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'jolleges shall be exempt from taxation Under the provisions of this act. Sec, 17. That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and be is hereby authorized to niake*ali rules and regulations necessa ry t<> the operation of this act, and not inconsistent herewith. Ote. It'. This act shall ie in force for two years after the expiration of the present year, aud the taxes herein imposed for the present year shall be levied and collected each year thereafter in the man ner and form herein prescribed, and lor the said time of two years unless this act shall be sooner repealed : Provided, That tax on naval stores, flour, wool, cotton, tobacco and other agricultural products ol the growth of any year preceding the year 1863, imposed in the first section ol this act, shall he levied and collected only < for the present year. From Virkkburg. A letter to the Memphis Appeal, dated tLe 20th, says that the batteries had con tinued playing on the city unmolested since the 1 Gt h. This unreasonable silence on our part, is in accordance with peremptory orders from Gen. Pemberton. The letter says : “ On Monday the pickets reported that the enemy had been at work all night, and at 8 o’clock they opened on the city, and came nearer reaching it than any previous effort. They jiow directed their fire to ward that part of the town between the Washington hotel and the court-house. The shells did not, as formerly,fall oi burst in the river, but now they reached into the city, and. 1 believe, pieces of the first one struck the Washington hotel. Soon after this another one fell immediately in front of that building, and exploding, whirled its fragments into a Jew’s store opposite, and set fire to the goods. One man was stand ing in the door of the store when the shell exploded, and it seemed as if the pieces passed by him by hundreds without touch ing him. Ilis escape is almost miraculous. The length of range of the enemy’s guns kept on increasing, as shell alter shell came whirling and screeching through the air. Soon they reached a square beyond Wash ington street,and severaj buildings on Wal nut street were struck, and their distance kept on increasing until they reached the street in front of the custom house. 1 hear of several soldiers wounded by fragments of shell aud or.c or two klllr.<l. It appears to me to he a matter requiring censure than piaise, in regard to the inexcusable recklessness of some of the ladies about Vicksburg, whoso desire for seeing tlie ebelling prompts them to seek very exposed places, regardless of the dan ger. The order of Gen. Pemberton, for the removal of the women and children, is not enforced and not obeyed, nr.d the town is entirely too full of the uon-combatant ele ment. I do not think that the firing yesterday proceeded from the same guns that did the shelling on the previous days. They are of longer range, Lut of not such heavy cali bre, and they seem to shoot with more ac curacy than the former ones. Their fire is in a direct line with the court-house, and if practice has any virtue, they will yet strike that budding. Pieces of shell went several squares beyond that place. Of course it may be imagined that a stampede occurred yesterday—but this is a mistake, and but few people were seen either to move or leave the city. They have made up their minds to stay, and seem to pay hut little attention to the shelling. There are various reports in regard to the battery from which the Yankees are biitliing. I have not yet had an opportuni ty of examining the work with a glass, and cannot venture an opinion of its character, further than what I learn at Gen. Stephen son’s headquarters,that the battery is very much exposed, and liable to be silenced any minute by our guns. What the next order of the day will he is hard to conjecture, and will be regulated according to the movements of the enemy. The Hebrew element has all disappear ed from our midst, and but few business houses are now open at which to transact business ; and tiie town is in fact untenable at the present time ; the daily expectation of an assault in force will cause a stagna tion in the trading line. There is not a large amount of sugar here, or that might open a chance for speculation. I do not think that there is anything wanting in the way of fuli and perfect preparations for the expected assault, and everybody is willing to abide the issue with the utmost confi dence.. Nestor. white folks had waited till cullcred people and niggers bad axed ’em to light ’bout 'em, dere wouldn’t been uo figlitin’, no way! Guv'nor Andiew cant come ^ it over dis chile If ho wants a dinner, I le give him one, like Mr. Hayden did, cause i ain’t proud; but he ain’t a gwine to get my shoulder behind a musket if lie kiss it all day long. No '• sa h ! an’ what’ more, rchile sodgers don't want us more'n ice leant to so! Dis ycre country ’ll be safer to let de white folks fight it out, an’ to let dc culler’d gemmen st v to home an’ mind dere own business! The speech of Mr. Cole had such a convincing effect upon the assembly, that the efforts of President Crow, who was the only daikey in the crowd who had receiv ed a five dollar bill from Governor, were totally ineffectual for the preservation of order. The barrel upon which he had mounted was kicked from under him, but as he fortunately alighted upon his head he sustained no personal injury, so that he prevented from fullfilling his en gagement to take tea with his Excellency on the following evening. His report of the proceedings of the me bly be published at th State, unless it may be ent, as not comporting welfare. njr. His ne n £g * ! W will proba rise of the inexpedi- ;ho public The Killing of Tlo/tt. E. Dixon.