NEWS TO ST APRIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 782, 20 June 1864, Page 6

NEWS TO ST APRIL.

Chicago, Ist April.

The entire business portion of the town of New Libby, Owen County, Kentucky, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday last. The loss is about one hundred and seventyfive thousand dollars.

In the United States Senate, yesterday the joint resolution to amend the Constitution being under consideration, Mr Davis moved the following amendment as a substitute: —" That no negro, or person whose mother or grandmother is or was a negro, shall be a citizen of the United States, or eligible to any civil or military office, or to any other place of trust or profit under the United States." This calling for the ayes and noes, and there being no quorum, the Senate adjourned without vote. Special despatches say that the President has given peremptory orders for the transfer of ten thousand seamen from the army to the navy. One thousand negroes are promised to be transferred in twenty days

Washington, Ist April,

The President has commuted the sentence of Hendricks and Pollard, who were to be hung to-day, to imprisonment for life. Marshal Samon previously declined hanging them, assuming it not to bes his duty

New Yokic, 2nd April,

The Yazoo, with dates mom New Orleans to March 24th, has arrived. Gen. Banks started to the front on the 22nd. Commodore Farragut had been at Pensacola for a few days past, and would leave on the 26th for the Pacific Coast. Operations at Fort Powell, near Mobile, had been suspended for the present. A paymaster had left New Orleans for Matagorda, to pay the Western troops and the negroes. Tbe public schools in New Orleans were making healthy progress.

Nashville, Ist April,

Two regiments of Forrest's cavalry are reported to have been east of the Tennessee river on Wednesday. Gunboats are patrolling the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, in anticipation of his movements. The notorious guerrilla Hughes, and his ■command, surrendered themselves on Wednesday, and took the' amnesty oath. They report that others desire to do the same thing. The " World " says the hasty departure of the double-turreted Monitor Onondaga is in consequence of a report to the naval authorities that the rebel iron-clad Merrimac No. 2is ready to make a raid on our ironclads at Newport Nev/s and Hampton Roads. It is also reported that the rebel ironclads in North Carolina will make a simultaneous appearance. Later Texas news says, that when our troops evacuated Indianola, seven families left with them. In crossing the bayous, thirty-four men were drowned by the

swamping of a pontoon. They belonged to the 69th ludiana and the 7th Michigan Battery. General M'Clernand had gone down to Arkansas Pass and Brownsville. French war steamers were daily expected at the mouth of tbe Rio Grande to attack Metamoras. Cortinas was levying heavy contributions on the people of that city, and proclaimed his intention of

taking the field against the invaders. The people were shipping their cotton in loreign vessels as fast as possible to get out of the way of the French. The Fort de Russy prisoners, three hundred and nineteen in all, had reached

New Orleans.

The " Herald's" special despatch from Washington says, that the Naval Committee have under consideration the diffi-

culties of transfer of seamen from the army to the naval service, and the subject ■"will be brought before the Senate on Mont day. ', The re-organisation of the army of the ; Potomac is still incomplete, owing to the i non.confirmation of officers by the Senate. The New Orleans correspondent of the I " World" states that fßrownsville and the Rio Grande are to be evacuated by our forces.

Ringold, Ga., Ist April.

The cavalry force of the enemy has been augmented within a few days and now amounts to about five thousand. They are encamped in the valley at the foot of the Rocky Ridge, from Tunnel Hill to Varness Station and Red Clay, which they hold. There is also a considerable force at Nickajack Gap, six miles below here. Their picket line is generally within a mile of ours, but no disposition is shown by either party to crowd. A very small rebel force of infantry is north of Dalton, There is no reason to believe that Johnston has been largely reinforced, either from East Tennessee or Alabama. There are no indications that he intends to assume the offensrve. Notwithstanding other estimates, thirty-five thousand as the number of [Johnston's command is nearly correct

New York, 2nd April

The " Tribune's" special despatch says it is understood that Stebbins, Democratic member of the Ways and Means Committee, has pronounced himself in favor of larger duties on foreign imports, amounting almost to prohibition, and an internal revenue tax equal to the demands of the Treasury for the civil expenses of the Government, and sufficient to pay the interest of the public debt. General Ord is to command the forces in Western Virginia. GeneJal Sigel commands that department, but does not (personally) conduct military operations. Carl's coach factory and three tenement houses and three other buildings near the Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn, were badly damaged by fire this morning. Sixteen families are rendered houseless.

An explosion occurred in the American

gun*cap aud flask manufactory at War* bury, Conn., yesterday. Several adjacent buildings were-burned, three female operatives burned to death, and one man seriously injured. A special despatch to the " Commercial says that Admiral Dahlgren will soou resume his duties at Charleston. A Washington correspondent of the " Commercial" says that Government intend to call out all tbe organised militia of the States for sixty days to occupy certain fortified points, and that the District of Columbia militia will be called to occupy the forts around Washington, so that the veterans can take the field.

No army movement will take place probably for a fortnight, owing to the inclement weather.

Captain Hosier, of the ship Norway, reports that while at sea a negro made a desperate assault on a sailor, and then endeavoured to blow up the ship by firing into the powder magazine, but was shot dead while trying to accomplish the latter act.

PKICE OF GOLD

Private despatches say that gold was current on Saturday in New York 167, with an active market.