Massachusetts Weekly Spy, 1861-12-11

XXXVIIIh COXCtRESS - First Session. Washington, Dec. 4. ' SENATE. ' < Mr. Chandl* introduced a resolution to expel Mr. Breckinridge. Mr. Powell took the ground that as Breckinridge had resigned he could not be expelled. Mr. Trumbull of of-red - -red of-red a substitute, as follows, which Mr. Chand Chandler - ler Chandler accepted - Whereas, John C. Breckinridge, a member of this body, has joined the enemies of his conntry, and is now in arms against the gov government - ernment government he had sworn to support, therefore Resolved, That the traitor Breckinridge be expelled from the senate. Adopted - yeas 36, nays none. Absent, or not voting - Messrs. Bayard, Bright, Johnson of Missouri, Johnson of Tennessee, Pearce, Polk, Powell, Rice, Sauls Saulsbury, - bury, Saulsbury, and W illey. The standing committees announced are the same as at the extra session, except the follow following - ing following : - Mr. Harris on foreign relations, in - place of Mr. Breckinridge; Mr. Nesmith on military affairs, in place of Mr. Baker; Mr. Carlisle on public lands, in place of Mr. Bing Bingham - ham Bingham ; Mr. Clark bn Indian affairs, in place of Mr. Foot; Mr.- Willey on pensions, in place ot Mr. Bingham ; Messrs. Pomeroy and Car Carlisle - lisle Carlisle on territories, in place of Messrs. Ba ker and Breckinridge. The committee on en enrolled - rolled enrolled bills consists of Messrs. Browning, Wil Willey, - ley, Willey, and Saulsbury. A resolution was introduced for the release of colored persons confined in the prison in Washington by persons calling themselve jus justices - tices justices ot the peace. Mr. Hale advocated the resolution, saying, he thought the community of Washington the most corrupt in the coun country, - try, country, and urged that it was the duty of congress to look into the administration of justice in this district. The resolution was referred to the committee on the District of Columbia. A resolution was adopted, that the marshal of the District of Columbia report immediate immediately - ly immediately the names of all persons confined in jail in this city, and the causes of their commitment, the names of the magistrates by whom they were committed, and the names of the persons who made the first arrest. A resolution was passed that the laws now in force in the district relating to the arrest of fugitives from service, together with Ml other laws concerning persons of color within the district, be referred to the committee on the District of Columbia, and that the committee be instructed to consider the expediency of abolishing slavery in the district, with com compensation - pensation compensation to the owners of slaves. Mr. Wilkinson introduced a bill to abolish the distinction between the volunteers and reg regulars. - ulars. regulars. Mr. Saulsbury of Delaware offered a joint resolution, which is as follows : - Whereas, The people ot the states of Vir Virginia, - ginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas,and Tennessee, are in revolt against the constitutional government of the United Slates, and have assumed to secede from the Federal Union, to form an indepen dent government, under the name of the Con Confederate - federate Confederate Slates ot America, and w hereas, the congress of the United States, approving the sentiments of the president ill his annual message, that the Union must be preserved, and, lienee, all indispersable means must be employed ; and, believingjhat kind and frater fraternal - nal fraternal feeling between the people of all the states is indispensable to the maintenance of a happy nnd prosperous Union ; and being willing to manifest such feelings on our part to them, and that peace may be restored to a distracted country, and the Union and constitution be preserved and maintained ; and inviting the co operation of the people of the aforesaid states in the accomplishment of this object, it is desirable to each and all to resolve as fol folows - ows folows : - Resolved, That Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, Roger B. Taney, Edward Everett, George M Dallas, Thomas M. Ewing, Horace Burney. Reverdy Johnson, John J. Critten Crittenden, - den, Crittenden, George E. Pugli, and Richard W. Thomp Thompson, - son, Thompson, be, and they are hereby appointed com commissioners - missioners commissioners on the part of congress, to confer with a like number of commissioners to be appointed by the states aforesaid, for the pres preservation - ervation preservation of the Union and the maintenance of the constitution, and that they report the re result - sult result of said conference to congress, for ap approval - proval approval or rejection. Resolved, that upon the appointment of commissioners, as hereby invited, by said states, and upon the meeting of the joint com commission - mission commission tor the purpose of conference afore said, active hostilities shall cease and be sus suspended, - pended, suspended, amT shall hot be renewed unless said commission shall be unable to agree, or incase of an agreement by them, unless said agree agreement - ment agreement shall be rejected, either by congress, or by the aforesaid states. The resolution was laid on the table. A resolution was adopted, requesting the secretary of war to furnish copies of the gen general - eral general orders in the wiiitary department of Mis Missouri, - souri, Missouri, relative to fugitive slaves. Mr. Hale submitted the following, which lies over: Resolved, That the committee on the judic judiciary - iary judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expedien expediency - cy expediency and propriety of abolishing the supreme court of the United States, and establishing instead thereof another supreme court, in pur pursuance - suance pursuance of the provision of the constitution, such as will, in the opinion of congress, meet the requirements of the constitution. Among the bills introduced were the follow following - ing following : By Mr. Latham - a bill to establish a line of steam mail ships between San Francisco and Shangbae, touching at th/ Sandwich Islands and Japan ; and a bill to authorize and facili facilitate - tate facilitate mining operations in the states of Califor California - nia California and Oregon, and in the territories of the United States. Adjourned. HOUSE. Mr. Lovejoy, from the committee on agri agriculture, - culture, agriculture, reported the homestead bill, which was referred to the committee on public lands. Mr. Van Wyck, from the select committee to investigate government contracts, reported a resolution giving the committee leave to sit during the sessions of the house and leave to report.from time to time. Adopted. Mr. Upton introduced a bill for the restora restoration - tion restoration of Alexandria county to the District of Columbia. Referred to the committee on the district. , Mr. Vallandigham submitted a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the president to communicate to the house, if not incompati incompatible - ble incompatible with the public interest, copies of any com communications - munications communications addressed to the executive by the governments of England, Spain, and France, ih regard to the armed intervention proposed by them in the affairs of Mexico, and any oth other - er other information he may have to communicate. Mr. Hutchins introduced a joint resolution concerning the rebellion ; consideration post postponed. - poned. postponed. Also the following : Whereas, It has been represented that there are confined in the government jail forty-five persons who are not charged with crime, but . gre represented as being slaves, the committee for the District of Columbia be instructed to inquire into tile truth of said report, and by what authority they are confined, who are the