The New York Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. ‘OPFFIGE N. W. CORNER OF — . Wolume XXVIT..scesseseessessnseseness NOs Oh FULTON AND NASSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVESING. WALLACK'S THEATRE, &: Pavia, WINTER GARDEN, Broadwa: LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.~Fira One Witw ras Goines Locxs—Ragucar Fix. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. —Dax Freiscnore— Couimey Bawx—Pinack s Leacy BOWERY THEATRIS, Bowery.—s Jack AND THK BEANSTALK—StaTH 5 va or Loxpox— s, Birrororauvs, sea Lio. &c, Young Axmuica, Afternoon and Evening. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS. Wway.—Ermiorias Sonus, B Davvy. WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadwav.—Etmrorian BorGs, Dances, &C.—KONNING THE BLOCK ADM, Mechanics’ Hull, 472 Broad- Les@vss, Daxcxs, 4¢,—Hica BROADWAY MENAGERIK, Broadway.—Living Wie ANDHALS—PERFOMMING ELEPHANTS—Comi0 MOLES, &O AMERICAN THEATRE. No. 444 Broadway.—Bat ats, Pantoaimns, BoaLEesques, £0, brs a, PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 - Open daily ‘rom 10 A, M. till 10 P.M ronteng HOOLEY OPERA HOUSE, lyn. — Bogs, Dances, Burcesques, &e pre csicniaael New York, Wednesday, February 11, 1863 THE SITUATION. ‘There has been no movement in the Army of the Potomac since our last accounts. Arash attempt to force the picket lines of the ‘enemy, six miles from Yorktown, last Saturday, ‘was made by Captain Faith, of the Fifth Pennsyl- vania cavalry, which resulted in his men being drawn into an ambuscade, near the ‘Nine Mile Ordinary,’ and thirty of them being killed. He ‘was himself mortally wounded. His second in command, Capt. Hagerston, was taken prisoner, a were the ‘two licutenants—Williams and Little— who were serving as volunteers, The account which we publish to-day from our correspondent on the Ogeechee river, detailing the events of the late contest between the iron- clad Montauk and the rebel battery, proves. satis- factorily the invulnerability of the gunboat. She came out unscathed from @ terrific fire, notwith- standing the rebel boast that she had suffered se- verely. She dismounted two of the guns on the battery, and although the range was short and the aim perfect, the heavy shots trom the enemy failed to damage her. The battery opened on our wooden vessels at long range; but their aim was bad and they did no harm. The pirate steamer Alabama is reported to have turned up at‘Kingston, Jamaica, on the 20th ult., where she landed the crew and officers of the Unit- ed States steamer Hatteras, numbering over one hundred. It was reported that the Alabama had saffered severely in her fight with the Hatteras; that she had five shot in her hull, one of which— through her stern post—was a very bad one. Mhe put into Kingston to repair damages, and expocted tobe ready for sea in four days. immediately upon this news being received in Havana, the United States steamers Wachusett and Oneida sailed direct for Kingston, and the Santiago de Cuba and R. R. Cuyler, then on the south side of Cuba, were ordercd at once to the same port, and the Tioga and Sonoma were also steering in the same dtrection. It is quite likely, then, that the Alabama is now hemmed ifi by a squadron of not less than six ships, which, if they are active enough in their movements, may place Captain Semmes in an awkward position. The news from the Southwest is not very im- portant. Our troops entered Lebanon, Tenn., on thé Sth inst., and captured six hundred of the rebels, most of them b jonging to Morgan's men, including Paul Anderson and a number of field Officers. By the arrival of the North Star from New Or- leans we lave some important intelligence, the most striking being the cetails of the capture of the United States gunboat Morning Light, car- rying nine guns, and the bark Velocity, with off Sabine The former on fire by the rebels the approach of Union vessels coming to her assist- ance, and she was totally destroyed. They were blockading the Pass, and the attack was made by hy cotton bales and e same plan as the attack was made on the Herriet Lane at Galveston. A raid of o similar kind was anticipated at Apala- chicoia on our steamers Som+rset and Port Royal; but the commanders were, on the qui vive, and are not likely to be taken by surprise, The re Port Hudson, and are daily receiving reinforce- ments. one howitzer, Pass. waa set upon four rebel steamers, protects filled with sharpshooters, on is are strengthening their position at CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday the bill reorganizing the Post Office Department was passed. A bill to in- crease the number of Major and Brigadier Gen- erals was reported by the Military Committee. A resolution was offered and adopted requesting the President of the United States, if not incompatiLle with the public interests, to lay before the Senate any correspondence which lias taken place between this government and the government of France on the subject of mediation, arbitration or other mea- sures looking to a termination ofthe existing civil war. The bill to provide a national currency waa then taken up. The amendment requiring banks to keep in their vaults s;evie to the amount ef one- fourth of their circulation was rejected, Several other amendments were proposed and also reject ed. The bill to prevent and punish frauds on the revenue was reported back with amendments. A Dill to allow the United States to prosecute appeals and writs of error withont giving security was in troduced, and the Senate adjourned. In the House of Representatives the Committee on Ways and Means was instracted to examine and report on the practical operation of the Excise law upoo the interests of manufacturers of limited means. The joint resolution for the adjustment of the claims of contractors for naval supplies, &e., was recommitted to the Naval Committee, The