The Liberator from Boston, Massachusetts • Page 3

"yEBBUABY 21. GEESIT SMITH AND ENGLAND. fnc Jhrtntor of February 11 ill, I have just rral from the highly respected an.l talented Ger- )iiTH, to the eloquent philanthropist Gkorc.e Taoiirsos'of Englanl; and perceiving in it a very rnicious tendency, of which Uie writer was Uouht-unaware, 1 cannot refrain frorn a comment upon twbith I would respectfully submit to his considers After commending Mr. Thompson, that he had em- I his rich and commanding eloquence to pre-rnt fro'" war upon America," 1 hope you iH employ it to prevent America from making upon Kngland." This is event which he seems to fear, and indeed to expect, tni is one which every other Christian patriot, he I anxious to avert and yet this letter, written with his usutl ability and earnestness, has ns great toaJency to produce this very dreadful evil, as any- thing he couhl have written; and hence it iKtomes especially necessary that the arguments contained in this tendency, should be controverted. 4 great port'011 wf kttcr '3 employed in endeavors to depreciate the magnanimity, or sense of justice, in the rendition of Ma sou and Slideli to the British nveranene; an.l to represent it only as the result of fear and a dishonorable concession of principles we hoM assert as a right and, of course, disallows the sincerity of tlie reasons given by Mr.

Seward to lAml Lyons for the act, as well as the arguments presented bv Mr. Sumner in its defence. Xuw it is obvious, that this i touching the feelings of the American people in very sensitive point. Could Mr. Smith succeed in convincing the citizens of the North, that the restoration of the Confederate Commissioners was an act of jgtaceful timidiry yielded by our Government to threats, or in fear of the power of Great Britain, their angry mortification would be irrepressible.

Not only rouU ibey 'e confidence in an Administration which thus betrayed them, but, to wipe off the supposed disgrace, a war with England, precipitated on our part, would be inevitable. The evil Mr. S. professes to precate and avert would be produced by his own demonstrations. But this letter has a further mischievous tendency ta produce war with England, not only by the impression on the American people, that their honor has been surreoJered, but also by the irritation to be produced ia the English people and government the charges of fraud, dishonor and aggression made in it, while professing to love them which are adapted to counteract all the endeavors for conciliation, so fully credited to Mr.

Thompson. Mr. S- does indeed give credit to England for the compensated emancipation of her slaves for this is conformable to his own hobby; and he sympathizes with her reconquest of India, as it accords with those doctrines of coereed allegiance ever assumed by European governmen ts, and now claimed for our own, in contradiction to the declared principles on which it is built But he sees only hostility in the impartial attitude of Britain, regarding our war, which, like other writers, he twists into a charge of partiality for the South. He charges, as a violation of neutrality, the transportation of non-combatant persons, on a mission. vi peaceful mediation, from one neutral port to another in a neutral ship; forgetting the number of American ships employed in carrying English and French soldiers to the Crimea, of which Russia never complained; and he calls it a declaration of war "on the part of Britain, that she should send troops and national ships to her own provinces." These are precisely the sort of accusations that would be made by a nation determined to pick a quarrel with another; and when he asks, if it is strange that his countrymen should bare this stinging sense of such alleged wrongs, can lie not see that it is he himself who gives the sting, to produce the excitement which will neutralize the pacific efforts of Mr.

Thompson Should America declare war against England, as Mr. S. predicts, he will be entitled to great credit for his aid in its production. It is not in a spirit of triumphant criticism, or with a desire to depreciate the character or impair the influence of Mr. Smith, that I make these remarks on the contrary, his unhappy lapse into the pernicious delusions of the day does not in the least diminish the admiration I have ever cherished for his talents and independence the gratitude for his unselfish generosity the sympathy with his boundless philanthropy and spirit of reform.

It is more in sorrow than in reproof, more in alarm than in correction, that I make these expositions. Inconsistency, in a man of his estimation, will be overlooked by his admirers; and the most fallacious side of it will be adopted and acted on, if accordant with previous desire, to ruinous results. I have said inconsistency." Mr. S. says That I should be opposed to the war, and yet be in sympathy with our large Northern armies, may possibly lie an inconsistency." Friend if jour enlightened and strong reasoning power had been allowed fair play, this may possibly be," would have been changed to certainly is." How is this inconsistency attempted to be avoided? Relieving, as I have ever done, in the duty of Government to control subjects, I am conscious of no inconsistency between my opposition to war and my sympathy with amies, however large, if their sole object is the quelling of domestic insurrections." The mustering of armies, fighting battles, attacking fortresses, are ar, by every sound definition and common parlance and when between two portions of the same nation, it is usually termed "civil war." If Mr.

then, is opposed to all war, he can only sympathize ith "our large Northern armies by shutting his eyes, and denying that they are engaged in any war at all and if he can find, in the New Testament, an express exemption from the injunction to love his enemies, and return good for evil, in the case of a rebellion, he may likewise be conscious of no inconsistency with Christianity. But, however Mr. Smith may reconcile the ap-protal of the present war with jieace principles or Christianity, under the subterfuge that it is merely a npprvaMon of rebellion, and not a real war, he can-But justly complain of the British Government and people for their impartial neutrality, and resistance of our violation of it, until they can be brought to take the same view as he does. Judging of the nature of or Government, as they have a right to do, from the profusions we have ever made be-fore the world of a Government derived from the jieople, and held only oj their consent, as solemnly declared in the Declaration of Independence, the nations of Europe have atched with intense anxiety the trial of this principle; the success of which the people have prayed for, nd the monarch have feared. For seventy years, seemed to be in successful experiment; and is it nderfd now, when it is brought to its severest trial, cannot be understood why, without victory or dc-it should be suddenly abandoned, and involuntary allegiance of one portion of the nation to another "forced the European principle of the inherent prerogatives of Government, the principle by which ub'ct Poland, and Austria Hungary, to their It cannot be exitcctcd that 'the people of other tauon can understand the American paradox of a Government, sustained by military coercion, and HalIy that distinctly organized portions of a have never resigned the whole of their wereignty, on secession, be held and called lhoua.

