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. ■ # ij • ' . v s jf O ; i N. S. MORSE. d|rotucle & HctttiiteJL TERMS. TUB WKKRLY CHRO.MCLE <Sc S'E'VTISEL IB P ÜBLI snKD iiV£P. Y WEDNESDAY Tlirke>io\thh £6OO fclX MONTHS 812 00 ALWAYS IN' ADVANCE. WEEKLY ADVEHTfSM.\ ii RATES. Ordinary ADTKETisEMK.N.f pr. hiishrd iii the Week 1} vr* Chir*2 one dollar uline each inaertlou. S pzoialVotk is wlllbf harred one dollar arid twenty five cent# aline foreaeblisertion. M 4B3rAO*S,DBATHBand r’tfSERAL Noticz* fivedollcre each. >a i r(7a f;t Nottoz tone dollar pcrline for one lnse-llon rlthe D iiljr<y Weekly. Where Obituary Notice - a’ ~ f hod In Weekly—-onedn!: : .r aiv'.flftyceiitsper lines A MilDKh lIEPUHL^C. Some tour years since the supremacy of law was recognized throughout this whole country, "rhe great principle that the military was sub ordinate to the ci /il authorities was regarded n.-iho essential to tire preservation of liberty that no one questioned it. Any one of our higher courts Was looked upon as a spectacle of profound interest. A moral power in vett ed it. Its decisions were obeyed without a murmur of discontent. Pi ivaio property was respected. Personal liberty was secure. The ficcdoui of the press was undisputed. Our fields went covered with abounding it<’pe ; varied to meet (lie diversified dimates which embraced the extended spread of our population, and the want of the civilized World. Our claves were our own. Occasional ly one escaped and iuade Ills way to the re gions where ho could n'd lie reclaimed. Put > genetal, slave tabor was undisturbed in the Kouth. The whole hind cxhibili'l a teeming material prosperity unrivalled by that ci any country upon the broad map of the world. kverT Win re fax < were light. * »ur merchants H. and our planters were princes. To day all this i.i change I ITotv changed, it i* notvieeis:ary now to atlempt to describe. Language is fouilequale to the to-k of Midi a 1 tcital Ot courso wiien war is raging, tl.o peaceful aspect of society must uudiavo seme change. We have no right to complain of the change, however w« may laue nt, if the great princi ples of.our government are adhered to, ar. iif llie war is conducted- iu good faith for the., vin dication of our rights and the m linteimoce. of uur liberties. We must cheerfully bear priva iious, and enduro euffering.r. Therefore we make no complaints to'day, hi cause of any hardships wbicli the war in i's legitimate re mits ims brought upon the country. lint wa will endeavor to direct the atfeution c f the people to in alarming feature hi our public ufiali?- There seems to be a ptivp so t i convert a Con stitutional Republic into a military despotism. The whole' policy of the Administration is im error. Tint war might h. vo been brought to a successful and honor able close within six months from its corn - luencement, if wise counsels bad prevailed The whole tone of the administration towards ihe conservative mCu of tho North was not rnetely cold, disccurr.gihg, repulsive; it was insulting. It was tho undisguised wish of its liiends tlult the Lincoln dynasty should be per petuated. The lilack Reimbliean Administra tion at VVaclungton desired vur. They did not wish Uie South either to bo restored lo its wights in tho Union, *or to achieve its indepen donee. They desired protracted war, or an uuUro subjugation < t tbe«e Southern Slates, Mibjuctiug the people ti p-ovhi.inl depen dence. So, too, the administration at Richmond, while laboring to achieve the indeptmlence of the Sontlt. as it has unquestionably dene, wholly mistook .tho true policy for the accom plishment of tho end. it never comprehended tViO breadth of tho gneat dispute bo' ween tho North and the Souf.li. it act-opted Lincoln and liis fried da as tho North. It ignored the great, true, patriot/,? body i.f tneu who labored to bring about a of the war and allow tne Sou hto depart in peace. I!s foreign pol icy was also a blunder ; it monstrous fatal blender. So tar,from establishing for us a «olid friendship in any court in Europe, if alienated kindly regards uud chilled .-yurpathy. To-day our representuives ahiond are ti, >*,d. l:vt merely with indiffereuce, but with positive e isresptet. # At horns the picture is s!ii! more, disioaiten icg. There scents to boa purpose to ataondon the great principles of cm stitutional liberty. To build up a military structure—nominally, a Republic--hut iu reaii'.y a despotism. Ll.life recently there »ini>eared iu the coluuupt t.f a , per at Richmond, jualerstood to be the or of the adininishatioD, a proposition as itirtling as it is dangcri 11 so- proposed to embrace the entire mile population of the Confederate States in a idiiitnry orgaun'itloa constructed upon (he mot el of the army ot Russia. That kingdom, routed t'.e niidsi. of the great powc»rs*ot Europe, maintains its e viste:.?e absoiufely by tho force of its miiitarv oiganLvatkm. The military is supreme, 'li'.* people have again and a,via petitioned for ■ledef. bat’in vain. They have been promised a Constitution. They have been doomed to disappointment. A hard, iron, despotic sw.ty is maintained over them. Tho kingdom is a great military camp. And this is the glorious state t j which it is ! now proposed to lead the Southern people. I This is to be l * le consummation of their ardent j hopes, their heroic struggles, their unpara'.V. ' ; Bt ffertngs. This is the smiiirg future that j gilds the horizon. This is to Ins the e%l of a revolution inaugurated ior the preservation of c ,;r -Btitution»l liberty. We utter our solemn pretest against a single step being taken in that direction. We are' utterly opposed to any inorease of military domination in this country. Let our army be tilled. Let its efti ’-noy ba maintained. Hut let it be disttcc.ly uader noo<i tlllU tlie w hich wo h >ve hereti , f ° re enjoyed is not to be delivered n to our leaders. We l!o aot rulers-for bat is a word which freemen contemn. The structure of society with us must be pacific- We must carry on our pursuits still, as best we can. The military department must ie distinct . It mast be subordinate to the higher interests of society. It must not swallow' up a ,It i# the serySS.s of the people. AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY i, 1865. Whenever you introduce it i_to the Temple of j Literty, it will grasp the pillars that support it, find bring down the structure upon our heads. FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. Give me lb*- liberty of the Press, and I will give to the Minister & venal House of Peers— I will give .bint a corrupt and servile House of Commons—l will give him the full swing of the. patronage of office—l will give him the whole host of the ministerial influence—l will give him all the power that place can confer upon him to buy up submission and overawe resistance ; and yet, assured v.