The New York Herald Newspaper, April 25, 1862, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. | JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFPICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU 88, TERMS cash inadvance. Money sent hy mail vill be ut (he risk of tho vender. None but Bunk bitle current in New York DAILY HERALD. Penney of apy 87 per conn THE THE WEEKLY HERALD, every conn, oF $3 per annum; the European Edition cvery Wednes Gt six conte per copy; Bh per annim to any part of Great Hritai . $s ta te negretl sche Conpinzns kotk Go taleste poatnge; the gee. and 21st of each month, ut ve cents ‘Gnawen, THe paminy TMERALD, on Wednesday, at four cents per aS kt ne COR RSPONDENCR, containing important ‘av iciled ‘cill be Bee wet iciled from any quarter of the world; */ Bheratty pad for ‘pg-Ovn Foumtan’ Conussroxprers ARE ARTIOULARLY Reguestep TO Skat att Lxrrens axp Pacu- OGR5 sent Us, NO NOTICK taken of anonymous correspondence. We do not weturn commuarcutions, ADVERTISEMENTS rencieed every day: advertisements in- Sorted én the WaeeLY Weratn, (Paxicy LD, and om the Calviornic and ge hae Peoonited wlth nentness, chemgnten en doe Votumo XXVII.. Ne, 113 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, 0, _ ofa MUSIO, Irving Place.~Iratiax Orsna- NIBLO'S GARDEN, Sroadway.=Tas Excwantress, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Ta« Honeraoon. WALLACK'S THEATRE, 84 Broad BNO YOUN, EARL ge ~~ er mae LAURA KEENE'S THEA‘ Broadway.~' sama O&, THE PREP OF Da * ere a NEW BOWKRE THEATRE, Bowery.—Atiernoon and SOME UA OND sdk um. aINT Hk i BEANE Fri sGues—Ls Tour Be Nusie—AncnoR oF More—Youna Sp OLYMPIO THEATRE, 485 Bi . ae Wane Nene SE BATRE, 625 Brondway.—Jasez—Yorrit \ BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway,—Cox. for—linas Waats, &c., at sil hours—ttur os MY MUMB—) WOW Or PALERMO, afternoon and evening, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mochanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. Way.—Wio Sinvox muLLY Patrenson. | MELODEON CONCERT HALL. 539 Broadway.—Toves | | Blas em oRMANCEs, BONGS, Dances, BuntEsgces, &c. CANTERBURY MUSIO HALL, 585 Broadway.—Soxas ANOKS, BURLESQUES, BO.— IED Gnome. i GAIETIES CONCERT ROOM, 616 Broadway.—Drawina Boow Kstunraimaents, Batters Paxrowites, Fances, £0, pauerigay MUSIC HALL, 44 Broadway.—)sscovs At eY — AE ROAD—COLLisivs—JoLLy MILLBiy. i CRYSTAL PALACE CONC ‘Buaiusuis, Songs, Dances, 4c. 3 PARISFAN CABINET OF WONDER: way Cren daily from 10.4. M. till? P.M. avsaiecanameiee HALL, No. 45Bowers. — Dear As 4 POS: NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 Brosdway.—Boncz: Boxes, Danons, &c. elie res Ps se New York, Friday, April 25,1862, THE SITUATION. The weather near Yorktown is again quite plea- Baut and favorable for the operations of onr troops. t siege works are going on vigorously, and the en are in splendid condition, full of hope and anag of victory. Skirmishes with the rebel ickets coutinue to be frequent, giving our mea | are retiring in disgust. | had been lassed and hanged by the Mexican tablishing diplomatie intercourse with those coun- tries, was taken up, and Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, of- fered a substitute, authorizing the President to ap- point a Consul at Liberia and 9 Consul General at Hayti, to negotiate treaties. The substitute was rejected, and the bill passed by a vote of 32 to 7. The consideration of the Confiscation bill was then resumed, and Mr. Collamer, republican, made & speech against it. Mr. Sherman's amendment to the original bill, limiting confiscation to persons who held certain offices under the rebel govern- ment was agreed to—yeas 27, nays ll. The fur- ther consideration of the subject was then post- poned, and the Senate went into executive Session. In the House of Representatives, a resolution calling for the correspondence betweenthe French and United States governments rolative to the war was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bills authorizing treaties with the Utah and New Mexico Indians, extinguishing their titles to lands, Were referred to the Commitiee of the Whole. A bill to settle the accounts of New York fer advances made during the war with Great Britain and for other purposes, was referred to the Committee on Claims, The Confiscation bills were then taken up, and after some debate the House, bya vote of ® to 31, referred the subject to a special commit’ tee. A resolution to print 240900 copies of the agricuitural report of the Patent office—25,000 in German—was adoptgd. In Committee of tho Whole, Messrs, Rollins, of Maine, and Allen, of Ohio, made speeches on the subject of our national troubles, and Mr. Edwards spoke in favor of the bill giving bounties to widows and heirs of velun- teers. Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, quoted from a speech of Senator Wade, in which the latter charged the former with disloyalty to the Union, and emphatically pronounced the Senator ‘a liar, @ scoundrel and a coward," and expressed his Teadiness to meet him anywhere. Bir. Blake took up the-quarrel for Senator Wade, and Mr. Hutchins offered a resolution declaring Mr. Valiandigham’s language a violation of the rules of the House and a breach of decorum, aud that he is deserving of and is hereby censured by the House. Pending the question on the resolution the House adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. By the arrival of the Spanish war steamer Isa- bel la Catolica, we are in possession of import- ant news from Mexico and South America. It will be seen that the French are moving on the city of Mexico, and that the Spaniards and English Several French Zouaves guerillas, The conntry is in a most melancholy and unsettled condition, Some more Spanish troops had arrived, and the health of the expedi- tionary army was generally very good. From St. Domingo we learn that there is a prospect of a misundersganding between the Span- ish and Haytien governments, concerning the old question of the boundary line. Spain is determin- ed to have the old limits established; but the Hay- tiens are inclined to resist what they regard as an unjust and illegal claim. The Spanish forces are concentrating at Agua, and it is expected that they will attack the Haytiens unless they do aa @ome active work to perform, although the results &re not more important than those always incident $0 the progress of a siege. Further intelligence concerning the late affair of portion of General Burnside’s army, near Elizabeth Jity, confirms our previous reports that the rebel —_ of adisaster to our arms were untrue. ‘olonel Summers and Lieutenant Carnes arrived at Baltimore in the boat from Fortress Monroe yes- derday, having reached there about an hour before ¢ boat left, inthe steamer Cossack, from Now- mm. They report that a fight occurred last eaday near the canal locks of Elizabeth ity, North Ogrolina, between (Colone! lawkins’ regiment and a force of rebels. The bela were repulsed with considerable loss. Our 33 is estimated at fifty killed and wonnded. ‘colonel Hawkins was wounded in the right breast his Adfv‘ant killed. It is also reported that ral Buraside has received proposals from the overnor of North Carolina for the surrender of e State, though with what amount of truth we now unable to say. Hi We publish to-day some highly interesting news m the Southern papers; among other things the tement from the Atlanta (Ga.) Confederucy, at Northern Alabama and Western Georgia are jompletely at the mercy of General Mitchel, howe present position is declared to be such, at unter's Landing, that he can at once proceed to ome, take that city, burn down the foundries, and jepture all the arms, take possession of the en- ‘ines on the railroad, and not only cut off rein- roemonts and means of retreat from the rebel jeneral Kirby Smith, who was alleged to be rching towards Huntsville, but leave, at same time, the rebel forces at Knox- ie, Greenville- and Cumberland Gap, to- ther with all Western Virginia, completely sposed, The Ricwmond Examiner of the 22d, oaking of rs at Yorktown, says that our ‘oops had cut a o@mal between the York and arwick rivers, which gives us a water front ship Shepherd Knapp:— ‘roas that whole stretch of country, which must jontribute materially to the strength of our posi, ion. It states further Sat on Saturday night last ur men were engaged in throwing up intrench- ents, and that, at day&ght on Sunday, they ygre jompleted, and guns mounted within e thousand rds of the rebel position. According to statements which reach us by ¢ Britida schooner Ev@lina, from Nassau, New vovidence, arrived at this port yesterday, it ap- ars that the rebel steamer Nashville, which now ila under the recently assumed name of the ‘homas L, Wragg, had returned to Nassau in a dis- pled condition, one of her paddle boxes being jadly injured. She bad made an ineffectual at- mpt to run the blockade into Charleston, d the damage was supposed to have een received by a shot from one of our ockading squadron probably the Gemsbok. Nashville had on bowrd « full cargo of unmu- , on and guna, brought Jladiator to Nassau, - he rebel steamer Elia Warley (formerly the vy the British vessel whe) had also arrived @t Nassau { a, th a cargo of saltpetre and potash, and would he mpt to run the blockade, The rebel steamer Wocil had ran the Charleston blockade and arrived h Nassau, There were also gther small rebel ves jels at Nassau, all having successfully rom the luckade. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, a communication from e War Departmont, covering copies of contracts ade by that department for 1861, was presented, large number of petitions, asking a reduction tho proposed tax on beer and malt liquors, presoniod and referreg. The bill providing » the recognition of Bayt! ind Jaberia, and on. | = nie they are bid. The Spaniards say that if urged to make war they will compel Geffrard to give up the line claimed and to pay all expenses. The Madrid correspondent of the Dns ,endance Belge, writing on the 30th ult., states that a reval decree, signed by the Queen of Spain, has ere sted the famous Santana, who sold St. Bomingo to the Spanish government, the “* Marquis de las Car- reras,” this being the name of the place where the Haytiens and Dominicans met in combat some years ago. The news from Venezuela, published in the Ha- vana papers of the 15th inst., goes to show that the rebel forces were being driven to the wall on every side. From all quarters the news was fa- vorable to the government. The army of the re- bel chief, Falcon, had been attacked at Coro, and utterly defeated, by the young General Camero. ‘The schooner Anita had arrived safely at Laguay- va, with eight hundred stand of arms for the government. The