The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1863, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 186 ooo ia ny ees TANW much loss of life and property. The feoting in NEW YORK HERALD. | inte ts tit ote fiat on scent ot e her refusal to attend the congress The Innalrde Russe, of St. Petersburg, recommeads Rasaia to give up Poland The Board of Aldermen met yesterday at one | o'clock. A commanication was ceceived from the Mayor, announcing formally the death of Aldgr- man Andve Proment, of the Pifteenth Aldermanic GORDON BENNETTS, AND (PR SAME EDITOR PRUETOR orga N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STs. Votame XAVIIZ.... district. Alderman Qiywell said thet he had in tends to make the announcement to the Board, AMUSENENTS THIS EVENING. but after the re ipt of the oommunicatoa from "a GARDED —Macw Joxe—Lagts a. et ee “5 | the Mayor it waa unnecessary, and be would, there: WALLACK’S THEATRE, Drosdway.—Mancien Lars, | {F@, Only offer a series of reaotutions taking @p- propriate notice of the death of Mr. Froment, and BINTER GARDEN, — Broadwar.—Ticker or Leave | requesting the members of both boards to attend OLYMPIC THRATRE 1 map Sea the funeral in a body. The resolutions were unant- Basy Budvina—®angue Leescr | mously adopted. Atderman Hardy apoke in terma NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowe » | oF high aud eloquent eulogy of the deceased mem Feral spa Lp Coe BE EGS so ber, He was aman of sound principle, a faithful friend, an able legislator and a good citiwea. The Board thea adjourned siie die. The Board of Councilmen met at one o'clock yesterday. A communication was received from BOWERY THRATRE, Pows —Doas or a JUNGLE Jace Capk—Fous Lov - N's Daeam | piroadwav.—AtaaiaN Grant, 4 BARNUM'’S = MUSFL Boy ¢ » Linueprtas Kina, e.. at ait : br oe ease Maw—V'esaye Ov Tue Toxa— | the Mayor containing a fitting eulogium on the BRYANES ae reRCe ahaa iy one | character of the late Alderman Andre froment, erepeciuitorien Comes, DAvyeas twpreeatee ee froad- and recommending that suitable preparations be a made for his funeral, and that the public offices be ALL Sit Broadway. “Erwiortas | closed on the day appointed for his interment Zaiiy P MN | The preamble and resolutions from the Board of Aldermen in reference to the same eveat were | thea read, and, after a few suitable remarks by Mr. Brandon, were unanimously concurred in. A ommitteer, composed of Measra. Brandon, Brice and Joyce, were appointed to make arrangements | for the funeral, and the Board adjourned until | Monday evening next at four o'clock. The Rosian men-of-war in the harbor were dressed in flags yesterday, being the anniversary of the birth of the mperor’s son. At noon & salute was fired, and also from the {tatiaa frigate. | The willof James Rooaevett baa been admitted | to probate without coutest. It will be remember- | ed that this will contain a provision in which the | testator bequeathed property amounting to about | $1,000,000, for the establishment of a hospital for ——= | siek and diseased persona in the city of New York. Suriogate Tucker yesterday settled the accounts the estate of Hemy Ten Broeck, deceased rebel | ‘he Surrogate has adjourned *the sessions of his | Court untilthe Lith of January, At that time de cisioas may be expected upou several | will cages and other litigated matters, wh been submitted to hi Honor and await adj) WOOO'S MENSER Fores, Dascus, dc.— G60. CHRISTY’ MINST! iRsquss, Sonos, Davers, & AMERIOAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.— Bacusrs, Fawtourmes, Buxtusguxs, d¢—Inisa Cicer. ‘ LS. 586 Broadway.—Bya- ACK Srarur, BROADWAY AMPHITHEATER, 435 Broadway. NANTIO AND EQumsTuLAN PERFORMANCHS, A/terad &vontag HOPE CHAPEL, 713 Broadway —Tar Srered g on Mentor oF Tau Univegse, — sae vedic NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 613 B: - Cumostiks anv Lecites, fom ya, MUNI Me HOOLEY’S OPERA NOUS! Foras, Dances, Boniesquus, TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Saturday, December t9, 1863. | Brooklya.—Ernocias THE SITUATION. The news from the Army of the Potomac is in- | of teresting. Stuart's cavalry made an attack on Thursday night on ovr advance posts guarding the bridges A pretty strong body of the at Pape’s run, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road, consisting of a company of the One Hundred ails ia the stock market have aearly exhausted their power, and the adyanco movement io prices 18 about chocked. ‘Tho goid exchangy yesterday exbibitea moro animation, and an advance ta the premium was and Pifty-itth New York regiment, capturing a stall portion of them. The enemy attempted to destroy the bridges, but the wood work was go saturated by the rain, which | readily obtained. The opening price was 15244, but at : 1, | the close 117% eaaid hardly bec 1. Govorament was falling heavily during the attack, that | stocks remained firm aod wore in domand, the Gvo it would not take fire, aud they were compelled to | twenties being quoted at 19t'4 ‘The state of commercial aif. rs waa much tho samo | yesterday as ou Thursday. ‘Che rissa gold bad a lea Beneral | dency ty make the ma kets lirmor, ret (hare ware no coraa sent a cavalry force from Fairfax in pur- | radical changes @xorpt ip breadsiuts, which wore la good | demand at an advanos ol S> 4 19>. 