The New York Herald Newspaper, January 7, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GURDON BéNNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. GPPIOR N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS, ‘Velaume XXVIII... AMUSEMENTS THIS BVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIO, Irving place.—Itauiay Orena— Vaesrat Sictusan. 41BL0'S GABDBN, Broadway.- WALLACK'S THEATBE. broadway.—Paviine 87 AND Ma GUBRITE, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—[nisu AMBAdSAD0R— Lanus ov Kivtamsey—Miscut: vous Vaixr. LAURA KBENE’S THEATRE, Brosdvay.—/xxn¥ Linp— ‘Tus (sviwoiuins, NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. —JocKo—Loxeiy ‘Man ov THs Ocmax—Jack’s Detigur. en owaaY THEATRE, Bowery.—Jick awD tae Bray. aL "8 AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—\iss "ARR! ommopor® Nurr, &0., at ali hours, CoLuuses Bawa—Aiteenvou and Eveuing. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS’ Mechanics’ Hall, 473 Broad- way.—Etniorian Sodus BURL ESQUES, Dances, &0.—! AND Manauenits. WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, oe Broadway.—Brarorian 8, Dancxs, &0. BUCKLEY'S MINSTR Brosdwa.—ETHi0r1an Borsa. TRVING HALL, Irving place.—Witite Parr’s Conusrr Stuyvesant Institute. 659 Dancus, 4¢,—Luvoreria Al ROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadway.—Lrving Wit NIMALS, AMER(CAN MUSIC HALL. No. Bat urs, Fanroatas, Bununsguny, £0, 4 SMtway Bas PARIBIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 Broadway.— NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, AJANDARY .7, 1863. ! cent twenty year’s bonds, which bonds, with the interest, shall constitute a fand for the redemption of the 3.65 Treasury notes, the bonds to be of equal date of the Treasury notes, the in- terestto be paid in specie. The holders of the tender notes shall have the right to surrender them whenever the amount of one hundred dollar? is presented, and receive the par value forthe same. The holders of the 3.65 Treasury notes shall have the right to invest the same in twenty years aix per cent bonds when an amount equal to five hundred dollars is presented. A bill allowing articles not now mailable io be sent to soldiers through the mails, at the rate of one cent per ounce postage, was pussed. The remainder of the session was devoted to debate upon the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Appropriation bill, THE LEGISLATURE. Our State Logislature for the year 1863 com- menced its session at Albany yesterday. In the Senate Lieutenant Governor Jones addressed the members, in accordance with the custom of pre- aiding officers of that body on assuming the duties of the position, pledging to the Senators his best endeavors towards the honest fulfilment of the re” quirements of the responsible position, and asking for their hearty co-operation. He then announced his appointments of officers of the Senate, after which committees were appointed to wait on the Governor and the Assembly to inform them that the Senators were ready to receive any conununi* cation they might have to make. Notice was given of bills to allow soldiers to vote in camp and to regulate the sale of hay in this city and Brooklyn, when, without the transaction of further business, an adjournment took place. The Assembly was called to order at eleven o'clock, by the Clerk of the last House. All the members Open daily trom 10 A. M, till 10 P.M. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Ermortan Songs, Dancus, Burtxsques dc i New York, Wednesday, January 7, 1863. NOTICE TO PAPER MASUFACTURERS. Twenty thousand reams of good paper wanted. Size 38x46. Apply at tho HeRatp office. THE SITUATION. We continue to give most important details of the great victory at Murfreesboro. Our corres- Pondence from Nashville describes the movements of*the federal army upon that point. -Our map defines all the positions to which any historical interest attaches. General Rosecrans in the later despatch, which we give elsewhere, fur- nishes the additional facts. He says that one of the greatest battles of the war has been fought and won under his command; that his entire suc” cess on the 31st ultimo was prevented by a surprise of the right flank; but that he has, nevertheless, beaten the enemy after a three days’ fight. That they fled with greut precipitation on Saturday night, und the last of their columns of cavalry left on Monday morning. He reports Generals Rains and Hanson killed, and Generais Cladson, Adams and Breckinridge wounded. ‘The Richmond papers say that the rebels de- Stroyed two millions worth of property belonging tothe Union army by an attack on its rear on ‘Tuesday night. Our losses in all the engagements were 1,100 killed, about 6,000 wounded, and several thousand Prisoners. One-third of the wounded will soon be able to resume duty, Despatches from Nashville state that all the bridges in East Tennessee have been burned, and were present, and balloting for Speaker was im- mediately proceeded with. Two ballots were had, resulting in a tie each time—Mr. Dean, the demo- eratic candidate, and Mr. Siftrwoud, the republi- can candidate, each receiving sixty-three votes. The Assembly then adjourncd. It is thought Mr. Dean will be elected to-day. Governor Seymour's message will be sent in to the two houses to-day, should the Assembly succeed in organizing. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. By the arrival of the Eagle, Captain Adams, at this port last evening, we have news from Havana to the 2d inst. The French iron-clad frigate La Normandie had arrived at Havana from Vera Cruz, en route for Martinique, to await orders. During her stay at Vera Cruz she lost 350 of her crew of 650 men by yellow fever, including her commander, Captain de Russell. Advices from Venezuela represent the disturbed state of affairs there as continuing, without any prospect of a peaceful settlement of the difficulties. The Brownsville (Texas) Banner of the 5th ult. an- nounces that the brother of General butler has consigned a cargo of merchandise to the mouth of the Rio Grande, which he offers to sell to the rebels for gold or cotton, and that the United States Consul,"at Matamoros had arrived at Mon- terey with a complete assortment of thread, nee- dies, cards, &c., for the rebel soldiers. The local news from Havana is unimportant. The United States transport steamship Ericsson, from Ship Island Detember 26 and Key West January 1, has anchored at Quarantine on account of the fog. We publish some interesting news from New Orleans, brought us by the steamer McClellan, which arrived yesterday. It will be seen that other vessels of the Banks expedition had safely arrived. The Commanding General had, it is said, resolved on establishing his headquarters at Baton Rouge. Christmas day was characterized by scenes of un- usual violence. A bloody wife murder occurred on that day, and eight persons were arrested for shouting in honor of Jefferson Davis. Among them was a disorderly English lieutenant of the British war steamer Vosuvius. We give an ac- countof the insolent though ludicrous affair, show- that Colonel Bruce has recaptured Clarksville, taken » number of prisoners and 8,000 barrels of flour. Rebel authorities confirm the success of this “Yankee raid’ into East Tennessee. Ry an arrival from New Orleans we learn that General Banks has established his headquarters at Baton Rouge, where he had 10,000 men in camp. More vessels of his expedition had arrived. ‘Our correspondent’s account of the late success- ful expedition to Vicksburg, which we publish to. day, is intensely interesting, and shows that it was conceived on the largest scale and carried out with the highest success. The expedition on the Yazoo river consisted of about sevent;-five ves. sels, consisting of armed boats and transports, the object of the enterprise being the possession of Vicksburg by landing the troops on the banks of the Yazoo under cover of the light draught gun- boats, while the heavy iron-clads were to operate against the city from the Mississippi river. The sagncions plan adopted by Briga ‘er Gene_ ral Williams last fall of cutting off Vicksburg from the banks of the Mississippi by making a diversien in the channel of that river appears likely to be carried owt most effectually by the opera- tions of nature. The rise in the river is widen- ing and deepening the artificial channel er cut of Gen, Williams to such an extent as to alarm the citizens of Vicksburg lest they should find themselves in an inland town before next spring. It is thought that the course of the Mississippi will be eo changed at this point in afew months that veasels of the largest class can go through the new channel and navigate the river without passing Vicksburg at all. CONGRES Ia the Senate yesterday, the Military Committee reported back the bill to temporarily suspend the act to prevent and punish fraud on the part of of- Gcers entrusted with making government contracts, and moved that the bill be put upon its passage, but aer some debate the subject was postponed The House joint resolution for the immediate pay- ment of soldiers and sailors was reported by the Military Committee, with an amendment authoriz- ing an issue of $50,000,000 of demand Treasury notes, in addition to the amount anthorized by the act of July, 1862. The bill was referred to the Finance Committee. The bill relative to the dis- | “harge of State prisoners was taken up, and Mr, Wri, Mt, of Indiana, made a speech in opposition toit. A bill was introduced to promote the com- fort of sick a Wounded soldiers, by providing for the commutetion yf the rations of soldiers in hos- pitala at the rate of thimy gents per day. A | resolution directing inquiry as to thé expediency of reimbursing Minnesota for'expenditures on ac- count of the Indian outbreak was adopted. After en executive session the Senate adjourned. “jn the House of Representatives the Select Com mittee on Emancipation reported a bill providing for the issue of ten million dollars of thirty yearg bonds, in aid of the emancipation of slaves in Mis- | souri, the government pledging itself to deport ‘and colonize the freed men. Some debate ensued: | d finally @e bill was passed bya vote of seventy” prot psn forty-six. A reselution was atlopted that the Committee on Ways and Means be in acted to inquire into the exp ee notes bearing 3.65 interest, the amoun to be equal to the amount of tender notes par ; and such other sums as the e public