forces of Carapano and Matu- rin attacked Acosta on the Rio Grande, and after @ bloody combat the latter was forced to fly. The rebels of the East had been seriously affected by this blow. Gen. Guerara had also met the ene- my and defeated him at San Antonio. There had been several skirmishes, all of them highly favorable tothe government of General Paez. The prize schooner Dixie, which arrived at Philadelphia on Wednesday, was formerly the schooner H. C. J. Neild, of Baltimore. She is one hundred and ten tons burthen, and at the breaking out of the rebellion was fitted out as @ privateer, armed with three guns, and in that capacity cap- tured the: Mary Alice, with a valuable cargo, which was recapture@ by the United States ship Wabash, and the prise crew sent to Fort La- fayette, By the arrival of the @echooner Evelina at this port yesterday, from Nassau, N. P., we leurn that the Cunard mail steamer Karnak, from Ha. vana for New York, ‘Tan aground inthe harbor of Nassau, on the afternoon of the 14th inst., and in a few hours after bilged. Her passengers and mails were taken off, and part of her .orgo of sugar and cotton was saved in a damaged s'te. Twelve of her passengers arrived in the Eveline and the remainder, together with the mails, saile. for New York in the eehooner J. J. Finlayson. The Bridgetown (Berbacios) Times of the 28th nitimo has the following paragraph, copied from a Dominican journal, in regard to the United States ‘The United States ship-of- war Shepherd Knapp, Commander Eytinge, ar- rived at Prince Ruperts on Thursday last and an- chored inthe bay. After twenty-four hours stay, however, her commander was informed by Mr. Police Magistrate Johnstone, that by # recent pro- clamation of her Majesty he could remain no longer im the bay, but must depart. He stated that he had come in to get water and to paint and refit, and was not aware of the proclamation, and reqnested to be allowed time to write to his Excel. lency the Lieutenant Govern r for permission to remain until he could effect these objects. The auswer returned was that such permission could not be granted, and that he «ust leave unless de- tained by stress of weather. She left at about ten o'clock P.M. on Sunday, and stuod away to the northwest, evidently steering for St. Thomas.” The Shepherd Knapp arrived at this port last week, and is now at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The United States steamer Cossack arrived at this port last evening from Newberu, via Fortress Mon- roe, bringing a large number of passengers, among them 149 of the soldiers wounded at the late bat- tle of Nowbern, The commissiouers dor attending to the sick and wounded also arrived in the same versel, The Board of Aldermen did not organize lost evening, @ quorum not being peesent, The Board of Councilmen did not meet Inst evening, @ quorum not being piovent when the roll was called. President Pinckgey declared the Board adjonrned till Monday In the Court of General Sessions yesterday, Charles H. Fleming was tried and convicied of bigamy in marrying Jane A. Butt, on the Slst of December, 1861, while his first wife was liy ra He was remanded for sentenge. Jobn M, Haliwea placed ont arged with perpetrating # fe nious assault upon Mr. Francis Petigeau, in Frank- lin street, on the isth of March, by cutting him with akoffe. The jury convicted him of assault and battery, and the Ltecorder will pase sentence on Saturday. Leonard Flicker, indicted for stah- bing Mathew Joyce with a knife, pleaded guilty to an asaanlt with a dangerous weanon withintent to do bodlly harm, and was seat back for gemtence NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1882. Counse! for Robert J. Hall, oharged with fatse pre- tences in representing himself to be a Southern re- fugee anda member eof the clerical profession, moved for his discharge, Hall having been brought before the court on a writ of habcas corpus. His counsel maintained that the alleged representa- tions, if made, did not constitute a legal offence. The Recorder did mot coincide with the counsel, but discharged the writ and held the prisoner for further examination. ‘The usual semi-monthly meeting of the Commia- sioners of Public Charities and Correction was held yesterday afternoon, Simoon Drapor, Fxq., President, in the chair. From the weekly state- ment submitted to the Board it appears that the number remaining in the various institutions on the 12th inst. was 7,425; admitted since, 2,119; died, 39; discharged, 1,634; sent to Blackwell's Island, 445; sent to State Prison, 2; remaining April 19, 7,424; decrease, 1. The Committee of the Wholo roported that from the lth to the 24th of the present month, inclusive, 603 persons had been transferred from the city prisons to Black- woll’s Island as vagrants and disorderly persons, of which 173 were males and 490 females. The receipts from various sources, from the 11th to the 24th inst., were $6,301 65. ‘The stock market was eteady yesterday; the feature was an advancoin govornment sixes of 34 a 34 per cont. Railivay shares showed little or no change. Money was vory easy at previous quotations, The rate of interest allowed by the Sub-Troasuror on deposits is 6 per cont to banks and 4to the public. Exchange dull; gola, 101%. The cotton market was firm yeatorday, thangh some Jess animated than on tho provious day, The sales em- braced 700 bales, on the