consideration of the report of the Committee on Elections, in favor of admitting Messrs, Flanders and Hahn, members elect from Louisiana, to seata, was then resumed, and a lively debate ensued, which continued until the adjournment. THE LEGISLATURE. Jerable amount of business was trans. sour State Legislature yesterday e, among the bills passed were th * act enforcing the responsibility atockholl the general banking law, Pod diacading (oe gauy laws, A Dil was inte. in the AMERIOAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Liviwa | as all hours—/’nantom— | NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY) FEBRUARY 11, 1863. | duced for the establishment of a new Quarantine for this port. Among other provisions, it abolishes the Emigration Commission, proposes the erection for quarantine purposes of an island on Oak Or- chard shoals, and fixes the Health Officer's salary at $10,000, and that of hia deputy at $2,000. The Albany aud Snsquehannah Railroad bill was | once more up in Committee of the Whole, and once more had progreas reported on it. The bill relative to the sale of hay and straw in Brooklyn was ordered to a third reading. The Senate adopted a resolution to adjourn over from the 19th to the 25th inst. In the Assembly, favorable reports were made on the bills providing for the continuance of aid to volunteers’ families; to punish frauds on employes, | and to provide for the redemption of our Corpora- | tion bonds issued for the relief of soldiers’ fami- lies, Anumber of bills were introduced, among which were the following:—To give the Brooklyn police justices power to compel the appearance before them of persons confined without the order of any court; to amend the Metropolitan Police law; to permit the soldiers inthe field from this State to vote at our elections by proxy. The | Spring Street Railroad bill was taken from the Committee on Cities and referred to the Railroad Committee, which is regarded as equivalent to giving it its quietus for this session, and as omi- nous of a similar fate for the Broadway Railroad. The correspondence between Captain Worden, formerly of the Monitor, and now of the Montauk, and Secretary of State Ballard, in reference to the sword presented to Captain W. by the State of New York, was laid before the Assembly. Among the petitions presented was one for the restoration of slavery in this State. The Governor’s message was under consideration for some time. p MISCELLANEOUS NEWs, ‘Ai! The steamship City of Manchester, Captain Halcrow, which left Liverpool at noon on the 2ist and Queenstown on the 23d of January, ar- rived at this port last night. Her news and news- paper files have been fully anticipated by the Hansa and Europa. ‘The United States steam transport North Star, Captain Lefevre, from New Orleans, which arrived at this port yesterday morning, reports that on Monday night last, when off the Woodlands, near Sandy Hook, she came in collision with the steamship Ella Warley, hence for New Orleans. The Ella Warley was formerly the Isabel, built in Baltimore in 1848, of 1,115 tons, side lever engine, and ran between Charleston and Havana, On the breaking out of the rebellion she made several successful trips between Nassau and Charleston, and was eventually captured by the steamship Santiago de Cuba and brought to this port. She was sold and purchased by Trujillo & Vining, of this city. The North Star lost her stem, and is leaking badly. The Ella Warley lies in seven fathoms water. The California Legislature has finally elected Mf. John Conness to the United States Senate. Mr. Conness was formerly a Douglas democrat, and latterly a member of the Union party. The Democratic State Convention of Michigan will meet to-day in Detroit. A largo and enthusiastic meeting was held at | the Young Men’s Democratic Headquarters, in Broadway, at eight o'clock last evening, on which occasion the Hon. John Van Buren addressed the audience on the policy of the government, the prosecution of the war and the duty of the demo- cratic party. His discourse was a very lengthy one; but as some of the ideas advanced were bold and vigorous, and its delivery was spiced with a good deal of the sai Atticum, it enchained the at- tention of the audience for over two hours, and drew forth frequent bursts of applause. We give a fall report in this day's paper. The Board of Supervisors held a meeting yester- day. The veto of the Mayor on the resolution to raise the salary of the District Attorney to $7,000 and his assistant to $3,500 a year, and authorizing the appointment of an additional clerk inthe Dis- trict Attorney’s office at $1,200 a year, was taken up, and the resolution passed, notwithstanding the veto of the Mayor. The veto against appropriat- ing $3,000 to pay for correcting the enrolment of the National Guard shared the same fate. The bill of the New Yor Heratp for advertising the Clerk's annual report, amounting to $441, was pro- nounced reasonable and ordered to be paid. A motion to direct the Clerk to have the proceedings of the Board published, as they were last year, was tabled. Adjourned till Tuesday next. In the Court of General Sessions yesterday, be- fore Recorder Hoffman, a man named Auatin Henry, alias Heeny, alias Heenan, ‘was indicted for murder, in causing the death of his sister, Mar- garet McLaughlin, by beating her and throwing her down stairs, on the 3d of December last. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second de- gree, and was remanded for sentence until Satur- day next. With heavy receipts and constant arrivals ap to ‘Tuesday noon, the market for beef cattle ruled rather dull and heavy, while prices, except for strictly prime, were firm at 4c. a 4c. per pound lower. Prices ranged from 7c. a Ile. a 11% but there were only a few sales above 10%c., which may be fairly called the top of the market. Several lots which were expected failed to arrive, having been detained at Buffalo for tack of trans- portation. The general selling prices were 8c. a o4c., and the average price about 83,c. Milch cows were dull at $35 a $40, but with some sales at $50. Veals were steady at 4%4c. a 6c. a Te. Sheep and lambs continue active and firm, with #4 «50 a $8.0 $9, but chiefly at $6 500 Swipe continue active, and prices are firmer, with sales of corn fed at 5c. a 5%c., and The total receipts were veals, 5,854 sheep and lambs and 21,271 swine, The stock market was lower and heary yesterday morning, but better towards the close of theday. Gold fell to 152)4, rallied and closed 153% bid. Exchange closed at 169.0 13. Money was easy at 68 63; per cent, ‘Thesales of cotton yesterday reached 2,960 bales, and prices of middlings advanced to 1c. per lb. Phe transac- tions in breadstufis were checked by the fall in gold, and flour was lie, a and the principal kinds of grain 2c. a Se. lower. There was lessactivity in pro- visions, with a downward tendency in pork, lard and bacon, The principal sales of groceries were of teas, rugars and molasses, which were quoted very firm. The demand for tobacco and whiskey wes"fair, and prices were esgentially unchanged. There was less doing in the loading descriptions of forcign mercbandise, Freights were dull and declining. Tae Prive op THE PRINCE Rovyar.—We think it may be safely pronounced that of all the prizes captured by our blockading vessels the steamer Princess Royal, with her cargo, is by fur the richest. A few of the long catalogue of her valuable rebel stores will suffice to estab- lish this fact. There have been found on board ofher two complete sets of machinery of great power, each intended for an iron-clad rebel ram or gunboat; aset of machinery for the manu- facture of steel pointed project : another set for the mannfacture of iron plates for vessels-of- war and fortifications, and the valuable item of six bundred barrels of gunpowder, with a great mass of miscellaneous articles of British handi work for the use of their friends, the rebels of Charleston. Hence the wrath of Beanregard and Ingraham, and their unswecessful sortie to recapture the Princess Royal and to raise the blockade. Tt is a little curious that, by the roundabout way of Nova Scotia, Vancouver's Island, Nassan and Charleston, the British should be furnishing the United States at this crisis with shiploads of warlike stores at less @. But such is British neutrali. | Phe Sohomes of Congress for = Temporary Dictatorship4Anmything te Save the Union. There is, or was, a ferocious old fire-eater in Mississippi, of the name of Barksdale, tho same who, in the long struggle for Speaker some four years ago, was knocked down and lost his wig in a “rough and tumble” affair on the floor of Congress. This Barksdale is our man for the present occasion. In a speech, not long since delivered to a Mississippi audience, he said in effect—“This is not the time to complain of usurpations of power. I say let State rights, let individual rights, let the constitution itself, be suspended, and give us a dictator, if necessary. I will submit to anything to save the lifo of this confederacy.” So say we in regard to the measures and projects before Congress contem- plating the experiment of a temporary dictator im the person of President Lincoln. Rather than let the country fall to pieces, let the experimént be tried—let us support it—-we are _prepaved to submit to anything for a year or two in order to save the Union. A financial measure has passed the House of Represcntatives, and is now before the Senate, which contemplates the displacement of the paper money circulation of our State banks by the “‘greenbacks” and postage currency of the United States. So be it. Pass the bill. Scat- ter the “greenbaeks” broadcast over the land. In the issues of Treasury notes we are still considerably bebind the issues of the Confede- rate scrip of the rebels, while their means, materials and facilities for making paper money are utterly contemptible compared with ours. Our federal paper, too, rests upon the solid basis of an established government, substantial wealth and taxation, while the scrip of Jeff. Davis is all moonshine. It is the issue of a moonshine government, and stands about as much chance for redemption as the repu- diated State bonds of Mississippi or the ex- ploded coupons of the South Sea bubble. Give us, then, the “greenbacks,” and let not Secre- tary Chase be afraid of Wall street. Has he not the security against all contingencies of two or three, or four or five, or half a dozen mouatains of solid gold quartz in Color ado Territory, which Colorado Jewett has patri- otically presented to the government? Pass the bill. Secondly, Mr. Wilson has introduced a bill into the Senate giving to the President abso- lute power over the militia of the several States, and over every able-bodied white man thereof, Quakers andall. And why not? Are not the ranks of our brave volunteer regiments undergoing a constant depletion?