The New York Herald Newspaper, February 16, 1865, Page 4

4. NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFION XM. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. eee ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be ‘eb the risk of the sender. None but bank bills current in New York taken. ‘THE DAILY HERALD, Foun cents peroopy, Annual eabsortption price G14. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five gents per copy. Annual subscription price:— Postage five cents per copy for three months, — ooo ‘Volame Xxx.. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Hauust, NEW BOWBRY THEATRE, _Bowery.—Winvening Davr—Instamp As Iz Wa2—Duovans or tax Nostra. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Brondway.—Masxs anp Faces. earn THEATRE, Broadway.—Tus Srazsts or Naw WERY THEATRE, Bowory.—D, Trot—Mipmic! waren Sruoras Bxiwaggoow. ipa in NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Lapr or Lyons. B W 7 a vo ety a ‘RE, Broadway.—Tas Live In- BARNUM'S MUSEUM. Broadway —Two Maxworm Far om r Dwasr—Urant Bor—Azvucnna— Vm ning. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ H: 472 Broad. ways rerun Somes, Daxcan, Busuaserks, Bo Live WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway.—Sraxzrs or Maw Yorx—Tus Pray Bi.—Etuiorian Soncs, Danczs, 40. SALLE DIABOLIQUE, 58 Broadway.—Rosegt Heiuen’s or MODERN Minaccxs. VAN AMBURGH & .'3 MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, 680.and Sil Broadway.—Open from 10 A. M. te 10 P. M. NUBLO'S SALOON, Broadway.—Max Srraxoscu’s ‘Twep IxsraumentaL axD Vooal Concent. MIPPOTHEATRON, Grumastic anv AcnosaTio R moins THEATEE, Pi MIME, BURLKSQUES. AC. HOOLEY & CAMPBELIS MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 Bowery.—sonas, Dancxs, buatesques, £0.—Biack Bricaps Fourteenth street.—EqurstRian, TERTAINMENTS—MOTHEU GOOSE 444 Broadway.—Bauuxrs, mvs? Hom. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Open from 10 A. M. till 18 P. M. VANNUCHI'S MUSEUM, 600 Broadway.—Movina Wax Fiounss. New York, Thursday, February 16, 1865. THE SITUATION. Later intelligence regarding General Sherman’s march through South Carolina is furnished in our Savannah despatches and late rebol telegrams, His army still moves steadily onward without chock, though it has had considerable skirmishing with the enemy. Two or threo thousand mon of his right column effected a landing on James Island, within two miles of Charleston, on last Friday morning, and drove in the rebel pickets. This Qpparently places the city at his mercy; while his left wing, strotching away up into the interior of the State, bus cus the railroads in all directions around Branchville, and ts Vreatoning both Columbia and Augusta. Kilpatrick's cavalry and also Infantry forces are mentioned as being at various points in proximity to these cities, north and west of Branchville, Tho rebel Wade Hampton's cavalry, from Lee's airay in Virginia, are said to be now in South Carolina to oppose Kilpatrick's troopers, and the Rich- mond papers say that the greater part of the badly de- feated Army of the Tennessee, lately under Hood, now under the immediate command of Beauregard, is there also, and thoy aro consequently in hourly expectation of news of a great battle. Whon the steamship Arago, which arrived here yesterday, was off Charleston, on the evening of Saturday last, very sharp and continuous firing in that direviion was econ and heard, The Gover- nor of South Carolina has issued a frantic appeal to the people, and notified all able to bear arms that they must immediately join the military service or leave the Stat». The latter alternative ho wil probably take good care they shall not have the privilege of embracing. Even 8 are not to be exempted. Terry and Admiral Porter have again disturbed the repose of the rebeis dofending the city of Wilming- ton. For the purpose of making & reconnoissance in foree, on last Saturday morning tho national troops were formed in line of battle above Fort Fishor, stretch’ng across the peninsula from the ocean to Cape Fear river, Gen- eral Ames’ division of white soldiers forming the right, and Payne's colored division the | left. A simultaneous advance was made on the two wings, and the rebels wor? driven from their lines ang into their main works, and were forced to yield a fow moro miles of ground in the direction o: Wilmington, which Gonoral Torry’s men held at night. They also jost abont one bundred im prisoners. The total casualties on the Union side wore only sixty or seventy. Admiral Porter co-operated with his fleet both on the iver and the ocean, his gunbosts moving up the Cape Fear in advanc> of the troops, and subjecting the rebel Anderson to a most vigorous shelling, which was very feebly responded to The despatch of ono of our Savannah correspondents, brought by the steamship Arago, which arrived here yesterday, contains some very important news. He says that, notwithstvnding all rebel denials to the contrary, the Union sentiment throughout the State of Georgia is yery strong. Mectingy have been held in at least nine- toon counties, at whick ions in favor of closing the war and’ returning to the Union were adopted, and these aro said te express the fecling of the poopis of the northwostern as well as other parts of the State, At Augusta aud Pulaski peace meetings were broken up by the military, The Legis almost unanimous lature was to mect im extra seasion yesterday, and strong efforts will be made, with good hope of success, to have it authorize the ealling of a convention for the purpose of effecting the restoration of the