basis of 20)j6. a 204¢., chiefly ‘at tho latter figure for middling uplands. Some promi- neut holders wore not offering their cottons, while some others refused to soll undor 30c., which, however, waa an outside figure, The flour market was again firmer nnd higher, while. sales ware some leas active. Whoat was hold with firmness, while sales were light and prices irregular. Corn was casior, with sales of Western mixed at 58¢. a 69c. in store and delivered, and at 68c, 4 68440. for yellow Delaware and Jersey. Pork was in largor requost, with sales of now moss at $12 26 « $12 50, and of now prime at $10 $1025, and 1,000 bbls. now moss wore soli, deliverable in June, at $1225. Sugars were steady and active, and gales of 2,100 hhds. and 121 boxes were made at prices given in another column. Molasses was in good roqueat, with salos of 250 hhds. Porto Rico at p.t., and 60 do. du at tc, Coffee waa quiet; thero was some inquiry for the article in bond for export to the Continent. Freight en- gagemonts were moderate and without change of im. portance. The New Strategy of the Rebelsin Vir- ginia and the Southwest—A Few Hints for Mr. Secretary Stanton. The numerous defeats of the rebela, from Missouri to the Atlantic seaboard, in January and February last, culminating in the surren- der of their army at Fort Donelson, not only broke dowa their entire line of Northern de- fences, but compelled them to adopt an entirely new plan of defensive warfare. Jeff. Davis, in his February message to the rebel Congress, substantially confesscd that in undertaking to defend their Northern frontier line against the inroads of the United States forces, from the Potomac to the Mississippi, and thencé to the Missouri, the “Confederate States” had atiempted too much. Our next advices from Richmond informed us that the rebel leaders were discussing a new plan of operations; and next we were apprised that a new plan, and one promising the best resulis, had been adopted. - The rebel exodus had dis- covered that a chain of defensive works, how- ever formidable aa a whole, was completely broken down with the loas of two or three of the connecting links, and that it wus, therefore, awaste of money, time, labor, artillery and munitions of war to repeat that extensive line of defences which they had tried so hopefully, but. whiehwhad so utterly and disastrously failed. + And so, with their compulsory ovacuation of | Nashville, the rebel chieis lost no time in pre- paring for the evacuation of Manassas, so that their army in the East might not be surrounded or cut off from its communications with their army in the West. Next we get held of a eopy of an appeal from the War Office at Richmond “to the people of the Confederate States,” call- ing upon them and upon their churches, corpo- rations, &c., &e., for all the bells they can spare, in order that they may be worked up Into light artillery, suitable for an army ir, motion from point to point. Atcertain places which must be defended, such as the available blufis and islands of the Mississipp!, and the commergial cities of the Southern seaboard, and the ap- proaches to Richmond, the heavy fortification and naval guns from the great magazine of the Norfolk Navy Yard are still to be employed to the fullest extent; but all the intermediate sta- tionary defences of the rebellion are to be abandoned. They are to be, and are already: superseded bz two great moveahle rebel ar- mies, one in tye East and one in the West, and each of these armies is to be prepared at -a moment’s warning and in overwhelming num- bers to pounce upon any exposed detachment of our advancing forces, and so (o cut up our armies in detail. This isa Napoleonic idea, the identical plan of aetion under which the first Nepolean cut to pieces in Italy two or three successive Austrian armies of vastly superior force, and the ettategy whereby, o 1814, from his interior position, he achieved such wonders in his final stravgles for Paris against the overwhelming forces of the advancing semicircle of the Allies, by his rapid marches against their detacked eolumns from day to day. General Sidney Johnston and Beauregard only followed these examples of Napoleon in this late attack against the army of General Grant at Pittsburg Landing, Their objects were to surprise him, defeat him, and destroy his army, before General Buoll's could arrive to relieve him; and but for those iwo gunboats in the Tennessee river, at the vi spot in the very crisis of danger, Gene Grant's army, in ali probability, would b: been destroyed; and the defeat of Mueli mi have followed: and thus we might bave lost all the Stales and all the great moral advagtages previously gained by our glorious vietorivs in the West. In the East as in the West the rebels bave concentrated their strength upon an interior centre of operations, and upon Yorirtewn, as upon Corinth, cur forces are advancing In con- verging lines so in the East our advancing forces are menaced with the same denger from which they so narrowly escaped in the West. General Halleck, ia his very instructive work entitled “Hallects 6 Elements of Military Art and Science,” in regard “to converging lines “that care should be taker that the point of meeting be such that it may mot be taken a4 a strategic position by the enemy, and our forces be deatroyed in dotail before they can effect a junction.” Then be recites a num- ver