Newspaper Page Text
el)c W cckln (Eonstitutioimlist
BY JAMES GARDNER.
from the Mobile Register and Adeertiier.
litters from vicksburg.
Vicksburg, Feb. 15, 1863.
The main topic of conversation on the .HiTeets
yesterday was the passage of the gnnboav during
the preceding night, and singularly enough no
accou-t could be given of the craft, further than
that she went down. So intense was the dark
ness that the sentinels at the water battery could
not make her out until she was within a few
hundred yards of our guns. She bad Men the
precaution to float down with the current, hoping
no doubt, to quietly pass by unobserved without
turning a wheel. The moment that she was dis
covered and heard the orders from our officers
to man the guns, she got up a full head of steam
and ran for dear life until she was lost in the
darkness beyond our guns.
A difference of opinion prevails among the offi
cers tn command of our guns about her being
struck at all or not. Those in charge of the water
battery above, declare that she escaned clear
without a scratch, while at the lower batteries it
is claimed that three shots took her fair and square.
There is but little doubt that she escaped and has
gone down the river. She is evidently a fast craft,
m she did some of the tallest kind of running
after our batteries opened on her, and it may pos.
sibly be that it is one of their messenger boats,
sent down to see how Geaerai Banks is getting
along at Port Hudson.
If this move can be regarded as an index to the
plans of the enemy in operating against this
point, we may now count with some degree of
certainty that an advance from below may be ex»
peeled It is not known whether any troops have
been sent to the lower end of the peninsula, but
it is very likely this has been done.
Our officials evidently expect an attack to be made
very soon, and all tha't we care about letting the
enemy know is that he will not find us asleep, no
matter what hour he may select to pay us a visit.
Saturday evening a heavy ram set in, which
continued uninterruptedly all night and up to 12
o’clock on Sunday. No military movements were
practicable in such weather, and nothing was
observed, owing to the fog, which obscured ens
tirelv our view of the Tankee camp. The cons
tinuous sheet of lightning all night was too un
propitious for the enemy to attempt the passing
by of another boat. Up to 12 o’clock to-day
everything remained quiet.
Obsbrvanda.
Vicksburg, Feb. 16, 1863.
Nothing has yet come to hand regarding the
boat which ran the batteries on Friday night.
Her mysterious disappearance down the nver
leads to the impression that she must have been
a messenger boat, and was sent below to commu
nicate with Com. Farragut and Cen. Banks, It
is very likely that Gen. Sherman and Com. Porter
are anious to have the forces below Port Hudson
come up and assist in taking Vicksburg, and that
this craft has been sent down there to ascertain
what the prospects ate of getting any aid from
that quarter. ’No other explanation has yet been
arrived at; and it may turn out that the boat was
a little pigmy concern, that could hardly be seen
in the day tithe, much less on a dark night.
Owing to the heavy rain on Sunday morning, |
nothing could be witnessed of the enemy. An ■
occasional interval ot a few minutes of clear skies !
would reveal the fact that about the usual num- ;
ber of steamers were at the anchorage above, and I
considerable steaming behind the bend of the ■
river indicated the approach of more vessels. ‘
The water is now daily gaining on the peninsula, ;
and the Yankees are already isolated from the
ruins of DeSoto City, the water intervening be
tween it and their camps. There is yet a con
siderable amount of ground in the vicinity of the
camps, but it the rise continues it will inevitable |
result in driving them away from there, and thy :
prospects are that this wiil take place very soon. ;
Judging from the active preparations now go- '
ing on in a certain quarter, it is believed that the i
officers in commnand here have got in possession
of very important knowledge about the point of
assault, and no one is left in doubt as to where
that point is. If the Yankees have a desire to
meet with a warm reception in their visit to
Vicksburg they wiil most assuredly be not disap
pointed ibis time.
While it is provckingly tedious to witness the
presence of the enemy within a few miles of the
city, and no attempt is made to hasten on the des
cisive struggle, it is greatly to our advantage for
them to waste their tim in idleness, while we
can improve it by additional fortifications. The
enemy is evidently tn a dilemma—no practicable
point within reach to land bis foices.and no hope
of taking the place by an assault from the gun
boats, and the water rising so rapidly that be is
compelled to make a demonstration very shortly,
for the of having an excuse to retire.
