Newspaper Page Text
. Ar
By Joseph Clisby.
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 7, 1863.
No. 975
COTTON PANIC.
Cotton took a terrible fright in the Macon
market on Saturday. The speculators had
been footballing it back and forth till they had
kicked it up to forty-odd cents a pound; but
Saturday morning telegrams came from Au
gusta to buy no more over a maximum of
twenty cents. This, you will observe, left a
' somewhat broad margin between buyers and
holders,and tho result was—nothing done, nor
■ was thoro any effort to accommodato tho differ-
«nca r, 1itotk>dy wfcntea ttfbuyl Prom an ob
ject of too fond and eager pursuit, cotton
suddenly sunk into nniversahdisfavor.
The causes of the sudden change woro nu
merous, bat the principal ones were no doubt,
laL The Confederate tax bn cotton and other
. produce in the hands of speculative holders.
This (ax is ten per cent, or say twenty dol
lars per bale. Another cause was tho failure
of the one acre bill in tho Legislature. The
crop of this year under the three acre law
now in force, liberal^ construed as it will be
in practice, will largely -swell the volumo of
this idle product now lying useless and cum'
. bersonie in all tho market towns of the State.
Thus it will be seen that at the moment the
paper makers took fright at the price of cotton,
A concatenation of events has como to their re
lief, and the old staple will probably subside
quietly again into sober habits and safer prices.
Tndecd, wit shall n5t be surprised to see it. go
’ very low. Planters will be indisposed to hold
it at an annual tax of fivo per cent, and specu
lators will not like it much better at ten.
THE LEGISLATURE ON THE COTTON
The Legislature, wo know, is in the habit of
reconsidering its own action on almost* all im
portant subjects, and yet wo are somewhat
puzzled to explain Its back action on the cotton
bill. It is one of those subjects upon which
men may well differ, and affording no precise
data upon which* to form a certain conclusion.
All wc can say is, the safer way for the country
is to sustain the bill, because while a superflu
ity of provisions will be do great disaster to
,thc country, we know that a scarcity will be.
Time will remedy tho one, but time' cannot
remedy tho mischief that may bo produced by
the other. In the very general considerations
which would determine a man’s voto on this
bill, we see no chance for any hew or sudden
light which ought to affect its fate. If mem
bers have once made up their minds to voto
upon it, the conclusion ought to bo final arid
to be reached as soon as possible for the bene-
.fit of the people. We understand, in fact, that
there is really no chance for the bill to pass.
DEFEAT OF THE COTTON BILL.
The telegram brings news of the defeat in
both Houses of the bill restricting cotton plant
ing in Georgia to one acre to tho hand. This,
of course, continues the present law in force,
which makes three acres to the hand the limit.
Wo learn tho bill was strongly assailed by
Hon. Linton Stephens in tho House, in a vory
powerful speech before that body, which chang
ed the verdict there, but In the Senate Its case
was hopeless from the beginning. Wo arc
doubtful whether the Legislature has not made
a mistake in this business,but their opportuni
ties to make up an intelligent opinion aro cer*
tainly far belter than ours, and we are far from
calling in question tneir disposition to do right.
Time wiil test the matter. If the result
shall be still plenty of bread no harm will have
been done. If not, no remedy will bo acces
sible.
BT Tho Northern gold market, in spite or
the nearly prohibitory exactions of tho Lincoln
Government against doalings in gold, is begin
ning to show strong reactionary symptoms.-
Gold bas risen eight per cent, sinco the 2Gth.
TOE INDORSEMEMT BILL.
Gossip from Milledgeville reports that the
indorsement bill will probably pass the House
and may get through tho Senate by a majority
of ono voto—not more. If it should get to
the Governor it will be vetoed, and that will
bo tho end of it, as it can never muster votes
enough to over-ride tho veto.
SOLDIER’S RELIEF SOCIETY.
We gratcfally acknowledge a donation of
$40 from tho young ladies and gentlemen of
Renwick, L*c County, as tho proceeds of an
Entertainment of Tableaux. ' •
Mbs. W. T. Colquitt,
• Pres’t. Soldier’s Relief Society. ’
L N. Botkin, Sec’y.
