We have received New York papers of Friday, the 3d instant. Gold was quoted at 204 3-4.
The peace commission meeting — Lincoln's Sudden Departure from Washington for Fortress Monroe.
The Yankees have not yet learned the result of the conference between our commissioners and Lincoln and Seward. On Thursday, Washington was startled by Lincoln taking a valise, and, attended by a servant, getting aboard the train for Annapolis, where he took a steamer for Fortress Monroe. The Washington correspondent of the Herald says:‘ Speculation as to the object and purpose of this Presidential "change of base" was universal, and the conclusions arrived at almost as numerous as the speculations. The most generally-entertained opinion, and which seems best substantiated, is that Mr. Blair, while in Richmond, gave a pledge, that if a delegation were sent to confer in reference to a settlement, they should have an audience with the President.
’ The rising storm of indignation on the part of the more radical Republicans against Mr. Blair, and incidentally against the President, for the steps that have already been taken, with a quasi-official endorsement by the venerable diplomatist, rendered the reception of the rebel diplomats at the capital inconvenient and inadvisable. Mr. Seward was accordingly sent to meet them; but they claimed the fulfillment of the promise of a personal interview with the President, and he, to solve the difficulty, went to meet them, instead of allowing them the freedom of Washington.
It will, perhaps, be some days before anything can be certainly known as to the nature of the propositions that may be submitted, or the result of the interview.
The attempt in the Senate to-day to take up the resolution in reference to the Blair mission was unsuccessful, and, pending present conferences, it is not probable that any Congressional action will be taken in reference to the matter.
A telegram from the Army of the Potomac gives an account of the arrival of Messrs. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell in the Yankee lines. The request, under flag of truce, for admission was forwarded to headquarters. It says:
‘ Owing to General Grant's absence from City Point, no reply could be sent immediately, but the matter was referred to Washington, and, after several communications had passed between our authorities and the commissioners, the permission was granted, and a deputation, consisting of Colonel Babcock, of General Grant's staff, and three other officers, were appointed to meet the gentlemen and escort them within our lines. The deputation reached the appointed place, and were soon joined by Mr. Stephens and his companions; and, after a few minutes spent in the interchange of civilities, the party came within our lines, at which moment the troops on both sides united in a simultaneous cheer, which seemed to give them greater confidence than they had before exhibited.
’ They were escorted to the railroad in carriages, where a special train was in waiting to convey them to City Point.--A large crowd of soldiers were here assembled, anxious to get a glimpse of the strangers; and when the train started, loud cheers again greeted them. On arriving at City Point, they were taken to Grant's headquarters, where they spent the night. Messrs. Stephens and Campbell looked much emaciated and careworn, but Mr. Hunter looked hale and hearty, as did Colonel Hatch. The latter conducted the negotiations in his usual agreeable and happy manner.
The only allusion made to our difficulties was the hope expressed by Mr. Stephens to Colonel Harriman, on bidding him good-bye, that they would soon meet under happier auspices.
The Washington Chronicle of the 2d, presuming that the Confederates had reached Washington, says:
‘ We know not if there are commissioners from the seceded or revolted States in this same city of Washington; but we hope they are on the ground.--The more distinguished or authoritative they are, the more they should be welcomed. The terms of re-union are few, and briefly told. The revolted States are not sought to be returned as captives, or as inferiors, or as degraded members of the national family. There is only one condition of restoration. It is not the abolition of slavery. To that both sides have at last agreed — the one because it desired, the other because it could not help it. That condition is, that the Union shall be restored.
’
Latest from Sherman.
The Yankee dates from Savannah are to the 28th ultimo. They announce with great joy the "opening of the campaign on the soil of South Carolina." The dispatch says:‘ One portion of Major-General Sherman's army moved direct from Savannah, Georgia, and the other, consisting of two corps, moved from Beaufort, South Carolina, and were both rapidly advancing against Charleston, South Carolina.
’ The latest intelligence from Sherman's army represents it to be at a distance of less than forty miles from Charleston.--The rebels were offering resistance at every point, but were rapidly being driven from every available position for defence. Forage and subsistence were found in large quantities by our soldiers as they followed the retreating steps of the rebels.
The army commanded by Major-General Foster was co-operating with the army under General Sherman, and the movements of our troops through South Carolina are but the precursor of a far more terrible and disastrous campaign to the rebels than that of their celebrated march through the heart of Georgia.
The lines of General Sherman were being gradually contracted, and it was probable that no desperate resistance would be made, or battle offered, until our forces had reached to within a few miles of Charleston, where the main body of the rebel forces would be concentrated, to make one last terrible effort to save the State from the inroads of Sherman's conquering army.
The Yankee Abolition of slavery — speech from Lincoln.
The "constitutional amendment" for the abolition and prohibition of slavery "throughout the country" has been received by the Yankee people with enthusiasm, and is being acted upon by the Legislatures of some of the States. It has been ratified by the Legislatures of Illinois, Michigan and Rhode Island, and by one House in that of Maryland, while in those of New York, Massachusetts and other States the ratification measures have been introduced. In a speech which President Lincoln made on Wednesday night, in response to a serenade in honor of the success of the amendment in the House of Representatives, he said that, while some might entertain doubts about the legal validity of the abolition of slavery by his proclamations, none could cavil when it was decreed by the concurrence of three-fourths of the States in the resolution adopted by Congress. In Massachusetts the people manifested their enthusiasm by the ringing of bells and firing of salutes throughout the State. In the West Virginia House of Delegates, on Monday last, the bill to abolish slavery in that State was ordered to its third reading.
The fire at Savannah.
A letter from Savannah gives a long description of the recent conflagration there. It says:‘ The fire commenced on the north side of Tubby street, between Ann and St. Gall streets, in the stable of Mrs. Morrell. It then extended to Ann street, corner of Tubby street, and from thence to the arsenal. The following additional property is known to have been destroyed: Walnut street, four houses; Orange street, ten houses; St. Gall street, fourteen houses; West Broad street, thirty houses. On Congress, Montgomery, Pine, Broughton, Tubby and St. Gall streets, over one hundred buildings must have been destroyed.--This is but a rough estimate. It will be several days before the entire damage can be ascertained.
’
Miscellaneous.
The quota of New York State, under the new draft, has been reduced 25 per cent.Accounts from Cape Fear river say that, on Sunday last, the gunboats of Admiral Porter's fleet were pushing up that stream towards some of the upper rebel works, which it was supposed they would attack.
Our Havana correspondence states that Mr. Zuluetta, one of the Cuban millionaires, has been sentenced to be banished from that island on charge of being implicated in the slave trade with Colonel Arguelles, who, it will be remembered, was extradited from this country a short time ago on the demand of the Cuban authorities.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives passed a resolution requesting the Governor to make an application for the postponement of the draft.
