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=> = 334 ry in the zetreat of Led vw Rick- . ooud, but 4 a ‘NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT EDMOR AND PROPRIETOR ‘OFFICE MN. W, CORNER OF FULTON AND MAsSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BIBLO'S GARDRM, Brosaway.—Coxnis 6oocss—Cu0s- dous oF ene (re _ WALLAOK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tna Staancae WINTBR GARDEN, Broadway.—Hauist + OLYMPIC THRATRB, Brosdway.-Hanpy Axor—Ma- ‘Serra. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Masurra—0'Dox- onux—A Pimasan? Neiguson—Laae id ~Powery—Gur Manwentnc—Cot- NOWERY THEA?RE, Bowery—Gur Manw Leen Bawa Srinit ov '76—-CiLes Sceocgins’ Guost. '8 MUSEUM, Brosdway.—Two Gtawrs, Two BARNUM'S MOSEUM ine kon ah al hour, CcDio's ‘AYE—At Sand 7 P. TANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Mall, ¢72 Broad ienigrtay Bones, Davoss, Burixsquas, 40.—How WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 84 Broadway.—Ermior1. fence, Dancua, de—VOrR ror vas AunY SwoRD. BROADWAY THEATRE, 485 ‘Broadway.—Siwwows, AMERICAN TURATRE, No. 4¢ Broudway.—! Pawroatans, BURLEeguES. 0.—Malo FLute ee BALON DIABOLIQUE, $36 Broadway,—Rongerr Heciee, COOPER INSTITUTE.—Davenror? Borman: MBW YORK MUSKUM OF ANA’ *. — comosieiee and acres, from 8 he Me TOE a HOOLEY'’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—! S Sones, Danczs, Burixsquns, £0. 5 ge moa —————_—_—_———_——_————— Rise WITH SUPPLEMENT. —S ne jew York, Friday, May 6. 1864. THE GRAND CAMPAIGN OPENED. The grand campaign bas been opened, and With every prospect of the most glorious and yomplete success. We have the intelligence shat our Army of the Potomac yesterday morn- ing had crossed the Rapidan, without serious resistance; that Goncral Lee had been com- pelled to fall back from the strongly fortified position where he held us at bay all winter, and that the opinion was entertained at Washington Nhat he would probably retreat to Richmond without @ battle, to avoid the danger of being Hlankediand cut off from the city. | We advanced this opinion some days ago, end from the simple fact that fortifications to ‘Lee are now useless, as he can be turned out of them—whether on the Rapidan or at Rich- mond—by flanking him, and cutting off the arteries by which his army is subsisted from day to day. The combinations of General Grant are manifestly directed to this object. The advance of his Peninsular column up the York river to West Point proves it. The strong defences of Richmond are no security to ‘Lee against this movement; for in the destruc- .on of his communications with the city his _ wt the city may both be lost. We say agn,2; therefore, that we sball not be surprised if this Viigitia campaign shall : the rébel evacuation of the city and his retreat into North Carolina without a Dattle, in order to save hisarmy. But, whether election may be to fight or to fly, we are ons the result will be the same—the fall “Yr the rebel capital, and with it the fall of Jeff. Jon and his exploded confederacy. But, decisive as we think this will be in Vir ginias, the combinations of General Grant are not limited to Geacral Lee. A rebel despatch of the 29h of April, from Dalton, Ga., says that “a large force of the enemy (Union), infantry artillery and cavalry, atiacked the pickets on the Ringgold road this morning, capturing ten and wounding several,” which, Sneans that General Thomas was preparing to trike. He has a splendid army end a month's provisions walled in at Chattanooga. The rebellion is doomed and the end is nigh. CHE SITUATION. ‘The campaign in Virginia is opened. The grand Army Of the Potomac is on its onward march towards Ricu- moond. It never was in better spirits, better organized or more hopeful of euccess. We learn that the army wrossed the Rapidan yesterday without coming into ool- sion with the enemy, and that General Lee has fallen ack from his original strong position, and some doubts fre oxprossed as to whether he will risk a fight this side of Richmond, Meantime, white the Army of 4b Potomac is advancing towards the rebel capital from She north, the Union forces are Nanking iton the Penia- Sule. Woat Point, at the head of York river, was occa- - Jed by @ portion of our troops on Monday, and the rebel csaee surrendered. We give ia another part of paper the eooue of the impending battle. At any pur now we may have intelligence of the most import \ action of the eatire war The particulars of the evacuation, by the Union troops, aod the subsequent burning of Washington, N. ©., by some straggling marines and soldiers, are given in columns to-day. Washington was a somewhat insig ificant town, With Galy two thousand inhabitants in its oat palmy days. Wo give very fally to-day the report of the sub com ite of Congress charged with tavestigating the alleged Darbertty of the rebel troops at Fort Ptilow, Tennessee. t appoars that a0 quarter was extended to the vanquish- - and that womeo and children, the wounded and sick, prere iadiscriminately murdered by the rebels in cold Piood, tus number of vietims amounting to three hundred all { Oo despatches from the Shenandoah valley yesterday ‘Weport that rebel guerillas made raid on the railroad Vine, and captured three trains and destroyea $200,000 worth of property belonging to the railroad company, Prosterday morning at Bleomington