Burning of the Bath Paper Mill.—Tho
loss of this paper mill at this time, is a great
public calamity. A laige amonntof work was
done there for tho Confederate Government,
besides supplying a largo number of newspa
pers with paper for their regular issues. Tho
extent of the loss is not easy to estimate at
this time. Tho mill was entirely destroyed,
with paper, and stqck in process of being
worked up. The stock houses adjoining were
saved by great exertions, as also the boarding
houses. It is not yot ascertained what por-
T tioh of the machinery, if any, can he saved
from the fire; bat tbare are many things which
. it will bedifficult to feplaco at present. About
fifty hands were employed in the mill.
The fire originated from a spark upon the
rdof. Tho high wind prevailing, and the
. length of tinio elapsing before tho ttro was dis
^covered, made it wholly impossible to save the
* bqfidfng. . . # .. . .. -
It„ is hoped tbaj, from tho importance
of the mill—boing the largest in the Oogfeder-
acy—measures will be taken at once to rebuild
it—Chronicle and Sentinel.
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
Milledgeyille, Saturday 4th.
Ths wholo of the evening session in tho
House yesterday was spent in discussing the
bills to restrict tho planting of cotton. The
voto was taken on the substitute of Judge Cab-
moss, and was yeas 67—nays 75. The voto
was then on the original bill, and was yeas 64
—nays 70, I encloso you the remarks of
Judge Cabincss on his substitute. This morn
ing was spent in a motion to reconsideiy<and
after speeches in favor of reconsideration Mes
srs. Lester Smith, of Brooks, Render, Candler
And Thomas, and against the motion Messrs.
DuBosc, Moore, of Thomas, Schley and Hes
ter ; tho motion prevailed—ayes S3, nays 45.
The Senate was occupied until 12 o’clock to
day on a motion to reconsider the some bilL*-
Tho motion prevailed—ayes 20, nays 13. No
thing of interest was done in the Senate yes
terday afternoon, except the passage of the bill
to prohibit buying, selling or passing United
States currency bills, drafts, &c.
REMARKS or JUDGE _ CABINESS ON THE COTTON
. PLANTING BILL.
Judge Cabiness held that according to the
reading of tho Constitution by the gentleman
from Hancock, the substitute did not conflict
with it. >
Tho petition of tho gentleman from Han
cock was that “taxation could only bo increas
ed to raise royenue for the support of the Gov
ernment to pay tho public debt to provide for
the common defense, and for such other pur
poses as are specified in the grant of bowers.
Ho admitted that these were tho purposes
for which taxation could bo imposed to raise
revenue, and tho meaning of tho Constitution
is that revenuo when raised by taxation could
boused only for the support of the Govern
ment, and the other purposes specified, but
the Constitution prescribes no .limit to tho
amount of taxation.
Tho power of taxation is granted without
limitation as to tho amount of tax to bo im
posed—tho purposes for which tho money,
when raised, is to bo used, are specified. No w
the goBtleman from Hancock says, that a bill
proposing to impose a tax which would be
prohibitory would be unconstitutional, because
it would raise no revenue. Revenuo must be
the object of a tax bill and not prohibition,
fie assumeB-tbat the object of th8 substitute is
prohibition and not revenuo—but ho must as
certain the object of tho bill (rom its title, and
its provisions.
Its title is to lay and collect a tax on land
planted and cultivated in cdtton, above a ccr
tain quantity, and to provide a penalty-tor
making a falso return of tho same. -The bill
irovidea that one aero of land may be planted
in cotton for every hand between the ages of
16 and 55, and if there are .slaves between 55
and 65 years of age, and between 12 and 15,
two such shall count as one hand—and for
every aero more than ono to the hand, there
shall be levied and collected a tax of $25 per
acre, and a penalty for making a false return
of the number of bands and number of acres
planted in cotton as prescribed.
According to tho provisions of the bill, it
proposes to lay and collect a tax of $25 for
every aero planted above one aero to the hand
How then can it bo said to be a bill to pro
hibit the planting of cotton ? Suppose that it
does amount to prohibition—is it therefore un
constitutional ? So says the gentloman, and his
rcason.is because it does not raise revenue, or
is not intended to raiso revenue. Tho inten
tion must be ascertained from what the bill
proposes on its face.
If the tax proposed should amount to pro
hibition, that does not. necessarily rendor the
bill unconstitutional. A power to tax to pro
hibition has been and may bo exercised in
various case?, and yet he consistent with the
Constitution.
