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N S. MORSE. dftronide & Htntinfl. y TERMS. THIS WISEKLY CHiIOMCLE dc SENTINEL 1» l* ÜBLIiH ED *VE Ii Y WED NESDA Y THHKKMOYJ'H* gfcOO hi* MO.\ I iiri 812 00 ALWAY* IN * PVANCE. WEERLV \I>VKRTISI\<> RATE*. Oioimr Advjutibimeni fp j dialed i&tbe Week]) we tUv*i ouc U tiling -?ach injortloc . one dolls* aid twenty tvesuu** a mcforaaciii iA;rUon. si AAKiides.UciTns Vid trasrss&x. Notices liveilollcig «aeb. Joitcabt Xon union* dollar porline for one Insertion Eiitb.- W tilyor Weekly. Where Obituary Notice aiefafc iud Da n‘' a» '■*? < n*klv—-n e b Maram! fifty cents per l l rea WHO Ih ro IJLAMX ? A rn st nnjuM and ungenerous effort has jjcen made by some of the presses and friends of the administration, to cast upon Governor Brown thd W»me of Sh< rman’s success P.nd the disasters which have befallen the State of Geor gia It has been .•’barged that he has factiously kept back the reinforcements wbiclr Georgia might have lurnishei! !o aid in checking Sher man’s advance to Atlanta. Aye hav,e hereto fore shown the utter fairly “of this charge; that ho far from having proved recreant to his • duly,to big Hfate, and to the South, in the present year’s campaign, or at any other time, lire has strenuously endeavored to put into the <ield all who were capable of military duty and M be spared from the civil service of the State exGl 'P*' l! v the members of too Legis . . *Ue judges of the courts, nor evm a. uii, am Tempted from dirty by details the thousand; r. r „ . . , ~ , ‘e Government to pursue from the Gonledcra . , , ~ npations not of a I agricultural and other military nature. r . , " , ... , -nsw best, have Our Generals, who ought to k uttered no such comniuiut. On to ' c '^’ r ( ' U ' ' they bavo given Gov. Brown the . praise for his vigilance, energy anil rfticie.. T in supplying them with reinforcements, and . have confidently relied upon hia doing every thing in his power to aid them in repelling the enemy. He Iras been their most efficient ally •luring the past season, and they will never cast a shadow of reproach upon his patriotism or fidelity llis character is safe in their hands against the unscrupulous r.n<i maiigrant attacks ot designing politicians, whose onlv object is to make him the scapegoat of the er- rors und delinquencies of the admioistratra tieu. But since Gov. Brown has been arraigned as the author of our calamities, since this issue Iras been made by his opponents, wo it due to liis reputation and to the cause of Girth to inquire into the causes of our • misfortunes aud to fix the blame, i blame there bo, where it properly liei It Iras bee* ne of the unsolvable problems of history rv,iy Hannibal, the thrlhagow§h General, after the battle of Carina!, ‘in which he was P 0 PRfiffiy AHcmrhnis, did not march upon and capture Rome which lay at his mei vy. it was one of those mysterious failures which have given complexion to human histo ry, which have decided the fate of nations, aud can only bo referred to the ordination of l’rovidei’eo whose mystic hand, ever mingling in human nffiirs, so often.turns the current of events into unexpected channels. It ul II nni bal marched on Rome the whole aspect of the world’s subsequent history might, have been changed. Failing to do so, Carthage was blotted front the map of rations, and Rome fireoani: the imperial mistress of the world. History we think will record several such failures on our part, in tire course of 'this war, and especially, of the enemy's campaigns Against Georgia, which havo.rcsuHed in the present deplorable condition of atlhirs. These failures belong to the history of both tho two paat years’ campaigns, and might be traced even further back. Our army achieved at Chickamauga one of •the most complete victories of the war—not surpassed even at tb-j lost battle of Manassas. Uosocrans’ drtny wm utterly routed, driven .from the field, and dispersed. Northern cor respondents represented it at the time, &3 '•ouip’etely disorganized and demoralized. ~ several days, it remained in tbi-3 coadi tion—pai*** 5 Btriok, ‘ u und scattered, with scarce, ly the of organiaUlon Uasrcr .ns, himself, wvs stupid,'- 1 *]'* ™ 1 am ? 8 I,u ' Vecile by the extent oft, "* <ilßUt * r - ' v Jl,: l 1 ,ea 1 to his instant removal by . ie . *' l ' !1 1,l eminent.. Why Gen. Rraifg did P ot f ' ,n ' ,a ' U P that victory, did not fallow the enemy 0 j'^' tanoogo only a few miles distant, and eu capture or drive him across tte mountains, which in the judgment of his offi-vw, as W' are informed, te could easily hue done, is.unex plained and unexplainable. It must forever .-remain, like the mystery of Gannas an unsolv ed and unsolvable historical problem If he had done so, Sherman would not now be in Georgia. As it v.- is, the enemy was suffered to reorganize, anti won tue a-1 rd -Grants leiu •forcementa inilictt 1 upon u-. a t'e.v Jays af terwards, the fatal disaster ci Missionary .Tlidge. Now it is no part of our purpose to assail ■Gen. Bragg. We have«no resentments against j tiim to gratify. We would not impeach either his patriotism or tidality. It is the President who should be helArespousible for this disas trous failure. For after Gen Bragg, owing to previous similar failures, had to u considerable extent lost the confidence of both the army and the people, and a general desire had been expressed that another commander should be given to ihe army of Tennessee, the President persisted in keeping his favorite general at its bead, uutil the defeat at Missionary Ridge compelled him to ask to be released. The ad ministration, therefore, is responsible for this disastrous failure of its ajeut. Upon it the telame must rest. •The next failure of the President, and that «which