The New York Herald Newspaper, February 2, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, SOIMOR AND PROPRIETOR Orrios ©. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS cash im advance. Money seat by mai! will be at the risk of the sender. None but bank bills curreat ta New York taken. ent sc SERS Ae ee Wotume EXEK ....5..... cs eeee ee eeee ee @e BB AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, “Broadway. —Cowsts Soogas. WALLACK’S TERATRE, Broadway.—Rossoare Psd GARDEN, Broadway.-Ticaer or Leave OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—A Boct ts 4 Carns Saor—Mazerra. KEW ROWERY THEATRE. Bowery.—RoorwooD— Barewesocen Maningn—[axuk Fast Mex. BOWBRY THEATRE, Bowery.—Hovse taat Jace Boiwr—A vorrep Cuip—Lvae tax Lasores. ’§. MUSEUM, Broadway.—Faevoa Grawe, oust ove "eudae Bor. ‘o., as all hours, Cawitca’s Hos. mano. At Sand 73 P.M TANTS’ MINSTRELS. Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Bread. wiraenoruas Bones, Dances, BURLESQUES, &,—TaR Sewiovs Fame, wooo": EL HALL, 5i4 Broads wErarorias Borge Dancts AesBatiROaD BRELOSION AMFRICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Baccers, Fawtowines, BURLESQUES. &c.—YOuno Recauit. BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 485 Broadwav.—Gru- = Equestaax Pu . Afternoon end ven! HOPE CHAPEL, 718 Broadway.—Tas Sreagoscorrican cadimeoe or tus Uxiverss. PERAAM'S, 585 Broadway.—SrerRoscorticon amp Min- mor oF tux REBELLION. BEW YORK MUSEUM OF AN4&j 5 Broad VRIOSITIES AND-LECTURES. from ris riity La ati HOOLEMS OPE! HOUS! Brooktyo. —! Bonas, Dances, Beniasovts. ia” alas New York, Tucsday, February 2, 1864. THE SITUATION. The action of Congress yesterday on the ques- fiona of the elevation of General Grant to the posi- tion of Lieutenant General and Commander-in-Chief of the armfes of the United States, by a vote of ‘one hendred and eleven to seventeen, not only establishes the popularity of that officer, but indi- rectly condemns the policy of General Halleck, whom General Grant will, of course, supersede in command of the armies, if the bill should re- ceive the sanction of the Senate and the signa- ture of the President. The latest despatches from General Kelley's command, in West Virginia, state that a fight Took place late yesterday afternoon inthe New Creek valley between an advancing column of the enemy's troops and one column of ours, After a Bharp engagement we repulsed the enemy, driving him back over two miles. The enemy had ob- tained possession of Burlington before they were drivea back. Stories of @ proposition on the part of the rebels to lay down their arms if their leadeis Were included in Mr. Lincoln's amnesty proclama- tion were floating about yesterday; but there is no confirmation whatever such rumors, Another rumor, with just as much probability attached to it, is one that comes from Huntsville, Als., to the effect that an attack was made on Mobile some five days ago. We have rebel papers to the 29th ult., and they make no re‘erence whatever to any such affuir; neither do our for- mer despatches announcing the arrival of Admiral Farragut at New Orleans. There appears to be no doubt that the rebels at Ringgo!d and Dalton have gone to join Longstreet fn his dea'gn upon Kentucky. Oar extracts from the rebel journals referred to are highly interesting. They represent the Spirits of the Southern people to-be most exuber- mat. The soldiers are said to be re-enlisting by whole regiments and brigades, “‘without bounty or bribe.’ The safety of Richmond in the spring campaign, which General. Grant is supposed to have designed, is talked of with some fear by the Richmond Examiner. The coming Presidential election, and the chances of Mr. Lincoln and General Grant form subjects for comment inthe rebel preas, but the writers do not seem to com- prehend the idea very clearly. The news from the Potomac Army is not very important. In a reconnoissance by our cavalry yeaterday the Post Office at Madison Court House was visited, and Richmond papers of the 30th of Jaauary were found, containing General Lee's address to his army (which we give in full), exhorting his soldiers not to faint with their compulsory hunger, but to endure for only a short time longer the hardships of short rations, and Bevera! editorial articles confirming previous re- ports of destitution in the rebel army. The let- ters possess great interest, as unfolding a view of the safferings of rebel soldiers and their fami- lies, and express a general desire for peace on uy terms, and @ confession that the rebel cause fs hopeless. Deserters are coming into our lines in large numbers, and report the destitution in the rebel army as insufferable. CONGRESS. Tho proceedings of Congress yesterday were unasaally interesting. In the Senate the resigna- tion. of Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, was received, aad the credentials of his successor, Mr. George Read Riddle, were presented by Mr. Saulabury. A message was received from the President trans- mitting the report of the Secretary of State, in an- wwer to the resolu ion of the Senate, respecting the correspondence with the authorities of Great Biitain with reference to the pursuit of hostile bands of Iowa Indians into the Hudson Bay Terri- tory. A bill providing for the examination of quartermasters, commissaries and paymasters was referred to the Military Committee. Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, made a lengthy explanation respect- ing his action for the expulsion of Sena- tors Bright and. Powell, and his course on the confiscation question. The resolution that Departments shall detail an officer to watch pro- ceedings before Congressional Investigating Com mitteos was thea taken up, and during the discus- sion Mr. Grimes rend a letter from Donald McKay, the Boston shipbuilder, in reference to the wants ‘of our naval vessels and the recent controversy botween the engineers onthat subject. The death Of Mr. Noell, of Missouri, was announced, the usual resolutions were adopted, and the Senate gd. jouned, In the House of Representatives a resolution for Printing fifty thousand additional copies of General McClellan's report was referred to the Printing Committee, A joint resolution providing money commutation when short rations are served to sol- diers, was referred. The Judiciary Committee amore iastructed ta inouire into the expediency NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1864. trial of the cause, which was te have come of | The War tm Best Tomncssee=The Now 80 amending the Confiscation aot as to make it the duty of District Attorneys to take steps for forfeit- ing the property of traitors on complaint, ander oath, of any citizen who aball state the cause for such proceedings. The Pension Committee were instructed to inquire, ia view of the increased expense of living, into the expediency of increasing the amount paid to pensioners. A bill to afford protection to overland emigrants was re- ferred to the Military Committee. A resolution was offered by Mr. Blair, of Missouri, providing for the appointment of a select committee to in- quire into the working of the trade regulations established by the Treasury Department, A select committee was ordered on the subject of a national armory west of the Alleghany Mountains. A resolution directing inquiry ea to the expediency of repealing or suspending the law for drafting soldiers was laid on the table by a vote of eighty- four against forty-two. A resolution recommend- ing a more vigorous policy in order to enlist color- ed troops was adopted by a vote of eighty against forty-six. The bill reviving the grade of lieuten- ant general was then taken up, and after an ani- mated debate an amendment, recommending the appointment of General Grant to the position, was adopted by a vote of LLL against 17, and the bill passed—yeas 96, nays 41. In Committee of the Whole the Senate bill amendatory of the Enrol- meant act was discussed, and the House adjourned. The United States steam transport City of Bath, Capt. Sears, eight hours from Port Royal, 8.C., with two hundred privates and fourteen officers of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, arrived at aipot yesterday afternoon. She brings 20 The Hon. E. W. Gantt, of Arkansas, ex-Briga- dier General in the rebel army, addressed a very large gathering in the Cooper Institute last even- ing. He strongly denounced slavery as the cause of the war, and expressed the hope that he would ere long see the Northern soldiers settle on the plantations of the South. EUROPEAN NEWS. The steamship Hibernia, from Galway on the 19th of January, put into Halifax yesterday, on her voyage to New York. The Hibernia was short of coal, in consequence of having been de- tained several days ia the ice. Tne same cause prevented her calling at St. Johns, Newfoundland. The news by the Hibernia is two days later than the advices of the Australasian. It is of a highly important character. Europe was on the brink of war, in consequence of the complications of the Schleswig-Holstein question. Austria and Prussia had proposed an ultimatum to Denmark, calling on the King to withdraw the November constitu- tion relative to the duchies. The King of Den- mark rejected the ultimatum, and the Austrian and Prussian Ministers had retired from Co- penhagen. The Emperor of Austria had re- viewed thirty thousand troops, and the military preparations for war were very active io Prussia. In presenting the ultimatum to Den- mark, Austria and Prussia acted ia opposition to the vote of the Federal Dict in Frankfort, and against the feeling of the minor States of Germany. The London Post expected that a declaration of war would immediately ensue on the part of Aus- tria and Prussia, on the one side, and Denmark— with, we presume, her allies—on the other. Hos- filities may not immediately ensue, itis said; but, if war should break out, it is evident that not only will all Europe be convulsed, but the unity of the German Confederation dissolved. The French Legislature was still debatiag the address in reply to the Empcror’s speech. With regard to Mexico it was said that the amendment of the opposition will be met by a ministerial state- ment to the effect that the expenses of the Freach army in Moxico have been paid by the Mexican government since the Ist of January. The Arch- duke Maximilian was to be received with “‘appro- priate honors” at the Court of France. Garibaldi had issued a proclamation inviting the Italiana to rally for Italian unity. A oew ministry had beea formed in Spain. Consols closed in London at noon on the 19th of January at 90 9-16 a 9013-16 for money. The Londen Stock Exchange was rather