The New York Herald Newspaper, November 11, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GURDON BENNETR EDTTOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFICE A. W. CONNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. - Peet awe TERBIS cash in advance. Mooey sent by mail will be at the risk of the sender. None but bank bills current im New York taken THE DAILY HERALD, Foor cents per copy. $14. HERALD, every Saturday, at Five cents ‘Apoual ~b Postage five cents per copy for three mouths The Catzrorxia Foimion, on the 34, 13th and 234 of each month, at Sx cents per copy, or $3 per annum. AprurnemcnyTs, to a limited umber, will be inserted in the Wawaty Hanan, the European and California Editioas. NEW BOWERY TAKA’ Bowery. —Ccp Patt's Binrapar—Farxeu 8rr—Dor: MAN'S Guest. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Lexvonwin— Kxicnts or Sr. Joun—Boors Ar THE Bwax. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Victims—Pzo- wue's LawrEn. BIBLO'S GARDEN, Bro WALLACK’S TRRATRE, Brosdway.—Rosepaue. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Tooni.es—EvERy aopr's Prien. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Suor—Kose oF Castine. roadway—Bout in 4 Curns BARNUM’S Traixen Do: Penronmaxc anics’ Hatl, 472 Broad. , BORLESQUKS, &C.—Foot BRYANTS’ MINSTREL'S. Me. ‘wey.—Eruiorian Sonas, Da FaUis ON De Kanner. WOOD'S MINSFREL IA UL, 51d Brondway.—Ermioriax Nos, Dances, 4c —Prnrouxine Dous 199 and 201 Bowery — CAMPBELL'S MINS N or Ermiorian Oppitizs— Yaximp axp Excrmino Raw Rxonvits—U. 5. GALLE DIABOLIQUE. 585 Broadway.—Rourrr Aeiee BIPPOTHEATRON. Fourt @ruxastic aND ACROBATIC enth street. ~Eauestatan, TERTAINMENTS, DODWORTH HALL, 806 Broadway.—Arrewvs Wanp AMONG THE Monwoxs. AMERICAN THEATRE, Panrominns, BUKLESQUKS, Ac. 44 Broadway. —Baut ers, 1a KA. HOPE CHAPEL, 72) Broadway,—Woonrorre’s Bons- mian Troure or Glass BLowens. NEW YORK MUS Cuniosimizs ap Li UM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— nes, from9 a. M. till ly P.M. HOOLBY'S OPBRA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Ermioriax os, Dances, Buxiesqums, &c. A most important and significant portion of the rebel Qews which we publish this morniog is the message of Jeff. Davis to the rebel Qongress, which assembied on Monday iast at Richmond. The document 1s quite lengthy, ‘The campaign in Georgia is only mentioned in illustration Of the idea that, while the federals have penetrated to ‘the interior of the South, and eccupied many important Points, the great object for which the Union ‘orces set out has mot been attained, and that the results of our Gigantic expeditions have never been commensurate with the sacrifice of life and treasure. Tho condiiton of the fimances is referrea to in a doleful manner, and Congress is urged to adopt immediately some system ef reilef from the rapid depreciation of rebol is- sues add threatened bankruptcy. Foreign Powers are severely criticized for their tardiness to recognize the con- federacy, and the belief is expressed that no assistance peed be looked for at their hands. His suggestions con- cerning the War Department relate almost exclusively to the subject of arming negroes. He strongly opposes the organization of negro troops for active service, but re commends that forty thousand slaves, to be employed exclusively in the quartermaster and commissary de partments, be properly drilled, for service only in an emergency, at which time thoir places may be filed by ® levy upon the negro population. The be lief i expressed that the employment of negro troops will never become necessary, as there are yet a sufficient number of whites, and that at present the con dition of the confederacy does not justify the bazardous experiment of arming slaves. Should it become neces sary, however, to do eo, those whe might go into actual service only should be mapumitted. The exchange of prisoners is briefly alluded to; but me mea sures are suggested to hasten it, the mes age only referring to the arrangements already made for supplying prisoners with necessaries from home. A readiness to negotiate for peace, whenever both parties are agreed, is expressed, but no new light is thrown on the subject whatever, the United States government being looked to for an opening of the way to @ nogotiation. The reports of the several departments fare announced without comment, and the message con- cludes as dojefully as it commences, Some of the Rich- mond papers comment pretty severely on this decument, Jeff. being charged with obscurity in those portions Of it referring to the arming of the slaves and to pro- posed Interference with the press. One of our Fortrass Momroe correspondents gives a most interesting account of the exciting chase after the Taitahassee by the gunboat Sassacus, which returned to Hampton Roads on Wednesday, from a cruise of five days tm pursuit of the pirate. wuring this period the Tallahas. eee was twice sighted and swiftly followed by the Sassa- cas, which at one time was within two miles of ber prey, when darkeess set in, and all the advantages gained wore lost, During the chase, the privateer was seen to throw over ber gues and other weighty matter, supposed to be ammunition and stores. She was steering apparently for