The New York Herald Newspaper, February 19, 1862, Page 4

eee 4: NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19 1862. © NEW YORK HERALD. GORDON BENNETT, EDTIOR AND PROPRIETOR, 108M. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, * BRS cash 1» advance, by mast will beatthe igh the sender. “Bowe at Monk Sats Current tn Ne York AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. IBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway. — ov.men Baws. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—\araiep Lire—Ove Pleasant NriGH son. WALLACK'S THEATRE, No. 84 Broadway.—Voxvex, a VOmas mies 4 omCRRE LAURA KRENE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Our Awzct- Gam Cousiy NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory.—)aques Stror— Tos Were —ayMoNy ami 0 Ni. BOWERY ‘Crrous. THEATRE, Bowery.—Sticsner's Nationa. nOUd Aua 44 cull, BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadw: Nort—Livinc Hirrorotamus, Waatg, <c., at ail Owvima, afvernoon and : vening, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- wag. Maw Roast Bums HOOLEY'S MINSTRELS, Stuyvesant I stitute, No. 65 roadway.—ETuiorian Songs, Dances, ‘ac. saad OOM ours. — MELODEON CONCERT HALL. No. 539 Broadway. ‘Soncs, Dances, Buatesquxs, &c.—Houpar ix Taxuaxs. CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL, 585 Broadway.—Son Danoxs, Buri esques, &¢.—MacuLe, THE Mosr Owe ms GAIRTIES CONCERT ROOM, 616 Broadway.—Drawixa ENTERTAINMENTS, BALiets, Paxtominns, Fancus, 4c. AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, 444 Broadway.—Sonas, Bat- cats, Pawtomiuas, &¢.— Port! PAINTER. CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERT HALL, No. 45 Bowery.— Bowusques, Sonus, Dancxs, &0.—Rux vez vous. sa PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDE Broadway.— Open daily trom WA MASE lia NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, ,—Bunsese Sonas. Danoxs, &0 peeve ss eases New York, Wednesday, February 19, 1862 THE SITUATION. We give to-day further interesting particulars of the fight at Fort Donelson. It appears that the General Johnston captured was not, as was sup- posed, A. S. Johnston, but General Bushrod John- son, of Tennessee. Despatches received in Cairo on Monday state that a strong light was observed at or near Clarksville, and the supposition was that the rebels were either burning the town or were destroying their steamboats, to prevent their falling into the hands of our troops. Rejoiciaga over the news of the fall of Fort Donelson continue to be manifested at all points throughout the North and West. Rumors of the capture of Savannah still come from several sources, but no official intelligence of the fact has been received at Washington. The Savannah Republican of the 11th instant says that ‘our vessels were actively engaged in Wall’s Cut and at Warsaw, evidently making towards the city of Savannah. A letter received in Washing- ton yesterday from Commodore Dupont says that in a few days from the date of his writing a most brilliant victory by his expedition may be ex- pected. All this, we opine, points to the capture of Savanuah, official intelligence of which we may receive at any moment. Every item of intelligence which we receive from the South contributes fresh evidence ef the hope- lessness of the rebel cause. At s supper given by the citizens of Martinsburgh, Va., to Mr. Faulkner, late United States Minister to France, but now a Prominent rebel, that gentleman stated that he considered it was useless for the South to contend any longer; that the Southern confederacy could not stand, and that the sooner the war was ended the better it would be for the people of the South. This declaration, is said to have created great ex- citement. as well it might, coming from a person of Mr. Faulkner's influence; and General Banks has intimated his belief that Mr. Faulkner used these expressions. Rumors were in circulation yesterday, that Alex- ander H. Stephens, the Vice President of the rebel government, had resigned his position and declared himself in favor of the reconstruction of the Union. This ramor is still vague, of course, but it is well known that Mr. Stephens was about the last of the Southern politicians to consent to the secession movement. ° From late Southern newspapers just received, also, we observe that the rebels are beginning to feel the critical position into which daily events are leading them. The New Orleans Crescent of January 31 gives what it calls a plain statement of faeta, to superinduce the rebel mind to a full realization of the dangers now impending. It seys:—‘Fortunately for us the weather has so far fendered operations with large bodies of men im_ practicable. But whenever this difficulty is re- moved we may look with confidence for the im- mense hordes to be precipitated upon us."’ Again:— “If they break through our lines, or tarn our strong positions, then we must face all the horrors of invasion."’ The writer continues, “We need more men, more fighting men. We have use for thousands and tens of thousands more than we have.” The Memphis Appeal of the 4th instant, says :— ‘From all the information we can gather, we are fully convinced that the long looked for contest at Columbus, which will decide for weal or woe the destinies of the Mississippi valley, is soon to take place.”’ The rebel Major General Earl Van Dorn has turned ap in Arkansas, from whence he publishes an order announcing himself—by appointment of Jeff. Davis—the Commander of he ‘‘Trans-Missis- sippi District Department.’ He orders all the commanders of troops within his district to report the strength and conditions of their commands to him, and commands all officers and soldiers to re- tarn immediately to their regiments, as “there is & necessity for the immediate services of every sol- dier in the district.” In every quarter of rebeldom the desperation of its condition thas appears to be acknowledged. The Edinburg. at this port, brings advices from Korope to the Sth inst.—three days later. The people of England were more and more de- cided and unanimous in the expression of their opinion against any intervention or interference on the part of their government in the affairs of the Ui ed States, so far as they are affected by the e stence of the rebellion in the South. On this ub ect the London Kconomist—the organ of Mr. Wiison, Secretary of the Board of Trade—declares th | it matters not what subjects are treated of in or whet are omitted from the Oneen's speech at nounces that she herself, and perhaps the Emperor of France, will confine themselves to a strict observance of neutral rights: and nothing more. The London News—the organ | of Exeter Hall and the foreign abolitionists—en- dorses this sentiment, and maintains that the | Speedy settlement of the war in America is the only manner in which the interests of Great Britain can be served. By the operation of Earl Russell's late cir- cular of neutrality, the privateer Nashville was sent off from Southampton on the 3dinst. The Union gunboat Tuscarora was then anchored off Cowes, where the rebel vessel passed her. The Tuscarora steamed up and was ready to start in chase of her, when she was stopped by the British frigate Shannon (51), and detained for twenty-four hours afterwards, in accordance with the strict letter of international law. f The London Times and Post congratulate the English people on their seeing the last of both vessels, as wellas of all other American naval belligerents. The pirate Sumter was at Gibraltar on the 2d instant. The British Parliament was to meet on the 6th instant. Animated discussions on the American question were expected; but it was thought that Mr. Lindsay's assault on the Union blockade, as well as Mr. Gregory's motion for the recognition of the independence of the rebel States—both long pre- pared—will fall dead on the ear of the House R Commons. Avery late despatch (Feb. 4) from Vienna an- nounces as a fact that the Archduke Maximilian will accept a throne in Mexico from the Allies, but that Austria will not give up Venetia in exchange. France was preparing to send a large and excel- lently well appointed army to the republic. It is again said that the troops of the Emperor will hold Vera Cruz, as well as Mexico city, for a lengthened period. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, resolutions of the Wis- consin Legislature, in favor of; furnishing relief to the famine stricken people of Ireland, were pre- sented and referred. A resolution directing in- quiry into the judicial management of the District jail was adopted. An outlawry bill, providing for the forfeiture of rights and privileges of those who take up arms against the government, was ordered to be printed. The House joint resolution, directing the illumination of the public buildings on Saturday evening next, Washington’s birth- day, in honor of the recent victories, was adopt- ed. The case of Mr. Starke, the new member from Oregon, whose loyalty is in question, was then taken up, and a long debate ensued, but, without taking action on the subject, the Senate adjourned. In the House of Representatives, the Treasury Note bill, with the Senate’s amendments and some modifications, was reported back by the Ways and Means Committee, and made the special order for to-day atone o'clock. The Senate’s joint resola- tion tendering the thanks of Congress to Commo- dore Dupont, and the officers and men under his command, for the decisive victory at Port Royal in November last, and the Senate’s resolution ten- dering the thanks of Congress to the Army and Navy for the series of brilliant victories over the enemy, were both adopted. The Senate’s amendment to the Fortification Appropria- tion bill was concurred in. Bills to equalize the grade of line officers of the navy, and for the better administration of the law of prizes, were introduced. .A joint resolution directing that the Public buildings be illuminated on Saturday even- ing next, the anniversary of Washington's birth- day, in honor of the recent victories, was unani- mously adopted. A resolution, that as a mark of respect for the memory of the killed, and sym- pathy for the wounded in the recent battles, and as a testimonial of admiration for the undaunted courage of the soldiers, sailors and marines en- gaged, the House do now adjourn, was unani- mously adopted, and the House accordingly ad journed. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship Edinburg, from Liverpool on the 3d and Queenstown on the 5th inst., reached this port yesterday morning. Sheibrought the passen- gers and cargo of the disabled steamer Etna. Her news report is three days later than that received by the Asia. The Liverpool cotton market was steady on the 3d, and closed quiet on the 4th inst., with the quo- |) tations unchanged. Breadstuffs were quiet and steady. Provisions were dull. Consols closed in London, on the 4th inst., at 92%; a 92%. The Paris Bourse was lower. It was rumored in London that the Washington Cabinet had made proposals to the English govern- ment relative to a renewal of the attempt to put down an Atlantic telegraph cable. A vessel from Charleston, 8. C., had arrived at Liverpool, laden with cotton and rosin. Austria was embarrassed by a money crisis in Venetia, as well as some recent disturbances at Mantua. In the State Senate yesterday the bill creating the New York County Court House stock received & favorable report. The bills amending the Re- vised Statutes relative to judgments in actions for ejectment and to advance the Erie Canal enlarge- ment were passed. The bill to suppress our city concert saloons was ordered to a third reading. A bill was introduced providing for another State prison. The annual report of the Emigration Com- missioners was presented. The bill appropri- ating $250,000 to the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad was debated in Committee of the Whole and ordered to @ third reading. The greater por- tion of the Assembly's session was consumed in consideration of bills on general order. The Pub- | lic Defence bill was discussed in Committee of the Whole House, and had progress reported. The Committee on Railroads held @ session yesterday afternoon to hear arguments for and against the Broadway Railroad, when several persons appear- ed and spoke on either side. The subject will be continued at another meeting of the committee this forenoon. The Thirteenth Maine regiment is expected ed to arrive here to-day. The Sons of Maine resi- dent in this city met at the Astor House yesterday morning to devise measures to give the regiment @ fitting reception, when it was decided to present & magnificent regulation flag to them before they take their departure for the scene of action. The occasion will be quite an interesting one. The straits to which the rebels are put to raise a little money are capitally illustrated by the state- ment of Captain Burdett, who commanded the bark Neapolitan, which was captured and burned by the privateer Sumter, and who arrived here yesterday in the steamship Edinburg. Before landing Captain Burdett at Gibraltar, Captain Semmes gave orders that hie pockets should be searched, and the chivalry pocketed eighty-six dollars by this delicate little operation. Governor Beriab Magoffin delivered his Mereage to the Legislature of Kentucky on the 13th inet. The Governor draws a sorry picture of affairs throughout the State, aud acknowledges that he has now power to remedy the evils. He recom. mends the passage of some jaw for the relief of debtors, and yet he seems to fear thatthe enact. the opening of Parliament, so that she an-| ment of any relief measure may deprive honest creditors of their just dues. He says, in effect, that one-half the people are unable to pay their taxes, and the other half will refuse to do so, and that there is no power to compel them. Altogether the message is a sort of a half and half affair, with no direct point or meaning. Magoffin was a seces- sionist at the breaking out of the rebellion, and pulled in the traces with Simon Bolivar Buckner, the leader of the Kentucky rebel chivalry, who thought it was decidedly ungenerous in General Grant to demand the unconditional surrender of Fort Donelson; but Magoffin had not the pluck of Buckner, and, while the one took the field boldly as a rebel, the other remained at home whining about Kentucky neutrality. There had been, up to yesterday, thirty-four days of good skating on the upper pond, and three e: tra days on the lower one, of the Central Park. The number of visiters to the ice during yesterday was about fifteen thousand. The ice being very good, the prospects for to-day are fair,as the weather still keeps cold. This evening the ice will again be lit up, and Radford’s and Walton's tents decorated with colored lanterns. As the winter is nearly ended, our skating friends will have to take advantage of the few days left, else they may find this season's ice suddenly gone from their gaze forever. The Committee on National Affairs, of which Alderman Farley is chairman, have authorized Mr. George Mawbey to fire one hundred guns, on this day (Wednesday), at twelve o'clock M., in the Park, in front of the City Hall, as a salute in honor of the recent glorious victories of the Union, in pursuance of a resolution passed by the Common Council. The committee have also directed that the City Hall be illuminated in the evening. The trial of James J. Wall, charged with the homicide of Owen Phelan, at Harlem, on the 31st of December, was