The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 1

PRICE TWO CENTS. PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 18G5. PRICE TWO CENTS. J- I A 1 MA II A A A 4 ft ft t-MfrViA Mm if if M' i if i THE CONSPIRACY! FROM THE RIP RAPS. A CURIOUS REMINISCENCE OF JEFF.

DAVIS. JOHN HITCHEL! Ilis Arrival at Fortress Monioe. THE "BURDEN" ANCHORED IN HAMPTON ROADS. Amusing Scene on Baltimore Wharf. OF PAROLED REBELS AS TO MITCHEL.

SCENES AfiD INCIDENTS ON THE VOYAGE. Iliteliel Expected to be Sent to Port Lafayette. Hi3 AT THE FORTRESS. He Is Escorted to His Lodgings by An Armed Guard. nE IS IN THE SAME ROW WITH DAVIS AND CLAY.

PAROLED RECEL PRISONERS HOMEWARD BOUND this way before it is built upon. After the piles have lain long enough to fully prove the permanence of their foundations, they are moved to another locality for a similar purpose, and the place the great pile has lain on is ready to build upon. Fort Wool is an egg-shaped lnclosure of granite, the small part of the egg pointing towards Fortress Monroe; the "butt" of the has hot yet formed its granite shell. Ten masons and forty laborers constitute the present working force on Fort Wool. The laborers are tearing down what there is remaining of the cracked walls of old Fort Calhoun.

The masons are building the second tier of casemates. One tier of casemates Is nearly completed. Fifty-two casemates are finished and in order, even to the broad iron track on which the gun carriage is to move. The completed casemates nearly encircle the island, and form a grand arcade, and a cool and pleasant walk this burning weather. The stone work is elaboate, the granite being dressed exceedingly smooth, and the stones are Joined in the perfection of masonry.

The granite floor is smooth and level as the bed of a billiard table. No guns are as yet mounted, and the long row of casemates, all communicating, with its sides, and floor and pillars of smooth granite, its numerous ports pierced through the thick outer wall, giving glimpses of the broad blue bay, forms at present one of the grandest halls in America, a dining hall where our President might fittingly entertain all the crowned heads of the earth. But the symmetry and beauty of the hall will be marred when threescore great guns come to be mounted here. The second tier of casemates is rising above the first; in some places it is already high as the po -'s. It has not yet been decided whether there are to be two or three tiers of casemates.

To provide water for the garrison great aqueducts of stone have been built down In the heart of the stony foundation. Two magazines are being constructed somewhere down in the stony depths, where enemies' shot and shell cm never penetrate. Where the Stone Comes From. Most of the stone employed on Fort Wool has been brought from Port Deposit. Md.

Before taken. "I do not mind telling you now," said the Lieutenant; "you are to be taken to Fortress Monroe." Mitchel was dumbfounded by this announcement; he evidently had not expected it. He seems, however, of an elastic temperament, and a few hours before his arrival here he told Captain Spencer, quite confidentially, "that he would not be kept in confinement long, that the Government would set him at liberty again in a few days." We shall see. The At half-past eleven this morning, after the Rebel prisoners had all been shipped off, all passengers departed, and nothing stirred in the blazing sun bathed air, save the myriads of flies, the signal was made to the Burden to weigh anchor, and get under way. An officer of Gen.

Miles' staff was on board to direct her course. She was talien to the Engineer's Dock, and there moored alongside of a brig. The movements of the Burden attracted but little attention. On the wharf were a corporal and six men of the Third Pennsylvania Artillery. As the steamer neared the wharf the corporal gave the command: "Load at will load, prime; order, arms; fix, bayonets; shoulder, arms." The men obeyed promptly, and with p'eces at a shoulder they awaited the landing of the prisoner.

The civilians on the wharf were a correspondent of the ubiquitous Inquirer, a reporter of the Associated Press, and a negro boy fishing for crabs. A gang-plank was carried on the Burden's upper deck, and laid across to the bulwarks of the brig. Mitchel then came in view, accompanied by Lieutenant Morris. He shook Captain Spencer heartily by the hand, and lifted his hat to Mrs. Spencer.

