davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
Surrender of Mason and SlIdeIi,

Last Saturdays dispatches from Wash
/ ington brought the final decision of oul
/ government in the Mason and Slidell If
/ fair, together with the correspondent be
/ tween our Government and that of Eng
land on the subject. We give pretty full
| synopsis Of this correspondence in another
column.
! II will be seen from this sysnopss that
England formally demanded as a salts
/ ton for insult to her flag, the surrender
of Mason and Slidell to British protection,
and a suitable apology for the outrage.
The reply Of Secretary Seward goes over
the whole ground Of the facts III the case
and the law of nations on the subject,
winding up by disavowing the action of
Commodore Wilkes, acknowledging that
he committed an error for which England
had right to demand PREPARATION and an
apology, the same as our government
would insist on under similar circunlstan-
ces, and informing Lord Lyons that Messrs
Mason and Slidell with their secretaries,
ere at his disposal
Secretary Seward, in his review of the
case, does not conceal the fact, that in the
seizure of Mason and Sldeli, Commodore
Wilkes acted just as any English COM
nlander would probably have acted under
like circumstances, in ACCORDANCE with
numerous British Admiralty decisions
that might he cited on the subject. vet he
proves. hy quotations from dispatches Of
the American Cabinet from \. u. 1900 down,
that our government has ever disavowed
those principles, and ir now acceding to
the demands of England, ne rejoices that
a question is defnitivcly settled in our
favor, which has been an open and trouble
some one between The two governments
for the last fifty years.
Mr.. Seward, it will thus be perceived
gets along with the difficulty as smoothly
IS could be imagined, making the surren-
der Of the rebel commissioners q matter
of triumph rather to our own government
than Of submission to England And in
this he is doubtless correct, and had the
vantage ground.
But aside from this, We think 1t would
not have been dishonorable ia our govern
ment to manifest palpable unwillngness
to be led into hostiii les with E lgland,
and even to have made concessions for the
sake of peace 1t would have been no
humiliation 70 confess that we have quite
enough to attend to at home for the
present, without desiring to be embroiled
witt, any foreign nation. Concessions even
to demand of doubtful justice on the part
of England, in our present circumstances,
would be more apt to excite sympathy IN
our favor than contempt for pusillanimity.
" c can tell England, with all the dignity
inscparable from its truth and sincerity
that we desire 10 war with her at present
that we will make many concessions to
avoid a war; yet. if she is determined on
hostiiities, and is really seeking not cause
but preteXt for war, we are ready to meet
her. But in this at least our determine
ton is fixed, that upon her shall rest the
onus of picking the quarrel.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
FoHr Monroe.

Philip st. george Cook, recently APP
pointed Brigadier General in the army
Of the Potomac, committed suicide on
Thursday last: at his residence, near Fort
Monroe. He was a graduate OF West Point
and esteemed fine officer.
Federal prisoners from the south, ex-
changed for rebel prisoners from the north,
arrive almost daily at Fort Monroe from
Norfolk On Tuesday $50 of our prisoners
confined at Richmond arrived at the Fort.
and were sent north to their homes.
The rebels have had a great fright at
Yorktown, being thoroughly persuaded
the Gen Burnsides expedition is steering
straight for that point.
Gen. Magrudcr is said to have telc-
Rraphed the condition of affairs to Rich
mond, and asked permission to destroy
Yorktown by fire, and to have received q
reply to refrain until he is certain that the
place is to be immediately attacked
Strong batteries are placed on each side
Of York river, and the force Is estimated
at 10000 in the vicinity of Yorktown.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04