commenced yesterday in the General Sessions. It appears from the evidence that a policeman saw the parties engaged in an altercation, when Phelan stated that Wall drew a pistol upon him. He was searched on the spot; but no weapon was found upon him. Phelan appeared to be satisfied that he was mistaken, and the officer left them apparently friendly with each other. They (Phelan and Wall) went in to drink, and ten minutes afterwards the policeman, on his return, learned that Wall had shot Phelan. The wounded man was removed to Bellevue Hospital, and in thrée days died from the effects of the wound. In his ante-mortem examination Phelan stated that he had had a difficulty with Wall, who used some opprobrious epithets, whereupon Phelan knocked him down, and while on the floor Wall shot him in the stomach with a pistol. The case will .be finished on Wednesday. The United States Marshal has transferred Robert Hall, of Baltimore, from Fort Lafayette to Fort Warren, by orders of the Secretary of State. The ship Charter Oak, for Port Royal, having on board two companies of Colonel Serrell’s Engineer Corps, is anchored at Quarantine. “ ‘The cotton market was irregular yesterday, while the sales reached about 300 bales, closing nominal for mid- dling uplands in store at 25c. The larger class of holders were not disposed to meet the views of buyers. Flour was heavy and less active, while the demand was mo. derate, chiefly from the domestic trade, while the mar- ket fell off about Sc. per bbl. Wheat was inactive. Inferior and common grades were negleeted, while prime qualities were firm, with moderate sales. Corn was rather easier, but more active, with sales of Western mixed at 63!4c. a 65 3c. in store and delivered. ‘The spe- culative movement in pork tended to sustain prices. ‘Sales of new mess on the spot were made at $13 873; a $14, and for June and July delivery some lots were re- ported at $14 26. Sugurs were steady, with sales of 800 has. and 90 boxes. The Messrs. Stuarts’ prices for their refined goods will be found in another column. Coffee was steady, with limited sales. The stock em- braced 95,000 bags of Rio, and, including all descriptions, 145,068 matsand bags. Freights were steady, with a fair amount of engagements. The Heavy Odds Against the Rebellien— The True Course of the Southern People. Considering the overwhelming forces, means and facilities, on the land and on the water, arrayed against Jeff. Davis and his confederates in this rebellion, the true course, nay, the only course of safety for the peopléof the revolted States, is the immediate repudiation of their spurious Southern confederacy and an uncon- ditional submission to the Union. There is no visible chance of escape left to them now against a military subjugation. from Richmond to New Orleans, except the alterna- tive of a prompt return to the ark of the Union. The demands of this rebellion and the pressure of our Southern blockade, in the first place, have reduced our rebellious States, in many easen- tials of life, to famine prices. With salt at sixteen dollars per sack, coffee at from one dollar to a dollar and a half per pound, with the com- monest articles of clothing, from head to foot, at four, five and even ten times the prices which they command in New York, and with the cotton planters reduced almost to beggary, with their last year’s crop still upon their hands, and no opening to a market, surely the suffering people of the South have had enough of the millenium of a Southern confederacy. What is to become of this last year’s South- ern crop of cotton, and what are the cotton planters to do im reference to the planting of this year’s crop, if they are still to be exclu- sively occupied in the suicidal work of this rebellion? The crop on hand will be appro- priated by our advancing armies, and the crop for the present year will not be planted. Three or four hundred millions of money will thus be Jost to the South in the single article of cotton in two years, te say nothing of the last ing effect against our Southern planters of the establishment of the cotton culture in other parts of the world to make up our South- ern deficiencies. On the other hand, in the prompt submission of the revolted States to the Union, our Northern markets and the mar- kets of the world will at once be opened to them, and their cotton, tobacco and surplus tice and sugar,in exchange for other articles which have become more precious than gold in the South, and Southern industry will be at once invited to the planting of full crops of all our great Southern staples for this year’s bar- vests. Sueh are the inducements offered to the peo- ple of the South for returning at once to the Union. They will save hundreds of millions of dollars in saving the bulk of their last year’s crops of cotton, rice, tobacco and suger, and hundreds of millions more which they will otherwise lose in still adhering to this rebel- lion, from the ravages of an invading army. Above all, the States in revolt, in now return- ing to their old allegiance, will save their do- mestic institution of slavery from the dangers which menace it on every side. Sena tor Sumner has introduced a scheme into