feverish, in consequence of the warlike aspect of affairs in Germany and the drain of gold from the Bank of France. It was thought the rate of discount would be put up toeight per cent. The failure of two old established English houges is aanounced—one in London and one in Coventry. Tho Liver- pool cotton market closed rather dull on the L9th of January. The sales were amall. Breadstuffs opened firmer, and wheat advanced under the in- fluence of the war news from the continent. Pro visions were steady. The proposition for the new French loan of £12,000,000 sterling met with aa extraordinary success. The applications made during a few days amounted to £160,000,000 sterling (cight hundred millions of dollars), thirteea times the amount required. MISCELLANEOUS HEWS. A meeting of the Board of Aldermea waa hold at one o'clock yesterday afternoon. Alderman Hardy offered a resolution empowering the Com- mittee on Retrenchment and Reform to compel witnesses, when summoned, toappear before thom. A resolution was adopted instructing the Hudson River Railroad Company not to draw more thaa one freight car at a time over that portion of the track lying within the city limits, A resolution was also adopted authorizing the Comptrolier to make a transfer of $25,000 ia order to receive the returning three years regiments. The Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the Comptrol- ler’s budget, presented their report ia favor of paying the interest onthe city debt. The Comp- troller’s report was alao received, stating that the fund for the aid of soldiers’ families at present re- maining in his hands amounted to $22,117. The Board adjourned to Tuesday acxt, after the trana- action of some further unimportant busiacas. The Board of Councilmen met at one o'clock yesterday, when the paper from the Aldermen authorizing the erection of an elevated railroad at the foot of Twentieth street, North river, was re- ferred to the Committee on Streets. The resola- tion by the Committee on National Affairs recom- mending that the Comptroller be authorized of transfer the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars to the appropriation for city contingencies to be ex- pended in giving a table reception to the re- turning regiments was also received aad concar- red in, The other business transacted was of an unimportant nature, and the Board adjourned anyjl Thursday next at one o'clock. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Health, held at the Mayor's office yeaterday, Mayor Gun- ther called the attention of the Board to the alarming increase of typhoid fever and diseases resulting from the imperfect ventilation of build- ings, eapecially tenement houses, and inquired if anything had been done by the Common Council in pursuance of the suggestions of the Commission- ers. Councilman Haya informed the Board that the Councilmen had already requested the Counsel to the Corporation to draft an ordinance to aecure the adoption of proper means of ventilation, and Alderman Henry stated that he would ase his in- fluence to the same end in the Board of Aldermen. Dr. Sayre confirmed the statement as to the preva- lence of these diseases, and the necessity for im- mediate action by the Common Council to pre- vent the spread of the samey Mr. Armstrong, tho clerk, sent in his resignation, which was accepted. The United States District Attorney yeaterday filed a final decree of distribution of the proceeds of the prize steamer Stettin, in the United Btates Circuit Court. The Bienville alone shares in the Proceeds, which amount to 6202,471. Judge Cardozo rendered # docision yesterday in the Evening Express newspaper case, granting the motion for a stay of proceedings ponding the Sppen\ frqmy the order of Jydge Hiltgn. The before JudgegBrady, was adjouracd until next Monday, in consequence of the business engage- ments of.one of the counsel for the Mesars. Brooks. The February term of the Qourt of Geacral Sessions commenced yesterday morning, City Judge A.D. Russel presiding. The panel of Grand Jurors was called, and afterwards discharged until thia morning at eleven o'clock, Mo cases being as for trial, the Court adjourned to the same William Collins, one of the “Olubbers’ alleged to be implicated in the murder of Albert Coleman, @ boatman, in Water street, on Friday evehing, was arrested by the police on Sunday at the saloon cor- ner of Broadway and Prince street, At the samo time @ young man named John Dobbs, who is charged with shooting policoman Sweeny on Now Year's Day, was arrested. Both tho prisoners were committed to prison. The decision in the Husted habeas corpus case, which was to have been rendered yesterday, was Postponed by Judge Barnard until to-day, ia coa- sequence of the non-attendance of one of Mrs. Husted’s counsel. Joha W. Andrews, implicated in the draft riots, was remanded to Fort Lafayette yesterday, the United States District Attorney having decided to investigate the case before a grand jury. Surrogate Tucker has admitted to probate the contested will of Nathan Jacksoo, The testator leaves the bulk of his property to his widow, and the will was contested by one of his sons. The eatate ia valued at $100,000. The accounts of the estates of Samuel 8. Davenport, Clinton G. Bird, Augustus Gerald Hall, Sarah B. Hull, Margaret Kelly and James Hart, Jr., have beea