The New York Herald Newspaper, November 30, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDUN BENNETR SD2ITOR AND PROPRIETOR AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, ACADEMY OF NUSIO, Irving place. —[tauiax Orena— Faust. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway. Hast, OLYMPIC THEATRE. Broadway.—St, Grongr anv Tue Dusgoons—Miucr Waite PROWERT THEATRE, Towery.—Wainnxa rom en VianereTas Vacuant—A TeanieLe SscREt, BOWERY TISATRE, Sowery.—Rep Ripixg Hoop= Hann oF Osnps—Srimit ov Seventy-a1x BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Poon Gextie- Man—Pxorie’s Lawren NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway,—Corsican Brovuus. WALLACE'’S TREATRE, Broadway.—To Mazzy on Nor to Mazur, BARNUM'S MUSEUM, Broa Toes Mauwora Par Giats—Tuaes Oianrs—Tw Dwanrs—INpian: Exewou Avromatons. Dkamatio Prasonmaycks=Day and Brening. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. ey.—Erm0rian Sun@s, Vances, Bonewsques, &¢ —Licut Butoanm, WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL. 514 Rroadway.—Ligvox Dariens—Ermiorian Sonos, Dances, &e. CAMPRELL'S MINSTWELS, 199 and 201 Bowery = Yen snp Bxorrina Dx.axas or Eraorian Oppiras— AND GanpER. BALLE DIABOLIQUE, 585 Broadway.—Rosenr Hentxa. HOPS CHAPEL, 72) Broadway.—Woopnorre’s Boux- “wisn Trovre oF Grass KLowEns VAN AMBURGIT & C MAMMOTH M 689 and S41 Broadway a from WA, M HIPPOTUBATRON, Fourteenth strect.—Doc ann Mos- i MQUKSTRIAN, GYMNASTIC AND ACROBATIC EN- NUS. DODWORTH HALL, AMONG THE Mona is. AMERICAN THEATRE, Panton imes, AGERIE, 0 P.M, 006 Broadway.—Arrnwgs Wann No 444 Broadway. —RacuEts, BURLESQUES, &C.— Tne WW OODCUTTERS. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. 615 Broadway.— Cemiositims axp Leotenss, frum) A. M. tll 10 P.M. New York, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1864. THE BITUATION. ‘We have no iater positive pews th published in yosterday's Heaa:p regarding Genera erman's march through Georgia. The rebel pspere bave ceaced lo r measure to give us intelligence of his successes, on the plea (bat euch information is valuable to the national gow ernment Ii ts Guid, however, that the captive Rozer A, Pryor, of the rebel army, admits the capture of Macon nd Milledgeville, and thinks there ts Iittle doubt that Sberman has also taken Augusta, With Au gusta io his possession, all the region south and southwest of it wovld be cut off from Rich- mond; and oo troops could be sent from Lee to aid the rebels in resieting him. Pryor is represented to have Yemarked that the South mow regards Sborman with more alarm than any other general in the United States army. Pryor, it is said, also stated that there was a Feport of General Sherman having recaptured a number of Union prisoners and armed them. The rebel Geveral Hood's forces, it is announced, made an assau!t on last Saturday on Genoral Tuomas’ works at Columbia, Tenacssee,on the south side of Duck river, aad received a severe repuise. The telegraph wires are down between Nashville and the Union army, and nothing bas been heard of the movements of Hood in Thomas’ front siace Monday, It ts known, though, that ® smal! portion of the rebe! cavalry have croeaod Dack river. So far as known, the only advantages gained Dy 00d in bie present flanking’? camprign fre the accessions he has made to his force by the indis- oriminate conscription prosecuted wherever he goer. The impression is st1i] entertained that be designs moving eastward (o join bis forces with those of Breckinridge, in East Teanossee, de have again a denial (which has now Decome suporfuous) of the report that Jehusoavilie, on ‘the Tennessce river, was evacuated by the Union troops. General Couch bas been assigned to duty in the army under General Thomas, in Tennessee, and will be Oeeded in the command of the Department of the Susque anna by General Cadwa!luder, We have something more deinite regarding the rebel raid at New Creek, on tbe Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, on Monday .of this week, alluded to in yosterday’s Hixeavp, The rebel force numbered about fifteen bun- Grea, and was commanded by General Payne, ‘They surprised the body of troops sia- floned at the place, who were soon overcome, Bod all of either surrendered or fed. ‘The enemy blew up the earthworks end destroyed the Burrounding buildings. Subsequently they went to Moed- movt, also on the railroad, Gye miles from New Creek, but were driven of by # company of the Sixth Wost Virginia. regiment, after considerable fighting; Dot, however, until they had succeeded in destroying the road hous» of the company, a large workshop and ‘& considerable quantity of valuable stationary machinery. No damage was done to the railroad track, so farag known. On leaving Piedmont the enemy moved off in B southward direction. There was very heavy firing along the front of both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James on Sunday and Monday last, It was nothing approach. Ing & general engagement, but still much heavier than bed coourred for several days previous. In fromt of the Secoud corps the rebel bat- Series opened at daybreak on Sunday morning, and Ooatinued their discharges throughout the day witb Uttle interruption, They were vigorously responded to by the Usion gums in front of Butler's lines the enemy's fire was directed priccipally on the Duteo Gep canal and the vicinity of Bermuda Hundred. On the Unicom side the gunboats joined thy land