The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROP ‘OR, OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF PULTON AND NASSAU STS, a : THE WEELLY HERALD, Whe Cheapest Publication in the United States. The New York WenKuy Wenatp ts now not only the Dest but tho cheapest woekly poper published in this eountry. While ali the other weekly papers have in- creased ther subs.ript on prce from twenty-five to iwo hundred per cent the Waxeiy Humanp is mailed at the ‘old rates, as follows:— ‘Ono Copy per year. Five Cop Ton Cop. Any larger number addressed to names of subs:r.bers 1 GOeach. An extra copy will be sont to every club of fen. Twenty copies, to ono addross, one year, $25, and ‘ny larger number at samo price. An extra copy will besent to clubs of twenty. These rates make the WeNRLY Huwaup the cheapest publication in the country. Poatage five cents per copy for three months, ‘The Weextr Henan will hereafter be printed on the (best paper, on Saturday, and mailéd on Saturday, to agents ‘as well as subscribora, It will contain all the news of the week up to the hour of publication—nine o'clock Saturday morning. The Wruniy Herat, being a news- papor, as well as a family literary paper, cannot be ante- dated, as most publications of the kind are, It will, Bherofore, be prinie i at the latest moment, and its con- Cents will ermmbrace the latest news, illustrated with maps, with the latest improvements. Single cop.os, in wrappers, five cents, THE SITUATION. We have somo interesting, though not the most defl- Bile, revel reports regarding General Shermen’s move ments, It is announced that he crossed a considerable portion of his army over the Savannah river on the 6th instant, and that at the date of latest accounts he was marching towards and was near Grahamsyille, South Carolina, on tho railroad run- ming from Savannah to Charleston, thirty-four miles from the former and seventy from lattor place. The rebels are unablo to determine, though, whether ho is moving on Charleston or Branchville, sixty-two miles north of it, and on the railroad running from that city to Augusta, Ga, This road they expect Kil- Patrick's cavalry will cut. A Charleston despatch of the Sthanst. says General Sherman has sent the Seventeenth Corps to Beaufort to co-operate with Genoral Foster, Hood's rebo! army is betioved to be now in the vicinity Of Corinth, Mississippi. Ho succecded in getting his rear Guard across tho Tennessee river, at Bainbridge, on the 28th of December. Ho !ost betwoen fifteon and twenty thousand of his men while north of that river, @nd tovk back to the south sido of it about twenty-five thousand, ‘Forrest was compelled to abandon one hundred and fifty of his wagons on the forth bank of the Tennesses. Beauregard, in a dospatch to the rebel War Department, acknowledges that Hood Jost fifty pieces of artillory on the second day of the battle before Nashville, The Richmond Dispatch says Ghat even according to Genoral Hood's own account the “battlo of Nashville was bad business” for him. ‘The rebols think that Goneral Thomas is marching with hig army towards Southwestorn Virginia, with tho design of gotting in tho rear of Lee. One of our Washington correspondents mentions ru- mors in circulation there that the rebel Vice-President, Mr. Alexander H. Stephens, has applied for permission to pass through Goneral Grant’s lines and proceed to our ‘mational capital; that the rebel House of Represontatives ‘had appointed a commission to meet Mr. Francis P. Blair @t General Grant's headquarters, and that intelligence thas boen received of Mr. Bla‘r’s arrival in Richmond on Bast Monday evening. . Woe bave this morning some additional particulars OF General Gricrson’s last raid. In last Sunday's Hunatp was reported his successful progress for seventy milcs along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, from Corinth to Okalona, Mississipp!, in which ho uttorly destroyed ‘the track, bridges and much other property, ‘Ho had about three thousand men, having left Memph's, ‘Tena., on tho 2ist ult. Ata place called Egypt, about ten miles beyond Okalona, he bad a sharp fight with a Dody of rebels, of whom quite a number were ‘killed and wounded, and five hundred captured. It appears that he did not proceed on to Meridian, Miss., along the Mobile and Ohio road, “out at Egypt left that Ine and moved westward, @triking the Missisa'ppi Central Railroad below Grans.ta, Mississipp!, and destroying about thirty miles of It, sevo- fal locomotives and fifty cars, together with several extensive rebel factor.cs. Thore are romors in the Shenandoah valley that a rebel force has recently moved down nw far as Strasburg; but, oven if this should bo true, it is not thought that it is of sufficient strength to cause any aunoyance to General Shoridan’s army. Detachments of the enemy, though, are known to be at different points in the valley, a8 well as at Gordonsville and Charlottesville. Wo learn that the explosion of the powder sbip off Fort Fishor so demoralized the garrison that they could not be induced to come out of the casemates for twenty- four hours, and not until time had reassured them. This Jnformation is obtained from prisoners. Wo publish this morning General Butler's farewell or- Ger to the Army of the James on relinquishing command on Sunday last, The rebels made an attack on the pick- ots of « portion of the Army of the Potomac early on the morning of the Oth inst., and captured a few men. The accounts from Arkansna are very contradictory cogarding the reported evacuation by the Union troops of