The New York Herald Newspaper, March 21, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. J. S GORDON BENNETT, ITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE MN. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Volume XXx. -No. 81 pa New York, Tucsday, March 21, 1865. =e = —— THE SITUATION. It was reported in Washington yesterday that Jef, Davis had abdicated his position of President of the rebel confederacy, aud Landed over the reins of his sink- tng government to General Lee, with the under- tanding that the latter, as supreme dictator, would make one last desperate effort with such resources as are left within his control A coloring of probability is given to this report by the fearful straits to which the rebel government is known to be reduced through the sweeping work of Sheridan art of the rebel capital, the tightening of Grant's grasp around it, and the terror created by the steady ad- vance of Sherman's resistless columns, All kinds of provisions are now bringing fabulous prices in Richmond, and every male in the city capable of carrying a musket has been pressed into the army. A Cabine! sing was held in Washington yesterday, at which it derstood that the present position of affairs at Richmond formed the subject of consideration, Another letter from General Lee is published in the Richmond papers, urging the carrying out of measures for arming the slaves. The correspondence between Generals Ord and Longstrect and Generals Leo and Grant, rolative to military convention to "negotiate terms of peace, is also given in the Richmond The correspondence shows nothing additional to what has been stated, be- yond the fact that the rebels were mistaken in supposing that General Ord proposed any convention to deal with any subject not purely military. . Gonoral Sherman commenced his march on Goldsboro An officer of his army who arrived in Wilmington on the 16th inst, said that would be in Goldsboro on the 20th (yesterday). Johnston’s, Bragg’s and Hardee's armies, with large reinforcements from Richmond, were supposed to be all united at Goldsboro, and refugees reported that General Lee himself was at Raleigh, superintend- Ing matters generally in North Carolina, At Kinston, Journals. from Fayetteville on last Tuesday. Sherman which the national forces now occupy, heavy fring was beard in the direction of Goldsboro, twenty miles distant, on last Wednesday. It will be remom- bered that in Sunday's Herap we guve sn extract from the Danville (Va) Regiser which stated that Goldsboro wag in possession of the Union forces on last Wednesday. This was apparently am error, or, if not, it must have been Schofield’s men who occupied the place, as Sherman’s army had not then had time to reach it The Richmond Whig of last Satur- day said the rebels still held Goldsboro om the previous day, General Sherman’s and Geuoral Schofield’s forces were ‘ill operating separately up to last Wednesday, though eommunication between them was established. At that time Schofield’s men had had no fighting with the rebels since the 10th inst. In the three days engagements before Kinston, ending with that date, it is now estimated that the Union losses were about two thousand, and those of the rebels ebout three thousand. Large numbers of the North Caro- lina rebel troops deserted and left for home on the fall of Kinston. General Terry, who has been for some time tn command at Wilmington, is to resume active work in the field. Large numbers of the white and colored refu- gees who followed Shermun’s army to Fayetteville have arrived at Wilmington. The negrocs will be sent to South Carolina, and consigned to the care of Gencral Saxton. ‘A large and very enthusiastic meeting, called by the Mayor, composed exclusively of residents of the place, and participated in by the most prominent and influen- tial citizens, was held in Wilmington on the night of the 1éth inst., at which several Union speeches were mado and a series of strong Union resolutions adopted. Genera) Sheridan's advance reached White House, on the Pamunkey river, on last Saturday night, and his whole command was at that point on Sunday, where sup- plica were awaiting him. During his magnificent raid be was within fifteen miles of Lynchburg and twelve miles of Richmond, and he destroyed every bridge the James river between those two places, and every one on the railroad etween Staunton und Charlotiesville, and completely broke up the James River Canal. Though the roads over which he marched were of the very worst kind, his movements were #0 rapid that they thoroughly mys- tifled the rebels and created apprehensions in every direction. His entire loss im the expedi- tion was fifty enlisted meg and two officers, He captured many horses and mules, and two thou- sand negroes came in with his command to White House, ‘The number of the latter would have been far larger but for the fact that he had not provisions to feed them when at Charlottesville, and was compelled to @tation guards to prevent them following. General Sheridan's com- mand will soon be in order for further work. over Deserters who came into the Army of the Potomac on last Saturday reported that a force of Union cuvalry had captured Burksville, the point where the Richmond and Danville and the Southside railroads intersect. If this were true it would be a most important affair, as the possession of that point by national troops would close the last line of supplies for Lee's urmy. But there is probably no foundation in fact for the rumor. There was consider. ‘able cannonading in front of the Ninth corps on last Saturday, but with no important result, Ne new move- ments in front of the rebel capital aré reported. A Cairo despatch mys it was reported in New Orleans ‘on the 13th inst, that on the 11th the Monitors in Mobile Day attacked and silenced two of the rebel shore bat tertea, driving the men from their guns, Admiral Lee informs the Navy Department that he re- cently sont two verrols, in command of Lieutenant N. BE. Forrest, to Muscle Shoals, on tho Tennessee river Hore Lieutenant Forrest found a camp of the vrebol General Roddy’s troops, This was broken ap, the men were dispersed, horses and equip- ments wero captored, a large number of pontoons, cows and flats were destroyed, and rebel com- munications in that region were compiolely ruptured. Lieutenant Forrert then passed into Elk river, whore he found a rich country and many,loyal people. He says he has no doubt that Alabama will soon return to- her alle. giance to the Union, as he understands that influential men in the State are now perfecting arrangements to ac- @omplieh that object. The rebel pirate Tallaliasses, under a new name, le re- ported to have been at Bermuda on the Lith inet. A new rebel pirate, whose .ame was understood to be the Confederate States, is reporied to have been lying off the barbor of Nassan, N. P., on tiie 14th inet. Robert 0. Kennedy, holding a captain's commission in the rebel service, and who was arte iad in Dotrvit, where he wer! «nt de- Morlives, ba “ ulse, some tire since, by gove vom souvicted, by 9 wey commision | sitting gt Fort Lafayotto, of acting ase spy within the national lines, and of being one of the incen- vdiaries who on the night of the 2th ef No vember last attempted to burn down this city. The sentence of the court is that he be hanged by the neck until dead, and General Dix has fixed upom Fort La fayette as the place, and Saturday next, between noon and two o'clock in the afternoon, ap the time, for carry- ing out the sentence, Kennedy is the person who at- tempted to fire Barnum’s Museum. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Assembly yester tay a bill was introduced to ‘amend the act enabling th» State banks to become na- tional banks whenever two-thirds of the stockholders shal! s0 determine. Bills were passed to incorporate the ‘Theatrical Mechanical Unien of New York, also to incor- porate the Father Mathew Total Abstinince Society of New York. A report was reocived on the bill to amend the Registry law. The Paid Fire Department Dill was made the special erder for Thursday evening. On motion the Committee om Cities was discharged from the further consideration of the bill relative to the Court of Special Sessions in the city of New York. ‘The bill was then referred to the Judiciary Committee. The bill to amend the Harlem Bridge act was taken up and de- bated, when progress was reported. The Bounty En- abling act was reported and ordered to a third reading. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘The steamship City of Washington, which sailed from Queenstown on the 2d instant, met with an accident, returned, and sailed thence again on the 8th instant, arrived at this port last night. She brought no papers of a later date than the Ist instant. A steamship, supposed to be the City of London, from Queenstown on the 9th instant, is below at the hour at which we go to press. We have news from Venerucla dated at Caracas on the 24th of February. The country is describod asin the most wretched state of anarchy. Most of the provinces were isolated from the capital, a!! mail communication being destroyed by the warring factions. Only two of the logations of the republic—ono in Puris and the other in Lima, Peru—were in exister¢, El Fe.eraliela, the organ of the Falcon governmout, says:—In Apure they are shedding blood, nobody knows why. In Trujillo, called the sovereign State of thy Andes, many believe that independence is disorder, murder, arson, &c, In Muracaibo they conceived the idea of an independent re- public, and new secretaries of war and trearury wore ap- pointed, and the Eastern States live witlout prosperity, and debility reins them. Further details continue to reach us of the immonse destruction of property by the recent freshets Fortunately there are no further reports of the loss of life. Startling ‘and interesting incidents, however, have been frequent, many of them verging on the Indicrous, The old adage of “what is one man’s loss is another's gain” is also widely exemplified, as many persons are congratulating themgelves on the accession of property lost by their neighbors farther ‘up stream.’” At last accounts the waters were retiring, and the great inundation is probably over, The Board of Aldermen met yesterday afternoon, Prosident Jones in the chair, The ordinance ap- propriating five hundred thousand dollars for the relief of the wives and families of volunteers, was taken from tffe table and adopted. A donation of five hundred dollars was made to the widow of Patrick Cor- nan, a fireman, who died from over exertion at the late conflagration in Centre street, The Board of Councilmen met yesterday and took up the ordinance making the annual appropriations for tho city government for the present year. Each item was taken up and considered separately. Yhero was only one or two slight amendments made to the levy as it came from the Board ef Aldermen, except the addivion of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the item of public instruction, the Board of Education having increased the salaries ef the teachers twenty-five percent since the ordinance was passed by the other Board. The item of fifteen thousand dollars for working Eighth avenue, from One Hundred and Fortioth to One Hundred and Fifty- ninth street, was stricken out. The tax levy, as amended, was then adopted. A resolution authorizing the Comp- trollor to pay the strest sweepers until provision was made for cleaning the streets was adopted. They con- curred with the aldermea in granting permission to Daniel Gallagher to remove the night soil of the city by his pay- ing four thousand dollars a year into the city treasury. The Board adjourned to meet at two o’clock this after- noon. Fire Marshal Baker yesterday presented his semi-an- nual report to the Common Council. Tho document con- tains a detailed statement of all the fires and fire alarms that have occurred during the six months ending with December 2, 1864. The statistical information contained in these reports have become not only very valuable to the city, but particularly so to Insurance companies. In this last report Mr. Baker agnim calls the attention of the Aldermen to the neceasity of ar ordinance restricting the storage of petroleum oils. During the six months end- ing on the 30th of November, 1864, there were ten ar- rests on charges of arson and attempts to commit the crime. The total number of fires was one hundred and cighty-three, being six less than occurred during the cor- responding six months of 1863, and twelve leas than in the previous half year. The aggregate of losses, though much heavier than during the corresponding six mon.ds of 1863, is still $550,963 less than that of the pre. ious half year. The alieged losses were $2,166,556; insurance, $4,211,342, and the amounts paid by the undorwsiters, $1,238,004. The Board of County Canvassers met yecterday and were engaged in canvassing the recent votes on the question of appointing commissioners of appoals for the Bate. ‘There was no drafting in the city yesterday, ond ina number of wards the citizens are making strenuous ex- ertions to postpone It altogether by filling their quotas with volunteers. In many of the wards organizations have been eifected and committers appointed to see that no necessary effort to accomplish this object is neg- lected. Meetings to advance recruiting were held last night at the corner of Seventh avenue and Twenty-se- cond street, in the nth ward, and at Essex Market, in the Tenth ward, several similar meetings will be held this evening in different parts of the city. Major Edgar A. Roberts makes a call on the members of the One Hundred and Second regiment National Guard, State of New York, to meet him at the Exex Police Court, with a view of enlisting for one year's service. Colonel Baker has his headquarters now at No, 12 Ve- wey street. The offcs is crowded throughout the day by bounty brokers and their friends, and bounty Jumpers ond theirs, including many ward politicians, There are no cases of special public interest, however, now coming up. In the Supreme Court, citeuit, yeeterday, before Judge Clorke, a collector named Alonto P. Bliven was sued for nine hundred and sixty dollars, which he had collected for Henry Allen and subsequently lost in @ city railroad car. It was shown that the defendant had kept the money in his possession three weeks longer than was the usual custom, and the jury, believing that he had acted imprudently, to say the least, rendered a verdict for the plaintiff for the full amount, ‘The Merchant will cave, about which there is eo much talk, will be tried to-day im the Supreme Court, etroutt, before Judge Mullen, and will no doubt attract consider- able attention. ~ In the Strong divorce case, where & motion was made to postpone the trial until the criminal charge against the plaintiff was disposed of, Judge MoCunn rendered a de- cision yeeterday, pormitting the cause to go off for the term. A motion for ® longer postponement, the Court announced, would have to be made at Special Torm. ., ‘The trial of Roger Lamb, charged with the murder of his wife, by cutting her throat with a knife, at No. 24 Oak street, on the 11th of February, was eommonced yenterday in the Court of General Seasions, A number of witnesses wore examined, and the case will be Onished to day. Counsel for Frank Ferris, who was convicted in the Court of General Sessions of murdor In the first degree, has eerved upom the Sheriff a certificate of a stay of proceedings granted by the Supreme Court. The prisoner will be ‘ned in the Tombs until the questions at lasue are decided by the Court of Appealn The cane of Rataky, convicted a considerable while ago in Brooklyn of the murder of Foldner, the diamond ped- Jer, was again under judicial consideration in that city yesterday. After hie conviction @ stay of proceed- Ings was pranted, end the case was carried te the Court of Appeals, which armed the proceedings of the court below, and yesterday Pateky was brought up in the Court of Oyer and Terminor and sontenced to death, and to be confined of hard labor in the State Prigon until the er‘veluf the tne for the execution of the santance, Both the manner and time of excoution, it appears, can be fixed only by the Governor. Yesterday was the sixty. of the Now York Fire Department, and im henor of the occasion the firemen had their flags hoisted throughout the city from sunrise until sunset, and at night nearly all the engine, truck and hose carriage houses were illuminated. The six Winnebago and five Omaha Indian chicts who had been im this city for some days, seeing the sights of the grekt metropolis, left last evening for their homes in the Far West. They attracted much attention when they made their appearance in public, being wrapped in im- mense scarlet blankets, wearing feathers in their heads, and having their cheeks fancifully painted. They have doen on a visit to Washington, to procure permission for the Winnebago tribe te remove from Dakota Terr.tory to the Omaha reservation, and succeeded in obtaining the President's assent to their request, ‘The new steamship Star of the Union arrived at this Pox yesterday from Philadelphia, at which place she was built, expressly for the trade between New York and New Orleans, for which port she will sail on Saturday next, 26th inst., im Messrs, H. B. Cromwell & Co.'s line. She is well adapted for this trade, as she has large and elogantly fitted up staterooms and excellent dcoommoda- tions for passengers, Her dimensions are;—Two hun- dred and fifteon feet long, thirty-four feet breadth of beam, twenty feet depth of hold, and eleven hundred tons burthen. She has a single direct acting engine, and on her passage to this city proved horself a fast ship. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s new steamship Colorade will be epen to the inspection of the public on to-merrow, and remain open during the week. She lays at the foot of Canal street, A blacksmith named Michael Murphy, while inthe saloon of a Mrs. Croker, in Third avenue, early yos- terday morning, became disorderly, and, when remon- strated with, drew a knife and inflicted serious wounds on the proprietress and a man named Patrick Walsh. Murphy was arrested and required to give one thousand dollars bail to answer to the charge of assault with intent to kill, Twenty thousand pounds of sea islands cotton, of a very fine quality, raised on Long Island, in the Bahamas, arrived here yesterday on board the schooner Volant. A fire at Saginaw, Michigan, om the 13th inst., destroyed property valued at from thisty thousand to fifty thousand dollara. Fourteen buildings were burned, including the Exchange Hotel. According to the City Inspector's report there were 453 dcaths in the city during the week ending March 20— & decrease of 25 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 45 less than occurred during the corresponding work last year, Of the deaths which oc- curred during tho past week, 251 resulted from acute diseases, 168 from chronic diseases, and 31 from external causes, &c, There were 297 natives of tho United States, 108 of Ircland, 10 of Englaud, 27 of Germany, § of Scot- land, and the balance of various foreign countries, Smallpox is decreasing. There were only 19 deaths froma this disease during the past week, boing 6 less than in the week preceding. Gold opened at 167 a 167% yesterday morning, but in the afternoon became panicky, and closed down town at 16034. Stocks were woak und lower. Governments de- clined heavily, At the evening board gold closed at 158%. Commercial affairs were mixed yesterdey eee sion was the nzost prominent feature. In some articles there was a steady downward tendency; but in othors there were symptoms or & reaction. Cotton was lower than ever. Petroleum was about the samo. On 'Change the flour market was dull and heavy, but prices wore without material change. Wheat was steady, while corn was firmer, Oats were dull and nominally lower. The Pork market was less active apd decidedly Jower, while the beef market continued dull and depressed. Lard was @ shade firmer, with a limited inquiry. Freights were dull and rates were nominal, Whiskey was in moderate Tequest at previous rates. Jeff. Davis and His New Peacemaker, General Lec, On the Right Road at Last. In his late extraordinary message to his “Confederate Congress,” Jeff. Davis has made known the fact that in the course of the recent peace conference at Fortress Monroe a suggestion was made by one of his commis- sioners “that the objection entertained by Mr. Lincoln to treating with the government of the confederacy, or with any separate State, might be avoided by substituting for the usual mode of negotiating through commissioners or other diplomatic agents, the method sometimes em- ployed of a military convention, to be entered into by the commanding generals of the armies of the two belligerents.” This proposition was declined by Mr. Lincoln, though he promised to think it over. “Subsequently, however,” says the rebel President, “an interview with General Long- street was asked for by General Ord, command- ing the enemy's army of the James, during which General Longstreet was informed that there was a possibility of arriving at a satisfac- tory adjustment of the present unheppy diffi- culties by means of a military convention, and that if General Lee desired an interview on the subject, it would not be declined, provided General Lee had authority to act. This com- munication was supposed to be in consequence of the suggestion above referred to, and Gen- eral Lee, according to instructions, wrote to General Grant on the second of this month, pro- posing to meet him for conference on the sub- ject, and stating that he was ve..ed with the requisite authority. General Grant, in his reply, stated that he had no authority” on the subject, and that he could only treat upon matters of a purely military character. But the conclusion to which Davis arrives from these proceedings, is a very erroneous one, ora mere blind. He says it is thus apparcat “that neither through the Confederate author- ities, nor through the commanding generals, will the government of the United States treat or make any terms or agreement whatever for the cessation of hostilities,’ and that consequen‘ly * there is no alternative but to fight it out. Now, in the first place the government of the United States is ready at any moment to treat with the rebel authorities for the “cessation of hostilities,” upon the simple terms of their submission to the Union; but, secondly, ia proposing General Lee ns his peacemaker through his commission- ers at Fortress Monroe, we guess that the rebel President foreshadowed the very policy which he intends to pursue, We dare say that in these developments of his late message his obyect was to prepare bis two houses of Con- gress and all concerned for the turning over to General Lee that heavy task of surrendering their confederacy, which Davis has declared neither his Confederate government nor the individual States interested have any power to do. ‘ Accordingly, the “cessation of hostilities,” we are inclinod to believe will thus be brought about. The rebel Congress bas made Lee the General-in-Chief of all the armies of “the con- federacy.” Davis has signed the bill, and it is the law te which all his armies are subject. “Moreover, when, on the 2d of this month, Gene- ral Grant was notified that General Lee was invested with tho authority to treat for peace, the State capital of South Carolina had been captured, Charleston and Wilmington had fallen into our possesaton, and while.the powerful army of Sherman and the victorious forces of Schofield were moving resistlessly towards a junction with Grant, the terrible cavalry columns of Sheridan were thun- dering down upon the rear of Richmond, de- stroying millions of Leo's supplics, and his most important lines of subsistence. Under such circumstances there was something of more EW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 1865 than ordinary significance in this putting for- ward of General Lee by Davis as his peace- maker. It was the first practical step on the part of Davis towards the “cessation of hostili- ties,” and General Lee, in the next, will settle the question in behalf of peace. The rebel Congress has adjourned and cleared out, and, if not already gone, before they are frretrievably hemmed in, the rebel President, Cabinet, scrip and archives will be moved to Danville or Lynchburg. Lee, in any event, will be left to confront and settle with the enveloping armies of Grant What then? Finding himself powerless against the over whelming forces of his adversary, Lee will be compelled to treat for a capitulation. In this emergency General Grant has but to demand that all the armies under the command of General Lee, from Virginia to Texas, shall lay down thelr arms, in order to secure a decisive and permanent cessation ‘of hostilities. This will end the war; and then, we trust, General Sherman’s simple, constitutional, magnani- mous, bumane and popular programme of reconstruction will come into play. South Carolina—A Point of Agreement Between the Northerm and Southern Soldiers. South Carolina is honestly hated by the whole North as the prime mover of secession, the head and front of the attempt to destroy our government—the proudest spirit in the South- ern oligarchy, that in its contemptible pride had the impudence to look upon longer asso- ciation with the better people of the North as beneath her, and that, in the blind, mad pur- pose to get rid of that association, cared not what ruin might ensue. Hence the Northern people can see her cities burn with much less concern than they would feel if those terrible blows fei! upon any other people. We have patience with Sherman’s men when we reflect where they are; for we know that that thought also influences their action. When soldiers burn cities it is ordinarily a bad sign for the discipline of the army of which they form a part; but in the present case we know that the burning of cities and farms is not an cvi- dence that the discipline is looser, but simply that the men, in the real spirit of the people feel the unconquerable national hate for that pestilent people who have caused all this treuble. Why sbould they withhold their hands? South Carolina never withheld hers so long as it was perfectly safe to strike. Will they turn this rich farmer out of his house and home, burn all that he has and make him a starveling owtcast? Certainly. Here are ten thousand men froxt linois and Indiana, as many from New York and Maine, saa tarned every one of these out of house and home. For his fault, for the gratification of his mad aad ignorant political passion, they have been compolled to abandon all the comforts of home, as hoe must now. They have left aged parents to the chances of life, and young wives and daughters exposed to its temptations. They have’ been hungry for days, and in all ways miserable for months. They can never hope to inflict upon him a tithe of the wretchedness he has caused them; but what litile they can do they will, and so they burn. Through Georgia the army was manageable, and respected the property and the people. Sosoon as it touched the North Carolina line it was again a disci- plined force ; but in all the space between, across the whole ef South Carolina, it was a scourge, inflicting the wild and passionate von- geance of the people who sent. it. But the hatred of our soldiers for South Carolina and her people is not the only feature of this march through ‘that State. Apparently the hatred of the rebel soldiers is quite as bitter. In the batch of letters from rebel soldiers, pub- lished by us on Sunday last, the hatred for the people of South Carolina had frequent expros- sion. Upon South Carolinians as the origina- tors of the war, and as the men of all the South disposed to do the least to carry it on, they look very bitterly, and heap the heaviest curses. “The Yankees,” says one of these writers, “took everything they could find, and what they did not take we did ;” and he says this with the gusto of one who enjoyed the taking of a South Carolina dinner more than the eating of it. “The people here,” said a Southern editor writing from Columbia, “ would rather see the Yankees, or Satan himself, than Wheeler’s cavalry.” But the bitterness against South Carolina has been nowhere seen more clearly than mn the words of a North Carolina farmer, given by one of our correspondents. This man’s house was near the line, and he looked into the other State and saw the columns of smoke rising to the heavens from the homes of his neighbors, while the soldiers were busy on his own farm, doubtless, with poultry and pigs, and he &nticipated that they would soon be at worse, Turning to an officer, with an exultant look, he said, “ There, I told them it would come—their homes in ashes, and their lands laid waste. There is old Whindship’s house on fire! He is one of the damnedest old scoundrels unhung ! There’s Jones’ cloud looming up grandly. He’s another damned rebel; and over there to the left is Harris’ house disappearing in air and ashes. I told ’em it would be so, and they laughed at me. I have triumphed, and now I don’t care a damn how soon mine goes to keep them company!” All have the same uncom- promising hate for South Carolina as the cause of all the mischiof, and even that one hate is a bond of sympathy already between North and South. Tar Tavs Rewepr ror Rarroap Stavon- ters—We have repeatedly urged the neces- sity of the State Legislatures passing some laws to prevent the horrible railroad slaughters which have become of such frequent occurrence that a man would as soon be drafted, and sent to the front, as venture into a railroad car. A journey by railroad these days is worse than a battle as far as the chances of iife are concerned. The Ohio Legislature has the matter before them now, and we perceive that the Legislature oi Pennsylvania has just passed an act embrac- ing precisely the points which we suggested in these columns a week ago. This act declares “that if any employe of a railroad company shall violate any rule of such company, and injury or loss of life shall thereby rosult, the offender shall be immediately arrested by the prosecuting attorney of the clty or county where the accident happened, and if found guilty, shall be convicted of misdemeanor and punished, at the discretion of the court, with imprisonment in tho State penitentiary for five years and a fino of five thousand dollars. In ad- dition to this criminal prosecution, the offender and the railroad company shall bo alike liable for civil damages.” This is just the kind of legisle!\ on we want Railroad employes should be beld responsible in our criminal courts for this kind of murder, or manslaughter as the grand jury may so find, in the same way as any other criminal charge with a like offence. The provision making the company liable for daihages in a civil suit also, will sorve to make both employers and employes more careful how they squander human life through the greed of gold. It is time now that our Legislature took some steps in this matter, and they cannot do better than pass an act aimilar to that passed at Harrisburg. Tas Drart mw Tus Crrr.—Every ward is now actively engaged in recruiting. We urge all organizations and associations to push on the good work. Let the ward organizations call upon the drafted men for contributions in those wards where the draft has been enforced, 80 as to offer additional hand money to volun- teers, Brokers are very foolish to keep back their men. The bounties are now as high as they will be, and the war may be over before many weeks, Those who intend to volunteer should not delay to secure the bounties, It is for the interest of New York city in every pos- sible way that she should send no conscripts to the war. Let us have united, vigorous, im- modiate action, and fill up our quota at once, Juvr. Davis anp His Crarrivess.—The last manifesto of the disunion chief at Richmond, embodies a statement strictly in keeping with the whole system of false pretences by which Davis-and his partisans have inaugurated and supported their power over the Southern people. The statement to which we refer, is the one touching the proposition to refer preliminary negotiations for peace to Generals Grant and Lee, in order to avoid the numerous diplomatic and political complications incident to other modes of negotiation. Mr, Davis prides himself on this proposition. He secks to destroy the influence of the conservative Americans of the South by parading his proposition. At the same time, the organs of his dynasty here and in Europe take up the policy indicated in order to make capital against the Amcrican govern- ment and cover the cause of the United States with the moral responsibility of an unnecessary continuance of a bloody civil war, simply to gratify partisan or party animosity. Thz truth is, the proposition to refer ‘he preliminary steps in negotiation t¢ Generals Grant and Lee (as representatives simply of belligerent rights) was first made in the New York Heratp. It was made in the interest of the opposition to Davis at the South, and was contained in a communication to Governor Brown, of Georgia, by Mr, Baylor, late Commissioner of that State. Tor Weextx Herap.—We have the plea- sure of adding to the attractions of the WEEKLY Hurarp by giving its readers the firat five chapters of an original novelette, a ‘tale of society, from the pen of an unprofessional writer of this city,a young Indy highly edu- cated and refined, and as modest as she is accomplished. The story of Bertha charmingly written, without being of the sensational kind, excites the deepest interest throughout, and the skilfal outlines, the delicate shading and fino relief of the various characters indicate a practised hand rather than that of a novice. The author, at a single bound, has placed her- self in the front rank of our lady writers, and we are glad to be first to herald her merit to the world. Taz Weatner.—This fino woather is very bad for the rebellion. Within a few days we may expect stirring news from Grant, Will it be a battle or the surrender of Loe’s army? Literary Notices. One of the most graceful tributes ever offered to the memory of an author is the new edition of Thackoray's works commenced by the Harpers. We havo tho first issue, “Vanity Fair,” now before us. In the tendorness which presided over its preparation, im the profusion and beauty of its illustrations, in its elecant type and delicate cream-laid paper, we have evidences en the part of tho publishers of a love and reverence for the writer which will find an echo in the hearts of hts millions of admirers. It is plait at the production of the work has beva a labor of love, and not of speculation, with them. They have lavished upon it ail this wealth of decoration to prove that no where is the genius of the great satirist and philanthropist more gratefully appreciated than in this country. At the low price at which the work is publishod the Messrs. Harper donot expect to do more than clear themselves; but they will have tho satisfaction of reficcting that they will have placed Thackeray's writings within the reach of almost every onc, and that they have gone further than any of his own countrymon in helping to build up an imporishable monumont to his memory. As a speci- men of American publishing enterprise they will, how- ever, profit by the credit which it reflects upon them. ‘We have seen nothing from the othor side which can at all compare with this work. Woare much mistaken if ft does not command as large a sale in Groat Britain as it will hore, and eventually supersode all previous editions of the work: this incomparable writer. Lippincots & Co., of Philadelphia, have published another tale, by Onida, the author of “Granville de Vigne,” the work which commanded so much attention On its first appearance. It is entitled “Strathmore; or, Wrought by His own Hand.’ It is one of the most pow- erfully written stories that we have read for some time— an imagination rich in invention and a nervous, epigramn- matic style combining to give it a character of originality that is not often to be met with in works of this kind. Without being technically sensational, the incidents are ofs most exciting and at times thrilling character. They are naturally wrought out, however, and leave no Impression of effort. The writer has some faulte—that of the too frequent employment of French phrases, for example; but she is unquestionably one of the moat vig- orous and original of the prosent goneration of novel writera, “Strathmore” will add immensely to her popa- larity. ‘We he occasion to call attention the other day to the Mosars. Peterson's reissue of their Library of American Humorous Works, In addition to those specified we have received “Major Jones’ Chronicle of Pinaville,”” “The Yankee Among the Mermaids,” ‘Frank Forres- ter's Shooting Dox," “Aunt Patty’s Scrap Bag," “Peter Ploddy” and “Pickings from the Picayune,” These vol- ‘umes are 80 Convenient im form and so low im price that they will make the most agreeable companions that s traveller can take with him, Brady, of Ann street, has republished ta cheap form Mra. Gore's admirable story of “Castles in the Air.” In none of hor tales has this clover writer displayed more of that keen perception of charactor and close power of de- lineation which so ominéntly characterize her. Mr. Brady has done our novei reading public a service in presenting them with this reiasue. ‘The collection of poems published by Miss Bridges, under the tits of ‘The Marble Isle; or, Legends of the Round Table,” is very creditable as a first effort, They exhibit imagination and decided power im some of the pieces, though more, perhaps, in the way of promise than of, psrformance, With the enlargement of her ideas by study and greater attention to rythmical harmony, the author will do much better one of these days Lippin- cott & Co. are the publishers. Ticknor & Fields “Young Folks Magazine” is one of the most entertaining and instructive periodicals of its kind published on eithor side of tho Atlantic. We know no work that we would sooner put into the hands of a child, because 1t conveys information in a form which is sure to leave @ lasting improesion. ‘The Harpers have issued part three of “Scionce for tho School and Family.” It ccnsists of Hooker's valtable @lementory work i mineralogy and ger 'oxy, 4 illustrated by upwan's «two bundred ong. a ving. 4 WASHINGTON. Important News from the Rebel Capital. STARVATION IN RICHMOND. Reported Abdication of Jeff Davis in Favor of Leo. Davis Proposes that Grant and Lee Arrange the Terms of Peace. MEETING OF THE WASHINGTON CABINET, de, &o., de. ‘Wasumaton, March 20, 1808. ¢ THE REBELS READY TO SURRENDER—JEFF. DAVIQ PROPOSES THAT GRANT AND LES ARRANGE THB TERMS. Tho evidence is fast accumulating that the rebellion is near its end. Its last gasp cannot be fardistant, The admisristration has received direct intelligence from Richa mond, within the iast forty-eight hours, to the effeed that Jeff, Davis, as well as General Loo, gives up the ship, Jeff. Davis has also proposed to withdraw from the com- test himself and leave the arbitrament of tha whole affaig to General Lee and General Grant. Let those two gene: rals settle the terms of adjustment, ‘This fact has come so well authenticated to the admime istration that the President and Secretary Soward hav@ had a lengthy consultation over it, But it seems thad they do not agree, Secretary Seward urgos that they had better accept that mode of settlement, but the Prosh dent opposes it. The latter declares that if there are ne more negotiations the rebels will soon accept his terme offered at Hampton Roads, and we will then get rid of the leaders, But if we leave it to Grant and Lee to am range terms the latter will try to retain his place im thé United States Army and secure offices for all his asso ciates, even Jeff. Davis, Says the President, “It is ald that you are a candidate for the Presidency, Governors who knows byt that the copperheads may not yet ram Jeff. Dav, against you for this office if wo settio thi af>/.r without getting rid of the leaders??? An arrival from Richmond to-day rvpresents things tw the rebel capital ag almost in a state ofc ne cre person able to render Military service of any kind had been seized and put in the ranks, The operations of Sheridan had created the wildost panic, and evorybody i looking out for himself. ‘The person bringing this information had no difficuity in getting to our lines. He sayn that the prices of everys thing had more than doubled since Shoridan’s wholesalg destruction of the canal and railronds, Flour is selling af fifteen hundred dollars per barrel, neat at ten dollars ped pound, whiskey at four hundred dollars per gallon, ang other things n proportioin, Board at the hotels i¢ ond hundred dollars per day, and the commonest board ped day for laborers is ten dollars pep. day. ‘Thore was a special Cabinet mecting here this after noon, ft is understood, in reference to the news from Richmond and thé impending breaking up. of the milk tary forces of the rebellion. £F It is also reported here to-night, on what is claimed t@ bbs good authority, that Jott. Davis has abdicated {a tavad of Leo, who will assume the dictatorship, as & last desper rate hope of postponing for abricf time the complet@ breaking up and destruction of the confoderacy. The hasty adjournment of the robel Congress ind cates a desire on the part of its members to escape tho doomed city before cepitulation. The horrors starvation, now at its door, through the exploits Sheridan, have wholesome terrors for them. Previous tho late raid it had been supposed there was an outlet civil officers and members of the bogus Congress, not for Leo's entire army, by way of Lynchburg or Gordonsville; but Sheridan has cut off these and left them only the Danville route, which is thr by Sherman, and is not deemed safe, Bets are offered by high officials that Lee will atterppt the © tion of Richmond in ten days; but the important qi tion is, provided fhe can succeed, where can he go still obtain supplies for his army? Itcan hardly believed that Sheridan's cavalry will remain idle, General is already famous for lis activity. He bas com sulted with Grant, and doubtless received bis ord for a new expedition. We shall soon hear from him Kilpatrick in a new sphere of action, and in their net efforts they will give the rebellion in Virginia its coup grace, Starvation is now at the doors of Richmond Escape involvos.a desperate fight and great loss of life. successful, will it procure food? Quien sabe. FINANCIAL MATTERS. ‘The report that the Secretary of the Treasury had dei cided to anticipate immediately the May interest on gold bonds is premature. It will not be done at present, of unless speculators should run up the premium on gold beyond a legitimate rate. While Secretary McCulloch is determined so to admis ister the finances of the government as to gaadt bring them to the specie basis, yet he will not do this abruptly as to produce a commercial panic, The deoil: in the gold premium, from causes outside of any policy of the Treasury Department, has alreany been morg rapid than is regarded as beneficial to the financial inte: reste of the country and of the government, and nothing will be done to accclerate this decline, which will doubh Joss go on, but, it is hoped, more steady than ithas a Inte. The unsettling of values consequent upon this de cline bas already unfavorably affected government recs rities and subscriptions to the seven-thirty loan, thougl it a this effect will only be temporary and Umit Mr. McCulloch's policy will be such as is dictated by @ due regard to the interests of the people and the gow ernment, and of a consorvative character, equally op pored to undue inflation or atoo specdy and disastroug contraction. PAYMENT OF GENERALS SHERMAN AND SHERIDAN’G TRoors. It has been decided to pay General Sherman’s army i@ full to the end of February, as soon as it arrives at a poind where it can rest long enough for payment tobe made ‘This will give six months’ pay to nearly the whole army. ‘The men wore last paid up tothe Sist of ‘August, an@ they will now be paid to the 28th of February. Secretary Stanton la: decided that this mark of approval—almos® the only one in his power—of their noble, brilliant an@ patriotic deeds during the last six months of their service, shall be promptly accorded. Let their families rejoloa, therefore, in the expectation of soon hearing from thetg loved ones, not only in tones of affection, but of absolute demonstration of regard. It in also intended to serve Sheridan's boys (they nevew call them men) in the same way, as soon as they form @ Junction with Sherman, This they will not fail to dose foon as ordered by “Little Phil’? Whatever he orders they will do, ALLETTER FROM GENERAL BRERMAN TO TIS WIPE. A letter passed through this city yesterday in the army mail from General Sherman to his wife, On the cornes was endorsed, ‘Fayetteville, N. 0. No postage stampa.’* Uncle Sam conclad 4 to forward the letter and trust te Shorman’s luck for payment of the postage. CONSOLIDATION OF THR FOURTH AND NINTH NEW TORE CAVALRY. ‘The Fourth New York eavalry, formerly commanded by Colonel De Cesnola, and the Ninth New York cavairy have been ordered by General Hancock to be consolt- dated into one regiment, Both of these organizations have boon im the service for more than three years, an@ therefore the present members are veterana, Licutenan® Colonel Nichola, of the Ninth New York, will command the new regiment, and Major Swarts, of the Fourth, will Probably be Heuienant colonel. ‘Theeo officers have both, by three years’ geliant services, amply oarnod thoir promotions, Had all the men in their regiments re enlisted they could have had much h gifer grades, but natural: I that three y: arn’ service, bayer gan which Oy saexuate wo tie support of aeons solves and families’ ought to sat! tho demands of patriotism ; ond If promotion Coes not succeed at voce, ‘with @ proper increase of pay, they have the right to re fign, with a reasonable expectation that their resignation Should be accepted. THR SOHRLDT HORS. The govornmont sende out by the steamer of Wednea day the fanda to pay the sence! isi climent Of fig Sebel duc}—fifty thousand ) are gold avez