By means of his overwhelming numbers he exo
pects to storm our batteries and swallow up every
thing in his way, thus forcing the few Confede
rate troops to retire before bis approich as they
would flee from the irresitible avalanche of lava
from a volcano. But these are all Yankee cal
culations, and their object is too well understood .
to afi’ect any of our troops by the monster demon
stration when it comes off During the night and
morning everthmg remained quiet, and the rain
still continues falling, making the season exceed
ingly unpleasant for military op'rations.
Obsbrvanda.
YANKEE SOLDIERS STOPPED FROM READ
ING-
An order has been issued prohibiting the cir
culation of all newspapers in the Yankee Army
of the Potomac until further orders. In com*
menting upon the order the “ World” says ;f
This is a very strange movement, and one
it will be very difficult for the Administration
to justify before the country. The soldiers
are also American citizens and have a right
to know what is going on in the world. Os
course it is obvious way this order has been
issued. The all but universal dissatisfaction
of the country with the negro policy the radi
cals are forcing upon the government is very
clearly indicated by the newspaper press, and
the feeling is quite as common in the army
as elsewhere. Tae administration hopes by this
means to prevent a knowledge of the growing
discontent from reaching the soldiers, for tear it
would affeet their morale. But in this, as in otnar
measures, civil and military, the administration
shows its want of common sense and foresight.
It is not tbe newspapers that are to blame for the
State of feeling throughout the country and in tbe
army ; Mr. Lincoln’s advisers are responsible for
that. It was changing the war for the Union into
one for abolition that bas done all the mischief,
and while this policy obtains matters will grow
steadily worse. The absence of newspapers will
increase and embitter the feelings of the soldiers,
who will learn all the government wishes they
would not lesrn from their private correspondence
and report. _
Disastrous Firs.—Wa are sorry to chronicle,
says the Telegraph of the 21st, an extensive fire
in Macon. About six o’clock yesterday morning
a pile ot fodder in tbe rear of Messrs. Hayden &
Goolsby’s extensive Livery Stable was discovered
to be on fire, and in two hours after about one
half tbe entire block fronting on Walnut and
Second streets was consumed. The buildings
burned were Stubblefield’s stables, Hayden &
Goolsby’s stables, the warehouse and oflices occu
pied by T. R. Bloom, Esq., a dwelling occupied
• by Mrs. Wrigley, another owned by Mrs. Mcßey
nolds, all the extensive buildings attached to tbe
tool and agricultural implement manufactory of
Nathan Weed, Esq., together with a good many
outhouses, Ac., belonging to all the buildings con
sumed.
VALLANDIGHAM IN NEW JERSEY.
Vallandigham made another one of his sensa
tion speeches in Newark, New Jersey, on Satti-*
day last.
He said ihat “1 remember that it was in lhe city
of Newark, a little more than two years ago, that
I first gave the pledge to any portion of the peo
ple of lhe United States that I never would con«
tribute, by words or acts, to the shedding of one
drop of American blood in a civil war.”
He believed that a reconstruction of the Union
would take place in bis day. Nobody now be*
heves, after two yeuts of war, that we have ac
complished. or can by this accomplish, the
restoration of the Union, except Win, H. be ward.
He sees everything in lhe color of the rose. I
believe that lhe war is now conducted for the
abolition of slavery. That cannot ink* place
until the Government itselt becomes a uespo'ism.
I don’t choose to sail my precious inheritance
and boon of political and personal liberty, for
which the fields of New Jersey were
stained with blued, for lhe purpose of giving
liberty to tbe negro. (Great applause ) There
is now a parly who assumes that the war
has failed, aud urge a separation of the States. I
abhor that party. There is another who behave
that the war has failed, and dosiia to try lhe ex
periment of bringing the Some back to concilia
tion aud compromise. lam one of that party.
(Great cheering.) Seventy-five out of every hun
dred of men of the Northwest are in favor of a
cessation of hostilities and a commeucumem of tbe
experiment of restoring the Union by constitus
tional measures. (Cheers.) There is a third
party, who call themselves the conservative party,
of which William H. Seward is to become the
leade —lhe same William H. Se-vurd who was tbe
author of the phrase, “irrepressible conflict;” the
man who first signed his band to the warrants for
arbitrary arrest.
