Through the courtesy of the officers of the
Exchange Bureau, we have received files of Northern papers from the 23d ult. to Tuesday, the 12th inst., inclusive.
The news in them is not important.
We give a summary of it:
Proceedings of the Yankee Congress — resolutions concerning the rebels — a few of them to be hung--one million of men to Erect the old flag over the Libby, Etc.
The two weeks sessions of the
Yankee Congress, which our files embrace, contain nothing of any great importance.
The resolutions introduced concerning the "rebellion" were considerable in number.
Mr. Henderson, in the Senate, introduced a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the "
Constitution of the United States," to the effect that slavery shall not exist in the
United States.
In the Senate the following little episode took place:
Mr. Wilson submitted the following:
‘
Whereas, The
Hon,
Garrett Davis, a Senator from the
State of Kentucky, did, on the 5th day of January, A. D. 1864, introduce into the Senate of the United States a series of resolutions, in which, among other things, it is declared that "the people of the
North ought to revolt against the war leaders and take this matter into their own hands," thereby meaning to incite the people of the
United States to revolt against the
President of the
United States and those in authority who support him in the prosecution of the war to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution and the
Union, and to take the prosecution of the war into their own hands; Therefore, be it.
’
Resolved, That the said
Garrett Davis has, by the introduction of the resolutions aforesaid, been guilty of advising the people of the
United States to treasonable, insurrectionary, and rebellious action against the
Government of the
United States, and of a gross violation of the privileges of the Senate, for which cause he is hereby expelled.
The matter was dropped for the present, though we see that
Davis has been it up for consideration ever since it was offered.
Mr. Rogers, (Dem.,) of
New Jersey, offered a long-winded resolution in the
House, which thinks that it is not inconsistent for the
Federal Government to appoint Commissioners to meet "Commissioners from the insurgent States" to confer upon term of peace, "based only upon a restoration of the whole Union," and therefore.
Resolved, That the people of the several States now in rebellion against the
Government of the
United States, whenever they shall desire to return to the
Union, and obey the
Constitution of the United States, and the laws made in pursuance thereof, have a right, under and by virtue of the said Constitution, to reorganize their respective State Governments with their domestic institutions as they were before the war, and to elect representatives to the Congress of the United States and be represented in the
Union with all the rights of the people of the several States, and without any conditions precedent, except that of being liable to be punished according to the
Constitution for the violation of said Constitution and laws made in pursuance thereof, as their laws and acts of secession are unconstitutional and void.
On motion of
Mr. Stevens, the proposition was tabled — yeas 78, nays 42.
In reply to the mild
Rodgers,
Mr. Baldwin, of
Massachusetts, (Union,) offered the following:
‘
Whereas, The organized treason having its headquarters at
Richmond, exists indefinite violation of the
Federal Constitution, and has no claim to retreated otherwise than as an outlaw;
’
Whereas, The Richmond combination of conspirators and traitors can have no rightful authority over the people of any portion of the National Union and no warrant for assuming control of the political destiny of the people of any State or section thereof, and no warrant but that of conspiracy and treason for any assumption of authority whatever: Therefore,
Resolved, That any proposition to negotiate with the rebel leaders at
Richmond, sometimes called "the authorities at
Richmond," for the restoration of loyalty and order in those portions of the
Republic which have been disorganized by the rebellion is, in effect, a proposition to recognize the ringleaders of the rebellion as entitled to represent and bind the loyal citizens of the
United States, whom they oppress, and to give countenance and support to the pretensions of conspiracy and treason; and therefore every such proposition should be rejected without hesitation or delay.
Mr. Cox, of
Ohio, (D.m.,) moved to lay the resolution on the table.
Disagreed to.
The resolution was then adopted — yeas 89, nays 24.
Mr. Howe, of
Wisconsin, presented a preamble and resolution of the most terrific character, which did
not pass, in view probably of the great difficulty in getting the one million and the absurd proposition of enlisting members of Congress.
They were incorrectly reported by telegraph as having passed.