There is a class of cases which are usually
reached in this way. They are acts which are
not mala in se, but mala prohibita—which
arc not inherently wrong or crimes, bqt are
only of injurious tendency under certain cir
cumstances. Acts which are inherently wrong
or crimes, are not the subjects of prohibition
by taxation—to attempt to enforce a tax upon
them would be to license crime. But such is
not (ho case with acts which are not inherent
ly wrong—such are frequently, in legislation,
made tho subject of taxation, and sometimes
oven to prohibition, and if in such a case no
revenue would be yielded; tho law imposing the
tax would not for that reason be unconstitu
tional. Take the case ot a billiard table. To
keep such a table is not morally wrong—or
is not classed with crimes, which are donomU
noted mala in se. It is said to bo a healthful
exercise to play at billiards, but such tables
are believed to bo pcrniciousto society as they
serve as an introduction to gambling of i
worso character. Suppose there are fifty bil
liard tables in the State, and the Legislature
enacts that each shall pay a tax of $50 a year.
If the tax is paid $5,000 revenue would bo
brought into the Treasury, and th-. law would
be constitutional, because it would raise reve
nue. Bat suppose tin. owners of the billiard
tables Bhould conclude that they could not pay
a tax of $50 each on them, and they should be
removed beyond tho limits of the State.. Thoy
-.would be discontinued, and the State would
receive no income under tho law imposing the
tax, would it therefore bo unconstitutional ?
Take the case of distilleries. They are legiti
mate/subjects of taxation. and are injurious
to tho public interests, particularly at this
time. There are, suppose 1000 in tho Stata
The Legislature imposes a tax of $1000 on
each still in operation the first of April. If
the tax should be paid, $100,000 will bo ad
ded to the Treasury—a very handsome reve
nue. If the owners, should, however, believe
that thoy could not find it profitable to pay
a tax of $1000 each and run their stills, but
that it would bo more profitable to them and
beneficial to tho public interest to sell them to
the Confederate Government to be .converted
into cannon with other metals—and suppose
they were to do so before the 1st day of April,
no revenuo would be collected, hut would tho
law be unconstitutional? Surely not. An
annual tax of $1000 is now imposed by law
on venders of lottery tickets in this State. No
one now pays the tax and sells tickets. Is the
law’ unconstitutional bacauso it yields no rev
enue and amounts to a prohibition ot the sale
of lottery tickets ?
Now, take the case of the cotton planter, as
proposed to be taxed by the hill under consid
eration. Cotton planting is not wrong—not a
crime—but at this time, and under tho circum
stances in which our country is placed, it is
believed to be injurious to the public interest,
and detrimental to the public weal. It is on
that ground, and tha’t alone, that you have tho
right to interfere with its cultivation. A ma
jority of the House has already decided that
its cultivation ought to be further restricted.
That decision must have been made on the
ground that to plant- cotton to any extent now
would be pernicious and hurtlul to tho public
good. If that be so, the Legislature .can re-,
strict its cultivation, but not otherwise. Then
cultivation of cotton being considered detri
mental to the public weal, the bill proposes to
tax every acre above ono to the hand $25. If
the tax should be paid, revenue would bo
raised—if all should abstain from planting
more than ono acre to each hand because the
tax of $25 on each acre would make such
planting unprofitable—would the law be un
constitutional I
But a case has been decided by tho Supremo
Court of this State which settles the principle.
The City Council.of Griffin, a few years ago,
passed an.ordinance imposing a tax of $500 on
each retailer of spirituous liquors in tho city.
It amounted to a prohibition. Ono of the re-,
tailers contested the ordinance, and the case
went to the Supremo Court. That Court hold
that tho ordinance of tho City Council of Grif.
fin was unconstitutional. . The decision was
based upon that clause of the Constitution
which declared that “ the General Assembly
shall have power” to make all laws and ordi
nances which they shall deem necesssry and
proper for the good of the State, and whieh
shall not be repugnant to tho Constitution,”
and the Court lidtd that that power could bo
transferred by the Legislature to tho City
Council of Griffin to bo exercised w.ithin their
corporate limits.
