The New York Herald Newspaper, February 4, 1862, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRICTOR OFFICE N, W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. mait will beattha bills current in New Yor's TEBYS cash in advance. Money sen bi ick @/ the sender. None but Las taken. ent por copy, 97 $2 75 Der annum THe 'rAMiLy HERALD, on Webrertay, at four cents Der i, o» BE Ver annum VoLuN TARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing important pe Neited from any quarter of the world: 47 wsed, rill be Theruly pand for.” Bag OUR FORRIGN CORESPONDENTS ARR PARTICULARLY REQU&STED TO SKAL ALL Lerrens anp Pack- AGP SENT UB Vo NOFICH taken of anonymous correspondence. We dono veturnvese ‘ons newoed cvery day; ». Pasitr California RINTING executed neatness, cheapness and te JOB P. poten. Volume XXVIT NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Meuny Wives or Wixp- so - WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Natip Qos2N—MARRIED at WALLACK’S THEATRE, No. Sit Broadway.—Poor Grun- Teka: LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Ouz Auurt can Cousin NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Masrr—Curegy axp Far sau. ort THEATRE, Bowery.—Sticener's Nationat sRCUS, BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSE Evenius.—OnDiNA—HiPPorora xu: wIOMITIES. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, way.JO8N LX ULD Broadway.—Day and MALE, AND OTHER Cu- Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. ¥. HOOLEY'S MINSTRELS, Stay ‘ Broadway.—Eraiortan Soma, Daneaes Beet NO O08 MELODEON CONCERT HALL, No. 589 Broadway.— Soxds, Dances, Buruusquxs, &¢.—toupay tx Tartine, CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL, 585 Bro»way.—So: Dances, BORLSQUES, AC.—MAAULM, THE NiGdT OWL GATETIES CONCERT ROO! : 16 Broadway.—Di Room ENTEURAINMENTS, BALLETS, PANTOMIMTS: PARCESY &O. 444 Broadway.—Sonas, Ban AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, —YortRatr Painten. Urts, PaNtomrues, CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERT HALL, No. - BuKLEsaues, SoNGs, Daxcxs, mem ra PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDE a Open daily from lO MUSE AL es 8 Broadway. NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 3 —Burizs eXOYELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 Broudway.—Dunicsaurs New York, Tucsday, February 4, 186: THE SITUATION. Information received from our scouting partics yesterday, as well as from other sources, confirms the report that large bodies of the rebels have been transferred from Manasses by railroad to some other point, within the past few days. A portion of them are most probably gone with General Beauregard to Kentucky. This move- ment is supposed to be based upon the conviction that our troops on the Potomac cannot advance in consequence of the bad condition of the roads. A flag of truce, conveying despatches from the rebel General Johnston, arrived at General Mc- Dowell's headquarters on Sunday evening, under escort of Colonel Harrison, of the Second Virginia cavalry. The documents, which were sealed, were delivered to the General by the officer who took them from Colonel Harrison on the“outposts, but their contents have not yet transpired. By the arrival of the United States bark Gemsbok, at Fortress Monroe, from the Southern coast on Sun- day, we learn that heavy cannonading was heard in the direction of Beaufort or Newbern, N. C., on the 28th ult., and that at nine o'clock on the morning of the 30th firing was heard in the vicin- ity of Roanoke Island. The inference among the officers et Fortress Monroe was that the Burnside fleet was making an attack at two points, the ves- sels probably having divided into two parties— one proceeding up to Core Sound to attack Fort Macon, at Beaufort, and the other up the Nucse river, to make a landing of our troops there. If this theory be correct the Burnside expedition has begun its work in earnest. The official account of the news brought by the Gemsbock was received at the Navy Department yesterday from Captain Macster, of the United States steamer Roanoke, lying at Hampton Roads. No further intelligence has reached the government; but the impression in official quarters is that Roanoke Island has been taken and is now occupied by our troops. We have already referred to the rumors extant | concerning the inefficiency of the rebel iron-clad | steamer Merrimac, but whether she should prove tit for service or not, it is quite certain that onr naval authorities are quite prepared for any attack | either from the Merrimac or any other rebel vessel, for the guns on the parapets, casemates and water battery at Fortress Monroe are kept in constant readiness for any emergency, and all the frigates and gunboats in the harbor have their cuns double shotted, so that a warm reception awaits any attacking party that may shew itself. General Thomas F. Meagher, commanding the Trish Brigade, was confirmed by the Senate as Brigadier General yesterday, together with Gene- rals Wadsworth, Slocum, Cooper, Viele and a large number of other officers, whose names will be found in our Washington depatches. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, the swollen streams and bad condition of the roads, our troops in Missouri are making some progress in their advance movements. (General Davis was moving on Wednesday last towards Lebanon to join General Curtis, having arriv ed as far as Versailles, Morgan county; General Sige! had left Rolla for the same point, while General Prentiss is also en route for that place. The rebel General Price remains still at Springfield, where another terrible battle is expected to take place, unless Price withdraws before the combined di- visions of the Union Generals reach there. We have received another supply of late South- ern papers, from which we collate numerons inter- esting extracts, which we publish under the appro. priate head in to-day's Heraty. The quartette of traitors, the Cobb brothers, Toombs and Crawford, have recently published an address to the people of Georgia, in which they enumerate the progress of the rebellion, and the share which they have contributed to the iniquitous work, They say:—‘Our enemy has exhibited an energy, @ perseveranee and an amount of resources which we had hardly expected, for our destruction, and raised an army which is being disciplined to the unthinking stolidity of regulars. The attempt will be made in early spring to crush us with « giant’s grasp by a simultaneous move ment along our borders."' They think, ‘with whatever alacrity our people may rush to arma, oad with whatever onergy our government may . 4 advertisementsine | ERALD, and in the NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUABY 4, 1862. | use its resources, we cannot expect to cope with our enemy either in aumbers, equipments or mu nitions of war, To provide against these odds we | must look to desperate courage, unflinching daring | and universal self-sacrifice." They recommend | “papid aggressive action, and make our enemies | feel, at their own firesides, the horrors of @ war | brought on by themselves.” They close their ad” dress by calling upon Providence to help along j their evil work, They admit, at the same time, | that the prospect of foreign recognition pf the Southern confederacy is a remote one. | The Treasurer of Virginia has published a circu. | tar notifying the rebels that some of the cancelled shinplasters of the banks are in circulation, A telegraphic despatch to the Richmond ZEn- quirer, dated Savaunah, Jan. 29, says:—‘*The city- is comparatively quiet this forenoon. There is no immediate attack apprehended. The object of the enemy seems to be to cut off communication be- tween the city and Fort Pulaski.” CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, a petitionwas presented from citizens of New York asking that Congress take speedy measures to repeal the so-called Reci- procity treaty between Canada and the United States; and Mr. Chandler, of Michigan, offered a resolution, which was laid over under the rules, that the Committee on Commerce inquire into the expediency of immediately notifying Great Britain that the Reciprocity treaty is not reciprocal, and that it be terminated at the earliest possible moment. A joint resolution ap” propriating $3,000 for the purchase of cot- ton ‘seed, and $1,000 for tobacco seed, both for general distribution by the Patent Office, was adopted. The Committee on Patents were in. structed to inquire into the expediency of making | an appropriation in aid of experiments of manufse- turing flaxas a substitute for cotton. The resolu- tion directing the removal of the army bakeries from the Capitol was adopted. Resolutions relating to the military command in Kansas, and the river and lake defences of Pennsylvania and Ohio, were referred. Mr. Chandler, of Michigan, presented resolutions from the Legislature of Michigan re- affirming loyalty to the government and hatred of traitors, and asking the government to speedily put down the insurrection; also favoring the con- fiscation of the property of the rebels, and asking hat, as slavery is the cause of the war, it be swept from the land. Mr. Harris presented resolutions from the Legislature of New York asking a mo- dification of the law for raising revenue, 80 that any amount may be raised by any State by any mode of taxation except duties on imports; that each State be allowed to assume the amount of tax and assess for the payment and collect the same according to its own laws and by its own of- ficers. Referred. The Senate held an executive session, and afterwards adjourned. In the House of Representatives, Mr. Lovejoy offered a resolution directing the Committee on the Conduct of the War to inquire and report con- cerning the statement that* five Illinois regiments laid down their arms in token of their refusal to assist in carrying on the war on the platform of the abolitionists. A resolution was adopted di- recting inquiry as to the expediency of establish- ing a system for the free receipt and delivery of mail matter in cities containing upwards of ten thousand inhabitants, as is the practice in the principal cities of Europe. The bill making an appropriation for completing the defences of Wash- ington was then taken up, and the Senate’s amend- ment thereto, providing for the disbandment of volunteer corps termed Home Guards, gave rise to awarm discussion relative to the border States, and finally the amendment was rejected by a vote of 55 against 86. The consideration of the Trea- sury Note bill was then resumed, and Mr. Vallai digham, of Ohio, and Mr. Hooper, of Massachusetts made speeches on the subject. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. | There are four European stcamships—the last 0 which will bring news a week later than that rece’ ed by the Africa—now due at American ports; ard were it not for the very severe weather which has | been lately experienced on the Atlantic we would feel pretty certain of*being able to publish reports from England and France this afternoon. These vessels sailed in the following order, v reports were made on the bills to punish frauds in the use of brands, stamps and marks, and conferring on the Metropolitan | } police powers in relation to the inspection of steam boil A bill was introduced to amend the thar- ter of the New York Colloge of Veterinary Sur geons. Tho resolutions favoring the expulsion of Unit tates Senator Bright were laid over until to-day at one o'clock, when the vote on them is to be taken. Ta the Asvembly noticed, Judges in the ( one to iner mmon Pleas Court of this A to the extension of streets on t river side of town. The bill to close aitan square, in this ¢ wis reported upon bly. Bills introduce: for the repeal of the Metropolitan Medical College act; to authorize aliens to hold and convey real estate: empowering railroad | companies to maintain railroad police; to prevent citizens from seceded States bringing actions in our courts until such States return to their alle- giance, and for various other purposes. The reso- lation requesting our Congressional representatives to vote against the general bankrupt law was called up, debated, and referred to the Committee on Federal Relations, The resolution requesting Con- gress to abolish sutlerships was discussed; but no vote upon it was reached. The legislative committee appointed to investi- gate the Brogks shoddy contract were in session again yesterday Some twenty-five witnesses have already been examined; but as the press is entirely excluded from their proceedings we are considerably in the dark as to the result. It is pretty well understood, however, that many start- ling disclosures have been made which will show up the modus operendi of army contractors in fur- nishing our volunteers with worthless clothing. Itis also hinted that many wholesome suggestions bave been given voluntarily by some of the wit- nesses for not only the better care of our sol- diers, but for the protection of the government against losses sustaincd through desertion. The committee seem to be working with a truly com- mendable will, their sessions lasting from twelve to fifteen hours daily. They will not probably get throngh their investigation before Thursday or Friday. In pursuance of the orders of the State Depart. ment respecting the privateersmen, the United States Marshal has removed Captain Baker and nineteen of the crew of the privateer Savannah from the City Prison to Fort Lafayette. Under were the same order ten of the crews of the privateers Sumter, Florida and Dixie were sent to the same destination, all, under the recent instractions of the government, being treated as prisoners of war. In the various battles and skirinishes that took place during the month of January this year be- tween the Union and rebel forces, the following is the aggregate of the killed, wounded and miss. ing:— Killed Wounded Prisoners. . Union. food or perishable articles shall be sent from that State to the soldiers at the seat of war. The same sould be the order in every State. We are indebted to Hon. Moses Bates, of General Butler's staff, for a copy of the Richmond Enquirer of the 30th ult. The Board of Aldermen did uot organize last evening, @ quorum not being present. President Henry announced that the Board stands adjourned without date. The Board of Councilmen were in session last evening, when considerable routine business was transacted. The Street Commissioner was directod to cause to be removed all tents and booths encum. bering the different parka, with the exception of the barracks in the City Hall Park. The Street Com- missioner was directed to report what work is now being done on the wharves and piers of this city, and what number of persons are under pay under the Superintendent of Wharves, Piera and Slips. A resolution was offered directing the Counsel to the Corporation to memorialize the Legislature against the passage of a bill knownas the Cab bill, which was laid over. A petition was submitted by the Superintendent of the live Points House of In- dustry requesting the remission of an assessment for the widening of Worth street, amounting to $1,600. The communication was referred to the Com- mittee on Charities and Donations. The ordinance adopted by the Aldermen prohibiting railroad companies and stage companies from sprinkling salt on the streets caused a lengthy debate. Various slight ainendments were proposed and lost, and when the main question was ordered the Board failed to concur in the adoption of the ordinance, and on motion the paper was laid upon the table and made the special order for the next meeting. A communication was received {vom the Comptrol- Jer announcing the passage of the act by the