The New York Herald Newspaper, February 3, 1862, Page 1

od WHOLE NO. 9276. NEW YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1862. PRICE TWO CENTS. nT NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS. THE, PROPOSED TAX BILL. The, Defences Rivers, Bey key ae. é ‘Wasumeror, Feb. 2, 1862. ‘THR ASPECT OF OUR PORKIGN RELATIONS. 1h in not likely that euch praveedings will be much longer | "The Passage of British Troops ‘continued. Lieutenant Colonel Sin P, Windham, late commanding the Second brigade of the ‘italian army, has been ap” pointed Colonel of the Michigan regiment of Lancers. THE EXCHANGE OF COL. CORCORAN. It te true, as has beem stated, that Gen., Wool, under instructions, asked Gen. Hafler whether, if Smith the Pirate, were delivered to him at Norfolk, Col, Corcoran would be restored to liberty and sent North, The an- of Our Lakes ANd j ewer was in the negative, om the ground of » aidierence ip rank as to the two persons. i SWORD TO BE PRESENTED TO COLONEL MILES. ‘The Governor of Maryland has requested Colonel D. 8 Miles to name a day when it will be convenient fot him to receive the sword voted to him by the Legislature of that State, for his gallant services in the battles Apudden end saddening change has come upon pop- | of bis country during his thirty-seven years of tration of tme power of the govertiment to crush the re- Dellion should be made within sixty days, there would be @remt danger of a movement on the part-of the Englixb Cabinet to recognise the independence of the Southern eonfederacy. The recent intelligence from Europe te construed © confirm this statement, and many bere, who are not of the “on to Richmond school,” are apprehensive that the utmost porsible-expedition in the conduct of the war will not @vert this danger. . ‘The Secretary of State, however, does not appear to ‘participate in these apprehensions, He expresses entire of @e more timid of the politicians here ex- prem fears that tne Secretary of Btate docs not ‘property appreciate the hostile intentions and unscrupe- Jous perposes of the English government; but Mr. Seward ‘has-epportunities fer information of these subjects enjoy- -e€Dy none others, and.all who-have unehaken confidence ‘te his sagacity pronounce this talk about the imminenee ef hostilities with England, upem some other ground thas ‘that of the seizure of Masoo-and Glidell, a simple Wah | ‘THE TAX BILL. it ie andersteed that the Tax bill is now being per- @etaile by the Committee of Ways and . é eameal revenye least $150,000,000. Thie tax bill “will give te the United States bonds a sure specie paying eesarity. The committee bave aleo considered the sub- ‘feat of w National Banking law, which will require the ‘ME DEFENCES OF OUR LAKES AND RIVERS. ‘The Select Committee on the Defences and Fortifica- ‘tions of the Great Lakes and Rivers are prepared to make report, They will recommend the erection of such for- tiftcations at Mackinaw as will make it the Gibraitar, a8 ‘# toreally the key, of our Northwestern frontier. Their Yeport will provide also for the estabiishment f @ naval depot and national armory upon Lake Michigan, probably at or near Chicago, and that prepara. tions be immediately made for the accumulation of the mecessary arms and munitions to arm the whole of the American versels engaged in the commerce of the North- orn lakes, It is catimated that there are in this trade it is represented by the commit~ fee that the majority of the population of the spoyal States.ie west of the Alleghany M ountains, that ‘the line of lake coast exceeds the whole lengt, @f-our Atlantic coast from Pastamaquodily to the Florida capes, and that our commerce on the lakes is greater ‘than our whole foreign trade. To complete the defences @nd render communication with alj parts of the North- ‘went secure from interruption by’a foreign foe it will also ‘be recommended that a military railroad shall be im- mediately constructed from the mouth of the Menomonee river or Badenoquet,en Lake Michigan to Marquette on ‘Make Superior; and that a ship canal shall be built from @hicago to the Missiesippi river. It is said that these recommendations have the approval of Gen. McClellan. ‘Tee. report will probably be made on Tuesday. ‘THR REBEL PRIVATEERSMEN RECOGNIZED A8 PRISON- BRS OF WAR. ‘The Hon. Alfred Ely, member of Congress from Now ‘York, late a prisoner at Richmond, had an interview swith the President and Secretary Seward yesterday, and ‘i has been dotermined to place the rebel privateers now @ New York and Philadelphia upon a footing of prisoners of war. An order has been issued removing them to military prisons;with « view to their exchange for citizens of the United States incarcerated in the South. This important and humane conrse on the “part of the government may result in the return of Colonels Corcoran, Lee, Coggswell, ‘Woodruff, Wilcox, Rodgers, and the other officers mow held as hostages for these privateers. A general ex- -obange of all the prisoners will, it is believed, speedily ‘follow. The interview of Mr. Ely, in conjunction with several of his associates, members of the House of Repre- sentatives, was not only interesting, but ie described as <allecting. ‘Lieutenant EdwaréConnolly,of the Sixty-ninth New “York regiment, a prisener of war, has arrived from Co- Jumbia, 8. C., and was present at the interview with the President and Secretary of State. He reports that the Dealth of Colonel Corcoran and the other prisoners there 1s good. THE POSITION @F GENRRAL LANE. ‘The President, in foonversation yesterday with Repre. eentative Conway, of Kansas, stated that he appointed James H. Lane Brigadier General, with the express un. derstanding that he was to serve under Genera! Hunte: ‘that General Lane frequently declared his willingness to do 80; that he (the President) had and has the mrongest desire to oblige General Lane, and consequently appointed @ large staff to suit and gratify him; that while he.hoped end expoctod an oxpedition somewhat to his likingwould ‘bo sent forward under him, he expected it to be dous by amicable arrangement with General Hunter. He mever Intended, end does not now intend, that it,shall be inde- pendent of General Hunter, or in any way offensive ar Gishonoring to&im; that Geaeral Lane must receive his orders from Gexeral Hunter, and the President will be glad. General Hunter, acting within the range of his’ ‘orders and his sense of duty to the public, can give such erders.as will be satisfactory to General Lane. (MIB APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE GENATE. The Senate will go into executive session to-mor. gow a8 soon as the morning hours aro con- sumed, in order, a8 s00n a8 possible, to dispose of the great number of appointments before them for confirmation. More than three hundred nominatiang ceported alroady by the Military Committee awatt the ectio: of the Senate. ARRECT OF BEAREL SYMPATHIZERS. Information has reached here shat Isaiah Butler, David ©. Wattles, Matthew Hodge and Richard B. Boyle have been arrested at North Branch, Michigan, ou the borders of Canada, upon the charge of destroying the mails at the Post Office, in retaliation for the suspected act of the Postmaster causing the arrest of a man named Guy Hep- kins, who was a member cf a secret treasonable society called the ‘Knights of the Golden Square.” Hopkins is tm Fort Lafayette, and the other prisoners are at Detroit awaiting trial. 1 ia known here that » number of Southern secession- jaia aro in Canada, whore bnsiness ts to colloct money from agmpathizing friends, and to forward and receive deapatebas from Korope and place th in buch seorat oheunels thet they may reach ibeis tiuete destination. cms duty in the field. The ceremony will take place at Anna polis on Thursday next. Lieutenant Seymour, of General Morrell’s staff, was to- day presented by Colonel Cass with a bullet proof vest. It is perfectly bullet proof, has the external appearance of common army vest, and can be worn either with or without the protection. THE PROPOSED PARTY AT THR WHITE HOUSE. Next to the British question, the forthcoming party at the White House is the prineipal subject of comment. ‘The limitation of the number of invitations to only Sve hundred and fifty occasions many disappointments and heart burnings. An entertainment of this charac- ter is @ novelty at the Presidential mansion, and the general expression of disapprobation makes it very questionable whether the gratification ‘fforded to the five hundred and fifty favored guests will compensate for the sore’ disappoint- ment and chagrin occasioned to five thousand five hun- dred who believe themselves equally entitled to the dis- tinction of aninvitation. The whole affair;is regarded 8a social blunder much to be regretted. SECRETARY SEWARD’S REUNION. The reunion at Secretary Sewswd’s on Friday, em- Draced the largest audience of members of the diplomatic corps and their families that bas been witnessed at any similar assemblage for » year past. Washington society in cheerful, waiting only for Congress to eatablish a Gnancial system for the government, and for sunshine to dry up the roads for military operations. THE ARMY. Captain Ambroee Thompeon, lately attached to Genera) ‘Wadsworth’s brigade, has been ordered to Generai Landers’ division, im the rame capaciy, viz:—Quarter- woaster. THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. No pews hag been received to-day from Geveral Burn- ide's expedition nor from the Weetern department. ALL QUIET ON THR POTOMAC, All ia quiet on the Potomse, and @ bright sunabdine ts straggling to give consistency to the mud that renders every read impassable. ACCIDENTAL DRATH, ‘Corpora! R. C. Lowrie, Company C,'Stxty-Second Pena- sylvania regiment, Colonel Black, wos instantly killed ‘this moraing by tho acckicntal discharge of a revolver ‘which be was carelessly handling in his tent, not sup- posing it to be leaded. ‘The ball passed into. the left tem- ple, penetrating the brain. His remains will be takes to Pitteburg, his late residence, for interment. Sr. Louus, Feb. 2, 1962, A general order will bo issued in the morning, in which it {8 stated that several companies ef the Fourth regi- ‘ment of Missouri Volunteers, jately called the Third United States Reserve Corps, have shown themselves mutinons and disobedient. The companies have been disarmed, and placed in confinement at Benton Barracks. The pri- ‘vates and non-commissioned officers of these companies will be sent to Cairo to work on the fortifications anti? further orders. ‘The commanding officer: ee that pont will see that chese companies are made to work faithfully, and will report to these headquarters any who, by ropent- ance and obedience of orders, deserve restoration to rank, Tho officers of these companies, not having joined in thas Toutjnous domonstration , but having failed to enforce or- der and military discipline, will be mustered ouf of the service and discharged. The Major General commanding is always willing to Hsten to complaints aud ready to re- dress well founded grievance, but ho is determined to enforce disciptine and obedience to orders. All compa- nies, regiments or corps who shall henceforth disobey or- ders or exhibit mutinous dispositions, will be dealt with in a moet summary manner, ANOTHER LETTER FROM GEN. HALLECK TO . GEN. PRICE. 4 LESSON IN THE RULES OF war. Heapquasnens DxPARTMENT ov Mrwoun, Sr. Lows, Jan, 27, 1862 Major General Price, Commanding, &c., Springfield:— Grxaxar—A man calling himself L. V. Nicholas came to my headquarters a day or two since, with a duplicate of your letter of the 12th inst. On being questioned he admitted that he belonged to your service, that he had come in citizen's drese from Springteld, avoiding some of our military posts, and passing through others in die- guise, and without reporting bimself to the commanders. He said that he had done this by your direction. On being arked for his fag of truce, ‘he pulled from his pocket adirty handkerchief with a sbort stick tied toone corner, You must be aware, General, that persons so sent through our lines, and past our military posts to these headquarters, are liable to the punishment of death. They are no more nor less than spies, and probably are sent by you to this city to act assuch. I shall send Mr. Nicholas back to your camp, but if you send any more persons here in the same way, they wilt be r as spies, and tried asd condemned You ent post, and sbould not pass the outer line of seutinels without permiesion. He should not even approach with- in gunshot of a sentinel, without displaying hie flag, and receiving a signal to advance. If he have despatches, he should send for an officer to receive and recoipt for them, Se should direct the flag of-trace to immedi: ately onr lines, Answers to euch despatches should'be sent to you, by vs, in the same way. Ja.e poacript to the copy of your letter of the 12th inst., jnst received, you call my attention to the fact that a band of men aro ‘firing private houses barns, mills, ac.” J presume you refer toa band of outlaws on the Kansas fromtior. They do net belonpto my command, aad they entered this department without my authority. As econ as I heard of their depredations, 1 ordered General Pope to either drive them out of the State or to disarm and confine them. Be assured ,General,that no act of wanton spoliation, such aa “firing private houses, barns, mills,” &c., and “burning and destroying rail bridges,” &e. will Be countenaneed by me; on the contrary, I purpose to punieh , with the utmost severity, every.act of wanton destruction of property, public or private, and every act of pillage, marauding, robbery and theft, committed in this department, no matter under whose orders or an- thority the gmlty parties may have acted. Very respoct- fully, your obedient servant, |. W. SALLECK, Major ‘Commanding Department. INTERESTING AND COURTEOUS CORRES. scale Lo jg following correspondence, which passed Commodore Porter, of the federal gunboat psp ne} Captain Miller, of the Confederate steamer Grampun, is empnatic.an the part of Porter, to way the leaat, if it’ is not quite up to the Chesterfield style of correspon- dence— PORTER ® MILLER. Come ont here, you cowardly rebels, aud show your gunbgets. PORTER. MILLER'S bond Tina; RIK QUART, Counmwon, Ky., Jan 13, 1903.” } Qomunnee Pontmn, on United Btates gunboat Fasex>— z nan pt aod Posped by my will meet the Es- peex at any ani e your honor may appoint, and smhow you the power ia. in our hands. An ear! sf will be agreeable to your obedient servant, ly teply MARSH J, MOLLER, Captain commanding C. S, I. C. steamer Grampue. CAPTAIN PORTER'@ REJOINDER. ba 4 ge Kenex, m. D. Commanding, Fort Jnrrunson, Jan. 18, 1902. To tue traitor Manse Miniza, commanding a rebel gun Comnmnander Porter hte siready thrashed jer Porter ready tl boat, flost, eholled and silencea pom fleck Salleriee’ at the Iron Banks, chased your miserable and cowardly self down behind Columbus; but if you destre to meet the Baser ,abow yourself: yen shall then meet the courage to stand. “God and our country; ‘rebels offend both." ’” PORTER. Sale of Conftiscated Property. ‘The following is a votice of m government ‘a of con. Ascated Property in Kansas ‘There will be sold at pudlic avotion, on Monday, Jan. 20, 1862, at Squi io, Johogon county, Kansas, a large number of mares, colts, mules, oxen, cows, wagons and young stock. Terms cach. The sale will commence on ‘the 20th and continue until all the stock is sold, C. B. JENNISON Col. Com'd’g Second Division Kansas troops, Ry order of Major Genera) Howren. Over the Soil of Maine. ‘The President of the State Senate of Maine laid before thas body on the 28th ult., the following communication from the Governor, covering a letter from the Secretary of State of the United States, relative to the transmie- sion of British troops across the territory of the State of Maine:— To Taw Snare—I herewith transmit to the Senate a copy Of a letter received by me from the Hon. William ‘HH, Seward, Secretary of State of the United States, com- taining hie answers to the inquiries—which, referring to the order of the Henate of January i3, 1 had made him— whether permission had been given for the parsage of British troops across the State of Maine, and if there had ‘been, for any information concerning the fact which he might think proper to comsaunicate, ISRAEL WASHBURN, Jn. ‘Execunve Dersnramr, Jan 21, 1962. ‘MR. SEWARD’S LeTTiR, wise Jan. T1862, } ‘To Hie Excellency Janam. Wasusunn, Jn., Governor of the State of Maize:— Sm—Your Exceliency’s letter of the 13th instant has baen received. It submite to me an order of the State of Maine, This order revites @ statement that a despatch has been received from tle Secretary of State of the, United States, addressed to the Marshal of the United States, and all federal officers in Portland, directing that the agents of the British government shal) have all proper facilities for landing and conveying to Canada or else- where troops and munitions of war of every kind, with- out exceptipp. Theorder then requests you to commu- nicate with the Senate of Maine, if compatible with the public interests, all information you may have, if any, fm relation to the pasrage of British troops as 20 recited, and whether any steps have been taken to prevent such use of American soil within the }imits of the State of Maine. After referring me to the Senate’s order, your Excol- lency asks me to adviee you whether such permission has been given; and, if such is the fact, then Jor any in- formation concerning it whieh I may think proper to communicate. 