Sach being the decision of the Court in this
case, is it likely that thoy would decide the bill
now under consideration to be unconstitution-,
al, if it should bo onactcd' into a law, and bo
carried before them ? It is true, the decision
was made under the old constitution, and not
tho now, but the clause upon which tho deci
sion was based is almost identical with tho one
in tht new constitution. They are almost the
same, word for Word,
1 jorrespondence ofthe Telegraph
ON THE BLOCKADE RUNNING.
From the Chattanooga Rebel.
Tho abundance of Confederate currency is'
not tho only cause of its cheapness. The con
stant demand for gold contributes a very ma
terial port to the depreciation. If this demand
were absent,' the value of Confederate notes
would bo regulated by the ordinary standard
of commercial exchanges; and tho prices of
tho necessaries of life would approximate the
rule of demand and supply. The trade in coin
is an excrescence on the monetary affairs oi
tho country, and its disturbing influence is
quite as great and much more injurious to the
financial interests of the Government and peo
pie, than any other ono of the causes which
aro so rapidly tending* towards bankrupting
both?
Whence, then, this demand for gold ? Un
doubtedly it springs chiefly from the spirit of
speculation which nas overspread the Confed
eracy. Ninety nine hundreths of the gold that
change hands now is immediately transferred
to foreign hands and pockets, in the prosecu
tion of an illicit and contraband trade. The
articles which it purchase? aro brought back
to us and sold for such sums as not only to re-
fund to tho adventurer the premium originally
paid and expenses, but per cents are also added
to cover the risks incident to the trade, pay
bribes, and to meet tho next advance premium
to be paid.
When gold reaches the point of four for one,
the profits of tho illicit trader may be put down
at from five hundred to five thousand per cent.
Every succeeding adventure with tho necessar
ily accompanying purchase of gold, depletes
the stock of, coin, and enhances its market
value. Tho same thing occurs with the notes
of State Banks, which stand higher with our
foreign factors than those of the Confederacy.
Thus the enhancement keeps pace with the de
mand, and the demand continues, cequa pede,
with the spirit and fruits of speculation. There
can,.therefore, be no end to it till the stock of
coin and State Bank paper is exhausted. The
value of gold, will continue to rise and that of
Confederate notes to fall, until tho former is
exhausted, or until the business which stimu
lates the speculation is ended. It i? clear that
this process is every day weakening tho Con
federacy. It is taking away from us tho bams
of credit, and is building up and strengthening
ourenomies; for a great proportion of it goes
directly to the United States.
Is this necessary ? Not at all. It does not
relievo tho needful wants of tho people; but
only contributes to extravagant and luxurious
indulgence. It answers tho tastes and habits
of.fashion and display which were better laid
aside for the present. It noithcr sustains tho
body nor stimulates tho spirit and . ardor of
patriotism—it enervates both. The people
of the South would bo a bettor, and stronger,
and braver, and more independent’ people to
day, if they had not received a farthing’s
worth of merchandize from tho North since
tho war began. If the government wished,
and bad it in its power, to obtain medicines
and war munitions from tho enemy in this
way let the Government do it. Otherwise, let
there be absolute non-intercourse.
Ought it to be tolerated? Not a day longer.—
It has already debauched ns as a people. Wo have
entered into corrupt bargains with tho enemy,
and there is no doubt that one of the secrets of the
constant and successful running of the blockade,
both by land and water,is to be ascribed to the,rcgu-
lar and constant payment ofbribes to Yankee func
tionaries. Now that oar credit is; at least partial
ly established in Europe, we can afford to dispense
with this shameful commerce with those who are
endeavoring at once to hold our purse strings and
turn aside our bayonets. We have no use for gold
in our home exchanges. • Confederate notes will
answer nil these purposes. If we will keep our
coin at home, and live within ourselves as we can
and ought to do,we will gain a point of the greatest
importance over our enemy, and we may add,
achieve a wholesome conquest over ourselves.
Whilo Congress is maturing its schemes of fi
nance, let it prohibit, under the severest penalties,
trade of Ml sorts with the enemy. Let it also pro
hibit the sale of gold abovo a given premium, on
pain of forfeiture of. the whole amount or some
other rigorous penalty.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
IN THE FRONT.
TcliiAkoha, April 1st, 1863..
Mr. Clisby:—After several Railroad Acci
dents, causing detention, I arrived hero yes
terday as windy March was making its exit.