Fort Smith, Van Buron and other posta, It is stated that the commander of the rebel battalion of Chickasaw Endians recently, undor flag of truce, made an offor of the surrender of his force to the Union General Thayer. The Femnant of the rebel army with which General Price Fotreated from Missouri ts said to bo at Bragg depot, on Rod river; but tho men are continually deserting in large mumbera By way of Cairo wo have later advices from New Or- feana, A lotter recoived there staicd that fighting was going on in tho vicinity of Mobile on the Sist wit, On the night of the 26th ult. Ensign Blurnes cut loore and ook out from Galveston harbor, within five hundred Yards of tho rebel guardship, the blockade running Schooner Dallio, having on board one bnndred and fwonty bales of cotton. Tho Union gunboat Rattler, smbich recently drifted ashore In the Misciesippl between Vicksburg ani Natchez, was attacked and burned by guerillas, Thoy wore also burning cotton in the ne!gh- Dorhood of Natchez, Gonerai 7, W. Shorman and staf had arrived at Now Orleans. In the case of the St. Alvans raiders, tn the court at Montreal, yesterday, thirty days’ delay was granted the Prisoners to enable them to obtain testimony from Rich- sanond. In the case of Burley, the nlloged Lake Erie pi- Pate, in Toronto, the court yesterday postponed deciding Pill to-day whethor the accused's commission from Jef, Davis shall be received as evidence. Richmond papers of the 9th inst. ray that General Merling Price ia still alive, The Lynchburg Virginian the |.* for Park, to incorporate s Home for diers, and to provide a parade ground fer the military of this city. enable the trustecs Retreat to borrow money; to aid the national govern- ment in providing for the defences of the Northorn lnkes; also to repeal the fare restriction clause in the Company to construct new tracks; to amend the Assess- mont laws; to incorporate the Studio Building Associa- tion of this city. of the United States to adopt measures for tho speedy siatement of the unclaimed deposits in the Manhattan Bank of this city. The bills noticed were those to pro- vide against damages from explosive materials in Brook- lyn; to amend the city charter of Brooklyn; for a railroad on Thirty-fourth street and Sixth avenue; for » paid Fire Department in New York, and for a Broadway Railroad. Among the bills introduced will be found one to consolidate the Hudson River and Harlem Ra lroad Companies; relative to the Society for the Pro- tect on of Roman Catholic Children in this city; to incor- porate the “Theatrical Union;” also the New York and Brooklyn Passenger and Baggage bill Havana on the 7th inst., bringing some important news from Mexico. fosto directing a revision by his ministry of the titles and claims under which tho ecclesiastical property has been for somo time held, and ia effect declaring that it belongs to the State, and that it is in the province of the goverument to exercise a superior control over it, said that the pubiication of this documont created con- siderable enthas! tho Belgian legion, for service in Saximilian’s army, had already reached Mexico, and others of them were con- tinually arriving. importance from St. Domingo. Some interesting accounts of the movements of rebel blockade runners are fur- ma cnlted States steam transport Keneington, Acting Master John E. Rockwell commanding, from New Or- leans, Port Royal and the West Gulf blockading squad- ron, arrived here yeeterday morning. Sho towed into Port Royal the United Statee steamer Wando, which waa short of fuel. the variour vessels on the blockade. ing squadron, arrived here yesterday. She brought a number of discharged officers and men, but little news, Our Key West correspondent informs us that the gun- boat Glancus, which recently lost her propeller and rud- dor off Great Inagua, was towed into Gonaives, St. Do- mingo, by the gunboat Galatea, The Magnolia had been sent to bring the Glaucus to Key West. of the nation to General Sherman and his army has becn signed by tho President. yesterday. Before the hour for the jury to come in the court room was densely crowded in every part, At ten tT NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1865. : states that a large foreo of workmen have been piaced on the Gast Tennessee and Virginia Railroad to repair the damage jt sudered from the Stoneman raid. A fire in Charlotte, N. @., on the 7th inet, desireyede vast amount of rebel army stores, EUROPEAN NEWS. The steamship Moravian from Londonderry on the 80th Of December, reached Portland, Me., yestertay. Hor five daya later, Itis fully roperted by tele- Hana to-day, ris of the victories of Generala Sheriaan and S were reeclved ia England and produced a very tin support of the Uuion cause, politically Ly. Dix’s order rolative to the treatment of raiders from Cunada caused ¢ rable excitement in England, which effected a Might dopress'on of Cansdian securities, The order was commented on very freely by the Loudon journals, the writers expressing ahope that it would not be acted on, The London Timeg, of the 20th of December, endorses tho “frani and teimporate” language used by President Lincoln in his message to Congress on the subject of the Canada raid, and denounces the idea of a war between England and the United States on tho matter of a fron- tierdificulty. Tho London Times says that such a war would be merely a ‘powerful intervention in belalf of the South.”” Lord Wharncliffe publishes a letter in the London Times, attempting to disprove the position taken by Secretary Seward towards