The New York Herald Newspaper, March 22, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. a New York. Wednesday, March 22, 1865. SHERMAN’S GRAND CAMPAIGN. Our special correspondents’ graphite and highly inte- resting accounts of Genera! Sherman's triumphant march across the entire State of South Carolina anda portion of North Carolina, accompanied by a map ‘illustrating the route taken by each column, will be published in the ‘Wresiy Heratp for the present week. Agents will please send in their orders before nine o'clock on Thurs- day morning. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE COUNTRY, Advertisements for the Weex.y Herap must be handed in before ten o'clock every Wednesday evening. Its cir- culation among the enterprisiug mechanics, farmers, merchants, manufacturers and gentlemen throughout tho country is increasing very rapidly, Advertisements in- serted in the Werxty Henarp will thus be seen by a largo Portion of the active and energetic people of the United States. THE SITUATION. The retirement of the enemy from Goldsboro, N. C., without a fight, and the occupation of that town by Goneral Sherman's army, are reported from Newbern and Fortress Monroe. This announcement, though not made positively, is no doubt correct, as General Johnston’s rebels are said to be so demoralized ‘and ‘panic-stricken that all General Sherman has to do is to keep “marching on.” and Schofield’s forces have effected a junction, and are now furnished with supplies by steamers which run up ‘the Neuse river from Newbern. It is sald that on retre: ing from Goldsboro the rebels moved towards Virginia, and it was thought doubtful whether they would mako Generals Sherman’s Quy attempt at all to stay Genera! Sherman’s progress. The Richmond Sentinel of last Monday contained a state- ment that four divisions of Sherman’s army were ” yepulsed with heavy loss near Fayetteville on last Friday. This, however, is known to be untrue, General Sheridan’s command was at the White House, ou the Pamunkey river, on Sunday last, but was com- ameucing to again move towards James river, which it has probably reached before the present time, and where & junction with the Army of the Potomac would be effected. Nineteen flags captured from the rebels by General Sheridau’s men on their,recent raid were yester- day presented to the War Department, the presentation Doing attended with very interesting ceremonies. Particulars of the recent expedition undor General Newton up the St. Marks river, Florida, gre furnished by our Key West correspondent. The object was to clear out the rebels in that portion of the State, in- flict such damage on them as should be found practicable, and, if possible, capture the town of £t. Marks. Though he did not accomplish all which he hoped to, still General Newton was to a great extent successful. After considerable severe skir- mishing, driving the enomy all the time before him, his command arrived at the Natural Bridge, on St. Marks river, eight iniles above Newport, onthe 6th inst, At this point the rebels were found in strong force and well posted, Here a stubborn fight took place; but the enemy, though far superior in numbers, was finally driven from the field, Owing to this disparity in the national force, ‘and to tho bridges over tho river being burned, General Newton deemed it expedient to postpone till another occasion further against the town of St. Marks, and fell back, without being troubled by the rebels, and returned to Key West, operations his command During the stay of his troops on the mainland they de- troyed a rebel shot and she! Works. pre estimated at onc hundred and fifty. Yuowing the route of the expedition and the scene of the actory and extensive salt Their casualties in killed, wounded and missing We give a map Pogagement It was recently stated in the South Carolina Legislature that the entire effective force of the rebel confederacy is | only one hundred and twenty-one thousand moo, and official documents from Richy were produced to pr the statement No new military movements in either of the armies on | Janes river are reported; of passes to civilians to visit them was yes nded by the ‘War Depariment. All the sutlers ordered away “ from these two armies last w vador has released Brad- shaw and Reynolds, two of (he men suppored to have The government of San §, j dobate was withdrawn, and the motion prevailed. Bills were passed relative to the clerks of the courts in the city of Now York; to fix the salaries of the clerks of justices’ courts in Brooklyn; also to amend tho act re- lative to the Soclety for the Reformation of Juvenile De- Lnquents in New York. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The Board of Councilmen failed to have @ quorum yes- terday, and an adjournment till to-morrow (Thursday) took place. Seven vessels which arrived here yesterday from Savannah brought five thousand four hundred and fifty- six bales of cotton. Judge Clerke, of the Supreme Court, circuit, was en- gaged yesterday in trying the assault and battery case of Charles McEntee versus Ralph Noble. The plaintiff al- leges that he was assaulted by the defendant and severely injured about the head because he had the temerity to disturb a package of boots which was deposited on one of the seats ina Brooklyn ferryboat, and Claimed five thousand dollars damages. The defence set up is that the plaintiff threw the boots into some water which had collected on the cabin floor, and was unusally provoking both in his manner and language. The court ordered the jary to bring in a sealed verdict at ten o'clock this morning. ‘The Merchant will case, which was to have been tried yesterday in the Supreme Court, circuit, before Judge Mullin, was postponed until to-day, in consequence of the business engagements of one of the counsel. Meetings of citizens designed to devise measures to fill the army quotas by voluntecring, and thus avoid the draft, were held last night in a number of the wards, in- cluding the Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth ana Twenty-first. United’states Marshal Murray has received from the President an unconditional pardon for John Mather, re- cently convicted of counterfeiting. ‘Tho National Unitarian Convention, composed of dele- gates of the New York and Brooklyn churches, have organized, amd propose to hold a session in this city during next week. The business of the session will be conducted at the Broadway Athenwum. It is expected that matters of great interest to the Unitarian fraternity will be discussed in the Convention. On last Monday afternoon, during the momentary ab- sence in an adjoining room of Mr. W. H. Foster, cashier of the Central National Bank, corner of Broadway and Pearl street, his office was entered by some unknown person, and sixty-nine thousand dollars worth of govern- ment ten-forty and five-twenty bonds, which were lying on his desk, were stolen therefrom, Ten thousand dol- lars reward has been olfered for their recovery, and the detectives are on the track of the bold robber, but have not yet succeeded in arresting him. AGerman named Joseph Sinclair, who was arrested in December last on a charge of stealing a large quantity of spool cotton in Vesey street, and who was roleased on bail, but forfeited his bonds and left the city, having re- cently ventured back, has been rearrested and committed for examination. James Malone, a call boy in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, aged e'ghteen, was yesterday committed for trial on the charge of having stolen various valuable articles from different guests of the house. The varnish factory in FifWeninth street, between ‘Tenth and Eleventh avenues, was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning, involving a loas of about two thou- sand dollars, on which there was no insurance, From Albany we learn that the propeller Erastus Corn- ing, the first boat of the season, arrived there yesterday from this city. On all tho raitroads centering at Albany the trains are again running on me, ‘Another of the powder mills at Hazardville {good name), Conn., exploded on Monday. None of the work- men were injured. The loss is estimated at six theusand dollars. Gold was in ful! panic atthe opening of the market yesterday; but it afterwards quieted down, and closed at 1563s. Governments submitted to a further heavy de- cline, and the whole stock market was considerably lower, At the evening board gold closed at 157. ‘The violent fluctuations of gold being generally looked upon as portentious, a general crash among the mercan- tile public is regarded as imminent. In fact, theapproach- ing storm has already been heralded by failures—positive and comparative—besides several others whjch are ap- prehenced. The markets were wholly unsettlod yoster- day, and prices of everything were entirely nominal, fluctuating with almost every bour. Cotton, petroleum, groceries, &c., were dull and nominal, while on ’Chang® everything was unsettled, Pork fluctuated to the extent of $4 75 per bbl. New mess sold as low as $24 25, and as high as $23 50. Other kinds of provisions were irrogular, but the changes were not so radical, Froights were dull, and rates were nominal, while whiskey do- | ¢lined 2c, a 8e., with a moderate inquiry. The market for beef cattle this week was excited by the interruption to transportation caused by the great freshet, the number of cattic not being more than half as large as it ought to be to supply all wants. Prices at the | opening were accordingly Ie, a 2c. higher, but sub- sequently declined, closing at only 3c. a 1c, higher. neld up as the inevitable result of such a de- termination. There are some things, then, that the rebel Congress values more than Southern independence, or it has not confi- dence in its two great men. Which is it? Does it prefer slavery to success? Slavery is gone anyhow. Does it prefer to respect pro- perty rights and lose its existence? Its whole history denies that, Its votes, then, on two occasions, show its want of confidence in its leaders—by the refusal to adopt the meas- ures they so forcibly urge—and the leaders now have the same want of confidence in the cause that the people have in the leaders. Nei- ther Lee nor Davis believes that there is any chance for success, as they have declared. For Davis said he could not succeed without money, and Congress did not give it. Lee said he could not succeed, unless Congress gave him negroes, and gave the negroes their freedom, and Congress would not do so. Both have been denied and forced to the alter- natives they made. Each stands in the posi- tion of a man acknowledging that he must fail, do what he can or may. Will they then, out of mere desperation and show, continue a war that they know cannot have any national result? Will they simply murder thirty or forty thousand more of the men whose lives have been put in their hands with a sublime devotion and confidence that is the point of highest dignity in their struggle? Will Davis, pretending to act for the good of his countrymen, waste their lives in a struggle that he now acknowledges can have no good result? or will Lee put his men against our lines know- ing that even half a dozen victories cannot save his cause? Sherman comes northward forcing Johnston on as steadily and, irresistibly as the progress of the sun forces the frost line in the same direction. Grant, with an overwhelming power waits on Lee, and Thomas holds the only avenue of escape. Look at it in any light, the case is desperate for the rebellion, success impossible and ruin certain; atfd we incline to believe that the real deliberation of the rebel leaders now is upon the simple question of surrender. Maximilian and the Catholic Church— The Ingratitude of Prine: We surrender « large space to-day in order to publish in full the important documents which mark the complete and final rupture be- tween Maximilian and the Catholic Church. These important and most interesting official documents, from the Pope and the archbishops and bishops of Mexico on the one side, and from Maximilian on the