The New York Herald Newspaper, January 19, 1863, Page 4

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é ee NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BUNNETT, . EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. @PFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. TERMS cash in advance. Money seat by mail will bo | at tbe rick of (he seader. Noue but Bank bills current ia Now York talon, THE DAILY THE W per copy. One Copy Phree Copies Five Copies Ten Copies... . ALD, Taras coats per copy. Y HERALD, every Saturday, at Five couts Ausual subscription price:— Volume XXVIIT > Seer s —Lean, Tac Forsaken NIBLO A GARDEN, Broad WALLACK’s THEATRE, Broadway.—Bouo Srs0ke 108 A Hosoayv. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Caruer Corner— Fuureu Sev LAURA & Daviigut— NEW BOW Suzrrano—OU. E'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Actgess ay Boy BODY BOWERY Ano Tue Ui MUSEUM, BARNU? Broadway.—Miss Lavuwa W omMODORR Nutr, &¢,, at all hours. Tue Puante 1, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, M x Way.—Brurorran Songs, Buatesquns, Dayces, 4c. Dapvor. WOOD'S MINST: Bones, Dancers. A 614 Broadway —Erarortan RT. ant Ins itate. 650 —Tw9 Pourers. BUC Broad NAPOLEON'S Eniaerainee COOPER INSTITUTE, Leeorurt on Javan. Broaiway.—Dr. MacGowan's BROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadway.—Livina Witp ANIMALS, HHA Saxt, & AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, No. 444 Broadway,—Bat- Leis, Pantouues, Burtesques, &¢. ¢ CABINET OF WONDERS. 563 Broadway. om WA. Mf, tl 10 P.M PARIS! Open daily HOOLE OPERA HOUSB, Brooklyn,—Erarorrax Sons, Dances, Burcesques &e BROOKLYN ATHENUM.—Mr. ano Mas, £, L, Daves- Pout § Por tte avb Daaxatie Reapincs. New York, Monday, January 19, 1863. NOTICE TO PAPER MA’ ‘ACTURERS. Tweaty thousand reams of good paper wanted. Size 82x46. Apply at Lue TMerato office. SHINPLASTERS. Neither corporation nor individual shiaplasters are re- ceived at this National postal currency only will be taicou Cur (ractiouat parts of a dollar, THE SITUATION. ¥n consequeace of the various rumors published in several papers, and the interruption of passes to the Army of the Potomac, there is naturally existing at the present time considerable anxiety to learn what is doing on the Rappahannock. Nothing, however, of any importance relative to any movements came over the tel¢graph lines yesterday; but it is probably the determination of the military authorities to keep all the armics in motion—General Burnside'’s army among the others. The next week or two may prove a time of considerable importance in military opera- tions. ‘ Despatches from Fortress Monroe state that Orders have boon issued that officers of the United Btates Army captured after the 12th inst. are to be handed over to the Governors of the rebel States within whose jurisdiction they are taken, to be dealt with in accordamee with Jeff. Davis’ recent Geclaration that they are to be regarded ae per- @ons idtiting servile insarrection under President Lincoln's emancipatian proclamation. General Halleck has issued an order, which may be regarded as retaliatory, commanding that no rebel officers shall be released uatil further orders. General McClernand sends an official account 0! the capture of the rebel fort at Arkausas Post on ‘the Lith inst. Our New Orleans correspondence contains a very interesting acconnt of the late disaster to the Union arms at Galveston, and confirms the tale of our logs to be the capture of the Mariet Lane, the death of her commander and the killing or Wounding of nearly all her men; the blowing up of the flagship Westfield, and the death of Commodore Renshaw and about twenty of his men; the cap" ture of tro or three echooners loaded with coal, and the surrender of the whole Union force in Galveston city, which numbered less than three hundred men. We give a fine map of the locality to-day, show- ing the scone of the bold operations of the rebel Doata aganst our fleet. The description of the fight on board the Harriet Lane, the death of ber comma: and her capture will be read with fntense interest Genera! Grant censures the commandant at Holly Springs, Miss., for surrendering that place to the rebels and allowing his garrison to be pa- He says that the post could have been held if ordinary precautions for defence were taken Tho rebel account of the tremendous raid of Genera! Van Dorn, which we publish to-day, re- Presents iL ova Cearfal and most brilliant affair, the rebe! women takiag an active part in urging on the encmy to massacre our troops. Another piratical craft, the schooner Retribution, ts plying her trade ia the vicinity of the Island of St. Thomas. She has just been ‘ehasing Qo United States vessels, and boarded wae of thom. She came originally from Wilming- ton, N.C., sbout a month ago, loaded with tur- roled. Peatine an! cotton, carrying her guns concealed Bn the hou In addition to the interesting collection of rebel Correspondence which we published yesterday, we Bive our rearlers to-laya rare epistlé from