The national Republican., 1862-04-18
MEN AND rnrsos Ar the CAPITAL

MEN AND Tnln0s Ar THE CAPITAL. |
10 noRE sFuWn FORTS.
The world renowned contest between sAs
Merrimas and Ne Ao~,1ev hes "dons for" W
present syle u coast forincauons This ws
learn is The deliberate Judgment Of the military
and naval committees Of Congress. No more
stone forts are needed after the experience The |
other day at Fort Pulaski. There was one Of
our best forts, costing over million Of dol.
lars, yet, when the hour Of trial came, she was
found utterly unable 70 make defence against
the enterprising "Ysnkces.' The rebels are
very fond Of their nickname, "the Ysnks,"
yet somehow those very "Yanks" seem 70 be
superior to the chivalric, scalp-taking South.
ern gentlemen. The Military Committees oi
Congress will recommend that no more money
be equandered upon forts and for,resses, but
that every dollar that can be spared be at once
put into floating batteries, iron-clad vcssels-of.
war, and the like. These are the true deienoes
Of the country hereafter. We learn that IL the
Merrimac does not very soon come out that
she will be very likely to find achievements
10 the Monitor. The rebels possibly are III
lie ahead Of us In the construction Of Two or
three Of these vessels, but II will take but .
short time for Yankee gumption to beat them.
If the mechanical genius Of the free States can.
not build Eve iron-clad gunboats where the
rebels can one, We ought 70 be beaten. There
can be no doubt us 10 which party 10 this great
controversy will be benefited most by the rev.
olutiop In naval science.
WILD RuNoRs.
There is q class Of people who live upon i'm,
probable rumors. To keep them alive, the
ssnsationists every day coin some wild story
respecting the war or Cabinet change. Ru-
mors were thick yesterday at the hotels Of the
resignation Of Mr.. Stanton, the vigorous Secre.
Iry Of War, and Of Mr.. Welles, the Secretary
Of the Navy. The ws.mongers were greatly
delighted with these wild tpeculations and
toundatoule1 reporta Doubtless, there arr
persons in this city, as well as elsewhere, WHIT
would like 10 drive MeRrs. Stanton and wello
from the Cabinet, but they will never accom-
plish their object in this way.
CONGRESS-.
Yesterday was dull day in Congress. Moth
ing stirring In the debate relieved tho genera
dulness In either House. Quite number o
person. were gathered TO hear AcDougall snt
Wade upon Gen. Stone, but they were disap
pointed, the debate not being resumed. In In
House, the Pacific railroad bill was discussed
pro and con-, but no vote was reached. II /
evident that the bill will not pass withou
amendments 1t will be postponed
The Senate went into executive session for
few moments long enough 10 refer severa
nominations appropriately; among others, th
emancipation commissioners. They were sen
TO the District Committee. We hear that tn
committee will move 10 reject the nOminatio
Of ex Mayor Bsrrett, but this may be mistake
or course no one kno,os this to be fact. Ser
ator Wilson and family left town by the fiv
, O'Clock trian last evening for Natick, Massach,
, setts, their home. Mr.. Wilson returns earl
next week.
Il TIE WEATHER.
There u Wondrous change In The weath(
since the snow storm Of few days ago. Tt
lean from winter into the midst Of spring Is
4 quick one. Some Of our generals might lear
E lesson, il they would, from Natures "stra
} egy." To be sure, she Is generally "slow"
. her movements but what wondrcus results al
occasionally wrought by her lightning change.
Y The mowers will soon be upon the Capt.,
Z lawns, and the breezes which sweep over h
: Capitol grounds will be freightsd with u
? sweet odors Of May flowers. Summer soon vi
1 be upon US. Let the corporation remembe
= this-and the dead horses on the city frontiers.
few hundred dollars expended no,o may we th
+ city from summer plague. Iuspite of the wats
, cats, the Avenue Is pestcred with clouds Of dus
. It will do very little good TO care for the Av,
nue., unless the adj,ining streets are also cleane
y aud watered.
IL CITY RAILWAY.
3 When ,oiR Congress give us a railway W
, are in instant need Of one. The immense di
. tances Of the capital would no longer remain
, nuisance with good rystem Of horse railway
why will not the parties who are quarrelin
: over rival charters get out of the way, uni,