Wilmington, N. ©., and whea last seen by the Sassacus, on ast Sunday evening, wes inside the line of our biock- ‘adera off the North Carolina coast, We yesterday alioded to the statement of the officers of the steamsbip Arago, who on Monday inst saw a steamer, which they supposed to be the Tallahaseee, chased, and finwily hemmed to, apparentiy beyond all chance of escape, by three gunboats, pear that portion of the coast where the rebel corsair was lost The offi" cars of the gunboat Saco, whic arrived at Fortress Mon- roe on Wednesday, also saw these four vossels in this position, and for some time joined in the chase. bt of by the Sassacus, From #)] these concurring statements we bave every reason to bolieve tbat ere this the Tallahassee has bees captured, ‘The onptain of the transport Relief, which arrived at Fortress Monroe on Tuesday last from Newborn, N. C., ports that on Monday he saw a large veasel on fre of pe Hatteras. Further particulars of the capture by the national ves 18 Of Plymouth, North Carotina, on the 4th inst., show nt the town was entirely destroyed by the shelling of he fest. The piace is et{l! held by our gunboats, there \ermg 80 troops there Yellow fever has disappeared at Nowbern, + The quiet im the Potomac and James armies remains vodisturbed. Tho rain storm whieh prevailed in ale ‘vicinity also exteude’ to that region, On the 8th inst, Aba abela naked Bad Wap AteBOd Jeare fo Dury MBA, NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER Il, 1864 wetuiee their mea Kitled In their attempt ca last Satur. | President Limcela’s Re-Bilestien end | Sherman's MBasterly Operation—The Gay night to drive back the pickets of General Mott's division of the Second corpa, General Mott bas issued a0 order complimenting his troops for their condact ea the cecasion, The rebel loss ia tho affair, according to thelr own confeseion, was two bundred kilied and wounded. The soldiers from some of the States in the two armies beld thoir election om the Sth inst, and it parsed off very quistly, Mr. Lincoln receiving « large tanjority of the votes cast, A grand at tack from the rebels on election day was expected; but It was not made, The troops and the mon of the flest in James river had a general joilifieation ou election night, being allowed extra privileges. A mecting toexpross re- Bret at the death of General Birney was recently beld by the officers of the Third corps, the Third division of which he commanded previous to assuming control of the Tenth corps. One of our corresrondents informe us that at A mesting of the friends of the late gallant genoral te Philadelphia a fand of thirty-two thousand dotters for the bendft of his widow and obildren was raised. A oor- respondent of the Richmond Dispatch at Peterburg ega- alders the campaign before that place and the rebel capi- tal closed for the present year, and says that the soldiers are preparing wiuter quarters, The recent movemente of the rebels tm the valleys to the right of General Sheridan's position, it is now thought, were designed principally to procare cattio and other supplics of which they stand much tn need, and not for the purpose of attempting to flan the Union army, General Powsll’s division of cavalry started on an impor- tact reoonnotssance on Monday last, but had not returned at the date of our latest despatches, An expedition sen ¢ ont a fow days ago ascertained that the rebels still occupy tholr intrenched works and remain in oonsidera. ble torca in the vicinity of Milford, Their arrangements for a raid into West Virginia on election day were com pletely frustrated by the movement of General Kelley towards Moorefield. stall, and eleven other prisoners captured by Mosby, eue- cooded, a few nighis ago, in killing tholr guard and making their esoxpe. Te inking of testimony in the crse of the St. Albans raiders is stilt proceeding at Montreal; but proceeds rather slowly, It iseaid that in case the Canadian au- Captain Badger, of General Powell's thorities decide to gurrender them the raiders will have peal to the courts in Great Britain. The Canadian government hae, it it asserted, made prepara tions to seriously interfere with aay future attempts at raiding across the border. ‘ no right ¢ Tt {e stated that Gen. Hooker, in whose present depart- Ment are included the mujority of the States bordering on our Northers lakes, bas, after investigation of the case, become satisfled that the alarm about the propeller Goorgiana being fitted out for a lake corsair is unauthor- ized, and that no piratical designs are entertained by Mr. Bates, who lately purchased her in Toronto, Although the election has passed very quietly, we pub: Usb, from the Chicago papers, full details of the great rebel plot for the destruction of that city. It may be of Great value for juture use, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Our European files by the North Amoricun reached this city from Quebec yesterday morning The acws has been apticipated by our telegraphic reports from Father Point and Halifax The opening procesdings ta the proseontion of Franz Muller for the murder of Mr. Brizgs, with the testimony Of the first witnesses for the crown, as given in tho Cen- tral Criminal Court, London, are publisbed ia the Herat to