a yolan Meer correspondent of the London Times. This Writer is not Mr. Lawley, of Richmond notoriety, fnd who a! the time this letter wos written was somewhere 1¢ vieinity of Fred tiecksburg, bot @ now discip'e of Secessia named Loudon, The letter contains a great many statements which will surprise the public, especially those in weference to al Yankee outrages under General But irections in New Orleans Pho strength, resources, wealth and resist ve powers of the Bouthern confeteacy are Pally discussed, and numerous specions teaces urged on the European Powers for th NEW 1ORK- HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1663. recognition of the Cunlede status of the slave population, and their relatio™ to their Southern masters and the Northern aboli- tionists, are also descanted upon with vigor and bitterness. Tho writer refers to the Confederate Minister in London, and expresses the greatest anxiety for the publication of his letter in the “Times or some other London paper. The docu- ment,,on the whole, is a curious one, and will amply repay careful perusal. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. » latest developments in the matter of the election of Speaker of the Assembly at v, show that a high state of excitement on the subject still exists. The republican members held a caucus on Saturday night, when it was re- solved to stick to Mr. Callicot as their candidate. A statement of the present condition of affairs was made out for presentation to Governer Sey- mour, in which he is requested to call out the militia to preserve order in the State capital. It is said that a resolution to this effect will also be passed in the Senate to-day or to-morrow, and that the Governor will accede to the request. The As- sembly does not meet again till Wednesday of this week. The brig Costa Rica, from Aspinwall, brings us intelligence of a destructive fire which visited that thriving city on the 22d of December last. The total damage done is estimated at no less asim than $300,000. The Panama Railroad office, | the St. Charles Hotel, the Aspinwall House, the Tloward House and several other valuable build- ings were laid in ashes. We give a full account of the conflagration, with some account of Aspin- wail, in another column, he following United States vessels were at Pensacola, Fla., on the 6th inst.Steamer Cir- cassian, ships Boughton, W. E. Anderson, Poto- -mac, Oneida, Nightingale and Preble, and brig Bohio. The thirty-ninth anniversary of the New York Bible Society was held last evening, at the Pres- byterian church, Madison square. The attendance onthe occasion was not so large as usual. The opening prayers were offered by the Rev. Dr. Adams, after which the annual report was read he Secretary, Mr. Parker. This was a very sting document, lengthy, and full of inci- dents of the camp and of the battle field, wherein soldiers showed their devotion to the Gespel as well as their fidelity to the canse for which they had taken up arms. Since the breaking out of the war bors of the society have been very considera- increased, but the results are in every respect satisfactory, and compare most favorably with those of preceding years. Addresses were deli- vered by Rev. Dr. Adams, Rev. Dr. Cox and Rev. Dr. Hall. A collection was then made, and the proceedings were closed by prayer. The Wheeling Intelligence’ says the rumor of a rebel advance upon Winchester, Virginia, was without foundation. Allis as quict in that vicinity as the unbroken stillness on the Rappahannock. The Legislatures of New York, New Jersey, Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Missouri and West Virginia are yet to choose United States Senators for the places of those whose terms expire withthe present Congress, Captain John Brown, of the Thirtieth Ohio re- giment, son of old Ossawattomie Brown, who wag hung at Charlestown, Virginia, is one of the offi. cers recently dismissed from service for being on home duty without leave. What the Southern papers call ‘ conscription” js nothing more nor less than the operations of legalized press gangs. Edson B. Olds, who was recently released from Fort Lafayette, ig a member, in fall communion, of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lancaster, Ohio. It is said that the conservative party of New Hampshire will make the following peace propo- sition a party issue in the coming election in that Siate:—An immediate armistice, and a apeedy peace; the States to be reunited, the war ex- penses of both parties to be assumed by the fede- ral government, and slavery to assume the place which it held before the breaking out of the rebel- lion. In his recent message, Governor Robinson, of Kentucky, recommends a firm adherence to the cause of the Union, and says the State will not abate oue jot or tittle of her opposition to se- cession or to abolition. The Erie canal embankment, near Rochester, broke away on the 9th instant, and the rush of the water caused damage to property amounting to fifty or sixty thousand dollars. Claiborne F. Jackson, whose