Station, near Pied pmant, The demage to the rond was very trifling, Among Ou Southern nowe today is @ very interest- bog article from the Macon (Gay Felegraph, commenting boron A speech delivered by the rebel Vice President, sug Hi, Stephens, before the Georgin Logisiae re, Hig views are not regarded with mich faror by be Southern journal, Mr, Stephens casapproved of the . @nacted by,the Southern Congress relative to the rroucy, the military organizations and to the suspen. of (ie babeas corpus, The gpecch ts regarded as wing ® tendency to array the Georgia Logiaiature fearinat tho rode goveroment upon all the questions at @. Be Pierre Soule takes the trouble to deur. tos card NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1864—WiITH SUPPLEMENT. has taken wato himself « wife and Loft the confederacy. He says there ws nots word of truth ia the statement, ‘and it would not probably bea matter of tho slightent consequence if Shere was. CONGRESS. In tbe Senate yesterday the Committee on Commerce s-Bler 196 | reverted a Dill to prevent -soumggiiog. I provides thyt effects of pamengers and all other articles coming into ‘the United States from any foreiga country shall be in- epected, and if any dutiable articles shall be found the trunk, valise or other envelope shall be confiscated. The same prevision applies to car or vessel, and also pro- vides they may be released by the Secretary of the Navy upon payment of fixe. The bill authorizes the appoitment of additonal inspec- ‘tors at various points on the frontier. The House bill establishing a line of mail steamers botween the United subject was then laid aside. A joint resolution was re- piece of plate from the British government, in testimony Hospital, The report of the committee appointed to in- our troops by the rebels at Fort Pillow was presented, and twenty-five thousand copies ordered to be printed. ‘The House National Bank bill was thon taken up. Mr. Sherman offered an amendment to the amendment of the clause affecting the Bank of Com- merce, New York city. it allows the Comptrolier to close the affairs of the bank if at any timo the capital shall be less than five millions, with a surplus of twenty per cent. ‘This was adopted. Mr. Sumner moved @ substitute for the Finance Committee's amendment. It provides that every association shall pay to the United States a duty of oue per cent upon its circulation, one-half of one per cent on its deposits, and one-half of one per cent on its capital stock above the amount invested in United States bonds each half year after January, 1864, After same debate, without coming to a vote on tho proposition, the Sonate adjourned. In the House of Ropresentatives the bili to reimburse Pennsylvania for expenditures incurrred in repolling the rebel invasion of the State last summer was discussed at considerable length. Finally it was agreed to appropriate seven hundred thousand dollars for the pay of the Penn- sylvania militia, aod fifteen million dollars to defray the expenses of other States in repelling rebel raids, and in this shape the bill passed. A resolution dispensing with night sessions for the presont was adopted. Mr. Gooch, from the Committee on the Conduct of ‘the War, made a report on the Fort Pillow massacre, and moved that forty thousand copies be printed. The House theu adjourned, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship Ocean Queen, Captain Tiokiepaugh, from Aspinwall on the 26th ult., arrived at this port yesterday morning. She brings the California mails and smportant intelligence from Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the Central Amoricsno States. The elections in Chile resulted in the triumph of the goveroment party, From Peru we learn that there wero fears of serious trou- ble- occurring between that country and Spain on ac. unt of the inability to satisfy the clajms of the latter for injuries sustained by some of her subjects at the hands of some Peruvians. Trouble was also brewing between Chile and Bolivia. The United States Minister in Chile bad tendered the mediation of his government in tho affair; but it was refused. Tbe idea proposed by Poru, of congress of allthe American republics, was spreading rapidly. Chile aud Bolivia had answered categorically that they faccepted, and other republica bad favorably received the proposition The steamer Golden Ago sailed from Panama at mid- Bight, April 23, for San Francisco, ‘The annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was he'd yesterday afternoon, Mr. A. A. Low, President, ia the chair. A complimentary resolution to Captain Nich- ols was passed for bis action io the matter of the recap- ture of the Chesapeake, The Secretary read a report in relatign ¢o encroachments on the harbor, which was ro- ceived. A portrait of Richard Cobden was presented to the Chambor by Morris Ketchum, Kaq., through Mr. Wil- Siam Cullen Bryant. Rosoiutions wero adopted in favor Of the new telegraphic enterpriae between America and Europo, via Stberia, Behring Straits, &c. An clection of ofcers for the cosuing year was also beld, wbea Mr. A. A. Low was again elected President. After transacting some further and unimportant business the Chamber adjourned. . The Commissioners of Charities aud Correction have forwarded a commanication to Comptroiier Brennan calling bis attention to ao ftem pf $4,500 ineerted