other, present the proofs of one of the most remarkable instances of ingratitude and bad faith on record. The empire in Mexico, as all the world knows, is the creation ef the church party. The selection of Maximilian for the throne was also iis work alone. We have even reason to know that, so for from this selection having its origin with Napoleon, it was a source of disappointment to him; and the undue haste with which the em- pire was proclaimed by the Council of Notables and the crown tendered to an Austrian arch- duke was anything but consistent with French ideas and plans.. It is to the church party alone, and of its leaders to Gutierez Estrada more than all others, that Maximilian owes his elevation. The objects of the church party were openly avowed and were well known. They were to secure the recovery of the church property nationalized by the Juarez government, and the restoration of the ancient privileges of the Church. These objects were the only cause of the civil war which had so long prevailed in Mexico, and which had borne in its train the outrages of which foreigners had had cause to complain. In accepting the imperial throne from the church party, to whom, then, did Maximilian owe the allegiance of common good faith? | Certainly not to the republicans, whose blood Prices ranged from 133jc. to 22c, a 2ic. Cows were steudy. Veals were firmer, varying from 10c. to 1c. Sheep and lambs were scarce and higher, varying from | $9 to $15, Hogs were also firmer, varying from 13. to | | 14%%0, The total receipts were 154 cows, | veals, 5,561 4 1,908 hogs. The Southern People and Their Presi- deut—General Lee and the Rebel Army=— What Will He Do With It? Jefferson Davis sent an nitimatum to the | extra session of the rebel Congress. He stated his more imperative nece: the Congress that they were absolutely vite, en implicated in the rebel plot, @ ed some inonths ago, to capture the American steamer Salvador, running Detween Payama and Central Ameri an ports, Several | Of the conspirators, it will be ret mbered, were arrested Dy our naval authorities in the Pacidc and gent as prison- ers to San Francisco, EUROPEAN NEWS. Tho steamships Borus: Washington, irom Hav from Queenstown Ma Queenstown March 9, ym Sonthaznpton March 8; 8; Cily of Washington, ch 9, snd City of London, from Lat this port yesterday The news by the City of London is four days later, England, as represented by t don Times and other feuding journals, gives up tho rebel cause as hope The London Times, informed vy special correspondence from Charleston and advices from New York dated to tho 22d of February, says that the extinguishment of the rebellion is ouly a question of « very short t that it remains to be seen whether the cou De permitted to “bleed to death’ or b the Union. Marquis de Montholon, French Minister in Mexico, ia | Bppointed Minister to Washington. | + From South America rn that thore were thirty and racy will | taken again into | Bree foreign war vessels lying in the Plate riv The Biege of Montevideo was in for Two of the banks in | Dlontevidoo had suspended payment Consols clos-din London, Mar h 9, ut 88% a 88% for | money. The Liverpool cotton market was flat on the | Ph instant. Breadstufls were quiet and steady. Pro- | ‘¥ stons were dull. THE LEGISLATURE. | an the State Senate yesterday the bill agreed upon and | commended by the Legisiative mittee, the Comp- | Broiler and the bankers of this to provide means | for paying the bounties authorized by law, was called | up and adopted. Bil's were also passed authorizing and | Confirming tho New York county tax levy; forthe im. | provement of Bushwick avenue, Brooklyn, B. D. ; aimend- Ing the constitution of the congregation of Shaarcy Te fold, of New York; incorporating the American Phrenolo- gical Society, New York; authorizing gas light companies | to lay pipe along plank and turnpike roads; incorporat- | Sng the New York College of Dentistry; and the New York Pneumatic Railroad and Express Company. The | General Appropriation bill was taken up and ordered to B third reading. Remonstrances were prevented ava nst tho Broadway, Cross Town and Central Railroad bills, Gnd against incorporating the New York Pier and Ware house Company. The complete list of appointments by | he Governor are expected to be #ent to the Senate to-day for confirmation. In evening session bills were advanced 20 4 third reading to amend the charter of the State Ine Driate Asylum ; increasing the punishment for embezzle- | were not complied with. and that if it could not give that little it must give up. He had seen the futility of making avagant demands of that Congress, and so he only asked what he could not go on with- | out; only that without which he must Ixy down his arms before another Congress came to- gether. Two millions of dollars in ¢ supplies for the army, or the power to seize all supplies he might want; the abrogation of a property right in everything that an army can eator use, Congress adjourned without giving him cither. And thus, upon his own showing, Davis must give up his cause within a very short time for the simple want of power to carry on the war; and yet it is said he has the impu- dence to talk of terms. He is « man in his last moments, who ought to be busy with his will; and he is pictured as one who chaffers with the butcher over the price of meat, and projects a trip up the Mediterranean for the ensuing sum- | mer in a bran new yacht. Davis said that in a certain contingency he must relinquish the struggle. That contingency has arisen; and thus cornered by the logic of events, yet loth to acknowledge it, he looks to Lee, and seems to hope that that general will suggest a solution, But Lee had given the cause up before Davis did. Lee furnished to the rebel Secretary of War more than a month ago an idea that that Secretary gave public utterance to—namely, that there were not enough white men in the confederacy to save it. Lee declared that the struggle was hopeless and | success impossible unless Congress reinforced his armies. He did