reputed owners, and what Tegistatioti is needs needssay - say needssay to relieve them from imprisonment, and prevent similar eases hereafter, and report by bill or otherwise. Adopted. Mr. Cox introduced the following, which was referred to the committee on the judicia judiciary - ry judiciary Resolved, That the president be requested to inaugurate and systematize measures for mi exchange of prisoners in the present war. Mr. Dunn offered a resolution that the coni conim'lttee - m'lttee conim'lttee on foreign affairs inquire into the prac practicability - ticability practicability and expediency of procuring the rights and privileges of settlement and citizen citizenship - ship citizenship on any part of this continent, ot- on adja adjacent - cent adjacent islands south of the United States, for the habitation of free persons ot African descent, who may choose to emigrate thereto from the- United States for the formation of independent colonies, to be protected trom foreign molesta molestation. - tion. molestation. Adopted. Mr. Hutchins asked leave to introduce a bill to abolish slavery in the District oi Colum Columbia; - bia; Columbia; objected to. Adjourned. Thursday, Dec. 5. SENATE Mr. Rice asked permission to record a vote on the expulsion of Breckinridge, as lie was absent yesterday. Granted. He voted yea. Mr. Sumner offered a resolution to print 10,060 extra copies of the president's message. Referred to the committee on printing. Mr. Sumner presented a petition from the citizens ot Haverhill, Mass., that the slaves of rebels be liberated unconditionally, and the slaves of Union men on fair payment. Mr. Chandler offered a resolution to ap appoint - point appoint a committee to inquire into the disasters at Bull Run and Edwards Ferry. Mr. Lane of Kansas moved to amend, and insert Springfield, Wilson's Creek, and Lex Lexington. - ington. Lexington. He said, the man most entitled to honor had been punished at Wilson's Creek. He perished, and was sacrificed because be was not relieved when lie might have been. The people want to know why the gallant General Lyon was sacrificed. They want to

the coxtrabamr QYnesTioir. Department of State. 1 Washington, Dec. 4,1861. J To Maj, Gen. George B. McClellan: General, - I am directed by the president to call your attention to the following subject: - Persons dlaiuied to be held to service or labor under the laws of the state of Virginia, and actually employed in hostile service against the government of the United States, frequent frequently - ly frequently escape from the lines of the enemy'* force* and are received within the lines of the army of the Potomac. This department under understands - stands understands that such persons, all' - ward coming into the city of Washington, are liable to be arrested by the city police, npon the presump presumption - tion presumption arising from color that they are fugitWes from service or labor. By the fourth section of the act of congress, ap approved - proved approved August 6, 1861, entitled "An act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes," such hostile employment is made a full and sufficient answer to any further claim to service or labor. Persons thus em employed, - ployed, employed, and escaping, are received into the military protection of the United States, and their arrest as fugitives from labor or service should be immediately followed by the milita military - ry military arrest of the parties making the seizure. Copies of this communication will be sent to the mayor of the city of Washington, and to the marshal of the District of Columbia, that any collision between the military and civil authorities may be avoided. I am, General, Your very obedient servant, [Signed] Wm. H. Seward. AN IMPORTANT OKIIEK FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Washington, Dec. s - The5 - The secretary of the treasury has just issued the following gen general - eral general regulations relative to securing and dis disposing - posing disposing of the property found or brought with within - in within territory now or hereafter occupied by the United States forces in the disloyal states : - Treasury Department, Nov. 26, 1861. - In order to the security and proper disposition of the productions of the soil and all. other property found within the limits of the state* or parts of states declared to be in insurrection against the United States, and now occupied or to be hereafter occupied by the troops and authority of the Union, the following regula regulations - tions regulations are established : - There shall be ap appointed - pointed appointed by the secretary of the treasury, with the approbation of the president, wents to re reside - side reside at such ports or places as are or 'may be occupied by the forces of the United States, whose duties shall be to secure and prepare for market the cotton and such other products and property as may be found or brought within the lines of the army, or under the con control - trol control ol the federal authorities. To enable such agents to fulfill tho duties devolved upon them, the military and naval authorities, un under - der under proper instructions, will render such mili military - tary military protection and aid as may be required to carry out the intentions of tins department. Persons held to service for life under state laws, who may be found within such limits, may be employed by the agent, who will pre prepare - pare prepare lists embracing the names, sex. and con condition - dition condition of such persons, and, as near as may be, (heir respective ages, together with the flame of any person claiming their services, which lists shall lie in -triplicate - one lor the military commandant, one for the files of the agent, end one to be immediately forwarded to the secretary of the treasury. The persons so listed will be organized for systematized labor in securing and preparing for market the cotton, rice, and other products found within territory brought un ler federal control. , Pay rolls will be prepared, and a strict account 'of the labor daily performed by tach person should be entered thereon, for which a proper compensation shall be allowed and paid to the laborers. The amount of such compensation will ba fixed in proportion to their services, rendered by the agent, and approved by the military commandant, and by the secretary of he treasury. An inventory of all horses, mules, and other stock, vehicles of transportation, and other property, will be carefu ly made, and a copy transmitted to the secretary 6f the treasury, signed by such agent. A record of all pro products - ducts products taken possession of will be made, and those of each plantation kept distinct. When prepared for shipment, the package from the several plantations will be plainly marked and numbered, so as to be easily distinguished. An account of all provisions of whatsoever char character, - acter, character, found on such plantation, wifi be taken, and such provisions will be used, so far as may be necessary, for the sustenance of the laborers thereon. Any' deficiencies of subsist subsistence - ence subsistence will be supplied by the United States commissary, upon the requisition of the agent to whom they will lie charged, and for vrbich he will account. The cotton and other articles, when pre prepared - pared prepared for market, shall be shipped to New York, and, so far as practicable, by the re returning - turning returning government transports, and all ship shipments - ments shipments shall be consigned to a designated agent at New York, unless otherwise specifically directed by the secretary of the treasury. A carefully detailed account will be kept by the agent, of all supplies furnished by the govern government - ment government and of all expenditures made. Each agent will transmit weekly a report of