-ith the liberty of the Press, i will go forth undismayed to meet him ; J wili .attack with that mightier engine the mighty fabric he has raised ; 1 will shake down corruption from its height,* and bury it beneath the ruin of the abuses it was meant to shelter. fthtridf>n, in the British House of Commons in 1810. The experience of the English nation demon stra* or, as indeed does the experience of every civilized people, that without a Iree Press no Government can long remain free —David Hume. Guard well the freedom of tiie Tress ; it is the palladium of civil and religious liberty.-- Patrick Curran. A subsidized Press is a dangerous clement in free government. Error is harmless so long as teuton is free to combat it.— Thos Jefferson. The Press should be untrammelled. —Henm Guy. J I have observed that those rulers whosoucht f ( it- own aggrandiz- meat at the cost of public iTievly, first sought to muzzle the Press. —Jos. Kent* Congress shall pass no law abridging the : freedom of the Prtss.— Confederate Constitution. Above we give a few opinions of leading state- men in regard to the freedom of the press. Also an extinct from tho Confederate Constitution. The ‘’wise men” of tho present day, however, think they know more than those who have gone before. They are trying to make the people believe that in order to gain their liber ties they must be deprived of them ; in order to succeed in tha present revolution, the tree flow of (lie press must be numbered among the things that were Lad uttered a great truth when he said ; “I have observed that those rulers who sought their cv.'il aggtandi:: went, at the cost of public liberty, first! ' u'ht to muzzle the press.” Let the people t ike valuing- Let them examine the in is of those who H**>k to .nuzzle the press man closely. 31 they do not awake totlje tine Condition of affairs, and that soon, we fear Ih-y will find that anarchy and despotism will hive full sway over this fair land which was ouce the pride of lovers of civil liberty and tie home of freemen. it is a fixed fact—one proved by the history o' the past— tiiat all wlw seek their own aggi an* fl zanu nt at the expanse of public liberty, first seek to muzzle the press. From Abvvis Atlanta.—Prom a gentlemafl • iron! up the road wy hum the following news from the country above Atlanta. Macas-us, formerly Cussvillc, tho county seat of Bartow county, was almost entirely de stroyed by tho a.iukovs. Three churches and only four houses are all That is left to mark the spot where lately stood a thriving village Ait the business houses in Calhoun, Goidon comity, we arc also informed, wore destroyed. All the hue in ess houses in the town of Car ters vi lie, were burned, ihn.Baptist Church was pub* 1 down, the pulpit Lorn tho Presbyterian, and the benches from the Methodist elntrch were rimoved at,d destroyed, the houses ol Go!. Tun iiu, Jfojbr BeoLiun, Mr. Puckett, and »lis. Leake, in the neighborhood of Carters viHe, were also either burned of pulled down. The mills iu Bartow county were generally spared. But the people were stepped almost entirely of their horses, mules and stock of every kind- A large number of and. sorters ami lawless - men are roaming over ihe upper counties, committing depr. Rations on the inhabitants. A Smart Official W'e notice by the Rich' mend papers that a man calling himself W. 11. Maury was detained at Columbia, S. Ci, a few days since by a*Coufederate official on the charge of being a Yankee spy. Instead <M Searching Iris prisoner at once, the cfltcer set down to write out an tfider for his arrest While he was so doing Ihe prisoner pulled a stiisj! package out of his pocket and threw it into the uru, ni tho same time exclaiming “nol* arrest if you wish.” We know uot who the official, was, Uqt he* certainty did not exhibit much shrewdness. A pc: in against whom then; is evidence enough :o cause him to be arrested as a spy, should be searched without any delay. We think the Confederate should he at once promo ted to a position where it is not necessary to exercise much practical common sense. Tub Fkm.i>.fi in Mumps Georgia.—Some of •the admini-lriifou organs are flattering them selves that the “Joe I!devil pitrtj” as they term if—or more properly speaking the States it ghts party--liis bceu crushed out by Sher man's late raid through Middle Georgia. This jis uot so. Account? fiom the section referred | to Mate Unit ine residents of the country i through w hich Sherman has passed are more tom supporters of Gov Brcwa and hisSiate ! Rbriit doc trines than ever. They also- think Gov. Brovn done all ha j cc-ald to defend them and their property from i the invading foe. Tuey thick other parties, j how , or. have not done as well as they might. ■ Fifteen Bat s Gc.acs to Settle ct.—We understand tliat Sherman has given the citi zen -of Savannah fitteon days grace to settle up < li- ir bank and other accounts which are to be balanced by Confederate Treasuary notes. — II this report is true there will be but few open accounts in Savannah after the fifteen days of I grace expire. Every body and every body’s relation will be eager to square up at once. Eilpatt.ics's Movements. The Yankee General Kilpatrick, at last accounts was in Thomas county in this State, with a large force of cavalry, devastating and laying waste as ha advanced. It is thought that he intends to lay waste all South Western Georgia, and then to go into Alabama. Fkom Northern Mississippi.