He stepped lightly across the brig, and sprang on the wharf. He glanced around in evident surprise at the slim attendance of spectators; then walked towards the Corporal and his gnard. Lieutenant Morris touched him lightly on the arm and signed to him to walk beside him. With an inclination of the head and a smile, Mitohel obeyed. The Corporal marched his six men in double file behind the Lieutenant and the prisoner.

And at a brisk pace the little procession entered the Fort by the east sally-port, the same one by which Jeff. Davis and Clay were taken in. Mitchel was attired in a full suit of blue flannel, and under other circumstances would have been mistaken for a Union officer in fatigue dress. To aid the illusion, his loose-fitting sack coat was garnished with small brass buttons at the cuffs. Ilis head-gear was a cloth hat, of a light grey color, and of the shape now most prevailing at the North.

His face was ghastly pale not his wonted complexion I am assured; his tall form is more inclined to embonpoint than when I saw him last, eight years ago; but his features are sharper, the once full face is greatly attenuated, and the chesnut beard and moustache are liberally besprinkled with grey. The IMace of Confinement. Mitchel was placed in a cell or casemate in the same row wherein are confined Davis and Clay. Davis, of course, knows nothing of the incarceration of his quondam editor, and little ruspects.his propinquity. Friendly Cannonading-.

Our ears were startled with the old familiar sound of the firing of big guns this afternoon. The air was in a condition to give us the full benefit of the noise of the explosion. The terrible racket was perfectly harmless, and only betokened a formal greeting between two naval dignitaries. Admiral William Rad ford, commanding the North Atlantic squadron, arrived here from up the James on his flag-ship, the Maleem. Seeing-fluttering in the hotair the blue pennant of his brother Admiral, Sylvanus Godon, he greeted it with the prescribed salute of nine guns.

Of course Admiral Godon would not be outdone in courtesy, so he saluted the flair of Admiral Radford with a responsive salute of thundering guns from the ports of the Svsqueharma. As both these ships have fired something more harmful than salutes, we can overlook with pleasure this courteous and friendly burning of gunpowder. The Cry is Still They Come. One thousand released Rebel prisoners arrived here this morning, and were furnished with transportation to "Richmond and City Point. Two special steamers were placed at their disposal.

From Raltiinore. The steam propeller Eastern State, from Baltimore, with five hundred released "Johnnies" on loard, put in here this afternoon for coal. She will go from here to Charleston, Savannah, and Mobile, landing her passengers at the points most convenient to their homes. ARGUJIErtT OF TIIE COUNSEL FOR TIIE ASSASSINS. Reverdy Johnson on the Jurisdiction of the Commission.

DISSERTATION OX TIIE CONSTITUTION OF TIIE UNITED STATES. Its Origin and History Explained. THE EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIARY POWERS DEFINED. The nistory of Treason from the Days ol Absalom to Those of Jeff. Davis.

IKKENSE DRAUGHTS UPON LEGAL LORE. History of Assassinations, and Modern. AGUMENTS OF COUNSEL FOR II A HOLD, ARNOLD AND O'LAUGIILIX. Sirs. Sarratt a Kind, Charitable and Christian Woman.

THE POWER OF TIIE COMMISSION TO TUT TIIE CRIMINALS DENIED. Washington, June 19. Mr. Aiken stated to the Court that he should not be prepared until Wednesday to read the argument in the case of Mrs. The delay was attributable to the voluminous evidence previously io be examined by him, Reverdy Johnson's Argnment.

Mr. Clampitt read the argument addressed to the" President and gentlemen ot the Commission, signed by Keverdy Johnson and concuired in by i-'redt-ricli A. Aiken and John W. Clampiit us associate counsel for Mrs. JSlary K.

Hurratt. Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Commission: Has the Comiuision jurisdiction of the cases before it is the qut stion which I propose to discuss. That question, in all courts, civil, criminal and military, must be considered and answered belore judgment can be pronounced. And it must be answered correctly, or the judgment pronoun jed is void.

