The New York Herald Newspaper, February 14, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HEKALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1863. NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, xpITOR AND" PHOPRIROGR. OFLiCB N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by maii will be Qt the risk of the sender. Noue but bank bilis current in New York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, Taras cents per copy. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Fives cents per copy. Annual subscription price:-— One Copy.... o- .. $2 ‘Three Copies 5 Five Copies. bd ‘Ten Copies. . 15 subscribers, Any large number, addresset to names $1 SO cach. An oxtra copy will be sent to every club of ton. Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $35, and any larger number at same price. An extra copy will be gent to clubs of twenty. These rates make the WERKLY Hunauo the cheapest publication in ihe country. ‘The Evrornas Eprrion, every Wednesday, at Five cents per copy; $4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, or $6 to any part of the Continent, both to include Postage. Tho Caurorwa Epmion, on tho Ist, 11th and 21st of ‘each moath, at Six conts per copy, or $3 per annum. | Apreiersanen7s, to a limited number, will be inserted in the Werxty Heratp, and in the European and Califor - ‘nla Editions. , VOLMNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing tmport- ‘aut news, solicited from any quarter of the world; if ‘used, will be liberally paid for, gage Our Forman Cor- RUSPONDENTS ARE PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SBAL ALL LER- SXRRS AND PACKAGES SRT UB. NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. We 40 not return re'ected communications. WIBLO'S GARDEN, Broad Lean, Tus Forssxex, WALLACK'S THEATRE, Brosdway.—Haxnixrre, WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Haucer. LAURA KEKNE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Farm One With tam Goupen Locks—Batsy Baxen, NEW BOWERY panty Bowery.—Pizanno—Pavt Jore—Harey Max—Wa' ov Tux Giex. WANDERING Bore—Jaon REINA. BOWERY THEATRE, Bor np THe Beanstatc—Noran ‘ THEATRE FRANCAIS, Niblo's Saloon—Afternoon=La Wik we La Bea" Temes. Evening—La Rose pe Saint Pusce—Un Carnice. ), BARNUM: 'S AMERIOAN aUsEUM, ghost WPPOPOTAMUS, NEA 110. Ac, at all houre— VOUNG Anmaica. Afternoon and Evening. LIVING HANTOM— ie ANTS" MINSTRELS, Mechunics’ Hall, 472 Broad. <a EROBPLA Sones, Bonuusvas, Dances, 40.—Hion ani WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 614 Broadwar.—! Boxes, Danvrs, £0.—Runrina tae BLockaps. are BROADWAY MENAQBRIE, Bread: Mmmais—PRavonmine ORAIE, roster Liv yi AMRRICAN THEATR @é Brondway.—Bat. txt, Panroumas, Boruzsquas, “ = bess sania . PARISIAN CABINET OF Wi pen daily from 10 A. M. a Pees. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Brar ores, Duncans, Buneesques ae sia aa ‘ BROOKLYN ATHEN2OM.—Da. Maccowan's Leorvx ON yaran, = ———— ee turda: eivakivarA ic Mi 2863. 663 Broadway. ew Reem, THE SITUATION. Derpatches from Cairo state that the levees on ‘the Mississippi side of the river, twelve miles below Helens, at Yazoo Pass, have been cut by jour forces. They have also been cut at Green- jVille aud on the Louisiana side, opposite Lake \Providence. A barge loaded with coal is said.to have run the blockade at Vicksburg on Sunday. The railroad ‘between Selina and Meridian is completed so as to enable the rebels to carry their troops to Vicks- iburg at a short notice, ‘There is nothing new to-day from the Potomac army or from Charleston, Captain Curtis, of the brig Samuel Churchman, from Miragoane, arrived yesterday, reports that on February 4, latitude thirty-four, longitude acventy-five, he saw a large steamer, painted biack, steering west; but when they saw the brig she altered her course and stood towards her; but night coming on, with a very heavy rain and thick weather, she got out of sight. The steamer was supposed to be the rebel privateer Alabama. EUROPEAN NEWS. The steamship Etwa, from Queenstown on the 29th ultimo, arrived at this port early yesterday avorning. Her news is four days later. The Emperor of France was endeavoring to per- fect s new plan for mediation or intervention in the war wilairs of the United States, with, it was said, the view of promoting peace between the North and South. M. Prouyn de Lhuys had ad- ed a circular to the French Ministers in Lon- jou, Berlin, Vienna and St. Petersburg, directing thm to “sound” the feeling of the Cabinets of ‘these countries upon the propriety of tendering simple counsels to the ‘belligerent parties in Washington and Richmond,” advising them to name comminsioners charged to examine, “with or with urmistice,’’ the basis of a settlement. A es published almost simultaneously in La Nucwn, Li France and the Opinion Nationale, Varis—the special newspaper organs of the peror, tie revs and Prince Napoleon slow (hat France is exceedingly anxious to bring aieout @ per” i America, in the interest of her cotton mai avers and the elevation and exten- Bien of ber po Cent prestige on this side of the new Arehty »p of Paria, in a letter ad- drwsed ty ihe people of his late see, strikes an ecoes aster! blow ot Rassia and England for re- fen to low Nopewon in his ret effort at media- tion, rhe Low peng Gasette of the 29th of darunts Wiel will be wo} et for un he otuer creat Powers? The Ga- “Tt may be taken for granted that the oilered negotiation wil be tejected at Washington;!