Datteries im the exchange of shots with the fobels. No damage of oomsequence was effected on Our side, The dosign of the enemy in this affair is nut Known. Genoral Humphrey has assumea command of he Booond corps, as successor to General Hancock. Rebel overters report that Gemeral Ewoli’s corps bas gone Bouthward ‘The rebel ex-Geceral Roger A, Pryor, who was some Hime ago reduced by the Richmond Janta to the position Of & private in the ranks, was captared by our pickets of She Army of the Potomac on Friday Inst, while attempt- fog to exchange papers with thom. THe was at first sent Washington and confined in the Old Capitol prison. hence be was transferred northward last night, en route a Fort Lafayette, at which popular establishment he rit! arrive this morning. || The steamsbip Fort (Morgan, which arrived hore yes rday, brought us many interesting items of news from various porte im the Gulf of Mexico, Piveot our Froboats in Mobile Bay maintain their position only Bbout three miles and @ half from the city. ear Dog river bar, @ litte below the city, ne = rebels = have)=s important «= earthworks, off whom ‘hich lee the gunboat Morgan, the only one of their fleet which escaped capture in the engagement with dmiral Farragut, No etiack bas yet been made Mobile by tho Union force, Of the mouth of be Kio Grande the Fort Morgan found dnohored over Dy merchant vessels, © Frouch frigate, a Britiah frigate Prd & United Sater guubowt In the town of Bagdad, the Moxioen olde of the Rio Grande, lawlessness rownlin tes fourclextomt, A man named Smith, whe ot Lagubpannh Wainwright, Ou Bary, elec he bad 4 oe nt A CLE CTT surrendered, ai the time of the attack on tbe Harriet Lane, in Galveston Day, is a the head of a gang of despe- radoes in Bagdad who threaten to take the lives of all United States offeere they can fod. They are ‘anid to be iso contemplating the capture of our gun- boats of tho mouth of the Rio Grande. During her cruise the Fort Morgan captured, off the Texan coast, two blockade ranning schooners, fhe brought North from Pensacola, Fls,, the rebel Admiral Buchanan, cap- tured im the naval baitie of Mobile bay. An expeditionary Union force, under Lieutenant Colo nel Steriiag, Second Maive cavalry, lately captured @ company of rebels and & number of small arms at Bar- ron Bridge, in Western Florida, Mrs, Sarah Hutchings, recently convicted by « military court in Baltimore of ecting as an ageut to furnish the rebels with supplies, has beon committed to the House of Correction at Fitchburg, Mass., under a sentence of im- prisonment for five years. Among the signiScant articles in late rebel newspapers fg one in the Richmond Whig of the 26th inst., urging the little real importance to the confederacy of Richmond. It warrants the euspicion of haying been written under the impression that that town is doomed to succumb to Grant, by arguing that the people of the North entirely overrate {ts importance, and tbat, even should the Yankees succeed in taicing it, the loss will not be material to the mushroom establishment esiled the ‘‘Confederate goveroment.” This is evidently put forth in order to break the fall of this apprebeoded occurrence, The Charleston Mercury is becoming vory jsatous of the off.rts of Jef. Davis to make himesif a dictator, and ways he needs watching. The rebel Sonate has cischarged from (uriber consideration of the matter the committee ap- pointed to inquire into the causes of Karly’s succession of wisfortunes in the valley, These geutlomen have had the afair before them for @ long time, but ap- farontly could make nothing out of it, or, if they did pot want to tell what they thought. Wood is oue bondred & many families are without fuel, ould jars por cord (n Richmond, and The Lynamburg Mepub- ficon gives an aecount of the recont sale of Monticello, ihe home of Thomas Jefferson, by @ rebel government Is brought mareual, under the rebel confiscation act. sighty thousand five hundred doilare, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Thore are three stoamshtis from Europe due at Ameri- can port o-dar, one of them (tho China) bearivg vews ater iban (he advices of the Asia. These yes. din the following order, viz:— Day of Sailing, For The’ osnvass of tho vote cf the President and Vice Presideat of the resevt election war concluded at Albany yesterday by the State canyaseers, The whole numberof yotes cast was seven bundred and thirty thousand seven hundred and twelve, of which threo hundred and sixty-cight thousand seven hundred and twenty-six were given for the Linen and Jobuaon and Ubree hundred and sixty-one thousand nine hundred and eighty-six for tho McClellan and Pendieton, Tre repubdtican majority is there fore ix thousand seven hundred and forty. Mr. Groeley, one of the republican electors et large, received two huv- 4rod and thirty-five votes leas Meague, Mr. Pres ton King. Between the numb; ived by each of the two cemocratic electors at large titre wasn variance of but fire xotes, Mr. Washington Hunt receiving that mouy more than Mr, William Kelly, The caryass of tho wates for State officers has not becn completed, the returns from New York, Herkimer aud some otber counties vot | baving yet been received. Some additional arrests were made yesterday of persons suspected of boing connected with the tate attempt to burn this city, In addition to the other rewards offered for the arrest and conviction of the incendiaries, the Board of Supervisors