The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-01-20

| Committee Of the Whole on the bill to amend the
| Excise law, the question being on the amount OF
tax to be levied on spirits; but without coming 70
any conclusion on the subject the committee rose,
| and the House adjourned.
THE LEGISLATURE. ri
4 In the State Senate yesterday petit'ons were
| presented. among others for reduction of milk
| freight on the Harlem Railroad. The annual re-
| ports of the Canal Appraisers and of the State
| Normal School Executive Committee were sent in.
Notices were given of bills to incorporate the
! Atlantic Navigation Company and the Union
| League Club of New York, to amend the Brooklyn
| Common School law and Brooklyn Fire Department
| act, and for variety of other purposes Among
the bills introduced was one to compensate the
Twenty-second militia regiment for clothing and
camp equipage lost in the national service. The
bill prohibiting enlntments in this State to gil the
quotas of other States was passed.
In the Assembly the select committee to in
vestigate affairs on Riker's Island was announced
by the Speaker as follows:-Messrs. Pinckney. of
New York; Parker, of st. Lawrence, and Bull
lock, of Chenango. Bills were noticed for the
amendment of our city charter, to amend the
rates Of legal advertising. to provide for the
enrolment OF the First division Of the National
Guard to regulate enlistmcnts, prohibiting dummy
engines on the Hudson River Railroad below
Thirty-frst street. to amend the tax and assess.
ment laws OF this city and to abolish the Offices
of inspectors Of the Metropolitan police. Several
bills OF minor interest were introduced.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWB
The United States steam transport Star Of the
South, n. S. Woodruff, from Port Royal. South
Carolina, with four thousand bags OF cotton and
the veteran battalion oil the Seventh Connecticut
Volunteers, comprising three hundred and fifty
men and eleven officers Major O. S, Sanford
commanding, arrived at this port yesterday. She
brings news.
Rebel property, consisting OF three hundred
shares of Rockand Mining Company two hun
dred shares Superior Mining Company and 81 SIG
in money, belonging to George W. Anderson, aud
81 ,26l, belonging to Hugh Mercer, general in
the rebel service, all under the control Of the
Flint Steel River Mining Company, OF this city,
confscated in the United States District
Court before Judge Belts, yesterday, and ordered
to be sold.
The regular meeting Of the Board Of Aldermen
did not take place yesterday, for the want Of q
full quorum of members. The meeting stands ad-
journed to Friday next at two p. NJ.
The Board Of Supervisors held their weekly
meeting yesterday; but the business was entirely
routine and devoid of public interest.
The hearing in the Olmstead case was further
postponed yesterday to three o'clock to-day, in
order to give Marshal Murray time for the perusal
Of the statement submitted by the accused.
A late letter from Zurich Switzerland, states
that Lessing's painting Of the Martyrdom OF Huss
which was exhibited some time since in the Dussel
dorf Gallery, New York, has been almost COM
pletely destroyed, having been cut by some fana-
tics travelling from Vienna and Pesth.
General Grant was lately rallied about the use |
of his name for the Presidency. He repcd:---'I |
aspire only to political Office. When this war
is over, | mean to run for Mayor Of Galena (his |
place Of residence); and if elected + int end to |
have the sidewalk fixed up between my house and
the depot"
Ice formed in New Orleans two inches thick on
the I'd Of January.
livestock market lsss sttive yesterday, and tho
prices OF all New York railroad shares Gold
continued in demand. and heard OF sales having been
made al le0. which fraction above tho ruling
figure. The money market did not exhibit any change,
and short loans being made at rates OF interest
little above what tho law recognizes Government and
state stocks continue firm, ana seven and three tcnhs
Treasury notes are now quoted az 107
The markets generally quiet yesterday. The rise
Ia gold raised tho OF holders 10 corresponding
extent, and the armness with which all kinda OF mer
chandse held tended to conlns business transactions
within limits. At tho Produce Exchange there
very decided change. Breadstufs were hrmer.
but transactions very heavy. Provisions
without decided change Groceries held higher and
sales thereby restricted. Cotton Arm Petro
ieum was dul-business checked BY tho extreme rates
demanded. Freights were steady and nrm.
The market better supplied with beef cattle this
week, the weather decidedly uufavorabe and
the quality OF the offerings rather poor last
prices sustained. the reporting decline
OF &c. a No. per ID The range &c. tol3tlc Tho
bulk Of the saes &C. lie, though good primo
cattle realized l2c. l3c The handsomcst pair OF steers
offered for sale here offered this week One
thousand dollars refused for them They sold
private terms. Mich cows were steady veais were
tive at SIC. stsc Sheep and lambs we're dull and T5c
81 per head lower the average, though sales
made at from 81 IS to 81 Swine sold at from &c sc
The receipts oo5 beeves, $50 cows, 40i veas,
IL 974 sheep and lambs aud $3.50 swine
The Desperate straits OF the RebelIion-
Our Peace Proposition.
The news from Richmond which we have
recently published furnishes vivid inside
view of the desperate straits Of the rebel-
lion. II will be remembered that in late
letter the Richmond correspondent of the Lon
don Times fatty stated that il the rebel Con-
gress, which il must be admitted has hitherto
shown little grasp, or earnestness, or capacity,
fails to rise to the height Of the great argument
before it, there may be expected such misery
q. e., throughout the rebellious States) as upon
earth has never yet been SEEN" In other words,
this Anglo-rebel correspondent means to say
that unless the rebel Congress shall provide
new armies from States which have no more
soldiers to give; subsistence from districts al
ready impoverished, and substantial currency
based upon the faith Of government which has
come to be regarded, even in South Carolina,
as an exploded imposture, then the universal
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