his pro proceedings - ceedings proceedings to the secretary of the treasury, and render his accounts in duplicate monthly for settlement. All requisitions, bills of lading, and invoices, will be countersigned by the military commander, or by such officer as he may designate tor the purpose. Each agent will so transact his business and keep his ac accounts - counts accounts that as little injury as possible may accrue to private citizens who may maintain or may within a reasonable time resume the character of loyal citizens of the United States. . IMPORTANT OR»£RS OF GEN. HAL HALLECK. - LECK. HALLECK. St. Louis, Dec. 5 - Gen. Halleck has issued lengthy general orders, the principal points of which are as follows : - Lieut. Col. B. W. Farrar is appointed pro provost - vost provost marshal of the department. Command Commanding - ing Commanding officers of districts, posts, and corps, are directed to arrest and place in confinement all persons in arms against the United State*, or who give assistance, aid, or encouragement to the enemy. All property belonging to such persons which can be used by the army will be taken posession of for that purpose, and all other property' will be examined by a board of officers ami sold according to army regula regulations. - tions. regulations. All persons found in disguise as pre pretended - tended pretended loyal citizens, or under other false pre pretenses - tenses pretenses within our lines giving information to or communicating*wiih the enemy, will be arrest arrested, - ed, arrested, tried, and shot as spies. Persons now em employ - ploy employ ed or enlisted in the service of the «o «o-called - called «o-called confederate states who commit.hostility will not be treated as prisoners of war, but punished as criminals, and be shot or less severely punished according to the rules of war. In consequence of large numbers of Union families and non-combatants having been plundered and driven from their homes in a destitute condition, and thousands of guch persons now finding their way into this city, the provost marshals are directed to ascertain the condition- of-peraoHs- so driven from their homes, and, under the military law of retalia retaliation, - tion, retaliation, quarter them in the houses and feed and clothe them at the expimse of - sionists, who, although they do not themselves rob and.plunder, give aid and encouragement, abet and countenance the acts of their fellow rebels. KF.rORTED FIGHT BETWEEN FAR FARSON - SON FARSON BROWNLOW AINO THE TRAI TRAITORS. - TORS. TRAITORS. Cairo, Dec. 5. - A special dispatch in tho Memphis papers of the 2'l gives an account of a great battle at Morristown, east Tennes Tennessee, - see, Tennessee, between the federal forces under Parson Brownlow, and the rebels, which was fought Dee. Ist, and in which the Parson's forces were victorious. The rebel dispatch calls it the first Union victory of the war. Brown low had 3000 men. The rebel force is not ascertained. The rout of the rebels was com plete. The Memphis Avalanche of Dec. 2d has the following: - "A large body of Unionists attacked the confederate forces at Morristown, East Tennessee, yesterday, killing a large number, and completely routing them. Maj. Gen. George Crittenden ^»s arrived at Knox ville to take commaud of the confederate forces. BUFFERINGS <>F THE EOTAMSTS IN MISSOURI. , St. Louis, Dec. s. - The care of the refu refugees - gees refugees from the southward has been assigned by Gen. Halleck to the sanitary commission in charge ot the government hqspital in this city , where liberal contributions of money, cot i iing, - ing, iing, and provisions are received. The provost marshal has taken steps Io furnish suitable quarters among the stceesionists of this city for all those needing such accommodati''" > and about S6OO worth of clothing, b>» > &c., belonging to the Camp have been confiscated for their Client, borne six hundred refugees bajfe already gone into Illinois, where they wiir'el'ihavor to support their families u>"fl 'they can return to their homes. Ilirgc numbers continue to arrive, ami Uj^ioail between here and Rolla is with them.

know why the regiments were sent to Cairo instead of to his relief, and why the army moved at a snail's pace to reinforce Col. Mui ligan, at Lexington. The people wanted' to know the names of those who permitted these things, and in his opinion they would not have to look far for the man who permitted the sac sacrifice - rifice sacrifice 6f Gen. Lyon. Mr. Lane's amendment was disagreed to. Mr. Grimes offered a substitute to appoint a committee of two members of the senate and three of the house to investigate the causes of disasters to our arms. On motion of Mr. Fessenden the subject was postponed until to-morrow. Mr. Wilson gave notice that he should to tomorrow - morrow tomorrow introduce a bill to abolish sutlers in volunteer forces. Mr. Grimes moved to take up the resolution to investigate the case of Colonel Miles. He said a court of inquiry had found Colonel Miles was intoxicated to a certain extent - enough to justify Colonel Richardson in applying epi epithets - thets epithets to him, but not enough to remove him from command. He wanted all the facts in the case to go to the people. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. Trumbull introduced his bill for confis confiscating - cating confiscating the property and giving freedom to the slaves of rebels. He said it provided for the absolute forfeiture forever to the United States of all property, real and personal, wherever situated within the United States, belonging to persons beyond the reach of the civil process, in the ordinary mode of judicial proceedings, in consequence of the present rebellion, who during its existence shall take up arms against the United States or in any way aid or abet the rebellion, this forfeiture to be enforced against property in rebellious districts through the military power, and against property in other portion: of the United States through the courts and the proceeds of the property so forfeited, subject to the just claims of loyal creditors, to be held for the benefit of loyal cit citizens - izens citizens despoiled of their property by the rebel rebellion, - lion, rebellion, and to defray expenses incurred in its suppression. The bill also forfeits claims of all rebels and their aiders or abettors to the persons they hold in slavery, declares slaves thus forfeited free, and makes it the duty of the president to provide for the colonization of such as may be willing to go into some tropi cal country, where they may have the protec protection - tion protection of the government, and be secured in all the rights and privileges of freemen. Proper Property - ty Property belonging to traitors, or those giving them aid and comfort, who may be convicted byju byjudicial - dicial byjudicial tribunals, is to be forfeited on their con conviction, - viction, conviction, the real estate tor life, and the per personal - sonal personal forever. He argued at some length in support of the bill, which was ordered to be printed, and re referred - ferred referred to the judiciary committee. Mr. Clark gave notice that he should offer an amendment to the fugitive slave bill. Af After - ter After an executive session, the senate adjourned till Monday. HOUSE. The speaker announced vacancies in sever several - al several standing committees, and filled them as fol follows - lows follows : - Ways and Means - Hooper and Maynard. Judiciary - Wilson. Territories - Shiel. For Foreign - eign Foreign Affairs - Phelps. California Public Build Buildings - Blair - ings - Blair Buildings - Blair of Virginia. Military Affairs - Dunn. Committee on the establishment of Western Armory - Kellogg of Illinois. Paci Pacific - fic Pacific Railroad - Sargeant. Mr. Gurley offered