—and will not the terms of service of a good many thousands of them expire by the Ist of May? How, then, are their places to be supptied, when volunteering has ceased to be at- tractive, even if covered by bounties, and when this Governor, that Governor, and the other, it is said, will resist the draft. Tobe sure Ms. Thaddeus Stevens, against these threatened ob- structions, has worked through .the House his negro enlistment bill; but, as we have to catoh Rc negroes before we can enlist them, we can- not rely upon our African allies to save us. We must at last fall back upon the militia bill of Senator Wilson. Had he not stopped en- listments some twelve months ago, under the delusion that we had then soldiers enough to put down the rebellion, there would proba- bly have been no necessity for this militie bill; but we must take things as we find them. Pass the bill. But this is not all. It is suspected that this Congress will yet confer’upon the President apb- solute power over the writ of habeas corpus. But again we say, cannot the people submit even to this in order to save the life of the na- tion? Look at the despotism to which the rebels submit in order to secure their meonshine Soutbern confederacy. Look at the sweeping conscriptions, privations, extortions and fearful cruelties to which they consent in bebalf of their beggarly “Confederate government.” Shall our patriotism fall short of the willing sacrifices of their silly fanaticism? But then we are told that our Northern democratic Governors and Legislatures will resist any such sweeping measures of absolute power on the part of Abraham Lincoln. Are we to be told, then, that anarchy and civil war among ourselves are io be preferred to a one-man power at Washing- ton for a year or two? Are we to be told that the government must stend back under menaces of mob law? That every State can do just what it pleases, and that every individual has the same liberty,’to support the administration at Washington or to resist it, in its efforts to put down the rebellion? No! We must first save the government of the United States, if we would save the liberties of the people and the local rights and powers of the several States. The hungry “ copper- heads ” will have time enough to plot and gam- bie against the abolition fanatics for the spoils and plunder of the succession after we shall have saved the life of the nation. Let us at all events get somewhere near the mark as to the number of States likely to par- ticipate in our next Presidential election before politicians begin to count chickens and divide the spoils. Let President Lincoln have full sway for two years to come, if de- manded to save the Union. He is not an ambi- tious man, but a modest, honest, patriotic man, and may be trusted. Give him, then, if required for the vigorous prosecution of this war, the powers accorded to Jeff. Davis; and, should we fail te realize our just expectations, the people, in 1864, will provide a remedy. In view of a failure on the part of this administration the people are already looking to General McClel- lan as the man for the next; and New England, in this spontaneous popular movement, leads the way. The people will take care of the future. Let us belp the government through the present crisis, for the States and the people are in the boat called the Federal Government, and with President Lincoln, who holds the helm Prosrect or an Exrna ton or Con- s%.—The two houses of Congress seem to | be jogging along as sluggishly with the busi- ness before them as if there were two or three months of the session remaining, instead of two or three weeks. This Congress expires on the 4th of March, and all its unfinished business on | that day is quashed and is done for, though it may have passed one house and may have been brought to the question of the final vote in the other. We suspect, from present appearances, that some indispensable bills will be left unfin- ished in the Honse or the Senate, or between the two houses, at the close of this session, and | that, therefore, there is some prospect that the | President will be competled to call an extra session of the new Congress to keep to govern- pent on ita leas. GR Waar Is raw Seorerany ov tan Nave Asour?—It appease that the Alabama has ¢ura- ed up at Kingston, Jamaica, for repairs, after sinking the United States steamboat Hatteras. She will probably soon sally forth again for further depredations. Thai she is not yet cap- tured is disgraceful to the Navy Department. | Nor is this all. The rebel estimates and appro- priations for their navy, given in Mr. Memmin- gers repott, may well alarm the country— twenty-nine millions of dollars, besides eight millions already expended, making a total of thirty-seven millions for that arm of their service. If it were not too much to hope that Mr. Welles and the pedantic old drones at the Navy Department are capable of being roused from their dreamy indolence, we might venture to hint to them to look out for new ravages on our commerce. The Alabama and the Flo- rida have made -a beginning. What will be the end? We know something of the panic and loss which have been already rife among us. We also know that $3,500,000 have been voted by the rebel Congress for the construction of six other heavily armed, swift steamers, and that secession agentsin Europe at this mo- ment are urging forward the purchase or eon- struction of this new fleet of privateers. More- over, we learn from the British Board of Trade returns that the American shipping which en- tered British ports since the beginning of the year amounted to 996,230 tons, while our ves- sels whieh cleared outwards were only 877,030 tons. A more emphatic proof could not be given of the terror inspired and the loss infliot- ed by the marauding privateers. We are losing the carrying trade which it has cost us many lives and much treasure to build up during the past three score years, and our merchant ships are either compelled to change their nationali- ty, as is known to bave been done in numerous cases, or else they are left to rot in the docks of a foreign nation, because they dare not show themselves affoat on the high seas under the Stars and Stripes. The privateers of the South are, a8 is alleged, expensive, and bring nothing into the rebel treasury; but itis equaMy true that they have cost us ap inimense sum; and, if the damage and annoyance ive been so great from two or three solitary, half armed craft, what may we not expect to en!‘or when a fleet of well manned, iron-ciad war steamers are prey- ing on our commerce? We trust the President and Congress will see that the Navy Department tai cautions for the sefety of our 2 i and for the vindigation of our boaste nence on +the sea. If this paramouat duty be neglected we may infor, irom the nay! appro- priations of the rebels and their know» activity in Rurope, that new humiliations and startling maritime disasters await us. Navoueon’s Mexroan Proxunciasnento AMONG tHE Rupets.