him in his efforts to send Eng- lish aid to rebel prisonera, Consols closed in London, December 30, at 893 a 803% for money. ‘The bullion in the Bank ef England do- creased during the week £207,000. Tho Liverpool cotton market evinced an upward teu- dency during the week, closing easior on the 29th ult, December 20 the :aarket was dull and closed at a decline, ranging from one- apenny to one penuy per pound, owing to the excess of stock im port, The stock of American was twenty-three thousand bales, being twelve thous ive hundied bales over the estimate, ulls were steady and quiet. Provisions quiet. resented from overnment ato government, In the Sonate yesterday @ petition was citizons of Virginia asking that a Territ uted in place of the prevent 8! and was referred to the Committee oa Territories, A bill vd ng tho appointment of a Second Ase of War, It provides for such appotut ment from oflicors now connected with the War Depart ment, for the term of one year, at a salary of $3,009 por ear, The resoluiion to repeat the Reciprocity treaty upand occupted the attention of the Senate until the adjournment, No action was taken on the reso- ition. In the House of Repreeentatives the Judiciary Com- mittee reported a bill, which was passed, to amend the Civil Appropriation act, by adding @ proviso that in any action by or against any executors, administrators or guardians, in which judgment may have been rendered for or agaiust them, neither party shall be allowed to testify against the other on any transaction, unless called to testify by the oppesite party or by the court The House then resumed the consideration of the proposed amendment to the constitution, which was debated at length, pending which the House adjourned. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Stato Senate yesterday petitions were presented for the relief of the New York pilots, Sheepshead Bay Railroad Company, also for the New York Dispensary. Favorable reports were made on the bills providing the improvement and regulation of Central Disabled Sol- Billa were noticed to of tho Seamen’s Fund arf Railroad Consolidation act of 1853. The bills introduced were thore to authorize the Second Avenue Railroad A joint resolution urging the President exchange of our prisoners of war was carried. During tho evening session the resolution requesting Conzress to amond the coustitution of the United States by the abolishment of slavery was taken up, discussed at some length, and finally adopted. In the Assombly the Speaker presented the annual roport of the State Engineor on canals, together with a MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘The steamship Columbia arrived here yesterday, from Maximilian had issued an imperial mani- Itis vm in the capital. Five thousand of ‘The Columbia brings nothing later of She brought a number of passengers from The supply steamer Union, from the East Gulf blockad- The joint resolution of Congress tendering the thanks The Opdyke-Woed libel eult came to its termination o’clook they made their appearance, when their foreman announced that they had not agreed upon a verdict, and that there was no possibility of thelr doing so, On the strength of this statemont they were discharged by the Judge, and the curious and excited erowd soon after dispersed. Mayor Gunther yesterday roplicd to the communication of the Sanitary and Chemical Compost Company, in which they propove to clean our streets for three hun- dred thonsand dollars per year, informing them that, as they had omitted to give distinct specifications of the amount of work they proposed to do, and the manner of its performance, he could not take any action in the maticr at present, but that if they would make such a fialement, thelr proposal would then receive due con- sideration, A meoting of merchants was held yesterday afternoon At the I’roduce Excbenge to adopt some means for fur- ishing aid to the suffering citizens of Savannah, Colonel Allen addressed (he meeting at lougth on the destitute condition of the people of that city, a majority of whom ore women and children, Twenty thousand of this class are in @ most deplorable condition for want of the com. Monest necessaries, aud murt die of etarvation unless timely aid ts furniehed from the North. A eerios of re- solutions were adopted, pledging tho co-operation of the merchants of the Produce Exchange with tho Chamber of Commorve, and a committee of seventeen was ap: pointed to carry out the object of tho mecting. The New York and Washington Steamship Company have ten. dered to the Chaiaver of Commerce committee the steam. ship Rebecca Clydo to carry donations of provisions to Savannah, and the offer has been accepted. Tho new Hoard of Education held its first meeting last evening, Mr, MoLean, the Vrosident of (ho late Borrd, was re-olocted President, He returned thanks, and pro. inieod an addrose at the next mecting. The names of the members elected from tho pew school districts for the | ultwe coming years are J.B. Doupirnac, John Layer, J. W. Farr, J. F. Turner, &. W. Roosevelt, J, M. MoLew and Wiliam Hitchman, The following inspectors were then elected:—George Duroche, Juha Otierson, J. G. Keyes, Robers Fair, G. F, Merkle, Alfred Moore, B. P. Woods, BM. Perloy, Robert Euuerver, G. C. Brown, D. W. Ailea and A, C, Raw, It was moved that the salary of the clerk and his aavistants Le raised twonty- five percent, AD amendment to raigo the salaries of the teachers im the same proportion was lost, and the motion was (ben carried, Tho case of Engle versus Jerome, wherein it