Additional from the North.
The United States Presidential. Imbrog to in the Cabinet — Trouble Ahead.
The New York Herald has the following article upon the divisions among the Presidential aspirants in that country: ‘ The scorching manifesto of Senator Pomeroy and his committee against Abraham Lincoln as a candidate for another term, and in favor of Mr. Chase for the succession, threatens, from present appearances, a rupture between the President and his ambitious Secretary. ’ The spectacle of such a conflict for the Presidency is certainly a new thing under the sun, and somewhat discreditable withal to the belligerents. Not one of Mr. Lincoln's predecessors, excepting, perhaps, that imbecile old man, James Buchanan, would have tolerated for another day the presence of such a rival as Mr. Chase among his official subordinates after the discovery of such a declaration of war as this no quarter manifesto of Senator Pomercy. We are not surprised, therefore, to hear that the probabilities of a change or two in the Cabinet are beginning to be discussed among politicians at Washington. As between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Chase, the Cabinet is now a nondescript with two heads, and it is doubtful which is or will turn out to be the real master of the situation. There must be a change in the interval, or we may anticipate a Cabinet crisis and blow up with the adjournment of the Republican National Convention. Senator Pomercy and his radical anti-Lincoln committee have given a fair warning that Mr. Lincoln cannot be re-elected; that if nominated certain-influences will be brought to bear against him which will insure his defeat. In other words, the radical Chase faction will not accept Mr. Lincoln as their candidate, but will combine with his enemies to defeat him, if nominated over the head of Mr. Chase. The radical Abolition Border State Convention which met at Louisville the other, day closed its proceedings with a set of anti Lincoln resolutions. Wendell Phillips and his Abolition pioneers, after turning and twisting Old Abe in every possible way, give him up in despair as a trimmer, a temporizer, a blunderer, and a bad bargain. Greeley and the New York radical entertain the same ideas; but Greeley desires to shelve Old Abe as quietly as possible, so as not to disturb the peace of the happy family. But only let Mr. Seward and his good man Friday, Thurlow Weed, try the experiment of a set of Lincoln nominating resolutions in the New York Legislature, and they will see the fur fly. Senator Pomeroy thus speaks with the leading abolition radicals, and with New York at his back, in denouncing the shortcomings of Old Abe, and in pronouncing against him as a candidate for another term. President Lincoln has had some show of strength from various State Legislatures; but while New York and Ohio stand dead against him his footing is insecure. How the States endorsing him have been manipulated may be connected from the operendt adopted in Pennsylvania Hon. Simon Cameron manages the Republicans in the Legislature of that State as the colonel of a regiment controls his men. With the statement, therefore, after the vote of confidence in Abraham Lincoln given by the Pennsylvania Legislature, that Mr. Cameron is to stand for our next Vice President on the Lincoln ticket, we get at the milk in that coconut. But all these nice manipulations will be apt to fall in the party convention.--The President wishes an immense amount of patronage, and has a host of office holding retainers in his service; but, as the "outs" are more numerous than the "ins," and as the "outs" have little to expect from the Administration as it is, they will suster all their strength in demanding a change. The result will most probably be a split in the Republican party, a Cabinet explosion, and two or three Paradental tickets from as many divisions of the party. In any event, this contemptible and this broad and "Irrepressible conflict" in the Cabinet, ought to be succedent to touch the independent mashes of the people their true line of action. The field in open and the course is clear for the election of General Grant as the people's candidate, and it will require only a little initiatory public here and there to secure for him the inside track. Let the ball be put in motion, and it will seen gain a mountain which will carry everything before it.The destruction of the off Charleston.