At a conference of the Banks in New
York City on Saturday evening of last
week, by unanimous vote, they resolved
upon an immediate suspension Of specie
payment.
The step was followed on Monday by
the banks of New York and Philadelphis,
and by this time is doubtless followed by
all the banks in the country. The gov
ernment, also, has fallen into the same
track, and issued orders to stop the pay
ment of coin at the custom houses on
demand treasury notes.
The immediate cause of the movement
on the part of the New York Banks was
the large drain upon their specie reserve
by reason of the late heavy advances to
the government. From balance of some
$40, 100000 of specie in the New York
Banks six months ago, they had run down,
on Saturday to S23,0oO,0oO Their loss,
week before last, was S6,0OO,OOO, and last
week 100000 At this rate, few weeks
more would have drained them to the
last dollar.
Where this specie has gone to is not so
palpable. There have few millions within
month gone to Europe, AID the circum-
stance, (being the reverse of the tide for a
year or more,) doubtless alarmed the
more timid, and heavy drafts were made
upon the banks for purposes of boarding
Coin thus disposed of can benefit nobody
and might as we'll be buried. As matter,
therefore, not only of selfpreservation to
themselves, but to the community in
averting f.ightiul money pressure, no
other course seemed open but a general
suspension of specie payment.
The effect of the suspension in this. as
that of immediate relief to the money
market. Stocks showed an advance at
once of to per cent, and hundreds Of
merchants on the eve of breaking were
enabled to save themselves bya seasonabIe
bank accommodation Money, in the
nature Of things, must now become plep-
tier, and general advance in prices and
very perceptible revival OF business neces-
sarily follow.
The payment of coin by The government
ceasing with that By the banks, we may
reasonably expect that hereafter large
portion, if not indeed the main circulation
of the country will be government treasury
notes. No one has questioned the credit
of the Government thus far and treasury
notes have circulated freely as coin A
cessation Of their redemption, however.
may make difference, and the govern
ment may be reduced to the humiliation
of seeing her promises to pay rated below
those Of comparatively unknown and
irresponsible corporations. Sooner than
have this Occur we have 10 doubt Congress
viii adopt the extreme measure, never
hitherto resorted to, but we apprehend
perfectly within its power, of making
treasury notes Q lc-a! tender a. in England.
during the Napoleonic wars, made the
notes of the Bank of England
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

WHATS BACoME OF iHEM-There was no
truth i'll the dispatches on Monday and
Niagara had been specially despatched by
Lord Lyons to take Mason and Slidell to
England. No such fuss was made over
them. On Wednesday they were taken
quietly from Fort Warren to Providence
r. whence they embarked for England
In the British steam gunboat " Rinaldo,"
the wind blowing a hurricane as the boat
passed out
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
PoRT RoYAL.

Dates from Port Royal are to the 18th
ult. Our sroops had made Reconnaissance
Is miles beyond Beaufort, meeting no
enemy. Fenwicl1 Island has been taken
possession of by our troops, extending our
lines to Edesto river. Dispatches from
Charleston via Richmond secession au-
thority) state that Federal feet oftwelye
gunbeats passed up to White Point, north
of Edisto, and made demonstrations On
Gen. Evan forces. Reinfo?ccnents were
sent to Evans and q battle was expected.
Demonstrations had also been made on
other points. The North Carolina bate
ries disabled some gunboats on Tuesday
last Five Federal steamers anchored of
Cole Island, and lat night dec. 2S) a
battle Was expected hourly.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

LIVERPOOL AND LONDON Insurance Co
We call the attention of our readers tn
the advertisement Of this celebrated Com
pany, an important feature of whose
organization is the personal responsibility of
its shareholders for all policies issued by
the Co. The American shareholders are
worth over Sl0,O00,000, all of which is
liable for the payment of the losses of the
Company, besides the regular capital 1t
pays its losses promptly without quibbling.
The Company has appointed w. NJ True
its agent in Ottawa.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

The rebel cabal ut Rchm ond are in
great alarm because Of the demonstrations
making in kentucky to push strong
national column into Tennessee jeff Da-
Wis and his associates feel that TO be tn cir
greatest and most immediate Gancer-
They admit. among themselves, that there
are 10000 loyal fighting men in East Ten
nessee, who Will rise and throw off the
traitors yoke the instant our army pene-
tratcs to their locality; and that once
accomplished, all the rebel defence in
Virginia are turned and rendered useless.
-Lo,dsraNe Journal
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
removal of Mason, slidell, Mcfarland and

removal of Mason, Slidell, Mcfarland and
Eustiss, from the British mail packet
Trent
| will without loss Of time forward to
Her Maiesty's Government copy OF the
important communication which you have
made to me- ! will also do myself the
honor to confer with you personally on
the arrangements to be made for deliver
Ing the four gentlemen to me in order
that they may again me placed under the
protection OF the British flag
have the honor to be, &c,
(Signed) LYONS.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