Here they are:
‘
Whereas, Persons in authority make the traitorous organization which for the last three years has made relentless war upon the people of the
United States, and their Government now hold in barbarous captivity many officers and soldiers of the
United States, and refuse to exchange them except on condition that they are allowed to retain such of our soldiers as they call negroes, and such of our officers as have commanded negro troops, and upon the further condition that we will also release upon parole all the excess of rebel prisoners now in the hands of our Government, amounting to many thousand; and
’
Whereas, The same persons are unable or unwilling to make suitable or even tolerable provisions for the support of their captives, thereby rendering their imprisonment as cross an outrage upon the dictates of humanity and the laws of war as it is upon their duty as the legitimate to subjects of these laws; and
Whereas,They have denied the charity of the loyal people of the
United States the privilege of supplying the most pressing necessities of their brothers in these prisons, and have refused to receive even a flag of truce from the authorities of the
United States, unless it is forwarded by an officer of their own approval; and
Whereas, It does not become twenty two million of people, having the rights of and ability for self-government, to allow rebellions subjects to dictate to them what agents or officers they shall employ; nor does it become them to feed plentifully at home while their brethren starve within one hundred miles of their own capital; Therefore be it.
Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
- Section 1.
That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to call out and arm one million of volunteers, to serve for the period of ninety days, unless sooner discharged, and to be employed to carry food and freedom to every captive held in rebel prisons, and to plant the flag of the United States upon every prison they occupy.
- Sec. 2. That the President be requested to assign Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to the command of the forces raised under this call, together with such of the forces now in the field as may be joined with them, and he is hereby authorized to detail for the subordinate commands in the forces to be raised under the authority of these resolutions, such officers or privates now in the field, as he may deem best qualified therefore; or he may assign to such commands any person or persons who may volunteer under the same authority, provided however, that any officer or private now in the military service of the United States, who may be detailed to any such command by authority hereby shall receive no additional pay for substituted service; and no volunteer under the same authority, who shall be detailed to any such command, shall receive more pay than the pay of a private.
- Sec. 3. That persons volunteering under authority hereof shall be sworn into the service on the — day of February next, and the term of their enlistment shall commence from and after that day.
- Sec. 4.
That both Houses of Congress will on the fourth day of March next, at 12 o'clock meridian, adjourn to meet on the fourth day of June following; and immediately upon such adjournment each member thereof under fifty years of age, and who shall report himself to the commandant of some company in the forces hereby provided for, and shall thereupon be sworn into the military service unless sooner discharged, shall continue in such service without pay therefore until the expiration of the period for which such forces are enlisted.
The above was referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Myers, of
Penn., (Dem.,) offered the following playful resolution:
‘
Be it resolved, That in this national emergency, Congress will forego all feeling of more passion, except that which loyalty dictates; all resentment, except such as is due to treason; and that this war or national self defence against armed rebels, insurrectionary traitors, and sympathizing abettors, should be waged on our part until such rebels and traitors are conquered into love for the
Union, and made obedient to the
Constitution and laws of the
United States, and take the oath of allegiance to the country, of submission to the emancipation proclamation, and the proclamation of December 8, 18 3; and when these objects are accomplished, the leading rebels and chief traitors should be hung and the war cease.
’
At the suggestion of
Mr. Stevens, of
Pennsylvania, (Union,) the above proposition was referred to the
Committee on the Reconstruction of States.
Mr. Carlisle, of
West Virginia, offered a series of resolutions in the Senate declaring that it is in competent for the
Federal President, or any of his commanders, to interfere with State laws, &c.--They were laid on the table.
In the same body,
Mr. Powell, of
Kentucky, introduced a bill to prevent officers of the army and navy from interfering with elections in the States, which was finally referred to the Judiciary Committee.
In the
House Fernando Wood offered a preamble and resolution accusing
Major-Gen. Butler of corruption and fraud in his administration of affairs in New Orleans, and proposing the appointment of a Committee of investigation.
The resolution was laid on the table.
In the Senate a resolution requesting the
President to notify the
British Government of the desire of the
United States to terminate the so called Reciprocity treaty with
Canada, was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
A bill reducing the pay of officers of the army was introduced and referred to the Military Committee.--Joint resolutions of thanks to
General Booker,
Banks,
Meade, and
Burnside, and the troops under their command, were reported.