is charged hut the defendant negiceted acommission of the plain- Uf to soll a quantity of railroad stock, was before the Superior Court, special term, yesterday, but was ordered to bo disposed of by a referee, In the Superior Court, trial term, Sophia Witter yes- terday brought a suit against John Walsch on the charge of beavis of promise of marriage. It was claimed that, under such promise, the plainti!T had become tbe mother of two children by the defoudant, The lattor dd not deny the paternity of tho childrea, but brought a writen document to prove that the woman consented to live with him without any marriage engagement The caso was not concluded, In the Supreme Court, circuit, yesterday, John Graves recovered a verdict for two hundred and twenty dollars damages against Horace P. Clark, for alloged non-delivery of fifty-five barrels of whiskey, as agreed apon. Samuel Woolf, of Grand street, aud Abraham Gold- borg, residing in Buffolk street, wero yesterday arrested and held for examination on certain charges arising out of a large amount of fancy goods stolen from a Broadway store on last Saturday night being found on the premises of the former, who states that ho purchased them from the latter, This statement, howover, Goldberg positively contradicts, Jobn J. Wiggins allas Higgins was yesterday locked up in the Tombs on the charge of having, on the night of the 11th inst., stolen five hundred and fifty dollars and a gold watch and chain from a Mra. Cram, residing in Sam Francisco. Cram was arrested on board a California steamer, on its arrival here a few days ago, and in his possession were found the watch and a portion of the money alleged to have been stolen, ‘Tho following were among tho cases of violence which yesterday's police records developed :—Owen Cameron was sent tothe Penitentiary for drawing loaded revolver and threatening to shoot John Farrel, on the premises of the latter, in West Houston street. Durivga quarrel in a Franisfort street lager beer saloon,on Tuesday night, be- tween two men named Fuller and Schenck, the former was eeverely cut across the head with a knife by the latter. Schenck was not arrested. Policeman Shangle was shot in the leg on Tuesday evening, in Third strect, by a man whom ho was attempting to arrest, and who escaped. Mi-hac! Dunn, a hackman, was on Monday locked up for trial, bail being refused, charged with, among other out- rages, break’ng into the house of widow woman, sixty years of age, residing in Sixty-geventh street, near Fifth avenue, dragging her out of bed and attempting to com- mit other violence upon her. John Ebro was yesterday committed to the Tombs, in default of one thousand dollars bail, charged with assaulting and threatening to take the life of Annie Schlother, living in Elizaboth street. In the case of Angus Ross versus the Mayor, beforo Judge Barbour, where the plaintiff sued to recover fifteen thousand dollars on account of the destruction of his promises, Nos. 666 and 568 Washington street, the Court yesterday dismissed the complaint, on the ground that no evidence had beem introduced to show that the de- struction of these buildings was the actual work of the rioters. " The cace of Walter G. Patterson, who is indicted for forging the name of Collector Draper to a check for one thonsand dollars, was postponed in the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday for a weck, on account of the absence of Mr. Draper at Savannah, In the Court of Gencral Sessions yesterday, Stewart Patterson and George Howard, indicted for attempting to passa couuterfelt five dollar bill on the Buffalo City Bank, pleaded guilty to forgery in the fourth degree. As tho testimony for the prosecution was very slight, and ag tho provious characters of the defendants were proven to be good, Judge Russel suspended judgment. Yesterday, at the Jefferson Market Police Court, before Justice Dodge, Louis Bieral, Matthew H. Moore, Barney Friery, and others, well known Tammany Hall poli- ticians, were on trial, charged by James Irving with a felonious assault upon him with deadly weapons, The assault charged was made on the 29th of December, 1864, in Tammany Hall In the absenco of witnesses for the prosecution the case was postponed until Tuesday, tho 17th of January. ‘The ice was in good condition yesterday in tho Park and elsowhere, and was extensively patronized. There were thousands on tho ice from morning till midnight. At night the condition of the ice was admirable. The number of immigrants landed here since the Ist of January is 889, against 978 to tho corresponding dato.of 1864. The balance of the commutation fund now is $44,412. ‘The Legislature of Maine yesterday elected as United States Senators Mr. William Pitt Fessenden, to serve for six years from the Fourth of next March, and Mr. Nathan A. Farwoll for the unexpired term, caused by Mr. Fes- senden when he assumed charge of the Treasury De- partment. The Missouni Constitutional Convention yosterday adopted tho ordinance for the abolition of slavery in that Siute by a vote of sixty to four. The stuck market was dull and heavy yesterday. Covernment securities were strong. Gold was weak and Jower, closing at 21914. There was no change in commercial affairs yesterday worthy of note. Domestic produce settled somewhat, but imported goods were generally held at former prices, though not very firmly. Tho day's business was de- cidedly small outside of 'Change. Tho flour market was less active and scarcely so firm. Wheat was triflo easier, but firmly held. Corn and oats advancing, with @ moderate demand. Pork was firm and active, while beef was steady with a good demand. Lard scarcely so firm, Whiskey irmer. Froights dull. Tae Heratp axp Genera Burier’s Remo- vaL.