The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-20
T RIPPLE SHEET.
THE SITUATION.

new York, tuesday, May 30, 1861.
THE SITUATION.
The proclamation of the President, which we
publish to-day, relative to the military order of
General Hunter, declaring the slaves in Georgia,
South Carolina and Florida free, is positive in its
abrogation of the aforesaid foolish order, as we
announced day or two ago that it would be as
soon as it appeared. Mr. Lincoln afirms that the
government had no knowledge of the intention
of General Hunter to issue any such order;
that neither he nor any other officer had
authority to promulgate such document and
that General Hunters proclamation, whether
genuine or false, is altogether void. The President
refers to his Message of the 9th of March last, in
which he proposed to Congress the adoption of
measure offering, on the part of the government,
to cooperate with any State wishing for gradual
adjustment of slavery, and he asks the earnest
consideration of the people Of those States most
interested. Beyond this conservative and just idea
the President does not 60.
Our special correspondence from General Mcs
Cellan's army to-day furnishes some very interest
ing particulars of the late naval movements near
Richmond, which we commend to the attention Of
our readers. We give elsewhere map of the
scene of General McClelsn's operations on the
peninsula in his advance on the rebel capital.
despatch from General wool's division, dated
yesterday, says that Suffolk was occupied by his
forces. The place was found nearly deserted by
the rebels Everything at Norfolk goes on quietly.
Business is being resumed there gradually.
The report Of General vele, relative to the works
erected by the Union troops above Fort Pulaski,
shows in very marked manner what our volun-
teers, who have been taken from the pulpit, the
counter, the counting house, the farm and the
workshop, are capable of doing in erecting out of
mud works Of such sufficient strength as to cut of
all communication between the rebels at savan-
nah'and the garrison Of that fort
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday. Mr.. Wilson offered .
resolution calling for detailed information respect
ing the African slave trade at New York. A rsso-
luton was adopted calling for the names Of the
officers Of the army stats, where they are now en-
ploycd, and by whose accommodation they were
appointed. Mr.. Grimes introduced bill for the
relief OF Robert Small and others (colored), who
recently delivered the rebel vessel Planter to Com
modore Dupont's squadron. The bill provides
that the steamship Planter with all the cargo, ap-
purtenances, de-, be appraised by a competent
board OF officers, and that one-half the value
thereof shall 60 to Robert Small and his associates
who ran the Planter out of Charleston harbor with
the provision that the Secretary of the Navy may
invest the same in United States stocks the interest
to be paid oSmall and his associates or heirs.
The bill was passed. The resolution providing for
the presentation ofmedals of honor to soldiers who
distinguish themselves in battle was adopted. The
debate on the Coniscation bill was then resumed,
and Mr.. Sumner made q speech in support of it.
Mr.. Powell, Of Kentucky, moved to strike out the
eleventh section Of the bill, which authorizes the
President to arm negroes if necessary to suppress
the rebellion. This was rejected by vote of
eleven yeas to twenty-nine nays. Mr.. Salisbury
Of Delaware moved to strike out the ninth section
which authorizes the President, when he deems it
necessary to issue q proclamation freeing the
moved to make it imperative on the President to
issue proclamation to that effect. The discus.
sion was continued but without taking the ques-
ton the Senate adjourned.
In the House Of Representatives, the special
committee on the subject reported articles of i'm.
parchment against West H. Humphreys, Judge of
the District Court Of the United States for Ten.
nessee. Humphreys is charged with gross ne.
glect Of official duty violation Of the laws,
endeavoring to incite revolt and rebellion, pub.
fishing the secession ordinance Of Tennessee
combining with JEFF. Davis and others to over
throw the government Of the United States
and other high crimes and misdemeanors. The
report was accepted, and resolution adopted
providing for the appointment of q committee O
ive to conduct the impeachment. The House
then went into Committee Of the Whole, and Mr.
Richardson Of Illinois, made sensible speech Of
the negro question. The Naval Appropriation bill
was considered, and proviso to the appropria
tion for the Naval Academy, declaring its presen
location at Newport, r. T., to be temporary, wa
rejected The bill was finally passed by the House
II embraces appropriations for the naval service t
the amount Of s3s 100000.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
By the arrival Of the French war steamer Mon
tczuma, from Vera Cruz we learn that the Frenc
troops we're still advancing upon the city o
Mcxico There had been some slight callahan