Shah the Democratic party be reduced for one
moment to strike hands with those who desire to
change the purposes of the administration, and
bring it back again to a war for the Union, when
the whole people united cannot accomplish any*
thing before the 4th of March, 1865 ? Wiil the
war continue during that lime ? (“Never, never,”
from all parts of the room.) Will you send out
your sons again to the battle-field? (Overwhel
ming cries, “No, never 1”) Shall they be con
scripted to carry on this war for two years more,
and for the negro ? “No, never 1”) Shall we do
this with the vain, futile, absurd, and most un
founded hope that after the fourth of March,
1865 ; after four years of such war as God Al
mighty never permitted to scourge any land, you
will go back again to a war for the Union ? (“No,
no.”) The people cf America must chouse now
tbe alternative.
YANKBB CONGRESS.
The conscription bill was up in the Yankee Sen
ate on the 14tb. It was thought a final vote
would be had on the bill Monday.
Carlile, on Saturday, introduced a \>ili in the
Yankee Congress providing that Lincoln’s proc
lamation, after lhe popular ratification of the act
making West Virginia a State, shall not be issued
until certain counties, now under rebel control,
have been allowed a free and fair opportunity for
voting upon such ratification, viz; Boone, Logan,
Wyoming, Mercer, McDowell. -Pocahontas, Raw
leigb, Greenbrier, Monroe. Pendleton, Fayette,
Nicholas and Clay.
if-Vr* We clip the following from the Chatta
nooga Rebel of the 20th ;
Ths Situation. —Increasing confidence is ex
pressed ou all sides in the ability oi our forces to
hold their own on the Mississippi. Tne indica*
tions which reach us through Northern sources
corroborate the testimony transmitted to us from
our own side. The canal—so highly vaunted and
so reliably esteemed, so worked at and so hoped
from—is a failure. The waters have flowed over
the low lands of the Louisiana shore, mandating
camp, cannon, equipage ana Yank«e in a like
deluge. Our batteries are constantly cocked and
primed, defying attack. .Everything fares illy
with the enemy, aud, what with desertion, disaf
fection and discouragement, the situation before
Vicksburg looks, and is, truly dismal. From our
front in Middle Tennessee, we. get the usual num
ber and variety of sensation reports. • We inter
from this that there has been Tess doing in that
quarter than usual, since the dash ot Gen. Forrest
on Franklin, chronicled by us a few days ago.
From Beech Grove, we have a correspondent, who
gives us an item of cavalry practice Oa the eves
ning of the 10 h inst. Cupt. D. E. Myers, ot Bu
ford’s biigade, wLo commands the regularscouis,
with thirty-six of his men, dashed into R-ady
ville, where a- brigade of lhe enemy were so-.s
tioned, charged them into their entrenchments,
killed and wounded several, and took two prisons
ers. With bis field glass, be i-xauiined their tors
tifications, and then dashed out again without
the h as of a man.
The rains have been almost incessant here for
two or three days past. Tbe country is complete
ly flooded, aud we bear of one bridge—the Look
out Bridge, about five miles below here on tbe
N. & C. Railroad, being completely washed away.
We are happy to be able to mention m this con
nection that mail communication between ibis
point and Brideport on tbe Tennessee, will be
uninterrupted, as Gen. Wm. B. Bate, command
ing this District, has, with commendable energy
and foresight, arranged fi r the transportation of
the mails and also ot all soldiers returning to the
field by steamboat. Tbe steamer Point Rock was
detained here yesterday, and other vessels will,
we understand, be immediately ordered into the
service, until repairs are effected at the bridge.
By this arrangement there will be no occasion for
delay of returning soldiers at Chattanooga.
A citizen of Clarksville, wbo arrived here Tues
day even ng, states that no reinforcements bad
passed up tbe Cumberland for Rosencranz, up to
the time he left Cterksvills. He states that a
number of transports passed up but only a small
gnard accompanied each vessel.
The excess of prisoners on our side is not so
large as generally estimated. On authority of Mr.
Quid, the exchange agent of our Government, it is
stated to be not more than 15 to 20,000 in our
favor, and is less now than before the battle of
Murfreesboro.'
A gentleman arrived here a few evenings sines,
wbo has recently passed through the Federal
lines, end whose name we withhold for personal
reasons, brings the information, that in a recent
trip through Kentucky and the North-western
States, be noticed great dissatisfaction among the
soldiery and citiz-ns, with the war, and a general
outcry and clamor for peace, He states that of
the three regiments at one camp of instruction in
Illinois—only two hundred remains—the others
taking advantage of the reaction among the peo
ple, to desert in whole squads.