day, The Board 0° Aldermen were unable to muster a quo Tum yesterday, and adjonrned until Monday next without transacting any business. ‘The Board of Counciimen failed to meet yostorday, a quorum of members not being in attendance. They will Ponitively meet on Monday next. The late political victory of the republicans was cele Drated in Washington last night with muok spirit and enthusiacm. The various Union organizations of the city and an immense front of the Preside: y formance of patriotic airs by the bend, Mr. Linooln ap- Pewred and spoke. On the conclusion of his speech, which was received with much applause, a procession was formed, and the people marched sucoessively to the residences of Secretaries Seward, Stanton and Wolles and Attorsey Genora! Bates, all of whom addressed them, excepting Mr. Stanton, who was too {il to make his ap- pearance. There is an interesting seduction case oa the Superior Court calendar, which, if it ever comes to trial, will Produce quite sensation, The plaintiff, "Hulda Muller, is a native of Berlin, and the defendant, Peter Bernard, belongs to one of the most respectable families in this city, The defendant is charged with having seduced the plaintiff in Europe, and bringing her to this couatry under the promise of marriage aud thon deserting her. The defence set ep is that any promise of marriage was made, It was made while the defendant was infatuated, acd that the plaintit, who ta several years bis senior, was the real seducor, if there was any seduction in the caso, Damages have been Inid at $10,000 Judge Dockes, of the Supreme Court, was engaged yes- terday in trying « slander suit, The platatitt, Joseph Monyea, charges that the de‘endant, Isaxe Wnyler, oxliod him a“black muzzled thief,”’ sod claims $5,000 damages. The parties are butchers, doing business in Washington Market, and were formerly engaged in business together. The cage was not concluded when the Court adjoarned for the day. ‘The testimony for the defence in the case of Mr. Man- ning, a Wall street broker, charged with having nad in his possession some of the Treasury notes stolea from a Boston firm in August last, was commenced yesterday in the Tombs Police Court, the case having been adjourned over from the 1st inst. Several persons intimately ac- quainted with Mr. Manning were examined, and their evidence al! tended to show that it was not , bat a man much resembling him, who bad been seen with the stolen bills, aud bad offersd and passed some of them. Tae examination will be continued to-day. Aman pamed Franklin Marx was yesterday arrested and committed te the Tombs te await the result of sup- posed mortal stabs inflicted by bim on John Anstrowi, during an affray between the two on Wednesday night ia a drinking saloon in New Chambers street. Twenty notorious counterfeiters of government cur- rency—two of whom are women—arrived in Washington yesterday from the Wéet, io charge of an officer, and were committed to the Old Capitol prison. These per- sons are said to be the leaders of gaugs who have made Ohio, Indiana, Towa and Missouri the principal fields of their operations, With these counterfeiters were seized presses, plates and a large quentity of matorial used in the manufacture of the base issues; and it is thought that by these captures the pofarious business m the States pamed bas been pretty completely destroyed. The stock market was hoavy yesterday,and a general decline took place, in sympathy with gol, which, after opening at 263, fell te 240% by the close of the day. Government securities wore strong at an advance. ‘There was less firmness and booyancy in commercial markets yeeterday, and the reaction in gold induced some concession on the part of sellers of cortain goods, espectally of domestic goods. Foreign goods were quiet, but generally firm, The changes may bo seen by a refer- nee to our commercial column. On 'Change the market was 100. @ 150. with @ good epec demand. Whest was inact ‘aod nominally 20.0 do lower. Corn was higher a scarce, with @ moderate demand. Oats wore in small supply, and prices touding upward. The pork market opened dul and heavy, bat closed firm, with an active demand, Beef was active aod firm, Lard was rather easier, with a moderate demand, Whitkey was quiet and steady, Frelghts were dull. Wutiam C. Coxnen, County Cierk Execr.— We congratulate our fellow citizens of this island upon the election of Mr. Conver as County Clerk. Te has the well established reputation of an honest, reliable and capable man. We have no doubt be will prove a very decided improvement in comp) n with Ge- net, a “ring” man, whose highest asbition ap- pears to have been the position of “ring mae ter.” Tammany made a m'stake in setting him up again, and the peuple have very properly rebuked Lemmany by valag bin down. His Gierious Opportunity. President Lincoln is re-elected by a decided magority of both the popular and the electoral wea The conntry scoms satisfied with this rewalt. All parties peaceably acquiesce in it. The most arrant copperheads no longer talk of revolution or resistance. In this atate of affairs the President now bas his great oppor- tunity before him. He ean unite the country, put down the radicals of all factions and carry the war to a