Legislature legalizing the appropriations for tho aid of the families of the volunteers. He states that he has made satisfactory arrangements to procure money at six per cent, and that the treasurers in the various districts throughout the city will disburse the funds to the families this morning. The Board of Supervisors met yesterday, when the Committee on the New Court House presented areport, recommending that the Legislature be memorialized to legalize the issue of stock, to be called the County Court House Stock, bearing in- terest at the rate of seven per cent, and that the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund be directed to receive said stock in payment for the ground on which the Court House is built. The report was adopted. The Comptroller was directed to pay over to the New Court House Commissioners the sum of $25,000. The annual tax levy will be taken up and acted on next Friday, at twelve o'clock, to which time the Board adjourned. The February term of the Court of General Sessions commenced yesterday, when the Grand Jury was empannelled and briefly charged by Re- corder Hoffinan. The Grand Jury of the last term indicted James B. Taylor for an attempt to bribe Alderman Dayton by offering him $5,000 to vote in favor of purchasing the Fort Gansevoort property. Mr. Taylor gave bail in the sum of $2,000 to answer the charge, Charles W. Baker becoming his surety. A motion will be made to quash the indictment. The city was visited by another heavy fall of snow yesterday, lasting from noon until eight o’clock in the evening. The sleighing, begun so favorably on Sunday, was kept up with great en- thusiasm yesterday in this city and on Long Island, and the scenes on Broadway, the Central Park and Bloomingdale road were of the most animating character. The ice in Central Park was yesterday in very good condition, and skating was allowed during the usual hours. Sleighing was also first rate, and a large number of persons visited the Park for the enjoyment of one or both of these sports. The grand fancy dress, m‘litary and civic enter- tainment—a perfect carnival—which was to have been held on the ice on the Union Skating Pond, Williamsburg, yesterday evening, was postponed on account of the heavy snow storm until to-night, when it will certainly take place if the weather permits. A large gang of laborers were employed during last night in removing the snow and smooth- ing the surface of the ice. The sete promises to be a very brilliant affair, a# a full brass and cotillon band will be in attendance, and there will be a fine display of fireworks. The pond will be lighted with a large number of Chinese lanterns, and the | enclosure decorated with flags and national de- | viecs, It will be seen by the bills and circulars | that all the members are requested to appear in | costume, and that the usual rule in regard to the | introduction of friends is suspended on this | occasion, According to the City Inspector's report there were 389 deaths in the city during the past weck— | a decrease of 2 as compared with the mortality | of the week previons, and 22 more than ocenrred during the corresponding weck last year. The re- capitulation table gives 3 deaths of aleoholism. of diseases of the bones, joints, Kc.: 40 of the brain. | and nerves, 2 of the generative organs, 26 of the | heart and blood yessels, 151 of the lungs, throat, | 32 of old age, 64 of ses of the skin and | eruptive fevers, 9 premature births, 24 of diseases | 6f the stomach, bow : ve organs; | 78 of uncertain seat and general fevers, 2 of dis- eases of the urinary organs, and 5 from violent causes. There were 263 natives of the United States, 10 of England, $4 of Ireland, 21 of Germany 5 of Scotland, and the balance of various fo: countries. ‘the cotton market was quiet yesterday, and in the abdence of eale 8 were nominal at about Saturday's quotations. Some parcels were engaged for shipment to Liverpool by the ship Chancelor and another vessel at 5.021. freicht, This movement will present the singular spectacle of vessels passing each other at sea | with cotton on board bound in opposite directions. ‘The flour market was firmer, especially for the com- mon and mediuin grades of State and Western, and closed at an advance of fe. per bbl. ‘Wheat was firm at Saturday's prices, though some leas active. Corn was rather better, with m te sales at 65¢. for Western mixed, in store, and at G6c. for prime, delivered. Pork wae less buoyant, but in good request fur fature delivery. Sales embraced new mess at $13, aud $12 25 for old do., snd at $9 50 for iges en were confined to 158 bhds, Comee was q sales of moment reported. Freights were steaty and engagements moderate. Tron-Ciap Frigate t the suggestion of the Secretary of the Ni a bill authorizing the construction of twenty iron-plated vessels has passed the Honse, and now awaits the action of the Senate. It is at this juncture we advise that the bill in question be sent back and amended, authorizing the building of fifty in- stead of twenty such ships. The sanction of the Senate should be given without delay immediately afterwards the necessary specifica, tions should be prepared, and in periods of ninety to a hundred and twenty days from their delivery to the