The New York Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1864, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JARS LORDUN BENNGTR SDTTOR AND PROPRIETOR. a7 Volame XXIX.. — — = AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Irving place—Dox Sanastian. RIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Coomim Soogan. waeue TARATAE, Broadway.—How Sus Loves ot WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Hawiet. OLYMriO THEATRE, Broadway.—Tas Stuests oF Naw Tout. NEW BOWERY THREAT Tuar Bisce Bao—Sacan, tun ¥.—-CHARCOAL MaN@ Ww RSs. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Saven Kscaras—Six axe oF Cate. BROADWAT THEATRE, Rroadway.—! ov My Lire—Peoris's Lawren Pee Dis MUSEUM, Broadwav.—Pavonans— t GiRLs—Tueas Giants—Two Dw. gape sive” Deamatio Pexronmancns— BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- way.—Brmionman Songs, Dancus, Buacxsquas, 4¢.—Hicn gS (a3, a, Sau) wi eur budoEA OAMPBRUU'S MINSTRELS, 19) and 201 Bowery — Vanuep axe Kxotrina au ey Etuiorian Oppitias— Tus Buace Baicave SALLE DIABOLI QUE. 585 Broadway.—Roszar Aeuies, TREL HALL. 514 Broaiway.—Rowxing U. 3, G.—Kraiorian Boxes, DaNcas, &C. HOPE CHAPEL, 72) Broad mia Teours OF Guass BLO: VAN AMBURGH & CO.'S MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, 639 and G4 Broudway.—Open {rom 10 A. M. to 10 t. M. .—Woonnorrs's Bous- HIPPOTHBATRON, Fourteenth street. —Equastaian, GYMNASTIO AND AOROBATIO ENTERTAINKUNTS. DODWORTH HALL, 806 Broadway.—Anremus Wanp Amono THB MoRMO «6. AMERICAN THEATRE, Pantomimes, BUKLE-QUES, & ‘roadway. —Bacvurs, BMUS. VANNUCHI'S MUSKUM, 600 Broadway.—Moving Wax Fioonss. VARIBTIRBS, $7 and $9 Bowery.—Bau Panto: Bonga, HuRuKsguus, dc. . uh salle eencineis a Sn New Work, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1864. a eres o THE SITUATION. We have bighly important and most cheering news from Genera! Sherman, through the Richmond papers of yesterday, (he substance of which ts communicated to Secretary Stanton by General Grant, They state that Generel Sherman's army was con Saturday last within Afteon miles of Savannah, and, in their latest despatches, manounce that be had arrived at a point within less than ‘Hive miles of it, and was crawn up in line of battle, but had yos made no attack, They say that he was con- fronted by a large rebel force, and had yet had 00 communication with tho coast. Sherman Res severed the telegraph running from Sayan- mah to Ricbmood, and the papers of the latter city Bave to receive their intelligence of his movements from Charleston. The rebels profess to be in doubt ‘whether fo would attack Savannab or move around the ‘ity and etriks the cost southoast of it, They bave ‘by this time most likely been able to arrive ata satis- Factory conclusivn; for it is probable that the decisive ‘Dattlo was fought yesterday. We publish to-day a map Of Savannah and the surrounding region, and a sketch pf tbe city and its land and water approaches. ‘The torce under General Warren, numbering altogether e@bout twenty thousand men, coveisting of the Fiftn corpe, one division of the Third ana General Gregg’s wavalry, which left the Army of the Potomac on last ‘Wednesday morving, and moved southward parallel with the Weldon Railroad, has returned to the front of Peters. arg, after baying acco.npiished in the most compiete manner ali it set out to do. Tne object of this expediiion was not, as che rebels supposed, to capture the town of Weldon, but merely to 90 damage the railroad running to that place from Peters- hourg, by which tbe rebel army of Lee has been exten- @ively fod, as to seriously interfere with bis future sup plies; end this was effectually performed. Genera) ‘Warrea reached Bollfield’ station, where the railroad crosses the Meberrin river, some forty miles from Potersberg, on last Friday afternoon, having met with jit ‘Ue foterruption from the rebels, Here they were found to Bave stroog works on both sides of the river, and, after destroying those on the north side, the railroad bridge fava the depot, General Warren’s troops commenced their return to camp on the next morving. They destroyed, during their trip, twenty miler of the ‘Weldon Railroad, and all the stations apd dopots g@iong (tboir line of march, and numerous milla, Darns and dwellings used for the benefit ef bbe coomy’s armies. ‘They also burned the bridge fmoross the Nottoway river, besides in various other ways seriously interfering with General Lee’s supply commu aications, Rebel cavairy were encountered at several ‘points, with whom there was slight skirmishing; but General Warrea’s entire loss in the expedition was only ‘Detween forty and fifty in killed and wounded and afew miseing atraggiers. It is thought that the damage effected to the rafiroad cannot be repaired this winter. There are bo later operations tn front of Petersburg or Richmond to eoord, No moveyent of particular Importance bas yet occur- Fed {a the/viciuity of Nashville, the cold weather inter- fertag with operations on both sider, There was some pkirmishing yeeterday, but apparently without roealts of Oonsequence. Tbe portion of Hood's ‘rebel army which, ander General Lyon, crossed to the north side of the Cumberiand river, twenty miles above Fort Donel fon, a few days ago, is said to be moving on Hopkinsville, Eeuiucky, This force ie estimated at from two to four thousand, and