— Official infor mation has been received that a column of five thousand of the enemy are on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, north of its crossing of the Mis sissippi railroad. OaBEU_AT iscr-fls. I Consideiing the magnitude of the struggle in which we are engaged, and the manifold | -ovocativea to turbulence incident to a war enlisting the fiercest passion?, we have rea son to congratulate ourselves on the compara tive quiet, and eve* decorum which have pre vailed in those portions of the country not overiun by the tummy. The records of <jr courts ami the statist'ea of crimi generally, for the last four years, will compare favorably with the statistics of any like term of peace. We have not been without murder?, assaults,- and robberies ; but these infractions upon pub lic order have not, until lately, been so mark ed as to awaken alarm. We eay, until late ly—for within a few weeks past the instances i.t which the law li.ru been set at, defttnee, and our citizens have been damaged both, in person and property have been fearfully mul tiplied. Ail around us in the aountrv, men at home are goifcg armed to protect themselves against the villains who in open day or ibq most public highways demand their property or their life. j a the city, outrages and vio lence are rapidly on the iu'-rease ; if our citi zens do not awake to'their peril, we shall soon drift into a condition of universal insecurity. It is ea?y to see that many causes have con tributed, and-are yet operating to the produc tion of thi3 domestic anarchy. The dogma endorsed by some high in authority, that “in ime of war the laws mud he silent”—a max im most fruitful of evil, leu had its influence in producing the spirit of lawlessness now be coming so rife. Men will interpret such a max im as suits their convenience. If one law can be summarily annulled, tiny will take the liberty of nullifying any others which may ob struct the passion for propel ty or posithji Might will make right; and justice will d&ome a mockery. The unwise, and as it seem? to us in some at least, the unconstitutional seizures t the Government, the utter disregafd by officials of the claims of equity, have been ex amples to the people encouraging, if not, au thorizing, retaliate!y spoliations on tho Gov ! u-nment and o i each oilier. It will be difficulty indeed iinp-c.isiulo to onfere’e due respect for the laws if the power from which tbs law emanates re fuses, to be governed by its own soientu on act men ts. The waut of di. tipliue in ih ■ army, is anoth er cause which has had a largo influence in in - daeing iLv ippipiput sn.urehy which i; cmv upon us. The udioie counii y has bfieu 'nfest ‘ • lor more than a mi nth past, by streggleis and deserters tvho, in the garb of Ooiifidcrale soldiers aptfpjf for the Governtn. nt, hare bbed ciiizens oi tiuoiircdg of tiiousauds of dollars worth of propeity. To such r.r* in have tln-ii’.depred.itioas been carried, that ih - Govprpor of the Bi-.ifo has i-sued hi- preelema on o auUu.ilz ! ngUiepe v ,’p t-i .icfci.d them selves against these ma' audeis liy any means within their power.. The very necessity tor such a proelstmaiion evknees a i pi; it cf lawless ness and violence most appalling .to con tun - plate Wo cannot resist the conviction that if the police ol the army had been more clfacfive, •.r citizens would n*>t now bo under the no-] essi ty of taking the law ia t*ieir # own hands. | But it is more pertinent to inquirtr i.i what way the prevailing lawlessness of the times may be checked, thin tr exhibit thecan.-'es by which it has been induced. If W e have ap proximated the truth in cur specification of ihe former, it is easy to indicate the lattir. Let it be every . man’s Jnuinci.s, from the (ihief Magiidra'e of the country lo the 1.-tun blest citizen, to maintain the consfitutiqu'iind the laws, if the laws are not adequate to pro t ct the people mail their rights, let them Iwr ar, amended as to t'ocureThis grand cr.d of all ii v. It wo have been deluded by (lie fallacy that war jit=lifics (ho degradation of law, let us rouse eu selves from the delusion nud yh Id to ids auth >rity a c n-di li an*! uaoompro-.oisiog support. Let every outrage aq tho peace ot the commuuily lie promptly punished. As it .is idle to expect the enforcement of law with out a public opinio:«'which shallidiali be tulii clcutly united and rectified to sustain is--for Qit l vance lejes sins mortbus —then let evmy good citiz-n frowujnpen all attempts to override 'tie laws, whether made by the civil or i!:o mil -t ry, tho I'liolic functionary or tho ptivalc iu u.vidual. The enemy wb.o is sweeping down upon us with suc’n formidable]:'timbers, makes our situ ation scffiriontly critical. Let u3 uot aggravate our troubles by a repudiation of the tsfab ished order ct society. By such a course v. - e shall nouid.-ifa foe in the camp w!ib can iu tbet far more seyious m'.-ichi*'f tiiaa any which wo have yet suffered. Bight.—A rt-sdTuiion designed to interfere with the rights of the .Slates, by meddling with State el3-e -s, intro lu,v 1 into i:ti House of lleprcsenlalivcw, Jias been voted dowu. This is light. Congress has no power to interfere with the private affairs "of ihe States. We are g:<r! to perceive that reason is resuming sway iu our national H ills of Legislation ; nud that one ot the unconstitutional requests of the ad tniaisfration, made through its supple tools, has boon denied. We trust that Congress will also give a cold shoulder to the unconstitu tional measures recommended in the late mes sage. If they do, perhaps there will ba tooro attention paid our national affairs, and less grasping after undeleg.’.ted powers hereafter. Tin only way this orerreacldng disposition of rulers can be checked, is to meet it with a stern rebuke. Exciting if True.—l nformation comes to us from Athens that cur scouts report that some ten thousand Yankees had made their appearance at Dalton, G 0... with the view, it is thought ot preventing Hood from retreating this way. We doubt whether there is any truth in the report, because in nine cases out of ten the reports of scouts are unreliable. Another la.vk.ee Steamer Blown up.