contractors the vessels would be ready. It is unnecestary to dilate upon the great advantages of a fleet of this description, not only in suppressing the rebellion, but in the event of a war with England and France, contingency not altogether improbable, Our navy is just now our most vulnerable point; but: with such an accession of strength as fifty iron- mailed ships would give it, this branch of the service would become as formidable in disput- ing our rights on the sea as our army in the field, and wo to foreign aggressors! N No false ideas of economy ought to he allowed to stand | in the way of the amendment we snggest, and | they are required to proceed to no time should be lost in putting the vessels on he stocks. If we delay we may have cause to Significant Southern Roevelations—The Rebellion im Its Dying Struggles. In the two very remarkable official docu- ments which we publish this morning from some of the principal managers of the rebel Coniederate government, we have the most significant confessions and revelations of the utterly hopeless cause of our beleaguered and exhausted Southern rebellion. The two documents in question are—first, the address of Howell Cobb, Robert Toombs, M. J. Crawford and Thomas R. R. Cobb, mem- bers of the expiring rebel Provisional Congress, “to the people of Georgia;” and, second, the latest circular of Secretary Memminzes. 9! the rebel treasury, in reference to the apportion- ment and collection of the produce loan of one hundred millions of dollars, authorized by the rebel Congress in August last. ‘Tis loro, which, as it appears, has thus far gone begging, without attracting the confidence, to any great extent, of Southern cotton, rice, sugar or tobac- co planters, is now to be reduced to a forced division of subscriptions; and so we dismiss this branch of our subject. The address of Howell Cobb and his asso- ciates, under review, is the most extraordinary and infamous document of (he kind in the his- tory of the civilized world. It begins by pro. claiming the unexampled unanimity of the people concerned in this rebellion, aa compared with any other rebellion, and then come the admissions, disclosures and recommendations which betray the despair of the rebel leaders and the hopeless condition of their sinking cause. Cobb and his colleagues confess that the government of the Union has brought to Dearupon the rebels a degree of “energy and perseverance and an amount of resources which we had hardly expected, and a disregard of the constitution and laws which we can hardly credit.” In these admissions there is a volume of information. Howell Cobb and his associates of Mr. Buch anan’s Cabinet supposed when they left Washington, that, having armed the States in revolt by disurming the go- vernment, and having reduced our Treasury to the verge of bankruptcy, a Southern confede- racy would be achieved by a simple coup d’elat. A secession league in Virginia and Maryland would pounce upon Washington on or before the 4th of March, seize the city, the government buildings, treasuries and archives, the army and navy, and thus dictate at once, from the capital of the United States, a treaty of separa tion and of peace. Nor was this achievement altogether visiona- ry. On the contrary, in several instances, the country narrowly escaped its consummation But failing in this coup d'etat. the rebel con- spirators next imagined that, while they were cut loose from all the restraints of the constitution and the laws, “ Honest Abe Lincoln,” even in self-defence, would be powerless to act without the authority of Congress, and that thus, with his bands tied, he would fall an easy victim to Jeff. Davis. It is needless here to remind our readers how this calculation was defeated by the energetic action of our new administration; and hence this outcry of Howell Cobb and his rebel colleagues against it touching iis “disre- gard of the constitution and laws.” Such inso lence may safely defy a parallel in all the an- nals of treason. ; These Georgia rebel Congressmen next de- clare that if the revolted States do their uiter. most they “ cannot expect to cope with the ene- my in numbers, equipments or munitions of war,”’ but that the rebels “ must look to despe- rate courage, unflinching daring, and unwersel self-sacrifice,” to hold their ground of indepen- dence. Here we have a frank confession of the overwhelming military resources of the govern- ment, to which we would invite the special at- | tention of all those English statesmen, politi- cians and journalists who affect to believe that this rebellion can never be suppressed. Cobb and his colleagues confess their inferiority in numbers and military resources; they recognise the fact that our absolute control of the sea against them has enabled us to lodge the nucleus of an army in every revolted State; and in their despair of foreign intervention they urge upon their suffering people the necessity of sac- ices which would bring upon them starvation, as preferable to a return to the blessings of the Union. A . The people of Georgia are thus exhorted to be united among themselves, from which we may infer that they are not yet as closely united in the work of this rebellion as they might be: ‘cesive military action,” when, according