The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-28

up to the battle of Fredericksburg. ia repudiated
by the London Times in very bitter terms, in the
name of the Exeter Hall emancipaa0nsts-
The special correspondent Of the London Times
! in the South dating from the headquarters Of
General Lee, near Fredericksburg, furnishes .
very animated and graphic description Of the
battle ear that town. He says that the rebels
had from eighty to ninety thousand men on the
ground, but that not more than twenty five
thousand of them we're engaged at any time
during the day The writer pays q glowing and
graceful tribute to the galantry and action Of the
Irish Brigade, under General Meagher, saying that
the forefathers Of the men never displayed "more
undaunted courage at Fontenoy, Albuers or
Waterloo" than they did. and that "the race
which has gained glory on . thousand battle
fields never more richly deserved it than at the
foot of harye's Heights on the 18th Of December.
1852"
CONGRESS-.
In the Senate yesterday bill respecting the
time of holding Circuit and District courts was
referred to the Judiciary Committee; bill supple
mentary to the act for the better organization Of
the military department was referred to the Mill
tary Committee, rs also bill to authorize States
to advance the pay Of volunteers and militia
in the service OF the United States. A resolu-
ton directing inquiry as to the expediency
OF increasing the compensation Of paynas-
ters' clerks was adopted. A resolution was
adopted directing the Military Committee to
inquire into the expediency Of authorizing the
President to offer the volunteers in the service
such bounty as lie may deem necessary to-secure
their rc-enlistment; also, into the expediency Of
authorizing the President to offer such bounty for
the re-enlistment Of such volunteers for one year.
or longer time also, into the sxpediency of pro-
viding by law for three months volunteers either
by enlistment or draft. motion to take up the
resolution calling for the documents in the case Of
General Fitz John Porter was briefly discussed,
and finally disagreed to by vote OF Is against 22.
The bills providing for the removal OF Indians from
Kansas and Minnesota were passed. A message
was received from the President, transmitting the
report of the Secretary Of State and the documents
concerning the capture Of British vessels sailing
from port to another, having on hoard articles
contraband of war. The bill for the indcmnifca-
ton Of the President and other persons for sns-
pending the writ of habeas corpus and acts done
in pursuance thereof was called up, and an cx-
citing debate ensued. Mr.. Salisbury denounced
the President by name as an imbccile, aud was
very violent in his demeanor. He was called TO
order, and finally placed in custody Of the Ser
geant-at- Arms. An amendment to make the pro-
visions Of the bill apply to criminal as well as to
civil cases adopted--27 against land the
bill passed by vote of thirty three against seven
The Senate thcrcupon adjourned.
In the House of Representatives the Senate bill
providing for the pay of certain persons forty
five years Of age who have entered the army was
considered. An amendment was offered incrcas-
ing the pay Of soldiers two dollars per month. and
giving those who may be honoraby discharged
before the expiration of their term OF service a
proportonate amount of bounty, and the bill was
then rccommittcd to the Military Committee In
committee Of the Whole Messrs. Conway, OF Kan
sas, and Shellabargcr, Of Ohio, delivered interest
ing speeches on national topics, and the committee
rose. Mr.. Stevens offered substitute tDr his bill
authorizing the employment Of negroes soldiers,
and Mr.. Hickman offered another substitute au-
thorizing the equipment OF three hundred regi
ments Of blacks TO serve for years unless
sooner discharged. II also proposes a line of
steamers for the deportation of emancpated slaves
to Liberia. Without taking action on the subject
the House adjourned.
THE LEGYsLATURE.
In the State Senate yesterday. favorable reports
made on the bill amending the acts relative to
the Albany and Susqueha nna Railroad. and on that
amending the general banking law. A resolution
to go into joint ballot for United States Senator
on Tuesday next was offered, and. under the rules,
laid over. Other business Of minor importance
was transacted.
In the Assembly, the consideration of the pre-.
amble and resolution directin aRinquiry into the
character and conduct Of the Speaker, Mr.. Calicot
was, after some discussion. postponed till Thurs
day, the 9Th Of February. Notices were given of
large number of bills, the following being among
them To create the police department Of New
York: to legalize the New York primary cleo
tons; TO extend the privileges of exempt ;iremcn;
torcgulatc the Staten Island ferries for the election
by the people OF the New York City Inspector; 70
regulate the gas companies Of this city; to locate
the state capital in the geographical centre OF the
State. and TO give our Board Of Councilmcn powers
equal to those Of the Board Of Aldermen. Resolu-
tons condemning the arbitrary arrests intro.
duced. Concurrent resolutions for % peace con.
vention OF all the States, and 10 go into joint ballot
for United States Senator on Tuesday next were
offered, but not disposed OF. The proposition that
the members shall receive their pay in specie was
again aired 10 considerable extent; but finally
received a dampcr by the presentation to the
House Of communication from the Comptroller
saying that il is impossible under present
circumstances. to meet the desires OF these hard
money legislators.
Thurlow Weed has published his valedictory
His interest in the publication Of the Albany
Erening Joprnd ceased on yesterday
We have received an interesting correspondence
between Mr.. Charles II. Marshall, of this city. aud
Barring Brothers Co., OF London. on the subject
Of the dcpredations ~ the Alabama aud the undis-
guscd breach OF the British laws in permitting the
equipment Of rebel cruisers in British ports. The
Earrings reply that they have every reason to
hope that the British government will be- wa,chfhi
to prevent the violation Of the laws 10 future.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.