The New York Herald Newspaper, February 12, 1862, Page 1

THE NEW. YORK-HERALD. | WHOLE NO. 9285, IMPORTANT FROM EUROPE. Our Newspaper Despatches by the Jura and America. Wapoleon’s Speech to the French Legislature. Wis Anxiety for the Termination of the War in America. Imperial Report on the Trent Affair, Showing the Union Feeling of France. Lerd John Russell’s Reply to Mr. ': Seward’s Arguments. MASON AND SLIDELL AT SOUTHAMPTON. FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP OF ENGLAND. Reported Termination of the War in Buenos Ayres, Ker Ree &e. ~ Our newspaper despatches by the Jura reached this city rom Portiand last night. Weare thus enabled to pub- tiah some highly interesting and important details of the telographic report of her news given in the HxratD yes- Serday morning. ‘The America reached Boston about two o’elock yester” @ay afternson from Halifax, and her European mails, with those of the Jura, were forwarded to New York by the aight train. A despatch from Berlin, of the Sist ultimo, says:— ouncillor Echmann is appointed Minister of Prussia to Brazil. ‘The condition of the London Stock Exchange is thus veported:—The funds an the 29th ef January were rather. Aull and lower, under heavy supplies of stock. Money ‘waa very abundant. There were some antieipations of a further reduction of the bank rate of discount to two per cont, THE AMERICAN WAR CRISIS. Napeleon’s Speech to the French Legise lature. ‘The following isa translation of the speech delivered by his’ the Emperor Napoleon, on the opening of the logisiative session of 1962, January.27:— (@umrriawan Senators, Guerumen Durvis:— - The year which has just passed, despite certain anxie- ties, has.geen peace consolidated. All the rumors pur- posely propagated on imaginary pretences have fallen to the ground’of thomsclves before the simple reality of facts. My relations with foreign Powers give me the fullest satisfaction, and the visits of séveral sovereigns have contributed still more to strengthen our bonds of friend- ship. The King of Prussia, in coming to France, has been able to judge for himself of our desire to unite ourselves ‘still cloner with a government and with a people who are edvancing-with a firm and sure step towards progress. T have regognized the Of Italy, with’ the frm fmtention of contributing, by sympathetic and disinte- weated advice, to conciliate two causes, the antagonism of which disturbs the public mind and conscience every- where, ‘The civil war which desolates America has seriously com” promised our commercial interests. Nevertheless, s0 long ay ‘he rights of neutrals are respected, we must confine eur- selves to the uiterance of wishes that these dissensions may avon be terminated. af Our ‘ettablishment tm Cochin China has been Consolidated. by the valor of our soldiers. and sailors. .. The Spaniards associated’ in our enterprise will find, e! hope, in those countries, the reward of their @ourageous sipport. The Annamites make a feeble Wesistance to our power, and we should not be at ‘war with any one, if, in Mewico, the proceedings of an un- scrupulous government had not obliged us to join Spain and Bngland in protecting our fellow countrymen, and in sup- Pressing attempts against humanity and the righis of na- tions. Nothing can arise ous of this conflict of a nature to shake confidence in the future. Free from foreign cares, I have directed my attention T shall only say a fow words on the subject, The public expressed astonishment (s'est emu) at ‘the gum of 963,000,000f, to which the floating debt has wisen; but that debdt, if it be henceforth checked, need give no cause for anxiety, for it had already attained ‘that figure before 18482 period when the revenues of Frahee wore far from approaching what they are at ‘the present moment. Moreover, let first be deducted from this amount the 653,000,000f. which weighed upon ‘the State at a period anterior to the empire; then the ‘78,000 ,000f. repaid to the rentes holders (rentiers) at the Rime of the conversion; then the 223,000,000f, odd un- @ecured, caused in the last two budgets by distant expe- ditions, and which it might have been possible tosecure ‘By a joan. ‘It will be seon that, since the establishment of the empire—thanks, it is true,to the consolidations succes- Bively operated—the deficits (decouverts) have not increas- ed in proportion to the wants for which it was necessary te provide, and to the advantages obtained during the last ten years. In fact, gentlemen, it would not be just te see al ct ete te by the annual in- ‘terest of the loans contracted two wars which havo ‘wot been devoid of glory; the £622,600,000 employed by ‘the treasury in great works of public utility, indepen- dently of the three milliard appropriated by companies fm the completion of 6,663 kilometres of railways; the establishment of the network of telegraphic eommunica- tion; the improvement of the condition of nearly all the Servants of the State; the improvement of the soldier's ‘welfare; the cadres of the army placed on a {ooting in Reeping with the exigencies of peace, the dignity of France; the transformation of the flees and of ail our ‘materiel for the artillery; the restoration of our build- ings for public worship, and of our public monuments. All these outlays have given a beneficial impulse to publie labor throughout the empire. Have we not seen Gities re-ombellished, companies enriched by (fe pro- gress of agriculture, and our foreign commerce increase from two milliards six hundred millions te Ove milliards @ight hundred millions? In short, by the sole inerease of public prosperity the resources of the State have in- ereased by many hundreds of millions. ‘This enumeration shows us the full extent of the finan- cial resources of France; and yet, whatever may have ‘Been the origin of the deficite—however legitimate may have been the expenses—it was prudent not to increase them. With this object in view I have proposed a radical means to the Senate, which confers upon the le. girlative body her control and associates it closer with my policy, But thie measure was not, as may easily be supposed, an expedient to lighten my respon. ability. It wasa spontaneous and serious reform, of a mature te force us to be economical. In renouncing the ight to open supplementary and extraordinary credits fm the interval between the sessions, it was nevertheless a@nsential to reserve the power of providing fer unfore- mean necessities. ‘Tho system of transfers provides the moang, and it has ‘Whe advantage of limiting that power (facuite) to really urgent and indisponsable wants, The strictapplication of thie new system will assist us in placing our financia, system on the soundest basis. I count upon your patriot- Jem and intelligence to second my efforts by your willing way port. Ti) Budget will be presented to you immediately on the open.