* wand annas—*'N the compulsory cessation oho tities, or a marftime war with the North? Cant wnt aiford to let the French Emperor process wou in bis American policy? or is he accog open an understanding with her Majesty's governient he steamer Georgiana, the tender of the Ala- rms, was in the harbgr of Holyhead, Engtand, and went to weno ‘th of January, bound for Nasa, She heed ormidable erew of rough Looking wen of ainost every Enropean nationality, Bile mounts twent Kht gums, vod carries out a qnantity of ea and ther necesuries for the ase Tew of the Alabama, A letter from Holy. “ier crow—rater numerons, by the way— vere all be ided like parda, ond reminded the bystanders foreib'y oF Cooper's heroes, She ia UWoand for America, and loons Just the thing for running the blocka On the 26th of January the clipper ship Elia Housall, Captain Stalker, arrived at Liverpool, from Nassau, with about 1,400 buies of cocton, | - | Granada. The mails from Central Amorica and | | The cotton was brought to Nassau by the “block: | ade breakers.’ The operation of the Russian military conscrip- tion, or draft, in Poland eventuated in a general and widespread uprising against the authority of | the Czar in the ancient kingdom. The movement | | may be called @ national military revo- lution. A general massacre of all the Russian troops in the country was planned | | for the night of the 22d of January, and in order to | | effect it attacks were everywhere made upon the detachments of soldiers separately cantoned. The Poles killed all the soldiers they found in the | houses where they were Dilleted. The telegraph | wires in the neighborhood of Warsaw were de- | | stroyed. Two thousand conscripts lately en- rolled deserted, and assembled at different points. | | Three centres of insurrection were in this way | | formed by bands, each about one thousand strong: | one in the direction of Minsk, eight verats from Warsaw; the second at Blonie, and the third at Pultusk, One of these bands was dispersed; the others, after having crossed the Vistula, ef- fected a junction with troops of insurgents that had assembled in the forests of Nasielck. Combats had taken place in which a Russian colonel was ing arms. The only question to be decided is, | how many of the five thousand remaining would volunteer, without bounty, to go to the war. Commodore Robert F. Stookton will not, under any circumstances, allow his name to go before the New Jersey Legislature in conneotion with the | office of United States Senator, tq Both houses of the Legislature of Pennsylvania have passed an act ceding to the United States League Island, provided the governmont will es- tablish a navy yard there. League Island isin the Delaware river, just above its junction with the Schuylkill, and is included in Philadelphia county. Nicholas Longworth, the great Weatern wine grower, who died in Cincinnati on the 10th inst., leaves property valued at fifteen millions of dol- lars. Mr. Longworth was eighty years old. In the Court of General Sessions yeatorday John C. Long, charged with committing arson in the second degree, by setting fire to the premises No. 392 Bleecker street, was acquitted by a verdict of the jury. The will of Andrew H. Mickle, formerly Mayor of the city, has been admitted to probate without contest. The testator’s estates, which were large, are distributed among the members of his family. ‘The stock market was dull yesterday morning, without wounded and a general killed, and the whole king- dom of Poland was declared in a state of siege. The garrison of Warsaw was increased to forty thousand men, and the latest despatch from St. Petersburg says “Warsaw is quiet.” It was by no means certain, notwithstanding, that any de- cided impression had been made on the insurrec- tion. General Prim had resigned his commission a6 Director General of Engineera of the army of Spain. He will devote himself to the lead of the progressive political party in the kingdom. The Dublin Freeman has reports from the coun- ties of Sligo and Tipperary, Ireland, which show that the distress amongst the laborers, small farmers and middle class atorekeepers in these localities is exceedingly intense, wide-spread and every day tending more and more to their actual pauperism, exile or death. The Liverpool cotton market, on the 29th ultimo, was irregular and prices easier. Quotations were barely maintained. On the 28th of January the market experienced a decline of one-half of a penny. Breadstuffs were cuiet and steady. Pro- visions were steady. Consols closed in London on the 29th of January at 9234 a 9224 for money. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday the Military Committee reported back Mr. Sumner’s bill to raise three hundred thousand black soldiers, with the recom- mendation that it do not pass, because the autho- rity intended to be granted is sufficiently granted by the act of Suly 1, 1862, The Finance Commit- tee reported a bill relative to the compensation of inspectors of customs in New York city. Several resolutions and bills, none of them, however, of general importance, were introduced. At the éx- piration of the morning hour the bill to rovide ways and means for the ‘support of thé govétninent wastaken up, and a warm political controversy ensued between Mr. Richardsen on the one side and Messrs, Chandler and Lane on the other. Finally the amendment taxing bank ciroulation one per cent for two years and two per cent there- after, instead of the sliding scale proposed. by the House, was ed to—20 against 16—and the bill passed by a vote of 32 against 4. The Senate then adjourned. In the House of Representatives, the Naval Ap- propriation bill was taken up. The amendment to dismiss the seventy-six midshipmen appointed by the Secretary of the Navy contrary to law was re- jected. The House, by a vote of 77 against 44, agreed tothe amendment striking ont an appro- priation of $463,300 for the New York Navy Yard, and inserting $1,213,000 for a floating or sectional dry dock of sufficient size and capacity for raising any of the vessels now built. The Second Auditor was directed to inform the House if some plan.can- not be devised to pay promptly to the familics of deceased soldiers the $100 bounty te which they sre entitled. A bill was passed amending the Confiscation acts so as to provide that in all cases now or hereafter pending as tothe ships, veasels or other property seized and condemned, the court rendering judgment shall first provide for the pay- ment from the proceeds of the sales of any bona fide claim filed by any citizen of the United States or subject of a foreign Power, and properly estab- lished—provided no such claim shall be allowed if the claimant shall have participated in disloyal practices in connection with the property. Pri- vate bills were considered snd the House ad- journed. THE LEGISLATURE. In the State Senate yesterday a large portion of the session was spent in the consideration of the bill for legalizing the acts of boards of super- visors to provide bounties for volunteers. Some few bills were reported upon favorably; among them that in reference to savings banks, and the bill to amend the charter of the United States Trust Company, In the Assembly notices were given of bills to locate the State Capitol in this city, and for a rail- road through Cortlandt and other streets. The Se- nate resolutions approving of President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation were introduced and laid over. The House adopted the resolution in- structing the Judiciary Committee to inquire into the expediency of imposing @ tax on foreign resl- dents who neglect to become naturalized. Con- current resolutions condemning the Military bill now before the United States Senate were offered and laid over. Anumber of bills were introduced, principally, howover, of only a private or local character. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship Champien, Captain Wilson, from Aspinwall 4th inst., under convoy of the gunboat | Connecticut, arrived at this port last night. She | brought $359,978 in treasure and advices from New the South Pacific had not reached Panama, and, we consequently have no intelligence from those | regions by this arrival. It was announced yesterday, by telegraph, that the Legislature of Missouri had despaired of elect- ing a United States Senator and had adjourned its joint session until November next. It is @ singular fact that in this contest all the candidates were emancipationiste, and only differed in the manner in which they desired Missouri to be made a free State. John S, Phelps was the democratic or con- servative candidate, He favors emancipation, be- | cause, he says, there is no longer any security for slave property. He desires, however, that the negroes shall be set free in ® comstitutional way, and the owners compensated for their property. Robert M. Breckinridge wae agother conservative candidate, and leans to the eide of gradual eman- cipation, Samuel T. Glover waa thought to be | wavering on the different questions of emaucipa- tion, not having pledged himeel! to any particular scheme. James 0. Broodhead was for immediate emancipation, with proper compensation. B. , Gratz Brown is @ regular negro-worshipper. He is o rank abolitionist, and favors any soheme, from the President's proclamation to the underground | railroad, that will tend to tree the slaves, Some of the radical republican journals state that ten regiments of negro volunteers could be raised in the State of New York. Let us examine th sloved population, and see how near this statement comes to the truth. According to the consus of 1960 there were then £9,000 negroes in the State, and they may now number 60,000. Of these one-half are females, leaving 25,000 males, Taking from this last number the old, the sick, the infirm and the ehildren,wnd we shall only have one in five of the twenty-five thousand capable of bear- ‘at much change in prices, but much better, with more activity, in the afternoon. Money was worth six to seven per cent, Gold’ fluctuated between 155 and 166, closing bid. Exchange’ closed at'1714. ‘The cotton market was dull and heavy yesterday. ‘Thore was more doing in breadstuffs at an advance of 10c. on flour, and 1c, a 2c.0n wheat. Corn was also s shade firmer, The grocery market was brisker, cepecially for Rio coffee, the sales of which wore 4,100 bags. Pork was leas inquired for, but was steady, while most other kinds of provisions were active and firm. The sales of whiskey ‘were large at from 6c. a 680. The degnand was good tor wool, tallow and tobacco, but not acttve for the principal kinds of foreign merchandise. There were heavior freight