The New York Herald Newspaper, February 8, 1863, Page 4

‘4 NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1863. NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BeNNETT, DITOR AND PROPRIETOR, @rclon N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, vee NO. 35 AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—-Lxau, Tux Forsanen, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Bacme.on oF anu WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Hamvrr. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Farn Ove | Witu tmx Gouen Locks—Ksautam Fix. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowory.—Dax Faxiscuctz— MIANTINIMO—FORBST OF KOSKNWALD. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Scaxrs or Loxpox— Jack AND THE BaaNSTALK—STATH Sackuts. GERMAN OPERA HOUSE, 48% Broadway—Fipgtio, BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Livina Hiv. o-oraMus, Sma Li0s—Puantox—Yousc Ax mRica, &e., at all hours—Afternoon and Evening. BRY\NTS’ MINSTRELS, Mech»nics’ Tall, 472 Broad- was.—Bruioriaw Songs, Buxixsquas, Dances, 4o,—Hion Dappy. vst ASD WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadwav.—Ermiorian Bongs, Dances, £0.—Runeinu tae BLockapR. ., BROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadway.—Living Wie “ANIALS—PeRroRMING KiEruANts—Comio Mums, 40. AMERICAN MUSIC HALL. No. 444 Broadway.—Bar- uxts, Pawromimes, BURLESQUES, £0. PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 Broadway.— Open daily from 10 A. M. tll 10 P. M. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Era1orian Bonas, Dances, Buncesques, &c. New York, Sunday, February 8, 1863. THE SITUATION. There is no news from the Rappahannock to-day. The condition of the roads is such as to prohibit all possibility of any advance movements. Rumors are sfloat—although not substantiated— that the President was disposed to recall General McClellan to the command of the Army of the Potomao within the past few days, and that cer- tain members of the Cabinet, including Mr. Chaso, had threatened to resign if such measure was oar- ried out. It was further stated that, while the President succumbed to the expressed wishes of the Cabinet for the present, the reappointment of General McClellan was by no means unlikely. We give the report for what it is worth. It is said thatthe rebel forces at Fredericksburg have been feduced to 15,000, that number being regarded as sufficient to hold the position. The remainder of the army has been despatched to the Blackwater and to Vicksburg. The progress of cutting the canal near Vicks- burg goes on rapidly. The largest force which can be employed on it are at work night and day, and will continue so until its completion to that point opposite wich « formidable rebel battery issaid to be now constructed. It has been de- olded by the engineers that the canal must be cut by artificial means to its full width, as no reliance can be placed upon the action of the water in washing out the banks. lt fs ascertained that some weeks, at least, must elapse before the work oan be advanced so far as to enable our gunboats to effect anything of im- Portance against the rébel stronghold at Vicks- burg. A special despatch from Cairo states that the Union ram Queen of the West ran the blockade gallantly at Vicksburg on Monday morning last about daylight. A hundred heavy siege guns from the shore, and a rebel steamer in the river, opened fire on the Queen of the West, and kept up the storm of shot and shell for three-quarters of an hour. The rebel steamer was crippled by the fire of the Union vessel, which ran the gauntlet in safety. The official account of the attack on, and the de- fence of, Fort Donelson, forwarded by General Rosecrans, shows that the Union victory was com- plete, and that an inferior force of our troops made @ gallant stand against a largely superior number oftho enemy. Jt appears that the rebels, under Generals Wheeler, Forrest, Woodward and Whar- ton, numbered four thousand men and eight pieces of artillery, while our troops in the fort, un- der A. C,. Harding, were only eight hun- dred. “The rebels,” says General Rosecrans, “charged the fortifications several times, but were repulsed by our artillery and infantry with Great loss—the enemy, as usual, before and after ‘the fight demanding a surrender, and offering to spare life if accepted. Colonel Harding replied that “he was ready for all the consequences.” ‘The enemy's loas in killed was over one hundred, and in prisoners three hundred. The forces under Colonel Lowe, from Fort Henry, are pursuing the rebels, and others have been sent to interecept their retreat. Our loss is twelve killed and thirty wounded. The division of General Davis, comprising a strong force of artillery and cavalry, was advanc- ed from Nashville to intercept the rebel forces of General Morgan, which were engaged in the attack on Fort Donelson. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday the bill to promote the efficiency of the Commissary Department was Passed. The Scoretary of the Interior sent ina communication asking for an additional sum of $25,000 for land offices in Kansas. The President sentina despatch from onr Minister to China, relative to the death of Mandarin Ward. A me+ morial from merchants and importers of New | York, asking that legal tender notes may be sed for paying customs dues, was presented. A bill for the construction of a mill tary and postal railroad from Washing- ton to New York was introduced and re- ferred. Mr. Sumner offered a resolution, that the Committee on the Conduct of the War be directed to inquire into the condition of the Artfly of the Io. tomac, both officers and men; and to consider what Measures are necessary in order to promote its effi- ciency, increase the mutual confidence of the officers and men, and to secure from allan unwavering and solder-like devotion to the declared policy of the government, with power to send for persons and Papers. ‘This was laid over, The remainder of the Session was occupied in debate on the Missouri Emancipation bill. In the House of Representatives the Ilinois and Now York Ship Canal biti was under consideration. MISCELLANEOUS NEWs. The steamship Hansa, from bromen and South, amptou, with three days later European news, arrived at this port this morning. The cows 2 tion of the news will be found wo aniher ow General McClellan arrived at Uaruord yexer day, where ho was received by an immense crowd of people, who cheered loudly as he passed, while a salute was fired and the bells rung in honor of the occasion. Coroner Wildey held an inquisition yesterday into the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Reed, a deserter from the army, who was shot dead by @ government detective named Michael Brady at No. 101 Mercer street on Friday evening. After hearing the testimony the jury | rendered a verdict against Brady, who was re- leased from custody on giving bail in $2,000 to an- swer whatever charge may be brought against him. ‘The stock market was very active yesterday, and prices wore better without exception. The most active stocks continue to be Erte (old), Rock Ieland, and Pitta- | burg. Money was in fair aupply at 6 por cent. » Gold fluetyated between 156 and 167, closing at 156% bid. Exchange clowed at 173 a 54. The Religious Papers and the War. It used to be generally understood that the Christian religion was a religion of peace. | Christ was called the Prince of Peace. His | birth was heralded by the angels as the har- binger of peace on earth and good will towards men, He was the constant advocate of peace, and advised men to submit to be slapped on both cheeks rather than fight about a blow. In His Sermon on the Mount He declared: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” His ancient | disctples were, like hitnself, in favor of peace. It was reserved for our modern Christians-to set Christ right, and make their religion synony- mous with dissensions and contentions. Take those wretched fanatics, the abolitionists, for example, and nearly all of their leaders have been or are now clergymen of some denomina- tion or other, or independent parsons of no denomination at all. There are several fighting ministers In our army, and « bishop turned general in the army of the Confederates. The religious press is proverbially the most violent and bloodthirsty. Altogether, modern Chris- tianity is decidedly a warlike institution. The church militant is now the rage. Our churches have furnished us with almost as many officers as West Point.” Two or three regiments have been.raised by Christian associations through- out the country. Instead of devoting their best efforts to preserving peace, many of our Christians have not only assisted in bringing on this war, but are now decidedly opposed to ending the war in any honorable and peaceable manner. Either Christ or his present followers are mistaken. Either the peacemakers or the warmakers are the blessed ones. For ourselves, we believe that Christ is the higher authority. The religious papers do not agree with us in regard to this matter. They are as full of threatenings and slaughters as Mount Sinai. Indeed it is sorrowful to observe, from the com- plexion of thesgreligious weeklies, how Christi- anity has degenerated. Here is a pious paper called the Observer, which is half secular and half religious—four pages of worldly folly and four ef Heavenly piety—twenty-four columns of’ profane news and twenty-four of religious intelligence—as if to show clearly that Chris- tianity is now a half and half affair, and that God and Satan have effected a compromise. Hero are half a dozen other religious prints which do not pretend to divide the kingdoms of light and darkness so accurately, but which mix them up together in the most ridiculous style. Selecting one paper at random, we find a “ Religious Curiosity” side by side with the “Money Market” report ; a biography of a distinguished divine next to a puff of Morgan for Senator, and an exhortation to be saved -crowding ® first rate notice of “Dry Goods.” In another church organ we discover one column of sermonizing and four of war news. Why not have theatrieal criticisms and accounts of balls and soirees and reports of