Congress declaring slavery abolished in every rebellious State, and reducing every such State to the provincial con- dition of a Territory. This scheme, if carried out, would doubtless result in placing Southern whites and Southern negroes upon a footing of political equality; and then, on the readmission of said Southern States into the Union, we | should probably find among their representa- tives at Washington three or four negroes in ‘e Senate and twepty-Gve or thisty im the House o | Representatives, from the preponderance of the blacks in certain States and districts. The will and the power of the abolition element of Congress upon this subject cannot be denied; and we know not to what extremities even yet this abolition faction may push its de- signs against Southern slavery should this revel- lion be persisted in or longer submitted to by our Southern people, Their only safety, in- cluding their “peculiar institution,” lies in their immediate return to the Union. The Union sentiment of the South, through the simplest processes of political organization and action, may put an end to this rebellion within twenty days. Its prestige of strength is gone; it is now cowering like an exposed impostor, and the hitherto overawed Union men, even of the original seceding States, may now rise against it, grapple it, and strangle it. The last glimmering hope of Jeff. Davis of European intervention has died out. England and France have wisely agreed to stand aloof for an indefinite time to come. The simple issue, then, to the people of the rebellious South is, between a submission which will save them and a subjugation which may destroy them. It is folly and madness to talk of Southern independence, by Southern. arms, against the overwhelming military forces of the Union. Putting the rebel armies at three hundred and fifty thousand men, they are con- frouted by twice that number of Union soldiers. These soldiers, too, are provided with the most efficient weapons of modern warfare, against whole regiments of shotguns and old atyle muskets, and batteries of inferior artillery. And then in our naval forces, in our absolute command of the sea, in our blockade—which at length is admitted by the rebel leaders to be dreadfully complete—and in our Western gunboats, we have for the purposes of this war the elements of power equal in themselves to an army of at least three hun- dred thousand Southern men, with their con- temptible artillery as compared with ours. Contemplating all this array of stern facts— all these tremendous military forces, resources and facilities, and the mechanical, financial and commercial advantages of the loyal States, and the significant results of our late military ope- rations, East and West—we appeal to the people of the South to rise up in their own right and put down that spurious Southern confederacy of Davis and his colleagues, and bring back our revolted States to the Union while yet the door to Southern slavery stands open. Now is the time, and that this is the acceptable oppor- tunity for the salvation of the South must be apparent to every intelligent Southern man outside of the desperate clique of Davis and his ruling confederates. Progress of Our Arms—Desperation of the Rebel Caase. The following table will show how the tide of war has turned in favor of the North since the beginning of the year:— + 2,600 ba ep pers Mo. - 600 ‘arious other p! - 558 Total; ..........+.+ - 18,658 Union prisoners taken at Fort Donelson.... 200 Let the dupes of the secession leaders look upon this picture and on that,and let them learn wisdom from it in time. Everywhere the arms of the Union are triumphant, and its forces still pressing steadily onward, while continual disaster, retreat‘and capture are the bitter portion of the rebel host. The gods seem to be against them, and they might as well give up the foolish contest. We always said that as soon as the government was ready to bring to bear the mighty agencies and resources of which it was possessed the contest would be short. One of these agencies is our steam navy, 80 improved by iren armor that it can resist the fire of all ordinary fortifications. It was owing to this that Fort Henry was cap- tured, and now Fort Donelson, with the extra- ordinary number of 15,000 prisoners. Had the fort been attacked only by the ordinary wooden vessels, or by a land force alone, the chances are that our army would have been repulsed. The command of the water is an - advantage to the Union arms for which nothing can com- pensate the South. Hitherto the insurgent chiefs relied upon the railroads to concentrate their forces at any menaced point; and were it not for the gunboats in the Tennessee and Cum- berland that advantage would have availed them in the recent battle. But our control of their inland waters by means of iron-clad gunboats not only rendered “their forts untenable but cut off reinforcements by the de- struction of the railroad bridges. Thus the effect of the gunboats. with only a small number of men, is to paralyze the Southern army by destroying its communi- cations and rendering certain its overthrow in detail. The Union army is enabled to use its own