Late Northern news.
We have been furnished with a number of copies of Baltimore and New York journals of late dates. From their columns we make up the following summary of news:The Bogus Union Convention of North Carolina--how it Originated.
Some time since there appeared in this paper resolutions purporting to be passed by a Convention of Unionists at Hatteras Inlet, which Convention, it was intimated, largely represented the feelings of the population in that State, it being attended by delegates from forty-five counties. The New York Sun, (a Union paper,) of the 10th inst., however, pronounces the whole affair to be a farce. This it does on the authority of a private letter received in New York, dated Camp Wool, Hatteras Inlet, Nov. 30, which says: ‘ As for the Union Government in N. Carolina, I fear it is nothing but a big farce. The resolutions which you no doubt have read in the papers, began with something like this: ‘"We, the people of North Carolina, &c."’--Now, the fact is, the whole of the said people amounted in all to about 120 Hatteras fishers and voters, the rest being boys, women and children. This grand convention, representing North Carolina, ‘"free and independent."’ was addressed by a Tribune reporter, (the only one here, I believe,) a Mr. Foster, now an Hon. M. C., and Gov. Taylor. Well, the resolutions were read by the Governor, and the question of their adoption being put, no one could, at first, be found to second it. Afterwards, the form of a man said, ‘"I want to do what is right; I don't know what it means, but I will second it."’ When the vote was put, the ‘"delegates"’ looked one at the other, not knowing what to do, but after the resolutions were read over again, some one managed to gain courage enough to vote, and all followed suit. So, the Provisional Government was established. If this is not a ‘"big thing"’ I don't know what is. On the 28th Mr. Foster was elected to the United States Congress for this district. ’The appointment of Jewish Chaplains.
Washington, Dec. 12.
--Rev. Dr. Fishel, of New York, had an interview with the President to urge the appointment of Jewish Chaplains for every military department, they being excluded by act of Congress from the volunteer regiments, among whom there are many thousands of Israelites.
In the meantime the Dr. will take charge of the spiritual welfare of the Jewish soldiers on the Potomac.
The President assured him that the subject will receive his earnest attention, and expressed his opinion that this exclusion was altogether unintentional on the part of Congress.
Concentration of Confederates near Occoquan — army items.
Washington, Dec. 12.
--There are indications of a considerable body of the enemy in the vicinity of Occoquan creek, numerous encampments being visible from the decks of the steamers on the Potomac.
Two privates belonging to the 49th Pennsylvania Regiment, who were performing picket duty for Gen. Smith's division yesterday, having strayed beyond our lines, attempted to return this morning, when, on being ordered to halt by the guards, turned and run. One was shot by the guards in two places, and has since died, and the other was taken prisoner by them.
As the guards had been changed during the absence of these pickets, they evidently supposed them to be enemies.
Formal complaint was made to-day to the War Department by Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts, against Gen. Stone, for, as is alleged, compelling the troops from that State to assist in the restoration of fugitive slaves.
The Provost Marshal has determined to revoke all passes which have been transferred, and to punish those transferring them.
A number of arrests have already been made.
Seward called to account.
The St. Louis Republican, notwithstanding its abolition proclivities, takes Seward and his prophecies off as follows: The prophetic Mr. Seward, who in February last said all the troubles of the country would be settled in sixty days--who three or four months ago predicted that the blockade of the rebellion would be broken in ninety days--and who on divers occasions since has promised important and highly interesting developments within specified periods, has again tried his hand at soothsaying. A few days ago he prognosticated that something grand, something, gigantic, something that would have a direct and very strong influence in restoring peace would take place within ten days of the time when the premonstration was made. Tempus fugit, and we are beginning to get impatient for the promised stroke. Mr. Seward is hopeful, as we would have him be, for he always looks at the bright side of things; but he must hurry up his magnificent coup, or we shall have to set him down as no veritable prophet.The Milwaukee Negroes going to Chicago.