Ever an interesting aud vital inquiry, it is of engofsing interest and of awful importance, when error may lead to the unauthorized takin of human lhe. In such a case, theeourt called ui. on to render, and the otlicer wno is to approve us judgment and have It executed, have concern peculiar to themselves. As to each, a responsibility Is involved, which, however conscientiously and firmly met, is caiei lated and cannot fail to awaken a great solicitude aud induce the most mature consideration. The nature, of the duty is such that even honest error all'ords no impunity.

The ieual personal consequences, even in a case of honest, mistaken judgment, cannot be avo.ded. That this is no exaggeration, the Commission wnl. 1 think, be satisfied before I shall have cone' uded. I reter to it now and shall again, with view to shake your firmness. Such an attempt would be alike discourteous and unprofitable.

Hvery member composing tiie commission will, I am sure, meet a.l the responsibility that belongs to it as becomes gentlemen and soldiers. 1 therefore repeat, that my sole obje-t In adverting to it is to obtain a well-considered and matured judgment. So far, the question ol jurisdiction has not been discussed. 'lhe pleas which specially present it. as soon as hied, were overruled.

But that will not, because, properly, it should not prevent your considering it witli the deliberation that its grave nature demands. And it is for you to decide it, and at this time, tor you alone. The commission you are uca ing under of itself does not and could not decide it. If unauthorized, it is, a xuere-iiuUity, the usurpation of a power not v(-stt1ii the and conferring no authority whatever upon you. To hold otherwise would be to nruke the Executive the exclusive and conclusive judge ol its own powers, and that would be to make that department omnipotent, 'lhe powers of the President under the Constitution are great, and amply suiheient to give all needed efficiency to the office.

The Convention that formed the Consti-sution, and the people who adopted it, considered those powers sufiicient, and granted no others. In the minds of both (and subsequent history h.is served to strengthen the impression danger to liberty more to be dreaded from the Executive than from any othet department ofthe Government, tar, therefore, from meaning to extend its powers beyond what was deemed necessary to the wholesome operation of the Government, they were studious to place them beyond the reach of abuse. With ttiis view, before entering "on the execution of his the President is required to take an oath "faithfully'' to discharge its duties, ami to the best of his "ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution ol the L'nited states." lie is also liable to "be removed from cilice on impeachment for aod conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." it he violates the Constitution, if he fails to preserve it, and, above all if he usurps powers not granted, he is false to his otli cial oath, and liable to be indicted and convicted, andt to be impeached, r'or such an offense his removal, from office is the necessary consequence. In such a contingency "he shall be removed" is the command the Constitution. What stronger evidence could there be that his powers, all of them, in peace and in war, are only such as the Constitution confers? But if this was not evident from the instrument itself, the character of the men who composed the Convention, gndi the spirit of the American people at that period would prove it.

Hatred of a monarchy, made the most intense by the conduct of tne monarch from whose Government they had recently separated, and a deep-seated love of constitutional liberty, made the more Keen auu active oy tne sacrifices wuicn had illustrated their revolutionary career, constituted them a people who could never be induced to delegate auy executive authority not so carefully restricted and guarded as to render its abuse or usurpation almost impossible. It these observations are well founded, and I suppose they will not be denied, it follows that an executive act beyond executive authority cap furnish no defense against the legal consequences of what are done under it. I have said that the question of jurisdiction is-ever open. It may be raised by counsel at any stage of the and if it is not the Court not only may but is bouiMi to notice it. Unless jurisdiction, then.

exists, the authority to try does not exist, and whatever is done is "oram nan judice," and utterly void. This doctrine is as applicable to military as to other courts. O'Brien toils us that the question may be raised by demurrer if the facts charged do tint constitute an offense, or if they do, not an offense cognizable by a military court, or that it maybe raised by a special plea, oi under the general one of not guilty. (O'Brien, lellart says "The Court is the judge of its own competency at any stage of its proceedings, and is bound to notice ouestions of jurisdiction whenever raised." (LHj-Uart, ill.) The question, then, being always open, and its proper decision essential to the validity of its judgment, the Commission must decide before pronouncing such judgment whether ft has jurisdiction over these parties and the crimes imputed to them. That a tribunal like this has no jurisdiction over other than military offenses, in believed to be self-evident.