— A Yankee steamer got aground off Fort Fisher, Wilmington Harbor, on Friday night. Being unable to get her off, the enemy blew her up. The explosion shook the houses in Wilming ton severely. The January Elections.— The election for Justices of the Inferior Court, &c., takes place on the firs; Wednesday in January next. THB SECT, AM) Fill CF BITASSAH. INTERE? ING SPECULATIONS. “A Savaniu.il Refugee” gives the Charlstcn Cos jiier the aanexud item? in regard to matters which have lately transpired in that chy : I left Savannah on Monday, 9 h in the even ing. found the people everywhere almost without inf on: a fine u.cemiug the siege and evacuation, v. Inch is not to be wondered at, however, an the.jrecp’o in that city were, Jur is. till tie; time, almost totally ignorant of w 'it v-itc got it.* a Information was strictly kept from tic; public from tho time Sherman reached Mil!*.".:geviile till the. last Whether this w-is wise or otltcrwise, time and the full development of nil the facta and results must determine. Our fortifications extended from the Savan nah Siv..-r, some foul* miles above the city, on our right, to tbfc Little Ogeecheo River, near the Gulf Rail Road, some eight miles fiom the city, on our left We held Fort McAllister, on the WeM bank o ' thn Ogcechee, a few miles be io.v tint Gulf Rid Road. \\'o also had strong batteries at Rose Dew, b>?twe< n the two Ogce ehecs, at Beaulieu, Thunderbolt;- Cansiin’s Bluff, &•*., atj.i troops stationed on Isle of llopo ain't Wuitmnreh Isiands. Our newly erected fortifications on the land side of the city were very strong and capable of turning back al most any king of nssaulv, though they were not commenced till after Khorman bad nearly reached Milledgeviiie, Sherman's army ap peared before these wotk»aboat the 8 h or 9th inst., and on Saturday, the 10th, considerable liglitii-g ocutt.ml. Several severe assaults were made, iu which the rneroy wete signally repulsed. . EatTy on Sunday morning, the 11th, a tremendous camlqnading began and was kept up for half the day. It was -supposed in the city that a heavy (‘.ngagumc-nt was going on, but it proved to be only a general shelling fro li the heavy gims on our lines. Sherman was in no ocniition to attack our works, lie wan n arce of e umunition and had no heavy guns, a:! well ns other difficulties in the way of his.giying b-Jilo.' During the siege severe a sauits, v arc c-ral times iij.ide on particular points with a ri.-.'.- »f Btorming our works and brcnk'ia r t '.rottgli our lines, but all these were haudsomciy repulsed. • Fort McAiii.-t..'i wa;:, however, the key to the taking of the city. It had once gall an By repulsed a. naval expedition, and sunk the gunboat “Nashville,” which was endeavor-lug to make a rear attack on the city, while it pre vented Sinu-imin from communicating with tho enemy - licet vi i Orsabay Bound Tile impor tance of holding it was either underestimated, or sufficient energy to so was not put fotfh. it was p?ovM,-,t>cd tor six months and rcin jor-oi withs s littudrcd luen a few days bptoro it fel:. It was at'ack'-d by a heavy fnrpo of tJhevmiUi's a.m, on .tin: hlort-h tddo. and rap tureJ with all ifi.-aarr'am. arms and stores. This opened tit* fr-e ccmamnioation widr fho licet, frpm which if not from tiro fort, Sher man obtained a bountiful supply of am muni - tiun and other s!ores, of which lie \va3 very short, aud also g->,v hi a h -avy guns, which To Lrmg.ht i;;. - -\ nt. sever,>l poin‘.e,.« xviii-v-- he c:.uid .live i-mt'e-j tim city, n:vr would have dr-t-e eo, no doubt, if it had u-.-t been t vacuaicil Tills priced the :cUy at Sherman’s niercv, and rt-fi.l.'led jts captipe by hirp, sooner h y 1-V.r, a, ccna’n'y.'Rid- so our little array, could ii-.'.ve l-cc-'i A.'iritnr • and very lirgclv; which, it s.. tn-' wr,.’. ii*- -p:,J,.!;*... Anolher groat d.fuctilfy v.ss t;u> constant attempts of tin enemy to.cut fmr corumunication wi liObaths ton, both fr.ca liu'* enu.-t and by vi Sstug the liavuun ih illv *r, c -.1 f brealcniog the city from tho Carolina rf.’bs. ihe keeping op -n of this line required n.-ulv as many rn-n as were placed along the lino of can: fortifications. Oil I’atf.fitr.y. lee ITU: iiut., a flag oftiupe wa ,; f.-nt in by ninar. demanding the sur render ol the city, and on Sunday, the 18th, a reply war: given l , (Jen. Beauregard, refusing to comply with Be; demand. On Monday the evade: bui comre-'ivod - the first equal com ing <ml ah >n* r.:: ay, another came out at tour P. M , and t-.'o o'hers at iiiglft, _ llow rap idly the ovacuat! >u waa Ihorcafler conducted I knot? ’ ot. ex. i' t orn reports. It is paid the eve. u ;iion to k t.-m-e on • Tuesday night. 1 :ea:'ail f.’.ir sol.uu.i;', did list, get out. Borqe of them wa e fwdvo or fourteen miles from the oily, whil« inany wore'eight miles off. The Ireavlest lighting ol the siege took place on Monday emitng and night, (he ffi'ii. Tho en emy were repu ::. Iln all their attacks on our line.'.; so Ihe - mast hive be.on there, and not ( n the r.-tie at If so, 1 cannot per ceive haw it is p- i.fiblc for nil to have coma out by Tut - eiv r.ighl, Hough thry may have done. so. Wo had .# v?ral boats capable of carrying fro to lUOO e .ch aarops the river at a trip and a ponfoon bridge besides. Very f.;v, ol' Un. citizens left the city Many Veqld have don.- s > i! they could, but tho real-- ?•/, ttion of ihoir c i.'idt'ton '..-arue too late. It found th :a all unprvnarcd, and escape impos sible. There v. h- n-> alicrii-ative but to sub rait- to th ' r tend! It* fate It do.' s «- etu to me that our military authorities should, means, have given rotnc notices or bint to the people, or time allowed tho-e who desired to do to, . either to g.-t away or set tin ii houses in order if they in".: ndod to stay. Pi fl aps lam wrong in this conclusion- I will not say positively, As before stated, the people were in the dark as to what was g,,ing on, They hoped we would be able to io.oe Bbcruran to the coast, eitiicr to tiie right- or to the left, and save the. city, &i,d in this belief vet^ little private prop erty of any description was sent off, livery body wa* tn a s‘a!c o f suspense. 