death was some days ago announced, and the report to-day con- firmed, was elected Govervor of Missouri in 1860, He ran on the Donglas democratic ticket, beating Hancock Jackson (Breckinridge democrat), James B. Gardenhire (republican) and Sample Orr (na- tional Union.) The term for which he was elected espived on the last day of 1862. The collector of the government war tax in Louisville, Kentucky, between the 25th of Novem- ber and the Sist of Decomber collected and paid over one hundved and eighty thousand dollars, J Anderson, the foyitive slave whose case excited so mr erest some time since, is about to leave England for Liberia, where he-inteads to settle, The New Orleans correspondent of the Boston Traveller writes that Major General Augur will command the grand division in the advance upon Port Hudson, and the brigades will be commanded reape ly by Brigadier General Weitzel and Acting Brigadier General Dudley, formerly colonel of the Thirticth Massachusetts, The troops are in the highest spirits, and cager for the impending struggle to commence, Mr. Keys, late editor of the Circleville, Ohio, Watchman, has become a raving maniac, owing to his incarceration as a Stdte prisoner. He fs at present in the Lunatic Asylom at Columbus. The stock market was active and buoyant on Saturday m afternoon some week! was caused by sales to close accouuts; but before the adjouroment of the public board tho market recovered its tone and closed Armiy. Gold was lowor, closing at 146%. Exchange was steady at 162)¢ a 163. Money was active at six per cent; but houses*in good credit found no diMeulty in supplying their wants, Cotton advanced on Saturday to T3Me. a The. for mid- diings, with sales and resiles reported to the exteot of 2,009 bales. Flour, wheat aod corn were a shade Grmor, and ia fair demand, There was more activity in provi- t\oos, and prices were well supported, The transactions {0 groceries were very orate, without avy quotable change im value, Whiskey was lc. a2c, bigher, with Deavier sales, There was considerable activity ia hay, i ides and woot, while other articios of goneray me ise were quiet, The freight engagements were fair and rates steady, THe ARKANS. icrony.—The capture of the place known as Arkansas Post, on the Arkansas river, with seven thousand prisoners, nine pieces of artillery and immense munitions of war, fs the most important federal snecess in the Southwest since the capture of Fort Donelson and its garrison nearly a year ago. Its impor- (once as regards Arkansas ean hardly be over- rated. Tt gives our government complete mili- tary possession of the State, and with ordinary prudence settles its desiiny. It wakes some vnends for the failure to capture Vicksburg, and must afford more than ordinary cratifieation t) the troops who had beentepuloed just before vom (hat stronghold of the Mississippi, through (ie ineompelente of generals and the blunder- ing of officlals at Washington. This vic tory ia vt spot in the history of the winter cam- rs an onsig in a desert, barren of useful results, rate government. Tho | Je@. Davis’ Policy and How ¢0 De- feat It. We published on Saturday last the message of Jeff. Davis to the Congress of the so-called Confederate States. This message will no doubt produce a great effect in Europe, and {ts style and semblance of quict determi. nation and unshaken resolution will there find most enthusiastic admirers, ‘The recent successes of the rebels at Fredericksburg, Vicks- burg and Galveston give plausibility to many of Jeff. Davis’ statements; and, although we hope before long to balance these repulses by a succession of brilliant victories like those of Murfreesboro and Arkansas Post, at different points, still we must prepare ourselves for a strong and perhaps successful movement in Ku- rope in favor of the confederacy. Jeff. Davis’ in- dictment of the European Powers will be eagerly pressed by the secession agents. Our counter charges that neutrality has been prostituted into sympathy for the rebellion will hardly supply Earl Russell with'a sufficient defence, while the exposition which we published yesterday of the French designs upon Texas gives Jeff. Davis the whip hand of Louis Napoleon. As for the eman- cipation proclamation, it has proved, as we pre- dicted, not only a brutem fulmen against the re- bels, but a powerfal weapon against ourselves. Jeff. Davis handles it with consummate skill. He uses it, first, to assure the Southern people that secession was justifiable, and that the sagacity of the rebel leaders was not at fault when they an- ticipated that the election of Mr. Lincola would result in an abolition despotism. He then em- ploys the proclamation to induce Europe to relinquish its horror of the cruelties of slavery by exhibiting the greater cruelties of immediate emancipation. And, finally, he attempts to prove to the people of the North that President Lincoln has violated all his pledges and made reunion an impossibility by adopting a measure which “cannot coexist with Union.” Of all these results we warned