The New York Herald Newspaper, February 1, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS cash in advance, Money sont by mail will be at the risk of the sender. None but bank bills current in New York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, Foun conts per copy./ Avnual ubsoription price $14. “(HE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Fiva cents per copy. Annual subscription price:— One Copy .... Three Copies. . » Volume XXX AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Laxes ov KitLarxer— Yanags Courtsur, BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tus Lava In- pean—Pacn Pre. WINTER GARDEN, B: WAGLACK'S THEA Broadway.—Byxnyraopr's Paisano. yOururio THEATRE, Broudway.—Tus Sruasts or New ORK. NEW BOWERY THBATRE, Gigxsmau—Kovorn’s Wire. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Dama Trorr—Micnar. Bans. Bowery.—Mazxerra— BARNUM’S MUSEUM. Rroadway,—Two Mawwora Far Wouxx—Living Skxtcron—Dwany—leanneo SwAl—GIAaNnt Bor—Tus Union Piso: Day and Kvening. BRYANTS'’ MINSTRELS, Mechanica’ Hall, 472 Broad- way.—Emuiorian ponus, VANCES, BURLMSQOKS, &0.—BiLLY Parreuson WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway. Naw Youk—Tux VLay Bicn—ira0rian SONG —Strexrs or Danons, &c. ABOLIQUE, 685 Broadway,—Rosent Hxtuxn’s SALL! M's in MAGiC. DODWORTH HALL, 806 Broadway.—Ma. Garona Vay-* DaNnOVE'S iKEADINGS. VAN AMBURGH & CO.'S MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, 689 und 641 Broadway.—Open [rom 10 A. M. tol P.M. HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth _atreet.—Equestrran, Qyunasrio avy AczowaTio ENteRralnueyrs—HaKiiguin Buuxeeno. AMERICAN THEATRE, No, 444 Broadway.—Bauuxrs, Paxrouiuns, Buriasgues. Tus Magi Taumerr, HOOLEY & © Bowery.—Sonas, MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 nLusauks, &0.—H1GK Dabby. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Open from 10 A.M. till 10 P.M. New York, Wednesday, February 1, 1565. THE SITUATION. Peace rumors again fill the air. There seems to be good authority for stating that the rebel Vice President Stophons, accompanied by the rebel Senators R. M. T. Hunter and Campbell, camo within General Grant’s lines an Monday, and were desirous of being permitted to visit Washington in an unofficial capacity, in order to talk matters over. General Grant being absent at the timo thoy wore detained until his return yesterday morning, whon they received permission to pass through his lines, and are now understood to be on their way to Washing- ton. From Port Royal we have confirmation of the occupa- tion of Saltkotcher by a postion ef General Sherman's @rmy, the rebels having evacuated tho place on the ad- vanoe of the Union forces, and retreated to Ashepo, in the direction ef Charleston. A portion of Admiral Por- tor's fleet had arrived in Charleston harbor. ‘Thore is vory little of importance from the Army of the Potomac. Deserters report that the enemy are re- constructing the railroad destroyed by the Fifth corps in {ts raid to Hicksford, but are making slow progress. None of the bridges destroyed had been rebuilt. The large bridge near Weldon, North Carolina, was swept away by the late freshet. Major General Warren has ro- turned and resumed command of his corps. 4 ‘The rebel Goneral Prico’s old army—the main body of which is reported to be at Fulton, on the Upper Red rivor—is ropresented to be in a terribly demoral- teed condition, suffering from starvation, cold and naked- mess. Generals Fagan's and Parsons’ brigades—com. prising all the troops of Prieo's army that have returned t Topeka, from which place the Missouri expedition originally set out—are at Camden, Arkansas, The rebels have an entire division at Grand Ecore, and are forti- fying. Goneral Kirby Smith’s headquarters are still at Bhroveport; but there is no large body of rebel troops there. A division of rebel cavalry has lately been sent to Toxas, to bo dismounted for infantry’ service. Two Of thé fleet of steamers which went up the Arkanaas tiver to Fort Smith were captured and burned by the rebels. We have further particulars from Key Weet, Fla., Felative to the loss of the United States sloop-of-war Sau Tacinto, She struck on a reef, between Green Turtle Koy and No Namo Key, early on the morning of the Ist ult, and Dilged. The officers and crew, including about forty sick, wore all saved and landed on No Name Key. Fifty-one of the crow, however, bad deserted. The eu Ure battery of the vessel, together with stores, sails and thor portable property, was also saved. At last advices the wreckers wore dismantling the San Jacinto, but were mot allowed to touch any portion of her machinery. The United States steamer Alabama has arrived at Hampton Roads from New Inlet, N, @., having on board a prisoners nincty-one of the officers, crews and pas- Bengors of the blockade runners Blenheim, Charlotte @nd Stag, captured by Admiral Porter's feet im Cape Pear civer. A lotter, received at Roanoke Island, from a gentle- gman residing in the interior of Norih Carolina, states that a large numbor of Union prisoners and citizens, many of whom had been removed from Gebrgia and Bouth Carolina, are now at Salisbury, N. C., suffering