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WASHINGTON: THURSDAY, DECEMBER S, 1864 Weekly National Intelligencer By GALES dc SEATON. JAMtl.S C. WBLUJita, ASSOCIATE KDITOK. The subscription price of this paper for a fear la Two DOLLARS, payable in advance. A reduction of 20 per cent.(one-fifth of the fullcharge will be made to any one whosh&Uorder andpfly for,at one time, ten copies of the Weekly paper ; aid a reduction of ?i!> per eent.'(or one-fourth of the full charge) to any one who willorder and pay for. at one time,twenty or more oopiea. No account? being kept for thid paper, it will not be sent to any one unless paid for in advance, nor any longertban the time for which it is paid. THURSDAY,' DECEMBER 3, 1864. WHAT ABE WE FIGHTING FOB ? We are glad to observe that uiauy among tho unet influential journals of the Republican press vontinue to recur to the " lirst principles" of the great struggle in wbiob the cation is engaged with An armed sedition. After premising that the con tinuance of this war, with all it* terrible work, one dsy beyond an actual necessity, would be the most enormous of crimes, the New Vork Times justly holds that " ft is of supreme moment to both sides to know just what constitutes tliis necessity and just where it will ocaio." While Northern opin ions and Southern opinions widely differ on these points, this difference, it thinks, is not so broad as is sometimes represented, since " a great many fig ments and a great many non-essentials hsrve been constantly wrapped about the real issue." Aimi% to atrip these disguises from the " pith " of the matter at issue between "the North "and "the South," our contemporary, in answer to the ques tion "What is the North lighting for?" holds the following language : " The Southern masse* have been made to believe that tie North haa been fighting to destroy slavery, to overthrow State rights, and to subjugate and degiade Southern whites. All this is false. The North, though it may destroy slav ery in waging war, docs not wage war to destroy slavery. There is nothing about slavery that would prevent the North from making peace to-morrow if it could. It is quite willing to leave the whole disposal of that subject to future peaceful and constitutional action. In no form or degree is the adherence of tbe South to slavery a part of ?>ur (ttsun belli. " Nor do we fight to overthrow 8tate right#. The North >* still for maintaining to the last iota every right reserved to tbe States by the Constitution. We want no consoli dated Government, and would tolerate none. So far as respecta veritable Constitutional Sta'e rights we make no quarrel with the South " Nor do we fight to subdue or degrade the Southern people. We want them as our fellow-citizens, not as our subjects We would share equally with tbem every constitutional right and privilege. We ask nothing inconsistent with honor or with interest?nothing but what their fathers aud our fathers deemed their greatest advantage and their highest glory. " Tbe North is fighting purely aud simply to save the unity of the nation. It has an absolute assurance that this unity ia indispensable to tbe continuance of free and good government on this continent?that without it there will be ceaseless coi tl ct, which will be forev:r rxhauatirg the treasure and draining the blond of both regions until til ends in chaos It is sometimes said that we are fighting for the supremacy of the Constitution. But the supre inacy of the Constitution is not an ultimate end. iLdeed, the Constitution is no end at all, bnt limply an instrument for aeciring the end, which end is the perpetuation of the Bepublio Our only object is to keep the cation unbroken. Tbat object secured tbere ia no domestic controversy, whether relating to the Conatitution or not, which may not be peacefully settled. Tbat object abandoned, strife must reign till all goes down in ruin." The Times also has an answer to the question, "What is the South fighting for?" It says that there is a prevalent opinion in the North that the Southern people are fighting for slavery, but this opinion, it thinks, is erroneous " Though a pas sion for slavery was the immediate occasion of the war, it does not now sustain the war." It adds : " The Sonth would buy triumph to-morrow, if it could, by a complete sacrifice of slavery. It would not now yield though it could take ' a bond of fate' that by yield ing it oould rave slavery What Jeff Davis told Col Jacques in his confidential interview is perfectly true ? that slavery had now nothing to do with tbe war. and tbat the only question now involved is tbe question of Southern independence; that is to say, the independenre of the ? Confederacy.' Mr. Ale kinder IT. Stephens, in his let ter, which we published yesterday, treats ' the ultimate absolute sovereignty of tbe several States' as the real issue. So don* Mr. Hilliard. He says that ' tiie great object which the South seeks to accomplish is to establish the right of each State to decide independently its own political system, and to determine for itself the relations which it will hold wi b other States.' Mr. Bnyce says in his speech that ' independence and sovereignty of the States is the great principle, without which we could not carry on the war.' hvou Mr. Leach, of North Carolina, whote resolutions to the rebel Congress we publish this morning, and who is by far the most advanced peace man in Southern public life, talks of a peace agreed to by 4 commissioners appointed by the respective Govern mnnts,' which wlil it elude, at lea?t in tbe first stage, a recognition of Confederate independence, 'or by tbe States acting in their torrrtigv and mdrprntlmi character.' Tbere reems, then, to be a substantial agreement, both by Jeff. Davis and his opponents of every shade, that the sole object