The Yankee papers publish the following summary of official accounts of the recent Confederate operations in
Western Virginia.
The New York
Tribune says:
‘
The recent attempt of
General Early, with the brigades of
Lee,
Walker, and
Rosser, under the immediate command of
Fitzhugh Lee, to capture the
Union garrison at
Petersburg and take possession of
Cumberland and
New Creek, has proved a failure.
A few empty wagons--thirty- five in all — of
Colonel Thoburn's force, were captured by the rebels on their route from
Petersburg.
General Kelly gives a brief account of the discomfiture of the enemy in a dispatch to
Governor Boreman.--The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad is safe, and the trains are running regularly.
’
An official document of the rebels, laying down the plans of
General Early in
West Virginia, has fallen into the hands of our troops.
It appears from this paper that
General Early was to cut the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at
Martinsburg, and by a combination of movements attempt the capture of such Union forces as were between
Martinsburg and
New Creek.
At the latter place
Gen. Early, having heard that we were concentrating troops at
Martinsburg, and having been informed that
General Averill was there with a strong cavalry force, determined to alter his plan.
He therefore dispatched
Generals Fitzhugh Lee and
Rosser to attempt the capture of the garrison at
Petersburg.
Rosser was to try and get into
Cumberland and capture or destroy the stores there.
They both failed, because
General Early could not reinforce them with artillery and supplies.
A correspondent of the Baltimore
American, writing an account of the attack by
Mosby on the camp of a battalion of
Maryland cavalry at
Loudoun Heights, says:
‘
Our new camp on
Loudoun Heights was, just before the early dawn this morning, baptized in blood.
Precisely at half-past 4 o'clock this morning, Moshy's Rebel Battalion, himself in person at their head, avoiding our pickets on the roads, crossed the fields and dashed into our camp with a fiend-like yell.
They poured a volley of bullets into the tents where our officers and men lay sleeping, wounding many at the first fire.
Many of the tents of officers and men were soon surrounded by mounted and dismounted cavalry, and a demand for instant and unconditional surrender made.
’
This demand was answered by a shout of defiance from our boys, as they rushed from their tents, half naked, in the midst of their assailants, and with their trusty carbines and revolvers drove back the astonished rebels, who had promised themselves such an easy victory over the "sleeping Yankees." The rebels rallied, and so did our men, as best they could, and a "rough and rumble" fight of fifteen minutes ensued, when
Mosby sung out, "Retreat, boys; they are too many for us!" And the discomfited
Major and his midnight assassin made a precipitate flight in the direction of
Hillsborough.
The rebels fought with the most desperate vindictiveness, which was only equaled by the coolness and undaunted valor of our gallant boys, who fought, I will venture to say, as scarcely ever men fought before, partially surprised, as indeed they were.
Two of the
Confederate commissioned officers were killed and left on the field.
Capt. Wm. R. Smith was left dead, and the body of
Lieut. Colson, of
Baltimore, and one of
Gen. Trimble's rebel staff, as will appear from the following pass found upon his person:
"Culpeper C. H., July 27, 1863.
"Guards and pickets will pass
Lieut. Colson,
Major-General Trimble's staff, in and out at pleasure.
"By order of
Gen. R. E.
Lee.
"
H. B. Bridge, commanding,
Major and
Provost-Marshal, Army
Northern Virginia."
A photograph of a beautiful young lady was also found written in pencil--"For brother Willie, from
Florence."
Three prisoners are also in our hands, two of them severely if not fatally wounded; of the latter, one is
Lieutenant Wm. Turner, of
Baltimore.
He says his uncle,
Captain Turner, recently commanded the
United States war vessel
Ironsides, at
Charleston.
The name of the other wounded rebel soldier is
Paxton, who resides near
Leesburg, in this county.
Many of the wounded rebels are lying in farm houses between this place and
Hillsborough.
A letter from
Chattanooga says that all is quiet there, and that
Grant has made his headquarters in
Nashville.