State tothe Union Gov. ernor Brown ts believed to be fully in accord with the movers in this project. The quiet of aifuirs in Savannah and vicinity remains undisturbed, The smallpox had ‘broken out, and was very bad among tho negroes. Additional confirmation of previous reporte that Mobile has been almost entirely abandoned by tho rebel forces is furnished in our dospatches by the ‘steam transport Continental, which arrived here yerter- day, from New Orleans on the 2d instant. It is reported that the order for evacuation arrivedjat Mobile from Rich- mond on the 14th of January, and that General Maury, the commander thore, immediately commenced moving teoops, artillery, ammunition, stores and cotton to Seima, leaving only a provost guard behind, with orders t fire the city and some fifteen thousand remaining bales of cotton on the appearance of the Yankees; but it Waa thought the orders would not be obeyed. We have also confirmation of the statement that nearly til the Trans-Mississipp! rebel troops have evacuated Arkansas. They are said to comprise some thirty thou- Gand, and to be principally in the vieinity of Shreveport and Aloxandria, Louisiana, They are well clothed, by the supplies received thraugh Yatamoros, . On Gancrl Walker attonpiing to get tis isbel command to the cod de oF the Minrhatypt to nats Hood fe Teneacing, ovr thus ago, tls non positively refused NEW YORK” HERALD, THU HURSDAY, FEBRUARY ™, 188% te move, and sbout six hundred of them deserted It is | room, in Duane, street, The City Inspector's Department stated that Goueral Sterling Price was recently sent to Mexico by Kirby Smith om some kind of mission. If | ,,, this be true it accounts for the contradictory statements will be t#/cen up again, and doultless City Inspector Boole WV”, be placed on the stand, when a full account of poceedings and business of his office will be given. ‘The Aldermanic Committee on Ordinances mot yester- regarding his death, and he is most likely still alive. / day to hear parties on the subject of storing petroleum Mr, Dennis Donohue had arrived st New Orleans to as sume the position of British Consul, vice William Mure, | 4: wo o'clock. deceased. inthe city. Noone appeared to speak on the subject, and Alderman Farley adjourned the committes to Friday, ‘Wo were visited by another smart fall of snow yester- We have some interesting accounts of rebel afuirs in | 4ay afternoon, which towards evening was succeeded by the far Southwest, It is ald that an immense trafic ig se., 0d Thal ven felon by rain, which cdbtinuéd ow being carried on along the boundary between ind Merico, and that some five thousand six afd eight The sem!-annual exhibition of the students of Colum- Dia College tock place yesterday afternoon in Wallack’s mule teams are engaged in hauling cotton from the inte- | theatre, in the presence of # large audience, # considers- rior of Texas to the Rio Grande, whence they return ble proportion of which consisted of ladies. The exer- cises consisted of an opening address by the President with supplies reoolved scross the river from Mats | and doclamations by the collegians, In speaking of the moros, consisting of all manner of war implements Mining School recently established in the college, the shipped from England on rebel account and medical and othor stores from our Northern cities, Some of the ‘wagons come a distance of seven hundred miles, In President said that ite success was greater than that of similar institutions attached to the great European uni- versities. Four hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars of sub- consequence of this great trade business in Matamoros is | scriptions to the county loan for the payment of volun- unprecedentedly active, and money is very plenty. It teers’ bounties have been received in addition to sums fs stated that there recently arrived at that place one previously noticed, George Welsh was yesterday committed to await the thousand two hundred Philadelphia made wagons, princl- | result of supposed fatal injuries inflicted by him with a pally for the rebel government. The rebel Goneral } sword on Barney Lynch, during a fight between the two Kirby Smith, who appears to be directing his attention in a drinking place in East Thirty-fourth street, on Tues- day evening. Just now much more to cotton than to military matters, David Clifton was yesterday locked up in the Tombs 1g lending the assistance of his troops to bring it for- | for trial, charged with having stolen a gold watch and ward. One-half of it is sold for the benefit of the rebel chain from Frank Parker, ina saloon near the corner of government, while the other half is manipulated by his Canal and Mulberry streets, on Tuesday night Parker agents for his own and their emolument. slipped on the ice and sprained his ancle, and Clifton, who was near, assisted him into the saloon. Here, while ‘There are no new military movements inthe Army of! the former was waiting to become able to resume his the Potomac or the Army of tho James to notice. Major | walk, it is alleged, the pretended friend purloined the General Ord has been permanently assigned to the com- property. Both watch and chain were recovered. A coroner’s inquest was yesterday held on tho body of mand of the latter and the Department of Virginia, a8) . yronchman named Rene Gartler, who committed sul- successor to General Butler. General Humphreys, com- cide early yesterday forenoon, in West Forty-eighth manding the’ Second corps, has issued an order to his | street, by shooting himself inthe head with a pistol It troops congratulating them on