The New York herald., 1862-01-07

possession of the main land is awaiting reinforce
ments, which should be forwarded without delay.
The Vanderbilt has cargo of three thousand
six hundred and ninety-seven bales of Sea Island
cotton, gathered by our troops and the contra
bands, and consigned to D. d. Tompkins, United
States Quartermaster at this port This is the first
| very heavy shipment of cotton that has been
made from Port Royal since the occupation by our
troops.
By the Bohemian, which arrived at Halifax yes
terday with dates from Liverpool to the 26th and
Londonderry to the 9th utimo-four days later
we learn that the English papers are discussing the
Trent affair in a hopeful fashion, looking to the
peaceful settlement of the difficulty by the
delivering up of Mason and Sliden by
the Cabinet at Washington. The prevailing opinion
in England is said to be in favor of peace. War
risks at Loyd's had taken a downward tendency.
better feeling prevailed at Liverpool and cotton
was rising. The Paris Presse says that new rebel
Commissioners, in place of Mason and Slidell, had
"hANCu dt SoiuC OcIludu poEt, duu "Cic e"e 'ONeo
for London and Paris, but it does not mention the
names of these emissaries. The French govern
ment is about to send reinforcements to its squad
in the Gulf of Mexico, and it was rumored tina
q squadron of observation was to be sent to the
eastern coast of America under Admiral Henaud.
Spain is also about to send six or seven thousand
ing to the Madrid Journal Correspondence.
CONGRESS-.
Both houses of Congress reassembled yesterday
In the Senate, the credentials of the new Senator
from Oregon, Mr.. Stark, were presented by his
colleague, but Mr.. Fessenden moved that the ad-
ministration of the oath be suspended. and that
the credentials and certain papers in his possession
impeaching the loyalty Of Mr. Stark be referred to
the Judiciary Committee. After some discussion
the papers were laid on the table for the present
The documents for the State Department relative
to the Trent affair were received, and made the
special order for Thursday next. Mr.. Fes-
sender offered a joint resolution authorizing
the Secretary of the Treasury to allow
goods Coffee, tea and sugar) warehoused be-
fore the passage of the recent act, to be
withdrawn, with the duty of the former act paid
and the duties collected Oh such goods under the
late act be refunded. The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Collamer offered resolution that the Com
mittee on the Post Office be instructed to inquire
into the expedicncy of placing tax on conveying
intelligence by telegraph. The resolution was
agreed to. Mr.. Davis introduced joint resolu-
ton that the President procure an exchange of
prisoners from the privateer JEFF. Davis for prison
ers taken from the army of the United States. The
joint resolution was adopted. The Judiciary Com
mttee reported in favor Of Mr. Stanton's right to
a seat in place of Mr.. Lane, the member from Kan
sas. The Pension Appropriation bill was passed.
A large number of abolition petitions were pre-.
sented, and Also one praying for remission of the
duty on the arms imported for the New York
Twenty-second regiment.
In the House of Representatives Mr.. Roscoe L.
Conkling, Of New York, called attention to the
fact that on the second day Of the session reso-
luton was adopted requesting the Secretary of
War to inform the House whether any steps have
been taken to ascertain who are responsible for
the defeat of the Union forces in the battle at
Balls Bluff. To this resolution the military au-
thorities made answer to the effect that the pro-
passed investigation would be incompatible with
the public interests. This answer Mr. Conkling,
Mr.. Lovejoy and others deemed unsatisfactory.
and they animadverted upon the management Of
the Balls Bluff affair and the conduct of the
war generally in severe terms. Finally Mr.
Conkling offered resolution declaring that the
answer of the War Department is neither respon-
sve nor satisfactory to the House, and that the
Secretary of War be directed to return further
answer, and after long discussion it was adopted
by vote of seventy-nine against sixty-four. A
resolution was adopted instructing the judiciary
Committee to inquire into the expediency of pro-
viding by law for making final the decisions of the
Commissioners engaged in deciding upon contracts
growing out of operations in the Western Military
Department. A joint resolution. authorizing the
withdrawal of tea, coffee and sngar from bonded
warehouses payment of the rate of duty levied
un Ter the tariff Of August last and to refund any
excess Of duties above those imposed by the said
act of August. was adopted. The Committee on
the District of Columbia we're instructed to in.
quire into the expediency Of establishing steam
fire department.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
The steamship Bohemian, which lett Liverpool
on the 26th and Londonderry on the 9th ult,
arrived at Halifax Monday. Her adviccs are
four days later than those previously received.
Although the advices from the United States had
been unfavorably construed in London, and the
funds had declined, yet II is observable that the
war feeling had subsided to some extent.
The Paris Presse states that more rebel commits
sioners had arrived at some port in Germany, en-
route for Paris and London.
Business had been partially suspended in Liver
pool and London, owing to the holidays. Cotton
had however, advanced one-quarter to onc-h half a
penny per pound while bresdstuffs were dull.
The Legislature Of this State meets at Albany at
oon to-day. At a caucus held last evening Of the
republican and Peoples party members, Hon.
Henry J. Raymond wac, after two Intellectual
ballots, unanimously nominated ss their candidate
for Speaker, and other gentlemen for the other