—The Richmond Whig of the 25th gives the fol lowing particulars of the. death of Mr. R. E. Dixon, Clerk of the house of Represen tatives, which makes it a clear case of flagrant, murder. From tlic Fmnkliu (N. Y.T Gazette. “The Driuocrary for the War»’' This is the exultant shout of the New York Tribune, the vile oracle of Abolition ism, and it bases the foul slander upon the fact that James T. Brady, the flyeckin- ridge candidate for Governor in I860, and always an uncertain, unreliable politiciaji, who never possessed the sympathy or con fidence of his party, and John Van Buren, the erratic Prince of tho House of Kinder- liook whose irregular,.free-and easy habits of life and political inconsistencies have rendered him a burden and source of anxie ty toanv party, attended and took an active part in an Abolition war meeting held in the citj of New York a few evenings since. The Democracy in favor of this Abolition war ! A blacker falsehood was never uttered, even by Greely himself, and in behalf of the men who are bravely breasting the storm of fanaticism which is driving the country to destruction, and of the glorious old party of the Constitution whose tradition gives the lie to the Tri bune’s assertion, we hurl hack' tho foul slander into the teeth of its author. WTiatever such shifting weathercocks as John VanBuren may say or do, the great Democratic hearts are true to the principles of constitutional liberty as taught by the fathers, which made the sovereignty of the States, the freedom of speech and of the pre3s, the subordination of the mili tary to the civil authority, the protection of the citizen from arrest and imprisonment except upon due process of law and a speedy trial by jury. It is against ali these sacred lights that the present war ent ; and ° . ' i mi m i c .1 | is waged by the Lincoln governm Startling Tragedy.- ihe Clcrk^ O- the j j )e w j 10 ] en( j s j t j,j s SU pport or countenance or does not oppose it-by all lawful and con House of Representatives, Robert E. Dix on, Esq., was yesterday slain in a street j 8titutional In * t [ 10 ,l,, ought to blush to call rencontre, by Robert 1. 1- orde, late an j Limsclf a i) emocra t. Assistant Clerk of the same body, i he .. Jn fayor of *j. c wnr are we?” says the volume can possibly be so great. Aud this also ppon the supposition that no more bonds shall be sold. By law, the Secretary of the Treasury is directed to fund notes, so as to endeavor to keep only 175,01)0,000 in circulation. W hether he will display the genius necessary, is yet to be developed. With money in plenty, prices are ne cessarily inflated. With a stringent money market, they must invariably collapse. Upon all these facts, there is the additional one of the eagerness Affair* in the Ndrthwwl* The Jackson Appeal says : "We yesterd^ had quite a long teresting conversation with a very intelli gent gentleman who has recently passed the Federal lines, having left Now loik on the Sth inst. lie had mingled and conveiscd freely wit li the leading demo cratic politicians both of tho North and tho W est, and is fully satisfied that the peace or aUti-wnr feeling in the North is much stronger than would appear from the perusal of the Northern conservative pa pers. These papers, ho says, do not daie to give a full aud correct statement of facts with which the Confederate loan was ag ° hey e rf s t7 wh'ic'h'wouTdseem to be sought after in Europe, at 00 cents upon tho dollar, and the premium paid* making it from 94 to 95 cents. The reaction must soon commence, and when the news of the failure ot the iron-clad fleet before Charleston reaches them the financiers of Europe feel still a greater confidence in Con federate credit. It may take ninety j corroborated by the late order of Hen. Burur-ide prohibiting private letters from coming South. The feeling in New York city is partic ularly intense. As an instance, an or der had come from Washington for the arrest of lion. "Bcnj. Wood. The mar shal was defied, and told by iernando j Wood that if such was the game the ad ministration intended to play, they would days to fully develop the appreciation j meet J eff Davis on half-way ground. Mr. of our currency, but we assert the j Beward was telegraphed tlic facts and the opinion that in comparatively a short [arrest was not attempted. This gentle- period the change will be marked aud j man moreover states that a feeling 0 gratifying. Besides, the values placed sadness and sorrow settled upon a large "pon various article, an. only fictitious, j Because a few men in Richmond have ; established prices upon the gold, sil- news of the downfall of Charleston reach cd them., lie was fully satisfied that the ^ . hands of the peace party would bo great- ver, or sterling exchange in their pos- ].. strengthened when put in possession of session far in advance of .its correct; the facts. value, it is no indication that.the value j of our currency should be depreciated Extensive preparations are makin_ the North to resist the enforcement of the The only thins that will Public meeting iu Brcok*. At a meeting of tlie citizens of Brooks county, called for ibe purpose of carrying out the sugges tions of the Secretary cf War. in regard to feeding our soldiers. Judge Charles 15. Groover was called to the Chair, and W. 15 ltennet appointed Secrc- lary. At the request of the chairman, Rev. C. S Cuuldiii -explained the object of the meeting, and in a forcible and patriotic manner, impressed upon those present the obligations they were under to eomo up to the support of tho government and ar my. Uo then iutroduced the following restlu lions, which were unanimously adopt'd : Resolced, 1st. That we approve of the call of the President and Secretary of War, and that while we have food the army sin,II not suiter. That all our surplus shall forthwith bo put at the disposal of the government, and if that should be Huud insuf ficient, wo will divide with tho army by living oh part rations at home; and to this end we.iuvite the government to make known the wants of the army from time to time, that they may be supplied, as Gud has and shall bless us. 21. That moderation and-nniformity of prices ar.