The New York herald., 1862-02-25


New York, Tuesday, February IS, 1864.
THE STU UATION.
Owing to the severity of the storm last night
our telegraphic communication with the West and
South was almost wholly interrupted, and hence
much news Of interest has been denied to u.s. We
are however, in possession of positive intelligence
that Nashville is in our hands. despatch from
Carlo states that General Buell. occupies that city,
and II this statement requires any confirmation
we have it in the fact that the Richmond Enquirer
in an extra published on Saturday evening, pub.
Eshes kilograms from Augusta and Savannah an.
nouncing the evacuation of Nashville. Colonel
Lee, who has just been released from durance at
Richmond, also states that he was confdentially
informed by an official of the rebel government
that Nashville had fallen into the hands of the
Union army. With the fall Of Nashville Tennessee
is brought back to the Union, and the last grand
stand point of the rebels in that State is lost to
them.
We publish to-day the Inaugural Address of JEFF.
ferson Davis upon his instalment in the Office of
President of the Confederate States for the ensu-
ing six years. 1t will be read, no doubt, with
great interest Mr.. Davis admits that the rebe
arms are suffering sad rcverses just now, but he
relies upon the expectation that the North must
ultimately sink under the heavy public debt incur
red in maintaining the war. His chief reliance,
however-apart from &he patriotism and ''self-
sacrifice" of the Southern people-appears to be
placed upon the special Intervention of Provi-
dence, to whom he appeals in an humble
prayer in the closing paragraph of his
address. In alluding to the condition of Mary
land he says that when that State is able to speak
:'with unstifed voice." she will connect her des-
tiny with the South. It is curious that the very
day which brings US this inaugural of the rebel
Chief promising SO much for Maryland, should also
bring US the news Of the restoration of the State
OF Tennessee to the Union by the fall of Nashville;
and it is still more significant that the news from
was reading his address.
The Inauguration of Mr.. Davis does not appear
to have been attended with any enthusiasm what.
ever, according to statements of parties who wit
messed it, nor is the instament to Office of the per-
manent" government received with much faver,
If we can judge from such language as the following
from the Richmond Whig of the 2lst, the day be.
fore the ceremony took place. That journal says:-
"Judging by results far, it (the government) is
the most lamentable failure in history, and sug-
gests to the rejecting mind that the most signal
service which that government can now render to
the country is the surrender of the helm to ADLER
and better hands. In view Of the past, the pre-
sent and probable future. the pageant of to-mor-
row is a bitter mockery and miserable compen-
sation for the ruin of free people. child with
q bauble, an old man with young wife, are par.
tal Illustrations of the deplorablc folly"
President Davis has issued proclamation for
another day Of fasting, humiliation and prayer for
the rebel cause, on the 2sth inst. We give the
proclamation in another column.
The Richmond Dispatch Of Saturday publishes
intelligence of the Burnside and Goldsborough ex-
pedtion, from Suffolk, Virginia, and Norfolk, to
the effect that our gunboats had ascended the
Chowan river, on Thursday last, as far as winton,
North Carolina. landed the troops there and re.
duced the town to ashes. The rebel journals, how
ever, It will be remembered, stated that our troops
had burned Elizabeth City and other places.
whereas it proved that the act of vandalism was
performed by the rebels themselves, and Il ia
therefore probable that the same ID true of the
town Of winton.
By the arrival of the fine transport steamer Con
stitution at this port yesterdayifrom Ship Island
have interesting news of the proceedings of the
Butler expedition in that quarter. Several valu
able prizes have been captured by our boats in
the waters Of the Gulf. Our correspondence from
The expedition viii be found in another column.
Major General Halleck has issue! very i'm.
Yortant and very sensible order from
- headquarters, in st. Louis, to the
w Of Missouri, relative to slaves and
~ property. He urges moderation upon his
RS with regard to the inhabitants of the
.,ll4srn States, forbids the destruction Of pro.