railroads and the rivers running into the heart of the Southern country. while the rail- roads of the rebels are rendered comparatively useless to them. Then the rapid and ample supplies of ammunition and provisions which can be conveyed by water give tremendous advantage to the Union arms. With such odds against them it it impossible for the Confede- rates to hold out much longer, and the sooner they submit the better for themselves. That they are brave, and fight well, cannot be de nied; but with one great element of nature against them—water—and with the application of the same element in the form of steam to the gunboats clothed in iron mail, and with the other odds that are against them, what can courage avail? Early submission would be the highest wisdom. Reser anv Comrort ror GreeLsy AND THE Anorttiontsts.—Poor, snivelling Greeley seems quite inconsolable. The philosophical rascal is grieving down to his very boots. He thinks that we are in favor of the Montgomery consti- tution; that we want General McClellan to drive out4he miserable members of Congress who will not attend to their duty, and that we wish to do away with President Lincoln en- tirely. Hence poor Greeley’s tears. To relieve him and his abolition confreres, we assure them that we have postponed these momentous matters for the present. Upon due reflection we think the present constitution good enough for this generation. After thinking the Presi- dent over, we are so pleased with his wise, dis- creet and genial conduct that we have decided to entreat him to remain at the helm of the good ship of State during his entire term of office. As to General McClellan, we hereby issue an order—a /a Secretary Stanton—direct- ing him to let those poor devils of Congressmen have a little more rope, and to allow them a furlough of @ few months more before our ori- | ginal order for their expulsion is carried into ef- | fect. Py irers and potentates, obey and tremble oe eee The Sublim. The Union victories over which the country is still rejoicing have routed notonly the armies of the rebels, but also the abolition forces under Brigadier General Greeley. Like ancient Pis- tol, poor Greeley has been forced to eat the bitter leek, and revenges himself by crying “AU Hell shall stir for this.” In yesterday's Tribune this new, revengeful phase of the abo- lition war is opened by an article awarding all the praise of the recent victories, not to Gene- ral McClellan, but to Secretary Stanton. It is very evident that Greeley endows Stanton with a “long military cloak” only that he may hide his own diminished head beneath its folds. “Only the other day,” says Greeley, “all was doubt, distrust and uncertainty,” and “the army sluggish, discontented and decaying.” But Secretary Stanton, this poor abolitionist continues, “has organized the victory which we have won.” There could scarcely be more gross misre- presentation or more silly trash than this, The abolitionists seem to have lost what little sense they once had. No doubt, distrust or uncer- tainty has beclouded any. patriotic mind, al though the abolitionists, for their own diaboli- cai purposes, have endeavored to excite such feelings. The army has been neither sluggish, discontented nor decaying, although the aboli- tionists have so represented it, and sent’ such reports of it abroad, to be republished in the London Times, to prejudice European opinion. Nor has the army been mu- tinous, although the abolitionists have en- deavored to make it #0, by calling upon it to disregard General Thomas’ orders, and by arti- cles in regard to General Fremoni. As for Secretary Stanton, he has not “organized our victories,” and has scarcely had time yet to or- ganize his own department. Mr. Stanion is a most able, industrious, energetic man, and we decidedly approve of every one of his acts, ex- cept’ his farcical order for the arrest of Ives. Under the direction of the President, Mr. Stan- ton has written some very spirited orders, and, under the same direction, has broached some very excellent schemes. But the Secretary is a civilian, and has hardly been in office long enough to understand the plan of the cam- paign, much less to organize it. To attempt to praise Secretary Stanton at the expense of the President and of General McClellan—who recognized Mr. Stanton’s ability and advised his appointment—is absurd and malicious. This campaign was organized long ago. It was devised by Lieutenant General Scott and Gene- ral McClellan, and carried into effect by the Commander-in-Chief himself. He has been preparing for these victories during the last six months. The generals who have gained our victories were appointed to their commands at General McCilellan’s solicitation, and are most- ly old and well known comrades of his. The victories now are the logical results of the long preparation beforehand. Secretary Stanton deserves all praise in his own sphere; but to give him the credit of our receat victories is as silly as it would be to say that because Mr. Secretary Stanton stepped into a field in autumn, which had been plowed, sown and manured, cultivated, attended and cared for during the long months of spring and summer by the