The New York herald., 1863-06-15
New York. monday. Jun. Is. 1863.
THE STU ALTON.

1t is evident from all the ascertained movements
of General Lees army that an active campaign ia
now in operation against the Union forces on the
Rappahannock, and that at any moment most
important phase in the state Of affairs there may
be developed Harper's Ferry, the Shenandoah
valley and the upper fords Of the Potomac are the
points indicated by the recent rebel movements
as the theatres Of approaching complications. Our
army appears also to be changing its base. The
supplies are being transported from Aqua creek
to Alexandria.
The last dispatches from vicksburg and vicinity.
received last night via Cairo. and dated the sth
inst. merely repeat the accounts previously pub
lishcd. The army continues in good health and
spirits. The siege advances with every prospect
OF success. ..
We give an extended and highly interesting &C.
count to-day of the recent operations of the rebel
privatcers, which is worthy Of attention. as show.
ing the activity Of the enemy the seas. Two
ance, and it would appear from all the report that
they are securing tho Atlantic Ocean as far down
as Cape Horn, and from that point round into the
Pacific, to intercept our vessels from China and
India. The reports of these bold proceedings on
the part of the rebel navy appear to have walked up
our Navy Department, for four United States ves-
sells were sent from this port on Saturday night;
three were ordered out from Hampton Roads at
the same time, and others are under orders to
follow imme ediately to hunt up the Clarence (or
Coquette).
We publish in another column the reply of Mr.
Lincoln to the resolutions adopted at the Albany
meeting of the l6th ult. relative to the arrest Of
Mr.. vallandgham, the vindic alton of free speech
and SO forth. The President deals with the ques
tiou deliberately, justifying the suspension Of the
habeas corpus, and arguing with much logic and
sophistry the claims Of the administration to act
as they have done in the matter Of summary ar.
rests, trials by military courts and the necessity Of
not waiting for the commission Of defined crimes
TO put troublesome persons out Of the way. He
says that he regrets the necessity Of Mr.. valandg
nam aTTcst anu OanisnWcnt, anu Will DC Rlau tO
discharge him, provided the public safety will not
suffer by it. At the same time he intimates that
ifhe had exercised his own discretion he would not
have ordered the arrest Of Mr.. vallandigham At
all. The Presidents letter, on the WHOLE 10 most
interesting.
Our correspondent in Vera Cruz, writing on the
lst Of June, furnishes a very interesting and i'm
portant resume Of the condition Of affairs in Mex
co TO that day. He states that Puebla was de.
Tended TO the last moment, and that Ortega sur.
rendered only when hunger compelled him to do
So II was said that nine thousand Of the defend.
ers Of the place had reached Mexico City. The
French were In possession Of Vera Cruz, Cordova,
orizaba and Puebla, but the writer alleges that
the other portions OF the republic were universally
hostile to them. Napoeon's officers were, never.
theess, driving on some very huge public works
in the shape Of railroads. bridges, visducts and 80
forth, paying over thirty thousand dollars weekly
in wages to the laborers independent Of the salary
of engineers and mechan cs. One viaduct Is 10 be
built at . cost Of two milliors Of dollars The