The Milwaukee Wisconsin states that nearly all the colored people have left that city for Chicago, having taken fright at the lynching of Clark, which occurred there a few weeks ago. ‘"There are now,"’ says that paper, ‘"not more than ten or fifteen left in our city. In Chicago there are over 800 of them, and there they are employed in all manner of occupations — as waiters, barbers, hack drivers, stewards, porters, etc. Here there is not one employed as a waiter, nor as a porter, nor as a hack driver, and but three or four as barbers."’Archbishop Hughes.
From the New York Tribune, of the 12th inst., we clip the following paragraph: ‘ The arrival of Archbishop Hughes in London is announced. He reached that city on the 21st ult., and went to Paris the next day. During his brief stay in London, as the Tablet informs us, he visited several influential personages. The same journal adds that the purpose of this visit to Europe is not known. We learn, however, upon very good authority, that the country to which Mr. Seward has really given him a secret mission is Spain. There, it is presumed, and apparently not without reason, that he will be able to exercise a considerable influence over men in power which can hardly be the case in France or England. ’The Vibrant of Egypt and the U. S.
The following dispatch from the Consul General of the Federal Government in Egypt, addressed to William H. Seward, we find in the Northern papers of the 13th instant:U. S. Consulate General,
Alexandria, Nov. 13, 1861.
Sir:
--I have the honor to announce that the Viceroy of Egypt has again shown his good will to the U. S. by directing the Captain of the port of Alexandria to exclude all vessels bearing an unrecognized flag from the harbors of Egypt.
Instructions to this effect, I am informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, were issued about two weeks ago to consequence of a suggestion addressed to His Highness by their Consulate General.
At an interview which I had with him on the 3d instant, at Cairo, His Highness also assured me that no privateer in the service of the domestic enemies of the United States will be allowed to be flitted out or to bring in any port of its dominions.
The following passages, translated from a note sent me by his Excellency Nalar Bey, in behalf of the Viceroy, show that in the facilities for obtaining Egyptian cotton our manufacturers are placed on an equal footing with those of Great Britain.
The note is dated October 18, and is in reply to some interrogatories which I had verbally made to the Secretary: ‘
"Monsieur le Consul General: I have had the honor to report to his Highness conformably to your desire, what you have said to me on the subject of the words addressed by His Highness to the deputation of the Manchester Association for the Extension of the Culture of Cotton.
His Highness has charged me to inform you, Monsieur, that what he has said for any association which may be formed in England for the above-mentioned purpose, he says equally to any which your county men may organize." ’
At the interview to which I have referred the Viceroy repeated this assurance in person to me, saying that he had never intended to exclude my compatriots from an equal share in the privileges accorded to the capitalists of Great Britain.
I may add that at the same interview His Highness manifested the liveliest interest in our national affairs, the journals, as he said, being filled with nothing else.
He seemed to apprehend the difference in resources between the Government and its enemies, and had no doubt that the Government, sustained as it was by so large a majority of the people, would successfully quell the insurrection, though in consequence of she extent of our Southern territory the contest might be protracted.
His Highness approved the large scale of our military preparations, saying that the only policy was to push the war once begun vigorously to the end, and that half way measures were as bad in war as in everything else.
The Viceroy, who is the son of the celebrated Mehamet Ali, may speak with hereditary authority on questions of this kind.
It was very plain from the tone of his remarks that our government has lost none of its prestige in his estimation.
A significant piece of news here is that the receipt of intelligence that a squadron had been sent by the authorities at Washington to open the Southern ports caused cotton to fall in one day from $25 to 21 a cantar (hundred weight.) Twenty-five dollars a cantar is the highest price ever known in Egypt.--Prior to this time the highest figure was $28, the result of the Crimean war. The price is now about $18 or $19 the cantar.
The Englishmen have begun to make advances to Fellahs on the security of their coming cotton crops, in accordance with the concessions of the Viceroy.
I have the honor to be, sir,
Sir:
