The New York Herald Newspaper, March 4, 1863, Page 4

& NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PHOPRIBIOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be the risk of the sender. Nove but bank bills current in York taken. TBE DAILY HERALD, Tuxax cents por copy. THE WEEKLY RERALD, every Saturday, at Frvecents Any larger number, addressed to names of subseril » [Bi SO cach. An extra copy will be sent to every club of Bon. Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $35, and pay larger numper at same price. An extra copy will be pont to clubs of twenty. These rales make the WEEKLY PEimnaxp the cheapest publication im the country. > Apverreuents, toa limited number, will be inserted flu the Waexiy Hemaup, and in the European and Califor - nia Editions. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—BatanxtLa. W. CK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Exxrstins—Lit- ‘run Taxasuen, WINTER GABDBN, Broadway.—Lucia D'ARvitia. LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Rovcs Dia- monp—Farm Owe Wits tmz Goipen Locks. WEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Axsnosm Gwr- Werte —Ricaamp Ul.—Ovn Gar—Fxancu Sry. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Vinctxivs—Tue Goupax Panne, BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—M: ‘Warees. Com, Nort, Living Lusreromaen kar at ail lhours,—Raovt—Afternoon and Evening. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- (way.—EtuioriaN SoxGs, BURLESQUES, Dances, &0.—How Ans You, Garensacks? WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 51¢ Broadway.—Ergioriax Boncs, Dances, &o.—Saxvy Gisson, BROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadwa: wwLiving Wi Awiars—PERroRMiNG ELRPWANTS—COMIe Moims, ke, ey AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Bat txts, ‘Panronrmas, Buaresquas, £0. re HOOLEY'’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.— Bone: oes, Burixsquns, &c slisciinsiee ‘Wednesday, March 4, 1863. THE SITUATION. Beports of a battle at Vicksburg have been in circulation in this city since Saturday last, and the Btatement from the Petersburg (Va.) Express of he 28th ult. would appear to confirm them. But Bs neither Admiral Porter’s despatch of the 28th, @nnouncing the loss of the Indianola, nor the Richmond Enguirer of the same date make any allusion to an engagement, it is reasonable to fonclude that no battle of the character men- tioned in the Petersburg Express has taken place, although intelligence of an attack by Gene- wal Grant's forces upon the rebel may be expected at any moment. is certain that the government has not received any account of a great battle in that vi- einity. The Memphis Bulletin of Saturday, the 28th ult., says that it was confidently believed in Jeading circles in that city that the rebels were then evacnating Vicksburg. Letters received in ‘Washington yesterday state that the expedition under General Washburne to open the Yazoo Pass hhas been entirely successful, and promises to fur- mish the key to that stronghold; and despatches from Cairo of the same date say that the gunboat Carondelet and five others have reached the Tal- Ishatchie river by way of the Yazoo. Vicksburg ‘would thus appear to be closely environed by our forces, and therefore the reported evacuation ‘wears a strong color of probability. Geperal Rosecrans is pushing his forces forward with success. On the 2d instant he had advanced aa far as Middleborough, half way between Mur- freesboro and Shelbyville, and a despatch from the former place, dated the same day, says that an expedition of one thousand cavalry and one thou- @and six hundred infantry, left Murfreesboro the following morning, and encountered the enemy at Bradyville. After severe fighting the enemy were driven from the town, with the loss of eight killed and twenty wounded, and eighty privates and nine e‘icers captured. There were also captured three hundred new saddles and accoutrements and a Farge collection of official orders and papers and the private baggage of the enemy, who were a Portion of John Morgan's and Wharton's divisions. General Rosecrans, in his official despatch to General Halleck, yesterday, saya that, when the ‘enemy made a stand at Bradyville, Colonels Para- mour and Long went in with sabres and whipped them in about three minutes, Stake's cavalry ad- vancing bravely with carbines. He reports that ‘we took seventy prisoners, including cight officers, their camp equipage, tents, saddles, some seventy horses and Basil Duke's regimental papers. He ‘mentions that Major Murphy did good service, and reports our loss at one man killed and one captain and seven men wounded. | Our advices from New Orleans, by the steamers (Che-Kiang and Bio Bio, are full of interest. The leading featare im the intelligence by these arri- vals is the complete metamorphosis effected by the Southern rebellion in the system of negro la- bor. The planters ef Louisiana, in their present helpless condition, have gratefully acceded to the reasonable propositions of the Commanding Gene- gal of the Gulf Department, and henceforth their plantations will be regularly cultivated by the agency of paid negro labor. The speech of General Banks to the meeting of planters @t the St. Charles