That offenses defined and punished by the civil law, and whose trial is provided for by the same law, are not the subjects of military jurisdiction, is. of course, true. A military, as contradistinguished from a civil offense, must, therefore, be made to appear, and when it is, it must also appear that the military law provides for its trial and punishment by a military tribunal. If that law does not furnish a mode of trial, or affix a punishment, the case is unprovided for, and, fis far a.s the military power is concerned, is to go unpunished. But, a either the civil, common or "M'ite law embraces every species of offense that the United.

or the states have deemed it necessary to punish, in all such oases the civil courts are clothed with everv necessary jurisdiction. In a military court, if the charge does not state a "crime provided lor generally or speciiically by any of the articles of war the prisoner must be (O linen, p. 235.) Nor is it sufficient that the charge is of a crime known to the military law. The offender, when he commits it, must be subject to such law or he is not subject to military jurisdiction. The general law has "supreme and undisputed jurisdiction overall.

The military law puus forth no such pretension; it aims solely to enforce on the soldier the additional duties he has assumed. It constitutes tribunals for the trial of breaches ot military dutv only." (O'Brien, pp. 27.) "The one cod (the civil embraces all citizens whether soldiers of Continued on the (iecontl Paice. Valuable Service He Did the State While Secretary of War. KOW HE STOPPED TI1E OPERATIONS OF DISHONEST CONTRACTORS.

HIS OWN VERSION OF THE STORY. Origin and History of the Rip Raps. CHARACTER AND DESCRIPTION OF FORT WOOL How It Was Built and Where All the Material Came From. RAISING THE OLD FLAG OYER THE FORT. The 203d Pennsylvania Regiment Homeward Bound.

THEIR GALLANT SERVICES AT FORT FISHER. The Arrival of the Last of the Texas Transports. Special Correspondence of tfte Inquirer. Fortress Monroe, June 18. A Reminiscence of Jeff's.

Although no conversation is permitted with the imprisoned arch-rebel, he, like neighborhood Verges, "will be talking." The "stern statesman" is becoming garrulous in his old days. A few days ago he talked of the times when he was Secretary of War. And he told the walls, and his mute mechanical guards, and the immobile commissioned officer who bear him company, that during his administration of the War bureau, he was struck by the large number of bills pouring' tor stone deposited on the Rip Rap shoals. He also examined the paid bills of his predecessor in office, and found among them many portly bundles, all authorizing the payment of moneys for stones to fill up or raise Rip Rap shoals. Secretary Jeffs suspicions were aroused, he procured him a toat, and had himself conveyed to the Rip Raps, to see for himself what became of all the stones for which Uncle Sam paid.

Davis' suspicions were well founded. The slippery captains of the schooners who were employed to carry stone and thrmv it on Vie shoaU, threw it in the deepest water of Hampton roads, where, if Jeff, speaks truly, there must be several submarine cairns erected at the Government expense. The Rip Raps. Having seen so much of the evil and woe brought upon our country by Jefferson Davis, we decided upon seeing the one spot where he had "done the State some serviee." From Fort Monroe, on the extreme of Old Point, to the opposite shore of Willoughby's Point, is two and a half miles. One mile from the fort, in a line with Willoughby's Point, are a cluster of rocky shoals of the peculiar formation generally dubbed by sailors "hen and chickens." In this particular locality there were a great many broods of rocky poultry, and the standard nautical name seemed hardly applicable.

We have consulted all the old sailors in this locality as to the origin of the name Rip Raps, but the ancient mariners by no means agree in their accounts. From the most intelligent we learn that the Rip Raps was formerly a bold, sandy shoal, but that vessels were permitted to throw out ballast there. These deposits of stone soon appeared in a series of tumuli, above the shallow waters of the shoal. Shores, islands or sand-bars, from which it is desirable to keep the waves washing away the earth into the channels, are often protected by piles of stone being roughly thrown where the waves act most on the land. These rude protections are known to nautical people as "rip raps." So when the tumuli made their appearance on tiie shoal off Fortress Monroe, the sailors of the vicinity at once called the shoal Rip Raps, and by this name the spot has been known within the memory of the present generation.