engagements for British porte. Mr. Seward’s Peace Administration. The masterly reply of Mr. Seward to the ex- traordinary peace experiment lately proposed by the French government will command the universal approval of the loyal States and of the loyal people of the rebellious States of this Union. Louis Napoleon, sincerely deploring the cot- ton famine in France resulting from this war, is sincerely an advocate for peace. Failing in his endeavors to induce England and Russia to join him in an effort of mediation, he advances di- rectly the proposal to our government of a con- ference at some neutral place (without inter- pn, to the war) between representa- tives of the Union and the rebellion, and modestly expresses the opinion {hat guch # oon- ference would most probably open the door to peace, although it might involve the recogni- tion of a Southern confederacy. Now there is an air_of confiding generosity in this proposi- tion which might excuse its absurdity but for the opinion which it thus.conveyed, that we are wasting time in any further attempts to enforce the submission of the rebellious States to the Union, or to reclaim them in any way. Mr. | Seward, in view of this stinging suggestion in the very amiable despatch of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs; treats his proposition with the spirit and emphasis which the occasion demands. le informs the Freach government through Mr. Dayton that what Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys suggests is thet “this government shall appoint commissioners to meet on neutral ground com- missioners of the insurgents.” This proposition Mr. Seward justly defines as one for entering into a diplomatic diseussion with the insurgents upon the question whether the authority of the government “shall not be renounced, and whe- ther the country shall not be delivered over to disunion, to be quickly followed by ever in- creasing anarchy.” Any overtures involving such contingencies are, of course, pronounced utterly inadmissible. Louis Napoleon is in- formed upon this point that there is not the least ground to suppose that anything but a separation of the Union would be accepted by the representatives of the controlling actors in this rebellion in the conference sug- gested, and that, on “the other hand, this go- vernment has not the least thought of relin- quishing the trust which has been confided to it by the nation,” of re-establishing the Union in its integrity. Having thus emphatically dismissed this re- commendation from France for a peace confer- ence between commissioners from Washington and commissioners from Jeff. Davis, Mr. Seward reminds the French government that the Con- gress of the United States is the appropriate body for a peace conference between the representatives of the loyal and dis- loyal States of the Union; and, with Louts Napoleon thus admonished, we shall probably not be disturbed for some time to come by any further efforts on his part as a mediator in be- half of # peaceable separation of the Union. In this correspondence Mr. Seward amply sustains the high reputation which he has achieved as » sagacious patriot and enlightened statesman in the management of our foreign re- lations, beginning with his original instructions as Secretary of Stateto our Ministers abroad. If he has learned that in the outset he was too sanguine touching the suppression of the rebel- lion, as we have all been taught by the severe experience of this gigantio struggle, he remains undismayed and unshaken as to the final issue, We apprehend, however, that, as it was in the’ beginning so at this day, to some extent, the administration fails to grasp the dimensions, the difficulties and the dangers of this rebellion. has proved that President Lincola has one man in his Cabinet equal to bis position and the exigencies of the day. Witt men of corresponding capacity, sagacity and consist- ency in the War, Navy and Treasury depart- ments, onr principal army would not now be halting midway between Washington and Rich- mond; our principal naval squadrons would not now be held at bay by the rebel defences at Charleston and Vicksburg; nor would the na- tional finances, credit and currency be reduced to the verge of ruin by wasteful extravagances, exhausting corruptions and temporising finan- | cial expedients. The Secretary of State has a clear and satis- factory record, while the gencral voice of the country has demanded, and still demands, 8 | reformation of the Cabinet to the oxtent least of a new head over oach of the departments of War, of the Navy and of the Treasury. And yet the abolition faction, reck- lessly pursuing their perilous game of rule or | rin, will not be satisfied short of the dismissal of Mr. Seward. happy while Mordecai is sitting at the king's | gate. But we can tell the Prosident that he has done quite enough to conciliate this miserable | abolition faction; that the danger which be bas ' now most to fear is not the loss of this faction, nor the danger of European intervention, nor the failure of our land and naval forces in the field, but that it is the danger of overwhelming discords, party divisions, popular commotions, Like Haman, they will not be | rita and eign of bloody anarahy Inthe lyel | ngtion of manifestation. They may be. traced to the various natural causes of the public dissatis- faction with the present incompetent