1 here was a pretty geni-ral h.q.-e that th.i city would be saved, but no one couid give any substan tial reason for Ibis hope, having no certain ground? upon wLI- It to base if; and ignorance c»i the real ccudiiimi kept them from arriving at a dilrcr.'.nt conclusion and pi sparing .for ihe worst. A'! v.r. uuoertainty and doubt. Hope was mingled v.-tth ft-ar. and it was difficult for any oce to dedd which i.repjnierateil in his uiiud V. try iu iu when tie met lilt! neighbor, inquired, and was required of, af ter il:t*e, a; .! neither could gratify tho oth er. AU were victims cf every imaginable kind of rumor and opinion, from tiie best to ihe worst. I bop-; never to p«s through sac-h dreadful drive again. Such suspense is vsoree agonv tba-r any icdito, belt ever so dreadial. Ac.i here Is one thing 1 wish to call special attention to, D is a belief or opinion on my part, for which I will give ray reasons, an-1 you iv;d your readers ussy judge of its correctness. 1 believe our miito.ry authorities tried to frighten Sherman off from attacking Augusta and Savannah by using the press to spread abroad statements ooncemicg the arrival or expected arrival of reinforcements which never arrived. Audi do not believe the press of both cities would, with such singular unani mity, have fallen into making the same kind of announcements, when thev were unreal, un less it were suggested or requested by the mili tary authorities. Our Government has lately taken into its service a considerable number of “galvanized” Yankees —I mean Yankee prisoners who have, of their cwn acc ird, taken tho oath of allegi ance and entered into our service, in order to get out of their imprisonment. They have long b.;en confined. Lincoln has refused to ex change them. They have professed an utter absei-ce of ad hostile toolings towards us, and a di-site to cast tueir lot with us; and as an earnest of theee professions- have taken up arms and gone into our field service. I be lieve a lapse number of these men are insin cere. Several hundred were in the trenches around Savannah during the late siege. An attempt was made by a number of them to escape to the* enemy, in which some twenty five succeeded and -fix or seven were killed Tbe symptomsof infi lelity to their oaths were so manifest as to justify the disarming and placing under guard of the whole batch. They were brought back to the city and put to woik at building a pun to which, they sooa performed and did very well.’ I think our Government had better not put muskets in the hands of such men, or t ust many of them at large. But Savannah lies fallen; and what nex '?— This is a mometnoc? question, and causes ev ery heart to beat quicker with anxious thought. It iasaid by some that Sherman has utterly demolished the Centra! Rail Road from Mto len down, and by others tha t it is very slight ly damaged. It is resorted that Kilpatrick’s cavalry have gone ctfon a raid down tie Unit Rail Road to Thomasvilie, where the .ro'iinjf stock of that road, and a large amount belong ing to the Central Rail Road, was carried for safety. If.it is true .that the Central Road from Millen dowu is destroyed; and if Kilmt rick capt- res and destroys the cus and en gines at Thomasvilie and burns the bridg. s o. - tiie Gnil Road, wo may safely conclude that Sherman dors not -intend to remain long in I Savannah. If, on the contrary, the Central Road is cot destroyed from Millen down; and if Kilpatrick does not destroy the bridges or damage the track of ihe Gulf Road, but eap tu es and brings buck towards Savannah the rolling stock, _we may fairiy conclude tha! Sherman intend-; to occupy Savannah perma ricutly as a post, and organize expeditions from thete against other parts, and draw supplies u.ocg the Gulf Road from Southern and South western Georgia. I • my opinion he will as soon .as possible organize an expedition against the Stale of South Carolina. His aim will probably lie to el rike the railroad at Branch v lie, and from'thtT; attempt to take Charleston and perhaps" Au gusta; and uot only so, but to cut elf tho sup plies for Lee’s army, which are sent fiom Car olina and Georgia. How far the taking ol the road at Brnncliviile would affect Lee on tho score of subsistence, forage, I cannot say,- but suppose it would to some extent, and possi bly to a very serious one. If Sherman should take Branchvillc, starve out Oh Heston, and then move on through Carolina to Wiiminn ton he would compel Lee to evacuate Virginia unless Hood, should take Nashville, recover the whole State ct Tctuiesfcc, and open up again communication through Fast Tennessee, which I have no idea will Lad ue, tor Hood’s expedition is already leifivc-d to have' proved disastrous. It was a very foolish movement, and never should have been undertaken. He should.never have crossed thefPennessee river. When his army was at Florence, Thomas’ was beyond tho river, and the railroad from Chat tanooga to Atlanta destroyed. If ;;Übod? had there embarked his troops by railroad a.d pushed thorn t hroqaii r&pWy, he could have lan led them all in Savannah iu time to have matched them up and intercept.-d the enemy j fit Milica or near there, Shetmaa's whole army could then have been wiped cut, and Thomas would have been unable to do any thin:' but rciuidn.whei e An: wqs. Where is that great retreat of Sherman which tiro President promised us, he said would be like Napoleon’s from ? ’ The R chmoad ‘•Sentinel’’-- considered the President’s organ-has taken sever'd occasions to expose to the indignation oi the wojjd the ’tiler dHregatd Ofiffa v'hicir Gen. Grant imuii f'tisia towards his ipui. It calls lim “Grant the butclur.”' * have up idea it will ever make the complarat againct Uaid, who h°s hßtcJrerud !;is ftuivns • uh. ireplilcasly as ever jqiani; did, with this difference in favor of the lathy, tfcaft Qiant’s country has pbmtyof men to draw upon to fi ! -l'.:p ids ranks as last as he butchers them out, while- Ho-id’s couulry is nut so f nil of resources of this kind. The avipojalin.: nt of Jlood w?.s most iit.fpitcitwto anil ihe fears ot