from actual starvation, the number of deaths from that cause alone averaging fifty per day. The writer urges the Union authorities to take immediate steps for their release. Deserters from our own and the rebel armios fro wandering about robbing citizens gonerally of any thing they can carry awny. ‘The report of the evacuation of Mobile by the rebele, published in yesterday's Herat, was received from the fagship of the Union squadron off Mobile on the 0th ult N. B. Davis, the robol bearer of despatches from Rich mond to Canada; and identified at Newark, Ohio, as keoper of the Andersonville ((in.) prison, bas been seu (enced to be hung on Johnson’s Island February 17. ‘The Supervisors’ committees, appointed to confer with the Slate and Washington authorities on the subject of the quota calied for from this city, loft yesterday for Albany and Washington, for the purpose of conferring with tho State Legislature and of presenting @ protest Qgainst the arithmetic of Provost Marshal General Fry. They will strive to induce the authorities either to reduce the quota or to grant an extension of time, The Provost Marshal bas fixed the quotas of the different wards of Brooklyn, comprising the Third Congresstonal district Bixtoon hundred and forty.one men are called for. A meeting of loyal Georgians is to be held at the Cooper Fastitute on the 16th instant, The call for the mecting (faton that the signora hail the promise that the loyal @Mtizens of that State may soor be périnitted to return to | “ NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1865. : —— Loyal citizens of the inourgent States are earnestly in- vited tg attend CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, resolutions of the Ohio Legis- lature against the passage of the Bankrupt bill and in favor of repealing the duty on printing paper, wore pre- sentod, and orderod to be printed. The Secretary of War having officially stated that Genoral Banks and General Leo were before the Committed on the Conduct of the War, Mr. Wade took occasion to rectify the state- ment, and wished it to be understood that neither of those officers were detaincd from ative duty by the sommittee. A bill providing for the extinction of the Scheldt dues was reported and ordered to be printed. Mr. Sumner offered a resolution calling on the President for information regarding Mr, Blair's mission to Richmond, and Mr. Johnson offered a substitute therefor, Both papers were ordered to be printed, and will come up to-day for consideration, A bill authorizing contract for carrying the California mails via the Isthmus, the compensation not to exceed four hundred thousand dollars for a semi-monthly, six hundred thousand dollars for a tri-monthly, or eight hundred thousand dollars for a weekly line, was referred to the Post Office Committee, The resolution advising retaliation in the treatment of prisoners of war was sixteen, The Senate thon adjourned. In the House of Roprescntatives, the consideration of the Senate joint resolution prohibiting slavery through- out the land by an amendment of the constitution, was resumed, and after several opposition members had given their views on the subject, the proposition was ad pted by a vote of 119 to 56, being more than the re quisite two-thirds, Upon the declaration of the vote the members of the House and a dense throng of spectators in the galleries, gave oxpression to their joy in long and vooiforous applause. THE LEGISLATURE. In the State Senate yesterday the bill to Incorporate the New York and Union Yacht Club was reported, The Dilla noticed were those to incorporate the State Tem- perance Society, and for the construction of a pier in the North river, New York. Bills were introduced to regu- late the fees of physicians and susgeons in certain cases, and authorizing the Supervisors of New York to raise money to pay such bounty to volunteers as they may deem proper. Tho State Bounty bill, which provides a State bounty of three hundred, four hundred and six hundred dollars for one, two and three year men, pro- hibits all local bousities, and authorizing the creation of a dobt of thirty millions of dollars for the purpose, was adopted; also bills amenting tho charter of the Gorman Savings Bank; changing the namo of the Moore’s Patent Fire Arms .Company, and appropri- ating two hundred thousand dollars for the reilef of the sick and wounded soldiers of this State in the service of the United States. The bills providing for the appointment of five’ Commissioners of Appeals, and wmending the charter of the Brook Mercantile Li- brary Association were taken up and Ordered to a third reading. In the Assembly Mr. Reed introduced a bill to enable the Board of Supervisors of this city to provide means to encourage enlistments and pay bounties to volunteers, which was referred to a apecial committee of three. Bills toamend the charter of tho Washington Insurance Com- pany of New York; to increase the compensation of supervisors to three dollars per day; to legalize the ordi- nance of the Board of Supervisors of New York passed June 25, 1864; relative to common schools in this city. Mr. Van Buren reported a bill for the better protection of seamen in the port of New York. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship City of Cork, from Liverpool on the 18th and Queenstown at 3:35 P. M. on the 19th ult., ar- rived’at this port yesterday. Hor news has been antici- pated. ‘We have dates from Havana to the 25th ult., and from San Salvador to the 19th of January. The news of the fall of Fort Fisher had reached Havana, and the blockade Tunnors were decidedly blue in consequence. On the 23d a grand bazaar or charity fair was opened at Havana, in the presence of his Excellency the Captain General, ‘The object is the enlargement of the Orphan Asylum and increase of its funds, The chief attraction ig a prize given by the Countess Villanneva of ‘a set of diamonds— diadem, oarring?, necklace and bracclet—svalued at $17,000. Seftor Duenas has been re-elected President of the San Salvadorean republic, The government of San Salvador has released the two pirates who were arrested on their way to take possession of one of the California steamers, the tribunal declaring the government had no right to punish them, although they confessed their guilt. The British government has suppressed ite vice consu- lates,, The indigo trade is buoyant; but the cotton crop has been somewhat injured by the rains. At Jamaica additional duties have been imposed, especially on tobacco, The prospects of the sugar crop of Trinidad are good, in spite of excessive rains, A French man-of- war bad arrived at Santa Lucia, and demanded the de- livery of four dezerterg from the French navy, which wag refused, the courts declaring that the men were free the moment they set foot on English soil, ‘The Hudson’s Bay Company sold, at their house in Fenchurch street, London, on the 18th ult,, 83,699 bea- vev skins, 291,875 mnsquash and 6,088 American rabbit. Th» prices realized were about ten per cent above those obtained atthe corresponding gale last year, It forms a striking contrast to this somewhat primitive trade to learn that the company have already shipped the tele- graphic wire and other materials of the contemplated line across the continent to British Columbia. The whole arrangements are not yet concluded for connecting the “lne with the nearest point in Canada, a etretch of coun- try lyiny beyond tue existing settled portion of Upper Canada beiure the territory of the company is reached; but probably ne diffculty meed be apprehended on this score The Albany Investigating Committee are still engaged upon the City Inspector's Department, Mr. Thomas N. Carr was yesterday examined at length upon his counec- tion with aad knowledge of the department, developing some interesting facts. Other witnesses were examined, with a view of showing how offices were sold. The Coroner's jury in the late Washington tragedy have returned a verdict that Andrew Jackson Bur- roughs came to his death by a ball fired from a pistol in the hands of Mary Harris. ‘A merchant, named Max Winternitz, of Newcastle, Pennsylvania, was brought to this city yesterday, on a requisition from Governor Fenton, charged with fraudu- lently obtaining goods and merchandiae to the value of $10,408 10 from the firm of H. B. Claflin & Co., on the 2d of September last. The prisoner was committed tothe Toinbs in dofanit of $20,000 bail. The Coroner has postponed his investigation in the Washington streot poisoning case until Friday morning. No further deaths are reported, and, with the exception of the little girl named Mary Morrison, who died, all the supposed poisoned persons have recovered, and appear to bein the enjoyment of perfect hefith. Samuel Miller, residing at 117 Lewis street, committed suicide while in a state of partial derangement by cutting his throat with a pocket knife on Sunday last. The Coro- nor was notified, and an inquest will be held today. According to the City Inspector's report there were 406 deaths in the city during the past week—a docrease of 28 as compared with the mortality of the week previ- ons, and 2 less than occurred during the corresponding week last year, The deaths by emallpox numbered 26. The stock market was heavy yesterday and lower Governments were firmer in the morning, but lower in the afternoon. Gold was weak and excited, and after opening At 211 closed at 203%. The fall im gold, under the peace rumors, unsettled mercantile affairs to a marked degree, and rendered values of nearly everything entirely nominal, Foreign goods were quiet, but domestic produce went down with Arash. Cotton, petroleum, &c., were lower on ‘Change. ‘The four market waa dull and 10c. a 200, lower, Wheat ned 26, @ Sc, with only a moderate business trans acted. Corn was quiet, while oats wore in active demand and firm, The pork market opened dull and lower, but closed firm, with an increased demand. Beef steady, while lard was hoavy and quiet, Whiskey firmer and more active. Freights dull but frm. The market for beef cattle was decidedly firmer, There wore not much more than half cattle enough, and prices accordingly were advanced from 20, to 8c.—ranging from about 230, to 260., chiedy 190, a 220, Milch cows were firmer—lic, a ide. Sheep and lambs were and firmer, ranging from $6 60 to $12, with extras at a much higher figure, Hogs sold at 130. 