Whether Mich secession is right or wrong. a is so far accomtlihed as to produce a power Tut vnleuefacy: Comiri.iii a third nf iiui'if inn a'l a half of the extent of the original nation, exe- ail itm own laws without foreign control, and fending iuelf by a military force which keeps at the claiming Government for months, to deny its ero independence, and call it a rebellion, is not a manifest falsity, but a ludicrous chimera. Europe, then, cannot participate in the martial in-i'ia of America; and, seeing in the Southern lederaey no other than a distinct Sovereign Gov-raraent, for the time, is bound by the settled law of uoa, and evea American practice, to recogni that independence. And the attitude of refraining from doing so, and the tiseof the more dubious term belligerent," should Ik- regarded as a friendlv rclan tion of international law, in favor of the Northern Government; and not abused as an indication of hostility. But Mr.

S. assumes that the people of Great JJritain must agree with us, that this is a mere rebel Hon; and the whole argument in his letter, so far as it inculpates that people, is built on that assumption Nor have they yet seen that this war is for the aboli tion of slavery, and cannot, therefore, be expected to sympathize with our prosecution of it on that ground This, however, I am glad to see Mr. Smith admits, at the close of his letter: it is an indifference on their lart, of which he acknowledges he cannot justly com plain. Every American, blest with common sense, rejoices that the affair of the Trent was settled on American principles; but Mr. S.

says "that America has no maritime principles." How so? Because concession on those supioscd principles, in this case, was compelled. Indeed Many persons would be obliged as surprised if so acute a logician a Mr. S. would favor them with a demonstration, that a true principle ceases to In? any principle at all, whenever its admis-. sion is in any case compelled.

J. P. B. OUR DITTIES TO THE SLAVE. Individuals or even companies of men pass for little in times like these.

A day now counts for weeks. Events come thronging upon us so thick and fast from such unexpected sources, that no mind can discern their foreshadowing results. The persistent and guilty inversion of right principles has by degrees plunged our country into a struggle most desperate and sadly solemn and no man among the wisest can tell how much suffering is yet in store for us, before we shall be willing to accord to all others such rights as we rigidly claim for ourselves. The poor unoffending African, and the treatment he has received at the hands of this nation, lie at the bottom, and are the cause, both remote and immediate, of all our woes. The many, many years of the unhallowed connection between the African and Caucasian on this continent, is yielding up its bitter fruits.

War, grim-visaged war, with its dread implements of destruction, is now full upon us the chosen arbiter of the great dispute. It would be useless to allege that this might have been averted by listening to the voice of reason and conscience. Wise men and foolish had in vain warned the country of the danger; but, ignorant and unscrupulous majorities chose to smother conscience for pelf, and in selfish cowardice visit their iniquity upon the third and fourth generations." The past justly yokes together both North and South as principals in the great social and political abuse. This we all know when freed from prejudice. In our purse-pride or egotism we either deny it, or fail to see any cause or object in the events which we shall sooner or later have cause to deplore.

Unjust as lias been the English press towards us, however much it may side with English conservatism, there is also much that pictures faithfully what all honest Englishmen see, that here on this side of the Atlantic is a great nation deserving praise for growth in all that pertains to material prosperity, and for much that adorns and ennobles morally and intellectually but, by its organic law, the Government and people under it are held to the support, tied up and committed to a social and political crime unsurpassed in magnitude in any age'or nation and all this in the sacred name of freedom. They see us, after many years of schooling under the auspices of a dominant and unscrupulous political power, pledged to the belief that the Constitution under hich we live is little less worthy our veneration than the Maker of the Universe while they and we know that when interpreted away from the influence of this political power in the light of history and reason, in the 6tern and ever-reliable interest of common sense, its authors meant it and so framed it, that, long before the year of our Lord eighteen hundred sixty-two, it should be henceforth and forever purged from the stain of slavery. These honest Englishmen see, and so do we all of us who have not owl's eyes in our heads, that from the date of the first cotton crop to this hour, a mighty, and as wicked as mighty Slave Power, through long years of sleepless activity, has sought the overthrow of this Constitution, while it has prated to us, and the greatest among us at the North, of its purity and sacredness. But for this infernal school of politics, its insidious and crafty corrupter of pulpits and seminaries of learning through these many years of its intense labor, we should long since have unloosed the shackles of the slave. The truth is, we are not a free people in the sense of many of the noble founders of this republic.

For considerations of gain and polit ical power, North and South, by complicity and di rectly, we have been cruelly unjust to what we deen: our inferiors. And if England, a monarchy, has been overbearing and cruel to weaker nations, so also hav we, a republic. The form of government or politics isj no indication, in either case, of the presence or absence of justice. In the eyes of the civilized world, this people, to whom all others have a right to look for the best ex amples of good government, honor and humanity presents to-day a dark record of the absence of these essential features. And it is beginning to be more and more evident, that so unobservant had we become of the plainest principles of right and honor, that nothing short of a revolution through which we are now passing could bring us to see ourselves as we are seen.