service for the current | 76 cows, 366 veals,4,797 sheep and lambs, and that there be issued an of United States oix per) circulation, of the year shall require; agua! amount ing how the lieutenant got inte the wrong box, and how hard it was to get out of it. The news from Key West, by the McClellan, shows that several captures of vessels running the blockade have been made. Our correspondent’, letter explains fully the movements of our naval the sales and resales having amounted to 1,700 bales ag from 696. a T0c., moatly at 8c, a 694¢c, for middlings- ‘There was leas inquiry for breadatuffs, particularly four, wihch declined, in some instances 6c. per bbl. Whegt and corn were steady. Pork and beef were moderately sought After, while bacon, lard, hay, bopa and tallow, were in 00d demand, as likewise were Rio coffeo, sugar and New Orleans molasses. Tho transactions in metals, oils» hemp, fish, laths, rice, spices, tobacco, fruit and whale- bone wore limited. The freight market was steady, with moderate ongagemonts reported, mostly of bread” ‘stuffs and provisions for Britigh ports. ‘The stock market was again buoyant yesterday, tho chiof advance of the day being in Minois Central, Hudaon, Michigan Southern and Erie, Thore was ‘ees excitement than on Monday. Gold opened at 134, and closed at 13444. Demand notes advanced to 1303¢; exchange was ul! at 148 & 34. Money was very easy at 5 a 6 per cent. The Victory at Murfreesboro—The Cam- paign in the West and in the East. The official and other authentic despatches from Murfreesboro which we publish this morn- ing establish the grand result of the late des- perate and protracted battle in that quarter as a decided and most important Union victory: The killed and wounded of the rebels, with our full occupation of the field, show that they were terribly punished; and from the numbers of prisoners picked up along their lines of retreat it is evident that they fled, under cover of the night, in an exhausted and seriously demoral- ized condition. They have suffered a repulse which breaks up their ambitious plans and cal_ culations for the recovery of Nashville, and of Tennessee, Kentucky and the whole line of the Mississippi river from Cairo to New Orleans» while General Roseerans has achieved a victory which opens the way to a successful Union cam- paign from his present position to the Gulf of Mexico. It is reported that General Rosecrans at- tributes this victory in a great degree to the brilliant Union cavalry raid from Kentucky, which, in breaking up the Tennessee and Vir- ginia Railroad, cut off the army of Bragg from reinforcements which otherwise would have reached him from the rebel army at Fredericks- burg. This may be true; but in any event it is widely believe’ that Jeff. Davis had already reinforced Bragg from Lee’s army to a considerable exteat, concluding that Lee, in the position from which he had repulsed Gen. Burnside, could repulse him again, and spare twenty or thirty thousand men meantime for the support of Bragg’s movement hgainst Nash- ville. From the Rappahannock we have been informed that the rebel force in front has been visibly diminished of late, from which it would seem that the rebel leaders have no fears for the present of any dangerous aggressive move. ment on the part of our grand army which is immediately under the eye of the War Depart- ment at Washington. The rebels, in fact, ap- pear to be acting upon the idea that Gen. Burn- side is to stand still for the rest of the winter) and we may say, too, that in New York some such apprebensions are beginning to be enter~ tained. We dq, not care to inquire into the plans of the War Office; but we may take the"liberty to suggest that our grand Army of the Potomac could be exceedingly useful just now in support of General Rosecrans, General Grant, General Sherman, General Banks, and Admirals Farra- gut and Porter in the West, by some ac- tive demonstrations which would hold the rebel army of Virginia to the defence of Richmond. If the overland ronte to that city from the Rappahannock has been found to be impracticable for a winter’s march, there are other routes which furnish @ secure base and a most desirable channel for offensive operations to the very doors of the rebel Congress. But let General Burnside be beld to the Rappaban- nock until the rebel armies of the West are broken up and dispersed, and he may find their vessels in those waters. An Anglo-rebel vessel» with a valuable cargo, has Seen captured by a United States ship. The health of the place is good. The first day of January of the present year was celebrated by the freed negroes of Hilton Head, South Carolina, ina most enthusiastic manner. Our correspondence from that place, published to-day, is full of interest. According to the order and in- vitation of Gen. Saxton, commanding that post, thousands of contrabands met together, and were treated to numerous speeches, music, odes, &c., winding up with the more solid and substantial spread of a dozen of roast oxen, The roast meat was afterwards washed down by several doses of sweetened water, after the style of the French- man’s eau sucre, no doubt. The rules for the government of these negroes, and the manner og enforcing industry among them, are