13 cheerfully anawer these inquiries. Om the 4th of Jannary instant this department was ad- vised, by @ telegraphie deepatch from Portland, in the ‘State of Maine, that the steamship Bohemian, due there on the 7th inst., was telegraphed off’ Cape Race, with troops for Canada; and inquiring whether, in case they came to Portland, any different course: was to be taken than what bas been heretofore pursued, and asking in- stractions, in that contingency, by telegraph. ‘Upon this information I replied by the telegraph, ing such directions as the order of the Senate of Mai recites. The immediate grounds for thie proceeding were that it was supposed that = passage of the troops and munitions named across the territory: of the United States, by the Grand Trunk Railroad, would save the persons concerned from risk and suffering, which might be feared, if they were left to make their way, inan in- clement season, through the ice and snow of a northerly Canadian voyage. Tho principle upon: which this concession was made to Great Britain is that, when humanity, or even conveni- ence, renders it desirable for one nation to have a pas- sage for its troops and munitions through the territory of another, it 1s a customary act of -comity ta grant It, if it Can be done Consistentty with its own safety and wel fare. It is on this principle that the United States con- tinually enjoy the right of the passage of troops upon the Paname Railroad, across the territories of tho republic of New Granada. + ‘Tho United States claim and enjoy, by the concession of all friendly nations, the kindred comity of entering their ports with ships and munitions of war, and they have conceded @ reciprocal comity 10 the naval marine of Great Britain, France, and indeed alt other griondiy nations, _ . In withholding thie customary comity from Great Bri. tain ‘in the present case, this government t nevessarily act upon either a conviction that the passage of the troops and munitions through our territory would ~be injurious or hazardous to the public eafety or welfare, or else it must capriciously re- fuse to that Power what woulkl bo granted cheerfully to any other, or refuse to grant to Great Britain now what would have beon cheorfully accorded at another time, and under some different circumstances. No foreign nation inimical to Great britain is like!y to complain of the United States for extending such a comity to that Power. If, therefore, therg be any danger to be apprehended from it, it must come in the form of direct hostility on the part of the Britich governinent against the United States. The United States have not onty studiously practiced the most perfect justice in their in- tercoure with Great Britain, but they have aisoculti vated on their part a spirit of friendship towards ber as & kindred nation, bound by tho peculiar ties of com. merce. The Grand Trunk Railroad, a British highway extended through the territories of the United States to perhaps the finest seaport of our country, is a monument of their friondly disposition. The reciprocity treaty, favoring the productions of British North America in the markets of the United states, iv a similar monument of the same wise and benevolent policy. I shall not affect ignorance of the fact that popular asperities have recontly appeared in that portion of the British empire, as well as in the British islands, whieh have seemed to indicate a growing alienation of senti- ment among portions of the British people. But the government of Great Britain bas, nevertheless, during all this time, held towards us its customary language of respect and friendship. This government, practicing on- tire frankness, yields its fait faith to these assurances of the government of Great Britain. The popular asperi- ties to which Iybave alluded aro believed to have bad their origin in accidents and misapprebensions of a em porary charactor. While the policy of this government has been to fortify ite territories no as to be able to resist all foreign as well as domestic enemies, if eueh enemies must come, it has been equally carofal at the same time to secure even greater strength, by showing iteelf con- sistent in all things, scrupulously just, and, if possible, magnanimous towards all other nations. It was mot supposed, when the directions in question wore given, that the State of Maine would feel herself ag- grieved by them. At the same time the fedoral govern- ment is fuily sensible that in all its proceedings it owes to each ef the States the most exact respect for her rights and interests. The State of Maine has been #0 eminently loyal and patriotic in the present emergency, that the President would not feel himself at liberty to wound any sensibillty that she might feel upon the sub- ject. If, therefore, you ehall advise me that the directions in question are likely tohave that effect, they will be cheer- ‘fully modified. Lhave the honor to be, with the highest consideration, \your Excellency’s obedient servant, WILLIAM H, SEWARD. News from Boston. RELBASS OF REBEL PRISOWERS—RFFORTS POR THR RELEASE OF COLONEL CORCORAN—SHIP KINGFISHER ASHORE, ETC. Boston , Feb. 2, 1862. The bark Trinity has been chartered to convey three ‘hundred and eighty-six, ramk and dle, and eleven officers, (rebel prisoners), from Fort Warren to Fortress Monroe, and is expected to sail to-morrow. Commodore Barren is not included in the list. The prisoners who remain ar, mostly political. ‘ A A public meeting will be held in Fanéni! Hall on Wed- nesday next, to memorialize Congress for the release ef Colonel Corcoran of the gallant New York Sixty-ninth regimeat. Mayor Wightman will preside. Ship Kingfishor, Captain Tay, from Ship Island, in bal- Jest, for Boston, etrack on Peaked Hill bare at twelve o'clock last night. She beat over and went ashoreon tho Doach. She had three feet of water in her hold at high water to-day. The crew was saved. Military Prison at Alton, by dyes Aig | ‘at Alton, Ill., is now nearly ready febel prisoners now con: at im St. Louis, and others who are daily General Haileck's troops. Comfori- able have been ied in the old penitentiary, and aa they will have ample grounds for exercise an: the heaith of the inmates will byl ye im- tr The Condition of Affairs at Spanish Officials in the Public Resident Spaniards Compelled to Captain Tewnley, from Vera Cruz, we