The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-03-01
THE NATIONAL CRISIS.
Speech from Attorney General Benjamin.-
Movements at the Brooklyn Navy-Yard-.
The Free Navigation of the Mississippi.-
Postage of the Southern Confederacy. Nc.


Postage of the Southern Confederacy. nc.
SPEECH PROM ATTORNEY GENERAL BENJAMIN.
The 22d of February was celebrated with
great spirit IN New Orleans Among other
incidents, ex-senator Benjamin presented the
military with flag on behalf of the ladies'
In his speech, he said
l speak, gen tlemen, in the belief that our
Independence is not to be main tanned without
the shedding of our blood. / know that the
conviction is not shared by Others Heaven
grant that / may prove mistaken. Yet, fear
fnl as is the ordeal, and much war is to be
deplored, 1t is not the nnmixed evil which
many consider it to be. BY u beneficent dis
pensation of the Creator. that which to mortals
seems most caiamitous is not unfrequeutIy
converted in to a blessing at His hands The
fire sweeps over the stubble, and the charrpd
and biackened surface Of the field attests its
rayage. Yet little while, and tae spring
rains descend, and the heated earth quickens
into igorous growth the germs that else had
lain dormant in its bosom. Even so the hot
passions and the fiery excesses of martial
strife, whilst seeming to destroy oft times
but serve to stimulate into active develop
ment the nobier impulses and more elevated
sentiments, which else had remained TORPID
In our souls. So the fierce assaults TO which
the princi Piles of free government are now
exposed can but serve to ensure their immor-
tality, Just as the torrents at molten lava
which threatened the total destruction of the
miracles of ancient sculpture have been the
very means of preserving tor posterty, in
marvellous perfection, the beauty OF their
forms, and the harmony of their proportions
in the sacred duty of defending your coun-
try-her rights and her honor-take good heed
1 charge you, in the name of those for whom
L speak, take good heed that this, their gift
be ever borne upon the battles crest; that it
returns not with its shining gloss undmmed
nor its ample folds untorn and unsoiled but
let its smoke tanned and tattered fragments
attest the daring gallantry with which it was
BORNE ana the steady courage with which it
was defended. And yet again and still in the
gentle names OF those for whom l speak l
charge you that you forget not, in the hottest
passion OF the strife, the mercy due to the
yielding foe nor SO tarnish, with a single cruel
act, the flag which they have wrought, as to
cause their sorroWing hearts one pang of grief
or shame. Remember that nature herself
weeps with pitying showers over the havoc
caused by the descending bolt, and that sunny
smiles chase the tears from the cheek rs soon
as the elemental war is ended.
THE FREE NAVIGATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI
1he following is the bill passed by the
Southern Congress concerning the free navi-
CATION OF the Missssippi
SEC. /. Provides that tn Mississippi River and
al ITS tributaries, are free to the citizens of any
States upon their borders.
SEC. 2. Provides that all vessels or boats from
any other place beyond the Limits of the Confede-
racy shall be subject To no hndrance or charge
except for light money, pilotage and other Ike
charges; but It shall not be lawful for such YES
stlc OF Dodt 10 sell or deliver her "a
limits of the Confederacy, pain Of forfeiture
OF the cargo.
Ssc. 3. Provides punishment for frauds on the
revenues.
SEC. 4. Provides that goods may be landed by
entering tnem under bond and seal and getting a
license from the Collector TO land lbsm and
when goods are entered aforesaid The owner
OF porter shall be allow I'd to draw back duties
as Is provided by law
SEC. 5. Provides that shipmasters shall denosit
miniests OF their cArsoes with the Col Iector Who
transmits it to the officer with whom the eatries
are made and the Collector may put an inspector
on board any vessel or boat to see that auIfest
Is deposited, and d failure of such deposit Sub-
!ects the Shipmsster to penalty Of 500 provided
mat until ports OF entry are established above
Ticksburg, on the Mississippi the penalty shall
not extend 20 the delivery of goods by boats de-
scendInS the river from above that port.
