The New York Herald Newspaper, April 26, 1862, Page 4

—_ INTERESTING FROM THE MISSISSIPPI. ~~ The Naval Engagement Between the Union and Rebel Gunboats. Destruction of the River Levee by the Rebels. Farms and Acres of Other Property Sub- ants Endangered by the Flood, Bey Ber ae Sr. Lovis, April 25, 1962. Aapecia! despatch to the Missouri Democrat from Com- waodre Foote’s gunboat fietitia, dated the 25d inst., eays— All ia quiet hore, if we excopt two mortar boats re- @aining in position, which occasionaily throw sheil over et Fort Wright. The rebois b: mot replied to-day. Nono of their gunboats can be s@en. ‘The weather Is fair, Tic flood ‘as overrun ali the pian- tations and houses along ihe river, Great distress prevails famang Lie inhadilants along the banks, some of whom offer te give all they possess to have thetr families removed from their houses, which lie water threatens to carry dowm the paver. ‘Tao reason of the dood can be undersiood by the fol- lowing:— ‘The rebels have cut the lovee at ihe Arkansas shore opposite the fort, and the fine farming Jands thereare ow covered with a lake of water for saround, The @oaidonts are greatly oxasporated at this outrage. Our special correspondence from the Missisaippi river algo confirms the above.—Kv. Heratp. The Naval Engagement at Needham’s Cut.om, OUR MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRESPONDENCE. Naan Fort Pruiow (Wricr), Missussuvrt River, April 13, 186: } e Bote and Pope Before Fort Wright-—Transports—Need- ham's Cut-Off —The Revel Flect Appears in Sight—A Feint and We Success—The Fight—Phe Rebels Run—The Feeling Mlong the Aricansas Siore—Disiances Above and Below the Fert, éc. If colority of movement will overco: 2 enemy, cor- ainly Commodore Foote and General Pope wil! secure an easy victory at Fort Pillow (Wright), before which they are now arrayed, tho former witha fleet of eight gun- boats, and the latter with a very considerable force, whiob ia boing constantly increased by hourly arrivals of transports from above, binck with troops. My last sommunication left the navn! flotilla at New Madrid, whenoe it was uncertain when it would mé forward, pwing to the difficulties attending the procurement of transports for Gen. Pope’s army. There wore at that timo lying at New Madrid, including severa tured rebel boats, twelve arailabie steam uncertain when these could be obtained. But aner mr etter waa closed, despaiches were received announcing that the roquisite number had beeu impressed or tered at St. Louis, all the up river boats being seized for tho purpose as fast as they arrived in port, It was also announced in the despateh that the most of these ye re already under weigh, with orders"tofrepor! to Gen. Pops. This most gratifying inte @ dispelled th prospects of along stoppage, and on the next day (yesters day),at oleven A.M, the naval flest was once more ordered to get wader weigh. In y ualf an hour after the order was issued the flag: nm rounded fo and steamed away at hes leieur pace down the river, followed by the Mound City, Cineinaati Pittaburg and Cairo. Bobind these fo : ammunition and supply boals Great Wes Judge Torrence, with their fleot of tugs. Then cumo the mortar boats, sixteen in oumber, towed by the steamors W.H.B., Alps, K atone, V. F. Wilson, Ike Hammitt and Wisconsin No, 2, fu pairs; the two former with four boats betwoen them, fand each pair of the others with eix. The gunboat Con- brought up thie rear. The feet, as it moved away down tho long stretch below New Madrid, preveniod » most pleasing appearance, At Obioaville, ten miles below, the gunboats Caronde- let and St. Louis joited the teet. ‘At six ofclock P. M. the ficot tied up for the night in ‘Needham’s Cut-Off, the boats lying against the isiand in the order they had moved. Neodham's Cut-Om ia forty-five miles below New Madrid. The river at this place former'y took an im- mense circuit inland, forming # horseshoe neck, about one mile acrosa at its base, and twenty-five around. The person after whom the place is named cut a channel across this neck, which has since become the maiu chan- wel of the river, the old bed being nearly filled up with wand and othor accretions. The general character of this locality is shown ia a diagram accompanying this lotter. Atabout two o'clock on the following morning a fleet of rebel gunboats appeared iu the river below the moor- ing place of our fleet, where, after discovering our proximity, they came to anchor at asafedistanca. Ag they manifested a disposition to remain quiet until day, thoy wore not molested. ‘At half-past six A. composed of those vesse!s which had beeu | New Madrid, hove in eight. steamots:—Jolin D. Perry, Daniel G. Taylor, Adtmira N. W. Thomas, T. L. McGill, Belle Memphis, G. W. Gra: ham and Fimwa No.2. They were al! loaded down to and artillery. One after bey where the naval Wotilia was moored, and made fasi to the . the fleet of army transports, sboro ‘At half-past sevon Commodore Foote signalized the gun- boats to slip their moorings and follow the ‘lageLip, that Vessel rhovinga short distance up the streain, so as to bring the point caused by tho bend in the rive: between im and robe! flotitis. The cesaful one, for, no sooner w of sight, than tho rebels, supposing we wero retreating, cave phage, and when ihey came in sight were also within rou =e The Penton quickly opened ou + exam: ai that was followed by allthe ficet. This was \wogether @ surprise to the esemy, who made baste to put about and get under weigh dowa (he stream. By this time our fleet was also headed about, and a very pretty runniog fight followed. ihe Commxiore managed by eontinuous persuasions with his bow guns, and those of the rest of the Motilla, to coax three shots from the rebels la thoir flight, none of which, howover, reached their eatination. ebase continued for half or three ‘quarters of an hour, the rebel boats constantly increasing: the distance botween the two fleets, by reason of their superior speed, until they were anally lost to siglit in the windings of the river. The accompanying diagram illustrates the positions of the fleste just previous to as well ae as the commence mont of this first purely naval engagement on the West- waters. ‘The rebel foot consisted of the old United states serow Steamer revenue cutter McCrae, together with the Living: stone, Jay, Goneral Polk and Pontchartrain, the last four which are transformations from New Orleans sugboats, oye gg oe aud Fe mage ond protected nth