peste agreed to offer five thou sand dollars. The rogistry of porsone from the insurgeae States progresses at Genoral Peok’s office in Bleecker ttreet, but inavery slow manner. It is estimated Laat there are twenty-five thousand of these peopie now in this city, About one hundred were registered yesterday. A meeting 0! the Council and Managing Boards of the New York Citizens’ Avsociation was held at their rooms, No. 813 Broadway, at egit o’ciock last evening. There was a large attendance of our most promivent citizens. ‘The proceedings were very interesting, and are fully de tailed in the report which wo publish this morniug. A mass meeting’of the Association wi!! be beld on Ihursday evening next, at the Cooper Iustitute, when many accom pushed speakers will be beard on the question of reform in our city government. The case of Perry vs. Simeon Dreper, Collector of the Port, brought to test the question whether the seven and three tenths per cent interest Treasury notes of 1561 are @ proper tender for payment of duties on imports, was yesterday again postponed till to-morrow in the United States Circuit Court, Judge Neleon, im congequence of a continued case in the United Stater District Court. The Tex Commissioners’ case was up before Jodge Bocks, of the Supreme Cozrt, Circuit, yestorday, on a writ of quo warranto, directed against the new commissioners, George H. Purser and Christian ©. Woodrai. The court directed the jary to find a verdict in favor of the new commissioners, subject to an appeal to the Supreme Court, general term, which meets on Saturday next, Tho case of Solon Howiand ve, John J. Foaater aud others, where the plaintiff sued to recover $1,783 as commission for chartering the steamer Seth Low to government, was concluded, the result being a nominal Verdict for the plaintiff in ihe sum of $42 05. In the Sapreme Court, Chambers, yesterday, & motion was made on the part of the Comptroller to set aside the judgment obtained by Baldwia & Jaycox against the city on the contract for building the gates of the new reser. ‘yotr, on the ground that (important and materta! evidence had not been heard by the referee, The argument on the motion was not concluded when the court adjourned for the 4: A large pumber 0! cases were disposed of yesterday in the General Sessions. Anna Stafford, indicted for stealing eighty dollars from Joseph Quinlan on the 3d inst., pleaded guilty to petty larceny, and was sent to the Penitestary for six months. Ida Lec was tried on a charge of stealing a fur cape from the promises of Catharine Raisler, in the Bowery, om the 27th of October. ‘The prizoner was accompanied by another woman and a man, and when they left the etore the property was missed. Tex,days after, when the proprietress of the establishment was in Broadway, she saw the parties together, and procured the arrest of Miss Lee, The jury convicted her of petty larceny, and the Court remanded her for eentence, James McGregor, a soldier, was tried and convicted of stealing forty dollars from Jebn Kearney, at tbe Soldiers’ Home, in Howard street, on the 13th of October. He wae sent to the Etate Prison for two years, Jane Ano Jobneton was charged with steal- ing @ gold watch and chain from the apartments of Madame Lecouvere, in Fourth strest, but the evidence of guilt was not conclusive, and the jury acquitted the accused. Eilen M. Jobnsoa was also acquitted of @ similar charge, to stealing a waico and chaio from Deidrick Beresman. A boy named James Robinson, indicted for breaking into the premisos of John Dagan, in Firstavenue, on the Ot! instant, pleaded guilty to petty larceny, and was sent to the House of Refuge, David Daff, who was indieted for forging a check for ifteen thousand dollars, purporting to have been @rawn by Morgan & Sons, on the Bank of America, on the 10th of September, pleaded guilty to forgery in the fourth Gegrec, and was remanded for sentence. Judg- ment was suspended im three or four cases, where the parties pleaded guilty to minor offemoes. ‘The Roard of Supervisors adopted resolution yerter- day, offering five thousand doliara reward from the county for the detection of any of the incendiaries who attempted recently to barm the city, and another also, suthorising the Police Commissioners to use any surplus fauds they may have as a secrot service fund. A number of gentlemen met iast evening at the Cooper Tostivute for the purpose of forming a soientific aesocia- Von. A committee was appointed to draft @ constitution Gnd report at the next meeting. ‘The funeral services over the romaine Of the late Wil- Nam Hackett, Asvistant Engineer of the Fire Department, took place yesterday morning at ft. Peter’s (Roman Catholle) chorab, in Barclay eirées, The sacred edifice wag Glied with mourners, among whom were all the noted men in the Tire Department, A grand requiem mass was reoited, efter which the remains were conveyed to Pistbush Cemetery, followed by « lerge cortege Mr. Beckett 4164 the effects of complaint growing owt Of exposufe In the discharge of his duties as a freman.