fully detailed in @ general order from the General to that effect. The Board of Supervisors for 1863 organized yesterday by the election of the following offi- cers:—Supervisor Thomas Little, Chairman; Joseph B. Young, Clerk; Reeves E. Selmes, Deputy Clerk; E. A. Woodward, Assistant Clerk, and Henry Mathews, Sergeant-at-Arms, The stand- ing committees were appointed and the Mayor Notified that the Board was ready to proceed to business. The bills for the construction of the Harlem river bridge were ordered to be paid, not- withstanding the Mayor's veto of the same. After the transaction of some unimportant business the Board adjourned till three o’clock this afternoon. A magnificent stand of colors was last evening presented to the Thirty-seventh regiment, (Irish Rifles,) by the Common Council of New York, in appreciation of their valor and services during the present war. The presentation took place at the residence of Alderman Farley, corner of Fifty-fourth street and Lexington avenue, and the occasion was quite a patriotic and spirited one. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was again epened its entire length to Wheeling and Parkers- burg on the 5th inst. The six States of New England, with # popula- tion of 3,136,000, have twelve votes in the United States Senate, and the State of New York, witha population of 3,891,000, has two votes in that body. H The United States Hotel at Far Rockaway, Long Island, wae burned to the ground, with almost all | its contents, on Sunday morning, the 28th ult. It was occupied at the time, and furnished through- ont. Loss heavy. The demand for beef cattle was very active, both on Monday and yesterday, and, as the supply on sale was remarkably light, there was afarther | appreciation of fully half a cent per pound on all descriptions. The advance was particularly noticeable in the sales of prime cattle, which were | in very light supply, and to obtain which there | was a lively race around the yard by most of the | first class butchers, who have been cut short for two consecutive weeks. Prices varied from 5c ' a 10c., with many sales at Se. a The average price was about 7%,c. The Is were cleated before noon. Milch cows were substan | tially the same, Veals were quite ac and firm, owing to the short supply and the advance in beef cattle; sales were made at from 4c. a6%4c. Sheep and lambs were again scarce, active and Se. per head higher, varying from $3 75 to $6 4 $8, ac- ediency of issuing | cording to quality; three fancy sheep told at $23 each. Swine were less plenty, very active and . firm at 4340. a 4%c. for corn fed, and 3c. a Aye for still fed. The total receipts were 3,642 be 39,977 swine. . An active Dysiuess was yeneried ip cotgm yerterdpy, fragments coalescing with the army of Lee by tens of thousands, with the design of another grand effort to counterbalance all they may have lost in the West by a crushing campaign in the East. We trust, however, that General Halleck haa no idea of repeating the disastrous programme of Corinth and Richmond. We have, in addition to the victory of Mur~ freesboro, the gratifying news from that quar- ter that the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers are rising rapidly, and are already in good boatable condition. Thus, with these two valuable channels of transportation reopened, the future movements of our forces in Tennes- see, Alabama and Mississippi will be immensely facilitated. \ Availing themselves of the ad- vantages of these two rivers, we may be sure that Generals Rosecrans and Grant will promptly follow up their late suc- cesses; while Sherman, McClernand, Banks, Farragut and Porter are finishing the great en- terprise of reopening the Mississippi from Vicksburg to New Orleans, if not already that the hostile demonstrations followed instead of preceding it. In the essential features both tatoments agree. They only differ as toa point of time. But the subject is of no consequence. Financial Condition of the Stace of New York, The annual report of the State Comp- troller has just been issued, and is, on the whole, a most satisfactory and encouraging Statement of our financial position. After re- ferring to the heavy experiditures entailed by the war, it proceeds to say that, aside from these drawbacks, the financial affairs of the gtate are in a condition of unusual prosperity. From the deep depression which characterized them four years ago they have been brought up to @ point which may justly excite some degree of exultation. From the policy of economy and caution in voting appropriations for new enterprises which was then adopted the best fruits have resulted. The enlargement of the canals has been completed; for the first time in many years they fully answer the re- quirements of the constitution; all just demands have been promptly paid; the credit of the State was never so high; and, in the face of heavy war expenses, the funded debt has been reduced by the actual payment of $2,100,000- An inflexible adherence to the same system of rigid economy is recommended in view of the uncertainties of the future. i Out of the appropriation of $3,000,000 voted by the Legislature in April, 1861, for the pur pose of raising and equipping troops for the Service of the