Hotel, as well as all the facts that transpired on that occasion, together with his important order for regulating {negro labor, will be found fally detailed in this day's paper. Some exciting scenes were witnessed in New Orleans on ® recent transmigration of secession sympathisers to points in possession of the rebels. The scenes @nacted were so disorderly and improper that Gen. Banks sent down a regiment to disperse the rab- Ble. Over a thousand contraband letters and works It other articles were captared. The steam- er Essex has been again successful in her new ornsade against the torpedoes buried in the river with the intention of destroy- ing Union vessels. Through information supplied by a loyal negro four more of these dangerous Machines were discovered near Port Hudson, and pemoved. he rivers near Galveston, and it is said that she The Harriet Lane is laid wp in one of NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 1863. reported that General Sibley has sont his infaa- try—1,500 atrong—to Shreveport, and has gone up with the balance of his command, consisting of artillery and cavalry, to Atchafalaya river. The infantry were said to be entirely destitute of am- munition. The rebels made an attempt to capture the steamer Laurel Hill, which was loaded with a car- go of cotton, sugar and molasses, obtained gbove Baton Rouge. She ventured too near Port Hud- son, and the rebels placed ten batteries of artil- lery below her. The Essex went to her assist- ance, and the rebels fled without firing a shot. The Southern papers are conplaining that the operations of the army and the speoulators in rebeldom have brought starvation upon the people. The orders of General Pemberton, pro- hibiting the shipment of flour and meal south- wards, is felt so severely at Mobile that a famine appears to be imminent there. Jeff. Davis has appointed, by s proclamation— in which he seems to make manifest his religious character and his familiarity with Holy Writ—a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, on Friday, the 27th instant. He says that it is by prayer alone that the Southern Confederacy ean hope to obtain a continuation of those mercies which have shielded it in the midst of previous trials and dis- asters, and so forth. Gen. Foster had returned to his command at Newborn, N. C.,on Friday, and everything was quiet there at that time. CONGRESS. The thirty-seventh Congress will expire to-day. Both houses passed a large number of bills and resolutions yesterday, but want of space forbids an extensive reference to the proceedings. Full details are given in another part of to-day’s Herawp. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Senate at Albany yesterday a nume- rously signed petition in favor of a railroad in Broadway was presented. The Volunteer Bounty Tax bill was passed. It legalizes both past and fature acts of boards of supervisors for raising money to pay bounties to volunteers. A pream- ble and resolutions deprecating the speculations in gold were introduced. They call for an inves- tigation into the amounts of money loaned on gold, and the names of the borrowers, and re- quire full returns from the banks of all matters which may shed light on the subject. The resolu- tions, after some discussjon, were referred to a special committee of threé. Favorable reporta were made on the bills to amend the general Railroad law, to define the duties of the Con- tracting Board, to provide for payment of interest on protested canal drafts, to authorize the Canal Board to hear and determine claims for damages, and for the protection of the lives of railroad employes. A bill to provide gfor the recording of marriage certificates, andthe Assembly bill to extend auction duties, with others of less general interest, were introduced. The bill to amend the Assessment laws was made the special order for to-day. The Assembly was occupied a great portion of the day in considering bills in the Committee of the Whole House. A number were acted on, among which the Annual Canal Appropriation bill, the bill appropriating proceeds of State tax to the support of schools, and that incorporating the Society for the Protection of Destitute Children in this city, went through the committee and were ordered to a third reading. The Annual Appro- priation bill for the support of the State govern- ment was taken up and discussed, but was not finally disposed of. The Governor's message was again taken up, and some debate on it ensued. Its further consideration was postponed to Friday evening. During the proceedings, on a call of the House, it was found that there was not a quorum present, and the absent members were declared in contempt, and prohibited further participation in the business of the Assembly until excused. It is expected that the charges against Speaker Calli- cot will be presented to the House to-day. The Cities Committee of the House held meeting last evening to hear arguments on the proposed amendments to the Metropolitan Police act. They were addressed by one or two gentlemen in favor of the amendments. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘the United States steam transport Illinois, Cap- tain Babcock, from New Orleans, via Key West 27th ult., arrived at this port last evening. She brings no news of importance. The United States vessels of war St. Lawrence, Preble, Dale, R. R. Cuyler, Tioga, Tahoma, Octorera, Genesee and Magnolia,.were at Key West: when the Tllinois left that port. The British steamer Sheldrake, Capt. Archer, from Havana Feb. 18, and Matanzas ‘24th, arrived at this port yesterday morning. On the Ist of March, latitude 38, longitude 73, she pasged the British schooner Annetta, from Matanzas for Hali- fax. We have advices by the Bio Bio, also from Havana, but the nows ix of little importance, There were strange rumors concerning the move- ments of the United States’ steamer Vanderbilt, but none of them are very reliable. The prize achooner Annie, of Nassau, New Pro- vidence, Acting Master Hallock, commander, ar- rived at this port yesterday, from Wilmington, North Carolina. The Annie was captured on the 26th ult., off Wilmington, while attempting to run the blockade of that place, by the United States steamer State of Georgia. She has a full cargo of salt. Her crew escaped in their boat to the shore. The usual weekly meeting of the Democratic Union Association was held at the headquarters, Broadway, last evening. A large attendance of members was present. Hon. John McKeon was the orator ef the evening. ‘The market for beef cattle wax much the same on Monday as last week; but with unfavorable weather and & considerable augmentation of the supply, the market ruled heavy yesterday, and to effect sales the dealers were obliged to give way to the extent of c.a Me. per pound. Prices ranged from 6c. to llc. The general sales were at from 8c. to 9340. and the average prices about &%c. The bulk of the cattle were common, and but few were strictly prime. Milch ows were dall and nominally unchanged. Veals were hardly so firm; prices ranged from 4c. to 7o.—general selling prices 640. to6%c. Sheep and lambs were active, and 25c. per head higher. Sales were made at $4 70 to $7 a $8 50, Swine sold freely at 4%c. @ 5%c. for corn fed and 47%c. a 534c. for still fed. The total receipts were 5,293 beef cattle, 154 cows, 409 calves, 5,780 sheep and lambs, and 19,884 awine. The stock market opened dull and lower yesterday, but rallied in the afternoon, and became quite buoyant at prices higher than those of Monday. Goldg openod at 171%, cold down to 171, and closed at that bid. Exchanges was quoted at 189.4189, Money was easy at 6 por cont °"ySs transnotions in flour were modorate yoaterday, and Prices a shade lower. Wheat was stiffly beld, but was quiet, Corn was brisker and dearer. Cotton was doll and nomi- nal. A fair business was reported in provisions—new moss pork at $17 4 $1726. The principal businers in gro- cories waa in black teas, which were So. dearer. The whiskey market was dull and lower, Oils wore firmer, with more doing. Fire crackers advanced materially, and were in better request. Spices were saleable and firm. | There were no remarkable alterations ia other commodi-. | ties. ‘The bulle-€ the freight eneacomonts were for Li fe being svayected into aw iromclad, Ai bas bow | yer Our DiMoultics and Dengers—What Is the Duty ef Mr. Ohase? Congress, whose term expires to-day, bas taken ample care of the measures proposed by the Seoretary of the Treasury. Mr. Chase has obtained everything that he has asked for. He is placed in possession of more financial re- sources and invested with greater money power than were ever before entrusted to one man in this country or any other. His responsibility is proportionately grave. He has the option to save orto destroy, and he must very soon choose which way he is to travel—the narrow and difficult path that leads to safety, or the broad and easy road that leads to destruction. It is true that Mr. Chase began wrong, and it now seems hard for him to retrace his steps; but better late than never. We gave him some advice when he entered upon his career, and had he followed it he would not now be in- volved in the troubles by which he finds him- self surrounded, nor would the country be driven to the verge of financial ruin as it is. But it is not necessary that he should continue the error of his way. He has the opportunity of taking a fresh start—of making another departure, with 8 new log and a new reckoning. Congress has given him the power to raise $900,000,000, and has left him ample verge and scope to exercise his ability as te the mode and manner of doing so. He has a vast margin of discre- tion, and if he fails it will be his own fault, He is vested with the control of a new national banking system which places in his power all the banks of the country. He can create new banks or clothe the existing institutions with new privileges. He can authorize them to issue the national currency to the extent of three hundred millions. Now the question is, how is he going to do it?