- desirable and fair, atid to that end we recommend that our Committee consult with other committees on this subject. lid. That fifty cents per pound for bacon is a full and fair equivalent f tliourgb the government is now paying bo cents.) and the people of this county are willing to take the former sum. or less, if the oth er counties in the State are willing to do so like wise. 4tli. In the event that these resolutions are not responded to by other counties of the Slate, then our Committee be instructed to pay the govern ment price, inasmuch as the difference in price in this county only would be butef nominal value to the government. • 5th. That the proceedings of this meeting bo pub lished iu the Thomasviile and Savannah papers, that other counties may know our views, and they ho requested to make known at their meetings whether they are willing to sell to the government at like prices, that there may be moderation and uniformity of prices throughout the State. On mvtion of D. U. McNeil, the following gen tlemen were appointed a committee select a committee to procure provisions from the farmers and fix a price for the same : Dr. L. Stanley, J. W. Spain, C. S. Gauldin, Y. E. Harden and C. A Groover. capitalists, who, investing their fond* i a au 8C . cumulation of provisions, aud refusin • to sell rather with a view to eternity than profit have virtually withdrawn from the maiket & verv large proportion of its natural supplies. An ar-i ficial scarcity has thus been produced, while' iu truth, there was-abundanco in the laud the last three weeks, prices have cme, and there is a reason to i,„ liu', during reached their seme, *uu mere is a reiMru to l,„ iieve that the decline which has begun is not v!.' circumstances, as far as known, are briefly these : On Thursday last Mr. Dixon discharged Fordo from his employment, in consequence of the latter’s neglect of duty. The next day he received a letter.from Forde, demanding to be reinstated, and warning him if this were not done, tl^t lie (Dixon) must prepare to defend him self. Yesterday, about one o’clock, they met near the coiner of 10th and Bank streets, when, as is stated, Forde at once drew a Colt’s pistol, aud commenced dis charging it. 'l’lie deceased also drew, and as is believed, dischaiged two or three barrels of his pistol—though the accounts vary upon this point. One of Forde’s shots took effect in the right side of the Qc^onsed, and traversing the body perfora ted the hcait. lfr» fell and died immedi ately. -Rome Sentinel to a “war for the Union” neighbor. “Then how is it that wc nomi nated Thomas II Seymour in Connecticut —that we elected James tV. W all to the United States Senate from New Jersey— tnat in every State where we have had the Legislature, resolutions i;i favor of peace have been passed? llow is it that our party in Congress vote solid against every one of Mi" Lincoln’s war measures? Blit we are in favor of “the war for the Constitution and the Union,” you mean.— Then we ought to be able to state where that war is being 'carried on. Certainly of fresh enhancement. A few foreign- y jrgin ; a or N ort h “Carolina. Should he era in Richmond got frightened and 1 J(J c p,filed and defeated at any of these make a rush for gold—willing to pay points, its enforcement would be impossi- anytliing for it. Forthwith the pnee goes up 300.per cent in four days, and probably $10,000 iu gold would cover the entire sales; but the price is es tablished everywhere else throughout the Confederacy. The argument would be fallacious that values could he so le, and the prospects of peace greatly en hanced. It would, he thinks, be unwise, impoli tic and unfortunate for tho Southern press or Southern statesmen- to. do any act or conduct themselves in such a manner as to cast contumely or reproach upon this growing peace party of the North, such, suddenly changed. Take, for instance, f or instance, as has found utterance in the provision market. The difficulty ol some of the Richmond papers. Their po- transportation has created a scarcity in sition at present is a delicate one, having to bo the heaviest ever known in «!,* Z w;ll, ere long, be pressing into the market T|.“ policy ot importing provisions in large m„ n ti;il has already been in.tugaiated, the m-il known Chaileston firm, whose enterprise ,md tact has already, in other respect*, conferred incalculable hr nr’tits upon the country, taking th* j ; n tIli last aud most important development of iheVlock* ade. trade. With the prospect of this early and active com- petition in the market, and with ih e certainly of •he heavy tax upon hoarded produce, which most be p ad early in the simmer, it is not *tr a ng„ q,.,, holders ehouidoverywheie bn cautiously relaxing their (T.a»p upon their accumulated supplies Nor need we he surprised to find that, as those supply so Ion- withheld, are wisely yielded to the d e . mai.d, there occurs such a tumble in the price of food, as will add new nerve to the arms of our soldiers in the field, and send joy and thankful, ness to the hearts of tho whole people.—Char, lesion Mercury, 2&lh. The Enccij’i, Pnrponr—den: Grant's Rrcent HsTcoentu. It is probable that the movements of the Abolitionists in Mississippi, now hein"- watched with such intense interest, mean nothing less than tho employment of every means possible, even to the hazard of a di rect assault, to accomplish the reduction of Vicksburg. The Jackson Appeal, of the 21st, says : That Gen. Grant at one time contempla ted at least a temporary abandonment of j operations on the river, and the transfer of Said gentlemen retired, and after a few iniuntes I a large portion of Ins army either to co-op- reported that they had selected, rs the procuring j era t e with Rosencranz, or to operate from and valuing Committee, Judge J. O. Morten, T. J. Denmark and J. K Morrow On motion the meeting adjourned, to meet at Quitman on the first Saturday in May next, at operate from bis old base at Cotimh, is generally be lieved by our best informed friends at Mem phis. Knowing the formidable nature of Richmond. Corn me.1l, in consequents, sells at $12 per bushel; butter, S3,50 notin Matyland. were ccngrcgat.ous are d ' 8 , per dozen; tur directed by the Provost Marshal to con-! t l ’ 9 s 1 — , , i spicuously display the United States.hag in their churches, or forbidden to worship ; not in