‘dg Of the session. It is not without regret that Phave decided to propose to you a readjustment of cor- tain taxes, but Dy the progress of pur revenue I am con- NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1862. ‘vinoed the increased burden of texation will only be temporary, ‘You will first have to turn your attention to the project Of law relative to the conversion of the four-and-a-half per conte, the object of which is, by equitably conciliating the interests of the Treasury and those of its ereditors, to Prepare the consolidation of the debs. Gentlemen, I have frankly stated to you the actual Position of affairs, You are aware that whenever an op- portunity of a useful reform has presented itself I have Feaolutely taken advantage of it. I shall not, noverthe- Jess, maintain less intact the fundamental bases of the Constitution which bas already acquired for tho coun- try ten years of order and prosperity. J am sware that it is the fate of all men in power to sce their best intentions misrepresented, and their most Praiseworthy acts aisterted by party spirit; but those who raise this outery are powerless when the confidence Of the nation is possessed, and when mothing has Deen neglected to deserve it. This sentiment, which displays itself on every occasion, is my most pre- cious reward, and is my greatest strength. Should un” foreseen events occur, suchas the dearness of provisions and scarcity of labor, the people may suffer, but in their justice they will not hold me responsible for their sufferings, because they are aware that all my thoughts, all my efforts, all my acts incessantly tend to improve their condition and increase the prosperity of France. Let us not dolude ourselves as to what we still have to accomplish, but at the same time, let us congratulate ourselves at having traversed ten years amid the quiet of satisfied populations and the union of the great bodies of the State, Let us persevere in our task with energy, and let us put our trust in Providence, who has always given us visible proofs of His protection. Oficial Report on the American War Question. ‘The relations of the French government with the Uni- ted States aro thus referred to in’the report on the “General Situation of the Empire,” laid before the legis- lative body:— The sorious internal complications which have taken Place in the United States have not disturbed teenth the cordiality of our relations with that country. Yt was im- however, that the conflict, the outbreak of beheld with pain, should not interfore, when it assumed so large proportions, with our ordinary transac- tions with the United States, and that it should not affect, toa certain extent, the security of our commerce. The government of the Emperor has, therefere, had to take into serious consideration, from the very first, these in- evitable consequences of the American crisis. It could not h@sitate as to the attitude which eircumstances made imperative. Having, on the one hand, the duty of seving that the interests placed under its’protection should suffer ag little as possible from the struggle which was c on, form the other hand, to show ts ror it only internal its and independence of another country, could y pursue one line of policy to attain the douvle object tt had in view—the strict observance of neutrality. Consequently, whilst maintaining wishes for the mainte- nance of the American Union on those conditions which bad until very recently appeared best calculated to secure ite prosperity; whilst being disposed, if it were solicited io do s, to contribule by its good effices to yut an end to a lorable struggle, it hastened, om the one hand, to re- mind its sul ‘of the duties imposed upon that neutrality, benefit of whieh it (the i - ment) claiméd in thelr behalf; auid, on the ether, to lay 3 Pell De Tiacinies. es i op the belligerents to declar and, if it did not rest with the Emperor's a government to do away with all the embarrassments which a state of war on any part of the globe always in- volvo, the principles the are ication of which the bellt- gerents have admitted, will at least have the effect of preventing those injuries which must etherwise have ag- Lape AC sufferings inevitably caused by the present sl Touching the case of the Trent, the blue book says:— ‘The imperial government has acted in conformity wit those same views and sentiments, with respect tothe recent incldont, which for atime gave reason to appre- hend a still more serious disturbance of the peace of the world. Faithful to its political friendships, as well as to tho traditions of France, the government thought itself bound to express, officially, but frankly, its opinion in an act which appeared to place in question the rights and guarantees justly claimed by neutrals, and which, at the zame time, might bring about a collision between Groat’ Britain and the United States. Whilst congratulating ‘Ourselves, in the interest of all parties, of the settlement which has taken place, we are,as far as we ourselves are happy at the assent with which our opinion has Leen received in all quarters, and at the a which the step we had taken has called forth both at Wai London. English Opinion of the American Para- a) 1 . rom the London Times, Jan. 28.) America her paragraph, and it contains something more like a threat than any other portion of this address. ‘The Emperor does not hesitate to confess that the civil war has seriously compromised the commercial interests of France, and there ig something almost regretful in the tone in which he says