The New York Herald Newspaper, February 24, 1865, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, ew, Qilirxs oF vouros Axo xassav em. OFFICE M. W. AMUSEMENTS THIS BYBNING OPE = $taLIay RA, Irving place.—Irauan Orsaa—La BROADWAY THBATI ? ‘RE, Broadway.—Fomrs Wuras— WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Hauuae. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tacw Love Nuvzn Sacoma—Miir—Yaxxes = Duxitut—Foou oF 1: MILE. WALLACK'S THEATER, Broadway.—Tax Honcanace. = THEATRE, Broadway.—Tas Sraasts or New BOWERY THEA‘ Bor z tet nia TEE, wery.—Daus Taot—Mitien's NIBLO'S GARDEN, Brosdway.—Tas Honomssce. BARNUM’S MUSEUM, Brosdway.—Two Maxorn Far womb davis Sunaror_D rar dian tas We wun of New Yoru—! ‘ond vening. _calaeocmie cag bad ined bay! gs § Nokon’ Hall, 472 Broad- Tada Bonas, Dances, ues, &0.—Live ‘WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Bi TREES tiv Youe_Tux Fiat bite Kemorian Sones, Dasoun bo, SALLE DIABOLI Broad —Roszat Heiier’s serniseae tame Breeder. — VAN AMBURGH & CO.’S MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, 689and M41 Broadway.—Opea from 1) A. M. to WP. M. HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth stroet.—Equasratan, Grenasrio axp Acnonatic Es isuraiyaunts—MOotTHMR GOoss, NU AMERICAN THEATRE, 444 Broadway.—Batusrs, Pantosuses, Buriesquas, & ce YOUNG Mecuure- HOOLEX & CAMPBELL’S MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 Bowery.—soxes, Dances, Buairsauus, &o.—Live InGin. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Open from 0AM wil OP Mc “ea 6 VANNUCHI'® MUSEUM, 600 Broadway.—Morixa Wax Fiovnzs. — - = New York, Friday, February 24, 1865. THE SITUATION. Advices received by the steamship Newbern, which Jeft Cape Fear river on Tuesday last, are to the effect that phe national forces were then within four miles of Wil- imington, and advancing rapidly. Heavy firing was heard in that direction when the steamer sailed. A report was in circulation yesterday, said to como from rebel sources, that the national troops occupied fhe town on last Sunday; but it appoars to have beon premature. General Schofield, in hia official report of the capture of Fort Anderson, says ho had information that the rebels had a line of defence behind Tom creek, where it was supposed they would endeavor to make a ptana; but it was not thought they could maintain it for more than a very short time. ‘The statements which we find in revel newspapers re- garding General Sherman's movements since his arrival @ Winnsboro, South Carolina, are of so confused @ cha- acter that but Jittle precise information can be gathored from them. His magnificent marches have com- Pletely bewildored the rebel Journalists, and, ac- gording to their own acknowledgment, stsuck dumb thoir War Department. We only know that ho is gull triumphantly pushing forward The Richmond Boaminer now thinks the roport that he detachod any of his force at Branchville to move southwest towards Charleston was incorrect. The Whig says that Goneral Sherman is now prosecuting another movement @haracterized by much more than his ordinary rigor and elerity, which is designed to s:vcr General Lee’s com- aunications with the South, and, by finally combining with Grant, effect the capture of Richraond. It believeshe will maroh on to Charlotte, Greensboro and Danville, and Probably to Richmond, and expects to hear of him at the first named town in a fow days, It bids us romomber, however, that the ‘Jion'’ Beauregard is still in his path, pod utters the warning that dangers are thickening pround him. The loss of Charlesten, the Whig says, “should rather inspire cheerfulness than gloom;’ but Yho Dispatch finds itsolf utterly unable to oven affect buoyancy, and mentions it as @ ‘sad rosult.”” ‘New Orleans uivices, via Cairo, are to the 15th inst, Tt was sad that the preparations were compl: ted for Gene- ral Gordon Granger's expedition against Mobile, and that General Hurlvut expected to soon have the beadquar- ters of the Departmont of the Gulf established in that city. Commodore Palmer, with a floct of thirty vessels, was to leave New Orleans for Mobile bay in a few days, to eo-operate with General Granger. Guif cotton traders who arrived in Washington yesterday Toport that the rebels commenced the evacuation of Mobile onthe 4th of January. This isa repetition of the report we have already bad from different sources and at different times. We shall probably soon hear from Gencral Granger himeclf, who will be able to in- form us definitely on the subject. Acorrespondence between Colonel Pierson, command- ing the rebel troops at San Antowto, Texas, and General Lopes, ta command of some of Maximilian's forves on the Mexican frontier, has been published in a Texas Paper, Mutual expressions of the high regard of “his government” for that of the other are indulged in by those officers, and Lopez says that “the sons of the con- fedoracy can rely upon full security for their possessions ‘and interests” in the department under his oontrol, and that “no raid will be permitted to organize on Mexican soil for the invasion of Southern territory.” Shotted salutes of one hundred guns each, in recogni- tion of the recent great Union successes, were fired in the armics of the Potomac and the James on Tuesday last. Tho military quiet on beth sides of James river Femains undisturbed. The