itis said that if it attacks Hopkinsville the Union garrison there will be compelled bo fall back, as it is very small. The brigade of Union poldiers under command of General Cooper, which ‘wea cut off at Centreville when General Schofield moved worthward from- Columbia, Tennessee, ar- Fived eafely in Nashville on the Sth inst, faving performed a march of over one hundred and sixty miles, moving completely around the encmy's Pines, capturing & rebel cavalry outpost, anc josing !p al) only ton men, who, being tired out, fell behind and were murdered by guerillas, General Breckinridge is reported to be at Sparta, Ten esses, with Lonjthousaod men, endeavoring to form o function with Hood, in which it te thought he will find mnore diffoulty than be anticipates. The Eighty-Ofth New York infantry end the gunboat @nicopee have recently together porfermed some very waluable service in the region lying between Norfolk, fea, and Roanoke Istand, They surprieed a camp of Pobele who wore guarding goods of great vaice for the tase of prowling guerilla bands, including large quanti. Kios of commissary stores and ammunition, al) of which twere destroyed. The only casualties of the Union force prore three men wounded in # skirmish. The gunboat Oteego was recently sunk by @ rebel tor- (ooo io Koanoke river, « ehort distance above Piymonth, ©. No person on board was injured. As the water is Phaliow whore she wos sunk, she can be raised and ree paired, over CONGRESS, The proceedines of Courrese yosterday were important, emyooiel'y o8 regerde our reintious with Canada. @ the fenate the bill sutuorizing the cunstruction of ome rraaue cullern (Or eertice om daa Koniorn lakes was takee up, and, after @ brief dtscussies, passed. ‘A Dill autborizing the traveter of @ guoboat to the Live- rian govermment, tn eccordaace with (be suggestion Of tne Presideut, was reported by the Committee oa f Affairs. A joint resolution 40 encourage the eal chi drea of slaves who enlist, was twtroduced by Mr. Wilson, and referred to the Milkary Commitice The | Bapkrupt bill was received from tne House, ordered to be )rinied and referred to the Judiciary Commi(tec, In the House of Representatives, the joivt resolution, Fe;orted at the iast session of Congress, authorising Botice to be given by the President to terminate the 0 called Capadian Reciprocity treaty, and provid.og for the negotiation of a new and more equitable treaty, was token up. Mr, Morrill, of Vermont, offered a substitute, which simply authorizes the notice to terminute the existing treaty, and it was adopted by a vote of eixhty- five agaings fifty-one. The bill regarding the se ec- tim of a site for a navy yard for iron-clad ships-of-war was again dincussed, and foally laid oo the table by a vote of eighty against filty- three. A resolution providing for the admission of Representatives and Sepators from Louisiana iuto Con- greas, and declaring that that State may resume ber political relations with the general government, was referred to the Select Committee on the Rebellious States. A resolution directing inquiry as to the oxpediency of reduciog the duty on coai was referred to the W.ys and Means Committee, Bilis granting lands to railroads in California, and establishing a mining department, were offered; the frat named was referred to the Committee on Public Lunds, but objection was made to the latter, and is wont over. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The Canadian courts in Montreal and Toronto both yes- terday decided that they had mo jurisdiction in the cases of the St, Albans rebel raiders aud the Lake Erie rebel pirates, and the prisoners were all liberated {rom arrcst, and are now again at large. United Statos Marshal Murray has recoived instructions from Secretary Seward to proceed to Montreal immediately to look after the in- teresis of the United States government in the case of the St, Albans raiders. The Marshal leaves Now York for Canada to day, We have news from Veuezusla dated at Maracalbo on the 20:h of November. On the 14th ultimo Geveral Poulga, the revolutionary exile, visiied the arbor in # Pritish schooner manned by twelve moo. His vessel was boarded by @ boat from a goveroment scuoouer, whoa the exiled leader made the officer and mon pri- soners, Another Veoezuelan boat following, he repeated the operation He then demanded the surrender of the government vessel, which was acceded to, Tneu be landed his own men, took a battery, drove oY the gar- rison, and spiked tne guns, Tne General next proceeded to sca, firing into a government steamor whoo pacsing, killing one man and wounding the captain, These events produced great alarm in Maracaibo, Admiral Farragut arrived bore yesterday, on board of agship, the Hartford. The Hartford was met down the bay by the revenue cutter Bronx, having on board the committee appointed at the meeting of our leading citivens on the previous day for the purpose of extevding to the gallant Admiral a fitting welcome. On arrival in the city Admiral Farragut was conducted to the Custom House, where be met a large assemblage of merchants and other gentlemen, and where addresses were made, to which he briefly replied, Captain Drayton, who was also present, likewise received marked honors, Tho steamship Gatding Star, from New Orleans for New York, put in at Forttess Monroe on Suuday last, disabled, and 