of the South is to vindicate and forever establish State independence and sovereignty. It is precise y that for which the South is fighting?eiactly tbe converse of this national principle fir whicb tbe North is fighting." It will thus be seen that these views exclude the status of slaveiy from the ultimate issues of either party to the present war. The North, says the Times, "is not fighting to destroy slavery," and the South is not fighting to preserve slavery, as there is no doubt that "it would buy triumph to-morrow, if it eculd, by a complete sacrifice of ilavery." If theso views aro just, what a commcn tary they offer on the delusions chcrishcd by two classes of zealots, one at the South and the other at the North ! The zealots of slavery at the South preoipitated the issue of disunion in the hope of building a Republic based on the corner-stone of domestic servitude. To-day they would sacrifice slavery to .win their political independence. The aoti-slavery 7ealots at the North have steadily in flated that if ?la?CTy could be destroyed the Union would restore itself, bs the only element of division between the North and the South would bp elimi nated, and the hearts of the people in both seotions Would flow together like kindred drops of water. The drift of events has sufficiently showed the fa], laoy of suoh hopes. After slavery shall have ocas ed to be an issue between the National Government and the insurgents the antagonistic principles of se cession and of national unity confront each ofher Bone the lean The strength expended on a "side issue" will be only so much strength lest to the great paramount issue which will still remain un decided The Klectors of President and Vice President are required by law to meet in the capitols of their respective States on WsdnesJay next, and cut their votes. THE LOYAL OPPOSITION. Tt is a matter of just regret that at thin late day in the history of the Republic any question should arise with regard to the legitimate place and func tion of an Vopposition party" under our Govern ment. This regret is equally just whether the question springs frosi a disposition on the part of those in power to deny the right of making a loyal opposition to measures of administration, 01 whether it springs from an abuse of that right by tbe party in the minority. We are gratified to observe that the New York Times, which is a representative paper of the Administration, in making some general observations on the funoiions of <( an opposition party," argues strongly in favor i of th(^ necessity of such an organization. It siys: j " We think an opposition is almost at necessary in a con stitutional State as an Administration, and tbe fault we have found with the Democrats was, not tbat they consti tuted an opposition, but that their opposition was of the kind it was. We do not believe that as long as human natnre remains what it is any body of meu oan be safely entrusted with power, and at the same time ahielded from all oritieism upon their manner of iming it. Liberty can not be preserved, nor economy or efficiency secured, with out tbe exercise of a somewhat suspicious vigilance on the part of some portion of the public. It was not, therefore, merely because they found fault, that the Democrats brought themselves to ruin and confusion, but because they did nothing else but find fault; not because they were in opposition, but because they opposed every thing the Government did or proposed to do?good, bad, end indif ferent. Opposition of this kind is what is termed factious, and when carried on in time of war inures to the benefit, not of the country, but of the public enemy. ? * ? " If they will give up these vagaries now, give up the vio lence of language with which tkeydisgraced themselves and the country, and confine themselves to honest and calm criticism of the conduct of tbe Government, while fairly recognising the war as lawful and necessary, they will cod stitute a real opposition whose services to th* country may be very valuable. But, to secure any influence, they must first satisfy the publio that they really seek the same patriotic ends that we do, though by different means, 'i hat is tie characterise of a constitutional opposition ; the characteristic of a factii u is that it tries to defeat the ends by every moans whatever, even the destruction of the Government itself." And the New York Evening Post, which treats of the same subject, urges the opposition to speak out fearlessly and honestly. It says : " The Ameiicau people understand very well thai a tem perate and vigilant opposition is necessary to secure vigor and purity to popular Government. We are engaged in a great civil war, and it ia every citizen's duty to tuke some part in public affairs " It will be seen that these are just and sensible views with regard to the duties of patriotic and independent oitizens who love their country more than they love any man or set of men, whether in office oj out of office. On this subject wc are sure that all our readers will concur with the following judicious observations of the New York Commer cial Advertiser in treating this same topic. It says: * " While it ia desirable and even essential that an opposi tion parly should exist, it is very unfortunate that so much of the legitimate criticism of the Administration and Con gress should be imputed to mere faction, and that the gross and unseemly epithets of a political oanvass should be flung at those who have go< d grounds of hostility to certain legislative and administrative acts, and who aie solicitous that the Government shall act in aocordance with right, and in barmony with the principles which can alone give true strength and glory to a nation. " It is worth nothing that the nrominent organs of the Administration in this city have been