The New York Herald Newspaper, November 29, 1862, Page 4

& NEW YORK HERALD. PFICEN, W. CORNBE OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, TERME cash im advance, Money sent oy matt will be at the (0 te sander. Nematrt Bemis bible curren: in New Fork HE DAILY BERALQ. two conteper comp. $7 per annum THB WEEKLY BERALD, covery Suturdry, of sx canta per Sept fr cpu taps ene cap 9 Seat ka = annum fo part of Gre Spe Say poh oak conn il ede peg ta = mene at, Lh and Sistas om Br rve, orb Yaseen ema no THE PAMILE HERALD, on Wamerday, at fowr cents per 797, Be aren LUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE. solicited from any quarter of the world: tf used, will he jor. Bar-OUR FORKIGN CORRESPONDENTS ARE aRTIOULARLY Requastey TO Seat act Lerrams anv Pack: (Bons sent BO NUTICE taken of anonymous correapondence, We dont wature refer od Ommunre tions ADVERYISEMENTS renewoed day: advertisements in LD, Fawty Heracp, and tx the wer ted California ond Prero, itons. JOB PRINTING executed with noatness, heapnees and dae watch S AMUSEMENTS TIIIS EVENING MIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway —Camicis. WALLAOK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Ccasonsrine Man. Bucs ~ roadway.—Ack Hatiow Era— co JOKE, WINTER GARDEN JARNRY THe Bakow—M. LAURA KERNE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Buonperts. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery,—Kwtonts oF rue Bitar Tom Go-aukan—Luo. Name—Lumwatox Bor. BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery. Ja SCUOOLMASTER—JACK SHRP AR! ALADDIN—NoRag Unni D. GERMAN OPERA HOUSE, 485 Pe ’ ©r Loxvoneav, Broadway. —Posti.uiox BAKNUM'R AMERICAN MUSEUM. Broadway. —Dris’ act's PERFOR VING BeARs—Co) ® ‘ Drima, TorQuens's Vowsal tant Te eel ee BRYANTS" MINSTRELS’ Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Br: BU Erevan Bono, Bonuwavws, Daves, £0.—Htow CHRISTY'S OPERA HOUSE, 583 Broadway, —: Sonas, Danone, £o—Miscatnvous Moment” “Aitereson snd evening , WOOD'S MINATREL HALL, 614 Broadway.— Bones, Danors, £0.—Oruxi10. seen leans PALACE OF MUSIC, Fourteenth strent.—C ! imsreeLs-eSoncs, Dances avd Buaimsauus SaTING HALL, Irving Teresa Cannexo's HOPE CHAPEL No. 720 Bi ol GAIRTIES OONOERT HALL, 616 Broadwar.—Deawina * Reow Bytsetainments. PARIBIAN OABINET OF WONDERS. -_ n daily (rom 10 A. Matill 10 P.M. ascaaian HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSR, “ BROOLEY'S OPERA HOUSH, Brookim.—Rratoriax Hew York, Saturday, THE SITUATION.. The army in front of Fredericksburg has made Mo movement. Tho pontoon bridges, it appears, did not arrive in time, and General Burnside, it ia said, is about to arrest tie parties responsible for the delay. The rebels are busily and continuously engaged in erecting earthworks on the heights to the rear and right and left of Fredericksburg, while oar forces are observing their movements from tho other side of the Rappahannock, all their operations being distinctly visible. The railroad from Aqula creek to the head- quarters of the army was completed on Thursday @nd tho first train arrived there yesterday. The applies will henceforth be forwarded to the army Dy this roate. . There is nothing of moment transpiring in our ‘army at Harper's Ferry. The enemy in front of that locality appeared to be equally quiet, no de- ‘nonstration whatever being made. Srme of the political prisoners at Fort Warren ‘were released on Thanksgiving day. Among them @re included Pierre Soule and Marsha! Kane, of €pitimore. Our news from South Carolina is important. @e yellow fever, so prevalent at Hilton Head, has @dtirely disappeared, and the health of our oops is now excellent. An expedition of ‘the colored regiment, South Carolina Vol- anteors, under Lieutenant Colonel Beard, made quite a successful affair at Doboy Sound ‘egalust the enemy, in which the negroes behaved ‘very commendably. It is rnmored that General Beauregard has pronounced Charleston indefensi- ‘ble, and that the inhabitants are moving their pro- perty from the city. A party of 4,000 rebele, under General Martin, made an attack on Newbern, N. C., on Tuesday; ‘but they were driven back with heavy loss by our troops, commanded by Colonel Kurtz, of the Mas sachusetts Twonty-fourth. There is some important news from the South- | ‘west. The confirmation of the abandonment of | Holly Springs by the rebels, and the occupation of, Hudsonville by our troops reaches us. A body of rebel cavalry captured the town of Henderson, onthe Ohio and Mobile Railroad, on Tuesday, orned the station and made prisoners of a company of Union troops. Several attempts ‘deon made during # few days past to burn the city of Memphis. Ten times on Sunday and fourteen ‘times on Monday the incendiaries endeavored to eet the place on fire, but without success, although ‘the utmost alarm prevailed at the repeated at. tempts to destroy the city. A reconnoitering party towards Lavergne, made from Nashville yesterday, resulted in a severe attack upon the enemy, their defeat and the cap- tare of eleven prisonere and a quantity of arms. Our European files by the Jura and Africa reflect very faithfully the opinion of the British people with regard to Napoleon's plan for an allied tender of mediation between our government and the rebels, as well as of Earl Russell's nete tespecting the proposition. The prevailing feel- ing is one