10 tow of the steamer 3. R. Spaulding, having brokea her sha(t on the voyage. Her passengers, mails and des patcbes wore sent northward by the Baltimore boat, and those of them destined for this city arrived here yester- day. The Board of Councilmen met yesterday, and after adopting afew unimportant resolutions ia reference to grading streets, adjourned till this (Wednesday) after- noon, at four o’elock. General Albert L. Lee, the efficient commander of the cavalry of the Depsriment of the Gulf, arrived in this city yesterday from New Orleans, The Board of Supervisors yosterday recelved from the Comptroller the estimate for the couaty expenditaro for the ensuing year. The sums required are $335,500 for the legislative department, $2,956,415 for the executive dopartments, $378,300 for the judiciary, and $3,087,660 for other miscellaneous expenres—making a total of $6,784,806. These estimates include $2,124,647 for the police fund, the State taxes and the Juvenile Asylum. This was the only subject of public interest that came up before the Board yeeterday. ‘The trial of the famous libel suit of George Opfyke ve. Thurlow Weed was commenced in the Supreme Court, before Judge Masou, yesterday. The trial attracted great attention, and was attended by some of the 4rst men in the community. It will probabiy be flnished to-day. ‘The trial of Asa Marvin and Wiitiam Rogerson, charged with counterfeiting fractional currensy of the United States, was on yesterday in the United States Circuit Court, before Judge Shipman. This is the well kaown Port Jervis counterfeiting case, im connection with which a large quantity of material, prees, &c., were seized at Port Jervis in October last. The principal ia the alleged offence was a man named Norris, who pleaded guilty te the indictment against him. The hearing of the cuse pccupied the Court to near five o’clock, when the jary retired, At @ late Lour they bad not agreed upon their verdict. The further hearing of the Prussian Extradition case, which was to Lave been on yesterday, was postponed, on application of counsel for the Prussian goverament. It will be resumed to-day at twelve M. In the United States District Court yesterday, before Judge Betts, a liye was fled against the prize steamer Armstrong, captoted ou the 4t of November last, while attempting to run out of Wilmington, by the biockaders R. RK Cuyler and Gettysburg. She bad on board a cargo consisting of five bondred bales of cotton, worth up- wards of $300,000. A sum of $4,410 in gold coiv, founa on the person of the purser, also fell imto the hands of the gallant tars, ‘Yhe Armstrong was on her first trip, Deing built in September last. She is two bnndred and thirty-two feet in length, six hundred and thirty-two tons, old measuroment, with four engines of Bity horse power eaciisg She arrived here yesterday, in charge of prize master Ensign B. S. Clough. General and ex-President Barrios was yesterday ar- rested by Marsbai Murray, and was subjected tos brief detention, He wae on board the Costa Rica, with his wife, bound for fPorto Rico, when, through an un- founded report that he had shipped and was taking with him one thousand stan¢ of arms, he was put to the an- noyance of haying to go ashore with the Marshal. The matter was amicably and satisfactorily explained by the Consul for Costa Rica, and the Geveral was again put on board by the Marshal's gig. Augustus Bowman, who was tried and convicted at the Genera! Sessions on Monday of arsauiting Thomac Deraney, with intent to de bodily barm, was sentenced yesterday by Recorder Hoffman to the State Prison for two years. The previous good character of the prisoner and the fact that the Knife which be used was an ordi- nary pocket knife influenced bis Honor in impvs- ing a light sentence; but he said that the Court wouk! punish parties guilty of personal violence with severity. Jobo Sokrunott wae placed on trial charged with assaulting Elizabeth Hille, at 253 Fifty-third street, cn the 20th of May, by throwing a stone at ber while rhe stood in the entry. The evidence showed thet other boys were thro stoner aleo, and, or the statements of the witnerses were contradictory, the jury gave the Deneft of the Goubt to (be accused, and acquitted him. Catharine Green, convicted Jast week of receiving stolen « was sent to the Penitentiary for siz moathe. In the afterneon the trial of Mary Hammond was com menced, she having been indicted for the homicide of Sarah Bensett, an aged colored woman employed as « cook at 8 Howerd street, in September last. The pris- oner was @ chambermaid there, and, a» It appeared from the testimony, the doorkeeper heard a noise im the dining room, and on going down saw the prisoner strike ing the colored woman on the bead with a small stick. She died next morning. The case wili be finished to day, ‘The Surrogate hae decided the long pending litigation relative to the administration of Joesph Sbilton's estate, by ordering lotters to issue to the oldest gon, Daniet ?. Shilton, whem be bolde not to be incompetent to admin. ister, The will of Mies Niobe Minturn was yesterday ad- mitted to probate. The administrator and [former ad. ministrator of the Kirby eatate were ordered to file addi tonal accounts, ‘There ware two fights between members of rival com panies of oor Fire De 1nd og Aan nod ove Yesterday morning, Of the Aghie