—The Richmond Enquirer says of Louis Napoleon’s Mexican letter to General Forey that it is the work ef some “assiduous correspondent in ww York newspaper office;” that “it was mever written by the Emperor to General Forey nor to anybody else,” and that “jt needs seme more clever forger than this New Yorker to make such a pretended letter evon look like the truth.” In other words, the rebels still cherish the hallucination that Na- poteon’s object in Mexico is simply a military diversion in thelr favor, and that this letter to Generat Forey must be a forgery, because it shows that against a Southern confederacy the Emperor is blockImg the game of extension. But we suspect that the Richmond Enquirer will whistle another tune before the week is ended. To the rebels it is a bitter pill to swal- low; but they must gulp it down, that Louis Napoleon has deliberately resolved to appro- priate to himself the republic of Mexico, and that, accordingly, it must be expunged from the rebel maps and charts of their projected South- ern confederacy. Apuses IN THE Peurcuase or GovERNwENT Vesseis.—The report of Senator Grimes on the abnses charged against the parties connected with the purchase of vessels for the Banks and other government naval expeditions is cha- racterized by a Spartan impartiality and seve- rity that will be much relished in the present temper of the public mind. It charges the As- sistant Secretary of War and a colonel of the United States army with being privy to and tole- rating these abuses; recommends that the latter be court martialed; that the parties, five in num- ber, who have pocketed illegal commissions to the amount of hundfeds of thousands of dollars on the purchase of these vessels, be compelled to refund their ill-gotten gains, and that the facta relative to perjury in some of their cases be inquired into. We applaud the tone and spirit of this report. It is the only way in which a stop can be put to the shameful abuses and frauds that are swelling up the government expenditure to such a fearful extent, and im- posing such a heavy load of taxation upon the country. Tux Great Finey gt Coaryestoy 4xp Tror— Tor Dirrerexce.—On the 12th of December, 1861, the city of Charleston, S. C., was visited by a fire which destroyed five hundred and seventy- six buildings. On the 10th of May, 1862, five months after, the city of Troy, N. Y., had a like visitation, and six hundred and seventy-one houses were swept off by the conflagration. In the former city not s brick or stone has been | relaid, while in the latter place a stranger } would now hardly be able to find the district | where the fire occurred, except from the ap- | pearance of the numerous new buildings. | These faets show one or the other of two things, or probably both: first, the great cifference in the enterprise of the two sections; second, thet the people of Charleston believé t!at vity will fall into tRe bands of the loyal evay, and ‘hat they do not intend throwing away money on new buildings. Inox-Ciap Forts.—Commainder Worden, of the iron-clad Montauk, after several attempts to reduce the rebel fort McAllister, in the Ogee- chee river, Georgia, “has come to the conclu- ; sion that the iron armor of the fort is as effec- tive as that in which she is himself encased.” Let this admonish President Lincoln that now is the time or never for a resolute effort to reduce the strongholds of the enemy. McDowstt’s Cocrt ov Inquiny—His Di rencn.—We have received a repor of the de- fence of General McDowell before the court of inquiry at Washington; but as its length is equal ton volume we are unable () publish it We may, however, take an carly op yoctunil reviewing it, presenting o principal points. alone with the Wasamaron, Fob. 10, 1863. ‘THE QUEEN OF THE WEST—THE OPBRATIONS AGAINST ‘VICKSBURG. Private advices of relinble character from Aduairal Porter's fleet relieve apprehension about the Queen of the West, whioh bas run past the rebel batteries at Vieks- burg, and ia now betwoen them and Port Hudson. There t@ more than one expedient for capturing Vieks- burg. There is to be no hurry abeut military operations at this season of the yoar, but the muddy and rainy sea- @on is to be employed for preparation when the roada be- come settled in the spring. That timo is not remote. Active operations in seed time find # large portion of she Population employed in planting, kc. _ THE OURRENCY QUESTION. Nothing but the prospoct of prolonged war will induce the representatives of the hank interem iu Congress to authorize the substitution of their present circulation by that of government notes, PAYMENT OF DUTIES IN COIN. In answer toa quostion to-day, as to the prospect of the Finange Committee recommending that other money than gold should be received for duties, Mr. Sherman said that those who took our gold to purchase foreign conamoditios should pay the duties in gold. THE CONTRACTORS AND THE CURRENCY. The government contractors are beginning to feel the effects of the expansion of the currony. Some wuo made contracts for supplies whea articles were at gold prices find themselves unable to make both ends moet, A bill was Introduced in the House to-day to relieve certain of the navy contractors of their obligations to furnish goods at the prices agreed upon. The bill was violently opposed by Mr. Washburne and other Northwestern members who wore in the IUlinois Canal interest. Tao ragivg canalers are determined to oppose inch by inch every measure proposed by those who sided in defeating their canal bill. They succeeded in getting the Contract- ore’ Relief bill recommitted. TRIAL OF PRIZK CASES IN THE SUPREME