Western Virginia, where Milrpy keys, $20 each; peas, $20 per bus hay, $25 per hundred weight, dec. _ Does any one believe these to be fair , , . , „ ■ i suppresses Democratic papers„and where valuations of these commodities? It is i , C m Tin TUo I n Hooker "H— -inHiJh Pierpont as the j ust as much the case as is the inflated lid convened to j«nl. .1 lie uou^ ot 311* 1..... a. 1 Onvpmor ol tho xjrtrt vrr ] •* r -1 , i* Hxon was conveyed to the building of w hicti never voted <or h\m; nor any where ^ S1V€H ’ QnJ St l ie Young Mcu’s Christian Association, in j a (hc Soutl)i ^ere b i avcs are all freed by ° out of which he fell- At a late hour it „ r0claJRal j 01 , afld cveiy white man’s , an D tl front of which he fell- At a late lionr it was temoved to 11.e undertaker s, and prepared for transmission to his home, Columbus, Ga., where a bereaved family aud a very large circle of friends await its coining. Upon intelligence ol the frightful occurence, the House of Repre sentatives" look a recess till night: when proclamation, and cveiy estate confiscated without.,jury trial, by Congressional enactment. Not certainly in South Carolina, where ‘San Domingo servile insurrection, with all its horrors, is being inaugurated by Hunter. Not in Missouri where every property-holder is - . called a bush-whacker, and liable to be on reassembling, resolutions of respect and shot and },; 3 family and propeity placed Nnitibo on Ibr gifP.I f£uc*tioK. There is a good laugh and seme sound moralising in the following report of a meeting of darkies in Massachusetts. The Darkies in Council.—The Boston Courier publishes an account of a meeting . of negroes in New Bedford, Massachusetts, convened by request of governor Andrews for the purpose of encouraging enlist ments. “Mr. Crow,” the chairman, after delivering tlie opening address, sat down upon a barrel, when the secretary read the following resolutions : 1. Whereat how, loom’ back trou de • vista cf dis war, we don't see nothin’ encouragin’ and lookin’ throu de retro- spek ahead, things looks wuss’n ever ; resolved, somethin’s got to be done! 2. Rcsolced, white folks baint done nothin'. 3. Resolced, it takes colored folks to do sumthin’. 4. Rcsolced, how’s it gwine to be done ? 5. Resolced, dat’s de question ! The resolution having been read, there was a great rush for the floor, and gentle men treading upon the elongated heels of each other, there was no little confusion and outcry. Order being at length restor ed, Romper Cole, Esq., was recognized by the—barrel. Mr. Cole, remarked : “Mr. Checr- mau, I don’t know ’bout dis yere thing. Fus place, aforo we licks de Souf, I wants to know what ice’s got to do ’bout it ? I read a story in de Currier todder day ’bout some white fellah askiu’ a cullcred gemman if lie didn’t mean to list. Says de cullcred gemman, says he, “Look you here, white man, did yah ever see two dogs a figlitin’ over a bone ? Wall, ’lowed lie hud. “Burry well,” says de cullered gemman, “did de hone fight ?” Now den Miss’r Cheerman on dc barrel yonder, dey tell us dis’s a war for liberty— lor to set dem uigger out Souf free. Well, who axed ’em to do it ? Nigger out Souf didn’t. He’s better off afoie dan lie is now. kicken’ ’bout atweeu two armies a kutchiu’ it all round. Cullered gemmen lieie at de Norf didn’t ax ’em. Rose we wants dem dirty niggers cirklatin round here a taken business out o’ our hands !— Is we gwine to shave for six cents an’ black boots for two cents like dey can ? condolence, were adopted, and touching and eloquent tributes paid by Messrs. Hartridge, Curry, Rcrkins and Wright. Announcing Candidatev—The late Con vention having failed to fix the charge for announcing canaidates for ollice, the Athens Watchman suggests the following to the fraternity as reasonable prices. For announcing a candidate for Congress §20, for the Senate $15; for Representa tive $10 ; for any County office >5 ; for any municipal office $3. We think the above charges reasonable and hope they will he concurred in by gen eral consent. Our brother has failed to present a schedule of charges for announc ing candidates for offices of the militia.— What does he say to $20 fora General $15 fora Colonel, $10 fora Captain and$5 for a Lieutenant? It ought to he twice that, when we consider tlic honors and privile ges attached to the position. Col. J. J- Findley, of Dahloncga, writes to the Atlanta Confederacy, on the 27th : We have-tlie finest prospects for wheat and rye, that 1 ever saw in tlic mountains. J. II. Sanford, of Crossville, Lumpkin county, writes on the 27111 to that paper : The fruit is all killed in some places up here. Whiskey is $30 per gallon. piiOicnixu i p Conor. We observe from our Florida exchan ges that many of the planters who, earlier in the season hoped for peace, aud thought proper to plant cotton, are plowing it up. s'.Miiiiiitr* f«-r the Rapport of l!ic Gavriqimr:*!. The Secretary of the Treasury has sub mitted to Congress his estimates of t?ie ap propriations necessary for the support of tho Government from July 1st to Decem ber "31st, 1863, and last week they were passed by the House. The estimates are as follows : tlie powers of the Government and the Ab olitionists to contend against, combined w ith a small fraction of their own party who have gone off with such men as John Van Buren and Brady, of New York, mu tier 4hc*designation of Union or war Dem ocrats. If left unassailed by reproaches and h:ird words from us, the feeling of hostility between the Democrats and Ab olitionists will soon become more intense than that which exists against the rebels. Tho administration of Lincolu is denounc- freely aud liberally in unmeasured terms, and it is believed that outside pres sure will force him to convene au extra session of Congress, more especially if he h :11 find the enrorct-meat of" the conscript ~~ Tnq>*aotieable. which time tho Committee for procuring supplies j our defenses fronting the river, and fearing the consequence of a direct attack, he com menced his ditch digging aud the explora tion of bayous and insignificant creeks, ho ping to find