Newspaper Page Text
'Jtamutk uly
BY 8. W. MASON AND CO.
SAVANNAH, FRIDAY, FEB. 10, 1805.
FEDERAL ASTD REBEL FINANCE
—THE DIFFERENCE.
THE PRICE OF GCLD AT THE LATEST DATES.
When the Steamer left New York,
bringing intelligence up to the sth, Gold
v liad, at the Evening Board of the 4th
\ inst, touched 203 1-4, having opened at
20G. This is an advance over previous
quotations (which -were 202, to 200 1-4)
".and has been unquestionably brought
about by the desperate efforts of specul
tors to sate themselves from the ruinous
consequence, of fancy sales, made in hope
of an advance, and also of a belief in
the business world that the pending
Peace negotiations will come to nothing.
A well-grounded conviction penetrating
Wall street, that Peace, or an Armistice,
will follow the efforts of those who are
now with the Rebel Commtssioners, en
gaged in endeavoring to procure that
most desirable consummation, would, in a
single week, send specie down to its real
.. and proper level, which is about 150.
However, gold has been made so much an
. article of speculation that many of the
heaviest operator# among the financiers
-of ’Change have bargains on their hands
so r its delivering at future times at cer
tain rates, and if the article fall below
those rates, they will inevitably
be ruined. Bo soon as these men get out
of their “time bargain” scrape, they will
- cease their Herculean efforts to keep up
the price, and let the commodity find its
v natural commercial level, like any and
v every other article of commerce, so that,
■ whether the Peace Commissioners suc
ceed or fail, the recent heavy fluctuations
in the gold market, will, to % certain ex
tent, frighten off speculation, and early
advices, from the North will doubtless, in
the absence of some new martial or po
litical complication, show a return to the
- .ieszner rate of 200, or even less.
It is however, by no means unlikely
that the Speculators will keep the quo
tations up for perhaps two or three
weeks yet, and it is perhaps even to be
. expected that the very next news from
the North may show a slight advance,
but we risk our reputation as Prophets
on the assertion that never again will
any but a crazy man be tempted to buy
•Gold at 2.25 or more in Greenbacks.
In any event, the difference between
our currency and the Rebel paper, as
compared with the universal standard,
Gold, is sufficiently encouraging. At last
accounts from Jeffdom, the Richmond
- papers announced, with much compla
cency, as an encouraging symptom in
their financial affairs, that gold is only 45
for I—that is, 45 dollars Rebel paper,
for 1 gold doljar. Our greenback cur
rency now stands at a trifle over 2 for 1,
and is increasing in value every day.
Open Afr Concerts. —The departure
from the city of those military bands
which used to give free concerts daily in
the various Parks, has deprived our citi
zens of the only public amusement left.
Thesp concerts brought them together in
masses, and gave them not only oppor
tunities for social intercourse with each
other, but afforded facilities for making
acquaintance with the officers and sol
di* rs and thereby overcoming to a great
extent the barriers which ancieDt preju
dicies and more recent education had
' built up b< t ween them. .
Th re can be no question that the “con
«ior •. t. sounds’’ discoursed during
.-ftkii? w.v.'jy occupation of the city by our
men, by the various Brigade and Regi
mental Bands; did more to break down
those prejudices and to soften and
and wear away the not unnatural asper
sities of feeling which tended to keep the
citizens and soldiers apart, than could
have been done in any other manner.—
The entire stagnation in the way of pub
lic entertainments has rendered every
body eager for something in the amuse
ment way.
\Ye are then most heartily glad to
hear that the afternoon concerts are to be
resumed, the one second of the series being
announced to take place to-morrow
(Saturday Feb. 11th,) at 3 p. m.. in For
syth Park. The performers are to be
selected from the various bands now in
and near the city, and the Orchestra now
thus organized will literally a “Union”
one, and will comprehend the very
best musical talent to be found
iu Savannah.
Tnc music will be purely instrumental
and selections will be so varied that no
listener can fail to be pleased. The most
perfect order will be preserved, and we
sincerely hope, should the day be pleas
ant, to see a fine array of tbe ladies of
Savanaah, and that the “beauty” #f the
town may have a full and complete rep
resentation. These afternoon concerts
should speedily become as popular as
they are iu other cities, where on con
cert days the Parks are invariably
thronged with the most fashionable
people of both sexes the city can show.
