d into the streets.
They had no idea of the cause of the disturbance, for they were engaged in their usual daily avocations, and the raid was "like thunder from a clear sky." The guerrillas, as they rushed through the town, stopped all the citizens they met and gathered them in squads under guard of a few men, armed with pistols, retaining them as prisoners, on the common.
Meanwhile the remainder of the banditti started to secure horses.
They took two from Field's livery stable, five from Fuller's, several from the American and Tremont stables, and a twelve hundred dollar span from Mr. Clark, of Rutland — securing about thirty in all. Their adroitness in cutting off harness was marvellous, and the contents of the saddle-makers' shops soon enabled the villains to become cavalry instead of footpads.
Meanwhile their threats were terrible. "We will burn your damned town," they said. "We will treat you as the people of Atlanta were treated."--They also said, "We are coming back agai
eas--Messrs. Anderson, Atkins, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, Branch, Bridgers, E. M. Bruce, H. W. Bruce, Chambers, Chilton, Clark, Cluskey, Colyar, Conrow, Darden, Dejarnette, Dickinson, Dupre, Ewing, Foote, Gholson, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Holliday, Johnston, Keeble, Kenner, Lyon, Machen, McCallum, McMullen, Montague, Norton, Perkins, Read, Rives, Russell, Sexton, Triplett, Vest, Welsh, Wilkes, Mr. Speaker--45.
Nays--Messrs. Akin, Ayer, Baldwin, Bell, Boyee, Clopton, Farrow, Foster, Fuller, Gaither, Garland, Gilmer, Hanly, Hilton, Holder, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, Lester, Logan, Marshall, Miles, Murray, Orr, Ramsay, Simpson, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Smith of North Carolina, Staples, Turner, Villere, Wickham, Witherspoon--34.
This was considered somewhat in the light of a test vote on the habeas corpus bill, now pending in secret session.
Some seven or eight who voted for secret session will, it is said, vote against the bill.
The House having re-opene
vilege of the writ of habeas corpus is one of the great bulwarks of Freedom, and ought not to be suspended exception extreme cases, where the public safety imperatively demands it: That the people of the Confederacy are engaged in a great struggle for Liberty, and no exigency now exists requiring its suspension."
Mr. Leach asked the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and resulted as follows:
Yeas.--Messrs. Anderson, Bell, Boyce, Branch, Clopton, Colyar, Cruikshank, Darden, Foster, Fuller, Garland, Gilmer, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Lester, Logan, Marshall, Miles, Murray, Orr, Ramsay, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Turner and Wickham--26.
Nays.--Messrs. Akin, Baldwin, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, H. W. Bruce, Burnett, Chrisman, Clarke, Cluskey, Conrow, De Jarnette, Dupre, Ewing, Farrow, Gaither, Gholson, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Hatcher, Herbert, Hilton, Holden, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Machen, Moore, Norton, Perkins, Read, Russell, Sexton, Shewmake, Simpson, Snead, S
, Johnston, Keeble, Lester, Lyon, Machen, Marshall, Menees, Miller, Moore, Norton, Read, Russell, Sexton, Shewmake, Simpson, Snead, Triplett, Villere, Wilkes and Witherspoon--50.
Nats.--Messrs. Anderson, Chambers, Cruikshank, Darden, Echols, Fuller, Gilmer, Goode, Herbert, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McMullin, Miles, Orr, Ramsay, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Turner, Wickham and Mr. Speaker--23.]
Mr. Shewmake, of Georgia, moved to amend the third so as of internal improvement of importance to the common defence; but nothing contained in this proviso shall be construed to diminish the quota of slaves in any State authorized to be impressed under the provisions of this act," was rejected.
Mr. Fuller, of North Carolina; offered a proviso, to be inserted at the end of the fourth section, declaring that each State shall receive credit in the quota to be impressed for the number of free negroes impressed in such State.
Rejected.
A proviso
ion of the character and official capacity of General Preston, and deprecating the apparent attempt of the member from North Carolina--consistent, however, with his past conduct — to throw a barbed arrow, which he seemed to desire should not only penetrate, but rankle.
He concluded by expressing the hope that this attempt would meet with the rebuke it deserved at the hands of the House.
On motion of Mr. Chrisman, of Kentucky, the resolutions were laid on the table — veas, 56; nays, Messrs. Fuller, J. T. Leach, J. M. Leach, Logan, Ramsay, Smith and Turner, all of North Carolina.
Mr. Turner, of North Carolina, offered a resolution declaring that the treatment of our recently-exchanged prisoners was a disgrace to the Government, and requiring the Secretary of War to see that the prisoners yet to come are not subject to like hardships.
Mr. Chrisman stated that he was at camp on yesterday, and they were issuing rations, and that they were of the best quality, and amply suffi
ct."
The amendment was concurred in by the following vote:
Ayes.--Messrs. Anderson, Barksdale, Batson, Baylor, Blandford, Bradley, H. W. Bruce, Carroll, Clark, Clopton, Conrad, Darden, De Janette, Dickinson, Dupre, Elliott, Ewing, Funsten, Garther, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Johnston, Keeble, Lyon, Marchen, Marshall, McMullin, Menees, Miller, Moore, Murray, Perkins, Read, Simpson, Snead, Staples, Triplett, Villere.
Nays--Messrs. Atkins, Baldwin, Branch, Chambers, Colyar, Cruikshank, Fuller, Gholson, Gilmer, Hartridge, Hatcher, Herbert, Holliday, J. M. Leach, J. T. Leach, Logan, McCallum, Ramsay, Rogers, Sexton, J. M. Smith, Smith of North Carolina, Turner, Wickham, Wilkes, Witherspoon, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Lyon, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported a bill for the relief of the Exchange Bank at Norfolk, which was considered and passed.
Mr. Chrisman, of Kentucky, offered a bill "to authorize prisoners of war to fund treasury notes," which was amended and passed.