the President before the proclamation was issued. We ask him to compare our predictions with those of the radi- cals, and decide whose advice deserves to be regarded. ‘ 4 The policy of Jeff. Davis, as expressed in this message, may be summed up in a few words. It is simply to do as he has been doing. He asks no foreign inter- vention, he proposes nothing new, he merely advises perseverance and fortitude, and assures his followers that this will be the clos- ing year ofthe war. We shall find, therefore, in the acts and declarations of Jeff. Davis imme- diately preceding the issue of this message the details of his policy for the future. All his anxieties, his plans, his hopes, have recently seemed to centre upon one point, and that point is Vicksburg. In other words, the grand scheme of the rebels at present is to retain the practical possession of the Mississippi. This they believe to be only the more essential be- cause they imagine that the war is nearly over. It were useless 40 demonstrate how pre-emi- nently important it is for the rebels to opntrol the Mississippi during the continuance of the war. But if the war should suddenly cease, and the confederacy be recognized, either by an ar. mistice or through foreign intervention, how much more important would the control of the Mississippi be then? The West would be at the mercy of the South, and would have its choice of the two alternatives—to submit to or to unite with the confederacy. Those who have carefully considered the signs of the times can have but little doubt that, if the confederacy were a recognized Power, and held the Father of Waters in its possession, the Western States would unite with the South, perhaps en masse, but probably one by one, under the Confede- rate constitution, which permits any State to join or to leave the confederacy at pleasure- But, say General Banks and others of like opin- fons, the East and the West are linked to- gether by great railroads, and this eonnection cannot be broken, because the West must bave access to the Atlantic and the East must bave access to the products of the West. All this is true; but the question is whether the Central States would not go with the Weatern States, if the latter refused to remain out of the confede- racy and without the Mississippi. New Mng- land would thus be left solitary and desolate, and the Southern, Western and Central States would form a new union under the Montgo- mevy constitution, Stranger things than such a reconstruction have occurred within the last two years. Ic must be understood, however, that the probability of these events rests upon the by- pothesis of the ability of the rebels to retaie the control of the Mississippi. Encouraged by the recent rebel victory at Vicksburg, Jeit. Davis regards this as certain, and we are as- sured that his programme fs not essentially dif- ferent from that we have indicated. When the rebel leader urged the defence of Vicksburg to the last extremity, because of its importance, both in a military and political point of view, he meant that by holding Vicksburg he could force the West either to continue to struggle against him or to submit to him. Thos he ex- pects to divide public sentiment in the West now and to secure that section for the confede- racy when the rebels are recognized as a nation. Thaddeus Stevens has already declared that the confederacy is another nation; and we are told that Greeley is now at Washington, working, with other radicals, for some sort of a peace. Do these men know what they are doing? Are they completely and insanely mad? If they were Jeff. Davis’ paid agents they could not better advance his interests. They think, per- hapa, that, by now reviving their old plan of allowing the South to leave (he Union, they can count upon a permanent lease of power in the Northern non-slaveholding section of the re- public. Do they not see that, on the contrary, the,Nerthern conservative States will go with the South in the event of recognized disunion, and that they will have no section, except that of New England, to govern? We urge the Presi- dent to shut hie ears against the counsels of these fanatical fools. Let him read in the re sults of bie emancipation proclamation the bit ter consequences of following their advice. Has that proclamation ended the war, as Grecley predicted? Has it intimidated the rebels, a8 the Tribune promised? Has it crowded the highways and byways with eager vo- lunteers, a8 Governor Andrew prophesied? Has it gained us a single friend in Europe, where wbolitionisn ty How smothered by self, interest? Has it uot divided, discouraged” and disheartened the North? Has it not united, cheered and infuriated the rebels? Has it not given the qtietus to volunteering, and fomented discord in our armies! Tas it not furnished new pretexts and even ju fons for Europeon interference? We must insist upon a cyu- sideration of these questions, Wo must remind Ryesideat Lingoiu Gat the cowry is qn the brink of ruia, and that tampering with the me- gro has brought us there. Both