The ground was covered with snow for many
miles aiounil. Last night a thousand camp
fires dotted the whitened surface, illuminating
the terrestrial, like stars in tho purer sphere
above. April is inaugurated by a clear sky
to-day, with a pleasant sun that is rapidly
thawing tho frozen waters and refreshings
soldier's camp with the prospect of comfort
once more.
Our army is in a most excellent condition—
being well clothed, shod and provisioned, with
less sickness than at any period heretofore—r
a restlessness seems to pervade, it from inactiv
ity so protracted, which nothing but another
battle can quiot.
General Bragg will return from Winchester
to-night. His lady is convalescing rapidly.—
Preparations are being made by some of .the
troops to welcome him with a fine serenade.—
Gen. Johnston has been indisposed for several
Ho will be able to be at his quarters
to-morrow.
Two deserters from Rosecranz’ army joined
Gen. Morgan’s command, and reached here to
day. They report heavy reinforcemetns arriv
ing at Nashville from Ohio, and the army there
is believed to bo about 40,000 strong. The
Yankee troops are not ambitious for further
battles; tjiey aro learning that they are shed
ding their blood for negro equality and not the
Union, which causes much disaffection in their
ranks.
The 800 prisoners from the Michigan 22d
and Wisconsin 19th Regiments arrived-this
morning. Thoy are substantially .clothed and
3hod, having an abundance of apparel. They
aro a stout, hardy set of men, having no re
semblance to the Eastern Yankee in thoir ap
pearance, but Jiko them somewhat eager to
trade—as they are selling their rings, pencils,
pens, india-rubber overcoats and jewsharps.
and trinkets generally. No news of any im
portance to-day. Yours, &c. B.
even if completed, may serve little. We cannot
help thinking that the last word of Vicksburg is
not yet said. Luck is on the side of the victorious
town. While-its legend, Fortune, fort Hus, re
mains true, it may continue with it. :
It is believed that the enemy is now engaged in
planting mortars in the woods opposite the city
within range, for tho purpose of shelling us in re
venge for the destruction of their boats. But this
is a game at whioh two can take a hand, and no
one expects to suffer any inconvenience from such
an attempt, as our guns are within range of any
point that the/ may select for that purpose. An
effort against the city seems to be brewing, and is
universally expected here.
ifo news from the Yazoo country have yet been
received, and a great anxiety is manifested about
the operations there—not that we have any fears,
but that we hope to hear of.the capture of the
wholo federal army, including gunboats and all.
Amnon.
Anothor Fedoral gunboat has been ad
ded to tho trophies of onr horse-marines. Well
done.
LIST OF CONSIGNEES PER S. W. R. R.
April 4th; 1863,
H Boifeuillet, Capt Michealoffsky, Oarhoart
& Oard, (B), J W Fears, N Powers, Capt H O
Cunningham, O R R Co, T L Holt, J F Greer,
J R Register, Richard Brinn, H B Troutman
G T ,Rogers & Son, P Land, R Lodge, John
Henington, T B Elfo, A Huff, H P Redding,
Roberts & Dunlap, Capt A O Bacon, W A Haff.
who had appropriated them. Some Mu
chusotts parlors are said to be carpeted
spoils of another kind. Now, if any one af
what bas become of the Union party ones
strong at the South, we answer that in ds«
they have been alienated from the Governm*
by the unjustifiablo outrages committed h ,
wicked or thoughtless Federal soldiers, if
Beaufort, South Carolina, tombs were violatii
At Holly Springs, Mississippi, a commmJT
table was used in behalf of “euchre" S
sledge.” Such tales of wrong have inferta!
many who woro disposed to be friends 0 fT
Union, and their righteous indignation hash. )
something to do with reverses that have nr»,
taken our arms.”” -* ^>J«veovgJ
Thb Situation.—Tho gunboats have been driv
en back and defeated on the Tennessee river by
our sharpshooters. g *
On yesterday at day light two iron clad vessels
camo up the river as far as Tuscumbia. They were
met there by our cavalry outposts. Very consid.
arable cannonading ensued; but our sharp-shoot
ers made the port holes too unsafe for heavy prac
tice, and after an ineffectual effortto land a party,
the gunboats backed about and retired. Their loss
is considered to bo heavy.
From Middle Tennessee we hear of skirmishing
at Unionville. *
Passengers by the evening train report the cap
ture of several wagons and prisoners on Wednes
day. Otherwise the line is quite.
