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Umoi.unoN’H ok 1788 AXi) 1804.- In the win
ter of 17H8-!t—a period of apparently .great
peril to the United States Government from
fires wUl.on. .hr. which therefore gave the
“strong government’’ many special pleas of
“necessity’’—the celebrated alien and sedition
laws were enacted. These laws became partic
ularly odious to the jicople for two reasons.—
First, they were clearly unconstitutional. This
alone ought to have condemned them. Iri the
stooud places, it was well understood to be a
scheme of a party who made that an occasion
for the advancement of doctrines destructive
of State sovereignty, and consequently for the
building up precedent looking to centraliza
tion. This gave rise to the celebrated Virginia
and Kentucky Resolutions. The Legislature
of Virginia was denounced then as that of
Georgia is now, because they could not see t*«
“necessity’’ for such arbitrary measures.—
Gradually the light began to break in upon Iho
minds of bid been deluded by the
cry of “necessity,’’ and a few years thereafter
the “Virginia Resolutions” became the plat
form of a party whose principles were ident
ical with those for which the Soulli is to-day
struggling.
That there arc, remarks the Columbus Sun,
persons in the Confederate States who are per
sonally interested in the establishment of a
“strong government,” and who are looking
anxiously to a radical change bonelicial to
themselves, no one with his eyes open can rea
sonably question ; and that the late Congress
was Haltered Into the partial support ol this
organization the record abundantly shows.—
Georgia stands in the position now that Virginia
did during the Administration of the t filer
Adams; and the “Stephens’ Resolutions'’ will
occupy a prominent part in the history of con
utilutkmal liberty on this Continent.
Ai.l. Mkx are mortal. This is a fact so well
established that none we think will endeavor to
deny or disprovo it. All moituls are liable to
eir. This is another truth so well substantia
ted that it would be worse than useless to gain
say it. Human nature is weuk, and the only way
to keep human beings on the paths of rectitude
is to throw as little temptation in their way as
possible. The administration which guides the
affairs of the Confederacy is groat, bultheCon
etitutiou—the Government is greater. •• ’Tis
not that 1 loved Cmsar. Ws Jhm- -Jimne
said Brutus, ami this sentiment furnishes the
illustration of all successful endeavors to es
tablish freedom where power is gradually steal
ing from the many to the few. No man w:o
is merely mortal, weighs more than a feather
when poised in the balances against the free
dom of this country. Could the Immortal
Washington be resurrected from the sleep of
death, wo would not give him the power which
the present administration asked for at the
hands of Congress in the suspension of the
writ of habeas corpus. We are opposed to the
Centralisation of power ami to all aggressions
that look iu that direction. This was the rock
the old Government split upon, and unless we
be wise, vigilant and brave, the Confederacy
will share ft like fate. The time to Watch be
gan from the moment the Constitution was
adopted, ami will continue so long as men love
power and human nature remains as it is. The
maxim of free government is, to trust no man
with arbitrary power, which is the antipodes of
the sentiment that “the King can do no
wrong,” and to this we will cling so long as
we have the power so to do, ami a Constitu
tion which protects the rights of the State and
the liberty of the citizen.
Tun On to Richmond Movement. —The Wash
ington correspondent of the New York World
writes thus, under date of April 10th, ot the
great on to Richmond movement soon to be
made by the combined armies of Federaldoin
Preparations for the grand movement on
Richmond. which will now bo delayed by the
storm in Virginia, are going forward with
quiet but vehement energy. The reorganiza
tion of the Army of the I’otomac has been
generally perfected. Gen. Baldy Smith will
command two army corns, which are organizing
at Fortress Monroe. The troops under his
command will be pushed up the Peninsula,
whilst the Army of the Potomac keeps Fee's
forces vigorously occupied. Gen. Burnside
will attempt his old route via Goldsboro', cut
ting the lailroad at that point.
A Tln- World's correspondent expresses tlie
opinion that this grand combination will com
jud the Confederates to fall back from the line
of the Rapid an to "tlie defence* of Richmond,
and that the greatest battle of the war will be
fought in the vielulty of the Confederate capi
tal. He also state* that those defences have
lx>en strengthened, and that mines have been
prepared at "several vital parts.
Rather ok a Rich Rksoi.ution.— ln the Fed.
oral Senate, on the 7th instant, Mr. Salisbury
offered the following :
Resolved, That the chaplain of the Senate
iu* respectfully requested, hereafter, to pray
anil supplicate Almighty Goil in our behalf,
ami not lecture Him. Him what to
«U> or state to Him, under pretence of prayer,
his (the said chaplain s) opinion in reference
to Hi* duty as the Almighty : anil that the
said chaplain be further requested, as afore
said, not, under the form ol prayer, to lecture
the Senate in relation to the questions before
the body.
The resolution was objected to by some of
the Black Republican members.' who thought
the prayers of the reverends about right in
tone and color, and it was laid on the table.
Goto is the power at the North which must
decide the duration of this war of sujugation.
Gold is the unvarying and inevitable barome
ter whleb indicates the condition of the North
ern political atmosphere. Every advanced
quotation of the article in Wall street indicates
tbs rapid decline of the sow almost exhausted
patient, whose feeble pulse is hourly ielt in
that turbulent thoroughfare. As gold ad
vanees, so declines the patriotism of the faith
ful. As greenbacks increase, so diminishes
enlistments.
Wilfully Bund. —Some of our cotcmpora
ilet who have hod their eyes plastered over
■with fat offices, or with fat government con
tracts, cannot perceive that the rights of the
.State* have been infringed upon in the least
by the action of those in favor of a strong
central power. "None bo blind as those
trite will not Bee.’*
j The Crisis at tki North.— From all the in
. dicalions around us, the present year involves
i be most momentous and comprehensive.e vents,
military and political, in the Noith, and upon
their results depend the issue of this war. It
is the crisis with our oppressors. A great vic
tory now would stagger the North, and precip
itate it into political distractions and divis
ions, which would work out the end of the
war. Verb raldora stajeta in*w> th« t n. V .-1 - 1
of a campaign which may give Lincoln anew
lease of power or inaugurate a reign of violence,
discord and anarchy. A defeat will be ruinous
to the prospects of those who seek to enslave us.
Many of the leading papers are talking quite
plainly on the subject. The N. Y. Herald
sounds the notes of warning thus :
We are upon the threshold of a military
campaign in which is involved a decisive tri
umph ot the I uion cause or a disastrous fail
ure; and a political campaign is before us
which may inaugurate anew epoch of national
unity, prosperity and power, or a reign of chaos
' and ferrite. ' **»
The Herald then goes on to say that the re*
suits of the Northern Presidential campaign
will be determined by the result of this cam
paign; that it will not only decide who will be
the nominees, but will decide which one will
be successful; that it will not only cause new
organizations, but will bring new issues before
the people.
Next the Herald shows the dangers of polit
ical distractions and divisions, while the war
Continues ; bids the people to beware of polit
ical plotters and managers, and divides up the
oflice seeking fraternities as follows :
Most prominent among these disturbing fac
tions is that of the office-holding and shoddy
Republicans, marshalled under the banner of
President Lincoln. Their name is legion, and
their ravages are like thorn of the locus's of
Egypt; but their aims and objects are not those
of the great body of the people. Next we have
tin; Chase Republican faction, extensively com
posed of outside advocates of the doctrine of
rotation in offi e. and the “one term principle.’’