speedy and triumphant conc!u- siow. It is his duty, and ought to be bis plea- sure, to do this, There is no reason why we should bave any more partisan olamor until the end of this war. The President has no impediment in his way. Both houses of the new Congress are overwhelmingly in bis favor. If any of his former acts have been influenced by his very natural desire to be re-elected, that motive is now removed. He has vothing more to hope or to fear from the republican party. To-day be is the master of the situa- tion, and he ehould resolve to devote the next four years solely and purely to the salvation of the nation. Last Division ef the Comfederacy— The Decisive Blew. Sherman hes cut the Gordiaa kmot. His movement from Atianta toward the Atlantic coast line, already begun, if the last news be true, is the most splendid operation of this great war. He no longer wastes the energies of his army on the mere mass of country in the cotton States—the Mert material that might be a great nation—but he strikes boldly at that part of the country where the life of the rebellion lies—where there is vitalty—where the head and the heart are—where he may hit consecu- tively Milledgeville, Augusta, Columbia, Charleston ond Wilmington. He answers grandly that very common question, “How will Atlanta pay for its capture?’ He shows that place to be an ‘immensely important one, in view of the effect with which its possession enables bim to deliver this blow; and he fur- nishes « eketch in outline of the way in which the coup de grace is to be given to the great rebellion. He has gained such a victory over Davis, Hood and Beauregard as Mr. Lincoln bas proven himself avery able | will make them examples forever of Politician. Against the wishes and the in-| military fatulty. Hood, Beauregard, Cheat- trigues of the republican leaders he secured | ham, Cleburne, and the rest of the the Baltimore nomination. When these leaders appeared to be disposed to revolt against him and concentrate upon Fremont, he broke up their combinations, forced Fremont to with- draw and secured bis own election on 8 fair, free vote of the people. He bas the credit, also, of being a shrewd man of business and a very humorous joker, and we willingly concede him these qualities, such as they are. But, besides all these, Presi- dent Lincoln's friends claim that he reatly pos- sesses many of the positive, practical qualifi- cations of aatxtesman. Whether this beso or not we shall not decide. During the term which is now closing he bas certainly done many things of which we disapprove, and of which, according to his own admissions, be himself disapproves. Whether these things were done through calculation or through ig norance; whether they were intended to check mate other moves made or designed by other politicians; whet'er they had in view his re- nomination and his re-election; whether, in short, they were dictated rather by policy than by principle, we do not care todetermine. Let the past take care of itself, and the dead bury their dead. We look to the future, and assure Mr. Lincoln that if he bave those great qualities for which his friends recommend him, now is the opportunity to display them to the utmost advantage. Let us have a vigorous, but con- servative administration, and those who now oaly acqu'esce iu his re-election will shortly rejoice at it. There are several measures which may be adopted to anite all the -true Union elements of the country in support of Mr. Lincola. The firat of these which we shall urge upon him is the cntire reconstruction of his Cabinet, from Secretary Seward down to Secretary Usher. Tiia measure may dispiease certain cliques; but, as we eaid before, President Lincola has nothing to guin or lose from these cliques, now that the election is over. He cannot but be aware that his present Cabinot is anything but acceptable to the people, and it is the peonle alone whom he has now to please. Always distracted and inharmonious, the Cabinet is in- harmonious and distracted still. Seward and his toogubtie, un-American diplomacy; Welles and his weak, not to say corrupt, administra- tion of the Navy Department; Fessenden and his feeble attempts to manage the Treasury; Stanton and his strong but unskil‘al manceu vres in the War Office—all these should go, and with them the mild and milk and water breth- ren who fill up the otber departments. We want a Cabinet of talented men who can assist the President to govern the country. If he cannot seoure them at the first selection, let him try again and again. The whole land is before him whence to choose. An able and harmoni- ous Cabinet, selected with a generous recogni- tion of the rights of the war democrats, would do more to unite the North than almost any other measure we could suggest. It would be the strongest possible guarantee, also, of the vigor aod conservatism which we hope to see in the councils of the administration during the four years to eome. The people have con- ceded much to Mr. Lincoln. They have over- looked many sins ef commission and of omis- sion, and given bim entire absolution for the past. Now let him concede something to the people by reconstructing bis Oabinet and in- augurating @ positive, practical, harmonious administration, and then there will be nothing he oan aek to sustain him in suppressing the rebellion which the people will not cordially place in his hands. An Examece ror Our Croat Courts.