in the tax levy for counsel foes ou behalf of the Board. Tho Commissioners deny that the mouoy is due, as the Coun- sel for the Corporation is legally bound to conduct their suits. They also state that they bave no knowledge of b outstanding clatms as this item pretonds to . There are now 6,169 inmates of the institu- ronse of twenty-six for the week. The num- ber ited waa 1,209, and the number discharged, transferred of who dled was 1.296 ‘Tne term of offica of the presont Tax Commissioners, J... Allen, Amor J, Williamson and J, W. Brown, ex- pired on (he 3d inst., and the Comptrolter yesyerdsy ap. pointed J. W. Allen, Seoator Woodring George H. Purser as the vew Commission9” “was took the neces sary oath belare the B9Tr. It appears, however, that Hers. Wistiamsop Gnd Brown refase to surrender, alteg- ing that the Qoraptroiier bas no power of appointment under the {ifst section of thé act passed Apri! 14, 1869 The Hoard of School Trustees of the Twentieth ward wore engaged last evening in Investigating charges of a very grave character, preferred by Dr. 8, Caro, against ove of the female teachers in Ward School No. 13. It appears a child of Dr. Care's, boy only six years old, had been on @ visit to the country, and returved Inst Toesday in time for school; and during the recess in the middle of the day, before leaving the ciassroom, he got iwio a conversation with a little boy named Gilmore on the subject of what he had seca during his visit to the country. In describing the numerous animals which attracted bie altention while there, he, with the sim. plicity of childhood, said that, among other animala, he had seen a cock, which rude expression came to the ears of the teacher, who, in a vory brutal manner, as alleged by the fatber of the boy, took hold of him and rubbed bis mouth full of goa, from the effect of which the boy suffered very #0 verely. Upon the statement of Dr. Caro, which was fully corroborated by the little boy Gilmore, who witnessed the outrage, the Board passed a revolution suspending the teacher, and appointing « committee of throo members to investigate the c : Ss gab olga paopbers voted pep teh 4 officérs of the ward are determined to investigate the matter thoroughly, and if the young lady, whose name we wittbold for the present, capnot clear herself of the grave charge preferred against ber, she will be punished by immodiate dismissal, ‘The Union Republican Cedtral Committee beld a moet- ing, corner fof Twenty-third street and Broadway, last evening, Wm. L. Darliog im the cheir. The only business of public iaterest transacted was the making of arrange menje for holding primary clections on tho 18th.of May to choene delogates to @ State Convention, which will be held in the city of Syracuse og the 26th igst. . . < ‘The Long Island Historical Society held tele first ad Bual* meeting last evening. Ball, the Arctic explorer, entertained the mootitig by interegting state. monts Concerning the icy regions, the inhabitants, and Frobisher's expedition. He expressed the expectation of leaving agnig for the North on tue 9th of June Judge f ixsuod an order yosterday in the Fort Gansevoort case compelling Comptroller Brennan to issue Corporate six per cent bonds to the amount of $533,774, to consummate the purchase of the property, by Monday next, on pain of attachment, The bonds are required to be ums Of $1,000 each, except the fractional amount of and will be dated from February 3, 1863. The Waltou-Mathews murder case was up before the Supreme Court, gederal term, yesterday, on the motion of ex-District Attorney Waterbury to sentence Jofferds, in accordance with the decision of the Court of Appeals, ‘The counsel for the prisoner interposed an objection to the proceedings oa the ground that under the law‘or. merly in force abolisting capital puntéhment the life of the prisoner could not be jeopardieed. The Court took the papers and reeerved ite decision. Joflords was aot fo court, A verdict of three thousand dollars damages was reo. dered against & butcher named James Lerriagton, in the Supreme Gourt yesterday, for running over 4 girl oamed Avabelfa Sraltatson, fo month of December, 1862, while the Jatter was crossing Doy street, ooar Broadway. This onght be a warning to butchor boys with fast horses wot to make & trotting course of our public the roughfarea . Tn the case of Brooks va. Graham, before Judge Daly, whore tho plaintiff, as aswigneo, soed to recover the value Wf ravtnia anny ikon trom hin cunady wr Uae Shorifl. published tm the Charteston Alcroury, the report that be ‘States and Brazil was discussed, several amendments of the Senate Committee on Post Offices adopted, and the ported permitting Surgeon Solomon C, Sharp to accept a Of bis services totwo British officers in the Annapolis ‘vestigate the facts regarding the horrible butchery of and sold at the instance of the defendant, the jury ycator- Gay brought in « verdict for the piatutiff of $1,008 77. An action has been eommonoced in the Court of Common Pleas against John Morrissey, by « Mexican aamed Pablo de Arista, to recover twenty-three thousand dollass, which, 1s ia alleged, was lost at the gaming table. Nise thousand dollars of the amount are claimed 40 have boon lost at Saratege Inst summer, and the balance at the de- fendant's bouse in this city during the fall, In the United States District Court, before