I ben comes the hungry Democracyi divided
into two factious - the war faction, qualified
with numerous “buts” and“ifs,” and the peace
faction, whose adherents stand ready at the
t ip of the drum to stir up a reign of blood and
carnage in the North in order to Sfeeure the
blessings of peace to Davis and his Confedera
cy. And then we have the radical German
Eiemnnt faction, largely made up of philoso
phers of the old European "liberty, equality
and fraternity” school, and dreamers of the uear
approach of the tnilloniuru.
't he Herald then urges the retirement of Mr.
Lincoln from the Presidential field as the best
thing to secure the fusion of all parties in the
North in support of the war, ami appeals to his
patriotism to issue a proclamation announcing
to the country his withdrawal from the field as
a Presidential candidate, and urging hisfiiends
to drop politics (or a season, am! unite heartily
with him and Gen. Grant in the paramount
work of putting down the armies of the Con
federacy.
AH this twaddle does not amount to much
in substance. It sbow3 however oue thing con
clusively. It shows that the North is not a
unit—but is becoming divided up into factions;
that those factions are increasing daily ; that
the fooling between them is becoming bitter;
and that each is dctei mined to elect the candi
date of its own choice if possible, no matter
whether !i results to The Veil arc or detriment
of the Federal cause. All these things should
cheer us in this the great day of our trial.
Thf. Peach Party in tue North.— A recent
number of the New York News contains a
very interesting communication, appealing to
tlio so-called ”Peace Party’’ iu the North to
organize upon a distinctive peace platform, and
support only some such men as Thomas 11.
Seymour, of Connecticut, or Charles O’Conor,
of New York, for the next Presidency. It de
clares that the only logical question at issue
will be peace or war, and the principles of the
peace party go to the real issue, and not alone
to tlie measures by which the war may be con
ducted. The writer gives the following just
account of the composition of ins party :
“Among the opponents of the war are they
who believe in the right of secession, but a
much larger number look upon the South as
simply exercising that right of revolution
which lias always been held to be a sacred
right, in America. Others again find their
practical argument in the load of war taxes
and war debt; others have a horror of blood
ami war, and regard tlie North as being the
invading, and, therefore, the war making party;
others sympathize with the South as having
been unjustly provoked and menaced by the
North in respect to their domestic affairs ; others
feel that as the events of the war have devel
oped themselves, the success of the South is to
be hoped for, as the champion of State Rights
and strict constitutional government. These
and various other motives conspire to the same
end. Under them all the peace'parly has in
creased, and is increasing rapidly. Probably
the chief cause of the present accession? to that
party is the Conviction of the futility of further
war. Multitudes wiio are not secessionists now
say that the facts that tlie Southern people are
so unanimous in their desire for independence,
and that the war has been so perverted and
prolonged, have caused them to yield all hope
of restoring the Union."
Who are Interested in Rrolonoino tiie War.
—Few not ce how many persons are kept under
pay by the war—military and civil. A corres
pondent of tlie Cincinnati Gazette, who has
been examining Yankee pay rolls, has made
some discoveries —discoveries which undoubt
edly could be made iu tho Confederacy if mat
ters were looked into as they ought to be. The
Federal letter writer discourseth thus on the
subject :
One thing ought not, on any pretext, to be
neglected. A peremptory stop should be put
to the further saddling of the count! y with a
plethora of officers. Wo have on the rofls, say
an army of 700,000 men, of whom perhaps haif
a million are in some sort or other in the field.
We are paying officers for not a man less than
fourteen hundred thousand; A colonel Is pop
ularly supposed to command a thousand men
Our colonels will hardly average five hundred!
TJie same may i e said of all subordinate offi
cers As for the superior ones, who needs be
told of the hosts of Brigadiers and Major Gener
als without work and standing iu the way of
the promotion of better men ?
Tin: End of the War. —The New York Times
has a long article upon the extravagance which
is now pervading at the North. The Times
thinks if it is not checked that a collapse will
soon take place which will end the war. Here
is what that sheet says In regard to the matter:
This ostentation is kept up mostly by foreign
fabrics, which only gold can buy. The specie
basis, which alone can sustain currency and
credit, is being more largely drawn away; and
without eumuev and credit no war can be
effectually prosecuted. The disproportion be
! tween gold and paper cannot go on increasing
fora great period wlihout producing a financial
collapse. And should that collapse come, the
war, we may be sure, will straightway end. Our
Government can practice no such repudiation
shifts as the rebel Government is now essaying.
There is too much moral principle yet left in
the Northern people to tolerate any national
turpitude of that sort. When it comes to the
point that this war demauds repudiation, the
war will be abandoned, and all the sacrifices
our soldiers have made iu it will go for naught.
Seward wants a bill passed encouraging ne
gro emancipation. He proposes to advance
them government money and give them other
advantages. In short he wants to put them a
little above the white at»p.
4UGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL 27. 1864.
NORTHERN NEWS.
A large delegation of iron workers an? en
gine builders in the employment of thi/ gov
ernment, are in Washington, to ask an increase
of price upon their various contracts, the ful
fillment of which is rendered doubtful on Ac
count of the great and unexpected advance in
the cost of labor and materials.
Henry Vinter Davis has been making a
speech against slavery and slaveholders in Bal
timore.
Vue ttoston people are groaning over the ad
vance in the price of groceries, for the dealers
swindie as extensively there as everywhere
else. Teas have advanced fifty cents a pound ;
coffee, which sold last year for thirty-nine cents,
is now forty-seven, and Hour is twelve dollars
a barrel.
There wpu a sad scene in the Boston Police
Court recently, ’i wenty-three women were
brought in at one time and placed in the dock,
most of th an charged with being common
drunkards.
Sheep husbandry, during the past ten years,
has fallen off about one fifth in the State of
Ohio, and n j arly five bundled thousand in New
England .U! on account ox’ dog#.
Gen. Sige has ordered an enlargement of the
military prison at Wheeling, Va.
A railroad train going from KnovilletoChat
tanooga c me near being blown up by a torpe
do a few da} s since.
Another paper, called the New Era, has been
started in Washington, making eight in that
city.
The Louh ville Journal says : At the rate in
which new enlistments have been made in
Kentucky within the last five months, it would
take her yes.rs to meet Lincoln’s requisiton.
The Yankee press shows signs of progress
on financial topics. They are beginning to see
that gold gambling has very little to do with
the price of gold, while excessive issues of pa
per have a great deal. Some of them ace
frank enough to admit the reason why “gold
goes up is because Mr. Chase cannot keep the
value of his shin plasters from going down.”
George Thompson, the British Abolition
Emissary, once before in the United States, is
delivering lectures on slavery
Mr. McCrea, a Yankee missionary at Beau
fort, S. C., for converting tho negroes, has been
putin jail for selling them whiskey.
Northern papers fear a famine in that section
They aro urging on their readers to raise as
large crops of edibles as possible.
Cotton was selling at Nashville at last ac
counts at 52 @ 54 cents per lb.
Several rows among negro troop3 have takon
placo in Connecticut.
Federal papers say that Farragut’e fleet has
withdrawn from the attack on Fort Dowell, Mo
bile.