GoLp IN Nova ScorA-Almost every
paper from Nova Scotia has something to
say IN regard to the gold mines. The Hal
flax journal of the 18th says that beautiful
specimen of gold bearing quartz from Coun-
ty Harbor had been brought to that city,
and adds that ifty-four ounces of Tangier
gold in bars had been received the Tuesday
owners ask twenty dollars
an ounce for it.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

DOUGI As lfoSPITAI-This name has been
appropriately assigned by the Surgeon
General to the block of buildings in Wash
ington, including The former residence of
the distinguished Senator, on Minnesota
Row, lately leased 10y the United States
for general hospital. The institution will
open at an early day, and will have accom-
modations for three hundred patients. 1t
is under the charge of Dr. F. IL A5adie,
assisted by DR.. Warren Webster of the
regular army.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

MEyaoTs TIMES REyIvED.-our friend
Fiske, we observe, has resumed the publ
cation of the Mendoza Times Both that
paper and the Mendoza Ojserrer having
been suspended six months ago, that stir
ring little city was without any paper to
let the outside world know what they
were doing Neighbor Fiske can get up
sprishtly paper if properly encouraged,
and we should think the business men of
Mendoza could make it pay TO give him
living support
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
Important to Builders
JAS. COLwELL 4 BROTHEn,

Arehitects, Builders, and General House
Carpenters,
DEG to call the attention of the Public TO thei-
ID advan ages and fac tes for cheapy and promptly
executing all contracts in their line. Having lately
added to their Establishment Jefferson Street in
Ottawa large amount OF Machinery for Planning saw
ing, Groovn sticking MonIdings, &C., they are conf
dent they execute contracts at rates COM
petition. They buy all their lumber direct from the
Mills i'll Wisconsin and Michigan, and Hardware from
the Manufacturers, at Wholesale, so that builders will
be saved heavy percentage in these articles by deal.
ing directly with them.
They respectfully refer to tie following gentlemen
we'll all others for WHOM they have executed on
tracts:
Hon 8. W. CMEEvER, Mayor Of Ottaua,
HoS DAVID WALKER, Es- Mayor
JOHN +. NASH. Esq,
JOHN A. HE'S, ESQ.,,
GILBERT GOFF. ESQ.,
Drafts, Estimates and Specifications gratis to per-
sons with whom in contract, and At LOWEST rates to
others.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

AVER S AN FL rCAN ALMANAC is now ready
for delivery at q. L. Thomsons aud D
Walkers, " ho are happy to supply all
that call foT them. Every family should
have and Keep this book. 1t is worth
haying--conh Uprising much general nfor-
nation of great value. 1t gives the best
instruction iPr the cure of prevalent COM
plants. that we can get anywhere. Its
anecdotes alone are worth bushel of
wheat, and it's medical advice is some
times worth to the sick, the wheat's
weight in gold Many Of the medical
almanacs are trash but this is solid metal
Its calculate pns are made purposely for
this latitude and are therefore correct
Call and get pm Ayres Almanac, and when
got, keep it.
ILLINOIS i notwithstanding to the pub.
lish"d returns of the War Department.
Illinois has contributed greater proper.
tioa Of her population to the army in the
present war than any other State in the
Union Abe ut one in every twenty Of the
inhabitants Of Illinois is enrolled in the
Federal army
Indiana is second Out of every % of
her inhabitants has enlisted for the war
The third jh the list is Kansas-one in
Every % of her population-then Rhode
Island, which has sent one OF every TWEEN
ty four of h er people into the army;
Michigan and Pennsylvania come next in
order, each OF those States having enlisted
one in 26 of its population.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

CAHAL T6LIs.-The aggregate amount of
tolls received at the Canal Collectors office
at this place, for the last season, up to De-
cember lst, inclusive, is over $4,000
about double the amount received the
preceding year. Everything goes on swim
mingly. This is large county, and we
must have larger facilities for doing our
business.--La Sale Press, Dec 2SM
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

CoRS CRIBS BY THE MILE-The Illinois
Central Railroad Company are building
eler.n miles Of corn cribs along the line of
their road, twelve miles south Of Chicago
The capacity of this mammoth granary is
100000 bushels The Company are
erecting these cribs to receive corn in paw
ment for land purchased of the Company,
and the full Chicago price is to be allowed
for corn delivered on the track.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
AIIsSoUEL.