eottion y ere capable of making hi |, but draw most too mnch water for river — moat our and siz guns each. Ibey were accom. vie Use expedition by twe transport steamers: t for what purpose does not appear, thou mored that two thousand fngitives from isan ) woods a a away. ‘Whon this'valiant ‘ees had distance! our gunboats, an Order waa sent back for the balance of our fieet wader weigh, which was obeyed with every crew and the rons dein, Sarin ame as near as bie to the reba craft a the revel strongholds. }9 ammunition boats, preceded wy the gunboat Conestoga, took the lead, the mortar boat Geot coming next, rollowed by the transports, tho rear Being made up of boats towing coal barges and the fa- mous floating blacksmith shop. The line was a very J pr comprising, with the gunboats, upwards Of fifty vonsels, aud stretching out a distance ‘of pearly imate. ‘The day was clear and beautiful, and as ap ily along—the sluggish pace of the gunboats, 8] other Boass were compelled to remain, mot Of much spee¢—winding among the bends and turns of roverhially crooked river, thesight was ne of the wahaguion | imaginable. At every settle. ment and 4 ig the whore the people were all pc yr em Lge these people is with shouts and cheers, waving of Role hamikerchiers and sometimes ap enthu- wiastic individual, im defealt o: anything better, would | ern his coat and swing that. A: one sottiement on Arkansas side, the whele population, men, wo. 4 and children, were out om the river bank. enthusiasm was vory inten#e, Some shouted Hur- vab for Abraham Lincoln,” with @ foreibie emphasis on ham.” Anether shouted “Hurrah for # free govern. Still another—“Give uin hell.” Abother places the people wore out in force to nee the mignts, but wore Yyory glum and downeast. They diin’t like the sighs At noon the gunhoate met with a singular adventure N eee. knowing the locality of the enemy's works ia vicinity, although tae Ai un re somewhere w No. 83, or Flower Island, they steamed aronnd the ond, atthe head of which this island is situated, and Buddenly found themssives vot only face to face with the Fedel Hest, but actually directly under the batteries. ‘They at once honded bask up stream, the enemy's boats Bring three shots over them before they got away. The 3 = the ment. , singularly enough, did net open on them, pro- being oocupied three ieete, ea te 8 ra an write, if 7 map of the country, showing the course of the river, the ition of the fleets, the logation of the enemy's works, You may expect some exciting nows from this di reotion 500m, as the enemy are strong!y posted and mani- 13! @ disposition to make a detormiued stand be! ‘The works of the fort wore begun early last summer, and have bad @ vast amount of labor expended upon them. They were compieted before those at Cotumbus 2s theFust Chickasay ats high blu oank resching ao ‘ust kasaw Biuilk—a rem in soms places an altitude of one hundred fest above low water mark. The works are somowhat similar in character to the outer batteries at in the side of the biull. There ing, im the aggregate, some of this meta! has been withdrawn for use at Corinth, Dut of this I know nothing definite. ‘The garrison (# vari- ously reported at from five to ten thousand men. This fort is ninety five miles below New Madrid, and one hua- dred and seventy below Cairo. Between it and Fort Raa- doiph there isan interval of ten miles, and Memphis one of seventy-five miles. pyr nt nhac FY Tea’ } ‘The Operations of the Gundoat Pleet—A Boat om Fire, and Narrow Escape of the Whole Fiet—A New Malertal for Filling Shela—Deserters from the Rebela—Strevgth of the Rebel Bort—General Pope's Fereci—The Cuiting of the Levee, dc. Indications point to @ prolonged siege of the rebet works at thig point, resulting, not unlikely, ta thecap- ture of the place and its garrison by sirategy. The posi- tion of the fort and batteries, the condition of the eoun- try about It—which is entirely submerged by tho food of the Mississippi, which is constantly increasiag in depth, rendering al! approaches by land difficult—the uecessities of the service, as woll as certain other roa. sons not proper to be divuiged—imperfect plans fer the capture of the rebel army—render it quite certain that a decisive blow will not ba struck yet for several days. In the meantime the mortar boats have been piaced ia position, and occasionally remind the enemy ef our proximity by a shell. The gunboats have been d: in the river 30 as to most effectually protect the trans ports, ammunition and ordgance boats and to guard agaiust surprise, and Jwo are ali possessing our souls in patience—like Micawber, waiting for somo- thing to turn up. Occasionally @ litte inoident transpires to afford a small degree of excitement and fur- nivh subject matter for Western newspaper corres- pondents to manufacture their daily quota of sensational items. On Tuesday evening dne of the diminutive steam despatch boats that ply about the fleet took fre, while lying inthe midst of the feet of transport steamers. The crew were off of her at the time, and when the alarin was given the destruction of.the whole fleet, which was 1Ying against the bank in close order, seemed most im. minent. Put the eigineer of the steamer Momphis, against which the craft was lying, seoing tho danger, rushod aboard the burning tug, reversed her engines go as to set her bucking, oxt her moorings, and jumped back npon his own vessel, with a badly burped face. The wheelhouse of tho Memphis was somewhat blackened and scorched, but otherwise she escape unharmed. The tug backed out into the river and burned to the water's edge. On Monday the mortar bouts were towed to their pos tions along the Arkansas shore, near tho point behind which the enemy's works ure situated. That day was coenpied in getting correct ranges upon the rebel batte- vies, eighty shots boing expended in this operation, to none of which the enemy deigned to reply. On Tuesday sixty shella were sont with much accuracy, worrying the garrison on the bloffs to auch an extent’ that ihey opened thei i some excal- lent guunery as well as tha pos: { some superior ‘eh ts passed over the 1 beats and about the gunboats, which were istance off the shore, compelling them ly ors in directing their there has been no firing on either rhoon, when it was renewed yigor- ‘continues a dr 8) hat have be: reveal the fa of guna of heavy in. their £ ery ile we were eending ‘hem The powder required to tly an article with them to artillery practice or