Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-12-05


ted good deal Of attention, but the American
question still continued to be discussed in its
various phases with undated interest In
speech which was delivered at Bristol by Mr.
H. Berkeley, NJ. P, that gentleman expressed
the opinion that the English Government hac
adopted judicious policy in leaving the coun-
try to settle it's own affairs. He could not un-
dertake to determine how soon the war would
end, but he thought that fatal blow had been
given to slavery. His structures on the North
ware very severe. He declared that from per-
sonal observation Of the treatment of the negro
North and South he "woud rather be slave
in the South under kind master, than free
black in the North under the persecution which
the latter character suffers there"
The London Herald discusses the element of
success possessed by the Confederate States
and while admitting that the Southern States
are inferior in numbers and material, short of
arms and ammunition, and in want of ready
money, comes to the conclusion that they are
capable of making up for all these deficiencies
by their terrible earnestness. The Herald de-
clares that they will never submit to the North,
for ''they dare not let their slaves see them
beaten" 1t is acknowledged, moreover, that
the men of the South are fighting for all that
men hold dear and sacred, The Herald draws
a striking contrast between what it styles the
usurpations of power on the part of the Federal
| Government and the absence of all such usur-
| pations of authority on the part of the Govern
ment of the Confederate States
| IA singular circumstance is recorded by the
| London correspondent of the New York Times.
He STA that an English frigate was despatch
ed from Spithead to watch the movements of
the United States war steamer James Adger,
which had put to sea, it was supposed, with the
intention of intercepting the West India Mail
steamer and of taking from her Messrs. Mason
and Sdell if they should be found on board
This circumstance has 81 ven rise to much COM
ment and is supposed to foreshadow the views
of the British Government with regard to the
boarding of the Mail steamer Trent.
| The arrival of the Confederate steamer Nash
vile on the 21st of November is reported. On
the 10th she captured the ship Harvey Birch,
whilst on her passage from Havre to New York.
The Harvey Birch, which was in ballast, was
burned by the Nashville to the waters ed e.-
The captain and crew were taken on board the
Nashville and landed at Southampton.
In Mr.. Russells last letter to the London
Times there is a paragrah which he would
scarcely have written without authority; but
which is nevertheless of almost startling signih-
canoe. He asserts that President Lincoln and
his Cabinet are not indisposed to peaceful ar
arbitration of the qurrrel between the North
and the South, and were, it was surmised, cou-
sdering the propriety of asking for the inter
vention Of the European Powers.
H1A committee in Washington are arrang-
ing to hold night meeting in honor Of old John
Brown. More than one Congressman is said
to be engaged in getting up this demonstration
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
! NAVY.
Navy bssdaa cRsespsoey 2-The report of the
1t is about five columns long and OPENS = bV r.
counting the wretched condition the department
was IN when the Administration came into DOW.
er. 1t then shows what has been accomnGsb-
ed since; the strength of the Navy now and
the effectiveness Of the blockade: and f men
tons the different European powers who have
Comman-
der-..-..v, 1df his ingenious inventions and
his ability in conducting the Ordnance Depart
ment of the Navy. 1t then recommends the
appointment of different grades of officers first,
officers. then captains, commanders, lieutenants-
commanding, lieutenants, passed midshipmen,
and all below cadets.
He recommends seven flag officers to be APP
pointed from captains and commanders with
out regard to past seniority in rank, and to be
continued in position after the war is over, il
they distinguish themselves by meritorious &C
tons in battle.
The Secretary, after mentioning the capture
of Messrs Slidell and Mason, says that the
prompt and decisive action of Capt. Wilkes on
this occasion merited and received the emphatic
approval of this Department, and if a too gen.
erous forbearance was exhibited by him in not
capturing the vessel which had these rebel enc
mics on board, it may, in view Of the special
circumstances and its patriotic motives, be eX-
cused but it must, by no means, be permitted
to constitute precedent hereafter for the treat
ment of any case of a similar infraction of neu-
trail obligations by fore gn vessels engaged in
commerce or the carrying trade.
THE DIRECT TAX LAW AND INCOME TAXES.
By law Of Congress, approved Aug. 5, it was
provided, in order to raise the annual sum oil
twenty millions of dollars that each State should
be compelled to furnish certain proportion Of
that amount, which is to be collected in the fol
lowing manner:
Assessors, appointed by the President and
approved by the Senate, will, about the first OF
March next, ascertain the value of each piece OF
real estate, the valuation being based upon the
supposed money value Of such property on the
first day of April. Property exempt from tax
alton is that belonging to the United States OF
any State, or that is permanently or specially
exempted from taxation by the laws of the
State in which it is situated. A deduction Of
FIVE hundred dollars will be made from this val
uation. All persons assessing taxable proper
| ty, or persons having the care or management
Of such property, will be required to furnish
written lists of it to the assessors. A false OF
fraudulent list will subject the offender to fine
I Of FIVE hundred dollars. After the estimates
are completed, public notice will be given by
the assessors where their books may be seen
and corrections, may be made. The place al
which the payment of taxes will be made viii
be published in newspaper in each distric
twenty days before the tax becomes due and i
persons neglect to attend, according to notifca
Ton, the collector will make personal applica
tion e; them within sixty days after the recep