of remarkable instances in which great armies have thus in detail been destroyed, in- cluding the examples to which we have already alluded. Now, if we are not mistaken, tho army of General McDowell, tho army of General Banka, ond the army of Geo: s4l Yeumont, widely bepa- a rated from each . ‘her, are moving by oonverging lines to point of mecting with General Mo- Cletlan, which is actually ocoupied an for- tifled as a strategic position by the enemy: We are sure that in this mutter we are giving no information which can be useful to the enemy; for he is doubtiess much better in- formed of the movements of McDowell, Banks and Fremont than we can possibly be. But the question thus recurs to us, is the city of Washington positively safe, in view of the late strategical dash of the rebels upon Pittsburg Landing? Tho York poninsula is heavily fortifiod. Genoral MoClellan’s advanoe in it is arrested by-an elaborate system of oarthworks, which indicate not a pitched battle, buta reguiar siege to carry them. They may be aufiiciently strong, with eight or ten thousand men, to dis- pute the advance of McClellan's army for seve. ral days, especially as, in noglecting to got rid of the Merrimac, Mr. Sooretary Wolles has de~ livered up the James river to the enemy. Sup- pose, then, that, leaving ten or fifteen thou- sand men to work the batteries of the York peninsula against Genoral MoCéollan, the bulk of the rebel Army of the East, say eighty thou- sand strong, under General Jo. Johnston, is moved out of the peninsula, and is dashed upon the army of McDowell, and that that army is routed, what will there be to prevent Johnston from moving at once, by forced marches, upon Washington? and how is the army of General McClellan to intercept him? It is possible that at this moment the main body of the rebel army from Munassas may be much hearer to McDowell than to McClellan. There may be not the slightest ground for any such apprehensions. We are willing to be- lieve that the plans of the War Department for the occupation of Richmond involve no possible ohance of danger {o Washington; but in any event, from the hints which we have thrown out. Mr. Secretary Stanton will be en- abled to appreciate the public solicitude con- cerning the safety of the several converging armies into which our late grand Army of the Potomac has been divided. Our National Defences. Among the resulis of the present war is the awakening of the country to the necessity of national defences, which have been too long neglected. New discoveries in the art of war have rendered the old weapons and old de- fences obsolete, and events that have occurred since the breaking out of the rebellion have pointed out the danger of leaving our coast and Northern frontier so badly protected. Mr: Seward did not call the attention of the North. ern States and of Congress to the matter a mo- ment too soon. The admirable report of the Military Committee, drawn up by Mr. Blair, which we published yesterday, is the iruit of this warning. We trust it will not fall etill- born to the ground, but that it will be taken up in a liberal and comprehensive spirit, and acted upon with promptitude and energy. It contains many siiggestions of great practi- cal value; for instance, one, that a military edu- cation should be opened to the sons of such parents as are willing to pay for it, and that the army should be open to them equally as to the cadets of West Point. Passing over several other points, we come to the most im- portant. se By the treaty of peace with England, after the war of 1812-15, it was"agreed that neither of the two nations should maintain a navy upon the lakes which divide Canada from the United States. England has neutralized the treaty as fur ae she is concerned by construct- ing two short military canals, which connect the upper with the lower lakes, and the lower with the ocean, out of the reach of our guns. At an} moment she may send up a fleet which, in the event of war, could destroy every Ame- rican town from Ogdensburg to Chicago, and enable her to invade the Northérn States. Near the head of the St. Lawrence, at the foot of Lake Ontario, the British, to complete their supremacy on the lakes, have built an immense naval depot for the construction and repair of vessels, anda very strong fortress to protect the depot and the outlet of the lake. As the right bank of the Upper St. Lawrence is in the United States, we have, of course, a right to erect fortifications there to command the river. Both sides of the St. Lawrence below belong to England. In order to have unimpeded military communication, a canal has been constructed from the lower part of Lake-Ontario to the St. Lawrence, at a point where the eminent domain on either bank of the river belongs exclusively to her Britannic Majesty. Now, to place the United States on a footing of equality, it will be necessary for our government to construct fortifications aud naval depots, and two or three military canals— one from the Mississippi, by Mlinois river, into Lake Michigan, and the other from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario around Niagara Falls— while the Hrieand Hudson Canal could be so enlarged as to allow a vessel of 1,500 or even 2,000 tons to enter Lake Erie from the ocean, which could be accomplished in a shorter time from the city of New York than from the mouth of the