their recent suc- cess st Hatcher's run. Our correspondent with that Wade Hampton's cavalry have gone to the Shenan- doah valtey. Wo have also reports that they are now in South Carolina, An appeal from General Lee appears in the Augusta (Ga.) Constitutionatist, in which he pleads promptness, with whatever bacon, breadstufls and mo- lasses they can spare, as by the recent breaking of tho Danvillo and Groensboro Railroad his supplies have been cut off. Our files of late Southern papers contain some intcrest- ing facts and rumors. Ina general order issued by the new rebel Commander-in-Chief it is admitted that the discipline and efficiency of the army have been greatly impaired by the custom of the men of transferring themselves to different branches of the service, or, im other words, deserting from heavy to lighter duty. So completely hag all trace of these transferred men been lost that Lee is compelied to announce an amnesty to all who voluntarily return to duty in their proper branch of the service. A letter in a Richmond paper from Osyka, Mississippi, dated on the 27th of last month, speaks of great activity in the trans- is thought that fear of arrest by the authorities prompted the act, he having been visited by three officers just pre- vious to its commission. It is said that two thousand the Army of the Potomac cavalry says it is rumored | dollars in gold and some letters indicating a correspon- dence with @ rebel agent in France were found in his room. It was reported in town yesterday that the British naval screw frigate Galatea went ashore near Cape Henry, onthe Virginia coast, on last Sunday, and that all on with the people of Georgia to furnish him, with all board of her were lost; but the rumor proves to be falso. Early yesterday morning the owl train on the New York and New Haven Railroad, which left the latter city at two o'clock, was thrown off the track near Westport. It is reported that no person was killed, although a num- ber were moro or less severely injured. Three cars were pretty extensively broken up, one of them being turned bottom upward. A locture was delivered last evoning, in the Cooper In- stitute, by the Right Rev. Bishop Bailey, of Newark, the subject being “The Power of Prejudice.” Notwithstand- ing the very inclement weathor the hall was filled to overflowing by an audience who listened with great at- tention to the remarks of the reverend gentleman. The agubjoct was treated with great perspicuity and a fullness of detail which showed considerable research in bringing together the array of historic facts with which the lecture abounded, ‘Miss Susanna Evans, a Welsh lady, delivered a lecture last evening in the Baptist church in Stanton street, giving to her subject the attractive title of “New Frames for Old Pictures.” There was a fair attendance of inter- ested listeners, and, in the style of tho delivery and tho portation of Union troops on tho Mississippi river, and | groupings of the pictures prosented, the lecture was a de- says it was reported that forty thousand cavalry had recputly gone down ‘towards Now Orleans, supposed to be intended to operate against Mobile, The Richmond Whig has a rumor of a Union raiding force boing in Stafford county, Va, and moving towards Fredericksburg. The Petersburg Express says that Gen. cided success a8 an initiatory onc. The proceeds aro to be devoted toafund for the support of a church in Miss Evans’ native city in Wales. The Count Joannes yesterday commenced a suit for bel tn the Court of Common Pleas against Horace Greeley, the damages betng laid at ten thousand dollars. The alleged libel was contained in an article published in the Tribune in April last, Tho Count acted as his own Grant has so thoroughly fortifled his rear that his works | lawyer, and in opening gave a sketch of his life and artis- there are nearly as strong as thoso in his front, and that,| tc careor, and explained how ho had received his title of his picket lincs havo been extended two miles further from mear Rea:ns’ station, on the Weldon Railroad. It nobility. Ho was then placed upon tho witness stand by the defondant’s counsel, and his examination and cross- examination consumed the remainder of the day. Tho has also a rumor that he has lately received heavy rein- | case will bo resumed at eleven o'clock this forenoon. forcement, a Paymasters will leave Washington to-day or to-mor- row to pay off the Sixth corps, and it is said that within The trial of Bernard Friory, charged with the murder of Harry Lazurus, was continued yesterday in the General Sessions. Drs, Robinson and Putnam described the wound on Lazarns’ body, while Henry Connoll, the bar- @ short time the whole Army of the Potomac, which has | keeper of the deceased, and Christopher Richards de- now some four months’ arrears owing it, will be paid off. | 8ctibed the occurrence. Tho easo will be resumed this Arrangements have been made to hereafter reserve two million dollars out of every three days’ Treasury receipts for the purpose of paying the troops. EUROPEAN NEWS. The steamship North American, from Liverpool 2d and Groencasile 3d instant, arrived at Portland last evening, bringing five days later advices, The news of the capture of Fort Fisher had reached England, and caused great depression among the rebels aad their sympathizers, while loyal Americane were jubi- lant aud United States securities advanced seven per cent, The continental news by this arrival is unimportant. CONGRESS. No business of importance was transacted in cither | house of Congress yesterday, both b e3 being occu- pied with the obsequies of Senator Hicks, of Maryland. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Stato Senate yesterday bills were reported rela- tive to Oakland atreet and Uaion avenue, Brooklyn; the Metropolitan Health bill, and amending tho charters of the Republic and Washington insurance companies of New York. A communication from the authoritics of the c'ty of New York tend: the Court Honse, now in course of erection in the ( all Park, to the State fora Capitol, was read. Rep« relative to wharfage along the Hudson river; fixing th nation of the mom- bers of the New York ( n Councl; relative to the Allaire Works of city; to incorporate the Brooklyn and New York Turkish Bath Company; the Lyric Theatrical Association of New York; and to amend the aci relative to Exterior street in New York, were received. Bills were noticed to increase the tax on sult, and to authorize horse railroad companies to increass their fares, Bills wero introduced relative to sewerage cow |. for Governor und Lieutenant and drainage in this city and in reference to the tax- ation of moneyed eorporations and individual bankers. The bill amending the charter of the Long Island City Water Company was passed. The Assombly reso- lution, providing for a recess from the 17th to the 23d instant, was concurred in, In the Assembly bills were introduced to incorporate ‘tho Practical House Painters’ Association of New York; to incorporate the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Lodge of Odd Fellows of New York; and relative to criminal offences in the Metropolitan Police district, The bill aurhorizing morning. Tho will of Barney Huggenberger came up yesterday for probate before tho Surrogate. This man left New York in 1844, and was last heard from in California in 1845, Ho left bis will and personal property, worth some ten thousand dollars, with Mr, J. A. Iselin, of this city, who now produces it, Hugenberger was a Swiss by birth, and between fifty and sixty years of age when he disappeared. Tho Surrogate decided that H. must be con- sidered a8 dead in contemplation of law, but required evidence to be taken as to his circumstances and relatives in Switzerland, ‘The Union State Convention of Connecticut assembled im New Haven yesterday, and renominated William A, Buckingham and Roger Averill, the present incumbents, ernor. All the remaiu- der of the present Stave officers were also renominated. Since General Barrios, the expatriated ex-President of San Salvador, has found an asylum in the neighboring republic of Custa Rica, Ducnas, the present Presidential incumbent of the former, has issued a docree imposing six months’ imprisonment, at hard labor, on any natiyo who shall be detected in intercourse with the exiled exe- cutive, Forvigners, for the same offence, are to be } bantshed from the country. Wo havea copy of a review by Judge Pierrepont of General Butler's defence before the House of Represen- tatives in relation to the Now Orleans gold. It is crowded out this morning by the proasure of news upon our columns. The stock market was heavy yesterday. Gold was dull and clored at 205%. ‘There was scarcely any change in commercial affairs yesterday. Gold was quite steady and merchandise ditto, Business was small in both foreign and domestic produce, though there was altogether more movement in the latter than in the former. Cotton was more active and without decided change in sales, Petroleum was quiet but firm. On ’Change tho flour market was quite active and 10c. higher. Wheat was quiet but frm. Corn ruled dull and heavy, while oats were without material change in valuo, the demand being moderate. The pork market ruled moderately active at previous rates. Beef and lard wero in moderate request and firm. Whiskey was quiet but firm. Freighte were dull and depressed. Sherman’s Advance in South Carolina— The Enemy's Weakness. The news from Richmond tells us of the the Lackawanna and Delaware Railroad Company to hold } steady and rapid progress of Sherman through real estate in Now York was passed. The report of the Auditor of the Canal Department on tolls, trade and ton- nage was presented, In the evening sosston the consti- tational amendment was debated. the State of South Carolina, and of a demon- stration of our troops within a few miles of Charleston city. The demonstration was made The majority of the Committee on Munictpal Affairs | on the 10th inst., but on the 8th Sherman had yesterday presented their report tothe Senate on the Proposal to supersede the present volunteer “giernem in this city by a paid department. may they have no doubt that the majority of the occupied Orangeburg—a town to the northwest of Branchville, on the railroad that connects | Branchville with Columbia, the capital of the members of the prosent departmont aro prompted | State. He had, therefore, already made a good by & Iandable devotion to the public interest; but | stride towards the latter point, still, astde from the fact that its reputation has become tarnished by association with less worthy per- fons, they believe that our city bas outgrown the present Whatever forces the enemy had in South Carolina for the protection of the railroad lines aystem, and they therefore recommend the passage of | OT Charleston city occupied two defensive lines. the bill to establish @ paid department, Two members | One of these wos the line of the Combahee, of the commitieo dissent from this report. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. the other of the Edisto, Both rivers run ina southeasterly direction, the Combahee being Provost Marshal General Fry has issued an order to the | nearer to the Georgia line than the Edisto. The provost marshals throughout the country, directing them | Jing of the Combahee was held for the defence to hold themselves in readiness to commence drafting immediately in all districts where recruiting to ON the quotas is not progressing actively, of Charleston, while the line of the Edisto, in rear of the former, was the more important, In the Bonrd of Education last evening a resolution to | @nd was held for the protection of the vital increnge tho salaries of all the teachers in the city an ad- | railroad connections between Georgis and the ditional twenty-five per cent was referred to the Finance | rebel capital. Sherman marched, of course, Committee, Another resolution increasing the salary of the engineer of the Board in the same ratio was passed. A motion to refer the subject of regulating the salaries straight for the greater lino, turnod it and com- pelled the retreat of the rebel forces; and the of janitors to the Committes on Buildings was carried, | fact that he is in possession of that greater lino A resolution appropriating eighteen thousand dollars for | gompels the enemy to abandon the other, and, the purchase of o school site in the Fifth ward wheroom | independently of what the uavy may be doing, to erect « primary school was adoptod. ‘The Committee of the Stato Souate, having in charge the investigation of the affairs of our city government, ill resume thei labors to-day in the Suvreme Cour, to abandon Charleston. General Lee, un the 28th of Jannary, pub- » lished in & Ggorgia payer ao appeal do the people of that State for supplies for his army. He told them that “the freshets” had cut him one, and we place no reliance, therefore, on the enemy’s stories of a new line. It would be an utter waste of effort to make it, and they have no strength to spare. The enemy’s trouble now is his inability to defend any point—an inability that results from his want of men. Every man that he has in the army is necessary for the defence of the lines in front of Grant, and he cannot make another army with whieh to confront Sherman. There are not “enough able-bodied white men” to do it in the country he holds, and what there are won't come out if they can help it. He is dis- tressed for arms also, and must at this moment be distressed for supplies urgently necessary. His whole position shows the distinct failure of his cause, and now events take a step forward that seem te compel him to adopt immediately some decisive measure, He could stand still so long as supplies came regularly; but now, if he is not disposed to die tamely in his ditches, he must adopt another course. How different is every appearance on our own side. Here all is vigor and vitality. In this city recruiting now goes on with the greatest ac- tivity, and there will apparently be no draft, though the surgeons’ standard is so high a one that seventy-five men were rejected on Tuesday. Itis the same in all the country. The men we get under the present call go into the army at once, and are realized as soldiers long before they could be if the draft were made, for all the necessary delays of that process are avoided. General Grant has said that with one hundred thousand more men he could finish the war in three months. We have every gonfidence—so auspicious are present appearances—that he will get the men-and keep his promise, Miss Anna Dickinson, the Modern Py- thoness. In ancient times poor, lonely women used to sit on tripods, inhale gas and utter oracles. The wicked priests stood bebind these women, instructed them what to say, and reaped the benefits of their utterances. This sort of thing has recently been revived, without any very great success, by the abolition priesthood, and Miss Anna Dickinson is their pythoness. We are really sorry to see one of a sex which wo equally admire and respect condemned to such obnoxious offices. In this enlightened age such mummeries ought to be obsolete. But the abo- lition priests, careful only of their own aggran- dizement, and careless of the injuries they inflict upon the pitiable victim of their arts, place Miss Dickinson upon that modern tripod, the stump; inspire her with the proper amount of gaseous matter; instruct her as to what oracles she is to deliver, and then siand bebind the scenes and reap all the political profit of her performances, They make her say what they are too cowardly to say themselves. Through her they breathe forth threatenings and slaugh- ter. She suffers in public estimation—poor thing !—but they getthe glory and keep up the eniertainment. Miss. Dickinson’s last appearance was at the Cooper Institute, on Tuesday evening. She was introduced by Mr. Oliver Johnson, of the Anti-Slavery Standard, one of her managers anc wirepullers. She began her pythonic address by declaring that she “wanted war—biiter, terrible, unrelenting war.” “weak pardons.” She wanted “to whip our enemies until they cannot stand and cannot sit, and cannot do anything but lie down in the dust under our feet” Such language from masculine lips would be dreadful enough; but She wanted no peace, no amnesty, no | | i t craven tongues, leas defiant then their reckless minds, dare not frame in She stands on picket—the first mark for #® enemy’s fire, the farthest in advance of all the forco—while the male abolitionists riot bebind her in the secu- rity of their camp. Nor age those persons less blamable who go to hear and applend the pythoness, and thus encourage her in a earcer which will be equally damaging to herself and barren of good results to others. The