— The last steamer from Europe brought news of the conviction of Franz Muller for the murder of Mr. Briggs, and bis im- mediate sentence te death. The speedy man- ner in which this case was disposed of by the courts of England is an example which our criminal courts might follow with advantage. When a charge of murder is preferred against a maa in New York it sometimes takes months before the Grand Jury pronounce upon it, and it may be years before the trial is finally con- cluded in all the various courts through which it is almost sure to be taken. In the end the criminal often escapes punishment altogether, or it is delayed #0 long after the commission of the offence that the moral effect is lost. In the case of Muller everything was promptly done. Mr. Briggs was mardered in July last. Late in August Muller arrived in New York. On the 27th he was delivered up to the British autho- rities by the United States Commissioner, and was taken back to England, arriving there in the middle of September. After the preliml- nary examinations his case was submitted to the Grand Jury at noon on the 26th of October, and the bills were found at three o’clock the same day. Next day the trial commenced, and Insted till the afternoon of the 29th, when a verdict of guilty was rendered, and sentence of death was pronounced at once. The next steamer may bring news of bis execution, This is prompt work, exhibiting a vigilance, an earnestness and a determination to arrest the hand of crime which might be worthily copied by our officers of justice, our juries and our courts, pigmies, are making speeches in Alabama on their way to Tennessee. They are going into that State to compel Sherman to evacuate Geongia. Their solicitude is for Georgia, Ala- bama and South Carolina—which States they desire above all things to keep free from our armies ; and, in their anxiety.to drive Sher- man from what he bas, they have exposed and laid completely open to him the whole heart of their country. Such is the atratery of Jeff. Dav's, who told the people of Montcomery, with admirable complacency, that he “hed some faith in bis capacity for arms.’”” Sherman is continuing the advance begun by General Grant on the Ohio river, and intended even then to cutin twain the part of the con- federacy on this side of the Mississinpi river. The first succeas in that advance was the cap- ture of Forta Henry and Donelson. The ad- vance was continued thence to Nashville, giv- ing us secure porsersion of Kentucky and a good hold on Tennessee. From Nashville it was carried forward by Rosecrans to Chatta- norga, flanking Brage out of his rtrongholds at Shelbyville and Tullahoma, At Chattanooga affaira were again taken in hand by Grant, who annihilated near there the rebel army that bad brongbt Rosecrans to a bloody halt. From the position gained by Grant the advance was carrled on by Sherman to Atlanta, and now the same erent soldier has started to carry it to the Atlantic. It is hia good fortune to have charge of the nart of this edvance that will appear most effective in the history of the war—that may even prove the real decisive operation of the war—and which yet has in it less difficulty ard danger than there was in any part of the aame advance through Keo- tucky, Tennessee and Georgia to Atlanta. Tt is net even probable that he will have to Oght a battle; for through the whole district that he is to traverse the rehels have no force at all, and there is no ab'e-hodied porulation, He bas to make a march of three hundred miles throneh a nlenaant country, that his army can live upon if necessory, and he strikes and involves in a common capture the capitals of Georgia and South Cxrolina and Charleston. He will hold, therefore, thoze two States defi- nitely and pea tively. And to gain this what does he risk? Nothing. His immediate com- mand is not risked in the least, nor ean it be supposed that he risks the anfety of Tennessee. Hood cau do no harm. Hood. Forrest, Taylor and all the Southwestern rehels together can- not muster more than fifty thonsand men, and Thomas is andoubtedly able to defend the State from such a force. 4 Georgia and South Carolina, the capital and the prino'pal cities of those two States once fiemly held by Sherman, and what is there left of the so-called confederacy? Not a single State. Richmond and Wilmington will be all that wil! be left of the great rebellion. How long will Wilmirgton, the only seaport of the confederacy, remain in the bands of the rebels with Sherman only one hundred and eighty miles from it and that great equadron, that troubles the Richmond paners so muoh, batter- ing at its defences? Sherman’s march will also be equally decisive of the fate of Richmond; for if Lee, in view of this advance, does not suddenly divert a large force to meet Sherman he will in two months be hermetically sealed in his capital; and if he does divert such force his capital will fall under Grant’s persistent efforts. Looked at in any light, Sherman’s Movement promises to be a most decisive one, and there is every probability that it will be the decisive operation of the war. Mr. Batmont ann tHe Catcaco Conven- TIon.