, 1863-04-01

WASHINGTON, March n, 1858.
TEE rR1vATKER QUESTION.
The question Of granting letters Of marquc
Is still open. The Cabinet still discusses-tho
President remains undecided. Seward, the
strongest advocate oftlc policy, counts Chase
and Stanton as uuxiliartes. Blair, on the
other hand, is with Senator Sumner,
who continues to labor against the execution
Of the law, the passage OF which lie fought so
strenuous1y. Welles, also, am told, is now
dieinclined to priyateezing, prefcrriug to hare
his navy increased.
The foreign Ministers are In travail with
this question, from an affirmative decision Of
which some Of them predict that q
war will be born. "What does Mr..
Seward means'' said the French Minister to
to sympathiz1ng Senator, yesterday.
"France is comparatively out of the
ring in which Ills priyateers arc likely to
sail: but what docs he mcan?. To plunge the
United States into a foreign war or to scare
other nations with the apprehension thai this
is lis purpose:" This questioner and others
fthc diplomatic corps, profess to think that
privateering against Southern pirates and
Ang1o.rcbc1 blockade runners will surely in
yolTe ne in hostilities with some European
nation, with whose commerce q bold Yankee
buccanecr may interfere, But no such outcry
was raised when Mr. jefferson Davis issued
Approximation concerning letters Of marque,
and sent forth his plunderlng and burning
cruisers. On the contrary, the Southern Con-
federacy was forthwith recognized as bellig-
ent, and the proposition Of our Government
for The abolition Of priratcering-nlade, it
will be remembered, by this same inscrutable
Secretary Of State, who is now SO eager to
have letters. of-marque granted-was rejected
by every European power, either directly
or by indircction. Nor have we heard
from those peace.losing lips serious
complaint Of The course Of Great Brit
ain in giving aid and comfort to the
rebels, Of the armed vessels fitted out
in her home ports, Or Of the establishment Of
shts.1ots for eontrahana traffic on her West
Indian islands. What, if that our Government
should not succeed in purchasins-a it has
been advised to do-the ''Chinese'" fleet now
building and ar1ning in Scotch and English
rivers; what, If the law officers Of the crown
shall BET taken sick again, as they were when
the Alabama sailed, before these vessels set
cen commorco Vat ~ s. ~ " i1cLi -.
French Minister to the Court Of st. James
! asks Lord Palmerston whether he desires 4
war with the United States; though it would
| seem that If, either as a measure Of precaution
| against this horde of pirates. or as a means
| Of driving them from the SEAS, after Their
| departure from Great Britain, we should fit
out prlvateeys, it is regardedas clear evidence,
| if not Of hostile intent, at least of criminal
indifference to the probable danger Of becom-
mess Of the privateersmen,
| uooKER's CORPS OF DIVISION BADGES.
| r. 49,, 49,. -.
-. ~ - ~ " uopeo 1n'!I thc system, initiated
t2o1'oh,1t n.I H. nna ,tuohL 70 oe apPaed
~ ngu;an;n" "b.e 4b aIs ~ zen; ; aookes,
by speeial padgc, viii be aionted % 'ssey IN nyerr
n,;,itary derart,Hent boaao sp. ~ ~ essr5
tu1'y ~ uslt.i,ens ai,nE oaoge 1or each corps
u = cel1an nEure, ana Tor each division Of a
eef.a,n eGGr Tonld t'' a; SeTye as an easy means
serts e naMa,d1r i - seinr n "aG t st1agge ds
serls, Is eo"aloly Or pfa'c, 1hat he may pc
| pun'sAen or rewarded, according to his dc.
serts. How many poltroon6 hare escaped
the brand Of disgrace. and how many heroes
haye been deprived Of just praise by tue in.
ab1llty o1 lheif oniceTs 70 discover their
haihes N 19e eonlasion 81 battle: Ii the
badges could pc made sufficiently diverse to
serve - distinguish each regiment, their
utility, to the service would be great1y en-.
hahced-
SIGEL-HHAT HIS FRIENDS PROPOSE FOR HIM
Tie Secretary of War has been nrrca IL "a,
SIGN General Sisel to The oonmand # rio ~ H.
pertinent ofthe Missouri. and. falling that. tc
The command Of the reserves Of the Army n,
the Potomac. The former position wn,,]d
soeu, to ha ant of tI.a ,,ucet;o, hot1, haosue+
off;rncral Hnllecl,,s onnos;tinn' 1rhie,, sse,,i;
naturally have csnrcia Frcght Til, rerar.d ~
lie Departmeut uf which he was l,inssif for
mcr]y in chaTee, and because Of TIC disnns
tion of tle administration to consnlt fht
Yishps of thr 1nrnl Ieov;s1aturo ~ M;sronr
which has rounnsfril the 3ntrn};on If csno.ai
Curtis.
There would seem 10 be fewer obstacles in
the wny Of giving sigel the command Of th(
then consist Of his old corns nnw n,,der Een
schurZ. ami If annthcr corns "a lii the e,rani
division Of reserve which Sleel conmandef
under Burnside. Probably Ic would acccnt
such proposition, considering It adcouotc te
his rank and position, and knoTinr that ever
soldier in Gen Uooker's army viii have al
opportunity to distinguish himself His rar,
: organizing quality II ould dpd here fair field
and his troops might be at once an iu,penctra
blewall to stragglcrs from the front, decj
sivc .nakcwcisht when thrown into tie scale
of battle, and 4 bloodhound in pursuit Of th
yanquished. It is possible that this cou1man
may be given to Sfgel, whom Gen. Hooke
profcsscs to hold in high esteem as soldier
but possible only.
The friends Of Gen. Fremont arc still push
, ing his claims. but the prospcct that he vii
be set to work is very small. The Pressden
: supporters, day or two since, that thcr
sesneu .l ~ W va @tinosl lhs1rmountahlc dlil
General in rink. could mt well te ass;pncii I !