01440. Tho total re- coipts were 4,488 beeves, 87 cows, 619 yoals, 16.073 sheop ‘and lambs, and 1,727 hogs, amended, and finally adopted by a vote of twenty-four to” their homegmad again enjoy the protection of the govern- | The Crowning Event of the War—The ment of the {United States with unmingled pleasure, Constitutions! Abolition of Slavery Throughout the United States. The proceedings in the Congreas of the United States were signalized yesterday by one of the most remarkable, important, desirable, decisive and momentous events in the records of this or any’ other of modern or an- cient times. We refer tote vote—119 to 56— in the House of Representatives by which the constitutional amendment declaring slavery abolished and forever hereafter interdicted throughout the United States passes from Con- gress to the final ratification of three-fourths of the thirty-six States belonging to the Union. The fifth article of the federal constitution provides that “the Congress, whonever two- thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this constitution, or, on the application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in elther case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of threo-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three- fourths thereof, as the gne othe other mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress.” This is the constitution, and thatits framers con- templated an amendmont abolishing or affect- ing slavery is apparent from the proviso which immediately follows—that “no amendment which may be made prior to the year 1808 shall in any manner affect” the African slave trade, which, as a compromise with the South Carolina planters and New England slave traders, was authorized by the constitu- tion to be continued down to the year 1808. Thus the authority and the intention of the constitution are plain; and whether by State conventions or by the State legislatures, we are confident that this amendment will seoure the ratification of the three-fourths of all the States required to make it a part of the “supreme law. of the land.” The institution of slavery may thus be con- sidered as abolished throughout the United States. The experiment of a Southern confede- racy, by war against the Union, and for the pro- tection, perpetuation and expansion of Southern slavery, has destroyed it. Otherwise, by ad- hering to the Union, the rebellious States, or a large portion of them, might have preserved their “peculiar institution” for a hundred years to come. Now the pressure of this ex- hausting war has driven the rebel leaders to the dreaded alternative of discussing the propo- sition of abolishing slavery tosave the confed- eracy. When they thus admit that slavery, the cause of their rebellion, must be abandoned to maintain their confederacy, they are but a step from the abandonment of their confederacy it- self, slavery and all, In this connection, we have some private in- formation from Washington, communicated sev- eral days ago, to the effect that the passage of this aforesaid constitutional amendment will be immediately followed by another peace mission to Richmond, or by 8 committee of peace am- bassadors from Richmond, to treat for peace upon the basis of submission to the Union. It is somewhat remarkable, too, that on the very day of the passage of the amendment in ques- tion, a peace commission of three or four dis- tinguished men from Richmond should be ap- plying for « passage through our military lines and a permit for a trip to Washington. It has been further intimated to us that Mr. Seward has been exceedingly anxious for the passage of this const tutional amendment as the initial point of a great peace compromise with Jeff. Davis, embracing a reconstruction of the Union. We are promised the most wonderful develop- ments in this direction, in consequence of the passage of this amendment. Assuming, how- ever, that all such promises. rest upon idle speculations, we have still abundant cause for gratification over yesterday’s work in Congress. It puts an end to all tinkering abolition experi- ments at Washington and Richmond; it ban- ishes all doubts as to the fate of African slavery in this country; it settles the slavery question, and removes that stumbling block from Ameri- can politics, North and South. It cuts off the last pretext for European intervention in be- half of Davis, prepares a solid and endur- ing platform for the reunion of the loyal and rebellious States, and the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine in an easy alliance with all the independent States of North and South America. Hence we congratulate the American people, North and South, on the grand success of this great measure in both houses of Congress for the constitutional abolition of slavery through the length and breadth of the land, in every place and forevermore. Congress responds to the will of the people. Let the States now ratify their work. Low Scheme and the janifest Destiny” of the Monroe Doctrine. The Mexican colonization scheme of Louis Napoleon, under Dr. Gwin, late United States Senator from California, is