No news from Charleston.— Rebel, 4th. *
CasniTABLE.—We learn that the Macon Manufac
turing Company have generously furnished Judge
H.,Howard with three thousand lbs. of good Ba
con, Hams, Shoulders and Middlings for sale to
soldiers families at 35cts per lb. The markec price
here is SOctB. The meat is in store at Mr. How
ards office and wiil be distributed in a proper man
ner;—Confederate.
LATE FROM THE NORTH.
Mr. J. W. Davidson, of White’s battalion of
cavalry, and- one -of its most gallant young
men, has obligingly furnished us with a batch
of Northern papers, brought on.by him. Mr.
D. is among the exchanged prisoners that have
just reached here from the North. We get up
from the papers the following summary of
news.—Examiner.
Correspondence of the Chronicle & Sentinel.
FROM VICKSBURG.
Topography of- Vicksburg—The famous Ca-?
nal—The probable result if it is completed
—the movements of the enemy—new mortar
batteries opposite the city, die.
Vicksburg, March 31.
In order to givo a plain and correct descrip
tion of the position of this placo, tho following
description will bo found useful and correct:
Vicksburg stands at a sharp bend of the
river. In front, there is a long, narrow penin
sula of land formed by tho said bend of the
stream. By cutting a ship canal across tho
base of this peninsula, tho enemy’s gunboats
and transports will be able to pass up ’and
down tho Mississippi in that neighborhood
without coming under fire of tho Confederate
artillory in the town. This project found fa
vor with tho Federal Generals last year when
thoy had exhausted tho flower of their armies
■in tho vain attempt to carry tho city by storm
or reduce it by a cannonade. They wore at
first persuaded that it was Only necessary to
cut an ordinary ditch across the land, and that
the rapid current of tho great river would
perform tho rest of tho labor. But the Father
of Waters obstinately adhered to his ancient
courses, and tho ditch remained a ditch. Re
peated attacks on tho city having absolutely
failed, the Federals have become satisfied that
the strength of tho place and tho valor of its
defences is proof against their arms. In this
year, therefore, thoy hava undertaken to do
the work which the Mississippi disdained. For
several months they havo employed an army
of negroes in digging this ditch.
The attempt and tho consummation of this
work, however, aro two different things, and
tho canal is still a work incomplete, and will be
likely to remain so, as the Confederate batter
ies erected opposite to tho mouth at tho lower
end will prevent the further prosecution of any
more work on it. There is but little appre
hension entertained that any benefit can result
in the enemy from this canal, though prudence
dictates to make every preparation to thwart
his purposes and compel him to abandon the
project.
In tho event of their getting through the canal
it would be a serious loss aud disadvantage to tis.
It would be mortifying to hear the exultation of
the enemy. Vicksburg bas thus far baffled the ut
most efforts of their arms. Their troops have again
and again been hurled back by her hills like the
breakers of .the sea by tho rocks. Without ta
king tho city, they would in a great measure hava
neutralized its importance by a mnart trick. In
military engineering it would indeed bo a great
achievement.
If the enemy should succeed in getting his gun
boats and transports through this canal, it would
secure him the river between Vicksburg and Port
Hudson, andwnight do us an infinite amount of
harm by interrupting our communication and cut
ting off our means of reinforcements and supplies;
and it would entail a world of trouble and hard
fighting for us to recover our lost advantages.
But these speculations on an event which is
qpt yet an accomplished fact, and which may nev
er be an accomplished fact. The completion of
the canal may bo prevented by various causes,and,
FROM THE ARMY ABOUT FREDERICKSBURG—RUMORS
OF THE REBEL ARMY.
The Northern papers have no news from the
soat of war at Fredericksburg. The falling
back of our army is still repeated at the North.
A spocial dispatch to the New York Tribune
says:
Tho Government has information leading it
to share the opinion entertained in Washings
ton circles of sympathisers with the insurrec
tion, that the robol army on tho Rappahannock
is making preparations to fall back towards
Richmond, probably as far as the lines of for
tifications constituting the defences of that city.