prize fights and dog fights in the religious papers? A very high authority assures us that it is impossible to serve God and Mammon; but these papers con- tradict all such authority by advertising prayer meetings in one column and hair dye and pa- tent medicines in another. The World, we re- member, started as a religious daily, but has been sold out to the politicians, body and soul. The religious weeklies are fast following the World's example, and just now they are serv- ing both God and Mammon, as a preliminary to dropping God and going over to Mammon in toto. The question is whether or not the whole religious world is gradually pursuing the same downward course. If the religious press is a fair representative of the facts, we are afraid that very little religion, pure and undefiled, now remains to us, and that-our best saints are our greatest sinners. The Methodist, the Evangelist, the Observer and the Independent all urge on the war. The Independent is the only one of them which talks about peace; but the Independent only mentions peace to pitch into the idea, and wonders “that the people do not rise up as a storm,” to put down peace projects. Does the Independent think that peacemakers are blessed? On the contrary, it insists upon “thirty years’ war,” and the Methodist backs up the Independent by asserting that “the prosecution of the war isa necessity.” What the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher writes in his Independent he enunolates as emphatically from his pulpit. Thus poor Greeley and Colorado Jewett, and Vallandig- ham, and all the other true patriots who are maneuvering and intriguing with Count Mercier and the Emperor Napoleon for peace, find their efforts opposed by the religious presses and the religious pulpits, from which they would natu- rally expect the greatest sympathy and assist- ance. No one can consider these facts without arriving at the conclusion that either the founder of @hristianity was wrong in his opinion that his religion was a peace establish- ment, or else that these professors of Chris- tianity are humbugs. Evidently, If their prac- | tice is the true one, religion will never bring peace to the world. It has not succeeded very well during the last eighteen hundred years; for the average amount of bloodshed and broken noses remains about the same. We must urge our peacemakers not to rely upon religion a8 an ally, therefore. Modern religion is a strange thing. It figtits as well for the South as for the North, for the right as for the wrong, and is generally hostile to anything like pacification. If the peace patriots are to ao! complish their mission they must prepare themselves to encounter the opposition of par- sons and pious papers, and trust to poor lost sinnersto help them safely through. Citeen Ur, Greeiey!—Do not despair of the republic! Nil desperandum! ‘Thaddeus Stevens is to march against the rebels at the head of 150,100 niggers, in red breeches, if notin red quuts, with Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Wendell . Governor Avdrew and Senators Sum- ison os is major generals. If this mighty black Lost be pot sufficient to subjugate Rebeldom, then “H.G.” can bring along bis | “three times three hundred thousand” aboli- tionists who have “never smelled powder,” and | who he pledged himself were to be forthooming | whenever the President uttered his song of | freedom to the slave, Surely nine bundred thousand white men, with 150,000 negrees and the armies already im the field, will be enough to crush the rebellion and restore the Union. Why should Greeley hang his harp upon the willows and give way to such dismal despair? Lot him cheer up. The country is safe. “H. G.” Shirking the Responsibility, Whenever Horace Greeley has anything to say which he deems spocially important he writes # letter to somebody, in large editorial type, over his initials, “H.G.” Mr. Doolittle, in the United States Senate, having day or two ago sald something against him which made “the galled jade wince,” “H, G.’’ rushes into the arena, steel pen in hand, and charges furiously upon the fnyer from Wisconsin, while at the samo time he dexterously endeavors to parry his mortal thrusts. Senator Doolittle accuses the Tribune of aiding and abetting secession from first to last. “H. G.” replies in a letter of two columns—to which he gives the type and the place usually assigned to the leading artiole— but carefully avoids the issue made by his op- ponent. He seeks to shift the onus from his own shoulders and the shoulders of the repub- lican party and to throw it upon the demooracy; but he utterly fails in the attempt. The respon- sibility sticks to him like a leech, aud he can no more religve himself of the load than Sinbad could shake off the Old Man of the Mountain. Greeley holds that “the one vital animating cause of this rebellion is slavery,” and that, therefore, the democratic party, who have al- ways sustained the Southern States ip their right to retain their domestic institution as long as they thought fit, are chargeable with com- plicity in the rebellion. This argument would also prove that Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, John Jay, Alex- ander Hamilton, and all the members of the convention who drew up the constitution, the Congress which adopted it and the States which ratified it, including those of New England, were traitors and conspirators against the government, and that, in fact, the constitution itself is a highly treasonable document. Indeed, Wendell Phillips, the Coryphwus of the politi- cal school to which Greeley belongs, maintains this position in so many words. But negro slavery is not the cause of the rebellion. It might as well be said to have been the cause of the Revolution in which the colonists threw off the British yoke; for it then existed in every colony, not excepting Massachusetts, and it has been an American institution for over two hundred years. From the period of the adoption of the conatitu- tion in 1787 till the present time negro slavery has eontinued to exist as a State institution; and if that is the cause of the rebel- lion why did not the medicine operate long before? If it is the political poison which is the source of all our woes, it must be ted that it is of the slowest kind known to man. But it is not slavery—it is anti-slavery—whioh is the cause of our misfortunes. About thirty years ago a political sect started In New England ith the determination to abolish slavery in ery State or break up the Union, as ‘a cove- nant with death and an agreement with Hell.” It succeeded at last, with the aid of the Tribune and other abolition presses, in effecting a dis- ruption of the Union; but it has failed to put an end to slavery. It has worked upon the slave- holders of the South with such influences as to drive them into rebellion in self-defence. They have madly taken up the sword to protect their menaced institution, instead of trusting to the good faith of the democratic and conservative elements of the North, which would have crushed to powder any serious attempt to meddle with the domestic institutions of the Southern States had those States continued in the Union, and not resorted to the desperate re- medy of taking the-war into their own hands. Thus the anti-slavery crusade in which Gree- ley has played so conspicuous a part is the primary cause of the rebellion, and till the sect are crushed, root and branch, the country can know neither peace nor union. Again, Greeley holds that the democratic party is responsible for the failure heretofore of the war for the Union, because it has refused to co-operate heartily with the administration. Never was such an unjust accusation. Never, perhaps, in the history of the world, in any war, foreign or domestic, did an opposition party s0 lay aside its prejudices and give so hearty a support to the government. Two-thirds of the volunteers who took up arms for the Union are democrats, and men and money were voted without atint to the federal administration, and every Northern State government vied with its neighbor in enthusiastic zeal for the war. In truth the democrats were far more zealous than the republicans for the war, so long as it appeared to be a war for the Union. They never were in favor of » war for abolition, and they are net now, and never will be; but they are now and ever will be the ardent supporters of a war for the resto- ration of the Union om the basis of the constitu- tion as ft is. If a change bas come over the spirit of their dream as regards the conduct of the war and the administration, it is because Céngreas and the administration have changed the programme under which the war was inau- gurated—changed it from the basis on which it they bave complote control of the purse and the sword, and, as the Times admitd, they are wholly dhd solely responsible to the country. There is no instance in modern times in which auch vast warlike moans have been placed at the disposal of a government, and no instance in which failure has been so signal and so disgraceful. It is in vain, therefore, for Greeley to accuse the democratic party of “compliolty with red- banded treason,” and to announce that the war must be abandonod and the rational cause lost unless the democratic leaders change their course. In what respect must they change their course? Here is Greeley'’s answer:— “Union armies may march through and over the South—they may put down all armod rosist- ance—yet no seceded State will be really re- stored to loyalty so long as it shall be cursed with slavery.” What is needed, therefore, is that the whole democratio party should become abolitionists of the Garrison staipe; otherwise the Union cannot be saved. But the democra- cy don’t see it, nor do they accept Greeley’s al- ternative, nor will it be in his power to compel thent “to shoulder the responsibility of what- ever disaster may result.” Greeley & Co. must face the musio to the very denouement of the drama, and be prepared to take the final consequences of their acts. Fits John Porter and Tom Ford—The Administration Sadly at Fault. A court martial lately convened at Wash- ington, to consider certain charges brought against General Fits John Porter, found him