A Cross is tbs Sky.—A well defined cross was
seen in the sky a few nights since. A correspond
dent of the Wilmington (N. C ) Journal, writing
from Kinston, N. C , gives tin following descrip»
lion of the phenomena;
The moou rose cloudless. At a little before 7
o’clock two bright spots, tome twelve degrees in
•xteni, were visible, one North and the other
South, and immediately thereafter a cross was
seen in the heavens, the moon joining the four
arms of the cross. "kbout half-past 8 o’clock the
Northern light wens flat, bnt the cross and the
spot to lhe South remained untibpast 10. when I
retired. Can any one tell when tbe cross has
appeared before since the days of Constantine,
when tbe letters IUS accompanied the sign ? ’
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY FEB. 25, 1863.
THE ALABAMA.
From the Kingston Standard. Jan. SO.
The Alabama is consigned to Messrs. Charles
Levy & Co., of this city, and is now receiving
coals, Ac., at Port Royal, from Messrs. T. D. Pass
& Co. She called into thia port to receive casual
repairs. Captain Sernmes, we learn, waited on his
Excellency, the Lieutenant Governor, in Spanish
Town, yesterday. Several of the Confederate
ashore in gray uniforms, and we learn
that the prisoners will be left in charge of the
American Vice Consul here.
• We understand that in the encounter the Ala
bama received some damage, and that several
shipwrights and caulkers have be n dispatched to
Port Ro;al to repair the damages.
We gather the following additional particulars;
On Sundavy lhe 11th instant, at ab mt 2%
o’clock, the Brooklyn, sloop of war, twentysone
guns, Com. Bell, lying at Galveston, Texas, diss
covered a sail, wbieh she supposed to be a mere
chantman running tnebloekade, and immediately
signalized the Hatteras to give chase. The Hats
teras pursued her until dark. Tbe Alabama then
hove to and'awaited her approach. The Hatteras
wt»« prepared, and all tbe men went to quarters.
She bespoke the stranger, who replied she was
“Her B-i'annic Majisty’s steamer Petrel." Capt.
Blake, of tbe Hatteras, responded. In the means
time, tbe Alabama attempted to manoeuvre to the
stern of the Hatteras.
While off the port quarter Capt. Blake said he
would send his boat on board ; and while in the
act of lowering the boat, the Alabama sent a blank
cartridge astern ot the Hatteras. She hailed her
and said she need send no bout, as she was tbe
Confederate steamer Alabama. Captain Blaek
then gave the order to fire, and tbe engagement
ensued. In about ten minutes a hole was dis
covered between wind and water in the Hatteras.
Fire also broke out in the fore peak, in tbe lower
deck, but was put out. A shot was sent through
her steam chest. Bhe then surrendered, being
completely disabled. The Alabama seat all her
boats to take the crew off, and in a few minutes
after this sbe sunk. Only the ship papers were
saved.
The Alabama made Port Royal in eleven days.
A boat’s crew from the Hatteras, seven in num
ber, is missing, supposed to have gone back to
Galveston. Little personal injury was sustained
on both sides.
A Scene at St. Louis.—The following paras
gru’ih is taken from a late number of the New
York Times ;
The boat from St. Louis just.in brings intellre
gence of the arrival there yesterday of the rebel
prisoners from Arkansas Post. An intelligent
passenger informs me that there was a very nus
merous gathering upon the levee to witness, and,
us it proved, on the part of hundreds of open
sympathizers, to welcome their arrival, and to
make tbe occasion a kind of ovation to treason.
Finding so many friends ou the dock, and so many
manifestations of sympathy, tbe rebel prisoners
gave vent to shouts and savage outcries of defi
ance, which were responded to from the landing.
One of the privates, more impudent and tonguey
than the rest, volunteered to be spokesman for
the crowd, and, mouutiri;-; a temporary rostrum,
harangued the assemblage for an hour in the
most exciting and treasonable language. He aps
plied to the Yankees every term ot abuse and
contempt which his peculiar vocabulary could
furnish, without the slightest interruption from
tbe officers in charge. Barrels of apples were
brought down to the dock, tbeir heads stove in,
and their contents showered among the prisoners.
And this is tbe way we receave in a Union city
red banded rebels, from the battle fields where
the blood of brave men has flowed in the defence
ot the Government.
A Noble Sentiment.-The late great speech of
C. L. Vallandigham con‘ains the following pas
sage, worthy of commemoration and imitation—
These were my convictions on the 14th of April.