The first step to extrication from our troubles lies in seeing and in heartily acknowledging our great injustice to the slave. If our national sufferings bring, us to this point, the day of our deliverance will soon draw nigh. But if we artfully dodge this momentous question, and continue to couch the dodge in phrases so fraught with selfishness as that of "military necessity," now that Divine Providence seems to open before us this golden opportunity to perform a long sought act of justice, then, if it be done in spite of us, with or without our instrumentality, and against our will, in all time to come we shall deserve only the name and the brand of cowards. If the country is to be saved, we must in all cases be willing to do aniple justice. Not only must the slave le liberated, but generous as well as suitable provision must be made, in consonance with his wishes, too, for his future home.

If his freedom is effected by the violence of war, our dealings with him afterward should be especially tender. If there is a human being on this continent deserving of our warmest sympathies, it is this poor, down-trodden brother. Whether the country is ready for this unquestioned act of justice cannot be so well discerned through the conflicting political elements. That we shall never prosper as a pe-ople till this great work be done, and done heartily and thoroughly, is most certain Should it take place while yet in our power to direct it, then war will cease in our borders; We shall re gain our long-lost self estimation, and the civilized world will cheerfully welcome us to the circle of the nations. Then shall the oppressed once more find it, in a dearer sense than ever, a land of the brave and free.

Mr. Pillscky at Springfield. An esteemed correspondent at Springfield writes as "Our friend Parker I'illsbury had a very attentive audience on Sunday evening last, of about three hundred, at Music Hall to whom he gave a very solemn, impressive and philosophical discourse on the moral and religious aspects of our momentous national crisis. I never heard him before when he seemed to make such a deep and salutary impression. He showed most clearly, to all who ltad ears to hear and ryes to see, that moral wrong, whether done by the individual, or framed iuto the form of law by that aggregate of individuals called the State, was sure to draw after it retributive results, terrible in their nature, according to the fiagrancy and turpitude of the wrong committed; and be made his hearers feel it." THE LIBEEATOE.

ANTI-SLAVERY LABORS IN ILLINOIS. Feb. 12, 1862. Pear Friend Garrison, The following extracts of a letter from our excellent coadjutor, Mr. Edwin R.

Brown of Illinois, may interest your readers. Since the suspension of the AntiSlaivry DttgU, the Western Abolitionists and the agents there have no journal through which to communicate, except the Standard and Liberator. Though the tone of the political press at the West is much higher and truer than the Eastern, whatever may be said of the public sentiment and feeling, still, in prejudice against color, and some other pro-slavery manifestations, nothing in their behalf can be boasted. And so our few noble friends there have yet a mighty work on their hands and I desire to bespeak for them every encouragement. Very sincerely yours, PARKER PILESBURY.

You will see by my bill how much of the time I have worked with and for yon, since I wrote last. Except in one or two instances, I have had full houses, and always a good degree of interest has been mani fest At two places, I met violent opposition. hen I spoke in one town last winter, a number of 'the faithful' pledged themselves never to permit another Abolition meeting to be held there, and gave me fair warning. A short time since, however, I went, having been invited to do so by the friends. I bad just begun my lecture, when fourteen rowdies came in, in a body, led on by a rabid old blackguard of "0 years, a man of property, if not of standing.

I smelt wbi key and rat at once. He called on his men to sail in the intention being to put me out of the house but they were met by a larger number, who were for fair play, and a storm of words and threats raged for half an hour, while I stood quietly waiting the issue. The mobites were at last squelched, and I finished my lecture in comparative quiet. The same gang followed on, three miles, to my next meeting, on the following evening, and we had another stormy time but I was able to go on with my speech, a Democrat standing at one side of the desk and an Abolitionist at the other, for my protection. The same day, while showing the petition for eman cipation to a company of threshers, a man came at me with a pitchfork, and the look of a fiend but as I only laughed at him, he went back to his place.

With these exceptions, I have had good order, and sometimes the unanimous amen of the hearers. But I will not trouble you farther with incidents. Your experience will suggest most of them. Last Sunday, I discoursed at the funeral of the daughter of a stanch old An ti Slavery friend, iu this town A large audience was present. How is the idea of compulsory colonization received in the East To me.

it seems the sublime of meanness. I see nothing in our papers in relation to it. Here, our emancipationists are generally preaching expatriation as a necessary consequence. The quality of our Anti-Slavery is not equal to the quantity. Our Constitutional Convention will 'stake and rider' the Black Code which fences the negro out of Illinois.

I suppose we are on the eve of great again. Mr. Seward says so, and he may be right. A clock with no 'works' inside is right once in the twelve hours." Great Victories The Backbone of the Rebellion Broken The last week has chronicleda succession of victories by the Federal over the rebel forces on a scale of such magnitude as to indicate a speedy termination of the struggle, by the overthrow of the Southern Confederacy. The particulars, in brief, may be found in another column; though we could occupy our entire sheet with the thrilling accounts of the various battles, all of them desperately contested but in every instance resulting in the capture of the rebel strongholds, with thousands of prisoners, The intelligence has been every where received at the North with demonstrations of patriotic exultation with illuminations, bonfires, the ringing of bells, the discharge of cannon, from Eastport to the Mississippi.