the armies and the policy of the rebels must be defeated or the nation is lost. We must have great aud deci sive victories, not little, indecisive expeditions valuable only to shipbrukers and contractors. To this end President Lincoln must diemiss his present incompétent Cabinet, recall his aboli- tion proclamations, return to his original policy of a war for the Union and union for the war, and put our best generals—now exiled from the tield—at the head of our armies. Al, this justice, honesty and patriotism demand. Less than this will not save the Union. This done, we shall soon possess the Mississippi, and break up the rebel armies East and West. Joking and story telling will not avail. Reform and decisive action are necessary to preserve the country, or rather to remove the present dis- astrous hindrances and impediments, and allow the country to work out its own salvation. Napolcon’s Reasons for Favoring the Davis Government. The advices from Europe announce that the Emperor Napoleon made a short ad- dress on New Year's day to the assem- bled representatives of foreign govern- ments at his Court, in which he assured them of his continued desire for peace. We also hear that he addressed a remark to our Minister, Mr. Dayton, which is construed by some into a declaration that for another year he will not interfere in our affairs. We have never placed’ any great reliance upon Napo leon’s assertions. We judge his course by his actions, having a distinct remembrance of his emphatic denials of any derive to obtain Nice and Savoy, at the very time he was forcing Victor Emanuel, by intrigues and threats, to cede him these provinces. From re- liable sources we obtain information from Paris which induces us to conclude that the Emperor of the Freach has evideatly made up his mind to espouse the cause of the South. The rebel leaders in Paris are now the recipients of imperial favor. The Empress has taken under her immediate patronage the pro- minent secession Indies who dwell in Paris, while the courtiers, one and all, vie in their attentions to Slidell, his fumily and his circle of asaociates from the South. These are signifi- cant facts, and have a greater importance than would be attributed to them by those not aware how every action of Napoleon is weighed, how carefully he shadows forth his course by signs which escape the attention of the unwary, but which carry conviction to those who have care- fully watched bis policy. Until Napoleon fully made up his mind to favor the South he was cold and forbidding to Slidell and his followers. They were not to be received at Court—in fact, were ostracised. Those were the days when our victories pressed closely upon each other; those the days when the continuance of the rebellion seemed impos- sible. Our successes, however, became worth- less and without serious results, through the gross negligence and imbecility of our depart- ments at Washington; and when it became evi- dent that the chances of Davis for a successful resistance were augmenting, Napoleon releated somewhat towards Slidell, and allowed the rebel a short half hour’s audienoe. From that moment the hopes of the secessionists rose. ‘They well knew what importance to attach to Napoleon’s least action. We met with reverses, while, to add to our complications, it became evident to the world that the North was divided; that a few fanatics—men with but one thought, one desire~-were driving the country to de- struction. Then Napoleon invited Stidell to breakfast. When they heard in France that onr gatlaat army had been renuleod at Frede- ricksburg, the Emperor took Slidell into his intimacy, and now he’ and his like are the favor- ites at the French Court. Those who kaow what this indicates will understand that Napo- leon now openly espouses the cause of Davis. We sball not be surprised if our next files from Europe give details of the grand reception at the Tuileries of “his Excellency Slidell, Minis- ter of President Davis.” . ‘There are many reasons why Napoleon should favor the South, the most important of which is that Davis promises not only to help Napo- leon in Mexico, but, as a further inducement and to furnish a noble motive for Napoleon's recognition, the South actually promises to free her slaves within some given space of time. Napoleon is aware that he will be safe from us fur a period, a3 regards any interference with his Mexican expedition, if be succeeds in rais- ing up a barrier between us and himself, such as a Southern confederacy. He covets the silver mines of Mexico; has made grand plans for working them on a scale never before at- tempted, and expecls great results. But he must be free from interference for some time to carry out these schemes; and only in the ex- isteace of the South as a goverament could he | remain undisturbed in Mexico. Napoleon will tell his people he recogaizes the South because he is ever the “aider of all nations struggling for existence.” This phrase did great service at the opening of the Italian campaign. It tickles the vanity of the