Had 1 changed-them on the 15th, when I read tbe
President’s proclamation, and become convinced
that I had been wrong all my life, and that all
history was a fable, and all human nature false
in its development from tbe beginning of time, I
would have changed my public conduct also.
But. my convictions did not change. I thought
that if war was disunion on the 14th of April, it
was equally disunion on the 15th, and at all
times. Believing this, 1 could not, as an honest
man, a Union man, and a patriot, lend active
support to the war; and I did not. I had rather
rny right arm were plucked from its socket and
east into eternal burnings, than, with my con
victions, to have thus defiled my soul with
the guilt ot moral prejury. Hir, 1 was not taught
in dial sctioil which prod ims that “all is lair m
politics.” 1 loathe, abhor and detest the execra
ble maxim. I stamp upon it. No State can eu»
dure a single generation whose public men prac
tice it. Whoever teaches it is a corrupter of youth.
What we most want in these times, and at all
tunes, is honest, and independent public men.
Tbe man who is dishonest in politics is not honest
at heart, in anything ; *nd sometimes more cow
ardice is dishonesty. Do right, and trust to God,
and truth, and tbe people. Perish office, perish
honors, perish life itself, but do the thing that is
right, and do it like a man, 1 did it. Certainly,
sir, 1 could not doubt what he must suffer who
dare defy the opinions and the passions, not to
say the madness, of twenty millions of people.—
Had I not read history? Did 1 not know human
ature ? But I appealed to Time, and right nobly
hath the Avenger answered me.
I did not support the war; and to day I bless
God that not the smell of so much as one drop of
its blood is upon my garments. Sir, I censure no
brave man who rushed patriotically into this war;
neither will I quarrel with [any one, here or else
where, who gave it his honest support. Had
their convictions been mine, I, too, woald doubt
less have done as they did, With my convictions
I could not.
GEN. JOHNSTON AND JODY PAXTON-
i We heard of a little incident yesterday that
, may profit some of our Northern foes if this paper
fall into their hands, and thay will take the trou
ble to peruse it
General Joe Johnston was receiving his friends
at the Lamar House on Sunday. He was eur»
rounded with many gallant officers who had call
ed to pay tbeir respects, and conversation was at
flood tide, when there came a smart rap at the
door. Au officer, shining with gold stars and
gold lace, opened tbe door; and there stood a
venerable negro woman with a coarse sun bon
net on ber head, and a cotton umbrella under
her arm.
“ Is this Mr. Johnson's room ?’’ asked the Arne
ric*n lady of African descent.
The glittering officer nodded assent.
“ Mister Joe Johnston’s room?”
Assent again being condescended, the swarthy
woman said, “ I want to see him.” In she march
ed, sans ceremonie, and familiarly tapped the
great military chieftain on the shoulder. He
turned and clasped her ebony bands in his, while
she for a moment silently perused his features.
At length she spoke :
“Mister Joe, you is getting old.”
What followed? We cannot record the con
versation, but we do know that as the General
affectionately held his old nurse’s band, aud an
swered her artless inquiries, large tears rolled
down his soldierly cheek, and among the dashing
and reckless officers who witnessed tbe interview,
“albeit, unused to the melting mood,” there was
not a dry eye. We mav say, tn the words of a
well known plaintive Ethiopian ditty, “the tears
fell down like the rain.”
The venerable negress who made the comman
der ot the Armies of the West cry like a. baby,
was Judy, slave of Dr. PaXton. who had “toted”
Joe m her arms when he was not a General, and
‘nobody knew that he would be.— Knoxville Reg.
FROM THE NORTH.
The following interesting summary of news is
from the H'erald of the 14th instant:
Dispatches from Cairo announce that the levees
on the Mississippi side of the 'river, twelve miles
below Helena, at Yazoo Pass, have been cut by
our feces. They have also beeu cut at Greenville
and on the Louisiana side, .opposite Lake Provi
dence.
A barge loaded with coal is said to have run the
blockade at Vicksburg on Sunday. Tbe railroad
between Selina and Meridian is completed, so as
to enable the rebels to carry their troops to Vicks
burg at a short notice.
