Progress of the War
from the North.
The following items of Northern news are taken from the New York Times.
of the 12th inst:
Another Escapes of the Sumter — Cherludes the vigilance of the Troguois at Nartisiour.
A letter received yesterday afternoon, by Messrs. Maitland, Phelps & Co., dated St. Thomas, Nov. 23, says: ‘ "We hear that the privateer Sumter is at Martinique, and that the United States gunboat Iroquois is lying off the port waiting for her." ’ Another letter, received by the same firm, dated Nov. 25, states that the Iroquois arrived at St. Thomas on the night of the 24th inst., and reported that the Sumter had escaped.The dispatches brought by Mr. Goodrich--the Nashville.
Washington, December 11,--The dispatches brought by Mr. Goodrich, special bearer from our Ministers in Europe, are of the nighest importance. The affair of the rebel steamer Nashville, that put in at Southampton for repairs, had caused the greatest excitement, and was the subject of a diplomatic note from our Minister to Lord John Russell Mr. Adams, on the part of our Government, protested against her remaining, but the British Government had, it was understood, determined to let her complete her armament. Capt. Pegram had arranged for the Nashville a complete gun-deck, which would make her a most formidable war steamer, and she would be allowed to depart without hindrance on the part of Her Majesty's Government.Another Republican caucus.
There was another caucus of Republicans to night, more numerously attended than the one on Monday night Senator Wilson made a speech, in which he advocated the adoption of measures for the general and immediate emancipation of slaves. He contended that Providence had brought about the occasion when this could fairly be done, and that the Union could never be peaceful while the cause of all its former and present troubles existed. Senator Trumbull followed in a long speech, taking the same view of the slavery question, and going further in advocating the abolishment of the Supreme Court of the United States, and its reorganization on representative basis.Important Military Bille.
The House Military Committee were in session to-day, and are maturing several important bills respecting the army. All the bills and other matters relating to the Slavery question have been referred to the Chairman, Francis P. Blair, who is to examine into the matter and report to the Committee his views upon the negro question, colonization, etc.An order from Gen. M'Clellan.
Gen. McClellan has issued an order directing the officers in charge of the military prison in this city to confine no civilian who is not regularly committed by a magistrate, and no soldier except a deserter, or those arrested by patrols, without special orders from headquarters, This will be the means of checking a very serious abuseThe New exchange of prisoners.
Thirty-seven rebel prisoners of the 250 recently released having arrived at Norfolk, a corresponding number of our own prisoners have been forwarded North by the rebel authorities. It is understood that Col. Corcoran and the other officers designated as hostages for the safety of the pirates will not be released except in exchange for the pirates.Congressional proceedings.
In the Senate, on the 11th inst., very little of interest transpired. The following proceedings of the House on the negro question will be found interesting: In the House another bill to forfeit the property and slaves of rebels was presented by Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, and referred to the Judiciary Committee. A resolution recognising the services of the late Gen. Lyon was presented by Mr. Blair, of Missouri, and passed after some discussion. Mr. Blair also introduced a bill to punish treason, to provide more effectually for the collection of taxes, to remunerate loyal citizens for the loss of property, and to provide homesteads for soldiers, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The resolutions introduced by Mr. Lansing on Monday last, in effect censuring General Halleck for his order excluding fugitive slaves from within his lines, were taken up, and, after a lengthy debate, in which it was proved that General Halleck was not actuated by the improper motives attributed to him by the Radical Republicans, they were laid on the table--78 to 64. The Committee on Foreign Affairs was directed to inquire into the expediency of recognizing the independence of Hayti and Liberia. It was announced that the Post-Office Committee would soon introduce a bill abolishing the franking privilege, and looking to other measures for increasing the income, or rather reducing the expenses of the Post-Office Department. A message was received from the Senate announcing the decease of Senator Baker, and no further business was done.The question of Neutrality.
The following is an extract from Mr. Adams's letter to Mr. Seward: ‘ I next approached the most delicate portion of my task. I descanted upon the irritation produced in America by the Queen's Proclamation, upon the construction almost universally given to it, as designed to "aid the insurgents by raising them to the rank of a belligerent State, and upon the very decided tone taken by the President in my dispatches in case any such design was entertained.--I added that from my own observation of what had since occurred here, I had not been able to convince myself of the existence of any such a design. But it was not to be disguised that the fact of the continued stay of pseudo Commissioners in this city, and still more the knowledge that they had been admitted to more or less interviews with his lordship, was calculated to excite uneasiness, Indeed, it had already given great dissatisfaction to my Government. I added, as modestly as I could, that in all frankness any further protraction of this relation could scarcely fail to be received by us as hostile in spirit, and to require some corresponding action accordingly. to His lordship then reviewed the course of Great Britain. He explained the mode in which they had consulted with France, prier to any action at all, as to the reception of the deputation from the so-called Confederate States. It had been the custom. both in France and here, to receive such persons unofficially for a long time back. Poles Hungarians, Italians, &c., &c, had been allowed interviews, to hear what they had to say. But this did not imply negotiation in their case any more than if did ours. He added that he had seen the gentleman once some time ago, and once since; he had no expectation of seeing them any more. ’[extract from Seward's reply to Mr. Adams, as regards the obnoxious declaration.]