prompt to condemn arbitrary acts of the civil or military authorities, and that vain, useless, or mad legislation which has been too com mon in Congress. The party papers here have in many instances risen above party, rebuking the abuses of those in power, and defining with clearness and foVce the limita tions of Executive power and the range of persoBal lib-rty which belongs to the citizen in the stormy days in which we live. The arrest and punishment of Vallandighain, tbe arbitrary disposition of C< ngrers toward Alexander 11. Long for words spoken in debate, the Ar^uelles case, the proceedings against certain newspapers, have received as bold and earnest denunciation in the Republican pre** as in tbe Democratic. The diffarence in tbe temper of the treatment has been marked, however?tbe latter often transcending the limits of authorised or necessary criticism, and beooming simply ' factious.' They have also pushed (he argument and distorted tbe Wets to an extremity tole rated only in the heat of a warm election canvass. On the other hand, in tbe same beated canvas*, the Republican press have overlooked outrages similar to those they have formerly rebuked, and have seen tbe feable glimmer of a single Democratic journal extinguished m Maryland, end the voters ot Tennessee forced to a test which no true man could take|without a w<>rd of remonstrance. " These are the peculiarities of our party conduct, and exhibit the dishonesty of partisan action most completely. They show that party edherents will apologize for party when party most needs it, and they indicate the futility of an opposition only existing within the ranks of a party,and the necessity of a really live opposition from without. They prove also the paramount value of justice and honesty on all sides, and the desirableness of public discussions, mark ed by good temper, and a sound judgment, and animated by a vital principle. The methods adopted io these discus sions have shown that words of abuse and terms of con tuinely rise easily to the lips, flow glibly from the pen, an4 take the place of argument. Many men are more moved by tbe dread of an unpopular epithet than by tbe convic tions that press upon tbem when they calmly estimate the motive and results of political action, which they in their hearts deprecate, and in which alas' with their tongues they acquiesce." I f it ia the duty of an opposition party to wage no factious warfare against the Administration, it is equally the duty of such an opposition to abstain from the " cold obstraction " of a sullen and inert neutrality. And if such political iudiffercntism is at all times unsoemly in a Republic, it bccomcs hardly less than treason when great issues aro at stake, calling for the vigilant activity and the hon est counsel of all true patriots, who should hold themselves ever ready to give a reason for the faith that is in them, and to labor for the success of those views and policies which they believe to bo identified with the welfare or safety of the country. We give in another part of our paper to-day a letter from a well-known oitizen of Illi nois, who belongs to the "opposition," but who none the less recognises the fact that such an oppo sition has a positive duty to perform in the present crisis, and who contributes a practical suggestion in the hope that it may be fruitful of beuefiocnt consequences to tbe whole country. The prcaent is surely no time to stand upon mere questions of form, or of political denomination, when all who love their country arc equally interested in the restoration of unity, peace, and prosperity to our distraoted and sufforing land. AFFAIRS IN ARKANSAS. I he Memphis Argus reports that tbe State Government oI Arkansas is in an unsatisfactory condition. No quorum of the Legislature can be got together, aod there is a very strong feeling among many of tbe prominent loyal men of the State for a remodelling of tbe whole machinery of tbe State Oovernmeut, just as soon as a fair expression ot opinion can be bad, which will be when the rebel forces and bnibwhackers aro driven out of tbe State. A CANDID ADMISSION. The New York Times, of the 1st instant, in some judbious reflections on the only issue and the only solution of the war, takes oooaiion to say : "We can tell the South, fa all sincerity, that the Northern people will carry this war to any extremity rather than lit the nationality be broken. This it the unal terable determination of nint-tenths of the. Northern people, whether supporters or opponents of Pfrrident l.incoln't Administration" It is in the presence of snch statements, made after the Presidential electron, that we can mea sure the wicked injustice of those representations by which, be/ore the late eleotion, it was common for the Republican press ta chargo the supporters lof Gen. McClellan with disloyalty to tho cause of the Union. The admission of the Times carries with it the corollary that tho real issues of the late oanvais were hidden from the people by par tisan calumny and misrepresentation. WASHINGTON DESPATCHES IN NEW YOtfK PAPEttS. We are glad to observe that our intelligent con temporary in New York city, the Evening Post, has discovered that if any kind of paragraph in a newspaper is of less consequence and deserves less attention than all others, it is that which gives shape to the gossip of the hotels and ante-rooms of Washington for the benefit of the New York prefs. As examples of such paragraphs during the last few days, the Post gives tho following compilation : " There ii trouble in the Cabinet; Mr. Stanton is going out; it is all a lie, there i* no trouble in the Cabinet; Mr. 8tauton ia not going out, but Mr. Uaher it; Mr. Lincolu is going to issue a proclamation ; no, Mr. Lincoln is not go ing to issue a proclamation ; Bobert J. Walker ia to suc ceed