St. Lawrence, to say nothing of the dan- ger and delay arising from rapids, rocks and ice. As our ships could remain later in the fall and till the British were icebound, and as they could enter the lakes from the Mississippi in the spring a month sooner than the British could by way of the St. Lawrence, the advantage would be all on our side. By the construction of the two canals and the enlargement of the Erie, a fleet blockaded in New York might be removed to New Orleans by internal water communication, the Hudson being connected with the Mississippi. Nor is this all. Sv the wonderful manaer in which nature has favored this country thut, in time of war witha great maritime Power, an interior coast channel from New Orleans to Boston can be completed at a very small expense, as follows:—Beginning in the Mississippi river, above New Orleans, and opening up the bed of the iberville river (closed by General Jackson ia 1512-15), an inner communication may be continued along the coast between the islands*and the main: laud, via Mobile and Pensacola (crossing Flori- da with a ship canal). vaunah, Charleston, Beaufort, Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Brunswick and New York, throngh Long Island Sound, Narragansett and Birzzard’s bays ly a short canal to Massachusetts Bay, New 1 London can be connected with Beaufort by threo short and inexpensive canals of an aggre- gato length of only seventy-eight and a half miles, How important in peace or war is this internal communication, and how beautifally ia it designed by Providence to Wak the North with the South and the West wita the Bast by an unbroken chain, making, the woole one grand qouniry, with one mighty destiay, . Is Beoretary Welles Go: Out!—A Golden Opportunity ar the Grandvst Results, According to tik) tolegraph, Mr. Secretary Welles, the venerab\e bead of the Navy De- partment, is going owg. and a new man is to take his place. It is stated, too, that Mr. Welles 8 to be shipped off to Spuin. It is a matter, however, of little or mo comseqnence whether the gentleman goes to Spain, Paraguay or Ja- pan, 60 that we get him out of the Navy Depart” ment. His sucecssor, if picked up in the strects at a venture, cannot possibly be worse, and may bo a thousand times better, qualified to administer the duties of the department at this crisis than is Mr. Welles. But President Lincoln, exercising bis own good jndgment, and in accordance with the stern and costly lessons of this war and the imperative demands of the present day in the matter of an officiont navy,.cean effect an im- mediate and wonderful revolution in our naval eervice by the appointment of the right kind of man to manage it, We expect, too, that Mr. Linooln will appoint the right sort of man. We are strengthened in this impression very much from the report that General Banks, of Massachusetta, and Governor Spraguo, of Rhode Island, are foremost among the names mentioned as those from which the new head of the Navy Department will be chosen. Either General Banks or Governor Sprague will be satisfactory to the country; for they both belong to the astive, earnest, leading pro- gressive men of the present day, and not to the old political fossi!s of a generation which is buried, nor to the exploded military ideas and means and appliances of war of 1860. What is the record of Mr. Welles as our Secre- tary of the Navy? It is that of a man still ad- hering to an old order of thought after it has been superseded by a revolution in the art of war a8 marked as that resulting from the intro- duction of gunpowder. Mr. Welles bas made some considerable additions to our naval estab- lishment; but among them are from eixty to seventy sailing wooden vessels purchased, which, with only a few exceptions, to the best of our knowiedge, have not been, and are not likely to be, ofany earthly service to the govern- ment. We are informed, too, that the twenty wooden steam gunboats, which ,Mr. Weles was induced to hurry up for the uses of our seaboard naval expeditions in this war, are but little if anything faster under a full head of steam than a common sailing vessel under a good wind, Mr. Welles, we believe, has also provided for the construction of several iron- clad gunboats, to be finished six or nine months hence, from which it is evident that he supposes this war is to “drag its slow length along,” through six, eight or ten years of comfortable contracts and magnificent old fashioned naval expeditions. We want a Secretary of the Navy who will give usa record different from this, from be- ginning to end; we want no more purchases of old sailing vessels as ships-of-war; we want no more wooden gunboats propelled by ateam at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour; we want no more magnificent naval expeditions to uninhabited sand hills and unprofitable sca islands, while such places as Norfolk, Wilming- ton, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile and New Or- leans continue in the hands of the enemy. Our great naval expedition of last autumn might jast as easily have shelled out the rebel de- fences of Norfolk as those of Port Royal; and Norfolk, with its arsenal of two thousand five hundred pieces of artillery, and with that un- finished mouster, the Merrimac, would have been a prize that fifty times over would have paid all expenses. Ve have no doubt that Mr. Secretary Welles is responsible for *!