stream of deserters from Lee's army pouring into the national lines continues ‘unabated. Tho exchange of prisoners is progressing rapidly, Arrangements have been made for ex- changes to take place at Mobile and diferent points on the Misiseippl. The lately arrived deserters confirm proviour reports that the rebel sioge guns have Doon removed from ther works in front of Petersburg. They say two hundred of their comrades in one brigade Geeertod rearward and started for their homes on last Tuosday night. They estimate the preeont strength of the rebel army crousd Richmond and Petersburg at Cirty thousand. Leveral brigades of It were said to be @nder marching orders on inet Tuesday night, for what point was not knowin. At an adjourned meting of ‘he principal burioces men. Of this city held yosterioy at th: Cues ve, the dt) of Maroh was fixed upon a the day on wi ch to celebrate in ® grand mannor the many recent magni t national Plctories and the virtnal dofeat of (he rebellion, and it (was recommended thet the business comtiwity aod the Whole people, from hats 10 San Franvivoo, obverve that Gay ax ono of rajoietng and @ univers! holiday. The @hambers of commerce and boars of trade of the princt- PA cities of the country bave pledgod themselves for hearty co-operation in this patriotic movement, ‘Tho surprise of a detachment of Sheridan's cavalry by , party of Mosby's guerillas in Ashby’s Gap, on Sunday fad noticed in Tuesday's Herat, proves not to have @0 disastrous to the former as at first supposed, forty of tho ninety men at the time reported captured uded the rebols and since succeeded In effecting Folum to their regiment. 4 salute of ong hundred tm home of th recent national victories wan trod Genacel Wtsdan's beadacarters on Teceday. Richmond papers of Tuesday lest have additional particulars of the Union raids sald to be now in pro- gress in North Carolina and East Tennessee, Accord- ing to these statements the former State is being com- pletely overrun by the Tnion troopera One party of them, it ts stated, is moving en Tarboro from Newborn, ‘and another force is said to be marching up the ath side of Nouse river. Their design is believed to be to operate on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad. It ts now supposed that the East Ten- Resse raiding party, which started from Knox- ville, and which ts said to consist of several thousand cavalry, will also move into North Corolina, and strike the railroad between Salisbury and Chaclette. The rebel House of Representatives on Monday last passed the bill to put negroes in their armies, and the Senate was ex- pected to pass it on the following day. They have under Consideration a bill for the impressment of cotton and tobdacoo. CONGRESS. In the Senate yestorday, there was a promiscuous dis- cussion of considerable length, in which the Now Jorsey railroad monoply, the constitutional amendment pro- hibiting slavery, and the question of the recognition of Louisiana as a State, were pretty well mixed up. Finally ft waa agreed to consider the Louisiana question. Mr. Sumner’s substitute: for the report of the Judiciary Committee, declaring that no rebellious State shall elect Senators and Reprosentatives until the President proclaims that hestilities within such State have ceased, nor until the psople of such State have adopted a republican government not repugnant to the constitution and laws, and not until by a law of Congress such State is entitled to represontatives in Congress, was rejected by a very decided vote, and the subject was | then laid aside. A bill tg procure a marble bust of the late Chief Justice Taney was introduced, but met with vehoment opposition from Messrs. Sumner, Hale aud Wade. During the evening session, the publication of a full Army Register was authorized, and the bill te pro- mote the efficiency of the army subsistence department was passed. The proposition to establish a territorial government over the Indian country was discussed, and 7 after an oxecutive session the Senate adjourned. In the House of Represontatives,, Monday next was assigned for the consideration of the six hundred million loan bill. The bill repeating the law which prohibits the forfeiture of tho real estate of rebels beyond their natural lives was passed by a majority of one voto, The bill in- corporating the Continental Hotel Company of Washing- ton was also passed; also, the bill to reorganize the ap- pralsers’ office of the New York Custom House, and a number of other bills of no general importance, The bill amendatory of the Enrolment act was taken up, and an amendmont, providing that no credits shall be given except the men are actually furnished on prosent and futuro calls and mustered into servico, was agreed to. tion bill passed, THE LEGISLATURE. presented for the incorporation of the New York Dental College. Pills authorizing the increase of pilotage in the port of New York; for the relief of the Sheepshead Bay and Seashore Rallroad Company; and to improve land undor water in the Twelfth ward of Brooklyn, were or- dered to a third reading. In the Assembly bilis were introduced for the payment of accrued interest on bonds issued under the ordinance of the Supervisors of New York city, passed Juno 14, 1864; to provont fraud in tho sale of produce and other commodities. The annual report of the trustecs of the New York Institute for the Blind was presented. Bills to onablo the trustees of the Seaman’s Fund and Retreat to borrow money; also to incorporate the Studio Build- ing of the city of New York, were ordered to # third reading. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Our Turks Islands correspondent gives us a few addi- tional items of Intercat regarding the Spanish-Domin‘can war. Tho decision of the govornment of Spain to with draw all its troops from St. Domingo was not yet known im the jeland. Owing to the failure to récoivo feinforce- ments, the Spaniards in the town of Samana had been obliged to evaonate that place and establish themselves on tho island of Levantado, in the bay. ‘They subjected the natives within their lines to great hardship and op- pression; but still the spirit of the latter was unbroken, and they continued detormined to ultimately regain their independence, An important meeting of the Board of Supervisors took place yesterday, A communication from tho Comptroller stated that at the rate recruiting is now progressing an additional loan of two million dollars will bo nocessary, and at the rate of seven por cent interest. Resolutions were adopted authorizing the proposed loan, and at the rate of interest recommended by tho Comptroller. This loan is alveady au‘horizod by the Legislature. ‘Tho draft was continued in Brooklyn’ yestorday. In In tho State Senate yostorday sevoral petitions were | the New Jersey House of Representatives yesterday re- ported 1m favor of approving the amendment, with & provision to submit the action of the Legislature to s vote @f the people for ratification of rejection. The minority ef the committee reported im favor of its unconditional approval by the Legislature. The West Point cadetship, which is tn the gtft of Hon. 4, W. Chanler, member of Congress for the Seventh Cop greasional District of this State, was oontended for yester- fay afternoon by eight young candidates for military re ‘aown, graduates of the public achools of this olty. The Jada were presented by City Superintendent Randall, and Bohool Commissioners Roosevelt, Mifler, Vance, Tuthill ‘and Murray were present at the examination, which took place tm the Hall of the Beard of Education. The stock market was higher yesterday. Govern- ments were steady, Gold was firmer and closed in the afterneon at 20054. At the evening board it closed at 199%. ‘The rise in gold rendered the markets firmer, but did not cause any activity in any department of trade, Most artioles of both foreign and domestic pro- duce were dull; but, as « general thing, full prices were realized. Cotton was steady. Petroloum was firm for refined, but 2c, a 80. lower for crude, On 'Change the flour market was 6c. highor, with a moderate inquiry. ‘Wheat was dull but steady. Corn was quiet, while oats wore active and firmer. The pork market ruled steady, while beef was in active demand at full rates. Lard was fairly aciiveand firm. Freights were steady but quiet. Whiskey was vory quiet and scarcely eo firm. Our Situation in Europe—Delusive Hopes of French Intervention. There is a remarkable significance in the i general tone recently adopted by the statesmen and journalists of Europe in their comments upon the affairs of this country. Lord Russell, in his speech in the debate on the Queen’s speech, while admitting that vossels were built in England for the rebels, attempted to shuffio off the responsibility by charging upon France the fact of having armed and chartered these vessels for the rebel government. The press of France, we perceive by the latest news, has been instructed to charge upon England the story of the ceding of the Northern Mexican States—Sonora and the rest—to France asa ma- neuvre of the English journals to create hos- tility in the United States against French policy and Maximilian’s empire. Again, we find Sir John Elphinstone, in the British House of Com- mons, declaring that “if anything disagreeable occurred” between the United States and Eng- land the British navy would prove very une- qual to the occasion. From all these circum- stances, occurring at the same time, and that An evening session was hold and the Indian Appropria- | time when the news of our recent military and naval victories reached Europe, we draw the very positive conclusion that neither England ; Ror France desires a war with this country; that, | in truth, it is about the last event that either of these nations is anxious to bring about. The old saying that drowning men catch at straws is well exemplified in the hopes fostered by the rebel journals that Louis Napoleon is about to recognize the independence of the Davis government, and give material ald to the cause of the rebellion. If there was nothing else to render these hopes delusive than the known sagacity of the French Emperor, they might be setaside as vain; but there happens to be an insurmountable barrier to any such policy, and that is its utter impracticability. Napoleon has not the power, even if he had the will, to wage # successful war against this coun- try. Not all the Powers of Burope combined could do so at the present time. Any war be- tween this country and Europe must be a maritime war. It would be impossible to land ® foreign army on any point of our ooast. Every harbor and inlet is guarded by our fleets, There is nota single port by