The Rip Raps ah a R-efenMve loint. In the war of 1S12 the Rip Raps were the Rip Raps; merely that and nothing more. During the course of the war it was discovered by the British that there was a channel of water, two and a half fathoms in depth, between the Rip Raps and Willoughby's. This channel was out of the effective reach of the guns which then armed Fortress Monroe, and our English enemies sailed up the Chesapeake very much at their leisure. But Uncle Sam profited by the bitter lesson, and immediately at the ciose of the war measures were taken to cover the shoal with stone, till a foundation was obtained solid enough to bear a stone fort.

The stony island was built, and so was the fort. The fort was called Fort Calhoun, in honor of the famous South Carolinian. Mark its fate. When near completion the foundation yielded, and Fort Calhoun was rent in two, just as the man in whose honor it was named advocated the rending of our Union. Uncle Sam, however, was undismayed by the fate of Fort Calhoun.

It was determined to build a larger fort than the one originally planned. The area of the island had to be enlarged, and during this enlargement Jeff, came down into Hampton Roads to see where all the stone went. On close inquiry, we learn that but little more stone was needed for filling up when Davis held the War portfolio, and that the schooner captains were loth to give up their profitable work. Davis had it cut short, however. The work of rebuilding the fort progressed rapidly till tne oreaning out of the Rebellion, since when the work has proceeded slowly.

In the first year of the war President Linecln changed the name of the fort on the Rip Kaps from Fort Calhoun to Fort Wool, and by tL is name it is now officially known. "The Inquirer Visits I'ort Wool. Under the shadow of privileged visitors, your representative was permitted to visit the island of Rip Raps, and take a survey of Fort Wool. The first impression on lauding is that the Titans have been here cutting and piling stone, and that they have gone off to rest from their labors. The island is very still, there bi few workmen empi'oj There arc pi Us stone here fully as h'v your custom Lome.

These heaps are 1 to test the permanency of the -round L. Every inch is tried in Sjecial Correspotulence of the. Inquirer. Fortress Monroe, June 17, 1SG5. Preparation.

The hammer, trowel and saw kept np a bnsy clatter alllast night in the Jeff. Davis row of ca-emates within the fort. The methanlcswere kept employed through the short summers night preparing quarters for that defiant Rebel. John Mitchel. His Arrival in the Roads.

A even o'clock" this morning the steamer 2 n. Burden was sighted beyond Light-house Point. The Captain of the Port immediately despatched a tug to haii the and bid her stop and anchor off the Point. Those on board the tug did not make themselves understood, and the Burden came steaming on to within half a cable's length of the Baltimore wharf. Here she was finally stopped by the captain of the post, who brandished his long spy glass like a pantomime club, gesticulating, keep off, kec keep off! The Burden commander under-st' od, and stopped his steamer.

"Go out in the T.oadsand anchor; do not communicate with the shore till you hear from General shouted the captain of the post in his stentorian voice, which nervous sea captains who trade in thee parts say can be plainly distinguished over on the Rip Raps. The nautical chief officer of the Burden nodded a great many times, deftly turned his natty little ship and ran out into the stream, where he dropped anchor as per order. If Mitchel had a coign of vantage from which to view the wharf, he must have beheld a lively sight. The Baltimore boats had just got in. and their crowds of passengers were just disembarking.

The Richmond boats were preparing to start, their bells jangling and steam whistles shrieking. Belated passengers rushing on board, mail wagons and express wagons rattling down the wharf, and to crown all, one thousand Rebel prisoners, just released from Northern prisons, surging through the crowd, clamorous for breakfast and transportation. If John Mitchel looked out from his floating prison and saw this busy scene, it must have been suggestive to him of his post career. The dirty men in dirtier grey, whose cause he advocated so long, all unarmed now, and dependent on the charity of the Government whose hospitality he so ungratefully repaid, and which the dirty grey people endeavored vainly to destroy. There they were, the sword and pen of the Rebellion, both humbled in the dust.