immediately led to the tall of Atlanta, and all our Subsequent disasters, was his omis *hw U> send a force to cut oil Sherman's com imup.WatiuPs when lie advanced from Dalton. A v«*> ■aoderav.' farce thrown upon his rear, before he had " ir - ka ‘ ‘' ullcn '' lated sapqUea, ami atrm.5 thea e <l J l ’-* ,ini * of vDoaataaieation, could have anfsfed his march The place to have grappled with him. 1° have put forth all the available force of the Cos flut'd to check his advance, was la the »oun- AUGUSTA, GA,„ WEDNESDAY MORNING. JANUARY 11, 1885. j tarns of Northern Georgia. That was the I golden opportunity which once lost could t never be recalled. This we believe was the opinion of Gen Johnston, a-s It was of Gov. Brown, who both solicited ia vain for the ne cessary leinfor (foments. . • It is said, however, that there were no forces to vpare for this purpose. Bat it is vain to allege this, when Gen. Nir!y was sent at that | time with an army to invade Maryland and I Pennsylvania. That army could have been : .-.ant to the relief of Johnston. Siegel had been whipped by Breckinridge, and the enemy had no formidable army then threatening the Valley of Virginia. It was the movement of Early that biought out the army of Sheridan Tue invincible Forrest, also, might have been and should have been spared to try his ur*i valled prowess aud peculiar tact in cutting the communications of the enemy. Some other commander might have been found to meet the force at Memphis which wa3 twice so easily driven back. Had the President announced to the country the imperious necessity which there was for an additional force to check Sherman, doubtless the States would have Clime to yre rescue with their mHitia, rather I than he t-licxid gain such fatal advantages over us. But a strange .apathy was exhibited by the President during the progress of Sherman’s march through Northern Georgia The immediate organ of the President, the Richmond Sentinel, however, attempted to cast upon oar Governor the blame of disasters in which he ha 1 no s’ a:e, and having preju diced the public mmd __to some extent by its reckless and unfounded * charges, we have deemed.it due to tbe character of our Chief Executive, and to historical truth to advert to these painful facts. As the question—who is to blame?—has been thrust upon us by the •administration organ, we wish the people to I o put in possession of the actual facts in the case, aud to decide accordingly. PI AUK l<Y NEUOTI.VriO.V. There is at this time a general desire on the jWf,of the people, that steps he immediately j 'ken to this war by negotiation.— For n,' al, y hour .y ears the South hss sustained a conflict wost stupendous of modern times, against tlle moßfc and over whelming. She lias > d <o light got only the North, but all Europe, who'.-* subsidised myr iad. have annually tilled up the ,’*«n»les of our enemy ; and they are still coining by ship loads, and will eon’inus to come. In this unequal contest, many tbousaDds, each year, of the iiower of Southern manhood, of the best and bravest of tho land, have fallen, heroic martvis to their country'.s cau-ru. And yet the carnival of death progresses, the butchery o' onr noble eons and brothers gee* on, wbk no prospect that it will terminate til! the grave shall close over nearly the last remnant of the noblest race of men upon whom .the sun ever shone. The people who have borne tho brunt of this terrific contest, with uncomplaining patience, and he.oio fortitude, naturally begin to think that it is time something should be done to bring it to an end. Our armies, ’the bva7c and self-sacrificing men who have fought cur battles, and encountered the privations and perils of the war with such constancy and courage, begin to ffiok to their government to, at b ast, make the iff >rt to terminate by nego tiation a confbct so destructive to them. The many thousands of our gallant toldiers who have so long suffered the horrors of imprison merit in the Norlb, with no prospect of release, make their mute but eloquent appeal to our authorities, to leave no effort of diplomacy unf tried to terminate a war which consigns them tohopeless captivity. But i« t lie government making any such ef fort Wo can ecu no evidence even of a dispo sition to attempt a settlement of our difficulties by negotiation. On the contrary, in the reso lutions o( Cob (trees and ihe declarations of the Executive, we can perceive only a studied avoidance of any overture to the enemy for even a conference with a view to the te>min atiou cf hostilities. Any proposition for an effort to' open uogoliatloos with the Northern government, with a view to peace, appeals to be regarded aasem-dhing dishonorable, as com promising our national dignity. Morbid pride nd pai»h-iiate resentment, rather than wise ami enlightened statesmanship which disdains no means short of dishonor to accomplish its nils, t ew to sway the councils of the govern ment al Richmond. v' hatever may be the views or declarations of the Northern Government, there is aiun dantf evidence of is willingness at least to holds continence with commissioners from thcSouth * era States, in discuss the questions at itYue be t vc't u-> Why wa should decline to ta\* ti e , bailees of *h? good which might result \orc such a conference, we are unable to see Ve have pothlug’to lose l»y it, hut mlgH gain mu *i. In ad quarrels there is hope of settle ment when the parties condescend to confer wch each other ns to the matters in dispute. But so'long as only blows continue to be ex changed, exasperation increases, and peace is hopeless. There is a mighty and persuasive power iu reason, when its soothing and subdu ii:g influence' is permitted to operate The ins of diplomacy have untied many a