he must confine himself to tho utterance of wishes that those dissensions may soon be terminated, But there is the somewhat siern limitation to nis abstineuce, so leng as the rights of meutvals are respected.” The phri more general than the occasion demanded. ‘So long as the neutral rights of France are respected” would have satisfied the necessity, but the more general axpression would seem better adapted to the contingency of interposing to akate the international abuse of an ineffec- ive blockade. This is the euly phrase which breaks the tone of profound peace, for Mexico and Cochin China are only mentioned to be dismissed as unworthy of being considered as serious. We have little doubt that this faintly disguised impatience at the blockade of the South- orn ports faithfully reflocts the public feeling in France: but, on the other hand, there can be still less doubt that the foderal government will be much more careful how they give cause of just anger to France than they were in offering fence to vs. THE MASON-SLIDELL ARREST. Lord John Russell's Arguments on the Rights of Neutrale—His Points of Dif- ference from Mr. Seward’s Position. ‘The following are copies of correspondence with her Majesty's Minister in the United States:— ‘EARL acme ~ TO LORD ee ‘ORKIGN Ormice, Jan. 23, 1862. ‘Mz Lonv—I mentioned in my despatch of the 16th inst. that her Majesty's ment differed from Mr. Sewar: insome of the at which he had arrived, and that I should state to you on a future occasion wherein these differences consisted. I now proceed to do a0. Itis to observe that I propose to discuss the questions involved in this the principles of international law. speaking of tbe capture of the four gentiemen taken from on board the Trent, says:—‘‘The question before us is whether this proceeding was autherized by and conducted according to the law of ations. Thisis,in fact, the nature of the question which has been, but Bappily i no longer, at issue. It concerned the respective rights of bell ents and of neutrals. We must therefore discard tively from our minds the allegaiion that the captured x them only as enemies the United States at war with is government, the ground on which Mr. Seward nitimately by al the discussion. It is the only ground upon which foreign governments can treat it, ‘The first inqui that arises, therefore, is as Mr. Seward states it, ‘Were the persons named, and their supposed despatches, contraband of war?” Upon this question her Majesty’s government differ ‘entirely from Mr. Seward, The general right and duty of a neutral Powor to main- tain its own unications and friendly relations with both belligerents cannot be disputed. neutral na- tion,” Vattel (Vattel, book ili, chap. 7, ave, 118) “continues, with tho two parties at war, in iho several relations patur placed between vations. It is ready to perform towards both of them all the duties of human- ity, reciprocally due from nation to pation.’ In the per- feriaanes of these duties, on both sides, she weutral’ns. tion has itself a most direct and mat I interest, espe- cially when it bas numerous citizens resident in the terri- torien of both beliigerents: and when ite eitizeus, resi- dent both there and at home,havo property of great vaiue in the territories of the bellizerenta, which may be ‘exponed to danger fram acts of coudscation and violence if the protection of theirowa government should be with- held, This isthe case with respect to British subjects during the present civil war in Nocth America, Acting upon these principios, Sir William Scott, in the case of the Caroline—(Tho Caroline (Chr. 461. cited and approved by Wheat (Elements, chap. 3, sec. 22.)}—during the war between Great Britain and France, decided that the carrying of atebes from the French Ambagaator reeident in the United States to the government of France by ap United States merchant ship was no violation of the neutrality of the United ves in the war botween Great Britain and France, and uch despatches coud not be treated as contraband le. pro, the neutral State, but your reliance is on the ji togrity Of that neutral State, that it will not favor nor particle pate in such designs, but, asfar as its own counsels and Actions are concer! will them, And if there should be private reasor th that is ce thebeats hs, a outta founda, counteracted by just meawires of preventive pol er dal nt no ground on wilich this court eam pronow duty by bearing ante ‘be presui tral carrier has violated hii which, aa far o nk innocent ni ofa connec. tion.” Am uy af - ee loin, fterwarde. “It is to be con: re nia question, what may be due convenience of th iste teatine that. the intercourse bposdenen nt tab ene’ should be 2 if be So Gomereh to be. means of commmunienting w own. For to what useful purpose Seay Me ear epee tral Btate resident in the enemy's onuntt practice of has Ret 8 of re- nations has allowed to ceiving ministers from the belligerent States, and the use ae of an immediate negotiation with them.” t these principles must necessarily extend to every Ee of diplomatie Cerca Detween government government, w! sending or receiving au- Dassadors or commissioners Jit sending or receiving despatches from or to such ami lore oF commissioners, or from or to the respective governments, ia too plain to need argument; and it seems no less clear that such communica! must be as legitimate and in- nocent in their firet commencement as afterwards, and one party to " not the mode of the communication or the time when it frst takes place, which furnishes the test of the true appli- cation of the principle. The only distinction out of the '@ civil war and of the of ene othe teleneeeee either fw Saate. Weert ory ie nal Per hha “(for the pur- Pose of avoiding the difficulties might arise from a formal and positive solution of tnese questions dij are with the and though they . NO en of the duties of neutrality on tho part of that vessel, and, both for that reasen and also because the destination of these persons and of their despatches was bona fide nou- tral, it is in the judgment of her Majesty's governusent clear and certain they were not contraband, and its whole foundation The doctrine of contri ‘ich is nowhere more accu- rately