A letter from
Knoxville, dated the 20th, says:
‘
All the signs go to show that
Longstreet is now occupied in gathering subsistence for his army in the shape of cattle, corn, and other supplies, and is moving
toward the
Virginia line.
Trustworthy reports from above represent that he is sweeping the country above of every thing in the shape of food, and is driving or hauling it toward a common depot in
Virginia.
Longstreet, it is said, considers
East Tennessee as "gone up" during the war. No serious attempt, it is believed, will again be made to dislodge us from
East Tennessee.
Whether he will attempt to interfere with our communications via
Cumberland Gap, now that we have a better and more practicable route by the way of the river and
Kingston, remains to be seen.
I presume, with the experience of the past, no more coffee and sugar will be sent from that place until we are quite sure that it will not fall into rebel hands.
’
I regret to say that at my last writing the full extent of the loss by the capture of our trains was not understood by me. I learned yesterday, from an officer well informed on the subject, that there were 80 wagons in the train captured by
Longstreet's forces — all loaded with valuable commissary stores.
These, added to the loss of forage wagons on Sunday and Monday, make about 100 teams in all which have fallen into rebel hands within a week.
A dispatch dated
Cumberland Gap, January 6, says:
‘
An overwhelming force, under Sam,
Jones, made a descent upon a small body on our troops stationed near
Jonesville, Va., consisting of about 280 men of an Illinois regiment, commanded by
Major Beers, and eighteen men of
Wells's Ohio battery, on Sunday last.
A desperate resistance was made by our troops, continuing from 7 A. M. to 3 P. M., when we were obliged to surrender.
The attacking force numbered about 4,000 men.
’
The force captured were guarding a country which was our main reliance for forage.
From New Orleans.
The steamship
Columbia, arrived at New York, brings New Orleans advices to 3d inst. There were considerable movements in progress among the troops in
General Banks's Department, but they were not of a character to be made public.
It is
quite likely, therefore, that the news brought last week, of an expedition having left, probably for
Mobile, is correct.
It was believed in New Orleans that all the rebel troops which have been operating in
Western Louisiana, supposed to number 20,000 men, were gathering in
Central Texas, with the object of attacking the points along the coast now occupied by the
Union troops.
Nearly all the regiments of the 19th army corps are reported to have re-enlisted as veterans.
From the New Orleans correspondents of the New York papers we copy the following:
‘
The trial of the chief mutineers in the
Fort Jackson negro uprising, published some time since in the
Herald, is now going on,
Maj. Malones, 1st United States, infantry, presiding over the
Court.
Nothing definite has yet been determined upon.
It is supposed, however, a severe example of the great military sin of insubordination will be made as a warning to others of the same color, to the effect that mutiny is not the proper redress for grievances, whatever may be their enormity.
’
The New York Legislature met on the 10th inst.
Gov. Seymour's message was read.
The following is its conclusion:
‘
The victories which have given our Government its present commanding position were won by men who rallied around and fought beneath the fields of a flag whose stars represent each State in our Union.
If we strike out of existence a single State, we make that flag a falsehood.
When we extinguish the name of any one of the original thirteen States, we dishonor the historic of our national banner, Let the treasonable task of defacing our flag be left to those who war union our Government, and who would destroy the city of our country.
’
Faith to our armies and to our citizens demands that we keep sacred the solemn pledge made on our people and to the civilized world when we engaged in this bloody war. "that it was not waged in any spirit of oppression, or for any purpose of conquest or subjugation, or purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights of established institutions in those States, but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution, and to preserve the
Union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired; and that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease."
The amnesty Proclamation.
Lincoln has had several thousand copies of his Proclamation of December 8th, declaring an amnesty to all Rebels of the rank of Colonol and under, providing they take a prescribed oath, printed in large type in the shape of a handbill, and at the end of the Proclamation is the following:
‘
"The book wherein to record the taking of the above oath, by such persons as may apply, is in the custody of--, at--, who is authorized to administer the said oath to such persons of that vicinity, and is required to give every person requesting it a certificate in form below, and which certificate shall be, until some other mode of proof shall be authoritatively provided, sufficient evidence of the facts certified to entitle the holder to the benefits as provided in said Proclamation.