which a force, ever so large, could enter. Dupont, Far- ragut and Porter, with their gallant subordi- nates, hold every door close shut, and any ex- pedition attempting a landing would be swamped and crushed to pieces. Our present. navy is four times larger than that of France and double that of England. With such an irresistible power on the sea, what chance would there be of foreign invasion? It is true we are the Second Congressional district the quotas of the Tenth | told that there are even now two French and Twelfth wards wore draw, and in the Third district those of the Second, Seventh and Thirteenth wards. Tho wheel will bo in motion again to-ay in both districts, The Senatorial Committee met aga’n yestord: suant to adjourninent, and continued the investiy: of testimony was taken, principally in relation to atrect cleaning. The afternoon session was dovoted to the hearing of counsel for the Eighteenth ward Citizens’ As- | sociation on the subject of charges preferred aga:nst the Board of Supervisors, alleging that the Board had raised tho sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars with.” | out authority of law. Mr. Tweed replied to these chargos, and produced a statement in writing in support of his argument, which was submitted to the committee, Mr. Storrs, chicf clerk in the Comptroller's office, submitted financial data in answer to a number of written questions propounded by Br, McKeon. Captain Beall, the alloged rebel spy, will bo hanged on Governor’a Island to-day, between twelve and two o'clock im the afternoon. of | Enrope, it is said, humbugged Prus: tho City Inspector's Department, A considerable amount | Denmark in a bocus sale of those vo “rams” on the seas, bound for New York, to blow us all to atoms, but we have no certainty of the truth of the report. The rebel agents in a and 3, and they may have humbugged Louis Napoleon, too. However, these formidable rams would never be permitted to approach our co The blockading fiseis are now free to them on the ocean, and with the immense guns carried by our navy, they would have but short | | work in demolis shing them. Admitting the impossibility of landing any troops upon our shores, the war should be con- ducted on the seas. Our veteran army would not be required at all, and with such an im- | Mense naval force as we have now at our com- Cotonel Baker is still engaged in investigating the | numerous frauds practiced by bounty brokers and others. The accused are chicily confrouted by tho wives and relatives of tho victimized recruits. of the government transports, who is charged with Lave ing defrauded a soldier out of seven hundred dollara which had been deposited with him for safe keeping. The engineer was compelled to disgorge. In the General Sessions yesterday Walter @. Patterson, who has been indicted for forgeries on the Bank of Com- merce, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with forgery in the third degree, in forging a check on the Pacific Bank for ten hundred and reveuty-five dol- lars, purporting to have been drawn by Henry Cann, on the Ist of Juno 1861. Joaeph T. Kocpors, a halt thiof, pleaded guilty to stedling an overcoat worth forty doilara from Mr. Owen McIntyre, No. 184 West Twenty-second street. He was canght im the act. Catharine in, who stole a quantity of spoons, Jewelry and ladies’ cloth. ing from the premises of Mr William H. Locke, No. 8 Cottage place, pleaded guilty. These prisoners were remanded for sentence. Annie McCann was tried charged with stealing a set of furs from Mrs. Melville, No 49 Fast Houston street; tut the evidence failed to sustain the charge, and the jury acquitted the accused. Androw Claff was convicted of an assault with ‘@ dangerous*weapon with intent to do bodily harm, he having on the night of the ist of January, while engaged in a difficulty with the proprietor of @ saloon, corner of the Bowery and Broome street, fired a pistol at Emma Schwartz, The prisoner was remanded for sentence. Aman named David L. K. Jenos was yesterday com- mitted to answer a complaint, preferred by a clerk ina Broadway store, of having obtained over one thousand dollars worth of kid gloves under false pretences, by representing himself as agent of a New Orleans dealer. Stepifen Avery, & drummer boy belonging to the Twelfth Maine regiment, dicd in this city yesterday morning, supposed from the effucts ef a poisonous ple eaten by him, Professor Draper nat evening dolivered tho third too- ture of his course before the New York Historical Society, in the ball of the institution, before a large and deeply interested gudioncs, The #aijoci of the discourne was the “Polltieal Foroe of Id which was (rented from « historical view, the lv ir giving beautiful illastrations from the career of Mahomet und the subse- quent history of his descendants in Spain. The rerolution ratifying the constiutlonal amendment to abollab and pec doviey has boen defeated in both houses of the Kentucky Vegisiaturo—in the Senate, ou the 92d ingt., by & vote of t -one ogelnst It {9 twolve Jn favor, and in phd pe le ee erdes, by fifty-eight to twonty-slz. Kentuory is the second to rejoot the amendment, Delawaro being the only Up & thin time, Béventoon Batss have a!routy mailed i, The az Yomiatues af Among tho delin- | quents arrested yesterday was an engineor on board one | x Napoleon could have