COURT, ‘The trials of the appealed prizp cases commenced in the Supreme Court to-day with No. 184, in which Rofael Pre- ciat, claimant ef the schooner Brilliant, is appellant. The argument was commeneed by Mr. Carlisie for the appel- lant, and continued by Mr. Eames for the United States. ‘The succeeding cases, asordered by the Court, are No. 261, Boston, and No. 170 and No. 168, New York oases. MORR MAJOR AND PRIGADIER GENERALS. ‘The Senate Military Committec, on the bill reported for that purpoge, have recommended thirty major generals and seventy briga!ier generals in addition to tho present number in the army, TRE BBEATE IN THE HOUSE ON THB LOUISIANA ELECTION OASES. One of the most excited debates of the session in the House was that upon the Louisiana election cases to-day. Mr. Maynard, of Tounessce, argued strongly in favor of the recognition of the members olected under the Military Governor of Louisiana. Mr. Etiot, of Massachusotts, opposed the measure, and Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, made @ powerful speech on the same side. Mr. Bimg- ham was beset on alt sides by members of his own party as well as others; but he replied with such spirit on every question and aesault that the audionce in the galleries and on the floor were deeply interested. He said that while he would deny nono of those “who stand by the old flag and cling to the tottering pillars of the republic’’ their right to be repre- sented in Congress, ho eould not sanction an%lection con- trary to the constitution and the laws. All the cight hun dred millions who inhabit God's earth outsiile of Louisi- ana, he said, could not make a representative for the peo- ple of that State; but they must elect for themselves ac. cordiug to law. The rebol Legislature having abrogated the laws of the State, he argued that a law of Congress is Becessary to empower the people there to elect ropresen- tatives legally. a The debate on this question will be closed to-morrow, and it is probable that the new members will not be al lowed seats tn the House. SALE OF CONDEMNED ‘The Secretary of the ¥ , in response to an inquiry, transmitted a stdtemeot from the Collector of New York of the gales of ves- sels condemned and sold under,the acts of the 13th of Jaly, 1862, and the 20th of May, 1862. They are the schooners Genoa, Mary C. Hopkins, W. H. Raritan, Clare. mont, Suapy South, Mobile and Virginia; the bark Bound- ing Billow; the brigs Mary McRae, Gen. Bailey and Fanny, and ships John Cottle, Liberty aud Sebastian Cabot. The amount of sales was $7,410, of which the United States receive $1,754. THE FRENCH MINI@RR'S MISSION TO RICHMOND. ‘The introduction of a resolution in the Senate to learn the character of the Mercier mission to Riehmond, and of the nature of the Frengh Emperor's plan for the cet. tloment of our sections! difficulties, carries the idea to peoplo generaily that said subjects are agitated to preais. pose the popular mind for peace. THE NYW SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA. It is stated by (hose who have superior means of know- ing that Mr. Conness, who bas been nominated for United States Senator in California, 1s 4 Douglas detnocrat, and that his action will assimilate with that of Messrs. Me- Dougal and Nesmith, SEIZURK OF BOOTS AND SHOES. A portion of Cotonel Paker's detective corps lat night seized one Bundred and sixty eight cases of boots and shoes in transition across the potomac from Leonards town, Md., destined for the South. The goods and smug. glers were sent to Washington. That much contraband trade is still carried on there is no doubt, potwithstaading the frequont arrests of the parties eugaged ia It. x TRE NAVY. Lieutenant Francis H. Baker has been ordered te tem porary duty on board the receiving ship Princeton, TUCRLOW WEED AND GREELEY. Thurlow Weed, who has been hero several days, is said to make Horace Greeley the subject of his conversa tion almost constantly. In truth he may be said to bo troubled with. G.”’ upon the brain. EVENING SKSSIONS OF THE HOUSE. Night Mibustering in Congress will seon set in. A re solution tocommence ovoning sessions next. week was introduced in the House to.iay; but was objected to, and goes over. CONDITION OF SONATOR TALE Senator Hale, who has been quite ill with erysipelas, is much better to day. GEN. STUART'S RAID INTO PENNSYLVANIA. ‘The citizens of Adams county, Pa., have petitioned Congress to compensate them for losaea sustatme! by a raid of a large body of rebel cavalry, commanded by AT NEW yore. Gen, Stuart, ov the 11th of October, who passed through Carroll's traet and Fairfleld, committing extensive depre dations aed vioiently seizing and carrying off horses and other personal property. THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. ate. Wasuivotoy, Fob. 10, 1863 RRORGANIZATION OF THE POST OFTICR DAPARTMENT. Mr, Cotaasmm, (rep.) of Vt., called up the bill regrgan. izing the Post Office Department, which pnssed. INORRASR OF GENBRAIA IN THR VOLUNTERR SERVICE, Mr. Wises, (rop.) of Mass., from the Military Commit tee, reported a bill to authorize an incroase of major and brigadier generats in the volunteer service. PROTESt FROM TME COLORED CITIZENS OF NRW JT:RMET. Mr. Scmyen, (rep.) of Mase., presented a petition from the colored citizens of New Jersey, protesting against any appropriation for colonization. THE FRENCH MEDIATION SCITEMT. Foster, (rep.) of Conn. , offered a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the President of the United States, if not incqgmpatible with the public interests, to lay before the: Senate any correspondence which taken place between this government and the gow ment of France on the subject of mediation, arbitration or other measures looking to a termination of the existing civil war, THE NATIONAL CORRENCY KILL. ‘Tho National Currency bill was then taken up. Mr. Srixmwax, (rop.) of Ohio, said this