a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the judiciary committee to inquire if telegraphic censorship of the press had been established in Washington, and by whose authority, and by whom it is now con controlled - trolled controlled ; to report if such censorship has not baen used to restrain wholesome political criti criticism - cism criticism nnd discussion, while its professed and laudable object has been to withhold from the enemy information of the movements of our army. . Mr. Arnold moved that the part relating to defences and fortifications of the great lakes and harbors be referred to a select committee of nine members. The question was debated as to whether it should be thus referred, or to the committee on military affairs. It was fi finally - nally finally referred to a select committee by 10 ma majority. - jority. majority. Mr. Blair of Missouri introduced a resolu resolution - tion resolution referring the position of the president's message in reference to the colonization of slaves taken from armed rebels to a select com committee. - mittee. committee. The resolution was adopted in com committee - mittee committee of the whole, but was rejected by the house. The subject was then referred to the committee on foreign affairs. Mr. Lovejot of Illinois introduced a bill proposing to repeal all laws requiring passes to persons of color going northward, to take immediate effect Referred to the committee of the District of Columbia. Mr. Hickman introduced a bill providing for a board ot commissioners to revise and cod codify - ify codify die general statutes of the United States. Referred to the judiciary committee. Adjourned till Monday. from Washington. . Washington, Dec. 4. - Federal scouts that have just returned from Virginia, report that n rebel regiment, one thousand strong, occu occupies - pies occupies Germantown, and that there is a large body of the enemy at Centerville. Th* whole number of rebel troops in the vicinity of Ma Manassas - nassas Manassas Junction are estimated at 60,000. Numerous applications for appointments as sutlers have been made to the war department, which has no power to appoint them. The following is the law on the subject as contain contained - ed contained in the revised army regulations : - "Troops in campaign, in detachment, or in district ser service - vice service will be allowed sutlers at the rate of one for every regimental corps or separate detach detachment - ment detachment upon the recommendation of the council of the admistration, subject to the approval of the general or other officer in command." The West India Mail Company, in cense censequence - quence censequence of the Trent affair, ordered all agents to furnish no more coal-to United States ves vessels. - sels. vessels. The pirate Sumter was at Port Royal, Martinique, Nov. 9th, coaling. The Iroquois received the news on the 12th, and started in pursuit. Washington, Dec. 5. - The president, in response to a resolution of the house, passed in July, inquiring if any legislation was neces necessary - sary necessary to increase commerce with foreign coun countries, - tries, countries, says he is not aware that any legislation of the character suggested could now be wisely adopted, beyond what is recommended in his message, and nothing further can be effected till treaties to be submitted to the senate shall be ratified. Judge Upham, the umpire for the commis commissioners - sioners commissioners on New Grenada, has been sent for to settle the following question : - Whether New Grenada is liable for payment of damages by the Panama riots, or whether the business of the commission is merely to ascertain the amount of claims for future action. Mr. Car Carlisle, - lisle, Carlisle, for New Grenada, maintains the latter, and Messrs. Cox and Dean the former propo proposition. - sition. proposition. The papers relating to foreign affairs accom accompanying - panying accompanying the president's message cover four hundred and twenty-five pages, and include instructions to our various consulates and for foreign - eign foreign ministers, aqd various circulars of the sec secretrry - retrry secretrry or state, relative to affairs in this coun country. - try. country. _ NEWS FROM SOUTH CAROUNIB New York, Dec. 5. - Intelligence from Charleston says the blockade there is constant ly violated through the inland channels to Edisto and MatHt, or North Channel. Vessels are certain of twelve feet of water in the latter. Within a few weeks the brig West India, and the barque Helen, with naval stores, and the schooner General Ripley, with rice, have ar arrived, - rived, arrived, besides others ot less note. The steamer Isabel, thoroughly fitted up anil loaded with a thousand bales of cotton, and the Prince of Wales, are waiting for an opportunity to run out. There are about 12,000 North and South Carolina and Georgia troops on the railroad to Savannah, and 6000 in Charleston. Most of the South Carolina regiments are still in Vir Virginia. - ginia. Virginia. Five gunboats are building at Charles Charleston. - ton. Charleston. They are confident at Charleston that they can gather forces enough to meet us at any point on the main land we may choose. The Bermuda brought 3000 guns, of which Charleston got half, and tiie Fingal brought 12,500 Enfield rifles. Percussion caps and li lifted - fted lifted cannon are being made at Charleston, and other military equipments are abundant. Pro Provisions - visions Provisions are said to be abundant and cheap. KEMUtKY. Cincinnati, Dec. 5. - The Commercial's Frankfort dispatch says that although eyery act in the legislative proceedings shows a most loyal feeling, nothing ot general interest has transpired. The expulsion of the traitor Breckinridge from congress gives great satis faction. Many aspire to succeed him, among whom are James Guthrie, Joshua F. Bell, George Robertson, Nat Wolff, and Garrett Davis. Zollicoffer is on the south side of the Cum berland river, seven miles from Somerset, with 7500 men and some good artillery. General Schoff is on this side, and will be ready to engage him as soon as the river recedes. A fight is expected soon.

Xteport of Secretary Welles. Th* report of the secretary of the nevy gives a very clear and satisfactory account of the business and general condition of this de department. - partment. department. After statingthat it ha* been hi* business to provide a navy sufficient to block blockade - ade blockade a long line of coast - to afford squadrons to act with the military forces to'attack points on the coast of the rebel state*, - and to pursue actively the piratical privateer cruisers of tite rebels, he describes the condition of the navy when he took charge of it, and gives an ac account - count account of the Potomac flotilla and of the squad ron* engaged in keeping up the blockade. He give* the following account of the navy : - "When the vessel* now building and pur purchased, - chased, purchased, of every class, are armed, equipped^ and ready for service, the condition of the navy will be a* follows - - old navy. Number of Vesseels. Guns. Tonnage. 6 Ships of line, 504 16,094 7 Frigates, 450 12,104 17 Sloops, 342 16,031 2 Brigs, 12 539 8 Storeships, 7 342 6 Receiving ships, &e., 106 6,345 6 Screw frigates. 222 21.460 6 First-class screw sloops, 109 11,953 4jFirst-class side-wheel steam sloops 46 8.008 8 Second class screw sloops, 45 7,593 5 Third-class screw sloops, - 28 2,405 4 Third-class side-wheel steamers, 8 1,808 2 Steam tenders, 4 599 76 1,783 105,271 purchased vessels. Guns. Tons. 36 Side-wheel steamers, . 