some thirty thousand men maod—nearly all our war vessels being ro- leased from service on the coast --we could meet any force sent against us from France without fear as to the issue. But suppose that in a Southern port, even if Charleston, Wil- mington, Mobile, Savannah and Galveston were not effectually blocked up. What thent His utmost capacity for transportation across three | def thousand miles of ocean amounts to about thirty thousand troops. That is the full number he sent to Mexico, and they have accomplished little or nothing there. If they were by any chance to get a foothold on these shores, one army corps of our veteran soldiers under Grant, Sherman or Sheridan would devour them in the first conflict. So that French intervention is an impossibility in a military and naval point of view. Politically it is equally imprac- ticable, for Napoleon does not occupy that position in Europe just now which would war- rant any further interference with the affairs of this continent than he has tried in Mexico, and he is heartily sick of his Mexican experiment by this time. The result of Spanish designs on St. Domingo is a lesson which he does not fail to read with tho light of experience. Napoleon may be dazzled by the former military glory of ce, when the republic maintained a war fer ty yeas with nearly all the Powers of Europe, and which might have been a success- ful one; for, were it not for the mad ambition of the firet Napoloon, there would have been no annihilation of the splendid armies of France in tho retreat from Moscow, no triumphant entry of the alties into Paris, no restoration of the Bourbons, ne Waterloo, no St. Helena. France waa potent In those days to grapplo with hor enemies on the European contisent, Sho Is poworful thero still; but circumatances bocome materially changed when, instead of advancing her legions to conquest, she has tg meet « great maritime Power tike the United States, with navy matchod agalast ours, Louls Napoicon once of ® prophotc foar that America would become @ groat maritiins nation as one of the results of thie war. The prediction Javeclied, We are now the fest gasitime aa NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1865. tion in the world, the of our navy is absolutely without and Louis Napo- leon is too wise to run the hazard of # confllot with us, which he knows, as well os all the other Powers of Europe know, must be fought on the ecean, against odds with which they are éntirely incompetent to cope. Again, tf France wore to involve herself in s war with this country, what e complicity of difficulties would surround her in Europe. Does any one suppose that in such an event she would be sustained by an alliance of the other Powers? Not at all. England would oceptainly take no part; for England is not to embroil her- self in @ war which would inevitably destroy the remaining hold she has on her American Russia would doubtless take the opportunity to advance once more her claims on Constantinople, to resist which France {s bound by the policy to which the was pledged fa 1854,. France cannot per- mit Southeastern be overrun by the Muscovite, and the traditionary idea of the house of Romanoff to prevail. Thus, whether we regard the qnestion of French intervention as practicable in a simply military point of view, or as probable in a poli- tical one, we must conclude that the expeota- tlons of the sanguine sympathizers with rebel- lion, in this respect, are wholly and entirely de- lusive. As to any danger from the Franco- Dano-Prussian rams—even should all we hear of them be true—we have no uneasiness on that subject. It is manifest, then, from the tone of the French press, the proceedings of the French Privy Council and the debates in the British Parliament, that neither of these nations is prepared to risk a war with the United States. The Radical Defect in RaiJroading. The recent letter of Queen Victoria to the English railroad companies, and the extraordi- nary increase of serious disasters in this coun-- try, ag well as the remarkable uniformity in the apparent causes of a greater portion of these calamities, suggest inquiry as to whether there are not certain radical defects in the mechanical features of our railroad system. The popular view is that in nine cases out of ten casualties occur to passenger trains from the culpable carelessness of eorporations or their agents. That there is just reason for press- ing this charge in many instances, as we have frequently done, cannot be denied. But it is also true that the majority of mishaps to trains, and especially those which have caused the greatest loss of life and limb, arise from circum- atances which the employes upon a railroad are incapable of anticipating, and therefore power- less to prevent. If a train is demolished in consequence of the misplacement of a switch, or if collisions occur, there can be no question but that the responsibility belongs to some neg- ligent person- or persons; but when a train runs off the track, and when subsequent in- vestigation shows conclusively that no impedi- ment to the proprer progress of the cars existed ‘upon the track prior to the accident, it is clear that the mischief is due to some inherent defect in the mechanical working of the system itself. Civil engineers tell us that s wheel, an axle ors rail may break unexpectedly and