The New York herald., 1862-01-23

with the French Minister, NJ. Mercier at Washing
ton from whom he received the assurance that
France would not break the blockade unless o
case as strong as that of Mason and Shden were 70
occur to the French government.
Our Key West correspondent, writing on 'ne
18th January, says, Commodore Mexican sent the
Massachusetts towing four prize schooners loaded
with sand, to be sunk in Horn Island Pass. How
he can be expected to keep an efficient blockade
on 30 much and such q coast with the guns and
vessels he has, is inconceivable.
The rebels express great apprehensions as to
the movements of the Burnside expedition. which
has appeared at Hatteras. They believe an at
tack is meditated in the rear of Norfolk.
The Memphis Argus of January and has
rich rare and racy articles on the rebel situation
1t handles Jeff Davis without gloves" and styles
him and his mock Cabinet as ''illegal wielders OF
authority" It compliments the federal army, and
admits that the rebels are hemmed in on all sides
by superior forces.
The Trenton CTenn.) Standard says that there
is considerable evidence of disloyalty to the Con-
federate government in West Tennessee. It was
found necessary to send troops into Carroll county
to arrest some of the constituted authorities.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday, the resolution appropri-
ating $40 for the expenses of the Joint Special
Committee on the War was passed. The House
bill, repeating the act whereby witnesses before
Congressional Committees are exempted from cri-
minal prosecution in courts of justice was report
ed back by the Judiciary Committee, and, after
some debate passed bill from the Committee
on the Conduct of the War, authorizing the Presi-
dent to take possession Of certain railroads and
telegraph lines, was referred. The consideration
of the resolution in regard to the expulsion Of
Senator Bright, of Indiana was then resumed, and
Mr.. Davis, of Kentucky, made strong speech in
favor of extreme coercive measures to qdel the
rebellion urging that any Senator who, like Mr.
Bright, had avowed himself adverse to coercion,
was unfit to occupy q seat in the Senate. With
out concluding his remarks, Mr.. Davis gave way
to motion for an executive session.
In the House of Representatives, the bill pro-
viding for An increase Of the clerical force Of the
War and Navy Departments, was passed. The
Senate bill, authorizing certain naval officers to
accept presents from the Japanese government,
was also passed. The Committee of Ways and
Means reported bill authorizing the issue of
United States notes, and for the redemption and
funding thereof and for the funding Of the floating
debt of the United States. It was made the special
order for Tuesday next. A bill for the payment
of field officers Of volunteer regiments for SER
vices rendered prior to the full organization of their
regiments was reported by the Military Committee.
The President was requested to inform the House
whether the act of Congress requiring officers
of the new regiments of the regular army, ap-
pointed from civil life, to be assigned to the re-
cruiting service has been complied with and, if so
how many officers have been thus employed since
the extra session of Congress. resolution was
adopted calling upon the Secretary of War for
information as to whether and in what time, q
military force can be detailed to protect the Balti
more and Ohio Railroad, in order that the road
may be repaired. In Committee Of the Whole the
Legislative Executive and Judicial Appropriation
bill was taken up, and Messrs. Diven, of New
York. and Stevens, of Pennsylvania, made speeches
on the rebellion and slavery question.
M1sC1LLANEoUs NEWS.
The State Senate at Albany yesterday got 20 far
advanced in the business Of the session to reach
the passage Of bills. A few were passed; among
them that amending the insurance laws in refe-
renee to foreign insurance companies doing busi-
ness here; the one to extend Flatbush avenue,
Brooklyn, and that legalizing the New York Com
mon Council acts relative to providing relief for
the volunteers families. The bill amending the
Revised Statutes relative to unauthorized banking
was reported upon favorably. Notices were given
of bills to enable the Croton Aqueduct Department
to relay pavements; establishing Council Of Con-
ciliation for the Court Of Appeals, and to amend
the divorce laws. The Finance Committee report
ed concurrent resolutions in favor Of the several
States being informed by the national government
of their quotas of taxes already hereafter to be
levied so that each State may be enabled to
the collection of its portion. The resolutions we're
laid over for future consideration. The 30th inst
appointed for the election of State Superintendent
of Public Instruction. In the Assembly message
was received from the Governor, covering the re-
port Of the Engineer-in Chief on harbor and coast
defences. 1t was ordered to be printed. Favora-
BILE reports were made on the bills for regulating
insurance in foreign companies, and regulating
Among the bills introduced were the following
To extend the right of suffrage to volunteers at the
seat of war; to stop the swill milk traffic; to ncor
porate the Commonwealth Savings Bank in this
city; to amend the Harlem Stage and Ferry Com
pany's charter; to amend the Revised Statutes in
relation to demands against vessels in relation to
Brooklyn Justices Courts, and to incorporate the
Brooklyn Academy of the Visitation. A resolu-
ton was introduced and laid over relative to the
amendment of the constitution so to prohibit
the sale of intoxicating liquors. resolution
calling for an "onward movement Of our army
was presented and discussed, but no final action
was taken on il when the Assembly adjourned.
The mail steamship Columbia, from Havana,
reached this port yesterday evening, with news
from Cuba dated on the 18th inst. She had also
important advices from Mexico, and news reports
rom the Bahamas and Key West.
The adviccs from Mexico are dated at Vera Cruz