\s great blunder of moving off this aforesaid expedition from the waters of Norfolk, when Norfolk, of all plaves, wis the very place to be firsttaken. Had it been taken last October, the James river route to Rich- mond would now be open to us, and we should not now find the banks of the Mississippi brist- ling with rebel batteries, numbering at each de- fensive point from fifty to two or three hundred heavy guns. Mr. Welles was afraid of Norfolk, as he was afraid of the new naval experiment of the Moni- tor when first proposed to him by Captain Ericsson, The Captain waited upon the Secre- tary from day to day for a hearing till his pa- tience was exhausted; and then, as @ last resort, going in person to the President, with his plans and proposals, be was heard and authorized to build his ship. We are indebted, then, to the lucky thought of Captain Ericsson, of ap- pealing from Secretary Welles to President Lincoln, for the lucky presence of the Monitor in Hampton Roads, when nothing but the pre- sence of such a vessel could have sayed us from a public disgrace and an invincible sea monster which, in another day, might havo changed the fortunes of this war in favor of the rebellion. Woe want iron-ciad rams and gunboats, swift and strong; and a half a dozen such craft, carrying each only one heavy gun of the most approved American invention, will be worth more to us than a dozen lumbering and vul- nerable Warriors. We want a man in the Navy Department who will keep us ahead of Eng- land in these iron naval defences, and who will defeat. by anticipating the ‘iron-clad ves- sels which our Southera rebels are building at various places. Let us hope that President Lincoln will give us sucha man as the succes- sor to old Mr. Welles. Waar We Have Doxe vor Evnrorn.--Since we have become a nation we have given Europe the best reapers, the tightest locks, the fastest race horses, the cheapest clocks, the most pugnacious pngilists, the swiftest yachts, the most accurate telegraph, the fastest ocean steamers of thé world. We have indeed showered our genins upon the other nations of the earth, Now we have produced a smail iron steamer, which, in a five hours’ fight in Hampton Roads, utterly destroys all the old navies of Europe, and gives to the other Powers of the world a model for the recon: struction of their fleets. } Tue [nov Ack.—In 1847 and 1848 our Caly fornia discoveries threw us into the golden eva, This grow out of the Mexican war. Now /wo are entering upon the age of iron, growing out of the preaent rebellion. Orr sacrifices tv r our honor and integrity develop the wondei at re- aorces of this great couxtry, to the sstonish- ment ond bewildermont of the rvyt of the world 7 Own Lave OAK PLaytat Toro was some excitement several months sin%s hecanse all the live ook plantations were An the hands of the rebels. What if they wero? Of what use are they now? Instoad of tb eso we want plenty of ivon mines and rolling ‘mills. Live oak haa become obsolete. - ss ~ ed IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON Ratification of the Seward-Lyons Treaty for Suppressing the African Slave Trade. . The Bill Recognizing ayti and Uiboeta Passed by the Sonate. Interesting Debatesin Congresson the Cenfiscation Question. The Object of the French Ministex’s Visit to Richmond. Difficulty Between Mr. Vallandigham and Senator Wade. Mie, Wade Stigmatized as a Liar, o Seoum- drei and a Coward, &., &., &. Wasunoron, April 24, 1668. RATIFICATION OF THE SEWARD-LYONS TREATY FOR THE SUPPRESSION OF THE AFRIOAN SLAVE TRADE. ‘The Senate to-day, by unanimous vote, ratified the Seward-Lyons treaty recently negotiated here for the suppresston of the African slave trade. ‘This ts deemed & moat important treaty, which will probably awetp oe last vestige of the piratical traffic from the face of the ‘goa. RETURN OF THE FRENCH MINISTER FROM RICHMOND. The French Minister, M. Henri Moxcier, roturmed te- day in the frigate Gassendi from Richmond. Soon alter his arrival he visited the State Department, and hag @ long and doubtless interesting interview with Secretary Seward. M. Mercior states that he nevor hoard until bis arrival here of Dr. Lemoine, who 1s aid, by the Rice mond papers, to have represented thirty thousan@ Frenchmen. M. Mercior’s visit to Richmond was not of political importanoe, but, as stated in the Hmnanp some time age, was puroly of a business charactor, in reforence to the safoty of a large amount of property belonging to the French government, which was in danger of being burned or destroyed by tho vandals of the robel oconfe- deracy whon they shall be compelled to evacame Richmond. THE CORRESPONDENCE WITH FRANOS RELATIVE TO THE WAR. Mr. Vallandigham’s resolution calling upon the Presi: dont for such correspondence between this governmems and France as may have been received within the last two months, was based upon the knowlodgo of tho fact, that the French government, supposing that it had bee assured that the rebellion should be crushed out withia a given time, which is already past, has made some very significant inquiries of our government upon that subject. THE REPUBLICAN CAUOUS, ‘The object of the caucus last night was to arrange the details of a Confiscation bill that would com: the full vote of the republican party in the House. It wae informally doterminod that tbe bill to be prosonted should affix the