unac- countably, and so precipitate a catastrophe. This is undoubtedly true; but why happens it that on the best conditioned roads, as well as on the meanest, these dangers seem to exist in almost an exact proportion? And why will companies heighten these natural risks by aliowing the speed of belated trains to be accelerated, knowing, as they do, that what is but a moderate risk at the rate of twenty-five miles an hour becomes absolutely perilous at thirty-five or forty miles per hour. A little common sense expended in attentive inquiry into the subject will convince any prac ticnl minded man that the running appa- ratus of cars is in no particular adapted to the work required of it. It is, or should be, an axiom of mechanicians that any appli- cation of power is radically wrong which origl- nates uncontrolable danger to life or property. The truck in use is bolted to the car body in such a manner as to allow the axles free play laterally and perpendicularly—at least, that is j jimed at—so as to allow the wheels ield sufficiently to the pressure encountered toy | ata curve, or presented by any moderate ine- quality in the surface of the track. It, how- ever, happens that this essential sim is by the employment upon the lateral transoms of the truck of a system of bumpers, designed to prevent the car body from lunging teo far overupon either side when these inevitable shocks are sustained by the wheels in encountering a curve or a rough piece of track. In fulfiling their office, these bumpers are subjected to such sud- den and immense pressure as to over come almost entirely the Intended free- dom of the truck, which becomes at once rigid, immovable and powerless to follow the direction of the track, against either rail of which it is jammed with incalculable force. When the speed of the train is great, and the curve or inequality in. the surface of the track very considerable, philosophy will admit of but ene solution to the difficulties thus produced; and the truck, or» wheel, or an axle, ora rafl, must break when the crisis comes. Practically considered, therefore, the trucks might as well be permanently and solidly af- fixed to the car as bolted, after the present fashion, since the relief sought to be gained by the use of a centro bolt is not obtained at the precise moments when most needed. Any, one whose knowledge of railway running gear enables him to comprehend this radical defect which we have endeavored to point out in the system, will promptly appreciate the con- stant and alarming danger present to a train in rapid motion, and will cease to inquire why an accident should occur, but rather wonder that train can pass over any line at the rate of twenty-five or thirty miles an hour without ex- periencing some mishap. ‘Tae Leauwtative Invesricato Comarrzs — Investigating committees in the matter of official abnees do not often amount to mach. They generally come to nothing. We suspect, how- ever, that the committee of the Legislature Investigating our Corporation affairs is opening the way, if not fora genuine reformation, for, at least, » new and wider distribution of the spolls, The rings of the planet Satum are the admiration of the astronomer; but onr corpo- ation rings, with the development of all their beauties, will be far more attractive to our Albany reformers, They will appreciate the advantages of taking at least five of the sine- cures of this or that ringmaster, for the benefit of Bob, Sam, Tom, Dick and Harry, of some few ring; but whether the taxpayers will J theretiy he Uahtened of thelr burdens fa the vented af i H £8 LP The news from rebel sources of the move- ments of various parts of our armies continues favorable. The Richmond Examiner of the 2Igt, in an article reprinted by us to-day, gives a résumé of the Southern view of the military situation and draws from it some very cold comfort. Grant, Sherman, the forces that are advancing from Wilmington, Knoxville and up the Neuse river, are, it finds, merely parts of a “Yankee combination;” and such combina- tions it believes, though beautiful on paper, always fail in some essential point when the attempt is made to carry them out. It remembers that a grand combination failed last year when attempted by Grant, Sigel and But- ler, and it expects to sce this last grand combi- nation fail in the same way for the same reason. ‘That is all the hope, then, that the Hxaminer has for Richmond and Lee’s army. The salva- tion of the rebellion rests upon the possibility that Sheridan may prove to be another Sigel, Thomas another Hunter, and Sherman another Butler. This, it must be admitted, is a very small chance, and this microscopic chance is the only one that the ingenious Evaminer can gee for the success of its cause in this great campaign. Tuoss “Forts anp Praces.”—In April, 1861, after Beauregard’s war-declaring bombardment of Fort Sumter, President Lincoln, in his first call for troops to enforce the supreme authority of the Union, said that among their first duties would be the task of recovering the forts of the United States seized by the insurgents. This task, with the recovery of the forts of Charlesten harbor, is at length fully accom- plished. From Beaufort, in North Carolina, to New Orleans there has been a clean sweep, in- volving the recapture of over a thousand pieces ofartillery. Fort Sumter véry properly finishes this branch of the business, and the work re- maining to be done is comparatively light and easy. : “Porting m™ THE NicaEns.”—The rebels have actually commenced putting the negroes into their army at Richmond; butit appears that due precautions are taken to guard against their putting out, With the first exposure of s gang of Jeff.’s negro soldiers to a detachment of their Union brethren the inexpediency of any fur- ther colored reinforcements on his side will be fully established. We dare say, however, that in view of the abandonment of Richmond, the rebel government is impressing into its service 8 lot of able-bodied blacks, not to fight, but to build the fortifications that will be needed for the protection of said government at Lynchburg. Trauam Opgra—Martua x Brooxiyx—Vanpi's New Orgra To-manT.—Martha was given in Brooklyn last night to a very crowded house, with the usual cast, {ncluding Miss Kellogg, Mlle, Morensi, Lott! and Wein- lich. Tho artists all sang well, the encures were fre- quent, and the audience very enthustastic for Brooklyn. This evening at the Now York Academy Mr. Maretzek will present, for the first time, Verdi's latest grand opera, La Forza det Destino, This opera has received the most careful rehearsals; the scenery and costumes have been prepared especially for it, and it will undoubt- edly prove a success. All the points which arc required to mako a good scenic end dramatic work are embodied in this—striking situations, grand costumes, ballet and tableaus. The cast comprises nearly all the strength of the company, and includes Zucchi, Massimiliani, Mo- rensi, Belliai, Susini and Lorini in the leading parts, ‘The chorus effocts are very flue, espec'ally in the socond and third acta, Of course there will be an immensely crowded house to-night, The St. Albans Raid. ADVENTURES OF CAMERON, THE REBEL MRSSEN- GER—HIS SOJOURN AT CINCINNATI, ETO, From the Cincinnati Feb. 20.) About the last week in January a stranver, in very ragged apparel, and almost barefooted, called at tho Fpencer House, in this city, and inquired of the clerk if such’ a lady (giving the namo) boarded there, Being answered in the uffirmative, he begged an interview with the lady, as he said he had news from her son, who was in the rebel army. The lady granted the stranger an interview, and, soon after, engaged a room for him for that night. She introduced him to a gentleman boarding there, whom she supposed to bea rebol in mind, if not in action, and ed him to provide the stranger with clothing and furnish him funds, saying she would see that bills were paid. Tho etranger entered his name on the register of the hotel as. J. D. Noremac, Chillicothe. He told the gentleman that he was a deserter from the rebel army, ‘and had mado his way through the Union lines into Eastern Kentucky, and came down the Big Sandy tothe Ohio river. He gave as an excuse for ing here that he was out of money, but that he had telegraphed to his father in Canada to forward him suffichnt funds to enable him to reach home. A day or’ two afterward he received a telegram informing him that the was sont, and could be had by application at one of the express offices. He called at the office and received thirty dollars in gokl. Noremac told his pseudo friend that his real mame ‘was Cameron, and that he was on his way to Oanada Prior to his departure from thia city he visited some leading rebels across the river, and upon his return to bo - Se en ace Goran tentpaity — oo | showing his cash, which was princ! in gold pleces the denomination of twonty ‘Gane Daring } his stay at the hotel one of the Lop conspirators, who are at present being tried in the city by a military court of in- quiry, was confined in the same house. Noremac was observed in close conversation with the Mow geben on one ee re excited the suspicion of a repent- ant rebel, who informed upon him and had him arrest- ed. He was brought before a Me pele in this city, im to his imprisonment, conseqflently he was discharged justody, On ft the 8) jouse, giving rt He the atlachés of that establishment after leaving, one of the occasion to examine the register, = i i i zs fe Riveg 7532 z3 H } i ones. the wi tured East, and is at present in prison. , Mua, Hema ps Katow.—This event Baloon, Mr. Max @trakosch’s excellent artiste, Helene de Katow and Mr. Jas, M. Wehil, will make their Conoun? at seus Hatt. —The second musical and Shaksperian by the choir of the Ohuréh of the Holy Innocents and several amateurs ts for Mondhy eveding next a Hobeg, Pail West Tirty- earaalh street, General Granger's Expedition Against Mobile. The Correspondence Between the Rebel Colonel Pierson afd the Mexican Genoral Lopes. THE DEFENCES OF GALVESTON, ae, ae, ae. New Oncaams, Fob. 15, 1008, It is rumored and believed that General Hurlbes ® Preparing to establish the headquarters of the Department of the Gulf at Mobile, General Granger's expedition against that place is fully prepared, and vo doubt existe that the elty will be in our hands in leas than two weeks. General Baldy Smith has established his commiaten here to investigate the abuses ef this department. Captain Mohler, Quartermaster, and Provost Masdhal General Robinson have already been arrested. Commodore Palmer, commanding the West @uif Dlockading squadron, with a fleet of about thirty vem sels, mostly iron-clad, will leave for the waters of Mobile tm afew days, The ship Vanguard, which has beem on the bar fee eight days, got off on the 13th instant and went te sen ‘Tho ship Ben. Adams, which has been lying eutside the bar for three weoks, waiting for water, got over yee terday and is now coming up the river, The steamship Berinuda arrived to-day, from Brases Santiago on the 11th inst, ‘The draft under Genoral Canby’s order commenced to» day. Tho Houston (Texns) Telegraph of tho 8th inst pul lishes the correspondence betwen the revi Colousl Pies son, commanding at San Antonio, and General Lopes, commanding the Emperor Maximilian’s troops om the bordors of the Rio Grande, Colonel Pierson assures General Lopes that it is the desire of the rebel government to chorish the mest ‘amicable relations with the imperial government @ Mexico, and that the cordiality oxisting between thems shall not be disturbed. He thon thanks General Lopes for protecting the interests of the Southern com federacy. General Lopes replies, confessing that his sympathies are for the noble cause of the South, and extends to Cole nel Pierson his sincere friendship. He adds:—‘‘Being placed in command of this military line, under his Majesty the Emporor Maximilian, the sons of the confederacy can rely upon full security for they possessions and interests, and the confederacy may ae rest agsurod that the representatives of the empire ef Mexico along the border freely and frankly offer theie friondship; also full seourity that no raid will be par mitted to organize on Mexican goil for the invasion of Southern territory.” The dofences of Galveston are being improved and em larged. Cotton in the New Orleans market is buoyant am@ prices stiffer. Sales of good ordinary at 680., low mi ling at 74c., and sea island at $105. Sugar and molasses firm, at full prices. Large supplies of Western produss have arrived and more are im transit, suspending trans wtions. Extra flour has declined $1 50 per barrel, News from Me mphis and New Orican® Genoral Herron has arrived at Baton Rouge and ap sumed command of the Northern Division of Louisiana, Including the district of Baton Rouge, Port Hudsca and Morganzia. His command extends on both sides of the Miasissipgt river, from Red river to Plaquemine. ‘The guerillas are becoming troublesome agaia on the Arkansas river, firing into passing boats and committing other outrages. It is reported that they have burned the steamer Dame and captured the Fifty-sixth Indians regiment, ‘The Now Orleans Tims says the French at Matamores compliment the rebel flag and pass the American colems in contempt. The District of West Tennessee. Maurats, Feb. 20, 1868., The Bulletin has a despatch from Nashville stating that the district ef West Tonnossee is to be taken from the Department of the Mississippi and added to the De partment of the Cumberland. General Dana, commanding the Department of Mis- sisppi, will probably remove his headquarters to Vieks> burg. It is reported that General Washburne, now here, has been appointed to command this district, Carro, Feb. 23, 1868, General Roborts, commanding the District of West Tennessee, has ordered that no person coming into @ passing out of our lines will be allowed to return during the war, oxcept those trading in cotton. Theatrical. %~ THEATRE—BENBSFIT OF MISS BEM RIQUES. ‘The performance at this theatre to-night will be for the benoit of Miss Madeline Henriques. The play will be the Hunchback, and Miss Henriques will perform the part of Julia. Tho taste of this selection may, in ome way, be questionable; but the courage and ambition thas it indicates all must admire, amd, for the sake of thosm, we heartily wish the lady every success. The very ev dent progress and development in her profession shows this season give oarnest that Miss Henriques will at leag® each up to the “star” level in this part. The only question ta, whether she will play it ina way worthy ef & good stock actress. PARK THEATRE, BROOKLYN. ‘The Dead Heart was given at this house, for the Inat time, Iast night, a’ter a successful run. Mr. Colin Stanst played Robert Landry in place of Mr, Conway, who was Indisposed, and played the part with much satisfaction, ‘This evening the drama of Waiting for the Verdict will be produced, and no doubt, as usual, to a crowded housa, Mase Danaow’s Reapixcs.—Miss Augusta L. Dargen ‘will give an entertainment at the Brooklyn Athenwam on Monday evening, 2Tth instant The entertainmemd will include readings by Miss Dergon and music by MR Lorets, pianist, and other artists. Dopworm Huars.—A concert, under the direction @ Mr, Geo. Morgan, will be given, for the benofit of St. Ste phon’s Kpiscopal church, at Dotworth Hall, Broadway, om Saturday evening, 26th Inst, The programme te verted ‘and Comprises come vocal and instrumental gewe WALLACE’S Baneita Scuoor, Concnvt.—Tho Sebbath schools of the city, of all denominations, combined in two grant com. corte te celebrate Woshington’s bivitday at the Cop, Institute, on Wedaosiay and Thursday evenings. Nes fifteen hundred chitdren participated in various forempee entertainment—music, dialogues, declamationa, ue under the direction of Profesor L. A. Benjexia, Speech of George Thompsoe in Montreal. Mowrrain, Fob, 98, 168, , yor all the stars would appear again upee that It would be again the bescom indled to the skies, America amd