09 fue, And Be. on heat aad cora ed merchandise waa qaict aaa rat thing. Grocoriss ware quet bul Brut. Cotton was rather lower. atroeum was dull bat uachaaged lg, ore dult - Lhe rehels teft two dead on the field. iar vig igh: : It is said that in the attack on our forces at Bear Station, oa the Cumberland and Morristown Railroad, on Monday. troops, the latter captured twenty Fighting was B0iDE | men of Israel, a head and shoulders above them ft was also yesterday | qj], General Grant, in fact, aa the champion of ascertained that while our tradps were pursuing | the independent maases of the people, fairly Longatreet frgm Knoxville, General Gordon Grane | and seasonably brought out as their candidate, against all the tricks of trading politicians, and pushing on hia rear, and that the rebel general's | against all their combinations to defeat him, | will be triumphantly elected. His record is clear of any contaminating a3- sociations with the corrupt and scheming polt- ticians on either side. No accusations of trick- | ery as a parly leader or a3 a partisan can be We have news from Charleston to the 15ti by | brought against him; nothiag caa be produced Another explosion took | to show that he is, upon this question, that place in Port Sumter on Friday, most probably | question or the other, a man of two faces, like many of our threadbare Presidential aspirants | In fact, his greatest strength as a candidate for the White House lies in the fact that be has never dreamed of the possibility of becoming a candidate. But the professional cliques of retire, after cutting the stringers and letling the beidges down. At daylight yesterday ¢ suit. ‘Che telegraph wires, which the raiders had cut, were put in order, and the bridges so far re- | ge: paired that trains were ran at eleven o'clock. and the Game of the Politiclans, General Grant stands lo-day among the can- didatos mentioned for the next Presidency aa King Saul, in bis time, stood among tho mighty by General Longstreet’s wo loads of | | quartermaster's stores. on at Blair's Cross Roads ger got ia his advance, while General Howard was ammunition train of forty cars and two locomo fives were run into the viver at London General Burnside was expected to arrive at Cin- ciunati last night. the Arago yeaterday. from oue of our shells dropping into a magazine. It would appear from the amount of smoke that »fcotton was on fire. Several light- some quantity ships in the harbor were sent adrift in the late gale. ‘The cebel floating battery also went ashore | President makers, now assembled at Washing- near Folly Island. The city of Charleston was | ton, are well aware of all this. They kaow being héavily shelled from Battery Patnam. The | from experience that Grant is the mao most to gale has broken up many of the rebel obstructions | be feared, because be wants nothing and aaks fu the harbor. | nothing at their hands. Thay kaow, too, from | | | experignce, tuat, before they can count upon the honors, emoluments, power, apoila and plunder of the succession, be is the first and most serious obstacle to be removed ‘The engineers, the sappers and minors of the. present administration, are accordingly begin- ning their work to supplaat him. He is a “modest man. They will vote him a gold modal, they will make him a lieutenant | general, and, thus established and secured upon @ good salary and liberal perquisites aud extras for life, they think he will surely be couteat. Should this experiment fail, however, we may next expect the same policy to be pursued agatast him as that No livea were lost at the late fire and explosion | fa Yorktown, but between twenty and twenty-five | persona were injured. The loss of property was about a million of dollars. By the arrival of the Creole from New Oricans we have three days later news; but she brings nothing later from the Texas expedition than that Our RKpondent’s letter, however, will be found highly which we lave before published. corre- interesting A satin vey arrangement is said to have been | ons and Mr. Seward, with | made be! weea Lord f regard to the disposition of the ateamer Chesa peake, wich was captured in British waters. | which was tried by the Polk administration to She wili no doubt be delivered up to the United | entrap and humiliate General Scott, and to States author Ves, together withthe men taken on | embarrass and defeat General Taylor in the boacd of he Mexican war. Marcy, it will be remembered, CONGRESS yesterday, the Chairman of the | did entrap General Scott in a damaging cor- respondence; but it will also be remembered that the blunt simplicity of Old Zack was too much even for Marcy, and that accordingly ry Commi reported back the Soldiers’ Bounty bill, with amendments; also the bill | amendatory of the Borotment act. with amend. | the hero of Buena Vista was next promoted, by meals, ove of them repeating the three hundred | @ Spontaneous popular movement ia his behalf, dollar commutation cla A proposition to | to take the place of Polk himself, and to the 1 (rom the draft was offered, and | duty of appointing a successor to Marcy. the amendments were ordered to be printed. Mr. We guess, however, that it is too late to Sumner's resolution for a new rule requiring attempt to spoil the militacg reputation Senators to (ake the oath of allegiance before en- | of (onoral Grant by Washlagton stra- tering upon their dutics was taken up, and an tegy. The day has gone by when he could "eiec Gi tvauoae? ore gg tailed "| og | be thus victimized, as McClellan, Rosecrans the proposed tule. He regards the oath as uncon. | ®@4 others bave been. General Grant bas established himself too firmly ia the coaf- exempt clergy stitational, and declines submitting to it until the ale ws enforced by a vote of the Senate, Accord. | dence and respect of the President to be ingly My. Saulsbury, Mr. Bayard’s colleague, | shaken by the strategy of the War Office, or