—The Chicago Convention, in s resolution declaring itself a sort of standing committee of safety, bas left in the hands of Mr. Belmont the power to call said Convention together again at any time. He should now exercise that power, get the Convention together, deliver te its members his resignation and his farewell addrees, and devote himself to the task of pre- paring bis friend Maximilian for a timely re- moval feom Mexico, 60 as to avoid a financial catastrophe to himself, Louis Napoleon, the Rothschilds, the Erlangers, the Slidelis, the Bel- monts and all concerned. Our Presidential politics are not in the line of Mr. Belmont. He should at once retire from the business and devote himself to the timely rescue of Maxi- milian. Max Maretzek, whose present right hand man is Massimiliani, bas been to Mexico, and thongh more successful there than Maxi- milian is likely to be, he knows that Mexico is a ticklish country for strangers. Tury Retire mw Disgust.—The Rip Van Winkles of the old forlorn Journal of Commerce, “waked up” by the thunders of the late elec- tion, have rubbed their eyes, taken a look of the “lay of the land,” and they retire in disgust from the political arena. Their speculative calculations, like those of the “maid of the milking pail,” bave fallen through, and so they are going on anew tack. This is the first symptom of the coming collapse among a largo batch of exhausted party journals ramning upon & low diet on the chances of the late election. A Gattant Reconn.—The officers of the Fifth army corps of the Army of the Potomao are now in session to decide upon the battles which shall be inseribed upon their flag, and it appears they find it no easy task to make a #6- lection, as the regiments comprising the corps have participated in no loss than oighty-alx general engagements, and no fiag can possibly hold them all, What «splendid chine smasher” has very narrowly escaped be- Ing smashed bimself. He comes out of the late melee like « badly frightened, somewhat damaged, but not fatally injured passenger, from the smashed up wreck of a rallway train. We rejoice ot kis good fortune, in view of bis monthly bday sy bill and bis turkey for how sugrestive of the desperate nature of the war! We venture to say that there never was ‘a corps im any other army that can show euch ‘a gallant record as this. Jeff, Davis te the Rebel Congress—A Deleful Ditty—The Negro Emlistment Project Too Dangerous to be Tried. We have some very interesting news to-day from Richmond, in the shape of the message which bas just been submitted from Jeff. Davis to the two houses of the rebel Congress. It is & doleful ditty, Nething so dismal can be found to match it except in the Lamentations of Jeremiah. “The confederacy” isin a des- perate condition, aad the labors which Davis imposes upon hig legislative assembly are heavier than the l#bors of Heroules. The financial eftuation of the “confederacy” is deplorable the extreme, and nothing short of the disodvery and application of some miraculous remé@dy will save that dangerously inflated bubblg of Jeff.’s treasury from a dis- astrous collapte. His scrip is down to three cents of the dollar, and no- body takes it at that except upon compulsion, No wonder, then, that be ‘begins to talk of bankruptcy and to plead for a rescue like a drowning man. His premier, Benjamin, for the information of the capitalists and money lenders of Europe, has recently been ventilating the hopeless insolvency of the United States; but we conjecture that even among the English blockade running specula- tors this exposition from Davis of his financial condition will totally eclipse the picture Ben- jamin bas painted of ours. The contrast thus presented ‘by the rebols themselves between the national Treasury and that of “the confede- racy’’ is the contrast of light and darkness, or that between a powerful man, conscious of his strength, and @ miserable cripple on his last legs. Foreign nations, it next appears, have treated Davis and bis conlederacy very shabbily; and no furtber hopes of any direct assisiance from England or France, he thinks, can be enter- tained. The independence of the South fs lett to Sonthern arms; and though be is ready at any time to receive overtures of peace from Washington, he will not yet listen to anything that does not concede bis ultimatum of South- ern independence. Upon the project which has been agitated in the Richmond journals, of arming three hun- dred thousand slaves for the spring campaign, Davis enters a solemn and earnest protest. The experiment is too revolutionary and too full of hidden dangers to be thought of. There are poor whites enough yet to fill up his wasted armies, if he can only ferret them out from their hiding places and catch them. At all events, Davis plants himseif on the side of the slaveholders, and except as laborers, team- sters, &c., he protests against o black draft upon the plantations within his dominions. This will probably settle the question in the rebel Congress; but we suspect that the agita- tion of this subject between the nop-slave- holding politicians and poor whites on the one side, and the slaveholders on the other, will go