General activity still c!iaraeterizes affairs
in Missouri under Cen UaIleck. The
vigorous movements of Gen. Pope two
weeks ago. filed Price with such panic
that he left the Usage in great hurry
A deserter reports that, when the order
to break up camp was gisen, cavalry ar
tillery, infant: y-raw, ragged unarmed
recruits-were mixed up in inextricable
confusion, and many hours elapsed before
anything like order was restored. The
retreat of the whole army commenced as
soon afterwards as possible; and so fearful
were they of pursuit that they burned
bridges, and placed every obstruction in
the way of The flucied pursuit. oven the
celebrated bridge built by Gen. Fremont
across the Usage at Warsaw was not spared
by the flying rebels.
The latest accounts from Price are. that
he arrived ut Springfield on Christmas,
with 5000 men, and had taken all the
houses for his troops. turning women and
children Into the streets. lie had I'M
pairing for long stay The authorities of
Arkansas forbid his entering that State
with any troops except such MS we're regu-
larly mustered into the confederate army,
Of whom Price has but 800 The belief
at st. Louis is, that Price will make an
attempt to pass TO the south-ea>. from
Springfield, and get to Self. Thompson and
perhaps Columbus.
When he undertakes this, however.
Price will be likelyto find Instructions in
his way St Louis dispatches Of Tuesday
say q forward movement OF 10000 federal
trooeas from Rolla was made on the 18th,
under GeSerais Curtis. Ashboth and Wy
man. Their destination was not known,
but could certainly be no other than to
head off Price somewhere. The move
meet Has regarded as important that
reports say Gen. Halleck would himself
Join the exl edition in a few days.
Quite victory nss achieved by Gen.
Prentiss gear Mount Zicn, in Boone coun-
IS, Last Saturday. Learning that Colonel
Dorsey, with large band 81 rebels, was
encamped in that vicinity, Gen. T. took
20 Of Col Gloyers cavalry and 200 of Col.
Ber:es' sharpshooters aud started to look
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

DiDNT ExrLoDE-A private letter from
Fort Pickens states that the rebels threw
into that stronghold, during the late bonn
bardment, six hundred shells, only nine
of which exploded. They were all OF
English make
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

SOUTHERN ITEMs-The New Orleans Pea
g,fne Of the 18th inst. announced the dis
continuance of its evening edition, " on ac-
count Of !he difficulties Of obtaining paper
The New Orleans Deita OF the 18th says ::
Our exchanges are circulating a statement
that fifty or sixty OF the Federal prisoners
OF war in jail have taken the oath to the
Confederate government, and joined our
army. We cannot see how such "A report
got abroad, for it Is entirely untrue
4 southern paper says: Cot. Stovall, at
Greenyiilr, Tenn, has taken possession of,
and is now using as a hospital, the resi-
dence OF the vile traitor and outlaw, Andy
johnson"
A Richmond correspondent Of the New
Orleans Data lets the world know that
Mrs. jeff. Davis hat baby on the 5ih inst
He dosen state whether il is a boy or q
girl but the admiring human family may
infer by strict contraction OF language, it IS
a bow a. he calls it miniture edition Of
the President of the Confederate States
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

FRoM ECRnpr-The -Etna and Asia bring
Liverpool dates 10 the 18th ult The
London papers are largely engrossed with
descriptions of the formal pageant, &c, of
Prince Albert-On the Trent affair, their
tone continues warlike We donot gather.
however, from the English Press, that
Britain really desires war with America.
The papers all seem to take it for granted
that the arrest of Mason and Sldell was
done directly by order of our Government,
and that Mr.. Lincoln will Justify and
stand up TO the act. When the counter
news reaches England, we have 10 doubt
the war fever will die out as rapidly as it
rose-The Presidents message had lust
arrived in England, and that, also, at
tracted the notice of the papers It's curt
Treatment Of foreign nations was grum-
bed at, the London papers maintaining
that the " I'd rbearance of the said foreign
powers towards America in her present
difficulties deserved special grateful
acknowledgement
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