General Molyneaux’ Band, under
the leadership of Martin Freeberthyser
(formerly one of the original Swiss Bell
Ringers), will perform the following airs
at Forsyth Park to-morrow afternoon at
four o’clock;
Fire Brigade Quickstep.
Polka. coats.
We May Be Happy Yet. Flctow.
Storm Gallop.
Bright Eyes.
Departed Days.
Goodwin Quickstep.
Grand March. Donizetti.
Bloomer Gallop.
Mary of Argyle.
Distin’s Quickstep. Coats.
Star Spangled Banner.
To conclude with Yankee Doodle.
Startling Revelation in a Female
Seminary.— The Springfield Republican
tells the following story ;
There was a startling development at
Mount Holyoke Seminary not long since.
One of the young ladies had just returned
from a visit to the outside world, and
soon after a vigilant teacher looked into
her room and saw a gentleman's hat
there. Another teacher also satisfied
herself of the existence of the alarming
object, and the pupil was forthwith sum
moned to the hall of judgment. It was
a most delicate subject of inquiry, and
the point of attack w r as onty reached by
gradual and zigzag approaches. The
pupil, who manifested her depravity by
hijlf-concealed merriment, and showed
no disposition penitently to unbosom
herself, was at last brought up with a
plump question as to the hat in the room.
There was a moment of painfully anxious
suspense, followed by a sudden collapse,
when the offender confessed that she had
brought in one of her father's old hats to
cut up for soies. She was pronounced
excused, and there was great fun in the
hails as the story circulated.
Savannah, Feb; 9, ISGS.
Editor Savannah Herald:
Dear Sir: —Phase excuse my tres
passing on your time and space, but I
wish to return my sincere thanks to the
Fire Department, soldiers and citizens,
for the energy and perseverance which
they displayed in their efforts to save my
house from destruction by fire on the
morning of the 6th inst. The firemen,
in particular, arc deserving of all
praise. Yours very respectfully,
Mrs. Black.
THE PEACE MOVEMENT.
Sleeting of Pres. Lincoln and Sec. Seward
with Lie Rebel Peace Commissioners.
Speculations Concerning’ the
movement.
Tbe Reliel Press on the Subject. •
LATER NEWS CONCERNING
PEACE.
Northern Dates to the sth.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER BES DE
FORD.
An Honorable Peace Attain
able.
Headquarters, Army of the Poto
mac, Feb. 1, 1865. —The announcement
that the rebel peace commissioners had
arrived within our lines and had gone to
Washington, although premature, was
not without foundation in fact.
On Sunday a flag of truce appeared
on the line near the center, and, being
answered, it was found to be a re'quest,
in pursuance of an understanding with
Mr. Blair and General Grant, lor per
mission to the following named gentle
men to pass to General Grant’s head
quarters: Lieutenant Colonel Hatch,
Assistant Adjutant General and Ex
change Commissioner; Alexander H.
Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter and John A.
Campbell.
Colanei Samuel Harriman, command
ing the First brigade of the First divi
sion of the Ninth corps, received the
communication and forwarded it to the
Headquarters. Owing to General Grant’s
absence from City Point no reply could
be sent immediately ; but the matter was
referred to Washington, and, after sev
eral communications had passed be
tween our authorities and the commis
sioners, the permission was granted, and
a deputation, consisting of Col. Babcock,
of General Grant’s staff; Colonel Harri
man, Colonel Lydge, of General Parke’s
staff, and Captain Brackett, of General
Wilcox’s staff, were appointed to meet
the gentlemen and escort them within
our lines:
The deputation reached the appointed
place just before sunset yesterday, and
were soon joined by Mr. Stephens and
his companions; and, after a few min
utes spent in the interchange of civili
ties, the party came within our lines, at
which moment the troops on both sides
united in a simultaneous cheer, which
seemed to give them greater confidence
than they had before exhibited.
They were escorted to the railroad In
carriages, where a special train was in
waiting to convey them to City Point.—
A large crowd of soldiers was here as
sembled, anxious to get a glimpse of the
strangers; and, when the train started,
loud cheers again greeted them. On ar
riving at City Point they were taken t 6
General Grant’s headquarters, where
they spent the night.
Messrs. Stephens and Campbell looked
much emaciated and careworn, but
Mr. Hunter appeared to be hale and
hearty, as did Cel. Hatch. The latter*
conducted the negotiations in his usual
and happy. manner.
