The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-17 00:00:00

AMERICA.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.

The Royal Mail steam-ship Asia, Captain Lott,
has arrived with advices from New York to the 4th

Advices from Montreal to the 2d inst. report that
snow fell on the previous night, but the St. Law-
rence was free from ice.

The Federal cruiser James Adger arrived at Bal-
timore on the 2d from England, via the Azores.
One of her officers proceeded immediately to Wash-
ington with despatches.

The 37th Congress assembled on the 2d inst., and,
contrary to expectation, more than a quorum was
present in each House. The customary joint com-
mittee was appointed to wait on the President, and
notify him that they were ready to receive any com-
munication he might be pleased to make. Pre-
viously to the adjournment of the Senate, Mr.
Trumbull, of Illinois, gave notice that he would in-
troduce a bill to confiscate the property of Confede-
rates, and give freedom to persons in Slave States ;
and Mr. Wilkinson, of Minnesota, gave notice of a
bill to abolish the distinction between Regulars and
Volunteers.
On the 3d little or no business was transacted in
the Senate beyond the reading of the President's
Message.
In the House of Representatives on the 2d Mr.
Lovejoy, of Illinois (Republican), offered a joint
resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to
Capt. Wilkes for his arrest of Messrs. Slidell and
Mason. Mr. Edgerton, of the Ohio (Republican),
moved as
.a substitute that the President be re-
quested to present to Capt. Wilkes a gold medal,
with suitable emblems and devices, expressive of the
high sense of confidence in him entertained by Con-1
gress for his prompt arrest of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell. The substitute WU rejected, and the original
resolution • was adopted. Mr. Colfax, of Indiana,
offered a preamble and resolution, which was
unanimously adopted, requesting the Presi-
dent to direct the confinement of Mason in the
cell of a convicted felon, until Col. Corcoran should
be treated by the Confederates as the United States
had treated all prisoners taken by them on the
battle-field. It was subsequently decided to advise
the same treatment of Slidell, in reference to the
imprisonment of Col. Wood. Mr. Eliot, of Massa-
chusetts, then offered a series of resolutions,
" solemnly declaring that the war now pend-
ing is simply waged by the Government
for the suppression of the rebellion and the
re-establishment of the Union, but insisting
upon the right of the President to emancipate
all persons held as slaves in any military district in
a state of insurrection against the Government, and
advising such a course." The house refused to table
the resolution, 70 against 56, but its consideration
was postponed for a week. Mr. Stevens, of Penn-
sylvania (Republican), submitted the following for
future consideration :
" Whereas slavery has caused the
Resent rebel-
lion in the United States ; and wtereas, there can
be no solid and permanet
republic so lon g n -
t
peace and union in this
and,
that institution exist within it ;
where-
slaves are now used by the rebels as
an es`-;ential means of supporting and protracting
the w -
•dr ; and whereas, by the law of nations, it is
right to liberate the slaves of an enemy to weaken
his power—

" Therefore, be it enacted, by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States in
Congress assembled, that the President be requested
to declare free, and to direct all our Generals and
officers in command to order freedom to all slaves
who shall leave their masters, or shall aid in quel-
ling the rebellion.

" Second.—And be it further resolved,—That the
United States pledge the faith of the nation to make
full and fair compensation to all loyal citizens who
are, or shall remain, active in supporting the
Union, for all loss they may sustain by virtue of
this resolution."

Various other resolutions on the same subject
were offered for future consideration. On the mo-
tion of Roscoe A. Conkling, of New York, the Sec-
retary of War was requested to inform the house
whether any steps had been taken to ascertain who
was responsible for the disaster at Bull's Bluff. On
the 3d the President's Message occupied the atten-
tion of the house.

According to the Washington correspondence of
the New York Tines, the President only completed
his Message at 5 p.m. on Sunday, the Ist.
We extract from the report of the Secretary of
War the following leading items :

" The strength of the army is as follows :

Volunteers. Regulars. Aggregate
Infantry 557,208 11,175 568,383
Cavalry ..
Artillery
Rifles and sharpshooters.. 8,395 3,395
Engineers

Total
" The appropriations asked for the service of the
next fiscal year are computed for a force of
500,000 men. I propose, with the object of reducing
the volunteer force to 500,000, with the consent of
Congress, to consolidate such of the regiments as
may from time to time fall below the regulation
standard. The adoption of this measure will decrease
the number of officers, and proportionably diminish
the expense of the army. The disaster of Bull's Run
was but the natural consequence of the premature
advance of our brave but undisciplined troops,which
the impatience of the country demanded. The be-
trayal also of our movements by traitors in our
midst enabled the rebels to choose and intrench
their position, and by a reinforcement in great
strength, at the moment of victory, to snatch it from
our grasp. After having made contracts for arms
Witt the private establishments in this country, it
was deemed necessary by the President, to insure a
speedy and amply supply, to send a special agent
to Europe with funds to the amount of 2,000,000
dols. to purchase more. lam gratified to state that
he has made arrangements for a large number of
arms, part of which have already been delivered.
The remainder will be shipped by successive steamers,
until all shall have been received. Combinations
among manufacturers, importers, and agents for the
sale of arms, have, in many cases, caused an undue
increase in prices. To prevent advantage being thus
taken of the necessities of the Government, collec-
tors of Customs have been directed to deliver to the
agents of the United States all arms and munitions
that may be imported into this country. Some
general plan should be provided by the Congress in
aid of the States, by which our militia can be
organised, armed, and disciplined, and made effec-
tive at any moment for immediate service. It is of
great importance that immediate attention should
be given to the condition of our fortifications
upon the seaboard and the lakes, and upon our
exposed frontiers. They should at once be placed
in perfect condition for successful defence. Aggres-
sions are seldom made upon a nation ever ready to
defend its honour and to repel insults, and we should
show to the world that while engaged in quelling
disturbances at home we are able to protect ourselves
against attacks from abroad. I submit for reflec-
tion the question, whether the distinction between
regulars and volunteers which now exists, should
be permitted to' continue. The efficiency of the
army, it appears to me, might be greatly increased
by a consolidation of the two during the continu-
ance of the war, which combining both forces would
constitute them one grand army of the Union. Re-
cruiting for the regular army has not been attended
with that success which was anticipated, although
a large number of men have entered this branch of
the service. While it is admitted that soldiers in
the regular army, under the control of officers of
military education and experience, are generally
better cared for than those in the volunteer service,
it is certain that the popular preferende is largely
given to the latter. Young men evidenayeprefer to
enter a corps officered by their friends and acquaint-
ances, and, besides the bounty granted to volunteers
in most of the States, inducements are often directly
offeeerrtevthem by those whose commissions depend
upon their success in obtaining remits. In addi-
tion, the; volunteer is allowed tollearzhis full pay
at 13 ,d 418,; per goenth, while brio,/ 2 dols. per
ontkOadeducted from the pay of Artoregular, to
ue)re'-"*, to him at the end of his term of ser7rat:
;
%tut-this law should be repealed, and
the • sel *Adler b
'when ;' • i e allowed to receive his full pay
should also receive a reasonable