on until it culminates ina rupture and a general breakdown of the whole “Confederate” con- cern, We gness, too, that before the end of the present month the deliberations of the two Legislative bouses at Richmond will be abruptly adjourned. They must use despatch in the work before them, or before they reach the negro question they may have to run. We perceive that already one of the city journals asserts the necessity of an ample apology from our government to that of Brazil for the capture of the pirate Florida in the bay of San Salvador. We think our cotemporary is in rather too greats hurry. We have already shown, by the publieation of the official declaration of the Brazilian government with regard to the conduct of belligerents seeking asylum in its ports, that the captain of the Florida had, by his disregard of the restrictions imposed upon those secking such asylum, for/eited their pro- tection. That official declaration was strictly in conformity with received international law. Avuni, whose admirable treaties on the ‘“Mari- time Law of Europe” embraces all that is known and adopted with regard to neutrals and belligerents and their mutual rights and relations, lays down this important principle, that belligerent ships of war “cannot lie in wait in bays or gulfs, nor conceal themselves behind capes or heedlands, or the small islands belonging to the neutral territory, to be on the look out and ready to chase the vessels of their enemy.” Now, the Florida has been in the constant practice of doing this, and particularly on the coast of Brazil; and, having thereby forfeited the protection of the neutral Power, is subject to the consequences. This vessel has also been in the habit of ransoming prizes made by her before “legal sentence has been pronounced on the validity of capture,” another proof of her being of piratical character, whieh takes away the right of asylum and gives the right of capture everywhere. This peint is also laid down distinctly by the same unquestioned authority, Azuni. The general right of a ship-of-war to enter a neutral port has been grossly abused by the Florida in repeated instances. Her real object bas not always been to refit and repair—not to guard against accidents at sea or to be able to proceed safely on her voyage; but to find out what American vessels lying in friendly ports were most likely to fall within her grasp, and to learn their destination, their value and probable means of resistance or escape. The Brazilian government well knowing all this from the notorious character of the veasel, by permitting her with these objects to une its ports has, in the words of the authority al- ready quoted, “offended one of the belligerents by facilitating a hostile proceeding of the other within his territory. This indulgence, passive as it may seem, is sufficient to forfeit the rights of a perfect neutrality; the neutral Power can be no longer considered in any other light than an ally of the one and the enemy of the other, and the latter would have a right to act hos- tilely againet him.” We think, therefore, our government bad better look through the authorities a little further before it apologizes te the Emperor of Brazil, who, we imagine, after consulting them for himself, will see no cause whatever for asking any apology. The cotemporary who is so anxious that we shall, in advance, admit the gallant commander of the Wachusett to bave been in the wrong, fears that it will give England and France an opportunity to Inter- fere to our disadvantage. It does not seem to iknow @hat for the former Brazil 20 | commentary | eronérticn of our armien.cnft lentertains eliher selenfahin of resnech Giplomatic relations between the two countries having been for some time past in a very pre- carious and unsatisfactory condition, in conse- quence of the exactions of the Britleh govera- ment for alleged insults and injuries to the persons of some of its officers. Besides, that government, when it comes into the inter- national courts, must show clean hands if it wishes to assume the position of an arbitrator. The following is the testimony of a celebrated authority, D’Habreu, in relation to the prac- tices of the Eaglish:—“They are,” snys he, “the only nation who have been guilty of these outrages (against neutrals). Without regard to any law, and against all reason, they seine the vessels of their enemies in the sight, and under the very cannon, of neutral ports.” If our space permitted we could furnish bumerous examples of these violations of new trality on the part of England. One meme- rable example within our own time was the captare of the United States ship-of-war Essex, by a superior force, in the neutral harbor of Valparaiso, in 1814. The hands, thero‘ore, which our neighbor fears will be stretched forth to assist Brasil have too many black spots upon them to make much of a show. Tn short, it is now about time that the people of the United States should resolve that this Union shall stand and the re- bellion be put down. It is high time that we no longer should suffer the neutrality of friends or foes to de us any further injury or offer as any more insults, The capture of the Florida is, therefore, not only a justifiable act, but it te an impressive