In the Legislature of Massachusetts on Monday last, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted Resolved, That the two Houses of the General Court, on behalf of themselves and the people of the Commonwealth, present their thanks to the gallant officers, soldiers and sailors of the army and navy of the United States, on the occasion of the series of brilliant victories recently won by their courage and skill iu the States of South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Resolved, That His Excellency the Governor be requested to order a salute to be. fired in honor of the rjeat success ot the army of thfi I num Harriet Tubman. A meeting was held at the Twelfth Baptist Church, in Boston, a few days before Harriet Tubman left the city, where addresses were delivered by several gentlemen, and also by the Beneficiary herself. A donation festival took place immediately after in the vestry, the pecuniary result of which was not large, as the ladies had but a short time to prepare.

It is, however, hoped that on some future occasion a testimonial will be tendered, more in keeping with their appreciation of her services in the cause of emancipation. N. eserved. learn that tne nion jrrogressive Association recently presented their President, Wil liam C. Nell, a handsome copy of Worcester's illustrated Quarto Dictionary.

Wm. C. Nell announces that the Crispus At tacks Commemoration, March 5th, will this year be observed in a novel and attractive manner. Particu lars next week. Edccation of the Contrabands.

A meeting of persons interested in sending teachers to the contra bands at rortress Monroe and Port Itoyal was held in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Union, Friday week, the Rev. E. E. Hale, the President of a previous nutting, in the chair. The Rev.

J. M. Manning, from a committee, reported the draft of a constitution for the association proposed to be organized, substantially as follows This association shall be called the "Educational Commission," and its object shall be to make all practical efforts for the social, industrious, religious and moral improvement of persons released from slavery during the present war for the Union, and for this purpose teachers will be employed, who will carry on their operations without at all interfering in the duties or routine of the military camps; and the assistance and countenance of the government is solicited in granting facilities for the transportation of supplies, for the protection of teachers, The officers of the Commission shall consist of a President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and a General Committee, to be subdivided into Committees on Correspondence, Finance, Teachers, Clothing and Supplies. Any person may become a member of the Commission for 5 annually. The Committee reported the following list of names for officers President, John A.

Andrew Vice Presidents, the Rev. J. M. Manning, the Rev. E.

E. Hale, Dr. F. D. Huntington, the Rev.

T. B. Thayer, the Rev. J. W.

Parker, Jacob Sleeper, the Rev. J. F. Clarke; Secretary, Edward Atkinson Treasurer, William Endicott, Jr. The constitution was accepted.

Instruction for the Contrabands. On Sunday evening last, a meeting was held at the Old South Church, which was crowded in every part, in aid of the Educational Commission, a body organized for the purpose of providing teachers for persons released from slavery who may come within the lines of the armies of the United States. Addresses were made by Rev. J. M.

Manning, Rev. Dr. Gannett and Rev. Dr. Kirk.

The addresses of the different clergymen were of great power. Rev. Dr. Kirk said that he had never feared the prowess of Southern "gentlemen," as he hail been much among them. Fort Henry and Roanoke Island showed that they could not face those they had affected to despise.

He had not feared foreign intervention. He had feared God, because of the doubt whether this nation would recognize the manhood of the African. Mr. Kirk was of the opinion that the republic would stand up in its integrity. Rev.

Dr. Gannett thought that the black man, under favoring circumstances, would equal the white in progress and civilization. Rev. Mr. Manning made a very felicitous address.

UNION AND REBEL VICTORIES. CSIOX TICTOBIES, 1861. Jnne 2 Philippa. June 17 Boone ville. July 5 Brier Fork, (Sigel's victory.) July 11 Defeat of regrain by McClellan.

July 13 Carrick's Ford, Gen. Garnett killed, rebel. Aug. 28 Hatteras Forts. Sept.

10 Rout of Floyd, Gauley Bridge. Oct. 5 Second defeat of rebels at Hatteras. Oct. 8 Santa Rosa Island.

Oct. 11 Repulse at South Tass. ct. 2." Charge of Fremont's Body Guard. Oct.

1 Romney, (Kelly wounded.) Oct. 22 Frederick town, Missouri. Nov. 7 Port Royal. Dec.

13 Camp Alleghany, Virginia-Dec. 18 1,300 rebels captured by Pope in Missouri. Dec. 18 Dranesville. 18G2.

Second Repulse at Santa Ross-Humphrey Marshall's rout. Capture of rebel batteries in S. Carolina-Mill Spring, (Zollicoffer killed.) Fort Henry. Roanoke Island. Fort DoneUon, (15,000 prisoners taken.) REBEL VICTORIES, 1SC1.

April 12 Fort Sumter. June 10 Big Bethel. July 21 Bull Run. Aug. 10 Wilson's Creek, (Gen.

Lyon killed.) Sept. 2IJ Lexington. Oct. 21 Massacre of Ball's Bluff. Nov.

7 Belmont. 18G2, soxe. RECAPITULATION. Union victories, 21 Rebel victories, 7 ratio, 3 to 1. -Huston Traveller.

A Week of Triumph. The week that has closed has been one of almost unalloyed triumph. We re capitulate as follows 1. The capture of Fort Henry. 2.

The victory at Roanoke. 3. The capture of Edenton, Elizaleth City, etc. 4. The destruction of the Rebel Navy in the North Carolina waters.

5. The retreat of the Rebels from Bowling Green. G. The capture of several prizes at sea. 7.

Further advances towards Savannah. 8. The fiyht at Eort Donelson. The intelligence from Europe, that the Great Pow ers intend to respect the Blockade, turn their backs on Privateering, and in all other respects leave us to manage the rebels in our riwit way. 1 be capture of lort Uonefson, with three rebel Gen erals and 15,000 prisoners, begins the present week auspiciously.