finally set- tled. Governor Andrew Johnson is giving every facili- ty to the residents of Tennessee to vote at tho coming election. Ho haa provided means go that all desiring to do so can subscribe to the Presi- dent's ambesty oath, and receive the proper cer- tificate of protection, which will entitle them to the full benefits of the act. Tho atock market exhibited a> particular feature yes- terday, and the prices of Saturday were goverally Cully sustained, with an upward tendeucy. An attempt was mado in the morning to put up the premium on gold, on tho strength of the President's proclamation; but it failed. Money may now be covsidered easy under the logal rato of interest, aod borrowers caa be bountifully supplicd. Government stocks remain frm, tho five-twontios atand- ing at 104, aad the seven and three-teatbs at 108. ‘There was gooeral duiaess in commercial matters yos- terday, aod the amount of business trangacted in the several departments was unusually small. The prova- lence of a rain storm put @ stop to most outdoor business, ond checked alt kiods of operations, On 'Change dulness and dapresaion were the ruling foatures, and a general decline ia prices was reported. Freights were dull and heavy; but prices wore without alteration. Groceries were decidediy dull; but prices wore without important change. Cotton was uacbanged. Petroleum waa dull and nearly nomiaa\ The Proposed Draft to Square ap Ola Accounts, The papers, and consequently the people, geem to be laboring uoder a mistake in regard to the draft ordered by President Lincoln in the proclamation published yesterday. This draft for five hundred thousand mea is, in reali- ty, not a new draft. It is rather a completion of the drafts already ordered—a general squgr- ing up of the old accounts between the people and the government. To make this matter plain to our readers, we publish in another column the calls for troops issued by the Presi- dent since and including 1862. It will be seen that oa tho 4th of August, 1862, President Lincoln ordered a draft for three bundred thousand nine months mititia, im addition to the three hnodred thou- and volunteers already authorized, by Con- gress. These nine mouths men were Mil raised; but that atili left the people in debt to the gov- ernment for the three bundred thousand volun- teers. For one cause and another, and espe- cially because the government bad pleaty of nine months men in the field, this matter was allowed to slip over until 1563, when a draft was ordered. This, it will be remembered, cul- minated fa the New Yorkriots. The Secretary of War reports that be obtained fifty thousand men by this draft, and fifty thousand more by volunteering up to the date of the draft— making one hundred thousand in all. Deduct this one hundred thousand from the three hun- dred thousand authorized by Congress, and we find that the people were in debt to the gov- ernment, after the draft of 1863, juat two hua- dred thousand men. The draft, as we have said, took place ia the summer of 1863. {n October, 1863, the Presi- deat issued a call for three hundred thousand volunteers, “in addition to thesmon raised by the present draft.” Add to this three hun- dred thousand the two hundred thousand de- ficiency noted ia the preceding paragraph, and we have a tolal of five hundred thousand men, which is precisely the aumber called for by the President in his recent order. Of course, as the President states, ‘as many as may have been enlisted or drafted into the service prior to the Ist of March” will be deducted from this five bundred thousaad. Tho fuss raised about the new draft by some of our papers is, there- fore, superfluous. It is @ mere settlement of accounts, in which the government debits the people with all the troops called for singe the beginning of 1862, and credits the people with all tae drafted and enlisted men since the same date. Instead of being a domand for five hundred thousand new men, it is only a de- mand that the people sal! pay up the balance on their old debt. Thia wo should at once set to work to accomplish. The indications are that it will not be very hard work for any locality. Vermont, Indiana, Connecticut and, we be lieve, New Jersey, bave Gillcd up their quotas uader all the calla. Consequently there will be no draft in those States, Many cities, towns aad counties throughout the country have re- ported all their quotas full, These fortunate places will escape the draft. About one bun- dred thousand men are said to have enlisted during the month of January. This will cut down materially the number called for. The veteran regiments which have re-enlisted, or sball re-enlist before the lat of March, will be credited to the localities where they were originally recruited. This will cut down tho number again. On the whole, we are of the opinion that oaly about two hundred thousand men will remain to be raised before the lst of March; and this can be onaily done, and the draft avoided altogether, by a proper display of patriotism and liberality, especially as the present bounties are to be continued up to ten days before the draft. As far as New York is concerned, Supervisor Blunt, Chairman of the Volunteering Committee, reports that he thinks there will be no difficulty in raising our quota before the time specified in the draft order, Naturally enough, he