
net officers of this Government. We do nett
desire to foment discord by referring to this
fact, nor are we ready to denounce the President
for exercising his perogative in altering the re
port of the Secretary of War. President Lincoln
had a right to make that alteration and he is
responsible only to the people for its unreserved
exercise. But while he had this right, time
must prove whether it was wise, judicious and
polite for him thus to claim its exercise. We
cannot close our eyes to the truths thus official
ly suppressed—nor!can the President close his
ear to the loud approvals which have greeted
those same truths as they appeared in the report
of the Secretary of War which had passed be
yond the reach of Executive abridgement and
alteration., Those truths, have entered the
hearts Of the American p eople, where they will
eerminate and bring forth fruits of freedom.
They have ar)used the energies of the north,
and started loyal men in a new direction of
thought, action and achievement. The grand
ideas thus suppressed in an official report,
have been revived in the hearts of the
masses— they nerve their arms they give
a new and a glorious ardor to the strug
gle for the Union, simply because they
point the shortest and the safest path to
success, and leave no dangers behind, as we
progress in triumph, to be revived for the future
disturbande and future embarrassment of the
operations of this government.. The people
understand these facts—they appreciate the
truths sought to be suppressed too well to hide
them frOm their contemplation. Those who
would now trample them into the dust, should
beware how they trifle with popular indigna
tion. Those who now deny their power will
live to stand in awe of their majesty. No wiser
lesson has ever been taught to the American
people than that which inculcates a warning
against the treachery and dangers of the insti
tution of slavery. He who would teach other
doctrines is either prejudiced in favor of or is
blindly attached to slavery ; because if we
desire peace, we must obliterate the cause of
discord—if we would have a permanent Union
we must prevent the growth and deny the
power of all and every principle which refuses
the full recognition of the right to life and lib
erty as being invested in the person of every
human being on God's foot-stool. While offi
cial authority essays to suppress the clessemina
tion of such ideas—while it persists to assure
traitors that we would make our antagonism a
species of amelioration in the prosecution of
this war, we must expect the struggle to go on
indefinitely, until freedom and free principles
are eventually absorbed by the more vigorous
efforts of those who battle for slavery !
—But as the truth has gone forth, so let it
work among and arouse to energy and action the
masses of the people. At all events, this is
only a battle for the truth. It is the old strug
gle as to whether man is capable of self govern
ment with the minions and advocates of
slavery, as of old, on one side, and the patient,
thoughtful, persevering people on the other. Hen
who understand the people—men who have mingled
with and are of the peopk, ARE WITH manir—whik
those who study nations and their wants in the prece
cedents of books and in the experience of , the dim and
misty past, are generally behind in the prosecution of
great reforms, and are the first to become startled
with change. Let the people profit by this fact,
and not allow themselves to be intimidated in
their devotion to the truth. In this contest we
can only triumph with the truth, as it is direct
ed and supported by the bayonet and sword
against Traitors!
American Fuss over English Bluster.
During the past three days the whole country
has been in a state of peculiar excitement over
the reception of the news from England, which
embodies the feeling and action in that kingdom
upon the reception of the intelligence of the
seizure of Slidell and Mason. The papers have
been full of thewhole matter, from the indigna
tion meeting at Liverpool, which would -'have
been considered as a very respectable fizzle if
held here at the Cooper Institute or on the steps
of the Exchange, to the comments of the news
papers, and the sayings of My Lord So-and-So
and even plain Mr. This-and-That. The papers
have not only been overcrowded with accounts
and speculations, but knots of men have dis
cussed it in the streets, and at the bars while
taking their lunch, and even women have
saluted their evenina
--visitors with the firs
question"Well; what do you. think Of the
accounts from England?" Every utterance on
the other side of the water seems to be regarded
as oracular on this ; and an indifferent obserw r
from another country, would be driven to the
conclusion that the whole American people re
garded the action of Great Britain on the Slidell
and Mason affair, as embodying the question
whether we are longer to be permitted to exist
as a nation. Certainly no anxious family wait
ing in the outer room, while a consultation of
doctors have made a final examination of a very
sick. patient, have ever assailed the medical
men when they came out, to know whether the
patient was to live or die, with a greater nerv
ousness than we have shown in consulting the
English tiles and the words of a few English
statesmen and merchants. What must the
world think of us, in this connection, if it takes
the pains to think at at all ? And what must
we think of ourselves, when we take time to
review our action in the light of a very little
national dignity ?