and blundering heads of the War, the Navy and Treasury departments ; and the work of re- formation therein cannot much longer be de- layed with safety to the administration or the internal peace of the loyal States. We have one revolutionary faction, represented by such journals as the New York Tribune, Evening Post and Times, and another fomenting dis- cord, under the teachings of the New York Journal of Commerce, the Express and the World; and between these violent factions the administration can maintain the public peace only by a just, straightforward, conservative policy, and by a competent Cabinet, which, in addition to Mr. Seward, will include some such man as Admiral Dupont at the head of the Navy Department, and some such universally acceptable man as General McClellan at the head of the army or the War Office. The Horrible Trensom of the Herald, The New York Herat is sometimes charged with horrible treason by “certain of its kind con- temporaries. In what that treason consists it would be, at first sight, very difficult to deter- mine. Our devotion to the Union may seem treason in the eyes of those abolition organs which prefer disunion with emancipation to re- union with slavery. Our support of the ad- ministration may appear treasonable to the abolition orators who ory “God bless Abraham Lincoln!” in one breath, and denounce the Pre- sident as a “tortoise” and a “slave” in the next. Our uncompromising adherence to those great principles which made this country glorious in the past, and which, we trust, will secure for us # still more glorious future, is doubtless deemed treasonable by all enemies of the country, North and South. Still, if brought to book, we doubt whether these fanatics could sustain their charges of treason against us upon such grounds as devotion to the Union, the administration and the best interests of the country. There are a few facts in regard to the Heratp, how- ever, which cause our eofitemporaries to attack usso bitterly and so frequently, and which con- stitute the real basis of their clamors about our hogsle treason, ‘These fow fagts are a8 fol, lows First, the ciroailakion of the Henratp far ex- ceeds that of any of its contemporaries. Our circulation was always very large; but since this war broke out it has been nearly doubled. Tn apite of the increase in price, made necessary by the rise in paper, we are now printing more copies of the Heratp than ever before. Our is- sue sometimes reaches as high as one hundred 4 and’ thirty and one hundred and thirty-five thou- sand copies per day. We are also publishing a vory cheap edition of the Weexty Herat, with all the news of the week, and with’ several spe- cial departments of great interest. The price ofthe WEEKLY is only TW3 dollars « Your, and before the Presidential election in 1864 its circulation will, from present indica- tions, surpass that of all the other weekly pa- persof this city combined. A knowledge of these facts makes our rivals jealous, envious and spiteful. The Tribune especially suffers by comparison with the Hratp, and the sight of his rapidly decreasing subscription list— which will soon fall below zero, and is at that suggestive point already—adds fresh fire to poor Greeley’s fanaticism, and instigates him to those attacks upon us which do him more injury than he imagines, and which always result in a noticeable increase of our subscriptions. Our superiority in ciroulation, then, is one of the features of our horrible treason. Secondly, the advertising patronage of the Heratp is more than double that of any of our contemporaries. This is, of course, the legiti- mate consequence of our superior circulation, and renders our treason all the more horrible. Advertising costs money, and when people spend money they desire to receive as much for it as possible. These truisms are particularly applicable to times like these, when business men feel the pressure of the war and the taxes, and housekeepers know to their sorrow that every article of use, comfort and luxury has ad- vanced in price. Now, an advertisement in the Heraty reaches three or four times as many people as an advertisement in any other paper. Therefore the Herat is the best advertising medium. It is not at all singular, under these circumstances, that we should receive the great- est advertising patronage, and that the people generally, and business men especially, should avoid the other papers and concentrate their advertisements upon the Herarp. This is bad for our contemporaries, and we pity them; but it is im accordance with the inevitable laws of trade,and canngt be prevented. In- deed, so great is the demand for space in our advertising columns that we are constantly cramped for room to publish the news of the day in our double sheet, and shall be compelled, before long, to issue a triple, or perhaps a quadruple sheet, in order to accommodate our customers. This will increase our horrible treason in the same proportion; but the fault rests with the intelligent public, and not with the Heratp. If it be treasonable to publish more advertisements than our would-be rivals, we are afraid that we shall be guilty of this treason for all time to come. Thirdly and lastly—for the present—the Heratp publishes the news, political and mili- tary, domestic and foreign, not only in advance of all the other papers, but also in a more read- able and attractive