The New York herald., 1862-02-18


rsiasf naitag ar.e. o. .rs..al
tribe c bigoted spitefal abolitioniss give them
, the opportunity. To indulge petty malice
against lady whose position and sex alike
should shield her from insult, Hickman's com
nittee wastes TIE public money, disgraces the
} nation and holNs up the government to the
bitter but deserved satire and contempt OF the
civilized world Congress authorizes and en-
eourages this indSscent, malicious aud illtimed
investigation, during Mis- crisis Of struggle
for national existence. 1t is bard to say q
which the public is move ashamed, the man
who conducts this investig etion or the legisa
tive body which endorscrit.
A DAY or PUBLIC CELEsRA4Uo OF THE Re-
CENT VICTOKrEs.--h view Of .he recent sac-
ceres Of the national arms, it is dtting that we
should set apart day for their celebration 10
this city; and as the anniversary OF She birth Of
Washington occurs on the 22d % the present
month, we suggest that that is the proper one
to be selected. PNiladelphia has slaeady
decided upon 1t, ard no doubt OTHER cities will
do likewiss Such demonstration ors our pa IT
will be in accordance with the fast daYs wshiA !
we observed'last year, and Svill give ugall an
| opportunity Of testifying our ADy over therapid
progress now making towards the restorstion'
Of this Union and the extinction Of the rcbels
lion. The delight which THE whole North
has felt over TIE victory Of Roanoke a10
the capture of Fort Donelscn eau only be-
equalied by the final satisfaction. whicf
we shall soon experience of having com
Ivla af.lx tal kk<. en1xn.sc As IT,
in every portion Of the revo}ted Stakes.
We have indeed real caase for congrshllasion;
for virtuaiIy the game Of rebellion is already
decided, and the flag of tho Union fsoats proudly
in all but three of the rebelious States. The
fate Of thy Southern confederacy is seeded;
treason is inits last throes and the restoration
of the integrity Of the Union is inevitable, and
only matter of time--a few days or weeks,
sooner or later. The loyal are triumphant, tho
traitors are defeated and driven back in oonfH-
sion and the great republic has survived the
trying ordeal intended for its destruction. Have
we not, then, occasion for rejoicing and thanks
giving: Let us unite in a general and hearty
expression of national feeling, andy while com
memorating the birthday of the illustrious
Father of the republic look forward hopefully
to the speedy re-establishment of the Union,
whose foundation he left to US as the gloriouc
legacy of his labors
THE ESCAPE OF FLoYD.-Our troops have
captured Fort DonelsOn, with its garrison but
the immortal Floyd has slipped through their
fingers. He was too obdsh4hief to be caNght
mapping, and so he stole of under cover.of the
night with five thousand Hen., He beats Price
all hollow a runner. In the mountaius'
Of Western Virginia, last summer, Floyd was-
the thief who {" bothered our boys intirelyvby
stealing off in the dark. His rebel -associates-
whom he left in the Isrch at Fort Donelson.
denounce him as ga bsOskhearted traitor and
coward but they don't understand his case,
aad are very ungrateful. His greatest trouble
is shat, as the chief of tkSCabnet traitors and
thieves Of Mr.. Buchanans administration -
the great stealer of government arms and arse
nsls, he imagines there u price set'upon his
head, and that his fate as prisoner Of war
would be a rope. withsat judge or jury. He
does mot like the idea Outstanding mp in battle
to be shot at; but he feass the hangman's rope
above all other dangers. Other rebels may
expect to be treated sccordine to the laws
Of war; but Floyd, IL caught, expects to. be-
punished as o thief andaa robben; and SOL Floyd
iSnot the hero TO surrender as sprisoner ofwar
while there is chances Of stealing of or zun
ming away. Finally, far tho present, CONSIDER
ing his proficiency ard skill, and his cool de-
liberation in stealinssaad running. the chsacss
are that Floyd will s.lA contrivsr to steal run
of, even il followed ap to the Mexican fronsier.
EmovEAN PuRPOs1sl N MExrsos-The jo oa7nals
Of England and Tnaee ha se been ars,sing
themselves for souo, time pass with the ,.aea Of
a,king for Mexico. The pee pie of Bav.pa are
in q terrible state of excten amt over thessxpec-
tation that TIN, hpchduke Maximilian Is TO DO
the monarch IN question. M fact, we are told
THAI large incr sase to tin French IoRees in
Mexico would saDrty sail, with visw to this
kingly project. Now we regard all these move
msnss of Hrorean Powsss as Simply farcical'
No kingdom or empire csa ever be established
in. Mexico, though Francs may send fifty thou
saaa meai to accomplish it.. But lot France ;.
Spain anAl Eng land 60 ahead In that line. Wist.
such vig5,rous blows es we are giving to thu
,ebelliou, it will be eztirely crashed out ty,
June, AID cur immense naval and miliAf
sorces will be at liberty to stsins anywhe o.
These lluro2ean Powers are only furnishing ns
with rease ~ for interfering in.Msxico; an iif
we once bsgin we w;M not stop till we drive he
Spauiards out of Cuba and Porto Rico. Trey
are making their own graves, and will be
forced to OCCUPY tjem., We now have 70t 300
men in the field, and rapidly Increasing Ssvy
of neatly four hsndred vessels-some Of them
iron-cAsl-and transports. without ,nuAber.
From the desrsndency everywhere ext ihited
by the rebels, is clear that they must We soon
cave in; and the same soldAicrs who ase now
fighting undeAthe direction Of JEFF Davis would
.st M halter. emplovment than TO ra.ly unde,@