Mr. Fesaeuden in the Treasury ; it'a all fixed, but Walker'a consent is waited for ; there is a quarrel between Mr. Seward and Mr. Welles ; Mr. Lewis is to succeed Mr. Usher; Mr. Lincoln ia not going to have any more 'old war horses' in the Cabinet, and, this bars out Mr. Walker; the Secretary of the Treasury has a twenty inch gun point ed at the gold apeculatora and means to play . . .at nine pins with them; Geo. Butler is to be Secretary of War; Qovernor Boutwell is coming into the Treasury ; Banks is to go to Louisiana again; it is believed in h'gh official cir cles that Charleston was taken yesterday ;? important reve lations may be expected in a ifew hours ; a foreign loan is on foot; peace commissioners are to be sent to Rich mond ; Mr. Fox knew what he was about when he se lected Lj^ut. Cushing to command the Torpedo, and be was the real sinker of the Albemarle?which ??the Con federacy is at it* last g&sp; the Secretary of the Treaaury does cot contemplate a foreign loan; he is not about to in terfere with the gold speculations; and the Dutch Gap canal is uearly completed." Tho editors of the Post add that they " have fre quently observed, while in Washington, the lack of news of every description?the total absence of sourccs of intelligence of all kinds. Every body there waits for the morning papers from New York, and tho hour when they are expected is one of cxoiteme&t and uneasy wandering about. The mail is opened, and it is then known what took plaoo in Wtahiogton up to two o'olook of the morn ing paat." There is undoubtedly a "great lack" in Wash ington of such "news" as is habitually telegraphed to New York for the consumption of that city. But tho people of Washington do not " wait for the New York papers" ftin tbe expectation of learning from them what took place in our city down to a certain hour, for they have long ago learned to put as little confidence as the Post in the gossip of most of the Washington correspondents. CANADIAN NEUTRALITY. The British Government ban juit issued, through tbe medium of the Canada Gaiette, tbe following order hav ing reference to interoatioaal relation*: " Whereat the Governor in Council has deemed it ei pedient that the e xportation, and alto the carrying eoaat wise, or by inland naviga'ion, of anna, ammunition or gunpowder, and military aod naval (tores, and any articles manufactured for tbe purpose of forming part of any kind of description of arms, or lor tbe purpose of mounting the same, from our Province of Canada bn prohibited : " Now, therefore, know ye that we do, by and with the advice and eonreut of our Executive Couneil, and by this our royal proelamation, prohibit tbe exportation from our Province of Canada or tbe carrying of coastwise or by inland navigation, in auy manner or way whatever, of arms, ammunition or guupowder, or military or naval stores, or any articles manufactured for the purpose of forming part of any kind or description of arms, or for the purpose of mounting the same Of all which our lov ing subjects are to take iffttice, and govern themselves ac cordingly." A Quebec paper, speaking in the ioterest of tbe Gov ernment, says it has taken this course from information in its possession that Southerners and their sympathizer*, iu certain Western towns, " are manufactnring and clan destinely collecting, at convenient piinta, shot, shell, and cannon ' IMPORTS OF DRY GOODM The Journal of Commerce states that during the first eleven months of 185!) tbe imports of [dry goods at New York amounted to upwards of one hundred and tour mil lion dollars; in the same period ol 1860 to over ninety-six millions; in the same months of 1861 they dropped down to to less tban forty-two millions, the succeeding three years are given in the annexed tables. These are all gold va lues, and include only the foreign cost, without freight or duty. If we add these in gold, we shall have the oost to our market, in currency, of the current year's import of dry goods, amounting to considerably over two hundred million dollars. Imports of Foreign Dry Hood* at New York for Eltvin M.mths from January I. ENTF.RF.l) FOR CONSUMPTION. 1862. 1863. J 864. Manufactory wool 120,825,152 *21,127,341 ? $10,679,687 D.. cotton- 0,2*8,990 4,T>7,M.1 6^96,300 Do. ?llk 9,706,8 y> 11,437.841 10.H0V.V34 Do flax 0,025,762 f,.?30,04<* 0,710,696 dry gooda 2,145,0?7 ?J.SSO.Sftl 2.0#8,191 Total antfpad lor continuation 4J,045,320 40,843,6ft: 42,29P,7u7 WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE. 1862. 1863. 1804. MaanlW. him ..f wool $4,306,922 $6,07fl,0t>:s $11,773,.':! Do cotton 2,813,191 1,726,367 2,fi<W,SS6 Do. (Ilk 2,007,283 2,047,000 4,f.fl0,882 Dm. fl?? 1 ,f.W.,(>'Kl 2.304,74! 8,490,603 MlactlUnaotta dry gooda 718,880 442,340 848,880 Tot?J withdrawn frum wan'houaa 12,095,83V 12,797,100 28,47*1,101! Add ?ntvred for conmmptlon 46,046,82a 48,843,403 42,29V,707 Total tflr.'wn on tb? market .. 67,141,106 69,010,072 05,776,810 | ENTRRkD FOR WAREHOUSING. 1862. 1863 1804. Manufccturea of wool $3^61,023 $?,271,390 $14,272,906 Do cotton 1,006,700 2 376,806 2,9f.H,'?:40 Do (Ilk 1.801,044 3,062,100 6,04?,lil Do. flax 814,686 2,834,786 4,320.404 tilt, rllaut'iua dry fooda >76,004 516,907 1,114,712 Total sntsrsd tor waraliouaa 7,0OV,49? 15.069.043 27,731,478 Add ?nt?r*d for cooramptlou ....46,045,820 40,848,603 42,2W,707 ToUl'aot?r?d at tli* port -62,054,822 01,903,600 70,081,1^ A man convicted ot garreting was sentenced ou Fridny at New York to imprisonment for twenty years An uu usual Qumbar of cases of this crime have been reported lately CAPTURE OF NEW CHEEK I'nm tii. Cumberland Telegraph. O.i Monday laat, about 11 o'clock A M . ILieo Of lour hundred rebel cavalry, <u estimated by some peraoua who yaw tin ui, belonging to the difl'<?rent bands that have to ofteu been infesting tbia looality, suddenly appeared at New Cretk, and: having completely surprised the garrison ?tationed th*?re. captured it almost without reautauoe. Ia faot, it i?said the fort was taken and the guns turned upou oar men before they realised their situation. Oar troops there, being portions of the Fiflk and Sixth West Virginia Beg mei.ts, &nd numbering three hundred ujen, were all cap tured,oxcept what few may hi?