Judge Ship- man, the case of the United States vs. the Hamburg. Amsorioan Packet Company's oteamship Bavaria was Drought up yesterday. Some evidence was takes, and the case adjourned till this morning. In the Court of Segnions yesterday Recorder Holtman discharged the petit jurors until Mouday next, io conse quence of no cases being ready for trial before that time. ‘The court adjourned until this morning, at eleven o'clock, when a large number of indictments will be precented by tho Grand Jury. ‘The trial of the Lawronce will case was resumod bofere Surrogate Tucker yesterday. Ex-Judge Dean appeared for the proponents, in place of Mr. Fullerton, and cross- examined the contestants’ witnesses at great length. In tho Fullerton contempt case there wore no further dovelopments yesterday. No writ or order of arrest has been left with the Shoriff to be served on the Surrogate, ‘ag bas been erronoously stated in some of the papers. Up to the hour of closing his office yesterday the Sherif knew of mo guch writ; nor has the Surrogate been served with any complaint for false imprisonment by Mr. Fuller- ton, The question of the jurisdiction of the Superior Court Justices to discharge Mr. Fullerton will eome up for argument on the 16tb instant in the Supreme Court, general term. On the 2d of April eighty of the convicts in the State Prison at San Quentin, California, attempted to eacape by overpowering the guard. After a desperate fight, to which four of the convicts wore killed and eight wound- ed, the emeute was suppressed. A decree just issued by King Victor Emanuel closes all Italian ports, except in cases of stress of woather, against ‘war vessels or privateers, belonging to a Helligorent State, baving prizes with thom. The stock market was weak yosterday, and a amali de- cline in prices took place.’ There sooms no disposition on: the part of the public to become purchasers until after the result of the approaching battle in Virginia is known. Gold fluctuated between 17714 and 1784. Money con- tinued easy. Goveroment stocks were inactive aud ua- changed in price. The radical changes ia gold oa Wednogday and yos- terday have still furthor unsettled merchandise, and dearly all kinds of imported goods, and many kinds of domestic produce, are entirely nominal, Foreign goods were firmly held as @ general thing; but native produce was generally dull and heavy. Tne movement in potro- leum continued fair; but the excitement is rapidly sub- siding. Cotton was steady. Rebellious su, The bill of Mr. Winter Davis, of Maryinud, to “guarantee to certain States whose govern- ments have been usurped or overthrown a republican form of government,” has passed the House of Representatives by a vote of seventy-three to fifty-vine—a party vote, as between the opposition and administration elements. The federal constitution says that “tbe United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government,” and Mr. Davis, in his title, assumes that his bill is @ constitutional requirement. He assumes that the war bas destroyed the rebellious States, as States, and that in reconstructing them and guaranteeing them “a republican form of government” Congress is bound to remove their despotic institution of slavery. This isa new interpretation of the constitution; but we travel fast in these days. Honest Abe Lin- coln, in his Hodge, or hodge-podge, letter, honestly confesses that in his reconstruction expedients he has ventured to violate the con- stitution in order to save it; but Mr. Winter Davis, in taking the same course, quotes the constitution itself in his justification. Who shall decide when such doctors disagree’ The bill of Mr. Davis, assuming that the State governments subject to the rebellion have ceased to exist, provides for a State convention in each, nnder a provisional military governor, to organize a new government... To this end, instead of Mr. Lincolu’s one-tenth, the bill further provides that a majority of the popular vote (free whites) shall be required in the elec- tion of the delegates, and that all repentant rebels below the grade of coloncl shall have the right to vote. This is a decided improve- ment on Old Abe's one-tenth ides; but, the bill deolares thay in this work of feconstruction "Hany State the people tyGreof must submit to the decree of Congtea4 that “involuntary ser- vitude is forever prohibited, and the freedom of all persons is gfaranteed ia the said State.” The bill next very properly repudiates all the rebel debts or scrip of every State concerned; and, further, “every person who shall hereafter hold or exercise any office, civil or military, in the rebel service, State or Confederate, except the office be merely municipal, or below the grade of colonel, is declared not to be a citi- zen of the United States.” Now, we contend that the State governments of the rebellious States bave not been de- stroyed by this war, but that they still exist. and that, with the suppression of the armed forces of the rebellion, those States, with their local governments as they were before the war, are restored to the general authority of the Union. The constitutional way of treating them would be to hold and protect them by the armed forces of the United States as mem- bers of the Union, but to leave the people of each State to take their own time in re-eatab- lishing practically their