| ‘Toe firing in the harbor yesterday was an exchange of batmaen the Seredion atenme frimate Yanadie, \ which has just arrived here, and a battery at the Navy | The Fiorida Case—Oar Belations With Yard. A map vamoed Thomas Rogers was yesterday commit- ted for trial, charged with having picked over two bupdred dollars from the pocket of s lady at the Harlem Raliroad station, The money was recovered, Florence Scamme! was yesterday arrested and com- mitted for examivation on the charge of shooting James Irving, inficting @ serious wound, during @ quarrel on Movday night, at the corner ef Second avenue sad Twenty-third street, The store of Monsrs. Woolf & Rause, in Murray street, was some time ago robbed of about seven hundrea dol- fae worth of sewing silk, A considerable portion of it was recently found in @ Bowery bat and cap store, the Voree proprietors of which were yesterday arrested aud sent to (he Tombs to awals an cxamivation, They say that they will be able to prove that they purchased the silk in good faith, ‘tho bark Tommy Hussey, Captain Patten, of Ricd- mond, Me., from Troor for Portland, Me., was ran into on the 19thof September by an unknown ship, and sunk in a short time thereafter. All on board, except one ees man, perished by the unfortunate catastrophe, Tne sea: man who was saved states that all on board could have beon rescued by the crew of the uakaown vaste! if thoy bad made any exertions, The stock market was dul! yesterday. Gold opened at 282, rose to 236 avd closed at 235. Governments were lower, ‘The advance tn gold imparted greater firmness to the markets yesterday, and snics of domestic produce wore generally at advanced pricés, holders demanding evon higher prices for wost articles, Holders of foreign mor Chendise were also firmer in thoir views, and, thovgh there was not moob activity, prices were genera 'y higher, ip sympathy with gold and exchange. leto- leam, cotton, &c, were firmer, On 'Change the flour market was more active at 10. higher, Wheat advanced To. a 20, with a moderate demand. Corn and oats wero active and highor, Pork opened firm, out closed dul! and beavy. Beef active avd firm. Tard in good demand and firmer. Whiskoy firmer, Freight quiet, ‘The ttarket for beef cxttle was without decided change thia week, ‘The range of prices was from 73Z0, to 180. a 183s0., though scarcely any sold over 150, and not 6 great many atthat, The cattle were mostly ordinary, and sold at (rom Lio. to 18c., though all rating good to prime went at 16/{0, @ 180, a 18170. Tho market rule Steady throughout. Miloh cows, veals, sheep aad lambs were about the same, Hogs were in fatr demand, but the sales were generally at a ahado below last work's prices. Tho total receipts were 6,699 booves, 98 cows, 1,894 veals, 21,247 sheep and lambs, end 22,479 nogs North Carolina for Pexce—Another Fire- brand in the Rebel Congress, The resolutions submitted in the rebol Con- gress the other day by Mr. J, T. Leach, of North Carolina, and supported by his col- leagues on the floor, embrace the boldest and most significant peace proposition that has yet appeared from any responsible rebel source. Mr. Leach proposed that “whereas, the citizens of the slave States, at an unguarded moment, under the influence of unwise counsel, and without mature deliberation as to the fearful consequences, made the “clection of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the United States -the occasion for precipitating the Confederate States out of the Union;’”’ and whereas, sub- stantially, the representatives of the peoplo of the rebel States bave bad enough of fighting for a Southern confederacy, resolved that they are ready for peace upon the basis of the coustitution of the United States. Stripped of its supenflucus-verbiage, such is the peace + ion submiiled in’ the rebel tatives by a North Carolina ust, and yoted for by a u of that State. In ions, Mr. Leach , “LE have cousnited my fricnds as lo the propriety of introducing them, as well as the proper time and circumstances. I do not offer them for the purpose of strengtiening the arm of the encmy. That has been effectually done by the President, in his speech at Macon, Georgia (the speech of Jeff. D.vis, in which he declared that two-thirds of his soldiers were deserters or absentees without leave), and more effectu- aliy strengthened by the Governors of the Confederate States and the Preeident, when they recommended the use of negroes as sol- diers in the Confederate army. I offer them because I am satisfied that my constituents, both citizens and soldiers, desire an honorable peace; because I am satisfied that the prayers of Christians, statesmen and patriots have been poured out for peace, and that the great heart of the nation fs pulsating for peace. I offer them because I know that war is a relentless, cruel, blind monster, killing where he cannot make alive, and reaping where he has not sown.” He further declared that he did not offer this proposition to discourage their heroic soldier#, for he believed that it would “arouse them to know that they are fighting for some- thing more dear to them than the negro.” Here we have point blank evidence that North Carolina is wearied of her terrible suf- ferings and drudgery in the hopeless cause of Jeff. Davis, and is anxious to make her escape; that her people regard this war on the part of Davis as a war for the negro, and that they have had enough ofit, and would gladly return to the good old ark of the Union from the terrors of the deluge which secession has brought upon them. The march of Sherman across the State of Georgia has emboldened North Carolina to speak out plainly. Her representatives at Richmond see the handwriting on the wall against Jeff. Davis. They have, doubtless, been brought to the painful suspleton that Sberman will flank Lee’s