to the Rich- mond Examiner, the rebel armies are held by General MeClelian as in a vi As a last re- sort, “the foot of the oppressor” being upon ihe soil of Geo and as this oppressor “comes with lust in bis eye, poverty in his purse and hell in bis heart.” Le must be met at the thresh- hold, and “every woman” is called upon to seize a torch, and “every child” to snatch up a firebrand, aud to burn their homes and make their fields desolate, “Let every city,” say Cobb. Toombs and their colleagues, “be level- led with flame and every village be Jaid in ashes” before the advancing enemy, and “let blankness and*ruin mark our departing steps in a desert more terrible than Sahara;” and the argument is that when thus resisted the enemy will halt and give up the contest. These are the last extremities of despair, of wickedness and folly. Whole communitiés of cities and villages, on the approach of the United States armies, are to burn their homes and their substance, and take to the woods with their old men, their sick, their women and chil- dren and negroes, there to perish from expo- sure and famine. And what for? To escape from an intolerable despotixm? No! But to escape {rom the paternal and beneficent gov- ernment to which they are indebted for all they possess. Everything which they have—houses, lands, wives, children, negroes and all—they owe to the goveri t against which they have | been dragged into this rebellion, and by such wretched demagogues as Cobb and Toombs. The armies of the United States are moving upon them not to des . but to save the peo- ple of the South: not to bring them under the rule of tyranny. but to release them from the grinding and odious despotism of Davis and his confederates: not to abolish the peculiar institutions of the South, but to restore them to the safe protection of our federal constitution. Con any intelligent reader suppose, after cou- | sulting the history of mankind since the fall of Adam, that these suicidal extremities of resist- ance recommended by Cobb and his foolish col- leagues will be adopted by the people of Geor- gia, in order to eseape from that government which they can remember only in connection with the blessings they have lost in casting it off? No. There will be no burning of South- ern cities or villages with the advance upon thom of our Unionarmies. The suffering peo- ple of the South are not in tho moad or condi- tion for any such extremities of wandalism. The leaders of this rebellion may be tvady for any atrocity, even in the destruction a their own people, to save themselves; but Christian mea, with helpless women and children on their hands, will not turn them out in the swamps of the South to perish at the bidding of such in- famous traitors as Cobb and Toombs. The simple truth is that this rebellion is in ite dying struggles, The only available capital left it is that arising from the abolition crusade preached and urged upon the government by our diabolical abolition disorganizers. We say again, therefore, that if President Lincoln were to clap a few of such emancipation shriekers aa Beecher, Cheever and Greeley into Fort Lafay, ette, the deluded and frightened people of the South, returning to their sober senses, would very soon settle the question of this rebellion, exhausted as they are by its extortions, and surrounded as they are by the powerful fleets and armies of the Union. Social Reforms at the White House—A Return to the Better Days of the Republic. A great fuss is being made by the Washing- ton.gossips about the limitation of the invita- tions to Mra. Lincoln’s grand party at the White House, and one of our correspondents, in his telegraphic despatch of yesterday, very im- properly stigmatizes it as “a social blunder.” We do not understand the grounds of such criticism; for, whether guided by her social preferences or the precedents established by the most esteemed and honored of her prede- cessors, Mrs. Lincoln has only asserted a right to exercise that judgment and discrimination in the selection of hersociety to which her position ne a lady and her intellectual qualities entitle er. It is a vulgar error to suppose that there is anything in our republican system which ren- ders the Presidential mansion an excep- tion to the rules that regulate the hospitalities of any private household- The early rulers of the republic, in their social relations and intercourse, cer- tainly gave no encouragement to such an idea. During the administration of Washington no court in Europe was surrounded with more etiquette and ceremony than was that of his wife. The first Adams maintained the same courtly style, as some of the interesting gossip- ing letters of Mrs. Adams from the White House will show. Jefferson, being an old bachelor, and infected with the liberty, equality and fra- ternity notions picked up from the red repub- licans during his residence in France, threw the doors of the Presidential mansion indiscrimi- nately open to the world. Owing, however, to the sparseness of the Washington population, the absence of railroad facilities and the fact of there being no jobs in those days, the Presiden- tial receptions were but little disturbed by the inconvenient features that have of late years marked them. Madison, being