skirmishing. They are oqna 1, On Sunday, when our gun Doat fleet ran around the point under their guna, they threw from their gunboats 4 few shells, one of which ex ploded cluge to the Benton, suufering a profusion of bois? inavbles over har as Leaden bullets cest too much to is. from the rebel camp and fleet occasionally find their way inte our lin One was taken abo the Benton yesterday, and was detained for several hours by the Commodore in conversation. He appoars to bea weil-informed and intelligent Yankeo sailor. At the commencement of the war he was in New Orleans, aud was impressed for service in the Confederate navy. He bas been serving latterly ou the Polk, from which he escaped night before last, by jumping overboard and swimining ashore. Le states that their Flag Ollicer, the great Holling, bas gone to New (Orleans with hiz flagship, MoCrae. His enumeration of the vessels composing thoir ficet correspouds with the list I sont you in my last letier. He fixes ibeir jand force at bet four and five thonsand. They have but thros batteries that are mount- od, according to bis story, one of which contains a single thirteeu-inch gin. The whole unmber of guns in their works does not exceed twenty, They are convinced of their inability to hold theve works, and aro alreaty discussing the propriety of falling back with theis guns to Fort Randolph, ten miles tower down the river. Fort Randolph, he says, has been stripped of its guns, which have been sent to various other points along the river; but if the guns sow at Fort Pillow (Wright) were mounted there, the y resistance thay the k: Is Columbus and Islanil No. 10, at which places they cane into our possession. The army of General Pope has been encamped for aeve ral days on the Arkansas bank of the river, # prey to swarms of mosytitoes of the mo-t voracions and porse. vering class. Their eneampmient was in the woods, be- oe, wuich streteles down that funk the en- to New Orleans, The land along that shore ral feat below the surface of the t stage of the water. Night -fore tast the encmy cent over smalt parties in shiffs ond’ cut this across in four places, During the might dnd thre out yesterday the woter poured thr the cuts in tor- rents, deep ning and widening them conslanily, until the certainty, bat tnundation not unly of Ue me of the vortom lands rn portion of Arkuw. sos, Their object wae donbtlers to prevent anticipated ‘operations at this point by our army. ‘The result will be the joss of immense amounts of property to the planters along the river , without producing acorresponding advan tage to the Confrderate states service. There ia & bayou across this poimt, which, if desirable, could have been used in transporting troops, artillery and store: to a point below the enemy's works, ¢ la New Madrid. ‘Through tnis ba} a depth of five tees of water could easily have been obtained, which, by the cutting of the levee, will be increased to 8ix oF eight eet—sniiicient Wo tloat our largest voase!s and gunboats—so that, did Gene- ral Pope see fit to avail himself of it, this destrnetive workof the @nemy would be of immense advantage ‘iune@nt. The only anno; our forces could expe: from this overflow world be the necessity of repairing on beard the transports in. stead of camping in the woods until active operations should commence. But other plans were already me- tured prior to the cutting of the levee, They will be heard from im dnetime, when it will be soon that they were not batted by the <lestruction and devastating operalious of the revels, The most singular circum@ance connested witb the cutting of this levee is te fact thatone of tne cuts is di rectiy opposite the tucoring oi gunboat Consstosa, and searcely five hundred feet distant. The intervening space is covered with water and thin wooés. The migit was perfectly clear, and the woon at a fall, ao that is Seems almost incredible, had vroyer watch een kept om that vesse!, that tho work could without discovery. If they permit within Gve hundred feet of them, aud accotaplish such a (eat a8 the cutting of a levee without being discovered, they may expect to wake up some Lue moi ung aud find themselves, with their ship, & capture in the enemy's lipes. Although we are constantly moving farther down into Commodore vote manages to keep uy &laily mail commonication with Cairo, ti captured revel steamer De soto and the Shingise being used for this purpose. Tho latter is owned by Pater Dem orest, sq.,.0f New York. Commodore Feote is still suffering severely from the injury to his foot rec t Fort Donelson. The fvot js badly swoo!len and js intenst in ifan attempt is made to use it. The Commodore hobbles around his sbipon crutches, though, since Tuesday, he bas beon confined to bis room. Naw Fors Pizow (Wnicnt), April 19, 1862 Alundent Water Power Watery Waste—Indiana and Her Troops, de. Rein, rain, rain; water everywhere as fur as the eye ean reach, covering cornfields, Olling the woods, sur- rounding dwellings and flooding the whole country; and still it rains apd stil] the water rises. A flood in the Missiseipp! i# an event of annual cecurrence, yet one that invariably brings ite apprehensions to resident® along ‘s shores, and destroys an incalculable amount of property. The present flood is greater than any that has eweyt through the valley for » numberof years and, owing to the cubting of the levee on the west side of the river, will prove the most desolating and de, Btruetéve probably that ever occurred. On every hand water covers the entire face of the oarth, increasing the width of the river from a mile anda half to thirty or forty miles. As We lay,moored to the trees that wero ones on the hanno? bank, tht which now are in the middie of the vast expanse of water, buildings, cattle, Dora, tumor aad bage rape A $s owl cpaner MISSOURI 4—Vnion guadoats. B—Union mortar hoats. C—Unioa transports, D—Revel gunboats. L—Rebel transports. The Positions of the Union and Rebel Fleets Before and During the First Naval Engagement in the Western Waters. ya gan Wan ao 209 SW of property floated by, showing the desolating work of the mighty torront. The scene is a grand yet a terribie one, Attempts to picture it are utterly futile, It chal- jonges the descriptive powers of the ablest pen. yet the rein descends im torrents, and the wi higher and higher, God only knows when it wil Tn the midst of this watery chaos our flect remains quiet, undisturbed aud uninjured by tno ing tide. ’ Nothing, apparently, ia