guilty, and, upon the verdict of the court, he was dismissed by the President in disgrace from _ the army, and forever excluded from office under the federal government. It is prebable, however, that upon the naked evidence and judgment of the court the punishment of this officer would have been lighter; but the written opinion of Judge Advocate General Holt, with his adroitly drawn presumptions and inferences, did the business. General Porter stands official- ly condemned and disgraced as having shame- fully and repeatedly disregarded in August last the orders of his superior officer, General Pope, and as having thereby brought defeat and disaster to our arms, when, by proper exertions, he might, with his corps d’armee, have given to General Pope all the advantages of a complete- ly victorious campaign. Thus officially stands the case of General Porter. But not long ago there was another military court convened at Washington to in- quire into the cause of the disgraceful Harper’s Ferry capitulation, and to fix the responsibility upon the guilty parties. This court, after a careful examination of the evidence of numer- ous witnesses, fixed the responsibility toa great extent upon Colonél Tom Ford, of Ohio, a po- litical mourtebank and a military impostor, who had been entrusted with the commanding. position of Maryland Heights, and who, without « decent show of resistance, had basely aban- doned that position in the face of the enemy. The court accordingly decreed the dismissal of Tom Ford from the army, as guilty of gross in- competency or cowardice; and this verdict was approved by the President, as we understand it. But it now turns out that this military charle- tan, Tom Ford, has been working, through a powerful friend at court—Mr. Secretary Chase— for a reversal of this righteous sentence; and, what is more, it appears that Mr. Chase has succeeded in persuading the President to re- verse the judgment of the court, in order to cover up the guilt of Ford in an apparently voluntary resignation. Now let us look for a moment at the respec- tive merits of Fits John Porter and Tom Ford. The former, it can never be forgotten, covered the splendid retreat of Gen. McClellan from the Chickahominy to the James river. With some twenty-seven thousand men Gen. Porter held in check a rebel column of forty thousand at Gaines’ Milis from noon until nightfall, thereby saving our entire army from destruction. At Malvern Hill he planned and conducted the battle on our side, the results of which were the most terrible slaughter and the most deci- sive repulse which the rebels have suffered in any engagement since the beginning of the war. Thus our army was moved to a good position and a secure base of ope- rations for another advance upon Rich- mond, and thus our national capital was saved, and, to a very great extent, by the skill, abilities and intrepidity of Gen. Fitz John Porter, as the Marshal Ney, holding the rear guard of our re- treating army. Nor have we any doubt, had our forces in the fight been repulsed at Antie- tam, that General Porter, in command of the reserves, would have retrieved the fortunes of the day. But, found guilty of insubordination under General Pope; Porter isjdismissed the service; and, having no abolition friend at court, his case is without remedy. Tom Ford, on the other hand, has rendered no other military service to the country than the eapitulation of Harper's Ferry. That im- portant position, and twelve thousand men, and fifty pleces of artillery, and wagons, horses, and military stores almost beyond computation in Confederate scrip, were surrendered’ to the enemy, and chiefly through the incompetency and cowardice of Tom Ford. Thus the rebel army of General Lee was supplied with abun- dance of ammunition for the battle of Antietam, and thus General McClellan’s well devised plans for the complete destruction or capture of the rebel army were defeated. We de not enter- tain the shadow of a doubt of his complete suc- cess had not the rebels been supplied with our was placed by the President's first proelama- | own cannon, smallarms, ammunition, provisions tion, his subsequent message to Congress, and the resolution of Congress itself. They believe in a practical and not in a visionary war—in a war that will be successful because its objects are logitimate, reasonable and just, and not in a Utopian, fanatical and unjust war that can never succeed. They do not believe in-uncon- stitutional emancipation proclamations, whole- sale confiscation acta, tha subjugation or mination of the @hite race of the South, nor in nigger armies, nor in that kind of management of the Treasury Department whiok has brought the finances of the country to destruction and kept back from the soldier his pay. They have no faith in the ignorant imbecility of the War Department, which haa #o fatally meddled with the operations of our generals in | the field and rendered all their plans abortive, Finally, they do not approve of arbitra- | ry arrests and long imprisonment in bas- | tiles without cau’ and without trial; nor ‘can they appland the gagging of the