reporters tell us that there was a large audience on Tues- day evening, and we are very sorry for Miss Dickingon’s sake. Poor, lone, little woman! Poor modern pythoness! Deluded by those who profess to be her friends; dragged into a notoriety which cannot but be offensive to her womanly instincts, uttering rhapsodies of which she perceives neither the ill taste nor the ab- surdity; made to avow sentiments inconsistent with her sex and unpopular among both sexes, and thus unconsciously injuring her own pre- sent and future prospects, we regard her with mingled pity and regret, and hope that she may soon quit the tripod, never to have o pythonic successor. Nosru Canouma Reavy to Bout,—From the tone of the peace journals in the interior of North Carolina it is evident that the masses of the people in that State, soldiers and civilians, are anxious to out loose from Jeff. Davis and his confederacy, on the simple issue of submis- sion to the Union. The Raleigh Progress, for instance, says “we desire your representatives (the Jeff. Davis last ditch party) to vote to sub- mit the question of a convention to the peo- ple;” that “the State will go for a convention by an immense majority;” that “there is an im- mense pressure for a convention,” and that, “of all the people in the South, there is no class who so much desire peace as the soldiers.” In support of this positive statement the editor produces the written testimony of a number of rebel soldiers, one of whom says, “Peace is all we desire. If we cannot have all that we wish, we are willing to, and would much rather, have half than to struggle on till we are completely exhausted, and lose everything.” This is the idea, the prevailing idea, now at work among the people, not only of North Carolina, but of all the rebellious States, “Why continue to struggle on, till we are com- pletely exhausted, and lose everything? Why continue the war under such circumstances?” Against all the sophistries, all the war clamor and threatenings of Jeff. Davis, his orators and newspaper organs at Richmond, all in the same trap, this idea that, with the continuance of the war, the Southern people involved in this suicidal struggle of Davis will “lose every- thing,” has taken a firm hold upon the Southern public mind, and is gaining strength every day. Considering this fact and the progress of Sherman in South Carolina, we shall not be surprised in the least if we hear at any moment of a general break up and dispersion of the rebel camps in North Carolina, and a general uprising throughout the State in favor of a re- turn to the “old-flag.” This is not among the least of the dangers which threaten Jeff. Davis in his last stronghold of Richmond. North Carolina, ready to bolt, is watching her oppor- tunity, and the fall of that brick will bring down the whole row. Soil Seadiatell altoids Tae Necro Sotprer Question at Ricamonp.— The rebel Congress at Richmond has been exceedingly perplexed what to do with the pro- position to arm the negro slaves of their mock confederacy. They have had the question before them in every shape and form, including the following schemes:—First—The abolition of slavery, a3 a bribe to Engiand and France, and the arming of two hundred thousand emanci- pated black soldiers, Second—The arming of a hundred thousand able-bodied slaves, under the promise of freedom and a free farm to each for faithful services as a soldier. Third-—A levy upon the plantations for forty thousand negroes as laborers, &c., in the ermy, to be trained at the samé time in the use of arms, by way of an experiment. Fourth—The pur- chase by the so-called Confelerate gov- ernment of two hundred thousand able- bodied “field hands” for service as soldiers, each to be the slave—fee simple—of a white soldier, who shall take care of his negro, Sixth— The enlistment of negro slaves by the volun- teer system, under a promise to each volunteer » of his personal freedom at the end of the war. All these schemes, and various others, have coming from @ woman’s lips, formed only for | been propoged and rejected in the rebel Con- kifses, smilea and sweet, sympathizing speech, H they strike us with a nameless horror. silent watches of the night we think of them and shudder. revolutions; but we had no idea that if could so revolutionize s woman’s holy uature. Ther, after this terrific advertisement of war wanted, the modern pythoness went on to oulo; that retired and retiring gonins of war. the coie- brated Bethel Fisher Butler. Upon him she emed to lavish her choicest praises. He is, in her opinion, “the greatest, grandest, most majestic” fellow yet brought out by this “sub- lime time.” Besides pitying the pythoness, we also pity Butler. Defended by Ben Wood, glorified by Miss Dickinson, and with a sub- scription already started to purchase his tomb- stone, he has, indeed, fallen lower than his bitterest enemy could have desired. Better for him had some friendly rebel bullet struck him in that part of his anatomy which the heart is usually understood to occupy. Better for him had his interview with the Lowell brick- layer proved fatal. Better for him had he sacrificed himself, as he did his troops, at Big Bethel. Better anything than this de- fender and this eulogist, whose good words stab him so mortally, alas! * Then, having finished Ben Butler, our pytho- ness proceeded to revile the Prosident, She |. spoke of him as “this man;” she characterized his terms of peace as “a lie;” she said to the South, “yon shall be destroyed by the eword;” she contemned the peace conference and ‘scorned the “Holy Spirit, Heavenly