—for on this will depend finan- cial success or ruin. There is but one course of safety. By depart- ing from it Mr. Chage has raised gold to seventy above par, thus depreciating the currency of the country, and inflating prices in a corres- ponding degree, while the poor are severely oppressed and filled with fearful forebodings about the future. Let Mr. Chase, therefore, take the back track before the coming train dashes him to pieces. If the expansion of the currency is permitted now to go on in the same way under the new banking system in which it has proceeded ever since the government and the banks suspended specie payment to- gether, and vied with each other in flooding the country with irredeemable paper money, nothing can be more certain than that the whole scheme will collapse in general disaster— like the assignats of the French Revolution— which amounted at last to thirty-six thousand millions of francs (equal to seven thousand mil- lions of dollars), not worth, even to the govern- ment, the two hundredth part of their nominal value. But if Secretary Chase will use aright the power given him by returning to specie payment himself, and compelling the banks to do the same thing, then he will have made him- self master of the situation. Otherwise the situation will have made itself master of him. But in what way is he to effect this?’ How is he to get specie? In the first place let him pur- chase gold to the amount of forty or fifty mil- lions by the sale of bonds, at whatever price they will bring. There will, of course, be some sacrifice in the first sales; but the bonds after- wards disposed of will command prices so much higher that not only will the govern- ment be fully indemnified for the temporary depreciation, but its credit will be established on # secure basis, and in the reduction of the interest upon future loans it will save the whole amount of its investment. With specie pay- ments prices will fall, and half the amoant of money will purchase for the government the same amount of the articles it needs for the war; the soldier's pay will be doubly valuable to him, and discontent on the score of paying him in a currency already so greatly depreci- ated and hereafter to be almost worthless will be completely removed. Nor is this all. Let Mr. Chase compel the banks to follow his ex- ample, and the laborer, the mechanic, the arti- san, the clerk and all of that large mass ot the community living on wages, and paying in- flated prices for so many of the necessaries of life, will have good reason to rejoice, and, in- stead of becoming either opponents of the war or lukewarm friends, will give it their hearty support. Even the farming class, who are forced to pay such extravagant prices for their dry goods and other articles, will be immensely benefited by the change. It is a great mistake to suppose that it will requjre large quantities of gold to resume specie payment. The grent point to be established is public confidence. Let the community once understand that any person with a five dollar bill of the new currency, or a five dollar bill of any bank, can go to such bank and demand and receive gold for it, and the probability is that he will not care to de- mand gold, but will pay off the bill in bis ordi- nary business transactions as if it were gold, and be credited accordingly. If the Treasury De- partment will pay gold on demand for the new currency it will not be troubled much after the people are fully satisfied of the fact; and if the banks redeem their own notes in gold or, in its equivalent—the new currency— they will not be long importuned for the precious metal. Thus specie will be only needed to pay foreign balances. The present greedy speculation in it, depending on the immutable law of demand and supply, will entirely cease, and the sharks who are now making money at the expense of the poor man will be deprived of their prey. The very an- nouncement of the intention to return to specie payment would have a magical influenee in ar- resting the career of the speculators. K would benecessary, of course, for Mr. Chase to give two or three months’ notice to the banks, in order to allow them time to make their arrangements. Let the announcement be made to-morrow that on the 1st of June next the United States go- vernment will resume specie payment, and that the banks will be compelled to do the same, on pain of being made bankrupt. The effect of such a notice would be to gradually bring down the price of geld, so that before the Ist of June the currency would be almost at par, and the great “standard of value” would cease to be speculated in as an article of merchandise, Some rotten banks would be laid low; but all the sound institutions worth preserving would stand. The healthy effect of the restoration of pub- lic @onfidence was remarkably {llustrated in England at the close of the war with Napoleon, after the paper currency bad been depreciated twenty-five per cent, and two hundred and forty banks bad failed. By Peel's pill the Bank of England was authorized to resume | specie payments cradually, at dist by bullion fn not lows than sixty ounces in one payment, | ~ Tux Lonpow Pass ow Tus Cuamuasrou Bioox- and on the lst of May, 1623, in the current | apm.