New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-05

ing aud intelligent regard 70 the terrors OF ave
A considerable number of slaves have escaped to
the fleet and TO Ship bland
THE COSFIsCATIos ACT.
The operations of the Coniiscaion Pct are attended
with tie greatest difficulty aud dissatisfaction.
thousand questions raised Tor the Courts, on
points of the law, which is 'fague and loose in its
terms. Much property baS been st lied and protests
entered against the seizare.
The Government and lite agents show no mercy to
thote even who claim TO be titled to consder alton
by reason of their public services. In many cures
The law has operated to the rnn OF strong Southern
men and Secessonists. The law. provides that
money which was collected after the 2lsr of May
should be returned under oath to the Government,
and be forfeited. The Copiiscstion act was made
retrospective in its operations.
Many of the banks, merchants and brokers made
collections after that date as collecting agents. ana
paid the money over to their Northern correspond
ents. They ale now called on 10 account, under
OATH for these moneys, vast sums in the aggregate,
aud TO hand it over to the Government.
EXPENSES OF THE WAR.
TIE greatest secresy prevails with regard to the
operations OF he Confederate Treasury, no report
ever being made or even asked for. The only limit
10 the Issues OF it's promises to pay i. the capacity
10 print and sign them. Notw outstanding this uD.
H. ited scope Of Issue the Government owes large
sums TO contractors aud others engaged IN opera
tions with il. Loud complaints are constantly being
made of ths, several millions being owed in New
Orleans.
Our informant, after careful calculation on data
obtained from the best sources il convinced that The
daily expenses Of the to The Confederate States,
owing to the imitation OF prices and the coruIions
ofthe Government tie rate of over two millions
of dollars day. fully equal to ours, while their
eutire army is not bali Of ours, and navy they
only have ON paper and on the stocks.
The WORKING CLASSES.
1T, Igs lppu
forced 10 enlist in the Confederate army, not only TO
avoid starvation, which would have ersued to them
selves and families BY remaining at home, but by a
system of actual imlressment. This is carried Oh as
regular business, with all the schemes OF drugged
liquors, waylayipg and false pretenHc. Once within
The tolls Of his trappers, and the bounty paid escape
Is impos -ibie.
TIE British Consul has released over 100 English
subjects, whose tales OF horror would shock Ems sh
care, if they not stuffed with cotton. Macy
others claimed his protection, who confessed that
they had signed the articles under the influence OF
drugged LIQUOR; but in such cases he was unable 10
interfere.
Mechanical operations are almost entirely sns-
pended, partly from want Of materials and partly
from dread of the future. Mech inlcs with IA lilies
in despair at the high prices Of the necessaries OF
life, and no work for them. Ship carpenters and
machnsts have some work on the Government gun
toats.
Under the high prices of food the chip carpenters
employed by Government struck for % per cent
higher wages. which had 20 be accorded to them 10
prevent the work being suspended.
TBE RE-EsLIsrMEST QUESTION.
Letters from men Of all ranks in the army evince
q desire and determination 10 return 10 their
homes. Not one In ten Of the twelve months
men will re-enlist under any circumstances and If
the attempt shall he made TO compel them by force
- il frequently threatened tie bloodiest conse-
Qnences " i'll ensue.
The greatest amount Of sickpers and demoralira-
lion prevails among the forces IN Virginia, and
drunkenness ard wee had spread 10 an spi alng
extent.
IyCFNnIiRRY FIRrs.
MANY fres have occurred in New. Orleans, in some
d, sroying large blocks Of houses. These were
known TO be the @ork Of iDoendia,ies. and are
charged against the Union people who quietly bold
their tongues and bide their time.
The blowing up OF the Government powder-mils,
near the city few weeks sgo bas been asceiiasned
10 be the work OF ino.ndiaries.
RrNSiNG TIE BLOCKADE.
Several vessels have run the blockade and esesped
10 w.th cargoes OF cotton but none hive entered
the Miss.pli there are several others fitting out.
by the Of their predecessors,
der the license of the Governor, with the conditions
that they ehsl bring return cgoe- OF rnnniiiDpr Of
war 10 some OF the baitors accessible from NowOF-
leans.
Mississippi Sound il now completely blcckaded,
although his was not efectualy done until recently.
steamers with Mobile, which lie now nj All eud.
The steamer Vanderbilt left N.w-Oflcabs with y
load 81 cotton, on tho lah of December, which che
Disposed Of Ia Cuba at nm enormous profit. and ~
turned and into Sabine i'ass with Is tups II
powder, which the Government is much IL want Of
Tbs health o! the CITY IL very good.
USIos PRISONERS.
There are about 800 Union prisoners there, who
are confined in the parish prison. and nre suffering
great privatious; they are nearly naked, ov.r1uI
A iusut "A h.v
not allowed 10 rec any one, nor permitted to read
newspapers. Seven Of them had died before our In
formant left.
They bear up under their hard fate with touching
hef0ism. and display fodude that ought to win
the respect Of their unfeelDg keepers They refur.
any concession M the price of their devotion 10 the
Union under whose fag they fought, and from
whose shadow they have been dragged TO a prison
almost AZ loathsorne IA charuel-houee.
An attempt made by some humane citizens a
short time ago TO raise some rupI lies for them BY
subscription, and several barrels Of m0iisses and
some boxes OF tobacco were sent TO them. That
evening mob OF the lowest scraIiugs OF the levee
the JAIL and demanded that these anal
articles OF creature comfort should be delivered up
and II was accordingly done.
The newspapers tho next day denounced the Gov
ernment for allowing Injuries to he furpished TO
- Llncoln's birclings," and demanded TINT they |
should be treated with the greatest rigor
The prisoners expressed freely their determination
to take up arms again for the Union, when they |
should be exchanged or released. This created the
reatest anger, and some Of the papers abused them
as cowardly and blood-thirsty rnurderers.
He estmstes their entire force in the field in camp
and in Notifications, at lees than 4OO, 900.
They have no Government revenue from any
source but taxation their Post Office not psy ing
fourth its cost
OPINION OF THE PEOPLE.
The people generally tired OF the war, and
much encouragement exists among tie masses Tie
people openly express their desire to have the war
brought TO close upon some terms that will not be
too revere upon them.
W. atc con NJ from avaaL,nr ,T H. I.c;ou