local goveraments under the “old flag,” aod ia their returning Representatives to Congress. Hold them subject te the foderal lnwa applying to all the States, but give them, when reclaimed from rebel rule, thelr own time and their own way in reorgan- izing their local affairs. This simple plan of reconstruotion would save a world of trouble; and as for the instl- tution of slavery, the oxly way for its quiet, speedy and complete removal lies through @ simple amendment of the constitution of the Taiked States, abalaag slavery, and aothing more, as proposed in the bill which bas passed the Senate. We presume, however, that the programme of this bill, which jg Old Abe's programme revised and improved by Winter Davis, is to supersede the constitutfonal plan of reconstruction and abolition, although ip denying the negroes concerned the right of suffrage Mr. Davis hazards the defeat of his scheme by tho “human equality” radicals of the Senate. We must wait a little to see how he gets on in that body. “Rome was not built ina day.” Tue Crrvmys’ Assoctatyon Revormiva Bacx- warns.—It was stated in the Board of Alder- men recently—arid we have stated the same facts before—that the Citizens’ Association, which was formed to reform municipal abuses and reduce taxation, has actually sncoceded in incroasing the clty taxes about a million and a half of dollars over the Comptrolier’s estimate. The agéotiation promised to reduce the taxes three millions; and this, added to the million end 6 half, shows them to be four millions and » half in Grroars, This \q reforming backwards and reducing by additiom A proty sa8 of re- formers those apaicy aro, indent. Amother Draft Threatened—The Peace of the City Again im Danger. There have been rumors for some days, producing much wneasiness, to the effect that it ia the intention of the Washington authorities to commence enforcing the draft in this city upon next Monday morning. Poorly, however, as we think of come of the blunderers at the national capital, we are reluctant to suspect them of seriously contemplating any act of such criminal folly. It is known that very pearly all the United States troops recently in ‘our eity have beem withdrawn and sent to the front, 60 that only some few regiments of State militia are now available for the purpose of putting dowa any outbreak, in case the rioters of last July should again come out of their holes. Obviously, therefore, while affairs are so circumstanced, it would be ‘worse than folly—madness and criminal provocation—to attempt any enfercement of the draft. Our city quota is now all but full, only requir- ing aome twenty-five hundred men for its com- pletion, and these can easily be had before the end of this month if the present system of volunteering, a3 conducted by Mr. Orison Blunt, be not interfered with. Let this system be broken up, however, and the obnoxious draft made to take its place, and any child can foretell what will, in all human probability, be the immediate consequences. We shall have ‘snother riot, vaster and more “dangerously or- ganized than that which in last July struck tor- ror throughout the country; we sball have an army of twenty thousand men recalled from the front, where they are needed against the rebel enemy, to protect the peace and property of Manhattan’ Island; we shall have a panic in the money mar- ket, which the present delicate state of our national currency is illy able to afford; we sbalt have bloodshed in our thoroughfares, scores of incendiary fires, and scores upon scores of houses gutted and pillaged; and, lastly, the vic- torious army of Grant, in its march upon the rebel capital, may be arrested by the tid- ings of an attempted revolution in its rear, just as was the army of General Meade last July, after the battle of Gettysburg, by the news that the commercial capital of the country was in a condition closely bordering upon utter anarchy. We feel confident that General Dix is an Officer possessing a mind too well balanced to make him a consenting party to any such measure, and we trust that he will use all the legitimate influence of his position to dissuade the Washington authorities from the design they are alleged to have in contemplation. Gen. Hays, too, must by this time be acquainted with the temper of our people, and should warn his su- periors of the certain perils that will, attend any repetition of the attempts at enforcing the measure, which failed 80 bloodily and disastrousty in last July. Let the present volunteering system be continued, and we sball have the last man of our quota mustered in before the end of the present month; but let the draft again be insisted upon, and we regret feeling obliged to prophesy that not one single regimont can ever be-raised under it, while it will probably require twenty or thirty of our best regiments from Grant’s army to protect the peace and property of our city during the abortive effort to raise men ander a system repugnant to all American ideas and to the genius and instincts of our people. The Great In Projects of the Day—Schomes of Napeicon. ‘The organ of the French goveroment in this city published a day or two since an elaborate account of the advantages to arise to the com- mercial world from the constraction of a rail- roadsto be built across the Isthmus of Tehuan- tepec, under the immediate patronage of the