press, nor Interference with the privilege of free speech In the loyal North, to say nothing of the revolutionary attempts to nullify the | rights of sovereign States. The administration and the republican party have an overwhelm- ing majority in both botwes of Congress; | and wagons at Harper's Ferry. The amiable and forgiving disposition of President Lincoln has been grossly imposed upon in this business. In strict justice there is hardly any form of military punishment which would have been too severe for the shameful cowardice and incompetency of Tom Ford. Had ahy competent and courageous officer been in his position on Maryland Heights in September last he would have saved to the Union canse the lives of perhaps a hun- dred“thousand mea, and money to the extent | of « thousand millions of dollars, in saving Harper's Forry, and in thus securing the oap- ture or destruction of the rebel army of Vir- ginia, But, through the degrading interposi- tion of Mg. Secrotary Choe, Tom Ford is ex- cused, while Fitz John Porter. who’ has done the State some service,” finds no mercy, and hardly the punishment of unbiosed justice. We | aay that the administration has committed a grave mistake in this discrimination ia’ favor of Ford sod against Porter. [t is one of those mistakes which are seriously calculated to de- stroy the confidence of the country in the ad- ministration, and a blunder involving party favoritien and a partisan hostility which vannot be safely repeated. is Durr ow Parkn.—We soe that a motio has been introduced in the House of Represen- tatives instructing the Finance Committee ‘to inquire into the expediency of repealing alto. gether the duty on paper. This is avery pro- Per movement, and will, we are satisfied, meet with no resistance, except from those whom the papermakers have contrived to enlist in their interest. The feeling created by this obnoxious tax is a very strong one, and it Is dally growing in intensity, Already four of the State Legis- latures-have passed resolutions condemning it, and there is very little doubt that the remain- der will follow their example. No impost levied under the new law combines more of the qualities which go to prove fisoal impolicy, un- productiveness and unpopularity. The statement recently submitted to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury shows that the revenue from it amounts to a third of the value of the paper im- ported; but this is a0 small that it operates almost ase prohibitive duty. A change in the present law, therefore, becomes imperative, and Congress will do well to consider whether the returns to bo derived from this source can ever become of so much importance as to counter- balance the benefits that would result to the public from repealing the duty altogether. Its reduction to the point demanded by tho press would certainly not diminish the amount of revenue which ¢ at present yields, whilst it would help to bring the paper manufacturers to their senses, The latter bave determined to profit to the utmost by the embarrassments un- der which the country is laboring, and nothing short of this or the total repeal of the duty will affect that determination. Before the suspen- sion of specie payments they would never have ventured upon their present course. But when the ciroulation of the banks had increased to a third more than their previous isaues, in addi. tion to the legal tender notes, and prices gene- tally became inflated, they saw that the time had come when they might put the screw upon the public, and they took their measures ao- cordingly. A well paid lobby aided their plans in Congress, and they expected to reap a rich harvest from the high amount of duty levied by the new tariff. The best devised schemes will fail, however, and the indignation created by the rapacity of the paper manufacturers pro- mises to ruin theirs. Congress will be unable to resist the pressure that is being brought to bear on it from all quarters in favor of the re- duction or total repeal of the duty. When it comes to consider Which of these alternatives it would be the more advisable to adopt, we think, for the reasons above stated, it will be brought to decide in favor of the latter. Rovorgp Iupeypive Canivet Coanors—Geve- Rat Borer ror tHe War Derartuent.—We are advised from Washington that an active movement is on foot there looking to a partial reconstruction of the Cabinet, and comprehend- ing the appointment of General Butler as the head of the War Department. This news may be too good to be true; but we are assured that President Lincoln is seriously considering the matter, and that probably within g week we may hear that General Butler has Superseded Secretary Stanton. We have no hesitation in saying that the President could hardly do any act more aocept- able tothe people of the loyal States than this. In his bold, energetic, vigilant, decisive and efficient military government established and maintained over the turbulent elements of New Orleans, General Butler, by the future historian, as by the public opinion of the present day, will be regarded as ene of the very ablest