Next to the capture of Roanoke Island, it is the greatest victory of the war. Ibid. SURRENDER OF FORT DONELSON CAP TURE OF GENERALS JOHNSTON AND BUCKNER, AND 15,000 PRISONERS Chicago, Feb. 17. The following is a special dispatch to the Times: Fort Donelson, Feb.

lGfA. Fort Donelson surrender ed at daylight this morning unconditionally. We have Generals BucJcner, Johnston and Buscherod. and 15,000 prisoners and 3000 horses. Generals Pillow and Floyd with their brigades ran away on steamers, without letting Buckner know their intention.

Gen. Smith led the charge on the lower end of the works, and was first inside of the fortification. The Fort Henry runaways were bagtred here. The prison ers are loading on the steamers for Cairo. Our loss is heavy, probably 400 killed and 800 wounded.

We lose a large per centage of officers, among them Colonels Lrwin, of the 20th Illinois, vv lute of the Slst. and Smith of the 4Stli Illinois. Colonels Johu A. Lo gan, Sawyer and Ransom are wounded. Major 1 ost, of the oth Illinois, with 200 privates, are prisoners, and have gone to Nashville, having been taken the night before the surrender.

The enemy's loss was heavy, but not so large as ours, as they fought behind intrenchments. We should have taken them by storming on Saturday, if our ammunition had not given out in the night. Mc- (. lernand division, composed ot Oglesby Wallaces and McArthur's brigades, suffered terribly. They were composed of the Bth, th, llMi, l'Jth, 20th, 20th, 30th, 31st, 45th, 48th and 40th Illinois regiments.

Gen. Lewis allace, with the 11th Indiana, 8th Mis souri and some Ohio regiments, participated. Taylor's, Willar's, McAlister's, Schwartz's and Decease's batteries, were in the fight from the commencement. On Sunday morning, the enemy were met on their approach by a white flag, Buckner having sent early in the morning a despatch to Gen. Grant surrendering.

1. he works of the tort extend some live miles on the outside. The rebels lose 48 field pieces, 17 heavy guns, 20,000 stand of arms, besides large quantity of commissary stores. The repel troops are completely demoralized, and have no confidence in their leaders, as they charge Pillow and Floyd with desertion. Our troops from the moment of the investment of the fort on Wednesday, lay on their arms night and day, half the time without provisions, and all the time without tents.

A portion ot the time there was a heavy storm of rain and snow. No officer in the army had any idea of ort Donel- son's defences until they had been gained and ex amined. Several men, when ont of ammunition, rushed for ward, and although exposed to the full force of the rebel artillery, gallantly drove their foes back with the bayonet, and captured their guns. lhe following are the names of some of the rebel officers captured Col. Gault, Col.

Voorhies, Col. iorrest, Col. Brown, and Col. Awrnethy. Some of our best officers and men have gone to their long home.

Hardly a man that went over the field after the battle, but discovered some comrade who had fallen. We lost three Lieutenant-Colonels, and at least one-quarter of the other officers are wound ed or killed. The rebels had all the advantage of position, being well fortified on two hills, with their fort near the river on a lower piece of ground. From the foot of their entrenchments, rifle pits and abattis extended up the river behind the town of Dover. Their fortifica tions on the land side, back from the river, were at least fourjniles in length.

Their water battery was in the centre ot the fortification where it came down to the river, and mounted nine heavy guns. The rebels were sure of success. In any other cause and against less brave troops, they could easily have held the position against lUO.UUU men. I he rebel Surgeons place their loss at between 300 and 400 killed, and double the number wounded. The gunboat assault was terrific, exceeding even the Fort Henry bombardment.

It lasted about an hour and a half, lhe enemy had fronting on the river two batteries, the lower one of nine and the upper one of four guns, besides a 10-inch columbiad. The wooden gunboats Tyler and Conestoga were in the tight. Flag-officer Foote pronounced the engagement the hottest he ever witnessed. lhe Memphis dispatch to the Richmond papers enumerates seven rebel steamers that were either burnt or sunk during the trip of the Federal gunboats up Tennessee river, and two that were captured; Only one rebel steamer escaped. The New York Post sums up the results of the recent splendid victories of our troops as follows We have taken, by these actions, two large divis ions of the enemy's army we hold as prisoners no less than four of their generals, a score of colonels, majors and lieutenants by the hundreds, and privates to the number of sixteen thousand at least.

We have compelled the surrender of six important strategic points, possessed ourselves of vast quantities of ammunition and supplies, and driven whatever remains of the rebel army of the West entirely out of Missouri and Kentucky, and away from the sea cost of North Carolina. But the points of strategy gained by the Unionists are still more valuable than the actual gain in men and means. By the fail of Donelson the whole of Tennessee, and with Tennessee the Gulf States, is opened to the advance of our troops. St. Louis, Feb.

16. Gen. Halleck has received dispatches from Gen. Curtis, stating that Price's rear guard was overtaken in the pursuit from Springfield, and after a brief resistance the rebels fled, leaving the road strewn with their wagons and baggage. Gee.

Curtis reports that he has taken more prisoners than he knows what to do-with. St. Louis, Feb. 18. The following dispatch is from headquarters Major General McClellax The flag of the Union is floating in Arkansas.