The apprehension of the Jefferson Davis Gov
ernment is that an attack is intended by way
of James rivor, and this backward movement
is considered necessary to thwart it. Refugees
from Richmond confirm this theory, and add
that Lee’s force has been much reduced by the
withdrawal of Longstreet, tho two Hills, and
other rebel Generals with their commands, who
have gono to other parts of the Confederacy.
In this connection read the following rewd
tions published in tho Tribune, soon after
Fredericksburg fight: “•
“After tho severe cannonadine of
it seems to have been understood that thetiti
would have been giveD up to pillage bv on,
troops. But to-day these fine mansionsui
not standing—elegant china and most eta,
libraries of books, rare works of art, ar e ^
heaped together in the street, and are sens
bled for as trophies. The headquarters of Git'
Howard are as he occupied them, every rm,
had been tom with shot, and then all the qC
rors, furniture and works of art broken nfl
smashed by tho soldiers. When I entered
early this morning, bofore its occupation b?
General ‘Howard, I found the soldiers of hjj •
fine division diverting themselves wife the rich
dresses found in tho wardrobes; some had «
bonnets of the fashion of last y«w, aud-» w
surveying themselves before the mirrtm
which, an hour or two afterward, were pitched
out of the window aqel smashed to piec*
on the pavement; others had elegant scuts
bound around their heads in the form of tur
bans, and shawls around their waists. Whit
I saw in this mansion was repeated in neuir
eveiy one which tho flames had not destroyed,
Saida soldier to mo to-day, raking ainon»»'1
magnificent private library, half covered A ,
mud in tho streets: “ How intensely religious
these d—d rebels are 1”—Tribunds Corrupts-
dence. ——
DISAFFECTION AT TH* WEST.
Tlio Washington correspondent of the New Toil
World writes:
The Government has advices from the W«st 1
which are by no means cheering. The resisuar
to the arrest Of deserters in Ohio, Indiana and III- |
nois' will be succeeded by the obstruction of tis
conscription act,[and a refusal to pay excise tu*
Several Governors of Western States, together will
influential citizens, had an interview with the j
President to-day on the subject, and measures to
prevent such resistance have been taken. Goto
nor Todd, of Ohio, who is a democrat, it is pre
sumed, will look to matters in Ohio under mStur 1
authority. The sale of arms in all the princip-t
Western cities has been stopped.
THE DESPOTIC ARRESTS IN THE* NORTH SEW"
ARd’s BRAGG OF TYRANNY—A LEAF FROM HIS
PORTFOLIO.
The Hartford (Conn.) Times says, in speak-
ing of the arbitrary arrests in the North:
On tho direct question of upholding or con
demning tho conduct of the present Adminis
tration at Washington, in seizing men with
out the process of law, and hurrying them to
prison without granting tho hearing to which
under the Constitution, they are entitled, the
Republican Abolition party in tl\p New York
Legislature have just voted to sustain the ar
rests. No such arbitrary stretch of power in
defiance of tho peoplo’s liberties is ever ven
tured upon by tho monarchist Government
of Great Britain.
It was these outrageous arbitrary arrests,
in fact, which contributed more than any oth
er one cause to arouse and exasperate the
American people, and by producing tho great
political"revolution that has overthrown the
Administration party in all tho great Western
and Central States, arrested tho monstrous
acts of tho infatuated men at Washington, and
brought tho perpetrators of them to a dead
pause. To illustrate tho incrodible extent of
their infatuation and insolence, wo quote from
tho'diplomatic correspondence of Secretary
Seward a shameful but characteristic passage.
Tho Secretary’s wholo official correspond
ence was by Congress last winter ordered i<,
be printed; and such another mass of official
writing, whether from its voluminous amount,
or tho character of a large portion of the dis
patches themselves, was never before seen in
the transactions of this Government. We
may add that this Government was nover be
fore so disgraced in its diplomatic correspond--
ence. Here is the passage; it is taken from a
dispatch to the British Minister:
MR. SEWARD TO LORD LYONS.
“My lord, I can touch a bell on my right
hand and order the arrest of a citizen in Ohio.
I can touch the boll again and order the im
prisonment of a citizen in New York, and no
power on earth but that of tho President can
release them. Can the Queen of England, in
her dominions, do as much ?”
But that party now begins to seo that they
have rung that boll too much. They hear
echoes and reverberations that they never ox-
pected. That bell is now tolling tho knell of
liberty-crushing ianatics who rashly dared to
awaken its slumbering tones. Mr. Seward rung
it in Connecticut He will hoar its reverbera
tions come crashing about his ears on the first
Monday of April.