ihousfi&ds of vrisomen kgve bteu l'nliy realiz id. ‘ He is a good nmu and a patriot, and as brave as human heart could be, but he is only a reck--. les v dating fighter, withe tit tho wisdom, sa gacity and generalship necessary to command cue of our great armies in tips dreadful strug gle for .existence. This fact was well undev- I'toocl or'believed by mort inU-Rigeut porSins iu tho country, and his short and disastrous c-arecr since his elevation to lire chief comm md of the Army of Tennessee has mo-1 abundantly demonstratod it Ilr rve no idea what plans are iu ihe mind ! of the Government, to defeat the grand scheme I of Sherman in causing the fall of Charleston | and Wilmington, and the giving up of Virginia ; by tho ialiiirg back of Leo’s army, by making i a simple movement through the Slate of Smith Carolina, and would not tell if I knew. If is, however, very strongly impre. sed'upou my mind, that unless. Sherman is met, fought nud defeated, he will accomplish all lbU--it may t e without fighting a single battle. llow he is to bo defeated iu this I do not l*:b'w, unless Ifaod’s army is brought Here and united with the command of Beau regard. But if Matteis should unfortuateiy tlce such a turn as to sir! e it ntc-cssary for Lee to givo up U'chmond and evacuate Virginia, wnero Will he fall back to? Ho must either come down into tho Carolina.? afiil Georgia, or go into Tennessee and 'Kcutecity. It will put a new aspect upon the military situation, and requite new combinations an.l an entire change ot programme G;j‘ibM ;-.;rt ol the t-nemy to meot it. It may result greatly to our benefit. and it may not; the former, if wise and :vde commanders arc placed at (he heads of our -Divisions, and wise counsels prevail—tho lat ter if other wise. I aver that not (mo cf ouv great disasters wore either necessary or un avoidable, t ut I;ave.resulted solely from a fail ur.i to-adopt wise counsels by those at tiie bdm• _1• is lime we t hould redeem our errors. It is timo our Government should make a Slight change in some of its previous methods af conducting affairs. FOltEltiA’ KXTitAC 18. % THE COTTON HNANCrS IN ENGLAND. The monthly report of Mr. Maclure, read at the meeting of the Executive Committee at Manchester, showed that on September 24, the number of operatives working toil time was 212,2:10; short time, 102,017; and out of work, 339 821. The figures for the month of Autnust were 209,220,59,074, and 102,000 respec tively. According to Mr. Fatrall’s report, t ier:, was an increase of persons receiving re lief in 27 union? oi 12 209, as compared with the number in the month of August. At the meeting .of the General Committees the report slated that 114.000 persons were now receiv ing relief in some form or.o!Sms. The iistress arising from the cotton famine has made another great stride in Manchester and unless matters mend to a degree not at all to be counted upon, we must stforriy be prepared for it worse winter of misery than i, abided us in previous j. r.r. THE COTTON CKOf IX INDIA. Ihe accounts of tho cotton crop in the Bom bay Presidency are decidedly bad, and though it is pretiy certain that the extent of land sown is greater than heretofore, yet the quantity of the present will fall short of that of the past year. The case is worse in Bengal where the cotton crop will be much less than it was last year. TUB COLTItm OF FLAX IN IRELAND. The conviction that the cultivation Os flax in Ireland will be highly remunerative is gaining ground rapid!/. At Cork, last week", a flax market was opened, at which nineteen loads of unscutched rkix from the districts around Cork, and one tundred and forty stone cf mill and band scutcbedjflax, from L’inerick and the neighbothood of Mallow and Chonakilty, werc offered for sale. On the following day the Cork Flax Spinning and Weaving Company held their first meeting on their new premises at Blackpool The chairman. Mr. Maguire, A. P., explained at considerable length the opera tions and purposes of the company. The capi tal was J}. 0003. in <S,OOO shares of lOL each.— Mr. Maguire stated that in Ulster there was an increase within the last two years of 70,000 acres in the breadth of flax grown. lie thought that for a generation cotton would got rsoever its posiUoa, gad for twenty years VOL. LXXIV.—- NEW SERIES VOL. XX- XXX 1 fiax would not be us low priced as it was six reare ago. The Americans would bo- obliged to impose a tax on the exportation of eottoD, in order to meet the enormous cost of tho war, so that cotton would not for sottu time dis place flax. After some other addresses, a. list was opened and one hundred and thirty two shares were at cnee taken. The subscribed capital is now 28,1401. DIAMONDS BY MAIL. . Who would have believed that in Franco the transmission of valuables is r-o hampered by legislation, tiftt jewellers are forced to commit diamonds to the value of millions to the chances of the common.po,-1 olfiet ? Such, however, is the case. 1). Kauffman, a jewel!; r ’of Paris, was summoned before a police mag - Irate for sending valuable articles in the shape of £1,600 worth of diamonds by post. M. Kauffman admitted the charge, but pleaded that-there were no other means of conveying precious stones into the provinces, as the com mon parcels delivery would nor, take them- Thift wasconsidered to be an • ri. cuntstance, and M. K-.tulfe.an was accordingly fined iu the mitigated penalty of fifty frauce. CAI’T. SI'MMLS’ IiOCK. You are no doubt, aware that an account of !he cruises of the Sumter and the Alabama has been published in French by Dantu. The sympathy exhibited, by the whole French na tion towards Captain Ssnimes on the o< lirti of the glorious combat near ■ cl■ - nrg ■•:.sur< a remarkable success for this book; its'fiist e,ii .l ion was disposed of in a few days, and a sec ond is now in course ot'-preparation, which will no doubt meet wi:h an equally rapid sale. This unpretending little work .whose every page records some daring exploit and which is :a;i mated throughout 'ey a t utltful and patriotic sentiment, has been received with great fi.vor and sympathy by the entire pre. s. The Petit Journal, it: • f c. popular 01-. ano 1 -. an p .r excellence, reckoning at Uy present tin,'..no wards of 150,000 subscribers, (which npp-- sos it so have at least 300,000 readers,) has "wel comed this book.ia an .article extending over four columns, bearing flic signafurc i.f faa illustrious Timotheo Trimm, whose celchr-iy amongst. the working classes exceeds that ot the most popular wiiters of tiie day. This unanimous praise has" caused no small vexation to the Siccio. In a furious article, inspired by the blindest hatred, it passionately calls the whole press and the entire French nation io ihe rescue against the Alabama and Captain Betmueu, whose popu larity, according io its way of thinking, i.: a decided disgrace. This article, altogether unworihey of a French writer, bios cu t with’ the following "stern comment from the Pays: “ If is in vain that the Siccio seeks to heap insults upon those who have bravely sacrificed tboir lives iu the defence of their country; such sentiments as these can never conduce to popularity in France.” ITALV*. Tho text of the Franeo-Itallan Convention has been published. We give it here in to”, seeing its importance not only in European politics, but in tho history of the Papal sys tem throughout the world : Art 1. Italy undertakes not to attack the present territory cf the Pope, and even to pre vent by force any attack piooeeding from ihe exterior. Art. 2. Frauce will withdraw her ireors gradually, as the army of the Pope become ; organised. Tiie evacuation will, nevettheiees, be accomplished within two years. Art. 3. Tho Italian Government will make no protest against the organization of u Papal army, even composed of fort.ign Catholic volunteers, sufficient to maintain the authori ty of the Pope, and tranquility both at home and on the frontier of the Papal State:-;; pro vided, however, that this force doc-s not" de generate jnto a means of attack against the Xtalian Government. Art. 4. Italy declars herself .ready to enter into au arrangement tor asauming a propor tional .part of the debt of the former Bfafea of : the Church. j Art. 5. The present Convention will be rati j tied, and the ratifications exchanged within a fortnight, or earlier it possible. (Signed) • Drouyn de Liiuys. I)l NIGEA. Pki-uli. A protocol following the Convention rnys : The Convention will only become executive when the King of Italy shall have decreed the transfer ot the capital cf the kingdom to a place to be subeqnently determined upon by His Majesty. Th, e transfer to he effected within a term of six months from the date of the Convention. * The present protocol will have the same force and value as the Convention, and the ratifications wiil be exchanged at the same timo as those oi the Convention. The Pope is not by any means pleased with the treatment he seceives Irom the new Con vention. In the first place ho objects to the wav in which he is disposed of, without a word of warning or consultation; in the next place, he does not believe kiuit he is sufficiently pro tected, either from tho Italians or from his own subjects; thirdly, he does not care to rake a large army for his own defence wiien ha can get it done cheaper and bettor by French or Austrians; and lastly, lie docs not Lko to by told even by M. Drouyn de Lhriys, that the principles of his government and inequitable. Men watch the movements of the Papal Cab inet just now with increased curiosity; for should they refuse to take any notice of the Convention, and neglect to provide themselves with an army such us is there suggested f them, it is hard to see what means the iimpir or will have of coercing them, short of giving them up irrevocably to the tender .mercies <.t their people, which is the very end that he most wishes. •Mazz'ni has published a letter on the subject of the Convention. The tone of it is turh as we might naturally expect from him. He so - serts that the keystone of .Italian independ etaee is Roqie for the metropolis, and therefore, the present Convention amounts to treason against Italy He puts the Ministry on tiie dilemma, that either the terms of the Convention will b ri in which case Italy is enslaved to the will of France ; or the terms wiii be broke:., w.v writ ensue, and the credit of Italy tor fair dc-alto destroyed. He exhorts the Italian Parliament to tear up the treaty and trust to the sti tb of twenty two millions of- Italians. Finally, he say3 : To-day, whilst ye* >vc are free, we swear to “make Italy,” 'with, vriibouf, or against the present Govern meat. L the C-;ii vention becemes a fail accompli, fto: two ii contingencies are di.-po.-e I of". Thou we wil! try the third, happen what mny. General Sherman on Slavery. — I root n gentleman who has had sov*-:al c-.ris-iiiatioii with General Sherman recently, t ■■■ b urn, be says slavery wiil. exist in the S atii after tip conclusion of peace let the war terminate a- i ; r,jai: that Lincoln’s proclamation ;in r lerenc. to its abolition, are simply im- - for ihe res toratfon of the Union; ti. ;t the Supreme Go- r; hare, nor wiil not sustain Lira ri-.*■ • I-. :r will t e Federal Govermerit atb-mpt to abolish Have hut will leave it to the States returning to hv Union to settle it; and that he ( heim m). x pects to 6wr. a thoubatid faiave c in Ifr. bout one of these days. lls represents Sherman 33 being a Htcrongti fanatic upon the subject of reitorin/ the “glo rious Union,’ — Conslituliona’ist. A resolution has passed tie S-.-nate in the Noi th Carolina Lcgisiatuie den: r.Jir.g the dis use of provost-* : n teat Siatp. Brig. Gen j A lie* ./At.-on, of tee 'Mary land \ol outer I*Las been appointed to the command of the Confederate’Prison at s’ali - bury, and has taken tivunaand thcr^. F . .MU l) PH vru g'TCOKCIKKS3. SENATE— -DEC 17. Noturog ol ua .ori- ncc done in the Senate. HOUSE—DEC. 17. I Le follow.ng . ... - ro f ; , rrC( ] ; .A meswago •r-.'mi *io F -!■’ . , oommumcatton from u ■ . . eny- ; -rmg .' and; -- L-v.-m the Govcrnm.: F » : , . , , ; ‘~l 8 ‘ I '!' ■' Gi'i.-?:rr; ; cotumucir cafoon from t.n; .vc.v.'wy ct the 'rVi-nsurv vo’a- V vet ? ill Sec, huyot Wur r.m-.rvo to-.to ; to,-; ,f cloth and Olothnig to officer.