doing. Everybody bas | ample time to seo the grand sight the waters afford, and everybody wearies in the conteipla- tion. The vocation borders on the monotonous. I jinagine if one were anchored in front of tho falls of Niagara, and bis oyes were forbidden to wander from the broad sheet of falling water before him, the poetry of the summer trip would be lost, and the oppor tunity to return to the tedious routine of the counting ruom or office would be anxiously coveted. So with us. With no variety to give interest to the spoctacic, the food—in itself grand, imposing sublime—becomes astala | monotony from which the eye vainly turns for a change. Once in a while a littie inside incident oveurs to aid in passing away the Lime. One of these accept lias just transpire’. Indiana is a great State, nor Morton ia unquestionably a great Gover nor Morton employs a private gecretary—x young sp DPregenting in bis personnel all the characteristics of the college boy—«# slight approach to the dandy, a vast amount of selfesteem and more good clothes than brains. This distinguished individual is just naw laking a jaunt at the expense of the Hzosiers. He bas beon deputed by the Hoosier Executive above mentioued to visit the several armies in which Indiana is represouted And look after the condition of the sick and wounded from that Stata. rides at the State’s expense upon tcamboate and rail cars, seeking it all places to impress on beholders an idea of mighty consequentiousnoes tate that he honors by repre- senting. Should a foreigner come in contact with this wonderful personage, he would form the conviction at once that Indiana was the only State in the Union, Gov- erner Morton the on!y Governor, and the Indiana soldiors the only forces in the Union army deserving of the name of soldiers. The foreigner before mentioned would also learn, unaided, that Mr. Private Secretary Holloway was a greater and far more important personage than Gover- nor Morton, and an infinitely better soldier than any in the field. Seriously, Indiaua displays a very creditable degree of solicitude for the welfare of her representatives in the field ; per much so as any State in the Union But it would seem more fitting and becoming, if not more beneficial in ita results, to send somebody other (han a mere boy, scarcely out of his teens, to further these commendable purposes. THE BATTLE AT PITTSBURG. General McCler: a's Complimentary General Order. ‘ell GENERAL FIELD ORDER—NO. 375. Heanqvanrgas, Finer 0 » 1 Came Near Prersnvac, Tenb., April 11,1862. | on the public debt, the eatablishmont of a sinking fund, But recently tho officers and soldiers of the First di j vision received the grateful thanks of their commanding General and the blessings of their countrymen for the part borne by them in achiaving one of the most ous and substantial (riamphs that have crowned the Before the bon! that bad been ed in honor of that event had yet become dim, b fore the notes of a nation’s thanksgiving had died npon theear, before the thanks of @ preserved country had found expression, that event was eclipsed in splendor by new achievements. While the ever memorable word “Donelson” was bemg inscribed upoa your banvers, auether, equally memorable, flashed upon the canvas ii | | Donelson and “Pitishurg, brought 60 near together by the rapid progress of your arms will together stand to your honor upon the page of his- tory With numbers reduced by the former conflict, with } the disadvantages of a recent change in organization, the forces composing the Firat division foand themselves on Sunday morning iast, almest without werning, in the face of the enemy. That ewemy had arrayed against you is bravest and best disciplined treops, drawn from Ma- paseas, Columbus and Pensacola, in apparently over- whelming numbers, well armed, and commanded by their ablest generals, to be led by ‘whom, they had been taught, made them invincible. igus amply prepared,and confident of vietory, they chore their own time and place of attack, and feil furi- upon you. Cireumstace yond the control of commanding general brought them to your lines wiost as BOOn as You were worned of their ‘approa t you were ready, aud, onder the guidance of gall Ts, Wore instartly and en- gaKed in the desperate The First division was overmatebed {mn num bat not im determination and yalor. Wherever the enemy came he was met and ‘ought. When, @uring the Bret di 4 were com- pelied to give way, it was only to choose @ new line of batile and fight again, The chooging forintes of the | dwy did not disconcert you, the temporary loss of your camp did not rage yon, nor your fatigues and josses break your resolution. ‘The advence of the ene. my from different poinis was met by your ek evo jution# aud steady courage, You felt that a vastiy sx perior force was tipon you; yet you held hig advance in 4 check, end wore away the day, until, alter Imost incessant fring, you paused for facing the enemy, and npon your arms, kept him at bay xt morning, reinforced by gallant troops who had arrived during the night, and without awaiting at tack, yon advanced upou the enemy, and drove him steadily from point to point, until you arrived at your own encampment. Here,as on the previous day, the most desperate aud determined fighting took pl With the varying fortanes of the field, the ground was fought over many times, until you remained in tho mastery—the torrible array of the wounded ond slain bearing eloquent testimony to the ferceners and oveti- Bacy of the conflict. The evemy waa driven beyond your encampment, and pressed by our gallant divisions, fighting in generous emulation of each other, unti) he abandoned{the contest aud fled from the feld Thus closed another momorad! of this unhappy and deploravle the hopes of the bad and sinbitic #0 inany thousands of their deiu werr {nto un- holy rebellion and treason, only to be overwhelmed in ruin. Thusfell to the earth, and turned io dost and ashes, in the persone of their movt accomp!