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THE COUNTRYMAN.
The Savannah Traitors.—“A
correspondent of the Coiambus (Ga.)
Times gives a sketch of some of the
parties who participated in the Savan
nah meeting. Col. W. S. Rockwell,
it says, has been well known through
out the state, for his great pretensions
to military science, strategic skill, and
the art of war, before the war. Dr.
Arnold, the mayor, is a physycian of
merit, a man of intellect, and would
never have presided over the meeting
bad he been—younger. Dr. Willis
came from Augusta, and, for aught
the writer knows, farther north. He
had been president of the Augusta
and Savannah railroad. He was
known from his connection with a cer
tain purchase of stock in that compa-
by. A. S. Hartridge, who soon doff
ed his martial habilments, as A. D.
V« to a brave general, and slipped in
to the position of war tax collector,
Ifi a brother of Hon. Julian Hartridge.
Mr., formerly Major, Erwin, is one of
the chivalry, and delighted, ir. former
days, to descant upon the virtues of
his native state of South Carolina.
Alderman Villalonga is a very weak
disciple, and very wealthy. Aider-
man Lippman is a speculator of the
Jewish persuasion. J. G. Mills is one
who gave up the fight, and cried
‘ hold, enough !’ ere it began. Mar
tin Duggan, and Alderman O’Byrne,
famous only for the facility with which
they changed one flag for another—
W. D. M eed, a coarse, unmannered
yankee—Alderman Lachlison, a can
ny Scotchman, who has, by this act,
caused the blush of shame to mantle
the cheek of his ‘ brave, braw laddies ’
—complete the roll of infamy.”
Mobile, Feb. 11.—“Special to Ad
vertiser & Register, from Senatobia,
•ays Memphis papers of tire 7th, and
Sth received.
The Herald’s Washington corres
pondent says, that those in position
to know, regard the result of the
peace negotiations as very far from
being a total failure.
The Washington Chronicle says,
the only condition to honorable peace
has been declined by the rebel com
missioners ; that condition being the
restoration of the federal union, in
obedience to (he law of congress.
The Times' special says, that Lin
coln assured the commissioners that
if the south would return to the un
ion, uuder the constitution, they
would be treated with the utmost lib
erality—but without that, the War
must, and would go on. Neither side
yielded a hair’6 breadth.
Lincoln and Seward returned to
! Washington, and the result of the
j conference was laid before the cabi-
! net, who endorsed Lincoln’s course,
| and are unanimous in their determin-
i ation that the war must continue.
The Washington special correspon
dent of the Commercial says, it is as
serted, that Lincoln will issue a proc
lamation showing the result of the
peace negotiations, and urging the
people to fill up the ranks, for a moie
vigorous prosecution of the war.
Gold iu New York, on the 6th, was
213.”
Richmond, Feb. 9th—“In the
senate, Brcwn, of Mississippi, submit
ted the following ;
Resolved, That the committee on
foreign affairs be instructed to report
a bill, with the least practicable de
lay, to take into the military service
of the Confederate States any num
ber of negro soldiers, not exceeding
200,000, by voluntary enlistment,
with the consent of their masters, or
by conscription, as may be found nec
essary ; and that the committee pro
vide, in said bill, for the emancipation
of said negroes, in all cases where
they prove loyal, and true to the end
of the war, and for the immediate
payment, under proper restrictions,
of their present value to owners.
Mr. Brown said he introduced this
resolution, to express his opinion that
the time had come when we should
employ negro troops, and that now,
if ever, was the time we were in the
very crisis of our fate. He had seen,
with pleasure, a revival of the war
spirit, and hoped it would sweep
through the land ; but still, he feared
our armies were not strong enough to
withstand the enemy, without the
employment of negro troops.
On motion of Mr. Maxwell, of
Florida, the resolution was transfer
red to the secret calendar, when the
senate resolved itself into secret ses
sion.
The house publicly discussed the
principal subject which has engaged
its attention, in secret session, for sev
eral days —to wit : A tax bill to meet
the discovery of an error in the im
mediate liabilities of the government,
of nearly four hundred millions of
dollars.
The secretary of the treasury re
commends an increase of the present
tax, one hundred per cent., to meet
the deficiency, and says the charac
ter of this department is such, that
payment cannot be neglected, or post
poned, without the danger of serious
ly embarrassing the operations of thb
war department.
The house resolved itself into se
cret session.”
Richmond, Feb. 6.—“The corres
pondence between the president, and
secretary Seddon has been published,
in the Sentinel, showing that the lat
ter resigned in consequence of the
resolution adopted by congress, advi
sing a re organization of the cabinet,
by relieving all the present heads of
departments.
Mr. Seddon says, that after pucll
an expression of opinion, by congress,
he could no longer fill the position,
with a full measure of usefulness to
the, president, or the confederacy.
The president, in reply, ex j. ressed
his warm personal regard, and official
confidence.
Mr. Seddon, in reply, discussed, at
considerable length, the relations be
tween the legislative department of
the government, and those he repre
sents, placing the rights, and privi»
leges of the Confederate Congress in
contrast with those of the British Par
liament.
Ho expresses concurrence with the
views expressed by the president, but
adheres to his purpose to resign.”
Richmond, Feb. 9.—“There was
heavy fighting on our right, yesterday,
and today, which resulted favorably
to our arms.
During a reconnoisance made by
General Pegram, beyond Hatcher’s
rnn, yesterday evening, the enemy
attacked, and forced his division back
some distance, when he was reinforc
ed by Gen. Gordon’s division, when,
in turn the enemy was forced back,
a second time.
The enemy, beiug reinforced by a
corps, attacked, and drove our men,
until they, being strengthened by
Mali one’s division, commanded by
Gen. Finnegan, a graud charge was
made by the three divisions, the ene
my’s line was broken, aud a running
fight was kept up until dark, when
the yankees gladly sought shelter in
their new works, on Hatcher’s run,
from which they were not driven.
Gen. John Pegram was killed.
Many of the enemy were killed,
ami wounded, and but few taken pris
oners. Our loss several hundred.
This morning, the enemy advanced
upon, and charged our lines, south of
Burgiss’ Mill, but were handsomely
repulsed. In a charge upon the ene
my,Gen. Lovell, of Georgia, was pain
fully wounded.
Heavy firing was heard, late this
afternoon, in the same direction ; but
the cause is, as yet, unexplained.’’