The Emperor of France was endeavoring io
perfect a new plan for mediation or intervention
in tbe war affairs of the United States, with, it
was said, tbe view of promoting a peace between
thelNorth and South. M. Drouyn de L'Huys had
aaaressed a circular to the French Ministers in
London, Berlin, Vienna and St. Petersburg, di
recting them to sound the feeling of the Cabinets
of these countries upon the propriety of tendering
simple counsels to the “belligerent parties in
Washington and Richmond,” advising them to
name commissioners charged to examine, “with
or without an armistice,” the basis of a settle,
ment.
The London Shipping Gazette of the 28th of
January inquires what will be Napoleon’s alter
native if his latest project for an allied interfere
ence is rejected by the other great Powers? The
Gazatte says:
“It may be taken for granted that the offered
negotiation will be rejected at Washington ;”and
asks, what follows tbe compulsory cessation of
hostilities, or a maritime war with lhe North ?
Can this country afford to let the French Etn.
peror proceed alone in his American policy ? or
is be acting upon an understanding with her
Majesty’s Government ?
The steamer Georgiana, the tender of the Ala
bama, was in the harbor of Holyhead, England,
and went to sea on the 24:h of January, oound
for Nassau. She has a formidable crew of rough
looking men ot almost every European national
ity. Sbe mounts twenty-eight guns, and carries
out a quantity of tea and other necessaries for the
use of the crew of the Alabama. A letter from
Holyhead says:
Her crew—rather numerous, by the way—were
all bearded like bards,'and reminded the bystand
ers forcibly of Cooper’s heroes. She is bound for
America, and looks just the thing for running the
blockade.
On the 26th of January the clipper ship Eliza
Bonsall, Captain Stalker, arrived at Liverpool,
from Nassau, with about 1,500 bales of cotton.—
The cotton was brought to Nassau by the “block*
ade breakers.”
The operation of the Russian military conscrip
tion or draft in Poland eventuated in a general
and widespread uprising against the authority of
tbe Czar in the ancient kingdom. The movement
may be called a national military revolution. A
general massacre of ull tbe Russian troops in the
country was planned for the night of the 22d of
January, and in order to effect it attacks were ev
erywhere made upon tbe detaehments of sol
diers sepmately cantoned. Tbe Poles killed ail
the soldiers they found in the bouses where they
were billeted.
The telegraph Wires in the neighborhood of
Warsaw were destroyed. Two thousand con*
scripts lately enrolled deserted and assembled at
different points. Three centres of insurrection
were in this way so med by bands, each about
one thousand strong, ine in the direction ot.
Minsk, eight versts from Warsaw ; the second at
Blouie, and the third at Pultusk, One ot these
bands was dispersed, the others after having
crossed the Vistula, effected a union with troops
of insurgents that had assembled in the forests of
Nasieich. Combats had taken place, in which a
Russian colonel was wounded and a general kill
ed, and the whole kingdom of Poland was de.
dared in a, state of seigu. The garrison of War
saw was increased to forty thousand men. and
the latest dispatch from St. Petersburg says;
“Vv arsaw is quiet.” It was by no means certain,
notwithstanding, that any decided impression has
been made on tne insurrection.
Prim had resigned his commission as
Director General of Engineers of the army of
Spain. He will devote himself to tbe lead oi the
progressive political parly in tbe kingdom.
The Dublin Freewau has reports from the
counties ot Sligo anti Tipperary, Ireland, which
show that the distress amongst the laborers, small
farmers and middle class storekeepers in these
localities is exceedingly intense, wide-spread and
every day tending more and more to the'r actual
pauperism, exile or death.
Tne Liverpool cotton market on the 29th ultimo,
"as irregular and prices easier. Quotations were
barely maintained. On the 28th of January the
market experienced a decline of oue halt of a
penny. ,Breadsiuffs were quiefaud steady. Pro
visions were steady. Consuls closed in London
on the 29 h of January at 92J4 a for money.
Some of the radical Republican journals state
that ten regiments of negro volunteers could be
raised in the -State of New York. Let us exam
ine the colored population, and see how near this
statement comes to the truth. According to the
census of 1860 there were then 40,000 negroes in
the State, and they may now number 50,000. Os
these one half are females, leaving 25,000 males.
Taking from this last number the old, the sick,
the infirm and the children, and we shall only
have one in five of the 25,000 capable of bearing
arms. The only question to be decided is, how
many of tbe five thousand remaining would vol
unteer, without bounty, to go to the war.
TRICK OF THB RBBEL AGENTS IN RICHMOND.