army, Dayis and his whole rebel concern out ef Richmond, and that then, in default of a treaty of peace, the work of desolation which has blackened the soil of Old Virginia will be visited upon North Carolina, and that she will be eaten out and utterly despoiled and laid waste between the retreating columns of Lee and the pursving legions of Grant. This is the danger which menaces North Carolina, and this is the inspiration which has impelled her representatives at Richmond to the verge of treason against Davis. With the arrival of General Sherman on the Atlantic seaboard, if net before, we have every reason to expect that, provided Lee can steal off, as be did at Antietam and Williamsport, Rich- mond will be abandoned to the Yankees. The rebel journals of that city have been throwing eut some bints to this effect. They tell us that the Yankees are very much mistaken in supposing that Richmond is to “the confed- eracy” what Paris is to France; and when they begin to talk in this strain itis protty safe to infer that they are beginning to pack up for another retreat towards their “last ditch.” We think it quite possible, however, that North Carolina will yet bo saved the devastation anticipated within her borders from the epproach of the great hostile armies from Richmond; but if the local authorities, soldiers and people of North Carolina would make sesurances doubly sure, in saving their Btate from uttér ruin and beggary, they bave only to open @ “fire in the rear” upon King Joff. Why not, when such s movement would not only seoure the most liberal concessions to the State from Washington, but wouid bring the rebellion to an immediate collapse, Honse of ond thus pt nace autan ed to the wert, bie. Hood, with 9! Brasil, ‘There seems to be a great deal of discussion, fuses and folly, concerning the seizure in Bra- ailian waters of the rebel cruiser Florida by the United States man-of-war Wachusett. A great many sapient suggestions are alse gravely made in regard to what disposition shall be made of her—whether she shall be given up to Brazil; whether tbe captain of the Wachusett shall be cashiered; what sasisfac- tion shall be given to the Power in whose waters the alleged violation of the neutrality laws occurred; what explanation shall be given to European governments—and other points involved in the matter. The discussion in American papers is increased and intensified by the bluster of the English and French journals, which are making a great mountain out of a very trifling subje.t of controversy. The Paris and London papers call lustily upon foreign Powers to interfere. Lord Palmerston seems to have a finger in the pie, and Napoleon an itcking to mingle in the tmbrogtio. But all this fuss and bluster are entirely unnecossary. They amount to nothing. We have no doubt the question has already been sttled to the satisfaction of Brazil, aud she’ is the only, really aggrieved party, except the rebels; and the United States government will settle the difficulty with the latter. We believe that our distinguished, indefatigable and valiant ambassador at the imperial Court of Brazl—Chevalioe James Watson Wabb— has settled the question with Brazil before this. Tt is said in some quarters that tho Florida is to be given up; but we suspect, from the high character for vigilance, pluck and patriotism for go tong a period of years | evjoyed by Chevalier Webb, that that distio- guished fuuctionary is ahead of Chevalier seward, and even the President himself, in | disposing of this little cause of misunderstand- ing with our friends the Brazilians. Chevalier Webb bas a seat in the dress circle of favorites at the imperial Court of Brazil, When he first Went to Brazil as ambassador from the Ameri- can goveroment he had had a quarrel with Lord Palmerston, and was not in the best of fragrance with the Emperor Napoleon. Ever since then Chevalier Webb bas been watching events from his elevated position in the Brazil- ian Court; and once, out of a simple game of whist, he got up @ quarrel betweea Great Britain and Brazil, which resulted in the expul- sion of the British Mivister from the Court of Brazil. The dashing and hero‘c fighting quali- ties of Chevalier Webb, united with his vemarkable amiability of manners, bis winning graces, and his irresistible accomplishments, aa exhibited in palace and boudoir, in the imperial presence on bigh State occasions, as well as in those camarilla intrigues peculiar to the Spanish race and blood in all climes, al! coutributed, no doubt, to tho success of the Chevatier in dispelling the litt!e cloud that was rising between the friendly rciations of the United States and Brazil. From what we know of the Chevalier we believe that the matter of the Florida will be arranged without troubling either Mr. Seward or Mr. Lincoln. We bave no doubt that.Chevalier Webb has written as long a correspondence on the sub- ject as any that Mr. Seward bas yet written about the rebellion. We expect to see Lord Palinerston cut up in mincemeat, all ready for a Yankee Christmas pic. We have no doubt the Emperor Napoleon will be so thoroughly excorjated that he wll wish he had never le't Haro nor Palmo’s mint jalepa. Ard we expect to see Brazil eulogized to the skies, as tho warmest and truest friend the United States ever had. Therefore we advise the govorn- ment and peliticians at Washington to keep perfectly cool and quiet about this Florida business, and see whether what