[from the press Association.]
The steamer
Che Kiang, from New Orleans 23d, arrived at New York on the 3d inst. A meeting of
Louisiana planters, within the
Federal lines, was held at the
St. Charles Hotel, which continued two days, to consider chiefly the cultivation of the sugar plantations and regulation of negroes in perishes within the
Federal lines.
A committee was appointed to confer with
Gen. Banks regarding various questions which arose; and that officer, having been formally invited, entered the hall, and, after being welcomed by the
President of the meeting, responded with a short speech, and retired "amid enthusiastic applause." The results of the agreement entered into are substantially as follows: That a fixed compensation is to be paid the negroes for their labor; that the negroes are left to choose whether they will accept the terms offered; that the contract, if they accept it, binds them for only one year; and that the
Government pladies itself to protect them against ill-usage and inhuman treatment.
At the same time it does not affect the claim of the master on his slave, which may be determined in the future.
The
Herald's correspondence, of 22d, says three hundred and eighty-odd rebel prisoners who had not been exchanged, left by steamer Empire Parish for points in possession of the rebels.
The demonstrations by Secession sympathizers on the occasion were so great that
Banks sent down a regiment to disperse the crowd.
Over one thousand contraband letters and other articles were captured.
On information of a negro that rebels were planting torpedoes between
Port Hudson and Bason Rouge, the gunboat
Essex went up the river and captured four, containing each 200 pounds of powder.
Reports from
Baton Rouge represent that there are numerous indications of an immediate movement, and that great activity prevails in the army.
Lincoln communicated to the Senate a message with a memorial from distressed operatives of
Blackburn England, expressing gratitude for material aid, and hoping an interchange of feeling will be productive of a further manifestation of sympathy, with a prayer that the civil war may "come to a speedy termination in favor of freedom, regardless of race or color." The message suggests that more effective relief could be rendered by aiding the sufferers to emigrate to
America, and urges the adoption of some plan of assistance to emigration.
A message was received communicating a letter of similar purport in relation to a meeting in
Manchester.
The
Herald says the comments of the
London press on the
Charleston blockade will teach the rebels what British sympathy is worth.
A Nashville dispatch, 3d, says the rebels under
Van Dorn advanced towards
Franklin the day previous on two roads, 2000 strong.
With artillery.
After manœuvering, hoping to draw the
Federal forces out, they returned.
Two of his command were captured
Van Dorn's headquarters are at
Spring Hill, thirteen miles south of
Franklin--
Col. Opdyke of the 123d Ohio, is Post Commandant at
Franklin.
Seventy prisoners, all of
Morgan's command, mostly from the 1st and 14th Alabama regiments, arrived from the front on the night of the 2d. One hundred and ninety-three rebel prisoners left for
Louisville on the 4th.
There are thirty feet of water on the shoals.
The bottom lands of
Nashville and
Edgefield are entirely submerged.
The
Havana correspondent of the
Herald, of the 25th, says "the re-establishment of the blockade off
Galveston and
Charleston has been published in the official organ here and the notice of it has been communicated to the
Government by the
Spanish Minister at
Washington."
A Kingston letter, of the 13th ult., published in the
Diaris de la Marina, of
Havana, says the U. S. steamer
Vanderbilt arrived there two days after the departure of the
Alabama, and was unable to procure coal or provisions, having no specie, and no one being willing to take Treasury notes.
The
Herald says, by ‘"latest advices from
Europe the insurrection in
Poland has assumed most formidable proportions.
The most important fact announced is that
Russia and
Prussia have made an engagement whereby the latter power allows
Russian troops to pass over her territories — a fact which foreshadows that
Prussia will cooperate with the Czar to put down a rebellion which bids fair to deprive her of her share of
Poland proper.
It is added that the Cabinets of
St. James, the Tuilleries, and
Vienna, have taken umbrage at the understanding which seems to exist upon this subject between
Russia and
Prussia, and that
Napoleon is already concocting a dispatch to the Prussian government showing how great is his regret that
Prussia should depart from the principle of non intervention.
It is evident all
Europe will feel the influence of this great and sustained revolutionary movement in
Poland, and that
Napoleon will find scope for his energies quite near at home.
This will leave us to deal with our troubles without any undue meddling, as we shall now hear no more of
Napoleon's mediation, save in a pacific manner."’
The Washington
Republican,
of the 5th inst, is received.
The following is a summary of the news:
The Springfield
Republican, of the 3d, has a dispatch from
Beaufort, S. C., February 22d, stating that Fort.
McAllister was captured the day previous, with a mile and a half of the rifle-pits, by the 47th New York regiment, with the aid of boats!
Advices from
San Francisco, 3d, says that 2,200 troops embarked at
Mazatlan for the
Southern part of the
Republic to operate against the
French invaders.
Another steamer was following with more troops.
The precise destination of the expedition is unknown.
The
Republican has telegraphic dispatches, which it says are obtained from rebel sources, of glorious Federal victories by sea and land; that the Petersburg
Express states that a great battle has been fought at
Vicksburg, and that the
Confederates do not claim a victory, which it interprets as glorious triumph of Federal arms.
Still, another dispatch announces that the rebels are evacuating and flying from
Vicksburg.
Its own information, from official sources, leads it to believe that
Charleston also has fallen!
George P. Kane, of
Baltimore, was again arrested on the 3d, charged with organizing a company armed with revolvers, to resist the authority of the
United States.
In default of proof sufficient, he was released, with the understanding that he shall report to the
Provost Marshal.
The Philadelphia
Inquirer says that a British fleet is gathering in
Hampton Roads, and suspects they are in the secret of the rebel plot to recapture
Norfolk (?) and intend to be witnesses.
The House of Representatives have concurred in the Senate's amendment to the Tax bill, imposing a tax on transactions in
gold and
silver, designed to repress speculation in coin, and prevent the extravagant it tion caused thereby.
The
House refused to suspend the rules to consider the Senate bill for the admission of
Colorado and
Nevada as States into the
Union.
A dispatch from
Trenton, dated the 4th, says that a large mass meeting of Democrats form all parts of
New Jersey was held at that city on that day, 34 guns being feed in the evening to celebrate the termination of the present Congress.
Speeches were made denouncing the Conscription bill and Executive usurpations.
When the meeting reassembled in the evening an immense crowd assembled, and resolutions were adopted denouncing the usurpations of the
Executive and Congress, taking strong State Rights grounds, and calling on the people to show firmness and courage in this emergency.
The Conscription bill was denounced as an aggressions upon State sovereignty.
The steamer
Tycom, from
Memphis, arrived at
Cairo on the 4th, and reports that two dredging machines had arrived below and would he put to work on the canal immediately.
The river is rising fast and the water is interfering very much with the camps at the head of is and No. 95.
The levees are broken and the water is pouring over at a fearful rate.
A number of State prisoners, recently liberated from Fort Lafayette, held an indignation meeting in New York the same night,
Mahoney presided.
The nature of the proceedings is unknown.
Advices from
Paris mention a contract for a Confederate loan to have been received for $3,000,000 in bonds at 7 per cent., exchangeable against cotton.
The
Times city article says: ‘"As the
Government possesses all the means of transport from the interior to other ports, the cotton thus hypothecated will be first available for shipment to
Europe.
The price at which the bonds are to be issued has not transpired."’
The emancipation meeting at
Liverpool was very enthusiastic.
The
Secretary of the
Emancipation Society says no letter or telegraphic dispatch has been received from Lord Brougham imploring them not to present their address to
Minister Adams.