We have before asserted that, except under
one of two conditions, the Mason and Slidell af
fair could not possibly involve a conflict be
tween the two countries. But waiving for the
moment the assertion, and conceding that the
seizure may have in it the elements of a quar
rel, what has that fact to do with any such
commotion as that we have been briefly no
ticing ? Do we hold our national existence
upon sufferance from England, after two wars
that have demonstrated how abundantly able
we are to take care of ourselves? And espe
cially are we to feel in this manner at the mo
ment when we have just developed the fact that
we have men and monied resources of which
not even the most sanguine of us before dream
ed ? Are we to he particularly anxious
about the action of a power that has been
shaking in its national boots, any time
the last ten years, for fear the French Emperor
should feel disposed to cross the channel in a
war steamer instead of a pleasure yacht? Are
we to be seriously afraid of the landing of that
army, of the ardent attachment of which to its
P ennopluattia - 61,eitgrap tantran 'Afternoon, iflecember 16 1861.
colors when it comes within the reach of Ameri
can institutions, we- have recently had a speci
men in Canada, where whole regiments- have
nearly half deserted within .a few weeks past?
Are we prepared to accept as a very easy thing
to do—the task at which 'one of the English
papers hinted the other day j that under certain .
conditions they "would be obliged to send out
a few ships and blot out the very name of
our little navy from the seas?" Do we
fear the screw-steamers and the the steel-plated
frigates, at the moment when England can
scarcely find meanslo feeclthe inen who man
them, and when we have a row of grain -ware
houses at Chicago which can beat, in the long
run, any fleet of war-ships that ever hoisted
sail or put on steam ? Is it exactly the time for
i England to show her claws, when Ireland has
grown nearly tired of' supplying her soldiers,
and when that country is not only ripe for revo
lution, but.fifty or a hundred thousand Irishmen
are ready to go and settle up a long account of
blood:and oppression? Is it the time for us to
be nervous and fidgety, now that we are be
coming a poWerin arms as well as in arts and
enterprise—when wti used' to look the lion very
fearlessly in the face though our whole milit,ry
force numbered. eight thousand, and we had
Jess than one-fourth of the effective navy we
have already gathered ?,
The fact is, and. we repeat it ; onee ,more---otve
are making ourselVessupeitly:ridietilbus by this
nervous tenacity as to what the British Mrs.
Grundy thinks or says. We have our national
duty to do, and for a little while we seem to have
been doing it. This attention to our drities,
rights and dignities does not suit our cousins
over the waters quite so well as our previous
( mad awl-alive 'condition:- lint who expected
that it would?—and wh-it if it dues not? The
capture. of Mason and Slidell was a necessary
and proper_ act, and it was done without
any rim - necessary ;foree, and even With a re
markable forbearance- 'Which Captain Wi4es,
has since satisfactorily explained. if the
act was to be done over again it would be
lone over again, provided- force enough
could be found •to perform it, hciweVer the
British ;lion might show his teeth and lift. his
menacing paws. Mason and Slidell are in the
prison allotted them as trators ; and they will
not come out of that prison at the beck of any
Englishman whether he be, a private merchant
of Liverpool or a government official. There is
not a loyal citizen of the lijnitd States who
would raise his voice for their release ; nor is
there one who would not call upon any Capt.
Wilkes; under like circumaanees, to seize . them
again. There is not one loyal,citizen who
would not give his best blood o -defend the
act and to meet its consequences. What is the
use, then, of all this speculation and of all this
half whining anxiety? It - is neither dignified
nor necessary ; and the 'less of it we have, the
butter ibr our future prosperity.