French people to be told they have built up @ new Power. Cotton will be procured from Southern poris, and this will be still another grand argument for Napoleon in favor of his recognition of Davis. He will say to his subjevts, “I have acknowledged the exist- ence of the South as a nation, and you see the results —immediate employment for the starving operatives and the alliance of a new Power.” He trusts that, aided by the-South, his plans for the conquest and occupation of Mexico will succeed, and that immediate revenues obtained from that country will silenee' the opposition of the people to the Mexican expedition. Up to the present time Napoleon has been unsuccess- ful in Mexico. Ho naturally understands he must succeed there ultimately, as the French people would never forgive his having under- taken the campaign were he to withdraw now. alter the useless expenditure of hundreds of millions of francs. Napoleon's position at this momestin En- rope isa most unfavorable one. The Uulians have set aside bis power and influeace, and will allow no further interference on his part in their affairs. We Lear from areliable source that the relations between France and Spaia are almost suspended, owing to the irritation which has arisen out of Napoleoa’s policy in Mexico; while in England the entente cordiale has become an empty sound. Napoleon mu keep up bis influence abroad if he wishes to reign in France. He kaows that his people wili cease to care for or respect his rule {he moment it becomes weakened. So he will we fear, make a great show of recognizing the South aa an instance of the induence’ and power of France, the more likely as he reap immediate and auustantiak cequlta Such a step. That he is in favor of the Davis Government none can doubt. His actions Prove this. A careful survey of his preseat po- 4ition will convince those who understand the People of France that Napoleon can make ca- pital with them by a recognition of the South- ern y; and we are all aware that he is ever ready to follow where his inte- restadead. We must not imagine that respect for our power will deter Napoleon. Our mis- takes and blunders have taught him to doubt the Cabinet Unanimously Demanded, The energy and vitality of the American nation are most wonderful. Few otver nations could have contended so long with such a gigautic rebellion, even under the most favor- able cireumstances, No other nation could have carried on the contest for a single month under such an administration as that which we have been forced to endure. The Scriptural Samson had but a single Delilah to cripple him during his struggle with the Philistines; .but the American Samson has a Cabinet of Delilahs, each vieing with the others to prevent his suc- cess. The loyal States have twenty-three mil- Nions of white people and the rebel Siates only six millions, and with such tremendous odds the long duration and slow progress of this ap- parently endless war seem most unaccountabie. The mystery is at once explained, however, when we consider that the efforts of the loyal States are’nullified by our own rulers. Itisa shameful and disgraceful fact that three in- triguing and incompetent retaries and one imbecile, useless General-in-Chief have so cramped, hindered and impeded the nation that, like a blinded giant, we have barmed our- selves much more than our eneimies. We are rejoiced to find that the most radica, republicans have at last discovered the true causes of our failure, and unite with the rest of the people in demanding a change in the Cabinet and in the policy of the war. The resolutions unanimously adopted by a caucus of republican Senators speak the roal senti ments of the country. These resolutions de- mand a vigorous and successful prosecution of the war, and in order to accomplish this they require that the present Cabinet shall be dismissed, and that a Cabinet of statesmen, able, resolute and determined, shall be formed to replace the heterogeneous collection of Cali- fornia lawyers, financial blunderers and fusty, niusty, antiquated fossils who now pre- tend to manage the departments. These de- mands aro heartily endorsed by the whole country, and there is no reason, good, bad or indifferent, why they should not be immedi- ately complied with by the President. We are aware that, during such a crisis a3 this, the chief Executive should be charitably judged. He is surrounded by such a wall of professed friends, sycophantic office hunters, sieek con- tract seekers, who beslime him with fulsome flatteries in the hope of obtaining a chance to clutch at the national purse, and Trenzied fanatics, who are eager to drag him into the same black perdition which awaits themselves, that it is almost impossible for the real voice of public opinion to reach and move him. The independent press, however, is the modern substitute for the ear of Dionysius. Let the President listen, and he will bear the universal clamor for a change in his Cabinet and his policy. But, though the President may pdssibly havo been deceived and deluded by