a political move- ment involving the grandest designs and the most important consequences, not only in re- ference to the future of Mexico, but touching the settlement of this rebellion and the “mani- fest destiny” of the Monroe doctrine. What the Mexican schente of Louis Napoleon ‘ia we are no longer left altogether to conjec- ture. Our Paris correspondent, in his letter of the 17th ultimo, throws considerable light upon the subject. He says that orders have been sent to Marshal Bazaine to occupy the province of Sonora in the name of France, and to hold it as a pledge till the stipulated indemnity from Maximilian should be paid up; that this means @ permanent occupation by France; that the ; tion, either at Albany or Washington. A very | good fellow in the day of good fellows @ large proportion of the stock of moneyed inatita- tions is owned abroad, or in other States, and cannot be reached by existing lewa; and the balance held by our own citizens within the State, the right exists to set off indi- vidual indebtedness, thus seriously reducing the taxes collected by this means. The principle insisted upon in the Senate in the recent discussion of the Bounty bill was that the surplus capital in the country found its way to this city, and was invested in moneyed corporations, which, while adding to. our gene- ral prosperity, contributed to our revenues by its liability to taxation, and should to some considerable extent, therefore, be held respon- sible for the expenses incurred in other coun- ties of the State in raising recruits. The de- cision to which we have referred certainly ren- ders this pretext no longer tenable. Hereafter every citizen, whether he residesin St. Lawrence or Richmond county, will there alone be held taxable for his shares in corpora- tions doing business in this city; and having to surrender this advantage, we should not be held responsible for its enjoyment, General Ben. Butler and Sir John Fal- staf—The Hero of Gadshill and the Hero of Fort Fisher. General Butler was ordered to report at Lowell, and has, he says, “reported in full.” By this he does not mean that he has done what the War Department intended that he should do, but that he has done. just what the department did not intend that ‘the should do. He very consistently perverts the phraseology of the order to cover his private purpose. He wag.welcomed at Lowell by his admirers, and he’ le a speech there which he throws down as his defiance—his “report’—to the army authorities which sent him to that peaceful place. He utters his speech and seems to ask the department if it can stand that. We are disposed to believe that it can. The speech is # lame and empty one. They who are good at making excuses, it is said; are good at nothing else. Butler, therefore, who is not good at anything else, ought to be good at making excuses. But he is not good even at that. His speech rambles over a large part of his oarcer, and makes many explanations, many excuses, statements, and even jesta; but not an excli- mation, statement or jest that is not contempti- ble, and not an excuse that is not as ridiculous as Falstaff’s excuse for his action on Gadghill. Fat Jack was a “coward on instinct.” Was it for him to kill @he heir apparent? And Butler, @ coward on conscience, inquires in the same triumphant style, “Was it for me to take Fort Fisher at such a sacrifice?” Butler was particularly careful to inform his hearers that he was not removed on account of the Fort Fisher failure. He did not tell what the real reason was, He knows it, however. It is a great secret. He has not “received per- mission to divulge it’? Convenient circum- stance! But when did Butler ever wait for “permission” before this. He was complaisant enough, however, to explain how it was that he did not take Fort Fisher. - It seems that this matter has been misunderstood by every one, The capture of Fort Fisher was nothing—the real achievement was to be able to go down there and see Tort Fisher and not take it, But- ler’s real struggle was not against the encmy, but against the temptation to go at the enemy. There they stood in their fort, and looked so “gassy” that he could hardly keep his hands off thom. It was so impudent in them, ‘too, to build their darned old fort right there on the open beach, that it made him mad, and when he thought of it he could hardly keep his dan- Uer down. Buthe did, though. Hear it, oh, Bardolph, Nym, Pistol and Prince Hal! It was only on instinct that the tun of man was & coward—the instinct that knew royalty, though it came in the garb of a minion of the moon, ready to cut purses. But the doughty Ben goes a flight higher. He failed, ran away, left his enemy alone, not on in- stinct, but by Divine assistance. He prayed for it. All the time that he was in front of Fort Fisher there was great danger that he would give way to his weakness, and make a despo- rate rush and take it. But he was all the time praying to the Lord for strength to let italone. “The temptation”—these are his own words—“was strong to take it;” but he prayed “lead us not into temptation.” And so, though the “temptation was strong,” the Lord was a little stronger, and thanaged” 'to