executive officers which the stirring events of this war have brought forward into the. public service. He may have been occasionally too harsh in his pains and penalties against the re- fractory secessionists with whom he had to deal; but his general administration of affairs at New Orleans commands the largest approbation of the loyal States. His appointment to the War Office would, therefore, be accepted by the country as an unmistakable assurance that the war is to be prosecuted earnestly, energetically, and with that vigilant sagacity and promptitude of action which always command success, We care nothing for General Butler's recently de- olared opinions on the negro question. Put him at the head of the War Office, and he will find our armies in the fleld sufficient for his purposes. His superior executive abilities, his immense industry, his invaluable experience at Baltimore, Fortreas Monroe and New Orleans, mark him as the very man for this crisis at the head of the War Department. Let him be put there without hesitation; for our honest President may rest assured that in this proceeding the country will be encouraged as with the news of a great victory. Tas Row Anovt Catuicot.—Orator Fields, Nincompoop Dean, Confidence Cassidy and other notables are making a tremendous fuss over the corruption, bargain and«sale of Calli- cot to the republicans, and they insist upon an investigation which shall comvict him of the charge. Now, the truth is that his accusers are as deep in the mud as Callicot is in the mire, the only difference being that he has been too smart for them, and has been successful in his operations, while they have floundered and failed. Three democratic factions made their appearance at Albany—one consisting of Rich- mond, Cagger, Corning & Co.; a second of Fer- nando Wood & Co.; a third of Callicot alone. Now, it 0 happened that the two first named factions were in the market ready to be bought; but Callicot being only a single individual, and being easier to deal with than many, the repub licans made a treaty with him, and refused to accept the overtures of either of the two more numerous factions. This fact is letout by the confidence men of the Argus, and all that can be said about the matter is that Callicot out- generalled Richmond and Wood by the rapidity of his movements. Henee the jealousy and spite of the two baffled factions led by these political chieftains. Tur Rise or New Partins.—It is stated that Mr. Seward has been holding a conference with Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania, and that Thurlow Weed and other leading republicans have been coquetting with democratic chiofs, with a view to the formation of a new party. But in times like the present parties are not a9 made. They spring from events and from the people, agd not from political dogmas or old party leaders. The Mississippi does not flow | apward from the Gulf of Mexico to its sources on our northern frontier : it takes its rise in the high lands bordering on the Canadas, and it descends to its outlet in the remotest South. We do not expect the sun that illumines our hemisphere to rise in the west, but in the east. And so it is now in our national politics. The mouths do not form the party, but the party the mouths. ff Is the people who are sow source of power, and no: the politicians, ‘Ev are shaping the futur» beyond the contro demagogues. There is light in the The reception given « General MoClellan Boston proves this, Events, casting shadows before, have made him the com man. His own acta and character, the pe cution of the administration and the will of people, have pointed him out as the ful ruler of thé country. The manner in which people of New England are receiving him plain proof that the revolution has peneti that benighted region. The New Englen¢ are not so bad aftor all. There are two of Yankees: first, the fanatical and puritan’ second, the shrewd, practical men. The will soon be completely in the ascendant.: Tj discern the signs of the times, and they ac the voice of the people in the other loyal 5! as the voice of God, which must be obeyed, the higher law they give to the winds, is light in the East, and its wise men wo: the rising star. The politicians here and may make their arrangements about men oy parties, and «bout the man who is to guid destinies of the country from the 4th of M 1865; but the people will dictate to them, they will have no option but to accept! popular decree or be crushed beneath charlot wheels of public opinion. NEWS FROM WASHINGTC Important Debate in the Senate on Emancipation Question. Onslaught of the Conservatives Policy of the Radicals. Discussion in the House on the Illinois New York Ship Ganai Bill, &., ae. Waamnoton, Feb. 7, DEBATS IN THE SENAT§ ON THE MISSOURI ED PATION BILL. It was made clear pretty early 0-day that the cans in the Senate intended to pass the Missouri Ey pation bili as a party measure, Flence meticus to were voted against by such men as Cowan, Harris, at last seem to be ta full communion with the ‘There is, however, a conservutive side, though a1 numbor, which dors not