We said that only in one of two chances could
the ,71.00 n and Slidell affair produce a war be
tween this •commy and England. The first of
these chances is, that England may have deter
mined to have a fight with us ' whether or not,
and on any shadow or pretext. This being the
case, we should have no power to baulk her
will, nor should we be very anxious. Let tho
tight come, if it must, and God be with the
right ! 1 The other event-is the possibility that
we may at once incense and disgust the popular
feeling in England, by the alternate bragging
and whinnings of our so-called leading newspa
pers, which, if they should be taken for any
thing, would have the ellfct of making the
English people believe that we had spite enough
in us to wish to fight, while we had neither the
power nor the.hope of victory. This is, by far
the more dangerous chance of the two ; and if
we, come to a brush . with the giant power over
the Atlantic, it will very probably be found that
we have been. precipitated into the struggle by
our.reckless and undignified newspapers, just
as a deadly quarrel came very near to being
inaugurated between France and Engla,nd, two
or three years ago, by the unremitting assaults
of the English press on the French Emperor
and nation. Neither the Mason and Slidell
question—that of the right of the Nashville to
refit as.a confederate 'States pirate at the port of
Southampton—the refusal of the.Adnairality to
allow the captain of the Harvey-Birch to search
for his bbleu
,property on board of her—nor
Messrs: Spofford & Tileston's legal deinaud on
the stolen vessel, which has before this time
reached England, --neither of these need neces
sarily produce any serious trouble between the
two nations, unless Englund is determined to have
a fight, or we are determined to badger and . whine her
into one.
In the latter event it can be no matter of pity
for us it we temporarily, burn our fingers ; but
in the - former there is likely to be a long ac
count which England may' be called upon to
settle, not- only With an outraged nation on
this side of the Atlantic, but with other nation
alties that have only been waiting to find the
lion with one paw "engaged. If Great Britain
does meddle beyond extrication with our quar
rel, there is every probability that she will light
the fire of a conflict, which may even satisfy
Dr. Cummings, of the "Great Preparation."
ileauwlide there is no cause for us to
scream, - shtidder or mourn. We have our
duty to do, of multiplying arms, fortifica
tions, navy and armed men, with all due
diligence, but not peculiarly as against England.
Armed - and ready at all points, we shall be
ready fur any assailant and for all ! Once more
sve,repeat what we have more than once before
said, that if we are not able, as a nation, to go
through all the issues forced upon us by the
present crisis, our doom is written, and deser
vedly go. In that case we should fall with dig
nity, like men in arms and not like nervous
and whimpering children. And in the other
case—which we hold to be the certain event-L
a glorious and enduring success of our arms not
only against domestic traitors but any number
of foreignioes,--- there will be no occasion for
displaying this weak side of our national
Tark Sunday Atlas, yesterday.
Later from Fortress Monroe.
A.RRIVAI OF TROOPS.
Proclamation of General Phelps.
FORTRESS MONROE,
via BALTIMORE, Dec. 15.
No flag of truce left here to-day on account of
the high wind.
the steamer James Adger arrived from Balti
more this morning.
The transport steamer Constitution, Capt. A
T. Fletcher, arrived here this afternoon.
The Constitution left Portland on the 21st of
November with the Twenty-sixth Massachusetts
and the Ninth Connecticut regiments arrived at
Ship Island on the 3d inst. All the troops were
landed the next day lu four hours, by means of
the rebel steamboats recently captured by our
fleet.
The Constitution remained at Ship Island
four days and sailed for Key West and Havana.
She stopped at Havana two days.
'She will take on coal here and sail for Boston
to-morrow evening, when it is supposed she
will take on board three more regiments for the
south.
A • steamer, doubtless the Spaulding, from
Beaufort, is coming up the Bay.
Brig General Phelps, at Ship Island, Missis
sippi, on the fifth instant'put forth &proclama
tion to the loyal citizens of the south west
strongly anti-slavery in tone.
Col. Kuzlay has been.re-commissioned Colonel
of the 54th regiment, a position which he had
resigned owing to , difficulties with General
Blenker which have been explained and ad
justed. . • .
COLONEL RE-COMMISSIONED.
ALBANY, Dec. 15
BY TELEGRAM
2D EDITION.
The Great Fire at Charleston
A THOUSAND HOUSELESS PER
SONS IN TEE STREETS•
1=32=1
THE INOI4 NDIARIES AT WORK
GREAT SUFFERING AMONG THE. PEOPLE
The Fire Raging at Last Accounts.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16
The following are the complete dispatches
published by the Norfolk Day Book on Friday
last :
BRANCRTILLE, S. C., 89 miles from Charleston,
Dec. 12th.—Pa.qsengers who have just arrived
here report a destructive fire last night at
Charleston. The fire commenced in Charleston
last night December 11th, at nine o'clock, in
ftusSell & Co., sash factory at the foot of Hazel
street, and corninunicaied to the opposite side of
Hazel to Cameron & Co's. Machine shops. Un
der:the impulse thus gicen and a stiff breeze,
with a small supply of water the conflagration
assumed a formidable character, nearly equal
ling the most extensive conflagration on the
American continent.