penalty of confiscation only to those whe havo been actually boaring arms against the UnitedStates, ‘excluding all who may bo ablo to prove that they were involuntarily in arms. The only objection urged agama the proposed bill is its incompatibility with the express: provisions of the constitution, This hill will unquesvom- ably be passod, but the Supreme Court will probably,con™ fine its operation to the life estate of rebels convicted under it. LOVEJOY’S HARANGUE ON THE CONFISCATION QUEA- TION. Hon. Owen Lovejoy’s speech upon conflacation to dag, although toned down ag much as possible under the a- vice of his frionds, prociaimed boldly the doctrine of the radicals, that eithor,slavery or the Union must be de- stroyed in this war. He said that cithor slavery or the fepublic must perish. It is certain that the confiscation Dili will be modified so as to reach oniy the property of the leaders in the rebellion. The majority in the House will go no farther than this, ‘THR KMANCIPATION COMMISSION COMPLETED. ‘The appointment of Horatio King, 0x-Postmastor Gene- ral,as one of the Commissioners under the act for the abolishpent of slavery in the District of Columbia, was confirmed by the Senate to-day. The Board will orgaa- ize at once. ‘Tho assault upon the Progident, in connection with the appointment of Mr. King, howover gratifying to the radicals who are waging war against the administration, is severely condemned by all who appreciate the patriot- {am exhibited by the few who wore called to the roseue of the country during the last days of the Buchanam dynasty. Tho four gontlemon montioned in tho corres. pendence of the Times as unworthy of public favor, om account of their connection with the administration of Mr. Buchanan, were precisely those whose efforts were relied upon by the whole nation in @ most trying bour te save the country from the ruin invoked by the previous management of public affairs. It was their oon- duct upon that occasion that commended thom te the people and to President Lincoln. The nomination of Mr. King, however, was not prompted by the Secretary of War. He was selocted by the President bimsolf, aa @ man of known integrity and enjoying the confideace ef the people of the District and therefero ominen*iy proper as one of these Commissioners. These facts induced the prompt confirmation of tho appointment by the Senate, QE DIFFICULTY BRTWEEN MR, VALLANDIGHAM AND SENATOR WADE. A speck of war appeared in Congrosa to-day. Mr. Vale landigham made use of language in the House in refer rence to Senator Wade which has caused much inquiey during the evening respecting the Senator's fighting qnalities. Mr, Wade has quite a reputation as @ fighting man. It is possible that in tho absence of the Southerm fire eaters, who were wontto resort to the dueilo, Nort ore men may show that they are quite equal in euch matters. ‘fr, Hutchins’ resolution censuring Mr, Vallandigham for elleged violation of the rules and decorum of the Horse by making use of donunciatory language agaings Senator Wade, after quoting from the latter's recemt speech in the Senate, will come up to-morrow for fimat action. The participants in the colloquy, Messrs, Valr landigham and Blake (one the assailant, the other the defender of Mr. Wado), exhibited intense oarnostness, ‘Thoaceno for a while was exceedingly spirited, and-was abruptly terminated by an adjourifment, SHCRETARY WELLES’ DEFENCB. Socretary Welles is preparing @ statemoat for publica tion in self-defence, It t# bolieved that it will contaia ‘some sovore strictures upon the other departments of the givernment THE TAX BIL. ‘The roport that tho Senate Finance Committee had decided to increase tho tax on inalt liquors to two dotiars fa barrel is erroneous, Such @ proposition was arrested, and the comtitve manifested a disposition to diminish the tax to fifty conts a barrol. The brewing interest oo tho country waa represented before the committee by Mr. Squires. Tt was shown that the aggregate produey tion of malt lignorein this country is atx millions ef bar. rel, instead of three and ® quarter auiliions, as stated ip the last consus, and thap # tax of a oe & bar. o} would impose upon this individual interest one. vi iasath of the whole amount of tax propored to be rained, This reprosontation, togethor with the fact that about one-fifth of the nealt Liquors brewed are rendered unavailable by fermentation, while the tax i@ imposed on the whole, will probably induce the commit. too to reduce the tax to filty conts por barrel SUTTLEMENT OF NEW YORK WAR CLAIMB. Tho ill introduced by Mr. Fenton in tho House to day provides thas the proper accounting officers of the Trea, sury toay onamiee such accounts between the parties as wore adjusted under the act of May 2, 1908, authorizing the payment of the interest due the State of New York; and upon the re examination to Asavme the sums exponded by the Stato of Now York, andthe guns repaid by the United States. In this settionent: (ue interest must be caloulated wp to the time of ang yayinent made, and the payment first ap. pied. to this; and the balance, if any, te bo applied reduce the = principal, Interest is to Sa caloulated only On Buia upon wisiols the State has oitues ost or paid interest by ths trassfer of au intorest pearing fund, Im tho application Of the abaye rules, it avy mousy a found due tg the grave of Now Kye, it alaadt bi