The New York herald., 1865-02-04
New York, Saturday, February 4, 1865.
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
Nothing additional has yot been made public regarding
the progress OF the peace conference between President
Lincoln and Secretary Seward, tho side and
Messrs Stephens, Hunter and Campbell the othcr,
though many rumors OF an extraordinary charac-
Tor are current The three latter gentlemen
arrived In Hampton Roads Thursday afternoon,
on board one Of General Grants special despatch
stoamers alongside OF which immediately the River
Queen, having board Secretary Seward and the two
vssssls anchored together in the stream in which
position they continued during the remainder
OF the day. What transpired between their
distinguished passengers remained . secret at tho
announcement Of President Lincolns appearance the
OF negotiations. Our dispatches give most inter
esting OF the progress Of the rebel commission
City Point and Of the enthusiasm OF the soldiers
on both sides whom they entered the Union lines All
firing was suspended, and the opposing pcksts entered
Into free conversation.
The State Legislatures have taken hold Of the consti
tuona amendment for tho abolition and prohibition Of
slavery In good Those Of tho following States
have already ratified IT, and others have taken up and
have its adoption psnding:-
Now York. 6-Michigan
S-pennsyivaniA 6-Maryland.
Massachusetts Rhode Island
4-Ilinois 8-West Virginia
in the Legislature OF this State the passage bill is
necessary to complete action it, This bas not yet
been enacted; but STILL both houses have adopted
by decisive vote resolution in its favor, may con
sder the matter virtually settled In the Senate the
resolution received seventeen affirmative and ogh mega
tive votes and in the Assembly seventywo Affirmative
and forty negative.
Now Orleans dispatches OF January IS furnished
By the transport steamship Empire City which arrived
here yesterday. In accordance with the proclamation
OF Governor Hahn tho oath ult. was observed a
general holiday throughout all that portion OF
Louisiana within tho Union lines, in honor Of the
abolition Of slavery in Louisiana, Maryland, Tennes-
SEQ and Missouri Tho Offices OF the State and
city governments closed, and work the planta-
lions was suspended In New Orleans the negroes turned
out in procession with music banners, resala, &c In
= late rebel raid tho plantations In tho
nelghborhood OF ConoordA lake, La, nearly
everything Of value was destroyed or carried
on Rsbs, dsserters from Mobile who recently
general belief that the city would evacuated with
cut waiting for the from Pascagoula Of General
Gordon Granger whose force they represent having
been Increased 10 twenty-five thousand men.
Burey the alleged Lake Erie raider delivered up
90 Unitod States officers by the Canadian authorities
early yesterday morning at Suspension Bridge, near Mia
CARA Falls In this Stale. The Alton bill, which has
passed the lower house OF the Canadian Parlia-
mont by tho almost unanimous vote Of one
hundred and four 70 FOUR is designed 70 pre-
vent rebel rnids from Canada into the United
sAscs synopsis OF 1t published in yesterday .
HEnALp II oonfers great power the Governor oeno-
rai In the matters 10 which II has reference and It's
forcsmont will probably render nusa,oy all rebel designs
for future raids across the border is supposed that
soon As 70 becomes law State Department will no
longer enforce the passport system far relates "a
Canada
Our dispatches from the Upper Tennessee river repre-
sent the troops OF General Thomas army, both
cavalry and infantry. as finely located and Il
excellent condition, impatient for another advance
movement Rebel descrters there, as in every oths
region whree the national soldiers stationed are con
stantiy coming into tho Union lines General Thomas
commssaos have 70 feed large number Of the inhabi
tAnis or the country the guerilas have destroyed
carried on tho greater portion Of their provisions
We have already published the announcement, ha. III,
noted rebel cabay loader General ROddy abandoned
the rebel service and applied for the pardon Of the ma
ti0nal government We have now the statement thai
iwo other generals who have for time been promi
uent In the western rebel nmies-chalmers and Nor
rov-hsys followed bis example, and ass awaiting re