The New York herald., 1863-03-03


New York, Tuesday, March 3, 1850.
THE SITUATION.
The news from vicksburg is important. The
capture of the Union ram Indianola by the rebels,
in addition to the Queen of the West-lately taken
at Fort Taylor on the Red river-is confirmed by
an official despatch from Rear Admiral Porter, re.
oeived by the Navy Department yesterday. It sp.
pears that the Queen of the West and the ram
Webb were employed by the enemy against her,
twenty-five miles below the headquarters of the
Mississippi squadron and rammed her until she
surrendered Admiral Porter says that he does
not know the particulars; but he charges that If
his instructions had been followed up the disaster
would not have occurred. The Indianola was
built at Cincinnati. at cost to the government Of
100000. She is fat bottomed, iron.plated, her
sides spread out at On angle Of forty.fve degrees,
and fall in above deck at the same angle, render.
ing her almost mpregnable to the force of any
shot. She registers one hundred and forty-two
The rebel privatcers are keeping up vigorous
campaign on the seas. The Florida captured the
ship Jacob Bell on the 18th ult., in latitude "a,
longitude IS, bound from China to the port of New
York. The Jacob Bell had cargo Of $4,000
packages Of tea, $500 rolls Of mating, 5000
boxes of fire crackers, 400 boxes Of fans, 5000
mats of cassia and 40 boxes Of camphor, tho
whole being valued at about million Of dollars,
upon which the United States government lost
over SITS 900 or 100000 in revenue, Is that
would be about the duty on the goods aboard. The
rebel prvsteer burned the vessel. and transferred
her passengers and crew to Danish vessel which
conveyed them TO st. Thomas. The United States
steamer Alabama and the ship Shepherd Knapp
were at the latter port on the Goth ult, and were
then about to start on cruise In search Of the
priyateers Alabama and Florida. Great fears wero
entertained by the United States merchant ships
at St. Thomas Of the rebel privateers.
We are put in possession Of this news by the
arrival Of the steamer Delta from St. Thomas at
Halifax yesterday. Her report also states that
the steamer Columbia ran the blockade at Will
mington, N. c., and arrived at st. George, with
cargo of cotton and tobacco.
In the port of Bermuda, on the 10th OF Februa.
ry, were the British steamers Cornelis and Miriam,
trading to and from the rebel ports. The Coraelia
had arrived, with cargo of cotton, from Charles
ton, and was loading with firearms and other mu-
ntions of war. for Charleston. The Miriam is the
mate of the prize steamer Princess Royal, and
was to soil for Charleston in a week.
C0NGREss.
large amount Of business was transacted by
Congress yesterday. We have only space to al.
lude to the principal points of the proceedings.
In the Senate bills for the speedy adjudication
of prize cases and for the protection of private
property and the prevention Of fraud in insurrec-
tionary districts were passed. The section Of tho
last named bill authorizing the government to pur.
chase cotton. rice, sugar and tobacco was strick-
en- out The bill to promote the efficiency Of the
Engineer Corps was taken up. An amendment to
exempt clergymen from the operation Of the Con-
scription law was rejected-l4 against %. An.
other, 70 repeal the 5000 exemption clause,
was also rejected-lo against Is. An
amendment that no negro shall be commissioned in
the United States service except company OH.
GERS Of exclusively negro companies, was adopted
and the bill passed. The Internal Tax bill was
amended and passed. The bill indemnifying the
President and others for suspcndng the writ o.
habeas corpus was discussed.
In the House of Representatives, the bill indem
nifyng the President and other persons for sus
pending the writ Of hsbeas corpus was passed
The Senate bill organizing the Signal Corps, and
the bill providing for the payment of soldiers in
convslescent camps and hospitals within sixty
days, were passed. The senate bill authorizing
the President to issue letters OF marque and re.
prisal was passed.
THE LEGISLATURE.
In the Senate a. Albany yesterday, among tn,
bills introduced was still another for a railroad II
Broadway, and one TO amend the general railroad
law. A bill to alter the map of New York wa,
given notice OF. number of bills received IA
yorable reports from the several committees
among which were those authorizing the Courts o
Oyer and Terniiner and General SESSIONS to gran
new trials, 10 prevent the enticing away of sea
men, 10 provide for distributing the proceeds Q
the sales OF Indian lands in this state, and that i
reference TO the Brooklyn City Court The con
current resolutions for appointing Commissioner
OF the Court OF Appeals, after considerable discus
sion, were defeated, A memorial was presente,
in favor Of establishing State institution for tn
education Of soldiers children.
In the Assembly, the Cities Committee made
favorable report on the bin giving the members O
the New York Common Council annual salaries q
$500 each. besides certain specified perquisites an
privileges FAVORABLE reports were also made o
the bills 10 abolish the Offices Of Canal Appraiser,
70 allow the Wilson Industrial School to particpa,
r the public school fuad, and to incorporate th
kv,,copal Tract society. bill was noticed