the moved to cofer tke subject ty the Judiciary Com- | tactics of the Chase clique ia Congress. Presi- mittee for their aotion and opiaion. The Senate, deat Lincoln will do justice to GenerakgGrant however, by a v vf fificen against twenty-six, | in the prosecution of the war, whatever may be refused to refer, preferring to decide the question | ¢he jasue.in the Presidential campaign. This without puch reference. Pending We ate the | we belie aad have, therefore, no fears that Benate held a br execative session, and thea the combinations of the War Office bereafter adjour onda | cde ‘ The House was not in session yesterday, having will operate to the prejudice of General Grant. adjourned ove Monday But the politicians c acerne |, including those of Congress ant the Cabin t, will, nevertheless, “M /ANEOUS NEWS : The steamehips City of Washington, Hecta ana | 4 tt that can be done to keep the name of , Australasian arrived at this port from Queenstown | General Gront, aaa Prosidentiat candidate, in yeuterday, bringing our European files dated in | te background, subject to the decision of the Londoa and Pa » Sth Yocember. ‘The | Cepublican or administration nonrinating party maid potutsp! the news have bea anticipated by | convention. This trick was attempted with the Lhe telegraphic report of the Hibernia gt St vriginal friends of General Taylor; bat they, Newfquadiaid. The Meenangand & was | after consulting him, decided that they could expected to come off on the’ Ith ins ‘S ron bim even without the whig nemioation wasin favor of Heonan. T \ Accordingly, ag the mountain would aot go to been | | Mahomet, Mabomet had to come to the moun Fond Cyonaga to remonstiaig ia Washington. Mr. | - ket ie te Sure ait ae Dudley Mann had dplivored amesage from Joff. | oa Hh “ wh OF withon fo Davis to Pins the Ninth ta Rome. Queen Laabeila | N9nHnation of a juggling party convention, We of Spain thinks that Napoloou's congress would will carry the dag Eo will do itas oasily aa “consolidate peace in the Old aad New Wo: | Godfrey Gunther, 98 a9 indepeodeal popular A rigicat gale which owept ovet Gugiiad gataced | candidate, was olectod Mayor of Now York the friti#, bark Springbok ia New Youk ho pronounced Aiegil by the Bullish law officers over tho combinod party uiachine arrangements of Mozart aad Tammany alt Tho honest masses of the poople througbout the couniry havo seen enough and havo suffered enough from oll theso old party machines and tho huckatgring public plunderers_ by whom they aro Controlied, and ao, not only in Now York, but ail over tho land, tho people are in fa- vor of asweeping polittea! revolution Tho case is in their own hands. Genoral Geaat, emphatically a man of the people and with tho people, is the man for the people Lot them bring him forward, independently of party managers and party conventions, and these conventions will be compelled to second the movementa of tho pooplo or propare for the consequences of a crushing defoat. Tho Shortcomings of Secretary Weltos— Who Navy Department. The facts connected with the recapture of the Cheaapeake offer a singular commentary on the saif-satiafied assumptions of Becveltary Welics io bis late report. She waa taken by a block- ade rvaver which bad been coaverted into a United States gunboat, and the vessel which next camo up with her was an old naval ateamer which had been in the service long before Sec- retary Welles entered office Of the new ves- sels seat in pursuit of her by the Department, the Agawam was obliged to rebura, having beea disabled off Cape Race. This is one of thirty naw gunboats of the same claes ordered by tho Department. Lt turns out that sho was built merely for river navigation, and of course proved utterly unfitted for the service on w! she was seat. The steamer Vicksburg, a recent purchase of the Department, was also competled to pat back, having Lad three blades of her pro- pellor broken. And, to complete (his geacttoal impeachment of the qualities claimed for the vesaels built or purchased by the Deparfinent, we have received « slatemeut from a Balti mote corregvandeat of the narrow ‘escape of another of the new geahoats—the NanSemond—- which waa cangh! in a gale off Cape Hatteras the otber day, and nearty foundered. When the rebellion be ovt the total ovmber of vessels composing the United States navy did nob exceed eighty. Ita present aggreg ste is aix hundred. To get to- getoer tia number (the Navy Department fas apeat and Catculales to spend during the next fiscal year about $272,900,009. The amount already paid for vossels pur- chased or Coaslructed is over $150,009,000. What bave we gol to ahow for this enormons outtay’? Pheaty of wood and iron, but very little of what goes to constitute an effective navy. Apart from the iron-clada thors id not a acw vessal in it, with oue ex. ception, and tiat a preseat to the government he Vandecbilt—that bas speed sufficient to ingure its catching a privateer or blockade cun- nee And even with that singte vaiuahla ac- quisition Secretary Welles Las not been able to accomplish anything He has endeavored to throw the blame of this failure on Admiral Wilkes; but, in a letter recently publisked, that energotic officer not only gives him the lic diroct, but snows that it was entirely through the fault of the Department that the Vander- bilt was prevented catching the Alabama. To sum up: of all the vessels purchased by the Department since the cebethioa broke out there is not one capable of fulfilling tts mission Out of the number of vessels ‘added to the navy aince the rebellion broke ont-—a curious fact in this age of steam—tuere