Gen. Curtis has driven Price from Missouri, and is several miles across the Arkansas line, cutting up Price's rear, and hourly capturing prisoners and stores. The army of the South-West is doing its duty nobly. (Signed) W. H.

Halleck, Major General. CAPTURE OF GEN. TRICE AND STAFF 1 Washington, War Department, Feb. 19. 1862.

The following despatch was received at Headquarters today St. Louis, Feb. 1010.30 A. M. To Major Gen.

McClellan -Gen. Curtis has captured Gen. Price, Col. Dorsey, Col. Cass and Capt- Judge of Gen.

Price'a staff. (Signed,) U. W. HALLECK, Major GenerL" Sedalia, (Missouri,) Feb. 19.

Brig. Gen. Edward Price, son of Gen. Sterling Price, Col. Phillips, Maj.

Cross and Capt. Crosby were captured near Warsaw on Sunday night by Capt. Stubbs, of the 8th Iowa regiment, and brought in. Confiscation RbolctioVc' iw Maink. The attention of the Senate in the Maine Legislature was almost exclusively occupied last week with a debate on a series of resolutions relating to-the confiscation of slaves.

An amendment was offered, enitiodying the famous Crittenden resolution, passed by Ongress at its extra session, to which was attached a full endorsement the President's construction of the Constitution end his war policy. They were referred to the Committee on Federal Resolutions, where another set was presented, and reported to the Senate, and immediately leased by a vote of twenty -four to four, as follows: Resolved. That we cordially endorse the Administration of Abraham Lincoln in the conduct of the war against the wicked and unnatural enemies of the Republic, and that in all its measures calculated to crush this rebellion speedily and finally, the Administration is entitled to and will receive the unwavering support of the loyal people of Maine. Resolved, That it is the duty of Congress, by such means as will not jeopard the rights and safety of the loyal people of the South, to provide for the confiscation of estates, real and personal, of rebels, and for the forfeiture and liberation of every slave claimed by any person who shall continue in arms against the authority of the United States, or who shall in any manner aid and abet the present wicked and unjustifiable rebellion. Resolved, That in this perilous crisis of the country, it is the duty of Congress, in the of its constitutional power, to raise and supjort armies," to provide by law for accepting the services of able-bodied men of whatever status, ami to employ them in such manner as military necessity and the safety of the Republic may demand.

Contrabands rs Washington. Marshal Lam on has yielded to the orders of the Government, and issued the following order Washington, Feb. 9, 1862. To Ja'iler and Guards of the Public Jail in the District of' Columbia You will this day release from custody all persons claimed to le held to service or labor, and not charged with anv crime or misdemeanor, who are now in jail. who have been there for the space of thirty.days or upwards from their arrest and commitment and in uture you will, in regard to persons claimed to service or labor, and not charged with crime or misdemeanor, govern yourself in strict accordance with the order to me as Marshal for the District of Columbia, of date January 25th, 1802, from Hon.

Secretary of State. iiespcctfully, ari 11. Lamox, United Stales Marshal, District of Columbia." Port Rotai. and the Cotton Crop. It appears that considerable supplies of cotton may still be found on Edisto Island, if a reconnoissance in force should be made, lhe negroes report that there are small quantities of cotton hidden in various localities, and small quantities ot unginned are to be found in nearly all the plantations on Edisto Island.

lhe despatches say it is worthy of note as indica ting the changes in the blacks, that now they express themselves most anxious to obtain arms. The black man who has general superintendence of the colony wished to land his force in Rockville, and drive the rebel soldiers back, expressing the utmost confidence that with about twenty old muskets that they had picked up, many of them with flintlocks, he would be able to effect his object. TnK Contrabands at Port "Rotal. Rev. Dr.

Strickland writes from Port Royal Extensive preparations are being made here for the accommodation of the slaves of the district. Long rows of houses, capable of containing hundreds of contrabands, have bten erected west of the encampment of the provost marshal, and we inter from this that all who have been left on the islands will be sent here for safe keeping. One end of the building on the east is partitioned off for church and school purposes, having all the appointments necessary therefor." Disregard of the Constitution. Messrs. Toombs, Crawford and Cobb, of Georcia, in their ad dress to the people of that State, say Our enemy has exhibited an energy, a persever ance, and an amount of resources which we had hard ly expected, and a dmretftrd of Constitution and laics which we can hardly credit." If it were not for the seriousness of the subject, it would be amusing to read a lecture from the South on the disregard of the Constitution exhibited by the North Men who have spit upon the Constitution and the flag and the fame of their country, dishonored tne mother who bore them, and trampled under foot the principles of the fathers of the Republic, now affect astonishment at the disregard of the Constitution exhibited by the North lXew York Observe): A Lie Sqcelciied.

The silly story, first broached in Congress, that on the publication of Mr. Cameron's Keport, hvc Illinois regiments laid down their arms and refused to serve their country, is without a shadow ot foundation. It had its origin, as we gather from the proceedings of the House, in some random talk-indulged in by the Hon. John A. Logan, which was as far from the truth as one of his speeches and it is merciful to suppose that that gentleman was "unduly excited when lie invented a canard so prejudicial to the loyalty of his State.

Illinois follows the flag, and her troops never lay down their arms Chicago Tri bune. Loss of Horses. It is truly hcart-sickenintr to read the account of the loss of horses sent on shin- board from Boston to Ship Island. One hundred and fifty -three horses were put on board at Boston, and out of these one hundred and forty-seven died on the passage, and were thrown overboard Only six arrived at Ship Island The loss to the Government is estimated at from 50,000 to $00,000, and is all to le attributed to gross ignorance and blundering on the part of the Government official who had the charge of shipping the poor creatures. Loot Blacks IIelpino Our Soldiers.