\-ned leaders, the vain boast that bere and upep yor the disesters of Bull run were to be re-enacted, and the recorde of Henry and Doveison biotved out. It is due to your valor and constency, and of the gal. lent divisions who fought by your as this bonst was disappointed, and another crushing blow given to this reveilion, avother ely Step taken toward your insuMed flag, the security of t fational unity, and the eptbroning of the constitution aud jaws in (hei @nciept supremacy throughout the land. While rejoicing with you in this triumph whieh your yalor bas achieved, and invoking in your behalf the applanses of your grateful country, your commandin General cannot refrain from recognizing with protoond sorrow the sacrifices it has demanded. The gallant snd honored dead, the bi fferers Who survive, e) quently remind ue at what sore cost the blessings of hapter ft test civil ‘nment and the sacredness of the Union wust ve maintained, The story will record it, aud , future generations will ki solema day to their honor. The Gegerel wows comlyd you tha | held at one o'clock yesterday to receive the report from | the committee appointed on the 16th instant, with in | may readily omderstan there is still earnest, gallant and decisive work to be done. enemy is still before yon, apparently pre- Paring for another attempt to change the waning for- tunes of this rebellion. and, by another struggle, to pro- long the existence of this foul and treasonable con- spiracy. But the end is to coino, and the men of the Northwest muat do tueir fuil share of the work. If any are weary, lot them turn back ; if any foar, let them fly before the fight comes on. When it does come, let the First, division, and every man that wears ita honors or stands in its ranks, solemnly resolve to win uew and stilt more enduring honors in further and final victories. By order of JOHN A McCLERNAND, Major General First Division. M. Brayaan, Assistant Adjutant General. THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Report of the Special Committee on N: tional Taxation. A special mesting of the Chamber of Commerce was Stractions to prepare a memorial to Congress on taxation, inconformity with the programme laid down in the re- port of the Boston Board of Trade to the Chamber. P. Perit, Esq., oecupied the cha A letter from Mr. Bright, M. P.; of England, thanking the Chamber for the resolutious and address they had forwarded to him, was read. Mayor Ovpyna, chairman of the Committes on Taxa- tion, then submitted the following memorial, which the com'nittee had drawn up for presentation to Congre: To vue S#xare axp Horse oy RePRReYNTATIVES OF THE Unirep Siarws IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED . ‘Yhe memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York respectfully represents that the oxigeacies of the country demand the adoption, at an early day, of asystem of taxation whereby the ordinary expenditures of the government,and the interest on its public debt, sha}l bo provided for, and @ sinking fund established, proceeds of which shall eventually extingnish the pri pal of the debt. ‘That the maases of the people are ready aud desirous to contribute their quota to the ordinary and extraordipar; revenues of the country, so that the burden of Spent: tur may be equitably distributed between tie present eration and that which shall immediately succeed us Phat tho principies of taxation which have been devel- oped, tried and tested in Europe during the past hundred years, havo clearly demonstrated that the burdens of government ehould be borne by the people according to Lbeir individual ability to meet such demand. That the curreut expenditures of tho government during the prevent and coming fiscal years demand an annus! public revenue of at least two hundred and fifty millions of dollars, ond that probably no less a suru will be adequate to the prompt paymont of such or- dinary annual oxpenditares, the paymont of the interest and, tially, the restoration of the public credit to such a puint or condition as will enable the Treasury to ne- gotiateou fu terms the requisite loans of the present and future years. Ghat all revenue bills pending the rebellion aud subse- duent years, especially in the present instance, should be as brief as possible, and so simple and 80 ‘easy of comprehension by thé peoplo at argo that all classes how, n what way, aud by what prozess they are to bé made common fund for the venetit of the whole Union. Phat fa view of the expenses of collecting the public veveune, the convenience of taxpayers, aud # prompt re alizatio fh income. it is requisite that the subjects of objects of taxation ahonld be ak fow as possible, ‘That in ihe sclection of objects of taxation, the neces earies of life should be s0 universally and equitably taxed as wake the burden fall on all classes according vo as lightly as possible the enjoymonts of t hare of the public reve. lnxurier of society, : id contribute a lar nue; and Gually, that the leading preducts of the South, which have been among the leadiug canses of the exi ing rebellion, should be made to contribute towards the ppeedy ‘ation of peace, @nd to the final payment of the public debt. ‘Assiming these traths to be self-evident, your me morialis(s pray that Congress will, at an early day, frame a revenue system, based upon seven subjects or depari- ments of taxation, viz.— Trem all sales of goods and merenandise and other pro perty, at retail and wholessie, ® tox of one per cent yielding, your meimori ve, the apnuel som ; : 115,000,000 50,000,008 24,000,000 20,000,900 25,000,000 $,000 00 mn the tari ibe vpee om an excise or tax on cotton of two cents per pound ous bhi aces From an excise or tax on tob: ty cents per pound.......+ ea From an excise or tax un whiskey und other liquors of twenty-five cents per gallow... malt liquors five co of twen- From an excise or ax er gallon. rom a direct tax upon real and. personal PROpETBY. ve sevsteee 12,000,000 Total batsgctssesseescto csc; Mane 1 « Drief schedule of taxati In 1 . Four me: morialists take oceasion to ray that, from extensive in- quires and calculations ree bappears that tne sales of goods and mer ail kinds in the United States annuslly amount [0 at least thousaud five hundred millions of tox of owe per cent on the frequent sale or transfer of this property, while it wonld produce the large sm of one hondred and fifteen millions to the public treasury, Would be so light upon the indiviaual con sumers that the people would scarcely feel it, ‘om the present, and from reasonable ¢ aptities of foreign goods imported dv prevent and appreaching fiscal year, the tars framed, will yield @ no less Sum Luan $30,000,000 nh Excise OF the promi. leading pe t will yield enue of twenty-four mi len timated re ced crop of three millions of belies, will not ene urage COMpeLLiON ib the growth of this Ftaple im fore go coun- tries; and that the United States must continue to be. ag herelofore, the main reliance of