are up- wards of a hundred: gailing vessels which are utterly useless, and will soon be left to rot im our aavy yard4. For the money expended ia the purchase of these Iatter the Navy Depargneat could have bougat—but did oot, for reasons of i's owa—from fiiieca lo twenty steamers of great ugth aad speed But these are not the only facta which go to awoll the catalogue of binaders, miscatouta! and wilful mismanagement which is chargeable againal the administration of our oavel sffairs Under the very nos of Secretary Welles ant that of the President, a trial bas bec » haa brought to light dome extraocdinary disclosures in regard to tue mannee in which tho business of the Dopactmeat iS com ducted. Those of ove readers who lave any practical acgtatotance with the steam engine do ngt re quire to be informod of the vast improvemeat effected ia it by tho ia- vention knowa as the Sickels cutof By the employment of this ingenious contei > with cylinders, the power of the engine i 1 ov tripled, with the aame coas) mptioa of coal’ In oue matufactories aad abroad wherever steam ia employed aa a motive power, these cutoffs are univemally used. And yot, will it be believed, notwithstanding the uryoat neces sity that wo have for increasiag the spead of our war steamers, Seorelary Welles aad ils Cuicf Eagineer Isherwood have, for reasons of their own, ateadily ignored this iavalual'c inven- tion, and refuaad to permit its adoption ia our navy. Thus wo have spent uselessly upwards of $150,000,000 for the purchase of voasels of low speed to catch the rabel privalvers and blockade runners, when by the adoption of this improvement wo contd have kept ovr consts effectually blockaded and swept tie oean clear of privateers. There are no torus stroag enough to apply to such perversenes: and such profligate waste of the public monoy. But. after ali, what is the use of these exposures’ They will neither induce Me. Lincoln to get rid of the mon who have brought discredit oa his admia istration nor will they suame thom into doing theirduty. If they had not been wholly insen- sible to public opinion they would hare re- signed their places long ago. Seeing their tenacity to office. there ia but one resource left ws, and that is the election to the Presidential chair of an energetic Chief Magistrate, like General Grant, who will make a clean sweep of the whole crew roing on t going on Genenar, Gaaye's Last Veovorr —The Lon- don jouraals, spite of their prejudices against the North and their constant desire to detract from all our successes, are forced to acknowl- edge that General Grant gained 9 great advan- tage at Chattanooga, and that he thera dealt another fearfu! blow to the rebellion, The Loadoa Tines is especially spiteful apon the subject. Still, like its contemporaries, it ac cords that, Geagral Grant is the hero of the day, and asserts that be has done more harm to the cause Of the South than aay olor general ein the serviee of the government We are much mistaken if ore long General Grant does not force the Blunderer to make still greater concassions t@his military skill and valor, while, lator on, a much, ag doubt, to ite discom- Mace Wel be obliged to anapance that this moat ancoesatul of aotdiers bas been rewarded by the pooplo for bia valued aorvices by being called to the bighest hoger io (ioe power Wo conser the Py oaidauey Hes a Jerevraon Days Dunas ‘run Fhastence’ oF 4 Biookaps, vue Deotarus it Brreorive.— Jefferson Davis’ moaaage to the rebel Congress begins With a graceful tribute to the abilities of General rant, by way of reference to the “grave reverses” that that herp bas inflicted upoa the Southern army, and then turns to the vory important subject of the blockade, He rails at Eegland through oné-fourth of his mes- age, because abe recognized it and deolared it ofvotive, and charges her with “an unequivocal violation of agreement and international law.” [lo dilatos om the diMiculties of the case. Thero wore lo be blockaded “three thousand Give bun- dred and Gfty-nine statute miles” of coast, which included “one bundred and eighty-nino civers, Lays, harbors, inlets, sounds and passes.” How formidable! Tow absurd mus#hecessari- ly be auy human attempt to blockade al! that. Avd the navy of the United States that was ex- pected lo do it consisted of “twenty-four ves- sela of all classes, of which half were in distant Here tho impartial reader scents an anti-climax;*yet upon the whol be sympathizes more or leas with Davis’ denunciations of Eng- laud foc ber recognition of this “paper block- ade.” Paper blockade is tho burden of his story. Davis then refers to tho rebel finances. Ho reverta to the fact that the rebotlion started in life on a specie basis, and proposed to pay ils way with “treasury notes, convertible at the pleasure of the holder into eight per cent bonds, the interest on which waa to be payable in coin”’ He shows that the reliance of the government for the means to pay this interest in specie waa npon taxation and cotton. Now, taxation the Southera people weuld not stand. ‘hat ardent race, all aglow with ils desire for freedom, would not pay the expenses, and there- tore cotton was the only resource. So the “scheme required for its operation that there shouldbe no suspension of trade between the South aad forsign nations.” All that was sted waa free trade for cotton. Cotton was to go out, cash was to come iv, And as the Southern ports were virtually open—* paper Dlockade'-—the treasury notes were to be kept equal in value to specie with the utmost ease. But hore again comes that pestilent paper biock- ade in quite another view. Insufficient alto- gether, utterly and absolutely, to justify ag- land's recognition of it, it was sufficient to ax- nihilate the cotton trace and keep away the cAésh that was to bave paid the interest. Hence the financial collapse of the confederacy. Davis says it Here we are in a dilemma as to what we aball think of Davis’ veracity; for if he lies he speaks truty, and ifhe tefla the trath he lies. nena." Rie Van Wovece Wertes Astece Aqarm.