From the North.
We make up the following summary of news from the latest Northern journals which have come to hand:The Abolitionists in Congress and the slavery question — Lobby influence at work in Congress.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Yankees have it all their own way in the Washington Congress, it seems that the slavery question is likely to be as great a bone of contention in the way of legislation as it was before the dismemberment of the Union and withdrawal of all the Southern members, See what the New York Herald's Washington telegraphic correspondent says, under date of the 6th instant: ‘ The radical faction in Congress is more noisy than numerous. Their extermination of slavery proposition is received with disfavor. The conservatives, who really constitute a large majority, insist upon the recognition of the constitutional rights of the loyal citizens in the South, and will sustain the policy of the President. How to punish disloyalists in reference to their slaves, without injury to loyal slave owners, is the difficulty to be solved. A number of Senators and Representatives favor a proposition to give to the border States of the South reasonable compensation for all their slaves enumerated in the census of 1860, leaving the State Governments to distribute the amount thus paid, apportioning to each loyal citizen the valuation of his slaves; and manumitting all the slaves and colonizing them in some portion of Central America. Great dissatisfaction prevails in certain Congressional circles respecting the increasing tendency to refer pet measures to special instead of the regular committees. The River and Harbor Defence Committee was removed from the Military Committee of the House to enable members from the States bordering on the lakes to grind private axes of their own, or of their constituents, and to direct, if possible, millions from the public Treasury, under the plea of needed fortifications, which are as unnecessary as the useless fortifications erected at St. Louis by Gen. Fremont at such monstrous cost to the nation. On the other hand, however, the Special Committee to which the general bankrupt law was referred in the summer, and of which Hon. Roscoe Conklin is chairman, will probably insure the passage of that act, while the regular Judiciary Committee would have opposed it. It is deemed an indispensable measure by those best acquainted with the commercial interests of the North, and it is believed that the Southern States will regard it as a step in the way of conciliation by removing financial obstacles to the restoration of tranquility. ’From Missouri — movements of Ren M'Culloch
and Gen Price — communication between
Kansas city and Independence cut off &C.
Rolla, Mo., Dec. 5
--Advices from the Southwest say that Ben. McCulloch has gone into winter quarters on Pea Ridge, near Bentonville, Benton county, Arkansas, where he is putting up barracks for his troops.
Nothing definite is known of the movements of Gen. Price.
Gen McBride was at Springfield with 2,000 rebels on Sunday last.
From Kansas City, Mo., the intelligence is that all communication between that port and Independence is cut off, that the rebel General Hays entered the latter town on Monday, with a force of 330 men, and seized all the horses belonging to the Pacific Stage Company, and made a general confiscation of all the property of Union citizens.
On Wednesday a party of exasperated citizens of all parties attacked a gang of returning rebels from Gen. Price's army, under Captains Young and Wheatley, killing seven and wounding ten of them.
Among the killed was Capt. Young.
None of the citizens were killed or severely wounded.
Three of the wounded rebels have since died.
Sr. Joseph, Mo., Dec. 5.--Gen. Prentice made a speech to a large crowd of citizens yesterday, in which he said, ‘"As God is my judge, every Secessionist in this city shall take an oath of allegiance to the United States Government, and to support the Stars and Stripes, or I will set them to work on the frenches of Fort Smith.
All persons who are hereafter found expressing secession sentiments shall take the oath."’
The speech caused great consternation among the rebels, and was received with applause by the loyal citizens.
Troops were sent to Platte county last night to look after Gordan's band of rebels.
Infamous orders from Gen. Halleck to his army.
St. Louis Dec. 6
--Gen. Halleck has issued lengthy orders in reference to the affairs of his department, the points of which are as follows: ‘
Lieutenant-Colonel B. W. Farrar is appointed Provost Marshal of the Department.
Commanding officers of districts, posts and corps are directed to arrest and place in confinement all persons in arms against the United States, or who give aid, assistance, or encouragement to the enemy.
All property belonging to such persons which can be used by the army, will be taken possession of for that purpose, and all other property will be examined by a board of officers and sold according to army regulations.
All persons found in disguise as pretended citizens or under other false pretenses, within our lines, giving information to or communicating with the enemy, will be arrested, tried, and shot as spies.
