The New York herald., 1862-12-21

Department, without any comrensating Cabinet
change in favor of the other side, then we may
anticipate the transmission OF this war as Pre-
sident Lincoln's legacy to his successor in Office
The issue is with Mr. Lincoln, and we still hore
for the best.
The Banks Expedision-Its Destination
and Objects.
We publish on another page sketch of the
Banks expedition to which we refer the reader
for some interesting details. II will be seen
how rotten are many Of tie vessels to which
were entrusted the lives Of our troops, and how
narrow their escape from death. It remains to
be determined whether the Congressional csm
mittee of inquiry will sift the matter to the
bottom. and place the responsibility on the
right shoulders. The expedition was under the
direction of the War Department, and it il said
that to Commodore Vanderbilt, who ought to
know what ships are, WAS confdsd the manage
ment of purchasing, examining and fitting out
the vessels. Certain it IL that al dinner
on hoard the North Ster, in this harbor,
he was said 10 be the only person, besides
the destination or the expedition. So little did
some OF the sailing masters know where their
frail vessels were bound for that when hey
found they were going on so distant voyage
they refused to take the risk, and put into tho
first port. But IL is alleged that Commodore
Vanderbilt knew all from the beginning; hut
whether or not he knew Of these rotten vessels
f,,y IT. h..
committee will search into the bottom OF the
transactions connected with the fitting out Of
the expedition, so that the people may have
light on the subject and that the guilty may
have their reward.
The destination and objects Of the expedition
may now be stated, when publication can no
longer aid the enemy. Its destination is New
Orleans, and one Of its objects is to put
General Banks in command of the department
Of which that city is the headquarters, and to re-
move Geaeral Butler who by various acts had
rendered himself unpopular with many of the
citizens, and had also created difficulties with
the representatives and subjects Of foreign
governments General Banks is a statesman
and man of sound discretion. who will not
fall into the same errors.
Having established himself a. New Orleans
as q centre. General Banks will proceed at his
leisure TO capture Mobile and establish comrnu-
nication between mat poiHt and the Crescent
City. 10 will command sorce Of seventy
thousand men. aud make attacks IN various
directions. A main object Of the expedition is
to countcract the supposed projects OF the
g T.
Southern States. by recent news from Europe
VIC learn that thirty thousand mco are being
sent out by Napoleon TO Mexico, in addition to
the forty thousand already there. and that con-
| tracts have been made for supplies for these
troops Cor two years. All this force is
not needed for She conquest of Mexico.
| Again, we are told by the lNopiter,
| the organ Of the Emperor, that the
| French frigate la Cuerrisre, with Admiral
| Resaud on board, the corvette Catinas aud de-
spstch boat Renaudin have been hailed with
lively satisfaction by the population Of New
Orleans, and the French residents feel happy
at this fresh preof of the solicitude of the En-.
perors government for the interests OF French
subiectsn The Paris correspondent of q Lon
l don Journal explains that the presence of Ad-
I miral Remand At New 0rleaus will appear to
indicate . determination on the part Of France
70 seek an opportunity Of Intervening in some
way in the American quarrel" The Nor
n,andie, powerful iron-cfad sigate, is at Vera
Cruz, together with other French vessels of war
| The Normandie * not needed Tor any opera
tions against Mexico, the principal seaports
would Scent therefore, tbat the iron-clsd is
waiting for uventualiiies at, New Orleans or
elsewhere ID the GuIf Certain Il is chat the
4d Nd naval forces SET III motion against
Npisc arc entirely disprcportioncd TO the os-
teasibls ebicet, aud there d 700 much reason