- . ! i. i ron ... i: , a s,. i . , - 1 ”’ front the :u. • ■ . ~.f -.d :-Vri ir g an in crease of appropfi.-aFooa fev tori <: px!;;iicpi*; benafe bill to rt-guiaio ihe £ ... to'Kudsltipmen Tho hill io itm wl the act to provide f r tho cslabitshaient a- : oavou ;.t of riahua farcer feio and. I Uy im pressed I * tho u. :ol : .i..- ■■ a. was taken and passed. ' offered by Mr. Br .-.'ri y, .w. a sub;-: Rule'for those offered t:v Mix Yurr-r, Id-. MeMullon, who w.'".; entitled to G i! .■ -..<.11 .1 l !io 101.- ior.’ ing re ,; .■; - . '..riy.o-j lo thote of fered by Mr. Hark? laic : “V- here : so Iliy '’. .lorvlion of indepcndei <s ot the I ilted and the Consittution of the Q< ife ■ States; the pe pie of each of said soverei.-'ii cap?.-.- have a right to ori-.-r. amend or abolish th Go- muient u. - vl,i;:;i they live, aodeKlabh:'.’! t-trch other as thev may decrit most expedient; an:! wheremi'! : poc-too ol tho several Con tod "n-. • so .cs h.ave th;.-:;-; ht prop conneclion with tha people atpl Gov.-:mne.it of th-. United States, for US-W.V.- ■ i in nor. >-,• hul !:<>;r.to.tri; acn v.'iicrea.i tee c- ;.i ’ c:■ Confedcrato States iiave ptgiviz-d r.-cd e..:iibliMieil a dis tinct Gov< rflm'i ; h.- fo:-.-; : M V c ii whereas, because the ■ toe tie Coni Im States have f an; ex. rceu-ii iheit* rtnd- -ul>toil right iu tit's 1 -p ct, the a : nd G v rtimo.-M of tho UuUy.i S.ave.i ii'A.i :t proper to make war upon-them; and w - th e seems to be (Jhlfer.'iic- of opinion \ tlte p rt of tho res pcctfre Governments and peop <■;.) to wluch of the center.- ug ; ai'ties is t r ip-; us'.ble lor the comniencenir.: of the .pre t war; therefore, “Resolved, That who tit is not expedient, ■ nd w< uid beir.ee pi lible wish the and gully of. the Confederate S to send commiasicaners to lYasfiirtgton city, for the put pose of Gecnrihg a cer:aticn of h-rMY-i would be, in tho judgmei the 1 ■ ■ ■ . ale Stales shoul.i d.-; ;v ..eh, without delay, to some convenient, point u body of i- nmie-ion evs, tbirfeen in imhi 1 .. ?. co- jt. ---'I of wm rep resenuAivefr-'mt ..id ■ ■-. to mrefc and coafyf witfi sucir ir.hvidua:* ns may ho r.:;iii:iatod by t':a Gcvei omen', oi' the United States in ray.*! to ail t out,landing ques tiou? oi uiifi-renoa I'ct'Vf’o.n :he two Govern— raenfo, r.fid to r;i: p vd y, upon tho terms o? a inr.ting and J.oc . Ida p. il-o, subject so the ratification of the respective Governments an., i.i the sovereign ! m-K'ctivfcly rep resented therein. Mr. MoMuhiri proce; 't > addi'crs the lion e at ccnsiderablH !< ngth,u’.g;:'-.g the policy and propriety of the Gov.-—. - .it proposing soma terms i.t peace t-> .- •13m - ! and a G-ovcrn lut-n . lie he ;oy. a:: : ri: • : un civrllzci • ght th it the Gir.-- nmenf, sc- ■ i l tx'.: uikl, all nu.os. consist ent with its Iron ■r, tor the at ut in men l of a speedy uer/e Mr. Atk : ns, of Ter.r.~’*m, r.M be would like to kt-oty .-«■ ft ,- . . m Vi-tti ia (Mr. McMullin) if •- or it;.-' ofiter u - uh.-r cf the House, Lad otic icic. a. ;a , oc g:Min-i. tion that prop-. would be < n j ' ri . : - lor even ivtd Jb Government. Mr.-Mc iullen -ai-l (Ihai:o Mil ’ c.v - inf. rma . «v ■ Or. K» f'-ed ink'.' mat! r. ;-om i:!?!t<:n Lav that .; !iod't hit any Cemrrdi.sio .- f, p,< ■ p. ] by *(ha Confederate G ; i, O ro ,/,i vcc i B , and t at an eq ml num-' ,jf:r of Commie-hunts v..mld be ap pointed on the part of the North to meet ■.a ivec of viewr. upon the subject" of p -. cr-. Mr. McMuileu cc>,d:; n.i to i..r-.< our Goyer-nmeot would :-' -s to 1..- I'ato-step looking to hr. ■ugt: <j -,..--r to a i-.rmination. The morning; .our In ring expire . t lie House ; bill “to provide mere effectual!y ::.j reduettou and redempf ion of so e cut i. . • ” Mr. Foote In.v’cg oh: deed t,I. ; floor said : siidai eu . ri.cy. -::i to !; -‘. he sinews of . • ’ 1 > our hh . chagrin which he ha-I ~ . h m c-msciotts of iiefarc. n saw much grow .! I,r desponden cy and a:;; ■ - k-.m .. : . v v... ■/ j, thin financial bill, said he, is c'-i;;- diu tha two Hou ct Cos ' ''■ : is, I shrill utterly 7 . ;.. , - „.. S- T jj' e character of the exr-edit-rds ri •• t ■ ' lo f or p,. defeat are -ur '.vise, unbeconvm-.;, uumitrioMc and not at all in harmony widh the intrihaio thisgrea anil Freedom. I confidently bale.-. j'. that if G)is bill shall become a 3 .-,-,'our cnrrencv wilf bo leformwl ; A.ii-p :■ i. i... - : will be solidified and m idc - ffiri-'to icr edi ihe pur poses of tho pfir.uing war our a :,. : will be supplied witn all r com— fortaide imhfli'rianf;?, :.ud i r.-i t meet with < : v W.I.M ? 1 _ -S- J L,, ,I] V-, jf,s ,1 I .-hiri ' ..--a: I tha ..." in t !i. at an end and all th ■ rcu-t' s 0 S cur patriotic and ■ * Ctitr.g .'dfy *!. • ua.i. i: h :cra ■! : w nt'emen hue suppose so-so ii so :,.to :M tri moment of owe i / IrjUt ,n i i.i; and Visionary "«* • 'Ori cu 'venoy ; if they regard rite oree. i:. ay. a suifsbie lime for the uttenii.i.-.: of ■ U ' OS' CSV c iiiive heard iu this b in th< hu-t if :-m • looking nUtnifecly to the : a .t- bud, .t’on of all our present * >rz*n' :. de ndo J differ from them es b..v, rtr. 1 he-- - :-h bonoraido geiitlerflen, on iiii-t' or.' •>•.'. j il-aps that I shall have the Lo « r : ' 3.- -big tt-i.i House, to Jopk with m lifo.oi - ■: condition of the country before 11- - - : .: to withhold their sappoVt from, ti c :n ~ur*. Wh.it is our ! situati n ? Lr 1 a- o ' <■> t■. fc.ee. and p ovide for it whilst Sir, we are r.noa l;w V'-:p (:■ f i rtim. Otic fincwial affai. i.te i: .-ordered. Atiiord. or; zto 1: ■ tniuttl i-ih-jaa nvgeusont Os c:Vw" ' . tui yi. -a/..; cersi.'cr-- al’on has heoi yet u and to u-. or bx-ss likeiy to he it.orsh' At Hr, series of i . ' tt here whic v T ; - 0 Rights and S : vie ?■■■■ • freedom, if nett speed ; - * rapidly at . . t ■ ■ ■ ar and building .;■• t , Alii:* ' pctisin. Us: 1- < ~ r \ before npo,. • ir - •• r: --S b- VC. V. J, , ■ s- , j ' .. duce popn! :■ c -u. : ; .. , j", ... wb< le govern Otis j .'. - herd-. at: i rhent, haves • ,- 0 r-■ filled the r. i ' • s >;t hour scenn t ' dh:s->.:?.-'.‘,svtion bjrasrrud. ~ . tt-.-it Stratr.vl 1, banco freed--- ■ effectually wtti ■■. . toby. . " —r‘ —* vgw