—Ii is to be remarked that the Londoa | Bold ooin of the realm. But the public confi- | journals have ehown no favor te the rebels as dence being restored, the Bank anticipated the law by two years, and paid in coin, May 1, 1821. Does Mr. Chase want another historical exam- ple to show him what to do? Here is a notable one to his hand. When Napoleon took hold of the republic of France, going to pieces by its in- ternal dissensions and by the breaking down of ita financial system, which our Secretary of the Treasury appears to have so closely copied, what was his first step? It was to abandon assignats and mandats and to resume specie payment; and with gold alone he carried on hia future gigantic wars with England and the combined Continent of Europe for a period of twelve yeara Why cannot this example be imitated by the United States, with ite vast gold mines, which Napoleon did not possess, and with an amount of com- mercial and mercantile business with which similar transactions in France at that time could not begin to compare in magnitude? What is to prevent Secretary Chase from thus restoring the currency to its normal condition, and re-establishing the national credit upon an immovable basis? Nothing whatever, and the country will hold him responsible if he fails, Tax Insurrection tn PoLaxp.—By the latest advices from Europe it is evident the Polish in- surrection has assumed most formidable propor- tions. The most important fact announced is that Russia and Prussia have made an engage- ment whereby the latter Power allows Russian troops to pass over her territories—a faét which foreshadows that Prussia will co-operate with the Czar to put down a rebellion which bids fair to deprive her of ber share of Poland proper. It is added that the Cabinets of St. James, the Tuileries nd one Aye taken umbrage at the understanding which seems to exist upon this subject between Russia and Prussia, and that Napoleon is already concocting a despatch to the Prussian gov- ernment, showing how great is his regret that Prussia should depart from the principle of non-intervention. Of course this will come with a good grace from the sovereign who has been vainly endeavoring to persuade the great Powers to back him up im his schemes for intervention in our affairs. It is evident that all Europe will feel the influence of this great and sustained revolutionary movement in Poland, and that Napoleon will find scope for his energies quite near at home. This will leave us to deal with our troubles without any undue med- dling, as we shall now hear no more of Napo- leon’s mediation, save in a pacific manner. We shall await further details of the Polish in- surrection with anxiety. Tar Parser Dury.—We see that a resolution reported to the House of Representatives by Mr. Morrill, one of the members from New Eng- land, reducing the duty on paper from thirty- five to twenty per cent, has passed without op- position. This shows that if a veduction to ten per cent or even less had been recommended it would have been easily carried. The amount fixed is a compromise which will satisfy none of the interests affected save those of the mono- polists, and which will not puta dollar more in the Treasury. Iv the article of schoolbooks, which it is so important to produce at the lowest possible rates, it will make scarcely any appreciable difference, whilst the relief to the newspapers will be nothing at all, inasmuch as the new duty will exclude competition from foreign sources almost as effectually as did the old. Individually, we care nothing about the matter, having taken care to provide against the results of the combination entered into by the papermakers. Our contemporaries, who have not been in a posifion to do this, must not flatter themselves that the new rate of duty is going to give them much relief. It leaves them nearly as much at the mercy of the monopolists as under the higher tariff, and will grind a great many of them out of existence. Such is the im- fluence of money on our national legislation. | Had the papermakers been less abundantly provided in this regard, the interests of educa- tion and progress might have had a chance of making themselves heard. Tae New Unrrep Strares Sexatk.—The elec- tions for the United States Senate are so ar- | ranged by that body in classes—firet, second and | third, with the admission of new States—that about one-third of the whole body go out every | two years, with the election of a new House of Representatives. Thus the Senate which meets to-day may be called a new Senate, for the new Congress which regularly meets in December next. This new Senate consists of forty-eight members and two vacancies, which, when | filled, will make the full representation for | twenty-five States. One of these is West Vir- ginia, lately admitted into the Union, and the other is Tennessee. the disloyal half of which is | occupied by the Union forces, while the loyal portion (East Tennessee) is occupied by the rebels. In the new Congress the repuBlicans will still hold possession of the Senate, though they may be dislodged in th House. Tae Revivat, or Bustxess.—A glance at the advertising columns of the Heraip will show the rapid revival of business in this city. We | published yesterday thirty-three columns of | advertizements. This is equal to our average | during the most prosperous business seasons. | Two facts are demonstrated by this increasing demand upon our space: first, that the people of New York are too full of pluck and goahead- ativeness to allow themselves to be discouraged in business even during such a war as thie; and, second, that advertisers are now concentrating their notices upon the newspaper which bas the largest and most influential circulation of any | journal in the country. We have the most | readers, and naturally receive the most adver- tisements. Tue Corron Srecutatons.