Purope for their supply of this article; and farther, that the return oF peace may de relied upon to restore to the coumiuy ab ageregete ab nvai production of four milions of bales, which W.9 still farther coutribute, in future yeers, to the proposed reve: nue from this source. ‘That the proposed excise or tax upon to er susp, will yield this year the eum named a mate And GOI) wrodielng Staler, nO foreigu compet tion €6 if their production of tis important , WOW Bo largely used abroad, and contr beting mater aiiy (0 the wealth of this nation, ‘That the excise or tax On whiskey an Nquorm, while it is less than a fSlb of tbe tas eyed on te in othar countries, will yield ® permanent. + least twenty-five millions of @eMars, and y nearly double that sur memorialists believe that such @ tax wii! have a highiy conservative influence upon the community at large, by reducing iutomperance, which i (he principal source of the crime and poverty prevailing ip reny por tions of the fand Your memoria ber domeatsc is urge that an excwe of gallon on malt liquors will scarcely be ; payer, and that, as articles of lexury, they should be mace to contribute @ Jarge shere towards the prvlic Fevenve. Your memorialists further represent, that these taxes, when imposed and realized, will ob¥ sity. of lay 4 a further burden pon real and per pro- perty, which alreaty, in, loca! districts, and for State revenue, are heavily taxed, and that th whereby twenty milions of dollars (or lena than on Jar per capita) are to Lg realized, i@ suiigiqut om this uuder a pew and giamps, 1. Th ani fidelity, and ‘at home—a part of the tt is segars, ly towar: gentlemen must always render it 5 the amount abstracted. The facility with which it is eoliected offers a constant temptation to extravagance on faillicasot dollare pon 26, 1862.—TRIPLE SHEET. THE ENGAGEMENT AT NEEDHAM’S CUT OFF. Your memoralists respectfully reprosont, that, 1 their opinion, mumerous advantages would artso to the public treasury from tho adoption of the your memortalists, viz:— 1. ‘The expenses of the gollection of tho publie revenue, plan now suggested by aud entirely untried system, and oati by the act of Congress, approved August &, 1861, aoc. tion 53, ut fifteem per cont, would be reduced to loss than throe per cent by tho ootemporary Unpusition of licenses ppointment of a targe namber of now office holders, some twonty thousand tn number, special rovontie, would be obviated, as which would pertain to thoeollection and pa: treasury of such largo sums by new and untried offic ‘a8 the rovenue now conven} posed, may be almost entisely collected by post masters 4 others: already Ing collectors of as tho risks ‘ment into the ted by the measures pr ice, who have proved their are bonds for thedaithfu! performance mR enawed \denee phe integrit; and . conf in the int ly, power reaources of this government would we eit, abroad and feeling which would do much towards a more @peedy restoration of peace than would otherwise occur. TV. An income tex, alroady odious to the felt, may be thus a: this tax, whore tried, the age has seid :—“‘Such etax. ay (provide for by law, and ita operation has been |. Suck isthe unpopularity that one of the abiost otal ordinary revenue aa, besides all the other tiable, ite tay ous, however trifling government, removes the most in ere expondit: ‘and dig) with thy eoeeath uy ure, penses VAL ly Of seoking for an equality between income and expendi- ture in econom: V. That the true and equitable sources of taxation and publio revenue will be reached by tho schedule now sug- gested, because, first, cach man will contribute in ie Fatio of bis individual and family exponditure (and no , those who spend bundreds of ually, in what may be termed the luxuries and extravagances of life (viz. liquors, tobacco, ‘will be compelled to contribute more large- ws now urged by your in tho Jed the tee of three to present it. A uggestion was adopted, and the following were appointed such committee —Mes:rs. A. C. Richards, FE. Nye and W. E:. Dodge. ‘The CuainMaN announced that General Anderson and others of the heroes of Fort Sumter would attend the next mocting of the Chamber, to receive the medal to be pro- sented to them Adjourned. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. THIRTY-SHVENTH CONGRESS. FIRST BESSION. Senate. Wasuincrox, Apri! 3, 1 SLAVES RETAINED BY KERBL PRISONERS AT CAMP CHASE, ono. Mr. Suerman, (rep.) of Ohio, presented rasotntions from the Legislature of Ohio concel prisouers at inge of the people of Obio bad bee that the robel prisonors at Camp Chase were « n their slayes by Colonel Moody, thus practica: nr tabliabing slavery in Ohio in the pame of Ohio, and solemr the loyalty of the people of Ohio rhe resolutions were accompanied by a note from Gov: ing that Col Moody did not permit it, bnt that T Tod, wa g the rebel Columbus, Ohio, saying that the loyal feel- outraged by the fact the peo, protesting agaist the negroes had been sent there as prisoners, and that Gol. Moody was obliged to take care of them Mr. there, with t their master: attached to Col. Moody or the Jones, the Inspector at Camp Chace, reporte: M: to 11 quiet Mr. Gries SHERMAN said the fact w. , the negroes were sent prisoners, and did serve d that no blame could be ernor of Ohio for this, mat- heir masters, 3; but ho bel there. .(rep.) of Towa, Kked if any steps had been taken to free these negroes, as he supposed therm to be free by the act of last summer, being captured in the service of the enemy. Mr. SHERMAN replied that no eteps bad been takeu that he kuew of. Mr. Wits up the matt ought to be h Mr. Lavwas re! ferred. Mr. Cov Ny ‘The negroes, he belived, were still there. , (rop.) of Mass., said. that he should call ‘ar on’ Monday.’ Ho thought some action had on the subject. 