Persons now employed or enlisted in the service of the co-called Confederate States, who commit hostility, will not be treated as prisoners of war, but punished as criminals, and be shot or less severely punished, according to the rules of war.
In consequence of large numbers of Union families and non-combatants having been driven from their homes in a destitute condition, and thousands of such persons are now finding their way into this city, the Provost Marshals are directed to ascertain the condition of persons so driven from their homes, and under the military law of retaliation quarter them in the homes, and feed and clothe them at the expense of avowed Secessionists, who, although they do not themselves rob and plunder, give aid and encouragement, abet and countenance the acts of their fellow rebels. ’
Desertion from the Federal army.
The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald says: ‘ James C. Herndon, Assistant Surgeon in the army, has deserted to the Rebels. He is a native of Virginia. Before leaving California he tendered his resignation, although he had but a few days previously taken the oath of allegiance for the second time. Gen.Sumner very properly refused to accept it.--Why he was not arrested on his arrival in New York, is a question, but after staying some days at a Washington hotel, he hired a horse and buggy, drove to a point on the lower Potomac where a boat was awaiting, and ferried across. He leaves his trunks and bills behind him. ’The home of Jefferson bequeathed to the Government.
Our Commodores seem to vie with each other in patriotic liberality. To-day Commodore Levy was asked why he did not give Monticello to the Government, and he replied, ‘"I have made my will, given to the Government, not only Monticello, but one hundred thousand dollars besides. "’ [Patriotic Levy! How many donations such as the hundred thousand dollars bequeathed above will it take to satisfy the demands of the Federal Government in order to ensure a successful prosecution of this war?]The Fugitive Slaves in Prison.
The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald, dated December 6th says: ‘ There are forty six persons from Maryland and Virginia in the county jail, arrested by constables on presumption that they are fugitive slaves. A difficulty exists to the way of their immediate discharge, from the fact that it cannot yet be ascertained whether they are all contrabands. ’More prisoners sent to Fort Warren.
Boston, Dec. 6
--The following navy lieutenants, recently from the East India squadron, were consigned to Fort Warren to-day, charged with disloyalty; Wm. T. Glassel, of Virginia; Alexander M. DeBrae, of Virginia; Julian Myers, of Georgia; and Dulancy A. Faust, of Maryland.
Released from Fort Lafayette.
The New York Herald, of the 7th inst., says: ‘ The following prisoners were released from Fort Lafayette on taking the oath of allegiance: B T. Thomas, W. F. Carto, James Hall, George Forrest, Isaac Nelson, and Wm. Hunt. ’The pursuit of the Privateer Sumter.
A telegraphic dispatch from Boston, December 6th, says: ‘ The British mail steamer from Martinique, November 11, arrived at St. Thomas November 13, and reported the Sumter at Martinique. The Iroquois got up steam and started in pursuit. ’Appointment of a resident Agent at port Royal — further advance in Cotton, &C.
From the New York Herald, of the 7th inst., we extract the following: ‘ Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds has been appointed Resident Agent at Port Royal, under the general regulations relative to securing and disposing of the property found or brought within the territory now or hereafter occupied by the U. S. forces in the disloyal States. He has been ordered to report to the Secretary of the Treasury. The cotton market was again active and higher yesterday, and closed at an advance of 1 per lb. The sales reached about 4,090 bales, about 1,200 of which were taken by spinners, and the remainder by speculators, closing on the bales of 31 for middling upland. A bill has been introduced in the Kentucky Legislature requiring all voters to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and subordinate allegiance to the State of Kentucky, and they must also swear that they have not aided in any way the so-called Southern Confederacy. The Government gun-boat Benton left St. Louis on the 3d inst, bound for Memphis and New Orleans. The Benton is a powerful steamer, double cased, with forty-five water tight compartments, and carries eighteen heavy guns. ’Suicide of an editor.
Corcord, N. H., Dec. 4
--S. C. Baldwin, editor of the Lacouia Democrat, committed suicide yesterday afternoon by jumping into the Winnipesaukee river from the railroad bridge, near that village, No cause in assigned for the act, 