We learn from Hatteras that loyal blacks from North Carolina helped to man the fleet of lag-Officer Golds- borough, and to serve the guns which have sunk Lynch boats and compelled the surrender of Roanoke Island. The navy, although a large proportion of its highest officers are from the slave States, has not been in the habit of examining a seaman's complexion be fore shipping him. "Can you fight?" is the only question. N. Y.

Tribune. Poor Bright. Another added to the political mor tality list. Cause the -Inevitable Nigger. Poor Bright 1 A decent man enough, but never otherwise, in an unlucky day he married a family of niggers and a Kentucky plantation.

Since that time, his course has been downward. JIis love ot man-sellinir and wo man whipping, acquired after he grew up to manhood, obliterated his love of justice and his love of country and now, expelled from the Senate as a traitor, he is an object of abhorrence to every patriotic man. So the virus ot slavery works. Ltucayo JriOune. JJ Jeff.

Davis is to be inaugurated on Saturday next as l'resiuent ior six years ot the southern Con federacy. It must require a marvellous amount of coolness and hopefulness to keep bis inaugural from reading like a tuneral oration. While he will be haunted by the ghosts of Zollicoffer and Wise, and depressed by the clustering losses of Roanoke Island, Jtorts lienry and Uonelson, and Savannah, he can brighten up only as he congratulates Virginia that Jb loyd remains true as steel. jew ISedford Mercury, i 9 1 mending to the people of the United States thatj on that day, they assemble in their customary places of meeting for public solemnities, and celebrate the anniversary of the birth of the Father of his country, by causing to be read to them his immortal Farewell Address." Washington correspondent of the New York Evening Post says that after each anti-slavery lecture in the Smithsonian Institute, complaint is made by the old fogies of the use made of the Institute lecture-room, so that the President of the Lecture Association, Rev. John Pierpont, now makes it a rule to precede each lecture with the statement that the Institute is in no wise responsible for the lectures delivered in this course.

This statement is the signal for an explosion of laughter from, the audience, and puts them in the best of humor for listening to the discourse which follows. The Hutchinsons attended a party given by Secretary Chase on Thursday evening," last week, and sang an anti-slavery song by Whittier, for singing which in the camp in Virginia, General McClellan ordered them to the other side of the Potomac We do not learn that anybody was hurt at the Secre-tirv'n nartv. although there wn cnmA tf ik.t i present who always get' up and leave church when the A minister preaches something they do not agree with, The rebels have refused to receive or to distribute the two thousand suits of clothes sent from the North to our prisoners, to whom they have themselves denied every comfort, because the packages were not addressed to the Confederate States." CJf Senator Morrill of Maine, of the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia, has prepared a bill for the immediate emancipation of the slaves of the District, about S000 ia number, paying loyal own' era $300 for each slave. fj 83 Col. Hallett has been put in Irons by the rebel authorities at Hickman, for refusing to recognize the provisional government of that State, and speaking disrespectfully to the Right Her.

Gen. Polk. E3r Washington is to be illuminated on Saturday night. The day being the historic 22d of February, President Lincoln has issued a proclamation, recom 81 Gtnitnr. Thompson.

This pvntlf man has recently been lect fifing ia England, oo the subject of "American Affairs." Home years since, when a. member of the British rarllnrhetit, he visited this country, to witness the workings of our institutions, and we very well recollect that he was charged, on his arrival, by what was then known as the Democratic party, (since happily dead.) with being an emissary of the British aristocracy, sent here to sow the seeds of disunion, and to overthrow our Republican form of Government. The Slave Power knew well the character of the man, and that it was dangerous to allow him free, dorn of speech. He was requested to address the pro pie of Boston, Springfield and Philadelphia but in all these cities the halls and public places were cloned against him through pro-slavery influence. Where are his accusers now, and where de we find himf Thev are in arms against our free institutions, and vainly trying to overthrow one of the best forms of government ever devised by man, while he is found raining down sledge-hammer blows on tlte beads of the viie traitors, and defending the course of the Administration in its efforts to crush out this unholy n-bellion.

Chester (Pa.) fiejiblica. 1 The Rev. J. Sella Martin, of this dry, was well received in England, where he was engaged in upholding the Union cause. He has done more for that cause in Kngland than has been flone oy any wnite American, tutd the English naturally listen to turn more readily than they would to white men, most of the latter not speaking adversely to slavery.

Mr. Martin vindicates the course of the North in all re- seets. At Ipswich, three clergymen threw their puipiU open lo him. and he Its crowded congregations at all three services. Two davs later, he made a long address to a numerous audience, the Major of Ipswich presiding; and a unanimous rote of thanks was adopted by the meeting.

I.et him be remember ed, and let not the liberality of the English in these instances be forgotten Uotton Iravtuer. Reception Meeting. Rev. J. Sella Martin, on returning to his congregation after a six months' ab.

sence in England, was greeted by a large reception meeting at Joy Street Church, last Monday evening. The interesting exercises terminated with a socT gathering in the vestry. The Federal Loss at tdb Taking or Roanoxk Island. Despatches from the Burnside Expedition Mate that the Federal la at the taking of Roanoke Island was Al killed and about 140 wounded the rebel loss was 30 killed and less than 100 wounded. Three thousand prisoners were captured by our troops, and all their.

gunltoats burnt or taken except two, which eseajH-d in the canal. The troops which distingmshed themselves were the 21st, 25th and 27th Massachusetts, the and olst New York, and the 10th Connecticut. The reWls were driven from theirs intrenchments by the Hawkins Zouaves and 2lst Mas- sachusetts. Edenton has been taken without resist. ance.