1 BRIWEEN LAKK MICHIGAN ANP THR MissisuiPe!. (rep.) Of Ill, presented a potition fur ofa ship canal to connect Lake Michigan AND TITERS. #, (opp.) of Cal., introduced a bill in rate. to vertain land titles In the State of California. Re- A NEW CONFISCATION “ (vep.) of Pa,, introduced a bill to amend the act of April 30, 1790. He said he should move to refer this bill aud all other bills concerning the punishment of rebels and the cuafiacation of their proparty to a select committee of ive The Crain suggested that if the motion was meant to in clude the Contiscation bill now before the be more appropt taken up. ‘Tho motion STEAMMIIP LINE RET WRE The dill fora tine of was taken up, Shangh: Mr. Fesen! government steainsbips where there were no posta; but little comm can get. We aba Sevate, it would ye to make it when the bill should be was them withdrawn for the present JAN FRANCISCO AND SMANGHAE. eamships from San Francisco to DEN, (rep.) of Me.,said the bill made the pay $500,000 a year to establish a line of to collect, and @, when we need all the mouey we doned this very ystem on the Atlan. tic coast when the Treasury was tittl. Riv Mr. Wane, private act dudiciary Cs On motion ¢ F discussion the bill was passed, by yeas AT PUBLIC OFFICERS. troduced a bili conceraing Referred to the Ane srs AGA) (rep.) of Ohio, at. public officers. RXEOCTIVE 8a of Mr. Wiisox, of Sass. the Senaie then Went inte executive session. Adjourned t 1 Monday House of Representatives. TAR VALLANTICHAM AND WADK DIV Wheu the I Mr, Hutchins for wor meinbe subject to the censure at the Hor bate, if ano tervened alter spoken in debate agaiust Senator Wade, The Speanwn stated that this was a question of privi on which Mr.,Vallandigham had raised a point of Wo person ted to, and ti o shall have heen take The Srraxee also directed the Wasniscron, April 2 wounTT. jose adjoncned yesterday, the revolution of as peuding to censure Mr. Vatlandigham 1862. am waz read, Tt c 1 for words spoken ia de. rshall repeat the words “J e taken down in writing at the dno ineinber shall be held to answer, or be ‘or Words spoken in her member bas spoken. or other business the aud before exeepiic towing to be rend from the Manual :— then he Hi ‘The =PeaKeR, un Mr. sudigham's point of o: posed of the quertion of privilege. POUNT IES The House considered (or a short tir conc!ni0n on, G ny st be written can only t nut €9) onimadversio all the cire ie, stati od thee wee cise FOR WIDOW! AND AMR OF VOLUNTRER®. ne, bat earue to no the bil! appropriating six millions of dvllare ‘of vue Wountier to the widows aur tegul volunteers called into rery under (he Ned oF, may The Ho! mittee on Intions. Mr. Dawns, (0) when the went to ate ment § ed (eet ard re ad neral Pres Shaiges, He of the Comm Severs) Fremont hed offre! of Genera! reinent bimeeit Mr. Dawes suid that the steond charge charsetes that no than having a proper respect fei could pare it By tihnoticed, ‘The sent emar Penney ivenia (Mr. Bievens) last Monday sway the comm tree had had derected ted, and, ne world made vpun their personal cha: acter and This wa their absence. I the that General Freme eport of (he Seje ( Com with the aanexed reso. of Mase. said that Int ee Were th attending s f the kind during cyuarke he 5 the second # peel removal Ime wi to Fr evilekve wens) we ane te (Mr. Dawes) bow ins tired 6 ittee on the Condret 0 that notltiy bad ep.) of 8. Y the statencient Kat comn ommi ied more ie that it wae a scan va than they hinting committee expending public money ant bringing disgrace on the Mr. ConFax Stevens, that en Hemen fre 6 the afternoon cars: 1 to be in the House befvre the ad Mr. Dawee, ities, said they were changed with the du ing ito cont 434 not go 10 ad it woul to bear at th) among them undermine cy wiveyin country. He (MP. Dawes) had q Stevens) noticedbet he intended «no but, the gentleman (M ter. The motives whic! eman (Mr. renarks eu he gen «the Stevens 1 (tep,) of Ind. | the fetter bad a Penney.) 90 at y request of Mr. Wiebe Wuh BOMe to leave in ndeavor , duriby his elaborate ts and not to injre ipdiv ‘They +. Lowit a# enemies of General Fremont, be news to his quiet neighborhood slate day that he (Mr. Dawes) was counted He earnestiy condemned (he efforte to confidence of the House and country in ompted the atiack aveknown, The committes tn their sarly the support of the gentleman from lean. if. AUYODR), ADGA WHE Cale mya the of tesmen of ought on noaceount to form the State, but should cease with the necessity which could alone justify its ; inasmuch tions to uisitorial character is such as may be public revenue than those whose incomes | and exponditures are on a limited scalo. Your momoriatiats beg loave to recommend to your consideration a report made to tho Boston Board of ‘Trade, under date of April 10, 1861, which report your momo- rialiats conceive is based upon sound principles of finance, and is in accordance with the memorialists. Aftor some discussion, the above was adopted. Mayor Orprxs said he bad every confiden: adoption of the memorial by Congress, and sugg appointment of a com: similar eommittee wag going on to Wasbington from Philadelphia. ‘The Mayor committes throw thomacives tetwoon tho Tree sury and Simon Stovens, tho brothor of gontleman, was interested the pur ehage and sale of 5,000 arma for 00, that they encauntered the opposition of the from Pean- sylvania, which cniminated in an attack on the integrity and charactor of the committee. He could not o the fact of the connection with others in this matter. He understood that a distinguished ex-funet of the government was by at that time, acting in tis aa Generalissimo, and bad congratulated Mr. Stovons signal success over the committee during their absence. The same ex-functionary oe with other gentlemen from Pounsylvan! entlemem who had protested against taking Mr. Cameron into the Cabinet, and yet were brought before Mr. Lincoln om shalnkness and made to retract all they | ae Mr. ‘to Er never withdrawn or qualified Mr. Moonnnss, Coed of Pa., said he recommended the intment of Mr. Cameron, aud he stood byit. Ha it was@ good appointment for Reansytvania: Mr. Dawes hour having expired, it was proposed that his time should be extended, but Mr. Roscoe saying bo was tiredof running comments attacks which nobody had made. ire Mr. Kaur, (rep.) of Pa., said, ia the “A good name to man or womaa horse thief. If tho remark about Cameron was applie@ to hima (Mr. Kelly) by peareaiet it false. That gentdeman (Mr. Cameron) did not repre sent his State by bie vote or influence. We honored in refutation of a serious he out of a mistake of the printer, which the com mittee, aa individuals, refused to correct. was not that investigation was made, but that the report was of such @ character that Cougresa shrunk frou taking action on its statements. Mr. Kolly refe & Mr. Cummings’ purchases, showing the economy he oxercised tn the premises. Mr. Stuexx, (opp.) of N. J., of the Committes, aaid the taloens were not distributed, and (he hats wore tor (Laughter.) Mr. Kg:..y said lie would go to the commissary’ offer with the gentloman, and make a common report. Mr. Srxxig said he would accept the ition. Mr. WASHBURNE, ittoe