<e escaped to the mountains. T{ie extensive Government buildings used for quarter master and commissary purpose* wer?> all destroyed with their contents that o?uilJ not ba carried away. A large number of hora a and cattla were ttlao captured. Tbe whole lost to the Government is Estimated at ft very large amount If the facts be true ai we have heard, this ha* been one (.f tbe moat inexcuaable blunders of the war. It was a complete turprire in broad daylight, and that too with h knowledge of tbe fact that an enemy was nenr. We do notkeow where the blame attaches, if there beany, but we do hope thut the proper authorities will takq the matter in hand and fully investigate it, and punish the guilty parties, whoever they may be. THE INCENDIARY PLOT AT NEW YORK. The New York Evening Post of Thursday aa\ a : " The military authorities Mid the police are acting together for tbe detection of tbe persona concerned in the plot to fire this city, snd are doing all that lies in their power to unravel tbe myatery. A Military Commission ia now ia session, taking testimony ia regard to the plot; but as it would defeat tbe purpose iu view to make known any thing con nected with the proceedings of that body, information is withheld. There is no doubt now that the persons con cerned in tbe plot here were of the same class as tbe De troit and St. Albans raiders; and that, as in those cases, they dispersed and returned to their asylum iu Canada the moment they thought they had accomplished their work. There is strong reason to believe that some of them will be detected, and made to pay the penalty of their crimes Our information is derived from the best sources. All persons from the insurgent States, whether they have been here ainse the commencement of the rebellion, or now arriving, are required to report and register their names. The number of tbeee persons who are enemies bm been much overstated, as many who are here are from Kentucky and Missouri, which are not States in rebellion." T11E MIGRATORY MOVEMENT. The oveiland emigration duriug the past season :a (aid to have exceeded one hundred and fifty thousand eou^s. It ia difficult to trace the destination of thsae vast migratory multitudes, but undoubtedly they send tributary detach menta to Montano, Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and California. So far as we discern, the main body prefer Colorado, Nevada, and California. The moat surprising and unusual thing oonnecUd with this vast migratory move ment is that it still continued up to tbe latest dates. As illustrative of tbU we quote the subjoined from a letter to the Chicago Tribune, dated November 1-llh : " The amount of travel westward, and the rapidity with which our new Territories are being peopled, can scarcely be conceived of by those who tre dwelling quietly at home I took tbe pain* to oouot the ox t?ami winch we met on the road in one day outward bound. They numbeied by actual count sixteen huoifred a>id seventy cattle. Thry wr-re bios'ly loaded wish machinery owned by gold compa nies in Colorado, though some were gob# further west. I do oot know whether the traiuc nu t ou the day I counted them would more or leas than average, but if but cue-hall the number only should be met every day through the sea son, all ran see by a simple act of mulliplicatiou that the census of the rood alone is beyond the reach of ordioary minds to comprehend its vaatness, and so is scarce worth the count V 11 am told that there is lying at Atchuon, Leavenworth, and Kansas City more macLi.iery than can be freighted out th s season by all the menu* within reach. Wagon masters are < flVring from $100 to $145 per month to the drivers of ox-teams, and yet cannot get supplied." By the rapid ex'eusion westward of tbe settlements io Kansas aod Nebraska, together with the progress eastward of the settlements in Colorado, a? well as tbe establish meat of numerous stations and ranches along tbe emigrant trail, tb- journey is shorn of its f rmer terrors. f Phi'adtlp\ia aw TROUBLE WIT1I CONSCRIPTS McCoNNELsm'RQ, (Pa.) Dtc. 3.?A G*ht ocourred at Timber ttidge, yesterday, between a portion of compary F, of the 'Oist Pennsylvania Mounted Infantry, aad some delinquent conscript* and deserters, congregated at a shooting match. Tbe soldiers having advanced, Provost Marshal hftupt went forward to holJ a parley with the eonscrpK They refused to listen to bim, and immedi ately commenced to lire shots, none of which took effect The soldiers then opened fire, when a general fight ensued, lasting f?r about an hour. The consctipti and deserters were finally driven over two hills, skirmishirg being kept up tbe whole way The lighting was carried on prinei pally in the woods. Tbe casualties were slight. The con scripts lost one mao killed and two w< uoded. One wounded man was explored ; tbe remainder, being familiar with the o untry made good their escape into tbe mouata.us. None of our men were injured. More affairs of this kind may b; speedily looked for, as it is determined to brirg these outlaws to justice. destructive fire in baton rouge CorreSjtonHtnre of Iht Nr.u> Orleans Picayune. Baton Ro?ue, Nov cm her S". A most devastating fire took place last n:ght (l'uesdoy) about 11 o'clock. During Qen, Lee's late rai l into Mis sissippi a Urge number of contrabands returned with the expedition, and quarters were forthwith prepared for them, in tbe east wing of tbe Peniteutiary. Tbat