Evacuation of Bowling Green. The following letter, dated Louisville, February 12th, appears in the New York Herald: Bowling Green has been evacuated. 'The state-' ments sent you on the 10th and 11th have been fully confirmed. The facts stated in my letter in regard to the movements of Floyd's and other brigades on the zoth ot January have been sustained. A he last of the rebels left the place on Monday, having removed all their goods and property.

The splendid iron railroad bridge and turnpike bridge hare been blown up and burned. Everything in the least valuable to oar troops hrs been destroyed, and Gen. Hindman has laid waste the country from Cave City to Bowling Green. -It was believed at Richmond that the Union troops were marching on Weldon. The citizens of Weldon deserted that place in a panic, taking with them their.

slaves and household good, and, in some cases, burn- ing their houses. Transport vessels, filled with Union troi ps, were ascending the Chowan river, their des- filiation being, it was supposed, WcUlon. The slaves on the plantations on the Blackwater river were being employed in obstructing that stream in various ways, to prevent tne ascent of the Union vessels. It was thought at Suffolk that that place would also be attacked. Troops from Petersburg had arrived there to defend it.

Gen. Blanchard was in command. The -defences immediately around Richmond were being strengthened. Paris, 21. The Independence Belgo asserts that the Southern Commissioners have informed the En-glish Government that in return for.

the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, they would establish most absolute free trade for 60 years, abolish the external slave traffic, and emancipate all the blacks born after the recognition. I hese offers, however, will not de- termine Lord Palnierston to abandon the policy neutrality. KIT- The Virginia journals state that the attempt to make the Merrimac sea-worthy, as an iron-plated has again failed. She was over-weigh ted. Never 1 having been meant to wear armor, the stout ship re- fuses to serve in it.

The labors of the rebels on her -r resemme mucu muse oi a uanu or Aootaa sound savages, when they chance to find a wreck on their coast. John Brown (son of the John Brown whose soul Is marching arrived at Fort Lear- enworth a few days since from Detroit. Michigan, and was accompanied by forty recruits, one of whom was -with his father in the HaVper'a Ferry tragedy. Capt. Brown's company is now full, and is assigned to Col.

Jennison's regiment. A special dispatch, dated Leavenworth. Feb ruary 14th, says that after several interviews between Generals Lane and Hunter, it is evident that amicable arrangements are impossible. General Lane will re turn to the Senate without delay. CSyJohn C.

Breckinridge, in an address to the people ot Kentucky, asking votes for himself as candidate for a seat in the rebel congress, takes pains to tell them lie is utterly opposed to a reconstruction of the old government on any terms. Of course, he is. such reconstruction involves an unpleasant us pen- sion of such traitors as himself. Elf" It is announced in the rebel papers that Gen. Beauregard reached Columbus on the day that Fort Henry was captured.

-r Legislature of Delaware has refused to abolish slavery, and declined to support the Federal Government. fucn loyalty Is treason. The Dcdham Gazette thinks George Lunt ought to be ducked in a horse-pond. Has our friend no bowels of compassion for the horses Hoxtmrn Journal. Death of Dr.

Lcther V. Bell. Advices from Washington announce the death of Dr. Luther V. Bell, of Charleston, Brigade Surgeon of Gen.

Hooker Division of the Army of the Potomac. Dr. Bell was born in Francestown, New Hampshire, in isuo, out came to tnis state in early youth. he was best known to the public as Superintendent the Insane Asylum, at Somerville, a position which he filled with great ability and success. Death of Hon.

Wm. Afpletok. Hon. William Appleton died at Longwood, Saturday morning, at 8 o'clock. Wm.

Pennington, ex-Governor of Jersey, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of tlie last Congress, died at Newark, Sunday, at the age of 68. 2F President Felton of Harvard College Is dan- gerously ill at the residence of his brother in Chester County, Pennsylvania. fST AARON M. POWELL, Agent of tho America a Anti-Slavery Soeietyv will speak at i Mamaroncck, N. Tuesday, "JTeb.

25. New Rochelle, Pleasaotville, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Mirch 1 LEOMINSTER AND FTTCII11URQ. Pills tear wilt leeture in 2 Leominster, Saturday eveo'g, March lr Fitohbnrg, Sunday r- at 7 o'clock. E-J0nN S. ROCK, will deliver his "lecture, A Plea for Emancipation," in West TFrentham, Sunday afternoon, March 2d.

On Sunday evening, be will deliver his lecture in Sheldon ville, on "The Cause and the Effect of the Rebellion. GT JOHN S. SOCK, will deliver his lecture A Plea for Emancipation, where he may be invited, for a trifle over his expenses. His address is 2fo. 8 Trexapnt Street, Boston.

E. H. HETWOOD will speak on "Common Sense in riopodale. Sandey, A. -s Feb.

On "The War," la MUford, Sunday evening, Rock Bottoce, Monday 2. East Cambridge, Sunday, i(arcb, 2. i MERCY B. JACKSON, has maoved. to 695 Washington street, 2d deor Norti ef Warren.

Particular attention paid ta Pine sue of Women and Children. Reference. Luther Clark, IX; Devid Tbsytur, V. P. Office hours from 2 to 4, P.

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