new Emperor of Mexico. It is, of course, easily understood that it is Napoleon who planned this scheme, with the intention of fur- thering the commercial prosperity of France, aad at the same time dealing a blow to the American and Kaglish nations. That this Tehuantepec line will be constructed, and quickly too, none can doubt, asall the resources at the command of the Emperor of the French will be brought to bear upon tis project. Tiose who can tunnel the Apa will find no difficulty in building a railroad over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. The French organ above referred to condemns the once favored plan of Napoleon—a Nicaraguan canal—and asserts that this new scheme must become the first care of Maximilian. The Panama line being virtually in the hands of Americans and English, according to concessions obtained, France will oppose now all idea of a ship canal between the oceans, and, by the immediate con- struction of a railroad, render a canal of less im- portance. Napoleon comprehends that such a line of communication opened would immensely benefit the commerce of France, as the articles chiefly manufactured by the people of that empire are in almost universal demand. Having through this proposed railroad ob- tained a vast proportion of the commerce of the West, Napoleon might oount upon con- trolling the trade of India, “to a great extent, by the completion of the Suez Canal, which, spite of the opposition of England, is “fast approaching completion. This done, France would take her rank aa the first commercial Power in the wond. To avoid undue preponderance on the part of France, it behooves the people of the United States, of England, and of Russia, to see to it that thejs itahiecd ate gested out with the same spirit which distinguished Napoleon's plans. Naturally called upon to asayume a com- mercial supremacy which nothing but lack of enterprise on our part can deprive us of, we must, to retain that position, speedily termi- hate our great Pacific lines. The English, who ever evince a determination rival our yn- dertakings, also contemplate a Pacific aco to start from the British provinces; but, owing to its geographical position, this line could never gompete successfully with ours. The same, however, cannot be said of the Tebuan- tepec scheme, whoreb§ the Atlantic and Pacific are to be connected and the resources of a naturally prolific country enormously devel- oped. We have no desire to stay the progress of France; but we must rival her ener. getic strides towards increase of power and commerce. Our advantages are un- rivalled; our enterprise should be boundloss. Controlled by no superior will, Napoleon can bring to bear upon the great com- mercial sohemes he bas undertaken many. favorable circumstances, and can, with the means at bis command, carry them out quickly. There cao exist 20 doubt that the projudioes of the Fronoh people againat te Mexican inva- sion wil! disappear when they realize the plans which lod Napolegn to andagiags tye gonget rrr ant otep, and that he will then be fully apheld in his violation of the Monroe doctrine by the keep our ccate sentiment of his subjects, who will be attracted of the by ‘the ‘prospect of future commercial pros- Perhaps we ehall perity and an increase of the prostige which ae France has gained of late. we Bpite of Napoleon's energy and determina- tion, his plan of a Tebuantepeo railroad has one great danger abead. It is inevitable that the people of this country, when they eball have settled their intestine troubles, must drive all European intruders from this’ conti- Bent, as Maximilian and his patron will find out to thelr cost. It may, perhaps, be a part of Napoleon's plan to obtain the guarantees of other European Powers as régards his railread from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by granting them rights of transportation; but even then the people of the United States must ultimately become possessed of this line. Still, our great alm must be to compete with this scheme by superior enterprise. If Napoleon can construct Pacific railroads we must do so, and by fair competition prevent amy undue control by France over the commerce of the world. ‘The public are now watching the movements his assistants, East and West, are busy marshal. ing their forces for the greatest struggle of the war, and have commenced in a contest that ie not only to decide whether this war fs to be brought te an early and successful conclusion or-linger for years, but which will also in a mea- sure determine who is to be placed at the head of our government for the next four years, the politicians and President makers are equally actively engaged In maturing their plans for the nominating conventions. They are taking the opportunity, while the people are absorbed ie the movements of our armies, to pack the com ventions and secure the endorsement of thetr sobemes, witheut regard to the interest and general good of the public. Thus the republé- can contractors, shoddyites and officeholders are to hold their convention in Baltimore carly {n June, and will doubtless nominate Abrahau. Lincoln, the representative of that interest: The so-called domoc¥atio party are to mect ta Chicago in July, and place in the field an op- posing candidate. It is evident, however, that the revolution which has been going on since the