On the "Wharf. The lively curiosity with which the little black steamer was watched by those on the wharf, who knew who was on board and what was his destination, attracted the attention of the uninitiated, and there were soon many anxious inquirers. The Johnnies too became curious When told that it was Mitchel they shook their heads in mute ignorance, said "they never heard an him," and "was he one of their fellers." One man in butternut informed his less intellectual companions "that Mitchel was an Irish feller wot made a Jeff. Davis paper in Richmond; reckoned he was played out now." A sergeant in dingy grey paused in his ring selling, and informed the bystanders that it was his opinion that, "that ar Mitchel chap had come down yer to write the last dying speech and confession of Jeff. Davis," the utterance of which idea brought a stream of customers to the chevroned ring-peddler.

The "Voyage. The Burden did not leave Sandy Hook till yesterday morning, having laid over for fair weather, the wind having blown from an unfavorable quarter for the twenty-four hours previous. The voyage here was smooth and pleasant. Mitchel was comfortably quartered. He was brougut down in the charge of Lieutenant Marris, of the Twentieth New York Independent Battery.

The Lieutenant has with him one man as a guard. On the Voyage, Mitchel was allowed the liberty of the vessel, and took his meals with Lieutenant Marris and Captain Spencer, of the Burden. Everything was done to make his stay on board the Burden as comfortable as possible. When steaming down New York harbor, the Burden got opposite Fort Lafayette and still continued on her way with unslackened speed, Mitchel said to Captain Spencer, "you are going by Fort Lafayette." "I know it!" replied Captain Spencer. "But am not I to be landed there?" persisted Mitchel.

"No sir." "Where do I go?" "Further South, sir." At this reply, Mitchel's color left his face, and he trembled. He rallied again in a few hours, and said to Captain Spencer, "Ah! I see it now; you are going to take me to Richmond, and turn me loose, and I Mill not be allowed to come North again, where I have been earning a few dollars." To this Captain Spencer made no reply. At breakfast, yesterday morning, Mitchel Lieutenant Morris where he was to be the war larare quantities were brought from Richmond, Va. A number of years ago the Government purchased a quarry of stone at Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox River, for use at the Rip Raps. This stone was, however, found to be utterly useless, the salt water and its exhalations causing it to crumble to powder in a short time.

Very little stone is at present brought here, there being an immense quantity on hand. The work is conducted under the supervision of Colonel Brewerton, of the Corps of Engineers. The First Flag-That ever floated over Fort Wool was raised yesterday afternoon, without speech-making or formality of any kind. It was hoisted again at sunrise this morning, and may it wave every day for all time to come. What decided the authorities to float the symbol of our country's freedom, strength, and greatness, overthe stone ramparts of Fort Wool at the present time, we can't conjecture, unless it be that they had some intimation ofthe preparation of this article for Tiik Inquirer, its reporters having been bfen gathering material for forty-eight hours.

The flag was raised probably to prevent the denial of the existence of such a place as Fort Wool by the New York papers, or the appearance of this article in the go-ahead, all-alive Ixquirkr. More Returning- Troop. The One-hnndred-and-twelfth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Laid wig, arrived here to-day from City Point, on board the Sen Gull. They came from Raleigh overland. From here they proceed to Baltimore, from theuce to their homes via Elmira and Buffalo.

The One-linn-dred-and-twelfth belongs to the Tenth Corps, General Terry's old command. The Gallant Two-lIuudred-anrt-Thirtl Ien nsylvRiiia. Colonel Ludwig informs me that theTwo-hun-dred-and-third Pennsylvania Regiment, of Philadelphia, is expected to leave Raleigh today. If they get through on time von may look for them in the Quaker City towards the end of the presentweek. The Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel who rode at their head through vour streets, eight months ago, will not be with them.

They sleep in soldiers' graves, surrounded by two hundred of their devoted men. Thereturn-ing braves deserve a heart reception. Thev were the only venture that Philadelphia had at Fort Fisher, and right nobly did thev acquit themselves. Bravest among the brave, on the terrible Sunday of last January, the Two-hun-dred-and-third bore with glorv the blended flag of the United States and the old Keystone ofthe Federal arch. The Texas Transports.

The last of the newly chartered transports for the Texas expedition, the propel ler Concordia, arrived here this afternoon from Boston. FORTRESS MONROE. ARRIVAL OF TIIE "CO'STITI7TIOV' Rebel Maury Takes a Trip to Old Point. EX-GOVERNOR MCCRE LEFT AT FORT PULASKI. THE 81,000.000 MAX ALSO OX BOARD.