jonday evening One took place at the corner ef Houston street and Second avenue, between Nos, 16 and 46 Hose companies, Curing whieh several pistol shote were fired aod one man Teceived & eeriows wound in the side, Ths other occurred Nos, 40 and 63 Engine companies, character, stones, clubs sod chunks of joe being used, and several mon badly cut Again, between one and two o'clock yesterday morning, ou the cceasion of ano- “4 tukeu out of theif bouses ufttt further uotice. A man named J.nits Hefforn add bie wife wore yorter- day commiited so the Tombs for taial, charged with atiempting to steal jewelry from the store of « Johu siroot dealer, while exemiatng the artisies on pretence of intention to purchase, {t te allezed (het Heileta avd bis wife have been very successfully proseceting this lice of business for a number of years, aud bave amassed by it ® large fortune, enabling them to live in maguillveat style in @ Ono house in Forty-seventh street, Jobn Williams alias George Lewis was yesierday oom- mitted to the Tombs, in default of one thousand dollars , 0b the charge of attenspt at larce y, im applying at the Post Office for valuable letters belonging to the Im- porters’ and Traders’ Bank,which be was totally without @utborization to do. ‘The Aret anniversary of the Women's Protective Union ‘wad beld last evening in the Cooper Institute, Bpeechos were made by Judge Daly, Rev. Heury Ward Beecher, and Messrs. A. Oakey Hall and James T, Brady. The State government of Nevada was inaugurated on the 6th of this month, aud the Legislature, which will elect two United States Senators, met yesterday. The steamship Cumbria, with four or five hundred soldiers on board, ran on a rock: white passing through Hel!gate, East river,on Monday afternoon, The vessel had « bole mude in her bottom; but all the persons on board were gotten off safely. The only extensive comb factory im New Jersey was burned at Newark ou Seturday night, Loss estimated at $35,000; insured for $22,600, of which amuunt New York companies loge $20,000, According t© the City Inspector's report there were 407 deaths im the city during the week ending on the i2tb of Decumber—a decrease of 29 08 compare! with (ne mortality of the week previous, aod the same number tbat occurred during the corresponding week last year. The stock market was dull yesterday, Gold was Steady, and, after opening at 2335{, closed at 23454. Governments wore strong in the morning, but slightly lower afterwards, ‘The commorcial sfa‘us was in the main uachanxed yes- ferday, though in some few commedittes a fair business was consummated—in part speculative. Foreigu mer- chaudise remained quiet, and there were but fow changes reported. Petroleum was Oirmer, with a fair demand, Cotton was also rather rmer. On ‘Change the flour market was more active and a trifle firmer. Wheat was quiet, while corn und oats were dull and without decided change iu value. Pork was more active and firmer, Beef was dull and heavy, while lard was more active, but without, however, any obange in valuo. Freights quiet, while whiskey was more active and firmer. ‘Ibe market for beef cattle this week rules buoyant and firm, and prices are 1c. a 2c. higher on att kinds. Soaroe- ly any sold below 10c., while some of the best sold as high as 19. @20c, per pound, The average was fully 16c. Milch cows were steady. Veals sold at from 90 to Ifo, a 1440. Sheep and lambs were active and higher; sales at$ia$Sa$l0. Hogsare also higher, the cales ranging from 12}{¢. to ldo, The receipts were 6,246 beeves, 80 cows, 1,393 voals, 18,153 sheep and lambs, and 24,267 bogs, Highly Important Nows—Sherman In- vesting Savannah. We publish this morning the official tele- gram of Secretary Stanton, announoing that General Sherman is thundering at the gates of Savannab. This important bulletin is the first we have had from the War Department since General Sherman began his march, and, in manner and matter, it is a model document. It will be seen that the information is derived from Richmond direct, and leaves no doubt that General Sherman, with the co-operation of General Foster, bas isolated Savannah and the rebel army defending it from the rest of the so-called confederacy. General Sherman moved through Central Georgia in two columné, in a slow, leisurely manner, making feints upon two important cities out of bis direct route, and thus betray- ing the rebels into several false movements. They reinforced Macon and Augusta at the expense of the vital point at which Sherman was aiming. Reaching Millen on December 2, the two wings of the army were concentrated, and at this point entered the narrow peninsula between the Ogechee and Savannah rivers. Down this peninsula, some sixty miles in length, the army bas been moving as rapidly as poS@ible, the movement being doubtless delayed by the numerous streams and swamps over and through which General Sherman had to fight his way. On the 10th inst. he had reached Bloomingdale, fifteen miles north of Savannab, and on the 12th inst. is reported by the rebel papers o have been in line of battle only five miles from the city. Having reached this point it is apparent, by a glance at the map, that General Shermaa is in communicating distance with the fleet in Ossabaw Sound, and, doubt- leas, by means of signals, with Fort Pulaski. His position cuts off Savannah from all