have dates to the tb ult. Spanish frigates, three French steam frigates, two gers chortab for the rich man next door. | petition for bow plausibly Engiaad might, in tho event of continued: trouble in the United Btater, send her flests to Portland to comply with the proyer gf the petitioners, you wil NEWS FROM MEXICO. Vera Cruz. Offices. Leave the Country, deny eo ke. By Abe arrival at thie port of the Brig F. Baldwin, The combined feet at Vera Cruz consists of sixteen Britiah frigates, and four mep-of-war at Antone Lazardo. ‘Four Jarge sritish screw steamers and a Spanigh trans- port wore passed by the Baldwin going up. ‘There ware about seven thousand Spanish soldiers in the city. No French or English, When the Baldwin arrived at Vera Cruz the Spanish fiag alone was flying at thegateon the mole. On the 6th the French flag was hoisted at the gate, the English at the south¢ast, aud the Spanish om the northeast corners of the city. No flag was diaplayed on the Castle. ‘There had been a few shots fired at the pickets outside of the town on the Sunday previous to the Baldwin Jeaving. No business was doing in the town, the Mexi- can merchants having all left for the interior. Provisions searce and very bigh. Spaniards were making their way ont of the interior as fest as possible. On the 4th of Jannary an extra wteamer, with a large number on board, sailed for Ha- vana; they arrived from Tampico, and reported having Deen driven from there. The Spaniards had placed officials in the Custom House, Post Office and other pubs Nie offices in town. ‘There were two British vessels at Vera Cruz, with cargoes, but could find noone to recetve them, the owners, Deing Mexicans, bad left. One was the brig Venus from Liverpool; the other name not remembered. INTERESTING FROM CANADA. The War Feeling—Hostility to the United States—Organization of the Militia— ‘What Canada Expects to Gain by War— Exposed Position of Mainc—Necessity of Fertifications on the Frontier, dic. _ OUR QUEBRO CORRESPONDENCE. ae Queuxc, Jan. 26,1562, Pabtio’opinion imCanada is decidedly hostile to the United ‘In some quarters the feeling takes the form of pretended sympathy for tho Southern rebels) about condition, alma, provpeste and principies & Sqoorance prevails among the provincials, In othern the sentiment resembles mero neighborly apiie— the petty rancor and envy which parrow minded Vilta- With a fow ex- ceptions—among which it is right to distinguish the ‘To- ronto (tobe, tho ablest paper in the province-——the press of Canada follows faithfully the lead of tho London ‘'imes, decries Our army, sneers at our successes, exaggerates our reverses, vituperates our governinent, villifes our generals, and jabora with zcal, if not with address, to foster @ dittorly unfriendly feeling aguiuet our people and our institutions, The most movatrovs calumpies against the United States government and people are daily invented by a knot of secessionists who have taken refuge at Montreal, and find ready fpmertion in the papers, apd eager credence among their vesiers....kvery class of vociety appears iniected with thé provaiting Americaniphobic. Mon who havo lived for years on the profite of trade with the United States, and whom war would infallibly ruin, are as angry with ng aa the more vagabonds who have nothing to 10:0 ‘and the soldiers who have everything to gaiu by war. 1 have succeeded, onco or twice, by a #talement of the in- evitable evils which war would bring upon Canada, in leading one or two persons toa cahner view of the wi tion, and a rational senso of their interest at ihe present orisis, Rut the lucid interval was of brief dura. tiot, ‘and was followed by a paroxysm of increased severity. To the bulk of the Canadian people the surrender of Slidell and = Mason reer to have been a disappointment. It envenomed rather than dimiaishod their spite, and it certainty im- creased the contempt for Americans which is infaced Into Canadian opinion by the influence of the British of- ficers stationed in the province. Nor has the vettiewent of the Treot dispute checked’ mititary preparations, In all the Iarge cities the young men drill with more ardor than ever, and the reorganization of the militia proceeds steadily. ‘the first arrivals from sea in the spring will bring to the province large supplios of modern arms of every description. By that time it is expected that filly 40,000 mititia will be in a condition to take the field. It is (mpossible to explain #0 wholesale and ravcorous an enmity toward the United States, and such re. markablo bostile preparations, except on the theory that they are encouraged by the civil and military authorities, ‘There is good reasov to believe that both the provincial government and the commanding officers of the British army in Canada expect, and are anxious fot, war with the United States, The twin organs of government, the Toronto Leailer and the Quebec Chronicle, are the bittorent anti-American papers in the province. Nothing is talked of in military circles but how to assail the Unt- ted States in their woak spots. Troopa, after the surren- der of Maron and Siidcl!, were ostentatiously detailed for the defence of the southern extremity of the Victoria bridge; and surveys are still being vigorously prosecuted with a view to the erection of forts which would be ‘worse than uneless if peace is to be maintained. One is driven to ask—-in view of this exhibition of temper and these preparations—what motive Canada can have in secking war with the United States, to tho obvious ruin of her commercial, industrial and financial interests. Let me give you an answer which has been given to mo by reliable parties. ‘Canada wants a winter outlet to the sea. For nearly six months each year the only practicable outlet is through United States territory. When the province was thinly peopled and poor, this isolation could be endured; ‘Dut of late years it has been keenly felt and bitterly de- plored. An extension of the Grand Trunk Raitway