commencement of the rebellion has matert- ally interfered with the plans of the politicians, especially on the republican side. It will be seen by a reference to our columas elsewhere that @ call has been issued for a People’s Convention, to assemble in Cleveland on the 3ist day of the present month. This will be attended and participated in by all the die satisfled and discontented republicans ad the war democracy. The indications are that it will be the most important convention of all. When we take in consideration the action of the republican Senaters at Albany, in urging the postponement of the Baltimore Conven- tion, in connection with the response from the people in all sections in favor of putting the The Greatest Magician of Modern Times, Tbe Davenport Brothers are exceedingly clever miracle workers. They produce mani- festations, demonstrations, emanations and speculations, and no one bas yet been found wise cnough to detest them in their wonderful performinoes. Heller ig 9 very clever magi- cian. He brings cannon bails out of hats, and candies out of a glass of water, and secs every- thing by a sort of second sight. Simmons is a clever magician. He makes atop spin ona thread, turns a piece of paper iato a butterfly, shows blood red writing on his arm, and offers to cut off his head and place it on again if his sudiences demand decapitation. But we have a magician among us greater than the Daven- ports, or Heller, or Simmons. His name is Shin Plaster Chase, and he presides over the Treasury Department. Conjurer Chase makes more money thea all the rest of the modern magicians put together, and he makes it more easily. Other magi- cians have to hire a hall, pay for posters and advertisements, employ ticket agents, and go to work like men of business. Chase, on the contrary, simply touches a piece of paper, and it is transformed into one hundred dollars. He touches a few more pieces of paper, and people take them for a million of dollars. Crowds follow him wherever he goes, and everybody is eager to get hold of some of this magic paper, which passes just as if it were real money. Never was a trick so apparently sim- ple and yet so completely successful. The superiority of Conjurer Chase to all his rivals is shown by the fact that they do all their feats and exercise all their ingenuity merely ia order to secure some of his money. Consequently he must have humbugged them quite as badly as he humbugs people generally, and must be ac- knowledged as their master. There was once an ancient wizard, of whom we read in the Arabian Nights, who paid out money that changed to dried leaves and blank Paper in the coffers-of those who accepted it. ‘That was a shrewd featin its day; but we think that Gonjurer Chase excels this ancient magi- clan in one important respect. There is ne evidence that the wizard ever transformed blaok paper into money, as Conjurer Chase dees, and therefore Chase is ahead. As for the trick of changing money into worthless paper, that is a mere bagatelle. Many financial magicians have accomplished it as neatly ag the Arabian jug- gler. It is as easy as repudiation. Jeff. Davis has made a great hit with it down South. Per- haps Conjurer Chase may be induced to perform it,in a manner most astonishing to all con- cerned, before he finishes operations. But the trick of turning paper into money is much more difficult. Legerdemain Law failed in this, and juggling Jeff. Davis has rained bimself and his confederates by undertaking it. Conjurer Chase stands unequalled in that departmont of the art magic. In old times there was a magician named Midas, whose" slightest touch changed every- thing to gold. He is the only conjarer on record who ever surpassed Conjurer Chase. Had Chase taken the Heratn’s advice at the beginning of the war he might have boen able to perform thjs mighty transmatation. But he decided that it would be better to change everything to paper, and se he was deaf to our afguments and our warnings. We are serry for this; for woe were very aoxious that Chase should turn out well, and throw the magician Midas into the shade. Perhaps, however, we ought to be satisfied with his present performances, since no modern wizard can be compared to him, and we need say nothing more about the ancient gold manufacturer, who was pot so much greater than Colorado Jewett after all. What is the use of gold—what is the use of Colorado Jewett—what is the use of the Arizona silver mines—what is the use of the Chevalier Mowry—wheo Conjurer Chase can make more money in a day out of a few reams of paper and a little printing ink than all the miners jp the world could dig ina year’s time? Chase's pen is mightier than Jewett's pickaxe. Chase's presses are mightier thao Mowry’s quartz crushers. Chase bimself is mightier than all the gold diggers in Wall street, Colorado, Cali- fornia, Arizona, ype sud the rost of creation. bs Coen ck Until the advent of Conjurer Chase we felt certain that we bag achieved some very won- Aerful Things with the printing press. We had made considerable money with it, in a steady, legitimate way, and we had made a great news- paper with it, having no rival in circulation and influence. But when Conjurer Chase be- gan to use the printing press as his apparatus for his astounding feats Mi were satisfied to ay our taxes, look on and matvel that a0 Popeet and