The New York herald., 1862-02-16

have been discharged from timo to time, under crcnm
with the public safety
Meantime favorable change OF public opinion mas 90
CURED The line between loyalty and disoyalty Is plainly
defined Tho whole structure Of the government hrm
and stable Approximations OF public danger and facilities
for reasonable practices bave diminished with the pas
sons which prompted the Needless persons u adopt them
The insTectioa is believed 10 have cwind and 10 ts dc
elining.
The President in view OF the facts and anxious 10 ia
vor the normal Of the administration,
far as regards faith and the public welfare will allow,
directs that all political prisoners, or State prisoners,
held in military custody be released On their sub
scribng parole engaging them 10 render aid or COM
fort to enemies in hostility TO the United States.
The Secretary OF War WILL however, in his discretion,
except from the effect of this order any persons detained
as spies in the service Of the insurgents others whose
release at the present moment may be deemed ncompat
bio with the public safety To all persons who shall bo
so released and shall keep their parole tho President
grants an amnesty for any past offences Of treason or dis
loyalty which they may ha committed. Extraordinary
arrests will hereafter bs made under the direction Of tho
military authorities alone.
By order Of the PRESIDENT.
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary Of War.
CELEBRATION OF THE UNION VICTORIES 81 TIE
The capture OF Roanoke Island, and other Union sue
cesses have been celebrated most enthusiastically in a
the camps of the Army Of the Potomac.
ORDER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT IN REGARD 70
PASSES AND PRISONERS.
The following order has been issued by the Secretary
ofwar:-
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1862
ORDERED
Ftrst-That all applications for passes TO 60 South
tho military lines Of the United States be made TO
Major General John A. Dix, commanding at Baltimore,
who will grant or refuse the same at his discretion
Second-That all prisoners Of war and Other persons
imprisoned by authority Of department OF the govern
mont, who shall be released parole or exchange shall
General Dix, and be subject to his direction while re-
naming in that city Any failure to observe this order
will DO taken as forfeiture Of the parole o, exchange
the military lines OF tho United States to
bs signed by the Secretary of State and countersgned by
the General Commanding. is rescinded. r,r,,,,,,r
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary OF War.
EUROPEAN INTERFERRNcE IN MEXICO.
From private and public advces received here, il is
evident that tho trparte alliance in regard TO the sez
Of Mexico not very cordially bound together The
ealouses observed in the city OF Vera Cruz have made
their appearance also in England and France. The
assumption Of Spain to press the invasion waiting
for the operation of the other Aies has given grave
offence to England. The harmony Of the alliance is al
pleasing to Great Britain and there is prospect that
very soon there may grow out Of the alliance itself
one Of Sir Lucius OTriggers every pretty quarrels''
THE PENNSYLVANIA RESERVE ARMY CORPS.
Gov Curtin is actively sndeavorng to procure the ac
ceptance by the government Of the division or
Volunteers, ready for the field II is
desired that the division shall be employed in separate
expedition, if the opportunity can be found.
DIR. HAYES, THE ARCTIC EXPLORER.
II understood that Dr. Hayes OF the Arctic Exped
tion is willing the duties Of army surgeon.
He will probably receive the appointment Of brigade
geon. -
~ THE CASE OF MR.. wIKoFr.
During the incarceration Of tho Chevaier Wikoff no
allowed to visit him except Gen. siclos who had
access to him his counsel Consequently Gen. sces
was called yesterday as witness before the Judiciary
Committee, and interrogated TO his communications
with the Chevalier He had nothing OF Importance how
to reveal. Major Watt indicated in Chsvalier Wi
kors testimony, also arragned before the Commit
tee yesterday There is sort Of suspicion about the
capital that in all this affair Of the nquson and arrest
Of the Chevalier, somebody has been decidedly sold
THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
Mr. Gooch in the House yesterday, while asking for
for tho Committee the Conduct Of the
War; boastfuy stated that committee Of Congress had
kept its proceedings closely secret Without any
intention to dispute the assertion Of Mr.. Gooch,
simply MENTION as current fact that Colonel Van Allen
and Major Mix Of the Van Allen cavalry, examined
yesterday by the committee In reference to the Balls
Bluff disaster As We do not wish TO divugs the
of the committee the result Of the investigation cannot
be stated.
THE HORSE CONTRACTS.
The bids for contracts for fourteen hundred and fifty
horses will be kept open until the 22d inst instead Of
Monday the 18th. The advertisement, which appeared
the HERALD has drawn hundreds Of horse contractors
to the city, and Gen. Van vet deems best to look
fully the great numbers Of bids offered and the Secre
tary Of War desires that time shall be given to bidders
at distance.
THE NAVY.
Commodore Paulding has detached from the st. Law
renee the following midshipmsn, and they assigned
Is folows:-FrodsrickS s. vaile and George W. Wood to
Tho Oneida; II. 8. Ramsey and II. F. French to the
Clifton s. A. McCarty to the westhcd; c. W Tracy to
he Oetorara
THE OFFICERS OF THE NEW JERSEY CAVALRY.
The difficulty In regard TO the appointment Of officers Of
he Independent regiment Of New Jersey cavalry has
settled by the mastering out Of service to-day of
Colonel and Major Halsead father and son. The vaean.
lies to be filled by the Governor of New Jersey.
REORGANIZATION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The work of reorganzing the War Department being
thoroughly effected under the energetic administration
If Secretary Stanton and his assistants. To-day
Der of clerks notified only that their services
we're longer needed, but they were prohibited from
wen visiting tbs department An examination into the
ars Of the department reveals the fac. that business
been heretofore very loosely conducted and that the
,cads of the department would hardly have been cogni
amt OF abuses practised by subordnates.
REPORTS RESPECTING GENERAL STONE AND THE
BALLS BLUFF AFFAIR.
The reports put in circulation in reference to the sxam
laton Of General stones conduct to the Balls Bluff
lisaster by the Committee the Conduct Of the War;
simply prstsxs for snsers at the General Command.
ng by tho shrekng organs. is fact that the
nttss have hardly begun that investigation II will be
emembsred that the genuine report Of General Stone
egard TO that affair has been published and Is
TO many who familiar with all the facts that
mine Of testimony has just begun TO be opsred which