form, with greater accuracy and fullness of detail, and with more genial, in- teresting, amusing and important comments. This fact accounts for our immense circulation and advertising patronage, and is, therefore, “the head and front of our offending,” and the essence of our horrible treason. The managing editor of the Tribune, in « letter to one of his correspondents, wrote:—“The Hrratp is constantly ahead. Wo are always obliged to copy from it.” As the Trilume is one of the most envious, scurril- ous and abusive, as well as the dullest and most poverty stricken, of our contemporaries, we give ite editor credit for this frank admis- sion an unintentional ealogy, and shall endea vor to continue to deserve similar praise. The other papers, though not so candid, at least endoree tho Tribune editor’s verdict by copying ont news and publishing it a day after evyry- body has read it in the Herany. it is very evident, then, why the circalation of the other pa; ers is so small and that of the Henany so large. A fast people like the Americans will not be content to wait until to morrow for news whieh they can read to-day a! the same price. Snob old fogyism is not a characteristic of this If it were, the country would never a tnedee: the four great Powers of the world, and the HenaLp would never have been the great power of the country. As it is, we are only the exponent of Americanism in our superior enterprise, circulation, advertising pa- tronage and influence. The Americans are de- termined to be superior to any other nation in the world, and the Hunaty would be really guilty of horrible treason if it did not always surpase all other papers. A New Proposal for Mediation—A Hint for Mr. Seward. It is evident from the tone of the French official and semi-official organs that the Em- peror Napoleon perseveres in his determination of offering to this government his mediation. We are inclined to believe that he will use his every effort to induce other European Powers to join him in this course of action, and that in furtherance of this desire he has appointed a new ambassador to the Court of St. James. The person just displaced, the old Count de Flahault, was not sufficiently active to bring abouta joint movement on the part of England with France as: regards our affairs, and so Baron Gros, a bold, determined, experienced diplomat, as- sumes.his position; and, if England can be won over to Napoleon's views, he is just the man to accomplish it. We do not anticipate, however, that success will attend his efforts. Eng- land is but too glad to see France getting deeper and- deeper in the tur- moila of that Mexican expedition to grant her assistance to Napoleon, for the purpose of making a great show by interfering with the United States, and enabling him, under cover. of this move, to withdraw from the Mexican expedition. The statesmen of England are quite faraeeing enough to comprehend that in any quarrel with us Napoleon must lose pres- tige and power, as we should certainly defeat his most vindictive efforts; and thus they will leave him to his fate, and let him get out of his present trouble as best he may. A review of the movements of the French army since they first invaded Mexico shows a total want of success. In no instance have the French gained any important or lasting benefit. They have spent millions upen millions of trea- sure, have lost thousands of men by the enemy and by disease, and are at this moment as far from the accomplishment of their purpose as on the” day they first landed upon the got of Mexico. Their reserves arrive at Vora Cruz but just in time to replace the victims of the fatal diseases which decimate their armies, while in the matter of provisions and transports they find both fallfng ever into the hands of the guerillas or marauding bands, which prow! around their encampments and seize upon the army trains and all stragglers. This is.a fear- ful condition of affairs, and is rendered all the more disastrous and melancholy for France when we take into consideration that the people of Mexico, for whom the Emporor Napoleon ia so ambitious, cannot comprehend the immen- sity of his Majesty’s views, and refuse his proffered aid and administration, and that with a determination which, jee ot faltering, seoms to grow stronger and dedfer. *“ Under these sad circumstances we deem it the duty of our government to show towards Napoleon IIL. the same solicitude which he be- trays towards us, and we seriously call upon Mr. Seward to offer to France our mediation in Mexico. If that is not accepted, we must threat- en to break the French blockade, and carry to the Moxicans arms and any munitions they may want, as e proof of our friend- ship for France and of our heartfelt desire to settle her troubles on this continent. We might, in imitation of Englaad’s example, build a few privateers (the word is more gen- teel than pirate), and prey upon French com- merce, taking care, of course, to do so under the Mexican flag, although we may, if we choose, always in imitation of England, have the crew Americans. Should we, for the com- plete success of the enterprise in question, pick out our most expericnced gunners, we should be imitating to the letter the example set us by England in the way of strict neutrality. Mr. Seward will, we hope, see at once the feasibility, not to say the humanity, of our sug- gestion. France