dove” of reconciliation. This language of hers would at once astonish and alarm us could we believe that she really expresses her own sentiments, Bat no; Wendell Phillips, twaddling Tilton, the irreverend Dr. Cheever and tho other priests of aboVitionism speak through her as through & trumpet. No woman could think ‘such thov.ghts and have such blood-thirsty desires. It’s the managers who are eager for carnage, Dot the poor oracle, who only raves and , tears herself. No woman’s heart could be so hardened—no woman’s voice so loud for war. Miss Dickinson is really much more to be pitied than blamed. But, on the ofhor le» d, Low oul pable are those contemptiile « werds he hide behind her pettisovia ond wid ter vt or In the | | } gress, and Jeif.’s Honse of Representatives has at last hit upon a bill, leaving this business of i negro reinforcements to his armies pretty much. This war has produced many | ai his discretion. We predict that there will be no arming of the negroes in his service to any extent, because they cannot be irusted with arms on that side, and becan-» they cannot be spared from the business of raising provisions, und because State rights stand in ihe way, and because an infusion of negrovs as soldicrs into Jeff.’s army would demoralize whites and blacks, and because the slavebolders concerned will be dangerous customers to deal with on this question, and because the rebels have no arms to put in the hands of the negrocs; and, lastly, because this call upon Sambo comes too late in the day. Jost Wuere Tuer Lme to Be—In Sovra Carouma.--The soldiers of the Union under Sherman are just where they like to be—clean- ing up the chivalry of South Carolina. It is the fulfilment of the hopes and prayers of Sher- man’s veterans to be carrying the “old flag” “fall high advanced” through the heart of South Carolina. They feel that they are engaged in a work of righteous retribution in flanking, stir- ring about, smoking out and following up the skedaddling fire-eaters of South Carolina. They know that they are shaking up the viper’s nest in which this rebellion was hatched in shaking up, from top to bottom, the State of South Caro- lina. feel that they are the instruments of divine justice, ons especial mission, in the punishment of the thirty years’ treason of South Carolina, In this work of justice they esteem It privilege to march through the miry swamps and wade the muddy rivers of South Carolina. Thoy know that the masses of the people, North and South, rejoice with exceeding joy over the good work Sherman’s invincibles are doing in South Carolina, and they know that at the end of this terrible war, and for generations yet unborn, a peculiar glory will belong to the name of the humblest Union soldier identifted with Sherman’s effective purgation of South Carolina. Their march right down from the centre to the seacoast of Georgia was a holiday excursion; but all their past campaigns are eclipsed, and y «ve rewarded for all their trials nnd Mritgs in te crowning glory of thei: maq- the black and bloody cenivaces whic) this} videent orcibsuling of South Carciina, Reported Determination Destroy the City, &o., &., — ‘The United States steam transport Continental, Sumner, from New Orleans 3d inst., arrived at this yesterday. The purser will accept our thanks for delivery of despatches, Our Now Orleans Correspondence. New Ontzans, La, Feb. 2, 1868 MATTERS AT MOMLE. tn my last I stated that Mobile was being evacuated the enemy. Though no official news has arrived headquarters announcing the fact, there is no doubt &e, the city. The order to evacuate Mobile arrived from on the 14th ult., amd preparations were at once made carry the order into effect with as little secresy as ble. By the 22d it was asecret no longer; every! high and low, rich and poor, knew of the intended cuation, and the greatest excitement was the quence, Troops, artillery, powder, stores and were shipped to Selma by rail and in wagons. eighteen thousand bales of cotton were in Mobile the news for evacuating the city arrived. There are between fifteen and sixteen thousand bales stored in government buildings, the majority of which belongs private parties. P DETERMINATION TO DESTROY THE CITY. The authorities in Mobile have determined on its struction should our forces advance upon the city, and is said that turpentine and powder has been stored wit} it, with trains leading thereto, ready to be fired at moment. General Maury superintended the cvacut The citizens who own the cotton protest strongly {ts destruction; and as nearly all the influcutiaj cit are in favor of saving it, the probability is that it not be destroyed. There is considerable Union sentiment in Mobile, the parties are afraid to show it, Rebel money becoming more worthless every day, and the cit. show their estimation of it by gotting rid of it in quantitios for a small consideration, and by paying forty, and even fifty dollars for a one dollar greceibetk, New Onzeans, La., Feb. 2, 1868, REBEL APPAIRS WEST OF THB MISSISSIPPI, Kirby Smith’s and Price’s commands are mostly in th neighborhood of Shreveport, though detachments ar, scattered all along through the trans-Mississippi De} ment. Kirby Smith may be termed the Rebel Mil] tary Supervising Agent for the ferreting out, taxing, am| shipment of cotton into Mexico. His coldiers hunt u)| the cotton, and the parties owning it are required to tribute one half for the benefit of the rebel Stater while the other half is purchased by Kirby Smith’ agents at twenty-five cents (rebel acrip) per pound, equs in coin value to one cent and a half. Tho