The theatre, Floyd's coach factory, opposite
the express office, the old executive building,'
and all the houses betweqn that point and Queen
street are burned. The whole of one side of
Broad street is destroyed, from Colonel Gads
dens residence to Massach street, and a contdd
erable portion of the city from East Bay to King
street is destroyed.
Among the prominent buildings burned are
the Institute and St. Andrew's Halls, Theatre,
Catholic Cathedral and the Circular Church.
At last accounts from Charleston, up to five
this morning, December 12th, the fire had
crossed Broad street and was sweeping furiously.
The telegraph lines to Charleston are down,
consequently we are not able to state whether
the fire has ceased or not.
BRANCEIVILLE, Dec. 12.-6 P. M.—The fire is
still raging. A thousand houseless persons are
huddled in the streets. The Express train left
Augusta this afternoon with provisions to sup
ply the wants of the sufferers and men to assist
in controlling the fire. The fire was the work
of an incendiary.
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Boundary Line between Rhode
Island and Massachusetts.
JUDGE BLACK APPOINTED REPORTER
OF THE WHIM COURT.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15
In the Supreme Court the case of Massachu
setts and Rhode Island establishing a boundary
line between them Wl3B heard to-day. Hon.
John H. Clifford and S. H. Phillips appearing
for Massachusetts,
and Messrs..Jencks and
Bradley for BuOde
Island, and Attorney-General
Sates for the United States.
After hearing the parties the Court passed a
final decree establishing the boundary line as
set out in the reports of the Engineers, the de
cree to take effect on the let of March, 1862.
This controversy commenced as far back as
.1730, and was submitted to the commissioners
in 1745, whose award was rejected by the King
and his council. Since then the question of
boundary has been an open one, but is now set
tled forever.
It is understood that Judge Black, of Penn
sylvank, has been appointed reporter of the
Supreme Court E. M. Stanton was not a can
didate for the office.
Dr- Leslie Hoyd, who was arrested at Vienna,
some weeks ago, charged with sympathizing and
having intercourse with the rebels was soon
thereafter released. He is now a member of
the unconditional Union party of Alexandria.
XXXVIIth Congress—First Session,
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15
IN SENATE.
Mr. KING, (N. Y.,) presented the petition of
the New York Chamber of Commerce asking
that the New York assay office have the privi
lege of coining.
Referred to the Committee of Finance.
Mr: GRIMES, (lowa,) presented the petition of
citizens of lowa for a change in the law which
excludes Jewish chaplains from the army.; also
a petition that in consequence of the , rebellion
that slavery be absolutely and unconditionally
abolished. Mr. SUMNER, (Mass.,) presented
several.
Petitions. asking that the slaves of rebels be
emancipated; also a petition from the Mayor of
Boston and others, asking a repeal of the law in
relation to Jeaish chaplains.
Referred to the Committee on Military ,Af
fairs. •
Mr. CEANDLER, (Mich.,) presented a petition
for an exchange of prisoners.
Mr. TEN Ercx. offered a resolution thatithe
present war is for the Union according to the
Constitution, and the object is to save the
former and enforce the latter. It was so in the
beginning and should be, to the. last. That
measures extreme and radical, and disruptive
in themselves involving in a common fate,
loyal and disloyal should not be resorted to, and
that in suppressing treason the government can
not prove a traitor to the organic law. Laid
over.
Mr. HALE, (N. H.,) offered a resolution that
the Committee on Military Affairs be requested
to inquire into the expediency of providing in
a uniform manner in dealing with the slaves of
rebels, and those made prisoners or escaping
from their masters.
Mr. LANE, (Ind.,) offered a resolution that the
Comniittee on the Judiciary be requested to pro
vide Ty law so that the aiders and abettors of
treason may be prevented from bringing suits
for the collection of debts in United States
courts. Agreed to.