some way of turning the posi tion. Finding this to be as dangerous, if not as impossible, as the more direct mode had determined to be, he withdrew from will render in their report C\ E. Gueover, President, \V. D. BesXET, Secretary. Quitman, Aprill 23th. [ Sov. Republican Iirlcrrstiiix from Xlissiasippi. Enemy Making Toirards Na/cliez. Later from Neic Orteuns. Capture of Alexandria by Demkm ithe field, as it is now understood, with the sh law Row Re No sah, no ! My sentiments is, dnt if at the brutal will of Kansas jay-hawkers Not in Kentucky, where a Democratic State Convention is dispersed bv armed force before it lias passed a single resolu tion or exhibited one sign of “disloyalty.” Where shall we find this-” war for the Con stitution and the Union” of which we are in favor ? ‘Wc support the war in our Conven tions, do we. ? Great war meetings, those are. To them flocks every man who believes with Douglas that ‘war is dis union.’ In them every word against the war is cheered 1 AiokatGov. Seymour’s message—nineteen twentieths of it for the Constitution—hardly a bare reference to the war, and that only to recognize it as a fact, and to proclaim that war alone cannot restore the Union. If the Democratic party is in favor of thfc war and the Con stitution it has the two feelings in very different proportions.” [Better speak right-out, brother Sentinel, and say that just in the proportion that it is in favor of the one, it is and must be opposed to the other. It is nonsense to talk about being in favor of both the war and the Constitu tion, when they are irreconcilably antago nistic to each.other—tlic war beirg direc ted against the Constitution, against the liberties of the North, against the interosts, property, and happiness of the American people J iw n.nscc. It is a gratifying fact, that the ple thora of money is beginning to abate —the absorption of currency, for the eight per cent, bonds, has become so Legislative - Ex., salary of Rre’dnt., &c Treasury Dep’mt. War Dep’mt. Navy Dep’mt. - - State Dep’int- Dep’int. of Justice - R. O. Dep’int. - - Miscellaneous. 23-1.04G 00 24,125 00 22,711,400 61 364,813,51S 00 8,348,457 02 58,070 00 - 176.48S 3S 11*2,088 92 10,000 00 When we consider that there is no hope of visible, that borrowers cannot procure making a crop in the most fertile por- money from many of the banks, which tion of Mississippi, from which the west- are obliged to retain funds with which ern army has been supplied, it would j to pav their depositors. Tiie conse- seem to he the- sacied duty of every 1 ' ■ 1 farmer in our favored section to devote his entire energy to food. If corn alone requires too much labor, plough up - „ . the cotton and put it in peas, potatoes, vailed. It the effect ot tins absorption pumpkins—anything that is suitable for j should be so great at tire present mo- food. j ment, when the reduction of the cur- — —“*■ — i rency is so manifest by the voluntary The Tumble in Pricks.—The Raleigh * action of our citizens, what will it be quences to be expected are a stringent money market and an abatement of the enormous prices which have pre Progress says that prices of flour, cotton, and other articles are tumbling all along the line of the North Carolina Railroad. Let them tumble ! The time is coining when it j will he dangerous to hold flour that has j been ground long—it will lie liable to sour. when the tax bill is passed, and the withdrawal of currency is forced in the payment of taxes? That speculators and imprudent men may be ruined by a sudden collajise in ju ices is evident. Total. - - 8396,537,742 93 In looking over the estimates in detail we find some interesting statement of facts. To support one regiment or light artillery (10 companies) six months it costs 8490,- 731. A regiment of cavalry for the same length of time costs $200,543. The cost of supporting 200 Generals, 400 Aids, 163 Brigade Quartermasters, 151 Brigade Com missaries, 500 Chaplains, and 73 Cadets, which is the field and staff, is $4,823,164. This includes wagons, horses, stationery, forage, &c., for the officers. The salaries of our Ministers, Commissioners. Consuls a; d Commercial Agents abroad, for the half year, amounts to $45,150. The sala ries aud mileage of Senators is $47,000 for the six months, and of the members of the House $200,420. [ Charleston Mercury. Sklc* Briflatraiii''. There are cheering indications of an im proved degree of confidence in Confederate currency. This is apparent in the decline in prices in all our principal markets of the leading articles as well as in the decline in gold and silver as well as bank bills. The tax bill, which has just passed, is working out these good results, and we incline to think the good has but just begun. The bill will withdraw an amount of currency nearly equal to that paid out, which will increase confidence in Confederate securi ties and induce liberal investments in bonds. The tithing feature of the tax will supply the army with food without resort ing to seizing, and thus remove the occa sion for speculation or hoarding. The re sult will he, that the industry of the coun try will move forward in its legitimate channels, confidence will he restored, infla KrTcrsr* r.t t h. wn , ita IVcw York. A gentleman who arrived last week in Richmond, and who was in New York at the time of the late attack on Charleston, gives the Examiner an account of the manner in which the news from Charles ton was received by the Gothamites. He says tlic rep'ut that reached the NortK was tHat Charleston was taken and the city T occupied by the Federals. The effect of this news was tremendous. The tele graph wires flashed it in an instant to every town arid village, and in on half hour thou sands of newspapers were out with their “extras,” screaming themselves hoarse with the cry, “Charleston taken ; Beau regard played out!” For a while tho Yankees were wild with joy and delight. New York was in ecstacics. Business was for the time suspended, and the streets were crammed with persons exchanging congratulations, adding, with a shake of the hand, ‘isn’t it glorious