Rev. Geo. D. Hamilton, one of the oldest
Methodist ministers in Maryland, died a few
days since.
A Washington letter writer in speaking of
affairs in that city says : "Nothing doing—but
everything brewing hero. The Republicans
are brewing all sorts of schemes and concoct
ing all sorts of concoctions in their great vats
of men'and money.”
The New York Herald has three editorial ar
ticles iu its issue of April 2, all denouncing
Lincoln for interfeienco with Gen. Grant, it
looks very much as if that paper was preparing
to give Grant an easy fall.
Iu a bill introduced into the Federal Senate
to establish! anew territory to be called “Min
etana,” tbelword white was stricken out. This
effectually brings , the negro on an eqiialby
with the w tite inhabitant, and enables Both
races to colubit alike and alike under the-'or
ganic Jaw.” In this view of this promising
new territory would it not be more appropriate
to. it ‘ U : "'—e* . nu-—.—-i— -
nic title than the one proposed.
A Washington dispatch states “that Lin
coln’s breath is vory bad and is getting worse
very fast.’’ This is good news, if true. In
fact, it is almost too good to be true.
At last accounts there were twenty-two hun
dred Confederate prisoners at Johnson’s Island,
mostly officers.
The Missouri Democrat, the leading Aboli
tion organ of tlie West, declares ■: if a high
handed attempt is to be made to force Mr. Lin
coln's nomination upon that convention, (he
attempt will necessarily beget a revolt » for
which, and for whatever disastrous consequen
ces iiow fi'u|m it, those desperate schemers will
bo held responsible.
Col. A. It). Streigbt, the raider that Forrest
captured, but who subsequently dug his way
out and escaped from Richmond, is lecturing
at Indianapolis. Jackson, Jeff. Davis’ colored
coachman, is lecturiug at Portland, Maine.
There is another colored gt ntleman in Eng
land, doinp business on the same pretext. A
Ric imond yellow barber is also lecturing North.
Miscegenation is a great idea, and will no
doubt be the means of drawing fashionable
audiences to the soirees ot tlie distinguished
flunkey and shaver, whose blood is destined to
enrich the feeble current of the white race at
Hie North.
The Chicago Times says the call for Lincoln
troops in lots of Two or three hundred thou
sand men, have become so common as not to
excite the smallest sensation in the public
miud. Within a few months three calls have
been madel for an aggregate of seven hundred
thousand men, and neither the first nor tiie
second hail been completed when the succeed
ing one came. The only wonder in all is what
became of the men. They go forth and seem
to sink into the ground.
According to tlio New York correspondents
of the out-of-town press, practical amalgama
tion is making astonishing headway in that
city.
The election in Maryland—under military
supervisio 3 of course—resulted iu the success
of tlie emancipation candidates to the “Consti
tutional Convention”—or in other words, of
men in favor of Lincoln's schemes. In some
districts the ballot boxes were destroyed.
A correspondent of Louis Democrat,
writing from Natchez, says (he Confederates
have snipped the Federal plantations in some
sections o; Louisiana of nearly everything.
Dispatches from Fort Smith, Ark., state that
Geu. Steele had driven the rebels from Arka
delphia, t.nd was advancing on Price's main
army, in the direction of Camden.
Georgi Thompson, of England, delivered a
lecture in the Hall of the Yankee Mouse of
Representat ves to a dense audience, including
Lincoln, Chase,-anil many members" of both
branches of Congress, anil not a few women.
His expressions were of the most bitter and
viudictive kind ami he was loudly applauded
by his Abolition audience.
The Mary land Lincoln Association have held
a giand jollification meeting over the late elec
tion in that State. They are iu favor of Abra
ham's re-election.
Hon John I’. Kennedy, of Maryland, has de
clined the nomination tor Vice Presidency, but
has declared himself in iavor of Lincoln.
Caroline M. Kirklan i, the authoress, died iH
New York, April 6.
it is stated that such is the discontent and
dissatisfaction prevailing among the Western
troops in North Georgia that they have threat
ened to lay down their arms, if General Grant
does not abolish negroes from the ranks. Pe
titions to this effect had been sent to Grant, and
speeches on this subject were being made by of
ficers to the Loops. It is said Western politicians
are at work, and have written to various offi
cers urging this policy on the Federal troops
It is apparent that the West is becoming grad
ually aroused on this question, audit will not
be surprising if in tbe coursoof the next three
months, the spark should become fanned into
a threatened liauie.
A bill has been introduced into the Yankee
senate providing for retiring of Justices of
the Supreme Court, or District Judges ol the
United States, at the age of seventy This is
aimed at Judge Taney. ' U
During the two days ending April 7 gqo
emigrants arrived at New Ymk.
The Yankee House Committee on Public
Lands will report a bill setting apart all con
fiscated lands throughout the South, to come
under the homestead law, that thev may be se
cured to rhe soldiers of the Yankee annv who
will become actual settlers.
It now appears that Banks’ Red river expe
dition bad a iargq number of negro troops in
YEWB NUMMARY.
The Wild Pigeon, a vessel consigned to W.
R. I ettes, E«q , ot Tallahassee, was sunk ofi
lampa, by a hidekader. The captain states
that he ran his vessel across the steamers bow,
intentionally, as he was deteimined, it possi*
ble, to keep the cargo from falling into the
hands of the enemy, a part of which was for
the Government. The Yankees stripped mem
and stole all that they had in gold and »*.-
and gave than sixty dollars hick in CcfiH '.
ate money, and then put them asnoie. ■■ One
man was knocked overboard, when the' steam
er struck the vessel, and was drowned.
A gentleman writing from Cuthbert, Ram
dolph county, Ga., says tho crop3 in that sec-*
tton have not been killed by the weather as
reported.
The bar-rooms at Mobile, Ala , Acril 1, re
duced the price of drinks to $1 50. The trade
became suddenly brisk.
It is stated that large numbers of Tennes
seeans have joined Forrest.
The horse impressing agents have been verv
busy in Virginia lately.
iht V .. i.irigt.>i >Ur says there are twenty
thousand “contrabands” in that city.
We learn from the Raleigh (N. C.) Confeder
ate that Mr. James M. Parrott, of Lenoir, had
just purchased one hundred barrels of corn for
his own use, at fifty dollars per barrel, when a
poor, woman, who had six daughters, each one
having a husband in the army, presented her
self to buy a little corn. Thereupon this gen
erous man gave to her thirty barrels—five for
each of the soldiers’ wives. This is but one of
his generous deeds, which have been numer
ous during the war.
The Federals have captured and taken to
Wh eling, Va., several young ladies—to be
held as hostages.
The citizens of East Tennessee are undergo
ing more cruel treatment by the Fedeials than
at any period of tho war. The Y’ankees are
cm oiling negro men, as well as women, for
the different branches of the service. Their
owners are held responsible for their delivery
v/lien called for.
It is stated that Samuel Ivins, the editor of
the Athens Term. Post, captured last fall by
the Federals, was hung by them between Nash
ville and Louisville.