—The Herat lias ever been remarkable for that highly important feature which best es- tablishes the value of a newspaper, the early announcement of news in which the public are most interested. As one casein point among a thousand, we might mention the fact that no other journal in the city had the news of Gene- ral Butler’s removal on Tuesday morning ex- cept ourselves. All the other papers were completely beaten; but this is not remarkable, for the Hunarp always publishes news of im- portance just in the same way. The intelli- gence of General Butler’s removal from com- mand was doubted by many republicans be- cause it rppeared only in the Herat, Some of them, perhaps, doubt its truth still, for they were astonished that it did not appear in the republican journals, which, being more or less supposed to be in the confidence of the adminis- tration, might naturally be expected to receive the information at least as soon as other papers. The Tribune bas said not a word about it even up to this time, although two days have elapsed since General Butler packed up his traps and started for the North. The Tribune, however, is a very curious newspaper, and reems to be governed by the idea that itis only necessary to publish such news as is pleasing to iteelf, without any regard for the public demand for the earlicst intelligence upon all subjects of interest. Tho Tritune’s notion of what a newspaper should be is evi- dently of the antediluvian order. The Herat, on the contrary, keeps step with the march of time, and hence it beats all its cotemporaries in the matter of news. A Mopvenn Drorp.—Having got into jail and out of jail, the person calling himself “Druid” has resumed his letters to the World. These letters are worthy of that journal. Their in- telligence is false, their information deceptive, and their statements are unworthy of serious credence. “Druid” takes our extracts from tho rebel papers and enlarges upon them from his ardent imagination. However, the rest of the special news of the World is equally unreliable. Sollier and Emancipation Scheme of Jem, Davis and its Terrible Dangers. Jef, Davis, in his last message to the rebel Congress, while admitting it to be a perilous experiment, broke ground in favor of arming the slaves of “the confederacy” in behalf of Southern independence, and on the basis of emaneipation and a free farm at the end of the war to cach of tho slaves thus employed. Since then Gencral Lee and his adjutant, General Cooper, have both declared themselves earn- estly in favor of the sohome, and the leading journals of Richmond have become elamorous for its adoption. The rebcl alaveholders, whose “nogro quarters” remain‘ untouched by Yankee invasions regard this proposition with alarm and indignation, and putin their old remon- strance of State. rights; but as “the confede- racy” is governed by its.army, the master of the army, 80 long as he can play the master— whether Davis or, Lee—will settle the question, regardless of State rights or State wrongs. With Lee and Davis both in favor of the scheme there is every probability that, unless speedily put down, they will extend the slave arming experiment, actually commenced at Richmond, to a general black draft upon the slaveholders from Virginia to Mobile, The rebel leaders at Richmond, in a word, are ready te go the whole length of the abso- lute abolition of slavery to escape from “Yan- kee subjugation.” But, supposing that the slaveholders concerned submit to this thing, as toa “military necessity,” and that one or two hundred thousand of their able bodied negro men are armed, drilled and brought into the field to fight for “Southern independence,” the question recurs, What will be the consequences, as between the black and white races of the South? A few facts from the French colonial history of St. Domingo, will probably serve to enlighten the slaveholders immediately con- cerned, touching this appeal of Davis for Sambo as a soldier. The terrible French Revolution, which pro- claimed the reign of “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity,” was heartily responded to by the whites of St. Domingo. They sent their depu- ties to Paris, announcing their adhesion to the republic and its platform; but they assumed that it could only apply to themselves. Thoy numbered in the colony about forty thousand against thirty thousand of the free colored class, chiefly mulattoes, while the black elave’ population numbered half a million. Among the mulattoes were many rich and cultivated men, through whom their class demanded of the colonial authorities the equal rights of the French republic. Their demand was indig- nantly rejected, including the hanging of a representative mulatto, who had appealed to the colonial Legislature, and the tearing of a white planter to pieces by a mob for presenting a similar petition. The mulattoes rebelled; they were defeated, and their ringleaders tvere put to death with savage cruelty. When the news of these events reached Paris the famoys so- ciety of Les Amis des Noirs—the friends of the blacks—interposes, and the National Assem- bly decreed that “people of color, born of free parents, were entitled to all the privileges of French citizens.” The whites of St. Domingo were furious at this recognition of negro equality, though it did not touch their slaves or institution of slavery. The law was sus- pended