expects every good citi- een to aid bim in the work, so aa to eave all trouble and sustaia tue reputation of this me- tropolis of the Union, which has already done more for the war than the whole State of Maa- sachusetts, that botbed of fanaticism, and author of algont all gus woes, Rebel Programme. The tate movements of the rebel General Longstreet in East Tennossee have given rise to some apprehensions as to the safety of Knoxville. That be has been contemplating the surprise and seizure of this important posi- tion we cannot doubt; but, according to our latest advices from that quarter, he bas dis- covered that bis movements to this end have been too slow; for it appears that he has again turned bis back upon “the Yankees,” and is supposed to be retreating across the northwest’ corner of North Carolina, to join Joe Johnston in Georgia. : Should this opinion be confirmed, aa we ex- pect it will be, by actual reconnoissances, thea we may safely conclude that the rebel pro- gramme for the spring campaign will involve the evacuation of Richmond and the abandon- ment of Virginia, and the shorteniag of their defensive line from Dalton, Georgis, across, per- hapa, to Wilmington, North Carolina; because the safety of the only available line of commu- nication between Southwestern Virginia and Richmond depends aa much upon the protec- tion of Longstreet's army in the West as upon Lee's army in tho East. This, then, is the new rebel plan of operations foreshadowed by this second retreat of Longstreet from our forces assigned to the defence of Knoxville— namely, the abandonment of the defensive line of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, the necessary abandonment next of Richmond and Virginia, and the concentration of all the available armed forces of the rebellion on aa immensely shortened defensive line—say the line we have just suggested, extending across the country by way of the Capo Fear river from Wilmington, N. C., to Dalton or Atlanta, Ga. But what, may be asked, will then become of the Virginia soldiors of Jeff. Davia? Will they not abandon him and his hopeless cause with tho surrender of their State to “the Yankees?” Doubtless many of them will; but many othera will still adhere to his fortunes, as his in- fatuated fighting followers from Missouri, Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana havo done and are atill doing, notwithstanding the irrecoverable loss of their respective States. Moreover, the chivalry of North aad South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, in Lee’s army, must now be as anxious to ve- turn home to the defence of their own States as the Virginians can be to rotain them in the Old Dominion. Indeed, itis probable that the dangers which menace their general cause in Georgia have already brought the rebel rélers at Richmond to the determination to leave Virginia in the bands of here guerillas for a season, white the regular armies of the rebellion are moved down for a last desperate struggle with that most ter rible and dangerous of all their enemics, Gene- ral Grant. What, then, will be the plan of operations most likely to be pursaed by Joff. Davis, assum- ing that bis first object is to fall back to ashorter aod more tenable defensive liac? We think that, in abandoning the eaterpiise ef flanking Chattanooga on the east, he will attempt it on the west. We suspect that the late mysterious movements of Longstreet and Joo Johnston cover some such desiga, and we shall not bo surprised if within the present month we receive authentic intelligence of the advance of a rebel army, one hundred thousand strong, across the northern border of Alabama, and aiming by forced marches to compass the surprise and cap- ture of Nashville. With their vastly inferior armies aad diminished prospects East and West, the rebel chiefs cannot afford to stand idly wait- ing upon the defensive until the Union gene- rala confronting them are fully propared for offensive operations We think it altegother probable, therefore, that, if not iaterrupted in the meantime, Joe Jobnaton, withia a month or 40, will invite our army from Chattanooga, not into the plains of Georgia, but to the defence of Nashville, in the heart of Tennessee. The beavy fortifications of Richmond, as the Davis confederacy now stands, amouat to nothing. They may be taken—as those stupen dous works at Columbus, on the Mississippi, wore takea—by a flank movement, aad at fifty, a hundred or five hundred miles off. Tho city may be taken by the simple occupation of its southern lines of communication, over which its supplies of subsistence from day to day are drawn; and these vital lines may be seized ia North or South Carolina or Georgia. Iu a word, the military situation, East and West, the ~urgent military necessities of the rebellion, and all the reports lately received from Richmond, and from Longstreet aad Joe JSobaston, ‘atrengthen usin the opinion that the aew pro- gramme of Davis will involve the abandonment of Richmoad aod Virginia by bia regular armies, and the concentration of all bis armies for a flank movement into Tennessee, after the fashion of Lee's campaigns into Maryland and Pennsylvanm. The Threatened War in Europes. The Hibernia arrived at Halifax yesterday, with news from Galway to the 19th ult. It is of the highest importance, as indicating a