measure was propoeed at the last session, but met with little attention. Since then it bad received the most careful consideration froma persons in all portions of the country, and espe. cially from the committees of the House and Senate. We were now in a condition when something must be done to Sustain the finances of the country, We | midst of war, and gold was at euch a higi it was virtually deiven ont of circulation, whi sitios of the government require the vse ‘amount of money already. Congress at the last sees.on, fluding the government without any money. authori ed the issue ot government notes; but there were great ob. Jections to the continued and increased issue of thie paper money. It prodaces an incesstve inflation of the cur cy and depreciates greatly the value of paper money ‘of the facility (or its excessive expan. Thore is danger from thie paper money of lavish and corrapt ex pendiwres; danger of fraud in the management and su vision of it, and danger from it owing to the imponei iity of providing it in sufficient amount: for the wanta of the people. When are the expenditures to be reduced toon equality with he revenue? At the time when the was offered in the House to increase the issue of this mony gold was at 1465,. the next day it rose to anf within three dave to 141, and in six days to 4 never Suffered ® lectine until there was adie oyineed im the Seuate to chock this over Have. | postive priviloge corporation, ‘cat ig from an Cveringue, All b tory has shown assignats were at first good, but by an they became worthless, Austrian Paper monoy by over issue bocame so depreciated that one was worth only one dollar in gold. The continentsl money fae = about the Le Rapper Redon oe recalnet within its proper limite it mi ve continued good, ‘This count Fy will Dear the issue of about four hundred milious of paper ment that you begii country, abd prodice an immense inflation and wild speculation, This plan of national currenoy wilt be safer, far safer, than any other of papor mouey. It will have the crodit of the United Statea, a deposit of one ‘ fourth of the circulation, and the liability of stockholders to a certain extant. These bills will be convertible at any time into lawful money of the United States, and ‘the cur- rency wilt be uniform allover the country, so that a bill issued in Maine will be taken in California, organized the country, made for the bonds of the bonds made. There is capital enough to carry on afl the business country, apd it is jug for ivvestment. There is, however, a lack of idence and a want of system. Thi system will furnish a convenient mode tor the collection of taxes all over the country, these notes being receivable for taxes everywhere. He believed this system would be beneficial to the banks. {It would tend greatly to prevent counterfeiting, now s0 prevalent. The notes of twelve Lus- dred banks have been counterfeited or altered; over three thousand have been altered. There are seventeen huadfed | spurious kinds of notes and four hundred and sixty varie- = ties of imitations, The counterfeited except two hundred and fifty-three. The alterations were 3,039, and the gt ro bills 1,685. ‘This system would tend to prevent this. Tne banks will have the benefit of being depositartes of the govern- ment. This will also tend to e nationality by na- tionalizing the currency and binding together the whole : country. He referred to the cases of the Bank~of Eng- land and the Bank of France, and claimed that it was Pt for @ government, in order to (a L al ; eel amounts from the people, to have some agenc; kind; and these banks which he referred to \waye been a great support to the government in times of war and trouble. If we place our finances in a healthy ead sound condition we may be able to carry on the war and to provide for the payment of the public debt. But if we continue this over issue of paper money withou! be universal modern nations on large wars, our financial condition was good. Kven at the very! commencement of tho war be- tween England and France the English three per conta fell to 51 and then to 45,und ruin scemed to be staring evory one in the face. A state of thi existed far worse than anything we have seen, But people did not stop. They persevered to the end: French secu- rities at one time were worth actually nothing; yet that i great people weaton until the genius of Napoleon aod the sun of Austorlitz restored the finances of the govern- ment. He wished above all things to establish a sound financial system as a prominent meang of preserving our nationality, and one great means of preserving our na- tional life was the establishment of « sound national eur- . rency. Mr. Fresknpun, (rep.) of Me , by consent from the Com- _ mittee on Finance, reported back the bill to and puuish frauds on the revenue, with amendments. He also introduced a bill to allow the United States to prose- cute appeals and writs of error without giving security. ‘The Senate then resu the consideration 4 renoy bill, the question being on Mr. Powell's amendment requiring banks to keep specie in their vaults to the amount of one-fourth of their circulation. ‘This amendment was rejected, by yous 14, nays 22. Mr. Powni1, (opp:) of Ky., moved to strike out the P provision excluding these notes from being received in Payment of imports. He claimed that the government should receive the same notes that it forces the people to take. ‘This motion was also rejecteds by the following vole:— Yeas—Messra, Bayard, Davis, Dixon, Foot, Kenn Powell ichardeon, Turpie and Waid: ‘5 ag ars —37. Mr. Howarp, (rop.) of Mich., moved to amend go as to require that thirty per cent of ihe capital +took shall be paid in in gold or silver coin. This amondment was rejected by yoas 19, nays 21. Mr. Powst4. offered an amendment requiring the froin the States to the organization of these banks. jected, Mr. ‘Hirvomson, (Union) of