POSTAGE IN THE SOUTHERN CoNFEDERAcY
The Montgomery correspondent Of the Co.
lumbus Times, says:
The Congress has passed the Postal Bill
which regulates the rate of postage and ali
matters connected with the carving of the
mails, &c. 1t will go into effect very soon -
IL provides the following ra ties of postage
On letters for 300 miles FIVE cents over 500
miles ten cents: advertised letters Two cents
extra instead OF one. On newspapers (other
than those sent direct to actual subscribers
from the Office of publca tionl two cents each
ana the entire rates OF news paper ana maya
zine postage is doubled on present u s. rates
lie registration letter system and the frank
ing privilege is abolished. All the Government
departments Will be conducted On the princi-
PIE OF strict economy. No more clerks will
be employed in any Department than are ac-
tualiy necessary, and they will, ! learn be
required to work at least ten or twelve hours
per day instead OF SIX Is is the case at Wash
ing ton
MAJOR ASDERsONs BILL OF FARE
gentleman who was in Charleston last
week, and who went TO Morris Island saw on
board the boat the following supplies for Fort
Sumter, which, with his mails, We're taken to
Tpr In Arnysa Nte
Kegs GOO lbs )tioshen butter: cheeses 80 lbs y
barrels potatoes; bag 160 lbs.) coffee 2
quarters beef; half a mutton / box eggs 4
boxes candies 90 lbs J bushel turnps large
package celery 81 Northern cabbages: bbis
assorted vegetables sack salt, aud l barrel
molasses.
Old Abe says "nobody;s suffering" We
don't think MAYOR Anderson is, at all events.
MOVEMENTS AT THE BROOKLYN NAyY-yARD-aEr-
TING READY FOR FIGHT.
The activity which has been manifested in
the Brooklyn Navy Yard of late is on the in
crease, ana all hands are Ousily EMPLOYED in
the work OF hitting out the vessels at present
in the Yard.
The Mohawk has been thoroughly over
hauled and TWO medium 32-pounders added to
her battery, so that now she mounts six 32s,
besides having two 12-pound howitzers,
which can be used as forecastle guns In ad-
dition 10 this she has 9-pound mortar on
her forecastle. Her stores are nearly all on
a.
plement of men and marines are on board
The Supply is loaded, and only awaits her
ship stores and the conclusion of the court
martial i'll the case ofCapt. Wake, who will
probably be acquitted of any NAL admins tra-
ton, and ordered TO the command of the ship
The CorWln has been hauled alongside of
the wharf and is to be fitted with battery az
soon as possible. She will be of good service
as an attache of 4 blocklding squadron. The
otner vessels are being oyerhauled and will
be put in order as soon as possible.
The Harriet Lane left the Navy Yard yes
terday at O'Clock. Considerable difficulty
was encountere in getting the ship from her
berth, owing to the lowness of the tide, but
Capt. Fauncc succeeded in taking her out A
very large number of persons were congre-
gated on the decks TO see her go out many
supposing that she was to proceed direct TO
sea, or TO some of the Southern ports. This
was not the case, as she steamed do Wn the
East river III fine style, saluted by the boats
along the route and turning the bal terry she
came to anchor near the Jersey flats. where
she awaits the reception of her powder and
coal, which will be taken on board to-day
She then will be ready for any service that the
Government may requ uire of her She has had
her armament strengthened by two mAdiusu
Her personnel has been in
creased by detailing Ten marines to her list
and Surgeon N l.. Campbell who is a native
of this city. Capt. Faunce is now awaiting
orders from Washington.-N. Y. World.
PORTRAIT OF Aaron BuRR.-A New York
thus describes the impression
made upon his mind by an half hours study
of Vandelyn's celebrated portrait of Aaron
Burr
To one who knows Burr's charac ter the
portrait is absolutely astounding. Indeed,
though / heard il was there, and went to see