The only allusion made to our diffi
culties was the hope expressed by Mr.
Stephens to Col. Harriman, on bidding
him good bye, that they would soon meet
under happier auspices.
Fortress Monroe, Feb. 2.—Messrs.
Alexander H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hun
ter and Judge Campbell, and other rebel
peace commissioners, arrived here this
afternoon, from City Point, in Lieutenant
General Grant's special despatch steamer,
the Mary Martin. Secretary Seward was
on board the River Queen, waiting to re
ceive them. Immediately upon the ar
rival of the commissioners both steamers
proceeded to an anchorage in the stream
side by side. At this writing a quarter
past five o’clock, as the Louisiana leaves
for Baltimore, the steamers are still out
in the stream.
Feb. 3.—The climax in
the peace negotiations are at hand
Davishas made a temporary affiance
with General Lee, but fears that the
fight upon him (Davis) at Richmond
will soon force Lee to break loose He
is, therefore, determined to agree upon
terms at once to save himself.
The President stated before he left,
yesterday, that there was more signifi
cance In his meeting the rebel commis
sioners on the James river than if they
were coming here. Terms are at hand.
lou need not be surprised to hear of
Davis, Lee, Lincoln, Seward and Grant
being closeted together within the next
five days.
Only one member of the Cabinet has
been consulted—Mr. Seward.
[From the N. Y. Herald, Feb. 3 ]
An important and significant move
ment in the pending peace negotiations
was made yesterday. President Lin
coln following Secretary Seward to For
tress Monroe, for the purpose of meeting
the rebel commissioners, Messrs. Ste
phens, Hunter and Campbell. The
President left Washington at eleven
o'clock in the forenoon, and proceeding
to Annapolis, there took steamer lor the
fortress, where it was expected he
would arrive at one o’clock this morn
ing. One explanation given for this
sudden and unexpected departure is*
that Mr. Bair had promised in Rich
mond that :f commissioners were sent
from there they should have an inter
view with the President. But, as it was.
not deemed best to have these gentle
men come :o Washington just now, the
only way to fulfil the promise was in
Mr. Lincoln going to meet them. When
Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell
passed through Gen. Grant’s lines on last
Tuesday evening the national and rebel
troops in the vicinity • simultaneously
joined in enthusiastic cheers ; and then,
again, whie awaiting at General Grant’s
military railroad for the train to convey
them to City Point, the rebel peace
agents were loudly cheered by the Union
soldiers. They spent Tuesday night at
General Grant 's headquarters, and on
the next day left for Fortress Monroe,
where no loubt ere this they have met
the President of the United States. In
the rebel House of Representatives on
last Monday a resolution saying that the
time may not be far distant when, with
the independence of the “Confederate
States” acknowledged,- they will unite
with the United States for the vindica
tion of the Monroe doctrine, was intro
duced and unanimously referred to the
Foreign Affairs Committee.
The constitutional amendment for the
abolition and prohibition ot slavery
throughout the country has been re
ceived by the people with enthusiasm,
and is being acted upon by the Legisla
tures of some of the States with promp
ness. Already it has been fully ratified
by the Legislatures of Illinois, Michi
gan and Rhode Island, and by one house
in that of Maryland, while in those of
New York, Massachusetts and other
States the ratification measures have
been introduced. In a speech which
President Lincoln made on Wednesday
night, in response to a serenade in honor
of the success of the amendment in the
House of Representatives, he said that
while some might entertain doubts about
the legal validity of the abolition of
slavery by his proclamations, none
could cavil when it was decreed by the
concurrence of three-fourths of the
States in the Resolution adopted by Con
gress. In Massachusetts yesterday the
people manifested their enthusiasm by
the ringing of bells and firing of salutes
throughout the State. In the West Vir
ginia House of Delegates on Monday
last the bill to abolish slavery in that
State was ordered to its third reading.
Burley, the alleged Lake Erie raider,
was delivered up to the United States
officers by the Canadian authorities early
yesterday t morning at Suspension
Bridge, near Niagara Falls, in this State.
The Alien bill, which has passed the
lower house ot tne Canadian Parliament
by the almost unanimous Vote of one
hundred and four to four, is designed to
prevent rebel raids trorn Canada into the
United States. A synopsis of it was
published in yesterday's Herald. It con
fers great power on the Governor Gen
eral in the matters to which it has- ref
erence, and its enforcement will proba
