Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-23

-T---T--UT U|-U--T 10 --UT-
In the Confederate senate this morning the death Of
the Hon. VIM. Ballard Preston was announced by the
Hon. R, n. T. Hunter-Mr. Hill, of Georgia, being in
the chair-and the announcement wss accompanied
with a ehaste and cordial tribute to the virtues and tai
ents of the deceased, the effect Of which was somewhat
marred by its having bsen read from the MS. instead Of
being reeited meaOTite. Mr.. Hunter was followed by
the Honorables Gusiagus A. Henry Of Tennessee, G. G.
Clay, IT,, Of Alabama, P J. Semmes, Of Lolisiana. and
L. T. WigfaIl, Of Texas. The remarks Of Messra Hen
~ and Semmes were most f~eelngly and gracefully ut
tered. The usual resolutions having been adopted, the
senate adjourned
In the house, speeches were made by Messrs Staples,
Lyons, and Goode. of Virginia, Mills Of South Carolina,
Perkins, OF Louiaianss and Chiffon, Of Alabama.
While these soothing words Of sympathy and respect
were saying in the Confederate Congress, avery excited
and animated debate was going on across the hall in the
house Of delegates Of Virginia, upon the merits of the
severa, nominees for the vacancy in the Senate occa-
siened by Mr.. Preston's decease. The most interesting
passage occurred between nj. Wiloughoy Newton Of
Westmoreland, and Mr.. Wood Bouldin, Of Charlotte,
two gentlemen Of marked ability and striking ~oratorioal
powers, as to the political character and fitness of Wi
liam C Rives. Mr.. Newton attacked and Mr. BoeIdin
defended Mr.. Rives. The whole parliamentary and di
plomatic history of the United States for a period Of
thirty years was passed in review, and the old questions
Of the bank, the tariff, the annexation Of Texas were ex-
humed from The sepulcher Of the Congressional Globe
and endowed for a time w1fh their former vitality. Nr.
Newton was especially severe upon the vote Of Mr.
Rives given FOR the e~xpunging resolution Of Immortal
infamy, and boldly challenged his title to the name Of
statesman, declaring that he was always too tmid. or,
to use Mr. Rives' own phrase, too Conservative" for
true s-tatssmansbip. He further called in question Mr..
u5-.s fA,o-or-b rr-oTfrr 20 che no~e.1.~,kc ct,4,. 49,,
the ground that he had two sons and & daughter married
in the Northern States and living there, and that the
natural instincts Of the paiernal heart would incline
him irresistibly to favor a reconstruction Of the Union.
These accusations were not allowed to pass sub sigsntio
as you may imagine. M. Bouldin's eulogium upon Mr..
Rives was conceived in a spirit Of high but discrimi.
mating sdmiration-ho defended him as a States rights
man Of the school Of Jefferson, as having sat, indeed,
at the feet Of the great Gamaliel Of Monticello, and
pointed to his eminent services at he courts Of Louis
Philippe and Louis Napoleon, and to his brilliant career
in the old United States senate in the days Of Clay,
Webster and CaihoIn as the best proof Of his lofty
character as a statesman As for his devotion to the
Confederate States, it was abundantly manifested upon
the floor Of the Provisional Congress at Montgomery
and afterwards in Richmond. This outline of the de.
bate, or rather Of one passage in il, may be of little in.
terest out Of Virginia. but ! have sketehed it because it
was more in the style of the old political parliamentary
digladiaion than anything we have heard since the be-.
Cunning of the war, The house Of delegates came to
one ballot during the day with 20 result. At the time
Of vTiting-late in the afternoon-the debate Is still
going on in the Senste. principally 1pon the sectional
question of East and West, and it may be safely
assumed that NJ senator will be elected TO-DAY.
The very dashiug and successful operation of our
forces at Galveston, in making a rrize Of the Harriet
Lane, under the lead Of General Magruder. was but the
carrying Gus of a plan originated by that accomplished
officer more than twelve monthe ago, for capturing or
clearing out the enemy blocksding ships at the mouth
Of York river. wm. Alien, rs, of Claremont. then
IN command Of the batteries on Jamestown island, and
now living in his city, has preserved a letter addressed
to him by General Aagruder, asking the use Of two or
more guns to be mounted on ezsety such batteaux a.
were employed at Galveston for the purpose Of a mid
night attack upon the Yankee vessels of Yorktown.
The guns could net thea be spared tud the scheme fell
| through. General Nagrudsrs in bis official report, does
NOT claim the credit Of having conceived the plan. he
merely states that he had considered and approved it,
but be Is doubtless entitled to the full praise Of author.
ship and execution.
II is shreYdly suspected b. intelligent citizens Of the
Northern Eeck-tha portion ST Virginia lying between
the Potomac and the Rappshannock rsvers-that the
Yankees are engaged in the regular prosecution Of the