rup- ture in Germany. The dotails will be found in another column. The Schleawig-Holsteia ques- tion had evidently reached its crisis. While awaiting further information from Europe, it may not be amiss at this momoat to review the position of the great Powers. Ac- cording to the advices by the Hibernia, a war between Germany and Denmark seemed almost unavoidable, the disputed point being which shall rule over the duchies of Schleswig and Hol- stein. We are Inclined to believe, spite of the threatening attitude of the above named Pow. ers, that no war will take place. The quarrel will be patched up, beoanse Europe dreads any outbreak. England has no interest in the war. Heace she will oppose it. Prussia fears the conse- quences to herself, as France would most liko- ly side with Denmark, and manage, ia the con- fasion of the conflict, to capture and retaia those German provinces the possession of which would enable her to extend her frontiers to the Rhine, Austria desires peace, a4 ia case of war shoe must expect outbreaks in Htun- gary and Italy. Russia, with the Polish ingar- rection to put down, must of course deprecate awar in Germany, which may bocome tio atarting point for a grand European revolution; and bence sho will seek to maintain peace Spain bas no interest in the matter, and will take no initiative, of course. France alone may profit by the impending war; and here is the danger to Europe. But the position of Napoleon is such that at this moment ho may not desire @ war, and in that case he will do all in his powor to pacify tho would be belligerents, France must be free from tho Woxigaa expeditign oro ghe gaa ya- dertako or foster European war. We sball Goudtioss see England and France settling tho disputed point between Denmark and the Ger- manic Confederation, and thus peace will be. preserved. Still ali Europe will fear the out- break of war ao long aa France, and, ta tact, all the great Powers, koep up auch formidable ar- maments. This fear iv chronic ia Europe, juat 4a at Washington thore ever exista a chronic dismay lest Davia may invade aad capture that eapital. To conclude, we anticipate no imme- diate war ia Europe, as the geacral iaterest in that country is against its occurrence. Still, 43 men’s passions often override their reason, we by no moans assert that war cannot take Place there. A very short time.will settle the question, as from late accounts the antagonists were almost face to face. Out of these troubles and complications Na- poleon evidently aims at the acoomplishment of his great design. It is mot at all unlikely that to prevont open hostilities ia the duobies, which would lead to « goneral war, the Em- poror may succeed ia compelling England and tho other Powers to moet him in Congress in Paris, for the sottloment of the troublea of Europe and @ grand territorial reconstruction. Too Five Handced Thousand Men—The Mamageomont of the War, The Preaident, by an order dated February 1, consolidates the last two calla for men, aad re- quires that by March 10 they shall together reinforce our armies to the extent of five hun- dred thousand men. Suchan aggregate, added to the men now under arms, will give usa total force of nine hundred and eighty-one thou- sand, or, ia round oumbers, a million of men. Throe-fourths of this immense army will be veterans<-men used to firoand trained to a soldier’s life. Never before ia the history of the world did so many men fight together under one banner; and, as the country ia now expected to put this inmmenso force into the field, it may be'well to inquire what is to be done with so many men. Nations thus rich in men are inevitably lavish of their lives; and that is a kind of extravagance that the country has seen extensively indulged in this war. But wo think that the country has seen enough of it. Through the blunders of the Washingtoa directory fifty per cent of the lives lost in this war have been wantonly wasted, and it ougbt to be known whether this waste is to stop now. Would it not be well for Mr. Lincola, from the date of this draft forward, to leave the maa- agement of the war alone? Four grand ad- vances against Richmond have eaded ia terri- ble disaster to our arms; and for every disaster Mr. Lincoln is alone responsible. He also is principally responsible for Rosecrans’ failure at Chickamauga, and for numberless other fail- ures, great and small, in all parts of the coun- try, as is proven by the report of the Committee on tho Conduct of the War, by the report of General Halleck and by the report of General McClellan. In 1862 General McClellan had planned an advance against Richmond. Mr. Lincoln had made a plan for the same purpose, which was embodiod in the annexed letter:— Exucotive Maxmon, WAsmucron, Fob. 8, 1862. Major Gonoral McCuRiiaN:— Mr Desa Sim—You and I havo distinct and difforent pens Or amen ont of tho Army of the Potomac. Yours to be down 0, up the Rappabannock to Ur- ‘Danna, and across land to tho terminus of the York rivor. Mono, to move directly ta point on the railroad south- woat of Manassas. If you givo mo satisfactory anawers pen following questions, I eaall giadiy yield wy plan to 1. Does nos your plan involve a greatly largor ocpeadi- taro of time aad moncy than mine? ee is @ victory more cortain by your piaa than main 3. Wheroin is a victory more valuable by your piso