to Halifax has been proposed as a remedy. But the three hundred and fifty miles of railroad which would have to ‘de built would coat fully $30,000,000—more than either the province or Great Britain cares tospend ia cold blood. The road would pass so close to the frontier of the United States: in some places that in the event of war it would be very eany for American guerrillas to destroy it; and even if it were protected, it Is felt that a single line of railway, five hundred miles long, running throngh « dosert with an Arctic temperature, would be @ very inadequate outlet for ‘& people numbering noarly three millions, and advancing daily in wealth and importance. It will eeem,on your side of the line, a preposterous notion; but it i @ fact, nevertheless, that maay of tho Jeading minds of Canada have resolved to got Maine, if they can. Thoy say that they require Portland, the ter- minus of the Atlantic ana St. Lawrence Railway; that it is @ geographical necessity for them to possess it; that the present troubles of the United States afford them an opportunity of seiing it, which may mover Oocur again; that Maine belongs to them geogra- phically; that the present boundary line was unfairly drawn; and that in claiming Maino as British territory they are merely asking for that which of right belongs to \ ahe British crown. In reflecting upon these somewhat startling proten. siens, you will not fail to recall to mind several paragrayhs which have lately appeared in ministerial prints in Eng- jand, on the subject of pretended addresses which were alleged to have been forwarded to tho Quoon by inhabi- tants of Maine, praying for annexation to Canada. No one in she United States noticed these ominous para- graphs oseept with an incredulous smile. how easy ifevould be for Canada to send a fow hundred British If you reflect subjects q@onexation at the proper time, and into Maine, with instructions to Probably conclude that there was more in these hints than appeared on the surface. ‘To me it seems that, so long as the civil war laste in the United Mtates, the State of Maine, and esperially the | town of Portland, will oscupy a positior of peculiar peril. ‘It was lately stated by @ British officer, whose options wore entitled to respect, that had war resulted from the Magon Slidell imbroglio Portland would have been in the possession of the British within fift en days after the declaration of war; and farther, that it would never have deen given up so long as Great Britain held a foot of ter- ritory on this continent. False attacks, he added, might be made at Boston, Philadelphia and New York, but the real point of attack would be Portland; for it and it alone was of strategical value. If the government of the United States does not wish the secession of the Southern States to be followedby the forcible seizure, by Great Britain, of the most north- easterly State of the Union, no time should be lost in ren- dering Portland impregnable. Your large military popula- tion and your thorough railway and telegraph system ef- fectually guarantee your whole country against land at- tacks. But tho naval superiority of Great Britain is 30 overwhelming that very few of your seaports, except New York, could be defended against well plavned attacks from the tea. power of the United States to render Portland as secure as New York. Properly constructed forta, arm- ed with Rodman guns, will defy even the iron-clad veesels which Great Britain is building. It is probable that an hour’s careful firing from a fifteen or twenty-inch Rodman gun would settle the ac- count of the Warrior very thoroughly. Put no time should be lost in preparing for the worst. Fresh cases of quarrel will naturally arise as the civil war progresses, and the government of Great Bri taim, urged on by the cotton spinners on the one hand, and the Canadians on the other, will naturally be even more ready than it was two months ago to draw the sword. If Portland were properly fortified, it is hardly proba- ble that Canada would gain much—even independently of the immediate commercial ruin which would ensue—by a war with the United States. The military defences of the province are of the most elementary description, highly respectable as antiquities, but ridiculous in a practical point of view. ‘The citadel of Quebec, which it js.@ point of pride here to consider absolutely impreg- nable,is acrazy old work, without a single casemate, and whose barbette guns (smooth twenty-fours) could not be worked many hours after an enemy had reached Pott Levi, now entirely undefended. On the land side thero in a ditch, glacis and a labyrinth of walled passages, which would be rather more useful to an aseailant than (0 the garrison; within, several barracks and other build- inge are now innocently considered bombproof by the garriem, but would not maintain that reputation mony seconds after a ten-inch shell bad drop- ped on their roof, The key of Canada, however, is Montreal. In the event of war, it would evidently be the duty of the United States to move an army upon Montreal, and it would seem that the Britisn would have to Gght in the plain on the south side of the river to pro- tect it. If they could not hold St. Lambert, Montreal would necessarily fall, and Quebec would naturally fol- low. A notion prevails here to the effect that the Upper Canadian takes could be protected by a fleet of British ganboats sentup the canals. There are two difficultion im the way of the execution of any such project. In the firet place, the first step taken by the Chitod States in the event of war would be to seize and destroy the canal at ‘or near Cornwall, which could be done by single bat- talion in a night; and this would be followed by a seizure of the Grand Trunk Railway ja the neigh- Dorhood of Brockville. Of course these operations would involve fighting; but the namerical inferiority of the British oa land ought to enable the United States generals to acommplish both with ease. If they