ir. Steele) to include tho hundres session of the Commissary, and had not been distri ed, for the roason that they were not fit to use. (Laugia ter. hie. Kus having concluded his remarks, Mr Dawes oxpiaived that, in remarking on barge in the minds of gentlemen from Pennsylvania with Bice, tho newspapers. bad‘mufe auch announoemwnte , the news) nw ann which bad nover been contradicted. He thought there waa no doubt of the fact. As tothe commities waating the public money as charged, they had in one single item saved an amount aimost fabulois—namely, $1,500,000 Notwithstandiug the repeated declaration of | Mr Cameron that he never made a contract, it ap peared that three days before he left the Cabins he made one for 150,500 muskets, to be purchased abroae and to be inspected by @ man spocially sent out under an assumed nam brother-in-law of a distinguishee In further comment ing on the contracts made by Mr. Cameron, Mr. Dawes spoke of a ceicbration of the return of harmony among Old political antagonists of Mr. Cameron, some of them pe ag the value of the favors which they had re ceived. Mc. Morenean joquired what reason the gentleman hag for supposing such persons had altended te alleged cow ration. Mr. Dawes would answer the gentleman (Mr. Morehead; in the language of the poet: a ¢ I know not, I care not if gutit’s in that heart, I know that love thee, whatever thou art. Mr. Dawes, during his remarks, suid that the giving oF horse conirasts involving $400,000 was an easy way of recone political differeuces. In conclusion he said the republican party was not the only one partict. pating in the plunder; but it must, notwithstanding put forth every effort te stop the dishonest drain upoa the national Teeasury. Mr. Srevans desired to reply to Mr. Dawoz, but was not prepared to do so now, wishing first to read’ tho gentle muu's remarks. a8 it wa8 beyond bis power to be pre gent when they were mado. Forther consideration of the avbject was postpone® unti! Monday, to which time the Hous Captures by the United States Gunboat Hereules. Barnmore, April 5, 1862. The United States gunboat Bercutes, Capt. Dungan, he arrived bere with another prize and two important prs soners, one of wacom has been long engaged in thecontra- band trade and in passing mails and despatches botwees the secessionists here aud Rebeliom. One of these mes was captured at his house at Avuemessex, Somerset county, Md., where be was found concealed in a loft, and only surrendered when the captain of the Hercules threa- ‘ened to shoot him. The government agents have bee ooking for this man since last fall, He is wealthy, and has been a most unscrupulous secessionist. His name ie withheld for the present. : ‘The Hercules subsequently paid a visit to Great Wicomt- coriver and captured tho schooner Algonquin, hailing from Annemessex, which had evidently landed a cargo ia Secessia, which was no doubt taken from Baltimore, When the Hercules made her appoarance the crew of the Algonquin tried to make off with tho vossol; but they finally abandoned ber and cscaped fto the shore. Some mil matter was found on board. The prisoners cap- tured were sent to Fort McHenry. Lake Champlain Free from Ie Bexuxeros, Vt., April 25, 1862. Lake Champlain is (ree from ive, The steamers United States, Captain Andergon, and Amgrica, Captain Flagg, will commence their regular trips, leaving Whitehall an@ Rouse’s Point on Monday not, in cofnection with the New Yori, Moutreal and Ogslensburg trains, These boats have boen retitted ana put in complete order for business. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD, 26, 1862. 1g Ttatlroad, Stocks firm. Pennsylvania 5's, 85; Readin Morris Canal, 40: Long Island Railroad, 12%? yivania Railroad, 45%. Sight exchange on New York at. par. Parianetrmia, April 26, 1862. Flour firm at $612); for superfine. Wheat firm Pena sylvania red, $125; white, $130 $140, Corn firm at Bae. Salt haus. b3cc.:sides. S!<c. Whiskey firm at 2c. LL FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. Frivay, April 25—6 P. M. Money begomes every day more of a drug. Several of the banks are lending at 5 a 6 per cent on call after ten to thirty days notice, thus indi- cating their belief that money will remain very cheap for some time to come. The deposits at the Sub-Treasury to-day were $1,580,000; the aggre- gate at present is thus raised to about $28,250,000, We hear of sales of paper at 5 a 6; first clase names are much inquired for. Exchange is firmer; sterling has sold at L128» and the regular rate is 11244: commercial billa 111% a 122%. Franes, 5.0234 a 5.07%. Gold de- clined this morning to 10124, but stiffened tip after- ward. The foreign bankers seem to think that, as we are only just beginning to feel inthe money market the effect of the expansion of paper money by gov- ernment, the guld market will soon begin to feel the some influence. It is contrary alike to logic and experience that gold should remain at a nominal premiom, while the government is creating paper money at the rate of several millions a day; and it is equally contrary to experience that the operations of speculators should avail to counter- act the operation of a law of trade. There must ome atime, one would imagine, when the very necessities of the sellers of gold would assist the advance in the price of the precious metal. This jef of all who ave engaged in the banking or bullion,bosiness; but there is some difference ef opinion with regard to the period at which the piarket is expected to move. The stock market opened dal! this morning, and prices of the leading speculative shares fell off 36 a 44. After the first board there was a moderate rally, and prices were maintained at the reaction ti} the adjournment in the afternoon. Govern- mente fell off 4, apparently in consequence ofan over supply from the banks. Toledo was sold down in the morning to 40, and was hammered by the bears with more than usual pertinacity. On the appearance in the market, however, of one or two cash purchasers who were willfng to take all they could get at 40 74 a %, the price speedily rallied, and rose steadily till it closod in the after. noon at 4124 bid. This stock has seemingly toucheé pottom. At 41 it isa-safe investment fot incomer Central and Erie wero steady ail day at the prico of yesterday afternoon, As a goneral rule, tho Western shares were @ sbade lowet to-day, esvecially Rock Lalgud and Dligeis. But prapos: : rep.) Of I. "asked his colleague os U i? u u U