166 26,680 43 Screw steamers, 175 20.403 ISShips, 52 9,998 24 Schooners, 49 5,324 12 Barks, 78 8,432 2 Brigs, 4 469 136 518 71,297 vessels constructed. Guns. Tons. 14 Screw sloops, 98 16.787 23 Gunboats, 92 11,661 12 Side-wheel steamers, 48 8,400 3 Iron-clad steamers, 18 4,600 52 256 41,449 Making a total of 264 vessels, 2557 guns, and 218,016 tons. The aggregate number of sea seamen - men seamen in the service, on the 4th of March last, was 7000. The number is now not less than 22,000." The extracts show some of the most impor important - tant important statements and suggestions of this docu document - ment document : - INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE NAVY. The efficiency ot the navy may unquestion unquestion. - . unquestion. ably be largely increased by creating more grades, and I would recommend that the per permanent - manent permanent organization of the line officers be as follows: - Flag Officer - to command squadrons. Commodore, 1 Captain, 1 To command single Commander, f ships. Lieutenant Commander, I Lieutenant. Master. Passed Midshipman. Midshipman. Cadet. The lieutenant commaders, a grade used during the Revolution, may be employed as first lieutenants, and in the command of the smaller class of naval vessels. The present rate ot pay may be so appor apportioned - tioned apportioned among the different grades that in the aggregate there shall be no increase. Let no officer be advanced to any grade above that of passed midshipman except upon nomination ot the president and confirmation by the senate, after a board of officers shall have pronounced him morally, physically, and .professionally competent to perform all his duties, both ashore and afloat. The public service would also be promoted were some limit ol age fixed by law tor active service. I would, therefore, respectfully sug suggest - gest suggest that line officers be retired after having been forty-five years in the navy, excepting when called into active service by special ap appointment - pointment appointment from the president. A generous pecuniary provision should be made tor those who are retired after long and faithful service. To satisfy the immediate demands of the public service, I recommend that a grade to be designated flag officer be established, and that the president, by selection from the pres present - ent present list of captains and commanders, appoint a number, not exceeding seven, who shall eaeh have command, irrespective of seniority or rank, of the squadron to which he may be as signed, and the appointment shall cense when the officer hauls down his flag, unless lor dis distinguished - tinguished distinguished and meritorious conduct in battle, ns flag officer, lie receives, upon recommenda recommendation - tion recommendation of the president, the thanks of congress. SINKING VESSELS. One method of blockading the ports of the insurgent states, mid interdicting communica communication, - tion, communication, as well as to prevent the egress of priva privateers, - teers, privateers, which sought to depredate on our com commerce, - merce, commerce, has been that of sinking in the channels vessels laden.with stone. The first movement in this direction was on the North Carolina coast, where there are numerous inlets to Albemarle mid Pamlico Sounds, and other interior waters, which afford facilities for eluding the blockade, and also to the privateers. For this purpose a class of small vessels were purchased in Baltimore, some ol which have been placed in Ocracoke Inlet. Another and larger description of vessels were purchased in the eastern market, most ol them such as were formerly employed in the whale fisheries. These were sent to obstruct the. channels of Charleston harbor and the Savannah river; and this, if effectually done, will prove the most economical and satisfac satisfactory - tory satisfactory metbed of interdicting commerce at those points. MASON AND SLIDELL. The prompt and decisive action of Captain Wilkes on this occasion merited and received the emphatic approval of the department, and if a too generous forbearance was exhibited by him in not capturing the vessel which had these rebel emissaries on board, it may, in view of the special circumstances, and of its patriotic motives, be excused; but it must by no means be permitted to constitute a precedent here hereafter - after hereafter for the treatment of any case of similar infraction of neutral obligations by foreign vessels engaged in commerce or the carrying trade. EMPLOYMENT OF FUGITIVE*. In the coastwise gnd blockading duties .of the navy it has been not unfrequent that fu fugitives - gitives fugitives from insurrectionary places have sought our ships tor refuge and protection, and'our naval commanders have applied to me for instruction as to the proper disposition which should be made ot such refugee*. My answer has been that, if insurgents, they should be handed over to the custody of the government; but if, on the contrary, they were free from any voluntary participation in the rebellion and sought the shelter and pro protection - tection protection of our flag, then they should be cared for and employed in some useful manner, and might be enlisted to serve on our public ves vessels - sels vessels or in our navy yards, receiving wages for their labor. If such employment could not be fur furnished - nished furnished to all by the navy, tiny might be referred to the army, and if no employment could be found for them in the public service they should be allowed to proceed freely and peaceably without restraint to seek a livelihood in any loyal portion of the coun country. - try. country. This I have considered-to be the whole required duty, in the premises, of our naval officers. The Post Office Department. It appears that on the 30tli of June, 1861, the number of post offices in the United States 28,586; the whole number of appointments made in this department by the postmaster general is 9235, and by the president 337. The gross revenue for the year 1861 amounted to 58,349,296 40. The following is a statement of the receipts and expenditure* of the dis disloyal - loyal disloyal states, and the amount alleged to be due to contractors from July 1, 1860, to May 31, 1861 Total expenditure, 53,699,150 47 Total gross receipts, 1,241,220 05 Excess of expenditures over receipts, 82,457,930 42 Amount alleged to be due to contrac- tors lor transportation, 3,135,637 12 Amount actually paid tor transporta- tion, 2,323,061 03 Leaving amount alleged to be due and unpaid, 8812,595 49 The estimate of total expenditures f >r 1863 is somewhat less than those of previous years, as partial estimates only are made lor those slates in which the postal service is suspend suspended. - ed. suspended. The whole number of ordinary dead let letters - ters letters received and examined during the year was about 2,550,000. The number of these containing money which were registered and sent out during the year ending June 20,1861, wan 10,580. The result of successful investi investigation - gation investigation confirms past experience that the fail ure of a letter to reach its destination is in a vast majority of cases the fault of the writer or sender. Of 7560 valuable dead letters ex examined, - amined, examined, 3095 were directed to the wrong office ; 467 were imperfectly addressed ; 612 were directed to transient persons ; 257 to par parties - ties parties who had changed their residences; 821 were addressed to fictitious persons or firm* ;