The large mutton warehouse of Harris &
Dense, Maeoti, was burned April »4. The
warehouse was owned by R. P. McEvoy, and
was insured for $7,000. Ti.ere were about 250
bales of cotton in it, valued at SBO,OOO, of
which J. F. Champion owned 100, and C. Col
lins, B. B Lewis and J. S. Graybill the bal
ance. There was ifo insurance upon any of the
cotton. Mr. Lewis had a policy on his interest
which expired three days ago. The Granite
Hall was considerably damaged. The house
was drenched with water, and much of its fur
niture badly soiled. The entire loss amounts
to at least SOO,OOO. As there had been no fire
about the building, it is plain that an incendi
ary applied the torch.
The Athens Banner is informed that a gen
tleman has recently obtained a patent for th
manufacture of Kerosine oil, which has been
thoroughly tested and found to be equal, if
not superior to the Yankee article. He has
made some from the Alabama coal, which gives
a brilliant light. The material is inexhausti
ble.
All accounts from the army of Tennessee
are of a very encouraging nature.
Airs. A. L. Knox, who was some time since
arrested on the charge of being a spy, is now at
her home in Mobile, she having been discharg
ed from custody by order of the Bresident, no
evidence being found to warrant the charge
against her.
In Atlanta a few (lays since, Judge Bighatn,
while passing sentence on four years'
..ninMiii. in ujr penitent ary upon Davis, the
bigamist, remarked, “That whenever a nmn
was convicted in his circuit, either of seduction
or of bigamy, whether General or private, cit
izen or soldier, he would in ! ict upon him the
punishment awarded by the law to its fullest
extent, without regard to any plea of guilty.
Mercy to such criminals would be cruelty to
the rest of the community.”
A correspondent writes to the Atlanta “Ap
peal,” that the evil complained of for the sei
zure of milch cows and oxen, is the result of
sending out young gentlemen as itnpiessing
officers, “who cannot tell the difference between
a gentleman and a lady cow.”
At tlie military prison, at Andersonville,
Georgia, near Americas, the Yankees, we are
informed, are dying at the rate of twenty to
twenty-five per day. If this continues we will
have but few prisoners to exchange.
The Athens Watchman publishes the regu
lations under the act suspending the writ of
habeas corpus, draped in mourning. Very ap
propriate.
In tlie c'.ty court of Mobile, Jacob Richoijid
has been convicted of the crime of extortion,
lie was fined SSOO, and sentenced to three
months imprisonment in the county jail.
Lieut. D. 11. Burts, of Ohattahooliee county,
who has a regular discharge from the army,
and is also exempt from the fact that he is a
member of the Legislature, passed through
Columbus, Ga., recently on his way to Virginia
to re-onlist in the tenth Georgia regiment. He
says that he is able to do duty, and beifig a
non-producer at home, feels that he ought to
do back to the army instead of remaining here
in idleness. This is a piece of self-sacrificing
patriotism as rare us it is refreshing.
Since the siege of Charleston commenced the
Federals have thrown 30,000 shells into and at
Fort Sumter, 3,000 at the city, and some 70,000
at Wagner and Gregg, making over 100,000
shells, mostly 11 and 15 Inch—3oo.2oo and 100
pound Parrotts —a number that has no parallel
in any siege in history. Averaging the weight
' of the shells at 150-pounds each, although they
will come nearer 180 pounds, the aggregate
would be 15,000.000 pounds of iron hurled
against this devoted nest of tebellion and its
detences.
Harrison, Beddell & Cos., of Columbus, Ga ,
are now engaged in the manufacture of shoe
makers’ and saddlers’ loo!*
The steamer Juno, lost at sea. was provided
with English life boats, and it is hoped that
more of those on board were saved than has
yet been heard from.
The wheat crop in central Alabama looks
very promising.
James D. Denegre, President of Citizens’
Bank of New Orleans, was order to leave that
city for having published a “card” denying
having participated in the inauguration of the
Federal Governor Hahn. Upon arriving at
Pascagoula on a flag of truce boat, the Con
federates refused to let him land and sent him
back to the Crescent city.
The Charlotte N. C. Democrat says, “If any
one hits ever seriously entertained the idea
that theie was any danger of starving on ac
count of the scarcity of grain, just let him
look at the heaps of corn and wheat being re
ceived by the Tithe Collectors, and let him re
member that this is only one-tenth of tbe
amount raised.” But the Democrat should le
meinber that as long as the remaining nine
tenths are withheld from the market, the pub
lic is not benefltted iu the least, no matter how
much is raised.
A letter from North Alabama to the Mari
etta Rebel states that in retaliation of the ex
ploit of Capt. Smith and Col. Henry, near the
Tennessee river, a body of Yankees destroyed
a portion of Claysville, Ala. They then went
to the residence of Bent Henry, nephew of Col.
Henry, and finding him sick in bed, forced
him to get up. They then placed him on a
horse, with a man to hold him on, he being
unable to ride, carried him four miles, and then
wantonly shot him.
Gen. Forrest recently telegraphed from
Dresden, Tenn., to Gov. Clark, of Mississippi,
that he held possession of all the country ex
cept the posts ou the river, and that if he could
Temain there unmolested for fifteen days he
would be able to add two thousand men to his
command.
An article is going the rounds ol the papers,
to the effect that some body has reo ndy d. s■
covered the lost books of Solomon. We sup
pose the document referred to, is Joe Brown’s
last Message.— Marietta Rebel.
No one will accuse the author of the above
paragraph of writing any thing that will be
taken for one of the lost books of Solomon.—
Fayette vUk Xortli Uiroliniart.
[From tho-Macon Telegraph.]
LIABILITY OF FOR* IQ.YKRS TO MILITARY
SERVICE
DECISION OF JUDGE LOCHS AXE.
James F. Russet., 1
vs. J- Habeas Corpus.
; CONI'EDEUATK STATES. J
The movant in this case alleges he is an
" ■AlillU.’tfaat ae wps born in Canada, and lias
itCcii but a I nine ifi the Coiiffiderate States;
served as a volunteer some fifteen months in
the army—was discharged by the military au
thorities after the issuance of the Queen of En
gland's proc!y,uy»*ion, upon proof he was a
Brifish subject, aud that lie has always retain
er! domicil in his native country and determin
ed to return there. He was arrested under the
Conscript act and insists for the reasons stated,
which he sustains by proof, ho is not liable to
be tbreed intolbe general service of the Con
federate States army.
We know of no way of making an Aliena
citiz-n except by naturalization. Allegiance
t( i b r mntry must be voluntary, and change
at aSfegi.'»nc_ can oa effected in no other way
than by naturalization. Therefoie Mr. Russel
is an alien, it he has not been naturalized, and
stands upon the rights which aliens are permit
ted to enjoy and exercise in all civilized coun
tries.
The rights and duties of aliens are too plain
for anything but voluntary misapprehension.—
An alien does not part with his right- or privi
leges by an absence from his native country, if
he retains the intention of returning to it, but
remains a subject of the Government, of his
own country. His being permitted to remain
in a foreign land by virtue of tiie natural so
ciety, the communication and commerce which
nations are obliged to cultivate with each other,
he must be regarded in such foreign country as
a member of iiis own nation and treated as such.
“The State, which ought tor espect the rights
of other nations, and in general thosr of man
kind. canuot arrogate to herself any power over
the person of a foreigner.”—[See Vattel, Law
of Nations, 108—sec. 107, 108.]