not expect that it could reinforce with white men, but was willing to take negroes, and laid down clearly the condi- tions upon which he would undertake to carry on the war with that material. His conditions The rebel Congress hesitated a great while before it would give the negroes at all; and when at last it yielded that point, it gave them grudgingly, and expressly refused to give them in the only way in which Lee desired to take them or thonght they could be useful—that is, with their freedom. mont; relative to the Court of Special Sessions of New York. The bill incorporating the People's Ferry Compa- fy, from Canal street to Hoboken, was ordered to a third Yoading. The bill incorporating the United States Potro. Joum Floating and Storage Company was recommitted. In the Assembly & large number of local bills were Jooved forward under resolutions creating the Grinding C-amiitee, A motion to move forward the bill relative & ‘asc: ond assessments having been entertained By the &, cker object.on wae Wade, which after considerable Thus twice the rebel Congrese—the body that we must accept as truly prepresenta- tive of the Southern people—has refused to ities, and informed | | to buy | had heen poured out at every step to oppose his coming—at Orizaba, at Puebla, and ata hundred other points, the scenes of well con- tesied battles. If the purposes of the church party were inconsistent with the principles or ideas of Maximilian, then he should not bave accepted the crown at their hands. He should have waited until the empire was proclaimed and he wes called by the republfeans. Common good faith, to say nothing of policy, should | have dictated this course, But there is evidence—and the fact is even stated expressly by the Pope in his let- ter—that Maximilian did engage fully to second the purposes and to carry out the ideas of ihe church party. It would have boen an act of stn- pendous blindness on the pari of the oi thatparly not to have been assured of this | But the act of acceptance alone is quile suffi. cient lo prove his commilal to their poliey and | plans. It is only since his elevation to pov | and since the presence of his Austrians and | Belgians, that he Las dared, in open opposition | to the counsels of Napoleon, to throw to the | winds bis allegiance io the party to whom | alone he owes his crown and its emoluments. | It is to increase ‘hose emoluments, and to ap- | pease the swarm of needy Austrian adven- | | | | leaders turers by whom he is surrounded, that he has taken the present steps, and secks to fill bis coffers from the spoils of the Church. The position of Maximilian in Mexico is there- fore now most singular and precarious. He | was bronght there by the church party, whom | board, and between whom and himself an im- passable gulf now exists. The republicans can have nothing in common with him as Emperor— | still less as a foreigner, sustained by foreign | bayonets, Between the church party and the | republicans there is no party in Mexico, There never is between the two extremes, in time of revolution, in any country, The liberal mea- | sures he has adopted are not new measures to | Mexico. Still less can his present confused de- crees give satisfaction. They will only serve to render everybody dissatisfied. Before his coming the nationalization of the church pro- perty had alrendy been effected by Comonfort and Juarez, and complete separation between Church and State was decreed by President Juarez in 1859. Entire freedom of religion was also offered by his Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 1861, to the Ministers of England, Prussia and the United States, to be secured not merely by executive decree, hui by formal interna- tional compact. The railroad grant from Vera Crnz was givén in 1861 by.the Juarez govern- ment, and confirmed by Congress, It is only fccede to the requirements of the so-called leaders of the rebel cause, and has deliberate- ly determined not to furnish what those men deemed essential to success, It has determined to refuse their demands even at the peril of failure, and though the loss of the cause was injury that has been done to the concession by applying for ite ratification by Maximilian; for it has exposed it to lawful conflecation because of treating with usurping functionaries. The concession for the steamship lines also wes given by the fuares government in 1861, and only now will suffer similar confiscation because its owner, @D American, bad not the sense to wait and trust to the triumph of principles in his own country and in Mexico, Not a single one of the s0- called liberal measures of Maximilian is new. been accomplished by the presence of milian in Mexico? Absolutely nothing. He has but brought war and increased. burdens upon the country. He has conferred upon it Maxi- | "ver, SHERIDAN-- March 21, 1865. ‘The steamer Europa has arrived at Washington, bring- ing Major H. B. Compton, bearet of despatches from Major General Sheridan. He also brought with him seventeen rebel battle fags, All were already adopted before his arrival, | captured by Sheridan during his raid, seven of which he and the credit belongs alone to the previous | captured himself from General Early’s headquarters. General Sheridan was #& White House, on the Pamunkey on Sunday, but was commencing to move towards the James river, where he has, probably, by this time reached the Army of the Potomac. Fortress Mowros, March 20, 1865. A large number of prisoners were captured during THE DRAFT ANOTHER BATCH OF WARD i THE RIGHT WAY TO FILL THE QUOT, key, heey &e. ——— ‘The pro vost marshals of the various districts have Yet receive: orders to resume the draft, and conseque: the wheel has not been set in motion again. The of stirring up’ the people in the sub-districts no benefit—not even peace. The question | o) .idan’s raid, but owi bi ing to the rapidity of his move- of his stay, therefore, resolves itself simply | ments many of them had to be abandoned and others into the inquiry whether his personal in- | made their escape, owing