—In his letier to the merchants of New York Rip Van Winkle Weiles claimed that the navy cap- tured the Tacony. _This shows bow soundly Wellea must sleep; for all the world knows that the Tacony was captured by the citizens of Portland, without any aid from the Navy Department. Now, the steamer Chesapcako has-been reiaken, aot by one of our navat ves: sals, but by an ex-blockads runner, the Ella and Annie. Nono of Secretary Welles’ slow coaches were fast enough to catch the Chesa- peake. Whoa General Grant is President ho will give us a wide awake man for the Navy Dapartment, and then we will soon clear the seas of rebel pirates. That may be taken for granted, Geant avo Narorwon —When Napolooa was io Ugypt he said to hia soldiers, “ Forty cen turies Look dowa on you from the pyramids.” General Grant haa the advantage of Napoleon and bis soldiers, and the pyramids too. From tho top of Lookout Mountain ho looked back open forty centuries ‘and abead upon a long Presidential term. With thia experience and observation to guide Lim, he will make just they dent we want to settle this rebellion, ‘Gc bas nearly pu! down alrcady Success of Dadoll’s Fog Sigaal ta Cag- land. {We mate meation of thy fact last Saplomber that ©. L Dabo:!, Keq., the inventor of tho alr whiatts and teumpot, hat ombarkod for England, with a practical working fog sigual apporatas, which ha desigedd to talroduce to the ruling powors of Groat Britain in order ty iltustrato the invgnpion, aga, if le, effect an arrangemont by which Bee iy bled; aly soargea,, alarged, Could be established a' Capa Race Mr Daboll returned in tho Australasian yosterday and, a3 we tearn, has 0 far succeeded in his musien Agta have eclipsed every form of fog signal which the Bagtish authorities volunteered to bring ust tim (Cor teial,and siready commenced nogot'a tions with the propar oMeors of th» goverament for tho constenetion of a vory largo aad powerful machmo, with a view to its fina! Introduction at Cape Race As aa evidence of tbe triumph of this invention in land, wo loacn that, after repeated oxporimoata there, he arranged to place this fog apparatus at the Dungo oss lighthouse,” some tweaty miles from Lover aud there give Lhe Triaity Committes aa opportiumiy to boar it from theson, This place was determined u) oa by (ho Trinity House of England, as they have two other fog Signats there, viz: a bell and a steam fog hora, which thoy wished to test agqust Haboil's fog trumpet Accordingly, oa the 17th alt., tho Trinity Commitice proceaded to sea rto tisten to the three signals at Dunge- ness, The sea was vory boisterous, aod much surf was rolling in apon point Dungooest, The result may be briely stated. Tae committee could not hear the bell or the steam bora through the sort and against the wind, white they heard Daboll's fog trumpet at various dis- tances of (rom three to Ove miles. The goverament there. fore paid Mr. Daboli for bis apparatus, and, as wo learn, are aow in negotiation for a larger and more poworful apprratas of this kind thea haa ever yot beer made. Mr. Daboll ts certainty entitied to credit for thes pur. suing this matter, and bat for bis indomitable persever- ance the commercial world would not now be so near the desired object of a fog signal for Cape Race Brooklyn City Intelligence. Fowarar, OF Awotimn Sovvme OF tim Ose Hoxnero asy Fuvramvt Reaiewr.—The remains ef the late Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert A. Draper were yesterday cou- vovod to their final resting place ia Greoawood Cemetery. Fis body, with those of Lieutenants Maniey and Plunkett, arrived bere from Now Orleans on Monday |: The remains of Letannnt Piookott, of Enh i A who was killed in the same battic, wore escorted tw Green Cometery the day previous by company L, Pitty-sixth regiment National Guard, uador command of Captain Paimer. Tau Monoen of Tus DrawonD Mencaanr —The Goaeral ‘Torm of (he Sepreme Court, which concluded ite sossi0a yosterday, affirmed the judgment of the Court of Oyor and Torminer in the caae of Ignate Ratrky, who waa no inet Of the murder of Sigismand Foie tation and seatenced to be ox. oo awnt of error from be done now but to wan. —Aidormaa Dounia O'Keefe, President of the Board of Alderman, waa last night presented, on benalf of Qumeroas with an wrought ornamoutal bret, flowers and fruits, a8 @ mt teing tagephi the art formed Whe duties of a0 t wv as alent Washuagton 3 5 = 3.