explained than in the fellowing Pasaage of Bynker- shoek. After stating in general terms the duty of impar- tial neutrality, he adds:— {d, quod modo dicebam, non tantum ratio docet, sed et uses, inter omnes fere gentes receptus. Quamvis enim libera sint cum amicorum nostrorum hostibuscommercia, usu tamen placuit, ne alterutrum his rebus juvemus, quibus bel- Jum contra amicos nostros instruatur et” foveatur. Non licet igituralterutri advehere ea, quibus in bello gerendo opus habet; ut sunt tormenta, arma, et quorum preeeipuus in bello uaus, milites, * * ° "* " Optimo jure interdictum e aun ecrum hosiibus subministremus; quia his rebus jpsl_quodammedo, videremur smicie nosiris bellum fa- (Bynkershoek: “Qumst, Jur, Publ, Iib., 1, cap. 9.) principle of contraband ef war is here clearly ex- plained, and it is impossible that men, or despatches, which do not come within that principle can in this sense be contraband. The Logg Had knowingly carrying con- traband of war is, as Mr. Seward etates, nothing Jess than the confiscation of the ship; but it is im- possible that this penalty can be incurred when the neu- tral has done no more employ means usual amon; nations for maintain! Own proper ro‘ations wi Of She belligecest. It is of the very essence of the ee of con! art should havea ile, and not a ination. .'‘Goods,” says Lord Stowell (the ‘Imina,’ $ Chr. Rub,, 167), ‘ toa neutral port cannot under the r con- traband, all goods come desc: ile band,”’ he ‘ast have al tadeenioed It ie thot article must be taken te dale, in the natural prosecution of the yoyage toan enemy Resi dentate a enue it be contended that a tl tore sbuoxiou, for osalttig s eatnabund che: Seiceiocstenin “rere Mr. Seward seeks to support his conclusion op this mn by a reference to the well-known dictum of Sir iNiara Scott in tho case of the Caroline, that “you may stop the ambassader of your enemy on his passage;”” (the Caroline, 6 Chr. Rob., 468.) and to another dictum Of the same Judge, im the case of the Orozembo, that civil functionariés, “if sent for a purpose intimately con- nected with the hostile operations,” (The Orozembo, @ Chr. Rob. 434) may fall under the same rule with per- sons whose employment is directly military. ‘These quotations are,as it seems to her Majesty’#fovern- ment, irrelevant. The words of fie W. Scott are in-berth cases applied by Mr. Seward inacense different from that in which they were used. Sir William Scott does not say that an ambassador, sent from a belligerent to a ral State, may be stopped as contraband while on his passage on board a neutral vessel belonging to that or any other neutral State; nor that, if he be not contra- band, the other belligerent would have any right te stop him on such a voyage. The sole object which Sir Wil- liam Scott had in view was to explain the extent and limits of the doctrine of the inviolability of ambassadors, im virtue of that character, for he says:— ‘The limits that are assigned to the operations of wat againet them, by Vattel and other. writers ‘on these subjectar are, whe mbassador of your enemy on bis passage; but wh srrivedsand hes taken upon bim the funetions of hi and has been admitted in his representative character, h comes a sort of middle man, entitled to peeuliar privileges Ss ect apart for the protection of the relations of amity end peace, in maintaining which all nations are in some degree interested, There is certainly nothing in this passage from which an infereuce can be drawn £0 totally oppose to the gene- ral tenor of the whole judgment as that an ambassador, proceeding to the country to which he is sent, and on doard a neutral vessel belonging to that country, ’can be stopped on the ground that the conveyance of ‘such an ambassador is a breach of neutrality, which it must be if he be contraband of war. Sir William Scott is here ex- pressing not his own opinion merely, but the doctrine ‘which be considers to have been laid down by writers of authority upon the subject. No writer of authority has ever suggested that an amb ing to a neutral State on board one of its merchant sbips is con- traband of war, Then only writer named by Sir William Scott is Vattel, (Vatiel, lib. iv.,cap. 7, sec. §5) whose words are these :— in peut encore attaquer et arreter ses gene Veondesi) partoutou ot a la liverie d'exereer des tilite. Non seulement er. rrhe rule, therefore, 1 be acleated from these authori- tes is, that you may stop ap evemy's Ambassador in any placeof which you are yourself the master, or in eountry, are places are yourself the mas- ter. enemy's territory, or the enemy’ places in which you have a right to exercise tility. Neutral vessels, guilty of no violation of the laws of neutrality, are where you have no right to ex- erciae acts of bostility- It — be oF ape of ee ce that ambas- sacors have pecu! rivileges jue that they are less protevten than other men. The right conclusion is, that an ambassador sent toa neutral Power is inviolable on the high seas as well as in neural waters, while wnder the ‘The other dictum of Walter Scott, in the case of the Ororembo, is even less pertinent to the present ques- tion, ‘Tbat related to the case of @ neutral ship which, upon the effect of the evidence given on the trial, was heia by the court to have been Cnn ag aD enemy's transport to convey (he enemy’s military officers, and some of his civil officers whove duties were intimately connected with military operations, from the enemy's country to one of the enemy's colonies, which was about to be the theatre of those eperations, the whole being done under color of @ simulated neutral destination, But as lorig as 4 moutral government, within whose ritories no military eperntions are carried on, ad- heres to its profession of neutrality, the duties of civil officers on a mission to that government and within its territory cannot possibly be ‘connected with’ any “military operations” in the sense in which there words were used by Sir William Scott, as, indeed, is rendered quite clear by the pagsages aiready cited from his own judgmentJn tho case of the Caroline. In connection with this part of ¢ sary to notices remarknble parsag: ia which he says, ‘1 assume, in th Tread British