com- munication with the rest of Georgia by the Gulf and Central Railroads, while the success of General Foster at Pocotaligo, in severing communication with Charlesten, renders the isolation of the besieged city complete. This, It will be eeen, is acknowledged by the Rich- mond papers, and it is apparent, from their language, that the success of Generals Sher- man and Foster has, in this respect, been com- plete. We may therefore safely conclude that the investment which has already been effected secures the fall of Savaunah. General Sher- man left Atlanta on November 15. We may yet have the pleasure of positively announcing a glorious result to his grand campaign on December 15. Important the St. Albans Raiders. We publish in another column the decision of the Canadian Judge in the case of the St. Albans raiders, whereby it will bo seen that he has discharged those miscreants on the plea of want of jurisdiction, At the same time we have received intelligence of the dis- charge at Toronte of the pirates of Lake Erie, The latter, however, is not an event of so much importance as the discharge of the highway- men, murderers and robbers of the St. Albans rolé, and we have no” doubt that the decision in that cage will strike with as much astonish- ment the British and Canadian governments as it will our own goverament and people. The Judge, who is evidently a robel sympa- thizer, was implored by the counsel for the prosecution to hesitate before dismiss- ing these men, charged with such heinous orimes—implored in the name of British Jas- ‘Moot fire alarm, Eacine GARAAIe 4A And OG mei at ure | fice. the revytation ef the colony end the hougs | this city. of the Bogi's® courts—bat without aval His | oa! parties, like weeds, are thus killed off and miod was na expectation, for no one,e ter here or ia Canade, had any doubt that sfv'% men would ‘be delivered up. Ponta Tn 2, nes Curiously énough, just at “te moment We received th’s nows we ago” Jearned: that one portion of the Ieg'slative brated of ur goverument at Washington had adopted the measure of increasing our equadron of armed vessels on the lakes, and the other portion had egreed to a resolution giving notice to Great Britain that the Reciprocity treaty with Canada should be terminated; and this, too, witbout any provision for the construction of a new treaty. The people along the border have evi- dently had enough of Canadian reciprocity. It is probable that these released raiders will now acatter and leave the country, but if anytbing of this kind should oocur again it may lead to serious complications between this country and Great Britain. If the official who let loose these criminals, be, as he elaims to be, an English Judge, and if this is the law we are to expect from the English bench in Canada, the American people will have to take care of their own frontier in future, and protect it by the most stringent measures. Chief Ju Cha: ‘The Administra- tion and tne Saccession. Though somewhat taken aback by the ap- pointment of Mr. Chase towthe commanding position of Chief Justice of tie United States, the Seward cl que, and other anti-Chase ele- ments of the republican party, are consoling themselves with the idea that their powerful adversary is at least removed from tbe arena of party politics, and will not interfere with their game for the Presidential succession. This idea is semowhbat plausible, but we predict that it will prove a great mistake. Mr. Chase, down to the day of his retirement from the Treasury, was the master spirit of the administration, in his character of anointed leader of the republican radicals. With a decided majority of the party in both houses of Congress at his back, he controlled, to a very great extent, the general policy and the ap- pointments, as well as the financial schemes and appropriations of the government. Through- out the country the leading journals and the elite of the party were his eupporters—some openly, some covertly—for the Baltimore nomi- nation of 1864 against Mr. Lincoln. But the Chase-Pomeroy circular against Lincolo started the shoddy interest, and resulted in such a powerful combination against Chase that his friends capitulated without firing a shot, and he was nowhere at the Baltimore Convention. The armistice of the Presidential campaign followed. Mr. Lincoln is re-elected, and, to serve the purposes of his administration, he conciliates the friends of Mr. Chasé in bis ap- pointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But this arrangement does not cover a treaty of peace between Mr. Chase and the radicals on the one side, and Mr. Seward with the so-called conservatives on the other. Mr. Chase is an ambitious man—an active, energetic man, and be likes the busy, stirring work of a party engineer. Hesides, he bas cer- tain unliquidated outstanding balances against Mr. Seward and the conservatives, which must be settled. This conservative faction must be ruled off the track for the suodession, and here the trouble begins. Granted that Mr. Chase in his present position has not the remotest idea ef becoming again a Presidential candi- date, be is none the less devoted to bis radical policy of reconstruction, and the instruments and the ways and means to carry it out. To this end his word now, more than ever, will be the law to a majority of both branches of Con- gress, and