Chie, Stanton. Halleck and Company during the terrible days which have passed, we are at a loss to under- stand how tbat deception and delusion can longer continue. The republican Senators have hithertc supported the administration, and have even assisted in the grand abolition scheme of prostituting our getlant armies into philanthropic bands of wet and dry nuracs for the contrabands, and our loyal States into vast negro nurseries. What do these Senators say now’? They see, if the President does not, that the nation is lost unless we drop pseudo philanthropy and begin fighting. They see, if the President does not, that with a Secretary of the Treasury who has so muddled the finances of the country that ruin seems inevitable; with a Secretary of the Navy incapable of managing his department, and unable to pro- tect our commerce from the ravages of a single pirate: with a Secretary of War whose am- bition has strangled his patriotism, and who has devoted his energies, not to crushing out the rebellion, but to tyrannizing over loyal citizena; with a General-in-Chief who, according to his owna sworn state- ment, is a nobody, the sickening spectacle of the Mexican republic will soon be out- Heroded by the anarchy which awaits this once proud, powerful and prosperous conntry, Let the President, then, read tho resolutions passed by the republican Senators. Let him read the earnest and eloquent protest which Thurlow Weed has recently addressed to the republican party. There can be but one an- swer to the startling inquiries which Thurlow Weed suggests. We are drifling to destroe- tion, and a change in the Cabinet and of the policy of the war alone can save us, With these bitter truths before him, how can the President longer hesitate and delay? What is there about Messrs. Chase, Stauton, Welles and Hallock that their reteation in oMce is worth tho past sacrifices of life and treasure and the present sacrifice of the country ? Are incompetency, incapacity and imbecility at so high a premium at Washington? Is the goveinment so dependent upon this quartette of sumphs that it will fall to pieces if they be removed? {f not, why are they retained? Does the President condescend to consider the question of political expediency during times like these? If so, the Cabinet sbould be changed: for all parties—demoera- tic, republican, conservative—agree in de. manding it, Is the question one of military necessiiy? If so, the Cabiaet should be changed; for the present incumbents bave gained us no victories, aad: are directly or in- directly reeponsible for every defeat. But what is tho use of argument when all are agreed, and wheq, the question is as clear as | | form, strengthened by means of no low noonday. We tell the President that bis ad. ministratton bas forfeited the confidence of the eountry. Without that confidence it is imposet- ble to successfully conelude the war. If the American Samzon had not been a sensible, patient, long suffering giant, both the Cabinet conspirators aad the loyal people would long ago bave been crushed together beneath tho ruins of the Capitol. As it fs, the people are yot masters of themselves and of the situation. Let President Lincotn give vs = competent Cabinet, return to the policy of a war for the Union and mot for the “egro, which he an- a big inanqusee addcogg and ceassoried | rhe eracking of the plates at the junction of the “a fg big firet message, and recall oun bes generals to the field, and all will yet bo well nation is dying, not of the rebollion, but of a weak, imbecile and unworthy administra tion. The Courts Martial at Washington—The President Now on Trial. The tura which the courts martial at Wash- ington have now taken is one of the most singu- lar features in the steange, eventful history OF the war. Major Generals Porter and McDowely. were put on trial, not because their accusers believed there was anything against them, but in order to assail General McCleliaw by a sida wind. I'he testimony has long since established their inaocence. Yet the investigation ia ‘the case of General McDowell is being protracted, while the services of es many general officers are sorely needed in the field. For some time ithas been made apparent to the country that the man who has been really on trial is General McClellan, and that trials purely ex parte one; for hi not the opportunity to defend himself, Because, nomi. nally, other generals were being tried. But the! evidence insidiously introduced to damage him bas completely failed to do so, and only adds fresh ‘laurels to his military reputation. Every attempt to detract from bis merits has) recoiled upon the heads of his malignant evemies. For example, it has come to light that he was cheated out of 23,000 men by some hoeus pocus in the War Department, which persuaded Mr. Lincoln that he bad taken with him 108,000, when he had only 85,000. The | 23,000 thus held back from him, and which | were essential to the plan of the campaign, as | agreed upon before General McClellan started for the field, would have enabled