warning “to all whom it may concern.” Oar Financial Situation—First Duty ef Our Re-Biectcd Presid Mr. Lincoln enters upovu his renewed term of office under very different circumstances from those in whioh he assumed the Presidency. Then he was the nominee of a minority, whose success was secured only by the divisions in the democratic party. Now he is the elected of a large majority of the loyal States and the representative of the Union senti- ment of the country. Then he had but little or no official experience, was surrounded by difficulties of every kind, and had to choose hia counsellors from among men who were either tools or fanatics. Now he is full of the ripe experience which such a severe ordeal as he has passed through must necessarily give, and he is at liberty to select bis advisers from among men of both parties. Non: of his predecessors have ever occupied a freer or more indepen- dent position. If he fails in realizing what he bas been a second time chosen for, it will be from a weakness in his character, and not from the lack of a generous and unselfish support on the part of the people. A man of even less ability than Mr. Lincols ought, thus sustained, to be able to fuifil the expectations of the country. The military situation is divested of all cause for anxiety. Within a given time it is mathematically cer tain that the resisting power of the rebellion must give way. With Grant, Sherman and Sheridan at the head of our armies, and Far- ragut and Porter at the bead of our fleets, there can be no ground for apprehending that we shall witness further failures in the conduet ef the war. In that regard, therefore, President Lincoln will bave ne reason to dread the re- newal of those vexations which the inexperi- ence of his advisers and bis own mistakes at one time caused him. All will be plain sailing 80 long as be continues to confide iu the offlcers whose capacity and patriotism have bees tested in so many trying situations. This anxiety removed, he must take steps to do away witb another, which, unprovided against, will barass bis administration. The flaancial st uation of the country, it must now be admitted, isone that gives room for the deepest apprebea- sion to every patriotic mind. Although we have contrived to carry on one of the most stupem- dous wars tbat the world bas ever witnessed entirely out of our own means, and without borrowing a dollar abroad, it has long been patent to every one that our finances have been grievously mismanaged. With enormous re- sources of every kind, in the shape of money, commercial products, and a patriotism on the part of our people that shrank from no calls upon it, Secretary Chase so experimented and blundered as to bring them intoa most dam gerous and discreditable condition. He neither understood the position of affairs whem he entered office nor the character of the work that lay before him, and so he floundered on, trying all sorts of expedients to repair hie mim takes, and only making bad worse. The epoch of his administration cannot fail to be characterized in the future as one of the most unfortunate that this country has ever known. His successor, Mr. Fessenden, seems to be content to follow in his footsteps The financial smartness which he displayed in the Senate only serves to prove how difficult it is for theorists to carry out their own views. Mr. Lincolo’s first duty, as the elect of the nation, is to remedy the confusion and suffer ing created by the blunders of these ’prentice hands at financiering, by placing at the head of the Treasury a man in whese talents, honesty and experience the country can feel confidence, and whose knowledge of the resources of the country will enable him to restore order ia our finances, to protect those who have in- vested their money in government securities, and to bring down the necessaries of life within reach of all by establishing something like a fair equivalent between the value of greem backs and gold. This done, we may indulge a reasonable hope of crushing out the rebellion with the resources that we possess, without being compelled to go begging for financial aid abroad. When we hear doubts expressed as to our ability to carry on this war much longer, be- enuse of the heaviness of our expenditure, it seems to us like a wilfal despairing. Our whole debt at the present time is little over $2,000,000,000. England, with a territory no larger than one of our States, owes $4,000,000,- 000—just double the amount. We have a dozen States equal to her in size, rich in unde- veloped resources, and with a population will- ing to pay any amount of taxes for the sup- port of a government honestly administered. Why, then, should any one question our ca- pacity to do all that England has done in that way? The doubt can be induced only by want of faith in the men to whom the manage- most of our finances has hitherto been en- trusted, Let one of Mr. Lincoln’s first acts be to place at the head of the Treasury a finan clear whose genius, experience and honesty will give assurance to the country that thie department will be properly edmivistered for the future, and his remaining difficulties will at once vanish. To « vigorous conduct of the wor, under our nrwent eneraae militecg iain