I feel myself at liberty, perhaps bound to assume, that Lord Russell's proposed declaration, which I have herein recited, will have been already regarded as well by him as by yourself as sufficiently answering the request for preliminary explanations which you were instructed to make. I may therefore assume that the case is fully before me, and that the question whether this Government will consent to enter into the projected treaty with Great Britain, subject to the condition of admitting the simultaneous declaration on her Majesty's part, proposed by Lord Russell, is ready to be decided. I am instructed by the President to say that the proposed declaration is inadmissible."the rebellion."
The New York Times, of the 12th instant, under the above caption, furnishes us with the following items: ‘ Important reconnaissances were made yesterday along our lines of the Potomac to ascertain the positions and strength of the rebels. One, made in a balloon by Professor LaMountain, establishes the facts that the rebel forces at Fairfax Court-House is very light; that between that point and Vienna there is an increase of strength, and that all along the line very considerable additions have been made to the scouts of cavalry and infantry. ’ We have highly interesting intelligence from Port Royal by the arrival of the Government transport steamer City of New York, which left on the 6th inst. General Sherman had at last decided to occupy Beaufort, and General Stevens's brigade, consisting of about twenty five hundred men, was to go up for that purpose the day the steamer sailed. Another diversion of troops was to be made to Tybee Island, which would be occupied permanently by a force of five hundred men, which would doubtless be sufficient, with proper fortifications, aided by the gun-boats of the flotilla, which have been detached to operate in those waters. These movements had rendered necessary the postponement of the expedition under Gen. Vicle until the arrival of reinforcements. Measure had also been taken by General Sherman to secure all the cotton in the neighborhood; with the aid of the negroes, and Col. Noble, of the 79th regiment, who is fully acquainted with all the details of cotton-picking, had been selected by Gen. Sherman to superintend this important business, assisted by Col. Suydam. We have at last a very brief intimation of the truth in regard to the recent fight at Fort Pickens, which the rebels have had full liberty for the past two weeks of distorting to suit their fanotes. The columbia, which reached here yesterday day from Havana, brought a mail from Fort Pickens, and the letters received state that the rebel batteries were stunned by the fire of the Fort, but that Bragg and his army were allowed to remain, because Col. Brown had not force enough to land and drive them away. A few details are given in a private letter, from which it appears that the firing was commenced by the steamer Richmond, assisted by the Niagara — the first point of attack being Fort McRae. The Richmond was considerably injured, but the Niagara very little. The loss of life on our side was very small. Gen. Prentise, at the head of some 3,000 troops, had left St. Joseph, Mo., on a secret expedition, which it is hoped will result in the capture of St. Gordon and the band of rebel desperadoes who are doing so much damage in Platte and other counties of that region. He may also have occasion to pay some attention to returning squads of Price's men, now congregating about Lexington. It is ascertained from a reliable source that the black flag has been hoisted and now floats at Columbus, Ky.The Western Virginia Legislature.
Wheeling, Dec. 11.
--In the Legislature today, Mr. Carkeadon, of Hampshire, introduced a resolution to prohibit any person engaged in the rebellion from ever holding office in the State.
Mr. Snider, of Monongahela, introduced a resolution modifying those parts of the code which prohibits writing or speaking against slavery so as to make them conform to the spirit and genius of our institution.
Affairs in Missouri--recruits for Price's Army — capture of rebels.
Ottersville, Mo., Dec.11.
--Union men from Lafayette county report that 700 rebel recruits left Lexington yesterday morning to join Gen. Price's army.
A band of musicians, sixteen in number, from the rebel army, were captured near Dunksburgh on Monday.
A son and son-in-law of Colonel Magoffin have also been taken.
They were the leaders of the foray on our teams near Georgetown on Saturday.
The scouting party which left here ten days ago is said to have surprised a rebel camp in Salina county, capturing a large number of wagons, and taking about fifty rebels prisoners.
It is rumored here that Price is moving northward.
A reported fight near Waverley.
Sedalia, Mo., Dec. 11.
--It is reported that a fight took place yesterday near Waverley, Lafayette county, between a body of rebels under the notorious Joe Shelby, and a detachment of National cavalry.
They were fighting again this morning, but no particulars are given.