gordian knot of international difficulty which the sword was unable to cut. The grave and threatening aspect of our af- ■ fairs awakens the deepest concern in the breast of every Southern patriot. The people feel that something must to done —that the time has come for an effort to close this war by pa eitio msaiis. They demand this of tlieir au thorities, State and National; and their wilt must be respected. TUfl States which are the parties to this controversy, which in their sovereign capacity dissolved their connection with the Federal Government, and enterediuto nev Confederacy, without relinquishing or im pairing their sovereignty, have a right to b* heatd. The sovereign State of Georgia, with all the . otheWst&tes of the Confederacy. has an indis putable right to say to the common agency at Richmond "hat is her will at this time iu re ference to the course of policy which should be adopted. She has the indefensible right as a sovereign State to look to her own pro -1 trCticn and safety, and to ba hsard in a crisis of such imminent peril to herself. We look with'confidence to the actions of ; our enlightened and pairiotw Governor. We | are assured that the people will s’-’siaiu him i In. any course he may adopt. We would only : suggest to him Aat the legislature be •enven j ed again, to deliberate upon the present cxi | seacy. This jj surely a time when the Rcpre j sentatives of tike people, the guardians of the I State, should confer together, and combine and exert their highest legislative wisdom for the salvation of she Commonwealth. The people, lilac.', in this great crisis should give free expression to their opinions. They are sovereign. They are the party interested. Governments derive ail their just powers from their cense mt, and are instituted only for their good, and should be obedient to fhdir will. Our public rulers are only the servants of the people, w3o have a right to instruct them. Whatever be their will, therefore, they have the right to have it carried out. “The servant is not greater than his lord.’’ Let the peopla then feei that they are masters mas ters if their o-.vd destiny; clothed with the right to pursue whatever course they may deem most compatible with their own honor, interest, and safely. Satisfied that the Representatives of the State of Georg® in the Confederate Congress, are not carrying -out the will and wishes of their constituents in regard u* the matter of instituting immediate negotiations with the Northern Government for a settlement of this contest, we would suggest to the people a re sort to tho Constitutional right of petition, through which medium they can most conve niently and emphatically express their opin ions, wishes and resolves. They should speak out foarlessiy, and unreservedly. This is their fight, and thgy must bear its consequences, whether prosperous or adverse. It is for them, therefore, to see that the proper measures are adopted to bring it to a clone. Whtiuer are we DbiftixO?—The following statement wo copy from the columns of tho Charleston Mercury of Saturday : We have heard of several cases of outrage and waylaying during the past night or two, by soldicis tempor ally camped here while passing through to other points, and the dark ness of the city, without moon or gas light, has no doubt iucicased, and in many cases, provoked the outrage. On Thursday night, about nine o’clock, a party of live or six soldiers tried to force rn entrance into a respectable house, on the east side of Smith street, when one of the lady oc cupants called to a servant directly opposite to know if the Colonel wasi.t home to protect them. The servant rtpiitd (bat her master was “bsent ou duty ; whereupon, tho party of so!dim6 mat?? an assault on tho Colonel's house, where some yV'ncg ladies were spend tog the evening. N->t being ffhle to force an entrance, one of the party deliberately food his pistol through lire window, The ball from which, rebounding frc-m the opposite wall, tell at the feet of the lady of the hol.-o. jt was mos l mirarulons that some of the fair inmate, of the room not injured. A house in Bull slre-et was assailed, and live or six bullet nunks on the door aud gate attest the reek leg,stress of the party engaged. A man was knocked down ia Coniimf street, and'after receiving a severe baiting, was toh fc'ed of hV- pofkctb'Uik,’Couta idng ftitj.p •A negro was knocked down in Cannon street, was divested of his coat and SIOO to boot. The younger brother of our worthy I’rovod Marshal was also as?,died ip Cannon street, by three soldiers, who cha’ged hay Apple on liim, asking fur money or something to drink# lid was relieved from their presence only by drawing biff revolver. Many other .cases cave 1 ecu reported, but these are sufficient to call the attention ol our milita’-y authorities to the matter, y.pie’p wo most sincerely hope will be rectified. It is said that when Atlanta was being evac uated that stores were broken open and plun dered by our troops. It is a well known fact, that after its evacuation by the Federal,s„ that tho city was visited by the country people some of whom came a hundred or more of miles-who helped themselves to every thing they saw that they wished. It is said that the residents of Middle Geor gia have b :eu robbed of all that was left-there by the Yankees, by Confederate stragglers and deserters It is sail that innumerable bq. ids of this description are now traveling in every section of the State perpetrating acta id law lessness on whomsoever they wish; robbing the plantations and Houses of the men who ate ia the field fighting. It is stated by gentlemen vho have left Sa vannah since t hat as our troops were leaving the plppo, they not only broko opeuthe stores and helped therurclves ip what they wished, but that they also destroyed a gr®ftt deal of valuable property, simply be pausfi they could upt tjarry it away. It is a well known fact, that crime is on the increase everywhere with fearful rapidity Society is in a;> sections becoming mote and more demoralized. Is it not time to pause anil to consider “Whither we are drifting?’’ Is it not time for our statesmen to come forward and apeak out coldly ? To take feme steps that will save the ship of State from being wrecked on the r. cks of anarchy ? The people—the power—will support, any honorable measures that will quel! the (earful storm which is devastating osjr !a,nd. - -MSS A Wrong Step.—We nolice by the Colum bia papers tbata‘‘Yigilancc Committee’’is talk i ed of at that place to take in hand law-break j era, and execute summary punishment upon | them. We regret to see such an anuoucemout. !*We should regret to learn that apy such organ* j I cut ion had been formed, for the’purposes inen- I tioned, in any city in the Confederacy. It tho | existing Jaws are not Eever.e enough, make ! them more seyere If the police force is not j vigilant enough, put in other men who will be j more vigilant. If the police forc9 is not large j enough, increase it. But above all things, we hope no community will tolerate a vigilance committee, in these days. Such organiztions are but the first ereppings out of anarchy—an anarchy as fearful as it will be bloody. Main, tain the laws Use increased activity and ex ertions to arrest criminals. But do not en deavor to turn from its legitimate channel ißiy thing which pertains to keeping society In a good healthy state Mobii.s 4 Ohio Railroad.—We learn on very good authority that the Mobile and Ohio rail , road hns been cut iu two places by the Yankee rafflers between Okalcna and Corinth. As to 1 the amount of damage done or tijs strength j of the forces engaged in th Q work, we are net I advised. If the road be seriously injured, we j fear it will place General Hood and his army I in rather an awkward position, as this is his i cmJy »?3ijs pf accommodation bv railroad- RIGHT FOR (ACE. The Constitutional!-1 was, as in duty bcund, one of the fimt apob gists for that terrible crime tvgn'nbt the nation, tha f wholesale politi cal suicide—rtbe withdrawal of Genera! Joseph E Johnston from tho command of the army of Tennessee. The moat of onr readers remember the com mentary of both the administration papers and of President Davis upon that- unrighteous re moval. The idea ol the press was that Gen. Johnston lost Upper Georgia because he would not light, and that his lemoval was but just punishment for refusing to racrifice his splen did army, upon the altar cf public opiuion.— Tha't of tire Presid nt was that Gen. Hood would “strike one honest blow”—and of course that O.n Johnston was not honest, or why re move him ? ' * Th following paragraph taken from (lie Coaslitutona'lst, L.ihe “consummation of the whole matter,’’ end U exactly what wa have waited for and expected since the famed gener al order —“the days ol being Hanked out of pest: a are past.” “The campaign in Tennessee, to say the least of it, has miscarried—in fact ended in re treat, Although we give no credence to the reports of 1 hour,is. or the words of the citizens ailing iho route cf Hood's retreat, which the Yankees publish in large capitals, yet we ad mit enough is already known to satisfy our leaders aud Congress and the people that the Amiy i.f Teunes'ee has been defeated and is now retreating.” It lias not been long since the extreme cau tion of Gen. Johnston made him a fit subject of envious execution, and his vast “military expei ienee” and “mental capaci'y” were deem ed’of ii'.tle value in comparison with the reckless courage of his successor—that successor being the only mail who had not promptly done his part iu all the wcndeiful reheat that was worth mote than a victory. The Constitutionalist, which is our text-book for to day, now advises what we then urged: “We have no hesitation in say in J that a Gen era! of larger military experience and of more fitmness aud m:ntal capacity should at once be sent to t ike immediate charge of the almost disorganized army now under Hood. Tho Congress should speak out on Ibis subject, if the. Proti'h.d in not dive t > the true situation, and d< maud a change in the military atfiiis of tho Tennessee. That cut fit She President from Ids own or gan, is really too bad, and since the day when Cto<af drew bis cloak around him and expired in the Senate Chamber, with tire tad words— “And ihou, 15 u'ut!” on his lips, we know of no instance t-f such unkindness. TV© fear, however, that the pi css cf the Con- . federate States hjpj so thoroughly drilled Con gress into blind obedience, that th% illustrious body of “iron. Exempts,” would tremble at the bare idea of "speaking out,” so boldty ajpgeHitd. In order (o carry indisputable authority on the point, the Cdnstitutionaiist quotes from Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome— . . “In reasons of great peril ”D-•■ ' -J -r.