—Congress having failed to pass a bill for the regulation of the cotton speculators connected with our armies of the Mississippi valley, we must look to Gen. McDowell and his military court of inquiry at St. Louis for the exposure and correction of these cotton speculating abuses. We think, too, from the established reputation of General McDowell as an upright, honest and faithful soldier, he may be depended upon to probe this business to the bottom. Tar Ganskvoorr Jop.—It appears that the damages in the libel suit against Mr. Clinton Roosevelt, for doubting the merits of the Gan- sevoort job, are laid at five hundred thousand, instead of five thousand, dollars. ‘This difference is nearly as great as that between the original | dimensions of the job those to which it has | now attained. Let the legislative oammittee inyesUgate and report 500m | Porter's fleet. | desperate rebel raid by water. | ING AND Prayere of the House of Represen' regards the reported raising by them of our Dlookade of the port of Charleston. We were prepared to find the English pursuing upon this question exactly the course they have taken. It is not to the interest of Great Britain—a for- midable maritime Power—that blockades should be lightly raised. They have all interest in not allowing such a precedent to obtain., Hence the rebels have met with no sympathy from them on the score of the raid they made against our blockading squadron. The English jour- nals most clearly assert that there can exist no possible necessity for our government to notify neutral States of a resumption of the blockade, as in truth it was néver raised. The London Times puta a most" effectual damper upon the hopes of the rebels by stating that there was not even an intermission in the blockade, as at no time during the 3let of January could any neutral ships have got into Charleston, while on the lst of February there were over twen- ty federal war vessels off that port. The organ of Palmerston is quite as affirma- tive upon this- subject as the Times, aad states positively that the British govern- ment could not possibly take any view of the matter save that the blockade had never been raised. All these arguments we were prepared to see England use, as upon the subject of blockades, her great weapori in case. of was; the is certain to be most touchy. Where the rebels have the interests of Emgland on their side they are sure of her avowed sympathy; but in all other cases she will surely decide against them. This ends the Beauregard and Ingraham fizzle, and will teach the rebels what British sympathy is worth. ' ov THE SoLpmERS.—Congress, on several occasiona, has had to interpose in a special act to secure the payment of the sol- diers, Mr. Secretary Chase having been so bu- sily engaged in other matters as to forget their little bills. The mogt recent act of Congress on the subject was the bill pagsed on Monday last, authorizing the Paymaster General to take im- mediate measures for the payment of the sick in the convalescent camp and hospitals within sixty days. This order, we hope, will be duly respected. It is reported that some time ago a paymaster walked into the White House and graciously informed the President that he had come to pay his respects, and that ‘Honest Old Abe,” seizing his man by the hand, exclaimed— “Pay your respects! Thank you, sir; but, from what our poor soldiers tell me, you pay nothing else.” A palpable hit; and we trust that on the first opportunity the incident will be re- lated in Cabinet council for the information of Mr. Secretary Chase. Tae Parmen A Smarr. Wringce ror Sxceerary Cuase.—Up to yesterday the United States officials at the Custom House have received the government postal currency for all sums less than five dol- lars, and for change. Yesterday, however, an order came from Washington direeting that postal currency should not be received for duties. something yet to learn, although Congress has reposed sufficient confidence in him to give bim @ntire control of our finances. If he will take @ postal note from his pocket he will find printed upon the back—‘“Receivable in pay- ment of all dues to the United States less than five dollars.” An act of Congress placed these words there, and Secretary Chase cannot nullify them. Considerable trouble was caused at the Custom House yesterday by the demand that all sums less than tive dollars should be paid in specie or demand notes; but Secretary Chase | will doubtless rescind his order to-day. Tuk Loss or tax INptaNotsa.