“He is not obliged to submit like the subject
to all the commands of the sovereign, and if
such things are required ot him as he is unwil
ling to perform, he may quit the country, lie
is free at all times to leave it. Nor have vve a
right to detain him, except lor a time, and for
very particular reasons.”—[Vattel, 174.
His duties ate “not to content himself with
barely respecting the laws of the country. He
ought to assist it upon occasion, and contrib
ute to its defence, as far as is consistent with his
duty as a citizen of another State.”—[Vattel,
173, sec. 105.
Even in countries where the permission was
granted, or became an implied assent by rea
son of letting foreigners come in with their
families, and settle for the purpose of staying
in the country, such inhabitants were only ob
liged to defend, and could not be forced into
the army proper. The military service they
owed was temporary, special and limited.
'The Conscript act was urged as a necessity to
make offensive as well defensive war. It was
a.gued inat the militia in that sense was una
vailable, and whether such was the intention
or-not, it is the means of raising an army to go
whore policy or strategy may direct. In this
view is an alien liable to conscription? 1 know
of no case on record of forced service by aliens
but one, and the parties were- tried at Surrey
in England—they were English and Irish sail
ors, found fighting with the French, Lord
Brougham defending them,- and the plea of
their being forced was overruled, as there could
be no plea of justification tc high treason.
If an alien can be forced to invade any coun
try, he may be made to invade his own and for
feit his life to the law, if spared in battle. In
this case, if we violato tlie necessary law of
nations recognized by civilized government,
i f,,..-. -o i-to our ffnhies, we
might expect a nation like England to demand
satisfaction, and the very illustration given tie
come again a part of history.
The common law doctrine nemo potest exuere
patriam, necdehUum legeantia ijurare, which
tiovved out of the feudal system, is uo longer
reoognized. Yet ia England, where the law of
nations is a part of tho common law, it is re
garded an offense to enter into the foreign ser
vice without leave of tlie sovereign, or refusing
to leave such service when required by procla
mation, is a misdemeanor. 1 East, P. 0,81.
The case of Eneas AlcDouald is an illustration
of the severity of the rule oi law on this sub
ject. AlcDouald was born in Scotland. At an
early period he was carried to France* spent
the most of his life in France— he entered into
service aud was with tlie Prtteuuer at Cullo
den. Being taken after the battle lie was in
dicted lor high treason. Us; claimed that he
was entitled to bo treated as an alien enemy.
But the judges ail held that, notwithstanding
his removal tQ France, or living there some
forty years, lie still remained a subject, and the
jury found him guilty of high treason, and tlie
executive clemency of George the ileconu only
saved him from the penalty of the verdict.
The doctrine laid down by Mr. Wbewell,
Elem. Mar., p. 31)4, is that no prqptieal legisla -
tion has recognized that the iretical view which
permits any man on coming of age to choose a
country for himself. His countiy, lie says, is
his mother in spite of him.
The tendency of the courts has, however,
been to adopt the tight which Cicero in his
oration for Balbus boasted was the right of tlie
Roman citizen, which was that he could neith
er be exiled from nor compelled to remain in
the Republic against his consent. This right
he declared to be tlie firmest foundation of Ro
man liberty.
In the Code Napoleon it is more clearly ex
pressed, and it is theieiu declared a native of
France may be denaturalized and deprived of
the rights ot citizenship : by naturalization iu
a foreign country ; by domiciliation iu a for
eign country without intention of return.—
Though, iu this last reason, a domicil for the
purposes Os commerce is exempted, and con
cludes witli the provision that no Frenchman
may, under any circumstances, bear arms
against his native country.
Several ot the States have decided in favor
of the light of expatriation. In Murray vs.
McCarthy it was held to be a right “ original
and indefeasible.” Iu 9 Dana, 178, it is de
clared to be a “fundamental doctrine’’ In
Talbot vs. Jansen, by the Supreme Court of
the U. S., the doctrine, though acknowledged,
is limited, and held to be subject to legislative
restraint, or when tlie country is at war, and,
lit tue ease ot Williams, it was adjudicated that
adegiance, without mutual consent, was indis
soluble. The intention was to ignore a co
quettish altegianceasi-umed for a purpose and
thrown off for a consequence, and we may lay
down the doctrine derivable from all these
sources, that, though the right of expatriation
exists, it is not independeutrand indefeasible,
but may be controlled by the legislation of the
country, and that allegiance cannot bo severed
in a manner less formal or solemn than by an
act of naturalization, accompanied with abso
lute domicil in the country.
And, therefore, any person who comes to a
country and remains in it with the intention of
returning, and who is not naturalized, still' re
tains his allegiance to his own government, and
Can only be regarded as an alien, and without
such domiciliation as contemplates permanent
settlement, he is not liable as a subject to be
compelled to go into tbe army.
The correet doctrine is: that compulsory ser
vice in the army can only apply to those who
owe it. The citizen of a couutry, lyhether na
tive or naturalized, owes military service, and
can be legally compelled to give it.
In the ease of Daly <t Fitzgerald 1 held, ‘.‘All
persons who are citizens of a Government may
be used by the Government in time of war, anil
it was the duty of Courts to sustain the Gov
ernment in the means exercised rightfully to
protect the whole people from subjugation and
ratu.” I find that this is the doctrine laid
down by the authorities, “Every citizen is
bound to defend the Slate,” is the unchanging
expression; citizenship being the precedent of
obligation, a man only owes this overwhelming
obligation to one country—his liberty cannot
be taken away by every nation’s plea of neces
sity. He owes it to the Government of which
he is a citizen, either by adoption or by biith.
But ;n ray opinion, it is not an obligation that
follows his residence in every land. In England
the subjects of trance living in her territory,
were not only permitted to remain during the
last war with Frauoe, but were guarantied se
#urity in their persons and effects. This illus
trates how other nations have been disposed to
treat not only foreigners, but subjects ot the
Government they were at war with.
This being the law of nations ou the subject,
let us see if our Government is bound by it.
VOL. LXXVII'L —NEYV SERIES VOL. XXVII!. No. 17
On the principle that Consuls accredited to the
U. S. Gove-iiment were recognized, we might
infer that the law of nations assented to by the
United' States while the acting agent of the
States composing the Confederacy, was binding,
and by the action of that Government on this
subject not only the assent, but the construc
tion 1 put upou the international lan is e.W
dented, (Mr. Seward’s letter). We Rave no:
only recognized these great international
e: ;;,.' :i; off, a-.a- ' XL ■
sent to them. This was. - however, only what
we were bound to do, for the necej). ry La w of
nations is not reversible by the legislation er
act of one. All civilised nation-, coming into
the family of Emptro or aspiring to membership
are bou-ud by eertaiu great principles of in
ternational justice and propriety.
In view of these principles, at an eariy date
iu this war, 1 had the honor to. contribute
something towards inducing aliens to go into
the army as volunteers, and in the case where
a party applied for a discharge on the ground
ot being an alien, I remanded him, because he
had volunteered, and therefore, by the law of
nations was bound to serve until the’time ex
ptred, and because the Georgia Convention had
conferred general citizenship upon all who
were here during the short Independent Na
tionality Georgia maintained. But the Con
federate Government ignored this citizenship
conferred by* Georgia, and many were accept
ed as substitutes, and many were discharged
from Conscription who came within its provis
ions. The official acts of our Government on
the subject of aliens may be found in Order
No. 82.