of approval of the policy of the Walmerston Cabinet, the masses of England Dbeing evidently afraid of risking a war with the United States, and plainly distrusting the intentions of the Emperor. The Liverpool Journal, indeed, asserts that Napoleon is most e@nxious for & if wontha'yarmiatice im America, in order that he may, during the time, collect bands NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBXR 29, 1862. eupportere of Matthew T, Brennan for Comptroller’ and of John E. Develin for Counsel to the Corpo. ration, was held last evening at the Cooper Insti- tute. August Belmont presided and mede 8 speech. He was followed by Mr. Jamos T. Brady? who, after speaking in favor of the election of Mr. Brennan, discussed at some length the national questiona of the day. In regard to the attitude assumed by England, he declared that, while he regarded war as one of the most unfortunate cala- ities that can befall any nation—-while he decried war anc hated its consequences—he hoped, if God did not order to the contrary, and England did not behave better, that the two divisionsof the coun- try might be united some time, to’give her a taste | of the American quality. He would appeal to the | South, if they had any lingering fondness for the | Union, to come back, in God's name, into the | Union, shake handa with the democracy, and in less time than the most hopeful prophet could snggest, the democracy would have the control of this go, vernment, reinstate the constitution, and have the Union as it was, with all ita rights, powers and privileges. He declared his belief and hope that the necessities of the government would devolve upon it the duty of calling back McClellan; but, whether called baek or not, he wanted the opposi- tion to be informed that the democracy had always carried* forward the fighta of this coun. try, and meant to carry out this one to its most triumphant results, always keeping the con- stitution of the United States in advance. He pointed to the fact that, while there was noin- crease of destitution in the North by reason of the war, England, in s time of profound peace, had, in the single district of Lancashire, a population of three hundred thousand on the verge of starva- tion. In conclusion, he said that, however dis- integrated the country might appear to be, if the South would only do something to the utter pros- tration of their leaders, and come back into the Union, ail the stars of the old flag would glitter as brilliantiy as they used to do, and shine on through the long lapse of ages forever and evere There wore no other speakers of note present. Governor Seymour had been announced to speak, but sent a note from Utica stating that it was impossible for him to be present. Near the olose of the proceed- ings the announcement was made that the ‘*‘Con- stitution and Union party’? had unanimously adopted the democratic ticket. Tullahoma is said to be the place where the rebel General Bragg, with the assistance of Polk, Breckinridge, Buckner, Hardee and Cheatham, will make a stand to dispute the advance of Gene- ral Rosecrans. Tullahoma ia in Coffee county, Tennessee, about seventy miles southeast of Nashville, by the Chattanooga Railroad, and forty miles from Murfreesboro. It is thirty miles from McMinnville, with which place it is connected by railroad. General MeNeil, ander whose order the ten bushwhackers were shot at Palmyra, is only a mi. litia general, commanding a portion of the Home Guard of Missouri. Not being a regular United States officgr, of course the general government is not reaponsible for his acts, and the recent threat of retaliation, made by Jeff Davis, will probably be withdrawn when this fact becomes known at Ricb- mond. Hon. Luther Hanchett, whose death was an- nounced yesterday by telegraph, was @ conserva” tive republican, representing the Scoond district of Wisconsin in the presont Congress. He waa nominated for re-election in the Sixth district, for the next House of Representatives, and beat his democratic opponent by a large majority. The investigation in the case of Superintendent Kennedy, for the alleged arrest and detention of Mrs. Brinsmade, was brought to 9 close yesterday. Judge Dean put ina written sta‘~ ent of his points of defence, instead of summiny » the case in the usual form. The Commissions heard three or four other witnosses, among whom: was Mr. Hogan, the well known Washington officer, and, as usual in cases of this kind, reserved their decision for a future day. Stocks were very dull yesterday, and prices were Jf a 4g per cent lower all round. The market closed with a down- ward tendency. Money was rather more plentiffl at 6 per cent. Exchange closed at 1423 014334; gold sold at 12935, 129, and clored at 129% bid. The dry goods im- port for tho week was $046,377, more tban the import of citner of the corresponding weeks of 1861 and 1860. The cotton market was much depressed yesterday, and middlings were nominel in price, at from 66¢. a 660. per Ib. Flour, wheat and corn were beavy and tending downward, aa the demand was quite moderate, ‘The sales of groceries were light, as were also those of the principal kinds of provisions, including mess pork at 91;c. AOS. No change occurred’ in the price of beof, butter or cheeso. Hides, leather, wool and tobacco were in fair demand, os likewise were fruit, brandies, wines, hay, petroleum and the principal kinds of fish. There were no important movements reported in metals, can- dies, seeds, whalebone, hemp or chemicals. The freight engagements wore rather limited, with less Grmness in rates. Tas War ix Tux Sovruwest.