authorities, is f Hf aubject, it ie noces- in Mr. Soward’s note, present case, what,as ded by Great Britain hersolf as true maritime Inw, that the circumstance that the Tr from neutral pot ify the rij capture.” If, indeed, the immediate and of the Trenthad been toa neutral port, b yeal destination to some port of the ouemy, her M jesty’s government might havo been bettter able to un- ‘derstand the reference to British authorities contained in this pastage. It is undoubtedly the !aw, nx laid down y ies, that if the real destination of the ‘Yesees be hostile («bet te, toes enemy or the enemy's country) it cannot be rendered a fictitious destination irae or St ester see no English, nor, in y's oy ‘American authority can be found which has r given countenance to the doctrine that either men or despatobes can be subject, during such a and uch @ neutral vessel, to belligerent capture as contraband of war. Ee "8 Gon ohne] a doctrine as wholly irreconeil maritime law, tend sertately with thore iprineples as they been understood im the cours of this country. It ie to be further observed that pease cnanerd ne eeping up the Lm aA and periodical bey orld, though in ther the world, thoug! absence of treaty ipulations they may not be exempted from visit and search in time of war, nor from the penal- ties of any violation of noutrality, if Proved to have Deen knowingly committed, are stiil, when tailing In tho ordinary and innocemt cburse of their legitimate employ- ment, which consists in the conveyance of mails and PacseDgerp, entitled to peculiar favor and pretection It has been to dwell u | some detail, because they involve principles of the high- if Mr. Seward’ from all governments in whose service thoy are engaged. ‘To detain, disturb or interfere with them, without the 7 ee wont be an actof a most noxious injurious character, not only to a vast number and variety of individual and private interests, but to the Public interests of neutral and friendly governments. these points 50 eat importance, and because, @ argument were acted upon as sound, the most jnjurious conse- quences might follow. For instance, in the present war, according to Mr. Sew- ard’s doctrine, any packet ship carrying a Confederate agent from Dover to Calais,or from Calais to Dover, might becaptured and carried to New York. In case ofa war between Austria and Italy the conveyance of italian minister or agent might cause the capture of tral packet plying between Malta and Marseilles, or between Malia and Gibaraltar, the condemnation of the ship at Trieste, and the confinement of the minister or agent in an Austrivn prison. So in the late war between Great Britain and France,on the one hand, and Russia on the other, a Russian minister going from Ham- P burg to Washington, in an American ship, might have deen brou, it to Portsmouth, the ship it have been ;and the minister sent to the of Len- don. Soalsoa ite vessel-of-war might capture seeped ceatyapeama cates ui aed on t iD, ‘tches from Mr. to Mr. Adame, . of the Trent, and that the fact of its being brought before Sy iy co aga: Jaw O mations which would thereby be committed. disposed of the question whether the persons oand their a ay despatches were contraband ‘rom the of way, am relieved necessityof discussing the other questions raised by Mr. Seward—namely, whe- Wilkes had lowfuily @ right to stop and aw ‘Trent for these and their supposod i aher that right, asec that he pos- ne ney ag to a lay and proper and whether aright to capture the per- tifth question put by Mr. Seward—namely, whe- they Captain Wilkes exerciged tho alleged right of cap- w the manner allowed and recognized by the law of, 5 = }; is resolved by Mr. Seward himself in the nega- t conclude, however, without noticing one very passage in Mr. Seward’s despatch. . Seward asseris that ‘if the safety of this Union re- quired the detention of the captured persons, it would be the duty of this government to detain them.” He pro- coeds to say that the waning proportions of the insur- reetéom, and the comparative unimportaxce of the cap- i arg themselves, forbid him from resorting to tl . ri Mr. Seward does not here assert any: ‘on international law, however incenve- ni Or irritating to neutral natious. He entirely loses ai of the vast difference which éxisis between H iH FP i », Seward ob: that it was ther a mistake that this plan had with a view the harbors pan . Ig was, he said, S toaid the vernment of the United had last , With a navy very little prepared for so extensive tion, undertaken to bi upwards of three miles sf The of the Navy coast. Secretary reported that he could stop up the “large boles”’ by maans of his ships, but that he could not stop up the ‘gmail ones.” It had been found t@elose some of the numerous small inlets by sinking vessels in the channels. It would be the duty of the government of the United States to remoyo all these obstructions as soon as the Union was restored. It was well understood that this was am obligation incumbent on the federal ern- t the end of the war with Great Britain overnment been called upon to remove a b, harbor of and had recogni: ¢ obligation and removed the vessel accordingly. Moreover, the United States were now en- gaged in a civil war with the South. He was not pre- pared to say that, as an operation in war, it was unjusti- fiablo to destroy permanently the harbors of the enemy; ‘but nothing of the kind had been dove on the present occasion. Vessels had been sunk by the rebels to pro- vent the access to their ports of the cruisers of the United States. The same measure bad been ado; ted by the United States in order to make tho blockado com- plete. When the war w: ded the removal of all these obstructions would bea mero matter of expense; there would be no great difficulty in =e, them effectually Besides,as had already been Gone tn the case of fort Royal, the United Statea would open better harbors than thove which they closed. Tasked Mr. Seward whether the principal entrance to Charleston harbor had not been recently closed aitogethor by vessels sunk by order of this government; and I ob- served to him that the opening of a new port, thirty or forty miles off, would hardly console the people of the large town