hold Butler back. Therefore the enemy kept Fort Fisher. It is wonderful, whon we come to find it out, what heroism it requires not to be a hero. What greatness is implied in the fact of being little. What strength a man must have to resist the temptation to achieve greatness and to remain‘forever an infinite pigmy. Buta man may not always be so strong, and they had better keep Butler away from the enemy’s forts after this or there will be bloodshed— but “three of a hundred and fifty left alive,” may be! But Butler has an ambition as to his epitaph. He desires that it shall be, “Here lies the Gone- ral who saved the lives of .his soldiers at Fort Fisher and Big Bethel.” Is not this the un- adulterated Chinese of heroics? But how many soldiers did he save at Big Bethel? On the con- trary, ‘Big Bethel was a useless and stupid slaughter. It was the massacre of many men in the attempt to carry a worthless position. It will be truer, then, to say simply, “Here lies the General who saved the lives of his soldiers at Fort Fisher.” That is, here lies the general whose thoughts, when in front of the enemy, dwelt more on the fear of what the enemy would do against him, than on the hope of what he could do against theenemy. Here lies the general who was cautious and stood still in safety while others went through the iron storm to success; the general who would not try to carry a fort that another general carried gal- lantly a few days later, and who then imputed his failure to consideration for human lifé. “If ‘twere not fot those yillanous guns he would himself have been a soldier.” Sir John Falstaff is a reality in English his- tory. Shakspere in that figure gives us the plo- ture of a character that appears in all the great civil wars of England. And Samuel Butler, in the figure of Hudibras, givesus the same figure brought down to a later period, clothed in the garb and having the manners and phrases of another time. He is a brave soldier, vaunis his achievements immensely in his speeches, and always runs away when there is likely to be a row. He can lie with electric fluency, and claim the achievements of others with an effrontery that is sublime. He is peculiar in person and in thought—a distorted form and” mind—the oxaggeration of all the peculiar vices of the age in which he lives. He is a theologian in the time of » theological Ho tae politician in the time when politics are the life of a people—a political general when political generals are = divease. The parallel is obvious. Butler is the continuation into our own time of the same histarical person. Wrongs of the Premedftated Draft—au Our Quotas Heretofore Filled. We gave in our columns yesterday the re marks of Supervisor Blunt, in the Board of Supervisors on Monday. This is a most im Portant speech, and must attract general at tention for the facts which are embodied in it relative to the acts of the County Volunteering Committee and the monstrous demand just made upon us for twenty-one thousand men. The Supervisors’ County Volunteering ond Bounty Paying Committee commenced opere- tions in August, 1863, Since May, 1863, and inoluding which, the governmént have demanded from the country, on various calls, one mil lion five hundred thousand men, the propor- tion for the city of New York being fifty-eight thousand five hundred and eight men, every quota having been filled by the committee, ata total cost to the county of six millions seven hundred and thirty-two thousand six hundred and thirty-three dollars and thirty-eight cents, or a trifle over one hundred dollars per man. These are significant facts, and show how faithful and industrious ‘our committee have Been in its successful endeavors to respond te every fair demand of the government, But there is a different state of affairs now existing. Another call for three hundred thousand men has been made, and the number demanded by General Fry, in his communication in December, from the city of New York, as @ deficiency, was four thousand four hundred and thirty-three men. Even this was more than the books of the committee showed was due the government, but it was assumed to be correct, and the com- mittee went assiduously to work to fill this quota, when, presto, anothér order is received from this incomprehensible public officer demanding on this call twenty-one thousand and nineteen men! No one, not even the committee itself, seems to know on what this monstrous demand is based. On the earlier calls for five hundred thousand men our quota was fixed at twenty-three thousand one hundred and forty. How Mr. Fry can cypher out our quota at twenty-one thousand and nine- teen on a call for three hundred thousand is beyond our ken. Thirteen thousand would be nearer the truth. But he may arrive at these figures (twenty-one thousand and nineteen) by taking from us our naval enlistments, on the Emperor has long had his eye upon this rich province; that he was st the bottom of the filetarred filibus- tering expedition of Count Raouset de Boul- bon, in 1854, from California; and that Dr. Gwin, while in Paris, had two private inter- views with the Emperor, and. several with the Duke de Morny, and that without doubt the