General Orders No. 82, series 1862, declared
that without domicil an Alien was not liable
to military service*under conscript acts; that
domicil consisted iu residence with intention
permanently to remain and abandon domicil
elsewhere; that long residence of itself doesjrol
constitute domicil; that “if there is a determ-
ination to return to the native country and to
retain the domicil there, no length of time can
confer domicil.” This constitutes the official
exposition of tiie law relative to the lia.cities
of Aliens to military duty, and the light in
which out government interpreted the rights
of foreigners. This is the evidence of their as
sent to the law donations which the authorities
at Richmond published and uttered to the
world. Any change in thin interpretation
without reasonable notice to the parties inter
ested, would be unjust. For though, with
ports blockaded, money depreciated, ad the
frontier lined with rubbers, a person might
run risk in leaving the country, still before he
was compelled to go iuto survive he was euti
tied, iii the opinio., of tin- Court, to notice oi
the change made by the Government aff.cling
his personal liberty and rights and an oppoitu
uity to leave. “If no length of residence con
fers domicil,’’ and without domicil an Alien
is not liable to conscription up to March, 18(!4,
we must, if we fake residence as the base of
military liability, be governed by its durations,
with knowledge of its legal effect, and a just
conclusion imperatively demands that the fact
of residence shall be confined to the
, date of the change. It foreigners were permit
ted by the law of Nations to remain in the
Confederate States with the published declara
tion tli ,t they would not be held liable te mil
itary service up to the Ist March. 18H-1, then
any law which contemplates making them sub
ject must take effect lvom the passage of the
law. The fact of residence under the previous
„law cannot be argued as a design to stay in
the country from which intention can be justly
inferred to make them liable under anew law,
based solely on the fact of their remaining in
tlie country under the circumstances, if the
law of Nations did not exempt them from gen
eral service.in the Confederate States, then the
fact.of permitting them to remain might »e con
strued into such a privilege as might at any
lim-i lu* ........ii. 1 ,*.. 1 obi'.ngc '. : tv.
seen by reference so the law of nations that Mich
exemption was not a privilege but a right, and
being a right cannot be taken away, without
notice giving parties an oppotunity of leaving
the country if they desired, iu conformity with
the principle of law already laid down Iront
Vattel : “He may quit the countiy.. lie is
free at all times to leave it." The right of ex
ercising this light is secured by law, and tlie
opportunity of exercising it should be afforded
by the Government before tlie right-is taken
away.
But we do not see by any authoritative or
official exposition that the law relative to aliens
has been changed. It is no doubt known to
the Government that while many aliens have
been employed in making money, many have
contributed largely to our cause, many have
placed substitutes in tho Army with tlie advice
that tliis act did not affect their status as citi
zens of another Government, many are employ
ed in mechafiieal pursuils, being most useful
artizans, and many are in good faith as volant
teers for the war under our flag in the army,
and we have no doubt many have been forced
to stay from the condition of our public affairs,
which our wisest statesmen did not foresee,
and which unenlightened aliens of course could
not be expected to anticipate ; and we feel as
sured if the government had changed the rule
promulged in Order 82, which aliens relied on
as permanent, supposing, doubtless, tlie prin
ciple# of international law did not change, that
the Courts would have been informed by some
thing more clear and tangible than' tlie use of
the word.“resident” in, the act of conscription
passed Ist Alarch, 1804.
To an uninformed mind there is an apparent
intention to embrace all persons within the
ages specified, without regard to nativity or
nationality. But a brief glance will satisfy the
mind that such intention is not existing, and
cannot legally exist. In the first place, the
word Resident is used in the former conscript
acts, and was in the.law when the order to
which we have alluded was adopted. Tile gen
tleman wlrose case Jam now deciding was in
the army under the conscript act, or after its
passage. He was within the limits as to age.
He was fifteen months in the country, and ac
cording to tlie limited view of this subject,
which we cannot narrow out mind to take, lie
was a resident Still lie applied to be dischar
ged after the Queen of England’s Proclamation
on the ground that lie was an Alien, and the
military authorities discharged him. The term
resident did not then embrace all persons, but
bad i ! s legal meaning limited by its legal ap
plication, to citizens of the country by nativity
or adoption evidenced by previous naturaliza
tion. The law on this subject has been ably
discussed by Judge Joynes ol' Virginia, in the
case ot Conrad. We have not the decision be
fore us, but carefully considered it when it was
first published as a clear, concise and strong
opinion, and the cases referred to, were for the
most part, referred to by myself. After a close
review of the whole subject. I am forced to the
conclusion that wi.hout violating great and
sound principles of law governing nations we
cannot enlarge the limit of liability laid down
in the general order. No. 82, and that official
exposition of the rights of Foreign subjects
promulgated by our Government.
The policy which would best subserve, the
interests of this country is maintained by main 1
tabling this vidw of llie law. and while Courts,
will not >ield to policy in the full and just ad
ministration of tic; law, still ir is. Satis.acory
to alt Courts to believe, in the execution of th -
laws, their official acts tend to the interest or
promote the public welfare.
In an eai ;y ift rind of our affairs i ignored
British Consular papeis. The case was that of
a de. erter, who, having volunteered and ap
plied for detail, was detailed, and then left the
works. In such c i.-e the decision was against
him : and I refused to notice Consular papers, I
for the reason that the acts ot an officer accred
ited to the U. S. Government were not legal
evidence to a Court. But while this was then
and now my conviction of duty, when a person
comes into our Courts and proves by witnesses
bis status, the administration of the law to
such a ease is a right which no Court could
or would refuse. For the reasons adveiteu to
upon the principles of law as well as the duty |
to do justice, and besides, upon scanning our j
affairs, iu the passionless view Courts may take ,
of public questions, we see tie necessity oil
keeping the Government through its agents m j
the track of constitutional and national obu
eation. thus preventing Foreign nations from
becoming our enemies, and mingling blood ;n
the cup of neutrality. National sympathy and
national friendship, are plants of slow growth,
but their annihilation is the work of an hour.
Sentiment changes a whole people like a wave
of light over the land, and while we reiterate
what we have said on other occasions, that no
views of policy, public or private, could con
trol our judgment, yet we have gra l ideation
in believing and knowing that the adminis
tration of the law in cases like this is the pol-
icy of patriotism and the policy of public ben
efit.
We, therefore, for the reasons stated, and
tho evidence satisfying our mind that the mo
vant tsa British subject, and under the tacts of
the case not liable to eonscriotiou, order that
lie be discharged from custody.
• Osborne A. Lociiraxe,
~ . » Judge S. C. M. C.
SPEOItL CORRESPOXPENOE OHKOXIOLE A SPXTINTC.
Pavilion of 7lh Battalion Cavalry—Gathering in
the Horses—Evacuation of J ft. Sterling by Feil
&als—Preparations of Milercdsfot tr big Fight
—Federal force at Louisa—Dcmmistration in
Yankee Hanks —Capture of federal Gunboat —
Price of Provisions — d'C.. &tc.