of Charleston for the destruction of their own harbor. Mr. Seward eaid that the best proof he could give mo that the harbor of Charieston had not been rendered in- accessible was, that in spite of the sunken vessels and of the blockading squadrons, a British steamer, laden with contraband of war, had just succeeded in ortting in. 1 have, &., LYONS. Arrival of Mason and Slidell in England. {From the Mauchester Guardian, Jan. 30, Messrs. Mason and Slidell arrived at Southampton yes- terday in the La Plata. Thoy embarked on board the British ship Ri lo, at Boston, bound for Halifax, on the 2d inst. Owing toa furious gale the Rinaldo could not make Halifax, and after trying ineffectually for four days to do go she ran for Bermuda. Tiere the English Admiral offered to send the commis. sioners home in ber ty 's ship Racer, er convey them toSt. Thomas to catch the West India packet. The iat. ter course was by . They acknowledge having been treated in the most ery oy perth roh 'd the Rinaldo and at Bermuda by ani . ‘They were received at Southampton the Confederate steamer Nashville and other gent missioners ‘once to London, whence Mr. Slidell would proceed to Paris. According to another account Mr. Mason remained yesterday at Core et London News.) (Southampton (Jan. 29) correspondence ion News. (Seaers. sidell and }, the Confederate Commis- sioners, who ought to have reached this port on Wed- nosday, the 27th November Inst, in the La Plata, arrived here to-day in that very ship, exactly nine woeks 3 wards. ey embarked on -d the British ehip Ri at Boston, bound for Halifax, on the 2d inst. Owing toa furious gale the Rinaldo could not make Halifax, and, after tryieg ineffectually for four days to do so, she ran to Berm ida. A large crowd gathered together in the dock to catch a gliwpse of men who have caused this country so much money, and England and all Farope such anxiety. No demonstration was made on their landing. Both Commissioners are fine, healthy looking men. Mr. Slidell ia very much like the portraits of him in the lustrated papers. * rem the Liverpool Post, Jan. a a Messrs. Mason aud Slidell bave arrived. Already the seven weeks’ heroes have sbrunk to their natural dimen- wiope, and the mee te expressed by the London ‘Timez, by ourselyee, and by other journals, leet tney should have # triumphal recéption, already seom absurd, THE CUION"GUNBOAT TUSCARORA MEETS THE REBEL a GENTS. [From the Manchester Guardian, Jan. 30.) ‘The federal war steamer Tuscarors left Southampton yesterday morning. As sho was goiug out, the La Plata, with the commis. sioners, was coming in, She pasved the La Plate off the Neod!és. Her destination is unknown. On Tuesday several of the officers and crew were on shore making purchases, and stores in some quantities ‘were sent off to the ship by the purveyors. One of the principal officers stated that the vessel was merely guing for a cruise of three or four days’ duration, and she would make Southampton river her headquarters for a long time to come. ‘There is rumor afloat,” says the London Herald, ‘our government have intimated to the commanders of both the Nashville and the Tuscarora they bad botter wake (bemselves ‘scarce.’ '’ Rassia, ‘THE EMANCIPATION ON. St. Perensiena, Jan. 31, 1862. ‘The Nortern Post says that great dissatisfaction and impatience are folt by the nobility at the emancipation of the sorts, onpecially on account of the unpatictual pay- ment of the contributions by the peasants, Government having guaranteed the contributions, will keep ita word, Dut the transition requires time. The nobility the new state of things and assist the. 5 solution lies in the final achievement of the emancipation. The oxtension of the e's a ity, ticipation in the administration depends on the nobi who can facilitate or obetruct the intention of the govern- ment in thia respect. The Assembly of Nobles opened at St. Petersburg on the 28th. General Snwarrow, the Governor Genera), said, in his speech, that the welfare of the nobility was not pessibio unless a clove alliance exists between them ‘and the Ernperor, Jt is the wish of the r that the nobility ehowld maintain their privileged position ; but it is any, the throne juing established on a firm asia that the nobility can preserve their ingyence, The Governor promised to give his influence to those wishes of the nobility which might be advantageous to the com- mon welfare. The recently ansounced increased taxation is pro- Toulgated in a ukase. iP MACE DECLARED THE VICTOR AFTER FORTY-TWO {From the London lobe, J 28.) jan. The above fight took place yesterday morning at God- stone, in Surrey, and about thirty miles from London. ‘The fight began at seven minutes past nine o'clock, and after fighting one hour and eight minntes, during which time forty-two rounds were fought, King was unable to come up to the call of time, and Mace was declared the victor. The betting at the commencement Was two to one on ‘Mace, but in the course of the encounter the odds varied to similar offers upon King. The punishment delivered up to acertain time was tolerably equal, King having slightly tho best of it, until the last round, when they cluged and fell, and King’s head coming in contact with the ground, which rendered him i 7 ible, the sponge was wa up in token of his de- feat. ‘The fight took place amid a steady fall of rain, but the attendance was very large, the ‘aristocracy being very powerfully represented. France. ‘The Paris Monitewr publishes a bill for the optional con- version of 434 per cent rentes, a full explanation of the motives for the conversion. It says Ch ged not an expedient to meet temporary wants of the Trea- sury, but is conceived in the interests of public pros- Perity, and shows the advantages of conversion. Italy. Advices from Rome state that preparations are making to land on the Neapolitan coast, to excite an insurrection, M, Ciouffa, President of the Civil Tribunal at Rome, has Deen asgassivated. Tho assassin was arrested. The Pope is again reported ill. Denmark. 