, 1864-01-05

THE NEWS.
The returns still continue to come in
from all sections concerning the appalling
rigors with which Winter commenced the
year. For intensity and extent, it will not
be found paralelled in many years past.
The most painful portion Of the well au-
thenticated reports of loss Of life, come
from Cairo, in which vicinity, and vari-
GUS points along the Ohio river, there were
numerous victima Il was stated early in
the fall that certain classes Of hibcr-
mating animals we're double lining their
holes, whence old trappers augured hard
winter. From the weather experiences Of
the past few days, the beavers and musk
rats will be likely to receive cncomiums
{not very warm to be sure) on their 3D.
gacity and forethougllt. Posscssors OF
liberal stores Of fuel are happy, and yet
may realize warmth, coal nor wood cau-
not afford, by 1ninistering Of their plenty
to their poorer neighbora. Remember the
poor at this season, If you would in the
highest degree enjoy the glow Of your OWL
we'll piled fire.
An interesting hearing is now in pro-
gress in provincial court, in suit for
tie rendition of the Chesapeake pirates
under the cxtradition treaty. It will prove
to be one Of the most important intcrna-
tional questions yet elected, and will be
prosecuted by our Government with COM
mcnBuratc energy,
Our Jcncsvi]lc dispatch chronicles d
singular and fatal casualty On the G. g. N.
II. r. R., near that place, from. the COM
parativc]y rare occurrence Of an explosion
of a locomotive boiler.
We give most valuable and thorough
resume Of the condition OF affairs in the
Southwest from the pen OF q special cor
respondent, who has enjoyed unsurpassed
facilities for Judging Of the progress made
toward the Federal rcoccupation Of the
Mississippi Valley. In q degree seldom
realized in communication Of the same
length, it is complete and exhaustive rc~
view Of the status reached, and valuable
revelation on the great social questions in
vo]ved in the rehabilitation Of this now re-
conquered region.
4 great seizure Of rebel Treasury notes,
reaching seven millions Of dollars took
place in New York yesterday, the haul
comprising plates as well as notes, and sew
eral parties implicated in the affair. It Is
perfectly legitimate to make money for
yourself, but when it comes to making it
for blemminEcr (and such money! it is quite
another matter.
"Murder will out,'' and 80 will lesser
crimes. Just now the cover is being taken
of from many nefarious transactions, i'm
plicating high officials and ex-oAlcia1s at
Washington. The dispatch elsewhere
from Norfolk opens particularly out
rageous nest Of knayery, but unfortunately
ofno new type. We trust that the bottom of
this whole business will be reached and
principals and accomplices to the. remot-
est degree ovcrtaken and punished. IT
any Senator Of the United States,
whatever his party connections, can
be shown to have been more eager, for
pa1try fee, to save rascals than to guard the
government against these harpics, we
hope precedents may be found, or new
ones established for freeing The Senate Of
such disgTaces- We care not whore or
upon whom the blow may fall. II Mr.
Hale is the guilty man let him suffer, and
If Rcvcrdy johnson is again ready to say
that be has done such thing often, let his
case also be looked into. It should
he time Of national reform. The people
are undergoing purgation. The army has
been tried j" so as By irc'' Let justice be-
gin with The law givers, and the Congress
purify itself The thorough work Of scour-
ing out the Departments cannot be too
thoroughly done, aad let no w]litewash be
used, until every nook and..crevice is clean.
To the Inv and to the testimony. "Hew
to the line, let the clips fy where they
will.'
Congress has conc back exhausted from
holiday making, and will require second
week to recuperate from its e1crtions. The
spectacle is not pleasant one. Far better
would 1t have shone, had every member
{pot month from his home) have stuck to
post and attended to public business. It
would have been welcomed by the people
as promising token Of zeal and devotion
to the public service, even had the unrea-
diness of the leading measures under dis
'cussion prevented the actual completion
of any. Gentlemen, it was unwiscly done,
to run home this year to spend Christmas
and New Years.
The system Of liberal bounties and fur
loughs to our regiments in the field is
working well. War worn and battle
scared as they are, they only wish a brief
visit 10 their homes, and are ready to 60
into the work again and, in the
identical language Of many Of
7hcm, "see this thing through" Mark
the contrast. -Jea7s 1n1nions originally
rricEcd into the field BY bayonets, aud
held only by severe martial Law, are de-
eerting and coming over to us by hundreds
and thousands, while our soldiers again
rally round the old flag, and at their expi
ration Of service pick up the musket for
new term, burning to be sin at the
DEATH" The spectacle is one of the most
significant hitherto developed in this war.
We had thought nothing could shine with
more eplendor than the first zeal Of volun-
teering, but nobler and more enduring
glow Of patriotism is that kindling re-en-
listmcnts among our veterans in the field.
FROM THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI.
-Guer111na on the Mlas1ssippi-The