JUpCE NCCooK-The venerable Judge
McCook formerly Of Pekin, Ill, fat! er Of
the fighting family, has now gone 10
Kentucky, rifle in hand to pies off some
OF the secesh.' He has been all summer
along the Potomac, and has numbered
his game by the scores from Wiliamsport
noticing his arrival, says he has gone to
the advance camp across Green River, eX-
pressing great regret that he missed the
Mudsonyillc skiruI:sh
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

Gen. Benham. who was sent to Wash
ington by Gen. Rosencrans under arrest
for his bungling is allowing Floyd to
escape, has been released by Gen. McClel-
Ian after an investigation OF the charges
against him
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

\ PAINFUL MisTAKE-What were sup.
posed to be the remains Of the son Of Capt.
,Jewett of Vienna, la, were carefully sent
home for burial The family and friends
with the local military assembled to bury
the dead, when the coffin was oponed, and
the face was that OF Il stranger. The funer-
al. however, proceeded. and the strange
young soldier was bnrod in the grave pre-.
pared by loving parents for their ewn son.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

PROVISIONAL Gov ERNMENTs IN THE REBEL.
SrATEs.-Senator Harlan's bill establishing
provisional governments in the rebel States,
save Virginia, not only reduces those States
to a Territoria! condition, but puts stop
to interstate slave trade, frees slaves here
after born, and divides public lands and
other property of the States among nation
a, soldiers, sailors and marines
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

Coin FAILING IN SEcEssIA-The Nash
vile papers lately boosted that gold,
which had been selling at % per cent
premium over Tennessee bank notes. had
fallen to ID per cent. They forgot to say,
however, that the gold was bogus coin
age OF the New Orleans mint, not worth
10 per cent as compared with the genuine
article.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04
War News of the Week.
IL AND ABOUT WASHINGTON.

There is nothing new whatever in refer
ence to military movements on the Poto-
mac. Either our Generals have been
unusually reticent, or the reporters lazy,
Or the army has lain perfectly quiet.
Gen McClellan's health, which was en-
dangered by severe cold, is slowly i'm
proving, and ne is expected to be "all
right" again in a few days.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

\ PRiNCELY GIFr-E. 4. Stevens, ESQ.
of lloboken, has nearly completed AN iron
guuboat OF great strength and power.
which he Is going 10 arm and equip, and
then turn her over TO the government as
q ntff
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

The news from Kentucky presents no
striking incidents fol- the past week. Gen
Buell. has progressed so far at Green river
as to have pushed Gen. McCook' 5 division
to the other side, but the bridge IS not yet
completed. Dueilnar appears to have ad-
vapced some I2000 men to within seei4g
distance of cur rickets on Tie south side
of Green river, but ventures no nearer
His position at Bowling Green is said to De
a very strong one. and IS defended by 15,-
600 men Gen. Buell.. although report
says he can muster l2j, 600 men, would
not be able to attack him successfully in
front, but Will a.tc,np! to turn lis tanks.
Zollicoffer is still on the north side OF
the Cumberland, near Somerset, with 4, 800
men, strongly posted and fortified Gen.
Schoepf is at Somerset took weak TO al
tack him, but ready to fall upon him if he
comes out of his trenches.
Cumberland Gap is defended by the
rebel Col. Rains, with 800 men.
Humphrey Marshall IS at Prestonburg.
with 6, 800 men, and Gen. Buell. has Gen.
Garfield, with 6,o00 men to keep him in
check.
% Several gunboats from Cairo, last Sun
day, assembled Cumberland river as far as
Henry, near the Tennesse line, and re
duced rebel battery. sustaining no loss.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

1.-THE Union men in Southern Kentucky
have any.property as yet unstolen, let them
look out for it. 1t is said that Floyd has
been ordered to Bowling Green
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-01-04

Mr.. Secretary Wells has at length ir
vited proposals for the construction oil
several iron clad war vessels.