—Recent des. patches from Nashville convey the idea that there is no prospect of ‘an immediate battle in that direction. This may seem strange, with the army of Bragg ona railroad live, within twenty or thirty miles of the army of General Rosecrans at Nashville—an army, doubtless, quite aa competent to drive Bragg out of Ten- nessee as it was toexpel him from Kentucky. The inquiry may next arise, why does not the army of General Grant push forward after the demoralized rebel forces which were so terribly defeated at Corinth—why, in a word, is this delay on the part of both Rosecrans and Grant? The rains and the mud of the opening winter may serve as an explanation: but there may be good military reasons for a little masterly in- activity in the Southwest just at this time. We shall not attempt to guess them; but, as all the world knows that a grand Mississippi river expe- dition, under General MoClernand and Admi- tal Porter, is ebortly to move down stream $13.12 a $1225, ond prime lard, which was downto | Thd Cupter Revolution. According tothe recent confeesions of the organs of the administration, it has utterly failed in the great purposes for which it has any legitimate existence. Its incapacity and disastrous blunders in the war for the resto" ration of the Union are depicted in glowing colors. It has not only failed in reclaiming the rebels, but it has inflicted unexampled cruel- ties upon loyal men. What is the consequence? Let us see. The essential difference between this country and any country in tho Old World is the ballot box. That is the grand institution which con- stitutes the line of demarcation between liberty and despotism. The great organs of public opinion in Europe rejoiced over the appagent submission of the American people to the arbi- trary decrees of the War Department. But these writers either did not understand the genius of the people, or they suppressed their honest convictions. In Europe revolutions are effected through seas of blood, owing to deapotio or imperfect institutions. In America it is not mecessary that one drop of blood sbould be shed to effect the most extensive political changes. The people are the sovereign’ power, and their will is the ultimate law of the land. furopeans, who do not understand our institutions, have chided ua because we did not riee in rebellion in the Northern States againat the constituted authorities for violating the letter and spirit of the’ constitution. The Froach would have done 80; the English would have done it. The Ame- ricans of the Northern States, true to the origin of their institutions, have the faculty of pa- tience, and, conscious "that public opinion can make all things right, declined to take the sword against usurpation, knowing that ite existence could be only of brief and tempo- rary duration. They felt that the game was their own hands, and that they would lose more by precipitating it than by allowing it to come to natural matu- rity. Henoe their wonderful forbearance is mistaken by the shallow and ill-informed for cowardice and pusillanimity. Iu European countries it would be necessary te reach the same result throygh torrents of blood which is here accomplished without the loss of a single life. And thie was the great error of the revolution- ists of the Southern States. They substituted Europesn instead of American methods to ac- complish political reforms, or to resist political innovations. The great error of the party in power at the North was to ignore the genius of our institutions, and, by imitating Southern re- bellion, to give color and justification to the highhanded proceedings of the rebole at the South. Either we have a constitution or we have not. If there ie any value in sueh an instrument it consists in this: that it is the rallying point in cases of treason and disaffection. Events have show: that the Tadicale of the North are as great cuemies to the constitution as thy Southern’ secessionists, and that, to restore the original status, it is as necessary to crush thé ultra republican rebels among ourselves as it is to aquelch the ineur- gent armies of the South. Aad this is the mean- ing of the recent elections. Perhaps there is no example io history to be compared with this dignified and lofty triumph of intellect over brute force. The organs of Eurogean governments have recently indulged in insults to American democracy, on the ground that when the strain came upon its in- stitutions it could not stand the ‘test. Those institutions have stood such a test as no other government could bear and live. Let our ene mies stand aghast at the result. What are the facta? Let us take this State as a sample, in which the party in power had in previous elec- tions a majority of 110,00. Not only was that majority overcome at (he last election, but, in addition, a majority of upwards of 10,500 on the opposite riie was achieved. Never was such a silent, bloodless revo- lution accomplished as this, by the agency of the ballot box. It is the evidence of calm dignity and conscious power in contradis- tinction to the feverish and bloody excitements