-. swiy , Then choose we a dictator Whom ail arc;; shall obey ; And let him be dictator, For six months and no more, And have a master of the luiights, And axis twenty-four.” TJrqt Illy,’’ However, v.as a had egg for the paper, for the grand old masters of Rome never mint’d their ccentry as a midem dicta tor lias done :—we meat! Jefferson Davis. That pqll for six months makes us think of the good old tipres of si# apd twtJve pioptbs troops, which term of enlistment in the major ity of cases signified eternity. That “ Master of the Knights” Is, we pittuaie, some new bomb proof not yct iiiveififfi. . . The mxt paragraph we really hato tore print-, for ii is null a tiuible “slam” on the i profUlept thfit He pou!4n’t fepl worse If even" j the ■■ coliaid aud cabbage bard” of the paper j should gc-t after him. Mr. Davis has always I thought J}o was commander-in chief, but it J ypi-in-3 not. \Vcshi-uld at least loam from our enemies and j haro a curt>uia"der in eliiet ; and although Gen. Lee occupies some such position iu Virginia, it is on sufferance. Perhaps tfie writer was somewhat confused am} only wanted a L’cjjlenant General in the Regular seivicc, like General Grant. The next paragraph, however, is the one we specially wish io cali attention to, for it con , tains throe points. Fiist —A wholesale en ] dorse went so f General Johnston ; as kind, ap ' full, as generous, as the honesty remarks of the | President- were tho contrary. Second—There . ia an admission that confidence and prosperity j are not among the present blessings, of our | people. Third -It is assprtpd tfiat the propp : sed triumvirate would “ not deprive us of lib | erty,'? which much savors of an admission that ; the gian with the habeas corpus mania has ' done so or may do so. | Let Gen. Johnston be placed iu command of | tho Army of Tennessee, having control of all I the country adjacent thereto—give Gen. Beau yegaid command of ihe Array of Gcorcit) and , S -mb Carolina, and Gen. Lee command of the j Army of Virginia and all its adjuncts With j those officers contioiling the destinies of our ; armies without restraint, prosperity will again i return to us, and confidence anting the ptopia 1 wiii insure a better feeling every wheie. Such ! dictators we giro our yoi.jo for at once ; not j Tor six months, but until the end of the .war; ; and inch dictators will not only not us ’ of liberty, but insure us freedom and sepur ; afion from the miserable Yankee race, j Well rather than those who have I for four years mismanaged our affairs. Better ■ the three glorious names of Lee, Johnson and j Beauregard, than the “ President, the Adju tant General and the Commander of the Trans. Mississippi Department,” who were our Kings i under the last Habeas Corpus act. I The Royal families of Europ.e derive the ! right to rule from the mighty warriors who j won their crowns with blood and steel, and ■ there is something respectable about blood that | dates from the Norman ’invasion. But if the - crown must rest on the heads of heroes, let us i lay aside the battle of Buena-Yista, and give | the bright bauble to those who fought at i Richmond and Gettysburg and Charleston, and dared to retreat to Atlanta. | For ourselves, we yet are with the patriot I Stephens, and decline to choose masters, j The following is the very sum total of oar own arguments in a few words, and as well ex pressed as we could do it ourselves, i It is the history of the war in a nutshell, and ' should the old questioner at the greatest trial ‘ -of record, rejfsat to us his famed question “What is truth, ,J we should briefly reply,—the following paragraph from the Augusta Con stitutionalist of Dec. 20th, ISCi: What we want is concentration —!i is strew th and. victory. It is net th; want of mem— While Thomas was centring a well organized and large army at Nashville, Hood had F. rn st and a division of infantry m-ICng an impinc ticable attack upon Murfrcetboio, aud a tu ig ade of cavalry ihiding through western Ken tucky—the result isahe powerful Federal aimy is thrown againM Hood’s depleted battalions, and they are scattered and demoralized, in Western Virginia we have the same story to repeat. It has beeu repeated in every disaster that has befallen us—and until our best lead ers are placed in command, and our armies kept together, we may still look for rtveisis. -W-WI Tub Reason Why ?—When parties commit an unlawful act, tkev always- endeavor to ex cuse themselves by giving a reason. Among the unlawful a.-Is which some members of Con gress are endeavoring to peisuade a majority of tlrnt body to commit is to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. It is iuov>red and believed by some that the deed has already been done. The excuse given for this unconstituted deed is cert,duly a rich one—a reported conspiracy among the deserters iutke mountains or South western Virginia. Civil law is to be abolished fro ii the Potomac to the Rio Grande because a few timid men Live been frightened by a parcel of deserters ! What a prete it; or if not a pretext then what stupidity ! Truly, as the poet says, “We are living’’— and th it is about all. Similarity of Acts of uoru Amixistratioxs —A large number of clerks at Washington have been dismissed because they did not vote for Lincoln. Residents of the Confederacy who do not agree with the Richmond powei's are treated the same way. Comparisons are said to be oiiioi s— eo we have merely slated facts withou “drawing any comparisons.” If our readers want that thing done they must do it themselves. We think however that there is a strange similarity, in this instance at least, between the acts of the two adminis trations. Proscription for opinion’s sake is not a thing which savors muc'li of liberty- and liberty, we believe, is what the South is fight ing for. Lincoln and Maximim.iax.—The London correspondent of the leading Madrid paper, under date of Dee, 8, states that the Mexican Monarchy would be speedily recognized by tho United States- Lincoln is said to have in sisted that the Empoior Maximillian should bind himself not lo enter into relations with the Confederate States of the South, which had solicited his alliance, likewise, the French should promise not to interfere in the Ameri can quarrel. Those assurances the loiter writer stab's have been given. The Emperor Maxi ruilliau is about to announce bis accsaicn officially to the Ltuitud States Government, and the latter will I send a representative to ll'Xi (20. * A Tornado iv Alabam a.