were suceessfally accomplished, no British gunboats could ever veach Luke Ontario, and the communication be- tween the two sections of the province would be cnt off. Even if the British succeeded in souting a fleet of gun- boats to the lakes before the commanication had been in- terrupted, the ‘want of coal would prove a sorious bar to their evolutions. There is no coal in Canada, and if an ‘Americanarmy held Brockville, British gunboats on the lakes would soon bo harmteas enough. It would be casy to pursue this tPain of argument so as to show conclusively that Canada is far more likely to be a loser than @ gaincr if she succeeds in per- suading England to attempt to seize Maine for her benefit, and that, while the United States cer- tainty seek no acquitition of territory at the cost of their neighbors, the most probable issne of such a contest would be the extension of their frontier to the Hudson's Boy territory. All the public works of the province, the canals, tho raitways, the splendid Victoria Bridge, havo been constructed upon the assumption thet pace would jays be maintained with the United States, War wonld destroy them all. All, or nearly all the mercan. inexs of Canada depends upon the preservation of the Mason-Slidell aftair bas already cost Montreal thousands of pounds; actual hostilities would ruin every merchant and every bank in the province. To Canada, in a word, peace with the United States is a geographical necessity, and those Canadians who talked of remaining | neutral iu the event of war betweon the United States and Great Britain on the San Juan affair, exhibited far more common sense than the provincials of the present day, who are hoping and scheming for war in the absurd hope of anne: Main NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE, Forranas Moxnor, Feb. 1, 1862. ‘The National Zouave Lodge of Free Masons colebrated ‘St. John’s Day by # brilliant festival last evening inside tho fortress. A bountiful supper was partaken of and dancing and music continued till a very late hour. In consequence of the foggy and stormy woather no flag of truce was sent to Craney Inland to-day. The Colonel of the D’Rpinenil Zouaves denies posi- tively the statements of thy commander of the Ericston, that the captain of the John Trucks was sent forward by the Colonel, and that the Colonel took com- mand of the yeasel. The Jehn Trucks and the Ericsson are expected to leave for Annapolis to-morrow morning, Contrabands who have recently como on board the Young Rover, stationed off York river, report about 1.500 troops at Gloucester Point and 6,000 or 7,000 at York. town. An attack is constantly expected from Geo. Wool in the rer of Yorktown. Expedition. iFrom t Day Book, Jan. 31.) One werk ago to-day we mace use of the following lan- guage, which our readers: perceive has been verilied army that embarked on ot is mosily inthe ‘bosom of the deep ocean buried,’ or safely into Davy Jones’ lockor.” We publish elsewhere an account of the disastor to this expedition from a Northern paper, in which they have labored with their usual ckill to put the beet phase on this matter. Wehave in our possession much other in- | formation from the same source, which we are unable to | crowd in to-day. General Buruside throws the blame on the contractors | pedition, These are bis words, | as credited to him by # letter writer from Hattoras:— “The contractors bave ruined me.” We have no room for comment, but can assure the General he should now cengure his friends, the contractors, about this little mat- ter, for if it had not been for them never have ventured on this expedition. They pro own avgrandwement, and used his ambition #8 a means tocarry it out. Let him biame his own foolhardiness rather. If he ever gets back to his own land alive it wiil ‘be much moro than we are ‘We also publish the Southern’account of this expedition, escaped Yankee, Ho as obtained from an “Fe congtauulate out remiers, in North Ca ro our in Noi rolinn particu. larly, on he broaking down of this marauding enpedaive, and we believe firmly that its failure will greatly tend to the stoppage of this war. Onpxance ARrivinG.—Heavy ordnance continues to ar- rive via Pennay}warss itailcoad, a large number of the heavy thirtecn iach mortars baing among tho lot. The latter are baing sapidiy transterred tw the nor fitting out at New York, waking hore a | maidable which have yat beer vianayd. Lar of gun parringos, as weil as eh t, ehh ane aroalsa gotstantly being roomate Zhdlad igvin mat, Jan. 28, Happily, it is in the} HER COMMANDER---WHO HE I mpted it for their | imeainiieds | | round many dey | cremsing Way already bo woo mplished, | IMPORTANT FROM THE SOUTH. ENGLAND AND THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. The Rebels Anticipating the Blessings of Peace. Rebel Account of Humphrey Mar- shall’s Victory (?) THE REBEL STEAMER CALHOUN. A SOUTHERN RAILROAD CONVENTION. A DYING GROAN OF A REBEL GENERAL, Explosion of a Rebel Laboratory in Richmond. LOss OF LIFE. Interesting Correspondence of Rebel Newspapers. LARGE SALE OF SLAVES IN TENNESSEE, &e., &e., &e. ‘We have received the Richmond Dispatch of January 28 and 29, with other Southern papers, from wbich we glean the following interesting news of matters im rebeldom. ENGLAND AND THE REBEL CONFEDERACY. EXETER HALL THE OPPONENTS OF THE REBELS—THB GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLAND—ENGLAND SHE ALLY OF THE SOUTH—THE HOPES OF THE REBELS FOR RECOGNITIC Jan. oa {4 th: eam ue ‘ofthe Southern y ion to the fion a tothe cause, is the small but ‘ior which is represented by Kzeler Hall, ¥.ven from that quarter, and its Purkan siilations throughout tho ‘i oe oppo ition en muchiless con: than - ‘Tho reason for this ig obvious, When inyho = pation to indulge in Sentimental philanthropy at the. sac- ritice of pounds, shillings and pence it is not likely to a3 EE’ have # favorable response from people, abov: > like, thone: ractioal and common, sense peo Eng- foes: Jn addition