of European populations. It is of vast, perma- ment importance. It is a return from the wild and visionary theories of faaticiam to the fun_ damental principles on which the government is based. The republican party is a dead cock in the pit. and for it there is no resurrec” tion. There can be no better criteron of the marvel- lous change than the penuing election for Comptroller of this city, involving the safe custody of many millions of doliars of the, people’s money. Mr. Haws, the present faithful officer, stands high in the public estimation, and is free from reproach. He is known as an honorable man. Yet a person named Brennan entirely unknown to the great mass of the voters of New York, will be eievted to the office by a large majority, simply because Hawe belongs to the republican party and Brennan to the conservatives. The very people who have poured ous their blood like water for the Union, and have cen. tributed their means without stint to the great- est war in modern times, have wrought this great political revolution against the party in ' from Cairo, we may say that General Rosecrans to come along. Meantime let it suffice that while the rebels in the Southwest are compelled to devote all their remaining men, means and re sources to check, if possible, an advance into the interior of Mississippi and Alabama by tho Union troops of Rosecrans and Grant, the rebel army of Virginia must look elsewhere for rein- forcements. ee Arm axp Comrort to the Exemy.—The Philadelphia radical organ, like its radical cola- borers of this city, in the absence of any stirring news from Fredericksburg, is amusing its read- | ors with its information or conjectures of the | and General Grant are perhaps walting for it | | power. What is the philosophy of the political plenomeuen? It is the imbecility of the Cabinet at Washington: the ignorant med- diing with the generals entrusted with the | conductot the wer: the treacherous defeat of the i campaigns they had plannef; the remove! of | victoribue chieftains after their trivwphe; the | breaking down of the Navy Department, the | utter failure of the administration to fulfil its | obligations by land or sea; the horrible destruc” | tion of the finances of a great nation; the un- authorized and unnecessary suspension of the | habeas corpus in the loyal States, the srbversion of the constitution given to us by the founders of the government; the outrageous wholesale ‘of “Bouthern filibusters” to sid him in his war | plans of General Halleck for the capture of Rich. | confiscation acts passed by Congress; the ‘with Mexico. The Empress Eugenie—through her organ, La France—says very plainly that England hesitates #> aid in an endeavor for peace, with the view of pp rmitting the two sections of @ powerful rival, » veo United, to exhaust themselves and die in the visions of @ civil war. MISORLLANEOUS NEWS. ‘6 toamer British Quoen arrived at this port qrouterday with late news from Havens and the ‘West Indies. Admiral Wilkes was in trouble again vith the British officiais at Massaa and Abaco, and Poud complaints are made by the Nassau Guardian lative to his conduct, The rebel steamers Horald and Loupard arrived back at Novsan on the just. from Charleston, after haviny been suc ‘ul in ranning the blockade, + | Aleige dowocratic ratification mooting of the “<0 mond. Thus we are told that “the Army of the Potomac will win Richmond on the Rappa- hannock,” but that :‘the Army of the James will occupy the city.” Now, whether it ie or is not part of the programme of the government to make a diversion up the James river with a separate army, in eupport of General Burnside on the Rappabannook, # newspaper agitation of such ® movement at this time can result only “in giving aid and comfort to the enemy.” We demand of the War Department,as @ simple matter of justiee, that the radical republican journals of Philadelphia, New York and other places shall be held to the rules and restric- tions laid dowa by the department for the government of the newspaper press in the mat- ter of army nows, or that all rules and re strictions upon the subject be abolished. | suppression of liberty of | of tho press—the grand principles of | the great charter of American Hherty, the arregt and profracted imprisoma! 4! ty speech and noeent citizens witheut the color of law or the | operating in Nuthera Virgitia into one army, | great cities of Europe of the public safety dur, | allegation of crime; the establishment of» epy | and tie ext vt Gen Tisheck to Washiagton, ing the dark hours of night that po persons, how. | systera odious to civilized humanity, and, dowtiy: | The revels of (hove ertangements were dieu | evor high thelr rank, wre permitted to drive in | the public corruption, exceeding that of ail | trows, 1 i but not because they wero carriages ot night without lighted lamps. Let | former administrations. With av honest Presi- | badly desigued. wut because they wore badly ux tiope tht our cliy authorities will epeedily | dent, and with resources and means 0! success | exequted, The McDowel) court of inquiry, | apply @ remedy to this orying evil. It is incre. | | without o parallel fp the history of tho world | the Cabinet have miserably and disasirously failed. What is the inevitable cope) sion! Itis that the republican party i¢ lost, ni tuat agreat conrervative revolution haa set in like the flow. tide, g fanaticism and innovation | battle deld of Antictam. This was a II, the ing tide, sweepin, ation compl}, | only rendering aos dangerous. To wore tzzoun 10 come In and go out of hi tine, in this particular are | predoricesburg. 