Mr. SIMMER (Mass ) offered a resolution, that
the committee on patents be instructed to in
quire if any additional legklation is necessary
to secure for persons of African descent the
right to take out patents. Agreed to.
Mr. WILKINSON, (Min.,) offered a resolution :
Whereas, Jesse D. Briglit, Senator from Indi
ana, did on the Ist of March last, write a letter
to Jefferson Davis; [The letter was het e read in
troducing a Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Davis, as having
an improvement in fire arms];
And whereas, Such letter is an evidence of dis
loyalty; therefore
Resolved, That the said Jesse D. Bright be ex
pelled from the Senate of the United States.
Mr. Cowpar (Pa.) moved the reference of the
subject to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Baron, (Ind.,) said that perhaps it was
not improper for .him to say a word
. as to the
truth of, the chSrges which have been made
against im through a licentious press. It had
been charged that he had absented himself
from the Senate, from fear of such a resolution
of expulsion being offered. It was not so. He had
been confined to his room. He had no objection
to the resolution. He believed that in a service
of seventeen years he had done nothing incon
sistent with his duty as an American Senator or
citizen or gentleman. He courted an investigation
into all his acts, public and private, and asked
to have a letter read in answer to the one alrea
dy brought to the notice of the Senate. The
lett--r alluded to was then read. It was ad
dressed to Mr. Fitch, his colleague, saying that
he was opposed to the abolitionists, but had al
ways been for the preservation and integrity of
the Union. He was, however opposed to the
coercive policy of the' government. The reso
lution was then referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The SPEAKER presented the memorial of 'the
legislative assembly of Colorado asking for the
establishment of a branch mint in that territo
ry. Referred to the Committee of Ways and
Means.
Mr. CONWAY, (Ban.,) rising to a question of
privilege alluded to a dialogue between himself
and Mr. Fonke on Thursday. The former bad
included the battle of Belmont as in the series
of defeats to our arms. Mr. Fouke had ineffec
tually asked Mr. Harding, who had the floor, to
yield it to him that he might in his own language
nail the falsehood to the counter. Mr. Con
way had explained that ho obtained his infor
mation from the newspaper. Mr. Conway, as
he did not at that time hear the offensive re
mark with distinctness, he now desired to know
whether Mr. Fouke intended to make the charge
of falsehood personally applicable to him.
Mr.•FouwE, (Ill.,) replied that he never heard
of any newspaper paragraph to,that effect except
in the Chicago Tribune, which was afterwards
contradicted. He then made a brief statement
of the battle of Belmont to show that it was
unkind in Mr. CONWAY to insist on characteriz
ing it as a defeat. He would permit the gen
tleman to make the application of the language
he had heretofore uttered, as he (Mr. CoNwAY)
was the only judge in the matter.
Mr. CONWAY in reply said Mr. Fouke had re
fused to avail himself of his generosity. He
submitted to the Candid judgment of the House
whether such conduct did not clearly manifest
a deliberate purpose to bring on a personal col
lision without cause, and whether such conduct
was not unbecoming a membrr of the House
but rather that of a blackguard and a scoundrel.
(Sensation.)
Mr. RICHARDSON, (Ill.,) immediately called
the Speaker to order saying this was not the
place to settle such difficulties. [Cries of order!
order!]
Mr. FOUKH wanted to say one word in re
ply.
Mr. STEVENS, (Pa.) and others objected. They
had enough of such things.
The SPiAXER informed Mr. Fouke that no
debate was in order.
Mr. FOULKE, amid. cries of order, was under
stood to say that Mr. Conway was a disgrace to
the nation and to humanity.
Here the matter ended in the Hone
Among the bills introduced and referred was
one by Mr. Monnu.L, (Vt.,) donating lands to
the several States for founding agricultural
colleges.
Tho House passed a bill to strike from the
pensions rolls the names of all persons who have
taken up arms against the government or in
any manner aided the rebellion.
Mr. GRANGER. (Mich.) introduced a bill for the
relief of Union soldiers now prisoners in Rich
mond and elsewhere in the rebel States. A
litter wa3 read, at his instance, from the priso
ners, showing their destitution, &c.
Mr. WICKLIET, (Sy.,) stated that the quarter
master's department had promptly met their
necessities by sending to the South two thou
sond full suits of clothing.