to this the dubious policy of the Lin- coln administration upon the emancipation question hag completely alienated from its sympathies the aboi! e@tement of En; society—an element which, favoruble to the United States, has not influence to shape or control the policy of Great Britain iv matters: vital to her interests. Tt is impossible to find in the history of Fngland any permanent success of that turbulent, acontented ana fanatical element of society, which \s D “Exeter Hall.” The great military genius of wel through the instrumentality of a powerful army, pecu to fenaticiem in England a tenue of power no longer than his ii@vime, and, when he perished, the English le returned as naturally to loyalty and bough of the fruit tree, which is beld ie stripped of its fruit, bounds back to its natural position as soon as the plunderer has let go his hold. The Rnglisi are pre-etninently the common sense people of the world. Their constitution is the collected experience of the na- tion, ripened and matured throngh a thousand years. It has the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of Simson, with the age of Methuselah. At a period when most nations have passed their meridian and are beginning wo decline, the sun of England is marching toa loiter alti- tude in the heavens and shedding @ brighter and a broader track of light apon the ih. Englas never was as pow.rful as naw; in fact, with Me aid ao te yore = ig a Pgh Bogeta] af tha world; an 2 ails nm mn ypamarg the yriienee se Beale and incoln despotism, she wilt place her power and prosperity on a foundation that bils fair to remain immovable to the ent & time. Who does not see this? Who does not per- coive that the established success of the Southern con- foderavy will render England, in the first. piace, indepen- deut of the United States for cotton; that, next, it will thraw the rich carrying trade of the fouth into her hands; that next, it will relieve ber trade to those States of the Leavy tari by which it will always be embarrass- edi by the Northern government; that by these moans it will permanently cripple ber only commer eal ‘and manv- facturing rival in the world; paralyze forever the growth aud progress of those demo- cratic principles which have threatened the Ie) of her own iustitutions, and of those of all p cotomgeee 4 which, if the American Union could be restored would, ia the end, subvert order, law and constitutional liberty throughout the world. We need not speak of the addi- tional security given to her Canadian and other posses- sions in America by the dismemberment of a whose Northern organs and statesmen have shamelessly declared that they intended her to ‘annex and absorb ali the British terri nent: and by the acqu: the Southern confederacy, #0 that she bas vaunting Northern States hereafter between tho upper and nether mill stones. He that cannot see how vast and varied are the vital interests of England in the cnuse must be wilfully blind: none see and admit it more clearly and ed the Nirth, which rom the ginning 7, has instinctively rec guized Englond as an of the South and an enemy whon the North would sxner or later have to corfromt tn arms or inglt {rom her presence, lish stateemen do not die- wi i ‘ LT of to woppeee tn rea ee cern ir country’s op} vanity, or y the golilen moment to. pass before. ‘The fanatical element of ish society, were it ever so much inclined, could make no head vious requirements of her interests and poliey. emigration to America of the Puritan element, relieved. Great Britain of a mine of explosive materials which, a up within her stont little isiand, mi to let it up her colon! u and now she has a chance of revenge for the miachied that they workea her ina distant hemisphere. 7b sup- pose that Great Brilain will forego suck an opportunity (a no her fo suppove that she has mo eyes to discern her own . enemies. she is slow, it is ly because she acts with discretion and characteristic ereumeper tion; but she has Sore a 0 far States that it is wiser and ‘and more & ther, even though it be w the arbitrament of arms, to retrace her steps. knows that the ‘cowardly are always vindictive, and that, in basely surrendering Ma- their comfort that © few of | #00 and Slidell, thd North has secretly vowed @ vow as , but in such a crippled | stcrm and oletnn as fate to pa oA MOVEMONt, Or evento | off the old euemy by whom they have been humiliated as soon ag they hav bsehpe a ted rt My For all oe reasons we continue confidently ieve England will yet re- ‘ederacy and open comive the Southern the blockade, while at the same time we are suro whether that event occurs three months or six months hence, our country nerds no foreign aid to maintain her in- dependunce. GEN. FLOYD ASSIGNED TO COMMAND A DIVISION. THE FEDERAL ASSAULT UPON FOMT HENRY—THE DR- FRAT OF HUMPHREY MARSHALL, (Special correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch. Bowie Gaeny, Jan. 22, General Floyd has been assigned wo the command of a division of the army, and wi) leave ‘his present head ure for an important point. His Inanent part, is under marching orders this morning Whether ite destination is Hopkinsville, Rumsellvilie, Paris or Green river, it is not my province to sufficient to state that a movement of much place, and A} 5 formed of its results what is proper and what is_impro #0 indistinct that @ war correspondent votal times before he writes a word. manufactured by sensation writers and rativer, [had rather possess ness than obtain an evanescent reputation for Aguring in by the ailly report that Forts Hens taken: and’ that & rapid ascont of would be made by the felorals, ‘The status Of army matters at Green river remaing much the same. A sma'l detachment of Bueil’s force ie on this side, but it is Joulned whother it will stand ite Infleod the favorito sirategy of re- ALLbovgit the Noriuern ve wspopar = that Garfleld oben Viewers orer Marshall, roar Promoabarg, ite hat baloved to fe well fonaded. Op vhe onairary, it le are :