10 reply to Unie General Andervom, before it like seaweed. Nothing can arrest ite progress of ujpmate degtiag. Pod Pn ‘Fhe Causes and Conséquerces of the | their wants, in view of a speedy resumption of p neegacn nee ng prtypeenarsage or wa Active operatione: General McClellan's removal Proprietors of the country papers, did not ocour unti? s month afterwards, and then, of those city papers, both daily aust weekly’ | we doubt not, the President was overruled by @ daily papers have agreed to raise their prices from two to three. cents after the Ist of December. long delay on this side the Rappahannock. That is has imparted new confidence apd enthu- siasm to the rank and file of the army we are well abrured, and that it bas given an addi tional impetus to the preparations for an ad- vance we think will soon be proved. week, and, without.coming to any definite de- cision in regard to the matter, unanimously resolved that an advance in their rates was ad” visable. The Vermont editors will hold a meeting at Montpelier to consult upon the | Tus Conresr ron Coyrrrouter «np Tax Ra. game subject. Some of our New York dailies | Pustican Journats.—The course of the republi- are already announcing that they must’ soon | can journals on the Comptroller costroversy increase thelr terms also, and the majority of | furnishes conclusive evidence that the republi- our weekly papers have recently arrived at | can party is fast falling to pieces, and that the the same conclusion. Throughout the whole | whole concern is a perfect wreck. These jour- country, therefore, there isan evident dispo- | nals, by their incendiary course, have been in- sition among certain newspaper men to add | strumental in bringing upon the country its twenty-five or fifty per cent to the price of | present difficulties, with its enormous expendi- their papers, in order to moet their expenses | tures, loss of business and heavy burdens of and give them a living profit. taxation. A reaction is now taking place, The causés of this rise are the heavy taxes | bringing these radical and abolition journals to to which newspapers are subjected and the re~ | the verge of ruin. The managers of these jour- cent advance in the price of white paper. Not | nals, seeing that the republican party is fast only are all the manufactured materials which | golng to pieces, and that they can no longer bol- are used in a newspaper office greatly taxed, | ster their sinking concerns up with fat patronage, but the telegranis aresalso taxed, the salaries | are therefore looking around and shaping their of the writers and the wagés .of the other em. | course in hopes of. securing the one hun; ployes are taxed, and, finally, the reocipts from | dred and eighty thousand dollars, annu- advertisements and the incomes of the proprie- | ally spent for advertising in this city. tors are taxed. Besides this, the price of white | With this view they are keeping up the appear- paper has advanced one hundred per cent, and | anceofeupporting Mr. Hawa, the republican can” will probably rise still’bigher. Take all tif@se | didate for Comptroller, but at the same time are circumstances into consideration, and it is | secretly supporting Justice Brennan, the demo- obvious that many of the newspaper proprie- | cratic nominee for the sanie position. They tora are now incurring @ loss instead of gaining | have adopted this dodge under the belief that a profit by their ppblications, and consequently | Brennan’s election is sure, and hope to work they are anxious to raise the prices of their | themselves into his favor, and thus secure in newspapers in order to overeome this defi- | the future, as they have in the past, the ono ciency. The great majority of these poverty | hundred and eighty thousand dollars advertis- stricken proprietors of Western, New Eugland | ing patronage. Thie enormous sum fs paid out and .New York papers are members of the | #unually by the Comptroller. A large amount radical republican party, whieh has involved | Of it is entirely under the disposal and direction the nation in this wer. They have brought on of that official, while he audits and decides upon these taxes and this rise in paper, and are now | I! advertising bills. The republican journals, suffering the consequences of their own folly- realizing the sinking condition of their own It was all very woll for them to be continually | Patty, and that in their dilapidated condition interfering with the business of the South; but how do they like to have their own business thus interfered with? We have often assured them that they were working against their own interests; and now they discover that they might better have followed our, ad- vice and let abolition agitations alone. The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they | Party grind exceedingly fine; and the radical republi can editors have at last found their Nemesis in the paper mills, and are being crushed out existence. No one will miss or regret them. The consequences of this rise willbe a de- crease in the number-of the papers in the coun- try, an