REACTION OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT—THE N0P.TUIB
ELECTIONS.
The Portland Argus, in speaking of the ton
elections in Maine, says: “Earge Democratic giia
have been made in nearly every town. The only
town that was Democratic last year and his gon?
Abolition this, so far as we have uoticcd, is Moral
Desert, while the towns that have changed iroa
Abolition to Democracy are reconed by the score.'’
The Harrisburg (Pennslyvania) Patriot says:
“The charter election in Reading resulted in lh
success of the entire democratic ticket, by 250 mi-
jority. This is a democratic gain of 510. lode
borough of Carlisle, on the same day, the Demo
cratic Chief Burgess and Town Council were a*-
ried by from 70 to 100 majority. This borough
has heretofore been Republican, and therefore tto
election shows another large Democratic gaiu-
From York also we have cheering news. There;
as elsewhere, the march of Democracy is owati
and shows plainly that the people have detenpins
to put down the destructives who have too n|j
misgoverned tho country.”
Tho grandmother of Major-General McClain
died at East Grocmvick, Rhode Island, on Fray
last, at tho advanced ago of eighty-one years.
THE VANDALISM OF THE FEDERAL SOLDIERS—
THEIR OWN CONFESSIONS,
From the Baltimore Gazette.
The New k ork Christian Inquirer makes, on
good authority, these statements, but they do
not‘tell the half of the whole sad truth:
In several libraries of New England 'clergy-,
men wo have seen chosen volumes of great
cost, bearing the names of Southern ministers
to whom they still belong, although they have
tj een sunt North as gifts from Yankee soldiers
Edward Everett.—The Paris correspond'- j
of the Now York World gives the following I
bonne louche to Edward Everett: - J
A good many Americans in Paris hra:
down their heads on reading that “the Ifo I
Edward Everett hung out a now flag to** 1 1
come Butler to Boston.” Edward Everett, tb I
pink of propriety, the model statesman, Ik I
Athenian scholar, tho. perfect gcntlemra- j
doing homago to the inan Butler, who® I
committed evory crime in the calendar, fjl
ic is a flagrant abomination I Ilow_aro®|
mighty fallen! There are many citizeaB®J
New Orleans here in Paris whp “black mail* 4 1
Butler to get away, and who show their P**|
ports and tho prices paid for them, with B-v I
ler’s initials in his own handwriting. Althoop j
wo are greatly gratified on the arrival ofI
steamer to seo that Butler is having j^’ I
done him in tho World, yet we cannot rein-1
- om expressing a little of tho nniveisal vj*jl
tempt which is felt for tho brute in Europe *-1
for all who honor him.
Reported Capture of Washington, Nob* I
Carolina,—It was reported yesterday I
dispatch had been received byamw» t *l
Congress, announcing .the recapture by»P I
tion of General D. H. Hill’s forces, of th««? I
of Washington, North Carolina. It,
ther stated that five thousand runawxj
groes had, upon the. occasion,
hands. _ _ w>ait!ii I
Many persons were inclined to cn»»j
correctness of this report, whilst I
skeptical believed it to b».—
stories gotten off in honor of A' 1
Day.”
At a late hour last night no
the rumor had been received at the s j
—Richmond Examiner 2d.
3aia«v*jJ|
Revival of an Old Invention in - w f,
—The new Montgolfier balloon, invented i *
Goddard tho reronant, says Galtignaei,
parity of 4,200 metres. The car is
an apparatus which enables the ® ron J*?-, a 4«rN
■without either gas or b'aliast, and to deee ^
up high at pleasure. This apparatus c ^ c '; r . 4 -:.
kind of stove formed by three cyhndHV
from each other by insulating SU ' )S ^ I T’ & N*
all danger of fire is averted. The ^
pletely under tha control of the wnal u tfe’
is prevented from, rising too high by aw* i.
gauze. Mr. Goddard asserts that *l e ?' : "jt * ‘
balloon in thirty-nine minutes, and «•“
from 500 to 800 kilogrammes over ana
weight of bis person and his accesson»j
over, that his balloon may bepicreeu j -
shell without endangering the areM|5., ,
bimpelf cast projectiles oi' any kind wi