respectable a machine could bo made to play such fantastic tricks. The Da venports cause én erdinary closet to become acceasory to all kinds of diablerie. Heller uses a common bat to bewilder and confound the spectators. Simmons employs a pine stick asa magio wand. These things are strange; and yet they are confeesedly inferior to Chase's matchless skill in coining bales of money from ® lightaing press, and manufacturing one. renoy by a few atrokes of the pen, To be sure we shall all havo to pay pretly dearly for witnossing these experi- ments; but, thea, is not so splendid a show worth a large price of admission’ The bost performers charge the most, a4 4 matter of course. Tobe sure the people aro obliged to hand over houses and lands, and worchandise and all kinds of articles, that the great conjuror may make uso of thom in his deceptions; but that ia osom at every sleight of hand exhibition, ad tho n}y dforgan a ps pia ounivition iT ga! te, movements at Washington in opposition to Lincoln, inside and outside of the halls of Congress, it can readily be seen that the Cleve- bone and the real power and strength of the republican party outside of the contrac- tors and the shoddy interests. A candb date for the Presidency will be nominated there, like Fremont, Grant or Banks, who can neither be cajoled nor backed down by the pipelayers and echemers who are managiag the Baltimore farce. Its effect upon the comiog Presidential campaign will therefore be of the most important character, and second-only to the grand movements of our armies upon the armed forces of the so-called Southern coa- federacy. President Lincoln and his chief managers—Weed, Cameron and Forney—but little imagine the strength and power of the men who have committed themselves to the movement for this Cleveland Convention, and ‘are secretly at work to make its grand esac cess. As a State Senator who signed the ap- peal to postpone the Baltimore Convention replied, when he was shown an attack upon him and bis associates by one of the organs of Lincoln, “They do not know ail that is golng on. When the People’s Convention meots they will open their eyes.” "i The Campaign Bogun—Tho Great Issacs te be Determined. The campaign that is to determine issuce of the greatest moment to this country and to Europe has begun, and tho desperate struggle perhaps already rages at one or more points in the rebel States. Under the great commander of the war, and dise tributed into several armies, we have @ foroe in the field of not leas than six hundre@ thousand men, and they are* to decide within @ fow days one of the grandest questions that was ever put to the arbitrament of battle. Brought to its ultimate analysis, the question to be se} tled is whether or not a republican goverament has the vital power to sustain its existence against internecine as well as against foreign foes. Must # government originating in the people, and deriving its strength from their ta- telligence, inevitably fall a prey to their quar- rols? Is that result in the history of republics a necessary consummation in their history, or life, that may be overridden by a greater pso- ple than any that have yet tried the solution of this great problem? It is the fact that thi¢ question is the really great one now at iasue ia our struggle that gives the struggle its intense iaterost with thinking men here and in Europe. Kurope has seen this issue grandly tried, and the decision has always been against the vitall- ty of republics. Patriarchal governments and despotisms were natural te Asia. Her people gathered, as if with an instinct of servility, around seme central power that they could look up to, whether in the family, in reli or in government; but tie men df infant rope had a stronger individuality, and only accepted kings when they proved themselves to be better than other men. Republicaa gov, eramout, therefore, came early in Europear wood: aad ander it Greece reached « degree * of dave if dominant Powet in the 2 Se tt hor te dictate terms to the unwieldy monarchios that wore hoary with age before her life began, Greece grew and flourished wonderfully undog, @ republican system-in peace, and In war over- threw all enemies, Yet she fell through domostic dissensions, and passed under the do~ miaion of « foreign Power only when weakened by civil strife. Rome had the same history. She adopted the forms of Grecian civilization, bat filled them with her own more rugged spirit. Her conquests were world-wide, She bad no neighbors; for all that were near her became part of her. Lux ary camo with success, and then civil dissension tore the immense nationality piecemeal Her pontifex maximus was poorly travestied into a modern priest, and that is all that is left of Rome. Only some feeble at- tewpts to establish a republican government in Wurope have been made since that, France made one, and went wild with it, and England has made one; and Europe seems to feol aatiafied that republican governments mast inevilably faid. P But tbe problem is again on trial, and on & grander seale than ever; and the bravest and most intelligent people thatever tried it have, not ot lost faith in the great ides. In Its prac- aargtion Wil! hy so}, at coat bw nomination off to a later day, together with the * land Convention bids fair to absorb the back- , ia it only one of the many accidents of national »