is burning with impatience to mediate with us. We surely cannot be out- done by Franoe in generosity. She feels the deepest commiseration for our misfortunes, and would at all risks and hazards stop the effusion of blood in our country. Surely we are bound to feel the same commiseration for her in Mexico. We inust mediate, and the sooner the better. Our administration cannot plead other and more inomentous occupations. Is not. Napoleon overwhelmed with care and anxiety? Has he not enough and more than enough upon his hands? And yet we see that he devotes his at- tention to us with generous pertinacity. We must mediate; and thesooner Mr. Seward makes the proposal the sooner will we stand in # pro- per light before the world. The difficulties of France in Mexico are harrewing, and, what is more, they are increasing. The Mexicans re- main blind to all the advantages of Napoleon’s rule, and they are shedding the blood of their would-be benefactors. They lasso" them, assas- sinate them, poison them. Really we must me- diate, and,'as a proof of untiring and devoted friendship to France, we must endeavor to in- duce other governments to join us in our offer. England would doubtless gladly act wit': us. ‘Spain leo ; while, to render the offer the more gracious, our government should request our newspapers to intimate that,in ease Napo- leon refuses our services, the mediators will break the blockade of all the Mexican ports, and lend the Mexicans armed aid against the French. All this, of course, as a proof of good will to France, and of our intense desire to bene- fit her interests and those of the world at large. Mr. Seward has thus a grand opportunity of rendering to France good for good, and of prov- ing to her Emperor bow sensible we are of his kindness and humane intentions towards us. In the eyes of the world we should assume the elevated position which Napoleon now 40 con- «picuously holds, and which he has made 4 | monopoly, We should prove to alt that our own disasters and necessities do not blind us to | the wants of our friends, and that we are ever | veady to cometo the aid of the afflicted. Wo mont mediate —thet is clear; and we hope our | government wil! at once. in humble imitation of the example set us by M. Mercier, despatch | sowe diplomat to Mexico for the purpose of in- | ducing the people of that conntry to fight to the | inst. and never abandon avy place they may hare contemp!a payin tite fate, M. Mer. | cler was immensely suce+ » this way at Richmond = tast Voy shonld we not | achieve as much at ” it ts surely worth the trial, Let us tmeetive Me Seward. The matter iseuy. We lave but tu follow the ex- amule of Napoleon. 7 WAR GAZETTE. OFFIOIAL. Inquiry Relative to the Cotton and Other ‘TraMic om the Mississippi River. Wan Daranrunnr, W ssmunatom, Feb. 16, 1863. Ordered, That @ court of inquiry consisting of three, oompetent officers and a recorder be organized to inquire” ‘and report First—Whether any and what officers in service have) been engaged or directly or indirectly participated tradic Im cottoa or other produce on the Mississipp! or ita tributaries, vo what extent, under what circum. stances, and with all the particulars of the transaction. ‘Secoud—Whether any and what military officers ba Deen granted licenses OF permits for trade, to whom, at what time, with all the particulars thereof. Third—Whother any and what military officers have used or permitted the use of government trans; Or other public property for private purposes. Pourth—And also to inquire and report upon such other matters as may be directed. ‘The court will meet and organize with all despatch at Cairo, and hold their sessions at such aa may be most convenient for the investigation. They will prosecute witb diligence the inquiry, and speedy report. By order of the SEURETABY OF WAR. E. D. Townsup, Assistant Adjutant General. GENERAL NEWS. Wasmaton, Feb. 13, 1868. THE DEBATE ON THE FINANOIAL MEASURES. The bank features of the Finance bill had so tight squeeze yesterday, in Committee of the Whole of Senate, that Mr. Fessenden to-day resorted to the of whipping tn his political friends over the shoulders democrat. So when Mr. Powell asserted superior walue of local bank notes over govers. mont papor at the nancial centres, Mr. den got off gome periods assailing that Senator’ loyalty, in much tho same style of Marc Antony's addr over the body of Cesar. The Senator from Kent was loyal, but when something was proposed to eu; the government be opposed that which made practic:l. 80 fares Mr. Powell's reply was in vindica! tion of himself it was triumphant. Though Mr. Fessenden made no cass against Mr. Powell, he succeeded in gotting up ® party feeling for ‘bank scheme; and Mr. Chandler, of Michigan, seized the occasion to say that if the goverument paper was as valuable in New York as bank paper, it was : there are as many traitors there as in Southern cit! ' Hoe said the heart of the rebellion was in the among the copperhead domocrasy. Mr. Fessenden made the matter so muon of a party that it is anpposed that the prospects of the Bank bill the House have been materially advanced. In the debate on the Bank bill most republican | dors disclaimed any knowledge of banking and financial majters, and admitted the dominating rind of Mr. Mr. Fessenden spoke of him as the ptlot of the ship di ing thia war, Mr. Richardson said that Judge made