’
Certificate,--"I do hereby certify that on — day of--, 186--,at--,the oath presented by
President of
United States in this Proclamation, December eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty three, was duly taken, subscribed and made matter of record by--"
This handbill is to be posted through all the
Rebel territory.
The Pennsylvania Legislature — a dead lock.
A letter from
Harrisburg, Pa., says the
Pennsylvania Senate is at a dead lock, because of the absence of
Senator White, at the
Libby Prison.
He was captured at
Winchester.
The letter says:
‘
He has been retained ever since, though a rebel
Major Jones, after giving his parole, went to
Richmond, confident he could effect an exchange from his personal and political influence in the
South.
He failed, but came back and delivered himself up to the authorities at
Washington.
Brigadier-Gen Meredith, then
Commissioner for Exchange of Prisoners, asked for an especial exchange for him because of his importance as a witness in the Milroy Court of Inquiry.
Commissioner Ould is reported to have replied, with his digitalis in front of his proboscis, that his importance as a
witness was felt at
Harrisburg, and not at
Baltimore.
His sympathizers seem to think so at this point.
Major White's detention is of immense importance to the rebels, if they and their
Pennsylvania Senatorial confreres can thereby disorganize the
Government of a great Northern Common wealth like ours.
’
Miscellaneous.
The New York
Herald's Folly Island correspondent says
Gen. Gillmore has succeeded in improving the Greek fire shells so that he can shortly commence the regular bombardment of
Charleston with them.
It is stated that
Gens. Barnes,
Getty, and
Ledile have been removed from
Butler's Department.
Lemnel Bowden, the bogus
United States Senator from
Virginia, died in
Washington last week.
Gen. Thomas has issued an order assessing $30,000 on rebel sympathizers living within ten miles of the recent murder of three soldiers near
Mulberry, Tenn., the money to be divided between the families of the soldiers killed.
Admiral Storer, of the United States Navy, died on Saturday at
Portsmouth, N. H.
Ex-Gov. Thomas H. Hicks has been chosen
U. S. Senator from
Maryland to fill the seat vacated by the death of
the Hon. James A. Pearce.
The Democratic and Conservative members of Congress, in caucus last week, resolved "that the
President's proclamation of the 8th of December, 1863, is unwise, inexpedient, revolutionary, and unconstitutional, and is therefore disapproved."
A great commotion has been excited in the
New York Custom House by the arrest and confinement in Fort Lafayette of
Mr. A. N. Palmer, charged with being in collusion with parties engaged in contraband trade with the
Southern States, and abusing his position in the
Collector's office to further that trade.
Mr. Palmer is a member of the
Republican (N. Y.) State Committee.
Several New York regiments are returning home from the Army of the West.
At the sale of confiscated property in
Virginia, on the 11th inst.,
Arlington was bid in by the U. S. Government at $26,800. The
Curtis mill and farm were sold for $4,100.
The St. Louis
Union has placed the name of
Abraham Lincoln at the head of its columns as its candidate for
President in 1864.
Major General Meade has gone to
Pennsylvania on a short leave of absence.
The 5th Maryland volunteer infantry have re-enlisted for the war in the veteran corps.
This is the second regiment of
Maryland troops which have re-enlisted.
Gen. Burnside is in New York, "awaiting orders."
The
Bangor Whig learns that
Braine, one of the leading pirates who captured the
Chesapeake, has been arrested and delivered over to the
Halifax authorities.
The examination of
Collins,
McKenney, and
Seeley, charged with participation in the
Chesapeake piracy, has been commenced before the
Police Magistrates at
St. Johns, N. B. The counsel for the pirates contend that the offence being committed on the high seas does not come within the extradition treaty.
W. Hilton has been arrested in New York with $6,000,000 in Confederate bonds and $1,000,000 in treasury notes, which he had printed and was about to send South by order of
Mr. Memminger.
The Republican State Convention of
New Hampshire has nominated
Lincoln for the next Presidency.
The "noted guerilla chief,
McCown" was captured near Culpeper C. H. on the 9th inst.
Gold was quoted in New York on Tuesday at 152½.