whole programme was arranged before the Doctor’s departure. All this has been substan- tially confirmed by our late intelligence from San Francisco, of Dr. Gwin’s arrival in Sonora, and of his appointment as colonial Governor of that and several other States adjoining jit, and of his plans and purposes. Nor can we doubt that Dr. Gwin, as a California Senator at the time, was thoroughly posted in regard to Count Boulbon’s expedition, and we dare say that it was from that affair that the Doctor was seized with the idea of achieving some day for himself ® more successful adventure in the same direction. His mind and Napoleon’s had for years been brooding over this enterprise, 0 that when these two remarkable men were brought together each discovered that he had found the very man that he wanted. . From these and other facts before us it is ap- parent that the designs of Napoleon in this grand Mexican colonial enterprise, under Dr. Gwin, comprehend the permanent occupation of the richest mineral regions of Mexico as a colony of France, and the settlement therein of large bodies of adventurers from the United States of Southern proclivities. Nor can we doubt that an invitation from Dr. Gwin, as the captain general or viceroy of France over this new colony, will attract to it thousands of con- gonial spirits, despairing of Davis and groaning under Lincoln, not only from California, but from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and every other State, South and North, between Mexico and the Canadas. We shall not be surprised if, in view of the impending downfall of Davis and his confederacy, we. shall hear the news, with the return of spring, that a mighty stream of Southern emigrants, resembling the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, is pouring ovor the plains of Texas, destined for the promised land of the French Imperial-Mexican colony of Dr. Gwin. Why not? Southern society, communities, families, institutions, business, everything, has been broken up and threwn into chaos by this terri- ble war. From theirsinking confederacy, from the devastation, wrecks and ruin around them, thougands of Southern men will be glad to escape to the inviting land of refuge opened to them by Napoleon and Dr. Gwia. It is possi- ble, under these circumstances, peace or no peace, that before the close of the coming sum- mer their new colony will be strengthened to the extent of fifty thousand American soldiers. And what then? We may then expect a repetition of the game of Texas, While that country was yet a pro- vince of Mexico settlers from the United States were invited into it on liberal terms. We know what followed. They poured in by thousands, restless, turbulent, unfortunate and desperate, but active and enterprising men. They soon built up a powerful community; but thus or- ganized, the people thereof, in race, ‘lan- guage, religion, laws, customs and manvers, were different from those of Mexico. The dominant race asserted its power, achieved the independence of Texas, established a new re- public, and then the people thereof annexed it to their “old flag,” the flag of the Union. So it will be with Dr. Gwin’s new colony. Over the-Latin race therein the Anglo-American race will seon assert its supremacy, and repeat the Texas programmes. Here, too, we strike the Monroe doctrine; and asa powerful agency in behalf of peace be- tween our loyal and rebellious States, one of the leading Richmond journals bas recently presented this Monroe doctrine as affording a broad platform for the reconciliation of the North and South. Now, considering the hope- less situation of Davis and his confederacy, we believe that Mexico and the Monroe doctrine may bé miade in reality the basis of reunion and peace. Nor is it improbable that this will be the solution of the rebellion and of all the schemes and movements of Napoleon, Maxi- milian and Dr. Gwin, in Mexico. The passage by the House of Representatives, by the re- quired two-thirds vote, of the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery throughout the United States removes the slavery stumbling block out of our way in both sections, It does this because this amendment will surely be rati- fied by three-fourths of the States, counting all the States of the Union, and because the rebel- lious States must speedily now succumb. We may now expect, therefore, an easy solution of the preblem of peace, and then we shall see the “manifest destiny” of Mexico, under this Monroe doctrine. Tae Recent Decision on THe Bank Tax— Irs Errect ox New Yors.