they wish to have done bas not already been accomplished by Chevalier Webb, before whose disposition to fight the bellicose propensities of Chevalier Seward pale like a flickering star before the rising sun. The Situation in Tennevsee—The Re- Pulse of Hood at Columbia. From Nashville we have the news that Hood was badly repulsed on Saturday last in an as- sault on our works at Columbia, on the Duck river. This comes almost coincidently with the announcement that Thomas had retired to Franklin, tweaty miles nearer Nashville. Though the statements are apparenfly contra- dictory, they are not irreconcilable. Hood appears to have had his whole army across the Tennessee on the 15th instant, and the latest rebel accounts tell us that his army was well supplied, in good physical and mental condition, and was to advance immodiately towards Nashville. He has probably about forty thou- sand men. For him to have reached tke neigh- borhood of Columbia in six days after the passage of the Tennessee would not have been very rapid movement, and he certainly ought therefore to have gotten that far by Saturday. Moreover, if Thomas did not intend to hold the line of Duok river, he also should bave been in motion by that time; yet he probably lefts foroe at Columbia to observe the enemy, and Hood’s advance, feeling the place, encountered this force and met with the repnlse mentioned. These were probably the real circumstunces of the caso; for if the repulse had been one of any greater magnitude, we should, doubtless, have received @ bulletin from the War Department in relation to it. Maay intelligent persons may very naturally @islike the appearance of the retirement of Thomas as Hood advances, But no fact can be more positive than that there is no reason in this for the least alarm. Sherman contem- plated that Hood should even go te the Ohie; and it fs true that if he could be drawn go far with forty thousand men that there is no other way in which we could deprive the rebellion of that force so cheaply and so easily. Thomas has now a large and veteran force in hand, and large reinforcements are within striking dis- tance. It is, therefore, not from any want of power to cope with the rebel gencral that he retires. the contrary, he retires simply be- cause, in his judgment, he can fight Hood to better advantage on other ground than any he bas lately held; and bis services and his suo- code have beén such that the country should have confidence in bis judgment as the very best that cas be had Gn the military situation {a Tennessee, Let no one listen for a moment to the vicious notion that there {s a parallel in y aparne d prospects of the two Powers, and vance through Georgia i6 through Tennessee. There @t all. Sherman, with an im- mense, well eqaipped and well fed army, through a hostile country without any 16 foree on his front, and goes towards a base where supplies emmunition will moet amoY, marches Amer NEW YORK SERALD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER $80, 1864, froma base without the hope of avy other, and with an army in front abundantly able to fight him, and if he should marob as far as Sherman will that distance’ will insure his complete destruction. York City. It is one of the most extraordinary features of this extraordinary war that we should bave @ regular rebel prees in this loyal metropolis of the country. Since the rebels began their attack upon this government by setting fire to Fort Sumter and robbing the Custom House at New Orleans, they have never wanted apolo- gists. and defenders here at the North. Day after day the rebel press of this city has exten- uated their vices and given them unbounded credit for virtues which they have never pos- sessed. The greater were the ontrages and barbarities of the rebels, the louder were the peans of admiration from the incendiary press. Our victories were tortured into defeats, our defeats magnified into final disasters, while the rebels were spoken of as constant victors, and lauded to the skied as miracles of merit, cour- age and endurance. “ When the rebel press of this city had fairly wearied out the patience of the people, it was partially suppressed. To say that every one was delightod at this would be to state a sim- ple and evident fact; but still there were doubts aa to the legality and judiciousness of suoh a movement. Everybody would rejoice to see a murderer bung; but still all law abid- ing citizens would object to see him dangle from a lamppost without a legal érial. Upon this principle the government was induced to relax its severity towards the incendiary press, and those papors which had been suppressed and denied the matls were once more permitted to resume publication. The resu!t was the great riot in New York. The rebe} press of this city inflamed the worst passions of somo of our citizens, and a lawless inob devastated the metropolis, robbing, burning and ravishing without restraint. Fipally en admirable police, assisted by the mititary, succeeded in getting the upper band of the rioters and order was once more restored. But the cause of the out- break—the incendiary revel press which had provoked it—still remained to work further mischief. Little by little it gathored strength for another disturbance. At last the.oppor- tunity came, and a desperate and atrocions attempt was made by rebel emissaries and rebel sympathizers to burn down this city and to involve in a fearful conflagration our citizens, our women and our children. Provi- dence preserved us from this dreadful peril; but the cause, the incentive, is still among us, and we are not yet ontirely safe. Our readers will remember that the acheme- to burn down New York was foreshedowed in the Richmond papers. They stated that the men to commit’ the arson were already bere, and that money alone was needed. They argued that twenty men could fire our city; and this seeme to be about the number actually em- ployed. “One New York,” said these Richmond rebels, “is worth twenty Richmonds;” and upon this basis they urged Jeff. Davis to let no-false scruples prevent bis giving his consent to their diabolical plan: But while the Richmond papers foreshadowed this incendiary plot the rebel papers in this city were not silent.’ One of them remarked that there were plenty of hearty, ‘able-bodied rebel refugees in New York, making loud boasts of their loyalty to the confederacy. Again we were warned that the rebels would retaliate upon us for the opera- tions of our genora!s in the South. Threats that the war would bo bronght to our own fire- sides were not unfrequent. Accompanying these significant articles were others which, in eulogy of the rebel leaders and in detraction of the North, far surpassed the secession progs of the hottest part of South Carolina. We call public attention to these facts. We ask General Dix to consider them. Could the rebel press of this city know of the presence of able-bodied traitors among us and be so well informed of their intentions, without some direct or indirect complicity with them? That is the question which we wish our military authorities to investigate. When the plot of the rebel incendiaries was defeated, and our hotels and theatres, with their innocent inmates, saved from becoming a flaming funeral pyre, the rebel preas of this city was attentively watched by those anxious to discover the guilty parties. One of these papers ventured to claim the exclusive credit of know- ing all about tbe plot. Another indulged in @ column of special pleading to prove that the rebel authorities “had exhibited too much wis- dom and tact” to endorse any incendiary enter- prises; that they were too “Christian and evlightened,” and that the idea of their orguii- izing such @ plot was “absurd, ungenerous and unjust”—Chainbersburg to the contrary of all this notwithstanding. Yesterday another of our rebel organs took up the strain, declaring “the phosphorus panic” to be “shameful and ludicrous,” and denouncing .General Dix’s admirable order as savoring of “Lynch law.” This was the phosphorescent organ which expected the incendiarism on Friday night, and had its reporters on the spot, but was obliged to alter its heading to the news, as the fires were extinguished. Another rebel paper pub- lished two letters yesterday, ridiculing the terrible scheme as a republican [plet, a Titus Oates affair, and concluding its defence of the rebels by saying, “I only design te indicate the class of men basely implicated.” This tort of correspondence is backed up by an editorial threatening the Herat establishment with destruction unless we observe strict silence in regard to the share which the incendiary rebel press of this city had in the incendiary echeme. We disregard these threats, and employ them as part of the evidence in the case. In view of the connection of the incendiary press with our riots; in view of their prognostications of in- cendiarism; in view of their knowledge of able-bodied rebels in our midst; in view of their subsequent courso and declarations, and in view of their disgraceful threats, is it not jn- cumbent epon General Dix to thoroughly in- ute these rebel papers in New York, and ity examine their editors? be oom- pelled to answer this question in the aMfifme- tive, and we know that no loyal man would disdpptove so necessary and justifiable @ pro- coeding, fa not yet over—the attempt may rgpeated-+-and fn such ciroumstances the sternest measures ought to be taken at once. We make no ap- 18 to onr citizens, eath of whom will look a fray dwelling; but we do appeal to our military authorities whe have full legal owns ta maka the lnvesdaation, @he Military and Political Condition of the Comtederacy—Uur Necessity. Every fact of the military situation is still sweepingly in our favor. Hood is harmless and in danger under the eye of Thomas. Lee stands still in front of Grant, and Sherman crosses the enemy’s country witb giant astride, realizing in the ease with which he is able te do so the extent to which the war has exhausted that euemy. He encounters no resistance, for we consider the repulse at the Oconee of « bandful of cavalry skirmishers as hardly worth mention, except as illustrating the condition that the South is in when it is brought so low as to attempt to trumpet such an event a3 @ victory. The political condition of the rebellion is also allin our favor. Its unity is gone— shattered into thousands of little factious frag- ments, It is seamed and rifted by dissensions of every possible complexion and character. Southero leaders are not in universal agrea, ment upon any one point of national policy. They do not all insist even upon the absolute necessity of Southern independence as they all once did. Tue South is divided on the ques tions of peace and reconstruction, and on the question of arming the negroes—and thence om slavery. This is the great division of divisions, and