The bill was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
Mr. CRADELEAUGH, (Nevada,) introduced a
bill to establish a branch mint in the territory
of Nevada.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce. .
Mr. VAIANDINGHAM, (Ohio,) introduced the
following :
WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Navy has re
ported to this House that Capt. Charles Wilkes,
in command of the San Jancinto, an armed
vessel of war, did, on the Bth of November,
1861, on the high seas, intercept the Trent, a
British mail steamer, and forcibly remove there
from James M. Mason and John Slidell, disloyal
citizens.
Still Later from Europe.
Arrival of the City of Washington.
Continuation of the War Excitement
in England.
Anticipated War with the United States.
ACTIVE NAVAL AND MILITARY
PREPARATIONS.
Napoleon Offers His Services as
a Mediator.
FRANCE IN NO "HURRY" 70 RECOG
NIZE THE REBELS.
PEACEABLE ADVICE GIVEN TO
ENGLAND.
I=l
Naw YORK, Dec. 16.
The advices by the City of Washington, off
Cape Race, are dated in London on the sth-in
stant.
CONTINUATION OF THE WAN EXCITEMENT IN ENGLAND
-MORE ARTILLERY FOR CANADA.
The seizure of Mason and Slidell continues to
monopolize the columns of the press, which
continues to denounce the act as an insult in the
strongest terms.
Active naval preparations are going on at the
government dockyards.
It was asserted that the Australasian had
been chartered to convey troops and a battery
of artillery to Canada. She *would sail about
the 12th.
The partial effect of the Persia's news was
sent per Europa. It was then regarded hope
fully, and consols and cotton slightly improved;
but after carefully digesting the sentiments of
the American press on the Jan Jacinto affair,
a react km set in, and fears were entertained that
the Washington government would seek to jus
tify the act. The English journals generally
were very bitter and hostile in their remarks,
and continue to treat the matter as an insult
which cannot be tolerated.
Lord Lyons' instructions, on which the Cabinet
were unanimous, are explicit and determined.
WHAT ENGLAND THINKS IS HES DITTY
The London Post says the acknowledgement
of the error and surrender of the prisoners, will
be received with great joy; but if the federal
government fails, no man in England will blind
his eyes to the alternative that England must do
her duty. .Eler rights and duties .were never more
completely blended than in the present case.
The London Times continues to assert that it
has been Mr. Seward's policy to force a quarrel
with England. Both it and the Post call for
energetic military preparations in Canada.
DSOLIND IN CANADIAN BECIIR/T/ES
A serious decline was taking place daily in
Canadian securities. The total was twelve per
cent.
THE FIRST WAR ACT OP ENGLAND
The London Times says it may reasonably
predict that three things will immediately fol
low an outbreak, viz :
The destruction of the Southern blockade.
Complete blockade of the Northern ports.
The recognition of the Southern confederacy by
France and England.
The London News rejoices that Congress meets
before the English demands can get out, and
hopes it will act with honor and dignity, with
out foreign pressure. It hopes the golden
opportunity will not be lost.
THE NAVAL REINFOROLWiTS.
Active preparations were making in the
various navy yards A considerable number of
vessels had been ordered ready for immediate
commission. The transport Melbourne would
leave Woolwich for Halifax on the sth, with
30,000 stand of arms, large quautides of
ammunition and a battery of six Armstrong
guns. She will be convoyed by the Orpheus, a
twenty-one gun frig-de.
The Warrior would be ready for foreign ser
vise immediately. Her destination depends on
tllt answer from Washington.
A royal proclamation prohibits the export of
gunpowder and saltpetre, also nitrate of soda
and brimstone. The shipment of rifles from
England for New York continued.
EXPORT OP ARMS AND AMMUNITION PRODIBITED.
The export of arms, ammunition and lead
has been prohibited in England.
FRANCE STILL AGITATED.
REPORTED COMING RECOGNITION OP THE SOUTH BY
NAPOLEON --lIIS RUMORED ARBITRATION BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.
Great interest is excited in Paris.
Appearances indicate that the government
papers are instructed to write in an anti-Ameri
can tone.
An article in the Paris Patrie attracts consid
erable attention, as it argues pretty clearly that
France will side with England and recognize the
Southern Confederacy, and also take a decisive altitude
in the international question.
