r Congress.
The bill suspending the writ of _habeas corpus_ passed the House by only
four majority; and in the Senate it was defeated by nine against six for
it! So the President cannot enjoy Cromwell's power without the exercise
of Cromwell's violence.

We shall have a negro army. Letters are pouring into the department from
men of military skill and character, asking authority to raise
companies, battalions, and regiments of negro troops. It is the
desperate remedy for the very desperate case--and may be successful. If
300,000 efficient soldiers can be made of this material, there is no
conjecturing where the next campaign may end. Possibly "over the
border," for a little success will elate our spirits extravagantly; and
the blackened ruins of our towns, and the moans of women and children
bereft of shelter, will appeal strongly to the army for vengeance.

There is a vague rumor of another battle by Bragg, in which he did not
gain the victory. This is not authentic; and would be very bad, if true,
for then Sherman's army would soon loom up in our vicinity like a
portentous cloud.

The Commissary-General, in a communication to the Secretary urging the
necessity of keeping the trade for supplies for Lee's army, now going on
in Eastern North Carolina, a profound secret, mentions the "miscarriage
of the Fredericksburg affair," which proves that the government _did_
send cotton and tobacco thither for barter with the enemy.

One reason alleged for the refusal of Congress to suspend the writ of
_habeas corpus_, is the continuance of Mr. Benjamin in the cabinet.

MARCH 18TH.--Bright and windy. The following telegram was received this
morning from Gen. R. E. Lee: "Gen. Johnston reports that on the 16th
Gen. Hardee was repeatedly attacked by four divisions of the enemy a few
miles south of Averysborough, but always (cipher). The enemy was
reported at night to have crossed Black River, to the east of Varina
Point, with the rest of the army. Gen. Hardee is moving to a point
twelve miles from Smithfield. Scofield's troops reported at Kinston,
repairing railroad. Cheatham's corps not yet up. North Carolina
Railroad, with its enormous amount of rolling stock, only conveys about
500 men a day."

There has always been corruption--if not treason--among those having
charge of transportation.

Yesterday the President vetoed another bill--to pay certain arrears to
the army and navy; but the House resented this by passing it over