1862. Corenuacen, Jan. 30, The Estates of Holstein will be convoked to vote their Portion of the budget for the common expenses of tho monarchy. In case the Estates resist, the Danish govern- ment is nevertheless determined to collect the taxes. Turkey. It is rumored that the Porte, fearing Garibaldi might effect a landing othe Adriatic coast, sent @ superior r to Omar Pacha, ivstructing him under such cir- =~ toact in concert with the Austrian com- mander. Important from South America. ' URQUIZA’S FLEBT CAPTURED BY BUENOS AYRES. A telegraphic despatch from Lisbon announces further interesting mews from Buenos Ayres. Urquiza’s fleet was taken by the Buenos Ayreaus. The last means of prolonging the disturbances of the country are thus ex- Mnguis! The tone of both political and commercial ‘affairs, juently, has considerably improved. Rio Janeiro dates of the 8th have been received. Cof- fee, 64650 for good firsts; stock 320,000 bags. Shipments since last mail, 42,000 Exchange, 2534 0 253¢. THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. CAPTURE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. TWO OR THREE DAYS HARD FIGHTING. Sinking and Capture of the Rebel Gunboats, &e., &e, Fortanes Mownon, Feb. 10, 1862. A flag of truce to-day brings the intelligence that our troops landed at Roanoke Island yesterday afternoon. No particulars are given, but it was intimated that the island had been taken. No papers have been received, except the Norfolk Day Book of Saturday, the contents of which have already been made public, &e., Baxmimone, Feb. 11, 1862. he Baltimore Ciipper publishes an extra, stating that Roanoke Island was captured after three days’ fight ing. Two rebel gunboats were captured and the rest were sunk or scattered. The people of Norfolk and Portsmouth are panic stricken. The news is confirmed by passengers by the Fortress Monroe boat. Puitaparrma, Feb. 11, 1862, Adespatch to the Inquirer of this morning, dated at Fortress Momroe on the evening of the 9th inst., gives what purports to be additional particulars of the capture of Roanoke Island by Burnside’s forces. By @ flag of truce to-day I learn that the bombard- ment of the works on Roanoke Island continued during yesterday. About noon Commodore Lynch got his mos- quite flotilla under way, and came down Currituck Sound to assist his rebel friend, General Wise,on the island. The Union gunboats then directed their fire upon the gunboats commanded by Lynch, and at five o’clock yer- terday afternoon three rebel gunboats had been sunk, two were captured, one of which had a Commodore's pennant fying during the action, and the rest dispersed in every direction. The firing censed at dark last night, but was recom" menced with increased vigor and effect this morning, and kept up until about eight o'clock, when it is supposed the rebel forces on the island surrendered. A fireman on board the Selden said that the Union troops had been landed in large numbers on Roanoke Island, and that the Stars and Stripes could be seen at Blizabeth City flying over the rebel batteries. It ‘was rumored in Norfolk this morning that three regi- ments had recently been sent to Roanoke Island, and that, as there was no chance of escape, the probability was that they were all captured. The rebels acknowledge that the only obstacles of im- portance to retard General Burnside’s march inland and ‘pom Norfolk will be the natural ones of swamps, marshes, sickness, kc. si ‘The rebels feel their recent defeats very sensibly, and are growing desperate in their fear. REPORTED EVACUATION OF BOWLING GREEN, Lovusviis, Feb. 11, 1862. ‘Twe persona, just arrived, report that the rebels are evacuating Bowling Green, with indications of their pro- cooling towards Nashville. Capture of Rebels in Indiana. Carcimyats, Feb. 11, 1862. A special despatch from Indianapolis to the Y says that two men were arrested at Princeton, Ind., a few days since, by the Surveyor of the port. Upon searching the persons their clothing and boot legs were found wadded with levters for parties in the South, many of them from Europe. One of them had s large amount of gold on bis person. Reiaforeements have gone forward from Danville and Somerset to support General Thomas in his movement on Knoxville. News From San Fr: sco. San Francisco, Feb. 10, 1862. Arrived ship Wm. ©. Nye, New York, and pilet boat a py * gay Fraxcitoo, Feb. 11, 1862. Arrived bark What Cheer, Shanghae, Sailed ship Red Guantlet, Hong Kong; Vesurgas, Callao; steamer Sonora, with two passengers and $070,000 in treasure for New York and $160,000 for England. ‘Trade is reviving slightly, with moderate transactions in general merchandise. A speculative movement has occurred in foreign brandies, establishing a rise of 250. a 0c, per gallon, Domestic brandies are higher. Whis- key, ditto, Spirits turpentine, $1 60. Candies dull, ay ‘200. a 23e. Malls for Liverpool Direct. Haurax, Feb. 11, 1862. ‘The transport steamship Mauritius sails his for Liverpeol direct. Her mails eo at 6 P.M. Despatches left with George telegraphic commercial agent, 145 Broadway, New York, up to 4 P. M. will be in season for this fteamer. The Massachusetts Legislature. Bostox, Feb. 11, 1862. ‘The Senate to-day clected Bishop Fitzpatrick one of the Overseors of Harvard College. His election will go back to the Houre for concurrence. ACADEMY oF Mcsto—Granp Gata Matineg.—The Grau troupe will give a gramd operatic matinee on Saturday next, when ‘Martha’? will be repeated witfthe same cary with which it was Played last week, PRICE TWO CENTS. INTERESTING FROM TENNESSEE. Preparations for an Attack on Fort Donelson. A DESPERATE BATTLE ANTICIPATED. The Tennessee River Swept ot Rebel Boats, Full Account of the Capture of Fort Henry. The Disposition of the Military and Naval Forces Before the Battle, ENTHUSIASM OF THE UNION FORCES. THE UNION FLEET UNDER FIRE. The Rebel Prisoners Captured--- Whe They Are. ke, kes kee A DESPERATE BATTLE IMMINENT AT FORT DONELSON. Cixcmamt, Feb. 11, 1862. A special Cario despatch to the Gazdie, says that fede- ral officers from Fort Donelson report that General Grant bad surrounded the fort with seven batteries of artillery, and the fort will be shelled or surrendered to- day or to-morrow, There are eight thousand rebels in the fort. Sr. Loum, Feb. 11, 1862. The enemy at Fort Donelson are being rapidly rein- forced, and the prisoners say that they are