federal government, it is stated that there remained due on the 81st of July by the United States a balance of $1,835,963 66- This has been carried over to the credit of the State in settlement of its proportion of the tax of $20,000,000 voted by the act of Congress of August, 1861, the further sum of $400,000 being paid to the federal Treasury in cach to complete said jsettlement. Further expendi- tures have been made since July last which are chargeable to the United States, but which are not applicable to the payment of the tax. They remain for future adjustment. The total expenditures under the act of the 17th of April, 1861, “to provide arms and equipments for the militia of the State and for the public defence,” are set down at $297,652 85. The whole amount advanced by the State for bountics to soldiers enlisted under the arrangement with the Commercial Bank of Albany was, from July 17 to Septem. ber 30, $3,500,000. The amount deposited with the bauk to enable it to make these ad- vances was $2,000,000, consisting of canal funds and Comptroller’s bonds, payable on the Ist of June and July next. By this arrangement the drawing of moneyfrom the Treasury on account of these bounties and the expense and delay of an extra session were avoided. It is for the Legislature now to promptly pass an act making the requisite appropriations to re- imburse the amounts advanced by the bank. The receipts of the canals for the fiscal year ending 30th September, 1862, are set down at $4,854,989 67, and the expenditures during the same period at $773,398 32, leaving a surplus revenue of $4,081,591 35. After providing for all the sinking funds required by the constitu- tion, there is a remainder amounting to $685,348 69. The Comptroller makes several specific recommendations for the disposal of this balance, all of which appear to be judi- cious. The total amount of the State debt is estimated at $30,517,424 62, showing, as we have already stated, an actual reduction within the last year of $2,100,000 of principal. The revenues of the canals having, during the same period, filled all the sinking funds, no taxation will be required for that pugpose; so that if these funds are kept full hereafter, as they should be, the entire debt will be extinguished as fast as it becomes due, and will be substan- tially paid off within twelve years. The expenses of the government for the fiscal year commencing the Ist October, 1862, are es- timated at $8,971,705 16, and the revenue at $8,227,000 57, leaving a deficiency on the 30th September, 1863, of $744,704 55. A gratifying improvement is noticed in the administration of the State prisons, the receipts for the last year being considerab)y larger and the expenditures smaller than on wie preceding one. It is also stated that the number of convicts in all the prisons is rapidly diminishing. In regard to taxation, it appears that the taxes for town, county and school purposes have increased enormously. Twenty years ago they amounted in the aggregate to only $5,626,793 97. They are now estimated at $16,000,000, without in- cluding incorporated cities and villages. The aggregate valuation of real and personal estate in the cities of New York and Brooklyn for finished, The present, then, is the time for our grand Army of the East to be moving upon Riehmond, while all the rebel forees in the Southwest are there employed in their last desperate struggle to retain their limited footing in the Mississippi valley. Meanwhile, so long as Lee, with his principal army reduced, perhaps. to fifty thousand men, is permitted to hold at bay ao army of over a hundred thousand mes, we are at least losing the services of over fifty thousaad of our veteran troops, and at the very time when they may be actively employed to the best advantage. We hope soon to hear that “all is very quiet om the Rappahannock,” from the absence of any armed force, beyoud a corps of ebservation, on that unimportant river. Finally, with this favorable tarn in the tide of the war in the West, we call upon President Lincoln to push forward the campaign, not only in the West, but in the East. Let him give to his tried and approved generals in the field the management of their armies—to our naval officers the navy. Let him limit the at- tentions of the abolition faction to the negroes, hold all the mousing politicians to their dirty work of party politics, and all military petti- foggers to their pettifogging, and Mr. Secretary Chase to bis loans and Treasury notes, and all jokers to their jokes, and all thieving contrac- tors and defaulters to a stern account, and we are say that the end of the winter will yet be the end of the war, and that Louis Napoleon's oc- cupation on this side the Atlantie will be gone. Hexey Wanp Beecner i Buizaneta.