—The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States declares unconstitutional and void the act of the Legislature of this State, passed in 1862, assessing directly the capital of moneyed insti- tutions, irrespective of their investments ip stocks and securities of the United States. This decision disturbs materially the existing system of taxation, and most onerously affects the city of New York. In 1863 the capital of banks and insurance companies was assessed at eighty-eight million one hundred and sixty- three thousand nine hundred and sixty-one dollars; and the exemption claimed actually amounted to ninety million two hundred and thirty-four thousand seven hundred and forty- one dollars—showing conclusively that these incorporations had invested a portion of their profits and deposits in United States securities ag well as their capital. From the records in the office of the Tax Commissioners the in- vestments of these institutions continued the same in 1864, with the difference only that the aggregate capital had increased to ninety-nine millions of dollars. The corporation of the city of New York will be compelled to refund the tax collected in 1863—amounting to nearly a million of dollars— and strike off the assessment rolls of 1864 (now in course of collection) one million six hun- dred thousand dollars, being the amount of their taxable liability. It is true that the decision of the Supreme Court holds that individual shareholders are liable to taxa- tion; but they will of course escape for the years 1863 and 1864, the assessment lists hav- ing been confirmed, and the individual assess- ments determined and paid for those years. In reference to the taxes of 1866, a serious diff. culty exists, that should be removed by legisia- But this he cannot do without ignoring a positive act of Congress, which declares that all naval enlistments since 1861, not credited to any district, shall be credited to the town or district in which such enlistments were made. This, though a most just law, was not instigated by any New York influence. Other cities than this hoped to benefit by it, and have done so; but none so greatly perhaps as New York. This was her good fortune, agd not her fault. Mr. Blunt, chairman of the committee, set immediately at work to take advantage of this law of Congress by overhauling the naval enlistments made at this port, and he luckily found the numbers very large, sufficient to fill our late quota, and a surplus for some future call over. The acts of our committee were acceded to by the Provost Marshal, and our quota acknowledged by him to be com- plete, even after taking from us numbers suff- cient to fill the quota of Kings county, which he had, under the law, no right to do. Now all this work, it is sus pected, is ignored, and these naval en- listments taken from us after baving been conceded, and scattered over the whole country, and especially in districts which have been backward in filling their quotas, owing to lack of vigor, penuriousness, or want of patri- otism. But General Fry certainly has no right, no power, to commit so gross a wrong as this, and, while we stand fully credited with every soldier demanded of us, thus scatter the accounts to the winds, and force us at this late hour into a con- scription to raise twenty-one thousand more men. This is an outrage on common sense, and its palpable unfairness and injustice will lead, we fear, to the most deplorable results. General Fry can know little of the state of feeling his order has created among all classes, or he would pause, or the government would, before attempting to enforce this great wrong. Our capitalists are interested in this quee tion far more than they appear to realize. A conscription here takes from us twenty- one thousand men mainly from the great middle class, the small traders, the industrious and hard-working. The large mass of ffloaling population, those myriads of men who have no especial ties among us, will not be caught; they will all be off. So will also large numbers of our wealthy young men, while others will find substi tutes. The draft would, therefore, deprive us probably of at least fifty thousand able-bodied men, most of them the very life-blood of this great commercial city. The mere common laboring man now gets his two dollars and fifty cents per day for his work. This is equal to seven hundred and fifty dollars per annum. Take away fifty thow sand able-bodied men from’ among us, and it is equal to abstracting thirty-seven and e half millions of dollars. The act is in fact s confis- cation of property as well as ® conscrip- tion of men. This enormous demand upos us is wrong, and unjust in another aspect; it takes from us one-fifth (one man in five) of our voting population, while in most other districts in the State the propor tion is about one in twelve or thirteen, while ip Massachusetts it is one in seventeen! Look as we will upon this wonderfal figuring of Provost Marsbal General Fry, we can find nothing to justify his strange proceed- ings and vacillating course towards this city—e city which, as we have before said, has given double the money of any other for putting down the rebellion, and has sent to the field, in- cluding oar militia, over one hundred and thirty-six thousand men. General Fry must review his proceedings, or the Secretary of War and the President must for him The committee sent from here must be lis tened to, and where injustice and wrong-doing is made palpable, let it be corrected. Do us no wrong, and New York will do all that le right. As she has been faithful heretofore, she will be faithful still, Bi A Fret ron Eonore.—It has been stated that the Navy Departmont intends sending a lace floct to Eurcge to olear out the forcign ground that they cost the county nothing. - 2