Headquarters 7th Bat. 0. 8. Cava cry, j
C.imp Williams, Flovdco. Va.,
April I S, 1861. \
This Brigade is now situated about five mil* s
up Big Sandy River frem Prestouburg, and is
strung along a creek known as Prather’s. The
men are in fine spirits, and eager for a fray.—
They are now scouting tho country in every
direction and getting a number of very flue
horses.
A few days since our scouts reported that
Gen. Sturgis had evacuated Mt. Sterling with
his forces, and had gone to Camp Dick Robin
son, iu Gerrard Cos., and was fortifying and pre
paring there and on the North sid.s of Ken
tucky river, near Hickman Bridge, to make a
big fight, if the rebels should happen to come
that way. The Abolitionists may build para
pets and redoubts all around their camp, aud
the rebels will find their way into Kentuck, aud
with great ease.
Theiu is another force of Yankees at Louisa,
a little town twenty-eight miles up this river
from the Ohio river. Their force there consists
of two regiments, the thirty-ninth and four
teenth (bogus) Kentucky. 'They are under the
command of one Col. Galiope, now acting brig
adier. These men are said to be very much
demoralized and wont light, and we think they
are not misrepresented, for eight men of the
Seventh Battalion, commanded by Col. Q. J.
Prentice—only sou of G. D. Prentice—ran one
hundred of their mounted men lor eight miles
on Big Mud C eek, on the 4th inst., while the
brigade was on route to this point. The men
iu pursuit picked up in this race a number ot
overcoats, a quantity of coffee, and all the
loose articles which the Yankees had to throw
away. If their horses had not been so fast, we
would have bad a lew prisoners
The Seventh Confederate Cavalry is a fight
ing command, and the Yankees would rather
tight any other regiment than this. Col. P. in
one of the most gallant officers in the brigade.
The people of Kentucky in this section have
come to the conclusion that, the Rebels will
hold this State, and wet’e gluu to see us.
List Saturday a small Vaukee boat loaded
with dry goods and coffee, was captured, and
the Yankees who were with it reported that
two transports lmd arrived at Paintville with
troops, and we are looking lor the enemy to
come on us very soon.
Paintville is about nineteen miles from our
camp on this side. If these Yankees come in
our way they will be likely to smell burnt pow
der, sure.
This is the first opportunity I have had to
send yon the news, as 1 have been out on a
long scout, the history of which I expect to
give you.
Corn brings about seventy-five cents per
bushel, and bacon about 12 cents per pound.
The Yankees are suffering as much as others.
Sous’ Lieutenant.
Fit'EM MISSISSIPPI.
During the late fight between Gens Forrest
and Smith, at Okalona, Miss., the ladies of that
place not only encouraged our soldiers by their
prayers, exhortations arid smiles, but during
the tight cooked victuals and prepared refresh
ments for them. One lady, desirous of seeing
wlnit was going on, brought out her churn of
milk upon Ihe pavement, and while churning
it urged on the soldiers to the light, telling
them to come buck after it was over and regale
themselves front her churn. Such a spirit is
unconquerable.
’The famous guerilla chief, Qnantrel, has
been making raids upon tlie Yankee farmers
who have appropriated the lands and negroes
of the refugees along the Mississippi river
There is scarcely a plantation occupied by the
Yankees on the Western side of tlie river that
has not received a visit from some of his forces,
aud such is tho celerity of ti.eir movements,
and the summary manner in which they dis
pose of captives, that the greatest terror pre
vails among the negroes and their self-styled
masters iu relation to them.
Advices from North Mississippi report that
Forrest has had another engagement with the
Yankees near White's Station, ten miles from
Memphis, on the Charleston Railroad, in which
he killed and wounded a large number of the
enemy and took fifteen hundred prisoners.
The large and elegant steamer Now Falls
City was recently burned on the Mississippi.—
Incendiary fires ate of frequent occurrence at
Vicksburg.
The Yankees are taking stolen negroes down
the Miss ssippi from Cairo, Island Ten and sev
eral other points and are pu'ting them to work
on '‘the leased plantations.” Which means
that they are going to work them precisely sis
their former masters, and pay them about hall
as much.
Tlie Southern Railroad is now running as far
as Chunkey. It is thought the bridge at that
place will lie repaired in a l'e\v weeks. The re
pairing of the track beyond was already Com
menced.
Among Forrest’s prisoners is a renegade Ten
neseoan, Col. Hawkins.
Gen. Polk will soon make Meridian his head
quarters again.
Smith county, Aliss., and tlie adjoining ones
have been pretty well purged of deserters. -
The ringleaders have-been living, and about two
hundred others returned to their commands.
G. W. Summers, a wealthy citizen of Ilines
county, Aliss., lost all bis negroes during the
late Yankee raid. He went to Vicksburg to
regain them, took the oath of allegiance, could
not get them, went home and cut his throat.
Tlie large force-of Yankees stationed at Mud
isonviile, .Miss., for some time past, have all
left and gone back to New Orleans.
The South western Telegraph line is now
open to Holly Springs, Aliss.
FK9.11 TR \.\S-MI3SISBPPI.
Lieut Gen. IIo!me3 passed though Enter
prise, Miss., a few days since, from the Trans-
Mississippi Department en route for Richmond.
He reports every thing in good condition on
the other side of the great river.
Cotton is selling at Eagle Pass, Texas, at
twenty cents in specie ; in Matamoras it was
worth thirty-five cents.
The Fed red forces keep, close to their works
at Brownsville, and on she gulf coast; conse
quently, there is but little war news.
Texas SI,OOO State bonds are selling at
| $2-0 in specie. A good investment, as at that
1 price it pays thirty-one percent.
The weather in Texas has been very favor
! able for farming operations. Planters are
| Lml ,king preparations to raise all tbe corn they
[ can.
Col Majors of Texas has been made a Briga-
I diet General. ... , ...
The small pox is quite prevalent in the in
terior of Texas.
FROM .NORTH CAROLIN A.
A seat in Congress must be considered a
good thing iu North Carolina. In the seventh
district, where there is to be an election to fill
a vacancy, there are now five candidates.
Affairs in Eastern North Carolina are quiet.
The Federal.-; keeping close to ikeir fortifica
tions.
Marauder- are continually committing depre
dations in Western North Carolina.
'the Statesville Railroad company "have giv
en up a portion of their rails to complete the
upper route to Richmond.
Heavy rains and freshets in North Carolina
are seriously interfering with the plana of the
planters.
A Yankee camp was discovered near Wind
sor, N. C.. a few days since. It was composed
of four Yankees, forty tones, and about forty
negroes. The rendezvous was broken up and
several of the occupants killed or captured.
FROM VIRGIM.Y
! Tl " ot generally known, says tho Rlcfc
mond Examiner, that the old currency may be
landed in the six per cent, bonds which the Se
cretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue
° the amount of five hundred millions of dol
lars. Iho bonds aro to lie bear in'- >st at tho
rate of six per cent, par ant)’ -and < ds six
!lni dr - m ai .s Bix, y six tobv-yrttes invvsted,
" 11J yield the same amount of
tnotvsamntofiKwe* .mwpw
lars per annum In Doth cases, tsp t*Hc Bolder,
ot the notes will lose nothing, amount of
interest, by neglecting to fond them at their
expressed value in four per cents., and fimd
mg them ben-after ht tho rate of sixlv six
cousin the dollar in sx per cents *The
interest on no six pc. . nts is secured by tho
pledge ot the revenues m p he Confederacy
derived from its import dutie-- ,< lon (o _
baeco and naval stores. No fund or v ,’mie
is pledged or set apart lor the payment of tan
interest on the lour per cents. The holders
of the six per cent, non Is will be preferred
11 editors oi the Government, secured by the
merry-*;.- ■• < a ■.fli- - amon.A iff its icven
ues. It is probab.y the most desirable dis
position to be ma le of what remains of tho
old currency to convert it, scaled to the amount
of one-third, into the new six per cents.