— A.gentli npiii from Montgomery. Ala., states that that section was visited by a violent tornado, on the night of Dec. 27th. It commenced west of the city, and raged along the whole extent of the Mont gomery and Wist Point Railroad The woods weie pr&strateil. A railroad bridge twenty miles east of Montgomery was blown down. At Auburn the storm ra<j -.<} with great fury. A large number of hou’.cfj were demolished or unroofed, and some fifteen persons were killed. At several buildings <ve-e de fiioliffiied, an| two 9'r tfpee lives lost. The amount of damage aonp by the storm was im mense. Rtnioiup Deaiu of piuun.sp - Tfio Selma of Pec. 27, contains a 1 urn or 'of fhs death of Gpa. Forres f. Jt status that For rest was punishing i\ refractory soldier with fiis own hands, when the brother 0 f the said soldier drew a knife and slabbed the - General, from the effects of which he died. No confir mation of the urmor has yet hVi'u received ft is true that Forrest was Rom.-tiara his own ‘•Court-martial and executioner.’’ This gives the rumor an ah' of probability. Wo trust how ever that it is incorrect. , —«?■ -•=—— Gun Siikriux’s MoyfiMsvfd.—Various specu lations are afloat in regard to Gen. Sherman’s raovemeats. No one however knows in which direction lie will move fust. The Northern papers are of the opinion that lie will soon un dertake the capture of Charleston. The build ing of tfie poutocu bridge over Savannah river, and the movements of the Federal forces into South Carolina would lead us to i ifer that this is coriect. Ail doubt, however, will probably soon be removed by a demonstration somewhere. Gov. Brown’s Exempts —The Selma Rebel says that Gov Brown, by putting bis exempts into the field, owns up that ho was wrong. We do not see much reason or argument in this as sertion. It will take more sophistry or logic than the Rebel or any other man is possessed of, to prove that because a paper does what is right twice—and what lie has a perfect right to do—that ho is wrong one of those times. A Family Qvariul. —A gcnUemanJfrom North Georgia eats that a short time since a regular pitched battle came eft’ between the white and black troops stationed at that place, several of the Colored troops were killed, the white poitlon of the contrabands escaping with wounds. The weapons used by both sides were revolvers, Affairs is Mississippi.— ;The powers that be at Richmond are trying to luterfere with the militia of Gov. Clark ol Mississippi. That of ficial plainly announces that he will permit nothing of the kind to be done. The Missis sippi papers sustain the Governor in his posi tion. Whither are we Drifting ?—lt is stated that Newtown, Dade Cos, Ala., was burned Pec. 21, by a band of deserters. The number of citizens killed is not yet ascertained. Will many reflecting persons ask “ Whither are we drifting i” RATnKB Warlike, ip True.—A Northern tel egraphic dispatch says Thoma’s‘is only six mile* in Hood’s rear with' a large army. I 1 also states that a Federal column is advancing co Coupth, and another on Mobile. Thb Old Isscs— The Con federate States De pository in this city has received official nodce that the time for their redemption has been -extended until July os*l VOL. LXXIV.—.NEW SERIES YCLr. IXE >;-o, 2 THE (TAU*AI«» l.v TKNXKSSEir. From the Charlottesville Va. Chronicle Dec. 22. We are nor at all surprised at the news from Tennessee. The thing woe coucciv. dby si • ent Davis, and the execution committed to Gen. Hood. Suppose we had taken Nashville— what then ? Mr. Davis, in one of his Georgia speeches—perhaps the one in* which He an nounced that Geueral Johnston was no soldo r —gave out that some terrible plan was ou foot which would annihilate Sherman as the French were destroyed in the Russian c ampaign. Ho spoke with groat positiveness, i'ko one wito sees entirely through a conspiracy. Sherman’s whole army was to be dispersed and absorbed, j He—the President—had put hii#hand on the ! plough—and a farrow w is to be run which would put the affairs of the Confederacy on en tirely anew footing, anil startle'llie natitms which were looking on. He solemnly took the responsibility—and he shall have it.’ His or gans cried—look! and wo were to see what we should see I We were “officially’’ informed some time since that there \fns some excellent news from Georgia, which, for prnileid.al reason’s could not then be made public. We would be pleas ed to learn what it was. Os joqisa the fall-of Savannah, or the fall ol Savauufth and Augus- ta and Charleston—would bo “very small mat ters”—we should then just Have Sherman “where we wanted him.” Doubtless, if Rich mond were to fall, we should be informed in certain quarters, that we had just irotten Giant where “we wanted him”— nt some un fixed period lie would meet noth universal de struction. This is played out. With out a change, the Government itself will allow some morning that things are worse than they should be. If Mr. Davis and the Court were only going to dash their own brains out, we might rui-iy from calamity, but (hey are dragging the whole secession fleet alter them Wo know that we are told that we rniist hold up the hands of the Government. We have been told so for nearly four years. Ami if ever press and. people did lend an unquestioning confidence to their rulers—if ever a whole country did place itself.implicitly in the hands of the exec utive— if ever men and treasures were laid at the feet of one man—if ever ship was surren dered to helmsman—R has been done right here in these Confederate States. The govern ment is—and has been proper!