legitimate farmers, he, and not the farmers, deserved the credit of the crops that field was producing. To General McClellan, then, aided by the ex- perience of General Scott, and sustained by the patriotism of the President, the country owes its triumphs. The plans of our Commander-in- Chief are as original as they are sublime. He has had to suit his strategy to the immense ter- ritory to be conquered, and has availed himself of every mechanical improvement to carry out his vast designs. Particularly, with a pre- science new to military commanders, he has relied greatly upon the naval arm of the service. The rebels defended themselves by fixed bat- teries. We have defeated them by floating bat- teries. The rebels have torn up the railroads to destroy our means of concentration and com- munication. We have taken advantage of the ocean and the great inland waters, which the rebels could not tear up or destroy, and made them our bases of operations. The navy has transported our troops and assisted our gallant soldiers in achieving our victories. The navy has assisted us to surround the rebels with superior forces upon every side. The navy has opened to usthe very heart of the South, and enabled us to strike at it from every point. But one or two of our great victories, thus far, have been gained without the co-operation of the navy: and a strategy which takes advantage of both the military and naval branches of our service, making one assist the other, and giving each its proper place in the great plan of the war, amply merits to be termed sublime; was just what was necessary in this war; wasas bold and novel as it was brilliant, and marks McClellan as a military genius of no common order. If the great Napoleon had devoted the same energy to his navy as to his armies, he could have had all Europe bound to his throne. But his genius failed here, and his best plans were ultimately overthrown by the navy of his greatest enemy. If he were living now he would undoubtedly use the mechanical resources of the age just as McClellan is using them. The present Napoleon, who inherits no small amount of his uncle’s military talent, recognizes the efficiency of the navy, and it holds no infe- rior rank in the great plans he is maturing. Considered, then, in the light of a new combina- tion of the army and the navy, and of the novel advantages taken not only of the seacoast, but of the inland waters which penetrate an enemy's country, the strategy of Gen. McClellan is sublime. European officers have always predicted a great future for McClellan. Their predictions are verified, now that his plans are developing and culminating in « series of triumphs. They will find in our civil war materia) for study and reflection. We have contrived for them « new sort of iron-cased land battery: we have demonstrated that forts can still be taken by ships-ofswar; we have tested for them the efficiency of iron-elad gunboats; we have shown them a novel and brilliant series of strategical operations. There is not the slight, est risk that they will follow the abolitionists’ example—take the well earned laurels from our army officers and place them upon the brow of a civilian, like Secretary Stanton; nor do we fear that our people will mistake the person who really deserves the praise for our victories. Revoetion mw Weery Jourvarism.—We have frequently noticed the revolutions which this war has produced among the daily journals, and demonstrated that, while the conservative newspapers have gained iarge!y in circulation and influence, the abolition organs have lost all ed ABD Os Gre SvS se ssemenew er public favor. This fact is apparent also ia weekly journalism. The Weekly Tribune ia sinking lower and lower, and is now rather a source of loss than of profit to its proprietors. On the other hand, the New York Ledger, which has always maintained # conservative character, and is now conducted almost entirely by that conservative statesman Edward Everett, is quite a8 popular as ever, and gains im circulation daily. There is a moral which abolitioniste would do well to ponder in the comparison be- tween the conservative Ledger, with its threg hundred thousand subscribers, and the aboli. tion Weekly Tribune, with its gold pen and gift enterprise lotteries and pecuniary weakness. Mexico, European Intervention and the United States. A paragraph in the Paris Patrie informs us that there is to be no commander-in-chief’ of the allied forces in Mexico, but that their move- ments are to be resolved upon in a council ot war, asin the China expedition, and that it is decided they are to march on the city of Mexico early in the ensuing month. ‘This is the latest intelligence we have received concerning the plans. of the parties to thisill advised al- liance; but whether the city of Mexico will ever be reached by the allied armies is as uncertain: as their measa@re’of success, if: they accompliab their object so far. Of the final result’of the enterprise it would be hazardoud' to speculate, but that it will not be greatly to the advantage of either one or all of the allied Powers is highly probable. Indeed, their intervention in the affairs o Mexico is sure to be.attended