through this influesce he can still direct the counsels of the administration. We expect to bear before many months are over of the retirement of Mr. Seward from the State Department, and of the appointment of a rigid radical in his place, With this event the conservatives will begia to comprehend the game that is organized against them, if they do not, to some extent, already comprehend it. As the game stands the odds are heavily on the side of the radicals and Chief Justice Chase. Against him the conservatives se- cured the Baltimore nomination for Mr. Lin- colo; but since his election, 1s he was before, the President, Cabinet and Congress are really in the hands and at the mercy of the radicals. Considering the financial embarrassments of the country, and the inevitable revulsion that will come, with or without the restoration of peace within the next four years, the democrats will, indeed, be a pack of donkeys if they can- not contrive to win the next Presidential eleo- tion. But that is not the present question. We are dealing with the unsettled issue between Chase and Seward, as representing the repub- lican radicals and conservatives. We hold that Judge Chase has still the power and the will, and the purpose, and will exercise them, to demolish Seward and his faction, and to rule them out of the succession. We hold that, although “a used up man” as a candidate himself, Mr. Seward is still used by his tonser- vative friends in view of some other candidate; but that he and they will be laid upon the shelf. The skirmishing has already commenced in Thurlow Weed, the good Man Friday of Mr. Seward, is near the end of his tether. He has had a wide range and wany choice pickings, ia the way of free wool statis- ties, lobby jobs, shoddy jobs, horse rallroad jobs, steamboat jobs, and all sorts of jobs, but especially as a cobbler and tinker of President making jobs. Now the radicals are going to wind him up. In the scorching letter of An- drews he has opened a raking masked battery upon “the Lucifer of the Lobby,” and in the trial of the pending Opdyke libel suit we ex- pect other masked batteries will be opened that will rake him fore and aft. Weed will be laid out, In any event, as a Presideatial cob- bler and tinker. Then Seward will be put in lavender on the same shelf. Then his intract- able conservatives will go over, like Booby Brooks for the pickings of the democratic party. Then the radicals, in regard te the administra- tion candidate for the succession, will have it all their own way. The reproductive aud transforming elements of nature are constantly at work. Nothing in hor vast laboratories remains fdle. For in- stance, from @ fleld of weeds, whiob die in the fall, a now growth of weeds straugely different often atarte uo.inte Life ia the paslog, Rallis rently made up; andit may be | Tesewed under new combinations. Thus in 5 play Al A aH EHH upon jpadlis tredebrig and the seeds of the Late Presidential ol ‘the elements of regeneration are already at work, and the, proapeot, is that ia tho republican field of 1868 the Seward oon- sorvatives w.ll be wholly rooted and super- beded hy the radicals, Chief Justine Chase is master of the situation, and can plant what be Washing Day Among the Reopublicans— The Weed and Opdyke Libel Sait. Yesier day was the grout washing day among t\@ republicans. Thurlow -Weed and ex- May? Opdyke furnished the dirty linen, and the ele, thes lines were bung up in the Supreme Court roe.™, Duane street. William M. Evarts, ex-Judge bierrepoiat and R. M. Blatchford appeared ag ,Wasbers and ironers for Weed, and David Dudw;¥ Field, ex-Judge Emott and W. F. Opdyke wen? Present to get up the ex- Mayor's linen, Juiige - Mason, from the rural distriots, prosided ovr the operations. During tho day there was ve. little done except to get the tubs, soap and ho water ready, and put the dirty clothes in soak.\ To-day, and fer weveral days hereafter, the: ®, will be some prize washing performed, and the soapsuds will be splashed around fearfully... We gives full report of yesterday’s interesting ‘xhibition in our news columns, and we advise ¢!! who can get into the court room to attend the ow. Descending from the lofty heights of met® phor to plain statements of fact, we have the* pleasure to announce to the public that tbe great political libel auit—Opdyke vs. Weod— bas at last begun, and will be rapid!y pushed to a verdict. The crowd in the court yester- day was immense, and intense interest was manifested in the proceedings, Besides the parties and their distinguished counsel, Joho ©. Fremont, the ex-General; Sir Hiram Bar- ney, the Americanc-Jtalian nobleman; Comp- troller Brennan; A. Oakey Hall, the versatile Datrict Attorney; Sheridan Shook, the Super- visor; War Horse Purdy; O. W. Brennan, the republican; Jacob Sharp, the railroad man; Barlow, the broker; Hugh Maxwell, the ex- Collector; Bufus F. Andrews, the clever ex- Surveyor; and many other, prominent politi- cians, both from this city and the interior of the State, were present during the day. For some unexplained reason—in all probability a slight difficulty with his tailor—our old friend, Horace Greeley, did not display himself upon this occasion, nor was Artemus Ward Beecher, the Brooklyn parson, on hand, as usual. Nevertheless, there were quite enough great people to crowd the room, and these