increase in the subscription list of great metropolitan newspapers like the HeRaco, and, we trast, a marked improvement in the charac- ter of the American press. The people must read newspapere—that is a foregoue conclusion, The newspaper is as necessary as food to an American citizen. But persons who could afford to take two or -three newspapers when newspapers were cheap will subscribe to only one newspaper now that newspapers are to be dear; and it is but natural to suppose that they will select and subscribe for the best newepa- per obtainable. This seals the fate of many country papers which have hitherto been en- dured rather than patronized by the people, and will result in concentrating the reading masses around some leading metropolitan jour- nal. Wé believe that these results will not only benefit the character of the American press, but will aleo do much for the still farther elevation of the American people. The poorest newspapers are generally the worst and the vilest, aud are controlled solely by the bribes and the contract jobs of corrupt politicians. To demonstrate this it is only necessary to look at the radical organs in this city, one of which was sold out three times ia succession to different aspirants for the Comptrollership, and othe hich are now alyly endeavoring to cut the (hroat of their own candidate for that office, in order to get a niece titbit, in the shape of Corporatien advertising out of the democratic nominee, whom (ey now perceive to be certain of an election. The an_ nihilation of such papers aa these ir a positive blessing, and, if it can be accomplished by a rise in their prices, we wish tha! (he present taxes may be doubled, and that white paper may advance to as high a preminm as gold. We warn thé radieal editors, therfore, that if they wish to keep up a little life for a while longer they should do anything rather than in- crease their prices. Why, for instunce, cannot they imitate the example of the traitors whom they are aiding and abetting, and print their papers upon brown paper? At their present rates they may manage to maintain their «mall circnlations for a short time; but at fifty per cent advance they will be too dear to buy even for wrapping paper, and must inevitably end their career in ruin. Paestpent Lincown’s Visit to General Borssipe.— Whatever may be the causes which detain the Army of the Petomae on the north- ern bank of the Rappahannock, the people will acccept this late visit of President Lincoln to Gener@l Buroside’s headquarters as significant of active work. When the President went down to Fortress Monroe last May, tha long iftiactivity which bad prevailed in that quarter was ended, aod » combined movement of our land and naval forces, under his immediate direction, was made, which resulted in the vc cupation of Norfolk by our troops and in the blowing up of that rebel iron-clad ecarecroy, the Merrimac, by the rebels themselves, to anv < her from capture. The next visit of the Presi dent to the James river, which was immediate- ly after those seven days’ sanguinary battles in front of Richmond, was followed hy the recall of General MeClellan’s army to Washing: It will also be remembered that the flying visit of President Lincoln to General Scott at West Point was fotowed by the reorganization of the wovera! independent Union army dotatchmonts we expect, wili show where the responsibilities belong. The next army visit of President Linooln tyoyond the lines of Washington was to the ‘headquarters of General McClellan, near the mentary visit to the successful General and Drave soldicrs, embracing # kindly Inquiry fnto they must still have the benefit of this enormous advertising patronage or stop their papers, are, in an underhanded manner, deserting the candi. date of their own party and working for the democratic nominee. This fact shows the rottenness of the republi- can party, and especially .the journals of the in this city. They will desert the candidate of their own party for a chance at the Corporation patronage or a few crumbs from the democrats. They turn against a man who has proven himself one of the most efficient officers that we have had, and go for one who has had no experience as a financial officer, simply because the latter is certain of being elected and will have the handling of the one hundred and eighty thousand dollars of adver- tising patronage. They care nothing for prin- ciple or honesty in office if they can only have a little official patronage. If their party should nominate a man as perfect as the Angel Gabriel, they would sell him for a fat contract or a little Corporation advertising. We apprehend, there- fore, that, with the sinking and wretched condi- tion of the republican party, and the under- banded and two-sided course of the journals of the party, there is no hope for the election of Haws, but that it is quite certain, on the con- trary, that Brennan, who is receiving the sup- port of the united democracy, will be elected by « handsome majority. More Navat Wore ror Concress.