—An evening paper undertakes to deny a statement that on the arrival of Henry Ward Beecher at Elizabeth to lecture there a crowd had collect- ed with hostile intentions, and that he was | obliged to return without delivering his dis- | course. But, strange to say, the writer admits that after the leeture it was necessary to con- voy the reverend gentleman to the depot by troops of friends and by the police, and that “a crowd of boys and half-grown men indulged in neisy demonstrations;” so that the only diffe- rence between the first statement and the second is (pat be dc deliver the legure, ang 1862 is set down at’ $1,449.303,948, and the State taxes at $6,684,193 75. The Comptroller caleulates that the total of taxes required to be levied for the ensuing year will be only $3,260,933 87, or less than half the above amount. Of course if any new works are under- taken or extraordinary appropriations made, it will be necessary to increase the taxes suffi- ciently to cover them. Ata period when profli- gate expenditure and waste charaeterize the administration of the national fimauces, this healthy exhibit of the financial condition of this great State is a cheering and hopeful sign, and affords @ satisfactory assurance that here, at least, we are not likely to lose sight of the prin” ciples that should gnide all well governed com- munities. Tue Rerorrep Battie in Mexico.—The news from Mexico, which we publish this morning, would be of the utmost importance to the French army in that country if it could reasonably be felied on. But, coming to us as it does, by a cir- cuitous and suspicious route, we are inclined to doubt its authenticity, at least until more re- liable advices are reeeived. It seems next to impossible to believe that five thousand French soldiers, with all their reputation for ean and gallantry, could in so short a space of time have dispersed an army ofttwenty-five thonsand men, intrenched in formidable works on the heights of Puebla. If there has been any ba‘tle at all, it must have occurred in front of these ladies of Mexico even aiding to build them— ratber than in the fortifications themselves, General Ortega, who commands the Mexicans, js an able and valiant man, and, assisted as he is by Comonfort and other intelligent officers, we think he would have made a more stubborn resistance. There is another reason why we are inclined to doubt this news. Our last accounts repre- sented the main body of the French army at Orizaba, where General Forey had determined te await his supplies of mules and other transportation. The reason given for this was Wot it yee Wopeesidje extensive works—which we know have been in | eourse of construction for many months, the | Gos him to sdrance | without these supplies. Supposing that he has moved, he'would surely have gone to the at- tack of one of the strongest positions in Mexico with @ greater force than five thousand men; for he cannot have forgotten the defeat of the French army under General Lorencez at this same place in consequence of attacking with insufficient numbers. Besides, we have had dates from Vera Cruz to the 7th of De- cember, in which no mention is made of any movement of the French army. Now, we have this apparently positive news coming all the way from Puebla to Monterey, to San An- tonio, then through Houston and Opelousas to Vicksburg and New Orleans; and yet the despatch is dated San,Anionio, the 4th of Decem- ber, three days earlier than our previous news from Vera Cruz, and not as late by sixteen days as that received last night from Havana and published in another column. Wuy 18 tag Saror’s Pre Mover vor Dis- TRIBUTED!—Complaints are being continualiy made to us by our sailors and naval officers that the prize money ef the present war, which now amounts to over five millions of dollars: has not been distributed. There can be no sound reason for this neglect. In the case of the soldiers, the want of funds may be pleaded: though that reason is greatly weakened in view of the fact that so many lazy runaway negroes are supported out of the army appropriations: But there is no pretext in the case of our sail- ors and naval officers; and there is this to be said also in their behalf: soldiers get bounty; sail ors get none;.and many have families depend- ing on them for support. and age looking to the prize money. It ought, therefore, to be prompt- ly paid. The sailors are always brave and re- liable, and they deserve encouragement instead of the ‘bad treatment of which they so’ justly complain. We shall be glad to hear any good reason for postponing the distribution so long. Will Rip Van Winkle of the Navy Department awake ? THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. Bxapquaktens, ARMY OF TH Potomac, Jan. 6, 1863. } All is quiet as ugnal in camp. General Stoneman’s ‘inird army corps was reviewed yesterday, and General Wilcox’s Ninth army corps to-day. The appearance and condition of the troops were excel- lent. General Burnside and staff were present ou both occasions. Flags of truce cross the Rappahannock almost every day. The principal business transacted is the exchange of such refugees as are authorized by the military autho- rities on both sides. ‘The contract for the hides, horns and tallow of cattle slaughtered for the Army of the Potomac, recently entered into with John Weicks, of Philadelphia, has been annulled, It is estimated that the receipts from this source should cover the expense of herding and slaughtering for this army, and that responsible parties can be found to con- tract for these articlés with proult to themselves and a saving to tho government. An agent of the Ordnance Department at Washington is here for the purpose of inspecting