two magnates were hardly missed. Ex-Mayor Opdyke, our reporters tell us, brought his bundle of dirty linea into court first. Thurlow Weed followed with his at a later moment; when the calendar was called. Opdyke bas shaved off his’ side whiskers aud now wears only a mustache, on the ground, we believe, that persons were continually mis- taking him for City Inspector Boole, and Boole for him. The ex-Mayor looked very serious and ratber care-worn, as if be had spent rather too much time in rummaging over the dirty clothes basket in order to get up his case. Thurlow Weed, on the contrary, seemed as fresh as a rose and as smiling asa June sun. He looked . so well and so accustomed to dirty Tinea that there was a genoral buzz of admira- tion when he took his seat. Ex-Surveyor An- drews, sitting with another big bundle of very dirty linen on his knee, surveyed Weed with a glance in which rage and contempt struggled for the mastery. But Thurlow smiled on, unabashed. The only witnesses exam- {ned yesterday were Mr. De Nyck, of the Albany Evening Journal; Mr. Winder, of the Evening Post, and Mr. Manton Marvel, or Manton Marble, of the World. Messrs. De Nyek and Winder proved the fact of the publi- cation of the ‘alleged libel, and Mr. Manton Marvel, or Manton Marble, did not prove any- thing, except that he is the editor of the World, the confession of which fact crimsoned his cheeks with shame—as well it might. This ended the day’s proceedings. We have, of course, no intention of expreas- ing an opinion upon the merits of this cause celebre while it is still pending. That would be unjust to all parties concerned and con- trary to the etiquette of the court. But we may at least congratulate the public upon the amusing entertainment which is to be provided for them from this date uatil after the holidays. No sooner will the great case of Opdyke vs. Weed be ended, than the great case of Sweeny vs. Brooks will begin. The former will show us the dirty linen of the republican party; the latter will develope the dirty linen of the demo- crats. It has hitherto been pretty difficult to decide which party is the more impure; but now we shall be perfectly satisfied upon this and many other disputed points. Politicians are especially interested in these cases, because they may make and unmake political leaders, -and decide who is to control this city and State. Besides this, they will clear the ground for the Presidential contest of 1868. Weed apparently represents the Seward interest, and Opdyke the Chase interest; and if Seward be a Machia- velli, who knows but that Chase may prove a Richelieu? Journaliats sre also especially interested; for if Mr. Opdyke wins his case Weed will probably write no more for the papers; and if Mr. Sweeny wins his case there wil] be an end of the Express. Besides this, the law of libels will be thoroughly reviewed and expounded by half a dozen eminent law- yers and a very learned judge. But those most especially interested are our citizens generally. It is seldom that two such remark- able trials, coming together, enable us to take & birdseye view of the corruption of our poli- tics, our politicians and the partisan press; and we trust that the moral to be derived there- from will not be lost upon the American public. A Sivouran History.—In the year 1836 the city of Buffalo, N. Y., contained among ite population a citizen of indefatigable industry and untiring enterprise. Whole blocks of capacious warehouses were erected by him, new streets were laid out, graded, paved and lighted upon bis recommendation and with his assistance; and no publici{undertaking was con- sidered sure of success without the sanction and aid of this publfo spirlted citizen. The crash of 1837 oame, arid it caused him to totter. To sustain his oredit fer « few days, in an evil hour he committed a deed which consigned him to the State Prison, Pardoned out, and no ineradicable stigma save that inseparable from misfortunofattacbing to his name, he came to New York city and started the hotel business at the corner of Broadway and Cortlandt street. Failing lin’ this, he went to’ “Long faland’s seagirt shoré’ and took the Bath qwamex smablishmont, Scan dia. gusted with bis il! luck "ton thts regton of civilization altogether »4 sought the soll’ tudes of West Virginls as a place of quich od resi for the rerueinder of tis days, seitled in.what bes proved to be the beart of” the West Virginia oil region—and now this, uafortunate yet lucky, this untiring and irre pressible man, concludes his strange, eventfal, history by leaving to his heirs o fortune valae@: &t three millions of dollars. He bore the weld kaown name of Rathbun. Tos Pray Bir.