a statesman, and imbued with all thoze ideas of courtly politeness peculiar to the cavalier of the Old Dominion, maintained the habits of the ancienne regime. The same may be said in a modified degree of Monroe and John Quincy Adams, the son of the second President. Then came Jackson from the wilds of the West-—a democrat, a man of the people and a fixed believer in the absolute equality of Tom: Dick and Harry. Under him the mob invaded and made themselves at home in the White House, But even Old Hickory soon discovered the inconvenience of a too numerous family circle. The way in which it was brought home to him was characteristic. A farmer in the western part of the State of New York made him a present of a monster cheese, weighing upwards of five hundred pounds. At one of his receptions the entire gift, rind and all, was eaten clean away from his sideboard. This ad- monished the old hero to be a little more chary of his hospitalities; and, with the absence of temptations in the eating and drinking line, the popular interest in the President's welfare diminished, and his receptions became less in conveniently crowded. Van Buren—a thorough gentleman in train- ing—-restored the old order of things, and one of the peculiar democratic complaints against him in consequence was that he was too much of an aristocrat to be the head of a republican na- tion. To people of discernment, nevertheless, his social administration of the White House was eminently satisfactory. With Old Tippe- canoe, fresh from his log cabin on the banks of the’ Ohio, there came a relapse. He was elected on the principle that his latchstring should be always out; and out it was accord- ingly. The consequence was that in one month a ceaseless swarm of friends stifled and sent him to his grave. Tyler—a Virginia gen- tleman of the old school, and left by events without a political party—was not an object for popular admiration after this inconvenient fashion. Polk—a man of a quiet, religious turn of mind, with a wife of a similar temperament— gave no encouragement to the advances of the crowd. General Taylor and his amiable lady: but recently emerged from the wilds of the Southwest, knew but little of fashionable life ov Washington usages. The consequence was that, like Harrison, he was entirely at the mercy of his friends, and met with a similar fate. Fillmore was a man of courtly aspira- tions and manners, and during his administra- tion the White House was disgraced by none of the overwhelming scenes that characterized the days of Jackson, Harrison and Tay- lor. General Pierce, owing to the influ. ence of his wife—n strict church mem- ber and a confirmed invalid—could not ee much company. Of Mr. Buchanan, whatever other sins may be laid to his charge, it is but just to say that his social reign in Washington was of the most decorous and dignified character. When Mr. Lincoln came into office the White House was instantly overrun by a swarm of long haired, tobacco chewing and tobacco spitting abolitionists, whose presence, both physically and morally, was contamination: These were the men who, under the influence of the pressure which they brought to bear on an Executine new to his position, and im- pressed with the conviction that others were as patriotic and as honest as himself, contrived to monopolize all the government contracts and to plunder the country of millions in the hour of its ex- tremity. Itis because of her trying to weed ihe Presidential mansion of such pestiferous and dangerous influences, and restore it to the pure and dignified position which it held inthe early days of the republic, that Mrs, Lincoln has rendered hereelf obnoxious to the Wash. ington gossips. If this be “a social blunder” we trust that she will persevere in the error of her ways. One or rag “Lirris Vinnains” Cav Last.—The New York Times belongs toa nership of “little villains.” The chief of these is Raymond, Speaker in the New York Assem- bly; second to him in the copartuership, and the most important in a financial point of view, is James B. Taylor, the West Washington Mar- ket and Fort Gansevoort operator. He bought a controlling influence in the paper for $14,000, being part of his profits from the West Wash- ington Market job, and he is now a leadiug pro- prietor in the concern. This Mr. Taylor has been recently indicted, and is now under bail to answer a charge of bribery. The indictment charges that Aiderman Dayton was approached by the accused, the alleged owner of the Wort Gansevoort property, with an offer of money a acompensation for his vote and influence ia promoting, in his official capacity, the purchase by the city of New York from said Taylor of the said Gansevoort property, contrary to the honor and dignity of the Board of Aldermen and the laws of the State ot New York. Om this indictment he has been arrested and held to bail in the sum of $2,000. His bondaman is Mr. Baker, of the printing firm of Myépodon & Baker. We are sorry for Taylor, and we think tho principal “little villain” ought to be included im the indictment. fle is a partaer with Taylor in the paper, and we suppose in his other business also, and we see no reason why, if he reaps the profits, he ought not to share the responsibilities also. This