Alphehs Baker, of Eufaula Ala., and )Ym.
L. Allen, of Montgomery, Ala., have been ap
pointed Brigadier Generals. Both are in the
army ol' Tennessee.
Mr. James C. i atton, of Petersburg, Va.,
the indefatigable inventor anil constructor of
"internal machines,”’lor the destruction of
Y ankee shipping, has obtained a right fora
new torpedo arrangement, which has been te.«-
ed and found to work successfully. The pecu
liarity* claimed lor Ibis torpedo by the inven
tor, says the Richmond Enquirer, is that it will
“nose its way along a curreut until it finds
something m the shape ot a vessel, when it
will arrange itself conveniently, and then ex
plode. Mr Patton christens it" the “Hunting
Torpedo.”
The Misses Summons, workers in military
goods in Richmond, have presented Gen. Lee
with a complete set ot military insignia—col-
lar wreaths and stais, jacket field wreath, sleeve
cuffs—all of embroidered gold and bullion—
and a set ol Confederate gilt buttons manufac
tured abroad.
Geu. R. V. Richardson, famous for his ex
ploits in West Tennessee and North Aliesissippi,
is in Richmond.
All 'he retail liquor saloons in Richmond
will be closed by law on tlie first of May.
Up to this time thirty five hundred dollars
have been collected for Airs. Munitoid and her
children in Richmond. She richly deserves nil
that Can be raised lor iter- no matter how
much.
The enemy have occupied Suffolk, Va., in
force. There are three regiments of inlanhy,
one of which is negro, and five companies of
cavalry. Col. Spears commands tne entire
lorec This is the famous Spears that attempt
ed a raid on Weldon last year, but retreated
w -n t>e found out that Geu. Alatt. Ransom lmd
artillery.
i; ... .nought that the French vessels in James
river have no other object in view than to get
th- to l ' ice . -ui of Richmond, if possible, claim
ed by the French. •
F.iim rue annual report of the Virginia Bi
ble Society, we learn that that Society has giv
en out 9,000 billies, B),ooi>tesUim;ui«,.andsO,-
gospels to the soldi is east ol the Alississippi.
In add tion to which has been distributed, they
have sold 20,000 copies of the scriptures. These
form only a portion ol the books purchased in
England by Dr Hoge. The remainder are on
the way, and some of them will be on hand
very shortly. 88,000 copies of (he different
books have been receb- >d from tlie British and
-EW-isa IK hi* . tiM., oiim’oer 8( ,-
000 have been distributed, showing that the
Society has not been idle during *he past year.
A writer in the Lynchburg Kepui .tear gives
the following results of the operations oi Brig.
Gen. W. E. Julies’ brigade during its.lasi cam
paign of seven engagements: 'The fruits of
these engagements have been 1,707 prisoners,
between 300and 100 of the enemy killed und
wounded, 152 wagons, seven pieces of artillery
and about 2000 horses and mules. All this
has been done during an unusually severe win
ter, without tents, without comfortable cloth
ing, almost shoeless, and with horses worn
down by constant use and scarcity of forage.
A private belonging to the army of North
ern Virginia, Ims bail a furlough granted him
by order of Gen. Lee, for eight hundred and
forty days. He was entitled to this long leave
under the army order granting a certain num
ber of (lays furlough for each recruit furnished.
His leave of absence promises to lap over into
the next war.
Northern papers stale that the Yankee frig
ate Minnesota is badly injured at Newport
News. The Richmond papers in speaking of
tlie exploit says that Oapt. Davidson managed
to approach the Aiinqesota with his small
steamer under covet oi the night, and answer
ed her hail that it was a despatch boat from
Roanoke Island. On approaching her lie ex
ploded a torpedo under her quarter on the
starboard side, and immediately backed, ma
king all possible haste to get away from the
enemy’s guns. It was impossible for him to
know the effect of the explosion. The charge
of the torpedo was sixty pounds of powder.
Captain Davidson reports that on tlie explosion
great confusion ensued on the Minnesota—
orders, oatlis and execrations following in
rapid succession. One account says that the
vessel was so much injured that she was keeled
over, aftd taken off by three steamers ; but as
tlie darkness of the night and the rapid retire
ment of tlie torpedo boat" afforded but little
opportunity for observation, we are inclined
to doubt these particular details.
Joseph Mayo has been re-elected Mayor of
Richmond.
Gen. Longstreet hasjorderod that all impress
ments in the Abingdon (Va.) district shall
cease, except in cases where a party has a sur
plus.
The Richmond papers state that the brutali
ties committed by the negro troops in tliatStato
are horrid to contemplate.
The Legislature of Virginia at its late session
passed a law exempting Justices of the peace
from conscription, Gos. .Smith refused to certi
fy to the exemption of all under the agp of for
ty-five. The Hoc:clary of war has however
shown commendable respect for tlie authority
of State Legisl ilion, and regardless of the action
of Gov. Smith, has exempted Justices of tho
Renee in that Slate. T his is right. And if all
the acts of the administration had been as
constitutional as this, there would now be no
opposition to it.
FROM ALAII iMA.
A letter from North Alabama states that in
retaliation of the exploit of Capt. Smith and
Col. Henry, near the Tennessee river, a body
of Yankees destroyed a portion of Claysville,
Alabama. They then went to the residence of
Bent Henry, liejihew of Col. Henry, and find
ing him sick in bed forced him to'get up.—
They then placed him on a horse, with a man
to hold him on, he being unable to ride, carri
ed him lour miles and then wantonly shot him.
It is estimated Jhat five limes the area of land
in Alabama has teen sown in wheat, than there
has been any previous year.
The Montgomery papers say that apple trees
iu tha f vicinity have not been injured by the
late eold weather.
FROM TENNESSEE.
Since our army left the vicinity of Knoxville,
the Unionists have been robbing and mffrder
ii.g the Confederates. Major George W Day,
of tbe twelfth Tennesse cavalry, has issued a
circular to the Union citizens in the vicinity cf
Rogersville. Morristown, Bean station and
Tazewell, declaring that some of the most bru
tal outrages known in history have been com
mitted upon unarmed citizens and innocent
women by Union citizens, and that if another
wrong is inflicted upon an offending Southern
family, lie would visit their homes with fear
ful retaliation.
FROM LOUISIANA.
Not long since Gen. Polignac roJdc a descent
upon the Yankees who had settled on the rich
lands in-the vicinity of Bake i"V < tr.-re. La.,
and were preparing to raise a tm- crop sur
rounded the plantations, drm ch every horse,
mule, ox aud cow. stnpp and tec • r.ert °“ t
I of their boots.” and 1 ft toe desu.a e I nkee
planters wringing their “pickers and stealers ’
over a blasted crop and a bootylets conimunt
ty.