}-—ail in all. Our whole male population was; freely tendered. We have permitk-d it to issue Treasury notes, bonds, cerliticatras of indebtedness, to over Ilf teen hundred millions. Wo have this year paid six §por'cent, of our whole properly in taxe3. We have al'owcd it to impress horses, wag ons, cattle, grain, at nominal -prices, until it has left the country almost bare. Wo have seen Congress laid at its feet without spirit or will of its own. We have seen the cons tit u tional advisors of the President no totally ig nored that weh .veneverliada soli!ary cabinet meeting. We have seen the higher appoint!minis in the army all entirely regulated by’The will of Mr. Davis. We have seen General Pember ton made a Lieutenant General without a sin gle achievement. W.e have seen him, under instructions from Richmond, sacrifice tbe-Mia sissippi yalley and an army of thirty thousand veterans. We have seen New Orleans fall lrom incompetent measures to defend it. We have seen Gen. Bragg defeated at Mis sionary Ridgo from an uninrely division of his army in a trustless expedition against Knrx ville. We have semi this officer, after ha had lost tho confidence of/ilio country, und was driven from his command bypubli • sentiment, made aloft of duector general of our armies in Richmond. Wo have seen- Gen. Johnston abruptly dismissed from the army in Georgia just when his services were most needed. We have seen Gen. Hood—a plain, untried young man—advanced to the command, in inis Bta'e, merely to lose Atlanta, alter several ill-advis ed and fearful massacres. We have seen the President repair ip person to the theatre of hi3 disaster oply to inaugurate under the same Gene-ala campaign which startled tho country in its inception, aud whidh Ims terminated ia the investment of Savannah and its garrison, and-the h'oody victory j?) and defeats of Franklin and Nashv'He. We now awa t with tho most painful sus pense every.breach from Savannah; wo hoar— through Northern official dispatches certain by that Hood lias lost S'xteen pieces of artillery on one occasion aud forty odd on another, with we know not how many prisoners. We hear from Gen. Hood's own lips that in bis “victory” at Franklin, he Joat thirteen, gener als, killed, wounded or captyged. He has ceased to advance; he has begun to retreat.— lti the Valley hsrp wo lrp.ye opposed a force of cavalry, armed with nothing but a single barreled musket, to a superior force of the finest cavalry in the world, armed with sabres, pistols, aud the seven-shooting Spencer gun. In the Trans-Mississippi General Taylor was removed for ids rpting campaign, and General Kilby Smith, who has not done the first soli tary thing, Jjgs beeu buried ingloriously in Northwestern Louisiana during the whole of this eventful year. Forrest, whose military genius fitted him for the most important en terprises, lias been leading a small body of raiding cavalry. General Bragg, it is true, was despatched to check General Sherman, but it appears so far has met with no success. Our -finances, our river and harbor defences, our international negotiations, domestic po litics, have been managed in precisely the same extraordinary way. For the first, we have, never derived any material benefit from out commanding staples of cotton and tobacco.— For the second, the proposition to construct gunboats in the beginning of the war was re jected. For the third, we have not applied to European poweis iu tho ouly way that we could reach them, and we have encouraged at the North the lit; übiican politicians us against their opponents. For the last, we have, as frv as it has been possible under tho circumstances, systematically offended one of the great origi nal political parties in our midst. Nearly all things have been done in a malign, perverled way; we have been breath ing an impure air; we have been nourishing a vicious blood; we have seen with a retracted light; we have prophesied with •stammering lips, Our leader is afflicted with proud flesh; he sees with an oblique eye; his ear has no sense of harmony; he h:i3 no idea of promo tion; no idea of relation; he ia effected with color-blindness; he combines like the kaleidos cope; he sees with the vividness of the mad man; but there is a viliajnous demon within that wrests things out of their piaces; like some fine instrument in its conception, a chord or a spring has been broken, and what should have discoursed eloquent music, utters harsh, discordant sounds, The Feeling of Shermin's Troops Towards South Carolina.— The Philadelphia Inquirer speaks thu3 of the feeling tyfiich exists in Sher man’s army towards South Carolina: That shout which went tip from Sucnuun b Western boys when the- 1 ‘ tees ! -e. < liar leslonward, on their march, i.- ; -ouder ban ever in his ears. It was anoiiimo-- battle erv “Lead us into South Carolina; ;-jU -t. to Charleston!” Ransom knows, and .toil Davi a knows what will be tho fa to (A tout, iu cursed Lot bed of treason whenever the Union forces are ordered to cross its threshold. South Carolina, thus far, has experienced little of the evils entailedl upon her sister State- by her own diabolical acts. She will >■ -i fc.-.-i tnem, we trust to the largest m .-a ure it i* but justice, and Heaven wHI |U?e!y lr.ci;; I ■ and force her to drink to the dregs the bifb r cup which the placed to the iip.. ' ;. -.lion. When that day shall com”, th.- worl ! u prove her punishment, and to the sea ten.-o of righteous retribution will ‘ay. A;,.--; Fresh pork is sell ng at Danville, Ya, at $ j to per pound. * -.-mx—: !:c Lt). ca l; run A v r;! '' p ed, nuthorizio - the Secretary t 1\- /, ... ...... tl> . , | l-UU el, betc.e n. : til ;;!y. ail 'X’iKl.3 and tiousu- - nptes received in payment Tor sequestrate-i properly. iho Military Committee reported a* lid V.bich was pu n IS:,, cuh xlar. providing tlx persons detaih'd'er a.