than mino? 4. In fact, would {t not bo lesa valuable in this, that it would broak no croat line of the onomy's communication, whilo mino would? Im case of Gisaator, would not a sale rotreat be more diffca!t by your plas than mino? Yours, truly, ‘A. LINOOLN. General McClellan was permitted to start for tho fulfilment, with some modifications, of bis own plan; but when this had brought him within view of the spires of the rebel capital, and while all looked well for the speedy cap- ture of that city, the President came up with his plan and ruined ali. Devoted to his little plan, he kept tho troops that should have been with McCleliaa in the Valley of Virginia. Our force was thus in two parts. The enemy got be- tween (uo two parts, and was able to fight either at his leisure, Our complete failure oa | | tho peninsula, the destruction of Pope, and Lee’s advance into Maryland, were thus the result of Mr. Lincoln’s first great altempt to manage the war. Considerably latec there was great trouble about the Mississippi. The rebels had closed it by tho fortification of Vicksburg, and we wished to open it. Ali sorts of plans were suggested and tried, with uniform failure. Finally Geaoralt Graat went dowa, raa tho batteries, tanded his troops below the city, beat the enemy's troops in the opea couatry, aod was prepared to march apon the enemy's fortified position from the rear. And just at that moment, when Grant's position in relation to Vicksburg waa exactly analogous to what McCtellan’s position had been in relation to Richmond, the Presidont wished to repeat on Grant the interference by which he had de- stroyed the plans of McClellan. So much ho tells us in this letter:— Exnoonve Mansion, Waanxaron, Jaly 13, 18963. To Mi @onoral Grant. — My Daan Gawnrss—i 40 not romember that you andi evor mot personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgment for (he almost inestimable service you haw done tre country. I wish 0 say ® word further, Wheo you frat reachod (he vicinity of Vicksburg I thought you should do what you finally did—marck the troops across tho peck, rum the batteries with the tranaports, aad thus € below; and I povor had any faith, oxcopt a geusral ope that you knew botier thac I, tuat the Yazoo Pass expedition and tho like could succead.” When you got be- low and took ort Gibson, Grand Gulf and vicinity, f thought you should go down the river and jola General Banks, aod when you turaod northward, oast of th: Black ,I feared it was a mistake. [now wish to make @ personal roknowledgment that you were right and I was wromg Yours, vory truly, A. LINOOLN. But, for some reason or another—perhaps oa account of the distaace only—the President was unable to interfere as actively on the Mis- sissippi as ho had done in Virginia, and, there- fore, Vicksburg was taken. Now look at these two letters and at the re- sulta. Do not circumstances like these prove coaclusively-that the Preaideat ought now to leave the management of the war alone? Can it be that they do not excite in tho President's own mind a mistrust of his military genius’ Mr. Lincoln isa tolevable politician and a drent joker, Let him go on with his jokes and his politica; but tet him loave the war alone. Let the war be left to the generals, and we will have peace by the Fourth of July. ——— A Paaaccen Wirnout & Pow?t.—The Tribune comes out with @ lame defence of the short- comings of tho Navy Department, It quotes an extcact from the London Times of March, 1813, to show that {the samo complaints of ae gieot, inefficiency and mismanagement which are boing mado agaiast Secretary Wollos were then preferred against the Lords of the Admi- ralty. ‘Ln sevon months,” it says, “apwards of five hundred British vosscis had been captured by the Americans, and up to tbat dime gota iagio American frigate had been made atrike her Gag.” All this is very true; but @ parallel dt proves nothing, except, if whipped’ the British et that time, we ¢ertainly ought to clear the ocean of three or four rebel privateeré now. What we quac- ret with the present head of the Navy Depart- ment for ia aot his not accomplishing impoanl- bilities, but bis refusing to avail bimaelf of the Teaources that modern science and an unlimited command of means have placed at his dig- posal. His notions of @ vessel's capabilities are founded on the old Noah’s ark model, which he keeps beside bim, and nothing will induce him to depart from the fixed ideas that he has acquired upon the subject. To this dogged- ness and the employment of incapable subor-~ dinates we owe the crippling of ovr commerce and the inefficiency for a lengthened period of the blockade. Union Srars Excortows w Ruvet Starad.— Within the next six weeks, in three of the States that went out of the Unioa— Tennessee, Arkangas aad Louisiana—State elections are to be held under President Lincoln’s proclamations. Exception may be takea to the maaner in which these’ eled tions are to be carried out; but the fack cannot be disputed that within the time pro scribed the three States in question will be technically aa well as virtually aa much withia. the operation of the federal compact as ever they were. There will then remain to the rebels but six and a half States out of the original, thirteen that seceded; for of Virginia we possess the other half. It is very certain, thea, that & the spring campaign be vigorously carried om on our part the remainder of the rebel territory will be recovered by June, and the example of Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana followed in time by all the revolted States to enable their representatives to take part in the pro- ceedings of the next Congress, Avxotagr Caanct ror Greecer’s Nive Hon. prev Taousand Men.