Mo., offered an ment increasing the amount of capital stock of banks. He feared the establishment of a large num- ver of small banks, iocated in inacsessible waa wiling to do all’he could to aid the go ‘was willing even to vote for measures which he consider of doubtiul constitutionality. But he the future would show the necessity of this amenament, Rejected— yeas 16, nays 31. Adjourned. F Mouse of Representatives. Wasuivoton, Feb. 10, 1863. OPERATION OF THE EXCISE LAW ON MANUPACTUREES. On motion of Mr. ARNOLD, (rep.) of HI., the Committee on Ways and Means was instructed to examine and report on the practical operation of the Excise law upon the ta- torests of manufacturers of limited means. THY, ADJUSTMENT OF CLAIMS. The House resutaed the consideration of the joint rego- lution for the equitable adjustment of the claims of cow. tractors for naval supplios, and to regulate contracts for the Navy Department. It refers to those who, during the year ending June, 3962, furnisued more than fifty + per centum above the quantities specified in their con- tracta, and without default therein. After debate, the resolution w&s recommitted to the Committee on Naval Affairs. THE ADMISHION OF REPRESKNTATIVES FROM LOUTSI AA. ‘The Honse resumed the congideration of the re] of ' the Committee on Elections in favor of aimitting Messrs. I landers and Hahn as Repregontatives from Louisiana. ’ Mr. Mayxaxp, (Union) of Tenn., said if the Union was restored, as he had no doubt it’ would be, it would be through the instrumentality of Union men in the Sout Statesmen who maintained their allegiance under the most discouraging and distressing circumstances, languishing in prisons becauze they refused to support the rebel authorities, while others were deserting by thousands, teking refuge within our lines, and were trae 1o their oath of allegiance, He was surprised at the legal Position taken yesterday by Mr. Voorhees, which would deprive the people of their right to be represented im the lawmaking body, and subject them to the control of a fatrop and to all tho rigors of military rule. The forms of eleci.on wore strictly observed, and the contest was fairly cond clad, This was not a) . They could not go Deltioc the election and inquire by What tenure General she: hold his commierion as Military Governor. Messrs. ‘Spud Habn came here as the representatives of the } , and that was the only question to be determined. He asked the gentloman to consider tho meaning of that plal> provision of the constitntion, that the United States shall 4! vtee to every State a republican form of go- In other words, no State should be deprived it by domestic insurrection, foreign invasion, or the action of the people. It was @ gua- rantes that no State should set up a anti republican in form and antagoniatic to tho United States. Thero was amutral guarantee to ‘State of a repuvieas goverment, Upon this principle be justified the a») ointment of military governors, and the power of the President to organize the ne ry machinery for the ,urpose of representation—the ristic Of @ republican government. Mr. Perren, (rep.) of Ind., said no mere appeals to their sympathies “ought to divert the gentiomen from the provisidos of the constitution. If there was anything against which the framers of that instrament gnarded it was executive encroach- ment. Copled from the British constitution, ours provided Haat tho times, places and manner of holding elections | for Senators and Representatives in the State should he prescribed by the State or the Legislarure thereof, but Cengrose might make or alter the law. He was unwilling for ey trifling advantage to throw away the privileges of the constitution, The only way, under the present circumstances, that Lontsiana could send Rep- resentatives hither was by an act of Congress fixing the time, place and manner of holding the election therein military commandent, dubbed with the name of Governor, deriving no anthority under the con- stitution of Lousiana, and tue of his office merely part of the executive autherity of the United Stater, had no right to lasue his proclamation for an election, the turion and Iaws of that tate remaining in force, thore was no power to execute them. Although election, he thonght he = & ton. ‘The proclamation of General Shepley expressly mentioned, as an induce ment to #n election, the cnoy ment of the benefits seoared by the proelamation ‘At that time, (00, and of military anthority was felt in that State, United states bad jurisdiction, ) of Mase, had de donbt thas the elee- tion was bore were hy and true representa . ut the was a question beyond thre of the eletion there was po authority under the = & State of Lonisiana to give vitality to the election for re 4 Preasntatives. The power of the military governor mast bo limited, ond his appointment by necoseity, The restoration of civil governmen precede (he t | Lime when the election was held: (or dary governor, ! Dy executive anthority, ewer under tl > r. NORLE, (opp.) of Mo., #8) y wat t Leicionae tn eee) the mational authority ond nereln — { tion to the geueral government. There was no more 4 proper way to produce thie result than to introduce om 4 Unis toor renrenentariees from that State. He jastited — & the promises, i Mr. Bananast, (rep.) OF Obio, was not willing toconcede | all people it that the constitution in time of war Was not suMiclent - ‘defence and the support of the rights of (or tee oe every eection of the Union, He Sed ' ‘conclusions of the Committee on Klsetions, « ror ied that no representatives conid be elected cx cept by State or federal legislation, basing his argument Crrconstitationnl law. He hoped the committee would ‘a bill specially providing for an election of rapre sentatives in cases such as were pending. This woud Deprive this question of its embarrassinant, fo question was taken, ‘ Adjourned.