We find in the columns of the Paris journal La
Patrie a statement which is published tor the pur
pose of inflaming the minds ot the French peo
ple against the North. The Patrie says it finds
“in an American correspondence, worthy of en*
tire belief, the announcement of a fact which will
create great satisfaction in France and England.
Delegates from tbe seceded States have met and
decided to send twenty millions of francs, four
millions of dollars, asu participation in the fund
for the relief of the working classes of Europe.
Mr. Jefferson Davis has demanded from President
Lincoln the authorization for the export of cotton
to tbe above namad sum, which will be sent to
Southampton, Nantes and Havre. Such an action
is worthy of all praise. It proves that the Con*
federates appreciate the close association between
their interests and those of our working classes.
It.remains to be seen whether the government at
Washington will allow European vessels to eater
the Southern ports for the purpose of loading
with the cotton in question. We may surely hope
that such permission will not be refused.”
RUNNING THB BLOCKADB OF THB POTOMAC.
Lord Hartington and Col. Leslie, who recently
run tbe blockade from Virginia into lower Mary
land, came near being captured by the Potomac
flotilla. The third one of the party, however,
Rev. D. R. Weimer, who was crossing the river in
Another bout, was arrested and brought to Wash
ington. On his person was found a pass from
General Winder for all three of them. Lord
Hartington, it is understood, could have immedi
ately crossed the lines under flag of truce; but
the extension of a similiar privilege tojCol. Leslie,
he being a British officer, was necessarily delayed
THB PRISONERS OF STATE TO HOLD A CONVENTION.
The prisoners of State who suffered incarcera’
tion in the various forts and prisons of tbe United
States Government, have formed themselves in
to an association for the purpose of concerting
plans to obtain redress for their grievances.
They are to bold a grand convention in this city,
on the Bth of next March, when the subject of
tbeir wrongs will be fully discussed, and some
‘plan to obtain satisfaction will be agreed upon.
VOL. 16-- No 8
PROM THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
A dispatch to the Herald, dated Baltimore,
Feb. 12th, says—
A dispatch from Brigadier General Kelley, dated
Harper's Ferry, to-day, to Lieutenant Colonel
Cheesbrongh, Assistant Adjutant General, says—
Yesterday, aboat one o'clock, a squad of Baya
lor’s rebel cavalry attacked a small scouting party
of the twelfth Pennsylvania cavalry, from Rear
neyville, of twelve men, near Smithfield, killing
one, wounding twa, and capturing four men and
several horses.
About fonr o’elock. P. M., my scouts from here
fell in with the same partv a few miles south of
Charlestown, and after a running fight of several
miles recaptured our men and horses, and cap
tured Lieutenant Biylor, two of his men and sevs
eral horses.
PROM VICKSBURG.
A dispatch from Cai-o, dated the 13th instant,
says :
Tbe steamer from Vicksburg, on Monday, 9th
inst., reports that a harge loaded with coal ran
the blockade Sunday.
By the way of Tuscumbia it is reported that
the enemy have moved a large part of the army
of Virginia to Vicksburg, aud also taken all the
garrison of Mobile except 4,000 for police duty.
The railroad from Selina to Meridian is'com
pleted, thus enabling the rebels to rapidly con*
centrate their forces at Vicksburg.
REMARKABLE SERMON FROM BISHOP
CLARK, OF RHODE ISLAND.
LOUD PRATER FOB PBACJk.
From the Hartford Times.
As an evidence of the change efffone that is
noticed in such political sermons as are now
preached, we present to our readers the following
extract from a sermon, delivered a few weeks ago
by Bishop Clark, in Grace Church, Providence,
before an immense congregation. One year ago
the Bisbsp, like many others who forgot their
calling, was as fervent for war. Similar clerical
changes of feeling in regard to the war are ob«
served hereabouts.
Bishop Clark’s text was from Lamentations, v.
16 ; “The crown is fallen from our heads. Woe
unto us, tor we have sinned.” After a reference
to the sad picture of reverses which the prophet
describes in the Book of Lamentations, the Bish
op proceeded to show the application of his lan
guage to the condition of our country.
We have fallen upon evil days and the heart of
the nation beats with agony. Ido not wish to
say a word that shall deepen the gloom—we must
look the tacts in tbe face, we must be willing .to
see where we stand, and what dangers threaten
us. The crown of prosperity has fallen from our
heads. There is no suspension in the operations
of business. There are many who are making
monev as they never did before. By a single
turn of the wheel sqme find themselves rich who
were poor yesterday. There could never be a
better time for shrewd and daring speculation.