—Each of the vis'tors to the city theatres received on Monday night, as the bill of the play, a neat little paper of four pages, on the first page of which was printed the cast of characters, &., of the play perm formed at the house he honored with bie pres ence, and on the other pages of which were suadry columns of pleasant matter—jesta, aquibs, and so on—intended to shorten the time between the acts, This was neatly printed, in blue, on good paper, making alte- gether a clean and tidy little sheet, which was apparently quite acceptable to all, and with the more intellectual audiences was quite taken fnto favor, But it appears that the Tribune objects to it. There was a certain old lady who refused to let a lal leave hie crowbar under her hencoop, for fear the suspl: cious looking afticle- “might go off,” and the objection that the /7idune has to the Play Bi is of the came nature. Some time or anothety it thinks, somebedy might say something in the Play Bilt that somebody else ought to object tom and that, of course, would be very bad Nowxethe Piay Bill is appsrently a delicate tentative toward a funny paper, and thus & comes into the world making a noise. This ta a good sign—a sign of life. Everything that has vitality in it comes into th’e world with @ squatl—making & good noise—a‘nd in that way inflating its lungs and exerciding its breathing apparatus, aud taking the first etqo in a vigor ous existence. All the funny papacrs that we have seen in this country hitherto ha Ve come into the world in the othor way—very quietly; they have been stillborn, in fact—ana’ have died before one person in ten knew that. they had been born, As the Play Bill comes is noisily it is very probable that it will live. \ WF Tas McCieitan Sworp Fun Aqaw.—Ait bookkeepers, bank cashiers and accountants are in the habit of using the cabalistic letters E. E. in squaring their accounts, which means “Errors excepted.” But in furnishing our account of the McClellan Sword Fund, where anerror occurred in the substraction, we did not use the oabalistic symbols referred ta, and bence there was no reservation. How- ever, we may state that, with the deduction of the sums since withdrawn and published in another column, we now have $692 16 remaining, errors oorreoted. If General Me Cleltan bas no objection we will hand this amount over to the committee em trusted with the duty of presenting a testh monial to Admiral Farragut. I¢ is the first time that anything of that kind has been got up for a distinguished ollicer of the navy, ranke ing so high and covered with so muoh glory as Admiral Farragut. General McClellan has been complimented In various ways, and may feel that his services are not unappreciateds He has been presented with a handsome house by his friends; be got the nomination for the Presidency, and he received a very large pope« lar vote, though @ minority one. Under these circumstances we are sure that he will not ebe jeot to the fragment of the compliment intende@ to be paid to himself being transferred to @ brother officer of so much merit as Admiral Farragat. j Tux Governor Evxcr.—Much curiosity is among all sorts of politicians to know wi course the Governor elect will take in regard to making the various appointments within hie gift. This is the business of the politiciana But the people are anxious to know what be will do about the State taxes and finances, the State canals, the State militia, the impend! draft, the city railroads, the lobby and 4 corruptioniats, the incendiary press, the rebels and rebel sympathizers harbored in our midst, and other matters of extreme public momesty These are the topics which the people hope te see satisfactorily considered and discussed by his incoming Excellency, and he will be wise if he take this hint and prepare himself im time. Tee Banxrort Law Passep sy Tas Hovss— Aw Unagnt Catt Uron raz Senata.—We have already announced the passage of the Bankrapé law by the House of Representatives. It fe now before the Senate, which body passed it af the last session, while the House rejected it by one vote. The Senate should now pass the bill without delay. It is particularly necessary that it should become a law at this time, as may tend to mitigate the evils which the de- rangement in the currency has created. If passed promptly, the business community will be spared much of the injury which unwise financial legislation will inevitably entail. Le the Senate pass the bill without delay. The Bark Gertrade Chase Ashore. Houmee’ Hows, Mass., Dec. 18, 1866. The bark Gertrude Chase, from Baltimore, with a cargm of coal, staves and trenails, of and for Portland, strueiy on a low point of the West Chop yesterday, and remaine@ ashore at ten o'clock this morning. Sho is tight, and wild be got off after lightening when the wind moderates, News from Cairo. Carmo, Deo. 12, 1866. ‘The steamor Darling, from Memphis for Cincinnatl, kaw passed ap with two hundred and fifty-nine bales of cottem, ‘The Belle of st. Louis brought thirty bales of costom. jseamers are aground at Crawford's and other points on Missiesippi, and will probably be frozen tm Massachusetts Mayoralty Blecttons. Bostos, Deo. 18, 1864. Charles Robinson Gainer was elected Mayor of Charies, town yesterday by 678 majority over Mr. Stone, the pre sont incumbent. Both gentlemen are republicans. in Newburyport, George Jackman, the recent Mayen, was re-slected without opposition. He is a democrat, Fire at Buffalo, Borravo, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1868. A Gire at two o’olock thie morning destroyed the eee vator of Charice W. Evane, The origin of the fret ‘unknown; but It is supposed to bave been accidental. My caught in the drying building attached to the clevatens Lose heavy. Boston, The following Is the weekly matemeds of the conde; Capitaiag tock $22, ouus esd 441100) Specie 8.358: aa a vera ‘wie pown lan ol wena na his residence, Ta titeten, Ne Wt, pastas day. — Lame Disaster. Torowro, 1 sonmor Ceorge Moftatt was wrest Yealorta near Baynsnrlle, wae Be ala lean