the ammnnition for cannon, in response to repeated complaints of artillery Oficerg, 1t has been ascertained that most of the prema. ‘ture explosions during the recent battle here, and pre- vious thereto, have been caused by the unworkmanlike manner in which the fuses have been fixed to the shells; and some batteries have already replaced their stock on hand by that of a more reliable character, The Porter Court Martial. INTERESTING TESTIMONY OF GENERAL M’DOWELL AND GENBRAL ToPE. ‘Wasurncron, Jan. 6, 1863. In the Court Martial in the case of General Fitz John Porter, which convened at half-past nine o’clock to-day, Genoral McDowell was the first witness introduced by the prosecution. He did not see General King on tho aftor. noon of the 29th, according to his best recollection; had no recollection of sending any such message as this to General Porter when he left him at the head cg the column, viz:—‘Take my compliments to General Porter, and say to him he had better remain where he is.” If he bad made such a remark to General Porter, as that “tho position he occupied was too fr advanced for a battle,’ he only intend. ed to convey the idea that General Porter was too far forward to fall behind Bull ran in accordance with orders. A messenger from General Porter to Genera) Pope may havo arrived with a message on the 20th i General K'ng may have seen him in the morning of the 29th. General King’s division wag,there then, but he was not in command of it during that whole day. Would have seen him if he had been there. Q. by accused.—Do you know what uniform you were | on that occasion? A.—I Sometimes on battle occasions wore & blouse over my uniform, and sometimes not, ac- cording to circumstances. [ wrote several messages to General Porter on that day. I have no copies, nor do I know what I wrote. Geheral McDowell aid he frat saw General Pope on that day about sundown, near (General Pope’s) headquarters. He had wo ,positive knowledge of tho force 0} to General Porter that day. He did not know where the right wing of the main body of the enemy was, and could not determine, there- tore, whether General Porter could have attacked them successfully or not. that he on the morning of the Major General Joba Pope was next recalled for the prosecution, * Q.—What is tho presaieg of the term “combined forces of the encmy over which,” in a despatch you sey you won # victery on the 20th? A.—During the Whole of he morning, and until yi the afternoon, we were, as I understand. fighting of Jackson, Kwell and Hill. Before the battle cla understood ‘the division of General King Bad the division of General Long- engaged street, or a portion of it which led the main purtion of Leo's army. A lengthy q of pnd mmccprt: Aperonpe viento hy, -apel ordered to be stricken from the question and asswer are as foliows:— 5 . Ey 83 it LT é z aaa itt the , he what of the Bast India stylo, ‘and a long surtout over bis uniform. Lieutonant Wells was next examined as to the a@ivery to General Pope of a message, about five o’ciock P. M. en = ae from General Porter, in the presence of General cDowell. The defence here announced that they were through. The Court announced tbat counsei should prepare their argument by Saturday text and then adjourn. ‘his case will probably be concluded by Monday next. Ma je To-night, at the Academy of Music, the favorite opera of 5 Vespri Sicitian\"’ will be given, with Signora Lorini, | Brignoli, Amodio and Susini. To-morrow (Thursday) night Miss Kellogg will make her debut at the Brooklyn Academy ef Music jo ‘Ii Poli-a 10)” with Brignoli and Amodio, Ou Savarday there wil) bea grand matinee at our Aca. domys Death of Ex-Gev. Wis: Lxxrvotoy » Jan Ex.Governor Moses Wisner, Colonel of the Toreaty-se- cond Michigan infantry, died here today. His body hag been sent home for interment. The Massachusetts Legislature. a ou , Jan. 6, 1863. Jonathan E. Field, of Berkshire for President of the Senate, and 8. N. Gifford, Clerk. A. Hi. Bullock will be Speaker of the Bouse, and W. §. Robiagon Glegk. No qaucys was Wasurvaron, Jan, 6, 1868. THE PAYMENT OF THE LOAN OF 1842, ‘The Secretary of the Treasury has replied to the reso- lution of the House calting for information relative to the payment of the loan of 1842. From this response it ap pears that the names of two hundred and thirty-six per’ sons aro registered ag owmers of the bonds, The [; partment possesses no other information as to the actus ownership of the loan, The Secretary saya:— My judgment wes determined in favor of the pay- ment in coin, not more by the weighty ‘considera. tion growing out of its influences on public cred- it, but by the circumstance that I found myself able to obtain the needed specie at a cost so small that payment in coin was, in fact, @ less inconvenience to the ury and less interfercuce With payments to and for the army and navy than payments ia notes would. have ‘Phe whole amount of coin required was ad. vanced by moneyed institutions, most of which, it ia be- lieved, bad uo interest in the loan, nor any interes: iv the transaction except what rose from the general support of the pubiic credit, and the advance was made without premium and at an interest of four per contum, and is not to be called for until it can