A letter in the Boston Herald, from off Charleston, the 18th ult., gives an account of the blowing up of the corvette by a Confederates torpedo steamer. The event took places about o'clock on one of the coldest nights of the winter. The letter says: ‘ A long object, just on the edge of the water, was discovered astern of the ship. In an the cable was slipped, the alarm sounded, and all hands beat to quarters, but before the ship had made any head way the torpedo exploded under has starboard quarter, making a most frightful report. The propeller was broken off, the stern was term to places, and the ship sunk rapidly in less than eight minutes from the time the torpedo machine was first seen. The vessel sunk in six of water. As she began to sink the most frightful science were witnessed. Men with nothing but their shirts on were seen struggling in the water, officers were trying to get the boats while others were mounting the rigging. Three beats were finally unlashed, and these were sent to rescue those in the water. The at once started for the Canandaigua, carrying Captain Pickering, who was badly injured, but is how doing well. ’ As soon as Captain Greene, of the Canandaigua, get the news, he at once hoisted signals of distress and come to our assistance, and in three hours after the attack on the Housatonic all hands that were saved were safely transferred to that ship, where they received every attention. Subsequently a portion of the survivors were transferred to the Wabash. The Gousatonic is a total loss. All hands lost all they possessed — money, clothes, &c. In fact many of them, including some of the officers, went on board of the Canandaigua in a naked state. A sad accident of the disaster in the loss of Ensign Hazleton, of Concord, New Hampshire; Mr. Mezzey, Captain's Clerk; John Williams, Quartermaster, and John Welsh, coal-heaver, of Boston, were drowned. The latter had got safely on the deck, but ventured back to save $900, which he had in his bag on the berth deck. Poer fellow, he never returned. Theo Parker, (colored,) who was on the lookout directly over where the ship was struck, was blown late the air and instantly killed. Capt. Pickerang was slightly injured by the explosion. John Goff, the Captain's steward, was same what injured. These were all the casualties. The officers and men of the ship displayed the greatest coolness during the trying scene, and thereby saved many lives. The Housatoale has been the especial spite of the rebels. Three times they have tried to destroy her, and now they have succeeded. It is feared that many others of the vessels on the blockade will follow the fate of the Housasouis — It is well known that the rebels have six or eight more of these infernal machines ready to pounce upon the fleet. The masts of the Housatonic are all that can be seen of her, and the gale which is now prevailing will do much to make a complete wreck of that once noble ship. Ensign Hamilton got into the second beat, and had he remained in it would have been saved; but as the ship careened over he jumped on The last ever seen of him he was floating among the fragments of the wreck, a corpse. At low tide the water is about six feet above the rail of the Housatonic. If the weather monocracy her guns and many valuable articles and the paymaster's safe will be recovered. She cannot be raised, as her stern is completely blown off, She was with coal and provisions, which will be a loss. Many of the survivors had quite large some of money laid away to send home by the next mail. The loss to them is severe.Lincoln on running the
The resent action of one of Lincoln's in Norfolk in taking charge of the churches there gives the following letter some interest:Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 23, 1863.
I have just looked over a petition signed by some three dozen citizens of St. Louis and their accompanying letter, one by yourself, one by a Mr. Nathan Rauney, and by a Mr. John D. Cealter--the whole relating to the Rev. Dr. McPhesters.
The petition prays in the came of justices and mercy, that will restore Dr. McPhesters to all his rights.
This gives no intimation as to what eccississtical rights are withdrawn.
Your letter states that Provost Marshal Dick, about a year ago, ordered the arrest of Dr. McPhesters, pastor of the Vine Street Church prohibited him from officiating, and placed the management of the affairs of the church out of the control of its chosen and near the close you state that a certain course "would insure his release." Mr. Ranney's letter says: ‘"Dr. Samuel McPhesters is enjoying all the rights of a civilian, but cannot preach the Gospel!"’ Mr. Coalter, in his letter, asks; "Is it not a strange, illustration of the condition of things that the question of who shall be allowed to preach in a church in St. Louis shall be decided by the President of the United States!"
Now, all this sounds very strangely, and, wish, a little as if you gentlemen, making the application, do not understand the case alike, one affirming that his Doctor is enjoying all the rights of a civilian, and another pointing out to me what will secure the release! On the 2d of January last I wrote to Gen. Curtis in relation to Mr. Disk's order upon Dr. McPhesters, and, as I suppose, the Doctor is enjoying all the rights of a civilian, I only quote that part of my letter which relates to the church.
It is as follows: "But I must add that the United Stated Government must not, as by this order, undertake to run the churches.
When an individual, in a church or out of it, becomes dangerous to the public interest, he must be checked, but the churches, as such, must take care of themselves.
It will not do for the United States to appoint trustees, supervisors, or other agents, for the churches."
This letter going to General Carlis, then in command, I supposed, of course, it was obeyed, especially as I heard no further complaint from Dr. Mc or his friends for nearly an entire year.
I have never interfered, not thought of interfering, as to who shall or shall not preach in any church; nor have I knowingly or be livingly intreated any one else so to interferes by any authority.
If any one is so interfering by color of my authority, I would like to have it specifically made known to me.
If, after all, what is now sought is to have me put Dr. Mc.
back, over the heads of a majesty of his own congregation, that, too, will be declined.
I will not have control of any church on any side. 