to the relaxed negligence of teresis, or those of Mexico and of the | their guards, who were glad to get rid of them. The en- very promising ly. Meetings were held in several last night; and from the action taken it looks as if people were in earnest in their intention to fll up quota without ano ther draft, world at large, are to be consulted. Hi bad faith and ‘want of policy in breaking with the Church would alone be sufficient to to the old saying that they whom the gods elect to destroy they first make mad, it is now leak- ing out that he has had the blindness also to break with the French. The French Minister has already asked to be recalled, and Marshal Bazaine with difficulty obtains even the treat- ment of ordinary respect and courtesy from the man whom he has done so much to secure in power. More of these facts will appear ere long, and it is in this connection that the docu- ments we publish to-day may be said to have their highest significance. Panic ix THe Gord Market—Tue PREMIUM AnD Prices.—The gold rooms yesterday, and the flags and curbstones and pavements in and around Wall street, were alive with crowds of panic-stricken speculators in coin and pro- visions. The premium on gold had a down- ward tendency in the morning, and touched fifty-three per cent—a point which has not been before reached since January, 1864, The bears and shorts were joyous and jubi- lant, and the bulls and secession sympathizers were languid and crestfallen. Later in the day, however, the latter’ parties rallied and brought about a reaction, running the pre- mium up four or five per cent; and as the tide turned the countenances and feelings of the two classes of operators changed materially; but it is the prevailing opinion that the up- ward movement was only temporary, and that gold must continue to decline in price. These little spirts of excitement are but the forewarn- ings of a coming revulsion, which, however much it may be deplored, experience has taught us cannot be averted. By judicious manage- ment, however, on the part of that great banker—the government—the final crash may be softened and rendered less disastrous than many now anticipate; but before our finances and currency can be brought back to a healthy condition, all the ramifications of trade must undergo a purging process, which will neces- sarily prostrate the weak andcause the strong to tremble. Gold and greenbacks must meet each other and assimilate in value, and the ex- orbitant prices which now rule must react for the benefit of the consumer. It is easier and more satisfactory, we know, for the trader to mark up his goods and sell at the advance than it is for him to lower the prices and be compelled to dispose of his stock for less than cost. As an evidence of this we may recur to the fact that in the early part of last year, when the pre- mium on gold was about the same as now, flour was selling, according to quality, from six dollars and fifty cents to ten dollars a barrel, and pork for twenty-two dollars and fifty cents to twenty-four dollars, with all other articles of necessary consumption compara- tively low. In July of the same year, upder the spur of speculation, gold was run up to two hundred and eighty-five, and our merchanis contended that they must keep pace with specie and advance their prices. Flour was accord- ingly marked up eieven to fifteen dollars, and pork was held at thirty-eight to forty dollars per barrel. Now gold has fallen to the stan- dard of January, 1864; but not so with those articles which contribuie to our existence and | comfort. Ten dollars to fifteen dollars is still demanded for fiour, and pork continues at | thirty-one to thirty-four dollars. | Why is this? If prices must necessarily ad- ' vance as the value of gold increases, is it not reasonable to expect that they will follow gold in its decline? Sror Tuua.—From ail accounts, President Lin- coln is in a fair way of falling a victim to those | remorseless tormentors, his spoils aud plunder seeking triends. There is no necessity, how- ever, that he should suffer the fate of his good natured pre General Harrison and General Taylor, when be has the remedy, sim- | ple and effective, in his own hands, He has only to set apart so many hours of a given day or (wo each week for the spoilsmen, in order to | put a stop to their incessant persecutions. Let him adopt this rule, “put bis foot down, and put it down firmly,” and the thing is done. Considering the “incoherent” malady of the Vice President, the people of the United States, of-all parties, feel somewhat anxious for the preservation of the life of President Lincoln. It is in this view particularly due to the coun- try that he should adopt and rigidly enforce pessors, | | | | save him. Destevctive Ixuxpations.—The spring has opened with destruciive inundations of flooded rivers in the North, and floods of “Yankees” in the South ; so there will be plenty of work for all when the war is over. Trautan Ormra.—The last night of the genson at the Academy was one of exceeding brilliancy, The house was crowded, the applause was continuous and genuine, and the artists were all in good voice and spirits; and, therefore, we need not say, sang well, The splendid scenic effects of the opera were as fresh as ever. The Grand repte'te in the council chamber scene was, of course, encored, and justly, for it was sang admirably. To-morrow Mr. Marotzek’s company will take their fare. well of the public whiclt, for nearly six montns, they have conscientiously entertained, as the public fully ap- preciates, The occasion will be a grand matinée, when Fra Diawlo will be given by 90 pressing a request of the ladies that Mr. Maretzck could not resiet it, To-night Brooklyn will rejoice in the presentation of Don Giovanni, with Mme, Zuochi, Miss Keliogg and Mile, Morensi in the cast, Tho final matinge at our Academy to-morrow will, undoubtedly, be the most crowded of the season; and, as to go to the Academy early. Boorn’s Hamust.—To-night the tragedy of Hamlet will bo played at this establishmnent for the hundredth succes: five ttme, and the oogation is vory fittingly chosen for the benofit of the “minent tania the great yet thus attgnotive to the veanle, fe De a ree eae SP Sears ae os Bie the Re ae ee SS ee insure his downfall; but, as if to lend new force | posed to be lurking in the vicinity of White House, for he has, by his recent deerecs, thrown over- | the rule we have suggested. Nothing else will | ig | tire cavalry force has crossed to the south bank of the Pamunkey river, and is now engaged in recruiting pre- ry to new movements, The rebel General Longstreet, with his corps, is sup- on the evening of the arrival of Sheridan at that place frequent skirmishes occurred between his advanced pickets and unknown small squads of the enemy, who appeared to be prowling about for reconnoitering purposes. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasuinaton, March 24, 1865. THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY PLAYED OUT—STE- PHENS, HUNTER AND LEE HOPELESS—ABMING OF THE SLAVES A FAILURE. The belief that the so-called Southern confederacy is about to collapse and give up the ghost has taken posses- sion of almost everybody here, high government officials not excepted. It is known by the administration that A. H. Stephens has given up the cause, and has said to Jeff. Davis that all is lost. The hord of the Richmond pa- pers over his silence will not, therefore, bfifig him out of his hiding place, Hunter has also informed Davis to tho same effect. In addition to those facts heretofore published in the Hynap in reference to Genoral Lee’s views, it is officially known here that Lee is hopeless and despondent. It seems that he looks upon the arming of the negroes as practically a failure, for the simple reason that the pas- aage of the act was delayed so long that there is no time left to prepare them for battle. Besides, he declares that the failure to provide for the frocdom of those slaves made soldiers makes the plan moro than useless, With all this staring him in the face, the Union armies rapidly in- creasing and his own gradually fading away, he has au- nounced to Davis that he cannot hold Richmond a month longer. Jeff. Davis, who saw sufficiently clear the doom that awaited them as long ago as the fall of Fort Fisher, and then acknowledged to Blair that they were whipped, is now panic-stricken, and is ready to doanything to get out of his tight place. Prosident Lincoln fully belioves that there will be no more fighting of any consequence, and has full confl- dence that Lee will surrender hia army at no distant day. He is unwilling to agree upon terms to let the rebel leaders down easy, but says they will soon be glad to ac- cept his Hampton Roads propositions—give up slavery, lay down their arms, return to the Union and behave themselves like decent peopte hereafter. The leaders, he believes, will leave the country as soon as they find that they.cannot secure terms to ease their fall, It is probabie that Mr. Lincoln will remain firm on that point, PRESENTATION OF SHERIDAN’S TROPHIES TO THE WAR DEVARTMENT. ‘The rebel battle flags captured by Sheridan's braves at Waynesboro, during his recent famous raid along the James river canal, wore this morning presented to the Secretary of War. The flags were borne by their captors, who belonzed to General Custer’s cavalry division, and most of them to the Second brigade, commanded by Col. Wm. Wills, First Vermont cavalry. The detachment of flag captors was under the command of Major HB. Compton, Eighth New York cavalry, who was himself the captor of General Early’s headquarters flag. The robel trophies were fiftcen in number; and, in addition to the headquarters flag taken by Major Compton, were captured by the following officers and men;—Captain C. ©. Bruton, Aid-de-Camp to General Custer, Second New York cavalry; Lieutenant §, Kocder, Eighth New York cavairy; Lieutenant R. Niven, Eighth New York cavalry ; Serguant James Conklin, Eighth New York cavalry; Ser- geant R. Bouyerie, First Virginia cavalry; Corporal H. H. Bickford, Kighth New York cavalry; Corporal H. Harvey, Twenty-second cavalry; private G. Ladd, Twenty-second cayulry; private ©. Anderson, First Now York cavalry; private W. Carman, First New York cayairy; private P. O’Brien, First New York cav- alry; private M. Crowley, Twenty-secoud New York cavalry; private ©. A, Cohen, Eighth New York cavalry ; private John Mili th New York cavalry. ‘Pie presentation was innde in the public room of the War Department, in the presence of a number of dis- tinguished persons, among whem were Assistant Secre- tary of War, Charles A. Dana, Assistant Adjutant General Ed. Townsend, Senator Ira Harris, of New York; Senator Jacob M. Howard, of Micoigan, and Mrs. Custer, the beautiful young wife of the gallant commander of the cavairy division by which these trophies were won. The ceremony began Major Compton handing to 3 | Secretary Stanton a letter from Gencrol Sheridan, nar- rating the gallantry of the bearers of these battle tlags, and asking foreach of them a furlough of thirty days. The letter was read aloud by the Secretary, and then éach of the flag bearers was presented in turn, and par- rated the history of the trophy he presented. These narratives, given in the graphic manner of the soldiers, were interesting and amusing. The Secretary ‘asked SIP AE RAT ooo | cach his place of residence and the time at which he had Presipent Linconn’s Tormentors—How To | | Bouverie, of West Virginia, had taken up arms at tho entered the service, and on ascertaing that Sergeant very outbreak of the rebellion, and proposed to fight it through to the end, he remarked that no soldier tn the | Union army had done-better service than those of West Virginia, and he commended Sergeant Bouverie for the spec al devotion he had shown by his long service al- ready given, and his pledge for the future. Each of the heroes was then introdaced to Mrs. Custer and to Senator Harris. When the presentation ceremony was concluded, Mr. Stanton address d the knot of brave fellows as follow: Orricens ann Sortteus—In the name of the President and of the people of the United States, it is my pleasant daty to return you thanks for the gallantry and courage that have from the commencement been displayed by ourselves and the commands to which you are attached. his, I believe, is the fourth time that I have had the pleas re of r.ceiving flags taken in battle by General Sheridan's command, and on no occasion has more sig- nal x been réndered to the government than on that | which brought about the capture of these flags, ‘To you and_your brave comerades tn arms T again, in the name Of te Prestlont and the people, return thanks, The re- quest of your General, that leaves and furlo.ghs bo given you, will re Jed a medal of honor ¥ service hearts—that you may re- strengih—that you pared to witness the tinal overthrow of the 1 have fought on so many fields, and the re- f the State enem: establishment in perpetuity of the Union When the applause with which these remarks were re- ceived had subsided, Sengtor Howard was introduced as the representative of the State of Michigan, the residence of General Custer, who, expressing great delight in shar- ing with them the honor and glory of the occasion, sai Orricans axp Sonprers—In the name of the people of my State, the immediate fellow citizens of General Cus- tor, I beg to tender you their and my most sincere thanks, He was followed by Senator Harris, who said:— This, gentlemen, isa proud day forme. I feel more proud than ever that I can represent a body of men such aa you are representing here to-day, It is one of the proudest days of my life to know that New York can send to the feild in defence of our country brave men like you and your comrades, who can present such evidence of gallantry, courage and service to the country. I thank you, gentlemen, all of you, for what you have done for ihe Country and for our natlve State. The flagg were then deposited, and their bearors marched off to enjoy their well won furloughs. In addition to the rebel battle flags wore two head- tragedian whose genie bas | for money to pay for the muskets quarters’ flags of General Early—one presouted to him on | the very day of its capture, and two of General Crook’s headquarters’ flags, recaptured at Waynesboro. NO PASSES TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC TO oR 188UED. fa matter of good nature, we would recommend every one Orders were issued to-day to issue no more paseae to civilians to visit the Army of the Potomac for the present, ‘The sutlors have all been ordered tothe rear, A number ‘Winter Ganoen—Tue Hexoagpts Nicat or Hauret— | of them have already arrivod hore, PAY FOR THE ARMS BROUGHT IN BY REBEL DE- by General Grant hi intg our lines SERTEAS. A special requisition has been by donerters from Leo's arm. Meeting the Fifth Ward. A meeting of they citizens of the above ward was b yesterday ‘ing at the Fifth Ward Hotel. Mr. Wyckoif was appointed’ Chairman, and Mr. Heape tary of the meeting. Mr. A. J. Pica offered a serles of resolutions, wh! were adopted by the mect, ng, providing for the org tion of an association &° called the Fifth Wi Volunteer Association, ite, object to be the filling up the quota of that ward. The resolutions comprised appointment of a president and other officers; alt finance committee, to collect funds for the offering o ward bounty, &e. The office of the association to be| 176 Hudson street, ‘The following gentlemen wen? appointed officers :—| James Kennedy, President; Colynel Morphy, Vice Pre} dent; 8. 8. Wyckoff, Treasurer; J. W. Heapo, Secro The following gentlemen were appointed to inv speakers and make other necessary wrrangements for} mass meeting to be held on’ Thursday, the 23d insta in Franklin equare:—Colonel Murphy, J. W. Heape, jor Haggarty, Judge Quinn and A, J. Plumb. ‘The meeting then adjourned to half-past sever o/c this (Wednesday) evening. Mecting of Citizens of the Seventh Ward A largely attended meeting of citizens of the Sev: ward, anxious to devise means in order to escape draft, was held last evening at the Seventh Ward Hote No, 173 Madison street. Mr. Wilson Smail was called upon to preside, explained the call for the necting. Action was _wante not talk. Mr. Hoxie was appointed as Vice Presideq and Mr. George Terwilliger Secretary. ‘Mr. Wm, L. Evy saw a poster on the station hoi stating that a meeting was to be held under the auapio of the Executive Committee of the Citizens’ Associ tion. If that meeting had assembled through any tisan spirit he did not desire to participate in it, H wished it to be a citizens’ meeting purcly, without spect to party. ‘The CuarrMan thought the attendance there was a ficient answer. After an explanation from Mr. William Gardner, member of the Citizens’ Committee, the business of mecting was proceeded with. A series of resolutions expressive of the sense of meeting was adopted. ‘The Caiman stated that a branch office would b opened this morning over Essex Market, A resolution was passed that a committee of twenty five be appointed from each election district for the p pose of furthering tho matter of recruiting. An exccative committee of twenty was also appoin' after which the meeting adjourned. Meeting in the Nineteenth Ward. Last evening a meeting of the Sixteenth Assembly District Union Association was held on the subject of draft, Mr. J. W. Culver was appointed President, and Mr, J. Cooper, Jr., Secretary. It was stated that four hu dred and fifty more men were required for this ward, that at the rate at which recr ising was now progresst it was impossible that this number could b» raised in amy- thing like reasonable time. As other organizations wet understood to be moving in the matter, a focling was e: pressed that concerted a:tion would Le ‘of advantage, committze of five, with the officers of tho meeting, accordingly appointed, to confer with those organiza and to take such steps as might be deemed necessary the avoidance of the draft. Meeting of Citizens of the Ninth and teenth Wards. A large and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of th Ninth and Fifteenth wards was held last cvening in th Metropolitan Hall, Sixth avenue, for the purpose o encouraging voluntecring, so as to avoid, if possible, calling eat the conscripts who Bave already beea| drafted in this district. Ex-Alderman (h pp was chosen to preside, and a num- ber of vice Presidents and Secretaries were Cia Captain Cose: stated that the quota of the Ninth ward was soven hundred and thirty-two, of the Fifteenth four hundred and twenty-six and of the Sixteenth six hundred and jorty men, making @ total of seventeom hundred and ninety-elght to be . He said the object of the meeting was to raise sufficiont hand me to pay for these men, which would beone hundred lars for cach man. ‘A resolution wns adopted appointing a committee of tem from th» Fifteenth ward as a Finance Committee, with power to solicit sebseriptions from citizens for the pur- pose of paying such additional bounty or hand money as they may deem proper to fill the quotar Op motion of Councilman Leyt a subscription was started, and b fore the meeting adjourned the handsome sum of $5,000 was collected. From the enorgy mant- fested by the citizens of the Ninth and Fifteenth beige there is no reason to doubt but that their efforts wi prove ent rely success! ul Meeting in the Sixteenth Ward. THE QUOTA TO BY FILLED BY VOLUNTEERS, Amecting of the citizens of tho Sixteenth ward was held last evening in Twenty-eccond street, near Sixth avenue, for the purpose of raisig funds for the relief of the one thousand «nd flv: hundred drafted men of the ward. The chair was cccuy ied by Alderman Rygx, who, in opening the meeting, said that he reur tted to See 80 few prs nt, considering the favorable progress they had wade on saturday aud Monday evenings. If every drafted man in the ward would come forward prompuly and pay twenty-five dollars each, he would assure them that those drafted would not be cailed for, The method proposed by the Citizens’ Committee to effect this object was expla.ied by Mr, Orion. He said they proposed to give fifty dollars hand money to each re in addition tothe bounty and baud money now paid by the State and county authorities, and by that means secure enough re- eruits to fill the quota, He urged npon those present the sity of aiding the comm ttee in their efforts to re. the poor men of the ward who were unable to fur- nish substitutes, A number of gentlemen came forward and subscribed from $5 upward, the whole amounting to about $600. The number of ‘volunteers received yesterday for th Sixteenth ward, was sixteen, and the aumber could hy becn largely increased if the committee had the funds to pay the hand money. The amount of money reccived om Saturday and Monday was $0,000, $700 of which was ex. pended yesterday, it was annovnced by the Charman that as long as the Provost Marshal is kept reasonably busy in examining and passing recruits, that the drafted men will not be called upon to report. Sub-committees have been appoluted throughout the ward to collect and if the people contribute with any degree of , the quota of the ward will be full in about five or sx weeks, Meetings will be held every evening at the District Court room, corner of Twenty-second street and Sixth avenue, to re eriptions. Mecting of the Citizens of the Twenty= first Ward. If the large number of enthusiastic and patriotic elt zons of the Twenty-first ward, assembled last night at Ebbitt Hall, be an indication of the earnestness with wh'ch the residents of this ward are determined to fill their quota by volunteering, then thera will be no need of a draft for this ward, At the hour appointed the hall Was quite crowded, and the Hon. John Kelly being unanimously called to the chair, and, Mr. E. Shepp appointed secretary, the business of the evening com- menoed, The CHamMay stated that boing informed It only need- ed two hundred and sixty men to fill the quota ef the ward ho felt ifa draft was enforced it might possibly fall on many poor men fily able to bear it Under. phese Circumstances he thought it his duty, after consultation with some other gentlemen, to calla Ineeting, that there may be © general consultation. It now remained for those present to devise the best raeans to fll the quota in the readfest manner, Ageitieman in the body of the hall here proposed a committee of three be appointes’, and that they retire for a short Uw d prepare @ report af the steps they would recommend to be adopted. gentlemen chosen—Messrs, shail and Stephen D, MeCoreie time appeared wi ‘This being agreed to, the Estervelt, 6, D. T. Mar. retired, and in a short plutioas, which were ‘aye of fourtesn, to correspond with Lag fourteen electiow districts of the ward, be ap- wointed. i An executive committee of fourtaen, whose duty ft shall be to devise ways and meang to(il the quota in the shoriost possible time. The financial committeo and the officers of this meet ing to be ea officio members of the executive committee. That this meeting olect a treasurer, who shall tak charge of the fund colfected, and disburse the same as directed by the executive comtnittee. ‘That future meetings if neoessary bo called by the officers of this meeting. Finance and exoctstive committees, in accordance with the foregoing resolations, were appointed, . Mr. Kichard Kiily, President of the Fifth National Bank, was named as Treasurer. A subscription list being opened, contribations flowed in idly, and in a very short time $3,000 was subscribed. All willing to subscribe hereafter can send their donations to the Fifth National Bank, Sabsoription lists are also opened at Mr. Vought’s, Third avenue and Twenty-ninth street, and Mr. Cooper's, Third avenu 4 Thirty-third street, During the time the ‘Committee ‘Three were in recess patriotic addresses wore made by Messrs. Samuel Courtenay and Spencer Kirby. e meeting then adjourned, The One Hundred and Second Regiment National Guard. A number of the above regiment have alroady volun- teered for one year, Major B. A. Roberts is at present ao Se