news V All the newspaper officers were besieged by crowds of men and hoys, veiling and hur rahing, and even Greeley, in ‘his white coat.’ in his exceeding great joy, was visi- Lle at the window of his office. The pcenc iu the streets was indescribable-one wild, surging mass of human beings, frant ic with j(\v and excitement, and jabbering away with a thousand discordant tongues. In this ecstacy of delight New York fell to repost that night, but on the following morning, about 11 o’clock, came a very different tale. The news came that they had been repulsed at Charleston ! It fell like a death-knell on tho city. At-first it was not believed, hut gradually it became confirmed by later dispatches that morn ing. The tide of joy changed, and New York looked as serious and gloomy as a grave yard. Every one wore a dejected look and passed along silently, biting their lips with a kind of feeling alternating be tween disaappointment and danger. Sccesh grew triumphant, and, by a side-glance and smile, reminded the ‘Yanks’ of their exultations on the day before, when they had ‘Chaileston taken.’- This recollection made the disappointment more keen, and the humiliation the more crushing. The Yankees were fairly blue. They were as And on tiie 1st of July every holder will and the former will have no sympa have to pay eight per cent, upon it. ( Charleston Mercury. Collection or Confederate Tax.— In the Confederate House of Representa tives, on Thursday, tlic bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means, fixing the manner in which the taxes under the recent Tax Bill shall Le collected, was ta ken tip, and the Senate amendments, for tho most part, agreed to. The Senate amendment fixing the pay of assessors nt $10 per day w as amended by substituting $6. The following proviso was appended to the bill : “In no valuation of credit, under the provisions of this Act, shall any credit up on which the holder will endorse in wri ting his willingness to receive Confederate uotes in payment, Le valued at a higher rate.”— Charleston Me/cury. An cxcharipe Las tiia following, as an excellent gystrrn of garU- ning lor ladies: Make up your beds early in the morning; sew buttons on your husband’s shirts; do not rake up any grievances, protect the young and tender bran ches of your family; plant a smile of good temper in your lace; and carefully root out all angry feel ing*, and expect a good crop of happiness. Time Out.—The Fredericksburg correspon- d-nt of the Richmond Enquirer says, on the 23d, "The Yanks conliuually remind our pickets that their times will soon be up. One fellow hallowed across night before last and said: ‘ Good bye old fellow. This is my last night on picket. Our times are up in niue days and Ihen we are going home." Our boy responded by asking hint if the conscript act did not get him? .His reply wa*, ‘damn the conscript act—that # played oat over here.” ! thy whatever. The volume of curren cy lias at no time exceeded -300,000,- 000. Ofthisitmay be safe to calcu late that 100,000,000 are now with drawn and funded. The tax bill is vari ously estimated as productive of from 200 to 400,000,000 of revenue. Take it at the lowest figure, and what will be the effect of the withdrawal of 200,000,000, or half the remaining currency? Inevitably, a most astound ing depression in the ju ice of every commodity. There is a mistaken im pression that this withdrawal will be only temporary,and that the funds will reach their previous channels,’through tlic disbursements of the Government; and that the volume will still lie in creased by the addition of 50,000,000 monthly. The Government lias no right to re-issue the Treasury Notes ■which they take in. They cannot issue dcjireciatcd currency, and these notes would clearly be less in value, because the period during which they could be funded wolud be much shorter than that of the new Treasury Notes of April 6. Therefore, it must he borne in mind that theraoney withdrawn from circula tion lor taxes can only be replaced grad- uallj’by the disbursing officers, and that from the period of its absorption, six or eight months must elapse before the , . . ., . , ; mute as a milestone. The very name of ted prices will subside except on articles 1 C jjj ar i Rston . was a horror in their ears— of luxury smuggled through tho blockade, Tho wllolee ;, which cannot be too high—and as the value ,j e ^ s ; on of the monev that will be in circulation 1 11. , ., - , - . , ... , in iiic iu ure y was flat, and the markets lainy wilted nn- . and gloom nuns of the money will be lanrely appreciated, no one will be V ,, wilt uo iai 0 oiy ‘IP . dcr the chcct of the news injured by the tax, for the amount ot mon- ey left, lifter paying the tax will be really 1 " worth more than the whole sum would have been bad not the. tax been levied. This is the view wo take of it, aud therefore wc ,, • , . , hope no one will grumble at the tax, but 80r v 0 w/ To hi accept it as a positive benefit as well as a necessity.—Constitutionalist. ■ ty was paralyzed under the Every department of trade Disappoint like a pall over the (toad Rrnults of tPc Tax liiit. The good results of the tax bill already show themselves. 1’iices of provisions I'uitely postponed. arc beginning to fall, and there must be a , heavy decline soon in every thing eatable. Those who have purchased large stocks in city, and the change of New York from the day before was as great as f'rorti the marriage least to the death-Led. One day lit—another all grief and idc their humiliation the papers got up the story that the attack was but a ‘reconnoisancc,’ but this was so ri diculous that it was openly confessed the next day that the attack was a failure and the movement against Ohailcston indefi- Tho Yankee reports of their expedition nose woo p 11. c n »■> wn J? . Yj • 1 ! into the Teche country say thatthevreach- xpec a ion o a use Q e i. er y is , j tlio New Iberia salt mines and destroy- ppointed. No one will lament at their , , , rp ,. . , ..f * r ,, , . : ed the works there. J. his is the locality i.ss. Even speculators themselves will i. , - f ,, , ,. . ,. , J loss. Even speculator rejoice at the misfortune of a brother spec ulator, for “misey loves company.’ A ia wliicu the rock salt is found. Repeated charges of incompetcncy have man feels much better when caught in a been made against Gen. Taylor of Lonis- bad box to know that others aro in the 1 iana and no regard has-been paid to them same predicament. Like the fox without . by the Rresident. Recent events in that a tailr iu the fable, they have no objection I section show that there is a screw loose to*sec other foxes shorn oftkeir ‘nairative’"* somewhere which should be attended to. also. A gentleman who recently jiassed the Federal lines says the Democratic ladies of New York have gotten up a maguificient sword, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars, intended as a present to General Lee. It will be sent to Richmond by some under ground railroad, though it may share the fate of the boots and night gown of Rresi dent and Mrs. Davis, which were forward ed by the ladies of Baltimore, hut which were smelt out and captured by General Sckenck.—Sav, Neirt. ' Among the spoils captured by Wheeler in bis late foray was an elegant pistol, just presented to Gen.‘Rosencranz, by some time serving Yankee, and inscribed with the name ot seven battlefields, upon which old Rosy had distinguished himself. Gen. Bragg and Lady passed through Atlanta on the 2Stb, on their way to West Roint, where the General will leave his la dy with her relations, she has not yet fully recovered from her long illness at Manches ter, Tcnn. Grand Moccmcnt on Meridian by Yankee General Sindh. Lute Xorth Neirs and Rumors. Vicksburg to be Taken soon. Jackson. April29th.—A dispatch from Granada of the 29th, reports all quiet at A/emp.bis. Four gunboats just passed Grand Gulf. One gunboat is below, shelling both ways. Tlic firing is heavy, and distinctly heard her-. Tho enemy, on last evening, were at Union Church, on the Natchez and Hazdlhnrst read. Capt. Cleveland, with some I(10 of Wirt Adams’ cavalry, was skirmishing some hours. The Yankee force was not ascertained, They have four pieces of artillery aud are probably making towards Natch ez. Passengers who left New Orleans on Thursday, report the police regulations stringent. Coffee houses close at dark. Citizens are not allowed out after nine. Fresh officers were drilling and arming ihe negroes from the coast, Banks had tak-n Al exandria. [This is thocapital of liapides Parish, I,a , on Red river, 350 miles by water trap New Orleans.] Tho appeal says General Smith, commanding at LaGrange says he will unite his forces at La- Grange, J.ickson, Teen., Bolivar, and Corinth, and advance with 20,000 on Meridian, for Mobile, necessitating the evacuation of Vicksburg. [Second Dispatch.'] A special a‘i.-^>atch to the Appeal states that all is quiet along the emv^ f ro , lt from Memphis to La Fayette. No yankees soun. „f 4 i ie usual line and no indications of an advance. Northern papers are full of bloody >.u«i a u. Tyranny and anarchy go hand in hand The Chi cago Times ot the 23d says tho Democrats have carried Chicago. Advices from Memphis on the 21st report War- reutonin Federal possession. Movements are such as lead the correspondent to believe that Grant will capture Vicksburg in a few days. A special dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazetts from Memphis, say s that seven gunboats, one ratn and three transports, started down on Thursday All went well until they B' Pre half way down, when they found the cliffs illuminated, aud the Forest Queen returned. The Henry Clay was compelled to stop,.receiving shots below the water line. It was believed that all on board were lost The F’orest Queen had her steam dram shot away. Eleven gunboats are now below, including Fara gut’s three. The PetcrliofTs mail has been delivered to the English Consul.. A large number of sick were arriving, at Cin cinnati from Tennessee, increasing the numbers at the hospitals, which were already full. Burnside's advance had reached Cumberland Gap, intending to penetrate East Tennessee. It is now definitely known that Marshall, itreckin- ridge and Pegram have fallen back to Knoxville, where they are commanded by Stonewall Jack soil. The Persia has arrived bringing later dates from Europe. The Post says the blockade is the only- efficient means the North has of catrying on the war. The Maratime Powers may consider how long a war shall euptinue. [Fudge. ] France and England will convey West India shipping to New York. Capt. A. S. Baker, a Confederate officer, has been sent to bring the iron clad La Fayette from England. [Tiie latter pint of the above is so obscure that we cannot vouch for our version o! it.] Port Royal advices slate that the Monitors are being iron plated on deck. The work was being pushed vigorously. San Francisco dates to the 22d states that the Sacramento ltepublican newspaper was destroyed by a mob from Camp l 4 iion. General Foster's escape is considered miracu lous. The boat Was seized, and tiie pilot killed Foster will return will runfufeements. * Tire Tux Biil—It* Goad Effect. Already—even before it is known that the Pres ident has signed it—the tax biil is working won ders in the way of good to the people. Gar ex changes amithe telegraph biiug newsfrom sever al sections that the pi ices of provisions are rapid ly declining. If the credit of tiie Confederate issues had been kept up by a heavy tax from tiie first, and if its redundancy had been kept down by proper restrictions aud prompt funding, we never would have had the enormously high prices and the extensive specnlation in provisions that we have experienced. Congress, however, it seems did not have the courage to tax- the people tiil they were fairly forced to do so by a popular clamor for it: and even the Treasury Department seems to have concocted all Olhor Jriuds of expe dients—the most inefficient and deceptive (and even dangerous) of till of which was the last one of getting the States to indorse the bonds of the Confederacy, and upon these raise money to car ry on the war without taking