- : .gat'd us proves; m.n - s-hals or I'levr.-; of n.fiiiary ceurf.-t s-hall, it b - low ;he rank of e the allowances ae qn :in . ; cav..!••%*. On motion, the fcVuate resolved itself into secret session. house—beo. 20. > • tou i tool up and pass?d the bill io provide for to. s. ip.. .nation of the piv.iertv of persons leaving the country to avoid rnili - tary service. Th© House resolved into ' Comniilk-o of the Whole on tfie ca ••in:.-y bid. Pending the ,- ■ v: ..b nos the bill, the committee rose and lb-■ .use adjourned. SUNATH—dec 21. The followo.;- S , r! - . . Authon/.imr liie <v* ‘V,’, n> pay, tn proyisi, us, to the Ch Indians, i PNorth Carolina, tho sum due ti.einua inn-ivst on the removal and :-uU-b-xiu’e :in<S. Providing that pv.s-> s l.oiow the rank of major, delaile,l or a-.-igned provost mar «lmls or (I lies of miliixy courht, tfiall leceive . 4'he pay und ui:o'.v.a:.■ .. : -|.;...a: cavalry. ro iacrease io one hundred aml forty-two, the number oi midshipmen in ti: .. ,vy. Appropria;ii!:,' six thou.-and doliars for the erection ol ad liti n U nil ling at Drewry’s Bluff, for the a .eomniodation of acting mid shipmen. To authorize th.: appointment o£ two naval constructors, at sal .vies of $2J500. house—duo. 21. Tiie House refused to revoi sider the vote b-‘ which it. nji'cied ; ~ eoa: propci.ition for ;i recess during Christmas week, by a vote of yeas flti, nays -17. .The II m pa sed the appropriation I ill, prof -viding for the deficiency in the appropriation for the payment, of Hie oiii,- aa, i-p., .j, K i cm . piovees of the War DepSrtm-. at.- I Dili was d.seu.vsed (ill adjoin* meat. SENATE —DEO. 22. A resolution vr.i. . d.u.k-.i that the Judiciary Conuniltee in e.i edieiicj of amen ling •!:•• Ju lici -. y \ ,■ judges of th.: .. •• • writs cf mandamus j... p.-.v-us HoMh. v .. under the Confederate i i.Hvs. ’The Military Conimil.!; -n. p ried a bill,’ which was-passt duty of ‘the (fuarteminstcr General t:» provi-io fuel and light necex x for th- ■ ’-eejitiv.i Mansion, and forage for six ho*. , I'vr U- it; eof tfie Com-- mander in Ch Nav of t hi; Oooicd: rate S!. i; .- . . m- kin -it the I'uity of (be (iinimi-;. V(• ■■::! t‘) i"-ei . the Hama oiK.vr coiiior rj sujqd.:.-. .'•Rowed io com missioned i-H; -a,; in the 11. Id, the quantity allowed to He drawn e.ud purchased i--y Him -fi.-injr double what is allowed a ■ . aural iu tho field : i’rqvi k d.vFuP if ..a -after tlx salary as lowed Him Hu j till ittip.tr finalttie-value c.f the forage and :u! !H o fur id and !ii;n du ri.Bg the period in whit a ich payment is made in par lumhi ,-l<all bo •!. dart and from raid salary i« the settlement of liis ato-minia. The act in to i .rntinue iu force dm iug flm v. w. The Mamix-nv.'n-.i” ■ . !•’ .... .... v.a: “r.-ferr -a th* T’r: -I.' iif".: V. '.-ru:*.- I 1 !' iv .-.onse to a reso lution isi the fr.mile r.i.ii.-. ioiovmation rela tive to the nurti'i rvi < .be • i ' t;-... army trh .1 for drutike.liue duriio; fee war, reported th:* same barged from . the futlliC-f can ’ i .•aiiou r. ii.e t .ibj- et. From a- idler from tlm Adjultuii; (.-eneial, transmit ted iu this nu,e ;ge. it appears Fiat the total number of oilisci of the av ; ■ tried fordrunic enues3 since the begin bag of tho war is two hundred and twenty-tv;o. Os this number’, one hundred and fifty-one were convicted, aud seventy-one acquitU d.- On motion, it was ordered that when tho Senate adjourn, St be to Monday next. HOUSE —DEO 22. The House agreed to tj,o Bouato amendment to the House bill (o puui. h conspiracy against thejUunfedcratc states The House went into Committee of the Wliolo on the currency bin. SENATE —DEO. 22. The Senate was no'titv, issioq to-day. - itoijsi;— dec. 23. After some time ;p- > ! in se.-ret fusion, Ihe House went into Coi.;.-.i : tt.-.: of the Whole on the currency bill. After the adoption of several amendments, the committee n- .- nd i!.<; ( h--i.an.an reported the bill to . tendation that it do pass ; - . I A COKREsmNI V i A SUBJECT .Gto INTEHEoT TO ’liOPtß, RiCliMOf.o, Va., Doc. 17,LS;it. Son. J. A H Sec of IFar: For the benefit of ,uy •••mnUtueola, (and in answer to a communication e king informa tion,) I should bo pi - . to rec ive a letter from yourself or Judge .Campbell in reply to the following questions, fop ,- !>hp , : ion : 1. Vv'iierev-i mules and other stock have been taken toy the emmtj sad recaptured by us, can the prigi -d o wner get it ba;;!; upon prop el !y id- iit-iYiiv.-; it. l. Wheret er - - - sat - ha ■ been taken without authority, by out' own 1. an. cavalry or infantry, can the owner get it back in the same way < I attach a i it. l.fft. < plainint; tho rea son «*d eirC;-:-.t,-t.'.iu; toy ta-qu-.-t. An early answer .tolieit* 1 ;-uJ reUirii ol ti.i- pu vate letter. Most fully, J-iiiN' T. Sm wmaki:, M G. Fifth DLtrkt oi Georgia. Wau Department, I . Richmond, Va., Due. 17. 1804.) lion. J. T Shi - Your note of to-day h. r.vuivcd. Tho department has uniion ~y -- ■■■: -u!d iln* iuU that property c iptnrud by my and sub- I I and has orders in ninn ■■■'is '■ isw-, tor ! the surrender of the prop. ily. 1 '<■■■'■ was com municated to the Jlou. J. ■■ t u . j s sG, at tin <iiae of Btoneman’s raid, for 1 - to caj.luic-t horses in Geo -j.; -c adurti.- and --■■p.ait ment on tho subjee!. The conducl ' Rented by Alt. i-‘ ‘ ‘ you, is wholly indefensible. There is no liwor c _ • Go taking of horses to n , • - ! Orileis No. to. P. 2. ; “to ' The act of Cong!-,- - . ,_D I. •o. 22. provide- ■ ■■.,■ "by, beb - - ing is Mr. airy to ha ve ax Walker is retained, T3u ’ counties of i> •: • n derson, a. II: '•! Tli -v ar-:- ■ and doing m ,ii -. ’ _ _ fit' . o:' rto . , ■ it to P-pr-c - - ic ■ is at me it; ia: : b- . .and . ’ ;. -i three inokoj t :