bis tour in the South to abape public sent there for standing by the government, whoever might President ; yet the administration of Buchavan against him, as were the republicans. The latter had their chiof counsels the late ond of the Bachanan nasty—Stanton, Holt, Butlor, &o. He said that noxt wi he should formally arrign Mr, Stanton before tho The intimation was also £hrown out that the policy of th: party iv power wag ine pacific direction. ‘The leader of the bank interest, Mr. Collamer, could a0 got tho attention of his party in the Senate as he ha hereto‘ore. He stopped speaking, saying cae we hy paying the least attention. During the debate upon bank taxation in the Senate this evening, Senator Lene, of Kansas, in. terrupted the discussion by charging upon Mr. Bich ardgon that he had not answered a question bh put to bim some timo previously Freapetting Seore tary Stanton; githgugh fopator Rico had done 00 He read from a bit of paper ab assertion that Secretary Stanton was in favor of sending reinforcements and sup Plies to Fort Sumter, and anybody who asserts the con, trary makes a false statement, Sonator Kice remarked that if Mr. Stanton was for roia forcing that puat he would now atand better before country it he had followed Mr. Cass’ example and signed when the government retused to do so. Senaton Richardson replied indignanty to ane, deolaring that he had made no ai point, and he would not allow the to make a foreign issue for him. The goats ero im close proximity, and when Mr. wat down there was considerable angry gesticulation be! tween them, and @ scene was apprehended. Senator Powell, of Kentucky, calied Senator Lane aside? ‘and held a long conversation with him, and Senator Rich _ ardaon was calledout ef the chamber by a friend, afer which both subsided into quictness, The prevailing opt- nion seemed to be that General Lane made an ungractous autem pt to pick a quarrel. THE NATIONAL BANKING BILL, Tho House bas done nothing mare as yet with Senate Natioual Bavking bill than order it to be printed PROCEEDINGS OF THR HOUSE. . The House devoted noarly all the session to private to-day after parsing tho Naval Appropriation bill, made good progress towards clearing the calendar. /. mo, tion to adjourn over to Monday ws rojected by a large majority. MR. SEWARD’S COURRE REGARDING MEDIATION.’ } Leading radicals admit that Mr. Seward bas exalted himsoll greatly by the results of the mediation complics. tions. Tho radicals thought that they had him on point, and accordingly they are much chopfa lien. OuR UR 8 WITH BUROPRAN POWERS. From the tonor of despatches by the last f steamer? it 18 thought the feeling in rogard to the Amert, 2m question is slightly improviog, not merely in Britain baton the Cuntinent. There has becn a ministe rial crisis in Turkey in consequence of the irrascible ungovernabio temper of the Sultan. This, ft ts said, causing much concern and apprehension of grave polly cal dangers ia the Raat. NOMINATIONS FOR MAJOR GENERALS. j ‘Tho President to-day sent to the Senate the aww Sominations of sajor Generals:—Brigadior General W. W,' Burns, Brigadier General Geoage Stoneman and Brigadier _ General C. C. Wasabura. THE NOMINATION OF MAJOR AND BRIGADIER ORWB- RaLe. ‘The Senate, ia executive session, last aight declined to act upon che names of the forty-eight major generals ang one hundred and Gfty four brigadier generals nominated, to that body. Tho jist was returned to the President for revision The disposition is to have such officers judict. ously seiected from those now in the field, to the num- ber of twenty major generals and fifty brigadier gene. rals,as additionally provided by the Senate bill which was passed yesterday. GENERAL BANKS AND GENERAL FREMONT. Bo far from there being any disaffection ia the com. mand of Genoral Banks, ae reported by the rebels, au." thentic information reseived here shows s directly con. trary utate of affairs. Gen. Fremont, who arrived bore last night, dined to- day with Secretary Chase. Major Geveral John C. Fremont has made “iat for active service. COM. PREBLE AND COM. PRRRY NOMINATED FOR ae « STORATION TO THE NAVY. Com, Preble, recently diamissod from the navy for per- mitting the entrance of the rebel steamer Oreto into Mo ile, haa Deon nominated for restoration to hie rank in the Bervice Com. Koger Perry has also been nominated for restora. tion to rank INCREASE OF THR PAY OF NEW YORK CUSTOM BOVE iNerRcTORS. The bill to raive the pay of inspectors of the custome in k city provides tbat they shall receive fonr doi 4 ORGANITING REGIMENTS oF NEOKORS. ‘The House bill for raising Deere regiments sleeps upom the table of the Military Committec of tho Senate, 16 & has beon (ntimated that it was distasteful to the abolition T magnates because ft discriminates against negroes ae offoors, Mr. Summer totroduced a bill a day or two since without any odiout provisions about white officers, To x aa reported back, with « statement that it need not pans, ne (he President bas full power in the premises 18 andor existing lawe. This position wos taken by some af the radicals in the House qu8 SCHOONRR EMMA TUTTLE AGAIN CAPTT RED, ‘The Nawy Department has received information of the capture, by the United States schooner Hops, of the | pclmover Emma Tuttle, ‘lying the Engliah fag, on the 27th of Javaary, of (hariesion, She purported to be from New’ THe SCHEME FOR er day it w