—TRIPLE wae? oe fan Debate {n ‘the Seunto on Mr, Bayard’s Refusal to Take the Oath of Allegtance, Proclamation of the President Rela- tive to Trade with Nicaragua, — REBEL CONSPIRACIES DETECTED. Plots to Seize a Vessel at Philadelphia and Release the Prisoners . at Point Lookout AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSCRIPTION BILL The $300 Clause Stricken Out by the Military Committee, Go, &e., &a, ‘Wasuuotom, Doc. 18, 1863. TOK AMENDMENTS TO THB CONSCRIPTION AOT. Souator Wilson to-day reported back tho bill amenda. tory of the Enrolment act, adding anew elause aboiish- ing thetthree hundred doliar commutation feature of the present law. [t includes the enrolment of ‘any porsoa arriviag ‘at the ago of twenty years, and any ono who has not been in tho service two yoars and hovorably disebarged. It exempts a person who may attain his forty Ofte birthday botwoen tue enrolment and the draft; but abolishes tho exemption of felons, and exempts ‘none where rolatives are wholly dopendont on their tabor for support uniess actually supported by their labor. €euator Dixou’s amcadment exempta all persone recog- nized as clorgymon by tho ecciesiaatical authority of thoir denominations. Mr. Hoadricks’ amendment proposes (wo claases of en- rolled persons, ax in the oxisting law, the second class aot being liable to be calied on till tho first is ox. hausted. THE BOLDIBRS' PAY AND BOUNTY BILL. In the amondments of the Pay and Pounty bill reported by Senator Wilson to-day from the Committee on Mili tary Afairs, bounties are confucd to those enlisting prior to January 5, 1864, and after that dato no bounty (o substitutes and none to culisted or drafted men, ex- conting the bounty ef ong | undred dollars now allowed, wilt be paid. INCRRASK OF TAXES. ‘ Tho Commitioe of Ways and Means Wili, before the ad- journment for the holidays, appoint a sub committee to consider that portion of the report of the Secretary of the ‘Troasury and Commissioner of Interval Reveuue ia re- ard to the incroase of Laxes on Luxurics, Tho disposi tion of tho commitice and of the House appears to be to impose oven @ larger amount than is suggesied in the reports upou tobacco, whiskey and othor articles of that nature The tax upou whiskey will not be less than seventy-five cents per gation,and may be fixed at tho amouut recommended by the Assessors’ Conyention—ouo dotlay, ‘Tho tax upou olhor hixurtea will uodoubledly ba io proportion. PIRATICAL PLOG TO BRUVR A VES9KL AT PHILADBL- Another plot for tho stestra be" ‘pouinbt haat cargo by Febe! emissarien has been discovarod, this time in goason to provont the attempt being made. ‘The vosset was tho bark AA, which was loading at Philadelphie, The pirates were to chip ay seamen and seize hor after sl left port. There wase quantity of ordnance on board, and the vessel was: ‘about to take ia a quantity of powder, when the plot was revealed and a revenue cuttor laid alongside of her. The Authorities aro still engaged in investigating the mat. tor. All tho facts will be givom to tho pubiic in a few days CONSVINAGY TO RELEASE THE REBEL PRISONERY AT POINT LOOKOUT. ‘Ths authorttios havo cocoived iaformation of a cua Spieacy formed for tho purposs of; releasing tho rebel prisoners confined at Point Lookout. ‘The plan was to run Out two achoonors [rom Mobjack bay, which is betwoea tho York aad Roppshannock rivors, with a suilicioat force lo overcome (ha guard mt tho poiat, and thon ro toasa (ho prigoners, Guaboula haye beeo stalioned to ia- teroopt and eapture thom If they should attompt to coma out White the exobaago ot prisoners rematus suspended, those ploty will of course do of freje7t occurrence, but tho auMorilios aro awake to the dy 7, aud it # not prob- ablo that they will succecd in carrying them into effect. *TU8 BXOUANGE OF PRISONERS OF WAR. A considorab'o pressure is being brought to bear upoa tho Prosidoat in reference to the oxchangs of prisoners. Genera! Hitchoock bas besa sent dowa to consult with General Butlor upoa the subject. Popular opinion is rapidiy forming itsolf in this rogard. Tt ts universally couceded that nothing can be dove in the matter (rough tho oxisting channels, and the President bas ber called {Pot Lo-ACFopt The responsibility of Coking the nogoiia tious out of bho Laods Of Lhe agoots of the War Depart. ment, aod appointing for tho work men who can effect the desired rasult, tt is argued Yhot if Me. Liucola do- Chines to accept this responsibility the blame throughout the country wii fail upon bim, If ho will movo as ad- visod, and our poor fellows now languisling in Southera prisoba aro reloaced, the Presideus will receive the praise. If (aa elfort should prove a failure the odium will ngcossarily Tall upou the agent employed, Cader (hose circumatancos, i! ite hoped that (he President wil! use Le prorogative, and appoint a suitatio agent to at. tond to this buaivess, THE HBALTH OF TOR PREsTD“NT. Tho hoalth of tho Prosident ta gratually improving He bas been ablo for tho last four nights to attend thé thoatro, to s9e Hackett in the Merry Wives of Windsor INTERESTING CASK RELATIVE TO LAGAL TENDER NOTES, A caso is bofore the Supreme Court of the Uaited Stqtos, Presenting tho (ollowtug Coatures: Judge oosevelt, of Now York, sned upoa @ bond. The defendant offered him logal ender notes. He refused to take them, An issuo was (hus made ia on8 of the courts of tat State. The docision thera rondered was against the constitutionality of the act of Congress. The case was taken by appeal to the Court of Appoais of Now York, where the decision was reversed. Mr. Roosevelt then took out a writ of error to bring it before the Saprome Court, under the twenty-fifth section of the act. The defendant in error movod to diamiss the writ of error, for want of jurisdic tion, ailoging there is 00 appeal, because the decision below was ia favor of tho constitutionality of the act. Mr. Roetker appeared in favor of the motion, aod James Buchanan Meury vo rosist it THE LOTAL VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE, The Senate of Virginia, in seasion at Aloxandria, passod @ bili to-day for the election ot delegates by the people to a convention to assemble in that city on the 26th of Jan- wary, to amend the State constitution #9 aa to abolish @lavery in tho counties of Accomac, Northampton, Pria- coms Anno, Plizabeth City and York, and including the Cities of Norfolk aad Portsmouth. By the Presiaeat's proclamation of Jaquary Iast, ali slaves in tho romatnder of the State are free. The act sets forth aa the reason for the change that, without it, the executive and judicia, officers of the State, In exocuting the laws betwoen tas ter and slave, will be brought into conflict with the mi\\. tary authorities of the United States, A bilt for a similar purpose ts pending in the House of Delegates.'