—The capture of the Indianola gunboat below Vicksburg by the rebels. is a severe loss to us, in connection with the loss of the ram Queen of the West a | few days before. With these two vessels (two of the very best of Admiral Porter's squadron), and with one or two of their own, the rebels may push down to Baton Rouge, and do a world of mischief, unless prevented by the speedy capture of Vicksburg. or by the running of the gauntlet of rebel batteries by Admiral Even then the rebels may so place their captured boats under the protection | of their shore batteries as to render the enter- prise of a recapture extremely hazardous. The | only aKernative now remaining, as it appears to us, is the capture of Vicksburg, in order to recover these lost boats, and io render Baton Rouge. and even New Orleans, secure against a nts ANorHER Day ov Fast- fy. Davis has appointed the th instant as a day of fasting and prayer throughout the so-called “Confederate States.” This is a good sign: for it shows that Jeff. again considers his cause in a bad way. After the loss of Forts Henry and Donel- son, Roanoke Island, Nashville, &c., he ap- pointed a day of fasting and prayer, and another after the loss of New Orleans and Norfolk, and soon. It is evident, there- fore, that the chief of the rebellion is again in a despairing frame of mind, and feels it in his bones that his “confederacy” is now in greater danger than ever before, and that terrible times of trial, fire and brimstone are coming, and no mistake. Jerr, Davis Arr Tax Arvy or THK Poromac—We hear the most gratifying reports of the improved physi- cal condition, discipline, efficiency and fighting spirit of the Army of the Potomac. General Heoker, by his personal attendance to the wante of his men, and by the fresh soft bread and vegetables with which he is supplying them, is reducing his sick list and increasing his effee- tives, while by his example of cheerfulness and confidence he is diffusing the same spirit, in his behalf, throughout his army. All accounts as- sure us that the Army of the Potomac only asks fora dry, windy day or two in order to move forward to a terrible reckoning with the enemy. Siavor Bani, the celebrated baritone of Maretzek’s Havana Opera company, arrived in the Bio Bio, and will Appear on Friday next, the opening night of the seagon, in ““H Trovatore.”” Union Mass Me The Union mass m: tended notwithstanding Johnson was escorted to when a salute of one hun im Colui Ohio. Couvmnvs, bow y y 1863. y'the miltary, ast ves where Gov. Johnson chamber a $3 if zfs spoke was crowded. In the senate tan wag addressed by Hons. L. D. Campbell Galloway. Gov. Johnson spoke three hours, and listened to with ~~ attention. To-.night speeches ‘be made by Gov, Wright and others. H i Mass Mecting at Salt Lake City. Sart Lane Crev, Maron 3, 1863. Atamoss meeting to day Gov Harding and Associate Auetices W: tbe Territory and general government. A petition to tbe \Eegniaewt Foy WOU SopMETA U8 iw GircyiAtiow, —~ It seems that Secretary Chase has > cand brake were denounced aa enemies to | NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Appreaching End of the Thirty- seventh Congress. A Large Amount of Business Transacted. Passage of the Indemnity and Internal Tax Bills, Admission of Colorado and Nevada Into the Union. THE SEACOAST TELEGRAPH BILL DEFEATED, a, &., ae. Wasamatom, March 3, 1668. REPORTED CAPTURE OP FORT M’ALLIGTRS. A report was received to-dey that Fort Mcallister is takea. . THE LAST HOURS OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS. ‘The last hours of the Thirty-soventh Congress are fall of interest to the country. Both Houses are in session during the evening, the Sonate having takon no recess. ‘The Copitol is refuigent with gaslight, ladics crowd the gallories and citizens and soldiors aro warching to and fro ia the corridors, anges eee mm ‘The Hoasd boglas the work of the night with » mode- rate degree of excitement. Several members are abseat in consequence of il!ncss—w\icesrs. Lovejoy end Cox are among them. As soon as the Howse is called to order a lively contest for the floor begins between members who have axes to grind in private. Some of ene ee through the legisiative channel, and others slip rt the fingers of their authors in the confusion of the hour. Money ts voted with a \ prodigality that betokens nothing like financial distress, and evorybody seems jolly. Mr. Sumner's mediation resolutions are called up by Thaddeus Stevens, and an attempt is made by the ‘‘cop- perheads’’ to stave them off; but Mr. Stevens is tron-clad, and resists all their assaults. The anti-mediation re- solves are passed by a strong majority. An immense crowd fills the galleries and corridors at nine o'clock, but the frequent calls for the yeas and nays and the unventilated atmosphere drive them off rapidly ‘as the night progresses. A vast crowd is at the Capitol upon this, thé last night of the seasion, it being supposed that there would be lm- portant business and interesting discussions. In old whig and democratic times party spirit ran so high, the speeches were so long and the discussions so intermina- vie, that almost ali important measures were decided upon the last day aud night of the session. Committecs of conference settled a great number of matters in such a way as was not understood by the representative bodies themselves, The noxt day people would be startled with information of various lobby schemes, &c. At this seasion there have beeu fewer set speeches than common, aud debate has generally been of the offhand Kind. Mr. Fessenden in the Senate and Mr. Stevens in the House have taken diligent note of time, and a a con- sequence the most important businers has been already transacted, and there is no hurry at the last hours. ‘The President and +uite walked through the Capitol to- night, but the mans of the crowd were not