let abolition measures form of laws without strenuous argumentation them. The constitutionality of the wens been questioned by all the democratic As to tts practicability and expediency many and interesting points have been thade, Som since Mr. Henderson urged upon the republican S the necessity of a large and prompt appropriat! nesessity in kooping Missouri in tho Union. U: was done the State might swing over to secession become a refugee. He urged it ae the best of sures. Ten millions thus expended in peaceful od would effect more than hundreds of millions letting. From the oonversation today between the Senators and Mr. Henderson it is clear that th fallen into his views and adopted thom. Hence appropriating twenty miilions of dollars for emand purposes, provided that a law therefor 0 enacted within a year. Mr. Wilson, of Missouri, an amendment to give three years instead of one sideration and action by the people of Missouri. Io respect to the condition of things in Misso Wilson, of that State, made a plain, statement. He sald, in substance, tbat the q far as It was agitated in the State, was connected | of deporting the slaves who should be emancipa' was not much discussed, excopt in the outs. The views of the emancipation party wore All were for deportation, which i# not provided this bill. He had no special affection for slavery ; the one hundred thousand who would be emanclp dor the proposed law two-thirds of them would be} out upon the cold charity of the world. Hoe had be} that the question belonged exclusively to the poj Missouri; and he could say that they bad net th Bor the desire to enter into an unconstitutional ¢ with the government, whoreby the perpetual fre: the negroes of the State should be assured, when t! been liberated at a nominal price. Roferring startling cry of the republicans, that slaveholder the cause of the rebellion, he said that if it had n) for them Missouri would have gone into secess|| the State Convention, called to give effect to thd Purpose, eighty-five in,a handred were slavebolde At great sacrifices, and against the feeling of the y and more demonstrative set of people, declared Union, Afterwards, whon the fate of tls depended upon a single man, that man (| to the Union, though a alaveholder. Less than hall people voted at the late election. A majority of gisiature was elected by less than one-fifth of th; legal vote of the State. Buch was the constitution sourt that an amendment would be required to g’ Legislature power to act in the premises. The speech of the day was that of Mr. Torple, ana, who made his debut with decided effect. Int] language and manner he exhfiited true oratory. garda this particular measure {asa bribe to tho | Missourl, Her loyalty was to be purebased | love of @ prostitute, The rebels were thus to be out of Missouri. The constitution had lost the cor! of the North and the South. It was thoroughly with the doctrines of the New England school. _' Turpie) was for the Union in every way, when republicans were for letting it slide. If union mi tax people to buy niggers be was not for for feeding wretched contrabands, when our own 6; were unpaid and their families begging for br was not for it; nor was ho for it if the d Of the people and the States were to be 4 Bot if union meant a restoration of th thority of the governmeat, with its forn] under the old flag, then he was now and forever. Mr. Turpie expatiated forcibly u proposition to add further to the burdens of t for the benefit of the slave breeders and drivers of Missourl, when so many soldiers and © and orphans were suffering from want. He r to the fact that the pacification project of Cri had beem rejected by the administration, while ( tho exercise of such power in Europe mado men fF. or Cmr; bat the power of the Amorican Czar ¢ extend beyond the Alleghanies. The contest in t) been decided by the people not as a part ‘They had declared at the polis upon th: whether the rights of the people be violated by military powor. There v party during the war until after the / victory at Fort Donelson, when the valiey of the Mississippi seemed to lay at our fer subject of the abolition of slavery was brought Congress by the Prestient. The republicans in ( then commenced the agitation of, abolition part sures, though tho bannor of the rebels could be ee: the towers of the Capitol If the war co: bad eure. tion draft io Indiana. The people sisam, They will bury party and forget dilferenc republican leaders will recall their sbolition mi au No justice oan be done to Mr. Turpie's spesch + the entire publiostion. Mr, Richardvon, Of Illinois, spoke subsoque: the same effect. Abandon abolition party measnr he, and Governor Andrew will not be enlled crowd the roads of Massachusous to 1) quote of that State, nor shall Horace be asked to furnish nine hundred th volunteers. The people of Illinois bad funy pattie of popaiar rights at the Inte election joaders, ‘The old leaders bad gone off from ther Richardson stated that the feeling agninst the battles of abolitionists and Qeing tar auch purposes war increasin, to @< do polot. He implored Fenators to stay