cotton is the: transported in wagons from Shreveport to Brownsville. Genoral Prico was recently sent into Mexico by Kirby Smith. Whether his mission relates solely @o cotto: transactions or is of a political nature is not knows ‘The family of General Prico reside in Texas. Yanke colton speculators are not wanted in Kirby Smith's do| minions, and woe to the trader who falls into hi clutches, THE REBEL GENERAL FRANK GARDNER SUSPERSEDED, On Thursday last a flag of truce from Jackson, Mien was brought into Vicksburg. Through itI learn tha General Frank Gardner, formerly commanding th districts of Mississippi and East Louisiana, has been aw perseded by Major General W. T. Martin. Goneral Martis| ‘was formerly @ resident of Natchez, and a very abl lawyer. ARRIVAL OF THE BRITISH CONSUL. Dennis Donohue, Esq., British Consul for New Orteana vice Wm. Mure, Esq., deceased, arrived in this city thr moraing, from New York, on the steamship Mornixy Star. Mr. Donohue formerly acted im this capacity ® Buffalo, Now York. GRAND PIREMEN’S BALL Thero was a grand flremen’s ball at the Opera House on Saturday night last, given by Pelican Hook and Ladde: Company No. 4. The whole fire department of New Orleans was represented, There were upwards of twe thousand persons present. The Opera House was beaut) fully and artistically decorated. Yager's band was is attendance, This was the finest ball of the season, * Trautay Ovvna,—Luciadi Lammermoor was given aft the Academy last night to avery fashionablo and, com sidering the weather, if not a large, a very fair audienes, Mrs, Van Zandt appeared for the first time in the réle of Lucia, and was ri ‘ed with a good deal of cathusiasm, She was two or three times eneored, and was at the close of each act called before the curtain. In the second and third acts, the most trying for a débutanie, she sustained tie part excvedingly well, showing a great deal of that dramatic power whch is essential to the rendering of the art, Massimiliani was in excellent voice, and sang the alth, and will appear to night in Brooklyn im her great réle of Nurma, Max Stxaxosen’s Concert at Nisto's Sarooy,—The reputation which those adnatroble artiste Mile. Helene de Katow and Mr, Webli acgsired at their first concert wae fully sustained on their se-ond appearance last night. Mile. de Katow exhibited to a greater extent than before her entire command of tho violoncello in the fantasie from Martha and the duo Polonaise Brillian'e of Chopin. Mr, Wehli selected @ piece of Mendelssohn, which fully itlustrated his capacity to interpret the highest classic | music, His own composition on Trove’ore was exquisitely rendered, To-night thes artists will appear for tho last time hero, previous to their departure for Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore, Tie Grand Linoxreeans Maskep Batn.—This enter. tainment will take place at the Academy to-night. We observe that the manaxers have adopted very wise mea- sures to insure the pleasure and comfort of the company by limiting the tickets, and by requiring every one te unmask before the committee previous to entering the ball room. The wisdom of this last provision is obvious, Sacrrp Concrxt at Cigyton Haus. @ third of the series of sacred concerts under the direction of Mr. RB Gonzalez will come off at Clinton Hall, Eighth street, to- morrow (Friday) evening, with the same excellent artista ‘ag on the previous occasions, The class of music selected for these concerts is of the highest standard, represent- ing the works of the most eminent Italian and Germam com] ra, We have before expressed our appreciation of the admirable manner in which they are rendvred under the supervision of Mr. Gonzalez, The concerte will be continued fora season in Irving Hall, eommene- ing there on Sunday, 26th. Mr. J. N. Pattison’ we Mosicate.—Mr. Pattison, the pianist, announces the third of bis soirées for Thurs day evening, the 234 inst., at Steinway’s rooms, Four- teenth rtreet. Heo will be assisted by Mile, Camille Urso, the lady violinist, and Miss Laura Harris, soprano, The prev’ concert was a great succesa’ The audience wae okay tenho fashionable and brilliant. bir. Pattison's per ‘was remarkably fine on that occasion, his ren~ dering of themes from itore being executed with a delicacy, clearness and expression which evoked very warm and flattering applause. Mr. Pa‘dison is remarka- bie for the freshness and variety of his style. He rarely interprets the same piece twice alike, Dut always exhibita freedom and life in his touch He is therefore popular, and bis performance always appreciated. ‘Trmvre To Corons, B HB. Wor, Furtr-seconn Inv. Ma, FROM a8 Orricenn —At a mesting of the officers of the Third brigade, Savond division, detachment Army of the Tonnoeseo, held at Eastport, Miss, on January 31, 1865, Colonel Huson Lawrence, Thirty-fourth New Jersey Volunteers, Captain John B. Gondolfe, and other regimental comraanders, expressed, in a series of resolu~ tions, their admiration of Colonel Wolf for hi: conduct during tbe bate of Nashville, and their rogret at his separation from the brigade, The New Jersey United Stat ship. Trewtox, N. J., Fob. 18, 1868. A foint meeting of both houses of tho Legisinture waa held this afternoon. The election of United States Sena tor was postponed to the let of March, David Naar, of Mercer, was lected State Treasurer, Tho election of Keeper and Inspector of State Prison was postponed. Thé cochty vomtnations were then made. Mr. Randolph, of 1B dean, i) La Renate, moved to postpone action om the emiru 'wont to the copstivution te the 24 of March, Senatore