portion of the building consists of three stories, tbo second story being laid with a thin layer of cement, supported by wooden beams, and under the floor upon th.? cement these contra bands, contrary to orJers, made a large Are, wbi h ignited tbe timbers below, and bence its destruction spread. The building was formerly used as a eottoo manufactory, and evih floor measured one hundred and eighty by forty-six feet The timbers were completely saturated with oil and grease, which added intensity to the fire Ou the ground fl <>r of the building were the quartermaster's mules ai J horses, (about two hundred in all,) together with seventy five full sets of harness. Only one narrow doorway led ' thereto. All attempts to gat these animals out proved fruitless ; consequently all became a prey to tbe devouring element. Loss The centre wing was saved, although the flames had obtained considerable advantage. Lieut, tiilleite and Capt Bradley, division quartermaster, succeeded in relieving over four hundred mules and horses out of the buildings; three hundred of them have already been retaken, and it is expected tbe remainder have not strayed far, and will be eventually recovered. COURT MARTIAL CASKS. Tbe record* of the court* martial in tbe cum of forty eight military officer* are officially promulgated. Ttie*e include two lieutenant colonel*; three m?jor*, fifteen cap taiu*. eighteen first lieutenant*, and eight *eoond lieuten ant*. They had committed various offence*, aucb a* ma king fal*e return*, dwobedienoe of order*, fraudulently re oelving money, mi*beha?ior before tbe enrrny, gambling and drinking with collated uien, Ac Fifteen were cod *icted of drunkeune**. Nearly all tbe*e officer* were di* miated tbe lerr.oe. MlLrUUiT OPERATIONS IN SOU HI .CAROLINA. Hilton Head, (8. C.) November 30,1604. For come daya, by order of the military authorities at thi? point, the publication of newspapers ha* been prohi bited, iu view of an expedition which was orgauixing for operation* ia the interior. Yeaterday morning at three o'clock Mojor G*n. J. O. Foater, commanding the Department of the South, sailed from Port Royal aud proceeded up Broad river to Boyd's Poiut, five miles below Pocotaligo bridge. Upon his ar rival there the General ordered the disembarkation of hia forces ami succeeded iu ejecting ulandiug without op position. After tending t>ad lormiog h>* column the General or dered the troops to advance. Geo J. P Hatch, with hia command, led the an, and Geu. Potter brought up the rear with hia rwserve corps. The column had moved but a short distance when the advance detachment encountered seven rebel pickets, and, after some auceeasful marceuver ing and a spirited charge, captured the entire number The latest information received here from the scene of operation* is to the effect that Gen. I'Yster made an im mediate attack on Pocotaligu bridge, and after a sharp fight succeeded iu captunug it, obliging the garrison to evacuate summarily and hastily. By the capture of the bridge large quantities of cotton fell into the hands of our forcea. For the want of sufficient transportation the cot ton is being destroyed. Two former attempts have been made upon this posi tion, but so persistent was the opposition of the enemy that both vrere abandoned. In the preseut instance Gm. Fos ter has succeeded in its capture without the loaa of a single man. It is generally supposed that the enemy ia ex tremely weak along the coast, having considerably lessened the strength of his parrisons in order to concentrate a force against bhertnan. OUTBREAK OF UNION PRISONERS SOU I II. From the Richmond Enquirer of November 26th. On Thursday last a serious attempt was made by the Federal prisoners confined at Salisbury (N. C.) to m?ko their eacspe, which whs rapidly and effectually quelled at the expense of ocaiderable Yankee blood. It appears th*t a p!-it had been formed among tho prisoners, of whom there are at Salisbury rouje thirteen thousand, to over power the interior guard of the encampment, then break through the line of the parapet guard, and, after securing all the arms they could, to march through Western North Carolina into Tennessee, and make good their escape. In the first part of tbeir programme they succeeded. The iuterior guards-were soon overpowered, and two of the unfortunate men were killed while resisting. T^ey then attacked the parapet guard, who fought bravely against the terrible odds, until the alarm had been fully comuiu1-' uicated to the garrison, and two pieces of artillery were thrown into position bearing upon the encampment. Two of the parapet guard were killed in their gallant defence. Iu good time the artillery opened, and, after a few raking discharges of grtpe aud can.ster, the insurrectionists cried out for mercy, aud declared that Ihey would make no fur ther effort to get away By this time they were com pletely surrounded with artillery and infantry, and it is well for them that ihey cessod their demonstration and su.'d for mercy. In ten minutes more the whole camp would have been one scene of sltugtater. As it was, about forty were killed, and a large number woucded. Tb?n a vary foolish attempt to escaps from Confederate durance has ended. It will prove, no doubt, a lesson to prisoners in the South. But fur.the coolness, and, it may be added, the consideration) of the t fficers commanding the garrison, the p'lnisf mc*ut i A cted upon these misguiied captives would have bceu far more serious, if indeed it had not amounted to the annihilation of the entire bo4y. HEAVY FORGERIES IN BALTIMORE On the 8tli of N'tvt inter tbe ITcioo, Western, Commerce, Ch ?? tp.'