Money is-a drug, and when a man has made
his halt a million, he does not know what to do
with it, for he feels that there is no paper which
may not be rigs in a year, no stock which may
not have a stand still. Nothing is safe but gold
and land, and the former can be bad only at ruin
ous rates, and the latter may yield no income.—
We have a sc» t of hectic prosperity, but the vita
organs are diseased. We have an abundant cur
rency—because it is fictitious, a “promise to pay,”
which every knows it is a lie. The show ol pros
perity that we have cannot last long. We are
blowing the buble larger and larger every day,
and it grows thinneras .it expands. D‘glistens
glori usly in the sunshine for a moment, but it
will burst suddenly and vanish into space. We
have ceased to accumulate the true material of
prosperity, producing and manulaciuring abun
dantly. Every one knows that soon the supply
will be much larger than the demand, aud we are
speculating upon the impending calamity.
This is not the worst. The temptations to
fraud are irresistible, and many men, of whom we
hud expected better things, are yielding to the
lernpta ion. The most discouraging thing in the
presen; alarming crisis is the tact that so many
loyal citizms are improving the opportunity to
amass enormous profits by fraudulent specula
tions upon the miseries ot the country. I have
seen the results of this ia forms that made men’s
blood curdle with indignation. I have se..in sick
and dying men in our hospitals furnished with
supplies tor which the contractors were paid a
generous price, and tbe poor creatures turned
away with loathing from the nauseous substances
laid upon their hot and fevered lips.
Here at the North we abolished slavery when it
ceased to be profitable ; but down to the present
time tbe very name of Africa is a term of indig
nity and reproach. We cast contempt on him be
cause he is weak. We exclude him from every
station of responsibilities, no matter wbat bis
qualifications may be, and we would be glad to
get nd of him altogether, if we could. *
I hold no Utopian views upon this subject. I
never believed that the relation of master and
slave is of necessity a sin. I always thought that
evil needed to be carefully and judiciously hans
died.
Again, we have sinned as a nation, in the per- .
sons of our representatives and rulers. Is it the
wise forethought and sober judgment aud delib
erate wisdom of the community which deter*
mines who shall be our rulers? How are they
nominated? How are they elected? How do
they conduct themselves after they a?e elected?
Do they never take bribes ? Do 'they represent
the country or the party which elects them ? Do
they decide every question by its merits? Are
they always sober, temperate, chaste, free from all
obscenity and profaneness ? Do they always utter
their honest cenvictions ? Whenever a measure is
proposed for action, do they ask. “Is it wise, and
is it right?” and so determine how they wiil vote.
Alas ! the crown of glory is fallen from our head
and there is no hope for the country until the
people arise in their might and say, “We will no
longer have profligates and fools to rule over us.”
The descent has been so low that it is considered
an impropriety to speak of the subject in a Chris
tian pulpit. Politics mean party, and this is out
of place m the house of God.
I think the world have clearly enough
that w« are weak. We are not weak in numbers
or resources, but we are weak in that efficient
action which come* from faith, earnestness, self
denial, and unity of purpose. We have made
many awful sacrifices to no purpose. We follow
up nothing so that it tells substantially upon the
final issue. The fault is laid here and there eve*,
rywhere, and there are none so positive in their
censure as those who know nothing of the facts.
O that the unity of the nation might be reetored
in the bond of perpetual peace 1 We will sacri
fice everything but principles for this. ♦ * *
Blow from the South, O winds of God, and bring
us the tidings of reconciliation and love I Blow
from the North, O winds of God, and carry back
the message of fraternity and peace! Scatter the
darkness, roll away the clouds, and give unto us
all once more the sunshine of tranquil rest 1 Un
der the shadow of thy wings we make our refuge
O God, Give Us Pbacb!
Yankeb Account of thb Fight at Fort Don*
elbon.—Lient. Fitch, commanding fleet on Cum
berland river, in his official report of the fight at
Fort Douelson, says 4,500 rebels, under Forrest
Wheeler and Wharton, were cut up and routed
by gunboats, and thwarted in their purpose of
capturing the Federate at Dover, who were out of
ammunition and entirely surrounded. 140 rebels
were buried on tbe field, and the wounded were
left in tbe hands of the Federate.