—We un derstand that one of the earliest tasks under- taken by Congress will be an entire revision of the navy, with the view of bringing it up to that point of power and efficiency which the vast sums expended upon it justify the country to expect. It has been ascertained that, among other deceits practised upon government in connection with this branch of the public sor- vice, great injustice has been gone by advisory and other committees to valuable offi- cers who bave been oversiaughed or retired in the prime of life, and without there being the slightest stain upon their record at the Navy Department. Without entering into the mo- tives of partiality, prejudice or favoritism open- ly attributed to the members of these boards, we think that the fact of theirsittings having been carried on with closed doors, and with- eut the inculpated officers being afforded an opportunity to be heard in their defence, is reason sufficient to warrant the country ia insisting upon a reinvestigation of all such cases. Such arbitrary and inquisitorial pro- ceedings are abhorrent to the spirit of our free institutions, and we trust that when Congress does take up the subject it will make its inquiries thorough and search- ing, 60 that justice shall not only be meted out to the injured officers, but to those who have made use of the exceptional powers with which they have been entrusted to gratify their per- sonal jealousies and antipathies. Veuicie Dancers.—We have several times ' galled the attention of our city authorities to the necessity of enforcing the laws in existence for the protection of the public by night as well as | by day. Accidents are continually occurring in our streets, and especially in the outskirts of the city, from the neglect of owners or drivers of carriages to have the carriage lamps lighted by night. We anderstand there fs a olty ordi- | nance in existence requiring sackmen to use | ights on thelr carriagés; but we cannot under- stand the motives or policy of limiting such a law to bsekmen only. Tt ought to be applied | snd rigorously enforced against private car. | riages as well as public. The reason for this is | obvions, Inasmuch as the former far exceed the | ' Jatter in number; nor is it rational so to legis- | late as to require a small class of individuals to | use proper precaution against accidents danger- | | ous to public life and security, while o larger | class is permitted to dash along our streets and | | avenues at night without the use of lights to | warn the unwary against impending danger. So careful are the municipal authorities {a the dible. what a number of private eonveyances are | ‘used -in our city anid environs after dark, when | Jedies and families are returning home from the | theatres, or the Opera or visits. These vehicles, | as a general rule, display 00 lights, thereby not Jess cheerful, but mak- ing the highways, avold these things, which a en & reproach to our grea and populous ofty, the law applying only to backmen should be ox- tended to every species of conveyance travel- ling our roads by night; and, above all, the law, when thus made general, ought to be carefully and rigorously enforced by the police Ove or vue Reserrs oy rae Recewr Exo Tions—WoLesaLe Lipgrarion or Srara Pai- soners.—In pursuance of an order from the War Department, all the political detenus in Fort Warren were liberated on Thursday, ad some of them'set out for, and were probably” enabled to reach, their homes in time to cat their Thanksgiving dinners with their families, For this they are indebted to the victory won by the conservatives at the recent elections. But for the condemnation of the illegal ond ar. Ditrary course of the administration, 80 une- quivocally demonstrated by that ovent, they might be pining for months in prison. A curious fact connected with the release of some of the politica! prisoners within the last week or two is the clause added to the usual oath whiok they are compelled to take on their release, vis:-— “That they will not, at any futuretime, com, mence say action or suit against the officers of any loyal State or of the United States for causing their arrest or imprisonment.” Suoh a condition-is illegal and can bind no ome. Aw- thority only lies with Congress, and that not in all cases, to cover with indemnity the acts of officials exceeding their powers. The useless ness of the stipulation will no doubt soon be shown. The fact of its being insisted upom proves that those exacting it are laboring under well founded apprehensions of their conduct being overhauled. AxovseR Rossery Uron tue Soupme—Hav ing crimped all they could off the clothing and - equipments of eur brave soldiers, the radical cormorants who surround the administration are, it appears, now crimping their food, the government bakeries, which are managed im their interest, supplying bread made from ia- jured flour, so sour and black that it is loath- some to eat. Have the Tribune men, we should like to know, a finger in this pic? Justice To Mason ALLsy.—We are gratified to hear that the report that Major Allen has been playing the role of a spy upon the movements of General McClellan—a report which was de- rived from sources supposed to be entitled te credit—has not, in fact, the slightest foundation» From authority which we cannot doubt, we are assured that Major Allen is in this city on quite another mission, and that from his active oxpe- rience in the army, under General McClellaw be has derived the highest opinions of the patriotism, military abilities and services of his late commander. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasminoron, Nov. 28, 1863. TRE ANNUAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS, There is vory little prospect that the reports of the Secretaries will be ready by the opening of Congress ‘The reports of subordinate officers are of #0 much im, Portanee and 60 volumioous thut it bas beon almost im possible to prepare them in time for the reports of the chiefs of departments to be based upon them. In the Navy Department the Chief of Ordnanee has made a report which is probably the most interesting that has ever been given the country in regard to tren- clad vessels, projectiles and ordnance. It has been seces- sarily abbreviated, and goes leas into dotail than might be desired; but it will show the cenaition of our new naval armament, and will, by the facts presented, disprove many of the theorles which have bcon carelessly: adopted by some of our scientific writers from the necessity of seclading from the public eye many facts developed in ‘experiments. Captain Dahigrea has hitherto been prevented from publishing grest re ulta that bave been attained, which his report will only partially disclose; but it will show that in expert- mente of naval warfare and in tron-clade and their arma- ment we have far outstripped all tho nations of the earth, The Quartermaster General's report will occupy much space. It is replete witn interesting ana important de. taile. It is promised that all the reports of heads of depart’ ments shali be ready for presentation to Congress by Tvesday morsing; but it is doubtful whether the printing can be done by that time, as the government printing establishmeat bas beon overrun with the current bast- ness of the departments, aud some of the reports of eub- ordinate officers are eo voluminous that ft will be maay days before even & proof sheet can be obtained. The whote force of employes of the government hay® been busily engaged in preparing the materials for thes® reports, but their unuenal importance and the multipit- pltcity of details have over tasked all tho industry that could be exercised. MB. SEWARD ON PRENCH MEDIATION. lam fifermed that Mr. Seward looks upon the pre- posed mediation of the French government as the act of friendly Power, containing no propositions calculated te ‘alter in the least our friendly. relations with France He thinks the unfavorable commonts of the press on that subject are duc to the imperfect translation of the French text—a translation which, in bis opinion, docs net do justice to the idea of the Emperor. ‘This idea is simply to manage an interview to the bolligerents, without prejudice of what they may de afterwards, As to prevent s continuation of the war, er to exercise the least pressure upon any of the contending parties, one way or another, directly or indirectly, this is in no manner expressed or binted at in the In other terme and to use familiar comparison, I nay that Loule Napoleon’s letter in the invitation of a sovereign to other sovereigns, to invite the North to havea little conversation with the South, and the South to have a little conversation with the North before re- fuming hostilities. Such 1¢ the most general interpreta- tlon J heard gives to it among our public officers and im diplomatic olrcles, THR M'DOWRLI, COURT OF INQUIRY. The McDowell Court assembled this forenoon at half. past cloven o'clock. The journal of the preceding day was read and approved. Considerable merriment, though suppressed, was manifested in the Vourt, extend- ing even to the veteran President, General Cadwallader, upon the reading of the letter presented yesterday from Colonel Goodwin, accusing @eneral MeDowell of drunken. ness, ko. ‘The Court was then cleared and coutioued im fecret evasion one hour. Upon the opening Colonel Peleaxe, Recorder of the Court, presented a letter from the headquarters of we army, ‘summoning Generale MoCiollan, Pope, Sige, Ricketts, Harteuff, &c., as witnesses tn thia: case. In re, ference to ome other officers called for as witnesses by Gqn. McDowell, the communication from the headquarters stated that they wore in the field, and supposed to be in the discharge of duties from which they could not well be sparod at this tine A lengthy informal conversation then ensued botween Gooersi McDowell aod the Court as to the meaning of the Lerma “general eowduct,’’ in the Court's decision of yeu terday, which resulted in the understanding thet the ffth inquiry im the plan proposed by him, relative to drunkenness, would be included in these terms, and every ‘other charge affecting hie character as a general officer. ‘The Court then called upon General McDowell for ovt- dence upon thé first inquiry; vit:—Correspendence with | the enemy's commanders, or with persons im the rebel Hines. Colonel Schriver stated that be had beep upon General McDowoll’s staff about ogg, months, and laid bofore the Court the correspondence had by General MoDowell with General J. R.~Ahdorson and his repites thereto. This correspondence relates to the death of Robt, F. Scott] by, as Gonoral Anderson” terms tn hig letter to General McDowell, the hands ‘of an aseandin, and requests Pormission @f Genera, MeDowoll that a certain Dr. Lyons, ‘Mrs. Scoty’s brother, may be allowed to pass through bis lines to her residencky, near Warrenton, sod bring Mra. Scott into shie Andersoa’s) lines. In bis reply to the first letter ¢ Andoraon’s, Geaeral McDowoll refurca the