.iko, ?nJ Mechanics' Banks of Baltimore were vic tim i d to tbt (mount of over $60,000, by means of forged checks, in sums varying from $4,000 to $7,000. The checks on which there sums were drawn purported to have been signed by Btynes Brothers, Cox dr. Co, Lawrinson * Smith, Juhqson Brothers, aud other of the leading brokers and bankers of that city The signatures were in many cmos so well executed that the peiaons whose names were u*ed were forced to refer to iL? cbeck-books to detect the difference. For someday^ prior to tbj date aboie men tioned the persons who forged the checks transacted bu*i aesu with the ftius indicated above by selling g ?ld aud ^ unenrrent funds, and in this manner obtained checks from I which the signatures were copied. Several of ti e offenders I have been arrested io New Yoik and Baltimore, and it is believed that they are the same party who not long sioce perpetrated a series oi f..rperies on the Ph;l ide!pb;a banks lion. JaMifl Speed, h distinguished lawyer of Kentucky, has been appointed by the President Attorney General if the United Stateo, to till the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judpe Bates When tli? mg&atiou ill Attorney General Bates took effect the position wm ofl. red to Judge Advocate Geoeral HoLT, of Kentucky That gentleman tendered the Presi dent bit thanks for this expression of bis oonfiJence. but felt obliged t<> dec.ine tbe office. Hi publican GOLD IS (GREENBACKS Tie l<?ll >wir.g ii a very useful table nt this moment, pub lished by the Metropolitan Insurance Compnuy, N%?w York. It shows at a glauee how much currency tuny b?* bad for a certain amount of gold, and rice-ttrta : s i ? ; '< 1 nj 105 no 110 (X) 115 1*1 ISO 0> 125 00 13'1 00 135 OU 140 00 14.'? 00 I flit 00 14 '. 00 100 00; lGft 90 1J0 I?I IT.'. 00 180 00 lis 00 190 00 2W 00 ?-'00 00 106 uo Ii M t 3 4.77 ? I.? is; ua in ?7 20.00 23. us 2ft 93 2S.68 3I.04 ?u>.;t4 4'.| 3T.6D 30.40 41.1?> 42.80 44.45 46.96 47 .."->7 4M.72 60 .1,0 01.22 p.T ???nt per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent per Sent per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent per rent per ent per rent per cant per cant per cent p?r .-ent per cent 18 $D5 23 ?H1 t?l S?'? l)$ (.J 33 so nO TO 92 T4 07 71 42 08 96 <W IK, t-4 61 M 54) tio 11 6H 82 6T 1) 64 Oft 62 M .'?1 28 ?o 00 48 78 * H ^ 1 3 3 s re: fat 5I5 5 p cs 0 ? 0 ? T ? 5 |? 5 q ? i 2.? C.'-* 2in 00 215 00 220 Of ?21:, 00 230 00 244 00 2.VI HO *10 00 271) bo 2*1 00 2?0 00 >K) Oo 400 00 60000 ?)0 00 700 00 ?t;<) 00 WI"J 00 1.000 00 6,000 to lo.ooo 00 62.30 .'>3.4(1 64 66 66.6" 6e.ea 69.33 00.00 ?l 64 oa.97 04.2d 06.62 W.oT 76.00 so.oo 83 34 86 Tl ?750 ?nS SU 90,00 98.00 99.00 par coat per oent per cent per cent per cant per cent per cent per cent l*>r cant per cent per uaut per cent l?er c>-nt per ?nt per cent per ent per cant per ceBt per cant per cent per cent $47 02 4rt ;,1 46 4 .-. 14 41 43 18 41 07 40 oO 38 43 87 ?4 86 71 34 4* 33 as to 00 20 00 it) oo 14 29 12 69 11 U 10 00 2 00 I 00 THE DRAFT IN KENTUCKY A delegation from Kentucky, oonaiatiog of Mniri. Geo H. Yeaman, W. P. D. Bush, and Cola. Alfred Allen and C. D. Penny baker, have been hero for aome daya for tbe purpose of obtaining an order to atop the draft in Km tuoky. Tbe reauli of their laat conference ou Saturday with the President, the Secretary of War, nod tie Profdt Marthal General was successful, and an order was :??ued ?topping further drafting in that Bute. NU| (ieu. Bto BCfaii. tbe brilliant cavalry InadiT, lias bt*en appointed to tbe ro?>iuand of tbe Htate ol Kentucky, vice Huibritfte, sui>er?eded. Geu. Htonemau is tta officer and gentleman and will be found ?H|iial to bis truat 1 Memphis Dtmocrat. 29tU Sovtmbtr NECESSITY OF RETRENCHMENT. m ? Tho New Yoik Times very opportunely argues that one of the mos. argent dntits of Congrtss is retrenchment For tho first thro-/" ^ears of tho war, it says, the nation has conducted tho struggle on the principle of immense outlays of money and nan to accomplish great results speedily. Tho following views ,ieem to differ somewhat from those of the President in his message Th?; Times says : " We are spending at a frifjhtin^ rate. Our taxts ar?i stretched almost to the eitremity. The ({old bearing loans will soon come to ?a end from the limit tixeJ by the goid returned ij duties New loans will be placed and readily taken, but they caunot meet probably otie-balf of oar umIj expenditure. Production itself? i.h? erasure of our wealth?in already fat ling the effect of the Iocs of lahor and hat diminished in the most important cereals about seven per rent, during the last year, iuatead of increaa.i jj, an we hud hoped it would do. It is true that; ih.* uiost re markable and fortunate developwont of our mineral r* sources during the last three yearn, in the produce <; -s mine* of Colorado and Ni-vada, auJ the stiJden discover) of petroleum in immense quantities, Rive ui much hops for the future. Still we are upending on a gigantic scalr There is a limit even to the power of this uat;ou io baci iog a public debt. It should always be borne in mind that national bankruptcy in among the things possible. Of the crusbiog oi the rebellion there can bet n? doubt, but it may be gained thiough the destruction of Ihe pub! c ere.tit Bankruptcy in the Freo States would bo u calnuity ot which in all the material evils of this war wo li:un n.im yet experienced even the resemblance." REPORTS FROM SAVANNAH. Corrtiponilenre oj (tie Baltimore Avtrrieau. Annapoi.ih, December u 1 be steamer General Lyon, of the exchange fleet, from Savannah river on Friday latt, arrived here th:n afternoon, with seven hundred and forty paroled Union prisoner*. When she If ft Savannah river it wan reported that Ueu Sherman's scouts were within four miles of the city En ei y person capable of bearing arms win in the trenches, an.I guns had been placed in the Lands of the wounded in the* ci'y to fire on the " Yankees" as they marched through tbo streets. The exchange