the people to sus tain tiie country’s credit or procure means. Georgia has wisely refused this seductive and dangerous scheme, and with her refusal it falls, and taxation—sufficient taxation—is resorted to. Georgia by this action has saved the country’s credit,—State and Confederate—for if this vision ary and unsafe measure had been adopted, both would have sunken down in hopeless bankrupt cy. Tins scheme was no doubt well meant, but its folly, and tha wisdom and efficient-}’ of a different intention of making an advance elsewhere. On his arrival at Memphis he was met by Adjutant General Thomas, of the Federal array, who, it was announced by the Cin cinnati press, was sent to the West with full powers to direct the movements of the ar mies. From that moment a change was witnessed. The troops going up were sent back—General Grant returned to his old position without delay—and movements have rapidly followed each other so entire ly at variance with the previous plans of the enemy, as to leave no doubt of the fact that not only was General Grant’s backing out policy changed, but also an entirely new plan of operations adopted, aud which is now being developed. Union men at Memphis have been heard to boastfully declare that General Thomas was positive in his requirements on meeting General Grant. Since the meeting of these officers we have witnessed increased vigilance. We are assured that not only were the troops thafGrant sent up the river turned back, but also that everything has been done to increase his strength. A gentleman who left Memphis a week ago advises us that -^deforcements and appliances were then going roi-fmvd. Geneial Thomas is with the army. Unusually active movements have been in progress, in new directions, for the last few days; and as wc view tho situation with the lights before us, we can not help, regarding the crisis near at hand. Fortunately our preparations to meet this last desperate move of the enemy remain undisturbed. Ilis uncertain movements deceived nobody to an extent that in tho least decreases our confidence as to the re sult. Affairs West. We do not like the aspect of affairs out West, as given in recent dispatches. The enemy lias penetrated nearly as far South as Meridian, Miss., captured several trains, destroyed several miles of Railroad, and laying waste the country generally. This is believed to be the programme adopted. 1 hey cannot take Vicksburg and Poit Hudson, but they can send out a force from Corinth large enough to do infinite mischief to the growing crops and the property of the people. Aud the misforfune is,that we have no leader in Eastern Mississippi to check the marauders in their devastations and rapine Remberton stays at Vicksburg, and docs not seem to think it his business to take care of the interior. As at present advised, we know of no obstacle in tho way of the" Federals moving down the Mo bile and Ohio Railroad, flanking Vicks burg,aud threatening Mobile. If they had much dash about them, they might have done it long since, with impuniiy. In Lou isiana too, Banks is having his own way pretty much, from New r - Orleans to Red River, and up that stream. Communica tion is nearly cut off' between Texas and West Louisiana, and the country East of the Mississippi, and our disasters on the river all show a bad state of things in that department. We hope, however, for the best, and that our Government and military Generals are wide Awake to the condition of things in that portion of the vineyard.. (Daily Confederate. The Merchants & Planters Bank of Sa vannah have offered a inagnificient reward for the detection of the thief who robbcJ a car on the Central S. Road a few nights ago- All accounts from Tennessee state that no army was ever in better condition than that at present under command of Gen. Joe Johnston. The people arc glad to learn that such is the fact. Military Appointments.—The Senate oil Thursday confirmed as Generals, Samual Cooper, Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. John ston and G. T. Beauregard; as. Major Generals, Jubal A Early and Isaac Trimble ; as Brig. Genl; William Smith policy is even now demonstrated. Let Georgia (exGovernor) and RrinceCamillusBolig- ha vc the credit which she deserves for throwing ' ' ° herself in the breach and saving us from finan cial ruin.—| Southern Confederacy. The l ull of Price*. The healthy influence of the Tax Bill, which has just become a law, is already making itseif felt in the provision market. Since the leading features of I lie tax-have obtained publicity, the decline of prices, in flour, rice and other articles of food, has been steady and uuinistakeable. A variety of reasons are given to account for the fall; some attributing it to the sudden contraction of the currency by the recent funding of so many millions of onr redundant currency iu Confeder ate bonds; and others alleging as a cause, the res trictions lately imposed upon inter-State ship ments for the purposes of speculation. Both these circumstances, doubtless, have contributed, in a measure, to bring about the reduction of prices: but the agency that has been mainly instrumental in effecting the welcome change is, in fact the new Confederate tax. At no lime, we feel convinced, has there exis ted any real scarcity of food in the Southern States. But in every community, besides and dis tinct from the speculators, there bare been timid Cotton in tub South.—Tho amount of cotton on band in the Southern Confed eracy is estimated at three and a half mil lion of bales. At fifty cents per pound, (fifty per cent less than it is now worth in foreign markets,) it would realize about $S75,000,000—a sum much larger than the entire expense of tho war up to this time. Qucre /—"What was Eve made for 1 Answer—Adam’s Express Company. The C. S. S. Alabama.—It is stated by gentlemen, who received news from New Orleans just before the railroad train left, that the C. S. S- Alabama. Capt. femmes, had captured the Aspinwall New lork steamer Moses Tsylor, with a treasure freight of more than a million of dollars, [Mobile Tribune, With nit.