him to suc- ceed; and even without them it is shown tiat he would have succeeded had not McDowell been positively ordered not to co-operate with him. Again: the tesiimony we published yes-- terday, giving an account of a council of war beld by McClellan and his generala at Manas- sas last spring, after the rebel army had re- treated to Gordonsville, shows that that coun- cil were unanimous in their opinion that the best route to Richmond was from Fortress Monroe and up the peninsula, between the York: and James rivers. Yet the unmilitary mea at Washington who controlled the armies insisted that it was not, and embarrassed the movement from firat to last by not complying with the conditions necessary to render the peniasular campaiga successful. One of these indispeasa- ble conditions. as stated in the unanimous resolution of the council of war, was that “the Merrimac must be neutralized.” It is well” known that this was not done; and yet General McClellan was peremptorily ordered to advance at latest on the 18th of March, and held “responsible that the army move as carly as that day.” Had the Merrimac been captured or destroyed before McClellan was thus ordered to move, the James river would have become the base of operations, and Richmond would have been undoubtedly taken before the enemy had time to concentrate his forces there. It is a eu- rious and instructive fact that Commodore Goldsborough, who not only did not destroy the Merrimac, but allowed her to surprise and de- stroy two of our finest frigates in Hamptoa Roads, was rewarded for thus rendering the ex pedition against the rebel capital a failure by being promoted to the position of rear admiral. The case against McClellan having complete- ly broken down, the radicals have now put tha President on trial. In order to relieve them- selves and the War Department from all re- sponsibility, they produce despatches and orders of the President, for the purpose of placing the onus entirely upon him, while it is notorious that Mr. Lincotn acted by their ad- vive and that of their military subordinates at Washington. It is no wonder that campaign after campaign should fail. Success under such circtunstances would be next to miraculous. Tue Loss or tue Moxsror—Are vax Iron- Craps a Fartonk?—It is of course patent to everybody that our noble little Monitor—that complete solution of the great naval question of the age, which dictated reconstruction to the navies of the world—is no more. Apart from the great grief felt for the loss of this little dictar tor and those noble men who perished with her, there are matters of far greater imporiance to the nation involved in this acsident. Have of the destructive characteristics of the 1 system, the revolving casemate or turret, the concentration of heavy armor over a smal arery because of the small height which the vessel is above water, and the protection of those vital parts—the rudder and screw—been overthrown by this disaster: If so, the loss of the Monitor would, indeed, be a calamity to the country. We have carefully examined into the circum, stances of this accident in this view, and we are happy to state that it does not militate against one of the features above mentioned. The Monitor foundered from a leak, in a severe gale. as many other vessels have done before her. She was not cngulfed, as many predicted she would be, by a single buge wave, but foundered in the usual manner. Her small - height above water had nothing to do with the disaster. Had she been twenty fect high the regult would have beem the same. The primary consideration in the construc- tion of the Monitor was the raising the blockade of the Potomac. Her deck was pierced by four large holes, covered with bomb- proof gratings, two for the escape of the pro- © ducts of combustion and two for the admission of air to the blowers. These apertures were pro- tected, when at sea, by means of thin iron pipes, and the leakage around these nearly caused the losa of the vessel on her first trip to Fortress Monroe. The hull proper was merely a large acow, without any attempt at model, the balk- head which supported the turret being the only one in the entire vessel, The new Monitors, instead of having their decks pierced with large holes, receive the air down through the turrets, and discharge the gases ffom the furnaces through a shotproof pipe of sufficient height to prevent the sea from entering. The bull proper, instead of being a mere scow, is of the ordinary than five heavy transverse bulkheads, be- Sides strong fore and aft keelsoms, of which the original bad none; yet, strange to say, io the fearful ordeal to which she was subjected no want of longitudinal strength was observed, which so completely protects the pty Mn was the cause of tho sinking of the Monitor. In tbe new outs not only is this overbang very @™ich less, owing to an im- arrangement of the screw, but it is se- cured in a much sironger manger. Besides, ehould a lonlg ooqur ia this part, the water is ™*

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