by the while colonial authorities in view of a remonstranco to Paris. The mulat- toes were about to appeal ‘again to arms, “when a third party, little considered by either of the others, unexpectedly interfered.” The black slaves on the plantations rose in insurrection. After several years of savage warfare and ter- ible butcheries on all sides, including the complications of a British invasion, universal emancipation was decreed, and under Tous- saint L’Overture, their leader, the blacks be- came masters of the whole island. Toussaint, by the French republic, was thus appointed governor, and under his administration peace and prosperity were restored to the colony. Thus ended the first series of lessons of negro emancipation in St. Domingo. The next series begins with the attempt of Napoleon, in 1801, as First Consul, to re-estab- lish slavery in this colony. The decree was passed, and an armed expedition, including fifty-six vessels of war and thirty thousand French veteran soldiers, under General Le Clerc (the husband of Pauline, who accompa- nied him), was detailed to the island to enforce this decree. What followed? Between the re- volting blacks, and the destractive yellow fever, the forces of this expedition were nearly de- stroyed. The remnants were gathered up by a hostile British flect, The blacks were left masters of the island, and their second leader, Dessalines, in 1804, in imitation of Napoleon, proclaimed himself emperor. Now, if such were the results of the French emancipation and re-enslaving experiments among the savagely stupid and ignorant blacks of St. Domingo, what is to be expected from similar experiments by Jeff. Davis among the comparatively enlightened and intelligent negroes of our Southern States? Their able- bodied men, within the lines now held by the armies of Davis, are perhaps more than two to one against the able-bodied white men left by the war within the same limits, Let Davis train these blacks as soldiers, arm them, and put them in the field, is there any sesurance that they will stop short of a move- ment for the extirpation of the white race of the South and the possession of a portion of the country for themselves? Against such a movement during this war there would be no other way of escape to the helpless whites left at home in the rebellious States than the imme- diate submission of those States to the Union, with an appeal to the government for assistance. This is the entertainment to which Jeff. Davis, in his reckless despair, invites the slaveholders of his “confederacy.” Will they tamely sub- mit? What can they do in any State against the so-called “Confederate” armies? This is the question which must now soon be deter- mined; and if put to the tost upon this iesuc of arming and emancipating their slaves we shall have a'speedy settlement, no doubt, by a gene- ral movement of the States concerned for the abandonment of Davis and » return to the Union. By slavery, which has sustained him so long, if he should now abandon it, he will be hurried to destruction. Acting upon this hint President Lincoln may end the war at once. Fernaxvo Woon’s Sreeca—Fernando Wood has’ been making a speech in Congress against the amendment to the constitution abolishing slavery. We believe that his opposition will benefit the measure. In his speech he Inid down the points for a future oration which ought nover to be delivered. None of his points aro well taken. Most of them have-no point at all. Upon the others all are agreed, and no argu- ment is nocessary. Vernando is @ played- out politician. His constiiments have refused to re-elect him, and we advise him to die gracefully, The Nows from Engiand—The Reeent Victories—The Canadian Imbroglie, ‘The Europedu nows bronght by the Moravian, at Portland, is to the 30th of December, and of considerable interest. It will ingcod be regarded by many of our readers as of much importance. The Moravian reports that the Hansa, which sailed from New York on Saturday, the 17th ult. had reached Southamp- ton, announcing the capture of Fort MoAllister by Gexeral Sherman, the probable fall of Savannah, the details of General Thomas’ great viotory at Nashville, and the publication of Gencral Dix’s order on the subject of the fature troatment of rebol raiders from Canada, to- gether with the reports of the action in Con- gress on Caradian affairs, This stirring intelligence, reaching England in one day, produced a remarkable effect on the minds of the people of that country, causing somewhat of a finaficial and political sensation. The rebel loan declined three per cent, an active demand sprang up for United States five-twenty bonds, which rose sapidly in the market. Tlinois and Erie stock went up, making the advance one dollar per share on the week’s transactions, and cotton declined. These were results which were reasonably expected to flow from such news, but the com- ments of the London press on Goneral Dix’s famous order appear the most remarkable, when ell things are taken into consideration. It was thought that England would throw herself into a state of great excitement over the threat to in- vado Canada. She did so on the Trent affair, and why not on a Canadian invasion? Dut the con- trary is the case. The most rabid of the anti- Amcricen journals merely express the hope that the order “may not be enforced,” and that Congress may not “complicate tho situation” by its action on it. The London Times finds that President Lincoln is “frank” and “ tem- perate” in the language of his mes- sage on the subject of the raids, and