88 were uncalled for; 10 without direction; 2136 not mailed for want of postage stamp*; 79 missent; and for the failure of postmaster* to deliver 183, no satisfactory reason was assigned. Of 76,769 letters originating in the loyal states, addressed to residents in the dis disloyal - loyal disloyal states, 40,000 could not be returned, either because the signature of the writer was incomplete, or because the letter contained no clue to hi* residence. The result shows tl»t a large proportion of domestic letters, written by educated persons, and particularly women, are deficient in one or both these respects- The postmaster general has accepted the of fer miyle in 1857 by Great Britain for a re reduction - duction reduction of international postage from 24 to 12 cents, which is now awaiting the response of the British office. The postmaster gemgal gives his reasons at length for excludin^n*- loyal publications from the mail*. To ^fiit the results of slow judicial prosecution war to allow crime to be consummated, with the ex expectation - pectation expectation of subsequent punishment, instead of preventing its accomplishment by prompt and direct interference. Of the cases»presented for his action,, upon the principles which he name*, he has, by order, excluded from the mails twelve of these treasonable publica publications, - tions, publications, of which several had been previously presented by the grand jury as incendiary and hostile to constitutional authority. THE OFFICIAL VOTE OF MASSACHUSETTS. The executive council have completed the official examination of the election return* for state offices for 1862, with the following re result - sult result for governor. John A. Andrew of Boston has 65,261 And appears to be duly elected. Isaac Davis of Worcester has 31,264 Sundry other persons, 796 FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. John Nesmith of Lowell has 64,916 And appears to be duly elected. Edwin C. Bailey of Boston has 29,718 Sundry other persons, 236 FOR SECRETARY OF STATE. Oliver Warner of Northampton has 66,554 And appears to be duly elected. Feederick O. Prince ot Winchester has 30,544 Sundry other persons, 632 FOR STATE TREASURER. Henry K. Oliver of Lawrence ha* 66,028 And appears to be duly elected. Emory Sanford of Oxford has 29,892 Edward Avery of Braintree has 662 Sundry other persons, 1027 FOR STATE AUDITOR. - Levi Reed of Abington has 66,398 And appears to be duly elected. Moses Bates of Plymouth has 30,37-1 Emory Sanford ot Oxford has 628 Sundry other persons, 116 FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL. Dwight Foster ot Worcester has 66,441 And appears to be duly elected. Edward Avery ot Braintree has 30,420 Sundry other persons, . 660 FOR COUNCILLOR - FOURTH DISTRICT. Alfred Hitchcock ot Fitchburg has 10,110 And appears to be duly elected. Sundry other persons, 88 FOK SENATORS FOK WORCESTER COUNTY. Central District. Hartley Williams of Worcester has 1,705 And appears to be elected. Nathan Washburn of Worcester, 832 Southeast District. Wm. R. Hill ot Sutton has 1,297 And appears to be elected. Francis Deane of Uxbridge, 872 Sundry other persons. 7 Southwest District. Rufus B. Dodge of Ciiailton has 1,680 And appears to be elected. Henry H. Stevens of Dudley, 690 IFe*t District. Henry Smith of Templeton has 1,391 And appears to be elected. John G. Mudge of Petersham, 1,127 Sundry other persons, 8 Northeast District. Alvah Crocker of Fitchburg lias 2,103 And appears to be elected. Timothy S. Wilson ot Fitchburg, 448 Sundry other persons, 63 East. District. Charles G. Stevens ot Clinton has 1,828 And appears to be elected. Otis F. Vinton of Westborough, 428 FOK CLERK OF THE SUPERIOR COURT. Joseph Mason of Worcester lins 14,159 And is duly elected. Ail others, 4 New« from Port Royitl. The Camp Kettle is the name ot an enter enterprising - prising enterprising publication established by the "mud "mudsills" - sills" "mudsills" at Hilton Head, S. C. The following is the title and imprint of the paper : - THE CAMP KETTLE. WE KNOW ONLY OUR COUNTRY. Vol. 1. Nov. 21,1861. No. 6. The Camp Kettle is published every opportunity by the Field and Stuffof the Roundhead Regiment, Coi. Lesure commanding. It is printed on board the steamer Ocean Queen, ot which it speaks as follows : The cliiel engineer lias given us a fine room right in among the machinery, partiy over the immense cylinder which confines the spirit that rules the wave, for a printing office, where we. queerly enough, are printing our Kettle. Beneath us groans and hisses the pent demon, that shrieks to break his narrow cell. Beside us on one hand rises and sinks the huge piston rod, on the other the connecting rod that wea wearilessly - rilessly wearilessly drives around the crank to give mo motion - tion motion to the great monster of the deep, freight freighted - ed freighted with some sixteen hundred souls, and stores of munitions of war, and instruments of death intended for the benefit of traitors. We could philosophise here, but prefer to *ay what we intended to say in the beginning - that Capt. Seabury and his crew are men to be remem remembered, - bered, remembered, and if we should never meet again, 'may God bless them for their kindness to us. STIRRING SCENES. Since the publication of our last we have witnessed stirring scenes. We have made a successful descent upon an enemy's coast, after encountering one of the most fearful storms that desolate the deep, followed by a successful landing, after five hours's naval fighting against a well prepared antagonist, who chose his own position, and had taken all pains and added all the appliances of science to render impregnable a position by nature only too well adapted to ^ciiitale his opera operations. - tions. operations. "We have seen the beginning ol the end." We have seen the fortune Of war for forsake - sake forsake the pale standard of rebellion, and we have seen the Star Spangled Banner wave its rainbow hues in the southern skies, over the soil of dark, deceitful, perjured South Caro Carolina. - lina. Carolina. We have seen a sight worth living for, and worth dying for. We have seen Sumtei avenged. . CONTRABANDS. Quite a number of " contraband*." have come into camp since the capture of the island, and they give some ludicrous and some terrific accounts of the "shelling out" the "navy boys" gave the Palmetto fellows. One of them says "De Georgy fellows run fust, den de Sous Carolina bosses run the debble, and de Dutch went after dem, and none of dem eber dun come back agin." Another states that "he had come up wid some sweet a tates for de oflisa bosses, and staid till de place got so mixed lie could hardly see his way outand on being asked how it looked when the storm of shells was hailing on the fort and island, he said it looked "jes like if de fire and de brim brimstone - stone brimstone war a coinin' down, and de airth war a gwine up," and we don't doubt that it looked "jes so" to more than one poor fellow on that hot Thursday noon. Five Hundred Dollars Reward. - One of the Beaufort negroes advertises his runaway master in the following clever travestie : - Rond away from me on de 7th of dis month, my massaJulan Rhett. Massa Rhett am five feet 'leven inches high, big shoulders, brack har, curly shaggy whiskers, low forebed, an' dark face. He make big fuss when he go 'mong de geinmen, he talk ver big, and use de name ob de Lord all ob de time. Calls heself "suddern gemman," but I suppose he will try now to pass hese I off as a brack man or mu mulatter. - latter. mulatter. Massa Rhett has a deep scar on his shoulder from a fight, scratch 'cross de left eye, made by my Dinah when he tried to whip her. He neber look people in de face. I mor dan spec he will make track for Bergen koun kounty, - ty, kounty, in de turrin land of Jarsey, whar I magin he hab a few friends. I will gib tour hundred dollars for him if alive, an' five hundred if any boily show him dead. It he cum back to his kind niggers without much trouble dis chile will receive him lubingly. Sambo Rhett. Beaufort, S. C., Nov. 9, 1861. d&wlt - lss2 Philip A. Locke of Lexington, lately de deceased, - ceased, deceased, left a large estate, which lie disposed of by will to his relatives, with the exception of SIOOO bequeathed to the town ot Silver Creek, Minnesota, for the purpose of erecting a house of worship in that town, the selectmen to cho >se whether it shall be given to the Methodists, Presbyterians, or Baptists.