will rend that section as ii did the oviginal whole. Besides these divisions of the first magnitude one very serious one threatens the country between the supporters and opponents of Jeff. Davis. On the one hand it is desired to make this man an absolute despot bye simple process. Every man is first to be de- clared in the army, and men not in the army deserters or details. Jeff. is then to be declared wilitary dictator, and so, of course, absolutely sapfeme over all men within bis reach, without appeal. And against this attempt at o “oom tralized government” every Southern journal is cow in the full ory of donunoiation. Thus, {n tbe present condition, there are two facts in our fayor—and they are tho Lwo time portant facta in the lifo of the rebellion—the facts of its military impotence and of its political division. It is the imperative duty of our gov- ernment to make the most of the advantage that this gives ua; to enable the army to strike with energy, and to foster the political dissensions that weaken. our foe. Much has been done already with the army, and perhaps al! is gotog on as well as possible in that quarter. It is certain that our generals and our armies are such as thoy have never been, and that our blows are planted now with a Titanio scope and force. We bave come splendidly through the first stage in the military history of a great war— that is, we bave sloughed away the offete mute- rial that loaded our army and kept it inefficient. We have gotten rid of the poppy show ‘sol- diers bred in the toadying times of peace—those epiendid generals that were so magnificent on parade and review, and in all routine, and so miserably worthless everywhere else, Our generals.are new men—the vigorous, fresh growth, grown in the garnaze of this very war. They are original, energetic, real. They take hold of our armies as grand facts, not as milt- tary abstractions; and, never losiag sight of what is practical in science, thoy Aight battles pugoaciously, with a view to buman nature as well as to mathematics. Thanks to these obanges—this stimulated @d still natural growth of our military arm—wo are now mak- ing war, real, grand, aggressive war, and our enemy trembles in every little nerve radiole ef his system. But there is something else. While we fight we must see to the politics also. And what the country wants now is to see applied te the politicians this same grand system ef change that has been so fruitful of good in ong armies. Here alse progress and growsh ere necessary, and we see none. There is an Im- mense amount of very bad material at Wash- ington to be sloughed away. Wo still labor, politically, under the game incubus of petty and contemptible men that so embarrassed our army at the commencement. Shall we hage the'same system of change applied? Can the country depend upon the Presidont for this? He was elected on this as one,of the many great issues. The change in advisers called for by the Baltimore platform leads to @ change in the whole political material. Shall we have it? All here depends upon the Presi- dent. On his ability and on bis will to carry out such a system must depend the continued success and ultimate triumph of our cause, According as such a change is made, and made advantageously, we will gain or lose all the benefit of the political dissensions of our ene- mies. On the politicians will depend the soundness of any settlement made with the South, and thence the future tranquillity and prosperity of this country. Shall we have new and cS men, abe it wS Yo 6h undek the old ones, proven incapable by so many triale? — Taz Way 10 DisoovES THR INoRypuRr’ Pror—The hotel keepers, we ate glad to perceive, have taken the best measures te secure the arrest of the incendiaries who made so deaperate an attempt to give up this olty to conflagration on Friday, by offering s* reward of twenty thousand dollars for theiz arrest afd conviction. The Board of Super- visors have offered a reward of five thousand dollars for the same purpose. The Board of Councilmen very promptly adopted a resela- tion, which we hope will be sanctioned by the Board of Aldermen, to offer a reward of twenty-five thousand dollars with the same object in view. The insurance companies should now offer a similar amount, for they are deeply interested in the suppression of fires. But they must not let time pass in adopting this course, or the villains will have all left the olty. It is evident, we think, that the immodiate agonts In this diabolical scheme were induced to commit the crime for money supplied by higher agonts of the rebel government, therefore 60 large a temptation as seventy-five thousand dollars would be likely to bring some infor- mation from one of the parties implicated, as it certainly would stimulate the detective authorities to increased vigilance. We think it would” be propor for the natlensl goverm ment also to offer an additional reward for the discovery of the plot, and to include « promise of pardon {o any of the guilty parties who may reveal the facts known to them. We woul® thus, {n all probability, arrive at the ciroum- stances of this daring conspiracy, The Super visors, we think, very properly, at their meet- ing ‘yesterday, gave permission to the Police Commissteners to employ any eurplus money at their disposal for a secret service With this efiouragement on the part of the Supervisors, the police + surely to be ghle ( focrel out the OC thin eas, —