—The President's call for five hundred thousand volunteers affords Massa Greeley a splendid opportunity to trot out bie nine hundred thousand, men and cover Gover- nor Andrew's “dusty roads of Massachusetta” with this immense force. The President has issued all the proclamations that poor Greeley desired; and now, if the Tribune philosopher will do his duty and fulfil his promises, we shalt soon be able to give the President bis five hun- dred thousand volunteers, and bave four haa- dred thousand to spare for the next time. The Returning Regimenta, ACTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL WITH RESPROT FO TUE RETURNING REGIMENTA—TWENTY-FIVE THOT> BAND DOLLARS APPROPRIATED FOR THEIR BEORR- TION, BTC., BTC. BOARD OF COUNOIATN. Tuo Board of Couaciimen met at ono o'clock poaterday, President Hayes in the chair. Aftec (raasacting gome bubfnoss of an unimportant aa- ture, @ paper was received from the Aldermoa, in whic’ the Committce on National Affairs recommended that the Comptrolier should be authorized to transfer the sum of twonty-fivo thousaad dollars to the appropriation for city contingencies, and the same to be expended ia giv. ing 8 suitable reception to the returning regiments. Mr, Branoon said the Committce on National Afeire, both for this yoar and tast, bad been unjustiy coasured by (ho papors, and particularly by tho Herat, for aot tax ion to make provision for sr ind Metataiog. roplmonts, Mt wen aos tba fault committee; for they were without money to do kr. Gi the. amount in band from which to make tho ‘Mr. Braynoy was able to inform the gent! th was an unexpended balance of about two millions it ia the hands of the ler. Row thought the Common Council had beew aa- justly censured for-not givii rogimoats @ proper reception. If be were to fol his own viows bo would rather eee the money which was about to be expended for the reception of the returning regiments oxpeaded ia purchasing artificial logs for the use of those brave mon who bad been maimed tq the service of thoir countey. Mr Jaqoua hoped tho’Board would concur ha Aldermoa, Ho understood from the report that the Comp, troller bad been consulted in relation to tho matter, receive Gqual liberality would be showa: who retura alive, It appeared shou!d not be backward in showing ita appreciation of courage aud daring of ite fitting mark of it to often periiicd life.and limb on the account of the effect it would Mr. Grose was willing to gi returning regimonts, and consid one 0 toag ab it was carriod on for tho the Unioa and the constitution, but when it from that for the liberation of slaves and be tlomaa bad 2 ‘the cesolution would be 5 paper was concurred ‘n, and the Board adjourned al’ ureday noxt at 000 o'ol00k.. News from the South weet. 82. Louis, Feb. 1, 1864. A despatch from Fort Smith, dated January 29, say0 Goueral Thayor bas beon assigned to the command of tae District of the Frontier, heretofore commanded by Gene. ral MoNeiil. Over forty thousand negroes have been conceatrated it the various towns in tho interior of Texas, hundreds & whom are now dying of disease and starvation. Thirty Semiaole [ndians, who had doserted from Ma. @rudur and reached Waldron, represent that be was com, coateating bis forces on (ho border of Louisiane, in ma> ticipation of an attack from General Banks. Arumor waa curront to-day tbat Waldroa was captured yostorday by Prico’s forces. Waldron is sevouty mien gouth of bere. Nows from Fortress Moaroe. Fontreas Mowros, Jan. 31, 1804 Tuo fag of truce atoamor Now York arrived last cvom~ ing Foar Unio officors—ono colonel and three captaina— wore cent down on thelr parole by tho rebel governmunt. About'twoaty refugees from Richmond arrived to-day via Yorktown, Tuo English frigate Rose arrived and anchored te Hamptoa Roads this afternoon. A Unitod States ferryboat arrived this morning from Yorktown with 126 robol prisoners. They wore sont directly to tho flagship Minnesota, More Rebel Prisoners ming the Wavy. About three hundred rebel prisoners arrived hore tate tagt ovealug, ad wore escorted to the Navy Yard. Thoy wero pacolod 00 taking the oath of allegiance aod oaliat- ing in the navy. Forty men of the First [linois regimony guacded thom from Chicago to this oly. ———— aol Gorm.e Stasuae fe eas Bust ano Waae Gowen wee steamer Admiral, Acting Volanteor Batoa commanding, will leave the Brooklyn Navy Yard on Thursday of this woek, with the mails, supplica and passengers for Whe Raat and Wost Gulf squadrons, Pors gone baviog feioads in ships in these Aquadroaa should ond in thelr totters and packages before ton o'ciools Thursday moroing art Catendar—This Day. sora Sa are ak BB: A ' 4 821 B5e, LL1d, £008, 1089, 1085, Park ZmNOt in some ion ormnoR Court. Part L—Now, 3306, 3193, $787, 2816, $363, 2487, BOLO, 3383, 3919, 1167, 636, Ta, Sty yo), oats a), eal a a eat, ts Sora eae hae Ye et ceeacie Henn be Aeteet onneen Seay is 68, Baty Hy 408, 4%, B48, Buat 808 yi 1 ‘oom ay } 3164, LET, 108% 300, em