is that in the first Mr. Cameron spoke more definitely of arming such fugitive con contrabands - trabands contrabands as may be with the army, should any military exigency require it. This may or may not be signified by that sentence of the second version which speaks of them as "a military resource." At first President Lincoln opposed the confiscation act. No whe strongly favors it, and even shows a willingness to go still further. He, like others, feels that progress of opinion which the conflict with rebellion makes inevitable. 'Two important documents, - one from tire state department and the other from the treasury department, - will be found among our telegraphic dispatches, both of which indi indicate - cate indicate progress. Hereafter, slaves that flee to our armies from rebel masters shall not be sent back; and a good use is to be made of the slaves that flock around the encampment of our troops at Port Royal. Until now, the ex executive - ecutive executive has not been prepared to issue such orders. Why should any of us doubt that this contraband question will take care of itself? Gen. Burnside's Expedition. - lt is now understood that the twenty-first regiment, Col. Morse's, will, by order of Gen. McClellan, be attached to Gen. Burnside's division. Since the early steps were taken to form this expe expedition - dition expedition the views of the government with refer reference - ence reference to it have undergone important changes, and it will be much more imposing than was at first contemplated. The number of vessels is not expected to be less than thirty-five, and if the number of men undergoes proportionate increase, it will not be less than ten or twelve thousand. These men are now concentiated at or near Annapolis, and are anxiously await, ing the signal of departure, which will not probably be given for seven.l days to come. The vessels composing their fleet are to be newly christened throughout in keeping with the spirit ot the enterprise. The five vessels which have been altered into gunboats or floating batteries now sport the followingstart followingstartling - ling followingstartling titles : - Bombshell, Grenade,. Rocket, Shrapnel, Grapeshot! The Late Lieut. Bartholomew. - Capt. Charles 11. Watson, of Co. E, fifteenth regi regiment, - ment, regiment, writes to us, enclosing the following order issued to the regiment immediately after the death of Lieut. Nelson Bartholomew of his command : - Headquarters Fifteenth Regiment, Mass. Vols., Camp Foster, Poolesville, Nov. 27, 1861. - Regimental Orders. - ln respectful memory of the high character and civil and military virtue of the late Lieut. Nelson Bar Bartholomew, - tholomew, Bartholomew, the commissioned officers of the regiment, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of Co. E, to which he was attach attached, - ed, attached, will wear crape on the left arm for thirty days from the date of this order. By order of Col. Devens. Richard Derby, Acting Adj. Capt. Watson writes further, that his death has caused many a sad heart in Company E, of which he was an active member, honored, loved, and respected, as a scholar, soldier, and officer. He was one of the first to respond to his country's call, and the honor of the early organization of the DeWitt Guards, to which his time, talent, and money, were freely devot ed, was due to him. The captain, lor himself and his company, tenders their thanks to the kind and patriotic ladies and citizens of Oxford, who have remembered them in their absence, and acknowledges, with especial gratitude* the receipt of well-filled boxes with a token of their respects. The Potato itot 1h Xrelund. Tile Irish papers all anticipate much suffer suffering - ing suffering this winter from the unsoundness of the potatoes, which seem to be almost as much relied upon as ever tor the sustenance of the population, notwithstanding the experience of the last fifteen years as to its-uncertainty. The following extracts from papers of a recent date are but specimens of the tone of most of the journals: - [From the Dublin Freeman, Nov. 14. J The potato crop is now dug out, and the result had been anticipated. More than one half is gone, and whether the remainder will stand in close pits. excluding,the slightest ap appiouch - piouch appiouch of air, remains to be seen. In the provincial papers we find that some localities had been visited less severely than others, and our country friends draw general conclusions about "things being much better than they had been represented." We wish we could join in the encouragement and hold out a hope ot improvement. But we cannot. The staple food of the country has been already reduced one half, an estimate in which farmers, boards of guardians, and landed proprietors concur,- while in some districts it would not be extrav extravagant - agant extravagant to assert, that, so far from a portion of the crop being available for food, the people will not have sufficient for food. [From the Limerick Reporter.] The harvest returns in the neighborhood of Newcastle West are lamentably deficient. We have been credibly informed that not more than one-fourth of the potato crop is available for human food, while acres of wheat have not been cut down at all, but allowed to be eaten down by cattle. Large quantities of hay, which has lain several weeks in the meadows half covered with water, is now being removed to the haggard almost useless except for ma manure. - nure. manure. The gloomiest anticipations are in indulged - dulged indulged in as regards the prospects of the small farmers during the coming season. [From the Northern Whig, Nov. 15 ] The crop of this year has been extensively infected by the old disease. Immense quan quantities - tities quantities of the gross produce are totally unfit for human food; a large proportion of the balance will, however, be used in cattle feeding ; and it is to be hoped that the portion unfit for any purpose will not exceed a moiety of the entire produce of the potato lands. Prices are very high for the season. It is, therefore, evident that the consumer will more than share the loss with the grower. In olden times, and long before the destructive blight had seized on the national esculent, one shilling per hun hundred - dred hundred weight was often the market rate for excellent potatoes. Occasionally higher prices ruled, but more frequently still lower ones. In 1833, for instance, choice varieties, which had been carted seven or eight miles from the country, were sold in our market at the nominal rate of eighteen pence the hundred FiritfV' hr oAe'i penny for each stone of fourteen fates this day will aver average - age average four shillings the hundred, or about six times the price paid twenty years ago.