of prisoners had been stopped, as Sherman's army had entirely surrounded Savduuab, and cut all tde railroads lesdiift into it. Tht) Savannah papers of the '26th ari l ^-;kh ultimo con tain orders from Gen. Hardeo and the State enrolling offi cers for all citizens and soldiers to report by Wednesday, the '.JOtb ultimo, for the defence of the city, under the pen alty of arrest lor refusing to do ao. The Savannah News of the ?J-uh ban a long article on the "extraordinary proclamation of Gen. A. R. Wright, who claims to bo ei-officio Governor of the State of Geor gia." It pronounces the proclamation a " remarkable docu ment," and says it is " without necessity, precedent, or jus tification, is unwarrantable and unlawful, and an assump tion unparalleled.1 It doubts whether Mr. Wright is in his righi mind, and concludes by stating that Gov. Brown is expected in Savannah on Monday or Tuesday, fioni whence he is to proceed to Augusta, and the Mex-offieio will th^n learn tbe extent of his disability." As Milieu whs etplured on the tiSKh ultimo (Tuesday) it is not likely that the Governor visited Savanuah, and the question uf th? " Government" of Georgia must still rerj:aia a ip< sti< n for th* arbitrament of Gen. Sherman. THE WAR IN VIRGINIA. Our eontemp;>rartea publish the ain^x^d de spatches of Geu. Leo, obtained rum I .te Kichtno nl j >ur nils : Headquarters Army Northern Virginia, Deccmbtr 2, 1H04, Hon. J. A Skdiios: The enemy attacked Styny Creek depot yesterday and burned most of the buildings. con*ui? ing some stores and Oorn, but most of the latter wa- t*ved The railroad is unharmed. Gen Lee, coming up as theecemy was retiring, attacked and drove him rap:diy eight miles, capturing some pnaoaers, but could not bring bim to an eng -gemeat The depot wn occupied by ab ut on? hundred ;wd tifly men, under Capt. Waldoam, about one hundred a id twenty live uf whom are^aaid tu have been capture? am iig ttieui, 1 regret to stste, Mejor Fitchugb, q jartermaster The enemy Ieit some dead at tu- d pot and a'">ng tbe route of hia retreat. K. E. LES. HEADQUARTKRH ARMY NuRTHERN VIRGINIA, Dtcunbir '2. IS64 Geu. Early reporfa that Gen. Rosser, w tb ? ayoe's en t his own brigade, encountered on the 27th ultimo, u<*ar Moorcfield?a small parly oftbe enemy, ani captured forty prisoners ard one piece of artillery. On the SJ8;b te surprised and cap umd Fort Kel'v. at New Creek, with f.<ur field-piece*, four iarg< guus, be tween seveu an J eight hundred p u.cirrs," a Uigu uunb r ? ?I horses and >? ules, and eight standi uf onlir* and de stroyed two hundred wagons aud a quantity nf c uim ?sm y and tftdui! ce stores. He brought < tf (be field pieo s and Home wagons, sp.ked ib-aieg* guns and destroyed tbe car riages Me ai*o captured Piedor'U?, desroved all the Government buildings, burned several bridges, d d e >u? eiderabic damage to the railroad, aud Oeltect d aeVoral hundred h-il < f cat'le. His lo*s wa - two kulrd aud t vo or three woundr-d TLe btddoeea a d energy exhibited by Qeu HosBt-r aud tbe conduct n| h.a icei deserve lauik praise It. L. LtE. ARRIVAL OF MORE PRISONERS. Fok'i resb Munroe, dec 4 ?-Tbo propeller General Lyon has arrived from the Sa^anc&b river with.743 e* changed priaonera Theaa men are generally io good cod dition A aergeant who was with them report Hberuaan a csvalry within six nilMOf Safa'inth on the 30th ol Novem ber, &od riy? that four tritiui loaded wi:h rebel adders bad arrived by tbe Qui! railroad There had been do report ot d.saater to any part of Sherman ? Corps. Tie aays the rail road was oilt just after the train on which he came t? Sa vannah Lad paaaed through. ' Tbu settlement of the account* of the tUieers cooueo ed with the great Fair lately held io tLe city ol New Turk for the benefit of the aoljiera abous that it yielded the tttu of $1,180,000. The Post juatly refers to thia exhibit ' a* acarcely Iopb honorable to the akill, energy, ani integrity of the gentlemen by whom ;tj money affect were aia&ngad tban'it ia to tie charitable character of the metropolian' A letter from New Orleans, dated November 26, atit.** that Qen. Can by is rapidly recovering, and ia now able to attend to hi* official business daily. Uen. Ullman ia ?hiel in command of all forces at Morgauxia. On the '.' >tb ill tim.> Acting Lieut Thateher, commanding gunli >t Gm selle.wat murdered by rebela while ashore <>n th<? H*n?l below tbe mouth of the Red river. ARRESTS IN NEW YORK Tbo police of tbe city of New Y"ifc <"> ki",< *> suant to orders fruui Qen. Dlx, pi ?d I to Ibe Hotel* ot that city and arretted about s>xfy persons. t ii tlie ground that they bad failed to c mp'y w'ltb Qen !)?* * aider ie ijuiring all persons Who LaJ witL.n the past two jears re aided in the South, and Who hid not taken the oath of ?*! legiance.to cali at hi? headquarters and register tbeir aMMa andaddre?s. Those arrested were taken to the military head quarters. On Mouday they were extmitieJ, wh> a it waa found that a moat all of tbem had complied with the regit tration order. Tbe othera were releaaed oq condition that tbey would call at Geo. Peck'a headquarter* without delay and record their namea. The polio* wre atill buay ou Monday in making more arrette. hut all who were taken to headquartera wefe discharged ?< ?oou a* the faot of tbeir regiatration was foand out", or upon tin tr verbal promiae that thty would have their names put op o the list as aooii at possible. The Evening Post nays : "The particular* of the various urn st* are withheld from the public, the Department deeui.ng it unw.s* t? publish the names of tbe arretted p.usona at tba present time. It may be stated, however, that auy persitna ar retted who are not loyal, or who caauot give a good to oount of tbemaelvea, will be detained and tried <v? toon aa apecidoatioo* and charge* can be mad# against tbem. '