scouts tho idea that England and the United States should go to war merely to “play the game” of the rebel agents in Canada and on the frontier line, who have been intriguing to bring about such a “formidable” event. In- deed, jndging from the tone of the London Times, it appears as if it were impossible even to kick England into a war with the American republic, Sherman and Thomas, in their recent brilliant operations, may be set down as the real peace makers with England. The Republican Dirty Linen—Another Washing Required. Tho Weed and Opdyke libel case is ended, and the jury has disagreed. Afler all the scrubbing, and rubbing, and bolling, and toil- ing, and mangling of the past few weeks, the dirty linen of the republicans is not yet clean. Weed has been washing, and Opdyke has been washing, and the most eminent lawyers of the city have been up to their elbows in soapsuds and hot water; but the stains will not come out. About half of the jurymen think that the linen is ck. enough to be paid for—althongh they differ ucout the price—and about half of them think that Opdyke’s linen is no purer than Weed’s; and so there is nothing to be done but to have another washing day and let somebody else turn the mangle. Very few people will be at all surprised at this result. When Messra. Evarts and Pierrepont bundjed Opdyke’s linen into the tuh, everybody declared it to be foul and to smell to Heaven. When Mesars. Field and Emott appeared, bending beneath the heavy burden of Weed’s dirty linen, there was the same general expression of opinion. The jury ought certainly to have been equally divided, for the merits of the case were evi- dently six to one and half a dozen to the other of the pariies concerned. Wo sincerely hope that Opdyke will not im- mediately roll up his sleeves, get out his soap and try another washing. There is gentle- man of stronger frame and larger muscle than Opdyke who has been sitting through this trial with an immense basket of dirty clothes upon his knee, and this gentleman should be allowed his chance. Of course we refer to ex-Surveyor Andrews. He has some of Weed’s linen in charge, and when he spread it before the public in his recent letter it looked as if it sadly needed cleansing. The public have had quite enough of Weed vs. Opdyke or Opdyke vs. Weed. They have agreed upon a verdict, if the jury have not. Although twelve intelligent men have failed to decido the case according to law, several hundred thousand men have decided the case according to common sense, It is the old story of the pot calling the kettle black, or, to stick to our first simile, the collar calling the shirt cwf dirty. When such a prolonged trial has been held; when euch legal talent bas been engaged; when such a vast amount of evidence has been given; when 80 learned nd impartial a judge has care- fally summed up the whole matter, and yet, after all this, a jury, which we are bound to believe unprejadiced and intelligent, can come to no definite conclusion, the courts of law had better be abandoned and the case left in the hands of the people, who will mete out to each of the litigants strict and ample justice. To be sare, this is ending the affair just where it begun; ‘but we have always held that, in the present state of journaliem, libel suits are almost unnecessary. If anybody is attacked in a newspaper he has, in all well: conducted journals, fair opportunity te re- ply. Badly conducted journals, which refase this opportunity, are not influential, and their mi tations hurt nobody. This plan of settling the libel in the paper in which it was published is more summary, more satisfactory, and, as we see by this trial, moro decisive, than @ resort to a court of law. Our advice upon this subject is not very likely to be taken, however, until men become more sensible and lawyers lesa numerous, Political libel suits are quite fashionable now- a-days, and the democrats are only waiting for tho republicans to get through with the wash tubs and the ironing board. Opdyke vs, Weed will soon be succeeded by Sweony vs. Brooks, and the garments of the democracy will flap in tho wind from the some clothes lines which have just been adorned with the garments of the republicans, As soon as that wash is over, or even before it begins, let us finish Weed’s linen, and Jot exSurveyor Andrews be the ope- trator. The Albany lobby seems to be running very emoothly, and dows not require Lord Ther- low’s personal attendance, and we eee nothing to prevent his engaging in this new case. As for the expenses, we have already promiccd that they shall be raised by subscription, ro that Weed need not be out of pocket asingic nickel, no matter whether thy jury agree or disagree, No doubt the ex-Survesor, who is very clever follow—so is Woed in bls way— would head the eubseription Uborally. There is some of Weed’s linen which is hidden ta secret drawers and elose-locked gloseis, and which is washed privately and contidentisily, ifatall. This linen the genoral publis ‘are par ticularly anxioas to examine. ‘ihey (hove the same objection as hotel keepers to anybody's doing his washing and ironing in his owu. room. Ex-Surveyor Andrews hints that he knows all about these mysterious under garments, ard be declares that they need purification, Farther more, he is eager to undertake the job. Under these ces how can Weed refuse te put them in the wash list?’ Nothing is so popa- lar asa secret. The moment we-discover that thore is a skeleton in any house we-desire te have it out and inspeet it, Andrews says that. there is dirty linen in every one of Thurow Woed’s closets, and public curiosity is naturatiy excited. The question is, can Weed: safely decline to gratify that curiosity? He should be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of pleasing the people, since pepularity is the life of the politician. The Opdyke-Weed triak has had its interesting points; but the Weed Andrews trial would be tenfold as piquant. Important from Missouri—The Proposed Abolition of Slavery. We learn by despatches recolved from St. Louis that the Constitutfouxl Convention. sittiag in that city for the purpose of forming a new constitution for the State of Missonri, deter- mined yosterday by « vote of sixty to four in favor of the absolute abolition of slavery im that State. Out of all the States, either as 2 whole or in part, in rebellion against the national gov- ernment two years ago, Maryland, West Vir ginia and Louisiana by thoir own voluntary act have already cast off the institutions of the old régime, aud arrayed themselves in the ranks of tho free States. Missouri has now virtually added her name to the list, and we may soon expect to witness the same action on the part of the pecple of the Siates of Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Delaware. In the first three of the above nameoi States the subject of a free constitution is widely agitated and moots with general approbation among the loyal people. Preliminary conven- tions have already been held and s general State convention has been called to take imme diate measures for the abolition of slavery. In singular contrast with this action of the people of many of the siave States of the old Union, is arrayed the determined stpport of slavery by the opposition to the amendment of the constitution of the Unitcd States, making the abolition. of slavery ap act of the nation. Maryland, West Virginia, Louisiana and Missouri are free by their own voice. Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Delaware are rapidly tending in that direction. The remaining States of the South are still im rebellion, and have ne rights beyond what the government chooses to grant them. The secret of the opposition to the amendment in Com gress is not so much from principle as an ow mistakable desire to keep the question open and to secure the possession of all the politiead capital the opposition of the measure can give. The Passport System and the British Provinces. Canada makes a great fuss over the passport system in her press, and sends delegates to Washington to tell ber grievances. Since the war began the sentiment of the whole Canadias people toward the United States has been one of distinct hostility. England led the race in her sympathy with the attempt to destroy our government, and in the support which she gave to our encinies by all the means that she could employ without open violation of international law. Then the Canadas proved that they were truly British provinces, With that real flunkey nature that has always distinguished provinces, they went a great way further in the same direction than the mother country. They cricd up the South and cried down the North in alt things. The Canada press forgot that it had so lately reviled our slave systom as the shame of the century, in the fulsome laudations that it heaped upon the attempt to sustain that system upon the ruins of our government, Southern men suddenly ceased to be “brutal slave drivers” and became gallant men, battling for their native soil. No one was brutal any more on the face of the earth; no one was cowardly, contemptible and despicable wrotch—except the man who stood up for the Stars and Stripes, and ventured life in defence of the country the Canadians agreed to hate. All this was Canadian sentiment as expressed in the Canadian press, and in conversation in the Canadian hotels, streets, steamboats and cars, wherever Canadians and Americans met This was a sufficient cause to estrange any people. But the Canadians did more than this, They feted the rebels in their cities, and gave them special trains on their railroads. They harbored our enemies and gave them sid and comfort in the most offensive way to us. Evem these demonstrations of Canadian “neutrality” might have been endured. But besides all this they connived at the murder of our citizens and the escape of the murderers. They pormitted their “neutral” soil to be used asa base from which operations were carried on ngainsly our commerce and territory, and they screened from punishment the infamous wretches who carried on those operations. Nothing is better recognized than that warlike oporations cannot start from or cross a neutral territory, ay.d yet the Canadian judge tells us that the St. ./Albana murderers are not murderers, but 9 outhern soldiers, with commissions from B :chmond in their pockets, and that the “raid” on St. Albans, organized on their soi}, av .d starting thence, ia « legilimate operation of war, like Sheridan's movement up the Shenan? ,oah valley. By such pretexis they show only ‘chet ft is im possible for us to have justice 9; their hauds. As the last of all the laughab jo protexts to screen these scoupdrels a Mons cal judgo now calls in qnestion whether or no’; Vermout is part of tho United States. Since gach an anmistaky.blo disposition te shown by the provincial pe ople and authorities, our government has wisely concluded that it mvatmake its own provi ions for the protection of our roiland poople, It has therefore detor mined to apply the paseport system against Lell the British provingos. If those pro