aware that the Chief Magistrate of the nation was among them. Secre- tary Welles came into the Senate, for the frat time this session, and stood for a while on the democratic side. Mr. Seward alo sat on that side for sometime. Mr. Chase, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Blair and Captain Fox are also at the Capitol to-night. One of the important measures reported to-day from the Committee of Ways and Means wis a proposition te add several millions to the Naval Appropriation bills. An additional appropriation was voted for medals of honor for officers and soldiers for distinguished conduct. The House refused to give such medals to soldiers for re-en- Heting. ‘The President is busy signing bills in the parlor of the Senate chamber. A splendid silver tea service is to be presented to-mor- row to Captain Goodenow, Doorkeeper of the Houre, by persons in his department, in testimony of their appreoi- ation of his urbanity and offical conduet, CHANGES IN THE SENATE. The changes in the new Sonate are :-—King, of New York, by Morgan, republican; Wilmot, of Pennsylvanie, by Buckalew, democrat; Arnold, of Rhode Island, by Sprague, republican; Henderson, of Missouri, vacancy Kennedy, of Maryland, by Johnson, Union; Latham, of California, by Conness, Union; Rice, of Minnesota, by Ramsay, republican; Turpie, of Indiana, by Hevdrieks, democrat; Wall, of New Jersey, by Wright, democrat; Willey, of Virginia, by Bowden, Union. PASSAGE OF THE INDEMNITY BILL. ‘The Senate was in session until five o'clock this morn- ing. Messrs. Saulsbury, Bayard, Powell, Richardson an@ Wall undertook to filibuster throughout the whole of the remaining hours of the session to stave off a vote upon the bill to indemnify executive officers for arrests; but while Mr. Pomeroy was in the chair Senator Powell interrupted Mr, Payard’s speech to aak for a recess, which was refas- ed, and the question promptly put on the adoption of the report of the Conference Committee, and it was adopted, to the great chagrin of the filibusters, who were qutwitted at their own game. MR. KERRIGAN IN DIFFICULTY. The proceedings of the House were very monotonous until about half-past tweive o’clock, when Mr. Kerrigan, on bis name being called in the yeas and nays upen the Missouri Emancipation bill, denounced the bill in such terms that he was called to order by the Speaker pro tem., Mr. Colfax, and ordered to resume his seat. He did not sit down until be had made the remark that the people and the army will not consent to so much legislation for the negro. Mr, Stevens made @ motion of censure, but with- drew it after Mr. Crisfield, of Maryland, had reasoned with him, Expectations of a scene rose to a high piteb for afew moments, but Mr. Kerrigan sat down quietly and the affair subsided. THE PRASIDENT’S CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE WORK- ING MEN OF ENGLAND. A message from the President was communicated to the Senate yesterday, with an accompanying despatch from the United States Consn! at Liverpool, containing a me- morial of the distressed operatives of Blackburn, expres- sive of their gratitude for material aid, and a hope that an interchange of feeling will be productive of @ further manifestation of mutual eympathy, with a prayer that our civil war may ‘“‘come to « speedy termivation im favor of freedom, regardless of race or color.” It states that tne New York subscriptions have done much to undeceive many who had been misled by the enemies of popular government. It enggests that still more effective relief would be ac- complished by aiding the sufferers to come to America; that tens of thousands of families might be removed from Lancashire to America in six months, with suitable aid, and employed in the energetic development of the inexhaustible treasures which the Almighty has placed ‘at your (our) disposal; and asks for reliable foforma- tion of the sort of employment most easily obtained, to be communicated to the Emigration Committee appeinted by that meeting. It urged the favorable consideration of these sugges- tions and the adoption of some pian of assistance to emi gration. A mossage was also received, communicating a eter of similar parport in relation toa meeting at Manchester, from Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward; replies of the President to the working men of Manchester and of London ; and far ther correspondence betwoon Messrs. Adams and Seward PRESENTATION OF TRE CREDENTIALS OF THE MINISTER vies oonalty reserved 6h the Colonel Earnest Roumaine was Department of Btate to-day, and presented his creden- tials as Charge d’Aftaires from Hayt!. GATHERING OF GENERALS. ‘The presence of Generals MoCiellan, Hooker, Burnside, ‘and other major generals, in Washington at the samo time, bas occasioned much comment. The neces- of furnishing taformation to the Committee on the Ca acct of the War will account for their having beea here, anIVAL OF ORNERAL BENTAM, General Besham ts in ‘Washington. {HB DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Acting McCormick, of the Department of Agriculture, yesterday received important and interest. ing communications from our Ministers at Turin and fo. ots. ‘The latter sent to the department some choice Syssaamay of 1cge ant RH Te Howe gia