THE TEXAS EXPEDITION SEEN. Fortress Monroe, June 18. The United States steamer Constitution, Commander Green-man, from New Orleans on the 10th instant, ar rived to-day. Among her passengers is the Rebel Major-General Maury, former Commander at Mobile, Alabama, with his family. They I indedat Fort Pulaski, under guard, Ex-Gov.

Moore, of Alabama. She had also as passenger a man called Colonel Gayley, who, it is said, offered one million of dollars reward for the murder of President Lincoln some time during the war; also, two Rebels as witnesses to prove it. The OonstUtUion touched at Sand Key, to land mails, Ac. She passed along the coast of Florida the steamers Neptune, C. C.

Lean and twelve other steamers of the Texas Expedition fleet. The steamer Idaho, from Balti more nrriv-nrl this afternoon, with two hundred Rebel prisoners on board. They were landed at this place The Richmond Whig of June 17th says- Richmond is infested with thieves, who are plvino-their nefarious vocation with impunity. Burglaries and robberies are committed everyday in the very centre ot the city. The Provost Marshal is doing all in his power to put a stop to these operations.

A Board of inquiry, of which General Graham is the President, is now to investigate the circumstances attending the damage rioiie to Government vessels by collision, and assess damages. From Ilarrisburg. Special Despatch to the. Inquirer. Habkisburs, June 19.

General Meade has written the Governor that he will reach here on the Saturday preceding the Fourth of July, and I.ave for Gettysburg on the Monday previous, hen the battle-fiagsof Pennsylvania regiments will be returned. The indications are that the Fourth will be ce-lcbrated with great eclat in every town and hamlet in the State. Agreeably to the Governor's request, the soldiers will take the precedence and receive every attention. The Two-hundt ed-and-first P. V.

will be mustered out and paid here to-morrow. The One-hundred-and-fortv-third was paid vrsteiday. IMPORTANT FRQgTEXS AND LOUISIANA. THE TEXAS EXPEDITION MOVEMENTS OF GEXS. SIIEIUDAN AN I) MEP.EMTH.

The Column Moving Via Red River and Shreveport. GENERAL WEITZEI, (JOES TO Itlt AZOS. General Granger to Command. New Orleans, June 17. General Sheridan is busy in organizing the Texas expedition.

Gen. Meredith, commanding the cavalry, is moving into Texas with a large force, via Red River and Shreveport. General Granger and staff and Gen. Weitzel and staff left New Orleans this morning for the Texas coast, on the steamship Crescent. General Weitzel goes to Brazos, and Granger to Galveston.

The latter will take command of all the troops in Texas, with his head-quarters at Galveston. The following paper was published to-day: VThf ent- ooton from the east side of the Mississippi River is revoked (Signed) M. Cutter." The following is reported from Shreveport, La. One regiment of colored infantry and five thousand cavalry started for the interior to-d iv to garrison the towns and protect the peoile from geurrillas. More than ten thousand bales of cotton will be brought out from that district Much cotton has been sold at 10c.

per pound There is very little planted. The "negroes are giving much trouble. They will not labor and especially when they can get Government rations. They are leaving the plantations in great numbers and going to New Orleans. The corn crop will be large.

General Herron's administration of affairs gives much satisfaction. FROM CAIRO ANDJIEW ORLEANS. Cairo, June 18. The flag-of-truce boat, with the parolling party, has arrived, with boats containing seven thousand four hundred and fifty-four men of Jeff. Thompson's army, including six hivndred and eighty-six officers, all of whom have been paroled.

Jeff. Thompson came as far as Memphis, where he remains awaiting the President's decision relative to his petition for pardon. General Reynolds has taken initiatory steps towards establishing civil tnrou'hout northern Arkansas. Garrisons have been established along the White River, and the peoive are more hopeful. New Orleans dates of the 12th have been received.

A portion of General WeiUel's fleet had' arrived at Southwest Pass. Superfine flour is quoted at $70. Cotton depressed; middling HUm r.k: good ordinary 32 31c. Common Louisiana sucar lll-iv..