The Liverpool Yost gives a rumor that Napo
leon has been proposed as arbitrator of the
question,
The Americans in Paris paid a complimentary
visit to General Scott. Mr. Drayton was
spokesman.
A letter from General Scott, in favor of
maintaining friendly relations between England
and America, attracts much attention.
The Paris Paine has an editorial foreshadow
ing a disposition of France to recognise the south,
tf England sets the ezample.
REPORTED CAPTURE OF A REBEL PRIVATEER
It was stated that the James Adger captured
a privateer off Fayal on the 17th, and turned
her into that port.
THE VERY LATEST
THE DEMOCRACY OF ,ENGLAND IN FAVOR OF THE
DMZ!
LIVERPOOL, Pec. 5, 180. —At a recent ban
quet at Rockdale, Mr. Bright made an elaborate
speech on American affairs, in which he de
clined to give any decided opinion in the Trent
affair. He believed if the act is illegal that
America wilt make fitting reparation. He
strongly condemned warlike feelings, and scouted the
idea that the American Cabinet had resolved to pick a
quarrel with England. He made an eloquent perora
tion in favor of the North.
A letter was read from Richard Cobden, of a
specific tone, urging a suspension ofjudsrment.
The excitement continues unabated.
The Paris Temps repeats the statement that
Napoleon has tendered his service as a media
tor.
It had been rumored that the Persia bad been
chartered to convey troops to Canada, but it is
pronounced premature.
The Australasian had been advertised to sail
for New York on the 7th but the America had
been substituted.
IMPORTANT CNA-NOE OP OPINION IN FRANC/re-ENG
LAND'S HOKE DIFFICULTY.
December 6, 1861.
The tone of the French press is changing.
The Paris Moniteur considers a peaceful solu
tion not impossible, and that public opinion in
the United States is very powerful, but it is also
very fickle, and it is bat to await a solution of
the que-tion.
The Paris Journal des Desbeds approves the re
view of the Mmiteur, and adds that the French
government is in no hurry to recognize the
South,
Other French papers are of the same opinion
GERMAN READING OF THE LAW OF THE CASE
The German press generally takes the part of
England.
.The Augsburg Gazette says, the Charleston
blockade is ineffectual, otherwise the escape of
the Theodora would have been impossible. The
Southern commissioners, having reached a neu
tral Spanish port, embarked on a neutral En
glish steamer, could not be lawfully seized by the
North.
From Western Virginia.
I=l
Further Particulars of the Late Battle.
Western Virginia Clear of Rebels.
....*lii...----..
REBEL LOSSISO, UNION LOSS 20.
=MO
THE NOTORIOUS JAKE KURY CAPTURED
J. despatch from Philippi, Va., sip our force
at the battle fought on Friday at Alleghany
camp in Pocahontas county, numbered 1,800.
They came in sight of the enemy whose forces
were drawn up in line of battle in front of their
entrenchments. Our troops charged upon them
and drove them back. A hot fite was kept up
during the afternoon on both sides and several
brilliant charges on the enemy were made by
our men.
Gen. Milroy, in command of the Federals
withdrew his forces at nightfall intending tore
new the attack in the morning, but during the
night the rebels silently left their camp, burn
ing everything they could not carry with them.
Our loss was 20 killed and 30 wounded.
The loss of the rebels is estimated at 150 killed,
including a field officer.
By this action General Reynolds front is
cleared of the enemy, there being no organized
rebel force within forty miles of our advanced
post, a detachment of which was sent out from
Phillippi on Saturday, and returned last night
with ten guerilla rebels including the notorious
Jake Burn.
THE PIRATE SUMTER.
Reported Engagement between it and
a United States Vessel.
The Agnes has arrived here and reports
speaking the English brig Mary Norton, which
reported that the Sumter and Iroquois had a
severe engagement, and that one of them, he
did not know which had put into Martique to
repair damages.
DESTRUCTI V k.l FIRE
C.I.EvALLAND, Mo., Dec. 16..
The fire at Elyria on Sunday night destroyed
I twenty-three frame buildings, principally barns
Sand shops. Loss $lO,OOO. Insured $2,000.
ClNcoNeTri, Dec. 16
BALTIMORE, Dec. 16