accounts for the course the Times has so long taken in reference to the jobs in the Corporation and the Legisla- ture, helping them along either by open ad_ vocacy, by silence or by indirection; and it will also account for the $25,000 worth of public priating which the Times is to get froma the Corporation, through Genet, if the bill for the abolition of the fees of the office of County Clerk should be defeated. But the bill will be passed, and the office will have a fixed salary. From the beginning the Times has been a stockjobbing concern. All its pro- prietors have been stockjobbers; but we be- lieve it is the first time that any of them hag been indicted for so serious an offence. Pro- bably, however, it will not be the last. Smty Rumors Asovr More Cuanges IN THB Casryen—In Wall street, so filthy in ita morals, though clean in its pavements, several rymors are in circulation of more changes in the Cabinet. One of these rumors is that Mr. Chase is to be removed from the Secretaryship ofthe Treasury, and that Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, is to take his place. But Mr. Lincoln is not in the habit of announcing such acts till after they are done, as, for instance, in the case of Mr. Cameron and his successor; and to this rumor, therefore, but little weight is to be attached. Another ramor is that Mr, Chase is to be appointed a Supreme Judgei but the vacant office has already been filed by a gentleman from Ohio Therefore that rumor is not true. A third ru mor is that Mr. Welles, Secretary of the Navy, is to be removed, and that General Banks is to be his successor. We cannot say what changea may take place in the Navy Department; for it seems to bea curious concern, and full of all hinds of disorders. But if Mr. Welles should be removed, we hope some person will be ap pointed who understands the prices of ships and the value of provisions, and knows how te make a contract for water casks soas not to poison the troops, and how to purchase stores for marines and sailors at some other places than establishments such as those with which Cummings dealt for cheese, and porter, and ale, and excellent red herrings—all from the hard- ware houses. These supposed changes involve a change in the Collectorship of New York, and many changes in the Custom House. The old democratic employes who have been sent adrift are greatly excited, and will look forward with glistening eyes to the prospect, till they find out that it is like the mirage of the desert or the baseless fabric of « vision. But we do not believe these rumors: they are all premature. No one knows what changes will take place, who will be put out or who put in, till the deed isdone. Mr. Lincoln knows how to conceal his purposes; and while he tells his joke he can quietly put one Cabinet Minister out and another in without any third party being the wiser. - Srocksoppisa mw THE Great Oreres:—Sinco the commencement of this war those in the secrets of their respective governments in New York, London and Paris have systematically used their knowledge for stockjobbing pur- poses. Acting upon their special information, they have been enabled to so far influence the newspapers and the markets as to raise and depress the price of securities at their own pleasure and to suit their own interest; and this they have done regardless of th financial disasters that have occurred in consequence. If we refer to former periods of history, how- ever, we find the same influences were at worl. on the Stock Exchange. The same stockjobbing took place in London and Paris as we now find in New York all through the wars of Napoleon, but particularly immediately before and after Waterloo. It will be remembered that Roths. child made his great wealth by speculating on early information of the defeat of Napoleon in this battle. The same stockjobbing also pre- vailed extensively at the time of the French Revolution in 1830, and again during that of 1848. It was the same to # great oxtent in both the English and French capitals during the Crimean war. In this country and in Europe the deceptions practised both upon the press and the people at large concerning the war, and especially the Mason and Slidell dif_l- culty, have been enormous and productive of a great deal of harm to all the nations concerned, That high officials in the service of any govern- ment should use their power and knowledge to convulse the money markets of the world, for the enke of their own private gain, shows the corruption that abounds in high places. Governuent Contracts and Contractors.— The rascalities of the men with whom the gov- ernment has made contracts during the war appear to be rather increasing than diminish- ing. They seem to hesitate at nothing in the way offraud, and every week discloses some new and scandalous cheat. Every naval expedition that has left New York has developed new fea- tures in the dishonesty of contractors. We have had cheats in ships, cheats in wa. ter barrels, cheats in cattle and horses, cheats in provisions, cheats in shoddy uni- forms, cheats in guns, cheats in muskets, and cheats in nearly everything else sup- plied for the use of the army and navy. The Investigating Committee on the War has done something to expose the frayds of these ind&