8 'if Cie- 'f army. They ent?W^^ and carry off all the bea^B. provisions they can find, atW^H horses and cnttle. The large and wagons to transport their will undoubtedly run to Price as soon can steal enough to supply their want* forr^| winter. A detachment of cavalry left her* this morning and we shall probably soon hear of same skirmishes. FROM THE SOUTH. Cairo, Dec. 5? - The following items ar* from the Memphis papers of the 2d: - General Tressvant ba* a long communication in the Memphis Appeal, showing the insufficiency ot the rebel defences at and above Memphis. He says that Columbus once lost, the federal* would bare no trouble in marching directly to Memphis, and that Memphis is entirely de defenceless - fenceless defenceless and indefensible. He calls upon eve every - ry every male citizen of the state to enrol, and threat threatens - ens threatens all who do not with death. The rebels are sending their cotton to northern Alabama for safety. Coffee is quoted at $1 per pound in Memphis, and none to be had ; bacon 60 cents ; and other provisions in proportion. Charleston, S. C., Nov. 30, via Mem Memphis - phis Memphis and Cairo. - The secession planters on the seaboard are hourly applying the torch to their crops of cotton and rice. Along the coast there is one sheet of flame and smoke. Many military companies in New Orleans are volunteering for thirty day*' service at Columbus, Ky^ WESTERN VIRGINIA. Wheeling, Dec. s. - The convention to today - day today abolished the viva voce system ot voting, substituting the ballot in the legislature. Mr. Burley of Marshall offered a resolution to in inquire - quire inquire into the expediency of all attorney* be being - ing being made to take the oath of allegiance; alto, allowing no person to sue in the court* who ft disloyal. Wheeling, Dec. 4 - Gen. Rosencranz and staff arrived here, to day, where he will make his winter headquarters. Several vacant reb rebel - el rebel residences have been tendered him for that purpose. MOVEMENTS AT PORT ROYAL. New York, Dec. 5 - The seventy fifth reg regiment - iment regiment New York volunteers will go to Fort Pickens in the Baltic. A letter from Poyt Royal says one of the quartermasters, 911 hi* own responsibility, has set forty cotton gin* at work. The negroes receive three cents a pound for all marketable cotton, and have gone into the business with enthusiasm. Oen. McClellan's Visit to Ills Wife and l>nuuhte>-. [From the New York Herald.J Washington, Dec. 4. - This morning, at about eleven o'clock, an engine and elegant car attached left the Washington depot tor Baltimore. Two persons occupied the car, one'a lady and the other a gentleman. The latter was about five feet six, stout built, san sandy - dy sandy complexion, with a handsome moustache and imperial. He was dressed in a plain black suit. The lady was the wife of one-dt. C?en. McClellan's staff. The special train, as ' K passed the principal military stations, occa occasioned - sioned occasioned some attention from the troops loitering about. They gazed at the occupants of the car, supposing them to be distinguished strangers from abroad. The train arrived at Baltimore, where the parties were to meet friends from the west. An explos on of a locomotive oh the western road, causing the instant death of the engineer and fireman, delayed their friends and kept the strangers in Baltimore several hours. A portion of the time was occupied iu the room of the president of the Northern Cen Central - tral Central railroad. The stranger, finding they had no time to spare, proceeded to the Eutaw House, and dined, not booking their name*. Mr. Smith, superintendent of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, acted as a cicerone. A.l dinner, conducted by Mr. Smith, the lady and gentleman drove quietly through Baltimore in an open barouche. At last their friends came from the west, and the strange gentleman greeted bis wife, and gazed tor the first time upon his first born. The whole company was soon conveyed to the Washington depot, and being safely seated in the splendid parlor car, provided by superintendent Smith, the engin engineer - eer engineer started the tram, ami the party arrived safely in thia city about 8 o'clock this evening. The mysterious gentleman in black, with hie precious charge, alighted from the car, ac accompanied - companied accompanied by tho rust of the party, all of v hnm -took (jarriageß and proceeded to a splen splendid - did splendid mansion, corner oTn'niTa'Fi n inKL-atraeta, Thia strange gentleman in black was no less a personage than George B. McClellan, gener general-in-chief - al-in-chief general-in-chief of the army of the United States. He proceeded 011 this quiet mission to meet his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law, Mrs. Mar Marcy, - cy, Marcy, and their friends. The general was ac accompanied - companied accompanied from Washington by Mrs. Captain . Raymond. At several points wheie the train stopped, at Annapolis and the Relay Hou**n some of the soldiers recognized the general just as the train moved on, and the greatest anxiety was instantly manifested in each case to get a look at the young chieftain. This be being - ing being impossible, the troops would shout and swing their hats high in air. In Baltimore he was not recognized by the masses, and enjoyed the drive through the city unmolest unmolested. - ed. unmolested. This is the first time the general has left Washington, except in the strict line military duly, since he came here.

^lassHt^ustifs Spg, SSTABLISBRD JULY M, 1170, PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING A»»« Ot Worcester §Hilg Spg, r« Published IC very Morning (SUNDAY XXCCrTBD.) At SS »er Annam, Invariably In advance. J.D. BALBWIN A CO.. Frwprletor>. OFfltt, 212 MAIN STREET. - . A? ~ ?A« Sri should hate the eye of Argue: he <» honorable if ** but l° ok 10 ,Ae welfare of the Commonwealth " WORCESTER: WED VEgIIAY, BECLMBER 11. IMI. President Lincoln's position on the slave slavery - ry slavery question in connection with the war is briefly but very significantly stated in the fol following - lowing following words: - "The Union must bepre bepreserved, - served, bepreserved, and hence all indispensable means must be employed. We should not be in haste to de determine - termine determine that radical and extreme measures, which may reach the loyal as well as the disloyal, are indispensable." Our iMWere know very well that these words occur at the close of what the president says on the slavery question in his recent message, but they may not have considered them so carefully as to see how much they signify. Study them well, with a proper regard to the words we put in italics, and you can not easily fail to see and appre appreciate - ciate appreciate the president's position on this ques question. - tion. question. One of our contemporaries says the presi i dent has "no definite policy on the slavery question." This is said evidently because the president hns not adopted^Jhe' views most favored by the particular journal from which we quote. He hns a policy which he has pursued consistently, and to which be firmly adheres. It is stated briefly but very clearly in his message. The president is quite sure that in the course of this conflict circumstances will take care of the slavery question ; he believes that nothing good can be gained by attempting to force or hasten results. His policy is to leave this question to circum circumstances, - stances, circumstances, and make it his chief business to save and defend the Union. In his view, ne should not make haste to determine that radical measures against slavery are indispensable to th? salvation of the Union. They may be come necessary. Time will show. And he is firmly persuaded that "all indispensable means must be employed." The question lifts its difficulties, and he means that bis policy in regard to it shall be very careful and very safe. As to the merits of this policy every one must judge for himself. We republicans are all accustomed not only to judge for ourselves but also to speak freely and with great ear earnestness. - nestness. earnestness. And we sometimes carry the exer exercise - cise exercise of this liberty so lar as to weaken the efli efliciency - ciency efliciency of our organized action, thus losing good results that might have been secured by placing a little restraint on this tendency to . luxuriate in the extremes of criticising and free speaking individualism. Those who think the president moves forward too slowly in this question might soon feel disturbed to see him proceed as fast as some of them de desire, - sire, desire, and they should bear in mind that he is honest, true, sagacious, and very much in ear earnest - nest earnest to put down this rebellion. The slavery question lias not needed agita agitators - tors agitators since this war begun. It agitates itself. It is impossible to escape it, and one of the results is that marked change we see in the views of many ot our conspicuous men. There is a progress ot thought and opinion which leads constantly in one direction. The question is taking care of itself, and neither president nor people could resist its influence if they desired to do so. The rebellion has taken the question in hand, and the power ol slavery cannot survive it. Let us not be over anxious. Let us not do barm by attempting agitation ot this particular questii n where it is not needed, and where an attempt to force results might hinder more than it would help. We have the most entire confidence in the president, and leel sure that lie will work wise wisely - ly wisely and well to put down treason, bring back the disloyal states to the Union, and secure a peace among ourselves that shall be perma permanent. - nent. permanent. flow thunkful should we be that we have a president who is honest and sincere! What cause for dread we should have it some unscrupulous adventurer, or some dishonest and villainous politician, were in his place !