The Daily Dispatch: December 17, 1861., [Electronic resource]

The Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of South Carolina has severed its connection with the National Division of the United States, and recommends a Confederate Convention at Augusta in May next, to organise a National Division for the Confederacy.

It is reported in the Northern journals that the Hons. Andy Johnson, of Tennessee, and John S. Phelps, of Missouri, have declined taking their seats in the Congress of the United States, preferring to retain their respective commissions in the Federal service.

Persons desiring to contribute to the relief of Mr. James Keilan the hero who so gallantly defended Strawberry Plains bridge from destruction at the hands of Tennessee traitors, can send their donations to Mr. F. A. Butler, postmaster at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

The wife of Gen. Price, of Missouri, is now in Texas, and both Houses of the Legislature of that State have passed resolutions welcoming her to Texas, and complimenting her husband for his brilliant services.

It turns out that the Hon. J. W. Clapp is the successful candidate for Congress in the First Mississippi district for representative in the Confederate States.

On Sunday, the 9th inst., a difficulty occurred in Sumter county, Tenn., between Zeb Utterly and a man named Stanley, In which the former was shot and fatally wounded.

A man calling himself Garret has been arrested at Cincinnati for changing a big check to $4000, with the intention to defraud some body.