#Frow these two will be framed by a Committee of Conference fn act which it la expected will pass both houses b¥ Mou. day. HIDES AND TALLOW CONTRAGY. The contract for saving the hides ind takow of agime’ slaughtered hore 09 governinest account bas been ac. corded to the same parties who Lave had it from the begiaulng of the war. THE PRBSS DINNER TO SPEAKER COLPAX. Largo proparations aro boing uinde for the Prem diane 0 Bpeaker Colfax to-morrow, Sykos & Obadwick, of ‘Wittneds, arg detesmines that it ahall ecttpse in elegance anything of the Kind wiinossed ia Washington, It is to be exclusively gatress afuir, . CONTESTED HLWCTION Cade. ‘The Committee oa Kieetiona have uow bofore thom Ave Lontestod from Missoort, two from Poansytvania, one from usetts, one from Kentucky, one from Maryland, 006 Crom lows and oas from Virginia WISCOMMIN AND TH AGRICULTURAL COLLROR ACT. ‘Au abstract of gealections made by the State of Wisoon Gia, under tho Agricultural and Mechanical Cologs act, of Joly 2, 140%, amounting to two hundred and forty thow bad acras, hae boa Eropared at Ley Gonoral (aad Qc, Fatertor, a certified transcript has boca dospatcbed 4 the Governor of Wi 14H Bvidance of the litle of the Btate to the,landa aotocted » THIRTY-BIGHTH OONGKESS. FIRAT @BS310N. : Sonate. ~ Wasumaros, Dec 13, 1868. Oa motion of Mr Has, Mr. Foot took the chair, the Vioo Proaident being abocnt. Mr. Grimms, (rop.) off fowa, asked (o bo cxoused from further sorvice ow the Committes on Naval Aifaira, “He fald, apart from this, ho was on two.other committece, ‘After a brief conversation against granting tho requoat, tho Chairman of tho Naval Committco, Mr. Halo, aay Uke gervicer of the gentleman were vory important this time, whoa there wa a necessity for a reform in the Navy Department, further consideration upoa the Bubjoct was postponed tilt Monday. PROUMITION OF ALAVERY. to prohibit slavery ta all the states and Torritorias. Mr. GRowes algo presented one, uudorstood to be of similar import, which was referred to tbe Committee ow tho Judtoiry TREATING WITT ORLGON INDIANS Mr Hanoina, (cop.) of Oregou, introduced a bit au- thorizing the President to negotiate treaties wilh cortale bands of lodians of Oregon. v4 sup S00mEE AND extocacmee- sone, Me. Wyusos, (rop.) OT Mans., (rom tho Goumittee om ables ADA reported back, with amendmoats, the nuty law: Also (he bitt ameudatory of the Earolmont act, wit amendments, one of them repealing tho commuta- vioa, and aa to that he bad vory 621 ious doabta. Mc. Dixon, (rep.) of Gono, , #o amen iment ox- ompting clergymen from tho draft. Me. Hunnuicxa, (opp.) of Oregon, aia0 introduced aa amendment, but its substance was Dot stated ‘Ths amendments wore ordered to be printed ‘18H OATHS OF BRNATORS—MR. BAYARD'R POdiTION Tho Seuate then procosded to the consideration of Me. Sumnen's rogolution as followa:— “Phe oath or 0 yf July 2, 14 Ke! ring upon the ities of ofice accibed to by every Senator in open #ouate, before eutering, upon big duties. ft ahali also be taken agd eubscribed lo im the same way by the Secretary of tho Senate, but the other olficers of the Senate may take and j evbacrtbe tt tn the offloe of the Becretary.”” Mr. Sautsnury, (opp.) of Del., said tis colleague (Mr. propo” "M thought iw colleegue” (Bir Bayard) ad c |. He thou league (Mr Bayar the right to ask that’ there be a sjuateial body Ringer tat oath preacribed by Congrean wae tm contormity with the constitution of the United States wit tho yiew of having the question solemnly decided. He offered @ rogoiution as a subatitule for Mr Sum- her's proposition, to instruct the Committee; ‘on the Judiciary to inquire whether and ropre, seulatives are inclided within the provisions of the act Proacribiug the eath of office, passea July 19, 1862, ang to inquire whother the said act is io accordance or coa- Nist with the constitution, Mr. Saulabury did alee pose to enter foto a discusaion at this time, but he Bay it was settled at an early period in whe rr hog country that a Senator is wot a civit officer uader the con- stitution ~ ae ‘Tromuuse (tep.) of TL, did aot kaow that avother debisive upon this aubject would be any moro satiafactory than the ove already made, Whoa the bilt wax hore tho point was wade tbat it was unconstitutional answered. ‘the Senate thought propor to paas it; it waa cuncurred in by tho House, and approved by tbo Preat- dent. ‘Tho Senate hid thus already decided ita constitu. tionality by passing it tt Became the duly ol Lund, or to refer the « thor it waa a iaw or uot. law. It Senator frou Welawaro desired ad inyoetetiene ae te whother the law ombraced Senators reprosentatives:. in Cosgress, aud slated as an admitted fact that Bemators® aod representatives were not,civil oMcers, Ho (Mr. ‘Trurnbutt) abould tile to eee the decision; be atould Ww kuow Whoo aad where any court or legisiative body caine to duct a conclusion Ho know of no such: There had noe He knew it bad been dectared that, Sonuators and representatives wore not liable to one meat. ‘there was an obvious reason for this. All parte of the couatitulion were ta be consi Uogotuor effect to 11s jatention, and one t ides for the ex: pulsion of a wembor ofeither: a two-Unirdagrote, and tad were not piaced iu Che provision for impencle mea Mr. Sacistuey sald there wag no Aatisfactogy rossom why tho investigation sould. pot be mado. Eis ool! ‘Mr. Bayard) bad a right to the judgment of hody aa to wheilor be should be required to. the oath of not His col 19 last Koasion Uno oath to auyport the sonstitution and entered duties, and had since beon acting ag @ momber of the Judiciary Commities. It bad never beea decided that @ member of Congro-s was a civit officer ite vad It waa the duty of the was not jog of the conatitutioa, but te contrary. colleagues wanted was that tho comiuyittee should wuoiher (he act required Seuators to take tho oath prec scr:bod by tuat of 1962. Mr. Taomnc it. repliea—If the Sonate adopt the rate of tho Seuator from Massachusetts, the question will bo do cided that ati Senators shall take the oath, Ar, Savcauvay said the interestot the couutry would oot aulfer by bavtag tis quostion looked ito. Ho saw ‘no reason for (ha hot baste exhibited by the ae Massach. setts. Ho might be justified in atatiog that position be presented to the rule did not artse from the uvtiter coataiged im ft. ‘Thero was aoth'ng in it he come ook Lake overy morning before brealfast, and nothing a it his colleague could not take, His o tee adoption of this rule was because ta their soloma judg. meat a Senator did aot come within the provisions of tha act, aod was not constitutionally bowud to take tam oath {a repty to Me, Trumball he sard, by @ formal vote of Seuato ia L784, tn the case of Me. Blunt, ib waa that a Senator was aot pt emp oy office was coa- (oreed by the Senator's Stato au y tho d Mr, Jonna, Copp.) of Md. uudorstoot Mr. Sum resolution to preseat Cay questions Firat, what waa the true moaning of the " whothor It came within the meaning of the constitution, As to this, bo could see a0 pussible objection to the Judiciary Com. m bee expressing their opiniow oa tho aubject Aa te the second quostion, viz-—Whother, if the taw did oom. brace members, Coagress bad aay right under the const tution to pass the act, He submitted that perhaps the Seaator from Lipo (Mt, Trumbull) was mistaken ae to | the avthoffty te reer to the commitios (o o¢amine wheihor the act was constitutional or not Ho bagged the Senator to rec .usider Lis position. If ho did, bo (Mr, Johasou) tuctiaed to thivk that the Seogtor would o toa diferent conclusion ‘thé acl waa, ay is {aw of tho Land. |, om iavestigation, it ebouid Be nd to be wagonatitutioral, or repagnant to tis provisions the constitution, it was due that O +s sudaid repeal Mt iis question came up as 008 Of privilege, concerning the Seaator (com Uelaware (Mr. Hayard), lo whom @loue iL applied Me, Couramna, (rop.) of Vt, said the rutegave @ practical coustruction of the niacnte, Le reqsired tue oaga to be administered (6 all Seaators before choy took ther seats ‘The rule proceeded on the ground that the oath was appliteable to Beaators, while the Soaator from Delawaro maincained that the fw was not ap pheablo Beauters as civil offers ff the constititioa did pot inelude thom. the oa. strection should be give according y Ho saw no ob. jr tion Lo referring the subject tothe Committes on the uleary He made these remorks without oxpreasiag: lus v ews on tg constitutionatity of the law, 000 way oF Another. He saw uo serious Objection to giving the sub- ject (he cererence required, as Ru extend towards the member from Helaware. Mr. Tegauets did not see that the senator fom Date ware (Mr. Bayard) was interested inéte rue more (ham any her Seaator, The ition here waa to inquire rotten the law waa in aGeordanoe oF 1 condict with the constitution. lye aot requiredali oMoers io the civil, caved ailitary departnoats, before entering upoo thoir da- ties, to take the preseribed oath; swearing. or alirmiog that Luay have nover voluntarily borne ar the Valted States, nor give ald oF comfort engaged in armed hostility thereto, &o. Mr, Trumbull thoa 4 to show that (ue law waa applicable to Senators aud rossalotives. AG nearly ail the Senators had taken and subscribed the oath @f allegiance to the country, he thought it wae too late to toquire whether the oath properly ombraced Seastors Ho did aot waut the ‘Coomess and Davisea to como here, and, after Awonring (0 support the coustitation, take Choir geats and thou porjure themacives. 19 claimod the right ty aay they oover should, with bis cooncnt, have sonia ia (hia body. He would require Senators to take the 3 teanaee they bad ant bare wry Ja rebet- san commilted be world theo vict' them wader the etalals, 248 Mr domme, (cop.) of Mass., said the question wae whotiver the rile proposed should be referred to tho Oom- mittes oo the Judiciary. The reasons assigned (or the propored reference were two, viz—Whother (be nob whieh the rule proposed to carry ont was wooonstit utiam- it to be constitutional, whetagr it was He doabted whatt al aad, sagurni applica te to Safators. hor hore wea @ had made « ry Rm th id it be veer Gm vo. Of what uae woold it be to (ho qugstion (othe Committes on the Judiciary? Every wis as compatont to dec now aa after the Committes should froport. If the rule wae aot perfectly staple, thea there might be occasion for rofer. once to remove doubt. Sen’ ’ not beee an objection started to day that wi anawored,and in (aoe of there ob,eotions, 3 i s i tos first (akeo by the chair,aad by bim aaministe Senators, Every mine! the Senate delayed in this question the country. ft bel Patriottara by tal Mr Mataon, (op.) ot Course Was to refer grave questions, altho senators might assume that matters. wore very clear, aod there. foro it was dio to refer. The