confident they can hold the position. Trees are being felled for two miles around the fort by ‘@ gang of negroes. General Pillow is in command there, with 2,000 men, embracing some of the best artillerists from Columbus. There are two small forts and three camps several hundred yards from the main fortifications, aud present appearances indicate that the coming battle will be much more desperate than that at Fort Henry. ENGAGEMENT WITH AND DEFEAT OF REBELS. Camo, Il, Feb. 12, 1862, A detachment of cavalry, 250 strong, had an engage- ment with some rebels on Sunday, seven miles east of Fort Heary. Five rebels were killed and thirty prisoners ‘and thirty horses captured. One Union soldier wap wounded. A detachment of the Thirty-seoond I!incis regiment: destroyed a portion of the bridge on the Louisville, Clarksville and Memphis road on Saturday evening. The rebel camp at the same place had been previously evacuated. THE TENNESSEE RIVER SWEPT OF REBEL- ‘BOATS. Sr. Lous, Feb. 11, 1962. A special from Oairo to the Democrat says that Com modore Foote has just received despatches from Captain Phelps, of the gunboat Concstoga, announcing the returp of the gunboat expedition from up the Tennessee river, after capturing a new rebel gunboat and destroying alt the other redel boats up the river as for as Florence, Ala, ‘The Reputlican’s Fort Henry despatch says that a por- tion of the army encamped near the river have beep moved two miles further back, with all their batteries, from which point the roads are good, and a speedy for- ward movement can be made when desired. Two more regiments arrived to-day, and two more steamers laden with troops are just coming in sight. OUR C AIRO CORRESPONDENCE. Camo, Ill, , Feb. 7, 1862. The Capture of Fort Henry—Disposition of the Military and Naval Forces Prior to the Battle—A Skirmish with Rebel Cavalry—Telegraph Communication Cut Off Be- ticeen Forts Henry and Donelson—The Disembarkation gf General Smith's and General Wallace’s Brigades—A Thunder Storm Intervenes—The Order to Move—Fort Henry—Commencement of the Batlle—The Gunboats Under Fire—The Rebel Plag Hauled Down, dc., dc. After the landing of tho troops composing the firat and second brigades of General McClernand’s division on the eastern shore of the Tennessee, at Camp Halleck, the transports returned to Paducah to bring up General Smith’s: brigade. Flag Officer A. H. Foote came up in the afternoon on the Tyler, and took command of the fleet. During Wednesday several scouting parties of cavalry were sent out in different directions. Thirty men under Captain Dollins attacked some two hundred rebel cavajry at an outpost some three milesporth of Fort Henry. Three rebels and one of our men were killed, and the rebels driven into their intrenchments. Another scouting party destroyed the telegraph which connected Forts Henry and Donelson. Daring that day and the succeeding night General Smith’s brigade—some seven thousand strong—and a number of regiments from Smithland, under General Wallace, arrived and were disembarked on the western side of the river. During the night a sucecssion of severe thunder showers—eon- tinuing until after six in the morning, with a heavy fal) of rain—raised the river some two fect, so that the streams on beth sides of the river were very mech swol- Jen. This very materially affected the movements of the next day, seriously retarding the movements of ho field and siege batteries. Yesterday the anxiously expected erder to move was isqued. At eight o'clock the advance of MeCier- nand’s first brigade, Colonel Oglesby commanding, began to move on the eastern side of the river. It consisted of the Fighth Illinois, Lieut. Colonel Rhodes; Eighteenth Titinots, Colone] Lawler; Twenty-ninth Mltncis, Colonel Reardos; Thirtieth Iilinois, Lieutenant Celonel Deanis; Thirty-fret Minis, Colonel John A. Logan; Schwarts’s battery, of four six-pounders and two twelve pound howitzers; Drese- ers battery, of six six-pound rifles, and Stewart's, Dollins’, O’Harnett’s and Carmichael’s companies of cavalry. This brigade was soon after followed by the second brigades Colonel W. H. L. Wallace commanding, consisting of the Eleventh Illinois, Liewtenant Colone! Hart; Twentieth Tli- nojs, Colonel Marsh; Forty-Acth Lilinois, Colonel Smith; Forty-eighth Mlinois, Colonol Harney; Taylor's battery, four six-pounders aud two twelve-pounders; McAllister’s vattery, of three twenty-pound siege guus, and the Fourth luinois cavalry, Colonel Kellogg, and Company D, First Missour! artillery, four twenty-pound Parrott guns. At the same time General Smith's brigade (the same> with the addition of the Seventh Illinois, Colonel Cook, that you published at the time of the reconnoissance, and Goneral Wallace's command, from Smithiand, which I sent you last week) moved up the right bank. At half-past ten o'clock the gunboats were signalled by Fiag Officer A. H. Foote to get under way, and slowly steamed up the river in the following order:—The gun- boat Cineinnati, fiagchip, thirteen guns, commanded by R.N. Stembel, United States Navy, followed on the right by the St. Louis, thirteen guns, Commander Leonard Paulding, United States Navy ; Carondelet, thirteen guns, Commander Henry Walke, United States Navy; Essex» seven guns, Commander Wm. D. Porter, United Stateg Navy. Those boate are iron-clad, bog Acting the gunboat Conestoga, seven guns, Lieutenant of ‘ning Faas, Cnited states Navy; Lexington, seven 4 Commanding J, W. Shirk, United States ory ant Tye feven guns, Lieut Commanding ni ‘W. Gwin, United States Navy, ry is situated on the left bank of the river, at eet tent de halt miles above the benaot Panther Island, on a bend which the river makes at ro the west. There js « channel on either side of the island; the eastern or main channel is for the greater part of its Jongth within sight of the rebel guns, while ine approach by the western channel is ‘ed by the ber of,ihe island. The gunboats, under @ good ‘of steam, entered the western in the order before stated, Full and complete had been given by the fing officer to each of the. commanders, and they moved into and wp the channel with the utmost preci#ion and ity. But a time before the air was vocal music ae the reg!-