be reimbursed trom receipts from customs, dedicated by the act of Congress to the payment of the interest and priucipal of the public debs, THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TKEASURY ON THE BANKS. ‘The report of the Socretary of the Treasury on the banks etates thxt the returns are incomplete, owing to the non-receptton of returns from the seceded States and from Maryland, Delaware and [ilinots, in which States no laws exist compelling the publication of such returns. The agzregate bank circulation of the loyal States was ,in January 1862, nearly $24,000,000 less than in January 1861, while the specie reserve was ia- creased in the sum of $14,600,00u, imd the deposits ia the banks had increased $30,000,000, mainly in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, The number of banks in 1862 ‘was 1,496, of which S11 werein New England, 502 in the ‘Middle States (inciuding Maryland), 147 in the five South- ern Atlantic States, 142 in the five Southwestern states, and 194 in the Western States. In 1861 there were 1,601, and in 1860 1,562 banks—the preceding years being less than the returns for 1862. The combined capital, as reported, is $419,761,812; circulation, $183,030,000; dvposits, $297,127,000; loans, $647,686,000; steoks, $39,000,000, specie, $102,207,000. The amount of speci is greater than in any preceeding year within ten years, excopting in 1859, when it was $104,538,000. THE CIVIL APPROPRIATION BILL. ‘Tho clvil appropriation bill will probably pass without material amendment. Changes are Proposed by va- rious members merely to hang their speeches upon. THE RUMORED SCHEME FOR THE SECESSION OF KEN- ‘TOOKY. ‘The rumor set afloat by the radicals, whose wish was father to thought, that the Kentucky delegation, in Con- gress were going home to co-operate with the Legislature in taking that State out of the Union, is an unmitigated falsehood. The people of Kgptucky cannot be persuaded and will not be driven out of the Union, however they may have suffered. They have proved by their sacrifi- ces that they are ready to fight, live and die for the main tenance of the Union. NOMINATIONS BY¥ THE PRESIDENT. The President has nominated to the Seuate James Monroe, of Ohio, as Consul to Rio Janeiro; Franklin Knight» Consul to Shau Tung, China; Seth C. Hawley, of New York, Consul to Nassau, N. P. PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY. ‘Tho President has recommended the following promo, tions in the navy:— Captains Poore, Hunt and Gordon to the rank of com- modore. Commanders Alden, Case and Pennock to captains. Lieutenant Commanders Rhind, Ransom and Spicer to commanders. Lieutenants Allen, Green and Blanke to lieutenant commanders. Henry P. Eckstein,of Pennsylvania, to assistant sor. geon. Second Lieutenant Collum to be first lieutenant of marines. NAVAL ORDERS. Commander Chase has been ordered to the command of the steam sloop-of-war Lroquois. Commander Henry Rolands has been detached from the Iroquois, and ordered to the command of the Seminole. Acting Assistant Paymaster Frank Melntier has beea ordered to the steamer De Soto. ‘THE L088 OF THE MONITOR. Some of our best naval officers, who have had experi. ence in the steaming and towing of iron-clad vessels, are of the opinion that the Monitor sprung a leak from bard towing. The Rhode Island is a fast side-wheel steamer, and with a heavy bawser towing the Monitor astern she would jerk and strain her terribly. It having been ascertained that she leak forward, it is be. Neved that this was the cause. GENERAL DURYEE’S RESIGNATION NOT AQOMPTED, The resignation of General Duryee has not been ac. cepted. SEORETARIES PRO TRMPORE. A message was sent to Congress to-day by the Presi dent, suggesting the expediency of extending to all the departments of the government the authority to‘appoing some one to exercise the duties of Secretary pro tem., in case of the absence or sickness of any of the secretaries. MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL BUTLER. General Butler dined with Secretary Chase last @vening, and was closeted with Secretary Stanton w-day. He leaves for Philadelphia and New York to-morrow. It i that he will have a public reception in New York on the anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. COMMEHCIAL TREATY WITH LIBERIA. It is understood that Senator Sumper will, by direction of the Committee on Foreign Relations, report favorably on (be treaty with Liberia concluded at Londen between our Minister there and Stephen Alien Benson, President of Liberia, It establishes freedom of commercial inter- course, and the United States agrees not to interfere in any difficulty between the Liberian government and the ‘aboriginal inbabitants, except upon the solicitation of the former. SENATOR WRIGHT'S SPEECR IN THR SENATE. Senator Wright made somre telling points in nis speech upon tho state of the country this afternoos, and received soveral enthusiastic rounds of applause; Count Qurowski, who was in the ladies’ gallery, leeding off the clagucs. THE APPOINTMENT OF CONSULAR PUPILS. The President submitted to Congress today Mr. ‘Soward’s report providing for the appointment of consu- jan. 6, 1863 it 08 the pian afternorn OB account of the United States Lays weg a