with considera ble failure, if not disaster. The machinations of France and the designs of Spain will, in all probability, be signally defeated, and a want of harmony among the parties to the treaty will accomplish what the Mexicans themselves may fail in doing. Already Spain, greedy ot conquest, has indignantly repudiated the proposition of France to place on the throne of Mexico the Archduke Maximilian, of Aus- tria, in consideration of the surrender of Vene- tia to the new Italian kingdom, an event which would, of course, involve the settlement of the Roman question by the withdrawal of the French troops from Rome and the cession of the island of Sardinia to France. But the entire aspect of this question will soon assume anew complexion by the termination of the war in the United States. We shall be then able to take a hand in the Mexi- can game as well as England, France aad Spain; and, with eight or nine hundred thousand troops at our disposal, in addition to a powerful fleet, we shall be ina position virtually to decide the future of the land of the Montezumas; and not only ol Mexico, but of Cuba and Canada. Weshall have the power to drive every vestige of Euro . pean dominion from this continent, and extend the territory of the United States indefinitely. But we shall not do this unless the acts of foreign Powers provoke us to it. We have no wish to disturb the peace of the world, and, although it will be difficult to control the pas- sions of such an immense army in a state of peace, we shall, nevertheless, refrain from hosti- lities so long as we receive no provocation We shall be formidable in our strength, but at the same time magnanimous towards all. It will be sufficient to know that we are mastere of the situation. Desertions From THE Reset Anay.—The facy that the Confederates were able to concentrate such a small force at either of the two import ant posts of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson: the defence of which was so important to their cause, is a plain proof that their numbers are deficient, and that they have not the.large army of which they boasted. Whatever their force® may have counted a few months ago, it is evi dent that they must have considerably dwindled away since. Three causes have operated to produce this result. In the first place, great numbers have perished from disease through inaction in camp—more, probably, than would have fallen on the battle field in an active cam- paign. Secondly, from inaction the survivors have become so disgusted that when the period of enlistment expires they go home in consi derable numbers and refuse to re-enlist; and, to prevent this danger from becoming general, the commanders of the different armies have appealed to their patriotism, but only with indifferent success. It will be recollected that the greater portion of the Con- federate army only enlisted for twelve months, which was one of the greatest blunders the leaders made. These facts will appear from extracts taken from the Southern papers to-day and heretofore. A third cause of the diminution of numbers in the rebel armies is desertion. This is very extensive. For an example of it in one single company, the reader is referred to an advertisement which we take from a Rich- mond paper, in which areward of thirty dollars per bead is offered for the apprehension of twenty-one men of Company K, Twentieth Vir- ginia regiment, if they do not return to the post at Staunton before the 20th of February. This, the captain states, is done by order of the Secre- tary of War. It is only a sample of many simi- lar cases. Then, again, we find in the same paper a bounty of fifty dollars offered to each of one hundred men to man the batteries at Aquia creek, which they probably think is the © route McClellan intends to take to Richmond. The publication of such an advertisement and tho offer of this bounty demonstrate that the rebel chieftains cannot get men enough to fight their battles. The enthusiasm has evidently departed from the rebellion. Tue Curvarry or BE . ven.—General 8. B. Buckner, late rebel comm.nder at Fort Donelson, is a model of Southern rebel chivalry. Finding it useless to contend against the resolute fight- ing Union soldiers of General Grant, Buckner mildly proposed an armistice of a few con- venient hours for consultation upon the matter of a surrender. Grant replied that no armis tice was necessary, as “no terms except an un conditional surrender can be accepted,” and “| propose to move immediately on your works.’ This was too much for the chivalry ov Buckner. He was disgusted; but he confessed that the circumstances of his position compelled him “to accept the ungenerous and unchival- rous terms” which Grant had proposed. Now, if General Grant had granted the armistice desired, it would, no doubt, have been considered by Buckner an act of chivalry, especially if in the meantime reinforcements were expected by the garrison. So, too, if the Duke of Wellington, at Waterloo, had granted an armistice of five or six hours to Napoleon, about sundown, it would bave been a very generous offering, and very acceptable. But the chivalry of war is not often carried to sue